Emirates Airline Begins ICC 2011 Cricket World Cup Celebrations

The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup kicked off with co-hosts India and Bangladesh facing off at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka.

Emirates, in its capacity as an ICC Official Partner, is sponsoring the 10th Cricket World Cup as excitement builds across South Asia ahead of what promises to be a spectacular tournament.

“The ICC 2011 Cricket World Cup will be a truly global event where the eyes of the world will fall on three of our key territories in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka,” said Sir Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman, Emirates Airline & Group. “We look forward to seeing this exciting tournament unravel and hope that our promotional offerings to fans will be well received across the event.”

Throughout the event Emirates will be running a host of match day promotions to engage the attending crowds, including bringing the airline’s ‘Flying Catch’ to all three countries. Cricket enthusiasts from far and wide will be able to show off their fielding skills and by doing so have a chance of winning much sought after Emirates merchandise.

In the stadium itself Emirates will be running its ‘Upgrade’ promotion where two lucky fans will be picked to enjoy a premium match experience in line with the airline’s famous customer service. Cabin Crew will select spectators at random just before the match starts for the exclusive experience.

Emirates fans will also be handed out to the crowd at selected matches, not only to cool people down but to allow Emirates to run its new ‘Spot the Fan’ competition.

Spectators are encouraged to wave their fan at the correct moment to win a chance of being selected by the Cabin Crew to win a whole host of Emirates merchandise.

The 43-day event will be played across eight cities in India, three in Sri Lanka and two in Bangladesh, ensuring that all host nations have the opportunity to support the tournament. Emirates Airline will be bringing fans closer to the action throughout the event, enabling them to ‘Live the Unforgettable’.

 

GETEX Spring  Dubai 2011 Begins Tomorrow

The spring edition of GETEX, the Middle East and Asia’s leading education, training and professional development event, begins tomorrow (Thursday, April 14, 2011) at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre. This edition of the event will offer up to 2,500 study options to an audience of over 30,000 visitors from across the Middle East through over 350 regional and international institutions from 37 countries. Organised under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research, GETEX Dubai runs from 14th to 16th April 2011.

In order to serve the student community better, GETEX will include three subject-specific Excellence forums in Engineering, Healthcare & Medicine and Business & Finance specifically for final year graduating students and working professionals. These forums will be hosted by academic and industry professionals and is aimed to bridge the existing divide between education and industry.

Another highlight of GETEX 2011 is the Global EdTech Forum, a conference and skill-building workshop series hosted in conjunction with the world’s leading agency in faculty and curriculum development, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), USA. Delegates attending the Global EdTech Forum include teachers, administrators, ICT managers and education leaders in the public and private sectors from across the Middle East.
 

The Farjam Collection begins 2011 With Focus On Education

Panel Discussion Farhad Farjam, founder of The Farjam Collection @ DIFC and Distinguished Patron of the Arts will this Saturday speak on the Social Responsibility of Art Collectors at the Barjeel Art Foundation, alongside celebrated collectors Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi and Kito de Boer. The panel marks the first in a series of educational initiatives for 2011 organized by The Farjam Collection as part of its on-going commitment to art education in the region.

Museum Studies Course As one of its most noteworthy projects to date, The Farjam Collection is proud to support the Emirates Foundation’s Art and Culture Programme by acting as an educational facility for its Museum Studies course. For the week of 30th January – 3rd February The Farjam Collection will close its doors to the public to allow the students exclusive access to the exhibition and space. The course features speakers from some of the most important art institutions in the region today. As partner, The Farjam Collection @ DIFC offers students a museum environment in which they can put theory into practice by drawing on The Farjam Collection as an educational resource for understanding museum practices.

“We are very proud to support the work of the Emirates Foundation with this initiative,” commented Emilie Faure, Collection and Exhibitions Manager at The Farjam Collection. “We are delighted to continue in our mission to provide unique educational opportunities for young art enthusiasts by partnering with such a prestigious and respected organization.”

First Wednesdays During this week, The Farjam Collection will open its doors to the public on Wednesday, 2 February from 1.00pm – 1.30pm for the next edition in its popular First Wednesdays series. The Farjam Collection is honoured to welcome Salwa Mikdadi, Head of Arts and Culture Programme at the Emirates Foundation, an accomplished art historian, curator and specialist in Arab art, who will lead a guided visit of the current exhibition Nujoom: Constellations of Arab Art.

School And Universities Programmes The coming month also sees the last chance to sign up for School and University Programmes currently running alongside the Nujoom exhibition. University students are offered an in-depth guided tour of the exhibition, designed to introduce them to the broader themes that feature in modern and contemporary Arab art. School children are provided with exclusive access to the exhibition with tailored hour-long sessions, featuring age-specific activity sheets and supervision by trained docents.

Nujoom: Constellations Of Arab Art Runs Through February Nujoom: Constellations of Arab Art reveals a broad range of styles and artistic concerns that pervade modern and contemporary Arab art, featuring works by Egyptian artist Mahmoud Said, one of the Arab world’s greatest modern painters, the signature pieces of Paul Guiragossian and Palestinian, Lebanese-born artist Mona Hatoum, famed for her large-scale installations. The exhibition runs until the end of February.

Educational Programmes for January and February

A Panel Discussion on the Social Responsibility of Art Collectors
Barjeel Art Foundation, Maraya Art Centre
5:30pm – 7:30pm, Saturday 15th January
RSVP: info@barjeelartfoundation.com Emirates Foundation Museum Studies Course
The Farjam Collection @ DIFC
30th January – 3rd February
(The Farjam Collection is closed to the public during this week) First Wednesdays with Salwa Mikdadi
1.00pm and 1:30pm, Wednesday 2nd February
RSVP: info@farjamcollection.org Schools and University Programmes
For further information or to book a place, please call 04 323 0303 or contact Rebecca Jarvest on rebecca@farjamcollection.org

Dubai Healthcare City Supports Recovery Begins With Teachers 2011 Education Day

Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), a member of TECOM Investments’ Science Cluster, today announced its support for the ‘Recovery Begins with Teachers 2011 Education Day’ event in Dubai to highlight the importance of early intervention and successful inclusion of children with special needs and developmental delays.

Organised by the UAE-based Child Early Intervention Medical Centre (CEIMC) and the Child Learning and Enrichment Medical Centre in collaboration with GEMS Wellington International School, the event on 15 January, 2011, will emphasise the vital role of teachers and the education system in integrating special needs children into the community. It will bring together experts, teachers and families to address diverse issues facing children affected with developmental delays.

Around 500 delegates and experts in special needs education will showcase the latest techniques in early intervention, education, behaviour modification, speech and language communication, as well as sensory integration.

Dr. Ayesha Abdulla, Managing Director, Sciences Cluster, TECOM Investments, said: “We are proud to support this significant event that stresses the important place for children in a society. Children represent the future of any society and the key building bloc of a progressive community. Our support to the event stems from our firm belief that children, especially those that need special support, have to be accorded top priority for successful integration into tomorrow’s world.”

The ‘Recovery Begins with Teachers 2011 Education Day’ event will focus on why parents, educators and healthcare providers ought to be well informed and prepared to recognize early signs of children deviating from normal development. In addition, it will also emphasise the need for making sound decisions regarding the day-to-day aspects of life that impact children. According to experts, early recognition and diagnosis of childhood disability can help improve the quality of life for those children.

Dr. Hibah Shata, Managing Director and Co-founder of Child Early Intervention Medical Centre – Child Learning and Enrichment Medical Centre, said: “Schools and teachers play a decisive role in the development of children and they should make sincere efforts to ensure that kids grow up normally. Adopting the latest techniques in early intervention is imperative. We welcome DHCC’s support to the event that will seek to highlight the need for most effective research-based educational programmes that can be customised for individual children and families.”

Special needs children require individualised programmes including behavioural and occupational therapies, speech and language, vision, feeding therapy as well as social skills building.

Carolina Tovar, Executive Director and Co-Founder of both centers said: “The early detection of childhood delays and problems is very important to achieve the best prognosis and therapeutic results. Parents should have the tools and information to be able to recognize and seek professional help when they notice a problem facing their child. It is our collaborative responsibility as a society to educate the public as the success of treatment depends on the early intervention and the collaborative efforts between the home, therapy team and the schools. We hope this forum can help many families and professionals to understand the challenges and the best way to approach them.”

Supported by the Emirate Medical Association, the ‘Recovery Begins with Teachers 2011 Education Day’ event is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Health for a total of 5.5 hours of continuous education.

With its wide range of therapeutic, educational, and family support services, the Child Early Intervention Medical Centre provides various facilities to children and families with delayed, disabled, or at-risk infants from birth to 18 years of age.

As the region’s leading centre of excellence in healthcare services, DHCC remains in the forefront in hosting and supporting events that bring overall benefits to the community. Through various initiatives, DHCC continues to reinforce its commitment to excellence in medical care, while raising awareness on ways to tackle medical or behavioural disorders in the region.

For more information and registration, kindly visit the website www.childeimc.com  Or call Child Early Intervention Medical Center on 04-4233667
 

Kids Olympic Games Begins July 25 As Stage Set For Battle Of Toddlers

Toddlers, children, and their parents are all set to star in a week of fun contests as the Kids Olympic Games begins on Sunday, July 25 at Mirdif City Centre ­ a member of MAF Properties that is a key sponsor of Dubai Summer Surprises 2010. Featuring toddlers as young as eight months and children up to twelve years, the competition is a signature event of Dubai Summer Surprises.

Into its eight consecutive year, Kids Olympic Games is the only such event for children to participate in exciting games and win spectacular prizes. Spread across two locations of Mirdif City Centre, the event features three arenas in the Central Galleria and four additional zones at Playnation.

Contests at zone 1 and zone 2 feature Baby Crawling, Basketball Race, Tricycle Race, One-Legged Race, Baby Walker, Baby Marathon, Toy Retrieving Race, Balloon Race, Bulls Eye, Spoon Race, Stacking Race, Birdie Feather Race, Frog Race, Flipper Race, Sack Race, and Bounce Ball Race. On-site registrations are still open for contests such as Baby Crawling, Baby Walker, Baby Marathon, and Toy Retrieving Race.

Additionally, zone 3 at the Central Galleria will host a table tennis contest. Open to children between the ages of eight and twelve, participants have to compete against themselves to achieve the maximum number of wall bounces in a minute.

Zone 4 at the Cite’ des Enfant, Playnation, will host a cube puzzle contest for children between three and seven years. Zone 5 at the Yalla! Bowling sees a bowling competition for children between seven and twelve years while zone 6 at the Soccer Circus Dubai will host a contest at the Training Academy. Zone 7 will host a contest for dance enthusiasts at Magic Planet for children between seven and twelve years. All these contests will take place daily throughout the week.

For more information on contest details, rules, and timings, log on to www.mydsf.ae or call Ahlan Dubai on +971 600 54 5555.

Traditional Couture To Hit The Catwalk At Dubai Mall As Sheila And Abaya Fashion 2010 Begins July 8

Sheila and Abaya Fashion 2010, a signature event of Dubai Summer Surprises and a fashion highlight this summer, begins today (July at Dubai Mall, a key sponsor of DSS 2010, as designers from UAE and across GCC showcase the latest designs in Sheilas and abayas. Running until July 11th, the shows will be held at the Fashion Catwalk.

Twelve designers and two fashion labels are part of this year’s show. The first day features the collections of Atelier Eli (5:30pm), Ameera Aamer (6:30pm), Sheka Hend (7:45pm), and Homa Q (8:15pm).

“Sheila and Abaya Fashion provides a platform for designers across GCC to showcase the latest designs in sheilas and abayas that are an integral part of Arab culture. Over the years, the event has become known as a one-stop point for buyers, designers, and fashion enthusiasts to share and discuss ideas on Arab fashion that caters to an extensive market,” Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment said.

July 9th features shows of Khyoot (5:30pm), Hanady Ahmed (6:30pm), Mona Fares (7:45pm), and Moza Buamim (8:15pm). July 10th features fashion label Nabrman (5:30pm), Huda Malaak (6:30pm), and Diala Kabbar (7:45pm). The last day of Sheila and Abaya Fashion features well-known labels Hanayen (5:30pm) and Habayeb (7:45pm), and designer Sara Hegazy (7:45pm).
 

flydubai Begins Flights To Its First Iraqi Destination, Erbil

flydubai, Dubai’s first low cost airline, launched services to its first Iraqi city and 22nd destination overall, when the airline’s inaugural flight landed in Erbil last night.

FZ201 took off from Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 2 at 1830hrs yesterday evening and landed in Iraq’s third largest city, the capital of the Kurdish region of Northern Iraq, three hours later at 2030hrs local time.

flydubai’s Chief Commercial Officer, Hamad Obaidalla, said: “Stability and prosperity is returning to Iraq and particularly the Kurdistan region, and this makes Erbil an important gateway into the country.

“Erbil has seen encouraging development in recent years with many strategic projects being implemented across infrastructure, energy and commerce. Our new direct service will further strengthen the growth of the city by offering affordable and quality air links between the UAE and Iraq."

Abdul Hadi Osman, Commercial Attache of the Republic of Iraq in Dubai said: “The start of flydubai flights to Erbil is another indication of the continued development of economic relations between Iraq and the UAE. It highlights how the relations between both countries are rapidly improving, moving towards a brighter future.

“The flydubai service will contribute to and accelerate the turnover of the Iraqi economy,” he said.

“We hope other, similar partnerships with the UAE will help highlight the continued building of the new Iraq.”

According to recent reports, Iraq’s GDP was US$112 billion in 2009 and the country’s economy is expected to grow by approximately 7% in 2010, 7.9% in 2011 and at similar rates for the next few years. This is above the average projected growth for the Middle East.

A one-way flight fare from Dubai to Erbil is priced at AED1,225 which can be purchased from the website (www.flydubai.com), call centre (+9714 301 0800) and travel agents.

Flights to Erbil operate twice a week on Fridays and Mondays. On Fridays, FZ201 departs Dubai at 1830hrs, arriving in Erbil at 2030hrs local time. FZ202 departs from Erbil at 2115hrs, landing in Dubai at 0055hrs local time. On Mondays, FZ201 leaves Dubai at 1130hrs arriving in Erbil at 1330hrs local time and the return flight, FZ202, takes off at 1415hrs landing in Dubai at 1800hrs local time.

flydubai operates from a modernised and enhanced Terminal 2 on the north side of Dubai International Airport.

The Collectors Exhibition Begins At Burjuman

The Collectors, a signature event of DSS 2010 and an exhibition featuring various unique collectibles and artifacts, was officially inaugurated on July 12 at BurJuman, a key sponsor of this year’s Dubai Summer Surprises. Laila Suhail, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment inaugurated the event and was accompanied by Sabina Khandwani, Head of PR and Marketing, BurJuman, in addition to participants of the this year’s exhibition and a huge turnout of local and regional media.

Laila Suhail said, “The Collectors has evolved from a platform for unique collectibles to a prestigious event that attracts rare and record-breaking collections from participants around the world. This exhibition is not just a display but an exchange of cultures, history, and a gathering for people who share the same interests and hobbies.” Laila Suhail toured the venue and viewed the entire collection of 25 classic cars on display spanning an entire floor of BurJuman.

“The Collector’s Exhibition has always been one of the most popular DSS Signature Events, and BurJuman is pleased to be hosting it this year. This exhibition has included everything from coins, jewellery and fashion to artefacts, antiques and cars, and has been a source of great interest and entertainment to shoppers across Dubai. Hosting exhibitions such as these complements our desire to offer mall visitors an engaging experience that takes BurJuman beyond just a shopping destination. Visitors to the exhibition can hope to see many more surprising and intriguing collections from all across the country and region this year,” said Sabina Khandwani.

The Collectors features rare, distinctive, and unusual collections of objects and items that have sometimes also gained entry in the record books. The exhibition is open from 10am to 10pm and will go on till July 24.

Collections displayed this year include old manuscripts and books about UAE and local culture from the Juma Al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage, branded vintage sunglasses, antique radios from different countries, unique collection of Christain Lacroix Evian bottles, DSS branded telephone cards, stamps, coins, paper money, classic cars, and modified cars.

A highlight of this year’s collection is the range of classic cars on display. Around 30 in number, the cars will cover the entire first floor of BurJuman. Also of special interest is a collection of garments worn by the prolific Lebanese singer Sabah, known across the Arab world as the ‘singing bird’.
 

Sheila and Abaya Fashion 2010 begins at Dubai Mall

Sheila and Abaya Fashion 2010, a signature event of Dubai Summer Surprises and a fashion highlight this summer, began at Dubai Mall as designers from UAE and across GCC showcase the latest designs in Sheilas and abayas. Running until July 11th, the shows will be held at the Fashion Catwalk.

The first day of the show began with collections of Scalini, followed by Ameera Aamer, Sheka Hend, and Homa Q.

July 10th features Effa Al Dabbagh (5:30pm), Huda Malaak (6:30pm), Diala Kabbar (7:45pm). The last day of Sheila and Abaya Fashion features well-known labels Hanayen (5:30pm) and Habayeb (7:45pm), and designer Sara Hegazy (7:45pm).
 

Young Dubai Talents To Shine As Much-Awaited Musical Hairspray Begins Tomorrow July 13

Young talents from across Dubai will take the stage tomorrow July 13 to star in Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC’s production of the acclaimed London West End musical Hairspray. The show will go on till July 17 at the Centrepoint Theatre, DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates.

Olivier award winning actress Leanne Jones, who was part of the show’s Original London Cast and took on the critically acclaimed role of Tracy Turnblad, worked for weeks to help local Dubai students learn, prepare, rehearse and perform in the local production.

She was joined by fellow Hairspray Original London Cast member Terel Nugent who will reprise his role of Seaweed J Stubbs, Stephen Mcglynn (Burt in Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia!) who will play Wilbur Turnblad and Antony Stuart-Hicks (Wizard of Oz) who will play Edna Turnblad.

Auditions for the show took place in May with the successful performers taking part in two weeks of intensive theatre workshops and rehearsals with some of the UK’s top creative talent.

Packed with great songs, amazing dance routines and bags of humour, Hairspray is a fun, feel good night out for all the family. Tickets are now available at the DUCTAC box office (04 341 4777) or through www.timeouttickets.com or www.boxofficeme.com

Performances run from Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 July at the Centrepoint Theatre, DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates. See www.hairspraydubai.com or www.ductac.org for further details.