Mall Of The Emirates Reaches Out To Its Neighbours

Mall of the Emirates, Dubai’s most popular retail and leisure destination, is extending a welcoming hand to new visitors from Abu Dhabi.The Mall’s position at the southern end of the Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road is the perfect location for a full day out in the world-famous shopping centre, with great entertainment inside and the added bonus of Ski Dubai and some of the city’s other major attractions on their doorstep.“The Mall of the Emirates is the perfect shopping and entertainment centre for Abu Dhabi’s residents,” said Fuad Sharaf, Vice President of Mall of the Emirates. “It takes just over an hour to drive here and like all our shoppers, after their first visit, they will want to come again and again.” he added. “We have a great experience to offer and we want the people of Abu Dhabi to enjoy that too,” he added.As a welcoming gift to those visitors from the nation’s capital, from April 30 to May 9, Abu Dhabi residents will be offered exclusive deals in the form of a ‘Neighbour to Neighbour Voucher Book.’The promotion, called ‘Welcome, Abu Dhabi Neighbours’, will ask residents to provide Abu Dhabi ID to receive the free booklet, which contains around 30 offers and discounts from many of the mall’s stores valid for three months.“This offer has been designed to extend the hand of friendship to our neighbours,” said Sharaf. “We are extremely proud of our achievements here at the Mall of the Emirates and we want to share our success not just with the people of Dubai, but with our brothers and sisters in Abu Dhabi,” he added.
 

Grand Midwest Group Of Hotel Apartments Expands Portfolio, Launches New Five-Star Deluxe Property In Dubai

The Ireland based hospitality-focused business entity, Grand Midwest Group; today announced expanding its footprints in Dubai by launching its third property in the emirate, a brand new five-star deluxe property within Media City, reinforcing the growth potential of the regional hospitality and tourism sector despite the current economic climate.
Commenting on the launch of the new 46-storied upscale, full-service hotel apartment property, Grand Midwest Tower, promoters of the property said that their expansion plans were on track and more projects were in the pipeline in Dubai.

“The hospitality sector in Dubai and the region may not be immune to the current global economic slowdown, but we do see a strong potential for growth in the medium to long-term. The opening of Grand Midwest Tower signifies our confidence in Dubai and the hospitality and tourism sector of the region which has a wealth of unlocked potential, particularly since Dubai is centrally located in the vicinity of emerging markets with strong potential for business growth,” said Mr.. Muhmmad Zafar Shah Khan, Group Chairman, Grand Midwest Group.Grand Midwest is ideally located within the new commercial and residential district of Dubai flanking Sheikh Zayed Road next to Internet City and Knowledge village. The property is located in Technology and Media Free Zone (TECOM) overlooking the Palm Island and has easy access to Dubai Marina, Emmar Business Park, Mall of Emirates, Emirates Golf Club, Greens, Springs etc.The property offers 225 fully furnished hotel apartments in varying sizes including 45 studio apartments, 150 one-bedroom apartments and 30 two-bedroom apartments. Grand Midwest Tower also offers an extensive choice of conference and meeting facilities, two restaurants, a coffee shop, business centre, five board rooms, and two spacious banqueting halls and other state-of-the-art facilities and amenities.“Our primary focus for Grand Midwest Towers will be business travelers, Dubai being the region’s most business-friendly location housing a significant number of global corporations. Being a hub of the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) sector, Dubai attracts a significant number of global business travelers and we are confident that Grand Midwest will be an attractive choice for them,” Mr. Zafar said.
Commenting on the vision of Grand Midwest Group, he added, “It is our vision to emerge as a world-class provider of international hospitality services, offering a consistent level of comfort to both corporate and leisure travelers.”He further underlined the hotel group’s commitment to high service standards. “We are happy to welcome international guests to experience the property which prides itself on aiming to provide five-star level of services. As hoteliers, we stand committed to supporting the vision of the government in promoting Dubai as a world leader in tourism and hospitality.”
The hotel apartment offers a welcoming ambience for international guests as the staff are all highly trained and experienced to offer guests an enjoyable and comfortable stay.
Grand Midwest Tower offers contemporary décor and modern amenities with rooms elegantly furnished with a fully equipped kitchen and home entertainment system. Other essential amenities at Grand Midwest Tower include satellite television, DVD players, CD players, high-speed Internet access, direct-dial phones that give one the comfort of a home. Other amenities include Business centre, Conference Rooms, 24-hour room service, safe deposit box in each apartment, LCD Televisions, fully equipped gym, two swimming pools, Satellite /Cable Television, English and Arabic Television channels, housekeeping, laundry service etc. In addition, the Hotel Apartments has a well designed and inviting Food Court, an international restaurant with open kitchens serving Asian, European and Arabic Food.
 

Road and Transport Authority Commences New Bus Service from Dubai Industrial City

Dubai Industrial City, a member of Tatweer, today announced the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has commenced a regular bus service linking the leading industrial destination with the rest of the Emirate.

Eissa Al Dossary, Chief Executive Officer for the Public Transportation Agency at the RTA, confirmed that the daily service (route number F-53), operates from 5:00 am until midnight, directly linking Dubai Industrial City with the rest of Dubai. Buses, arriving in 60-minute intervals, currently travel between Dubai Industrial City and Ibn Batutta Mall on Sheikh Zayed Road with 29 stops in between.

Al Dossary added: “The Agency is dedicated to expanding its network of bus service to areas across Dubai to meet the needs of urban development and population growth across the Emirate. The RTA offers modern and well equipped buses that respond to the needs of the public with special areas inside each bus dedicated to people with special needs, women and children.”

Rashed Al Ansari, Vice-President of Dubai Industrial City, said: “This is another milestone in the development of public services for our project. We have thousands of residence in our labour villages and employed across the destination and their numbers are growing. The RTA has taken a timely step to operate a dedicated bus service following an increased demand for public transportation to and from the industrial township.

“The new RTA bus service will eventually serve various locations across Dubai Industrial City including warehouses, and offices to accommodate the increasing number of manufacturing facilities that are currently being built across the city,” Rashed noted.

Al Dossary added that as part of its overall strategic direction the agency has set up a series of plans and objectives to expand and develop its bus network as it plays a vital role in public transport system in Dubai. “The RTA is working to increase the number of trips conducted by public transport buses by 30% by the year 2020.”

The new bus route is in response to the growing investor interest in Dubai Industrial City, effectively linking the industrial hub with other modes of transportation in the Emirate, and enabling the seamless movement of men and material.

The establishment of Dubai Industrial Academy and complementary logistic facilities, including warehouses, open storage yards, showrooms, transPARK and Taasees government services, have further contributed to the increasing number of people visiting the township.

The 560 million square foot Dubai Industrial City is a comprehensive one stop industrial and commercial destination.

Facilities currently offered at Dubai Industrial City include 2.8 million sq. feet of open storage yards, three million square feet of warehouses in addition to 64 showrooms, transPARK end-to-end logistics solutions, , training programmes by Dubai Industrial Academy, as well as four office buildings that are fully operational.

The dedicated industrial destination is comprised of six industrial clusters including food and beverage, base metal, mineral products, chemicals, transport equipment and parts, as well as machinery and mechanical equipment.

Deyaar To Hand Over Madison Residency In May

Deyaar Development PJSC, the region’s fastest growing real estate company, announced today that it will handover all residential units at Madison Residency to home owners on May 16, 2009. The company is also organising an orientation program to advise all home owners on the handover process ahead of the scheduled delivery. Madison Residency is the first project to be delivered by Deyaar in 2009.

The orientation program is aimed at updating customers with the final documentation procedure for their respective properties as well as presenting the 2009 building operating budget and facilities management contract. Additionally an explanation of the building systems, amenities and personnel will be given.
The program will take place on Saturday, April 18, at the Grand Hyatt hotel in the presence of senior Deyaar executives.

The customer orientation program and scheduled handover of the 26-storey residential tower continues Deyaar’s impressive track record and strong commitment towards customer service excellence. (delete ‘and delivery timelines’) The project is the latest in the line of high-quality projects completed by Deyaar in the past few years, and will be the first of seven buildings projected to be handed over in 2009.

Located at the Technology, E-Commerce and Media (TECOM) free zone, along Sheikh Zayed Road, Madison Residency comprises 312 residential units, including 161 luxurious studio apartments, 52 one-bedroom and 99 two-bedroom apartments. The tower is well-equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, including a health club, swimming pool, roof garden, underground parking, high-end security systems and access to extensive retail facilities, and an impressive stone entrance and lobby area.

Markus Giebel, Chief Executive Officer of Deyaar, said: “An orientation program in the lead-up to the delivery of Madison Residency further underscores Deyaar’s continued commitment to providing our customers with best international quality and service experience and is in line with our 2009 strategy to facilitate increased communication with customers. A program of this nature is an essential practice followed by leading global developers. It provides customers the opportunity to understand the exact documentation procedure for the final handover as well as the facilities management contract and amenities provided at the project. Such a program proved to be very successful on our Al Seef II project that was recently handed over.”

Giebel added: “Positioned in one of Dubai’s most prestigious and sought-after locations, Madison Residency stands out for its close proximity to the key business hubs of Dubai and the world-class lifestyle it provides.”

Dubai TV Launches New Weekly Programme ’Dhel Al Kalam’

Dubai TV, part of Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI), one of the pioneering media organizations and creative services group in the Middle East, today announced the launch of a new weekly programme ‘Dhel Al Kalam’ (Shadow of the Words) hosted by Majid Mohsen, a renowned Emirati media personality.

To be aired every Thursday, the first episode of ‘Dhel Al Kalam’ will be aired on 9 April at 22:30 UAE time and 21:30 hours KSA, with a repeat on Friday at 14:00 hours UAE.
‘Dhel Al Kalam’ is an interactive programme analyzing and following up the most prominent event of the week, from the perspective of the average Dubai resident. Zooming into the bustling Sheikh Zayed Road as its main locale, the show will capture the vibrancy of the city through relying on the views of commuters on the arterial highway that has become the lifeline of the emirate.

Majid Mohsen returns as a host to Dubai TV with rich media experience in presenting news programmes, specialized seminars, and covering key international events. Through ‘Dhel Al Kalam’, he will not only interact with the common man but also walk into the power corridors to get answers for people’s questions from experts and government officials across the economic, social, and political spectrum.

Majid Mohsen said: “Dhel Al Kalam might not be a common format for a programme on Arab television channels, but will offer a free conversation space for people to spontaneously participate and discuss issues and thoughts that are right on top of their minds. Each episode of the programme will be built around topics ranging from economic to social issues. In addition, it will also endeavour to promote Dubai and its unique lifestyle.”

‘Dhel Al Kalam’ will open with an impromptu conversation with people on Sheikh Zayed Road, where Mohsen will listen to the views and problems, and convey the comments to officials in the Dubai TV studios. The other segment of the programme will include ‘real reporting’, in addition to inviting people’s input through webcams or mobile phones to the DMI website. Synopsis of future episodes will be available on www.dmi.ae.

Mohsen added: “We have chosen Sheikh Zayed Road as a measurement tool for its international significance, in addition to being widely recognised as a hub showcasing cultural and intellectual diversity. Our cameras will move into coffee shops and street corners on the highway to meet up with residents and commuters from diverse nationalities to get their views on local, regional, and international topics. I am confident Dhel Al Kalam will set a benchmark on locally-produced TV programmes.”

Getting Around By Car

Driving is an economical way to travel in Dubai. If you’re visiting from abroad and plan to rent a car, keep in mind that an international driver’s license or a temporary Dubai license is required. Some rental car companies are able to help arrange international or temporary Dubai licenses for visitors. Most rental cars are new, automatic, and air-conditioned. Rates vary considerably, and are usually cheaper when booked in advance online.

Comprehensive insurance is essential (including personal accident coverage). For listings of the major car-rental agencies in Dubai, please see appendix. Dubai’s roads are excellent, if increasingly crowded. Traffic signs are well marked and written in both English and Arabic. Speed limits range from 60 to 80kmph (37–50 mph) on city roads, and from 100 to 120kmph (62–75 mph) on highways. Seat belts are mandatory, as is use of hands-free devices when using a cellphone behind the wheel. Children 9 and under are not allowed to sit in the front seat. Anyone involved in a traffic accident must wait at the scene until the traffic police arrive to make a report. Call Phone: 999 to report the accident.

There are four bridges and a tunnel linking the two sides of Dubai on each side of the Dubai Creek. Traffic along Sheikh Zayed Road and the Maktoum Bridge is exceptionally heavy during rush hour. An eight-lane highway, which is Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, heads southwest toward Abu Dhabi, which takes between 90 to 120 minutes to reach depending on how fast you drive. Although Dubai’s roads are in good shape, standards of driving are poor. Traffic accidents are a leading cause of injury and death in the UAE.

Local drivers in particular often drive at very high speeds. Unsafe driving practices are common, particularly on inter-city highways such as Sheikh Zayed Road. On highways, unmarked speed bumps and blowing sand create additional hazards. Some visitors find it’s simpler to take taxis rather than deal with renting a car and driving themselves.

Paid parking is available in most areas of Dubai. Look for the “pay and park” meters that require either AED 1 or AED 2 (25¢–50¢/15p–30p) per hour. Parking meters generally operate Saturday to Thursday from 8am to 1pm and again from 4 to 9pm; Friday is usually free. Valet parking is offered at most hotels, where many restaurants and bars are located. Gasoline, referred to as “petrol” in Dubai, is available at stations operated by Emarat, EPPCO, and ENOC. Gas is less expensive in Dubai than in most Western countries.

Best Splurge Hotels

• Al Qasr
Madinat Jumeirah. This extravagant resort in Madinat Jumeirah resembles an ornate Arabian palace. It sits on its own island surrounded by waterways, lush gardens, and the re-creation of ancient Gulf architecture. (Phone: 4/366-8888; www.madinatjumeirah.com)

• Bab Al Shams
Is a serene desert resort located 45 minutes outside Dubai, ideal for escaping the busy city and immersing oneself in uninterrupted relaxation. Even when fully booked, the resort has the feeling of being mostly empty with an unobtrusive staff that caters to your needs. (Phone: 4/832-6699; www.jumeirahbabalshams.com)

• Burj Al Arab
Jumeirah Beach. The famous luxury resort dominates the Dubai coastline, pampering guests in two-level suites with floorto- ceiling windows overlooking the sea and a range of over-the-top amenities fit for kings and queens. (Phone: 4/301-7777; www.burj-al-arab.com)

• Fairmont Dubai
Sheikh Zayed Road. Arguably the most refined hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, the Fairmont houses some of the most upscale dining and nightlife options in town. Elegantly appointed guest rooms boast panoramic views of the city or the Gulf. (Phone: 4/332-5555; www.fairmont.com)

• Grosvenor House
Dubai Marina. The stylish tower overlooking the Dubai Marina blends Arabian touches with contemporary design. Guests have access to the excellent beach club at the nearby Le Royal Méridien. (Phone: 4/399-8888; www.grosvenorhouse-dubai.com)

• Shangri-La
Sheikh Zayed Road. Gracious service is the hallmark of this spectacular hotel, which attracts business elites, visiting celebrities, and travelers with a strong sense of style. (Phone: 4/343-8888; www. shangri-la.com)