MOD signs deals worth Dhs5b at Dubai Airshow
Ministry announced that this year’s edition of the National Festival of Tolerance is especially significant as it coincides with the nation’s 50th anniversary celebrations and Expo 2020 Dubai
On the first day of the Dubai Airshow 2021, the Ministry of Defence ( MOD) announced the conclusion of 5 deals worth Dhs5,239,640,000 with local and international companies.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday received defence ministers of countries participating in the Dubai Airshow 2021.
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, also atended the reception.
Welcoming the official delegations taking part in the Airshow, Sheikh Mohammed said this year’s edition is taking place at a time where the aviation industry is regaining its growth momentum following a challenging period in the last two years. Wishing atendees a successful participation, His Highness said the Airshow offers an exceptional opportunity to share path-breaking innovations and technologies and discuss new ideas that can shape the industry’s future.
Dubai Airshow is the largest event of its kind in the aviation industry held ater the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the biggest in the history of the event, featuring 1,200 exhibitors.
Major General Staff Pilot Ishaq Saleh Al Balushi, Executive Director of the Military Organising Commitee of the Dubai Airshow 2021, announced during the press conference, which was held on the sidelines of the exhibition, that the first deal of the exhibition was contracted with Airbus Defence and Space S.A.U., a Spanish company, to purchase refuelling aircrat for the Air Force and Air Defence Command, at a value of Dhs2,468,189,886.00.
Lt. Col. Pilot Sarah Hamad Al Hajari, official spokesman for the Dubai Airshow 2021, said: “The second deal was signed with Progressive Technologies to purchase munitions supplements, including training, for the Air Force and Air Defense, which amounted to Dhs2,672,257,000.00.”
She pointed out that one of the deals of the first day was signed with the French company, Thales, to purchase communication systems for the Air Force and Air Defense, at a value of Dhs15,937,000, while another contract was concluded with the same company to purchase spare parts and maintenance at a value of Dhs16,709,754.00.
She explained that the fith and final deal on the first day of the exhibition was concluded with the US company, Goodrich Corporation, to provide technical support services and technical assistance and to provide spare parts for aircrat systems at a value of 66,114,000.00.
Major General Staff Pilot Ishaq Saleh Al Balushi said, “It is expected that this edition of Dubai Airshow will be more distinguished than the previous ones, given the number of countries and new exhibitors participating in the exhibition, where more than 1,200 exhibitors from 148 countries around the world are participating.”
He pointed out that the Dubai International Airshow 2021 plays a pivotal role in achieving commonalities in the aviation, aerospace and defense sectors at the global level, as it is a plaform that brings together leaders and experts from around the world for new partnerships, and paves the way for the sector’s recovery and future growth.
“We welcome delegations from over 140 countries atending this edition of the Dubai Airshow, which will help the global aviation industry chart a new course for itself in the post-pandemic phase. The event brings global aviation decision makers together to discuss fresh initiatives for the industry’s growth and development,” His Highness said.
“We have an opportunity to work together to speed up the recovery of the sector and explore new collaboration opportunities that will help it tide over the impact of recent global challenges. Our objective is to harness aviation technologies to help create a brighter future for humanity,” His Highness added.
Sheikh Mohammed also expressed his pride in the UAE and Dubai’s hosting of the mega global event, which reflects the country’s ability to provide a safe and secure environment for global events.
Sheikh Mohammed, along with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and Algerian Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Aimene Benabderrahmane, atended aerobatic displays presented by five teams representing the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and India.
Sheikh Mohammed receives defence ministers attending Dubai Airshow 2021; this is the first in-person aviation event since the pandemic.
The Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence announced that this year’s edition of the National Festival of Tolerance is especially significant as it coincides with the nation’s fitieth anniversary celebrations, as well as the global gatheringtaking place at Expo 2020 Dubai.
In presenting a series of strategic events, the ministry has partnered with key government partners and country and themed pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai to showcase to audiences from across the globe the importance placed by the nation on core values of tolerance, women empowerment, youth and creativity and interfaith understanding.
On Nov.16, marking the International Day for Tolerance, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, will announce the Global Tolerance Alliance initiative which aims to shed light on the United Arab Emirates as a peaceful and inclusive nation, ready to journey towards the next fity by gaining from others a wider understanding of the universal power of working together for the benefit of all of humanity.
The Global Interfaith Summit in its first world edition will have a strategic debut at Expo 2020 Dubai where prominent religious and government leaders and thinkers from all across the globe will be featured.
In partnership with the Republic of Italy Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, the summit aims to build bridges among those of different faiths of the world and strengthen fraternity through shared views on human values. The summit’s objectives is to bring to the fore the immeasurable power of the common word, dialogue and interfaith understanding with the aim of empowering tolerance values as bridges that transform the world for sustained human dignity.
On this occasion, Paolo Glisenti, Commissioner General of Italy for Expo 2020 Dubai said: “Italy is proud to host at Expo 2020 Dubai this historic global event which could help inspiring a multilateral inclusive vision for People and Planet.”
In focusing on the importance of youth potential, dynamism and creativity, the ministry will present on the 16th a Global Youth Forum in partnership with the Federal Youth Authority. This strategic event articulates the need for the world to engage and capitalise on the creative and resilient abilities of youth from all corners of the world. By invoking the combined talents of this most vibrant sector, the world reaps benefits that engages segments in society in productivity and sustained development for the benefit of all. This global forum shall feature world leaders who champion youth causes, as well as leading youth entrepreneurs who will share with their peers in the audience their inspirational stories of success and ways to overcome the fear of failure.
In co-organising the “Tolerance & Inclusivity for Women’s Rights and Empowerment” conference on Nov.17 with the Women’s Pavilion, and as part of Tolerance and Inclusivity week at Expo 2020 Dubai, this global conference explores key issues and challenges that present impediments to women’s progress all over the world. A deeper assessment of intolerance explores how tolerance and inclusivity are catalytic values that foster gender equality and women’s empowerment and are main ingredients to overcome challenges in fragile contexts worldwide. Keynoted by Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, this pertinent conference will include leading global thinkers who will explore challenging topics in a panel discussion format.
As youth and women continue to be a vibrant sector in society, the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, under the guidance and oversight of Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, pays great atention to their issues, Afra Al Sabri, Director General at the ministry said.
She stressed that the organising and hosting of two international conferences for youth and women within the National Festival of Tolerance and Coexistence calendar, emphasises the full seriousness of this approach.
The two conferences have garnered the participation of ministers and a number of international leaders and thinkers who have made great contributions in both fields, Al Sabri added.