31 May 2008

Winners for ‘World No Tobacco Day’ Art Competition Announced

Today, during the World No Tobacco Day celebrations, The U.A.E. Ministry of Health (MoH) and Novartis Consumer Health (NCH) announced the winners of the first anti-smoking creative competition in the U.A.E. Also, part of the event was a special recognition ceremony for 30 people, selected randomly from the 350 who successfully completed the smoking cessation program at the clinics. Present at the event was H E Mr. Humaid Al Quttami, U.A.E Minister of Health, Dr Abdullah Al Badah, Supervisor General, Tobacco Control Program for the GCC from Saudi Arabia and Dr Ahmed Abdel Karim Al-Mulla, Consultant, Hamad Medical Center, Qatar.




World No Tobacco Day is a celebration to mark the success of the initiatives implemented by the government as well as a day to highlight the public’s efforts and support. “I am proud of the results of the competition. The enthusiasm exhibited by the public through their entries is encouraging, as it is important to have their support as part of the Ministry’s anti-smoking campaign,” said H E Dr Humaid Al Quttami, Minister of Health.




Provided by NCH, the first prize winners in the young professionals and general public categories won 2000 dirhams each while the first prize winner of the students’ category received 1000 dirhams. Second prize winners of all categories received a full-day spa voucher from LeSpa at The Palace Hotel, Down-town Burj Dubai. In addition to the prizes, the winners will also have their posters included as part of the Ministry of Health’s 2009 anti-smoking marketing campaign. The winning posters may also be considered as a health warning printed on tobacco packaging, which is part of the upcoming anti-smoking tactic by the GCC Tobacco Control Strategy.




At the event the Minister presented certificates of accomplishment to 30 selected people who have successfully completed the smoking cessation program. “Today we pay tribute to the success of the public in their battle against the addiction. They are shining examples of motivation and dedication, two key ingredients necessary to give up smoking,” said the Minister. “It is refreshing to see so many people determined to make a positive change in their lives and I’m glad that we were able to be part of this.” he added.




During the event, Dr Abdulla Al Badah, Supervisor General Tobacco Control Program for the GCC from Saudi Arabia, gave an informative presentation on the Power of Media and how they can influence the Public. “The public look towards the media as a source to reinforce their social orientation. This is why the media plays a key part in the GCC-wide anti-smoking campaign. With their support and cooperation we can help build positive messaging that will encourage the people to make the right choice,” said Dr Al Badah.




In the past year, the Ministry of Health has been very successful in implementing the foundation of a strong anti-smoking campaign. During the latter process, the Ministry’s initiative has encouraged other conscientious organisations, like Novartis Consumer Health who has partnered with the Ministry to support all their endeavours. “We are happy to be part of the Ministry’s active approach towards smoking cessation. Our interests lie primarily in the betterment of the publics well-being and our responsibility is to support the Ministry so that they in turn can provide the public with all the necessary tools they need,” said Mr. Hatem Hamad, Operating Unit Head, Arabian Peninsula Novartis Consumer Health.




Furthermore, as one of the main event sponsors, and in a first ever for the region, Boots – the UK’s number one health and beauty store – has been running a GCC wide health advice campaign, ‘Ask Your Boots Pharmacist’. This campaign encourages residents who require immediate and impartial professional health advice, to discuss their health related questions with a Boots pharmacist, at any of the 26 stores across the region.

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29 May 2008

The Dubai Mall reinvents the traditional custom of trade in the world’s largest indoor Gold Souk

The Dubai Mall, the flagship project of Emaar Malls Group LLC and one of the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destinations, is going to house the world’s largest indoor Gold Souk. A dazzling precinct with a collection of over 220 gold and jewellery retailers, including a selection of dedicated cafés and restaurants, the exquisitely designed Gold Souk experience culminates at the treasury dome, a 25m x 13m atrium – a dynamic projection ceiling with ever-changing multimedia shows.







Designed by Northpoint architects, the Gold Souk recreates the traditional charm of an Arabian souk reflecting the rich regional heritage of the gold trade. Walking through its meandering corridors and themed courtyards, The Gold Souk reveals the journey of the travelling merchants crossing the desert expanse to trade gold and other commodities - the main north entrance begins the story with life-size bronze camel sculptures resting under a starry sky and an Arabian stallion in the south entrance. Accentuated with decorative gold and marble detailing, the Gold Souk’s traditional theme is a key attraction to The Dubai Mall.







Mr Jim Badour, CEO of Emaar Malls Group, said: “The Dubai Mall is redefining the shopping and leisure experience with its rich array of components, including the world’s largest indoor Gold Souk. The Gold Souk is much a tribute to the region’s rich heritage as to further strengthening the gold and jewellery trade, for which Dubai is renowned globally.”




He added: “Visitors to the Gold Souk will be greeted with a new and exciting experience at every turn of their journey. The Gold Souk will offer a route of discovery following the journey of varying themes, designs and colours, culminating with the amazing treasury dome that will project images depending on the time of day. There are also themed courtyards with iconic bronze sculptures of a stallion, gold palm tree, camels, and falcons that celebrate Arabic heritage.”







The Dubai Mall has a total internal floor area of 5.9 million sq ft and gross leasable space of 3.77 million sq ft, which is equivalent to the size of 50 football fields. The mall will feature over 1,200 stores, including two anchor department stores and 120 food & beverage outlets.







Mr Yousif Al Ali, General Manager, The Dubai Mall, explained: “The Gold Souk will be a key launch attraction with its charming journey-like experience through elaborately themed areas leading to the main treasury dome. Both a tourist attraction and a jewellery shopper’s paradise, the Gold Souk adds to the overall entertainment factor of The Dubai Mall.”







Other key components of the mall include a world-class Aquarium featuring 33,000 living animals; an Olympic-size Ice Rink; KidZania®, a children’s ‘edu-tainment’ concept; Fashion Avenue, a dedicated haute couture precinct; The Grove, an indoor-outdoor streetscape with fully retractable roof; a SEGA indoor theme park; and a 22-screen cineplex along with car parking facilities for 14,000 cars.







Emaar Malls Group, the shopping mall business subsidiary of Emaar, is also developing Dubai Marina Mall within the Dubai Marina community; Cairo Gate – Egypt’s largest outdoor shopping and entertainment destination; and a number of shopping malls within Emaar’s master-planned communities in the Middle East, North Africa and Indian Subcontinent.

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28 May 2008

Etisalat demonstrates its new Voice Activated Directory

Etisalat displays its Voice Activated Directory service, an innovative solution developed as part of enhancing contact centre services, at this year’s Middle East Communications (MECOM 2008) conference and exhibition, which will be held in Abu Dhabi from May 26 to 28. A faster and easier alternative to the present Directory Enquiry service available on 181, the new solution has been developed in co-operation with Abu Dhabi-based Emerging Technologies Company.

The automated self-service application set to be launched for customers soon allows callers to dial a virtual directory and retrieve contact information on hotels and restaurants as well as on other tourism-related, healthcare and financial organizations as well as others by asking in Arabic or English. The Voice Activated Directory can recognise voice irrespective of the speaker’s dialect or accent and provide the requested information in no time. It also eliminates the need to use the phone keypad or to talk to a call centre agent.




Commenting on the new service, Mr. Mohammed Al Faheem, Vice President, Customer Care Center, Etisalat said: "The Voice Activated Directory will provide Etisalat customers with the required number within a record time of 30 seconds. We are confident that a large number of Etisalat customers will find this unique service extremely useful.”




Mr. Sassine Mazraani, CEO of Emerging Technologies, added: "We are proud to be working with Etisalat on this great project. This new application will simplify processes for retrieving phone numbers by deploying the latest technologies used worldwide."

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Dubai stages world's largest airport show this year

Dubai’s status as a growing international aviation hub will be highlighted next week when the Airport Show, the largest airport construction, operations, technology and services exhibition to be staged anywhere in the world this year, opens for business.




With a record line up of more than 600 suppliers from 40 countries, and over 6,000 visitors expected to attend, the show has grown by 12 per cent this year in line with the ongoing aviation boom across the Middle East, South Asia and Africa.




Manufacturers and suppliers heading for Dubai from around the world have major incentives.
According to research conducted by the show’s organisers, Streamline Marketing Group, airport projects and expansions across the region are currently valued at more than US$68 billion, with the Gulf countries accounting for US$43 billion of this growth.




The Airport Show is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman, Dubai Airports. The show has become a well established forum for the selection and pre-qualification of suppliers and contractors for airport developments across the region and this year more than 100 civil aviation authorities and airports will be represented.




Taking place at Airport Expo Dubai from 2-4 June, this year’s show features four specialist conferences, ‘Future Airports, ‘Air Traffic Control Middle East’, ‘Aviation Security Middle East’ and ‘Ground Handling Middle East’, giving aviation officials the chance to discuss and debate pertinent issues affecting the aviation sector such as increasing air traffic and the requirements of future airports.

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Air Arabia introduces daily service to Kozhikode

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today the introduction of daily service to the South Indian city of Kozhikode (formerly known as “Calicut”). Air Arabia became the first Middle Eastern airline to offer flights to Kozhikode when it introduced service in February of this year, providing flights three times per week.







Now customers can choose either morning or evening flights between Sharjah and Kozhikode. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, flights will depart Sharjah at 8:00AM and arrive in Kozhikode at 13:25PM. On the same days, return flights will depart Kozhikode at 14:10PM and arrive in Sharjah at 16:25PM. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, flights will depart Sharjah at 22:45PM and arrives in Kozhikode at 4:10AM. On the same days, return flights will depart Kozhikode at 4:55AM and arrive in Sharjah at 7:10AM.







“The increase in the number of flights to Kozhikode demonstrates our commitment to the Indian market and our desire to offer expatriates from this Indian city working in the Middle East competitively priced fares,” said AK Nizar, Head of Commercial Department, Air Arabia. “Kozhikode is the third city within the state of Kerala to be an Air Arabia destination, giving residents there access to the extensive destination network of our carrier and the highest quality service possible.”







With direct flights to Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Jaipur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, Nagpur and Thiruvanathapuram, Air Arabia has the most comprehensive Indian destination network of any Middle East-based airline. The carrier flies to 39 destinations throughout the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and Central Asia, and offers visa assistance to all of its destinations.

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26 May 2008

Ford Motor Company increases 2009 environmental grants money to US$ 100,000

Ford Middle East recently recognized the 14 winners of the 2007-2008 Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants with a total of US$90,000 in grants money donated during a special ceremony in Dubai, attended by numerous environmentalists as well as news media.




During the ceremony, the company also announced that it will increase the Grants money for 2008-2009 to US$100,000, the highest-ever to be given by Ford Motor Company in the region. The new programme will accept entries until December 11, 2008.




"Time and again, we honour the efforts of all the individuals and groups that have made it their calling to protect their local environment, in their own way," said Waldo Galan, Ford Middle East's managing director. "Giving the necessary grants to such worthwhile projects has been our expression of support for these initiatives and a way to give them the recognition they deserve."
Hussein Murad, Sales and Marketing director of Ford Middle East said: "We are pleased to see that the GCC and Levant Ford Grants have had positive response and encouragement since their inception, as we received acknowledgment and support from leading environmental institutions and news media, regionally as well as globally.




"But the biggest achievement is probably the way the Grants have been received as a credible initiative, committed to helping organizations and individuals focused on the preservation of the natural environment," Murad added.




The Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants has seen endorsement and support from the World Wide Fund for Nature, the Emirates Wildlife Society and most recently, the Arab Forum for Environment & Development (AFED), a regional independent regional organization promoting prudent environmental policies and programmes across the Arab region.




Speaking at the Ford Grants ceremony, Najib Saab, AFED's Secretary General said: "On behalf of AFED, I am delighted to extend full support to a pioneering initiative such as the Ford Environmental Grants. For eight years, Ford has been helping environmentalists in the Gulf and Levant region to convert some creative ideas into facts."




Saab added: "Beyond its financial value, Ford’s program has been instrumental in creating region-wide environmental awareness, through supporting small-scale projects generating far reaching results. What makes this initiative unique is a visionary approach, coupled with persistence and continuity."




Celebrating its ninth consecutive year in the region, the Ford Grants is the largest programme of its kind and has rewarded and fuelled at least 90 grass-roots level environmental projects in the nine participating countries with nearly USD700,000.
For 2008-2009, the US$100,000 grants will be made available to individuals, community or non-profit groups that have projects currently running in the areas of preserving the natural environment, environmental education and conservation engineering. The Ford Grants is open to applicants from UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.




An independent panel of nine jurors consisting of academicians, as well as experts from environmental ministries and agencies choose the winning projects that demonstrate a well-defined sense of purpose, a commitment to maximizing available resources, and a reputation for meeting objectives and delivering planned programmes and services. Only ongoing and established non-profit projects are qualified to apply for the programme.

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Abu Dhabi Department of Finance unveils its Strategic Plan 2008-2012

The Department of Finance (DoF), the financial arm of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, has unveiled its Strategic Plan for 2008-2012. Incorporating financial best practices and advanced fiscal tools, the five-year plan complements the socio-economic development objectives outlined by the Abu Dhabi Policy Agenda. The DoF Strategic Plan constitutes a new set of financial priorities, guidelines and a framework aimed at ushering in a new era of prosperity for residents of Abu Dhabi.




The new strategy was unveiled by His Excellency Hamad Al Hurr Al Suwaidi, DoF’s Undersecretary, and Member of the Executive Council; and His Excellency Mohammed Sultan Al Hameli, DoF’s Executive Director, at a high-profile event held at the Emirates Palace last night.




“The DoF Strategic Plan has been drawn up in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi; and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, to provide the community with the highest standards of living and economic prosperity,” said H.E. Hamad Hurr Al Suwaidi.




“The Strategic Plan is an all-encompassing financial approach to leverage all resources and capabilities of both the private and public sector. Through teamwork, and the adaptation of new technology, methods and international best practices, the plan aims to support the efficient use of financial resources for Abu Dhabi's future growth," he stated.




"The DoF Strategic Plan supports Abu Dhabi Government’s Policy Agenda to achieving economic growth by providing financial best practices. It signals the proactive participation of DoF in the overall developmental goals of Abu Dhabi, which will be marked by the three key pillars of competitiveness, excellence and pioneering initiatives”, he added.




H.E. Al Suwaidi said that in the forty years of existence of the Department, the DoF has had an impeccable track-record of supporting the government. “The coming days mark an era of new challenges and opportunities in meeting the emerging financial needs and fostering stronger Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for the highest possible value added to the welfare of the community.”




The DoF Strategic Plan encompasses 12 priorities that call for implementing the latest technologies for the allocation of financial resources, further boosting the skills of DoF’s employees, adopting world-class financial and accounting systems, providing fiscal policy advice to government entities to ensure their proactive participation in financial stability, and aligning strategy with financial planning and budgeting.




His Excellency Hamad Al Hurr Al Suwaidi said that the launch of the 2008-2012 Strategic Plan heralds a new era for the Department while highlighting its commitment towards change, development and progress in line with Government initiatives.




“The coming years require mutual collaboration with our stakeholders to attain the objectives. We are confident that with the skills, experience and the dedication of our employees, we can achieve the targeted goals, implement the plan as conceptualized and convert them into reality as per our leadership’s aspiration for the overall prosperity of the community,” he added.




In his presentation of the Strategic Plan, His Excellency Mohammed Sultan Al Hameli explained the scope, goals and implications of the DoF Strategic Plan. He underscored the department’s pioneering role in supporting governmental initiatives for the socio-economic development of the Abu Dhabi community, creating a stronger financial basis and boosting private sector involvement.




“The launch of the Strategic Plan is a reflection of the Department’s aspirations to support the government’s strategic goals of achieving a decentralized financial model, higher degree of financial stability and flexibility, and a stronger role of the private sector,” he said.




“The Strategic Plan reiterates the importance of modern methodologies to prepare governmental budgets by aligning financial resource use with strategic plans of all entities, activating the financial decentralization model for all government-funded entities, developing comprehensive and standardized systems for financial management, and actively advising on fiscal policies and financial frameworks,” H.E. Al Hameli added.




The DoF Strategic Plan has been developed by a dedicated Strategic Planning team at the department constituting senior management and representatives from all directorates, in close co-ordination with the General Secretariat of the Executive Council.




DoF has already embarked on some of the initiatives of the Strategic Plan including the Treasury Single Account, and the development of the new state-of-the-art budgeting system. Following the launch, workshops for each directorate will be held to brief employees on strategic priorities, targets, initiatives, and the action plan for each initiative.

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IMPZ Extends Utilities Network to Cover Entire Premises

International Media Production Zone (IMPZ), a member of TECOM Investments, today announced its utilities network is now fully functional and accessible to the operational areas of the cluster for the benefit of its existing business partners. A 132KV substation, set up at a cost of AED80 million, was commissioned in October 2007, while a second substation is scheduled for completion in 2011.




Based on the current inflow of business partners, IMPZ anticipates a phenomenal upsurge of new entities seeking to establish a regional presence in the free zone. In order to provide a seamless supply of reliable power, IMPZ will eventually boast a total of five substations generating nearly 800-MW across the entire facility at the world’s only free zone dedicated to the printing, publishing, packaging (3P) and graphic arts industries.




In October 2007, IMPZ completed its AED235 million infrastructure for the 43 million square feet destination. The Pre-Built Units (PBU) have been energised by Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (DEWA), enabling investors to commence operations at the 106 world class showrooms and multi-purpose warehouses.




Hamad Huraiz, Executive Director of IMPZ, said: “Since the last quarter of 2007, the first of IMPZ’s five substations has been energized to supply power to the industrial and residential areas in the free zone. We are delighted to inform our potential and existing partners that once a project is completed, the power network can be immediately energized.




"IMPZ continues to provide its business partners with the necessary tools to support their daily operations, allowing them to conduct their activities efficiently.”




IMPZ business partners that have started operations at the industrial area include companies such as Kimpex, paper supplier, and Masar Printing and Publishing, a commercial, industrial and web printer, while Media Innovations, providers of innovative services to advertising companies, and Regraph Die Tech, a paper trading entity, recently moved into its pre-built unit facilities.




Leading regional and global names in the printing, publishing, packaging and graphic media industries continue to locate their businesses at IMPZ for its immense advantages as a free zone cluster.




Strategically located 10 minutes from the upcoming Al Maktoum International Airport in Jebel Ali, 35km southwest of Dubai, IMPZ is conceptualised to complement Dubai’s vision of becoming a global media destination and provide a pro-business environment in the midst of a unique production cluster.




About the International Media Production Zone




Dubai's International Media Production Zone (IMPZ) seeks to create a unique cluster environment for media production companies from across the industry value chain, and from across the world, to interact and collaborate effectively. IMPZ will be exclusively catering to the graphic arts, printing, publishing and packaging activities. As a master developer, IMPZ will provide an environment of growth by building key facilities, investing in infrastructure, and forming a unique free zone that incorporates industrial, commercial, residential and community service projects under its mantle. The vast complex will be housed on a territory of over 43 million square feet of land, in the heart of commercial Dubai. The IMPZ initiative is part of Dubai's vision to develop itself into a global media hub. It will provide a pro-business environment, sophisticated technology and community infrastructure to support and foster the growth of media production. http://www.impz.ae/

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14 UAE Girl Students Selected to Visit ‘Art Basel’ in Switzerland

A delegation of 14 Emirati girl students, selected from various colleges and universities in the UAE under the ‘Art Exchange Program’, will visit ‘Art Basel’, the world renowned international art exhibition to be held in Switzerland from 4-8 June.




Launched by Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, President of Dubai Women’s Establishment (DWE), wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Presidential Affairs, the ‘Art Exchange Programme’ aims to enhance the creative landscape of the UAE, while building stronger ties between women artists in the MENA region and the rest of the world.




Selected from the Zayed University, the American University in Sharjah, the American University in Dubai, the Sharjah University, and the Dubai Women’s College, the Emirati student delegation will leave for Switzerland on 3 June. During the week-long visit until 11 June, the students will also experience guided tours to important museums and historical sites.




A panel of eminent academicians, including renowned artist Dr. Najat Makki, Professor Jassim Al Awadhi and Nazneen Al Shafi followed a stringent process to select members of the delegation out of several nominated girl students.




The selection criteria included competencies in English language communication skills, knowledge of the visual and fine arts, visual design, and art history. Academic performance and the students’ aptitude to serve as effective ambassadors of the UAE, the Arab world and Islam, were also given ample consideration while short-listing the students.




Dr. Najat Makki said: “The experience will provide the Emirati girl students with valuable opportunities to learn from the pioneers of international art. This was the rationale for choosing the talented art students who also possess outstanding academic records. Their visit to ‘Art Basel’ and their interaction with some of the greatest artists in the world will significantly enhance their learning experience.”




On their return to the UAE, the participants will be mandated to create a tangible work of art that is inspired by their collective experience of the educational and intellectually stimulating trip.




The name of the students that were selected are from Sharjah University Wafa Al Hosani, Alaa Obiedi, Noora Buqaish , Nada Obied, Hayat Al Suwaidi and Ammna Ali. From Zayed Universiy Hind Demaithan, Moza Matar and Maryam Al Matrooshi. Hassa Al Jokar from Dubai Women’s College. From American University of Sharjah Kholoud Al Ajmani, Hedyeh Badri , Khulood Al Ali and Noor Al Khaja.




The Swiss visit comes as the first part of the ’Art Exchange Program’, which pursues a long time commitment to promoting artistic and cultural ties between the UAE and the world. Underscoring the role of the UAE woman in art, it aims to open new vistas for Emirati girl students, enabling them to experience contemporary art of international caliber.




Featuring nearly 300 leading galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa, Art Basel is considered the world's premier international art show for modern and contemporary works. It will feature more than 2,000 artists, ranging from the great masters of modern art to the latest generation of emerging artists.

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24 May 2008

Innovation and long-term planning must drive aviation sector: Al Mansouri

His Excellency Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, said that the challenges faced by the aviation sector can be addressed only through innovation and long-term planning. He asserted the need for stronger public and private partnerships in the aviation industry, one of the fastest growing sectors in the UAE.




He was welcoming Mr Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi as the new Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), in the United Arab Emirates.




“Al Suwaidi takes office at one of the challenging and yet promising time for the aviation sector in the UAE. While the growth in tourism and that of the overall economy have been driving the aviation sector, there are the challenges of ensuring a sustainable, efficient, safe, secure and environment-friendly aviation and aerospace sector,” said Mr Al Mansouri. “These challenges can be addressed only through vision, innovation and long-term planning.”




Al Mansouri said that a professional aviation sector can be achieved through closer partnership and cooperation with airports and aircraft operators. He stressed on the need for partnerships with aviation training and educational institutions to develop a new generation of aviation professionals in the UAE. This is in line with the long-term goals outlined by GCAA.




Mr Al Suwaidi said: “This appointment is an honour and I thank the authorities for their trust in me to lead and work with the team of fine professionals at the GCAA. We look forward to achieving the objectives of further efficient, safe and secure skies. This is important to better serve the aviation interests of the UAE and our partners.”




Prior to joining the GCAA, Al Suwaidi, a career air force veteran, held several senior positions in the UAE Air Force, including his previous position as Director of Air Force Operations. Al Suwaidi holds a Bachelor of Law from the Arab University of Beirut.




The GCAA is the federal regulatory agency of the UAE, primarily responsible for aviation safety, security, regulation of civil aviation, and, overseeing the development of air traffic control system in the UAE airspace, and air transport agreements. The Agency, in partnership and cooperation with all stakeholders of the UAE aviation industry, represents, promotes and advances the collective aviation interests and views in international forums and organizations. The GCAA is governed by a Board of Directors that represents the UAE aviation community.

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Emaar Properties unveils luxury Golf Homes in Arabian Ranches

Emaar Properties has unveiled luxury-style Golf Homes, a limited collection of homes in Arabian Ranches. Defined by ultra-luxury standards and elegantly detailed architectural features, the Golf Homes are set on the scenic fairways of a golf course. The community features only 18 spacious homes, which are being offered to discerning customers through auction sales to be held on May 24.




Golf Homes is a celebration of the finest standards in modern home building, and offers an unparalleled lifestyle experience for residents. Apart from the location advantage of being part of the Arabian Ranches Golf Course, the homes also provide residents easy access to a diverse range of lifestyle amenities. Residents can look forward to leisure pursuits at the Arabian Ranches Golf Club and the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club. The homes are also in close proximity to the Arabian Ranches community centre, a retail hub and schools.




The 18 Golf Homes are designed in three styles – Hacienda, Suncadia and Castilla - featuring Arabian and Spanish architectural elements. The Castilla Homes are 8,270 sq ft in size and consist of rooms wrapped around terraces, a verandah, courtyard and a grandiose entry court with a central fountain. Sprawling over 6,900 sq ft, the Hacienda Homes have over 10 rooms, reception courtyard, grand dinning room, three terraces, two gallerias and windows set around two spacious living rooms. Suncadia Homes are two-floor villas with a wrap-around promenade, an entry tower and entry arcade.



Mr Saif Al Mansoori, Sales Director, Emaar Properties, said: “The Golf Homes at Arabian Ranches is an unmatched villa community, and is positioned as a premium residential destination in Dubai. The sheer spaciousness of the homes, the design excellence and the spectacular location offer potential investors a prized home in Arabian Ranches, an established residential neighbourhood.”




He added: “Emaar is holding an auction sale for the Golf Homes to highlight the distinctive appeal of the villa community. Villas are in great demand in Dubai, and Golf Homes builds on it further by offering an exclusive lifestyle.”




Providing the ambience of a private country home set around a green fairway, the Golf Homes are works of art with a variety of cultural influences. The interiors are sub-divided into wide and private units, which utilise the intricate effects of light and shadow.




All 18 like estates are surrounded by meticulously tended lawns and expansive “sun lounger” terraces, creating an aura of luxury even before entering the homes. Inside, the immaculately designed homes feature doors of porcelain, wood, and stone, intricately detailed ceilings, walls with a two-colour, textured paint effect and bronzed leaf grille work windows. The latest appliances and amenities and elegant iron-embellished wardrobes all combine to create a warm and luxurious ambience.




Potential investors can register interest for auction sales at any of Emaar’s sales centres in the UAE or call toll-free on 800-EMAAR (800-36227) or log in to http://www.emaar.com/ for more details.




Easily accessible from the three highways connecting Dubai and Abu Dhabi and in close proximity to Jebel Ali and other business centres of Dubai, Arabian Ranches is a serene getaway from the bustle of the metropolis and has established itself as a community with a difference. The golf course, polo and equestrian facilities, schools and a spread of retail and leisure outlets make it a truly integrated lifestyle community. The 18 hole, Par 72 desert-style Arabian Ranches Golf Course is a choice destination for golfers and has been designed by Ian Baker-Finch and Nicklaus Design.




About Emaar Properties PJSC:





Emaar Properties PJSC is one of the world's largest real estate companies and is rapidly evolving to become a global provider of premier lifestyles. Powered by its Vision 2010 to become one of the most valuable companies in the world, Emaar is charting a new course of growth with a two-pronged strategy of geographical expansion and business segmentation.




Emaar has highlighted its remarkable global growth by debuting on the Financial Times Global 500 ranking, which provides an annual snapshot of the world's largest companies. Emaar has been assigned A- and A3 ratings with stable outlook by Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investor Services, respectively.




Replicating its successful business model in Dubai, Emaar is extending its expertise in creating master-planned communities to international markets. Emaar is also developing new competencies in malls, hospitality & leisure, education, healthcare and finance, which have evolved from its integrated approach to customer service and property development.




Listed on the Dubai Financial Market, part of the Dow Jones Arabia Titans Index and certified to ISO9001:2000 for quality standards, Emaar is developing Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building and free-standing structure, and The Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest shopping and entertainment destinations. In Saudi Arabia, Emaar is developing the US$26.6 billion King Abdullah Economic City, the region's largest private sector-led project. Emaar's portfolio currently covers the following countries: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Libya, Algeria, India, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, the US, the UK, France and Canada.




An award-winning developer, Emaar has strengthened its product sale competencies, market reach and best practices through strategic acquisitions and joint ventures. Emaar acquired John Laing Homes, America's second largest privately held home builder; Hamptons International, UK's premier realtor; and formed a joint venture with US-based Turner International to strengthen execution capabilities.




Emaar has joined hands with Giorgio Armani and Accor Hotels to strengthen its presence in hospitality, and will launch ten luxury Armani Hotels & Resorts world-wide and 100 Formule 1 budget hotels in India. The company is opening educational institutions and healthcare centres in South Asia, Middle East and North Africa and the Subcontinent. Emaar acquired Singapore-based leading education provider, Raffles Campus, to extend expertise to its educational institutions.




Emaar holds 30 per cent equity in Dubai Bank, focused on retail and commercial banking. Emaar is also the largest shareholder in Amlak Finance, UAE's leading Islamic home financing company. For more information, visit http://www.emaar.com/.

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22 May 2008

DIFC governor speaks to British Business Community

H.E. Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), shared his thoughts and perspectives about the development of Dubai and the DIFC when he addressed members of the British business community and their guests at a British Business Group (BBG) lunch yesterday.




Dr. Bin Sulaiman spoke to guests about the incredible growth of the DIFC and the roadmap for its future development. The world’s fastest-growing financial centre, DIFC is home to more than 600 companies, including many of the world’s leading financial institutions.




“It was an honour to meet and hear from Dr. Bin Sulaiman today,” said Mark Beer, Chairman and CEO of the BBG. “He has built DIFC into the world’s leading financial centre and his determination, drive and ambition was truly awe-inspiring.




“We heard about how he believes the development of Dubai will continue to go from strength to strength and learned more about his role in achieving the Emirate’s ambitious plans. To hear a first hand account from one of the leading industry figures in Dubai is incredibly motivating for our members.”




The event, which took place at the DIFC Conference Centre, attracted an audience of more than 200 business men and women, including British Consul General John Hawkins, who was attending his last BBG lunch before he leaves Dubai for Qatar.




Dr. Bin Sulaiman is the latest in a long line of distinguished speakers for the BBG, the region’s largest and most active business group. HRH Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, visited Dubai and addressed members in a networking evening in April, which followed presentations by Sir John Parker, Vice Chairman of DP World, and Sheikha Lubna, Minister for Foreign Affairs.




Dr. Bin Sulaiman holds a number of distinguished positions including Chairman of Young Arab Leaders, Chairman of Art Dubai, Board Member of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders, Group Managing Director and Co-founder of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise and a member of the Young Presidents’ Organisation.

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Air Arabia begins service to new Bangalore airport

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today that it will begin flying to Bengaluru International Airport, Bangalore’s new airport, beginning on May 22, 2008.




The new airport is located east of the Bangalore-Hyderabad National Highway (NH7) and is the largest greenfield, private sector-owned and operated airport in India. A user development fee charged by the airport authority of AED 93 (INR 1,070) will be collected at Bangalore Airport in cash from all outbound passengers. Beginning July 1, this fee will be included as part of Air Arabia’s fare.




Air Arabia has flown to Bangalore since October 2007, and continues to fly daily from Air Arabia’s hub in Sharjah, leaving at 22:50 PM and arriving in Bangalore at 04:05AM. Return flights depart Bangalore at 04:50AM and land in Sharjah at 07:10AM.




Air Arabia serves 11 destinations throughout India including Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Calicut, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Jaipur, Kochi, Mumbai, Nagpur and Thiruvananthapuram.




About Air Arabia:




Air Arabia (PJSC), listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is the Middle East and North Africa’s leading low-cost carrier (LCC). Air Arabia commenced operations in October 2003 and currently operates a fleet of 14 new Airbus A320 aircraft, serving 39 destinations across Middle East, North Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Central Asia through its main hub in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Air Arabia also recently launched a new hub in Kathmandu in order to offer service to new destinations throughout South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and the Far East.
Air Arabia is modeled after leading American and European low-cost airlines, and its business model is customised to accommodate local preferences. Its main focus is to make air travel more convenient through Internet bookings and offering the lowest fares in the market along with the highest levels of safety and service standards. For further information, please visit: http://www.airarabia.com/

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21 May 2008

ENOC supports Thalassemia campaign

ENOC has extended its support to the Thalassemia campaign, a community health awareness initiative being held under the auspices of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association from May 1 to 31, 2008. The month-long drive, organised in connection with International Thalassemia Day, will include an information campaign and free Thalassemia screening tests at all colleges and universities in Dubai.




Information posters on the disease will be available at ENOC service stations in Dubai. Wearing campaign T-shirts and caps, ENOC staff will also distribute information material among customers and encourage them to take advantage of the free screening tests




“As a company for which health is a top priority, ENOC realises the importance of knowledge and awareness of Thalassemia. With the large number of customers they receive daily, ENOC service stations are ideal places to distribute information and remind people of simple steps they can take that will make a huge difference,” said Saeed Abdullah Khoory, ENOC Group Chief Executive.




“Our support to the Thalassemia campaign also reflects our ongoing commitment to the community,” Khoory added




Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Mariam Mattar said: “The UAE Genetic Diseases Association has been able to considerably reduce the impact of common genetic disorders prevalent in the country through its community outreach programmes, health education, counselling and free screening tests. Thanks to the support of the government and increasing awareness among people, UAEGDA now has a free genetic clinic equipped with a state-of-the-art screening facility supervised by internationally-renowned experts.




“UAEGDA’s first program is ‘UAE Free of Thalassemia 2012’, and as part of this year’s International Thalassemia Day, UAEGDA has intensified its awareness programmes and mobilized new units to facilitate blood donations. We are grateful for the support extended by the oil companies in the UAE, including ENOC, for helping with dissemination of information on this preventable disorder through their sites.”




A gathering of Thalassemia patients and families will be held at Dubai Creek Park on the 3rd of May to mark International Thalassemia Day. Though the day falls on the 8th of May every year, Dubai is holding the event on an earlier date. Doctors from across the UAE will deliver an educational lecture at the event and participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about treatment updates.




Thalassemia patients require regular, and in some cases frequent, blood transfusions for survival. Though highly prevalent in the Gulf region, all it takes to prevent this disorder is a simple and inexpensive pre-marital blood test. The high prevalence of this disease means that blood banks in the country are constantly under pressure to meet the transfusion needs of patients.




ENOC has been supporting thalassemia patients in the country by organising regular blood donation drives in association with Al Wasl Hospital Dubai. The Thalassemia Centre functioning at Al Wasl Hospital under the Department of Health and Medical Services currently uses 60% of its blood reserves to treat Thalassemia patients.




ENOC




Established in 1993 as a wholly-owned company of the Government of Dubai, ENOC aims to promote the interests of its shareholders through the development of further downstream and upstream activities in the oil and gas sector and beyond and to encourage the economic diversification of Dubai and the rest of the UAE.




ENOC actively participates in an increasingly broad range of business ventures. Its joint ventures with major international companies allow partners to pool their technology, know-how and expertise along with their resources to further their commercial success.




Since its inception, ENOC has been guided by its philosophy of quality and professional management based on modern business concepts for commercial success and sustainable growth. Today it is poised to engineer a new and challenging period of growth and diversity.




ENOC’s vision is to be the reliable Energy Partner of Choice in each sector in which it operates.

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Masrouji Group Boasts Lavish Collection of Italian Cosmetic Mastery at Beauty world Middle East 2008

During the largest international trade fair for beauty products, "Beauty world" Middle East, Masrouji Group (M.E.), The region's leading import and distribution network headquartered in Palestine, and sole agent of world class paramount brands, showcased its premium line of ALFAPARF hair care professional products and T.e.N™, the ultimate novelty of internationally renowned professional cosmetics, on May 18th -20th at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.




The first and third day of the event featured catwalks, and video presentations demonstrating the exquisitely remarkable "Parallel Universe Collection" cut, styled and coloured by ALFAPARF Milano hairdressing team, whereas the second day of the exhibition included free interactive sessions with the visitors such as free hairstyles and trendiest cuts, bringing the genuine art of hairstyling to life.




Furthermore, the T.e.N™ team of professional cosmetologists showcased the manifestation of the brand's exclusive union of technological factors and impeccable natural principles through the display of various avant-garde treatments and methods including hydro nourishing method, rebalancing method, lifting method, purifying method, calming method, anti-aging method, instant performance eyes & lips method, and many more face and body care solutions.



"We are very delighted to take part in one of the world's foremost exhibitions, whereby we managed to standout as the Middle East's leading distribution network, nurturing the region with highest quality of truly Italian products delivered straight from Milan, the global capital of the latest in refined beauty perfection," stated Haytham Masrouji, CEO, Masrouji Group.




Starting off as a drugstore in 1959, Masrouji Group survived the Israel occupation through becoming the first company in Palestine to start direct imports, with diversified business activities in pharmaceuticals and hospitals along with FMCGs. Moreover, and inline with its pioneer practice of business, the Masrouji Group was the first company in Palestine to be awarded the ISO-9002 as a testimony of its ongoing unmatched success. Masrouji Group employs over 100 employees running over 2500 accounts in Palestine and a network of distributors across the Middle East.

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20 May 2008

Emaar, The Economic City signs MoU with The Ritz-Carlton for beachfront resort

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; May 19, 2008: Emaar, The Economic City (Emaar.E.C), the Tadawul-listed company developing King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Ritz Carlton, a globally recognized luxury & lifestyle hotel and resort brand, for the management of a luxury resort within the Resort Cove district of KAEC.




Scheduled to open in 2011, the luxury beachfront resort will feature a combination of luxurious guest rooms and private villas designed to meet The Ritz Carlton standard with a choice of dining experiences, a world-class fitness center and spa, beach & other outdoor leisure facilities, and banqueting facilities. The planned luxury residential villas will also have access to the services of The Ritz-Carlton, including daily maid service, valet, 24-hour room service, and extensive fitness and facilities.




The new resort will be located on a 180,000 square meter plot of prime beachfront property in the Resort Cove district of KAEC. The Resort Cove is a gated development situated along a 4-kilometer stretch of virgin coastline along the Red Sea. The Resort Cove includes Esmeralda, a unique villa and townhouse community, the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia. Esmeralda will feature over 2,000 villas and townhouses nestled alongside a world-class 18 whole golf course. The community will also feature an exclusive town center, club house and several retail and leisure outlets.




Mr Fahd Al-Rasheed, Board Member and Chief Executive Officer of Emaar E.C said: “The agreement with The Ritz-Carlton reiterates the on-schedule development of KAEC, by bringing in world-class partners for the operation of the various components of the mega-project. The Resort Cove district will be a vibrant value addition to KAEC, and will encourage investments in the hospitality & leisure sector. The Ritz-Carlton has proven reputation and standards of service excellence that will further complement our objective of providing an integrated quality lifestyle to KAEC residents and visitors.”




Established in 1983, The Ritz-Carlton currently operates over 71 hotels worldwide in 23 countries with plans for further expansion in the Middle East and internationally. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is an independently operated division of Marriott International, Bethesda, Md.




KAEC is located near the Red Sea coast and has six key components: the Sea Port, Industrial Zone, Central Business District (including the Financial District), Resort District, Educational Zone and Residential Communities. Work is progressing according to schedule on the various zones including residential, commercial and leisure components.




About Emaar, The Economic City:




Emaar, The Economic City (Emaar.E.C), established in September 2006, is a Saudi joint stock company managed by Emaar Properties PJSC, one of the world’s largest property developers, and a number of high profile investors from Saudi Arabia. Emaar.E.C has a share capital of SR8.5 billion consisting of 850 million shares of nominal value SR10 each. Thirty per cent of the equity, worth SR2.55 billion, was offered for public subscription.




Emaar.E.C leads the master-planning and development of the 168 million sq m King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), a project being built on a pristine location off the Red Sea in the north of Jeddah. SAGIA (Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority), the body responsible for inward investments into the Kingdom, is the prime facilitator for KAEC.




KAEC, a New Age City being built today for tomorrow’s generation of Saudi citizens, has six components – sea port, industrial district, educational zone, central business district with commercial, mixed-use, retail outlets and financial island, resorts and residential area.




The mega-project works closely with the Kingdom’s on-going drive to expand the economy, create employment opportunities for its youthful population and function as a catalyst to attract foreign investment, global trade, commerce and industry. Based on initial forecasts, the project and its several components will create up to one million employment opportunities in the various industries and service-oriented companies that will open in KAEC. It will also be home to 2 million residents.

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U.A.E. youth sets sight on refreshed Ford Focus

The new and refreshed 2008 Ford Focus arrives in the UAE capturing the sight of the local youth with its sleek and all-new looks. The refreshed Focus features Ford's latest kinetic design approach which signals the new design direction from Ford of Europe. The new model also features a rich array of standard equipment such as ABS, front airbags for both driver and passenger, Intelligent Protection System, halogen headlamps, Ford's latest Capless Refueling System, emergency brake warning lights, single-CD player with 6 speakers, a choice of 15- and 16-inch wheels and two Duratec engines: 1.6-litre (100 net hp) and 2.0-litre (145 net hp), coupled with the Durashift 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmissions.

Options include: The Ford Power Button; Advanced Front Lighting System; Bi-Xenon HID headlamps with LED; Rear Parking Aid; Power sliding Sunroof; Power folding side mirrors; side curtain airbags (standard on Titanium); ABS+ESP with Traction Assist (standard on Titanium); Mechanical brake assist; tyre deflection detection system (standard on Titanium).

The new 2008 Focus is available in 3-door and 5-door hatchback, 4-door sedan and 5-door wagon body styles, and offers 5 trim levels: the entry-level Ambiente, the well-equipped Trend, the Sport (featuring a special sport suspension), the higher spec Ghia as well as the high tech Titanium.

Customers who want to experience the 08 Focus can sign up for a test drive and get a chance to enter into a draw to win the latest offering from Ford and Al Tayer Motors in Dubai and Premier Motors in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

The new 08 Focus is currently displayed in the Virgin Megastore (Mall of the Emirates), Virgin Megastore (Deira City Centre), Ibn Batuta Mall and Abu Dhabi Mall.

About Ford Motor Company


Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, United States, manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 230,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit http://www.ford.com/

Ford Motor Company’s history in the Middle East goes back to nearly 60 years. The company’s local importer-dealers operate more than 55 facilities in the region and directly employ over 4,000 people, the majority of whom are Arab Nationals. For more information on Ford Middle East, please visit http://www.me.ford.com/

Ford Middle East is also a responsible corporate citizen in the region, with the Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants, a grass-root level program that has offered nearly USD700,000 in grants to about 90 Middle Eastern environmental projects since 2000. For more information, please visit http://www.ford-environmentalgrants.com/

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19 May 2008

US$1 Billion ‘Property House’ Launched

Property House, an ambitious US$1 billion real estate and property management company, was launched today by Muhammad Nazir, a leading businessman with diverse investment interests in the UAE, Pakistan and Turkey. Seeking to introduce innovative and functional architectural investment propositions in the UAE, Property House will look to be placed among the region’s top five real estate companies within the next two years. The company has been busy acquiring land in the region and already boasts a land portfolio of approximately six million square feet in Dubai and Ajman emirates in the UAE. Prior to the formal launch, Property House has already made huge investments in the Al Helio Downtown mini city developments in Ajman jointly with DSECO, the South Korean master developer. Its decade-old sister entities include M. N. Developers, M. N. Enterprises, and Star Foods in Pakistan, as well as Property House in Istanbul, Turkey.
Addressing a press conference in Dubai, Muhammed Nazir, CEO and Managing Director, Property House, said: “The leadership in the UAE has created a buoyant real estate sector that offers unparalleled investment opportunities. Our own analysis and constant feedback from the investment community in Pakistan, India, and China as well as other emerging markets such as South Korea and Brazil, have revealed that investors are interested in tapping these lucrative opportunities. As an innovative business house, Property House will act as a vehicle to attract these investments.”

Muhammed Nazir, CEO and Managing Director, Property House (right) and Amit Kochhar, General Manager-Projects, Property House.





The company has pledged to follow global best practices while catering to the requirements of a spectrum of investors, and meeting their satisfaction by offering them the most attractive packages at all Property House projects.


From Left: Kim Sungdol, CEO of DSECO, M C Sujil Bose, Property House Marketing Manager, Muhammed Nazir, and Amit Kocchar, in a group shot at the press conference held in Dubai today, to announce the official launch of Property House Real Estate.




Other residential and office projects represented by Property House are the Barbaro and Sundance, which will be located in downtown Majan area of Dubailand. Properties from these developments will be offered for sale in the next two weeks while sale for Al Helio development has already commenced.




Mirror Walk, another residential project to be announced soon, will be offered for sale within the next three weeks.




A. Kochhar, General Manager-Projects, Property House, said: “Our real estate offerings and our sister companies in Pakistan and Turkey stand testimony to our ethics. We intend extending our vision of providing our customers value for money by offering them service that matches their expectations.”




Property House’s mission to become the real estate leaders is evident in its latest project to transform Ajman downtown into an independent city, called the Al Helio Downtown. The project in Ajman will be the first of a kind mini city containing residential and commercial developments through this joint venture with DSECO.




Al Helio Downtown will boast schools, colleges, universities and a full-fledged hospital, located within 20 minutes drive from the Dubai International Airport. The Downtown will also comprise a state of the art lifestyle retail experience with spectacular exhibits by renowned brands.
M. C. Sujil Bose, Marketing Manager, Property House, said: “By ushering in new, innovative, and elegant designs, Property House is determined to further revolutionize Dubai’s real estate market. Today, we are more than delighted to contribute to the growth of the sector by presenting the architectural masterpieces we represent for our unique clientele.”

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Dubai Studio City Supports Award Winning Egyptian Play ‘The Body Guard’

Dubai Studio City, a member of TECOM Investments, today announced it has pledged its support for staging the award winning Egyptian play ‘The Body Guard’ as part of its efforts to showcase the region’s rich cultural aspects and accelerate the growth of the region’s film industry.

For the first time in Dubai, legendary Egyptian actor Adel Imam, along with a cast of 50 actors and actresses, will perform live from 22-24 May, at the Cultural Theatre, Al Mamzar. The play was written by Yousif Maati and Samir Khafaji and directed by Rami Imam.




Jamal Al Sharif, Executive Director, Dubai Studio City said: “Dubai Studio City is delighted to support one of Egypt’s longest-running Arabic plays, ‘The Body Guard’. As the world’s only dedicated free zone for film and broadcast production, it is our sincere endeavour to bring to Dubai one of the Arab world’s most acclaimed theatre performance that reflects modern life.




“In addition, by staging thought-provoking plays that blend incisive humour, Dubai Studio City will demonstrate its vital role in showcasing the diverse and rich cultural strands of the Arab region in Dubai.”




Also starring Shireen Saif Naser, Izat Abu Oof and Saeed Abed Al Ghani, the play is a comedy that revolves around a prisoner who receives an offer from a businessman to work for his wife as a bodyguard.




Adnan Osman, Executive Producer for ‘The Body Guard’ and Film Distributor said: “We express our sincere gratitude to Dubai Studio City as we acknowledge their support in bringing the show to Dubai. When we first entered Dubai’s film and media production scene in 2005, Dubai Studio City willingly extended its support and since then the cluster has become our priority destination for film and media projects.”




Launched in February 2005, Dubai Studio City was established to provide world class infrastructure and services to boost the growth of the film, TV, radio production, post-production and broadcast industries in the region. In April this year, it launched the DSC Market – http://www.dscmarket.com/ – an online global marketplace for film production, photography and ancillary services, which revolutionized the way business is conducted in Dubai.




Dubai Studio City ( http://www.dubaistudiocity.com/)




Launched in Feb, 2005, Dubai Studio City (DSC) offers a complete technical and community infrastructure catering to the film, TV, radio production and broadcast industries. Being built on an area of more than 20 million square feet . DSC aims to attract production and broadcast companies, as well as a wide range of support services, including providers for animation, dubbing, makeup, costume design, set design and construction, casting, telnet agencies, telecine, and laboratory facilities. DSC will feature pre-built studios, sound stages, workshops, backlots and stage areas, post-production studios, and satellite communication services. The cluster will also house film & television academies, commercial offices, entertainment & retail spaces, and hotels & residential facilities to accommodate crews and cast. DSC’s Location Approval Services (LAS) provides a single window for applying for shooting permits.

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18 May 2008

Air Arabia takes home the gold at MENA Travel Awards 2008

In recognition of its stellar growth and commitment to service excellence, Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, received the prestigious gold award in the best airline category at the recent MENA Travel Awards 2008. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Air Arabia has received an official accolade at this annual awards ceremony, which is held on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market.




Winners of the MENA Travel Awards are selected on the basis of extensive online polling of the opinions of customers and industry peers from across the Middle East and North Africa region. The results, which are audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers, represent clear acknowledgement of leadership status in a range of travel-related categories, including airlines, hotels and leisure facilities.




“Launched in October 2003 with an objective of providing timely, convenient and affordable air travel options for the people of the region, Air Arabia today serves over 39 destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Central Asia,” said AK Nizar, Head of Commercial Department, Air Arabia. “This award comes in recognition of the growth that we have achieved, and our continued commitment to value-for-money service.




“We will continue to provide customers with the best service possible and maintain our market position as one of the region’s leading airlines. On behalf of Air Arabia and the more than six million passengers who have chosen to fly with us, we are thankful to the organisers of the MENA Travel Awards for this very special award,” he added.




About Air Arabia:





Air Arabia (PJSC), listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is the Middle East and North Africa’s leading low-cost carrier (LCC). Air Arabia commenced operations in October 2003 and currently operates a fleet of 14 new Airbus A320 aircraft, serving 39 destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and Central Asia through its main hub in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.




Air Arabia is modeled after leading American and European low-cost airlines, and its business model is customised to accommodate local preferences. Its main focus is to make air travel more convenient through Internet bookings and offering the lowest fares in the market along with the highest levels of safety and service standards. For further information, please visit: www.airarabia.com

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DREI Announces Executive Programme on Real Estate Ecology & Green Property Development

Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI), the first specialised academic real-estate institution in the region, today announced it will offer an executive programme on Real Estate Ecology and Green Property Development from 8 - 10 June.




The programme will provide an integrated analysis of ecological key concepts, frameworks, tools and innovations in sustainable property design. It will also impart techniques for strategic planning in order to achieve sustainable, aesthetic, functional and innovative urban design.




DREI has opened registration for the programme that aims to draw professionals working in property development, real estate planning and other related industries, as well as representatives from government departments.




For the first time, DREI will host a programme led by a locally based faculty. Dubai-based Professor Dr. Till Stoll, a Swiss national and former lecturer at Harvard University as well as economist with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank, will share his rich knowledge of domestic real estate markets. As the CEO of Green Destinations, a Swiss-UAE project management company based in Dubai, he will highlight key elements in conceptualising and designing environmentally-friendly real estate developments.




Dr Salem Al Shafiei, Managing Director of DREI, said: “Current government initiatives are placing great emphasis on green buildings, sustainability and energy-saving solutions in upcoming developments. The internationally recognised LEED (Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System has already begun influencing several developers, adding further momentum to the green movement.




“The programme will provide participants with a greater understanding of how real estate and the environment interact with each other. It will also highlight various methods of making tangible contributions to environmental protection within a property development, without necessarily incurring additional costs.”




Delivered in five modules, the world-class course will include an analysis of real estate ecology; inhabitants and their environment; green buildings and green building rating systems; conceptual master and financial planning of sustainable communities. With a strong focus on case studies, the programme will see participants working in groups to draw up investment models for green buildings and sustainable communities.




Upon completing of the course, participants will be equipped with the competency to identify the resources utilized by various real estate components, and suggest alternative solutions for safeguarding the environment. They will also be able to assess the financial implications of developing green properties, and rate its variants both in terms of construction and operation.




The learning method of this 2 ½ day programme will be based on the interactive approach developed by Harvard Business School, where teacher and students work in teams and exchange and develop knowledge together, with the lecturer acting as a key facilitator. Certificates from DREI will be awarded to students upon the successful completion of the programme.




The executive education programmes will be held at the state-of-the-art DREI campus in Building 53, Dubai Healthcare City, which is equipped with facilities designed to provide a productive learning environment.




To register for the programme, participants may contact DREI by email on admission@drei.ae, phone +9714 426 7777, or fax +9714 426 7776. Additional information on DREI programmes and faculty is available online at www.drei.ae




About Dubai Real Estate Institute




As the first academic real estate institution in the region, the Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI) aims to enrich and broaden the knowledge and competencies of real estate professionals and managers at all levels. The institute, operates in partnership with several international real estate universities to offer graduate programmes and industry-specific, open enrolment courses. Areas of co-operation also include research projects and the development of case studies specific to the region.




Addressing the strategic growth opportunities, competitive challenges and operational imperatives of the real estate markets in the MENA region, Asia, and Turkey, the institute offers courses on the real estate development process, asset and portfolio management, real estate evaluation and appraisal, real estate finance and investment, international real estate, risk management, green property development, real estate law, urban economics and project management.




In addition, DREI provides domain specific courses as diverse as real estate strategic and innovation management, strategic alliances, finance and capital markets, market analysis, and the management of specific properties such as residential, industrial, retail and office spaces.




All of the institute’s offerings are delivered in partnership with high-ranking and academically accredited international universities using world-class faculty, cutting-edge knowledge and practice, and state-of-the-art facilities.

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TECOM Investments Supports Medecins Sans Frontieres at Vertical Marathon 2008 in Dubai

As part of its CSR mandate, TECOM Investments, a member of Dubai Holding, supported the sixth edition of the Vertical Marathon on Friday, 16th May by donating AED 500 to Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) for every participant who successfully completed the race within the set time.




TECOM Investments is supporting the event for the third year running and had 10 of its employees participate in the run. Enthusiastic runners commenced in the early hours of Friday and climbed a total of 52 flights of stairs (1334 steps) of the 265 metre Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Office Tower.




About TECOM Investments




TECOM Investments, based in Dubai, is a subsidiary of Dubai Holding, a global company dedicated to knowledge and life-improving industries. A creator of vibrant knowledge industry clusters, TECOM Investments is currently active in buoyant cutting-edge sectors like ICT, Media, Education, Biotechnology and Energy.




A recognized leader in the global knowledge industry, TECOM Investments manages entities like Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Knowledge Village, Dubai International Academic City, eHosting DataFort, International Media Production Zone, Dubai Outsource Zone, Dubai Studio City, DuBiotech and Enpark.




TECOM Investments’ phenomenal growth also encompasses local and international joint venture interests like Empower, a district cooling service provider established as a joint venture with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Emirates International Telecommunications Limited, a joint venture with Dubai Investment Group and SmartCity, a joint venture formed with SAMA Dubai to develop and manage knowledge industry townships worldwide.




Emirates International Telecommunications Limited holds stakes in Tunisie Telecom and Maltacom, telecommunication carriers in Tunisia and Malta respectively. SmartCity has already laid the foundations of a global network of knowledge driven clusters through agreements to develop SmartCity Malta and SmartCity Kochi.




TECOM Investments also has interests in Axiom, the largest mobile distributor in the Middle East, and Interoute, the operator of Europe’s most densely connected voice and data network.




Médecins Sans Frontières




Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international independent humanitarian medical organisation. We provide life-saving emergency medical care, including epidemic control, war surgery, nutritional assistance and primary healthcare in more than 60 countries worldwide, on the basis of need alone, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, creed or political affiliation.MSF rehabilitates hospitals and clinics, runs nutrition and sanitation programmes, trains national medical personnel, and provides mental health care. Through longer term programmes, MSF teams treat diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, but also neglected diseases, such as sleeping sickness and malaria.Annually, some 2,500 volunteer doctors, nurses and support staff travel to crisis areas to work alongside 25,000 locally employed staff. MSF volunteers also have a duty to bear witness and sometimes to speak out on behalf of the patients and communities they are working with. To maintain its independence from political interference, MSF relies on donations from private individuals for the majority of its income.The objective of the MSF representation in the UAE is to spread awareness about the plight of the populations it assists, interact with local communities and participate with other concerned parties and philanthropists in promoting humanitarian principles and raising funds for this purpose. Médecins Sans Frontières was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.

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SHOWTIME PRESENTS…Friday Night Live

SHOWTIME Arabia, the leading Pay-TV network in the Middle East and North Africa, enthralled a sold out arena at Madinat Jumeirah for the Friday Night Live, two hour stand-up comedy extravaganza at on Friday May 16th. Friday Night Live marks SHOWTIME’s second foray into bringing relevant, world-class stand-up to the Middle East after the break out success of the ‘The Axis of Evil Middle East Comedy Tour.’




With a diverse mixture of cultures and nationalities living and working in the booming metropolis of Dubai, Friday Night Live entertained an audiences of 2500 of all ethnic groups under the tagline “Minorities Rule!” in a star-studded night of a thousand and one laughs.




Marc-Antoine d’Halluin, CEO and President of SHOWTIME said, “SHOWTIME is committed to building the stand-up comedy concept in the Middle East. For the second time, we brought a blend of witty international comedians to entertain the audiences. In parallel, we are working on finding, developing, and promoting local talent on the SHOWCOMEDY channel, home of stand-up in the region.”




Following the huge success of ‘The Axis of Evil Middle East Comedy Tour’ that entertained over 20,000 people across five Arabic cities Palestinian-American Aron Kader, returned to host the event with the hysterical, Sugar Sammy, an Indian born rising star from Canada who has opened for Dave Chappelle, along with the most recognizable Asian comedian in Canada, Youtube hit, Ron Josol.




Joining them was the African-American sensation from Comedy Central, Dwayne Perkins, Jordanian-American; Mike Batayeh who’s appeared on ‘Everybody loves Raymond’, and Egyptian-American, Ronnie Khalil with credits on ‘Conan O’Brien’.




Lebanese national Nemr Abou Nassar; hot off the heals from selling out 2000 seats for his 90 minute Stand-Up comedy performance, and Cairo’s George Azmy, who was discovered during Showtime's ‘Axis of Evil Middle East Tour’ talent search also performed brand new sets. Showtime’s Stand-up comedian Wonho Chung was among this international mix of hilarious comedians, who presented an evening of world-class comedy.

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16 May 2008

Sheikh Nahayan presents Sheikha Fatima Awards to 24 GEMS students

His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, today awarded the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Award for Excellence to 24 girls from the GEMS network of schools at the GEMS Wellington International School.




The award, which includes a scholarship to cover a year’s tuition fee at a GEMS school and a memento, was instituted by GEMS in 2005 to honour Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, wife of the late President His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, for her contributions to the empowerment of UAE women, and her support for excellence in all areas.




The winners of this year’s awards are: Shweta Johri, Diandra Fernando, Ahana Nanda, Salama Al Majid, Vinaya Shah, Abigail Freeman, Sheikha Shaikha Saeed Saif Bin Mohd Al Nehayan, Rhea Ganapathy, Angela Abraham, Maria Hasanali, Mina Nuqul, Aswathy Jayachandran, Shaziya Kalam, Ayesha Ahmed, Mansuda Arora, Ashna Gupta, Drishti Masand, Kirti Ramesh, Pooja Ramaswamy, Chithraa Raj, Krishnasruthi Srivalsan, Rama Kulkarni, Malak Benani, and Angeline Christy.




Winners of the annual award are nominated by committees from each school, based on outstanding academic success, significant contribution to environmental concerns, a high level of social or community service and commitment to world citizenship.




GEMS Founder and Chairman Sunny Varkey congratulated the students, parents and teachers, and urged the winners to pursue excellence in all their future endeavours.




“I would like to congratulate these young girls who have demonstrated exceptional achievements and successes. The Sheikha Fatima Awards celebrate promising students in our schools and encourages them to maintain their social commitment and academic as well as extra curricular excellence. We are proud to promote talent and to support our youth in their contributions to this country.”




GEMS manages a growing network of 75 high quality international schools around the world. GEMS network of schools provide a unique brand of holistic education to 75,000 students from over 120 countries, employing over 6,000 education professionals, specialists and staff from over 50 nationalities. Supported by a network of eminent, international advisors in the field of education, GEMS global network of multi-skilled specialists and in-house experts provide invaluable support and guidance in all areas related to schools, delivering world class standards of education. ‘GEMS Education’ offers total school management solutions. From project inception and planning to ongoing operations of schools, GEMS offers a total solutions approach to the management of new school projects and existing schools. Information on the company and its portfolio can be found at www.gemseducation.com.

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Ford builds nine millionth Mustang

A favorite among muscle car lovers in the Middle East, the Mustang has reached another milestone. Ford Motor Company announced the completion of the 9-millionth Mustang. The GT Convertible Mustang goes to a dealership in Iowa, USA.




The Ford Mustang, approaching its 45th anniversary on April 17th, 2009, is one of the most widely-recognized vehicles in the world. Today, one of every two sports cars sold in America is a Ford Mustang. The Mustang is also Ford Motor Company's longest-running nameplate. Mustang was introduced on April 17, 1964 at the New York World's Fair.





Mustang sales hit an astounding 419,000 units in its first 12 months on the market, and topped the 1-millionth mark in the first two years, shattering the sales records of any single model in the history of automobile. Mustang leads the nearly US$1-billion aftermarket parts and accessories industry as the most personalized vehicle of all time, and has been recognized by Specialty Equipment and Manufacturers Association (SEMA) as the most accessory-friendly new vehicle.




The 2009 Mustang offers a Glass Roof option.




About Ford Motor Company




Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, United States, manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 230,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.





Ford Motor Company’s history in the Middle East goes back to nearly 60 years. The company’s local importer-dealers operate more than 55 facilities in the region and directly employ over 4,000 people, the majority of whom are Arab Nationals.





Ford Middle East is also a responsible corporate citizen in the region, with the Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants, a grass-root level program that has offered nearly USD700,000 in grants to about 90 Middle Eastern environmental projects since 2000.

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12 May 2008

Dubai Properties Sponsors Women and Business Forum at Zayed University

Fareda Abdullah, Executive Director of Human Resources, Dubai Properties Group, highlighted the prominent role of women in business at the Women and Business Forum, which was hosted at the Zayed University from 6-7 May.




Dubai Properties, a subsidiary of Dubai Properties Group, was the primary sponsor of the forum that was held under the patronage of Her Excellency Mariam Mohammed Khalfan Al-Roomi, Minister for Social Affairs.




About Dubai Properties




Dubai Properties is a member of Dubai Holding and operates with the express aim of conceiving large-scale developments, transforming Dubai’s vision into reality. The portfolio of projects handled by Dubai Properties is diverse and represents the highest quality of real estate in the region. Real estate offerings include the 1.7km long Jumeirah Beach Residence with The Walk as a promenade of retail and entertainment venues stretching the waterfront. Business Bay, the region’s business capital offers the best corporate headquarters for international businesses. The Villas at Dubailand is an exclusive development from Dubai Properties offering hacienda-style residential communities. Recently announced is Culture Village, which offers an elite lifestyle in an intellectually stimulating environment, with year-round world class cultural events.

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Global Village and HIT Entertainment Finalises Master Plan of World’s First ‘Little Big Club’

Global Village, a member of Tatweer, today finalised the master plan for the recently announced ‘Little Big Club’ that will be set up in alliance with HIT Entertainment, the world’s leading independent children’s entertainment producers and rights owners.




The ‘Little Big Club’ will be designed around the globally popular characters of Barney™, Pingu™, Bob the Builder™, and Thomas the Tank Engine™. It will include indoor and outdoor play-areas, party rooms, theatre, café, and a dedicated retail outlet.




ٍAbdul Redha Ali Bin Redha, CEO, Global Village, said: “Finalising the master plan of the ‘Little Big Club’ indicates a significant milestone in the development of the project. It also marks our commitment to developing a diverse portfolio of family entertainment projects in Global Village and DUBAILAND®.




“Our partnership with “HIT Entertainment” is another step that marks our efforts to contribute to the growth of Dubai’s tourism sector and meet its ambitious objectives of attracting 15 million tourists by 2015.”




About HIT Entertainment




HIT Entertainment, owned by private equity investment group Apax Partners since June 2005, is one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's portfolio includes properties, such as Barney, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™, Fireman Sam™, and Angelina Ballerina™. HIT acts as a representative for The Wiggles® in the UK, US and Canada and as worldwide representative for The Jim Henson Company’s library of classic family brands. HIT also owns the Guinness World Records™ publishing and television property. Launched in 1989, HIT’s lines of business span television and video production (including studios in the US and the UK), publishing, consumer products licensing and live events. With a catalogue of more than 1,000 hours of young children's programming, HIT sells its shows to more than 240 countries worldwide, in more than 40 different languages and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. In 2005, the Company joined Comcast Corporation, PBS and Sesame Workshop to launch PBS KIDS SproutSM, a 24-hour digital cable channel and VOD service for preschoolers.



Global Village




Global Village, a member of Tatweer, is Dubai’s exciting and unique annual tourism destination and spectacular multicultural entertainment centre. Launched in 1996, Global Village made its debut on the Creekside opposite Dubai Municipality. It later moved to the Oud Metha area and then on to Dubai Festival City, until it found a permanent home in 2005 at Dubailand, the region’s largest tourism, entertainment, leisure and lifestyle complex.
From hosting 18 country pavilions in 1997, Global Village saw the participation of nearly 40 countries in 2006-2007. The number of visitors grew from 500,000 in 1996 to nearly 4.2 million in 2006-2007. In 2006-2007, tourists from over 160 different countries enjoyed the Global Village fiesta.




About Tatweer:




Launched in December 2005, Tatweer is one the region’s most dynamic enterprises and a member of Dubai Holding. Comprising 10 market-leading brands, it oversees an ambitious business development plan.




Its current portfolio is divided into Energy & Healthcare, Tourism & Entertainment, and Industry & Real Estate offerings. Its entities include Dubai Healthcare City, the region's hub for world-class quality healthcare services; Mizin, one of the most advanced real estate companies in the region; “Universal City Dubailand”, the 22 million sq ft development, featuring Universal Studios Dubailand as its centerpiece; “The Tiger Woods - Dubai”, an exclusive golf community that will include the first Tiger Woods designed golf course; Dubailand, one of the biggest leisure, entertainment and tourism destinations in the Middle East; Dubai Industrial City, an industrial township to develop Dubai as a leading manufacturing hub; Bawadi, the world’s leading hospitality and entertainment project hosting 51 luxury hotels and more than 60,000 hotel rooms; Dubai Energy, investing in regional and global energy opportunities and building a diversified investment portfolio; Dubai Mercantile Exchange, the first energy futures exchange in the Middle East set up in partnership with the New York Mercantile Exchange and Global Village, a premier family destination for culture, entertainment, cuisine and commerce.




Tatweer’s entities continue to consolidate a group of life-improving industries in addition to pioneering joint venture initiatives with leading global conglomerates. They continuously strive for world-class performance, while implementing leadership development to drive and sustain business excellence, quality and high performance.

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09 May 2008

du Announces its First Quarter Results - Revenues of AED 756.5 million for the First Quarter of 2008

Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (du) today announced its first quarter’s financial results for 31 March 2008. The company reported revenues for the quarter ended 31 March 2008 of AED756.5m an increase of 18% from the previous quarter (AED 639.7m) and 313% from the comparable quarter in 2007.




Mobile revenue for the quarter has increased on the back of the successful subscriber acquisitions made in quarter 4 2007; this increase in our customer base has resulted in a 20% quarter on quarter revenue growth. Fixed line revenues also continue to show significant growth posting a 19% quarter on quarter increase reflecting the continued expansion of the company’s fixed line network




Ahmed Bin Byat, Chairman of du said: “du continues to achieve its declared targets and has once again demonstrated a successful operational performance in the first three months of 2008. We are confident this performance will continue to improve and add value to du’s clients as well as its shareholders.”




du’s total number of mobile customers at 31 March 2008 reached over 1,757,000 mobile customers. However, according to its policy to pioneer best practices and in order to bring greater clarity into the market, du will starting from this quarter, releasing the active subscribers’ number. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has published a definition of mobile subscribers in line with world wide standards. Under the TRA’s definition, any mobile customer who has made a call, or sent an SMS or MMS, or received a call within the last 90 days is considered an “active subscriber”. du is pleased to announce that its active subscribers reached 1,403,000 by the end of the first quarter of 2008.




Osman Sultan, CEO, du said: “We are on track to achieve our target market share of 30% earlier than the declared three years, as can be seen by the excellent growth of our customer base and the performance of our company”




Gross margin in the quarter was reported at AED464.4m (61.4%), an increase of 25% from the previous quarter (AED370.2m and 57.9%). Gross margin improvements have been assisted by the international inbound roaming which the company has been able to and continues to attract onto its network




Whilst driving the expansion of the company through revenue growth the management has remained focused on ensuring that this is not achieved at the expense of efficiency; this has been demonstrated in limiting quarter on quarter growth in overheads to 3.4% whilst growing revenues by over 18%.




For capital intensive industries, where depreciation and amortisation can be significant, it is common practice to reference the performance of a company to its Earnings Before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA). In this respect the company reported an EBITDA of AED1.6m for the quarter, compared to a negative AED79.2m in quarter 4. This is a significant milestone in the company’s history which has been achieved earlier than analyst’s expectations.




The overall results of the company for the quarter was a loss of AED61.7m compared with a loss of AED146.6m incurred in Quarter 4 2007.




The Company continued its capital expenditure programme covering both the fixed and mobile networks and invested AED490.7m in the quarter.

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Accor Hospitality continues to strengthen presence in the region

Accor Hospitality, the leading European hotel group, having established itself as a leader in economy and midscale hotels and a major player in the luxury segment globally, aims to reach an ambitious target of 90 hotels opened by 2011 in the Middle East.




“The Middle East is a booming market and offers great opportunities which we are capitalizing on. Our expansion plans for the region are moving at a rapid pace with prominent partners as we are developing our extensive brands portfolio in strategic prime locations,” said Christophe Landais, Managing Director, Accor Hospitality Middle East.




As leading developer of all hotel market segments, from budget to upscale, Accor Hospitality continues to expand its regional portfolio of four brands – Sofitel Luxury Hotels, Mercure, Novotel and Ibis. Accor Hospitality soon plans to introduce two new brands in the region – Pullman, chain of upscale non standardized hotels and Suitehotel, their latest midscale brand that offers a new way of personalized hotel living.




Accor Hospitality took its first decisive step in the region in 2003 with the Novotel & Ibis -Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Both hotels currently hold some of the highest occupancy rates in the city. To further meet the business needs of the area, Accor Hospitality recently signed an agreement with DWTC in which Accor Hospitality will manage a new Ibis Hotel within Dubai Trade Centre District (DTCD). The hotel will consist of 588 rooms to further accommodate business and leisure travelers to Dubai.




In the UAE, Accor Hospitality currently has seven existing hotels and look to strengthen its position in the emirate with the upcoming Sofitel Jumeirah Beach (2009) and Novotel & Ibis Deira City Centre (2008).




Accor Hospitality recently broke new ground with the signing of its first hotel in Muscat, Sofitel Muscat Resort and Spa, and the opening of its first Ibis in Kuwait, the Ibis Salmiya. The new Sofitel Muscat Resort and Spa, which is scheduled to open in 2011, will hold 236 rooms with a list of luxurious facilities. The hotel will conveniently be located on the beach near the Muscat diplomatic area.




In Kuwait, Ibis Salmiya opened its doors on March 18th and ended the month with an occupancy ratio of over 72%. With such a success within the first month, Accor Hospitality has demonstrated there was a demand for internationally branded economy lodging in Kuwait.




Landais added, “Accor Hospitality Middle East has been striving to meet the regional hotel market demand through its Novotel and Ibis brands gaining recognition and credibility in successfully meeting both end users and investors’ expectations’’.




Accor Hospitality is currently gearing up for the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), in which they are sponsors and the Arabian Travel Market (ATM). Being the only French group to take part in the highly respected AHIC, Accor Hospitality holds responsibilty for paving the way for other French brands in the region.




Since both events are significant to Accor Hospitality, Landais also added, “AHIC and ATM are both prestigious events and are highly looked upon globally. AHIC is a great opportunity for Accor Hospitality to portray itself as the one-stop-shop global hotel group and network with potential hotel investors. ATM is the yearly occasion to showcase in one place our hotel brands portfolio ranging from economy hotels to luxury properties to the hotel trade, distributors and partners”




Since ATM last year, Accor Hospitality has signed a total of eleven hotels in the UAE (7), Kuwait (1), Pakistan (1) and Oman (2) and KSA (5) making it one of the most dynamic hotel groups in terms of development.




Besides creating value for its investors, Accor Hospitality develops and reinforces its Corporate Sponsorship actions in every country where it operates. To reflect on its strong social commitment, Accor Hospitality has a dedicated ‘Solidarity Day’ in which employees from all over the globe participate in contributing to a social cause. Recently members of Accor Hospitality Middle East visited the Dubai Centre for Special Needs where they made a significant donation.



Accor, the European leader and a major global group in hotels, the global leader in services to corporate clients and public institutions, operates in nearly 100 countries with 170,000 employees.





It offers to its clients over 40 years of expertise in its two core businesses:




- Hotels, with the Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, All Seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1 and Motel 6 brands, representing more than 4,000 hotels and nearly 500,000 rooms in 90 countries, as well as strategically related activities, such as Lenôtre.




- Services, with 23 million people in nearly 40 countries benefiting from Accor Services products in human resources, marketing services and expense management.

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Accor Hospitality:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5o2ha_pour-la-responsabilite-sociale-de-a_news

June 12, 2008 5:16 AM  

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07 May 2008

TECOM Investments Organizes Its Annual Campaign to Drive Blood Donation

TECOM Investments, a member of Dubai Holding has once again collaborated with Al Wasl Hospital to organize the annual Blood Donation Drive at Dubai Internet City and Dubai Knowledge Village free zones, in its continued efforts to support Thalassaemia patients.

In its 7th year running, the campaign attracted a considerable number of volunteers from TECOM Investments and family entities including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and Dubai Knowledge Village. The blood donation initiative was launched in June 2001 and has since been successfully held twice every year.




Abdullatif AlMulla, CEO of TECOM Investments said: ”TECOM Investments is always keen to support community needs, like the blood donation drive as it gives hope to patients who suffer from Thalassaemia, an inherited blood disorder that remains prominent among young children in the UAE. Besides raising awareness for blood donation, we would like to support children who suffer from the genetic disease and hope that by making enough blood banks available, we will be able to save as many lives of young children as possible.




We would also like to thank all those who have supported the cause including members of TECOM Investments and our business partners who have contributed to ensure the continuing success of the initiative. Thanks to the generosity of blood donors, countless people have been able to live and enjoy an improved quality of life. We urge healthy people to come forward and make a positive difference to someone’s life by donating blood.”




TECOM Investments has helped to organize 18 blood donation drives since the initiative’s inception, and has demonstrated a great commitment to serving the community on many levels. Projects and initiatives include encouraging budding IT entrepreneurs in the region, promoting diversity in the workplace and implementing recycling and energy conservation programmes in the freezone.



About TECOM Investments



TECOM Investments, based in Dubai, is a subsidiary of Dubai Holding, a global company dedicated to knowledge and life-improving industries. A creator of vibrant knowledge industry clusters, TECOM Investments is currently active in buoyant cutting-edge sectors like ICT, Media, Education, Biotechnology and Energy.



A recognized leader in the global knowledge industry, TECOM Investments manages entities like Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Knowledge Village, Dubai International Academic City, eHosting DataFort, International Media Production Zone, Dubai Outsource Zone, Dubai Studio City, DuBiotech and Enpark.



TECOM Investments’ phenomenal growth also encompasses local and international joint venture interests like Empower, a district cooling service provider established as a joint venture with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Emirates International Telecommunications Limited, a joint venture with Dubai Investment Group and SmartCity, a joint venture formed with SAMA Dubai to develop and manage knowledge industry townships worldwide.
Emirates International Telecommunications Limited holds stakes in Tunisie Telecom and Maltacom, telecommunication carriers in Tunisia and Malta respectively. SmartCity has already laid the foundations of a global network of knowledge driven clusters through agreements to develop SmartCity Malta and SmartCity Kochi.




TECOM Investments also has interests in Axiom, the largest mobile distributor in the Middle East, and Interoute, the operator of Europe’s most densely connected voice and data network.

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Tatweer Joins United Nations Global Compact Initiative

Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holding, today joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative. With this action, Tatweer affirms its commitment to the ten principles of the Global Compact in respect to human rights, labour standards, environment, and anti-corruption within its sphere of influence.




On signing the Global Compact, Saeed Al Muntafiq, Executive Chairman of Tatweer said: “Tatweer is proud to be a part of the United Nations Global Compact initiative. This reflects our commitment to being a responsible business operator. The Global Compact provides an excellent forum for Tatweer to share knowledge and best practices with its peers, and we look forward to participating in this international initiative, particularly in the local GCC network.”




The Global Compact has more than 4,000 members in over 120 countries. Though not a regulatory instrument, the initiative upholds public accountability and transparency. It relies on the collective cooperation of companies, labour and the civil society to initiate and share substantive action in pursuing the principles on which the Global Compact is founded.




Commenting on Tatweer’s signing of the Global Compact, Habiba Marashi, Board Member UN Global Compact and Chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group said: “It is very encouraging to have Tatweer join the United Nations Global Compact. Tatweer’s participation will bring a more cohesive approach to corporate responsibility, extend the United Nations global reach, and play an extremely crucial role in shaping a sustainable future for the region.”

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Arab Radio & Television Network to Establish Major Facilities at Dubai Studio City

Dubai Studio City, a member of TECOM Investments, announced a partnership deal with Arab Radio and Television Network (ART), a Saudi-based television network specializing in family entertainment, including movies, music and sport, exclusively in Arabic language.




According to the agreement, ART, a subsidiary of Arab Media Corporation (AMC), will set up studios and offices in Dubai Studio City to further expand its current scope of programming. Founded in 1993, ART delivers quality TV content based on traditional values and culture to Arab homes across the globe. Its current pay-TV platform comprises more than two million viewers.




Addressing the press conference, Abdullatif Almulla, CEO, TECOM Investments, said: “TECOM Investments is pleased to welcome onboard the Arab Radio and Television Network as one of our business partners. Contributing to Dubai’s long-term vision to support the growth of its knowledge-based industries, all our clusters offer world-class infrastructure for companies that seek to establish their regional office in Dubai.




“As a TECOM entity, Dubai Studio City will serve as an appropriate avenue to augment the growth of ART, and provide opportunities for people, brands and subsidiaries to help them realize their full potential.”




Jamal Al Sharif, Executive Director, Dubai Studio City said: “The wealth of opportunities and world-class infrastructure that Dubai offers will immensely complement ART, which has selected Dubai Studio City as its location of choice for setting up operations. ART’s unique offerings, which seek to preserve traditional Arab values and culture, will distinctively enhance the cluster’s existing group of broadcast and production companies.




“As DSC strives to boost the film industry’s growth in Dubai and the region, we are confident that our high quality ancillary services will be widely utilized by ART’s experienced and dedicated team.”




ART serves a key role in sourcing, producing, and collating comprehensive entertainment solutions for the Arab Media Corporation’s other entities.




Abdul Aziz Yamani, CEO, Arab Media Corporation, said: “The facility that ART will establish in Dubai Studio City aims to develop third party international media brands, with a possibility of conceptualising and broadcasting localized programming from the free zone. The opportunity of being based in Dubai, the hub of regional businesses, provides us with access to a rich talent pool that will enhance the network’s new initiatives.”




The ART complex will house the Arab Reach Media (ARM), ART’s advertising and sales arm, and the corporate office of AMC, as well as its other subsidiaries.




Muhyuldeen Saleh Kamel, General Manager, ART Sports Channels, said: “ART is keen to come closer to its audience, particularly in the GCC region. Dubai Studio City’s amenities and services complement ART’s plans to decentralize the programming and deliver local content that is tailored to the sensitivities of our viewers.




“We look forward to this collaboration which we hope will generate results that will contribute to the growth of the local and regional broadcast industries.”




ART provides comprehensive, all-encompassing entertainment, including nine sports channels, three Arabic movie channels, four Western and Indian movie channels, four music channels, nine variety channels, three kids and knowledge channels, and six news channels. ART's production offices are spread throughout the Middle East, while its technical headquarters are based in Jordan.




Launched in February 2005, Dubai Studio City offers a complete technical and community infrastructure catering to the film, TV, radio production and broadcast industries. In April this year, it launched the DSC Market - www.DSCMarket.com - an online global marketplace for film production, photography and ancillary services, which revolutionized the way business is conducted in Dubai.




Spread over an area of 22 million sq. ft, Dubai Studio City includes 14 sound stages, 3.5 million sq. ft. back lot for outdoor shooting, commercial offices, pre-built studios, a business centre and post-production studios.





About Dubai Studio City





Launched in Feb, 2005, Dubai Studio City (DSC) offers a complete technical and community infrastructure catering to the film, TV, radio production and broadcast industries. Being built on an area of more than 20 million square feet . DSC aims to attract production and broadcast companies, as well as a wide range of support services, including providers for animation, dubbing, makeup, costume design, set design and construction, casting, telnet agencies, telecine, and laboratory facilities. DSC will feature pre-built studios, sound stages, workshops, backlots and stage areas, post-production studios, and satellite communication services. The cluster will also house film & television academies, commercial offices, entertainment & retail spaces, and hotels & residential facilities to accommodate crews and cast. DSC’s Location Approval Services (LAS) provides a single window for applying for shooting permits.

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05 May 2008

Arabian Hotel Investment Conference confers ‘Leadership Award’ to Alabbar

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman & CEO of Emirates Group, today, presented the Leadership Award instituted by the Arabian Hospitality Investment Conference (AHIC) to Mr Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties. The Award honours Mr Alabbar’s thought-leadership and pioneering initiatives in driving the hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors in the UAE.




Emaar, one of the world’s largest property developers, has expanded into the hospitality & leisure sector through a diversified portfolio of hotels, serviced apartments, golf courses and other leisure amenities. Today, the development value of Emaar’s hospitality assets, managed by the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary Emaar Hospitality Group, stands at AED 3.67 billion (US$1 billion). Emaar recently unveiled its own brand of five star premium hotels, The Address Hotels & Resorts, to further drive its global expansion in the hospitality sector.




Mr Alabbar is a member of the Dubai Executive Council, and serves on the board of directors of the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) and Noor Investment Group. He spearheads Emaar’s high-profile global expansion in 36 markets and chairs John Laing Homes in the USA and Hamptons International in the UK as well as a joint venture with Italy’s Giorgio Armani to set up a global Armani-branded luxury hotel and resort chain.




FDi magazine, published by the Financial Times Group, has named Mr Alabbar “Middle East Personality of the Year.” Arabian Business, the leading regional business magazine, ranked him sixth in its March 2008 list of the 100 Most Influential Arabs in the World. Fortune magazine in their issue of December, 2007, has named Mr Alabbar among the top 30 in power positions globally.




Mr Alabbar said: “Dubai’s ambitious growth strategy of 11 per cent annual GDP growth, as outlined in the Dubai Strategic Plan by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, is powered by two key drivers: Tourism and services. Dubai has already cemented its global standing as a premier hospitality & leisure destination through investments in these two sectors, which hold tremendous growth potential.”




He added: “As the catalyst of the tourism sector, the hospitality industry plays a defining role in shaping the prospects of a destination. Dubai’s evolution as the tourism hub has inspired the international investment community to further explore the city’s potential in hospitality. Emaar is privileged to contribute to the overall dynamism of the tourism sector through our diverse portfolio.”




Emaar’s hospitality portfolio includes the Al Manzil, Qamardeen and The Palace, The Old Town hotels in Downtown Burj Dubai; the Arabian Ranches Golf Club and The Montgomerie, Dubai; the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club; Nuran Serviced Residences; and the Dubai Marina Yacht Club.




About Emaar Properties PJSC:




Emaar Properties PJSC is one of the world's largest real estate companies and is rapidly evolving to become a global provider of premier lifestyles. Powered by its Vision 2010 to become one of the most valuable companies in the world, Emaar is charting a new course of growth with a two-pronged strategy of geographical expansion and business segmentation.




Emaar has highlighted its remarkable global growth by debuting on the Financial Times Global 500 ranking, which provides an annual snapshot of the world's largest companies. Emaar has been assigned A- and A3 ratings with stable outlook by Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investor Services, respectively.




Replicating its successful business model in Dubai, Emaar is extending its expertise in creating master-planned communities to international markets. Emaar is also developing new competencies in malls, hospitality & leisure, education, healthcare and finance, which have evolved from its integrated approach to customer service and property development.




Listed on the Dubai Financial Market, part of the Dow Jones Arabia Titans Index and certified to ISO9001:2000 for quality standards, Emaar is developing Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building and free-standing structure, and The Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest shopping and entertainment destinations. In Saudi Arabia, Emaar is developing the US$26.6 billion King Abdullah Economic City, the region's largest private sector-led project. Emaar's portfolio currently covers the following countries: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Libya, Algeria, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, the US, the UK, France and Canada.




An award-winning developer, Emaar has strengthened its product sale competencies, market reach and best practices through strategic acquisitions and joint ventures. Emaar acquired John Laing Homes, America's second largest privately held home builder; Hamptons International, UK's premier realtor; and formed a joint venture with US-based Turner International to strengthen execution capabilities.




Emaar has joined hands with Giorgio Armani and Accor Hotels to strengthen its presence in hospitality, and will launch ten luxury Armani Hotels & Resorts world-wide and 100 Formule 1 budget hotels in India. The company is opening educational institutions and healthcare centres in South Asia, Middle East and North Africa and the Subcontinent. Emaar acquired Singapore-based leading education provider, Raffles Campus, to extend expertise to its educational institutions.




Emaar holds 30 per cent equity in Dubai Bank, focused on retail and commercial banking. Emaar is also the largest shareholder in Amlak Finance, UAE's leading Islamic home financing company. For more information, visit http://www.emaar.com/.

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‘Etisalat’ Showcases Enablement Solutions for People with Special Needs and participates in specialized workshops to promote its tailored solutions

Etisalat participates in a workshop for people with special needs and social centers promoting new technologies that can help enable the visibly impaired or the hard of hearing with telecommunications services. And cooperates with “Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services” and “Dubai Club for special sports” in conducting workshops to promote its new technologies that supports people with special needs and help them to interact with surrounding community.




This is the most recent activity in Etisalat’s campaign to raise awareness amongst the community of the latest advances that help people with special needs integrate and take gainful employment.











H.E. Sheikha Jameela Mohammed Al Qassimi, Director General of the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, praised Etisalat’s initiatives in supporting the City and its various activities, also the big role telecommunications services play in supporting Federal law 29 for people with special needs, as well as the community itself. “I hope this cooperation will continue in order to provide the best services that will help people with special needs, and enable them to communicate just like everyone else.”












On the other hand Sawsan Khoury, Bundle Management, Specialist at Etisalat, pointed to Etisalat taking a leading role in developing services and initiatives suitable for people with special needs. As it provided the Freedom package that contains the latest communication technologies for people with special needs, helping them to integrate into the community and participate in common daily activities effectively.

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04 May 2008

Souk Al Bahar introduces concept cafés and restaurants to Dubai

Souk Al Bahar, Dubai’s latest shopping and leisure destination developed by Emaar Malls Group in Downtown Burj Dubai, has rolled out an array of concept cafés and dining options, several of them opening in Dubai for the first time. The extensive food and beverage offer makes Souk Al Bahar an ideal leisure spot for friends and families to come together.




Souk Al Bahar is centrally located on The Old Town Island in Downtown Burj Dubai, and boasts an Arabesque architecture that complements the surrounding development. The mall’s varied dining offering already includes Dean & Deluca, the first Dubai outlet of the American gourmet restaurant from New York’s SoHo district; Tonino Lamborghini, an Italian concept café and another first for Dubai; The Meat Co., Dubai’s second location for the popular South African steakhouse; and CRU, a trendy lounge serving light meals. Well-known cafés such as Starbucks, Caribou Coffee and Cinnamon & Seattle’s Best are also open.




Souk Al Bahar continues to build on the dynamic dining offer, adding to the mall’s eclectic profile as an ideal entertainment destination for residents, businesses and tourists. New outlets to look forward to in the coming months include Bice, Left Bank, Italian Kitchen, Paul Café, Mango Tree, Karma Café, Sammach, Milliardaire Club & Mirai Restaurant, and Shakespeare Café, amongst others. Most restaurants and cafés line the waterfront promenade, where al fresco dining offers the city’s best views of the Burj Dubai and Burj Lake. Souk Al Bahar has the largest Spinneys supermarket in Downtown Burj Dubai, in addition to a varied retail selection comprising jewelers, handicraft shops, fashion & accessories and gift shops.




Mr Yousif Al Ali, General Manager of Souk Al Bahar and The Dubai Mall, Emaar Malls Group, said: “Located in the heart of the Downtown Burj Dubai, Souk Al Bahar is redefining the leisure quotient for those looking for a fresh, new leisure and entertainment destination in the centre of the city. It has wide appeal, attracting everyone from families, Dubai’s socialites and tourists through its diverse choice of restaurants, cafés and retail outlets. The exceptional ambience of Souk Al Bahar is further complemented with impressive views of the Burj Dubai and direct access to The Dubai Mall, which is set to open later this year.”




He added: “The mix of food and beverage outlets and retailers has been carefully chosen to give Souk Al Bahar an exclusive appeal. Several restaurants and themed cafés are opening in Dubai for the first time at Souk Al Bahar, giving it a unique niche.”




Spread over two levels and with winding corridors and high archways to exude the Arabesque architectural flavour, Souk Al Bahar will feature over 100 retail outlets including 22 cafés and restaurants. Currently there are more than 80 stores operating with the remaining shops to open in the next few months.




Apart from serving the established communities within Downtown Burj Dubai, Souk Al Bahar is positioned ideally for the business community in the vicinity. It is also close to Al Manzil, Qamardeen and The Palace, The Old Town – three hotels that have opened in the 500-acre mixed-use neighbourhood. Downtown Burj Dubai’s retail and leisure spread will be further enhanced with the opening of The Dubai Mall, one of the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destinations.




Emaar Malls Group is the shopping malls business subsidiary of Emaar Properties and is also developing the Dubai Marina Mall within Dubai Marina, and Cairo Gate, Egypt’s largest outdoor shopping and leisure destination.

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Dubai International Academic City Career Fair 2008 Draws Overwhelming Response from Students in UAE

A high ratio of university students from across the UAE attended the one-day Career Fair 2008, hosted by Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), the region's primary centre for international higher education and a member of TECOM Investments.




Organised by the Department of Student Services and Programmes (DSSP), the annual job fair was held on 27 April, and provided a platform for students to directly interact with hiring managers and HR professionals from more than 27 leading companies and gain fresh insights into current employment options across various industries. Companies from diverse sectors such as finance, human resources, real estate, hospitality and engineering, were seen headhunting for the right talent at the event.




Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director, Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City, said: “Industry professionals offered students an insight into the nature of vacancies and the relevant skills required to obtain those jobs at the second edition of the Career Fair this year. The event also provided an opportunity for leading corporates in the country to offer placements to talented graduate and post graduate students from UAE-based universities.”
Manpower, the official recruitment partners of the event, conducted industry related workshops throughout the day.




Hisrine Elhajji, Regional Marketing Manager, Manpower Middle East, said: “Students these days possess stronger career ambitions, a greater desire to work hard and offer more useful work experience. They are also far better informed about the recruiting process and demonstrate a keenness to obtain first hand information from hiring companies and HR professionals. We consider this a remarkable progression in attitude that greatly facilitates the entire recruitment process.”




Lisa Franklin-Browne, Head of DSSP, said: “This year’s Career Fair was a huge success, with many students actively exploring opportunities with various companies, attending job search workshops and on site interviews throughout the day. The DIAC student community has been fortunate to receive consistent support from UAE-based companies and hopes to draw a more significant participation next year.”




Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and its group of companies were the platinum sponsors of DIAC Career Fair 2008, while Nestlé Middle East was the gold sponsor.





About Dubai International Academic City:





Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) located in the Dubai Academic City is the world’s only Free Zone dedicated to higher education. A regional base for premier international higher education institutions, DIAC is the world’s first dedicated tertiary cluster development. Spread across an area of 25 million square foot, the DIAC campus provides an environment of vitality and inspiration for students and faculty. DIAC partners also enjoy special privileges like 100% foreign ownership, 100% freedom from taxes, 100% repatriation of profits and effortless visa issuance procedures for students, faculty and staff. There are currently over 20 international universities of higher learning in Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City from diverse regions including the U.S, Australia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Belgium, U.K and operating out of DIAC, catering to over 10,000 students. These institutions offer programmes that range in duration from one year to four years. Major academic programmes on offer include; engineering, computer science, finance, media, fashion and design, biotechnology, environmental studies, quality management and business management programmes.

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03 May 2008

Ajman unveils AED 220 billion coastal city

Ajman held a VIP groundbreaking ceremony for an AED 220 billion real estate initiative aimed at developing the emirate’s coastline into a sustainable residential, business and leisure community. Named Al Zorah, the new city will be developed by the Al Zorah Development Company, a joint venture between the government of Ajman and Solidere International Limited, a leader in urban planning and the development of large scale projects in the Middle East and Mediterranean region.



Located along Ajman’s pristine beachfront and creek, Al Zorah will be a self-contained, master-planned city containing varied residences, offices, retail, schools, hospitals and leisure facilities including marinas and a number of 5-star resort hotels. It will be 12 square kilometers in area, with a built up area of 22 million square meters and will have a total of 16 kilometers of sandy white beaches and waterside walks. In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, the project aims to transform the emirate into a world class residential, tourism and investment destination.



“Al Zorah is a milestone for Ajman, reflecting the combination of tradition and innovation that distinguishes the emirate,” said Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Al Zorah Development Company. “Already a sought-after destination for high-value investors, who are drawn by its business-friendly regulations and relatively open marketplace, Ajman is entering a new chapter in its development. Al Zorah is a truly spectacular project that will become an international destination.”


Dr Nasser Chammaa, Chairman and CEO of Solidere International, commented on how the company, in all its developments, is committed to working within the context, and building on the strengths, of a particular environment, be it natural or urban:








“Al Zorah combines both natural and urban environments in one; it is an ambitious project, intended to transform Ajman into one of the region’s most sought after places to live, work and play, in an urban environment that also ensures energy conservation and sustainability for future generations. It is well suited to Solidere’s community-focused development approach.”








Situated just 25 minutes from Dubai International Airport along a new 8.5 km access route from Emirates Road, the Al Zorah development will reflect the emirate’s natural beauty, both by maximizing green space within the community and by adapting itself to the surrounding mangrove plantations and other natural elements. On its coast will be a crescent shaped bay, part of 16 kilometers of beach front including 3 kilometers of original beach, picturesque creeks and interconnected islands. The backdrop will be a thriving city of 200,000 residents and workers.



Residences will be located in idyllic waterfront “villages” served by neighbourhood amenities. The maximum use of public squares and pedestrian areas will create a walking city, with cafes, retail and open spaces being a central part of community living. Cultural, entertainment and leisure facilities, including a championship golf course, equestrian centre and five public marinas, are part of the master plan.






Imad Dana, CEO of the Al Zorah Development Company, said: “This land is alive with nature: there are 30 species of mangroves, over 20 species of birds and countless coastal fish. This natural beauty is central to Ajman’s appeal, but so too is its rich culture. Al Zorah, supported by the know-how and collaboration of Solidere International, will reflect Ajman’s cultural and natural heritage, and express the emirate’s spirit of innovation. It will also be appealing to investors after the government of Ajman issued a special decree giving Al Zorah both freezone and freehold status.”


By adapting best practices in environmentally-friendly design and energy-efficient infrastructure, Al Zorah will keep its ecological footprint to a minimum; the use of shade and energy-efficient construction and materials is expected to significantly limit the use of energy. Al Zorah’s integrated network of walkways, canals, waterways, bicycle paths and public transport facilities will provide ample reason for people to leave their cars at home.
Solidere International has an expanding global presence. It is currently involved in major development projects aimed at conserving the heritage and character of the Middle East’s cultural capitals. The company is partly owned by Solidere, the organization credited with the reconstruction of Beirut City Centre, one of the most challenging and successful urban renewal projects in history.

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01 May 2008

Air Arabia sees demand soar on India routes

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today that its passenger average load factor ­– passengers carried as a proportion of available seats – across its destination network in India stood at 94 per cent for the first quarter of 2008. The airline served 246,296 passengers on its Sharjah–India routes for the first quarter of 2008, an increase of 43 per cent compared to 172,246 passengers during the same period in 2007.




Air Arabia flies directly from its hub in Sharjah to Ahmedabad, Chennai, Jaipur, Kochi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Coimbatore, Thiruvanathapuram, Bangalore, Kozhikode and Delhi. This represents the most comprehensive destination network in India of any Middle Eastern airline.




“India is an important market for Air Arabia, and we are committed to providing the best value for money for our customers who fly on our routes there,” said AK Nizar, Head of Commercial Department, Air Arabia. “High frequencies, on-time performance along with safe travel and affordable fares represent the unique service we offer to our customers. Passengers flying between India and the UAE will see even more innovative services introduced by Air Arabia in the near future.”




On-time performance was achieved in excess of 95 per cent across the carrier’s network in India. One of the key factors for the airline’s success in India has been its increased level of connectivity. Air Arabia has made efforts to fly to smaller, less congested airports closer to its customer base. This move has not only benefited passengers, many of whom now have access to international low-cost travel for the first time, but has also helped contribute to further development of the region.




Air Arabia offers safe, simple and efficient service at affordable fares. The company also offers visa assistance services for all of its 39 destinations across the airline’s network. Bookings can be easily made by visiting the company’s website at http://www.airarabia.com/ or through appointed travel agents.




Air Arabia (PJSC), listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is the Middle East and North Africa’s leading low-cost carrier (LCC). Air Arabia commenced operations in October 2003 and currently operates a fleet of 13 new Airbus A320 aircraft, serving 39 destinations across Middle East, North Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Central Asia through its main hub in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.




Air Arabia is modeled after leading American and European low-cost airlines, and its business model is customised to accommodate local preferences. Its main focus is to make air travel more convenient through Internet bookings and offering the lowest fares in the market along with the highest levels of safety and service standards. For further information, please visit: http://www.airarabia.com/

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