Arab Irish Chamber Magazine

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08 Welcome

Welcome note from Ahmad Younis, Secretary General & CEO, Arab Irish Chamber of Commerce.

11 A Meeting of Minds

Stephen Twomey, Enterprise Ireland Director UAE, speaks of the mutually beneficial relationship between Ireland and the Gulf States.

24 Discover Qatar

A tiny state that punches well above its weight, all eyes on Qatar as it plays host to the 2022 World Cup.

32 Make it in the Emirates

A first of its kind campaign in the UAE to encourage investors, innovators and developers to ‘Make it in the Emirates’.

38 GITEX Global 2022

One of the world’s most influential events for the technology industry, GITEX brings together the best tech minds to deep dive into the Web 3.0 economy.

44 A Whole New World

The UAE is close to achieving its potential as a worldwide centre for the Metaverse with the leadership of Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.

49 Women in Business

GITEX 2022 shone a light on some of the world’s most innovative female entrepreneurs, innovators and business networks.

53 A Dream Location

With over 88% of residents from overseas, the UAE has much to offer. Living and working in the UAE is an experience like no other, and for many Irish ex-pats, it is a dream location.

59 Gateway to the World

Dubai is a global business hub that offers exciting opportunities and a conducive business environment. From hospitality hotspots to Gaelic Irish Games, Dazzling Dubai is a gateway to the world.

73 A Horse Nation

One of Shakespeare’s best-known lines, ‘my kingdom for a horse,’ sums up the love of all things equine in Ireland and the UAE.

Editor: Trish Phelan trish@devlinmedia.org

Head of Production: Joanne Punch joanne@devlinmedia.org

Copy & Editorial: Adele Land adele@devlinmedia.org

Contributors: Arab Irish Chamber of Commerce Enterprise Ireland

98 A Luminous Beauty

From staggering cliffs, UNESCO world heritage sites, verdant hills and crystalline lakes, Ireland is a country of breathtaking beauty.

110 Food for Thought

Ireland’s natural resources have been harnessed to develop a world-class agricultural industry that now incorporates traceability and sustainability into its offering.

128 Study Abroad

Education is not just about academics; it is about broadening perspective and discovering new worlds outside of one’s own. In this respect, the ability for students to study abroad opens their minds and hearts to learning and discovery.

Design: Dean Baker info@disenoinspirado.es

A Devlin Media production in association with the Irish Arab Chamber of Commerce.

While every effort has been made to make the information contained herein as comprehensive and accurate as possible, the publishers accept no responsibility for additions, omissions or errors. No part of this publication may be copied or used without the editor’s consent.

Welcome to the Arab-Irish Chamber Magazine

It is with tremendous pleasure that I welcome you to the Arab-Irish Chamber Magazine. Produced in partnership with Devlin Media, the publication focuses on the ever-evolving synergy between Ireland and the Arab World

The growth of Ireland's trade with the Arab World in recent years truly is a success story. Even in the challenging pandemic year of 2020, exports rose by 6.4 per cent year-on-year, making a significant contribution to Ireland's recovery. Judging by the latest available figures, that success story is not only continuing, but strengthening. Up to September of this year the value of exports to the region for 2022 grew in annual terms by over one third of a billion euros to reach €1.9 billion, some 21 per cent higher than in the comparable period for 2021.

This means that by the end of this year, exports to the Arab World will comfortably surpass the €2 billion mark. To put this in perspective, it means that as a destination for Irish exports, the Arab World is now on a par with Spain and twice as important as Poland, two sizeable and significant EU trading partners. Or, put another way, Ireland's exports to the Arab World now exceed those to the entire Nordic region of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.This underlines the success of Ireland’s policy of trade diversification, a policy that Brexit has made much more important.

In terms of increased value, Saudi Arabia has been the most significant driver of this success, with exports to the Kingdom rising by €117.4 million year-on-year over the period to €627.5 million. Growth to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has also been considerable and, considering the size of its population and economy relative to Saudi Arabia, even more significant, with exports rising by €99.3 million over the period to reach €447.8 million.

Together, Saudi Arabia and the UAE account for 32 per cent and 24.4 per cent, respectively, of all exports to the region. Oman, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, Algeria, Kuwait and Morocco also account for significant if more modest shares of between 4 and 7 per cent, with exports to Oman showing very strong growth at 175.7 per cent to reach €123.6 million. Exports to Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, Algeria, Kuwait and Morocco during the period were also considerable, between €80 million to 120 million, and exports to Bahrain and Lebanon, at €45.9 million and €29.4 million respectively, were significant bearing in mind the relative size of those economies.

Despite what looks to be a challenging year ahead, Ireland's outlook for export growth remains positive. The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office suggest that exports in the third quarter of 2022 rose by 4.8 per cent year-on-year.

TEAM IRELAND

Like many other parts of the world, the Arab region is a strong market for Ireland's hightechnology exports. But what needs to be emphasised is how, due to the Arab World's strong demographics, it is also a crucial market for Ireland's indigenous exporters, particularly in the food and beverages sectors. These latter sectors are more labour intensive and are relatively important for the economy outside of the Dublin area.

The uncertainty of the economic outlook makes it unwise to make predictions about growth outcomes next year. However, one thing is very clear; the Arab World remains a strong driver of export growth and one for whom vast untapped potential remains to be realised. The region's population now exceeds 450 million and is close to 6 per cent of the world's population. And yet

the share of Ireland's total exports absorbed by this region has, despite impressive growth in year-on-year terms, remained steady at between one and two per cent. So potentially, a strategy of growing Ireland's exports to a level proportionate to the region's share of world population – a strategy that is feasible when you consider the demography driven nature of much of Ireland's exports – could see Ireland grow even more rapidly than at present. It is good to see Enterprise Ireland and Irish exporters grasping this opportunity and "Team Ireland" is expanding its reach and presence in the region.

As they do so – whatever next year holds for Ireland's economy - the Arab World will continue to grow and offer exciting partnership potential to offset more challenging aspects of the economy's development next year. The Arab Irish Chamber is delighted to help your company reach its full potential in this land of promise and opportunity.

On behalf of us all in the Arab-Irish Chamber, may we wish you a very healthy and prosperous 2023, and we hope you enjoy our magazine.

The trading relationship between Ireland and the UAE has never been stronger and the AICC is keen to build on this success.

Ahmad Younis, SecretaryGeneral & CEO at Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce.

Ireland: Innovation at the edge

Innovation has always lived where ideas collide, where the new meets the old – at the edges. Which is why it nds a natural home at the edge of Europe, in Ireland. And why Irish companies are disrupting and transforming old ways and innovating at the edge of technology.

Enterprise Ireland invests in Irish innovation, connecting companies across the Middle East with transformative Irish technology to deliver on the region’s ambitions.

Connect with Irish Innovation at: Irishadvantage.com/the-gulf

A Meeting of Minds

Stephen Twomey, Enterprise Ireland

Director for United Arab Emirates talks to Arab Irish Chamber of Commerce magazine about the mutually beneficial relationship between Ireland and the Gulf states – a meeting of trade, hearts, innovation and minds.

BUILDING BONDS

The bond between Ireland and the Gulf region continues to strengthen as business relationships between Irish companies and their counterparts across the region deepen and extend. As Irish companies looked to diversify their exports into wider international markets, the Gulf region has become a significant market of great importance. Right across the region - local, public and private partners are seeking out the latest innovation from Ireland to enhance their productivity and provide new and additional services. This gives a competitive advantage to their own local, regional, and global marketplace and forms a perfect combination bringing together local ambition with Irish innovation and provides mutual economic benefits to all.

Through decades of investment in research and development (R&D), Ireland has produced a highly fertile innovation ecosystem leading to the creation of world-leading Irish companies and global partners are reaping the benefits.

If Ireland is the gateway to innovation, Enterprise Ireland is the broker - connecting global partners with cutting-edge solutions.

As demand for innovation increases across the board, Enterprise Ireland’s expert market advisors on site in the Gulf are working tirelessly to make the difference that leads to deals getting across the line.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Enterprise Ireland’s work involves supporting potential buyers to visit Ireland to see it for themselves - promoting innovation in action and an opportunity to play an active role in forging new relationships. Last month, Enterprise Ireland invited a delegation of 15 members of the ‘CIOMajlis’, representing a variety of companies across the public and private sectors from the UAE, to a tour of Ireland.

The seven-day tour aimed at facilitating discussions between UAE and Irish business leaders and offered presentations by influential technology experts with visits to several of Irelands most innovative companies. Personal visits such as these are crucial to establishing a greater understanding of what Ireland can offer in terms of innovative solutions and help to put into place beneficial relationships that lead to increased collaboration.

Ahmed Al Ahmed, Chairman of CIOMajlis recognising the great benefits of this tour, described Ireland as: “one of the stellar innovation hubs that is home to global bighitters from the world of technology.”

Ireland’s international business reputation and its competency in delivering innovative projects is no longer a secret and this is now widely

known and recognised by many across the Gulf region. This reputation is translating into solid sales and exports, with Irish companies increasing their exports to the region year on year, where the Gulf region can be seen as an Irish growth story.

Last year was a record year for Enterprise Ireland globally, with 2021 being the highest ever level of growth in export value – up 12 percent and valued at €27.29 billion ($26.7bn).

These record figures also reflect growth across a range of sectors, from equestrian feed, aircraft technologies, over-the-counter baby products, precision engineering, to technology and fintech. It is a very broad range of Irish companies that are active across the region.

Fintech is one of the Gulf region’s fastest growing sectors and Irish fintech companies have made significant efforts to capitalise on this rapid growth. In March, the Irish Fintech Innovation Showcase event, organised by Enterprise Ireland, was held in the Dubai International Financial Centre bringing together Irish fintech

companies with key stakeholders from the UAE and Dubai financial services sector to showcase their capabilities and explore ways to collaborate further.

With a line-up of senior speakers from the UAE’s financial sector including Dr. Bernd van Linder, CEO of Commercial Bank of Dubai; F. Christopher Calabia, CEO of Dubai Financial Services Authority and Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Business Development Officer at DIFC, the event also included a keynote address by Irish Minister Darragh O’Brien T.D., Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The visit by Minister O’Brien T.D. was part of a series of 60 global trade events organised by Enterprise Ireland to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day to boost business collaboration with international partners. The global events’ series marked the positive impact Irish businesses are delivering worldwide. As well as providing innovative solutions to meet global challenges, Irish companies are employing almost 1.2 million people internationally.

Minister Hildegarde Naughton met with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, H.E. Salah Al Jasser during her trade visit to Saudi Arabia.

TOP LEFT: Minister Darragh O’Brien TD led the Irish Fintech Innovation Showcase organised by Enterprise Ireland.

BOTTOM LEFT: Minister Naughton met with H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, during her trade visit to the UAE.

FLYING HIGH

In aerospace and aviation, the global impact of Irish expertise is profound. Ireland is a proven pioneer in global aerospace and aviation with an incomparable track record of advancing aviation over the last 100 years. Irish companies are making a major impact with a worldleading ecosystem spanning MRO, precision engineering, satellite technology, crew training, and international consulting in operations and revenue optimisation. Here in the region, Irish expertise is felt on the ground as well as in the skies. The Middle East aviation market is projected to record a CAGR of over 6 percent from 2022 to 2027.

Saudi Arabia currently accounts for a major market share. The country is undergoing progressive change and this change is driving market forces, particularly around the aviation industry. The privatisation of airports has played

a significant role in increasing the growth of the aviation industry in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, in the last two decades, the aviation market has witnessed substantial growth in terms of airport infrastructure. With the air passenger traffic showing signs of recovery and the Government offering financial aid, airlines in the country are now focusing on fleet expansion.

The country’s Saudi Aviation Strategy calls for tripling annual passenger traffic to 330 million by 2030, boosting the number of destinations to 250 from 99 at present and establishing a new flag carrier. This strategy is backed by $100 billion in government and private sector investments. The aviation strategy will mark the largest transformation of the aviation sector in the 21st century. It will target regulatory reforms, airport expansions, a launch of new airlines, connecting new routes, enhanced passenger experience and greater protection for consumers’ rights.

Minister Hildegarde Naughton witnessed the signing of an important multi-year contract between Mr. Nick Cole, CEO of daa International and Mr. John Pagano, Group CEO of The Red Sea Development Company.

Ireland has a longstanding relationship with Saudi Arabia within the aviation industry. Irish company, daa International has operated Terminal 5 of King Khalid International Airport since 2016. The company has recently been awarded two additional contracts to run and operate two further airports spanning Jeddah and the prestigious 12-year contract to operate the new Red Sea International Airport, one of Saudi Arabia’s key megaprojects. The airport, scheduled to open in 2023, is also set to be the region’s first carbon neutral airport powered by renewable energy.

Daa International will provide services to streamline the integration of green technology, waste and resource management in line with sustainability, safety and security requirements. The Red Sea Development Company and the Irish company are working together to attain the Airport Carbon Accreditation offered by Airports Council International Europe.

The multi-year operational and management contract for the Red Sea International Airport was recently signed between Nick Cole, CEO of daa International and John Pagano, Group CEO of The Red Sea Development Company and AMAALA. It coincided with the four-day visit by Ireland’s Minister of State for Transport, Hildegarde Naughton T.D., to Saudi Arabia and

the

International at Terminal 5 at King Khalid Airport in Riyadh and welcomed their role in developing the next generation of Saudi aviation leaders.

first-hand the work

FEMALE EMPOWERMENT

Across all daa International’s projects in the Kingdom, the company has led the way in female empowerment. More than 20% of employees in Terminal 5 KKIA are women, many in frontline positions. Women interested in an aviation career can avail of a partnership between Dublin City University and Princess Noura University which offer training by aviation experts and students can gain an industry perspective. The universities promote the aviation industry as an option for women who want to further their careers in a globally dynamic sector.

The role of women in the labour market was a key feature of the recent visit of Minister Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for International and Road Transport and Logistics. Minister Naughton heard from women in senior positions across government and industry, as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aims to boost female participation in the workforce to 30 percent by 2030.

United Arab Emirates to boost Ireland’s trade links. During the visit, Minister Naughton saw

of daa

In a sign of Ireland’s strong commitment to the Middle Eastern region, the last 12 months have seen an extensive round of visits by Irish Ministers for Dubai Expo, seeking to build ever closer bonds.

While in Saudi Arabia, the Minister also had the opportunity to meet with Enterprise-Ireland backed company WaterWipes, one of many Irish companies successfully operating in the region. With Irish products growing in popularity, WaterWipes are now stocked in thousands of stores, with sales growing 36 percent in the last year alone. The Minister also met with local distributor TAN Gulf, founded in 2015 and now boasting over 200 employees. The Minister spoke with founder and CEO, Mrs. Al Sahsah, who leads a hugely successful distribution company in food, beverages and cosmetics in Saudi Arabia.

In the UAE, Minister Naughton helped to boost trade collaboration with Ireland further and was joined by Irish Ambassador Alison Milton. During the visit to Abu Dhabi, she met with senior leadership at Abu Dhabi Ports, held a ‘Women in Business’ roundtable and spoke with leaders from Emirati and Irish enterprises. Bilateral meetings were held with H.E. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the UAE and H.E. Ohood Bint Khalfan Al Roumi, the Minister of State for Government Development and Future to explore future collaborations on trade and investment.

STRENGTHENING BONDS

In a sign of Ireland’s strong commitment to the Middle Eastern region, the last 12 months have seen an extensive round of visits by Irish Ministers for Dubai Expo, seeking to build ever closer bonds. These visits provide an excellent opportunity to enable real support in the business-to-business relationship which has been growing for decades and bring with it the mutual benefits of success.

At Government-to-Government level, there is a shared common belief with regional partners

that government can be the facilitator of economic growth, prosperity and opportunity. Relationships and collaborations such as these contribute to greater opportunities for nations to navigate the global challenges that exist today.

Irish companies are notably proud of the warm welcome they give to visitors to the region. There are significant similarities between Irish businesses and their regional peers in the Middle East - the level of family businesses in each country is one example. Many Irish companies are family owned, giving them a deeper understanding and appreciation of ways of doing business as an SME (Small to Medium Enterprise). Such relationships tend to foster trust and endure through the years that contains a high degree of flexibility and entrepreneurial spirit. This is an important factor for a business in driving a mind-set that is agile in its ability to overcome challenges.

Family businesses are renowned to have an open and forward-thinking vision toward the broader ecosystem, eager to impact positively and make a difference. For Enterprise Ireland, the importance of the business synergies between Arab and Irish family businesses are paramount. Both can bring together mutual assets to build trust, boost innovation, solve challenges, increase sustainability offer and transform digital capabilities.

Looking to the future, there is huge optimism for the opportunities to deepen the relationship between Ireland and the Gulf region. There remain significant openings to collaborate in driving forward economies, harnessing new partnerships and promoting new technologies to achieve even greater potential together.

Ahmed Al Ahmed, Chairman of CIOMajlis described Ireland as: “one of the stellar innovation hubs that is home to global big-hitters from the world of technology.”

Jones Engineering

Delivering a better world

In 2010 Jones Engineering arrived in Saudi Arabia to work with one of its major clients. Some 12 years later, the company’s Middle Eastern presence expands across five countries and growing.

Working primarily with a range of blue chip, multinational companies in the data centre, food & beverage and transport sectors, Jones Engineering has firmly put down roots here with offices in locations such as Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA); Al Khobar, KSA; Doha, Qatar; Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Al Seef, Kingdom of Bahrain.

LONG TERM RELATIONSHIPS

Almarai is the largest integrated dairy food company in the world. Established in the KSA in 1976, the company has facilities throughout the Kingdom. For over 10 years Jones Engineering has been conducting design, supply, installation and commissioning of mechanical, electrical and fire protection services on various projects for Almarai. Some of the facilities Jones has been working on include a New Infant Nutritional Plant, Modern Foods Bakery and Poultry Processing Plant in both Al Kharj and Ha’il.

Also in the food and beverage sector, PepsiCo is another prestigious company in the region

that Jones has been working with – PepsiCo is the world’s second-largest company in this sector. Jones Engineering Group installed the electrical and mechanical plant and HVAC systems in PepsiCo’s manufacturing and services facility in Jeddah in KSA. Work involved in this ‘Mega Project’ included completing design, supply, installation testing and commissioning of mechanical services to supply utilities to the beverage manufacturing facility. This incorporated the process of utility services running on modular pipe racks, which were fabricated off-site.

Jason Hanley, Director of Jones Engineering

Middle East described their ethos: “ The Jones Engineering Middle East delivery model focuses on our core business, delivery of mechanical, electrical and fire life safety systems. We have a design team and BIM teams located in Qatar and KSA. We employ a total of 410 direct staff in the region and have a major supply chain in the GCC. Retention and continuous development of our staff is key to our success.”

Jones currently has long-term contracts across 3 x 8MW data centres in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It is also executing a co-location data centre in Dubai, DX3.1 with future data centres commencing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from early 2023.

TRANSPORTING TO THE FUTURE

Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure is expanding, most notably in the area of transport. In the capital Riyadh, part of the royal family’s ‘Vision 2030’ plan involves reducing the country’s dependence on oil and pumping money into the transportation network. With a population of 7.5 million people in a city brimming with cars, there is currently no public transport systembut that is all about to change.

Thirty metres underground, Jones Engineering is helping to build Riyadh’s first metro and bus system. With a price tag of well over $20bn, the project encompasses six metro lines spanning a total length of 176 kilometres with 85 stations.

At the station known as ‘1b2’, the Irish contractor has been providing the mechanical and electrical aspects since 2018. Around 330 driverless trains are planned to travel along the lines over the coming years, carrying an estimated 3.2 million people a day. The system will be open to passengers towards the end of 2023.

This new metro system will run purely on electricity which means that the project will make a major impact on carbon emissions in the city. Initial projections estimate that the metro will drastically reduce the number of cars on the road which in turn will help with the country’s sustainability.

John Hartnett, Director of Jones Engineering said it was “prestigious” to be working on “one of the biggest metro projects worldwide”, and as the only Irish contractor to do so.

“I’ve been working in Saudi Arabia since 2010. We’ve done quite a number of projects in different sectors. We’ve worked across the country mainly in Jeddah, up in Ha’il and the eastern province as well and we’ve completed some projects over in Bahrain,” said Mr Hartnett.

DATA CENTRE DELIVERY

Jones Engineering teams have been successfully delivering data centre facilities across arctic temperatures in Sweden as well as to scorching deserts in Bahrain for over 20 years. The company is recognised as an industry leader in delivering hyperscale, enterprise, co-located data centres and mission-critical facilities, installing resilient infrastructure, and ensuring uninterrupted critical services.

One of the most critical skills Jones Engineering teams bring to the table is their ability to utilise improvements and innovations in technology and energy efficiency to keep up with market demand. The Jones cycle of continuous improvement allows teams to keep moving in pace with client demand as each new project benefits from the lessons learned previously.

“The KSA will continue to be a major focus for the Group, and there are plans for major expansions for data centre clients over the next five years and beyond,” said Director of Jones Engineering, Middle East, Mr Hanley.

In 2017 the company commenced work for a confidential multinational data centre client in Bahrain. To date it has delivered 20MW of IT load in various phases, most recently as a main contractor. Jones’s maintenance division has contracts across 3 x 10 MW data centres. The

TSS Division has been awarded a six-year framework agreement to directly support Qatar Gas in the development of the North Field Expansion projects which will grow QG’s output from 77 MTPA to 126 MTPA.

team has a combination of international data centre experience and local staff which offers the client a balance between local knowledge and key data centre experience.

The company also has a firm presence in the United Arab Emirates and at the end of 2021 delivered 16MW of IT load across Dubai and Abu Dhabi for a confidential multinational data centre client. The data centre maintenance division provides key experienced staff to the operations of the data centre facilities.

Jones currently has other long-term contracts across 3 x 8MW data centres in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It is currently executing a co-location data centre in Dubai, DX3.1. Completion of this 4MW Phase 1 build is scheduled for May 2023 with future data centres commencing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from early 2023.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT SOLUTIONS

Jones Engineering Group TSS Division has been awarded a six-year framework agreement to directly support Qatar Gas (QG) in the development of the North Field Expansion projects, which will grow QG’s output from 77 MTPA to 126 MTPA. The NFE and NFS projects will produce LNG, Condensate, LPG, Ethane, Sulphur and Helium for the world market. QG is expected to invest up to US$ 80bn between 2022 and 2027. The company is working closely with QG to provide the necessary expertise in executing multi levels of technical and management operations to achieve its ambitions.

Jones Engineering is also currently working with many of the main EPCs as packages begin to develop including the LNG process trains, LNG storage tanks, liquid and sulphur handling packages.

With a proven track record in providing support in engineering, procurement and construction, pre-commissioning, commissioning and startup in the O&G sector, Jones Engineering is focused on supporting its clients in the coming years.

“Jones Engineering Group delivers exceptionally high-quality installations on time and safely for key clients – repeat business is key to our

success and expansion. Mission critical projects are our key focus – data centres, oil and gas, life science and food and beverage,” said Mr Hanley.

A key project the company worked on is for Maaden. This project, of which investments reached US$ 7.5bn, lead to the growth of the largest phosphate mine worldwide. The total production capacity of the facility will be around 16 million TPA. It comprises two industrial sites - Wa’ad Al-Shamal Industrial City in Tareef province and Ras Al-Khair Industrial City in the Eastern Region.

The company was contracted directly to Madden and worked alongside Fluor (the Project Management Contractor) in providing technical support services associated with QA/ QC, pre-commissioning, commissioning and start-up, and operations.

Jones has already grown in both size and reputation, becoming a business with a turnover of €960m+ and resources of over 4,200 people worldwide. Its core value is the delivery of engineering through people, and the breadth of its team is unrivalled. Recruiting, nurturing and developing the best talent has been a cornerstone of the group’s development.

Thirty metres underground, Jones Engineering is helping to build Riyadh’s first metro and bus system. With a price tag of well over $20bn the project encompasses six metro lines spanning a total length of 176 kilometres with 85 stations.

EVERY DAY IS AN ADVENTURE

We delivered a 60MW data centre in the Netherlands faster than any similar sized data centre in the World

Working in extreme heat environments reaching temperatures of +40

Working on the Riyadh Metro spanning 176km long with 85 stations

When you map out your day does it include working with the worlds leading multinational companies delivering cutting edge life science facilities to improve global health or state of the art data centres that revolutionise digital working?

Is it time for a new adventure? You’ll find it at joneseng.com/careers

A Global Force

With a market valuation of US$447.63 billion, the MedTech industry is booming - and, with nine of the top ten MedTech companies based in Ireland, it’s clear that Ireland is the place to be for all things MedTech.

Relative to its small economy and a population of just 4.9 million, the Emerald Isle is a MedTech success story with FDI multinationals and startups developing innovative medical technologies. According to the Irish Medtech Association, Ireland is one of the most innovative countries in Europe, based on the number of patent applications filed with EPO.

One of the key driving forces behind Ireland’s success in the industry is a commitment at government level to funding, education and a highly connected ecosystem. Ireland boasts several world-renowned universities with a strong focus on healthcare. These universities deliver significant advancements to global scientific understanding and provide a pool of highly skilled talent and innovative thinking, without which no healthcare company could succeed.

“Ireland as a whole has a dynamic ecosystem where academia, industry, clinicians and government work together closely, enabling Ireland to flourish on the global stage,” says Sheila O’Loughlin, Enterprise Ireland.

As a result, countries outside of Ireland find collaborating with Ireland extremely worthwhile. Ireland can proudly cite the fantastic example of its BioInnovate Programme, which brings together academia, clinicians, and industry to work on identifying unmet clinical needs that could be solved with innovative medical technology. The significant impact of programmes like this in Ireland cannot only be measured by the number of new, exciting companies created but by the shared learning and experiences which benefit all team members. All participants greatly appreciate the other team members’ perspectives, equipping them to solve problems more efficiently in the future.

Funding is always an issue and to this end, successive Irish governments have been highly proactive. According to research, government grants are responsible for 70% of Irish MedTech companies engaging in research and development activities. In addition, one of the most significant state-backed grant initiatives is the €500 million Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) for small to medium businesses developing new products and technologies.

“We also have funding available from major Irishcontrolled venture capital funds,” adds Tom Kelly, Divisional Manager of Life Sciences, Enterprise Ireland.

The need for innovative medical products and fresh thinking has never been greater. The combination of ageing populations and the increasing prevalence of chronic health conditions such as Covid-19 are challenges that must be faced head on. Solving these challenges can only be achieved when people bring together skills, ideas and perspectives from different fields.

The importance of ‘acting locally, thinking globally’ in the formation of Ireland as a MedTech powerhouse is attracting medical practitioners and investors from all over the world. Ultimately, Ireland has all the essential elements to allow MedTech companies to thrive. By facilitating collective learning and access to capital, Ireland provides a fertile ground for its thriving MedTech industry.

Ireland has created a rich and vibrant MedTech ecosystem that plays a substantial role in the global industry.

Ireland as a whole has a dynamic ecosystem where academia, industry, clinicians and government work together closely, enabling Ireland to flourish on the global stage.

Established

in Ireland, MedFind Solutions

Specialising in procuring and supplying exempt medicinal products and licensed medicines, MedFind covers all therapeutic areas from oncology to rheumatology and respiratory to urology and transplantation, ensuring that every patient, regardless of their condition, receives the right medicine at the right time.

Owned and developed by an experienced team of pharmaceutical executives, MedFind truly understands the difficulties facing partners in sourcing medications.

With global manufacturing issues, supply chain logistical delays, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) difficulties and the global shortage of drugs, companies are faced with more challenges than ever before in providing their patients with access to medications.

Through MedFind’s deep collaborations with a global network of suppliers over the last few years, the company is primed to solve these pressing issues in sourcing and supplying medicines for its partners.

Through an efficient, cost-effective supply chain and direct access to manufacturers,

MedFind’s experienced team is leading the way in delivering a consistent and reliable quality service to their customers worldwide.

The combination of MedFind’s EU and UK footprint means that the company is strategically placed to offer access across geographies and mitigate against potential supply chain issues from the Dublin and London offices. In MedFind’s home markets of Ireland and the UK, the company supplies licensed and unlicensed medicines direct to hospitals and retail pharmacies. In tandem with this, MedFind has built an expanded network of wholesale partners worldwide, giving them global access to key markets.

The combination of high-quality service level, a diverse and strong portfolio and competitive pricing adds significant value to MedFind’s customer base, according to Founder & CEO Matthew Farrelly.

The key to MedFind’s success is that its size allows it to be agile and adapt to the ever growing and evolving market needs. “It lets us be efficient, flexible and meet the demand quicker than larger companies.” By the time bigger players adapt and react, we have the company supplied and the patient’s needs have been met.

business agile enough to adapt swiftly to everchanging patient requirements. This makes MedFind truly unique; we believe in closing the gap in patient access to effective medicines and niche therapies.”

The MedFind Solutions service offering is built on the trustworthy and long-lasting relationships cultivated over numerous years and according to Matthew, this is what makes the company successful.

“For everyone in MedFind, the ultimate benefit of everything we do goes to the patient, so their needs are always front of mind. We are committed to the efficient, timely and safe delivery of medications to our customers, no matter where they are in the world,” he adds.

MedFind Solutions work with a wide range of customers across its product portfolio and the wholesale distribution license means that the company is fully qualified to deal with partners

across geographies from Oman to Saudi Arabia, providing access to both unlicensed and licensed medicines.

Partnering and building established relationships with companies who share MedFind’s ethics, sense of integrity and commitment to patient-centric care is key to its value proposition. This also facilitates the company’s position in the market as a leader in sourcing and supplying specialist and niche unlicensed medicines, orphan drugs and other difficult-to-source medications.

Discover Qatar

Located on the Arabian peninsula, Qatar shares its only land border with Saudi Arabia. A semi-constitutional monarchy, the Al Thani dynasty has ruled the country since 1825. Sharia law is the primary source of Qatari legislation, although Qatar’s legal system is a mixture of civil and Sharia law in practice. Since its complete independence from Britain in 1971, Qatar has emerged as one of the world’s most important oil and gas producers.

The country has a population of more than 2.6 million, with the greatest density in the capital, Doha.

Qatar is fast emerging as a global business hub, where east meets west, and has been host to numerous conventions, conferences and exhibitions in various sectors. The state of Qatar allows entrepreneurs and developing companies the chance to work in a dynamic competitive economic environment with The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) providing the needed support for companies

accelerating their reach to markets and suppliers.

Since its successful bid to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup, the country’s infrastructure has vastly improved with expansions to roads and public transport, new shopping malls, expansion to the Doha Port, and significant advancements in technology and communication.

At times overlooked in favour of its glitzy neighbours Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Qatar is an excellent option for those seeking to experience

in

The tiny Arab state of Qatar punches well above its weight in terms of wealth and global influence and is fast becoming the new bucket list destination in the Middle East.

authentic Middle Eastern culture. Arriving from Europe is easy, with national carriers Emirates and Qatar Airways serving major cities along with other airlines, including Irish carrier Aer Lingus. The 6-hour flight time from Dublin is relatively short, and in no time at all, you can discover a land steeped in mystery.

HIGHLIGHTS

Qatar is rich in history and culture and Qataris are immensely proud of their heritage. Visitors can enjoy numerous museums and heritage sites as well as shopping for locally produced goods at the many independent retailers.

Eating out is a popular pastime in Qatar where unique dishes with influences from all parts of the world can be enjoyed catering to all budgets. National dish Machboos is well worth a try – a smoky rice-based dish served with vegetables and an assortment of meat, and Ghuzi – whole roasted lamb served over fluffy rice with Khobes Rgag flatbread.

Live like the locals by starting the day with some strong Arabic coffee served with dates, a symbolic expression of hospitality. Aside from

the smell of coffee brewing, Qatar is rich with other heady aromas, such as Bukhoor incense, and the staple ingredient of perfumes – Oudmade from a rare dark resin found in the agar (aquilaria) tree, known as liquid gold.

Hotel accommodation is plentiful and at the higher end of luxury with superb facilities. As the Middle East becomes increasingly popular with tourists, numerous cruise lines include Qatar on their itineraries, often with two-day layovers in port. Beach holidays in Qatar offer perfect relaxation with pristine sandy beaches and a wide variety of wellness resorts and luxury retreats.

Younger travellers are well catered for with a wide range of activities available. Experience the thrill of Dune Bashing as experienced drivers take you on a high-speed adventure across the sand dunes. Stay chilled at one of the numerous ice rinks, or visit Quest, Qatar’s newest indoor theme park, packed with high-adrenaline rides, including the world’s tallest indoor rollercoaster and endless virtual reality experiences.

The jewel in the crown is Lusail Stadium, inspired by the play of light on the fanar lantern with decorative motifs of art and craftsmanship from the Arab world.

Qatar is a great choice for business travellers with modern hotels boasting excellent corporate facilities and conference spaces combined with easy transport links to other parts of the Middle East.

Qatar experiences an excellent climate throughout the year, with the highest temperatures in the summer months of July and August. The country is ranked as one of the safest in the world and the health ministry implements the best practices in health and hygiene.

Qatar should be on any curious travellers bucket list with its many offerings, and with the buzz of Qatar22 in the air, now is the time to visit this fascinating country.

QATAR 2022

Qatar transforms into Planet Football this November as elite teams from 32 nations convene, competing for the coveted Jules Rimet trophy.

The country burst onto the global sporting stage in 2010 when it won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, beating favourites USA by six votes. The message around the bid was ‘attracting football to the Middle East’ in line with FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s aim to expand the game across the globe.

Immediately following the awarding of the tournament to Qatar, the country set in motion a turbocharged master plan to develop new infrastructure building eight state-ofthe-art, high-capacity stadia to host 64 games during the 18-day tournament. An eye watering $300 billion was spent on world-class innovative infrastructure including roads, public transport, hotels and other attractions. Football fans visiting for the tournament can expect luxury hotel facilities, modern public transport links, seamless communications and a host of non-football attractions.

An estimated 1.5 million fans - more than half the country’s population - are expected. Organisers hope it will put the country firmly on the map as a tourist and business destination long after the stadium lights are dimmed, boosting the economy and putting Qatar up there with its better-known Middle Eastern neighbours such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

PRECISION PLANNING

Downtown Doha, the hub of the action, will shut down for non-football activity during the event, with schools closing and businesses reducing activity to avoid congestion and allow fans to move freely between stadia.

The country’s compact nature lends itself to easy travel between stadia. To make things even easier, however, an app was developed to give fans information on how to travel to follow their favorite team.

In addition, the FIFA World Cup is accessible to all, with the transport network improved to recognise the unique demands of the tournament, ensuring a range of services and greater connectivity for people with disabilities.

ARCHITECTURAL GEMS

Each stadium is an architectural masterpiece in its own right, with a story behind the design. The jewel in the crown is the 80,000 capacity Lusail Stadium which hosts the final. This awe-inspiring stadium was designed with high temperatures in mind, positioned strategically to ensure the pitch will primarily be in the shade. The stadium is also a rich representation of the Arabic world, showcasing motifs of vessels, bowls and art

pieces from the region. Its design reflects the dance of light and shadows seen in traditional fanar lanterns.

When the world cup is over, in keeping with Qatar’s dedication to sustainable development, Lusail Stadium will be transformed into a community space of schools, shops, cafés, sporting facilities and health clinics.

The weather was a hot topic following the awarding of the tournament to Qatar. Since its inauguration in 1930, the FIFA World Cup has taken place in June and July (except between 1942 and 1950 when the tournament was cancelled due the hostilities of WWII). Due the intense heat in Qatar during the summer months where daytime temperatures can exceed 45c, a decision was made to move the 2022 event to November and December, which means the domestic programme in many participating countries had to be rescheduled.

ACCOMMODATION AFLOAT

Despite immense expansion in the hotel sector, the Qatari ministry is committed to ensuring all fans would be able to secure accommodation ahead of their visit. With this in mind, a deal was struck with Italian Cruise Line MSC, whereby two of its ‘mega ships’ will berth in the port of Doha. The brand new MSC World Europa and MSC Poesia will provide a combined 4,000 staterooms, acting as floating hotels with fans transported to matches and other attractions by shuttle buses.

Footballers’ wives and girlfriends are expected to be amongst the guests on the luxury liners, but it is unlikely that players will be allowed out of their protective ‘bubbles’ as their concentration will be on leading their teams to become World Champions.

Qatar2022 is all about the beautiful game, but visitors have a vast range of non-football activities to enjoy. Al Biddah Park will host family-friendly activities and music, with the opportunity to watch live games on the massive screens. The Corniche – Doha’s iconic 6km waterfront walkway - will be the place to see and be seen, with concerts, culture, over 150 food outlets, and people-watching opportunities on par with the tournament itself.

While every fan dreams of seeing their national team lift the Jules Rimet trophy on December 18th, Qatar2022 will leave a fantastic legacy on the country and lasting memories for those lucky enough to experience the hospitality and warmth of this Gulf State.

Each stadium is an architectural masterpiece in its own right with a story behind the design.

The official logo for the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup was revealed in September 2019, unveiled in the Qatari capital of Doha before being beamed onto the country’s key landmarks including the Burj Doha, Katara Cultural Village Amphitheatre, the Ministry of Interior, Souq Waqif and Msheireb along with Al Zubarah Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its creation follows the practice that began with the 2014 FIFA World Cup, as an abstract interpretation of the famous trophy.

The typeface created for the emblem evokes traditional Arabic calligraphy in a contemporary

THE MASCOT

The mascot for the FIFA World Cup 2022 is ‘La’eeb’ inspired by the keffiyeh, the traditional headdress worn by Arab men. ‘La’eeb’ in Arabic translates to ‘super-skilled player’, in anticipation of the hundreds of footballers about to land in the country.

The fun and curious La’eeb was unveiled during the Qatar 2022 Final Draw, which took place in Doha on April 1, following a tradition that

THE OFFICIAL POSTER

The Official Poster is on display at Hamad International Airport, where it will remain at Gate D18 throughout the FIFA World Cup 2022™. Everyone will have the chance to see the poster as they travel from and transit through Qatar.

This series of eight posters were created through close collaboration with prominent Qatari artist Bouthayna Al Muftah. The artworks combine to convey the values and messages of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ in a subtle, unique and relevant way – while remaining closely connected with local culture and heritage.

The main poster focuses on the football itself, featuring the agal – a traditional head

font, taking inspiration from the region and fusing tradition with a modern feel.

Besides echoing the shape of the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy, the emblem’s central form takes inspiration from a traditional woollen shawl while its swooping curvature depicts desert dunes. The emblem also draws attention to the symbol meaning infinity which is said to represent the “interconnected nature” of the event. The similarity with the number eight links perfectly too with the number of stadiums being used.

was initiated in England 1966. At the unveiling ceremony, an animated video was displayed, telling La’eeb’s story to millions of football fans. Commenting FIFA said, “La’eeb will be known for his youthful spirit; spreading joy and confidence everywhere he goes. La’eeb comes from a parallel world where tournament mascots live. It is a world where ideas and creativity form the basis of characters that live in the minds of everyone.”

piece worn in Qatar – alongside typography expressing the voices of a cheering crowd. Just like the game, the artist’s approach is raw and emotive, packed with palpable movement and energy. This approach aims to create a dialogue with fans, igniting all their senses.

Bouthayna Al Muftah’s practice ranges from painting, photography, printmaking and typography to large-scale installations and performance pieces. The inspiration behind her creative expression is the concept of collective memory, born through thousands of years of Qatari heritage, borrowing elements from folklore and the oral history of Qatar and readapting them to reflect her relationship with her land’s past.

Make it in the Emirates

It is an open invitation to contribute to the UAE’s industry and advanced technology strategy, ‘Operation 300Bn’ which aims to raise the industrial sector’s contribution to GDP from AED 133 billion to AED 300 billion by 2031.

The programme allows companies to benefit from the UAE economy’s unique value proposition by investing in future industries and exporting UAE products to new global markets.

The UAE’s industrial ecosystem is conducive to growth, as industrialists can easily access financial, advisory and technical support to establish and develop their businesses. Topping regional and global indices in logistics, transport and communications, the Emirates’ advanced infrastructure comprises ten civilian airports, 105 cargo companies, and 12 sea and commercial trading ports capable of handling

more than 17 million tonnes with a cargo capacity of 80 million tonnes annually.

The UAE ranks high in global indicators that measure economic performance and ease of doing business and enjoys a strong credit rating. The country’s legislative framework is considered the most advanced in the region, and its strategic location makes it a global link. From the UAE, it is possible to reach international markets spanning five billion people via flights that do not exceed eight hours.

A partnership between the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technologies (MoIAT) and Emirates Development Bank (EDB) enables industrial investors, innovators and entrepreneurs to receive significant financial and advisory support from EDB. The bank is the financial driver of Operation 300Bn and

Make It in The Emirates is a first of its kind campaign in the UAE to encourage investors, innovators, and developers to benefit from the facilities and incentives offered by the country’s industrial sector and to fulfill their ambitions of developing, manufacturing and exporting their products.

provides many services to industrial players. These include financing advanced technology and equipment, sponsoring machinery and equipment upgrades (especially those involving Fourth Industrial Revolution (I4.0 applications), green finance, business expansion, structured financing and capital investment, feasibility studies and business incubators.

TOP FOR TECH

A recent study finds that with some of the most thorough initiatives supportive of emerging technologies – blockchain, crypto, and AI –Dubai has garnered global attention. The Economist’s Digital Cities Index 2022 report ranks Dubai as first in the Middle East and 18th globally in a new ranking of most digitalised cities in the world.

The United Arab Emirates—96% of whose tech workforce is composed of immigrants— exemplifies the benefits of a well-planned, comprehensive strategy for developing a top tech hub.

In a report titled ‘Turning a Tech Hub into a Talent Magnet’, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) studied 11 tech hubs worldwide that continue to

thrive by attracting digital talent from beyond their borders.

“Successful digital hubs need lots of digital talent—an increasingly scarce commodity. The global shortage of technology workers will reach 4.3 million by 2030, and that was before the onset of Covid-19, which heightened the demand for digital services. The government of Dubai recognised this appeal early in the game, attracting tech experts from the four corners of the world,” said Faisal Hamady, Managing Director and Partner, BCG.

According to the report, a major catalyser in talent attraction is Dubai’s ongoing visa offerings which are a first in the region and further grounded the hub as one of excellence. These include business visas under which foreigners can obtain a long-term visa as part of the Golden Visa system, but also remote work visas and their assigned virtual working program for start-ups and entrepreneurs wishing to reside in the UAE, while working outside the UAE.

The survey also pointed to the fact that Dubai stands out as a leader in several areas by combining short and long-term levers. It has successfully attracted leading technology companies with an aggressive corporate tax rate incentive capped at zero and smaller tech companies followed, with UAE operations. Moreover, it boasts a UAE Golden Visa and a pathway to citizenship for international investors and top talent from around the world, providing them with visas for up to 10 years –next to a recent work visa scheme that enables employees worldwide to work remotely from the UAE. The one-year visa, considered the first of its kind in the region, allows entrepreneurs and talents to innovate in the UAE’s attractive business environment with access to all the necessary services, including world-class utilities and telecoms.

DIGITAL TALENT CHALLENGE

Several initiatives have been launched to attract talent with the skills needed by industries targeted by the government. These include agricultural technology within the city’s 10-point action plan for Dubai Future District - a new space dedicated to developing the future economy - and an AED 1 billion fund to support new economy companies that can power Dubai’s future growth. For the longer term, the government encouraged leading international universities to establish local campuses to attract top students and encourage the children of current workers to remain in the UAE for their higher education.

According to the ‘Turning a Tech Hub into a Talent Magnet report,’ a feature of successful hubs is a range of policy tools. Policymakers need a clear vision of their hub’s current strengths, the key industrial sectors they aim to develop, and the workforce they need. And Dubai has done just that.

The region’s leading tech hub, Dubai Internet City is home to Fortune 500 and a host of major global tech players. DIC offers businesses of all sizes the environment, platform, and tools required to innovate and grow. Its enabling ecosystem and infrastructure have become a magnet for the world’s most promising companies and brightest minds.

To attract new talent, select start-ups can avail of office space with two years free rent and health insurance for employees, all the while making it easier for incoming talent to attain work visas. Among other initiatives, it established incubators such as Dubai’s Area 2071 and recruited venture capital firms from around the world to establish local offices - a testament to Dubai’s commitment to act as a sustainable global centre of excellence.

Dipping or rather diving into the virtual world, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, directed the formation of a higher committee to prepare the Dubai Metaverse Strategy. It will enhance Dubai’s status as the best city in the virtual space, thanks to innovative services and its advanced regulatory and legislative framework.

Known as ‘the city of the future,’ Dubai’s progressive government has visionary plans and long-term strategies across AI, blockchain, 3D printing, Internet of Things (IoT) and concepts including Hyperloop technologies.

In the words of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, “The future belongs to those who can imagine it and execute it. It isn’t something you await, but rather create.

The United Arab Emirates—96% of whose tech workforce is composed of immigrants— exemplifies the benefits of a well-planned, comprehensive strategy for developing a top tech hub.

An Industrial Revolution

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, 4IR, or Industry 4.0, conceptualizes rapid change to technology, industries, and societal patterns and processes in the 21st century due to increasing interconnectivity and smart automation.

With the launch of a UAE Strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the establishment of the Ministry for Artificial Intelligence, the UAE has solidified its position as one of the most serious and robust jurisdictions for global technological advances and innovation.

Its leaders have embraced the potential for new technologies; for example, the country's largest financial free zones – Abu Dhabi Global Market and the Dubai International Financial Centre – have established advanced fintech ecosystems, ideal for start-ups and new business, cooperating alongside established businesses so that both sides can reap the benefits. The country also supports technology for Small-Medium Enterprises in the industrial sector and considers the latter the backbone of the economy.

In 2021, the UAE launched its industrial strategy, "Operation 300bn", a comprehensive 10-year strategic plan to establish the UAE's industrial sector as a success story of driving a sustainable economic model. More than 13,500

micro and small enterprises will benefit from financial and policy support through the newly introduced strategy, creating a subsidiary real economy.

The Abu Dhabi Advanced Technology Research Council, the first research council in the Middle East, was established to shape research and development for transformative technology outcomes. The establishment of the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is another action that contributes towards placing the UAE firmly on the map of tech-savvy nations.

SMART CITIES

A smart city is a municipality that uses information and communication technologies ( ICT) to increase operational efficiency, share information with the public and improve the quality of government services and citizen welfare. According to research compiled by Spain's IESE Business School, Dubai ranks 4th in the technology dimension for smart cities and number one for technology in the Middle East.

The high level of digitisation at private and public levels is integral in classifying the UAE as a nation that invests in growth and sees value in technology. Silicon Park is one example of how the UAE is positioning itself as a dedicated provider of technologically smart spaces that contribute to the happiness index of citizens and entrepreneurs alike. By bringing together people, data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the UAE is solving not only financial but also social challenges, such as the reduction of crime, the introduction of models of sustainable farming for underprivileged groups and the creation of more urban space for a better quality of life in the cities.

The UAE has also made remarkable progress in advancing specialised industries such as aviation, military, mining, renewable energy, and information and communication technology

through ground-breaking technology use. Research suggests that by 2030 the number of devices connected to the internet is estimated to reach 1 trillion globally, with the UAE alone expected to reach this figure by 2050.

As a transit country connecting the East and the West with a pro-business environment, the UAE has become a technology hub for the Internet of Things (IoT) in all applications enabling digital transformation in airports, cargo and logistics. In addition, with 100% nationwide smartphone penetration (5G now present) and a range of Government initiatives and strategies being implemented, the UAE is well placed to double the size of the country's digital economy in the next 10 years, which currently contributes about 4.3% of the GDP of the UAE, valued at AED 100 billion.

Known as the 'Silicon Valley of Europe', Ireland is the European base for some of the largest tech companies in the world. Adding €16bn to the economy each year, the nation is second only to the USA in terms of software service exports.

According to Mohamed Shahin, Senior Market Advisor at Enterprise Ireland MENA, the UAE has cemented its status as an ICT innovation hub by leveraging its strategic location, worldclass infrastructure, strong connectivity and business-friendly environment. As a result, global companies are setting up their headquarters in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, attracting new talent and sophisticated technologies to the region.

LIKE MINDS

Ireland, like the UAE, is putting tech innovation at the core of its economic strategy. Known as the 'Silicon Valley of Europe,' Ireland is the European base for some of the largest tech companies in the world. Adding €16bn to the economy each year, the nation is second only to the US in terms of software service exports.

Leo Varadker,

Irish Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadker, says: “We are an open economy and small; a country on the edge of the Atlantic and at the heart of the European Union; a

bridge between Europe and the USA, where the big firms of tech meet the world’s most creative minds, where cutting edge research and industry work hand in hand.”

Ireland and the UAE recognise the significant mutual benefits that arise from collaboration and mutually beneficial partnerships. Both nations are entrepreneurial by nature, a key factor in driving a business mindset that is agile and can overcome challenges.

“The hand of friendship extended by both countries is ever-present,” notes Conor Fahy, Regional Director for India, Middle East and Africa at Enterprise Ireland. “The relationship with Ireland is strong and enduring at both a Federal and Emirate level, and it is also continuing to grow further. Both governments continue to work closely together through the existing bilateral relationships to share best practices, build expertise and embrace innovation.”

Through government support, alongside a vibrant global pool of human resources and the various incentives that bring together the public and the private sector, the UAE is a frontrunner in technology, not only in the region, but also globally.

Gitex Global

Dubai was recently the digital epicentre of the world as it hosted the world’s largest tech show. International pioneers brought neverseen-before experiences and technological innovations to propel the next digital revolution to this Middle Eastern location. The event featured the latest developments and innovations in 5G, artificial intelligence, cloud technology, cyber security, FinTech, blockchain, data analytics and smart cities.

From Oct 10-14, 2022, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) hosted awe inspiring show bringing together more than 1,000 speakers and over 5,000 companies from 90 countries spanning 26 halls over two million sq. ft of exhibition space. The event welcomed an unprecedented 52% of new exhibitors who chose the show and the UAE as partner in their market access strategies. These included global tech companies Binance, AMD, Tencent and ByteDance.

GITEX presented the most empowering curation than ever before with seven multitech themes experimenting in the Metaverse,

a decentralised future of the internet and a sustainable global digital economy. The event wowed visitors with the largest and most immersive Metaverse experience across multiple sectors from music, fashion and sports to lifestyle and business.

The five-day event’s continued expansion mirrors the ambitions of the UAE and the region’s digital transformation movement, as government initiatives such as the National Program for Coders, the Dubai Metaverse Strategy, and Next GenFDI propels the UAE to the forefront of the global digital economy.

This is amplified by GITEX GLOBAL 2022’s new launches of X-Verse, sponsored by TMRW Foundation in collaboration with Decentraland, one of the world’s most immersive Metaverse journeys. It featured 28 experiential brands and Global DevSlam, the Middle East’s largest-ever coder and developer meet-up, which sold out to a global audience within two months.

His Excellency Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work

One of the world’s most influential meeting places for the technology industry, GITEX GLOBAL brings together the best tech minds to deep dive into the Web 3.0 economy.

Applications delivered the welcome note at the official press conference saying:

“GITEX this year is bigger than ever. It spans two million square feet with over 5,000 exhibitors from more than 90 countries, making this truly the world’s biggest tech show. This year, my office partnered with GITEX to ensure that we are not just showcasing technology but inventing and developing technology.”

His Excellency said that the UAE and Dubai believe in the power of globalisation and creating an ecosystem that allows people to thrive. He also highlighted how GITEX GLOBAL has continued to grow despite the global technology sector’s turmoil and uncertainty. He concluded his speech by reiterating that conversations at GITEX GLOBAL will create ‘sparks’ that will change the world.

GLOBAL REACH

UAE companies are making their mark on the global tech scene with their commitments in tech R&D and inventions, including Technology

Innovation Institute (TII), a leading international scientific institution and the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council. TII had a significant presence at GITEX GLOBAL showcasing AI and Digital Science, Directed Energy and Autonomous Robotics Research.

GITEX also unified the participation of 250 government entities leading strategic digital projects and public-private partnerships with Digital Dubai Authority and Abu Dhabi Digital Authority among the UAE government bodies advancing smart city and digital projects.

Speaking in the Middle East for the first time, Dr Tian Qi, Chief AI Scientist at Huawei Cloud, delivered an informative session on the new paradigms of Artificial Intelligence. Dr Qi focused on the value that AI can have for the scientific community, highlighting that AI can speed up computation time by a factor of at least 10,000 and can help better predict weather patterns and support in discovery of new medications.

ROBOTICS REVOLUTION

GITEX 2022 was packed with innovation and new technology, including a host of robots to be used on an industrial scale. While some were built with service in mind, others took on a more humanoid form.

Developed by Engineered Arts, the leading designer and manufacturer of humanoid entertainment robots, Ameca is the world’s most advanced, most realistic humanoid robot, representing the cutting-edge technology of humanoid robotics.

Ameca is a cloud-connected platform that multiplies the power of Artificial Intelligence with an artificial body where AI and machine learning systems can be tested and developed alongside Engineered Arts’ powerful Tritium robot operating system. This allows companies working on robotic research to test their products.

Ameca is remarkable with its smile, its ability to blink its eyes regularly, gasp in surprise, scratch its nose and even have a staring contest with its owner for fun, among other high-tech functions. The robot’s congeniality makes it perfect for fostering human to human connections in any Metaverse or digital environment.

Using its sensors, Ameca can track movement in the room. It is equipped with face recognition technology allowing it to scan a visitor and interpret whether they are happy, sad or laughing, so it can respond accurately.

A total showstopper at GITEX GLOBAL, Ameca drew visitors in droves to the e& stand. When asked if it uses lipstick, it replied, “I believe humans use lipstick, I am a robot.” When another passer-by asked if he could take a selfie with it, it replied: “Yes, I would like that!”

X-VERSE, one of the world’s most immersive metaverse journeys featuring 28 experiential brands

“GITEX this year is bigger than ever. It spans two million square feet with over 5,000 exhibitors from more than 90 countries, making this truly the world’s biggest tech show. This year, my office has partnered with GITEX to ensure that we are not just showcasing technology, but actually inventing and developing technology.”

Those who missed the chance at GITEX can now see Amica and all of the latest innovations that could change the world at the Tomorrow Today exhibit at the Museum of the Future in Dubai, which explores how designers, researchers, and corporations are responding to the world’s most urgent challenges.

AI TECHNOLOGY

Day 4 of GITEX saw Dubai Internet City, a member of TECOM Group PJSC and regional business and technology hub, announce that its newest artificial intelligence software R&D centre will be helmed by Intel. The first of its kind in the GCC, the research centre will help to advance the capabilities of Intel’s leading artificial intelligence software solutions.

Intel and the centre will collaborate closely with the artificial intelligence and software businesses in Dubai, connecting with the wider region to pursue partnerships. They will also create a robust knowledge-sharing platform on the latest AI trends, technologies, and solutions.

Intel will use its experience and industry knowledge to support cutting-edge AI products and services for Intel’s AI portfolio. The centre will work closely with the academic community to build a strong talent pool for future discoveries, benefiting from Dubai Internet City’s proximity to both Dubai Knowledge Park and Dubai International Academic City. Intel will also relocate AI experts from various global offices to bring international tech talent and skills into the mix.

Dubai Internet City has been the cornerstone of the U.A.E.’s economic and technological growth for more than 20 years now. Home to Fortune 500 companies, SMEs, start-ups, and entrepreneurs, the business district also contains 15 innovation centres that allow customers to establish specialized technological solutions for the region and better meet the needs of local governments and businesses around the world.

HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED VISITS GITEX

During his visit to GITEX GLOBAL His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was briefed on the latest developments in fintech, retail, education, cybersecurity, energy, utilities, and smart cities by Microsoft and its partners. The crown prince also viewed Dubai’s various attractions virtually through HoloLens 2, a device that has been designed through Microsoft’s partnership with Kagool. The device utilizes advanced Metaverse technologies to create a unique experience for tourists, allowing visitors to experience Dubai virtually using Microsoft artificial intelligence capabilities.

Sheikh Mohammed said that the world is on the verge of a new technological age. His visit to GITEX highlighted how knowledge-based economies would lead the charge into the future.

“A quick tour of the existing global technology companies confirms that humanity is in a historical transit stage towards a future

governed by technology,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter. “And its economy is made of knowledge, and its most important wealth lies in data.”

Sheikh Mohammed said Dubai’s hosting of the annual event reflected the UAE’s emerging role in shaping the society of tomorrow:

“The biggest ever edition of GITEX GLOBAL places Dubai at the vanguard of cities opening new horizons for innovation and shaping the future of technology,” he added in a statement carried by state news agency Wam.

“We have established strong partnerships with leading global technology companies spearheading innovation worldwide to make our vision a reality. The global entrepreneurial success stories that have emerged from Dubai demonstrate its ability to provide a fertile ground for technology innovators to transform their promising ideas into reality.”

THE FLYING CAR

Whilst flying cars aren’t yet in our skies, a number are in development. Chinese XPeng X2 successfully completed the first public test flight of its two-seater flying car at GITEX technology expo in Dubai.

The XPeng X2 lifts vertically off the ground using eight propellers, without need for a runway and is therefore suitable for built-up urban areas. The vehicle, designed to carry two passengers, is fully electric and its makers say it can rise through the air at around two meters per second and reach speeds of up to 80 miles per hour.

Although the test flight lasted just 90 seconds, according to Liu Xinyin, chief aviation specialist at XPeng Aeroht, the technology is close to being ready for public use with an anticipated launch date in 2024.

A Whole New World

UAE

close to realising its potential as a worldwide centre for the Metaverse with the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai.

The Dubai Metaverse Strategy aims to turn Dubai into one of the world’s top ten Metaverse economies as well as a global hub for the Metaverse community. The strategy seeks to contribute AED 4 billion to the national economy over five years and support the creation of 40,000 virtual jobs by 2030.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed underscored the importance of consolidating Dubai’s status as a hub offering the most advanced ecosystem for the Metaverse and as a frontrunner in adopting digital solutions globally, describing it as: “The next revolution in technological and economic fields which will impact on all aspects of life during the next two decades.”

The strategy aims to build on Dubai’s achievement of attracting more than 1,000

companies in the fields of blockchain and Metaverse. It prioritises education and training in the field of Metaverse and developing Metaverse applications to be used in Dubai government institutions.

3D VIRTUAL SPACES

Metaverse is an online, 3D, virtual universe connecting users in all aspects of their lives. Like the internet, it connects multiple platforms through a single browser.

The Metaverse is not yet fully in existence. Still, it is dubbed the future iteration of the internet that will allow users to work, meet, game, and socialise in 3D virtual spaces facilitated by VR and AR headsets. For example, instead of trying out clothes physically in a store or choosing them online, based on images, users can try them on virtually. Or, instead of visiting

The

is

the doctor directly, users can ‘visit’ the hospital and interact with a doctor in the Metaverse.

To demonstrate the technology, Italian fashion and design school Istituto Marangoni made its Middle Eastern debut in Dubai with a unique talent show at the landmark Museum of the Future. The show took place simultaneously at The Museum of the Future and in the Metaverse where avatars joined real-life models on the catwalk.

Nick Clegg, President of Global Affairs at Meta wrote, “It [Metaverse] is the next generation of the internet; a more immersive, 3D experience. Its defining quality will be a feeling of presence like you are right there with another person or in another place.”

METAVERSE + WEB3

Web3 is the third version of the web. After webpages and HTML text of web1, to blogs, internet pathways and social media platforms on web2, comes web3, which will integrate blockchain and cryptocurrency to create a decentralised ecosystem for its users.

Metaverse with web3 is a place where 3D avatars can spend money, play games and conduct real-world business.

A blog in Accenture states that the Metaverse, despite being completely virtual, “provides banks with a much-needed avenue to bring humanity back into banking and deepen connections with current customers.”

Commercial Bank International, a corporate and retail bank headquartered in Dubai, announced the official launch of its Metaverse location. The bank claimed to be the first UAE bank to have a presence in the Metaverse.

The premise is that one day we might do everything related to banking on the Metaverse. Users could meet a financial advisor, explore homes or other assets, withdraw money and make purchases in the Metaverse from the comfort of their own home.

Metaverse is a network of 3D virtual worlds focused on social interaction connecting users in all aspects of their lives.

E& UNIVERSE

UAE tech conglomerate e& (formerly Etisalat Group) launched its ‘e& universe’ at GITEX, hosting it virtually on Mars, at the ‘Arcadia Planitia’.

“Scientific research indicates Arcadia Planitia is a location most suitable for future life on Mars,” said Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO of e& and he explained: “According to NASA, it is one of the few regions where abundant shallow ice is present at relatively low latitude.”

He added that the project’s next phase will allow users to purchase digital assets, watch virtual concerts and sporting events, purchase NFTs (non-fungible tokens), and many other digital experiences that will be the first in the country and the region.

The other telecom giant, du, is working with the RTA on a digital twinning project for the Dubai Metro. “Another potential use we see

happening is in creating interactive workplaces for enterprises,” said Martin Tarr, Chief ICT Officer, du.

PUBLIC SERVICES

Medcare Women and Children’s hospital in Dubai has also stepped into the Metaverse, claiming to be the UAE’s first healthcare facility to do so. “We expect in the long-run, traditional telemedicine services to be replaced by a need for Metaverse interactions, allowing patients to receive a more tangible and collaborative service,” Alisha Moopen, Deputy Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare said.

For inpatient services, operations or longterm hospice care, the Metaverse could help customers check out facilities, meet doctors and interact with them before choosing a particular hospital, all without stepping outside the home. Healthcare-related Metaverse applications could also include virtual study options. For example, surgical teams may learn new procedures without being physically present in the operating room.

Members of the public in Dubai can interact with Ajman Police in the Metaverse, where avatars of officers will answer people’s queries. Ajman Police became the first law enforcement agency in the world to provide its services inside the Metaverse. At GITEX the Ajman Police General Command introduced a new innovative service called “Request for Sponsorship,” which enables the general public to contact the police remotely.

A RETAIL REVOLUTION

The first ever Metaverse Fashion Week was held in March in the virtual world of Decentraland. Big name brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Dolce&Gabbana, Elie Saab, Guo Pei, Etro, Jacob & Co, Vogue Arabia, Dundas, Cavalli and Paco Rabanne participated in the show.

We have 1,000 companies in Dubai currently working in this sector, which contributes $500 million to our national economy. We expect it to rise strongly during the coming period,” Sheikh Hamdan.

According to a BBC report that followed, the idea for retailers that an avatar can pop into a Metaverse clothing store and buy items to be sent out in the real world is ground-breaking. For the fashion industry the Metaverse opens access to millions of visitors for the right kind of engagement.

Italian fashion and design school Istituto Marangoni made its Middle Eastern debut in Dubai with a unique talent show at the Museum of the Future. The show took place simultaneously at The Museum of the Future and in the Metaverse, where avatars joined real-life models on the catwalk.

Ralph Lauren has partnered Zepeto, a South Korean social network app, to enable users to dress avatars from a selection of products, like a virtual fashion collection.

A VIRTUAL REALITY

While extended-reality gaming and social spaces have existed for decades, early 2020s technological advances and societal transformations brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic have pushed the development of the Metaverse to the forefront.

The development of more advanced and immersive 3D online worlds can benefit all aspects of society, from education and healthcare, gaming and entertainment to the arts, social and civic life and many other activities.

While the daily real-world applications of the Metaverse may still be some time in the future, the UAE is investing heavily in the technology, encouraging innovators, and making significant headway in this tech-enabled universe.

Members of the public can interact with Ajman Police in the Metaverse, where avatars of officers will answer people’s queries.

The Dubai Metaverse Strategy aims to turn Dubai into one of the world’s top 10 Metaverse economies as well as a global hub for the Metaverse community.

Announcing the extension of the acclaimed start-up brand, North Star, into Expand North Star, His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama stated that the UAE and Dubai have long consolidated their status as the international hub to set up and attract unicorn and leading digital companies from across the globe. This reflects the UAE leadership in creating the best ecosystem for entrepreneurs, tech-preneurs and start-ups to flourish and expand their impact on the world of AI and digital economy.

His Excellency Omar Al Olama said that Expand North Star 2023 would be a key platform for the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy to attract companies, while showcasing Dubai and the UAE’s competitive advantages and growth opportunities in a thriving digital economy:

“The event will offer an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs, innovators, and digital business leaders to connect with potential venture capital investors from around the world while international unicorn founders can share their inspiring success stories.”

His Excellency further noted that Expand North Star will act as a strategic catalyst to expand the future of the digital economy, reflecting what GITEX GLOBAL is to the global technology industry.

His Excellency Helal Saeed Al Marri, added: “As VC’s look to future proof their investments against the backdrop of global economic challenges, opportunities for start-ups to raise funds have never looked better. In partnering with the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, we will further augment the achievements and success of Expand North Star, leveraging synergies and networks with a shared mission to broaden the global start-up ecosystem, build relationships, and create more opportunities.

“As the new name implies, Expand North Star will ramp up the start-up entrepreneurship momentum, transcending geographic industries and intellectual boundaries as it looks to connect government partners, investors, and corporate accelerators with innovators and tech stars from every continent.”

A NEW CREATIVE FORMAT

Hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and organised by Dubai World Trade Centre, Expand North Star will present a new creative format to extend its engagements with venture capitalists, unicorns, scale-ups, start-ups, and key stakeholders in the tech ecosystem. This in turn will advance the continued expansion of GITEX GLOBAL and amplify its achievements.

The new concept start-up show arrives as the UAE enters a new phase of economic development catalysed by new digital generational technologies and innovation.

The digital economy is expected to be a major driver of the UAE’s sustainable economic growth, contributing nearly 20 percent to the country’s GDP over the next ten years.

New policies and initiatives are being put in place, promoting smart infrastructure that enhances the digital readiness of the UAE government to ensure business continuity. From IoT, AI, blockchain, Metaverse, or Web 3.0, the UAE has been at the forefront of adopting the latest technologies, which has benefited all sectors of the economy and society.

There are more than 1,400 start-ups in the UAE with an estimated value of $24 billion and a further 90 investment funds in the digital sector along with 12 business incubators. UAE companies also held the lion’s share of a record-breaking $2.6 billion in start-up funding across the Middle East and North Africa in 2021, achievements that underscore Expand North Star’s attractiveness to international startups to leverage the UAE’s vibrant network and expand their ambitions into broader markets.

Expand North Star will present more space and flexibility to engage and develop the international community with an even more creative and impactful programme from 10th to 12th May 2023. The showpiece event will be co-located with the inaugural GITEX Impact and Future Urbanism Summit & Expo, the region’s dedicated dual platform for techcentred sustainability investments and publicprivate partnerships.

H.E. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, DWTCA & Jiawei-Liu, CEO of Huawei UAE.

“In partnering with the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, we will further augment the achievements and success of Expand North Star, leveraging synergies and networks with a common mission to broaden the global start-up ecosystem, build relationships, and create more opportunities.”

Women in Business

GITEX

GLOBAL

2022 shone a spotlight on some of the world’s most innovative female tech entrepreneurs, with female-led start-ups raising new funding while female business leaders explored the use of emerging technologies to close the female start-up funding gap.

The Dubai Chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE Dubai) hosted the MENA finals of the TiE Women pitch competition at North Star Dubai to further empower female entrepreneurs. Alizar Tawil, the founder of online hijab clothing company, Ruuq, won the competition and received US$25,000 in equity-free cash from e& capital, the investment pillar of e&. Runnerup Hafsa Qadeer, the founder of ImInclusive, a digital hub designed to connect people of determination to inclusive jobs, received $10,000 from NB Ventures. This year’s MENA regional competitions saw over 200 applications from women-led businesses from 15 countries.

All five MENA finalists had the opportunity to participate in investor meetings with e& capital and Wamda as well as access to the GITEX Investor Lounge at North Star and will receive subsidized business license setup at Dubaibased tech hub in5.

WOMEN IN TECH

The Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) continued its support for women entrepreneurs at North Star Dubai 2022. SBWC has been the official partner for the “Women in Tech” category for North Star for the past five years and sponsored the $10,000 prize for the best female-led start-up.

Innovations by eight of SBWC’s innovative members attracted global companies, suppliers and investors, who explored partnership opportunities to drive their projects to new levels of success. Additionally, the selected members participated in the “Supernova Challenge”, a US$200,000 pitch competition organised in cooperation with the world’s thirdlargest fund for financing SMEs.

Main image: Moojan Asghari, Founder and CEO of Thousand Faces at Global DevSlam.

Bahrain’s Playbook, a network platform for women, won the SBWC-backed Supernova Challenger Fast Female Founder Award.

Founder and CEO Wafa Alobaidat said, “Winning this award means so much to us because it sets an example for women that shows it is possible to build a tech company, raise investment and grow. Tech is a boys’ club. So, thriving in this space is a privilege and honour. Our next steps are scaling, scaling and scaling.”

CLOSING THE FUNDING GAP

The first-ever Global DevSlam saw the launch of a global community-based investment club that aims to fund female-led projects focusing on the environment. Thousand Faces is a Decentralised Autonomous Organization (DAO) impact fund that uses eco-friendly NFTs to invest in four areas - female founders, educational programs in Web3, green initiatives such as carbon offsets and conservation projects and non-profit organisations.

Full female founder teams receive just 2.2% of worldwide VC funds; however, new technologies such as AI, Web3 and DAOs can open doors

to

Speaking at the launch, Moojan Asghari, Founder and CEO of Thousand Faces, said, “We are releasing 1,000 NFTs from our bank of 10,000 NFTs today and we are inviting applications. Any project and early-stage start-up anywhere in the world initiated by a female founder or a strong ESG impact can apply.”

Wafa Alobaidat, Founder and CEO of Bahraini start-up, Playbook.

TiE Women Pitch competition finalists.

more diverse groups and create inclusive, collaborative platforms.

Winning this award means so much to us because it sets an example for women that shows it is possible to build a tech company, raise investment and grow.

The Right Connection

Established in 2011, the Irish Business Network (IBN) provides a networking and educational platform for Irish professionals based in Dubai.

A network connecting Ireland to the region and the region to Ireland, IBN Dubai is a voluntary organisation supporting professionals living in Dubai and the Middle East region, who are Irish or have an affiliation with Ireland. It brings people together virtually and physically to create opportunity.

The IBN facilitates connections between individuals and companies to improve individual and collective capabilities and thereby help grow Irish-led and supported businesses. Sponsored by the AICC, the business network held its annual seminar on 17th September in the Caesars Palace Hotel, Bluewaters Island Dubai. The theme for this, the fifth seminar for the IBN, was Prosperity: Your Health, Wealth & Potential.

Each year has seen the popularity of this event grow, and this year was no different, with a full house in attendance to hear from speakers on this relevant topic. Keynote speakers included ex-professional footballer and businessman Niall Quinn who discussed his diverse career path to date and how leaving the world of football impacted him. He offered advice to members on how to navigate changes in their careers, move into different industries and achieve their prosperity in line with the theme of the event.

Presenter Eoin McGee of the hit RTE show “How To Be Good With Money” also took to the stage to deliver a session on how to manage finances efficiently. Eoin’s straight-talking approach gave the audience useful tips on how best to plan for the future and make the most of their time in Dubai.

Kris Fade, host of the biggest breakfast radio show in the UAE, gave a frank and honest interview with Augustus Media CEO, Richard Fitzgerald, opening up about his career journey and the importance of health and hard work in his prosperity.

The topic of health was delved into by a panel of expert speakers from the wellness industry, namely Julie Mallon from Nurture2Sleep, Victoria Tipper from 2be Limitless and James Miller from the award-winning gym, Embody Fitness.

Health as a topic was thrust to the forefront and the expert panel covered a multitude of topics including the real requirements of sleep, gut health, physical fitness and health for optimal performance.

Peter Turner, Senior Executive Coach, Partner and Head of Coach Training and Accreditation with 2b Limitless produced an energetic coaching session, giving seminar attendees an opportunity to network, develop their own coaching skills and identify their individual core strengths all in aid of Prosperity: Your Health, Wealth & Potential.

The day wrapped up with a lunch at the Caesars Palace hotel and a further opportunity for members and guests to network.

A Dream Location

For Irish expats, living in the United Arab Emirates is an experience like no other. Home to a wide range of nationalities, a nightlife to rival London or New York and zero income tax, the Gulf nation has plenty to offer.

There’s plenty to recommend about living in a country where the sky is always blue with vast stretches of sand, including the wonderfully named Empty Quarter (Rub’ al Khali), the largest continuous sand desert in the world.

While the UAE’s population is around 10 million, more than 88% of residents come from overseas (United Nations, 2018). Because of its diverse population, the UAE is home to all the international dishes you’d expect to find in a big city, including Indian, Italian, French and Japanese, and also serves up incredible Middle Eastern cooking. Immerse yourself in the Abu Dhabi and Dubai lifestyle and see what authentic falafel, curry and hummus really taste like.

There are many bonus features when it comes to working in the UAE. As well as a tax-free income, many companies also offer their

employees a housing allowance, contributions towards school fees, medical insurance, and concessions on air tickets to visit home.

While you may wish to take on bog snorkelling or jump on a cliff, coasteering while in Ireland, the UAE offers a raft of mind-blowing activities for all the family to enjoy. Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit holds an annual Formula One race; football and cricket are extremely popular and camel races in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain can easily compete with horseracing in Ireland with one added bonus, they often feature robot jockeys.

Camping takes on new glamour and adventure in these parts. There are desert safaris, dune buggy quad biking, and sleeping under the stars in the stunning natural surroundings of Fujairah beach; or visits to Liwa in the Empty Quarter with sandscapes straight out of a Star Wars’ movie.

COMPETITIVE PACKAGES

Companies here provide a highly competitive benefits package to entice the best personnel. Employers in the UAE frequently provide family permits, both flexible and remote working arrangements and educational allowances.

Technology, particularly AI, cyber-security, data sciences, digital, engineering and communication resources are high on the list for jobseekers according to a survey by jobs portal Bayt.com and market research company YouGov. Salaries are excellent and tax-free, so Irish workers have a huge incentive to expand their knowledge and skillset in a fascinating land of opportunity.

The UAE has always been a preferred location for nurses and now more so than ever. Overall employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 13 percent between now and 2031, resulting in about 2 million new jobs over the decade.

Irish-based CCM Recruitment is a specialist in nursing and medical staff and the company has been staffing hospitals all over the UAE for many years. Its list of happy clients and employees is expansive, with many happy stories to tell. Here Siobhan Henderson talks about her experience as a nurse in Saudi Arabia:

From shopping malls with mammoth aquariums and indoor ski slopes to soaking up the sun in style, Dubai is a Dream Location.

CCM Recruitment International - 30 years’ experience working with hospitals in the Middle East

CCM Recruitment International is well acquainted with what it takes to do business in the Middle East. Having spent the past 30 + years recruiting Nurses/Midwives, Doctors and Allied Health Professionals from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada to world-class hospitals in the Middle East. Join us as we ask current Director of Operations Breda Lanigan and Business Development

Gulmire Ablat about what it takes to be successful in the Middle East.

Can you tell us about CCM? CCM Recruitment International (https://www.ccmrecruitment.com/) is a licensed healthcare specialized recruitment company in Ireland with a long history and an excellent reputation. Since its establishment in 1988, CCM has recruited 13,000+ healthcare professionals mainly to hospitals in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and more. CCM's subsidiary in Australia also recruits healthcare professionals from Australia/New Zealand to the Middle East. CCM is part of a global healthcare service provider in Asia Pacific. MIMS is a leading healthcare media company (https://corporate.mims.com/) headquartered in Singapore which acquired CCM in 2019. MIMS was established in 1967 and is a drug information and solution provider for both healthcare professionals and healthcare institutions. It has a presence in 17 countries with 2.7 million healthcare professionals using its services, including recruitment services.

Why use CCM? CCM has been in the healthcare recruitment business for more than 30 years which has led to its extensive

knowledge and experience in international healthcare recruitment in the Middle East. We have a good understanding of different cultures, and our candidates are well prepared for integrating into new and diverse cultures aided by our In-depth knowledge and understanding of the recruitment process from end to end including sourcing of qualified candidates right through to successful onboarding.

CCM has handled numerous big projects throughout the years for our clients in the Middle East including new start up hospitals. Performance wise we have a proven track record in particular with the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi where we hired over 700+ Nurses and Allied Health Professionals over the course of 2013 – 2017. In addition, we have been working very closely with King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Saudi Arabia 20+ years and we are their main supplier for the majority of their western staff.

CCM’s leadership and teamwork provides a clear vision for our organisation and allows us to excel in the service we provide. Our staff are highly skilled professionals with extensive knowledge and experience both in health care and in recruitment. We have outstanding communication and organizational skills, and we pride ourselves on our attention to detail which sets us apart from the rest. The majority of our staff have been with CCM for a long time. 80% of our healthcare recruiters come from a nursing background with overseas

work experience in the Middle East, Australia, UK and USA. Therefore, our staff provide not only professional advice but can speak from their own personal experiences. We focus on quality of our service. Quality is an integral part of our process. We adhere to strict internal processes that are regularly monitored and audited by our experienced quality and compliance coordinator. We have automated processes using IT tools. We use tailor made Application Tracking System to store and manage the whole recruitment process.

Once a client come on board what is your process? We first assign an account manager and organize meetings with our client to understand their needs and verify their requirements. We prepare information and factsheet about the client and the country so our candidates have a better understanding of the job, client and country we are recruiting them to. Subsequently, we arrange webinars to introduce our new client and/or country to interested healthcare professionals from our intensive targeted marketing campaigns based on the recruitment needs of the client in addition to our own database. We source and screen candidates so as to provide only candidates who meet client requirements for interview. We arrange face-to-face or online interviews based on clients preference. Once job offers are issued

our specialized processing team commence processing and onboarding of the candidates. We provide weekly reports followed with weekly or monthly meetings with our clients to keep them updated about the status of candidates and recruitment. We regularly welcome our clients from overseas to Ireland, UK, and other parts of Europe for recruitment workshops and the CCM team visit our clients and candidates in person twice a year.

What your clients say about you? King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Saudi Arabia: “CCM has consistently offered a high quality and professional recruitment service; they know our business, are familiar with the very real complexities of recruiting for the Middle East and are always highly engaged with their candidates. Majority of our international staff come to us via CCM Recruitment, and we appreciate the diversity of knowledge and talent that comes with this ...”

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi: “CCM was totally engaged with the process. Their staff worked very well with our on-site recruitment office. In fact they were the best firm to complete files, conduct thorough interviews, schedule interview calls, complete medical exams and process the files. Largely because of the work at CCM put into meeting the needs of CCAD staffing, we were able to open the hospital on schedule…”

If you are in need of healthcare recruitment s ervices please contact us for information on how we can best support your recruitment needs. Contact us on: info@ccmrecruitment.com

A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE

I was recruited by CCM Recruitment International to work in Saudi Arabia. I spent almost three years there as an ICU nurse at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh. Initially, I planned to go on a three-month contract and return to Ireland. However, I immediately fell in love with Saudi and extended my contract right away.

I moved to Saudi with the hope of travelling and saving, both of which I did. When Covid hit, my travel opportunities outside the country were limited; however, Saudi has so much to offer. It was such a pleasant surprise to discover the beautiful, varied landscape in different parts of the country, particularly the stunning coastline along the Red Sea. No matter where I travelled, the Saudi people were always warm and welcoming. There was always an Arabic coffee and some dates on offer from the friendly locals.

Working as a nurse in Saudi is like working anywhere else in the world - medicine is medicine at the end of the day. Culturally, however, things were very different from what I was used to. While the transition to a new healthcare system was challenging at times, hospital management and staff were always very supportive.

From the moment you arrive in Saudi, you are well looked after. If there are challenges along

the way, there is always someone to help, whether it’s your work colleagues, hospital management or friends. There’s also usually a friendly neighbour if you find yourself wanting something.

Socially, I probably had more to do in Saudi than in Ireland! I joined the Naomh Alee GAA club and immersed myself in a huge social circle. There are endless activities and social events to get involved in – desert fun, all sorts of sports, dancing, shopping, parties…you name it and it’s there.

Saudi and the Middle East as a whole is a unique place. I have made lifelong friends, had the best (and most interesting) adventures and made memories I will treasure forever. My advice to anybody considering a move to Saudi is: GO! And pack for all occasions! Just like me, CCM will get you there.

Finding a satisfying job, learning new skills and living a great lifestyle are top goals for most people. For all of this and more, the UAE is open for business and offers its own ‘hundred thousand welcomes’ to Irish expats.

Manager Dr.

Dr.Gulmire Ablat (Guli) Breda Lanigan Director Of Operations Business Development Manager

First Class Recruitment

Arab Irish Chamber Magazine talked to Managing Director Paul Dooley about what his company can offer and how Firstaff has become so successful in the Arab world.

Firstaff was founded in Dublin in 1967 and has supported clients in the Middle East for over 15 years. Paul Dooley is a Director with the Irish Saudi Arabian Business Council, so he is very familiar with the region and has worked with many businesses operating in the KSA. “We provide world-class recruitment, headhunting and consultancy services to our clients and specialise in the following sectors: Aviation, IT, Banking, Military and Finance,” he explains.

The company began operating in the UAE through a client recommendation when it was approached to work with SAMA (Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency). “Although we had no prior experience here, the challenge excited me,” Paul notes. “The first project we engaged in involved sourcing international subject matter

experts to mentor and lead teams modernising IT systems in the Central Bank. We still work with SAMA today, and our success with this client was key, as it opened doors that led to us becoming trusted recruitment partners for many industry leaders.”

According to Paul, the key to doing business in the Middle East is an investment in client relationships and establishing a partnership of trust - characteristics that are particularly important to clients in the region.

“As with any client relationship, time must be invested to establish and build strong bonds and trust. Our company has gained an invaluable understanding of the culture and customs observed in this part of the world through extensive travel and engagement with clients in the Middle East. We are proud to say that the majority of our business in the Middle East comes via referrals from clients we have worked with in the past,” he explained.

2030 VISION

The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals include enhancing the Saudi private sector to create a vibrant society, establishing a thriving economy via diversification and investing in ways to position Saudi Arabia to enable global trade and competition. Tourism is at the heart of this vision and Firstaff is helping find Subject Matter Experts in areas including Destination Development, Marco Economics, Investment and Metaverse development.

Notable clients include the Ministry for Transport, Ministry for Tourism, DACO, Riyadh Airport, Saudi Electricity, Saudi Gulf, Flynas, Saudi Cargo, National Centre for Privatization, SAMA, Saudi Payments, SAMI, Saudia Airlines, SAVC, Saudi Electricity, Flyadeal and SIDF.

Key areas also include Aviation and Defence (classified) and Fintech, with Firstaff working in partnership with the Central Bank to develop a “sandbox” to understand and assess the impact of new technologies in the KSA’s Financial Services market.

A WORLD APART

The company has established itself well within the UAE, while still being Dublin based. That said, the Middle Eastern region is easily accessible and one positive of the Covid pandemic was the emerging focus on working remotely – something that is also on offer in the UAE for Digital Nomads. In addition, the UAE is a hub of technology and a world leader in

telecommunications so physical proximity is no longer a necessity.

Paul says that in today’s digital world, location is not an issue. Elements that cannot be automated, however, are reputation, consistency and trust. “Trust is a two-way street, and building it takes time and effort. From an employer’s perspective, Firstaff goes the extra mile to find the right person for every job, and reputation means everything.

“While based in Dublin, we deal with candidates from all over the world and the recruitment market outside Ireland is critical to us. We have many employer clients recruiting for overseas jobs and we are particularly strong for jobs in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.”

It is easy to see why Firstaff has become so successful in international recruitment. The team has a proven track record for successful recruitment drives across a wide range of sectors in the Middle East. “We spend time getting to know our clients and how they operate, which enables us to understand their needs and recruit the best candidate for a given role.”

Closing Paul adds: “From sourcing, screening and shortlisting, all the way up to offer and negotiation stage, Firstaff will go the extra mile in supporting clients throughout the entire recruitment process.”

The key to doing business in the Middle East is an investment in client relationships and establishing a partnership of trust - characteristics that are particularly important to clients in the region.

Gateway to the World

Village is a must-visit destination on Dubai’s social calendar –where the world comes together. Launched in 1997, the event runs from October to April and features an ever-growing number of retail outlets and entertainment to suit every taste.

This global adventure features concerts, shows, fun fair attractions, stalls and eateries. Some 90 countries or cultures set up shop at Global Village to showcase their local products within 27 pavilions and amongst more than 175 attractions.

Sample delicious honey from Yemen, shop exquisite carpets from Iran and Afghanistan, Argan oil from Morocco, engraved necklaces from Spain and dry fruits from Thailand. Each pavilion, from Egypt to Italy and Vietnam to Oman, transports visitors to the country through smell, taste, sounds, and colourful decorations.

Every evening artists from across the globe create a mix of wonder, music and comedy at the World Culture Stage. Thrill-seekers can enjoy high-octane, daring carnival rides and foodies can enjoy a mouthwatering fusion feast with tastes of international dishes at the many restaurants, cafes and street food outlets. Global Village is also home to the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! ‘Odditorium’ – a first in the region, this museum attraction has six galleries packed with fascinating artefacts, visual oddities and interactive exhibits.

The Snowfest Ice Rink is popular with all ages and abilities and the contrast between the warm Dubai climate and this winter wonderland is an exciting experience.

The best time to visit Global Village is early evening when the sun is about to set and the destination is beautifully illuminated. Traffic is quieter before 8pm and an evening spent at the open-air site with fun fairs and live shows makes for a memorable, exciting and relaxing time.

For those who plan to visit in the afternoon or later at night, Global Village is open daily from 4pm to 12am, with closing times extended by an hour between Thursdays and Saturdays.

Visitors should plan to spend at least two or three hours at Global Village to enjoy the experience fully. The destination covers some 17 million square feet and you won’t want to miss out on any of the attractions. Combine a relaxing evening of exploring and browsing the retail outlets with upping the energy, enjoying the carnival rides and finish off the evening with delicious food and drink treats from the catering outlets. Stay a little later on weekend nights and enjoy the spectacular fireworks displays.

The best way to arrive at Global Village is by car or taxi and there is ample parking for this large destination. The entrance fee to Global Village starts at AED18 for online tickets, while rates begin at AED20 when bought onsite. Tickets are priced higher for weekend visits with free entrance for children under three and senior citizens. Download the Global Village app to plan and make the most of your visit.

Global

Global Village is a unique destination to enjoy the world’s finest shopping, dining and entertainment. It takes guests on a journey through a group of pavilions, each representing the richness and diversity of different countries.

Hospitality Hotspot

Atvoco

Bonnington Dubai you’ll experience a signature ‘come on in’ warm welcome, promising a stellar stay, whether your trip to Dubai is for business or pleasure.

Located in the heart of bustling and cosmopolitan Jumeirah Lakes Towers, voco Bonnington Dubai is optimally located just minutes from Dubai Marina, a host of luxury shopping malls, restaurants, bars, and some of the world’s top golf courses.

The 5-star voco Bonnington Dubai is within easy reach of both Dubai and Abu Dhabi international airports, with the Dubai Metro just two kilometres away. Free onsite parking and valet are available if you choose to drive.

In less than ten minutes, you’ll reach McGettigan’s Fan Zone at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre –the region’s best fan zone to watch all the FIFA action. Here you will also discover Winterfestan awesome winter wonderland experience

complete with Santa’s grotto, festive market, snow park, roller rink, al fresco dining, giant Christmas tree and so much more!

BE OUR GUEST

Each guest room has been beautifully refurbished promising a comfortable and stylish abode where an excellent night’s sleep is guaranteed given the big cosy bed, complete with cosy bedding made from 100% recycled materials and black-out blinds.

“Antipodes” organic amenities, high-speed WiFi, flat-screen TVs, complimentary coffee & tea, water, and a delicious in-room dining menu make for a fantastic stay.

The Cheeky Camel has a vibrant aesthetic that packs a serious punch. The bar/ restaurant is colourful and adorned in art while the rooftop terrace boasts stunning views that leaves you wishing you’d booked to stay longer.

Prepare to have your relaxation mode well and truly engaged with the most stunning marbleadorned bathrooms with stand-alone bathtubs, rainfall showers, fluffy bathrobes and slippers. Sure, there’s no better way to switch off and unwind!

Enjoy marina or golf course views from superior rooms and relish the extra space in the larger club rooms. Club suites boast some 60m2 of living space, and club deluxe suites and deluxe corner suites enjoy fabulous views.

SIP & SLEEP

voco Bonnington Dubai breaks with the traditional ‘turn down’ service and has created the new Turn Up Service that will inject a touch of playfulness to your stay for something that little bit different!

The Sip and Sleep Package entitles guests to a full drinks trolley set up in their room, with instructions on mixing the perfect house cocktail, a free evening drink in the hotel bar or restaurant and an exclusive set menu dinner. Voco Bonnington will keep turning up with an automatic room upgrade and a late check-out!

DINE LIKE A LOCAL

There’s no better feeling than discovering a knockout restaurant that you want to return to repeatedly. Luckily, voco Bonnington plays host to

several of Dubai’s favourite haunts with residents travelling from all over the city, for what you’ll have right on your doorstep.

The Cheeky Camel is a seriously cool and vibrant neighbourhood haunt that boasts an aesthetic that packs a serious punch. This bar/restaurant is colourful, adorned in art, and there’s always plenty going on. Take to the most stunning rooftop terrace and bask in the Dubai weather with impressive views that will leave you wishing you’d booked to stay a little longer.

The menu melds European and Middle Eastern flavours with weekly deals such as happy hours, steak, quiz, and ladies’ nights.

Why not treat yourself to a sumptuous afternoon tea at The Authors’ Lounge, where you’ll indulge in a medley of classic sweet and savoury bites, accompanied by a selection of the finest tea and coffee.

voco Bonnington understands the importance of home comforts and you’ll find them in abundance at The Cavendish Restaurant, with a delicious Sunday carvery with all the mouth-watering trimmings and a weekly Steak & Wine Night.

RELAX & UNWIND

Whether in Dubai for a well-earned vacation or for work, relaxing and recharging in the sun is important. The Leisure Deck offers sweeping views of the Dubai Marina skyline and boasts a luxurious swimming pool complete with a bar, gymnasium, sauna, and steam rooms.

The voco brand combines the informality and charm of an individual hotel with the quality and reassurance of a global and respected brand. Whatever your reason for staying at the voco Bonnington Dubai, you are assured a warm welcome, top-class facilities, and outstanding service - a real home away from home.

Special offers and events are available throughout the year. Contact the hotel directly for more information or visit their website. Call +971-43560000, email dine@vocobonnington.com or visit www.vocobonnington.com.

MCGETTIGAN’S

The multi-award-winning McGettigan’s JLT pub is the city’s go-to for unrivalled Irish hospitality, and when you stay in voco Bonnington, it’s right on your doorstep. No trekking across town or hailing a cab; Dubai’s best pub is a stone’s throw from your room, leaving you just enough time to work up an appetite.

Expect to unwind in a modern yet cosy, always welcoming, easy-going, and relaxed setting while enjoying an ice-cold drink from home and the most delicious comfort food that always hits the spot. Whether you’re looking for an all-day fry-up,

a mouth-watering burger or McGettigan’s famous chicken wings, rest assured that you won’t leave hungry!

McGettigan’s boasts one of the best outdoor drinks gardens the city has to offer with an unrivalled line up of live music and comedy acts, entertainment, and a jam-packed roster of sports shown on big screens. Sheer bliss!

McGettigan’s

Home from Home

Its sustained growth and expansion resulted in the formation of the Middle East GAA County Board in 2013, which continues to facilitate the development of Irish sports and culture in the region.

The Middle East County Board oversees 16 clubs located in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar. Membership for the current year has increased by almost 15%, with approximately 2,000 members participating in activities that run from August until May.

Members hail from every county in Ireland and over 25 countries worldwide. Middle East GAA offers a League and Championship competition in Hurling, Camogie, Mens Football and Ladies Football, which sees up to 15 action-packed tournaments take place in the region during the season. In addition, the continued growth of the juvenile sections has been exciting, with an upcoming juvenile tournament in February

2023 expected to cater for up to 400 juvenile members. Indeed, the year 2023 is set to be a momentous one for Middle East GAA, with regional teams preparing to compete against other units from all around the world at the GAA World Games, which will take place in Owenbeg, Derry in July.

Middle East GAA is enriching the community by promoting and developing GAA in an inclusive, welcoming and empowering way.

“We are very grateful to Ahmad Younis, Secretary General, and The Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce, for their sponsorship of the 2022/23 Middle East GAA League, continuing their generous support from the previous season,” notes Gearóid Cronin, Cathaoirleach.

“For many of our members, The Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce is their first stop before venturing to the Middle East region. Once here, Middle East GAA is their home from home.”

Gaelic Games have been a constant feature in the Middle East region for more than 25 years.

Middle East GAA members hail from every county in Ireland and over 25 countries worldwide, and participate in League and Championship competitions in Hurling, Camogie, Mens Football and Ladies Football.

Key Dates for 2023

Feb 4th - Sharjah, UAE - Middle East GAA Juvenile Tournament

Feb 11th - Sharjah, UAE - AICC Middle East GAA Hurling & Camogie League Finals

Feb 25th - Dubai, UAE - AICC Middle East GAA Football League Finals

March 10th & 11th - Abu Dhabi, UAE - P4ML Middle East GAA Championship

Dubai Duty Free

Dubai Duty Free (DDF) opened for business on 20th December, 1983, following an agreement between the Dubai Government and Aer Rianta.

Colm McLoughlin, who was part of the original Aer Rianta team, remained in Dubai and is the Executive Vice Chairman & CEO of DDF who reports directly to His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Duty Free.

Over the past 39 years, Colm has been an integral part of the Irish community in the UAE and as a result of his success as a business leader, he has greatly enhanced the reputation of Ireland and the Irish in the UAE.

Under Colm’s direction, DDF received over 700 awards presented by international, regional

and local entities, which bear testimony to its retail success. On a personal level, Colm is also a recipient of several awards, including being the first non-UAE national to receive the Most Distinguished Employee Award from the Dubai Government Excellence Awards in 2000. In 2014, Colm was presented with the Irish Presidential Distinguished Service Award for Business and Education category, making him one of a select few, and the first Irish person living in the UAE to be recognised by the Irish government for his outstanding contribution to Irish business and communities abroad.

In 2021, despite the ongoing challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, DDF continued to operate

at full capacity in Dubai International Airport and more recently, re-opened in Al Maktoum International Airport.

With its excellent handling of Covid-19, Dubai continued to be “open for business” and attracted travelers returning to the UAE for holidays, business and for major events such Expo 2020 Dubai, which ran from October 2021 to March 2022.

During this time, DDF greatly improved its sales forecast to achieve revenues of US$976 million in 2021, which was 40% higher than 2020, and the forecast for this year is US$1.6 billion.

In 2021, DDF’s business with Irish companies, specifically Irish whiskies and other products such as Baileys, Butler’s chocolates, Kerrygold butter and cheese, reached US$12.7 million.

SPORTS & CULTURE

Sport is a major catalyst in strengthening the link between Ireland and Dubai, and with sports sponsorship an integral part of DDF’s marketing, it allows the brand to reach a global audience via

the media exposure and television coverage that goes with each of the tournaments and events the company is involved with.

DDF has sponsored the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh for the past 15 years. This horse racing event has grown beyond recognition since the airport retailer took on the role of title sponsor in 2008. It has become one of the premier races in the global calendar and has a total prize fund of €1 million.

Meanwhile, the retail operation also took on the sponsorship of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open for seven years since 2015 and helped restore the status of this major sporting event. Currently under a new title sponsor, Horizon Irish Open, DDF continued supporting this event as an official partner.

On the cultural front, DDF has been the presenting sponsor of the Dublin Arabic Film Festival since its inception in 2014. Curated by Oscar-nominated Director Jim Sheridan and Festival Director Zahara Moufid, it has effectively established itself

Colm McLoughlin Vice Chairman & CEO

The Dubai Duty Free shop in Concourse A.

as an exceptional event that showcases some of the best feature films from the Arab world.

Back at its home base, DDF supports many sporting events, but it is perhaps the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships that takes the lion’s share in terms of investment. The tournament is owned and organised by DDF and held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The tournament has attracted top players worldwide including former winners Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams, to name a few. The 2022 Championships, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in February, was won by Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia and Russia’s Andrey Rublev, who both claimed their first Dubai titles.

THE IRISH VILLAGE

Colm is also the man behind the creation of The Irish Village in Garhoud, which is looked upon as a little slice of Ireland in the heart of Dubai. Colm initiated and developed the bar and restaurant, which opened in October 1996 and includes ‘The Ballinasloe Post Office’ as a nod to his hometown. Designed in the form of a typical Irish village street, its authenticity comes from the use of Irish materials such as Liscannor stone, and craftsmanship used in its construction, all of which have been imported from Ireland.

The Irish Village opened a second home at Studio One Hotel in Dubai Studio City in 2019. Its rich wooden interiors, big terrace and a waterfall keeps its link to the original in Garhoud. The outlet has quickly become a favourite for residents of Arabian Ranches and surrounding communities. The Irish Village also opened its doors to Expo 2020 Dubai visitors during the six month event from October 2021 to March 2022.

Through its Leisure Division, DDF also owns and manages the Century Village, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium and the five-star Jumeirah Creekside Hotel at the Aviation Club.

Of the senior management team at DDF, three are Irish, while the two Irish Village bars and restaurants employ a further eight Irish staff.

The Irish Village in Garhoud

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2022 Men’s Singles trophy presentation ceremony. (L-R) Sinead El Sibai, Senior Vice President-Marketing, Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, winner Andrey Rublev, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chief Executive of Emirates Airlines and Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, runner-up Jiri Vesely, H.H. Sheikh Hasher bin Maktoum al Maktoum, President of UAE Tennis Federation, Salah Tahlak, Tournament Director and Nasser Yousef, General Secretary, UAE Tennis Federation.

Etihad Airways

Headquartered in the capital city of Abu Dhabi with their hub in Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates.

With a tag line of ‘Flying from Abu Dhabi to the World,’ the airline recently launched a loyalty programme that makes flying with Ethiad enjoyable and rewarding.

According to Jeremy Pollock, County Manager, UK and Ireland, Etihad Airways, the only constant for small businesses is that they need to remain agile at all times in the face of new challenges and rapidly changing conditions.

Many SMEs also face challenges around high costs and accessing valuable skills. For these businesses, there’s huge value in anything that enhances their efficiency and profitability.

That’s where a better approach to business travel comes in, making a significant difference whether companies are facing endless admin, difficulty with time management, employee retention challenges or limited resources.

“It’s with this in mind that we have devised our loyalty programmes at Etihad – aiming to ensure we reward businesses in a way that supports their success,” explains Jeremy.

“This includes Etihad Guest, which allows individuals, families and employees to earn valuable miles with their travel. As well as BusinessConnect, our B2B loyalty programme and small and medium businesses (SMBs) that enables small and medium businesses to earn miles with every trip.”

REAL REWARDS

Ethiad believes that business travel can and should be more rewarding in every sense. When the business landscape poses challenges, the value of a travel loyalty programme that makes booking flights and earning rewards easier and smarter cannot be understated.

SME loyalty programmes should be as easy as signing up, effortlessly managing trips and earning miles every time an employee with the business travels. It should also offer genuine value in a way that addresses many of the challenges that businesses face. That means it should reduce costs by offering the ability to swap miles for flights, upgrades, hotels and car rentals. It should even help boost productivity by enabling companies to spend their earned

miles on upgrades, ensuring employees arrive at meetings refreshed. Additionally, loyalty schemes must give time back to businesses, allowing them to manage their accounts and watch their miles grow at a glance through a simple portal.

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS

For a loyalty programme to truly meet the needs of SMEs, it needs to offer valuable rewards and deliver ease of use from the very beginning.

Enrolment should be quick and easy, with a one-time registration and one account number. Likewise, booking should be entirely flexible, enabling businesses to earn miles whether they book with an online portal or travel agent. Also, intuitive tracking should make it simple to see the flights that employees have taken and the miles earned and redeemed.

Etihad recognises that a business that keeps its employees happy performs better. As a result, it enables employees to earn miles in their own personal Etihad Guest account simultaneously with their business account.

The airline operates a Conscious Choice programme, that allows passengers to join Etihad in transforming the way people live and travel through small changes that have a big impact on tomorrow. The programme allows passengers to offset their miles with CarbonClick, using Etihad’s app to reduce printing boarding passes and fly on one of the youngest fleets. Passengers who make a conscious choice will be rewarded by Etihad through its Etihad Guest Tier Miles.

Through Etihad Guest Tier Miles, every passenger can choose to do something good for the planet, such as taking less luggage on board, recognizing that every 5kg reduction in luggage can help reduce emissions by 5%.

LOYALTY BONUS

When it comes to a loyalty programme that delivers immediate value to businesses, it’s hard to beat a generous welcome bonus. As such, Ethiad offers new members a bonus of 5,000 miles upon joining. Businesses simply need to take two flights within the first three months of creating their account to be eligible.

“Ultimately, we believe this adds up to a corporate travel loyalty programme that addresses some of the key pain points businesses face,” Jeremy adds. It reduces costs, increases efficiency, helps keep employees happy and delivers environmental benefits. “At a time when the landscape is uncertain, businesses can rest assured that their travel is taken care of, with their loyalty genuinely rewarded in a way that enables them to reach new heights.”

Equestrian Surfaces Ireland was established in 2000 in Kildare Ireland. Gary Rhodes has over 32 years involvement in the design and construction of Riding Arenas and manufacturing of Riding surfaces, We have undertaken work in all County’s across Ireland and throughout the world, from private individual’s right through to Racetracks. We pride ourselves on the quality of our Riding Arena construction and Riding Surfaces . These are the fundamental principals in which our company is run. The company operates state of the art equipment for manufacturing riding surfaces and employ skilled sta who have vast experience in the field of all aspects of equestrian arena construction and riding surface manufacture ensuring the finished product is second to none.

Contact us today on 00353 (045)254222 info@equestriansurfaces.ie www.equestriansurfaces.ie

DERMOT WELD ROSEWELL RACING

Champion trainer of Ireland seven times & leading trainer number of winners 18 times.

Twenty-six European classics including the Epsom Derby, two Melbourne cups and many grade ones across America including the Belmont Stakes.

Group one winner on four continents including Hong Kong and Dubai.

2022 winner of the group one Irish 1000 guineas for the h time with “Homeless Songs” and the group one Moyglare Stud stakes with the champion 2-year-old “Tahiyra”.

dkweld@rosewellracing.ie +353 45 441273

A Horse Nation

Located in the beating heart of Ireland’s thoroughbred county, County Kildare, the Irish National Stud and Gardens is one of Ireland’s true treasures. Beginning in the early 1900s, the stud has produced some of the finest racehorses in Europe and to this day, it is still one of the top breeding farms.

The Irish National Stud and Gardens is one of the only thoroughbred breeding farms open to the public. Visitors from around the globe admire its unique history and beauty. It combines an active role in the development and promotion of Irish thoroughbred bloodstock and is one of the country’s major tourist attractions visited by many celebrity visitors, including the late HM Queen Elizabeth II, a keen horsewoman.

Just 40 minutes outside Dublin, the stud farm is the home of equine royalty. Visitors can view immaculately bred stallions and admire protective mares alongside their frolicking foals. There is also an opportunity to meet retired equine racing stars like Faugheen, Hurricane Fly and Beef or Salmon on the stud’s ‘Living Legends’ team, while a visit to the stud’s new interactive centre, ‘The Irish Racehorse Experience’ brings to life the world of these magnificent animals.

RACING AHEAD

Horse racing in Ireland is intricately linked with Irish culture and society. The racing of horses has a long history on the island, being mentioned in some of the earliest texts. Domestically, racing is one of Ireland’s most popular spectator

sports, while on the international scene, Ireland is one of the foremost producers and trainers of thoroughbred horses.

Horse racing in Ireland has a very long history. In a correspondence to King Charles II in 1673, Sir William Temple stated: “Horses in Ireland are a drug... we see horses bred of excellent shape, vigor and size, to reach great prices at home and encourage strangers to find the market here.”

There are 26 major racecourses in Ireland, more per head of population than any other country, with more than 350 race meetings and 2,000 races annually. More than 1.3m people visit Irish racecourses each year, with crowds in excess of 100,000 annually attending both the Punchestown Festival in April and the Galway Races in July.

Ireland is the largest producer of thoroughbreds in the EU, producing 40% of the EU’s thoroughbreds and is fourth largest in the world. More than 80% of Irish-bred thoroughbreds are exported to 37 countries, generating an estimated €229 million per year. There are over 43,000 thoroughbreds in the country, 35% of

the country’s equine population boasting more horses per head of population than in any other European country.

A NOBEL BREED

His Highness Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is a keen equestrian. He is the founder of the Maktoum family-owned Godolphin stable and the owner of Darley, a thoroughbred breeding operation working in six countries. In 2012, he rode the horse ‘Madji Du Pont’ over a course of 160 kilometres to take the FEI World Endurance Championship.

The Dubai ruler hosts the Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horserace, which drew the legendary American dirt track horse ‘Cigar’ to race in Dubai in 1996. The event is one of the most prestigious flat race meetings for thoroughbreds held annually in March at the extravagant Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, UAE.

Although it was inaugurated relatively recently for the racing world, the Dubai World Cup has become the world’s richest horse race with a purse of $12 million. The Dubai World Cup is the final race of a top-class day of racing, offering eight other races, consisting of thoroughbred contests and one purebred Arabian contest.

Sheikh Mohammed is a significant figure in international thoroughbred horse racing and breeding. He owns Darley Stud, the biggest horse breeding operation in the world, with farms in the United States, Ireland, England, and Australia. In 1985 he bought the Irish thoroughbred ‘Park Appeal’ for an undisclosed sum at the end of her second season. She went on to produce at least nine winners from twelve foals and is also the ancestor of many successful horses.

EQUINE TECHNOLOGY

Technology is at the fore of the UAE’s plans for the future and while it may not seem a natural fit, technology in the Irish equine industry is reaping benefits at home and in the Arab states.

Ireland’s position as a biopharma hub matched with a reputation for breeding some of the most exceptional thoroughbred horses in the world, has made it a premier source of equine veterinary solutions and products. The Irish racing and bloodstock industries are an integral component of the Irish economy and Irish society, with the contribution of the Irish Breeding and Racing industry to the economy estimated at €1.84 billion (nearly $3 billion) in 2016. 21% of the top 100 rated flat horses are Irish-bred. Ireland’s equine industry has earned

Equine technology is becoming increasingly available and affordable, making it more appealing to the larger equestrian world.

an international reputation for excellence with trainers like Aidan and Joseph O’Brien and Willie Mullins and institutions like Coolmore, known the world over. Now more than ever, Ireland is recognised as a premier source of equine veterinary solutions and products.

Spun out of this industry is a cohort of Irish companies providing innovative, cuttingedge products to support elite performance in all aspects of the equine industry. From high-performance feed like Plusvital and Trmameerica to equine supplements, skincare and diagnostic aids, Irish companies are punching above their weight in the equine stakes.

HIGH STAKES

One such company, proving their quality status and which has ‘seen the light’ is Equilume. Headquartered in Ireland’s ‘horse county,’ County Kildare, the company is a world leader in the research and development of light therapy solutions. Equilume Performance Lighting is a unique system that comprises fully automated, smart stable lights and mobile light masks designed to maximise health, performance and

breeding efficiency. This revolutionary system harnesses all the benefits of natural daylight for the stabled horse and permits continued exposure to optimum lighting when travelling or at pasture.

On a mission to help trainers take better care of their horses, Equine MediRecord is galloping further into international markets. Equine MediRecord, a digital plat-form for horse breeders and trainers, raised more than €10m in funding from a US private equity firm to expand globally with a particular interest in the Middle East. Founded in 201, the company has developed an equine welfare and anti-doping platform that allows breeders and trainers to safely manage medication for horses. Supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Kildare Local Enterprise Of-fice, the company already boasts an impressive international client list including the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, The Saudi Cup and the American Classic Preakness Stakes.

Hematological and biochemical blood testing is an integral part of equine clinical practice. Originally a start up in County Sligo, Ireland,

StableLab developed the world’s first, smallest and fastest blood test for infections in horses. Developed by Dr. Heinrich Anhold, a former Junior International Showjumper for Ireland, StableLab can produce a result within minutes showing if a horse has an infection. It works by testing for a protein Serum Amyloid A (SAA), which only presents in a horse’s blood when infection is present. A blood test cartridge used at the horse’s side gives a simple-to-read colour result, indicating clearly the presence of SAA in the event of infection within minutes. SAA has proven more reliable as an infection biomarker than normal white blood cells.

In terms of medication, respiratory disease and allergies can be debilitating for animals and severely impact their performance. In response to this, Enterprise Ireland sponsored Nortev design, who manufacture veterinary products to manage horse’s airways. Its flagship product, Flexineb, provides ultimate convenience for delivering medications to treat breathing problems. It reduces treatment times by administering the inhaled treatment quickly and increases flexibility by being completely portable.

Another runaway Irish success is EquiTracean animal health start-up company designed to bring horse healthcare into the digital age. The app is designed to be fast, accurate and easy to use. It records information in real time by linking the animal’s biothermal microchip to a smartphone via a handheld scanner. The product allows horse owners to collect essential data accurately at the horse’s side.

Ireland is seen by many as a “horse nation”. A recurring part of Irish culture, the horse has been romanticised in art and literature for centuries. In particular, thoroughbred and horse racing in general is considered one of the country’s lasting traditions.

Passionate and powerful creatures, the horses bond with humans is an extension of their behavior in the wild, since horses value their own horse relatives and friends, they are open to new, non-threatening relationships.

Equine Law Experts

EquiTrace

The combination of world class Oxford educated technology expert Dr Paul Hayton PhD and world class veterinarians Dr Kevin Corley BVMS PhD DACVIM DACVECC MRCVS and Jennifer Corley BVMS MRCVS DECVS produced the first technology where identity, location and health records can be recorded literally at the touch of a button. The founders have been producing the leading Apps for veterinarians for ten years. The medication App written by Dr Corley is in daily use by all members of the British Equine Veterinary Association and Equine Veterinarians Australia. EquiTrace is their first offer to the wider horse world and is available now in the Apple and Android stores for trainers and stud farms.

The core features of EquiTrace include identity, GPS, health records and communication. By combining these in different ways, EquiTrace can solve problems for farms, veterinarians, sales facilities and ultimately countries. From their professional backgrounds the founders could see how many stresses and mistakes occur from lack of data, failure to complete paperwork or poor communication. Ease of data entry and checking an animal’s records digitally at the side of the horse is key. Bespoke solutions are available and used by Fasig-

Tipton, Goffs Ireland, Racing to Relate and other industry leaders. The standard product for trainers and stud farms is available in the App Store and Google Play store.

For those involved in competition, treatment reminders and vaccination reminders are included to keep horses healthy and ready to compete at all times. EquiTrace also has a complete medication module to help comply with sports rules. Detection times are published, but these cannot be looked at in isolation. The correct withdrawal time must be considered. 50% of medication positives detected at the track in the UK and Ireland come from underestimating the withdrawal time of medications. 86% of veterinarians feel stressed about withdrawal times, which are complex and affected by a whole host of factors, including which joint is medicated, the dose and number of doses given. Programmed with all racing, trotting, FEI and USEF rules globally, users can choose their own authority and make sure they have the most up-to-date information available. The algorithm written and maintained by two ACVIM diplomates gives trainers and riders access to the latest information to ensure they comply with the rules and protect their horse’s welfare. 10% of medication positives come from

EquiTrace produces powerful new software for the horse industry designed to give live, verifiable data essential for horse health, management and welfare. EquiTrace leads the field thanks to its unique founders.

a simple mistake, the wrong animal medicated. In busy yards with high staff turnover, it is all too easy for this to happen. To avoid this, the App can be linked to a horse’s microchip. Scan the horse and you can see exactly what it needs. Scan the products barcode and you can see it is the right medication. The App will give the withdrawal time and continue to alert staff until the suggested time has passed. Error is eliminated. In smaller yards where identity is not such an issue the App can still be used by simply searching for the horse’s name.

SECURITY

With this kind of data, security is vital. With EquiTrace there is no need for whiteboards, treatment sheets or any other public treatment instructions. The manager or veterinarian can set the App to what needs to be given. Staff scan the horse and they can see what to give. The App has four levels of security. The subscription holder has complete control and can choose who can only enter data, who can have limited access and who can have full access. If a horse or staff member leaves, that data is held only by the subscription holder. Nobody can ever see their confidential information unless they choose to allow them to. All data is encrypted the minute it is transferred to the cloud, and nobody, not even EquiTrace employees, can ever access that information.

EquiTrace IT is created in-house by experts and cybersecurity is a top priority. While the

data is securely protected, it is also accessible. In an emergency veterinarians can be given complete access to the horse’s full medical record. If a regulatory body needs to have records, they can be simply emailed from the phone of the subscription holder.

EquiTrace has a complete reproductive module for stud farms that keeps the whole team up to speed on every mare. Managers receive complete cover lists, teasing lists and foaling dates. Veterinarians can set treatment instructions, know exactly which horse requires to be seen and where she is. Staff on the ground know precisely what needs to be done. Estimated to save two hours a day on Lanes End farms in Kentucky, the live real-time data reduces phone calls by 60% and makes the whole farm more efficient.

User experience is a high priority for EquiTrace. Unlike other technology, almost no training is required. Where language is an issue, the App can be translated. A Spanish version is already available on Android to help grooms and managers communicate in Kentucky. Other languages can be provided on request. The testimonials from farm owners, managers and veterinarians are also reflected by the grooms and lads (link to u-tube testimonials). Solving problems for the whole team the software is loved by everyone. When only the best will do, EquiTrace is the go-to solution.

EquiTrace is a groundbreaking solution in robust horse-side technology, delivering genuine value to horse owners and registration authorities. It works with all standard microchips and is the only software to link to the revolutionary new Bio-Thermo microchip, allowing contactless temperature monitoring.

IDENTITY

EquiTrace ensures that the right treatment, at the right dose, goes to the right horse.

SECURE

Only approved staff can access data—8 levels of access can be set. This eliminates human error.

MEDICATION

EquiTrace recognises over 1000 products by barcode alone.

STUD

EquiTrace has a specialised record feature for farms using natural cover, AI or embryo transfer.

TEMPERATURE

Compatible with Merck Animal Health Bio-Thermor Microchips, for recording temperature.

COMMUNICATION

Your staff can check treatments/ orders and record by scanning alone.

For Trainers

For Studs

“Lane’s End Farm has used the reproductive version of the EquiTrace app this year and highly recommended it. The real-time information and scheduling have been invaluable. It is effective and efficient, helping us to streamline our daily routine. The EquiTrace team have been brilliant, quick to answer any questions and queries, and have been open to suggestions to help adapt the reporting side to fill our needs.”

“This product is a game-changer for improving horse health. Any time rapid access to timely information can be kept in one central location, it improves horse medical care.”

Nathaniel White—Director Equine Disease Communication Center, USA

National Equine Innovation Centre, The Irish National Stud, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Louise Roden—Director of Equine Operations Lanes End Farm, Versailles, Kentucky, USA

Dr.

Out of the Box Thinking

Ella Goddin, Founder and CEO of Fodder Box Limited, chats to Arab Irish Chamber Magazine about her innovative, fully automated hydroponic fodder production equipment that is taking the equine and livestock worlds by storm.

Fodder Box Limited has developed and built a computer-controlled hydroponic fodder production system that produces 500 kg/day to 100,000 kg/day of the highest quality fresh animal feed—ideally suited for equine and livestock nutrition—at the touch of a button.

A FodderBox 20ft container system, producing roughly 500kg of premium fresh fodder per day, is priced at €80,000 and arrives ready to plug and play. A FodderBox 40ft container system, producing roughly 1,000 kg of premium fresh fodder per day, is priced at €120,000 and arrives ready to plug and play. A custom build producing 3,000kg/ day is priced at €200,000 and requires a suitable building. Larger customs builds are available up 100,000 kg/ day, prices upon request.

Fodder Box Ltd is working with their solar partner in Oman, Oval Engineering LLC., Ovaloman. com, to develop an integrated solar system alongside an independent water management system, taking FodderBox systems completely off-grid.

SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS HYDROPONIC TECHNOLOGY?

“Hydroponics is the science of growing plants in water. Hydroponically grown fodder or

‘HydroFodder’ is grain or seed that has been germinated in water. What results looks like a carpet of the best grass you’ve ever seen. The entire mat is feed, including the roots, which contain valuable micro-nutrients,” explains Ella.

“FodderBox is literally a field in a box, only the field is pure water, and it farms itself. Effectively, FodderBox technology is stackable land that requires no labour input and uses the lowest water input of any production method.”

With a FodderBox system, a ton of grain or seeds (barley, wheat, oats, corn, rice, legumes etc.) becomes approximately six tons of HydroFodder that effectively replaces around three tons of grain. So, users triple their grain value and reduce their feed costs by two-thirds.

As if this is not good enough, the enormous health benefits make HydroFodder a true game-changer. Recent US research found that animals supplemented with HydroFodder are measurably healthier, more productive and produce less methane. The methane reduction is significant, not only as an environmental benefit but because methane is a waste product of converting food to energy. A decrease in methane production signals an increase in digestive efficiency.

“All the amino acids a horse needs are in HydroFodder. The starch has been converted to healthy sugars and the hydroponic fodder is alkaline not acidic. It’s a superfood for horses.” David Dunne, a qualified equine nutritionist and horse trainer Co Meath.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Using a FodderBox system, significant health benefits are soon realised. Ella explains that grains are inherently difficult for most animals to digest before germination. The digestive inefficiency of grains is based on digestion-inhibiting substances in grains that are neutralised by germination, as well as the absence of digestion-aiding substances physically created at germination and the absence of nutritional components formed at germination.

Fascinatingly, the digestive efficiency of germinated grains has been appreciated for tens of thousands of years. In fact, germinating grains is arguably the most ancient food tradition, other than fire, as evidence suggests the use of germinated grains by huntergatherers over 100,000 years ago.

So too, germinating grains for animal feed is an ancient tradition known for its value in promoting health and vitality. Throughout history, a prized animal slated for trade or sale would be given germinated grains to add weight quickly and visibly to its frame, shine to its coat, and strengthen its hooves. Animals suffering from illness or injury were given germinated grain to bring them back to health.

Keeping horses hydrated is an ongoing battle at the racetrack, especially since almost all horses are treated with the diuretic Lasix before they race. Treating horses with Lasix takes the water out of them, and after the race, you work to put it back in. “Anything that can be done to keep horses hydrated is hugely beneficial,” Schoenthal notes.

“I also think the fresh fodder helps prevent ulcers. Standard feed is dehydrated, and this is a more natural way for horses to eat. I compare normal feed to McDonald’s, and this is more Whole Foods,” he added.

EQUINE WELLNESS

According to Equine Wellness magazine, a natural diet of fresh hydroponic fodder offers greater health benefits than any combination of processed or dried feeds.

In a FodderBox system, a ton of grain automatically becomes approximately six tons of HydroFodder which replaces approximately three tons of grain. So users triple their grain value, reducing feed costs by two-thirds.

Germination unlocks the energy within grains. In addition to increasing the nutritional value of grains, many vitamins are created at germination. Moreover, germination introduces enzymes that break grains down into simpler components that are easier to metabolisestarch converts to sugars, fats convert to lipids, and proteins convert to amino acids, all while bringing the pH into a range that facilitates digestion.

HORSES FOR COURSES

Phil Schoenthal, 37, campaigned a 3-yearold filly sprinter Miss Behaviour, who won the $500,000 Charles Town Oaks and finished second in the Grade 1 Test and Grade 2 Prioress.

Having built his own manual HydroFodder system, Schoenthal thought the fresh fodder was helping improve Miss Behaviour’s blood counts. “Her red-count levels were way up and her electrolytes were off the chart,” he noted. In an interview in DRF, Schoenthal said, “I’m seeing horses bounce out of races better and be ready to run again sooner.”

A US thoroughbred racing trainer of 25 years reported that when his herd was supplemented with HydroFodder, their race placing went from 8% to 15% after just a few months. It was a manual system, so when the man running it was absent for a short time, they stopped feeding the HydroFodder and the herd’s race placing plummeted to 7%. When the worker returned and resumed supplementing the herd with HydroFodder, the race placing shot back up to 15%.

TOP PERFORMANCE

The first FodderBox system in Ireland was purchased by David Dunne, a qualified equine nutritionist and former jockey. David is now a horse trainer in county Meath, 20 minutes from Dublin Airport, DavidDunneRacing.ie

According to David, people have a misconception about how much they feed their horses. Just because horses have weight on them doesn’t mean they are healthy. It is a sad fact that 80-90% of racehorses have stomach ulcers due to grain-based feeds which create an acidic environment causing ulcers which cause pain. Clearly horses don’t perform well in pain. “I want horses to stop hurting from the feed we have been giving them,” he says.

“Horses are naturally a gentle animal; ulcers make them grumpy. HydroFodder prevents ulcers. So why don’t people give horses what helps them perform to the best of their ability?”

David also pointed out that hydroponic fodder is a natural anti-inflammatory, meaning it helps prevent arthritic disease. Prevention is better than cure, David says. “Not only is it far more cost-effective, it’s ideally suited to horses’ nutritional needs. All the amino acids a horse needs are in HydroFodder. The starch has been converted to healthy sugars and the hydroponic fodder is alkaline not acidic. It’s a superfood for horses.”

Many have described FodderBox as a ‘nobrainer’ for animal keepers and it is easy to see why. Little wonder, therefore, that the awards and accolades keep rolling in.

“We were delighted to be named AgTechUCD’s Start-Up of the Year at the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena, Irish National Ploughing Championships 2021. Fodder Box Limited has also been short-listed for Ireland’s Most Ambitious Companies 2022,” enthuses Ella.

PIONEERING INTEGRATION

A clear success story, Fodder Box Limited is set to pioneer the integration of automation and biodigestion, following independent Irish lab tests that found higher Biomethane Potential (BMP) in hydroponic fodder than in silage. The BMP of HydroFodder exceeded the theoretical limit of the BMP of silage, with more than 40% more available energy in HydroFodder.

These lab tests demonstrate the extreme efficiency with which Hydroponic Fodder is converted to energy, in this case, by the microbes living in a biodigester.

The company has a 10-ton/day auto-FodderBox installation planned with agribusinessmen in Northern Ireland, where their biomethanepowered electricity is sold directly into the grid. Science Foundation Ireland is on board to assess the data generated by their computer monitoring system.

Ella and her team are undertaking groundbreaking research with two mega-dairies in Vietnam (130,000 and 30,000 animals)— with feed quality assessment by Teagasc Moorepark—to develop the potential in germinating paddy rice at the scale of 50,000 - 100,000 kg/day.

A woman who clearly thinks outside the box and set for phenomenal success, Ella closes by saying: “Why not push the button and print the grass? Because sometimes, to think outside the box, we need to think inside the box. Inside a FodderBox! It’s a field, in a box.”

Based at 11 Barryscourt Business Park, Carrigtwohill, County Cork, Fodder Box Limited was founded by AICC member Ella Goddin, with the support of Enterprise Ireland. You can reach Ella on +353(86)7926999 or ella@fodderbox.ie

“FodderBox is literally a field in a box, only the field is pure water, and it farms itself using the lowest water input of any production method.”

Shamrock Thoroughbreds

ShamrockThoroughbreds, based in Rush, Co Dublin is one of Irelands’ leading racehorse syndicators.

The aim is to bring together small groups of like minded people to share in the fun and enjoyment of racehorse ownership. Shareholders receive all the benefits of racehorse ownership and equity shares can be purchased from 5% and upwards.

Managing Director, Stephen Thorne set up Shamrock Thoroughbreds in 2017 and the company is now one of Irelands’ leading racehorse syndicators. “We take great pride in providing our clients with the best ownership experience possible. The success of Shamrock has been built upon sourcing high quality racehorses, a world class trainer and delivering top class communication to all our shareholders,” says Stephen.

Stephen graduated from the Godolphin Flying Start in 2014, sponsored by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Godolphin Flying Start is a management and leadership training programme that specialises in the international thoroughbred racing and breeding industry. On completion of that programme he spent the following two years assisting top trainers Mike de Kock in South Africa and Ralph Beckett in the UK.

Stephen rejoined Ado McGuinness Racing in 2017 as assistant trainer and his international knowledge and experience has been invaluable to the growth and success of the stable.

Stephen won the Leadership Award at the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards in 2018 which highlighted his management and communication skills.

All Shamrock horses are trained exclusively by Ado McGuinness, a Group 1 winning trainer who is one of Irelands’ leading racehorse trainers. Ado has managed to win some valuable races in recent seasons including the Group 1 Prix de L’Abbaye de Longchamp and Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint with globe-trotting sprinter A Case of You.

Shareholder have a share in ownership to the full value of their percentage share in their chosen racehorse, including a percentage of all prize money and owners and trainers benefits when their horse runs on the racetrack. In addition, shareholders also have the opportunity to visit their horse at the stables with family and friends.

Pretreville, Winner of the Group 3 Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown 2022

“We take great pride in providing our clients with the best ownership experience possible.”

Equine Law

As well as specialising in financial, employment and equine law, Donnacha is also involved in the breeding of Irish sport horses and is a keen competitor in three-day eventing as well as enjoying part ownership in two race horses. Donnacha talks to Arab Irish Chamber magazine about the importance of equine law.

As the level of horse ownership continues to rise, so too does the importance of equine law. In layman’s terms, it is the area of the law that covers all equine issues. These include (but not limited to) purchase and sale contracts of horses, equine ownership disputes, breeding rights, regulating syndicates and resolving their disputes, national and international body compliance requirements, sponsorship agreements and negligence claims.

Anyone who has ever owned a horse or who actively participates in equine sports will appreciate the many issues that arise from horse ownership and equine competition, and by no means are these issues exclusively related to horse racing. They cover all areas of the industry, from the ‘happy hacker’ purchasing their dream horse to amateur and professional show jumping and eventing. No matter what level of the sport you are involved in, it is vital

to protect both you and your animal, not to mention your investment.

The importance of the racing and sport horse equine sectors to the Irish economy is widely recognised. Over the years, Ireland has become an internationally renowned centre of excellence for all types of equine sport. The horse racing and breeding industry alone is reported to be worth over €1.8 billion to the Irish economy annually, and it supports over 29,000 jobs.

Add to this the fact that a Department of Agriculture Food and Marine Report (2017) cited that the equine sports of show jumping, three-day eventing and dressage contributed a further €816 million to the Irish economy per annum and supports a further 14,000 jobs within that sector, and you can see why this industry is so valuable to the country. And that’s before you factor in the natural passion that many Irish people have for all things equine.

Carter Anhold & Co run the gamut from those with large full time equestrian operations in Ireland and internationally to those with smaller equestrian businesses or who are involved as a side-line enterprise to their main economic activity. However, all industries, irrespective

Donnacha Anhold Sole Pirnciple of Carter Anhold & Co

of their size, have legal requirements to which they must conform. Donnacha explains that in advising their clients, the firm tries to prevent legal issues or difficulties from arising in the first instance as it is far more cost-effective to clients this way than trying to resolve a legal dispute once in motion. With that in mind, he strongly recommends that anyone involved in any level of the equine industry should take legal advice to ensure that they and their business are fully compliant. It is essential that all and any risks are managed, and any possible disputes that could arise are avoided.

AVOIDING THE PITFALLS

Carter Anhold has found that some bigger issues tend to arise where horses are owned in syndicates or co-ownership arrangements, but no formal agreement or contract is in place. Disagreements can occur between owners as to the direction a particular sport horse should take, what is the best way to bring that horse to its full potential and when the horse should be sold or not sold at its highest market value, or if it is a mare, when it should be placed into breeding. If there is no formalised contract in advance, disputes can arise which get costly and, in some instances, wipe out the entire value of the horse along with tainting the enjoyment factor and the emotional attachment to an animal.

Some of the more interesting issues that have arisen recently for clients in the racing industry are meeting the ever-changing needs of horse welfare and anti-doping rules and regulations. Within the sport horse sector, the topic of purchasing embryos in online auctions and the ownership rights that flow from a not yet born horse are added complications.

These are currently hot topics and ones that Carter Anhold works closely with clients on to help avoid any potential pitfalls and costly disputes that may arise therefrom.

Another frequently occurring issue is equine injury. This arises when a valuable or soughtafter horse becomes injured, for example, during transport or training. There should always be provision made for this in relation to a horse that could be shared by a group of owners with a final plan or insurance liability cover in place if injury occurs.

As the vibrant Irish equine sector continues to see growth year on year, an investment by owners in the sport is something that needs to be protected. And as someone who is heavily involved in the industry himself, Donnacha Anhold speaks with insider knowledge and personal experience. “As horse enthusiasts and owners know, we put a lot of our time, money and energy into the sport and the development of the horses themselves. We need to protect them, and we need to protect ourselves,” he says, “because if we don’t, and something does go wrong, then it can escalate very quickly and become very costly.”

The horse racing and breeding industry are worth over €1.8 billion to the Irish economy annually and supports over 29,000 jobs, with the equine sports of show jumping, three-day eventing and dressage contributing a further €816 million per annum, supporting an additional 14,000 jobs.

A Personal Touch

Epona

Retreat Centre is a tranquil retreat set in 13 acres of rolling pastureland in the south of Ireland outside of Cork city. Here a serene, expansive and loving space is waiting for clients facilitated by three therapy horses, Ruby, Lizzie and Isabel.

Noreen Roche is a Transformational Equine Therapist, Energy Healer and Animal Reiki Master. At her retreat centre Noreen delivers the highest quality animal reiki teaching and horse therapy retreats.

“To ground your personal energy to Mother Earth, we invite and invoke connectedness and healing at the heart centre, allowing you to experience increased internal stability and confidence,” Noreen explains.

Epona, the Celtic goddess of horses, was the inspiration for this centre of healing. The patron goddess of mares and foals, Epona had a gift to heal horses and heal with horses. The book “The Tao of Equus” by Linda Kohsnow (Epona Equestrian Services) was pivotal in guiding Noreen on her path, helping her to clearly define and articulate the feelings and insights evoked through working with horses.

As a child, Noreen learned to narrow her attention, cling to the past and focus on the future, thus losing her ability to fully function in the present moment. She realised that she had dissociated from her body, instincts and senses. In 1998,

Noreen discovered Reiki Energy Healing and it was a life-changing experience for her.

Subsequently, in 2009 Noreen discovered the exciting world of energy healing through horsemanship: “I clearly recall a neighbour’s request for my assistance with a thoroughbred foal that his vet had diagnosed as dying,” she says. Over four days Noreen worked with the mare and the dying foal with incredible results. Not only did the foal heal, but the mare and the owner healed through the process. It was a powerful experience, as the horses recognised and responded to the true feeling behind the facade, manifesting why it is difficult to hide fear, anger or sadness in the presence of these unique animals.

For Noreen, the experience heightened an awareness of how our thoughts and emotions influence our emotional connection with our horses: “Over the years, I have had the privilege of helping many people connect and heal their foals, mares and themselves through the Animal Reiki Teaching,” she notes. “When we are truly in our greatness, we have a complete awareness that we are all connected and all one.”

BALANCE & FLOW

Animal reiki balances the energy flow throughout the horse’s body, stimulating the natural healing process. Endorphins, which are natural pain relievers and create a feel-good factor, are released into their system during the healing process, enabling the animal to feel relaxed and calm. This natural form of healing has no harmful side effects and will only work for the greater good of the receiver. Noreen extends her teachings to horse lovers and those who wish to expand their practice to include animal reiki.

SILENT WHISPERS

Noreen says that she has received her most valuable gifts from the listening skills of horses: “In my experience, horses have helped me clear the unconscious resistance that prevented me

from listening and receiving intuitive insights to clear and release blocks that inhibit me in trusting myself,” she says.

After three years working on spirited thoroughbreds, Noreen realised that she needed to get her own animals to expand her work. Her ability to be out in the field and immersed in nature with her three horses and feeling that energy, has led to Noreen’s wish to share it with others: “I now know why I am here and this life-changing experience has helped me to walk in harmony and peace and have respect and love for all beings and myself,” she adds.

According to Noreen, horses naturally read our energy. They are aware of our body language and pick up on our emotions, not our words. They communicate with immediate feedback, demonstrating how a change in our energy affects everything around us and them. Noreen teaches communication with horses on a consciousness level, so her clients become more aware of what is possible for their horses and themselves.

“While vocal communication between horses has its place, we know most of their daily communication occurs via body language,” she says. Through subtle movements of the ears, the nostrils, the eyes, the mouth, the tail, the feet, or even just shifting weight or tensing up, they convey information to each other.

“Horses are prey animals, and subtle communication can mean survival in a world where

My purpose is being a voice in the world for animal and horse teachings and the awareness and growth they provide to us humans. It is my way of taking part of the greater shift of awareness in the world.

any noise could draw attention from predators. If a horse swishes its tail, are they agitated or happy? If they half-close their eyes, are they squinting in pain or simply relaxing? At Epona, I teach horse lovers a program called “Stepping into the Partnership of the Horses.”

ENERGY OF CONNECTION

Noreen uses the Energy of Connection to demonstrate to clients that when we show up energetically, we gain an understanding of energy as communication. She says that through this channel, we receive energy attunement and harmony from our animals and deepen our connection to our soul’s path, our intuition and our body’s innate ability for self-healing. According to Noreen, the fastest way to discover who you are and what you are presenting to the world is revealed by interacting with a horse. Noreen enjoys daily practices of Tai Chi/QiGong, meditation and breathing exercises with horses and offers clients take-home practices to support their energy connection.

REIKI WORKSHOPS & RETREATS

Epona Retreat Centre is excited to offer several animal reiki workshops and horse therapy retreat opportunities at Epona Retreat Centre in 2023, with each workshop/retreat offering a unique opportunity to experience the natural medicine of horses in close contact. “Clients learn to master positive thoughts and emotions through the animals by mirroring our emotional patterns and self-reflection, so we can embrace change and redefine our identity,” she adds.

Noreen has a keen following and a broad client base, including horse therapy practitioners and mental health professionals working with both the parents and children who are suffering childhood trauma and addiction. It also includes horse trainers, instructors, owners, riders and anyone with an interest in tapping into to the healing qualities of horses to facilitate energy healing. The teaching and retreats at the centre are non-riding programs designed to connect with nature while providing an inspirational learning experience for individuals and groups. No experience with horses is required to attend. The closeness of Mother Nature and the simplicity of the contact with horses is the spirit of the Epona Retreat Centre experience.

Contact Noreen to learn how her offerings can assist you through Animal Reiki Teaching and Horse Therapy Retreats. Email: noreen@ eponaretreats.com www.eponaretreats.com

“Noreen’s retreat helped me check in with my heart and the horses energy. Noreen is amazing at letting us do our healing work safely.”

Ni Riain Equine Photography

Sinéad Ni Riain’s stunning portrait of ‘No Nay Never,’ Coolmore Stud’s Champion Sire, has seen her win the International World Photographic Cup Best of Nations award for Team Ireland. Sinéad was also named Irish Professional Portrait Photographer of the Year for the second time.

This prize winning horse study was photographed with a Hasselblad X1D-50c camera and lens XCD 90mm f/3.2 and lit with Profoto B1X 500 AirTTLs in tandem with a selection of Profoto softboxes. It is part of a panel of portraits commissioned by Coolmore Stud of its top champion stallions and includes the recently deceased world-famous Sire ‘Galileo’. Sinéad will continue the series outside Ireland with a visit to the Coolmore Stud in Kentucky in the United States in 2023.

The up-and-coming ‘No Nay Never’ Sire of fellow Coolmore stallion ‘Ten Sovereigns’ and this year’s Cheveley Park heroine ‘Alcohol Free’ proved a particular highlight for Sinéad, who paid tribute to the generosity of the Magnier family.

“I photographed Galileo for the boss [John Magnier] and he loved it. These are top-class horses, and you have to mind them. The coat on ‘No Nay Never’ was stunning; he’s an incredible horse. I’m so grateful to John and Sue Magnier for entrusting their valuable stallions to me to photograph with my signature lighting. They gave me complete freedom, which was incredible.”

Sinéad photographed Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winning horse ‘Latrobe’ , for horse trainer Joseph O’Brien Racing and winning jockey Donnacha O’Brien and it was part of her winning IPPVA Portrait panel.

So how did it all start for Sinéad? “I was doing Andrew & Madeleine Lloyd Webber’s racing manager Simon Marsh’s wedding and Faith Ponsonby asked me if I would photograph her children with their ponies,” she explains. “The image of Sarah Ponsonby with her pony and Red Stable Door won Portrait Photographer of the year for me. That was really the start of the equine work.”

Professional photographer Sinead Ni Riain is passionate about horses, which is evident in her remarkable body of work.

This win led to Sinéad working for Irish horse race trainers Aidan and Annemarie O’Brien of Ballydoyle Racing who asked her to do portraits of their children and ponies.

It was while doing equine photoshoots with Annemarie and Aidan that I really learned about horses, how to handle them and work with them,” she adds. “Watching how they handled horses and communicated with them and their advice was totally invaluable.” Sinéad quickly adapted to and fully embraced the challenges of working with these highly charged animals.

Based in Thurles, Co Tipperary, Ireland, Sinéad has been creating stunning equine and family portraits for over 30 years. She exhibits every year at the RDS Dublin Horse Show. Her client testimonials speak for themselves, citing her professionalism and her ability to put her subjects – animal and human – at ease.

Bottom Right: Susan Fitzpatrick, Fellow, Castlefield

RH Page: Award winning image of Sarah Ponsonby with her pony and Red Stable Door.

Award winning image of Sarah Ponsonby with her pony and Red Stable Door.

“These are powerful, magnificent creatures and flight animals,” she adds. “Horses are sensitive and reactive to change, so it is crucial that they are kept calm and relaxed during the photoshoot.”

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

Equine photography is unique in that the animals must be photographed in their own environment – where they are most relaxed. With this in mind, and to be able to use her signature lighting, Sinead brings the studio to the horse. She has done equine photoshoots in barns, paddocks, arenas, covering sheds and stable yards, and she never fails to expertly and sensitively capture the uniqueness of each horse and its beloved owners.

When she is not photographing thoroughbred racehorses, Sinéad also specialises in commercial photography and family portraits. As a professional renowned for putting her subjects at ease, Sinéad’s relationship with the client shines through in her work.

Sinead’s clients describe her photographs as ‘works of art,’ and a look at the gallery on her website quickly confirms this sentiment. Whether it is a portrait of the horse itself, a shot of horse and rider, or fun photographs with all the family and their horses and pets, Sinead captures the animal’s nobility and the essence of the unique relationship between the animals and their keepers. Visit Sinead’s professional website www.thehorsephotographerireland.com

Galileo Champion Sire Coolmore Stud

Below: Angela Crowley and Kevin O’Ryan

Ireland A Luminous Beauty

Journey to a land of stunning natural wonders, ancient clifftops, impossibly beautiful towns and villages amongst vast, undiscovered peninsulas where iconic castles and ancient bog land create a compelling landscape. There’s even a ‘magic road’, as coined by the locals.

Ireland may not boast the expansive sandscapes of the Arab world, but it has over 3,000 kilometres of coastal paradise peppered with pristine white beaches at every turn.

Described as a land of impossible beauty, Ireland offers an excellent quality of life, with low crime rates and excellent healthcare and education systems. Additionally, the cost of living is relatively low compared to other Western European countries. It is the only English-speaking nation in the EU and home to many of the world’s top companies, an ideal partner for business.

When planning a visit to Ireland the weather is often a talking point. Visitors expect to be pummelled with constant rain, but this is not necessarily the case. While The UAE is a sub-tropical desert climate, Ireland enjoys cool temperate climes, which means extremes of temperature are rare. The country generally experiences warm summers and mild winters due to the protection of the Atlantic Ocean, warmed by the Gulf Stream all year. That said, it does rain, often out of the blue and thunderously, but this creates the 40 shades of green and a thriving agricultural industry.

EPIC LOCATIONS

The entire country offers a colorful palette of natural hews in a completely raw environment. The aptly named Wild Atlantic Way on the western Atlantic seaboard boasts 1,600 miles (2600 km) and is one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world. It winds its way along the west coast of

Ireland’s

Ireland from the Inishowen Peninsula in the north down to the picturesque town of Kinsale, County Cork, in the south. From sheer cliffs that plunge into crashing Atlantic waves to remote, weatherbeaten islands, ‘wild’ aptly defines this coastline.

Off the coast of County Kerry, an ancient monastery towers over the sea. On the summit of the awe-inspiring rock of Skellig Michael is St Fionan’s monastery, one of the earliest foundations in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monks who lived there prayed and slept in beehive-shaped huts made of stone, many of which remain to this day.

There is an incredible wealth of birdlife on and around Skellig Michael and little Skelligs. Puffins arrive on the island in late spring and by April, they have covered every available ledge. Visitors marvel at these adorable birds, known as the clowns of the sea. Puffins mate for life, and a couple can stay together for over 20 years.

Yet another awe-inspiring cliff attraction is the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland. It boasts epic sights that are famous the world over, including the Hexagonal basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway – another UNESCO World Heritage Site - and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.

The perilous 100-foot drop under the bridge that divides the mainland from the tiny island of Carrigarede, near Ballintoy, is a sight to behold. First erected by salmon fishermen more than 250 years ago, the bridge spans 20 metres and is suspended 30 metres above the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. The narrow rope bridge provides an adrenaline-charged passage across the sea to the calm of tiny Carrick-a-Rede Island, home to a single fisherman’s cottage. The crossing is not for the faint-hearted, yet it offers the chance to surrender to the mercy of the elements and experience a unique view of the dramatic Antrim coastline.

A MAGICAL PLACE

Secret wonders abound all over the Island of Ireland. Meander from Donegal to Down and discover the clear skies of Donegal, offering views of the Aurora Borealis; or visit Kerry’s Dark Sky Reserve, where the lack of light pollution offers wonderful views of the constellations, the Milky Way, falling stars, faint meteors and zodiacal light.

The Silent Valley reservoir is a magnet for busy minds yearning solitude at the shimmering heart of the Mourne Mountains. This is the place to go if you want to get away from it all. Ringed by mountains, the man-made lake isn’t called ‘silent’ for nothing. The tranquillity here makes it a perfect spot for some quiet reflection.

Dolphins, Malin Head, Co Donegal

Sliabh Leag Boat Trips, Co Donegal

Ireland is an island surrounded by water – an element with natural calming properties. In fact, the mere sight and sound of water can induce a flood of neurochemicals that promote wellness and relaxation, which may explain why so many of us seek out beaches and watery destinations for vacation.

Of all the European countries, Ireland particularly lends itself to water-based activities with deepsea loughs, spectacular glacial lakes and majestic rivers. Cruising is a glorious way to explore the Island and soak up the scenery at a leisurely pace. Whether it be a bird’s eye view of the Cliffs of Moher – but from the bottom up - to cruising the Shannon waterways, the entire country is crisscrossed by a dense network of rivers, streams and creeks. The longest river on the island, the Shannon, meanders 360 kilometers from the Cuilcagh Mountains in the north of the country County Limerick in the southwest. There it flows into the Atlantic Ocean in an estuary more than 102 kilometres long.

WHALE WATCHING

Few experiences can match the excitement of a close encounter with one of the largest creatures on the planet. In 1991, Ireland’s biologically diverse waters were declared a whale and dolphin sanctuary, the first of its kind in Europe. Since then, 25 species have been recorded, ranging in size from the small harbour porpoise to the giant fin whale. The Atlantic Ocean, which runs along the western coastline, acts as a superhighway where countless cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) spend months travelling north to south and back again, always on the lookout for a good meal.

Spring and summer see large numbers of Risso’s dolphin, minke whales and basking sharks. Autumn and winter are referred to locally as ‘Big Whale Season’and see the arrival of large baleen whales. Fin whales arrive in late summer or early autumn, while humpbacks typically arrive in autumn.

Regardless of what ‘pops up’ to say hello and wherever you sail from, the views of the Wild Atlantic Way are guaranteed to make the trip worthwhile.

NATURAL STORYTELLERS

Ireland’s Ancient East is renowned for its long history of amazing stories – ask any local about the area you’re in and you’ll see what we mean. But one particular spot in County Louth takes the crown for quirky stories.

Skellig Michael, Iveragh Peninsula, Co Kerry

Dating back to the 6th century, Sceilg Mhichíl is an outstanding and unique example of an early religious settlement deliberately sited on a isolated pyramidal rock in the ocean.

The ‘magic road’ is legendary among locals in Jenkinstown, and rightly so. Take a car to this unassuming little spot, stop at what is affectionately known as ‘the Big Mushroom’, shift gear into neutral and prepare to defy gravity –literally – as the car rolls uphill!

The Irish place great store on the spoken word and have created a unique and beautiful language. Stories and storytelling are embedded into the heart of the Irish, and as many say, they have ‘the gift of the gab.’

In the Arab world, the Halawani, or storyteller, was a treasured source of entertainment who attracted everyone to sit and listen eagerly to meaningful stories with universal wisdom. Similarly, in Celtic tradition, the storyteller was revered and had a sacred place in society. They memorized poetry, songs, and practices which were then acted out. In the absence of the written word, their poems and songs were often the only way of preserving and passing down historical records. These latter-day bards evolved into storytellers called ‘seanchaí’ who wandered from town-to-town entertaining and regaling with their tales and embellishing them

along the way. They could call up history and recite it whenever it was called for – a ‘Google’ of ancient times.

Without doubt, people fall in love with the Island and the people of Ireland. In the pretty little spa town of Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, you will find the world’s oldest (offline) matchmaking festival. It started as a means for bachelor farmers to find a wife many moons ago, but it has since ballooned into a week of dance, song and downright fun. The man behind Europe’s biggest and most famous singles event is matchmaker Willie Daly, the third generation in his family to continue this age-old Irish tradition. He has set up a whopping 3,000 marriages in his fifty years of matchmaking.

Whether you wander through 5,000 years of history in Ireland’s Ancient East, discover the breathtaking west coast along the Wild Atlantic Way, embrace the giant spirit of the Causeway Coast, or enjoy the unspoiled majesty of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, do so in the knowledge that when you book a trip to the Island of Ireland, a warm welcome awaits and the craic, as they say, will be mighty.

Ireland’s Ancient East is renowned for its long history of amazing stories –ask any local about the area you’re in and you’ll see what we mean.

Treasures of Ireland

Discover the remains of prehistoric tombs. Imagine the thrill of defending a castle. Wander through medieval halls. Soak up the serenity of historic gardens and the splendour of great estates.

The Office of Public Works aims to inspire passion from Ireland’s past by managing and promoting many of its most famous historical attractions to domestic and overseas visitors. With over 90 unique places to visit, you’ll never be stuck for adventure. Follow in the footsteps of voyagers on a journey through Ireland’s epic past.

Many heritage sites are open all year round, including the UNESCO World Heritage site of Brú na Bóinne, Rock of Cashel, Dublin Castle and hidden gems such as Jerpoint Abbey or Portumna Castle. With local expert guides available to give guided tours, exhibitions, events and unique historic collections, there is something for everyone.

At each site, expert guide staff, horticulturalists, librarians and curators deliver unique visitor experiences at the many national monuments and historic properties that feature on

www.heritageireland.ie. The website offers excellent value with online booking available at busy sites, reduced rates and benefits for tour operators to an annual Heritage Card giving unlimited free admission to the visitor attractions.

Even more sites are coming on board with new experiences for the visitor in 2023. Amongst those that have recently been redeveloped with interactive exhibitions and facilities is The Great Blasket Island Visitor Centre in County Kerry. Further north along the Wild Atlantic Way is the Neolithic landscape of the Céide Fields Visitor Centre on a stunning cliff-top location. The OPW is continuously expanding the diversity of historical places to visit and can now invite visitors to the recently opened Custom House Visitor Centre in Dublin’s docklands, a new visitor experience in one of Dublin’s iconic Georgian buildings.

PARKS & GARDENS

Restoration works continue apace on many other historic buildings and gardens such as Emo Court, County Laois and the Record Tower at Dublin Castle.

The OPW is justifiably proud that 11 historic parks and gardens are part of the Green Flag Awards, administered by An Taisce in the Republic of Ireland, which recognises and encourages the provision of good quality parks and green spaces managed in environmentally sustainable ways. The awards are judged on eight criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement. Visitors can now enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Altamont House & Gardens in County Carlow, the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre in County Meath, Castletown Demesne in County Kildare, Derrynane Historic Park in County Kerry, Fota Arboretum & Gardens and Garinish Island in County Cork and Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Irish National War Memorial Gardens, St. Stephen’s Green Park, The Iveagh Gardens and The Phoenix Park in Dublin.

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

For those looking for something extra special, a ‘Unique Experience’ can be booked at any of these four historic locations:

Castletown House, Ireland’s first and finest Palladian style mansion, was built in the 1720s for William Conolly, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. Castletown House was constructed to exemplify its owners’ influence and immense wealth. Here guests can go ‘behind the rope’ on a private viewing of an Irish portrait collection of miniatures on loan from the Irish Georgian Society in the Lady Kildare Room. The miniatures and silhouettes were personal items, often given as a gift and, in an age before photography, were often used as a visual memorial of a loved one to be carried on the person as jewellery. A personal expert guide takes visitors on a journey of discovery through Irish history from the turbulent seventeenth century, through the opulence of enlightenment Ireland in

the eighteenth century and to the eventual decline of the ‘Big House’. On this experience, visitors can discover insights into the estate’s history, its owners (the Conolly family), as well as architectural and decorative art gems.

Kilkenny Castle stands strategically above the River Nore, in twenty-one hectares of rolling parkland and formal gardens and is located in the heart of Kilkenny City. Visitors are warmly greeted by the Events Manager and experienced guides, who enthrall guests with wonderful stories of the powerful and influential Butler Family. Some very special pieces from the Ormonde Collection are available for viewing in the Duchess Closest of the west wing. Guests have the opportunity to handle some pieces, which may include weaponry, family photographs, unique family pieces and even some children’s toys from the 19th-century nursery.

Farmleigh House and Estate, is located in an estate of seventy-eight acres situated to the northwest of Dublin’s Phoenix Park. Farmleigh provides accommodation for visiting dignitaries and guests of the nation, including Queen Elizabeth II in 2011, the Emperor of Japan in 2005 and Prince William and the Princess of Wales (then Duchess of Cambridge), in 2020. Here you can soak up the smell of leather and old books while an expert librarian showcases the world-class collection of rare manuscripts and books of Benjamin Guinness. This collection is as beautiful as it is educational and entertaining.

In Dublin Castle, a personal guide and expert curator takes visitors through the exquisite interiors of the State Apartments to the soaring interior of the Chapel Royal. See behind closed doors for an exclusive visit to the gallery, with its velvet furnishings, jewel-like stained glass windows and an array of sculptural ornament. Along the way, hear first-hand about the detailed research and conservation work that helps to safeguard these national treasures and bring their stories to life. As a memento of the visit, guests are invited to choose a personally signed and dedicated copy of one of the curator’s Dublin Castle publications.

Ceide Fields ©Failte Ireland. Alison Crummy

Knowth National Monument

Line Ken Williams

MAKING MOVIES

From classic artwork to moving pictures, Ireland’s relationship with cinema runs deep. ‘Moving pictures’ were first shown in Ireland in 1896, and just a few months later, cameramen working for the Lumières filmed the first footage of the country. Since then, filmmakers have flocked to Ireland, drawn by the diversity of its landscape, the mild climate that enables year round filming and above all, by a 5000-year history visible across the land. From Brú na Bóinne to Bantry Bay, the Irish countryside is filled with Neolithic passage tombs, Augustinian monasteries, Medieval castles, Elizabethan manor houses, Palladian mansions, parks, gardens and monumental forts with most of these sites being maintained and managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

For those who love to visit movie locations, Ireland has much to offer. Nestled at the heart of a town rich in Medieval architecture, Trim Castle is one of Ireland’s most spectacular castles. Built on the banks of the River Boyne at the end of the twelfth century, it is the largest Anglo-Norman fortification in Ireland. Many of the original Medieval features are intact, including the monumental three-storey keep at its centre (all but impregnable in its day), the gatehouse and the curtain wall. A magnificent setting that made the castle the perfect stand-in for the city of York in Braveheart.

Standing proudly on a rocky island in the River Suir, Cahir Castle is one of Ireland’s most significant, best-preserved, and authentic castles. Built in the Middle Ages for the powerful Butler family, the castle was at the cutting edge of defensive castle design. Much of the original structure remains, including the keep and tower. Rising above the River Suir, the castle is spectacular from every angle. With its superb location (just off the M8 and within easy reach of Kilkenny, Cork and Dublin) it is no surprise that the castle has featured in major film and TV productions over the years. To name but a few, Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel and David Lowery’s The Green Knight were filmed here, with Green Knight crowned winner of EUFCN European Location Award 2021.

Located in the heart of Dublin, Kilmainham Gaol is one of the largest unoccupied gaols in Europe and one of Ireland’s most iconic sites. Here successive generations of Irish rebels were held, from the 1798 Rebellion to the War of Independence in 1921. And it is here that the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed.

Kilmainham is steeped in Irish history and has featured (as itself) in several historical dramas. It was the setting for Michael Collins and The Wind that Shakes the Barley, but the magnificent east wing of the gaol, with its classic ‘panoptic’ design based on Pentonville Prison in London, has stood in for prisons all over the world in films like The Italian Job.

Throughout the year OPW sites host many cultural and historical events, from garden walks to spooky events during Halloween, there’s always something going on.

Cahir Castle, “The Green Knight” A24 and Screen Ireland

Couples from far and wide choose Ireland as the location for their wedding. Make it even more special by choosing from several unique locations.

Picture tying the knot against a fantasy backdrop of a Palladian mansion, an Elizabethan manor house or even a seventeenth fort, there are many approved venues for a civil or secular ceremony.

Alternatively, all OPW sites are available for corporate events, meetings and conferences, offering stunning locations against inspirational backdrops.

Find out all about Ireland’s unique heritage sites and hidden gems on heritageireland.ie

Ireland is easily accessible by air and sea, and with over 70 heritage sites managed by the Office of Public Works across the country, there is something to visit, whatever road you take.

Trim Castle, Tony Pleavin and Tourism Ireland

Hugh Lane Gallery provides an oasis of quiet inspiration in the heart of Dublin City — a place where a tradition of embracing the new has been enjoyed by Dubliners and visitors since 1908. The Gallery has a diverse collection of works that creates an experience like no other, especially for those seeking inspiration, mindfulness, and consolation –something great art provides.

Hugh Lane Gallery guides you on a journey through the evolving practices of modern art. Discover a diverse and

wonderful collection of works, from impressionism to expressionism, from beauty to provocation - all expertly curated in the unique setting of the world’s oldest public gallery of modern art. Immerse yourself today at the Gallery, which reflects the spirit of Dublin, and enjoy the foremost public collection of contemporary art in Ireland, which includes Degas, Monet, Manet, Harry Clarke stained glass, Francis Bacon’s Studio, a Sean Scully room and much more.

Perry Ogden, Francis Bacon Studio (1998) Collection Hugh Lane Gallery © The Estate of Francis Bacon DACS

“The Francis Bacon Studio at the Hugh Lane…one of the most stunning events in European circles in years”

Ambrose Clancy Washington Post

Harry Clarke, The Eve of St Agnes (1924, detail) Collection and image © Hugh Lane Gallery

A Personal Touch

One of Kildare Village’s proudest launches this year has been the launch of three new Personal Shopping Suites, exclusively designed by international interior designer David Thomas.

Building on the success of the Personal Shopping service to date, the new suites are a haven of quiet luxury designed to elevate the personal shopping experience to a new level of comfort and delight. Their launch and development positions Kildare Village as a market leader in this personalised service in Ireland. Offering a 360-degree lifestyle shopping experience, the new development is a popular ‘added value’ service for new and repeat guests in The Bicester Village Shopping Collection worldwide.

THE SPACE

Designer David Thomas started his career at Ralph Lauren, where he stayed for nine years. Since creating David Thomas Design in 1998, his creative team have designed for some of

the most high-end brands in the world, including Manolo Blahnik’s NYC headquarters and Goyord’s Los Angeles flagship store on Rodeo Drive. The Personal Shopping Suites at Kildare Village are decorated with soft tones of blush, deep sea blue and terracotta in luxurious materials for soft furnishings, curtains and wallpaper. The artwork has been specifically curated for the space and includes black and white photography, paintings and limited-edition prints. Irish artists represented include Martina Furlong, Karen Hickey and Derval Freeman.

PERSONAL SHOPPING: A FIVE STAR SERVICE

Personal Shopping at the Village’s new suites is overseen by Clara Halpin, Deputy Director of Personal Shopping. Internationally trained

An immersive sensory experience, the suites boast tunable lighting technology allowing customers to visualise their outfits in day and evening light.

Personal Stylists Jess Colivet, Sinéad Kelly and Cathy O’Connor complete the team, with new stylists to be welcomed in the coming months. Each Personal Shopper is an expert in their field, taking care of guests’ sartorial needs in everything from their colour profile to occasionwear advice.

Alongside the opening of the Personal Shopping Suites, Kildare Village’s brand mix has also evolved, offering an even broader choice of brands from which the Personal Shopping team are able to curate new and inspiring looks for guests. A personal shopping appointment in Kildare Village is an immersive sensory experience, unlike anything that can be experienced online. New innovations within the suites include tunable lighting technology, allowing customers to visualise their outfits both in daylight and evening light.

As part of the Personal Shopping experience, a number of new services is available too. For those in a hurry, the ‘Perfect Palette’ service offers expert colour analysis during a 40-minute appointment, which includes an individual seasonal colour swatch for each guest. Another option is ‘Style Saturday’, during which guests can enjoy prebooked style masterclasses – an ideal way to celebrate a birthday or special occasion, catering for groups of up to six people.

There are many reasons why guests choose to enlist the advice of the Village’s Personal Shopping team: from discovering new brands and

fitting styling into a busy lifestyle, through to finding the right outfit for a new job or special occasion. Personal shopping not only allows guests to achieve put-together looks and save valuable time, it also means maximising their own selfconfidence and organising their wardrobe to meet their lifestyle needs. Today’s wardrobe demands hard-working pieces for office life, working from home, special occasions, weekends away, working out and travel.

EXPLORING KILDARE VILLAGE

Kildare Village is home to a unique edit of more than 100 fashion and lifestyle brands offering savings of up to 60% on the recommended retail price, all year round. Set in the beating heart of horse-racing country, the Village is located just an hour south-west of central Dublin and perfectly situated for routes to important tourist destinations in the region including Cork, Limerick, and Galway. A bastion of Irish talent, Kildare Village strikes an astute balance between gentle regional charm and an artful spread of homegrown and international brands.

Services available at the Village include a tourist information centre, a private lounge, Handsfree Shopping and Personal Stylists. A range of restaurants and cafés invite guests to unwind and enjoy the celebrated Irish hospitality. Learn more about Kildare Village, a member of The Bicester Village Shopping Collection, at KildareVillage.com

Food for Thought

Ireland’s hugely valuable natural resources have been harnessed to develop a world-class agricultural industry that now incorporates sustainability into its offering.

Origin Green is Ireland’s pioneering food and drink sustainability programme. Operating on a national scale, it seeks to unite government, the private sector and the full supply chain from farmers to food producers to the food service and retail sectors.

The overall ambition of the programme is that Irish food and drink is the first choice globally because it is trusted as sustainably produced, by people who care. Sustainable food production means shared responsibility for the production, supply and consumption of safe and nutritious

food within a viable industry that simultaneously protects and enhances the natural environment now and into the future, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future.

As populations grow, the need for food also grows. So too does the pressure on limited natural resources such as soil and water. Therefore, it is vitally important that food is produced in a way that protects natural resources rather than depleting them while also being respectful to the community. Origin Green’s focus on sustainability improvements is in line with the Food Wise 2025 recommendation to strengthen the sustainability credentials of Ireland’s production systems in parallel with increases in production levels, to ensure that the

Ireland is a clean and innovative producer of quality food and drink products, a reputation earned over many years of supplying international markets.

Ireland’s climate makes a long season possible with plenty of rainwater for rearing livestock and crop production. Its grass-based system is more efficient than intensive indoor feeding or growing systems.

advantages of the sector are maximised for the Irish economy and environment into the future.

Ireland has many natural advantages when it comes to sustainable food production. The climate makes a long, grass-growing season possible, providing plenty of rainwater, and weather conditions are ideal for rearing livestock and growing diverse crops. In addition, Ireland’s grass-based system is more efficient and environmentally sustainable than intensive indoor animal feeding systems.

TRACK & TRACE

Knowing where food originates from has become increasingly important in the UAE. The country has banned import of fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products from several countries

in the past due to unhygienic practices and high levels of pesticides.

As a country that imports up to 90% of its food products, it is very cautious about its food sources. Ireland, by contrast, exports 90% of its food, thanks to its green and wet environment. The Middle East has therefore become one of Ireland’s most significant consumer bases, in particular the UAE.

In addition, when it comes to Irish food, meat and dairy products are traceable back to the original Irish farm they came from through a barcode on the packaging - creating transparency and accountability. For some products, the name of the farmer is also available. The Nest Box Egg Company for example, ship Irish eggs to

Dubai. The eggs come from free-range and organic farms where the hens are fed herbs and an organic diet to keep them healthy. The hens have plenty of space to walk around in the green and lush Irish grass to stay healthy - so they lay more nutritious eggs for human consumption.

DIVERSIFICATION

While Ireland benefits from ample water and green pasture, the UAE excels in a technological approach to farming, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). A highly effective approach to agriculture, vertical farming is gaining traction in the UAE to keep up with the growing population’s demand. Growing plants under fully controlled conditions in stacked layers enables the production of year-round crops.

UAE based Crop One is a name synonymous with food technology. Its differentiated technology stack and growing process make them the most advanced vertical farming company growing food hydroponically with unique formulas for each cultivar. Plants are supported by millions of data points collected each day for maximum growth and supplied with the exact amount of light, water and nutrients, without using soil.

All seedlings come from carefully screened non-GMO seeds, and the company works with breeding companies to develop new cultivars for optimized growth indoors.

SOURCING LOCALLY, THINKING GLOBALLY

The UAE Vice-President visited Emirates Crop One (ECO 1) the world’s largest vertical farm, which recently opened in Dubai. Developed in a joint venture between Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC), one of the world’s largest catering operations serving more than 100 airlines and Crop One, the $40 million facility is spread over an area of 330,000 square feet. The facility can produce more than 1,000,000 kilogrammes of high-quality leafy greens annually while requiring 95% less water than conventional agriculture. The farm currently grows spinach, kale, arugula and four varieties of lettuce. It has the potential to produce over two million pounds of high-quality, organic greens annually.

“Located near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, the Bustanica hydroponic facility grows in excess of 1 million plants, which provides an output of 3,000kg per day, at any given point.”

During his tour of the facility, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VicePresident and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai was briefed on the innovative technologies used in powering the state-ofthe-art hydroponic farm.

Sheikh Mohammed said the unique initiative reflects the country’s commitment to food security by fostering sustainable production systems and resilient agricultural practices.

“The UAE will continue to make the right investments in technologies and people to make food production and supply more agile and sustainable,” he said.

Sheikh Mohammed also noted that the Emirates Group has made “significant contributions to achieving the UAE’s vision of being a leader in shaping the future of humanity.”

“ECO 1 will

chain challenges and food security issues while introducing millions of new consumers to the benefits of vertically farmed produce. It is our mission to cultivate a sustainable future to meet the global demand for fresh, local food, and this new farm is the manifestation of that commitment.”

The Bustanica hydroponic facility, located near Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai grows in excess of 1 million plants, which provides an output of 3,000kg per day, at any given point. The leafy greens grown in the facility are used for catering for passengers on Emirates and other airlines. People in the UAE can also buy the produce at stores under the Bustanica brand.

Craig Ratajczyk, The CEO of Crop One said:

address growing supply

When it comes to Irish food, meat and dairy products are traceable back to the original Irish farm they came from through a barcode on the packaging - creating transparency and accountability. For some products, the name of the farmer is also available.

Bustanica leverages Artificial Intelligence to help grow food without the use of soil. Human contact with plants is limited to decrease the chances of contamination. Instead, digital methods are used to collect valuable data and control operations.

The facility uses a closed-loop irrigation system to provide water to the plants. Each plant is provided with mineral-rich water, which upon evaporation, is collected and reused to water all the vegetation. This system also uses hydroponic cultivation, which consumes 95% less water than traditional farming practices.

WORKING TOGETHER

Earlier this year the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland to enhance cooperation in the food security field.

The agreement was signed by Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD.

Under the terms of the MoU, the two parties will collaborate in leveraging the latest technologies

to optimise food and water management, promoting foreign direct investments in sustainable agriculture, facilitating trade in food and agricultural products, and sharing knowledge of national governance frameworks that seek to address the water, food, and energy nexus.

Speaking on the new partnership, Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “Strengthening national food security is a strategic priority for the UAE. Therefore, the Ministry is keen to step up collaboration with relevant entities in other countries to boost food trade, ensure the continuity of supply chains, and drive the adoption of innovative solutions in this field. The agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland will spur the exchange of successful innovation and technology-based experiences in all aspects of food security and sustainability.”

Through the existing bilateral relationships, Ireland and the UAE continue to work closely together to share best practices, build expertise, and embrace innovation.

Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment.

The agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland will spur the exchange of successful innovation and technology-based experiences in all aspects of food security and sustainability.

A Taste of Ireland

The relationship between Ireland and the UAE goes from strength to strength, with ties ranging from the over 10,000 Irish diaspora residents in the country to the strong business relationships already in place.

This extends to the taste of Ireland that residents and visitors to the UAE enjoy, offered on menus across the country and the many premium quality products displayed on supermarket shelves.

The array of Irish food and drink options is set to increase further in the region with the additional focus of the Irish government agency, Bord Bia – the Irish Food Board. The UAE is seen as a key priority market for quality Irish food, with the opportunity to expand its exporting relationship substantially over the coming years.

Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, therefore chose the Gulf region for the first in-person trade mission since the start of Covid-19. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. travelled with Bord Bia to

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, accompanied by fourteen Irish food and drink companies.

The purpose of the trade mission was to help drive commercial opportunities for Irish dairy and consumer food exporters in the region. It also sought to solidify government-togovernment engagement in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and enhance the reputation of Ireland as a trusted supplier and trading partner for high-quality, sustainably produced food and drink products.

Notwithstanding the market volatility from Covid-19 on trade, exports by Irish companies to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were valued at €155 million last year, highlighting the substantial opportunities that exist in this rapidly expanding market.

Bord Bia has identified Saudi Arabia and the UAE as priority markets in the region, accounting for a combined 50% of current Irish trade in the Gulf region*. In 2021, Irish food and drink exports to the broader Middle East market were valued at €311 million, comprising dairy and dairy ingredients worth €272 million, followed by consumer foods at €21 million.

Ireland exports to a total of 18 Middle East countries: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

STRENGTH IN SUSTAINABILITY

Launching the trade mission, Bord Bia announced a three-year business strategy for the region. The strategy outlines a target of €380 million in Irish food and drink exports to the wider Middle East region by 2025, led by dairy and consumer foods. Within this plan, Ireland will target exports in excess of €100 million to Saudi Arabia and €85 million to the UAE by 2025.

Commenting on the strategy, Ailish Forde, Global Business Development Director at Bord Bia, said:

“The Gulf region represents high potential growth opportunities for Irish food and drink producers;

a market that values high-quality products, and where Ireland is recognised for its excellence in producing sustainably produced products. Our new Bord Bia strategy for the region provides a roadmap for our ambitions to increase Irish exports substantially. Sustainability is at the heart of all Bord Bia’s work over the next three years and building strength in sustainability is a strategic enabler for the industry.”

In a region where as much as 80-90% of food is imported, food security remains a key strategic and policy priority for Gulf states.

Currently there are 43 million people living in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and by 2050 this is expected to increase to 58 million. Population growth has played, and will continue to play, a significant role in the demand for food and food imports. Despite successes in developing domestic food production capabilities, these countries will remain largely reliant on importing food. Ireland is ideally positioned to meet this demand and, through Origin Green, can provide the perfect solution for the growing demands of consumers whose changing dietary habits mean they are becoming more aware of the need to purchase sustainably produced food.

PREMIUM FOOD PRODUCTS

Whilst dairy and dairy ingredients represent the vast majority of Ireland’s food exports to the

CIBC: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D. and Bord Bia Regional Director for the Middle East Kieran Fitzgerald mark the inauguration of Chef Eka Mochamad to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) chapter of its Chefs’ Irish Beef Club (CIBC). CIBC is a network of renowned and Michelin-starred chefs serving as ambassadors of premium Irish beef.

Gulfood 2022: Bord Bia hosted 14 Irish dairy, meat and prepared consumer food and drink exporters at its stand at Gulfood 2022. The week long Dubai-based event is the largest food, drink and hospitality trade exhibition in the world.

Middle East, a wide range of Irish food products are sold in the Gulf region. These include beef, lamb, farmhouse cheeses, consumer dairy, poultry, oysters, salmon, mackerel, bakery, confectionery, herbs, tea, relishes, preserves, potatoes, snacks and alcohol. Irish beef is positioned as a premium product in many top restaurants and 5-star hotels, while Irish speciality foods, including farmhouse cheese, have enjoyed growing success in recent years, particularly in the UAE.

GULFOOD & EXPO 2020

The Irish Trade Mission was planned to coincide with Gulfood, the world’s largest annual food, beverage and hospitality trade exhibition held in Dubai. Fourteen Irish food and drink exporters exhibited at the Ireland stand at Gulfood, providing them with exciting opportunities to showcase the best of their safe, high quality, sustainably produced food and drink, across several sectors including dairy, meat, eggs, consumer foods, biscuits and more. Over

90,000 visitors attended the show, spread across 20 pavilions with over 2,500 exhibitors.

In addition, the trade mission included participation in the Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods themed week at EXPO 2020 in Dubai. Bord Bia hosted a seminar in the Irish Pavilion at EXPO 2020 outlining Ireland’s food sustainability, traceability, and safety capabilities. The event featured two-panel discussions focused on food sustainability and food safety, highlighting Ireland’s commitment to being a global leader in sustainable food systems.

Organised in cooperation with the Embassy of Ireland to UAE and Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI), the event was attended by government and agency officials, food safety managers and other sectoral players in food security and food safety from UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Currently there are 43 million people living in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and by 2050 this is expected to increase to 58 million. Population growth will continue to play a significant role in the demand for food and food imports.

The Gulf region represents high potential growth opportunities for Irish food and drink producers; a market that values high-quality products, and where Ireland is recognised for its excellence in sustainably produced products.

CHEF’S IRISH BEEF CLUB

On day four of the Trade Mission, Bord Bia announced the appointment of a new member to its Chefs’ Irish Beef Club (CIBC) in Dubai.

The CIBC is a network of renowned and Michelinstar chefs worldwide who use and promote Irish beef. The CIBC has eight chapters globally across France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with 75 worldclass head chefs serving as ambassadors of premium Irish meat.

Minister Charlie McConalogue and Kieran Fitzgerald, Regional Director, Middle East, Bord Bia welcomed the award-winning chef Eka Mochamad to the club. Chef Eka is Head Chef at the iconic At.Mosphere restaurant, located on floor 122 at the prestigious Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. According to the Guinness World Record book the restaurant is the highest restaurant in the world and is the largest lounge bar worldwide in a skyscraper with an area of 1030 square metres.

There are now three chefs in the UAE chapter of the CIBC, with Eka Mochamad joining the leading chefs, Saradhi Dakara and Reif Othman, as ambassadors for Irish beef in the region.

GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT

For a government-to-government engagement perspective, highlights of the trade mission included a meeting in Dubai with the UAE’s

Minister of Climate Change and Environment, H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al-Muhairi, and a meeting in Riyadh with the Minister for Environment, Water and Agriculture, Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen A. AlFadley, plus the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. The goal of these meetings was to foster mutually beneficial trade relationships and enhance market access for Irish exports.

Speaking during the trade mission, Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. said:

“The Gulf States offer enormous potential for the Irish food and drink industry and can contribute to achieving the ambitious targets in FoodVision 2030, our latest strategy for the agri-food sector. We see the Gulf region as an important partner from a trading perspective, and Ireland can help meet the food supply diversification requirements of the region. As a country that exports 90% of the food we produce globally, Ireland is an excellent fit for a region dependent on imports to meet its food needs. Our strong focus on quality, traceability and sustainability makes Ireland a natural partner for the Gulf and the wider Middle East.”

*The Gulf Cooperation Council is a regional, intergovernmental political and economic union that consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Spinney’s: Bord Bia launched a partnership with Spinney’s Dubai LLC, a leading premium retailer in the UAE for a sustainability themed promotion to highlight sustainable Irish brands.

Dairy from Ireland where we work in harmony with nature

Ireland’s lush green fi elds, fresh, clean air and plentiful rain create the perfect environment for rearing grass-fed cows. Together with an agile industry that responds speedily to changing production requirements, we’re able to ensure a consistent, secure supply of premium quality dairy produce.

Our farmers and producers continue to work with care, commitment and respect for tradition.

As members of Origin Green - Ireland’s leading-edge national food quality and sustainability programtheir work is also measured and independently audited to drive continuous improvements in food safety, traceability, animal welfare and greenhouse gas emissions.

To learn more about how we work in harmony with nature like nowhere else in the world, visit irishfoodanddrink.com

Ornua

Ornua, owner of Kerrygold Ireland’s only €1 billion food brand and most successful food export, is a dairy co-operative which sells dairy products on behalf of its members - Ireland’s dairy processors and in turn, Irish dairy farmers.

For over 60 years, Ornua has established and grown successful routes to market for Irish dairy and currently exports to over 110 markets globally.

Previously the Irish Dairy Board, Ornua established its presence in the Middle East in the 1980s. Today, it serves the region with a branded portfolio of butter and cheese products sold under the Kerrygold brand. It also supplies high-quality dairy ingredients to B2B manufacturing and foodservice customers, specialising in various pizza cheeses for leading quick-service restaurants and innovative white cheese solutions for bakery. In 2016, Ornua opened a state-of-the-art white cheese manufacturing facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Ornua’s investment in the region spans decades, with the business initially operating out of a local sales office in Dubai with a view to furthering the strategic development of operations with customers and consumers within the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) regions. Since then, consistent presence within the region has enabled the local team to overcome the challenges of conducting business across the diverse Middle Eastern markets – a direct result of strong market insight and the development of robust and long-term customer relationships.

Ornua’s operations in the Middle East are well positioned to deliver growth over the coming years. As GCC markets become more affluent and cosmopolitan, consumers increasingly gravitate towards more natural premium quality foods.(1) Kerrygold butter and cheese are made from the milk of Irish grass-fed cows and are a natural choice to meet these evolving consumer preferences. Within the food service landscape, the same market dynamics are creating demand for new and innovative onthe-go food solutions.

In response to this growing opportunity in the region, Ornua announced plans in early 2022 to

significantly expand its product offering within the Middle East. Kerrygold butter sticks were launched in Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia earlier last year, offering a 100g pack size, which is the fastest selling product format in the region. The all natural butter offers additional convenience for cooking and baking, which are the key usage for consumers in the region.

The launch follows the success of Kerrygold butter sticks in the US market, which has become the fastest selling Kerrygold SKU in the market, where the Kerrygold brand holds the No. 2 branded position. The launch of this new product has been supported by investment in a new manufacturing line, which was installed at Kerrygold Park - Ornua’s butter product and manufacturing facility in Cork, Ireland, in 2021.

In terms of food service expertise, Ornua is committed to extending its pizza cheese portfolio, which supplies some of the leading quick service restaurants across Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The new range of pizza cheese, which will target the €5.4 billion Middle East and North African pizza market, includes flavoured string cheese for stuffed crust pizza - an increasingly popular offering among the world’s top fast service restaurants. Produced at a dedicated innovation centre in Ávila, Spain, this new product offers consistent quality, reduced waste, superb stretch and the flexibility to suit a variety of pizza sizes.

The Middle East represents the fastest growing retail landscape globally and is a significant opportunity for Irish dairy. Ornua is committed to long-term, sustained investment in the region, building on its product portfolio and meeting the ever-changing needs of its customers and consumers across the region.

Sources: 1. Euromonitor, 2021

Ingredient Solutions

Whether its 30,000ft in the sky or on a park bench at lunchtime, cheese is everywhere from food on-the-go to a-la-carte service in business class.

Ingredient Solutions is one of the prime movers in supplying the global food industry with cheese in all shapes, sizes and varieties.

Ingredient Solutions has added award-winning sustainability initiatives in its commitment to quality, and it’s not stopping there. The company was set up in Ireland with no customers, five staff and the capacity to handle around 1,000 tonnes of cheese annually. Today they are producing up to 12,000 tonnes of cheese products with a staff of 100 and a €50 million turnover. The company focuses on bluechip food manufacturers, ready-meal producers, fast-food distributors and big restaurant chains.

Cheese produced by Ingredient Solutions can be found on virtually every supermarket shelf in the UK and Ireland and in a fast-food outlet in every major town and city throughout Europe. Equally, it is served onboard several major international airlines; on cruise liners, trains, in bars, pubs, hotels, restaurants, schools and delivered in ‘meals on wheels’ format to tens of thousands of homes. The cheese also goes into hundreds of everyday products that are eaten by consumers every week. Blends are tailored for each customer, and the product choices can be based on functionality, flavour, presentation or price - or a combination of all of these.

TEAMWORK

Ian Galletly, Managing Director, feels his strong, deep and long-established management team has played a vital role in the business’s success. For example, Colin O’Sullivan has been with Ingredient Solutions since day one and has been a steadfast and efficient production team member. Ted Healy, another early staff member, has been looking after the machinery and keeping things running through the years. Colin Barrow, a longtime friend and associate, is involved in the background providing business insights and brilliant ideas.

On the sales front, Sales Director Gary Davies has helped the company in its growth. Ian has known Gary for over 30 years. Gary was 16 and washing Ian’s car when they first met. Esther Linehan, Office Manager, runs the office and the sales administration team with great efficiency, ensuring the company maintains its excellent customer service and meets the day-to-day logistical challenges that face the business. Esther has been with the company over 15 years. Finally, as Ian’s PA, Janice Sweeney has been an indispensable and highly efficient team member, keeping the

business on track. Janice retired recently and she will be sorely missed.

EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY

Ingredient Solutions’ exceptional product quality garnered a double-A certification from the BRC. The product is available as shredded, grated, block, diced, crumbled or shaved. You won’t see their name on products in supermarkets; that privilege they leave to their customers. But their cheese ingredients are in products that appear on the shelves of nine out of every ten supermarkets in the UK and Ireland.

Ian knows why his customers return time and again for his innovative products, saying: “It’s because we provide consistent quality and are reliable, flexible and responsive. Many of our customers have been with us for over 15 years, and we are blue-chip food manufacturers.” Indeed, among the company’s customer base of 30 countries stretching across the UK and Europe to the Middle East, China and the Bahamas are two of the world’s largest global chains. These sit alongside an extensive list of ready-meal, fast-food and food-on- thego outlets. If a ready-meal outlet, pub chain or supermarket needs cheese products, the chances are Ingredient Solutions is on their radar.

Ian, who founded the company in 2000, prides himself on Ingredient Solutions’ long-term relationships with suppliers and customers. “Our customers rely on us to deliver what we say we will deliver and when. Consistency and quality are everything in the food industry.” The ethos is captured in the company’s motto: ‘Big enough to cope, small enough to care, keen enough to compete’.

MOVING FORWARD

Innovation is central to the company’s value, providing unique cheese solutions, and working with customers to launch around 120 new food products each year.

Being at the heart of the cheese industry means the company can rely on three to four big dairies, while logistically, it is within a couple of hours of international ports with access to the UK and Europe.

Another development has been the move towards sustainability. In 2021, Ingredient Solutions was awarded a Platinum medal by sustainability rating experts EcoVadis in recognition of its efforts to date. Whilst this was great news, on October 4th, the company was re-confirmed as a Platinum medal holder with a significantly higher rating.

The EcoVadis report contained no less than 46 areas where the company’s environmental credentials are particularly strong. The company also encourages customers to move in the same direction to improve sustainability by switching to reusable pallecon containers rather than singleuse cardboard.

Ingredient Solutions has recently bought a sevenacre field next to its headquarters to build a

new solar-powered factory. This will double the business’s overall capacity while also ensuring they are ahead of the pack when it comes to being as eco-friendly as any in the food industry. The company expects to have it completed by 2026, which will facilitate doubling its turnover to £100 million by the end of the decade. This investment will allow the company to extend into the direct to retail sector.

So what does Ian do in his spare time? “I enjoy salmon fishing. I fish here in Ireland, but I’ve also fished in Canada and Scotland. I’d really like to go fishing in Norway sometime in the future”, he says. Ian’s biggest catch ever was a 36lb Salmon in Canada. He fishes for sport and returns his catches to the river so that one might have got even bigger!

His other great love is horse racing, and he owns a racehorse. It’s only two years old and yet to race, but he is hoping, like the company, that it becomes a winner.

When asked about his favourite cheese, Ian said he likes a good cheeseboard with all the trimmings, a fine vintage cheddar, and a nice glass of Shiraz or Malbec.

In May 2022, the company was acquired by RUPP AG, based in Hörbranz, Austria, which also owns the Alma brand. Founded in 1908, the acquisition is part of RUPP’s international expansion plans. Ingredient Solutions continues to operate independently in Ian Galletly’s capable hands.

“Consistency and quality is everything in the food industry.”

Ian Galletly, co-founder & MD

Tirlán

Glanbia

Co-operative Society Limited (“Glanbia Co-op”) and Glanbia Ireland, a worldclass food and nutrition business, revealed that they will in future be known as Tirlán, a new identity crafted to reflect the unique characteristics that define this dynamic organisation.

Combining the Irish words ‘Tír’ for land and ‘Lán’ for full, Tirlán stands for ‘Land of Abundance’ and represents the deep connection and relationship between the Co-op, its people and the land they nurture together to farm and sustain.

It is just the latest step in an exciting new journey for the Co-op. In December 2021, farmer shareholders voted in favour of purchasing the remaining 40% stake in Glanbia Ireland from Glanbia plc to become outright owners of the Irish dairy and grain business.

Glanbia plc will retain and continue to operate under the Glanbia name as an entirely separate entity. Tirlán will remain the largest shareholder in Glanbia plc, with a 31.9% shareholding.

From its base in the southeast of Ireland, Tirlán sources its high-quality dairy and grains from a network of over 6,000 farm families who are at the heart of the business. Tirlán’s portfolio includes many of Ireland’s best known and most loved Irish dairy brands, such as Avonmore, Kilmeaden, Premier, Wexford and international brands such as GAIN Animal Nutrition, Truly Grass Fed, Millac and Solmiko nutritional milk proteins.

As a co-operative, Tirlán is 100% farmer-owned, with 11 high-tech processing facilities, 52 agribranches and over 2,100 employees. Sales revenue this year is forecast to exceed €3 billion.

The co-operative is a significant contributor to the rural economy, and in the past year, it has paid over €1.6 billion directly to farm families for milk and grain. As the largest buyer and user of Irish grains, Tirlán handles over 270,000 tonnes, including a portfolio of premium grains.

Tirlán has a solid global footprint with a market presence in the UK, France, Germany, UAE, the US, North Africa, Japan and China. The group currently exports to over 80 countries. It recently commenced construction of a €200m state-ofthe-art continental cheese facility at Belview, County Kilkenny, in a joint venture with international dairy producer Royal A-ware.

With over a third of Ireland’s milk pool, Tirlán will continue to be a key player at the heart of the Irish food and beverage sector, an area of enormous significance to the national economy and its overall export success.

DIVERSITY & SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability is of tremendous importance to Tirlán. As part of its comprehensive sustainability strategy, ‘Living Proof,’ the organisation has signed up to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). It has set out a roadmap with ambitions, backed by a robust implementation programme to be Net Zero for carbon emissions by 2050, with 30% absolute reductions by 2030 and similar reductions in carbon intensity from milk production. This ambitious plan demonstrates Tirlán’s bold commitment to farmers and society at large, as well as the wider food and nutrition sector. It outlines how they intend to work towards a fully sustainable future.

Tirlán has been supplying dairy products to the MEA region for the last 20 years. The organisation established a regional office in Dubai, UAE, in 2010. This decision was prompted by the impending removal of milk quotas in Europe and the need for Tirlán to establish direct routes to market in the region.

Tirlán has had tremendous growth across the region over the past decade and now has a team of eight permanent staff working from this central sales hub. The primary business in the region is the supply of a range of dairy ingredients B2B customers. These products include FFMP, cheese, milk proteins, butter, WMP, SMP. These are the key building blocks for dairy finished product manufacturers in the region. As this is a milk-deficit region and customer demand grows, there is a growing need to import more products.

The key markets are KSA, UAE and Iraq in the Middle East region. In Africa, Tirlán has key supply positions in Algeria, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Mali and Togo. In the last five years, the company has entered the food service and retail sector in the Middle East with its range of consumer cheese and UHT cream offerings under the Avonmore brand.

Tirlán also has a growing range of plant-based ingredients to complement its dairy portfolio and provide the customer with choices in line with consumer trends and growth in the “free-from” category. The plant-based portfolio includes a range of functional oat flours suitable for manufacturing plant-based ice-cream, yogurt and beverages. The MEA region will continue to be a significant market for Tirlán and there is a strong pipeline of opportunity to build on existing sales.

As part of its comprehensive sustainability strategy ‘Living Proof,’ the organisation has signed up to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) with ambitious targets to be Net Zero for carbon emissions by 2050, with 30% absolute reductions by 2030, and similar reductions in carbon intensity from milk production.

The Tirlán team based in the Dubai office

Astron Engineering

Astron Engineering, based in Rathnew, County Wicklow, has been a specialist in designing and manufacturing bespoke food display equipment for over 30 years. The company prides itself on the service, quality, functionality and durability of every cabinet it manufactures.

Tom O’Dowd, Managing Director, set up the original company in 1977, initially subcontracting to larger refrigeration companies. By the 1980’s Astron had developed a relationship with Superquinn and began designing and installing custom-made salad bars in Superquinn stores.

Over the past 30 years, with continued research and development, Astron Engineering became one of Ireland’s leading manufacturers of salad bars and food display equipment, working with and supplying numerous cabinets to some of the largest retailers in Ireland, the UK and UAE.

In 2008 the company exported its first selfserve salad/juice bar to Dubai with the help of an independent Middle East salesperson. The response was hugely positive leading to more orders. A decision was then made to look at supplying directly to customers in the Middle East to ensure a better quality of service, and in 2010 the company began exporting directly to new customers.

Astron Engineering has built its reputation through the years on the quality, durability, reliability, functionality and aesthetic appeal of bespoke cabinets, along with personal

customer service from conception to completion. Everything is designed and manufactured onsite in a dedicated workshop in Co. Wicklow. The company has intensively researched the most durable, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly components that go into each of its cabinets. Every cabinet is tested to European Standards before it leaves the workshop.

From a retailer’s point of view, they want to offer quality fresh produce while still offering value for money. Astron Engineering provides top quality, energy-efficient cabinets that appeal to the customer while providing easy access and keeping food fresher for longer.

The company prides itself on building longlasting relationships with all its customers. Over the past 30 years, it is delighted to include the top names in food and retail in its customer list. Irish clients include Dunnes Stores, Musgrave Group (which includes SuperValu and Centra), Spar, Fresh, Gino’s Gelato, James Whelan Butchers, Sheridan’s Cheese to name but a few, and Geant, Lulu & Nesto in the UAE.

Study Abroad

Studying at one of Ireland’s internationally recognised universities is a life-changing experience. The education hubs have a unique development path that combines hundreds of years of expertise with a desire for new and creative innovation.

Ireland is ranked in the top 10 for education (IMB World Competitiveness Ranking 2019) and its degrees are recognised worldwide. It is also the only English-speaking country in the Eurozone, so with this being the global language of business and technology, knowing how to converse easily in English increases marketability and gives students a significant advantage in a multinational company.

Ireland is relatively small in size with a population of just over five million, yet here you can find universities providing world-class Englishlanguage education in over 5,000 different courses at a cost significantly less than many other countries. The cost-effectiveness of studying in Ireland is a major draw when compared to the UK or USA and the level of education is higher.

There are currently over 32,000 international students from more than 161 countries studying in Ireland, making up roughly 17.9% of the university population. According to a study, the number increased by 45% between 2013 and 2017 and continues to climb. There are

dedicated international offices in each institution that understand the unique needs of foreign students and help every one of them to adapt to the new culture with a range of clubs, societies, and supports.

COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Ireland also has its own Council for International Students (ICOS). The ICOS was founded in 1970 with offices based in Dublin, Ireland’s lively capital city. It collaborates with its members, student organisations and government agencies to ensure that international education policy and practice in Ireland is quality-driven and remains firmly focused on the educational and social needs of all students. It promotes the rights and welfare of international students who choose Ireland as a study destination, and it supports staff in colleges that work with them.

Individual universities also have their own ways of making international students feel welcome, such as the Global Room at Trinity College Dublin. The Global Room is a welcoming, internationallyminded space, where all students can come and experience cultural events, meet new people

and feel part of its international community. Its friendly team hosts regular events celebrating cultural holidays and international events, providing a space for Trinity students from all over the globe to connect.

LAND OF WELCOMES

Apart from the glamorous landscapes, medieval castles and Christian monasteries, it is the lively youthfulness of Ireland that sets the country apart. Metropolitan cit-ies like Dublin and Cork bring out the spirit of the Irish youth; student hubs in Lim-erick and Galway combine old world charm with lively social scenes, while the ru-ral villages offer a glimpse of old Ireland set in stunning landscapes.

Culture is something that Ireland has in spades, whether it is historical spaces, natural beauty or a thriving social scene, with some of the world’s friendliest peo-ple known the world over for their ‘cead mile failte’ (a hundred thousand welcomes). The Irish take pride in their country and love to share their enthusiasm with students.

The Irish have a huge maternal side and love to welcome or ‘mother’ new guests. If staying with a host family, you’re sure to be treated as one of the family. If not, there’s always a greeting or a helping hand just around the corner.

Irish cities are full of life but smaller than most, so it is easy to find your way around and discover all they have to offer. The infrastructure is excellent too with good public transport and most cities are easily walkable.

HOME FROM HOME

Ireland is also a travel hub for other travel destinations. A country with open doors, it is well connected to the rest of Europe and beyond, which means it is easy to hop onto a flight and explore other countries by taking weekend breaks in your free time. If you would like to stay with both feet on the ground, Ireland is a small island nation with an incredible array of natural beauty, wonderful coastlines and rugged nature. There are two UNESCO world heritage sites, countless cathedrals, ancient monuments and castles to explore and stretches of wild open countryside.

Many international students call Ireland their ‘home away from home’ and throw themselves into the unique Irish culture abundant in music, dance, literature, and social spaces. The culture is vibrant and happening, with varied events and festivals all over the country. It is a perfect place to meet new friends in a unique society that feels progressive and modern.

Ireland ranks 12th on the Global Peace Index and 3rd in the world for quality of life, according to a report published by the United Nations, so the relaxing nature of the place soon rubs off on visitors who find it very easy to ‘go native’.

The education space is also progressive, with Irish universities in the top 1% of research institutions worldwide. The country is also known for adapting to industry needs and evolving alongside their respective market sectors.

Some of the world’s biggest companies have key strategic research facilities here and international students can join innovative research programmes as part of their study experience. There is also a great symbiotic relationship between the large amount of Foreign Direct Investment that comes into Ireland every year and the education sector, with huge multinationals that are based in the country offering internships for students and job opportunities for graduates. There has been an especially large demand within the areas that Ireland is known for hosting, including financial services, life sciences, engineering, agriculture, pharmaceutical and technology among others.

There is a large crossover in the most popular courses taken in the UAE and Ireland, showing that students from both countries are on the same track when it comes to understanding their futures. Ireland is home to five of Forbes Top 10 companies: Apple, Google, Alphabet, Amazon and Samsung and the Irish economy is rapidly growing in the Eurozone - it is the 6th most competitive in the world.

Irish universities work closely with industry to ensure that their graduates are ready for the workforce and have the best opportunities available to them. With an employability rate of over 80 per cent, Irish institutions offer many career opportunities for international students and it is an entrepreneurial country with global connections.

WORK PLACEMENTS AND VISAS

Work placements are high on the agenda to create a readiness for work, with most university programmes and the Irish student visa allowing up to 50% of courses to be defined in this ‘handson’ way.

Education in Ireland is structured to ensure students will be ready to meet the real-life demands of the workplace and Ireland has one of the largest cooperative education programmes in Europe. The Ireland student visa also allows students from overseas to work up to 20 hours a week during studies and full-time during vacations. There is no need for a separate permit for employment where the only need is to obtain a PPS (social security) number. Once you have your PPS number, there are other benefits as a foreign student in work, such as free travel passes and public health services.

Most universities have a specialist officer who offers help in the process of applying for a student visa including all the necessary documentation. Bureaucracy runs smoothly in Ireland, with quicker turnaround times than most countries and a willingness to support students on their study path. Emirati students do not need to apply for health insurance for the Irish Study Visa - Visa Type D, which is another helpful step on the way to studying in Ireland. Emirati students simply need to prove they speak English well enough to study at an international university in Ireland. These language skills ensure that students can succeed in classes and manage their way around Ireland. In addition, Emirati students do not need to take a medical test before arriving in Ireland and there is no need to set up a Restricted Bank Account which as its name suggests can be too restrictive. A Restricted Bank Account restricts the amount of money that can be withdrawn every month, and only allows access when the student arrives in Ireland.

PASTURES NEW

Ireland offers excellent opportunities to continue in the country and start a career, with post-study work visas available. The Stayback Visa or Stamp 1G visa offers graduates the opportunity to stay and work in Ireland for 12 months (for undergraduate students) and 24 months (for masters/graduate students). Following on from stayback visas, legally resident non-EU thirdlevel graduates can also apply for a Green Card Permit, which is a way to stay in Ireland long term. This allows graduates to work for an employer in an occupation where there is a shortage of skills. This visa flexibility makes Ireland an attractive option for long-term study and settlement as,

after five years on a work visa, students can apply for Irish citizenship. Ireland is not only interested in international students while they are on their course of choice but wants to create an environment in which they can become a part of Irish society after they have finished their studies.

SO WHY STAY IN IRELAND?

Ireland’s higher educational standards are based on the country’s dedication to excellence.The Irish government has made significant investment in the country’s academic infrastructure, making it a popular study destination for overseas students. Furthermore, the country’s higher educational institutions award internationally recognised and quality-assured certifications and qualifications, with over 5,000 programmes available.

The land of a thousand welcomes opens its arms and its heart to international students, offering a quality of life second to none and a top-class degree to be proud of.

There is a large crossover in the most popular courses in the UAE and Ireland showing that students from both countries are on the same track when it comes to understanding their futures.

AcceleratHER at Westford University

WestfordUniversity

College, based in the United Arab Emirates, is a wellknown transnational educational partner of leading international institutions.

The prominent university, with two locations in Sharjah, UAE, provides postgraduate, undergraduate, PhD, and vocational programs. The university has approximately 10,000 students from over 130 countries enrolled.

With over 70 percent of Westford University College’s workforce being female, an initiative to empower and support women on their path to success was established with the launch of AcceleratHER - a scholarship geared towards empowering women to upskill. Scholarships are available to help women in their academic endeavours, which solidifies the institution’s determination to support women in following their dreams and aspirations.

AcceleratHER discounts tuition fees for women studying long-term courses, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programs. With the scholarship, Westford hopes to provide women with the opportunity to advance in their lives and careers without the burden of higher education costs. To date, the AcceleratHER Scholarship has been awarded to over 500 students, amounting to a million Dirhams.

The scholarship has allowed Joceline Galy, a doctoral student in business administration at Westford, to stay focused on her academic journey and gain a work-life-study balance. Meanwhile, another MBA student with Girne American University enrolled at Westford says that the scholarship has eased her financial burden allowing her to focus on her education.

Westford is proud that it is effectively and successfully assisting in changing the role of women in society. As an organization, it will continue its mission to empower women personally and professionally, helping drive women’s desire to pursue their studies. Visit www.mywestford.com

S I University

Ireland’s Leading University (QS World University Ranking 2023 and THE World University Ranking 2022)

Trinity is 1st in Europe for producing entrepreneurs for the 7th year in a row (PitchBook Universities Report 2021)

Ireland has the 3rd highest quality of life in the world (United Nations Human Development Index 2022)

Study at Ireland’s Leading University, since 1592

12th Most International University in the World (THE World University Ranking 2022)

98th World Ranking (QS World University Rankings 2023)

Trinity Top 100 University in the world for 19 Subjects (QS Subject Rankings 2022)

91st in the World for Graduate Employability (QS Graduate Employability Ranking 2022)

University College Cork

SUSTAINABLE

University College Cork is over 175 years old, with a tradition of independent thinking, a modern outlook, and a strong focus on sustainability. The university describes itself as ‘the connected university for sustainability.’ This is embedded in its core values and informs everything it does.

The university is connected: connected to its learners, to its alumni, to its community, to employers, to the city and the country by culture and by ambition. Secondly, it takes a comprehensive approach to sustainability which is recognised globally and is reinforced by its many accolades. UCC is the first green flag campus in the world, ranked number 62 in the world on the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and ranked number 8 in the world by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings, the only university ranking globally for sustainability.

Sustainability is a priority for the institution: The university’s sustainability agenda is student-led, research-informed, and practice-focused. UCC challenge its students - and they challenge the university - to ask tough questions and to take an active role in creating a sustainable world. UCC achieves this by embedding key skills,

attributes, and learning through its curriculum. It does this by applying sustainable practices across all operations. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) inform the university’s priorities and align with initiatives across the institution.

As a research-intensive university, everything UCC does is informed by deep, innovative research and data. The university is practicefocused, so it translates the activities of its research into its curriculum, practice, and university. This makes UCC a unique place to study: a connected, sustainable university of quality committed to engaging local and global communities.

GLOBALLY ORIENTATED

UCC is a globally oriented university, with 100+ different nationalities in its student body, and a significant portion of staff come from abroad. The university is proud of this diversity. It has a vast range of external partnerships and collaborations. Institutionally, the university has more than 200 partners, spanning the entire world, working to address some of the biggest challenges we all face.

University College Cork is more than the sum of its many parts and, collectively, it is many things:

Internationalisation at UCC exposes students and staff to other cultures, perspectives and learning and provides opportunities to grow. UCC has a high volume of work placements embedded in its programmes, preparing students for global economic careers. Students can study for a portion of their degree abroad through mobility options, whether with Erasmus partners in Europe or via bilateral exchange around the world. Via global recruitment and numerous joint initiatives with partners in Europe, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East, UCC brings the world to Cork. That’s the joy of the university: that people are moving, connecting and collaborating for research, learning, and a better future.

INNOVATION

Universities are about people and ideas, and UCC is proud to be a community of talented people pursuing great ideas. UCC plays a key role in the innovation ecosystem of Cork and Ireland. Its research institutes, including Tyndall National Institute, APC Microbiome Ireland (ranked number one in the world in microbiome research), and the Environmental Research Institute, among others, contribute to local, national, and global initiatives. The biggest challenges will only be solved by working across disciplines and fields of inquiry.

UCC is committed to attracting and retaining exceptional researchers and creating an environment for talent to grow and thrive. The Web of Science, for example, assesses global pioneers and research. Of the 32 named in Ireland, 13 are based at UCC. UCC has the infrastructure, the network, the people and the talent empowered by government, industry, and the private sector that enable impactful innovations.

Sometimes, when we think of innovation, we think of the economy. We must also look to social innovation and the extent to which

we can re-engineer the world to tackle huge challenges like infectious disease, climate change, economic crisis and digitalization. Responding to these issues and seeking to mitigate future challenges remains at the core of what the university and its talented researchers do.

An ambitious new university-wide initiative, UCC Futures, sets priorities for research across ten interdisciplinary areas: Future Medicines; Children; Food, Microbiome & Health; Pharmaceuticals; Future Ageing & Brain Science; Quantum & Photonics; Collective Social Futures; Future Humanities; Sustainability; Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics. The framework has been developed to inspire, engage, and enable researchers to create trans-disciplinary tangible solutions at a scale that can address emergent societal needs and grand global challenges for a sustainable future.

UCC Futures seeks to identify actions that will help to navigate climate change, achieve better planet and antimicrobial resistance, enable us to understand the technologies that underpin the medicines of the future and create a just and socially responsible future.

COMPREHENSIVE

As a comprehensive university offering an extensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and lifelong learning through short courses, Continuing Professional Development, Executive Education. UCC’s expertise is vast. From Arts to Sciences, Business to Medicine, Law to Engineering, and much more, UCC is fully engaged. The diversity of topics pursued with passion makes the campus buzz with excitement.

UCC is active and committed to full-person development that includes bodies and minds. The university encourages students and staff to explore its world-class sporting facilities,

The university invites those who want to change the world to join this student-centred, research-informed university, where sustainability and inclusion are core values.

Professor John O’Halloran,

President at University College Cork

activity resources and 52 Clubs. Sport is part of UCC’s identity, with the mantra “Pride on our chest; Belief in our heart; Sport in our bones.” The importance of sport goes much further than empowering people with health and wellbeing – sport teaches life lessons of confidence, teamwork, respect, ambition, discipline, integrity and it provides a source of great enjoyment. A bespoke Graduate Attributes Programme ensures that all students at UCC are supported to develop attributes and values beyond their disciplinary learning throughout their student journey. Support within and outside the curriculum ensures that they are recognised as well-rounded, curious, self-aware individuals who continually learn new skills, are open to new ideas and make things happen.

UCC believes that creative expression and experimentation are essential. A newly launched Arts & Culture Plan provides a roadmap to creative exploration. By promoting creative and independent thinking, UCC pushes boundaries to pioneer new ways of creating, evaluating, and communicating knowledge. In addition, there are over 100 student societies to spark interests, develop and nurture talents and enable social networking.

UCC is socially responsible, inclusive and open. The university encourages all individuals to seize and embrace opportunities to collaborate and to identify, devise and implement just and sustainable solutions to real-life problems in local communities and at a global level. UCC encourages students and staff to be aware of their values and abilities. Its Graduate Attributes Programme, for example, provides students and staff with the tools to explore their strengths, weaknesses, and values

CONNECTED

UCC has a community of over 24,000 students and 3,000 staff. The immediate population of

the city is approximately 219,000. It is a university city with deep relationships throughout the region. As a UNESCO-designated learning city and as part of a comprehensive agreement with other local institutions and authorities, UCC has anchored Cork’s identity around learning. It has an education ecosystem that blends education with commerce and government. The result is further connectivity, coordination, and collaboration. This has numerous positive impacts and creates an opportunity for education, research and innovation, but also it increases the quality of opportunity. Cork is a major hub for foreign direct investment which attracts talent and people from all over the world who are committed to investing in education.

Cork is a safe, friendly, sustainable city on a manageable scale. From the world-famous local food to the incredible beaches and beautiful countryside, from a proud and ancient history to the vibrant arts and culture scene, it is no surprise that Cork residents are so proud of their city.

For industries and individuals who can benefit from a dynamic and growing location, Cork is the place to be. For students looking to experience the collision of creativity, ingenuity, and innovation, UCC is the place to be. The university invites those who want to change the world to join this student-centred, researchinformed university, where sustainability and inclusion are core values.

For more information about University College Cork visit www.UCC.ie

Internationalisation at UCC exposes students to other cultures, perspectives and provides opportunities to grow. That’s the joy of the university: that people are moving, connecting, collaborating and learning, carving out a brighter future for one and all.

University College Dublin

UCD, Ireland’s Global University, is Ireland’s largest and most international university. Established in 1854, the university has a student body of over 37,000 students, with more than 9,500 international students drawn from 150 countries.

UCD is Ireland’s leader in graduate education, with over 12,000 graduate students, almost a quarter of whom are graduate research students. Located in Dublin, Ireland, which is hailed as one of the safest countries in the world and one of the friendliest cities in Europe.

Students are attracted to UCD by the university’s teaching and research strength. Another huge draw for international students is the programme portfolio. UCD offers Ireland’s most comprehensive range of programmes recognised and valued by academic institutions and employers worldwide. Students also benefit from a holistic studying experience at UCD.

Community and connections are at Ireland’s beating heart, particularly at UCD. The UCD alumni network is influential, successful, active and truly international. Many of the 288,000 UCD global alumni, living in 169 countries, hold positions in leading organisations worldwide.

From the moment a student receives their UCD Offer of Study, the university provides access to the UCD Alumni Network platform. Students can instantly connect with successful alumni no matter where they are in the world. They can share their experience and advice on studying at UCD and how to best place themselves to secure roles in industry or sectors of interest.

Ranked in the top 1% of higher education institutions worldwide, UCD is No. 1 in Ireland for graduate employability in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 (QS Graduate Employability Rankings). UCD is aware that universities must take an active role in developing their graduate employability. The career services UCD offers students are top-class. Not only do international students have access to interview prep, internship opportunities and alumni connections, but through the UCD Jumpstart Programme platform students begin their preparations before they arrive on campus.

The UCD alumni network is influential, successful, active and truly international. Many of the 288,000 UCD global alumni, living in 169 countries, hold positions in leading organisations around the world.

GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

Earlier this year, University College Dublin and Abu Dhabi University announced a new partnership to allow Abu Dhabi University undergraduate and postgraduate students in business programmes to complete their studies in Dublin.

The College of Business at Abu Dhabi University introduced a joint programme that will allow students to study in the emirate for the first two years and move to Ireland for the last two years of their studies to earn a degree from UCD.

The joint programme will also give students a personalised study plan and they can enrol in an internship programme anywhere in Europe.

Prof Barry O’Mahony, Dean of the College of Business at Abu Dhabi University, said: “We are delighted to offer our students this unique academic experience. It will allow them to begin

their educational journey at ADU for two years and move on to earn a degree from University College Dublin. This prestigious university is amongst the top 200 universities worldwide.”

Professor Don Bredin, Associate Dean of the College of Business at UCD, said the partnership reflected the importance both universities place on global engagement as part of their business programmes.

“The new collaborative programme emphasises UCD’s reputation as Ireland’s global university, and I very much look forward to welcoming students from Abu Dhabi University Business School to the UCD Quinn School in September,” said Professor Bredin.

Connect with UCD to learn more about studying in Ireland at UCD, as well as the scholarships and supports available. www.ucd.ie/global

University of Galway

University of Galway has been inspiring minds since 1845 as a research-led university, situated in the west of Ireland.

Its journey to being in the top 2% of universities in the world began more than 175 years ago when the institution was established as one of three Queen’s Colleges on the island of Ireland. Located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, University of Galway is committed to utilising the talent and skills at its disposal to address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

University of Galway is one of Ireland’s oldest and largest universities with a global ambition. With over 18,000 students, the university’s unique culture and innovative teaching methods continuously attracts high-calibre students from around the world.

In the 2022 QS World University Rankings, University of Galway ranked 270th globally. This ranking confirms its position among the world’s elite educational institutions, placing it in the top 2% of universities worldwide. Furthermore, University of Galway has been named Irish University of the Year 2022 by The Sunday Times Good University Guide.

University of Galway offers a wide variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. It is made up of four colleges, each of which is then made up of various schools of study. These include:

• College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies

• College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences

• College of Science & Engineering

• College of Business, Public Policy & Law

University of Galway is one of Ireland’s top universities for graduate employability. It boasts a high employment rate for students, with 96% of undergraduates and 94% of postgraduate students working or studying further within six months of graduating. University of Galway Alumni Awards recognises individual excellence and achievements amongst the 120,000 alumni based in 100 countries around the globe.

The university has a number of students from across the MENA region studying at University of Galway, and some of the most popular courses with these students are Podiatry, Nursing and Medicine related programmes.

Meet Sarh

studied Podiatric Medicine at University of Galway

“I wanted to study podiatric medicine as I was interested in the medical field. I chose University of Galway as it was recommended by many Saudi students who completed their medical degrees at the university.

At the start, I was slightly nervous due to many different reasons. The main reason is the cultural differences between my home and Ireland. Another reason is the fact that I had a two-year-old boy. A few weeks after arriving in Ireland, most of the distrusting thoughts were gone as I was supported by the college’s staff who helped me to settle in. I also managed to register my child in the university creche, which took the pressure off about ‘who will mind my kid?’.

Studying podiatric medicine at University of Galway was a great opportunity as it allowed me to explore an important field that is not available in Saudi Arabia yet.

It also shaped my practical skills as I was required to complete 1,000 practical hours to graduate. During the course, there were external placements in both private and public sectors, which allowed me to see the differences between both sectors and prepare myself for my future career.

Moreover, it allowed me to explore Ireland, meet with other students from different nationalities, share our experience, and learn from each other. “

“During this experience, I have never felt like an outsider and was treated without discrimination. My voice was heard, and all my issues were taken seriously. I managed to make great relationships that I do not want to lose by moving home, and most importantly, I got what I came for – a degree in Podiatric Medicine.”

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Mary Immaculate College

Mary Immaculate College (MIC), founded in 1898, is Ireland’s leading university-level college of education and humanities.

The college has a growing and diverse community of over 5,000 students who are enrolled in undergraduate programmes in education, liberal arts, theatre studies and early childhood care & education. Additionally, MIC will welcome the first intake of students on the new Bachelor of Science in Psychology programme from September 2022. Students at MIC can also choose from a range of postgraduate programmes at Diploma, MA and PhD levels. Additional subjects available to international students include Irish heritage studies, beginners Irish language, English as a foreign language and English for academic purposes.

MIC has a vibrant international community, collaborating with more than 50 partner universities and colleges across The Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe and hosting over 500 international students annually. The college has a highly research-active faculty, which participates in international mobility schemes and regular exchanges.

Mary Immaculate College welcomes international students from all over the world and ensures they are fully integrated with Irish students in all aspects of college life. The

International Office at MIC has numerous dedicated staff members providing information and support to students coming to Ireland to study.

MIC is recognised and appreciated for its excellence in teaching, learning and research and is renowned worldwide for top-quality education provision, educating 40% of Ireland’s elementary school teachers. The highly research-active faculty, 82% of whom have PhDs, pro-actively engage in developing international best practices. MIC plays a pivotal role in third-level education in a diverse and inclusive Ireland, providing an ethos and an environment where students have both the freedom and the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Study programmes at MIC are among the most highly sought-after in the country. Still, the college is equally proud of its reputation as a caring institution where there is genuine concern for the individual in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

VIBRANT LOCATION & STUDENT CULTURE

MIC’s main campus is conveniently located in a leafy suburb just ten minutes walk from Limerick city centre. Limerick, a picturesque riverside city, was founded in the 10th century as a Viking

fortress. Ireland’s third-largest city, located in the Midwest region, is a safe and welcoming student-focused city with a population of around 162,000. With half the city’s population under 30 years of age and three institutions of higher education, international students are fully immersed in the vibrant student culture on offer.

Limerick also has its own airport, Shannon International Airport. This is just 20 minutes from MIC and close to all the most beautiful scenery and tourist destinations in the Shannon region, such as the Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Castle. The city offers a complete experience, from stunning landscapes to its buzzing city and it consistently performs brilliantly in various European rankings. It has been ranked 1st by the Financial Times for “European City of the Future,” based on its population category, while Silicon Republic has named it one of the most exciting start-up cities and hubs in Europe, labelling it “a tech city and a beacon for digital ambitions”.

STUDENT LIFE

The MIC experience is unique, giving students a home away from home and an international network of friends that will last a lifetime. The college has a thriving clubs and societies culture on campus with students availing of excellent sports facilities, student recreational areas and the 500-seater fully operational performing arts theatre - the Lime Tree Theatre. The central location means students can experience an active, safe and fun campus life and a vibrant city life within a few minutes.

Student support doesn’t stop at academics. MIC offers a range of holistic supports designed to help students if and when they need them, ensuring students can make the most of college life. Students will find supports for everything, both personal and academic. There is an academic larning centre, chaplaincy, counselling service, a health promotion unit, medical centre, EDII office (Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Interculturalism) and the MIC Students’ Union. International students have the added support of the international office.

Students will also find comfortable and welcoming low-cost accommodation very close to MIC with various options, including oncampus, self-catering housing. Off-campus, self-catering accommodation is also available at privately run facilities nearby and students may also rent private accommodation in the neighbourhoods around MIC. Being a city campus, no city neighbourhood is outside walking distance and the international office is happy to assist students in selecting the option that suits them best.

LEARNING AT MIC

MIC has experienced unprecedented growth in the last decade with a doubling of undergraduate programmes and student

numbers. The college’s student retention rate of 94% is one of the highest in the country and with smaller class sizes, there are excellent student/lecturer ratios to benefit students.

International students thrive in this environment, especially when they have the opportunity to decide how they want to study. With the BA in Liberal Arts (dual honours degree) programme, international students have the option of exemption from the Year 3 off-campus placement/ study abroad programme. This allows students to skip straight from Year 2 into Year 4 and graduate in three years, saving on the costs of a fourth academic year. Students may even decide to use that fourth year to complete a one-year Masters programme.

Equally, if students want to complete the semester or year abroad for study or work placement in Year 3 they can choose from a range of university partners across the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe to complete their studies. At every stage the International Office is on hand to advise on locations and offer assistance with all the arrangements.

All qualifications from MIC are fully recognised internationally, through the Irish National Framework of Qualifications and the European Credit Transfer System. MIC graduates are found at the top level of many sectors nationally and internationally, most notably education, psychology, public policy development and media and communications.

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