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Contents

54 Dubai Motor Show It doesn’t happen every year, only every two years in fact, so when the Dubai Motor Show opens its doors on 16th December be there to see all the latest offerings of on-road and off-road vehicles, new cars, hybrid cars, spare parts, accessories, motor games and hobbies plus fancy gizmos and ideas.

11 Copyright

Some of the issues as to why Intellectual Property should be riding high on the management agenda

50 Techno

Sharjah Water Festival

What it takes to be a winner in challenging times. Businesses models across sectors are shifting and companies in the region are adapting

The Sharjah Water Festival is attracting hordes of visitors with its sporting adventures, entertainment shows and a carnival feel

Fun time

DIFF

It is the season to be merry, and what better way than trying out all the hotel and eatery enticements that are on offer

Dubai International Film Festival is once again ready to wow cinema-lovers with its scintillating fare

Dubai Rugby 7s The International Olympic Committee’s decision to include Rugby Sevens in the Olympic Games will go a long way to boosting the number of women playing the game even further, with a women’s competition set to run alongside the men’s in Rio in 2016

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 3

IN THE

Sharjah electricity costs doubled in two years

Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of TDIC, inspects a prototype of the lattice-like dome for the Louvre Abu Dhabi, installed on Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island where the new universal museum is being built. Accompanying Sheikh Sultan is Jean Nouvel, Pritzker Prize-winning architect for the project. A key design element of the Louvre Abu Dhabi will be its great dome, 180 metres (almost 600 feet) in diameter, floating above a cluster of buildings and waterways. Perforated by interlaced patterns, the dome will let a diffused light filter magically into the spaces below. The prototype, 6 metres (approximately 20 feet) in diameter, is being used to test the play of light and shadows on the site prior to fabrication of the final structure

ommercial and residential property owners and tenants in Sharjah who have failed to take energy saving measures will have seen their electricity bills double by millions of dirhams in just two years, according to a new survey carried out by Farnek avireal, a UAE company advising building owners on how to dramatically cut utility bills. The survey follows a recently announced 50 per cent hike in electricity tariffs which will see the Sharjah government continuing to subsidise half the actual cost of generating, transmitting and distributing electricity. The survey is based on actual buildings and shows the electricity cost of a Sharjah four star hotel of around 20,000 square metres increasing from Dh2.5 million in 2007 to Dh5 million in October this year. Similarly an office tower of 35,000 square metres will have seen its electricity cost soar from Dh1.5 million in 2007 to Dh3 million this year. In addition, the electricity bills for a residential tower of a similar size have increased in the same period from Dh1.75 million to Dh3.25 million. Last month h.h. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of ras al khaimah inaugurated the Dh100 million glass processing facility of global glass solutions (GGS), a designer, manufacturer and distributor of a diverse range of glass products in the Middle East, 4 l UAE Digest, December 2009

at the Al Ghail Industrial Park in Ras Al Khaimah. The state-of-the-art factory will be one of the largest glass-processing facilities in the region with up to 1,000 square metre glass processing capacity per day. Speaking on the occasion, h.h. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi said:

“The GGS facility is a timely investment initiative that will complement the growing number of development projects being constructed all over the UAE and the GCC. Ras Al Khaimah is prepared to provide all the necessary support to help GGS capitalise on the excellent growth potential of the glass industry in the region. Furthermore, this new project will help stimulate interest in Ras Al Khaimah’s excellent business environment and highlight the strategic incentives being offered by the emirate’s specialised investment zones.” abu Dhabi has been given a resounding vote of confidence as a world-beating destination by more than 110 Miss

Miss World hopefuls at Abu Dhabi Heritage Village

World hopefuls who were treated to a specially tailored tour of the UAE capital’s major sights recently. Hosted by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) – the tour showcased the destination’s diverse cultural offering to the contestants, who were on a whistle-stop tour of the emirate before heading off to South Africa for December’s Miss World Finals. Taking in key Abu Dhabi attractions, the world’s most stunning women visited Saadiyat Island - the 27 km² cultural and tourism destination lying 500 metres offshore the UAE capital and the future home of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Louvre Abu Dhabi - as well as the traditional Heritage Village and the iconic Emirates Palace. Kerenina Halim, Miss Indonesia, said: “When you see how much the city has expanded in a short time, it is amazing. What is really great about it though is the hospitality and the people, they are so kind and welcoming, it really is the best.” And Miss Zambia, Sekwila Mumba, believed Abu Dhabi’s ‘uniqueness’ would be a guaranteed winner. “It is really mindblowing here, so amazing and everyone is so welcoming. It is a completely different place to my own country – and it’s that variety which attracts. I would come back tomorrow if I could.” Abulhoul Aviation establishes an amphibious air service based in Fujairah. Dr. Khaled Almazroui, General Manager of Fujairah International Airport said: “We will provide all assistance and services to make such operations very successful. This is part of our marketing strategy to attract different companies and operations to Fujairah International Airport.” Details: • New service up and down East Coast

his year, 48 employees celebrate 25 years’ service at Dubal, bringing the total number of people to reach this milestone to 364. There are also 41 employees who celebrate 30 years’ service, coincident with the company’s 30th anniversary in 2009. Dubai-based British national Ismail Ebrahim is the latest winner to walk away with Dh1 million in Dubai Bank’s million dirham cash prize draw. A conscientious Muslim, Ebrahim has been banking with Dubai Bank for just six months, and says he was attracted by the bank’s strong Sharia principles and innovative customer service offers. A father of three, he intends to spend his winnings paying off his mortgage, assisting his family and providing a donation to charity.

ill Payne, Chief Pilot for Abulhoul Aviation: "This will be a very safe and successful operation and I'm looking forward to meeting and delighting our customers with the scenic flights in this beautiful part of the UAE." Thirty years ago, on 12 November 1979, Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (Dubal) tapped its first metal; a moment that marked the birth of its core smelter operations and the company's official inception. Established to aid in the diversification of the UAE economy by adding value to the country's oil-rich mineral resources, the state-owned enterprise is one of the largest non-oil contributors to Dubai's economy. The company entered into a joint protocol in February 2006 with Mubadala Development Company, a wholly-owned investment vehicle of the government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Commercial production of aluminium at Dubal began in January 1980, the entire planned production volume of 135,000 metric tonnes per annum having been presold in North America. Today, Dubal comprises a 960,000 metric tonne-per-annum primary aluminium smelter, a 2,350 megawatt power station, a large carbon plant, three casthouses, a 30-million-gallon-per-day water desalination plant, laboratories, port and storage facilities. Exceptionally high purity of metal is maintained, with the standard purity cells delivering 99.913 per cent and the high purity cells achieving up to 99.96 per cent metal purity levels. The company can produce more than one million metric tonnes of finished aluminium products a year, in three main forms: foundry alloy for automotive applications; extrusion billet for construction, industrial and transportation purposes; and high purity aluminium for the electronics and aerospace industries.

• • • •

initially, building up to regional flights to Oman & GCC countries Tourist flights along East Coast servicing 5 star hotels and tourist community Cessna 206 Station Air Amphibious floats manufactured by Wipaire Company of St. Paul, Minneapolis, USA Aircrafts can carry up to five passengers

• • • •

Aircrafts are amphibious (land and water) Bill Payne will be Chief Pilot with 12000 hours flight time and 25 years experience. He has 8000 hours on floats in Alaska, USA Available for charter flights, mail, package and passenger services Additional features: Accessing remote diving, fishing, kitesurfing locations and desert resorts in Abu Dhabi UAE Digest, December 2009 l 5

BUSINESS

CSR is vital for long-term business gains JCA implements key CSR initiatives By CA Divya Gianchandani

orporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is slowly emerging out of the shadows to become a key component of a company’s long-term vision and goals. It is no longer a passing fad, or a periodic PR exercise to generate some temporary publicity. It has become an integral part of effectively managing a profitable and growing company. historically, the aim of every company or enterprise was to produce goods and services in a legitimate manner and earn profits. however, over the years, the definition of a good corporation or company has undergone a dramatic change. Today, it is not enough to generate profits. The society and stakeholders – consumers, employees, shareholders and regulators – expect companies to go an extra mile to make a meaningful contribution to the community and the world at large. Years of degradation and exploitation of nature by man and commercial interests have placed the world on a razor’s edge, and companies are called upon to play their role in new conservation initiatives. If a company wants to keep its good reputation and brand image, it has to demonstrate to the public and stakeholders that it is doing all it can to minimise the negative impact on nature. This in turn brings rich dividends to the company while the world becomes a better place to live. Smart companies therefore can use CSR to their competitive advantage, boosting their image and brands by engaging in community and environment related activities. Such steps can increase sales and reduce costs (through more 6 l UAE Digest, December 2009

CA Divya Gianchandani

recycling, for example, or lower worker turnover). Of course, CSR is not without its opponents. Quite often, the focus on doing good may not be compatible with being profitable. Further, these initiatives could entail costs that outweigh the benefits. There are those who believe that CSR makes no sense and fervently hope it will fade away as the global economy picks up and the Enron-type of scandals become things of the past, leaving them to get on with their business. But the hard reality is that CSR won’t go away. Several years of neglect have wrought almost irreparable damage to environment. As long as companies are active around the world, they will be vulnerable to public scrutiny and criticism and will need to find ways to respond positively. In the years to come, CSR will only get stronger. As CSR enters the mainstream, it will become more realistic. Governments and pressure groups have started to accept that companies are not primarily do-good organizations; that companies’ initiatives are not

going to eliminate global poverty and that businesses are not there to make up for the deficiencies of poor governments. In Europe and North America, CSR has become a buzzword, and many companies have raised it to a fine art. Their commitment is real and action-driven. In some companies, environmental issues get as much importance as ongoing staff training or expansion programmes. Most major companies have developed CSR principles and hired CSR directors who are bearing pressure on regional and country managers to put their fine words into action. In the Middle East, in subsidiaries of multinational companies as well as large local companies, CSR strategies are slowly becoming part of standard procedure, though these measures are in their infancy. At Jitendra Chartered Accountants (JCA), a number of initiatives have been put in motion and are in planning stages. JCA has set up the ‘Krishna and Kundan Charitable Trust’ to promote the welfare of the children who need education and extend support to physically handicapped children. JCA has put some concrete steps to ensure ongoing CSR practices. Each month, some portion of income is contributed towards CSR initiatives. Continuing in the same vein, JCA officials are serving the community by associating themselves with social and humanitarian organisations. Recently, my husband and I joined the Rotary Club as a PhF (Paul harris Fellow Foundation) members and promised to support the Thalassemia camp. For more details visit: www.kkcsrfoundation.com.

BUSINESS

The business of art India-Sharjah Business and Cultural Forum opens

nder the patronage of HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has launched the first India-Sharjah Business and Cultural Forum. Organised in coordination with the Consulate General of India in Dubai, the Indian Association in Sharjah, and the Indian Business and Professional Council, Sharjah, the forum aims to strengthen cultural communications and mutual relations between India and the UAE, Sharjah in particular. The forum’s first meeting saw a group of VIPs, senior government officials, business and cultural leaders from India as well as Sharjah come together. The group witnessed presentations on trade and investment opportunities in India and Sharjah and a proposal of setting up a technology centre in Kerala in India. General Hussein Mohammed Al Mahmoudi, SCCI Director stated that, “India and the UAE maintain strong economic relations and deep cultural ties, even as the non-oil trade volume between the countries touched $44.5 billion in 2008-

09. This Forum serves as an ideal platform for interaction between business leaders of India and Sharjah and for highlighting the art and heritage of India. It provides an opportunity for us to appreciate the vital role India has played in the UAE’s India-Sharjah Business and Cultural Forum growth and developto identify the investment environment and ment in various levels.” available prospects and services in Sharjah. “Sharjah is a leading destination in helpThe India-Sharjah Business and Culing achieve sustainable and comprehensive tural Forum included cultural and artistic development across the region. The event programmes at the University City Hall is a major initiative by the SCCI and will in Sharjah held under the theme ‘India certainly contribute to supporting the Inthen, now and forever’. Their activities were dian presence in the UAE at the economic, introduced by the DARPANA Group under cultural, artistic, and social levels,” added the supervision of well known danseuse Venu Rajamony Consule General of India and activist Dr Mallika Sarabhai. The event to the UAE. Rajamony outlined the forum’s also showcased the opening of an art galagenda, including the meetings, prolery at the Chamber’s headquarters which grammes, events and topics discussed. He featured a painting entitled ‘100 Years of underscored the concerns of participating Indian Cinema.’ Dr Sarabhai’s programme Indian businessmen and investors and the showcased various forms of classical, folk, opportunity provided by the direct comtribal and contemporary dance from India. munication with their peers from the UAE

Painting with her feet! Dr Mallika Sarabhai in performance The multi-faceted Mallika Sarabhai is a noted Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam dancer, activist, actor, writer and publisher. A woman with the guts to live her life on her own terms. She owns Mapin, the Publishing house, has participated in many socio-developmental projects initiated by the United Nations and received the ‘French Palme D'or'’, the highest civilian award of France; and she also manages Darpana Academy in Ahmedabad. Her performance revolved around the multiple lifestyles of the people of India.

A file shot of Mallika Sarabhai in performance Photo credit – Pinakin Thakkar

It attempted to show the resemblance between the life of the tribe of Mizoram and their lifestyles with Bollywood. The show took the audience from the temples of southern India to the forests of the Dangs and the minds of today's creators. A believer in ‘out of the box’ performances that do not confirm with stereotypes, Mallika’s performances were electrifying and raised awareness of issues we

often sweep down the carpet. Blending various aspects of her interests, be it dance, activism and her view of the world, her performances are subtle yet telling and kindling a million thought processes. UAE Digest, December 2009 l 7

EVENT

Hope for a new beginning Eminent leaders, management gurus and motivational speakers gathered at a two-day event to lift Dubai out of its year-long gloom By Vanit Sethi

hen Nobel laureates Al Gore and Desmond Tutu speak, the audience listens in rapt attention. And so it was at the Leaders in Dubai Business Forum on October 26 and 27. While the former US vice-president tapped into the activism of environmental conservation to appeal for a revolution in the world’s economic architecture, the South African archbishop underlined why the rainbow nation’s successful non-violent struggle for racial equality could prove to be a valuable lesson for building peace in today’s conflict zones. At the heart of their talks was an earnest desire to inspire change in human thinking. If the CEOs, managers and future leaders of companies and corporate enterprises take a leaf out of them, it can be a good beginning – ‘a new beginning’ (the theme of the forum). While last year’s meet – held when the world was entering a tunnel of economic collapse – trained its guns on how to overcome the hard times, this year the mood was more upbeat, indicating a turn in the tide. The upswing tone permeated through all the lectures. While survival was the theme last year, charting new pathways was the leitmotif this time.

The carrot principle Beginning with Chester Elton, an author of several motivational books, the forum kickstarted with his topic Intensifying Performance and Retaining Top Talent. Elton cited many examples to prove money was not the sole motivator in retaining talent, disputing surveys which claimed to the contrary. Most people remembered ‘thank you’ and ‘well done’ notes from their bosses more 8 l UAE Digest, December 2009

Chester Elton

than pay increases. In some surveys done in UAE and the region, many employees refused to move out of their companies where they enjoyed working, even if that meant rejecting a much higher pay. Elton emphasised that in a carrot-and-stick culture, carrots worked more effectively than sticks. Flinging plastic carrots at the audience, he asked heads of organisations to be more generous in doling out praises. Endorsing Elton’s stand, Gary Hamel - the world’s leading strategy guru and the most reprinted author in Harvard Business Review - spoke on Reinventing the DNA of Leadership. According to him, while the science of management was a useful invention, its practice left much to be desired. More often than not, the ‘management class’ was hopelessly out of date with the rapid pace of change in a globalised environment. In a digital-electronic era, managers following outmoded principles could soon find themselves out of work. In Gary’s view, we need more leaders and less managers. In fact, the task of management should be carried out not by professional managers, as new people bring fresh thinking to an organisation. Named the world’s most influential business thinker by Wall Street

Journal, Hamel said management was often confused with leadership. “True leadership is that which does not depend on any formal power and does not work by sanctions but by motivating people. In short, leadership should command respect and not demand it.” The three challenges of management, he noted, were changing as fast as change itself, making innovation a part of every employee’s job, and creating an organisation that inspires extraordinary contribution.

Campaign of change Talking of change, how can one forget US President Barack Obama’s election campaign, which centred around ‘change’! ‘Yes, we can’ and ‘Yes, we will’ were the keywords in those heady days of November last year that created history – the first Afro-American to become the president of the world’s most powerful nation. Working behind the scenes to create magic was David Plouffe, Obama’s campaign manager, who believes effective communication is the key to success. The results, no doubt, proved it. Plouffe relied on informality and the internet to deliver the goods. While the power of IT was used to reach the maximum number of people in the shortest possible time, face-to-face communication was not ignored, making the campaign techno-savvy with a human touch. It David Plouffe

was the alignment of various modes of communication that made it highly effective. For organisations to remain focussed, employees must work in close coordination like a well-oiled machine. But for organisations to succeed in foreign countries and cultures is a different kettle of fish. Jack Perkowski, an American businessman who started a successful business enterprise in China (one of the first foreign entrepreneurs in that country), told the audience of his experiences in starting a new venture in the dragon kingdom. He stressed the importance of building up local management. In

better than themselves. But many do not want that to happen as they fear their position will be undermined. So, they keep information to themselves in the mistaken belief that it means the retention of power. Great leaders never fear that, because their success depends on the kind of people they create, not on the levers of power they manipulate. Great leaders give to others what they expect for themselves.

Art of possibility The most interesting presentation (The Art of Possibility) was by Benjamin Zander, a world-acclaimed conductor of live performance, having under his belt the Boston and London Philharmonic, and the Scottish and Irish national orchestras, among others. He has also performed at the World Economic Forum in Davos on four occassions. Zander’s two-hour presentation was extremely interactive and lively, interspersed with musical performances, histrionics, and active engagement with the audience. “The art of possibility”, he says, “is the

art of moving from the inwardly driven downward spiral of despair, hostility, fear, anxiety and competition to the outwardly radiating world of contribution, open-heartedness, creativity and grace. Leadership is taking people with you.” He further adds: “When we are faced with a terrible difficulty, we can either respond with resignation, anger, or possibility. The leader is the relentless architect of the possibility that others can be.” He feels a true leader is a ‘visionary’, not a ‘missionary’, and every individual carries the possibility of excellence. “The real measure of success is not wealth, fame and power because they are all in the downward spiral. My only measure of success is how many shining eyes do I have around me. And I can see several here in this room.” “Possibility is always only one sentence away,” he concludes. As the conductor flew his fingers on the piano with a virtuoso performance, there was stunned silence. The applause, a few seconds later, was deafening. And without doubt, one could see shining eyes all around.

Jack Perkowski

China, the cost factor is very important and that has to be borne in mind by any Western entrepreneur. “It’s very important to think like your customers.” He felt it was still not too late to enter the Chinese market for those who had missed the first bus, as China was a booming economy that offered immense opportunities for young entrepreneurs, particularly in healthcare and financial sectors. He exhorted Middle East companies to look eastwards to beat the recession afflicting the western world. He felt GCC countries will tide over the recession quicker than other nations due to rising oil prices. On a futuristic note, he says China will overtake US in another 30 years - taking current growth levels into account – to become the world’s largest economy. Driving a company in difficult times requires extreme leadership, says Steve Farber, President of Extreme Leadership Incorporated. Farber says the ultimate goal of good leaders is to make others

True leadership does not depend on any formal power and does not work by sanctions: Gary Hamel

The ultimate goal of good leaders is to make others better than themselves: Steve Farber

My only measure of success is how many shining eyes do I have around me: Benjamin Zander

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 9

Leadership, peace and noble causes Nobel laureates Desmond Tutu and Al Gore place change and conservation at the heart of business and political leadership

Archbishop Desmond Tutu “Leaders have a huge influence on the mood and morale of their people (positive and negative), whether political or in the world of business,” began the Archbishop. He cited the examples of Churchill, Hitler and Mandela in different contexts, and made a special mention of Obama as a sweeping change that brought hope to many people, transforming the international atmosphere to one of reconciliation, not confrontation. “The US is now extending an open hand rather than showing a closed fist to places like North Korea and Iran.” Tutu praised the governments in the Gulf countries. “I feel jealous when I visit this region and see what the leaders have done for their countries with oil revenue. But my heart aches, thinking of Africa. Countries like Nigeria, Sudan and Zimbabwe are languishing in poverty, despite being equally oil-rich, because of corruption

Though the bottomline is important, how you get to the bottomline is even more important: Archbishop Desmond Tutu

at the top.” He was all praise for Mandela who made a difference in South Africa, in spite of its problems. “Good leadership is all about vision rather than a ruthless pursuit of profits. Though the bottomline is important, how you get to the bottomline is even more important.” Citing examples of Nestle buying milk from Mugabe’s dairies, Maddoff, Enron and the housing crisis that led to the economic meltdown, he declared: “The sad state of the world today is due to

Al Gore Sustainable Capitalism when a bailout won’t suffice “I personally believe solving the climate crisis is the biggest single business opportunity in the history of the world,” he remarked. “Natural resources are fast running out, and businesses need to create alternative options to lessen dependence on them, not just for personal benefit but also for the betterment of the world.” Giving different examples, he emphasised how the current economic crisis can provide a genuine opportunity to make the right kind of changes in the business world. He was all praise for Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City – the world’s first zero carbon city in the making. “Climate change is going to dominate all discussions in the 21st century.” Business enterprises, according to him, will be forced to radically rethink all their existing strategies, theories and models.

10 l UAE Digest, December 2009

unscrupulous bankers, businessmen and politicians willing to cut corners for shortterm gains. A good leader is affirming of others, coaxing the best out of them. He is not threatened by the ability of others. Good leaders must make people feel proud of belonging to an institution or a nation.” He exhorted the admiring audience to “help the world become more gentle, more caring and more compassionate. Help those who are most vulnerable and you become a true human being. If you treat others inhumanely, you only dehumanise yourself.”

Solving the climate crisis is the biggest single business opportunity in the history of the world: Al Gore Growth, planning, sales and marketing will be replaced by social responsibility, political implications and ecological issues. “It is a good sign that we will move towards a more globalised and less insular world.” The financial crisis may have slowed down the march of environmental conservation, but eventually, most people will realise there’s no other way but to go green. He felt organisations too will to have to find a way out of the economic crisis through international cooperation. The biggest challenge the world faces in the 21st century is dumping outdated, energy-guzzling technologies and embracing new ‘sustainable’ models that use renewable energy. “The world and all the business enterprises must realise there’s just no other way but to go green and clean,” he emphasised. “Otherwise, we are all doomed. But fortunately, it’s still not too late.”

Intellectual property – why is it important? Mark Hill and Taj Kunwar Paul of therightslawyers take a look at some of the issues as to why Intellectual Property should be riding high on the management agenda.

ntellectual property rights like trade marks, copyright, patents, designs, confidential information, know how etc. are valuable assets. You can buy them, sell them, borrow and lend them, use them and make money from them. A well kept piece of intellectual property rights gives you exclusivity i.e. the exclusive right to use your brand, your copyright, your innovation. It goes without saying that you can enjoy exclusivity and the value in your assets only if you safeguard them properly and use the protection that is available! So do you own any type of intellectual property? Well, if you run any type of business, you do have some form of intellectual property. Think of it - do you have a trade name? Do you have a brand name for your products or services? Certainly you do! So you at least own one type of intellectual property rights, namely trade mark. Now, the next question is what have you done to protect your intellectual property rights? Yes, it is important and yes, it is possible out here in the Middle East. You just need to identify your key intellectual property rights and seek appropriate protection. Particularly, in relation to a trade mark, it is vital to register it. Think of a situation where you have created a trade mark for your new business with a lot of hard work, money and passion and a third party comes to the market immediately after you and starts using the identical trade mark! Can you stop that ‘someone’ from using your newly adopted unregistered trade mark? Well, the chances may not be very high! And the consequence may be that you may have to re-brand – think of the cost and effort you had put in to create the brand and than having to let the same go and starting again from scratch. It is even more difficult when it

comes to your innovations because if you do not file them before it’s too late (yes, it comes with a time limit), you get no protection whatsoever and there may not be a way out. To give you a few more reasons on why it’s important, just think of what intellectual property rights can do for you: • Protection. The covering your back syndrome. Why should your competitors benefit from your creativity and innovation? • Money. Intellectual property rights generate income for you. • Monopoly. Intellectual property rights give you a legitimate monopoly for the future exploitation of your creativity and innovation. • Protecting R & D Investment. Whatever you are developing, whether it is a web site or a new product, it

makes sense to look after the output. You spend the money and you put the effort in so why not get the returns? • Having something to bargain with. It is amazing what you can do with intellectual property rights in terms of giving you something of value to use in negotiating the right deal. • The asset factor. Once intellectual property rights exist and have been properly identified and protected, you have an asset of considerable value. This value can be used to attract the right deal from potential investors, banks and other trading partners and, at the end of the day, it gives you something of value that you can sell. So the message is simple – your assets are worth protecting and if you wish to enjoy them exclusively, you will need to use the right protection!

National campaign for intellectual property rights His Excellency Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy recently launched a national campaign to uphold and protect intellectual property rights. This campaign comes within the framework of the Ministry’s efforts to consolidate the concept of intellectual property protection, raise public awareness of its importance and to emphasise the impact and its implication on the national economy. Mr. Al Mansouri stressed that the importance of honouring intellectual property rights is more relevant today than ever before and innovation is what drives economies and businesses, and any creative and original thinking should be respected and honoured. “This campaign is aimed at highlighting the importance of an individual’s rights over intellectual property. We also want to focus on ensuring a business environment that is free of piracy and copyright violations,” he added. “This will attract external investment.”

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 11

BUSINESS

‘The Big Start’ for student entrepreneurs A new student entrepreneur competition will see students run their dream company By Rachael Wunsch – General Manager, Al Tamimi Investments

he Big Start is a new concept in student entrepreneur competitions in the UAE. Taking submissions from final year undergraduate students of all nationalities from all universities in the UAE, The Big Start offers winning students the chance of a lifetime. Over a phased competition period, students submit their idea for a UAE based business with the winner or winners receiving full funding for the new venture, mentoring and support from Al Tamimi Investments (ATI), the position of CEO of the company and shareholding in the business.

How it works To participate in the competition, students take part in a three-phase process which is conducted in English and administered online via www. thebigstart.ae The process is as follows: • Submission of a business idea - students will be able to put their idea into a business concept and context by using a simple tool and guidelines that have been specifically created. Concepts will be graded by ATI and the students with the highest scores will move on to the next round. The deadline for submission of the business idea is 17 December 2009. • Development and submission of a business plan - qualifying students will attend a business plan workshop to assist and equip them for translating their concept into a formal business plan. ATI will grade the business plans and the students with the highest scores will move on to the next round. • Final business presentation to ATI Qualifying students will present to 12 l UAE Digest, December 2009

the ATI management team and the best will be selected to deliver a final presentation to the Chairman who will select the most commercially viable business plans to invest in.

Eye on the prize ATI will fund the winning student or students’ business start-up. The winners will actively manage their venture but with significant business support and personal mentoring from ATI. The successful student or students will become engaged with ATI and will be nurtured and mentored throughout the business start up phase by an experienced management team from within the company. When the business goes live, the winners will hold the CEO position and an agreed structured shareholding in the company. There is no limit to the number of winners - this will be determined by the viability of the business ideas submitted and the quality and dedication of the individuals.

From classroom to boardroom While the benefits to the winners are immediate and tangible, competing students who are not in first place will still benefit by participating in the competition. The application process offers an educational framework through which students can learn how to submit a business concept, develop a business plan and present that plan in a genuine business environment Participating students, particularly those who make it through to the final stages, will have been through a real life experience of an entrepreneur and had practical learning from each stage. Finalists will

also be well equipped with the knowledge, confidence and the material to submit proposals to other companies for funding or to start their venture themselves.

The bigger picture

While this programme is very much about creating a viable new business and long term business partnership with the winning students, the initiative also focuses on creating opportunity for the UAE by encouraging students with amazing ideas for a business start-up to take the next step. It was created as a way to give back to the community – by supporting the winning students, and helping create a viable and successful UAE business. At the end of the day, there are no restrictions on the potential of the new businesses and there will be challenges for each winner to face – the Big Start allows students to take the next step in the real world but with the support of the ATI organisation. Students have until 17 December 2009 to sign up and submit their initial business idea. Interested students can visit www.thebigstart.ae to register and enter the competition.

BUSINESS

The story of Peg Reed

eg Reed, Managing Director of Interbank Fx Global Partnerships, and provider of retail foreign currency trading technology, is simply happy and thankful to God to be healthy and alive every morning when she gets up. Sounds strange, maybe, to some of us who probably have not had the misfortune to face extreme negativities of life, or a constant imminent threat of death, or have encountered an experience when suddenly the whole world around us collapses like a house of cards. But a person who has seen the worst and has come out of it, not because of only luck but also due to belief, faith and confidence; develops a completely different approach towards life. The story of Peg Reed has two sides; one talks about a successful women professional and the other tells about her experience of coming out of that dreaded disease - breast cancer. Peg is sixty but she has to say it out loud because her appearance does not show it. The first impression is of a charming professional, pleasantly dressed in a business suit with matching bijoux - and a lady who knows exactly what she is doing, what she needs to say and what she has in mind while talking about her Dubai plans. Interbank Fx is in the processing of applying for a license to the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to set up their Middle East base. “The Middle East is a progressive market with a clear need for ethical and equitable trading,” said Peg. “A private label partnership with Interbank FX provides the technology, support and tools needed for financial firms to add forex trading services to their portfolios quickly and efficiently.” Interbank Fx has expanded its footprint in the Middle East, focusing on institutions seeking sophisticated IT solutions, competitive spreads and consistently high global liquidity in the extremely volatile forex

market. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, US the company is a provider of online forex trading services offering individual traders, money managers and institutional customers proprietary technology, tools and education to trade spot foreign currency online. Unlike other off-exchange retail foreign currency brokers, this company has distinguished itself among industry leaders with its unique multi bank liquidity feed, proprietary tools and services, and customer centric approach. Today, mother of four, Peg, proudly said that she had been able to concentrate on her career because her husband decided to forego his own during their early days of marriage. Since it was Peg who could not imagine staying at home, her husband voluntarily turned into a househusband doing the daily chores and looking after their children.

Thereafter she never looked back. She joined Interbank Fx in April 2009 after 30 years on Wall Street as a forex trader handling a daily volume of $300-350 million. Peg spent the early part of her career with the Bank of America, Barclays Bank, and the American International Group as a currency trader. Later, she assumed responsibility for managing large portfolios of risk as well as overseeing the accounts of multinational corporations, hedge funds and high net worth individuals. Peg’s experience ranges in FX from voice dealing to establishing electronic solutions for the marketplace and now, with Interbank FX, to expand globally the private label business. This sort of professional success is not uncommon. But behind every success there is some sacrifice. For Peg the anxiety, tension, sleepless nights combined with a risky and demanding profession had culminated into a dreaded disease. But cancer could not stop her. Even during those days of chemotherapy Peg used to run four to five miles on the treadmill to keep fit and strong. Like others she lost her beautiful hair and her skin started decaying; but her distinguished and attractive look today does not let us believe the truth even after hearing her story. During the last few months she has been travelling to and fro between US, Korea and Japan to set up Interbank Fx’s branch and now she is in Dubai to do the needful. “Can you believe that despite all that travelling, I hardly even feel tired. I have so much to do and see! But one thing I have never stopped after my illness, and that is exercise. I regularly do almost an hour of exercise, as advised by the doctor,” Peg said. UAE Digest, December 2009 l 13

ISSUES

Measures needed to prevent and check future crises Former Governor of Central Bank of Turkey gives key insights into speculative arbitrage and policy implementation

ven though economic stimulus packages initiated by several major countries have begun to positively impact global growth; predicting future crises and initiating preventative measures before they grow to unmanageable proportions are the need of the hour for governments, according to Nihat Bülent Gültekin, Professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and former Governor of the Central Bank of Turkey. Professor Gültekin’s remarks came during a lecture titled ‘The financial crisis and its aftermath’ organised by the Dubai School of Government (DSG), a leading research and teaching institution focusing on public policy in the Arab world. Business leaders, distinguished academics, government officials

Nihat Bulent Gultekin

14 l UAE Digest, December 2009

and students attended the event. Presenting a review of the historical and international dynamics of financial crises, Professor Gültekin evaluated a number of instances of speculation and highlighted past financial crises while relating them to the most recent crisis that originated from the US. He said: “Due to fast government actions and international stimulus packages, the global economic crisis was swiftly contained. As a result, we are already seeing positive trade and rising economies around the world. But the key question is whether we have the capability to predict or stop similar crises from occurring in the future. This can only be done through legislative and financial prudence.” Professor Gültekin emphasised the need for building stronger judicial and financial systems to monitor and prevent future crises. Providing key insights into the 199495 Mexican peso crisis, the 1997 Asian crisis, and the 2001 Turkish currency and banking crisis, Professor Gültekin identified the events which led the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US to develop into a global financial crisis.

Dr. Tarik Yousef, Dean of the Dubai School of Government, said: “Professor Gültekin’s insight into the root causes of prior economic crises presented us with an opportunity to better analyse the current economic situation. Although each of the crises varied greatly, many of them shared similar origins. This session has given us a greater understanding of the current economic dynamics while proposing legislative and fiscal provisions to prevent similar scenarios from occurring in the future.” Professor Gültekin was the Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, Chief Advisor to Prime Minister Turgut Özal, and President for Mass Housing and Public Participation Administration in Turkey, a state agency in charge of housing and urban development, large scale infrastructure projects, and the privatisation programme of the Turkish Government. He has also served on the faculty of the Finance Department of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1981. He taught at the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College and the University of Chicago before he joined the Wharton School.

Slower growth exposes GCC retailers’ weakness By Jean-Marie Pean and Cyrille Fabre

or the first time in years, the Gulf region’s phenomenal growth engine is stalling out, leaving retailers with lacklustre sales and mounting pressure on cash and profitability. Year-to-year sales growth of listed GCC retailers has dropped from

tive position and the markets’ sensitivity to the downturn. Those who succeed in getting their priorities right will be tomorrow’s leaders. The 2001 recession is dramatic proof. Bain & Company research on retailers worldwide found that

is continuously investing to strengthen its core retail business in Saudi Arabia either organically (new stores opening) or through merger and acquisition (eg: merger with Giant Stores in 2008).

Strengthen the organisation

Jean Marie Pean colour

Cyrille Fabre

nearly 22 per cent at the end of 2008, to just four per cent by June - despite a 20 per cent increase in the number of stores. Among the hardest hit categories are durable and discretionary goods. Modern retailers need to shift their focus from managing aggressive growth to achieving moderate growth while monitoring operating costs and cash flow. Because of under-investment in operational efficiency, many modern GCC retailers find it difficult to effectively manage the downturn. Among the gaps: they lack timely data to support decisions as well as the necessary skills and processes in key areas like category management and supply chain. If we learned anything from the 2001 recession, it is that there is no one-sizefits-all approach. But, what winners have in common is clear priorities that are consistent with their strategic situation in terms of financial strength, competi-

a company’s opportunity to improve its competitive position was twice as great during that crisis than in stable times. As they plot strategy for the downturn and beyond, GCC retailers can learn from their multinational counterparts. Here are five approaches that can help GCC retailers not only survive the turbulence but accelerate out of it as dark clouds lift.

Clarify strategies and shift resources to core businesses After years of rapid expansion into new countries, store formats and categories, GCC retailers now are faced with increasingly scarce resources. To survive and thrive over time, companies need to define their key battlefields and focus investments on areas with strong market opportunities and the highest potential of winning. Activities that are not part of these ‘core’ battlefields and that are bleeding cash should be exited. Activities in the core should be continuously enhanced. For example, Azizia Panda

Most retailers’ organisations have not evolved fast enough to keep pace with the growth of their business. GCC retailers now need to boost managerial skills in key areas where they lag global competitors—areas like supply chain, category management and e-commerce. GCC retailers also need to further empower their managers and provide them with up-to-date information and incentives. Most important, retailers need to develop a new culture of measurement and accountability in their organisations.

Reinforce Category Management For many GCC retailers, decisions regarding the product range, the allocation of shelf space or the execution in-store have traditionally been made based on the flair and experience of a few key executives. As the size of the retailer and the competition increase, decisions need to be more data driven, more frequently updated, and sometimes more localised. Recently, US-based retailer Macy’s decentralised the selection of the assortment for each store closer to the field. The change has improved Macy’s ability to respond quickly to local market shifts, with locally managed pilot stores achieving 2.1 percentage point greater growth in the first quarter of 2009 than other Macy’s stores.

Stay tuned to the shopper As market growth slows down, GCC retailers have to find new pockets of UAE Digest, December 2009 l 15

opportunity by identifying and retaining the most attractive shopper segments. They can pinpoint those pockets by segmenting shoppers into different groups and prioritising them based on customers’ value and whether they can win the segment. UK-based Tesco is expert at using loyalty cards to capture shopper information. The data helps zero in on the most valuable segments and improve product offerings and store service based on customers’ changing needs. In May 2009, despite the downturn, Tesco invested GBP150 million in its highly successful clubcard programme, with the hope of adding one million new members.

Catch the flight to value Although the Gulf region has traditionally been a ‘branded’ market, value offerings are growing fast. Traffic at a Dubai factory outlet mall grew 15 per cent in the first quarter of 2009, while most traditional malls experienced a decline in shoppers. To meet this growing trend, retailers need to add more value-oriented items and promote it through advertising. Panda has moved in this direction, expanding its private label offerings by 33 per cent in 2008. As customers throughout the region change where and how they

shop, retailers who win will be the most adept at changing, too – balancing short-term and long-term strategy in the process. They’ll use the downturn as an opportunity to clarify their strategy, strengthen their organisation for faster and better decisions, improve category management, and follow shoppers’ flight to value. The prize for getting it right: not only surviving the downturn but accelerating when the storm clouds lift. Jean-Marie Pean is a Bain & Company partner and Cyrille Fabre is a Bain & Company manager. Both are based in Dubai and are members of the firm’s retail practice.

It happened before Learning from previous recessions

t’s strange to think that there is a whole generation who have never known recession, just as some grew up in a period where there were a string of serious recessions and high inflation. The boom years of the 1980s in UK and Europe were swiftly followed by bust. Between 1989 and 1992, Britain’s financial hangover was grim as 600,000 homes were repossessed while interest rates rocketed to more than 15 per cent and unemployed doubled, leaving 2.6 million people out of work by 1991 as the economy shrank. The wild late 1980s spending spree came as the country recovered from the 1970s gloom; then there was a decline in manufacturing, rise in unemployment and inflation at an incredible 25 per cent (dropping to 10 per cent in 1990). The economic low hit millions of ordinary, hard-working families very hard. The strain showed socially, too, as the divorce rate soared, family homes were sold at a loss, children were shifted into different schools and expensive cars were replaced with cheaper models. Like our current situation, many people had taken advantage of a new era of credit and lending which allowed them to try and emulate the lifestyles of the wealthy. Many over-stretched themselves, taking out big mortgages on large and

16 l UAE Digest, December 2009

expensive houses as the property market boomed and materialism gripped the nation. While you can expect a bumpy ride with the economy and the property market, there could be good news for long-term investments. The lessons from the last recession suggest that investors should sit tight and hang onto their shares. The boom years were a dizzying and often disturbing time, as globalisation and technology turned the world upside. Folks picked up new skills and habits, like trading shares instantly online, dressing down on Fridays, and putting savings in overseas banks. They drank strange coffees, flew to nearby countries for a night out and maxed out their credit cards. They bought cheap clothes and threw them away them the next week, turned a blind eye to huge banker bonuses and bought houses costing many times more than their salaries. And then it all went wrong, and they found themselves flying back in time.

• •

Family values are back More and more children are returning to the family nest because they can no longer afford their rental flat or find a mortgage. Some parents are now supporting both their parents and their kids • Debt is out, as people rush to pay off their mortgages and other credit if they can, and learn how to live within their means • First-time buyers will have to apply themselves to the time-honoured discipline of saving up for a deposit The revival of thrift and frugality has spread far beyond financial services. Sewing machine sales have risen by one-third, according to John Lewis, UK, while knitting is suddenly considered cool. ‘Make do and mend’ has become the new ‘Wear once and bin’.

Try this crisis survival plan By L. Geary Resist all urges to spend unnecessarily. The government wants you to spend your money at the moment to give the economy a boost. Interest rates are low to give you the impetus to spend money you've saved - or go out and get yourself a loan and buy a new car, speedboat or plasma screen TV. Don't! Keep the money instead. Save it - or buy inflation-hedging investments like gold. Don't overstretch! It's all about disposable income right now. Keep all your borrowing at

a low interest rate - using credit card deals intelligently. Put all major purchases off for now. Things will improve but for now, don't buy a declining asset. Disposable income is king. Build up a bundle. Ideally, you should have two months' salary stashed in a high interest savings account, to take care of bills in the short term if you lose your job and have to find another one fast. Use your common sense. Think about using the food you buy cleverly so that it lasts longer, stay in instead of going out, cycle to work instead of taking the car, barter in all shops, freeze or cancel gym membership and exercise at home instead, watch freeview TV channels, use your mobile phone sparingly. Raise your profile at work. If you suspect redundancies are imminent, do what you can to avoid the axe. Think about how you could save your company money and present your ideas to the boss, speak up in meetings, subtly remind your manager of your contribution to the operation, work hard, specialise in an area where your company has limited skills or resources. All's fair in love and office politics. It's up to you to convince your boss you're an asset worth keeping - everyone else will be trying to do the same.

Treat others as you would like them to treat you By W. Churchill Be nicer to other people. If you follow this rule, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll immediately start feeling the benefits that it returns. If society starts to follow then the future will be a better place to live in. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Known in Christianity as the Golden Rule and in philosophy as the ethic of reciprocity, this sage piece of advice has in fact appeared in the writing of almost every faith. The modern way of thinking is often: But why exactly should we? What is in it for us? a You want people to be nice to you, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you? Yes. a You want to be forgiven for mistakes? Yes. a You want people to give you that most precious of gifts, their time? Yes. a You want understanding? Yes. a You want to feel included, not left out? Yes. During the years of economic growth we have all become somewhat insular, individualistic and selfish. While it might seem that concentrating on improving your own personal lot would lead to increased pleasure and happiness, it often seems the case that the reverse is actually true.

A recession occurs when there is a decline in a country's real gross domestic product (GDP), or negative real economic growth for two or more successive quarters of a year.

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 17

TRADE

Japan opens up its home secrets By Linda Benbow

apan, the oriental land of mystery and cherry blossom, whose citizens work very hard, play golf and eat sushi. Well, that is the average person’s limited perception of the country and its inhabitants. But, well, it’s a secret …ssh … the Japanese are ordinary folks like you and me. They have their funny ways, it’s true, although some would prefer to call it “culture”, “history” and “traditions”. Ah so. The proof was in the seeing, and Dubai Mall recently gave space to Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) who set up a shop, a pilot retail venture, in the middle of its Star Atrium and showcased home items that the average resident of Japan lives with daily. “The theme of the event is the introduction of Japan’s new and stylish interior decoration materials, kitchen wares, clothes and furniture, etc. to the customers in Dubai,” said Kuniyasu Funaki, CEO of Jetro which maintains an office in Dubai. The event featured new products from 22 of Japan’s small- and medium-sized enterprises, and there were representatives from the companies on the stand, clipboard in hand asking customers their opinions

Hollow flower vase

on look, preferences and price. Although all the items were being sold at the same price as they would be in Japan, some UAE customers felt that the prices were too low/high thereby detracting from the items. When it was explained that the highest-level of Japanese craftsmanship, precision, quality and creativity were used to produce the items and that they will be available in the UAE for the first time, some decisions were altered. The feedback, generally, was helpful for the retailers who wished to gauge reactions of a different market, as well as re-write their marketing and negotiating agendas. EDO Kiriko is Japan’s traditional way of producing glassware which dates back to the 18th century. Furoshiki is the traditional way of wrapping goods with cloth when they were transported within Japan during ancient times. Products using these ancient techniques are among the traditional yet contemporary pieces that were shown. With the theme ‘Simply Japan’, the shop aimed to monitor UAE consumer response towards various Japanese-made products, explained Kuniyasu Funaki.

Furoshiki becomes an eco-wrapping cloth. Using techniques similar to origami, it can be used for gift wrapping, grocery or simply as décor

18 l UAE Digest, December 2009

Citing increased investor confidence and various signs of economic recovery, Funaki said he expects bilateral trade to pick up in the coming months, following a drop in exports. Japan exported $3.08bn worth of goods to the UAE during the first six months of the year, or 37.5 per cent lower than a year earlier. But the UAE remains Japan’s top export market in the Gulf, covering 39.3 per cent of the GCC market. “The decline in exports was attributed to several factors, including a lower demand and shortage of credits in the region, and the strengthening of the Japanese yen,” Jetro said. Japan’s Consul General to Dubai Seiichi Otsuka graced the one-hour opening ceremony. The Executive Vice-President of Jetro, Tokuyuki Sudo, as well as Nasser Rafi, CEO of Emaar Malls Group, which operates the Dubai Mall were also present. In the UAE, there are around 350 offices of Japanese companies, 280 of which operate from Dubai. Every year, at least 20 Japanese firms set up their business in the country.

Guests at the Simply Japan retail experience

Sales, fractional ownership and alliances at the Air Show

ay Four of Dubai Airshow 2009, held last month, was characterised by memorandums for aircraft sales, business deals spanning fractional ownership agreements, new start-up alliances and expansion programmes. As the declared onsite order book of the event passed the $13 billion mark with European planemaker Airbus signing a memorandum of understanding with soon-to-launch

Senegal Airlines for six aircraft, news came that Dubai’s Emirates Group had joined hands with the Senegalese Government to support the carrier, which is due to begin operations next year and has a majority private sector shareholder base. Meanwhile Aviation Link Saudi Arabia (ALSA) signed an undisclosed value contract with NetJets Middle East Programme for the use of a Hawker 750 for five years, to provide executive services to VIP customers.

Dubai Airshow 2009 was officially opened by Their Highnesses Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Makoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The NetJets Middle East Programme, provided by National Aviation Services (NAS), has launched a 25-hour ‘Jet Card’ giving cardholders access to their own executive jet and the largest private jet fleet in the region for 25-hours at a time. The card is designed to bring all of the benefits of private aircraft ownership including guaranteed availability and the highest levels of safety and security at a fraction of the cost of owning an aircraft. The programme allows owners to buy or lease a fractional interest in an executive aircraft based on the number of hours they are likely to fly in a year

DUBAI AIR SHOW

And the recently launched Mutahida Airways of Abu Dhabi, which offers the latest Boeing 747-400 simulator in a by-the-hour service out of the UAE capital, announced plans to expand after only a year in start-up operating out of a hangar at Mina Port in Abu Dhabi city. The service had would-be pilots, airlines and airport operators waiting in the aisles, being sought by amateurs with a passion for flying and professional aviators for both training and entertainment.

Royal Jet is an award-winning international luxury flight services provider headquartered in Abu Dhabi, which is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi Aviation and the PFA, the royal flight service; and is chaired by His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, who serves as a Minister in the UAE Federal Cabinet. It’s current fleet of aircraft includes five Boeing Business Jets, two mid-range Gulfstream 300s; a long-range Gulfstream IVSP; a Lear Jet 60 and a twin-engined Challenger 604. The company’s core offerings are: luxury VIP Aircraft Charter, Royal Jet Medical Evacuation Services, Royal Jet Charter Brokerage, Fixed Base Operations (FBO)/VIP Terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport and Aircraft Management and Acquisition Consultancy Perla Group International Ltd., the Dubai-based company with interests in telecommunications, aviation and other sectors, have recently reached an agreement to acquire 100 per cent shares of Ukraine’s DB Aerocopter which designs and builds the AK1-3 petrolpowered, two-seater light helicopter. Like no other helicopter in its class, the AK1-3 is built using state-of-the-art computer aided machining instead of traditional die-casting – resulting in a durable and easy to transport aircraft that’s ideal for business and pleasure flights, farming and agriculture, security, aerial photography and other applications. There are plans to move the assembly plant to the UAE, a groundbreaking development for the UAE’s aviation industry, which at present has no local aircraft manufacturing facility

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 19

EVENTS

An event to remember Events centered on the FMCG, Pharmaceutical and the viral marketing industries have done well this year By Ambily Vijaykumar

he year so far has not been a very ‘eventful’ one for many businesses for obvious reasons. Expenditure cuts, downsizing and the overall slowing down of the economy has led to an unprecedented situation where businesses are fighting it out to stay afloat. For many, even making a profit is no longer the issue as much as the necessity to survive in a market that is shrinking in space. In the maze there is, however, a concerted effort by businesses to send out a message to customers that “they still exist and are offering services”. One of the key instruments in sending out that message effectively has been the advertising industry. But with budgets for advertising being mercilessly slashed, businesses have had to put to use innovative means of reaching out to customers and more importantly ‘making an impact’. This is where events management companies step in. Though they concede that this year is a far cry from what it has been in previous years, the FMCG and pharmaceutical companies are doing well. This has resulted in events and promotions associated with these sectors still holding on as compared to other industries. “Events involving new product launches are not something that is happening in the market right now. As an event management company our clients are approaching us for more sales driven activities and lot of promotional events. So businesses are

focusing on events that help them bring in more money as opposed to events centered on letting people know who they are,” says Sherif Abaza, Managing Partner of Atmosphere Events. Statistics however have not been encouraging. The company says when compared to the number of events that they have done, or even pitched for, since November last year they have not even received twenty per cent of enquiries that they used to have before. That can also be attributed to the fact that the nature of events has undergone a sea change. As opposed to before when product launches were dubbed social events, now a lot more social events are being used as a platform for showcasing products. Parties and club nights now form most of the social events calendar. So this has resulted in events being planned around these social gatherings.

Egypt v. Algeria party for supporters and social clubbers

20 l UAE Digest, December 2009

Reaching out directly to the consumer is now the preferred method for a guaranteed success for events. For example organising events in a gym works out better for activities that are

Sherif Abaza

relevant to people who frequent the gym. So, in most of the cases, the clients are pushing for an almost direct sale for products that already exist

in the market. In some cases though, these events are being used as a venue to sample these products and then the decision is left to the customer whether they wish to buy it or not. But the approach to event management has changed for companies who put together these events. Firstly with clients becoming very cost conscious, there are no hard and fast rules about engaging their regular agency to do their work for them. The onus has now shifted to event companies to offer competitive rates as well as excellent services. Clients are now getting agencies to pitch for an event thus giving them the leverage of picking and choosing the best possible rate. With agencies, on the other hand, the number of key clients that they have has also been affected and has led to them turning to ‘bespoke events’ to keep the business running. “Because there is no funding, or there is a decrease in funding from the corporate segment, the number of such events by the year will not compare with what we had last year in Dubai. Except for Abu Dhabi, which got lucky with the Formula 1 giving them four concerts, it has been far from usual in Dubai,” explains Sherif Abaza. The lesser number of events though has not had an effect on the quality of artists or the fees that are paid to them. “Possibly the biggest concert that happened in the country this year was Cold Play in Abu Dhabi,” Sherif says. What is working in Abu Dhabi’s favour is that they are still not finding it difficult to find corporate sponsorship and hence money for events of the magnitude that are being held in that emirate. “Dubai is a differ-

ent story. The sponsorship market here has dropped significantly. Last year all our money was going on events, this year all our money is going, but it is just that we can’t understand where,” Sherif adds lightly. What the industry is saying though is that the approach through the crisis has been to be able to come up with concepts that are innovative and profitable at the same time. One of the pre-requisites to be able to do that is “establishing a synergy with ones client so that the events management company is in tune with their vision,” says Sherif. Staying on the same page as their client has meant that event management companies also understand that the ‘frills have been trimmed’ from the promotional budgets and so there are a new set of rules that guide what is ‘a must have’ and what is a ‘nice to have’. “In most cases, the nice to haves have gone out of the window. If an event management company can give a client the must-haves within a particular budget, and the client can save, then they won’t bother about asking for the nice-to-haves. But in some cases the latter becomes essential since they add a lot to the event,” explains Sherif.

A good example are companies doing away with specially-built stands for exhibitions and employing their personal staff as promoters or hostesses rather than shelling out money to employ people exclusively for these events. But what then are the kinds of events that have thrived given the circumstances that have been created due to the financial meltdown? “There are a lot less generic events. It is the Web 2.0 and the viral marketing segment that has thrived this year. Facebook, Twitter, blogging, all these have existed all along but they have had a field day this year,” elaborates Sherif. With people looking for alternative methods to reach out to a larger consumer base, these industries are proving to be the right recipe to tide through the financial crisis. On an average if one takes any particular event, 10-15 per cent of the ticket bookings happen online and in some cases up to 90 per cent of the event booking is done online. The medium is also an economically viable medium for advertising. However in terms of scope for a particular kind of event, it is the children’s events segment that offers a lot of room for the event management companies to tap into.

InterfaceFlor exhibition party on opening night

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 21

IN FOCUS

A Chile culture By Linda Benbow

ambada, tango, samba and similar latino dances are what normally springs to mind when thinking of South America. So it was a bit of a surprise when a visiting business delegation from Chile put on a cultural show featuring their best known dance – the Cueca. What? Well, actually, it made sense when watching with tapping feet, clapping and smiling as the male honchos with their ponchos enacted cowboy dances and stories on stage. The ladies, dressed in swirling dresses with petticoats aplenty, stamped their feet rhythmatically in a fashion reminiscent of Spanish senoritas while the accordion player and his friends sang enthusiastically. Home spun fun – the old fashioned way. The dancing episode was part of a cabaret act for diners enjoying the classic tastes which celebrated Chilean Chef Cristián Correa recreated for guests at Khaymat Al Bahar during the four days of a Culinary Week. It was also a chance for businessmen and importers to taste the quality of food, see the choices of home-grown meat, fish, fruit and vegetables; inspect bottles of cooking oils and fortified grape juice; and discuss investments opportunities of differing kinds including Chilean architects and engineers, many of whom are already working on projects in the UAE. Chile is a kaleidoscope of indigenous Latin American culture and European influences. Its cuisine is based on the traditions of the indigenous Mapuche Indians and the Spanish, along with foreign influences, particularly the French. An ardent believer in the culinary traditions of his homeland, Chef Correa has travelled extensively, promoting the best of the flavours from his country. “Our culinary tradition peeks out shyly, as it was slowly simmered in the family home, without being much talked about. It is our mission to share it and to spread our culture because we are made up of the flavours of our memories,” commented Chef

22 l UAE Digest, December 2009

Correa. “Whoever savours Chilean food is enjoying a range of healthy ingredients grown in a rich variety of climates and landscapes, from the lamb-on-a-stick typical to the south to an Eastern Island tuna, passing by a corn or crab pie or a King clip soup, finishing with baked apples or a lúcuma mousse for dessert,” he added. More than 4,000 kilometres of coastline and extensive farmlands have helped Chile establish itself as a major producer

and exporter of a wide variety of seafood, meat, fruits, vegetables and beverages. “We are the largest exporters of fresh fruits in the southern hemisphere, our vintages are globally acclaimed and we adopt cutting-edge techniques in farm production. Chile also understands the importance of adapting to different markets and we are now focused on providing halal certifications to strengthen our presence in the Middle East,” said Carlos Salas, Trade Commissioner of Chile in the UAE.

Chile opens embassy in the UAE Chile, globally acclaimed as one of the most vibrant and open economies in the world, has opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi, marking a milestone in the expanding ties between the South American country and the UAE. Mariano Fernández, Chile’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education, and Dr Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs were the guests of honour at a reception hosted by Chilean Ambassador to the UAE, Jean-Paul Tarud Kuborn in connection with the official opening of the embassy in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, the 17th of October 2009. Chile opened its Trade Office in Dubai in 2007 and the embassy, which is the first diplomatic mission of Chile in the GCC, will now provide the full range of consular services including issuing visas and passports as well as attestation of documents. Trade between Chile and the UAE exceeded $113 million in 2008, with Chilean exports accounting for $107.7 million. Wood, cellulose, and race horses are some other examples of exports from Chile to the UAE, in addition to fresh fruits. Rated among the 30 most dynamic countries in the world by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and known as the most stable, competitive and open economy in South America, Chile has trade relations with a vast geographical area accounting for 90 per cent of the world’s combined GDP. Foreign direct investment in Chile has also seen exponential growth in recent years, reaching over 12 billion in 2008.

MALL

Mall street Adding to the mall wealth of Dubai is the Mirdiff City Centre, scheduled to open in March 2010

pace, light, room, shopping, entertainment options and little architectural surprises at every few blocks; the upcoming Mirdiff City Centre, a Majid Al Futtaim Properties venture, is much awaited. Work at the Centre, located at Interchange 55 with a direct link from Tripoli Street, is nearing completion and will be inaugurated on March 16, 2010. The other two highly successful malls from the group include Deira City Centre and the Mall of the Emirates. The third mall at Mirdiff, aims at targeting the population of 550,000 people living in the area of Rashidiya, Warqa, Deira etc, around the North East growth corridors. “Also, if you drive down from the Northern emirates, this will be the first mall you can access with ease because it is located on the Emirates Road,” says Peter Walichnowski, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Properties. Spread over a gross leasable area of 196,000 square metres, this mall has approximately 430 outlets with major anchors being the 15,000 square metres Carrefour, a family entertainment area spanning 14,000 square metres, Centre Point, Home Centre, Cinestar, Debenhams Department Store, Fitness First, Forever 21 and E Max. Over 75 restaurants and cafes that include two food courts, restaurant precincts, coffee shops and casual dining are part of the development. In terms of entertainment, the mall will have the Magic Planet and Leisure Zone. Its entertainment zone for children and young adults total 14,000 square metres and it has a unique interactive edutainment area for children that will have an indoor ‘iFLY’sky diving experience, a 12 lane bowling alley, a soccer circus, an aqua play area for younger children and a 10 screen multiplex cinema. Most of all, it will offer 12 entry and exit

An artist’s impression of the Mirdiff City Centre

points to different levels of its 7,000 vehicle car parks. The shopping mall is the first in the region to follow ecologically friendly and sustainability compliant construction techniques from its early design stages and is the process of acquiring a LEED certification. It’s architects are the award winning international architectural firm RTKL UK Ltd and Holford Associates Dubai. “Over 200 of the 430 retailers at the Centre will be new to Mirdiff, Deira and the Northern Emirates and will include names such as Crate& Barrell, Pottery Barn Kids, PF Chang’s, American Eagle, Office Depot and 1847 Men’s Grooming, to name a few,” adds Walichnowski. Shahram Shamsaee, Senior Vice President Asset Management stated that the mall was on schedule and will have 350 store fit outs complete a month before the mall actually opens. “We are working closely with the government authorities, contractors and retailers to ensure our customers enjoy an impressive, fully opened engaging retail and entertainment experience from day one,” he adds.

“Work on the mall started in 2003 and despite the current economic crisis, we are on track. By the end of December, most construction related work will be complete. On the leasing front the mall has had a good association with retailers and has over 200 unique brands to showcase. With regular flagship stores like Zara, Hamleys etc, dedicated community service areas, spas that address the male as well as female population, father/baby changing rooms, the Mirdif City Centre aims to be the largest entertainment venue in this region.” For people living in the Warqa belt, the mall is timely since there are hardly any entertainment centres in the vicinity. But what about transport facilities and linking it to the Dubai Metro? “We would like that the Mirdiff City Centre is well connected to the Dubai Metro, the same way the Deira City Centre and the Mall of the Emirates is connected but it is up to the RTA. As of now, we will be looking at how to get people to the mall from the nearest Metro station that is at Rashidiya. We shall start with feeder buses,” states Walichnowski.

The Mirdiff City Centre is full of aesthetic surprises

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 23

ENTERTAINMENT

Water of life! The Sharjah Water Festival is attracting hordes of visitors with its sporting adventures, entertainment shows and a carnival feel By Vanit Sethi

n the race for international recognition, Dubai has left no stone unturned with its array of year-long events, while Abu Dhabi is catching up quickly and even overtaking Dubai in some fields, particularly art and culture. The northern emirates are generally quieter, but Sharjah has been in the global spotlight for a longer period than other emirates, including the administrative and commercial capitals. Earlier famous for the Sharjah Cup, which gave a fillip to one-day international cricket in the Subcontinent, the emirate has been a leader in school as well as university education, besides being described as the ‘cultural capital of the Gulf region’. At present, besides hosting the Book Fair and various art exhibitions, Sharjah also holds a ‘Spring Promotions’ in competition with the Dubai Shopping Festival (at about the same time); as well as its own, pleasant Al Qasba Festival besides the water canal. However, the Sharjah Water Festival – proving increasingly popular down the years – is now planning to outshine, or rather outsurf, all of them. In its 10th edition this year, the 11-day festival (from December 2, the UAE National Day) has a host of exciting events, including the F1 power boat racing. Lovely weather with clear skies, cool breeze and blue waters are an irresistible attraction for crowds of picknickers, holidayers, youngsters and families. The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), at a press conference in the emirate last month, 24 l UAE Digest, December 2009

unveiled the activities of the waterfest planned at Al Majaz Park on the shores of Khalid Lagoon. SCTDA says it will be a world-class event offering family activities, including entertainment programmes, water shows and performances by international teams, while also promoting Sharjah’s culture and heritage. The festival coincides with the F1 Powerboat World Championship, Sharjah Grand Prix (Dec10-11), also being hosted for the tenth year. The race attracts around 75,000 fans each year. Speaking at the press conference, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, SCTDA Chairman, said: “Events such as this reaffirm Sharjah’s position as a leading international tourism destination.” The Water Festival offers a wide variety Al Majaz Park, the festival venue

of entertainment activities for people of all ages and interests, including a daily Sesame Street performance, acrobatic diving shows, children’s entertainment shows at Mouj Land, carnival parades featuring clowns and stilt-walkers, circus shows, bands and much more. In addition to the entertainment staples from previous years, this year’s festival also features a performance by the I Cameristi Triestini Orchestra, directed by Maestro Fabio Nossal, on the opening day, while the Night Souk gives visitors the chance to take a stroll through the market in search of bargains, or visit the international food court. The festival culminates with the Sharjah Grand Prix held on Khalid Lagoon, an event for which the emirate won ‘Best Organiser’ for five years.

Activities galore Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a peep into the activities and programmes of the 10th EtisalatSharjah Water Festival held at Al Majaz Park on the shores of Khalid Lagoon from December 2-12. I Cameristi Triestini Orchestra in Concert (opening day only, December 2, 10.30pm): A sparkling show of classical music performed by the prestigious Orchestra of 20 professionals and directed by Maestro Fabio Nossal. The event is part of the official opening of the Sharjah Water Festival 2009 organised by the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority and it will coincide with the UAE National Day. The Carnival (starts 4.45 pm daily): There will be a very special parade (at 7.20pm) on the UAE National Day. A special group of performers will enthrall the viewers with colourful costumes in line with the UAE flag. Apart from that, there will be jugglers, stilt walkers, characters of the sea world, roaming circus and clowns, percussion groups and more moving in and outside of Al Majaz Park. The Sesame Street Performance (Daily shows except December 8): Watch your best characters from the Sesame Street television programme such as Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie and Zoey perform live at Al Majaz Park. The entry for this event is Dh10 per person and will be staged thrice daily. Watch them dance and sing like never before to the tunes of Sesame Street. Kids shall also get the opportunity to meet and greet their favourite stars in person. Mouj Land (various fun shows for kids): A complete kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dream world with various games and exciting activities to be indulged in. Here, kids can get involved in group activities, watch

acrobats on a pirates boat, enter various kind of competitions, have their faces painted, take pictures with the friendly Mouj, get lost in the magical maze, slide on inflatables and much more. There will be educational and sporting competitions held throughout the evening for children to participate in and win prizes too. Mouj, the festival mascot The Dive Show (Daily 4.45/6.00/8.00pm): A team of seven professional high divers will perform stunts that will be a feast for your eyes. On your visit to Al Majaz Park, you will see incredible themed decorations and costumes to completely transform high diving into a spectacular production. A gripping event of 30 minutes every day will enthrall the audiences with the performers from Florida that will do some great diving stunts, acrobats in the air, comedy jumps, fire jumps, elastic gymnastics and more. Food Court: A full-fledged food court allows all food lovers to satisfy their taste buds in this area. From different international cuisines, snacks corners, fast food and juice bars one can have sumptuous meals with the whole family. The Night Souk: If you are one of the unlucky few who could not manage to get a seat for one of the events, then you can just stroll in the souk to get some value for money shopping. Different brands and choices will spoil you to fill your bags and go with a smile for all the bargains that you will get here.

Organisers and sponsors pose for a photo session during a press conference

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 25

ENTERTAINMENT

Leisure time This month sees a variety of shows, events, markets and other leisure pursuits being offered by local companies

he Planetarium at Children’s City in the Creek Park has started two new shows as an attractive means of edutainment for children. The Under the Weather show deals with the topic of climate in a thrilling way and children can learn about the weather on the earth and the rest of the planets of the solar system. Loveable characters are part of The Molecularium show during which they introduce children to the world of atoms and molecules in an advanced scientific and interesting manner according to the latest techniques used for three-dimensional animation. The Planetarium system at the Children’s City is characterised by its display of animated three-dimensional films so that the viewer is surrounded by animated pictures on all sides. The screen covers an area of 288 square metres and is the largest digital display in the UAE, with six channels. Both shows take visitors on trips through the universe to discover the solar system and outer space,

The Planetarium at Children’s City

using a technique of showing the films on a giant hemispherical screen, which fascinates visitors who are accustomed to watching movies on flat cinema screens. The 100-seat planetarium can run 10 shows per day. The Walk, Dubai’s distinctive beachfront shopping avenue has opened its Covent Garden Market Dubai, outdoor retail experience at Jumeirah Beach Residence. This is a European-style, open air street market featuring original gifts, jewellery, paintings, fashion and exotic home-wares. The oceanfront retail destination, in its second year of operation, also features a host of family focused entertainment including a children’s craft corner, face painting and a caricature artist along with a variety of talented street performers featuring magicians, drummers, opera singers, string quartets and acrobats to entertain shoppers. It is open every Thursday and Friday from 5:00pm to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 10:00am–9:00pm and will

run until May 2010 at The Walk (in front of Rimal Sector opposite the open air car parking between the Hilton and Sheraton hotels). Design your own cool cup. Create the greatest, most urban or most innovative design and enjoy global fame! This season BoConcept gives you the chance of designing your very own cool cup. This is how you do it: Go to www.boconcept.com and download a template of the cup layout and make your own design to enter the competition. All the entered designs will be featured in 3D on the website. In January 2010 when the competition finishes, an international jury will decide the winning six different cup designs that will be put into production and sold from September 2010 onwards. The Comedy Club brought to you by Nokia is the latest upgrade to the local entertainment scene. It started on 26 November and runs monthly from now onwards featuring renowned comedians such as Hollywood

Covent Garden market Cups, ‘Collectors item’, white porcelain. Available in different designs

26 l UAE Digest, December 2009

star Jon Lovitz (Saturday Night Live, The Wedding Singer, Friends, Seinfeld) and British comedian Al Murray (The Pub Landlord). Playing at Madinat Jumeirah Arena, the Comedy Club is proud to showcase hilarious stage and screen comedians who will make you laugh until it hurts. Doors open at 7.0pm and guests have two options: either enjoy a dinner, drinks and show package that includes floor table seating, two hours of open bar and a sumptuous three-course meal, or a standard package for just the show itself. The very first franchise of Chuck E. Cheese’s, a chain of family entertainment centres based in Texas, USA, has opened at Outlet Mall in Dubai. Aimed at bringing people of all ages together in a wholesome entertainment of fun and games, the concept of this entertainment centre is a sit-down pizza restaurant, complemented by arcade games, amusement rides, an animatronic show, and other diversions such as climbing equipment, tubes and slides. The facility has been established with the prime objective of providing a place where ‘kids can be kids’. Its brand ambassador is an anthropomorphic mouse named Chuck E. Cheese. The facility has 240 games for kids including ice rink and bowling with an accommodation capacity for almost 600 children. It has a seating capacity for 1,100 people, four birthday halls and a restaurant. Safety being of paramount importance, it is protected by electronic gates with only one exit. In addition, all children and parents entering the facility will be given the same security numbers, so that while shopping at the mall the guardians of a child can have complete peace of mind that their children will not get

Emirates’ young musicloving party crowd, and glamorous clubbing scene. Superstar DJ, Zouk resident djB headlined the pre-party event in the nightclub’s Main Room with suspended catwalk for model dancers. Warmup DJ, Darko De Jan. Shef played popular Rides at Chuck E. Cheese disco songs in the Velvet Room, while Diego Ramsi entertained the lost or be picked up by someone other than crowd on the Terrace with zingy electronics. themselves. Little wonder that the facility Last year’s ZoukOut attracted over is packed with families over the weekends. 10,000 overseas visitors, and, with headline Seawings LLC, the only seaplane tour acts such as Armin van Buuren - the world’s operator in the country, has announce that most popular DJ, Techno icon Richie Hawtin due to growing demand, they have comand acclaimed remixer and producer Tiga menced flight operations from the Dubai performing live, looks forward to welcoming Creek. The new base is conveniently located even more overseas visitors to help kickon the waters of the creek in close proximstart a high-adrenaline season of parties ity to Park Hyatt and Dubai Creek Golf and celebrations all the year into 2010. and Yacht Club. The company offers two Internationally acclaimed Twelve Tenors experiences; ‘Silver’, a 40 minute sightseeperformed live in concert at the Palladium in ing tour of Dubai and ‘Gold’, an exclusive Dubai Media City last month for three conprivate charter for up to nine passengers. secutive nights. During two sets each evening The company offers aerial experithe ensemble of young men in their 20s belted ences to and from other UAE locations out an array of traditional songs, ballads, pop including both Ras Al Khaimah and the and even a selection of songs from well known majestic East Coast, as well as one-way operas for the purists. One highlight was their flights to and from Jebel Ali Golf Resort unique rendition of selected Beatles’ classics. and Spa. Guests may package any flight Over the last twelve months the tenors with lunch, dinner, tea, spa, golf, Dolphihave completed a sell out arena tour of the US, narium or many other exciting activities a theatre tour of Scandinavia and a concert in and around their base locations. tour of the UK. One of their career highClubbers and dance music lovers from lights was their performance during the gala across the UAE got the chance to experidinner at the Monte Carlo rally. They have ence an icon of Singapore nightlife when sold out every venue that they have played Zouk – an institution of Singapore clubbing thrilling up to 30,000 fans at a time in some – came to Dubai’s Sanctuary Nightclub at cases. This really was a major coup for Dubai. the Atlantis on November 12. Zouk, which has been consistently voted one of the best The twelve tenors clubs in the world since it opened in 1991, was in the Emirates as part of a world-tour ahead of its annual ZoukOut dance music festival which will be held on Dec 12 on the beaches of Sentosa Island, Singapore. Last year’s edition attracted over 26,000 clubbers as they partied from dusk till dawn. Zouk chose Dubai to host its Middle East ZoukOut Pre-Party, because of the UAE Digest, December 2009 l 27

TOY

(Doll)ightfully Yours Fulla is the Middle East’s answer to Barbie By Manju Ramanan

he has a facebook account, created on May 18th 2008 at 8:14 pm, and has over 797 fans. Demure, docile, culturally aware, intelligent and an icon for several young girls in this region, Fulla, created in 2003, is the Middle East’s answer to Barbie doll - who celebrated her 50th birthday this year. Unlike Barbie, who is a woman doll, Fulla is a girl created to represent the Muslim world and its code of ethics and apparel for women. She is decked up in modern, but modest, outfits and is said to have a host of qualities that are upheld in this region - respect for herself, her parents and for the people around her, being kind to her friends and peers, etc. Fulla wears an Abaya, a head-scarf and among her accessories you can find a Fulla prayer set – that comes with a praying outfit meant for most girls in the 6-12 age groups as well as a pink prayer mat. However she also sports western wear, though no swimwear, her skirts fall below her knees and shirts always cover her elbows and arms. As Mariah Edely Peiz, Store Supervisor at Hamleys, Dubai states, “Arabic customers prefer Fulla. In fact, they are looking for her at the store. Though Barbie is popular across nationalities, this doll has carved a niche for herself. We even have a Fulla area in our doll’s house,” she states. And among the Fulla dolls, the one in the Abaya is most preferred. Of late she has also seen non-Arabs pick up the doll. “We have Chinese, Filipinos or our Indian customers who buy the doll as a souvenir 28 l UAE Digest, December 2009

or gift to carry back home since it is representative of the Arab region,” she adds. Created by a Syrian company called New Boy Design Studio in 2003, Fulla, is slowly and certainly increasing in popularity not just in the UAE and the Middle East but amongst the Muslim population residing in the rest of the world. While Barbie still goes strong, Fulla is pitched at going beyond external fashion and beauty. She is a doctor, dentist and teacher (each of the doll series comes with their respective accessories), who respects her parents and

likes to read and play sports. “The message that Fulla brings is promoting good virtues for little girls,” said Basel Kanawati, chief technology officer for NewBoy. It is asking girls to take pride in themselves and not dress for boys and be the sex symbols that other dolls tend to be,” says Kanawati, who lives in Charlotte, N.C

Fulla in traditional gear

who says that his doll fills a void for parents and girls who want a doll that looks like them and represents their values. The father of four daughters says he sees the pressures some girls face. “They feel they need to imitate other people to be accepted into society. The message (of Fulla) is that you can be proud of yourself and function in society.” Renée Terrebonne in the MAI Review, 2008, 2, Santa Cruz Report in her study on ‘Fulla, the veiled Barbie: An analysis of cultural imperialism and agency’ states that Fulla is designed with two outdoor fashions, she wears either a black head-to-toe outfit: an abaya and a black headscarf (marketed to more conservative Middle Eastern countries in the Arabian Gulf region); or a fashionable white or light blue long coat with a white headscarf which was marketed to more liberal countries in the Eastern Mediterranean area. Named after a fragrant flower, the Fulla line includes a variety of dolls dressed in clothes that reflect different countries in the Middle East and Asia. Like Barbie, Fulla too has a list of commodities as well as a television series dedicated to her. Some of her accessories specifically include breakfast cereal, chewing gum, swimming pool accessories, school handbag, CD players, camera, inflatable chairs, umbrellas, watches and bracelets. Fadwa El Guindi describes in her article entitled ‘Veiling resistance’, that, European powers created a colonial narrative of women in which the veil and the treatment of women epitomised Islamic inferiority. By considering the veil and treatment of women as a sign that Islam was inherently flawed, traditional colonial powers as well as cultural imperialist powers have constructed an image of the veil that conflates the veil with women’s oppression. In direct response to this, in the 1970s, women college students in Egypt began to wear the veil in public spaces as a sign of resistance. El Guindi explains: by dressing this way in public these young women conveyed their vision of Islamic ideals by becoming exemplary contemporary models. Encoded in their dress style is an affirmation of Islamic identity and morality and a rejection of Western materialism, consumerism, commercialism, and values. Another stereotype that Fulla breaks

Barbie’s 50th is that she sings too. Unlike Barbie who anniversary is essentially a doll that doesn’t speak, the latest edition of Fulla can sing, with limited the help of a lavender flower electronic edition control that can double as a microphone. phone Keeping up with the values that define the doll, Fulla doesn’t have a boy-friend but To celebrate has companions within her family as well Barbie’s 50th as close friends. Her naughty younger anniversary, brother Little Badr, and Noor her Givori, cute little sister, keep her company, the luxury so does her stylish pal Nada, just a accessorizor few years younger than her. Her specializing outfits are fun and stylish, in mobile art, has while still modest and teamed up with ladylike. The highlight Mattel to launch a are her auburn tresses, limited edition offering junior hairstylists phone. The Barbie enough length to practice their Limited Edition braids, buns, and other styling tricks. Collection, which “Toys are extremely important to is designed using children and dolls especially are known to the Nokia 8800 Carbon give children a definition of themselves. phones is sprinkled with While the blonde hair blue eyed dolls Barbie magic, vintage in their various avatars offer a sweeping 1930’s intaglio Czech generalisation of the world, dolls based on stones, and genuine ethnic societies offer a fresh new perspecSwarovski crystals. Only tive,” says counsellor Ahmed Owais. 10 individually numbered As Fawaz Abidin, brand manager of pieces wordwide have Fulla states, “this isn’t just about putting been meticulously handthe hijab on a Barbie-like doll. You crafted to ensure that no have to create a character that parents two phones are alike. Quintessentially Barbie and children will want to relate to.” The Givori Barbie As 12 year old Najla Ahmed says, phone, which retails for “She’s popular because she’s one of us. She’s Dh15,000, was launched at the Dubai my sister. She’s my mother,” Ultimately, Fashion Week. An impressive catwalk Fulla might give Arab girls what Barbie event saw international designers showcase never could: an empowering reflection an extravaganza of clothes and accessories, and an icon of their own culture. all designed with Barbie doll as the muse. Limited edition Barbie phone

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 29

HEALTH

Micky Jagtiani, wearing No.5400, and his wife Renuka, holding bottle of water

Thousands walked the YAS Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi

UAE walks for a cause Over 4,000 people from all walks of life pledge their support to Landmark Group’s ‘Beat Diabetes’ initiative

t was a day when young and old in the UAE came together for a common cause. People from all age groups – from 80-year-olds to youth; men and women to young kids in strollers – joined hands for the 3.1kilometre ‘Beat Diabetes’ walkathon in Dubai. The Walkathon was one of many events organised in more than 160 countries around the world on 14 November to commemorate the birthday of Fredrick Banting, who is credited with the discovery of insulin. Oasis Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road was abuzz with activity on 13 November, when over 4,000 people from various sections of the society, including top government functionaries, celebrities and business leaders, joined the walkathon to fight diabetes. Organised by leading retail conglomerate Landmark Group, with the support of the Dubai Sports Council, the walkathon was part of an initiative to drive awareness and education on diabetes prevention and management across the UAE, known to have the second highest percentage population of diabetes in the world. The walkathon assumes great significance considering that nearly 20 per cent of the UAE population is suffering from diabetes and 50 per cent of the people with Type 2 diabetes don’t know they have it. Renuka Jagtiani, Director, Landmark Group, said: “I would like to thank everyone 30 l UAE Digest, December 2009

who joined us for the Beat Diabetes Walkathon and it is indeed very comforting to know that people are enthusiastic about the cause. This is only the beginning as we look forward to sustaining the campaign and even extending it across the GCC in years to come.” As part of the initiative, free diabetes tests were offered at Oasis Centre on 13th and 14th of November and people found to be susceptible were advised on how to seek further medical attention. The diabetes test centre attracted over 2,500 people in the first three hours of being opened on Friday morning. She added: “Diabetes kills almost

4 million people each year – that is one person every 10 seconds, which is disturbing. Over 250 million people are living with diabetes worldwide and the number is predicted to reach 380 million by 2025. Through this endeavour, the company hopes to achieve a more diabetes-aware and educated community.” To add colour to the programme, Oasis Centre was illuminated in blue to align with the global diabetes monument challenge. Over 1000 monuments in the world were lit up in blue to mark the World Diabetes Day. Notable monuments include the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada; London Eye in the UK; and Sears Tower in Chicago, USA.

Start walking, live healthily WALK UAE, now in its third year, was part of the award-winning public health awareness campaign, ‘Diabetes Knowledge Action’, organised by ICLDC, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, and in partnership with Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy. Dr Maha Taysir Barakat, Medical & Research Director and Consultant Endocrinologist, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, said that walking 30-minutes a day is proven to help combat the onset of diabetes, and indeed to manage the disease. She urged that consideration is given to regular exercise and warned that slim people are not exempt from developing diabetes. “It is a common misconception to think that reasonable body weight equates to good health. The truth is that visceral fat can build up around the liver, even in people who are visibly thin. This fat can promote the onset of type 2 diabetes. There is a simple, smart solution to preventing and managing diabetes and this is to eat healthily and to exercise. Regular exercise can lower the risk of developing diabetes by 58 per cent,” she said.

SPA

The other parts of a spa By Linda Benbow

adies, where do you have your hair cut and coiffured? I recently had hair treatments at a five star hotel and enjoyed the experience very much. Natural Elements is the Spa, gym and hair salon part of Le Meridien Dubai, the one near Dubai Airport. Set within the hotel grounds, the purpose built building has an air of quiet relaxation from the moment you park in the car park immediately outside the main door. Established shrubs and flowers wave you into the cool building where athletic-dressed men and women go to work out in a gym equipped with the latest machines and equipment. Hotel guests smile “hello” and residents of the city amble towards their chosen areas of occupation. The hair salon is tucked away through a door to the left of the reception desk. Friendly faces lead you to a spacious room kitted out with the usual paraphernalia of hair dryers, sinks and comfortable padded chairs which can be raised or lowered depending on your seated height and the hairdressers’ standing height. The knowledgeable staff guide you through choices of cut, style, colours, highlights and lowlights while explaining and suggesting what will suit you, just you. It is a nice feeling to have all that attention concentrated on making you look nice. The salon will also arrange for a manicurist and pedicurist to come into the salon and attend to your nails if you want it. Eyebrow tinting, hair restyling, hot oil scalp treatments and more are available too with prices starting from Dh50. Bridal packages are available with make-up included in the price. Natural Elements offers relaxation and rejuvenation treatments complemented with exclusive offerings, which include scientific and speciality facials, specialised face and body treatments and packages, hair treatments, detoxifying solutions, body wraps and a variety of massages.

With pleasant memories of having an aromatherapy foot massage 20 years ago, I decided to try out the Reflexology offered at Natural Elements. My memory is obviously not quite as good as it ought to be - or maybe the two are not the same – actually, I think that is the true explanation as foot massage is offered as a separate procedure; but this choice hurt. Luckily the masseuse saw me wincing and quickly changed the pressure of hand on foot. The oriental masseuse led me through a dimly lit corridor, past the guest’s relaxation area with chaise longue loungers, into a treatment room with thick, fluffy towels on a bed. Pleasant smelling oils were rubbed onto my feet and the treatment began. It seems peculiar that pressure on the sole of your foot affects your spleen, or heart, or lungs. And

yet that is exactly what it does. I tried to analysis the vague quiverings inside the body but don’t know enough about the location of the pancreas, etc to be able to do so. You need to be fit and healthy to sign up for this one, which helps to release toxins and encourage the natural functions of various glands, organs and parts of the body.

Reflexology (zone therapy) is an alternative medicine method involving the practice of massaging or applying pressure to parts of the feet, or sometimes the hands and ears, with the goal of encouraging a beneficial effect on other parts of the body, or to improve general health. Many civilizations have practiced reflexology. Evidence of this has been documented in Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America. The most common theory is that the earliest form of reflexology originated in China, as much as 5000 years ago. The early Taoists are credited with originating many Chinese health practises. The Cherokee tribes of North America to this day practise a form of reflexology that they continue to pass from generation to generation. Reflexology travelled across India, Japan, Asia, and China. The precise relationship between the ancient art practiced by the early Egyptians and reflexology as we know it today is unclear because different practices involving the manipulation of the feet to effect health have been used throughout the world.

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 31

SPA

R & R at the Spa Rest and relaxation during this hectic social month is a serious consideration at the various spas and salons around town

scape to Retreat Spa, Grosvenor House Dubai and indulge in one of their holiday special offers. The spa provides tranquility, the gym invigoration and the terrace pool complete relaxation. Coupled with complimentary use of the sauna, steam and jacuzzi, a session here, will make for a whole afternoon of lavish pampering. Have a one hour leg cryo-tonic treatment, a foot and ankle massage, allow slightly longer for a Swedish back massage and two and a half hours for a full body and face care of your choice. Prices range from Grosvenor Retreat Spa Dh450 to Dhs980. Caracalla Spa at Le Royal Meridian Beach Resort & Spa features both ladies and men’s spacious relaxation areas, offers comfortable changing facilities leading through to a wet area with sauna, steam and Jacuzzi. Choose from an impressive selection of treatments, and also enjoy the spa’s five stunning Hammam pools. A back, head and Gold Swiss Belhotel Dubai shoulder massage will remove all your stress while a detox back massage and body wrap will remove toxins making you glow all over. There is a teen special for those aged 13 – 17 with a facial and back massage lasting 1 hour 15 minutes. Prices range from Dh450 to Dh950. Hot on the heels of a 1st October soft opening, the 4-star Gold Swiss-Belhotel Dubai, Al Mina Road, announced the appointment of Dreamworks Spa and Massage Centres who specialise in Balinese massage and foot reflexology and employ 32 l UAE Digest, December 2009

tailored exclusive massage, 30 minutes in the floatation pool and 15 minutes in the oxygen bar. What’s more, when you book any of the above packages, they will include a complimentary 25 minute facial as well as free access to the Jacuzzi and outdoor swimming pool on the Towers Terrace. Have a 95 minutes Balinese massage at Okku, Monarch Hotel, followed by a three-course lunch for Dh299 per person (Sunday to Thursday). Understanding the importance of making loved ones feel cherished and pampered, the Le Royal Meridien Caracalla Thai Privilege Spa has created a lavish gift hamper with affordable options. Buy a voucher for Dh350 and get Dh100 worth of treatments for free. Or buy any of the spa’s exclusive beauty products or china gifts at a special 20 per cent off. The spa uses signature Benjarong products, hand painted bone china and porcelain that is authentically Thai in origin and craftsmanship. The tradition of owning a piece of Benjarong pottery is famous all over Thailand with the practice dating Pre Spa Foot Wash Area, Thai Privilege Spa back to the 18th century where Benjarong pieces were created for the complimentary pool access including Royal Thai families. Visit the spa: Villa # all day access to the lawn game activi1047, Uttamah Villas, Al Wasl Road, Dubai. ties, volleyball, camel rides, falcon show Indulge in a 55-minute real aromathand aqua aerobics classes. Valid until 23 erapy experience at The Spa at The Address December (excluding public holidays). Dubai Mall and pamper yourself with a Pamper yourself at H20 The Male complimentary and traditional afternoon Spa, Jumeirah Emirates Towers with tea at their lobby lounge, Karat, with a a Sports Package and enjoy a 55 minute selection of hand-picked teas and a variDeep Tissue Massage as well as 30 minutes ety of coffees and mocktails plus gourmet in the floatation pool. If you need a real sandwiches and delicate pastries and scones. reviver, you can opt for the Ultra SignaAfternoon Ritual at Dh500 per person. ture Package which includes a 55-minute more than 40 staff, all from Bali. The spa offering is intentionally focused on high demand treatments at a value for money price tag but also includes the Dreamworks signature four hand massage at Dh350 (60 mins). Prices start from Dh125 for a 30-minute head/shoulder/neck massage. Gift vouchers are also available for purchase and make an ideal festive gift. Choose any 50 minute treatment at Satori Spa, Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa and receive a 10 minute Indian Head massage as well as

PRODUCTS

Fine goods Panasonic’s multi-function camera Panasonic has added a powerful new model to its Lumix G Micro System lineup of new-generation digital interchangeable lens system cameras. Distinguished by an artistic thin body that is both elegant and compact, the new DMC-GF1 debuts as the world’s smallest and lightest system camera with a built-in flash. Panasonic took the market by storm with the series’ first model - the compact, lightweight DMC-G1, with its convenient size and brilliant image quality. The company broke new ground when it launched the DMC-GH1, which added AVCHD full-HD movie recording. It can record both vivid still shots and smooth, motion pictures. The GF1 features the advanced AVCHD Lite movie, which is ideal for recording extended HD movies and networking with other AV devices, and it can also record in the Motion JPEG format, which offers wide compatibility with PCs.

Bringing proper order to your life Swedish brand Ordning & Reda, whose name literally translates into ‘proper order’ offers products that are designed to alleviate clutter and mess in their consumers’ lives. The concept of a clutterfree life goes a lot further than most people think. Just as there are long- term health benefits associated with getting enough sleep and doing regular exercise, the same holds true for a clutter-free life. With a selection of stationary and accessories to keep your life in ‘proper order’, the company will assist with keeping the chaos and stress of life at bay.

Gifts for newlyweds Visit Irony Home, the lifestyle and accessories store and view their latest collection of gifts ideal for newly weds. Silver cutlery, serving dishes and fixtures which help beautify homes are among the gifts available. In addition to this, contemporary cutlery for weddings is also stocked at the store, located on the lower ground floor at The Dubai Mall. The new range includes beautifully adorned serving dishes, silver dinner sets, exclusive cutlery, salad bowl pansy, a set of six ornate glasses, matching shell tassels, black vase with white carvings, a set of salad spoons and several accessories all designed to brighten up the home.

Trilingual P-Touch label printer Brother Gulf recently launched its range of affordable and high-speed compact business colour printers and MultiFunction Centres (MFCs), and the first-ever trilingual (English, Arabic, Persian) P-Touch label printer in the Middle East. The company’s newest products are compact, affordable, and ideal for small businesses and home-based office professionals due to powerful features such as fast professional colour and monochrome print speeds at 16 pages per minute. Additionally, the new P-Touch Label Printer (P-Touch 2700 AR) can print up to seven lines; features six fonts, 11 type styles, 22 frame styles and 123 symbols; can support nine types of barcodes, and connect to a computer via USB. Available from Jumbo Electronics and other good electronic stores GCC wide. UAE Digest, December 2009 l 33

FASHION

Read the label There are plenty of new fashions being launched for all - from babies to teenagers to adults – many of which come with a word of explanation, or advise, from manufacturers and sellers. How else would you know whether or not your jacket had an integrated renewable power source that can charge a handheld communication device or MP3 player? Read the label to find out. Or, read on to see what is up and coming in the world of fashion. New mums will know that pram suits and cosy fabrics are essential for keeping the cold weather at bay. This season Mamas & Papas delightful velour pram suit or the velour all-in-one will do just that and with stripe lining on the pram suit and sweet bear graphics on both outfits they look cute and stylish too

amas & Papas, the international designer nursery brand, offers a comprehensive range of affordable luxury nursery products. It has a complete range of ready-to-wear items for mothers and babies, award-winning travel and transportation systems, furniture, toys and gifts, and much more. Their spacious store design that incorporates a wide range of room styles allows for a more realistic feel when selecting furniture for the nursery. The stores services include free personal consultation, shopping advice and a gift registry in addition to providing customers with a ‘Delivery and Assembly’ service for room set. Stores are in Dubai Mall, Mercato and within Harvey Nichols at Mall of the Emirates.

For extra trendy tots, the best style this season is Mamas & Papas faux fur gilet in brown which features a stunning purple lining with floral prints. Team it with the tiny faux fur lined grey suede boots and pink tights, which include detachable socks to keep fashionable feet warm

Aéropostale, Inc. (NYSE: ARO), a mall-based speciality retailer of casual and active apparel for young women and men has opened a store in Dubai Mall. The Company celebrated with an opening event during which the store was converted into ‘The Back Yard’, an outdoor space featuring music, art and live performances for the public’s entertainment. The launch event included in-store eight live mannequins modelling Aéropostale clothing in the store windows and on the Back Yard and live entertainment. The festivities showcased the musical talents of international BeatBox artists and DJ Venus, who spun her favourite tracks to get the crowd in a weekend mood. Tommy Baker, a basketball freestyler, one of the world’s leading sports entertainers who pioneered a new concept of circus juggling which involves sports-themed juggling, spinning and dribbling, was there too, along with The Xtremer Dance Group, a Dubai-based dance act specializing in street dance, break-dance and hip-hop. 34 l UAE Digest, December 2009

Hooded sleeveless gilet by Aéropostale

Liali Jewellery makes it easier for jewellery lovers to acquire the pieces they have been dreaming of, thanks to the easy installment plans being offered by the jewellery retailer in partnership with leading banks and credit card companies. Citibank, Emirates NBD, Barclays, RBS and Najm have schemes of six monthly installments at zero per cent interest. ADCB offers three monthly installments at zero per cent interest for a purchase amounting to Dh1,000 – Dh1,999, and six or 12 monthly installments at zero per cent interest for a purchase worth Dh2,000 and above. (However, installment plans for ADCB are not valid with the use of Islamic cards.) On the occasion of Liali Jewellery’s tenth anniversary, there are also some amazing gifts for clients who use their credit cards to buy jewellery. For set amount of purchases Citibank cardholders may choose any free jewellery piece worth Dh1010 from the 1010 Collection. Emirates NBD clients get free services from the Nail Spa while RBS cardholders are entitled to a gift voucher from Tips & Toes. For ADCB customers, the special offer consists of a free pair of 18K gold earrings while shoppers who have Najm cards can enjoy a free pearl bracelet. Clients of RBS and ADCB may also take advantage of loyalty programmes, which allow them to earn points every time they use their credit cards. These points can later be exchanged for a voucher that can be redeemed at the jewellery store. Swiss designer Orianne Collins, ex-wife of singer Phil Collins, launched her OC Collection at Dubai International Jewellery Week 2009 last month. This is her

first jewellery line in the Middle East. Collins presented the OC Tales Collection in white diamonds comprising of earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets, especially for the occasion. She also launched a new ring, the OC Wonders Gracious Spirit, in white diamonds.

Opals and pearls from Liali Jewellery

sales outlet in the Prestige Watch boutique at the Grand Hôtel Kempinski in Geneva. She started out with a theme close to her heart, the Little Dreams Foundation, and her ‘Charms’ bracelet, made in collaboration with the Van Cleef & Arpels firm, featured the Foundation’s 11 world’s motif. New York City based jewellery designer Deb Schecter of Dyanne Belle has created a unique bracelet the profits from which will go towards financing the Flying Angel, the first support vessel of its kind in the world that helps seafarers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. The bracelet, that features a sterling silver disc inscribed with the words Angel Appeal, was launched at an exclusive event on 5th November hosted by the Angel Appeal team and Karen Malia Warrington,

The British Consul General’s wife Karen Malia Warrington and based jewellery designer Deb Schecter wearing the bracelet

Collins has quickly left her mark since breaking into the industry three years ago, specialising in personalised high-end jewellery designs. This year she launched the OC Romance collection and A ring from the opened the first OC Collection

The British Consul General’s wife, in the British Embassy Residence and Gardens in Dubai. Guests were treated to bite-size cakes sponsored by Kitsch Cupcakes. An average of 75 seafarers a day visit the Flying Angel at sea who would not otherwise have the opportunity to come ashore and call home. The Mission to Seafarers, Dubai, operates the service on the east coast of the UAE. Running costs averages $750 a day. The vessel has Internet access, a library with educational UAE Digest, December 2009 l 35

Headwear Swarovski crystallised by Ahmad al Rayasi

sy in February 2010. Details of all and fictional DVDs and books, access to events can be found on the website. affordable telecommunications, a small hotel Swarovski Middle East recently hosted shop where seafarers can buy essential items ‘Crystallized™ – Glamour in the City’, a and provides pastoral and spiritual support glimpse of cutting edge fashion from the with an on board dedicated welfare officer. The Angel BraceSwarovski crystals for you and your pet, designed by Souhad Acouri let can be bought directly through the website www. angelappeal.com In addition, the charity has a schedule of events and the Angel Bracelet will be available to buy at them all. The next is a carol concert before Christmas followed by the annual High Tea and Jazz afternoon hosted at the British Embas36 l UAE Digest, December 2009

world’s greatest cities, at the One & Only Royal Mirage, Dubai. The event featured designers from the UAE and the region including Ahmed Al Reyaysa by Dar Sara Fashion, Sohad Acouri, Ezra, Fatima Abid, Awatif Al Hai, Arushi Design Team, Walid Attalah, Ziad Antoun, Amato by Furne One and Michael Cinco that have recalled a given moment in a given city through the interpretation of a gown, allowing guests to experience how haute couture is influenced by cultures reaching as far as Marrakech, Milan, Monte Carlo, Mumbai, Rio De Janeiro, Dubai, London, Tokyo, Paris, Miami. The sparkling event also inspired local designers by illustrating how Swarovski crystals can ignite the desire to design with crystals. Set against Dubai’s rich cultural infusion, the event attracted over 400 VIPs, local celebrities, socialites, business leaders and ambassadors. In 1895, Daniel Swarovski I, a Bohemian inventor and visionary, moved to the village of Wattens, Tyrol in Austria, with his newly-invented machine for cutting and polishing crystal jewellery stones. From this beginning that revolutionised the fashion world, Swarovski has grown to be the world’s leading producer of precisioncut crystal, for fashion, jewellery and more recently lighting, architecture, interiors, road safety reflectors and precision optical instruments. Today, the company, still based in Wattens, family-owned and run by

4th and 5th generation family members, has a global reach, with some 26,000 employees, a presence in over 120 countries and a turnover in 2008 of Euros2.52 billion. Zegna Sport presents the future of performance apparel, with a collection of engineered and technical products that give urban sportswear a new edge in its Autumn/Winter 2010 collection. Innovative designs and high-tech performing apparel meets the needs of today’s men, combining functionality and urban aesthetics. Hidden technologies and innovations are balanced perfectly for a sporty and urban lifestyle look. Breathable waterproof fabrics are pivotal, combined with ergonomic configured fits. Engineered materials improve performance and functionality. Teflon coating on knitwear and denim gives a water repellent property to casual attire, white breathable and absolute waterproof performance fabrics are standard. Ecotech, the latest cutting edge innova-

tion from Zegna Sport, is a performance textile made from 100 per cent recycled polyester yarns. Regenerated plastics bottles are used for padding, lining, outer fabric, seam taping and inner membrane to provide an ecologically sustainable answer to performance apparel. The Ecotech Solar Jacket combines the ground breaking 100 per cent recycled performance fabric, with acclaimed technology creating a recycled green product with an integrated renewable power source, that can charge a handheld communication device or MP3 player. Following close on the heels of Dubai Fashion Week held in October, Dubai’s fashion credentials have been given a further boost with the opening of Valleydez - the ‘Valley of Designers’, a boutique where fashion merges with theatrical store ambience to make shopping an artful experience. With its first store in Wafi Mall, Valleydez will showcase a handpicked

Winter boots for kids By Bharat Melwani, Senior Buyer for children’s footwear, Shoe Mart • Winter boots not only have to be purposeful but also fashionable at the same time for kids • To encourage the right fashion sense for your children let them be inspired by books which have inspiration favourite characters; embroidery and accessorised boots are prevalent for younger children and the older children settle for dark hues or mono chromed ankle boots • Get a proper measurement of your child’s foot size. All too often parents will buy shoes that are half a size or a size up from an old pair of shoes. Children, teens, can skip a whole shoe size when they go through a growth spurt. Enter any shoe store to get your child’s foot measured by an expert. • Have your child experiment and try out various styles of boots in a size larger than the original. Ensure that your child walks a bit to gauge the comfort of the boots. The boots inner needs to be a tad loose to allow enough space for

•

selection of unique creations from leading and emerging international designers, imported directly from the catwalks of the fashion capitals of the world- Milan, Paris, London, New York and Tokyo. Women visiting the store will also find an eclectic range of fashion accessories like jewellery, clutch bags, footwear, eyewear and hair ornaments in addition to luxurious spa products. The design of the store, an inspiration and creation of renowned interior designer Eiko Fujita-Summers, itself represents the creativity and flair of the clothes displayed within. The theme centres on the Marionette in a surreal, theatre-like setting, with drapes and exaggerated tables and chairs hanging from the ceiling and makes the shopping experience ‘magical’. With an in-store fashion stylist and sales staff with experience in fashion design, Valleydez is equipped to help shoppers find the perfect outfit, accessories and look they desire.

growth and ease in walking Boots that you chose need to be properly insulated to protect your child from cold and rainy weather. Children below the age of five need more protection than older kids as they are more prone to ailment through their feet

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 37

HOSPITALITY

Fun time

is the season to be merry, and what better way than by trying out all the hotel and eatery enticements that are on offer. Newcomers to town will appreciate that ‘je ne sais quoi’ touch of class to be found everywhere, while more well-seasoned revellers will sate their jaded palates and enjoy the new ideas sprouting around. Margaret Valley Wagyu beef. Scottish Salmon, bone in ribeye, Eaton Mess, treacle pudding. These are some of the few choice items found on the menu of celebrity former three star Michelin chef Chef Marco Pierre White’s latest venture at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr – Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill, which opened recently in Abu Dhabi. Coinciding with the launch of the restaurant, White has collaborated once more with famed horse jockey Frankie Dettori that will result in another Abu Dhabi first - Frankie’s restaurant at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr offering authentic Italian cuisine in a bustling restaurant and adjacent courtyard for outdoor dining with live piano entertainment in the evening. Start your New Year’s Eve in Pearls & Caviar, Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi with a bubbly reception and an Ushna, Abu Dhabi

38 l UAE Digest, December 2009

oyster bar followed by a six-course set menu with vino pairing. After dinner, be awed by the magnificent display of pyrotechnics over the waters of Abu Dhabi as you usher in the New Year with the inspiring Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the backdrop. Priced at Dh1500++ per person. Ushna, Abu Dhabi, welcomes diners and revellers alike to Souq Qaryat Al Beri this festive season, with their range of seasonal culinary offerings. • Celebrate Christmas Eve at Ushna with a set menu from Dh295 with a limited edition Champagne glass set gift for every guest • Full set menu for New Years Eve starting from Dh395 including a festive gift in the main Ushna restaurant • Ushna Bar and Terrace Lounge option with canapés and super premium drinks priced at Dh395 • Seafood-themed menu for New Years Day celebrations starting from Dh275 How do you make a steak house really different? Great meat is a good start, but anyone can do that. How you cook it is another matter. At Blue Grill, Yas Island Rotana, Abu Dhabi all the steaks are prepared by star chefs performing their art

Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman

in an open kitchen. The menu offers hearty steaks of US Black Angus and Australian Prime Wagyu Beef, with preference cuts char-grilled to order. A choice of fresh seafood and appetizers are also on offer. From the cool blue and comfortable interior, the bottle display cabinets featuring an amazing selection of New and Old world vintages to complement every offering on the menu, to the discrete semi private dining areas. For reservations phone 02 6564000. Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman has opened a new restaurant – the Orchid. This all-day dining restaurant serves a delectable breakfast, international lunch buffet and a four course, a la carte menu during dinner in a relaxing atmosphere. Delicious meals featuring fresh local and international produce with a wide choice of beverages and exotic music make your experience memorable. One can enjoy from signature dishes of the restaurant such as grilled lamb or Shepherd’s Pie. And once you are done with the restaurant’s beef and chicken skewers, which are grilled to perfection, treat yourself to a scrumptious dessert. When it’s time to ring the bells to welcome the festive season, Pergolas at Al Murooj Rotana Dubai will offer a sumptu-

ous Christmas Day Family Brunch buffet at Dh245 per person including selected standard beverages. Children will have a dedicated Kid’s corner with Christmas carols sung and a photograph session of kids receiving gifts from Santa. The next day, at Double Decker, enjoy a lavish buffet at ‘DD’s Boxing Day Brunch’. You can start planning your New Year’s resolution while indulging in live cooking stations and buffets featuring many traditional treats such as roast lamb or mince pie complemented by unlimited standard beverages until 4 pm. Spend Christmas Eve sailing on Bateaux Dubai with family and friends as a four course gourmet dinner is prepared on board. This special Christmas Eve cruise costs Dh 295 per person, including four course dinner, welcome drink on arrival and festive entertainment. Children younger than 12 pay half price. Burj Al Arab’s New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner, from 6.30pm onwards, will have pre-dinner cocktails, a gala dinner and party with selected complimentary beverages served throughout the evening. Celebrations include live music and an awe-inspiring display of fireworks. Dh7,450 per adult, half price for children aged 9 months to 11 years. Carluccio’s, Dubai Mall, celebrates this Bateaux Dubai

time of year with seasonal menus, specialist shopping evenings and festive discounts for those who are looking for a little extra sparkle to their festive celebrations. It offers three options of festive set menus running through December ranging from Dh120 to Dh180 per person for parties of 10 or making it the ideal location for festive lunches, brunches, dinners and get-togethers. Starting from the 10th December, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club’s Christmas choir will be performing at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony from 6:45 pm until 7:30 pm on Legends Terrace, and then again every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the same time on Lakeview Terrace in the golf clubhouse, with the last event on 25th of December. So please join them for a few hours of festive music and indulge in their homemade Gluwine and minced pies. Enjoy Christmas in the Conservatory and Le Classique at Emirates Golf Club. Executive Chef Francois Porte is preparing a traditional Christmas meal while Santa will pay a visit to ensure that everyone gets into the Christmas spirit. Christmas Day Brunch is served from 12:00pm to 3:30pm. For a traditional Christmas experience, head over to Grosvenor House’s flagship restaurant Rhodes Mezzanine. Headed up by Michelin starred celebrity Chef Gary Rhodes, this restaurant provides a chance

to experience the very best in modern British cuisine. Traditional english five course lunch with a sundowner on the terrace at Dh680 net per person (open from 1pm to 6pm). The restaurant will be hosting a New Year’s Eve dinner party this year, featuring live music from GH’s house duo, followed by an after party next door at the popular Buddha Bar. NYE Dinner Party at Dh1, 650 per person. Children will have a grand time on Christmas Day at Hatta Fort Hotel when Santa arrives on top of a camel with gifts for the kids. Throughout the day children will be entertained with a parrot show, games, competitions, magic show, painting, treasure hunts, dance competitions and the bouncing Hatta Castle in the gardens. The Christmas Day Package includes a welcome drink on arrival, traditional lunch or dinner in Jeema restaurant, overnight accommodation for two sharing adults and full breakfast in Café Gazebo on Boxing Day from Dh2,110+ per couple at a deluxe chalet style room.. Join in with the New Year’s Eve Ball at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa. Hosted in a spectacular three-dome Marquee, the first-class entertainment line-up will include London’s legendary ‘Zig Zag Band’ who will perform sultry soul, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll. A selection of appetisers, seasonal roasts and decadent sweets as well as a variety of international and sparkling beverages will be served throughout the evening. Enter 2010 in style at this lavish all-inclusive

Hatta Fort Hotel

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 39

JW Marriott Dubai-festive sweets

evening for Dh1,980+ per couple. This black tie/national dress event will start at 8pm and will be highlighted with a stunning fireworks display at midnight. For an evening of unbeatable fun and the best in American Tex Mex dining, make New Year’s Eve a night to remember at Scarlett’s in the Boulevard, Jumeirah Emirates Towers with resident DJ. Dh250 for an American buffet including two house beverages from 7.30pm, and Dh150 for two house beverages for those who arrive after 10pm As turkey is mainly the entrée for Christmas dinner, JW Marriott Dubai is offering festive take-away dishes at Vienna Café. Open 24 hours, you can order a traditional roast turkey stuffed with apricot & walnut bread and served with giblet gravy and cranberry sauce. Other take-away items include smoked salmon with classic garnish; Black Angus prime rib of beef with jus and creamed horseradish among others. Complement your dish with Christmas pudding, baked apple pie, New York cheesecake, pecan nut pie or a Yule log cake. Orders have to be made 48 hours in advance and the festive-take away is available from 1 December to 31 December 2009. Guests at Warehouse, Le Meridien

40 l UAE Digest, December 2009

Dubai’s combination of bars, lounge and restaurants, can now get a dose of authentic Spanish food and culture every Wednesday, from 5pm to 3am, with a vast array of delicious tapas from the south including frittatas, crostinis, and traditional paella from Valencia. With prices ranging from Dh20 to Dh65 this wonderful meal can be enjoyed with sensational Torres Spanish grape beverages and zesty sangria that have also been added to the menu. Sample the various bottles at the theme bar before making your choice. The theme night also includes live entertainment by the Latino Wenacosa Band, from 8 pm11pm. For reservations call 04 7022560 UK-based pantomime production company H2 are bringing their spectacular production of the classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty to The First Group Theatre at Souk Madinat Jumeirah to delight adults and children of all ages for the forthcoming festive season. A succulent mix of evil, comedy, music and dancing combined with colourful costumes and stunning scenery will transport you to the magical world of Pantoland! There are two performances at 3pm and 7pm daily from 20 December to 2 January, but not on 25 Decmber and 1 January. Visitors to Mall of the Emirates will be in for a treat this festive season as Mrs. and Mr. Claus will be taking up residence in Ski Dubai starting December 10. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be welcoming their visitors at the indoor ski slope and there will be an opportunity for photos with Santa and christmas fairy Louisa. On Saturday, December 12, chefs from Sezzam will be creating a giant 355-metre-long Kempinski stollen (breaking a new record in the UAE) - a famous traditional German festive pastry – and guests can pick up a slice for

Dh10 from 10am at the Mall of the Emirates Galleria. All proceeds will go to the Dubai Centre for Special Needs. On Tuesday, December 15, Dubai Wind Band will take the mall’s Galleria by storm with a very talented local group of over 50 woodwind and brass musicians coming together to sing a mix of popular and festive tunes, 6:00pm onwards. Mango Tree, Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Burj Dubai has various seating options including group dining/ sharing table available for up to 22. It has semiprivate dining spaces, with intimate lighting, brown leather banquettes and a gold leaf ceiling plus a vintners library. This Thai restaurant has set lunch menus for parties during December with prices for a three course meal ranging from Dh180 to Dh250 per person. Each of these set menus can be supplemented by Dh150pp to also include 1 bottle of J. Fils Moreau Chablis or Laforet Pinot Noir or five bottles of Tiger. If you want an alternative New Year’s Eve then look no further than Momotaro, located in the popular Souk Al Bahar . Momotaro features a menu of authentic Japanese cuisine, using only the finest ingredients available. For Dh200 deposit per person, see in 2010 by discovering a range of Japanese delicacies and a superb selection of premium Japanese and international beverages to suit every budget in a stylish, contemporary setting reminiscent of a high-end Tokyo night spot. The amount paid as deposit can be used against your total bill on the night. Plus receive a complimentary glass of bubbly to toast in the New Year! The unique Momotaro all-you-can-eat a la carte brunch will also be available on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Park Hyatt Dubai will offer a babysit-

ting service to guests dining in the hotel on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The fee for this service is Dh25 per hour from 6am until midnight and Dh30 per hour from midnight until 6am. Reservations must be made 48 hours in advance through the hotel’s Concierge Department on 04 6021635. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek celebrates and welcomes this year’s festive season by hosting a Gingerbread house decoration event for children on Saturday 12th of December 2009 from 2 pm till 4 pm at the hotel’s ballroom. The hotel has made a tradition out of its most tempting Gingerbread house display, together with its Gingerbread goodies market consisting of exciting packages, delicious gingerbread cookies and a wide variety of sweets. Purchase a gingerbread house for Dh70, and they will provide your children with goodies, icing and sweets for decoration. Come and take part in this family event filled with laughter, fun and entertainment while your children meet and play with Santa Clause, receive surprise Christmas gifts and enjoy group activities from 2 pm till 4 pm. From December 14th -22nd, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek hosts its very own Norwegian Christmas Table

RadDC-Selection of Marinated Herrings

and also offers the chance to all diners to win a trip for two persons to Oslo courtesy of SAS Airlines and a three nights stay for two at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Oslo. Traditional Norwegian festive specialties will be served at Boulvar including selections

of herring, salmon fillet with potato and dill sauce, traditional Norwegian Christmas dishes such as Pinnekjott (salted and dried lamb breast), Fisketerrine (fish terrine), Kalkun (turkey), Rodkaal (red cabbage), Gravet laks (marinated salmon). Rivington Grill, Souk al Bahar, has announced a Sundowner promotion offering classic British light dishes, with 50 per cent off selected beverages. Available Sunday through Thursday from 5pm to 7pm, there is a choice of house drinks, jugs of Pimm’s and house spirits. The menu features a repertoire of delectable choices, including ‘Half pint of prawns and garlic mayonnaise’, ‘Scottish Cumbrae oysters’, ‘Montgomery cheddar on toast with Worcestershire sauce’, ‘Rivington baked beans on toast’ and ‘Steak sandwich with Colman’s mustard and crispy onions’Special Rivington tea-cakes are also on offer. Join Ruth’s Chris Steak House at Monarch Hotel during the festive season for the experience of delicious festive food on the 24th, 25th and 26th December. Executive Chef Paul De Visser has specially prepared some seasonal favuorites to perfectly complement the seasonal spirit, with a Christmas tree, carols and gifts for all who share this day with Ruth’s Chris at Dh220 per person.

Ruth-Christmas Turkey

For parties larger than 15 people there is the option of booking a private dining room. As an alternative of the traditional Brunch, Cabana, The Address Dubai Mall brings an irresistible barbecue set up by the Pool every Friday from 1pm to 5pm!

Directly from their al fresco grill, you will be delighted with mouth watering meat cuts, a variety of seafood and fresh tempered vegetables. To make your afternoon even more blissful, our resident DJ plays the best of the house music, from 2pm to 5pm. Outback Fridays packages starts from Dh120 per person, inclusive of soft beverages The Address Dubai Marina opened recently and is ready to welcome Friday brunchers, families on Saturdays and seafood lovers on Sundays among other theme nights. Tuesday is called Ladies Soiree, whereby a couple can enjoy an international buffet, and the lady dines with the compliments of the hotel, i.e. free. Dh250 per person, including selected house beverages. Enjoy a Wednesday evening of classic film and a theme meal at The Ritz Carlton Dubai every fortnight, for a set price. On the 9th, Turner Classic Movies presents When Harry Met Sally (Billy Crystal/Meg Ryan/Carrie Fisher) and on 23rd its time for It’s A Wonderful Life (James Stewart/Donna Reed). Getting in the festive spirit, Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay, Oman is offering a whole range of Christmas specials and savings for GCC residents this holiday season. Between 1 and 26 December take advantage of a special ‘two nights for the price of one’ offer, on a room only basis, when staying at this luxurious five-star resort in Oman. Children are eligible to stay for free. All children staying in the resort over Christmas will receive their own stocking as well as additional gifts courtesy of good old Saint Nick. On top of that, Zighy Bay is laying on the kids entertainment with all sorts of exciting festive activities for them to take part in such as cooking classes, educational treasure hunts and a silent disco where children put in earphones and then dance to pre-downloaded music on an ipod. UAE Digest, December 2009 l 41

HOME & GARDEN

Lights out Incandescent lamps to be phased out in GCC

oyal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) has announced that it will unilaterally phase-out incandescent lamps in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) starting with 100W and higher incandescent light bulbs from 1 September 2010, followed by the 75W in 2012; 60W in 2014 and in 2016 40W, 25W and 15W. With this plan, Philips is taking another step to help reduce energy consumption and carbon emission by supporting the switch to energy efficient lighting solutions. With the switch, consumers will save money without compromising on quality and style. Philips provides a comprehensive range of alternatives that help consumers to create the perfect ambiance at home. “A switch to energy efficient lighting solutions is simple to make, yet the effect

Laura Ashley unveils 2009 Autumn-Winter home collection

is tremendous,” says Louis Hakim, VP of Royal Philips Electronics and CEO of Philips Middle East. “Estimates show that two thirds of the worlds light bulbs are based on older, less efficient technologies. Significant savings can be made in terms of energy consumption, carbon emission and costs by switching to energy efficient solutions. This is unique; it offers a win-win for the environment and consumers at large. However, the world will continue wasting energy if the speed of the switch doesn’t increase rapidly; therefore Philips is announcing its unilateral phase-out plan of incandescent lamps in the GCC to emphasise the importance of a switch for a sustainable environment”, Louis adds. Globally, lighting represents 19 per cent of the electricity energy bill. For

homes, up to 80 per cent savings can be made by converting from conventional lamps to energy efficient ones. If GCC consumers switch their homes to energy efficient lighting solutions, this will already save up to $400 million and 5.1 megaton in CO2 emissions annually. Compact fluorescent energy savers are up to five times more efficient than incandescent lamps; in other words, they need up to five times less energy to generate the same amount of light. The company’s CFLs lasts an average of eight times longer than incandescent lamps, needing less frequent replacements. In addition, LEDs like MasterLed, is an ultra-efficient, fully dimmable LED lamp which saves up to 80 per cent of energy and also has a lifetime of 45,000 hours.

way into this collection spanning a range of chandeliers, table lamps, ceiling lights, easy fit pendants, floor lamps, shades, wall lights and accessories. The collection is inspired by six themes. Orient – a theme with rich colors of gold, cranberry and accents of black, to create an Eastern influenced interior inspired by patterns rediscovered from within Laura Ashley’s archives.

Winter Garden – Inspired by nature, providing a cool and shimmering sensation with a palette of metallic shades. This theme is all about glass, silk and highly polished surfaces that glimmer and reflect. Flower power - Reflects a sophisticated and airy interior with a contemporary British flavour. Palazzo - Offers a sumptuous classic interior with a mix of blue tones with burnished antique finishes. Norfolk - A new, modern country interior that uses touches of urban elegance to create a calm and confident home. Petit Palais - A graceful and elegant interior theme with champagne tones and pretty accessories.

Following the re-entry of its fashion range in March this year, after a gap of two years, Laura Ashley Home Décor concept, the popular UK-based brand with a heritage of over 50 years of innovation in designs, patterns, fabrics and textures, has entered the UAE with its latest Autumn–Winter 2009 Home Collection. The latest collection of furniture, paint, wallpapers, Laura Ashley home collection fabric, rugs, children’s room settings, accessories and gifts is now available at the new and spacious 6000 square feet Mercato store in Dubai. Lighting can easily change the mood in a room to enhance the decor and the store has a range of subtle lighting to gently accentuate your wall or draw attention to accessories. Traditional styles and modern designs find their

42 l UAE Digest, December 2009

Philips Tornado T2 8W

ART

A Jamil Naqsh oil on canvas

A portrait by UAE’s Dr Negat Makey

Lounge for art

rt Select, one of the UAE’s leading houses of contemporary art, and Grand Hyatt have collaborated to set up Art Lounge, a specially designed, exclusive art space on the ground floor of the hotel, open all year round to showcase the best of contemporary European, Middle Eastern, Indian and Pakistani works. “Our relationship with Grand Hyatt Dubai goes back a long way, the hotel having played host to more than 12 Art Select exhibitions in the last five years. So it was a natural

Urbanscapes

Artist Jaideep Mehrotra from Mumbai in India showcased some of his works here. Representing the rhythm of time that quickens in large cities of the world with an active working class, the paintings spoke a universal language of urbanscape. In fact, inscribed in the painting were letters or a visual script that is part of his craft too. Mehrotra is a self-taught artist who has a unique style, developed from introspection and mystical exploration. A style that could be described as surreal, iconic or hyper-realistic. He doesn’t limit himself to one medium and experiments with different mediums and subjects, both within and without the two-dimensional. This foray has led him to sculpture, using fabric and resin and the digital domain of installations, web-based art, giclee’, audio-visual depiction and short films. In content, the work embraces both a social commentary and the arcane phenomenon.

choice to tie up with them when we decided to open a permanent space,” said Kanika Subberwal, Director, Art Select. The gallery, which had its soft opening in the first week of October, will be playing host to world-famous artworks and artists later this month, when it officially opens its doors. Highlyacclaimed Dutch sculptor Jan Jacobs Mulder and Indian artist Jaideep Mehrotra were present at the gala opening where their artworks were displayed along with numerous masterpieces by Pakistani master Jamil Naqsh and UAE’s very own Dr Negat Makey.

Mover and shakers

One of India’s most prolific filmmakers, Shekhar Kapoor was the guest of honour at the Art Lounge inaugural. He has made a mark in the Hindi film industry as well as Hollywood and been conferred the country’s highest civilian honour: the Padmashri. His recent foray into art has been marked by an installation with Swarovski. Kapur directed a short film The Passages in Buenos Aires which was commissioned by Swarovski and was then invited by them to do an installation based on the film at their museum in Wattens, Austria. The installation called ‘Sankalpa’ is currently on display at the museum. With an impressive list of films in his repertoire spanning several years, Kapur is presently involved with his passion project, Paani about the impending water wars in the world. A film he has written himself. “The film is being shot in India with an entirely new star cast,” he says. But what about directing Hollywood films? “At the moment, I am involved in making Paani,” he states. Does the film depict the activist

Shekhar Kapur

in him? “I feel, as a film-maker, I need to be socially responsible and Paani is about water wars the world shall face shortly,” he states. Shekhar is regularly invited to speak at the World Economic Forum. He is currently an environmental activist with water conservation related issues. He is on the board of the International Global Water Challenge, the world’s premier body for water related issues. He also speaks actively all over the world on the impact of technology on media and how new media is changing the world. Shekhar Kapur’s Swarovski installation

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 43

DIFF - 2009

Get set for the movie mania The most glamorous event on Dubai’s cultural calendar is once again ready to wow cinema-lovers with its scintillating fare By Vanit Sethi

ver since Dubai decided in 2004 that it had to have a film festival to be taken seriously as an emerging cultural venue, the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has grown to more than twice its size in the number of films shown, total number of registrations, countries represented and the number of viewers. In 2008, a total of 181 films from 66 countries were screened as compared to just 76 films from 27 countries in 2004. From a total of 1,200 registrations in 2004, the figure climbed to 2,977 last year, while the number of viewers jumped from 22,176 to 47,438 in the same period. This year, we may see 250 films from 75 countries. The editions of previous years have set new benchmarks, with a number of movies being premiered in Dubai. Last year’s Slumdog Millionaire created records at the Finding Mr & Mrs Right Oscars, while movies like W (based on the life of George W. Bush), Australia (starring Nicole Kidman) and Che (based on South American revolutionary Che Guevera) created sufficient hype before they were commercially released in the UAE. This year’s edition is also expected to create some buzz, despite the effects of a long-drawn recession. The festival this year – coming in the middle of two holiday seasons (Eid Al Adha and Christmas-New Year) – is bracing itself for record crowds of film-lovers. In addition, the stupendous success of the third Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) in Abu Dhabi could

44 l UAE Digest, December 2009

probably spur the DIFF to greater heights. Media circles are agog with excitement at the prospect of some surprises, but the DIFF organising committee is tight-lipped. The entire line-up of films will be known by the time this is out in print, including the array of international stars gracing the occasion. However, a broad sample of the fare (given below under region-wise categories) will help readers make informed choices. Featuring the finest Arab filmmaking talent, Gulf Voices this year is rich in youthfulness with films by professionals who have earned critical acclaim in Cannes, as well as media students. The section also features

a rich repertoire of movies by Emirati filmmakers. Among the films confirmed for screening is the delightful take on the new generation caught between modernity and tradition, Finding Cedar Boys Mr & Mrs Right: Dubai Style. Nesf Galb (The Half Heart) is a powerful story on Arab familial ties through the eyes of an unmarried pregnant girl; while Amal’s Cloud is

about patience and hope. Emirati actor and director Nawaf Al Janahi, in his first feature film, brings out the bonding between a terminally ill man and a thief with The Circle, starring Saudi heartthrob Abdulmohsin Al Nimr; and Once by Nayla Al Khaja revolves around a 17-year old Arab girl transforming herself into a beautiful young woman and questioning her relationship. Al Qant by Omani filmmaker Al Motasim Al Shaqsi is about a group of children investigating suspicious voices coming from an abandoned house, and Ali Ali’s Mraimy depicts the travails of a belly dancer rejected by society, exploring her life from the perspective of a fisherman. Mujarad Ensan (Naked Human), an animation by Kuwaiti national Omar Al Masab, traces human knowledge from evolution to now. Mouz (Banana) by Kuwaiti director Meqdad Al Kout is a strong visual portrayal of a man in the centre of a temporary marriage. A series of hard-hitting films featuring diverse storylines from across the Arab world will be screened as part of the Arabian Nights programming. My Father, My Uncle, by Christoph Heller, is a moving documentary chronicling the life of 28-year-old Iraqi-German Sinan, who travels to Sharjah to meet his long-lost father’s family. Director Jacques Audiard brings Un Prophete (A Prophet), about a young man sent to a French

Canada, and a rich crop of music-focused prison where he becomes a mafia kingpin. offerings from Australia to Zanzibar. Whisper with the Wind by Iranian/Kurdish New releases from established directors director Shahram Alidi is a strange, surreal and actors are also confirmed for Dubai and allegorical tale of Mam Baldar, a very undebuts. The segment’s most anticipated films usual postman who travels among the mouninclude red-carpet gala screener Mother and tainous villages of Iraqi Kurdistan recording Child by writer-director Rodrigo García; and delivering people’s messages. Apres The Milk of Sorrow, the story of Peru’s La Chute (After the Downfall) focuses on civil unrest in the 1980s and winner of the Kurdish exile Azad, who invites fellow exiles Golden Bear for Best Picture at the 2009 over to celebrate the collapse of Saddam HusBerlin Film Festival; and Welcome, a French sein’s regime in 2003, but as the TV images drama by Philippe Lioret, depicting the conunfold, the initial joy becomes fused with ongoing tensions and betrayals. The attack on Gaza Strip in January 2009 and subsequent barricade of Palestinian citizens, forms the context for two powerful films - Piombo Fuso (Cast Lead) and To Shoot An Elephant. Checkpoint Rock: Songs from Palestine by Fermin Muguruza is altogether more joyous in tone, with singers providing an insight into Palestine’s contemporary music scene. The screening will be followed by a live jam, featuring director Muguruza alongside some of the key artistes from the film. The son of a world-renowned Broken Embraces Iraqi writer struggles with his troversial story of an Iraqi-Kurdish asylum conscience and his assassinated father’s seeker trying to reach the UK from France legacy in another world premiere at DIFF, by swimming across the English Channel. Tangled Up In Blue, a drama of urban Other acclaimed films include alienation set in austere yet chaotic London, Denmark’s The Little Soldier, which directed by Haider Rashid. Good Morning, takes on the issue of human traffickAman breaks the regional mould, and is a ing through the story of a young female tense drama from award-winning Italian soldier; investigative documentary Picture shorts director Claudio Noce set in the Me: A Model’s Diary, a backstage expose underworld of Rome’s Somali immigrants. of life in the Paris, New York and Milan Nabil Ben Yadir’s Les Barons (The Barons) fashion industry; and Moloch Tropical, the is an oddly profound comedy about a trio French-Haitian critique by Raoul Peck on of indolent street philosophers trying to absolute power and political madness. keep reality at bay in downtown Brussels. War drama Brothers, directed by sixCedar Boys by Serhat Caradee is a gritty and time Oscar nominee Jim Sheridan, is also engrossing feature set amidst Australia’s expected to draw much interest. Thriller working class Lebanese community. fans will not be disappointed with Moon, a More than 20 brand new, all-star and brilliant and spooky science fiction tale of independent films from around the world a solitary lunar employee who experiences will screen as part of Cinema of the World a personal crisis at the end of his three-year line-up. The segment features gritty dramas stint. Director Tarik Saleh’s Metropia, a and controversial documentaries from dark futuristic animated Swedish feature Denmark, France and Peru; entertaining tells the story of a post-oil Europe confamily films and comedies from US and

nected by a vast subway system. Broken Embraces by Oscar-winning director Pedro Almodovar and Penelope Cruz is a story of darkness, passion, love and tragedy. The feature entry from Norway, Nord (North), is a snow-road movie comedy in which a former athlete travels by snow scooter to visit his ex-girlfriend and his son, five years after a mental breakdown. The film won its director the Best New Narrative Filmmaker laurel at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut Whip It!, a feel-good sports movie about a young girl who secretly swaps boring beauty pageants for the excitement and camaraderie of a roller skating derby, is already drawing rave reviews on the festival circuit. The segment also features five musicthemed films, including director Gergely Fonyo’s Made in Hungaria, the highly entertaining story of a US-raised teenybopper who teaches his Communist-era peers about rock ‘n’ roll when the family moves back to Hungary in the 1960s. Films exploring the history of European cinema, childhood melancholy, social dilemmas and an aviation adventure set in the Sahara Desert are among the eclectic mix of French films on show in the In Focus segment. The creative high of French cinema meets Arab cinema’s talent powerhouse, Omar Sharif, in J’ai Oublié de te Dire (I Forgot To Tell You), directed by Laurent Vinas-Raymond. Sharif packs a tour-de-force performance in this sweet-hearted, poignant drama chronicling the life of a young girl Marie, who is freed from prison and moves to France in the hope of starting a new life. Agnès Varda, one of France’s key directors, presents a fascinating documentary of her life and history of European cinema in Les Plages D’Agnès (The Beaches of Agnès). Debut director Mona Achache’s brings Le Hérisson, an oddball French film that UAE Digest, December 2009 l 45

HOME & GARDEN

My Dear Enemy

resonates with charm and originality. Drugs, death and pregnancy collide in Francois Ozon’s Le Refuge (The Refuge), a thought-provoking study of an alienated young woman who discovers she is pregnant after her boyfriend’s death from a drug overdose. Le Dernier Vol (The Last Flight) by director Karim Dridi, features Marie, an adventurous young pilot, who sets out to track down her aviator lover who vanishes in the Sahara Desert. This romantic drama was inspired by real-life flying couple Bill Lancaster and ‘Chubbie’ Millar, whose aviation exploits in the 1920s and 30s led to Lancaster’s mysterious death in 1933. A ground-breaking Indonesian film and three Japanese movies are among the highlights of the Cinema of Asia-Africa segment, which will also showcase superb new films from China, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Korea. The Blue Generation – which has received rave reviews – explores Indonesia’s politics through the eyes of Slank, a seminal rock band. The Japanese selection has something for everyone, encompassing a classic ‘Ninja’ tale, a dark comedy, an animation film and an engaging family drama. The superior spy thriller, The Message, represents China in the section. From Korea comes director Yoon-ki Lee’s hilarious comedy My Dear Enemy, in which a woman sets out on an expedition to track down her former boyfriend who owes her money. Director Raymond Red’s Manila Skies from the Philippines is inspired by a true event, tracking the story of a lone hijacker who struggles to survive on the margins of big city society. The hard-hitting 46 l UAE Digest, December 2009

Prince of Tears from Taiwan is a visually stunning look at the ‘White Terror’ era in Taiwan, in which suspected communists were brutally persecuted. The African film, The Absence, is a thriller about a scientist who returns from Paris to Senegal after 15 years and is shocked to find how much his family has changed. Turkish Kurdistan marks its presence with The Children of Diyarbakir - a tragic tale on the effects of political violence. Trend-setting master-filmmakers join a league of fresh talent at Masters of Indian Cinema. The selection is also representative of the cultural plurality of the country, while offering perspectives on both urban and rural India. Kutty Srank (Sailor of Hearts) is about a boat navigator’s dead body which is washed ashore and claimed by his three wives – each unaware of the others. Critically acclaimed director Buddhadeb Dasgupta’s Janala Her Name is Tamilarasi

(The Window) features a 30-year-old writer who recklessly decides to make an extravagant gesture on a visit to his former school. World premiere Aval Peyar Tamilarasi (Her Name is Tamilarasi) - the story of one man’s search for his lost love - marks the debut of director Meera Kathiravan. Rettaichuli by director Thamarai, a world premiere, is the story of one village and three families, of which two are involved in a multigenerational war. They use toys, tricks and politics to fight each other, only to discover that love is the strongest of all weapons. Besides the above, the DIFF-2009 is expected to feature some previews (Hollywood, Bollywood and Arabic) and surprise premieres where the audience can meet their favourite actors and directors and get a glimpse into the making of their films. Tickets will be reasonably priced but Gala screenings at the main festival venue, Madinat Arena, will be costlier. Screenings will also be held at Mall of the Emirates, Festival City, and possibly Ibn Battuta Mall. Screenings at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre will be free of charge. A festival special – ‘Rhythm ‘n’ Reels’, featuring musical films along with live performances is held every year at the DMC Amphitheatre. So, cinema buffs can get ready for the time of their lives with the best in regional and international cinema from December 9-16.

Very Humane

Special categories The Cinema for Children segment will include three short films from Qatar in its repertoire, all of which make their GCC premiere at DIFF. In addition are whimsical and coming-of-age slices of life from the region, highlighting the evolution of Arab cinema. Brand-new Disney animation blockbuster The Princess and the Frog and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel are some highlights. Mazen and the Ant, from Qatar, is the story of a young boy living in a picturesque Lebanese town who becomes fascinated with an ant’s struggle to carry a grain of wheat. Very Humane is a short that tracks 12-year-old Mahmoud, who works as a bus conductor when he is not at school to help his mother, unemployed father and sick grandmother. As Mahmoud grows taller and bigger, however, his job with the small-service bus is in jeopardy. The Tissues Vendor, the last of the three Qatar short films, focuses on 12-year-old Suleiman who lives with his poor family and other displaced refugees in a village overlooking Damascus. The boy sells tissues to help his family raise money, but his real dream is to buy a Suzuki pick-up truck of his own. DIFF will present the third annual Cinema Against AIDS Dubai gala to raise funds for amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, on December 10. The Cinema Against AIDS gala has raised a staggering Dh17.6 million ($4.8 million) over the past two events in Dubai. This is one-tenth of the total of approximately $48 million raised by Cinema Against AIDS galas globally, since 1993. The funds support amfAR’s activities focused on AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. The Cinema Against AIDS Dubai event follows World AIDS Day

on December 1. The gala will feature a live auction with several unique and exclusive memorabilia from the film and fashion world. There will be a number of attractive lifestyle packages also, all aimed at promoting stronger public participation to raise funds for amfAR, which has invested nearly $290 million in its programmes and awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide. The winners of Movies in Motion, - an innovative pan-Arab talent contest for budding filmmakers in the Middle East, organised by MBC in partnership with DIFF - will be announced during the sixth edition. The two-minute movie competition has received 550 entries from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Morocco. The competition saw residents submitting their two-minute, two-actor and two-location movies to the MBC website. A 12-member industry jury, comprising academic and film professionals evaluated the entries. The contest’s surging popularity is reflected in the astounding increase in entries over the past three years. The first-place winner will receive a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi, an internship at MBC and a Sony Ericsson C905 gift hamper. Second and third place winners, and the winners of the People’s Choice Award, will receive the special Sony Ericsson C905 pack. The top four winning films will also be screened three times a day on MBC2 and MBC Max. The ‘Movies In Motion’ competition, open to films shot on mobile phones, digital cameras or video cameras, debuted to the public in mid-2007 with DIFF. Experts from the New York Film Academy Abu Dhabi and MBC this year visited schools and universities across the region, conducting movie-making workshops to encourage participation in the contest and develop budding talents.

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 47

CINEMA

Astro Boy

In Metro City, a gleaming metropolis in the sky, scientist Dr. Tenam creates Astro Boy to replace the son he lost, programming him with positive human characteristics and values, and extraordinary super powers. Rejected when he cannot meet Dr. Tenma’s expectations, Astro Boy is dealt a cruel double blow—he learns he is a robot, not human. Carrying within a power source of positive ‘blue’ energy known as The Core, Astro Boy is sought by the troops of militaristic President Stone, seeking The Core for the robot created as a weapon to dominate Earth. Escaping the military, Astro Boy crashes to the Earth’s surface. Lost, confused and feigning human, he joins a gang of child-vagabonds, naively seeing a father figure in their leader, Hamegg. To Astro Boy’s horror, Hamegg exposes him as a robot and tries to turn him into a robot-gladiator.

Horsemen

At home, hardened police detective Aidan Breslin, (Dennis Quaid) has grown increasingly distant from his two young sons, Alex (Lou Taylor Pucci) and Sean (Liam James), since the death of his wife. At work, he finds himself thrust into an investigation of perverse serial killings rooted in the Biblical prophecy of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: The White Horsemen, a master of deception and the unexpected leader hell-bent on conquest; The Red Horsemen, a sharp-witted warrior intent on turning man against man, with an innocence that hides a burning rage within; The Black Horsemen, a manipulative and dark tyrant, unbalanced but always one step ahead; and The Pale Horsemen, an executioner with disarming strength, determined to spread death through surgical precision. As Breslin grapples with each new revelation in the case, he slowly discovers a shocking connection between himself and the four suspects. Four Horsemen. Four unrelated victims. Four painful secrets.

Labour Pains

Thea Clayhill (Lindsay Lohan) is about to lose her position as secretary to a very cranky publisher (Chris Parnell) - so she lies about being pregnant to save her job, as she saw on an episode of Law and Order that you cannot fire a pregnant woman as a stand against discrimination. The plan works, and she gets to keep her job. With the help from a friend (Cheryl Hines) - and a pillow - Thea fakes the pregnancy while she figures out what to do next. But in the meantime, her boss gets called out of town and his cute brother Nick (Luke Kirby) takes over.

Suburban Girl

Young beginner book editor Brett (Sarah Michelle Gellar) tries to help publicise the books she edits, but when caught by a store clerk trying to move her books to the front store window the clerk says she needs to take it up with an ageing, editor and chief Archie Knox (Alec Baldwin) because he personally inspects every book store window in Manhattan; and if he sees an insignificant book occupying good space he will have everyone involved with that book out of a job. So Brett meets up with Archie and she sees that they have more in common than just books.

Showing at cinemas during December 48 l UAE Digest, December 2009

BOOK REVIEW

The politics of passion William Dalrymple’s White Mughals is a well-researched work on British Indian history, throwing light on the refined Hyderabad culture of the 18th century By Vanit Sethi

n this post-9/11 era, with increasing talk of ‘clash of civilisations’, it is difficult to conceive of an age in history when the twain not only met, but married and reproduced, creating hybrid races and cultures with a highly refined style of living. That period belonged to 18th and early 19th century India, particularly in the culturally sophisticated cities of Hyderabad, Lucknow and Delhi. At a time when the British empire was not yet at its peak, but the Mughal empire was at the acme of civilisation, Englishmen (employees of the East India Company) freely intermingled with the families of Mughal rulers, participated in their festivals, feasts and cultural soirees. Sometimes, this interaction led to fleeting glimpses behind purdahs of zenanas, where cupid struck its mischievous arrows. One such incident took place towards the end of 18th century Hyderabad (ruled by the Nizam as part of the Deccan kingdom) between Colonel James Achilles Kirkpatrick (then British Resident) and Khair-un-Nissa (great niece of the Nizam’s Prime Minister). The two married - despite opposition in conservative quarters - transcending linguistic, cultural and religious barriers. The ups and downs in their married life - intertwined with the fortunes and relations of the British establishment and Indian ruling classes – forms the subject matter of Scottish historian William Dalrymple’s White Mughals. While the book mainly deals with the story of James and Khair, it also covers other White Mughals – so called because they were British converts to Islam - like William Palmer, then British Resident of Pune. Beginning with how Khair fell in love with James, after glancing at him from

behind the purdah in a courtyard, it depicts their deepening love, which overcame all social obstacles. How the Mughal ladies connive to get Khair married to James is an interesting part of the initial story. Since both were public figures in Hyderabad, their love story became enmeshed with the politics of Deccan, Mughal rule and British empire. The book provides fascinating vignettes of erstwhile Hyderabad’s polished social life – where all evenings were filled with mushairas, beautiful women, soul-stirring poetry, exquisite vinatages and delicious food competed for the attention of nobility. It was a syncretic world where people of different cultures sought to achieve unity through the pursuit of refined living. Kirkpatrick and Palmer – along with their spouses Khair and Fyze Baksh –epitomised that pluralistic lifestyle. It was a genuine desire to reach across cultures, sparked off by physical attraction. For much of the 18th century, it was possible in British India and the princely states to live that lifestyle. But from the latter half of 19th century, things began to go wrong with the ascendance of Victorian morality and the emergence of militant Indian nationalism. Though the two cultures were beginning to drift apart, the final rupture happened in 1857 with the outbreak of Sepoy Mutiny or First War of Indian Independence. Dalrymple mourns the loss of a period of ‘cultural crossovers’, but he is certain that the two worlds are not irreconcilable. Through letters preserved as documents in libraries, comes alive a delicate love story. The most poignant part of the

story is Khair’s forcible separation from her little children who were sent off early to England for an education. Her inability to meet them is heart-breaking. In the later days of the British Raj, AngloIndian children too were being discriminated by both cultures, as they belonged nowhere. Khair’s daughter Kitty eventually sets up contact with her grandmother (after Khair’s death) through a series of translated correspondences. Dalrymple is a painstaking historian, and his love for India - where he lives most of the year - is palpable through his writings. As a piece of historical fiction, White Mughals is brilliant, though certainly not easy reading, since Dalrymple can get carried away by facts. The book as history is too narrowly focussed, and as fiction, is a bit ‘heavy’, but strikes well as a combination. Spare enough time, for it can’t be read in a hurry. (William Dalrymple is expected to participate at the second Emirates Airline International Festival of Literature in Dubai in March 2010) UAE Digest, December 2009 l 49

TECHNO

What it takes to be a winner in challenging times UAE Digest spoke to CEO of eHosting DataFort, Yasser Zeineldin, on his views on IT transformations and how the multiple award winning ‘Managed IT Services Provider’ is giving multinationals a run for their money when it comes to handling the IT infrastructure for organisations in the region.

usiness models across sectors are shifting and companies in the region are adapting. In fact, according to IDC’s 2009 global study by Microsoft, it is estimated that IT spending in the Middle East and Africa region is set to reach $36 billion by the end of 2009. Emerging countries will account for 21 per cent of IT spending of which the UAE is set to spend $4.1 billion. Given the current economic climate, both SMBs and multinational organisations in the Middle East and Africa region are looking for ways to boost business efficiency, increase productivity and nurture innovation without the need to invest in upfront capital investment. What is your entrepreneurial background? Well, you can say that I am very passionate about what ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) can do to further people’s quality of life and the advancement of our communities. I have devoted my entire career to that cause, and worked across various continents for over 22 years to introduce key technology solutions and innovations across various sectors. These include oil and gas, telecom-

50 l UAE Digest, December 2009

Yasser Zeineldin

munications, manufacturing, banking, retail, education and the public sector. In addition to my role in leading the eHosting Datafort team, I am also a board member in a number of investment ventures at TECOM Investments including Interoute, which is one of the largest voice and data carriers in Europe and EMS (Energy Management Services), one of the leading companies in the Middle East that help our region in its strive to rationalise its energy consumption, have green build-

ings, and an increased level of awareness on the environment by corporations and consumers alike. I also worked at Microsoft for more than 10 years covering various roles across the Gulf and Middle East. Such roles spanned sales and marketing, business development, public sector management, as well as a Regional Director in the Gulf where I led Microsoft’s initiatives across the various industries and verticals along with developing its partner eco-system. Prior to Microsoft, I led the operations at communication giant AT&T in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. I also worked with NCR/Teradata in the US where my primary responsibility was to develop the market for business intelligence and Parallel Processing systems in Latin American and the MEA region by coordinating with the Engineering and Design teams located in the manufacturing plants in San Diego, California. What qualities do you use to define a winning technology services provider? I am a firm believer that a high-achieving successful technology services provider must have a number of qualities and traits which include:

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Keeping the customer at the centre of what we do • Focusing on people and driving accountability • Understanding the industry landscape and technology drivers • Clarity on what the company wants to accomplish in the short and long term and developing a practical plan for getting there • Working hard consistently • Monitoring progress with focus on quality • And just as important - celebrating success eHosting DataFort has signed up with an impressive number of high profile customers in the region this year and won a number of prestigious awards. I believe the customer’s trust is a reflection of the company’s determination in providing the highest levels of services, even in challenging economic times. What do you think makes a successful leader for a multi-award-winning IT services provider? I believe that a good leader has a number of characteristics that help bring out the best in a company. A leader should have a vision; equally important is the ability to break it down into manageable tasks. To think strategically and balance the short and long term needs are also important traits. The ability to listen and take feedback allows a leader not to lose sight of reality. Another significant characteristic of a good leader is to be confident. Confidence is contagious, and can start a chain reaction and inspire the rest of the team to work to the best of their abilities. A successful leader inspires people to be confident in their own abilities, and not just in the leader’s capabilities. This provides a high level of energy in the organisation.

The ability to remain calm and collected especially in times of turmoil is also a useful trait, this helps address uncertainty with what the future holds. To have integrity and be trustworthy is also integral to being a good leader. A leader needs to be fair, and responsible for his actions as well as of his team members. Only then can you really gain respect from the people you lead. The ability to attract talent is super critical. You need a strong team to get things done. The ability to motivate is paramount. To demonstrate passion for your work will allow people to look to you as a source of inspiration. Not only will you be able to motivate people but it will also bring out the desired results that will benefit your company in the long run. In my experience, a good leader should feel they are part of the team that works towards a common goal and is ready to do all that is necessary - even the menial tasks to get the job done. Last but not least, is the ability to successfully drive change in a constantly changing world. What do you think drives IT service providers to succeed? The answer is simple. It’s about knowing your customers and being culturally sensitive on a business front. As the regional IT Services Provider, it is important to understand how variations in culture or language affect the way people work – something that non regional companies could overlook and ultimately, impact their business in this market for the long haul. Even something as simple as an official email can be interpreted in an entirely different manner than was originally intended if utmost care is not taken and differences aren’t clearly understood. Short and to-the-point emails for example that are common practice in the Western

work place may be seen as tactless and informal in the Arab world or in some other regions. It’s also about foreseeing market trends outside of the region and seeing how you tailor them to this market. Cloud computing services for instance, are becoming a fast emerging trend outside of the region. As an emerging IT revolution that enables applications and ‘web space’ to be stored and powered via the web, about 80 per cent of Fortune 1000 companies are said to be adopting Cloud Computing by 2012. Although it may take a few more years for the GCC region to catch on, eHosting DataFort is already gearing up its service portfolio to embrace the new technological era. Other drivers of success is about identifying a niche in the market which you can then capitalise on; and also having belief and conviction in the services that you offer to your customers. What top two tips can you give to companies concerned with making the right business decisions? Do your research and understand the risks. Put together a complete assessment of business strategies so you can be confident you are making the right decision for your business. As ‘best service provider and consultant’ for two years running, what are your goals for the company next year? We’re looking at a growth of 20-25 per cent by the end of 2009 and we aim to have a similar level of growth for 2010. EHDF is set to enhance our service portfolio and expand business with JVs and partnerships, expand the customer base outside the region (with our partners Interoute) and maintain highest levels of quality and excellence. UAE Digest, December 2009 l 51

TECHNO Proposed site for ‘Emirates Telescope’ project The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science & Technology (EIAST) is continuing with feasibility studies and site surveys to determine the best location for the ‘Emirates Telescope’ project, the first national astronomical telescope for the UAE. Discussions with concerned bodies in the UAE emirates are ongoing to select a suitable site that will fulfill the requirements, said His Excellency Mr Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General, EIAST. Al Mansouri thanked all concerned

“EIAST promotes the culture of advanced scientific research and technology innovation through the use of highly sophisticated technologies and accurate spatial information and thus meet the requirements of the fast industrial and economic growth of Dubai and the UAE” said Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General organisations that have contributed to the field tours and research to determine the location for the telescope. He praised their co-operation with the research team who are examining topographic, climatic and weather aspects in preparation for starting the scientific and technical studies on the proposed locations for the project. These 52 l UAE Digest, December 2009

studies are expected to continue for a year before the final location is decided. Mr Al Mansoori said that the project has several stages and that there are several other projects to be implemented in the coming stages in line with the directions of UAE’s leadership to introduce innovative and inventive projects to achieve sustainable development at all levels.

Mobile search directory launched in UAE The march towards more sophisticated mobile marketing is gathering momentum globally. The latest is MoSearch, a service from MoSecure, a homegrown UAE based company. MoSearch is based on simple SMS text searching where a user simply keys in the company name with Emirates/location or other details he needs and sends the same by SMS to 6116. This reaches a sophisticated engine where engine software quickly sorts through millions of pages in its database to find matches to queries. Results are pushed back in less than a minute. MoSearch works on two levels: as a simple search directory where a customer can search for a specific company and obtain contact details and location. Alternatively, MoSearch can perform more complex searches, matching general enquires for a type of service, brand or product, with specified locations. This offers users the ease of getting information required quickly, efficiently and cost-efficiently. The service is available 24/7, does not depend on human interface and costs Dh 0.60 per search. Currently, early bird subscribers

get three months extra free, with two free search words. The MoSearch service will be available to consumers starting January 2010.

Samsung LED TVs lead innovation Samsung Electronics recent launch of LED TVs in Dubai has boosted its market share in the region to 35 per cent, a five per cent growth within the first six months. “When we launched LED TVs in May 2009 we were faced with a lot of doubt from the industry, with people asking why we would want to launch a high end product this year,” said Ram Modak, General Manager, AV division, Samsung Gulf Electronics. “However despite economic uncertainty, our TV sales keep growing and we attribute this to the innovative features of the sets. Consumers are still spending; its just they are now looking for a reason to buy – they are looking for the latest innovative technology.” The new LED technology was a result of a strong emphasis Samsung placed on its research and development with the aim of providing consumers with a state-ofthe-art product. In addition to their great looks and the rich image quality they produce, the televisions are a multimedia device, which offer a host of functions, like internet, browsing videos, sharing photos

and interacting with friends along with DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), a wireless connection in which digital content can be shared through various consumer electronics.

Cost-effective green technologies Cost-effective green technologies are set to witness an increase in demand as IT budgets are forecasted to remain flat in 2009 due to hindered capital expenditure and slowed growth of IT development. Committed to addressing the need for green solutions within the region’s power sector, Tripp Lite, a world leading manufacturer of power protection and connectivity equipment, has unveiled its latest line of ‘SmartOnline’ Single-Phase and Three-Phase UPS systems, which incorporate an Economy Mode function. By offering products that reduce corporate CO2 emissions and operational costs, the company provides its customers value-added strategic investment

“Despite the ill effects of the economic crisis on the growth of IT technology in general, the current scenario may also prove to be a significant upside to the market for ‘green IT’,” said Vipin Sharma, Vice President, EEMEA and India Sales, Tripp Lite with substantial potential for lowering the corporate IT carbon footprint. Operating in Economy Mode, the ‘SmartOnline Series’, from 100010000VA, has an industry-leading efficiency rating of up to 97 per cent, which leads to lesser heat built up, lower energy

A few simple steps to perfect underwater photography... Whether you’re a deep-sea diver, marine biologist or just a weekend water-baby you can now capture your underwater adventures with perfect clarity like never before thanks to the new generation of underwater cameras such as the Canon Powershot D10. Waterproof to 10 metres, shock proof to 1.22 metres and dustproof, this rugged Canon 12.1 megapixel camera can go where others can’t. Featuring Canon’s intelligent new technology such as Scene Detection and Smart Auto mode, the perfect underwater shot is now possible. Canon Middle East has put together a simple five step guide to taking the perfect underwater picture while enjoying the sun, sea and sand. • Invest in a good underwater camera: The latest underwater cameras no longer require cumbersome exterior casing. Gone are the days of bulky cases that limit access to your camera’s features, instead the new generation of underwater cameras are designed for ease of use as well as style. • Let there be light: Ever taken an underwater shot that looked like you were deep sea diving in Loch Ness rather than

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consumption and dramatic savings in both cooling and energy costs. In addition, the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)-compliant range is poised to be the most effective yet, with their cumulative reduction of energy, expenditures and environmental impact.

snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef? Well dark, murky shots are a thing of the past thanks to features such as built-in multi mode flash which provides a selection of artificial lighting options. Look out for a flash range of about 10 feet to guarantee the best underwater shots. Get up close and personal: With the help of zoom technology close up underwater shots are possible. Look out for 3X optical zoom for the best results that can get you close to the action from a safe distance. Always be prepared: Time is of the essence when taking underwater photos so always ensure that your camera is close at hand by making use of the wrist straps provided. Many underwater cameras come with a range of accessories such as shoulder and carabiner straps. Set the scene: Featuring a range of shooting modes, underwater cameras should provide instant finger tip access to the settings. With the Canon D10, scene detection has never been easier. A wide range of shooting modes including a dedicated Underwater, Snow and Beach mode delivers instant fingertip access to perfect settings. Engineered for those with an adventurous, ac• tive lifestyle, this camera is not only water-proof but shock and dust-proof and the perfect travelling companion wherever you go this year.

Enough space for your memories. For any keen photographer it is essential that you have plenty of spare memory, for that reason alone Kingston’s Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) cards are an essential accessory for any digital camera. There are a variety of capacities and performance speeds available which are suitable for any consumer; for those who want to capture a special holiday moment to professional photographers. KT has SDHC cards that slot straight into your digital video camcorder and Digital SLR.

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 53

AUTOS

Drive away from the Dubai Motor Show in the car of your dreams

Wheel attraction

t doesn’t happen every year, only once in two years in fact, so when the Dubai Motor Show opens its doors on 16th December, be there to see all the latest offerings of on-road and off-road vehicles, new cars, hybrid cars, spare parts, accessories, motor games and hobbies, plus fancy gizmos and ideas. The 2007 show had a car decorated with Swarovski crystals; and, also, a one-person three-wheeler car – whatever happened to that? The ‘Middle East International Motor Show’, also known as the ‘Dubai International Motor Show’ is the single largest international automotive event in the Middle East. Held once every two years, this year’s event will take place from 16 to 20 December at Dubai International Trade Centre. It promises to celebrate its 10th anniversary with a wealth of exciting promotions, competitions and entertaining activities for the whole family. New models, concept cars and technological innovations from leading automotive manufacturers will be showcased, with a number of global launches offering visitors the chance to see some of the latest models before the rest of the world. Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Daihatsu, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, KTM, Mitsubishi, MINI, Peugeot, Renault, and Shelby Super Cars, with first time appearances from AC Cars and Luxgen, are already preparing for a big presentation at this year’s event. The Dubai Motor Show also incorpo54 l UAE Digest, December 2009

rates two events that run in conjunction with the main show – MotorPlus and Motor Parts & Accessories, featuring a host of automotive-related products and services from high-end car finishes, car entertainment, kit cars and racing gear to motor parts and components, accessories and forecourt equipment. Despite many of the global economies experiencing challenging times, the Middle East still retains its position as the world’s richest consumer market and has been the focus of international players to build up their presence in these regions. The show has a track record of pulling in crowds of affluent visitors from all the GCC states and neighbouring countries, and is firmly established as a most lively and popular international automotive event. Royalty, VIPs, top ranking government officials as well as international celebrities from the motoring world are also amongst the many visitors drawn to the show. Visitors to benefit from one-hour on-site approvals by platinum sponsor. Not only will visitors to this year’s Dubai International Motor Show enjoy a wide range of special show offers during the five-day event, but they will also be able to obtain almost instant financing during the show, thanks to an exclusive agreement with Al Hilal Bank. At a time when global markets are dealing with a difficult economic climate, the bank’s participation as the show’s platinum sponsor is a huge confidence boost to the

Exhibitor Profile 2009: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Auto products & services Bikes, trikes & quads Branded merchandise Car audio systems Car finish products Custom-built Vehicles Designers/modifiers/tuners Energy conservation technology Hybrids & zero emission vehicles Insurance & finance Media & publishing Motor cars Motor games & hobbies Motor parts & accessories Off-road vehicles & SUVs Paints & coatings Petroleum products Tyres & tubes

Middle East motor industry. The deal will provide a simple, convenient financing solution for visitors to the show. The strategic partnership with Al Hilal Bank, a financial institution with a refreshingly progressive approach to customer service, will allow customers to take advantage of special show promotions and complete all necessary transactions within one hour. Called the ‘Walk In Drive Out’ service, the exclusive approval package includes the documentation, finance approval, insurance and vehicle registration, all processed in just sixty minutes.

BMW ActiveHybrid X6

Good news for motoring enthusiasts is the confirmation that Germany’s top three motor manufacturers – Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz - will showcase some of the most exciting models on four wheels during the 10th anniversary event in December. “With a number of motor shows either cancelled or substantially scaled down, it is a testament to the region’s resilience that the Dubai International Motor Show has maintained its scale and importance. We are delighted to have such heavyweights as Audi, BMW and MercedesBenz all launching new models during the show,” said James Raffoul, Industry Group Manager, Dubai World Trade Centre. BMW together with local importer, AGMC, will be showcasing 12 new models including the new BMW Gran Turismo, X1, X5M and X6M, X5 10th year anniversary edition, and the BMW 760Li Individual Edition. The highlight of the latest models on show will be the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 and ActiveHybrid X6, which demonstrates BMW’s commitment to sustainable mobility. For the group, mobility and sustainability are inseparably linked. BMW has already enjoyed significant success on the path to zero-emission vehicles, with over 1.5 million vehicles already fitted with Efficient Dynamics (ED) technologies that reduce emissions and improve efficiency during phase one of their strategy . The company is activating phase two of the ED strategy in the region with the launch of the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 and X6 models that integrate the latest electric and petrol engine technologies to further reduce fuel consumption and emissions. An expert

Audi R8

from Munich will be present on the stand during the Motor Show to inform attendees about the latest advances. Celebrating its centenary this year, Audi promises to make a powerful statement by showcasing several of its latest lighthouse models, including the A5 Sportback, an innovative five-door coupé concept, the new A5 Cabriolet and the fantastic Audi R8 V10. Jeff Mannering, Managing Director of Audi Middle East, comments “Amidst the financial crisis, Audi has moved from contender to industry example, earning strong profits, increasing market shares and hiring in times when others are firing.” Set to display a total of 17 cars this year, with the fabulous ‘gullwing’ sports car Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG taking pride of place, a car that pays homage to the original vehicle that made its first appearance at the 1954 New York Motor Show; the premium German manufac-

turer will also showcase its sporty range of AMG models and highlight its ‘green’ credentials with the debut appearance of the impressive S400 – the first series luxury production car to feature a hybrid drive system with a lithium-ion battery to go on sale in the Middle East and Levant. Volkswagen Middle East along with its local long-term partner Al Nabooda Automobiles, will be offering visitors the unique opportunity to see the award-winning Race Touareg and the super-athletic Sirocco GT24 at this year’s show. The complete VW model line-up will feature the iconic sixth generation Golf, the new sporty Golf GTI, the thrilling Sirocco and the four-door coupe Passat CC. In addition, Volkswagen exhibits will also showcase the latest Touareg R-line, Tiguan Rline, Passat R36, Phaeton, Eos, and Jetta. At the Volkswagen stand in Hall 2 will be the infamous Volkswagen Race Touareg. The purpose-built sport utility vehicle

Mercedes’ ‘gullwing’ sports car

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 55

HOME & GARDEN Renault stand will also showcase four brand new models that will make their first GCC appearance – two hatchbacks and the 2010 Koleos and Safrane models. The Renault stand, located in Zabeel Hall Z50, will also have a dedicated sports area representing Renault’s rich and inspiring motor sports legacy. Visitors should look out for the Berlinette – a motor sports heritage car that has won several rally races for Renault and dates back to 1973. Standing alongside the Berlinette, will be the powerful and striking new Clio Renault Sport-one of the company’s flagship models. And, parked alongside

Volkswagen’s Sirocco GT24

has taken part in the Dakar Rally for the past seven years, coming first in the 2009 race. Designed by the Design Centre based in Santa Monica, California, the Race Touareg is powered by a 2.5 litre five-cylinder TDI diesel engine with 280 hp. During the Motor Show, Qatari racing driver, Nasser Al Attiyah will be accompanying the vehicles on the Volkswagen stand. Nasser has extensive Renault Fluence experience in sprint and cross-country rallies, and as a regular driver of the Race Touareg, has recently confirmed his place as one of the VW drivers for the Dakar Rally 2010 to defend the title earned earlier this year. Complimenting the Race Touareg will be the Volkswagen Sirocco GT24 model with its sleek blue-white finish making its first appearance in the region also. The 315hp Sirocco GT24, which competed in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring last year, draws its power from only two-litre displacement: the 16-valve direct injection engine with a turbocharger and intercooler delivers its maximum torque of 340 Newton metres beginning from 2,100 rpm. The Renault Fluence, a model designed especially for the GCC, will make its world premiere at the Motor Show. Manufactured in Korea by Renault 56 l UAE Digest, December 2009

Samsung Motors, this will be the first time that the specially designed GCC version will be unveiled. According to Mohamed Bennani, Managing Director of Renault GCC, this is a key launch for the French manufacturer with sales starting from mid next year. Commenting on the unique design of the Renault Fluence, Bennani added: “Since the Fluence has been manufactured keeping in mind the needs and preferences of customers across the region, what better platform to mark its global debut. We are confident that the Fluence will be popular among residents owing to its unique fluid-like design, competitive pricing, and above all, its many driver and passengerfriendly features that will be standard even in the basic models,” he said. In addition to the Fluence, the

will be the Megane Trophy car whichwas a star attraction at the F1 Renault Roadshow which took place earlier this year at the Dubai Mall. Last but not the least, taking centre stage will be the much-awaited Laguna coupe which will be available across dealers in the region from mid-December onwards. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has launched its new model, the Ghost, in the Middle East. It was recently unveiled in Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia for the first time in the region and is attracting new buyers to the Rolls-Royce brand who appreciate its fusion of timeless elegance, new technology and contemporary style. Ghost embodies the core values of Rolls-Royce and delivers contemporary, effortless refinement. While less formal than the Phantom family, the Ghost retains the essence

of Rolls-Royce, and is engineered to be more driver-focused and powerful than any Rolls-Royce before it. A brand new 6.6 litre twin- turbo V12 engine, unique to the model, delivers a feeling of endless, surging power to the driver. The central principle of simplicity runs throughout the car. Everything is designed, engineered and crafted to enhance the driving experience from a spacious design to the intuitive layout and advanced systems and technologies. The Rolls-Royce design team sought inspiration in architecture and yachts when seeking to create a modern interpretation of Rolls-Royce’s values. As a result, Ghost’s flowing lines are dominated by its majestic ‘yacht line’ styling. Large, uninterrupted surfaces flow between finely sculpted horizontal lines to create a powerful, defined exterior. In keeping with its’ fluid design, Ghost is built around a steel monocoque body, with no separation of chassis and body. The advantage of this construction is a reduction on exterior dimensions while preserving interior space. After the premiere in Jeddah, appearances across the Middle East region followed and its Middle East tour will conclude at the 10th Dubai International Motor Show. Galadari Automobiles, sole distributors for Mazda vehicles in the UAE for over 37 years, recently launched the Mazda CX-7 Turbo, the Japanese auto major’s first five-seater crossover sports utility vehicle (SUV) as a new gaming concept in town. This car fuses the dynamism of a sports car with the comfort and functionality of an SUV – a claim made possible by the Turbo engine – which no other SUV in its class, or price range, presently has. Rolls Royce Ghost

Mazda CX-7

The debut of Mazda CX-7 Turbo in the UAE follows widespread appreciation for the model across the globe for its aesthetics and functionality, in line with the Zoom Zoom concept of stylish, insightful and a spirited family car. The model is attractively priced in the UAE. Mr. Okue San, General Manager, Middle East & Africa Sales Division, Mazda Motor Corporation, said: “Mazda is committed to the UAE market and, the launch of Mazda CX-7 Turbo is in line with our regional strategy to offer best-in-class transportation solutions. The SUV offers overwhelmingly athletic styling, dynamic performance and high quality luxury craftsmanship at an attractive price. We are very confident that Mazda CX-7 Turbo will emerge as the car of choice for young sports enthusiasts.” Targeted at young sporty enthusiasts

and modern families that are outwardlyfocused, the car is meant for families that haven’t lost their desire for high-intensity leisure activities, learning experiences and social interaction. The latest car from the Mazda stable is also ideal for couples with grown up children who pursue an active lifestyle and it is specifically designed to make complex pursuits as easy and as pleasurable as possible. “Apart from offering the safest, most robust and reliable car, the Mazda CX-7 Turbo is ecologically friendly and conforms to global emission norms. Mazda actively promotes the reduction of lead, chromium-6, cadmium, mercury and other environmentally harmful substances. The Mazda CX-7 Turbo is manufactured at a Japanese plant that is certified ISO 14001 for its environmental management system,” Mr. Okue San said. Some of the distinctive features of the new car include: Design Overview: Styling is based on the athletic design of the original CX-7 (the vehicle that pioneered the sportcrossover-SUV genre), but incorporates enhancements for a clearer premium identity and a more refined character. Exterior Design: For the original CX-7, the keywords ‘sturdy’, ‘sporty’, and ‘sleek’ formed the basis of advanced emotional UAE Digest, December 2009 l 57

styling that conveys appealing presence at a single glance, inviting people to get in and take a drive. Market research showed that customers immediately recognised this design as a uniquely attractive attribute of the CX-7. In consequence, Mazda carried it forward while pursuing a better overall balance of performance and a clearer premium identity. The main exterior changes begin with a lower front grille that features a larger five-point design to more clearly highlight the Mazda brand, while thick-looking chromeplating of details expresses a premium identity. A new design for the front fog lamp bezels creates a strong visual flow and lends a sense of fine craftsmanship. These new design elements give the new CX-7 a powerful, athletic look, and more clearly convey its distinguishing premium identity that generates greater pleasure of ownership. Wheels: Features newly designed 17inch and 18-inch aluminium wheels. Driver Seat Memory Function/Poweradjustable Passenger Seat: The poweradjustable driver’s seat now features a three-position memory function. The passenger seat has also been upgraded with a power-adjustable recliner. Blind Spot Monitor: A monitor helps the driver avoid collisions when changing lanes or merging with traffic; or blocking motorcycles and bicycles when turning left or right. Radar sensors cover an area that extends 3.8 metres outward and 7 metres rearward on each side of the vehicle at any speed. When a vehicle or other object is detected, the system alerts the driver by emitting a warning sound and turning on a warning lamp in the door mirror on the relevant side. Environment: Mazda is actively working to reduce its usage of environmental substances of concern such as lead, hexavalent chromium, cadmium and mercury. It has completely eliminated the use of hexavalent chromium and cadmium in all parts of the new model. The use of mercury has also been abolished in all parts except for liquid crystal displays and discharge headlights. In addition, Mazda was the first auto maker to introduce a 58 l UAE Digest, December 2009

low VOC sealant that reduces toluene emissions to 1/10 of their former level. VentureShield, the hi-tech protective film used for both military and Formula 1 applications, has arrived on the UAE market. Available exclusively from Sunprotech, VentureShield protects car paintwork against all kinds of flying stone chips, scratches and scrapes. Originally developed by the military to protect helicopter rotor blades in dusty conditions, it is applied to cars as a transparent film that is cut into a single sheet to fit perfectly. Experts, trained by specialists from the UK, are adept at fitting this protection beautifully. With the highest clarity of any product on the market, it is practically invisible to the eye and is guaranteed not to turn yellow in the sun. It is the only product in the region to offer a limited lifetime guarantee, and can be easily and safely removed and replaced. VentureShield is the invisible force that protects the bodywork of some of the most expensive cars on the planet. It is even used by a number of Formula 1 teams. It can be applied to any painted surface, including on motorbikes, quads and boats. It has been tested around the world for manufacturers including Ferrari, Mercedes and Toyota. Independent studies by Nissan and Mercedes show the product to be over 100 per cent more resistant to abrasions than its nearest competitor. “The local weather conditions, constant roadwork and popularity of off-roading means paintwork often gets damaged in the UAE,” says Idriss Makdoud, CEO of Sunprotech Middle East. “VentureShield is tough enough to deal with anything you can throw at it in the region. It can even protect your paintwork in the event of a minor accident, so you don’t need to repaint your car.” For more information visit www. sunprotech.fr or contact Sunprotech in the UAE on 02 558 5656 in Abu Dhabi, 04 340 6184 in Dubai or 03 721 6222 in Al Ain. Aircraft-style black box recorders

fitted to cars in the Middle East could dramatically improve road safety as well as help determine who is at fault in crashes, says a leading technology industry expert. The Middle East has the world’s second highest road death rate and in the UAE alone last year, there were 1,071 deaths and 12,273 injuries – the highest single country per capita rate - according to the World Health Organisation. “Too many people are dying or are being severely injured on the roads in the region,” said Chris Wiener, Solutions Architect at ArabIT. “Lives depend on people driving responsibly and black boxes constantly monitoring a driver’s behaviour provide a strong incentive to ensure they do so.” The European Union is drawing up plans for recorders to be fitted to all cars following a study which found that drivers of cars fitted with black boxes are 10 per cent less likely to be involved in a fatal accident and their repair bills fell by as much as 25 per cent. In the UK, they are installed as standard in many emergency vehicles, and in the United States, black boxes are standard in more than two-thirds of new vehicles. ArabIT is the certified service provider in the UAE of an advanced telemetry vehicle management system produced by Telargo of the United States that is at the heart of black box technology. The systems can be fitted at low cost behind a dashboard and connected to sensors that monitor a car’s movements. They can record every second for 180 seconds before an accident and 60 seconds after, triggered by sharp changes in speed or the inflation of an airbag. They can record several types of data including speed, direction, hard cornering, harsh braking and indicator use. Called Data Logger, the system stores data on a memory card for later analysis. “This information can be used by the police and insurance companies to reconstruct the details of a crash to determine who is at fault,” said Wiener. “The system is like an independent witness constantly watching driving behaviour. With the driver aware the system is monitoring

their driving style, careless and reckless driving is reduced and safety improved.” Haynes, publisher of the Sunprotech technician in action The electric car REVA parked in front of Dubai Municipality building famous Haynes fans and motor sport enthusiasts were Programme’ came as part of its efforts to Owners Workshop Manuals for cars gearing up for the first ever Formula reduce all elements of pollution caused and motorcycles and leading publisher of One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. As hunby cars and encourage people to use general practical books, has released the dreds of tourists and residents gathered clean energy in addition to enjoying first Haynes iPhone App under a licensing on the Corniche, they were obviously other benefits offered by this car, such as agreement with technology company, stunned to see a Mini Cooper traversing safety and calmness during its driving, Gourmet Pixel. The ‘Haynes Car Tips’ through the pristine blue waters only to besides material savings as its cost suits App is for every car owner and includes leave tracks of white water in its wake. people from every strata of society. general maintenance information that The sight of this car made the sunny yet REVA, which was launched in the will be as intuitive and simple to use breezy afternoon all the more enjoyable. city of Bangalore, India in 2001, works as the classic repair manuals. Included Speaking about the initiative, Arno on electric power using batteries. Once are step-by-step guides with images Husselmann, General Manager of Abu fully charged, it can run up to about and text, 30 easy-to-access automotive Dhabi Motors said: “This is an exciting 80 kilometres. It takes eight hours for categories and an overview to learn the project that we have been working on the battery to fully charge, and eighty basics of how a car works and operates. for quite some time now. The ‘Mini on per cent can be achieved in two-and-aVideos enable users to watch exactly how Water’ concept vehicle has opened the half hours with the use of any electrical each task is completed by an engineer. doors to the infinite possibilities of what source. Maximum speed is 80km/hr. In addition, there will be a ‘My this small car can do. Continually setting REVA is much quieter than the convenGarage’ section, to help with all those itself apart through its unique interpretational car with minimised local noise annual tasks including reminders for tion of style and creativity, Mini remains pollution. It is a safe, lightweight car with services, MOT tests, insurance and tax a car with substance in abundance.” all comforts. Its small size allows for easy renewal dates. The Haynes App will The driving on water activity was part of movement on the roads and easy parking. also include the ultimate ‘To Do List’, a week-long integrated competition entitled Driving on water - Mini, the small so the user can easily prioritise jobs. Find A Mini where the car had been hiding car with an undeniably big attitude Under the licensing agreement in five secret locations across the UAE’s has completed a feat of engineering brokered by AT New Media, Gourcapital, challenging residents to find it to ingenuity. A Mini was spotted recently met Pixel will work closely with win a weekend trip and cool merchandise. driving on Abu Dhabi’s Corniche as Haynes to exploit various opportunities for the full range of content. iTunes link to new iPhone app : http://tinyurl.com/haynesiphone1 Dubai Municipality has started test driving the first environmentally friendly car run on electric power. The car called REVA, licensed to SS Lootah Company, was gifted to the Municipality for three days for the employees of the civic body to test drive the vehicle and familiarise themselves with this type of environmentally friendly cars. The car was parked at the entrance of the main building of the Municipality as part of the civic body’s endeavour to spread awareness on environmental conservation and cooperation with its strategic partners. The project named the ‘Green Car UAE Digest, December 2009 l 59

SPORTS

Life after the Race to Dubai? By Mike Bridge

ith the world’s media focused on the Dubai World Championship, and in particular Greg Norman’s Earth Course, golfers may be surprised that the game even exists in the desert! I am sure the TV pictures beamed globally will have whetted the appetite of many golfing tourists, who love to follow in the footsteps of their heroes! So what does the United Arab Emirates have to offer golf fanatics? Although golf in the UAE is relatively young, over the past few years the industry has mushroomed and the country now boosts over eleven top 18 holes courses. Of these, three now host European tours: the Abu Dubai National course; the Majlis at the Emirates Golf Club; and new kid on the block, the Earth course, at the Jumeirah Golf Estates. In addition there are numerous top quality signature courses designed by the likes of Ernie Els, Thomas Bjorn and Colin Montgomerie. In the next few months, Fire, the sister to the Earth Course in Dubai, plus Gary Player’s Saadiyat Island and Yas Island links in Abu Dhabi will join the list. And let’s not forget 17th hole at the Earth Course

60 l UAE Digest, December 2009

a certain Mr Woods has his first course to open in the next twelve months as well. Certainly you are spoilt for choice in the UAE of experiencing what it is actually like to play on some great championship courses. Opened in 2008, the Els Club up at Dubai Sports City, is a test for everyone. Their massive 60,000 square feet club house will be completed shortly, along with the Butch Harmon School of Golf. Although a very new addition, the fairways, bunkers and greens are in excellent condition. The course has already been awarded ‘Best new international course’ by Links magazine. With four tee boxes, the 7,538 yards gives all standards a great birdie opportunity, playing through the slopes of the native desert vegetation. Although they do not claim to have an official signature holes, check out the 5th hole, 544 yard dog leg left. From an elevated tee, you need to avoid the numerous bunkers on the left and head over the tree in the middle of the fairway. The green is reachable in two but is surrounded by more bunkers. Not to be outdone Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is gearing itself up to compete on the golfing

stage as well. The Yas Island Links will be officially in operation at the beginning of 2010. Built by developer Aldar, this course runs adjacent to their other project, the stunning Yas Marina Circuit, home to the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix. California based and renowned golf course architect Kyle Phillips, has been responsible for designing what will only be described as a completely unique golf course in the region, in line with the traditional form of links golf commonly associated to the coastal towns of Scotland and Ireland. The Yas Links golf facility will feature a 7450 yard, par 72, course utilising five teeing grounds per hole with all eighteen holes benefiting from coastal views. The Andalucía clubhouse covers an area of 5,750 square metres and features a sports bar, fine dining restaurant, gents and ladies locker rooms with steam rooms, a pro shop, reception/lobby area as well as an outdoor pool and croquet lawn with spectacular coastal views. The dedicated Golf Academy features a private members practice ground, guests practice ground, a six hole par 3 golf course, dedicated short game practice area, six shaded hitting bays with air ventilation

15th hole at Ernie Els designed course

as well as two indoor swing studios – all areas are fully floodlit. Great for real sports fans who like to combine a round of golf and then watch Button and Hamilton shoot around the amazing new circuit. Abu Dhabi will also see the opening of the new Gary Player’s Saadiyat Island course owned by TDIC, part of the government’s tourism arm. The course will be officially opened by the great man himself on January 27th during the Desert Swing. The 18-hole Saadiyat Beach Golf Course is shaping up to make a powerful environmental statement with Gary Player dubbing it “a golf course and a nature sanctuary.” Player’s first UAE signature course and the Arabian Gulf’s only ‘ocean’ course with several beach front holes, is expected to enhance Saadiyat’s already-rich wildlife credentials. “Environmentally, the project is fitting in beautifully with Saadiyat’s natural assets. However, when the long grasses and turfs are laid, the site will attract an even greater proportion of wildlife - Saadiyat Beach Golf Course will be a golf course and a nature sanctuary,” explained Player. There may be a lot of news about the new additions, but old favourites such as the Jebal Ali Golf Resort a nine hole masterpiece designed by Peter Harradine, or Bjorn Borg’s Dubai Creek and Yacht Club and the Montgomerie are certainly worthy of a round or two. Perhaps as expected the Majlis at the

Emirates Golf Club, home to the famous Dubai Desert Classic, is always a must play item on any golfing holiday in the UAE. Remember Tiger’s ball dropping into the water or Rory’s magnificent chip out of the bunker on the 18th? Oh happy memories. I am sure there will also be a rush to grab a golf buggy and to capture a round at the Earth course after the Race to Dubai. However my tip is to try out the other course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, called Fire. Another Greg Norman masterpiece, which according to insiders will be a worthy addition to the list! Playing on these first class courses is a privilege but some come at a hefty price too. Of course in the past some of the green fees charged were certainly on the high end, compared with rates charged in the Far East or across Europe. Playing 18 holes of golf rocketed in the boom years from 2005-2008. However, since the global crisis, many courses have had to revise their pricing policies to attract golfers. Well, the good news is that playing in the Gulf is getting cheaper. For example, if you wanted to play the Els Club in 2008, the rate for 18 holes with a cart and range balls at the weekend was Dh995 ($270) whereas in 2009 the rate has dropped to Dh795 ($215). Even the popular Majlis has dropped its peak time rates down to Dh825 ($225). You can of course venture further afield to Al Hamra Golf Club, one hour drive

north of Dubai, where a round will only cost Dh460 ($125) or the Tower Links also in RAK where you pay just Dh440 ($119). Although the cost of the upkeep of an 18 hole course in the desert is a lot higher than elsewhere, prices as you can see, have dropped. Apart from the global recession, with so many clubs opening, tee times are more readily available to everyone, which has created a competitive market. Of course, like at any club, try to avoid the busy weekends, but midweek you can sometimes have the course to yourself and pay a lot less. The Els midweek off peak is just Dh425 ($115). Hotels have also been hit, and so most of the top end beach front hotels will be offering special packages and upgrades to lure the golf tourists. And a 5 star hotel in Abu Dhabi or Dubai really does mean that you are treated like royalty! Contacts: • Els Club www.elsclubdubai.com • Emirates Golf Club www.dubaigolf.com • Dubai Creek and Yacht Club www.golfdubai.com • Yas Island Links www.aldar.ae • Gary Player Saadiyat Island www.tdic.ae • Earth and Fire www.jumeirahgolfestates.com Mike Bridge is organiser of the Worldwide Property Shows in Singapore at Suntec City on February 27th-28th 2010 and in Dubai at the Grand Hyatt on June 3rd-5th 2010. www.wwshows.com

Artist’s impression of the clubhouse at The Yas Island Links

UAE Digest, December 2009 l 61

SPORTS

Girls just wanna have fun At Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens

aptain of the Canadian women’s rugby sevens team, Maria Gallo, summed it up well when she played in Dubai earlier this year: “It’s amazing. It is a big party out there and soon I will be taking part in it.” It’s this party atmosphere that has attracted many women, who usually wouldn’t have stepped foot into a rugby ground, to the tournament, which has developed into one of the largest social occasions of the year in the Middle East. “There are so many different people there and everybody is in a good mood. It is vibrant and just a lot of fun,” commented avid Sevens-goer Jeannette Klaua who hails from a country not exactly considered a rugby powerhouse – Germany. “I guess it is the atmosphere at The Sevens that’s the big draw, and from a girls point of view of course, also the legs are not too bad to look at,” she joked. For some women, the tournament is serious business however, and their rugby knowledge could rival any male fan. “I think rugby, as with many sports, appeals to men and women alike, but in my case I would have to say it’s got a cultural slant,” reckoned South African fan Adele Schultz. “South African children are brought up with the rugby game playing in the background every

62 l UAE Digest, December 2009

Saturday. It becomes part of your social culture and that’s why we go to the Dubai Rugby Sevens. It is also the only event of this magnitude in the UAE. Dubai is a tossed salad of nationalities which makes it a lot of fun to enter into friendly banter and competition, with all the patriotism on the sideline and in the stands.” Whatever their reason for flocking to the tournament, there’s no denying that the level of interest among women has grown exponentially over the years, something that has been evidenced by the numbers getting involved on the pitch itself. “We have seen a marked increase in the number of women and girls playing rugby over the last few years and the numbers taking up the sport continue to grow worldwide,” explained Susan Carty, International Rugby Board Women’s Development Manager. ”There are now in excess of 80 countries with over 200,000 women and girls playing across all six IRB regions. “Rugby is a cost effective and fun way to keep fit, have fun and make friends. It is far cheaper than joining a gym, more fun as it is a team sport and lifelong friendships are made around the world. At a time when money is tight, and people are more health and fitness conscious than

ever, rugby is becoming a real choice for more and more women,” added Carty. “For athletes who aspire to represent their country there are regional competitions to play for and now they have the opportunity to represent their country in the Olympics, the biggest sporting stage of all.” The International Olympic Committee’s decision to include Rugby Sevens in the Olympic Games will certainly go a long way to boosting the number of women playing the game even further, with a women’s competition set to run alongside the men’s in Rio in 2016. But for those who don’t quite aspire to go that far and aren’t planning to don a pair of rugby boots any time soon, there’s always the party atmosphere in the stands – and of course ‘those legs’ to look out for. Tickets to be in on the action at this year’s Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens are still on sale at The Sevens ground on the Al Ain Road, Emirates headquarters, the Dnata Travel Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road and numerous Costa and MMI outlets as well as online through www.dubairugby7s.com and by calling Ticketline on 8004669. The public is reminded that a valid alcohol licence is required to enter any MMI outlet.

REAL ESTATE

Plans to develop middle income projects

urooj Properties, the real estate arm of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) and the developer behind multiple realty projects in the UAE and Middle East, held its annual strategic planning workshop recently, focusing on the company’s previous achievements and future plans in light of the current market conditions. The two-day workshop was attended by members of Burooj’s Board of Directors, including Chairman Mr Khamis Buharoon, Deputy Chairman Mr Khaled Khouri and Managing Director Mr Adel Ahmed Al Zarouni, as well as Mr Tirad Mahmoud, CEO of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, and board members, Mr Mohammed Ismail Al Fahim and Mr Masarat Husain. Burooj’s senior management team was also in attendance. Speaking of the workshop, Mr Adel Ahmed Al Zarouni said, “It is critical for property developers to stay abreast of the latest developments and changes in the real estate market, and even more important is to regularly convene a roundtable for all parties involved in the company’s growth and expansion to evaluate previous achievements and discuss future plans. We at Burooj have committed to holding such meetings on regular basis.” In keeping with its commitment to align its activities with the latest local and regional developments, and to review Burooj Views and evaluate its performance on a regular basis, the focus of the strategic planning workshop was to examine the progress made on the company’s Abu Dubai projects – the sold out Al Gurm Gardens and Burooj Views projects – for 2009. Attendees of the workshop agreed on an executive business plan for 2010 that

will translate their strategic approach into action, and will enable the developer to carry out its proposed expansion plans. The workshop also focused on the matter of providing the target client segment with the best property options. Said Al Zarouni: “Based on our evaluation of the market reality and potential, we have agreed to continue development works in the Abu Dhabi property market and to target middle income groups through a series of residential projects that cater to the needs of this growing market segment. Demand for freehold residential units in Abu Dhabi is also increasing in response to the recent regional market changes and the proven resilience of Abu Dhabi real estate sector.” Speaking of the company’s planned

international expansion and future projects, Al ZaAl Gurm Gardens rouni said, “Thanks to visionary planning based on transparent studies the company enjoys a solid financial position and is able to provide added value

Al Zarouni: “Company enjoys a solid financial position and is seeking opportunities in Egypt” to our target client segments in both the domestic and international markets. We are also able to continue with our expansion plans in the regional markets, and are currently targeting opportunities in Egypt, due to the huge population and need for mega projects to serve the increasing demands of Egyptian citizens, residents and expatriates.” “We are also looking at the possibility of working in property asset management,” he added. Burooj Properties recently announced that construction on its Burooj Views project, located on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi, is 85 per cent complete and that the project is set to be delivered to clients in the first quarter (Q1) of 2010. The company has also completed construction of the 80 villas in the Al Gurm Gardens project on Al Reem Island, adjacent to Khalifa Park and Abu Dhabi International Airport. Each of the strategically located villas is around 4,124 square feet in size, with a total floor space across the project of 285,000 square feet with smart building features incorporated, including touch button for lights, air-conditioning and security, and round-the-clock concierge services, CCTV monitoring of public areas, other additional modern amenities Launched in January this year, the company completed the construction within seven months. Finishing work on the villas has already commenced, with handover confirmed for the end of this year. UAE Digest, December 2009 l 63

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Season of joy By Con Clude

y the time this is out in print, we will be between two holiday seasons, Eid Al Adha-National Day and Christmas-New Year. It is now the middle of Eid holidays. There’s a festive atmosphere in the air and all cities in the UAE are decorated with shimmering lights on roundabouts, parks, malls, hotels and restaurants, government offices and private houses. In winter, there are plenty of programmes to keep people busy. But this time, the festivities seem more pronounced due to the long holiday season. Perhaps, people want to let their hair down after a long recession. Shopping malls are full again with folks willing to spend; cinema halls are busy with new releases; restaurants are thriving and hotels are reporting better occupancy rates. We hope this extends beyond the holiday season - it’s good for the economy and for us too. Let’s see how we can keep ourselves engaged this winter. Global Village opened its doors on November 22 with new attractions; DIFF is running with some of the best movies across the world; Sharjah Water Festival too is attracting hordes at the Khalid Lagoon. We have some great musical shows like Peter Pan and Mamma Mia (both on ice) running almost at the same time. At Dubai Cricket Stadium, Bollywood and South Indian performers gathered for a song-and-dance extravaganza on December 1. The capital, which hosts the Abu Dhabi Classics, is also hosting a number of activities until January 2, for the entire holiday season. Then, Backstreet Boys will be performing in Dubai Media City in mid-December. Can one ask for more?

64 l UAE Digest, December 2009

Sin and the City While we have much to cheer about, a few disturbing incidents took place in our backyard. Of late, one reads about many crimes and sex-related offences. While these incidents are not rare in big cities across the world, Dubai is considered one of the safest cities. By and large it remains so, but a few incidents in International City were spine-chilling. Two gangs involved in running brothels fought it out in one of the buildings, leading to a deadly murder and frightened residents into thinking of moving out. Just the next day, another similar incident took place in the same area, raising fears about safety. International City is one place in Dubai affordable to the large middle class – the reason for its popularity. In several clusters, people of different nationalities live. They may not interact with one another on a social level, but the diversity creates a multicultural environment that livens up the place. Besides open spaces, some new restaurants and a huge shopping mall created a livable, affordable place – a dream-come-true for many expat professionals. That dream is now turning sour, as many shady characters too have moved in to set up dubious establishments. The audacity with which those incidents were carried out does create a fear psychosis. A cop was nearly killed in a gang war reminiscent of Mumbai dons. Perhaps, the gangs thought International City was a safe haven in the outskirts. However, one has full con-

fidence in Dubai Police to clean up the mess and restore the global, professional family environment of International City before people start moving out.

Non-reality shows The proliferation of reality shows on TV makes one wonder how ‘real’ they are. Shows like Big Brother, I’m a celebrity, get me outta here, Moment of Truth etc – all are highly simulated, creating artificial conditions for a competition, and thriving on oversized egos to induce clashes, thereby increasing the TRPs for such shows. They have been successfully copied in Hindi by Indian TV channels. Sach ka Saamna (Moment of Truth) created a furore in India, with viewers getting a kick out of peeking into the participants’ sexual histories. Thankfully, that’s off the air, and another reality show Lux Perfect Bride took its place, where 10 young women and five young men (with their mothers looking for DILs) keep meeting each other to form pairs for marriage. This show is at least interesting, with old pairs breaking off and new pairs forming in course of time. There’s fun, drama, energy, challenges, and politics. Still, there have been allegations of it being scripted, at least in some places. Wonder if it’s modelled on any other show, but it seems pretty Indian in content and style, and looks genuine with smiles, tears, infatuations and heartbreaks. While this may be the exception, most reality shows are boring and ‘unreal’ too. Perhaps the only reality show on TV is the ‘news’. Everything else is scripted or simulated drama.