In its endeavour to boost the adoption of mobile broadband in the UAE, Etisalat today announced spectacular new Wasel and postpaid mobile broadband packages offering more than 100% extra bandwidth at significantly reduced costs. Specially customised for the Mobile internet users (customers who surf the Internet through their cell phones, including iPhone) and the Mobile broadband users (customers who connect through mobile broadband devices like Notebooks/ Netbooks and 3G Data Card), these packages aim to provide convenient and flexible Internet access, anytime, anywhere to the user, as per their requirements. Etisalat has been supporting the cause of advancing mobile broadband penetration in the UAE, by providing 3G coverage to the 99% of the populated areas of the UAE.
 
Mobile Internet Package: Etisalat has upgraded its broadband packages and has increased the bandwidth capacity multifold, without altering the price. For e.g., mobile customers can now enjoy 10 MB instead of 2MB, 100 MB instead of 50, and 1GB instead of 120 MB, all at the same price. These packages will provide convenience and flexibility to the mobile users (including iPhone users) to surf the Internet through their cell phones and to enjoy various other applications like music and video downloads, video streaming, YouTube, facebook, online gaming, navigation, and instant messaging.
 
Customers can choose the package option most favourable to them, as per their usage, from various available plans.
 
Commenting on the new packages, Essa Al Haddad, Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat, said," Etisalat is delighted to launch new mobile broadband packages. Like many of our pioneering initiatives, this service also reinforces our commitment to provide the best value and a variety of options for our customers to choose from. Etisalat believes that mobile broadband is the future of the internet, with the ever increasing need to 'feel connected' all the time. This need is further accentuated with the increasing proliferation Smart phones introduced by Etisalat in UAE. Etisalat will continue to add new elements and services to its mobile broadband initiative to boost its adoption in the UAE and create the best possible mobile multimedia and broadband experience for its customers."
 
Al Haddad also pointed Etisalat's successful completion of phase 1 of its roadmap to bring the next generation mobile broadband connectivity to the Middle East. In trials, in the UAE, the telco has recorded average download speeds of 20.37Mbps, using the HSPA+ technology.
 
Etisalat customers can enjoy the high speed internet access across 99% of populated areas in the UAE, through Etisalat 3.5G HSDPA technology that provides download speed up to 7.2 Mbps.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) today welcomed a French delegation of 15 industry professionals and exhibitors from various French organizations to its stand at the Airport Show in Dubai, to share its vision for a new business and logistics park in Abu Dhabi.
 
The delegates were invited to view a scale model of the park, which is on display for the very first time. The park, which will occupy a 12 square kilometre site adjacent to the Abu Dhabi International Airport, will offer one stop investor-friendly services, world-class corporate amenities and a strategic location on the crossroads between East and West.
 

 
The Logistics Park is being developed in two phases. The construction of the first phase commenced in 2007 and is expected to be complete in 2010. The second phase is expected to begin in 2011 for completion in 2015.
 
In this regard, Mrs. Sheikha Al Maskari, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at ADAC, stated: “The Logistics Park at Abu Dhabi Airport is an intrinsic element of the overall ADAC master plan and aims at promoting diversified private sector investments into the Emirate and to generate non-aeronautical revenues”.
 
“The Park will offer a wide choice of facilities to meet all investors’ business needs, including light industrial units, commercial offices, and plots of land for custom development to suit the investor’s specific needs. These facilities are already attracting interest from businesses in the aviation, aerospace, MRO logistics, Freight Forwards and 3PLs sectors and Cargo and Transportation companies”, Al Maskari added.
 
Speaking about ADAC’s strategy for development and corporate governance, Al Maskari stated that "ADAC plays a vital role in the diversification of Abu Dhabi’s economy, as outlined in Abu Dhabi Plan 2030".
 
“Over the next four years, projects worth $255 billion will be delivered in the Emirate, and these projects, which include construction, tourism development, and new industries, will further drive demand and traffic to and from the Emirate. We are meeting this demand with our diversified portfolio of airport assets; Abu Dhabi International Airport, Al Ain International Airport, Al Bateen Executive Airport and Sir Bani Yas Island Airport”, Al Maskari concluded.
 
The Airport Show is being held at the Airport Expo Dubai from 19 - 21 May 2009. The Airport Show is one of the largest airport construction, operations, technology and services events in the world. In 2008 the event showcased 515 suppliers from 41 countries, and brought together more than 5,000 industry professionals from 81 countries, occupying over 17,000 m2 of exhibition space.

Dubai's little fashionistas charmed their audience at the Kiddie Fashionista 2009 Grand Finale held on May 14, 2009 at The Dubai Mall. Kiddie Fashionista 2009 is a combination of modeling and dance workshop activity for kids aged 6 to 11 years, grooming them into little beauty queens.
 
This event was conceptualized by City Vision Advertising, while GAP, the world's most iconic brand, is the title sponsor.
 

 
The four week long grooming workshop culminated into the Grand Finale where the little girls put up a fascinating performance of dance and catwalk at the Fashion Catwalk at The Dubai Mall.
 
Speaking of Kiddie Fashionista 2009, Kiron Nair, Director, City VisioAdvertising said, "The workshop has been very enthusiastically received by both kids and parents alike. The focus of Kiddie Fashionista 2009 was to create an environment which is fun and allows the young girls to develop a sense of confidence. The workshop also provided a platform for the girls to enjoy and explore the field of modeling, dancing and all the excitement that goes with it."
 
"It has been an exciting four weeks grooming the lovely girls. We really appreciate the tremendous support The Dubai Mall and GAP has provided us by helping the girls identify their talent and passion at a very young age," she further added.
 
The girls were selected via auditions held under the guidance of an experienced panel of judges. More than 220 kids were registered to participate in the workshop, of which 32 girls across various nationalities were selected. The comprehensive grooming workshop provided a platform for the kids to learn the nuances of catwalk, dance and modeling.
 
 

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, today, formally opened The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination.
 
The highlight of the opening ceremony was the unveiling of The Dubai Fountain, the world’s tallest performing fountain, which performed to the melody of an Emirati song, Sama Dubai. Replicating the graceful movements of Emirati dance forms, the performance of Sama Dubai was a tribute to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
 
The song highlights the world-class vision and leadership qualities of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and celebrates the success of Dubai. The performance of Sama Dubai is unparalleled in the history of fountains – a modern engineering marvel choreographed to the rhythm and beats of an Emirati song.
 
The spectacular opening ceremony, held by the waterfront promenade of The Dubai Mall, was attended by dignitaries and high-ranking officials, and joined by thousands of visitors to the mall, who were treated to a full showcase of the fountain’s musical performances.
 
Mr Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, said that the opening ceremony, with the special performance of Sama Dubai, is Emaar’s tribute to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. “His Highness inspired us to think bigger and better, and today, we are fulfilling his vision of growth for Dubai.”
 
He added: “The formal opening of the mall will continue to energise the retail and tourism sector of Dubai, and now, with the unveiling of The Dubai Fountain, we are also adding to the tourist attractions of the city.”
 
The Dubai Fountain will now perform daily, with the performance repertoire including Sama Dubai; Baba Yetu, an award-winning song in Swahili; the Arab world’s top-selling dance number Shik Shak Shok; and the signature piece of world-renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, Con te partiro (Time to Say Goodbye).
 
Set on the 30-acre Burj Dubai Lake, the fountain shoots water jets as high as 500 ft (150 metres), equivalent to that of a 50-storey building. The fountain is 900 ft (275 metres) long and has five circles of varying sizes and two central arcs. It has been designed by California-based WET, the creators of the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas.
 
Over 6,600 WET Superlights – the most advanced incandescent large fountain lights available today – and 25 colour projectors create a visual spectrum of over 1,000 abstract attractions. The beam of light shining upward from the fountain can be seen from over 20 miles away, and will be visible from space making it the brightest spot in the Middle East, and quite possibly in the entire world.
 
Marking the revelry of the opening ceremony, the mall also organised an array of entertainment events to add to the verve of the month-long Festival@The Dubai Mall, a shopping and entertainment extravaganza.
 
Since its soft opening in November 2008, The Dubai Mall has welcomed several thousands of visitors, including UAE residents and tourists. Situated in close proximity to Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building, The Dubai Mall is spread over an area of 12 million sq ft. It has a gross leasable area of 3.77 million sq ft and is planned to have over 1,200 retail stores including 160 food & beverage outlets. Already, more than 900 retail outlets have opened including several flagship stores and Middle East debuts of global brands. For the convenience of visitors, the mall has 14,000 car parking spaces.
 
The mall’s extensive array of leisure attractions makes it one of the largest entertainment destinations in the region too. The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is a key attraction for families, and has over 33,000 aquatic animals. The aquarium also features the world’s largest acrylic viewing panel and a walk-through tunnel. The Olympic-sized Dubai Ice-Rink and The Waterfall, which traverses the four levels of the mall, are also popular among families.
 
Later this year, the mall will open the region’s first KidZania® – an innovative children’s edutainment concept; SEGA Republic – a high adrenaline indoor theme park; and the 22-screen REEL Cinema with a total capacity of 2,800 seats.
 
The Festival@The Dubai Mall will continue through May 29, 2009, with the retail outlets offering several bargain deals for customers. They also have the opportunity to win millions of dirhams in prizes through daily and weekly draws, and a grand draw for AED 1 million at the end of the festival. Other attractions of the Festival@The Dubai Mall include an innovative Bid 2 Win auction, Grand Bentley raffles and mall-wide entertainment. Since the beginning of the festival, the mall has hosted nearly a million shoppers, and retailers have recorded a significant increase in sales - a clear indication that consumer confidence in Dubai’s economy is on the rise.
 
The Dubai Mall is a centerpiece of Downtown Burj Dubai, the 500-acre mega-development by Emaar Properties, described as the new heart of the city.
 

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Federal National Council Affairs, chaired a meeting to discuss a draft of the annual report on the UAE's efforts to combat human trafficking.
 
The report, published by the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, lists the progress and concerns pertaining to anti-human trafficking measures adopted during the last year.
 
The 13th meeting of the committee also approved various draft memorandum of understanding (MoUs) specific to combating the crime that are to be signed between the UAE and other countries. These MoUs are part of the national strategy to combat human trafficking by leveraging global cooperation, the Chairman of the Committee, Dr Gargash, said.
 
The minister also stressed the need to strengthen training programmes for all those involved in the fight against human trafficking. Currently, training is being imparted in the cooperation with the International Training Centre for Human Trafficking Prevention in Belarus, among others.
 
Dr Gargash instructed the committee to speed up the launch of the media campaign in the UAE's airports, which is aimed at spreading public awareness about the crime. "The campaign is of great importance to limit the number of people who become victims of human trafficking,” he said.
 
During the meeting, the committee also welcomed new members from federal and local general prosecution departments, as well as the Emirates Association for Human Rights. The committee members praised the government's decision to expand the strength of the committee, stating that the move will further energise and efficiently support its activities.
 
Furhter, the Committee approved an anti-human trafficking website, which will be officially launched soon, and discussed other important issues, including reviewing letters from Dubai Charity Association for Women and Child Care.