GYEONGJU,South Korea // Zimbabwe would like to talk with the UAE about one of Dubai's and Abu Dhabi's most popular and profitable commodities - shopping malls.
The expansive country in southern Africa is planning to ask the UAE to invest in and develop Dubai-style shopping malls in its major cities.
The country's economy and tourism industry effectively collapsed in the past decade under the government of Robert Mugabe, the president.
"We need malls," said Walter Mzembi, Zimbabwe's minister of tourism, speaking at a United Nations tourism conference in South Korea. "We hope in the very short term the Emirates will set up shops in Zimbabwe. We are repositioning the destination, but I think what is lacking is a shopping experience.
"When I do my next trip [to the UAE] at an official level, I will definitely raise it with my counterparts. I can't wait for that trip where I can engage them. We have plenty of land.
"I think Harare could take two or three malls and each major town could take one."
He said the population of more than 12 million needed better-quality shopping destinations with big-brand stores.
Investment in landlocked Zimbabwe has been limited amid its political instability. However, Dubai World more than two years ago said it was investing in a wildlife game reserve in the country, and Rani Investment, a company based in Dubai, has invested in a hotel and game reserve in the Victoria Falls area, as well as in the country's River Ranch diamond mine.
From 2000 onwards, the land reform policies of Mr Mugabe resulted in a sharp decline in tourism, leading to thousands of job losses.
"Zimbabwe used to be a very interesting destination, where the main motivation for tourists to go there was the national parks," said Ousmane Ndiaye, the UN World Tourism Organization's regional director for Africa.
"It was one of the main destinations for Africa and the southern part of Africa. Right now they are really trying to improve the destination and attract more tourists. The strongest product that Africa has is nature, and culture." Many international airlines stopped flying to Zimbabwe because of its troubles and as the country's inflation rate soared.
But Emirates Airline has announced plans to launch direct flights five times a week between Dubai and Harare in February.
The Dubai airline is expanding its reach into Africa, with the launch of flights to Lusaka in Zambia on the same day.
"The arrival of an airline of Emirates' stature will be very significant for Zimbabwe, increasing capacity, connectivity and choice as the country strives to consolidate its economic recovery through attracting new trade, tourism and investment," said David Chawota, the chief executive of Zimbabwe's civil aviation authority.
Mr Mzembi said that while there would be some tourism flows, most of the passengers were likely to be Zimbabwean traders flocking to Dubai on the direct flights to pick up goods.
A direct service between Harare and Dubai operated by Air Zimbabwe was scrapped in 2009. "If they are not going to Dubai, Zimbabweans are going to Tanzania, because the Tanzanians pick stuff from the Middle East for us in their warehouses," said Mr Mzembi.
"But we prefer to go to the source. Our merchandising industry prefers to go direct to the Middle East, to places like Dubai, for their shopping … They actually go in brigades."
rbundhun@thenational.ae
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
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THE BIO
Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist
Age: 78
Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”
Hobbies: his work - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”
Other hobbies: football
Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club
Poacher
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World%20Food%20Day%20
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
Barbie
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Company%20Profile
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UAE%20ILT20
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Take Me Apart
Kelela
(Warp)
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20Profile
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
TO%20CATCH%20A%20KILLER
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Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Book%20Details
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if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Company%20Profile
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