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Cadillac’s LYRIQ “Al Awael” Has Arrived In The UAE & Kuwait
The carmaker’s latest electric vehicle offers high levels of luxury and comfort, plus premium in-car entertainment and active road-noise cancellation.
Cadillac has brought its first-ever electric vehicle, the LYRIQ, to the UAE and Kuwait. The new model will roll out first as a special edition called Al Awael — meaning “the firsts” in Arabic.
The carmaker initially launched the LYRIQ in the USA and China before unveiling the EV in the Middle East. The limited edition version of this hotly-anticipated SUV comes in a Celestial Metallic armor color, with an Oxford Stone interior, exclusive badging, and a panoramic roof. Single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor (500hp) all-wheel-drive versions are available, with the former achieving up to 494 km of range per charge from its 102-kilowatt-hour battery.
The Al Awael’s interior features laser-etched patterns on its wood-over-metal décor, plus a large, curved 33-inch diagonal LED screen. On-board tech includes built-in Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while Active Noise Cancellation intelligently assesses wind and vibration and uses a premium AKG speaker system to cancel road-induced noise.
Also Read: WeRide Granted First Self-Driving Vehicle License In UAE
“Our journey to an all-electric future starts now with the epitome of sophistication, the exquisite LYRIQ. Powered by General Motors Ultium platform and curated with over 120 years of Cadillac’s design craftsmanship, it combines looks, performance, advanced technology, and exclusivity to provide an unparalleled driving experience,” announced Kristian Aquilina, Managing Director of Cadillac International Operations and Cadillac Middle East.
“With LYRIQ Al Awael, the first electric vehicle to reach our region, we invite loyalists, pioneers, and optimists to inaugurate the new era of luxury electric mobility and lead the way forward,” he added.
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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
Also Read: IBM Opens New Doha Office To Support Qatar’s Digital Growth
The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.