ENOC Makes Difference To The Lives Of Disadvantaged Youngsters

Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) today launched ‘ENOC Challenge III’, a comprehensive training programme aimed at providing disadvantaged youngsters with a unique opportunity to acquire critical professional skills and embark on challenging new careers.

For this year’s programme, ENOC has linked up with the UAE Red Crescent, the principal charitable organisation in the emirate, and Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, a humanitarian organisation which provides quality education and therapy services to children with special needs. The two institutions nominated 20 disadvantaged candidates, including special needs youth, who will complete their training apprenticeships at various ENOC departments.

The progress of each trainee will be regularly evaluated by the mentors and trainers of ENOC Learning and Development Department. On successful completion of the 8-week programme for disadvantaged individuals and 6 months for participants with special needs, the trainees will be given a career opportunity and training certificate.

ENOC Challenge III follows the success of two previous editions of the ENOC Challenge, and highlights ENOC’s continued commitment to the UAE community. The initiative underlines ENOC’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme and has been designed to encourage businesses in the country to strengthen their ties with all sections of the community.

Speaking at the launch of the ENOC Challenge III, Saif Al Falasi, ENOC Group General Manager, said: “There are many challenges in life, and we should face them with determination. That is the underlying philosophy of the ENOC Challenge. We hope that all corporates will undertake similar initiatives and contribute to the overall welfare of society.”

“Over the years, the UAE has promoted entrepreneurship and facilitated businesses, helping many people to shape their destinies and craft success stories. It is time for successful individuals and institutions to come together, to give back and make a real impact in the UAE community. ENOC Challenge does just that. I thank the UAE Red Crescent and Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre for nominating the 20 candidates for ENOC Challenge III,” Al Falasi added.

The learning and development modules of the programme will cover technical- functional trainings such as typing, Microsoft Office, telephone operations, job interview techniques, and writing winning CVs. The modules also include behavioral training in the English language, problem solving, team building, customer care, presentation skills and communication skills.

Khalid Hadi, ENOC Group Brand and Marketing Manager, said: “With our operations spanning oil and gas, retail and real estate, regionally and internationally, the ENOC Challenge is the ideal training ground for these youngsters. It will help special needs and disadvantaged individuals to be prepared for their future, by enhancing their independence, developing their contribution to society, and ensuring they have a full participation in all aspects of life.”

“ENOC Challenge III also aims to provide the participants with the opportunity to gain experience in today’s business and commerce, as well as make them strong candidates for employment in various industries” Hadi concluded.

The launch ceremony was also attended by Hussain Al Sheikh, the Deputy Minister of Social Affairs; Mariam Othman, Director of Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre; Mohammed Zaroni, General Manager of the UAE Red Crescent Society and Dr. Omar Abdul Kafi, a well-known social motivator.

Dubai’s retail sector looks to summer windfall as DSS 2009 approaches

Dubai’s retail sector is looking forward to a windfall this summer with Dubai Summer Surprises round the corner. Laila Suhail, CEO of the DSF Office that is organising DSS was of the opinion that Dubai’s retail sector was poised to ride out the storm. “Dubai is not over-retailed as it is made out to be; yes, the city’s Gross Leasable Area is the highest in the region but this is the dynamic nature of Dubai and we are pooling our efforts to ensure that the offers put out this summer will be unmatched by any other retail destination.”“Dubai’s position as the fourth-most dominant retail city in the world is the result of concerted efforts on the part of the retail sector and events such as Dubai Shopping Festival and Dubai Summer Surprises to offer value-added promotions on leading international brands. It must be noted that we achieved this in a short span of time unlike other seasoned retail destinations that have been retailing for decades,” said Laila. While DSS begins on June 11, registration for retailers commenced on May 17 and the results so far have been nothing less than optimistic. The first ten days of retail registration witnessed registration from around a thousand retailers and this number is slated to go up in the coming weeks.   “Our cooperation with the private sector has been a significant factor in the success of previous editions of DSS and this year has been no different. The DSF Office recently organised a meeting for retailers where we received suggestions on how to improve and ease registration for outlets that wish to be part of DSS and needless to say, the meeting was well received by all those who attended it.”This year’s summer retail package is different for the fact that it is the single longest shopping promotion ever organised in the region. Retail outlets are expected to go all out in offering discounts on a wide range of consumer goods. Discounts between 75 and 80 per cent are anticipated during the promotion that will begin from June 1 and go on till September 30. The four-month long shopping extravaganza will cover Dubai Summer Surprises, the Back-to-School season, Ramadan, and ‘Eid in Dubai’. Retailers have expressed their satisfaction at the innovative retail package with many saying that the cost of registering for the four-month promotion was equal to that of the two-month promotion last year thus enabling them to transfer cost benefits on to consumers.

Excitement Mounts As Lazio And Sampdoria Line Up For The Upcoming Copa Italia Title

The 2009 Copa Italia Title is poised at an interesting stage as the live final match hits the screens of football enthusiasts on 13th May 2009. Live coverage of the matches will be broadcast on ART SPORT 4 available to Firstnet Premium and Pehla Gold & Silver subscribers in Dubai and the entire Middle East and North African (MENA) region.

With the final match underway football enthusiasts can gear up to watch the two major teams Lazio and Sampdoria square off for the 2009 Copa Italia title. The match will be telecast live on May 13 2009 at 5.00 GMT (9 AM UAE time), according to an announcement today by Arab Digital Distribution (ADD), the region’s largest pay TV platform Management Company.

This year’s game saw strong teams like Juventus, Inter Milan & AC Milan’s exit quiet unexpectedly. Lazio reached the final of the Copa Italia after beating Juventus 2-1 in Turin for a 4-2 aggregate win in the semi-finals. Sampdoria saw a strong comeback to the finals despite losing the second leg 1-0. Intermilan, stung by a 3-0 defeat in the first leg, gave themselves hope when Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck midway through the first half but Sampdoria held on to clinch a 3-1 aggregate win and a place in the final against Lazio. Lazio are still in the 10th place with 47 points from 35 games played and with Europa League qualification six points away whereas Samprodia have climbed up to 12th place with 44 points from 35 games played.

The sixty-first season of the tournament started on 9 August 2008 and will end on 13 May 2009. The winners earn a spot in the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League 2009–2010.

The 2007–08 Copa Italia final was played, like the three previous editions, between Internationale and Roma. The match was held at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on May 24, 2008 and ended with a 2-1 win for Roma. This time around the two teams Lazio and Sampdoria are extremely enthusiastic to go out onto the field and play their final round as Lazio has been winless in 5 years (last winning the Copa Italia in 2004), while Sampdoria haven’t lifted a trophy in 15 years (last winning the Copa Italia in 1994).
 

The ’Big Brands Mega Carnival 2009’ Is Now Bigger With Discounts Of Up To 80 Percent Off!

‘Big Brands Mega Carnival 2009’, the highly anticipated 2009 spring sale organized by Inter Brands Corporation, was inaugurated today at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DWTC), Dubai. The five-day carnival, offering mega discounts of up to 80 per cent off on all high-end luxury lifestyle products, will be held from April 15-19, 2009 at Hall 4, DWTC, Dubai. The event was inaugurated today by Mr. Ibrahim Saleh, Coordinator General, Dubai Shopping Festival Office.

This year’s ‘Big Brands Mega Carnival 2009’ in Dubai will include for the first time huge discounts on “CROCS” foot wear, the world-wide leading designer, manufacturer and retailer of footwear for men, women and children under the Crocstm brand. The comfortable shoes which serve versatile functioning for all casual and recreational purposes will be available at extremely attractive prices at the Big Brands Mega Carnival 2009.

The Big Brands Mega Carnival will offer attractive discounts of up to 80 per cent of on a variety of products including fragrances, bags, watches, sun glasses, shoes, fashion clothes, accessories, cosmetics, hair products of the all world of the best known brands. To name some major brands whose merchandise will be part of the carnival include Chopard, Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior, Cacharel, Lacoste and Geox.

Commenting on the Big Brands Carnival 2009, Mr. Vijay Samyani, Managing Director, Inter Brands Corporation said: “Big Brands Carnival today has become well recognized and is keenly looked forward event by UAE residents and tourists. In 2004, the Big Brands Carnival was first conceived, conceptualized and organized. What started as a one off sale occurrence is today a yearly phenomenon. The previous editions of the sales have experienced an average footfall of 10,000 customers everyday. Big Brands Carnival 2009 will be spread over 50,000 sq ft, which we believe will attract a lot of our old patrons and lot of new shoppers too.”

He added, “Big Brands in the past has successfully conducted more than 18 events in the last 4 years. We are very happy to introduce ‘Crocs’ from the new addition brand. In order to give customers more value for their MONEY in these difficult times, Big Brands will provide heavy discounts, thus letting the customers save a lot on their shopping on luxury items.”

Commenting on their first time participation, Mr. Michael Brown, Managing Director, Crocs, Dubai, said, “Big Brands sales has become a household name and we are proud to associate Crocs footwear with them. We had received a phenomenal response from the mega sale held in Singapore. We are certain that our clients would rush to the Big Brands Sale and avail of the massive discounts we would have on our footwear range. We look forward to a long-term association with the Big Brands Sale.”

The ‘Big Brands Mega Carnival 2009’ will not only offer great products at great prices but will also provide plenty of opportunity to win fabulous prizes too. Lucky draws will be conducted on all days of the sale, wherein the winner walks away with shopping vouchers of amazing value.

Inter Brands Corporation is a major distributor of luxury lifestyle products in the GCC and other parts of the world, and has emerged as the leading organizer of season specific High Street fashion sale events. The Corporation has organized 18 successful seasonal Big Brands Sale events over the last four years namely sales over summer, Ramadan, and Xmas.