Atlantis, The Palm Launches Online Competition That Will Make You A Celebrity

Dannii and Kylie Minogue have interviewed X-Factor finalists at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai, legendary artist Usher has partied there and Denise Van Outen has holidayed at the iconic resort. Now it’s your turn to be spotted in Atlantis with an exciting new online contest launching today. ‘Spotted in Atlantis’ gives you the chance to cast yourselves and three friends into a video as celebrities who are spotted at different locations around Atlantis, The Palm – the Middle East’s leading entertainment resort destination.

The competition could win you one of hundreds of weekly gift certificates in addition to the chance to follow in the stars’ footsteps and win the grand prize of an utterly glamorous five-night stay for four people at Atlantis, The Palm including flights from anywhere in the world. The grand prize winners will also enjoy an Atlantis dolphin encounter at Dolphin Bay, dine like celebrities with a complimentary meal for four at uber stylish Nobu and Ronda Locatelli, enjoy unlimited access to Aquaventure – the Middle East’s largest waterpark and discover 65,000 marine animals in the underwater world of The Lost Chambers.

Other celebrities that have been spotted at Atlantis, The Palm include Justin Timberlake, Tess Daly and Vernon Kay, Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas, Lily Allen, Naomi Campbell, Agyness Deyn, Lindsay Lohan, Samantha Ronson, Charlize Theron, and Gary Linekar and Danielle Bux.

To feel you’re a similar celebrity at Atlantis, The Palm, simply upload a picture of yourself and three friends at www.spottedinatlantis.com, click on “create your own video” and sit back and enjoy. It is quick, easy and takes less than a minute. The video will show the impact you and your friends have as you take an exciting adventure throughout the resort from the heart-stopping Leap of Faith at Aquaventure to the iconic Bridge Suite, soaring 22-storeys over The Palm. The video shows you and your friends having the same impact as a celebrity leaving the staff and guests in awe of you. The 65,000 marine animals are mesmerised by your presence, the Aquaventure lifeguard is stupefied by the way you brave the Leap of Faith slide and the spa therapist is enthralled by your aura.

To increase the fun and your chances of winning, you can enter as many times as you like*, include different groups of friends and share it with your friends through www.spottedinatlantis.com, or through links on the Atlantis website: www.atlantisthepalm.com, www.Facebook.com/atlantisthepalm or www.youtube.com/atlantisthepalmtv The competition closes on 30th September 2011.
 

Young Entrepreneur Competition Opens With Exhibition Of Contesting Projects

Dubai SME, the entrepreneurship development agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED), launched the "Young Entrepreneur Competition 2011 (YEC)” exhibition in Dubai Mall today under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.

More than 2,500 young entrepreneurs are showcasing their projects in the exhibition, which is also supported by Du and Dubai Mall.

The exhibition is part of the Young Entrepreneur Competition (YEC), aimed at reinforcing entrepreneurial skills and aptitude among students in high schools, colleges and universities across the UAE. The competition will focus on providing insights into the comprehensive business environment of Dubai in order to encourage students to start their own businesses and drive innovations within a competitive environment.

“This strategic initiative is a strong platform to create a new business culture for young entrepreneurs and help them achieve their goals. The Young Entrepreneur Competition will further boost the SME sector in Dubai, thereby enhancing economic growth in the UAE", His Excellency Abdul Basit Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME.

"The event reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to develop the performance of the SME sector to be major supporter to the economic development in Dubai," Al Janahi added.

Al Janahi commended the remarkable support extended by Du and Dubai Mall to the YEC exhibition during successive years and said it showed a high level of commitment and social responsibility among national organisations to encouraging young leaders.

“The exhibition this year is focusing on skills of the participants in displaying their products professionally and according to modern standards adopted in marketing as well as managing the business, and on how to deal with customers and promote their products,” said Nisreen Safar, General Coordinator of the competition.

"Participants in this year’s exhibition were trained to pursue their projects with confidence and build successful businesses in the future in order to equip them with the necessary tools to cope with the challenges ahead. All projects submitted in the competition were evaluated as per global quality standards," Safar added.

Dubai SME recently conducted an introductory workshop for the participants to strengthen awareness about the exhibition, brief them on the new standards and provide details about the competition. Ten top-ranked projects will be named as winners in the competition.

Over the years, YEC has succeeded in encouraging entrepreneurial spirit among young UAE nationals. The contest also helps to build awareness among participants on the concept of small and medium enterprises and various business environments.

The Young Entrepreneur Competition was originally launched in 2005 with 49 projects and 114 participants participating in the inaugural event. It went up to 73 projects and 215 participants in 2006, 99 projects and 364 participants in 2007, 102 projects and 103 participants in 2008 and 279 projects and 971 participants in 2009. Last year saw an overwhelming participation in the competition with 2000 participants and 700 projects.

For further information, please visit www.yec.ae
 

Better Homes And Dubai Properties Group: Free Rent Competition Opens Up To Overwhelming Response

Following the launch of a Free Rent Competition, Better Homes the Region’s largest property consultancy, and Dubai Properties Group (DPG), a member of Dubai Holding, have witnessed an overwhelming response to their competition that offers one lucky UAE resident the chance to win a rent-free apartment at Shorooq Mirdif for a full year.

The Competition, which asked UAE residents what they would do if they didn’t have to pay rent, generated almost 1,000 responses from a variety of marketing channels; both Better Homes and DPG are delighted with the momentum the Competition has gained over the past 18 days.

“We knew the competition would be popular as the prize eliminates a major cost from people’s month to month living expenses; however, we didn’t expect such a plentiful variety of creative responses”, said James Gauduchon, Head of Marketing for Better Homes. “We’ve received presentations, videos, proposals, financial savings plans, and humanitarian ideas in place of rent saved, among other ideas; we’re thrilled to see such creativity and dynamism from residents across the UAE.”

The Competition, now in its final week, is a way for both Better Homes and DPG to give something back to the community, while highlighting Shorooq Mirdif as a popular place to live.

“The number of creative responses has made it a challenge for us to shortlist a winner; however, current and future responses will be reviewed and judged with equal thoroughness up until the 5th March deadline”, explained Gauduchon.

The winner will be presented with the keys to their new, one bedroom apartment, within the Shorooq Mirdif Community, at the Competition Handover on the 10th March.

A thriving and dynamic development in the heart of Mirdif, Shorooq delivers a variety of studio, one and two bedroom apartments that offer the antidote to high-rise living, and provides residents with all the advantages of community life – including wide open spaces within a serene and secure environment.

For more information on the Free Rent Competition, please call 600 52 2212 or visit www.bhomes.com/competitions to submit your entry.
 

Leading International Professionals To Judge Competition At Beautyworld Middle East 2011

Salon operators specialising in nail care, manicurists and nail artists will have a great platform to showcase their artistic skills at Beautyworld Middle East 2011, which will feature Nail It! By OPI, a dedicated competi-tion for nail care professionals. The competition is open to nail care technicians from across the Gulf and Middle East region.

The event which enjoyed success at its debut last year will feature competitions across the spectrum of nail care and the varied techniques within its domain. Divided into different categories according to degrees of expertise, the competition presents a great opportunity to salon operators and nail care professionals to compete against the best in the business. A panel of top international nail care experts will judge the competition.

"As the annual gathering for beauty industry professionals, Beautyworld Middle East is the ideal showcase for the latest trends and developments within the entire spectrum of this diverse industry," said Mr. Ahmed Pauwels, Chief Executive Officer of organiser Epoc Messe Frankfurt. "Nail It! By OPI is an added event feature which gives nail artists and technicians of the region an opportunity to showcase their skills and achievements," he added.

The categories, which are open to both novices and experienced professionals include everything from basic manicure and pedicure to fantasy nail art and the more complex skill of tip overlay.

OPI products are distributed in the region by the Nazih group, one of the key exhibitors and partners of Beautyworld Middle East. Founded in 1975, OPI has grown to become a world leader in top quality nail care products and services.

Mr. Nazih, Managing Director of the Nazih Group commented: "After the success of its launch last year we decided we would definitely sponsor Nail It! again this year. As the official distributor of OPI products in the region, we strive to ensure high standards are met within the industry. The competition helps us to raise awareness on the best tips and techniques for salon professionals. Beautyworld Middle East is a great platform for such an event as it reaches the ideal target audience for us and our brands."

OPI products continue to exceed industry standards and set trends in nail care around the world.  Over 1,500 OPI Products are available through leading beauty stores and salons in 72 countries worldwide including the wider Middle East region.

Fourth Edition Of Gulf Film Festival From April 14 To 20 Adds Competition For International Short Films

The fourth edition of the Gulf Film Festival (GFF), held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), from April 14 to 20, 2011, this year, will feature an in-competition section for short films from around the world.

Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Festival Director, said: “The Gulf Film Festival celebrates cinematic excellence in the Gulf, offering a solid platform for regional talent to highlight their competencies. This year, complementing our credo of promoting regional filmmaking, we are also opening doors to showcase international shorts for the first time in the region, which will serve as an interactive experience for participants.”

He added: “Short films are a compelling artform that capture the dynamism of cinema within a short span of time. By inviting international talent to the Gulf Film Festival, we want to highlight the diverse approaches in short filmmaking across the world.”

The 2011 Festival features two key competitions: The Gulf Competition, for films by Gulf filmmakers and students, or filmmakers of other nationalities with films that showcase the region; and the inaugural International Competition for Short Films open to films and filmmakers from around the world. A specialised committee will evaluate the submissions and award nearly half a million dirhams in prize money to emerging and professional filmmakers.

The Gulf Competition is for films from the Gulf region – UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar – as well as Yemen and Iraq. The Student Competition is open to works made or produced by students during their academic study, or as part of a college project.

Entries in the Gulf Competition are invited in three categories: Feature Films, Short Films, and Documentaries. Students compete in short films and documentaries only, while international films compete in short films only.

 In the Feature Films category of the Gulf Competition, first prize is AED50,000 and second receives AED35,000. In the documentary category, first prize is AED25,000, second earns AED20,000, and third place is awarded AED15,000. A Special Jury Prize of AED20,000 goes to either the winning feature film or documentary.

A Special Jury Prize of AED20,000 is also awarded to the winning short film in the Gulf Competition. In addition, the best short film receives AED25,000, the runner up gets AED20,000, third wins AED15,000, and the best script also receives AED15,000. In the Documentary Films category of the Student Competition, first, second and third place are awarded AED20,000, AED15,000, and AED10,000 respectively.

There are also three prize categories in the Short Films section for students, with the same allocation of prize money. A Special Jury Prize of AED15,000 goes to the best documentary or short.

In the inaugural International Competition for Short Films, first, second, and third place are awarded AED25,000, AED20,000, and AED15,000 respectively.

All films submitted must be produced after January 1, 2010. Feature films must be a work of fiction that equals or exceeds 60 minutes in length. Documentary films must be a work of non-fiction, regardless of the duration. Short films must be a work of fiction that does not exceed 59 minutes in length.

Entries into all the GFF competitions this year must be done by completing the application online at www.gulffilmfest.com, by March 10, 2011.

The festival is supported by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and is held in association with Dubai Studio City. More details on the festival are available online at www.gulffilmfest.com.
 

Dubai International Film Festivals Muhr Arab Shorts Competition Shortlists 15 Compelling, Controversial Stories From Gulf, Levant, Egypt, Maghreb

Fifteen short films from the Arab world on subjects ranging from rebellion to abortion have been shortlisted for the Muhr Arab Shorts competition at the Dubai International Film Festival 2010. The in-competition selection, which includes seven world premieres, three Middle East premieres and four Gulf premieres, will screen to the public from December 12 to 19 prior to the Muhr Awards ceremony on December 20, 2010.

The shortlisted films are from the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt – and from France, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Erfan Rashid, Director of DIFF’s Arab Programme, said the films present a compelling showcase of narratives reflective of everyday life across the Middle East and North Africa as well as Arab life abroad.

“Judging by the quality of the entries, we can expect a very intense and closely-fought competition this year,” Rashid said. “We are seeing some outstanding work from both established directors and actors as well as newcomers, which is great news for our audiences.”

Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Artistic Director of the Dubai International Film Festival said: “Shorts are a great medium to communicate powerful ideas and observations, as is reflected in this year’s selection of films in the Muhr Arab Awards in-competition. All the films also reflect the evolution of the region’s filmmakers, drawing on their narrative strength from their everyday life and capitalizing on modern technology. The impact of these movies is potent, and indeed, a true reflection of life in the Middle East today.”

Filmed in the northern emirates, Khalid Al Mahmood’s Sabeel tells the story of two young boys who live with their elderly grandmother in the mountains of the UAE. Spending their days tending their vegetables and then selling produce on the road, they have to earn enough money to buy medicine for their sick grandmother. The film, which won a script prize at the 2010 Gulf Film Festival, debuted at the Locarno International Film Festival earlier this year, and went on to win the Best Short Film award at the New York Film Eurasian Festival last week. Sabeel is also in the Muhr Emirati competition.

From the United Kingdom, Habibti features an all-star cast including Hiam Abbass, Jimmy Akingbola and Yasmine Al-Massri under the direction of Nour Wazzi. The film follows a conservative woman who pays a surprise visit to her estranged daughter in London and is shocked to find her living with a boyfriend.

From Lebanon, Elie Kamal’s 2½ narrates the story of a working-style mother, who exists on the breadline, trying to make ends meet amidst the hustle and flow of everyday life in Beirut. At the end of a long, hot, summer’s day, she survives a horrific and devastating attack.

A beautifully-told little vignette, Sabine El Chamaa’s Un Mardi (A Tuesday) has a masterfully structured narrative. One sunny Tuesday morning in Beirut, an elderly lady walks out of an elegant boutique, wearing an expensive black dress she has not paid for. A policeman stops her and the story begins.

From Egypt, Omar Robert Hamilton’s Maydoum depicts the story of Sharif, who gets on the first plane home to Cairo when he hears his cousin is to sell their grandmother’s land. On arrival, he finds himself faced with old arguments and new decisions in a changing country. A poised and elegantly executed ensemble piece, this is a small film of understated, emotionally-nuanced brilliance.

Egyptian director Mohamed Ramadan’s 7awas (Senses) depicts the story of Souad, a young nurse, who falls in a one-sided love relationship with a comatose patient, Hassan, while Aayesh, by Saudi Arabian filmmaker Abdullah Al-Eyaf, is about a middle-aged man working as a morgue security guard in a big hospital. His is a mundane, lonely life, until one day his daily routine changes abruptly for ten minutes, radically altering the course of his life.

In Bahiya.. Wa Mahmoud (Bahiya.. & Mahmoud) Zaid Abu Hmadan explores love in old age, and the hidden beauty of relationships that survive a lifetime. Bahiya and Mahmoud appear to take each other for granted, until one day, when their mutual dependency is tested to the limit. The film is a co-production from Jordan, the UAE and Lebanon.

From Morocco, Adil El Fadili’s Courte Vie (Short Life) is a sweet film about a plucky young man named Zhar, whose mother dies while giving birth to him. Despite being born under a bad sign, Zhar grows into a sincere and brave hearted young man in this eloquent, witty, and subtly profound film.

Algerian filmmaker Abdenour Zahzah’s debut fiction film Garagouz, Mokhtar earns his living as a puppeteer, aided by his son. Using his old van, he moves between schools scattered in the Algerian countryside, encountering the prejudices and obstacles of others as he goes.

Fares, a 23-year old man falls into a coma after a serious car accident. As he lies motionless, his mind travels deep down into his subconscious, a place where reality and the imagination intertwine. Tunisian director Mehdi Barsaoui’s Moftaraq (Sideways) explores how far along this fantastic journey will go on.

From Syria comes Amar Chebib’s Mish Mush (Apricots), the story of a determined young Syrian poet, who decides to flee his country, fed up with labyrinthine bureaucracy, conservative family, military draft and, to top it all off, a reluctant lover. En route to Lebanon, he discovers himself in an unexpected place, an apricot orchard.

From Canada, Halima Ouardiri’s Mokhtar, based on the eponymous folktale, is the story of a young boy who lives with his family of goatherds in a remote Moroccan village. One day, the boy finds an injured owl and decides to keep it, despite the fact that the owl is considered a bad omen. Mokhtar’s new pet becomes a symbol of rebellion against his family and an icon of his fledgling independence.

The quest to find a corkscrew to open a bottle of beverage for a celebratory home-coming is at the heart of Amal Kateb’s On Ne Mourra Pas (We Will Not Die). Made in France and set in Oran, Algeria, the film follows Kabul-returned Salim. To celebrate his reunion with his beloved, Salim pulls out a bottle of beverage brought back from Afghanistan.

Lastly, in Kuwaiti filmmaker Abdullah Boushahri’s May Al Jannah (Heaven’s Water), Tawfiq, a peddler, loves a yellow fish at a shop. While there, he meets a girl in the second month of her pregnancy. Brought together by the love of the fish, he helps her to get rid of the fetus and spends time with her while she aborts in a car lost in the bustle of the city.

A three-member international jury will select a final trio of films from these 15: the first-place winner will receive US$30,000; and a special jury prize winner and second prize winner will receive US$20,000 and US$10,000 respectively. The Muhr Arab Awards also include juried competitions in features and documentaries, in addition to shorts.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 will be held from December 12 to 19. DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The Festival is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. Accreditation for DIFF 2010 is now open at www.dubaifilmfest.com.

DIFF 2010 box office locations are: CineStar Mall of the Emirates, the Madinat Souk and at the CNN Building in Dubai Media City. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website, www.dubaifilmfest.com.

DTCM Announces Winners Of Concierge Competition 2010

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has announced the winners of the concluded Concierge Competition 2010 during an awards ceremony held yesterday (Saturday, November 13, 2010) at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. The Concierge Competition 2010 has been organized by DTCM for the ninth consecutive year in cooperation with sponsors from Burjuman, Nicholas Publication and Big Bus Company.

The awards ceremony was attended by Ibrahim Yaqoot, Executive Director, Corporate Support, DTCM. He was joined by prominent personalities from the hospitality sector of Dubai, representatives of the sponsoring Concierge Magazine and Big Bus Company, and customer- service professionals.

Brian Bimbo from Mina A`Salaam was crowned Concierge of the Year 2010.

The Concierge Competition 2010 attracted 44 competing teams of customer service staff from 5-star hotels in Dubai. The participating teams underwent tests that focused on general information about the famous tourist sites and attractions in Dubai, in addition to customer-related issues and the necessary information that must be provided to hotel guests.

Ibrahim Yaqoot delivered a message during the ceremony and congratulated the winners on behalf of H.E. Khalid Bin Sulayem, Director General of DTCM. He wished the participants further success and excellence. Yaqoot also said that DTCM has organized the annual competition as part of its commitment to develop the hotel and hospitality services and improve the tourism sector in Dubai.

Thomas Lerch from Raffles Hotel, Dubai, won the award for Best Head Concierge 2010, received a Dhs. 5000 cash prize, a trophy, and a certificate of appreciation presented by Mr Yaqoot.

The Fairmont Hotel was chosen as the ‘Concierge Team of the Year’ and received a sum of Dhs. 24,000, certificate and a trophy. The other winners were Arnulfo Guinto of Dusit Thani for First Class Customer Care; Shamim (Mohd Uddin) of Dusit Thani for Outstanding Knowledge of Attractions and Events; Anita Lotter of Ritz Carlton for Outstanding Knowledge of Culture and Heritage; Marwan Mohammed, Shangri La, Emirati Concierge.

The Concierge Competition 2010 awards were presented after six months of extensive efforts of mystery shoppers who made various visits to 44 hotel websites, at least six visits for each hotel, and gave scores to different attitudes and related skills. The awards had been identified according to the mystery guest reports, role plays, quiz competition with buzzer rounds and the individual presentations introduced by all participating hotels.
 

British Council Launches Competition To Promote Inter-Cultural Dialogue Between The UK And UAE

British Council, global leader in cultural relations with more than four decades presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has launched a poetry competition to celebrate bilateral friendship and partnership.

The competition, which coincides with the historic State visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to the UAE, is targeted to English and Arabic aspiring poets to commemorate the historical ties and ongoing relations between the United Kingdom (UK) and the UAE.

“Poetry has a long artistic tradition in both the UK and UAE and offers the perfect vehicle to bridge cultural differences, to exchange ideas and to deepen understanding,” said Richard Cotton, UAE Country Director for British Council.

British Council anticipates that the winners of both English and Arabic competitions will have the honour of reciting their poem in front of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and an invited audience of Emirati and British guests on Thursday 25 November 2010.

Entrants should be between 12 – 16 years old and entries will be judged on literary merit and the extent to which they successfully embody the concept of partnership and friendship between the UK and the UAE. Entries for the Arabic poem are particularly encouraged in the Nabati tradition of poetry. The poems should be of suitable length for recitation within 2 minutes at normal register, or not in excess of 200 words.

“Through the competition and recital we want to bring the richness of the Arabic Language and its use in poetry to a wider audience and through the theme of partnership to give students an opportunity to learn more about the history of friendship between the UK and UAE,” continued Cotton.

British Council is proud to be partnering with the Emirates Writers Union for the Arabic award entries and selection of winners.
 

Dubai eGovernment Re-Launches Best Online Customer Competition At Gitex 2010

Dubai eGovernment in collaboration with government departments has re-launched the “Best Online Customer” electronic promotional campaign under the banner “Pay & Win” during the 30th edition of Gitex Technology Week 2010 scheduled to be held in Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre between October 17 and 21.

All prizes for the ‘Pay & Win’ raffle are sponsored by Dubai Police, Dubai Courts, Dubai Tourism & RTA. These departments are keen to support Dubai eGovernment’s efforts to enhance adoption of online services and the eTransformation culture in the emirate. Names of winners will be randomly chosen from customers who use Dubai eGovernment’s ePay gateway between September 1 and October 10. Prizes vary from iPads, iPhones, AED 2500 cash prizes, Dalili navigation devices, Dubai city tours, hotel stays & meal vouchers, and sea cruises on Dubai Creek.

H.E. Ahmed Bin Humaidan, Director General of Dubai eGovernment, said: “Based on the strategic importance of Gitex as a great platform for all of eGovernment services under one roof, we can then streamline communication and co-operation with the aim of encouraging optimum use of ICT and provide high quality online services through multiple channels to ease the lives of citizens, residents and visitors, and the growth of the business sector; while boosting the efficiency of government departments.”

Bin Humaidan explained that the “Best Online Customer” raffles are part of a marketing initiative for encouraging the public to use online services, including ePayments, for the adoption of online services and expediting the process of Dubai’s digital transformation into an integrated knowledge-based community in line with the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Dubai eGovernment will support the efforts of all participating government departments in the ‘Pay & Win’ competition by displaying the daily winners and arranging a platform to reward their efforts.

Dubai eGovernment is a strong supporter of Gitex every year based on its commitment to keep pace with the latest technological developments which will be used for serving the emirate’s eTransformation. To promote government initiatives during Gitex 2010, Dubai eGovernment will cover all events, press conferences and concluded agreements. A special edition of e4all Magazine focusing on government initiatives during Gitex 2010 will be released for exhibition visitors, while a dedicated micro-website with all Dubai eGovernment’s activities, table of lectures and details of raffles and prizes can be viewed at http://gitex.dubai.ae
 

Final Call For Entries To Design Competition At Dubai International Jewellery Week

Calling all designers! Dubai International Jewellery Week, the largest and most prestigious event of its kind in the Middle East, is making the final call to aspiring and professional designers, giving them the platform to explore their creativity in a jewellery design competition. Aimed at identifying and fostering talent in the region, submissions will be accepted for the next 6 days until 14 September (Tuesday). Winning designs will be displayed at Dubai International Jewellery Week from 7-10 October 2010.

The competition is open to anyone in the Middle East over the age of 17 and is divided into amateur and professional categories. Entrants can submit a maximum of three designs from a choice of six jewellery types (ring, necklace, pendant, brooch, bracelet, earrings) within the themed categories of Middle Eastern, Asian, or Western jewellery.

“While Dubai International Jewellery Week brings together some of the most well known and prestigious jewellery brands and industry expertise in the world, it aims to search out budding and aspiring talents in UAE and the region to continually promote an exuberant culture of creativity and design,” said Trixee Loh, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), organiser of Dubai International Jewellery Week.

Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of leading industry professionals: Dr Naji Al Mahdi, Executive Director, The National Institute of Vocational Education; Judith Anand, Manager, Gemological Institute of America, Middle East; Swapna Nair, General Manager, Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group; Ms Umaima Tinwala, Supervising Editor, Arabian Woman & Arabian Man; Faye James, Editor-in-Chief, WHITE.

The judges will assess entries based on relevance to the design theme and the originality, creativity and innovation that the design expresses, as well as its wear-ability.

The designs of the top three finalists in each themed category will be displayed at Dubai International Jewellery Week and the overall winner of each category will see their design come to life. The winning designs will be crafted by the National Institute for Vocational Education and displayed throughout the exhibition. In addition, the top three in each category will win an online jewellery design course relevant to their level, run by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

Dubai International Jewellery Week will run from 7 – 10 October 2010 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. This year’s event will feature over 300 exhibitors from 27 countries, resulting in a truly global collection of jewellery pieces and industry expertise.

For more information, and to enter the competition, please visit www.jewelleryshow.com.