Doedijns Expands her Activities in the Middle East and Africa

WADDINXVEEN, The Netherlands, June 6, 2011/PRNewswire/ — The Netherlands based Doedijns Group, announces the opening of its new premises in Dubai, United Arab Emirates to strengthen its presence in the region. This full service Doedijns facility is located in the ’Jebel Ali Free zone’ district and will be led by Mr. Rakesh Surti, appointed as Managing Director. Doedijns Middle East & Africa FZE will offer its clients local production and assembly possibilities and access to the Doedijns products and services portfolio including its four proprietary technologies; oil filtration systems, temperature sensors, compact actuators and sampling systems.

Mr. Juul IJzermans, Doedijns CEO commented; "Opening our Middle East & African Head Quarters in Dubai represents another milestone in our global growth strategy to maximize our customer services worldwide, providing the innovative Hydraulics-, Pneumatics-, Instrumentation control solutions. We are extremely pleased that Mr. Surti has joined us. With his extensive experience in the energy- and (petro) chemical industry we are confident that he will support our existing clients and further extend our client portfolio in the region."

Doedijns ME&A FZE was established under UAE law and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Doedijns International BV from the Netherlands. It has received the full industrial licence for trading, engineering, production and assembling.

About Doedijns
Doedijns has established a leading position in the Energy & (Petro) Chemical sector, the Maritime & Dredging industry and High-end Machine building, where customers require high quality and high service solutions.

Doedijns operates a four business unit model with the following offerings;
– Hydraulics: engineering, assembly and distribution of hydraulic power packs, oil filtration systems and components
– Instrumentation: engineering, assembly and distribution of temperature sensors, custom made sensors and components
– Pneumatics: engineering, assembly and distribution of valve actuators, compact actuators and general pneumatic components
– Controls: engineering, assembly and distribution of sampling systems, wellhead control panels

With a workforce of over 280 knowledgeable and experienced employees, Doedijns works alongside the most demanding customers.

http://www.doedijns.com

Source: Doedijns International B.V.

For more information please contact: Mr. Juul Ijzermans, +31-18-23-02715 Or Mr. Rakesh Surti, +97-1-50 5561790, Doedijns Middle East & Africa FZE, PO Box # 261894, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai, UAE, Ph : +971-4-8876313 / Fax: +971-4-8876314, E: info@doedijns.com / rakesh.surti@doedijns.com

harman house Brings Quincy Jones Signature Line Headphones By AKG To The Middle East

‘harman house’, the leading retail chain in home, professional and car infotainment in the Middle East, has announced that the Quincy Jones signature line of headphones by AKG – a part of HARMAN, is now available across all of their Middle East outlets. The Quincy Jones Signature Line includes three models: the Q701 reference-class premium over-ears, the Q460 high-performance portable on-ear mini headphones and the Q350 in-ear headphones that will boast distinctive AKG-built quality and unrivalled audio engineering in an elegant, portable design.

The premium headphone collection represents a milestone partnership between AKG and Quincy Jones, one of the most accomplished musicians of the 20th century. This partnership isn’t literally something new, as Jones has used AKG headphones exclusively for years, and this reflects the music icon’s confidence in AKG products.

“Music is so much more than notes on a sheet of paper. When it’s created with passion, with soul, we get something that is greater than ourselves – and it can move us deeply. I have trusted only AKG to deliver the highest standard of sound. It’s the same standard I hold myself to when I make my music,” said Quincy Jones.

Quincy Jones is a noted music conductor, record producer, musical arranger, film composer, television producer and trumpeter, in a career that spans more than five decades. He is responsible for producing Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ album and the ‘We are the world’ recording in the mid-1980s.

“Quincy Jones and AKG have shared a long-running passion for quality sound and the infinite power music has to connect people and touch lives. We will continue to introduce products into the Middle East marketplace that shine a light on how important sound quality is when you are experiencing music in all aspects of your life,” concluded Amit Malani, President, Harman Middle East.
 

Increase In UAE-Based Exhibitors For Materials Handling Middle East

Sponsored Link

Both Cantec LLC, Dubai-based supplier of equipment and materials for the placement and finishing of industrial concrete floors and Fars Al Mazrooej Contracting LLC (F.A.M.) have announced their presence at the region’s premium leading materials handling and logistics trade exhibition and conference, Materials Handling Middle East.

Cantec LLC, who is the sole Middle East distributor for a wide range of US and European based equipment and materials will make their debut appearance at Materials Handling Middle East in September. During the event they will showcase their full line of equipment and materials to end user clients. They will also use the event as a launching pad for Somero Laser Screeds and Alphaplan ultra flat laser grinders. In addition they will be displaying concrete finishing equipment and materials handling equipment from some of the world’s leading brands.

Andrew Swan, Technical Manager, Cantec LLC, said: “We will discuss the importance of industrial slab design and construction to end user logistics operators. We will also discuss our option for ultraflat grinding of concrete slabs for current operators who are not happy with their floors’ performance. Logistics has been and will continue to be a core driver in the Middle East economy, exposure to a critical economic sector is very important.”

F.A.M., who will also make their debut appearance at the event, has been operating as a leading flooring contractor for fast track industrial projects in the UAE since 1991. The company specializes in the design and execution of heavy duty, high tolerance floors, particularly in Vacuum Dewatered and Laser Screed concrete floor systems for the logistics sector.

Mr. Joachim Nyberg, Managing Director, F.A.M., said: “We are exhibiting at Materials Handling Middle East in order to create strong and long lasting relationships with our existing and future potential clients. The UAE is one of the most important commercial hubs in the MENA region and also plays an important role in the trade link between Europe and Asia. Therefore, there have been big developments and progress in logistics centres, warehousing and related technologies and systems.”

During Materials Handling Middle East F.A.M. will be showcasing their expertise in the design and execution of concrete floors suitable for Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) racking systems in distribution centres and warehouses. They will also feature their services in the construction of High Tolerance Floors with Vacuum Dewatering Systems and Laser Screed.

Materials Handling Middle East will take place from September 25 to 27 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
 

The China Sourcing Fair In Dubai Celebrates 5 Years As The Largest Greater China-Products Exhibition In The Middle East

Buyers and importers throughout the Middle East converged on Dubai today for the opening of the China Sourcing Fair, the specialized import-export trade show for volume buyers of consumer products made in China. Organizer Global Sources (NASDAQ: GSOL) celebrates the Fair’s 5th year in Dubai as the largest China-products exhibition in the Middle East. The event is being held May 31 – June 2, 2011, at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

’’Buyers, importers and traders throughout the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region are increasingly looking to China for quality products at affordable price points,’’ said Tommy Wong, President of Global Sources Exhibitions. ’’With over 30% growth in our attendance last year, and 21% growth in pre-registrations for the event this year, we see first-hand the increasing demand for China-made products. We are very excited to introduce an expanding array of buyers in the region to the wide selection of suppliers at this show, our 5th annual event,’’ added Wong.

Officially opening the events was H.H. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, U.A.E. Minister for Foreign Trade. Also joining the opening ceremony were:

– Mr. Zhan Jingbao, Consul General, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai
– Mr. Xie Qinshen, Commercial Counselor, Economic & Commercial Section, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai
– Mr. Zhang Baojun, Chief Representative, CCPIT & CCOIC Office in the Gulf Area
– Ms. Ma Yonghui, Deputy Representative, CCPIT & CCOIC Office in the Gulf Area
– Mr. Tommy Wong, President of Global Sources Exhibitions

The China Sourcing Fair features manufacturers of consumer electronics, garments and textiles, gifts and premiums, home products, baby and children’s products, and hardware and building materials.

The Fair is exclusively for importers, traders, and other volume buyers who purchase consumer products for resale to markets throughout the MENA region. Last year, 14,020 qualified buyers from 100 countries attended the event.

More details about the China Sourcing Fair in Dubai are available at http://www.chinasourcingfair.com/dubai .

About Global Sources
Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with Greater China. The core business uses English-language media to facilitate trade from Greater China to the world. The other business segment utilizes Chinese-language media to enable companies to sell to, and within Greater China.

The company provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers. It helps a community of over 1 million active buyers – including the world’s top 25 retailers – to source more profitably from complex overseas supply markets. With the goal of providing the most effective ways possible to advertise, market and sell, Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in over 240 countries.

The company offers the most extensive range of media and export marketing services in the industries it serves. It delivers information on over 5.7 million products and more than 262,000 suppliers annually through 14 online marketplaces, 13 monthly print and 18 digital magazines, over 90 sourcing research reports and 73 specialized trade shows a year across nine cities.

Verified suppliers receive more than 127 million sales leads annually from buyers through Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com) alone.

Global Sources has been facilitating global trade for 40 years. Global Sources’ network covers about 60 cities worldwide. In mainland China, Global Sources has about 2,700 team members in more than 40 locations, and a community of over 2.8 million registered online users and magazine readers for its Chinese-language media.

Lloyds TSB Middle East Announces Fourth Undergraduate Programme For UAE Nationals

Lloyds TSB Middle East, part of one of the world’s largest banking groups, today announced the launch of the fourth annual Undergraduate Development Programme for UAE nationals. Along with the Bank’s existing Management Trainee Programme and Headstart Programme for UAE National graduates, it aims to develop the next generation of Emirati banking professionals.

The Undergraduate Programme, which kicked-off today with 65 new recruits, is specifically designed for UAE National students who attend a full time course in any university or college around Dubai. The one year Development Programme will run one day a week, on Saturdays, in the Al Manzil Hotel and offers a salaried position with an annual contract with Lloyds TSB Middle East. The scheme offers a tailor-made insight into all parts of the banking industry whilst the students continue to study full time.

Richard Musty, Managing Director of Lloyds TSB Group Middle East said,

“I am proud to launch our 4th UDP Programme and am delighted with the success we have achieved since its inauguration three years ago. Emiratisation is a key focus for us and we are committed to delivering comprehensive schemes which provide UAE Nationals with practical skills and a good fountain of knowledge of the banking industry. Now, more than ever, it is important for the financial industry to work hard to develop a deeper talent pool of Emiratis and we believe that our UDP program is a step in the right direction for any Emirati interested in pursuing a career in financial services.”

Topics covered in the programme encompass all business areas in the bank such as Finance, Marketing, Emiratisation, HR and Personal Banking. In addition, students will be trained in soft skills such as management and leadership capabilities, customer service training and presentation skills. Each Saturday the students will learn through exercises, activities and interactive presentations. The Introduction to Banking days will be delivered by Lloyds TSB’s business units giving the Undergraduate Trainees an understanding of how the business works and what the teams within the bank do.

Abdul Rahman Saqr, Executive Advisor-UAE Business & Strategic Affairs for Lloyds TSB Middle East said,

“Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, we believe this programme is a great opportunity for UAE National graduate students to get an in-depth experience into Lloyds TSB’s world class banking knowledge initiatives and to learn from our global best practices.
 

ENOC Opens Middle East’s First ‘Green’ Service Station

Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) has launched the first ’green service station’ in the Middle East at the Emirates Hills neighbourhood in Dubai. Underscoring the commitment of the company to the sustainable development initiatives of the UAE, the new eco-friendly service station has a range of unique features all aimed at reducing the ecological footprint of the users.

Among the innovative green initiatives at the station are advanced technological devices to contain petrol fumes released at the pump, and a variety of other state-of-the-art systems, including solar-powered lighting, a ‘waterless’ car-washing system, new waste segregation systems, and design upgrades to reduce noise pollution.

Saeed Abdullah Khoory, ENOC’s Chief Executive Officer, said: "The first green station of ENOC complements the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to drive sustainable development with a focus on the environment."

He added: "With the opening of the station, we are setting a trend not only in the UAE but also across the Middle East. We are encouraging Dubai residents to reduce their environmental footprints by using the green services we provide. The green station underscores the core values ENOC upholds, which includes a steadfast commitment to society."

The station generates half of its energy requirements from renewable sources. The site uses Solar Powered Pole and LED lights, with a long life span of up to 50,000 hours and low voltage safe against electrical fire hazards. These lamps do not need to be replaced for up to 12 years. The service station will also use sensor type water taps and two-stage flush systems in the toilets.

Sustainable water features have also been installed to cut water consumption by a quarter. The new service station recycles carwash water and also provides customers the option to use a waterless car wash system, which cleans car without using a single drop of water.

The waterless car wash concept saves water and prevents detergents from polluting the environment with its new ‘No-Wet’ technique, an all-in-one eco-friendly car wash liquid. Made from all natural ingredients, the product does not contain petroleum distillates, silicone, abrasives, harmful chemicals or detergents that pollute water.

Zaid Al Qufaidi, Chief Executive Officer, Retail Business Stream of ENOC/EPPCO, said: “The ENOC ‘green’ station is the first of many eco-friendly stations that the company aims to build in the future. We are excited that we can lessen environmental impact every time customers use our services. Our trained staff will also encourage customers to take small but significant steps to adopt a greener lifestyle, by promoting recycling and using the waterless carwash.”

ENOC has also invested in an extensive training programme for its staff at the service station. Retailers have also been selected on the basis of their commitment to the environment. Al Qufaidi added: “We followed stringent procedures for the selection of our retail partners to increase the station’s sustainability.”

ENOC will also equip the new green service station with the latest waste management systems, including a garbage segregation system that provides colour coded bins for easier recycling. Moreover, all the furniture used will be from recycled materials, and used lubricants oil will be collected and disposed.

The green service station reduces noise, through an integrated sound barrier on the compound wall. The station will also feature a centralised vacuum system to support power conservation and reduce waste and noise.

ENOC’s environmentally-friendly engine oils PROTEC Green for gasoline engines and VULCAN Green for diesel engines will be available. Both are designed to ensure longer life span for vehicles and lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

The green Very Low Sulfur Diesel (VLSD) will also be available at the service station. This innovative diesel contains 10 times less sulfur than the standard one, which means a cleaner engine for cars and a cleaner environment.

Other key environmentally-friendly products include Hiclone fuel-saving devices. When installed on the vehicle, Hiclone improves fuel economy and engine efficiency while helping decrease air and noise pollution. Hiclone can decrease carbon footprint by 60 percent, as it reduces incomplete combustion and harmful emissions. It can also enhance the towing efficiency, reduce fuel consumption by 20 percent, and add 10 percent to the car’s power. Moreover, the uniform movement of the pistons minimizes engine noise and prevents abnormal abrasion.

In addition, ENOC’s new service station will only use biodegradable plastic bags, like all the existing ENOC/EPPCO service stations.
 

Art Dubai To Launch Marker, A New Component Of The Fair Showcasing Experimental Art Spaces From The Middle East And Asia

This March, Art Dubai will launch MARKER, a new platform for experimental art spaces from the Middle East and Asia to showcase projects by emerging artists at the fair in 2011. The section is curated by Nav Haq. A connoisseur in curational practices, Nav Haq has been at the heart of the Middle Eastern art market having honed his expertise in such institutions as the Platform Garanti, Istanbul and the Townhouse Gallery, Cairo in addition to being a regular contributor to the renowned international art journals, Yishu and Bidoun.

MARKER will include five ‘concept stands’ that each respond to the phenomenon of the art fair as a mirror of contemporary society, and will reflect on the realms of commerce, entertainment, education and aesthetics.

The five art spaces taking part in MARKER are: Alexandria Contemporary Arts Forum (Alexandria, Egypt), Makan (Amman, Jordan), GREY NOISE (Lahore, Pakistan), Liu Ding’s Store (Beijing, China), and Ruangrupa (Jakarta, Indonesia). Each organisation will present new projects that have been conceived specifically for Art Dubai.

“Through MARKER, Art Dubai aims to champion innovative arts spaces and provide exposure and opportunities for the next generation of artists from the MENASA region,” stated Art Dubai Fair Director Antonia Carver. “This platform links the dynamic artists projects commissioned by Art Dubai with the gallery halls, and is another point at which international curators and collectors meet the arts scenes of the Middle East and Asia.”

“The art fair is an example of an experience economy par excellence, embodying the realms of escapism, entertainment, education and aesthetics,” says Nav Haq. “It will be negotiated as a particular kind of convergence – an abounding space of exchange for people, brands, art, money and ideas.”

Punctuating the gallery halls, these five spaces are literally ‘marked out’ from the other commercial spaces, presenting specific projects that reflect upon the fair. The projects are as follows:

• Alexandria Contemporary Arts Forum will present the second installment of its long-term text project The ARPANET Dialogues, an archive of rare conversations within the contemporary social, political and cultural milieu. Excerpted from a series of dialogues that began in 1975 and took place over the U.S. Department of Defense’s experimental instant messaging application ARPANET, the project presented at Art Dubai will feature a 1976 conversation between economist Samir Amin, anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, political economy Ph.D. candidate Francis Fukuyama and architect Minoru Yamasaki.
• Makan’s project reflects the community-oriented nature of the teams collaborative projects and residency program. They have opened a pop-up bar, to serve a range of complimentary drinks at a fixed time each day, and will use these opportunities to lead impromptu themed discussions with attendees.
• GREY NOISE will present two separate but related projects by Lahore-based artists Saira Ansari and Mehreen Murtaza that reflect on consumer culture. Ansari’s piece, The Complete ‘Pakistani Art’ Dinner Set, depicts clichés taken from Pakistani art such as men on horseback, geometric patterns and guns, using silhouettes in the style of traditional 18th century portraits. Murtaza’s work, Tastes Like Futurism, consists of a series of photographic images that depict the role of food in a future civilization where, over time, humans have begun engineering culture using patterns of consumption as a basis for creating social concepts.
• A roving platform that reflects on the notion of value and the complex politics of valuation in the art market (Liu Ding’s Store) will consist of two components at Art Dubai. In Home and Make Real the Priceless in Your Heart, the artist will sell a series of deliberately unfinished landscape paintings. Made in a factory according to the artist’s specifications and signed by Liu Ding, customers will be offered the opportunity to finish the painting themselves. Conversations is a section of the store that will organise private dialogues led by the artist with other artistic and cultural practitioners. In collaboration with curator Carol Yinghua Lu, each day of the fair will include a schedule of conversations with collectors, critics, curators and dealers, who in return for their participation will receive one of Ding’s paintings.
• Ruangrupa’s Mini OK-Video Festival will present highlights from this biennial event that they launched in 2003, featuring, which has become an important event in the South East Asian art scene. The video works presented will be selected from across the festival’s various incarnations, and will present work from Indonesia and beyond.
 

Tech-Ed Middle East 2011 Conference Will Take Place On March 8, 2011 In Dubai

Microsoft Gulf today announced that under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the second Tech-Ed Middle East conference will take place from 8-10 March 2011 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Tech-Ed Middle East is Microsoft’s premier technology event which will offer the region’s IT professionals and developers a chance to explore Microsoft’s latest, ground-breaking products and technologies.

Samer Abu-Ltaif, Regional General Manager, Microsoft Gulf said, “It is a great privilege for us to have His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as the patron of Tech-Ed Middle East 2011. With the strong support of the government in making UAE the hub of Middle East IT and innovation, we believe this year’s conference will be an even greater success as developers and IT professionals from around the Middle East converge on Dubai to learn more about how they can solve today’s real-world IT challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s innovations through Microsoft technologies.”

Etisalat, as strategic ICT partner of Tech-Ed Middle East 2011, will showcase its comprehensive end-to-end ICT and Managed Telecom product portfolio at the event.

Commenting on the importance of participating at Tech-Ed, Mr. Abdulla Hashim, Senior Vice President, Business Solutions at Etisalat said, “As the largest telecom service provider in the region, Etisalat can offer a very strong value proposition to drive productivity and optimize efficiencies across the value chain with our end-to-end Managed telecom and ICT expertise and state of the art infrastructure. Our participation at the Microsoft Tech-Ed for its second year demonstrates our commitment to drive the use of ICT for better business outcomes. This event is also an excellent opportunity for us to connect with and educate technology professionals about our offerings and demonstrate our role in supporting companies by deploying innovative solutions that enhance business performance while reducing capital investment and operational costs.”

“Over the years, Dubai World Trade Centre has played an integral part in forging strong partnerships with the best technology companies from around the globe to promote regional innovation and help shape the IT landscape of the region. Along with Microsoft, we are proud to be hosting the 2011 edition of Tech-Ed Middle East and we look forward to a successful event backed by our world class venue and outstanding service ethos." said Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre.

Tech- Ed Middle East 2011will feature several executives from Microsoft’s global leadership team with S. Somasegar, Senior Vice President, Developer Division who will make the opening keynote address on the first day focusing on several aspects of Microsoft technology ranging from cloud computing, Windows Phone 7, Microsoft Lync among others. Walter Puschner, Vice President, Worldwide of Field IT at Microsoft will also be present and will deliver the closing keynote at the conference.

Tech-Ed Middle East 2011 will offer developers and IT professionals hands-on learning, deep product exploration and opportunities to connect with industry and Microsoft experts one-to-one. This year’s edition will feature a new “Ask The Experts” forum to jumpstart their technical learning. They will also be able to choose from four pre-conference seminars delivered by Microsoft and industry experts to give them an edge on the latest technologies and topics ranging from Windows Azure, SQL Server 2008, SharePoint and Optimising the Data Centre to build a Private Cloud.

At this year’s event, attendees will have access to over 200 technical sessions delivered by Microsoft and industry experts across 19 technology areas in addition to experiencing the latest technology through more than 30 PC-based instructor-led training labs. The Tech-Ed Expo will include a Partner Exhibition which provides attendees with the opportunity to review and evaluate all the products, solutions, and services Microsoft partners have to offer. The Tech-Ed Expo will also host the Technical Learning Centre – the place to see Microsoft product demos, talk with industry experts, learn about Microsoft services, and connect with their peers.

To register or for more information on Tech-Ed Middle East 2011, visit www.teched.ae
 

Fitness First Opens Its Middle Easts 18th Club At Mirdif City Centre In Dubai

Fitness First, the world’s number one health and fitness club chain and a part of the Landmark Group in MENA, yesterday announced the largest Platinum Club in the UAE that marked its official opening at the prestigious Mirdif City Centre in Dubai,gave away exciting gifts to the first 200 guests who registered and attended the event.

MickyJagtiani, Chairman of the Landmark Group, officially inaugurated the launch of Fitness First’s 18th club in the Middle East on 15 January.

An exclusive fashion show by award winning UK-based brand REISS wasfeatured as the highlight of the opening ceremony whichalso includes the presentation of awards to winners of previous promotions. Exciting membership options were additionally on offer to visitors at the event.

The sprawling club will host 150 pieces of world class equipment, a cardio theatre, extensive categories of free weights and an exclusive member’s lounge. An indoor swimming pool is also set to open later this year. The Platinum Club will offer free group exercise classes and personal training by world class instructors. In addition to complimentary towelsand refreshments, members will also be entitled to the Fitness First Passport programme that offers access to more than 500 Fitness First facilities worldwide at no extra cost.

MickyJagtiani said: “The largest Platinum Club further strengthens our commitment to provide premium health and fitness facilities in the UAE. At Fitness First, theendeavouris to offer best in class products & servicesand set a new benchmark in fitness clubs and lifestyle offerings in the region.”

RenukaJagtiani, Vice Chairperson, Landmark Group, said: “The new addition to our network of clubs in the region demonstrates our commitment to ‘create exceptional value for all lives we touch’. Fitness First provides the right environment for anyone seeking a healthier lifestyle. The state-of-the-art equipment and expert trainers at our clubs ensuresthe facilities are easily accessible. This reinforcesthe brand’s mission of ‘making the world a fitter place’.

Our expertise in providing an integrated healthy lifestyle with our region-wide network of clubs makes us distinctly different in the industry. We are confident that more fitness enthusiasts will sign up to make use of the facilities available at the Mirdif City Centre Club.”

New members to the Mirdif City Centre Platinum Club will be eligible for the ‘New Year, New You, New York!’ promotion that was launched on 10 January and runs until 28 February. The promotion has already evinced keen interest from existing members who aim to sign up for personal trainers.

The Time Out Competition winner will be awarded a comprehensive one-year membership to a Fitness First Club of choice. In addition, visitors to the event had also availed the opportunity to get their images clicked at a photo booth and mailed to their personal email address.

For registration and further information, call 04-2362288 or email mcc@fitnessfirst-me.com.
 

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Announces Expansion Of Its Middle East Cruise Season In 2011/12

Royal Caribbean International announces the extension of its third consecutive season in the Middle East with 18 round-trip 7-night sailings and two 12-night sailings from Dubai to India starting in November 2011 through to April 2012.

The move is part of the deployment of a historic number of cruises by the global cruise brand which has 22 ships currently in service, offering unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Middle East, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

A recent survey of the Cruise Line International Association saw agents report that cruising has earned the #1 ranking in consumer interest compared to other types of travel. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. – with its three global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises – has yet again increased its fleet size to accommodate its demand that is growing at unprecedented rates.

For its 2011/12 season Royal Caribbean International’s Brilliance of the Seas is offering seven-night cruises in the region, which will start in Dubai, sail to Fujairah and dock in Muscat. She then continues via Abu Dhabi back to Dubai. Due to the high demand, Royal Caribbean International has also extended its Middle East season for two months starting in November 2011. The interest in the two itineraries to India, which were introduced in 2010, was enormously high and therefore will be implemented again in the 2011/12 season. The two 12-night India itineraries will start in Dubai, sail to Mumbai, Goa, New Mangalore – which is a new port this season – and call into Cochin. After two days at sea the ship will arrive in Muscat and then sail back to Dubai.

Helen Beck, Regional Director, International Representatives, EMEA, for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises says that Brilliance of the Seas has just concluded a successful second season sailing around the Gulf.

“We’ve received great feedback from our guests on the new 12-night itineraries sailing to India that we introduced this year. We are happy to bring Brilliance of the Seas back to Dubai in November starting her longer third season in the region.”

When hotel rates in Dubai came under pressure with decreasing numbers of inbound tourists, the increasing number of cruise travellers helped the industry bounce back. In 2005, there were only 13 ships serving travellers; but this figure almost doubled the following year, further increasing to 55 ships by 2007, and 87 ships by 2009, whilst in 2010 there were 103 ships that carried 390,255 passengers and the Department of Tourism is expecting to receive 135 ships in the year to 2012. That number is likely to increase to approximately 180 by 2015 as the number of cruise travellers continue to increase in the region.

“The interest and awareness of cruise travel both within the region and throughout the rest of the world is increasing exponentially among travellers from within the Middle East itself. There is a huge potential for cruising in the region, and we are already predicting yet another record breaking year as we gear up for next year’s season,” Helen Beck concludes.

Outside of the Middle East region, Royal Caribbean International unveiled its 2012 Europe cruise and cruisetour season, upping the ante from its 2011 lineup of 11 ships to 12 for 2012, which will again include two Freedom-class ships, the largest and most groundbreaking in the line’s fleet to sail European waters. Amsterdam will debut as a homeport, for a total of 12, with ships calling into 101 ports in 34 countries on itineraries ranging from three to 16 nights.

In addition to the 12 homeports from which guests can choose, Royal Caribbean is also offering eight “interports” – where guests can board itineraries en route – creating 20 options for embarkation and disembarkation, including Toulon, Marseille and Le Havre in France; Genoa, Messina (Sicily) and Bari in Italy; Valencia, Spain; and Kusadasi (Ephesus) in Turkey. Maiden calls will also be made at Arhus, Denmark; Klaksvik, Faroe Islands; and Leknes (Lofoten) in Norway.

Celebrity Cruises is also strengthening its summer/autumn season for 2012, when it will offer vacationers more opportunities to enjoy premium European cruises than ever before, with five ships visiting 70 ports in 22 countries, sailing from six departure ports, and featuring 19 distinct Mediterranean itineraries. Celebrity’s fleet currently consists of nine ships, with two additional Solstice Class ships scheduled to join the fleet.

The season will include a variety of premium cruise vacation opportunities to enjoy Alaska, Bermuda, Canada and New England, and a series of immersive cruise-tours in Europe and Alaska.

Some extended overnight stays and eight new ports will add even more depth to Celebrity’s already broad European offerings, including Klaksvik, Faroe Islands; Akureyri, Iceland; Bari, Catania and Ravenna, Italy; Skijolden, Norway; Koper, Slovenia and Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. Travellers can enjoy these and the 62 other ports Celebrity will visit in Europe in 2012 in ultra-premium style, as the company is deploying four of its award-winning Solstice Class ships to sail full European seasons in 2012.

Guests who wish to deepen their European experience can take advantage of Celebrity’s cruise-tour offerings, which combine a cruise with a three- to five-night pre-cruise escorted land package in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. The packages, exclusive to Celebrity Cruises, immerse guests in culture-rich destinations such as Amsterdam, Venice, Paris, the Italian Lakes, Florence, Madrid, London, and Cappadiocia in Turkey.