Azad news edition 50 by Azad News Middle East

Azad News UAE15-21 June 2014,17-23 Shaban 1435

AUDI MUSEUM MOBILE PRESENTS: DKW VEMAG AND THE NEW DAWN IN BRAZIL ? Ordem

& Progresso: new special exhibition at the Audi museum mobile •Audi Tradition documents the Company’s history in the host country of the 2014 World Cup •The DKW brought two-stroke mobility to the country of football and the bossa nova

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

hen the Brazilian football team first won the World Cup in 1958, South America’s largest and most populous country was at the dawning of a new era. Football star Pelé rocketed to fame, the architect Oscar Niemeyer designed the new capital city Brasilia as a modern utopia, and the bossa nova sound spread all over the world f r o m t h e Copacabana. How Auto Union GmbH from Ingolstadt accompanied this new dawn with its DKW cars is illustrated in the latest special exhibition at the Audi museum mobile: Ordem & Progresso DKW VEMAG and the new dawn in Brazil” (open until September 21, 2014).Order and Progress” is the official motto of Brazil.Did you know that DKW models were also built in Brazil? That DKW was the car of the Brazilian middle class in the 1960s, and is still highly regarded today as the only Brazilian brand? That Pelé won the World Cup at 17, but only took his driving test at 18 in a DKW? That motor racing legend Emerson Fittipaldi wrote off his parents’ DKW at the age of 12 while on a family outing, before going on to win the first motor racing triumph of his illustrious career in 1966 in a DKW GT Malzoni? That when Brasilia was built, at first only DKWs were allowed to operate as taxis? Or that the last DKW car was built not by Auto Union in Ingolstadt, but in 1967 at VEMAG in São Paulo? The exhibition addresses these and many other questions about DKW in Brazil.The car played an important role in taking Brazil along the path to

had restored locally. There are said to be twelve Malzonis still in existence worldwide. This DKW GT Malzoni, the only one of its kind in Europe, is now one of the highlights at the special exhibition Ordem & Progresso DKW VEMAG and the new dawn in Brazil.The DKW GT Malzoni is regarded as something of a Blue Mauritius” by DKW enthusiasts. In the exhibition it is

flanked by two other Brazilian DKWs that are owned by Audi Tradition: the DKW Belcar, one of the last DKWs ever to be built, and the in-house model DKW Fissore, along with other historic motor vehicles. As long ago as the 1930s, Auto Union models were on sale in Rio and São Paulo. Auto Union Brasil Ltda. in Rio de Janeiro, which imported Auto Union products, was the first to move into the market in November 1935. Models of the Auto Union brand Wanderer were also very much in demand at the time. A Wanderer W 24 is on display in the museum mobile, along with cars from the twilight years of the DKW in Brazil (1967), when Auto Union was taken over by Volkswagen. The DKW GT Malzoni was succeeded by the DKW Puma GT and then the VW Puma in 1968. Audi Tradition is also showing later VW models made for the Brazilian market, the Volkswagen EA 97 and the Volkswagen SP2.Brazilian lifestyle, the creativity of the new dawn but

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ADNOC DISTRIBUTION GLOBAL COMPANY SIGNS FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH AL OLALIBI GROUP TO OPERATE SERVICE STATIONS IN SAUDI ARABIA

LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL APPOINTED BY OMAN-BASED CORPORATIONS TO DEVELOP SULTANATE’S ENERGY AND FINANCE LEADERS

Phase-I Mandates ADGC to Operate 20 Service Stations in Riyadh, Makkah and Al Madinah by 2016

Executive Education programmes with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and National Bank of Oman (NBO) will significantly enhance Oman’s talent pipeline

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

DNOC Distribution Global Company (ADGC) today signed a franchise agreement with Saudi-based Al Olalibi Group, pioneers in the distribution and transportation of petroleum products in Saudi Arabia.The first phase of the 15-year franchise agreement entails operating 20 service stations across key locations in Riyadh, Makkah and Al Madina in Saudi Arabia under the trademark and brand name of ADNOC Distribution G l o b a l C o m p a n y. T h e agreement also mandates ADNOC Distribution Global Company to provide technical and engineering consultancy towards the construction, operation and management for the new service stations. ADGC will additionally offer Al Olaibi its expertise in retail, training, marketing and customer services.The agreement was signed between His Excellency Abdulla Salem Al Dhaheri, Chairman of ADNOC Distribution Global Company, and Eid Abdul Hadi Al Olalibi, General Manager, Al Olalibi Service Station Operation and M a n a g e m e n t C o m p a n y. T h e agreement comes within the context of promoting stronger economic cooperation between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and stems from the strategic vision of the leadership in the two countries. More specifically, it articulates ADNOC Distribution Global Company’s strategic plan to expand its service station network and enhance its technical expertise beyond the UAE. In addition to validating the quality and excellence of ADNOC Distribution Global Company’s products and services locally and internationally, the agreement further establishes the company as a progressive entity that pioneers joint development projects with regional industry players.His Excellency

Abdulla Salem Al Dhaheri, Chairman of ADNOC Distribution Global Company, said: "Saudi Arabia is one of the most significant and strategic markets in the region. We are pleased to enter the Saudi market through our association with the Al Olalibi Group. The partnership reaffirms ADNOC Distribution Global Company’s

leadership role in petroleum products supplies and validates customer confidence in our products and services. This agreement also marks a positive step in our efforts to strengthen cooperation among our companies working in the area of petroleum product distribution and service station management in Saudi Arabia.Eid Abdul Hadi Al Olalibi, General Manager, Al Olalibi Service Station Operation and Management Company, said:ADNOC Distribution Global Company holds proven market experience in the management and operation of service stations that are on par with global standards. This alliance will enhance the reputation of our high quality services across key locations in Saudi Arabia. We are keen to develop and expand this partnership in the country through endorsing international best practices in trade, service security, health and safety.As part of its ambitious expansion strategy, ADNOC Distribution Global Company seeks to leverage its unique capabilities and expertise in operating service stations towards growing its regional and global footprint.

MOHAMED BIN RASHID SMART LEARNING PROGRAM WINS A TOP LEVEL AWARD AT THE WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY WSIS+10 HIGH LEVEL EVENT Major international recognition for the UAE in Geneva, Switzerland By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

prosperity. Most cars were imported from the USA, but also from Germany. Volkswagen supplied the Beetle, and Auto Union the parts for local assembly of the DKW F91 Universal in Brazil. Soon Veículos e Máquinas Agrícolas S.A., or VEMAG for short, was building DKW cars from scratch in São Paulo. The models went by the names of Candango, Belcar and Vemaguet, and sold well. By the mid-1960s VEMAG was the third-biggest player in the Brazilian car market. 109,343 DKWs were delivered in total. VEMAG even created its very own model, combining German technology with Italian design: the DKW Fissore.Genaro Rino Malzoni provided a touch of Brazilian exoticism. Taking the shortened chassis of a DKW as his basis, this plantation owner and car enthusiast designed a snappy sports car the DKW GT Malzoni. Only 35 were ever built, including the specially assembled motor sport models.In 2007 Audi Tradition established contact with the lively Brazilian DKW scene and was able to locate a specimen of this rare car, which it

also its failures are evoked by three particular productions in the museum mobile. A pavilion with light boxes records the bold plan of the government led by President Juscelino Kubitschek to build the new capital Brasilia at the geographical centre of the country as an example of modern urbanism. Visitors to the exhibition can listen to the samba and bossa nova in two sound chairs.O jogo bonito the beautiful game, in other words football, also features large in the exhibition: on one video wall visitors can watch Pelé’s greatest moments during his three World Cup titles, and another one shows footage of the eleven best goals by the Brazilian World Cup team of 1982. That lineup, with all the footballing artistry of Sócrates, Zico and Falcão, is regarded as one of the most creative ever to have taken to the pitch, even though it did not progress beyond the second round.The present-day company AUDI AG built the Audi A3 at São José dos Pinhais, near Curitiba, from 1999 to 2006. Audi will resume car production there in 2015.

EHOSTING DATAFORT NOTICES RESURGENCE IN PRIVATE CLOUD 41% attendees showed interest to invest in Hosted Private Cloud solutions at eHDF conference

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

Hosting DataFort (eHDF), the region’s leading managed hosting and cloud infrastructure services provider and a member of TECOM Investments, recently hosted a seminar on ‘Transforming IT with Private Cloud infrastructure services’. The seminar highlighted the latest cloud computing trends and the key benefits of shifting to the Private Cloud.Held in Dubai Internet City, the event brought together C-suite executives from eHDF’s existing customer database as well as potential customers from renowned companies based in the Middle East.The seminar outlined the benefits of private cloud in improving operational efficiency, reducing overall costs and providing business flexibility. It also highlighted global and regional growth in the acceptance of private cloud services that are enabling companies to gain multiple strategic, financial and operational benefits.The three hour seminar covered some very interesting results from global surveys, including the growth of cloud services in the UAE which is expected to be around 40 percent. eHDF also conducted a survey which indicated that 41 percent plan to invest in Hosted Private Cloud services in 2014, 31 percent in Disaster Recovery solutions and 21 percent in fully managed hosting services.Yasser Zeineldin, CEO, eHosting DataFort, said:The overwhelming response from senior management and IT professionals clearly indicates that there is a significant interest in the market for cloud services and a number of

organizations are keen to leverage the benefits of private cloud services. We aim to continue these initiatives to help customers understand new-age solutions and their positive impact on businesses.Over the last year, eHDF has seen a 75 percent increase in demand for cloud services and has implemented a number of comprehensive cloud solutions for its clients. eHDF offers Infrastructure-as-a-Service consisting of a virtual data centre that allows usage of software, hardware and information resources on a pay as you go Cloud model.With world-class data centres, resilient and scalable infrastructure and round-the-clock managed operations, eHosting DataFort has established itself as a market leader in the field of managed hosting, Disaster Recovery and cloud infrastructure services.

Mob:00971 56 118 6007

he Mohamed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program (MBRSLP) celebrates winning a top level international award for the use of Internet and Communications Technology (ICT) to advance society at the World Summit on Information Society WSIS+10 High Level Event. This year, the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) is being held in Geneva, Switzerland from June 10-13. The MBRSLP brings major acclaim to the UAE with the honor of gaining international recognition for their efforts after only the first year of the program’s implementation.WSIS is carried out with the aim to implement the development goals set by the United N a t i o n s G e n e r a l Assembly Resolution 60/252 and the United Nations Group on the Information S o c i e t y (UNGIS). The aim of WSIS is to act as a platform for multiple stakeholders including government, private and civil society actors, to collaborate and carry out development efforts in their respective countries. The 2014 WSIS Project Prize selected only 18 winning projects, the MBRSLP being one of those winners, from over 150 projects from more than 40 countries. The extensive four-phase selection process includes a nomination process as well as a public voting phase.Participating in the WSIS+10 High Level Event has given the MBRSLP a permanent seat in global discussions on promoting smart learning and raising the quality of education, while building valuable partnerships that will help us achieve our overall mission of offering a world-class education in the UAE, noted H.E. Mohammed Al Geyath.Winning the WSIS Project Prize was an essential step in validating our model to our stakeholders and partners, helping us to secure the support and collective participation we need to build a generation that can successfully

compete in world markets,added H.E. Mohammed Al Geyath.The MBRSLP was awarded the ‘Capacity Building’ category of the WSIS Project Prize for its role in promoting the use of ICT in public schools and in building a communication and information infrastructure in the UAE. Furthermore, the p r i z e highlighted the achievements of the MBRSLP in t r a i n i n g teachers, curriculum development, improving access to information and knowledge and raising the level of ICT literacy amongst students to encourage innovation and lifelong learning. Empowering vulnerable groups and girls in particular is another mandate of this award that the MBRSLP has embodied, while it implements its program in female and male public schools alike and to students of all levels of excellence including those dealing with various disabilities.Moving forward from WSIS and the award, the MBRSLP is eager to continue its hard work to implement its multiple phased, incremental strategy, which has now reached 123 public schools and 11,402 students to include all of UAE’s public schools by the year 2019.The MBRSLP will be included in the WSIS Stocktaking: Success Stories 2014,solidifying its place as an internationally recognised case study and proven model on ICT learning, originating in the UAE and is both sustainable and replicable.

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD!DUCTAC’S POPULAR ART SUMMER CAMP RETURNS WITH A HEALTHY EATING THEME By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

UCTAC’s ever popular kids’ art camp is returning to help kids aged 6 -11 stay cool over the summer while taking part in a range of fun art and craft activities. This year, the theme of the camp will be healthy eating, so camp members will make a range of arts and crafts to help educate them about the benefits of a good diet and how healthy food can be both tasty and good for them. As well as arty activities including making healthy food wall planners & wholemeal pasta collages kids will also have the chance to try out yoga and learn about sustainability with help from the Change Initiative.Kids will have fun and make new friends, all while receiving expert tuition from DUCTAC’s professional art tutors. The camp is priced from 900 AED for one week, including all materials and a free art camp t-shirt.Call DUCTAC’s Arts Reception on 04 341 4777 for bookings or more details. Information DUCTAC Kids’ Summer Art Camp 29th June – 24th July Sunday – Thursday 10am – 1.30pm Ages 6-12 years AED 900 (one week) AED 1600 (two weeks) AED 2400 (three weeks) AED 3200 (four weeks)

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

ondon Business School has announced it will deliver its globally renowned Executive Education programmes to leaders in the finance and energy sectors working in two of Oman’s major companies.Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and the National Bank of Oman (NBO) have enlisted London Business School to deliver executive education and leadership development to their mid to senior leaders.The School will continue to deliver its ‘Essentials of Leadership’ open programme to PDO, whilst NBO will collaborate with London Business School on a custom Executive Education programme.The programmes will see London Business School’s worldclass faculty deliver the intensive courses in London and Muscat which examine the challenges and successes leaders face in day-to-day management.Rahul Dhadphale, Regional Director – Middle East at London Business School, said:London Business School’s partnerships with PDO and NBO shine a light on Oman’s enormous talent resource and its ambition to build its leadership pipeline. We are looking forward to working together towards fostering a new generation of business leaders that will continue to propel the Sultanate along impressive growth in the energy and financial spheres.The partnership with NBO, together with our partnership with PDO which began four years ago, will solidify London Business School’s presence in the Middle East and continue the work we have undertaken over a number of years now with several of Oman’s leading companies.PDO, an exploration and

production company with more than 6,000 employees, will work with London Business School to nurture PDO’s leadership and talent to become high-performance individuals and champions of innovation.Shabir Hussain, Talent Management, Omanisation and Recruitment Manager at PDO, said:We value our partnership with London Business School, which complements the leadership curriculum we offer to our staff at PDO. Leadership development is very important to us to ensure we build the right leadership competence we need for the future.The custom programme with National Bank of Oman (NBO), which currently has 54 branches across the Sultanate, will address the key needs of the o rg a n i s a t i o n a n d d e l i v e r a n innovative programme that specifically addresses NBO’s objectives.The intensive programme focuses on helping delegates to understand their current leadership strengths and opportunities whilst providing guidance on how to lead with confidence and certainty.The School, which is regularly ranked amongst the best business schools in the world, is already an established name in business education in the Middle East, having set up a centre in Dubai seven years ago and is working with several of the largest companies in the region.The programmes will be taught by the School’s world-leading academics, including Professors in Organisational Behaviour Madan Pillutla, Nigel Nicholson, Dan Cable and Randall Peterson; Associate P r o f e s s o r o f O rg a n i s a t i o n a l Behaviour, Niro Sivanathan and Adjunct Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Marcus Alexander.

LANDMARK GROUP HOSTS LIVE COOKING DEMONSTRATION FROM ITS HEALTHY IFTAR RECIPE’S COOKBOOK By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

andmark Group, the region’s leading retail and hospitality conglomerate, held a live demonstration of select recipes from its Healthy Iftar Recipe’s Cookbook, the latest addition to the Group’s activities under the Beat Diabetes initiative. The event was hosted at Balance Café, the Group's specialty café in Oasis Centre.Chef Sumeet Garg, Executive Chef at Balance Café, engaged participants in an interactive cooking session, crafting classic delicacies with a healthy twist. The session also witnessed an exchange of ideas for putting together wholesome meals, featuring different cuisines that can be savored during iftar or suhour during the holy month of Ramadan.The Healthy Iftar Recipe’s Cookbook is an e-book that will be launched on Friday, June 27, in English and Arabic. Emphasizing the need to follow a healthy diet

through the holy month, the book details over 50 recipes for soups and salads, starters, main courses and accompaniments, as well as desserts from Arabic, Indian and Continental

cuisines.Healthy Iftar Recipe’s Cookbook has been compiled under Landmark Group’s‘Eat Healthy’banner, a programme that is used to encourage people to adopt healthy dietary practices. Healthy I f t a r Recipe’s Cookboo k ’ s dedicated

Facebook page will take the message a step further by hosting competitions across the GCC, with winners awarded Home Centre vouchers.

YOUNG PHAROZ’ ‘YALLA BEENA NE3EESH’ TO STORM CHARTS THIS SUMMER! -Egyptian stars release English and Arabic language single with Pepsi and Sony Music ME. -Arabic single and music video to be streamed exclusively by Pepsi on June 12th. -English and Arabic singles released on all digital and streaming platforms from June 16th By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

ony Music Entertainment Middle East and PepsiCo Middle East & Africa today announced details of the upcoming single ‘Yalla beena ne3eesh’; a hit song recorded by Young Pharoz, one of the hottest young hip hop bands in Egypt and finalists from XFactor Arabia season one.Also recorded as an English single called ‘Flying the Flag’, ‘Yalla beena ne3eesh’ was written by Sony Music Entertainment Middle East in collaboration with Young Pharoz, and recorded by the band in their home city of Cairo with international Sony producers and regional lyricists. The exclusive video that accompanies the single was shot in one of Dubai’s most authentic cultural areas Bastikiya, and will feature the band, dancers and some unique graphic animations in a celebration of music and football.With a long history of supporting established and emerging artists, music and entertainment lie at the core of Pepsi’s brand DNA. It was important for us to create Pepsi Boot Camp, a program which selected the Young Pharaohs among other emerging artists, to provide them with the tools to achieve even greater success as artists. The partnership with Sony Music Entertainment Middle East has achieved this; providing one of Egypt’s most exciting young bands with a platform to showcase their undoubted talents”, said PepsiCo’s Chief Marketing Officer for the Middle East & Africa, Carla Hassan.Speaking on the

occasion of the announcement, Mike Fairburn, GM Sony Music Middle East said, “It’s been a roller coaster ride for the Young Pharoz who we are proud to say now have a great commercial single and video. On behalf of Sony Music I would like to thank the band for their energy, Pepsi for their vision and unwavering commitment to young musical talent, and all of the many partners that have helped bring the project together. We are looking forward to a hit this summer!The video for ‘Yalla beena ne3eesh’ will be streamed exclusively on the Pepsi Arabia TV channel from June 12th, before being made available across iTunes Middle East, Anghami, Hungama and all digital/mobile platforms from June 16h. A series of exclusive behind-thescenes clips and documentary videos will also be released providing fans with a unique insight into the making of the video and the bands journey to date.

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DUBAI-BORN AGENCY CREATES A UNIQUE NICHE FOR ITSELF Insignia is a creative-led agency, which specialises in making people fall in love with places, instead of products By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

t all began nearly 11 years ago, when an adman who became an hotelier discovered a unique opportunity in the market and simply could not resist going back to his roots.I have an allergy with the words ‘creative agency’ and blame the advertising industry for being lethargic in its vocabulary. Agencies

have evolved over the past 50 years and we need to articulate our value proposition far more succinctly” says Gaurav Sinha, the Founder & CEO of Insignia.Insignia is proud to have created a strong niche for itself over the years, as a multidisciplinary creative agency that specialises in destination marketing, luxury travel and hospitality. Insignia’s unique insights on what makes travel happen and how to promote destinations to travellers, whether its hotels, resorts, leisure parks, countries or even restaurants and bars this is where Insignia claims its fame.We are a ‘brand enrichment company’ that uses design, media and technology to enrich brand experiences. We work with our clients from inception to success, from discovering their enduring essence to authoring and conveying their message to their customers. We conceive new brands on behalf of our clients, inject authentic ideologies and then take them to market. We design, develop and deploy all brand touch points, from operational, sales and marketing collateral, digital marketing assets which include microsites, apps and social dialogue tools and branded content.” states Sinha with a clear passion for his agency.Insignia believes there are no USPs when it comes to destination marketing, instead it’s about the enduring essence of a place that needs to be discovered and once that value distillation is complete then the real work can begin. The Agency was retained by Dubai Tourism two years ago and currently also offers its services to some of the world’s most revered travel and hospitality brands including Emirates Group, Burj Al Arab (the world’s luxurious hotel), Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Kempinski Hotels, Waldorf Astoria, Armani Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, Starwood’s Le Meridien Hotels, Sofitel Hotels, Maybourne Hotel Group, Viceroy Hotels, Rixos, Anantara and many more.The agency has assisted in the launch of 24 hotels in 14 different countries and currently works with over 70 hotels across 20 countries, 120 restaurants and bars and 30 leisure and lifestyle destinations.Our

biggest advantage has been our indepth knowledge of how the travel industry works. How people consume travel, book hotels, what they seek and what their aspirations are. We study key feeder market dynamics, gaining insights on new customer behaviour trends, we understand segmentation, seasonalities and channel marketing tool. We speak about trade engagement and revenue optimisation as much as we love working on creative propositions” says Manav Fernandez, the Chief Operating Officer of Insignia.Our founder is an ex-hotelier and that gave us the launch pad to create our own niche. Today we have an enviable reputation and work with clients from New York to Sydney and everywhere in between. We just produced a beautiful brand film for the Viceroy New York, we have multiple projects underway in UK, Europe, Africa, the Indian Ocean and Asia. The exciting part of all this is that we have realised that the world is truly flat. With technology and accessibility at its best, we can work with clients anywhere, in fact, our recent foray in New York used a film crew from LA and music was produced in Dublin” adds Fernandez.Insignia has quite cleverly re-engineered its service proposition. As a fully-integrated agency, clients can benefit from brand strategy, design, public relations, media buying and even travel representation, all under one roof.With a team of nearly 60 from over 17 different countries, the agency has a truly international perspective on the world. It has successfully grown year on year and generated in excess of US$ 20 million in billings in the past three years alone.We are in the business of r e m o v i n g c o m p l e x i t i e s . We understand the challenges hoteliers and restaurateurs’ face both on a strategic and operational level. We are a hybrid agency, with core strategic consultancy services and a multi-disciplinary studio that knows how to transcend media platforms and enrich guest experiences. We also provide other non-traditional services, like creating art for hotels. We recently designed, produced and installed over 1,200 pieces of art at the Kempinski Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. Our hospitality solutions division produces bespoke leather menus, guest compendiums, coffeetable books and other touch points” says Sinha.The founders of Insignia also launched Harmony House, a day-shelter for destitute children in India and provide 500 children with free education, food, clothing and medical care.

BIBF AND AAOIFI HIGHLIGHT NEW GLOBAL ISLAMIC FINANCE STANDARDS AND FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

IBF and Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) hosted a lively discussion on new Sharia Standards and Bahrain’s position as a global leader in Islamic Finance on Wednesday (June 11) at the BIBF premises in Juffair.Panelists for the event included Mr. Khalid Hamad, Executive Director – Banking Supervision a t t h e Central Bank of Bahrain, Mr. Khairul N i z a m , D e p u t y Secretary General of AAOIFI, M r. H a n i Redha, Head of Centre for Islamic Finance at BIBF, and Shaikh Esaam Eshaq, BIBF faculty member and member of the Standards Auditing Committee at AAOIFI.Discussions centred around the international Islamic finance market, Bahrain’s position on the global playing field, and BIBF’s role in serving the growing demand for Islamic Finance professionals and its vision for spearheading the development of the industry.Speaking at the event, Mr. Hamad noted,The Islamic finance industry has achieved critical mass and is now truly global. The growth of the industry is expected to remain higher than other segments of the global financial sector, supported by very favourable demographics. Bahrain is strongly positioned at the forefront, establishing world-class regulation of Islamic financial services.In order to support the growth of the international Islamic finance industry, the standards development process must be robust and accompanied by effective consultation with the industry and esteemed Sharia scholars. With BIBF’s support, AAOIFI is committed to developing and issuing high-quality standards, and sharing this knowledge and

expertise with our global partners,said Mr. Nizam.According to a paper presented by the BIBF at the UK-Bahrain Islamic Finance Summit in April 2014, the total asset valuation of the Islamic finance sector reached an estimated USD 1.35 trillion in 2012. The industry’s growth, which is around 15% per year, will create an estimated 250,000 to one million professional

Islamic finance jobs worldwide by 2020.The new AAOIFI standards were set in place to enhance standardisation and harmony in accounting for Islamic financial transactions. Not only does this standardisation create trust and confidence in Islamic institutions and the industry as a whole, but also encourages trade and investment, benefiting the local, regional, and global economy”, added Shaikh Eshaq.To meet the rising demand and help professionals gain a better understanding of the new standards, BIBF is conducting a training course from June 24 26. The course will seeks to clarify the applications of the new standards in common Islamic banking tools, as well as explaining their legal implications.BIBF boasts the most robust range of Islamic finance training and educational offerings in the world, and is the content provider of choice for global institutions, including professional associations and leading universities. As such, BIBF continues to play a critical role in the development of human capacity for the Islamic finance industry, with a focus on a practitioner’s perspective that enables Islamic financial institutions to achieve their growth potential,said Mr. Redha.

Azad News UAE15-21 June 2014,17-23 Shaban 1435

NOVA KRISHNAN UNVEILS HAYA Designed by former Miss India-UAE; collection features theatrical and luxurious style and designs By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

ova Krishnan, former Miss India-UAE, model, and actress today unveiled her latest collection – Haya; under the label ‘Nova Krishnan.’ Inspired by Indian and Arabian designs; Haya offers western ready-towear collection as well as accessories for women.The new collection features theatrical and luxurious style and designs; empowering women to feel confident, sensual and exceptionally elegant. With a modern approach; the Haya line offers feminine detailing and includes m i n i m a l handwork/embroidery, beads/jewels, mirror work, variety of fabric and unique cuts. Simplicity remains at the core of the brands concept, requiring minimum or no jewellery to enhance an outfit. Nova also sees a trend for fusion couture on the rise that creatively fuses traditional and modern designs to give a more bold and trendy wear. Part of the Haya line, Nova showcased ‘Aza’ – a fusion saree, which is a hybrid of a long elegant flowing skirt with pleats/end-piece of saree and pants. Making Indian wear more exotic and easy to wear for everyone; can be worn with a bolero jacket or embroidered tube top.Nova Krishnan, Couturier and owner said, Every woman wants to feel elegant and chic; Haya collection visually expresses that with its unique designs and colours. All about defining your inner persona, each ensemble offers that complete exclusivity. Each piece artistically combines rich Indian and Middle Eastern design / tradition, giving a very bold and modern feel.The collection will be available from at the boutique, located at Warsan Tecom, Al Barsha, Dubai. Her passion for designing started at an early age, as she loved every form

of art and design. Later on with a degree in Interior Designing and a successful modelling career; Nova found her true to calling to design clothes for men and women by

creating a perfect unison between colors, texture and cuts. Encouraged and supported by her parents and family; she opened her studio in Dubai in 2010. Her Label – Nova Krishnan (NK): NK offers customised and ready-towear haute couture for women. NK uses best luxury fabrics with refined details and colors giving a feel of modern opulence. Every creations harmonizes delicately intricate hand e m b r o i d e r y, a n d d a z z l i n g craftsmanship fusing fabrics with beads, sequins, pearls, crystals and adding the right touch of glamour to every design produced. The creative team fabricates a magical modern vision of aesthetics to offer elegant and sophisticated couture. The brand believes in the 4 C's of Fashion – Cut, Color, Creativity and Comfort, based on which all designs are conceptualized.

10,000 sq. ft. facility offers group classes, personal training and free parking By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

old’s Gym, the largest international gym chain in the world and part of Al Ahli Holding Group in the UAE, has celebrated the opening of their 12th club with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Reef Mall, Deira. Gold’s Gym is rapidly expanding in the UAE to promote an active and healthy lifestyle. The mixed club in Reef Mall follows a contemporary design and is spread over 10,000 sq. ft. to provide an inspiring atmosphere for members to work out. The Ribbon Cutting ceremony was well attended and the audience enjoyed activities such as cake cutting, a reggae band, a flash mob and a variety of Gold’s Gym Group Exercises.

EXECUTIVE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT (EMSCOM): FACING TOMORROW’S COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES TODAY IN AN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT AT USI UNIVERSITY OF LUGANO IN SWITZERLAND

s a global leader in its field, the Executive Master of Science in Communications M a n a g e m e n t (EMScom) at USI Università della Svizzera italiana in Lugano trains communication professionals in broadening their global mindset and skill set in key management areas without interrupting t h e i r c a r e e r. T h e application process is open for the next intake March 2015.Since 1999 over 300 communications professionals from corporations, consultancies and the public sector, as well as representatives from non-profit organisations from all over the world have been trained by the EMScom Executive Master program at USI Università della Svizzera italiana in Lugano. The program boasts engaged and experienced faculty, and the participants are international, representing Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. In March 2015 the 17th edition of the Executive Master program will start and admission is now open. EMScom curriculum and networking: Based in Lugano, EMScom is an international parttime program with nine residential sessions spread across twenty months. To reinforce degree candidates’ international perspective on management and communication, USI Università della Svizzera italiana cooperates with two renowned business schools: UCLA Anderson School of Management and Lee Kong Chian School of Business at Singapore Management University. Participants have the unique opportunity to study side by

side with communication executives from all over Asia during a one-week residential session in Singapore, which is run together with the partner

program at SMU Singapore Management University. A second two-week session at the UCLA Anderson School of Management together with their Asian colleagues further complements and enhances the global perspective. While other Masters’ programs limit themselves to teaching communications practice, the Executive Master of Science in Communications Management (EMScom) prepares communications professionals to play a key role in their organization’s strategic management, bringing relationships with stakeholders and the public to the center of management policy. This key asset can develop synergies for companies and organizations facing issues related to international communication.I would name three reasons why I chose the EMScom program: because it’s international, it’s part time so you can study while you are doing your work and this is particularly critical as an executive and because of its high-quality group of faculty and [the] program, which cover[s] everything we need to know in communication said Mohammed Al Hassani, Chief Communication Officer at The Zubair Corporation, EMScom14 participant from Oman.

CANDELITE PROMISES A SWEETER RAMADAN • Offers a Host of Gifting Options this Festive Season By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

ONLYROSES CONTINUES MIDDLE EAST EXPANSION WITH SAUDI ARABIA

uxury rose retailer, OnlyRoses is poised to set up shop in Saudi Arabia. The franchise agreement, with BAS Global Investments will see the first

n dedication to the spirit of generosity practiced during the Holy Month of Ramadan, Candelite, Landmark Group’s leading multi-brand confectionery concept, has put together the perfect gifting options this festive season with mouthwatering collections that are guaranteed to bring joy to children and families.Candelite’s Ramadan hampers contain the finest quality chocolates from some of the most loved brands such as Lindt, Maxim’s, Churchills and Montezuma’s. Complementing these are Candelite’s premium selection of Khidri dates and an exotic mix of Arabic sweets to provide a traditional blend in the package. Hampers will be available in various quantities and prices, starting at AED220 AED250 for 1kg, AED260 for 1.3kg, AED275 for 1.5kg, and AED600 for t h e g r a n d 2 . 5 k g packages.Candelite’s Ramadan hampers can be bought exclusively across all Candelite outlets in the UAE throughout the Holy Month.

said,We are truly delighted to be opening in Riyadh. We’ve been watching the Saudi market for some time and with BAS we have the perfect partner to nurture and expand the floral offering within this ever evolving

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

O city.OnlyRoses already operates in the United Arab Emirates, with stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The company‘s reputation for unusual and impressive arrangements made from premium Ecuadorian roses has proved popular in the Middle East.Our Middle Eastern customers love opening their homes to

visitors and our stunning Ecuadorian ClassicRoses, and exclusive InfiniteRoses, fit with their concept of decoration which is always very elegant and luxurious.

SEVENFRIDAY MAKES TIMELY APPEARANCE AT DUBAI GROUP 63 EXHIBITION Swiss-made haute watches foray into Middle East’s USD7.7-billion luxury retail market By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

nique Watches, a UAE-based distributor and retailer of fine timepieces from all over the world, has recently showcased SevenFriday watches, a Zurich-based brand, at the Group 63 AMG Club exhibition at Sunset Mall in Dubai.Ahmed Al Mansoori, Managing Director of Unique Watches, said the Group 63 AMG event on 6th June proved to be an ideal launchpad for a global product that exudes fine craftsmanship and an impeccable industrial design.SevenFriday watches salute the history of mechanical clockmaking. Since launching in 2013, they have appeared on the radar screens of horologists and watch aficionados worldwide,said Al Mansoori. The Group 63 AMG club event marks the debut of SevenFriday in the UAE’s rapidly growing jewellery and watches market.Developed by Swiss entrepreneur Daniel Niederer in 2012, SevenFriday’s initial collection of watches (P1, P2 and P3) has already made headlines in more than 60 countries worldwide – an impressive feat for a young company venturing in a highly competitive global watch industry.SevenFriday takes pride in its distinctive mechanical yet futuristic design comprising circular dials that, at first, may seem intimidating, but is actually very simple and straightforward. The large gearlooking hand on top of the dial is the minutes hand, while the short bronze hand underneath is the hours hand. Meanwhile, the disk at 9 o’clock

represents a 24-hour indicator and the other disk at 5 o’clock tracks running seconds.What differentiates SevenFriday watches from the competition is their relative simplicity and elegance. Their design has a somewhat rustic tone – a reminder of the industrial age, but is impressive e n o u g h t o c a t c h a n y o n e ’s attention,said Al Mansoori.The Unique Watches executive is also confident that the SevenFriday brand will fit right in with the Middle East’s luxury retail sector, which is estimated to be worth USD7.7 billion as of 2012, according to a report published by Bain & Company. In 2013, Bain & Company further highlighted the expansive growth of regional luxury consumers as spending reached around EUR1,400 (USD1,910) per year, the highest in the world.The UAE was also cited by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry in 2013 as the largest importer of Swiss watches in the Middle East. The total value of Swiss watches shipped to the country was estimated at over USD1 billion in 2013, up by a whopping 36% from 2011 and 9% from 2012.Unique Watches is the official distributor of SevenFriday watches in the UAE.

Global car classifieds Carmudi unleashes the fanciest rides of FIFA heroes By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

Aventador LP 700-4:Officially recognised as the best player in the world currently, Ronaldo’s car exudes the same type of panache the footballer does with the ball at his feet. The Lamborghini Aventador is not a shy car

racle is expanding its application-driven software defined networking (SDN) capabilities in Oracle Solaris 11.2 with plans to integrate OpenDaylight SDN. The integration is intended to allow customers to improve service quality and take advantage of appsto-disk SLAs through compatibility with a wide range of SDN devices, applications and services. It will also allow them to use a common and open SDN platform with OpenStack to manage Oracle Solaris-based clouds. Oracle has joined the OpenDaylight Project as a Silver Member. The OpenDaylight Project is a community-led and industrysupported open source platform to advance SDN and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV).Oracle intends to integrate OpenDaylight SDN into Oracle Solaris 11.2, which melds efficient virtualization, applicationdriven software-defined networking (SDN) technology and a full OpenStack distribution with an enterprise-class OS to provide a highly efficient, compliant, secure, open and affordable software platform for cloud computing. The integration is intended to enable customers to use Oracle Solaris’ virtualization and application-driven SDN features with OpenDaylightcompatible SDN devices, applications and services. Integrating O p e n D a y l i g h t w i t h O r a c l e ’s complete stack will also allow customers to take advantage of appsto-disk SLAs with pluggable databases and Java, protect higher priority application and management flows and use Java Developer Kit APIs for Networking SLAs.Customers will also be able to use Oracle Solaris’ OpenStack distribution for cloud management across Oracle SPARC and x86 systems, Oracle storage, and a wide range of SDN ecosystems and

applications built upon a common and open platform.Oracle also intends to enable compatibility with OpenStack Neutron and OpenDaylight SDN to allow customers to deploy applications in highly available, secure and flexible Oracle Solaris virtual machine instances.Since the release of Oracle Solaris 11, over 5,000 customers have gone into production and many are deploying applications in Oracle Solaris-based clouds. With the integration of OpenDaylight SDN and OpenStack in Oracle Solaris, customers will be able to expand their use of Oracle Solaris in new cloud deployments.With Oracle Solaris 11.2 we are offering a highly efficient, compliant, secure, open and affordable cloud platform that is tightly integrated with the Oracle software stack. OpenDaylight allows customers to improve their service quality by taking advantage of Oracle Solaris application-driven SDN and OpenDaylight-compatible networking devices as well as OpenDaylight-compatible SDN applications,said Markus Flierl, vice president, Oracle Solaris.We are happy to welcome Oracle to the OpenDaylight Project and excited to see their developers already working within the community to improve and utilize the code base,said Neela J a c q u e s , e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r, OpenDaylight Project.Oracle’s focus on delivering an open cloud computing platform based on OpenStack and OpenDaylight makes perfect sense given the synergies between the two open source projects. We look forward to seeing how OpenDaylight is integrated within Oracle Solaris 11.2. Supporting Resources:Download: Oracle Solaris 11.2 Beta,Oracle Solaris ,Oracle Solaris Blog,Connect with Oracle Solaris via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

Forum discusses opportunities and challenges in the regional and global banking sector By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

tandard Chartered is today hosting the Middle East, North Africa & Pakistan (MENAP) Bankers Conference 2014, the landmark event that will gather more than 100 key leaders, officials and experts from 15 markets from across the region, on June 11 and 12, 2014 at the Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey. The exclusive forum which is attended by S t a n d a r d Chartered’s financial institution clients will feature panel discussions and networking sessions wherein participants will share views and expertise about the emerging opportunities and challenges facing the Banking and Finance industry today.The conference is covering discussions about the future of the banking sector across the MENA region as well as China, Africa and Iraq. One of the main highlights of the forum will be a lecture entitled ‘The World in Transition,’ to be conducted by Marios Maratheftis, Standard Chartered's Global Head of Macro Research. Bank experts and other prominent figures in the industry are scheduled to give presentations as well.Christos Papadopoulos, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Middle

East and Chairman of Islamic Banking, Standard Chartered, and Peter Heidinger, Global Head of Financial Institutions, Standard

Chartered Bank, Dilek Yardim, Chief E x e c u t i v e O ff i c e r, S t a n d a r d Chartered Bank, Turkey and Gavin Wishart, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Iraq will be present at the conference along with senior members of the Bank’s management team in the region.The MENAP Bankers Conference has become a yearly platform where Standard Chartered Bank’s financial institution clients and partners come together to share views and discuss the latest developments in the local, regional and international banking industry. Standard Chartered has been operating in the Middle East region for over 92 years. The Bank’s regional headquarters are located in the Dubai International Financial Centre.

IFTAR BUFFET WITH BENEFITS At Citymax Hotels in Al Barsha, Bur Dubai & Sharjah By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

car that stands out is his Maybach Xanantec Coupe. It costs over a million dollars and has a huge presence on the road, similar to that of the Cameroonian captain’s on the pitch.Ribery Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder:Ribery, referred to as ‘the jewel of French football’ by the legendary Zinedine Zidane will once again be the focal point of France’s bid for World Cup glory. Ribery’s glory on the road is in the form of his Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder. Able to reach 201mph and costing 225,000 USD, his ride comes in an eye catching bright green so he is never out of the spotlight.Neymar Audi R8 GT:The man with the weight of a nation on his shoulders and the face of the Brazil World Cup. The talented forward chooses to cruise the roads in the Audi R8 GT. Costing nearly 250,000 USD, it reaches top speeds of nearly

ith every Iftar, you get more than double the value back in vouchers; a free Fitness First day pass worth AED 100 plus a free iCare Clinics voucher worth AED 50.But that’s not all - buy 4 Iftars and get 1 FREE. The buffet at Citymax Hotels features a wide variety of Arabic, I n d i a n a n d International dishes. The Iftar buffet is available in the City Café of all three Citymax Hotels from sunset to 8:30 pm with the possibility of advance booking. Citymax Hotel, Al Barsha, next to Mall of Emirates Iftar price: AED 69 Contact: 04 409 8000 Citymax Hotel, Bur Dubai, Kuwait Street Iftar price: AED 69 Contact: : 050 1007065 Citymax Hotel, Sharjah, Wahda Road Iftar price: AED 49 Contact: 06 598 5000

NEPALESE AMBASSADOR APPLAUDS AL TAYYAR TRAVEL GROUP FOR EFFORTS TO BOOST LUXURY SERVICES IN SAUDI ARABIA By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

with a lofty 700 Brake Horsepower (BHP) to help the vehicle reach a top speed of 217mph. The Ballon D’or winner’s car comes in a stealthy matte black to add that extra touch of understated style. However all this flash will set you back a hefty 450,000 USD.Lionel Messi Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale:A car befitting of a player held in the same regard as some of the greatest of all time. When needing to get from A to B, Messi uses a his Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale. His vehicle comes in a clean looking white, reaches a top speed of 188mph and costs upwards of 181,000 USD. Certainly a worthy drive for the only man who can stand toe-to-toe with Ronaldo in world football.Wayne Rooney – Aston Martin Vanquish:For the talismanic Englishman it is fitting to choose a car that is British. The Aston Martin Vanquish is a car which expresses the same class on the road that Rooney does on the field. This car set Rooney back a fair amount costing 280,000 USD. However, with a top speed of 183mph and a booming engine of 565 BHP it is most certainly a car for a superstar.Samuel Eto’o Maybach 57 S Xanatec Coupe:At a time Eto’o was the highest paid player in the world. He is said to have a fleet of cars costing an astonishing 6,700,000 USD. Of his collection the

Edition 50pg2

ALPARI ME SPONSORS 13TH MENA FOREX SHOW AS STRATEGIC PARTNER By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

lpari Middle East today announced its strategic partnership with the Middle East and North Africa’s 13th Forex S h o w, a f o r e i g n - e x c h a n g e conference cum exhibition that will focus Managed Funds and Investment Opportunities. The event is scheduled for 9-10 June, 2014 at the Ritz Carlton, DIFC in Dubai.Representing Alpari at the event, Joe Hawa, Chief Market Analyst, will discuss the potential comeback of gold. He will elaborate on gold’s major influencing factors, including investor speculation, seasonal and industrial demand, consumption patterns in South Asia, and Exchange-traded fund (ETF).Hawa's presentation comes in the context of the precious metal hovering at four-month lows. Gold dropped 28 percent in 2013 on anticipation that the US Federal Reserve would reduce its asset purchases as the American economy recovers. Organized by Arabcom

Group, the event will attract industry professionals, forex experts, and more than 1,000 investors. It will provide a unique platform for business expansion and for networking opportunities with new SMEs and existing brokers in the region.

ADIPEC’S 11THANNUAL OIL BARON’S CHARITYBALL RAISES AED 700,000 FOR UAE’S ‘FRIENDS OF CANCER PATIENTS’ SOCIETY Event Patron, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Officially Presents Cheque, Bringing Historical Tally to AED 4.2 Million By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

AE cancer sufferers have been given a huge boost, thanks to the on-going generosity of the region’s energy sector and its largest related annual charity event.H.E Sheikh Nahyan

emotional and financial support shown every year by the patron and the sponsors of the Oil Baron’s C h a r i t y B a l l . S i m o n M e l l o r, President DMG Events,said: “The overwhelming generosity of the region’s energy sector executives as

Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister for Culture, Youth, and Social Development and Patron of ADIPEC’s Annual Oil Baron’s Charity Ball officially presented a cheque of AED 700,000 to the UAE’s Friends of Cancer Patients society (FoCP), bringing the total historical amount raised by ADIPEC’s organizer, DMG Events, to AED 4.2 million.The significant donation will be used by the FoCP to fund its various cancer-related initiatives, including supporting patients for costly cancer treatments in the UAE and abroad.H.E Sheikh Nahyan praised the growing support for the UAE’s FoCP, which, he said, was evident through the increasing number of funds that are being collected for the society each year.Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Ameera Binkaram President of the Board of Trustees and a founding member of the Friends of Cancer Patients society (FoCP) said: “I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks for the generosity and the

well their guests has made selfless giving an annual industry norm rather than the exception, and DMG Events is proud to continue to support this ADIPEC-backed CSR initiative.Firmly established as one of the world’s top three energy events, ADIPEC 2014 will mark its 30th anniversary in 2014, run from 10-13 November, be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and be supported by the Ministry of Energy, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC),and the Abu Dhabi Chamber.The Oil Baron’s Charity Ball is one of the region’s largest gala dinners, and one of the highlights of the UAE’s social calendar, as well as a leading oil and gas event in the Middle East. More than 1,500 guests, including prominent public figures, dignitaries, and business leaders, participated in the 11th edition of the Oil Baron’s Charity Ball held in February.

STANDARD CHARTERED HOLDS MENAP BANKERS CONFERENCE 2014 IN TURKEY

WORLD CUP STARS AND THEIR SUPER CARS

ith FIFA World Cup around the corner, footballers from across the globe are heading to Brazil to put everything on the line for the pride of their nation. However, away from the field of play, none can deny that most of these football stars have a reputation of splurging unabashedly on racy cars. Do you know how much pride they place in their rides? Carmudi, the leading international car classifieds, digs into the brands and budgets of the super rides that catch the fancy of some of the best football players across the world.Ronaldo Lamborghini

Mob:00971 56 118 6007

ORACLE JOINS OPENDAYLIGHT PROJECT, PLANS TO INTEGRATE OPENDAYLIGHT SDN CAPABILITIES INTO ORACLE SOLARIS

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

OnlyRoses store opening in Riyadh later this year.Owner Sabine Schmitt

GOLD’S GYM UAE CELEBRATED WITH A RIBBON CUTTING AT ITS NEW FACILITY AT REEF MALL IN DEIRA

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

Email:azadnewsuae@yahoo.com

200mph. Neymar has decided to keep the design simple and sleek in a bright white paint job and a classical red leather upholstery interior.So if you are looking for the perfect ride to replicate those of World Cup superstars, take a pit stop at w w w. c a r m u d i . c o m , a v e h i c l e marketplace that enables customers to easily find or sell their car, motorcycle or commercial vehicle online. Carmudi offers diverse vehicle listings, an intuitive website design and high security standards to avoid fraud.The business platform operates under a high level of transparency through professional photos, updated listings, detailed descriptions, reports

and rankings for 100% of its vehicles in each market. At the same time, vehicle dealers get a trusted online presence through a personalized webpage. The Carmudi platform helps sellers manage their inventory in a fast, easy and stress-free way.

n a visit to Saudi Arabia, Nepal’s Ambassador to the Kingdom, Udaya Raj Pandey, has acknowledged and complimented the work of Al Tayyar Travel Group to boost tourism and luxury services in Saudi Arabia. He also praised the strong SaudiNepalese relations across numerous sectors, including travel and tourism.Mr. Pandey said he greatly admired the role played by the Saudi Government in helping foster security and stability in the Middle East and Asia. The Ambassador went on to share his enthusiasm for the recent deal signed between Nepal Airlines and Al Tayyar Travel Group, and its impact in supporting the revival of Arab-Nepalese tourism in the future.During a meeting with Mr. Saud Al Arifi, Executive Vice President, Al Tayyar Travel Group,Mr. Pandey spent time exchanging bilateral business views

and recognizing the contribution of Al Tayyar Travel Group in shaping the region’s economy. He believes that the Group’s role in improving the country with high-end tourism and travel services is vital, alongside ensuring the comfort and well-being of passengers. He also wished the Group well for all future ventures and investments.Acknowledging the statements of the Ambassador, Mr. Saud Al Arifi said the Group was keen to collaborate with Nepal to further develop tourism in the region and make significant tourism investments in Nepal, as it is a top tourist destination for international travelers, particularly Saudi tourists. Al Tayyar Travel Group recently signed a five-year agreement with Nepal Airlines for the sale of tickets and air freight in Saudi Arabia through all its sales channels including the online booking website and call centers in more than 350 outlets and branches.

MCAFEE AND CSIS: STOPPING CYBERCRIME CAN POSITIVELY IMPACT WORLD ECONOMIES By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

new report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and sponsored by McAfee, part of Intel Security, shows the significant impact that cybercrime has on economies worldwide. The report, Net Losses Estimating the G l o b a l C o s t o f Cybercrime,concludes that: •Cybercrime costs businesses approximately $400 billion worldwide, with an impact on approximately 200,000 jobs in the U.S. and 150,000 jobs in the EU. •The most important cost of cybercrime comes from its damage to company performance and to national economies. •Cybercrime damages trade, competitiveness, innovation and global economic growth. •It is estimated that the Internet economy annually generates between $2 trillion and $3 trillion, a share of the global economy that is expected to grow rapidly. •Cybercrime extracts between 15 percent and 20 percent of the value created by the Internet. •Cybercrime’s effect on intellectual property (IP) is particularly damaging, and countries where IP creation and IP-intensive industries are important for wealth creation lose more in trade, jobs and income from cybercrime than countries depending more on agriculture or industries of low-level manufacturing. •High-income countries lose more as

a percent of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) than low-income countries – as much as 0.9 percent on average. •Cybercrime loss is 0.17% of GDP in Saudi Arabia; 0.11% in the United Arab Emirates. •The global losses connected to “personal information” breaches could reach $160 billion. Forty million people in the U.S., roughly 15 percent of the population, have had their personal information stolen by hackers. The study tracked highprofile breaches around the world: 54 million in Turkey; 20 million in Korea; 16 million in Germany and more than 20 million in China. •Part of the losses from cybercrime are directly connected to what experts call “recovery costs,” or the digital and electronic clean-up that must occur after an attack has taken place. •There can be a tenfold increase between the actual losses directly attributed to hackers and the recovery companies must implement in the aftermath of those attacks. •Governments are beginning serious, systematic efforts to collect and publish data on cybercrime to help countries and companies make better choices about risk and policy. •Improved international collaboration, as well as public/private partnerships are beginning to show tangible results in terms of reducing cybercrime. •11 nations announced last week the takedown of a crime ring associated with the GameOver Zeus botnet.

TABREED WINS TWO AWARDS AT INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT ENERGY CONFERENCE TWO SILVER AWARDS FROM LEADING GLOBAL ASSOCIATION BASED IN USA ABU DHABI By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

ational Central Cooling Company PJSC ('Tabreed'), the leading Abu Dhabibased district cooling utility infrastructure company,received two awards at the 105th annual International District Energy Association (IDEA) conference held in Seattle, USA.The awards granted to Tabreed include the Silver Award for 'Total BuildingArea Committed' outside of North America, reflecting Tabreed's connection of a significant area of real estate to district cooling in 2013, as well as the Silver Award for the 'Number of Buildings Connected' to district cooling outside of North America during the same year.Jasim Husain Thabet, Tabreed's Chief Executive Officer, said: We are honored to be recognized by the world's leading district energy association for our achievements last year. 2013 saw Tabreed continue its strong performance and connect over 70,000 tons of cooling including high profile projects such as Yas Mall, World Trade Center Mall and Saudi Aramco.In addition to delivering reliable year-round cooling to these critical projects, we were likewise able to make a significant contribution to our nation's effort to reduce its carbon footprint. In 2013 alone, Tabreed's energy savings reached 1.2 billion

kilowatt hours, which translates into the elimination of approximately 570,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions - the equivalent to removing over 110,000 cars from the streets.IDEA is an American-based non-profit trade association founded in 1909 to facilitate the exchange of information among district energy professionals.IDEA has over 1,700 members in 25 nations across the globe.Tabreed currently has 66 plants across the GCC delivering over 859,000 tons of cooling to many of the region's landmark projects including the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Dubai Metro, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina Circuit, the Pearl - Qatar, and the Jabal Omer Development Project in the Holy City of Mecca.

Azad News UAE15-21 June 2014,17-23 Shaban 1435

Email:azadnewsuae@yahoo.com

RAMADAN DELIGHTS AT THE AJMAN PALACE HOTEL & RESORT By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

he Ajman Palace Hotel & Resort, a luxury 5-star managed by HMH

Hospitality Management Holdings, beckons diners this Ramadan to experience the true spirit of the Holy Month while enjoying a sumptuous Iftar buffet at its all-day-dining restaurant, Encore Bistro.According to General Manager Ferghal Purcell, “Ramadan is a time for families and friends to get together. We are preparing to offer the beautiful sounds, sights, tastes and smells of Arabia. The traditional ambience and décor, combined with our attentive service and extravagant buffets will create an unforgettable experience .In addition to the Iftar Buffet at Encore Bistro, we have got private venues such as Al Saalah Ballroom for corporate iftars and large family gatherings”.At the Encore Bistro, the hotel’s master chefs will take guests on an international culinary journey with a new selection of dishes on the buffet

every day of the week offering a variety of delectable local and international flavours with an Arabic twist. Those who do not wish to join

the Iftar buffet will have the option of ordering their favourite dishes from t h e r e s t a u r a n t ’s a l a c a r t e menu.Highlight of the iftar will be live cooking stations along with a range of traditional dishes such as mixed grills, shawerma, kharouf, atayaf, kounafa, Oriental mezzes and other regional specialties including soups, salads, snacks and sweets.Iftar will be served from sunset to 9.00pm in Encore Bistro that can accommodate up to 120 persons. The lavish Iftar buffet is priced AED130 net per person including Ramadan drinks. Sohour will be served from 2.00am to 4.00am for AED 85 net per person.Since the Holy Month of Ramadan is also a time to celebrate togetherness, the luxury resort promises a relaxed setting at the restaurant to give guests an opportunity to experience the essence of Arabian hospitality with their family and friends. Traditional activities like domino, card games, chess and backgammon have been arranged to keep guests entertained. Ramadan / Summer Bliss at Encore Spa.To help you relax and unwind, Encore Spa at The Ajman Palace Hotel & Resort has come up with an unbeatable promotion this Ramadan and all through summer offering 50 per cent discount on all Spa treatments on the menu.

•Fully automated Remote Ticketing Solution eases consolidator-subagent relationship •Value add-ons include Amadeus Remote Pricer and Amadeus Multi Pricer

madeus Gulf, the commercial division responsible for the sectors of Oman, Bahrain and the UAE, recently showcased Amadeus’ Business Management Platform (BMP) solutions to travel professionals outside the IATA ambit. BMP is the most innovative web-based platform specifically designed for travel professionals to enhance the automation capabilities

and efficiency of their businesses.Two presentations were made. One at an event held in Abu Dhabi in early April and another recently in Al Ain on 12 May.Graham Nichols, Managing Director, Amadeus Gulf, welcomed the audience comprising representatives of more than 50 small, medium and large travel agencies that have implemented the Amadeus BMP solutions, and presented an overview of Amadeus’ business functions.At Amadeus, we are constantly working to ease processes through offering cutting-edge solutions to various industry partners. Our latest solutions are meant to enhance meaningful collaborations that in turn helps us achieve our ambition of emerging as industry frontrunners in shaping the future of travel,said Nichols. Amadeus’ Remote Ticketing platform within BMP provides both ‘consolidators’ (owners of ticketing offices at IATA locations) and ‘subagents’ (sales outlets/booking offices at non-IATA locations) with a set of business management and operational tools that ease up operations through

eliminating the traditional timeconsuming, multi-step workflow.Arman Sarang, Head of Products and Marketing, highlighted the benefits of Amadeus Remote Ticketing Solution (RTS), a core component of Amadeus’ BMP that allows travel agencies to streamline this whole consolidation business model.Jauhar Abdul Gafoor Sales Director Abu Dhabi and Al Ain has played an active role in bringing nonIATA agencies and consolidators under one roof to demonstrate the benefits of RTS as a fully automated, comprehensive tool that helps manage pricing, as well as comparison and ticketing at remote points of sale.The RTS allows consolidators to sell through their own outlets as well as across external sales platforms regardless of the time and place. It also allows subagents to issue, cancel, refund or re-issue electronic tickets and other Electronic Miscellaneous Documents (EMD) as they instantly appear in the Consolidator IATA BSP r e p o r t . I n a d d i t i o n t o RT S , consolidators and agents can benefit from Amadeus’ value add-ons including Amadeus Remote Pricer and Amadeus Multi Pricer. Amadeus Remote Pricer enables remote access to fares in the partner’s Office IDs (OIDs) through Ticketing Robot, allowing subagents to calculate ticket prices, create Transitional Stored Ticket (TST), and check fare rules available in the partner’s office.Amadeus Multi Pricer enables remote access to the partner’s OIDs by means of Ticketing Robot with the purpose of calculating and comparing fares prior to ticketing. This solution allows consolidated partners to share mutual access to the fares in their OIDs to find the most suitable offer.Amadeus’ Business Management Solution has been widely welcomed by travel industry partners as a resourceful tool for enhancing overall efficiencies.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT THE MIDDLE EAST HOTEL AWARDS The Oscars of the Middle East Hotel Industry to set Global Luxury Hospitality’s trends By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

he prestigious Middle East H o t e l Aw a r d s 2 0 1 4 ceremony, overall sponsored by Porsche Al Nabooda Automobiles, took place on Thursday 5th June at Atlantis, The Palm with the industry’s leaders and influencers in attendance and was formally opened with a welcome address by Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation of Tourism & Commerce Marketing.This year, the event saw more than 30 shortlisted hotels and suppliers compete for prizes in 18 categories. Brands included Dusit Thani, Hyatt, Armani, Jumeirah, Hilton, Conrad, Premier Inn, Four Seasons, Waldorf Astoria plus many others across the Middle East Saudi, Qatar, UAE, Jordan and Kuwait.The Middle East is recognised worldwide for its ability to innovate, create, lead and achieve in the field of hospitality and the Awards is where industry benchmarks are set and recognized by the influential panel of independent experts who judge each category and hotel nomination.This year, in keeping with the changing hotel landscape in the Middle East, the judges added 7 new categories including Best Budget Hotel, Best New Hotel, Best Boutique Hotel, Best Environmental Innovation, Best Community Engagement Best Recreational Facilities and Best Hotel Partner.Meelis Kuuskler, Hospitality Partnership and Chairman of the Judges comments: “The hospitality industry in the Middle East today is becoming such an incredible benchmark when it comes to luxury travel and the level of this year’s entries just confirms the commitment of the key industry

HE Al Hashimy Maps Out Expo 2020 Vision To Member States By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

AMADEUS GULF SHOWCASES COMPREHENSIVE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SOLUTION FOR NONIATA AGENCIES

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

DUBAI EXPO 2020 MARKS FIRST BIE ASSEMBLY ENGAGEMENT SINCE WINNING HISTORIC BID

players in meeting the expectation of the demanding, high net worth international clients.Among many well-respected names, local celebrity Cara Jane Roberts hosted the ceremony. There was also a highenergy dance performance by Showstoppers.A special award was presented by Lindt’s Maitre Chocolatier to Chef Gilles Perrin and Sascha Triemer Executive Chef at Atlantis Hotel on behalf of the 400 guests at the awards.Christine Davidson, The Hotel Show Event Director said: “The Middle East Hotel Awards together with The Hotel Show Dubai are now the main platforms for the industry to set trends and benchmarks.We expect this year’s Hotel Show to be the launch pad for suppliers who are seeking business from the huge growth in hotel projects as we approach 2020.The Hotel Show Dubai, taking place at the Dubai Wo r l d Tr a d e C e n t r e 2 8 - 3 0 September 2014 is expected to have over 500 exhibitors both from GCC and from around the world including Germany, France, Turkey, Italy, Spain, UK, Greece, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Cyprus, Philippines, USA, Portugal, Austria, Denmark, Korea to name a few.Brands represented at the show will also include: Poly Products, Intercoil, DFMC with King Koil and Serta, Cassiopeia, Diversified, Life Fitness, Technogym, Intermetal, B u rg e s s , Vi l l e r o y & B o c h , Grassoler, Dudson, Procurio, Suncoast Outdoor, Sambonet, Boncafe, Jetclass, Cinelli, Ferini, Art L i n e , L o c a t e l , AT Vi s i o n s International, Honeywell, ABB and Emirates Transport along with many more leading brands.

H Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Expo 2020 Preparatory Higher Committee Chairman, President of the Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group, has officially led the UAE delegation to the General Assembly of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), the governing body of the World Expo.It marked the first formal address to the General Assembly by the Expo 2020 Higher Preparatory Committee which has been broadened to ensure a greater and more cohesive UAE wide delivery since Dubai won the rights to host the mega event in November last year.The Dubai Expo 2020 roadmap is well progressed as we resolutely honour our commitment to create a truly transformative World Expo, that through partnerships and collaboration will seek to foster innovative, inspirational and practical solution-

creation for our collective future,said HH Sheikh Ahmed. Addressing the BIE’s 168 member states, Her Excellency Al Hashimy, Minister of State and Member of the Preparatory Higher Committee, formally presented the UAE’s vision and an update on developments for hosting the event.Together, we have all made history and planted the seeds for the future. Dubai Expo 2020 will be the platform to continue to execute on our country’s visionary leadership around the need for connectivity and mobility, economic opportunity and sustainable practices as the pillars of today’s interdependent world,said Her Excellency.The infrastructure and the progressive policies that serve this vision will continue to grow in size and quality to serve the participants and the visitors of Dubai Expo 2020. Our goal to deliver on an Expo with seamless operations will leverage the national efforts to implement a greater vision shaping the next 50 years of our country.During the speech in Paris, Her Excellency also reaffirmed the importance of staging Dubai Expo 2020, the first time the event will be held in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA), as being a win for the region as a whole.The tremendous support we received in November marked a significant victory, not only for us but for all countries across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. Our support base ranged from the countries of the North as well as the South the East as well as the West,added Her Excellency.This recognition furthers our commitment to develop an inclusive platform that allows our

partners on this global stage to truly showcase the best they have to offer, and - in that journey - create linkages and partnerships with others.Her Excellency also stressed the importance of Dubai Expo 2020’s strong emphasis on developing partnerships and building around the theme to create a deep-rooted and lasting legacy.Connecting Minds, Creating the Future is already more than a theme. It has become a design principle of our Expo: for how we hope to engage with participants, to create opportunities for the public and the private sector to work together, for how we will strive to make collaboration an essential instrument to deliver a great event with the level of quality and impact we all seek in a World Expo.This vision will be woven throughout our entire project: spanning all of its components, physical and intangible. Collaboration and innovation are the cornerstones of the Master Plan and of Expo Live, both designed to foster inclusion and cooperation, to bring us closer together to showcase and to inspire solutions to our critical challenges. Our journey to achieve this has already begun. Since the decision to award the United Arab Emirates the honour to host the World Expo in 2020, we have been working tirelessly, on all fronts,” concluded Her Excellency.Work across all facets of Dubai Expo 2020’s organisation, governance framework and site development are well progressed, as the Committee works towards the submission of the mandatory Registration Dossier by October 2015 to BIE a legally binding document that will include more in-depth content across key topics presented in the Bid Document such as theme, communications programmes and the detailed master plan.Once approved, Dubai Expo 2020 can commence formal engagement with the international participants, and begin construction at the Dubai Trade Centre-Jebel Ali site which will host the 25 million visitors expected at Dubai Expo 2020, running from 20 October 2020 10 April 2021.Plans have been drafted with a target date for all major construction activities to be completed on site by October 2019, allowing for a full year of readiness testing across networks, systems and technologies.

TRANSIT SYSTEM SET FOR UAE CAN DRAMATICALLY EASE ROAD TRANSPORT PROBLEMS AFFECTING TRADE - IRU International Transport Union confirms accreditation of ATCUAE to deliver key training By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

oad transport obstacles affecting trade in the Arab world can be dramatically eased by a global customs transit system to be introduced in the UAE, the International Transport Union (IRU) says.Highlighting problems faced by the road transport industry as a result of delays caused by customs procedures, IRU research findings presented in Dubai showed that trucks making 108 trips carrying 1.866 million kg of cargo spent 855 days on the road, with 57% of transport time lost at borders.It was based on drivers’ journals collected between September 2012 and April 2013 for shipments by road in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE and Yemen.The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, which hosted last week’s IRU summit in Dubai, held under the patronage of his H.E. Dr. Abdullah Bilhaif Al-Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Public Works and Chairman of the NTA, is working towards the introduction in the Emirates of the TIR (International Road Transport) System, which cuts the time trucks spend at borders from days to hours. Appointed last year by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as the official authority to issue TIR Carnets for truck operators, the ATCUAE in April signed an agreement with Dubai Customs to work together to introduce the system. The ATCUAE expects to secure agreements with customs authorities in the other six emirates before the end of the year.In a further development following last week’s 2014 IRU Academy Seminar and Accredited Transport Institute (ATI) meeting in Dubai, the IRU has confirmed the accreditation of the AT C U A E t o d e l i v e r t r a i n i n g programmes for transport o p e r a t o r s . T h e AT C U A E w i l l immediately begin offering training programmes for the IRU Certificate of Professional Competence to road transport professionals in the UAE.We are very happy to be reinforcing our partnership with the IRU,said ATCUAE President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.The new training programmes we will be running are designed to improved road safety and transport efficiency, which ultimately benefits the economy and society as a whole.Last week’s IRU conference in Dubai was addressed by an

MAJLIS PR AND EVENTS LAUNCHES ORLY INTERNATIONAL IN DUBAI By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

ajlis PR and Events has been appointed recently as the PR agency for the official launch of ORLY International’s latest 2014 nail lacquer collection in the UAE. The agency organized media interviews for Jeff Pink, owner and founder of ORLY International and the creator of the Original French Manicure, at Novotel World Trade Center during Beauty World ME 2014.Fadi Sawaya, CEO of Sawaya International, the exclusive distributor

of ORLY nail products in the Middle East, says: “The Majlis team did impressive work and I appreciate their efforts in making Jeff Pink’s visit to Dubai successful. Together we aim to keep ORLY the number one nail brand in the region.We are delighted to add ORLY International to our growing portfolio of fashion and beauty clients,dds Frederic Montin, Founder and CEO, Majlis PR and Events.Los Angelesheadquartered ORLY International and its founder Jeff Pink are trailblazers in the nail care industry. By creating innovative and superior nail products ORLY provides the

medium to produce quality manicures. ORLY is the first to launch the first ever BB crème for nails as well as the ORLY Argan Oil

Hand Crème and Argan Oil Cuticle Drops. We worked well with the team and aim to build awareness of the brand within the Middle East.Jeff, who f o u n d e d O R LY International in 1975, has pioneered top nail trends such as Neon colors, Matte colors, 3D FX Colors, Magnetic color and Plastix Colors amongst many other nail arts. In addition, ORLY was the first to introduce Gel FX, the original vitamin infused manicure system. In his recent visit to the UAE, he showcased the 2014 Summer Collection (BAKED), the 2014 Fall Collection (SMOKY) as well as the Rich Renewal New Exfoliating Scrub. For almost 40 years now, Jeff Pink remains an icon in the nail industry and his unwavering commitment to the industry promises many colorful years ahead.

MOHAMMED BIN RASHID SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT SET TO HOST DUBAI SMART CITIES FORUM Opening Session on June 18 to Feature Local and International Thought Leaders By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

ohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG), a research and teaching institution focusing on public policy in the Arab world, is set to host a series of thought leadership sessions titled ‘Dubai Smart Cities Forum’.The forum will bring together industry experts and specialists to share expertise, discuss challenges, and review best practices as part of joint efforts towards realizing the Dubai Smart City Initiative. The sessions are designed to update government officials and decisions makers with the latest developments in smart city projects. The opening session of the forum will be held on 18 June, 2014 at MBRSG premises.The agenda will examine local and international trends, as well as the challenges and opportunities in integrating technology into sectors such as urban planning, transport, services and infrastructure.Dr Ali Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President, Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, said: “The primary objective of the Dubai Smart Cities Forum is to effectively contribute towards shaping a global smart city right here in Dubai. At MBRSG, we are keen to help achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, towards achieving a smart city. Our efforts are in line with

the directives and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, who oversees the Dubai Smart City Project. Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government is keen to evolve the prototype of a global smart city and leverage expert advice from around the world in developing a model that sets a new world benchmark.He added:We have several factors working in our favor the political will of the leadership, the emirate’s ultramodern infrastructure, as well as its technical and logistical capacities. The smart city project will have a significant impact on the operations of government and private sector institutions. Future plans cannot be limited to technology and applications, and call for multiple strategies that factor in any change in organization, IT systems and security. Each strategy should focus on benefiting all users Dubai’s citizens, residents and service providers.The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government is committed to promoting good governance through enhancing the region’s capacity for effective public policy. The School uses a four-pronged approach, which includes applied research in public policy and management, academic programs in public policy and administration, executive education programs and knowledge forums for scholars and policy makers.

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

talian World Cup-winning midfield maestro, Gennaro Gattuso, Brand Ambassador for Eberhard & Co., Swiss manufacturer of fine watches, wears The Extra-fort timepiece.The Extra-fort presented to Rino Gattuso is the celebrative model

international panel of speakers focusing on major issues affecting road safety and international trade.It was attended by more than 100 experts from Accredited Training Institutes, the NTA, the customs authorities of the seven emirates, the Federal Custom s Authority, Economic development departments of the UAE, driving institutes and transport operators.Dr. Nadhem A. Bin Taher, Executive Director of the NTA’s Land Transport Affairs Sector, told delegates that the UAE represents an important link within the international transport routes in general, and specifically within the GCC region. With heavy transit traffic between Oman and the rest of the region passing through the Emirates, there were more than 5,000 cross-border transactions per day, amounting to more than 4.5 million tonnes of cargo per year.Bin Taher said the UAE enacted the Land Transport Law No. 9 of 2011 in view of the important role played by road transport in the overall transport logistics chain.He added that one of the most important considerations when elaborating the Land Transport Law was ensuring compliance with international treaties and agreements in the field of land transport, including the TIR Convention.IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto said good infrastructure,and harmonised legislative frameworks to facilitate trade and international road transport, were necessary conditions to allow road transport to drive trade and e n h a n c e e c o n o m i c development.Transport of people and goods is a specific activity which takes place in the public domain he told delegates.To function well, it needs to rely on a harmonised level playing field and industry best practices to guarantee safe, secure and efficient services.

Authentic Arabic Iftar at Centro Barsha By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

t Centro Barsha, we believe that the true essence of Ramadan is togetherness. Our restaurant c.taste is a cosy and intimate venue to break fast with your family and friends. We serve a buffet of Arabic main courses, salads, desserts and traditional Ramadan juices for just AED 90 per person inclusive of 10% service charge and 10% municipality fee.For all of your dear ones to come together this special month, we offer a 20% discount for every group of 10 persons.Also, we welcome you to join us for a delicious Suhour à la carte selection for only AED 70 per person. For more information and bookings, please call +971 (0)4 704 0000

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GLOBAL DEMAND FOR HALAL FOOD BOOSTS AL ISLAMI’S 2013 GROWTH Company on track to complete new factory in early 2015 and triple production of processed foods By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

GENNARO GATTUSO WEARS EBERHARD & CO.

THE TRUE ESSENCE OF RAMADAN

Mob:00971 56 118 6007

egional food leader Al Islami Foods reported an 8% yearon-year growth for 2013, driven mostly by demand from new markets such as Iraq, Yemen and Libya, along with non-traditional markets such as Russia and CIS countries. The company also announced an annual profit of AED15.2 million for 2013 in comparison to AED9.2 million for 2012.The results, announced this week at the General Assembly meeting of Dubai Co-operative Society, which owns Al Islami Foods, show that despite tough competition, Al Islami has been able to achieve an annual growth of 8%. International sales for 2013 saw an excellent growth of 23% in volume and 14% in sales than the previous year. Growing awareness about halal food products in CIS and European countries was cited as the reason for the increase in global sales.While Al Islami’s position in the GCC market remains strong, the company aims to increase its investment in a new food processing factory in Dubai to triple its production. The factory, when operational in early 2015, will firmly position Al Islami as the No 1 food company in the GCC region and create an additional 1,000 jobs.In his statement, Saleh Saeed Lootah,

Chairman of Al Islami Foods, commented:While the GCC market showed a marginal increase in terms of food consumption, Al Islami was able to remain profitable by expanding beyond the GCC. Our aggressive marketing push and social media campaigned helped raise the awareness levels in the new markets and we are determined to take that awareness to further reinforce our leadership position in the real halal industry.Lootah added that the outlook for the first quarter of 2014 was encouraging and the company hopes to increase its volume sales in the HoReCa sector during the Holy Month of Ramadan.Through production differentiation, Al Islami will be targeting consumers who prefer to have quality meat and food products on the dinner table. At the same time, we will also advocating the UAE’s important stature in the world halal industry, he added.The coming months will see Al Islami making a major push to expand the halal strategy in line with Dubai’s ambition to become as the global halal capital. Al Islami is also exploring business opportunities in the Far Eastern regions and is already in talks with potential partners in developed halal markets such as Malaysia and Indonesia.

QNET PARTICIPATES IN RASHID CENTRE’S HAG AL LEILA CELEBRATIONS Showcases the New Abaya Collection and Arabic Oud By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

NET, one of Asia’s most prominent direct selling companies with its regional headquarters in UAE, participated in Rashid Centre’s Hag Al Leila celebrations held on 11th June at Rashid Centre’s headquarters in Dubai.Hag Al Leila, meaning ‘for this night’, is an a n n u a l traditional occasion that is celebrated to mark the arrival of the Holy Month of Ramadan. It is an annual occasion in the middle of Sha'aban, the eighth month in the Islamic Hijri

calendar where Emirati families and children across the UAE exchange sweets and memories of the occasion. In the late afternoon, children go knocking on their neighbours' doors, asking for small offerings by saying ‘Atoona Hag Al Laila', which means Give us sweets for tonight.His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Maktoum Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, was the guest of honor at the celebration, along with Sheikha Fateem bint Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Mrs. Mariam Othman – General Manager of Rashid Center, and Mr. Khaled

Diab Regional General Manager of QNET Middle East & North Africa.Mr. Khaled Diab said: “QNET respects Emirati culture and traditions and strongly supports Rashid Centre’s initiatives in providing venues for children with special needs to express their

creativity and their innate talents.QNET showcased for the first time the new Abaya collection, called “Maryoom”, designed by Rashid Centre’s special needs children which promotes Middle Eastern culture as well as Dukhoon Al Oud, a special Arabic fragrance. Abaya is the traditional dress of women in the GCC and Middle East countries. The sewing and embroidery was executed by the kids in the workshop of Rashid Centre.QNET will sell this product through its distributors around the world and a part of the proceeds will go back to Rashid Centre. Mrs. Mariam Othman, General Manager of Rashid Pediatric Therapy Centre, concludes:Our aim is to p r o v i d e R a s h i d C e n t e r ’s students venues to showcase their natural born talents and we look forward to this exceptional Abaya and Dukhoon Al Oud initiative with QNET that will surely encourage creativity and entrepreneurship at a young age.During the Hag Al Leila celebrations, Rashid Centre’s troupe of young performers wore bright and colorful dresses, performed traditional dances, sang songs, played on drums and even cooked Emirati dishes. The children enjoyed the whole day with fun activities and received gifts of traditional sweets and nuts.

H.E. SHEIKHA WAFA HASHER AL MAKTOUM & HMH - HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS HONOUR DR. ALYA SAIF FARIS GHANEM AL MAZROUEI WITH EXCELLENCE AWARD of the brand’s 125th anniversary and it is realized in a limited series - 500 pieces for the steel version and 125 for the more precious gold version The champion wears the number 8 of the gold version, the same magical number of his jersey.Extra-fort Roue à Colonnes Grande Date 125ème is a chronograph with a special technical value that lies in the column wheel controlling the chronographic functions of the automatic mechanism, a perfect match to its aesthetic refinement. Characterised by elegant and shapely lines, the 41

mm case is proposed with a silver or black dial, featuring the Arabic numerals 1, 2 and 5 that represent 125 years of prestigious tradition and a never-ending passion for the universe of “time”. The Eberhard & Co. dedicated logo on the dial is an additional celebratory mark.In 125 years of history, the brand never ceased to look ahead, bringing to life an endless succession of revolutionary creations made to transmit the Company’s values from wrist to wrist, including the one of Gennaro Gattuso.

OPEN CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: VANTAGE POINT SHARJAH 2 APPLICATION DEADLINE: JULY 31, 2014 By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

harjah Art Foundation (SAF) invites submissions from UAE based photographers for the exhibition Vantage Point Sharjah 2. Entry is open to anyone residing in the UAE including professional photographers, artists, as well as individuals with a keen interest in photography.Thi s year SAF is looking for photographs that centre on the t h e m e o f portraits and people in the UAE. The submissions will be reviewed and a selection of the photographs will be included in the exhibition which will be on view August 30 through November 30, 2014 in the Sharjah Art Foundation Art Spaces.This exhibition is one of Sharjah Art Foundation' s many initiatives focused on public programming and community outreach. The first Vantage Point Sharjah was held from September 7 to December 7, 2013 and included 100 i m a g e s b y 4 1 participants representing 20 nationalities. In 2013, the exhibition’s focus was the ‘Life and Landscapes of Sharjah’.President and Director of SAF Sheikha Hoor Al-Qasimi stated:It was very inspiring to see the wide range of responses to the first

Vantage Point Sharjah Open Call in 2013. This year we are looking forward to receiving submissions from people across the UAE and reviewing their creative and individual responses to the theme of

portraits and people.The deadline for submissions to the Vantage Point Sharjah 2 Open Call is July 31, 2014. To be considered for inclusion in the exhibition, applicants should complete and submit the application f o r m a v a i l a b l e a t www.sharjahart.org.The application should include up to 6 high-resolution images and each image should be accompanied by a caption that includes a short story or description of the photograph and where it was taken. The application can be submitted by email to photo@sharjahart.org, or by mail or by hand directly to: Sharjah Art Foundation, c/o Sharjah Art Museum, Arts Area, PO Box 19989, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

nder the Kind Patronage of H.E. Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum, Dr. Alya Saif Faris Ghanem Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer of Rashid Hospital was presented with HMH Award for Excellence in recognition of her invaluable contribution to breast cancer and obesity awareness programs in the UAE.Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum & HMH Award for Excellence is a tribute to exceptional women who work for human welfare in addition to achieving excellence in their respective fields be it healthcare, business, art, literature, culture, sports, environment or public life.Handing out the special trophy, Mr Laurent A. Voivenel, CEO, HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings, said: "Dr Alya is not only a top medical expert but a woman of remarkable caliber who has taken up a number of social causes. Besides her marvellous achievements as a surgeon, she has been playing an instrumental role in the battle against breast cancer and obesity as well as providing tangible support to the less fortunate suffering from these conditions. Hers is a life that inspires many and it gives us great pleasure to recognize this compassionate lady who with her determination and zeal makes the world around her a little bit better for all".Receiving the award, Dr Alya stated, "I accept this wonderful award with profound gratitude and think it is a great initiative. I take tremendous pride in my profession and believe it allows me to make a difference in the lives of those who need my support. I have been blessed with an absolutely amazing team and together we are committed to find solutions to local health issues especially in our area of expertise. Both breast cancer and obesity are a growing health concern in the UAE. Obesity leads to many serious ailments such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Similarly, cancer is the second largest cause of

women's death in the country, with breast cancer being the most common denominator. Unfortunately, the most alarming fact is that while the diseases can be prevented, these are almost always detected at a late stage. But awareness can change that. Early

detection and treatment can save lives.Recipient of the Distinguished Female Employee in Specialized Section Award in 2011 from the Dubai Government Excellence Awards Authority, Dr Alya has been actively participating in numerous international scientific symposiums and workshops in proctology, bariatric surgery, pancreatology, obesity and metabolic surgery to name a few. As a Surgical Consultant at Rashid Hospital, she was on the organizing committee of several national and international workshops. She was also instrumental in organizing the proctology, multidisciplinary bariatric and weight reduction surgery service in Rashid Hospital.Dr. Alya Saif Faris Ghanem Al Mazrouei was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Rashid Hospital in March this year. Dr Alya had joined the hospital in 2000 and prior to her new role had held the post of Consultant General Surgeon since 2011.Dr Alya graduated from the Dubai Medical College for Girls in 2000 with an MBBS in Surgery and Medicine. She holds a Medicin Specialiste en Chirugie from the University of Geneva, Switzerland; a European University Diploma in Hepato-Pancreatic & Biliary Cancers; a Fellowship in Pancreatic Islets Transplantation and is also an FRCS, Glasgow, Scotland.

Azad News UAE15-21 June 2014,17-23 Shaban 1435

Email:azadnewsuae@yahoo.com

MUSCAT’S RESIDENTIAL SALES AND LETTINGS MARKETS UNDERPINNED BY DEMAND FOR HIGHER QUALITY

GROHE GROUP: SUCCESSFUL FIRST QUARTER 2014 Continued sales growth of three percent / EBITDA increased to EUR 69 million By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

ROHE Group S.à r.l. continued to improve its results in the first quarter of 2014. Consolidated sales climbed by three percent to EUR 364 million, up from EUR 354 million in the same period of 2013.The Group’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by five percent to EUR 69 million. On 31 March 2014, the Group’s cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 317 million, compared to EUR 252 million on 31 March 2013.The GROHE Group achieved clear growth across nearly all markets

worldwide. Accounting for 17 percent of total sales and growing by five percent, Germany remains the Group’s single most important market. Sales in the Americas rose by four percent. Asia and Europe show sales growth of three percent each.The excellent results in Asia and in China, in particular, reflect, amongst other things, the stable growth of Joyou AG. Successfully floated on the Frankfurt stock exchange in 2010, this member of the GROHE Group showed a highly positive performance in the first three months of 2014, boosting its sales by six percent.

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

ncreased demand in both the residential sales and lettings markets across Muscat has been underpinned by an increased level of job creation, with both buyers and tenants focussing their attention on higher quality schemes, according to

yields, while others are driven by the desire to transition to home ownership.A degree of pent up demand from Omani nationals, which is being driven by a gradual build-up of home ownership aspirations since the ‘great’ recession, has resulted in many households now opting to step on to the

the latest report from international real estate consultants, Cluttons.According to the Cluttons’ Muscat Spring 2014 Residential Market Outlook Report, tenant demand has improved in line with increased job creation. This has been in part driven by the government’s heavy investment in transportation and energy infrastructure upgrades.In the rental market, where attention is centred on schemes perceived to offer better quality accommodation, twobedroom apartments and four-bedroom villas remain the most sought after across Muscat. In addition, strong demand for larger villas in particular, coupled with limited new supply, has helped to drive up rents during Q1 2014. Monthly rents for four-bedroom villas have risen across most submarkets, with Azaiba (9%) showing the strongest growth this quarter. On the other hand, rents for two bedroom apartments have remained largely stable over the same period.According to Philip Paul, Head of Cluttons, Oman: “With an increased emphasis on quality, The Wave and Muscat Hills are two developments that are currently enjoying a resurgence in demand, with The Wave recently bringing forward the release of its Reehan Residences to satisfy investor appetite. At the same time, the rising levels of inventory here will help to address some of the pent up tenant demand for The Wave.The increased interest in higher quality properties is set to lead to a widening gap between prime and secondary locations throughout the city in the near term.The report asserts that the sales market is showing a significant increase in demand for completed residential properties. At The Wave and Muscat Hills, which are Integrated Tourism Complexes (ITC), prices average OMR 1,000 psm. Some Omani investors are being attracted to the ITC properties due to the attractive rental

property ladder, buoyed by rising market confidence levels.Paul comments:On the supply front, we feel the market has room to absorb further residential schemes and prices are, to a large extent, currently being supported by the dearth of stock. With no substantive new ITC schemes likely to be delivered over the next six months, we expect capital values to continue edging upwards over the course of the year. That said, developers are mobilising on sites such as Saraya as they move to capitalise on the strengthening appetite to purchase.According to the report, foreign investment in to Oman’s residential property market has also risen in the past year, in particular from UAE-based non-resident Indian (NRI) buyers. With Oman’s long and close history to the Indian subcontinent, NRI buyers are increasingly attracted to Omani cities such as Muscat, which offers excellent air and road links to nearby Dubai. In addition, there is the added benefit of a residential visa linked to property ownership. This is something other regional locations are unable to offer, or guarantee.Steve Morgan, CEO Cluttons Middle East concludes:We have recorded an upturn in the number of non-resident Indian buyers from the United Arab Emirates entering the market over the past six months. With prices rebounding in Dubai, an affordability threshold may have been breached and with regulations surrounding retirement properties not entirely clear, it would logical sense for this group to look at nearby markets such as Muscat. While this trend is yet to remove substantive quantities of stock from the market, the propensity for the creation of several “buy-to-leave” homes, as the limited supply is further depleted, will no doubt place further upward pressure on capital values.

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EMPOWER CEO WINS UNSUNG HERO AWARD AT INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT ENERGY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE IN SEATTLE Bin Shafar recognised for contributions to strengthen the region’s district cooling industry By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

hmad Bin Shafar, Chief Executive Officer of Empower, the largest district cooling services provider in the

SNAP A ‘SELFIE’ AT PASCAL TO WIN SWEET PRIZES Bakery offers prizes to budding ‘selfie’ dinein photographers By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

ascal Tepper, the modern dine-in French Bakery located on Dubai Media City’s main drag, is continuing the trending ‘selfie’ craze by rewarding in-store diner’s sweet prizes weekly if they message their picture taken in store to the Pascal Tepper Facebook page.Entrants can win a host of exciting prizes announced every

lighting up the bakery with an array of bright and beautiful colours, such as the red and yellow of the Spanish giants the previous tournament champions; alongside the green, yellow and blue of tournament host, Brazil, the world’s most decorated international side.Master Chef Pascal has also joined in, wearing his French kit, a blue, white and red jersey, hoping for a repeat of

Thursday throughout June, including a breakfast basket, serving up to ten people or a dine-in meal for two at Pascal’s flagship bakery In Dubai, up to the value of AED 150.Pascal Tepper Staff Don International Colours For World Cup .The team at Tecom’s favourite modern dine-in bakery Pascal Tepper are enjoying the World Cup excitement, swapping their

1998.Pascal Dubai Deliveries Increase by 50 Per Cent:Pascal Tepper French Bakery has reported a 50 per cent increase in its delivery sales as the summer season sets in, according to General Manager Michel Saab. “As the Emirates heats up, so has the demand for our delivery service to offices and homes in the neighbourhood,he said.The delivery arm of the business has

restaurant uniform for the jersey of their favourite national team.The new football-style uniforms are

expanded to meet higher demands and currently delivers in Tecom, JLT, Marina and Greens.

AZIZI DEVELOPMENTS SUCCESSFULLY RELAUNCHED TWO RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS IN AL FURJAN WORTH AED 250 MILLION IN DUBAI •Two residential projects, Azizi Feirouz Residence and Azizi Yasamine Residence, have been relaunched •The both development features are equipped with world class amenities and facilities •Azizi Developments is committed to sustainable design and building practices, as is evident in our ongoing developments across UAE and other regional investments By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

zizi Developments, a sister concern of Azizi investment, has successfully relaunched its two residential G+11 Projects, Yasamine and Feirouz, in Al Furjan, a residential property development by Nakheel near the Palm in Jebel Ali.The project worth AED 250 million is aimed at providing prospective residents a contemporary living space which is equipped with modern amenities and facilities. The project is strategically located at Dubai’s most sort after and plush location, the firm garnered much interest from both big investors and individuals alike, wishing to purchase property within the emirate.The both residential towers, Azizi Feirouz Residence and Azizi Yasamine Residence, include 1, 2 and 3 bed rooms units coupled with fully equipped kitchens and capacious and large living rooms with private terrace area at podium level units. Azizi Feirouz Residence, is a modern residential complex, with a plot area of 35,587 square feet

and it comprises of 39 one bedroom, 40 two bedroom, and 20 three bedroom units while, Azizi Yasamine residence has a plot area of 37,339 square feet and includes 39 one bedroom, 60 two bedroom, and 10 three bedroom units.The spacious residential apartments include units with floor area ranging from 937 sq feet upto 1915 sq feet. Close proximity to services including road network, schools, restaurants and sport facilities and provision of amenities including swimming pools, private parking, a n d gymnasium makes the residential towers an ideal place to live.Azizi Development s is a sister concern of A z i z i Investments a n d a subsidiary of A z i z i Holding, which was formed by Mr .Merwais A z i z i 9 Chairman – Azizi Holding) in 1989. The holding company started off with humble beginnings and has now grown to be one of the recognized leaders in market. Azizi Development has also planned to developed another 18 plots comprises of residential and hotel

apartments in Al Furjan and Palm Jumeirah the Crescent.Mr Mohsen Kamel, CEO of Azizi Developments said,We are delighted to announce that we are relaunching our projects, which are escrow compliant, in Dubai. The construction already been started on these two project and will be completed by the 4th quarter of 2015. Our decision to relaunched Al Furjan projects within the UAE is timely and apt, given the tremendous growth and equally potential returns any one person or organization can gain from investing in this growing market. Our company is committed to delivering value and modern, lucrative properties. There was a delay in development projects during the economic downturn; however even during the recession time we ensured that financial investments in the properties made by customers were returned to them. Mr. Mohsen said that Azizi Developments has a strategic vision of contributing positively to the UAE residential market by developing Mid Income and High End Properties with affordable prices He added that the company has planned to deliver more than 1200 residential units and 1600 h o t e l apartment keys till 2020.Mr. M o h s e n further said that Azizi Developments is committed to sustainable design and building practices, as is evident in our developments across UAE and other regional investments. Our working model is based upon the Three Pillars of Sustainability: environment, society and economy. Azizi Developments focuses on each pillar throughout the planning and construction phases to create developments that bring value to the homeowner, the community and the environment. We believe that part of our corporate and social

responsibility is to consider and protect the Earth. Providing energy efficient buildings, reducing our carbon footprint and positively impacting the economic well-being of our communities are tangible goals that we strive to meet on a daily basis.

ALDAR ACADEMIES HITS THE HIGH NOTES FOR MUSICAL CHARITY NIGHT ? Over 600 students to perform ‘A Journey across

the World – From Abu Dhabi and Back’ celebrating their global musical talents ? Event to seek contributions for the Special Care Centre and help reach its AED 25 million target By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

ldar Academies, Abu Dhabi’s leading institution for worldclass education proudly presents a musical Celebration, ‘A Journey across the World From Abu Dhabi and Back’. The charity event, hosted in honour of the children’s Special Care Centre in Abu Dhabi will take place at the Emirates Palace Theatre on Wednesday 18th June from 6pm 8pm. This event will seek to help the Special Care Centre reach its goal of raising AED 25 million to build a new centre in Al Bahia for 400 children.The event will feature over 600 talented pupils from Aldar Academies’ schools, who will perform songs including the UAE National Anthem; cultural performances including a Nabati poem, Watani and Biladuna; instrumental music titled Captain Jack’s Hornpipe and Shark Attack; classic film medleys from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Les Miserables; and also recent pop favourites including Pharell William’s Happy and Katy Perry’s Roar. Demonstrating the diversity and talent of the school, these students will showcase a number of different musical styles including Emirati, Samba, Pop, and Jazz.Nilay Ozral, Chief Executive Officer of Aldar Academies commented,At Aldar academies we are dedicated to providing a world-class education through various teaching methods including an understanding of the world through music, arts and culture. We seek to bridge cultural divides

through the use of music, arts and culture and this event is a testimony of our commitment to broadening our student’s horizons and providing them with an understanding of different cultures.We are proud to see our students use skills learnt in school to raise funds for Abu Dhabi’s Special Care Centre. We hope that our students, through their talents, continue to contribute to the creation of a better future for society,she added.The Special Care Centre is committed to establishing bigger and better facilities for children in Abu Dhabi. We are proud to see students in the Emirates use their talents to help special needs children. We are grateful for their support and we hope to reach our goal of AED 25 million to build the new centre in Al Bahia,” said Kmar Cherif, Executive Coordinator, Events Manager at the Special Care Centre.Aldar Academies' schools programmes are developed based on current educational research, which ensures students are prepared to enter the work force as contributing members of society. Programmes are regularly reviewed, developed and adapted taking into consideration the future generation’s role in an everchanging world, connected by new technology.Instrumental tuition offers children, and adults, numerous benefits. Researchers have found evidence that music lessons help children improve their language skills, boost memory abilities and improve their behaviour and intelligence.

A COOL GETAWAY FOR A FAMILY FRIENDLY HOLIDAY Enjoy a cool escape this summer in Salalah on the shores of the Indian Ocean with plenty of fun and games for children By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

tay with Salalah Rotana Resort this summer for the ideal convenient getaway that caters to the entire family, only a 20km drive from the Salalah airport. Salalah boasts near perfect weather all year round, nestled between the cool Indian Ocean and the dramatic Dhofar Mountain range, the pleasant climate is a welcome reprieve for the regional Levant and GCC travellers. The ‘Flipper’s Kids Club’ will keep the children busy whilst parents can take some time to themselves and relax on the beach or in Zen the spa at Rotana.For a perfect family holiday, Salalah Rotana Resort offers a multitu de of activiti es and excursi ons for all ages a n d travelle r types. Children are guaranteed a good time with the extensive offerings whilst parents can rest assured that their children are being watched over by First Aid certified staff with knowledge of international child care policies.The ‘Flippers Kids Club’ is over 450 square metres of indoor and outdoor play areas, with two designated areas which cater specifically to two age groups, one for ages between 4-7 years and the other for 8-12 year olds. Each area has been designed in a variety of fun colours and filled with games, arts & crafts and Lego stations to inspire imaginations whilst LCD televisions and play stations promise plenty of indoor and outdoor excitement such as a shaded sand pit and swing set. For nap times, relaxation areas have been included to offer a peaceful space for kids to rest.The action packed activity calendar guarantees children a fun

filled holiday with options to participate in exciting treasure hunts, water balloon fun, sand castle making, Karaoke, bowling, Wii Sports fun, dancing competitions and many more.All restaurants offer a children’s m e n u featuring mini hot dogs, mini b e e f hamburgers and the popular favourites i n c l u d e macaroni ‘n cheese and fish fingers. Even the games on the table mats will keep them busy while anticipating their order.Parents are given the option to request a responsible first aid certified babysitter which can care for a maximum of two children at a time, ensuring they receive the proper attention. The homely Family Suite is stretched over a 143sqm space with a master bedroom, twin bedroom, private terrace or balcony, 2 bathrooms, a separate toilet and only a stone’s throw away from the resort’s pool.Salalah Rotana Resort promises guests a wonderful stay during the Summer season with rates starting from OMR 60++ with its offer from now until September 15th 2014 of a complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi and 20% discount on all other services during their stay, including food and beverage, spa treatments, minibar and more.

world, received the Unsung Hero Award at the annual International District Energy Association (IDEA) Conference and Trade Show in Seattle. Bin Shafar was recognised for his contributions in transforming Empower from a startup to the world’s largest district cooling services providers over the last decade. Bin Shafar was instrumental in one of the largest acquisitions in the international district cooling industry recently, as Empower acquired Palm District Cooling in January 2014. The company’s portfolio now stands at an estimated one million Refrigeration Tonnes (RT) of cooling capacity, which is the largest of any single company in this sector.IDEA’s Unsung Hero Award is presented to members who perform above and beyond the call of duty on behalf of the industry and the association, without requiring or seeking recognition for their

efforts.Commenting on receiving the award, Ahmad Bin Shafar, said:I am delighted to receive this IDEA award on behalf of Empower. It is truly gratifying to receive this recognition for the efforts of our team. Our achievements would not have been possible without the vision and support of UAE’s leaders, who encourage the innovation in all sectors and allow us to achieve what is the best for our country.Empower also received the Gold Award in the “total square footage committed to district cooling services beyond north America category at the annual International District Energy Association (IDEA) Conference. Moreover, Empower was selected as the winner of the bronze award for total number of buildings committed to district energy beyond North America category for the ninth time at the prestigious event.The International District Energy Association (IDEA) is a nonprofit trade association, which organizes an annual conference and trade show to showcase the latest technologies and equipment in the energy sector. This annual event hosts a large number of e n e rg y e x p e r t s , c o n s u l t a n t s , government agencies and developers from district energy systems sector. It is considered as a global platform to highlight the recent trends in the energy sector areas, as it represents an ideal networking opportunity with the world's leading companies in the industry.

BAKU 2015 EUROPEAN GAMES ANNOUNCES TISSOT AS OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

aku 2015 European Games is pleased to announce the signing of Swiss watchmaker Tissot as Official Timekeeper and Partner of the inaugural European Games.The agreement will see Tissot and its sister company of the Swatch Group, Swiss Timing, provide all timing and scoring services for next summer’s event, which takes place from 12 until 28 June. It also grants Tissot the right to use the Baku 2015 Games marks, logos, and designations on an exclusive, worldwide basis.Mr Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015, said: “I am delighted to welcome Tissot both as Official Timekeeper and an Official Partner of the Baku 2015 European Games.This association provides strong assurance for the timekeeping and scoring at the Games, and also the opportunity to promote Baku 2015 internationally through a high calibre brand of strong, international repute.Tissot will also create a bespoke marketing campaign to promote the partnership across its worldwide distribution network, with special focus on the EOC markets. Tissot will also support the Baku 2015 One Year to Go celebrations on June 11 by providing two official countdown clocks, one located in the city centre and one at the Heydar Aliev International Airport.Mr François Thiébaud,

President of Tissot, said:We are

looking forward to working with everyone at BEGOC to ensure the smooth running of the Baku 2015 European Games. These games reflect the Tissot spirit perfectly by its diversity and the incredible dynamism it projects. We are proud to be able to demonstrate our skills at such an incredible event, which allows us to showcase our abilities in many different ways. It also allows us to prove ourselves as timekeeping requires the most accurate measurement and further confirms the quality of our watches.Tissot and Swiss Timing have unrivalled experience of timekeeping at major international sporting events. The Tissot brand encompasses 160 years of watch production and sells more than four million watches across the globe each year. As for Swiss Timing, it has been responsible for timekeeping and data handling at every Olympic Games since 1976. It is a perfect union which guarantees a successful event.

ADPI CONFIRMS PARTICIPATION AT IRAQ AIRPORT SHOW AS THE PLATINUM SPONSOR A slew of aviation projects in the run up to Airports expansion tops Iraq’s priority list Global companies to get new market insights at IRAQ Airport Show By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

abylon International the organizers of Iraq airport Show in association with Sulaimania Airport as the Host has announced the participation of Aéroports de Paris Engineering (ADPI) the leaders in Airports planning, design and engineering consultancy as a platinum sponsor at the upcoming Iraq Airport Show on the 24th and 25th of September in Sulaimaniyah.Their confirmation comes close on the heels of Azmar Air & Erbil international airport confirming their participation as major sponsors. In addition world renowned companies like DNATA,SERCO & AFM group have all confirmed their participation at the Iraq airport show that will be inaugurated by the Minister of transport ,H.E. Hadi Al Ameri with the Director of Sulaimaniyah International airport the principle host and will be accompanied by senior officials of Iraq’s airports, civil aviation authorities, Governorates and other ministries.Our annual participation has also given us an avenue to establish our leadership in the sector as providers of not only distinctive technologies but also exceptional support to our clients. We are confident that Iraq Airport Show2014 will be a mutually beneficial endeavor to both ADPI and the industry. We are sure that adpi will attract significant attention from potential partners during the event.” said Pierre Bourgin the Senior vice president of ADPI.Our participation at IRAQ Airport Show 2014 contributes to our ultimate goal of serving the region’s thriving aviation industry, as the event gathers the world’s leading brands that provide state-of-the-art technologies and solutions that become part of new standards in airport and aviation-

spokesman of ISPR has said that additional troops have been deployed on PakAfghan border, to reinforce existing security arrangements, for peaceful conduct of Presidential elections in Afghanistan. A number of measures have been taken for the purpose after due deliberation and coordination with Afghan Security forces. While ensuring a smooth flow of voters move, checking by immigration staff at crossing points has been enhanced

PAKISTAN EXTENDS FULL SUPPORT TO ELECTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

he Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan stated that Pakistan extended full support to the people of Afghanistan on 14 June 2014, who went to polls in the second round of Presidential elections. As stated before, these elections are a milestone in the democratic journey of the Afghan people. We congratulate the government and people of Afghanistan on this achievement.We reiterate that these elections are an Afghan affair, with the Afghan electoral institutions in the lead. They bear a heavy responsibility, and we wish them well in accomplishing their task successfully.For its part, Pakistan remains committed to supporting all efforts for a free and peaceful electoral process. On the eve of the first round on 5 April 2014, Pakistan had taken special steps to beef up security along the border. Our authorities took additional

measures for the second round of elections, including by retaining additional troops for this purpose. The measures included enhanced vigilance and security along the border, enhanced patrolling in close border/border crossing areas, enhanced checking by immigration staff, enhanced communication through existing coordination and cooperation mechanism, and availability of hotline contact with Afghan counterparts.Pakistan sincerely supports the cause of strengthening of democracy and peaceful democratic transition in Afghanistan. It is our earnest hope that the Afghan nation would emerge stronger and more unified at the culmination of these elections. As a close neighbour and fraternal nation, Pakistan stands committed to supporting the Afghan people in every possible way in their quest for peace and progress’.

ROAD SAFETY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, SAYS MICHELIN By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

t a recent road safety conference, Michelin reminded regulators and other key stakeholders that road safety is a shared responsibility. More specifically, responsibility has to be shared between manufacturers, regulators, dealers, and drivers.According to Michelin, manufacturers must ensure they produce tyres of the right quality choice of materials significantly affects tyre safety and provide guidance on how to operate their tyres safely. Manufacturers also need to abide by the regulations of the countries and meet the standards set.Governments are also responsible for regulating as well as enforcing what they believe promotes safety on the roads in their countries. One such legislation is the regulation that forbids dealers to sell tyres that are over two years old from the date of manufacture.The distribution network is also key to ensuring safety; its responsibility is to be able to competently fit tyres, comply with local regulations such as the sell by date limit, as well as provide the right advice to consumers.Finally, drivers have a key responsibility in maintaining road safety by ensuring that tyres on their vehicles are inflated to the recommended pressures, are regularly inspected for any damages or abnormal wear, and

are replaced when required with the right products at reputable dealerships.The importance of tyre safety is often understated in a region with a high rate of road accidents. While drivers focus on ensuring that their vehicle looks good on the inside and out, without well-maintained tyres, drive quality, fuel consumption and safety are impacted,Said Mr. Terry Khokhar, Passenger Car Product Manager for Michelin Africa, India and Middle East, and the speaker at the conference.Mr Khokhar added, “It is imperative to inflate tyres to the vehicle manufacturer ’s recommended pressures at all times but particularly during very hot weather. However, it is important to ensure that tyre pressures are checked and adjusted when the tyres are “cold”, (Tyres are considered cold when they have not been used for at least two hours or after no more than 3 km of slow driving). Lower pressures reduce sidewall stiffness which causes the tyre to flex more than its design limits; and this results in degradation of the tyre’s internal structure which could lead to its complete breakdown and quite possibly cause a “blowout”.Michelin runs regular safety campaigns to engage consumers and increase awareness about tyre safety. All Michelin tyres imported into GCC countries are tested and certified to Gulf Standards.

ADCB LAUNCHES SIMPLYLIFE MASTERCARD CREDIT CARD The card makes cash back simple; 1.5% cash back, zero complications By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

bu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) continues to advance its SimplyLife’ brand by launching its first ever credit card. The new Titanium MasterCard Credit Card offers a powerful cash back proposition to consumers;1.5% cash back on every purchase.SimplyLife, a consumer finance brand specializing in simple, quick and accessible personal finance products, understands that sometimes important moments in life require a little help, that’s why the new credit card gives consumers cash back without the hassle of c o m p l i c a t e d r u l e s , d i ff i c u l t qualifying conditions or a tedious redemption process. SimplyLife from ADCB offers the platform for consumers to aspire for larger things in life and achieve important moments in their lives.Sundar Parthasarathy, Head New Business at ADCB, said:In April, we launched SimplyLife to make personal and car loans more accessible. Today, we’re enhancing that offering with the launch of our SimplyLife cash back credit card. Our customers can now benefit from a powerful cash back program, giving them greater financial freedom and convenience to achieve their goals in life. The credit card market has many cash back offers, but ours is the only cash back program that can be explained in two lines- spend AED 1,000 in a

month and you avail the cash back. It is that simple.As an introductory offer, customers who sign up for the SimplyLife Titanium MasterCard Credit Card will be able to earn two free movie tickets every month, after spending AED 1,500 in the same month. There are no tedious redemption processes; the customer can use their simplylife credit card to buy two cinema tickets at any theatres in UAE to receive a cash back up to AED 70 in the next month.Commenting on this, Eyad Al-Kourdi, Country Manager UAE, MasterCard, said:The launch of SimplyLife Titanium MasterCard Credit Card builds on our longstanding collaboration with ADCB, and we are confident that this rewarding product will instantly appeal to the UAE consumers. Developing innovative payment solutions that offer exceptional value to cardholders is a key priority for MasterCard and we look forward to introducing similar solutions with ADCB that can become the preferred everyday payment tool for the bank’s customers.SimplyLife is inspired by a commitment to helping people achieve their ambitions. Launched as a strategic business unit of ADCB, it offers personal loans of up to AED 500,000 for customers with salary transfer and car loans worth up to 80% of the value of the car, to a maximum of AED 1.5 million.

BABYSHOP INTRODUCES STYLISH RAMADAN 2014 COLLECTION By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

G related infrastructure development. ”Pierre Bourgin added: “As a worldclass organization, we focus on bringing together the brightest minds, applying engineering ingenuity and deploying cutting edge technologies, to deliver state of the art solutions for the aviation industry. From master-planning record breaking developments, addressing challenging circumstances through innovative solutions to conducting complex technical studies, our projects enable economies to flourish, businesses to grow and b r i n g p e o p l e t o g e t h e r. ” S a i d Pierre.Ram Muthaiah of Babylon International said Sulaimaniyah and other Airports of Iraq aims to increase the aviation sector’s contribution to the GDP and hence, will continue to invest in aviation infrastructure to cope up with the anticipated growth in air passengers and cargo movements in the coming years. He said the coming together of exhibitors from across all the geographical regions coming to Iraq for the Iraq Airport Show-2014 in big numbers than the previous editions clearly reflects the global interest in Iraq’s booming aviation sector .

TROOPS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED ON PAK-AFGHAN BORDER, TO REINFORCE EXISTING SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS, FOR PEACEFUL CONDUCT OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN. By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

Edition 50 pg4

and patrolling has been increased in areas close to the border. Strict checking measures have been taken on routes from mainland leading towards border areas. Communication at Border Coordination Centers on both sides has also been enhanced and a hotline contact has been established between the two Military Operations directorates. Additionally, Aerial surveillance is also being carried out to check any untoward cross border movement.

earing up for the festive season, Babyshop has launched its chic Ramadan collection featuring dressy party essentials that also ensure kids stay cool and comfortable during the hot summer months.Mint is the colour of the season for girls, complemented by bright royal blues and corals. Accentuated with

crochet a n d ombre sequins, the ensemble conveys a pretty look without looking too girly in designs ranging from pleats and jacquard to detailed origami and

laser cut.The relaxed and sophisticated look is ideal for boys, with brown and navy blue combinations dominating the collection. Hints of bright orange and burgundy give the perfect summer feel with accents on pockets and insides of shirts. Shirts, chino pants, shorts and knitted vests in jacquard, herringbone, tweed fabrics are the season’s t o p trends that can b e accessori sed with bow ties and suspenders to complete the look.Retailing a wide spectrum of colours, designs and mix-n-match options at affordable prices, Babyshop’s Ramadan collection promises a real treat for kids between 0-16 years, this festive season. The collection is available across all 41 Babyshop outlets in the UAE.

DAMAS LAUNCHES BRIDAL SHOW IN UAE By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

amas, the Middle East's leading jewellery and watch retailer, has announced the launch of its Bridal Show exclusively for the UAE community.The ‘Damas Bridal Show’ showcases luxury jewellery sets designed by Damas to meet the growing demand for wedding jewellery in the Dubai market. The 15-day show, which runs from 12-26 June at Damas stores in Mall of Emirates, Emirates Towers and Wafi Centre, provides customers with a wide variety of stunning bridal sets and special offers at purchase.The elegant bridal collection, which includes unique and elaborate pieces of jewellery, has been designed to recreate precious moments for

Dubai brides on their special day.Damas staff, highly trained and experienced to understand the needs of brides and help them select the most suitable jewellery, offers tips and recommendations to brides in selecting the right diamonds, gemstones and pearls that best fit their wedding gowns.Throughout its prominent history, Damas has been known as a leader in designing glamorous and unique jewellery in the Middle East. The Bridal Show is proving highly popular with jewellery enthusiasts and the fashion savvy in Dubai.

Azad News UAE15-21 June 2014,17-23 Shaban 1435

KHALAF AHMAD AL HABTOOR RECEIVES AN HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO (AUC) Al Habtoor Group Chairman urges graduates to aspire to greatness By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

halaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group received an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from the American University in Cairo (AUC) on Saturday June 14, 2014. AUC is a premier Englishlanguage institution of higher learning based in the Egyptian capital. The ‘Commencement Ceremony’ was held at the ‘Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Football and Track Stadium’ a facility financed by the Al Habtoor Group Chairman in 2010.Al Habtoor, who is a well-known

philanthropist, supports many educational facilities around the world including AUC and Illinois College in Jacksonville, USA.Amr Shaarawi, the Provost and Conferral

of Honorary Degree, praised Al Habtoor telling graduating students he was honoured with the Doctorate of Philosophy “In recognition for his continued efforts in fostering cross cultural understanding, supporting humanitarian causes, and advancing academic inquiry.Al Habtoor attended the Commencement Ceremony at the respected American university where there were 193 masters and 561 bachelor’s degree candidates graduating. In his key note speech he urged them to aspire to greatness, “Your education has not finished, it just started and it will carry through your life. You have a long way to go. I advise you to keep a positive outlook on things, start your day full of energy ready to conquer t h e w o r l d . H e a d d e d , “ Yo u r generation has learned a lot from the

turbulences that stormed Egypt in the past three years and now the earth has

settled. Let us put our hands together and build this country.His words were echoed by Sherif Kamel, dean of the University’s School of

Business, who emphasised the importance in contributing to the community and embracing challenges and failures on the road to success. “Egypt and the world badly need your brains, your energy and your passion, give them freely, but try to stay conscious of what it is you're giving of yourself and why.Lisa Anderson, President of the American University in Cairo (AUC) said,This class has seen more change in their short time as university students than most of us see in a lifetime.They are ready to dream of things that never were and to ask why not?Al Habtoor urged the graduates to take an active role in their country’s future, telling them they are “partners” in Egypt’s destiny,The success of your country depends on you as much as it does on your government. Each and every one of you has to play a role, otherwise we won’t achieve the end goal. It is your duty and your privilege to play a key role in your country’s future and help its economy thrive.He added,Ask yourself what role you can take for your country’s future success and what you can do to make it better. Then go out and do it. You are the leaders of tomorrow. Be brave and own your future, and I am confident that Egypt and our Arab nation will be fine.

AROUND THE CORNER FORBES MIDDLE EAST’S STELLAR EVENT IN CELEBRATION OF THE TOP 500 COMPANIES IN THE ARAB WORLD

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

oredoo’s companies have launched a series of initiatives that deliver live action from the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil straight to mobile customers across the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia.Ooredoo has launched a special World Cup mobile portal, called the Ooredoo Football Portal, across its markets in the Middle East, North Africa and South East Asia, providing exclusive content, social media competitions, and promotions for customers to share the experience of the exciting matches.Ooredoo customers can follow matches live, watch 3D videos and clips of interviews and press conferences, view photographs, listen to a World Cup soundtrack, play World Cup-themed

games, and read detailed descriptions of matches, teams, players, and history.On the Ooredoo Football Portal, customers can follow the World Cup and receive content from leading media companies using smartphones or featured phones.In Kuwait, Ooredoo has launched a special online “Football Fantasy” game, the Ooredoo football challenge, that will run during throughout the World Cup, while Ooredoo’s Indosat is offering live streaming though the DOMIKADO application.Dr. Nasser Marafih, Group CEO, Ooredoo, said: “Passion for sport unites our customers beyond borders, and as smartphone take-up increases across our footprint, we’re leveraging technology innovation to provide our customers with a fully-immersive football experience, enabling our millions of customers to share the experience together. As part of our commitment to youth, we aim to inspire young football players to become the football stars of tomorrow.Following the World Cup, the Ooredoo Football Portal will provide customers with content from the Barclays Premier League in England, La Liga in Spain, the UEFA Champions League in Europe, and the U E FA E u r o p a L e a g u e i n Europe.Driving adoption of the Ooredoo Football Portal, customers receive the first week for free, and then can opt-in to weekly or monthly subscription plans, in addition to mobile data charges.World Cup C a m p a i g n s a c r o s s O o r e d o o ’s Footprint.In Qatar, Ooredoo has launched the ? #?Koora? campaign, which includes a sports television package with the beIN SPORTS channel; the Hala Football Club for

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

U this pertinent time with the unveiling of our 2014 ranking at this exclusive event and awards ceremony.Those in attendance of the gala dinner will include Mr. Osman Sultan, CEO, Emirates Integrated Telecom (du); Mr. Nafel Mohammad Eisa AlHathal, Chairman, YIACO Medical; and Mr. Tasdique Pasha, EVP Insurance, Oman Insurance Co.Forbes Middle East is proud to collaborate with title sponsor, The Investor for Securities Company for the occasion. Hayssam El-Masri, the company’s Advisor to the Board of Directors, says,We are honored to join Forbes Middle East in recognizing our homegrown businesses who continue to place the region on an international platform. It is through the vision and leadership of these companies that the Middle East has become a leading business destination and The Investor for Securities Company is proud to be a part of that story.” Other esteemed partners include Al Tayyar Travel Group, Janabi Group, Elite Executive Services, Elegant Resorts and Skyline University College, Emirates Airline, HMG, The American Hospital, Montegrappa, Sprüngli, DMTV and Dubai Eye 103.8.

The card makes cash back simple; 1.5% cash back, zero complications bu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) continues to advance its ‘SimplyLife’ brand by launching its first ever credit card. The new Titanium MasterCard Credit Card offers a powerful cash back proposition to consumers;1.5% cash back on every purchase.SimplyLife, a consumer finance brand specializing in simple, quick and accessible personal finance products, understands that sometimes important moments in life require a little help, that’s why the new credit card gives consumers cash back without the hassle of c o m p l i c a t e d r u l e s , d i ff i c u l t qualifying conditions or a tedious redemption process. SimplyLife from ADCB offers the platform for consumers to aspire for larger things in life and achieve important moments in their lives.Sundar Parthasarathy, Head - New Business at ADCB, said:In April, we launched SimplyLife to make personal and car loans more accessible. Today, we’re enhancing that offering with the launch of our SimplyLife cash back credit card. Our customers can now benefit from a powerful cash back program, giving them greater financial freedom and convenience to achieve their goals in life. The credit card market has many cash back offers, but ours is the only cash back program that can be explained in two lines- spend AED 1,000 in a

Companies across Ooredoo’s Footprint Deliver Exclusive Content, Exciting Promotions and an Incredible Messi Campaign

nique Watches, a UAE-based distributor and retailer of fine timepieces from all over the world, has introduced UAE to SevenFriday, a Zurich-based watch brand that is gaining popularity among horological aficionados and watch collectors worldwide. Ahmed Al Mansoori, Managing Director of Unique Watches, said SevenFriday a new entrant in the UAE’s luxury goods market offers watches that exude innovation, fine craftsmanship and impeccable industrial-inspired design, giving consumers a fresh alternative amid a plethora of wristwatch brands available today.SevenFriday watches salute the history of mechanical clockmaking. Since launching in 2013, they have appeared on the radar screens of horologists and watch aficionados across the globe,” said Al Mansoori. “Their presence in the UAE is also very timely as the country is one of the fastest growing luxury retail markets in the Middle East.According to Bain & Company, Dubai alone commands around 30 per cent of the Middle East luxury market and around 60 per cent of the UAE’s luxury market. The World Bank estimates UAE’s per capita gross domestic product at around USD58,042 in 2012, making it one of the countries with the highest disposable income in the world.UAE has an insatiable appetite for luxury goods, but there are other factors that make it a crucial market for Unique Watches and SevenFriday. Among these include the consumers’ discerning taste, fashion acumen, quality consciousness and eagerness to try innovative products,added Al Mansoori.Developed by Swiss entrepreneur Daniel Niederer in 2012, SevenFriday’s initial collection of watches (P1, P2 and P3) has already made headlines in more than 60 countries worldwide an impressive feat for a young company venturing in a highly competitive global watch industry.SevenFriday takes pride in its distinctive mechanical yet futuristic design comprising circular dials that, at first, may seem intimidating, but is actually very simple and

amas, the Middle East's leading jewellery and watch retailer, has announced the launch of the exquisite Vera collection across its outlets in the GCC. A high-

end brand featuring an array of luxury fashion rings adorned with colored gemstones offset with diamonds, the Vera collection draws its origins from the southern coastal cities of the Adriatic Sea where ‘Vera’ means ‘summer’. Vera represents the rich and vibrant colors of its warm Mediterranean surroundings and was created with the knowledge that every woman regardless of her taste in fashion, entertainment and leisure deserves elegant jewellery as unique as her.The collection features world-

BLACKBOARD & BME GATHER TOP EDUCATION LEADERS FROM MENA TO ADDRESS CHANGING EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE Dubai-based Conference Titled “Shaping the Future of Education”Tackles New Era of Education and the Rising Influence of Learners in the Middle East Region

B pre-paid customers to opt-in for extra SMS and calling minutes to keep in touch during the matches; and a range of community activities, encouraging fans to upload short Instagram videos under the theme of “Cheer On Your Team.Ooredoo Tunisia has launched

the El Maracaña fi Tounèscampaign, under the tagline of “With Ooredoo, live the World Cup as if you were there!”, which provides special offers and promotions on voice, data, and digital content including SMS, a mobile app, and TV channel.As the official sponsor of the Algerian National Team, Ooredoo Algeria has also announced an exclusive sponsorship for the National Fund for the Promotion of Youth Initiatives and Sports Practices, providing DZD 100 million (USD 1.26 million) for 2000 young football fans to attend the World Cup. Ooredoo Algeria has also launched the television campaign “MaakYalKhedra” to support the Algerian National Team.Nawras in Oman has launched the Sahra Time World Cup Edition, an opt-in monthly service that provides Mousbak customers with 1 GB of mobile data per day for one month to follow the latest World Cup news and content, and unlimited browsing of Middle East sports website Kooora.com.Wataniya Palestine has launched a campaign for pre-paid customers to win prizes such as World Cup tickets, video game consoles, and television receivers for the beIN SPORTS channel, a World Cup-themed Facebook app and a c u s t o m i s e d m o b i l e application.Asiacell in Iraq is partnering with PepsiCo for a World Cup campaign that enables customers to win free additional calling minutes under select Pepsi bottles, along with a mobile contest.Ooredoo Maldives is providing a special Football Services SMS update, offering the latest results and team news from the contest. In addition, it is offering a range of prizes in a special football competition.

straightforward. The large gearlooking hand on top of the dial is the minutes hand, while the short bronze hand underneath is the hours hand. Meanwhile, the disk at 9 o’clock represents a 24-hour indicator and the other disk at 5 o’clock tracks running seconds.What differentiates SevenFriday watches from the competition is their relative simplicity and elegance. Their design has a somewhat rustic tone a reminder of the

lackboard a global leader in technology solutions for the e d u c a t i o n i n d u s t r y, organized its first Middle East forum in Dubai, gathering over 100 Education experts from across the Gulf region and the Middle East to share their views on how to create effective digital learning environments, and discuss the innovative education technologies of today and tomorrow.The full-day conference showcased highlights of distance, blended and online learning in today’s regional and global landscape and featured a comprehensive program on trends in education, including a new teaching

approach centered on learners, use of analytics in education, and eLearning as a key factor for global success.In addition to Blackboard presentations, event keynotes were presented by: Cindy Gunn, Director of the Faculty Development Center, American University of Sharjah, who discussed the role played by technology in today’s classroom and how it could be leveraged to respond better to the needs of active and connected learners ,Sharifa Hajjat eLearning Manager at the Higher Colleges of Technology and Founder of the Arab eLearning Academy which boasts a database of more than 47,000 educators from around the MENA region who highlighted the role of technology for reviving young students’ interest in the Arabic language. In a recent online poll conducted on higher education students, 76% of respondents described Arabic material as boring” and asked for a major overhaul to revolutionize language teaching techniques through

eLearning,Matthew Small senior vice president and managing d i r e c t o r, i n t e r n a t i o n a l o f Blackboard, who highlighted how the company is helping institutions address industry changes in the Middle East region.This conference provided a unique opportunity for educators, technologists and

industry leaders to share best practice and discuss trends. It also facilitated a great exchange of ideas from a diverse set of participants who are all helping shape the future of education,” said Matthew Small. The Middle East region is evolving and growing, with markets such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading the change and setting the pace for the rest of the region. We are thrilled to help these institutions bring tomorrow’s education experience into today’s classrooms.With a client base of more than 80 institutions in the region including government training organizations and higher education institutions in Saudi and UAE, Blackboard is actively involved in developing the regional education industry. In order to respond to local needs, Blackboard recently introduced Blackboard Analytics in Arabic to enable educators to make more informed decisions based on accurate data that reflects students’ overall performance and response to course material.The education sector is changing and learners demand to go beyond the traditional teaching approach; it is becoming imperative for institutions in the Middle East to use available technologies to empower their students and help them achieve success through education,concluded Small.

MODHESH CHARMS CHILDREN DURING VISIT TO SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND MALLS ACROSS UAE By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

odhesh, the region’s popular mascot, has been visiting schools, hospitals and malls in the UAE to spread the messages of fun, joy, caring and

sharing, as well as inviting children and families to experience the exciting line-up of summer attractions in Dubai, especially the 15th anniversary celebrations of Modhesh World, one of the region’s biggest indoor edutainment destinations for families.With his trademark heart-warming smile, Modhesh charmed the school kids, providing them a fitting way to end their school term and usher in the long summer holidays. During a meet-and-greet tour of government and private schools, Modhesh was at his bubbly best, shaking hands with children and also entertaining them with stage shows and showering them with gifts. At hospitals, Modhesh was an embodiment of the spirit of sharing and caring for children who are unwell, as he wished them good health and brought big smiles on their faces.Modhesh also spread the summer cheer among shoppers during surprise visits to malls in Dubai and other emirates, stopping from time to time to pose for photographs with children and their families.During the visits to schools,

industrial age, but is impressive e n o u g h t o c a t c h a n y o n e ’s attention,said Al Mansoori.The Unique Watches executive is also confident that the SevenFriday brand will fit right in with the Middle East’s luxury retail sector, which is estimated to be worth USD7.7 billion as of 2012, according to a report published by Bain & Company. In 2013, Bain & Company further highlighted the expansive growth of regional luxury consumers as spending reached around EUR1,400 (USD1,910) per year, the highest in the world.The UAE was also cited by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry in 2013 as the largest importer of Swiss watches in the Middle East. The total value of Swiss watches shipped to the country was estimated at over USD1 billion in 2013, up by a whopping 36% from 2011 and 9% from 2012.Unique Watches is the official distributor of SevenFriday watches in the UAE.

Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. DFRE’s summer calendar also features Ramadan in Dubai, Eid in Dubai and the family extravaganza, Dubai Summer Surprises.As part of the celebrations marking the 15th edition of Modhesh World, DFRE is offering a line-up of endless family fun featuring internationally renowned entertainment characters and a wide array of interactive and themed experiences designed to give families and children their most memorable summer holidays in Dubai. Modhesh World, which opened on 12 June at the Dubai World Trade Centre, will run until 8 September this year.As a homegrown cartoon character that is hugely popular among children of all nationalities, Modhesh is also highly appreciated by parents due to his amazing ability to connect with children, thus embedding in them the universal values of love, respect and hospitality. Modhesh also promotes edutainment as a useful way of teaching children in a fun ambience.

renowned stones such as the topaz, amethyst, lemon quartz and more. Inspired by nature's rich palette, Vera is available in many different colors, among them blue, red, green, purple and yellow. Each of these magnificent

stones weighs an average of eight to ten carats and is placed as the doublelayered centerpiece atop a choice of two different bands of white gold adorned with diamonds.The collection, which also includes matching pendants and earrings, encourages customers to choose their particular shade. The Vera collection is fresh, youthful and extremely elegant, evocative of the strength, beauty and uniqueness of every woman and her innate desire to be her own person.

-11 day shopping fiesta at Dubai World Trade Centre from 17-27 July 2014 -5 unique pavilions, massive kids area, exceptional gift items, exclusive deals and unique shopping ambiance -Shoppers Paradise offering great “Discounts, Bargains & Special Offers” with exciting “Raffle Draws and Daily Prizes” By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

ubai’s only night market during the holy month of Ramadan is back with exhilarating activities, offers and unique shopping opportunities. Ramadan Night Market offers a great ambiance with loads of fun, frolic and family time along with tempting offers from the retailers coming together at the market from across the globe.Organized by Sumansa Exhibitions, the night market will be held over the 11 nights of Ramadan from 17th-27th July 2014 at Dubai’s most prestigious and strategically located venue Dubai World Trade Center offering residents and tourists a great opportunity to shop for all their festival needs under one roof. The entry to the consumer fair is free and it’s open to one and all from 8 p.m. till 2:00 a.m.Despite plethora of shopping options and world class malls in Dubai, Ramadan Night Market has become very popular within just 2 years of its launch, simply because it has a unique charm to itself offering visitors an extraordinary shopping as well as family bonding opportunity which you don’t find elsewhere. The relaxed atmosphere, bazaar kind of feel coupled with retailers from across the world selling exquisite collectible, gifting, artifacts and varied items fascinates the visitors said Sunil Jaiswal, CEO Sumansa Exhibitions, organisors of Ramadan Night Market.Expecting a footfall of about 75,000 -100,000 visitors over 11 days, Ramadan Night Market aims to bring together retailers from across the world under one umbrella providing visitors a great choice and endless opportunity for family fun time. With over 350 plus retailers at the show offering everything from clothing, fashion, accessories, cosmetics, health & beauty products,

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DUBAI MARINA YACHT CLUB By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

QUARA LOUNGE

Early Bird Offer :This summer take advantage of our extended early bird offer throughout the night; receive a complimentary side or dessert with every main course. Date: Every Night Venue: Aquara Restaurant Time: 7pm to 11pm *Restaurant open from 8pm onwards during Ramadan, valid until September A q u a r a E x c l u s i v e Promotion:Throughout the summer for every AED 300 you spend on the A al carte menu you will receive a complimentary bottle of vintage. Date: Sunday to Monday Venue: Aquara Restaurant Time: 7pm to 11pm Price: Minimum spend AED 300 *Restaurant will open from 8pm during Ramadan, valid Until September Saturday Roast*:End the week with a delicious traditional roast from our carving station served with all the trimmings including some of our Great British desserts. Happy Hour is on for the duration of the roast. Date: Every Saturday Venue: Aquara Restaurant Time: 6.30pm to 10.30pm Price: AED 150 *During Ramadan Roast starts at 8pm until 11pm 25°55° Saturday Roast Beverage Promotion:Bottle of grape AED 55 with roast dinner; Hop beverage AED 25 Ladies Night :Ladies, join us on Tuesday Nights at Aquara Lounge terrace, voted Dubai’s Favourite Ladies Night. Ladies receive three complimentary beverages. Tunes from the renowned DJ Andy Swift and chance to enter the monthly prize draw. Date: Every Tuesday Venue: Aquara Lounge Time: 8pm to 11pm Price: 3 Complimentary Beverages for Ladies *No Entertainment during July Gentlemen’s Night :It’s time to treat the guys. Men are welcomed to Aquara Lounge with a complimentary bottle of hop on arrival and all night Happy Hour, now that’s service for you. *Live music from Sax and Singer and chance to enter the monthly prize draw. Date: Every Wednesday

hospitals, and malls Modhesh extended personal invitations to children, offering them free entry to Modhesh World, which is part of the summer festivals and attractions organized by Dubai Festivals and

EXCITEMENT GALORE AT THIS YEAR’S “RAMADAN NIGHT MARKET”

DAMAS ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ‘VERA’ COLLECTION OF COLORED GEMS ACROSS GCC By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

Mob:00971 56 118 6007

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

Avant-garde watches foray into Middle East’s USD7.7-billion luxury retail market

ADCB LAUNCHES SIMPLYLIFE MASTERCARD CREDIT CARD

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

OOREDOO CUSTOMERS SCORE WITHLIVE WORLD CUP ACTION

UNIQUE WATCHES BRINGS SEVENFRIDAY TIMEPIECE BRAND TO UAE

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

orbes Middle East is set to host a glittering gala dinner for the Top 500 Companies in the Arab World 2014, celebrating the passion and dynamism of the publically listed companies that continue to inject success into the region’s economy.The VIP event will be held on June 17, 2014, in the lavish Godolphin Ballroom at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai. The evening will include a prestigious awards ceremony, recognizing the companies that are cultivating homegrown Arab success and placing it on the international stage.Set in Dubai’s downtown area, the business hub of the city, the occasion will be attended by senior figures from a broad range of sectors. This year, industries represented include financial services, oil and gas, telecommunications, real estate and construction, retail, transport, healthcare, investment, energy, banking, insurance, hotels and tourism and petrochemicals.The ranking of the Top 500 Companies in the Arab World builds on FORBES’ renowned Global 2000 list, which highlights the most successful publically-listed companies across the globe. Those with a keen eye will notice a number of new entries this year as Middle Eastern business talent continues to proliferate.Commenting on the rankings and upcoming event, Mrs. Khuloud Al Omian, Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Middle East, said: “We are witnessing an exciting time in the region’s business landscape and the Top 500 Companies in the Arab World 2014 reflects this. Once again, we are seeing regional companies and the people behind them - excel, pushing money, innovation and talent into the growing Middle Eastern economy. Forbes Middle East is honored to be able to mark

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j e w e l l e r y, p e r f u m e s , l e a t h e r products, healthcare, electronics, toys & childcare, educational products, gift items, Eid gifts, souvenirs, collectibles, art, a variety of seasonal & festive food and many more exciting items, the market will be a buzzing place and the only one to fulfill the needs of the entire family.Other attractions at the market include 5 exquisite Pavilions namely Fashion, Abaya, Health & Beauty, Jewellery and Food Pavilian, a Grand Arabic themed Majlis and a massive Kids Area, all specially designed to offer a complete family package and fun night out entertainment.Keeping your little ones occupied while you

shop can be very challenging; hence organizers have taken special care in planning a range of engaging and enticing activities for the little ones, so that you can relish your shopping experience at ease with complete peace of mind. Park your kids and shop till you literally drop with night market’s very own “Kids Play Area” fully equipped to handle the naughtiest of your little ones, from face painting, sand art, bouncy castles, mascots, life size cartoon characters, clowns, balloon twisting, Arts & Crafts area, Soft Play area and much much more, the possibilities are just endless. Take your photograph with Superman, Batman & Cartoon Characters” booth, Live Kids Movie Theatre, Mascots are some of the things you can look forward to.

Venue: Aquara Lounge Time: 8pm to 11pm Price: One complimentary bottle of hop on arrival for gentlemen *No Entertainment during July Exclusive Happy Hour*: All night from 6pm to 12am. Valid until September *Ramadan -8pm – 10pm Happy Hour:Enjoy promotional rates on beverages with our Happy Hour menu Date: Everyday Venue: Aquara Lounge Time: 6pm to 9pm Price: Promotional prices *During Ramadan 8pm -10pm World Tapas & Cocktails:Taking the Spanish tradition of tapas global, each month we offer an array of sharing platters from a different destination. Complementing the World Tapas is an equally impressive selection signature cocktails, mocktails and pitchers freshly prepared to order by our creative mixologist. Aquara Restaurant and Lounge with its expansive terrace overlooking the panoramic Dubai Marina is ideally situated for this chilled out occasion. DJ Andy Swift is back and doing what he does best, playing an array of music perfect way to relax on our comfy loungers and watching the world sail by. Date: Every Friday Venue: Aquara Lounge Time: 2pm to 5pm Price: AED 295 (including unlimited signature cocktails and pitchers) *From 20th June will be closed and Re - Launched in September Evening Brunch Under the Stars:Enjoy the daytime and join us in the evening for a delicious International buffet with a seafood focus including lobster, sushi and a cheese room. Date: Every Friday Venue: Aquara Lounge Time: 7:30pm to 10.30pm Price: AED 220 inclusive of soft beverages; AED 350 inclusive of sparkling grape and house beverages; AED 450 inclusive of bubbly and house beverages *Ramadan timing 8pm – 11pm Experience Sizzling Wok:For the month of June treat yourself to one of our chef’s special wok experiences known as the ‘art of cooking.’ Date: Until June 30, 2014 Venue: Aquara Restaurant Time: 7pm to 10.45pm Price: From AED 145 *Ramadan timing 8pm – 11pm Summer Sundowners:With a stylish and modern setting, the Aquara terrace is the perfect location for a ‘Sundowner’. Cool off and unwind with one of our freshly prepared beverages jam-packed with

summer flavors made to order by our in house mixologist. Enjoy Happy Hour from 6pm to 9pm every day* *Ramadan timing – 8pm – 10pm 25 55 CAFÉ BISTRO:Dine in during Ramadan During the month of Ramadan 25 55 Café Bistro will be open to serve you. Date: 28 June – 28 July Venue: 25 55 Café Bistro Time: 7am to 11pm Early Working Breakfast:Enjoy

our summer midweek breakfast at 25 55 Café Bistro. Receive a complimentary coffee or tea and a fresh juice when ordering a main course breakfast. Quote ‘Summer Breakfast’ when ordering to redeem. Complimentary valet parking and WiFi available. Date: Sunday to Thursday Venue: 25 55 Café Bistro Time: 7am to 11pm Price: AED 85 Marina Breakfast :Enjoy a hearty traditional English breakfast served on an infamous skillet with a freshly squeezed orange juice served on the marina front. Date: All Day, Every day Venue: 25 55 Café Bistro Time: 7am to 10:30pm Price: AED 85 Healthy Breakfast :Start your day off right with a healthy breakfast at 25 55 Café Bistro. Our creative menu features tasty frittatas, pancakes, granolas and fresh fruit salads complemented by our selection of freshly blended smoothies made fesh to order and served on the marina front. *Ramadan timing 7am – 11pm Yacht Charter / Cruises Ocean Picnic :Escape the city and step on board our fully licensed luxury yacht charter and see Dubai’s stunning landmarks in style. Enjoy a three hour cruise with a tailor made gourmet picnic served from a traditional picnic basket at sea. To find out more about our packages or to tailor make your own package contact our dedicated Events Manager on 04 362 7932 or email events@dubaimarinayachtclub.com Romantic Dinner Cruise :Escape the city and step on board our fully licensed luxury yacht charter and see Dubai’s stunning landmarks in style. Enjoy a three hour cruise with a three course gourmet set menu served at sea. To find out more about our packages or to tailor make your own package contact our dedicated Events Manager on 04 362 7932 or email events@dubaimarinayachtclub.com Athena Cruise :See Dubai’s stunning landmarks from a different perspective on board our luxury yacht. Various packages available. To find out more about our packages or to tailor make your own package contact our dedicated Events Manager on 04 362 7932 or email events@dubaimarinayachtclub.com YOTS Sports Lounge:Midweek Specials :Three great midweek offers for AED 65 Monday – Burger and Hop Beverage Tuesday – Fish and Chips and Hop Beverage Wednesday - Curry and Hop Beverage Date: Ongoing Venue: YOTS Sports Lounge Time: 5pm to 11pm selected days as per the above Price: AED 65 *YOTS open for all Brazil Football Games until 13 July Happy Hour: Weekdays 5pm to 8pm ,Weekends 4pm to 8pm Join the Brazil Football Fun :Join in the fun spirit of the football season this June at YOTS Sports Lounge accompanied with a themed football menu available on match day as well as our unbeatable match beverage offers, including:The YOTS Hattrick buy three select bottled hops and receive a complimentary bottle.Football In Brazil Loyalty Card – collect points for every pint of hop and receive your seventh pint complimentary. Lucky Player Draw receive a players’ name and if he scores receive a complimentary beverage. Ramadan and Iftar Iftar Celebrations :Mark this holy occasion and enjoy exclusive hire of one our private dining venues with a view of the stunning Dubai Marina complemented with an extensive menu of traditional Arabic dishes. Date: Month of Ramadan Venue: Al Dana Time: Evening (dependent on sunset) Price: AED 139 per person for group bookings of 20 or more guests.

EXPERIENCE THE EXCITEMENT! Buy special EID gifts for your loved ones at this shopper’s paradise and enjoy the fiesta: • W h a t : Ramadan Night Market •Where: Zabeel Hall, Dubai Wo r l d Tr a d e Centre •When: 17th to 27th July 2014 •Timing: From 8:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. daily •Entry: Free entry for all •Offers at the Show” Booklet: G e t y o u r exclusive copy of this specially created booklet to know what BEST DEALS are on offer by each of the retailer, it contains details of all outlets at the market, price ranges of all products, offers/discounts being offered by each one. With over 350 outlets at the show this booklet helps you single out the best deals and revisit the show! For bookings and enquiries, contact: Sumansa Exhibitions - +9714 3885191 , www.ramadannightmarket.com Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/RamadanNightMarket Twitter:https://twitter.com/RamadanNightMkt Instagram:http://instagram.com/ramadannightmarket Email ids: contact@ramadannightmarket.com, sales@ramadannightmarket.com

Azad News UAE15-21 June 2014,17-23 Shaban 1435

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FAWRY CONFERENCE SUCCESSFULLY FOSTERS DISCUSSION ABOUT FINANCIAL INCLUSION

NATURE’S RARE PHENOMENON, KING CROC IS READY TO SPELLBIND YOU AT DUBAI AQUARIUM & UNDERWATER ZOO

International and Domestic Experts Share Insights about Issue that is Crucial to Spread of Social Justice

• 5 m long and weighing over 750 kg King Croc and his female companion are the newest attraction in Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo at The Dubai Mall • Dedicated enclosure that simulates the natural environment of saltwater crocodiles provides comfortable abode for 40-year-old King Croc

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

g y p t ’s f i r s t f i n a n c i a l i n c l u s i o n conference,Towards Greater Inclusion to Financial and

Governmental Services," opens today at the Four Seasons Nile Plaza Hotel in Cairo and will enjoy strong participation from both local and foreign institutions as well as authorities from the Egyptian government.Organized by Fawry, E g y p t ’s l e a d i n g n a t i o n w i d e Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) platform, the conference will explore the best ways in which financial and governmental services can be extended to micro enterprises and Egypt’s most vulnerable, a process that Fawry believes is integral to facilitating the engagement of the informal sector in the State’s system and spreading social justice to all socio-economic classes.We at Fawry believe that increased financial inclusion, which extends to Egypt’s most needy as well as the country’s many micro enterprises, is crucial for the spread of social justice and increasing their integration within the state system,” said Ashraf Sabry, CEO of Fawry.The challenge of financial inclusion requires out-ofthe-box thinking, and we think that

today’s conference is an ideal vehicle for promoting and fostering the thinking needed to generate financial inclusion solutions.Given Egypt’s embrace of mobile and internet technologies mobile penetration has increased from 2 percent in 2000 to 120 percent in 2012, while internet penetration has increased from 1 percent in 1999 to 45 percent in 2013 it is ripe for a rapid expansion of financial inclusion. However, such an expansion would require Egyptian authorities to revisit the existing legal frameworks so that they permit the use of financial inclusion tools such as banking agents.The conference, which is held in partnership with MasterCard and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will feature a number of speeches and panel discussions by numerous experts from a diverse range of countries that have similar socio-economic conditions as Egypt and have successfully carried out various financial inclusion experiments in the past. Among the distinguished list of international experts are several from fellow developing markets such as Denise Diaz of the Central Bank of Brazil, Carlos Marmolejo from Consar in Mexico, and Abhishek Sinha from EKO in India.We are fortunate to have such a diverse group of experts from developing markets such as India, Mexico and Brazil, who can share the insights that they have gained from their experience in their own countries,said Sabry.By examining the successes and failures of countries with similar socioeconomic conditions as Egypt, we can develop an ideal strategy for improving financial inclusion in our o w n c o u n t r y. T h e o n e - d a y conference is under the auspices of the Egyptian Minister of Communications & Information Technology, and is sponsored by AlexBank, Mobinil, Etisalat, Vodafone, the MetLife Foundation, and Tanmeyah.

THE TRAVEL ATTACHÉ TAKES HOME PRESTIGIOUS SEVEN STAR GLOBAL LUXURY AWARD Youngest luxury travel specialist takes home the coveted International award in the category of ‘Luxury Tour Operator’ By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

he 2014 Seven Star Global Luxury Award Ceremony was held at the Chateau Spa & Organic Wellness Resort in Kuala Lumpur on June 14 and was attended by more than 100 global luxury sector heavyweights and the who's who of Malaysian high society including Malaysia's longest serving Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad to vie for the enviable Signum Virtutis the seal of excellence in their respected fields. With 13 coveted award titles across the board in fields i n c l u d i n g Airlines,Destination Management Companies, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants and Spas, the luxury travel specialist The Travel Attaché took home the coveted industry title in the category of ‘Luxury Tour Operators.Up against world-renowned giants and luxury tour operators including Abercrombie & Kent, Bailey Robinson, Cox and Kings, Dnata, Elegant Resorts, Kuoni and Quintessentially Travel; the two year old UAE homegrown brand proves that a fresh and innovative take to traditional customer service combined with a quest to feed the growing appetite for exploration of different cultures and geographies at a rapid pace can take a company to soaring heights.Winning the Seven Star Global Luxury Award for the best Luxury Tour Operator in the world is a massive honour and testament to all the hard work that the team and I have put into The Travel Attaché. The fact that we are only in our second year of business makes it even more special. To have been voted for and chosen ahead of many of the most recognised names and biggest travel brands in the industry makes us feel incredibly proud. It is a real David and Goliath story” notes Liam Wholey, CEO of The Travel Attaché.Founded in November 2012 by Mishal Kanoo of the Kanoo Group, Gaurav Sinha founder of leading brandenrichment agency Insignia Worldwide and Liam Wholey current CEO of The Travel Attaché, the boutique travel company takes the industry by storm. Receiving

nominations in the final quarter of 2013 as a finalist in the SME of the Year category at the inaugural Arabian Business start-up awards, The Travel Attaché is rapidly making a name for itself in the Middle East and spreading its reach

ubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo in The Dubai Mall today unveiled its exciting new addition, which has come all the way from Australia and is all set to thrill every visitor.Regarded as nature’s rare phenomenon, King Croc, the proud new addition, is one of the world’s largest reptiles. King Croc and his female companion of 20 years now reside in a special enclosure at Underwater Zoo that replicates their natural habitat.King Croc has impressive credentials that will awe visitors. At over 5 metres long and weighing an imposing 750 kg plus, equivalent to the weight of over 15 fully-grown men, King Croc is 40 years old and has the potential to grow even

Aquariums. It replicates the environment of Queensland with controlled humidity and constant monitoring of air quality and water temperature, which is maintained between 28 to 30 degree C. The crocodiles are expected to spend nearly 90 per cent of their time in the central 150 sq m pool, which has a number of fish species, and the remaining time resting on land area with heated tiles.Maitha Al Dossari, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Retail LLC, said the arrival of King Croc brings a fascinating new learning experience for visitors to Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. “It underlines our commitment to enhance our offering on a regular basis and captivate our audiences with

bigger in the next 50 years of his expected lifespan.Every aspect of King Croc makes it a truly unique addition to Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. Its bite force is estimated to be about 3,700 pounds per square inch – the highest bite for by any animal. Its head alone weighs over 150 kg. The 60 razorsharp teeth are the size of an average index finger.King Croc comes to Dubai from a crocodile farm in Australia, where he has been residing since 1996. The transfer to Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo was facilitated in partnership with the Australian government authorities, after a careful review on the quality of the display, qualifications of staff caring for the animals, the educational purpose of the exhibit and the integrity of the business.Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo will introduce a dedicated educational programme on crocodiles for schools, further adding to the edutainment attraction’s appeal, which is approved by the UAE Ministry of Education for school visits as part of the curriculum.King Croc and his companion will also be a key part of the year-round conservation campaigns undertaken by Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo as part of its commitment to promote environmental sustainability.The new home for King Croc and his companion at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is three times the size specified for such species by the World Association of Zoos and

exceptional attractions that can seldom be discovered in a mall environment.These large aquatic reptiles have a history of over 60 million years surviving through different environments and terrains. Through our exhibit, we are offering the exciting opportunity for our visitors to learn more about crocodiles and their role in the ecosystem. This marks the first time a crocodile of this size finds his home with in a mall in a major city. We are confident that King Croc will further define Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo as the must-visit destination in the city, and will serve as a wonderful new experience for children and adults alike.Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, which already has Dwarf African Crocodiles, was an ideal fit for King Croc. They were introduced to Underwater Zoo as per the permits and protocols of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, managed by Emaar Retail LLC, features a 270-degree walkthrough tunnel. Underwater Zoo, located on Level 2 above the main aquarium tank, presents the biodiversity in different ecological zones including Rainforest, Rocky Shore and Living Ocean. Apart from Humboldt Penguins and Caiman Crocodiles, the animals featured here include Piranhas, Giant Spider Crabs, Small Claw Otters, Sea Jellies and Clown fish.

Expect the unexpected By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

to the global travel stage.It has been an exciting journey and this is just the beginning. We are proud to be a brand that was conceptualised and born in the UAE and I feel that it goes to show what an amazing land of opportunity this is. I hope that this award contributes, even if only a tiny bit, to further cementing the reputation of the UAE as a nation of successesadds Liam Wholey. It is with this increasing demand that The Travel Attaché continues to cater to the Luxury Travel Market in the region, largely contributing to inbound and outbound tourists in the UAE. With younger generations of Emirati travellers taking individual holidays, they emphasise and provide more focus on authentic and exclusive experiences as opposed to traditional luxury. As the rapidly growing company sees more than twice the net worth travellers coming into the UAE in the first two quarters of 2014 as opposed to the entire year if 2013, it is apparent that there is an emerging trend in the UAE in the niche for a fresh take on luxury travel.We are very excited about the future and we hope that this recognition will encourage even more of the residents of the UAE to trust us to organise phenomenal and memorable holidays for them.The Travel Attaché service is entirely focused on arranging beautifullytailored travel experiences to discerning customers who are looking for impeccable, personal and expert guidance so that they get the most out of their holiday time” mentions Liam Wholey.

t Rado you can always expect technology, innovation, hightech materials and great design. Our hero for 2014 won’t only meet all of your expectations, but will go above and beyond what you thought was possible for a ceramic timepiece. Ceramic touch technology made its world premiere at Rado in 2013 and makes a welcome return in 2014 on a new gent’s model from the popular Rado HyperChrome family. Good looks are always guaranteed at Rado, but this men’s model will dazzle with its functions as well as its pretty face. Five all new references make up the first selection of touch technology complications and there’s a technical Rado twist with the materials too. Slim, streamlined and featuring the now famous Rado monobloc case construction, the new Rado HyperChrome Ceramic Touch Dual Timer is the perfect package for the breakthrough technology which sits inside the case. It’s a complication that’s simple to use and doesn’t need a crown. Dual Timer: A touch of manliness Two hands on the main dial display the time where you are now and two hands on the small dial at 6 o’clock show the second time zone. The main time display is set using sensors at the top of the case. After activation slide your finger along the left hand side of the case to change the hours and on the right hand side to change the minutes. The minutes on the two time zones are synchronised to guarantee accuracy and both minute hands will move

during time setting on the main dial. The small dial is set using the sensors at the bottom of the case. After activation slide your finger along the left hand side of the case to change the hours and on the right to change the minutes in quarter hour intervals. 15 minutes is the smallest difference between world time zones and the quartz movement in this new Rado watch makes changing this interval super simple as well as ultra quick. Technology has made possible what cannot be achieved with a mechanical watch: a 15 minute leap forward or back across time zones. Need to change the second time zone to the main display as you cross time zones? No problem. Touch the ceramic case at 9 and 3 o’clock simultaneously and watch time fly as the Rado magic swaps the times on the dials. For the man who travels this is the perfect timepiece. Lightweight, hypoallergenic and scratch-resistant it can stay on your wrist whatever you have planned. In full high tech ceramic you won’t even need to take it off to get through airport security Presented in matt black with rose gold coloured details and a stylish leather strap, shiny white for a dashing dose of flamboyant style, polished black on a ceramic bracelet, shiny grey with rose gold coloured details or ground-breaking matt grey with rhodium details there’s a model guaranteed to go with your travel wardrobe. The Rado HyperChrome Ceramic Touch Dual Timer: it won’t slow you down and you’ll never lose your cool.

THE KHALAF AHMAD AL HABTOOR FOUNDATION LAUNCHES A CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT SYRIAN REFUGEES IN LEBANON By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

In as little as 10 minutes, see visible radiant results on the first session By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

wrinkle’ treatment. If you have an active social and night life and party late, you can restore a rejuvenated look by opting for the LPG ‘Eye Circles & Puffs’ which magically eliminates any remaining effects of a late night out.If you want to maintain soft, smooth, wrinkle-free hands, you can try the LPG ‘Hands’ treatment. For each problem area, LPG has the right solution, whether it is your jaw line, mouth area, double chin, neck or décolleté.Include LPG Express treatments in your weekly beauty routine to replenish your skin and attenuate the signs of aging, and have that much-coveted face that looks radiant and rejuvenated.

he Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor F o u n d atio n ( K A H F ) h as launched a campaign to distribute humanitarian aid and assistance to tens of thousands of Lebanese and Syrian families in Lebanon, on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan. The KAHF will provide much needed aid and support to refugees throughout the country, including Wadi Khaled, Akkar and Deir Imar. The Foundation is working in cooperation and coordination with the Arab Lebanese Crescent. The first phase of the campaign included the distribution of food rations, hygine packs and medical supply kits for more than 1,500 families.Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Chairman of Al Habtoor Group, said,The Holy Ramadan is the month of benevolence and blessing. We hope, through assistance, to give some joy to Syrian refugees who are suffering from poor health and living conditions.He added, The importance of this campaign is that it contributes to alleviating the suffering of our brethren. Assistance will be throughout Lebanon.The one-week campaign started in the Bekaa region on June 14, where 1,000food rations, medical kits and hygienic packs were distributed to Syrian refugees in Arsal and its surrounding areas as well as Al Kaa and Baalbeck. On June 15, the aid convoy distributed aid to the border area of Wadi Khaled, where more than 2,000 Syrian refugees are living.Aid was also distributed in Dair Imar and Akkar, with assistance from MP Mouin El Mura'bi. The KAHF delegation, currently in Lebanon, are supervising the distribution of aid packs to displaced Syrian families in many areas throughout the country, in coordination with the Internal Security Forces and the Arab Lebanese Crescent, led by

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THE UAE TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC AND TRADE TIES WITH ITALY

BUY A ‘RONALDO’ FOR A FAST DRIVING EXPERIENCE

•South European Country is Second Largest Trading Partner for the UAE •Two Sides Explore Potential Partnerships at UAE-Italian Economic Forum

Global car classifieds Carmudi compares world cup stars with world class cars

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

taly is the second largest trading partner for the UAE and there is considerable potential to develop bilateral trade and business ties between the two countries. Existing partnerships have enabled economic growth and innovation for businesses, creating synergies for further development, according to His Excellency Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy.Al Mansouri’s comments came at the just-concluded UAEItalian Economic Forum that was

held in Marche, Italy. Al Mansouri led the high-ranking UAE delegation comprising government officials, senior representatives from the private sector and trade investors. The forum examined potential

RADO HYPERCHROME CERAMIC TOUCH DUAL TIMER

LPG LAUNCHES NEW GENERATION EXPRESS FACIAL TREATMENTS

PG, the world leader in natural cellular stimulation, has come up with new generation express treatments to provide men and women who lead busy lives, a quick and easy solution to maintain young, radiant and glowing skin for their face.The first thing people notice is your face and making a first good impression is a must in our modern world which values youth and energy.The new LPG facial treatments take only 10 minutes of your time, but the results are immediate, visible and lasting. It is a no-fuss face beauty regime that anyone can commit to that is effective in combating the signs of aging. Feel confident and look your best, by having a youthful face with clear, healthy skin.LPG Endermolift 10-minute targeted area treatments.The newly-launched LPG Endermolift express treatments offer 10-minute targeted treatments, depending on the area of concern. LPG is the first to invent the only anti-aging technology capable of naturally stimulating the natural synthesis of hyaluronic acid by 80% which restores the skin’s volume. It is a natural way to rejuvenate the skin from within, which then result in firm, supple and re-plumped skin.If you are prone to develop wrinkles on your forehead, then you can undergo the LPG ‘Forehead’ express treatment to smoothen out the skin.If you tend to smile a lot and develop crow’s feet around your eyes, then you should go for the LPG ‘Eye Anti-

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

Mob:00971 56 118 6007

economic and trade partnerships towards attracting increased investments from the business communities in both countries.Al Mansouri highlighted the robust relations that exists between the UAE and Italy, and said:The bilateral relations between our two countries have rapidly grown with the increase in trade and investments. In 2013 the volume of non-oil trade transactions rose to US$6.05 billion. With an increasing number of new strategic agreements being signed we expect further development in trade and economic relations that will see transaction volumes climb exponentially.Italy has traditionally been a reliable trading partner for the UAE across sectors and there is still potential to tap into new investments areas. The UAE offers an investment-friendly environment with a transparent financial system and enabling legislations that support

trade and business. The UAE is also looking to work closely with the Italian government in replicating its success in boosting the Small Medium Enterprises (SME) sector.The UAE and Italy have also signed agreements on increasing economic, industrial and fiscal cooperation. The two governments are seeking to protect the business community by agreeing to avoid double taxation of income and prevent fiscal evasion and fraudulent financial practices. Moving forward,

the two governments are working to establish a joint committee consisting of representatives from the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the General Confederation of Italian Industry towards enhancing trade between the two countries.In 2013, the UAE led the countries of the Middle East and Africa in attracting maximum foreign direct investments. Currently, more than 200 Italian firms are based in the country. In 2013, the UAE’s foreign capital investment outside the country was valued at US$14.68 billion. This figure equaled the amount (30.56 percent) of foreign investments flowing out from the rest of the region.Carlo Calenda – Italy's Deputy Minister of Economic Development, said: The partnership between Italy and the UAE is poised to grow further. The UAE is strategically located as a geographical midpoint between Europe and Asia, facilitating logistics and serves as an important gateway for Italian products to the region, and vice versa.Recently we have signed a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) covering various key sectors, including culture, arts, and media cooperation, which will lead to increasing the volume of business in the future. The UAE’s Ministry of Economy has also partnered with the Italian Council for National Research to drive growth, innovation and research in the SME sector in the two countries.

ADNEC ORGANIZES WORKSHOP ON DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS TOURISM IN ABU DHABI Strategic Partners Gain Insight into ADNEC’s Vision and Future Growth Plans By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

bu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) hosted a workshop titled ‘Together for a Better Business Tourism Sector’ seeking to update the local business tourism community and ADNEC’s strategic partners with latest sectoral developments. The workshop outlined the anticipated role of the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector in supporting the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.Featuring presentations by officials from ExCel London, Abu Dhabi Tourism a n d C u l t u r e Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) and ADNEC, the session analysed the business tourism sector locally and globally, and factors that impact the competitiveness of Abu Dhabi and ADNEC. A detailed presentation on ADNEC’s current strategic plan was also conducted. Suggestions and feedback from strategic partners were invited towards the formulation of ADNEC’S strategic plan for 2015 -2019.His Excellency Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Managing Director of ADNEC, said: Organising this workshop reiterates our priority to enhance communications with all our partners, locally and internationally. The workshop is aligned with the vision and aspirations of our wise leadership to advance the contributions of the thriving tourism industry, one of the key sectors identified by the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, towards the overall economic development of the emirate.ADNEC seeks to collaborate with its partners to create a favourable climate for business tourism and make it more attractive, while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s global status and sharpening its competitive edge towards attracting major international events across d i v e r s e e c o n o m i c sectors.Underlining the importance of enabling ADNEC’s strategic partners to play a larger role in the development of its strategic plan for the next five years, the workshop

highlighted the need to better align ADNEC’s plans and strategies with the long-term vision and plans of the Abu Dhabi Government through facilitating meaningful dialogue. The initiative is expected to lead to greater cooperation and coordination between ADNEC and its strategic partners through the horizontal alignment of priorities.Al Dhaheri added: "What Abu Dhabi has achieved over the past 10 years is unique and unprecedented. This did not materialise out of vacuum, but is the result of the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the close follow up of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the continued support of His Highness Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor and Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council.In line with these efforts, His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, ADNEC Chairman and its board of directors have extended their full support to any initiatives and mechanisms that improve organisational work within ADNEC.Al Dhaheri noted that the overwhelming participation of ADNEC’s partners in the workshop is further proof that both the public and private sectors in Abu Dhabi are keen to join hands for the advancement of the business tourism sector in Abu Dhabi. He said ADNEC would spare no efforts in implementing initiatives that promote better engagement with its local and international partners.

By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

he speedster, the creator, the dribbler, the powerhouse and the engine. Every team in the World Cup has a player that shows at least one such quirk on the field. Compare that to cars and bang on! You get to see a striking similarity that is just so hard to miss. So if Cristiano Ronaldo were to be born as a car, he’d definitely be a Bugati Veyron Super Sport that runs at a blinding speed. And if you

were loaded enough to have a ‘Lionel Messi’ parked in your

garage, you’d get a driving experience of a Lamborghini Huracan. Why? Ask Carmudi, the world’s fastest growing car classifieds with over 300 car-fanaticemployees, that are cheering for their World Cup heroes behind the hottest wheels.Stefan Haubold, the Global Managing Director of Carmudi, who has never once missed a game in his life, explains rather jauntily: “Chalking out explicit comparisons between players and cars comes rather naturally to us as every employee in Carmudi breathes and lives through cars. We have a betting contest going on in our company and the winner will get to drive a ‘Cristiano Ronaldo’, if not anything better.So hold your horses as Carmudi hurls out the vital stats that compare footballers to roaring machines on the ground:

CHAPMAN FREEBORN SUBSIDIARY INTRADCO SET FOR GLOBAL EXPANSION IN ANIMAL TRANSPORT SERVICES By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

hapman Freeborn Airchartering has today announced a major expansion plan for its subsidiary Intradco Cargo Services which will see the company extend its animal transport operations on a worldwide basis.The global aircraft charter specialist - which completed the acquisition of UK-based Intradco in February of this year - is initiating a worldwide growth strategy following the successful integration of the company into its business portfolio over the last three months.As the world’s leading equine, livestock and exotics transport specialist, Intradco has over three decades of experience providing the safest air transport solutions for animals of all shapes and sizes.The company - which is also at the forefront of designing and leasing its own equipment for animal transportation - will now utilise Chapman Freeborn’s global network of over 30 offices worldwide to introduce its services to new markets.In the highly-specialised field of bloodstock movements, they will target potential growth regions around the world, ranging from their base in the UK to racing and breeding industries in North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia.Commenting on the expansion plans, Russi Batliwala, CEO of Chapman Freeborn, said:We’re delighted to welcome Intradco into the Chapman Freeborn group and see it as an ideal fit for our business. Our global offices have seen a tremendous increase in livestock and bloodstock requests since Intradco joined us. Their niche expertise and own equipment has made them a market leader for animal transport services.Eddie McMullen, Managing Director of Intradco, said:This is an exciting

development for Intradco that we believe sits perfectly with our approach – it just makes sense. The initial focus will be on promoting our services in previously untapped markets by making the most of Chapman Freeborn’s global office coverage and local market knowledge. There are exciting times ahead!Over the past three decades, Intradco has developed a team of professionals dedicated to the safe journey and constant care of live cargo.The company’s experience includes coordinating charters for Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Breeders’ Cup and Dubai World Cup winners, as well as more unusual movements including transporting 247 deer from USA to Russia, and 400 alpacas from Chile to London.Since joining Chapman Freeborn, Intradco also successfully managed a high-profile project to fly 47 horses from Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) as part of the world-famous Cavalia equestrian tour.In addition to overseeing charters, Intradco offers a growing range of owned customdesigned stalls and penning equipment for lease, making it a favourite with many of the world’s leading airlines when undertaking live animal flights.As part of its global expansion plans, Chapman Freeborn has unveiled a brand new look for Intradco including a redesign of its logo, new imagery and supporting materials, as well as the launch of a new website.

INAUGURAL CEREMONY OF RENOVATION WORK OF PAKISTAN HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL RAS AL KHEIMAH (UAE)

UAE IAA ENTERS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH IRM MoU will offer systematic process of understanding, evaluating and addressing risks By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

T Nabil El Ayoubi, head of the Civil Defense Authority.Sultan Al Habtoor, Chairman of the KAHF Board of Trustees, said, "We sympathize with our Syrian brethren in Lebanon. It is our humanitarian duty to extend a helping hand to them.The Syrian refugees welcomed the assistance and expressed their gratitude to the Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Foundation for its efforts to assist them in their current plight, and said that humanitarian organisations in the UAE were among the first to respond to their situation.Abdul Salam Al Marzooqi, KAHF Secretary General and Director, said, This campaign is a part of a series of campaigns undertaken previously by the Foundation to help Syrian refugees who are living in very hard conditions." He pointed out that the campaign would continue and that the Foundation had already started a relief program to continue to support Syrian refugees, as well as Lebanese families who are struggling in Lebanon.

he UAE Internal Audit Association (UAE IAA) and the Institute of Risk Management (IRM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote and improve good risk management within the internal audit profession.The Memorandum outlines the areas of cooperation between the two organisations to promote risk management and corporate governance reforms. It also describes more specific potential project objectives, scope of cooperation, and the respective roles of the parties.IRM, the world’s leading professional body for risk management, supports the development of risk management skills and standards of professional education in the MENA region.The internal audit profession is faced with greater uncertainty as the demand and challenges of the profession continue to evolve. By developing a standard of risk management within the organisation we can more readily understand, evaluate and address the risks to be able to minimise or avoid any negative consequence, therefore achieving our objectives. We have chosen to partner with IRM to ensure our auditors are trained and qualified to manage any relevant risks ,said the Chairman of UAE IAA, Abdulqader

ADNIC LAUNCHES COLOR-CODED MOTOR POLICY PRODUCTS FOR FLEET VEHICLES By Qadeer Ahmad Siddiqui Dubai UAE:

F Obaid Ali.The Middle East is home to world class utilities, infrastructure, transport, banking and business services as well as established oil & gas businesses. All these industries recognise that risk management is a fundamental building block in creating sustainable business operations, from strategic intent to delivering value on the ground. All of these industries bring their own challenges and opportunities and IRM is pleased to be helping UAE IAA to improve their effectiveness through continuing professional development and higher professional standards,said the Chairman of IRM, Richard Anderson.IRM will also work with IAA to conduct research into risk governance, corporate risk management and the role of auditors in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM).

ollowing the successful launch of color coded motor policy products for individual consumers in March this year, Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC), one of the region’s leading providers of insurance solutions for individuals and corporates, today announced the launch of these products for fleet vehicles.ADNIC’s enhanced fleet motor product offering will ensure that they provide their clients with greater standardization through their color coded system, with four tiers from which to choose; Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. Their fleet color coded products will be applied on fleet sizes that range from 10-50 vehicles and for larger fleets (50 vehicles and more), ADNIC will either offer their color coded product or customized solutions to meet their clients expectations. Ultimately, fleet customers can now pay for the level of coverage that they require.The introduction of the new color coded motor insurance solution for fleet vehicles is in line

with ADNIC’s strategy to continue introducing innovative products, which supports evolving customer requirements.For Platinum and Gold customers, ADNIC also provides premium benefits such as defensive driving courses to promote safe driving behavior for their customers. These consist of a 90-minute advanced, interactive defensive driving and driver safety session and conclude with a vehicle check and demonstration.Commenting on the new suite of motor insurance solutions, Mr. Walid Sidani, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC), said:ADNIC is committed to offering the most innovative and accessible products to the market. Through our new color coded product line, we aim to offer our fleet customers a standardized motor insurance product that allows them to choose a solution that meets their specific needs.Clients can apply for ADNIC’s new motor insurance products directly at ADNIC branches or through the call center and selected brokers.