Day: September 5, 2021

ABU DHABI, Abu Dhabi Art today announced the formation of Friends of Abu Dhabi Art – an initiative created to facilitate new models of public cultural philanthropy and help support the dynamic art eco-system in the UAE.

Launching with an inaugural group of more than 40 dedicated art enthusiasts, Friends of Abu Dhabi Art will this year support Abu Dhabi Art’s Beyond: Emerging Artists, curated by guest curators Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, Founders of Art Reoriented, a multidisciplinary curatorial platform Dyala Nusseibeh, Director, Abu Dhabi Art, said, “We are hugely grateful to our Friends of Abu Dhabi Art members, who will play an integral role in supporting emerging artists from the UAE this year and engaging the wider public with their work. As a group of cultural philanthropists brought together by a shared desire to support art in the Emirates, Friends of Abu Dhabi Art will strengthen and enhance our existing Beyond: Emerging Artists programme this year in exciting new ways.”

Anyone looking to actively support artists and the art ecosystem in the UAE can apply to join the initiative via the webpage as well. All members are required to pay an annual fee for membership, with funds raised enabling the commissioning of new art works through Abu Dhabi Art. Keystone members will act as an advisory group for Friends of Abu Dhabi Art, overseen by co-heads, Nadine Maalouf, Co-Founder of 81 Designs and Nadia Sehweil, CEO of Bodytree Wellness.

Commenting on the newly formed initiative, Nadine Maalouf, Co-Head of Friends of Abu Dhabi Art and Co-Founder of 81 Designs, said, “Friends of Abu Dhabi Art members are ready to support the UAE art ecosystem through this new platform and to play a part in enabling emerging artists from the UAE to develop their work and reach new audiences. We have all joined because of a commitment to supporting art in the UAE and we look forward to ensuring the wider community is engaged and connected to the thriving local art scene. Having attended a curatorial talk by Sam Bardaouil earlier this month I was impressed by their work and left excited to see what new conversations come out of their contribution this year.”

Nadia Sehweil, Co-Head of Friends of Abu Dhabi Art and CEO of Bodytree Wellness, added, “Friends of Abu Dhabi Art is not limited to financial support. It is an endeavor to encourage independent activity by community members for the benefit of the local art ecosystem. There is a need for the art and culture sector globally to find sustainable ways to recover and become more adaptable in a post-pandemic era. Friends of Abu Dhabi Art will play a significant role in strengthening Abu Dhabi Art’s programming, as well as provide a platform for funding, knowledge exchange, and networking initiatives for the different players in the sector through Abu Dhabi Art.”

Benefits for membership include opportunities to attend private talks by appointed curators and artists, as well as artist studio visits and events, private tours at the Abu Dhabi Art Fair in November and the commissioning of new work in Abu Dhabi.

The fair’s upcoming edition will open to the public at Manarat Al Saadiyat from 17th November to 21st November 2021.

Strict precautionary and hygiene measures will be enforced at Abu Dhabi Art 2021 to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all participants and visitors. Details of these measures will be announced in due course.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, Licensed tour guides in Abu Dhabi are being encouraged to explore the emirate’s unique culture and experiences through a new incentive scheme launched by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).

The ‘Tour Guide Incentive Scheme’ is part of the Emirati Touchpoint Strategy, which aims to give visitors more opportunities to delve deeper into Emirati culture, heritage and themes, and meet Abu Dhabi’s people throughout their visits to the UAE capital.

Featuring a range of offers, discounts and other value deals, the initiative aims to spark creativity among licensed tour guides, encouraging them to find out more about destinations, while developing dynamic and engaging experiences across the emirate for future visitors.

The offers will be redeemable at different types of attractions, including 25 participating hotels, which are offering tour guides discounts on facilities, such as gyms, spas, access to pools and beaches, F&B, and room rates.

Also included in the scheme are offers for venues, such as museums and cultural institutions, as well as leisure attractions such as the Yas Island theme parks, where guides will receive free entry when escorting groups, as well as discounted tickets for guides and their families when visiting in a personal capacity.

“As Abu Dhabi starts to safely welcome international tourists again, we want to ensure that these visitors have amazing and unique experiences, and inspiring our tour guides is a vital part of this goal,” said Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing for DCT Abu Dhabi. “This incentive scheme acts as a brilliant support initiative for our tourist guides, to help them promote the diverse range of offerings available in our emirate. Visitors will thus have a special opportunity to experience Abu Dhabi authentically, covering the iconic destinations within the emirate, as well as its people and culture.

“We are excited about this initiative and hope that it inspires more Abu Dhabi residents to become official tour guides for our destination,” he added.

Abu Dhabi currently has about 1,122 licensed tour guides, all of whom are eligible to be part of this scheme to support the promotion of the tourism industry.

Experienced, knowledgeable tour guides are indispensable to the tourism industry in Abu Dhabi. As the first point of contact for visitors, the guides share not only in-depth knowledge of the destination, but also lived-in experiences, enthusiasm, and a love for their home.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, ADNOC Distribution today marked the International Day of Charity, with the launch of its partnership with Al Ghadeer UAE Crafts (Al Ghadeer), an Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) project.

ADNOC Distribution will be allocating retail space at select ADNOC Oasis convenience stores in Al Bateen, Mahwi, Al Ain and Dubai to showcase home accessory, stationery and gift items made by Al Ghadeer’s craftswomen.

Al Ghadeer is the UAE’s most comprehensive project with a focus on empowering underprivileged women through sustainable craftsmanship. Since its establishment in 2006 under the ERC, the project has provided women from different nationalities and ages with vocational training, designs, raw materials and marketing services to create culturally-inspired products to assist them in earning a dignified living and sustain traditional crafts.

Engineer Bader Saeed Al Lamki, Chief Executive Officer, ADNOC Distribution, said: “ADNOC Distribution measures its success by the quality and value it provides to society. Our partnership with Al Ghadeer UAE Crafts stems from our standing commitment to give back and empower the local communities we serve, by offering local craftswomen an unmatched level of exposure to market their products through selected ADNOC Oasis convenience stores nationwide.”

Hamoud Abdullah Al Junaibi, Deputy Secretary General for Marketing and Fundraising at ERC, said: “We are excited to partner with ADNOC Distribution on the International Day of Charity, providing us access to more consumers than ever before. This partnership firmly supports our mission to empower women in the community by providing them with the necessary resources to secure a good and honest living through craftsmanship and cultural conservation.”

Observed annually on 5th September, the International Day of Charity was established with the objective of sensitising and mobilising people, NGOs, and stakeholders all around the world to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, Gastech, the world’s largest exhibition and conference supporting the gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, and energy industry, will have its own dedicated Gastech Hydrogen event positioning hydrogen as a clean energy solution.

The event will take place in Dubai, from 21st to 23rd September, 2021, organised by dmg events, the event is supported by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in the UAE.

Alongside Gastech, Gastech Hydrogen will connect policy makers, producers, consumers, and suppliers to facilitate the hydrogen market development. Gastech Hydrogen will provide a global platform that convenes industry leaders in their journey towards lower and zero-carbon fuels that will play a central role in the delivery of the new energy landscape.

Identified as a key solution to climate change and the urgency of decarbonisation, hydrogen is an increasingly popular form of clean energy with huge growth potential. Gastech Hydrogen will provide a spotlight on this fast-emerging fuel source and allow companies from across the hydrogen value chain to showcase the latest products, services, and solutions.

Lorenzo Simonelli, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of energy technology company Baker Hughes, sponsors of Gastech Hydrogen, will participate in an exclusive Gastech LIVE Session.

Lorenzo will give his insights on delivering on the decarbonisation of energy, and how technology innovation can drive the net-zero agenda.

Simonelli said: “We know that natural gas can both be a transition fuel and a destination fuel towards a lower carbon future. To decarbonise the energy sector we must introduce more efficient and lower emissions technologies today for natural gas, while at the same time accelerate adoption of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), hydrogen, and energy storage. Only with scale can these technologies make a meaningful impact in the energy transition.

“It is encouraging to see such a strong focus on hydrogen at this year’s Gastech conference. The time for industry, governments and partners to tap into the potential of hydrogen is now. Baker Hughes’ decades-long advancements in hydrogen technology positions us as a key player in the energy transition and a collaborator to drive success.”

As the world transitions towards a new energy landscape, governments and industry must work together to ensure that they are on target to deliver on the shared global mandate of a low carbon economy. Energy demand is increasing worldwide by both consumers and industries, including power generation, construction, and transport. As an important enabler of engagement between the global gas industry and policy makers, business leaders, disruptors, and innovators, Gastech helps governments and industry navigate the complexities of the energy transition, as companies look to adapt to the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping global gas markets.

Gastech 2021 will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre. An expected 20,000 attendees, including senior decision-makers and energy industry thought leaders, and more than 300 exhibiting companies, who will set the agenda for the global gas, LNG, hydrogen, and energy industry, will attend it.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, Upon the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD), the authority issued an administrative resolution to extend the fixed-gear fishing season in Abu Dhabi until the end of October 2021.

The resolution aims to support fishermen and ensure the sustainability of the fishing profession.

Relevant EAD teams will organise field visits to fixed-gear fishing areas along the coast of Abu Dhabi emirate and its islands, as well as plan awareness campaigns urging fishermen to use fish stocks and fisheries in a sustainable way by adhering to related laws and regulations.

The Environment Agency has implemented several policies to manage fisheries, while protecting natural resources and fish stocks.

Source: Emirates News Agency