Day: November 14, 2021

ABU DHABI, The Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi has added 11 new commercial activities to the list of Freelance Professional License that allows individuals including citizens, residents, non-residents to conduct commercial activities from anywhere in the world. These activities are subject to the general regulations of the sole proprietor company.

The new activities added by the Department are related to accounting and auditing, analysing and reviewing accounting and auditing systems, Sharia review consultancy for the transactions of Islamic financial institutions, consultations in the fields of tax, electronic networks, electronic security, innovation and artificial intelligence, information technology network services, design and programming of electronic chips, as well as the design of database systems and electronic risk management services.

Rashed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi, the Undersecretary of ADDED, stressed that this license will enhance the business environment in Abu Dhabi by creating more technical job opportunities as Abu Dhabi aims to attract and retain top-notch individuals and professionals.

He also indicated that the new commercial activities added to the license are part of the department’s keenness to enhance the services sector in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Furthermore, Al Blooshi mentioned that since the announcement of the Freelance Professional Licence ADDED has issued 1784 Freelance Professional Licences.

Moreover, Al Blooshi also indicated that this license will positively impact Abu Dhabi’s economy as it will allow individuals to work remotely and earn extra income. Also, at the same time, the Freelance Professional Licence has many advantages for businesses as it allows the companies to provide better services to their customers.

To obtain the licence, the applicant must have a minimum of 3 years of experience in the specific field or industry or have earned an academic or professional achievement in that field. The license allows the holder to have a valid residence visa for himself and his family.

Furthermore, those who are willing to apply for obtaining Freelance Professional License may review the details of its commercial activities and requirements by logging in to the Abu Dhabi Business Centre website: www.adbc.gov.ae

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) today announced the launch of Dubai Edition, a podcast programme focused on sharing compelling stories from Dubai.

The initiative was announced on the sidelines of Dubai PodFest, the first event of its kind dedicated to podcasting in the region, held at the Dubai Press Club.

Dubai Edition will host officials from the Government of Dubai as well as various figures from the cultural and creative sectors who will share inspirational stories and discuss Dubai’s aspirations for the future. The show will feature short episodes and discuss issues that are of interest to society members.

Dubai Edition, which was conceived as part of GDMO’s efforts to embrace the latest advancements in the media sector, aims to share the unique stories of achievement, innovation and creativity emerging from the emirate with a global audience.

Mona Al Marri, Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office, said: “The launch of Dubai Edition reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to embrace the latest digital advancements. The programme will serve as a key platform for knowledge-sharing and open dialogue while also communicating Dubai’s inspirational stories to a wide range of podcast listeners.”

In the coming period, Dubai Edition will feature a variety of interviews and talk shows with prominent figures in the Dubai community, organised by Dubai Press Club and Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, As a continuation of the programme for monitoring hazardous materials in facilities operating in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the second phase of the Hazardous Substances Monitoring Programme was launched.

The first phase was completed in the Q4 of 2020 by the Abu Dhabi Hazardous Materials Management Team (AD-HMMT) – headed by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), which also has 28 members from a range of local and federal entities.

The programme is chaired and supervised by Brigadier Humaid Saeed Alefreet, Deputy Director of Security and Ports Affairs Sector at the General Command of Abu Dhabi Police.

During this phase, the monitoring and response systems in the warehouses of hazardous materials in the Emirate were evaluated. The process saw warehouses that were being monitored linked to the early warning system, a move which will preserve national gains, provide a safe working environment, prevent deaths and sustain the pioneering results achieved in the field of fire prevention.

Furthermore, it will also help to reduce emergency response times and help hasten control of any fire incidents at the warehouses in accordance with the best international standards and practices. The programme is part of Abu Dhabi Government’s vision to make the Emirate one of the safest cities in the world.

Brigadier Humaid Saeed Alefreet, explained: “This system will contribute to preserving the country’s gains and the safety of its residents, further fostering a culture of safety across all sectors of society. We will also follow up on developments and stay up-to-date by using the latest mechanisms and equipment to preserve our national gains and the safety of lives and property, in line with our strategic vision and goals.”

“The vision and objectives of the hazardous materials strategy adopted in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and its implementation plan involves working: “Towards a society and a safe environment from the risks of hazardous materials.” This will be achieved through a programme of collaboration and coordination, and bringing to bear the smartest electronic systems available, in cooperation with all relevant authorities.”

Brigadier Alefreet stated that work is currently underway to connect the remaining hazardous materials warehouses in the emirate with the early warning system, and make its installation a key requirement for future warehouse licence approval. This will contribute to controlling and fighting fires in record time. The purpose of the early warning system is to avoid loss of life and property and reduce environmental risks resulting from these accidents. The connection will also monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of the warehouses’ alarm and firefighting systems to ensure that they operate with the highest efficiency during any incidents.

Brigadier Alefreet added that this work was connected closely with the study carried out by the concerned authorities in the team, through which the financial cost of connecting the warehouses of hazardous materials with surveillance cameras was reviewed. Studies were conducted and locations identified on a number of different facilities that were evaluated during the previous evaluation stage. The study involved assessing the numbers and types of cameras required in each facility, according to best practice, which depends on the types and quantity of hazardous materials that each facility deals with, and the numbers and sizes of the warehouses.

Brigadier Humaid Saeed Alefreet stressed the importance of effectively managing hazardous materials during their life cycle by monitoring all facilities dealing with these materials. Similarly, it is vital to audit the materials and ensure their compliance with prevention and public safety protocols. It’s also imperative to connect storage facilities with control and response systems to enhance the safety and security of the Emirate and avoid loss of life and property while combating environmental risks.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, Dubai PodFest, the first event of its kind dedicated to podcasting in the region, today discussed the future of podcasting in the Arab world and the massive opportunities in the sector.

Held at the Dubai Press Club, the event brought together more than 200 prominent podcasters and audio content creators, in addition to leading organisations in the sector.

The inaugural edition of the event, which was organised by DPC, tackled a range of topics including engaging and attracting subscribers, measuring performance, challenges and opportunities for content creators and the growth of the MENA podcast market. Dubai PodFest 2021 also highlighted the experiences of various podcasters from across the Arab world and discussed their roles in promoting positive content and inspirational stories.

During her opening speech, Mona Al Marri, President of Dubai Press Club, welcomed the participants to the event and said: “The Dubai PodFest reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, over two decades ago to establish DPC as a platform for advancing Arab media development.”

She added: “As part of our efforts to support Dubai’s vision to embrace the latest advancements in the media sector, DPC is keen to support the development of the Arab podcasting sector and enhance its reach and impact globally. Events like these are critical for generating new insights on accelerating the sector’s growth in the region.” Al Marri stressed the importance of strengthening the growth of the sector and further enhancing the quality of podcasting content in the region.

During the event, she announced the launch of Dubai Edition, a podcast programme which will host officials from the Government of Dubai as well as various figures from the cultural and creative sectors who will share inspirational stories from Dubai.

Maitha Buhumaid, Director of DPC, also delivered a speech during which she expressed her appreciation to the participants and said that Dubai PodFest has been able to provide an enriching platform for the exchange of knowledge and experiences between participants on the podcasting industry. She expressed the hope that these discussions can continue in the future in order to support the digital transformation of the Arab media industry. DPC is committed to working with leading organisations and platforms to support the development of audio content on podcast platforms, she added.

Participants in the first session of the event, titled ‘The Future of Podcasting’, discussed ways to widen the audience for podcasting and the challenges facing podcasting in the region, such as being able to monetise podcasts.

During the session, speakers highlighted the importance of using the right tools when producing podcasts and keeping the content fresh in each episode in order to keep attracting more listeners. Participants also pointed out the need for podcasters to develop their storytelling skills, focus on quality and share insightful information from credible sources.

During a second panel discussion titled ‘New Avenues for Content Creators’, participants shared their insights on the opportunities available for content creators in the MENA region, enhancing the diversity of music content on podcast platforms, as well as the impact of the global pandemic on the consumption of digital music and entertainment.

The session shed light on how companies can take advantage of massive growth opportunities in the podcasting sector and how content creators can increase their subscribers and monetise their podcasts.

The third session titled ‘Podcast Platforms’ discussed the distribution of ad revenues among podcasters and podcast platforms and the key marketing tools available to maximise reach and income. The session also examined what podcast platforms offer content creators.

Participants in the session pointed out that the Arab podcast industry has great potential for growth and that investing in good content and understanding the needs of audiences is crucial in order to succeed in podcasting.

On the sidelines of the event, podcast network and cultural consultancy Dukkan Media announced the launch of a podcast about Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) titled ‘Show Me Your Wallet’. To be hosted by Co-founder of Dukkan Media Reem Hameed, the first of its kind podcast in the MENA region will share weekly highlights of the NFT world in a short and fast format.

As part of event, several leading organisations and content creators set up their equipment to podcast live from Dubai PodFest. Al Arabiya and Sky News Arabia were among the prominent media companies that podcast from DPC.

Dubai Press Club also organised different activities related to podcasting on the sidelines of the event.

Source: Emirates News Agency