#Governing Authority in Dubai

[bsw-company-formation-in-uae]

Dubai is one of the top cities where you can grow your business and enjoy tax-free zones in the Middle East.

We'll give you a brief idea of how a business owner can benefit from the free zones and how they work.

[theprivatewolf]

How to Apply for a TRN Number in UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is known for its progressive policies and ease of doing business. To facilitate smooth operations in the country, the UAE government has introduced a Tax Registration Number (TRN) system. The TRN is a unique identifier for businesses and individuals in the UAE for tax-related purposes. Whether you’re a resident, a business owner, or a visitor, understanding how to apply for a TRN number in the UAE is essential. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process and provide insights on eligibility, verification, and more.

1. What is a TRN Number in UAE?

A Tax Registration Number (TRN) is a unique 15-digit identifier assigned to businesses and individuals in the UAE for tax purposes. It is essential for conducting various financial and business transactions, including Value Added Tax (VAT) processes, filing tax returns, and more. A TRN is a fundamental requirement for businesses operating in the UAE.

2. Who Is Eligible to Get a TRN in UAE?

Eligibility for obtaining a TRN in the UAE primarily depends on your business activities and whether you meet certain financial criteria. Any business involved in taxable activities must register for a TRN. This includes businesses with an annual turnover exceeding the defined threshold.

3. How to Verify a TRN Number in UAE?

Verifying a TRN number is crucial to ensure its accuracy and legitimacy. You can do this easily through the official UAE government websites or by contacting the Federal Tax Authority (FTA). Verifying your TRN is an important step in preventing any issues related to incorrect or invalid numbers.

4. Checking the Validity of Your TRN Number

TRN numbers are subject to validity periods, and they may need to be renewed. Regularly check the validity of your TRN to avoid any disruptions in your business operations. If your TRN has expired, be sure to renew it promptly.

5. Required Documents to Get a TRN

To obtain a TRN in the UAE, you will need to submit certain documents. These typically include legal identification documents, trade licenses, and other business-related paperwork. The exact requirements may vary based on your specific business activities.

6. Steps to Apply for a TRN Number in UAE

Applying for a TRN in the UAE involves several steps. Here’s a general overview of the process:

Visit the official website of the Federal Tax Authority (FTA).

Create an account or log in to your existing FTA account.

Fill out the TRN application form with accurate information.

Attach the required documents, ensuring they meet the specified criteria.

Submit your application through the FTA portal.

Await verification and approval from the FTA.

Once approved, you will receive your TRN number.

7. How Private Wolf Helps You Get a TRN Number in UAE?

Navigating the process of obtaining a TRN in the UAE can be complex, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the local regulations and procedures. This is where Private Wolf comes in. We specialize in providing professional services to individuals and businesses, assisting with TRN applications and ensuring a hassle-free experience. Our team of experts is well-versed in the UAE’s tax regulations and can guide you through the entire process, ensuring compliance and accuracy.

In conclusion, applying for a TRN number in the UAE is a crucial step for businesses and individuals alike, particularly for those involved in taxable activities. It’s essential to understand the requirements, document submissions, and verification processes to ensure a smooth and compliant experience. Whether you’re looking to obtain a TRN for your business or personal use, Private Wolf is here to assist you every step of the way.

M.Hussnain

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[dxbwikicom]

Your Guide to Dubai Health Authority Services

Are you in need of medical services in Dubai? The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is the regulatory body responsible for the healthcare sector in the emirate of Dubai. Whether you are a resident or a visitor, the DHA offers a wide range of services to ensure the health and wellbeing of the population. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the various services offered by the DHA and…

[mindblowingscience]

The richest one percent of the global population are responsible for the same amount of carbon emissions as the world's poorest two-thirds, or five billion people, according to an analysis published Sunday by the nonprofit Oxfam International. While fighting the climate crisis is a shared challenge, not everyone is equally responsible and government policies must be tailored accordingly, Max Lawson, who co-authored the report, told AFP. "The richer you are, the easier it is to cut both your personal and your investment emissions," he said. "You don't need that third car, or that fourth holiday, or you don't need to be invested in the cement industry." "Climate Equality: A Planet for the 99%", was based on research compiled by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and it examined the consumption emissions associated with different income groups up to the year 2019. It was published as world leaders prepare to meet for climate talks at the COP28 summit in Dubai later this month. Fears are growing that limiting long-term warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius could soon be impossible to achieve.

Continue Reading.

[gothhabiba]

What's going on in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem? a timeline

Background

700s-1920s: Armenian Christians immigrate to Palestine, at first due to the holy sites there and later (after 1915) fleeing the Armenian genocide. Most of them end up living in a section of Jerusalem known as the Armenian Quarter. An Armenian church / Patriarchate is established that has authority over Armenian Apostolic Christians everywhere.

1923-1947: Britain (who had been given the "mandate," aka direct governmental control, of Palestine by other European colonial powers), empowers Patriarchates in Jerusalem (church leadership) to do things like select their own leaders and sell land without oversight from their communities. This gives Britain more authority and prevents regular Palestinian people from knowing what's going on when it comes to church business including secret real estate deals.

2005-2019: Land in Jerusalem belonging to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is sliced up, sold, and developed despite attempts to fight it in Israeli courts.

July 2021: The Armenian Patriarchate makes a deal leasing 2.7 acres of land to real estate / development company Xana Gardens (based in Dubai and owned by Israeli businessman Danny Rothman) for between 49 and 98 years. The deal is made without proper oversight and approval, including from within the Patriarchate.

The land in question includes the historical Cows' Garden (Hadiqa al-Baqar / حديقة البقر), now a parking lot; part of a church school; a garden; and five family houses. It makes up about 1/4 of the total land in the Armenian Quarter. No one knows that more than just Cows' Garden is affected.

Xana Gardens wants to build a luxury hotel on some of this land, including Cow's Garden.

Events in 2023

May: Details of the nature of the real estate deal come out. The government of Jordan (I think? these news reports are written in the passive voice) and Armenian institutions try to contact the Patriarchate to express concern about the handling of historically significant sites. The Patriarch does not respond.

11 May: Jordan and Palestine suspend their recognition of Patriarch Nourhan Manougian.

26 October: The Patriarchate announces that it has contacted Xana Gardens to cancel the deal. Xana Gardens does not respond.

Later on 26 October (around 3pm): Israeli bulldozers arrive at Cows' Garden and start tearing up pavement and demolishing a wall. Armenians rush to stand in front of bulldozers and prevent further destruction.

5 November: Rothman and other representatives of Xana Gardens arrive with 15 settlers and tell local Armenians that the land is theirs and they need to leave. Some of the settlers have guns and leashed dogs. About 200 Armenian Palestinians arrive and force the settlers to stand down.

12 and 13 November: Xana Gardens sends bulldozers to Cows' Garden. They do not have necessary permits. Armenians set up constantly rotating vigils at the Gardens and make barricades with pieces of metal and their cars.

15 November, 4:30pm: Israeli settlers drive a convoy of cars into the Garden. Armenians gather around the barricades. The police back the settlers and arrest three Armenians, including one child.

28th December: 30+ settlers attack a group of Armenian bishops, priests, deacons, and seminary students (including Bishop Koryoun Baghdasaryan, the director of the Patriarchate's real estate department) with sticks and nerve agents / tear gas, injuring several.

28th December, later: The Patriarchate releases a statement attributing the attack to Xana Gardens. The development company does not want the Patriarchate to continue trying to reverse the deal through the court system.

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

Families, fans and media were prevented from meeting the team after the players arrived back in Tehran from a competition in Dubai. Media outlets outside Iran reported that the players had been arrested by security forces. There was no immediate comment from the Iranian government, but Iran's Football Federation announced on Monday that it would take action against players that contravened Fifa rules against "political behaviour". The national team won the Emirates International Beach Soccer Tournament 2-1 against Brazil on Sunday. However, Iranian players were filmed remaining silent when their national anthem was played during their semi-final. After Iranian player Saeed Piramoon scored the winning goal, he mimicked cutting his hair - which has become a defining gesture of Iranians protesting against the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of morality police in September.

[mariacallous]

The Russian military is using the Starlink satellite Internet system during combat operations in occupied Ukrainian territories, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate.

Andriy Yusov, the spokesman for Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate, said that the Russian military was beginning to “systematically” use Starlink terminals.

As evidence, Ukrainian intelligence published a radio intercept of a conversation between Russian military personnel. From the exchange, it follows that Starlink terminals are being used by members of Russia’s 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade, who are fighting near Klishchiivka and Andriivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.

Earlier, Defense One reported that Russian military personnel were using Starlink on the front lines. Sources in Ukraine told journalists that Russian troops first began using Starlink services for communication several months ago. The publication Astra posted screenshots of advertisements for the sale of Starlink terminals “for the special military operation.” It is thought that Starlink terminals with activated accounts are being shipped en masse to Russia via Dubai.

Elon Musk’s company SpaceX, which provides the Starlink satellite Internet, stated that it does not do business with the Russian government or military and said that the Starlink service is not available in Russia. The company also noted that they do not operate in Dubai.

At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, SpaceX deployed the Starlink network in Ukraine and provided thousands of satellite Internet terminals to local authorities as donations or paid for by the U.S. government and volunteers.

According to Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, in 2022, the SpaceX founder secretly instructed his employees to disable Starlink satellites near the coast of Russian-annexed Crimea to thwart an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Russian Navy. Musk himself stated that Starlink does not operate in Crimea and that he refused the Ukrainian military’s request to activate the system, as his company “would be explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation.”

In February 2023, SpaceX prohibited the Ukrainian military from using Starlink for offensive purposes, including for operating drones. In July of the same year, The New York Times wrote, citing people “familiar with the situation,” that SpaceX was restricting the operation of satellites in combat zones.

[warningsine]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday, sparking a massive rescue operation in a fog-shrouded forest as the public was urged to pray.

The likely crash came as Iran under Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei launched an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel last month and has enriched uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels.

Iran has also faced years of mass protests against its Shiite theocracy over an ailing economy and women’s rights — making the moment that much more sensitive for Tehran and the future of the country as the Israel-Hamas war inflames the wider Middle East.

Raisi was traveling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. State TV said what it called a “hard landing” happened near Jolfa, a city on the border with the nation of Azerbaijan, some 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran. Later, state TV put it farther east near the village of Uzi, but details remained contradictory.

Traveling with Raisi were Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province and other officials and bodyguards, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. One local government official used the word “crash,” but others referred to either a “hard landing” or an “incident.”

Neither IRNA nor state TV offered any information on Raisi’s condition in the hours afterward. However, hard-liners urged the public to pray for him. State TV later aired images of the faithful praying at Imam Reza Shrine in the city of Mashhad, one of Shiite Islam’s holiest sites, as well as in Qom and other locations across the country. State television’s main channel aired the prayers nonstop.

“The esteemed president and company were on their way back aboard some helicopters and one of the helicopters was forced to make a hard landing due to the bad weather and fog,” Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said in comments aired on state TV. “Various rescue teams are on their way to the region but because of the poor weather and fogginess it might take time for them to reach the helicopter.”

IRNA called the area a “forest” and the region is known to be mountainous as well. State TV aired images of SUVs racing through a wooded area and said they were being hampered by poor weather conditions, including heavy rain and wind.

A rescue helicopter tried to reach the area where authorities believe Raisi’s helicopter was, but it couldn’t land due to heavy mist, emergency services spokesman Babak Yektaparast told IRNA.

Long after the sun set, Iranian government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi acknowledged that “we are experiencing difficult and complicated conditions” in the search.

“It is the right of the people and the media to be aware of the latest news about the president’s helicopter accident, but considering the coordinates of the incident site and the weather conditions, there is ‘no’ new news whatsoever until now,” he wrote on the social platform X. “In these moments, patience, prayer and trust in relief groups are the way forward.”

Khamenei himself also urged the public to pray.

“We hope that God the Almighty returns the dear president and his colleagues in full health to the arms of the nation,” Khamenei said, drawing an “amen” from the audience he was addressing.

Raisi, 63, a hard-liner who formerly led the country’s judiciary, is viewed as a protégé of Khamenei and some analysts have suggested he could replace the 85-year-old leader after Khamenei’s death or resignation from the role.

Raisi had been on the border with Azerbaijan early Sunday to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. The dam is the third one that the two nations built on the Aras River. The visit came despite chilly relations between the two nations, including over a gun attack on Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Tehran in 2023, and Azerbaijan’s diplomatic relations with Israel, which Iran’s Shiite theocracy views as its main enemy in the region.

Iran flies a variety of helicopters in the country, but international sanctions make it difficult to obtain parts for them. Its military air fleet also largely dates back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. IRNA published images it described as Raisi taking off in what resembled a Bell helicopter, with a blue-and-white paint scheme previously seen in published photographs.

Raisi won Iran’s 2021 presidential election, a vote that saw the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history. Raisi is sanctioned by the U.S. in part over his involvement in the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988 at the end of the bloody Iran-Iraq war.

Under Raisi, Iran now enriches uranium at nearly weapons-grade levels and hampers international inspections. Iran has armed Russia in its war on Ukraine, as well as launched a massive drone-and-missile attack on Israel amid its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It also has continued arming proxy groups in the Mideast, like Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, mass protests in the country have raged for years. The most recent involved the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who had been earlier detained over allegedly not wearing a hijab, or headscarf, to the liking of authorities. The monthslong security crackdown that followed the demonstrations killed more than 500 people and saw over 22,000 detained.

In March, a United Nations investigative panel found that Iran was responsible for the “physical violence” that led to Amini’s death.

President Joe Biden was briefed by aides on the Iran crash, but administration officials have not learned much more than what is being reported publicly by Iran state media, said a senior administration official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

[beardedmrbean]

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The mining of minerals critical to electric vehicle batteries and other green technologies in Congo has led to human rights abuses, including forced evictions and physical assault, according to a new report from Amnesty International and another rights group.

Congo is by far the world’s largest producer of cobalt, a mineral used to make lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and other products, and it is also Africa’s top producer of copper, which is used in EVs, renewable energy systems and more.

Rights groups and U.S. officials have long criticized the trade of Congo’s cobalt, copper and other minerals due to abusive labor and the risk of violence in an impoverished central African country where militants control swaths of territory.

A measure was introduced in the U.S. House in July to ban imported products containing cobalt and copper and mined through child labor and other abusive conditions in Congo.

The report released Tuesday by Amnesty International and the Congo-based Initiative for Good Governance and Human Rights, or IBGDH, details how the search for the minerals has forcibly uprooted people from their homes and farmland, often without compensation or adequate resettlement.

The groups said they interviewed 133 people affected by evictions related to cobalt and copper mining in six locations around the city of Kolwezi in Lualaba Province during separate visits in February and September 2022. They also reviewed documents, photos, videos, satellite images and company responses.

The report highlights the numerous human rights violations that have occurred as a result of mining activity. In one case, Congolese soldiers burned down the Mukunbi settlement in the southern province of Lualaba in November 2016 to make way for cobalt and copper mining by Dubai-based Chemaf Resources. Residents who tried to stop the military were beaten, according to the report. The fire, which left a 2-year-old girl with life-altering scars, and the assault had followed initial warnings delivered to residents by company executives escorted by police.

“Ernest Miji, the local chief, said that in 2015, after Chemaf acquired the concession, three representatives of the company, accompanied by two police officers, came to tell him it was time for Mukumbi’s residents to move away. He said the representatives visited four more times,” the report said.

Following protests in 2019, Chemaf agreed to pay $1.5 million through local authorities, with some former residents receiving between $50 and $300, which the local advocacy group Coalition for Safeguarding of Human Rights called an undervaluation of victims’ properties.

Chemaf denied any wrongdoing, liability or involvement in the destruction of Mukumbi or directing military forces to destroy it, the company told Amnesty International.

On its website, Chemaf says the copper and cobalt project is at the heart of its ambitious growth and would consolidate its position as a leader in the production of those minerals.

The report also highlighted a neighborhood in Kolwezi, home to 39,000 people, that has been facing continuous demolitions since 2015 to make way for an open-pit copper and cobalt mine. The mine is operated by Compagnie Minière de Musonoie Global SAS, or COMMUS, a joint venture between Chinese company Zijin Mining and the state-owned Gecamines mining company.

Those who were forced out said they were not adequately consulted, while COMMUS said it aimed to improve its communications, according to the report.

The company asserted that it already has made compensation payments calculated by the provincial government’s relocation committee to ensure residents' quality of life was not affected.

“The compensation prices of COMMUS for housing and land were higher than market prices,” according to a letter that the company sent to the rights groups.

But the groups denied it was enough.

“Despite claims by the company that its compensation package was set to ensure living standards were not affected, none of the former residents of Cité Gécamines that researchers interviewed said that they were able to afford substitute housing with the same amenities as the houses that they were forced to leave,” the report said.

Donat Kambola, president of the IBGDH group that co-wrote the report, said in a statement that “people are being forcibly evicted, or threatened or intimidated into leaving their homes, or misled into consenting to derisory settlements. Often there was no grievance mechanism, accountability, or access to justice.”

Amnesty International says companies are not doing enough to address human rights concerns and are disregarding international human rights laws and standards, as well as national legislation and U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

As the world demands more green technologies to reduce climate-changing emissions, the extraction of minerals for these products is causing social and environmental harm, the group said.

“Amnesty International recognizes the vital function of rechargeable batteries in the energy transition from fossil fuels. But climate justice demands a just transition. Decarbonizing the global economy must not lead to further human rights violations,” it said.

[groupfazza]

بقرار من حمدان بن محمد تشكيل مجلس أمناء كلية محمد بن راشد للإدارة الحكومية 🔻

أصدر سمو الشيخ حمدان بن محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم، ولي عهد دبي رئيس المجلس التنفيذي، قرار المجلس رقم (38) لسنة 2024 بتشكيل مجلس أمناء كلية محمد بن راشد للإدارة الحكومية، برئاسة مدير عام دائرة الموارد البشرية لحكومة دبي، وعضوية كل من: مُمثِّل عن الأمانة العامة للمجلس التنفيذي لإمارة دبي، ومُمثِّل عن هيئة دبي الرقمية، ود. طيب أمان الله محمد كمالي، ورجاء محمد المزروعي، ود. يسار فاروق جرار، إضافة إلى الرئيس التنفيذي للكُلّية. ويُعمل بهذا القرار من تاريخ صدوره، ويُنشر في الجريدة الرسمية.

Hamdan bin Mohammed issues decision on Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government’s Board of Trustees 🔻

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, issued Executive Council Decision No. (38) of 2024 forming the Board of Trustees of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government. The Board will be chaired by the Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department. Its members will include representatives from the General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai and the Dubai Digital Authority. Other members of the Board will include Dr. Tayeb Amanullah Mohammed Kamali, Raja Mohammed Al Mazrouei, and Dr. Yasar Farouk Jarrar, in addition to the CEO of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government. The decision is effective from its date of issuance and will be published in the Official Gazette.

Tuesday, 25 June 2024 الثلاثاء

[365proservices444]

Pro Services Perfected: 365 Pro Services – Your Key to Dubai Business Triumph

In the dynamic business landscape of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), efficient government administration and meticulous documentation are crucial for the smooth operation of any business. 365 Pro Services, your trusted partner in Dubai, specializes in providing comprehensive PRO services to meet all your business requirements. From visa processing to attestation work, our dedicated team ensures that your organization navigates the regulatory landscape seamlessly.

Why choose us?

365 Pro Services, provide all visa services and guidance with our experts so customers get more benefits and good services. With 365 Pro Services, you can trust our meticulous approach to services.

All-Encompassing PRO

Visa Processing Expertise

Efficient Documentation Handling

Labour Card Processing

Business Licensing Support

Attestation Services

At 365 Pro Services, we understand that businesses in Dubai, regardless of their size or nature, require diverse PRO services. Our proficient team is thoroughly acquainted with the most recent immigration regulations, guaranteeing a prompt and precise visa processing experience for your employees. With a keen understanding of the evolving landscape, we navigate the complexities seamlessly, facilitating a smooth and efficient visa application process that prioritizes accuracy and expediency.

Your workforce's mobility is in expert hands with 365 Pro Services, ensuring compliance with the latest immigration standards. Acquiring and renewing business licenses is a critical aspect of running a successful enterprise in Dubai. 365 Pro Services offers expert assistance in obtaining and renewing licenses, keeping your business compliant with local regulations and saving you valuable time.

Our PRO services extend to the processing of labour cards, a fundamental requirement for businesses operating in Dubai. We guide you through the entire process, from application submission to card issuance, ensuring that your employees are legally authorized to work in the UAE.

Embark on a journey of business excellence with 365 Pro Services as your steadfast companion in manoeuvring the intricate realm of government administration and documentation in Dubai. Our bespoke PRO services are meticulously designed to create a seamless operational environment for your business, freeing you to concentrate on achieving growth and unparalleled success. Rely on 365 Pro Services to optimize your business efficiency in Dubai, ensuring a stress-free experience in adhering to regulatory requirements. Connect with us today and explore how our specialized expertise can propel your organization towards unparalleled heights.

[sudaca-swag]

News from Uruguay bc something really fucked up has been going on in this country:

It all began with the imprisonment of Sebastian Marset, an uruguayan narco that was captured in Dubai because he tried getting in with a fake passport. Someone inside the minister (a high rank) contacted the uruguayan embassy and authorized them to go inside the prison and give him a new uruguayan passport...which by the way was given to him in person by Balbi the president of one of the biggest football teams (Nacional) amongst others (he specifically flew from UY to Dubai)

Marset was directly implicated with the murder of a paraguayan judge and is recquired by various countries, but he ran away thanks to the uruguayan government.

Just when all of this was "dying down" the mexican government raised an alert because of a huge influx of russian people with a uruguayan passport were entering Mexico, and the main culprit? The man in charge of the president's personal security, Alejandro Astesiano

The fake passports were proven to come out DIRECTLY from the ministers offices, and this web was operating from inside the Executive Tower itself, the offices of everyone including the president are there.

Immediately (literally an hour after the detention of Astesiano was public knowledge), the president called for a conference to assure everyone of Astesiano's innocence, that he knew him since "forever", that he had an immaculate professional image and was of his complete trust.

Well....it quickly went down the drain because it was demonstrated that Astesiano had a LONG history of crimes dating from 2003 up to like 2014, mainly about fraud, petty theft, falsifying documents, etc. The tactic was now to try to defuse the situation by claiming that there were no strong links or personal relationships between the president and Astesiano, they went even as far as to claim he never was the head of presidential security.

However, Astesiano was involved with the Lacalle family ever since the goverment of our current president's father in the 90s, and afterwards he kept being around them as the family's personal driver, etc etc

They imprisoned Astesiano and started digging inside his personal chats and the findings become darker and darker, as the activities he was implied in go from espionage of civilians to benefit foreign businesses, a "shipment of 454 kg of cold fish" directly from Dubai through ambassadors, and the worst came in today: they were paying foreigner military companies for personal information about some senators of the opposing parties

Maybe all of this sounds only like old corruption tales to some, but to uruguayans this is extremely shocking, we are a very small country and up to some months ago even proudly claimed to be one of the most open and transparent democracies out there, this has all ben completely destroyed by these findings, and the government is still trying to say that everything is fine and diminishing the facts.

Today, the judge in charge of the investigation ordered to delete all messages between Astesiano and the president

Its to be noted that lately narcotraffic has been out of hand here, european policemen are constantly detaining shipments arriving from Uruguay full of cocaine, and various rich people have been detained (altough they are all then freed and their charges erased, and the investigations die there), there has also been a clear increase of drug related crimes and band wars

Other figures that could be implicated in this web are argentinean narco Balcedo, italian fugitive Morabbito, the uruguayan minister of tourism, and more

[riggabusinesscenter]

Ultimate Guide to Starting a Business in Dubai: Everything You Need to Know

Understanding Dubai’s Business Landscape

Dubai has a diverse and dynamic business landscape, catering to various industries such as trade, tourism, finance, real estate, and technology. It is essential to research and understand the market demand, competition, and potential opportunities for your proposed business idea.

Choosing the Right Business Structure

Dubai offers several business structures, including sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), branch office, and free zone company. Each structure has its own advantages, requirements, and regulations. Selecting the appropriate structure is crucial for your business’s growth, liability protection, and tax implications.

Obtaining the Necessary Licenses and Approvals

Starting business in Dubai, UAE requires obtaining the necessary licenses and approvals from the relevant authorities. These may include trade licenses, commercial licenses, and other industry-specific permits. The process can be complex, so it’s advisable to seek guidance from legal experts or business consultants.

Free Zones: A Viable Option for Foreign Investors

Dubai’s free zones offer attractive incentives for foreign investors, such as 100% foreign ownership, tax exemptions, and streamlined business setup processes. Popular free zones include Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), Dubai Internet City (DIC), and Dubai Design District (D3).

Finding the Right Location and Office Space

Choosing the right location and office space is essential for your business’s success. Dubai offers a range of options, from modern office towers to shared workspaces and free zone facilities. Consider factors such as accessibility, infrastructure, and proximity to your target market.

Hiring and Managing a Team

Building a strong and talented team is crucial for your business’s growth. Dubai’s diverse workforce offers a pool of skilled professionals from various backgrounds. However, it’s important to understand the local labor laws, visa requirements, and cultural nuances when hiring and managing employees.

Banking and Financial Considerations

Establishing a business banking account, securing funding, and managing finances are critical aspects of start business in Dubai. Research the local banking system, explore financing options (such as bank loans, investors, or government initiatives), and develop a solid financial plan.

Marketing and Promoting Your Business

With a competitive business environment, effective marketing and promotion strategies are essential for your business’s success. Leverage digital marketing, networking events, tradeshows, and other channels to reach your target audience and build brand awareness.

Complying with Legal and Regulatory Requirements

Dubai has a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework governing business operations. Familiarize yourself with the relevant laws, regulations, and compliance requirements to ensure your business operates legally and avoids penalties or fines.

Seeking Professional Assistance

Starting business in UAE can be a complex process, especially for those new to the region. Consider seeking professional assistance from business consultants, lawyers, or accountants to navigate the process smoothly and avoid costly mistakes.

Start business in Dubai can be a rewarding and lucrative endeavor, but it requires careful planning, understanding of the local business landscape, and adherence to the relevant laws and regulations. By following this ultimate guide and seeking professional advice when needed, you can increase your chances of success in this dynamic and thriving business hub.

[whatevergreen]

"our media works by the propaganda by omission principle, the less you know, the less you can object"

A Charter Cities propaganda site:

"Charter cities can help improve governance in a limited geographic area by giving local officials authority to implement best legal and administrative practices and commercial regulations. This can help create a competitive business environment that attracts investment and accelerates economic growth in developing countries to help them achieve prosperity faster than ever before.

Governance is a key determinant of a country’s economic trajectory. Unfortunately, politics often prevents needed reforms from being implemented at the national level. Because charter cities cover limited geographic areas, their administrations can pursue deeper reforms than would otherwise be possible."

Ugh...

Well this is horrific.

Privatised cities that will operate free of what few worthwhile regulations there are left. Corporate paradises that will eradicate whatever rights you still have in the pursuit of profit.

Corporate colonialism. This reminds me of the treaty ports and Shanghai International Settlement in 1840s-1940s China. Territories that were technically still ruled by China but were wholly controlled by whichever imperialist power had manipulated its way into establishing them (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, USA).

The Charter Cities Institute cites such as Hong Kong as a successful example: "

"Charter cities are not an entirely new idea. Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai demonstrated that by pursuing different developmental strategies, it’s possible for cities to leverage urbanization to grow from impoverished to world-class cities within two to three generations."

Yes. Hong Kong. Where amid the glittering skyscrapers, multitudes survive in abject poverty (almost 1 in every 4 people), many literally living in cupboards.

"Hong Kong has the most billionaires per million people, with 8.83." 70 in total.

This is considered a success because Hong Kong is now swimming in wealth and luxury for the small insulated minority who don't see and more to the point don't care about anyone or anything beyond their circle of existence.

"All that glitters is not gold"

[prodeskk]

Unlocking Success: Navigating Commercial Licenses in Dubai

A one-stop shop for business solutions, PRO Deskk is a company that believes in itself. With years of experience in the industry, we offer professional and excellent service for incorporating new companies, starting a new business, and handling related matters in the Mainland and Commercial License in different Free Zone Authorities.

Dubai Economic Department (DED) serves as the gatekeeper to the realm of commerce in this vibrant metropolis. Here, businesses are categorized into three distinct segments: Commercial, Professional, and Industrial licenses.

At the heart of trading endeavors lies the Commercial License, fondly dubbed as LLC formation. This license acts as the cornerstone for enterprises immersed in the art of buying and selling goods, paving the way for entrepreneurial ventures to thrive in Dubai's bustling marketplace.

What sets Dubai apart is its diverse array of licensing options tailored to suit every business need. For service-oriented ventures, the Professional License offers a gateway to a world of opportunities, accommodating professions, artisans, and craftsmen alike.

For those with a knack for production, the Industrial License stands as a beacon of hope. This license, which is intended for use by industrial companies, provides access to an uncharted territory of invention.

While DED oversees the issuance of these licenses, a handful of activities require nods of approval from external ministries and government bodies. From restaurant licenses governed by the Dubai Municipality to the oversight of banking services by the Central Bank of UAE, regulatory adherence remains paramount in Dubai's business landscape.

In Dubai, transparency reigns supreme. Therefore, both commercial and industrial licenses mandate registration with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This commitment to regulatory compliance underscores Dubai's reputation as a beacon of trust and reliability in the global business arena.

Beyond the initial registration, some licenses call for additional financial commitments to ensure compliance and accountability. Take, for instance, the Tourism License, where inbound and outbound ventures require bank guarantees to the tune of Dh100,000 and Dh200,000, respectively.

In essence, comprehending the nuances of commercial licenses in Dubai lays the foundation for entrepreneurial success. By embracing regulatory requirements and seizing available opportunities, businesses can chart a course towards growth and prosperity in the vibrant tapestry of Dubai's business landscape.

[coochiequeens]

The UAE…. Where rape victims can jailed for having sex outside of marriage but the authorities look the way when African women are forced into prostitution. But it’s ok with authorities because as long as the foreign male population has a foreign female population to exploit the local women won’t be harassed.

African women trafficked into the UAE are forced into debt and subjected to threats and violence, as they are kept in sexual slavery. The case of Christy Gold, who has been charged with sex trafficking in Nigeria, highlights the torment endured by these women in the UAE.

By MAGGIE MICHAEL 

Filed June 12, 2023, 11 a.m. GMT

On a pleasure boat cruising Gulf waters near Dubai’s glittering skyline, a Nigerian woman in a white dress and gold jewelry nodded and swayed as a gathering sang “Happy Birthday” to her.

Videos of Christy Gold’s 45th birthday party were posted in May last year on an Instagram account that showcases her glamorous lifestyle, months after Gold fled Nigeria, where she was facing sex trafficking charges.

Gold – whose name appears in court records as Christiana Jacob Uadiale – was a ringleader in a criminal network that lured African women to Dubai and forced them into prostitution in brothels, backstreets, bars, hotels and dance clubs, according to six Nigerian government anti-trafficking officials, a British human rights activist who has tracked her operation and five women who say they were trafficked and exploited by her.

Three of the women said in interviews that Gold told them that if they didn’t do as they were told, they’d be killed and dumped in the desert. Those who didn’t make enough money for her were taken to a room in an apartment in Dubai, where Gold’s brother starved them, flogged them and shoved hot chili paste into their vaginas, according to three anti-trafficking officials and five women who provided detailed accounts in interviews and court statements.

“They beat the hell out of me,” one of the women said. “The suffering was too much.”

In a statement to the court after she was charged, Gold denied that she and her brother were sex traffickers. “I am not involved in human trafficking and I do not have any girls in Dubai working for me as a prostitute,” she said.

Gold remains a fugitive from justice – part of what anti-trafficking activists and officials say is a thriving underground of suspected Nigerian sex traffickers who have taken refuge in the United Arab Emirates, a Gulf nation known for its wealth, futuristic skyscrapers and what rights groups say is a poor record on protecting foreign workers and basic freedoms.

The UAE is a major destination for sex trafficking, where African women are forced into prostitution by illicit networks operating within the country, an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and Reuters has found.

Emirati authorities do little to protect these women, according to anti-trafficking activists, Nigerian authorities and interviews with trafficked women.

This story is based on interviews with 25 African women, mostly from Nigeria, who described being lured to the UAE by Gold or other alleged traffickers, as well as dozens of interviews with humanitarian workers, investigators, Nigerian government officials and others with knowledge of sex trafficking in the Emirates. Their accounts are corroborated by court records and case files from Nigeria’s anti-human trafficking agency.

Human traffickers keep African women in sexual slavery by playing on their financial desperation and creating webs of manipulation and coercion, the reporting shows. They subject them to threats and violence. They ensnare them in crushing debts, often totaling $10,000 to $15,000 – huge sums for women from poor families. And, in many cases, they exploit traditional African spiritual beliefs to make victims believe that they have no choice but to do what the traffickers tell them.

This article is part of a reporting collaboration led by ICIJ, Trafficking Inc., which is examining sex trafficking and labor trafficking in many parts of the globe. ICIJ’s media partners on the project include Reuters, NBC News, Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism and other news outlets in multiple countries.

Gold did not respond to questions for this story. In her statement to the court in Nigeria, Gold said she had helped Nigerian women and men move to the UAE by subletting space to them in an apartment she owned in Dubai.

“I even go as far as advising them like a mother so they too can make it in Dubai,” she said. But she told the court, “I cannot tell what these people did for a living in Dubai.”

In a written reply supplied by the Dubai government’s media affairs office, the emirate’s police agency said claims that Gold had engaged in the sex trafficking of African women in Dubai are “false and have absolutely no basis in fact.” The statement said Gold had “entered and exited Dubai legally and was not implicated in any illegal activities.”

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said any suggestion the UAE “tolerates human trafficking or that it has little regard to the victims of this heinous crime is utterly false.” Such allegations, the ministry said in response to questions, were “baseless and without foundation.”

The ministry said the UAE’s laws on sex trafficking carry heavy fines and prison sentences. A report the ministry shared said the UAE had referred 20 “human trafficking cases” to the courts in 2021, most for “sexual exploitation.”

The UAE has been involved in international police operations against trafficking networks, the ministry said.

Human rights activists and Nigerian authorities say the UAE doesn’t live up to its anti-trafficking commitments.

Fatima Waziri-Azi, director general of Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, said there has been “no cooperation” when NAPTIP has reached out to Emirati authorities for help hunting down traffickers working out of the UAE.

Angus Thomas, a British activist who founded an anti-trafficking education organization based in Ghana, said UAE authorities, including the police, were uncooperative when he urged them to help African women get away from Gold and her associates.

“I wrote, I phoned, I emailed, asking them to help me get the girls, sending addresses of apartments,” he said. “And I heard nothing.”

In plain sight

Sex trafficking is one form of human trafficking, which is generally defined as using force, fraud or coercion to induce someone to provide a service.

Most of the 25 women interviewed for this story said they were promised other types of work but were driven into prostitution. Others said they chose to do sex work but were trapped in situations in which they were abused, their earnings were stolen and they were unable to get away.

The UAE made sex trafficking a crime in 2006 and has established an interagency anti-trafficking panel and opened shelters for survivors. The U.S. State Department said in 2022 that the UAE has made “significant efforts” to combat human trafficking but still falls short in key areas – including failing to “consistently screen vulnerable populations for trafficking indicators, which may have penalized some victims for unlawful acts traffickers compelled them to commit, such as immigration or ‘prostitution’ violations.”

The UAE follows Islamic law, yet prostitution and sex trafficking are open secrets. Business cards with photos and WhatsApp numbers for brothels disguised as massage parlors litter many areas of Dubai. Spas, dance clubs and bars are filled with sex workers.

A hierarchy based on skin tone plays an important role in the UAE’s sex industry, according to interviews with trafficked women and visits to spots where prostitutes congregate in the UAE. Lighter-skinned women from Europe are generally trafficked into higher-end venues serving wealthier customers. Darker-skinned women are often steered to alleys and street corners, providing sex to low-income migrant workers from South Asia and Africa.

One Nigerian woman described being taken by a trafficker to an open-air brothel in the desert between Dubai and another emirate, Abu Dhabi. She said she and other women would take off their clothes and spread them on the ground, and men would come to have sex with them from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

A Nigerian mother in her 20s said a trafficker led her and two other women to a parking lot in Ajman, one of the emirates that make up the UAE, and forced them to have sex with male clients amid vehicles that were being painted and repaired. At the end of the night, she said, the traffickers took all the money, leaving them with nothing to buy food.

After she broke free of the trafficker, the woman said, she slept in the streets and begged for food. She nearly lost her mind, she said, before a nurse from Nigeria rescued her and helped her get home.

The UAE's sex industry is shaped by the country's distinctive demography and economy.

Nearly 90% of its population comes from somewhere else – mostly foreign workers employed in construction, hospitality and other industries. Most of them are men and they arrive alone. As a result, 69% of the UAE’s population is male. The government deals with these demographic realities by deploying extensive surveillance in the UAE – and by allowing a bustling sex trade as a way of pacifying male workers, according to two former diplomats who were based in the UAE and monitored sex trafficking.

Gold and Mercy

On New Year’s Eve 2019, Thomas, a photographer and anti-trafficking activist, had a one-day layover in the UAE before heading home to London. He was going into a supermarket in Dubai when a 19-year-old Nigerian woman approached him and offered him sex.

He declined, but asked her if she wanted to return to her home country.

She told him, Thomas said, that she and 22 other women were under the control of a trafficker named Christy Gold. Back in London, he sent her money to rent a safe place to stay and then arranged a flight home to Nigeria.

Thomas said he began trying to rescue other women trapped in Dubai. He started a campaign called Send Them Home, raising money to cover victims’ escape and travel costs. Over several months, Thomas said, he helped rescue eight other women who said they’d been held against their will by Gold or other traffickers operating in the UAE. Thomas’ account was confirmed by Nigerian anti-trafficking officials and women who Thomas helped escape from traffickers.

He also shared information that he had gathered about Gold with Nigeria’s anti-trafficking agency NAPTIP, which can arrest and prosecute alleged traffickers. His efforts included tracking Gold’s Instagram account, where she displays hundreds of online posts featuring lion-shaped gold pendants and other jewelry she sells through a gold trading business she runs from Dubai.

In a May 2022 email to Waziri-Azi, the Nigerian anti-trafficking agency’s director, Thomas wrote that Gold was “flaunting her wealth built on the backs” of young women “she trafficks to Dubai.”

Little is known about Gold’s background. In her written statement to the Nigerian court, Gold said that she traveled to Dubai in 2009 and after that began shuttling back and forth, buying gold, shoes and handbags in the UAE and selling them in Nigeria.

According to victim statements to the court and interviews, Gold and her associates targeted Nigerian women who were desperate for work and new lives, promising them jobs in hair salons, restaurants and other retail businesses in Dubai. Gold’s associates helped them obtain Nigerian passports and tourist visas to travel to the UAE.

Descriptions of her operations come from five women who said they’d been trafficked by Gold. Three gave detailed interviews. Two of the three women interviewed for this story, along with two other women, have submitted witness statements in Gold’s criminal case.

Each of the three women interviewed for this article said she was trafficked after being approached by a recruiter, Mercy Ewere Owuzo, who worked with Gold.

One said she was working in a shop in Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos, in July 2019 when Owuzo told her that she could make much more money as a salesperson in a store in Dubai.

“I didn’t ask any questions because she told me she is trying to help young women and I thought, ‘She is a kind person,’” the woman, 25, recalled.

She said Owuzo paid for her passport, plane ticket and UAE tourist visa.

After arriving in Dubai, she said, she talked by phone to Owuzo, who told her there was no job for her in a store. Instead, she would be going to clubs, restaurants and hotels to sell her body. It was the only way, she said she was told, to pay down the $12,000 debt that she owed Gold for bringing her to the UAE.

The three women said Gold also controlled them by confiscating their passports. Then, they said, she created fake passports that appeared authentic enough to get them through routine police stops or past front desks at hotels – but not enough to get them out of the country.

It’s not clear from witness accounts and court documents whether Gold was the topmost leader of the alleged trafficking network. The three women interviewed for this story said she exercised a substantial level of authority and was deeply engaged in the network’s operations – personally threatening, for example, to leave their corpses in the Arabian Desert if they didn’t comply with her demands.

“Every time we don’t bring money, they would beat us, put pepper in our vagina, pepper in our eyes,” said one of the three women, who said she was working as a hairstylist in Nigeria before Owuzo promised her a better-paying job in Dubai. “Many of us had wounds, but we weren’t taken to hospitals because they don’t want people to know what they were doing to us.”

All three of these women spent time in a two-bedroom apartment in Dubai controlled by Gold. At one point, they said, Gold occupied one bedroom, while as many as 18 women were crammed into the other, with most sleeping on blankets on the floor.

It was here, according to interviews and court statements, that women marked for punishment were sent and where Gold’s enforcer – her brother Solomon – sexually assaulted them and beat their malnourished bodies with a hookah hose, broomstick or other implements.

NAPTIP officials said Solomon has not been charged with a crime. Gold said in her court statement that she never ordered Solomon to hurt anyone who stayed in her apartment in Dubai.

“I have never at any time instructed him to beat any of the girls as I have never had cause to beat any of them,” she said.

ICIJ and Reuters were unable to contact Solomon.

Victoria Oburoh, one of NAPTIP’s top prosecutors, confirmed that Gold and Owuzo worked together. In May last year, NAPTIP was able to win a conviction of Owuzo on sex trafficking charges in federal court in the Nigerian state of Delta. Oburoh said that case and the one pending against Gold are “sister cases.”

A lawyer who represented Owuzo during her trial declined to comment.

NAPTIP began an investigation of Gold after one of her alleged victims reported her to the police in Nigeria. Authorities charged Gold with six counts of violating Nigeria’s sex trafficking law.

After a judge released her on bail, she failed to show up for a scheduled court appearance on Nov. 3, 2021. Her lawyer told the judge that Gold had been “found half dead on the bed” and taken to a hospital.

The judge ordered that Gold be taken back into custody. But authorities had no luck tracking her down, NAPTIP officials say.

Christy Gold had disappeared.

Put me in prison’

Loudspeakers announced evening prayers at a mosque in Al Baraha, a working-class neighborhood in Dubai’s populous Deira district, when a reporter visited last August.

Steps away, young women in colorful wigs and low-cut evening dresses lined up in front of shabby buildings for their day’s work: providing sex to men. On the fourth and fifth floors of one building, South Asian men sat in the stairway, scrolling on their phones, sipping beer and waiting for their turns with the sex workers.

All the while police vehicles slowly navigated the district’s narrow alleys – part of the policing and surveillance apparatus that keeps UAE authorities deeply informed about what’s going on in Dubai and other emirates.

One of the sex workers was a young woman who arrived from Ghana in June 2022. She said she was promised a job as a housemaid but found herself doing an entirely different kind of work.

She rolled up her dress to show the bruises that came with the job.

“A few days ago, my eyes were swollen after being hit in the face and slapped when I failed to meet the target,” she said. “It’s my boss who did this to me.”

He told her, she said, that if she wanted to gain her freedom, she had to pay a debt of nearly $10,000.

“Where do I go? What do I do?” she asked, breaking into tears. She said her trafficker, whom she didn’t name, had taken away her phone and passport. Another way traffickers and their subordinates control African women is by using the power of juju, a traditional African spiritual belief system.

Women targeted for sex trafficking are required to take “juju oaths,” solemn vows to do the bidding of the recruiters who have promised to help them find work abroad. As part of the oath-taking ceremonies, they are told to strip naked, kneel for hours and swallow noxious drinks that can make them dizzy. They’re warned that breaking their vows of obedience could put a curse on them that could cause injury, death, even generational misfortune for their families.

Most of the women interviewed for this story said they had been required to take a juju oath, with some of the ceremonies conducted in Nigeria and others after they arrived in the UAE.

Three women said in witness statements in Gold’s criminal case that Gold’s associates required them to do oath-taking ceremonies in Nigeria before they traveled to Dubai.

“She makes us believe she has juju,” one woman who claims she’d been trafficked by Gold said in an interview. “That is, if we run away, we can become mad or die.”

In her statement to the court, Gold denied organizing such ceremonies.

When women brave the threats of real violence and otherworldly consequences to try to escape their traffickers, they say they often get little help from Emirati authorities.

A 25-year-old Ugandan said that after she fled a brothel in the Deira district of Dubai where she was forced to work, she headed to the nearest police station. She said a police officer took her back to the brothel and negotiated with the trafficker to return the passport to her. The officer left without doing anything else, and the trafficker took the passport back again, she said.

She got away for good only after she reached out to Nyondo Rozet, a Ugandan YouTube broadcaster based in the UAE. Rozet posted a video about her plight, which raised the money for a plane ticket home.

Rozet, whose videos primarily appeal to the Ugandan community in the UAE, said in an interview that a woman who called her, saying she was the trafficker, offered her money to take the video down. When she refused, Rozet said, other people contacted her to threaten harm if she didn’t delete the video, telling her: “You are not going to survive.”

The Dubai police did not respond to questions about the incident.

A 23-year-old woman from Nigeria’s northeastern farm belt said she thought UAE police would help her after she fled a brothel in Abu Dhabi where she and six other women had been locked in a room filled with steel beds separated by curtains. Every night, she had to have sex with half a dozen men.

She had slipped away when her boss got drunk and left the key in the door. But when she walked into a police station in the Khalidiya area of Abu Dhabi, she said, an officer told her, “Go to where you came from.”

She said she pleaded: “Put me in prison!” But “they turned their back to me. I was crying, but they paid no attention. They said: ‘To Hell with Africa.’”

The police station in Khalidiya did not respond to a request for comment.

Extradition request

For years, large numbers of migrants from Nigeria and other African countries have sought jobs and new lives in Europe. Migration routes have changed as European Union members have pushed migrants back to Libya, the main transit point across the Mediterranean Sea. With the way to Europe increasingly blocked, African migrants have turned, in growing numbers, to the UAE and other rich Arab nations.

Oburoh, the NAPTIP prosecutor, said that when trafficking cases have links to Europe, governments there provide information and cooperation that help the agency apprehend and prosecute traffickers. But when it comes to the UAE, official cooperation is nonexistent, Nigerian anti-trafficking investigators said.

At home, NAPTIP operates in an environment where some government officials also have been accused of engaging in human trafficking – and where, NAPTIP officials say, convicted traffickers often avoid jail terms.

The Nigerian government did not respond to a request for comment.