Announcements

Afghan Laila Qiamudin wins this year’s annual IHC scholarship

Published

4 years ago

July 1, 2022

Spread the love

The International Humanitarian City in Dubai (IHC) and the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) have announced the laureate of the “IHC scholarship in the Master of International Relations” for the second consecutive year.
After a thorough review of 19 applications, Laila Qiamudin emerged as the laureate of the scholarship, given her academic performance, interest in humanitarian action, and the quality of her application essay. Qiamudin will receive full funding for UOWD’s Master of International Relations program.
The International Humanitarian City hosted the award ceremony in the presence of UOWD President Professor Mohamed Salem and Dr. William Gueraiche, Program Director of the Master of International Relations.
The scholarship is available yearly, the result of a partnership between IHC and UOWD to offer an in-depth understanding of the relations between nations and regions across areas such as globalization, diplomacy, economics, international law, labor migration, culture, media, environment, and security within the context of humanitarian work.
The announcement of the award comes at a time when the world is facing increasing challenges in addressing multiple enduring and emerging humanitarian crises.
“This is a whole-of-IHC endeavor to promote excellence in the humanitarian field by providing access to knowledge and expertise in line with the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Giuseppe Saba, CEO of IHC. “Education and humanitarian work are a key foundation of the UAE leadership’s vision, and this partnership mirrors our commitment to it. As a pioneering humanitarian hub in Dubai and a key international humanitarian assistance facilitator, we support the efforts of the whole aid community in emergency preparedness and response, innovation, and sustainable actions. We also aim to develop future leaders in the humanitarian field.”
Professor Mohamed Salem, President, UOWD, said: “This collaboration between a parastatal entity and a higher education institution is a way to deepen the SDG n° 17 (Partnerships for the goals). We have notably tried to promote one of its sub-targets, “effective partnership between the public and private sector.”. Indeed, since we began to work together, we have shared resources and experiences. Both our students and different members of the IHC community have benefitted enormously from this close cooperation.”
Dr. William Gueraiche, Associate Professor and Program Director of the Master of International Relations at UOWD, said: “The collaboration between IHC and Wollongong University has reached a new level. IHC has become a meeting place for professionals in the non-profit and higher education sectors. Sharing resources has helped both organizations to benefit from our diverse and complementary experiences.”
Laila Qiamuddin is an Afghan national. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UAE University in Finance and Banking. Upon completing her master’s degree, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. and work with renowned international organizations. When asked why she was so passionate about pursuing a career in the humanitarian sector, Laila said that it was about making the world a better place: “As a foreign child in a foreign land, I believe in diversity and creating peace and prosperity.”
In early 2020, the International Humanitarian City and the University of Wollongong in Dubai signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate and draw on academic and field perspectives to strengthen engagement in humanitarian work, given the ever-changing needs of the sector.
The partnership between IHC and UOWD facilitates the transfer of knowledge. It raises awareness about critical humanitarian issues as well as the humanitarian work of the UAE through IHC, the largest humanitarian logistics hub in the world.

Announcements

UAE announces early spring break for all educational institutions

Published

7 days ago

March 5, 2026

Team Headline

Spread the love

The Ministry of Education, along with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, on Wednesday, March 4, announced that the commencement of spring break for all academic institutions has been pushed forward to March 9, with the last working day to be March 6. Normal classes are scheduled to resume from March 30.

The academic calendar placed the spring break dates originally from March 16 and ending on March 29 which has now moved from March 9 to March 22. The change comes in light of the ongoing regional conflict, with the safety of students and staff at schools and universities as the highest priority.

Classes had transitioned to online learning at the beginning of this week as a precautionary measure for all students and staff, which was further extended up to the end of this week. Exams for students have also been shifted to a remote format, allowing them to complete their assessments safely from home.

Students, parents, and staff are advised to stay updated via official channels only, as the measures aim to protect the safety of all in the education sector.

(By Shura Kola)

Announcements

Inside The Plaza at Uptown Dubai: An open-air venue set to transform the city’s business and events scene

Published

3 weeks ago

February 20, 2026

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

In a city that thrives on bold ambition and global connection, a new landmark has quietly taken its place at the heart of Dubai’s business future.

DMCC has officially opened The Plaza at Uptown Dubai, a 21,000 square metre open-air destination designed to host everything from high-level corporate summits to large-scale concerts and community gatherings.

For UAE residents and business leaders alike, this isn’t just another development announcement. It’s a signal that Uptown Dubai is stepping into a new era.

A new gathering space in town

Strategically positioned at the centre of Uptown Dubai, The Plaza physically connects the iconic Uptown Tower with the district’s wider commercial and residential community.

Designed to accommodate up to 4,000 guests, the venue features advanced staging, lighting and digital display infrastructure, enabling year-round programming and rapid event turnover.

For Dubai’s fast-moving corporate ecosystem, that means seamless hosting of:

Global trade conferences
Finance and technology forums
Industry expos
Cultural performances
Community celebrations

In a city known for world-class event venues, The Plaza adds something different: scale, accessibility and integration within a thriving business district.

For UAE residents, the venue offers more opportunities for networking, collaboration and global visibility without leaving the city.

Next business hub taking shape

The Plaza’s launch comes as Uptown Dubai moves into its next development phase.

Currently under construction:

Two commercial towers (23 and 17 storeys)
62,000 square metres of additional Grade A commercial and retail space

Once complete, the full district will deliver:

538,000 square metres total gross floor area
232,000 square metres dedicated to Grade A commercial office space

What’s in it for residents

For professionals, it means:

More international events are hosted locally
Increased networking and industry exposure
Expanded commercial opportunities

For residents, it offers:

Open-air concerts and cultural events
Community experiences within a premium urban setting
A new social hub integrated into Dubai’s skyline

Announcements

Sheikh Mohammed appoints Abdulla bin Damithan to lead Dubai Ports body as DP World names new CEO

Published

4 weeks ago

February 13, 2026

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

In his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has issued a decree appointing Abdulla bin Damithan as Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation.

The appointment places one of the UAE’s most experienced trade and logistics leaders at the helm of one of Dubai’s most strategically important economic entities.

A Veteran in Ports and Global Trade

Abdulla bin Damithan brings more than two decades of experience in ports, logistics and international trade. He currently oversees DP World’s operations across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, managing ports, economic zones, marine services and trade solutions.

He previously served as CEO and Managing Director of DP World UAE, where he led strategic growth across key regional markets. He oversees Jebel Ali Port and Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza).

Bin Damithan joined DP World in 2001 and has since held several senior leadership roles, contributing to the company’s transformation into a global provider of smart trade and logistics solutions.

New Leadership Appointments at DP World

Separately, DP World confirmed the appointment of Essa Kazim as Chairman of its Board of Directors, alongside the appointment of Yuvraj Narayan as Group CEO.

Kazim currently serves as Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Chairman of Borse Dubai. He brings extensive expertise in financial and economic affairs, having held senior leadership positions across several national institutions.

Narayan, who joined DP World in 2004, has played a key role in leading strategic and transformational initiatives that strengthened the company’s global footprint.

Serving as Group Chief Financial Officer since 2005, Narayan has been instrumental in enhancing DP World’s financial resilience, operational efficiency and supply chain capabilities worldwide.