UAE Jet Ski Championships  Race 1 Will Start On Saturday 8th of January

After thrilling the crowds along The Walk, Jumeirah on New Years day the UAE Jet Ski Championships will return this Saturday for an exciting second round off shore from the unique Dubai Properties Group venue, The Walk Jumeirah.

Organised by Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) as part of a seven round competition in conjunction with Abu Dhabi and Fujeirah the championship involves teams from ten countries and the leading skiers in the World racing in six categories with over seventy competitors.

‘It is quite a display,’ said the DIMC organizing committee chairman, Huraiz Al Mur Bin Huraiz. ‘The race starts last week were very impressive as they were straight off the beach and really energized the crowd as they were so close to the action. The venue is perfect for this sport, easy to police with good accessibility from the land and sea with plenty of parking space and other attractions as well as restaurants and shops. The spectators and general atmosphere of the venue added a special edge to the races last week and we plan to work on ways to develop this.’

From the riders point of view the area offers new challenges. ‘Usually we race in the shade of Logo island where the water is very flat. But the choppier sea conditions in front of Jumeirah Beach Residence gives us a different set of conditions to work with and provides another level of competition which is great,’ said Nadir Bin Hendi, the current Pro Ski World Champion.

Race 1 will start on Saturday 8th January at 10:30 and race 2 at 14:30.
 

Top UAE Chefs Start The Fight For The Title

The first four teams spent a tense day in the kitchen earlier this week, producing their best signature dishes in the hope they will be shortlisted for the final of the second Anchor MasterChef Challenge.

Teams of two from The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai and The Address Downtown Dubai now have an anxious wait while seven other teams make culinary magic over the course of the week.

Four teams will make it through to the final where they will be faced with a ‘mystery basket’ of ingredients. The winning team will be announced at an exclusive event on 15 February. The competition is being held once again at Fonterra’s state-of-the-art innovation kitchen, the Culinarium.

The Anchor MasterChef Challenge is just one of a number of culinary events being hosted by Fonterra between January and July 2011. The New Zealand-based company is committed to providing young chefs with the opportunity to develop their skills through demanding competitions and challenging workshops.
 

Big Changes START With Small Steps-Masdar Is A Role Model For Sustainable Business Practices

Finding a roadmap for sustainability is a core valueof Masdar’s long-term economic vision, and the journey begins internally with its employees. “The START initiative,” Masdar’semployee sustainabilitycampaign,teaches that change happens at the individual level withbetter decision making and environmentally-conscientious lifestyles.Masdar encouragesits employees to be aware and accountable of the environmental impacts of their everyday actions, and the START initiativeis a constant reminder.

Masdar’ssustainability frameworkis designed to integrate economic, environmental, and social considerations into Masdar’s corporate strategy, daily operations and internal culture. The sustainability framework is a structured approach to thinking about the risks and opportunities of sustainability. The framework is comprised of four primary components: Masdar strategic sustainability goals, the organisational factors driving sustainability behaviour, identification of relevant sustainability themes and issues and identification of the key sustainability performance enablers.

The START initiative’s most recent efforts included a week-long sustainability awareness campaign for Masdar staff. Recently, nearly 200 Masdar staff signed a “sustainability pledge” and committed to promoting and living a more sustainable lifestyle. During the week, the campaign focused on key sustainability areas — waste, water, energy, and transport— providing staff with practical solutions to make significant change. For example, during the second daydedicated to water, Masdar displayed a compelling visualization that compared the amount of water used for a conventional, single car wash against a waterless carwash solution. On average a “driveway” car wash consumes 300 litres per wash while a “drive-thru” consumes 110 litres per wash. The “water-less” solution only uses 200 milliliters of water per wash and relies mainly on environmentally friendly cleaning agents.

“While the world waits for mass-scale integration of renewable energy, and game-changing innovations in clean technology, as individuals we are in a position to minimise our impacts on the environment and to reduce our demands for energy by making better decisions,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar.“Climate change and energy security are real issues, and it’s time for businesses to adapt and recognise the importance of being sustainable. The START initiative ensures that we at Masdar are following these principles, as we help transform Abu Dhabi to a knowledge-based economy rooted in the commercialisation of renewable energy and clean technology innovations.

“START is integral part of Masdar’s overall commitment to being the global leader in renewable energy and clean technology innovation and to its local commitment to living sustainably” said Dr. Al-Hosany, associate director of sustainability at Masdar. “We hope START serves as a template for other organisations in Abu Dhabi and beyond to further develop a culture that integrates sustainability as a key corporate value.”

The START initiative is more than just education, it is about measurable results. Masdar recently integrated smart meters to monitor energyconsumption.Water,waste, as well as carbon emissions associated with staff commute are being measured and published as well. Integrated within the Masdar Sustainable Administration Facilities, the system will be used to gauge behaviour changes and identify a calculable index for Masdar’s sustainability.

An additional incentive to this initiative, which companies across the world should focus on, is that operating more sustainably greatly impacts their financial bottom line. Where money is saved on using fewer resources it can be invested elsewhere. This helpsorganisations meet their core business targets and facilitate wider economic growth, thus supporting financial sustainability.

“Fresh water is a precious resource, especially in the Middle East, and we need to make better decisions about how we use it in our daily lives,” said Dr. Nawal Al-Hosany. “START teaches valuable lessons about our choices, and also presents real alternatives, such as the waterless carwash, so that we can be better citizens of this planet.Sometimesthis is as simple as being aware of the options available and the consequences of our actions.”

Dr. Al-Hosany is a recognized leader in sustainability, and was recently elected a member of the General Secretariat of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group (ADSG)—a membership organisation whose mission is to promote sustainability management in Abu Dhabi by providing learning and knowledge sharing opportunities for all organisations in the spirit of cooperation and open dialogue.
 

The UAEs Most Discerning Shoppers Get A Head Start At Majid Al Futtaims Flagship Retail Destinations

The UAE’s most discerning shoppers, keen to get a head start in the post-winter holiday shopping season, will benefit from more than 1300 retail outlets at Majid Al Futtaim Properties’ flagship destinations in the UAE, including Mirdif City Centre, Mall of the Emirates, and Deira City Centre. Starting on 5 January, spending a combined total of AED 300 across any of the three malls will give you a chance to win weekly shopping sprees worth AED 300,000.

Highlighting the continued buoyancy in the UAE’s retail sector following strong Eid and festive season foot traffic, Majid Al Futtaim Properties is rewarding the loyalty of its clients through additional promotions and fun entertainment to all the family throughout the extended winter shopping months.

In addition to the combined AED 300,000 weekly shopping sprees to be won starting as early as 5 January all through DSF, until 20 February, visitors to Mall of the Emirates can shop their way to one of two luxury getaways for 2 to Paris, while Deira City Centre has solid gold bars on offer in its weekly bonus draws. Mirdif City Centre will underscore its reputation as a family entertainment hub by hosting exciting events throughout the winter shopping high season.

“Many of our retail partners at Mirdif City Centre, Mall of the Emirates, and Deira City Centre are already anticipating the excitement of the winter holiday shopping season through fantastic sales and offers, which encouraged Majid Al Futtaim Properties to give our customers a head start on winning via our weekly shopping sprees and bonus draws from 5 January,” Yousif Al Ali, VP Mirdif City Centre.

“With a number of new brands coming to Dubai for the first time at Mirdif City Centre and Mall of the Emirates, along with Deira City Centre’s extensive array of mid-market popular brands, there are more than 1300 stores and retail outlets from which to choose, we’re making this an extremely memorable winter shopping season in Dubai,” added Yousif Al Ali.

January and February are traditionally strong shopping months in the UAE. In 2011, factors including the Chinese New Year, Russian Christmas, school holidays, resilient hotel occupancy and the concentration of luxury as well as value-centric brands in Dubai are expected to contribute to a robust winter shopping season.
 

Runners On Their Marks For New Start At Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon

Runners competing in the 2011 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon will once again rub shoulders with the running elite on a new starting line for the biggest running event in the region.

Certified AIMS course measurer Paul Hodgson, who has meticulously measured every route since the event was first staged in Dubai, has spent the last few days going over every inch of the route to ensure that it meets the highest international standards.

And with Dubai’s ongoing landmark changes once again affecting the course, the thousands expected to start the marathon will face yet another new start line, this time outside the old Hard Rock Café opposite the Emirates Golf Club.

“It is impossible for us to have the same start as we did in 2010 due to the ongoing developments in the city,” said Hodgson who was assisted in his measuring of the route by Abdullah M. Alyazeedi from Dubai RTA.

“But the new start is in an excellent location with plenty of space for runners to gather before the start gun is fired. In addition, by creating a new start we have been able to remove the turning point near the Madinat junction. This means we now have only one major turning point on the entire marathon route – down at Union House – which should help those runners looking to set a personal best.”

Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and staged under the aegis of the Dubai Sports Council, the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon will be staged on January 21, 2011 with world record marathon prize-money of $1 million on offer to the multi-national field.

While a new race start means runners will face a fresh opening to the 42.2km route, the course is largely as it was in 2010 with less than 5% of the route changed.

“By having a new start on the road outside the old Hard Rock Café and the American University, runners will be required to make their way to the start using Exit 32 from Dubai to Dubai Internet City/Media City on Sheikh Zayed Road,” said event director Peter Connerton. “We would advise using public transport although there will be parking options within Dubai Internet and Media City.”

The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon is supported by The Dubai Sports Council, Dubai Holding, \\\”Official Outfitter\\\” adidas, The Address Dubai Marina, Dubai Eye 103.8 FM, Khaleej Times, TNT, Gatorade, Aquafina, Fitness First, Men’s Fitness, Plan B and by government departments Dubai Police, RTA, Dubai Municipality DHA and the Dubai Ambulance Services.

Athletes looking to run in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, the 10km and the 3km Fun Run can register at any branch of Fitness First in Dubai or online at the official website www.dubaimarathon.org by December 31.
 

Dubai Municipality to start Clean up the World 2010 today

Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality will open today the 4-day Clean up the World 2010 campaign in Dubai that will see nearly 25,000 volunteers joining hands to drive home the green message.

The campaign, which is observed this year under the banner "Communities Caring for Nature," is held from 26 to 29 October 2010 at various sites across the emirate.

Hassan Makki, Director of Waste Management Department at the Municipality and Head of the Clean Up The World Team, said the campaign, which is organized for the 17th consecutive year by the Municipality, is the largest volunteer clean up drive in the country in terms of participation and collection of waste.

The Municipality’s Environmental Awareness Section will organize special awareness programmes for Dubai Municipality staff. The programmes include encouraging employees to participate in the Green Box campaign, which is a charity programme. They will be asked to deposit used materials such as electrical equipments, bags, stationery items and household furniture) for distributing them to the needy among the employees. In addition to that there will be Used Books Collection campaign, providing information on the occasion through email, sending SMS to Municipality mobile users and placing the campaign theme on the PCs in the Municipality.

The main areas for clean up activities will be Nadd Al Shiba, desert area in Wadi Al Amradi, bachelor accommodation areas in Al Quoz, Nadd Al Hamr, Al Khawaneej, Al Aweer area behind Defence Camp, Al Qusais Labour Camp and Ras Al Khor Natural Sanctuary.

Other areas include Jaddaf Fishermen’s Village, Jumeirah-1 Fishermen’s Village, Heritage Village area, Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim open beaches, Hatta Tourist areas, Industrial areas, Jebel Ali Port Free Zone area, Diving Beach and Creek, and labour camps.

 

Visiting Doctors Program Will Start In October

The visiting Doctors program has witnessed great development during the past phase to coincide with the strategies and goals of the Ministry to benefit from the experiences of international doctors in the hospitals of the ministry.

Nasser Khalifa Al Budoor, Director of External Relations at the Ministry of Health, and Supervisor of the Visiting Doctors Program explained that the aim of the visiting doctors program is not limited to treatment only but to develop the capabilities of visiting doctors at the hospitals of the ministry to reduce the treatment expenses abroad. The step comes in implementation to the instructions of Dr. Hanif Hassa, UAE Minister of Health who seeks for raising the proficiency of the ministry’s employees and increasing their skills.

The schedule of those doctors is done in coordination with the different hospitals at the medical districts to examine the critical cases or those that need specializations not available in the hospitals of the ministry.

Beginning from October 2010 till the end of the year, the Ministry will host Dr. Sprague Eustis, Ophthalmic Specialist in Ochsner Clinic from 9-15 October in Al Qassimi Hospital in Sharjah as well as Dr. Christopher Edwards, Rheumatologist in London Bridge Hospital same period. Al Qassimi Hospital will also receive Dr. Robert Hill Pediatric Orthopedist from 30 October till 5 November 2010.

During November, the Ministry of Health will also receive 6 doctors beginning with a visit of Dr. Charles Faiman, Endocrinologist and Diabetes in Cleveland Hospital to visit Sheikh Khelifa Hospital in Ajman from 6-12 November. At the same time, Professor Wolfgang Arnold, ENT surgeon in Munich University Hospital will visit the same hospital. Dr. Christopher Anderson, an Urologist in London Bridge Hospital will visit Saqer Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah from 20-26 November.

From 13-19 November Sheikh Khelifa Hospital in Ajman will receive Dr. Yasser Abou Rayyah, Pediatric Ophthalmologist in Moorfield Eye Hospital, Dr. Philip Wicart, Pediatric Orthopedist in Saint Vincent De-Paul Hospital from 20-26 November as well as Dr. James Pattison, Nephrologist in London Bridge Hospital from 20-26 November in Saqer Hospital at Ras Al Khaimah.

By the end of the year, Professor Mohammad Ghunnaim, Urologist and Kidney Surgeon in Al Mansoora University Hospital will visit Sheikh Khelifa Hospital in Ajman between 11-17 December.

Al Bodoor explained that the Ministry agreed with all the visiting consultants to visit the hospitals of the ministry and make surgeries of follow up the critical conditions taking into consideration their academic experience in order to enable UAE doctors benefit from their experiences and raise their efficiency.

 

UOWD IT Graduate, Samaneh Sanatnama, Among Four Finalists In ’The Big Start’ Business Start-Up Competition

Samaneh Sanatnama, a Finnish student of Iranian origin at the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), was among the four finalists who made it to the final round of The Big Start, a student entrepreneur initiative launched by Al Tamimi Investments (ATI).

The four students, competed against nearly 200 students from across the UAE for a chance to have their business idea made into a reality.

Samaneh Sanatnama, who completed her IT degree program at UOWD in April 2010 and is currently employed with MBC, was recognised for her well structured marketing plan for a clothing design company for kids.

"Though I am an IT student, I have good marketing skills which prompted me to apply for The Big Start competition, as it presents a lifetime opportunity to launch one’s own business with funding from Al Tamimi Investments," said Samaneh. "I put in a lot of effort into my presentation, and covered every aspect of the business plan, including the product’s unique selling proposition, costing, revenue, research, etc. I also did my homework by checking with stores about selling trends and other aspects. It was very thrilling to be selected for the final round."

"In terms of what I have learnt, the past six months has been invaluable to me and I have really enjoyed putting into practice what I have learnt at UOWD. I know that with hard work and perseverance, I can do anything I set my mind to," Samaneh said.

The final winner gets the chance of a lifetime to set up and run his or her own business after they graduate, with full funding and support from Al Tamimi Investments. The winner is given the title of Chief Executive Officer for the new company, as well as a structured shareholding agreement.

The final four candidates were selected based on their idea for an innovative new UAE-based company, their business acumen and personal qualities. Each finalist was given the opportunity to present his/her business plans to the judging panel, which included the Chairman of Al Tamimi Investments, Essam Al Tamimi.
 

Start Spreading The News – Emirates A380 Will Return To New York From October

Emirates’ A380 superjumbo will make a much-anticipated return to New York on 31st October, the airline has announced. The aircraft’s reinstatement on one of Emirates’ double daily JFK routes comes as the carrier reported a significant increase in revenue for the Americas in 2009-10, representing a year-on-year rise of 8.1 percent.

Growth in the Americas helped steer the airline to a net profit of AED 3.5 billion (US$ 964 million), while 27.5 million passengers flew with Emirates over the last financial year, over 20 percent more than in 2008- 09.

Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline said: "We promised to return the A380 to New York as soon as demand recovered and we have been true to our word."

He continued: "Against some of the toughest operating conditions ever faced, the results for the Americas have been hugely encouraging. This achievement reflects our success in maintaining our business as usual approach and remaining faithful to our strategy of product and service excellence."

"As we look to 2010-11 and beyond, Emirates will continue to invest in its products and services to build on the resurgent demand for air travel within the Americas. Our plans for the future also include adding new US cities to our four existing gateways: New York, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco."

Emirates’ expansion plans for the region will be boosted by a significant increase in capacity. The airline is scheduled to receive 11 new wide-body aircraft in 2010, including Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s.

Emirates currently operates eight A380 aircraft, serving London Heathrow, Toronto, Paris, Jeddah, Bangkok, Seoul, Sydney and Auckland. In March 2010, the airline also announced the start of A380 services to Beijing from 1st August and Manchester from September.

The much-praised superjumbos offer an Onboard Lounge for First Class and Business Class passengers, with a wide range of drinks and canapés, as well as the space to socialise or simply relax.

Passengers in all classes can lose themselves in the quietness of the aircraft and the much-enjoyed ice entertainment system. There are more than 1,000 channels of on-demand entertainment including 200 movies from around the world, 100 TV channels, more than 500 audio channels, 100 video games and news, sports and business headlines.

From 31st October, Flight EK201 will be operated by an A380 aircraft departing Dubai (DXB) at 08:30, arriving New York (JFK) at 14:15 the same day. EK202 departs JFK at 23:00, arriving Dubai at 19:45 the following day. The daily A380 service will complement Emirates second daily flight aboard the Boeing 777-300ER.

 

Australia’s FIFA Football For Hope Campaign In South Africa Gains Flying Start With Emirates Partnership

Football United, Australia’s team for the Football for Hope Festival in Johannesburg next month, announced that it has teamed up with Emirates, an Official Partner of 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

The Football for Hope Festival will run alongside the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ during June and July, and is more than just a competitive tournament, with the 32 teams selected for their contribution to highlighting the power of the game for social change.

The organisation representing Australia, Football United, is an initiative of the University of New South Wales, and uses football to support refugee and other disadvantaged youth in Sydney.

Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman, Emirates Airline & Group, said: “We are proud to be supporting Football United in their campaign for the Football for Hope Festival in Johannesburg.

“As an Official Partner of FIFA’s Football for Hope Festival, we are behind the tournament’s aims to bring about social change in disadvantaged communities through football, and believe the work of Football United is a great example of this in action in Australia.

“Emirates has a long-standing association with football globally, with headline sponsorships including Arsenal, AC Milan, and Paris Saint Germain among others, and we are pleased to add such a crucial community initiative such as Football United to this
portfolio.”

CEO of Football United, Anne Bunde-Birouste, said: “Through the support of Emirates, Official Airline Partner of the FIFA World Cup™ and the Football for Hope Festival, our delegation will receive flight support to South Africa, as well as playing and travel forms and kit.

“The support of Emirates has come at a crucial stage of our planning and will make the dreams come true for a group of youths that have had very little positive opportunities in their life. This partnership is also allowing many of our players the opportunity to return to Africa for the first time after fleeing their war torn countries of origin and living in refugee camps for many years.”

The team departs Australia on June 27th, onboard the Emirates A380 aircraft from Sydney, to arrive in time to Johannesburg for the tournament which commences 28th June.

The 32 competing mixed teams of youths aged 15-18 which Australia’s team will line up against have been selected from a diverse range of countries including Kenya and Cambodia. The Football for Hope Festival, being organised by FIFA, streetfootballworld, the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee, and the City of Johannesburg, will be played in a specially constructed stadium in the Johannesburg township of Alexandra.

To learn more about Football United and how to make a donation to the programme visit www.footballunitedprogram.org.