Who Says a Gym Membership Can’t Be Free? Wexer is Redefining the Fitness Industry

DUBAI INTERNET CITY, United Arab Emirates, June 22 /PRNewswire/ — Every industry experiences disruptive innovation at some point, or even multiple times. When this happens a lifecycle reaches an end and a new one begins. It seems the health club industry could be seeing that kind of innovation right now.

In only 6 weeks newly launched online health club Wexer (wexer.com) has added members from more than 50 countries. This has made Wexer the second most globally spread health club operator in the world.

Why the overnight success? Founder and CEO Rasmus Ingerslev explains, "From having built a large chain of traditional health clubs I knew that convenience and price are among the most important factors when it comes to motivating anybody who wants to get in shape. This is why Wexer is free to use and can be accessed whenever and wherever you want to work out. The core of Wexer is high quality exercise videos and these are wrapped in a social community that allows you to connect with other members – just like in a real club."

Of course, "there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch." Wexer´s business model is based on three main sources of revenue; ads on pages and in the exercise videos, upgrades to Pro Memberships (USD 3.95 a month) and commission on products and services sold in the marketplace section of the site.

"Wexer is a volume driven model. We need a lot of active members with a behavior that allows us to make a micro turnover per member. Only 6 weeks into operations, it´s still too early to foresee what the metrics will look like at full speed, but we can see that we have the outreach we expected and that our members consider our services valuable," Ingerslev concludes.

Although starting up a new company in the middle of an economic downturn is not what you would call a dream scenario, it might be beneficial for Wexer. A lot of people are currently reconsidering how they spend their money and with a 0-dollar price tag on a gym membership this could be the best possible time to market for Wexer.

Who Says a Gym Membership Can’t Be Fre? Wexer is Redefining the Fitness Industry

DUBAI INTERNET CITY, United Arab Emirates, June 22 /PRNewswire/ — Every industry experiences disruptive innovation at some point, or even multiple times. When this happens a lifecycle reaches an end and a new one begins. It seems the health club industry could be seeing that kind of innovation right now.

In only 6 weeks newly launched online health club Wexer (wexer.com) has added members from more than 50 countries. This has made Wexer the second most globally spread health club operator in the world.

Why the overnight success? Founder and CEO Rasmus Ingerslev explains, "From having built a large chain of traditional health clubs I knew that convenience and price are among the most important factors when it comes to motivating anybody who wants to get in shape. This is why Wexer is free to use and can be accessed whenever and wherever you want to work out. The core of Wexer is high quality exercise videos and these are wrapped in a social community that allows you to connect with other members – just like in a real club."

Of course, "there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch." Wexer´s business model is based on three main sources of revenue; ads on pages and in the exercise videos, upgrades to Pro Memberships (USD 3.95 a month) and commission on products and services sold in the marketplace section of the site.

"Wexer is a volume driven model. We need a lot of active members with a behavior that allows us to make a micro turnover per member. Only 6 weeks into operations, it´s still too early to foresee what the metrics will look like at full speed, but we can see that we have the outreach we expected and that our members consider our services valuable," Ingerslev concludes.

Although starting up a new company in the middle of an economic downturn is not what you would call a dream scenario, it might be beneficial for Wexer. A lot of people are currently reconsidering how they spend their money and with a 0-dollar price tag on a gym membership this could be the best possible time to market for Wexer.

RTA Receives the Flag of Hosting 59th UITP World Congress & Exhibition 2011

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 16/PRNewswire/ — More Than 1000 Personalities Attend the Event Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:
Dubai received the flag of hosting the 59th World Congress and Exhibition of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), which will be hosted by Dubai in 2011, at the closing session of the 58th UITP World Congress held in the Austrian capital Vienna.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090616/350639 )

The event was attended by more than 1000 personalities headed by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Omran, UAE Ambassador
to Austria & Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN at Vienna, H.E.Roberto Cavalieri, UITP President, H.E. Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General, senior Austrian government officials, executives of transport sector from all
over the world, and representatives of companies specialized in the field of transport.

Al Tayer received the flag of hosting The 59th UITP World Congress and Exhibition from H.E. Roberto Cavalieri and H.E. Hans Rat amid a huge applause from the attendants.

In a speech delivered after taking over of the flag, Al Tayer said: "The United Arab Emirates made massive economic, social and cultural development and grew into a key commercial center, thanks to the wise
leadership of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and his brother HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Accordingly, the UAE has had a vibrant and diverse economy and succeeded in attracting considerable number
of investors, businessmen; thanks to its superb infrastructure, international outlook, free economic policy and emphasis on delivering top-notch services at the least possible costs".

Al Tayer lauded the efforts of the Austrian Government and the UITP in bringing success to the 58th UITP World Congress and delivering it in a fine format. He also praised the work papers discussed during the Congress
and the latest transport technologies displayed by the participating companies. Meanwhile, Al Tayer welcomed all attendants to Dubai during the 59th UITP Congress; which will be hosted by Dubai in 2011.

"When you visit Dubai, you will notice the eye-catching infrastructure, smooth flow of business cycle and world-class service delivery. We view Dubai as a regional hub of integrated transport systems.

The 59th UITP World Congress 2011 will be a milestone in our drive to achieve transport excellence, marking the completion of transport modes spanning the metro, tram, public transport, and marine transport in the emirate such that Dubai will set the example to follow in the region," said Al Tayer.

He added: "I’m proud of the huge success made by the emirate of Dubai in upgrading mass transit system; which has become crucial for the daily mobility of Dubai residents. RTA was established in 2005 to assume
responsibility for transport in Dubai and from inception it set sight on provision of an integrated mass transit network that includes buses, marine modes, metro, and tram; all of which are characterized by top quality,
affordable rates and wide geographical coverage. Additionally, RTA is assigning much attention to safety in all public transport means; including trains and buses.

"This year will witness the operation of the initial phase of Dubai Metro Project; the longest driverless metro project constructed as one project worldwide. It extends 75 km and connects 48 stations; including the biggest metro station in the world i.e. the 25,000 square meter area Union Square Station; a key interchange station between the Red and Green Lines.

Dubai Metro is modeled at the highest global standards and based on state-of-the-art rail technologies to meet the requirements of various community segments. With its air-conditioned stations, and e-ticketing system, the system sets the benchmark of total quality standards. It has a capacity to handle 23,000 passengers per hour per direction, and the metro is set to attract 17% of total person trips in the city by 2020."

During the closing ceremony a film was played to showcase the massive economic process in the emirate of Dubai, the traditions of the UAE society as well as the tourist, cultural and commercial landmarks of the emirate. Al Mazyoodi Band made Yawla dance which was well received by the attendants. Events also included sand drawing of several Dubai tourist attraction landmarks, RTA logo and the logo of the 59th UITP World Congress &
Exhibition "Dubai 2011".

Afterwards, H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, together with H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Omran, UAE Ambassador to Austria, accompanied chief guests of the closing ceremony to RTA stand at the Exhibition; where they were served with
popular UAE cuisine and Arabian coffee. The guests attended a video presentation about the experiment of the RTA in developing mass transit systems covering metro, tram, marine transport and public buses as well as
road projects and modern traffic technologies.

At the end of the event, Al Tayer presented trophies to H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Omran, UAE Ambassador to Austria & Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN at Vienna, H.E. Roberto Cavalieri, the outgoing UITP
President whose term has ended with the current term, H.E. Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General, H.E Elain Flausch the new President of UITP and the representative of Vienna Government.

Peyman Parham, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Roads and Transport Authority, Tel: +971-42065005, Mobile:+971-50-8889689, peyman.parham@rta.ae; Fiona D’Cunha, Marketing and
Corporate Communications, Roads and Transport Authority, Telephone: +971-4-2065098, Mobile-+971-50-2821969, website: http://www.rta.ae

AED 50 Million next generation fully converged IT Platform for UAE Hospitality

Independent United Arab Emirates holding company Seven Tides and associated companies has taken hospitality technology architecture to the next level by installing an AED 50 million centralised fully converged platform, the first of its kind anywhere in the world.The IT platform which provides a flexible network covers all of Seven Tides’ upcoming Dubai developments, the Royal Amwaj and Oceana on Palm Jumeirah, Ibn Battuta Gate and Moevenpick Deira. Future developments will also be accommodated on the same platform linking all front and back of house operations – property to property.Mike Scully, Managing Director Hospitality, Seven Tides, said, “These five-star developments are multi-use and have been designed for sophisticated lifestyles, whether it‘s business or leisure. Offering superior quality on this level needs a flexible, reliable, cost-effective and sustainable IT platform. ”According to Scully, most hotels under development adopt a silo approach, meaning that they are constructed with multiple proprietary networks that support separate systems for IPTV, high speed internet access, wireless, CCTV, right down to access controls for A/C, lighting, fire and safety.“In addition, most buildings have separate voice, video, and data communications networks. The bottom line is that this lack of integration makes properties complex to operate, with high installation and maintenance costs and substandard functionality,” he stated.“Our connected solution unites these disparate networks and systems over a single IP network that allows all applications to be monitored and managed centrally. Ultimately, this integration will not only save money on installation and maintenance, more importantly it will enhance the guest experience and improve our operational efficiency,” added Scully.For this vision to become a reality, Seven Tides appointed ENTIRETEC, a global IT consulting company, to weave the technology design, tendering, procurement and project management into the property development process. The early stages of a property’s conception, network and communications needs are usually not given the same early attention.“Seven Tides understood that the infrastructure and the technology must be considered in the planning stages for it to have an optimal impact on their development’s functionality and play an integral role in delivering a superior guest experience,” commented Julian Kraft, Managing Director, ENTIRETEC Middle East.“By running all of the technology under a central, next generation fully converged platform Seven Tides will not only make tremendous savings on capital and operational expenses, it has set a global benchmark with its technology and its centralised approach,” cited Kraft.The next generation network is to be provided by Cisco. This infrastructure was selected during an 18 month process as the only viable solution for closing the IT gaps that traditional hoteliers experience. The ‘Cisco Connected Hotel’ is a comprehensive suite of solutions that address the industry concerns about employee productivity, complicated and outdated communications systems and energy costs, as well as lost revenue streams and fractured guest services.“Cisco’s network foundation will allow Seven Tides’ properties to integrate communications, security, services, and building systems over one IP-based network. Data, voice, video, and critical applications can be managed and monitored over a single network that will grow to accommodate all of Seven Tides’ property needs in the future. In the service-oriented world of hospitality, connectivity, network reliability, accessibility and flexibility are essential to maintaining five-star service 365 days a year,” concluded Scully.

RTA Receives the Flag of Hosting 59th UITP World Congress and Exhibition 2011

Dubai received the flag of hosting the 59th World Congress and Exhibition of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), which will be hosted by Dubai in 2011, at the closing session of the 58th UITP World Congress held in the Austrian capital Vienna.The event was attended by more than 1000 personalities headed by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Omran, UAE Ambassador to Austria & Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN at Vienna, H.E. Roberto Cavalieri, UITP President, H.E. Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General, senior Austrian government officials, executives of transport sector from all over the world, and representatives of companies specialized in the field of transport.Al Tayer received the flag of hosting The 59th UITP World Congress and Exhibition from H.E. Roberto Cavalieri and H.E. Hans Rat amid a huge applause from the attendants.In a speech delivered after taking over of the flag, Al Tayer said: “The United Arab Emirates made massive economic, social and cultural development and grew into a key commercial center, thanks to the wise leadership of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and his brother HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Accordingly, the UAE has had a vibrant and diverse economy and succeeded in attracting considerable number of investors, businessmen; thanks to its superb infrastructure, international outlook, free economic policy and emphasis on delivering top-notch services at the least possible costs”.Al Tayer lauded the efforts of the Austrian Government and the UITP in bringing success to the 58th UITP World Congress and delivering it in a fine format. He also praised the work papers discussed during the Congress and the latest transport technologies displayed by the participating companies. Meanwhile, Al Tayer welcomed all attendants to Dubai during the 59th UITP Congress; which will be hosted by Dubai in 2011.“When you visit Dubai, you will notice the eye-catching infrastructure, smooth flow of business cycle and world-class service delivery. We view Dubai as a regional hub of integrated transport systems. The 59th UITP World Congress 2011 will be a milestone in our drive to achieve transport excellence, marking the completion of transport modes spanning the metro, tram, public transport, and marine transport in the emirate such that Dubai will set the example to follow in the region” said Al Tayer.He added: “I’m proud of the huge success made by the emirate of Dubai in upgrading mass transit system; which has become crucial for the daily mobility of Dubai residents. RTA was established in 2005 to assume responsibility for transport in Dubai and from inception it set sight on provision of an integrated mass transit network that includes buses, marine modes, metro, and tram; all of which are characterized by top quality, affordable rates and wide geographical coverage. Additionally, RTA is assigning much attention to safety in all public transport means; including trains and buses.“This year will witness the operation of the initial phase of Dubai Metro Project; the longest driverless metro project constructed as one project worldwide. It extends 75 km and connects 48 stations; including the biggest metro station in the world i.e. the 25,000 square meter area Union Square Station; a key interchange station between the Red and Green Lines. Dubai Metro is modeled at the highest global standards and based on state-of-the-art rail technologies to meet the requirements of various community segments. With its air-conditioned stations, and e-ticketing system, the system sets the benchmark of total quality standards. It has a capacity to handle 23,000 passengers per hour per direction, and the metro is set to attract 17% of total person trips in the city by 2020”.During the closing ceremony a film was played to showcase the massive economic process in the emirate of Dubai, the traditions of the UAE society as well as the tourist, cultural and commercial landmarks of the emirate. Al Mazyoodi Band made Yawla dance which was well received by the attendants. Events also included sand drawing of several Dubai tourist attraction landmarks, RTA logo and the logo of the 59th UITP World Congress & Exhibition “Dubai 2011”.Afterwards, H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, together with H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Omran, UAE Ambassador to Austria, accompanied chief guests of the closing ceremony to RTA stand at the Exhibition; where they were served with popular UAE cuisine and Arabian coffee. The guests attended a video presentation about the experiment of the RTA in developing mass transit systems covering metro, tram, marine transport and public buses as well as road projects and modern traffic technologies.At the end of the event, Al Tayer presented trophies to H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Omran, UAE Ambassador to Austria & Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN at Vienna, H.E. Roberto Cavalieri, the outgoing UITP President whose term has ended with the current term, H.E. Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General, H.E Elain Flausch the new President of UITP and the representative of Vienna Government.

Cherie Blair Visits DIHAD Office And Receives A Trophy Of Appreciation

Cherie Blair, head of Foundation for Women, Visited Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD) office in Dubai yesterday to discuss various humanitarian aid and development related issues. Mrs. Blair received DIHAD trophy as a sign of appreciation from DIHAD Conference and Exhibition organization committee.

The trophy was handed over to Mrs. Blair by Mr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive chairman of DIHAD Conference and Exhibition and President of Index Holding at DIHAD office in Dubai.

Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD) is an annual event being held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai in collaboration with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Foundation. DIHAD is officially supported by the United Nations Organization and the Red Crescent Society for United Arab Emirates in addition to many other humanitarian and aid organizations in the world.

Blair expressed her intention to participate as a key note speaker in Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference 2010 scheduled to be held from 4 to 6 April 2010. She praised Dubai vital role in enhancing the efforts to promote humanitarian and aid development projects and charities regionally and internationally.

“I’m so much hoping that we will have a session next year here in Dubai, we will discuss women and their contribution in business and economical life of their countries and I will be delighted to be involved in that. It is really admirable that Dubai is taking the lead in humanitarian and aid development issues, it’s a marvelous place to visit, and has all the required facilities to develop this sector”.

“DIHAD is one of the largest international humanitarian aid and development events in the world and we look forward to a more successful edition next year. We are delighted by the participation of Mrs. Blair in Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference 2010 and we would like to express our appreciation for her continuous efforts in supporting different humanitarian issues. ” said Abdul Salam Al Madani during the meeting.

DIHAD is an ideal platform for local, regional and global governmental and non governmental organizations concerned in humanitarian and aid development sector, the United Nations Organization, charities, aid materials manufacturers and humanitarian work funding entities to meet and discuss the latest developments. It is an opportunity for knowledge exchange and exploration of global experiences in humanitarian aid and development sector.

Artists With Special Needs Part Of Art Exhibition In Dubai

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands and DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 8/PRNewswire/ — A voting website will be launched in Dubai on the 17th of June 2009, where 40 artworks with the theme "Water" will be displayed. All 40 artworks have been created by artists with special needs from the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and the UAE.

Visitors can vote for their favourite work of art on this website; http://www.voteforbeautifulpeople.com. By placing your vote you automatically have the chance to win beautiful prizes. The 12 works of art with the most votes will be used for a coffee crockery set with the theme "Water".

Mr. Saeed Al Nabouda, Chief Project Officer of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, shall officially open the website in the Dubai International Centre.

The website will be closed at the end of August, votes will be counted and the 12 winners will be announced on the 31st of October. Her Royal Highness Princess Haya of Dubai will announce the 12 lucky artists in The
Grand Hyatt hotel. The Grand Hyatt is the starting point for the art exhibition displaying all forty artworks. From there on the exhibition will move to various locations.

Beautiful People is a social and sustainable coffee concept and works on behalf of artists with special needs. Beautiful People, a Dutch initiative, is also active in Switzerland and from October 31 officially in Dubai.

More information can be found on http://www.beautifulpeople.nl and http://www.beautifulpeople.ae.

UAE leads GCC Remittance sector growth

Foreign workers in the United Arab Emirates transfer more than US$10 billion (Dhs36.75bn) per annum to their home markets making UAE the second highest performer in the GCC in fund remittance, according to Money Transfer International (MTI), the global trade association.MTI predicts that the GCC has the potential to drive growth in the remittance sector even though the global economy is in slow down.Premal Patel, MTI’s regional director said: "The GCC region is one of the top five performers of the global remittance industry which is pegged at US$550 billion in 2008."He said that according to recent estimates from the IMF (International Monetary Fund) the remittance volume in UAE is expected to lead the increase, and will be up by five per cent this year."The UAE is set to play a crucial role in remittance sector growth. During March 2009 alone, the volume of remittance from the UAE to Pakistan topped $174 million."Looking further east, more than 40 per cent of all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are based in the Middle East and 10.5 per cent live and work in the UAE. Remittances to the Philippines from the UAE reached more than $584 million in 2008."According to MTI data, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait are the GCC’s best performers, with UAE slated as the third largest sender of remittances, worldwide.On the back of this anticipated growth in the region, MTI recently launched its Gulf chapter in the Kingdom of Bahrain.Lady Olga Maitland, CEO of MTI said: "The decision to launch MTI Middle East is in direct response from the remittances sector calling for a voice to represent their interests.She said that MTI’s global network will expand in this year to include four more chapters, including the Philippines and Pakistan, both considered two volume destinations for receiving remittance."MTI’s Middle East chapter is geared to facilitate and safeguard the interests of the industry as a whole, be it the consumer, service providers and partners," concluded Patel.UAE remittance industry at a glance:
The UAE has 185 exchange houses and branches operating throughout the seven emirates
More than US$10b was transferred from the UAE in 2008
Growth is estimated at five per cent per annum
Among the largest customer groups are expatriates from the Indian sub-continent and Asia, with an emphasis on India, Pakistan, Sri Lankan, and the Philippines
Expatriates from the region, such as Egypt, the Sudan and the Lebanon, also form an important segment

Etisalat launches EmailDefend Service in the UAE

Etisalat today announced a partnership agreement with Symantec to provide MessageLabs e-mail security services to its business customers across the United Arab Emirates. The agreement will provide customers with a wide range of on demand eMail security services through the EmailDefend service based on a subscription model which gives customers predictable costs with a quick provisioning process.As part of its EmailDefend service , Etisalat will be offering a range of services from the MessageLabs Email Security portfolio to its customers, including Anti-Virus, Anti-Spam, Image Control and Content Control, with other services such as archiving & eMail Encryption.This range of comprehensive Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) email security services provides businesses with industry leading protection from viruses, spam, inappropriate images and other unwanted content, as well as helping organizations to control content transported via email.Etisalat is offering its business customers the opportunity to register for a 15 day free trial to evaluate this new service with the offer being valid till June 31,2009. Customers interested in the service  can visit www.etisalat.ae/EmailDefend to register for the free trial.The new agreement further extends the existing relationship with Symantec, in which Etisalat’s broadband Internet users receive secure desktop protection through Norton Internet Security."As threats rise in volume and complexity, and compliance requirements pile up, businesses need to strengthen their security shields and e-mail security is the first such requirement," said Abdulla Hashim,VP Business Solutions, Etisalat. "With guaranteed SLAs and the convenience of a Managed service model, customers can outsource their email security to Etisalat and focus on their core IT needs in addition to reducing their capital and operating expenditures.MessageLabs services are market leading in the Middle East region and globally and were an obvious choice for Etisalat to offer to its existing customer base.""With Etisalat’s prominent position within the marketplace and our expertise in providing security protection to businesses worldwide, this partnership is a perfect fit. Our agreement with Etisalat represents the continued focus and growth of the MessageLabs services within the Middle East," said Torgny Gunnarsson, Vice President EMEA, SaaS Group, Symantec. "We are committed to building partner relationships that identify and grow sales opportunities while providing market-leading, differentiated solutions that create competitive advantage."The EmailDefend services include:Anti-Spam – Features a multi-layered approach – including MessageLabs Skeptic™ Anti-Spam predictive technology, industry-leading third party technology and additional layers of detection techniques – designed to stop all spam before it reaches corporate networks while ensuring that businesses receive legitimate email.Anti-Virus – Combats known and unknown viruses before they reach corporate networks. Using multiple scanners and MessageLabs Skeptic predictive technology, it provides organizations with complete protection even before signatures are available.Content Control – Enables enterprises to identify and control confidential, malicious, or inappropriate content sent or received by employees, such as offensive language, harassment or confidential company information. It offers a solution to preserve the confidentiality and security of data, reduce legal liability and ensure regulatory compliance.Image Control – Scans and detects inappropriate images in attachments such as pornography or other unwanted images. Image Control goes beyond the flesh tone analysis of standard filters, using image composition analysis to provide accurate detection of such images.Policy Based Encryption Service – Helps safeguard the confidentiality of sensitive data you exchange with customers and other stakeholders via email. Enhancing the ability to maintain client trust and comply with data security legislation, the service automatically encrypts all emails containing sensitive information.Managed Email Archiving Service – Provides a proven email archiving solution that meets requirements for mailbox management, e-discovery, email compliance and supervision. Email Archive safely and securely stores all internal and external emails, provides end-users with virtually unlimited mailboxes and enables search and email retrieval to be completed in seconds.Delivered at the Internet-level, this suite of hosted email security and management services provides a complete managed email security solution, without the hassle, inconvenience or additional cost of traditional software or hardware solutions. Etisalat Business Solution services ensure the integrity of electronic communications, helping businesses to manage and reduce risk while securing their critical infrastructure and business information.For more information on signing up for the service, customers can get in touch with their respective Etisalat Account Managers.

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.