European Commission Commends Emirates’ Websites

The European Commission’s Director General for ‘Health and Consumers’ (DG SANCO), has confirmed that Emirates airline’s websites are fully compliant with all the requirements laid down in EU consumer legislation, and it further commended the airline for its commitment to consumer transparency.

In a statement, Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said: "I am delighted to confirm that contrary to some earlier reported indications, Emirates airline is fully in compliance with all the requirements laid down in EU consumer legislation that were monitored in the recent ’health check’ in relation to air ticket selling websites and therefore belongs to those companies that can serve as an example to be followed by others. I commend Emirates airline as a non-EU carrier for the observance of Community law and for the commitment to maintain these standards and to consumer protection in general demonstrated at a meeting held in Brussels on 17 June".

DG SANCO’s ‘health check’ investigation and report on airline websites published in May listed Emirates as being non-compliant. Subsequent discussions between the airline and DG SANCO confirmed that this was inaccurate.

Richard Vaughan, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide, said: “We have had a number of open and productive conversations with DG SANCO over the past weeks. Although we were disappointed with how the original investigations were conducted, we are pleased that this is now resolved, and that consumers can be absolutely satisfied that Emirates’ websites not only fully comply with EU regulations, but also demonstrate leadership in terms of transparency and inclusive pricing.

“As a responsible global airline, our commercial operations are guided by fair business practices and transparency for our customers. All Emirates’ fares include taxes and surcharges and no service fees apply when bookings are made and paid for online. We also provide a breakdown of the fare components both online and with Global Distribution Systems (GDS).”

Mr Vaughan added: "Emirates wants to see high, universal standards across our industry to ensure a level playing field for those airlines, like Emirates, who adhere to transparency and the highest possible standards versus some who continue to practice more opaque pricing and other less consumer-friendly techniques".

A Visit To Mauritius Made Easier With Emirates

Connections to the paradise island of Mauritius are being stepped up with Emirates airline’s announcement of two additional flights per week starting 27th June 2009.

Emirates’ current daily service will escalate to nine flights per week, making it easier for leisure travellers to visit the popular island getaway.

The additional flights will operate on Thursdays and Saturdays and increase existing capacity by almost 20% per week per direction.

Since the start of its operations to Mauritius in 2002, Emirates has persistently promoted the island across its global network. The Dubai-based airline teamed up with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority to introduce the island’s tourist attractions to the travel trade and media in key Middle East markets. The campaign was closely followed by familiarisation tours for media and travel agents from this region as well as Russia.

Emirates Holidays’ annual brochure – A World of Choice – dedicates significant attention to specialised cruise, honeymoon, adventure and general family vacations in Mauritius.

Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ Vice President Commercial Operations, West Asia & Indian Ocean said: “The increased frequency is representative of Emirates’ enhanced commitment to Mauritius. Our recent campaigns have stepped up demand for the route as well as opened up new feeder markets such as Russia and East Europe. The increasing number of tourists will welcome these additional flights as they will have more travel options and better connectivity. Flights from Emirates’ Middle East network and Russia connect within four hours to the Mauritius service.”

930,456 tourists visited Mauritius in 2008, representing a 2.6% increase in arrivals over the previous year.

Mr. Al Mualla added: “For Mauritian travellers, the enhanced capacity will provide increased departure options to Dubai, one of their favourite destinations, as well as to Emirates’ 99-city global network.”

“Emirates will continue to support the Mauritius government in its efforts to increase tourist arrivals.”

EK 3705 will take off from Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport at 10:20 hrs and touch down at SSR International Airport in Mauritius at 16:45 hrs. It will turn around as EK 3706, departing Mauritius at 18:30 hrs and arriving in Dubai at 01:00 hrs the following day.

Major Private Sector Entities Come Together In Support Of Modhesh World

Dubai Shopping Festival Office has unveiled a bigger and better Modhesh World, with the support of the some of the biggest names in the private sector that have actively supported the initiative since its inception.

The 37,000 square venue is the largest indoor theme park in the Middle East and boasts exciting new rides and edutainment activities guaranteed to give children and their families a fun and learning experience during the summer.

Magic Planet – Majid Al Futtaim Group, UAE Exchange, Emirates airline , Coca-Cola Middle East – Fanta, Union Co-Op, Dubai World Trade Center, Osus (Stargate), and HP Leisure have joined hands in creating an unrivalled theme park experience in Modhesh World making the venue the premiere destination for families during Dubai Summer Surprises.

“The transition of Modhesh Fun City into what is now known as Modhesh World meant a massive shift in concept. What was earlier seen as a simple collage of rides, games and entertainment programmes has evolved into a more cohesive theme park experience, where Modhesh takes an even more active role in promoting positive values, clean fun, and exciting learning experiences for children and their families,” said Laila Suhail, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Festival Shopping Office. “Even the manner in which the various elements in Modhesh World have been put together reflects a greater attention to detail, and were geared towards a more customer-friendly experience for all those visiting Modhesh World.”

Ms Suhail likewise thanked the sponsors of Modhesh World for their invaluable support. “Our partners share our vision for the new Modhesh World, and have put forward the best concepts and ideas that will further strengthen the its reputation as the premiere destination for fun, learning and excitement during the Dubai Summer Surprises. We are thankful for their support,” she added.

According to Suhail, this year’s roster of sponsors are a combination of long-time supporters and new partners. “The past 12 years have been a period of unprecedented growth for us, and we are confident that we can sustain this momentum despite the current economic situation. Having retained our partners some of whom have been with us for over a decade, and having signed on new ones is a very strong indication of the optimism shared by our sponsors in the viability and business sense of this iniative.”

Modhesh World Sponsors
Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)
Helal Saeed Al Marri, CEO of the Dubai World Trade Centre, said: “Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) sponsors Dubai Summer Surprises every year because the organisation recognises the important role played by the festival in the development of the tourism sector in Dubai. Its outstanding line up of events, performances and fun-filled activities contributes in making the city of Dubai the number one summer destination for many tourists from the region and beyond. Our support for the summer festival is consistent with the vision and objectives of DWTC to make Dubai the world’s leading destination for all major exhibitions, conferences and events.”

Almarri added that the Dubai World Trade Centre will provide the highest level of services as the Airport Expo Dubai hosts Modhesh World – the biggest indoor fun destination in Dubai – which has seen more than 4 million visitors over 9 years making it the premier destination for families travelling abroad.

Emirates
Ahmed Khoory, Senior Vice President Commercial, Gulf, Middle East and Iran Emirates said: “As a major and long serving sponsor of Dubai Summer Surprises Emirates is delighted to be able to support Modhesh World. Bringing families together has always been a major part of Emirates’ ethos and Modesh World compliments this vision perfectly. We believe that Modesh World will create a fun, family friendly environment for both local and regional visitors and will further help stimulate international travel to Dubai.”

Coca-Cola Middle East – Fanta
Antoine Tayyar, Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Middle East, said: “Modhesh World is an inspired idea: the creation of a fun, safe and family-friendly space where visitors can take time out and just enjoy themselves during the summer months. We chose to support the initiative because it falls in step with our new Open Happiness platform, which embodies the Coca-Cola values of positivity, fun and taking time out during our hectic day to appreciate life’s small, refreshing moments.”

UAE Exchange
Y. Sudhir Kumar Shetty, COO – Global Operations, UAE Exchange said: “We scripted a noteworthy move last year as a zonal partner of Dubai Summer Surprises and this association proved really significant for us with respect to the kind of extensive exposure we received. We figured alongside the top five international brands in the UAE. Our pavilion was visited by a host of domestic and international visitors to whom we were glad to offer our world-class services including global money transfers, foreign exchange and bill payments. We are extremely delighted to participate in the festival again and hope that these unique alliances play a pivotal role in accelerating Dubai’s economy during the summer and facilitating its promotion as a leading tourist destination.”

HB Leisure
Anthony Silver from HB Lesiure said, “The HBL team both in Dubai and the UK are delighted to be working with the DSFO again, particularly in sponsoring Modesh World for this year’s Dubai Summer Surprises. We are delighted to have the opportunity to provide an exciting range of games, rides and leisure activities for the many visitors that will be attending this prestigious event, which we are sure will be another huge success for the DSFO.

Magic Planet
Silvio Liedtke, General Manager, Magic Planet said, “The association of Modhesh World and Magic Planet is ideal as they both represent great fun and excitement. We are absolutely delighted to be a part of Modhesh World this year as it is now bigger and better and will offer fantastic entertainment. The destination has a huge amount to offer to all ages and Magic Planet fits perfectly as it is a place for children and for those who are just young at heart.”

“With this evolution of Modhesh World, we expect a lot more visitors visiting the place this year and we look forward to a successful festival,” he added.

Osus – Stargate
“We are very proud to play a part in maintaining and solidifying Dubai’s position as a leading hub for leisure and business through Stargate’s sponsorship of Modhesh World. As well as giving back to the community a token of our appreciation for all the facilities provided to us by the Dubai Government to turn a dream into a reality through Stargate edutainment offerings to the families,” stated Abdullah Al Ghobain, CEO OSUS LLC.

Union Co-operative Society
Khalid Al Falasi, General Manager, Union Co-operative Society said, “Modhesh is a very unique brand and it has attached itself to families in the UAE and visitors from outside the country. The brand, has, undoubtedly, had a positive effect on children and DSS as a whole that has inturn promoted inbound tourism and propagated family values. Modhesh is a brand that is extremely popular among all and our sponsorship for Modhesh World comes in line with our commitment to support such pioneering initiatives.”

Emirates Entertains FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 Fans as Global Football Stars Head to South Africa

Sunday marks the opening match of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa. The event, which will act as a prelude to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, will be contested by the host country South Africa, the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ winner Italy and the champions from six continents, with Brazil returning to  defend the title which they won four years ago in Germany.
 
The other teams which make up the event are  current European Champions Spain as well as New Zealand, Egypt, Iraq and the United States.
 
Four of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ stadiums in South Africa have been selected to host the event with the final taking place on the 28th June at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.
 
During the event, Emirates will be entertaining fans at Ellis Park with the Emirates ‘Goal Striker’, a computer based game which enables fans to test their skills against a virtual goalkeeper. It gives them a real taste of the stadium atmosphere and is even able to generate crowd noise to see how fans cope with the pressure of a penalty shoot out.
 
Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman, Emirates Airline & Group commented, “Emirates is very much looking forward to the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa. The event will act as a fascinating pre-cursor to next year’s FIFA World Cup™ and all eyes will certainly be on South Africa. Emirates’ association with FIFA provides a perfect platform to engage with fans on a global scale.”
 
Players that will be feeling the pressure first hand, as they compete for their national teams in South Africa include Italian midfield general Gennaro Gattuso, Brazilian protégé Alexandra Pato and FIFA World Cup™ winning Andrea Pirlo of Emirates-sponsored AC Milan, as well as Cesc Fabregas who captains the Emirates-sponsored club Arsenal.
 
Emirates is looking forward to welcoming sports fans to South Africa where a country rich in culture and diversity awaits them. With three daily flights in operation to Johannesburg from its central hub in Dubai and a daily flight to Cape Town, Emirates provides fans from across the globe access to the best possible travel options to see their teams compete in the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009.
 
Emirates’ partnership with FIFA began at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ when it became the first airline to sponsor the prestigious global sporting event. Following on from a hugely successful FIFA World Cup™ in Germany, Emirates cemented its status as an Official FIFA Partner up to and including the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil.Photo Caption: During the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009, which kicks off on Sunday in South Africa, Emirates, an Official FIFA Partner, will be entertaining fans at Ellis Park with the Emirates ‘Goal Striker’, a computer based game which enables fans to test their skills against a virtual goalkeeper.

Thrills And Spills At The Emirates Airline Flying Catch

Backpeddling with the ball destined to drop into the crowd for a six, Kyle Coetzer arched his back, extended a periscope-like arm and miraculously plucked the ball out of the air.
 
It was an incredible moment. Both the spectators and South Africa batsman Mark Boucher looked on in disbelief at what will almost certainly go down as the catch of the tournament.
 
The Scotsman’s heroics did not stop his side crashing out of the ICC World Twenty20, but it did inspire droves of cricket fans to try and emulate his amazing feat at the Emirates Flying Catch inflatable at Lord’s yesterday.
 
At first glance it would appear that adults are gatecrashing a queue for a shot on a childrens’s bouncy castle, but it is no ordinary bouncy castle. A small swivelling platform in its centre acts as a launching pad for players to leap at soft cricket balls fired out of a bowling machine.
 
The ball is delivered at speeds to challenge both adults and children and has proved so popular that even the professionals are testing their skills on the giant red inflatable.
 
Intrigued by all the fuss, England’s Owais Shah took a impromptu break from a practice session to jump on for a quick shot, while yesterday a few of the Dutch players jumped on ahead of their match with Pakistan.
 
The pros, though, will not be going into the draw for the fantastic prize up for grabs. From six deliveries, players are awarded points and those on the top of the leaderboard at the end of the tournament will go into a draw for two return Business Class Emirates flights from London to Dubai.
 
The game is in the spirit of the fun and exciting atmosphere which the Twenty20 format has brought to cricket and Emirates is proud to be giving fans even more to get excited about.
 
Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman, Emirates Airline & Group, said: "We are thrilled to be part of this carnival of cricket. The Emirates Flying Catch is a brilliant game and we are delighted that people are enjoying it so much. The ICC World Twenty20 is all about fun and the Flying Catch captures the spirit of the event perfectly."
 
Emirates’ ICC Official Partner status gives the airline sponsorship rights to all ICC major tournaments, including the 2011 and 2015 ICC Cricket World Cups, ICC Champions Trophy and ICC World Twenty20. It also sponsors the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, ICC Under-19 World Cup, ICC Intercontinental Cup and the ICC Women’s World Cup.
 
In partnership with the ICC, Emirates will continue sponsoring the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Referees. This agreement will see the Fly Emirates logo prominently displayed on the umpires’ clothing at all ICC events until 2015.

Looking to Keep Your Kids Entertained this Summer?

Beating boredom and keeping your children entertained over the long hot summer vacation just got easier thanks to Emirates High Street’s ‘Top 10 Summer Boredom Busters’.
 
For parents of young children, the long summer months can often be overwhelming.  As the days stretch into weeks it is often difficult for families to think of new and exciting entertainment options that will help keep boredom and tantrums at bay.
 
To help combat this, Emirates High Street has pulled together its top 10 products that will keep the children and adults alike, inspired at home. From educational and exercise based products and hands on activities designed to help children utilize their motor skills, there is an option suitable for every budget and every child – whatever their taste may be.
 
Some recent additions to the Emirates High Street range include the BERG MOOV Street Kit designed to stimulate children both mentally and physically as they safely build their own life-size model vehicle. The Speedminton Set is also new to the range and helps keep children active through exercise, whilst assisting with their hand-eye coordination.
 
Emirates High Street’s online catalogue makes life easy for the time stretched parent, with customers able to order, pay and arrange delivery to any one of over 60 countries worldwide in one quick and easy transaction through www.emirateshighstreet.com.
 
Purchases may be made online by visiting www.emirateshighstreet.com or by calling +9714 316 9292. Customers can pay using MasterCard or Visa and Emirates customers can redeem accrued Skywards Miles or pay using a combination of cash and Miles. All prices on the site are charged and quoted in US$. Some products are redeemable for Miles only.
 
Emirates High Street is a 24/7 online store, from the Emirates airline and Group, which stocks over 400 products, including luxury goods, must-have gadgets and inspirational experience packages. Customers can use Skywards Miles, earned by members of Emirates Airline’s frequent flyer loyalty scheme, a credit card – or a combination of both – to buy products for themselves or friends and family living in locations all over the world.
 
Emirates High Street’s ‘Top 10 Summer Boredom Busters’ include;
 
1. PlayStation®3 80GB
US$521 approx AED 1,913  (Or 156,000 Miles)
Welcome to the next generation of gaming. The new Playstation 3 represents the state of the art in high-definition gaming as well as in compact entertainment systems. Your children can impress each other with their singing on Singstar or race their friends on the other side of the world with the F1 Championship Edition, and there’s enough power and storage in the Cell Broadband Engine with its integrated Blu-ray Disc Drive for movies, music, photos and online services. This innovative system is perfect for your children and useful for your whole family.
 
2. Easyglider
US$495 approx AED 1818 (Or 129,100 Miles)
Easy to drive and maintenance-free, it brings 6 to 12 year olds an incomparable first motorised driving experience – by far the coolest way to glide across streets, pavements and parks.3. Disney Cinderella Storybook Playset
US$50 approx AED 184 (Or 14,100 Miles)
This charming storybook holds volumes of surprises as it opens to reveal three magical scenes from the Disney film. With the beautiful doll and a wealth of detailed fairy tale accessories, your budding princess (recommended from age 3) can dream and imagine her very own prince.4. Bosch Kids Big Chainsaw Set
US$63 approx AED 232 (Or 15,600 Miles)
Let your child live his logger dreams without having to worry about shouts of ‘Timber’.
This exciting Bosch Chain Saw replica toy comes with several innovative features guaranteed to thrill him. This includes realistic sawing noise and a flashing light while the saw is in operation. The battery-operated saw comes with a helmet, work gloves, work goggles and earmuffs.5. Fisher Price Digital Camera, blue
US$119 approx AED 438 (Or 33,300 Miles)
Specially designed for preschool children, this tough and easy-to-use camera has two ergonomic grips and two-eye viewing for easy handling. The 4.1 cm LCD colour display instantly shows the snapshot and allows for easy browsing and quick deletion. A resolution of 1.3 megapixels means sharp, high-quality pictures up to 10 x 15 cm. The 8 MB memory is big enough for 60 photos and there’s also an SD card slot and USB cable for computer connection. You just might be surprised by the creativity of your young photographer. * SD-Card not included6. Dickie Toys RC Hovercraft
US$99 approx AED 364 (Or 24,000 Miles)
Gliding over both land and sea, the hovercraft is part car, part boat, part airplane. Fun for all ages to drive over any terrain, the vehicle features a two-channel radio control that allows you to cruise forward, back, right and left and to stop on command. The 35cm machine includes a powerpack, battery charger and 9V block and provides up to 20 minutes of excitement.7. BERG MOOV Street Kit 10in1
US$340 approx AED 1249 (Or 85,000 Miles)
Unique full-sized construction toy which provides kids endless building and playing fun.  Ideal for kids over five, the kit, with a detailed manual allows kids to make their own models in no time at all.  $340 or 85,000 Miles8. Speedminton Set S 300
US$130 approx AED 478 (Or 30,000 Miles)
Better your badminton game: play speed badminton! This Speedminton set comes with 2 racquets made of carbon-composite.  The smaller and heavier shuttlecocks are wind resistant up to wind strength 4.  Racquet features like the Mega Power Zone and the U-Profile increase the ball acceleration and power.  $130 or 30,000 Miles9. Steiff Little Cloud Lamb
US$60 approx AED 220 (Or 13,600 Miles)
Bring home smiles with the little cloud lamb from Steiff.  Cute as a button, the little white lamb in a blue outfit is made of cotton for baby-soft skin, making him perfect for day long hugs.10. LEGO City Airport
US$139 approx AED 510 (Or 33,200 Miles)
At the LEGO City Airport you can board the passengers onto the plane, check with the tower for permission to take off or land, and taxi down the runway in a modern jet, or load cargo with the forklift onto one of the helicopters on the helipad. This realistic set includes 12 miniature figures and lots of accessories for hours of airport action and fun for children aged five and above.   

Keep Discovering Dubai Campaign Successfully Wraps Up

Keep discovering Dubai, the largest familiarization initiative ever witnessed in Dubai, has successfully seen over 2400 travel trade and media representatives experience the emirate in less than two months, helping to push tourism and further broaden Dubai’s international appeal.

In partnership with a number of key stakeholders including; Emirates airline and Group, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Dubai hoteliers and Destination Management Companies (DMCs), the campaign included hosted visits of travel trade, MICE organisers and media. Travelling from a total of 62 countries, across six weekends and incorporating over 7,300 hotel room nights, the initiative has been a critical step in further extending Dubai’s reach in these challenging global economic times.

This landmark programme is expected to help bolster and position Dubai as a first choice holiday and conference destination around the globe, with international media exposure from the campaign already proving positive. Feedback from the travel trade has also been exemplary, with many important business relationships established, that are expected to prove fruitful for the Dubai tourism sector across the coming months.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group said: “The Keep discovering Dubai campaign is a shining example of Dubai’s key players working together to drive and sustain a positive and lasting image of Dubai. The unique mix of nationalities hosted from across the world has helped Dubai further position itself globally as a leading holiday destination, an important step in retaining market share within the current environment. Emirates has always been committed to actively promoting Dubai around the world and we are pleased that the campaign has been such a success.

“Across the coming months we expect to see a heightened interest in Dubai globally. The purpose of this trip was not only to generate positive leads but also to create lasting business relationships with the many people that visited Dubai. Furthermore, the intense media scrutiny Dubai has received over the last few months has now been overshadowed by the positive experiences of the many high profile international media invited as part of the campaign.”

Mr. Mohammed Khamis bin Hareb, DTCM Executive Director Operations and Marketing Division, said: “The unique campaign, combining both the travel trade professionals and media representatives, has helped tremendously in creating better awareness about Dubai and its strong tourism product offerings to visitors from different parts of the world. The tourism industry will benefit enormously from this initiative in the months to come and this will help boost hotel occupancies and visitors’ number to Dubai.

“At the DTCM, we continue to aggressively promote and market Dubai in our established and emerging source markets. Keep discovering Dubai formed part of our overall strategy that we are pursuing in the wake of changing global economic environment. We are confident that Dubai will be able to post far better results than other destinations in the near future. It is critical that we maintain a constant dialogue with international travel agents, tour operators and MICE agents, about the destination and its growing strengths and attractions. This campaign has helped achieved significant goals that we have set for it, in consultation with the tourism industry players in the emirate.”

Hundreds of people from multiple nationalities, working across the travel and tourism industry in Dubai, helped coordinate and bring the Keep discovering Dubai campaign to fruition, creating a seamless programme built on Dubai’s core strengths of warm Arabian hospitality, inspirational developments and natural beauty.

Each group that took part in the campaign was individually managed, ensuring the highest quality service throughout. MICE organizers were also targeted as part of the Keep discovering Dubai campaign, in a bid to secure a higher share of the lucrative global meetings, conference and exhibition market.

To further reinforce the key messages and maintain the global buzz achieved during the Keep discovering Dubai campaign, Emirates airline and Group have invested an additional AED 40 million promoting Dubai in their new Meet Dubai global advertising campaign.
 

ICC WorldTwenty20 Takes Off With Emirates

The ICC World Twenty20 cricket carnival starts in London today and no ICC sponsor is more ready for the opening match than Official Partner Emirates airline.Emirates is doing its very best to gear cricket fans up for what is set to be an even bigger Twenty20 world cup than the hugely successful tournament in South Africa two years ago.

To kick off the excitement, Emirates hosted a signing session with some Australia players at the Fulham Broadway Retail Centre in London.

Brett Lee was joined by Mike Hussey, Brad Haddin and Nathan Bracken to sign memorabilia and meet fans who also got a glimpse of the trophy Australia aim to win.

And Lee hopes the exciting T20 format will help win the sport some new followers.

“We wanted to come down to Fulham to see fans and sign autographs, as well as ramp up some interest with the non-cricket fan base,” said the star bowler.

“This tournament is going to have millions of people from all over the world watching and we want to make sure everyone enjoys the show, no matter what sport they are into.

“They can see the ICC World Twenty20 trophy and learn what the tournament is all about.”

Dubai-based airline Emirates will play further part in the cricket carnival with the launch of the Emirates Flying Catch inflatable at Lord’s. It proved a real hit with fans during the warm-up games, giving them the chance to emulate their heroes by catching machine-fed deliveries to win Emirates flights and merchandise.

Emirates intends to keep the excitement flowing throughout the tournament by running a number of other promotions. The ‘Emirates Upgrade’ will be in full effect every day – where fans selected by the Official Match Referee will be approached by Emirates and handed tickets for some of the best seats in the house free of charge. Emirates cabin crew will also supply them with cooler bags containing gifts and refreshments to add to the experience.

And during both semi-finals and the final, Emirates intends to award lucky fans a pair of Business Class flights to Dubai if they are spotted in the crowd wearing Emirates baseball caps.

Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman Emirates Airline & Group, is an ardent cricket fan and is delighted that the airline is able to bring something a little bit different to the party.

“This is going to be an exciting sporting event where the fans will be entertained by the world’s best players at the home of cricket,” said Mr Flanagan. “We want to add to that entertainment by offering them the chance to interact with our sponsorship and come along to play the Emirates Flying Catch and win prizes.”

The ICC World Twenty20 is set to be a box-office hit after the recent IPL proved without doubt that the fast-paced T20 format has captured the imagination of cricket fans around the globe. Nearly 30 million TV viewers in India alone tuned in to watch Deccan Chargers beat Bangalore Royal Challengers in the final.

Defending ICC World Twenty20 champions India lost to New Zealand in their first warm-up match at Lord’s on Monday and will be keen to avoid more defeats now the the serious action is under way.

Star India batsman Yuvraj Singh, also a key member of Emirates airline-sponsored IPL side Kings XI Punjab, said: “All of the players have gained good preparation from the IPL tournament and we’re looking to defend our World Twenty20 crown against the best cricket players the world has to offer."
 

Sizzling Summer Deals from Emirates High Street

Summer is sizzling and so are the ‘Hot Deals’ launched online at Emirates High Street today. Discounting a variety of popular products for both cash and miles, Emirates High Street is helping bargain hunters beat the credit crunch with a range of wallet friendly deals.

Coinciding with the launch of the new look Emirates High Street catalogue, this exciting Hot Deals promotion will give customers savings of up to 44 per cent on selected products. With items ranging from handbags, electronics, books, homewares and personal accessories, there is a product to suit even the most discerning of shoppers; whether buying for yourself or as a gift for a friend.

Released quarterly the new Emirates High Street catalogue will now feature two additional sections ‘Just In’, incorporating a raft of new products and ‘Hot Deals’ for those customers looking to snap up a bargain.

Helping shoppers avoid the stresses of finding parking at their local mall, Emirates High Street allows customers to browse, order, pay and arrange delivery to any one of over 60 countries worldwide, in one quick and easy transaction by visiting www.emirateshighstreet.com.

Purchases may be made online by visiting www.emirateshighstreet.com or by calling +9714 316 9292. Customers can pay using MasterCard or Visa and Emirates customers can redeem accrued Skywards Miles or pay using a combination of cash and Miles. All prices on the site are charged and quoted in US$. Some products are redeemable for Miles only.

Emirates High Street is a 24/7 online store, from the Emirates airline and Group, which stocks over 400 products, including luxury goods, must-have gadgets and inspirational experience packages. Customers can use Skywards Miles, earned by members of Emirates Airline’s frequent flyer loyalty scheme, a credit card – or a combination of both – to buy products for themselves or friends and family living in locations all over the world.

Helping to make way for a range of new products the Hot Deals promotion is available until stock sells out.

A selection of Emirates High Street ‘Hot Deals’ include:

Philips Photo Frame 7"

Was US$351 now only US$251 approx AED 921 (Special Miles offer – was 65,500 now 65,000 Miles)

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then with this state-of-the-art frame you can have volumes on the corner of your desk. With a luxurious design to complement your photos, it displays up to 1000 of your digital photos with the realism of professional prints. Whether you choose a slideshow, single print or collage, it’s easy to manage your photos or rotate, zoom, crop, mask and add effects to them. The frame is USB compatible and can operate on AC power or cordlessly with a rechargeable battery.

MCM Patent Boston Handbag

Was US$951 now only US$700 approx AED 2570 (Special Miles offer – was 227,700 now 138,400 Miles)

Trendsetting and eye-catching, the German-made PATENT Boston will keep you in style this season. Fashionably petit, the patent leather bag has a large zippered pocket, internal zippered pocket, separate card compartments, two front pockets, shoulder strap and uniquely numbered nickel plaque.

HTC Smartphohne S710

Was US$652 now only US$400 approx AED 1,469 (Special Miles offer – was 137,500 now 120,000 Miles)

With a streamlined design and a high-colour display, the HTC S710 is the most compact messaging phone with an auto-sliding QWERTY keyboard. It is also the first run by the new Windows Mobile™ 6 platform, which provides a genuine mobile Office Outlook™ experience. The web browsing and email handling are top of the line, as are the pictures from the 2.0- megapixel camera. Stay connected wherever you go.

Hugo Boss Mens Watch

Was US$499 now only US$430 approx AED 1579 (Special Miles offer – was 131,100 now 106,000 Miles)

This sophisticated watch has a handsome polished stainless steel 41mm case and a bracelet with butterfly close. The elegant, sunray-finished face is lined with numerical markers features a three-hand quartz movement, chronograph function and date window between four and five o’clock. Water resistant to 100 metres, this timepieces is a stylish gift for the worldly man.

Eva Solo Multi Purpose Box

Was US$102 now only US$70 approx AED 257 (Special Miles offer – was 21,600 now 15,200 Miles)

Impeccably crafted from stainless steel and plastic this is an elegant and highly practical storage accessory. It’s just what you need to keep all essential things close at hand in the bathroom. Use it to store a wide variety of things ranging from cotton buds to hair bands.

Villeroy & Boch New Wave China

Was US $399 now only US$250 approx AED 919 (Special Miles offer – was 72,500 now 45,500 Miles)

The flat plates, square bowls and smaller triangular plates of this 12-piece set for four will give your dinner parties a unique style. The instantly recognisable modern design epitomises contemporary fine china and – both dishwasher and microwave-safe – is also practical. Delight your guests’ eyes as you please their palates.

Rosenthal Studio Line Spirit Candle Holder

Was US$450 now only US$250 approx AED 919 (Special Miles offer – was 92,400 now 50,900 Miles)

Made of metallised copper, this striking candleholder comes from the exclusive Rosenthal Studio Line. The three arms rise gracefully to hold three candles, and the near-symmetrical legs complement them by forming a sturdy base. A graceful, sophisticated addition to your home.

Luxe Grand Tour Box

Was US$75 now only US$60 approx AED 220 (Special Miles offer – was 21,600 now 19,400 Miles)

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Dubai Customs Glamorously Receives The First Flight of Fly Dubai

Dubai Customs has celebrated the arrival of the first flight of Fly Dubai heading from Beirut on June 1st, 2009 through Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport.Mr. Ali Al Mugahwi, Airport Operations Director in Dubai Customs, Mr. Humaid Mohammed Al Rashid, Acting Airport Terminal (2) Manager and a big number of Dubai Customs employees and customs inspectors have received the passengers with desserts and souvenirs. In addition, passengers were well-received in the offices and clearance counters of this new national airline.Passengers have expressed their pleasure for being glamorously received which has brought satisfaction into them and in particular into their children. They stated that this is not a surprise as UAE nationals are well-known for their hospitality and generosity as well as their sophisticated behavior in treating visitors and expatriatesMr. Ali Al Mugahwi said:" Following a good example of what is currently happening with Emirates Airline in Terminal (3) at Dubai International Airport, Dubai Customs has been taking necessary measures to receive Fly Dubai flights with qualified staffs and clearance offices specified for the passengers of Fly Dubai flights"."There is a great coordination and collaboration taking place between Dubai Customs on one hand and the Department of Civil Aviation and Dubai Airports Corporation on the other hand, regarding facilitating procedures of finishing passengers’ papers to cope with the cultural and economical prosperity that Dubai witnesses as well as the good reputation it enjoys on the tourism and international traveling levels. Necessary steps have been taken to meet the growth of Fly Dubai flights and the terminals of which these flights will land on over the upcoming period of time. The Department’s offices pioneer facilitation and customs work to passengers throughout more than 35 airline companies that are currently using Terminal (2)", Mr. Ali Al Mugahwi added.