New Year’s Eve Bash in Al Ain Friday, Dec 28 2007

So you’ll be in Al Ain on December 31, 2007… Have a look at the following options to have a New Year’s Eve bash:

Arabesque
@InterContinental, Al Ain

International buffet at 150 AED per head

Luce
@InterContinental, Al Ain

Five-course Italian feast with live entertainment at 290 AED per head

Ballroom
@InterContinental, Al Ain

Fire and Ice party, grand seafood buffet, live band, dancers and DJs

Charges:

• 888 AED per couple
• 450 AED per head

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Celebrate New Year 2008 in Abu Dhabi! Wednesday, Dec 26 2007

Well… Here’s a list of places in Abu Dhabi you can check out for the New Year bash!

Crazy 8 New Year’s Eve 2008
@ Marina Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi

DJ Saeed Murad and Artful Dodger will rock the audience at Crazy 8 New Year’s Eve 2008 celebrations being held at Marina Al Bateen on December 31, 2007 (Monday).

Charges:

• VVIP Ticket: 400 AED per head
• VIP Ticket: 300 AED per head
• Regular Ticket: 250 AED

Timings: 10 pm to 4 am

Sevilla
@ Al Raha Beach Hotel, Abu Dhabi

New Year’s Eve Celebrations:

Relish a whole range of exotic delicacies at the New Year’s Eve party at Al Raha Beach Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

Attractions:
• Feeria show
• Live music
• Belly dancer

Charges:

• Adults: 220 AED per head
• Children (under 12): 140 AED per head
• Children (under 5): Free

New Year’s Day celebrations:

A special brunch amid live music is on offer at Sevilla on the New Year’s Day.

Charges:

• Adults: 180 AED per head
• Children (under 10): 100 AED per head

La Brisas
@ Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

New Year’s Day Celebrations:

A lavish brunch buffet is waiting for you at La Brisas.

Charges: 440 AED (plus 16 percent extra) per head

Sayad
@ Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

New Year’s Eve Celebrations:

Emirates Palace will be holding a New Year’s Eve dinner party at Sayad.

Attractions:

• Seven-course menu

Charges: 990 AED (plus 16 percent extra) per head

Palace Tent
@ Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

New Year’s Eve Celebrations:

Relish your New Year’s Eve dinner at Palace tent in an exotic way!

Attractions:

• Fire and Ice party
• Love Train music band performance

Charges: 2000 AED per head

La Brasserie
@ Meridien Village, Abu Dhabi

New Year’s Eve Celebrations:

A gala dinner awaits you for the New Year’s Eve here!

Attractions:

• Multinational cuisine
• Seafood buffet

Charges:

• Adults: 550 AED (plus 16 percent extra) per head
• Children: 300 AED (plus 16 percent extra) per head

Pappagallo and Le Bistrot
@ Meridien Village, Abu Dhabi

New Year’s Eve Celebrations:

New Year’s Eve Dinner at both these restaurants is all set to be an experience of its kind!

Attractions:

• Sumptuous four-course menu

Charges:

• Adults: 295 AED (plus 16 percent extra)
• Children: 200 AED (plus 16 percent extra) per head at Pappagallo; 250 AED (plus 16 percent extra) per head at Le Bistrot

Le Beaujolais and Le Jardin
@ Novotel, Abu Dhabi

New Year’s Eve Celebrations:

New Year’s Eve buffets await you at both these restaurants.

Charges:

• 250 AED per head at Le Beaujolais
• 130 AED per head at Le Jardin

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UAE to welcome the New Year (2008) with a Holiday! Wednesday, Dec 26 2007

Come January 1, 2008 and UAE is all set for a holiday! Yes, the emirates will welcome the New Year with an official holiday in public and private sectors alike.

Offices will reopen on the 2nd of January, 2008 (Wednesday).

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Tourist Attractions to explore in Dubai, UAE Monday, Dec 24 2007

Traditionally nothing has changed in the last 200 years in the UAE. But then everything else has changed. The gutra-clad (Arab headgear) officials solemnly greet nearly 1.5 million visitors every year at Dubai’s International Airport 24 x 7. They don’t smile at foreigners entering their country like the Egyptians and Indians do. They could not care less if the visitors were bringing in forex to the country through tourism. An average tourist wants to come here at least once. So what is there to explore in Dubai?

A tour package to the region usually includes the following landmarks:

Bastakiya District

When there was no electricity, there were wind towers that kept homes cool in the harsh desert heat. This is a heritage district which reminds even locals of a life gone by. Quaint houses with courtyards have wind towers. This district is being upgraded so that visitors can get bare minimum facilities to reach and savor the way Arabs lived once upon a time. Step back in time. Relive the ancient Arabic experience. Take bus No. 19 or an abra (taxi from Dubai) to Bur Dubai. It is on the east of Dubai Souk, Al Fahidi Street.

Sheikh Saeed Al-Maktoum’s House

It was a sandstone building built in 1896 and gives a sea view, near Al-Shindagha Tunnel, Al-Shindagha Road. Get a feel of what a traditional home in Arabia looks like in the city! It gives a fantastic marine view. This was home to one time ruler of the land. He used to monitor the trade and commerce entering and exiting the country from this home! In 1986, this home was reopened as a museum. The home also provides a glimpse of how the country developed from the 40s’ to the 60s.

Jumeirah Mosque

This is one of the landmark buildings at Al Jumeirah road. It is a beautiful Islamic stoned structure made on the lines of medieval Fatimid with two minarets. It looks classic when lighted in the evenings. Non-Muslims can visit this mosque on organised tours approved by the tourism department.  

Grand Mosque

It is situated on Ali bin Ali Talib Street on the Bur Dubai side of the Creek. This is the largest mosque which accommodates nearly 1200 worshippers during afternoon prayers. It has the tallest minaret of Dubai (70 meters).

Dubai Museum

The 1799 built Al-Fahidi fort houses the Dubai Museum. In 1970, it became a museum. It has old ammunitions, pearl diving outfits and military artefacts. Most of them have been dug out from 3000-4000 year old graves in Al-Ghusais.

Majlis Ghorfat Um-Al-Sheef

This home is an example of how rich Arab men lived. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the late ruler lived here. It has beautiful majlis gardens. It also has a traditional Arab irrigation system. It can be located off 17th street of Al-Jumeirah Road.

Heritage Village

The bedouin way of Arab culture is a part of this village near Shindagha Tunnel, Al-Shindagha Road. Locals dressed in traditional clothes, arts & handicrafts, Arabic music and dance can be witnessed.

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UAE all set for Eid Al Adha Wednesday, Dec 19 2007

UAE is all set for relishing Eid Al Adha holidays! Rescue teams and ambulances are all in place to cater to any emergency that may come up during the holidays, the most common being fractures and food poisoning. The rescue teams are well trained to look after such cases until the casualty can be shifted to the hospital.

Rescue vehicles and ambulances are fully fitted with all required medical equipment. The traffic departments of various emirates have also braced themselves up to curb any cases of rash driving.

Etisalat’s offer for Eid Al Adha

From 9 pm on December 17, 2007 (Monday) to 7 am on December 22, 2007 (Saturday), Etisalat is offering off-peak rates for all international calls made from its mobiles and landline phones.

Etisalat has also made its wi-fi hotspots available for free to all between December 19, 2007 and December 22, 2007. At more than 250 hotspots scattered across the UAE, locals and tourists alike can use the wireless broadband internet with a proper mobile or laptop for free!

Etisalat has also slashed its normal call rate of 2.12 AED to 0.99 AED for all calls from UAE to Saudi Arabia.

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Eid Al Adha 2007 Holidays in UAE Wednesday, Dec 12 2007

The UAE government has announced Eid Al Adha holidays for 2007. Following is an overview of the public and private sectors in this regard.

Public Sector Holidays

Public sector employees in the UAE will get 5-day holiday beginning December 18, 2007 (Tuesday). Public sector office will re-open on December 23, 2007 (Sunday).

Private Sector Holidays

Private sector employees in the UAE will have 3-day holiday from December 18, 2007 (Tuesday) to December 20, 2007 (Thursday).

Bank Holidays

While it still needs to be confirmed but there are speculations about banks going for a 4-day holiday beginning December 18, 2007 (Tuesday). ATM services, however, will be functional during the Eid break.

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Hajj 2007: Reduced Call Rates from UAE to Saudi Arabia Wednesday, Dec 12 2007

Calls from UAE to Saudi Arabia from Etisalat mobile phones will cost less during Haj. In addition, visitors to Saudi Arabia from the UAE will also be able to avail of lower roaming charges for Etisalat mobiles. All Etisalat users can benefit from this offer. However, customers who have already subscribed to some other scheme are excluded from the Hajj offer.

The slashed rates are on from December 9 to December 22, 2007.

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Eid Al Adha (Bakrid) begins on December 19, 2007 Tuesday, Dec 11 2007

Eid Al Adha (Bakrid) begins on Wednesday, December 19 marking the end of the holy pilgrimage of Haj 2007. The announcement has been made by the Supreme Judicial Council of Saudi Arabia.

Holidays for public and private sectors are still to be announced.

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Workers in UAE Can Take Paid Hajj Leave Thursday, Dec 6 2007

The UAE Ministry of Labour has made an announcement that permits employees in the country to go on a paid leave for the ongoing Hajj pilgrimage. The permit is open for all UAE residents whereby they can avail of up to a month’s leave from their annual leave balance. In such a scenario, their salaries will not be deducted if they have adequate leave balance.

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Rising rents to the pain of Dubai and Sharjah residents Tuesday, Dec 4 2007

Even after a choice of commercial and residential units in the real estate market, the year 2007 witnessed a hike in property rents in the emirates of Dubai and Sharjah. So much so that it is weighing quite heavily on tenants in the light of inflation rates of essential commodities as well. Real estate analysts believe there will be little respite, if any, in the rising rentals in the coming year.

If one looks at the wider market scenario, there has been practically no cooling down in the number of people drawing to the UAE for jobs. Therefore, the real estate market has not witnessed a downfall in demand in spite of rising rental rates. Even an emirate like Sharjah is at par with Dubai today when it comes to rental costs.

Some Statistical Facts

In Sharjah, a 2-bedroom flat in a newly-built building that has a variety of health and recreational facilities costs about 70,000 AED to 75,000 AED. On the other hand, a similar flat without the afore-mentioned facilities is available for something like 50,000 AED. Likewise, a 1-bedroom flat in a building with state of the art facilities costs anything between 45,000 AED to 50,000 AED.

In Dubai, a studio apartment in a prime location is available for 55,000 AED to 60,000 AED, whereas 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom flats in the same area can cost up to 68,000 AED to 80,000 AED. On the other hand, a beautiful villa in Dubai can be rented out for about 100,000 AED or even more! Still there are places left in Dubai where the rates are even higher.

Heartbreaks

Increasingly it is the expatriate portion of the population that has to bear the brunt of rising rents. Even after living in the UAE for decades, they cannot hope to live in a desired place. The main reason remains the same as ever – While rentals increase, salaries remain roughly the same over the years.

Singles’ Plight

Finding a good room at an affordable rent, even if it is a shared accommodation, is quite an ordeal for singles. In spite of a rent cap in most emirates, there is continued practice of flouting the norms by landlords.

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Emirates Update would love to receive your views on rising rentals in the emirates. Please post your comments below.

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