UAE Digest April '10

Telecom regulator faces the flak at last I

t was indeed like a whiff of fresh air. Newspaper we still have no sign of competition,” Fatima readers in the country recently had the rare Ghanem Al Marri, a member from Dubai, reportopportunity of seeing in print what they have all edly argued during a session which debated the along felt as an ultimate truth about the telecom issue. services here. And that truth is: the Telecom “How long are we going to wait before we reach Regulatory Authority (TRA) is serving the intera competitive market?” she asked. ests of the telecom companies more than it was This is a question that everyone has been askdoing for customers. ing.

Going by custom, the TRA would have flatly “We really feel that we’re being drained, whethdenied anything like this. But considering that er by the type of services or prices,” she was quoted

By K Raveendran as saying. Making an international phone call in the criticism came from influential members of the Federal National Council, the Authority had Germany would be cheaper by 90 per cent than to suffer much indignity and embarrassment with making the same call in the UAE, she pointed out. its less than sustainable defence in a house that was not Telecom companies have indirectly blamed the TRA for particularly sympathetic to the ways of the regulator. not allowing any significant price competition. According Apart from the unsatisfactory state of affairs with the to the telecom regulatory rules, the companies have to seek regulatory regime, these reports drove home two more the authority’s permission to announce any price reductions interesting points. One, that the FNC proceedings mean and there have been cases where the TRA refused permismuch more than pleasantries and platitudes, as they are sion to cut the charges on the ground that it would lead to a generally understood to be; and the second, that the intenprice war! sity of the debates is as good as in any other body of public Even in the case of IP telephony, which has brought representatives. cheap international calls to millions of telephone users all The FNC had before it a report prepared by a panel of its over the world, the UAE telecom regulator has been persistmembers, headed by Hamad Harith Al Midfa, which suging with its backward-looking policies rather than allow the gested that the TRA has failed to perform its true role and benefit of new technologies to reach the country’s telephone that “there is not enough competition among the current customers. service providers in the UAE, and in the past three years, Although TRA has recently announced a ‘liberalisation’ there has been no benefit from competition for consumers”. of its VoIP policy, it has been restricted to only the two doThe TRA’s focus on keeping competition within the curmestic companies, thus virtually blocking open competition. rent framework has hindered the authority’s strategic aim The telecom authority’s justification for its stance is of protecting the interests of subscribers, the report further that the calling rates have come down by up to 70 per cent. pointed out.

While this may be true by itself, the claim camouflages the The study found UAE telecom charges to be on the high high costs of telecommunication services in the country as side, although the telecom authorities would have us believe the price reductions are from unrealistically high levels that that these are low compared to many other countries in the prevailed in the past and not compared to the rates charged Gulf. The findings refute these assumptions. The report by operators in other countries. Let TRA do a fair comparifound big gaps in the tariff structure, especially when it son and then make such claims. comes to international calls and broadband internet. In Anyway, there is some good news on the horizon.

Saudi Arabia, prices are 41.9 per cent lower; in Qatar 11 per Etisalat has announced that it has sought the regulatory cent; and in Bahrain 3 per cent. In Germany, it is lower by authority’s permission to implement ‘significant and wide94 per cent; Canada 93 per cent; Norway 89 per cent; Japan spread changes’ in its calling tariffs and bring greater choice 19 per cent; and Korea 7 per cent. On an average, prices in to customers in the UAE. Let’s hope that the hard-hitting OECD countries are 66 per cent lower. speeches of the FNC members have some sobering effect on “Four years after another company entered the market, the regulator.

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 1

April 2010

DH 5

Published from Dubai Media City

ANTARTICA

Future leaders on the floes ANIMALS

Trafficking in pets CRIMINAL MINDS Neelesh Bhatnagar CEO of E-max on electronic retail

3-course golf tournament organised

by India Tourism

Forensic psychology HEALTH

Same blood marriages

MALL

Mirdiff City Centre now open

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Linda Benbow linda@sterlingp.ae

Deputy Editor

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Manju Ramanan manju@sterlingp.ae

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2 l UAE Digest, April 2010

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Contents 8 Mirdiff City Centre now open Edutainment facilities, an aqua park, a French edutainment zone, an endless array of retail stores and a cinema with the largest screen in the UAE – the MCC comes timely.

20 Dealing with terror Talking about the science of forensics, types of terrorism, and the disturbances created by dysfunctional states

24 Consanguineously speaking

12 Antartic antics The ‘Green Sheikh of Ajman’ went with future leaders onto the ice floes of the Antartic

16 Pet peeves An exotic pet might add thrill and a sense of vanity to your lifestyle, but there’s more to it than meets the eye

Same blood marriages are considered to be one of the major reasons for children born with genetic disorders. The UAE government, activists and various organisations are on a mission to spread awareness about the issue, as well as devise preventive and curative programmes to reduce defective births without interfering with its culture of consanguinity.

50 An assortment of autos Modifying and tuning up, Hybrids, diagnostic testers, a new car or two and a hand brake that is foot-operated.

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 3

IN THE

Personal ink Invisible, inimitable botanical code in ink is similar to the human DNA code making the ink ‘matchless’, and as individual as a human fingerprint

M

ontblanc has launched a new product - an ink with an invisible botanical code that is linked to the customer as matchless as his or her fingerprint. The Personal Code Ink Edition comprises a precious black wooden box and two exclusive writing instruments: the Meisterstück Signature Pen and the Meisterstück Solitaire Barley Rollerball. Ten ink Jean Marc Pontrue, Montblanc Executive Vice President Product refills per writing mode are Strategies & Development (right) and Joe Nahhas, Regional included ensuring an exclusive, Brand Director of Montblanc launching the Montblanc personal code ink at the Address Hotel in Dubai elaborate and distinctive flourish is lent to the everyday and enjoyable process of hand Counterfeit recognition writing. training course “Only one person will own this ink you,” explained Jean Marc Pontrue, MontSharjah Economic Development Departblanc Executive Vice-President Product ment held a seminar entitled ‘Counterfeit Strategies & Development. recognition’ last month, with attendances The authenticity of Personal Code Ink

by Fahad Ahmed Al Khomairi, Head of will be verified by Montblanc, upon the presCensorship and Commercial Control at entation of a document, letter or memento SEDD, Mudathar Ali Fadhil, SEDD Legal bearing the owner’s handwriting. A forensic Consultant, and a number of employees test will then reliably prove if Personal Code and inspectors from their various branches Ink has, indeed, been utilised. Every request in Al Dhaid, Kalba and Khorfakkan. to verify authenticity will receive VIP treatParticipants received expert lectures on ment, and be considered as a top priority market control and counterfeit prevenand processed briskly. This service will also tion methods, SEDD’s role in protecting prevail for ink refill orders. consumers with different consumption 4 l UAE Digest, April 2010

trends, developing skills of employees concerning instructions and regulations aimed at protecting copyrights of international companies, and the ability to distinguish between original and counterfeit products.

Seminar participants were encouraged to create a sequential mechanism to identify and regulate violations in the emirate of Sharjah, classify violations, get to know a range of violations, including commercial commissions, trademark imitation, commercial counterfeiting, violating intellectual pieces of work, commercial control and other violations denoted by customer complaints, such as trademark theft and usage by other parties. Attention was also paid to counterfeit inspection, identification, follow-up and punishing violators.

Eight gantries simultaneously on one ship Number of gantries at KCT now total 20 International ports management and logistics company, Gulftainer, has announced that the Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT), which it operates on behalf of the

Sharjah Ports Authority, has achieved another milestone – eight gantries working on a single vessel. The 350 metre-long, 120,000 deadweight tonnage (dwt), 9,700 teu ‘CMA CGM Pelleas’ called at KCT on Monday 15 March 2010, where work was carried out under eight gantries, for the first time in the history of the terminal.

The recent acquisition and delivery of four new ‘Megamax’ Liebherr container gantries at the end of 2009 now being put through their paces on the 440metre Berth extension, allowed this historic event to take place.

Terminal Manager Dag Froehmcke commented “it was a great sight to have eight gantries over the ship, and this has been a busy time – the last 48 hours have seen the terminal handling nearly 20, 000 teu – so we certainly appreciate the new cranes and the extra quay space added.”

of the global market.

Following the successful start-up Emal and Qatalum, both of which produced their first cast metal in December last year, it is expected that the total production by GAC members will exceed three million metric tonnes in 2010. Ultimately, the region’s production volumes could be doubled to six million metric tonnes per annum in the future, the exact timing being dependent on the impact of market influences on the planned expansions of production capacity at the newcomer smelters (specifically Sohar and Emal) and the commissioning date of Ma’aden (currently anticipated in 2013).

By being equipped with new-generation technologies and adhering to the most stringent environmental protection standards, the smelters here are considered to be among the most energy-efficient and environment-friendly in the world.

Gulf Aluminium Council

Making nationalisation work

Industry association to serve and promote interests of regional aluminium sector Two years ago, in 2008, the primary aluminium producers in the Gulf region announced the formation of an organisation — known as the Gulf Aluminium Council (GAC) — that would represent, promote and protect the interests of the aluminium industry within the region. Since then, much work has been done to establish the various committees of the GAC and build the foundations for progress towards the association’s goals. This development work has culminated in the establishment of official GAC headquarters in Dubai, UAE; and the formal launch of the GAC last month.

The Board of the GAC comprises the Chief Executive Officers of the six founding member companies, five of which have established smelters in the region, namely: Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal), Emirates Aluminium (Emal), Qatar Aluminium (Qatalum), and Sohar Aluminium (Sohar), in Oman. The sixth member is Saudi Mining Company (Ma’aden), which has announced plans to develop a fully integrated complex in Saudi Arabia. Collectively, the operational smelters at Alba, Dubal and Sohar produced more than two million metric tonnes of primary aluminium in 2009, equating to 5.6 per cent

It is important to ensure that graduates meet the needs of the labour market if the campaign to have more nationals in the private sector is to succeed GCC governments are playing their role in integrating nationals into the private sector, but more needs to be done by companies to lure nationals into the private sector, according to Edexcel, a leading provider of internationally recognised academic and professional qualifications. This is one of the topics that was addressed at the ‘Nationalisation 2010 Conference’ held recently.

Mark Andrews, MENA Regional Director, Edexcel, the associate sponsor of the Conference, said imposing nationalisation

Mark Andrews

quotas on private companies would be counter productive. “The key is to provide the right education to these nationals to nurture their skills, and make efforts to strike a balance between Emiratis’ salary expectations and private companies’ priority on optimum productivity.”

Other critical issues include bridging the gap between the knowledge obtained through formal education and skills required by employers, according to Andrews.

Local employees have traditionally given preference to the public sector. They also display strong preferences for particular jobs and avoid certain others, thus creating an imbalance in their availability for certain job segments. Further, talented nationals are in high demand and difficult to retain, creating a retention challenge.

“It is a two-way street. Nationals have to show more zeal to be integrated into the private sector and companies should work harder on integrating them into their multinational workforce,” said Andrews.

“The GCC education system should work on introducing students to the real-world workplace. It is important to ensure that college graduates meet the needs of the labour market if the campaign to have more nationals in the private sector is to succeed.”

RTA inaugurates online taxi booking service RTA’s Public Transport Agency, which oversees the taxi sector in Dubai, has recently launched Online Taxi Booking service, known as e-Taxi. RTA offers this service as it is vitally important during events that warrant prior arrangements to be made by hotels, etc on certain occasions such as Dubai Shopping Festival. Through this service, the customer can book the required taxicab well in advance to ensure timely arrival at the required destination.

The online taxi booking service is based on having the customer’s details and address saved in the Dispatch system at the Public Transport Agency; which makes it easy to process the booking in subsequent times. A taxi can be booked 24 / 7 through accessing the link ( http://rta.ae/etaxi), and this service is currently available for hotels only but will be fully available to the public at the end of this year.

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 5

MONEY

Learning about finances Linda Benbow spoke to Visa’s Jason Alderman Can you give us an overview of Visa’s Financial Literacy programme and the recent launch in the Middle East?

Visa has launched www.mymoneyskills. me, a website dedicated to improving money management and budgeting skills in the Middle East. It has also made the FIFA branded Financial Football available to the Middle East. This is a fast paced educational video game designed to make learning financial literacy skills fun. Both are available in Arabic and English.

Financial Literacy refers to an individual’s ability to make informed judgments and effective decisions about the use and management of their money. Visa’s global Financial Literacy initiatives are united by the common goal of teaching individuals how to spend, save and budget responsibly.

The company believes that it can use its expertise in global financial services to empower people by helping them better manage their finances and understand the responsibilities that come with owning a debit, credit or prepaid Visa card.

Why do people need to be financially literate?

The advantages of being financially literate are enormous. Money management decisions are something that most people deal with on a daily basis - whether it’s paying an electricity bill or applying for a mortgage.

Possessing the skills to make the right money management decisions gives individuals greater control over their finances, the ability to deal with unexpected costs, and the skills to budget and save responsibly.

In these challenging economic times, ensuring that people 6 l UAE Digest, April 2010

have the skills they need to manage their money successfully has never been more important.

For more than a decade, we have been developing educational programmes to help teach individuals how to save and spend wisely. Our programmes continue to help millions of people throughout the world by providing the crucial knowledge about budgeting, saving and wisely using credit.

Visa has made a global commitment to reach 20 million people with its financial literacy message by 2013.

Have you researched into what, if any, saving facilities are available for children in this country?

While various banks and financial institutions may have their own savings products targeted to younger age groups, Visa’s Financial Literacy campaign is based on a belief that the most important financial tool is not a product — it is knowledge.

We are taking a step back and trying to educate people to ensure they have the knowledge to allow them to control their finances and develop healthy saving and spending habits from a young age.

Do you think children should have their own savings/money organiser facilities, in their own names?

Visa believes it is imperative that people start to learn about money management skills from a young age, to develop skills that will stand them in good stead later in life. Learning how to maximise the benefits of savings accounts and using them wisely is part of this education which is an ongoing process. The aim of Visa’s MyMoneySkills.me website is to provide children and their parents with the skills and knowledge to make sound financial decisions.

At what age do you consider a child old enough to handle his/her own finances?

The website teaches people the important skills of money management and we see the transition to financial independence for young people as a gradual process. Our video game is a fun educational tool to help people learn these important money management skills. It has three levels: 11-14 years; 15-18 years; and 18+, ensuring that young people can select an appropriate difficulty level and get the most out of the game.

This region is traditionally known as a ‘cash’ payment culture, how will you try to educate people to use cards for payment instead?

We are continuously educating consumers in the region about the advantages of electronic payments versus cash.

Electronic payment methods are faster, more secure, convenient and reliable than carrying cash.

We hope that the new website will help people to better understand some of these advantages.

SPORT

Tee Time For the first time ever, India Tourism held a golf tournament in the UAE over three golf courses, one in Sharjah and two in Ras Al Khaimah

O

ver 160 golfers took part in the golf tournament organised by India Tourism’s Dubai office as part of their Incredible India promotions. The first round of the event was held at Golf & Shooting Club, Sharjah on February 19, the second round at Al Hamra Golf Club,

RAK on February 27, and the third round at the Tower Links Golf Club, RAK on March 6.

The 160 golfers enjoyed playing the tournament, and the winners were Burhan Mohd who came 1st with 102 points, Antoin Breen in 2nd position with 94 points, Zoyed Mohd in 3rd place with 94 points, Mitesh Desai in 4th position with 91 points and Abizher Mohd in 5th position with 90 points.

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 7

RETAIL

Mirdiff City Centre opens Edutainment facilities, an aqua park, a French edutainment zone, an endless array of retail stores and a cinema with the largest screen in the UAE – the MCC comes timely to the nearby residents as well as those who want to drive down to an exciting destination.

By Manju Ramanan

C

ocking a snook at recession and the bad press Dubai received across the world, are several real estate projects being inaugurated, the most recent being the Mirdiff City Centre (MCC), by leading shopping centre pioneer Majid Al Futtaim Properties. The Dh3 billion mall that sprawls across 196,000 square metres saw over 350 stores open for business on the very first day of the opening.

Basking in natural light, the mall is located on Emirates Road and is the first mall to greet you as you enter Dubai from the Northern Emirates and Sharjah. Peter Walichnowski, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Properties – the owner and developer of Mirdiff City Centre, states that the MCC shows MAF’s confidence in Dubai as the leading retail and leisure destination in the Middle East.

His team’s vision had been to create a large mall offering a full range of shops and experiences but with the friendly feel of a community-focussed environment. A fact evident here. Along with the Deira City Centre that is at the heart of Dubai, and the Mall of the Emirates which is located in what he calls New Dubai, the Mirdiff City Centre forms a triangle, covering nearly all locations of the emirate.

The mall created 16,000 jobs in the development and construction process, 5,500 permanent jobs within the mall complex going forward and is expected to serve a population of 450,000 within a 10 kilome-

8 l UAE Digest, April 2010

tre radius, plus serving communities across the rest of Dubai and other emirates.

Retail outlets have been chosen well with a melange of popular well-known brands, as well as never-seen-before stores in the region, across retail categories such as fashion, home, services, electronics, entertainment and leisure. Making their first appearance in the UAE is the eagerly awaited US brand Pottery Barn, legendary UK fashion label Miss Selfridge, celebrated Australian home-furnishing brand Freedom Furniture, Decathlon, and Office Depot, to name a few.

Built in plenty of natural light, the sprawling mall does not intimidate.

Instead, it creates an intimate, warm and welcoming environment with an abundance of palm trees and water features, giving the impression of an indoor ‘oasis.’

In fact, this is the first shopping centre in the Middle East to achieve a Gold Rat-

ing for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the sustainability rating system developed by the US Green Building Council.

Access to the mall is made easy with a sophisticated network of roads, complete with three dedicated bridges allowing convenient access from all directions, while the 7,000 free car parking spaces and 12 entry and exit points means parking is abundant, quick and easy.

“The new mall is home to over 75 restaurants and cafes with famous names like Tiffinbites and PF Chang’s making their debut appearance in the country, as well as regional favourites such as Butcher Shop and Grill, Mango Tree Bistro and Pinkberry,” says Yousif Al Ali, Vice President of Mirdif City Centre. “In addition to these, it also provides a range of dedicated services such as community areas, medical clinics, spa services, prayer rooms, personal grooming facilities and a fitness centre that incorporates a perfect balance of public spaces and commercial areas.“ The week-long celebrations at its inception included daily shows with the world-renowned Bungee aerial acrobatic troupe - Team Extreme and the unveiling of a giant community eco-art project.

Until April 15, customers could win

any of the three Audi cars simply by spending Dh300 or more and entering the draw.

Also, Dubai Fashion Weekend, hosted at MCC Mirdiff City Centre from the 16th17th April, showcases the stunning line-up of fashion available at the new mall.

Centrepoint opens its 64th store in Middle East The new Centrepoint covers a total retail space of 85,403 square feet, integrating five of Landmark Group’s brands - Babyshop, Splash, Shoe Mart, Lifestyle, and Beautybay - all under one roof. With a stylishly designed interior that delivers a stress-free shopping environment, it also has a toddler play area with a variety of games and early-learning play items.

Vinod Talreja, Director of Centrepoint & Chief Executive Officer of Babyshop, stated that the Centrepoint concept is innovative and unique, mainly because it provides the trendy teenager, families, newlyweds and women of all ages with ‘one concept, one destination’ for a wide choice of homegrown and international retail brands.

“It is a one-stop shop for the entire family,” he adds.

East will be very pleased with its unique collections, trend setting designs and customer-focused approach,” says Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman of MH Alshaya Co. “Our arrival into the region reflects our respect for the Middle East consumer as well as our confidence in the area’s economic potential,” said Laura Alber, President, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. The company has opened two other stores here: the Pottery Barn for Kids, which is a furniture and home accessory store targeting kids; and the American Eagle, a fashion garment store targeting tweens.

The Pottery Barn store MH Alshaya Co. has opened its first Pottery Barn home furnishings retail store in the Middle East at Mirdif City Centre. The 2,800 square metre store is located on the ground floor of the mall.

“Pottery Barn is a well-loved and much respected brand in its home market and we know that consumers here in the Middle

American Eagle Outfitters The leading American lifestyle apparel brand for women and men in the age group of 15-to-25, opened its first flagship store outside North America and its first

store in the Middle East. Additional stores in the region are planned. The new 872 square metre American Eagle Outfitters store in Dubai and a similar-sized store in Kuwait City will feature high-quality, on-trend clothing and accessories at affordable prices. Reflecting the brand’s casual lifestyle, the first in–store collection at each location will offer a multitude of styles, fits and washes in the brand’s signature denim collection.

Making a splash Aqua Play, a one-of-a-kind 200 square metre water-based indoor attraction - designed and developed by Majid Al Futtaim Leisure - is aimed at children from the ages of two to eight and features an array of things to do – including interactive games and rides - using running and still water.

Visitors don’t need to get wet from head to toe as Aqua Play is designed for fun in water no deeper than an arms length.

Craig Hart, Vice President of Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, says: “Aqua is fun and helps childhood development and confidence building.

Bringing the element of water into play is unique to mall-based leisure facilities, and Majid Al Fattaim Leisure is proud to be the first to bring such a great new attraction to the UAE.”

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 9

RETAIL

Wired for success E-max, the electronic retail chain in the Middle East and part of the $ 2.5 billion Landmark Group that houses successful concepts like Babyshop, Shoe Mart, Home Centre, Splash, Lifestyle and Max, has opened a 40,000 square feet anchor store at the Mirdiff City Centre. Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of E-max, tells us what it takes to be the fifth store in the UAE and the 17th in the Gulf

“I

f your company’s belief in you exceeds your belief in yourself, you are bound to succeed,” says Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of E-max, one of the most successful brands of the Landmark Group of Companies.

The company is owned by Indian business magnate Micky Jagtiani who runs one of the most successful businesses in the UAE. All the brands under the Landmark Group have been extremely popular as well as successful in the region.

Neelesh is a chartered accountantturned-businessman, who always wanted to do something more than ‘just accounting’. “In fact, during my first interview, I startled the interviewer by stating the

10 l UAE Digest, April 2010

obvious too. He was perplexed,” laughs Bhatnagar, who joined Landmark as a finance manager 15 years ago. A people’s person, he always wanted to combine his qualification and experience in finance with actual business – something that was noticed by his boss and mentor.

“I was based in Saudi Arabia when, one day, the chairman summoned me, discussed the concept of E-max and convinced me to start the venture,” he says.

Landmark, till then, had not stepped into electronics retail but Mr Jagtiani felt that there was great potential in the market. “We started E-max in 2005, and, as CEO, I moved from Riyadh to Dubai to set up base here,” he states.

For those confused between Max Electronics and E–max, the company name is Max Electronics and its retail brand has been called E-max since the beginning.

A vertically integrated full service electronic company, it offers its customers the widest spectrum of products ranging from audio video, appliances, mobile phones, photography, gaming, IT, CD/DVD, lighting, fitness equipment, toys, babycare and all related accessories; and, according to Bhatnagar, has 20 per cent of the local retail market for electronics. “We don’t re-export our products, we are into retail only,” he states.

E-max pioneered the Big Box concept in the Middle East with the largest electronics

store in the region at Sharjah, UAE, consisting of a sprawling three-level electronic store of 135,000 square feet. It also firmly set foot in Saudi Arabia, with a Big Box at Bawadi Jeddah. E-max also recently launched its first store in Dubai at the newly opened Oasis Centre, the flagship mall of Landmark Group. The store at the Oasis mall is the largest in Dubai. Good reviews about the store layout, merchandising and ambience were received from industry insiders, including global representatives of leading brands. The official recognition of the same came in the name of the Middle East Retail Academy (MERA) -2009 Awards, where the company won the Middle East store concept of the year award. This event was attended by over 350 leaders from vendors, retailers and channels of the electronics and IT industry from the Middle East, Levant and Africa region.

The awards were organised in conjunction with the DCC-MEA, a meet of the top executives to review the latest trends and products in the industry.

As for the newly opened showroom at the Mirdiff City Centre, Bhatnagar states: “We signed up for the E-max store at Mirdiff City Centre, four years ago as per the original plan,” he states.

But how does he see the market for electronics retail in the UAE with so many big players in the field already?

“Our core strength is our team and a personalised approach to customers.

Today, for instance, electronic products are available in supermarkets too, but that is product-centered approach, ours is a customer-centered one. We make sure customers who walk into our store are well received by the staff who knows they are not selling just an item in a brown box but exactly what it is and how it will be useful to the customer,” he explains.

Ask him if the profiles of retail stores across the region is undergoing a change, and he replies in the affirmative.

“Across the sector, all electronics stores are upgrading themselves to be in tune with the dynamic market. E-max is a knowledge driven store where a customer can walk in

“The practices prevailing in this industry are not reflecting the change in the UAE. The business is largely treated as a souq business and the sophistication is not reflected in the industry. A lot of my efforts are in driving the practising industry to change. Although, in the market outside, we are dealing with technology, the salesmen are non-technical people, and their approach to the product is like the one towards a commodity, not a sophisticated technological device,” he adds.

Neelesh Bhatnagar

and update his own information about various products. If he can learn from us the difference between a 5 and a 10 mega pixel camera, even if he doesn’t buy anything, it is worthwhile. Our staff are ready to tell the customer if he/she needs a 40kg washing machine or a 70kg one as per the needs of the family, not merely what a salesman wants to sell. We want our stores to be learning centres,” he enthuses.

At the MCC store, are there any offers planned to rope in more customers? The mall had a footfall of 130,000 people on the first Friday after its opening.

“There are special offers like scratch and win coupons, a cash-for-mobile-phone exchange scheme, etc, as part of the promotions. One important development is the extended warranty on products. To increase brand value and recall, we shall be offering a 0% instalment scheme for six months. We are also offering Air Miles as well as Emirates Skyward Miles with some of our purchases,” he states.

Is there a change in the business of electronics retail?

So, what are the plans for expansion?

“We shall shortly be opening at the Delma Mall Abu Dhabi, Reef Mall in Deira, and have plans to open up in Ibn Battuta Mall, Bur Dubai, Rolla Street in Sharjah, BurJuman and Computer Street”.

April sees the group opening their biggest store in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah – sprawled over 100,000 square feet. “We have a good market in Saudi Arabia and have had a presence there for a while; the customer base has good purchasing power.

It is a bigger market, rents are cheaper and margins are bigger,” he states. Also, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is very tech savvy.

“For instance, we have an LCD excess in Dubai but it runs short in Saudi Arabia”.

By the end of 2010, E-max shall have 12 new stores in the GCC increase their number of stores to 29. There are plans to open a store in Ras Al Khaimah, on the plot next to the Centrepoint showroom opposite the Rotana Hotel.

All this during the recession?

“Yes, 2010 is an important year for us. By the end of the year we would have opened 14-15 stores across the region. And all our stores are big stores. There have been many positive aspects of the recession – we could get good bargains with our retailers, good properties for rent. We have full confidence in the economy of the UAE”.

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 11

ENVIRONMENT

Sheikh Abdulaziz holding the UAE flag along with Robert Swan

Team members clicking snaps of a whale spewing out water

Onward... to the last frontier Explorer Robert Swan’s International Antarctica Expedition (IAE) took 70 present and future leaders of the world to the icy continent as part of an annual mission. The UAE was represented by Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Ali bin Rashid Al Nuaimi from Ajman’s ruling family, and corporate trainer Tamer Hussein

By Vanit Sethi

T

rekking on an icy continent larger than Europe and Australia with wind speeds of nearly 100 miles an hour under sub-zero temperatures can be an excruciating task most of us would steer clear of. But for a group of 70 people across the world, it was a life’s mission they could not afford to miss. Among them were leading industrialists, corporate honchos, young entrepreneurs, environmentalists, students, teachers and mediapersons.

What compelled them to undertake this hazardous adventure in a hostile environment? The love for our environment and the desire to save it from degradation would be the simple answer.

Yet simple answers always have complex problems attached to them. Problems that have been compounded by years of reckless living and over-exploitation of the earth’s 12 l UAE Digest, April 2010

resources. The imbalance thus created has become a burden, which these eco-warriors struggle to overcome. One of these crusaders is from the UAE’s royal lineage – Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Ali bin Rashed Al Nuaimi of Ajman, often called the ‘green sheikh’. He set sail on March 3 this year along with corporate trainer Tamer Hussein from the UAE, on a two-week voyage to Antarctica - that frozen, snow-white barren landmass towards the southern end of the world. Organised by Robert Swan, the first explorer to walk both the North and South poles, as part of Mission 2041, every year since 2003, Team Antarctica had representatives from organisations such as Coca Cola, Akzo Nobel, KPMG, BP, Shell, HSBC, Sony Music and Google, to name just a few.

Far from being a holiday expedition or even an endurance one, IAE had clear-cut

goals chalked out for them each day, right from 6am to 10pm. It included tasks like studying the icebergs, observing marine life, watching animals like penguins and seals plus aquatic creatures like whales and sharks, besides taking note of climatic variations like wind patterns, water and ice movements, sunlight and shadows etc.

By evening, participants had to talk about, discuss and debate over their findings, before they retired for the day and set the agenda for the following one.

Of course, it was not all work. In between their multiple sessions set by different team leaders, and at the end of the day, participants had ample time to share a joke, hum a few tunes, shake a leg or two and also pull some, besides generally goofing off. The effect of being away from the world while still in it helped develop and foster new friendships across territorial,

ater

Sheikh Abdulaziz performing the Muslim prayer on a mat in the snow

From Ajman to Argentina to Antarctica... and back

cultural and religious divides. It also helped focus on climate change and sustainability, and how it was necessary to keep the sheikh abdulaziz talks to uaE Digest - before and after his trip pristine continent away from mercenary exploitation for the sake of our planet and – on his experiences in the back of beyond ourselves.

Ultimately, Robert Swan’s aim is to before the trip: make the IAE a life-long mission in which I was planning to go one day to Antarctica, but I didn’t know when. Three years ago, I participants will spur others to undertake had gone on a trip to Iceland with a group of experts, photographers and friends from the expedition to find out for themselves Germany. That exposure plus my outdoor activities, love of nature and family traditions the effect their profligate ways of living made me plan to do something for the environment. can have on the delicate environment of My participation in several eco-friendly activities made Shell contact me and helped the last frontier and on our entire planet. sponsor my trip to Antarctica with Robert Swan’s Leadership Programme. Soon, I Doing something to save ourselves and our became more and more interested in the environment, not only in my local environment children should help unite people all over but also the global one. South Pole and North Pole are two electromagnets that help the world. maintain the balance of the earth. If there is global warming and climate change, its In the frozen wastes of Antarctica, the effects are felt most acutely there. They belong to nobody but the whole earth. We have to powerful lyrics of John Lennon (of Beatles spread the message of how we must reduce our emissions and carbon footprint to make a fame) must have rung so true: difference.

Imagine there’s no country I will be going there to study the effects of climate change and to feel it, besides Nothing to kill or die for A blue line formed in the iceberg due to lack of oxygen No hell below us; above us only sky You may say I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ ll join us And the world will live as one A yawning seal

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 13

HOME & GARDEN

Boat going inside the cave of an iceberg

learning from different people in the trip.

The UAE is working towards becoming a leader in sustainability. I will see how we can apply what I will learn in Antarctica to my country when I come back.

But first, I don’t want to change others.

I want to change myself before spreading the message to others, especially young people, Emirati as well as expats. This message I intend to spread in the media and via Facebook, Twitter and other networking sites too.

I heard about this mission three years ago, but at that time, I was not ready for it; but now I am.

And I was lucky that Shell stepped in.

Though I’m called the ‘Green Sheikh’, I am multi-coloured as I like all colours.

But green stands for eco-friendliness and positive looking. GREEN also stands for Glocal (global + local), Rethink, Environment, Ethics, and Networking, according to me.

I believe we can make a difference not just by words but by action. There is no dialogue between Emiratis and nonEmiratis. We need to have such a dialogue to make a difference.

after the trip: Before going to Antarctica, I had little information about the place and some misconceptions. One of the misconceptions 14 l UAE Digest, April 2010

A view of icebergs seen through the ship window

was I thought North Pole and South Pole were similar. But I found many differences. Around the South Pole, there is land as in Antarctica, but in the North Pole, there is water alone. The effect of global warming in the South Pole is more than in the North Pole; because of this, when the ice melts, the oceans will rise.

Whereas in the North Pole, since there is no land, the melting ice just dissolves in the ocean.

Second, I thought the area of land is fixed. In summer, the land area is only 4.5 million square kilometres, but in winter, the area is 10.5 million square kilometres, because of the snow. The other thing was I thought I would see polar bears. But in South Pole, there are only penguins, whereas polar bears are only in the North Pole. The whales of both the poles are also different – they cannot mix and survive in the other’s environment.

However, I found similarities between the hot desert from where I came and the cold desert of Antarctica. Both the environments are peaceful, largely unpolluted and environmentally very fragile.

You encounter negative ions, which give you a lot of energy by enhancing oxygen levels. Then, there is very clear vision in the landscape, wind resistance, areas of solitude – all these are kinds of similarities. But the major difference, of course,

is there are very high temperatures here and absolutely freezing temperatures over there.

One thing that opened my mind is how the species live in harmony with each other.

And in places like Antarctica, you have to live with renewable energy. The other thing I learnt is you have to accept change and live with it, because nature is also changing every day. Now, you have the krills there which are a part of the food chain, but they have been decreasing in mumbers rapidly, and that affects the food chain. The Antarctica peninsula, which is on the western side of the Antarctica continent (where we stayed) is most affected by climate change.

In the last 50 years, the temperatures in this peninsula have increased by 2.5 degrees Celsius.

At the end of the day, we all discussed the places we visited and the things we saw.

We also used to discuss climate change and how we can change ourselves to reduce our

window

Star formation on the snow by some team members

carbon footprint on this planet by leading less wasteful lives. For this region specifically, where we use so much energy, we have to think how to reduce our energy consumption and lead a more eco-friendly existence.

Secondly, we have to create awareness among the younger generation and create a new brand of leaders who will take the eco-message forward. So, I say, one must think globally and act locally, what I call a “glocal awareness”. In this connection, I have decided to take a group of Emiratis and expats from the UAE (about 30) to Antarctica sometime in the near future, maybe next year. I’m also planning to bring Robert Swan here (maybe by end of May or June) to create that awareness among the youngsters and exchange ideas between people from different countries. Thus, I want to start a chain reaction. The 30 people can inspire 300 and then 3,000 people more, and so on and so forth.

MISSION 2041 2041 was founded by polar explorer, environmental leader and public speaker Robert Swan, OBE, the first person in history to walk to both the North and South poles. Swan has dedicated his life to the preservation of Antarctica by the promotion of recycling, renewable energy and sustainability to combat the effects of climate change.

In two years, at the third ‘World Summit for Sustainable Development’ in 2012, the existing Kyoto Protocol for the Environment will expire. Around the world, the threat of climate change has become apparent to us all.

2041 builds on this by informing, engaging and inspiring the next generation of leaders to take responsibility, be sustainable, and know that now is the time for action in policy development, sustainable business generation, and future technologies.

In the year 2041, the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty could potentially be modified or amended. The aim of Mission 2041 is to work towards the continuing protection of the Antarctic Treaty so that the last great wilderness on earth is never exploited.

Penguins splashing in the icy cold waters

The team yelling out goodbye to Antarctica on the way back

Sheikh Abdulaziz (centre) along with team members from other countries

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 15

ANIMALS

Pet peeves An exotic pet might add thrill and a sense of vanity to your lifestyle, but there’s more to it than meets the eye

By Manju Ramanan

N

ot long ago, a three metre long Burmese python, weighing 35 kilograms, had spread panic among Al Naba’a residents in Sharjah. The exotic, carnivorous pet, costing Dh40,000 and native to south east Asia, is claimed to have escaped from its home.

Though the Anjad police managed to capture it and set it free at a temporary home at the Sharjah Desert Park at Al Dhaid road, the incident is telling.

While an animal’s escape into a populated area could have been dangerous to both the animal as well as the human population, in several other cases it is often seen that owners of exotic pets, finding it incapable of handling them as they grow into adulthood, discard them.

This is the reason Dr Mohammed Ali Reza Khan, Specialist, Public Parks and Horticulture Department, tries to accommodate several discarded animals in the Dubai Zoo on the Beach Road.

“There is a fair chance that if the zoo doesn’t house these abandoned animals or reptiles, they could be released outside,” he states.

Does that make zoos and wildlife parks in the UAE, a repository of cast off pets?

“Where will the animals go? Many people buy pets from a particular country without knowing the rules and they are stopped at the Customs here. The animal cannot go to its parent country and hence, comes to us,” he adds.

Often people buy exotic pets solely for

16 l UAE Digest, April 2010

the reason of looking different, without knowing the animal’s habits, diet etc.

Khan states the example of the

Ball snake

ball python, a commonly preferred pet in this region.

“While a baby ball python can be handled, it is when it grows bigger that many owners face difficulties. Its dietary requirements increase and that is when people have problems with them,” he says.

Dr Khan feels that it is important for people to be aware about the conditions in which they should keep their pets.

“For instance,

Orangutan

some people are fond of monkeys as pets.

But you must ask if you are ready to pay constant attention to it. The monkey’s brain is equal to the brain of a boisterboister ous two-year old human and, as a pet, it would need your complete attention – and not many people can afford to do that,” he states.

In the past, the various mumu nicipalities of the emirates have swooped down on the

Cheetah cubs

illegal captivity of exotic pets. There have been instances of lion cubs cooped up in a flat, or large snakes in small shelters, which have been turned over to the zoo.

They include one North African Serval, a spotted wild cat from the Savannah; two lion cubs, male and female of around three months; one Peregrin Falcon and one Barbary Falcon, etc.

“The UAE doesn’t have a Wildlife Protection Act but it does have decrees that protect animal, plant and sea life. There should be a unified wildlife preservation law in the country. The present law does not cover exotic species; regulations have become stricter, but earlier anybody could bring in anything,” he states, adding that in the 1990s, smugglers would route animals from Nigeria, to Egypt, Qatar and the GCC, and eventually to Europe.

According to IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) in 2007 and 2008 hundreds of animals were confiscated from passengers coming to the UAE

by Customs officials due to lack of any, or valid import and export permits. They include live cheetah cubs, caracals, Nile crocodiles, boa constrictors, pythons, monkeys, African grey parrots and falcons smuggled into the country. Animal trophies and skins seized also make for a long list of some of the most endangered animals on the planet with significant

quantities of rhino horn and ivory featuring on the list. The UAE is included in the CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), an international agreement between governments.

Cites aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten its survival.

The trade crosses borders and Cites aims to regulate it through international cooperation between countries so that it can safeguard certain species from over-exploitation. Today, Cites accords varying degrees of protection to more than 30,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs. Although legally binding, Cites does not take the place of national laws. Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that it is implemented at the national level.

Annually, international wildlife trade is estimated to be worth billions of dollars.

“The trade is diverse, ranging from live animals and plants to a vast array of wildlife products derived from them, including food products, exotic leather goods, wooden musical instruments, timber, tourist curios and medicines.

Levels of exploitation of some animal and plant species are high and the trade in them, together with other factors such as habitat loss, is capable of heavily depleting their populations and even bringing some species close to extinction,” says an official from the Ports and Customs Department in Ras Al Khaimah.

According to Mohammad Saleh Al Najar, head of the zoo section at Dubai Municipality, a unified anti-animal-smuggling body should be formed for the GCC region to bring down the number of wild and endangered species trafficked from country to country.

“International bodies like the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species should have a bigger presence in the region as well,” he states.

Most exotic animals come from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, South Africa, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, where they are quarantined and sent here because several of them carry 200 transmittable diseases. However, the government too has been upbeat in its attempts to arrest the illegal trade of these animals. Immigration inspectors at the Ras Al Darah Border checkpoint, during the last Eid Al Adha, foiled an attempt by an Omani national to smuggle Houbara Bustards into the UAE. The suspect, driving a pick-up, was arrested, his vehicle impounded and the birds seized. The entire case was referred to the Ras Al Khaimah law enforcement authorities for further investigation and for legal measures to be taken.

Crocodile smugglers are caught every couple of months trying to enter the UAE with live reptiles, according to officials at the Ministry of Environment and Water in Dubai. There have been swoop downs on crocodile skins and trophies plus stuffed animals kept for display these have been confiscated by customs and quarantine officials at various points of entry into the UAE. UAE Digest, April 2010 l 17

The UAE is an official member of the world organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and upon its recommendations the Ministry of Environment & Water is in the process of drafting a national law on animal welfare and transportation. This law, once drafted, will cover the important issue of welfare of live animals for both Cites and non-Cites listed species within the UAE. To locally implement Cites, the UAE has enacted Federal Law No 11/2002 for regulating and controlling the international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora. Violations under this law are punishable by a fine and/ or a prison term.

Wildlife Guardian A wildlife biologist, Dr Mohammed Ali Reza Khan arrived at the Bombay Museum of Natural History from Dhaka in Bangladesh to complete his doctoral thesis on birds under the late ornithologist Salim Ali, also called “The bird man of India�. In the UAE since 1982, where he worked in the Al Ain Zoo first and then joined Dubai Zoo in 1989, Dr Khan has written several books on the flora and fauna of the UAE and is an expert in the wildlife of this region. He speaks to UAE Digest.

Endangered animals are those that have a natural status of being Schedule 1 animals as per Cites. The endangered animals of the UAE are Arabian oryx, Arabian wolf, striped hyena (extinct from the UAE but is found in the GCC region), Arabian leopard, sand cat and fennec fox. Some of them are kept as pets by a very niche crowd. The exotic pets in the region (that could consist of endangered animals too, apart from regular ones) are the tiger from India, Bangladesh or Nepal; cheetahs, gorillas and chimpanzees from Africa; orang-utan from Indonesia; the African grey parrot; Indian star tortoise; African starred tortoise, etc.

Is there a ban on certain kinds of exotic animals entering the country?

All cats – tigers, lions etc as well as primates are not allowed to enter the country because they are dangerous and carry infectious diseases that can be harmful. They cannot be imported into the country by law. Among birds, the Houbara is not allowed and neither are poisonous snakes and crocodiles. Which makes them exotic animals. The reason why they are smuggled into the country unlawfully is many pet owners want to

What is the technical difference between exotic animals and endangered animals?

Quite like the term, exotic animals refer to those that are not found in the UAE.

Sand cat

Fennec fox

18 l UAE Digest, April 2010

own something different. People have a tendency to show off a pet that is not commonly seen around.

About 10 years ago, there were instances of people visiting other countries and buying an animal without knowl-

edge of the rules and regulations regarding the trading of animals. When such people entered the UAE, the customs department confiscated the animals or birds and sent them to the zoo. Sharjah Zoo has several cheetahs and hyenas like that. Today, we rarely get an animal from the airport.

What is the criterion of adopting, buying or trading in exotic pets in the UAE? The UAE is part of Cites. According to the rules, animals on Schedule 1 cannot be traded except for research purposes.

The animals on Schedule 2 for instance can be traded with permission by the country of origin and the country of destination. It is like an animal passport.

When a pet like this has been brought into the country, are there any government or private bodies that keep a check on its health, its surroundings, census, its upkeep etc?

All animals under Schedule1 and 2 come under the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment and Water. Except dogs and falcons, no other animals are registered in the UAE. For that, you need to have a wildlife regulation in place.

Often we see pets being dumped because the owners are incapable of taking care of them. What happens to those pets?

All animals need not like people. They are essentially wild and they can bite and harm if they are away from their natural habitat. There have been cases of ball pythons biting people. They might not be poisonous, but they can cause harm to the owner. That is the reason people resell animals to the pet shop or give it away.

Do you see the UAE move towards a wildlife protection act with a special emphasis on endangered animals?

Arabian oryx

Citing the CITES Soumar Dakdouk from IndyACT, a global environmental organisation based in Jordan, was recently in Dubai to garner support for implementing CITES across all Arab countries (the UAE is already a member). The NGO has been lobbying with Arab governments to sign the Convention in International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), scheduled to take place in Qatar this month. She speaks to UAE Digest on the importance of implementing CITES in the region.

The UAE has a wildlife law, but it is a blanket law. It needs a Wildlife Protection Act through the federal government.

The EAD, for instance, is responsible for over 80 per cent of the land and marine territory of the UAE and has continued to promote the passing of new laws. Law No. 22 for 2005 regulates the hunting of wild animals, including mammals, reptiles and birds, identifying those species that are fully protected, while a by-law issued by the agency, also places tough new controls on grazing of domestic livestock, a step that was urgently required to prevent further degradation of the fragile desert habitat. The Environmental Protection Agencies of various emirates too are active in their role to protect their emirate’s wildlife.

How are schools in the country sensitised to the prevalence of endangered animals in the UAE? Schools in the UAE have been quite proactive in promoting the cause of wildlife protection. There are institutions like the WWF, EAD, Emirates Environmental Group, Emirates Wildlife Society etc that have started working with schools and people to sensitise them to the vast animal wealth of the country.

How well has Cites been implemented in the UAE? UAE is one of the Arab countries that have been taking Cites very seriously, and have allocated substantial resources for its implementation. For example, the UAE translates most of its documents to Arabic and circulates to other Arab countries. Their position is also very well respected among other countries.

Out of the 22 Arab countries, only four (Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and Bahrain) have not signed the convention yet.

How powerful has IndyACT been to get Arab governments to sign at Qatar?

IndyACT started campaigning in 2008.

In the beginning, the objective was to push Lebanon, Bahrain and Iraq to become full members of the convention.

Now, all three have activated the process of joining, and the Ministry of Agriculture in Lebanon has already submitted papers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informing them that they want to join. One key event we have organised is a specific workshop for Lebanon, Bahrain and Iraq governments to build their understanding on the importance of Cites and the process of the convention implementation.

How do you see the plight of endangered animals in the region?

The region is full of many species (animals and plants) that are facing extinction.

Do you see Cites adopt a stronger role in influencing policy making worldwide?

It has an impressive history of conserving species worldwide. In COP15 in Qatar this year, there is a proposal to add Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna to Appendix One. This means that all trade in this fish species will be banned. Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna has high economic value and is mainly used for sushi consumption. Now more than 80 per cent of this species has already been lost due to unsustainable fishing. After more than 40 years of trying to manage the fisheries of Blue Fin Tuna and other fish, we have failed. It is estimated that most commercial fisheries will collapse by 2015. Managing fisheries by controlling international trade could be the solution needed. This is the first time such a species is being proposed to be on our listing, which can lead to a complete transformation in fisheries management. This is one of many species that Arab countries have an interest in.

How was your experience at garnering support in Dubai ?

The UAE Cites focal point has been very cooperative and constantly communicated with us and other NGOs on the different proposals suggested to Cites. They have committed to support many of our suggestions.

Tell us about your own involvement in the project as well as your background.

IndyACT has a long history in conservation and environmental policy development in the Arab region. Our policy experts will be present at the conference in Qatar to push countries to support proposals, such as the Blue Fin Tuna one.

As the head of the campaign, I will be leading IndyACT’s mission in Doha. My experience, since 2004, in international species conservation has given me the skills required to lead all conservation campaigns in IndyACT. UAE Digest, April 2010 l 19

CrIMINAL MINdS

Dealing with terror Vanit Sethi talks to Dr Raymond Hamden, Director of the Human Relations Institute, on the science of forensics, types of terrorism, and the disturbances created by dysfunctional states What is the Human Relations Institute?

When was it set up in the UAE and what does it do?

The Human Relations Institute was started in Washington DC in 1982, and I have been consulting here in the UAE since 1990. I set up the institute in Knowledge Village in 2006. The institute is a service that provides professional expertise in different branches of psychology. We also have an assessment centre and human resources support division that provides consulting to organisations in recruitment, employee assistance and advisory programmes, as well as doing surveys for training and development. The institute also does assessment in all areas of human life related to careers, and assists people in their corporate, personal and academic life.

Could you tell us something about your field, forensic psychology?

Forensic psychology is involved in anything that has to do with the legal or the corporate system, and it can be everything from undertaking divorce cases that involve custody, negotiations, arbitration, international adoption cases, and cases related to criminal investigations. It also involves medical investigation of crimes.

20 l UAE Digest, April 2010

While analysing terrorist groups, it is important to understand what type of terrorists we are dealing with before going in for negotiations, in order to understand their modus operandi

What kind of consultations do you offer and to whom?

I am mostly consulted on cases involving terrorism. For example, there is a bombing or a hijacking. My role would be on how to negotiate after classifying the terrorists involved in the hijacking and how to debrief the victims of such hijackings, i.e. how to deal with their post-traumatic stress disorder. So, basically, I’m involved in the profiling of the bad guys and the recovery process of the good guys. I also offer counselling in stress cases born out of natural disasters like floods, cyclones,

earthquakes etc, and man-made disasters like shootings, terrorism, accidents etc.

How do you profile terrorists? tell us something about the four types of terrorists you mention in your book The Psychology of Terrorism?

There is the psychopathic terrorist, the ethno-geographic religious, the ethnogeographic political, and the retributional terrorist. The psychopathic terrorist is a hired gun who just does it for money or the fun of killing. They are a very narcissistic lot and they have very little interest

in who gets hurt as long as they don’t get hurt. They are likely to be used by some states and its organisations as proxy terrorists to do their bidding and hurt those they consider enemy states.

The religious and the political terrorists tend to be those who seem to have a purpose – that is, they either fight for a socalled religious or political cause. They feel they have a mission to save the world from further despair. They are basically those we call ‘fundamentalists’. Organisations like Al Qaeda, IRA, Lashkar-e-Toiba – they all fit into this category. They are the most difficult to negotiate with, as they believe their way is the only way and anybody who disagrees with them is their enemy.

The retributional terrorist is the one I coined in the University of Maryland as part of a think tank. These are people with no particular ideology, but they have been hurt by some group or country who did them harm, and they are out to seek revenge and get at the enemy. Some of their families may have been killed in encounters and their communities destroyed, like in a genocide. So, they are out for retribution.

Now, when they take hostages, they use them only for a purpose, probably to free someone who they feel has been imprisoned wrongly. They are not inclined to harm the hostages, and they are the easiest to negotiate. They will free the hostages if they can get at their enemy. But they might join groups of ethno-geographic terrorists going after the same enemy when they feel they are too powerless to fight their powerful enemies. The other types of terrorists too might use them to meet their own ends.

So, while analysing terrorist groups, it is important to understand what type of terrorists we are dealing with before going in for negotiations in order to understand their modus operandi. So, my job is to profile terrorists and look at ways to modify some of their behaviour and activities.

My book is also good for academics and is aimed at institutes that may need such knowledge and understanding for recruiting employees. Sometimes, interviewers say they get an eerie feeling while talking to some candidates. My book tries to explain

the reasons behind that feeling and helps employers to either rule in or rule out that factor.

Do governments also consult you in negotiating with terrorists?

I’m not hired by any government, but I can be hired as a consultant by government, industry, academics or media either while dealing with terrorists, in the process of recruiting candidates, training of academic personnel, or to analyse certain incidents by the media. to which category do the 9/11 terrorists belong?

They are certainly the ethno-geographic political ones who may use religion as a cover for their cause, and probably to compel their co-religionists to take a stronger stand on certain political issues.

Or they may be religious crusaders using political issues as a front for their more fundamental religious cause. But there is no religion in the world which actually tells you to harm innocent people. So though they fight supposedly for the cause of religion, they are actually working against religion.

What is the main reason for the increasing incidents of terrorism since the past 15-20 years?

Dysfunctional states are the major reason

Dysfunctional states are the major reason for compelling certain people to take up arms to fight against a system that is perceived as blatantly unfair, discriminatory, racist or exploitative for compelling certain people to take up arms to fight against a system that is perceived as blatantly unfair, discriminatory, racist or exploitative. Thus, non-performing, dysfunctional and exploitative states run the deep risk of armed rebellions against them by various groups which may band together to fight the powerful but unjust state. People basically don’t want to be bad, but some states may force them to become so.

However, you may fight against the state productively too like the Tibetans are fighting against China, without using violence. On the other hand, the state of Israel whose people, the Jews, suffered immensely at the hands of Nazis, has fallen into the trap of Zionism which uses the same principles of discrimination as the Nazis used against the Jews.

PERSONAL PROFILE Born in the UsA, Dr Raymond Hamden practised psychology in washington DC since 1979. He was a Visiting Fellow at the University of Maryland in 1986. He has played a consultant in various trauma situations in countries like Afghanistan, saudi Arabia, Israel, syria, Algeria and Iraq.

He came to the UAE in 1990 to establish a professional psychology practice. The Human Relations Institute was set up in 2006 with Dr Hamden as the Director. In 2008, he was appointed by the Dubai Health Authority as Chair, Panel of Psychology Experts.

In March 2007, he was selected to service the committee for the European space Agency (EsA) and consult on the psychology of space travel.

He has earned a doctorate in psychology and is a Life Member in the Association of Psychological sciences. By invitation, he has presented before the Us senate and wrote for the Us House of Representatives. His book The Psychology of Terrorism was published in 2002.

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 21

EdUCATION

Forum for lady students Saudi women’s scholarly brilliance displayed at first-ever UK academic forum

By Linda Benbow

A

Saudi PhD student studying all women to study overseas, and has at the University of Sheffield invested heavily in the education of in the UK has organised the girls and women, and Saudi women are first-ever academic forum for extremely grateful.

Saudi female students, designed to allow “We want to repay his kindness by Saudi academics to share their experiachieving our educational goals, and ences and achievements, and to showcase the enormity of the Kingdom’s female talent.

The inaugural forum – a landmark event that brought together over 130 undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD women students from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia currently studying in the UK and Ireland – took place at the University of Sheffield on March 27. The forum was co-hosted by the University of Sheffield and the Saudi Students’ Clubs and Schools – UK and Ireland, in association with the Saudi Cultural Bureau.

The forum was the brainchild of Ahlam Al-Zahrani, a PhD student from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Sheffield, in the north of England, who is conducting ethnographic research into feminine health in Saudi Arabia.

“There are many extremely talented professional women from my country, studying here,” she Ahlam Al-Zahrani said. “The generosity of King Abdullah has meant that I have been able supporting each other on our academic to attend the University of Sheffield, one journeys. Together we can collaborate of the UK’s best universities, and pursue towards a greater good, balancing our my studies for the benefit of my country. family responsibilities with our desire to His Highness has opened the doors for help others in the community once we 22 l UAE Digest, April 2010

return home.”

In 2009, Ms. Al-Zahrani was elected as the Saudi Students’ Clubs and Schools Chief Female Students’ Coordinator for the UK. This is a student organisation representing all Saudi students studying in the UK and Ireland. It partners with the Saudi Cultural Bureau in London to ease the way for the students.

In her role as Coordinator, Ms. Al-Zahrani recognised the need for an academic forum for women from the kingdom, as a way of getting branches of the clubs together.

“The staff at the University have been so supportive of me from day one,” she said. “With their kindness and understanding I have been able to achieve the right balance between my doctoral studies and my family responsibilities. It’s now my turn to share my knowledge, and to support other female students who need help; whether it be a listening ear, or someone to assess academic work. I am confident this will be the start of many new friendships and collaborations.”

The forum encourages students to discuss what they have learned as well as providing them with an opportunity to display their research projects to an academic audience. It also offers opportunities for academic discussions between female students that will enhance their studies and build strong academic relationships for the future.

Carrie Warr, Director of External

Relations at the University of Sheffield, said: “The university’s international students – and particularly those from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East in general – represent some of our most exceptional students.

These talented students are tomorrow’s leaders, and we are honoured to be able to partner with them on From left to right: Academic forum speaker, Audrey Leadley, International Student Support; Carrie Warr, Director of their academic journey.

External Relations; Ahlam Al-Zahrani; and Mrs Fatmah Alrasheed, also a Saudi student at University of Sheffield “This university prides itself on offering a cutting edge academic environment in which all Widening the net our international students can enrich You give yourself totally to your work, and their lives, and make a difference when if you are a person who enjoys helping othLinda Benbow asked Ahlam Althey return home. His Highness King Abers, then this is a wonderful career to be in.

Zahrani some pertinent questions. dullah’s strategic plan for education, and Nursing and its associated branches allow his country’s investment in the education you to become skilled in finding solutions, Have you thought about extending the of women to enable them to reach the and focusing on problem-solving, diplogroup to include all GCC nationals? higher echelons of academia is exemplary. macy and working selflessly to help others.

Yes, the Saudi Clubs and Schools is supSaudi women studying here show comThis is my passion, helping others. I was a portive of all Gulf nations. At some of mitment, passion for their subjects and a staff nurse for a long time and it changed our meetings we have welcomed Yemenis, determination to excel. my perspective on life. I thoroughly recomEmiratis and others from the Gulf, and Mr Turki BinShalhoub, President of mend it as a career. we want to work with everyone from the Saudi Students’ Clubs and Schools - UK region. We have a scientific conference coming up in Manchester in June, and we What other careers are available to girls and Ireland said: “Our organisation plays welcome all students from the Gulf, study- in the region? a vital role in helping students - both ing in the UK and Ireland to get involved.

My country needs women in all specialmale and female - arriving from KSA to ties. Only eight to 10 per cent of women in acclimatise themselves to life in the UK Saudi pursue nursing, but we need many, What does your husband think about and Ireland. We support students in their many more women to take up employyour activities? quest to settle temporarily and make ment in this field, as well as most every My husband is the reason for my success. the most of their studies while here. We other field, providing it is something that Without him, I couldn’t have done what partner with schools and clubs, and assist the woman actually wants to do. The first I have done. He is so supportive, and enwhere we can.” female lawyer in Saudi Arabia has only just couraging. My role as a mother is my top When she returns home to the Kingbeen given permission to represent other priority, but when I am studying he cooks dom of Saudi Arabia with her husband women in court. Things need to change. and looks after the children. He is a great and three children – one of whom was We don’t know what the future holds, but cook and loves it. born in the UK – Mrs Al-Zahrani wants women need to feel they can work in any to work towards slowly changing attitudes career they want, providing it suits their Would you recommend nursing and its towards women’s health. personalities, their circumstances and their variations to girls in the GCC? “I hope through my research to be able own wishes. Employing women in certain Definitely. A woman should be allowed to to educate doctors and nurses and the fields shouldn’t be an excuse for compapursue the career she wants to pursue. My community in my country on the need nies to pay her less simply because she is a studies have made me a stronger person for more communication. I am passionate woman. Women are capable of making a and have made me realise what I was desabout my work, and am excited about the difference in their countries, and I feel my tined to do. Nursing is wonderful because chance to share my findings at the forum, studies at the University of Sheffield are it sets you on a selfless career path where with other academics from my home the only person who matters is the patient. helping me on the path to achieve this. country who are working and studying in the UK.” UAE Digest, April 2010 l 23

HEALTH

Consanguineously speaking

Same blood marriages, common to the UAE and to the region, are considered to be one of the major reasons for children born with genetic disorders. The UAE government, activists and various organisations are on a mission to spread awareness about the issue, as well as devise preventive and curative programmes to reduce defective births without interfering with its culture of consanguinity.

By Manju Ramanan

M

arriages among close cousins, or consanguineous marriages, are customary to the Arab world. By definition, a consanguineous marriage is the union of individuals having a common ancestor and is categorised with 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree kinship, the

1st (e.g. first cousin) being the closest.

It is commonly believed that consanguineous marriages preserve family dynamics and provide cultural, social and economic benefits to the individuals in the marriage.

However, scientific research states that children born out of these mar-

riages have high chances of suffering from genetic or congenital disorders. Parental consanguinity has been associated with increased risk of paediatric disorders, including stillbirths and preinatal mortality, congenital birth defects, malformations, mental retardation, blood diseases (haemophilia, 창lpha-thalassemia), cystic

Consanguineous marriages are seen in the West too. Some of the most known ones being that of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria of England who was married to her first cousin Prince Albert. Or that of Charles Darwin to his cousin Emma

24 l UAE Digest, April 2010

fibrosis, chronic renal failure14 and neonatal diabetes mellitus.

According to research by the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies (CAGS), Dubai – a semi-government organisation under the aegis of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences – “at present, congenital malformations are the second leading cause of infant mortality in countries of the GCC, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Queen Victoria, married to Prince Albert Oman and Qatar.”

Disorder, haemoglobinopathies, cancer, A study conducted by Al-Gazali LI, metabolic disorders, chromosomal Bener A, Abdulrazzaq YM, Micallef R, aberrations, mental retardation, cystic Al-Khayat AI, Gaber T from Department ribrosis, Fragile-X and G6PD.” of Paediatrics, UAE University, Al Ain Naturally then, several organisations that examined the frequency of consanwithin the UAE are working hard to raise guineous marriage and the coefficient of awareness, prevent the spread of genetic inbreeding in the UAE shows that the disorders and work towards rate of consanguinity in the present effective treatment. generation is high (50.5 per For instance, The cent) with a coefficient Genetics and of inbreeding of Development 0.0222. The comResearch monest type of Priorconsanguineous ity Group, marriage was bebased in the tween first cousins Faculty of (26.2 per cent).

Medicine and Double first cousin Health Sciences marriages were common (FMHS) in Al Ain, the (3.5 per cent) compared to Soul mate most active genetic research other populations. The consanguinity group in the UAE, focusses on birth rate in the UAE has increased from 39 per defects and congenital abnormalities. cent to 50.5 per cent in one generation.

The Genetics and Thalassemia Centre The level of consanguinity was higher in in Dubai offers cytogenic, molecular Al Ain (54.2 per cent) than in Dubai (40 and biochemical techniques to provide per cent). The study was conducted in Al services, mostly to patients with various Ain and Dubai cities between October types of common genetic disorders.

1994 and March 1995 and a sample of The Genetic Service provided by the 2033 married UAE females aged 15 years Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, and above participated. The degree of conAl Ain and the Maternity and Child sanguinity between each female and her Development of the Ministry of Health spouse, and the degree of consanguinity and The Centre for Arab Genomic Studbetween their parents were recorded. ies, Dubai – all address the problem in The most commonly seen genetic different capacities. disorders in the UAE, according to But how does one negotiate the the CAGS, are “Autosomal Recessive

change between what has been culturally practised in the region for centuries and scientific advancement?

“Science must not tamper with culture.

Let culture continue its way and let science find ways to thwart out its ill effects,” says Dr Ghazi Omar Tadmouri, Assistant Director of CAGS. A statement that reflects the very basis of genetic studies.

It is commonly understood that consanguineous marriages lead to an increased birth prevalence of infants with severe recessive disorders. Hence, it is often proposed that such marriages should be discouraged on medical grounds. However, several expert groups have pointed out that this proposal is inconsistent with the ethical principles of genetic counselling, overlooks the social importance of consanguineous marriage and is ineffective. Instead, they suggest that the custom increases the possibilities for effective genetic counselling, and recommend a concerted effort to identify families at increased risk, and to provide them with risk information and carrier testing when feasible.

Why does it happen?

According to Dr Tadmouri, several factors contribute to the wide prevalence of genetic disorders in the Arab world, including the high rate of consanguinity, social trend to have more children till menopause, selective characters favouring inherited disease characters such as thalassemia UAE Digest, April 2010 l 25

and glucose 6 –phosphate, dehydrogenase deficiency and the lack of public awareness towards early recognition and prevention of inherited disease.

“When a consanguineous marriage occurs, the recessive genes cannot escape and circulate in the same gene pool. It could be between first and second cousins, village tribes, etc, but the common thing is that genetic disorders get stuck in the same family. People of the UAE have origins in the same gene pool and even if their marriage may not be consanguineous, they could inherit genetic disorders shared by their gene pool.

One peculiar case is the occurrence of alpha thalassemia – a condition that causes death of the foetus in the womb,” he states.

On the other hand, in a nonconsanguineous marriage, the recessive genes disperse and there are lesser chances of them coming together. As a result, there are more chances of offspring born genetically healthy.

Data Collection The centre brings together medical and molecular geneticists within the UAE and the Arab world and provides a forum to foster and support collaborative research.

It has initiated a comprehensive Catalogue of Transmission Genetics in Arabs (CTGA) with the aim to enlighten the scientific community, and the public, on the occurrence of inherited disorders in Arabs and to suggest future investigation strategies. The initiative aims at the education of the medical community and dissemination of knowledge and reliable information to at-risk populations as the most effective ways to control genetic disorders here. Their extensive data collection includes retrieval of information on genetic disorders in the UAE from special26 l UAE Digest, April 2010

ised databases, screening and collection of data from internationally published literature, retrieval of data from locally published journals, and mining hospital records. This database can be used by people with no education in medicine and is closely monitored, edited, updated and archived.

Research and Policy In what can be called an ideal situation, CAGS is closely linked with policy level changes in the government and constant-

the UAE as a model, the centre produces a journal listing genetic abnormalities in a particular country. It has been used as a benchmark to re-look at the health policy of the respective GCC country that too has developed health awareness programmes.

“The Kingdom of Bahrain, for instance, launched a 25-year-old students’ sensitisation programme towards sickle cell disease. Cyprus has a strict mandate to prevent thalassemia, that could have been a great threat,” adds Tadmouri.

But how can the issue of genetic disorders arising out of consanguineous marriages be resolved in the UAE? Here are some tips that experts suggest.

Being vocal

ly updates the concerned authorities on its findings and research. As a result, its activities have now gone beyond the UAE to different GCC countries. Following

According to Hala Tamim (PhD) and Khalid Yunis (MD) from the University of Pittsburgh, high estimates of consanguineous marriages have been reported in various Arab countries: • 54% in Kuwait • 29-50% in Egypt • 52% in Saudi Arabia • 51% in the United Arab Emirates • 50% in Jordan • 15% in Lebanon • 40% in Yemen

Perhaps the most important aspect of a concurrent problem is to talk about it first. Talking about genetic disorders and thus recognising them is the first step towards addressing the issue. Through the media and various initiatives, including surveys of the population and awareness workshops, the centre, as well as its related network of individuals and philanthropists, is talking to the world about the prevalence of genetic diseases and possible measures to curb them. For instance, Dr. Ali Singel, a known media personality, dermatologist and Director of Medical Services at Dubai Police, presents a programme called Vitamin on Dubai TV. The programme has a large scale of viewers both in the UAE and regional Arab countries and has discussed, on many occasions, genetic issues and strengthened his argument with statistics issued by the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies.

In the 3rd Pan Arab Genome Conference held recently by the Sheikh Hamdan Award for Medical Sciences, a two-day conference discussed the latest research activities in the Arab Region. 150 research papers from 36 Arab and foreign countries participated in the conference that hosted a large number of physicians and decision makers, doctors under

Today it is mandatory for a UAE National to produce his genetic history certificate if he wants to avail of assistance under the Marriage Fund

training, academics and students of medical colleges, nurses, and laboratory technicians. There was a special symposium on the ‘Role of Media in Genetic Literacy in the Arab World’.

Jamal Al- Bah, Chairman of It is all in the DNA the Arab Family Organisation, dealt with the subject of genetic disorders with amazing speed and geneticists have and their prevention. Al-Bah has put in been able to identify the genetic basis of great efforts for many years, in his capacity many deadly disorders such as cancer and as Director-General of the Marriage Fund Alzheimers. Therefore, we must learn (1993 to 2005), to raise awareness on the more about genetics to look after our seriousness of genetic disorders. These health and the future of our children. efforts bore fruit by the issuance of the The symposium was addressed not only first law in the Arab World mandating the to geneticists, but to all media members process of premarital screening for some in the Arab world and to individuals common genetic disorders. Al-Bah spoke with a passion to know more about this about the importance of medical examinasubject. tion, the role of medical examinations for consanguineous marriages in reducing geAwareness campaigns netic disorders, the importance of genetic and policy changes screening for families at risk based on medical history, the UAE’s experience in Raising awareness towards the issue are implementing premarital tests, frankness individuals as well as organisations such between married couples who are in the as CAGS and their regular workshops, danger of genetic disorders and jurisprucampaigns, etc across the younger age dential norms that permit distinction between them.

Abdullah Bin Souqat, Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the Conference and the Executive Director of Sheikh Up to 2003, international surveys Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award cited only 16 genetic disorders in for Medical Sciences, stated, “Genetic the Arab world. Surveys from CAGS literacy plays a vital role in laying down state the presence of 240 disorders the foundations of a safe community.” in the Arab population He elaborated that the science of human genetics broke into our daily lives

groups. Spearheading the same initiative are individuals like Dr. Mariam Matar, Chief Executive of the Emirates Association of Genetic Diseases, who is an active campaigner of awareness of genetic diseases.

Under the patronage of HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chairman of the UAE University, the first Conference of Biotechnology, DNA was organised by the Emirates Association of Genetic diseases in collaboration with Zayed University.

The conference aimed to share experiences and ideas among those interested in genetics, specialists and medical practitioners to diseases of the blood and invited leading scientists from all over the world to discuss these issues.

Several UAE nationals studying in the Higher Colleges of Technology went through blood tests, to be aware of their own genetic disorders if any. In fact, the campaigns have had such a positive effect on people and the authorities that today, it is mandatory for a UAE National to produce his genetic history certificate if he wants to avail of the Marriage Fund.

“It works very well. If a couple want to marry despite knowing that either one of them are carriers of a defective gene that could give rise to unhealthy offspring, we do not stop them. We can merely advise and point the way; the final decision lies with them. They should be knowledgeable of what the future holds for them,” states Tadmouri who believes strongly in the advancement of science and scientists.

“Let people marry and let science help them and defeat the abnormality through intervening at various levels – new-born UAE Digest, April 2010 l 27

screening tests, PKU testing, etc.”

According to Dr Sulaiman Al Jassim, Director of Zayed University, scientific conferences contribute effectively to increase awareness of the dangers of diseases and epidemics, and awareness of genetics and genetic blood diseases, as the participant speakers are selected specialists from international markets.

“Zayed University is keen to prepare students through rehabilitation and proper education, especially in issues of concern to members of the community such as genetic diseases and genetic contribution to the protection of society against these diseases and their spread.”

Popularising genetics study in curriculum In Sharjah University, the subject of genetics is included as a major part of the teaching process. There are so many students who have lived with these disorders themselves, seen it closely among friends and family members, and take it very seriously. In more ways than one, this move is important to the UAE that doesn’t have a single genetic counsellor. If students take such an active part in learning the subject, they are naturally trained to practise it too when they become full-fledged medical practitioners.

Blood tests The government has taken steps to get the Arab population go through blood tests to ensure that people are aware of the genetic diseases they might carry.

As per a new directive, all newborns in the emirate will be tested for hereditary disorders within two days of birth. Aiming to address health problems before they become serious through early detection and treatment, the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD) has launched a comprehensive programme to screen infants in both public and private hospitals. Twentyfour hours after a baby is born, a blood sample will be taken from its heel and sent to a laboratory for screening.

“The introduction of the newborn 28 l UAE Digest, April 2010

screening programme can save infants’ lives or prevent serious side-effects if medical intervention is started early,” said Zaid Al Siksek, HAAD’s Chief Executive.

Parents who do not wish to have their baby screened will be required to provide reasons and sign a refusal form.

But doctors warn that their refusal

could endanger their child’s life.

“Newborns are perhaps the most vulnerable members of our community and we aim to do all we can to protect them,” said Dr Oliver Harrison, the director of public health and policy at HAAD. Babies will be screened for 11 disorders including sickle-cell anaemia and cystic fibrosis.

Strategies to deal with genetic disorders • • • • •

Spreading awareness about genetic disorders through campaigns and workshops focussing on young people Spread of information about the issue and the hazards Policy changes in the government rules like a mandatory genetic history certificate for Nationals eager to apply to the UAE Marriage Fund.

Genetic counselling to couples planning a child Intervention at a pre-natal level so that any abnormality detected can be treated in the womb itself

Professor Najib Al-Khaja, President of the 3rd Pan Arab Human Genetics Conference and the Secretary-General of Sheikh Hamdan Award for Medical Sciences, stated that the conference was supported

by The World Health Organization (WHO) through the participation of the regional adviser for Research Policy and Cooperation in the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo.

The conference also saw an ‘open clinic session’ during which doctors presented seven research papers of rare genetic Professor Najib Al-Khaja, President disorders or disorders with overlapping of the 3rd Pan Arab Human Genetics symptoms and the methods used for their Conference and the Secretary-General diagnosis at the clinical or genetic levels. of “Sheikh Hamdan Award for Medical Sciences Many important issues such as Kuwaiti’s experience in developing quick and inexpensive methods to diagnose genetic disorders, short stature in children and how to distinguish between short stature patients and non-patients, a genetic skeletal disorder in a Pakistani consanguineous family, a research from Saudi Arabia about the discovery of a gene that causes severe mental retardation and its relationship to facial and skeletal genetic disorders, and a rare genetic disorder from Tunisia of which only seven cases were discovered worldwide, were discussed.

IMPROVEMENT

Skills development still a priority

By Specialised Management Group, Dubai

A

lthough the fiscal catastrophe (we’re so bored with the term ‘financial crisis’) has hung as a sword of Damocles over businesses worldwide, and global stock call-backs are threatening the reputation stability of many a motoring giant, the jury is still out on the training platform.

And it seems that a win-vote is promising.

Yes, the trimming of training budgets is sure to continue, but confidence in training and development is not dead.

Skills development fared strongly in the recent Chartered Management Institute’s Economic Outlook (October 2009) survey, which provides insight to the UK’s business sector expectations.

Results indicated that 82 per cent of the respondents, who comprised managers in all sectors, remain convinced that fiscal support for the investment of skills should be a government priority. Enthusiasm for this policy was strong in all sectors – public, private or non-profit.

While raising the call to “train, train, and train again” is definitely a move in the right direction, limited time and financial resources for those keen on brushing up on industry-relevant skills are also a reality.

So what do prospective students and businesses keen on protecting their intellectual power look to? Professional, accredited and industry-relevant training are top-of-the-list, according to a Dubai-based training specialist and consultant.

“Higher education and training can either make your career or break your livelihood,” says James Norbury, project management lecturer and consultant of the Specialised Management Group.

“Companies and individuals looking to improve their skills or increase earning potential should research their businesses

and the respective market requirements carefully. Then, select training that will enhance both personal skills and the management of business and projects.”

James suggests that time-focused training (especially for professionals with schedule restrictions) which provides simultaneously the benefits and principals of project management are excellent.

Courses in presentation, facilitation and conflict management, time and business management, project or process management, and customer-relationship management are ideal.

“A course in project management for example, is highly advantageous for individuals across most sectors. This is because it will equip you to strategise in a logical manner and apply this strategy to any situation, be it running a construction project or planning a wedding,” he said.

James advises people of all industries and management structures to take up additional training methods and classes, but said to be sure to look to professional organisations that offer internationally certified training which was not only user-friendly but relevant and globally recognised.

Basic guide to meaningful skills-improvement:

• •

Ensure the organisation presenting your training is professionally certified and accredited.

Ask about follow up! Beware of training organisations that adopt a ‘take the money and run’ attitude.

Where courses include examinations, don’t be afraid to ask your trainers or training consultants if they offer assistance in exam verification and registration, course preparations etc.

Also, find out if they are willing (and able) to keep you updated on future training opportunities that would suit your industry.

• What size are the course classes? This may seem like an odd point but courses packed with more than 20 people result in lecturers allowing less time for personal interaction with students.

• Does industry at large understand and accept the qualification offered by the training organisation in question? In other words, does your course matter in the business world? It is important to establish beforehand whether you will be doing a basic self-help training exercise or a recognised training module. For example: professionals wanting a recognised qualification in project management will need to pass an exam overseen by a globally recognised body such as the PMI. To be eligible for this exam, you first require a certain amount of credits called Professional Development Units. You will only receive these credits through training with a certified training provider.

So, despite wary spenders and cost cutting, the value of skills development and training has not been fully discarded.

People are, however, carefully counting dirhams to ensure value for money. So, where training is concerned, the words ‘quality’ and ‘internationally certified’ have been written right at the top of trainers’ flip-charts.

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 29

HOME THEATRE

Looking through the 3D specs

By Linda Benbow

A

friend and I walked up to the ticket box at a local multi screen Cineplex asking for tickets to a selected filming.

Unfortunately, it had been cancelled for some malfunctioning reason and we had to choose another film to watch.

“What else is on right now” I asked, and received the unexpected reply that a new 3D film had just started.

We looked at each other. Did I want her to put me in cardboard glasses with one plastic red lense and a green one on the other side? Did I want to look at her in such funny gear? And it was going to cost Dh20 more than other films to watch.

Well, it was that or have lots of cups of coffee at the local cake shop, so we paid the

Johnny Depp

30 l UAE Digest, April 2010

money and were pleasantly surprised to find that things have changed since our initial experiences with 3D in the 1980s – the spectacles are now slick, and one colour – looking very much like a pair of sunglasses. That’s better.

The decision was worthwhile as we sat down to watch Alice in Wonderland and immediately saw bees and garden flowers moving towards us. I even tried to swat a bee away – which dislodged the glasses and I then realised what a flat screen I would have been watching without them.

Marvellous.

With the recent worldwide release of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, all eyes have been on Johnny Depp who plays the mad hatter in the film. Details of where a celebrity of such stature eats, works, and lives are all of great fascination to the general public, especially when they hit our screens in a multi-million dollar movie. It comes as no surprise that as Depp bursts into the limelight again, we are all intrigued by his choice to spend a lot of his time in between jobs in his family home in Nice, a desirable property hotspot in the South of France.

Living with his wife and two children and sharing the famous region with stars such as Elton John and worldwide events such as The Cannes Film Festival, it is great to know that a location popular with many Brits for over 100 years is also favoured by A-List celebrities.

Nice is easily accessible from this region, although if one has a private jet, this would never be a problem, and the climate, ambience and leisure activities

offered in the area ensures a real ‘adventure in wonderland’ whenever you choose to visit. For those looking to invest in prime real estate, apartments are available on the Promenade des Anglais from €178,000 for one bedroom, €228,00 for a two bed and stretching all the way up to €1,580,000 for a top of the range luxury three-bedroom suite.

Getting back to the topic of 3D movies … Thousands of people are packing cinemas to see the new three-dimensional film, and many of them will probably leave with headaches.

Doctors say that those with less-thanperfect eyesight can suffer nausea, blurred vision and dizziness as the technology taps into our depth perception. To fully appreciate depth in a 3D movie, you need equally clear vision in both eyes. Even a small misalignment could contribute to those symptoms of discomfort.

Minor conditions such as near-sightedness, far-sightedness or a lazy eye - if not treated with glasses or contacts - can trigger headaches and other side-effects from 3D visuals.

The problem comes from vision fatigue, caused when 3D technology forces the eyes to make constant adjustments to focus on images that are simultaneously near and far away. Humans see in three dimensions, but the exaggerated imagery can cause a strain in some, as happens to some computer users. A two-hour movie is usually OK to watch, but three or more hours could lead to eye strain.

Reports of vision fatigue popped up in recent months after the release of the 3D

Ahmed Al Menhali, Vice-President, Broadcast and Technology at Abu Dhabi Media Company, said: “3D TV broadcast is one of the latest developments in the technology of home entertainment. It will have a large impact on the current TV broadcasting standards and transport audiences at home to a new, more animated and interactive ambience. We look forward to integrating this technology into our broadcasting services at the earliest.” blockbuster Avatar. Several theatre-goers in USA complained of motion sickness after watching James Cameron’s epic sci-fi adventure, filmed with breakthrough digital techniques.

Despite causing discomfort in a small number of people, these movies aren’t going to go away. Besides Avatar, some of last year’s other top-grossing films - Up, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Monsters vs. Aliens - were 3D, and more than a dozen other 3D movies are scheduled for release this year and next.

Whether your eyesight is 20/20, or less than perfect, watching a 3-D movie isn’t going to cause any vision damage, according to experts. Getting a headache at a movie isn’t harmful, but it is symptomatic of subnormal vision. If it happens, that might be a good sign it’s time to visit an eye doctor.”

In the meantime, three-dimensional entertainment is entering the home as Sony heralds the era of 3D entertainment which consumers will be able to enjoy Bravia

Some upcoming 3-D movies and their expected release dates:

LCD TVs, Blu-ray Disc Products, VAIO, Digital Still Cameras and PlayStation 3.

The company is accelerating initiatives to deliver an array of 3D entertainment to the home in 2010, leveraging all its diverse business assets to create a 3D world encompassing electronics and games to movie content.

Hiroyasu Sugiyama, General Manager, 3D Strategy Office, Sony Corporation, Japan, said: “In the 3D space, we are uniquely positioned compared to other consumer electronics makers because we are not only going to sell 3D compatible consumer hardware but also ensure there is affluent variety of 3D content that consumers can enjoy.”

In the Middle East, cable television service providers such as E-vision, Orbit Showtime and broadcasters such as Al Jazeera are upgrading their bouquet to provide the latest in entertainment technology and are in active discussions with companies to bring 3D to Middle Eastern

homes this year.

Osamu Miura, Managing Director, Sony Gulf, said: “Clearly, 3D has already captured the imagination of filmmakers, content creators and broadcasters. The company is moving to bring that magic directly into consumers’ homes with movies, games, and sporting events. Today, 3D is the next generation of home entertainment and, with our technological leadership, we stand at the forefront of this technology.”

Humaid Rashid Sahoo, CEO of E-Vision, said: “3D broadcasting and 3D television sets will form the next new standard in the world of home entertainment. As specialists in television broadcasting, our network has the ability to provide 3D broadcasting service, which we will launch in a timely manner, depending on the readiness of the market and the availability of appropriate content.

Sony will film major sporting events in 3D (e.g. FIFA World Cup 2010, Sony Open in Hawaii, a golf tournament organised by the PGA Tour) that will be made available to consumers through various channels.

The Sony Gulf MD Osamu Miura (extreme right) and E-Vision CEO Humaid Rashid Sahoo (centre) at the launch of the Sony 3D range

How to Train Your Dragon................. March 26 Shrek Forever After............................ May 21 Toy Story 3......................................... June 18 Piranha 3-D....................................... Aug. 27 Saw VII ............................................. Oct. 22 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Nov. 19

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 31

FOOD

The food chain

By Linda Benbow

L

ike fashions come and go, so do food trends with wholesome meals being the ‘in’ thing to cook one day, and then along comes tiny portions of rich food, meat and

Jaded palates seek different ways to cook, taste and present a meal. Do restaurants lead the way in setting new foody fashions or does consumer demand show retailers what their purchasing path should be?

Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Chairman of Dubai Municipality, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, visited the Dubai Municipality stall at the 15th Gulfood exhibition. During his visit, Sheikh Hamdan enquired about the guidelines, rules and regulations regarding foodstuff import.

fish cooked ‘rare’ more often than not or veggies steamed the Chinese dim-sum way.

Which came first: the chicken or the egg?

The recently held Gulfood 2010 Using an electric saw to form an ice sculpture

32 l UAE Digest, April 2010

exhibition, and accompanying lectures and discussions, for retailers and professionals in the food trade showcased a multitude of old and new ideas. Organic food for everyday living, the wonders of camel milk, fishing and instilling food safety habits were some of the memorable topics.

So too were the competitions for local chefs at the Salon Culinaire event which featured sculptures made of sugar, crafted chocolate figurines, wedding cakes and men with chainsaws hacking blocks of ice into works of art.

A major player in the regional organic foods market, Alyasra Food Co, (AFC), part of a Kuwait-based family-owned group of companies announced the opening of its regional hub in the UAE, in Dubai, as part of its plans to expand its business in organic food products across the Middle East.

Mr. Khalid Hajjar, Regional Manager – MENA, Organics Division, Alyasra said: “Organic foods market in the region is still at a nascent stage of growth, but of late, there has been significant interest among health-conscious consumers in favour of it and as a major player, we do foresee enhanced growth in this sector.”

Alyasra has a wide range of organic food products in its portfolio, ranging from dairy products to pasta and chocolates, which has been widely accepted in the regional market.

“It is still the initial days of growth for the organic foods market. At Alyasra, we do plan to roll out various initiatives to promote the use of organic products by educating consumers as well as helping organic farmers by bringing in global certification benchmarks to their produce,” Mr. Khalid said.

Mexican Quinoa, a type of grass seed, soaks up gravies to expand in both size and taste

“One of such initiatives is our endeavour to bring the global independent organic food certification body to the region – the Soil Association of the UK. We are already in talks with various governments in the region to set up the certification body in the GCC, which will be a major and meaningful step in promoting organic food production,” he said.

Founded in 1946, the mission of the Soil Association of the UK is to research, develop and promote sustainable relationships between the soil, plants, animals, people and the biosphere, in order to produce healthy food and other products while protecting and enhancing the environment.

Down on the farm, a new debate is arising about milk. Fatima AbdulRahman, Principal Food Microbiologist at Dubai Municipality’s Dubai Central Laboratory says that camel milk is more nutritious than cow milk because it is lower in fat and cholesterol and richer in potassium, iron and minerals such as sodium and magnesium. “Camel is a vital part of Arabian culture and tradition and its milk is an important component of the diet in the UAE and other Arab countries. There are 18 million camels in the world which support the survival of millions of people in arid and semi-arid areas.”

AbdulRahman said camel milk has a sweet and sharp taste normally, but at times it can taste salty and other times it tastes watery. “The quality of milk is affected by the number of calves, the age of the animal, the stage of lactation, the quality and quantity of feed, as well as the amount of water available.”

Talking about the benefits of camel milk, she said that camel milk is a rich source of proteins with potential antimicrobial and protective activity. “Some proteins are not found in cow milk, or only in minor concentrations. Camel’s milk need not be boiled as much as that of cow’s or goat’s. Strong in flavour, it must be drunk slowly to allow the stomach to digest

it,” she explained.

She said several studies have been conducted in connection with camel milk composition. “They point out that the fat content per unit in cow’s milk is 3.8 per cent whereas it is 1.8 per cent - 3.8 per cent in camel’s milk. Vitamin C and Niacin are very much higher in camel milk. Vitamins and proteins are different than in cow’s milk. However, the amount of lactose in camel milk is similar to that in cow milk. Camel milk contains less vitamin A, B2, folic acid & panthonthenic acid than cow milk which could be considered a disadvantage in the composition of camel milk,” said AbdulRahman.

About drinking raw milk of camel, she said unpasteurised camel’s milk can cause brucellosis. “Brucellosis bacteria are transmitted to humans through unpasteurised dairy products. Direct contact with infected animals and environmental contamination through animal secretions and infected tissue can also cause brucellosis,” said AbdulRahman.

“Camel milk also has a longer shelf life compared with other types of milk due to the presence of some special and strong compounds, and this finding carries great importance to the people living in desert areas where cooling facilities were not available. The values of Lactoferrin and immunoglobulin were estimated slightly higher in camel’s milk than those reported in cow’s milk,” she said.

She said camel milk products are distinct with many excellent characteristics that have made it a rich product, developed after extensive scientific research.

“These specifications are considered to

be unique in the country in protecting products with cultural imprints. The country has manufacturers of camel milk in Dubai and Al Ain,” said AbdulRahman.

Flowing on to the topic of fish, Dubai Municipality signed an agreement with Dubai Fishermen’s Cooperative Association on organising the work of auctioneers in the Deira fish market. The agreement is part of nationalising the auctioneering in the market, opening the way for national cadres to show their potential in this area.

Dubai Municipality is the government body that oversees the activities of the public markets in Dubai, including the fish market. It manages and organises the procedures and mechanisms in order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment.

The Dubai Fishermen’s Cooperative Association organises the profession of selling fishes and fishing and also protects fishermen, as well as nationalising the fishing in the emirate of Dubai. It also endeavours to provide high quality services in regulating the profession of fish sale and auctioneering.

It will also encourage citizens to engage in fishing, sale and brokerage and find a local market that is run by a group of citizens that offer good prices for selling fishes. In addition to that, it will achieve transparency and impartiality in the sale and purchase of fish and avoid illegal practices by either sellers or buyers, and control the quality of fish coming into the market and the source, validity, size and method of catch, quantity and the work of related statistical studies.

Both the parties agreed that the practice of auctioneering in the market shall be undertaken from 1am until 8am, and from 3pm until 7pm.

Walking among the aisles of exhibitors at Gulfood was a slow process as there were so many new-fangled ideas to look at. Take, for example, the world’s only self-cooking centre. It completely eliminates conventional inputs such as temperature, time and humidity, or complicated programming, UAE Digest, April 2010 l 33

constant monitoring and many routine chores.

About 500,000 years ago, fire was discovered and man began to cook food.

There have been a lot of developments since then. But one problem was still unresolved: man had to watch his food cooking. Then along came Rational, the market leader in Combi-Steamer technology, presenting another epoch-making innovation for the professional kitchen - the world’s first SelfCooking Center®. Cooking is an art and a passion as well as a craft born of experience.

By paying loving attention to every detail and culinary subtlety, the chef can turn a meal into a gourmet delight. Inspiration and creativity lie at the heart of good eating. A good cook needs time, peace and quiet to concentrate on the essentials - from the birth of an idea to the final garnish.

For 30 years, the company has deployed the market’s largest development team, comprising chefs, nutritionists, physicists and engineers. This unique partnership, the ideal combination of accumulated worldwide culinary experience and modern engineering skills, is now embodied in the new Self-Cooking Center which independently detects product-specific requirements, the size of the food to be cooked and the load size. The cooking time, temperature and ideal cooking cabinet climate are automatically calculated on an individual basis and continuously adjusted to achieve the result you want. A display shows the remaining cooking time. It sensitively monitors and optimises the cooking process 3,600 times an hour.

Meanwhile, up in the conference rooms above the main exhibition halls, UAE Minister of Environment and Water, Mr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, called for 34 l UAE Digest, April 2010

concerted efforts from all quarters to fight the new challenges in food safety, especially food-borne illnesses.

He was delivering the inaugural address in the fifth Dubai International Food Safety Conference hosted by Dubai Municipality.

Fahad said the changes in global food consumption pattern, consumer trends and the advancements in the food manufacturing and processing has its impact on food safety.

“Recent problems associated with chemical contaminants, pesticides and veterinary drugs have definitely increased the pressure on regulators worldwide to enhance steps to ensure that the foods provided to their people are protected,” he said.

“Despite the development and advancement in food testing, disease surveillance and enhanced food safety standards, we still have food safety issues. World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that there are more than 250 different food-borne diseases, more than 30 per cent of the world population is suffering from these diseases and proves fatal for 2.2 million people annually. This requires diligent work by all concerned parties to face this problem along the food chain: primary producer, supplier, manufacturers, consumers, scientists, media, food control authorities, etc,” Fahad noted.

“The Ministry of Environment and Water has recently established a department which is specialised in food safety to upgrade food safety in the country based on best international practices,” Fahad pointed out.

The first task of this department will be preparing a federal food law as per modern systems and practices. This will be followed by unifying the food inspection and control procedures in the country. A food-borne diseases surveillance system will be established. Applied research and studies in the area of food safety will be conducted in collaboration with private

sector, universities, and research centres,” Fahad said.

“This year, we have a unique programme which will be conducted by the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), in collaboration with FAO and WHO and is aimed at improving our food-borne diseases investigation and surveillance system.

Other programmes are geared towards specific industries such as dairy, meat and poultry, water, and food service industry,” Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said.

“Another feature of this year’s programme is involving our future generation: the students, whom we encourage to take an active role in food safety as we believe in empowering the public with necessary information to ensure food safety,” said Lootah.

A series of culinary competitions for professional chefs was held, the inaugural Gulfood Awards, with chefs from professional kitchens cooking, icing, moulding, sculpting and even sawing. The result was tables laden with wedding cakes, sugarcraft pictures and visual chocolate delights. Organised by The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), in association with UK-based FoodBev Media, the awards attracted more than 150 entries from 26 countries in 15 different categories, and were judged by an international panel of experts.

Trends for natural and organic featured alongside exquisite craft in chocolate and breadmaking, while convenience and functionality provided welcome new twists on otherwise tried and tested concepts in food and beverage.

Collecting the award for ‘Best new halal food’ won by Al Islami Foods, CEO Alex Andarakis said: “Al Islami Foods has played a leading role in the growth of the halal food industry both locally and internationally. We are delighted to be recognised.”

The ‘Best new baked or confectionery product’ category was won by Etihad Salehia, a pioneer in the production, development and processing of dates and confectionery, for the company’s innovative Mamoul with chocolate.

Elite Naturel Organics of Turkey was

Sugarcraft

Wedding cakes

the winner of the ‘Best new functional food or drink’ category, for its Organic Pomegranate Juice, while Del Monte Foods won ‘Best health education initiative’ for its “Eat Healthy Live Healthy” campaign.

The ‘Best marketing campaign’ award was won by Al Ghurair Foods for their Summer Festival Campaign, a family-centric marketing campaign promoting healthy food and lifestyle.

CEO Djamal Djhouri commented: “Our marketing campaign involved a Chocolate sculpture comprehensive on-ground activation that included complimentary health Baking Technologies. checks and nutritional advice.”

The Baking & Pastry Guild Middle East Baking professionals from the Middle provides bakers and pastry chefs with access East and beyond honed their skills in to training seminars, competitions batter, biscuit, bread and all manner of and quarterly newsletters, as well as baking techniques in preparation for the future bakery and pastry lunches and first Middle East baking demonstrations at dinners.

Gulfood 2010. The demonstrations were Running alongside Gulfood is organised as part of a close collaboration Ingredients Middle East, a dedicated between the recently-formed Baking & exhibition covering every aspect of Pastry Guild Middle East, showcasing the industry, including the process the skills, techniques and baking innovaand supply of raw materials, cultivattions of participating bakers and chefs in ing ingredients and the insertion of a purpose-built bakery theatre created by

ingredients to the final product.

The number of bakery ingredients companies has tripled within the show this year in-line with the significant growth in the ingredients sector in the Middle East.

Leading bakery companies including Backaldrin, Masterbaker and Puratos demonstrated master techniques in artisan breads, perfect pastries and creative cookie making. Trade visitors were able to learn new skills from the international demonstrators who manned the baking theatre during the fourday exhibition.

Brian Ballinger, a member of the Baking & Pastry Guild Middle East, said: “Successful baking is reliant on a combination of top quality ingredients, special skills and closely guarded secrets – we shared this and more with our fellow professionals during the demonstrations.”

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 35

HOME & GARDEN

Fiery feasts from the Far East Middle East’s appetite grows for Singaporean cuisine Chef de Cuisine William Tan from Saffron Restaurant at Atlantis, The Palm, whipped up a wokful of traditional Singaporean recipes at Gulfood.

The cooking demonstration formed part of the activities at the Tasty Singapore Pavilion, with Chef Tan using various unique and authentic products from the 25 exhibiting Singapore food companies.

Organiser IE Singapore, the lead government agency promoting international trade and Singapore companies’ growth overseas says, “Singapore’s local food is well-received and is increasingly being recognised Singapore Chilli Crab worldwide as Southeast Asian restaurants become more popular. In Dubai for example, many of the five-star hotels are now offering Singaporean cuisine at their restaurants, including Pepper Crab at the Grand Hyatt, Saffron at Atlantis, and Asiana Raffles,” said Mr Lim Ban Hoe, Group Director Middle East & Africa for IE Singapore.

According to Chef Tan, the hottest Singaporean flavours on Middle Eastern palates in 2010 will be hot and spicy, and sweet and sour. “At Saffron, our most popular dishes are Curry Laksa, Chilli Crab with Deep Fried Mantou and Fried Carrot Cake.

We’ve introduced a new take on ‘Ikan Pangang’ – Banana Leaf Wrapped Fish with Sambal which is proving really popular with our Arabic clientele.”

The Consul-General of Singapore congratulates an exhibitor

36 l UAE Digest, April 2010

FOOD

Seven wonders of India

By Vanit Sethi

I

ndia is a foodie’s paradise. Each region (mashed eggplant tempered with chopped has its own style of cooking, with onion tomato masala), a common dish in much of the diversity coming from the Punjabi households. varied topography, climatic conditions Royal Rajasthan: India’s largest state is and earlier invaders who blended part of famous for its opulent palaces, brave warritheir own cuisines, creating unique delicaors, barren landscape and colourful dresses. cies. What much of the world knows as For starters, there is Maas ke Sooley (thin ‘Indian food’ is largely from North Indian, lamb cubes marinated in yoghurt and red but South Indian food is gaining popularity, chilli paste) and a non-veg soup too – Yaparticularly snacks like Dosa, Idli and Vada. khni Shorba (reduced lamb stock flavoured Bringing the multiple colours and with tomatoes, pepper and garlic). flavours of Indian cooking to the table was Aromas of Awadh: Originating from the Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers the gracious and highly cultured city of at its Indian restaurant Ashiana in a special Lucknow, Awadhi cuisine is famous for its promotion called 7 Wonders of India. dum style of cooking. This art of cooking Selecting seven regions from the length and over a slow fire has inspired many dishes breadth of the subcontinent: Delhi, Punjab, such as the fragrant Paneer Dum Anari Rajasthan, Lucknow, Bengal, Hyderabad, (cottage cheese stuffed with spiced green and the South, chef Anuj Sood from Delhi pea mixture in tomato gravy) and Nalli laid out his culinary expertise.

Ki Nihari (prime cuts of lamb flavoured Delhi delights: Delhi, India’s capital with brown onions). Round it off with city, has been largely influenced by Punjabi Shahi Tukra (bread fried and cooked with and Mughal cultures. With starters like reduced milk and layered with saffron).

Palak Anjeer ke Kebab (pan grilled spinach Shonar Bangla: West Bengal - with its and lentil patties stuffed with cashew nuts, green fields, river deltas and island - is the khoya and figs) and Bhatti da Murg (chicken home of refined art, culture and literature. morsels marinated in cooked onions and Its sweets and confections like rosogolla, almond masala), your appetite is sufficiently chum chum and sandesh are popular tickled, before you venture into the main throughout India, but chef Anuj Sood course of Mehlati Jhinge (prawns napped in wants to popularise its main dishes too. coriander, green chillies and spring onions Bengali cuisine has plenty of fish, lentils flavoured with carom Private dining room at Ashiana seeds).

Punjabi passion: The lively Punjabis; armed with a life philosophy of eat, drink and be merry, a similar contentment is reflected in their cuisine. Many are familiar with Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken and Palak Paneer. An unusual introduction is Baingan ka Bharta

and rice. Try the the fish chop or the famous Maccher Jhol (fish cooked with seasonal vegetables in mustard oil).

Hot Hyderabadi: Hyderabad, the gateway to southern India, is famous for its blend of North Indian flavours and South Indian spices, particularly its Mutton Biryani, Bagara Baingan (fried brinjals), Mirchi ka Salan (green chilli dish) and Haleem (lamb cooked in wheat and lentils with brown onions in desi ghee). Ashiana brought Pathar ke Kebab, Dum ki Khumb (button mushrooms in cashewnut gravy), Haleem and Khubani ka Meetha (dry apricots sweetened and served with whipped cream) to its tables.

Southern sensations: The four southern states have their own unique cuisines, quite different from the rest of India. The thali (plate containing different dishes of vegetables, dals, rice, chapati, papad, achar, yogurt and a sweet) has now been localised. The chef’s favourites include Dakshin Yera (deep fried prawns marinated with ginger, garlic, red chillies and lemon), Chicken Chettinad and Elaneer Paysam (coconut flavoured milk).

Delightfully epicurean! The only worry is you just can’t sample all the seven flavours.

Ideally, try one from each category. There are so many other regions left uncovered – like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Mangalore, Kashmir etc. You need another food festival for that, I suggested to the chef and he agreed.

“Eventually, I want to bring the best of India to this restaurant,” he said.

So, all those who missed the gastronomic Indian adventure need not worry. Ashiana will lay the best of Indian food on its tables, courtesy of chef Anuj Sood.

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 37

HOSPITALITY

Tweens, Taekwondo and nibbling fish Hotels, malls and entertainment venues are coming up with some very interesting ways to keep people amused and occupied this month. Not to mention dining outlets for celebrations and socialising.

C

ity Seasons Group of Hotels has announced a special overnight package to those visiting the capital for the EgyptianEuropean Circus in Abu Dhabi offering guests the opportunity to experience the delights of the circus in comfort and style. The price includes two adult tickets to the circus.

For the first time in the UAE, the city will play host to this circus from 1st to 22nd of April, which will feature a fun-packed programme with skilled acrobats, talented magicians and exciting snake shows.

An overwhelming response from guests at Le Méridien Al Aqah, Fujairah for a teenagers’ venue led to the development of Teens Club Al Aqah. With 60 per cent of the resort’s European leisure visitors returning to the resort, parents were looking for an alternative, exciting and challenging meeting place for their children who had graduated from Penguin Club which caters to children aged from 4 to 12. It’s time for teenagers to have a venue of their own. Complete with internet, Wii and comprehensive DVD library, the club caters to guests aged between 13 and 16 offering a myriad of activities, including weekly dancing shows and disco nights for teenagers staying at the resort, ensuring the younger guests combine fitness with social activities. It is open daily from 10am to 10pm and the teens are supervised by the resort’s Entertainment Team. The team ensures safety and responsibility, allowing the teens to have a great time and parents to plan their own leisure activities.

Meanwhile, Coral Beach Resort Sharjah will be the scene of some thrilling martial art action this month when former World Taekwondo Federation champion

38 l UAE Digest, April 2010

The lessons are divided into sessions for men, women and children under 12.

One of the Middle East’s most renowned confectionery brands recently opened its first café and sweet shop at The Boulevard in Downtown Dubai. Al Samadi Café and Sweets Shop, located opposite Qamardeen hotel, has now introduced value for money breakfasts all week from 7.30am offering menus from Paris and America to full Lebanese. A Friday home-style brunch is also served from 11am to 3pm and includes cold mezze, four hot dishes, soup and a selection of fresh sweets.

Kenan Parlak, a past member of both the German and Turkish national teams and the holder of an 8th Dan, one of the highest Taekwondo black belts awarded, will be showing off his spectacular skills at a demonstration session on April 2, especially for guests and members of the hotel’s Rimal Club.

Kenan’s talents are already well known in the UAE, as on previous visits he has trained with the Sharjah police force and even coached a local Sheikha. From April 2nd to 15th, Kenan, and his son who is accompanying him on the trip, will be offering private classes on Fridays and Saturdays and group trial lessons in the evenings.

Beef lunch at Barrio Fiesta

ETA Star Retail, has announced its plans to further expand Barrio Fiesta – the international casual dining restaurant specialising in traditional and fusion Filipino cuisine. With its popularity growing, Barrio Fiesta recently introduced its new menu to include more Filipino staple dishes like Kalderetang Kambing (tender mutton stewed with potatoes, herbs and spices, topped with green peas and cheese), Lechon Manok (roast chicken), Tinolang Manok (chicken in clear soup with papaya, lemongrass and ginger), and Ampalaya con Carne (bitter gourd with beef strips), to name a few. To cater to the lunch time customers, a special value lunch menu has been created that consists of rice, soup, and a choice of vegetables or meat dishes. This will cater to customers who are looking for a complete meal at a more affordable price.

Media One Hotel, located in the bustling Media City district of Dubai, is bursting with great value food and beverage promotions including a two- or threecourse business lunch at Café M between Café M

noon and 2pm. Pop in after work, 6-9pm, for unlimited tapas with a selection of red

and white.

Cabana, the spectacular poolside restaurant and terrace lounge, located on the third floor of The Address Dubai Mall, has launched ‘Outback Fridays’, a delectable barbeque experience in the city. Every Friday from 1pm to 5pm, enjoy a mouth-watering selection of grilled delicacies, including sirloin steak France, Japan, the United States of America, and salmon teriyaki. Relax and unwind in Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany. plush cabanas and lounge beds while enjoyThe gourmet weekly event of theatre-style ing soul music and international tunes by kitchens and live cooking stations will cover DJ Yasin Vallimulla and the breathtaking the expansive terraces, restaurants and atriviews of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest um of the hotel and feature live jazz performbuilding. As an alternative to the tradiances, a Cuban Cigar Lounge terrace and tional brunch, Outback Fridays at Cabana separate Kids Club with a full programme is the right place to socialise and unwind of children’s entertainment offerings. The over a great selection of food and beverage, Meydan’s Friday Brunch is set to challenge spectacular views and lively entertainment.

Dubai’s established Friday brunch scene It also offers a dedicated menu including with its commitment to providing an award children’s favourites. winning, relaxed, family inspired brunch A gastronomic tour of the world’s key where time is not a concern, quality gourmet horseracing nations and experiences are assured and the whole family regions, The Meydan, unit is considered. the world’s first fiveCelebrate the Thai New Year, in style at star trackside hotel award-winning Fish Market restaurant, at launches The Fish Market Dubai’s ultimate brunch extravaganza this month.

Featuring signature dishes from some of the world’s key horseracing nations and regions, guests will be taken on a culinary journey through Asia, the Middle East, UAE Digest, April 2010 l 13

the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, from April 10-20, with traditional festivities and exquisite cuisine!

Songkran- or Thai New Year- is the occasion of the passing of the sun from Taurus into Aries. This solar event marks the beginning of a new astrological year and is of great importance in Thailand.

During this time, people participate in special rites and rituals designed to give blessings on the New Year. On occasion of Songkran, Thai Chef De Cuisine, Chef Sombun presents a traditionally festive set menu for lunch and dinner featuring Tom Yam Seafood with Thai Basil Leaves, Mussel and Scallop Salad with Lemon Grass, Paoched Fish and Shrimps served with Panang Curry with Pineapple Fried Rice, followed by Deep Fried Ice Cream.

This month sees Wild Wadi Waterpark launching a new and fun alternative health and beauty treatment called Fisho. It will be the first and only place in Dubai that uses toothless Garra Ruffa fish (‘Doctor Fish’) to safely and gently

Easter offerings The Chef’s Table in Bord Eau, Shangri-La Hotel at Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi creates an intimate atmosphere for interaction with Chef de Cuisine Jean Hurstel. Start your afternoon with a champagne reception then enjoy a delectable Easter set menu finishing with chocolate treats. Price is inclusive of champers reception and unlimited selected vines. Available on 4th April from 12noon to 3pm.

Easter has a different flavour on Yas Island. Head to Choices at Yas Island Rotana and treat the family to a lavish Easter brunch. Step out of conventional restaurants and seize the chance to take the family to the lovely Yas Island which is 20 minutes from Saadiyat Bridge and 45 minutes from Dubai.

You are invited to join Dubai Creek Golf Academy for a fun adult/child Par-3 competition, an Easter egg hunt and a barbeque on Good Friday – April 2. Each team will have two players – one adult and one child (15 years and under). Shotgun starts at 3.30pm and 5pm. The format will be Greensomes whereby both players hit the tee shot and then select the ball which is in the best position.

Then alternate shots are played until the ball is holed out. Places for 36 teams only so book now.

Prizes to be won. There will also be eggs hidden on the golf course for each group to hunt and each team must find an egg to claim their delicious chocolate treat.

Lakeview restaurant at Dubai Creek Golf Club

Doctor fish

exfoliate your feet. The fish clean pores, remove dead skin cells and also serve as a micro massage for your feet, improving blood circulation – slightly ticklish at first, you will instantly feel your skin becoming softer and smoother. Garra Rufa fish have been used around the world for years to help relieve the symptoms of psoriasis, eczema and other skin conditions. Visitors can get a discounted entrance to Fisho Fish Spa at the park’s main entrance.

40 l UAE Digest, April 2010

You will be spoilt for choice this Easter at Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort and Spa with stunning culinary venues, perfectly landscaped gardens and unique cuisine guaranteed to make you smile.

Kick off this year’s celebrations at Brasserie - the all-day international restaurant, which promises to serve up an array of exquisite dishes for Good Friday brunch. Alternatively, why not indulge in its Aussie inspired family brunch on Easter Sunday which includes face-painting activities for little ones, in addition to a bouncy castle.

The restaurant will also be hosting a magical Spice-route inspired dinner on Easter Sunday, ideal for those wishing to relax whilst listening to the melodic tunes of the resident Bottomline Band.

PRODUCTS Side-by-side refrigerator

A modern chesterfield

LG Electronics (LG) introduces its new side-by-side refrigerator which is specifically designed for large capacity storage and top-level energy efficiency. It has a 617-litre capacity but does not extend beyond the depth of standard size refrigerators because LG has developed a slimmer mechanical system to create more interior storage space while maintaining the fridge’s overall dimensions. It also has a door-mounted ice maker, home bar, and additional drawers and shelves, as well as works on lower energy consumption, earning an A+ class rating, according to the EU energy label.

BoConcept is now introducing a modern, casual looking chesterfield sofa - Milos - which is playing with the effect of the check pattern and stitches. The concept itself is very manageable and consists of 13 different modules, which can be combined in many different ways. The modules are fully upholstered and the armrest has the same angle as the back, so wherever you sit will be comfortable. The ottomans, which come in two different sizes, make it possible to create a very flexible solution. Available in both leather and fabrics.

Flipside hand shower One tip for a quick and effective improvement in the bathroom is installing a practical and good-looking hand shower. This provides more flexibility for the shower than a fixed showerhead. With Kohler Co’s innovative Flipstream™ technology, the sprayface rotates on its axis, with each of the four sides of the sprayface being dedicated to one of the sprays. This not only provides greater surface area for a superb spray experience, it also makes changing between sprays both intuitive and effortless.

TriBlade hand blender The Kenwood Triblade Hand Blender is a groundbreaking, multitasking hand blender that highlights Kenwood’s commitment to food preparation, saves valuable time and promises 100 per cent professional results.

The 3-blade system is allied to a unique foot design, which ensures the most efficient chopping and blending of any ingredients. The ‘power of 3’ means faster, easier and cleaner blending, with 700 watt power and a patented ‘no splash’ design. Available in various options, the new Kenwood Triblade Hand Blender range offers 21 functions with variable speed + turbo, plus a new unique Masher tool – designed to make perfect mashed potato.

Puma phone roars into life Puma AG and Sagem Wireless have launched the much anticipated Puma phone, which is not like others.

Completely custom designed from the inside out, the phone is an uber friendly device engineered to facilitate and encourage an active way of life both digitally and physically. It is an active smartphone.

Beyond internet, messaging, and GPS localisation capabilities, solar charging, video calling and Bluetooth photo sharing are all designed to make the device engaging and responding to consumer requirements. The spin and scratch music player and integrated radio make the device a connected companion.

Limited accessories Givori has launched the limited edition Chérie collection, which is available on Nokia 8800 Carbon and BlackBerry 9700 Onyx handsets.

Charms include fresh pearls, tarnished lovebirds made out of patina brass, and a vintage copper amulet etched with the words ‘je t’aime’.

The exclusive collection is made up of 50 individually numbered pieces and is adorned with over 3,000 vintage Swarovski crystals which are no longer produced, adding to the exclusivity of the range. Each phone comes with a matching crystallised headset, a beautifully hand-made carry pouch, crafted using green taffeta and antique lace, and a complimentary adorned compact mirror. The collection is available exclusively at select Axiom Telecom outlets and Harvey Nichols Dubai, Mall of the Emirates.

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 41

ART

Canvas of colours Nearly 18,000 international and regional visitors attended the annual four-day event of Art Dubai

By Vanit Sethi

A

rt Dubai has become a must-see event for Dubai’s cultural aficionados and every year, the crowds are getting bigger. This year, a record 18,000 visitors – both regional

from Berlin, Traffic from Dubai, and Priska C. Jushka from New York sold nearly all their available works at the exhibition.

The show was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the VicePresident and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and held under his patronage.

“Art Dubai, this year, has yet again provided a powerful platform for a cultural and artistic dialogue between the East and the West,” according to Ahmed Humaid Al Sheikh Mohammed visiting Art Dubai 2010 on March 16 Tayer, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre and international – visited the exhibition (DIFC). held in March. A total of 72 galleries from Attendees were able to join the Global 30 countries, featuring more than 500 artArt Forum to see artists in conversation, ists, took part in the four-day event (which such as El Anatsui, whose mural In the included solo exhibitions, installations, world but don’t know the world was in high performances, talks and screenings), and the demand, as well as the winning pieces of the majority experienced strong sales, with buyAbraaj Capital Art Prize, and the speciallyers including members of the royal family, commissioned artworks and video installaand major international and regional mutions curated by Bidoun Projects. seums. A number of participating galleries, Thousands of visitors also took the including Athr Gallery from Jeddah, Galerie opportunity to view Van Cleef & Arpels’ Christian Hosp and Caprice Horn, both El Anatsui's 'In the world but don't know the world'

42 l UAE Digest, April 2010

Marwan Sahmarani’s ‘The Feast of the Damned’

exhibition The Poetry of Time, covering almost a century of watchmaking creativity and expertise.

Alongside the business of buying art, some of the region’s youngest creative types joined family workshops organised by child education programme START in aid of children in need of arts-related therapy.

Abraaj Prize works The 2010 works of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize were revealed to the public at Art Dubai, six months after the winners from the Menasa (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) region were announced, and started working on their projects in secret.

Celebrated Algerian artist Kader Attia, working with curator Laurie Ann Farrell from the United States, presented History of a Myth: The Small Dome of the Rock. A video installation, this project’s focus is on the Kader Attia’s ‘History of a Myth, The Small Dome of the Rock’

Hala Elkoussy’s, ‘The Myths & Legends Room, The Mural’

Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, a structure of enormous historical and contemporary significance. A subtle combination of image and sound evokes the feelings the artist experienced when he visited the monument, creating a deep impression on the viewer.

Hala Elkoussy is an Egyptian artist for whom the archival history of modern Cairo is of utmost importance. She presented The Myths and Legends Room: The Mural, an epic nine metre by three metre mural that references commemorative propaganda art. The mural is a dazzling, action-packed display, with many narratives vying for attention.

Marwan Sahmarani from Beirut is best known for his vibrant, highly-charged paintings. Working with curator Mahita El Bacha Urieta (Spain/Lebanon), Sahmarani presented The Feast of the Damned, an entirely new body of work incorporating oil-on-canvas, watercolour and ink-on-paper, ceramics and a video projection, all displayed in an atmospheric interior. The work is inspired by Hell: Fall of the Condemned Ones

by Rubens, and deals with age-old themes of martyrdom and expiation in its narratives.

The three works-of-art represent a new stage of evolution for the artists of the Menasa region. In each of their projects, the artists examine a theme that is specific to

their experience of living in the region, but which also has universal application. The Abraaj Capital Art Prize is unique globally in that its awards are given on the basis of proposals rather than completed works.

Poetry of Time Van Cleef & Arpels organised an exclusive exhibition celebrating 100 years of watchmaking creation dedicated to ‘The Poetry of Time’, which was the title of both a coffee-table book published by the company and the programme of the exclusive exhibition created for Art Dubai. Midnight in Dubai timepiece is a new addition that reproduces stars in the Dubai night sky. It is equipped with a unique and extremely complex movement, which links the notion of time to the cosmos.

A workshop section, coordinated by the master watchmaker Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, enabled everyone to discover the secret mechanisms of watches, while Dominique Baron unveiled her enamelling craftsmanship and revealed how simple pigments can bring luxurious settings to life.

Van Cleef & Arpels has developed a special watch for START, inspired by its Charms collection. The benefits of the sale were offered to the organisation.

Van Cleef & Arpel’s ‘Midnight in Dubai’

Highlights • The sale of Pakistani artist Sadquain Naqqah’s The Three Graces by Grosvenor Vade• • •

hra Gallery for $200,000 The purchase of Snow White Without the Dwarves by Ghader Amer for $160,000 New York-based Leila Taghinia-Milani Heller Gallery’s sale of a Reza Derakshani’s piece for $80,000 Saudi Arabian artist Abdulnasser Gharem’s work, shown by Berlin-based Galerie Caprice Horn, which sold for $50,000

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 43

LITERATURE

Weaving wonders with words Vanit Sethi meets four women writers from across the globe at the Emirates Litfest to find out why they write and what makes their experience of writing different from others Maha Gargash (UAE) Born in Dubai, charming Emirati writer Maha Gargash has a bachelor’s degree in Radio & TV from the George Washington University, and a Master’s from Goldsmiths’ College in London. She joined Dubai Television in 1985 to pursue her interest in documentaries, mainly focusing on traditional Arab societies. Her stint in the electronic media provided her extensive opportunities for travel, research and scriptwriting, becoming the catalyst for her first novel, The Sand Fish (Oct/Nov 2009), which tells of life and relationships in the Dubai of the 1950s, as seen through the eyes of a rebellious young woman in a conservative society.

“I enjoyed my stint in Dubai Television, which gave me the scope to explore into certain lives while conceiving the documentaries and writing scripts. I’ve always wanted to

write fiction and writing in English would give me scope to a wider audience, so I chose writing in English.

Now, my novel The Sand Fish is about a young girl who becomes the third wife of a much older man. It’s about her life and rebellion, plus it depicts the life of Dubai in the 1950s, which was a very different world to what it is now. Many younger Emiratis and expats who arrived recently do not know much about the Gulf society of those years, apart from certain historians like Wilfred Thesiger documenting that era.

There has hardly been any fiction in this region about that era. Literature in Arabic has mostly concentrated on poetry, which is still very strong in this region, unlike other parts of the world where poetry is dying out as an art form. And in English, there have been mostly non-fiction books. Translations from Arabic have been of mostly

Literature in Arabic has mostly concentrated on poetry, which is still very strong in this region, unlike other parts of the world where poetry is dying out as an art form literary award winners or some established writers like the Egyptian Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz.

Since fiction is highly popular across the world, I thought this would be a good medium to reach out to people from various nationalities who would like to know about life here as it was earlier. I would have loved to write short stories too - like Mohammed Al Murr, whose Dubai Tales is delightful with surprise endings - but that is a different art. I’m more confident with novels where I can write in length on what I want to. Maybe, I’ll do long short stories some day.”

Leila Aboulela (Sudan) Born in 1964 in Cairo (Egypt), Leila Aboulela grew up in Khartoum (Sudan). After graduating from the University of Khartoum, she studied for an M.Sc and M.Phil in Statistics at the London School of Economics. In 1990, she moved with her husband and children to Aberdeen in Scotland, where she started writing. Her two novels The Translator (1999) and Minaret (2005) were both longlisted for the Orange and IMPAC prizes. Her collection of short stories, Coloured Lights (2001) was shortlisted for the PEN/Macmillan Silver Pen Award. BBC 44 l UAE Digest, April 2010

I’m most interested in how people react in foreign surroundings – the feeling of alienation, homesickness, transplantation, interaction with different cultures etc

Radio has adapted her work extensively and broadcast a number of her plays. Her work has been translated into 12 languages, and she is working on her third novel. She has recently shifted to Doha after living in Abu Dhabi for several years.

“The cross-cultural dimension in relationships is what fascinates me most about life and literature. My two novels The Translator and Minaret are about that aspect of life. My next novel, which I started writing in 2006, will be out in January next year.

Since I have lived in Scotland much of my life, but was born and brought up in Africa, I’m most interested in how people react in foreign surroundings – the feeling of alienation, homesickness, transplantation, interaction with different cultures etc. As an African and an Arab living in the West earlier, I found it actually easier to publish my stuff because people were interested in knowing about Islamic culture and mores, especially after 9/11. I spoke to them through my works as an ordinary, moderate Muslim interested in leading a good life like everyone else.

People everywhere are interested in knowing about others in different countries.

Excellent works from this region have been well-received in the West and other places.

I also find a lot of interest in the West about Africa. As an African writer – which I consider myself first and foremost – I find it heartening. Of course, my faith as a Muslim is also very important to me.

As a woman writer, I find that more women are interested in my writings than men.

Maybe they want to know what a woman from their region or another part of the world has to say about different things. Just like I am more interested in women writers in other parts of the world. I’m especially interested in post-colonial literature coming out of countries like Nigeria, Kenya, India, Indonesia, China etc. The changes that are happening in these countries make interesting reading. I would also like to write about war and how it affects women because war is mostly tackled by men. Women can bring another angle to it. Then, as an African writer, issues of racism really concern me.

But it is really nice to see so many writers participating in this festival and so many people interested in literature.”

Shobhaa De (India) Often called the Jackie Collins of India for her penetrative insights into celebrity film stars, Shobhaa De is an obsessivecompulsive writer, having notched up 15 books since her first book Socialite Evenings in 1989. Her latest book Simply 60 is due to appear in another three months. She has spent the past three years in the pursuit of her first vocation, journalism. Her columns

are ubiquitous, appearing in many newspapers and magazines of India. They carry her customary edgy observations on politics, films, business, love, sex, and gender issues. Born in 1947, the year India became independent, she feels a special bond for the country of her birth. Her love for India is evident in Superstar India, her last novel, and she is an ardent Mumbaikar, living in India’s tinseltown with her husband Dilip and their six children.

“I got into writing after putting in several years in journalism covering the Mumbai (then Bombay) celebrity circuit.

In magazines like Stardust, which I edited, we popularised a new lingo, Hinglish (mix of Hindi and English), which became instantly popular, and is now also used in Indian advertising. A publisher friend suggested I could put in my experience of tracking film stars into a book, and that’s how Socialite Evenings and Starry Nights came out in 1989.

But I also wanted to write something about India in general – its politics, economy, entrepreneurship, culture and

If a woman like me writes about sex, people are shocked as if only a man can write about sex

traditions, relationships and way of life. And so, Superstar India came out in 2008. As I was born the same year that India became independent – 1947 – I feel a special affinity to my country. I have seen all the changes we have gone through. There’s a lot that still needs to be done, but on the whole we haven’t done badly.

In fact, there are many things we Indians should be justifiably proud of - our entrepreneurship, our students abroad, our present growth rate, our software guys, Bollywood, Indian food, fashion designs etc.

But a lot of obstacles remain – the biggest being the discrimination against the girl child, especially in rural areas. Now, as a writer, I feel many publishers want women to write typically on women’s topics like household, beauty and fashion, parenting etc. In fiction, we are stereotyped into what is called ‘chic-lit’ (romantic mushy stuff). So, if a woman like me writes about sex, people are shocked as if only a man can write about sex – even about women’s sexual experiences.

I broke the mould with my books... so there was criticism that I do it for publicity. I’ve even been called the Jackie Collins of India by a Western reporter (laughs) – now, of course, a good friend.

Also, people don’t expect women to write on serious topics like history, politics, business, the economy etc, unless you are an academician specialising in those topics.

But my columns on contemporary India, fortunately, have been well received in the media and by the readers. Though I will keep writing books, I will not quit journalism, my first love.”

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 45

Kate Mosse (U.K.) Kate Mosse is the author of two non-fiction books, one play and five novels, including the multi-million selling Labyrinth – translated into 37 languages, published in 40 countries, and chosen as one of Waterstone’s top 100 novels of the past 25 years. A guest presenter on BBC Radio 4, Kate is also a book reviewer for BBC Breakfast News. She is a co-founder and honorary director of the Orange Prize for Fiction. Her other achievements include an honorary degree by the University of Chicester, trusteeship of a museum in West Sussex, and co-directorship of the Chicester Writing Festival along with her husband Greg Mosse.

Her latest novel is The Winter Ghosts, and she is currently working on another novel Citadel, to be published in autumn this year. She was a moderator on many sessions at the Emirates Litfest-2010.

“I write mostly historical fiction, and at the moment, I’m working on Citadel, which is about France and Spain before and during the Second World War, and will be the last part of a trilogy that comprised the hugely successful Labyrinth and Sepulchre. I’m fascinated by history and the many stories and legends that form a part of my stories. I’ve been called the female Dan Brown by some publishers. Not that I mind it (laughs)… after all, Dan Brown

I feel women across the world have much in common, though they are wide cultural differences too, which makes their experiences unique has been highly successful.

Writing has been a very laborious task, even though I enjoy it. It takes me about 3-4 years to finish a novel, from researching to writing it, editing and revising, to the publication. And it’s a very lonely

Amit Chaudhuri, William Dalrymple, Shobhaa De, Venu Rajamony and Vikas Swarup at a panel discussion on In Search of Modern India on the last day of the Emirates Litfest

46 l UAE Digest, April 2010

task, so I enjoy participating in these literary festivals, which give you a chance to meet other writers and socialise and network at the same time. In this festival, I’m also participating as an anchor or moderator on many talks, discussions and debates. Actually, this is a tougher job than being present as a writer because you have to read so much about other writers and their works, whereas a writer just has to answer questions about her books and life. But it’s a great, heady feeling and I’m enjoying it. At the end of the day, it gives you so much insight into other writer’s minds and thought process.

Being labelled a woman writer helps in some ways as men have so much more competition. Last year, 133,000 books were published. I feel women across the world have much in common, though they are wide cultural differences too, which makes their experiences unique. Interestingly, in France, I’m considered a British writer, and in the UK, a French writer (writing on France).

But I do identify with women’s issues and women writers from different countries. I do not identify myself so much with race or religion. Ultimately, just being called a writer is most important – the labels are for people to slot you in some way, like my being called a female Dan Brown.”

People browsing through books at the Hotel Intercontinental during the Emirates Airline International Festival of Literature-2010

Another captivating bestseller Even as the curtains barely came down on the Emirates Litfest-2010, 18 authors have confirmed their participation for the next season. A sneak preview of what 2011 has in store.

More than 25,000 enthusiastic festival-goers rubbed shoulders with 107 international, regional and local authors over the four-day festival that ran at the Hotel Intercontinental at Dubai Festival City from March 10-13. Demand for many of the 80 sessions was so great that the organisers had to release additional tickets at short notice.

“From the moment the doors opened, the atmosphere has been electric,” said Isobel Abulhoul, Festival Director. “We have witnessed some incredible sights - Darren Shan signing books for star-struck teenagers for more than four hours, queues of hundreds of fans snaking through the event centre lobby for the sold-out John Simpson session and multitudes of children from different nationalities joining camels, horses and Freej characters for our noisy and colourful Fringe parade.”

Meanwhile, the organisers have revealed that preparations are well underway for the 2011 festival. Eighteen star authors have already confirmed they will take part in next year’s festival, which will run from March 8-12. The authors, from 12 different nationalities, include American, British, Chinese, Egyptian, Emirati, Indian, Iranian, Lebanese, Filipino, Palestinian, Saudi Arabian and Ukrainian. The festival is held under the patronage of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

Adult English language fiction writers include Ukrainian author Marina Lewycka (A Short History of Tractors); Joseph O’Neill, author of The Pen/Faulkner award-winning Netherland; winner of the Man Asian prize, Miguel Syjuco; and Abraham Verghese, author of the best-selling Cutting for Stone.

Best-selling writer and journalist, Xinran, author of The Good Women of China and Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother; will join corporate trainer and author of Ten Keys to Success, Dr Ibrahim Al Fiky; food writer and author of Sweet Alternative, Ariana Bundy;

People getting their books signed by writers in the lobby of Hotel Intercontinental during the Emirates Litfest

and Kamel Abdul Malik, author of The Rhetoric of Violence.

Arabic fiction writers include Raba’i Ai Madhoun, shortlisted for the 2010 International Prize for Arabic Fiction for The Lady from Tel Aviv; Ghada Abdel Aal, author of the 2008 bestseller I Want to Get Married; Ibrahim Abdel Meguid, prize-winning author of No One Sleeps in Alexandria; novelist and script-writer for Freej, Amna Al Mansouri; Zainab Hafni, author of Middle East’s Mirrors; and Mariam Al Ghafly, author of Rain Daughter.

Following this year’s popular poetry strand, the 2011 Festival welcomes back returning Emirati poet Ali Al Shaa’ali.

Four of the 18 names are children’s writers, including super-star former Children’s Laureate and author of War Horse, Michael Morpurgo; current Children’s Laureate and writer of My Dad and Gorilla, Anthony Browne; and Dr Latifa Al Najar and Abir Ballan, author of six books for children in Arabic.

Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice-Chairman, Emirates Airline & Group, said: “The festival is going from strength to strength and after a hugely successful second year, there is little doubt that it is now a firm fixture on the calendar. The programme was excellent, with a number of captivating sessions, and it was wonderful to once again see that there is a great passion for literature in the UAE. Emirates airline is committed to the cultural development of Dubai, so it is exciting to see that plans are already under way to make the 2011 event even bigger and better.”

Saeed Al Nabouda, Chief Projects Officer, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said the strong community response to the festival is a testament to the rich literary culture of Dubai and how the city has served as an inspiration and support for creative talent – both within and from around the world. “Dubai Culture took the festival to a wider audience through a series of community events, including hosting the Education Day activities at the Dubai Public Libraries, thus underlining the importance of reading and literature to the public. The authority will continue to support such initiatives, which promote intercultural dialogue and contribute to our goal of further positioning Dubai as a vibrant, global city for culture and the arts.”

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 47

BOOKS

Lost in symbols How long can one keep reading meaning into meaningless symbols, buried under famous monuments by secret societies of yesteryears, and jealously guarded by powerful intellectuals operating through a cloak of veiled gestures and bizarre rituals?

By Vanit Sethi

N

othing succeeds like success, but oftentimes nothing exceeds the success either. It is very difficult for writers to surpass their most acclaimed work, and try as they might, they only succeed in repeating themselves, much to the frustration of readers. Here, I’m talking of Dan Brown whose most-talked about bestseller The Da Vinci Code has become like an albatross around his neck. Da Vinci was exceptional because it added mystery to history and multiplied curiosity with conspiracy. The formula worked like a miracle as it bowled over both the classes and the masses. Within no time, DVC topped the bestseller lists five years ago.

Brown’s latest novel The Last Symbol was still topping the lists in the UAE, but clearly, the magic is missing. In fact, the Dan Brown formula, that was so refreshing in 2005, has begun to go stale now. For how long can one keep reading meaning into meaningless symbols, ostensibly buried under famous monuments by secret societies of yesteryears, and jealously guarded by powerful intellectuals operating through a cloak of veiled gestures and bizarre rituals? On the other end are the forces of darkness, trying to shatter the layers of obfuscations and unearth the talisman of ultimate knowledge and power for their own nefarious reasons.

48 l UAE Digest, April 2010

Packed in between is a good deal of action, adventure, suspense, thrills, chills and spills. In short, the usual good versus evil with an extra dose of historical knowledge for the layperson.

Now, coming to the story... or storeys of stories. While in DVC, it was the Opus Dei versus the Knights Templar, here it is the Freemasons versus one Mal’akh, an evil genius who will stop at

nothing to achieve his goal of the ultimate power. Of course, Robert Langdon, the Harvard symbologist is there right through from start to finish, caught unwittingly in a chain of bizarre events that begins with his arrival one night at the US Capitol building in Washington DC. Called to deliver a lecture on architecture of public buildings in the US capital, Langdon finds himself being pursued by an invisible force that needs his help to unlock the key to God-like power, which supposedly the Freemasons possess. At the end of his wits and caught in the horns of a dilemma of whether to save his good friend Peter Solomon from death by untangling the mother of all mysteries, or keep the ‘pyramid’ of power as far removed from those certain to misuse it but risk his dear friend’s life, Langdon’s nightmare seems never ending. A cat-and-mouse chase begins in the alleys of the world’s most powerful city.

Of course, we’ve been there before.

Earlier in Paris, now in Washington DC. There’s a sense of déjà vu all through The Lost Symbol. There’s no nostalgia, however. You want to move on from there, but The Lost Symbol keeps you fixated on secrets and conspiracies. Except that they don’t excite anymore. By the end of the novel, you breathe a huge sigh of relief: “Thank goodness it’s over”. While DVC was famously ‘unputdownable’, TLS is ‘unmemorable’. Let the symbol be lost, who cares! Dan Brown, just give me a break! And yourself too, please...!

NOW SHOWING

CINEMA

Remember me She’s out of my league

Iron Man 2 Iron Man 2 Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster film based on the legendary Marvel Super Hero ‘Iron Man’. In this film, the world is aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is the armoured super hero Iron Man. Under pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military, Tony is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armour because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands.

With Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, Tony forges new alliances and confronts powerful new forces.

The cast also includes Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Clark Gregg, John Slattery, Mickey Rourke and Samuel L. Jackson.

Remember Me In the romantic drama Remember Me, Robert Pattinson plays Tyler, a rebellious young man in New York City who has had a strained relationship with his father (Pierce Brosnan) ever since tragedy separated their family. Tyler did not think anyone could possibly understand what he was going through, until the day he met Ally (Emilie de Ravin) through an unusual twist of fate.

Love was the last thing on his mind, but as her spirit unexpectedly heals and inspires him, he begins to fall for her. Through their love, he begins to find happiness and meaning in his life.

Soon, hidden secrets are revealed and tragedy lingers in the air, as the circumstances that brought them together threaten to tear them apart.

Running Time: 1hour and 53 mins Rated: PG-13

She’s Out of My League Can an average Joe and a brainy blonde bombshell find true happiness together? That’s the question at the centre of She’s Out of My League, a refreshing, rambunctious romantic comedy from DreamWorks Pictures.

Twenty-something Kirk Kettner (Jay Baruchel) works as a TSA agent at the Pittsburgh airport. He still hangs out with his high school buddies and co-workers, Jack (Mike Vogel), Stainer (T.J. Miller) and Devon (Nate Torrence) and imagines of getting back together with his ex-girlfriend, Marnie (Lindsay Sloane), who has long since moved on. All in all, Kirk seems content to simply maintain the status quo—until the day Molly (Alice Eve) sashays through his security checkpoint at the airport and accidentally leaves her cell phone behind.

Molly is smart, sophisticated, devastatingly beautiful—and completely out of Kirk’s league. When Kirk returns the phone as a courtesy, she offers to repay the favour with a pair of hockey game tickets, and he accepts, never thinking for one second that this dream girl is asking him out on a date.

The pair couldn’t seem less suited to each other, a fact that Kirk’s friends and family waste no time pointing out to him.

Nonetheless, Molly is determined to win him over and Kirk struggles to understand why such a gorgeous girl would be interested in him. After being wined and dined by the most beautiful woman he’s ever met, Kirk is finally starting to contemplate a different future. Then, he makes a disastrous first impression on Molly’s uppercrust parents, and the relationship is over as quickly as it began.

With the ‘help’ of his friends, Kirk launches an all-out attempt to win Molly back, with hilariously cringe-inducing results.

A wildly entertaining combination of outrageous comic antics and old-fashioned romance. This film has been rated R for language and sexual content.

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 49

AUTOMOBILES

Tuning performance with safety

By Vanit Sethi

Sheikh Rashid Saeed Al Noaimi at the inauguration of Automodex 2010

D

ubai has a passion for automobiles. You see the world’s fanciest, swankiest, sturdiest and sleekest cars here. There is enough eye candy for car lovers. Of course, the fantastic road infrastructure too fuels that passion. And perhaps one of the first things any new resident in Dubai does after renting a house is buying a car – not just because they are like a necessity, but also because they offer good value for money. Many expats who cannot afford cars ‘back home’ are able to do so here within a few months or, at the most, a year after landing in the UAE. Of course, the Emirati and Arab passion for cars is too well known to be described here.

Sometimes, this does have negative consequences too, like frequent traffic congestions on the roads, high levels of auto pollution and rise in greenhouse gases, unnecessary accidents at high speeds leading to fatalities, and chaotic driving due to diverse driver backgrounds. Despite the Dubai Police frequently warning against careless and rash driving, the mishaps keep happening with sickening 50 l UAE Digest, April 2010

regularity. In such a scenario, it would be a wise thing for people to know how to maintain their cars and keep them in good condition.

With that aim in mind, the AutomodEx 2010 – organised by Discovery Exhibition Organisers - held recently at the Dubai Autodrome promised ‘high performance’ and ‘safety’ for the promotion of motor sports. It concluded its impressive four-day exhibit on March 12, following an awards/ prize distribution ceremony for the Radio Controlled Race Challenge winners, along with successful entries of the Car & Bike Show.

The event is due to return with its follow-up edition at the same time next year.

It aims towards becoming UAE’s flagship high-performance tuning exhibition, and

combines the elements of auto modification and tuning, a car and bike show, and a radio-controlled race tournament.

The event welcomed over 7,200 recorded visitors in the course of four days. Participants of the Car & Bike Show were also rewarded in a number of categories like Best Sports Bike, Best Cruiser Bike, Best Street Fighter Bike, Best Harley Davidson, Best Engine Tune-up (all in bikes) Best Paint, Best Exterior, Best Wheels, Best In-Car Entertainment (all in cars). Each category had three winners who were graded by an independent team of judges, including the celebrated ‘Bear Garcia’. The contest had over 180 entries and participants.

The AutomodEx 2010 was supported by Tuning UAE, which organised the Exotic Car & Bike segment of the show, and also Dubai Police, who used the platform to educate the public as part of their campaign for safer roads. The beneficiary of all the proceeds of the Radio Controlled Race Challenge segment was Dubai Autism Centre, the official charity of AutomodEx 2010.

AUTOMOBILES

A foot operated hand-brake Wander in a Honda, the new CR-V with refined styling and new features

By Linda Benbow

S

itting in the front seat of the 2010 Honda CR-V brought back memories of sitting in the front bench seat of cars in the late 1960s, squeezing in as many friends as possible. Those teenage days of Saturday night cruising around the pubs and clubs of London and Kent, city streets and leafy country lanes, dingy stairs leading to smoke filled dens and village greens near pub gardens where young people lark around and not get shouted at for making a noise.

But I digress. The car. Yes, the 2010 version of this Honda is a comfortable ride with a nippiness in the 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine which bodes well for the family sized all-wheel drive.

There is no central console area to house loose change, a comb, knick-knacks or the hand brake. I looked around but couldn’t find it. How was I supposed to manage a hill start without releasing a hand brake after lining up the accelerator pedal to the ‘bite’ stage – as per UK’s Highway Code instructions? The very kind delivery man showed me a foot-operfoot-oper ated lever on the left hand side of the car, about 12 inches off the floor.

“Press it once and the brake will be ‘on’, dip it again and

the brake will be released” he helpfully said.

“You’ll get used to it” a friend grinned.

She-who-regularly-updates-her-Honda-cars is a stay-at-home mum with teenage children.

If she can manage it then so can I! She also explained that this car has easy-to-release seat-backs which actually fold flat to the floor, and not with a bumpy bit sticking up as so many other car seats do, making it easy for children, dogs and bikes to be carried in the back.

A new double-deck cargo compartment on the new CR-V improves storage utility and versatility while providing enough clearance underneath for grocery bags or items such as a folded stroller.

The Honda CR-V is a versatile crossover SUV with a roomy 5-passenger interior, sedan-like handling and comfort, and a reputation for offering the highest levels of standard safety features in the segment.

Building on the sophisticated exterior of the current car, the 2010 CR-V comes with a refined styling which includes a new grille, new front and rear bumpers, chrome tipped exhaust pipe finisher and new 10-spoke 17” alloy wheels. The

front fascia’s upper grille has a single horizontal chrome-style trim cross bar as opposed to the double slat style cross bar from previous design.

The exterior width has increased by 1.4 inches to 71.6 inches, while the body length has decreased by 3.1 inches, due mostly to the relocation of the spare tyre from the rear bumper to underneath the rear cargo area.

The relocation is an asset to the family SUV

which gives more light and viewing area inside the cabin.

For comfort, the driver and front passenger’s centre folding armrests are wider (+30mm) and longer (+20mm) to the previous model. Also, auto dimming rear view mirror on the RVSi improves driving comfort by eradicating distraction due to lights flashing from behind. And there is nothing worse than lights being flashed at you!

With a price range of Dh82,000 – 90,000, this classy car is in popular demand, especially as it now comes in two additional colours of Premium Mystic Night Pearl and Opal Sage Metallic.

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 51

AUTOMOBILES

Porsche 911 Turbo

Winning attributes Porsche Centre Dubai, Al Nabooda Automobiles unveils new 911 Turbo

S

tarting the year with an exciting sures an unprecedented standard of agilnew product arrival, Porsche ity, responsiveness, performance and efCentre Dubai introduced the ficiency, with the new car reducing CO2 new 911 Turbo, pinnacle of emissions by almost 18 per cent over the Porsche’s broad range of production previous model. It is unique within its sports cars. The new Porsche 911 Turbo segment, requiring between just 11.4 and combines far-reaching innovations in 11.7 litres per 100 kilometres, depending technology with supreme refinement and on the configuration of the car. design. All key features have been sigIn spite of this excellent economy, the nificantly improved and, with less weight new model will accelerate to 100 km/h in and more power, the new model has enhanced driving dynamics, a higher top speed and a substantial increase in fuel efficiency.

A brand new 3.8-litre powerplant, upgraded from its original 3.6 litre guise, delivers a maximum output of 500 bhp and features Direct Fuel Injection and Porsche’s exclusive turbocharger with variable turbine geometry. As an option, the new six-cylinder engine may be combined for the first time with Porsche’s seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) (Porsche’s Double-Clutch Gearbox).

The combination of PDK, Direct Fuel Injection and turbocharging enScirocco offers pure driving pleasure 52 l UAE Digest, April 2010

3.4 seconds while top speed is 312 km/h.

The basic retail price for the new 911 Turbo Coupé in Dubai is Dh499,000, whilst the Cabriolet starts at Dh540,100.

Meanwhile the most successful Volkswagen coupé of all time has been given the ‘R’egal touch. Not content with resting on its laurels after 36 years as the most successful Volkswagen coupé of all time, the legendary two-door

Dharmendra Lalai (left), Head of IT Marketing Division at Sony Gulf, presents Firas Kayal with the keys of a BMW 5-Series at the Sony showroom in Dubai Mall.

Kayal was the winner of a month-long campaign offering purchasers of VAIO laptops an opportunity to win a BMW 5-Series. The latest range of these notebooks are compact, easy to carry and deliver all the processing power, graphics muscle and easy-to-use productivity features which add a whole new definition to digital life.

Chevrolet announced the last two winners of the all-new Chevrolet Cruze in a raffle draw in partnership with Global Village on February 27. They were Abdul Rahim from Iran and Abdulla Kalppattil from India. The winner of the first Cruze was Amel Narmeen Ali from the UAE. The all-new Cruze sets itself apart from other compact sedans with a fresh exterior design and an interior highlighted by quality fabrics with French seam stitching and plenty of leg, head and shoulder room.

Scirocco has once again rocketed into the limelight with a new ‘R-line’ version now available in the region.

Launched in the Middle East in 2009 as an affordable sports car on wheels fit for use every day of the year, the generation III Scirocco and the customers who have made the car a success, have been rewarded with a regal re-vamp by the customising specialists at Volkswagen Exclusive.

“The cult status of the Scirocco is well deserved, and is without doubt the sportiest car ever produced by Volkswagen,” said Stefan Mecha, Managing Director of Volkswagen Middle East - the regional office of Europe’s largest car manufacturer.

“The R-Line version of our star coupé is for those who want highly dynamic styling on the car body and interior in the spirit of the power-enhanced R models, yet prefer an engine with less power.”

In configuring their new car, buyers

General Motors (GM) in the Middle East will continue to honour Hummer warranties, while providing service support and spare parts to current and future owners across the Middle East region for ten years from the date of purchase. Hummer will also continue to honour its bumper-to-bumper warranty for four years or 100,000 kilometres (whichever comes first) for new and existing customers in the Middle East.

“We were disappointed that the Hummer sale deal couldn’t go through, but now we have to focus on providing our loyal customers with quality service and parts, while we wrap up the business,” said Fadi Ghosn, GM Middle East Chief Marketing Officer.

can choose between an interior and an exterior package. The two R-Line packages may also be ordered together.

Exterior package: Its body appearance has been customised with 17-inch alloy wheels in a new design (‘Mallory’ type, 18-inch optional), sport chassis, body coloured side skirts and bumpers that have been modified compared to the normal Golf. The exterior has decorative door tread plates with R-Line logo, a roof edge spoiler (“GTI”), high-gloss black ventilation grille (radiator and lower air intake) as well as a diffuser in glossy black. The lens covers of the taillights are also smoked. On its sides, the Scirocco is identified by R-Line logos (front fender at height of A-pillar).

The interior package of the R-Line programme impresses with a leather multifunction steering wheel (three spokes, R-Line logo in lower spoke, multifunc-

tion keys in the two cross spokes), stainless steel pedal caps and foot support, R-Line door tread plates, sport seats (“R-Look” fabric design) integrated in the head restraints and a R-Line specific interior decor.

All seams are in ‘Art Grey’, a light tone of grey. A full leather interior (‘Vienna’) will be available as an option.

The Scirocco offers pure driving pleasure, a powerful design, high-end technologies such as DCC adaptive chassis control and the new 7-speed DSG dual clutch transmission. In addition, the Scirocco provides exclusive use of efficient turbo engines with up to 147 kW / 200 hp, space for four adults despite its sporty image, an extremely high level of safety and the everyday utility that is typical of all Volkswagen vehicles. This mix of passion and logic costs far less than expected based on the car’s key data.

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 53

AUTOS

Yo, bro, wanna new hybrid?

Talking techno, electrics and hybrids with Volker Bischoff, General Manager, Bosch Middle East FZE

E

lectric and hybrid technology is poised to gradually expand across the region. By 2020, Bosch predicts that nine million out of the roughly 100 million new passenger cars and light trucks worldwide will be hybrid or electric vehicles. The company has partnered with Samsung to invest around $500 million in electromobility technology over the next four years.

What are the latest Bosch technologies that have been recently introduced in the Middle East market?

We have recently developed an award-winning, cutting-edge motorcycle anti-lock braking system called ‘ABS 9 base’. This new technology complements government efforts in the region to implement more stringent motorcycling laws to help prevent accidents. According to a study by the Swedish Highway authority, ABS can potentially prevent up to 38 per cent of motorcycle accidents involving personal injury and 48 per cent of those leading to fatalities.

The company’s enhanced night vision system makes driving in the dark safer for drivers and other road users. This active safety system provides a high-contrast image of the area immediately ahead of the vehicle and analysises it; pedestrians are identified and highlighted on the screen.

This allows the driver to take appropri-

54 l UAE Digest, April 2010

ate action at an early stage, considerably reducing the risk of accidents involving pedestrians. The first production car to feature this system was the new Mercedes-Benz E class in 2009.

The company recently started production of its third-generation long-range radar sensor – LRR3. It is now capable of registering objects in a range of 0.5 to 250 metres, instead of 2 to 200 metres as before. Depending on the application, the opening angle of the sensor is now up to 30 degrees, which is twice as large. The radar sensor will first be featured in the new Porsche Panamera. The sports car manufacturer will use the sensor for its ACC adaptive cruise control system.

Also recently launched in the Middle East is the ‘FWA 4630’, a completely new 3D wheel alignment system. With

this new technology, workshop mechanics will only need around seven minutes to carry out precise wheel alignment on a car, which means a time saving of 50 per cent compared with conventional equipment.

We also recently introduced the compact, stand-alone and mobile KTS 340 Compact Control Unit Diagnosis Tester, a state-of-the-art automotive diagnostic tool that provides information on around 230,000 model variants from over 100 vehicle manufacturers.

Any other technology innovations that will be rolled out in 2010?

In 2010, the company will be introducing a new predictive emergency braking system in the new Audi A8. This new braking system has the potential to

prevent three out of four injury-causing rear-end collisions.

On a related note, I am pleased to announce that we have significantly increased our R&D investments, particularly in electro-mobility technologies.

This is a very important strategic decision because we believe that electric vehicles will become an attractive alternative to vehicles with internal combustion engines. At the end of 2009, Bosch had 500 associates working in the hybrid field, offering complete solutions for hybrid and electrical drivetrains.

In the short term, Bosch expects to make an initial impact within the next ten years; we forecast that at least nine million of the 100 new passenger cars and light trucks worldwide by 2020 will be hybrid or electric vehicles.

Can you elaborate more about your foray into hybrid and electric cars?

Beside our development activities in the hybrid field, we have entered into a joint venture with Samsung to establish SB LiMotive. We have recently commenced construction of a 28,000 square metre plant in South Korea. By 2011 we expect to start commercial production of lithium-ion battery cells for hybrid cars and eventually for electric vehicles by 2012.

Do you expect new challenges in establishing facilities to be used specifically in powering electric cars remotely, or at home?

We are studying the range offered by lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and solar cells and we seek to expand the mileage for each full charge using these rechargeable batteries. We also search to increase the speed in recharging the batteries.

Talking about ‘green technology,’ which has become a buzzword nowadays, what have you done in support of pro-environment initiatives?

• Gasoline and other systems - We have a comprehensive range of solutions for the entire powertrain, including modern components and systems for gasoline drive units, natural-gas injec-

•

•

•

tion, flex fuel systems, hybrid systems and transmission control, all of which have been specifically developed to make vehicles more efficient, clean and economical.

Development of diesel systems is likewise a very important aspect of our business. In fact, we have assembled an international team of specialists for the Bosch Diesel Systems Division, whose main responsibility is to develop applications and techniques that make vehicles cleaner and more economical.

Common rail system –The company has a solid track record of developing highly efficient petrol injection systems as well as diesel injection systems, which is in line with our commitment to help cut down fuel emissions.

Exhaust gas treatment - This is another important aspect of our advocacy for more eco-friendly automotive solutions. We offer exhaust gas treatment systems for both gasoline and diesel engines. This is a really amazing technology that has great potential for more advanced applications. In fact, in some big cities, the treated exhaust gas is even cleaner than the surrounding air.

You say you have developed quite a few automotive technology solutions that are geared towards Middle East markets. How important is the Middle East in your growth programme?

The Middle East is important now more than ever for us because we believe that the region will help trigger the recovery of the global automotive technology market after a rather sluggish year in 2009.

In fact, our automotive technology sector is now targeting a 10 per cent increase in global sales in 2010.

The company is expanding its workshop concepts with the recent acquisition of AutoCrew GmbH and its ‘AutoCrew’ and ‘Autocrew Truck+Trailer’ brands. In the past years, we have acquired several companies like Weicon, Beissbarth & Sicam, Hoffman Do Brazil, and the brake

friction business of Morse Group. In this way, we add to our product and service range and either open up new markets or cover existing ones better.

What are the key challenges that Bosch is facing in the region?

Counterfeiting has been an important problem for everyone in this region. On one hand, the proliferation of counterfeit spare parts affects the global and regional economy as it deprives the government and genuine manufacturers of potential revenues. But we are taking this matter a lot more seriously because people’s lives are actually being put on the line here; counterfeit products are prone to malfunctions that could lead to potentially fatal accidents. So, there is really more at stake than just sales and revenue figures.

In this regard, we are actively campaigning in collaboration with partners in the government and the private sector to get rid of counterfeit products in the market. We are very happy with the support we are receiving. The UAE Government, for instance, has been very firm with its anti-piracy policy and does not show any leniency towards counterfeiters.

Tell us about the success of your valueadded services?

It is all about quality. With more than 14,400 workshops, Bosch Car Service (BCS) has become the biggest independent workshop network worldwide because people trust the quality of our work. Being the market leader in premium-quality automotive technology has also helped make a huge difference in our after-sales services, as it gives BCS a comprehensive range of technology resources and expertise to diagnose and fix any problem.

We will definitely continue to expand the BCS network across the region as customer-support service is crucial in our efforts to increase market share. We are currently implementing a ‘Parts & Bytes’ strategy, which means that in addition to high-quality automotive spare parts, we also market diagnostic tools and workshop equipment, offer training and problemsolving techniques too.

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 55

REAL ESTATE

Towers at ADNEC move into high gear Unique sand dune themed commercial and residential towers are key elements of exhibition and lifestyle micro-city

W

ork on the two SinoGulf Investments towers within ADNEC’s Capital Centre master development is picking up speed, with the construction of the commercial-use ‘International Tower’ progressing at a rate of one floor every 11 days. The residential tower is also making steady progress with excavation and piling already complete. The two towers are designed to mimic the movement of sand dunes. The unique architectural concept was created by the Architects’ Journal’s ‘International Practice of the Year 2009’ winner, Woods Bagot.

SinoGulf ’s Grade A environmentallysensitive commercial tower will incorporate high-end quality finishes, high-speed passenger lifts with 24-hour security; 41,000 square metres of net lettable area with panoramic views; and secure parking bays. The tower which is due for full completion in 2011 will comprise 25 levels (plus two podium levels), while the residential tower will be a 20 level, (plus two podium levels) structure.

Two new sewage projects AECOM in the Middle East has announced that it is working in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC) to help deliver two projects which will provide facilities for isolated properties in the emirate. The first commission involves the design and construction supervision of sewerage connections and related works for isolated properties in the emirate. The second commission is for Phase 2 of the design and construction supervision of wastewater relocation works under roads and utility schemes here. These two projects are already underway and will prepare Abu Dhabi to meet the Emirates 2030 Vision with a state-of-the-art wastewater infrastructure.

The range of current commissions with ADSSC includes the relocation of wastewater trunk lines along Salam Street. AECOM is also involved in the delivery of four projects under construction along Salam Street; in addition to the design review and construction supervision of sewage treatment plants

A three bedroom barn conversion is being offered with no management, running or service costs to pay for the first five years of ownership. www.bandbw.co.uk is even advertising a guaranteed eight per cent rental return for the first two years of ownership in exchange for two weeks usage of fractions during the low season. Prices start from £39,000.

56 l UAE Digest, April 2010

(STP) in Zafaran, Mafraq, and Zakher.

The team is also undertaking design and supervision of wastewater systems for future land developments within the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Fractional ownership in UK for expats Two fractional ownership properties in Cornwall, one of the UK’s top tourist ‘hot spots’ were announced recently. The properties are expected to appeal to expatriates looking for a UK base without the hassle of maintaining a property all year round. When you purchase a holiday home in the UK, you not only become accountable for the purchase price of the property, but you also take on the ongoing financial commitment of funding all insurance, repairs, maintenance and service to your second home for the remainder of ownership. Fractional ownership, not to be confused with timeshare, provides a remarkably adept solution to this dilemma and as it has proved to be hugely successful in the USA. Unlike timeshare, where purchasers effectively buy the right to stay in ‘their’ property for a given time period (effectively a re-saleable, prepaid booking), with fractional ownership purchasers will actually own a share in the property.

What this means is that when you are ready to sell your fraction, you own a physical asset, bricks and mortar that you can sell on with the realistic opportunity of making a profit.

BOATS

Yacht a good show

By Linda Benbow

A

common complaint in mixed harbours and marinas in this country concerns those who speed and those who travel through the water speedily. These are not necessarily the same thing. Look at the wash behind a motor boat – that is the v-shaped channel of water formed immediately behind a moving vessel – and see how much swell is caused by the speed of the boat. Even if it is obeying the harbour signs and travelling at 5mph, much disturbance of water and waves will be caused as it passes other moored boats causing them to move frenetically, maybe causing thunderous waves to pound the vessels time and time again as the waves rebound off the marina walls. A savvy sailor will trim the engine a little (raise it slightly) so that it glides through the water, rather than plough through it, at the same speed,

causing little or no wake behind his boat.

In many countries, a ‘no wake’ policy is commonplace. Hopefully, the idea will catch on here soon too.

I say all this because boats are not cheap and should be looked after by their owner as well as others, much as expensive cars are parked in safe places overnight to avoid Sunseeker the necessary wear and tear that is commonplace, but can be minimised.

Recent boat shows in the region have displayed varying vessels of

architectural delights – yes there really is a profession called ‘Boat Architect’. Abu Dhabi concentrated on super yachts while Dubai showed them alongside smaller versions, plus the fun and funky water craft aimed at the weekend water lover.

Companies at this year’s Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) reported

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 57

good early sales, with one of the superyachts sold on the first day of the show.

The Sunseeker 38 Metre Special Edition superyacht was purchased by a buyer from the GCC on Tuesday, the first morning of the show, for Dh72 million.

As luxury developments on the waterfront are continuing to be handed over, yachting and boating enthusiasts are vying for more berth spaces. According to the Dubai International Marine Club’s recent report, this demand has risen exponentially. The report shows that the Middle East has around 150,000 yachts in total, including 12,000 in the Arabian Gulf, reaffirming that this region is a significant player in the leisure marine industry.

Ahead of DIBS, Summertown has noticed a rise in demand for berths with the study revealing that nearly five times the current allotment of berth spaces are needed to meet this demand.

“A bespoke service for yachts and boats is a specialised trade that not only requires fine quality craftsmanship, but also demands the precision and accuracy necessary to pass rigorous sea trials. We are one of the few companies in the UAE that can deliver unique fit-outs and interiors for both existing vessels and new builds, ” commented Marcos Bish, Managing Director, Summertown Interiors.

Materials used on luxury boats and yachts must be lightweight, and the utmost in quality control must be carried out in order to accommodate the many different services such as air-conditioning, electric, lighting, and mechanical works which all have to fit within confined spaces. Precise measurements and templates are a must when custom-made joinery and furniture is fitted; as any discrepancy will make the tailor-made furniture unusable.

Jotun Paints, a leading producer of paints and coatings, highlighted its ‘Megayacht Professional’, a

Yacht wheelhouse

new range of protective and eco-friendly coating solutions for luxury yachts at the boat show. Developed through leading edge technology in paint and coating production, the range comprises high performance top coats, antifoulings, primers, undercoats, fillers and sealers, which have been formulated to give luxurious water vessels a silky gloss finish while keeping their underwater hulls clean. The range also includes tributylin (TBT)-free antifoulings, which provide effective protection against algae and slime for vessels that are docked for long periods of time.

DIBS is a must-attend event for the many marine lifestyle enthusiasts in Dubai, with an unprecedented number of global launches this year, a high-end retail plaza and the UAE debut of the

Azimut Grande salon

58 l UAE Digest, April 2010

latest UK celebrity band, High on Heels who performed for the first time in the GCC, having recently made international headlines with their performance at the global premier of Twilight: New Moon.

The show also provided exciting on-thewater displays with a jet-ski stunt display, wakeboarding demonstrations and a dedicated dive village.

This year’s show received support from many companies, including Emirates NBD, the show’s exclusive bank sponsor who set out its boat loan scheme; Panerai, the official watch sponsor, and Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), who presented a heritage village to highlight the traditions and culture of the UAE. ART Marine, an Abraaj Capital portfolio company and importer and distribu-

tor of luxury motor-yachts, has embarked on a comprehensive and experiential campaign ‘Discover Yachting’ to open up this exciting world to a broader audience.

The campaign includes the launch to the region of a broad range of new models in the Azimut and Atlantis ranges, the introduction of two new US recreational boating brands to this market, prestigious new charter partnerships, and the expansion of ART Marine’s marina management portfolio.

The company announced its debut entry into the smaller size segment of recreational boating. by representing Four Winns, a highly regarded US brand of sports boats and sports cruisers, throughout the region, offering would-be boat owners an affordable option in stylish pleasure craft.

Tapping into the growing fishing leisure industry enjoying strong growth in the region, ART Marine has also become the official distributor of the superbly engineered US-based Grady-White coastal fishing boats spanning from 18 to 37 feet.

The company’s vision to introduce boating to a larger audience extends to its charter division that recently announced a prestigious and exclusive charter agreement for Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, to complement its well-established agreement with Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai. Its Marina Management division, meanwhile, has recently been signed for the Ghantoot Marina.

With one of the largest arrays of new proposals at the Super Yacht Pavilion, Sea Ports - a special agency of the Chamber of Commerce of Salerno - and the Region of Campania confirmed their companies’ leading position in the world yacht industry. The Region of Campania, Italy has a long tradition in boat building and is considered the cradle of modern boating in Europe, being the first in the continent to introduce fibreglass in yacht manufacturing. Its boating industry accounts for about 1,200 companies, half of which are shipyards with a total annual turnover exceeding one billion euro. Their production is concentrated in the segment of 20 feet to 130 feet, with a majority in

the sub-segment of 18 feet to 45 feet, 95 per cent of which are powerboats. Within Italy, Campania is the most important producer of boats up to 18 feet and the second most important for boats over 24 feet.

Campania’s boat production is based mainly on fibreglass and composite materials, ranging from 5 metres to 15 metres.

Technology transfer from local research centres, universities and the CNR (National Centre for Research) has allowed

expectations. Confidence is a pivotal factor in purchasing decisions today.

Now, clients are comparing manufacturers and what they can offer in terms of product, technical features, service and quality, more than ever before. It is not enough to offer a good product alone. If boat manufacturers want to survive in the current market, they have to evolve from a sales and product approach to a solutions focused approach.”

In addition, Bamps shared with

Erwin Bamps

a faster adoption of the infusion process and of innovative fireproof composite materials with applied nanotechnology. Electrical wiring, which complexity increasingly resembles those of cars, represents another important front of innovation, together with the specialised research on green power and experimental sailboats.

Speaking at the annual Gulf Boating Conference at this year’s DIBS, Gulf Craft COO, Erwin Bamps highlighted the defining changes that the yacht industry has undergone in the last two years and the challenges facing yacht manufacturers in the next 12 months.

“The global yacht industry has undergone fundamental changes in terms of product demand and customer behaviour. Today’s customers place far more importance on the corporate brand of boat manufactures and need to trust the company’s ability to deliver beyond

delegates insights into the impact of the financial crisis on individual markets, noting that markets such as Qatar, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Oman have increased in importance due to domestic growth in demand for boats. While established markets such as Dubai and Kuwait have seen a decline in demand, and borne the brunt of the changing market conditions.

Despite the challenges within the industry, Bamps was quick to point out the opportunities that still exist. Most significantly, small boats have continued to sell throughout the last two years. As such, Gulf Craft has been quick to respond to this with the expansion of its smaller vessel line-up, designed to meet ongoing demand in this segment.

Among the observations made by Bamps was that of the maturity of its current client base. “We have noticed that our average client age is slightly older than in previous years. This has resulted in an UAE Digest, April 2010 l 59

increase in demand for fishing boats and more classic and elegant interior finishing,” added Bamps. “Ultimately, customers still have cash to invest in boats but the market is widely spread across geographical regions and highly competitive. Therefore, only manufacturers who can offer enhanced services and work with partners who can bring value-added propositions to current offerings will be able to respond to the challenges facing the industry in 2010,” concluded Bamps.

Gulf Craft, once again, was the largest exhibitor at the event and unveiled for the first time, details of its latest superyacht to be manufactured at its shipyard in Umm Al Quwain – the Majesty 125, which will be launched in May this year. Gulf Craft also revealed new editions and interiors for two of their most popular models, marking a new chapter in the evolution of the brand.

Emocean Marine, an Abu Dhabi-based boat manufacturer, launched its latest masterpiece, the Charm 27. Coined as a ‘pocket yacht’ for its optimised use of space and yacht-like features, it holds two sleeping quarters and a living area, stylish interiors and a full range of high-end facilities, all delicately designed into the 27-foot boat. Some of the unique features absent on other boats of the same size include the world’s smallest marine generator, a powerful marine air conditioner, the latest in electronic drive systems and Italian style interiors combined with American Emocean Charm 27

60 l UAE Digest, April 2010

style practicality. The company is also extending its technical services to other boat builders locally and internationally.

Just a few of the thousands of cool products at the show included: Shark Repellent – SOFAB Boats The Shark Repellent will save your life from shark attacks; guaranteed, or your money back! That is the bold claim of SOFAB Boats who have seen huge inter-

est in their rather technically-named MASR1, which emits electromagnetic pulses to deter any sharks from coming within a four metre radius. At just Dh3,000, it could be money very wisely spent! A boon for divers, swimmers, snorkellers or kayakers.

Seabob The Seabob is the latest in water sport that glides you through the water at speeds of up to 20 kilometres per hour. Divers can also use it to plunge to depths of up to 40 metres. The hydrodynamic shape gives it unexpected agility in the water and at Dh75,000 each is the latest craze to hit Dubai. Available from UAE-based company Wave Marine General Trading.

Sea Dunes UAE-based Sea Dunes unveiled a new battery-powered boat which is expected to radically reduce waste in operating and maintaining yachts and boats.

Sea Dunes teamed up with the French scientist George Feliot, who was one of the pioneers and top scientist of the European Space Agency programme, to develop a battery-powered boat engine that delivers the same horsepower as many petrolpowered boats, yet weighs less and has practically zero-wastage and maintenance.

Sharkshield SeaBob

TRAVEL

Yas, a weekend away

By Linda Benbow

O

ne year, not so long ago, my husband and I decided to give a dinner party at least once a month. That way, we could invite small groups of people to the home and get to know them better. It was difficult to keep to the scheme, but we managed it and have a greater number of friends to show for the effort.

Bedroom at Radisson Blu, Abu Dhabi

This year, we have decided to try and get away for a night or two, a weekend treat to ourselves, every five to six weeks.

Last month, we went to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island for two nights to try out the fourstar Radisson Blu hotel and its three-star sister Park Inn Abu Dhabi, both of which are side by side and guests can wander from one to the other to use the various poolside facilities, spa and restaurants.

Both hotels are owned by the Rezidor Hotel Group which has a variety of hotels ranging from mid-market to luxury, from Ibis and Novetel to Sheraton and Sofitel, to Intercontinetnal and Ritz Carlton.

We set off after work on a Thursday evening, taking under an hour to drive from the Dubai Marina area along the

Sheikh Zayed Road, following the easy to read road signs to Yas Island. After that, the hotel’s map was easy to follow because, as the song goes, “Go West, young man”, i.e. follow the Yas Island West signs, past the soon to be opened Ferrari Theme Park, skirt past the Formula One race track and head towards the hotel cul de sac containing seven or so hotels.

We booked into the Radisson Blu and were pleasantly surprised to receive information about The Spa along with a discount

swamps is a relaxing way to start the weekend. It’s even better when a links golf course stands between the mangroves and the hotel, with access from the gardens onto the fairway between the 16th and 17th holes during this pre-opening period.

Later in the year, there will be golf packages offered with special prices from the hotel.

Thursday night is seafood night at Assymetri restaurant with prices for an all-you-can-eat-and-drink evening being around Dh20 per person cheaper than Dubai prices. And, delight of delights, the crab claws are actually cut in half so that the sweet meat inside can be scooped out easily, instead of the usual cracking and digging that goes on – if you have been given a cracker in the first place!

After dinner drinks on the terrace of Filini, the classy Italian restaurant, were enjoyed with friends until a gasp of amazement showed that time had passed very quickly indeed. Not that it mattered because there was no driving home for us – we had a comfortable bed waiting upstairs.

voucher. This is to be an occasional treat offered to guests in the future too. A quick peep showed an airy corridor of treatment rooms, sauna and steam room with steps at the end leading up to a jaccuzi which can be enjoyed free of charge whenever a treatment is booked. Allow an extra half hour to bombard your body with bubbles while sipping a complimentary cup of hot ginger, lemon and honey for Bedroom at Park Inn Abu Dhabi detoxification purposes.

A late breakfast followed by loungSitting on the balcony watching the ing in one of the poolside shady cabanas sun go down past the island’s mangrove UAE Digest, April 2010 l 61

Step up to the jacuzzi

was enjoyed with occasional dips into the one-level pool – which encouraged me to power walk around the undulating perimeter, aqua-aerobics style.

Friday brunch can either be choices of skewered meat, fish, fruit, etc enjoyed with a multitude of accompaning choices at Assymetri; or the neighbouring poolside bar of Park Inn features a barbeque brunch with glasses of bubbles for Dh179 per person.

Crab claws sliced in half Friday night was to be spent in Park Inn, so we checked out of one hotel, walked across the parking lot and booked into the next one.

This one is brighter and lighter in décor with a fresh modern feel that is as welcoming as the staff.

Another evening watching the sun go down was enjoyed before joining a progressive 62 l UAE Digest, April 2010

dinner with friends during which each course was eaten at a different restaurant.

Cocktails in the Pool Bar garden at Park Inn were made more interesting as the roar of cars whizzing around the nearby marina circuit competed with the bright lights under which they practised. Night racing/practising occurs in Singapore and Qatar; and obviously now in Abu Dhabi too.

Then came starters in the Amerigos

restaurant which also features a separate bar, sitting area, dancefloor and a DJ playing music according to his clientele until midnight. This classy Mexican eatery has a Mexican chef who really knows how to make food to delight. Freshly cooked guacamole was scooped up by crunchy tortillas coated in poured cheese while flatbreads filled with coriander mince mopped up juices from salsas and other dips.

The dinner party then moved to the Radisson Blu to have Italian main course delights of risotto and mushrooms at Filini; followed by dessert at Shams, the poolside bar and terrace, featuring simple slices of fruit cooked en papillote, i.e. in a paper parcel.

Another good night’s sleep ensued followed by a leisurely breakfast and a noon check-out before a lazy drive back to Dubai on Saturday. But before

that, we watched the triathlon (swimmming, running and cycling) that was taking place on nearby Saadiyat Island, along the bridge connecting it toYas Island, with the cycling race taking place on the F1 route and turning around at the hotel roundabout before cycling back.

Yas Island is a 25-square-kilometre island with a range of world-class racing circuits, signature hotels, theme parks, golf courses, marinas and more, many of which are either open or soon to be opened, especially in time for the next Formula 1 Grand Prix in November.

The world’s first Ferrari theme park and largest indoor park, featuring the world’s fastest roller coaster and covering an area of 200,000 square metres is nearing completion. A Warner Bros theme park will bring the characters from Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera and DC Comics here with a collection of amusement rides, gaming arcades and multiplex cinemas.

The island is to have its own water park featuring cable water skiing and scuba diving and an activity pool with a giant rain fortress, wave pool and lazy river.

View from a Park Inn AD balcony

entire racetrack is 5.54 kilometres, but can be configured in different ways and has two pits, so two races can take place simultaneously. Drive past the pit garages Yas Hotel which is set half on land

and half on water, overlooking the Marina and positioned on the circuit. The hotel is designed as a gridshell on the outside, mimicking the throw of a local fishing net.

Another photo opportunity.

Yas MarinaCircuit

Ferrari Owners Club members have an away day

FIA World GT1 Championship, April 16-17 Six renowned sports car brands (Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Maserati, Ford, Corvette and Nissan), making 24 cars, will compete in this inaugural championship. The weekend will comprise two one-hour races.

Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, November 12-14 This will be the second Formula 1 race on the 5.55km-long Yas Marina Circuit, with international drivers racing over 305km.

Two-hour guided tours of the facilities are available at Dh120 per adult and Dh60 per child (below 15) from Tuesday to Saturday at 10am and 4pm. A marvellous gift for petrolheads.

Tours include a visit to the state-ofthe-art Race Control Tower and photo opportunities of the starting grid, finishing line and podium. It includes the Driving Academy and Drag Centre too. The

The following weekend saw Ferrari Owners Club members turning up at Yas Island Rotana in preparation for a presentation by Ferrari World Abu Dhabi on the same day.

The group made an overnight ‘pitstop’ at the hotel on their way to the Yas Marina Circuit for a track day. There were over 50 top-of-the-line Ferrari cars whose owners enjoyed a sumptuous safari dinner at the Rangoli and Blue Grill restaurants.

Where is that valet parking man? Ferrari Owners Club members at Yas Island Rotana

UAE Digest, April 2010 l 63

END PAGE

Yesterday once more

By Con Clude April is the cruellest month Breeding lilacs out of the dead land Mixing memory and desire Winter kept us warm

T

hese lines from T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland are etched in my memory more than 25 years after I first heard them from our professor at university.

As a motley bunch of about 40 students – with the girls outnumbering the boys 4:1 – sat huddled together on a cold and cloudy January morning in the lecture hall, those words echoed in my mind to create a lasting impression.

Who can forget those days – at college and in the university? The queues in the hostel bathrooms, grabbing slices of bread for breakfast, rushing off for the first class at 8am, eagerly looking out for that pretty face giving sleepless nights, heading off in a group to the cafeteria, etching out love messages on library tables, window shopping and ogling at the city’s ‘fair’ sights, haggling at a second hand bookstore for The Complete Works of Shakespeare, playing table tennis and watching black-and-white Hindi film songs on TV in the hostel lounge, and having endless arguments over the purpose of life in hostel rooms, following after-dinner walks in the quiet of the university campus. It seems like a different world altogether!

Those wonderful memories come flooding back to me now as my son departs for his graduation in India. Incidentally, he is going to the same city I studied 64 l UAE Digest, April 2010

in, and my mother too – Chandigarh in northern India, designed and planned

by French architect Le Corbusier. I can hardly believe nearly 30 years have gone by – it seems so much like yesterday.

Wasn’t it just the other day that I sought a friend’s help to gauge the feelings of that dusky beauty who was my junior?

My son is excited at entering a new phase in his life... and so are we. But there is that inevitable pain of separation – like little birds flying off from their nest. That’s why ‘April is the cruellest month’. Eliot’s Wasteland denizens were afraid of facing the rejuvenation of spring in April as the frozen state of winter kept them ignorant and blissful.

We too dislike April but for a different reason. It’s the season of separation.

Of course, children always carry the best wishes of their parents wherever they go. So, fare thee well, son!

Light in darkness The Earth Hour on March 27 was into its third year internationally after it was launched first in Sydney in 2007. Many cities of the world observe the Earth Hour now on the last Saturday of March between 8.30 and 9.30pm local time. It has become quite successful, sparking calls for observing more number of days in the year, probably two or three.

While all this is creditable, there are a number of things we can actually do on a daily basis to make the world a better place. As you are probably aware: the UAE has the largest carbon footprint

in the world. In short, we are the most wasteful consumers on this planet. Just think of our daily routines! We use the AC round the year in most buildings even when we don’t really need it in winter. Ditto for the car AC. Can’t we roll our windows down in winter for that wonderful breeze and pleasant sunshine?

We waste water like nobody’s business.

It’s advisable to use showers rather than swim in the bathtub. We keep using cars for short distances wasting a precious resource like oil, when, at least now in Dubai, we can use the Metro more frequently. And can we have more smaller, fuel-efficient and eco-friendly cars rather than the big fuel guzzlers? Also, let’s encourage more people to use car pooling. Reduce congestion and pollution on the roads and lessen the risk of road rage and road stress.

Please stop using plastics recklessly. A ban on them would do no harm. Other countries have tried it successfully.

There’s no reason we can’t. Let’s popularise cloth bags and jute bags.

Let’s also cut down drastically the use of tissues. Whatever happened to good old handkerchiefs? Switch off all electric points when leaving the house. And turn off all gadgets when not in use from the plug point, not just from the remote.

Make this a daily habit. Lastly, use the recycle bins for all your waste disposal.

Let the earth breathe a bit more easy.

We all have to do our bit for the sake of our children. Let them not blame us for ruining this beautiful planet.