2009-11-22 19:18:11
WAM Abu Dhabi, Nov 22nd, 2009 (WAM)--UAE has strengthened its presence in the regional and international communications technology sector by providing advanced services at the local level and establishing successful cooperation and partnership relations with many of the major international institutions in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

The three national institutions "Etisalat", "du" and "Eliah SAT" work on providing the latest technologies in the sector of communications and information.

Etislalat has provided UAE with communication services to more than 600 destinations around the world; also it has direct contacts with 118 countries. In addition, the number of subscribers in mobile phones in the State exceeded 7.05 million subscribers, in the fixed-line 1.36 million and in the internet services 1.08.

Etisalat total value of foreign investments and strategic partnerships around the world exceeded AED 40 billion.

Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company "du" which launched its service in February 2007 has achieved strong growth in subscriber base and its market share reached 28 percent. Du also expanded its services to include 12 countries and signed agreements with more than 330 mobile services operators around the world.

Moreover, the total number of subscribers in mobile services reached 2.671 million subscribers while the total fixed-line services customers reached 248,000 clients at the end of the month September 2008.

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) was established in January 2007 to be the first national company of multi-purpose satellite, a private joint stock company fully owned by Mubadala, an investment arm of the Government of Abu Dhabi. Since being incorporated in 2007, Al Yah Sat has designed the region's first multi-purpose satellite system, based on extensive interaction with customers and research into their communication needs.

Al Yah Sat has developed customised satellite solutions for the government as well as the commercial sector in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South West Asia.

Thuraya Satellite Communications has launched the Thuraya- 3 satellite in the mid 2008 at a cost of $ 330 million. Thuraya offers satellite-based mobile telephone services to more than 170 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. And expanded subscriber base to about 250 thousand clients.

The UAE has given a special care to provide an advanced level of public services in health, education, housing, water, electricity, social welfare and human resources development. It has carried out multiple strategies to establish a developed educational system to keep pace with the latest educational techniques.

Since education considered being one of the major component of human development, UAE's general and higher education has witnessed a successive progress where the number of government and private schools in 2008/2009 has exceeded to 1350 with more than 700 thousand students comparing to only 74 governmental schools in 1971 with thirty two thousand eight hundred students.

Moreover, universities and higher education institutions have spread all over the country comparing to one university till 1977 in Al Ain. In addition to other 44 recognized universities and private higher educational institutions in which the number of students has reached to 47 thousand including international universities such as the University Paris-Sorbonne Abu Dhabi.

Over AED 9 billion were spent on education sector in the year 2009 to improving the quality of education in line with global standards.

UAE has worked hard to provide high-level health facilities, and apply best practices in the curative, preventive and services. In addition, UAE is keen to strengthen relations with international health organizations and specialized scientific bodies in various parts of the world in addition to the development of mechanisms for the exchange of medical and research expertise leading to developing health services in accordance with best international standards.

Nowadays, specialised medical centres spread in UAE along with diagnostic and therapeutic units, such as open-heart surgery, organ transplant units, blood dropsy unit for renal failure patients, the nuclear medicine, surgical endoscopy units and diabetes units besides other specialised sections.

The number of hospitals in UAE have reached 40 and more than 115 centers for primary health care, including 14 hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health and 67 centers in addition to 11 major centers for students' health and 10 centers for maternal and child care besides 110 units for maternal and child care within the primary health care centers and other hospitals in addition to thousands of private medical clinics compared with 7 hospitals and 12 health care centers at the establishment of the federation in 1971.

In 2009, the total funds allocated for health services reached to more than two billion 644 million dirhams in addition to the large budgets allocated by the local governments, other bodies and the private sector.

Tens of thousands of housing units built for the UAE nationals In the framework of the state's strategy and plans in respect of housing policy, UAE has given special care to meet the citizens' requirements and to assign them modern housing units suited their population characteristics and local environment in terms of urban design with the aim of providing them a decent life, social stability and a secure future.

In 2007, Ministry of Public Works and Housing will develop a national housing plan for the next twenty years, meeting the requirements of all UAE nationals. While Abu Dhabi government launched a new modern vision for UAE nationals housing based on the concept of residential communities as an alternative to the concept of public housing through the construction of 18 thousands modern housing units in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi at a cost of AED 33 billion.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Housing Establishment - which was founded in October 2006 - contributed with a capital of 15 billion dirhams in the provision of modern housing to meet the requirements of UAE nationals. Moreover, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai distributed land and housing unit with a total value of 9 billion dirham.

Sheikh Zayed Housing programme - which was founded in 2002 - has won the support of the federal government in its endeavor to provide suitable housing for UAE nationals with the aim of tackling the problem of housing over the next twenty years.

Moreover, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, has ordered the construction of 40, 000 villas for the needy citizens in various areas of the emirate within three to four years.

He also ordered to double the budget of Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme from AED640 million dirham to AED 1. 280 billion.

Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme announced that this support will fulfill the needs of 8 thousands people a year instead of 1500 to 2000 in previous years.

Investment in water and electricity in UAE exceeding AED 100 billion UAE has moved to privatize the electricity and water sector to attract large domestic and foreign investment along with implementing strategic projects in this sector fulfilling the growing needs of the population in cities, new housing units and industrial expansion.

The Ministry of Energy, the Federal Electricity and Water Authority and other local bodies in the emirate i.e., Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority carried on their plans in the implementation of large-scale projects in the electricity and water sector costing billions of dirham.

In 2008, the total investments value for Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority had reached more than AED 47 billions.

On the 14th of May, 2008, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority had launched its Five-year strategy plan which aims to develop the operational and financial performance to comply with the highest international standards.

The plan includes about 45 new projects, including 15 projects in 2009 projects in 2010, 10 projects in 2011, 5 projects in 2012 and 6 Projects in 2013.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has allocated AED 137 billion for the implementation of its decade strategic plan from 2006 to 2015 to keep pace with the growing electricity and water consumption as a result of urban and economic boom in Dubai.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority anticipated that the expected expenditure during the first five years from 2006 and until 2010 will exceed AED 50 billion to be distributed among electricity producing and desalinated water projects and to achieve horizontal and vertical expansion in transmission and distribution networks and other required facilities.

Esraa WAM/MN