Rulers offer Eid Al Adha prayers, meet well-wishers

October 16, 2013

Shaikh_Mohammed

Dubai, Oct 16: Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance; Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Shaikh Majed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; Shaikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and a number of Shaikhs offered prayers along with Shaikh Mohammed.

Shaikh Mohammed later received well-wishers at Zabeel Palace. Also present were Shaikh Hamdan; Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid, Shaikh Maktoum; and Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Speaker of the Federal National Council.

Ministers, dignitaries, top officials and members of Arab and Islamic communities in the country also offered Eid greetings, wishing good health for the UAE leadership and progress and welfare for the country.

His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, offered Eid prayers at Al Badee Musalla in Sharjah.

A number of Shaikhs, members of the Sharjah Executive and Consultative Councils and dignitaries also offered prayers with the Sharjah Ruler.

Later, Dr Shaikh Sultan received well-wishers at Al Badee Al Amer Palace, in the presence of Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah; and Shaikh Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. The well-wishers wished him good luck, more progress for the UAE under its wise leadership of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Their Highnesses the Rulers of the Emirates.

Greetings were also received from top officials, dignitaries, members of the Sharjah Executive and Consultative Councils, heads of federal and local departments, senior police officers, educational figures, tribal leaders, Emiratis and expatriate residents.

His Highness Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, offered Eid prayers at the Grand Eid Musalla in the Khuzam area of Ras Al Khaimah.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah; a number of Shaikhs, citizens and members of Arab and Islamic communities also offered prayers along with the RAK Ruler.

After the Eid prayers, Shaikh Saud and RAK Crown Prince Shaikh Mohammed received well-wishers at Khuzam Palace.

Greetings were received from Shaikhs, dignitaries, top officials and heads of local and federal departments and police officers.

His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah, offered Eid prayers at the Grand Musalla in Fujairah.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, offered prayers with the Fujairah Ruler.

Shaikh Hamad later received well-wishers at Al Rumaila Palace. Greetings were received from Shaikhs, key officials, dignitaries, heads of federal departments, top army and police officers, members of Arab, and Islamic and Foreign communities wishing him good health, and the UAE under the leadership of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, more progress and prosperity.

His Highness Shaikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, and Shaikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, offered Eid prayers at the Shaikh Zayed Mosque.

Shaikh Saud later received a group of well-wishers who came to greet him on the occasion of Eid. Shaikh Saud received greetings from Shaikhs, heads of the local and federal departments, senior officials, tribal leaders, Emiratis and expatriates. They all wished the Umm Al Quwain Ruler well, and wished more prosperity to the UAE. The Ruler also accepted greetings from senior police officers and officials.

General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, performed Eid prayers on Tuesday morning at the Zayed Grand Mosque.

Lt. General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President; Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development; Shaikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; a number of Shaikhs, senior military and civilian officials, members of diplomatic corps, and a group of Emirati and expatriates offered prayers along with Gen. Shaikh Mohammed.

General Shaikh Mohammed later received a number of well-wishers at Al Mushrif Palace.

Gen. Shaikh Mohammed also received and exchanged Eid greetings with Crown Princes and Deputy Rulers. He exchanged greetings with Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council; Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah; Shaikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah; Shaikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Mualla, Deputy Ruler of Umm Al Quwain; Shaikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman; Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Speaker of the Federal National Council and Abdullah Al Masoud, Chairman of the National Consultative Council.

He also exchanged greetings with a number of Shaikhs, senior officials and a number of senior armed forces’ officers, senior police officers, senior security officers, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international organisations, dignitaries, Emiratis and expatriates.

The well-wishers extended their greetings to the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, wishing prosperity to the UAE.

Gen. Shaikh Mohammed expressed his gratitude to the well-wishers, wishing more prosperity, security and stability to the UAE.

Shaikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, offered Eid prayers at Muzairah Palace Mosque, Liwa, in the Western Region. A number of key officials and dignitaries, Emiratis and expatriate residents offered prayers along with Sheikh Hamdan.

Later, Shaikh Hamdan bin Zayed received well-wishers at Muzairah Palace. Greetings were also received from top officials, dignitaries of the Western Region, military and police officers, Emirati citizens and expatriate residents.

Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, received church leaders and clergymen on Tuesday at Zabeel Palace.

They called on Shaikh Hamdan to greet him and Emiratis on the advent of Eid, wishing more progress and prosperity for the UAE under its prudent leadership.

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News Network
July 10,2020

Dubai, Jul 10: Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan has appointed Dina Amin as CEO of the Visual Arts Commission.

She will take the lead in implementing the ministry’s vision and directions in promoting and developing visual arts in the Kingdom and empowering practitioners in the field.

Amin is a leading Saudi specialist in visual arts and the international contemporary art field. She gained a bachelor’s degree in art history and architecture from Wellesley College, in the US, and also attended a collaborative program in architecture at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

During her career, spanning more than two decades, she has held senior positions in prominent international arts companies, including most recently Phillips, a global auction house for art, design, watches, jewels, and more.

She has also worked at Christie’s, one of the world’s most famous auction houses, employed in senior roles at the company’s international offices including New York, Dubai, and London.

The Visual Arts Commission is one of 11 new cultural bodies recently launched by the Ministry of Culture in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 reform plan to manage the empowerment and development of the Kingdom’s cultural sector. The commission will be responsible for managing and developing the visual arts sector to help achieve the ministry’s goals.

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News Network
July 1,2020

Riyadh, Jul 1: Saudis braced Wednesday for a tripling in value added tax, another unpopular austerity measure after the twin shocks of coronavirus and an oil price slump triggered the kingdom's worst economic decline in decades.

Retailers in the country reported a sharp uptick in sales this week of everything from gold and electronics to cars and building materials, as shoppers sought to stock up before VAT is raised to 15 percent.

The hike could stir public resentment as it weighs on household incomes, pushing up inflation and depressing consumer spending as the kingdom emerges from a three-month coronavirus lockdown.

"Cuts, cuts, cuts everywhere," a Saudi teacher in Riyadh told AFP, bemoaning vanishing subsidies as salaries remain stagnant.

"Air conditioner, television, electronic items," he said, rattling off a list of items he bought last week ahead of the VAT hike.

"I can't afford these things from Wednesday."

With its vast oil wealth funding the Arab world's biggest economy, the kingdom had for decades been able to fund massive spending with no taxes at all.

It only introduced VAT in 2018, as part of a push to reduce its dependence on crude revenues.

Then, seeking to shore up state finances battered by sliding oil prices and the coronavirus crisis, it announced in May that it would triple VAT and halt a cost-of-living monthly allowance to citizens.

The austerity push underscores how Saudi Arabia's once-lavish spending is becoming a thing of the past, with the erosion of the welfare system leaving a mostly young population to cope with reduced incomes and a lifestyle downgrade.

That could pile strain on a decades-old social contract whereby citizens were given generous subsidies and handouts in exchange for loyalty to the absolute monarchy.

The rising cost of living may prompt many to ask why state funds are being lavished on multi-billion-dollar projects and overseas assets, including the proposed purchase of English football club Newcastle United.

Shopping malls in the kingdom have drawn large crowds in recent days as retailers offered "pre-VAT sales" and discounts before the hike kicks in.

A gold shop in Riyadh told AFP it saw a 70 percent jump in sales in recent weeks, while a car dealership saw them tick up by 15 percent.

Once the new rate is in place, businesses are predicting depressed sales of everything from cars to cosmetics and home appliances.

Capital Economics forecast inflation will jump up to six percent year-on-year in July, from 1.1 percent in May, as a result.

"The government ended the country's lockdown (in June) and there are signs that economic activity has started to recover," Capital Economics said in a report.

"Nonetheless, we expect the recovery to be slow-going as fiscal austerity measures bite."

The kingdom also risks losing its edge against other Gulf states, including its principal ally the United Arab Emirates, which introduced VAT at the same time but has so far refrained from raising it beyond five percent.

"Saudi Arabia is taking massive risks with contractionary fiscal policies," said Tarek Fadlallah, chief executive officer of the Middle East unit of Nomura Asset Management.

But the kingdom has few choices as oil revenue declines.

Its finances have taken another blow as authorities massively scaled back this year's hajj pilgrimage, from 2.5 million pilgrims last year to around a thousand already inside the country, and suspended the lesser umrah because of coronavirus.

Together the rites rake in some $12 billion annually.

The International Monetary Fund warned the kingdom's GDP will shrink by 6.8 percent this year -- its worst performance since the 1980s oil glut.

The austerity drive would boost state coffers by 100 billion riyals ($26.6 billion), according to state media.

But the measures are unlikely to plug the kingdom's huge budget deficit.

The Saudi Jadwa Investment group forecasts the shortfall will rise to a record $112 billion this year.

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 12,2020

Riyadh, May 12: Saudi Arabia will impose a full-day lockdown and curfew across the Kingdom during the upcoming Eid holidays from May 23 until May 27, according to the Kingdom’s Interior Ministry.

Details are awaited

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