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.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a 10-member bloc representing a market of 570 million people, held its first-ever Gulf investor roadshow today in Dubai aimed at highlighting investment opportunities in a region with a collective GDP and total trade of US$1 trillion. The 5th ASEAN Finance Ministers Investor Seminar, hosted by Finance Ministers and senior Government officials from across Southeast Asia, was attended by hundreds of Gulf-based executives, including business leaders, fund managers and investors.




This is the first time ASEAN Finance Ministers have embarked on a Gulf roadshow, following similar events in London, New York, Singapore and Hong Kong over the past four years. Organised by the Ministry of Finance of Indonesia, with Barclays Capital serving as private-sector partner, the Dubai meetings aimed at attracting capital from the Gulf region into the economies of ASEAN included regional briefings, country presentations and panel discussions.




Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN, said: “Our meetings here in Dubai represent the first significant step in an exciting new direction – for the benefit of both the Gulf and ASEAN. We are entering a new era of enhanced partnership between these two regions, with tremendous synergy and complementarities for mutual growth and prosperity.”




On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly held in New York in September, the Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and ASEAN agreed to enhance their relations and cooperate in areas of finance, investment, tourism, healthcare, agriculture/food, energy, human resources and cultural exchange. That same month, the GCC Secretariat and ASEAN Secretariat entered into agreements to cooperate closely on economic, development, political and security matters.

Burooj Properties, one of the leading Abu Dhabi-based property developers and a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), has announced the launch of its new project on Al Reem Island – Burooj Crystal. The announcement was made on the sidelines of Cityscape Dubai, currently being held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, October 6-9.




Burooj Crystal is part of a cluster of towers called the City of Lights on Al Reem Island. At 184.85 metres, Burooj Crystal is the tallest among Burooj’s projects on the island.




The 48-storey tower has 322 apartments ranging from studio to 1, 2 to 3-bedroom apartments. It boasts spacious living spaces, has a dedicated mezzanine floor for retail and five podium parking levels with 409 parking slots.




A waterfront development, Burooj Cystal has the latest facilities management systems such as automatic temperature control, air quality control, lighting, waste disposal system, CCTV monitoring. 24-hour security, a multi-purpose hall, a health club with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, steam room, sauna and gym facilities are also included.




Adel Ahmed Al Zarouni, Managing Director of Burooj Properties, said: "Burooj Crystal offers the convenience of living beyond the bustle of the city with access to an elegant, urban lifestyle. This project is primarily meant for those looking for high quality living and those who appreciate the finer things in life.”




Burooj Properties’ stand at Zabeel Hall (ZH60) showcases the company’s latest projects on Al Reem Island including Burooj Terraces and Burooj Pearl, a 26-storey residential tower being developed near the Central Park on Shams Abu Dhabi.

Indian movie icon Shah Rukh Khan has joined forces with TSA Group, a major player in the UAE real estate market, to launch an AED 8 billion signature beachfront residential development in Ras Al Khaimah. Named after the superstar and with design inspirations provided by the globally acclaimed actor, Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard will be located on the picturesque Dana Island, Ras Al Khaimah, a project developed by master developer Rakeen.




Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard marks the first time that the Indian actor, regarded as the face of modern Indian cinema, has become associated with a property development. Shah Rukh Khan will work closely with the celebrity Los Angeles based architect Tony Ashai in the design concept of a world-class beachfront community comprising 10 premium residential towers and featuring a diverse range of lifestyle amenities.




The hero of all-time hits like ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’ – the longest running Indian film, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Devdas’ and most recently, ‘Om Shanti Om’ and ‘Chak De India,’ Shah Rukh Khan is respected for the energy he has brought to movies. His natural charm and wit have endeared him to billions of fans. Having proved his mettle in theatre before storming onto the dynamic world of Bollywood, the renowned actor has won numerous awards, and also further established his versatility as a television host, film producer and singer.




Announcing the project, Shah Rukh Khan said: “Indian cinema has enjoyed strong emotional ties with the UAE and Arab cine-goers for decades. The Arab world is Hindi film industry’s strongest foreign market. Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard is my tribute to the love and affection shown by the people of the UAE to Indian cinema. I believe that residential properties must be a true reflection of the aspiration of the Arab world, and my vision for the project is to make life a celebration. I have lent my name to the project and I intend to share and transfer my passion for design and living spaces into this world class community that residents will be proud of.”




He added: “TSA Group has a strong reputation in modern community developments, and when they approached me with the project, I was impressed with two aspects: their commitment to develop a truly world-class project, and the exotic location of Dana Island in Ras Al Khaimah, which gives us the freedom of space and creativity to think afresh and come up with an innovative and invigorating living concept. Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard is all about bringing people together to live in harmony – amongst each other and with nature.”




Scheduled for completion in 2012, Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard will have modern residences including specially designed studios, and one-and two-bedroom apartments and townhouses. Master planning by an international team of designers and architects will start shortly.




Shafi Toffic, President of TSA Group said: “With a fan base of over three billion people worldwide, Shah Rukh Khan is the most successful name in the movie industry globally. It is our honour to be associated with him to develop a premium, resort-style community on Dana Island, Ras Al Khaimah, a fast developing tourism and lifestyle destination offering peaceful pristine surroundings.”




Khan’s maiden real estate venture, which has been orchestrated in conjunction with Master Planners Consultants FZ LLC, also reiterates Ras Al Khaimah’s forward-thinking philosophy of supporting the development of premium lifestyle neighbourhoods and offering an address of choice.




“Proactive legislations and progressive policies on property development and ownership have helped Ras Al Khaimah to evolve as the region’s preferred investment destination. In this we are grateful of the leadership and direction of His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. Developments like Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard will help sustain growth in the property market as they bring in more variety, star power and investment. All buildings in the development will be LEED certified,” said Dr. Khater Massaad, Executive Chairman, Rakeen.




Tony Ashai, Principal, Ashai Design Corporation, USA, commented: “This project is very special to me because of Shah Rukh Khan’s involvement in the concept and design.”




Offering spectacular views of the Arabian Sea, Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard gives residents a range of lifestyle amenities including health and fitness facilities and a children’s arcade. The beachfront features piers and boardwalks, and will also be a haven for marine sports and leisure.




Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard will become part of the larger, high-quality living environment of Dana Island, which will eventually house several world-class hotels, a shopping centre and commercial complexes spread across 6.3 million square metres.




TSA Group will showcase the Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard at Cityscape Dubai 2008 running from October 6 to 9 at the Dubai International Convention Centre. The project will be featured at the stand no: ZG 20.

Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), under the honorary chairmanship of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the executive leadership of Chairman Albdulhamid Juma, announced additions to its programming structure, including new international consultants currently planning the Festival’s landmark fifth edition.




The 2008 festival will build on the exponential growth of 2007, when it experienced record breaking figures in industry and press registration, audience attendance and films showcased from around the world.




Masoud Amralla Al Ali will retain and expand his role as Artistic Director of the Festival, with increased creative authority over the Festival’s overall programme direction. As part of his vision for the future Al Ali announces the addition of the Muhr AsiaAfrica competition to reinforce DIFF’s commitment to supporting filmmakers on to an international level and cultivating growth in local and regional filmmaking. Nashen Moodley, Director of the Durban Film Festival and film journalist, has been appointed as Director of this competition.




Al Ali will be ably assisted by a qualified team of programmers including Simon Field, former Director of the Rotterdam Film Festival, will continue to contribute to the Festival’s programming as a Consultant.




Sheila Whitaker takes on the mantle of Director of International Programmes. A film veteran, Sheila, a renowned writer, jurist and consultant served as the Director of the London Film Festival from 1987-96.Programmers Hannah Fisher(Cultural Bridge), Uma Da Cunha, (Celebration of Indian Cinema) and Myrna Makeron, (Cinema for Children) will continue in their roles to showcase the best in international cinema.




Also assisting Al Ali in the Arabic Programming are two new members to the consulting team, Antonia Carver and Erfan Rashid.




Antonia is a programming consultant to the Edinburgh International Film Festival, a former writer on Arab cinema for Screen International and Editor of the international Arabian art journal Bidoun. Erfan Rashid is a widely recognized journalist and director with a number of documentaries in Arabic, English and Italian to his name. A consultant for many festivals and cultural events, Erfan is also Artistic Director of the "Mare di Cinema Arabo" festival in Messina.




The team also includes a strong Emirati element with Nawaf Al-Janahi, who is Arabic Programme Manager, and Saeed Al Dhahiri, Iman Al Omrani and Khalid Al Mahmood who have served as Assistant Programmers since 2006. All contribute to the Arab programming segment through their extensive knowledge and passion for film.




Philip Cheah has joined as Programme Consultant for the Muhr AsiaAfrica. He is a film critic and author/editor of Big0, Singapore’s independent pop culture publication, is a board member of NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) and is one of the Board of Directors of the Singapore International Film Festival. Alongside Philip is a team of scouts that cover the AsiaAfrica region, beginning with Pedro Pimenta for Africa, Shelly Kraicer for China and Hiromi Aihara for Japan.




The Festival is also introducing Animation as a special category among the Out of Competition offerings. The segment, to be programmed by Masoud Amralla Al Ali and Sheila Whitaker, will offer viewers the opportunity to sample latest trends in international animation and sense the diversity in the unique art form that is evolving rapidly with new technology.




Another pivotal element was the introduction of the inaugural Rhythm and Reels programme in 2007 to bring unusual and cutting-edge films together with live musical performances. This segment will be programmed by Masoud Amralla Al Ali and Dan Butkovich, Director of Festival Development.




“DIFF’s diverse programming consultants will continue to deliver innovative and universally important programming, following the festival’s mandate to foster inter-cultural dialogue which has established DIFF among other high profile festivals, attracting international support and attendance to firmly substantiate its place on the film festival circuit. Our programmers play a key role in this effort. Their expertise and incredible knowledge and passion for cinema elevate the festival to world-standard levels,” commented Masoud Amralla Al Ali.




The 2007 festival saw its greatest success, growing exponentially since its inaugural year to reflect record breaking figures in registration, box office sales and films showcased from around the world.




The dates of the landmark fifth edition of the Dubai International Film Festival are December 11-18, 2008.

In line with its strategic focus to enhance IP based Ethernet offerings, Etisalat today announced a significant restructuring of pricing for its IP Connect service reducing prices of rentals by almost 70 % for access links thereby giving businesses increased savings and the incentive to go in for a advanced Ethernet based IP connectivity network. The new prices effective started October 1, 2008.




Simultaneously, Etisalat has also introduced new one year contract prices for access links which are 15% lower than standard monthly contract rentals. Etisalat has also changed the billing frequency so that customers can now pay on a monthly rental basis rather than quarterly to reduce the burden on their cash flow.




Abdulla Hashim, VP, Enterprise Solutions, Etisalat, said: “new revised pricing and billing changes are meant to give our customers increased savings and flexible payment schedules. With this, businesses across the UAE can now reap the advantages of IP Connect which gives them a private and secure network that can offer flexible connectivity with speeds of upto 1Gb between offices nationally or internationally.”




He added, “Customers can now add new sites to their network, and be sure that IP Connect will match the scale of their operations, with costs no longer limiting their connectivity requirements”.




The IP Connect service is offered over Etisalat’s secure MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) network and offers customers the flexibility of direct inter-branch communication rather than branch to head office only. The service also allows dedicated performance to different types of traffic on the customers private network be it voice, video and data applications, by which businesses can prioritize voice and video over data transmission.




For more information customers can visit the nearest Etisalat business centre, contact their account managers or view the new tariffs on our website http://www.etisalat.ae/IPConnect

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), hosted about 100 guests from leading Chinese jewellery and diamond trade communities at a reception at the Grand Hyatt in Hong Kong recently. The reception served as a platform to announce and to officially launch the Middle East-China Diamond and Jewellery Summit (MECDJS), set to take place at the Atlantis Hotel, Dubai from November 8 to 9, 2008.




The first MECDJ Summit will focus on the consumer markets of the 21st century in the new world, and aims to enhance trade relationships across the entire value chain of the fast-growing diamond and jewellery industry between the Middle East and China. The Summit has received tremendous response from the manufacturing, trading and retail jewellery communities in the Middle East, China and Hong Kong.




The reception was hosted by Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre and senior officials from DMCC’s Diamond division and featured a presentation on the background and opportunities of this summit.




Top officials attending the reception included Lin Zhi Wei, Vice Director, Panyu Government; Madame Wang Wei Wei, Assistant Director, National Gemstone Testing Centre; Lawrence Ma, President, and David Pong, Chairman, Diamond Federation of Hong Kong; Addy Wong, Chairman, Hong Kong Jewellery Manufacturers Association; Charles Chan, Chairman, Hong Kong Jewellery and Jade Manufacturers Association. In addition, leading retailers such as Dr. Chen Yu Tung, Chairman, Chow Tai Fook Holdings; Vincent Chow, Chief Executive Officer, Chow Sang Sang; and Wong Wai Sheung, Chief Executive Officer, Luk Fook Holdings were also present during the reception.