Archive for May, 2009

Dubai Culture launches world?s first fashion show for designers with special needs

Dubai, 29th May 2009 (WAM): Under the patronage and presence of HH Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and in the presence of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Culture launched the first International Fashion Show for designers with special needs – the first of its kind in the world.

Under the theme of “Dubai makes Dreams Come True” the fashion show recognises that people with disabilities have much to offer and are capable of contributing to their local communities. It encourages people and communities to focus on a person’s achievement and abilities rather than their disability.

The aim of the fashion is to encourage positive attitudes towards people with disabilities, make the Dubai community a better place for everyone, sensitise communities on disability issues and improve their access to facilities.

The event attracted a huge audience of ministers, ambassadors and Emariti designers. The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority was thrilled at the supportive response given by the audience. It became evident that students with special needs have the urge and need for such exposure and socialization.

His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the DIFC and Managing Director of the Dubai Culture ‘&’ Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) said: “This show represents a leading endeavour to encourage and support talented designers with special needs, and is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minster of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as well as with Dubai Culture’s strategic objective of identifying and nurturing artistic talent in all segments of the community and creating cultural opportunities that contribute to the growth of our country.

”Dubai Culture’s support for this event also comes in line with the directives of Sheikh Majid to support initiatives that serve to encourage people with special needs across UAE society to express their talent”.
Saeed Al Nabouda, Chief Projects Officer at the Dubai Culture ‘&’ Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), said: “The Fashion Show is tailored to integrate individuals with special needs into the creative community. It represents an essential element of the authority’s efforts to support distinguished projects and concepts and shape them into actions in the cultural sector”.

Last year, the Dubai Culture ‘&’ Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) in collaboration with Rashid Pediatric Therapy Centre and The Events Agency launched the Development Program for Talented Special Needs Fashion Designers, which saw the participation of many individuals with special needs from the UAE and other Arab countries.

Mr. Ahmad Khoury, Founder of the Rashid Pediatric Therapy Centre, said that the centre strives to sponsor creative concepts that focus on the interests of individuals with special needs. Among these is the Fashion Show dedicated to highlight the innovation of this segment of society and tap into individual talent. He added: “The purpose of this Show is to prepare these talented designers to access the fashion domain, train them especially for this career and make new strides into a new horizon.” “The execution of this project required a collective and condensed work. We worked together under the umbrella of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) with enthusiasm and interest as success makes the project worth all the hard work and efforts we put into it. The Events Agency will continue organizing this show annually offering opportunities to the talented worldwide and opening the door to exchange experiences and knowledge with the neighboring countries, so that all the disabled benefit from this event”, Mrs. Noora Alrostamani, Chairman of The Events Agency said.

Abdulla Ibrahim bin Hussain, Director of Local Affairs for MKM Holdings commented “Wafi is proud to be a platinum sponsors for the first fashion show for talented special needs students, in conjunction with the Events Agency and the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. Wafi firmly believes in being an active member of the local community to reach out to those people who may be less fortunate, and it’s great for us to be able to support a project that will motivate students to enhance their position in society and develop their independence”.

He went on to say, “The programme is an ideal platform to empower selected students to develop and utilise their skills in the fashion world with the ultimate aim of increasing their self-confidence and assisting them to become known designers.” “I was inspired to come with the concept of enhancing the skills of talented designers with special needs by the opportunity given to me in 1983 to develop my intellectual capacities away from the boring technical style”, said Marwan Harzallah, the international fashion designer and supervisor of this project. “I have come across many undiscovered talented people with special needs who look for support to make their dream come true”.

Harazalla added,” Thus, I conducted a special workshop for some of them in collaboration with The Events Agency, specialized in unleashing artistic capacities in the fashion world, under the auspice of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, the official entity that supports culture and the development of programmes designed to enable all community segments”.

He concluded, “The project took two years and now the talented designers have become capable of bringing out the best they have. Definitely, history will recognize that Dubai is the first city in the world that has revived people with special needs in the world of fashion and beauty. In one word, the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has inspired many of them. Well done Dubai and congratulations on this achievement which had been unattainable dream without the authority’s support!” WAM/TF

DTCM Meets Touroperators and hoteliers to increase hotel occupancy

Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has held a meeting with the representatives of hotels, hotel apartments and major tour operators at the One and Only Royal Mirage to review DSS The Dubai Summer Surprise promotional campaign to boost the number of visitors and hotel occupancy in Dubai.

The meeting was attended among others by DTCM executive director media relations and business development Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman and DTCM deputy director visitors’ information bureaus, Ahmed Mohammed Hassan.

At the meeting Rahman outlined various initiatives launched by the DTCM to increase hotel occupancies and attract more visitors to the emirate during the summer months and rest of the year.

He said the department was working on a promotional campaign for the summer targeting visitors from Europe and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states under the title ‘Visit Dubai During Summer’.

The meeting also discussed a marketing plan for the UK, one of the top source markets for Dubai’s tourism industry.

Earlier last year, the department created a task force with experts and representatives of Dubai tourism industry players, to review the tourism market landscape and take appropriate measures.

Based on the inputs provided by the industry players and experts, the department took measures which reflected in hotel occupancies getting a boost even in the first quarter of 2009.

AED1 mn Etisalat Prize for Arabic Children’s Literature launched

Sharjah, 22nd May 2009 (WAM) In a move to preserve Arab children’s culture during a time of globalization and digital cultural revolution, the Arab Children’s Book Publishers Forum has announced the launch of the Etisalat Prize for the most distinguished Arabic children’s literature.

With one million dirhams in prize money, this award will become the most recognized award in its category, and the 2009 winner is expected to be announced at the Sharjah World Book Fair, scheduled for November this year.

The award highlights the importance of collaboration between governmental bodies focusing on Arab children, and educational and cultural institutions, and their significant contribution to the project for developing Arab children’s culture and promoting children’s literature. This project was launched in response to the challenges associated with the ongoing regional social transformation and digital technology-driven diverse and complicated educational resources.

The award recognizes the importance of book-based knowledge for children and the role it plays in stimulating the imagination, intellect and creativity of a child, building character and promoting human values. Children’s literature is the most significant tool available for preserving national identity, tradition, culture and heritage, and is the ultimate resource to bridge the gap between different cultures and civilizations.

Commenting on the occasion, H.E. Sheikha Bodour Al Qassimi, Founder and CEO of Kalimat Publishing, and honorary member of the Arab Children’s Book Publishers Forum, emphasized the role of institutions in growing children’s culture, and its role in promoting Arab culture, saying: “If the need for Arab cultural development is urgent, the need for developing the Arab children’s culture is more urgent, as building the child is the cornerstone for future growth.

“Etisalat has decided to play an effective role in human development in the UAE community through extending support and sponsorship to different organizations. This can then be made a real part of social and cultural reform programmes that aim to improve human skills and experiences, develop productivity, stimulate creativity, and help talented individuals achieve their full potential,” he added.

In addition to sponsoring the Children’s Book Award, Etisalat has covered the costs of the Arab Children Book Publishers Forum’s participation at Book Expo America (BEA) 2009, where a 225-book space pavilion has been designated for use by the Forum, while a catalogue that contains the names of member publishers and an introduction of each member publishing house was printed by the Forum.

A symposium with discussion opportunity will be conducted on publishing children books, with the list of speakers including H.E. Sheikha Bodour Al Qassimi, Dr. Amira Abu Al Majid and Dr. Najlaa Bashour. The symposium is planned to tackle challenges and copyright processes facing the publishing industry.

Exhibition space has also been designated for five Arab illustrators, and invitations to participate were sent out to five Arab Forum member publishers, while plans are in place to organize field visits for USA-based HarperCollins Publishers and Scholastic, and to study their experience in the publishing industry. Visits to two children’s bookshops, Bank Street Bookstore and Books of Wonder, where reading sessions will be organized for Arab children, are also scheduled.

At the end of the Expo, the Forum, in coordination with the Expo management, will donate the books in the exhibition to one of the centers that are visited by the Arab communities.

Abu Dhabi to hosts Maritime Security Conference on May 25

Abu Dhabi, 22nd May 2009 Abu Dhabi will host the biggest ever highest level maritime security conference from 25th to 26th May 2009. The conference will be held by the Navies of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and French Republic at the Armed Forces Officers’ Club in Abu Dhabi.

The conference is being organised by the Institute of Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA’), Conference will be convened under the joint presidential patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Excellency Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the French Republic.

UAE Foreign Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his French counterpart H.E Bernard Kouchner will be the keynote speakers at the opening session.

The strategic maritime security conference will gather dozens of military leaders and security experts from around the world in addition to over 500 VIP guests that will be invited from around the GCC region and other sisterly and friendly countries to attend, including many Government Ministers, Chiefs of Staff, and Naval Commanders.

The Maritime Security Cooperation Conference will have morning plenary sessions and afternoon working groups that would tackle various issues related to regional maritime security, including strategic multinational cooperation, the challenges of meeting current and future threats, and new technologies to bolster capabilities.

Other key areas to be discussed at the two-day event include terrorism and asymmetric threats, combating piracy and other illegal activities, responding to environmental disasters, disaster relief operations, the role international organizations, and the role of industry in meeting future capability requirements.

To register click here

Travel
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Laura Bekhit
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Belhasa travel-Dubai Media city
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Abu Dhabi heads to IMEX Imex With expanding business tourism: ADTA

WAM ABU DHABI, May 14th, 2009: Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) is to mount, along with 10 industry stakeholders, a strong destination business tourism proposition at the global meetings event IMEX, to be held in Frankfurt from May 26- 28.

Tour operators, Travel Agents, hotels and the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), will join the Abu Dhabi pavilion in a joint promotion aiming at establishing Abu Dhabi as The Happening Place For Business Tourism.’ At the show, ADTA and its partners will be staging one-on-one pre-schedule presentations to some of the 3,684 hosted buyers from 58 countries which have registered for the show. It will also host two Advantage Abu Dhabi Happening’ events on its stand to brief buyers on the inherent opportunities of its Advantage Abu Dhabi business tourism initiative which incentivises meetings producers to bring events to the emirate.

“The IMEX audience is particularly important to us as the lion’s share of the buyers come from our two key markets of Germany, which accounts for 22% of the buyers, and the UK, representing 13%,” explained Gillian Taylor, Business Tourism Manager, ADTA.

“With Advantage Abu Dhabi, the emirate has taken a lead in providing significant opportunities for business tourism organisers and clearly demonstrated its determination to be recognised as the region’s most pro-active and business tourism-friendly destination.” Advantage Abu Dhabi (AAD) is a three-year initiative with the ADTA as lead arranger. It is aimed at catalysing and seeding innovative and viable business events across 12 key economic sectors. The ADTA will lead-arrange financial and/or non-financial resources to enable meeting planners and exhibition and conference organisers to actualise new business events in Abu Dhabi.

Structured as a venture capital-type apparatus, AAD is designed to support the lucrative MICE segment to realise the direct tourism benefits it engenders and to ensure that the business tourism sector serves as an important growth pillar for Abu Dhabi’s long-term economic, social, human resource and infrastructure development goals.

Business event organisers with a viable proposal can apply to tap into the AAD Initiative, which lists financial grants, governmental endorsement, leadership patronage, cost rebates and marketing support among its main levers.

Meanwhile, modelled estimates released by ADTA show the destination received 80,000 international hotel guests last year directly attributable to the meetings industry.

The estimates show the international meetings hotel guest staying an average of 2.7 days in the emirate with each spending a trip average of US $1,839 (AED 6,750).

“This is by no means the full picture of the meetings industry’s contribution to Abu Dhabi’s economy as it does not take into account spend by the many UAE and regional visitors who make day trips to the emirate to attend its growing meetings portfolio. Also this vibrant sector delivers significant development and social benefits to the destination such as knowledge transfer, cross-cultural understanding and the identification of foreign direct investment opportunities,” explained Taylor.

Abu Dhabi’s business tourism profile is expanding with the emirate selected as the host venue for the 2010 World Ophthalmology Congress – the world’s longest established medical congress.

About ADTA: Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) was established in September 2004. It has wide ranging responsibilities for building and developing the emirate’s tourism industry. These include; destination marketing; infrastructure and product development and regulation and classification. A key role is to create synergy in the international promotion of Abu Dhabi through close co-ordination with the emirate’s hotels, destination management companies, airlines and other public and private sector travel-related organisations.

Dubai road projects will meet population expansion

WAM Dubai, May 15th, 2009 (WAM)–The Dubai Road and Transports Authority (RTA) has completed construction of 40 -50 per cent of the road projects in the emirate, revealed HE Matter Al , Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads ‘&’ Transport Authority (RTA).

“With current achievements, the RTA has reduced the emirate’s losses caused by the traffic jams to Dh4 billion from Dh5.9 billion”, he added.

He told Dubai TV in an interview yesterday that the traffic was not affected by the World Financial Crisis as the registered vehicles rose from 350, 000 to 1.1million, adding that the revenues of Salik (road toll) and the taxi revenues did not drop too.

“Easing of the traffic snarls felt by people in Dubai is attributed to the road projects and development of the public transport”, Al Tayer noted.

He underlined that the strategic plan for transport development will help Dubai to meet traffic flow even if the population of emirate increased to five million by 2020, indicating that the target of the road network infrastructure being implemented in Dubai is to serve 8 million people.

محمد بن راشد يزور معرض سوق السفر العربي . من وليد العارضة

دبي في 6 مايو / وام / قام صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم نائب رئيس الدولة رئيس مجلس الوزراء حاكم دبي رعاه الله اليوم بزيارة تفقدية لمعرض سوق السفر العربي الذي تنظمه دائرة السياحة والتسويق التجاري بدبي بالفترة من الخامس الى الثامن من مايو الجاري

وقد تجول سموه في ردهات واجنحة المعرض لاكثر من ساعتين رافقه خلالها سمو الشيخ حمدان بن محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم ولي عهد دبي اذ اطلع صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم على مقومات ومرافق السياحة في الوطن العربي والدول المشاركة في المعرض بدورته السادسة عشرة.

كما اطلع سموه من القائمين على منصات العرض التي توقف عندها على المشاريع المستقبلية الخاصة بالسياحة وصناعتها التي تشكل موردا رئيسيا من موارد الدخل الوطني للعديد من الدول العربية ..وتجاذب سموه أطراف الحديث مع عدد من العارضين الذين يمثلون نحو 69 دولة عربية واجنبية بالاضافة الى أجنحة دولة الامارات التي تشارك مؤسساتها وشركاتها المتخصصة في قطاعات النقل والفندقة والسياحة الصحراوية والعلاجية بكثافة.

وقد رحب صاحب السمو نائب رئيس الدولة رئيس مجلس الوزراء حاكم دبي بالعارضين ..مؤكدا لهم اهتمام دولة الامارات وتركيزها على صناعة السياحة بكل مكوناتها كونها تمثل قطاعا مهما من قطاعات الاقتصاد وتسهم الى حد كبير في تنشيط الحركة التجارية والمالية في الدول التي تهتم بهذه الصناعة الحيوية.
وأشار سموه في معرض اشادته بالزيادة المطردة في عدد المشاركين بالمعرض عاما بعد عام الى أهمية الاستثمار في القطاع السياحي الذي بات من القطاعات الاستثمارية المجدية اقتصاديا وثقافيا واجتماعيا لان السائح يأتي الى بلادنا ليتعرف قبل كل شىء على عادات وتقاليد شعبنا وكرم الضيافة والقيم العربية الاصيلة التي يحظي بها السائح ابتداء من شركات الطيران الوطنية مرورا بمطارات الدولة او معابرها الحدودية والفنادق والخدمات الراقية ودفء الاستقبال في مختلف الجهات ذات الصلة وحتى على مستوي افراد المجتمع.

واعرب سموه في نهاية الجولة عن ارتياحه للمشاركة المحلية والعربية والعالمية المكثفة في سوق السفر العربي ..واصفا نسبة الزيادة في عدد العارضين هذا العام بأنها تنبىء بمستقبل واعد للسياحة وصناعتها وقدرتها على بناء جسور التواصل الحضاري والثقافي بين مختلف شعوب ودول العالم.

رافق سموه في الجولة ..سمو الشيخ أحمد بن سعيد آل مكتوم رئيس هيئة دبي للطيران الرئيس الأعلى لمجموعة طيران الإمارات وسعادة محمد ابراهيم الشيباني مدير ديوان صاحب السمو حاكم دبي وسعادة الفريق مصبح راشد الفتان مدير مكتب صاحب السمو نائب رئيس الدولة رئيس مجلس الوزراء حاكم دبي ومعالي الدكتور عمر محمد احمد بن سليمان محافظ مركز دبي المالي العالمي وسعادة خالد بن سليم مدير عام دائرة السياحة والتسويق التجاري بدبي وسعادة هلال المري مدير عام مركز دبي التجاري العالمي الى جانب عدد من رؤساء الدوائر والمؤسسات الحكومية والخاصة في الدولة.

Free Tickets for Dubai World Championship (Golf)

Leisurecorp and sporting legend Greg Norman today announced that tickets to one of the hottest events on golf’s calendar The Dubai World Championship (to be held from 19th November 2009) will be free to all.

The move ensures that golf fans and those new to the game alike will now be able to see the climax of the inaugural Race in Dubai, which has been called ‘the world’s most anticipated golf course development’, for free. For those who want to experience the Dubai World Championship in luxury, two outstanding hospitality packages have also been announced.

Greg Norman, designer of the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, where the Dubai World Championship will take place this November, visited the course this week to oversee some of the finishing touches to the course, ahead of the tournament. Norman commented:
“The Dubai World Championship promises to be a new highlight on the golf and sporting calendars. The course is looking spectacular and I am thrilled that when we open the doors on November 19th, everyone will be able to enjoy the tournament for free. This course deserves a special tournament and what could be more special than having 60 of the world’s top players battle it out in front of a huge crowd”.

Fans are encouraged to register early for the free tickets Two hospitality packages have been announced – both offering five-star facilities overlooking the 18th green, and one offering the unique experience of being amongst the first to play the Earth course, following the Championship.

Abdul Wahid Al Ulama, Vice Chairman, Leisurecorp, said:”When we conceived the Dubai World Championship with our partners at The European Tour, we established a set of founding principles which would ensure that we created new experiences for a number of audiences – the players, sponsors, media and, of course, spectators.

“In line with the shared vision of The European Tour and Leisurecorp, the move to offer free entry for all is a gesture in the tournament’s first year to encourage all golf fans from both the region and overseas to descend on Jumeirah Golf Estates in November and watch what promises to be a thrilling crescendo to the inaugural Race to Dubai. Hopefully, it will also encourage those new to the game to come to the Championship and experience what this great sport has to offer. Whether you are a pro golfer or a novice, seeing the world’s top 60 players battle it out at the magnificent Earth course is something not to be missed.”

The Hospitality Pavilion overlooking the 18th green of the Earth course, places spectators at the heart of the action. With gourmet catering in a dedicated dining and lounge area, an open-air balcony and a wide range of other benefits, The Hospitality Pavilion is ideal for client entertaining and networking opportunities with Dubai’s business leaders, or simply enjoying the golf in style.

TheUltimate Golf Package includes two day’s hospitality admission and the opportunity to play on the Earth course, in Championship conditions, in the week following the tournament.

Abdul Wahid Al Ulama added:“The hospitality options we are offering include a range of benefits, not least some of the best seats in the house, overlooking the 18th green. The Ultimate Golf Package will tempt those ‘golf fanatics’ who are looking for a unique experience – walking in the footsteps of the legends that they have just been watching battle it out for the Championship. It is a rare treat to have the opportunity to be amongst the first to play on a course designed by Greg Norman and inaugurated by the likes of Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and Rory McIllroy. This is a ‘must-do’ for any keen golfer”.

Hospitality Pavilion package includes:

· Course and Hospitality Pavilion admission
· Access to premium dining and lounge facilities overlooking the 18th green
· Five-star food and drinks served throughout the day
· TV monitors displaying all the action from around the course
· Priority car park pass
· Official tournament programme and draw sheet
· Exclusive Dubai World Championship merchandise
· Dedicated Event Management team

Price AED 2,800 per person (minimum 4 persons), per day

Ultimate Golf package includes:

· Two days hospitality admission on Saturday and Sunday (Hospitality Pavillion) including
· Access to premium dining and lounge facilities overlooking the 18th green
· Five-star food and drinks served throughout the day
· TV monitors displaying all the action from around the course
· Priority car park pass
· Official tournament programme and draw sheet
· Exclusive Dubai World Championship merchandise
· Dedicated Event Management team
· Be a pro for a day – play the Earth course following the Championship

Price AED 8000 per person (minimum 2 persons), per day

For more information on free tickets and hospitality ticket sales please contact us to book the above packages and additional tours and enetertainment

Bigfoot Golf Tours