Flying high

With travel returning to pre-pandemic levels and the much talked about investments in resources in this sector, Emirates announced that it will soon build an?advanced training facility?to accommodate 6 Full Flight Simulator Bays for its future Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X aircraft. The brand new, 63,318 sq. ft. facility is slated to open in March 2024.

Talking about flying high, Strategic Development Fund, the investment arm of the Tawazun Council, Abu Dhabi joined the?investment in Dronamics, the cargo drone airline with license to operate in Europe that raised a total of $40 million in pre-Series A funding from venture capital funds and angel investors from 12 countries. SDF venture capital division’s investment in Dronamics is a step in the creation of a UAE-based joint venture that will expand its capacity and support the future establishment of operations in the UAE as one of the main hubs for the Middle East and North Africa region.

UAE-based SMEs in the industrial sector will soon be able to?access new financing solutions?and enablers following a MoU signed at the recently concluded IDEX and NAVDEX 2023 between the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Tawazun Industrial Park and the Emirates Development Bank. The defence sector is a priority industry for MoIAT, which aims to increase the contribution of the industrial sector to GDP to AED 300 billion by 2031, raise productivity, and create more job opportunities for Emiratis.

Talking of partnerships, Foodics, a MENA cloud-based restaurant management technology and payments platform, has signed a strategic agreement with the KSA-based, drive-through startup, n.go.?This integration?will benefit both Foodics and n.go customers, opening a new sales channel to drive convenience and enhanced customer experience.?

Finally, with COP28 being hosted in Dubai this year, VERTECO is offering?free water audits?to businesses occupying commercial properties throughout 2023. The announcement supports the UAE’s Year of Sustainability and its efforts to inspire collective environmental action thorough commitment to sustainable best practice. The Year of Sustainability solidifies the UAE's commitment to addressing current environmental challenges – including water shortages – and promoting sustainable initiatives.

Until next week, stay sustainable.