Latest news with #Darak
Hi Dubai
16-06-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure Launches Initiatives to Support Senior Citizens
The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) has unveiled a new suite of initiatives titled We Are Your Support to enhance services and improve the quality of life for senior citizens and residents across the UAE. Launched as part of the Year of the Community , the initiative introduces integrated and personalised services aimed at reinforcing the status, stability, and well-being of the elderly population. Key components include the National Housing Specifications Guide for Senior Citizens, free housing designs via the 'Darak' platform, and voluntary engineering consultations under the 'Aounkom' programme. To ensure seamless access to these services, the Ministry has deployed dedicated advisors at service centres in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. Selected for their communication skills and cultural fluency, these advisors provide specialised support tailored to the needs of senior citizens. The initiative also offers gender-sensitive solutions. Women can now complete transactions from home through the 'Leen Babek' service, while men benefit from priority parking, smart service desks, and personalised follow-ups. Additionally, the 'Golden Counter' prioritises elderly visitors at all participating service centres. Workshops have been introduced to help senior citizens become more familiar with digital services, with direct assistance available when needed. Sharif Al Olama, Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, described the initiative as a reflection of the UAE leadership's vision for inclusive and human-centred services. 'Serving the elderly is a privilege and a gesture of gratitude,' he said. 'This initiative is a model of care and empowerment aligned with our commitment to deliver proactive, seamless, and people-focused services.' News Source: Emirates News Agency
Gulf Business
16-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
New initiative: How UAE is enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens, expats
Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes The UAE's Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure ( The initiative introduces a suite of innovative and integrated services designed to enhance the well-being, dignity, and independence of elderly citizens and long-time residents. Key components include the National Housing Specifications Guide for Senior Citizens, free housing design options via the 'Darak' platform, and voluntary engineering consultations in energy, electricity, and construction through the 'Aounkom' initiative. Dedicated advisors with experience in social services and fluency in local dialects have been appointed at MoEI service centres in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. They are tasked with delivering tailored assistance and managing exceptional cases with sensitivity. Gender-specific services The initiative also introduces gender-specific enhancements. For elderly women, the 'Leen Babek' service enables home-based transaction processing to ensure privacy and comfort. For men, increased mobility support includes reserved parking, smart service desks, and personalised assistance through to the completion of services. A 'Golden Counter' has also been launched at service centres to prioritise senior citizens' transactions, alongside workshops aimed at increasing digital literacy among the elderly and offering direct support with digital services when needed. We Are Your Support to empower senior citizens and residents Sharif Al Olama, Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, said the initiative aligns with the leadership's commitment to providing personalised, human-centred public services. 'We believe that serving the elderly is not just a duty, but a privilege and a gesture of gratitude toward a generation that contributed to building the nation,' Al Olama said. 'The 'We Are Your Support' initiative was designed to be a model of empowerment and care, delivering an exceptional service experience that reflects the appreciation they deserve.' He added that the initiative is part of a broader government strategy to eliminate bureaucracy and deliver proactive, seamless, and smart services that reflect the values of inclusion and respect for all community segments.
Al Etihad
15-06-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
MoEI launches ‘We Are Your Support' initiative to serve senior citizens, residents
15 June 2025 13:26 ABU DHABI (WAM)As part of the Year of the Community initiatives and in line with its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens and residents, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) announced the launch of a package of innovative initiatives under the title 'We Are Your Support'.These initiatives aim to deliver exceptional and integrated services that reinforce the status, stability, and well-being of this important initiative includes a range of essential services, most notably the launch of the National Housing Specifications Guide for Senior Citizens, free housing design options through the Darak platform, and voluntary engineering consultations in energy, electricity, design, and construction under the Aounkom Ministry has appointed a group of highly qualified and experienced employees as dedicated advisors for senior citizens and residents at service centres in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. These advisors are known for their strong interpersonal communication skills, fluency in local dialects, and professional handling of exceptional cases with care and initiative also respects the diverse lifestyles of elderly men and women by providing flexible and personalised solutions. For women, it includes the launch of the Leen Babek service, allowing them to complete their transactions from the comfort of their homes — ensuring privacy and men, mobility has been enhanced through dedicated nearby parking, smart service desks, and personalised support that follows up until service the initiative introduced the 'Golden Counter', a priority service desk at service centres exclusively for senior citizens and residents, ensuring top priority for processing their transactions. It also includes awareness workshops to familiarise the elderly with digital services and direct support whenever Al Olama, Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, emphasised that this initiative reflects the directives of the UAE leadership to improve quality of life for all segments of society, especially senior citizens and said, 'We believe that serving the elderly is not just a duty, but a privilege and a gesture of gratitude toward a generation that contributed to building the nation. The 'We Are Your Support' initiative was designed to be a model of empowerment and care, delivering an exceptional service experience that reflects the appreciation they deserve and aligns with the UAE Government's principles of providing human-centred, personalised, and proactive services.'He added, 'At the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, we continue to develop our services according to the highest standards, placing at the forefront the goal of eliminating bureaucracy and delivering a smart, seamless, and human service experience. This supports the government's goal of offering proactive, personalised services that enhance quality of life and meet the aspirations of all community members — especially our senior citizens and residents.' Year of Community Continue full coverage
Mint
12-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
India-US bond yield gap narrows to 1.88%: What does it signal and how to read its impact?
The yield gap between India's 10-year government bond and the US 10-year Treasury note has narrowed significantly, falling to just around 1.88% — a far cry from the 6.35% spread seen in 2014. The development comes amid a steady drop in Indian bond yields driven by easing inflation, a dovish monetary policy stance from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and improving macroeconomic fundamentals. The benchmark Indian 10-year bond yield was last quoted at 6.3014%, compared with 6.3069% in the previous session, while the US 10-year Treasury yield declined 5.4 basis points to 4.42%. This compression in yield differential has implications for foreign investor interest in Indian debt, particularly as US yields have risen on account of persistent fiscal concerns and policy uncertainties. Suresh Darak, Founder of Bondbazaar, noted that the narrowing yield gap makes Indian government securities less attractive to foreign institutional investors (FIIs), who are now seeking higher risk-adjusted returns elsewhere 'We should expect lesser FII inflows, and potentially elevated outflows unless the yield gap widens again,' he said. However, Darak emphasized that India's stable economy and robust forex reserves of around $700 billion cushion the impact of any outflows. Adding to the optimism, Darak observed that the RBI's recent 50 basis point (bps) repo rate cut to 5.5% may mark the end of the rate cut cycle. 'The yield curve has steepened serving the regulator's purpose as low short-term rates fuel growth, while high long-term rates reflect growth expectations. Conditions are stable now, and from here on we should expect rate hikes sometime in the future. Bond investors should consider shorter-duration corporate bonds (1–2 years), as long-duration bonds may underperform in a steepening yield curve environment,' he added. Despite concerns over diminishing yield spreads, Kruti Chheta of Mirae Asset Investment Managers sees the trend as a reflection of improved fundamentals in emerging markets (EMs), especially India. 'This narrowing is not merely a result of reduced risk premiums but highlights India's fiscal discipline, manageable debt levels, and inflation staying within the central bank's comfort range,' she said. Chheta contrasted India's improving macro picture with the US, where the fiscal deficit is at 6.4% of GDP, debt-to-GDP is around 120%, and $9 trillion in debt is due for refinancing in 2025. 'India has consistently met its fiscal consolidation targets over the past three years, with a fiscal deficit goal of 4.4% set for FY26. The debt-to-GDP ratio stands at a more manageable ~82%, and inflation has remained stable in the 4–4.5% range — well within the central bank's comfort zone. Furthermore, government borrowings have declined year over year, reducing the supply of government securities and contributing to a favorable bond market environment,' said Chheta. Puneet Pal, Head of Fixed Income at PGIM India Mutual Fund, expects another 25 basis point repo rate cut in the upcoming MPC meeting. He forecasts the yield curve to remain steep, with the 5–10 year segment likely to outperform. According to Chheta, while comparisons are often drawn between Indian government bonds and US Treasuries, the context becomes more compelling when looking at yields across other Asian economies such as China, Vietnam, and Thailand, where benchmark rates hover around 2–3%—significantly lower than India's. 'Indian fixed income, therefore, continues to present an attractive proposition, especially in light of structural reforms and long-term growth prospects. Since 2014, India's benchmark yields have declined from ~7.6% to 6.5%, and they are expected to trend lower as economic growth accelerates and the country captures a larger share of global GDP,' Chheta said. In the near term, the Indian bond market may witness subdued foreign interest, but improving domestic fundamentals, policy stability, and a favorable interest rate environment continue to make it attractive — especially for long-term investors seeking stable returns amid global uncertainties. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Identity
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Identity
TV Gems We Want Back on Our Screens
You know those shows you suddenly find yourself missing, ones you'd happily rewatch your favorite episodes from, even years after they first aired? Entertainment and prank shows, in particular, have a way of sticking with us. They built a lasting connection with their audiences, the kind that proves just how successful they were. The jokes, the unforgettable moments, the iconic one-liners you still catch yourself quoting without even realizing it. Here are four TV gems we wish would be back on our screens again with new seasons. Darak This show was a gateway to unforgettable moments with some of the most beloved actors, with conversations you could never get tired of watching. From Adel Imam's iconic episode to Ahmed Helmy's and everything in between, Ashraf Abdel Baky delivered what felt like a reality show with his own creative twist. Man Sayarbah El Bonbon You probably wished you were one of the contestants on his show when you were a kid, right? Ahmed Helmy truly left a lasting mark on children's television with this unforgettable classic. It set the bar incredibly high, with a level of spontaneous, unscripted humor that still feels unmatched. El Sha2a Hend Sabry's appearance as a host was undoubtedly well-received. She blended charisma with effortlessly genuine conversations, managing to keep viewers engaged even without sharing the same frame as her guests. The unique concept allowed for deeper, more personal glimpses into the lives of the guests, with sides we hadn't seen before and instantly loved. Helhom Benhom This prank show still feels iconic in every way. A host who managed to bring out the worst—yet funniest—reactions from his guests was a twist no one saw coming, especially compared to the typical Egyptian prank show format at the time. It's hard not to wonder what it would look like if it were renewed today, eighteen years later.
