Dubai Summer Surprises To Host International Character: Shows Dora The Explorer And Stories Of Spongebob

The Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment is bringing two international character shows this summer with Nickelodeon’s Dora The Explorer’s Best Friends Day and SpongeBob SquarePants’ Stories of SpongeBob being staged during the ongoing Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS). The shows are free and among the many international highlights of this year’s DSS.

Yousif Mubarak, Chief Operations Officer of Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment said, “Dubai Summer Surprises has been at the forefront of organizing quality entertainment events for families and shows like Dora’s Best Friends Day and Stories of SpongeBob reflect our commitment in providing entertainment for varied visitor segments. A significant aspect of these shows is that families can enjoy world-class entertainment for free.”

Dora, the Latina heroine of the renowned televised character series Dora the Explorer, is all ready to set out on another exciting musical adventure with her best friend Boots in Dora The Explorer show at Mirdif City Centre (Central Galleria) from July 6 to July 21. SpongeBob SquarePants, star of the popular Nickelodeon animated television series of the same name, is also performing this DSS in the Stories of SpongeBob show at Dubai Festival City (Festival Sqaure) from July 22 to Aug 7.

Staged in the UAE for the first time, Dora the Explorer and her best friend Boots celebrate Best Friend’s Day by celebrating the day together for a picnic on Rainbow Rock. But first they need to find it! The exciting, educational adventure begins as Dora and Boots set off on a musical adventure with the help of the audience to find their special picnic spot using English and Spanish vocabulary.

Show timings are 4:30pm and 6:30pm (Saturday to Wednesday) and 4:30pm, 6:30pm and 8:30pm (Thursday and Friday). There will be no shows on Mondays.

In Stories of SpongeBob, Patchy the Pirate agrees to share his most prized treasure with the audience - his favorite stories under the sea, all about his favorite absorbent friend SpongeBob SquarePants! As Patchy regales the audience with his stories, SpongeBob, Patrick and Squidward appear, reenacting these classic scenes. Show timings are 4:30pm and 6:30pm (Saturday to Wednesday) and 4:30pm, 6:30pm and 8:30pm (Thursday and Friday). There will be no shows on Mondays.

Kids and families in the Middle East can tune in and watch Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon Arabia. The Arabic language channel is dedicated to kids aged 2-14 years old and is available free-to-air via Arabsat and Nilesat.
 

Historic First Flight Shows All Systems Are ’Go’ For Dubai’s New Airport

Dubai Airports paved the way for the successful opening of Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International for cargo operations on June 27 after the new airport passed a series of operational tests conducted during its first ’live’ flight yesterday with flying colours.

Emirates Flight EK9883, a Boeing 777 freighter operating Hong Kong-Dubai and piloted by Captain Ahmad Bin Huzaim and First Officer Nabil Yousuf Ahmad Mohammad Rai Al Boom, touched down at 1650 local time yesterday amid cheers from an enthusiastic gathering of stakeholders and dignitaries on hand to observe the historic occasion.

"This is an important milestone, not only for the airport’s certification process, but as another step towards achieving Dubai’s vision to become the pre-eminent centre for aviation worldwide," said H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports. "It’s also a testament to the cooperation and dedication of all of the organisations and stakeholders involved, who have done an impressive job of building and preparing Phase 1 of the facility for launch in a very short time frame." Phase 1 of the airport will feature one A380 capable runway, 64 remote stands, one cargo terminal with annual capacity for 250,000 tonnes of cargo and a passenger terminal building designed to accommodate five million passengers per year. When completed, Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International will be the largest airport in the world with five runways, four terminal buildings and capacity for 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo. The facility opens initially for cargo carriers, with passenger operations currently slated to start up at the end of March 2011 in concert with the IATA schedule change.

In the short term Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International will increase the airport capacity of Dubai to accommodate the 48% increase in cargo volumes from 1.9 to 3 million tonnes that is anticipated by 2015. In the long term it will serve as a multi-modal logistics hub for 12 million tonnes of freight and a global gateway for the 150 million passengers per annum that are expected to pass through Dubai by 2030.

During the live operation, the flight effectively tested Air Traffic Control procedures, airfield and taxi way signage and routes, radio communication and a host of processes and procedures related to ground and cargo handling, fuelling, catering, customs, immigration and security. The trial also tested communication links between all the parties involved - Emirates SkyCargo, Dubai Airports, Dubai Air Navigation Services, Dubai Police, Customs, Immigration, Engineering Projects, Dubai Logistics City, Dubai World Central, JAFZA, Dnata, Swift Freight and the Roads and Transport Authority.

"The test was an unmitigated success not only for Emirates SkyCargo, but most importantly for our customer Swift Freight," said Ram Menen, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo. "The fact that the airport is connected to Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone by a bonded road which cuts transfer times significantly is a strong sales point. Although our cargo hub continues to be Dubai International, there is no doubt that Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International will play an increasingly important role - initially for spot cargo operations driven by customer need and eventually for scheduled freighter services." The Emirates operation served as a final exam following an extensive array of system, process and documentation checks, tests and trials that have taken place over the past several months to prepare the airport for opening day. The General Civil Aviation Authority, the overseeing regulator which, along with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority has been involved throughout, will conduct a final review on June 24 to complete airport licensing.
 

Crowds Throng Dubai Mall For Final Shows Of Hello Kitty’s Jungle Party

Hundreds of families showed up at Dubai Mall, a key sponsor of DSS, for the final two show of Hello Kitty’s Jungle Party on July 22, marking the end to the one of the most successful DSS stage shows held this year. Children and parents evidently enjoyed the last shows as they danced, sang and had fun at the photo opportunity with Hello Kitty, Dear Daniel, My Melody, Minna No Tabo and Bad Badtz Maru.

Mohammed and Bader Al Juwaisri from Kuwait said, “We enjoy our travel to Dubai because of such kind of family entertainment. Our children like the fun atmosphere here. It is a truly wonderful experience for our whole family.”

The same sentiment was shared by David Baron, an American national, who attended the show with his kids Jordan and Whitney. He said, “This [Hello Kitty Jungle Party] is awesome. There should be more of such shows in Dubai. The children learn and have fun at the same time. The parents also enjoy their time with their kids. It’s a great celebration of family activities.”

Mine Reith, a British national who was spotted at the event with daughter Sher and friend Kris said, “Being here is a fantastic way of spending quality time with my child. Plus, we need more free shows as amazing as this one. It’s such a terrific activity that adds up to the excitement of our shopping experience.”