Rob Idol has been performing a ‘Robbie Williams’ tribute act for more than 6 years, having performed well over 1000 shows which is more shows performing as Robbie than Robbie himself and to an estimated total audience of over 2 million ranging from intimate gigs of less than 100 to an outdoor concert which was over 10,000.

During his acts at BurJuman from 18-20 February, he will be performing all of Robbie Williams’s chart-topping hits such as Angels, Let me entertain you, Rock DJ and many more. Each tribute act will be supported by hugely talented back-up dancers who’ve been flown in especially for this event.

du has today announced the launch of its International Toll-Free Service (ITFS), which enables multi-national enterprise customers to receive toll-free calls from payphones, landlines and mobile phones in the UAE. This application provides access to toll-free ITFS numbers for calls originating from the UAE and provides du carrier partners with a solution for audio-conferencing, call centre and business support application requirements from the region.

“We are pleased to announce that du ITFS numbers are available to all our 90 carrier partners around the globe. This service demonstrates du’s commitment to facilitating and improving telecommunications between the UAE and the rest of the world. We will continue to strive for innovative solutions to improve communications in the region both internally and externally,” commented Farid Faraidooni, chief commercial officer, du.

All du carrier partners will enjoy a number of benefits with the new service, including excellent network coverage throughout the UAE, high-quality call services, worldwide access coverage and competitive rates. Additionally, partners will benefit from a short provisioning lead time and flexibility on number changes.

ITFS allows international companies to extend toll-free features to the UAE ensuring customers all over the world never pay to reach their headquarters. It is a popular option for businesses and other organisations that prize global reach as an essential strategic step.

Haile Gebrselassie clinched the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon title for the third successive year, but it was a hard-fought victory in a relatively slow time of 2h:06m:09s.

All the pre-race talk had been of a new record but Gebrselassie’s world best time of 2h:03m:59s was never under serious threat after a pre-race back problem put paid to his chances of collecting a $1 million bonus offered by Dubai Holding.

“I woke up with a sore back and immediately went to see my physio,” said Gebrselassie after finishing 24 seconds ahead of Kenyan, Chala Dechase Beyene, who claimed a new personal best of 2h:06m:33s. Third home was another Ethiopian Eshetu, again in a personal best time of 2h:06m:46s.

“I slept in an awkward position and didn’t feel right for the first 15km. By the half way stage I just wanted to win the race – the spectators at the finish are amazing and I knew that if Haile Gebrselassie were not on the podium it would be a big shock for them!”

Despite achieving the hat-trick, Gebrselassie failed by a big margin to challenge his 18-month-old world record in an attempt which never really got under way. The race began at a slow pace and the nearest the pacemakers got to the world record pace was 38 seconds when the pack went through the 9km mark.

As the more than 2,000 marathon runners ran along the Dubai coast line, the race went even further off schedule and instead of it passing through the halfway point in the world record target time of 61:59, a pack of seven went through in a time of 62:51.

Gebrselassie seemed to have another success sewn up when breaking clear after 31km but received a shock when fellow countryman Dechase came on his shoulder just over 2km later.

However he didn’t panic and finally pulled away on his own just after 37km to take the $250,000 first prize and the winner’s trophy which he received from HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee.

In the women’s Ethiopia’s Mamitu Daska won a much closer women’s race by eight seconds from fellow Ethiopian Aberu Shewaye in 2h:24m:18s with Helena Kiprop of Kenya third in 2h:24m:54s.

“It was my dream to win this race so I am very happy,” said Daska, who, despite appearing in distress as she broke the finish tape, claimed to find the race “a lot of fun.”

Sponsored by Standard Chartered and held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon saw over 12,000 runners pounding the streets in the Marathon, the 10km and the 3km ‘Seeing Is Believing’ Fun Run.

Taking the title in the men’s 10km was Morocco’s Othmane Chaibi who clocked 31m:59s with Egypt’s Ahmed El Sayed second (32m:23s) and Moroccan Aradi Ibra third in 32m:53s.

In the women’s event, Britain’s Emma Philips successfully defended her 10km crown by winning in 37m:11s, more than two minutes ahead of Dubai Holding runner Jane Westley (39m:47s) with Debbie Powell third in 39m:55s.

“To have the world record holder Haile Gebrselassie win our event for the third straight year is a great honour,” said Standard Chartered Bank Regional CEO Middle East and North Africa Shayne Nelson. “ He didn’t manage to break the world record but he still proved he is a magnificent champion and we look forward to having him compete in Dubai for many years to come.”

The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon is supported by Dubai Holding, Dubai Sports Council, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina, ARN and DMI, TNT, Fitness First, Men’s Fitness, Plan B, Vittel Water, RTA, Dubai Municipality and the Dubai Emergency Services.

Dubai Silicon Oasis, the region’s premier integrated innovations hub for high tech industries, announced today the signing of a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubai Industrial Academy (DIA) and Zoning Authority Development Control (ZA) under the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority to implement a Site Safety Passport (SSP) programme.

The signing ceremony took place at TECOM Zoning Authority, and was attended by Eng. Muammar Khaled Al Katheeri, Chief Officer – Engineering Management at Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Rashed Al Ansari, Vice-President of Dubai Industrial City, and Mohamed Al Bahri, Director – Zoning Authority Development Centre.

By the agreement, DIA, a division of Dubai Industrial City, will offer a range of bespoke programmes and fixed-accredited training sessions to DSO that can be shared with other organizations. The SSP programme will also be tailored to suit employees at various tiers within these organizations.

Commenting on this MoU, Al Katheeri said: “Employees’ and workers’ safety are the cornerstone of construction activities at Dubai Silicon Oasis; which derives from our commitment to implement internationally recognized safety standards across all DSO projects. So far we have managed to reduce the number of incidents and injuries caused at construction sites by following these standards and making safety a priority. We are delighted to collaborate with Dubai Industrial Academy and Zoning Authority Development Control to offer specialized courses to contractors working within DSO. Dubai Industrial Academy has a successful track record in training and educating employees of various rank on the need to comply with industry guidelines. We hope more organizations and client groups will become part of this initiative and set higher standards.”

“As a pioneering destination for high-tech and microelectronics industries, raising awareness about workplace safety is considered one of our major responsibilities that we strive to maintain,” Al Katheeri added.

The MoU will aim at delivering holistic health, safety and environment (HSE) training for contractors & employees working at Dubai Silicon Oasis, the region’s most integrated hub for high-tech industries. Furthermore, the agreement will include cooperation among local authorities while promoting safety measures at construction sites.

Rashed Al Ansari, Vice-President of Dubai Industrial City, said: “Education and awareness about general guidelines remain the foundations of a knowledge economy and the building blocks for better practices in specialized fields. Our commitment on the industrial sector is substantiated by offering specialized training for specialized professionals. We welcome this strategic collaboration and look forward to supporting our clients in achieving common objectives.”

The Site Safety Passport additionally allows workers to operate interchangeably at the Zoning Authority and Dubai Silicon Oasis. The training will also ensure all employees with the SSP have the wherewithal to share knowledge and best practices at construction sites.

Mohamed Al Bahri said: “The agreement with DSO and DIA demonstrates our commitment to advancing operational procedures and enhancing collaboration with specialized business partners. Our goal is to play a leading role in guiding Dubai towards a health, safety and environment focus with zero accidents and fatalities. This can only be achieved by making strategic alliances with capable partners, who share similar goals.”

The first academy of its kind in the UAE, DIA was set up in partnership with the UK-based Technical Training Group (TTE), which is recognized as a ’Centre of Vocational Excellence’ by the UK Government. The Academy aims to offer over 250 courses in Quality, Health, Safety and the Environment (QHSE), Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Power Engineering, Instrumentation and Process Control, Chemical Process and Laboratory Operations, Oil and Gas, Construction, Logistics and Transport, as well as Technical and Supervisory Development.

Dubai Silicon Oasis is a wholly-owned entity of the Government of Dubai and operates as a free zone technology park for semiconductor, microelectronic and other high technology-based companies looking to set up their regional headquarters and R&D facilities in the Middle East and Africa region.

Aramex, the global logistics and transportation solutions provider, announced today a joint venture agreement with the Zubair Corporation (Z-Corp), a prominent regional business conglomerate headquartered in Oman. The new venture will offer businesses in Oman integrated services such as warehousing and distribution, sea, air and ground transportation, freight forwarding and customs brokerage. Consequently, the Zubair Corporation will outsource significant warehousing and logistics portfolio needs to Aramex. The new company will cater to a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, FMCG, military, retail and IT.

As part of the agreement, Aramex and Z-Corp announced plans to build a state-of-the-art logistics centre in Oman, with the first phase scheduled for completion in early 2011. The new facility situated in the Nasseem Gardens area of Barka is strategically located, connecting important ports and regional logistic hubs. The total land that will host the companies’ combined logistics infrastructure spans an area of nearly 160,000 square metres. As part of both companies’ commitments to sustainability, the new centre will be a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building.

“Our global experience as a third-party logistics provider (3PL) allows us to provide integrated services that can be scaled and customized to fulfil Z-Corp’s demanding needs” said Fadi Ghandour, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aramex. “This agreement with the Zubair Corporation marks an important step towards expanding the range and depth of our services in Oman while expanding our supply-chain solutions network across the MENA.”

Ghandour continued: “We were both determined that our new logistics facilities in Oman be environmentally sustainable, in line with the commitments we made to our communities and the environment.”

“As one of the leading diversified business groups in Oman, the Zubair Corporation has complex and demanding logistics and supply chain requirements” said Rashad bin Mohammed Al Zubair -Vice Chairman of The Zubair Corporation. “It was vital for us to partner with a flexible and adaptable service provider with a global foot print capable of delivering customized supply chain solutions yet compliant with best practices. We have found a partner in Aramex.”

The joint venture synergizes Aramex’s global experience and infrastructure with Z-Corp’s strategic business assets in Oman. The move is part of Aramex’s strategy of partnering with prominent local companies, such as Zubair, to jointly expand its supply-chain solutions network across the GCC. It is also a reflection of Muscat’s growing prominence as a regional logistics and supply chain hub.

Inmarsat (LSE: ISAT), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, announced today that the first call has been made using its global handheld service, IsatPhone Pro, which is on track for launch in June 2010. The first images of the new handset have also been released.

In preparation for launch, Inmarsat has passed a number of key milestones in the development of the service and finalised some essential contracts and distribution arrangements.

A contract to upgrade the Inmarsat ground network was completed on schedule by Lockheed Martin, and further testing on the integration between the handset and the ground network is underway.

Inmarsat’s partner for the handset development is Sasken Communications Technologies, which has led development programmes for most of the world’s top mobile phone manufacturers. Elcoteq, the world’s third largest manufacturer of mobile phones, has been appointed to produce IsatPhone Pro at its facility in Tallinn, Estonia.

Eleven distribution partners, covering all geographic markets around the world, have been selected to sell IsatPhone Pro at launch: AST, China Telecom, Evosat, MCN, MVS, Network Innovations, NSSL, Satcom Global, Singtel, Stratos and Vizada.

“The first call is a significant milestone, and we’re very pleased with the voice quality in initial tests,” said Helen Stalker, Commercial Director of Global Satellite Phone Services.

“IsatPhone Pro is the ultimate combination,” she said. “It’s a robust handset that is easy to use, has long battery life, and offers a reliable global network connection. And it’s provided by Inmarsat, the market leader, with 30 years’ experience in providing global mobile satellite services.”

IsatPhone Pro is targeted primarily at professional users in the government, media, aid, oil and gas, mining and construction sectors. It will offer satellite telephony, with Bluetooth for hands-free use, voicemail, text and email messaging. Location data will also be available to the user to look up or send in a text message.

IsatPhone Pro is the first Inmarsat handheld to be purpose-built for its network. Optimised to deliver the best performance from the world’s most advanced mobile satellite network, it will be available on a global basis over the three Inmarsat-4 satellites, which have an operational lifetime into the 2020s.

With Valentines’ day just around the corner, adding some delightful cupcakes to your gift box is the perfect way to make sure all your loved one’s senses will be satisfied! Kitsch Cupcakes, Dubai first specialized cupcakes bar will be offering a special St. Valentines His & Her box of two this Valentines. The cupcakes will be chocolate love & passionate vanilla in flavor.

It does not stop there - with every purchase of this special box you will also receive a beautiful red rose from Kitsch to make your Valentine’s Day even more memorable!

The Kitsch Valentines box will retail at AED 35 only and will be available at Kitsch Cupcakes in Jumeirah. For further information, please visit www.kitschconcept.com or contact 04-395 6963

About Kitsch

Kitsch Cupcakes is Dubai’s first specialized cupcakes bar. The Kitsch concept started in 2006 in Beirut, Lebanon by two childhood friends Dalia Dogmoch & Racil Chalhoub. After the success of the Kitsch concept in Lebanon, the childhood friends decided to introduce their concept to Dubai opening the city’s first cupcakes bar in November 2008. The Kitsch bakery is located on Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai. For further information, please visit www.kitschconcept.com or contact 04-395 6963

Following a series of extensive studies and a pilot project conducted in August, 2008, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) is evaluating the possible introduction of a modern self-serve concept, as an option for motorists buying fuel across its network of service stations in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

ENOC has been evaluating customer feedback during the past year, and the responses have helped the company add customer-friendly technical and operational aspects to the new concept. ENOC has also been looking into several ways to improve the self-serve concept and make it more convenient to customers.

The company recently invested AED 50 million to modernise and automate all its service stations, and enhance customer service, operational efficiency and environmental performance. Services at the revamped stations will be managed from a remote facility, saving time and introducing new ‘interactive’ features for customers at the fuel pump. The new systems will be operational in early 2010.

The new advanced technologies further support the self-serve concept, help accommodate changing trends in the way fuel is dispensed, and provide more convenience to customers when paying for their fuel using the self-serve.

The self-serve option is widely common in countries abroad, and is encouraged to bring about time and cost efficiencies, and also reduce the waiting time at the service stations.

Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), a member of TECOM Investments, highlighted its status as the region’s foremost dedicated higher education free zone to a group of educators and student recruitment agents at the ICEF (International Consultants for Education and Fairs) Middle East and Africa Workshop in Dubai.

Held from 1-3 February, the event witnessed Dr Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director, Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Village, successfully presenting the education cluster’s partner development efforts.

Founded in 1991, ICEF (International Consultants for Education and Fairs) offers a range of services to help clients achieve results in their student recruitment initiatives. ICEF caters to educators, student recruitment agents and industry-related service providers including universities, colleges, vocational institutions, study abroad advisors and educational consultants.

Dubai International Academic City currently hosts 32 institutions from 13 different countries including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, India, France, Singapore, Belgium, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Lebanon and the UAE. Approximately 12,000 students are currently enrolled into the various programmes offered at the campuses, of which 3,500 students annually pass out of Dubai International Academic City.

Valentine’s Day is the time of year when you want to celebrate love, look and feel great and be with someone who means that much extra to you. This Valentine, pamper yourself and that special person in your life, to a beautiful and flawless complexion that glows with natural health as much as with love. This Valentine season, International Aesthetic Medical Centre (IAMC), is offering special discount on skin care solutions. A perfect gift for individuals and couples, the centre will be offering upto 30 percent discount on Laser Hair Removal and Acne and Scar Treatment from 14th to 28th February, 2010.

For Valentine’s Day this year, think beyond flowers and chocolates, go the extra mile to look great and make your loved one look great by availing the IAMC Valentine Offers.

IAMC skin solutions take care of every aspect of skin care from exfoliation, skin tightening, skin nourishing and hydrating, rejuvenation, to sustainable skin management. The centre uses products that have been developed by experts after years of scientific research and with a proven track record of clinical efficacy. Tie-ups with the skin care solution providers have ensured that many of the products used in skin treatments are exclusive to IAMC, thus making the treatments exclusive as well.

For more details log on to the website: http://www.iamc.ae/

Contact: 04 3498000

Email: iamc@emirates.net.ae