Dubai Event Management Corporation (DEMC), premier organizers of world-class conferences, exhibitions, sporting and cultural events in Dubai, announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders (SME) to organize ‘Dikakeen Al Bastakiya’, an interactive business competition solely for UAE nationals. The MoU was signed by Richard Attias, CEO of DEMC, and Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders, in the presence of senior officials from both organizations.




Al Bastakiya is the heritage district that is currently being revived by Dubai Event Management Corporation (DEMC) as a modern cultural platform for creativity and arts. It will include museums, galleries and traditional markets, reflecting the emirate’s contemporary outlook while defining it as a dynamic cultural destination.




Richard Attias, CEO of DEMC, said: “Dubai Event Management Corporation’s mandate in Al Bastakiya is to develop young talent in Dubai and play a vital role in the emirate’s cultural agenda. We are confident our agreement with SME will mark a significant beginning in promoting Al Bastakiya as an arts and culture platform that will inspire local talent.




“Our objective in hosting the ‘Dikakeen Al Bastakiya’ competition is to provide local entrepreneurs with a platform to showcase and sell their unique products to the residents and tourists that visit the heritage site of Al Bastakiya.”




According to the MoU, Al Bastakiya will serve as the venue for the competition. It will also provide the required logistics for the competition and allocate two dedicated villas with 11 rooms, to house local businesses and brands created by young nationals, in addition to many other exciting prizes and opportunities. Members from DEMC will be assigned for evaluating the winners.




On its part, SME will take the responsibility for identifying start-up businesses and UAE national entrepreneurs and inviting them to participate in the competition. The Establishment will also appoint members to be judges in the first phase of short-listing businesses and for the second phase of selecting the final winners. In addition, it will offer proactive support for raising public awareness about the contest.




Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of SME, said: “With its historic significance, Al Bastakiya represents an ideal platform to create opportunities for emerging local talent. The competition will contribute significantly to promoting youngsters while creating the right environment for nurturing culture and arts in the region.




“As an organization that offers continuous support to national entrepreneurs, the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders facilitates licensing of start-ups businesses and is constantly involved in helping budding ventures move forward. The competition will inspire young nationals to focus on creating products that will reflect the UAE’s tradition and their business acumen.”




Designed to serve as the perfect cradle for Dubai's rich heritage, Al Bastakiya is set to emerge as a global centre, featuring a specialized arts and cultural centre to host events, festivals and activities. In addition, Al Bastakiya will boast a performance art theatre, studios and workshops for resident artists, with a mix of concept and designer outlets, boutique hotels, galleries, cafes and restaurants.




The Dubai Event Management Corporation was launched recently to position Dubai as a unique sports and cultural hub on both the regional and international level.




The competition will accept registrations from interested UAE nationals from 21 October - 8 November, 2008. Further details on the competition can be accessed through the SME website on www.sme.ae

At Gulfcomms 2008, Etisalat showcased the latest web conferencing service – Office “Live Meeting”, in collaboration with Microsoft thereby making it easier for organizations of all sizes to experience the benefits of Web conferencing through a Managed services model, be it simple ad-hoc collaboration sessions, formal Web-based meetings, advanced online training or large communication events.




Live Meeting is a hosted Web conferencing service that connects and engages audiences in online meetings, training, and events through a reliable, enterprise-class hosted service. With meeting attendees participating from their PCs, users can deliver a presentation, kick off a project, brainstorm ideas, edit files, collaborate on whiteboards and negotiate deals.




According to Abdulla Hashim, VP, Enterprise Solutions, Etisalat, “Communicating with a diverse customer base, employee collaboration with virtual teams are raising the importance of web conferencing and we see it becoming a mainstream tool for communication and collaboration in the enterprise.”




He added, “In collaboration with Microsoft, the Office Live Meeting service will truly deliver a outstanding collaboration experience to our customers and help them reduce travel expenses, increase productivity and offer their employees more work flexibility with the advantage of a Managed service model from Etisalat which will remove the entire burden of managing and maintaining service levels for their staff.”




Commenting on the new service, [Abdel Wahed Bendaoua, Director of Communication Sector, Microsoft Middle East and Africa], said, Live Meeting is an important example of further empowering information workers and making them more productive and effective. The exciting new capabilities of Live Meeting are a direct result of listening to customers who already use it for ad hoc collaborative meetings, marketing events, sales demonstrations, training sessions and more. It is a key element of our integrated communications vision that helps people and organizations richly communicate and work together more effectively.”




Live Meeting helps organizations better connect internally with employees and externally with customers and partners through these features:

• A simplified user interface that helps conferencing participants remain focused on core content
• Training and event features that give presenters the ability to offer handouts, public class and event listings, and advanced testing and grading
• High-fidelity shared and local recording capabilities that give organizations the power to archive a Live Meeting session for playback
  

The service also supports multiple communication channels to provide an engaging experience:

• Two-way phone offers participants a choice for integrating conference audio
• Embedded flash, video and audio files help presenters deliver rich content to conferencing participants
• Live webcam video and initiation and control of audio conferencing with Microsoft Outlook
  

His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology and Rebecca Irvin, Director the Rolex Awards for Enterprise signed a Memorandum of Understanding covering a series of activities between the two organizations.




His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan will be the patron and opening speaker of The Rolex Middle East Forum - “Encouraging Innovation for the Next Generation” - is a high-level public event developed by the Rolex Awards for Enterprise in association with the Higher Colleges of Technology. The day-long forum, to be held at the Madinat Theatre at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, comprises three panel sessions focused on subjects of importance to the region: the state of science and innovation in the MENA region, the preservation of cultural heritage and the natural environment, and the role and potential of Arab women.




The 2008 Rolex Awards for Enterprise are being held in the Middle East under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.




The Rolex Middle East Forum will feature nine international experts from diverse disciplines and nine of their counterparts from across the UAE and the region, and moderators Hala Gorani, of CNN International, and celebrated media personality Georges Kordahi. World-renowned heart surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub, pioneering NASA astronaut Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, and former Ecuadorian environment minister Yolanda Kakabadse are among the distinguished panelists confirmed.




Dr. Tayeb Kamali, Vice Chancellor of the UAE Higher Colleges of Technology and Group Chief Executive of the Centre for Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT), is among the regional panelists confirmed for the forum. Other regional speakers include Sayyid Sulaiman Mohammed Al Busaidi, Adviser to the Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs, Government of Oman, and Abdul Aziz Al Midfa, Director General, Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Sharjah.




Rebecca Irvin, Director of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise, based in Geneva, Switzerland, said: “Rolex is convening this special high-level forum in the UAE because we believe in the region’s potential for innovation and enterprise, and respect its commitment to improving life on our planet. Through the forum, we hope to offer a platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences, valuable dialogue and relationship-building.




“The UAE is an outstanding example of the steady socio-political progress being made in the Gulf countries, progress that we feel the rest of the world should know more about,” she added. “We are particularly confident in the abilities of this region’s young men and women, and hope to contribute to broadening their horizons in this way. Our growing relationship with the UAE Higher Colleges of Technology is a vital step in achieving these goals.”




Irvin thanked His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan for his support of the Rolex Forum, and noted his commitment to the nation’s future generations.




Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Tayeb Kamali, Vice Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology said "HCT is indeed excited about this agreement with Rolex Awards. Together, we plan to develop interest in the region about innovation and out-of-the box initiatives by individual. Our students will have the benefit of interacting with international innovators recognized as Rolex laureates." “This will be another example of working with all divisions of the community to achieve our goals of providing quality culture and environment for our students and our 16 campuses. We are very glad to sign such and MOU with Rolex Awards today”




The Rolex Middle East Forum will be the culmination of a series of UAE events being planned around the official 2008 Rolex Awards for Enterprise ceremony that will take place in Dubai on November 18, 2008. The private gathering, traditionally held in Geneva and world capitals, including New York, Singapore, Paris and Tokyo, is being held in the Middle East for the first time.




For the past three decades, the Rolex Awards have assisted men and women around the world who are quietly advancing human knowledge and well-being through pioneering work in five broad areas: science and medicine, technology and innovation, exploration and discovery, the environment, and cultural heritage.




Each of the five Rolex Awards Laureates named at next month’s Dubai ceremony will receive US$100,000 and a specially inscribed gold Rolex chronometer, in addition to international publicity for his or her project. Five runners-up, the Associate Laureates, will each receive US$50,000, as well as a steel-and-gold Rolex chronometer. The monetary prizes must be used to implement or complete the pioneering projects.




The Awards typically receive between 1,500 and 2,000 entries from more than 100 countries per series; the Middle East and North Africa nations have historically yielded the fewest applicants. This year, Irvin explained, Rolex received 138 applications from 16 countries across the Gulf, Levant and North Africa, a 294 per cent increase over previous cycles, following a sustained outreach campaign across the region.




Although the 2008 Laureates and Associate Laureates will only be revealed at the Awards ceremony next month, 44 projects from around the world were identified as making the international shortlist. Six of those projects are from the MENA region, including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

Etisalat announced a new International Super Off-Peak plan which would give both its Wasel and GSM customers more savings on their off- peak calls to international destinations all over the world. The new plan will be an optional one for customers with the added benefits of no rental or activation fees. Customers who subscribe to the new plan would get 50% savings on the off-peak rate for their international calls as part of a new Super Off-Peak Plan. The Super Off-Peak hours will be from 1 am to 7 am everyday.




In addition to the super off-peak, customers will also benefit from the normal off peak hours applicable from 2 pm - 4 pm, 9 pm -1 am on week days, and from 7 am on Friday to 1 am on Saturday. During off-peak hours, GSM customers will be saving 30% more than the current off peak rate, while Wasel customers will be saving 25% more than the current off-peak rate.




With text messaging being a popular mode of communication, the new Super Off-Peak plan will continue to offer competitive SMS rates to international numbers at the existing 60 fils/SMS. Domestic SMS however will be charged at 30 fils/SMS. Local calls to mobile and fixed lines during peak hours will be 36 fils/min .However, charges for international calls during peak time will cost an additional 10% under this new plan.




Essa Al Haddad, Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat said: “ The new Super Off-Peak plan is in line with our strategy of providing convenience, enhanced coverage and additional value to our customers, by enabling them to save more, while conveniently reaching out to their family and friends across the world on a more frequent basis. Furthermore, customers can now pick and choose from various “value” options provided by Etisalat like Global Friends & Family plan, Favorite Country Plan, and now the Super off peak plan, thereby providing customized options based on their diverse requirements.”




The Global Friends and Family plan enables customers to select any three international numbers for a discount of 20%, for a monthly fee of AED 20. The Favourite Country Plan brings discounts of 30% for fixed-lines, 25% for postpaid mobiles, and 20% for Wasel subscribers.




He added, “This latest initiative is part of Etisalat‘s continuous efforts to offer outstanding value to our customers in an environment where the cost of living and other expenses are on the rise.”




To activate the new super off-peak plan, customers can call 125, or visit any of the Etisalat Business centers/ outlets across the country.

The Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs in Dubai and du, the UAE’s integrated telecom operator today announced the launch of ‘alo’, a unique Pay as you Go ® mobile service, specially developed for the large expatriate labour workforce in the UAE. The new mobile package has been customised keeping in mind the unique communication needs of this segment and to enable easier communications between the workers and committee.




General, Mohammed Ahmad Al Marri, Chairman Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs in Dubai, said: "We appreciate all the support we have received from du as our partners in this pioneering initiative to better fulfil the needs of the labour workforce. We are committed to improving the quality of life of the labour segment in the UAE whose valuable contribution to nation-building we recognize and appreciate. With the launch of alo we have also opened a new line of communication between the labour workforce and our committee and we are here to listen to their feedback. We highly recommend ‘alo’ to all the companies who employ such expat labor workers”




Launching the new initiative, Osman Sultan, CEO, du, said: “We are thankful to the Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs in Dubai for their contribution in helping to design and bring this product to life. ‘alo’ is a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative from du to design a customised communication tool that will directly benefit the large expatriate labour workforce.”




The alo brand is designed keeping in mind the needs of the expat labour workforce primarily from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, China etc who work for the construction companies here and live in labour camps. The warm, friendly colours of the brand and welcoming nature of the name ‘alo’ which means ‘hello’ in Arabic , have all been created keeping in mind the colours and icons popular in the cultures of these countries.




In order to communicate with them in their own language, ‘alo’ comes with an easy to understand multilingual user guide in the SIM pack. The SIM pack is also contained in a wallet which the labour worker can use to store and port his money.
Tailored to fit the financial needs of this workforce, du has designed the mobile package to have no high one time or annual fees i.e. there would be NO joining fees and renewal fees but the money would be collected in easy monthly instalments of AED 5. An initial credit of AED 10 has been included to enable them to get started immediately.




‘alo’ also comes with the added benefits of du like Pay by the Second, where all calls are charged by the second and not rounded off to the next minute and the option to get 15% extra credit on every recharge with du WOW recharge cards.
Customers can subscribe to ‘alo’ at the two ‘alo Shops located in the Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs in Dubai premises near the Sonapur and Jebel Ali labour camps. They need to bring a copy of their passport and labour VISA. Customers holding existing du Pay as you Go lines can also migrate to alo at these two ‘alo’ Shops.




‘alo’ customers can also get in touch with the Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs in Dubai for any enquiries or concerns by calling the toll-free number 8009119 from their alo line.




The labour committee will keep in touch with them by providing them with labour notifications, changes in labour laws, labour news etc via SMS on their ‘alo’ line.

Dubai Internet City (DIC), a member of TECOM Investments and one of the largest information and communication technology (ICT) free zones in the world, announced its strategic sponsorship of GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2008, one of the top IT industry events in the region.




In its participation for the eighth consecutive year, along with Google and Intel and two sister entities including SmartCity and eHosting DataFort, Dubai Internet City will showcase its stellar year-on-year growth at its stand in concourse 2, between Exhibition Hall 8 and the Sheikh Maktoum Hall at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.




Dubai First, the first consumer finance company from Dubai Holding, will be a key sponsor of the DIC pavilion.




Held from 19-23 October at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2008 will see global brands, multinational corporations and technology leaders converging in Dubai for a week of product launches and key industry meetings. There will also be opportunities for networking and building sound partnerships with industry professionals.




Malek Sultan Al Malek, Executive Director of DIC, said: “The pavilion will reflect our status as a vital technology cluster that has enormously facilitated the transformation of the regional industry. This year, the pavilion will host key business partners including Google and Intel and sister entities Smart City and eHosting DataFort. In addition, DIC willbe staging events that will offer professionals an insight into challenges that face the technology industry.”




Daily presentations on the important role of venture capital in the ICT sector will offer attendees valuable insights into the use and benefits of raising private equity. The DIC gaming zone will engage and entertain trade visitors with its cutting edge gizmos and gadgets.




Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) organiser of GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK said: “We are proud to have Dubai Internet City once again to the show. DIC is the major driving force behind the region’s ICT industry growth and has helped position the country as leaders in global e-readiness leadership in the MENA region.”




Featuring at the DIC pavilion is Intel, the world’s largest chip maker who will be present at the stand displaying its latest products and technological solutions. For the first time in the region, Intel will display a prototype of a processor with 80 cores that can perform a trillion floating-point operations per second to demonstrate the tremendous potential for significant performance and energy efficiency for its chip in the near future.




A sister entity under the DIC pavilion is SmartCity, a joint venture promoted by TECOM Investments and Sama Dubai. Based on the successful models of DIC, Dubai Media City and Knowledge Village. SmartCity’s industry townships provide an infrastructure, environment and support system to promote the growth of industry companies. SmartCity launched phase I of SmartCity Malta last October and is set to launch phase I of SmartCity Kochi shortly.




In addition, another sister entity, eHosting DataFort (EHDF), the region’s leading IT consulting and outsourcing provider and a member of TECOM Investments will showcase its range of services. As part of its efforts to inform the public of the risks and preventative measures companies need to take to protect their data, information security will be a key area that EHDF will focus on at this year’s GITEX.




At a time when the UAE’s current ICT spend stands at around AED41.6 billion (US$11.4 billion), with forecasts indicating a rise to AED54 billion (US$14.8 billion) by 2011, the GITEX Technology Week is set to incorporate a powerful offering of dedicated trade events, including GITEX Business Solutions, GULFCOMMS and Consumer Electronics, as well as targeted networking initiatives designed to ensure the event covers the entire technology spectrum.




Last year, over 3,300 suppliers from 82 countries exhibited at the GITEX Technology Week.

Middle East sales of Ford, Mercury and Lincoln products January to September 2008 are up by nearly one third over last year, registering a record performance for Ford Middle East. The growth is mainly driven by the increasing demand over trucks and utility vehicles across the three brands, which in total sold 45 per cent more this year.




In the UAE, this trend was similar, with an overall 35 per cent growth, and a 71 per cent increase in trucks and SUV sales. Best sellers were: the Ford Edge (up 121 per cent); Escape (up by 33 per cent); Expedition (up by 30 per cent); Expedition EL (up by 93 per cent); Explorer (up by 53 per cent); Explorer Sport Trac (up by 139 per cent); Lincoln MKX (up by 88 per cent); Navigator (up by 31 per cent); Mercury Mountaineer (up by 73 per cent).




Ford expects the popularity over its utility vehicles to grow further, with the introduction of the all-new 2009 Ford Flex, the latest nameplate to join its lineup which now offers seven different products including: Edge (compact CUV), Escape (compact SUV), Explorer (mid-size SUV), Explorer Sport Trac (Sport Utility Truck), Expedition (full-size SUV) and the Expedition EL (extended body).




Flex is the innovative new full-size, 7-passenger crossover offering from Ford that has been making waves in North America since its introduction just a few months back. It has distinctive and daring design coupled with a stylish interior, a smart package and unmatched technology including SYNC, the new Ford-exclusive, voice-activated, hands-free, in-vehicle communications and entertainment system.




“Now it’s safe to add daring and intriguing to the list of adjectives describing Ford vehicles as the new provocative Flex is here,” said Hussein Murad, Ford Middle East's director of Sales. “The Flex is like nothing else on the road, and it defies being categorized. It is going to appeal to a group of customers who feel absolutely the same way about themselves. We are excited with this new addition as the Ford lineup now offers unprecedented diversity which will attract new customers to our dealerships.”




Flexing its Character



From its planted stance and broad shoulders – flanked by signature side grooves – to its all-black greenhouse and distinctive multi-panel Vista Roof, Ford designers have created a provocative vehicle with the Flex.




In a world of automobiles that are easy to categorize, Flex is difficult to define and polarizing. Embracing that enigmatic nature was the key breakthrough in the design process, according to Peter Horbury, executive director, Design, The Americas.




“Flex is a radical departure,” Horbury said. “At first we were uncomfortable with the way Flex could polarize, but its ability to compel an opinion, good or bad, was fascinating. It inspired us forward with courage to create a breakthrough design.”




Flex’s prominent stance is a key design element setting it apart from all other vehicles. Park Ford Flex next to an SUV or a typical crossover. The proportions are immediately surprising.




Capping the horizontal design cues in bold contrast is the unique roof of the new Ford Flex. Available in two colors, White Suede or Brilliant Silver, the roof contrasts stylishly with the Flex exterior paint palette.




The Flex’s multi-panel Vista Roof adds even more distinction. Available on SEL and Limited models, the Vista Roof has four glass panels to provide abundant natural light to occupants of all three rows of passengers. The forward panel is a moonroof that opens to let in fresh air.




Style, Luxury and Space for Individuality



The exterior design of the Flex creates interest, but it’s the surprising space and comfort for seven, the elegant, upscale style and clever flexibility of the interior that will magnetically keep people in the new Flex.




“We wanted the interior to be a place of contemporary, relaxed style – somewhere you could feel very comfortable, yet involved and connected,” said Anthony Prozzi, chief interior designer. “The interior presents an environment that is radically different. You’ll notice the improvement in materials, the appointments and the general appearance of the car. Even the way you interact with the car will be different because of all the new technology we’re introducing.”




Smart Features for the Demanding Lifestyle



Flex is packed with innovative, class-leading technology solutions that seek to empower, not overpower the driver.

• Ford SYNC™, the Ford-exclusive, voice-activated, hands-free, in-vehicle communications and entertainment system.
• Sony audio system that features 700 watts of power, 5.1 surround sound and 10 speakers is certified by Sony to deliver a unique, rich listening experience.
• EasyFuel™ capless fuel filler. This exclusive feature saves time by replacing a fuel-filler cap and provides a better seal, reducing the release of smog-forming vapors.
• Class-exclusive refrigerated console. Mounted between the second-row captain’s chairs, the available compressor-driven refrigerator can cool up to seven 12-ounce cans, four half-liter bottles or two 20-ounce bottles from room temperature to 5°C in a little more than two-and-a-half hours – 40 percent faster than a standard home refrigerator.
• Ambient Lighting. Flex owners can program any of seven different interior lighting colors to fit their mood. With this feature, customers can change the lighting on two light-emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on the front console, footwells and around the two front cupholders.
  
  

Flex is powered by Ford’s award-winning 3.5-liter V-6 engine delivering 262 NET hp at 6,250 rpm and 248 lb.-ft. of NET torque at 4,500 rpm, mated to a fuel-efficient, advanced 6-speed automatic transmission that uses a wide 6.04:1 gear ratio to deliver good fuel economy of up to 24 mpg highway, which is equal to or better than many of our competitors, and outstanding performance.




Flex’s available intelligent all-wheel-drive system is tuned to provide confident driving in all weather conditions. By constantly monitoring and predicting traction, the system can deliver torque to all four wheels, even before the wheels begin to slip. An active, on-demand electronic center coupler can allocate a precise amount of torque from front to rear – up to 100 percent to either axle. Paired with standard Advance Trac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control), intelligent AWD can transfer torque front to rear and side to side.




Some of the most advanced safety technology available today is standard on Flex, including Ford’s SPACE architecture, AdvanceTrac with RSC system, the Personal Safety System, the Safety Canopy side curtain airbag system, anti-lock brakes and more.




Flex is manufactured to the highest quality standards at Ford’s Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada.




The Ford Utility Vehicles Family: The most diversified offering in the Middle East
Ford prides itself in the extensive lineup of world-class utility vehicles that it brings to its Middle Eastern customers with seven distinctive products from all segments, including: the Edge, Flex, Escape, Explorer, Explorer Sport Trac, Expedition and Expedition EL. Currently, no other manufacturer matches the diversity of the Ford lineup in the Middle East which enjoys more than 60-years of heritage in the region.

Solaris has selected Nina Naval, the 28 year-old model, to win the title “Model of the Week” during Dubai Fashion Week which was held from 5th-9th October. Models of DFW gathered on the last day at Solaris’s stand and tried out some of the store’s latest sunglasses, when Nina was chosen to win the title and was gifted her choice of a pair of sunglasses from the new collection.




Solaris was founded in October 1994 with the opening of its first store in Paris, France. As the leading name in the optical industry, which represents over 70 well-known brands across four countries, Solaris is at the forefront of the luxury eyewear industry. Solaris offers the best models from world-leading brands such as Gucci, Versace, Rayban, Armani, Dior and Oakley

Solaris entered the Middle East in partnership with M.H. Alshaya Co. in 2007, as the region’s first dedicated outlet for high-end designer sunglasses. Currently Solaris has a presence in the region with stores in Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait and KSA. Future plans include the opening of more stores in UAE, KSA, Oman and Bahrain.

This fall Starbucks is bringing 100% environmentally friendly coffees to its customers in the Middle East. Part of Starbucks™ Shared Planet™, the company’s global initiative developed in partnership with Conservation International (CI), the coffees on offer this season, including Starbucks ‘House blend’, ‘Sumatra’, ‘Colombia Narino’ and ‘Sidamo’, are all CI certified, responsibly grown and ethically traded coffees.




The CI certified coffees come from farmers and suppliers who follow the company’s comprehensive sourcing standards and guidelines for social, economic and environmental responsibility.




Rana Shaheen, CSR and Communication Manager at Starbucks Middle East & Egypt said, “At Starbucks, we recognize that the environment is part of our responsibility and essential to our shared future. Moving forward, all Starbucks stores in the Middle East will serve brewed coffee using only the featured CI coffees, ensuring that every cup of coffee you drink will help address the issue of climate change, restoring forests and sustaining millions of farmers.”




The season will also signal a return to customization, a concept that encourages coffee lovers to move away from the standard menu and go on a taste adventure; customers can add their own choice of syrup, toppings, ask for a different type of milk or change the temperature, all to create a beverage that is as unique as their personality is.




Shaheen added, “Based on our customers’ feedback, last winter’s customization campaign proved to be a huge success. Customers immensely enjoyed experimenting with their coffee by trying out different flavors– this fall we would like to provide them with the same experience all over again with an environmental taste."



The fall promotion will start this week until the second week of November across all Starbucks stores in the Middle East.

The first Boots store in Sharjah has opened on the ground floor of the Sahara Mall, marking the entry of the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty store into the emirate. The move provides shoppers in Sharjah with the broadest selection of health and beauty products under one roof and highlights the growing presence of the Boots brand in the region.




Commenting on the new store opening, Richard Morgan, President, Boots GCC said: “This is indeed a momentous occasion for us as we enter our third emirate in the UAE and introduce the Boots brand to residents of Sharjah. Our investment in the emirate reflects our commitment to growing our business in the Middle East and serving the region’s diverse community.”




The new Boots store is set to transform the health and beauty retail environment in the emirate, offering over 6,000 health and beauty products, including over 3,000 own brand products, ranging from cosmetics, fragrances, revolutionary skincare and the latest designer haircare ranges.




Shoppers will be able to experience the award-winning Boots range of health and beauty brands including No7, the UK’s leading cosmetics and skincare brand, Soltan, the UK’s biggest-selling suncare range and Botanics, the holistic range of skin, hair, bath and body products created in conjunction with the Royal Botanical Gardens in London. The store is also equipped with a special beauty counter for customers to receive makeovers from No7 beauty consultants.




The dedicated health areas within the store focus on healthy living and offer expert advice from trained and professional pharmacists to cater for the health needs of customers. There is a large healthcare section offering solutions for all health requirements, from major ailments to minor complaints.




In addition to the new store at Sahara Mall, there are currently eleven Boots branded stores in the UAE located in Al Diyafah Road in Satwa, The Village Mall on Jumeriah Beach Road, Ibn Battuta Mall, the Mall of the Emirates, Deira City Centre, Al Safa, Al Ghadeer on Sheikh Zayed Road, Burj Dubai, Dubai International Financial Centre, Blue Tower and Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi.