Category: Middle East

Atlantis, The palm has crossed one million fans in Facebook and unlike other companies, Atlantis is not just limiting their gratitude with a meagre Thank You. Instead they are opening up a suite for the facebookers. The five-star hotel launches the first ever social media fan suite and is offering a chance for a three-night free stay at the suite that will be hooked up with all the amenities a social media user desires. Launching March 18, guests can check into the fan-only suite with their Facebook log in details and besides the breath-taking view of the palm, can tune ... Read more

Residents and tourists to Downtown Dubai witnessed spectacular shows in ‘pink’ at The Dubai Fountain. Shams Emaar, the corporate social responsibility team of Emaar Properties, decided to turn the colour of all shows, set by Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall, to pink, in a gesture to enhance awareness of breast cancer. The initiative is in line with Emaar’s continued commitment to community welfare initiatives. Shams Dubai is extending support to the Pink Caravan Ride (PCR)-the annual pan-UAE breast cancer awareness campaign by non-profit, Friends Of Cancer Patients (FOCP), that organises events across the seven emirates each year to heighten ... Read more

Dubai Airports welcomed the inaugural flight of SaudiGulf Airlines at Dubai International’s (DXB) Terminal 1 with a traditional water salute followed by a cake cutting ceremony. SaudiGulf will operate double daily flights between the Saudi capital of Riyadh and Dubai. Riyadh is among the top ten city destinations for DXB in terms of traffic with more than 1.85 million passengers flying between the two cities in 2017.  

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, launched the eight edition of the ‘Live Our Heritage Festival’ in the Global Village under ‘An Eye on Emirati Cultural Heritage’ theme. Running until 7th April 2018, the festival offers Global Village visitors a chance to enjoy an action-packed six-week programme of workshops and events focused on handicraft education in the UAE. The festival programme includes educational workshops focusing on traditional crafts in the UAE, such as: palm fronds braiding, veil making, thread weaving, perfume making, silver crafting and coffee making. Craftsmen will explain ... Read more

  The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has widened the scope of the Smart Pedestrian Signals Project in Dubai to cover 15 new locations after a successful trail debut on Al Saadah Street. The project is part of RTA’s efforts to realize the objectives of the Smart City initiative. The Smart Pedestrian Signals technology is the first of its kind in the region. “Smart Pedestrian Signals had been installed in several hotspots of Dubai including Al Muraqqabat, Al Rigga, Al Mankhoul, Baniyas, 2nd of December Street, Al Maktoum and Sheikh Khalifa Streets. They were also introduced at Al Barsha ... Read more

Multiple road accidents occurred on Dubai’s major highways creating heavy traffic jams. Motorists are advised to drive safely and take alternative routes wherever possible. At least two accidents were reported on the Sharjah highway; one accident on E11 near Al Majlis Street and the other before the Dubai Trade centre intersection. Delays are also reported on E44 Al Awir road from Al Warqa to Ras Al Khor, Al Khail Road and on Sheikh Zayed Road near Al Barsha. Drivers can also expect delays along the E66 and E311 intersection near Dubai Silicon Oasis and Academic City.

UAE residency visa stickers, which are placed on passport pages, would be replaced by a new electronic system, the Ministry of Interior said. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs had reportedly discussed the possibility during a meeting held in Ajman last week. The proposal comes in line with Vision 2021 and is indicative of a general migration to smart digital services that reduce paperwork, time and effort. During the Ajman meeting, officials reviewed a similar initiative currently taking place in Ajman. The pilot phase of the Ajman initiative has been running successfully so far, which shows a 50 per ... Read more

Emaar Entertainment, the leisure and entertainment subsidiary of Emaar Properties, has opened VR Park, Dubai’s latest and most exciting attraction, at The Dubai Mall. Blurring the lines between perception and reality, VR Park combines Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (VR), providing unforgettable rides, journeys and games in an unbelievable two-storey attraction. Through partnerships with some of the world’s leading VR developers, Emaar Entertainment is delivering unprecedented and awe-inspiring experience, with the all-new mind-blowing attraction set to transform the VR leisure and entertainment landscape through the breadth of games, rides and experiences to suit all ages. At VR Park, feel like you’re ... Read more

Oceanco has released their latest 115-metre superyacht concept, Tuhura, at the Dubai International Boat Show. The new design was unveiled by His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, Vice President and Chairman of Dubai International Marine Club – Mina Seyahi, and Senior Advisor to the Dubai International Boat Show. The Tuhura was conceived in collaboration with Lobanov Design Studio, BMT Nigel Gee and the interior designer Achille Salvagni. Our Tuhura is a simple idea. The thought was to take a natural shape similar to those seen in the earliest canoe-type craft and augment it multifold to a larger scale, using ... Read more

മസ്കറ്റ്: ഒമാനില്‍ നിന്ന് പണം നാട്ടിലേക്ക് അയക്കാന്‍ ചില നിയന്ത്രണങ്ങള്‍ ഏര്‍പ്പെടുത്തി. പണം അയക്കാനെത്തുന്നവര്‍ എക്സ്ചേഞ്ച് സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുടെ ചോദ്യങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ഉത്തരം നല്‍കേണ്ടി വരും.കള്ളപ്പണം വെളുപ്പിക്കല്‍ തടയാനുള്ള നീക്കങ്ങളുടെ നടപടിയാണ് പുതിയ നീക്കമെന്നാണ് ഒമാന്‍റെ വിശദീകരണം. 400 ഒമാന്‍ റിയാലില്‍ കൂടുതല്‍ അയക്കുന്നവരാണ് വിശദീകരണം നല്‍കേണ്ടി വരിക. ഒമാന്‍ സെന്‍ട്രല്‍ ബാങ്ക് ഇത് സംബന്ധിച്ച ഉത്തരവ് പുറപ്പെടുവിച്ചു. പണം അയക്കുമ്പോള്‍ അതിന്‍റെ ഉറവിടം മണി എക്സ്ചേഞ്ചുകള്‍ ഉറവിടത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് അറിഞ്ഞിരിക്കണമെന്ന് ഒമാന്‍ യുണൈറ്റഡ എക്സ്ചേഞ്ച് മാനേജര്‍ ഫറസ് അഹമദ് പറഞ്ഞു. ബാങ്ക് അക്കൌണ്ട് വിശദാംശം വഴിയോ റസിഡന്റ് കാര്‍ഡ് വഴിയോ ഉറവിടം വ്യക്തമാക്കണം. ഉറവിടം വ്യക്തമാക്കിയാല്‍ മാത്രം പോരാ,പണം അയക്കുന്നത് എന്തിനെന്നും ബോധ്യപ്പെടുത്തണം. അയക്കുന്നയാളോ പണം എത്തേണ്ട ആളോ കരിമ്പട്ടികയില്‍ പെട്ടിട്ടുണ്ടോ എന്ന് എക്സ്ചെഞ്ചുകള്‍ക്കു കണ്ടെത്താനാവും. രേഖകള്‍ സമര്‍പ്പിക്കുന്നവര്‍ക്ക് പണം കൈമാറ്റം പ്രശ്നമാവില്ലന്നു മോഡേണ്‍ എക്സ്ചേഞ്ച് മാനേജര്‍ ഫിലിപ്പ് കോശി വ്യക്തമാക്കി.

Photo Courtesy: Femina Saudi is opening its arms to embrace the new and ward off all conventions which have been synonymous with the country for time immemorial. Now, for the first time, Saudi authorities have opened up army registration to women. Women interested in becoming soldiers can submit their applications until Thursday. Applicants must be Saudi nationals who grew up in Saudi Arabia, unless they were with their fathers who were abroad on official assignments. The applicant must hold at least a high school diploma or its equivalent, between 25 and 35 years old, and at least 155 cm tall, ... Read more

A large number of Kuwaiti nationals and people from many other nationalities participated in grand celebrations held in Dubai marking Kuwait’s National Day on 25 February. The celebrations featured concerts by Miami Band from Kuwait and singer Bader AlShaibi, a culinary session by famous Kuwaiti chef, Jameela Al Lenqawi, an appearance by popular Kuwaiti foodie influencer, Talal Al Rashed, in addition to a spectacular fireworks show and cultural activities including performances by traditional bands. During a dinner hosted by influencer Al Rashed, Emirati artiste Omar Al Marzooqi performed a special song to celebrate Kuwait’s National Day.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Ramsar Convention Secretariat have signed an agreement to host a major conference on wetlands in October in Dubai in October. The ‘Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP13)’ will be hosted in cooperation with Dubai Municipality, the official sponsor, from October 21 to 30. The MoU was signed by Sultan Alwan, assistant undersecretary of the regions sector at the ministry, and Jonathan Barzdo, deputy secretary-general, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. “The UAE’s regional and international efforts in supporting high biodiversity and maintaining sustainable natural ... Read more

The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said the weather is expected to be frequently partly cloudy with different formations of clouds moving from central Saudi Arabia towards Dubai, in the coming days. It has also alerted the citizens to take precautions while driving in rainy conditions and poor visibility due to blowing sand or dust during the next three days. The NCM also asked the public to stay away from water gatherings, especially near the highlands. It also urged sea vessels offshore to be careful due to sea roughness in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. “Fresh winds ... Read more

The National Centre of Meteorology has sent out weather warnings  for UAE. The NCM reports that the weather in Dubai would be partly cloudy in general and hazy at times. There will be moderate winds in general, freshening at times over the land, causing blowing dust/sand over some exposed areas and fresh to strong winds at times over the sea. The relative humidity will increase by night and tomorrow early morning over some internal areas. “Sea will be rough to very rough in the Arabian Gulf and rough in Oman sea”, NCM said in a release. Waves as high as ... Read more