Pioneering British Council Gulf Stage Project Creates First Global Online Audience for Arabic Theatre

DUBAI, UAE, January 31, 2011/PRNewswire/ — An innovative collaboration spearheaded by the British Council breaks new ground today by bringing Arabic performances to a global audience online and for free with the launch of http://www.digitaltheatre.com/gulfstage

Gulf Stage provides young people who might never have attended a live performance, but regularly use digital media, the opportunity to experience the magic of theatre – taking theatre to them online. It provides Arabic theatre groups the opportunity to present productions before an international audience and to preserve their work, for the first time, for future generations.

The project is a pioneering collaboration between the British Council, the UK’s leading cultural relations organisation; Youth Department – Qatar Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage (MOCAH); Cultural Development Centre member of Qatar Foundation; and Digital Theatre. Digital Theatre is a new UK company which specialises in capturing quality performances authentically onscreen.

Digital Theatre worked with the British Council and its local partners to film and digitise theatre productions by companies from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE during the Gulf Co-operation Countries (GCC) Youth Theatre Festival in October 2010. The six productions, which are subtitled into English, are now available for viewing online free of charge though Digital Theatre’s website. By using cutting-edge techniques in digital film-making Gulf Stage overcomes geographical barriers and provides strong cultural learning opportunities for theatre producers in both parts of the world.

Brendan Griggs, Head of Drama and Dance at the British Council commented:

’This exciting project highlights how the British Council is responding to the changing landscape of the performing arts. Projects like Gulf Stage illustrate the innovative lead which the UK has taken in the digital arts field. Cultural content generated by Gulf Stage can now be shared, developed and distributed between partners, artists and audiences on different social media platforms, opening up rich cultural conversations on a global level.’

Gulf Stage reflects a rising trend amongst theatre companies and venues to embrace the digital revolution. This is the first time that Digital Theatre – who work with the UK’s leading theatre companies – has worked outside of the UK to record theatrical productions.

Robert Delamere and Tom Shaw of Digital Theatre said:

’Gulf Stage was an incredible opportunity for us to bring theatre from different cultures to an international audience via digitaltheatre.com. Being able to showcase the best of British theatre online was the starting principle behind Digital Theatre. Now, working with the British Council on this project is a very exciting addition to our work and a significant step towards making Digital Theatre a truly global website.’

Mr Khalid al Mulla, Head of Youth Department at the Qatar Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage said:

’Gulf Stage captures the emotion and spirit of live contemporary theatre for the first time in the Middle East, in a way that draws the audience into its performances.’

Hafiz Ali Abdulla, Arts Programme Manager at the Cultural Development Centre, Qatar Foundation added:

’The presence of Gulf Stage for the first time in Qatar and the Gulf Co-operation Council are very beneficial and helpful to the youth, as it brings them closer through using the latest technology in the field of arts. Such innovation support and develop the cultural movement.’

Gulf Stage started with a study visit to the UK organised by the British Council for its Qatari partners in May 2010 to meet UK theatre companies. Seventeen aspiring Qatari film and theatre professionals were then trained by Digital Theatre in digital film techniques during a British Council workshop that accompanied the GCC Youth Theatre Festival. Recordings of some of the Gulf Stage productions received a gala screening in Doha last December, during the final month of the prestigious Doha, Arab Capital of Culture programme 2010. They were showcased alongside an existing film of a high profile UK theatre production recorded by Digital Theatre. Further public performances together with workshops are planned to be held in other GCC countries over the coming year.

Gulf Stage has been brought to the Middle East under the British Council’s New Work New Audiences global arts programme. This year in the Middle East New Work New Audiences activities cover music, dance, theatre, the visual arts, architecture and literature. For more information visit http://www.britishcouncil.org/me

 

World-Class Singer Marwan Khoury Joins Sharq Orchestra In A Celebration Of Arabic Music At DUCTAC This New Year

For one night only this January, come and experience the magic of Sharq Orchestra’s captivating interpretations of Arabic popular music as they present their New Year Concert at DUCTAC’s Centrepoint Theatre, alongside Marwan Khoury, one of the world’s most celebrated Arabic artists.

Following the success of Essence of Arabia as part of last year’s DUCTAC SEASON, Solo Violinist Mohamad Hamami and Sharq Orchestra are returning to DUCTAC with the kind support of Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates, to delight music lovers of all ages and origins with their unreserved performances of Arabic classics and their own compositions.

For this special performance at DUCTAC on 14th January 2011, Sharq Orchestra will be joined by Marwan Khoury, providing the breathtaking voice that will be familiar to the thousands who have seen him perform live or listened to one of his many studio albums. Singer, writer, composer, arranger and producer, his work has been nationally, regionally and internationally performed and adapted by numerous famous artists. Hailing from Lebanon, Marwan Khoury’s live performances at the Opera House of Egypt and Cartage Festival of Tunisia, among others, have cemented his reputation as one of the most respected Arab artists of his generation.

When Mohamad Hamami created Sharq Orchestra in 2008, the unique concept brought together 45 musicians from 22 nations with the aim of bringing music in general, and Arabic music in particular, to a wider audience. Hamami describes Sharq’s music as “orchestral in shape, classical in technique and lively at heart.”

Hamami leads, conducts and plays solo violin with his orchestra, and under his charismatic leadership, the orchestra’s classically-trained musicians of diverse backgrounds produce exciting performances that can be enjoyed by long-term lovers of Arabic music, as well as those listening for the first time.

DUCTAC’s General Manager Millie Tsai said: “Anyone who loves music or is eager for the best-possible introduction to the sounds of the region will not fail to enjoy the captivating interpretations of Mohamad Hamami and Sharq Orchestra. We are thrilled to be welcoming them to DUCTAC once again and are also honoured that Marwan Khoury will be joining them on stage at the Centrepoint Theatre. The show promises to be an unforgettable evening of musical entertainment.”

New Year Concert is part of DUCTAC’s Season 10/11, a multidisciplinary arts festival featuring a host of high-calibre artists and performers from around the globe. SEASON 2010/11 includes visual art, music, dance, drama and film events providing the community with a rich cultural programme throughout the winter.

New Year Concert with Solo Violinist Mohamad Hamami, Sharq Orchestra and Special Guest Marwan Khoury

Date: Friday 14th January

Time: 8.00pm

Venue: Centrepoint Theatre DUCTAC
Level 2, Mall of the Emirates

Tickets: VIP – AED 500
Stalls – AED 300, AED200
Balcony – AED150
Student – AED50 (limited seats available)
 

Cartoon Network Arabic Free-To-Air Goes Live On October 10th

Turner Broadcasting System Europe Limited (TBS), a Time Warner company, will launch its free-to-air Cartoon Network in Arabic on Sunday, 10 October 2010. The channel, broadcasting completely in Arabic across the MENA region, will feature over 500 episodes of the kids’ most popular shows including: Ben 10, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Ben and Izzy and Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, in addition to the Middle East’s popular 3D animation series, FREEJ.

In celebration of the official inauguration, a ceremony was held at Dubai Media City on Wednesday October 6th where a number of TBS regional officials and celebrities attended the event. The launch coincides with the opening of Turner Broadcasting System’s offices in Dubai Media City, the region’s leading media hub and a member of TECOM Investments.

With a reach of a potential 35 million homes in the MENA region, the new channel will be launched to target the growing audience base who are dedicated followers of Cartoon Network through airing locally produced shows, blockbuster movies and original productions.

In commemorating this announcement, Alan Musa, Vice President and General Manager, Middle East, Africa & Pan Region said: “Cartoon Network Arabic reflects TBS’s ambition and belief in local talent. Our initiative has come to life through investing in different strategic partnerships with companies such as “Lammtara” and “Rubicon”. Both partnerships will result in generating new ideas and content in addition to distributing them outside the MENA region.”

Under the deal with Lammtara, the studio and creator of FREEJ, Turner will license and distribute FREEJ episodes and merchandise, and produce a local version of its original production, Skatoony, which will feature FREEJ characters, a first for the global animated channel. Rubicon Group, the creator of “Tareq wa Shireen” and “Ben and Izzy” will be working with Turner to air these series on Cartoon Network.

“We are thrilled to work with prestigious names such as Turner Broadcasting System and Cartoon Network. Their efforts and determination to create localized high quality content is admired and will be recognized amongst the industry. We are confident that our relationship with TBS will create new and innovative opportunities in the future.” Mohammed Saeed Harib, Creator and Director of FREEJ

Randa Ayoubi, CEO of Rubicon Group Holding: “Through our long standing relationship with Turner Broadcasting, Ben and Izzy has grown incredibly popular on an international stage. Which is why we are delighted that it now has a permanent home in the Middle East too. There is huge market for Arabic content and Cartoon Network Arabia has provided the perfect platform to tell our stories.”

Mohammad Abdullah, Managing Director of TECOM Investments’ Media Cluster, said: “We welcome Turner Broadcasting Systems to TECOM Media Cluster with the launch of its free-to-air Cartoon Network Channel in Arabic. This is particularly noteworthy as Turner will focus on original content creation for the channel in collaboration with regional companies. There is a huge demand for locally produced content and we believe this initiative will add definite value to the Arab media industry.

“The launch of Cartoon Network Arabic from Dubai Media City underlines the world-class infrastructure and support services provided by the TECOM Media Cluster that consists of Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City and International Media Production Zone. It also highlights Turner Broadcasting’s keenness to operate from Dubai and consolidate its ties with the Middle East’s broadcast and production market.”

TBS’s efforts in publicizing and marketing Cartoon Network Arabic have manifested itself through various communication channels such as Print, broadcast and online. In addition to traditional media, community campaigns are being carried out throughout the region focusing on schools and mall visits to raise awareness among the targeted audience and educate them about the new channel and programs it will air.

Moreover, a website dedicated to the new channel will launch on the 10th of October 2010, to provide detailed and up-to-date information about the channel and its shows.
 

DFSA Launches Arabic Website

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) announced the launch of an Arabic version of its website, www.dfsa.ae. This is part of the Authority’s strategy to realise its communication endeavours in Arabic, and this initiative accompanies the DFSA’s various regulatory publications, also written in Arabic.

The Chief Executive of the DFSA, Mr Paul Koster, said, "Ensuring we meet the needs of our stakeholders is paramount to the DFSA. We consider communication in the native tongue an important aspect in establishing dialogue with the broader market and I am pleased that, today, we are able present our services in the language of the region." "This initiative is a reflection of our efforts to more effectively reach a wider audience in the financial services industry," he added.

The DFSA will consider the translation of the Laws and Rules, in due course, but for the moment, they will remain in English. The website pages now available in Arabic include: About the DFSA, Doing Business with the DFSA, Tomorrow’s Regulatory Leaders, Islamic Finance, Legal Framework and Contact the DFSA.
 

UAE`s FNC launches Arabic domain, address for its website

The UAE’s Federal National Council (FNC) has officially launched its Arabic domain name "emarat", written in Arabic script, and an address for its website.

FNC’s website can now also be reached through either one of the two main and alternative addresses, both of which read "almajlis-alwatani-alittihadi.emarat", in Arabic script, and represent two variations (spellings) of this combination of words which means Federal National Council.

The move reflects the UAE Government’s policy to maintain the country’s Arabic and national identity by promoting Arabic language in all areas and focusing on supporting the development of Arabic web content, according to FNC Secretary General Dr Mohammed Salim Al-Mazrou’ei.

"FNC’s Arabic domain will also promote parliamentary culture among the website’s visitors and Arabic-only users or those who use keyboards with Arabic-only layouts, facilitate search and access by Arabic language users via PCs and handsets as well as encourage their interaction with the Council," he added.

Launched in 1997, FNC’s website now provides a huge database on the UAE and has received a total of 21496 visitors between October 2009 and early September this current year, he noted.

"FNC’s website is the region’s only parliamentary platform to provide a complete archive of the state’s official speeches and now offers the texts of proceedings of 455 sessions which date as far back as February 12th, 1972," Al-Mazrou’ei said.

 

’Kalimat’ Exhibition Showcases The Use Of Arabic Written Word In Contemporary Art This Ramadan

Following the success of last year’s exhibition during the holy month of Ramadan, Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre (DUCTAC) presents Kalimat, an annual exhibition capturing the elegance of the Arabic written word and its use in traditional and contemporary artwork. From 17th August to 13th September, a group of 10 artists from the region, with various backgrounds, will exhibit artworks at the Gallery of Light at DUCTAC.

The word Kalimat literally means ‘words’ and while the artworks that make up the exhibition all contain elements of the written Arabic word, they embody a variety of styles, techniques and approaches in the spirit of tradition and Middle Eastern culture.

Fathima Mohiuddin, DUCTAC’s Visual Art and Special Projects Manager said: ‘Kalimat showcases art that blends the traditional with the contemporary, at a time that it is particularly culturally relevant – the holy month of Ramadan. In Kalimat, the participating artists explore the importance of the written word– the history, styles and the material culture of calligraphy and apply it to contemporary styles of art. Contemporary artists in the Islamic world regularly draw on the heritage of calligraphy to use calligraphic inscriptions or abstractions in their work. Many artists continue to choose text as a means of communication over visual imagery.’

Kalimat takes place at the Gallery of Light in the Manu Chhabria Arts Centre at DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates from Tuesday 17th August to Monday 13th September.

 

First Arabic Website Address with .Emarat Launched

 The Presidential Affairs Ministry has launched in cooperation with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) the first Arabic website on the Internet Khalifa.emarat.

HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs launched the website of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 

The ministry lauded the efforts exerted by the TRA to achieve this feat, adding that the UAE domain in the Internet reflects UAE’s pride in Arabic language due to its role in the Arab culture. The new domain will also convey to the world the progress being experienced by the UAE. 

The UAE has become one of the four countries in the world allowed by the Internet Corporation Assigned for Names and Numbers (ICCAN) to use the Internet domain in its mother tongue.

Dubai eGovernment Launches Dubai.emarat As Arabic Internet Domain Of Official Dubai Government Portal

Dubai eGovernment has recently announced the launch of ÏÈí.ÇãÇÑÇÊ )Dubai.emarat(, which will be the Arabic Internet domain of the official portal of Dubai Government and corresponds to the Latin domain dubai.ae, .ÇãÇÑÇÊ)), the UAE’s domain name in Arabic. This initiative will for the first time allow Arab users to use the Arabic web address of Dubai Government’s portal.

The development comes after the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) recently adopted Arabic as the first non-Latin language to be used in writing the web address in the URL address reserved for what is known as "domain name”. This was a result of the relentless efforts by the UAE officials and their counterparts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, under the umbrella of the Arab League.

The achievement reflects the commitment of Dubai eGovernment to support the efforts and plans of the UAE Government, which aims to maintain the country’s national identity by promoting Arabic language and encouraging its use in all areas, in addition to focusing on supporting the development of Arab-web content in line with the emphasis laid on this by the federal and local leaderships.

Ahmed Bin Humaidan, Director General of Dubai eGovernment, said: “This recent achievement complements the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to uphold the Arab national identity. Ever since the Internet became a part of our lives in the early 90s, access to information across the network was dependent on the user’s familiarity with Latin languages, thus preventing the vast majority of Arab users from benefiting from the knowledge available on the Internet.”

“ICANN’s decision to choose the UAE as one of three countries to be allowed to use the Internet domain in its mother tongue was influenced by several factors, mainly the fact that the UAE was the first country in the Arab world to have an eGovernment. Further, Internet users in the UAE make up 74 per cent of the total population in the country according to Rod Beckstrom, President and CEO of ICANN,” added Bin Humaidan.

“The latest development opens new windows for those seeking information about Dubai, and undoubtedly enables Arabic speakers all over the world to have quick access to the content on the Dubai eGovernment portal, which has been designed to offer comprehensive information about Dubai and UAE to local and international web browsers. The portal effectively informs citizens, residents, investors and visitors about the facilities and benefits offered by Dubai,” he added.

Bin Humaidan pointed out that the launch of the Arabic domain will significantly contribute to the exchange of Arabic content across the Arab world, which in turn will lead to closer ties between the people of the Arab countries. He noted that the launch of the Arabic domain will also contribute to the spread of Arab culture globally, especially since Arabic was recognised as the fastest-growing language in recent years in terms of the volume of content.

Dubai eGovernment had recently restructured its official portal and introduced a new approach where it adopted the concept of basic services packages to allow each of the following four categories: citizens, residents, business, visitors, access to information through 27 integrated service packages that affect all aspects of life for these categories through a logical sequence connecting all events of life belonging to a certain subject. It also incorporates a coherent set of services offered by more than one government department to cover the category lifecycle and create a smooth and easy way for suppliers to meet their needs.

The portal features 48 specialized topics targeted at the four categories and are compatible with the life events. It also contains hyperlinks to all the services provided by government agencies.

Dubai eGovernment, which offers and manages the portal, has a clear vision that focuses on making businesses and people’s lives easier regarding government transactions, and contributes to the important role played by Dubai as a leading economic hub in the region. The eGovernment portal of Dubai Government – www.dubai.ae – is a single contact point which provides residents and businesses a range of government services electronically, and provides all segments of society access to over 2,000 government services provided by various government departments in Dubai.
 

Etisalat Receives Arabic ’Dot Emarat’ Domain

Etisalat today received approval for two Arabic-language Internet domain names – .emarat (in Arabic script). Etisalat’s announcement of a full Arabic Internet presence highlights its commitment to the UAE national identity through support of the Arabic language.

“The Arabic language is one of the cornerstones of our national identity and we are proud to register our domain name in Arabic,” said Nasser bin Obood Al Falasi, Acting Chief Executive Officer at Etisalat. “As the largest company in the UAE and one of the nation’s most important corporate ambassadors to international markets, having our domain in Arabic not only reinforces our proud position as a UAE company, but supports our international expansion into other Arab countries.”

Dot emarat was approved by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) making the UAE one of the first four countries in the history of the Internet to secure an internationalized top level domain name.

The new launched domain name will allow people whose primary language script is Arabic, to access websites entirely with Arabic characters.

Etisalat operates in 18 countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. It has over 107m customers in these markets, whose population now exceeds 2bn.
 

Arabic Domain Name of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid’s Website Launched

The Government of Dubai Media Office has announced the launch of the Arabic domain name of the website of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai.

The move follows a historic breakthrough after the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority won approval from the Internet Corporation Assigned for Names and Numbers (ICCAN) to use the internet domain in Arabic, placing the UAE among the first four countries in the world to register domain names in their official languages and not in Roman script.

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed’s website can now be reached through either of the following addresses when typed in Arabic script: “sheikh-mohammed-bin-rashid.emarat” or “mohammed-bin-rashid.emarat”.

The Government of Dubai Media Office said that this remarkable achievement reflects His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s keenness to promote the Arabic language, and reaffirms the UAE’s deep-rooted Arab identity.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed has given full backing to a diverse range of initiatives that nurture and encourage the use of the Arabic language. With a substantial increase in the number of internet users in the region, Arabic domain names will allow a greater audience of Arabs to access information online.

Emphasising the importance of the Arabic language as a key symbol of national identity, the UAE government decided in March 2009 to authorise Arabic as the official language at all federal institutions and entities.

Launched in 1999, the official website of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stands out among other personal websites in the region, as it combines the latest audio-visual technology with innovative website design and clever writing. Features such as live streaming of notable events and pages filled with information about the country’s tourism and traditions make it a must-see website to acquaint oneself with the UAE.

Available in both Arabic and English, the site is the leading source of news and information about His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s activities, with an archive of more than 30,000 articles, 18,000 photographs and 1,500 video clips. The latest figures put the number of visitors to the site at about 85,000 per month, at a rate of 3,000 hits per day. Since its launch, the site has received 180,000 e-mails and over 7,000 visitors have left messages on the guestbook.

A smart layout and intelligent design enable visitors to access information quickly and easily, and the site is updated 24 hours a day, seven days a week to keep visitors abreast of all the latest developments and activities of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The site is a must for internet users who seek information on His Highness’ activities, initiatives and statements, especially those that impact politics and economics, as well as social and humanitarian causes.

Visitors are also treated to a personal profile of His Highness, including insightful features portraying his love of equestrian sports and falconry, in addition to pages filled with his work in literature and poetry. Acting as a rich database of content with interactive features, the website also allows visitors to perform comprehensive research through its powerful search engine.