ePathram - News

Dubai School of Government Announces Launch of Arab Council for Social Sciences in Cairo

2009-01-01T00:01:00.001+04:00

Scholars and researchers from throughout the Arab world gathered in Cairo, Egypt to officially launch the Arab Council for the Social Sciences (ACSS) on December 17 and 18. The Dubai School of Government played a vital role in the development of the ACSS, offering organizational leadership and support, with the Council becoming fully independent upon its launch in Cairo.

Leading Arab social scientists present at the Cairo launch of the ACSS included Ibtisam Al-Kitbi from the UAE, Ragui Assaad from Egypt, Mustafa Hamarneh of Jordan, Rahma Bourkiya from Morocco, Abdul Karim Barghouti from Palestine, Amr Hamzawy from Egypt, Raoufa Hassan of Yemen, Ahmed Baydoun from Lebanon, and Naser Jaby of Algeria.

Dr. Tarik Yousef, Dean of the Dubai School of Government and member of the Council’s steering committee, commented that “The launch of the Council will pave the way for a larger role for social science research in the Arab region, and empower leaders to make policy decisions based on sound research.”

Dr. Yousef added: “The Council will strengthen social science research in the Arab region and promote links between Arab scholars and their regional and international counterparts, fulfilling one of the primary tenets of our mission at the Dubai School of Government.”

The Arab Council for the Social Sciences is an effort by leading Arab scholars and experts to address the region’s deficiency in self-produced research. A number of UN reports on human development have emphasized the need for the Arab world to address the “knowledge gap” in order to meet the challenges of development, good governance and security. Likewise, many reports have focused on the weakness of research in the Arab world, highlighting the need to establish indigenous institutions to explore social, economic, political and environmental issues at the regional level.

Developed initially with the support of the Dubai School of Government, the ACSS is the fruit of collaboration between experts from a number of regional and international organizations, including the Regional Office of Arab States at the United Nations Development Program, the International Development Research Centre, the Social Science Research Council and the Regional Office for West Asia and North Africa of The Population Council.

Dubai School of Government Named Knowledge Sponsor for First Arab Women’s Leadership Forum

2008-12-29T22:11:00.002+04:00

Dubai Women’s Establishment (DWE) today announced Dubai School of Government (DSG) will be the Knowledge Sponsor for the first Arab Women Leadership Forum 2009 in Dubai. The forum will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, from 13-14 January, 2009 at the Monarch Hotel in Dubai.

Her Highness Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women’s Establishment and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Presidential Affairs, will lead the forum, which is set to witness an elite group of renowned leaders from across the Arab world presenting a blueprint for the role of women in the future.

Lamia Khan, Marketing Manager of DWE, said: “The inaugural Arab Women Leadership Forum 2009, titled ‘Women and Leadership: Global Trends and Local Innovations’ is an opportunity to leverage the capabilities of the Arab and Emirati women and explore fresh avenues to further develop skill sets and ensure progress.

“Dubai School of Government has worked relentlessly with us as knowledge partner and the forum has been enriched by their recommendations on the selection of talented speakers. Their advice has given an essential academic dimension to the event.”

The two-day event will see the elite group of women leaders from around the region deliberating on ’Women and Leadership Research – The State of the Art’; ‘Leadership Development – Universal Models and Culturally Specific Applications‘; ‘Leadership and Organizational Change: Fostering Women’s Leadership in Organizations‘, and ’Approaches to Closing Leadership Gender Gaps‘.

Dr. May Al-Dabbagh, Director of Gender and Public Policy Programme and Research Fellow at the Dubai School of Government, said: “The collaboration with DWE is part of our core strategic priority, especially with our continuous concern about studying gender issues in the Arab world from an academic perspective.

“We aim to place adequate emphasis on the strategic areas of DWE, which include research, organizational policies and national policies towards working women in the UAE, and leadership in general through a comprehensive programme at the forum.”

The event in Dubai includes both theoretical and practical sessions as well as a series of panel discussions and workshops. It will be an opportunity for Arab women to interact with leading personalities who have achieved success in working for the advancement of women in diverse fields.

The Arab Women Leadership Forum 2009 reflects the regional and international role of Dubai Women’s Establishment which announced its five-year strategic plan earlier this year. The plan seeks to focus on enhancement and development of Arab women’s skills in different fields, while highlighting their vital role in the society.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation Extends Arab Incubators Network to Dubai’s Higher Colleges of Technology

2008-12-27T17:25:00.002+04:00

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dubai-based Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) to set up a business incubation centre at the Dubai Women’s College to support aspiring student entrepreneurs. The MoU comes in line with the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to establish an Arab Incubators’ Network (AIN) that will focus on supporting and developing existing incubators across the Arab world. AIN will provide extensive benefits to its members ranging from training to knowledge sharing and education on relevant topics.

The network will also have an educational mandate to increase the awareness among regional fundraising entities on the importance of entrepreneurship as a strategic resource to drive job creation in the region.

Sultan Lootah, Vice President- Entrepreneurship and Employment Sector, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, said: “We are privileged to cooperate with the Higher Colleges of Technology to develop an important initiative that will allow young UAE nationals and Arab students to explore valuable entrepreneurship opportunities.

“The agreement with HCT will enable us to jointly work towards creating new enterprises while supporting and empowering emerging businesses across the UAE and beyond.”

Applauding the Foundation’s role in promoting and nurturing entrepreneurial activities across the Arab world, Dr. Tayeb Kamali – Vice Chancellor, Higher Colleges of Technology, said: “Today marks a significant step in the ever increasing relationship between the Foundation and HCT in preparing young UAE nationals for the increasingly competitive global business environment.

“The collaboration with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation represents a milestone in promoting Entrepreneurship in U.A.E. The initiative is a further proof of the commitment of the leadership to nurture and encourage UAE nationals to build on their dreams. We are very pleased with this collaboration and look forward to working closely with the Foundation on several more initiatives that deliver on the mission by building on our strengths,” Dr. Kamali added.

Over the last few months, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation has entered into cooperation agreements with several leading Arab universities and incubators including Morocco’s Al Akhawayn University, Bahrain Business Incubator Centre, Bahrain Development Bank, Palestine Information and Communications Technology Incubator (PICTI), Lebanon’s Berytech, and Syrian Computer Society - ICT Incubator.

In its aim to foster job creation and drive sustainable economic growth, the Foundation pursues a vigorous strategy that also seeks to sharpen the Arab youth’s business acumen through facilitating exchange of information and best practices with key decision makers and thought leaders.

20 Volunteers from Dubai Properties Group Fulfill Wishlist for Handicapped Children At Al Noor Centre

2008-12-22T01:28:00.003+04:00

A delegation of 20 employees from Dubai Properties Group’s CSR/Mubadara unit today visited Al Noor Centre for Children with Special Needs and handed out gifts and essential items, as part of the department’s endeavor to encourage the spirit of volunteerism and give back to the community. The team, headed by Fareda Abdullah, Executive Director, Human Capital at Dubai Properties Group, spent time with the children and surprised them with gifts from the centre’s wishlist.

While building diversified communities, Dubai Properties Group seeks to connect people, and support different strata of the society through community-oriented activities as part of their new Mubadara initiative.

SWISS launches Airbus A340 to Middle East

2008-12-16T08:31:00.002+04:00

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), the national carrier of Switzerland, announced it will begin flying passengers from Dubai on board the new Airbus A340 aircraft starting December 16. The new long-hauler, which offers 228 seats in a three-class cabin configuration, and will be deployed to take passengers on their Muscat-Dubai-Zurich flight.

“SWISS is always looking in to the interest of our travelers and with the A340, we take convenience and comfort to a whole new level. The launch of the A340 is a very important step for us as we continue to solidify our presence in the region,” said Martin Massuger, Director, Head of Sales Middle East, Africa, Pakistan & Iran for SWISS. “We have a number of products and services that we plan to launch in the near future.”

SWISS also recently launched their mobile phone booking service which lets customers anywhere in the world can now book any SWISS flight online from any mobile phone with internet capability via the mobile.swiss.com portal. The new portal created for the service also features further useful information on departure and arrival times along with SWISS’s full flight schedules.

The launch of the mobile booking followed SWISS’s recent implementation of the E-tickets service. By next year, there will be new first-of-its-kind, business class seats to provide utmost comfort and privacy to Middle East travellers.

During winter, SWISS operates non-stop daily flights from Dubai to Zurich, daily flights from Muscat, Oman, five weekly flights from Cairo and four weekly flights from Riyadh and Jeddah. Overall, SWISS offers a comprehensive network of 76 destinations in 42 countries, 48 of which are in Europe and 28 are intercontinental.

In A Reception Hosted By "Dubai One" "Arabian Night" Gathers Stars Of The Arab World

2008-12-14T23:00:00.001+04:00

In a spectacular reception attended by channel managers of Dubai Media Incorporated, the principal media partner of the 5th Dubai International Film Festival, ‘Dubai One’ the English language channel of DMI, hosted the "Arabian Night" event, characterized by the presence of an elite number of Arab stars including Lebanese singer Najwa Karam, Egyptian director Khairi Beshara, Syrian actors Jamal Suleiman & Samer Al Masri, in addition to Gulf drama Stars: Mohammed Al Mansour, Abdul Aziz al-Jassem, Abdel-Mohsen Al Nimer, Ibrahim Al Harbi, Suaad Ali, Maouza Al Mazroui, Haifa Hussain, Zahra Arafat, as well as a number of artists, presenters and presenters of Dubai Media Incorporated.

ENOC Stop, Shop & Win campaign receives overwhelming response

2008-12-11T06:00:00.000+04:00

Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) has seen a significant increase in customers making use of the varied services at its service stations, following the ‘Stop, Shop & Win’ promotion launched on the 1st of November 2008. The six-week campaign, running till the 15th of December 2008 in all ENOC / EPPCO service stations in Dubai and Northern Emirates, offers an exciting array of prizes on every purchase of AED25 worth of non-fuel products.

Customers can win instant prizes as well as enter weekly draws for Cash Plus cards loaded with AED5,000. The high point of the campaign is a Grand Prize of AED80,000 worth of diamond jewellery from JoyAlukkas, offered to one winner.

Every customer who spends AED25 on non-fuel purchases will receive a raffle coupon and an AED30 discount voucher for Wild Wadi water theme park. The coupon number should be sent by SMS to ‘3880’ to enter the Grand Draw.

The weekly raffle will draw out four winners – one for the AED5,000 Cash Plus Card and the others to receive family passes to Wild Wadi.

ENOC has already announced the twelve winners of the first three weeks of ‘Stop, Shop & Win’. Ghulam Hassain from France won the Cash Plus card in the first draw, Mohammed Farooq from the USA was the winner in the second week, and Saber Muhammed from Pakistan won the Cash Plus in the third week. The Wild Wadi family passes were won by a mix of customers of different nationalities.

Commenting on the promotion, Khalid Hadi, ENOC Group Brand and Marketing Manager said: “Promotions like ‘Stop, Shop & Win’ are effective platforms that enable us to engage with our customers in a unique way. We are receiving an overwhelming response to this campaign and it has helped us take our retail offering to more people in the UAE.”

Emaar Hospitality Group appoints Oliver J. Key as General Manager of The Address, Dubai Marina

2008-12-10T10:58:00.002+04:00

The Address Hotels + Resorts, Emaar Hospitality Group’s recently launched five star hotel brand, has appointed Mr Oliver J. Key as General Manager of The Address, Dubai Marina, the upcoming 5 star premium hotel under The Address Hotels + Resorts brand in Dubai Marina. A seasoned hospitality professional, Oliver will drive the day-to-day operations and management of the new property, scheduled to open early next year. He will co-ordinate the entire spectrum of activities of the property to establish The Address, Dubai Marina as the premier waterfront resort destination in Dubai while enhancing resource use efficiency and maximising staff productivity.

Mr Marc Dardenne, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “The Address, Dubai Marina is the third property to open under The Address Hotels + Resorts banner, which brings to the city new differentials to the hospitality experience defined by location, guest benefits and service excellence. Oliver has several years of global experience in the industry, and will focus on establishing the property as a preferred choice of visitors.”

Mr Oliver Key said: “The Address, Dubai Marina is an exceptional property with its spectacular waterfront location within the vibrant Dubai Marina community billed to make it a strong draw for guests. The Address Hotels + Resorts, as a home-grown brand has already established its credentials in the hotel business and the new property will further establish our commitment to offer a distinctive guest experience.”

The Address, Dubai Marina will have 143 rooms, including 18 Club Rooms. There are an additional 57 suites with Club access and a Royal Suite overlooking the stunning Marina. The all-day dining restaurant and brasserie, Expresso, and the Pool Bar will offer a distinct choice of cuisine options. Guests and residents will have direct access to the Gourmet Tower – a 7-storey building dedicated to diverse cuisines, one of Dubai Marina’s prime attractions. In addition to the vast array of facilities at The Address, Dubai Marina, hotel guests can enjoy the elevated swimming pool on the 14th floor, with panoramic views across the Marina.

Oliver was previously Hotel Manager with The Fairmont Hotel, Dubai, and has worked with the same group for the last ten years in Hawaii, San Francisco and at The Plaza in New York City. He has worked on director level positions in Food & Beverage, Banquet Operations and Private Dining, and has also worked at the world renowned Boca Raton Resort in Florida and The Savoy, London.

Oliver holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Hotel & Catering Management from the University of Surrey, and has served on the San Francisco City College Advisory Board for Hospitality and San Francisco Hotels Banquet Service Committee. He is a recipient of the 30 Under 30 Acorn Award from Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine.

The Address Hotels + Resorts is the flagship hotel brand of Emaar Hospitality Group. With a total portfolio of hospitality and leisure project assets of development value US$1 billion (AED 3.67 billion), Emaar Hospitality Group owns and manages a diversified portfolio of hospitality assets such as hotels, serviced residences, golf resorts, a polo and equestrian club, recreation clubs, and the Dubai Marina Yacht Club and Marinas.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum Inaugurates Noor Islamic Bank's Branch at Dubai Airport Terminal 3

2008-12-07T00:10:00.002+04:00

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman & CEO of Emirates Group and Chairman of Noor Islamic Bank, inaugurated Noor Islamic Bank's new full service branch at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport.

The opening ceremony was attended by Hussain Al Qemzi, CEO of Noor Islamic Bank, and senior officials from the bank.

The new branch is strategically located in departure area T3-08, which is expected to handle over 60 million passengers annually. Operational round the clock seven days a week, the full service branch will cater to passengers, retailers, visitors and airport staff.

Hussain Al Qemzi said: "The new full-fledged branch complements the overall offering of Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of the bank as part of our ongoing commitment to reach out to customers. Since our launch 11 months ago, we have gradually established a presence in both the consumer and corporate banking spheres. Our focus remains on providing convenient and premium banking services to our customers."

Through its location at Terminal 3, Noor Islamic Bank will offer its complete range of Sharia'a-compliant solutions including the bank's self-service facilities such as internet banking, phone banking, ATM, and cash and cheque deposit machines.

In May of this year, the bank's main branch on Sheikh Zayed Road became the first in the Middle East to deliver round-the-clock services to its customers.

Noor Islamic Bank now has several full service locations, including two service centers in the Mall of Emirates and the Garhoud District. High net worth individuals have access to the exclusive Infinity lounge in most of Noor Islamic Bank branches.

Launched in January 2008, Noor Islamic Bank is on its way to becoming a global provider of Sharia'a compliant financial services and solutions, transforming the offering and experience of modern Islamic banking while catering to the needs of discerning consumers. The bank is rapidly expanding its network in the UAE and aims to increase the number of locations over the next year.

Air Arabia CEO forecasts civil aviation expansion and industry reforms

2008-12-03T23:51:00.002+04:00

Expansion of the air transport sector has made it the fastest growing industry in the world, says the Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa. Speaking at the Middle East Public Transport Conference and Exhibition (JOTRANS) in Amman, he stated that, in light of the region’s booming economy since 2001, its share of international passenger traffic has grown from five per cent to ten per cent. He added that low-cost carriers are stimulating growth and globally they are the most profitable business models.

Addressing that, regionally, air travel is the only means of state-to-state transport, Ali adds that for every US$100 spent on air transport, the regional economy benefits by US$325 and for every 100 additional jobs made in air transport, results in 610 new other jobs.

“Air travel today is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Consider the demographics of the region where the population is one of the fastest growing, where 100 million people are under the age of 24 and millions more are expatriates – air travel is often their only option,” said Ali.

“Open-skies initiatives, signed in 2004, are a start to opening up and liberalising the air travel market in the region, giving rise to the abolition of monopolies, greater competition and potentially lower fares. The full adoption of open-skies policies is yet to happen; however, their partial adoption has already improved some of the region’s economies, and in light of the global economic downturn and fluctuating oil prices, total open-skies initiatives are an economic must so that the industry can react commercially, without unnecessary red tape and interference.

Acknowledging that challenges still remain in the civil aviation sector, Ali said that, while still maintaining 50 per cent lower fares compared to full-service airlines, the outlook for LCCs is bright. “Air Arabia continues to adapt upon the globally proven LCC model to the unique needs of this region. While focusing on providing the highest level of service offerings at the most competitive fares, Air Arabia continues to be the regional leader for reliable low-cost air travel solutions.

“In this, our fifth anniversary year, we have experienced record profits and growth – expanding our fleet of aircraft to 16 and our list of destinations to 44, we are setting new benchmarks, not only in this region but across the globe,” Ali added

Dubai Government Lines Up Major Events to Celebrate 37th UAE National Day

2008-12-01T23:43:00.001+04:00

In response to the directive by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, the Dubai Government departments are organizing a total of 46 events as part of the 37th UAE National Day celebrations. Among the highlights will be the Union March on 1 December to be led by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed from the Jumeirah Center to Union Square. This will be followed by a Marine Parade on 2 December on the Dubai Creek. The event, featuring boats, yachts, and naval vessels, is supported by Dubai Police, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Dubai Civil Defense, Road and Transport Authority and Dubai International Marine Club.

The activities will also include an evening of poetry on 2-3 December under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid, Chairman of Dubai Event Management Corporation. The event is sponsored by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

A team of Dubai Police personnel will offer an aerobics display in Dubai and Hatta at from 1-3 December. Additional events will also be organized at the Heritage Village, Diving Village, Al Shindagha Heritage Village, Mamzar Park, Al Safa Park, Jumeirah Park, Zabeel Park and Musharraf Park.

All government sectors have prepared a scheduled plan of activities, allocating tasks to individual teams to ensure a well-coordinated management of each event. Government and private buildings have already been decorated and illuminated with the colours of the UAE national flag.

Nasser Thani Al Hamli, Director EC Affairs of the Executive Council and the General Coordinator for the organizing committee, said: "The National Day is an important occasion to remember the country’s historic day that laid a solid foundation for future. The continued growth and prosperity of the country will depend on our will to steadfastly remain on the path shown to us by our leaders.

“We believe our events will profoundly remind nationals and residents about the importance of the day and instill a fervor to continue participating in the nation’s dynamic growth. We invite everyone in the country to participate in the National Day activities with great enthusiasm.”

The Dubai Executive Council has already unveiled a new logo that will be used during the various activities to be organised by the government departments in Dubai to commemorate the National Day celebrations.

The colours of the logo are similar to the UAE National Flag and illustrate No.2, emphasizing the date of 2 December, when the treaty for the Federation was signed. The logo also carries the slogan ‘National Day-Live United’ to reflect the pride of the UAE people in commemorating the important day.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Directs Dubai Government to Celebrate 37th Anniversary of National Day

2008-12-01T00:08:00.003+04:00

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, directed all departments in Dubai Government to celebrate the 37th anniversary of the national day. The celebrations concur with the call of The UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as per naming 2008 the year of national identity and come under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to mark this important occasion.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed has also extended his warm greetings on the occasion of the 37th National Day to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and the Rulers of the various Emirates, the Crown Princes, the Deputy Rulers and the UAE citizens.

The Executive Council unveiled a new logo to commemorate the National Day celebrations. The logo will be used during the various activities to be organised by the government departments in Dubai. The colours of the logo are similar to the UAE National Flag and illustrate No.2, emphasising the date of 2 December, when the treaty for the Federation was signed. The logo also carries the slogan ‘National Day-Live United’ to reflect the pride of the people of the UAE in commemorating the important day.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed said: “The National Day is a landmark occasion in the history of the UAE that reflects our glorious past guided by a wise vision that led to our bright future today. This future has already proved to be one of achievements that has demonstrated the capability of our people to overcome obstacles in our march towards progress.

“The UAE National Day reminds us of the unity of our people; therefore we should always use this day to remember the importance of maintaining our country’s growth and increase our concerted efforts to place the UAE among world’s top-ranked countries.”

The National Day celebrations will start from 23 November 2008 and will conclude on 4 December.

George W. Bush to open DIFF 2008

2008-11-27T10:46:00.002+04:00

The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has announced that its Opening Night gala film will be W., the controversial biopic of George W. Bush by maverick Hollywood director Oliver Stone. Stone who will attend the Opening Night gala, has described W. as an attempt to trace seminal events in the American president’s life, offering a ‘behind-the-scenes’ view of Bush’s development as a person and as a politician.

Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Artistic Director, stated: “W. is one of the great films of 2008, and we are happy to open DIFF with a film of topical relevance to so many of us. We are honoured that Mr. Stone will be in attendance to introduce the film, and are confident that DIFF audiences will respond favourably.”

The film is a veritable who’s who of Hollywood, starring Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men) in the title role, Elizabeth Banks (Definitely Maybe; Spiderman 3) who plays Laura Bush, Richard Dreyfuss (Poseidon) as Dick Cheney, Thandie Newton (RocknRolla) as Condoleeza Rice, and Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream) as former First Lady Barbara Bush. 2007 DIFF guest, American-Arab actor Sayed Badreya (AmericanEast), also appears in the film—as former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Stone has ventured into presidential territory before, with 1995’s Nixon. However, he has never attempted the task while the subject was still in office, a fact that has caused mixed reactions in the United States.

DIFF 2008 runs for eight days from December 11 to 18, 2008.

Cinema of the World Brings Kaleidoscope of Drama

2008-11-25T07:44:00.002+04:00

The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) today announced the stunning lineup of its Cinema of the World segment, which pairs heavy-hitting international stars like Nicole Kidman, Ed Harris, Vigo Mortenson, with independent gems from Iceland to Sri Lanka and everywhere in between. Sheila Whitaker, Director of International Programming, expanded on the selections - “Cinema of the World provides us the opportunity to gather together both the high-budget studio films like Australia, or Che, Steven Soderbergh’s massive bio of Che Guevara, and the extremely interesting, smaller films that turn heads on the festival circuit. Viewers who enjoy engaging with a diverse range of films should certainly review Cinema of the World.

The Gala of this section is Danny Boyle’s (Trainspotting, The Beach) Slumdog Millionaire, the audience pleasing tale of Jamal, an 18-year old tea boy at a call centre in Mumbai who is one question away from the top prize in the Indian version of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’ So unbelievable is the prospect of Jamal’s win that the authorities interrogate him, and we embark on a colourful journey through his life, learning just how he managed to answer all the quiz show’s questions correctly.

Cinema of the World comprises the most anticipated cinematic events of the year: Baz Luhrmann’s eagerly-awaited epic Australia is a sweeping historical romance set in Australia during World War Two, starring Nicole Kidman as aristocratic Lady Sarah, who inherits a cattle station in Northern Australia. When she and a drover (Hugh Jackman) are faced with a grueling cattle drive, they become entwined in a romance that changes their lives.

Steven Soderbergh's hefty biopic Che relates how revolutionary Che Guevara became one of the key political figures of the 20th century. Soderbergh's magisterial narrative features a blue-chip performance from Benicio del Toro, which makes the four-hour film a compelling experience.

A gala presentation at this year’s Cannes Festival, Blindness is an arresting tale of a world paralyzed by a blindness epidemic.

Julianne Moore, the wife of a doctor (Mark Ruffalo), is immune to the illness. As the government tries to stop the spread of contagion, sufferers are sent to prisons, where as the only sighted prisoner, the doctor’s wife witnesses the horrific effects of social breakdown.

Acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky (Requiem For A Dream) brings The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke in the title role. Washed-up wrestler Randy’s glory days are behind him, yet he continues to fight to connect with his alienated daughter (Rachel Evan Wood) and an (apparently) cold-hearted stripper (Marisa Tomei). Ultimately, Randy’s biggest fight is the one he has with himself.

Michael Winterbottom’s Genova, stars Colin Firth as head of a bereaved family try to begin a new life in Genova, Italy. A young girl begins to see a strange figure around the city, which she believes is her mother’s ghost. Visionary filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow brings The Hurt Locker, an intense portrayal of elite bomb disposal soldiers in Iraq whose group is newly led by a reckless sergeant.

Three inspiring documentaries delve into the lives of very different, but equally remarkable, people. Valentino: The Last Emperor is an intimate and revealing portrait of one of the greatest couturiers of the 20th century. Yes, Madam Sir is the fascinating story of India’s first policewoman, the trail-blazing Kiran Bedi. Chevolution charts how Albert Korda’s portrait of Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara became one of the most recognizable images on the planet.

Two other documentaries offer fascinating glances into different social milieux. Intimidades De Shakespear Y Victor Hugo (Shakespeare and Victor Hugo’s Intimacies) uncovers the story of Jorge Riosse, who exerted a profound influence in the life of the filmmaker’s grandmother, and whose stay at her house coincided with many grisly murders in the district. Black Nation takes an uncompromising look at what Mats Hjelm calls America’s "black male genocide". Two trailblazing documentary-style films push the boundaries of cinema - set in a poor Parisian neighbourhood, Entre Les Murs (The Class) is a brave film that delivers an unflinching account of life for foreign-born children at a school in a Parisian suburb, while Hunger recounts IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands’ 66-day starvation in prison in 1981.

Actor/director Ed Harris gets behind the camera for Appaloosa, a tale of the old West. Virgil (Harris), along with Everett, (Viggo Mortensen), ride into a remote town terrorized by a wealthy local rancher. The French graphic-novel hero Largo Winch gets a big-screen makeover in a dark story of suspense. A highly unusual crime thriller blending love and dreams of escape in Belgrade, Ljubav I Drugi Zlocini (Love and Other Crimes) introduces Anica, who is so bored with life that she steals from her gangster boyfriend Milutin’s ill-gotten gains.

The limits of human experience epitomize three of the films - the debut feature Snijeg (Snow) tackles the bitter aftermath of the Bosnian ethnic cleansing of the mid 1990’s through the story of the town of Slavno, Summer depicts best friends in their mid 30’s uncovering the emotional foundations of their friendship and Ballast is an intense story from the Mississippi Delta. Six-year old Inti’s efforts to try to comprehend the adult world is complicated by his crazy mother who takes him on the road in the Argentinean film Salamandra.

Three humorous tales of family life take the hard edge off the segment’s offerings: Ping-Pongkingen (King of Ping Pong) takes us into the miserable, uncertain world of Rille, an overweight teenager for whom daily life is a dreary routine of bullying. However, Rille has a sanctuary where he reigns supreme – the local table-tennis centre. In Momma’s Man, new father Mikey stops off at his parents’ house in New York. His parents assume he is making a regular visit, but Mikey finds himself avoiding going back to the adult world. In Sveitabruokaup (Country Wedding), a family wedding in Iceland features the most dysfunctional wedding guests since Muriel’s Wedding.

Emaar Chairman supports Dubai Cares Million Book Challenge as ‘Mystery Reader’

2008-11-23T23:55:00.002+04:00

Emaar Properties Chairman Mohamed Alabbar urged children to devote more time to read meaningful stories that inspire creativity and independent thinking. He was reading stories to students at the Al Khulood Kindergarten, where he was a ‘Dubai Cares’ Mystery Reader in support of the recently launched Million Book Challenge to encourage students across the UAE to read one million books in two weeks. The campaign ended on November 16, 2008 and Dubai Cares asked all parents to submit the final tally of books read by their children to the school by November 17.

Alabbar was accompanied by the children’s television character ‘Bob the Builder’, who was provided to Dubai Cares by Global Village. The students at Al Khulood have, to date, read over 1,000 books, averaging 11 books per child. Alabbar joins a group of prominent members of the community supporting the Dubai Cares initiative by visiting schools throughout the country to read a book.

Alabbar said: “Reading opens up one’s mind and enables us to think creatively. The Million Book Challenge by Dubai Cares is a powerful initiative that will bring long-lasting benefits as it instills in children - during their formative years - the importance of reading. In our knowledge-driven era, it is crucial to focus the attention of children on traditional avenues of knowledge like reading, which assures the active engagement of the mind.”

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Chairperson of Dubai Cares Board of Directors, said: “The success of the Million Book Challenge has been possible because of the hard work and effort of students and children throughout the community and because of the involvement of role models such as Mr. Alabbar, who helped Dubai Cares drive this initiative forward.”

The Million Book Challenge invites all students aged 3-14 years to collectively read one million books in two weeks. For each book read, Dubai Cares will purchase and donate a book in the local language to needy children around the world. The distribution of books will be managed by organizations, including Arab NGO’s throughout the region.

Stacked atop one another, one million books is, conservatively, four kilometres high, which is five times the height of Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world. Each evening, Dubai Cares beams the total number of books read on Burj Dubai, which is being used as a visual thermometer, to mark the campaign’s progress towards its goal.

Residents and visitors in the UAE can also contribute to strengthening literacy around the world by sponsoring a book for AED10 each by calling 800 DXB CARES or at participating bookstores.

Considered the largest charitable establishment solely devoted to improving primary education globally, Dubai Cares is actively addressing the educational needs of more than four million children worldwide through partnerships with international aid agencies.

For more information on this year’s volunteer campaign, please visit www.dubaicares.ae.

Global Village Open Doors for 102 Days in New Season

2008-11-22T11:31:00.002+04:00

Global Village, a member of Tatweer Dubai, and the premier culture and entertainment destination for families, opened its doors on Wednesday, 12 November, for another season of spectacular multicultural entertainment that will last for 102 days. The 13th edition of Global Village will run until 21 February, 2009 and witness the participation of 31 country pavilions, including two new entrants, Iraq and Oman. The longer duration of the season comes in response to the popular demand from enthusiastic residents and visitors to extend the colourful offerings of the festival for more number of families and children from across the region and beyond.

Abdul Redha Ali Bin Redha, Global Village Project Director, said: “The new season at Global Village will offer an unforgettable and lavish experience for visitors, including top notch facilities and spectacular entertainment shows spotlighting the customs and cultures from all over the world.

“As with every year, we aim to introduce innovative elements and attractions with an objective to exceed audience expectations. This year, we have endeavoured to incorporate new activities to enhance our loyal patron’s experience of the much awaited calendar event.”

For the first time this season, Global Village will host the Guinness World Records Pavilion, which will provide visitors with exciting opportunities to participate and set new records in a variety of categories.

Hosting an exciting schedule of activities and entertainment including 40 fun fair rides, the fun quotient of Global Village will also be raised through the presence and delightful participation of international children’s characters of Barney TM, Thomas the Tank Engine TM, Bob the Builder TM and Pingu TM the Penguin at the “Friends from The Little Big Club” attraction. Themed outlets featuring a series of popular cartoon characters, including those from the UAE’s very own animation production Freej, will also be part of this season’s Global Village.

Another new attraction this season will be the Italian gondolas, traditional Venetian rowing boats, which have been specially designed for Global Village. Ten of these boats steered by operators in traditional Egyptian uniform will traverse the lake every day, each with a four-passenger capacity, offering a scenic ride and an overall view of Global Village’s attractions. A return trip will cost AED10 per person, while children under three can ride for free. All passengers will be provided with life-jackets.

Ali Bin Redha added: “The Global Village brings together diverse customs, cultures and entertainment shows, covering a broad spectrum of activities including music, goods, dances, arts and handicrafts, theatre, costumes, cuisine and food from different parts of the world.”

The entertainment events will include the World Culture Stage, showcasing premiere entertainment from around the world. Featured on the lake will be the “Beach Adrenaline” Jet-Ski Show, which will provide nightly thrills with exciting stunts from a team of internationally awarded jet-ski champions. Additionally, a Lantern Festival (Festival of Lights) - an array of specially created Chinese lanterns - will beautify the entire park including the entrances and canal to create a wonderful festive ambience throughout the entire destination.

Located in Dubailand on the Emirates Road, the Global Village is anticipated to welcome at least five million visitors during the 102 days of fun and entertainment

this season, exceeding the 4.5 million footfall registered during the 2007-08 edition.

Since inception in 1996, Global Village has evolved into a premier regional venue, celebrating diverse cultures, cuisine and commerce from around the world and a family destination for unlimited entertainment.

For more info about the events and shows, please call 04-3624114 or visit the website www.globalvillage.ae

ARN Launched Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign in UAE

2008-11-20T23:43:00.002+04:00

Arabian Radio Network (ARN), the region's fastest growing radio network and communications service, launched a breast cancer awareness campaign titled ‘The Pink Drive’ across its nine radio stations. Focusing on preventive measures and early detection techniques to reduce fatalities, the awareness campaign ran for 23 days, from 29 October - 20 November.

ARN has partnered with Medcentre to provide free screening by a female general physician to 1,000 listeners at its various locations in the UAE. Each radio station is giving away 120 check-ups during the campaign period. Listeners are being invited to register for check up throughout the day whereby they can text in a short code announced on each channel, or log on to www.arnonline.com and choose one of the nine micro-sites available for each radio station.

Steve Smith, Chief Operating Officer of ARN, said: “As one of the most prevalent types of cancers disgnosed among women, breast cancer can prove fatal if left undetected in the early stages. Through our partnership with Medcenter, ‘The Pink Drive’ campaign aims to fight a disease that affects women and can devastate their families more than any other ailment.

“We believe by combining the reach of one of the largest radio networks with the expertise of Medcentre’s highly qualified medical practitioners, this partnership will emphasise the significance of preventive measures including ways to encourage women to opt for regular screenings.”

The Dubai Mall hosts the first Waitrose store in the Middle East

2008-11-17T08:31:00.002+04:00

The Dubai Mall, one of the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destinations, hosts the first Middle East store of Waitrose, ‘Britain’s best high street retailer.’ The Dubai Mall location is also the first Waitrose outside the United Kingdom. The 55,300 sq ft store will be the largest supermarket in Downtown Burj Dubai, and will showcase Waitrose’s extensive range of quality food products. Located on the Lower Ground level, the same level as car parking, the store is accessible and convenient for all mall visitors.

Waitrose has entered into a licensing agreement with Fine Fare Food Market LLC to open the store in The Dubai Mall. A second Waitrose store will open at the Dubai Marina Mall, which is currently being constructed for opening towards the end of this year.

Mr Yousif Al Ali, General Manager, The Dubai Mall, said: “The Dubai Mall is bringing in several new retail experiences to the Middle East region. Waitrose joins a league of international retailers like Galeries Lafayette, Bloomingdale’s and Hamleys, who make their Middle East debut at the mall.”

He added: “Waitrose has tremendous brand equity, and will appeal to a wide spectrum of shoppers. The opening of Waitrose is a reflection of The Dubai Mall’s objective of bringing in as many unique shopping experiences as possible to the city.”

Waitrose at The Dubai Mall has been designed by London-based design consultancy Kinnersley Kent Design to reflect the ambience of a Waitrose supermarket in Britain and to cater for the specific needs of the target market in the UAE. The store will offer an assortment of Waitrose branded products as well as locally sourced products to meet the needs of the Dubai customer demographic.

The product range includes fresh and frozen foods, delicatessen, cheese, fresh fish, meat, patisserie and hot food counters. Considering local tastes and traditions, Waitrose at The Dubai Mall will only sell-certified Halal food in the main store arena. A fully-functional scratch bakery; interactive butchery and fishmongers and a market-style fresh fruit and vegetable area will underscore the Waitrose commitment to freshness. The store will also carry a selected range of John Lewis non-food products.

Located in Downtown Burj Dubai, billed as the new heart of the city, The Dubai Mall is a 12 million sq ft complex featuring 1,200 retail stores and over 160 F&B outlets. The world-class Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre and the world’s largest indoor Gold Souk are among the opening day attractions.

Air Arabia introduces new travel insurance service

2008-11-09T21:44:00.001+04:00

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today a new travel insurance service “Travel Secure,” aimed at providing its passengers with greater peace of mind when they travel. This optional service will start with an initial cost of US$5 one way or US$10 for a return trip (excluding taxes). The inexpensive and easily accessible service follows other recent Air Arabia initiatives, including new early check-in procedures and a pre-assigned seat selection service.

“Travel Secure” is offered by Air Arabia in association with AIG companies under their internationally renowned “AIG TravelGuard” suite of products. Air Arabia passengers can currently take advantage of this new insurance service via the Air Arabia website. In future, the service will be available through all booking channels, including call centres, travel agents and sales shops.

“Air Arabia is committed to providing a range of convenient services for all our customers,” said AK Nizar, Head of Commercial Department. “’Travel Secure’ insurance provides passengers thorough coverage throughout all Air Arabia destinations.”

Osama Abdeen, Executive Vice President – Middle East Region of AIG MEMSA, said: “Delivering peace of mind is at the heart of the promise by AIG Companies to their customers. This unique partnership with Air Arabia is part of our strategy to provide enhanced value to passengers from which they can benefit during the tenure of their travel. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Air Arabia.”

AIG Travel Guard's “Travel Secure” offers coverage against trip cancellation, loss of baggage, flight delay, personal accident and 24-hour emergency medical assistance service anytime during the trip.

Dubai coloured stones market shows strong growth potential

2008-11-06T07:00:00.002+04:00

The coloured stones market is set to expand, faster than other jewellery categories in the next five years, according to a new survey released by the Dubai Gems Club (DGC), a subsidiary of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC). The findings of the survey were released at the ICA International Gem Fair 2008, the region’s first dedicated coloured stones trade show, being held in Dubai.

The research, a first for the region’s coloured stones industry, was commissioned by the DGC and carried out by the US-based Jewelry Industry Research Institute and UAE-based BUZ Consulting.

Key research findings reveal that of the projected jewellery sales mix over the next three years, coloured stones will account for 26 per cent of total jewellery sales in Dubai by 2011. Whilst historical sales data is not recorded, it is estimated that coloured stones sales currently represent a small percentage of overall jewelry sales.

“The ready availability of statistics and market data have become critical in today’s information age, as they facilitate business leaders in making timely decisions that could impact the future of an organisation,” said Gaiti Rabbani, Executive Director, Coloured Stones and Pearls Division, DMCC. “Dubai has taken a proactive step through this new research commissioned by DMCC. This report will become a significant tool for existing jewellery businesses in Dubai and new entrants to the market. ”

Rabbani added: “The driver for the growing demand for coloured stones is today’s fashion conscious consumer, who seeks unique jewellery varieties. The versatility of coloured stones provides a great opportunity for designing exclusive jewellery pieces.”

On a global basis, the market for all gemstones stands at US$80 billion, representing 55 per cent of total global jewellery industry sales. The global gemstone market includes roughly US$10billion of coloured stones and US$70 billion of diamonds and diamond jewellery.

The survey also reveals that coloured stones trade is expected to grow at around six per cent annually by 2010, in comparison to the growth rate of diamonds, gold and all other forms of jewellery.

Kenneth Gassman, Founder & President of Jewelry Research Institute of America (JRIA), said: “The projections show that the coloured stones market will post exceptionally strong above-average growth over the next decade, both in Dubai and the Gulf region, as well as globally. Coloured stones jewellery demand is expected to surpass demand for other jewellery categories. Dubai is particularly well-positioned to take advantage of the increased trading requirements of this rapidly growing jewellery segment and further capitalize on the growing tourism market.”

In further findings, coloured gemstone dealers cited that rubies, sapphires and emeralds were the fastest selling coloured gemstones, comprising 44 per cent, 28 per cent and 24 per cent respectively of their gemstone inventory. Traders and consumers also highlighted their preference for oval shaped coloured stones set in 18 karat white and yellow gold.

The survey consisted of interviews with 50 traders as well as over 100 consumers comprising jewellery shoppers in Dubai. The survey was released at the ICA International Gem Fair Dubai 2008. This event, held under the patronage of DMCC, was organised by the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) and supported by the Middle East GemBureau.

du partners with Sony Pictures to bring Exclusive new James Bond ’Quantum of Solace‘ mobile content to customers in the UAE

2008-11-04T07:28:00.002+04:00

Keeping in mind the huge James Bond fan club in the UAE, du, the UAE’s integrated telecom operator is offering its customers mobile content from Sony’s upcoming new James Bond movie ‘Quantum of Solace'. du has an exclusive partnership with Sony Pictures through its agreement with Hungama Mobile. To compliment this offering, du has also introduced a limited edition ‘Bond’ SIM pack. This was announced during GITEX 2008, the premiere IT and telecom event in the region.

‘Quantum of Solace’ is scheduled to be released in the UAE on 7 November and is the 22nd movie of the famous fictional character James Bond and his high-octane adventures.

Farid Faraidooni, EVP Commercial, du, said: “We are constantly raising the bar to bring the latest mobile content to our customers. Our partnership with Hungama and Sony Pictures allows us the unique opportunity to offer exclusive James Bond content and promotions, which means they can catch the James Bond action on their mobiles as well as on the big screen. Our promise is to add life to life and we can assure our customers we will continue to do so in new and innovative ways.”

This is the third time du offers exclusive Hollywood mobile content, following the launches of ‘Spiderman 3’ and ‘Surf’s Up’ last year. The exclusive mobile content comprises wallpapers, ringtones, animations, videos and games. du's mobile content is available to both existing and new customers.

Existing du customers can download a range of wallpapers, ringtones and other exciting mobile content from the ‘Quantum of Solace’ zone on MyWorld (http://myworld.du.ae) – du’s mobile portal. du customers can also access the Quantum of Solace zone by simply sending a SMS with the text ‘bond’ to short code 1007.

Callertune subscribers can set music from the movie as their caller tune by calling 156 from their du line. Those who do not have the service activated can call 135 to activate.

Limited Edition ‘Bond’ SIM Pack
du has gone one step ahead to introduce a Limited edition ‘Bond’ themed SIM pack which is available at all du shops for a special price of AED 65 effective 2 November 2008. This SIM pack comes with its own James Bond packaging and contains a content card that gives access to exclusive James Bond mobile content worth AED 65. This SIM pack will be available only in du Shops till stocks last. Availability will be announced through press ads shortly.

Loads of movie tickets to win
Each content download from the Quantum of Solace zone offers a chance for du customers to win a movie voucher (comprising two movie tickets) for the movie ‘Quantum of Solace’ playing at any Cinestar outlet in the UAE. Customers can also win by subscribing to the Caller tune service by calling 135, or by subscribing to any of the Mobile TV packages by sending ‘dutv’ (to subscribe to the entire bouquet of 23 Mobile TV channels) or ‘du1tv’ (to

subscribe to one Mobile TV channel) to 1155. Customers will pay AED80 per month for the entire bouquet of Mobile TV channels and only AED10 per month for the 1 channel subscription. A total of 55 movie vouchers (110 tickets) are on offer daily. du would be announcing the launch of these exciting promos shortly through press ads

Recharge and win loads of attractive James Bond merchandise :
du Pay as you Go , Pay as you Go plus, Visitor Mobile customers can also win exciting James Bond merchandise by recharging at least once with a recharge denomination of AED 50 and above. Each recharge instance gives customers the chance to win an exciting array of merchandise in a specially designed James Bond kit. du will be announcing the launch of this promotion through press ads.

Region’s first Gem Show opens in Dubai

2008-11-02T21:38:00.002+04:00

Over 100 exhibitors from the coloured stones industry representing more than 20 countries converged today in Dubai for the ICA International Gem Show Dubai 2008. Held for the first time in the Middle East, this three-day exhibition held under the patronage of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), is being organised by the International Coloured Gemstone Association (ICA) and supported by the Middle East GemBureau.

The show features major gemstones buyers and manufacturers from Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey Russia and the USA. Exhibitors have to be members of ICA or Dubai Gems Club and sign an ethics agreement, a step which is being taken to foster buyer confidence. While the first two days are dedicated to trade, a consumer day will be conducted on the last day of the exhibition where the general public can view and purchase exquisite jewellery pieces between 10am and 9pm.

Addressing the conference, Gaiti Rabbani, Executive Director, Coloured Stones and Pearls Division, DMCC said: “We are very pleased with the response received for this gem show which underlines Dubai’s position as a new global hub for the trade of cut and rough coloured gemstones.”

ICA is a non-profit trade association, representing the international coloured gemstone industry in 46 countries worldwide. With over 500 members, ICA partners with industry bodies and organisations to foster growth and networking opportunities in the coloured stones industry.

Andrew Cody, President of the ICA, said: “Being strategically located amidst international trade flows, Dubai has emerged as an important centre for precious commodities trade. In addition, the Government of Dubai and DMCC’s role in particular in further developing the coloured stones trade has clearly positioned Dubai as the ideal location for a dedicated trade fair.

“Devised on a format that is completely different from other trade fairs, the ICA Gem Show Dubai 2008 provides a professional networking environment for creating long-term business partnerships from across the value chain of the global coloured stones industry. This will be a compact and luxurious show where buyers will have confidence that they are dealing with ethical traders,” Cody added.

The ICA International Gem Show is currently being held at the Al Bustan Hotel and features leading names from the coloured stones industry such as K Brunini Jewels, JOEB Enterprises, Canelhas, Pink Stone and Tavares Gems.

Art with a Smile, India on Canvas

2008-11-01T08:59:00.002+04:00

Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, Ruler of Dubai, Khushii (Kinship for Humanitarian, Social and Holistic Intervention in India), a leading NGO from India, has partnered with Al Noor Centre for Special Needs Children to stage ‘Art with a smile, India on Canvas,’ an art charity auction with a difference. The event, making its debut in Dubai, will be held on November 28th, 2008 at the Madinat Jumeirah.

‘Art with a Smile’ will pair renowned achievers from different walks of life with successful and talented artists from the sub-continent and the UAE to jointly create a customised piece of art that will then be auctioned. Proceeds from the auction will be jointly shared between Khushii and the Al Noor Centre, and will be utilized in the areas of health, education and empowerment.

The auction, to be conducted by Christies, will include a special presentation by globally renowned pianist Richard Clayderman for a select audience. Al Naboodah Automobiles, Audi and Dubai First have confirmed their support towards the novel event.

“Khushii and Al Noor have taken this step together as the first initiative towards Khushii’s global vision to create the world‘s first NGO forum that will provide aid to areas affected by global calamities. Khushii has always had the drive to fulfil our vision of a just and equitable social order through the provision of sustainable livelihood,” commented Kapil Dev, Chairman of Khushii.

Up to 60 pieces of art along with a specially commissioned Audi A4 and a Murano from Ajmal will be auctioned during the event. Some of the biggest names in the global art fraternity along with leading eminent personalities, including Bollywood celebrities, senior government officials and leading industrialists have joined hands for this noble cause. Some of the pairings include Abdullah Shaibani and Masab Al Rais, Tamjid Abdullah and Hasna Abubaker, H.E. Sheikha Lubna and Mohammed Qassab, Dr. Ram Buxani and Suvaprasana, and K. Rajaram and Sanjay Bhattacharya.

Mr. Khalid Al Halyan, Chairman of Al Noor, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Khushii, an organization that works towards improving the lives of the underprivileged and less fortunate. ‘Art with a Smile’ will be an effective catalyst in bridging the gap between various segments of the society, bringing them towards a common cause of global concern and reaffirming the power of the individual and the perseverance of the human spirit.”

“In times like these, where practically anything is possible, it is our responsibility as human beings to strive for the greater good of human kind. We must do what we can for the wellbeing of people of all ages, genders and races. Adopting initiatives that fulfil our creative desires and give us an opportunity to give back to society is just a small step toward creating awareness and support for global causes,” said Vandana Luthra, President of Khushii.

The event has generated a lot of interest and excitement in the previous editions, attracting various luminaries from Bollywood and the corporate world including Amitabh Bahchan, Jaya Bachan, Ratan Tata, Sunil Mittal, Vijay Mallya, Abhishek Bachan, Tina Ambani and Ritu Kumar, among others.

Khushii has already set the road map to begin a new chapter in Dubai in support of its charitable ventures in India & world over. Since its establishment in 2003, Khushii has contributed to health care, sustainability, rural development, remedial education, care for the aged, and investment in government infrastructure.

The Al Noor Centre for Children with Special Needs opened its doors on the 21st of November 1981, helping eight children. Today the centre takes care of 220 children with special needs. Its goal is to integrate its students into society and equip them with important life skills.

Dubai Event Management Corporation and Mohammed Bin Rashid Est. for Young Business Leaders Join Forces to Promote Local Talent and Entrepreneurs

2008-10-28T22:18:00.002+04:00

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

Etisalat showcases Microsoft Office Live Meeting at Gulfcomms 2008

2008-10-27T21:30:00.002+04:00

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