The UAE is fast-tracking low-carbon economic growth to deliver new jobs, new industries and new revenue streams, said Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change.
He was speaking at the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week (Menacw2022). Dr Al Jaber explained that the UAE is adopting a comprehensive, balanced and proactive approach to climate action and the energy transition that delivers sustainable economic growth.
“As a young country, and a responsible energy leader, the UAE has always faced the future with a positive mindset, and addressed challenges head-on. This is why we stopped flaring 30 years before the World Bank asked the industry to do so. It’s why we achieved 0.01 per cent methane intensity 20 years before the global pledge asking for a gradual reduction. It’s why we began to capture C02 (carbon dioxide) on an industrial scale before the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) called it an essential tool for de-carbonisation. And it’s why we became the first hydrocarbon producer to power our operations with zero-carbon energy,” Dr. Al Jaber added.
He pointed out that the UAE was also the first country in the region to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement, the first to commit to an economy-wide reduction in emissions, and the first to announce a Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. The UAE has chosen to lead in these areas because it views climate challenges “not just as problems to fix, but as opportunities to seize,” he underlined.
While the world mobilises investments for a new energy economy and addresses the climate challenge, Dr. Al Jaber emphasised that recent events have “reminded us that we cannot simply switch off the current energy system”.
“We all need to recognise that the energy transition will take time and require sober, thoughtful planning. It is more evident now than ever before that this cannot be rushed. The push to divest from hydrocarbons has led to a supply crunch that is having the biggest impact on the most exposed. The clear lesson is that we should not adopt climate policies that lead to energy poverty. We need to keep investing in low-cost, low-carbon energy that can provide the baseload power that the world relies on,” said Dr. Al Jaber.
He had reiterated this message during his speech at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum held at Expo 2020 Dubai.
On climate finance, he said it can be an effective tool for climate action as he urged the international community to do more and fulfil the $100 billion climate pledge made to developing nations over a decade ago.
“The international community continues to fall short of the $100 billion climate finance pledge they made to developing nations over a decade ago. We need bold targets going forward and we need to start treating climate risks as potential global security risks.
“We have taken a partnership approach focused on projects in countries most exposed to climate risks because we know that local resilience builds global resilience. We have provided over $1 billion in climate aid to more than 40 countries. And our experience tells us that once concessional finance is there, private finance will follow.”
He concluded by extending the UAE’s invitation to governments, the private sector, financial institutions, and civil society to partner on solutions that make sense for our climate and the economy. He said, “We should not have to choose between the two. We can and we must make progress on both.”
The Mena Climate Week aims to accelerate collaboration and integrate climate action into global pandemic recovery. Other dignitaries present at the opening ceremony of this first edition included Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, minister of climate change and environment, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the World Green Economy Organisation (Wgeo) and MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa); and Patricia Espinosa, E
executive secretary of UNFCCC.
Resident families in the UAE can now apply for a free Fazaa discount membership as part of the country’s “Year of the Family 2026” initiative.
The programme, launched by Fazaa in collaboration with the Ministry of Family, aims to support family stability, strengthen social cohesion, and improve the quality of life for residents living in the UAE.
Here’s what you need to know:
Who can apply?
Resident families in the UAE are eligible if:
They live in the UAE
They have at least one son or daughter
The membership will remain valid throughout the Year of the Family 2026 and will expire at the end of the year.
What benefits do families get?
Members will gain access to a wide network of discounts and services, including:
Discounts at more than 34,000 retail outlets in the UAE and internationally
Offers on over 28,000 food and consumer products through Fazaa stores
Travel and accommodation deals at more than 500,000 hotels worldwide through the Fazaa Places service
Up to 70% discounts on entertainment and activity tickets through the Fazaa mobile app
Exclusive offers on various products and services
How to register
Families can apply online through the official Fazaa website.
Once approved, applicants can activate their digital membership cards, which can then be used to access discounts and services.
A dedicated support team has also been assigned to help residents with registration and activation.
Why is the initiative being launched?
The programme is part of the UAE’s Year of the Family 2026, which focuses on strengthening the role of families in society and promoting values of cooperation, stability, and community well-being.
Officials say the initiative also recognises the contributions of resident families who live and work in the UAE and play a role in the country’s growth and development.
Dubai has introduced a new system that allows government employees to formally challenge certain workplace decisions, following a decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The new framework, established under Decree No. (5) of 2026, creates a Central Grievances Committee that will review complaints from Dubai government staff regarding administrative decisions affecting their jobs.
What is the new committee?
The Central Grievances Committee is a body created to review appeals from government employees who believe an administrative decision affecting them was unfair or improperly handled.
A separate Grievance Adjudication Committee will examine the appeals and issue final decisions.
Who will be on the committee?
The committee will include:
A chairman and deputy chairman
Members with legal and human resources expertise
Representatives from:
The General Secretariat of the Executive Council
The Supreme Legislative Committee
The Dubai Government Human Resources Department
Members will be appointed by the chairman of Dubai’s Executive Council.
What decisions can employees challenge?
Employees may submit grievances against final administrative decisions affecting:
Their employment or legal status
Job roles
Working conditions
On what grounds can a complaint be filed?
Appeals can be made if an employee believes a decision involved:
Misapplication of the law
Failure to follow required procedures
Abuse of authority
Excessive disciplinary action
Lack of proper justification
How long do employees have to file a grievance?
Employees must submit their complaint within 14 working days after receiving written notice of the decision. Late submissions may still be accepted if there is a valid reason.
When can a complaint be rejected?
The committee may reject grievances if:
The issue falls outside its jurisdiction
The complaint is filed after the deadline
The matter has already been decided by the courts
The employee has no legal interest in the case
Are the committee’s decisions final?
Decisions issued by the Grievance Adjudication Committee will be final and binding on government entities. However, employees still retain the right to challenge decisions through the courts.
What else does the decree change?
The new decree replaces Executive Council Resolution No. (41) of 2015, which previously governed the grievances process for Dubai government employees.
The law will take effect once it is published in the Official Gazette.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced extended operating hours for metro, tram, and bus services during the Eid Al Fitr holiday, along with free public parking for the first three days of the celebration.
Dubai Metro’s Red and Green Lines will run from 5:00am to 1:00am the following day between March 18 and 21, while services on Sunday, March 22, will operate from 8:00am until 1:00am.
Dubai Tram services will operate from 6:00am to 1:00am from Wednesday to Saturday, and from 9:00am to 1:00am on Sunday.
Some changes will also apply to intercity bus services. Route E100, which usually runs between Al Ghubaiba Bus Station and Abu Dhabi, will be suspended from the afternoon of March 18 until March 22. Passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi during this period are advised to use Route E101 from Ibn Battuta Bus Station instead. Meanwhile, Route E102, operating between Al Jafiliya Bus Station and Musaffah, will continue running from March 19 to 22.
The RTA advised commuters to check the S’hail mobile app for updated schedules covering Dubai Bus and marine transport services, including water taxis, ferries, and abras.
Public parking across Dubai will be free from the first day of Eid until the end of the third day, although multi-storey parking facilities will remain chargeable. Normal parking fees will resume from the fourth day of Eid.
Several RTA service centres will also close during the holiday. Vehicle technical inspection centres and Customer Happiness Centres will be shut from March 19 to 22, while some smart customer centres and the Umm Ramool centre will remain open 24 hours. Services are expected to resume on Sunday, depending on the length of Ramadan.
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