On Thursday, May 8, 2025, Mohamed Abdel Latif, the Minister of Education and Technical and Artistic Education in Egypt, welcomed Dr. Muhammad bin Saud Al Muqbel, the Director General of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States. This meeting aimed to enhance educational cooperation and exchange experiences between Egypt and the Bureau in various educational projects of mutual interest.
During the meeting, Minister Abdel Latif emphasized the significance of this gathering, stating that it reflects the deep historical ties between Egypt and the Gulf Arab countries. He highlighted the Ministry's commitment to fostering an environment that promotes the exchange of expertise, aligning with Egypt's Vision 2030, which aims for a comprehensive and integrated development of the educational system.
"The Ministry is dedicated to building strong partnerships with Arab educational institutions to support educational cooperation and enhance educational opportunities," said Abdel Latif.
Dr. Muhammad bin Saud Al Muqbel expressed his satisfaction with his visit to Egypt, commending the noticeable progress, especially in the New Administrative Capital. He remarked that this progress showcases the vision of the Egyptian political leadership in creating a sustainable future that meets contemporary aspirations and strengthens Egypt's regional and international standing.
Furthermore, Al Muqbel reiterated his commitment to collaborating with Minister Abdel Latif to advance educational initiatives in Egypt. He noted that the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States is keen on expanding its cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Education, aiming to leverage Egyptian expertise in various educational research areas pertinent to Arab education.
In his presentation, Al Muqbel outlined the Bureau's role in developing joint Gulf educational policies that enhance the quality of education and foster integration among educational systems in the region. He emphasized the Bureau's efforts to support member states in both theoretical and practical educational research addressing contemporary educational issues.
The meeting also explored avenues for enhancing collaboration and sharing experiences in examination systems, educational research development, and identifying partnership opportunities in educational programs of common Arab interest. One highlighted initiative is the preparation of a study aimed at improving reading comprehension for students through programs that emphasize national values and Arab culture.
Additionally, discussions included how to utilize Egyptian expertise in the Ministry of Education for international assessments such as (PIRLS) and (PISA). The meeting also aimed to assess the current state of Arabic language teaching, the proficiency of its teachers, and student achievement levels. Plans to evaluate various educational experiences and establish standards for curriculum development were also on the agenda, with an emphasis on making these studies available to Arab countries for enhancing the quality of education.
Minister Abdel Latif welcomed these ideas and proposals, reaffirming the Egyptian Ministry of Education's commitment to providing all necessary support to ensure their success, which will ultimately contribute to the improvement of the educational process.
Attending the meeting from the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States were Dr. Abd al-Salam al-Jawfi, an advisor to the Bureau, Professor Omar Boudi, supervisor of the Director-General's office, and Mubarak bin Jahla from the Public Relations Department. From the Egyptian Ministry of Education, Dr. Ramadan Muhammad, the assistant minister for evaluation and examination systems, and Dr. Faten Azazi, director of the National Center for Educational and Development Research, were present.
This meeting underscores the ongoing commitment between Egypt and the Gulf states to foster educational development and cooperation, which is crucial for addressing the educational challenges faced in the Arab world.
In another significant development, Saada Ammar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in the UAE, recently announced details regarding the fourth edition of the "Industry in the Emirates" platform. This event is set to take place from May 19 to May 22, 2025, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), featuring participation from over 700 local and international entities.
Al Suwaidi noted that this edition would be the largest and most comprehensive since the initiative's inception. He described the event as a strategic platform that brings together investors, entrepreneurs, and youth, providing them with opportunities to explore diverse investment prospects within the industrial sector, including advanced, artisanal, and heritage industries, as well as specialized programs in technology and artificial intelligence.
The four-day event will include various sessions focused on the future of industry, support for national products, innovation, and technology enhancement, as well as empowering youth and women and opening new avenues for international partnerships and exports.
Al Suwaidi extended an invitation to all interested parties, including investors, manufacturers, and business leaders, to participate in the platform and take advantage of direct communication opportunities with government entities and industrial facilitators. He emphasized that "Industry in the Emirates" represents a major gateway to building a resilient and sustainable national economy.
Meanwhile, in the energy sector, Safi Arbah Company Okio for Exploration and Production reported a net profit of 74.8 million Omani Rials (approximately $194.7 million) for the first quarter of 2025. The company's financial results, which concluded on March 31, 2025, revealed that revenues for this period reached 205.5 million Omani Rials ($534.4 million).
Before calculating benefits, damages, and other expenses, the company's earnings were recorded at 152.7 million Omani Rials ($397.1 million). Furthermore, the cash flow from operations, excluding working capital, amounted to 141.8 million Omani Rials ($368.8 million).
With a return on invested capital of 22.2 percent, the company also reported a cash surplus of 118.8 million Omani Rials ($309 million) and a low debt ratio of 0.4 percent relative to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.
The production level was stable at 221.2 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day, slightly down from 224.4 thousand barrels per day in the first quarter of 2024. The average realized price for oil was $75.3 per barrel compared to $79.7 per barrel during the same period last year, while gas prices stood at $3.21 per million cubic feet, down from $3.36.
Engineer Ahmed bin Saeed Al Azkawi, the CEO of Okio for Exploration and Production, noted the company's significant progress in developing future energy resources in Oman in collaboration with its partners. He mentioned a new exploration and production agreement with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and Genel Company for Energy concerning Concession Area 54, which presents an opportunity to evaluate an unexplored area.
Additionally, Okio is collaborating with Bank Sohar to market investment opportunities in several concession areas. The company reported an 86 percent success rate in the Basaat Ghadhman expansion project in Concession Area 60, which is expected to begin operations in the third quarter of 2025, providing additional capacity to process 37 thousand barrels of oil daily.
Finally, the company plans to distribute core dividends for the first quarter of 2025, amounting to 57.7 million Omani Rials (approximately $150 million) this May.
