Registrations Open For The Salem Al Ali Informatics Awards

The much-awaited registrations for the 10th Salem Al Ali Informatics Awards have been announced. The registrations will be open until January 31st, 2011, informed Dr. Khalil Abul, Manager, Salem Al Ali Al Sabah Informatics Award. Details of the participants are yet to be finalized. However, the Dubai Courts Department was one of last year’s award winners for the best e-Service for its website “Dubai Courts”.

Starting February 1st, 2011, the evaluation and arbitration processes will begin. The winners will be awarded during the annual ceremony, conducted under the patronage of Emir of Kuwait, H.H. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Dr. Abul said: “As soon as registration became accessible on our website (www.Alsabahaward.org), our board received hundreds of applications from all across the Arab World. This confirms the status of this annual award on all levels. It became one of the most important activities, innovators and creative parties anticipate.”

Applicants will be competing in ten different fields related to developing informatics including Individuals, Communities, Private Sector, Education, Health, Media and Communication, Scientific Research, in addition to Culture and knowledge, in the ‘Informatics Award’ track, which consists of Kuwait Awards, Arab World Award, Honorary Award, Informatics Medal, Informatics Badge, and Informatics Collar. Awards in this track are varied between monetary, prizes, and honorary, for individuals, governmental and private organizations.

In addition to what the award offers, it extends its awards with the second track ‘Informatics Development’, which aims to achieve informatics development between individuals and organizations, via participation in events and programs that contribute to developing various digital services. Some of the most important activities in this track are informatics gathering, informatics culture series, and voluntary work.

The last and third track is ‘Informatics Knowledge’ aimed at enriching Arabic content, presenting the cultural aspect of the Arab World, allowing easy access of data for researchers and interested parties.

The H.H. Sheik Salem Al Ali Al Sabah Informatics Award is considered the most prominent Arab Informatics award as it total amount exceeds 100 thousand Kuwaiti Dinars (US$ 375,000), and aims at levitating informatics culture, prepare the Arab youth, and develop the Arabic content on the Internet, in addition, to fueling entrepreneurship, innovation, and creating challenge in the IT sector.

The award was launched in 2001 at a national level, covering the rest of the Arab World in 2007, with Kuwait as it’s headquarter. Sponsored by H.H. the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, several participants were awarded in the previous years, from Kuwait and the rest of the Arab Word.
 

UOWD Opens Registrations For Pi Courses. Classes Begin 8 May

UOWD Pi (University of Wollongong in Dubai Professional Institute) has announced that registrations have begun for their Professional Institute Certificate courses. Classes are scheduled to begin on 8 May 2011.

UOPWD Pi offers short certificate courses aimed at enhancing the continuous learning opportunities for individuals in the UAE. Specific emphasis is being placed on professionals wishing to accelerate their career growth.

The move represents the 18-year-old university’s foray into short, non-degree courses in response to the growing demand for high quality short courses from prestigious educational institutions.

The short courses are being offered in the following disciplines:
• Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting
• Professional Certificate in Banking Risk Management
• Certificate in Islamic Commercial and Investment Banking
• Certificate in Fundamentals of Islamic Banking and Finance
• Certificate in Business
• Certificate in Corporate Communications
• Certificate in Sales and Marketing

Each course will have a duration of about five weeks, with classes held in the evenings once a week and each session lasting for three hours. With the launch of UOWD Pi, the UAE’s oldest private university is unveiling its plans to become a more comprehensive tertiary education provider.

For more information please contact:
University of Wollongong in Dubai
Block 15, Dubai Knowledge Village
Toll free 800 UOWD
Web: uowdubai.ac.ae
Email: info@uowdubai.ac.ae

 

Retail Sector Responds Positively As DSS Attracts Over 4000 Registrations For Summer Promotion

Over 4000 retail outlets have registered so far to be part of the promotion organized during this year’s Dubai Summer Surprises. The overwhelming response from the retail sector is part of a positive economic wave being felt across all sectors in Dubai this DSS.

Suhaila Gobash, Events Manager and Retail Registration Supervisor of Dubai Shopping Festival Office said, “The registration number is a clear indication that retail outlets across Dubai wait for DSS to generate more footfall and sales. It is not only the registrations that are notable; sales figures from across malls indicate that DSS has had a positive impact on the retail industry.”

The Dubai Shopping Festival Office had held a meeting with over 125 representatives of leading retail entities in Dubai to discuss and chalk out plans for shopping promotions being organized over the summer from June 1 to September. The initiative is the first and longest single shopping promotion to be held in the region, spanning four months.

Keen on supporting the retail sector, the DSF Office had made it clear that retailers would need to only pay registration charges for four months this year that were, in previous years, applicable to a two-month period during DSS.

Promotions and shopping deals are currently being done through Dubai Summer Surprises, the Back-to-School season, Ramadan, and ‘Eid in Dubai’ (Eid Al Fitr). Retailers can look forward to numerous options to be part of the promotions with the ‘Surprising Deals’ package to be organized throughout Dubai Summer Surprises from June 11 to August 14, 2009. This will be followed by the ‘Back-to-School Season’ from August 9 to September 10, 2009. The third package is titled ‘Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr Offers’, running from August 9 to September 30, 2009. Retailers also have the option to organize raffle draws during the four-month period subject to approval from DSF Office.

Mall Of The Emirates Launches Kids Walking Programme This DSS

After the hugely popular Mall of the Emirates mall walking programme that started in 2006, the first indoor mall walking programme specifically designed for kids is being launched for Dubai Summer Surprises from June 11 until August 14.

In partnership with Stride for Life, the mall walks will be a mix of fun and fitness and are open to children of six years and above. Kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when registering, and they receive free t-shirts once they become a member.

The supervised programme starts at 8:30am on weekdays, in the sanctity of the cool Mall of the Emirates with a walk leader to motivate, train and educate the children with useful tips and information on how to stay healthy.
In a bid to encourage the mini-marchers, Mall of the Emirates will also reward them with gift vouchers when they reach certain targets.

Fuad Sharaf, Vice President, Mall of the Emirates said, “The Mall of the Emirates is the perfect place for the walkers to meet and get their exercise. It’s cool, it’s clean and there’s a lot of ground to cover. Besides that, they can also have a look at what the retailers have to offer.

“We first thought of a kids’ walking club when some children turned up with their parents, and a committed group of 16 junior members developed,” he added.

“With statistics in the UAE showing that around 12 per cent of children are overweight and of those, 22 per cent are susceptible to obesity, the kids’ mall walking programme is an easy way for parents to ensure their children stay active and healthy during the long summer vacation, and you don’t have to spend a dirham.”

The Mall Walkers programme was launched in September 2006, with 50 registrations in the first few months. Now over 400 Dubai residents are enthusiastic members, having walked a cumulative distance of over 19,000 kilometres.

To register or know more about the mall walkers or kids’ mall walkers programme, e-mail Deborah@strideforlife.com or visit any of the customer service desks at Mall of the Emirates.

Anticipation Builds As 20,000 Register For Dubai World Championship

Tickets for the inaugural Dubai World Championship has seen interest from all corners of the globe with eager golf fans quickly snapping up more than 20,000 tickets within the first two weeks of becoming available.

Leisurecorp, a division of Nakheel Leisure and partners with The European Tour in creating The Race to Dubai, announced general admittance tickets for one of sport’s most anticipated events would be free earlier this month and has since received thousands of registrations via the tournament’s official website.

Golf legend Greg Norman, the designer of the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates which will host the Dubai World Championship from November 19-22, launched free tickets during a trip to make his finishing touches to the showpiece course which will see the top 60 players in The Race to Dubai competing for golf’s ultimate prize.
Hamza Mustafa, Managing Director of Nakheel Leisure, said:
“We have been absolutely delighted with the initial response to tickets becoming available and in the first few weeks we have seen people register from as far afield as Australia and the United States which is wonderful news for the tournament – and Dubai.

“There has been positive feedback from all corners of the golf world following our decision to offer tickets for free, with tens of thousands of people having already signed up to attend. The Dubai World Championship is going to be one of the leading events on the world’s sports calendar.”

Following the positive early response for tickets, fans are encouraged to register now at www.dubaiworldchampionship.com, the tournament’s official website which is also keeping track of the latest standings in The Race to Dubai, a season-long competition which features 51 golf tournaments in 28 destinations around the world.

The website also includes details and sales information on the two hospitality packages that are available, both of which include first-class facilities overlooking the 18th green, and one offering the unique experience of being among the first to play the Earth course following the Dubai World Championship.

Hamza Mustafa added:
“We have also seen strong interest in corporate hospitality sales and we encourage golf fans and those who want to provide something special for their clients and business partners to purchase now to ensure they experience sporting history right here in Dubai in the finest style.”

For more information on free tickets and hospitality ticket sales please visit www.dubaiworldchampionship.com