Community Development Authority In Dubai Launches Friendly Touch Awareness Campaign

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The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai has launched the "Friendly Touch" campaign to raise awareness on various forms of physical, moral and sexual harassment faced by children with disabilities. Organised with the support of the Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy, the initiative is part of CDA’s efforts to enhance the standard of social protection in Dubai and provide support to people with disabilities and support their integration within the community.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Butti Al Maktoum, CEO of Social Care in the Community Development Authority, said: "The Friendly Touch campaign aims at educating the community about the negative aspects of harassment and their ill effects on both the family of the child and the society. CDA is committed to launching community-based initiatives that will contribute to social development and enhance the services for children with disabilities to activate their role in the community.”

"Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy plays a vital role in supporting people with disabilities and we are pleased to co-operate with them for the campaign. We aspire to strengthen cooperation and partnership with government departments and institutions to ensure the protection of all segments of society,” added Sheikh Maktoum.

Dr Sabha Al Shamsi, Senior Executive Advisor to the Education Programme at the Emirates Foundation, said: "Our support to this campaign is in line with Emirates Foundation’s commitment to protect children with disabilities from abuse, and its consequent negative social and psychological impact. We thank CDA for its efforts in educating families about protecting their children and building a healthier society".

Since its launch, the campaign held two discussion sessions led by Dr Eman Gaad, Consultant at CDA. Dr Gaad gave a comprehensive presentation on child harassment, its psychological and social consequences, and how the family can prevent this from happening through dialogue and appropriate advice that would help children enhance their self-confidence.

"Friendly Touch" highlights the types of harassment, signs and symptoms demonstrated by harassed children including recurring bad dreams, refusal to eat,  sudden changes in mood, writings and drawings with sexual overtones, and various other features and unusual behavior.

The campaign also addresses best practices in dealing with these cases, the importance of early intervention, the role of educational and judicial entities in deterring perpetrators, the key role of the media in spreading awareness about the issue, and the impact of harassment on society and ways of prevention, treatment in addition to some recommendations. The response to the campaign has been strong with all segments of the society reacting positively to the message that is being highlighted through ‘Friendly Touch.’

The "Friendly Touch" campaign, which will continue till January 2012, will include 18 awareness sessions.

Fostering Collaboration Between Dubai Carbon Centre Of Excellence And United Nations Development Programme

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Within the framework of mutual collaboration between Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (DCCE) and the United Nations Development Programme( UNDP) in the UAE, Engineer Waleed Ali Salman, Chairman of DCCE received Gordon Johnson, deputy of resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP)  in the UAE, recently appointed  to handle carbon activities.

The two sides discussed the latest developments and updates regarding   the common projects between DCCE and UNDP. Also, they tackled ways of developing and expanding the correlative fields of cooperation between the two sides.

On this occasion, His Excellency Saeed Mohamed Al Tayer, Vice-Chairman of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy stated: "Being the first of its kind in the Middle East in terms of specialty in carbon emissions’ reduction, DCCE provides cutting-edge expertise aiming to develop eco-friendly initiatives and assuming an effective role for a cleaner and purer environment."

"DCCE works correlatively to strengthen Dubai’s capabilities in the field of reducing carbon emissions through the mechanism of clean development. Reducing carbon emissions has become one of the most serious issues which the world faces nowadays, as it negatively influences the environment, economy and quality of life," His Excellency further added.

Engineer Waleed Ali Salman, Chairman of DCCE, pointed out: "During the meeting, we tackled the progress of the current projects as well as future strategies of the centre. Nowadays, the most effective ways to minimize carbon emissions lie within economic sectors themselves. DCCE is aspiring to be a drive for carbon trading among organizations in Dubai, and to support governmental initiatives aiming to improve their environmental efficiency in the Emirate.

 All these endeavors intend to facilitate and streamline Dubai’s drive towards an economy with low carbon emissions from environmental, economical and social aspects in a responsible way. Moreover, the Centre aims to unprecedentedly respond to the Emirate’s world responsibilities to address climate change in a way that leads to environmental sustainability and economic profits."

DCCE was launched in 2011 as per the directives from His Highness Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Council of Energy, through an agreement executed between Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and the United Nations Development Programme."

DCCE was set up as a mutual project between public sector and private sector. This centre encompasses Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubal, ENOC and Estidama. This Centre aims to push forward the wheel of projects during the last years of KYOTO Protocol. DCCE is regarded as the first of its kind in the region, and it aims to make the best use of carbon in the Emirate of Dubai through the mechanism of clean development implementing the best practices in the field of reducing carbon emissions.

Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence is a key component of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, which spares no effort to develop an economy based on sustainable energy.

University Of Dubai Concludes Entrepreneurship And Business Plan Development Workshop

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The Center for Management & Professional Development (CMPD) at the University of Dubai (UD), a prestigious university in the UAE established by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has concluded the “Entrepreneurship and Business Plan Development” workshop for 19 women entrepreneurs who successfully trained on business management skills.

A ceremony felicitating the participants was held recently at the Dubai Chamber with three of the participants receiving awards for the best business plans. The three month training is part of Joint Venture for Finance & Entrepreneurship (JVFE), which was established in January 2005 as a joint venture between UD and the Citi Foundation. The JVFE aims at addressing the entrepreneurial qualifications of women through specialized and focused workshops.

Dr. Omar Hefni, President of UD, said: “JVFE has proven to be a unique proposition designed to address UAE’s labor market need for the right talent, and to enhance entrepreneurial skills. The Entrepreneurship & business plan preparation workshop has opened doors for not only Emiratis but also expatriate women who have now got closer to realizing their dreams of a small start up. This initiative is an evidence of the city foundation’s social response to the communities in which they operate.”

Usha Saraf, Manager, CMPD at University of Dubai said: “I can proudly say that this is a one of a kind program being delivered in this region. Although it is the seventh consecutive year, the content of the program has evolved considerably with every passing year making it more relevant, practical and hands-on with full applied content. The rigor of the program demands that participants as well as the trainers (who are industry practitioners) are pushed to yield results and the quality of the individual business plans submitted speak for itself. It is extremely rewarding to be instrumental in enabling the women to realize their potential and in turn contributing directly to the economy of the country.”

The program covered topics such as screening of business ideas, understanding the industry and competition, elements of marketing and understanding how consumers buy, importance of cash management, product pricing, various marketing dimensions, how to do simple market research, cash flow management, financial planning, business plan development, putting the plan to work, and looking at ethical and legal concerns as well as the regulatory environment.

This year’s program expanded its training activities to cover further workshops on how to Become A Highly Effective Women Leader and how to Effectively Use Social Media as a Marketing Tool, among other topics. These enable entrepreneurs to develop essential management and life skills, and to access the greater women entrepreneur network in the UAE.
 

Department Of Economic Development Launches Logistics Cluster Platform To Drive Growth Of Logistics

Following the successful deliberations at the first-ever Dubai Logistics Cluster Focus Group hosted recently, the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) has launched the Dubai Logistics Cluster Platform, a dedicated body of experts representing logistics and related sectors to come together, discuss challenges and propose recommendations to strengthen the industry.

A model in public private partnerships, the Dubai Logistics Cluster Platform is the first of its kind initiative in the region, whereby all stakeholders associated with logistics and related sectors come to work together and strengthen the competitiveness of Dubai’s logistics.

Announcing the launch of the Dubai Logistics Cluster Platform, His Excellency Mr Sami Al Qamzi, Director General, DED, said: “At DED, we believe in the power of tangible action, and today’s Dubai Logistics Cluster Platform launch will mark a new chapter in public private partnerships in Dubai, more so in driving logistics – a backbone of the Emirate’s economy. Dubai has adhered to open market policies and created growth opportunities for regional and international companies in logistics. Our approach has been to facilitate the logistics cluster stakeholders to benefit from the geographic, economic and infrastructural opportunities offered by Dubai.”

He added: “However, it is important that we sharpen our skills continuously. The all-round growth of organisations operating within the Logistics Cluster is a high priority for us to further establish Dubai’s eminent position as a global business hub. The Dubai Logistics Cluster Platform, through a collaborative and action-oriented approach, will enable us to further boost the competitiveness of Dubai in logistics.”

“Cluster approach and collaboration are especially significant now, as the world economy at large witnesses new and emerging challenges. There are various factors that affect global trade patterns and only a collaborative approach will help us to obtain a complete picture of the prevailing trends, and address them effectively,” explained His Excellency Mr Al Qamzi.

The launch of the Dubai Logistics Cluster Platform was preceded by a Focus Group by end of May 2011, where all key stakeholders in logistics including government and private companies, service providers, educational institutions, related and supporting industries, government institutions and industry associations took part. They discussed the issues related to the business environment and the growth of the companies, as well as potential for stronger collaboration with public sector, which served as the basis for the Cluster Platform.

At the launch event of the Dubai Logistics Cluster Platform, a special panel discussed the key challenges faced by the industry. The panel included His Excellency Abdullah Bin Saleh, Assistant Ministry of Foreign Trade; His Excellency Mr. Ahmad Butti, Director General of Dubai Customs; Dr. Mohammad Al Zarouni, Director General of DAFZA; and His Excellency Abdul Mohsen Younis, CEO of Strategic and Corporate Governance in RTA.

His Excellency Mr Al Qamzi explained: “The Logistics Cluster in Dubai is playing a central role in the Europe-Asia-Africa trade, while also serving as a regional trade hub. The Dubai Logistics Cluster Platform is envisaged to serve as a permanent network that fosters collaboration between various stakeholders in logistics and related services, and lead to increased economic growth and competitiveness.”

The Dubai Logistics Cluster Platform is envisaged to facilitate better communications and synergies, and promote and facilitate interaction among firms, educational institutions, knowledge providers and the public sector to come up with joint specialized education and training activities. It will also facilitate market development through joint marketing as well as policy and action recommendations to strengthen and further develop Dubai’s logistics.

Dubai is one of very few locations in the world with a strong and well-established sea and air cargo logistics infrastructure further supported by a superior roads and related infrastructure.
 

H H Launches AED 300 Million Development In Business Bay

H & H Investment & Development, a Dubai based boutique property developer, officially announced the launch of their latest commercial development, O14, at an exclusive event held yesterday at the tower.

The launch of O14 was complimented with the display of a renowned Spanish artist, Serrano Bou’s latest project, "Eyes through Eyes" for the first time in Dubai. Attendees to the event included investors, consultants, senior officials, and both art and architecture admirers to witness the artist’s debut in Dubai, as well as the contemporary features of the building.

Strategically located in the center of Business Bay, the construction of the tower started in February 2007, with District Investment and Developers as the main investors and H & H as the developers.

The O14 Tower is 22 storey freehold building, designed by award winning New York based architects, Reisur and Umomoto and is built around a new philosophy with the structure and skin flipped to offer a new concept of space. The O14 has a perforated concrete facade that acts as the core of the tower. The facade perforations serve as a solar screen, letting in exceptional levels of light, air, and views through to the interior occupants of the Dubai Creek, Burj Khalifa and the Godolphin Stables. The one-meter space between the facade and the building’s glass surface also acts as a chimney effect causing hot air to rise, creating an efficient passive cooling system, therefore reducing energy consumption by at least 30%.

’’The selling prices of the tower began at AED 1,300 per sq. feet with H & H having already sold 90% of the building. "We believe that the market prices are becoming more attractive for international operations to set up in Dubai. Dubai is becoming competitive in pricing and the cost of living has now dropped in comparison to other global cities like Singapore, London and New York", said Shahab Lufti, CEO and founder, H & H Developers.

 

Womens Development Society Launches Program On Healthy Nutrition At Schools

The Dubai Women’s Development Society, under the patronage of Sheikha Hind Bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, the wife of His Highness Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has launched a public health education program at Dubai schools to raise awareness among students on healthy nutrition and eating habits.

The program which comes under the theme "Your Health in Your Food and Activity" will run to April 27th, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

Dr Fatima Al Falasi, Director General of the Society said the program is complementary to local efforts to prioritize food education for women, families and students.

The program aims to encourage participants to follow a healthy life style with a balanced healthy diet and exercising for optimum physical and psychological fitness, according to Al Falasi.

Parents and families of participating students also take part in the program to offer moral supports for their children who are urged to fight obesity and go for healthy substitute nutrition, she noted.

Workshops and seminars on healthy nutrition will involve the targeted female and male students.
 

University Of Dubais Center For Management Professional Development Offering Groundbreaking Programs

The Center for Management & Professional Development (CMPD) at the University of Dubai (UD) has been accredited by the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment, (CISI) UK as a training provider for its range of CISI qualifications.

Formed as a not-for-profit membership body out of the London Stock Exchange in 1992, CISI is a leading global professional organization for individuals working in the securities and investment industry. International Certificate in Investment Management, International Certificate in Wealth Management, Islamic Finance Qualifications, International Introduction to Investment, UAE Financial Rules and regulations and Risk in Financial Services are the few CISI qualifications that CMPD is launching in February this year.

These qualifications are not only suitable for investment bankers, fund managers, portfolio wealth and relationship managers, financial advisers, stock brokers, but also for administration, operations, sales and customer service staff working in banks and financial institutions. These qualifications are delivered in the evenings or during weekends providing a convenient option for working professionals to enhance skills and advance their career.

Dr Omar Hefni, UD President, said: “The CISI qualifications are becoming increasingly popular throughout the Middle East as regulators are seeking to raise the skills of financial services industry practitioners by developing mandatory, qualification led licensing regimes and regulatory examinations. The Securities & Commodities Authority (SCA) which regulates the securities and investment market in UAE have partnered with CISI to develop the UAE financial rules and regulations and require candidates to pass defined set of CISI exams to be able to work in certain job functions.

Both SCA and Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) which regulates firms operating in the Dubai International Financial Center recognize that increased competence amongst market practitioners inspires investor confidence and appropriate qualifications and membership of a professional body are tangible ways of demonstrating proven ability.”

Thus the university has provided local students a dynamic forum to study under top professionals helping them develop and advance their careers by acquiring skills that drive business performance. As benchmark qualifications, these courses will raise the skills of UAE workforce to global standards and promote best business practices thus enhancing UAE’s stature as the hub of international financial services.

Focusing on ‘real world’ and ‘applied learning’ the professional programs taught at the centre have transformed the lives of over 2,500 individuals in the UAE, many of whom have moved on and are now holding senior positions in their organizations and making significant contributions in the realms of business.

Dr Hefni concluded: “Our highly professional faculty aims to foster a learning environment which is both challenging and rewarding, designed to develop skills and capabilities through the powerful combination of expert class instruction and peer interaction. In addition to using faculty members from the university, practitioners who have experience in establishing and executing best practices in the business world are invited to provide input to our programs, which allows participants to put theory into context.”
 

Roads Traffic, Community Development, And Knowledge Authorities Agree To Set Conditions For School Bus Conductors

Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Community Development Authority and Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai have announced the launch of a joint initiative specifying the conditions required to be satisfied by school bus conductors; which will be applicable starting from the next school year 2011 – 2012.

An announcement to this effect was made during a meeting that His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, has recently held with His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Al Karam, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Knowledge & Human Development Authority; and His Excellency Khalid Al Kamda, Director General of Community Development Authority; in the presence of the CEO of RTA Public Transport Agency Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dosari and a number of directors from the three authorities.

Commenting on the initiative, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer said: “This initiative comes in implementation of the School Transport Order in Dubai Emirate issued by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, providing in one of its clauses for appointing at least one conductor for each school bus”.

“RTA has examined the current situation as regards school bus conductors in Dubai Emirate and reviewed the prerequisites for practicing the school bus conductors’ profession in the United States, United Kingdom and Hong Kong to familiarize with the best global practices and experiences in this field.

The meeting agreed to a package of conditions that should be satisfied by school bus conductors. These include
obliging schools to post a conductor on each school bus and a woman conductor on any bus carrying pupils from the kindergartens up to the sixth primary class. The same applies to buses designated to carry female students or mixed male and female students up to the General Secondary stage.

The three authorities also agreed to allow schools to use their administrative or teaching staff satisfying the conditions to work as school bus conductors, and to amend the conditions required to be satisfied by female conductors such that they will not less than 25 years of age with an educational background not lower than the General Secondary Certificate, priority to be given to holders of a Bachelor Degree in Educational disciplines. The conductor has to be well mannered with no judicial claims or criminal offences filed against him/her. The appointed conductor should produce a proof of his/her medical fitness from an approved authority within the Emirate, and must have a permit issued by RTA’s Public Transport Agency allowing him/her to practice the profession. The conductor should be well conversant with the school transport law, first aid, and have attended specialist courses delivered by the Public Transport Agency.

The meeting agreed to form a work team comprising representatives of the three Authorities to cater to the implementation of these stipulations, and roll out a joint campaign to spread the awareness of the school transport system throughout various schools.

It is noteworthy than the School Transport Order in Dubai Emirate prohibits the practicing of students transport activity without obtaining a prior permit. It obliges operators to appoint at least one conductor per bus to ensure the compliance with the stipulations & requirements that have to be in place in school buses, be it hired or owned. The Order bans the driving of a school bus by anyone not holding a valid permit, and authorizes RTA Public Transport Agency to grant operation permits and school bus driver permits according to the conditions set in the Executive Regulation, provided such permits to be valid for one year renewable for a similar period.

The Order obliged the operators to deploy buses fulfilling the approved safety standards and technical specifications such as the exterior and interior bus design, equip each bus with an automatic shaft fitted with a signboard to be operated when the vehicle stops to pick up or drop off students, and ensure that the expression ‘School Bus’ is written on all buses used for this purpose.

The Order obliged operators to serve the special needs students through fitting school buses with the required accessories to the standards that suit the health status of this category, besides obliging drivers to wear official uniforms and refrain from smoking, eating and drinking in transit.
 

Dubai Silicon Oasis Explores Areas Of Collaboration With Malaysian Investment Development Authority

Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the integrated free zone technology park, today announced a top-level delegation from Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) and Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA) conducted a five-day visit to Malaysia where they held discussions with officials of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in Kuala Lumpur on potential areas of collaboration.

Led by Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, the delegation briefed MIDA executives about Dubai Silicon Oasis, its latest achievements and the investment opportunities offered to foreign companies in the UAE in general and Dubai in specific. Discussions also covered the global economic crisis and the measures undertaken by the Malaysian Government to successfully tackle its impact.
A recent report published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) showed that Malaysia exported US$57 billion of information and communication technology (ICT) products in 2009, taking the eighth spot among global economies. The UNCTAD data also showed that Asian economies in 2009 accounted for 66.3 per cent of global exports of ICT goods, up from 63.8 per cent in 2008.

Dr. Al Zarooni said: “Investments in various fields of technology has become imperative for most of the industries. Hence, it is equally essential to understand the markets around us and establish long-term relationships with the relevant authorities.

“The meetings with MIDA and the technology companies in Malaysia generated promising prospects for future co-operation. The Malaysian officials were also keen to learn more about the array of world-class facilities Dubai Silicon Oasis offers to businesses and investors.”

During the visit, the DSOA delegation visited several Malaysian companies that specialize in technology and R&D such as MSC – the National ICT Initiative in Malaysia, KULIM Hi-Tech Park (KTPC), Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ), Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) and Invest Penang amongst others.

Concluding the visit, Dr. Al Zarooni extended MIDA officials a formal invitation to visit Dubai Silicon Oasis to have a closer look at the project and take the discussion on collaborations to the next stage.

MIDA is the principal agency for the promotion of manufacturing and Investment sectors in Malaysia. In addition to facilitating implementation of projects in the two sectors, MIDA also assists interested companies with new business ventures in overseas markets.

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

Ground-Breaking Product Development To Help Culinary Industry Create Greater Value In The Kitchen

Over the past year the global team at Fonterra, the world’s largest dairy exporter, has been using the latest culinary technology to develop a new ground-breaking ‘star’ in its repertoire.

After months of testing and sampling, the Anchor Extra Yield Cooking Cream has successfully been created to enable chefs to produce an extra 20% yield in the kitchen with higher versatility and taste. It was showcased to the crème-de-la-crème of the hospitality industry, at an exclusive event held last night (Monday) at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina.

“This was not simply a product launch”, says Marwan Hassan, General Manager for Fonterra Brands Foodservices. “We believe the only way this industry will continue to move forwards is through discussions and the sharing of skills, supported by great products.

“We could have simply announced to the culinary industry in the region that Anchor Extra Yield Cooking Cream is now available, but we wanted to show the chefs first-hand the different unique properties and characteristics of the product so they understand how valuable it will be to their kitchens.”

Chef Peter Hallmanns, Fonterra’s Advisory Chef in Dubai and Chef Maher Naddaf, Fonterra’s Advisory Chef in KSA were assisted by chefs from the hosting hotel to demonstrate the versatility of the cooking cream to the guests throughout the evening.

Chef Peter Hallmanns believes this product will allow chefs greater flexibility and will save time during prep and in service. “I can’t say enough how revolutionary this product is, there really is nothing like it currently available in the market,” said Chef Hallmanns.

“I work with hundreds of chefs across the GCC and I constantly find the same issues arising when working with cooking cream. We have listened to the market and developed a new-age cooking cream that is heat stable, requires no further reduction and can be used in the hot kitchen, cold kitchen and pastry kitchen equally. This cream does not split or curdle; it is acid stable, has excellent coating and is extremely resistant to heat. The product has been developed using the latest dairy technology and even boasts a seven-month shelf life. It is like liquid gold for the chef.”

As well as live cooking demonstrations and the opportunity to meet with other industry professionals, guests were treated to spectacular entertainment including the Laser Man show and the Illusionist, the group’s first performance outside of Europe.

Anchor Extra Yield Cooking Cream is the latest culinary offering from Fonterra, the New-Zealand based company, whose Anchor butters, milk powders, natural & processed cheeses and whipping creams are already well-established amongst the food and beverage (F&B) industry in the GCC and across the world. Fonterra is passionate in its drive to improve the culinary industry in the region, both through research and development into new products and by hosting workshops and competitions to equip up-and-coming chefs with new skills.

Kamal Gupta, Managing Director, Fonterra Brands Middle East Africa and CIS concludes, “The GCC and the Middle East is an increasingly key market for Fonterra. Our Foodservice industry continues to grow from strength to strength and we are constantly looking for new and innovative products and solutions, which we hope will make a real difference to our customers’ businesses.”