EID SHOPPING BAZAAR “Season 7” is a (3 dayz) three days Ramadan Exhibition.
Special Festive Bazaar for Families where they will get all their shopping list under one roof, In affordable prices & Discounted offers. “Home decors items to Designers dresses, Shoes, Jewellery, Make up and many more”.
International & Local exhibitors will showcase their latest EID collection.
The X Factor UK campaign of 33-year-old former Dubai expatriate Ivy Grace Paredes may have had an unexpectedly abrupt end last month, but her journey as a performer continues. Paredes is back in her “second home” Dubai to pay tribute to the people and the fans who supported her in the UK singing competition.
“It feels great to be back because Dubai for me is my second home,” Paredes tells tabloid! in an interview. “I was recognised here more than I was recognised in the Philippines. I love the people here, my friends here, my life here for the past seven years.”
Paredes is in the UAE for a series of shows dubbed The Return of Ms. Ayegee Paredes on Friday, October 21 at Club Of Asia in Wafi Mall, and in Abu Dhabi on October 28 at Societe Club & Restaurant in Sofitel on the Corniche.
Paredes become known for her powerful rendition of Whitney Houston’s All The Man That I Need, impressing all four of the show’s judges during an audition.
“They can expect high notes as always — that is the thing that my fans expect from me. But this time I don’t want them to just hear the songs, I want to touch their hearts as well,” says Paredes. “So I’m going to sing songs that hopefully will make them cry or make them relate to every word that I am singing.”
Ahead of her show on Friday, Paredes sits down with tabloid! and shares her plans for life after X Factor.
How is life after X Factor?
It’s fine. Everything is great. I’ve experienced things that I have not experienced before. I’m not really used to things like this — the interviews. I have a lot of friends now, fans and supporters. A lot of people ask why I was not able to continue with the competition. I tell them as much as I can. I’m kind of loving the life after X Factor, so I hope I could maintain this — the fire in my career now.
What did you miss about Dubai?
The Filipinos here, my friends — they love me in a different way. They made me feel I am home. I am a friend and I am a performer. They support me in everything I do.
After X Factor, what other opportunities have opened for you?
For now, I’m still waiting and hoping for the best to come.
Are you 100 per cent ready to try again at X Factor?
Yeah, I am. I’m still interested to participate in the X Factor and continue what I have started, but there are things that I need to consider, of course — my daughter, my job. I don’t know what’s going to happen in six months’ time, so we will see. I’m thinking about that, but for now I’m really happy that X Factor reassured me that I am very much welcome next year.
What’s your biggest lesson after the whole journey on X Factor?
There’s no such thing as hopelessness. There’s no such thing as ‘too late’. If you have a dream, don’t stop chasing it. Chase that dream and make it happen. The most important thing I learnt at the X Factor was patience — patience to wait for the perfect time for you to shine or achieve your dreams. I also learnt how to work with people you don’t know and to smile whatever the situation is. To deal with everything in a very nice way, in a polite way even though you are already exhausted, you’re feeling really tired. You have so many things to do the whole day, plus the stress to study the song for two or three hours. The thing is, never give up no matter what happens. And if the journey somehow ends, yes it has ended, but it’s not the end of your life and your career. So you have to start anew. There’s no stopping, just move on.
What would have been your chances of winning?
If I was given the chance to continue with the competition, I see myself as one of the top three because that’s my goal. It’s not because of overconfidence, but I trust my capability and my determination to be in the top three. I’m really a fighter, I always tell Simon [Cowell] that I may not win this competition, but I will really give you a good fight and I did. I did give them a good fight.
If you get an offer to work again in Dubai, will you take it?
Yes, I always have the fire to come back here and work as a regular singer, but maybe not now. I don’t know what people may think about this, but the exposure that X Factor has given me is really different. I was seen in different parts of the world. I want to use that so that maybe I can have a better and good career in the Philippines. If given a choice, I want to stay in the Philippines to work and at the same time take good care of my daughter.
What are your tips for aspiring singers?
A lot of people ask me what they can do to improve themselves as an artist or as a singer. I always tell them, don’t stop singing. If you are working now as a regular artist, aim that you are going to be the main artist of the show or participate in big competitions. They should not be contented to be just there, they have to push themselves further. I don’t believe that success only depends on your voice, it should also be the heart. In anything you want in life, you just need to love it, work for it and make it grow.
What are your thoughts about Filipino artists going abroad instead of joining competitions in the Philippines?
I was thinking about that. There are so many artists who can sing well. Do we really need to prove [our]selves outside the country before we are recognised in our own country? It’s a really sad thing for me. Hopefully, the Philippines will support more of its talents. I even have more offers now here in the UAE than in the Philippines. That’s why I love the UAE because the support is not just 100 per cent, but 101 per cent.
Don’t miss it
Ivy Grace Paredes performs at Club Of Asia, Wafi City in Dubai on October 21 (Dh75) and Societe Club & Restaurant, Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche on October 28 (Dh85).
The press conference was opened by the Official Abu Dhabi Tour Ambassador, Mark Cavendish. In attendance alongside the Manxman were Giro d’Italia winner Vincenzo Nibali (Italy), seven time overall Grand Tour winner Alberto Contador (Spain), the duo of puncheurs John Degenkolb (Germany) and Michael Matthews (Australia), sprinter André Greipel (Germany), Rio 2016 gold medalists Elia Viviani (Omnium) from Italy and Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet (Individual Road Race), Costa Rican rider Andrey Amador and local hero Yousif Mirza, the highest profile rider in the UAE.
Abu Dhabi: Al Nasr Pro Cycling Team-Dubai are ‘very proud’ to be flying the flag for the UAE as the sole Emirati team in the 2016 Abu Dhabi Tour as they rub shoulders with some of the hottest names of the sport over the next four days.
Led by Yousuf Mirza, who competed in the road race at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Al Nasr are the second professional cycling team in the UAE along with Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team — Al Ahli.
They were launched at the start of the year by the Al Nasr Sports Club and took part in February’s Dubai Tour.
This will be their debut in the Abu Dhabi Tour, however, the second edition of which gets under way on Thursday. “It will be a great experience for Nasr and local riders to race with the biggest riders in the world and we are very proud to be part of this,” Mirza said.
“The Abu Dhabi Tour on the World Tour is a very good step. When something big happens in your country, it makes it bigger, you feel prouder than normal. We’re really happy to see cycling growing so quickly here.”
Mirza, 28, qualified to represent the UAE at the Olympic road race in Rio after he claimed the silver medal at the 2015 Asian Cycling Championship. He’s a four-time and reigning UAE Road Race champion. “The experience of riding the Olympics was amazing. Now the Abu Dhabi Tour will show that we have strong cycling in the UAE.”
Mirza and his teammates will line up alongside cycling luminaries such as Mark Cavendish and Alberto Contador in the four-stage, 555-kilometre event.
With 30 Tour de France stage wins to his name, Cavendish is regarded as the greatest sprinter in the history of cycling and the official ambassador of the Abu Dhabi Tour.
The Spanish legend Contador is a two-time Tour de France champion and he and Cavendish will be bidding to compensate for the absence of Sir Bradley Wiggins.
The five-time Olympic champion withdrew last week as controversy continues to swirl over his use of therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) to take a banned substance.
Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi Tour’s worldwide importance has been exemplified by the news that coverage of the four stages will be broadcast in 177 countries, across all five continents. Thirteen television networks will broadcast the race, seven of them live.
Abu Dhabi Sports, the host broadcaster, will produce and show the full coverage of each stage, from the first turn of the pedals to the finish-line victories, in the UAE and across the whole Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.
The Smart Virtual Agent initiative is being showcased by Dubai Customs at Gitex 2016. It is a smart channel for communication with customers and attending to their queries about Customs services, procedures and regulations.
The Smart Virtual Agent is an intelligent tool which operates 24/7 without the need for any physical employee. This self-improving platform uses Dubai Customs’ updated database and memorised similar cases to answer customer inquiries.
The Smart Virtual Agent reduces customer support cost by answering frequent queries without requiring support staff physical intervention, which helps efficiently redirect resources to other duties.
Many delegations were keen on checking out the initiatives showcased by Dubai Customs at Gitex 2016.
These include a delegation from the General Authority of Ports, Borders and Free Zones Security, headed by Jassem Mohammed Al Zaabi, Director, another delegation from the Dubai Police General Headquarters and one from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai.
Gitex visitors who stopped by Dubai Customs stand had the opportunity to try out the Smart Inspection Glasses, which facilitate and expedite containers’ field inspection, as Customs inspectors can browse the Customs declaration and x-ray images of the shipment at hand as well as its risk level.
Inspectors can submit inspection reports using either the virtual keyboard or voice input feature.
Under the umbrella of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation pavilion, Dubai Customs is showcasing 8 happiness-led initiatives and innovations: The Authorized Economic Operator, Smart Workspace, Smart Inspection Glasses, Smart Inspection Lab, Smart Virtual Agent, Smart Customs Route, Bags Smart Customs Inspection System and Endangered Species Exhibition.
Dubai Customs’ participation in Gitex 2016 is aimed at reaching out to a wider spectrum of audience, particularly customers, to get them to opt for smart Customs services and applications. DC representatives introduced Gitex visitors to the department’s latest offerings.
Officials use the Nol card at a Zoom store in Dubai World Trade Centre metro station.
Dubai: Payment for your purchase at convenience stores is now as simple as tapping your Nol card at the counter, officials said on Wednesday.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has now expanded the capability of its automated payment system, Nol, making it available across a network of retail stores.
The only mode of payment for metro, tram and buses, Nol card was recently made available as a payment option at Dubai’s public parks as well as on taxis. It can also be used to pay for parking.
In the new facility, purchases worth up to Dh5,000 can now be made through Nol cards across Zoom convenience stores at metro stations as well as in petrol stations.
On Wednesday, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) signed an MoU with Network International to formally launch Nol payment for retail purchases.
According to Abdullah Al Madani, CEO of RTA’s Corporate Support Services Sector, the update doesn’t require a change of cards on the part of the users and the facility will be available for all the 13 million users of different types of Nol cards.
“All existing cards can be used to pay the bills at Zoom stores. We are pleased to offer this additional benefit to the Nol users, who won’t have to worry about not having cash for any quick purchases,” said Al Madani, following the launch of the service.
He said that the new facility will make cash redundant, allowing people the safety of keeping the Nol cards sufficiently funded and using it for multiple purpose.
The e-wallet in the silver and gold Nol cards can have maximum purse of Dh1,000, while the Blue personalised Nol card can have up to Dh5,000.
“It is safer to have cash in one e-purse rather carrying hard cash or debit cards. It is easy to carry and easy to use. Most people keep their Nol cards in their phone case so this facility will help them make quick purchases even if they forget their wallets,” said Al Madani.
Apart from Zoom stores, the payment option will soon be available across 1,000 retail stores this year and up to 10,000 store by next year.
“We are in talks with a number of retail outlets. We have been working with most of the retailers including major supermarkets providing credit and debit card facilities and all we need to do is to update the card readers to accept the Nol cards,” said Bhairav Trivedi, CEO of Network International Payment Soultions.
He added that although the facility will allow purchases as big as Dh5,000 on Blue Nol cards, the service is in no way for purchases of luxury goods.
“The idea is to provide a safe tap and go payment option for regular commuters,” he added.
Al Madani assured that the payment mode is safe and secure.
“Nol card is a safe and secure mode of payment and it will continue to be secure even with this option. If the card is lost, people will have an option of calling the RTA immediately and having the card blocked by providing the Nol ID number and have the cash refunded or transferred to another card,” said Al Madani.
Though the anonymous silver or gold Nol card is as secure as the personalised blue card, he urged commuters to go for the blue cards for its added benefit of having the owner’s picture and name, which makes it harder to misuse.
How to use a Nol card at retail stores
Buy a new Nol card or use the existing one
Shop at any of the Zoom stores (1,000 more stores by end of this year)
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has successfully completed sponsorship of its first six Fashion Weeks, in partnership with WME / IMG.
Etihad Airways’ support of global fashion began with Fashion Weeks in Sydney, Berlin and Mumbai, and culminated with the three major Fashion Weeks in New York, London and Milan.
Patrick Pierce, Etihad Airways Vice President for Sponsorship, said, “Our custom partnerships with global Fashion Weeks began in style, with inspirational activations taking place across Europe, Asia and Australia, coupled with unique designer collaborations in each location.
“This alignment is a natural one for our commercial business, but also presents significant brand visibility and advocacy opportunities. It also gives us valuable access to influencers, opinion leaders, media and other stakeholders within the industry, in a manner previously not possible.”
The long-term sponsorship represents an ideal fit for the airline, building a strong link between the quality of the Etihad Airways brand and the ever-evolving fashion industry. The partnership allows the airline to boost its reputation as a provider of world-leading service, hospitality, design and style through the unique association, by promoting passenger and cargo services to the industry in markets which are strategically important to Etihad Airways and the Etihad Airways Partner airlines.
Over the past five months, Etihad Airways has worked with fashion designers and influencers, including Oscar de la Renta in Sydney, Manish Malhotra, a favourite designer of Bollywood stars at Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai, Jimmy Choo for its 20th anniversary celebrations in both New York and London, and, more recently, with Richard Mortimer, the editor of Rollacoaster magazine, who curated a photo exhibition for the airline on display at the Press and Buyers lounge at London Fashion Week.
At Milan Fashion Week, Etihad Airways and its partner Alitalia collaborated with fashion illustrator Megan Hess by hosting a dedicated space at the Unicredit Pavilion, where she personally sketched over 200 of Etihad Airways’ VIPs and special guests.
To celebrate the opening of New York Fashion Week, Etihad Airways flew a NYFW-branded Airbus A380 from Abu Dhabi to New York’s JFK International Airport on 8th September, 2016. Upon the aircraft’s arrival, the airline staged a photo shoot in the Etihad Airways First and Business Class Lounge with supermodel Amber Valetta, who features prominently in Jimmy Choo’s 20th anniversary campaign.
Nakheel today announced a net profit of Dh3.91 billion for the first nine months of 2016, an increase of 8.3 percent on the profit of Dh3.61 billion in the same period last year.
The company recorded a net profit of Dh955 million for third quarter of 2016, 22 percent up on Q3 2015 profit of Dh781 million.
“The growth in net profit reflects stable market conditions,” said Nakheel. As with previous results periods, Nakheel’s development business, with its ongoing handovers of properties to customers, and the company’s growing retail, leasing and leisure businesses all contributed to the results for the period ending 30th September 2016.
Ali Rashid Lootah, Nakheel Chairman, said, “The growth in our net profit for the first nine months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 is a sign of a stable and mature local real estate market. The results also reflect positively on our business strategy to invest in our income-generating asset portfolio. We expect to further consolidate on our position and finish the year on an even stronger note.
“The last nine months has seen a range of significant achievements for Nakheel, including the biggest milestone in our history: settling all of the Dh4.4 billion of trade creditor Sukuk that was due on 25th August 2016. This was the last outstanding obligation from the financial restructuring concluded in August 2011. We thank the Government of Dubai, without whom this milestone would not have been possible, for its ongoing support. With the restructuring behind us, we can now operate with more flexibility to achieve our business and financial objectives.”
