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On services, the GSFTA (GCC-Singapore Free Trade Agreement) builds on the commitments made by Singapore and the GCC countries at the multilateral level, in particular, the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Specifically, Singapore and the GCC have committed to liberalize various services sectors beyond its WTO commitments. Broadly, the schedule of specific commitments include the following sectors: (...) environmental services; (...)

At the federal level, the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW)is in charge of designing agricultural policies and coordinating with other agencies in order to achieve food security, while protecting the environment and scarce water resources and promoting bio-security

The MOEW (Ministry of Environment and Water) has issued several resolutions restricting fishing over the past few years, including:
• Cabinet Resolution No. 18 of 2012 which covers the administrative sanctions, penalties and fines that regulate activities related to the fishing industry;
• Ministerial Decree No. 372 of 2013 on a temporary ban on registration of new fishing boats;
• Ministerial Decree No. 706 of 2013 on new regulations on manufacturing, importing, and the use of traps (gargoor);
• Ministerial Decree No. 500 of 2014 which is intended to bring fishing and trading of sharks into line with CITES (according to the FAO, the UAE had been the eighth largest exporter of shark fins );
• Ministerial Resolution No. 501 of 2015 setting out effort restrictions for lethrinus nebulosus (spangled emperor) and siganus canaliculatus (white spotted spinefoot);
• Ministerial Resolution No. 656 of 2014 and Ministerial Decree No. 574 of 2015 restricting the use of fishing nets; and
• Ministerial Decree No. 580 of 2015, on the prevention of fishing, selling, and marketing of fish below the specified minimum lengths.

The main advantage of this new draft law for foreign investors will lead to increasing the percentage of foreign ownership of projects up to 100% in the sectors or the activities prescribed by the law and meet the standards set for foreign investment projects by the law. Those standards include (...) environment preservation.

The UAE started to create plans and find solutions to preserve ground water source for future generations

As for imports, under the Common Customs Law of the GCC States certain categories of goods may be subject to export prohibitions or restrictions. In the UAE, export prohibitions or restrictions are applied: on the grounds of public safety, public health, public morals, environment, natural resources, national security, and UAE foreign policy; and to comply with international treaties and conventions. Law No. 13 of 2007, as amended, provides the legal basis for export prohibitions and restrictions.

The supply of both electricity and water are highly subsidized in the different emirates given that water resources are scarce

Table 4.10 Selected large construction projects under construction in the UAE in 2015
Source Project Main contractor Client Approximate value
US$ million
a Barakah Nuclear Power Plant 1-4 Korea Electric Power Corporation Emirates Nuclear Energy Company 20,000
(...)

The UAE Strategy for tourism is based on “Developing Sustainable Tourism for Economic and Social Success”. This integrated approach with its triple themes of sustainability with both economic and social success represents Best Practice and ensures the optimum range of benefits to UAE, its communities and people.

The UAE implements the Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme (ECAS) as a mandatory product certification scheme, which applies to products that affect health and safety or have an impact on the environment, such as low-voltage equipment and toys