Dubai’s Very Own Choir ’Dubai Voices’ Takes To The Stage This DSS

A group of young multi-national resident singers are hoping to bring their unique voices to audiences across Dubai during this DSS. ‘Dubai Voices’, as they call themselves, is a choir of 16 talented performers across nationalities, cultures, and languages, and essentially embodies Dubai’s multicultural spirit. From June 25th to August 14th, the group will perform in various shopping malls giving mall goers the opportunity to listen to a select group of trained singers.

Lead by Bryan Furtado, a singer, actor, dancer, music teacher, and the musical director of the group, Dubai Voices will be performing three different acts during DSS weekends featuring interpretations of Broadway musicals, classic pop, jazz, world music, and other popular songs.

Dubai Voices will get on stage in Deira City Centre for their first performance on June 25 and mesmerize crowds for three days till June 27. The three acts will be performed at 6:40, 7:45, and 9:30 respectively.

As a multicultural choir, Dubai Voices will perform songs in English, Arabic, Tagalog, and Persian. Act 1 includes musicals such as the self titled musical That’s Entertainment, Circle of Life from Lion King, and Dancing Queen from Mamma Mia. Act 2 features pop songs such as Sing by the Carpenters, Shak Bhak Shakabit by Nancy Ajram, and Does Your Mother Know by ABBA. Act 3 features songs such as Cruisin by Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis, Beat Box – an original composition, popular Spanish number Desperado, Halla Vay Vay – a Persian and Arabic song, and Song of the Emirates – originally composed by an Australian resident in Dubai in the 1970s and reworked for the show by Bryan Furtado.

An Out-Of-The-Box Dining Experience In Cosmic Company At The Walk

Dubai’s latest culinary craze offers a bird’s-eye view. And, it’s not from one of the sky-reaching towers that have come to increasingly define the emirate.

Head, instead, to The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), a unique beachfront shopping promenade, where Dinner in the Sky Dubai is enthralling adventure lovers with its large measure of cutting edge excitement, and of course, some delectable dining options.

So what if the excitement comes in the form of a free-floating unconventional 9×5 meter sky box that’s suspended at a height of 50 metres? And, so what if you need to be hoisted by a 100 tonne crane as one of the privileged 22 guests, leather strapped to an elegant dining table with your legs dangling free? If that’s not enough, the adrenalin is guaranteed to soar while the table gently swivels 180 degrees, allowing you to admire the breathtaking vistas canvassed by the Arabian Gulf.

Since 17 April, Dinner in the Sky Dubai has added one more exhilarating facet to Dubai’s entertainment calendar and will continue to offer aerial feasts until 1 June, 2009.

Offered by Dubai Retail, the retail services arm of Dubai Properties Group (DPG), the concept that first took off in Belgium already boasts a waiting list of professionals looking to literally host an out-of-the-box business meeting or brave-hearted party lovers geared to take in that rare celestial encounter.

Open between 3.00pm to 12.00 midnight daily, the exotic culinary experience has the reassuring presence of three staff members including the chef, waiter and entertainer, who remain relatively mobile on a central platform that is ensconced by the diners. Ensuring a choice supply of food and beverages, the staff are ever eager to lend a helping hand for either taking pictures or film an event, conduct a product launch presentation or assist an entertainment fare.

During conventional operations, the Dinner in the Sky experience is set to last for approximately two hours per session. It offers 22 aloft feasters an international selection of culinary options ranging from coffee evenings to three-course meals per session, albeit in cosmic company.

Haiyan Mujarkech, CEO of Dubai Retail, said: “Dubai Retail strives to launch pioneering concepts at The Walk. Brought to Dubai in collaboration with Mindset Media and Event Horizon, Dinner in the Sky is the most original, breathtaking fine dining adventure that allows residents and tourists alike to experience one of Dubai Retail’s many unique offerings.”

In the words of David Ghysels, the Belgian who conceived the concept, Dinner in the Sky is “an experience to dream about” that has mesmerized audiences around the world including Johannesburg, Las Vegas, Paris, London, Turkey, Italy, Singapore, South Africa and Dubai.

“We are extremely pleased to introduce this elite, high-flying dining concept to Dubai Retail’s beachfront promenade, The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence. Dinner in the Sky is a promising and memorable adventure ideal for meetings, birthday parties, anniversaries, corporate retreats and other fun-filled events – an experience like no other," said Haluk Yalinkaya, Partner in Event Horizon LLC.

Dinner in the Sky has been ranked among the world’s top 10 most unusual restaurants by Forbes magazine in the US, while PR07, the largest TV station in Germany, has named it one of the top 10 extraordinary restaurants in the world. Recently, Dinner in the Sky was awarded the SMB Advisor of the Middle East for boasting the most innovative approach.

The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence hosts approximately 230 retailers and is anticipated to host over 305 outlets. Offering over 770,000 sq ft of retail space, the 1.7km retail promenade incorporates lifestyle shopping experiences through combining a unique selection of boutiques, retail stores, bistros and cafes.

Organized in alliance with Dubai-based Event Horizon and Mindset Media Dubai, Dinner in the Sky is bound to sweep you off your feet with its spectacular offerings and breathtaking views of Dubai’s skyline.

MGM MIRAGE Hospitality And Pearl Dubai To Develop Bellagio, MGM Grand, And Skylofts Brands At Dubai Pearl

MGM MIRAGE (NYSE:MGM) and Pearl Dubai FZ LLC today announced plans to develop Bellagio, MGM Grand, and Skylofts hotels, as well as branded residences at Dubai Pearl, the USD4 billion (AED15 billion) world-class, fully integrated luxury development in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Pearl Dubai FZ LLC will own and finance the 250-room Bellagio hotel, 350-room MGM Grand hotel, and 30-suite Skylofts hotel, while MGM MIRAGE Hospitality will manage and provide technical services for the three new ventures.

The agreement includes the development of Bellagio branded luxury residences, in addition to featuring world-renowned dining, entertainment, spa and convention that complement the luxury offering of the hotels.

Abdul Majeed Ismail Al Fahim, Chairman of Pearl Dubai FZ LLC, said: “Our alliance with MGM MIRAGE reflects our commitment to forging world-class partnerships with premium brands that are renowned for their operational excellence.

“The project’s entertainment elements will help complete the vision of making the Dubai Pearl a true landmark that will deliver an unforgettable experience through its diverse components and unmatched services.”

MGM MIRAGE is one of the world’s leading and most respected development companies with significant holdings in hospitality and entertainment.

Gamal Aziz, President and Chief Executive Officer of MGM MIRAGE Hospitality, said: “We are honored to be part of a significant development located in the heart of new Dubai. Dubai Pearl is a product born out of enhanced creativity and imagination, and our properties will inspire travelers and residents with a sense of livable luxury that infuses energy and excitement with sophisticated service.”

The association between the two companies will see the Dubai Pearl project getting Dubai’s first hotel and residences brands under the MGM MIRAGE portfolio.

Located opposite the Palm Jumeirah Island in the heart of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone, Dubai Pearl is a landmark destination designed to offer spectacular views of the Arabian Gulf. Through integrating first-class facilities, it will shape a pedestrian friendly, 24-hour living city that with a spectrum of commercial, retail, residential, hospitality and leisure components. Dubai Pearl will also boast a 2000 seat performing arts theatre aimed at meeting the needs of Dubai’s growing cultural calendar and complementing the project’s entertainment offering.

Featuring an active business district with a quality urban lifestyle, the development will be host to the world’s top brands and include sky palaces with private pools and landscaped gardens, luxury branded apartments and condominiums.

Al Maha: UAE’s Favourite Weekend Getaway

Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa – a luxurious retreat nestled within the 225 square kilometre pristine desert landscape of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve – was recognised for the second year running ‘Favourite Weekend Getaway in the UAE’ at the prestigious What’s On Awards gala event held earlier this week.

What’s On Awards is one of the definitive barometers of public opinion in the UAE’s entertainment and hospitality industries, and this year it drew votes from across the UAE over 100 days of online and public balloting. Despite many new contenders entering in this category over the past year, Al Maha retained its position in the eyes of the voting public.

The hotly-contested award was presented to Arne Silvis, General Manager, Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa at a spectacular event held at the brand new Palladium in Dubai Media City in front of over 1,000 guests.

The accolade adds to Al Maha’s impressive awards portfolio. Recently, this very private and romantic 42- suite resort beat off fierce international competition, becoming the only Leisure Hotel in Dubai to be voted one of the Top 20 of Conde Nast’s Readers’ Travel Award in the M.E., Africa and Indian Ocean region. Al Maha’s leadership and contributions to conservation have also earned it the world’s premier conservation award from National Geographic and Conservation International.

Tony Williams, Senior Vice President, Resorts & Projects, Emirates Hotels & Resorts said: “We are delighted that readers of What’s On magazine have again voted for Al Maha. I believe that our guests truly appreciate the commitment to excellence, privacy and personal service that they experience at Al Maha. The beautiful location and seclusion this offers is unique and while only 45 minutes drive from Dubai city-centre, Al Maha is a completely different world.

“We in turn really appreciate the support given to us at Al Maha by our guests. Each guest at Al Maha, just by being there, directly contributes to our conservation and wildlife efforts, and for this we sincerely thank them.”

Al Maha’s individually designed suites echo this region’s heritage, each with their own unique artwork, antiquities, hand crafted furniture, rugs and carpets. Each suite is set apart to guarantee privacy and boasts a private temperature-controlled swimming pool, outdoor decks as well as unobstructed views over the surrounding dunes towards the Hajar Mountains.

To complement the setting, and in order to provide the guests with the opportunities to explore this landscape and its unique wildlife, the resort offers a wide range of activities recalling Arabia’s unique desert traditions. These include falconry, camel trekking, horse riding, guided desert wildlife safaris and dune-driving.

Flexible dining arrangements allow guests to choose between sophisticated gourmet restaurant dining, offering international and Arabic cuisine, private dinners in their suite, or picnics in the dunes at an elegantly laid table under the stars.

Al Maha is currently offering a special promotion, with all guests staying for two nights receiving a complimentary third night. All rates are on full-board basis, inclusive of all teas and coffees, and two desert-based activities per day. The offer is valid until 17th September 2009.

For information, call Emirates Hotels & Resorts reservations on 04 303 4222, or visit www.emirateshotelsresorts.com.