A FRANK & FULL FRIENDSHIP
TBY talks to Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, on sharing expertise, the UAE's role in stabilizing Somalia, and future bilateral relations.
BIOGRAPHY
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is the eighth President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, elected on September 10, 2012. Mohamud earned an undergraduate degree in technology from the Somali National University, and a master’s of technical education from Bhopal University in 1988. In November 2015, President Mohamud was awarded an honorary doctorate (DLit) from Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India. President Mohamud’s administration was the first to be recognized internationally for more than two decades. His election saw international faith in Somalia’s ability to transform into a functioning society rise significantly. Under President Mohamud’s leadership, Somalia has succeeded in returning 80% of the country to government control, claiming territory from al-Shabaab.The UAE was one of the first countries to establish a permanent embassy in Somalia. How would you assess the UAE's support for Somalia's stability?
Somalia emerged from two decades of civil war and instability when the current government was democratically selected in 2012. My government faced the double challenge of needing to rebuild a country with no government or service institutions in place, whilst fighting a terrorist group. In three years, Somalia has managed to regain control of 80% of its territory, establish basic but functioning government ministries, open schools and hospitals, re-establish trade links with various countries, set up a working Central Bank with transparent financial functions, and start to rebuild critical pieces of infrastructure, like roads and ports. There is a long shared history between Somalia and the UAE; we have always traded and have shared interests in the stability of the Arab-African relationship. The UAE was one of the first major supporters of Somalia. The UAE saw the opportunity inherent in establishing a strong relationship with Somalia, initially responding to key humanitarian and development needs in an environment that other donors saw as too risky. We salute the courage and humanity of the UAE governments in doing so. Since then, the UAE has provided a broad range of support to Somalia—but always for on-ground, practical, and tangible initiatives that Somalis feel and see. The UAE has provided extensive military and security support through training Somali soldiers and providing a military training academy. It has supported the resumption of public services, in particular in the health sector, opening hospitals and health centers.
Oil represents just 2% of Dubai's GDP, with the bulk of the economy comprised of tourism, retail, real estate, trade and logistics, and manufacturing. In what other areas could Dubai's expertise be of value for Somalia?
The UAE has set an extraordinary example of what can be achieved when a country combines visionary leadership, wise stewardship, and investment of its resources and insists on a quality approach to all it does. Standing on the balcony at a hotel in Dubai recently and gazing over the expanse of a city that basically was not there 25 years ago is the best energizer anyone could wish for. Economic recovery and empowerment is the key issue for Somalia—not just in order to be able to finance our own development and future, but also because ensuring that people have access to meaningful work and that get paid to do that work is the best investment a country can make in its security and stability. The UAE took a finite resource and turned it into something of infinite value. Somalia is blessed with a huge store of natural resources, from oil and gas to fisheries and livestock. We have the longest coastline in Africa, two rivers, and extensive agricultural land. We have excellent human potential, a very young, entrepreneurial population, and a highly educated and returning diaspora. When we combine our human resources with the natural resource potential of Somalia, I think there are unlimited possibilities ahead of us as a nation. So, apart from technical support in areas where the UAE has significant expertise, key for Somalia will also be learning from the UAE about rapid, self-managed, and self-funded economic development that suits the Somali context.
How do you see Somalia-UAE bilateral relations developing over the next decade?
The two countries enjoy a frank and full dialogue, and I am sure this will ensure that our friendship continues to grow. Insha'Allah, our strategic relationship will also become more balanced as Somalia continues to develop. I would hope that there will be less “take" in the relationship and more “give" from Somalia, not just in terms of trade and export, but also in shouldering regional responsibilities such as working to end extremism and positively contributing to the economic stability of the region.
A FRANK & FULL FRIENDSHIP
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Ibrahim Mohamed Aljanahi, Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer , Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza)
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Arif Obaid Al Dehail, CEO of the Departmant of Planning & Development , Trakhees
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Wissam Khoury, Managing Director, SunGard Financial Systems
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TBY talks to HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, CEO & Managing Director of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), on mitigating excess energy demand, new initiatives, and conserving water resources.
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Recent developments in the aviation industry mean that Dubai is well placed to benefit from increased passenger numbers—and an already well-established and international sector is about to accelerate its growth even more. Despite regional instabilities and the stubbornly low price of oil, the industry shows no sign of losing its pep.
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HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman & CEO, Emirates Airline & Group
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HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director General & Chairman of the Board, Road and Transport Authority (RTA)
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Yu Tao, President & CEO, China State Construction Engineering Corporation (Middle East)
TBY talks to Yu Tao, President & CEO of China State Construction Engineering Corporation (Middle East), on potential projects, doing business in Dubai, and the challenges the company has faced.
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Alharith Bin Salem Al Moosa, Vice Chairman and Deputy General Manager, Falconcity
TBY talks to Alharith Bin Salem Al Moosa, Vice Chairman and Deputy General Manager of Falconcity, on the inspiration behind Falconcity, current progress, and keeping up with the latest technologies and ideas.
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HE Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General , Dubai Health Authority (DHA)
TBY talks to HE Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), on key goals of the Dubai Health Strategy 2016-2021 and the booming medical tourism sector.
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HE Dr. Raja Al Gurg, Vice-Chairperson and Executive Director, Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA)
TBY talks to HE Dr. Raja Al Gurg, Vice-Chairperson and Executive Director of Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), on how the dynamic free zone model of Dubai Healthcare City is leading as a health and wellness destination.
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Majid Kaddoumi, Vice President & Regional Managing Director of Middle East, Africa, Central Asia & Turkey, Medtronic META FZ-LLC
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Privately Prospering
The education sector in Dubai is entering a period of rapid expansion, growing by 10% YoY, with new schools outpacing population growth. In 2015 alone, 11 new schools opened, including eight British, two Indian, and one Canadian school. There are already 173 private schools in Dubai, and by 2020, 80 new private schools are expected to have opened across the Emirate.
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Prof. Muthanna G. Abdul Razzaq, President & CEO, American University in the Emirates
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