UAE Digest March 09

March 2009

ENTERPRISE

Spotting an opportunity SPORTS

Living the dream FOCUS

Intercultural living AUTOS

New cars on the block

EDUCATION - Special A city for learning

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Contents 22 On the Cover Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) is contained within Dubai Academic City (DAC).

DIAC is the free zone for tertiary institutes. Primary, secondary and K-12 schools are part of DAC but not DIAC.

12 10 Spotting an opportunity Dubai-based journalist and author Peter Cooper - the success story behind AME Info –recalls his days of struggle and excitement in the fledgling website, before selling it off to become a multimillionaire.

Intercultural awareness Just like onions can make eyes water, trees block a path and icebergs rip ships apart, cultural misunderstandings can make life a lot harder than it needs to be. Knowledge about your own and other cultures can help withstand some of the challenges in a multicultural environment.

52 14

Driving dreams Where there’s a Will there’s a way Every adult irrespective of nationality or religion should make a Will and review it regularly.

“These guys never thought they’d experience this. To race was a dream. It’s life changing for some of them.” They find their way to the racetracks to wrench the kickback into their lives; the excitement of the extraordinary, the gut-wrenching…

4 UAE Digest, March 2009

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The blurring line between ambition and greed

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mbition plays no small part in man’s it or leave it’. The end user seemed to be quest to better himself. All great nobody’s concern. achievers have been highly ambiWho couldn’t have seen the result of all tious and conversely anyone not fired this, other than the foolhardy? A roundtable by ambition can hardly be expected to excel of local experts in Dubai recently saw full in anything. Yet unbridled ambition is a man’s expression of the disenchantment. It was biggest enemy and can cause his undoing. quite unlike the usual gatherings, where Because the line that separates ambition and one is used to hearing hyperboles and greed is so thin that one can easily take the hoopla more than anything else. form of the other, unless there is constant vigil.

The discussion, centering on how to

By K Raveendran maintain Dubai’s pole position in the wake When that happens, you don’t need to look for disaster anywhere else. of the current economic crisis, was led by If you want to be the richest person in the Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, world, you must at least be rich. A rich man seeking Chief of Dubai Police. He underlined the need to redeto become super-rich is understandable, but a person fine the concept of luxury and prosperity. Luxury and with no means whatsoever aspiring to achieve that feat prosperity are not about setting high rents and having overnight is simply outrageous. The crisis that we are individuals suffering to maintain their basic needs, he facing today has been the result of such savage tendenwas quoted as saying. “It’s about maintaining economic cies. and social stability for the entire segments.”

As the academics get on with their task of tracing Shaikh Khalid Bin Zayed Bin Saqr Al Nahyan, the genesis of the current global crisis to a problem Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Dubai with the sub-prime credit market, the penchant for Economic Council, highlighted the need for a balance consuming more than what was being produced and between services offered and costs and noted that the owned, deficit financing and what not, there is a conmost affected people were those with low incomes and sensus emerging that the crisis is the result of a whole this sector required support and attention. generation being overcome with greed.

“Prosperity and luxury have its costs and we have There is no land, country or continent that is above been affected by greed,” said Sami Al Qamzi, Directorblame in this abominable attitude; every one of us General of the Department of Economic Development is responsible to some extent. We have been living (DED). He suggested there was need to reduce the beyond our means, making money out of nothing, cost of doing business and maintain and stimulate job building up assets that didn’t belong to us and tradpositions. ing them off, abusing our position to derive maximum Marwan bin Ghalita, CEO of Real Estate Regulatory benefit to ourselves, without a moment’s thought on Agency, said there was a limit to the extent to which a what it would mean to posterity and finally creating all market can flourish. “You know if it exceeds this limit this mess around us. the market will decline. The significant variation in Take the case of the frenzy in the Dubai propreal estate costs is not within the appropriate economic erty sector this time last year. Developers with little equations,” he pointed out. financial backing on their own were entering the fray Marwan stressed that the Dubai market was mainly with grandiose schemes because they could sense focused into serving the needs of the rich and business money floating around. Margin traders, masquerading classes, with more than 59 per cent of hotels in Dubai as investors, were making a killing, trading off paper classified as five stars, having one of the highest profit that supposedly represented properties waiting to be rates globally. “The cost of cars, housing, and rents built; shopkeepers hiked prices on the most flimsy does not meet the living standards of the different grounds, landlords fleeced tenants with no concern for segments of the society,” he argued, but noted that the their ability to pay; and service providers, whether in global economic crisis will provide the opportunity to the private sector or public, had not the least hesitation correct these aberrations. to jack up rates because the order of the day was ‘take

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IN THE NEWS hours on Sundays by three hours, (from 10am to 5pm).

Starting from March 27, the exchange will no longer trade on Fridays. As a result, the trading hours of the exchange will be 10am to 5pm from Sunday to Thursday inclusive.

These changes will enable Nasdaq Dubai to focus on a full five-day trading week, like other international and regional exchanges. The new opening times have been designed to meet the needs of investors and other participants in Nasdaq Dubai’s market, as an exchange located in the Middle East.

The tanker being towed to Jebel Ali port

Steps taken to protect marine environment

D

ubai Municipality has taken all necessary measures to protect the emirate’s marine environment following a collision between a container vessel and a gasoline tanker, five miles off the Jebel Ali coast last month. The tanker contained light fuels which did not pose major hazards and the situation was brought under control immediately by the authorities. This type of fuel evaporates very fast and the smell and vapour from it was felt only in the nearby areas or those in the direction of the wind.

It did not cause any notable damage to the marine environment.

A team of marine officers, inspectors, and monitors from the Environment Department of the municipality was dispatched to the site immediately after the accident to take stock of the situation. Dubai has formed specialised teams and task forces to deal with marine accidents, comprising representatives from all government agencies concerned. Every one of them is responsible for acting under its own jurisdictions.

Last year’s tariffs this year Marine terminal operator DP World’s UAE Region will maintain 2008 tariff rates this year at its flagship Jebel Ali Port. It also reverts to providing 10 days free storage time for all local importers with effect from March 1.

Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DP World’s UAE Region, said: “We have listened to our customers, who are being impacted by the global economic slowdown, then made our decisions. This will give them a measure of relief as they plan for the year.”

Nasdaq opening times Nasdaq Dubai has announced amendments to its opening times, after consultation with its members and other participants in its market. Starting on March 22, the exchange will extend its trading

RTA rejuvenates Salik portal The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has unveiled an enhanced version of the Toll Gate Portal (www.salik.ae) in a stylish design offering e-services in a smooth manner with easily accessible information and a roadmap of toll gates.

It has a bilingual Front Page (Arabic and English) and a box to display the latest and key information, events and news of the system in the form of links, where users can toggle between them to access the required information or surf the news archive.

The website provides a host of modern services through several commands in the Mead Menu, including a Roadmap of the Toll Gates. This service enables surfers to know the locations of the toll gate system (Salik) in high definition coloured charts with legends (explanatory symbols). Visitors can also inquire about infraction photos; a service enabling users to inquire about Salik offences, review them and even get photo printouts.

The redesigned website enables clients to have direct registration and subscription to the system.

Clients holding a Salik tag can open a new account in the system and add tags of new vehicles to the account through following few and easy steps to open and activate the account. The account could also be topped up, upon signing up to the personal account, through several payment options such as credit cards, e-dirham or direct debit from the bank account in coordination with the Dubai e-Government.

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EVENTS

Giving

Middle East firms the ride of their lives Regional businesses to get clear steer from Balanced Scorecard academics

F

or Dr David Norton, cycling 4,500 miles across America is a great way to unwind.

This monumental effort of strength, stamina and willpower may seem a tad energetic for most senior executives set to attend ‘Balanced Scorecard’ in Dubai this month. But for 77-year old top US management scholar Dr Norton, it’s the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains of commercial life.

Hot on the heels of their successful sold-out show last year, Dr Norton and his professorial colleague Dr Robert Kaplan aim to provide hard-hitting advice and recommendations to local businesses anxious about the effects of the spiralling economy.

Using compelling examples from local and regional enterprises such as DEWA, the Abu Dhabi Government, King Fahad Specialist Hospital and Qtel, the engaging academics will show that applying their globallyrespected management tool to corporate processes and procedures is the best recipe for galvanising businesses in the current crisis.

The two respected professors will argue during their five-day forum that satisfying stakeholder expectations has become critical in a region where prices for oil, real estate, commodities and financial services have plummeted and securing meaningful profit becomes ever more elusive.

Using a combination of workshops and forums, Balanced Scorecard Forum 2009 will feature live presentations from Kaplan

and Norton, pre- and post-forum sessions, plus invaluable networking opportunities. The two respected academics will also unveil their latest book, The Execution Premium, which demonstrates how the Balanced Scorecard is successfully applied.

Norton explains that the current economic malaise requires a novel approach to commercial survival.

He says: “Instead of asking: ‘What strategy do I need to survive?’ you need to reverse the question. It should be ‘How do I mobilise people in the current situation?’”

Norton argues that companies need a strategy all the time irrespective of the current economic situation - and that strategies must alter and adapt according to changing conditions. “You need to tell people what your strategy is and how to exceed it. That is definitely more important in the current conditions.

Look at the US airline industry after 9/11 - some came out of the crisis much, much stronger than they were before it. You need to know what it is you are trying to do.”

But a strategy is ineffectual unless it is clearly defined. As Norton elaborates: “There often is a gap between where we are and where we want to be. For instance, the University of Leeds in UK aspired to be ‘one of the best’. But what does this mean? For them it meant being one of the top 50 universities in the world in research and educational experience. They defined a niche.

Qualified their vision and put a

Dr Robert Kaplan and Dr David Norton

timeline on it: 2012. These are achievable and manageable targets.”

The Balanced Scorecard places significant emphasis upon effective leadership, a skill that is imperative in today’s tough conditions. “The leader has to have a sense of where we’re going. That’s a strategy. And that has to be communicated and inspire people. The leader then has to provide direction and motivate people and provide a framework for feedback.”

Kaplan and Norton are set to address high-level executives between March 28 and April 2 at the JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai. They will be joined by leading executives from well-established and industry-leading regional business powerhouses including AW Rostamani Group, Emirates Identity Authority, the Electricity and Water Authority, Bahrain, Petroleum Development Oman, Qtel and Tamweel.

International companies featured include Australia-based management consultancy Claritas and Addima Consulting of Lebanon.

Real life stories from the Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame will be showcased along with the critical role top management has to play in the successful implementation of Balanced Scorecard.

The forum, www. leaderspresents.com/bsc is running in collaboration with Palladium and is sponsored by Addima Consulting, Microsoft, Iycon, QPR and Logic Management Consulting.

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ENTERPRISE

Spotting

an opportunity Dubai-based journalist Peter Cooper - the success story behind AME Info – while talking to Vanit Sethi, recalls his days of struggle and excitement in the fledgling website, before selling it off to become a multimillionaire

While making no bones about the fact that his employers helped him unintentionally by firing him, he also admits he sometimes was too optimistic about the success of a new venture Peter Cooper

S

tarting a new venture is always a very trying task, depressing at times and exhilarating at others, but never without challenges and opportunities. In a growing city like Dubai, there can never be a single dull moment in a startup. And so it was with Peter Cooper, a Dubai-based journalist who launched AME Info – a financial news website that focused on opportunities in the Gulf market. His book Opportunity Dubai hit the UAE bookstores early last month.

Cooper has been on his own since he sold AME Info in 2006 and is looking for a new business idea to take shape. With spare time on his hands amid the market scenario not too good in Dubai now, Cooper is surprisingly cheerful but stoic and unassuming at the same time. He talks about his book, AME Info, and Dubai with a strong passion that saw him through tough times earlier.

Starting off his journalistic career in Dubai as a launch editor with Motivate’s Gulf Business after being made redundant in London by Emap plc, Cooper returned briefly to London in 1999 to complete his first book, a history of the

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ENTERPRISE Bovis Construction Group. Coming back to Dubai in 2000 (“the lure of Dubai was too great”) to become an internet entrepreneur just as the dotcom boom at the fag end of last century collapsed, Peter has had his fair share of ‘troubled times’.

Ironically, it was the hard times that led him on to greater success in his ventures. As he states in the ‘Acknowledgements’: “Of course, I would never have moved to Dubai in 1996 without first being made redundant by Emap plc and then hired by that publishing dynamo Ian Fairservice (Managing Partner of Motivate Publishing). And I would not have joined AME Info and benefited from the sale back to Emap plc if I had not been fired by Ian.” While making no bones about the fact that his employers helped him unintentionally by firing him, he also admits he sometimes was too optimistic about the success of a new venture. By his own calculations, AME Info should have been raking in the moolah after its “first difficult year”, but it actually took four long years before Peter and his business partners Klaus Lovgreen and Lars Nielsen were able to breathe a little easy. During that time, Peter had to keep himself strongly motivated to see his dreams come true. That meant being up in front of a monitor at 7.30 in the morning in his pajamas.

Of course, one of the advantages of the internet was that you did not have to work from an office after spending the good part of the day travelling.

Peter recalls the joys as well as the frustration of the earlier years of AME Info throughout his book.

When I asked him if there were times when he felt like giving it all up and going back to a regular job, he replied that the question did not arise, as there was no going back. He had decided to make a success of AME Info and he was not going to quit in losses having spent so much time and energy on the financial portal. Incidentally, he had to borrow money from a bank and invest some of his savings into the website, as no venture

Working in AME Info had not been all work and no play. Peter did take his summer vacations in different countries, especially to Russia and the UK

capitalist came forward to spend on something few people understood in those days. But Peter was helped

by Dubai government and the leadership’s push to encourage entrepreneurship through the setting up of free zones. “Actually, it was good in a way we didn’t get pots of money from a VC to set up our site, because most startups squandered their money in lavish buildups and very little work was getting done.”

Lack of funds meant they had to generate their own resources and look for innovative ideas to sell the site. But Dubai was growing, its property market was booming and people were hungry for information that would help them ride the tide.

AME Info started special reports and columns on various topics like property, finances, banking, industry focus and economic outlook of various Gulf countries.

In 2006, when the time was ripe, Peter Cooper - along with Klaus and Lars - sold off AME Info to Emap for a neat sum of $27 million, leaving him a multimillionaire. It was strange irony or sweet revenge that the wheel had come full circle from 1996 when Cooper was sacked from Emap. A roller coaster ten-year ride that saw AME Info and Cooper’s dreams bloom along with Dubai’s boom time.

What did it feel like selling off something that you’ve given birth to and grown along with? In his book, Peter mentions about the emotional bonding with his ‘baby’, so to say, but all the same he is quite matterof-fact and practical about it. “One

perhaps has to realise when one’s time is up. In the sense, this was time for a bigger player to take over.

We brought it to this stage. Now, it was time to make an exit.” And who wouldn’t like to make such an exit – with wads of cash in your pocket for the next holiday around the world.

However, working in AME Info had not been all work and no play.

Peter did take his summer vacations in different countries, especially to Russia (his wife Svetlana is from St Petersburg) and the UK (where he comes from), while he worked on the site, filing fresh reports from abroad.

Curiously, the idea of starting a website too emerged from a holiday in Australia when he spotted a news item mentioning a dotcom firm being sold for $50 million.

From one holiday to another with plenty of work in between – it has not been a bad deal for the modest journalist turned millionaire. After all, he met his life partner during those years.

Now, he is busy freelancing and writing “whenever the opportunity arises” and offering financial information and advice on his blog www.arabianmoney.net. Besides, he is planning another book, which should be out by the year-end, if all goes well.

The current recession has constrained his plans for a new business venture, but he is certainly not resting on his oars. His neversay-die spirit seems to pull him through any downturn. Whoever said “tough times never last, tough people do” could not have been more right!

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IN FOCUS

Intercultural

awareness

By Helena Axelson Fisk

There are many ways to describe culture: as an onion,

ever-changing tree or

And just like onions can make eyes water, trees block a path and icebergs rip ships apart, cultural misunderstandings can make life a lot harder than it needs to be.

Knowledge about your own and other cultures can help withstand some of the challenges in a multicultural environment.

Most of us live interculturally, one way or the other. Tourists travel; expats, emigrants and immigrants move from one country to another; corporations go global; and satellite dishes give us access to far away places with far-off values. And every time we encounter something new, we interpret and evaluate it according to our worldview filter and values.

Culture shock is a natural reaction to a strange environment. There is culture shock the first day of school or on a new job; when moving between towns in the same country or when holidaying with the partner’s family for the first time.

But the reaction is sharper and may last longer when moving to a foreign

Culture is: • What we believe in: (world views, values, ethics and morals) an ice-berg; • The way we do what we do: (how and what we its biggest part unseen. eat; how we organise and perform the necessary tasks in society; when and where we sleep; how, when and with whom we socialise; how we form family units; how and where we give birth; how we pay our final respects to someone; how we view and manage time, and so on) • How we communicate: how our mother-tongue has framed our mind and how we speak (volume, gestures, eye contact, conversational pacing, degree of directness, markers of distance/respect and so on.) country and a different language.

Culture shock is an identity crisis. Knowledge, beliefs, opinions, communication styles and even emotions are suddenly questioned or even frowned upon. After the brief honeymoon period, when everything seems fresh and new and exciting, the challenges of everyday life begin to surface and comparisons are made with ‘back home’, where people knew what they had to do and how to do it.

Unless and until the traveller learns to cope, understand and appreciate his or her new surrounding, s/ he will struggle. For married employees, the culture shock is amplified by the number of family members. In the volatile Gulf labour market, companies often have to take care of employees in different stages of this shock. A buddy system can help ease the transition, as well as intercultural training.

Living interculturally can also be making the best of all worlds; picking and choosing and synthesising from everywhere, to

create a better whole for everyone, including business.

Here’s a short list of how to go about it: 1. Learning about yourself: Culture is like water to a fish; we’re so used to it that we don’t reflect on it and can’t describe it. Learning why you feel and react the way you do makes it easier to be flexible and understanding. Read travel guides, articles, anthropologies and studies about your country and culture.

You’ll be amazed!

2. Learning about others: Reading is a good way to start, asking questions is another, and mimicking is the most profound.

3. Realising why certain behaviours make you feel one way or the other: You might find that you have a hard time trusting or liking someone who comes late to your meetings. Realising that punctuality equals reliability and respect in your culture, but not necessarily in others, you can override your

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IN FOCUS initial reaction (distrust, feeling disrespected) and judge her on what s/he does rather on when s/he appears.

4. Learning to be flexible Few behaviours in the professional culture will directly conflict with our innermost values, so there is plenty of room for flexibility. The more behaviours you have at your disposal, the more efficient you will be in an intercultural environment.

5. Finding principles that everyone can agree on: Knowing that reliability, trust and respect, for instance, are equally important in all cultures but established and shown in different ways makes it easier to keep an open mind and react and behave suitably.

Different values operate at different levels. A conflict will often illustrate two values that are equally important, but seem to contradict each other. The art is to synthesise these two values, spin them into a positive spiral and thereby create a better workplace/company.

6. Recognising and preparing for different kinds of intercultural encounters: • To establish a company in a different country demands the willingness to learn and adapt in order to sell.

• To properly welcome and introduce a team member with a different cultural background into a majority culture-team demands knowledge about both.

• To move between majority cultures requires curiosity, flexibility and a readiness to unlearn and learn anew every few years.

• To successfully run a multinational corporation takes finding the right balance between global rules and regulation and local circumstances.

• To live and work in the Gulf, with its nebulous multicultural character, demand all of this and more.

Challenges in the Gulf The golden rule is: “Do unto others what you’d

have them do unto you,” has long been discarded by experts and replaced with the Platinum Rule: “Treat others as they want to be treated, regardless of what you would prefer for yourself.” This is not easy to do in a place like the UAE in which representatives from more than two hundred countries reside, and no clear majority culture exists.

To further complicate matters, the common language of English is neither the Queen’s nor the President’s. Native English speakers must learn to speak international English if they want to be understood; using less dialect, humour, expressions and historical/ literary references and an easier vocabulary. Non-native English speakers must learn to ask for clarifications.

Finally, for a little added stress, people are coming to and leaving the workplace and the country, experiencing culture shock or dealing with detachment, both of which make it difficult to concentrate on the tasks at hand.

What to do: Simply acknowledging that culture matters can be stressful.

Knowing it and accepting it, you can deal with it. Observing and asking questions instead of expecting, anticipating and interpreting, can help you avoid disappointments and frustrations.

Different communication styles embody different values. The politeness indicated in discreet speech (a flowery speech where a differing opinion is softened by referring to the other person as someone worthy of great respect; and ‘no’ is always introduced as a ‘yes’ with certain qualifications) is probably preferred by the individual speaking that way; and the straightforwardness indicated by the direct speech is probably a reflection of the person using it.

According to the Platinum Rule, we should try to give people what they want rather than what we want, meaning, in this instance, that the straight shooter shoots less straight and the circumspect makes

fewer circles when addressing each other, but both values exhibited, i.e. politeness and honesty, are important.

Cultures differ with regards to time-focus; past, present or the future, deadline-flexibility and whether it teaches multi- or singletasking. People who are time-flexible are often grounded in cultures with long memories. They know that today is just one of the many possible days for action. Present- and future oriented, on the other hand, perceive time as a limited resource, something that must be used to the maximum in order to succeed.

Time-flexible people are often good at multi-tasking; they talk on the phone, greet friends, answer co-workers’ queries all at the same time. Time-stringent people prefer doing one task at the time: they greet someone after they properly concluded the phone call, they ask to get back to their co-workers with the correct answer, and they keep very tight schedules.

In egalitarian societies, the ideal is to treat everybody the same way, regardless of name or position.

Generally, the more egalitarian it is, the less specialised a society is, i.e. any one person can do many things and perform many roles, which saves manpower. Egalitarians may come across as sloppy dressers without manners, using first names without hesitation and showing little insight in how to address whom.

In-egalitarians might be perceived as snobbish and aloof, attaching great weight to dress, accessories and titles, talking to some with great deference and to others with seeming disrespect.

Reconciliation lies in moderation: In a team or a workforce, how people are treated can sometimes be as important as how much they are paid.

Learning to recognise and reconcile cultural differences can give your intercultural living a positive, profound tinge, and make your company even more attractive and effective in the market.

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IN FOCUS

Where there’s a Will there’s a way Do I need a Will as an expat? The simple answer is “Yes”. Every adult irrespective of nationality or religion should make a Will and review it regularly. If you have no real estate property or any sizable amount of money in a local bank here, you should still make a Will while living in the UAE.

M

ost employees will receive a sizable amount of money simply from company and government payouts upon death.

Your company will end up holding onshore up to three times your salary when company life insurance on your individual name pays out. In addition your company will hold your end of service gratuity, your last month’s salary and any unspent holiday pay.

Finally, if the death was caused by another person unintentionally, or by accident, he or she has to pay your estate blood money, known locally as diya. This blood money is to be paid to the victim’s estate as compensation and the amount is given in accordance with Sharia.

When you calculate it all up, this money locked away often runs into many thousands of dirhams for the majority of well-paid expats, and a property

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IN FOCUS drafted Will can help the probate process and secure the final issue of a Sharia Court Order, which is the final document required to unfreeze or release funds.

If you have a Will it should be reviewed regularly particularly if your circumstances have changed; you may have recently married, had children or divorced. In fact, it is important to note that marriage invalidates any Will (unless the Will is made in contemplation of the marriage) but divorce does not revoke a Will.

If you own real estate in the UAE, the safest way to ensure it is given to the beneficiaries of your choice and not distributed in accordance with Sharia law is to place the real estate property, known as immovable property, into an offshore company. Owners of property in certain European countries will be very familiar with this method of asset protection.

For certain nationalities such as Indian citizens, the Will must include a full list of real estate properties owned and their postal addresses in addition to other liquid assets details.

The United Arab Emirates is essentially a civil law jurisdiction heavily influenced by French, Roman, Egyptian and Islamic (Sharia) law. Principles, such as adopting previous court judgments as legal precedents, are generally not recognised (although judgments delivered by higher courts are usually applied by lower courts).

If you die without a valid Will, you are said to have died “intestate” and instead of your estate being distributed as you would like, your property (which includes real estate, possessions and cash) will be subject to the law of intestacy of the deceased home country.

If you die without a Will this will apply to your estate outside of the UAE; for your estate within the UAE, Sharia law may be applied by the local courts. In this case, your family will probably receive a very different amount under Sharia law. Sharia law favours the males of your extended family and lesser shares of your estate are given to the female members. For example, your wife may only receive one-eighth of your total estate, while children receive one-sixth of the share.

Sharia law also requires that for every share received by a daughter, a son receives twice the amount. In addition, should Sharia law be applied to your estate, as the males of your family are favoured more, the females may find that certain males within your extended family will receive more of your estate than your wife.

Apart from the problems related to which law will be

Sharia law requires that for every share received by a daughter, a son receives twice the amount.

If the deceased has a partnership in a company, the account remains closed and inaccessible by any partner until the deceased is severed from the trade license and any partnership contract.

applied to your estate should you not have a properly drafted Will, further complications may arise. Members of your family that you would not have included in your Will, may have a legally recognised claim against your estate after your death. If your home country law is applied, this may include dependant children not of your own blood or a divorced spouse that still has a dependence on your income.

If you die in the UAE your local bank accounts will remain active until a death certificate is issued. A notice will be issued from the Ministry of Health should the death be a natural one, or the Ministry of Interior if in the opinion of the courts, the death has suspicious circumstances. At this point in time, all your local accounts including joint accounts will be frozen.

If the deceased has a partnership in a company, the account remains closed and inaccessible by any partner until the deceased is severed from the trade licence and any partnership contract.

It is important to remember that in the case of joint accounts (husband and wife), the remaining spouse will be left with no means of financial support unless he/she has access to offshore accounts. An offshore account held in both husband and wife’s names can be legally accessed after death of one of the account holders by the other.

The deceased’s accounts remain frozen until further notice is received from the courts. The accounts can only be opened by a Sharia court order allowing the heirs to withdraw money or a representative with a power of attorney from the heirs after the deceased person’s debts are paid. Having a Will prepared before you die will ensure that the local courts are informed of your beneficiaries and your executors.

Your executors are your appointed representatives to administer the instructions and wishes of your will.

They are often given power of attorney to administer your affairs in the UAE, which includes payment of all outstanding debts prior to the lawful distribution of your estate.

If the person has a partnership in a company the account remains closed and inaccessible by any partner until the deceased is severed from the trade licence and any partnership contract.

Unfreezing of local bank accounts can only be carried

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IN FOCUS out by order of the Shariah Court once it has made a decision based on an attested Will or Sharia law. This process aims to safeguard any payments that need to be made after an expatriate has died, such as outstanding loans and any debt payments.

Milind Gokhale, an advocate and member of The Society of Willwriters, is one of the legal advisors for Expat Wills, a specialist Will writing company based in Dubai. Milind says that to help expats overcome the problem of frozen bank accounts, Expat Wills are currently giving informative, free of charge, joint presentations with leading international banks, to the senior management of expat companies, on the need for employees to have a properly executed Will and offshore banking.

The most common reason for making a Will is to ensure your assets are distributed to the family and friends you want. A properly executed Will can ensure family members and children are fully protected against every eventuality should anything happen to you. A Will should also take due consideration of any inheritance tax that your estate may be liable to pay after your death.

Executors are appointed who are representatives to administer your instructions and wishes. They are often given power of attorney to administer your affairs in the UAE, which includes payment of all outstanding debts prior to the lawful distribution of your estate.

If you have children under 18 years of age then a Will is the only way that you can appoint guardians to take care of them should anything happen to both parents.

You may consider placing some or all of the residue of your estate into a trust fund for them.

Everyone has heard of millionaire beneficiaries of trusts funds such as Paris Hilton, but in the world of the average expat, putting money into trust funds for family members is a very common method of protecting the future of the family you leave behind.

You may also give specific gifts in your Will. These don’t have to be limited to material possessions, as you can give cash gifts to anyone you want. After gifting material items and cash you are left with what is known as the residue of the estate. You must then decide what you want to do with this residue of money.

Milind explains that expats are usually very good at planning for retirement, but rarely consider planning for

The deceased’s accounts remain frozen until further notice is received from the courts. The accounts can only be opened by a Sharia court order allowing the heirs to withdraw money or a representative with a power of attorney from the heirs after the deceased person’s debts are paid

death. “Most people really don’t want to think about dying, but a professionally drafted Will is just good financial sense and planning, and all expats should have one.

The company specialises in protecting the families and financial assets of most nationalities and religions residing in the UAE. They have both non-Muslim and Muslim clients that use their specialist services to safeguard their property held in the UAE and other locations in the world. It prepares Wills that are tailormade to suit each individual client’s financial and personal situation. They are professionally drafted to reduce the amount of tax your estate may have to pay. Expats should be aware that although they may reside in a tax-free country, their home country government often takes into account their worldwide assets for the purposes of calculating inheritance tax.”

Milind continues: “If you have an existing Will, we also offer a free review service to ensure it complies with any current changes in the law. We will check that it includes the beneficiaries that you still want, the required guardians for your children and that it does what you want it to do.”

Should you require further information and want to take advantage of an Expat Wills free review of your existing Will, contact: Sue Mason at 04 3397244, info@expatwills.net

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EDUCATION

A city for learning I

By Linda Benbow

n the old days, i.e. last century, the 1990s and before; families in the United Arab Emirates enjoyed a life together – until the children reached the age of 18. Then it was chucking out time, leave the nest time, call it what you will – although most people called it “University days”. Children of all nationalities had to leave the family home, get on a plane and fly off to countries afar to further their education in their chosen universites because there were very few further education facilities in this country.

For some time, Knowledge Village acted as a base for branches of universities from overseas.

Gradually, parents learned to send their children there, although there were a few incidents of learning programmes being abruptly stopped due to lack of finance. That brought to light the question of which institute was actually accredited to carry out the teachings for which money had been collected.

We all gazed in awe as an aeroplane was constructed out of bricks and mortars near the roundabout at Garhoud. Emirates’ Teaching Academy is an in-house training centre for the airline’s cabin crew, engineers and other associated jobs. Unfortunately, the roundabout gave way to a huge flyover system and the beauty of the building can now only be glimpsed between bridges.

Distance learning has always been available at The British Council. This was often a preferred method for vocational qualifications relating to jobs and companies, paid for, usually, by multinational companies here in Dubai and headquarters in other countries.

The gradually expanding patchwork of education changed dramatically in 2005 when the Dubai Education Council (DEC) was set up to enhance the education sector in Dubai at all levels and to bring it up to international standards while

maintaining cultural and social values.

DEC was also set up to further develop educational institutions in order to create a knowledge-based society. This it did in 2006 when it announced that Dubai Academic City would be built on acres of sand somewhere off the Dubai-Al Ain Road. A lot of development has happened since then and what used to be a trek out of the city is now an up-and-coming academic destination for students at branches of world renowned universities and institutions.

A sizable number of foreign accredited universities have been set up in the city over the last ten years. Some of these include the American University in Dubai (AUD), The American College of Dubai, SP Jain Center Of Management (part of India’s reputed Business School SP Jain Institute of Management & Research), XLRI Dubai Campus for Management (in collaboration with Al Abbas Institute of Technology), Al Ghurair University, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Heriot-Watt University, Middlesex University Dubai, SAE Institute Dubai, the Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai Women’s College and Dubai Men’s College campuses, University of Wollongong in Dubai, Dublin’s Dubai Business School, European University College Brussels-Dubai, Mahatma Gandhi University, Manipal University, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology,

British University of Dubai, and Zayed University.

Also, in 2004, the Dubai School of Government in cooperation with the Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government was set up. Its long-term objective is to become a knowledge centre in the Arab world. The Harvard Medical School Dubai Center (HMSDC) Institute for Postgraduate Education and Research has been established as well in Dubai Health Care City.

Since autumn 2008, Michigan State University has been offering undergrad and graduate degrees in Dubai.

The number of colleges and universities in Dubai has grown significantly in the past 20 years, and every year, the number of their staff and students increases by about 30 per cent. Most of them are affiliating themselves to prestigious institutions abroad, and many of them use English as a tuition language. A large number of Dubai’s universities also offer various Master’s and PhD postgraduate programmes.

National Institute for Vocational Education (NIVE) was established to provide students with an opportunity to gain specific job related skills to meet the current market demand. A DEC initiative, National Institution Vocational Education was formed to provide specialised vocational education for UAE nationals. The vocational education is benchmarked according to professional standards of the industry and takes into account the growth of UAE and the region.

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EDUCATION

Company policy

By Helena Axelson Fisk

Y

ou might want to read up on your prospective employer’s education and training policy before accepting that job offer as research shows that level of staff training can determine a company’s long-term prospects. William Collier, Frances Green, John Peirson and David Wilkinson presented a report at the Royal Economic Society in 2003, maintaining that a 20 per cent rise in non-manual worker training reduces the probability of forced closure by six per cent. They also said that small establishments that train a larger proportion of their workers, stand a better chance of surviving

a tradition with Hewlett Packard.

Right from the time it has been established, Bill Hewlett & Dave Packard strongly believed in employee development through on-the-job learning, job rotation, short-term project assignments, in addition to classroom training.

Continuing on the same tradition, and in keeping up with technology, HP today has also added e-learning and virtual classroom training as vehicles for employee development,” writes HP on its website.

Shell echoes that sentiment: “We recognise that people are behind our success, we’re committed to

the vicissitudes of the market. And in January 2009, a report claimed that companies that invest in training now stand a bigger chance to survive and recover from the current crisis.

Training is an attraction and a sign of affection. The big companies already know this; HP, for instance, takes great pride in its training programme: “Focus on employee development and training has been

providing the training they need to fully optimise their skills and potential. That’s why we offer a huge range of training and development activities. On-the-job learning; training for recognised professional qualifications; personal development programmes and direction and support - from ‘buddy’ schemes, mentoring and regular appraisals with line managers.”

When Tecom inaugurated its training centre in Knowledge Village in 2007, Abdullatif Al Mulla, CEO of Tecom Investments, said: “We consider people as our prime assets. Our success depends on how effectively these professionals comprehend and adopt our core values. We have established this facility for their continuous development as we believe learning is vital to achieving the organisations’ objectives.”

According to the British report, sales, clerical, secretarial and professional workers should be trained first and foremost. Training can focus on new technology, required skills and knowledge, legislation and safety procedures for instance; or they can be ‘soft skills’ such as communication, decisionmaking and risk analysis. Skilled, knowledgeable staff perform better and bring in more money per capita to the company and the employee gets a heavy dose of personal development for free.

Almost every new venture comes with a lesson plan for its workers attached, but old industries are being transformed as well.

Phil Grange, Safeguard Risk Management Safety Engineer at Boots & Coots, an oil well control company, explains: “For many of the physical aspects of our work, a university degree is not necessary, but the Petroleum Industry is changing. Our clients require well educated personnel.”

Boots & Coots’ world used to be a physical, hard environment, where brawns were as important as brains; on-the-job training was the only one that mattered, and you proved your mettle to your peers before anyone else: “A few decades ago, a new guy would start right at the bottom (in the workshop, out in the field.... hammering iron and pulling cables.... hard, hard physical work), he would move around the various work and skill aspects of

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EDUCATION our profession and provided he learnt well, he would move on. This process could take 15 years or more,” says Phil.

In light of an ageing cadre and fewer employable applicants, fifteen years is getting too long to wait for employees to become experts, and for that reason, Boots & Coots has developed a proper training programme. Due to the nature of the job, Boots & Coots personnel need to be up to date on a number of certificates at all time: Offshore Sea Survival, Helicopter Escape, Advanced Fire-fighting and Well Control and Operations, among others. Typically, certification lasts for three years and must then be renewed by completing a refresher course.

A logical offshoot of Boots & Coots’ main activities is their client training programmes, and training can be a lucrative business: “We offer training to clients in a wide variety of subjects/topics. Anything from Basic Industrial Safety to Confined Space Rescue to Advanced Oil Well Drilling Methods. Currently, one of our major clients has us

providing an across-the-board/all skill training programme to their entire workforce, worth around $20 million a year,” says Phil.

For many high tech companies, every sold product or project is a potential risk: A client who cannot get the investment to work properly will be a grumpy, non-returning client. That is why hardware companies have developed their consultancy departments, and sales with tags for training are fast becoming the norm in some industries. A study conducted by Expertus and Training Industry, Inc. in 2008 found that more than a third of the respondents benefitted strongly in terms of customer satisfaction, revenues and customer retention. A company that lacks a well developed strategy for training might not be the one to join if there are other alternatives out there.

As with customer service, there will always be a need for training.

New products, new technologies, new knowledge, new emerging markets create an incessant demand on both companies and people to engage in life-long learning. And,

On-the-job learning

By Linda Benbow

• During the initial job interview is the time to ask about a company’s training opportunities. Some of the bigger multi-national and government influenced companies will willingly train you to do their job properly, from relevant courses to higher education degrees. Whatever the industry, ask questions and find out what is available. • Show that you are a forward thinker who wants to learn how to be the most useful – someone they should emply, in fact.

• Shell doesn’t recruit into a generic graduate scheme.

Instead they match each individual to a particular role • based on their skills, potential and personal skills.

If you’re studying for a BA, MA or advanced degree, or even if you’ve already graduated, in Shell’s eyes, you’re a graduate. There are alternative routes into the international company including visiting on The Shell Recruitment Day, taking part in a business challenge, and internship for 8-12 weeks. Visit www.shell-me. com for more information.

• Dubai Aluminium Company Ltd. (DUBAL) provides scholarships to eligible students, enabling them to • pursue higher education at university level (with preference being given to UAE Nationals). After completing their studies, students are committed to remain with DUBAL for a period of time equivalent to the period of the scholarship received. If you are

just like a prospective employer would be right to ask how far you are willing to stretch yourself, you should ask how far they are willing to pull you.

Skilled, knowledgeable staff perform better and bring in more money per capita to the company.

interested in pursuing a career at DUBAL send your resume to careers@dubal.ae Emirates has post graduate programmes for its employees, such as MBA (Aviation Management), MBA (Logistics & Supply Mangement) and MBA (Information Technology Mangement). It also offers BSc top-up Aviation Management Programme, along with on-thejob and classroom training by its own professionals.

Jumeirah has its own in-house chef and hotel management courses at its Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management. In academic association with the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, it offers degrees in hospitality management and professional development for the travel, tourism and hospitality service industries.

Emaar Education has opened its dedicated hospitality training school at The Raffles Campus School of Hospitality offering Hospitality Management programmes in collaboration with Australia’s Box Hill Institute, one of the premier multipurpose Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes in the world.

All programmes offered here adhere to the guidelines and standards laid down in The Australian Quality Training Framework that ensure high quality skills and competency based education and training.

Banks, PR companies, retailers, schools, government and quasi-government bodies offer updated courses and training. Private companies will give specialised training to their staff in order to remain competitive and one step ahead.

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EDUCATION

Window to the world

By Vanit Sethi

Eventually, Dubai Knowledge Village will remain a training centre for corporate establishments as well as housing some training institutes and academic support services with city branches of some educational institutions in Dubai Academic City

W

ith Dubai’s fast pace of growth in the realty and hospitality sectors during the early 2000s, plus the influx of a huge number of expatriates of different nationalities, a strong need was felt for developing educational institutions where the children of expats could study without having to leave for their home countries. In addition, the growing ambitions of UAE nationals to educate themselves in prestigious world universities without having to leave their homes was the driving force behind the setting up of the Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV) in 2003.

Since then, DKV has grown in student strength and number of institutions to about 450. In 2007, Tecom Investments – the parent company of DKV – launched the Dubai Academic City (DAC). Many institutions – like BITS Pilani and MAHE Manipal – have already moved there with their own campuses, while several others are in the process of doing so.

Eventually, DKV will remain a training centre for corporate establishments and also house some training institutes and academic support services with probably

city branches of some educational institutions in DAC. As of now, a number of institutions are still operating out of DKV. The current recession has slowed down plans of shifting en masse this year, as those plans may take some more time to materialise. At present, 16 universities and 200 other educational institutions are in various phases of development and relocation. The universities are from a number of countries including UK, US, Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan, Iran, France, Russia, Ireland, Belgium etc.

The institutions that have set up shop in DKV have done so for a variety of reasons. One important consideration is to reach out to their nationals in the emirate who would like to have education of a standard that is on par with their home countries. The presence of these institutions in a thriving emirate like Dubai also enhances their

international prestige and reputation.

But most importantly, the conveniences and facilities offered by the Dubai government to institutions setting up in DKV are too attractive to ignore. Since DKV is part of the TECOM freezone, it offers 100 per cent foreign ownership, total exemption from taxes and 100 per cent repatriation of assets and profits, besides easy and effortless visa issuing procedures.

The one-kilometre long compact campus has – apart from interconnected buildings housing colleges, universities and institutes – food courts, retail shops, auditorium, libraries, hotel, clinic, leisure and recreation facilities along with beautifully landscaped walkways and fountains. In the DAC, most institutions will have their own bigger, well-defined campuses in several buildings along the Emirates Road. In DKV, the older establishments like MAHE Manipal, British University and the University of Wollongong have already made a name for themselves in Dubai and the UAE. Newer institutions like Herriot-Watt University, Michigan State University, Murdoch University and Middlesex University are already in the DAC in various stages of development.

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EDUCATION Here is a list of some institutions, including the courses and degrees offered by them.

UNIVERSITIES 1. British University (UK) Courses: Business, Informatics, Education, Engineering.

Website: www.buid.ac.ae 2. Islamic Azad University (Iran) Courses: Engineering, Business Management, Dentistry, English Language, Law, Psychology.

Website: www.iau.ae 3. Mahatma Gandhi University (India) Courses: Business Management, Commerce, Information Technology, Computer Science, Fashion Technology, Tourism Studies.

Website: www.mgudxboc.com 4. Michigan State University (US) Courses (Bachelors): Child and Youth Development, Computer Engineering, Construction Project Management, Early Childhood Education, Media Management and Research.

Courses (Masters): Educational Technology, Retailing, Advertising, Human Resources & Labour Relations, Packaging, Supply Chain Management.

Website: dubaimsu.edu 5. Middlesex University (UK) Courses (Honours): Accounting, Finance and Economics, Biological and Health Sciences, Business and Management Studies, Communication & Media Studies, Computing and IT. Courses (Masters): Human Resource Management, Marketing Communications, Management (MA, MBA, MSc).

Website: www.mdx.ac 6. Russian University (Russia) Courses: Russian, Arabic, English, French.

Website: www.rudubai.ru 7. UAE University (UAE) Courses: Humanities and Social Sciences, Science, Education, Business and Economics. Law, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Medicine and Health Science, Information Technology.

Website: www.uaeu.ac.ae 8. University of New Brunswick (Canada) Courses: Representative office for MBA programme in Canada.

Website: www.unbdubai.com 9. University of Phoenix (US) Courses: Only online courses offered in Dubai.

Website: www.phoenix.edu 10. University of Wollongong (Australia) Courses: MBA, Commerce, Computer Science, Information Technology.

Website: www.uowdubai.ac.ae

COLLEGES/SCHOOLS

1. Cambridge College International (Australia) Courses: English Language, Business, Financial Services,

2.

3.

4.

5.

Information Technology Website: www.cambridgecollegeinternational.com.au Dublin Business School (Ireland) Courses: BA (Hons), SAT, GMAT. Website: www.dbsdubai.ae European University College Brussels (Belgium) Courses: BBA, MBA, Language and Communication Skills.

Website: www.ehsal-dubai.net Manchester Business School (UK) Courses: MBA and DBA. Website: www.mbs-worldwide.ac.uk Zayed International College (UAE) Courses: Business Sciences and Information Technology.

Website: www.zu.ac.ae/international

INSTITUTES/ACADEMIES

1. Birla Institute of Technology and Science (India) Courses: Computer Science, Engineering, Biotechnology (all BE Hons.).

Website: www.bitsdubai.com 2. Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training (UK) Courses: Aviation, Hospitality and Travel Management.

Website: www.frankfinn.com 3. International Institute for Technology and Management (UK) Courses: BSc in Finance, Banking, Business, Economics, Management and Mathematics; Diploma in Accounting, Finance, Banking and Management.

Website: www.iitmedu.ae 4. Institute of Management Technology (India) Courses: MBA. Website: www.imtdubai.org 5. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (Pakistan) Courses: Business Administration (BBA, MBA), Information Technology (BSIT, MSIT), Media Sciences (BSMS).

Website: www.szabist.ac.ae 6. Universal Empire Institute of Medical Sciences (India) Courses: MBBS, BDS. Website: www.ueims.com 7. JSS Academy (India) Courses: Software Engineering, Healthcare Management, Jewellery Design.

Website: www.jss-academy.com 8. K12 International Academy (US) Courses: Home schooling.

Website: www.k12.com/int 9. Manhattan Film Academy (US) Courses: 4-month course in film making.

Website: www.mfacademy.com 10. Manipal Academy of Higher Education (India) Courses: Information Technology, Biotechnology, Management, Engineering, Media and Communication, Fashion Design, Interior Design.

Website: www.mahedubai.com * For details regarding fee structures (semester, annual, coursewise), courses and degrees offered, check the individual websites of institutions.

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EDUCATION

Moulding excellence

By Manju Ramanan

Away from the city buzz, Dubai International Academic City readies itself to be a premier space for higher education

A

submarine shaped building catches your eye as you enter the precincts of Dubai International Academic City from the Emirates Road. The Zayed University’s striking shape quite marks the area that devotes itself entirely to higher education. Sprawled over 25 million square feet, Dubai International Academic City houses several educational institutes from all over the world.

But so do areas like Knowledge Village near Dubai Internet City, and Dubai Academic City. How are they different from each other?

While Dubai Knowledge Village is the hub for professional training centres and HR companies, DIAC is positioned as the regional hub for international universities. Companies based in DKV provide executive-level education and HR services, DIAC houses international universities that provide vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate education. A regional base for premier international higher education institutions, DIAC is the world’s first dedicated tertiary cluster development and is spread across an area of 25 million square feet. The benefits for DIAC partners include 100 per cent foreign ownership, 100 per cent tax-free, 100 per cent repatriation of profits.

Located in the vicinity of International City, the DIAC can be called its backyard and several students live in the area that is upheld as the world’s only free zone dedicated to higher education. Situated away from the city buzz, the quiet environment of the Academic City is extremely conducive to research and study.

There are currently 32 international

universities of higher learning from diverse regions including USA, Australia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Belgium, UK and France operating out of DIAC, catering to over 12,000 students. These include Michigan State University from USA; The University of Wollongong in Dubai and Murdoch, both from Australia; Middlesex University Dubai Campus from UK; and S.P Jain Centre of Management from India among others. These institutions offer programmes that range in duration from one year to four years. Major academic programmes on offer include engineering, computer science, fashion and design, media studies, environmental studies, child development, quality management and business management programmes.

For enrolment in a university in DIAC or a certain programme of study, universities need to be contacted independently. However, the Student Hub (StudentHUB@diacedu.com) does guide students in providing contact information for all universities, but does

not offer expertise or advice in course counselling.

The DIAC shall have several facilities to benefit students and academics. There are plans to have a well-developed student union to facilitate extra-curricular activities of the student community, the prerequisite for a well-rounded education.

This will include facilities like lounges, wellness centres, dining facilities and entertainment venues including movie theatres, gaming centres etc. DIAC will provide on-campus accommodation with all the modern conveniences and a lifestyle comparable to the very best in the world. The accommodation facility will provide modern apartments in a safe environment with a wide variety of sizes and prices for students to choose from. Stylish interiors in each of the apartments will be complemented by the latest technology. Broadband internet connection is only part of the overall facilities offered. There will also be facilities for indoor and outdoor athletics.

The three cities

Dubai Academic City (DAC), was established between the Dubai-Hatta Road and the Dubai-Al Ain Road after the successful development of Knowledge Village near Dubai Internet City. The intention is for Academic City to be a base for schools, colleges and universities, while Knowledge Village will house training institutes and educational service organisations.

The DAC area is expected to cover 129 million sq ft and will be completed by 2012.

Just to confuse you, Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) is contained within the DAC. DIAC is the free zone for tertiary institutes.

However, primary, secondary and K-12 schools are part of DAC but not DIAC. By 2015, DIAC expects to have almost 40,000 students attending 40 different institutes.

Knowledge Village is near Dubai Marina, between Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Internet City.

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EDUCATION

For a cutting edge

By Ambily Vijaykumar

Coaching institutes offer much-needed fuel to propel students into the top league

A

programme for students who aspire to take up s a student, one of the toughest decisions to be engineering as a career. made is the direction in which one is heading Career Launcher helps students prepare for the IIT-JEE with regard to studies. Whether the subject that has been chosen is in tune with your liking and (Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Exam), the aptitude is a constant worry for not just students, but also AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Exam) as well as their parents. But once that decision is made, the next big question stares you in the face.

Anees Hussain Which is the best institute that can offer you the course you wish to do? Even after having overcome that problem, there is the biggest hurdle to be overcome. How to qualify for the course in the institute of your choice? This is where coaching institutes step in.

Apart from your regular studies, these institutes prepare you for various entrance examinations for admissions into premier institutes and universities across the world.

One such institute is Career Launcher. Already a well-established name in India, the institute began its Dubai operations in 2004. It began with a web service programme for students of standard XI and XII before launching its full-fledged two-year competitive engineering

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EDUCATION

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) for admission into various colleges in the US and BITSAT for admission into the prestigious Birla Institute of Technology in India. Admissions at Career Launcher are currently on till the first week of May. The two-year engineering programme begins in April of a given year. The fee for the two-year course is Dh16,000.

Coaching goes on even during the summer break for preparations for competitive engineering entrance exams. The courses are held at its centre in Knowledge Village.

“We have close to 200 students for this course at the moment and are expecting to enrol more for the batch beginning in April,” says Saurabh Varshney, Academic Head of Career Launcher India Limited.

The faculty for this programme are IITians who come from India to Dubai to teach aspiring engineers.

Though the engineering programme attracts the maximum number of candidates, Career Launcher also offers short Term training for GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test) for entrance into various business schools.

“There are two different programmes for GMAT; a weekend programme in which we offer classes on three Fridays and Saturdays of a month. Students, who are mostly professionals, are given six-hour classes during these exhaustive sessions. The second is the sevenday intensive programme with seven hours classes daily. This is coaching for admissions to MBA courses in various universities across the globe.

The course is run in association with Veritas Testprep US,” informs Saurabh Varshney. The fee for this course is Dh7000.

The institute is also working on offering full-fledged coaching for medical entrance exams. However, it is in the initial stages. All this apart, they also offer test series for CAT (Common Aptitude Test) exams for admissions into various B-schools in

India.

Excellence in Education, Anees Hussain’s Way, is another coaching institute operating from Knowledge Village that offers coaching for various entrance exams of universities across the globe. They offer ‘partly individualised coaching’ for entrance exams like the SAT, GMAT, GRE (Graduate Record Exam), TOEFL and IELTS. This apart they also offer subject-specific coaching for high school students and language courses.

The CEO of the institute, Anees Hussain, says: “I have always wanted the highest standards for education for children. For me, it is not a job, it is a mission to open their minds, motivate them, inspire them and make those who hate the subject love it, get them self-propelled and working.”

Hussain underlines the need for personalised coaching because, “the school environment here is not good, parents do not pay attention to their children, and kids are not guided in the right direction.” He claims that students who have studied under him have made it to the top universities across the globe like Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge and MIT, among others. “No other institute in Dubai can boast of an average of 2,000 for SAT,” claims Hussain.

The institute has been operating from Knowledge Village since 2004. The courses offered include SAT, which is a ten to twelve-week course with a total teaching time of about 100 hours. The course fee is Dh5,500. The GMAT course duration varies from six weeks to twelve weeks, depending upon the entrance

test and the college that the student is targeting for admission. The course fee is about Dh5,000. For the GRE course, the duration and rate is similar to that of GMAT. TOEFL and IELTS courses are two months long and the fee is Dh4,800. For the rest of the courses, students need to shell out Dh200 per hour since they are offered individual coaching.

Admissions to the institute are open “twelve months a year, seven days a week,” says Hussain.

As a part of the institute’s attempt to gauge the student’s ability, there is a diagnostic test conducted prior to admission so that the institute “gets an idea of the student’s starting band and weak areas.”

The faculty is led by Anees Hussain who has twenty years of teaching experience behind him. He claims he has, in this period, helped about 20,000 students get admissions into various prestigious colleges across the world. Apart from studying at Columbia University, he has also served as a professor there for six years before moving to Karachi to start his coaching institutes.

The remaining faculty has been largely drawn from various prestigious institutes in Pakistan.

“I have been extremely disappointed when I tried to recruit from the Dubai market. I have not grown as fast, because I am very demanding as far as teachers are concerned, because they should be motivated like me. They must be dedicated to teaching, and hence it is not easy to find such people. I don’t want to recruit people who come in and do their hours of teaching and go back,” states Hussain.

It is this that Hussain feels separates his institute from the rest.

The ‘close supervision’ of students that he offers is lacking in many schools in Dubai, claims Hussain.

And until schools here fill that vacuum, Hussain feels coaching institutes like his will thrive.

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EDUCATION

Superior Medicare Gulf Medical University, Ajman

L

andscaped to perfection, Certification Programmes in MDT. nestled in a sprawling The university, that offers campus, away from the din of admissions to boys and girls, has cityscape, is the Gulf Medical infrastructure and facilities, on par University in Ajman. A year ago, the with some of the established medical college-following a decree issued by institutions in the world. Apart from the Minister of Higher Education and the academic programmes, it is Scientific Research, His Excellency in the forefront of the Continuing Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Medical Education and Continuing Nahyan - was officially approved Professional Development as the Gulf Medical University.

Programmes. It has been organising Thumbay Moideen is its Founderwell acclaimed international and President and it is promoted by the regional conferences and symposia Thumbay Group UAE. The group and publishes a quarterly health is involved in various sectors, apart magazine - GMC Health Journal. from healthcare - education, real Its courses range from Bachelor estate, turnkey projects, information of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery technology, consultancy, timber, (M.B.B.S) to Post Graduate/Diploma shipping, and import-export et al Programmes , Masters Programme The focus of the Gulf Medical in Clinical Pathology, Doctor of University is in three core areas Pharmacy - Pharm.D, Doctor of of Medical Education, Healthcare Dental Medicine (DMD),Bachelor of and Research. The Gulf Medical Physical Therapy (B.P.T).

College- as it was called earlier, The University is listed in the began with the MBBS programme WHO World Directory of Medical and the Bachelor of Physiotherapy Schools and IMED under the programme. Today has several new auspices of Faimer. feathers to its cap. The Ministry The sprawling college campus of Higher Education and Scientific has excellent infrastructural Research has permitted the university Convocation ceremony at Gulf Medical University to foray into newer programmes in Pharmacy-D, DMD, Masters Programmes in Clinical Pathology, Toxicology, Public Health and Primary Care-the University has also implemented the fellowship programmes of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners as well as the McKenzie Institute

facilities, which include lecture halls, laboratories and departments that are well equipped and staffed by highly qualified and experienced faculty.

There are adequate facilities for curricular and extracurricular activities in the campus. The GMU also has a health communications division, the apex body which coordinates all the CME/CPD programmes at the college and the hospital. Its quarterly health magazine is published by students.

The college has links to some of the leading universities and institutions across the world for online video interaction with experts. Additionally, the university encourages sports and games with basketball, volleyball courts, tennis courts, cricket and football fields which have been located in the campus. Separate indoor table tennis facility for male and female students is provided.

Separate hostel facilities for male and female students are provided on request. Resident wardens in the hostel take care of student needs.

Indoor games and Internet facilities are available for recreation and study.

GMCA has over 30 transport vehicles to cater to various transport requirements of students and faculty from hostel to college and GMC Hospital. The transport facilities are provided for students coming from Dubai and other northern emirates too.

Contact : Phone: (+971 6) 7431333 E-mail: gmcajman@emirates.net.ae Gulf Medical University

The Thumbay group, that owns The Gulf Medical University, also owns the Gulf Medical Hospital in Ajman.

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EDUCATION

Tradition of Excellence

University of Pune, from India, opens a chapter in RAK

By Manju Ramanan

O

ne of India’s top-ranked state universities, the University of Pune (awarded five star ratings by the independent National Assessment and Accreditation Council of India; also honoured by the University Grants Commission as a University with Potential for Excellence, has opened its branch at Ras Al Khaimah.

Dubai-based Edulink Consultants, that has been instrumental in roping in several international universities to the region, facilitated the venture. “We met the visionary HH Sheikh Saud, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah in November and he agreed to our proposal,” says Misho Ravic, CEO Edulink Consultants.

Ravic, who has been in Dubai for the past two decades, has been involved in establishing and running a number of educational institutions in Dubai, Canada and the UK. His most notable achievement has been The English College Dubai, and the Middlesex University campus in Dubai. He is also CEO of Dubai London Clinic.

Ask him why he chose RAK as a base for UoP and he states that, “Educational institutions need not be in big cities. Even in the UK, the well-known universities and colleges

UoP currently has around 650,000 students studying on its parent campus and affiliated colleges and has the highest number of international students among higher education institutions in India. aren’t really situated in London. RAK has an ideal academic climate, is cost effective and the students can easily negotiate the traffic.”

As for the UoP, RAK curriculum, Riaz Bava, MD of Edulink Consultants states that the RAK campus will offer undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate courses, and is currently accepting applications and registrations for their opening in April 2009 for postgraduate level, and in September later this year for undergraduate, post-graduate courses in sciences, management, engineering, commerce, pharmacy and other subjects.

“UoP’s main advantage is its costeffectiveness. The annual cost of an MBA degree per year amounts to Dh20,000 which is quite affordable,” he states. Bava is a seasoned technology specialist with extensive links across the UK, Middle East, Africa and South East Asia with a track record of mobile computing,

enterprise software and eLearning markets. As Regional Sales Manager (Middle East, Africa and India) for Edinburgh Headquartered Interactive University, Riaz was responsible for identifying and winning some of the company’s major sales opportunities and is instrumental in setting up Herriot Watt University Dubai Campus in 2005.

“The UoP campus will initially operate from the Al Naeem Building (Dubai Bank Building) location in the Nakheel area and will eventually move to its own buildings situated close to the George Mason University Campus. We have requested for 25,000 sq ft of space near the George Mason university Campus,” states Ravic. As for the teaching staff, most readers and professors employed in Pune University and its affiliated colleges will come to RAK for a duration of six months. “We also have plans to invite people from the local industry,” he adds.

With a vision to create an educational hub in RAK where students of the region gather, the UoP seems to be just the beginning of new successful stories to come.

Edulink shall shortly bring to RAK, a well known school from India.

HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, at the press launch held to announce the setting up of University of Pune (UoP) campus in RAK

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EDUCATION

RAKMHSU campus

Inspired to Excel

Dr Gurumadhava Rao-Vice Chancellor of RAKMHSU

Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University resolves to improve the quality of healthcare professionals in the region

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ne of the premier universities in the Northern Emirates devoting itself to medical health, the RAK Medical and Health Sciences University (RAK-MHSU) was established by the Ras Al Khaimah Human Development Foundation (RAK – HDF) under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and Chancellor of the University. RAKHDF is a joint venture of the Ras Al Khaimah Government, Al Ghurair Investments and ETA Ascon Group, Dubai. It is accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Government of UAE. Its soft-spoken yet dynamic ViceChancellor is Dr Gurumadhava Rao, who has resolved to create quality healthcare professionals for the UAE and the world outside.

“All of us want a doctor who is caring and compassionate, understands your problem, diagnoses your illness and provides you with suitable medical treatment. At RAKMHSU, I am aiming to do that,” he states. With 29 years of experience behind him in one of India’s premier institutes-Manipal University - Dr Rao arrived in RAK to start this job at RAKMHSU. The new RAKMHSU building that he has recently moved into is a

state-of-the art facility that extends who guides the students. Through to an area of 10.2 acres and is well this exercise, students get to discuss, landscaped. The university building tolerate other’s mistakes and develop extends to 60,000 square feet and a good team spirit,” he explains. The the total built up area extends to faculty also undergoes teacher training 250,000 square feet. It is a G + 3 programmes. The university conducts floor structure with all facilities Institutional Research Surveys about that include medical, nursing and performance of the faculty and regular pharmacy colleges. It has 10 lecture student assessment too. halls, around 10 labs including the RAK MHS University’s Student clinical skills lab, rooms for small Council ensures a speedy group discussions, a big library acclimatisation of new students to containing 5,000 books and 1,000 RAK MHS University by promoting online journals. The University also healthy friendships. It holds regular has a sprawling auditorium that has a meetings to organise activities seating capacity of 650. such as orientation, sports, cultural “We have a strength of 230 programmes, competitions and students across 30 nationalities in our magazine publication. The university five programmes that include Medical, also organises social, cultural and Dental, Pharmacy and Nursing. In entertainment programmes.

Nursing, we have the BSc programme Housing facilities-separate for as well as the Bridge programme male and female students - are made where diploma holders in Nursing can available upon payment .Within each upgrade their diplomas to degrees. housing facility, both single and Our staff totals 103, out of which 60 sharing options are available. are full-time lecturers and professors. We also The minimum requirements for applying to the have 35 non-teaching MBBS programme in RAK MHS staff members,” he adds.

University are an aggregate of 80 per cent in Physics, The curriculum Chemistry and Biology in 12th grade/UAE National General Secondary School Examination (NGSSE) or encourages problem its equivalent with minimum of 70 per cent in Physics, solving. There are Chemistry and Biology individually. Proficiency of sessions where students English equivalent to a TOEFL score of 500 in paper are split into groups based, 173 in computer-based, or 61 in internet-based of 8-10 and given a tests/ its equivalent in standardised tests such as IELTS problem to solve. The score of 5.0. (For more details, log on to their official website ww.rakmhsu.com) teacher is the facilitator

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EDUCATION

Heriot-Watt University

By Linda Benbow

H

eriot-Watt Universitywww.hw.ac.uk/dubai,was the first overseas university to set up in Dubai International Academic City, offering top quality British education to students and executives from around the Gulf and further afield, explained Professor Brian G. D. Smart, Deputy Principal of the University, Executive Dean and Head of the Dubai campus. The eighth oldest higher education institution in the UK, Heriot-Watt was invited to Dubai in recognition of its global reputation and international reach in the fields of engineering and management.

Its purpose-built Dubai campus offers an ever-expanding range of British degrees with courses ranging from Masters programmes in disciplines as challenging and diverse as Petroleum Engineering, Construction, Management, Energy, Information Technology (Software Engineering), and the worldrenowned Edinburgh Business School MBA, to undergraduate degrees in Management, Construction, Quantity Surveying and Engineering.

The university offers courses delivered in the evenings, weekends, and daytime, and provides a supportive and positive learning environment. With a range of support options available, together with guaranteed fee packages, opportunities for scholarships, assistance with visa applications, and the option to transfer and undertake a part of your degree at its home campus in Scotland, Heriot-Watt is an ideal choice.

With strong links to industry and business, the university prides itself on developing and educating future leaders, managers, and innovators in every field in which they excel.

Graduates are sought after by

employers worldwide, and their more than 60,000 alumni are working in key positions around the globe.

All their courses are taught by their own faculty, many of whom are permanently located in Dubai, supplemented by visiting experts in key fields. Students gain a degree that is taught and examined to the same exacting standards as their campuses in Scotland.

The degrees are also accredited and approved by Royal Charter in the UK. It has an international perspective in the approach to built environment education. Its courses cover the four disciplines of architectural engineering; civil and structural engineering; construction management and surveying; and urban studies. They hold the appropriate accreditation from the relevant professional bodies: the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM). In addition, students completing the MSc in Quantity Surveying may apply for RICS membership and can achieve full chartered status on completion of the Assessment of Professional Competence.

Textile design Since its beginnings in 1883, the School of Textiles and Design at Heriot-Watt University has specialised in the education of professionals and practitioners

in the global textile and fashion industries and has established a reputation as one of the world’s leading design institutions. Two of the school’s fashion courses are now available at Dubai, with the option of transferring to the UK campus for a part of the degree. The dynamic Fashion programme allows students to experience a broad knowledge of the fashion industry while undertaking specialist study in a subject specific pathway, either Fashion Design or Fashion Marketing & Retailing.

Open Days We are but one provider in the worldwide higher education marketplace. You have a choice and we want you to opt for Heriot-Watt. You are welcome to visit us prior to making such a key decision about your future.

The Dubai Campus is located in Dubai Academic City, 20 minutes from Dubai city centre and welcomes prospective students on Friday May 1, June 19 and August 14, 4-8 pm.

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EDUCATION

S. P. Jain

at DIAC

Prof. Christopher Abraham, Senior Vice-President of S.P. Jain, talked to Linda Benbow on campus

S

P Jain Institute of Management was started with an endowment in 1981 by a great humanitarian, Mr S.P. Jain. It started off in a small manner, then picked up when Dr Manish Srikanth, a Harvard graduate and famed industrialist, became an honourary Dean for S.P. Jain. There has been no turning back since then.

In 1993, we became autonomous after having been affilitated to Mumbai University before.

In 2000, we started to think ‘global’ and dreamed of spreading Indian excellence in business management abroad. In 19932000, we were ranked among the 10 business schools in India (from the 1,400+ accredited business programmes in the country).

In 2004, the Dubai government set up the Knowledge Village and were looking for partners. We were looking to move abroad (having looked at Mauritius, Africa and Asia) and plumped for Dubai with its large multi-cultural population. We were one of the first partners to move in.

We started the first MBA programme here. A residential one – another first for the region.

“We believe in the phrase “breaking mindsets” and like to think alternatively sometimes.

“We have a very good reputation in India for placements of our students, and the same thing happened here. When we put the results on our website, we saw an immediate response with a flood of enrolments.

People realised that we were doing the same good job here,

as we do in India. The Singapore government recognised us a quality entity, visited us in Mumbai and Dubai, and invited us to set up a campus in its country too, which we have done. Now, we offer a one-year Global MBA programme spending six months in Dubai and six months in Singapore. This is followed by 100 per cent placement in one of the three countries. In the past few years, we have had up to 10,000 applications for 250 seats for this programme. We recently tied up with a university in Toronto, Canada, to share students to give them business experience in different countries.

Our clientele are mainly Indians.

We have decided to expand this and offer a full tuition scholarship for international students who fulfil our entrance criteria. We currently have seven nationalities from various parts of Asia and the Far East, and hope to attract more.

For the Masters degrees, we usually do a week of courses followed by a week off. This helps to fit in with working professionals.

Last year, AC Nielsen,-the world’s most respected analysis firm-did a survey among corporate bodies asking their opionion about various business schools and their quality.

S.P. Jain came out on top.

In December 2006, S P Jain relocated its campus to Dubai International Academic City. It

comprises a full building covering 60,000 square feet spread over three floors. On the ground and first floors are housed the classrooms for the long duration programmes, an auditorium, a recreation hall with canteen facilities and offices.

On the second floor is the Centre for Executive Education with a unique décor and custom designed classrooms. The entire campus is wi-fi enabled and adopts the latest technology for classrooms and audio-video equipment.

S P Jain has unique educational programmes combining teaching with practical exercise to provide students an invaluable real-life experience of the workplace. The institute’s learning centres use stateof-the-art technology, and through high-speed Internet connection, hold global classes, encouraging students to interact across the world.

At S P Jain, what is conventionally termed as a classroom, morphs into a Learning Centre. The classrooms are designed as auditoriums, with step-up seating to facilitate discussions, and are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities like projectors, cameras and audio/video equipement. Most sessions are recorded for review, reference and reflection in the future. The campus has the best of videoconferencing technology for conducting interactive guest lectures with international faculty and industry heads.

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EDUCATION

BITS, Pilani-Dubai

B

ITS, Pilani - Dubai (BPD) was established in September 2000 in response to the growing need for quality engineering education among Middle East residents.

“It is the only international branch campus of BITS, Pilani and was setup in association with ETA-Net, a member of the ETA Ascon Group. Over a period of eight years, BPD’s student strength has grown to about 1,750, with the majority of students coming from UAE and GCC; around 27 per cent of these are girls,” explains Dr. M. Ramachandran, Director, BITS, Pilani – Dubai, who, before establishing the school in Dubai, was a Professor and Dean (R&C) at BITS, Pilani, Rajasthan, of which he is currently a member of the Board of Governors.

BPD offers engineering programmes at the undergraduate level in seven different specialisations. The following were offered for the Academic year 2008 - 2009: • B.E. (Hons.) Computer Science • B.E. (Hons.) Electrical & Electronics Engineering • B.E. (Hons.) Electronics & Communication Engineering • B.E. (Hons.) Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering • B.E. (Hons.) Mechanical Engineering • B.E. (Hons.) Chemical Engineering • B.E. (Hons.) Biotechnology The campus has attached to it the following labs of international standards: Manufacturing Process, Engineering Graphics & CAD, Computer Networking, Measurement Techniques in Physics, Measurement Techniques in Chemistry, Measurement Techniques in Biology, Measurement Techniques in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Measurement Techniques in Chemical & Mechanical Engineering, Digital & Analog Electronics Lab Communication, Instrumentation, Electromechanical Energy Conversion, Microprocessor Programming & Interfacing, Production Techniques, Transport Phenomena, Prime Movers and Fluid Machinery, Heat Transfer Operations, Selected Chemical Engineering Operations, and Process Control Lab

All the programmes are of four years duration and include an internship of seven and a half months in reputed industries. There are nearly274 companies offering internship to the students currently with many more companies coming forward each day. Students are also paid stipend during this internship.

Nearly 110 graduates have obtained admission to Masters and PhD programmes at reputed institutions in US and Canada. The remaining students are well placed in highly reputed companies.

BPD has established academic collaborations with reputed American universities for the benefit of its students. The scope of collaboration includes preferential admission into graduate programmes, joint research activities, credits transfer etc.

BPD is located at its new permanent campus at Dubai International Academic City and offers world-class, state-of-the-art facilities with well-equipped labs and workshops, separate Library Block, Academic Block, Sports Complex, Canteen, Clinic, Grocery, Gymnasium, and Hostel blocks.

‘A’ grade

BITS Pilani-Dubai has been awarded grade ‘A’ by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), the autonomous grading body of the University Grants Commission of India. The NAAC Peer Team visited the sprawling BPD campus in Dubai International Academic City and initiated its assessment procedures based on criteria such as curriculum, teaching-learning and evaluation, infrastructure and learning resources, student support and progression, governance and leadership, innovative practices etc. They inspected all departments, laboratories, the library, sports centre and student facilities like the clinic and canteen, followed by extensive interactions with the faculty, staff and students.

An important observation was that BPD graduates are well placed at various centres of excellence around the globe - be it corporates like Microsoft, Oracle, Larsen & Toubro, Dell, Panasonic and Siemens or universities of the stature of Stanford, Cornell or Purdue for Masters and PhD programmes.

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EDUCATION

Murdoch University launches new programmes

T

he Murdoch University International Study Centre Dubai, established in the UAE since March 2008 and based in Dubai International Academic City, has launched a number of new courses to commence in August this year. The new undergraduate and postgraduate programmes include the Bachelor of Environmental Management, Bachelor of Science (Information Technology), Masters in Human Resource Management and Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma courses in Journalism, Public Relations and Media Production.

The Bachelor of Environmental Management course, one of its kind in the UAE, is set to cater to the growing demand of graduates in the field of environmental sustainability in the region in line with the Dubai Strategic Plan and the UAE government pursuit of concerted efforts with the private sector to move towards a more sustainable development.

The course is designed to prepare students to become fully trained environmental managers who will receive a strong grounding in sciencebased theories of the total environment, and are able to translate them into practical management decisions and solutions.

MUISCD Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor John Grainger said: “Graduates will play a part in finding solutions to the environmental problems that are currently facing us, not only in the UAE but on a global level.

Murdoch University, whose Research Institute for Sustainable Energy (RISE) in Perth is renowned for its efforts in the field, has a long tradition in research and teaching in this area, and we believe the expertise the university is able to offer will be beneficial to the UAE, and also the Middle East as a whole. By linking management to local, regional and global sustainability, graduates will be equipped to develop clear management alternatives for a viable future. With increasing pressure on all aspects of industry and development to factor environmental costs into their bottomline - the role of environmental managers will continue to rise.”

The new postgraduate courses in the fields of Journalism, Public Relations and Media Production, introduced to complement the undergraduate programmes in Media and Mass Communication already offered by MUISCD since August 2008, are designed to further contribute to and strengthen the skills of media professionals in the region.

Is the degree obtained at MUISCD of equivalent standards to the one obtained by students studying in Australia?

The degree awarded in Dubai is exactly the same as awarded in Australia. Both campuses have the same admission requirements, follow an identical academic curriculum, use common faculty and offer the same career service and student service support.

What are the credentials of MUISCD lecturers? How qualified are they?

Lecturers are carefully selected from a pool of experienced and highly qualified professionals. Murdoch Australia approves all lecturers before they are allowed to teach in the programme. Usually, they are academics from local tertiary institutions or practitioners with extensive experience from the industry. They must hold a recognised Master’s Degree and above in order to undertake any Bachelor programme.

Student Visa Murdoch University International Study Centre Dubai sponsors residency visas through Dubai International Academic City for all students attending a course on campus. Residency visas are required for all international students and residents over the age of 18 who currently reside in Dubai.

MUISCD Campus Open Day will be on 7th May at MUISCD campus (Dubai International Academic City, Block 10, fourth floor).

There will be campus tours, information on courses, and presentations by the academics.

Experience the real life studio conditions by trying out light-hearted media competitions such as ‘The Best News Anchor’ competition and ‘The Best Radio Presentation’ competition There will also be a Digital Fiesta Exhibition with the best works of students in the fields of photography, website design and videos, as well as the best entrants of its up-and-coming high school camera phone competition.

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EDUCATION

Phoenix University,Dubai

By Linda Benbow

T

he University of Phoenix was introduced in 1976 in Arizona as a traditional bricks and mortar campus, explained Raj Kapoor, University of Phoenix’s Dubai Student Service Centre Director. “Our founder, Dr John Spurling, has always followed a non-traditional model, believing that there is a niche for those who had not been able to learn at the same age as others, mature students who want to improve themselves, etc.

The online segment took off in 1989.

We do both campus teaching and online teaching, half and half. There Raj Kapoor are currently 200 campuses in US and Canada and one in Rotterdam, UK. “Today’s students are typically multi-tasking adults (with job/business and home, spouse and children) and they want to get a Bachelors degree now when they have more time. We provide an online training scheme, which is tremendously rigorous. More than they think at first.

But it does enable learning at home, with back-up by the professional staff that is here in the Knowledge Village office.

“We offer Masters degrees in various programmes for those who have passed their Bachelors, and are in middle management.

“We have always had students in the Middle East and Asia, but by opening this office in October 2007 in Dubai, we are a little closer to our students. We served them well from Phoenix, but now we can advise face-to-face as well as online. There are admission counsellors here as well as academic counsellors, a team of 35. They are your best friends throughout your course. They keep an eye on students’ progress, and note whether assignments are being posted on the web on time. If they think

Articulation agreement with American College of Dubai

you may be having a problem, they gently encourage you to explain/work/discuss. They even praise. Maybe, there was a technical fault. The counsellors can report it to the professors so that there is no hassle about unfinished homework. We provide support in all ways for the 1,000 or so students in this region.

We teach Business programmes and all its facets–management, marketing, finance, accounting, IT, health administration, education – all following the American curriculum. We cater for Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral levels – although we don’t enrol doctorate students here, we do put them in touch with our counsellors in Phoenix.

We are not authorised by the Ministry of Higher Education here in the UAE, as it does not recognise 100 per cent online programmes. We are very upfront in providing this information – we are very comfortable with who we are, and are accredited by one of the six accrediting authorities in US – Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (who accredit Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia, among others).

The Knowledge Human Development Authority (KHDA)will come up with criteria for online learning; I am confident that when they do, we will get UAE accreditation.

Classes are paid for when they are taken. If there is a need to take a break due to work commitments or similar problems, then payment can be held over until the next class is taken.

We recently entered a partnership with the American College of Dubai (ACD), which may not have happened if we had remained in Phoenix. They (ACD) train up to an Associate level, and now their students can take their Master’s degree with us.

Staff and counsellors at the University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix (UOPX) and the American College of Dubai (ACD) have formed an articulation agreement that will provide students who have earned their associate’s degree the opportunity to transfer credits and pursue a university bachelor’s degree with the University of Phoenix.

The agreement between the two post-secondary institutions is effective immediately and allows qualified students who have completed transferable credits or an associate’s degree through American College of Dubai to transfer degree credits to the University of Phoenix.

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EDUCATION

Online qualifications

Bilal B. Sabouni of U21Global replies to questions posed by UAE Digest U21Global (www.u21global.edu.sg) is an online graduate school backed by an international network of leading research-intensive universities from around the globe. It offers flexibility not normally available to those seeking enhanced educational qualifications. The course can be undertaken on a full-time basis but it also provides the opportunity for those juggling travel, work and personal commitments to extend their career opportunities through part-time study – at any time or place. Students are working professionals, typically in their mid-30s, with an average of 9 years work experience.

How long have you been accepting students from UAE? We have been accepting students from UAE and all over the world ever since U21Global first opened its virtual doors in 2003. Our Dubai regional headquarters was established in February 2004 and ever since then, the interest and student intake numbers have gone from strength to strength. We anticipate even stronger enrolments from this market in the next few years as individuals realise that the strength of their education may be one of the only factors available to help them sustain a

time of economic crisis. Fear of job loss has led many to revisit the aspect of their education and education levels.

Do you have an office/campus in this country?

U21Global is an e-learning institution, so we don’t use typical physical university infrastructure such as campuses and classrooms. Our presence here in the UAE is based on the establishment of our regional headquarters which is based in Dubai Knowledge Village. Our global headquarters is located in Singapore.

Which type of students do you have (i.e. young, mature, professional, etc)?

The vast majority of our students are professionals from various backgrounds, cultures, industries, and geographic locations. We offer flexibility not normally available to those seeking enhanced educational qualifications. Our programmes can be undertaken on a full-time basis but they also provide the opportunity for those juggling travel, work and personal commitments to extend their career opportunities through part-time study – at any time or any place. Our students have on average of nine years work experience and approximately 70 per cent of them

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EDUCATION travel frequently for work. They average between 35-40 years of age and presently come from over 65 countries across Asia, Australasia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the United States.

What type of courses are on offer?

U21Global offers Business and IT Management courses at the highest quality levels while maintaining the full flexibility of the online learning environment we operate in. We also partner with leading institutions of the world to offer joint programmes, such as our collaboration with the University of Nottingham to offer a Master of Science in Tourism and Travel Management. In addition to the broad range of publicly available masters, postgraduate diploma and certificate programmes, we have also developed a number of highly customised programmes for select corporate clients. By repackaging existing materials and adding new ones, we are able to create a unique customised learning experience for corporate and institutional clients. To date we have partnered with many leading private and public sector companies to deliver customised executive education programmes to their employees. Some of these organisations include EmiratesNBD, Acer Middle East, Wipro, IBM, Tata Motors, Citibank, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., and Aditya Birla Group, to name a few.

Where does the certification come from (US, UK, Australia, Europe, India, UAE, etc) We benefit from international accreditation by one of the world’s foremost accrediting bodies, the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). Our MBA has been awarded their prestigious CEL award which recognises the high quality of management courses at U21Global and affirms our school’s benchmark-setting standards in pedagogy, assessment, student services and learning outcomes. Till date, only nine technologyenhanced learning programmes in the world have met the quality levels to receive this accolade. Furthermore, U21Global is an international member of the Association to Advance Colleagiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and is a founding member of the European-based, Global Universities in Distance Education (GUIDE).

Last but surely not the least, we also benefit from the backing and support of our affiliate universities from North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Is there a strict timetable for finishing the courses, or can they be done at an individual’s own pace?

Our unique study approach enables a student to balance a busy work schedule, social activities and travel with serious calibre programmes such as our Degree programmes. There is an overall deadline to a student’s tenure with us, for example, a student is not allowed more than five years to complete the MBA programme.

However, day-to-day participation and timing of attending to classes is completely up to the best discretion of the student and his/her availability. Having said this, it is also

important to note that our programme is not a self-study programme. All our students are placed in virtual classes of approximately 25 students that are led by a worldrenowned professor. The class moves together through various class content, readings, exercises, group work, and projects. Thus, the pace of the classes is not set by the student, but rather by the professors and the study schedules in place.

Do you advise students on what to do and where to go after they have passed their exams Due to the fact that the vast majority of our students are executives and working professionals, we do not get many requests for advice on what to do or where to go after their studies. However, a career guidance facility is in place for our students and alumni should they wish to avail the services at their disposal.

What differentiates your programmes and management style from others on offer?

At U21Global, e-learning is student-centered, flexible and convenient. With the ease of online delivery, the emphasis in the educational process shifts from teaching to learning.

Our graduate programmes draw upon the best practices in online learning and focuses on learners and learning so that each and every course (subject) specifies at the outset the learning outcomes that are expected and these are reinforced in each module so that the student continually knows why they are learning and how each segment fits into the broader course and programme environment. Our web-based resources are easy to use and offer dynamic and innovative learning designs. Students can access our integrated library links to mine the vast resources of the Internet. We also make extensive use of online tools such as blogs, wikis, discussion boards, webinars, and instant messaging (to name but a few), that allow students to engage in a more thoughtful, reflective and continuing sharing of ideas.

Our programme offers a global management education, with students from over 65 countries who are active managers in those countries, studying together in a vibrant virtual classroom. It offers a dynamic online learning environment, facilitated by quality faculty, and ensures stimulating interaction among students and with faculty through active discussion of the topics covered. This environment fosters development of global management capabilities and management competencies suitable for the global knowledge economy.

Do you offer help and assistance to those who need advice with the coursework – i.e. a mentoring role?

U21Global’s Student Care team is on call 24/7 to assist with students who may require assistance – whether it is technical support, academic counselling, career guidance, or general inquiries.

Those who require further mentoring can request for special support by their professors who are always happy to offer additional academic aid to students who may struggle with new concepts or teachings.

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FASHION Sunset catwalk

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plash’s Spring-Summer 2009 Fashion Show was a quintessence of classic-luxe, haute couture and chic ensembles.

At sundown, as the lights came on, attention moved to the catwalk built on the pool at Old Town Palace Hotel. The glittering fashion finish witnessed 26 male and female models sashaying the runway donning Splash’s SS09 collection which are available until June 2009.

Super-trendy, cool and sexy; the pop flavour of the ‘80s was reignited to suit the fancy of bad girls and geeky boys. Bold and loud style statements personified the Trash-Glam-Punkette look in mini-skirts, neon tights, cropped jackets and shiny leggings. This finally gave way to stunning party wear with bold prints, graphic tees, and colour printed distressed denim.

Exclusive timepieces on the wrists of sports celebrities Perrelet, a most distinguished brand of exclusive timepieces founded by master watchmaker Abraham-Louis Perrelet, has charmed top sportsmen of the world such as international footballer Christian Karembeu and tennis stars the Bryan brothers. Flagship of the Perrelet collections, this complication is equipped with the exclusive Perrelet P-181 movement. It has two perfectly synchronised twin rotors, of which one is placed on the dial, thus allowing an unimpeded view of the winding mechanism at all times for the wearer, resulting in a more efficient supply of energy. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue - BurJuman Centre, Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and select Damas Les Exclusives Boutiques in Dubai, Kuwait, Bahrain and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Worldly sensitivity and masculine strength Z Zegna, the younger and more adventurous line of Ermenegildo Zegna, the men’s luxury fashion brand has launched its Spring/ Summer 2009 collection. Z Zegna is the urban reality of the modern man; it is a balance of worldly sensitivity and masculine strength. Soft structured tailoring

is blended with poetic elegance, divergent matte and gloss finishes, presenting a contrast in light and texture.

A subtle sheen is emanated with ‘rubberised silk jersey’ and ‘waxed baby lamb patina’ outerwear, while ‘linen voile’ shirts and washed silk’ tailoring soften senses for spring. Handmade paint prints, embellish ‘cotton linen canvas’ waistcoats and ‘jersey’ t-shirts. Madra check tailoring in ‘cotton silk poplin’ is paired with ‘washed silk’ bow ties, evoking an eccentric modernity. Available at the store in Mall of the Emirates, Emirates Towers Boulevard, and Harvey Nichols store in Dubai. In Abu Dhabi, it is available in Rodeo Drive store on Khalifa Street and Marina Mall.

Chic Chic pearls and diamonds Stefan Hafner, the Italian jewellery house of extraordinary calibre, unveils Chic Chic which combines the timeless elegance of pearls with the dazzling mystique of diamonds in white gold settings, offering earrings, necklaces, pendants and rings. Its riveting drop earrings feature a very interesting floral design where round, pear and marquise shaped diamonds cluster together to form a sixpetalled blossom, sprouting amidst a rich foliage of leaves, from which drops a sequence of four pearls in gradually increasing sizes. Available at the Stefan Hafner Boutique in BurJuman Centre and at select Damas Les Exclusives Boutiques in Dubai.

e- site for superior shopping experience Damas has recently launched an e-commerce site, www.mydamas.com which is expected to provide superior internet shopping experience to its customers and showcase its international and in-house watch and jewellery brands. Customers can select these items from a range of options and pay safely online through the Mashreq Bank secure payment gateway.

Presently, the site will allow delivery only within the UAE, but is expected to provide international shipping shortly.

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WELLNESS

The Spa

By Linda Benbow

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ulling the thick voile curtains away from the floor to ceiling windows, I looked down onto a view of modern designs in Old Town. A lake (recently filled with water) sparkled under a bridge, joining buildings of many heights, walkways and Mediterranean colours. Hot weather colours. The sandy yellows, browns, creams, oranges and terracotta reds that is flourishing in Dubai. I was in the relaxation lounge at The Spa at The Address hotel at Downtown Dubai, about midway up the building.

Having turned left when exiting the lift and walked down a darkish corridor with low lighting to the receptionist desk, I asked for the lighting to be raised so that I could read the medical form which had to be filled in prior to treatment.

After changing into the big, chunky dressing gown that was provided, I inspected the steam room and then the relaxation area with its leather loungers, magazines and buffet table carrying an assortment of healthy drinks, cereal bar nibbles, fresh and dried fruit.

The Australian masseuse who led me to a darkened

treatment room with heated bench/table to lie on; explained about aromatherapy massages and the Espa range of products that is used here. Knowing the quality and prices of these products, sold in Harvey Nichols and other premier outlets, helps you to relax even more, anticipating the luxurious oils, lotions and potions that will soon be making you feel like something special. And yes, after an hour of gentle massage into muscles and joints, you do feel more energetic - or relaxed – depending on the oils you chose in the pre-treatment consultation.

The Spa has separate rooms, and differing treatments for men and women. Men can have a Thai massage, Swedish, reflexology, sports and fitness; and regenerating and firming eye treatment. There is also a purifying facial, shoulder and scalp massage – all for under Dh500. Pay some more for stress buster treatment or Executive Grooming.

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HOME & GARDEN

Mall furniture

By Linda Benbow

Interior of the Armani/Casa store

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he sight of black and white balloons festooned around a doorway on the third floor of The Dubai Mall caught my attenition. Armani colours. Sure enough, I had walked into the official opening of Armani/Casa (the Armani Group’s Home Furnishings division) which was opening its first dedicated store in Dubai.

The store has an area of 330 square metres with a long curved window that gives total visibility of the interior. But why window shop when friendly salesmen encourage you to enter and feel and touch the many items on display. So I stepped in, looked around the kitchen display and sat on the leather chair. A jiggle around on the ‘Otto’ seat had my aching body comfortably positioned against the bendable chair back. Yes, it really does move backwards with you.

The various displays create a distinctive atmosphere through a combination of products that range from furniture and furnishings to accessories, décor and fabrics – for both day and night zones – carefully selected for their compatibility in terms of shape, material and colour, all within a bright but softly lit environment. It also offers an exclusive interior design ‘Otto’ chair with bendable back service in each store providing made-to-measure solutions for private clients and property developers.

In Dubai, Armani/Casa is presenting

two ‘jewels for the home’ created in limited editions of only 50 pieces, each one a unique item of furniture bearing the unmistakable signature of Giorgio Armani. Antoinette is the highly original dressing table, intended for a sensual and sophisticated woman who loves to pamper herself. This piece is defined by its cylindrical form clad in a precious fabric in a pale shade of champagne.

When open, it reveals its function as a dressing table with a mirror and surface, and has a drawer created in a special material that resembles mother of pearl, while the seat with its curved back is in the same fabric as the dressing table and integrates into the main unit.

Adelchi, restrained and charismatic, is a desk in the modern style featuring a wealth of highly prized craftsmanship: the satin-finish glossy metal tiles selected for the surface are applied one by one to deliver an impact that is both visually satisfying and opulent. Adelchi, intended for a man who prioritises minimalism and purity of style, is a desk fit for a study, and is itself a showpiece of beauty that forcefully evokes a mood of modern luxury.

The accessories are worth browsing through; cushions, bathroom accessories, kitchen things and home knick knacks – all with that distinctive Armani look and atmosphere. In case you are interested, yes, I did buy

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HOME & GARDEN something – as a birthday gift for a friend.

Just a few days later, the sight of blue and white balloons caught my eye on the third floor, near the waterfall end of The Dubai Mall. This time I had walked into the opening of a new Bose® outlet, the others being at the Mall of the Emirates, Wafi, Mercato, Deira, Dubai Festival City and Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi.

This latest outlet in Dubai Mall is typical of Bose retail design and décor and stocks its full range of home entertainment systems and products. Friendly assistants walked and talked me through the range of eye-opening electronics. There was no need for the men in the family to persuade me to buy, I was hooked from the moment I saw the small speakers that can be plugged into your own television to recreate a surround-sound atmosphere in your home.

And what was that stepping stool doing there? Actually it is a weather-proofed outdoor speaker in garden green, that can be placed on the lawn, among the plants, etc so that it is not conspicuous.

The sign said ‘noise cancelling headphones’ which meant that I immediately wanted to test them out for myself. They have been designed to cancel out droning and background noise so the assistant kindly put on a tape of the droning engine noise on a plane as I put the headphones on. Quiet.

Peace. That would help me to fall asleep quickly on long flights. The headphones fold up and flat for easier storage in their carry bag too.

The store has a separate room in which the Bose True to Life audio visual presentation has been installed for customers to experience the features of Lifestyle Home Entertainment systems.

Bose Corporation was founded in 1964 by Dr. Amar G Bose, professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Today the company is primarily known for its research in acoustics, Headphones which has produced inventions that have improved the performance of: • Loudspeakers • Home entertainment systems • Automotive sound systems designed for the interior acoustics of each car model (first introduced by Bose) • Noise reducing headsets for pilots and the public (first introduced by Bose) • Sound in public spaces • A new approach for the production of sound for musicians requiring electronic amplification of their instruments Have you been to the Better Life store in Mall of the Emirates to see the range of quality, and slightly different appliances they sell? Dishwashers in drawers, jumbo sized fridges and an assortment of cookers are among the white goods, and stainless steel goods, that are on display. The company – part of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group – is a distributor of high-quality home appliances with an exclusive portfolio of world-class brands including Siemens,

Electrolux, Fisher & Paykel, Forbes, Terim, Ufesa, Vestfrost, Wolf Power and Zanussi. It also offers an extensive range of personalised luxury kitchens from Siematic.

And now, Better Life is showcasing Grundig products once again, having been associated with the innovative German designers since 1962. After a six year gap of relations during which Grundig reorganised its company, sorted out its financial difficulties and re-emerged successfully in European markets during the past three years, the two businesses are happy to once again be working together.

Innovation is what keeps driving the consumer electronics market forward, and Grundig has always been at the forefront of this movement. It was the first company to develop the 100hz technology for television and continues to innovate. The latest range features superior imaging with forward technology pictures and Grundig’s legendary sound. A range of premium LCD televisions will make up the majority of Grundig products available in Better Life stores. The televisions have motion picture improvement technology which prevents motion blur and ensures a striking, highresolution picture.

The ‘24p Movie Mode’ provides for the ultimate in film viewing with a replay of 24 images per second.

The televisions range from the entry-level Vision 6 series to the top-of-the-line Vision 9 series. The Vision 6 model is high-definition (HD) ready while series 7 to 9 offer full HD resolution. A separate home theatre system is unnecessary as the televisions have top-quality sound thanks to 16 inbuilt conical speakers with three-dimensional sound projection. The high-performance Konus speakers generate sound waves which reverberate off the walls of the room to create a true home-cinema feel.

The televisions are supported by a variety of stylish accessories including digital video broadcasting (DVB) receivers, Blu-ray players and DVD players. And for consumers that want to make their sound a fashionable feature, the retro-style Audiorama spherical speakers have made a comeback and can be set up as floor standing or suspended from the ceiling.

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FOOD

Gourmet sampling at Taste of Dubai

By E.T. Outt

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aving enjoyed ambling among the tents and stands at last year’s events, this year I am determined to allow more time to chat and discuss culinary matters with everyone I can. Sales people, visitors, fellow diners, chefs and celebrity chefs – yes, they really do attend the event and don’t mind chatting to you. Gary Rhodes is both knowledgeable and amusing. James Martin has a shy look but talks ten to the dozen. Vineet Bhatia enjoys a good joke.

Taste of Dubai is a celebration of the best cuisine the city has to offer.

Visitors can mingle with celebrity chefs and like-minded foodies to sample over 60 signature dishes from 20 award winning restaurants, try and buy delicious food and beverages in the marketplace, and watch chefs demonstrating their culinary skills in the Chefs’ Theatre.

Evening sessions 11-14th March 2009, afternoon sessions 13-14th March.

International celebrity chefs such as Gary Rhodes, James Martin, Vineet Bhatia, Osama El Sayed, Richard Sandoval and Phillipe Gavreau will be mingling with the

crowds and sharing their expertise in the Chefs Theatre and, new for this year’s festival, the Spinneys Cookery School where visitors can learn how to cook a dish, or learn a new culinary technique.

Each student will have his or her own cooking station, utensils and ingredients, giving everyone a real ‘hands on’ experience under close professional guidance.

The event is held on the lawns of Dubai Media City’s amphitheatre and park. Entrance tickets, varying from Dh50-300, include Dellas, which are the official currency of Taste of Dubai, and are used to buy dishes from the restaurants and beverages at the festival instead of money. All food is served in sample-sized containers to enable tastings of many gourmet dishes.

Visitors are spoilt for choice with starters ranging from Rhodes Mezzanine’s famous white tomato soup or China Club’s dim sum followed by Verre’s braised beef or Legends’ Turf and Surf with a difference – kangaroo meat! For dessert there is Indego’s chocolate samosa, Le Classique’s delicious crepes suzette or Tang’s chocolate

mousse with coffee soil served in a swirling mist. It is a food lover’s paradise, where they can plan their Dubai dining for the next 12 months in just one evening.

The Marketplace is expanded and visitors can try and buy even more gourmet food, beverages and see the latest must-have culinary equipment. Plus the MMI Beverage Theatre offers visitors the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of beverages with a wide-ranging programme of tutored tastings from leading connoisseurs.

Live music from the Bandstand adds to the festival atmosphere featuring artistes and bands from Dubai’s best hotels.

Commenting on Taste of Dubai 2008, Gary Rhodes said: “I think Taste of Dubai is absolutely fantastic.

It’s a great thing – a culinary education.”

Victoria Crick, Taste of Dubai Event Director, said: “We have focused on giving our visitors an even better experience in 2009, for example we have 50 per cent more restaurants than last year. Our Chefs Theatre programme is revamped adding new chef challenges, and

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the Marketplace is more than double the size of last year with many new companies keen to get involved.

We’re currently developing a special area for children, a sushi lounge and even more features. In overall terms we are offering visitors a unique afternoon or evening’s entertainment with a focus on great value for money.”

• Tickets available via www.tasteofdubai09.com.

• Taste Timings: • Wednesday 11th March 7.00 -11.30pm • Thursday 12th March 7.00 -11.30pm • Friday 13th March Noon 5pm* 7.00–11.30pm • Saturday 14th March Noon 5pm 7.00-11.30pm *Only soft beverages served at the Friday afternoon session Taste Restaurants include Almaz by Momo London; The Harvey Nichols Restaurant; Benjarong, Dusit Thani Dubai; Café Chic; Le Meridien Dubai; Certo; Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Media City; Elia; Majestic Hotel Tower, Dubai; Empire, Monarch Hotel; Indego, Grosvenor House; Le Classique, Emirates Golf Club Dubai; Legends, Creek Golf Club; Magnolia, Madinat Jumeirah; Maya, Le Royal Meridien; Minato, Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek; Ottoman’s, Grosvenor House; Pisces, Madinat Jumeirah; Rhodes Mezzanine, Grosvenor House; Sukhothai, Le Meridien Dubai; and Sumibaya, Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek.

Strawberry Eton Mess Receipe provided by chefs at Rivington Grill Ingredients: Crème Chantilly: 400 grams whipping cream 40 grams icing sugar 1 EA vanilla pod Strawberry Sauce: 200 grams frozen strawberries 30 grams caster sugar Dried Meringue Pieces: 100 grams fresh egg whites 150 grams icing sugar

Garnish: 200 grams fresh strawberries (washed, hulled, and quartered) Method: Crème Chantilly: In a small electric mixing bowl, mix together the icing sugar and cream. Split the vanilla pod and scrape the beans into the bowl. Whip to soft peaks on medium to high speed.

Strawberry Sauce: Place the berries and sugar in a small saucepan on medium-low heat.

Bring to boil and simmer gently until the berries are soft. Mix with a hand blender until it turns smooth and cool.

Dried Meringue Pieces: Whip the egg whites until foamy and add the icing sugar. Continue whipping until the meringue has doubled in size and reached the stiff peak stage. Spoon the meringue into a piping bag. Keep a baking tray ready, lined with baking paper. Pipe the meringue into stripes on the length of the paper. Bake at 1000C for approximately 40-60 minutes. To test for dryness, remove a piece of meringue from the tray and leave at room temperature. The meringue should crumble in your fingers.

To Serve: Place 50g of the strawberries, two large spoonfuls of the crème chantilly and two large spoonfuls of strawberry sauce in a small bowl. Add a handful of crushed dried meringue. Mix slightly and spoon onto the centre of your plate. Drizzle strawberry sauce over the top and garnish with strawberries and large pieces of dried meringue.

His Excellency Wolfgang Amadeus Bruelhart, Ambassador of Switzerland to the UAE cuts the ribbon which Badr Farha holds helpfully

Entrecote Café de Paris It’s not only the steaks you go for at this inimitable franchise restaurant from Geneva, Switzerland – it’s the sauce that accompanies it. A buttery, light and flavourful, delicate taste that has something more-ish in it. It definitely has that ‘je ne sais quoi’ element to it, and so it should, as it contains a secret ingredient that only one person knows.

The sauce ‘café de Paris’ developed by Madame Boubier in 1930 to accompany the faux fillet steak (entrecote) at her restaurant in Geneva, Switzerland, enabled her to launch an astonishing concept offering a single menu formula that gained immediate worldwide fame and success. The ingredients of this amazing sauce are still a secret till today. Mr Francois Vouillamoz, the current owner of the original Entrecote Café De Paris restaurant in Geneva, is the only person in the world who holds the secrets of this sauce, as originated in 1930.

You can now taste the original sauce flown specially from Geneva at a franchise restaurant in Dubai located at Dubai Mall (The Waterfall – LG). The restaurant is trendy and inviting, and has prime location at the base of the mall’s indoor waterfall, complete with transparent splashproof protectors for nearby diners. Open from 10am until 11pm.

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HOSPITALITY

Mother’s Day Special

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t is Mother’s Day on the 21st of this month. Apart from regular gifts, you could also look at surprising your beloved mother by taking advantage of some of the special packages on offer at various hotels. The Burj Al Arab is offering a special package for this special occasion. For all the mums who have been going through the grind day in and day out for their families, the Assawan Spa at the Burj is offering an Around the World massage. You get to chose from a variety of massages, followed by a facial, manicure and pedicure. If that is not what you are looking at, then there is also a 55-minute Wellbeing Massage followed by an oil and salt scrub on offer. What’s more, all through this day, the packages include complimentary use of the spa facilities including sauna, steam, cold plunge pool and also the infinity pools overlooking the Arabian Gulf. The Radisson at Media City too wants you to make the day special for your mother.

They feel that the best way to thank her is to pamper her with their ‘Senso Touch’ package. It comes with a body polish followed by a Swedish massage and a facial. But if the tummy is the way to please mummy, then Holiday Inn in Dubai will appeal to you. Five lucky mums will also get a chance for a luxury makeover by an internationally renowned beauty expert. Gift certificates are available at

Atlantis, The Palm for mothers to create their own special day of favourites. Families can be transported into a dazzling, imaginative world exploring the 17 hectares of water themed amusement at AQUAVENTURE, with unlimited complimentary access. Or they can uncover The Lost Chambers, bringing the myth of Atlantis to life through a maze of underground tunnels offering underwater views into the boulevards of the ruins of Atlantis.

Aquaventure The Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club is offering a fishing or cruising experience on the creek on their deep-sea fishing yacht and their sports boat. So you can either get on to Sneak Away which is a fully equipped 32ft deepsea fishing yacht which can carry up to six passengers comfortably with the rates including tackle, bait, fuel and crew. Alternatively there is the 33ft sports boat Creek Breeze which can take you cruising either up and down the creek or up and down Dubai’s coastline. The rates on this boat also include crew and fuel and it can include six passengers.

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Norooz celebrations The Iranian New year Norooz is being celebrated in the last week of this month, and hotels in the UAE have made arrangements to mark the occasion. The Iranian restaurant Shahrzad at the Hyatt Regency in Dubai is offering a special Norooz menu from the 20th of this month to April 1. To top it all, there is also live Iranian music to recreate the ambience of the rebirth of nature all across the world along with a variety of dishes to choose from including fish kebab, rice cake with chicken, egg and saffron and beef kebab marinated in olive oil and yogurt. Even the Radisson SAS Hotel at the Dubai Creek is marking the spirit of the Iranian New Year from the 21st to 31st. On offer at Shabestan is a set menu of traditional Iranian cuisine for lunch and dinner. This apart, an illusionist especially flown in from Tehran will keep guests entertained. There is also Sufi music with performance by Dervishes to soothe the ambience.

Golfing around The Coral Beach Resort at Sharjah is offering a package with what they call an ‘in-built’ value. Guests can head for a round of golf at the 18-hole course after a night at the resort. The package includes a buffet breakfast after the golf session. Then there is also the Bull’s Eye option on offer for those willing to try out their shooting skills.

Paintball is available. This apart there is a fast-catching target game also available. A two-hour ‘hunting’ will have you shooting at static and moving targets. But if your idea

of relaxing is spending time with the family, then you can use the Day Use Package where your family can spend the afternoon in a four-bedroom villa while having lunch.

Talking about Golf, how about a chance for all you golf-lovers to try out the latest equipment in the game?

Because the Dubai Creek Golf Academy is offering an opportunity to come and try their equipment as part of its Demo Evenings programme. There is one on March 4 and another on March 25.

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HOSPITALITY

A foodie’s delight Food lovers you sure don’t want to miss all the special promotions for this month. The Dubai Creek and Yacht Club will be at the Taste of Dubai being held at Dubai Media City’s amphitheatre from 11-14 March, showcasing three signature

dishes from Legends Steakhouse menu as sample sized tasters for all to try.

Le Classique, the French restaurant at Emirates Golf Club is open again after being shut for extensive renovation for six months. A cause for celebration is that, considering the recession, a four-course meal here now comes at a lower price.

Enjoy weekends at Hyatt Regency Dubai with the new weekend brunch package for couples. This special deal includes an overnight stay for two, Friday brunch, including house beverages for two, and three hours of babysitting for your little one.

For beef-lovers, J W Marriot’s Steakhouse is hosting a promotion all through the month. You can choose from a variety of preparations, including 7oz of fillet wagyu beef marinated in Arabica coffee, and pan fried in cocoa butter with white asparagus sautéed.

International flavours come together at the Views restaurant at Le Meridien Al Aqah in Fujairah. Diners can choose from the Italian festival on Saturdays, Asian Breeze on Sundays, Tour de France on Mondays, Locavores on Tuesdays, Mexicana on Wednesdays and Sea View on Fridays.

The Healthy Juice menu at the Radisson SAS in Dubai Media City is for those busy professionals who need a mid-day energy boost. There is a wide variety to choose from, including guava mania, fruit salad daiquiri, passion sensation, fuzzy grape and grapefruit fling.

There’s something fishy at the Radisson Creek.

Till the 20th of this month, the hotel is celebrating the 20th birthday of its Fish Market. There is a set menu, especially prepared for the occasion, and also the chance to win a round trip to Hong Kong. ... On the other hand Crowne Plaza has launched a brand new service, Personal Hotelier, throughout Middle East and Africa. Guests staying in club rooms or on the Crowne Club floor can now enjoy the undivided attention of a hotelier dedicated to catering to their every need. This initiative provides guests with one point of contact, one face, one name and one telephone number to call prior to and during their stay at the hotel.

Premier Inn, that launched in Dubai in April 2008 with a hotel at Dubai Investments Park, has responded to market trends by reducing their daily room rate from Dh495 to Dh350. The price is guaranteed until the end of September.

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REVIEWS

The journey within

By Vanit Sethi

D

elhi 6 is to Old Delhi what Slumdog Millionaire is to Dharavi in Mumbai – a glimpse into the soul of the walled city, warts and all. It’s about the return of a secondgeneration native settled abroad. His homecoming is chaotic and cathartic at the same time. The constant melee of people on the streets, the community performances of Hindu epics, kite flying on terraces, surreptitious chatter across gaps in walls of divided families, the easy intermingling of Hindus and Muslims in cramped spaces, the encroachment of technology, the stronghold of tradition, the lure of Bollywood music contests, the menace of a ‘black monkey’ – a metaphor for the evil within, sowing seeds of suspicion, and the outbreak of communal violence.

It is a constant parade of images and an “assault on the senses” (as one traveller described India).

American-born Indian, Roshan (Abhishek Bachchan) returns to India with his grandmother (Waheeda Rehman) as she wants to spend the remaining days of her life in her beloved country and among her people. At first, India – especially walled Delhi – is a culture shock to him, but he begins liking the easy warmth and camaraderie despite a host of problems. He keeps bumping into Bittu (Sonam Kapoor), the daughter of his neighbour Om Puri. Both get drawn to each other without realising it.

The first half of the movie is more like a documentary showcasing Old Delhi and Chandni Chowk with all the crazy life that goes on inside its walls and cramped spaces.

It is in the second half that the film picks up steam through a ‘black monkey’ – somebody dressed as a primate with electronic gadgets strapped to his black furry suit, emitting blinking lights and creating havoc. In the film, it stands for a metaphor – the darkness within. When the evil within comes out, all love and understanding, reason and peace flies out of the window, while hatred, violence and

suspicion take over the city.

Roshan decides to go back to America along with his grandmother, but suddenly realises he cannot live without Bittu, and so he stays back, trying to reason with all his neighbours to live in peace and get rid of superstitions.

Abhishek and Sonam play their parts well, but there is nothing outstanding about both of them in this film.

Rishi Kapoor as Ali Baig, who loses the love of his life to Roshan’s father, did a creditable job. Waheeda Rehman too is good, but Om Puri and Atul Kulkarni (as Gobar, the dimwit) were perhaps the best. Music by A.R. Rahman is nothing exceptional.

Delhi 6 held out a lot of promise as the ‘homecoming’ theme usually does, but the film lacks a strong storyline.

While the first half is more of a docu-drama, the second half goes into an overdrive of unravelling hidden hatreds beneath the show of love and compassion. It shows us a mirror where we see our ugly realities. But the message seems to be somehow lost despite the lead actor Roshan stating it in no unambiguous terms.

Compared to Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s earlier film Rang de Basanti (2006) which became a cult movie of sorts, Delhi 6 pales out. Though the theme is rich in possibilities, the film loses out because it has too many characters, with none of them – including the lead actors – being clearly etched out. Though it is difficult to live up to earlier successes, Rakeysh could have added more punch to this movie without diluting the message. There is an ‘x factor’ missing in this movie that RdB definitely had.

But the best scene of the movie is a montage sequence over a song which merges New York and Old Delhi – the Statue of Liberty within walled Delhi, NY cabs and rickshaws of Old Delhi hitting the same streets, and NY glamour rubbing shoulders with the raw energy of Old Delhi or Delhi 6. Worth one watch at least for the curious and crazy mix of characters, plus the ‘innocent, impish beauty’ of Sonam Kapoor.

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ART Themes of reality

A

n overwhelming sense of reality pervades Archie Sharma’s paintings, she who has quietly dedicated the past decade to her art – away from the limelight, despite her busy schedule. Her first major exhibition will open at Coral Deira – Dubai on

March 1st and run until the 15th.

The show is titled Expressions and will include over 30 paintings in a range of styles-from expressionist narratives to portraits, abstracts, landscapes and animals.

Archie Sharma’s works have a raw personal intimacy which is rare in modern times. From her drawings, she appears as a fearless explorer of styles and techniques.

Rather, her paintings portray the versatility of an illustrator or artist who is driven to find new forms for new feelings.

Art lovers in the UAE will discover a unique artist who enjoys varied challenges and experiences.

Archie is a precocious talent having had no formal

training in art, yet she paints with precision and conviction and has enjoyed considerable success. Born in Delhi, she began painting at the age of seven. She moved to Dubai in 1980 and has been a senior executive with various organisations.

Her work commitments did not allow her enough time to pursue her hobby. However, in 2001, she embarked on a daring exploration of what was then thought irretrievably retrograde: realist paintings. She rejected modernism and chose instead to embrace realism and the depiction of everyday life.

Archie is not just a dedicated realist painter but also a disciple of abstraction – sometimes, both at once. Recently, she began experimenting with big strokes too. Her broad brush strokes and their sudden shifts function independently of her subjects. All of which figure almost obsessively in her new paintings. At times, colours are applied with brazen abandon.

From earthy palettes of reds, browns and yellows to more cheerful hues, there is a lot of contrast.

When numbers recount tragic tales Arqam – an exhibition in Dubai – will showcase Iraqi artist Sina Ata’s representation of escalating deaths and human suffering in conflicts.

Numbers have always been used to discover and reflect the truth. And when numbers are statistical records of deaths in various conflicts, the human sufferings and devastation associated with them, the effects are far more profound! Sina Ata has put together a series of paintings that goes beyond statistical records and confronts the audience with a banal repetition of deaths through numbers, evoking a deep emotional response.

Sina’s exhibition, Arqam (which means numbers in Arabic), will be held at B_ASEMENT Gallery in Al Quoz until March 8, 2009.

The exhibition - including paintings, video art and other objects - takes a closer look at the statistics of deaths in Iraq, Palestine and other parts of the globe.

The conceptual artworks incorporate the numbers as small individual squares, each marked with an ‘X’. In the artworks, Sina randomly cuts the squares and tosses them in irregular grid rows, some squares falling off the lines, and off the canvas.

Also on show is Sina’s video ‘Arqam in Candles’ – a telling tale of 200 candles slowly blown out by an unidentified force, against a soundtrack of names of men, women and children.

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ART

Lebanon’s young artist brings her latest collection to Dubai It is not often that the art world is sent into a frenzy with an up and coming artist, but since having her work exclusively available at Art Sawa, Zena Assi is the current name on buyers and collectors lips with her inimitable style proving to be extremely popular among Dubai’s art lovers.

Assi chooses to completely fill her canvasses with interwoven lines set against bold fields of colour abstractions.

It is this unique style that has proven so popular among the region’s art lovers, not only in her solo exhibition in Beirut, but also as a resident artist at Dubai’s Art Sawa, where she has been regularly featured during the gallery’s collective exhibitions.

Born in Tripoli, Assi now lives and works in Beirut where she creates her nonpareil works of art. As a relatively new artist, she held her first solo exhibition, Cité et Citadins (City and Citizens) in Beirut last year. The show featured various paintings in mixed media on canvas and introduced her distinctive style of elongated melancholic figures and cluttered cityscapes.

The exhibition, open until March 10, is held at Art Sawa in Al Quoz. A converted warehouse of some 12,000 square feet, it promises to provide the perfect backdrop for Zena Assi’s latest creations.

Timeless magical jewels Van Cleef & Arpels unveils for the first time in the region its The Art of Magical Jewels displays photographs featuring patrimony exhibition titled The Art of Magical Jewels at Art glamorous divas from the stage and the screen such as Dubai, between March 19 - 21 2009 at the Madinat Jumeirah Princess Grace Kelly Convention Centre.

The legacy of this company began in 1906 when the founder couple of the house, Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels, plus her brother Charles, joined to open a boutique in the most elegant area in Paris, Place Vendôme. It is the beginning of a family saga and a lifelong obsession for beauty and quality.

Precious stones in a piece of jewellery with no visible setting is a remarkable technique created by the company in 1933, patented in 1934 and perfected ever since (the most recent patent, using diamonds, was obtained in 1990). A masterpiece of virtuosity, a piece of jewellery involving the Mystery Setting requires months of work by the House’s most accomplished jewellers, known in the Van Cleef & Arpels ateliers as the “Grandes Mains” (great hands).

The exhibition will reveal every aspect of this sparkling journey through seven different themes: History, Nature, Couture, Celebrities, Eclectism, Workshop & Mystery setting and the World of Ballet, revealing one of its latest high-jewellery collection Ballet Précieux.

The jewelled story is also that of the many unique women, be they famous or not, who have worn its creations. The house has often been associated with historic events such as coronations, or famous love stories such as engagements or weddings. The most celebrated actresses of the stage or screen, the most adored divas have all coveted Van Cleef & Arpels.

This exhibition unveils some of the workshop’s best kept secrets of creativity, thanks to the exceptional presence of a jeweller and a designer from the original workshop in Paris who will perform live and will be at the disposition of exclusive clients who would like to place special orders.

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AUTOS

Pajero’s sporty drive in the sand

By Linda Benbow

Prices start from Dh90,000.

D

on’t get me wrong, I’m not an activist or feminist or anything like that, but when I was asked to drive through the desert sand my first thoughts were “but that’s what the men in the family do. I’m usually just a passenger.” Well this was a chance to put all that back-seat driving advice into use so I hopped into the front seat of the nice looking Pajero Sport SUV, slipped the gear lever into ‘D’ for Drive, and set off along the purpose built adventurous track that Al Habtoor Motors had constructed in Jebel Ali. What an exciting roller-coaster ride! Over the scrubland, tight turn to the left through the soft sand which was made easy as the car has a turning circle of 5.6 metres.

A sharp turn on the gravel wasteland and head towards the steel enforced hill built to resemble a very high dune. Put my foot on the pedal and kept it there while the spacious and comfortable SUV easily climbed the approx. 280 gradient. The view from the top was enlightening, especially when I saw the equally steep

slope that had to be descended. The car handled it easily, and so did I. Whooping with delight I steered towards the artificial pool and wadi terrain imaging myself taking passengers through the Hajjar mountains. The high suspension and large wheels would ensure that no rocks or boulders would stop me!

After producing one of the world’s most sought after sports utility vehicle that has been a long standing winner in some of the world’s most gruelling rallies like the Dakar and the Italian Baja, Mitsubishi has added the sleek Pajero Sport to its list of SUVs. This one promises a rugged, no-nonsense driving enjoyment on all kinds of paved and unpaved terrain.

If the Pajero can be thought of as the lion, king of the jungle, then the Pajero Sport holds the position of the speedy and efficient cheetah. The high suspension and large wheels give it an edge when covering rough off-road terrain, while the attractive form, seamless construction, extensive styling and amenities make it stand out when driving downtown as well.

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T

he tinkling sound of water cascading into the lower ground floor outside the windows of the Toyota showroom at Dubai Festival City (follow the signs towards Khor Al Marsa and then follow the road round into the Auto Showrooms area) mellows your senses and slows your step. A relaxing sound like that requires a slower pace and restful mind.

Then came the shock of a very large vehicle hidden by a very large silky cover, pulled the covers off the vehicle to much clapping and wonder. Both men work at the nearby Intercontinental Hotel at Festival City.

At the launch was Motoharu Araya, the Chief Engineer from the Toyota Vehicle Development Centre in Japan, who led the team responsible for the development of the New Sequoia. Motoharu Araya explained that he and his team had conducted extensive research in the large US and Middle East markets on the needs of SUV owners. This consumer research showed that there is a large and growing group of SUV owners with larger families, who use their vehicle predominantly for on-road journeys in the city, and between cities. These families want a full-size City SUV that is spacious and comfortable, with a versatile and useful interior, responsive performance and handling, and superior occupant safety. The car has been designed to meet and exceed these expectations.

The New Sequoia is named after one of the largest trees in the world, reflecting it’s size, strength, durability and imposing presence.

The Chief Engineer explained that the key words underlying the SUV’s development concept were Strong and Comfortable. To meet the key requirement of space for up to eight people, it has both the longest and widest interior space in its class, providing an exceptionally comfortable and relaxing space for all passengers. Efficient packaging and design ensure ample seating, knee, leg and head-room so that even 190cm tall passengers can sit comfortably in every seat. It also has the largest cargo-carrying capacity

New Sequoia

Toyota’s biggest SUV

By Raymond Seeng in its class, with an exceptionally versatile interior that can be easily reorganised to meet different travelling requirements.

The Sequoia also has a powered tailgate window to allow easy access to the luggage space without having to open the tailgate in confined spaces. A boon to mothers doing the school run, coping with a number of assorted bags and class projects, stopping at the shops to buy fresh groceries and having to cart all that – plus the children – to a variety of homes. No more trying to lift the boot (or opening it wide) when parked too near to another vehicle.

The functional interior has a wealth of storage compartments for cups and bottles, and the front console can store and charge a laptop computer.

Despite its large body size and long wheelbase, the Sequoia is very responsive and easy to handle.

It has a class-leading minimum turning radius of 5.9 metres, for easy manoeuvrability and parking.

Consideration for the environment was an important priority in the Sequoia’s development. Lead-free and easily recyclable materials have been used throughout. And although it has a large engine, it delivers high fuel efficiency and low emissions.

The well–equipped Sequoia is available in three models - the SR5, Limited and Platinum, with 8 and 7 seat models, with prices starting at Dh149,000.

Simon Frith, the Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Motors commented: “While the global economic downturn has had a significant impact on the automotive sector in the UAE, there is still consumer demand for new vehicles. Although the last three months have been challenging, I am very pleased to report that our Toyota sales in 2008 were 23 per cent higher than in 2007. The introduction of the New Sequoia will enable us to provide even more choice to UAE motorists. It is the first of several new vehicles that we will launch this year.”

UAE Digest, March 2009 49

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AUTOS

VW Tiguan finds its own parking spot

By Raymond Seeng

A

parking spot, I had to find a parking spot soon, the meeting was due to start in a few minutes time. Wait, there was one, but it looked a bit small, maybe I should just drive around and find another gap? But wait, what was I doing? I was driving a Tiguan, Volkswagen’s first compact Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) which has a Park Assist facility. Press the button and let the car work out whether it can safely fit into a parking space.

The screen built into the dashboard will keep you informed.

Drive slowly past a space; let the car and all its radars, cameras and computer do its calculations; keep your foot hovering over the brake pedal and take your hands off the wheel while the car reverses itself, backwards and forwards into the space and parks itself neatly without touching kerbs or bumpers.

Marvellous. Just the thing for those that find reversing a little tricky and not as easy as it should be.

Volkswagen Middle East recently launched the Tiguan, which had previously been introduced as a concept car in Los Angeles. This ‘small brother’ of the Touareg can be recommended to all those who enjoy the individual visual appearance and versatility of an SUV, but also expect a premium level of comfort and agility. The Tiguan is the first

SUV in the world to be offered exclusively with charged engines.

Forget buying tom-toms, pompoms and suchlike – this car has an inbuilt navigation system for the UAE. Streets are shown clearly on the big screen and when off-road, this latest radio-navigation system (RNS 510) leads its occupants back to civilisation using its off-road function.

The touch screen also acts as a mini processor with information available on tourist landmarks, weather and other helpful information such as the view from the various cameras built into the car.

Looking at the front end of the car, this is a typical, trusted, friendly Volkswagen. However, everything is new, everything is different. The headlights are distinctive; they form an integral unit with the grille and bumper. The engine hood is cut into the contour of the headlamps.

Shaped to be broad and powerful is the bumper beneath the headlamps, and on the sides the fog lamps in their distinctive frame complete this image. For the first time in the SUV segment, buyers can choose from two different front ends. The equipment version Sport & Style was designed specifically for mostly on-road duty. It reflects precisely this goal in its classic front-end

with maximum entry angle of 18 degrees.

They leave tough off-road duty to the Tiguan Track & Field which was designed especially for life outside the paved trails. This adventurefriendly version has a more extreme entry angle of 28 degrees in front.

The lower bumper area and engine underbody protection therefore exhibit a very steep angular profile. This is precisely why the vehicle can climb a ramp or level embankment up to the specified 28 degrees without the front end of the Tiguan contacting this ramp when approaching from the horizontal.

At all five seating positions on board the Tiguan occupants are equally comfortable in the contoured seats. The rear bench can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction and has an asymmetrically split folding section which can allow objects up to 2.5 metres in length to fit inside the Tiguan.

The two-litre direct injection turbocharged engine accelerates the vehicle to 100 km/h in just 8.2 seconds. Its top speed is 200 km/h.

On average, it consumes 9.1 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres.

Tiguan is a combination of German words Tiger (‘tiger’) and Leguan (‘iguana’).

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‘

AUTOS

Responsible competitiveness Carlos Ghosn, CEO/Director/President of Nissan Motor Company Limited and Renault SA, recently gave a speech at the Global Competitiveness Forum explaining Nissan’s views on responsible competitiveness in a rapidly changing world. people inside Nissan.

Another lesson was the strategic logic of globalisation. By this, I am referring to the competitive strength we gained through the Renault-Nissan Alliance, which will recognise its 10th anniversary in March. In a global marketplace, the alliance serves as a strategic tool to improve the performance and competitiveness of both companies. We gain capital efficiency by sharing development and investment costs. For example, Renault takes the lead in developing diesel engines, Nissan leads on gasoline engines; and each has access to the others’ technology and products. Our alliance provides a global framework for sharing components… for sharing knowhow… for increasing the scale and scope of our purchasing power.

I believe the basis of every commercial interaction can be summed up in one word: trust. For companies, a good reputation is both a source of tangible value and a reservoir of goodwill that could be tapped if a company ever faces a time of trouble. When corporate reputation is damaged or the trust of stakeholders is lost – through unsafe products or shady business dealings or fiscal irresponsibility or unethical behaviour – it can push a company on a downward spiral to oblivion.

Reputation is important. Actions have consequences. If a company is serious about building trust and a sustainable future, it will not only follow the current rules and requirements – it may go beyond what is expected.

Sustainable business means embracing diversity – not just to follow regulations, but to reflect the diversity of your customer base. It means communicating with your stakeholders with transparency – or serving as an advocate for

Carlos Ghosn

your industry, if necessary. As the president of ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association), part of my current responsibility is to collaborate with competitors to clarify, in good faith, the effects of the crisis on our industry.

It means protecting the environment – not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because customers expect companies to practice good stewardship and to advance ‘greener’ technologies. The Renault-Nissan Alliance is committed to the development of zero-emission vehicles. Electric cars can help to address the balance between the demand for more mobility and the need for a cleaner planet. We will deliver our first all-electric cars in 2010, and will mass market them globally in 2012.

Currently, automotive transportation is 99 per cent dependent on petroleum-derived fuel, and 53 per cent of the world’s annual oil consumption is used for transportation. By finding other options for powering vehicles, we could reserve petroleum to be used for important products, from medicines to plastics to synthetic fibres.

We know crises always come to an end. If we use this time to become leaner, more focused and innovative, we may emerge stronger on the other side. The future will belong to those who fight for it.

‘‘

‘‘ M

r Ghosn explained: ‘‘I think we all agree that the environment in which we operate – the global economy – is rapidly changing. We are in the midst of a financial and economic crisis, and, unfortunately, have no guide book to help us through it.

The contraction in consumer spending and slower growth is reflected in drops in real gross domestic product growth.

Developed countries are dragging the emerging economies with them as trade finance dries up. We may not like this new reality, but we have no choice but to manage through it with a high level of caution and lucidity. In practical terms, that means optimising profit and free cash flow as much as we can in a recessive market while, at the same time, maintaining an adequate level of investments to fund our core business.

History has shown that in times of financial crisis, the likelihood for industry consolidations increases.

We have already seen this occur in other industries, and the same will happen in the auto industry. For Nissan, the current crisis scenario brings a sense of déjà vu. Though the circumstances are dramatically different, Nissan was in turmoil during the 1990s. Back then, the crisis was largely based on problems within our scope of control. Today, however, it is mainly due to external issues beyond anyone’s control.

Even so – speaking from my own experience – managing through the crisis of the 1990s reinforced some lessons that are still valid today.

Times of crisis require clarity of vision. In the early days of Nissan’s revival, I recall that one of my colleagues made a very insightful comment. He said my biggest task was not to restructure Nissan. It was to restructure the minds of the

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SPORTS

Driving dreams

By Helena Axelson Fisk

B

arry Hope is a silver haired Santa Claus specialising in delivering dreams to grown men with lots of money.

His North Pole is Dubai Autodrome, his sleigh is a monster truck that takes six Radical cars to and from racetracks; his wife and kids plus five other British motor heads are his elfs, and they’re all in the business of making dreams come true: “These guys never thought they’d experience this. To race was a dream. It is life changing for some of them.”

The ‘guys’ are what Barry calls gentleman drivers; accomplished businessmen in their 30s, 40s and 50s (though some are younger – teenagers), successful but no longer thrilled; moneyed but left unchallenged. They come through the has-been desert, on pre-crises road projects, heading towards Arabian Ranches and the suspended-until-later Dubailiand; meandering through a building site that obscures everything except the apartment buildings, whose future tenants will complain

bitterly at the furious engine roars from the ‘drome.

They find their way to the tracks to wrench the kickback into their lives; the excitement of the extraordinary, the gut-wrenching; and they are doing it: UAE Digest is invited to ride with Carl Rolaston, a 40+ businessman with his own logistics company who’s been driving for about a year. “I’m slow!” he cautions before he hits the first curve, hard. The ride is a near-death experience, enhanced by the realisation that if one throws up, the helmet’s visor will throw it right back down.

“The Radical does 3Gs in the curves,” says Barry, as means of explanation, “An ordinary fast car does 1G.” It’s exhilarating and liberating, and that’s just riding shotgun, staying out of Carl’s way. To drive; to wait as long as possible before braking for the curve, stand the car right and then accelerate, using every metre of blacktop and every inch of rubber to get ahead; must be like kicking death where it really

hurts - while scoring. Barry maintains that the racetrack is the safest road in Dubai, though. Here, he says, drivers develop skill, focus, concentration, precision, smoothness, awareness and discipline, especially the young ones: “Kids who learn how to race are better drivers,” he says, “It’s the best family thing anyone can do!”

The cars are fitted with cameras for instant, accurate feedback and Barry or any of his crew will sit down with the drivers after the practice drives and discuss: “We hold their hands and train them,” says Barry with a smile.

A Radical sports racing car, which only FIA licenced drivers can race, costs anywhere from Dh300,000 600,000. Another Dh150,000 covers the costs to do a full race season.

Barry and his team organise the Gulf Radical Cup - a race series with separate classes for the 252bhp Radical SR3 and the 380bhp V8 engined Radical SR8 with an invitation class for Caterham sports cars. ”There’s a race on every other

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SPORTS

week from October through April; two-day events.”

An ambulance and a fire truck are on standby, for any worst case scenario. Barry is meticulous about safety: “They’re putting their lives in my hands!”

Barry’s company, Gulf Sport Racing, LLC, www.Gulf-Sport.com does anything and everything race related.

Check them out! Come cheer for the boys at the Dubai Autodrome! Cough up some money and you too can kick death hard.

Track-bound Ryan Copeland is Canadian by birth, Dubaian by life and car fanatic by genetic composition: “I’ve

been a dyed-inthe-wool rabid car nut since I was about six years old,” says Ryan, “but it took a while to get into proper competition.”

‘A while’ included twelve years to get a driving licence, another six to get a proper car (at age 24 – he’s 30 now), fool around dangerously for a while and then finding Dubai Autodrome Motorsport Club (DAMC) four years ago, for some real, rewarding – and responsible - action: “Only in a truly safe environment can you begin to test and develop your skills. Playing on the streets is reckless, dangerous and basically doesn’t count,” says Ryan, and since he no longer plays on the streets, he double-checks his racing calendar before he commits to doing anything. He’s track-bound and loving it.

“I started out doing some EMSF Autocross races and I’ve been doing autocross ever since; now I’m often around the top 5. I race in the DAMC Redline Challenge

regularly; have done the Dubai Autodrome Race School about eight times; do track days quite frequently and go-karting now and then. I did the DAMC Sprint Challenge this past summer as well - some pretty good results there.”

Racing gives Ryan an opportunity to spend quality time with his car, a 2006 Mitsubishi Evolution 9 with lots of bells and whistles on it, and meet some nice people at the same time. But it’s the racing that makes him tick.

“It’s not only the speed but also the controlling and mastering the car; as well as pushing your own limits.

There’s nothing like competing, really - huge adrenaline rush. At the same time it’s relaxing - just you, the track and the car.

When Ryan’s not on the track, he’s in front of his screen, managing web projects for Du, or in a sheesha bar, enjoying a mu’assal. And that’s pretty much it; the hobby eats the rest, time- and money wise.

“I spend far too much really! I’d bet that all racers would say the same thing. The investment depends on what type of competition you’re in and what your goals are: Some guys spend hundreds of thousands, I spent tens of thousands last year.”

Ryan isn’t looking to leave his day job or join the big races; he’s happy doing what he’s doing - Autocross, Karting and Trackdays: “It’s a great crowd, great fun and relatively easy on the wallet.”

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SPORTS

Sporting activities

By Peter Potter What a lot of sports there are to enjoy in this hot and sunny country this month. The end of winter sees the barometer heading upwards – it’s the finals for some sports, i.e. horse racing season, and the start of hot weather activities, i.e. boat shows in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

T

he first weekend in March sees the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai for the first time with 24 men’s and 16 women’s teams battling it out for the glory of being crowned world champions, a prize that is only available once every four years. Dubai won the right to host the event by staving off some tough competition from Australia, The Netherlands, Russia and the USA and proved in November last year that it is a city for the big occasion – with world record crowds packing into Emirates’ purpose-built venue, The Sevens, for the annual Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens.

Fans will enjoy watching Sevens powerhouses New Zealand, defending men’s champions Fiji, England

and yachts from around the world. and the current Despite the widespread slowdown IRB Sevens World across many industries, the show Series leaders will debut four superyachts and South Africa going over ten exclusive regional prehead to head with mieres from world-class companies teams from afar such as AMELS, Burger Boats, Emirafield as Uruguay, ates Yachting, Gulf Craft, Platinum Tonga and Japan.

Yachts, Sunseeker, and Western Among the Marine. women’s teams As the consumer buying behavwill be tournaiour adjusts in response to a changment favourites ing economic climate, international England, New boat suppliers will be offering prodZealand, Australia ucts, packages and deals that are and Canada, while attractive and creative. aiming to make Even non-marine luxury brands their mark on the are seeking premium associations world stage at the with the Dubai Boat Show to leverinaugural Rugby age on its prestigious market conWorld Cup Sevens nectivity and exclusive access to the for women will be affluent consumers in the region. the likes of Uganda, Aston Martin, Damas, Lamborghini, Brazil and Thailand.

Range Rover and Tiffany will be The first week in March sees participating in the show. the 17th edition of the Dubai The current construction of International Boat Show at the marina projects across the region Dubai International Marine Club, will see the opening of up to 30,000 Mina Seyahi from March 3-7th. The berth spaces and an additional 1,500 Dubai Boat Show sets the momentum for a week Dubai International Boat Show rises above economic challenges of excitement to present five major global launches and 22 regional premieres. as the leisure boating fraternity focuses on the unveiling of at least five major global launches and 22 regional premiers of the most spectacular boats

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SPORTS kilometres of coastline over the next five years.

Held alongside the Dubai Boat Show is the Dive Middle East Exhibition (DMEX) showcasing the very latest in diving equipment, supplies, services and techniques. Complemented by live diving demonstrations, the show will host a series of presentations on the latest dive gear, training programmes and projects taking place around the region.

Abu Dhabi : The world’s new Super Yacht destination Owning a super yacht is more complicated than one might think. Along with finding a qualified, dedicated crew to operate one, there is also the question of where to put the yacht when not at sea. In the UAE, until recently, acquiring a berth for super yachts was limited to the number of marinas that could accommodate large yachts that are 30 metres or bigger. Owners of super yachts dock them where they would like to vacation; for the high net worth individuals enticed by the rapidly developing cities and intriguing coastlines of the UAE, Kuwait and Oman - destinations that offer a mix of exotic Arabia and 21st century modernism – there simply were not enough berths to go around to keep their large yachts in

the region, whether for personal or charter use.

That is rapidly changing, however, with billions of investment dollars being sunk into the region’s marine industry. Along the Arabian Gulf, and Abu Dhabi, in particular, a fascinating series of marinas are taking shape forging the way towards the UAE’s capital becoming a charter’s paradise. Abu Dhabi, which is the largest emirate of the seven sheikhdoms that make up the UAE, is the world’s richest city, according to CNN’s Fortune magazine.

“With over 200 natural islands and more than 700 kilometres of coastline, few places in the world are as blessed with natural waterfront as Abu Dhabi,” explains His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nayhan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. “Our coastline and abundant islands offer endless exploration and sporting options.”

Working to build a brighter future for the emirate’s yachting industry, Aldar Marinas, a subsidiary of Aldar Properties, has identified 16 marine projects in Abu Dhabi, the most impressive of which is Yas Island. Occupying a total area of 10,000 square metres, the development will feature an awe-inspiring and futuristic mega yacht marina, along with a Ferrari theme park, a water park, polo

clubs, luxury hotels and luxury retail, all surrounded by a world-class Formula One racetrack. Promising never a dull moment, the island is sure to attract the world’s elite and elicit envy from every corner of the globe.

In an effort to target yacht enthusiasts, The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, the headline sponsor, will host the upcoming ‘invitation only’ Abu Dhabi Yacht Show 2009 on March 12-14.

It will be the first yacht show in the region dedicated to super and mega yachts, and Adnec has commenced dredging a 2.4 kilometre marina zone – featuring a 350 metre quay wall, suitable for stern mooring of over 20 yachts - to cater to the 30-100 metre luxury yachts that will be on exhibit.

Gulf Bike Expo 2009 will take place at Dubai Festival City from 19th to 21st March. The event will thrill bikers and enthusiasts in the Middle East with a complete actionpacked biking experience. Gulf Bike Expo, the largest of its kind is set to showcase the latest in bikes, ATVs, apparel, accessories, custom-designed bikes and motorcycle-related products from all major international brands from Europe, the USA, Canada, Italy and Japan.

Visitors will not only be able to

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SPORTS see a superb range of bikes and products, but will enjoy a complete festival atmosphere with professional stuntmen demonstrating extreme jaw-dropping manoeuvres, putting on a spectacular show of skill and precision. Bikers from around the region will have the opportunity to participate in the freestyle bike demonstrations.

A purpose-built marquee will display over hundreds of bikes, clothing lines and accessories with daily fashion shows scheduled from participating fashion brands. An entertainment area includes outdoor bars, dining and barbecue areas and is built with two live music stages which will be managed by Live Nation and they will feature local and international bands and DJs who will be spinning the latest tunes revving up the crowd. Scorpion Customs frontman, stuntman, and celebrated disc jockey; DJ GQ, will take to the stage to perform tunes from his remixes. Movie enthusiasts will enjoy an in-show cinema, showing the best of bike movies throughout the day, and the event will also feature the highly successful Dubai Bike Week in cooperation with Harley Davidson.

Bike fanatics will have an opportunity to admire the works of master bike customisers on modified and transformed bikes. On-site competi-

Curlin, 2008 winner of the Dubai World Cup

tions will target visitors at the show with prizes that include bike clothing and accessories.

Round one of the 2009 FIA World Cup and FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Cup, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will take place for the first time on March 20-27, Abu Dhabi, can become the motor sport hub of Asia, according to the region’s captain of motor racing, 14-times Middle East rally champion, Mohammed ben Sulayem.

He said that this month’s challenge will begin a new era in Middle East sport, with November’s Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix inaugural event in the UAE also scheduled in Abu Dhabi at a purpose-built F1 track on Yas Island.

Ben Sulayem noted that this year’s cross country event will see the traditional final round of the FIA

World Cup and FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship switching to the start of the motor sporting season with the full backing of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) as the title sponsor for the first time.

The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, a natural evolution of the 18-year-old UAE Desert Challenge, is open to competitors driving cars and trucks complying with FIA T1, T2 and T4 technical regulations and motorcyclists and quads running under FIM auspices.

The 2009 Dubai World Cup will be held on Saturday, March 28. The world’s richest day’s racing will be the highlight of 46 race meetings this season, hosted by three racing clubs of the United Arab Emirates; the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Dubai Racing Club and Jebel Ali Racecourse.

The 2009 $6,000,000 Group 1 Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline, to be run on March 28, holds special significance as it will be the 14th and final renewal staged at Nad Al Sheba racecourse before racing is moved to Meydan in 2010. Reflective of the overwhelming generosity of the UAE and embodying the warmth of traditional Arabian hospitality, contenders for the purses are flown in

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SPORTS from all corners of the world and horsemen enjoy generous travel subsidies for their support of racing in the UAE. With a purse of $6 million to the winner, this year sees the 14th running of the richest horse race in the world. Classified as a ‘Group 1 Flat Race’ on dirt for four-year-old thoroughbreds and above, the Dubai World Cup spans a distance of two kilometres.

Following the incredible number of entries to last year’s BurJuman Style Stakes competitions, we’re expecting the fiercely contested Models at the Oasis Fashion Show, Wafi, wearing hats destined for the races

2009 Dubai World Cup ‘Best Dressed Lady’, ‘Best Dressed Couple’ and ‘Best Hat’ competitions to attract even more contestants, as Dubai’s increasingly style-conscious racegoers battle it out for the fantastic prizes on offer.

24-hour kart racing The first round of the 2009 Nivea For Endurance Challenge will take place on March 27 & 28 at Dubai Kartdrome, part of the Dubai Autodrome complex. Spectators are encouraged to cheer the relay teams of drivers who will soldier on throughout the day and night. Entrance is free, as it is to all events at the autodrome.

World-class coaches and former Test cricketers Dayle Hadlee and Mudassar Nazar have taken up

their posts as head coaches at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Global Cricket Academy, based at Dubai Sports City, and are starting to develop the accredited programmes to help improve the game both in the UAE and among the other 103 ICC member-countries.

Hadlee and Nazar, have joined the ICC Global Cricket Academy’s director of coaching, Rod Marsh, to help train and develop the best talent in world cricket. All three coaches will also work with international teams and local players to improve the standard of the sport across the United Arab Emirates.

Programmes are being designed for schools and grassroots development as well as bespoke training camps for international sides and coaching education courses to make the ICC Global Cricket Academy a centre of excellence, innovation and education for world cricket.

The ICC Global Cricket Academy will also have wickets that replicate playing conditions across the world. Soil from Australia, England and Pakistan is being imported to offer the variety of wickets found in different countries.

The Abu Dhabi Netball League (ADNL), one of the capital’s oldest sports clubs, continued to grow from strength to strength during the 2008/09 season, with a record number

Dayle Hadlee, Rod Marsh and Mudassar Nazar

of new players signing up. The standard of play has, as a result, been raised even higher with competitive spirits rising to the challenge.

ADNL has selected three teams comprising the emirate’s top players to represent Abu Dhabi at the Intergulf Championships in Bahrain on March 13-14. The championships, acknowledged as the Gulf’s premier netball competition, attract teams from countries all across the region including Oman, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Abu Dhabi has a formidable record in the event, having been overall winner on four separate occasions and coming runners up in The 2008 Championship Cup and Invitational Trophy. This year will also mark the first appearance of an Abu Dhabi men’s team at the event.

Abu Dhabi netball

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TRAVEL

India

on the move The Gateway of India, Mumbai

Young, energetic and dynamic, India, pulsates with a youthful energy that infects you instantly

By Sankaranarayanan

Magic of Mumbai

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isiting Mumbai after a gap of 5 years renewed my sense of a city that is an epitome of activity and youth. The city hits you with a positive energy the moment you land there. The expanse of people in Mumbai symbolise the new India that is marching ahead uninterrupted. This can be seen right from the start of the day - an ocean of people of all age groups busy with their morning jog along its various sea-sides. Energetic, pulsating, dynamic and extremely health conscious, the city vibrates with positive energy.

Despite various setbacks it has faced, work continues unabated and the sea of people find ways and means of working around situations for their daily survival. There is no crying over recession since there is work to do and time is scarce.

Mumbai’s entrepreneurial spirit is legendary and can be seen in its various aspects. Be it a young newspaper boy, calling out the headline of the day while making his way through the maze of traffic in one of Mumbai’s traffic signals or the various kinds of small businesses

shops and small enterprise. On the that start work inside local trains other end are sprawling malls that that form the heartland of Mumbai’s stack a host of world class brands. working classes. Or the dabbawalas Towering among the group of who deliver lunch from one end of monuments in Mumbai are the Taj Mumbai to another like an army of and Oberoi, both of which have ants. stood the test of time despite the Pulsates with positive energy, onslaught of terror they witnessed you are left speechless looking at its recently. diversity and entrepreneurial spirit.

Business in the hotels are as usual The most expensive house ever made and in the main lobby of the Taj, on earth – business tycoon Mukesh there is a small memorial dedicated Ambani’s home or the stretch of to the staff of the hotel who lost their Asia’s largest slum Dharavi (that shot lives during the terrorist attack. It is to fame, due to the film Slumdog heartening to see nearly everyone Millionaire). Dharavi, must not be mistaken as a space for the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai poor solely because the area operates in contrasts.

Nearly every home has the facilities that you’d seen in a middle income group home. Several businesses flourish there, be it leather tanneries, leather goods

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TRAVEL stand by it for a minute, to pay homage to the deceased. The century old Taj Palace stands tall and after renovations, will soon be launched.

Ever since it opened in 1903 (even before The Gateway of India was built), The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai has created its own unique history. Maharajas, princes, corporate heads, kings, presidents, CEOs, actors and entertainers have frequented the Taj group of hotels that has played the perfect host. An architectural marvel that brings together Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles, offering panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India, the Taj Hotel Mumbai, is a landmark of the city, showcasing contemporary Indian influences along with beautiful vaulted alabaster ceilings, onyx columns, graceful archways, hand-woven silk carpets, crystal chandeliers, a magnificent art collection, an eclectic collection of furniture, and a dramatic cantilever stairway.

The Trident, Nariman Point on the other hand is poised proudly on the edge of the Arabian Sea, overlooking the Queen’s Necklace area. One of the country’s largest hotels, it represents a contemporary outlook and dynamism combined with warmth and ethnic values.

Not only does Trident Club offer the business traveller services to make their business trip simple and stress-free but also a multitude of facilities, including the recently introduced butler service, to make

The Trident, Mumbai

The Mani Bhavan, Mumbai

The lavish interiors of hotel Trident

the trip a comfortable, relaxing and memorable experience. Excellent cuisine, be it Indian or world cuisine, the Trident is a connoisseur’s delight.

Nearby, at the Gateway of India, a monument erected to welcome Queen Mary and King George V of England on their visit to India in 1911, life goes on like before groups of people feeding the birds, yoga camps, people buying fresh flowers from open scooters and in the sea, fishermen returning after

their catch.

Among Mumbai’s other popular landmarks are, the Hanging gardens above Malabar hill laid our in 1880, that covers Mumbai’s main reservoir, the imposing Victoria Terminus or CST station and Mani Bhavan, Mahatma Gandhi’s home in Mumbai - a three storeyed structure, painted in brown and yellow amidst a Parsi neighbourhood where he lived between 1917-1934, now overseen and maintained by the Gandhi Institute.

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The Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial, Delhi

The Red Fort, Delhi

Dynamism of Delhi

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he first thing I noticed about Delhi was its flyovers, wide roads and lots of greenery everywhere.

In three years since I last visited the capital, it has grown in beauty with

Taj Palace Hotel, Delhi

wide roads, well laid out green spaces that adds to its glory as the capital of India with its well preserved historic office buildings and monuments. The majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan, the imposing India Gate blends with its surroundings that include lakes, well laid our flower beds, landscaping and lots of fountains – all of which, any Indian can be proud of.

The most beautiful part of Delhi is that, there are very few skyscrapers. Beautiful villas with greenery all around, the city looks distinct and different.

The serene bhajans at Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial transport you to a different world and you are enveloped with a sense of calm and peace. It is extremely well kept with its ever-lit lamp, flowers and the landscape.

So are monuments like the Qutub Minar rising up to a height of 72

Presidential Suite, Taj, Delhi

A CNG auto rickshaw in old Delhi

metres, Humayun’s tomb and the Red fort that reflect the past glory of India.

Even in the outskirts of the city, you can see a change in the lifestyles of people. There are modern farmhouses and it feels that the richness of the city is flowing on to its outskirts. If Delhi has old spaces like Chandni Chowk to shop, it has lots of world class shopping malls stacking world class brands for its richer segments of people.

The city also has well known educational institutions and a motley group of young entrepreneurs, abuzz with exuberance and activity.

Apart from the fleet of expensive cars one gets to see on Delhi roads, the city is gearing up towards the four wheeled culture teeming with sports cars. Restaurants by evening is teeming with young groups of people including foreigners who are enjoying the vast variety of Indian food as well as the opportunities India offers them. The maximium population of India consists of young people and the youth of India are moving forward unchallenged.

A fact that can be seen in The Taj Palace Delhi for instance, that is majestic and awe-inspiring and has several world celebrities, corporate honchos, diplomats and heads of state as its guests.

A place to bask in the warmth of Indian hospitality and rich Indian cuisine that ranges from the well-preserved recipes of the royal Indian kitchens, innovations by well known Indian chefs to the choicest delicacies the world over be it Japanese, Arabian, Chinese, Mediterranean or European food.

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TRAVEL

The Taj Mahal, Agra

Allure of Agra The drive to Agra from Delhi showcased the rural wealth of India.

After whizing past a belt of lush green wheat-fields, a marketplace or a huge shopping mall is a common sight.

And as you approach the legendary Taj Mahal, the mood gets different.

Located on the banks of the Yamuna, we saw the resplendent Taj by moonlight from Oberoi group’s Amar Vilas, where we were put up.

Amar Vilas is located 600 metres from the monument and though the sky was foggy, the white marble of the Taj basking in the moonlight is a sight to savour.

Created like a poetry in stone, all its rooms, suites, lobby, bar and lounge offer breathtaking views of the monument. Built in a style inspired by Moorish and Mughal architecture, the resort is a splendid display of terraced lawns, fountains, reflection pools and pavilions with rich interiors that take you back to an era of emperors and princes.

Richly detailed interior s are perfectly complemented by a choice of international and Indian cuisine that includes Japanese, Arabian, Chinese, Mediterranean and European fare.

The romance of Agra transports you to another

era, another ethos. It is impressive to see tour guides around that area, speak a host of languages. They are highly educated and have an in-depth knowledge about their professions.

The view of the Taj from Shah Jahan’s room too in heart- warming because it brings back the story of love shared between the Mughal emperor and his queen Mumtaz Mahal. The fort built in red sandstone has water-cooling/ heating systems in its architecture and ventilators that has an abundance of natural light. Replete with gateways,

gardens, the pillared halls, mosques, marble trellises and geometric gardens, the fort represents Mughal architecture at its best. The return to Delhi was through Kosi where we lunched at the Le Meridien. I leave India with a sense of nostalgia and some fine memories. I fondly miss the exuberance of JK Sharma, Approved Guide & Escort, Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India who accompanied us in the trip. His style of narration is phenomenal and so is his cheery ‘Namashkar’!

A press trip to Delhi, Mumbai and Agra was organised by India Tourism’s Dubai office and Swagatam Tours Private Limited. Jet Airways flew the group and hospitality was arranged by the Taj and Oberoi group of hotels Amar Vilas - Agra

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TRAVEL

Comfort in the Sky Jet Airways’ advanced in- flight infrastructure adds comfort and luxury to travel

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destination comes alive when the mood, as well as the mode, of travel to a destination is as exciting as can be. Enhancing both is Jet Airways’ advanced in-flight entertainment system installed on the new Boeing 777-300 ER and Airbus A330-200 aircrafts, (functional since May 2007), that continues to add a touch of luxury to travel. This is part of the company’s comprehensive expansion plan that includes launching new seats, new in-flight service, new staff uniforms and a new corporate identity, as Chairman Naresh Goyal states. He confirmed the deliveries for the first of the 20 wide-body aircrafts last month. The 10 Boeing B 777-300ER and 10 Airbus A330-200 aircrafts are valued at $2.1 billion. “Having changed the way people fly in India, we will now take our own brand of service and style, the spirit of new India, to the rest of the world,” he adds.

Travellers can choose from three categories of travel - First Class, Premiere, and Economy. Each category is designed ergonomically for maximum comfort, utility and luxury. Since the aircraft ply on long haul international routes, seats are designed differently. As the backrest reclines, the seat moves forward to create a recline angle of 130 degrees to an ergonomically correct seating position, reducing sinew, joint and muscle tensions. A hammock style headrest cradles and supports the head and neck, while a net suspended below the seat, provides support for feet and ankles.

Luxury uninterrupted

If you travel first class, service starts even before you start flying. The moment you arrive at the airport, a concierge escorts you to immigration and onwards to the elite First Class lounge; a valet will check in your luggage while you relax with a bubbly at the lounge or wrap up some work at the business centre. When it is time to board the aircraft, you will be escorted to your exclusive private suite in the sky.

With dual sliding doors, night sky mood and lighting system - personal space and comfort is of prime importance for first class travel. The specially designed space in your private suite lets you invite a companion to join you at your table for a delectable meal or a confidential business discussion. As for food, get set to be treated to an array of culinary delectables – a personalised five-course meal from a selection of world class cuisines and drinks. The suite even has a closet to stay immaculate and comes with a personal amenities kit that contains Bvlgari White Tea and eau de toilette spray,

The same space converts into a comfort zone

for instance. Entertainment is aplenty starting with a giant 23-inch flat screen TV and you’ll find blockbusters from Hollywood and Bollywood, plus a whole host of award winning TV shows. For music lovers, the Jukebox offers audio CDs of Indian and international music. If work is on your mind, you could tune in to the latest in the world of business through SMS and email facility or stay updated through Love Text News. As for services, the crew ensures that you feel at home in the sky. You can also enjoy a limousine pick up to and from the airport to make the journey even more luxurious.

Premiere travel

Freedom of movement comes with every seat in the Premiere section. You can work with a laptop plugin socket as you fly at 35,000 feet. The section has a herringbone seat configuration that gives you an easy aisle access from every seat and features a lie flat bed and a wall that offers you the comfort of personal space. You can stay entertained with a personal 15.4 inch touchscreen LCD TV, Hollywood A treat of world cuisine and Bollywood blockbusters, TV shows and business news and can even call for popcorn.

Premiere flyers can also enjoy the comfort of a limousine pickup.

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TRAVEL Jet Airways has recently signed a purchase agreement for 10 Boeing B787 Dreamliner aircraft with deliveries commencing in 2011. The B787 order is valued at $1.6 billion.

Boeing B 777 is configured into three classes, eight First Class, 30 Premiere Class and 274 Economy Class seats and operates on the Mumbai- London and Mumbai-Brussels and New York routes.

Jet Airways plans to operate services to San Fransico via Shanghai with the oncoming winter schedule. The Airbus A 330 aircraft is configured in two classes, 30 Premier and 190 Economy seats and operates daily Delhi-London services.

It will also be deployed on flights from India to markets such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Johannesburg and Toronto via Brussels.

Jet Airways, along with JetLite (a wholly owned subsidiary of Jet Airways India Ltd) has a combined fleet strength of 109 aircraft and offers customers a schedule of over 526 flights daily.

All passengers are able to access some special features that include a library of over 100 management books, the Berlitz World Traveller, a programme to help passengers learn over 20 foreign languages from basic words to numbers and sentences, and Relaxline, that helps passengers relax.

Economy’s the word

Roomy seats designed for comfort

With state-of-the art, ergonomically designed seats, exciting culinary delights and a world-class cabin crew, every seat in the economy range has a 10.6 inch touchscreen TV with ready on demand inflight entertainment, music, movies, songs, interactive games etc. For young fliers, JetKids is a unique programme which includes games, toys, contests and special offers for tiny tots.

Seats are designed to reduce pressure on your body and give the added support for long journeys. If you recline on your backrest, the seat bottom will automatically move into an ergonomically correct position. Other thoughtful features include a reading light at the back of the seat, a hammock headrest and unique foot net, designed to let you relax and arrive at your destination rested and refreshed. The food choices range from Indian to continental cuisine.

Destination India

After Slumdog Millionaire, tourist flow to India should increase

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braham Joseph, Airways flights take them Senior General there. Jet Airways also has Manager, Jet a code share arrangement Airways, Gulf, with Etihad Airlines. “We Middle East and North can sell on their flights and Africa, is quite impressed they have a code share on

by Danny Boyle’s our night flights,” he states.

Slumdog Millionaire What about their travel and feels that the film strategy for the year 2009? will intrigue people about Abraham Joseph, Senior General “In the Gulf, we are in a Manager, Jet Airways, Gulf, India and they would unique situation. In many Middle East and North Africa surely want to visit the places in the world, travel country. is a luxury and is usually to Ask him if the current situation has do with leisure and business. But here, affected the airline (with airports full of people need to go back home regularly, people returning home every day), he since most of the population here has a realistic answer. “While a few of consists of expatriates. And they form Jet Airways flights to the US have been our major clientele. Their traffic will put on hold, we are concentrating on the always be there,” he states. major routes that bring in the revenue.

Are there any plans to tie up with Mumbai is a very busy route and our routes tourism departments in the world? “We to Mumbai- Delhi from Dubai and Abu have plans for promoting tourism for Dhabi, Cochin - Trivandrum - Mumbai from non-Indian tourists. We are doing a lot Muscat, Mumbai and Cochin from Doha of promotions in April. The campaign and Mumbai and Cochin from Kuwait are will be called ‘Know Your India’ and doing extremely well,” he says. will promote travel to the country. We Jet Airways continues to have their are working with India Tourism to flights connect to a city in India every create that traffic. four minutes in a day. Also, the airline’s But the Jet Escape packages that are Boeing B 777- 300ER and Airbus A 330prevalent in India are not here. “We are 200, with newly introduced ergonomical participating with IPL, tying up with infrastructure fly from Dubai regularly. agents for packages of tours that involve Jet Airways has a code share with air tickets, accommodation and transfer,” Emirates airlines. While Emirates flights he states. bring in people from the world to Dubai, Jet Airways has extended its Jet for those wanting to travel to India, the Jet Privilege card, to this region too.

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END PAGE

This scourge must be fought

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arching into March, there seems to be no end to depressing news. While it is expected that the recession will deepen this year, what is adding to our woes is terrorism. Just when we thought we had enough of gloomy news, comes a terror attack in Lahore against the visiting Sri Lankan cricketers. In what seems like a copycat of 26/11 in Mumbai, the attack shocked the world that woke up to the dangers of international terrorism. The catastrophic combination of religious revivalism, political paralysis, military machinations and financial freefall has made Pakistan truly the most dangerous place on earth today.

But the scourge of terrorism affects us all. No matter where it originates, it is the ultimate Frankenstein that devours its creator. So, world leaders have to get together to tackle this international menace just as they have joined hands to battle the economic downturn. Unfortunately, few leaders agree on what constitutes ‘terrorism’ even in this day and age when the hydra-headed monster has demonstrated that it makes no distinctions whatsoever – even between the hand that feeds it and the one that bites it. Can we expect that now the world will get its act together? One fails to understand why terrorism is not being fought with the same seriousness as recession. Can we continue on the path of progress – after we have found our way out of the financial mess – if we leave international terrorism and religious fanaticism unchecked?

Clearly, this plague needs to be given equal attention as the financial meltdown, if not more. Let’s hope for the formation of a broad international coalition against terror. A safe, secure and prosperous world should not remain a pipedream.

When dreams take wings Not everything was gloom and doom in February. The Oscars were packaged in a new format and the glitter of the event dispelled the world’s darkness somewhat.

What was most heartening were the smiles on the faces of young children from the slums of Mumbai as they marched up on the stage in their smart little tuxedos and shimmering frocks to hold the prestigious statuettes. The night of February 22 in Hollywood truly belonged to the stars of Slumdog Millionaire – a rags-to-riches adventure set in Mumbai’s Dharavi,

the biggest slum cluster in Asia.

Danny Boyle’s heartwarming tale of triumph against adversity – based on Vikas Swarup’s novel Q & A – reaped a rich haul of eight Oscars after sweeping Golden Globes and Bafta Awards. As Azharuddin and Rubina Ali (the young Jamal Malik and Latika in the movie) beamed in front of TV cameras, riotous celebrations erupted thousands of miles away in Dharavi at the crack of dawn.

Dharavi became the centre of world attention.

Even Vikas Swarup got a windfall from the movie’s dream run as his book flew off the shelves. All this was for real. It seemed too good to be true. But dreams do sometimes take wings, believe it or not!

Literally fabulous!

Who doesn’t like to dream? Our imagination is at its highest, however, when we delve into literature written by great writers. We are transported to far off lands when we flip through the pages of a gripping novel just lying in bed.

And if more than 60 writers converge at one venue, giving a peep into their wonderful world over a span of three days, you cannot ask for more. The Emirates Festival of Literature held in five different halls at Hotel Intercontinental of the Festival City was the first-of-its-kind event held in the UAE. Writers from several Arab countries, Western nations, the Indian subcontinent, Far East and Africa held sway over a fairly large gathering of book lovers.

The festival was initially marred by a controversy surrounding a book, which was thought to be banned here due to which Canadian writer Margaret Atwood pulled out at the last minute but later participated through a video link-up. Tickets were priced from Dh35 to Dh100 for talks, conversations, discussions and debates. It was heartening to see people actually spend money in these hard times to listen to great minds. What is more, people bought books and stood in long queues to get them autographed by writers.

It seems the literature-starved people of Dubai were waiting for such an event. Hopefully, it will become an annual feature – another interesting event to look out for in Dubai’s cultural calendar. But it would perhaps help the cause of literature much more if the tickets and books were more moderately priced.

64 UAE Digest, March 2009

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