by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Syed Haider
West Asia may be one up conglomeration of Asia’s large, medium and small states, but its calm sand-covered peaks, green oasis perched amidst a sea of smoldering gray sand dunes, and parched-land flora and fauna are simply mesmerizing….
The large gray expanse of gulf holds within the world’s second largest desert and an ecological blend that makes you breathless as you immerse deep in its splendor and beauty. The gray land meets the unfathomable blue sea as one move towards its south-eastern rim.
Exhilarating sights captivate when one negotiates through the smooth highways crisscrossing the gulf cities by bus or car – Sand dunes, high rises, steel and concrete structures and tree-lined boulevards. It is joyful to gaze at the landscape wrapped in diverse shades and colors.
Dubai rose from the sandy parch-land to a world-class city within a short span of 40 years! Oil exploration has transformed it into an unparalleled business hub in the Middle East. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. The city crams with people and boasts of a high density population – the most populous metropolis in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai.
Lying on the coast of Persian Gulf, the city is the main transport hub for cargo and passengers. The revenue accrued through petroleum products and crude oil has sped up the modernization of this metropolis. Dubai’s economy heavily depends on revenues from trade, tourism, aviation, real estate, and financial services. According to government data, the population of Dubai is estimated at around 3,400,800 as of 8 September 2020.
Expect the unexpected
When you land in Dubai the sight of young girls and boys dressed up in trendy western outfits may astound you. Some feasting on pizzas, while others enjoying slapping sea winds and slurping coconut milk. The wide grey-sand beaches lined with palm groves and chirping fronds of mahogany and slapping chilly winds sweeping through the beach
STIMULATING SIGHTINGS
Besides sky-kissing Burj Khalifa, which claims to be the tallest tower in the world, Dubai has a lot many things worth visiting – MIRACLE GARDEN, which is listed in the Guinness book of world record as the longest flower walls. The garden is full of colorful flowers, once you step in their fragrance wafts through your nostrils.
TOURISM
Tourism remains the backbone of Dubai’s economy and the emirate’s strategy focuses on maintaining the flow of foreign cash into the gulf nation. Dubai entices tourists through its vast shopping arcades, malls, recreation centres, desert safari besides other ancient and modern attractions. It is the fourth most-visited city in the world based on the number of international visitors and the fastest growing, increasing by a 10.7% rate. The city hosted 14.9 million overnight visitors in 2016, and is expected to reach 25 million tourists by 2022.
Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index 2019 provides a scintillating data: Tourists spend more money in Dubai than in any other nation. According to a 2018 survey, the country occupied top slots in the list for the fourth-year in a row with a total spend of $30.82 billion. The average spend per day was around $553.
In October 2019, Dubai relaxed its liquor laws for the first time in its history, under which it allowed tourists to obtain alcohol from state-controlled stores. Earlier, alcohol was only available for the locals with special licenses. The key policy shift came as the United Arab Emirates witnessed a harsh economic crisis that led to a drop in alcohol sales by volume in a decade.
Dubai: A Shoppers’ paradise
Known as the “shopping capital of the Middle East”, Dubai boasts of over 70 shopping arcades, including the planet’s leading shopping centre, Dubai Mall. The city is also known for its exotic marketplace located on either side of the creek. Since ancient time vessels travelling all the way from South-East Asian countries – China, Sri Lanka, and India used to land here offloading their cargo and the goods in the souks adjacent to the docks thus spurring commercial activities – sustaining the local community and was instrumental in triggering the economic boom in Dubai. As of September 2013, Dubai creek has been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many boutiques and jewellery stores are also found in the city. Dubai is also referred to as “the City of Gold” as the Gold Souk in Deira houses nearly 250 gold retail shops.
Beaches that recharge you
Umm Suqeim Beach, Al Mamzar Beach Park, JBR Open Beach, Kite Beach, Black Palace Beach and Royal Island Beach Club are some of the popular beaches of Dubai.
Pool and Beach club
Setting the tone for recharge, a private beach overlooking the vast expanse of blue water of Persian Gulf is sufficient to detox and re-energize you.
Adults only pool bar
Wet Deck allows guests to mix and intermingle with vintage brew next to the DJ closet.
Palm Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab
A fascinating destination, Dubai Creek Park plays a central role in Dubai tourism as it displays some of the unique tourist attractions in the city such as Dolphinarium, Cable Car, Camel Ride, Horse Carriage and Exotic Birds Shows.
The metropolis crams with a glut of parks – Safa park, Mushrif park, Hamriya park, to name a few. Each park is matchless in its own way. Mushrif park showcases different houses around the world. A visitor can check out the architectural features of the outside as well as the inside of each house.
Royal Holidays DMCC , Dubai (RHD): A Good Samaritan for globe-trotters
Royal Holidays – is a renowned travel management company headquartered in Dubai. One of the leading travel and tourism companies, it provides most of the travel requirements of the tourists and emigrants, that too, within a shortest span of time. With a robust reliability coefficient and good corporate travel service record, RH is cost-effective too.
When Syed Haider asked Yasin Bokhari on why why should a consumer visit RHD, he replied, “It is mainly because we have adopted a multi-pronged strategy to benefit our consumers. We ensure competitive rates for air ticket & holiday packages, Special credit facility (condition apply) and 24/7 services.”
In conversation with Haider, Bokhari also listed out the services RHD promises to provide, “Besides air tickets, a good holiday package, hotel reservation, travel insurance, luxury furnished apartment renting and limousine service.”
Bokhari said they have the best Dubai Leisure Packages, which includes City Tours, Desert Safari, Dhow Cruise, YAS Island, Ice Land and Deep-Sea Fishing.
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Business, Corporate, Corporate Buzz, Investing, Large Enterprise, Muslim World
Dubai : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) flagship carrier Emirates Airline has launched a joint project with US Crop One Holdings to build the world’s largest vertical farming facility near Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, it was announced on Tuesday.
Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC), the flight catering division of Emirates, and Crop One, a leading global vertical farm operator, will co-invest $40 million in the large project, the statement said.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive officer of Emirates, said the massive investment “aligns with the UAE’s drive for more agricultural self-sufficiency”.
“The introduction of ground-breaking technology at the facility also enhances Dubai’s position as a global innovation hub,” he added.
When complete, the vertical farm facility will cover an area of 12,077 square metres with an output equivalent to 3.64 million square metres of farmland.
“Our proven business model has demonstrated profitable commercial production longer than any other major vertical farmer,” said Sonia Lo, chief executive officer of Crop One Holdings.
At full production, the facility will harvest 2,700 kg of high-quality, herbicide and pesticide-free leafy greens daily, using 99 percent less water than outdoor fields, according to the statement.
The construction of the facility is scheduled to start in November and will take around one year to complete.
The first products are expected to be delivered to EKFC’s customers, including 105 airlines and 25 airport lounges, in December 2019.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Dubai : Over the next four years, Dubai government entities in the United Arab Emirates will come together to launch significant design initiatives in various fields to improve the quality of living for residents of the city.
On Sunday, the Dubai Municipality (DM) announced that the city has become the first in the Middle East and 24th in the world to be appointed a UNESCO creative city of design.
Joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), Dubai launched the Four-Year Design Initiative 2018-2021 that will involve five key projects towards placing creativity at the heart of development plans and cooperating actively at the international level.
Hajar Al Saffar, head of the Partnership Section at DM, said the government would redesign current services or develop new innovative services that will benefit society segments with a major focus on people with determination, children and the elderly as part of design and innovation for public service transformation initiative.
Among the key initiatives, also a Dubai national design center that will attract experts and designers from all over the world to exchange knowledge and create new projects.
Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) will attract 35,000 students worldwide to design and innovate in all aspects of life, besides infrastructure and building design.
The Dubai Creative City of Design Council will be formed among partners to suggest and apply ideas, accredit projects and view improvements, while a four-year Dubai design and innovation festival will incorporate different projects on the ground and attract international talents and conferences.
Design and creativity will be incorporated in all aspects of life, including transport, health, culture and infrastructure. The initiatives will be accompanied by numerous exhibitions, conferences, workshops, promotional tours, seminars and competitions.
Dawood Abdulrahman Al Hajiri, DM’s director general, said the civic body would work closely with different government entities including Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai executive council, Dubai culture, and arts authority, and community development authority to develop an integrated design plan.
He said that the design is the process of finding creative solutions to problems in order to improve lives.
“Design is beyond the product. Rather, it is the framework by which problems are solved. It puts people and their needs first to convert trash into energy, improve quality of life, increase sustainability and promote happiness,” said Al Hajiri.
Dubai is now among 72 locations that joined the network, covering creative fields such as art & craft, design, film, literature, and media arts.
Al Hajiri said selecting Dubai came after a UNESCO assessment that showed the city scoring in all requirements needed in infrastructure, architecture, and art among other fields.
“Innovation and creativity have been part of the government’s strategic plan for sustainable urban development even before we get selected,” said Al Hajiri, pointing out unique Dubai projects like Dubai design district, Dubai water canal and the design of the metro and tram.
Meanwhile, Al Saffar said the government’s vision of making Dubai the smartest city in the world, utilizing talents from different segments and creating the right environment for the youth were all factors behind the selection. “The city ensures that sustainable development goals in creativity and innovation are met in every field. The selection will make design a factor in all projects,” said Al Saffar.
Mohammed Abdulla, chairman of DIDI, said the institute would train school graduates on innovation. “To develop, we have to prepare the next generation to be involved in creative thinking, problem-solving and all aspects of design,” said Abdulla.
He added that the institute would help Dubai expats and residents understand design within its aspects and apply it to different disciplines of life. Education is a pillar towards understanding innovation, he noted.
—SM/UNA-OIC
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Finance, Islamic Finance, Muslim World, News
Dubai : The Dubai Financial Market General Index (DFMGI) closed at 3,115.16 on Sunday, the lowest point since the end of February, 2016.
Shares of Dubai’s bellwether Emaar Properties, the developer of the world’s tallest building Burj Khalifa, dived by 2.72 per cent, while regional logistics giant Aramex lost 3.70 per cent.
Selling pressure piled up on the Dubai trading floor as Friday and Saturday marked the Islamic weekend and the market remained closed, Xinhua reported.
Experts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) argued that the decline was due to the fear of a global trade war triggered by US President Donald Trump’s recent tariff campaigns on steel and aluminium imports as well as against China.
Despite warnings from business groups and trade experts, US President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on Thursday that could impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of imports from China and restrict Chinese investments in the US This fuelled fears that the world’s two largest economies could be sliding towards a trade war.
Trump kept his protectionist campaign promises by imposing tariffs on aluminium and steel earlier and now on intellectual property products on the pretext of “unfair practices,” which may trigger a trade war, said Nasser Saidi, former chief economist of the Dubai International Financial Center.
This poses “a clear risk that the Trump trade war will disrupt the global trade engine and derail the ongoing global economic recovery,” he said.
Despite the fall, shares of Emaar Malls, the developer of the world’s biggest shopping centre in relation to Dubai Mall, bucked the downtrend, gaining 0.47 per cent.
Despite a slowdown in the growth of the retail industry, there have been signs in Dubai and the regional retail sector that shopping is picking up, partly because of the increase in online retailing, said Elie Otaki, CEO of Global Retail Alliance in the Middle East and North Africa region.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Mumbai : Twenty-five years after his escape, the CBI has arrested absconder Farookh Takla, an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and a close aide of fugitive mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, from Dubai, official sources said on Thursday.
He was brought to Mumbai earlier on Thursday and whisked off to the CBI offices for questioning. He will be produced before a Special TADA Court later in the day for remand.
Takla, against whom the Interpol had issued a Red Corner Notice in 1995 was finally tracked to Dubai where he was believed to be holed up, and later extradited to India to face the law.
At least 257 people were killed, over 700 injured and properties worth crores destroyed in the March 12, 1993, blasts.
Takla’s arrest comes just two days after wellknown criminal lawyer Shyam Keswani reiterated in Thane that Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar was reportedly willing to return to India and face trial, but the Indian government had rejected some of his preconditions.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Subramanian Swamy on Thursday congratulated National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for the success in getting Takla back to face trial.
“We need to compliment NSA Doval for Farooq Takla coming in the CBI kitty. Dawood not far off?” Swamy tweeted.
—IANS
