From the Editors: Restructuring Dubai Municipality a sign of being future-ready

RESTRUCTURING DUBAI MUNICIPALITY A SIGN OF BEING FUTURE-READY: In yet another move to establish Dubai as the best city in the world to live, work and invest in, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday announced the decision to completely restructure Dubai Municipality. The restructuring is aimed at transforming Dubai Municipality into a specialised institution that will enhance its ability to keep pace with global changes in areas of environment, climate change, circular economy and ensure better cohesion in its partnerships with the private sector. The restructuring will create economic opportunities worth Dh10 billion over the next five years. Dubai Council also approved restructuring of Dubai Land Department with the aim to enhance the emirate’s competitive edge in the real estate sector. These are all immensely significant policy decisions that yet again confirm that when it comes to be future-ready, Dubai and the UAE are always a step ahead. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

EMIRATES – AND DUBAI’S – STATEMENT OF INTENT: Sure, the travel and tourism sector in the UAE is on the rebound, and there are a surfeit of data to support that. But there are other sub-themes that offer just as vivid an evidence as any of that turnaround from the pandemic. There was the chief of Emirates Group saying that the airline will start paying the $4 billion bailout funds extended by the Dubai Government from this year itself. This is as decisive a statement as any of a return of confidence, not just within Emirates but of Dubai’s as such. That the hard graft of 2020, when the city re-opened for business at the first available opportunity, the many reforms that continues to reshape the economy and society are meeting their mark. Emirates’ starting its re-payment is just part of that wider, virtuous circle. [COMMENT BY: Manoj Nair, Business Editor]

NBA IN ABU DHABI: ANOTHER FRONTIER FOR UAE: As a sporting hub of the region, the UAE has very much covered all the frontiers in terms of hosting world class sporting events – be it football, cricket, tennis, golf, rugby, UFC, horseracing and Formula One. If NBA was a somewhat unchartered territory till now, the inaugural NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 on October 6 and 8 this year ushered in some great news for the big pockets of basketball fans across the country on Tuesday. Reigning champions Milwaukee Bucks will play two pre-season games against the Atlanta Hawks as a part of a groundbreaking multi-year partnership between DCT Abu Dhabi and the NBA. There have been the odd visits by NBA stars (the late Kobe Bryant was here for clinics) while former players have graced the courts as Harlem Globetrotters, but it will be serious business this time! [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

ALL EYES ON EUROVISION: The kitsch costumes, the frenzied fans and the music that is at the very core of Eurovision is ready for another night of extravaganza as the annual event heads to Turin, Italy this year for the grand finale on May 14. But that doesn’t mean we need to wait with bated breath for the madness to begin. The first of two semi-finals already kicked off on Tuesday night and if you wanted to throw something at the TV because Albania didn’t make the cut, then hold on until Thursday’s second semi-final or simply watch the main event and root or Italy’s Mahmood and Blanco. The duo, who are hoping to repeat the success of last year’s win with their song ‘Brividi’, already have Arab fans rooting for them with thanks to Mahmood’s Egyptian heritage - his father is from the country while his mother is Italian. Irrespective of who wins, in the madness of the world around us, all we need is to come together in a celebration of music. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]