After reaching the finals in Dubai, she also places for Doha Finals
Mc Donald's not welcome in U.A.E. ?
"LONDON - Prince Charles suggested Tuesday on a visit to the United Arab Emirates that banning McDonald's fast food was crucial for improving people's diets, a British news agency reported.
Charles made the comments while visiting the Imperial College London Diabetes Center in Abu Dhabi for the launch of a public health campaign, The Press Association reported.
"Have you got anywhere with McDonald's? Have you tried getting it banned? That's the key," Charles was quoted as asking one of the center's nutritionists.
A McDonald's spokesman, Nick Hindle, called the remark disappointing. He said other members of the royal family "have probably got a more up-to-date picture of us," alluding to reports that Charles' son, Prince Harry, was spotted eating a chicken burger at McDonald's in 2005."
see news.yahoo.com
UAE releases cancer vaccine
The UAE is the first country in the Middle East to release the HPV (Human Papilloma virus) vaccination “Gardasil” according to Dubai Health News. It protects against the two strains of HPV that are responsible for approximately 70% of Cervical cancer cases in women. According to UAE’s Cancer Registry Program, the annual average of the reported cervical cancer cases has tripled in 2005 when compared with that from 1998-2004.
Gardasil has come under attack in the USA as religious and parent groups resist mandated vaccinations of young girls. Meanwhile, in Australia where the vaccine was developed, the government is planning on spending over $436 million on programmes to vaccinate young girls with an ongoing cost of under $50 million per year.
The UAE’s Ministry of Health has approved the vaccine and it is available now, though no government subsidies are offered. The treatment consists of 3 injections over a 6 month period with a total cost of approximately 1860 dirhams and is available through most GP's and medical centres.
dubai police salary rising
Congratulations for police staff for the new salary raise.
Lieutenant -General 69,000 AED
Brigadier General 54,800 AED
Brigadier 45,500 AED
Colonel 40,000 AED
Lieutenant Colonel 35,000 AED
Major 29,500 AED
Captain 25,000 AED
First Lieutenant 22,000 AED
lieutenant 20,000 AED
Senior managers allowance but the percentage hasn't been mentioned
Tickets allowance between 2,000 to 55,000 AED annually depending on the rank
Cars allowance between 200,000 to 350,000 AED for senior managerial ranks
Work environment allowance between 0% to 40% of the basic salary (which is 50% of the total salary)
Lower ranks get between 6,500 to14,800 AED
LIVE FROM DUBAI JUSTIN HENIN
Justin Henin leading set 1 with 4-3.
Update : Set 1 Justin Henin leading set 1 with 5-3.
Update : Set 1 Justin Henin leading set 1 with 5-4.
Update : Set 1 Justin Henin WINS SET ONE with 6-4 against Mauresmo.
...
Update : Set 2 started 0-1 for Mauresmo.
Update : Set 2 Justin takes the 2nd game, making the score 1-1.
Update : Set 2 Game 3, Mauresmo, score 1-2.
Update : Set 2 2-2. and 2-3. (two fast games) and 3-3. and 3-4. and 4-4.
Update : Set 2 Mauresmo leading 4-5. and 5-5. and 6-5 (3 break balls for JUSTIN)
Update : Set 2 Justin breaks Mauresmo 6-5 ! and own serve to finish it.
Update : Set 2 3 MATCH BALLS JUSTIN.
...
GAME SET MATCH !
JUSTIN HENIN WINS DUBAI WTA "6-4 & 7-5" CONGRATULATIONS JUJU
Justine Henin in finals
Justine Henin managed to win the semi finals against Svetlane Kuznetsova (WTA 5) scores 1-6, 6-4 and 6-0 ! Her opponent in the Dubai WTA final will be Amélie Mauresmo (WTA 3) or Jelena Jankovic (WTA 11).
Update : opponent in final = Amélie Mauresmo (WTA 3)
Celsius: Earth's First Calorie Burning Soda
Celsius raises metabolism on average by 12% and significantly increases calorie-burning and energy for up to for three hours. Each bottle of Celsius has only 5-10 calories. (visit www.celsius.com for more info )
Hosni no Likey Free Speechy
GULF NEWS reported yesterday that an Egyptian Blogger was tossed in jail for calling Hosni Mubarak a "dictator."
Personally, if it were me I would have removed the "tator" syllable -- but then again -- I'm not particularly known for my social graces...
Personally, if it were me I would have removed the "tator" syllable -- but then again -- I'm not particularly known for my social graces...
CARACAL
Caracal International, the UAE's first defence hardware manufacturing firm, has been launched to tie in with the ongoing Idex 2007 event in Abu Dhabi. Hamad Khalifa Al Neyadi, the MD of Caracal, said the firm is set to manufacture its first products, the Caracal F and Caracal C pistols. The company has also registered more than ten patents worldwide, in order to develop further products in the future.
Caracal has also won a Dhs18 million deal to supply the UAE Armed Forces with a total of 10,000 pistols.
Official Website you find here
gulfnews readings
Link - Gulf News - Nation's Mother tongue loses in the race of languages
Languages are like computer operating systems. The more people who use them, the more useful they become and the more people who adopt them. English has become the Windows of languages - And similarly loved and hated. Individual decisions on adoption affect everyone.
Culture and language are closely interwined. What happens to a culture when a language falls into disuse? Certainly many of those in the culture will feel threatened. And when threatened there is a desire to place blame. Does the blame reside in the encroaching language? In fellow members of the culture who have switched to the new language?
Can the native language be protected without closing the culture to economic exchange with the outside world?
dubailand
The animal residents of Dubai Zoo in Jumeirah will soon be enjoying a slightly more comfortable life. Dubai Municipality have unveiled plans to build a new 500 acres zoo at Dubailand. Over one thousand animals currently live in cramped conditions in Dubai Zoo, a facility that has been repeatedly criticised by animal rights activists and residents over the years. Plans for the new zoo include a night zoo, safari and educational facilities. The zoo is expected to be complete within 18 months.
Shakira at Dubai Autodrome
Columbian pop sensation Shakira will perform at the Dubai Autodrome on March 23 as part of her Oral Sensation Tour. Around 25,000 people are expected to attend the concert.
Palm Jumeirah new design (trunk part)
Developers Nakheel have amended the design of the Palm Jumeirah’s trunk. The planned 2 km canal will now be replaced by a landscaped park. Chief Executive Chris O’Donnell said, ‘In evolving The Palm Jumeirah into one of the world’s premier resorts for living, tourism and leisure we are constantly looking at ways to add to the amenity of life on the island. The new park will be an experiential feature, creating beautifully landscaped areas and a lively space for residents to engage, play and relax whether that’s a leisurely stroll through the park or a picnic with the family.’
Registration of freehold property begins
The Dubai Land Department has commenced registering freehold property in the names of owners. Thousands of properties are expected to be registered in the coming weeks, starting with apartments at the Dubai Marina. The process is part of the Real Estate Registration Law that was issued in March 2006. Before this properties could only be registered in the names of UAE and GCC citizens. Foreign owners only possessed a contract of sale from the developer and could only transfer ownership via the developer.
dubai upside down tower !
"Amlak Al Madina Real Estates" announced the launch of the (Upside Down Tower) in Dubai with a total cost of AED 800 million (US $218 million). The tower consists of two buildings next to each other one of them is an upside down replica of the other.
Each tower is a 28-floor with an area of 30,000 squared foot. Not only that the tower will look inverted from the outside but it will look inverted from the inside as well. Mentioned examples are palm trees, other indoor plants, water fountains, elevators, and even the numbering sequence of floors.
The construction of the tower will start October 2007 and expected to end in October 2010.
** Not much English coverage but in the Alit Tihad Arabic newspaper they also mentioned it.
what a country !
As a practical matter it is a good thing that genetics will still be taught given its connection to high level of birth defects due to the high rate of "consanguineous marriages among UAE nationals" (Centre for Arab Genomic Studies, Dubai, Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Science). Surely blood tests before marriage will continue to be required.
** I mean, how high can you go... It's only in christian and western world that people just fuck and spread like animals, with all the birth problems as a result. Hell, In Europe they even allow (and open debates and discussions about it) to let 2 mongols, handicapped and or retards have sexual intercourse... This is a good thing, to prevent DNA crashing making the offspring F1 generation worthless. People always want a 'child', they are not so smart. They don't want 'a child' they want 'a healthy child'. Insane level of brainpower, let's first check if we can make 'healthy offspring before marriage' ... what a world.
** It would be a good thing to do it with the kings and queens of other countries ;-) and the president of the us and a.
Toll roads are coming to Dubai. Is that Salik?
Quoting Gulf News:
From July this year, motorists using Shaikh Zayed Road and Al Garhoud Bridge will have to pay a road toll. As part of the first phase of the introduction of the toll system in Dubai, the stretch of Shaikh Zayed Road, starting from the Fourth Interchange [near Mall of the Emirates] to Al Garhoud Bridge will be a "toll-controlled area.""The toll system will be called Salik which in Arabic means clear," said Maitha Obaid Bin Udai, Chief Executive Officer of the Traffic and Roads Agency at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).She said Salik has been chosen as the brand name because it reflects the logic behind the toll system, which is to ensure smooth traffic flow....Motorists crossing Al Garhoud Bridge or entering Shaikh Zayed Road from the Fourth Interchange will be charged Dh4 per entry.The charge will be in both directions and round-the-clock. Toll gates will be installed at both locations. Also, a motorist who enters from Al Garhoud Bridge and exits from the Fourth Interchange and vice versa, will have to pay at both locations...."The main idea of introducing Salik is to reduce congestion and for better traffic management on Shaikh Zayed Road, one of the most crowded highways in the city, and to make motorists use alternate routes and other mode of transportation," said Maitha.
It's not just Dubai that's looking at tolls to solve traffic congestion problems. See here, and here.
Ferrari Theme Park in Abu Dhabi
Price Tag 450M €. Scheduled to open in 2009. 24 attractions, including a G-Force Tower of 70m. Also a lot of the ferrari shares are disappearing in the Dubai Hands.
"
A Ferrari theme park? This sounds rather naff...
We've already seen Ferrari's licensing skills produce a range of merchandise from sunglasses to laptops - and now it's taking on Disneyland with the prancing horse's very own theme park. The doors will open in 2009 in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, and CAR Online has obtained the architect's drawings revealing the plans for the first time.A large slice of desert on the island of Yas will be reclaimed to host the development, which will include 24 attractions, including a 70-metre high G-Force Tower and what's claimed to be the world's first F1-branded twin rollercoaster ride, allowing races between carriages.Budding Schumachers can try their hand at go-karting and dune buggy racing - and there are bound to be plenty of opportunities to snaffle up Ferrari-branded goodies, too. The plans by Benoy Architects even reveal plans for the Ferrari F1 pitlane experience"
A Ferrari theme park? This sounds rather naff...
We've already seen Ferrari's licensing skills produce a range of merchandise from sunglasses to laptops - and now it's taking on Disneyland with the prancing horse's very own theme park. The doors will open in 2009 in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, and CAR Online has obtained the architect's drawings revealing the plans for the first time.A large slice of desert on the island of Yas will be reclaimed to host the development, which will include 24 attractions, including a 70-metre high G-Force Tower and what's claimed to be the world's first F1-branded twin rollercoaster ride, allowing races between carriages.Budding Schumachers can try their hand at go-karting and dune buggy racing - and there are bound to be plenty of opportunities to snaffle up Ferrari-branded goodies, too. The plans by Benoy Architects even reveal plans for the Ferrari F1 pitlane experience"
More Info Here :
abu dhabi projects value 1 trillion DHS
"Dubai: The total value of announced and on-going projects in Abu Dhabi has inched close to Dh1 trillion, currently at Dh991 billion ($270 billion), a report says.
Abu Dhabi, the largest among UAE's seven states, is by far the wealthiest and in 2005 had the highest per capita income in the world at $46,147. It has proven oil reserves which are estimated to last for another 150 years and currently pumps 3.5 million barrels of oil per day generating in excess of $90 billion annually," it said.
Major players including Aldar, Sorouh, Escan, Tourism Development and Investment Company, Reem and Tamouh Investments are currently involved in projects estimated at over $60 billion.
The list of projects include the $14.7 billion Al Raha Beach development by Aldar Properties, the $27 billion Saadiyat Island by TDIC, $2.5 billion Shams Abu Dhabi by Sorouh, $1.4 billion Reem Island by Tamouh Investments and $3.5 billion Najmat Abu Dhabi project by Reem Investments.
The latest amendment to Abu Dhabi Property Law will help the emirate to attact more investment into the reality sector."
http://gulfnews.com/business/Construction/10103864.html
AQUA ?
A recently published report revealed that an estimated $100 billion in investments will be needed over the next decade for water and desalination projects in the GCC.With only one percent of the world's renewable fresh water resources and five percent of its population, "the provision of adequate water supply is one of the key issues facing governments across the region today," the report said according to Gulf News.Twenty-four million cubic meters of water per day, or approximately 70 percent of the UAE's daily water supply comes from desalination plants. "The scale of the demand is illustrated by the fact that the UAE consumes more water per capita than any other country with the exception of the US and Canada."
Read more
Huge as it sounds, it will beinteresting to see if mega-sized corporations would want to do such investments in this region. Ofcourse investments in WATER won't be quiet similar to investments in OIL unless we are going to have a GCC Wide Water Exchange.
dubai lynx
Dubai Lynx, the inaugural advertising and communication awards honouring creative excellence across the Middle East and North Africa has handpicked the jury members from creative teams across the world.Which means that once again Dubai is going to host some of the world top personalities of the advertising world, after it made history last year by having the largest ever World Congress of the International Advertising Association (IAA).[Read more... Marketing, Advertising & Creativity in the UAE]
lol the Marina is melting away
What used to be part of the promenade that made for a pleasant stroll along the Dubai Marina was breached when the excavation wall at the site of the Infinity tower gave way--noon yesterday. (Photo from Skyscrapercity.com forum.)
Camelicious
Camelicious, product of Emirates Industry for Camel Milk & Products, is said to have many health, beauty and wellbeing benefits. According to their website, Camelicious contains naturally occurring moisturizing and anti-ageing properties and is closes in composition to human milk. Camelicious is locally produced to the EU health and hygiene regulations.'Camel milk has always been a traditional staple of the Bedouins throughout the Middle East, and our research has now scientifically proven that it has incredible health benefits,' said Hareb Juma Bin Subaih, General Manager of Emirates Industry for Camel Milk & Products.'Emirates Industry for Camel Milk & Products was initially established as a pilot project in 2000 with just 20 camels. It's an exciting time for us to be finally launching Camelicious to the market. We are convinced that camel milk will not only appeal to local taste-buds, but that the wider community will also benefit from its life-enriching properties,' Subaih concluded. According to some sources, Camelicious currently available in Union Co-operatives across the UAE since early this week and most likely to be available by the end of this month in other supermarkets such as Spinneys and Choitrams.
Ferrari New AD Facility
UAE Ferrari dealer Al Tayer Motors plans to open a new showroom and after sales service centre in Abu Dhabi by April, Gulf News reported. Abu Dhabi accounts for 40% of Ferrari sales in the UAE, according to the report. Ferrari kicked off its 60th anniversary in the emirate last month. The show will go to Dubai then to 50 countries where the brand is sold.
Burj Dubai Delay
Work on the $900m Burj Dubai tower is behind schedule after cladding contractor, Switzerland-based Schmidlin, went bankrupt last year, Gulf News reported. An Emaar official said work was 'a couple of months' behind schedule. A new cladding contractor has been hired. The building is scheduled for delivery in Q4 2008.
self destructing emails
Bigstring.com allows you to take control of your email. Until now, email messages that you send stay as a permanent record on countless mail servers, inboxes, delete boxes etc. Bigstring.com's patent pending technology allows email users to recall, modify or set an expiration date for emails that have already been sent. These emails can be erased, modified or expired even if the recipient has read them. The email is not "deleted" from the recipient's computer.
The message that the email refers to is dynamically generated, and therefore you can have full control over it. A few days ago, BigString announced the beta release of video email that can be programmed to self-destruct after a specific number of viewings or a set time. "This self-destructing feature allows individuals and companies to maintain control of their intellectual property,"stated Darin Myman, President and CEO of BigString Corporation. "For individuals it can prevent the forwarding of personal videos that can become embarrassing fodder for the Internet. Entertainment companies and musicians can now send a once-viewable video of a performance or song. Videos that are time sensitive can be set to self-destruct at a specific time or day."
Meningitis @ Dubai
The Ministry of Health has issued a warning against meningitis after four children in Dubai contracted the disease. The youngsters, aged between five and seven-years-old, are currently being treated at the Al Baraha Hospital. The children all live in the same building in Deira, said health officials. Read article
no alcohol plz plz
A British man yesterday pleaded guilty to molesting a Dubai Airport employee by slapping him on the buttocks - three times. The trial, which started yesterday, heard that the 30-year-old British visitor, AJ, who is charged with molestation and consuming alcohol, groped his victim as he was going through airport security after arriving in Dubai on December 18. Read article
ADIA TOWER ABU DHUBAI sinking away :S
One of the most high profile buildings in the capital, the ADIA tower situated at the Abu Dhabi Corniche remains unoccupied long after completion allegedly due to a 'tilting basement' besides problems with wiring and power supply.The unique building, shaped to resemble 'shifting sand-dunes' and featuring a double-glazed facade curtained with automatic blinds took more than 5 years to complete and cost Dhs 500 million. But if the problems remain unresolved (reportedly it has sunk 3 inches and has had frequent fires due to short circuits), who knows, some world-renowned project consultants and architects might give us the world's first leaning tower where people actually work.
Saadiyat Island in the NYT
The New York Times has a long, interesting and positive report on the plans for a cultural center on Saadiyat Island.
With once-proud cities like Beirut and Baghdad ripped apart by political conflict bordering on civil war, Abu Dhabi offers the hope of a major realignment, a chance to plant the seeds for a fertile new cultural model in the Middle East... [I]n Abu Dhabi, Mr. Krens [,head of the Guggenheim Foundation,] has found a client whose interest runs deeper than collecting tourist dollars. Sheik Sultan bin Tahnoon al-Nahyan, chief of the tourist and development authority, says the emirate’s desire is to create a contemporary cultural locus with little precedent in the region.“What is happening is unfortunate in places like Beirut,” Sheik Sultan said. “We want it to come back to its old days.” Ultimately, he added, the emirate hopes that Abu Dhabi’s arts district will become a cultural hub of the Middle East and a starting point for cultural exchange...
Role of Dates in UAE Society
| A short documentary about the date fruit. This is part one of the six part series. | |
Dubai Ports World in the news again
One if by land, two if by sea. Dubai Ports World tries an inland invasion of the US this time. Hotel Washington - next to White House.Story over at Emirates Economist.
Etisalat reports 38% increase in earnings
Emirates Today reports that for 2006, Etisalat's net income was Dh5.86 billion, up from Dh4.25bn the year before. Etisalat's revenue went up by almost 27% to Dh16.29bn and Q4 profit increased 44% to Dh1.47bn compared to Q4 2005.
dubai and camels or is that cows
DUBAI SYSTEM:
You have two cows. You create a website for them and advertise them in all the magazines. You create a Cow City or Milk Town for them. You sell off their milk before the cows have even been milked to both legit and shady investors who hope to resale the nonexistent milk for a 100% profit in two years time. You bring Tiger Woods to milk the cow first to attract attention.
QATAR SYSTEM:
You have two cows. They've been sitting there for decades and no one realized that cows could produce milk. You see what Dubai is doing; you go crazy and start milking the heck out of the cows in the shortest time possible. Then you realize no one wanted the milk in the first place.
SAUDI SYSTEM:
Since milking the cow involves nipples the Gov't decides to ban all cows in public. The only method to milk a cow is to have a cow on one side of a curtain and a guy milking the cow on the other or to hire females and train them to milk the cows ... the debate is still going on.
BAHRAIN SYSTEM:
You have two cows. Some high Gov't official steals one, milks it, sells the milk and pockets the profit. The Gov't tells you that there is just one cow and not enough milk for the people. The people riot and scream death to the Gov't and carry Iranian flags. The Parliament, after thinking for 11 month, decides to employ ten Bahrainis to all milk the cow at the same time and so cutting back on unemployment.
LEBANON SYSTEM:
You have two cows. One is owned by Syria and the other is controlled by Hizbollah.
EGYPTIAN SYSTEM:
You have two cows. Both are voting for Mobarak!
AMERICAN SYSTEM:
You have two cows. You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows. Later, you hire a consultant to analyze why the cow dropped dead.
FRENCH SYSTEM:
You have two cows. You go on strike because you wanted three cows.
RUSSIAN SYSTEM:
You have two cows. You count them and learn you have five cows. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. You count them again and learn you have 2 cows. You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka.
BRITISH SYSTEM:
You have two cows. Both are mad.
AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM:
You have two cows. You give one to the Americans and one to the British and you go back to shagging sheep!
DIC Pull Out of Liverpool Deal !
"Liverpool are on the verge of following Manchester United by slipping into the hands of an American billionaire after Dubai International Capital, dismayed at what it considers unacceptable procrastination by the Premiership club's board, decided to withdraw its takeover bid.DIC, the state-owned private equity firm given exclusive rights to negotiate a takeover and scrutinise the club's books last month, announced yesterday it was "disappointed" but felt compelled to break off talks. The decision is understood to have been taken by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and imposed on DIC's chief executive, Sameer al Ansari, who had issued a 12-hour ultimatum to Liverpool to make a decision in its favour."Full Ariticle : The Gaurdian
Dubai says no to drugs
Mariam Shafeek, 21, was arrested at Dubai Airport last Thursday after being found with 0.2g of marijuana in her purse. The penalty for marijuana possession in the United Arab Emirates is four years jail, regardless of the amount....Detective Sergeant Greg Murton, of the Christchurch police drug squad, said even 0.5g of marijuana was a "tiny amount". He said it would be about the size of a 5c piece and would be enough for only "half a marijuana cigarette".-- more here
dubai employment
Figures released by the Dubai Statistics Centre reveal that the emirate has an unemployment rate of 2.6%, one of the lowest in the world. The Dubai Labour Force Characteristic Survey 2006 also shows that population has increased by 7% to reach 1,370,714 of which 78% are male and 22% female.
happy newyear
Today is the last day of the year 1427 & tomorrow marks the beginning of a brand new year. Unlike other new year celebrations elsewhere, there is no concept of "party till you drop dead" in the life of a true muslim. Instead, we are supposed to do a comprehensive self audit because one more year has decreased from our life. The question we should ask ourselves is whether we are leading our lives the way our Creator & His Messenger wanted? If not, then this is the right time to initiate changes in ourselves to help us become better human beings & better muslims.
Burj Dubai skyscraper under construction here reached its 100th story on Tuesday
Jim Krane of AP:
The Burj Dubai skyscraper under construction here reached its 100th story on Tuesday, nearly two-thirds of the way in its relentless climb to become the world's tallest building.With 3,000 laborers adding a new floor nearly every three days, the $1 billion spire is days away from surpassing a neighboring skyscraper that is currently the tallest in the Middle East, Dubai-based developer Emaar Properties said.. . .The Middle East previously held the record of the earth's tallest structure for about 43 centuries. Built around 2500 B.C., Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza dwarfed the competition at about 481 feet until 1889 when the Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris at a height of 1,023 feet, including the flag pole. Read the whole thing.
DCCI figures
UAE is Britain’s largest export market. The exports from United Kingdom to the GCC totalled more than Dh37 billion for the first nine months of 2006, a report from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) said. The UAE was Britain's largest export market, accounting for Dh20.7bn of this, while Saudi Arabia was second with Dh8.57bn.Motorists who do not yield to emergency vehicles will face strict action, warned the Civil Defence. Brigadier Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director of Dubai Civil Defence, said not yielding to fire engines and other emergency vehicles hinders rescue operations and costs tens of millions of dirhams which are invested to reduce the response time. "The authorities concerned will take strict action to check the lack of cooperation by some motorists who do not realise the losses they are causing,"
Emirates To Launch Non-Stop Flights To Newcastle (10 January 2007)A massive boost for travellers and cargo shippers throughout the UK’s North-east region, with a new non-stop connection to Dubai.
Middle East’s Richest Running Event Just Got Richer (9 January 2007)A brand new Toyota Yaris Sedan will go to the first marathon runner home
Dubai will be the world's safest city by 2010, when a "smart system" project to be established over the next two years will protect 100,000 establishments, a civil defence official said.The project depends on an electronic monitoring system on every building that will trigger the fire extinguishers and report accidents, once they happen, via satellites linked to the civil defence operations room.So far, 540 buildings, 1,500 houses and 390 flats in two Dubai Marina have the smart system. There will be some 4,600 installations of this kind, in more than 8,000 buildings, including apartment towers, said the official.Direct alarm systems are obligatory for all categories of buildings, whether new or old, and they will be installed provided the basic electronic infrastructure is available.
new rent cap ruling
"H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, has issued a decree on rent allowance in the Emirate of Dubai.The new rent allowance was decided after taking into consideration Decree no. 2 of 1993 and its amendments, which set up a special committee to look into and settle disputes between landlords and tenants, and Decree no. 14 of 2005 which set a ceiling for any rent increase in the emirate.According to the new decree, rent allowance shall not exceed 7% of the annual rent charge of the property. This shall apply to all rent contracts that are to be renewed in 2007 on condition that no rent increment was made on that property in 2006. No rent allowance increment shall be made in 2007 on properties whose contract had already been signed in 2006, Article 2 of the new decree said.The decree tasked the special judiciary committee in charge of settling disputes between landlords and tenants to come up with the appropriate measures for the implementation of the new decree, which takes effect from the date of its issuance, January 1, 2007 and is to be published in the official gazette."more here and here
Emirates Millionaire Show
H.H. Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, the Chamberlain of the Presidential Court opened yesterday the first Emirates Millionaire Show (EMS 2006) during an exceptionally alluring ceremony held at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, also the venue for the three-day show (December 14th - December 16th).H.H. Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan said that that there are 59,000 UAE millionaires who own 1,500 billion dirhams (US $408 billion) and the number of UAE millionaires is growing %5 each year because of the rapid growth of UAE economy according to Emirates Today Arabic newspaper. He also added that %60 of those millionaires (35,400) are women.
Read Also:Emirates Millionaire Show 2006Glitter, glamour and fashion's most luxurious product lines unveiled at Emirates Millionaire Show 2006 (AME Info)
Ferrari 599 GTB ?
Ferrari is pleased to invite you to an exclusive reception to celebrate the unveiling of the 599 GTB, Ferrari's most powerful V12-engined production car, in the presence of the famous Italian artist Enzo Naso, Official Ferrari licensee. pictures here
we need "momentum" i guess
"Far more of a concern is the diagonal drilling going in the Saudi side of the Al Sheba/Shebeih/Zararah oil field. "
There is a treaty between UAE and Saudi re: exact border, but it was never made public, so no one other than UAE and Saudi government know for sure where the border is.In practice, there are internal security checkpoints in each country well inland of the border, and anything in between is basically empty wasteland.
I was working in “Shaybah oil field” last year (KSA side), on the well heads themselves, and there was a clear KSA – UAE border; an existing fence that has been renewed by UAE at that time. The fence was very close so that we could walk and touch it if we want.Although I am not a petroleum engineer, but I can confirm that there was not any diagonal drilling across the borders. I am only talking about “Shaybah” oil field because I was physically there one day. I know nothing about other oil fields shared between UAE and KSA, but I am quite confident that there is not such thing between the two countries. By the way, there is a nice map for this area on Google Earth. The desert there is very different…
Intresting stuff if you ask me...
Crude Oil
62.30$
-1.13$
fools of today the kings of tomorrow . . . remember
UAE considers cut in dollar reserves
By Peter GarnhamMon Oct 30
The United Arab Emirates, the second-largest Arab economy, signalled on Monday that it might cut its holdings of dollars by almost half, highlighting a recent trend of reserve diversification away from the US currency.
Sultan bin Nasser al-Suwaidi, the governor of the central bank of the United Arab Emirates, told a meeting of central bankers from Gulf states in Abu Dhabi that the bank wanted eventually to lower the dollar's share of its foreign currency reserves to a range of 50-90 per cent. Currently the UAE holds 98 per cent of its $25bn foreign exchange reserves in dollars and 2 per cent in euros.
"It is our investment policy to diversify," said Mr al-Suwaidi. "We are still waiting for the appropriate time."
Mr al-Suwaidi said that the central bank was still planning to convert as much as 8 per cent of its dollar holdings into euros - a scheme it first proposed in March amid fears that the US currency was set to depreciate. END
Mining Metals Oil & Gas Congress Dubai
http://events.onlinebroadcasting.com/minellc/103106/index.php?mode=1&sel_date=2
Mining Metals/Oil & Gas Congress Dubai 2006October 31 - November 1, 2006
Eid Mubarak
The Prophet said, "The keys of the unseen are five and none knows them but Allah: (1) None knows what is in the womb, but Allah: (2) None knows what will happen tomorrow, but Allah; (3) None knows when it will rain, but Allah; (4) None knows where he will die, but Allah (knows that); (5) and none knows when the Hour will be established, but Allah."
camel milk chocolate
An Austrian chocolate maker has joined forces with an Arabic camel farm to create a new delicacy - camel milk chocolates.
Vienna-based Chocolatier Hochleitner took six months to develop the treats using milk from the Al Ain Camel Farm and Dairy in the UAE.
Company head Johann Georg Hochleitner said camel's milk was a good alternative to cow's milk because it was lower in fat and sweeter.
"We have combined camel's milk from the farm in Al Ain with honey from Yemen and have developed a healthy and delicious new type of chocolate," said Hochleitner.
The first samples were made in Vienna although the partners plan to build a production plant in the UAE and will invest in another 2,000 camels.
The proposed manufacturing plant is expected to come into production in June 2006, and will have a capacity of 50 tons of camel chocolate per month.
Hochleitner and and his Arabic partners plan to target wealthy customers staying in luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Source : ananova
dubai murder burj al arab hotel
A Russian millionaire was killed in an alleged shootout, while another man was seriously injured in the incident that took place at the Burj Al Arab Hotel here in the small hours yesterday.The victims, according to a hotel source, were guests. Unconfirmed reports said the millionaire was staying in one of the suites. Two men, known to him, entered his suite and shot him dead in the course of a dunken brawl, these reports said.Executives at Burj Al Arab declined to comment on the incident, and so did Anna Bleacker, Director of Communications and Public Relations for the Jumeirah Group.Source: KT
Places of Worship
Islam is the official religion in the UAE. Around 16 per cent of the local population is Shi'a Muslim and the remainder Sunni Muslims. While Dubai is the most multicultural and therefore most tolerant of the emirates and other religions are respected, it is still a Muslim state.The faithful congregate five times a day to pray and you will hear the call to prayer being sung from local mosques all over Dubai.Tourists need to be extra sensitive if they are visiting during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, when Muslims fast during daylight hours to fulfil the fourth pillar of Islam. Ramadan last approximately one month but the time of year varies each year as it is determined by the lunar calendar (the dates move forward by approximately 11 days each year).Owing to its relative tolerance, Dubai has a variety of Chritian churches and Hindu temples, listed below.
The Arabic Evangelical ChurchPO Box 9316DubaiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 344 2509
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsPO Box 53770DubaiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 395 3883
CSI – Parish ChurchPO Box 6365DubaiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 337 2111
Emirates Baptist Church InternationalPO Box 53810DubaiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 349 1596
Holy Trinity C of E Church PO Box 7415DubaiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 337 0247
International Christian Church of Dubai PO Box 8684DubaiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 344 0828
Marthoma Syrian Church Of Malabar (Dubai Parish)PO Box 2591Jebel Ali FZDubaiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 884 5233
New Covenant Church PO Box 48732DubaiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 335 1597/8
Saint Francis of Assisi RC ChurchPO Box 51200Jebel AliDubaiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 884 5104
Saint Mary's RC Church PO Box 51200DubaiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 337 0087
United Christian Church of Dubai PO Box 8684DubaiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 344 2509
Other Emirates
Abu Dhabi Arabic Evangelical ChurchPO Box 4006Abu DhabiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 2 443 4350
Evangelical Community ChurchPO Box: 4006Abu DhabiTel +971 4 2 446 4563
Indian Evangelical ChurchPO Box 15497Abu DhabiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 2 446 3043
Saint George’s Orthodox ChurchPO Box 883Abu DhabiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 2 446 4564
Saint Joseph’s Catholic ChurchPO Box 54Abu DhabiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 2 446 1929
Saint Andrew’s Episcopal ChurchPO Box 262Abu DhabiUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 2 446 1631
Al Ain The Arabic Evangelical ChurchPO Box 15497Al AinUnited Arab Emirates
Tel +971 4 3 722 3337
Sharjah
Filipino International Christian ChurchPO Box 9115SharjahUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 6 538 6339
The Marthoma ChurchPO Box 2106SharjahUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 6 567 4876
St Gregorious Orthodox ChurchPO Box 2229SharjahUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 6 566 9622
St Mary's Syrian ChurchPO Box 26832SharjahUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 46 566 3384St Michael's Catholic ChurchPO Box 1745SharjahUnited Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 6 566 2049
etisalat wins two prizes
UAE incumbent Etisalat, which is undergoing a massive change in culture and market outlook in the face of the looming entry of competition, was rewarded with two prizes. The judging panel deemed Etisalat’s improved customer care credentials to be the best in the region this year, and also considered the operator’s overall business strategy worthy of selection as the overall operator of the year. [more]
Dubai needs more ... sand !
Apparantly not only is Dubai running out of oil, it is also running out of sand...
"It is a process that has been duplicated up and down the coast of Dubai since the launch of the original Palm island five years ago. Today, dredgers like the Ham 318 are removing more than one million m3 of sand from the seabed of the emirate’s coastal waters every week – and the process is likely to continue for the next five years, when the reclamation of the Dubai Waterfront project is due to complete. But after that point, there will not be enough sand left within the territorial waters of Dubai to allow for any more island building, according to dredging companies who have spoken to Construction Week."-- read more HERE . It is strange to think about it, a desert with no more sand.
etisalat launces weyak
Etisalat has announced yesterday the launch of Weyak, the country’s first comprehensive and bilingual portal fully accessible over Internet and mobile devices, exclusively for its customers.Weyak, which means ‘With You’ in Arabic, is designed to offer the best and most relevant community content to people living in the UAE, along with services that are highly personalized and secure. It can be reached on www.weyak.ae for Internet and “mobile.weyak.ae” for mobile devices.The fully customizable content and services portal includes the latest entertainment services and news from around the nation and around the world, Islamic content, and community resources ranging from e-mail, blogs and discussion forums to shared photo albums, downloadable content and gaming.Etisalat customers using conventional Internet connections or GPRS-enabled mobile phones will be able to subscribe to the Weyak portal for free through their existing user IDs and prepaid or post-paid mobile numbers. Customers seeking premium content to download can pay for it securely over their existing connections.To access Weyak from a mobile phone, consumers can send an SMS with the message ‘a weyak’ to 1010, and will immediately receive setup instructions.Read Also:Etisalat unveils Weyak, UAE's first virtual community (AME Info)
Dubai & Christian Churches
Discussion possible : Why are catholic churches in the Middle East not allowed to have bells and a tower, it's like building moskees in other country without tower ?
Dubai Evangelical Church Centre is a partnership organization between two ongoing multinational Christian Churches in Dubai. These two churches are the United Christian Church of Dubai (UCCD) and the Arab Evangelical Church of Dubai (AECD).
To learn more about these these two charter member DECC churches, visit their page.
aqua king
Which of the following countries consumes the most bottled water on a per person basis?ANSWERS: A. United States B. United Arab Emirates C. Mexico D. Italy...
B. United Arab Emirates is not correct.
The 2.6 million people of the United Arab Emirates are the third-largest consumer of bottled water on a per person basis, taking in 163.5 liters per person per year. This is more than Saudi Arabians, who drink 87.8 liters per year and the Lebanese, who drink 101.4 liters per year.This means that the United Arab Emirates' per person water consumption is nearly seven times the global average of 24.2 liters per person per year . More here...
dubai gold
http://www.ipsnews.net a mine of world news from which I gleaned the follwoing informationA survey conducted by Sarwat Abdul Razzak, director of Dubai's ARY gold and jewellery firm, reveals that shoppers in the UAE spend, 30 times more on gold than in the rest of the world. South Asians constitute 70 percent of buyers, followed by East Asians with 22 percent. Arab and European consumers make up four percent each. The survey, covered 3,200 people across the country. An average person in the UAE buys 30 grams of gold annually compared to the global average of less than one gram. About 350 outlets in the Gold Souq display about 20 tonnes of jewellery at any given time. Some five million Indians work in the Middle East countries and each time they fly home they are certain to carry along some gold, either as family investment or as jewellery that will contribute to a dowry. With increasing affluence and lowering of customs duties, Indians have been flying to Dubai in increasing numbers just to buy gold jewellery in a market where caratage is assured.Shopkeepers say that there has been a 30 percent drop in sales ever since prices skyrocketed recently -- reaching nearly 80 dirhams (around 22 US dollars) per gram about two months ago. prices (per gram) have dropped to around 65 dirhams (about 18 dollars) now Gold and silver jewellery is the third biggest contributor to the economy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), after construction and petroleum.According to the Gold Fields Mines Survey (GFMS), the British industry watchdog, consumption of gold continues to rise in both global and regional markets despite high prices. Dubai imported 525 tonnes of bullion worth 10.5 billion dollars last year, which is projected to double in five years.
new book sheikh mohammed
A visionary's extraordinary missionReviewed by Abdul Ghafar Hussain, Special to Weekend ReviewShaikh Mohammad's book provides an understanding of Dubai's past and presents stimulating ideas for future growth.- "I like people who candidly open their hearts while talking to me and say what they want fearlessly and straightforwardly. How can leaders learn from their mistakes if people would always tell them what you are doing regarding so and so is good while they hide another judgement?"- "I like to exchange honest points of view with people. I am open to criticism which may be our guidance towards rightness."- "A venture is an idea. If we would not find a new idea we do not need the venture. Then it will not be according to the global standards we have adopted."Full feature.
Free Zones
These vast designated business districts, housing around 2,500 companies, offer huge incentives like 100 per cent ownership for foreign businesses, no import duty or corporate tax, and leasehold land ownership.
Dubai Airport Free Zone AuthorityTel +971 4 202 7000www.dafza.gov.ae
Dubai Internet City (DIC)Tel +971 4 391 1111www.dubaiinternetcity.com
Dubai Media City (DMC)Tel +971 4 391 4555www.dubaimediacity.com
Jebel Ali Free Zone AuthorityTel +971 4 881 5000www.jafza.co.ae
sitting in car with lady = illegal ?
'Emirates Evening Post' a seemingly obscure newspaper, with a not-so-remarkable editorial content, has again raised some uncomfortable questions, albeit unintentionally through their 'Ask your Lawyer' column.A man and a woman, not legally related(can be friends, colleagues etc) are "not supposed to sit together in a car, or go for movies, or to restaurants etc.. " says the matter-of-fact lawyer to a bizarre question.Wonder why some half-dressed male and female models clinging together in a showroom opening of an international brand as seen on a popular newspaper doesnt make the cut.
dubai palm
The Palm Jebel Ali is the middle-sized island of the three Palm Islands (Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira). It is located on the Jebel Ali coastal area of the emirate of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The unique man-made palm-shaped island will consist of a trunk, a crown with 17 fronds, and a surrounding crescent island that will form a water-breaker.
The Jebel Ali Palm is more of an entertainment destination for both adults and children, which caters to both residents and tourists. The island will also be 50% larger than the Palm Jumeirah, and will include six marinas, a 'Sea Village', a water theme park and water homes built on stilts between the fronds and the crescent. Construction began on the Palm Jebel Ali in October 2002.
dates are good for you
The idea about writing a post about Dates came after reading a news story in Al Bayan about UAE President donating 400 tons of Dates to various muslim countries. This is an annual affair here in UAE before the advent of Holy Month of Ramadan. According to the article, this year the dates will be sent both by air & land to Lebanon, Syria, Somalia, Iraq, Jordan, Sudan, Yemen, Mauritania, Afghanistan, Thailand & Indonesia.Date fruit provides approximately 3,000 Calories per Kg while Orange gives you 480 Calories, Banana 970 Calories & Apricot 520 calories for the same quantity. According to the website of Al Marfa Dates Factory:
Dates are free from cholesterol and have very low level of fats(0.2%) and sodium . Thus, eating of dates is important to prevent heart and blood veins diseases. Besides, regular eating of dates by pregnant women guarantees easy delivery and maintenance of the health of mother and child before and after delivery.Date fruit being good for pregnant women reminds me of the story mentioned in Quran about the birth of Jesus. It is mentioned in Chapter 19, verses 23 - 26.
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said: "Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of sight!"
Then [the babe Jesus or Gabriel] cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not! Your Lord has provided a water stream under you;
"And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you."
"So eat and drink and be glad, and if you see any human being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Beneficent (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.'"
If you want to read more about the fruit, you can check the following two sites:
Date Palm R & D Program of UAE University
Saudi Dates market
Dubai Car Rental
Car Rental
Most major hire companies have offices at the airport (12 companies listed below have 24-hour outlets there) and at hotels.Before renting a car, check the smallprint, especially the clause relating to insurance cover in the event of an accident, as this can vary considerably from company to company.Drivers must be aged over 21 to hire a small car, or 25 for a medium (two-litre) or larger 4x4 vehicle. You’ll need your national driving licence (an International Driving Permit is recommended, although it is not legally required). You’ll also need your passport and one of the major credit cards.Prices range from Dhs77 per day for a small manual car, to Dhs1,000 for something like a Lexus LS430. Motorbikes are not available for hire in Dubai.
AutoleaseTel +971 4 224 4900www.autolease.com
AVISTel +971 4 295 7121www.avisuae.com
BudgetTel +971 4 224 5192www.budget.com
CarsTel +971 4 224 5524
Diamond Lease Tel +971 4 220 0325
EuropeTel +971 4 224 5240
HertzTel +971 4 224 5222www.hertz.com
Fast Rent a CarTel +971 4 224 5040
PatriotTel +971 4 224 4244
ThriftyTel +971 4 224 5404www.thrifty.com
United Car Rentals Tel +971 4 224 4666
Fuel stationsAt the time of writing, the cost of petrol was Dhs4.75 a gallon; so you should expect to pay less than Dhs60 to fill your tank. There are 24-hour petrol stations on all major highways. Most petrol stations also have convenience stores selling snacks and drinks.
ParkingMany areas in the city centre have introduced paid parking in a bid to reduce congestion. Prices are reasonable (Dhs1 or Dhs2 for a one-hour stay, depending on location), but this hasn’t made it easier to secure a parking space. Paid parking areas are operational at peak times (generally from 8am to noon and 4pm to 9pm), and it’s free to park there outside of these hours and on Fridays or public holidays.If you park illegally or go over your time limit, the penalty charge is Dhs150, increasing to Dhs165 if you don’t pay within 14 days. Generally your car hire company will pay them for you and charge them to you at the end of your lease.Particular black spots include the warren of streets in ‘old’ Bur Dubai, the stretch of Sheikh Zayed Road between the Crowne Plaza and Shangri La hotels and most of Deira.Parking in shopping malls is free, but if you visit any of them on a Thursday or Friday evening expect huge queues and delays, particularly at the City Centre mall.Most hotels have extensive parking facilities for visitors, including valet services.
Road signs Road signs are in both English and Arabic, which makes matters easier for the Western visitor, but the sheer scale of the American-style highway system (up to five lanes on either side at some points) means you have to stay alert, especially at the junctions on Sheikh Zayed Road that have multiple exits.
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