Posts Tagged ‘UAE’

UAE volunteers scale Mount Kilimanjaro summit to raise funds for anti-Malaria campaign

SHARJAH, March 14th, 2010: A group of volunteers from the UAE led by Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al-Thani have reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, in support of an international campaign to fight Malaria and other contagious diseases.

The group pledged to raise awareness on the diseases by struggling their way up to the high summit.

Malaria is the leading cause of death for children in Tanzania. Worldwide, a child dies every 30 seconds. An estimated 20 per cent of the world’s population mostly those living in the world’s poorest countries is at risk of contracting malaria. Malaria causes more than three hundred million acute illnesses and kills at least one million people every year. Ninety per cent of deaths due to malaria occur in Africa, south of the Sahara, and most deaths occur in children under the age of five, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)

Climb Kilimanjaro

Images of Dubai & the UAE

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Journey with our team of photographers along golden beaches under a pastel sunset, or deep into the mesmerising sands of the desert. View architectural details that make the UAE one of the most visually thrilling urban environments in the world, and dive undersea to encounter the reef creatures who live there. Join us in marvelling at the diversity of astounding locations throughout the seven emirates.

Images of Dubai & the UAE

Life in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is the second largest city in the UAE and serves as a seat for UAE Government. It has grown to be a cosmopolitan city and is one of the most advanced cities in Arab today. Being the capital of UAE, it is the center of political, industrial, cultural and commercial activities of the country. The number of jobs in Abu Dhabi is huge and the lifestyle offered is excellent, thus, making it one of the best Gulf cities for expatriates to work in. It is always suggested that if one is planning to acquire a job in Abu Dhabi or in any other Gulf city, one should gather more information about the city’s culture and lifestyle. One needs to know about the kind of accommodation, transportation system, cost of living, education for children, city whereabouts, important locations, etc. before arriving in the city. It becomes more vital to be conscious of the know how of the city if one relocates with family, in order to settle down comfortably and adapt to the city’s requirements. Abu Dhabi has a great strategic importance in UAE and enjoys nearly 9% of world’s oil reserves.

The economy of the country is thus heavily dependent on oil and gas industry. Most of the people who wish to join a company in Abu Dhabi land up with a job in oil and gas sector. It being the largest of all industries, the foreign workforce has grown considerably in the last ten years. Employment options in other sectors are also coming up like jobs in banking, jobs in hospitality, jobs in IT and jobs in healthcare. A large number of trained and skilled personnel are hired in such industries from across the world, chiefly from countries like India, Philippines, UK and other European nations. The presence of varied nationalities in the city gives life in Abu Dhabi a cosmopolitan touch and an eclectic appeal. One can apply for Jobs in Abu Dhabi through Gulf news classifieds or even online through recruitment companies, consultants and agencies.

Abu Dhabi is a ninety minutes drive from Dubai but is much more peaceful than the Dubai state. It is a beautiful Middle Eastern city with a lot of vibrancy and dynamism. Abu Dhabi offers a welcoming atmosphere to the foreign workforce by presenting a modern yet culturally focused lifestyle. It is a perfect place to spend time with your family under warmth and luxury. The climate is generally pleasant and the bright sun can be seen throughout the year. Temperature is mildest from October to April with scorching heat and high levels of humidity in summers. The cities in Gulf like Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, etc are popular among expatriates for their lucrative jobs with high salaries and welcoming lifestyle. The cost of living in Abu Dhabi is not very high since facilities of accommodation and transportation are generally sponsored by the employer.

The only mode of travel in the city is by road, one has to either hire a cab or take a bus to reach other parts of the city. One can even buy own vehicles as buying and selling of cars is convenient in Abu Dhabi. The office PRO offers great help in providing details of the life in Abu Dhabi. For accommodation, the only option available to expatriates is of renting the property. This is because the government discourages the outsiders from buying property in the city unlike in Dubai. It is recommended that before taking up Abu Dhabi jobs, one must check if accommodation is paid or not as living on one’s own can turn out to be an expensive deal. Abu Dhabi is a safe city for women but they are advised to dress modestly to avoid inviting unnecessary attention. It, in fact, provides various sources of recreation with an active night life that lets one enjoy movies, clubbing, games or some other interests. The crime rate of the city is also very low. Abu Dhabi can be an ultimate place to live and work on one’s own term and conditions.

Dubai And Abu Dhabi’S Common Meltdown Woes

As the world awakens to its first recession in the 21st century, the two main business hubs of the Persian Gulf region, namely Abu Dhabi and Dubai, have also awakened to its repercussions in their own backyard. The two cities, which saw remarkable growth post-1990, do realize today, they will have to work for a common stake in the years to come. Neither Abu Dhabi nor Dubai could think of bracing through these testing periods without calling the other to join in. The two cities, with their commerce and landmarks, which include Abu Dhabi hotels and hotels in Dubai, are like two veins running the development through the whole of the UAE and Middle East. None of these could be separated or made to survive without the other.

These two cities have galvanized the ethnic Arabs and the expatriates alike into unitedly working for a common dream, thus paving a way for immense economic and urban development in the region, in the past two decades. Nothing could be predicted how much the present economic meltdown might affect the Gulf in years ahead, but the signs are ominous with a slowing down of the reality and tourism sectors. Abu Dhabi hotels and hotels in Dubai have recorded low occupancy in the recent months in contrast to their earlier bullish collections.

It is reported now that up to three fourth of Dubai’s key developments might either be delayed or shelved due to the ongoing meltdown of the world commerce. Dubai’s freehold properties have taken the brunt of this causality, and many of those who earlier bought luxurious villas and apartments to make quick returns are now counting their losses and the time it might take them to break-even. Large scale job cuts have added to this spiraling woe and a frenzied disinvestment by the small yet noticeable number of expatriates leaving the city is adding to further confusion. With reality going down, the hospitality sector is not unaffected either, which includes Abu Dhabi hotels and hotels in Dubai.

Dubai may feel the heat more as compared to Abu Dhabi, if the recession deepened any further worldwide. Two factors might work in Abu Dhabi’s favor here: First, its moderate opening to construction mania as compared to Dubai, and second, its larger oil-reserves, which it can turn back to anytime during hardships. What experts foresee as a result, is the possibility of Abu Dhabi becoming Dubai’s savior, if the meltdown worsened further. The latter might have to take the brunt of the slowdown due to its massive expansion in the real estate – which includes villas, apartments and hotels in Dubai – and duty-free commodities, both having been hit worldwide now. Abu Dhabi’s real estate, which consists of an equally impressive array of apartment blocks, villas and Abu Dhabi hotels, is not as much overheated as it might be in its sibling’s case.

As the recession takes its toll further, a section of the expatriates may have to return back to their native countries, but others will stay on and face the crisis together with the ethnic Arabs, one hopes. Interestingly, many used to stay in Dubai hotels and other freehold properties and travel daily to Abu Dhabi for their vocations. While the overall mood for staying in the UAE may have been hit adversely due to recession, the cash counters for Abu Dhabi hotels have not yet dried up as abundantly as in the case of hotels in Dubai. Abu Dhabi hotels continue to enjoy a favorable business from many travelers even today.

Dubai & Abu Dhabi Look Forward to Booming Real Estate

The property market market in the United Arab Emirates, one of the hottest in the world, is set to continue until 2015 and beyond, according to new reports. Real estate and construction markets in the UAE are primarily focused on Dubai, which has been booming for several years, and the newer market of Abu Dhabi.

Two recent studies by HSBC and Damac Capital International of Dubai both indicate that supply will not catch up to demand for a number of years, keeping the markets strong.

Traditionally the most popular locations with second-home buyers and British investors are Spain and France but Dubai is beginning to rival them. Dubai investment property is attractive due to its tax-free status, excellent facilities and low crime rate.

International investors buying property in Dubai need to concentrate their search for properties in Dubai to the many Freehold Areas in Dubai.

Properties that are suitable for foreign buyers include the following freehold zones: Dubai Sports City , Dubai Marina , I.M.P.Z. International Media Production Zone , Jumeirah Village , The Palm Jumeirah, Shaikh Zayed Road, International City, The Lagoons, Palm Deira, Jebel Ali Airport, Emirates Road, Dubai Land ,Business Bay ,Downtown Dubai and much more

Recently Dubai developers have had to comply with a new piece of legislation Law No 8. This makes escrow accounts compulsory for all Dubai off-plan developments, with money released only on the order of the Dubai Land Department. This move marks an end to the days when any developer could launch a project and collect deposits without a guarantee that the funds would be used correctly. Many pundits feel that this could slow the Dubai market but increase confidence with investors

Middle East online news website Gulfnews.com reports that Dubai will continue to be a strong real estate market, while Abu Dhabi is set to take off. Rental yields in Abu Dhabi are expected to be in excess of 7% until at least 2013 and perhaps beyond.

According to Damac Capital’s analysts Hany Seif and Pamela Chikhani, Dubai will remain a major Gulf real estate market for years to come. By some estimates, over the next 10 years both local and international real estate investors will pump in almost $300 billion into Dubai’s real estate developments. According to HSBC’s real estate analysts, Walid Khalfallah and Majid Azza, Abu Dhabi is becoming a major regional real estate market. “The Abu Dhabi story is gaining credibility. After a slow start to the year, sales activity has picked up in the second half of 2007. The market remains extremely tight, with stronger-than-expected growth in rents [22 per cent] and prices [18 per cent],” they said in a recent report.

Abu Dhabi does not have the liberal international property laws that neighboring Dubai has yet, but things are improving there. The office market is particularly strong and vacancy rates are below 1%. With increased deregulation, Abu Dhabi will continue to gain ground on its more prominent neighbor. Both should see strong growth in the coming years.

Uae Property Guide, Part 2 Of 8: Abu Dhabi Property

Abu Dhabi is an emirate (sovereign state) of the United Arab Emirates; it is also the name of the major city of this emirate, which is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (the UAE). Abu Dhabi is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf and is bordered by the emirate of Dubai and the countries of Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Several exciting property developments are currently under construction in Abu Dhabi one of which is the development of Saadiyat Island that is heralded to become the cultural centre of the region. Saadiyat Island is a natural island 500 meters off the coast of Abu Dhabi that will be connected to the mainland by two ten lane causeways. The island will be developed into six distinct precincts: Al Marina, the Cultural District, Saadiyat Park, Saadiyat Beach, South Beach and The Wetlands. The island is being developed as a major international tourist destination and residential area; it will house an estimated 150,000 residential inhabitants. Tourism will be extremely well catered for on Saadiyat with hotels, resorts, commercial shopping centres, and two golf courses (one of which will be a Gary Player Signature Course), to name just a few of the tourist facilities to be provided.

The Cultural Centre on Saadiyat Island will be world class with a performing arts centre and concert hall along with four museums including the Guggenheim Modern Art Museum designed by Frank Gehry, and a classical museum The Louvre Abu Dhabi designed by jean Nouvel.

Another island development in Abu Dhabi is Al Reem Island; this project is on another natural island off the coast of Abu Dhabi City that will again cater for residential, commercial and tourism uses. It is estimated that the island will house two hundred and eighty thousand residents, and the necessary amenities for these inhabitants i.e. schools, medical facilities, shopping centres, restaurants etc. The development will also include hotels, spas, resorts, a golf course, gardens and beaches to cater to the lucrative tourist trade.

Al Raha Beach is a development that is being built on reclaimed land on the coastal side of the main highway that links Abu Dhabi to Dubai. This development is again a mixed development aimed at tourism, commercial and residential occupancies. The development will be split into eleven distinct precincts that will all have different personalities or themes to appeal to people’s individual tastes and preferences. Al Raha Beach will accommodate One Hundred and twenty thousand residents in accommodation ranging from high-rise apartments to villas, townhouses and exclusive waterfront enclaves complete with private marinas, as well as private residential islands and a series of residential peninsulas stretching into the Persian Gulf. The development will include an extensive canal system along with bridges and water transportation including ferries, water taxis, abras and jet cats. The tourist precinct, which is housed on a separate island just off the coast, has direct beach access and will be the home to designer boutiques, spas, dining precincts and of course a luxury hotel among other features.

Time Out Dubai: Abu Dhabi and the UAE

• ISBN13: 9781846701559
• Condition: NEW
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Time Out Dubai: Abu Dhabi and the UAE

Dubai Shows CCTV, Hunts Killers of Hamas Man

Dubai is demanding a global hunt for suspects it says are linked to the killing of a Hamas commander. Officials in the UAE city state released dramatic CCTV footage purportedly showing the suspects tracking the victim. (16 February 2010)

Etihad Airways Launches New Destination Management Company – Hala Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, March 3rd, 2010 Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is expanding the range of services it offers business and leisure travellers with the launch today of its new destination management company – Hala Abu Dhabi.

Hala Abu Dhabi will be based in the nation’s capital but offer travel products, services and activities throughout all seven Emirates of the UAE.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways chief commercial officer, said: “Etihad Airways already plays a crucial role in bringing visitors to Abu Dhabi, and the introduction of Hala Abu Dhabi will enable us to take that role a step further at what is a very exciting time for tourism in the region. Through Hala Abu Dhabi, we will offer a range of unique ground services and travel solutions to visitors to the UAE, further supporting Abu Dhabi’s goal of becoming one of the world’s most attractive business and leisure destinations.

“We look forward to working closely with our destination partners and tourism services in Abu Dhabi and across all seven Emirates to provide a one-stop inbound tourism shop delivering integrated travel solutions and unique experiences of consistently high quality”, he added.

Etihad Airways has brought together an experienced team of specialists to work on the Hala Abu Dhabi portfolio.

Zayed Book Award honours Sultan Al-Qasimi as Cultural Personality of the Year

Abu Dhabi, 3rd March 2010 His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, was honoured today by the Zayed Book Award as the Cultural Personality of the year 2010 in its fourth edition.

The Award honours prominent figures for their unique contributions to the advancement of the Arab culture, and for works that portray tolerance and promote peaceful coexistence.

Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, honoured Sheikh Sultan in a glittering award-giving ceremony held at the Emirates Palace.

The accolade was in recognition of His Highness’s generous contributions in promoting the Arabic culture and nourishing the Arabic Literature in the the Arab World. Throughout three decades, Sheikh Sultan has formulated the cultural scheme of the Emirate of Sharjah driven by the fundamental role of culture in the development of the community, and ordered the establishment of several cultural institutions in view of fulfilling his vision. The massive cultural projects in the Emirate of Sharjah support conservation of cultural heritage and active interaction with other cultures. In addition, His Highness has written several books in history, social sciences and humanities.

The award-giving ceremony was attended by Sheikh Suktan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), HE Mohammed bin Dhaen Al Hamili, Minister of Energy, HE Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Mugheir Khamis Al Khaili, Director of Abu Dhabi Education Council and Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouie, Director of ADACH.

A galaxy of Sheikhs, Arab and foreign diplomats, intellectuals, writers, thinkers and artists were also present.

About Dr. Al Qasimi

Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qassimi III was born on 2 July 1939 in Sharjah. He is the Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and current ruler of Sharjah. He is the third ruler of Sharjah to bear this name. He has ruled Sharjah since 1972, apart from a 6-day period in 1987 (17 June 1987 – 23 June 1987).

His most recent book, entitled “Sard Al That” سرد الذات, details the Sharjah Ruler’s life, from the 1940s to the 1970s. It documents historical events and provides information on major milestones in the emirate of Sharjah, the Persian Gulf and the Arab World including the spread of Arab nationalism, and the fast cultural and educational progress of the emirate. “In sharing my autobiography, I hope readers will get to relive my experiences vicariously, and know more about that historical period. The vast legacy of heritage and the people’s attachment to special landmarks like Sharjah Fort did not only help them define their personality but has given Sharjah a unique cultural identity,” remarked His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan on Sard Al That سرد الذات.

He has also written a book titled “The Myth of Arab Piracy in the Gulf” (1986) in which he argues that the East India Company was determined to increase its share of Persian Gulf trade by all possible means and principally by the accusation of piracy and the need to fight it. In his book, structured in five sections, the Persian Gulf in the eighteenth century, the accusations of ‘Piracy’ (1797-1806), the attack by the British on Rās al-Khaimah (1809), negotiations and treaty (1814) and the destruction of the Qawāsim (1819), Al-Qāssimī places emphasis on the machinations of Captain, rising to Brigadier General, John Malcolm envoy of the then Governor General of India 2nd Earl of Mornington and Captain David Seton the British Resident in Muscat and at one point discusses Malcolm’s proposal for a base in the Persian Gulf first raised in 1800 and then again in 1808.

Al-Qāssimī states that Malcolm based his argument to his superiors not only on the necessity of a base for trade purposes but also as a defensive measure to protect India against European that is French plans.

For the Centenary of World Scouting, and the Golden Jubilee of UAE Scout Movement, HRH wrote the book “The Genesis of the Scout Movement in Sharjah”, been himself a dedicated Scout as so a regular sponsor of groups and different gatherings and activities, (i.e. the 2008 International Gathering of Scouting and Humanitarian Actions[1]. In this book, as a conclusion he said: “(…) To the leaders of all Scout movements worldwide, who have kept their promise, we say: “You are doing one of the noblest and influential jobs by providing constructive education to young people”.

Rare books and manuscripts put on show at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

Abu Dhabi, March 3rd, 2010 The exhibition of “rare books and manuscripts,” which includes books, maps and signatures dating back to seven centuries around the world, is being held at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, which started yesterday.

The committee of “Kitab” company, which has organized the exhibition, first of its kind in the Arab world said that the exhibition includes a number of rare ancient books that can not be found at any library, pointing out that the most famous International artifacts dealers brought with them masterpieces of European and Arab culture to UAE.

42 Million date palms planted in UAE to change the color of the desert landscape

Al Ain, 3 March 2010 Under the towering leadership of H.H. The President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahayan, there have been continued efforts to increase UAE dates productivity in order to make better use of the date palm industry and to produce an agricultural leap that has changed the face of the UAE desert. This will be point of special attention at the Fourth International Date Palm Conference which will illustrate the special attention and priority given by His Highness to this important economic sector.

The International Date Palm Conference is the fourth one in a series of international conferences organized by UAE during the last 11 years. The previous conferences were held in March 08 -10, 1998, & March 25 – 27, 2001, and 19 – 21 February 2006.

Date palm scientists, experts, and senior official! s from around the world will be able to exchange their know-how and experiences. The Honorable Ministers of Agriculture of the GCC member states will be invited to attend the conference in order to disseminate the up-to-date knowledge and recommendations at the official level.

Nearly 300 participants from 40 countries and several international organizations have already confirmed their participation to the Fourth International Date Palm Conference. Interesting abstracts are being submitted by participants from the following countries: Albania, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Canada, Costa Rica, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, K.S.A, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Spain, Sudan, Syria,, Tunisia, Turkey, U.A.E, U.K, U.S.A and Yemen.

The objective of the conference is to provide an opportunity for updating scientific information on different aspects of the date palm production chain from farm to consumers. It is also a forum to compare the recent experiences in the United Arab Emirates with those of other date growing countries. Above all it is to foster international technical cooperation on different aspects of date palm production chain.

The theme of the conference is to explore new dimensions and challenges for sustainable date palm production under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahayan, President of UAE.

The conference will be in the international limelight due to the renowned speakers who will be attending the conference from all over the world. Besides there will also be senior officials from different date growing countries. A wide range of scientific subjects related to all aspects of date palm production will be presented. What makes this event much awaited event in haloed circles is: the scientific input from many countries of the world; innovative approach to scientific sessions; informational exhibition; and tours to the various sites of technical or tourist interest around United Arab Emirates.

The Conference has been slated to start from 15th of March at the Emirates Palace Hotel, Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi. The main subjects that will come under debate will be as follows: Current Status of Date Palm Cultivation in the World; UAE date palm cultivation experience; Impacts of date culture on the environment and desertification control; Date Palm Research and Development; Molecular and genetic engineering; Germplasm and propagation; Improved date palm cultural practices; Date palm protection – focus will be on the most important diseases, pests and major diseases of date palm; and physiological disorders.

With a view of enhancing the production and proliferation of date palm research in the UAE and rewarding those individuals and institutions that have contributed substantially to it – The Khalifa International Date Palm Award was set up.

The Award mission is to encourage people involved in cultivation of date palms: researchers, growers, exporters, whether individuals or institutions, and to honor figures engaged in the date palm industry at the local, regional and international levels.

The conference and the award are some of the radical steps that the government has undertaken to make UAE’s landscape abundant in more ways than one by bringing the desert soil alive with the ever-increasing date palm development. Earning a Guinness Book Award for planting the most number of date palms was no surprise last year for UAE.

More Details about the 4th International Date Conference

Proposed Duration & Venue

Duration: Monday – Wednesday 15 – 17 March 2010.
Venue: The Conference will be held in Abu Dhabi City.

Content

• Current Status of Date Palm Cultivation in the World,
• Molecular and genetic engineering,
• Germplasm,
• Propagation,
• Cultural Practices,
• Pests and Diseases Management,
• Post Harvest and Processing Technologies,
• Nutrition and Health
• Economics and Marketing,
• N.B: Several round tables and brainstorming meetings will be organized.
VII. Who Should Attend

The Fourth International Date Palm Conference is open to all people interested in date palm industries. The conference provides a forum for updating on current issue importance to this industry as well as information on new products and services. Participants will be from the public and private sectors who deal with the aspects of the date palm from producer through consumers.

Examples of the participants are:
• Date Palm Growers
• Executive Management of Grower Organizations
• Market Managers and International Traders
• Scientists of all aspects of Dates and Date Palm Cultivation
• Government Agencies and Departments
• Specialized Research and Development Centers
• Processors and Agro-industrialists
• Suppliers of Packages, Transport Operators, Chemicals, Fertilizers, Planting Material, Farm Equipment and Requisites
• Nutrition and Health Specialists
• Biotechnologists, Regulators and Consumers.

Booths

The following booths will be organized during the Conference:

1. Date Palm photo gallery with pictures and photos of the organized International competition.
2. Date Products and by-products.
3. Date Palm Extension Program illustrating modern cultural practices.
4. Control of the Red Palm Weevil.
5. Date palm research program in various fields.
6. National handicrafts made from date palm leaves and other by-products.
7. Modern Agricultural Machinery dealing with Date Palm Cultivation.
8. Date Palm Tissue Culture Propagation.
9. Date Palms and Food Security.

Conference Committees

High Committee

Dr. Abdulla Al-Khanbashi, Vice Chancellor of UAEU, Conference’ Chair.
Prof. Ghaleb Ali Alhadrami, Dean College of Food and Agriculture (UAEU). Chair Scientific Committee.
Prof. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Chief Technical Advisor, Director, UNDP-UAE University, Chair, Organizing Committee.

Scientific Committee

Prof. Ghaleb Ali Alhadrami, Dean, CFA, UAEU, Chair.
Dr. Mohammed Abdul Muhsen Salem, CFA, UAEU.
Prof. Mahmoud Abdulrahman Alafifi, CFA, UAEU.
Dr. Mohamed Gheblawi, CFA, UAEU.
Dr. Wissam Ibrahim, CFA, UAEU.
Dr. Ibrahim Omer Mohamed, CFA, UAEU.
Dr. Shyam S. Kurup, CFA, UAEU.
Prof. H. Hughes, Colorado State University, USA.
Dr. E. Blumwald, University of California Davis, USA.
Dr. E. Arias, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Italy.

Organizing Committee

Prof. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Director, DPRDU-UAEU, Chair.
Eng. Mouza Nasser Al Shamisi, DPRDU-UAEU.
Dr. Salih Abdu Al Sharaby, CFA, UAEU.
Dr. Ibrahim E.H. Belal, CFA, UAEU.
Dr. Abdel Wahed Husni Al-Amouri, CFA, UAEU.
Eng. Ali Mohamed Ali Antali, CFA, UAEU.
Eng. Galaleldin A. Ibnaouf, CFA, UAEU.
Eng. Aisha Al Jabri, CFA, UAEU.
Mr. Fadil Mohamed Al Amri, Director, Community Relations Dept., UAEU.
Mr. Salem Al Kaabi – Director, General Service Department, UAEU.
Mr. Mohamed Dissawi, Office of the Finance Auditor, UAEU.
Mr. Jihad K. Jihad – Printing Department, UAEU.
Mr. Mamdouh Haikal – Centre for Educational Technology (CET), UAEU.
Mr. Faraj Kotb Faraj – Centre for Educational Technology (CET), UAEU.
Mr. Moamar Abdel Ilah, Purchasing Dept., UAEU.
Mr. Yaqoob Yousuf, Community Relations Dept., UAEU.
Mr. Ali Mohamed Fadil, Community Relations Dept., UAEU.

Language of the Conference

Arabic and English.

Post Conference Tours

• The Emirates Date Factory – Al Saad
• Al Ain Date Oasis
• UAE University and Date Palm Tissue Culture Laboratory
• Other important sites and historic places.
The participation in these post conference tours will be on a voluntary basis and will take a full day (Thursday 18 March, 2010).

Conference Sponsors

United Arab Emirates
UAE University
Khalifa International Date Palm Award
Arab Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.
Date Palm Friends Society
Date Palm Global Network
Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
United Nations Development Program
and other Organizations to be announced.

More details can be had from the following contact details.

Mr. Abdul Rasheed (Tel: +971 50 583 83 76 (mobile), +971 3 783 23 34 (Ext. 207) (office), Fax: +971 3 783 24 72, E-mail: rasheed.e@uaeu.ac.ae

Students attending Abu Dhabi Book Fair to get cash grant

Students attending Abu Dhabi Book Fair to get cash grant
ABU DHABI — General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, ordered today a cash grant of Dhs 4 million for children, youth and school and university students attending Abu Dhabi International Book Fair which kicks off tomorrow .

Read more on Khaleej Times

Dubai Renames World’s Tallest Tower Burj Khalifa

Dubai has unveiled the world’s tallest skyscraper in an extravagant multimedia and fireworks display. The 828-meter tall building was renamed Burj Khalifa on Monday, after the UAE president. (04 January 2010)

Abu Dhabi – A Unique And Captivating Destination

Abu Dhabi, literally meaning ‘the Father of Gazelle,’ is the wealthiest as well as the largest of all the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE.) It covers about 85 percent of the overall landmass of the nation.

Once a typical village, Abu Dhabi has now been transformed into a top class international resort with remarkable skyline, state of the art infrastructure, upscale hotels, splendid villas, and high-end shopping complexes, since its founding of the large amount of revenues from oil, about 50 years ago.

The capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi is the center of administration, commerce, and trade in the nation, and is perhaps the world’s richest city. Located in the heart of the Middle East, Abu Dhabi is not only one of the world’s most prominent tourist destinations but also it is home to people from several nations. Al though a modern settlement, Abu Dhabi is much favored for its traditional desert ambience as well as unique culture.

Attractions in Abu Dhabi range from elegant forts and stunning mosques with domes and minarets to cultural villages and interesting museums and zoo. Perhaps the most popular among the landmarks in Abu Dhabi is the Al Hosn Palace, popularly known as the White Fort. Erected during the 18th century as the ruling family’s residence, the palace stands out for its stunning courtyard and stupendous tile works found on the main gate.

Housed within the palace is a museum, with several sections such as natural history area with exhibits that are related to desert animals and historical section featuring displays dating back to historic period, apart from several other artifacts including pottery. Displayed on the tower of the palace are weapons used during the past times. Adjacent to the palace is a modern complex designed and built in traditional style, namely, Cultural Foundation – the center of cultural life in Abu Dhabi. It is also home to the Center for Documentation and Research, under the control of the Cultural Foundation. The center, in turn, has on display an array of documents that throw light on the rich history and heritage.

Situated in the heart of Abu Dhabi on the Breakwater is the Heritage Village, which provides a deep insight into the tradition as well as lifestyle of Bedouin. In other words, taking a visit to the village is a great way to have an idea on how people lived here prior to the discovery of the oil reserves.

Among the specialties of this attraction are ancient type courtyard houses built with brick, traditional mosques, wind towers, ancient irrigation system, and shopping in traditional style market. Even opportunities are made available for a camel ride. A museum can also be seen here, where a selection of items collected from bygone era such as Holy Quran, coins, jewelry, and weapons are displayed.

One can also see here people engaged in different types of traditional skills. Another great attraction in Abu Dhabi is the Corniche, a well-maintained area which is considered the most pictorial sites in the destination. Apart from these, tree-lined boulevards, serene parks, and well-manicured roundabouts, also form part of the city’s attractions.

Abu Dhabi is also within easy reach of such landmarks in the country as Liwa Oasis, which is one of the largest of its kind in Arabia and consisting of date plantations as well as refreshing water pools; Jabel Hafit, a rocky mountain much famed for its rare flora and fauna, interesting caves, archeological sites, and above all, the health resort of Ain Al Fayda; Al Ain Museum, the largest museum in the country, with exhibits such as Bedouin items, ancient stone instruments, and relics revealed from Fossil Valley; Al Ain Zoo and Aquarium, a must-see attraction for wild life lovers, since it has animals collected from all over the world; and Qattarah Oasis, a tranquil area noted for its fruit orchards and date palms.

Above all, the activities that can be enjoyed in Abu Dhabi are endless, from shopping in the chic shopping malls to quibbling in the traditional market, roaming in a luxurious limo to riding in a camel in the desert, and dining in first class restaurants serving multi cuisines to sampling authentic as well as sumptuous Arabic cuisine.

It is no wonder why people from every nook and corner of the world visit here year round. Hence, Abu Dhabi has accommodation options to cater to every taste and budget. No matter it is for business or conference needs, honeymoon, or for leisurely purposes, the city has superb choices.