Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has invited interested climate action supporters and the public to register for the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week (Menacw), which will be held in Dubai from March 28-31, 2022, for the first time in the region.
This event is hosted by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the World Green Economy Organisation (Wgeo), and Dewa.
The four-day event will host several panel discussions and round tables featuring many ministers and experts. It includes virtual and in-person events and youth engagement activities.
Menacw 2022 is one of the first opportunities to advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and Glasgow Climate Pact adopted during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2021.
Menacw will inaugurate the regional climate weeks for 2022. It provides a platform for governments, cities, private sector leaders, financial institutions and civil society to discuss opportunities to build forward from the pandemic by identifying opportunities to enhance climate action. It will also assess climate action in the region, explore climate opportunities and challenges, and show innovative and ambitious solutions.
The event is organised in collaboration with core partners; United Nations Climate Change, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme and the World Bank Group.
Partners based in the Middle East and North Africa include the International Renewable Energy Agency, Islamic Development Bank, the League of Arab States Secretariat and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (Escwa).
Attendees can register for free on https://indico.un.org/event/1000424
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has imposed a financial penalty of Dh3 million on a local bank for failing to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.
The fine was issued under Article 14 of Federal Decree Law No. (20) of 2018 on Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organisations, as well as Article 137 of the Decretal Federal Law No. (14) of 2018 concerning the Central Bank and regulation of financial institutions.
The CBUAE said the penalty followed an investigation which found that the bank had not met regulatory requirements outlined in UAE legislation to combat financial crime.
In a statement, the Central Bank reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the transparency and integrity of the country’s financial system. “We continue to supervise and regulate all licensed financial institutions to ensure full compliance with UAE laws, regulations, and standards,” the authority said.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has urged transport operators to strictly follow regulations covering all modes of passenger transport, including chartered buses, tourist services, and international bus trips.
This comes after RTA completed over 15,500 inspections targeting operators in these sectors, as part of ongoing efforts to raise service standards and ensure safety.
“The inspections weren’t just about issuing violations,” said Saeed Al Balooshi, Director of Passenger Transport Activities Monitoring at RTA. “They’re designed to improve service quality and ensure operators meet the rules that keep Dubai’s transport sector running smoothly.”
Checks included verifying safety measures onboard and ensuring all required licences were in place. The RTA also teamed up with other authorities, including Dubai Police and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs at Hatta Border Post, to tackle misuse and irregularities in cross-border transport services.
Al Balooshi added that the authority is using new technologies to make inspections more effective by analysing violations and measuring the impact of enforcement campaigns. “Our goal is to ensure a reliable and high-quality experience for residents, visitors, and tourists, and to protect the reputation of Dubai’s public transport sector,” he said.
Residents and motorists in Abu Dhabi should take note: new Mawaqif paid parking zones have been activated in several areas across the city, Q Mobility announced on Thursday, July 10.
The newly introduced paid zones include:
Eastern Mangroves
Dolphin Park
Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street sectors – specifically at Al Khaleej Al Arabi Park 1, 2, 4, and 5
Al Qurm Plaza
The rollout of the Mawaqif system in these areas is now officially in effect, aligning with Abu Dhabi’s parking regulations.
Standard Parking – black and blue curbs:
Dh2 an hour
Dh15 for 24-hour parking
Premium Parking Abu Dhabi – white and blue curbs: AED 3 an hour
According to Q Mobility, this move is part of ongoing efforts to better regulate vehicle movement, ease congestion, and improve the overall efficiency of public parking across the emirate. The changes follow the completion of infrastructure upgrades such as curb painting, installation of directional and awareness signage, and public notifications.
The company has also encouraged drivers to make use of the Darb app for digital payment and to carefully follow posted instructions to avoid fines.
The expansion of Mawaqif is part of a broader strategy aimed at improving traffic flow and providing smarter, more streamlined parking solutions within Abu Dhabi Island and beyond.