The Ministry of Home Affairs and Bangladesh Mission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are working over the issues related to Rabiul Islam alias Arav Khan, a fugitive in the police officer murder case, says a spokesperson. "He is under watch there," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Seheli Sabrin told reporters in the weekly briefing on Thursday (March 23, 2023) afternoon. She said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will extend required assistance if the Home Ministry seeks. Rabiul Islam alias Arav Khan, a fugitive in the police officer murder case, has not been arrested in Dubai, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam on Tuesday. Read More: Interpol accepted ‘red notice’ request against Arav Khan, says IGP “No, he has not been arrested….it’s an event that’s unfolding. You will know in time,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while responding to a question. The State Minister said all he can say that there is no scope for any Bangladeshi accused to stay free in a country if he is granted political asylum or for any reason he identifies himself. Interpol has accepted Bangladesh police's request to issue a red notice against fugitive accused Rabiul Islam alias Arav Khan, owner of Arav Jewellers in Dubai. Earlier, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Saturday (March 18) that efforts were underway to bring Arav Khan alias Rabiul Islam to the country through the international police agency Interpol. Read more: Arav Khan not arrested yet: Shahriar Alam A senior Detective Branch official on Thursday (March 16) said cricketer Shakib al Hasan and content creator Hero Alam who participated in the inauguration of Arav Jewellers in Dubai may be questioned for the sake of investigation.

Fourteen years after a financial crisis nearly brought Dubai to its knees, several major abandoned real estate projects are finally showing signs of life as part of a new economic boom in the city-state. As with previous upturns in Dubai, war is a driving force. But this time it’s Russian investors fleeing Moscow’s war on Ukraine, rather than people escaping Mideast battlefields. “There’s lots of parts of the world where there are real challenges and people looking for a safe haven,” said Richard Waind, group managing director for Betterhomes, a real estate brokerage in the emirate. “I think that’s a safe haven both for the capital but also for their families.” While there’s no sign the market could be in similar trouble as in 2009, some concerns have started to surface. Skyrocketing rental costs are worsening a cost-of-living squeeze for the foreign workforce that powers the emirate. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury is worried about the amount of Russian money flowing into the real estate market of the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. “In theory, there should be significant reputational risk with the UAE apparently acting as a willing bridge, enabling Russian oligarchs to use the Emirates as a waystation between the Russian financial system and that of the West,” said Jodi Vittori, a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who has written extensively on Dubai being a money-laundering haven. “But the reality seems to point otherwise,” she said. Dubai's government and the UAE's Foreign Ministry did not respond to detailed questions from The Associated Press. It’s hard to overstate just how much the Emirates has changed over the last half century. Since 1968, the seven sheikdoms that make up the UAE have grown from a British protectorate of some 180,000 people to a federation that’s home to more than 9.2 million. Government statisticians say 3.5 million people live in Dubai alone, with an additional 1.1 million who temporarily live in the city or commute there for work each day. Oil, much of it from Abu Dhabi’s vast reserves, fueled the UAE’s initial modernization. After Dubai began allowing foreign ownership of “freehold” properties in 2002, the world’s tallest building, cavernous malls and sprawling subdivisions emerged from what once were uninterrupted stretches of windblown sand dunes. Real estate now represents some 10% of Dubai's overall gross domestic product. After a slump due to COVID-19 restrictions, Dubai saw 86,849 residential sales in 2022, beating a previous record of 80,831 set in 2009. Buyers and renters have filled exclusive neighborhoods such as the Palm Jumeirah, a man-made archipelago in the shape of a palm tree that juts into the Persian Gulf. The average asking rent for an apartment there is over $67,600 per year, with a villa renting for $276,000 annually, according to real estate firm CBRE. Analysts attribute growth in the luxury market to the wealthy fleeing pandemic restrictions elsewhere. That pressure has grown even outside the world of the ultra-wealthy. Rents on average across Dubai are up 26.9% year-on-year, even with anti-price-gouging protections. Families living in villas can expect to pay median rents of $76,000 a year. The sudden increase in rent prompted Gavin Hill, a 34-year-old car salesman from Essex, England, to move with his partner from a villa in the Dubai Hills neighborhood near downtown to a smaller apartment some 20 kilometers (12 miles) south. “In terms of looking for a new place, previously it was reasonably easy," said Hill, who has moved four times in the six years he has lived in Dubai. "This time it’s a minefield” Russian money has helped fuel this. Betterhomes, which has operated here since 1986, saw Russians lead all other nationalities in purchases by non-residents for the first time last year. Other real estate brokers have also acknowledged anecdotally the influence Russians have had. “Since the crisis in Eastern Europe, we have seen a lot of Russians, a lot of Ukrainians as well, looking to both move their family and and money out there," Waind said. Dubai has a history of seeking a business advantage in crises like the Arab Spring, COVID-19 and now Russia's war on Ukraine. During the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, its new Jebel Ali port repaired ships damaged by explosions and gunfire in the Persian Gulf. The U.S.-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq saw wealthy émigrés arrive in Dubai and the wider UAE. Those booms included what the West would consider dirty money as well. Some of the nearly $1 billion embezzled in the 2010 Kabul Bank scandal in Afghanistan went toward luxury homes on Palm Jumeirah. A cousin of Syrian President Bashar Assad tied to Assad's sanctioned business dealings also owned property there. It remains unclear how many Russians have bought in Dubai — and whether the purchases involve people fleeing potential conscription into the Russian army or mass purchases that can be the work of money launderers. Unlike in the U.S., where property records are public, Dubai does not offer an easily accessible database of transactions. A team from the U.S. Treasury stopped in the UAE on a Mideast tour in January. A senior U.S. official told The Associated Press that the agency is concerned about the Russian money coming into the Dubai real estate market. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity about discussing sanctions. Already, the Treasury has issued an alert aimed at U.S. commercial real estate stating that Russian oligarchs and their intermediaries could use “highly complex financing methods and opaque ownership structures" to hide illicit funds. But it remains unclear what, if any, action Treasury would take, considering the defense and economic ties the U.S. has with the Emirates. A global body focused on fighting money laundering put the UAE on its “gray list” over concerns it isn’t doing enough to stop criminals and militants from hiding wealth there. Once-abandoned projects that are showing new life include the Dubai Pearl, a planned $4 billion luxury development that was supposed to host multiple hotels and apartments in four, 73-story towers. Those plans collapsed during the 2009 financial crisis, brought on by the Great Recession, that forced Abu Dhabi to provide the city-state a $20 billion bailout. Demolition crews are now bringing down the concrete husk of the Dubai Pearl, though plans for the site remain unclear. Plans for the development of Palm Jumeirah's forgotten twin, the Palm Jebel Ali, are also being relaunched. One practice that helped fuel Dubai's 2009 crisis involved speculators buying yet-to-be built properties. “Off-plan” flipping is growing again as initial buyers “are capitalizing on the current market upswing and cashing out with a premium in hand,” local firm Property Monitor said. That company and others warn that speculative purchasing could lead to another bubble. “This does suggest a rise in speculative activity, which is a feature of any market that is seeing price rises,” said Scott Livermore, the chief economist at Oxford Economics Middle East. Hill — the renter from England — would like to buy a place if the market comes down again. But he's cautious after what he's seen in this boomtown. Dubai "can eat people out and spit them out quite quickly," Hill said. "I’ve seen too many people go crazy and then go bust very, very fast.”

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) commissioner Zahirul Haque has disclosed that  the commission will start an investigation about the properties of 459 Bangladeshi nationals in Dubai. The commissioner said this in a discussion with journalists in his office in the head office of ACC. The High Court on January 15 ordered four agencies, including the Anti-Corruption Commission, to investigate. The other agencies are Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and National Board of Revenue (NBR). The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat  passed the order after hearing a writ petition in this regard. It asked the four agencies to submit the progress report within a month. Also read: 459 Bangladeshis’ properties in Dubai: Writ petition seeks probe The court also issued a rule questioning why the inaction of the authorities concerned should not be declared illegal. On January 12, Advocate Subir Nandi filed the writ petition attaching a report in this regard published in a national daily. According to the report, a huge amount of money has been transferred to Dubai from different parts of the globe including Bangladesh. Based on a report of US-based Centre for Advanced Defense Studies, the EU Tax Observatory said 459 Bangladeshis have purchased 972 properties in Dubai till 2020, concealing the information in their own country. Also read: 459 Bangladeshis’ properties in Dubai: HC orders investigation by ACC, 3 agencies According to the report, Bangladeshis have purchased the properties worth approximately one billion dollars during this period, making them one of the top buyers in the real estate sector of Dubai. Experts believe that huge amounts of money are being transferred due to the lack of effective and strong measures to stop money laundering, it said.    

A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Thursday seeking its directive to investigate about properties of 459 Bangladeshi nationals in Dubai. Advocate Subir Nandi filed the writ petition attaching a report in this regard published in a national daily. Read more: ACC may submit progress report of probe against Wasa MD within 15 days: HC The petition was moved to the HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat and the court fixed January 15 for hearing. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have been made respondents in the writ petition. According to the report, a huge amount of money has been transferred to Dubai from different parts of the globe including Bangladesh openly and secretly.  Based on a report of US-based Centre for Advanced Defense Studies, the EU Tax Observatory said 459 Bangladeshis have purchased properties in Dubai concealing the information in their own country and the number of properties was 972 in 2020.  Read more: HC orders probe into Tk 1500 cr embezzlement allegation against FMC dockyard MD According to the report, Bangladeshis have purchased properties worth approximately one billion dollar during this period and Bangladeshi people were the top buyers in the real estate sector of Dubai. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is now in any way trying to boost foreign investment. For this, it is offering various facilities for rich people from abroad to buy properties. Experts believe that huge amount of money are being transferred due to the lack of effective and strong measures to stop money laundering, it said.

To celebrate the 51st Victory Day of Bangladesh, 55 Bangladeshi and 20 international artists will participate in a special group art exhibition at Dubai International Art Center (DIAC) in the UAE from December 12 to 21. The 10-day art exhibition, "Bijoy" is organised by Funun Arts of the UAE and Mahfuz Canvas of Bangladesh. The participating self-taught artists will showcase their work, depicting that art is beyond borders, according to the organisers. Read: ‘Evolution’: Abdullah Al Bashir’s second solo exhibition begins at AFD The Consul General of Bangladesh in Dubai and the Northern Emirates BM Jamal Hossain and Emirati entrepreneur and Chairman of Al Zarooni Foundation Suhail Mohd Al Zarooni, a renowned Emirati collector and Guinness Book World Record holder, will inaugurate the art event. PowerPac, a concern of Sikder Group, is the title sponsor of the exhibition. "We are proud to sponsor this special tribute exhibition to the Victory of Bangladesh, with a specific focus on encouraging artists to improve their creations by giving them a global platform and encouraging them to honour the cultures of Bangladesh and history through their artworks," according to PowerPac. Read: Photo exhibition by Mongol Deep Foundation begins in city Mahfuzur Rahman, the founder of Mahfuz Canvas, said this endeavour is their greatest international achievement yet, and this is the largest overseas self-taught Bangladeshi artists' art exhibition to date. Shiba Khan and Farah Khan, founders of Funun Arts, one of the most vibrant art platforms in the UAE, said they aim to represent art and bring talents to light. "Artists are also given complete freedom to present themselves in their ways."

The United Arab Emirates has always been a lucrative place for Bangladeshi workers. The UAE Government have taken new economic initiatives to attract skilled foreign workers. By capitalizing on this initiative, different third-world countries can use the opportunity to export workers abroad. Besides this, the skilled professionals can migrate to the UAE. Let’s discuss the process of getting Entry Permits, Job Visa, Green Visa, and UAE Golden Visa in UAE. What is the UAE Golden Visa? The UAE Golden Visa is basically a long-term residency permit for foreign talents who want to work, live or study in the country for a long time. A golden visa is given for 10 years with renewable schemes. However, previously a certain category of people was eligible to apply for a golden visa. In 2022, UAE has increased the categories. The United Arab Emirates announced the launch of this long-term visa system in 2018. After that, from 2019, investors, entrepreneurs, chief executives of various organizations, scientists, and those with excellent results in institutional studies started to be given visas for a period of 5 to 10 years. Read Thailand now offering 10-year visa: Who are eligible? Who can apply for the UAE Golden Visa From October 3, 2022, UAE is increasing the number of ten-year resident visas, which is known as Golden Visas. The list of professions that can get this visa has also been extended. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced that ten professionals would be eligible for ten-year golden visas. Golden Visa holders can live with spouses and children. The following people can apply for a 10-year Golden Visa in the UAE. Professionals It is a major expansion of the Golden Visa eligibility criteria. According to the new rule, professionals from all fields can apply for a Golden Visa if they are eligible. For eligibility, the individual must contain a valid employment contract from a UAE company. Also, their occupation level should be categorized as first or second class by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation classification. The applicant must have at least a bachelor’s degree. Also, the monthly salary should be AED 30,000. Read Malaysia offering premium visa to draw wealthy investors Real Estate Investors If anyone has idle money in their bank, they can buy AED 2 million worth of property and apply for a Golden Visa. Also, they can take loans from local banks to buy property. In addition to that, you can get a 10 year visa by purchasing an off-plan property. Entrepreneurs And Startup Owners Now small and medium enterprises (SME) owners and investors can also apply for the Golden Visa. The investor will need to register the company in UAE, and the annual revenue should be at least AED 1 million. In addition, if the individual had a previous entrepreneurial project that was sold for at least AED 7 million should also be eligible. Exceptional Talents Emirates will give golden visas to creative people in the field of culture and art. Creative persons of culture and art must be approved by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development. For exceptional talents, educational qualification, employment status, or even salary is not necessary. Read How to Get E-Passport in Bangladesh: Things you need to know Scientists and Inventors Researchers and scientists will also be eligible for Golden Visas who are experts in their respective fields. Scientists must be approved by the Emirates Scientists Council or the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence. Emirates will also be eligible for a 10 year Golden Visa. But they must have the value of patenting inventions that can have an impact on the economy of the emirate. Patents must be approved by the Emirates Ministry of Finance. Skilled Workers Engineers in computer, electronics, programming, electrical, active technology, AI, and big data fields will get Emirates Golden Visa too. However, skilled workers need to have a valid job contract with AED 30,000 minimum salary per month. Also, the skilled worker should have a bachelor’s degree. Students and Graduates The UAE will grant ten-year golden visas to highly qualified individuals. Such applications require a degree from the world’s 100 best universities. Read E-Passport for Children in Bangladesh: Application process, necessary documents Humanitarian Pioneers Humanitarian pioneers include outstanding members of associations of public benefit, international and regional organizations’ distinguished members, sponsors and volunteers of different humanitarian efforts, and award winners in humanitarian fields. Doctors and Nurses Emirates will also give resident visas to doctors and nurses for ten years. It will help the country deal with the pandemic and address the shortage of medical professionals. Doctors licensed with the UAE health regulatory bodies can apply for Golden Visa too. However, this year’s deadline for the doctors is finished. Frontline Heroes The frontline heroes include ambulance workers, nurses, and frontline staff who worked relentlessly during Covid-19 situations. Also, healthcare workers who cared for the critical Covid 19 patients also got a 10 years Emirates ID card. Read Visa Free Country List for Bangladeshi Passport Holders Benefits of Golden Visa in UAE Golden Visa comes with tons of opportunities and benefits. Let’s get to know them. - It offers multiple entries. - It gives you a 10 year visa, which you can renew after the expiration. - You don’t need to sponsor most of the cases. Hence, it is a self-sponsor visa. - You can stay outside of the UAE as long as you want, and it will not revoke your Golden Visa. - This visa allows sponsoring immediate family members such as spouses and children. Children’s age is not a matter in this case. - You can even sponsor a domestic worker or household worker. - Even if the primary applicant passes away, the family members and sponsored people can stay in the country. Read UAE-returnee Feni man held with Tk89 lakh gold at Dhaka airport Application fee of the UAE Golden Visa  The application cost is not fixed as it depends on the visa category. However, the application cost will be AED 2,800 to AED 3,800, depending on the category. If you are applying outside of the UAE, the cost will be AED 3,800 to AED 4,800. In addition to that, the applicant will also need a medical examination along with Emirates ID, which will cost approximately AED 1,000. Moreover, you will also need to pay UAE health insurance, which might start from AED 800. What is the UAE Green Visa? After the successful launch of the Golden Visa in UAE, the green visa was introduced in 2021. Whoever under this visa is eligible to work in the country without a company sponsor. Besides, Green Visa holders can sponsor their own parents and children. But in this case, the maximum age of children can be 25 years. Eligibility criteria of the UAE Green Visa Along with strengthening the economy of the UAE, the government has brought several changes in the green visa to attract talented people. Skilled Employees As per the Green Visa, skilled employees can get a 5 year residency permit without any sponsor. However, the applicant will need a valid job contract. The minimum educational qualification is a bachelor’s degree, and the salary should be at least AED 15,000. Read IBBL holds meeting in UAE's Abudhabi Freelancers and Self-Employed Freelancers and self-employed people can now get 5-year residency without any sponsor. However, the requirements are a minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent diploma, freelance or self-employment permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, AED 360,000 annual income, or provide documents for financial solvency. Investor or Partner Anyone who wants to invest in the UAE can get a 5-year Green Visa. The investor will need to invest 1 million AED. If the investor has partners in the business, the total invested capital will be taken into consideration. In addition to that, approval from local authorities is also necessary. Remote Work Visa The Emirates grants remote work visas to individuals who work for a company or organization outside the Emirates and have a minimum tenure of one year. In this case, you can work in any country outside the Emirates. But in this case, the candidate must have one-year contract validity and a minimum salary of $5,000. Proof of employment from a foreign employer must be submitted. The candidate does not need employment or sponsors for this visa. Read India’s tourism gets a huge push at Expo 2020 Dubai Application cost of the UAE Green Visa  UAE is yet to release the application cost for Green Visa. However, it is expected that the cost will be lower than the Golden Visa. But, the medical examination cost and health insurance is mandatory. UAE Visas Without Job The UAE also offers visas without jobs. In this category, the country offers retirement visas, job exploration visas, visas for divorced or widowed women and their children, and visas for humanitarian Cases. How to Apply for the different UAE visas? To apply your desired visa, you may visit to https://www.gdrfad.gov.ae/en/services?id=71ea8dd6-56c3-11ea-0320-0050569629e8 Clicking on individual categories will give you the requirements and required documents’ information along with the steps too. Final Words The Bangladeshi recruitment agencies are more interested in sending unskilled workers to the UAE because it is more profitable for them. Hence, a small number of skilled professionals shows interest in the UAE job market as they need to do all the process by themselves. Besides this, residence permit renewing in UAE was another issue. Fortunately, these issues seem to be resolved as UAE is increasing Golden Visa categories based on different eligibility criteria.  Read Djokovic in Australian Open draw despite visa uncertainty Expatriates are given the opportunity to live a better life and enjoy the best quality of life, as declared by the UAE government. The UAE government provides these facilities to expatriates without even a work visa. So far we have discussed the eligibility criteria and benefits of UAE Golden visa, and UAE Green Visa. Hopefully, this article will give you enough information to find your desired category.

Dhaka, Aug 31 (UNB) - Grand Master Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh went down to the 3rd slot from 2nd position in the 22nd Dubai Open Chess Tournament with three points after the 4th round matches held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Tuesday,GM Ziaur Rahman sharing the 3rd position with 29 other players after making a draw with Indian GM Harsha Bharathakoti in the 4th round match.. IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman, FM Tahsin Tazwar Zia, FM Mehdi Hasan Parag and FM Md Taibur Rahman of Bangladesh scored 2 points each from four matches. In Tuesday's other 4th round matches, FM Tahsin drew with GM Kuybokarov Temur of Australia,  IM Fahad beat Laddha Yash Jayesh of Malaysia, FIDE Master Parag beat Abid Ali Mujawar of India and FIDE Master Taibur beat Sadbhav Rautela of India.  Read: Dubai Open Chess: GM Zia, IM Fahad, FM Tahsin make good startsThe 5th round matches began on Wednesday at 7 pm Bangladesh time. In the 5th round matches, GM Zia playing against GM Suleymanli Aydin of Azerbaijan, IM Fahad playing with S. Prasannaa on India, FIDE Master Tahsin playing against Kuziev Miraziz of Uzbekistan, FIDE Master Parag playing with IM Haldorsen Benjamin of Norway while FIDE Master Taibur playing against IM Dushyant Sharma of India.

Mahfuz Canvas, a platform for the underprivileged self-taught Bangladeshi artists, is gearing up to host a special overseas exhibition that will offer contemporary painters from this country an opportunity to showcase their artworks in Dubai. The first edition of this exhibition, titled ‘Annual Student Art Show,’ in collaboration with the UAE's largest art community, the Funun Arts Group, is scheduled to take place in the last week of October. This event will showcase numerous artworks based on the theme of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to the organisers. Read 'Rhythmic Abstraction' begins at Alliance Francaise de Dhaka Mahfuz Canvas was founded by internationally acclaimed Bangladeshi artist Mahfuzur Rahman. According to the Funun Arts Group, the organisers are anticipating the participation of students from across the world. They expect to showcase 400 paintings at the event, at least 25 of which will be from Bangladeshi artists. By visiting www.mahfuz.art, Bangladeshi artists can easily register for this event till August 31. Participation for Bangladeshi artists will be funded by Mahfuz Canvas. Read:'BRAVEHEART’: Gallery Cosmos pays rich artistic tribute to Bangabandhu

As the Middle East's largest contemporary retail art fair ‘World Art Dubai’ (W.A.D) is all set to return for its eighth edition from Wednesday to the UAE's glitziest city - where this year, painter Mahfuzur Rahman is set to make his mark as the first Bangladeshi artist to be featured at W.A.D. Mahfuzur will have hids his own stand (Q 07) displaying 13 of his paintings at the famous art fair from March 16-19 at Dubai's World Trade Centre. Sharing his excitement with UNB from Dubai, Mahfuzur Rahman said this is an incredible achievement of his career to participate in the glorious international platform, hoisting the Bangladeshi flag as the first-ever participating painter from his motherland. READ: Photography exhibition ‘Shahabuddin: The Painter, The Fighter’ begins at DU “Words cannot describe how immensely happy and proud I am to be the first and only Bangladeshi Artist participating in this world-famous art carnival, known for interconnecting the art world to the artists and artwork buyers. All praise to my Almighty and I am thankful to all of my family, friends and well-wishers,” Rahman told UNB. Hosting a gigantic collection of more than 4000 artwork pieces from more than 120 renowned galleries and solo artists hailing from 50 plus countries, this year’s World Art Dubai is set to enthral art admirers with multiple art workshops, art talks, live performances and several other segments highlighting young talents from diverse backgrounds and giving them the opportunity to be seen, thrive, and network with the art world. At the event, Mahfuzur is also participating with the Funun art group with 74 artists. He will also participate in another segment titled ArtWalk.  A full-time corporate professional and also a passionate contemporary painter, Mahfuzur Rahman has participated in over 20 solo and group art exhibitions in eight countries around the world. In September last year, two of his paintings were displayed at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) art event at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). Set to be World Art Dubai’s largest and most diverse edition ever, the event aspires to enthral the art admirers through a collection of paintings, prints, sculptures, street and digital art featuring an inaugural NFT platform. Typically, artworks at World Art Dubai are priced from $100 to $20,000. Like the recently concluded Art Dubai which had its first digital art section this year, the eighth World Art Dubai will also dedicate a zone to crypto art titled W.A.D Next. In addition, it will provide information on cryptocurrency via a special talk programmed by MENA Tech alongside a podcast on NFTs titled Crypto Sheikhs. Other highlights this year include a show of underwater artworks by Singapore-based artist Olga Belka. Her sculptures were made at the bottom of the sea, with the artist diving multiple times to complete her unique underwater projects.

The country's apex trade body Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) will set up a trade centre in Dubai to further boost business and investment between Bangladesh and the UAE. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Bangladesh Business Council (BBC) of Dubai and the FBCCI in the Gulf city on Friday. According to the agreement, BBC-Dubai will co-operate in setting up the FBCCI trade center in Dubai. The FBCCI will undertake activities of coordinating and promoting trade and investment and commerce between Bangladesh and the UAE. READ: Expo 2020: FBCCI, Dubai International Chamber to sign MoU The FBCCI trade centre will work to strengthen business relations with other countries by using Dubai as a hub. The trade centre will provide various assistance to UAE businessmen interested in investing in Bangladesh, according to a press release. President of FBCCI Md Jashim Uddin and founder president of BBC-Dubai Mohamed Mahtabur Rahman signed the MoU on behalf of the two trade bodies, respectively. BSEC chairman Prof Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam was present as the chief guest at the MoU signing ceremony. READ: FBCCI urges govt to lift VAT on edible oil import Among others, FBCCI senior vice president Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu and vice president Md Habib Ullah Dawn were present on the occasion.