Bollywood Parks Dubai: The ultimate guide

The colourful facades on either side of cobbled streets don’t just cover up the ugly, working parts of the Bollywood Parks Dubai but house retail and dining outlets and attractions. However, it’s the stained glass peacock that catches your eye first and then the murals of Bollywood stars in the entrance rotunda.

You don’t really need to be a Bollywood fan to enjoy the park, though. If you find yourself at a loose end to utilise half a day with the kids or visiting family and friends, then here’s where you can while away the time.

Combined with popular foods from the city of Mumbai – and then some more, at the fine dining restaurant Mughal-E-Azam – the park hopes to draw in a large footfall, mainly tourists.

“Yes, during the week it’ll really be difficult to bring in big crowds. But these parks are not [as such] built for the resident market. They are more for tourists who are either headed directly to Dubai or transiting through the city,” said Thomas Jellum, general manager of Bollywood Parks Dubai.

Spread over 158,000 square metres this is Dubai Parks and Resorts smallest property but with the maximum scope for expansion. When Gulf News tabloid! visited the site last Tuesday, final touches were being put to various areas for the Thursday opening. Retail operators and food kiosks (not the proper eateries though) had opened up for trial runs as we strolled through the five zones each categorised with iconic film attractions.

“The reason for [it being the smallest park] is that this is the first of its kind and we were not sure exactly what is going to be the most sought after – will it be the shows, the rides or something else? So we are ready for expansion and we have been looking at options, but have not decided [any] yet,” Jellum said.

It’s not just the attractions such as the Hard Rock-style café Rock On where the resident band promises to recreate the magic of the film’s band Magik or the high intensity chase ride Don Streets of Dubai or the Hunt for Gabbar Singh from the most beloved of Bollywood films, Sholay, that’s expected to draw in the crowds but also the food that will be on offer, said Jellum.

The fine dining Mughal-E-Azam would serve up royal Awadhi cuisine while you enjoy performances that will take you back in time to the Mughal courts. The Victoria Station will dish up some of the best known Indian street food that you can enjoy either sitting in the “train” or outside on the stations.

Or you can simply head off to the soon-to-open theatre Rajmahal which will showcase a homegrown Broadway-style Bollywood musical Jaan-e-Jigar. So go shooting the rogue Gabbar Singh in Ramgarh or “starring” in a movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara-style or better still flying with Hrithik Roshan – the 16 rides and attractions at the park promise to take you either back in time or on a flight of fancy with these hit films.

Rides and Attractions

Bollywood hits Don, Lagaan, Sholay, Krrish, RA.One, Dabangg, Rock On!! and Zindagi Na Milegi Na Dobara have inspired the immersive 3D and 4D experiences, as well as interactive live performances.

In Rustic Ravine hunt for Gabbar Singh at Ramgarh with 3D projection, themed show scenes and 4D effects; or head to the kid-friendly carnival in the Champaner village to ride a Ferris Wheel made in the form of cricket balls or a carousel before you play a game of cricket in the Thrill of Victory, a mostion-based simulator experience; or watch the Dabangg Stunt Spectacular, a live stunt show where you can see Chulbul Pandey fight off the bad guys through explosions and bullets to save his lady love.

Ride with RA.One and Krrish at the Bollywood Film Studios. Ra.One Unleashed is a 4D multisensory theatre experience which recreates the encounter between RA.One and G.One. Krrish Hero’s Flight will give you a virtual flying experience with panoramic views of famous Indian landmarks while Krrish fights off the bad guys. Or get backstage for a behind-the-scenes look of a Bollywood movie production based on the blockbuster Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Experience deep sea diving, sky dive or run with bulls just like the stars in ZNMD, and take home a movie of your action.

A 3D immersive tunnel ride called Don, The Chase based on the movie Don, greets you in Mumbai Chowk. It takes you on a high speed car chase with thrills and twists as the rider’s chase Don.

Dining

The park offers food from fine-dining to Indian and international meals to fast-food options. Here are some you should not miss.

Mughal-e-Azam: Located within the Royal Plaza zone this fine dining restaurant – named after the iconic film that depicts the Mughal prince Salim’s love affair with the courtesan Anarkali – will serve Awadhi cuisine reminiscent of the royal kitchens accompanied with live performances of court dancing and classical singing. Head to the Raj Mahal (opening soon) after the meal to watch an opera-style musical Jaan-e-Jigar.

Rock On!! Restaurant and Nightclub: The music themed restaurant on Bollywood Boulevard, named after the 2008 Farhan Akhtar hit, will see a band inspired by Magik band from the film perform. Think of a Hard Rock Café but Bollywood-style. A separate entrance allows visitors to access the music lounge without entering the Park

Victoria Station: Dine in a train bogey stalled at the replica of Mumbai’s iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Enjoy fast food native to the city as the roof of the bogey turns into a stage for dance performances.

Spicy Dhaba: This food outlet in the Rustic Ravine zone will remind you of highway cafes of North India that serve rustic home style dishes and tandoori (oven-cooked) and grilled meats and vegetables around communal style dining areas.

Juhu Juice Bus: Get on top of this double-decker BEST bus replica to refresh yourself with fresh juices, sliced fruit and iced concoctions with traditional flavours.

Retail therapy

Take back a bit of colourful Bollywood memorabilia from eight retail stores and stand-alone carts around the park. From park merchandise to collectibles from Bollywood hit movies.

Chalte Chalte is a convenience store at the park entrance with a selection of themed-merchandise in addition to stocking drinks, snacks and sundries.

At Bollywood Studio Store find merchandise inspired from the film Rock On!!, movie posters and souvenirs.

Desi Emporium located along Bollywood Boulevard is stocked with themed merchandise and souvenirs while Maharani Sweets is the classical Indian ‘mithai’ (sweets) shop next to it.

Shahenshah offers high-end merchandise based on the film Mugha-E-Azam.

In Mumbai Chowk you will find Mumbai Bazaar next to the Juhu Juice Centre, which is interestingly housed atop a BEST bus replica, selling merchandise, accessories and souvenirs related to the film Don.

Bollywood Haat is your “village marketplace” in the Rustic Ravine selling handicrafts and souvenirs reminiscent of Lagaan, Sholay and Dabangg.

Pick Krrish’s iconic mask or souvenirs such as photo frames, mugs, keychains and magnets with Ra.One motifs from the Heroes Vault in Bollywood Studios area.

Snapshot is your photo pickup store.

Number crunch

200 performers will be putting up 20 typical tapori style acts and yester-year and south Indian hits through out the day in different zones

Over 1000 employees will be manning the grounds on a daily basis

Dont miss it

Single day passes are for Dh285. Multi-park and annual passes also available. Log on to bollywoodparksdubai.com. Dubai Parks are situated on Shaikh Zayed Road, opposite Palm Jebel Ali.

Bollywood Parks Dubai: The ultimate guide

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

UIM XCAT World Series: Dubai 33 hold off Team Abu Dhabi 5 to seal victory in pulsating Abu Dhabi XCAT Grand Prix

Dubai 33’s Salem Al Adidi and Eissa Al Ali led from pole and fended off a fierce challenge from Team Abu Dhabi 5’s Rashid Al Tayer and Majid Al Mansouri to seal an impressive 3.16-second victory in Friday afternoon’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

This was the final round of the 2016 UIM XCAT World Series at the Abu Dhabi Breakwater.

The two boats were neck and neck throughout the red flag-interrupted race, but the Dubai boat managed to stave off the local challenge on two occasions when Al Tayer and Al Mansouri tried to use the long lap strategy to their advantage. The two boats were the class of the field, while T-bone Station’s Giovanni Carpitella and Ahmad Al Hameli managed to beat Lady Spain’s Joakhim Kumlin and Jay Price to confirm the final place on the podium. The result also gave Dubai 33 the runner-up spot behind the Victory Team in the UIM XCAT World Series points’ standings.

“I guess we must be happy with second position, but the win was the aim from the start,” said Al Tayer. “We thought we had the strategy mapped out perfectly. We took a long lap before them twice and thought we could nip inside and snatch the lead on both occasions. But, I guess, they were able to carry the speed and momentum down the straight and managed to stay in front.

“It was a very close race. We were evenly matched for speed.”

Arif Saif Al Zafeen and Nadir Bin Hendi stole a march on Team Abu Dhabi through the opening turns and first two laps, before flipping their Generation 2 four-stroke XCAT boat into retirement. The team had been having handling issues with the boat after Emaar Pole Position on Thursday. Carpisa Yamanay failed to start the race. Gold Coast Australia pitted early with technical issues. before continuing, and engine problems forced the Fujairah Team out of the running.

Team Abu Dhabi are sponsored by Etihad Airways and runs under the patronage of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, adviser to the Head of State and chairman of the board of directors of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC).

The Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) now switches its attention to next week’s three-race UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship meeting that takes place between Tuesday and Friday.

2016 Abu Dhabi XCAT Grand Prix — results (unofficial):

1. Dubai 33 — Salem Al Adidi (UAE)/Eisa Al Ali (UAE) 40 min 44.36 sec

2. Team Abu Dhabi 5 — Rashid Al Tayer (UAE)/Majid Al Mansouri (UAE) @ 3.16 sec

3. T-bone Station 10 — Giovanni Carpitella (ITA)/Ahmad Al Hameli (UAE) @ 18.04 sec

4. Lady Spain 46 — Joakim Kumlin (SWE)/Jay Price (USA) @ 19.29 sec

5. Spirit of France (Yacht) 96 — Saul Bubacco (ITA)/Francois Pinelli (FRA) @ 44.63 sec

6. The Blue Roo (Team Australia) 8 — Brett Luhrmann (AUS)/Pal-Virik Nilsen (NOR) @ 1 min 07.19 sec

7. Swecat Racing 2 — Mikael Bengtsson (SWE)/Erik Stark (SWE) @ 1 min 10.30 sec

8. Raheeb 17 — Abdull Atif Al Omani (KWT)/Khalid Burabee (KWT) @ 1 min 49.92 sec

9. Gold Coast Australia 11 — Tom Barry-Cotter (AUS)/Ross Willaton (AUS) +4 laps

Fujairah Team 20 — Serafino Barlesi (ITA)/Alessandro Barone (ITA) +6 laps

Victory Team 3 — Arif Saif Al Zafeen (UAE)/Nadir Bin Hendi (UAE) +12 laps

Carpisa Yamanay 22 — Alfredo Amato (ITA)/Diego Testa (ITA) DNS

*New Star 9 — Mikhail Kitashev (RUS)/Dmitry Vandyshev (RUS)@ 2 min 09.03 sec

*not registered for points

UIM XCAT World Series: Dubai 33 hold off Team Abu Dhabi 5 to seal victory in pulsating Abu Dhabi XCAT Grand Prix

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

UAE Population and statistical trends

The vast majority of UAE residents will continue to live in the cities, but the rural population is set to remain surprisingly steady at just under 20 per cent of the total. The expatriate proportion looks likely to remain around 80 per cent, which in the remote future of 40 years and beyond will give comfort to the growing Emirati population because they will be able to seek employment in their home country through natural replacement.

As expatriates settle in the country for longer, they will have to get much better at speaking Arabic than the current incumbents who largely fail that test. The combined conurbation of Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman will be the country’s largest population centre, with Abu Dhabi being large enough to form a natural nexus of its own.

UAE Population and statistical trends

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Hrithik Roshan in Dubai for Big5

The Bollywood star will be at the event on opening day as the face of a Dubai-based company

Hrithik Roshan spotted at Mehboob Studio in Mumbai on November 16. He will be in Dubai for Big5 on November 21.

Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan will attend Big5, the largest construction event in Middle East, that runs from November 21 to 24.

Roshan, who has signed up as the face of a Dubai-based pre-decorated wall and ceiling panel manufacturing company, will be at Dubai World Trade Centre on the opening day from 11am.

Hrithik Roshan in Dubai for Big5

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Pia Wurztbach in Dubai: Life lessons from a Miss Universe

Ahead of her first visit to the UAE, the reigning beauty queen talks about life, love, why she never gives up and, Steve Harvey

“It’s more than anything I expected it to be,” she says about winning the crown. “It has a lot of bonuses that I didn’t think would come my way. But I’m the type of person who, whatever you throw at me, I can make something out of it.”

It was the internet moment of 2015. When Miss Universe host Steve Harvey wrongly announced Miss Colombia as the winner of the pageant, then walked back on to the stage to say he’d made a terrible mistake, he became the target of online abuse. A lot of the anger was also directed at Miss Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach, the rightful winner.

What a lot of people didn’t know then was the battles the 27-year-old had to fight to be on that Las Vegas stage that night — and that no amount of criticism was going to rattle her.

“It’s because I’m very stubborn,” Wurtzbach says, laughing. “When I want something really badly, whether it’s good or bad, I never stop until I get it. It’s part of the way I was brought up. I was brought in an environment with a lot of challenges, so I wasn’t going to give up on that.”

Born in Germany to a German father and a Filipino mother, Wurtzbach’s parents separated when she was four. She moved with her mother back to the Philippines and, at a very early age, became the breadwinner of the family by doing odd modelling and acting jobs.

Soon, the pageant bug bit.

But the path to being a beauty queen in pageant-obsessed Philippines wasn’t easy. She was often criticised for her looks and she was told she was not Filipino enough. Wurtzbach placed fifth at the Binibining Pilipinas, the pageant that sends the country’s representatives to the Miss Universe contest, in 2013. She tried again the next year, and barely made it to the Top 15. Refusing to give up, she made another attempt, eventually winning the crown in 2015.

Of course, she had many moments of doubts, she says.

“There were many times I thought, ‘Is this really a good idea? Should I push through with this? Am I setting myself up for failure?’,” she recalls. “But it was important for me to stay realistic with my goals, and that’s what I did.

“I was still in the age range anyway. I would have been an embarrassment if I lost for the third time, but there were more pros and cons. That’s why I went for it.”

Wurzbach will share her inspiring story, and style and beauty tips, at an event at Dragon Mart 2 in Dubai on November 18. The event will mark her first trip to the UAE.

“l’ll be touring all the iconic buildings, trying out the amazing food and meeting people. I know there’s a massive Filipino community and I can’t wait to meet everyone,” she says.

Currently based out of New York as part of her Miss Universe tenure, Wurtzbach has made good on her promises of tackling the HIV/AIDS issues, actively campaigning for awareness and fighting the stigma of the disease.

She says she picked this cause because it hit close to home.

“When I was in the pageant in the Philippines, I noticed that a lot of the girls didn’t want to talk about this because they were scared about the repercussions or because they were misinformed. For me, it was very personal. When it hits really close to home, it impacts you in a very different way,” she says.

We haven’t won the fight against HIV, but we’ve definitely come a long way, she adds.

“If you look at the numbers from 20 years ago, there’s definitely been improvement. But we still need to focus on countries that have very strict regulations when it comes to testing and health care,” she says. “Yes, we are moving to different topics [about the disease] now. We have medicines to treat people to help them lead normal lives. But there are still countries that don’t have access to any of them. So we need to work on that.”

While life has changed since winning the crown, she says she’s not complaining.

“It’s more than anything I expected it to be,” she says. “It has a lot of bonuses that I didn’t think would come my way. But I’m the type of person who, whatever you throw at me, I can make something out of it.”

The only disadvantages are that it’s hard to date, she says, and she had to get used to flying a lot.

“I was a nervous flyer before, but now I’ve gotten used to it,” says Wurtzbach, who is rumoured to be dating Filipino-Swiss race car driver Marlon Stockinger.

But her biggest achievement as a Miss Universe, she says, is helping to bring the pageant home to the Philippines next year. The country last hosted the pageant in 1994.

Earlier this month, Philippines Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo confirmed her country would host the beauty pageant, with the coronation night to be held at the Mall of Asia Arena on Manila’s Diosdado Macapagal Highway on January 30.

Wurtzbach says she had to pull a lot of strings.

“First we had to come up with the idea, then we had to get the message out there to see if people were interested. Also we wanted the private sector to really get involved, and after a lot of visits, things started to fall into place. And the rest is history …

“I would love for the girls to tour around, see all the different islands,” she adds. “There is so much more to the Philippines than just Manila. The beauty is in the neighbouring islands. and I want to showcase the most of Philippines.”

As for Harvey, who is contracted to also host the next pageant, she says she’s still in touch with him regularly.

“I’m very excited for him to jump on board for the next pageant,” she says. “Of course, I’ll be there to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Don’t miss it

Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach will host a free-to-attend lifestyle event at Dragon Mart 2 at 6pm on Friday, November 18. She will share fashion and beauty tips followed by a meet-and-greet. The event will take place at the main atrium.

Pia Wurztbach in Dubai: Life lessons from a Miss Universe

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

ENOC boosts safety at its service stations by installing bollards

As a part of its ongoing commitment to environment, health and safety (EHS), ENOC as a socially responsible organization has taken additional safety measures by installing bollards in front of all facilities across its service station network in UAE to protect customers, staff and assets.

In an effort to reduce the odds of vehicles crashing into stores, ENOC installed a total of 2,210 stainless steel cladded reinforced concrete bollards in all ENOC and EPPCO service stations.

The bollards are designed and built to withstand impact from vehicle crashing.

His Excellency Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO of ENOC, said: “We are committed to maintaining high standards of service excellence and safety and are continuously enhancing our service stations to make it a safe place for our employees and customers. The customer has, and always will be the core focus of ENOC, and these globally recognised practices ensure that we deliver on our corporate purpose.”

ENOC boosts safety at its service stations by installing bollards

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Dubai taxis to offer free Wi-fi in December

Starting December this year, commuters will enjoy free Wi-Fi service aboard vehicles run by Dubai Taxi Corporation, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Wednesday.

The vehicles will enable customers to use interactive LCD screens, where satisfaction surveys will be run, to help upgrade taxi services.

Dubai Taxi Corporation has already started fitting the touch screens, along with the Wi-Fi service, to its taxi fleet.

“Customers will also be able, for the first time, calculate taxi fares in advance,” RTA said in its tweet.

The touch screens will come handy for passengers to check out major tourist attractions in Dubai, as well as commercials about RTA’s services.

RTA said the introduction of LCD screens and free Wi-Fi service is “in line with Dubai Government’s strategy to rank Dubai as [the] smartest city worldwide.

Dubai Taxi to install in-cab interactive LCDs, launch free Wi-Fi service from December pic.twitter.com/BXrLsQ8MQK— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) November 16, 2016

The move is in line with Dubai Government strategy to rank Dubai as smartest city worldwide& realize RTA’s 1st Strategic Goal ‘Smart Dubai’.— RTA (@RTA_Dubai) November 16, 2016

Customers will also be able, for the first time, calculate taxi fares in advance.#RTANews— RTA (@RTA_Dubai) November 16, 2016

Dubai taxis to offer free Wi-fi in December

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

First ever UAE ‘mobile phone in the car’ behaviour research

Road Safety UAE and QIC Insured release the findings of their most recent YouGov research wave, shedding light on one of the most dangerous behaviours behind the wheel: the use of the mobile phone while driving.

Thomas Edelmann, Founder Managing Director of Road Safety UAE states: “It is alarming to see, that only 26% of motorists ‘never’ use their mobile while driving. Distracted driving is among the top causes of accidents, injuries and death on UAE’s roads and the use of mobile phones behind the wheel is one of the major sources of distraction.”

Most vulnerable are the 25-29 year olds and Sharjah residents. Westerners have the best habits in resting their mobile phone while driving.

74% of drivers use mobile phones for incoming calls, and 43% for outgoing calls, 19% for incoming messages like SMS, WhatsApp and similar, and 14% for outgoing messages.

Interestingly, older drivers respond most to incoming calls, while younger drivers lead in outgoing calls and messages.

Mobile calling and texting is so dangerous, because it combines the 4 forms of distraction:

1. Manual distraction (taking the hands off the wheel)

2. Visual distraction (taking the eyes off the road)

3. Distraction of the mind (taking your attention off the road)

4. Auditory distraction (taking your ears away from traffic sounds)

Frederik Bisbjerg, Executive Vice President MENA Retail, QIC Insured, states: “We are proud to be associated with this behaviour study, as it demonstrates the efforts of QIC Insured to actively support the creation of safer roads. For UAE’s motorists we have a very clear message: When driving, put your mobile phone in silent and put it away. No call or message can be so important to handicap your own safety, the safety of your passengers and the safety of other traffic participants around you!”

60% of respondents use their hands-free in 50% of their drives or more.

35% use the car’s built-in hands-free, 31% cable hands-free and 23% portable Bluetooth devices.

Of those drivers, whose cars have built-in hands-free, 75% actually use it, and the ones who don’t use it, claim better functionality and easier use of their hand held mobile phones.

The use of hands-free is more popular with older drivers.

“To improve the situation, the UAE needs ongoing education efforts, the creation and promotion of safe driving mobile phone applications (including an auto mute function) and a strict enforcement of the current rules and regulations with regards to the ban of mobile phones while driving. We appeal to all UAE traffic participants to obey to the above statement of Frederik Bisbjerg of QIC Insured: ‘When behind the wheel, put your mobile on silent, put it away!’”, Edelmann concludes.

The fieldwork for this study was done in August 2016 by YouGov, with a representative sample of 1,033 residents living in all seven emirates of the UAE. Details of the research project can be found in the ‘featured’ section on: www.roadsafetyuae.com

First ever UAE ‘mobile phone in the car’ behaviour research

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

DXB voted world’s best airport for layovers at Conde Nast Traveller Awards 2016

Dubai International has been voted as the world’s Best Airport for Layovers for the second consecutive year at the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards Middle East at a ceremony in Dubai on Monday.

Dubai was the top choice among the three final nominees chosen in the category by readers of the luxury travel publication, the other two being Doha’s Hamad International Airport, and Singapore’s Changi International Airport.

Speaking on the occasion, Anita Mehra, Senior Vice President, Communication and Reputation, said, “This recognition means a lot to everyone at Dubai Airports and all our stakeholders at DXB who work very hard together to ensure the comfort and happiness of our customers. DXB had a great start to the year with the opening of the US$1.2 billion Concourse D which not only elevated airport experience but also provided timely capacity for our growing traffic.”

DXB was voted as the favourite among international hubs based on the round the clock availability of a wide range of contemporary food and beverage options, a variety of top-class retail brands, the comfort of luxurious airside hotels, and unique relaxation concepts such as spa treatments and sleeping pods.

DXB voted world’s best airport for layovers at Conde Nast Traveller Awards 2016

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Abu Dhabi to host 2019 World Summer Games

The Special Olympics International Board of Directors on Wednesday held a meeting in Washington, D.C., hosted by Georgetown University, where they were pleased to award their flagship event and world’s largest humanitarian and sporting event of 2019, the Special Olympics World Games, to Abu Dhabi.

The Special Olympics International Board of Directors unanimously voted to award the World Games to Abu Dhabi based on a comprehensive bid proposal, a site visit by a Board Committee, and the country’s vision to create inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities throughout the UAE, the region and the world.

A press conference detailing the event will follow at a later date in Abu Dhabi.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, announced Abu Dhabi’s victory on Wednesday in a tweet: “UAE’s hosting of the 2019 Special Olympic World Games reflects the world’s confidence in UAE’s capabilities, youth & humanitarian image.”

” I congratulate UAE President, Emiratis & athletes on UAE’s winning the bid to host the 2019 Special Olympic World Games”— أخبار محمد بن زايد (@MBZNews) November 16, 2016

“UAE’s hosting of the 2019 Special Olympic World Games reflects the world’s confidence in UAE’s capabilities, youth & humanitarian image”— أخبار محمد بن زايد (@MBZNews) November 16, 2016

“We welcome the world’s best athletes to the UAE, congratulate Special Olympics leadership on promoting inclusion & tolerance through sport”— أخبار محمد بن زايد (@MBZNews) November 16, 2016

“I’d like thank special needs athletes for their achievements & distinguished record,which boosted our winning bid of hosting World Games”— أخبار محمد بن زايد (@MBZNews) November 16, 2016

“Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi is revolutionary for our movement and for the Middle East region,” said Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics Chairman.

“There’s no better or more profound location than Abu Dhabi to invite the world to come together in celebration of sport, in celebration of people of all kinds, and to demonstrate to the world that the lines of division can be erased. We are thrilled to be the first Olympics Games in the Middle East region of the world.”

Abu Dhabi to host 2019 World Summer Games

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

UAE motorists vs mobile phones: who wins?

Residents from Sharjah use their phones the most when driving, according to recent survey

A recent YouGov survey has revealed that 25-29 year olds are more likely to use their mobile phones while driving, while 19 per cent of UAE motorists use it to send text messages.

Dubai: It is not uncommon to see UAE residents with their ears glued to their mobile phones, be it at the supermarket, the post office and even at the cinema.

But when it comes to road safety, how many motorists flout the traffic rules and use their mobile phones while driving? And how often do they text?

A recent YouGov survey has revealed how often UAE motorists use their mobile phones, and which emirate has the highest rate of offenders.

Thomas Edelmann, Founder and Managing Director of RoadSafetyUAE said: “It is alarming to see that only 26 per cent of motorists ‘never’ use their mobile while driving. Distracted driving is among the top causes of accidents, injuries and death on UAE’s roads and the use of mobile phones behind the wheel is one of the major sources of distraction.”

RoadSafetyUAE and QIC Insured on Wednesday released the findings of their most recent YouGov research wave, which showed that 25-29 year olds were the most vulnerable in using mobile phones while driving.

The majority of offenders who broke the traffic rules were found to be residents of Sharjah, followed by Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Western expats have the best driving habits, according to the survey, as they almost never used their devices while on the road.

The survey also found that 74 per cent of drivers use their phones for incoming calls, 43 per cent for outgoing calls, 19 per cent for incoming messages such as WhatsApp, and 14 per cent of motorists used it for outgoing messages.

Edelmann further said: “To improve the situation, the UAE needs ongoing education efforts, the creation and promotion of safe driving mobile phone applications (including an auto mute function) and a strict enforcement of the current rules and regulations with regards to the ban of mobile phones while driving.”

Research further discovered that older drivers were most likely to respond to incoming calls, while younger drivers lead in outgoing calls and messages.

Frederik Bisbjerg, Executive Vice President for Middle East and North Africa (Mena) Retail, QIC Insured, said: “For UAE’s motorists we have a very clear message: When driving, put your mobile phone in silent and put it away. No call or message can be so important to handicap your own safety, the safety of your passengers and the safety of other traffic participants around you.”

Hand-free devices and driving

60 per cent of respondents use their hands-free for more than half of their time on the road.

35 per cent use the car’s built-in hands-free, 31 per cent cable hands-free and 23 per cent use portable Bluetooth devices.

Of those drivers whose cars have built-in hands-free, 75 per cent said they actually use it.

The use of hands-free is more popular with drivers above 35 years old.

The fieldwork for the study was caried out in August 2016, with a representative sample of 1,033 residents living in all seven emirates of the UAE.

UAE motorists vs mobile phones: who wins?

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Dubai Police launch installment plan for traffic fines

Motorists holding ADCB credit cards can now pay off their traffic fines between three and 12 months

Dubai: If you’ve got traffic fines to pay, there’s no need to worry about breaking the budget anymore.

Thanks to Dubai Police’s new installment plan, motorists that hold credit cards from Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank can now pay off their traffic fines over a course of three, six, nine or 12 months – at interest free rates.

The minimum payment for installments start at Dh500.

The new service was launched on Monday following an agreement signed by Dubai Police and ADCB that follows in line with the Dubai Smart City initiative, which promotes increased usage of digital channels such as mobile and online platforms.

All credit card holders have to do is simply download the Dubai Police app or use the police’s website to pay off their fines. Payments can also be made through service centres that can be found at various locations across the city.

Brigadier Humaid Salem Al Suwaidi, acting director of finance at Dubai Police, said the agreement aims to open new channels for motorists and to make them happy customers.

Omran Taimour, Regional Head, Branch Banking at ADCB said, “We are proud at ADCB to be the first Abu Dhabi based bank to sign up with Dubai Police by launching this unique facility that provides our customers with a quick and efficient system of clearing their traffic fines, whilst facilitating payment flexibility and customer convenience.”

Traffic violations recorded in 2015

According to a previous statement issued by Dubai Police, more than 51,000 traffic violations were recorded in 2015 through its new speed monitoring radars.

The traffic violations included 20,780 for jumping red lights; 21,374 for overtaking on the hard shoulder; 6,512 fines for lane violations by heavy vehicles, and 3,009 for drivers disregarding traffic regulations, such as driving heavy trucks in undesignated times.

Up to 109 fines were issued for not buckling seatbelts, 89 for using mobile phones while driving, 19 for failing to fix a license plate in the correct position, and two for failing to install a license plate at all.

Dubai Police launch installment plan for traffic fines

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Les Ballets de France comes to Dubai

Top ballet company from France will present a grand gala at the Ductac next mont

Les Ballets de France, an internationally acclaimed dance ensemble from France, will perform at the Centrepoint Theatre at Ductac, Mall of the Emirates. on December 2 and 3.

The gala programme includes moments from popular ballet performances such as Le Corsaire and Coppelia, as well as famous contemporary pieces such as Bolero or Mauro de Candia’s Something I had in Mind.

Their performances are a mix of classical and contemporary dance movements.

Tickets to the show at 8pm on both days, with a 3pm show only on December 3rd, range from Dh150 to Dh300. For details. contact ductac.org.

Les Ballets de France comes to Dubai

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Mohammad Bin Rashid: ‘What makes us proud is not the height of our buildings, but rather the opennes

The legacy of both Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum represent the values of tolerance and respect of which the UAE is proud, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said.

In a message on International Tolerance Day, Shaikh Mohammad recalled his memories of the majlis of his father, the late Shaikh Rashid, who used to receive Emiratis and expatriates of different tribal, sectarian and ethnic backgrounds without discrimination. Shaikh Rashid showed the same respect and appreciation to his citizens, and those who made rich contributions and served the country were very close to him, Shaikh Mohammad said.

What makes us proud is not the height of our buildings,but rather the openness and tolerance of our nation https://t.co/8rM9hsbwBZ— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) November 15, 2016

Our pride stems from the fact that we are a country where everyone thrives equally regardless of their differences. https://t.co/8rM9hsbwBZ— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) November 15, 2016

A message of Tolerance .. wanted to share a few heartfelt words with our citizens and residents https://t.co/8rM9hst80z

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) November 15, 2016

“The world is celebrating International Tolerance Day. In light of this important occasion, I wanted to share a few heartfelt words with our citizens and residents and particularly with the young people among you. I vividly remember my late father Shaikh Rashid’s majlis, over 40 years ago; I remember the nature of the majlis and its attendees. It comprised citizens, young and old, fresh graduates and traditional Bedouin, citizens from various tribes and sects, and people of different backgrounds and races.

“They were equal in Shaikh Rashid’s eyes, and treated as such: with equal respect, appreciation and rights. Those sitting closest to Shaikh Rashid were the hardest workers and leaders in their respective fields. Residents from different religions, nationalities and cultures from around the world attended as equals alongside Emiratis. Shaikh Rashid’s majlis embraced them. Dubai embraced them. They reciprocated with their unwavering love, gratitude and loyalty, which we still see today among them and their children.

“After the creation of the Union, I came to know the late Shaikh Zayed more closely. Our relationship developed into that of a father and his son. I learnt about his leadership, about his character, and about his appreciation of humanity. His governance, inspiration and management of people were an invaluable example. Shaikh Zayed welcomed everyone into his majlis, regardless of their tribe, sect, or denomination. He was generous with his time and love and, in return, people loved him irrespective of their differences. They all prayed for his soul when he departed, passing on their admiration of him to their children and grandchildren.

“These ethics are Shaikh Zayed and Shaikh Rashid’s greatest legacy to us. What makes us proud of our nation is not the height of our buildings, the breadth of our streets, or the magnitude of our shopping malls, but rather the openness and tolerance of our nation. Our pride stems from the fact that we are a country where everyone thrives equally regardless of their differences, with true love and acceptance: a country where people live and work harmoniously, raising their children to enjoy a future free of the fear of extremism, intolerance or discrimination based on their race, colour, religion, sect or ethnicity.

“While we all respect opinion and discussion shared online, we cannot allow it to spill into intolerance. We do not differentiate between one another in the UAE, nor do we use race or nationality to discriminate against one another; we see all people as equal, as God created us. No preference or merit is given to anyone except for those who work diligently, respect our laws and constitution and contribute to our nation. Shaikh Zayed imparted his values and wisdom in the people of the UAE. Therefore, it is no surprise that my brother, [His Highness Shaikh] Mohammad Bin Zayed [Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces] has introduced ‘Moral Education’ in the school curriculum. He wishes to immortalise the message that Shaikh Zayed spread among his sons and daughters in the UAE.

“His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and heir to Shaikh Zayed’s wisdom and tolerance, recently introduced an Anti-Discrimination Law in order to protect our community and preserve our legacy of tolerance. We have a Minister of Tolerance, whose mandate it is to follow up on the implementation of this law, especially with a view to online platforms such as social media. We do not want to experience the side effects of sectarianism, racism or hatred in our communities. We do not want to see any discrimination based on colour, sect or origin.

“We urge our Minister of Tolerance to apply this law to everyone with equal diligence — young or old, private employee or government official — no one is above the law. The greatest achievements of the UAE are the upstanding morals, values, and principles that the world respects us for and that we wish to pass on to our future generations to come. It is in our best interests to protect our country’s reputation; to promote a tolerant, cooperative and socially cohesive society; to uphold Shaikh Zayed’s legacy and protect the UAE.

“May God be with us, UAE citizens and residents, to serve this great nation.”

Mohammad Bin Rashid: ‘What makes us proud is not the height of our buildings, but rather the opennes

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Etihad Airways awarded best first class and Best Long Haul Airline

Etihad Airways has won awards for Best First Class and Best Long Haul Airline Middle-East and Africa in the AirlineRatings.com 2017 Airline Excellence Awards.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline was also named in the global Top Ten.

AirlineRatings.com Editor-in- Chief and Publisher, Geoffrey Thomas, said: “Etihad Airways’ attention to excellence at every level has resulted in a third consecutive win for Best First Class and Best Long Haul Airline Middle-East and Africa as well as a placing in AirlineRatings.com Top Ten.

“It’s an outstanding achievement to win an Airlineratings.com award but Etihad Airways has taken that to another level by winning each category three years in a row.

“The airline is only one of a handful that has also achieved a seven-star ranking for both product and safety with Airlineratings.com.”

Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, Peter Baumgartner, said: “To win Best First Class and Best Long Haul Airline Middle-East and Africa for the third consecutive year is a great honour and cements our position as a leader in innovative products, intuitive service and world-class hospitality.

“The awards also underscore our uncompromising commitment to engineering and operational excellence as well as safety which is, and will always be, our number one priority.”

The 2017 AirlineRatings.com awards come just weeks after the UAE flag carrier received a Skytrax Certified 5-Star Airline Rating.

This followed Skytrax awards for the World’s Best First Class Airline, World’s Best First Class Onboard Catering, and World’s Best First Class Airline Seat for its Airbus A380 First Apartment in July 2016.

Etihad Airways awarded best first class and Best Long Haul Airline

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

World’s fastest driverless motorbike gears up for Dubai

The Danish-built motorbike, which is on display at the World Trade Centre, can reach speeds of up to 300km/h

For illustrative purposes only.

Dubai: The world’s fastest motorcycle has found its way to Dubai, and its breaking records for more than just its speed.

The Autonomous Street Racer holds the world-record in its class for acceleration times, reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h, but most importantly – its driverless.

Nerve, the Danish company that invented the bike, are currently touring Dubai to forge relationships with the public and private sector with the hope of implementing the technology locally.

The motorcycle is currently on display for the Gulf Traffic event, which runs from 13-15 November 2016 at the World Trade Centre.

During the Gulf Traffic conference, Nerve Founder and chief technology officer Soeren Ekelund shed light on the balance between people, society and technology in an effort to fuel discussion on how technology can be used to drive Dubai’s Smart City ambitions.

Ekelund said: “These are really exciting times in the world of transport and mobility. Sustainable development is forcing everyone to rethink the concept of public and private transportation. The vehicles of the future have to be more flexible, stronger, faster, smarter and greener.”

The driverless motorcycle was previously showcased at the NaTrans Expo that was held in Abu Dhabi last month.

“It’s no longer sufficient to think about how a vehicle meets the needs of an individual – how it gets him or her from A to B – rather, we need to consider the requirements of society as a whole,” said Ekelund.

He added: “It’s a privilege to be part of this automotive revolution, and we’re looking to Dubai very closely as a fertile breeding ground for the smart technologies of tomorrow”.

World’s fastest driverless motorbike gears up for Dubai

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

There's going to be a huge new sale weekend in Dubai soon

Here’s one more reason to stay in Dubai over National Day weekend…

Dubai Summer Surprises is behind us and we’ve got more than a month to wait for the-month-long Dubai Shopping Festival (which kicks off on December 26th).

But the great news for those of you that still haven’t done your festive shopping is that a new city-wide sale is being launched in Dubai, and it will happen in just a few week’s time.

The National Day Sale will run from December 1 to 3 across most of Dubai’s malls, and all shops participating in the sale will offer discounts of between 30 and 90 per cent on selected items in their stores (so not the whole lot).

Warning: malls get very busy over long weekends in the UAE, so if you’re keen to shop uninterrupted get to the stores by 10am.

The sale has been launched by Dubai Tourism and Dubai Festivals (so it’s official) and is part of the celebrations surrounding the UAE’s 45th National Day.

Which stores will be on sale? Well we don’t yet know, and shops keen to register for the sale have until November 29 to do so (so more and more shops will be added to the sale, we’ll keep you updated).

Ooh, and remember, for all-year-round sales you can check out Dubai Outlet Mall on Al Ain Road, or the brand new Dubai Outlet Village, which is right next to Dubai Parks & Resorts (although the latter is more focused on high end brands, so while you’ll bag a bargain, it won’t be a cheap day out).

– For more about Dubai straight to your newsfeed, follow us on Facebook.

There's going to be a huge new sale weekend in Dubai soon

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Dubai Police launch installment plan for traffic fines

Motorists holding ADCB credit cards can now pay off their traffic fines between three and 12 months

Dubai: If you’ve got traffic fines to pay, there’s no need to worry about breaking the budget anymore.

Thanks to Dubai Police’s new installment plan, motorists that hold credit cards from Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank can now pay off their traffic fines over a course of three, six, nine or 12 months – at interest free rates.

The minimum payment for installments start at Dh500.

The new service was launched on Monday following an agreement signed by Dubai Police and ADCB that follows in line with the Dubai Smart City initiative, which promotes increased usage of digital channels such as mobile and online platforms.

All credit card holders have to do is simply download the Dubai Police app or use the police’s website to pay off their fines. Payments can also be made through service centres that can be found at various locations across the city.

Brigadier Humaid Salem Al Suwaidi, acting director of finance at Dubai Police, said the agreement aims to open new channels for motorists and to make them happy customers.

Omran Taimour, Regional Head, Branch Banking at ADCB said, “We are proud at ADCB to be the first Abu Dhabi based bank to sign up with Dubai Police by launching this unique facility that provides our customers with a quick and efficient system of clearing their traffic fines, whilst facilitating payment flexibility and customer convenience.”

Traffic violations recorded in 2015

According to a previous statement issued by Dubai Police, more than 51,000 traffic violations were recorded in 2015 through its new speed monitoring radars.

The traffic violations included 20,780 for jumping red lights; 21,374 for overtaking on the hard shoulder; 6,512 fines for lane violations by heavy vehicles, and 3,009 for drivers disregarding traffic regulations, such as driving heavy trucks in undesignated times.

Up to 109 fines were issued for not buckling seatbelts, 89 for using mobile phones while driving, 19 for failing to fix a license plate in the correct position, and two for failing to install a license plate at all.

Dubai Police launch installment plan for traffic fines

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Residents gather at Corniche to watch supermoon

Space enthusiasts gathered at Abu Dhabi Corniche on Monday evening to see the moon like never before — or the supermoon as it’s called, when the moon appears larger and brighter than usual because of its close proximity to earth.

Supermoons happen when a full or new moon occurs on its closest approach to earth during its orbit. This year’s supermoon was extra special because of its historical significance. The last time the moon got this close to earth was in 1948 and the next one is in 2034.

Marwan Badra, from Syria, was on hand to view the space spectacle. “My hobby is photography, in particular taking photographs of nature, and so I had to come out here to take photos of the moon because it’s very rare that you ever get the chance to see the moon like this. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I have been living in the UAE for 40 years and I have never seen something like this,” he said.

Ganesh Dcholkar from India said he wanted to catch a piece of space history. “I am a fan of astronomy. In Abu Dhabi because of all the lights you don’t normally get to see the stars so clearly, but with this supermoon it is a fantastic opportunity to get that chance to observe what is happening outside our planet and I really felt so happy and excited to see the moon so big and bright.”

Emmanuel Palmeiro, from Portugal, said the experience made him feel at peace and part of something much bigger.

“I am really happy with what I saw. I really felt at peace seeing the moon come up like that. It allowed me for a moment to forget all the problems and bad things that are happening on earth, and made me feel like I was up in space. This has never happened during my life so it is an extra special feeling to be able to witness history,” he said.

Raquel Filipa, also from Portugal, said she heard about the supermoon event on the news and decided to check it our for herself.

“I have been hearing about this event on the news over the previous few days, and I got excited about it and wanted to come and see what it would be like. It was definitely worth it and very exciting. The moon looked so close to us from where we standing so that was amazing,” she said.

Joanna Cacpal, from the Philippines, like many other watchers, said she wanted to come and see a small bit of history.

“It’s quite rare to get the chance to see historical space or astronomy events, so I wanted to come down for that chance, and to also obviously see the moon in a different way than we normally view it. It was a very nice show to watch.”

Facts about the 2016 supermoon

The moon was 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter in the sky

The moon appeared at its brightest at around 5.52pm

The moon’s distance to the earth during the event was around 363,000 kilometres

The last time the moon got this close to earth was in 1948

The next time the moon is expected to get this close to earth will be in 2034

Supermoons occur because the full or new moon happens when it comes closest to earth during its orbit

Residents gather at Corniche to watch supermoon

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Most expensive natural rough diamond in Dubai

Known as the Constellation, the colourless diamond is an impressive 812,77 carats which was acquired by Nemesis International based at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) on behalf of the Geneva-based Jeweller de GRISOGONO. Valued at over $63 million (Dh231 million), the Constellation is deemed as most valuable rough diamond in recorded history.

At $77,649 per carat, the diamond has been categorised as the largest pure Type IaB diamond ever to be examined by the Gemological Institute of America. Type IaB is known within the industry to be the rarest type of natural diamond. Less than two per cent of the world’s production of gemstone quality diamonds have this level of colour and clarity.

The Constellation was discovered by the Lucara Diamond Corporation at their Karowe Mine in Botswana. It is the third largest diamond ever mined in recorded history.

“We are delighted to have been part of facilitating the acquisition of The Constellation, an incredible diamond, with de GRISOGONO. This transaction further highlights DMCC’s and Dubai’s prominent role as a global centre point for diamond trading, as we continue to connect all industry participants, including producing and consuming countries along the Silk Road,” Ahmad Bin Sulayem, executive chairman of DMCC and chair of the Kimberley Process, said during a press conference announcing the acquisition.

Nemesis International has partnered with the luxury jeweller de GRISOGONO for the cutting and polishing process of the diamond.

“I am thrilled to have the chance to work with such an incredible and important diamond as The Constellation. As a jeweller I am conscious of the extraordinary responsibility I have to the stone and to the team who have worked so hard to secure it,” Fawaz Gruosi, founder and executive board member of de GRISOGONO, said.

KEY FACTs

— The Constellation is a 812.77 carat diamond with a net weight of approximately 162 grams and a maximum dimension spanning over 64mm

— It is expected that this gemstone will give birth to the largest DColour, flawless, polished diamond, which is likely to weigh over

300 carats

— An estimated 20 billion cubic metres of earth was removed and processed before finding the Constellation diamond

Most expensive natural rough diamond in Dubai

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Etihad Airways awarded best first class and Best Long Haul Airline

Etihad Airways has won awards for Best First Class and Best Long Haul Airline Middle-East and Africa in the AirlineRatings.com 2017 Airline Excellence Awards.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline was also named in the global Top Ten.

AirlineRatings.com Editor-in- Chief and Publisher, Geoffrey Thomas, said: “Etihad Airways’ attention to excellence at every level has resulted in a third consecutive win for Best First Class and Best Long Haul Airline Middle-East and Africa as well as a placing in AirlineRatings.com Top Ten.

“It’s an outstanding achievement to win an Airlineratings.com award but Etihad Airways has taken that to another level by winning each category three years in a row.

“The airline is only one of a handful that has also achieved a seven-star ranking for both product and safety with Airlineratings.com.”

Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, Peter Baumgartner, said: “To win Best First Class and Best Long Haul Airline Middle-East and Africa for the third consecutive year is a great honour and cements our position as a leader in innovative products, intuitive service and world-class hospitality.

“The awards also underscore our uncompromising commitment to engineering and operational excellence as well as safety which is, and will always be, our number one priority.”

The 2017 AirlineRatings.com awards come just weeks after the UAE flag carrier received a Skytrax Certified 5-Star Airline Rating.

This followed Skytrax awards for the World’s Best First Class Airline, World’s Best First Class Onboard Catering, and World’s Best First Class Airline Seat for its Airbus A380 First Apartment in July 2016.

Etihad Airways awarded best first class and Best Long Haul Airline

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

World’s fastest driverless motorbike gears up for Dubai

The Danish-built motorbike, which is on display at the World Trade Centre, can reach speeds of up to 300km/h

For illustrative purposes only.

Dubai: The world’s fastest motorcycle has found its way to Dubai, and its breaking records for more than just its speed.

The Autonomous Street Racer holds the world-record in its class for acceleration times, reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h, but most importantly – its driverless.

Nerve, the Danish company that invented the bike, are currently touring Dubai to forge relationships with the public and private sector with the hope of implementing the technology locally.

The motorcycle is currently on display for the Gulf Traffic event, which runs from 13-15 November 2016 at the World Trade Centre.

During the Gulf Traffic conference, Nerve Founder and chief technology officer Soeren Ekelund shed light on the balance between people, society and technology in an effort to fuel discussion on how technology can be used to drive Dubai’s Smart City ambitions.

Ekelund said: “These are really exciting times in the world of transport and mobility. Sustainable development is forcing everyone to rethink the concept of public and private transportation. The vehicles of the future have to be more flexible, stronger, faster, smarter and greener.”

The driverless motorcycle was previously showcased at the NaTrans Expo that was held in Abu Dhabi last month.

“It’s no longer sufficient to think about how a vehicle meets the needs of an individual – how it gets him or her from A to B – rather, we need to consider the requirements of society as a whole,” said Ekelund.

He added: “It’s a privilege to be part of this automotive revolution, and we’re looking to Dubai very closely as a fertile breeding ground for the smart technologies of tomorrow”.

World’s fastest driverless motorbike gears up for Dubai

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Crown Prince posts video of Dubai Water Canal

A private yatch passing through Dubai Canal, the newest attraction which opened on Wednesday night.

Since its grand opening on Wednesday night, the Dubai Water Canal’s dazzling arches, waterfall and six-kilometre walkway has left UAE residents in awe.

And Dubai’s crown prince is no exception.

In his latest Instagram post, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, shared footage of the city’s newest attraction.

The Dh2.7 billion project has certainly changed the face of Dubai – with the creek ultimately achieving celebrity status.

The online video has gathered over 190,000 views and 2,000 comments from the public in its first 12 hours of going live.

The development project offers 80,000 square metres of public facilities, including six kilometres of walkway, a three-kilometre-long jogging track and 12 kilometres of cycling tracks.

The project is also expected to host a number of other leisure amenities and shopping destinations, as well as a variety of hotels and restaurants.

The canal has undoubtedly changed the way residents can travel around the city as ferries and water taxis, in addition to luxury yachts, are now able to cruise from Deira and Bur Dubai towards Jumeirah and Business Bay.

One of the key objectives of the Dubai Water Canal Project is to ensure the continuous flow and renewal of the water in the Creek. pic.twitter.com/5vUvS0xAgl— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) November 12, 2016

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has so far opened up nine out of 42 marine stations, four at Business Bay and five along the Dubai Canal.

Residents can choose to travel in the Dubai Ferry starting at a cost of Dh15 for silver class and Dh25 for gold.

The fare for the water taxi ranges from Dh55 to Dh205, while hiring a water taxi for an hour will cost you Dh400.

Crown Prince posts video of Dubai Water Canal

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

UAE among top producers of energy innovative technologies, says Energy Minister

The UAE realised the importance of diversifying the energy sector several years ago much before the oil prices began to drop, Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy, has said.

That helped the country to stay in the forefront in the region in terms of the solar and renewable energy sector, Al Mazrouei said. The state spares no effort to achieve its ambitions of raising the level of clean energy resources to 25 percent of the total energy will be used locally by 2030, he added.

In a statement to Emirates News Agency, WAM, on the sidelines of the recently concluded Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, ADIPEC 2016, in which the ministry was a participant, Al Mazrouei said the UAE is in the forefront in producing innovative technologies, while supporting traditional and renewable aspects in the energy sector.

“The establishment of a culture of creativity and setting up of a global organisation for research and development can play a decisive role in achieving these goals and interests in the energy industry,” he stated.

UAE among top producers of energy innovative technologies, says Energy Minister

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Indian expats won’t get new Rs500 and Rs2,000 notes in UAE

Indian expatriates in the UAE cannot immediately get newly issued Rs500 and Rs2,000 currency notes that were meant to address the currency note crunch following the withdrawal of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes last week, industry experts said on Saturday.

India issued new Rs500 and Rs2,000 currency notes on Thursday.

Money exchanges in the UAE never get newly issued Indian currency notes directly from India because India does not export its currency abroad through official channels, senior executives of money remittance industry told Gulf News on Saturday.

“We get Indian rupee notes from our customers who sell them to us and we resell them to other customers. Therefore, we have to wait for Indian customers who bring the newly issued notes from India and sell them to us,” said Osama Al Rahma, chairman of the Foreign Exchange and Remittance Group (FERG) — an official platform of the companies engaged in the business of money exchange and remittances in the UAE.

He said the case of other international currencies such as the dollar and euro are different. “When the euro was introduced to replace many European currencies, we imported it from Europe and sold it here at the same time,” said Al Rahma, who is also the CEO of Al Fardan Exchange.

Echoing the same, Y. Sudhir Kumar Shetty, vice-chairman of FERG and president of UAE Exchange, said this system of Indian currency circulation abroad [not through official export but through individual customers] has been in place for many years.

Al Rahma and Shetty said the money exchange centres were flooded with requests from Indian customers to exchange their invalid Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes but they are unable to entertain the requests.

Shetty said FERG has written to the UAE Central Bank to help the money exchange centres deal with the stocked invalid Indian rupee notes.

As Gulf News reported on Friday, Bank of Baroda, the only Indian bank with commercial operations in the UAE, is not accepting the invalid notes although banks in India have started accepting the withdrawn notes, The bank has approached the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for permission to accept those notes, a senior official told Gulf News on Thursday.

“Our corporate office has written to the RBI and we are waiting for a reply,” said Sanjay Joshi, chief manager — planning, publicity and operations at Bank of Baroda.

RBI guidance for NRIs

1. How much money can NRIs exchange at airport?

If you are travelling to India, you can exchange invalid Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes worth a total of Rs5,000 at banks or money exchange centres at airports.

2. If you are not in India right now, what should you do?

If you have specified banknotes in India, you may authorise someone in writing, enabling the person to deposit the notes in your bank account. The person so authorised has to go to the bank with the specified bank notes, the authorisation letter given by you and a valid identity proof such as Aadhaar card, voter ID card, passport, driving licence, PAN card etc

3. You are an NRI and hold an NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) account; can the exchange value be deposited in your account?

Yes, you can deposit the specified banknotes to your NRO account without any limit. However deposit above Rs250,000 will be reported to Income Tax authorities that may ask the source of the money. If you can prove income source abroad under your NRI status, the money will not be taxable.

4. Where can I go to exchange the notes?

The exchange facility is available at all issue offices of the RBI and branches of commercial banks, rural banks, state cooperative banks or at any head post office or sub-post office.

5. What should you be cautious about?

While depositing or exchanging Rs500 or Rs1,000 notes in banks or post office, if you are providing ID and Permanent Account Number (PAN) card copy, it is better to attest the same and write that you are depositing so much amount and date. This is to avoid duplication of your unsigned PAN and ID copies several times.

Indian expats won’t get new Rs500 and Rs2,000 notes in UAE

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Drop in temperature, fog alert over the next three days

Average drop in temperature of around 5C expected, visibility to drop by up to 500 metres in western and internal areas

Dubai: Residents can expect a drop in temperature and foggy conditions over the next three days, forecasters said.

“On Monday, the western area can expect a 3 degrees Celsius to 4C drop in temperatures. The rest of the country will experience the same beginning Tuesday and on Wednesday,” a forecaster from the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) told Gulf News.

The forecaster, however, clarified that the drop in temperature will happen during the hottest time of the day between 2pm and 3pm. So, if the maximum temperature in the coastal area on Sunday was between 30C to 35C, it will now be between 30C to 31C. Internal areas will now have 33C to 35C and the mountain areas will have relatively cooler weather of between of 24C and 28C.

“All in all, we will see a drop in temperatures of about 5C over the next three days,” the forecaster said.

The gradual drop in temperature will continue until winter comes in December.

The forecaster said that there are some fluctuations in the weather on some days when certain afternoons were strangely hot compared to other days, especially last week. The forecaster said this is due to the wind pattern affecting the country.

Meanwhile, NCMS urged motorists to drive with caution early in the morning over the next three days as fog could reduce visibility to 500 metres in internal and western areas such as Abu Dhabi and going towards Al Ruwais and Sila.

The Arabian Gulf will be moderate but will be rough to very rough from Monday night.

Drop in temperature, fog alert over the next three days

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Review: Boney M deliver timeless performance in Dubai

Pop-dico legends return to the city with what was virtually a Greatest Hits evening

In some ways, pop-disco legends Boney M delivered a history lesson when they played a boisterous one-hour set at Dubai’s Hard Rock Café on Saturday night.

Fronted by Maizie Williams, one of the original members of the ultra-successful music group who in the late ’70s and early ’80s stormed the charts with one dance floor hit after the other, the quartet had the motley crowd on its feet with their bouncing songs of love and gangsters.

The set was virtually a Greatest Hits performance and featured best sellers Bahama Mama, Belfast, Brown Girl in The Ring, Daddy Cool, Gotta Go Home, Ma Baker and the monster hits Rasputin and Rivers of Babylon.

Williams, a West Indies-born British model and singer, led from the front as her backup singers showcased precise vocals and interpretations of the original Boney M’s hit song. Williams is well known for her humorous side and she playfully serenaded the crowd. The vocals were nearly flawless and the timing of the harmonies close to being immaculate.

Boney M’s sound famously marries bubblegum pop hooks to a pounding disco beat like their contemporaries, Donna Summer, Sister Sledge, Gloria Gaynor and Kool and the Gang, successful did to create a sound that became the music craze of the ’70s and ’80s and were the inspiration for the commercially successful Saturday Night Fever, Staying Alive and Thank God It’s Friday blockbuster films.

Ma Baker, a colourful gangster story that features a stuttered vocal hook that gets stuck in your head, was a crowd favourite while the up-tempo stormers Belfast, Rasputin and Gotta Go Home, ensured that every person present was moving to the group’s slick dance floor appeal.

During the heights of disco fever every gramophone, car stereo and discotheque appeared to be playing a Boney M song. It was considered ‘hip’ at the time.

“We love you Dubai,” bellowed Williams at one point in the show. “Any time is Boney M time.”

For sixty odd minutes on Saturday night at the Hard Rock Café, time stood still, as we were transported back to the rockin’ ’70s.

It was Saturday Night Fever all over again.

Review: Boney M deliver timeless performance in Dubai

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Tiesto, DJ Snake in Dubai next month

They will get behind the decks at World Trade Centre

DJs Tiesto and Snake will ring in December at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) as part of the National Day holiday.

DJ Snake, Stephen Grandi, Rafael Becker and Keza will hit the decks at DWTC’s Shaikh Rashid Hall on December 1, while Tiesto, Grandi and Hollaphonic take over on December 2. Doors will open at 9.30pm for both nights.

A Grammy-award winning DJ, Tiesto is one of the biggest names in the electronic music genre. Snake recently gained a wave of followers for hits such as Turn Down For What and Lean On, his collaboration with Major Lazer and MO.

“I had a blast at my last Dubai gig over the 2016 summer. I’m back for round two, so let’s take things up a notch. Roll on the good vibes,” DJ Snake said.

Tickets are Dh275 for general admission, available from platinumlist.net, UAE Exchange or Zoom supermarkets.

Tiesto, DJ Snake in Dubai next month

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre wins Inspiration Award at World Space Risk Forum 2016

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, MBRSC, won the Inspiration Award at the World Space Risk Forum, WSRF, 2016, for its achievements in space science and space industry.

WSRF is a global event that brings together experts in the space industry from around the world.

Salem Al Marri, Assistant Director-General for Scientific and Technical Affairs at MBRSC, received the award from Laurent Lemaire, organiser and host of the WSRF and Chairman and CEO of Elseco, an insurance underwriting specialist in space, aviation and energy sectors.

“Hosting the World Space Risk Forum in the UAE contributes to reinforcing our country’s position in the global space industry. The forum offers a platform to exchange experiences and practices, promote knowledge transfer, and create co-operation channels between decision makers involved in the space sector from around the world,” said Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director-General of MBRSC.

Al Shaibani thanked the forum for bestowing the Inspiration Award, saying that the centre’s achievements would be lauded by many countries. “In a short period of time, we have managed to achieve a great deal, including the launch of two satellites into space, building the first Remote Sensing Earth Observation Satellite using only Emirati expertise – KhalifaSat, and beginning work on the first Arab mission to explore outer space – with the Hope probe,” he added.

“The UAE’s space sector has a very ambitious strategy based on innovation, creativity, excellence and investment in human resources. We are fully confident and hopeful that we will make qualitative development and advancement in the UAE space projects in line with the Centre’s strategic plans, which aim to fulfil the aspirations of our leadership to make the UAE one of the leading countries in the space science industry by 2021,” Al Shaibani said.

Al Marri highlighted the achievements of the UAE space programme over the past 10 years. He also talked about the risks associated with space missions, and stressed the need for proactive and operational plans to assess and mitigate risks by government institutions and agencies launching space projects and missions.

“By giving all countries and organisations equal opportunities to participate in the space industry, we can contribute to the growth of space technology. MBRSC continues to promote co-operation and co-ordination with the global space community in order to develop international frameworks to regulate space activities, with a view to building a sustainable space sector,” he said.

Eng. Adnan Al Rais, Deputy Project Manager of the Emirates Mars Mission, also attended one of the sessions and briefed participants about the most ambitious project of the country. He highlighted the mission’s objectives and how one begins to gather data on Mars, before sharing it with the global space science community that has a keen interest in the Red Planet.

Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre wins Inspiration Award at World Space Risk Forum 2016

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬

DEWA’s new headquarters is set to be world’s largest and smartest government building

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has started construction of a new headquarters.

The new building, named Al-Sheraa (Arabic for sail), will be the tallest, largest, and smartest net Zero Energy Building (ZEB) in the world.

The Al-Sheraa building will have over a million square feet, over 200,000 square feet of land. It is being built in the heart of the Cultural Village in Al Jadaf.

This latest achievement conforms Dubai’s global position as a role model for leading organisations in sustainability, innovation, and shaping the future.

The total built-up area of Al-Sheraa will be over 1.5 million square feet.

The additional area comprises parking, engineering facilities, and green spaces. The building is designed to accommodate 5,000 employees, in addition to customers and visitors.

The building will have over 16,500 square metres of photovoltaic solar panels to produce over 3,500 kilowatt hours (kW/h).

There will be about 10,000 square metres of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV), producing over 1,100 kWh. Total renewable energy generated by the building will be over 7,000 megawatt hours (MW/h) annually.

The building will have an Energy Utilization Intensity (EUI) of 70 kW/m2 per year.

Al-Sheraa’s design was inspired by the UAE’s traditional houses, where enclosed spaces overlook an open courtyard.

The courtyard will be the focal point and most prominent feature of the building.

To reduce heat in the open courtyard, a sail design is used to provide shaded areas.

Natural light during the day will stream through specific openings in the sail, giving sufficient light without the associated heat.

The courtyard features trees, planted areas, and birds within a sustainable environment.

The courtyard will give occupants and visitors an outdoor feeling in an indoor setting.

The building will use the latest technologies including Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and Open Data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Robots will be used for cleaning and to provide security services.

A smart app will alert the employees about the time they should leave their homes based on the traffic.

The same app can be used to book parking spaces and meeting rooms.

It can be also used by visitors to easily reach the building and meeting rooms.

Al-Sheraa is planned to be a Zero Energy Building (ZEB), where the total energy used in the building during a year is equal to or less than the energy produced on site during that year.

DEWA’s new headquarters is targeted to receive platinum rating by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), where platinum is the highest certification.

The building is targeted to use 50% less water than regular buildings.

The green spaces will be almost 50% of the buildings area.

To be ZEB, employees will manage their energy consumption using a smart app that informs them of the amount of energy they use to assist them in improving energy budget management.

Al-Sheraa will use state-of-the-art building management tools.

It will feature a control centre which will allow essential systems to operate and will shut down non-essential systems, including air conditioning and lighting.

DEWA’s new headquarters will be directly linked to Dubai Metro by a 150-metre covered bridge.

This link between Al Jadaf metro station and Al-Sheraa Building will promote the use of public transportation. This reduces traffic and carbon footprint.

“DEWA’s vision is inspired by the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai a global centre for clean energy and green economy. Al-Sheraa eco-friendly building supports the long-term Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to achieve the sustainable development of Dubai. It also supports our vision to become a sustainable innovative world class utility. By building Al-Sheraa, we establish a role model in Dubai and the world to achieve a balance between development and the environment to protect the right of future generations to leave ain a clean, healthy and safe environment. This supports the UAE Vision 2021 to make the UAE one of the best countries in the world, and the Dubai Plan 2021, to make Dubai the preferred place to live, work, and visit. We will continue our efforts to improve government services and become pioneers across all areas, inspired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who once observed: ‘We always seek to be number one. In the UAE and Dubai, we are number one in terms of investment, security, quality of stable life, economic and social progress and infrastructure,’” said Al Tayer.

“Designing DEWA’s new head office like a sail enhances the UAE National identity. This supports DEWA’s strategy to promote the National identity, and ensures the protection of the authentic Emirati Values. The Sail has always been a major element of the UAE’s heritage, and a symbol of sustainability. It refers to the pearl trade and fishing boats. The Al-Sheraa Building highlights Dubai’s, and DEWA’s roles in encouraging a sustainable lifestyle, and using the latest technologies and innovative solutions. The building demonstrates our commitment towards achieving the objectives set by the DEWA 2021 strategy, which includes facilitating positive energy and providing a happy work environment. We expect the new building to enhance happiness, and improve individual and corporate efficiency,” added Al Tayer.

“In adherence to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to ensure all government policies, programmes, and services contribute towards building a positive and happy society, and to ensure that the government takes priority in creating conditions capable of facilitating happiness for individuals, families, and employees, we provide the best government services and adopt the highest international standards to achieve the happiness of people. At DEWA, we do not rest on our laurels. Instead, we constantly work, led by the vision of our wise leadership, to provide smart and sustainable services, according to the highest standards of accountability, reliability, efficiency,” said Al Tayer.

“The building will be completed and inaugurated in 2019. Al-Sheraa will include a state-of-the-art fitness centre. DEWA will also include a shaded outdoor jogging track for use by DEWA staff and the community. The building will feature a 700-seat auditorium, allowing DEWA to host its events and activities in the same building. The parking facility accommodates up to 1,500 cars, which will be parked automatically. Al-Sheraa will also have a nursery that can accommodate 80 children of up to 4 years of age. It will have a library overlooking the creek, a large cafeteria, a retail area, and other amenities that will be accessible to staff and the public. The new building will contribute to spreading knowledge and increasing the productivity of our staff,” concluded Al Tayer.

DEWA’s new headquarters is set to be world’s largest and smartest government building

‪#Dubai‬ ‪#MyDubai‬ ‪#DXBplanet‬ ‪#LoveDubai‬ ‪#UAE‬ #دبي‬