Prizes during Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) 2008 at the Mall of the Emirates Monday, Jan 28 2008

The first shopping resort in the world Mall of the Emirates is all set with shopping discounts, free entertainment and oodles of prizes for guests during the Dubai Shopping Festival 2008. Shoppers who spend more than 350 AED during the DSF will enter a lucky draw with gift vouchers worth 10,000 AED every day. In addition to this, the bumper prize is worth 1 million AED in the final draw!

Mall of the Emirates will showcase entertainment events with performers from across the globe. The central theme of “The World of Entertainment” features India, Africa, the Far East, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.

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Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) 2008 Tuesday, Jan 22 2008

The thirteenth edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival - DSF 2008 is in the pipeline. Retail outlets and shopping malls are fast gearing up for the annual shopping bonanza that draws thousands of visitors from all over the world to Dubai.

Retailers who wish to participate in the festival have to get themselves registered for the same by filling the form available on the DSF web site – www.mydsf.ae. Alternatively, they can get in touch with the DSF desk at the Department of Economic Development by January 31, 2008 wherein registration will be done from 4 pm to 8 pm (Sunday to Thursday) and from 10 am to 2 pm (Saturday).

Last year, visitors to the DSF spent over 10 billion AED in the shopping festival. The figure is expected to go up by 10 to 15 percent in this year’s edition. A number of exciting events are in store for visitors to the Dubai Shopping Festival 2008.

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The West End Tower in Dubai Thursday, Jan 17 2008

Dubai has some of the most famous and innovative state of the art buildings in the world. In addition to being great residential options, these real estate marvels also attract tourists from all over the world. Properties in Dubai in the like of the Burj Dubai, The World and The Palm are not unknown to the entire world. The latest in the line is the upcoming West End Tower in central Dubai. Close to the new airport, Dubai Sports City, Universal Studios, International Media Production Zone and Dubai Marina, the West End Tower is the next hot destination for residents, business travellers and tourists alike.

West End Tower in Dubai has five-star residential as well as commercial spaces. It offers freehold ownership wherein businessmen as well as holiday goers can contemplate making profitable investments. Compliance with the recently formulated Escrow Law 8 makes it a safe and transparent investment opportunity.

Star attractions in the vicinity of West End Tower:

• Palm Jumeirah
• Mall of Emirates
• Dubai International Airport
• Dubai Land
• Jebel Ali Free Zone

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Film Festival in Sharjah Wednesday, Jan 16 2008

A film festival is in the offing for Sharjah in the coming days. Prerna Film Festival (PFF) is going to take crowds by storm in Sharjah on January 24 and 25, 2008. Being the first edition of the event, the PFF is a joint effort of Sharjah Institute of Art and Theatre and Prerna – an association renowned for organizing cultural events.

Highlights:

• Feature films and short films from India, Brazil and Argentina
• Showcase of young Arab film makers’ work

India-based documentary film makers of world renown C. S. Venketeshwaran and Anand Patwardhan will be in the chief guests’ chair. The festival will be inaugurated by the Artistic Director of the DIFF (Dubai International Film Festival) Masoud Amaralia Al Ahli and the venue is going to be Sharjah Institute of Art and Theatre.

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UAE Spaceport Tuesday, Jan 15 2008

Local tourism was not attractive enough that UAE’s other lesser known state of Ras Al Khaimah is now the venue for the 30 billion USD Spaceport. Space Adventures is developing commercial spaceports in this region.  They are the pioneers of space tourism. The expansion will become global after a few years. The funding will be open to many of the venture capitalists. The revenues will be divided between the government of Ras Al Khamiah, Space Adventures and the funding agencies. The government has given clearance to this massive project. Space Adventures can operate suborbital spaceflights from their airspace. Prodea is their partner in this venture.

Why was Ras Al Khamiah chosen for this space trip odyssey? The main reasons are that the rulers agreed to become sponsors to the project and the place supports airport and spaceport facilities. The place is close to Dubai, a major tourist attraction in the region. The spaceflights cannot become congested in this region and they can have smooth operations. Space travel can become an important avenue for revenue in the near future. Myasishchev Design Bureau, a leading Russian aerospace organization is the main designer of the suborbital space transportation system. They have already designed high powered performance aircraft and space systems. Nearly five people can be put together in a spacecraft called ‘Explorer’ once operations commence. The highest degree of safety is being ensured on the space vehicle.

Explorer will have a flight-operational carrier aircraft - the M-55X - and a rocket spacecraft. It will have safety features like multi-redundant safety systems. The development schedule is being kept a secret by the Russian company. The civil aviation ministry has approved the project. The engineers working on the spacecraft have sorted out all the technical details with relevant federal authorities to support the operation of commercial suborbital spaceflight in UAE air space. The rulers consider this mega-project as a landmark in progress in the country. They are expecting tourists from the globe to come here and experience the spaceflight.

The project is based in Ras Al Khamiah which is in the northern part of UAE, with Oman on its border. It has one of the largest pharmaceutical firms, along with hectic real estate development in the region. Like Dubai, it is improvising on the infrastructure to attract tourists. It is also attracting commercial and industrial enterprises like Dubai. It has a free trade zone and a massive airport is coming up too. Space tourism is still in a nascent stage in other areas of the world. But with financial support, expertise and infrastructure facilities not a problem in UAE, it will become very popular soon. The rulers are leaving no stone unturned to make sure the development programs hit any snags till 2010, when they will become ready for tourists.  It has luxury hotels, villas and homes for visitors to stay. It is fully equipped to take on the load during vacations.

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Private sector holiday on New Hijri 1429 Wednesday, Jan 9 2008

Employees of private sector companies across the UAE will have a holiday on January 10, 2008 to mark New Hijri 1429. Public sector will also observe a holiday.

Read earlier post: Holiday to mark New Hijri 1429

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A few must-know labour laws for employees in the UAE Wednesday, Jan 9 2008

With the United Arab Emirates having the status of a popular choice for exploring job opportunities, especially in the Third World countries, there are some labour laws that existing and prospective employees in the country should know. Here’s an overview:

• Federal Labour Law, Article 74 and Article 81: There are some official holidays every employee is entitled to (with full wage). These are:

o One holiday on New Year Day as per the Gregorian calendar
o One holiday on New Year Day as per the Islamic calendar
o Two holidays on Eid Al Fitr
o Three holidays on Eid Al Adha and Arafat Day
o One holiday on the National Day
o One holiday on the Israawal Meraj
o One holiday on Prophet Mohammed’s birthday

If work circumstances compel an employee to work full time or part time on an official holiday, s/he must be compensated with a leave and a compensatory extra 50 percent of the full wage. In the event of non-compliance with this rule, the employee will be paid 150 percent of the basic wage for the work days.

• Federal Labour Law, Article 83: During the probation period, an employee is not entitled to a paid sick leave. After the end of the probation period, if an employee falls ill on completion of more than three months in continuous service, s/he is entitled to continuous or interrupted 90 days’ leave per year.

The salary for the paid sick leave will be calculated on the following basis:

o First 15 days: full wage
o Next 30 days: half wage
o Following period: no pay

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Abu Dhabi to have a Digital Film Club Wednesday, Jan 9 2008

A new film club is to be opened in Abu Dhabi in late spring this year. The Digital Film Club (DFC) will be managed by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and is aimed at:

• Furthering creativity and talent
• Promoting film industry

The Digital Film Club will be located at the Cultural Foundation. It will have membership facility.

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Auction of odd car numbers in Abu Dhabi Wednesday, Jan 9 2008

Come January 12, 2008 and Abu Dhabi will be abuzz with odd car numbers coming under the hammer. The car numbers 11111, 55555 and 77777 will be auctioned.

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Holiday to mark New Hijri 1429 Monday, Jan 7 2008

Work in public sector offices across the UAE will remain off on January 10, 2008 (Thursday) in order to mark New Hijri 1429. Federal ministries, institutions, departments along with the financial markets come under the same. The holiday has been declared by the Ministry of Governmental Sector Development.

The New Hijri is the beginning of the New Year as per the Islamic calendar.

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