Riyadh raids net more illegal workers

October 24, 2014

Riyadh, Oct 24: Riyadh police arrested 247 illegal workers on Tuesday in the Malaqa and Manfouha districts in the capital.

Acting on the orders of Riyadh Gov. Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, security officers arrested the workers in the two districts located in the north and south of the capital. According to an official, most of the workers in Manfouha were from Ethiopia, and the majority in Malaqa were from Yemen.

“Most of these expatriates were working as truck drivers, construction workers, taxi drivers and vendors. Others were freelancing in various other jobs,” the official said.

He said most of the pavement hawkers were illegal workers, who were also engaged in hiring out domestic workers to make extra money. The majority of those arrested were runaway workers whose residency permits had expired.

The Ministry of Interior had earlier advised illegal expatriates in the Kingdom to correct their status following the end of the amnesty period on Nov. 1, 2013 or leave the country.

The official said those arrested would be investigated and subject to fines and repatriation. Riyadh police in cooperation with the other wings of the security forces carried out the operations.

Meanwhile, the police in the Asir region arrested 109 illegal workers in two districts including Al-Namas. Abdullah Al-Hathan, police spokesman in Asir, said the crackdown was executed over the past two days. “It will continue in all parts of the region until the area is cleared of illegal expatriates,” he said.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, attracts millions of people from Asia and the Arab world, who find work as laborers, drivers, porters and housemaids. Expatriates account for around 9 million of the country’s 27 million population.

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UAE announces new 10-year Blue Residency Visa. Details here

News Network

May 17,2024

The United Arab Emirates has announced a 10-year Blue residency visa for individuals who have made exceptional efforts and contributions to protecting the environment.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who chaired the Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi formally approved this.

He said the move comes in line with implementing the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who had announced 2024 as the Year of Sustainability.

The Blue visa will be granted to individuals championing sustainability and the use of modern technologies in promoting the circular economy, and other relevant fields.

Sheikh Mohammed said the sustainability of our economy has become linked to the sustainability of our environment, and our national directions in this area are clear and consistent.

He also approved the National Youth Agenda, among several initiatives, instructing the Minister of Youth to prioritise five key areas: empowering youth economically, developing their scientific skills, reinforcing their national identity, enhancing their community contributions, and activating their role in representing their country on the international stage.

CEO of Artificial Intelligence

The Cabinet has approved the introduction of the post of CEO of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in all major federal entities, in line with the UAE's strategy to strengthen its position in AI.

“Today, we approved the introduction of the CEO of Artificial Intelligence role in all major federal entities, as part of the UAE’s strategy to solidify its position in the field of artificial intelligence,” the Vice President said.

The initiative aims to facilitate the integration of AI tools within these institutions, further advancing the transition toward a new era driven by cutting-edge technologies across federal entities.

University rankings

The Cabinet also endorsed a new framework for categorising higher education institutions across the nation. The forthcoming national rankings will assess over 70 higher education establishments based on the quality of their education, the employability of their graduates, the strength of their scientific research, and their collaborations with international scientific institutions.

The unveiling of these university rankings marks a significant stride in elevating the calibre of our higher education system and fostering transparency. It empowers families to make informed decisions, selecting the most suitable and exemplary educational pathways for their children,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

“During the meeting, we were updated on recent advancements in our national space sector, with our national cadres now comprising 38 per cent of personnel engaged in global space projects. Additionally, expenditure on space research has seen a 14 per cent increase."

"Our commitment remains steadfast in guiding our youth towards promising and pioneering sectors while safeguarding our environment and adopting leading international technologies within our government. Concurrently, we are dedicated to enhancing our higher education systems, ensuring a brighter future for our youth,” Sheikh Mohammed added.

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