Eid Al Fitr will therefore fall on Friday the 10th of September 2010.

Dubai Informer wishes all it’s readers and friends Eid Mubarak.

Please share this and leave your Eid Greetings for the Eid Holidays 2010 in the comments below.

The system earlier in force in Dubai did not give this right to the Marriage officiant except in the case of citizens of GCC countries. Even if each of the spouses hailed from different countries of the 6-member GCC states, the officiant could perform a marriage ceremony. In the case of other nationalities, the marriage officiant could solemnize a contract if both the bride and groom hailed from the same country. But if their nationalities differed, it necessitated a special written permission from the President of the Courts to officiate a marriage.

Judge Salem Obaid noted in his ruling that the decision was made due to the increased number of persons turning out at the court for solemnizing marriages. The decision also comes in line with the strategy of the Dubai Courts to ease up procedures at its various sections.

He also explained that there are no special conditions for the conclusion of a marriage contract except that both the spouses should hold a valid residence in Dubai.

If either the bride or groom is under 18 years, or the age of groom is double the age of the bride or more, a special permission should be issued by the Chief of the Dubai Courts, the ruling clarified.

He congratulated President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai and Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates on the advent of the Eid Al Fitr, wishing them good health.

He also congratulated people of UAE and the Arab and Muslim World on the happy occasion.

The committee will be chaired by the Minister and its membership includes Sultan Saeed Al-Badi, Undersecretary of Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, Mohammed Hamad Al-Badi, Director General of the Ministry of Justice, Dr Mohammed Mattar Salim Al-Ka’abi, Director General of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf), Dr Farouk Hamada, religious advisor at the court of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Mohammed Al-Yadali, mufti at Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), judges and others.

ADJD’s own moon sighting committee is to continue to collect evidence of sighting the new moon of the Hijri month of Shawwal and is to report findings to the Ministry’s committee. A meeting will be held on Wednesday 8th September after the maghreb (sunset) prayer at ADJD head office.

He congratulated President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai and Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates on the advent of the Eid Al Fitr, wishing them good health.

He also congratulated people of UAE and the Arab and Muslim World across the world on this happy occasion.

The Executive Director of Islamic Affairs, Mohammed Obeid Al Mazroui, said that the authority has allocated 696 Musallas and mosques all over the UAE to perform Eid prayer, identified each with the name of Al Khatib, equipped them with the necessary furniture, hygiene and sound systems to accommodate the number of worshipers.

He pointed out that 209 mosques are prepared for Eid prayer in Abu Dhabi, 85 in Bani Yas, 51 in the Western Region, 57 in Al Ain, 123 in Sharjah and Khorfakkan, 65 in Ajman, 12 in Umm Al Qaiwain, 54 in Ras Al Khaimah and 41 in Fujairah.

Chaired by Abdullah Aqeeda Al Muhairi, Secretary General of Zakat Fund, said that people who have recently converted to Islam are those whose hearts are to be brought together in Islam. They were clearly mentioned in Verse 60 of Al Tawbah Soura in the Holy Quran as one of the eight categories who deserve to receive Zakat money along with the poor, the needy and others.

“It is our duty as Muslims to encourage and support those who embrace Islam to help show them the right way of life and to encourage them learn more about their religion and how to behave like real Muslims,” said Al Muhairi.

“Islam is a religion of mercy and compassion that stresses on helping people in need, as supporting those who have recently converted to Islam strengthens the feeling of brotherhood, justice and equality among Muslims”, he added.

He called upon all Muslims and philanthropists in the UAE to coordinate with Zakat Fund extend helping hands to those who are in trouble or in big debt or affected by some kind of disasters.

The vision of Zakat Fund is based on its excellent capability to serve Zakat obligation by spreading more awareness about this duty, encouraging Muslims to pay it to those who deserve it as well as facilitating the procedures of delivering Zakat money to worthy recipients according to the channels specified by the Islamic Shari’ ah.

The lectures discussed ‘Al Taqwa’ which means Guidance on How to be a good practicing Muslim‘ and were conducted by Ahmed Al Haddad, Director of the Advisory for Islamic Affairs ‘&’ Charitable Activities Department.

On this occasion, Eman Al Mansoori, Events Manager at the Dubai Ladies Club commented: “In line with the religious and spiritual atmosphere that characterizes the holy month of Ramadan, the management of the Dubai Ladies Club has organized a series of lectures and religious seminars during the Holy Month to discuss topics related to the concepts of the Islamic religion. We are happy to welcome scientists and scholars managing the lectures like Dr Omar Abdul Kafi, Dr Abdullah Al Kamalli and Ahmed Haddad.” The month’s activities began with a special Ramadan Fatwa Workshop by Ahmed Haddad where guests were able to learn how to conduct themselves during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The workshop also included a Question ‘&’ Answers session where ladies were able to ask the speaker about Ramadan and Islamic matters.

Later in the week, the club hosted two lectures in cooperation with the Islamic Affairs ‘&’ Charitable Activities Department. Both lectures discussed ways in which to utilize the Holy Month wisely, and how to gain the maximum benefits and interests of Ramadan. Both lectures were well attended by female members from Dubai Ladies Club as well as non members.

Moreover, Dubai Ladies Club will also organize additional Islamic lectures conducted by respected personalities such as Dr Omar Abdul Kafi, Dr Abdullah Al Kamalli and Ahmed Haddad. On Tuesday, 17 August, from 10 am to 12pm, Dubai Ladies Club will host a special Islamic lecture by Ahmed Haddad that will expand on his previous discussion on ‘Al Taqwa’.

The following week, on Sunday, 22 August, from 9:30pm to 11pm, Dr Omar Abdul Kafi will conduct a special Islamic Lecture on the spiritualities ‘&’ prayers accompanying Ramadan practises. Dr Abdul Kafi will also talk about the purpose of fasting and Qiyam Al Lail prayers, and other issues related to the month of Ramadan.

On Thursday, 26 August, from 9:30pm to 11pm, Dr Abdullah Al Kamalli, Head of Maktoum Centre for Memorizing the Quran will conduct a special lecture on the importance of investing time during Ramadan to pursue religious activities in order to come closer to God.

During Ramadan 2010, Dubai Ladies Club is organizing a host of activities, to enlighten, inspire and relax you during the holy month of Ramadan. The theme for the season’s activities is ‘Al Taqwa’ – meaning Guidance on How to be a good practicing Muslim’.

Members and non-members alike are invited to participate in large selection of cultural and social events, art exhibitions and workshops which is open to ladies only.

Ramadan (also known as Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan, Ramdan, Ramadaan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sexual activities from dawn until sunset. Fasting is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility and spirituality and is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God (Allah) and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. As compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards about ten days each year depending on the moon. Ramadan was the month in which the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

The calculation method for these Ramadan Prayer timings is Umm Al-Qura, Fajr means both Fajr Athan (Azan) and Imsak (starting fast) and Maghrib means both Maghrib Athan (Azan) and Iftar (breaking fast). The 2010 Ramadan starting date is according to Makkah on August 11, 2010.

You can also click on the Ramadan Prayer timings for a bigger size calendar to print it out. Don’t forget to share this  Ramadan timings with the buttons below and leave your  Ramadan Greetings in the comments section. Ramadan Kareem to all of you.

Ramadan Timings 2010 Dubai

Ramadan Prayer timings 2010 for Dubai

What to-do and what not-to-do during Ramadan 2010:

• Eating and drinking in public is banned across the UAE during Ramadan, and strict penalties are levied on those who break the rule. Most eateries are closed during the day for the month, but some restaurants do offer delivery services.
• Avoid eating or drinking in front of colleagues who are fasting in office.
• Do not get into arguments with those who are fasting; be patient and show consideration for the long hours of fasting.
• Dress and behave modestly, avoiding animated behaviour that could cause offence.
• Try to understand Ramadan better by involving yourself in the spirit of the month. Saying ‘Ramadan Kareem’ to Muslims and attending a fast-breaking feast, or iftar, would be appreciated by most Muslims.
• Do not play live music as it is banned through the month.
• Shopping malls and supermarkets are expected to be open late at night.
• Since cultural consciousness is also high during the month, Ramadan can be a good time to connect with the local and Muslim cultural scene by attending the various musical and social events, as well as trying local and regional cuisine that is popular during the month of fasting.
• Arabic speaking non-Muslims wishing to learn more about the region and its people will notice that Arabic television channels change their programming to a new schedule dedicated for Ramadan, when some of the most popular celebrities in the Arab world feature in some of the most-watched soap operas, historic series, as well as religious, cultural and musical shows.

So, these tips should get you through the Ramadan time 2010 without problems. No its time to start enjoying the nice time that Ramadan is, especially here in Dubai. Ramadan Kareem …

This article titled “Elena Kagan and the sharia charge” was written by Michael Tomasky, for guardian.co.uk on Thursday 5th August 2010 17.37 UTC

Every so often, I confess (elitism alert!), I wonder how smart and intellectually curious people can even be conservatives. What I mean here is this. You hear about a problem in the world. It sounds shocking and offensive to common sense. You get outraged. Then you look into it a little, or maybe a lot if you’re so inclined, and you see that the problem is usually far more complicated than you first thought. Your initial reactions, based on scant information, weren’t really correct or fair.

This closer examination need not, of course, make a person a liberal. But it ought to make a person take more considered views.

I say all this apropos the recent “controversy” over Elana Kagan, now confirmed to the Supreme Court by the Senate, and her “support” for sharia law. Now let’s stop right here. That sounds just awful, doesn’t it? The mind quite naturally speed to the darkest vectors of this allegation. What, did she once support the stoning of an uppity woman? A cliterodectomy? Is she some agent of Allah?

While she was dean of Harvard Law, she did in fact help establish a program for the study of Islamic finance. And here’s where, if you’re willing to spend a few minutes looking beyond the headlines, matters get more complicated. It turns out that Islamic finance is deserving of study and different from the finance the rest of us use because the Qu’ran forbids the charging of interest and certain other practices that we all use, so deals have to be structured differently. And in a shrinking global world, it’s worth learning about those things.

Adam Serwer of the American Prospect has an edifying interview up with Frank Vogel, the former director of Harvard’s Islamic legal study program. Let’s look at some salient passages:

How is [Islamic finance] different from secular finance?

The difference is, for example, that they don’t charge interest. They can’t indulge in some particularly risky or speculative transactions. There’s actually a whole long list of requirements, such as not selling debt, that are derived from these basic prohibitions against interest taking and against excessive risk. So because of those specific rulings, they have to design the transactions in slightly different ways.

For example, rather than borrowing money to buy some goods, they’ll have the bank buy the goods and then resell the goods to the customer, so the bank becomes involved as an owner at one stage of the transaction. That makes it lawful, from the Islamic perspective. Whereas if the bank lent the money to the customer, that’s an interest-bearing loan, and that’s not allowed. So they use slightly different routes, typically involving ownership of goods at some point, to achieve finance.

Why is it important for Western institutions, for example GWU, to teach Islamic finance?

Islamic finance is becoming extremely important in various parts of the world. It’s shaping economies. Islamic finance is the most rapidly growing part of the finance industry throughout Southeast Asia, throughout the Arabian Gulf region, throughout the Arab world. Islamic banks are cropping up everywhere, in the UK, France, Germany. In fact, Europe is far ahead of the United States in this respect. There’s been very little action in the United States. It’s a lucrative field in finance, and it’s rapidly growing. And many, many people want to get involved in it…

… You mentioned that a lot of non-Muslims are starting to invest in Sharia-complaint finance products. What is it that interests people?

People were interested, first, in the good returns that some of these funds have had, and second, I think that they’re interested in the social-investing part. Islamic funds cannot invest in alcohol, gambling, arms, a list of objections. And because of that, they really are classified as social-investment vehicles.

You mentioned earlier that Islamic-finance companies suffered less during the financial crisis.

Yeah, if Islamic law was applied pretty strictly, it would have been impossible for Islamic banks to be involved in any kind of derivatives, any seriously speculative transactions, in debt securitization, in the pyramiding of debt, in the credit-default swaps; all these things would have not been possible at all for Islamic banks. Although practices were beginning to head in that direction, they hadn’t gone very far. So Islamic banks, basically, were still banking quite conservatively and came through relatively unscathed…

… In establishing a study program for Islamic, Sharia-compliant finance, are you trying to facilitate an Islamic takeover of the United States?

[Laughs] No. Islamic finance is one of the most opportune ways to engage with the Islamic world right now if you are concerned about terrorism. It strengthens economic links, it is being put forward by sort of the most Western-leaning individuals throughout the Muslim world, it draws them closer to the Western financial system. There are many, many aspects of it that are extremely favorable to a Western point of view. It’s worlds apart from anything related to terrorism.

Obviously, Serwer’s last question there was tongue in cheek. But the rest teaches us something. Islamic finance, lo and behold, is in some ways quite superior to the sort we’re accustomed to. If our great capitalists had operated according to sharia law, maybe we’d have had no financial crisis. Something to think about, for those who choose to think.

The Minnesota housing finance agency created an Islamic mortgage loan division in March 2009. It seems to be working fine. I’m sure you’ve noticed that the state has been taken over by fundamentalists. Well, actually, that is partly true.

Now, if you Google around, you will see any number of howling-at-the-moon blog posts from rightwing sites about how Kagan embraced sharia law at Harvard and how she’s just waiting for the opportune moment to bring it to the Supreme Court. It’s just hysteria and insanity.

And this is where I sometimes get confused. Surely these people know better. Do they know better and not care about the truth? Or, do they not know better? Are they just so freaked out by anything that is unfamiliar to them, anything that unsettles the little cocoon they live in, that they have to label it, name it as a threat, sow distrust of it? Why don’t they just read a few things and learn that Islamic finance raises legitimate questions that people of good will can solve without too much ruckus, as they apparently have up there in nice Minnesota? Or are they so interested in getting political power, and/or in their hatred of liberals, that any handy tool to make liberals seem both weak and frightening (a nice trick, if you think about it) will be put to use toward that end?

I think it’s mostly fear of the unfamiliar, which is one of the central problems of our roiling, global age, dramatically heightened in certain ways by 9/11. But all the above play roles.

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010

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This article titled “Owner of Dubai’s ‘little Britain’ jailed for non-payment of cheques” was written by Rajeev Syal, for guardian.co.uk on Friday 23rd July 2010 16.31 UTC

A British property tycoon hailed as one of Dubai’s most successful entrepreneurs after buying a £43m island in the shape of Great Britain has been jailed for seven years for bouncing cheques and withholding payments.

Safi Qurashi, from Balham, south London, was convicted last month in the United Arab Emirates of signing cheques worth more than £50m without sufficient funds and cancelling another cheque as he moved to complete three property deals.

His imprisonment comes two years after he bought the 11-acre island that is part of the World, a man-made archipelago of 300 reclaimed sandbanks in the Gulf, fashioned into the shape of the globe’s landmasses.

The islands, praised by some as an architectural miracle and condemned by others as an environmental disaster, were built in 2003 two miles off Dubai and can be seen from space.

They have become a symbol of Dubai’s fading economic power in the global economic downturn. Built during the boom to be used as secluded playgrounds for the super-rich, they remain largely unused.

Qurashi is appealing to the emirate’s royal ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, claiming that his convictions are the result of a miscarriage of justice.

He is one of a growing number of Britons caught out in Dubai by laws that hand down jail sentences for cheque fraud, which have been strictly enforced in the midst of collapsing house prices, negative equity and reduced credit.

Radha Stirling, the founder of Detained In Dubai, a British-based pressure group that fights injustices in the United Arab Emirates, is backing Qurashi’s claims that he has been jailed by a dogmatic court which failed to take his circumstances into account.

She said: “Security cheques are commonly used in Dubai in business and private agreements as collateral. The law states that bouncing a cheque is illegal and can be punished with a sentence of three years in prison. But the legal system in Dubai does not take into account any circumstances or evidence surrounding the bounced cheques, leaving the law open to abuse or misuse.”

Qurashi, 41, the son of a Pakistan-born travel agent, was a successful businessman in London, developing one of the first internet cafes in Soho. In 2004 he moved to Dubai, where he flourished, friends say. Four years later, his company, Premier Real Estate Bureau, turned over £400m and employed 80 staff.

He came to international prominence after buying the island in 2008. In an interview for the ITV show Piers Morgan On Dubai, he told the journalist that he planned to build a glitzy resort that would be a homage to his home city. “I am proud of my British heritage and not a day goes past when I don’t miss London. It’s home at the end of the day and who doesn’t miss home?” he said.

Friends say Qurashi was arrested alongside his business partner in January after a Russian investor attempted to cash two multimillion-pound cheques, which both bounced.

Qurashi’s legal team claimed that the cheques were presented after a property deal between the two parties had been completed and that the money was not owed.

He and his business partner were convicted on both charges in May and June this year. He has also been convicted of a third offence – this time for stopping a cheque – and is due to appear before a court next month to appeal against three years of his seven-year sentence.

Qurashi is being held in Dubai’s central prison. His wife and three young children are permitted to visit him once a week. The British consulate is aware of his case.

A friend of Qurashi said he had the funds to pay out on the cheques but the courts did not take this into account. “The cheques were cashed by an investor … The cheques were a security deposit and should never have been cashed because Safi did not owe him money,” he said. “Safi wants to develop the island into a resort and plans to do so when he gets out of prison. But right now, he can’t do anything.”

Dubai’s World archipelago

When the World project was launched in 2003, it was hoped celebrities and the super-rich would snap up the islands. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were reported to have considered buying Ethiopia. David Beckham, Rod Stewart, Michael Jackson and Prince Albert of Monaco were also rumoured to be interested.

None bought into the project. Most of the islands remain undeveloped, although it has been reported that the owner of the unpartitioned Ireland transported an Irish castle stone-by-stone to the Gulf.

Nakheel Properties created the foundations within five years, from 11bn cubic feet of sand and 47m tonnes of rock. But the development was criticised by environmental activists, who said the construction of artificial islands damaged coral reefs and shifts water currents.

Nakheel, which is in talks with creditors on restructuring .5bn of bank debt, has asked lenders to respond to the proposal by the end of next month, according to reports.

The developer met its creditor banks on Wednesday to present the proposed recapitalisation and restructuring plan.

A spokeswoman for the United Arab Emirates declined to comment on Qurashi’s case.

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010

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The employee behavior and customers’ interaction showed an increase of 84 per cent in May compared with last April.

Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dewa stated that these results, which are determined by a mystery shopper study, reflect Dewa’s outstanding efforts to develop its performance and strive for the application of quality and excellence in customer service according to the best requirements and standards for customer satisfaction.

Assessment

“Dewa performs periodic assessment to measure the quality of its services through a mystery shopper program designed to implement the strategic plans of corporate excellence as well as improving its performance through the activation and development of measurement tools and evaluation criteria.

The evaluation process is in accordance with the best international standards and with the participation of senior specialists in the areas of excellence,” Al Tayer also added.

“Dewa is always aspiring to improve its performance while enhancing the capacity of its staff and human resources and refining their talents, potentials and creativity in line with Dubai Government Excellence Program which was launched in 1998 by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to promote principles of excellence and high quality services across the government departments. The program was a key factor that contributed to the development of government processes in Dubai and has set a series of standards that keep pace with worldwide standards,” Al Tayer explained.

“We take the utmost importance to the implementation of quality standards to cope with recent rapid changes taking place in our contemporary world while improving all conditions for the provision of services to society in a modern take into account the surrounding work environment, the sense of mutual cooperation between the Commission and the public,” Al Tayer added.

Excellence program

The “mystery shopper” program is an effective strategy tool employed by Government Excellence Program to monitor the performance of Dubai’s government departments. The program helps in identifying how government departments respond to customers’ requests and the rapidity of responses to inquiries.

The “mystery shopper” program succeeded since its inception in monitoring the levels of customers’ satisfaction in government departments. It is used as an efficient measure to assess the effectiveness of the performance of various departments based on a set of specific criteria.

So what is your take on that? Did DEWA really improve their service? Tell us your DEWA story in the comments section below please…

She, an Arab expatriate, accumulated AED 187.000 in traffic fines over several years and is no longer in the United Arab Emirates. Her residence visa is canceled.

The lady tops a list of individuals with unpaid traffic fines as stated by Major Ahmad Al Ayalli, Director of the Following-up of Fines Department at Dubai Police’s Traffic Department. “While attempting to track down the woman, the traffic department found out that she had canceled her residence visa and left the country without paying the fines,” he said.

According to police, the fines snowballed when the woman repeatedly failed to renew her car registration. She also incurred fines for several other traffic violations. Speeding was her main offense.

Two men from Gulf countries also topped AED 100,000 in fines — one owes AED 127,000, while the other’s fines totaled AED 117,270.

Undercover traffic inspectors will be patrolling Dubai’s roads to confiscate vehicles from motorist who have accumulated huge amounts in traffic fines for years, Al Ayalli mentioned. They will also target people who have unpaid fines over AED 10,000 accumulated in a year.

The awards were announced during the first gathering of fragrance industry professionals on Sunday, organized by Frag-rance Foundation Arabia in association with Firmenich Dubai.

The business breakfast was attended by a host of the industry’s top players who discussed ways to collaborate through Fragrance Foundation Arabia.

Details about the annual ‘FiFi’ Fragrance Award were also revealed, and the event, known as the Perfume Oscars, will be held on October 27.

As well as the opportunity to network, Fragrance Foundation Arabia offers its members a wealth of key industry information, statistics on the local market, and assistance in the fight against counterfeit products.

“Fragrance Foundation Arabia is a fantastic platform to promote a very prestigious industry that triggers both passion and emotion to all,” said Louis Lecoeur, general manager of Firmenich Dubai and board member of the Fragrance Foundation Arabia.

“For the first time in the region there will also be a body providing the industry with key information regarding local regulations and legislation, fake products and statistics on the market and trends locally, which is very hard to find.”

Fragrance Foundation Arabia’s main focus is to enhance the image of the fragrance industry and to expand the appreciation and use of fragrance in all its forms across all global distribution channels.

“The fragrance industry has historically always been an integral part of the daily Islamic culture and way of life, and Arabs have a very unique passion for fragrances,” said Shahzad Haider, chairman of Frag-rance Foundation Arabia.

“Today the fragrance industry in the region is growing faster than in other parts of the world, and we have also noticed that Oriental perfumes are adapting their products to suit the global markets,” Haider added.

“On the other hand, there is an exponential increase in international brands of fragrances and retail houses in the region because of the sheer demand and keen interest of the multi-national brands within the Middle Eastern market.”

In 2010 the Muslim’s fasting month of Ramadan will start on Wednesday, 11th August 2010, and the Eid Ul Fitr will fall on Friday, 10th September 2010, according to a UAE astronomer.

Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Astronomy Researcher and Supervisor of Sharjah Planetarium, said the crescent moon of the holy month of Ramadan will be astronomically born on Tuesday, 10th August 2010, at 7:08 am (UAE time) and will disappear after sun set on the same day and Wednesday will the first day of Ramadan.

”The crescent moon of Shawwal will be born on Wednesday 8th September, at 2:30 am local time and sink down 14 minutes before sun set.

”It’s impossible to sight the crescent by naked eye at that day and therefore Friday (10th September) will be the first day of Shawwal,”he said.

Citing astronomical calculations, he added that this year’s summer season will begin on 22nd June and end on 23rd September but it will start on 21st June in the UAE at 3:28 pm when the sun is directly overhead on the Tropic of Cancer.

Time to make plans again for the relaxing period of Ramadan in Dubai. Ramadan tents everywhere for long nights filled with meeting friends, sharing stories and bringing the family closer together. We have to admit we cant wait for Ramadan 2010 in Dubai. What about you?

The Ministry of Environment and Water has confiscated a shipment consisting of 15 leopards shipped from the Republic of Somalia, but does not bear any official documents or health certificates.

The decision was taken based on the Federal Law No. 11 of 2002, on regulation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora “CITES”.

Abdullah Salem Al Jana’n, executive director for the Agricultural Affairs and livestock at ministry, said that the leopard shipment was caught at Aweer quarantine in Dubai to take the necessary action, pointing out that the ministry will provide the necessary care to the leopards.

He explained that the weights of confiscated leopards range from 2 to 250 kilograms, adding that the leopards are inscribed in the CITES Convention since 1975.

Al Jana’n noted that the UAE has joined the CITES A and bound to comply with and implementation of its terms.

So, that’s the story how the leopard comes to Dubai. Why some of us think it is cool to keep a leopard at home is a completely different story, your thoughts are welcome as usual…

Dubai’s Criminal Court of First Instance “found the defendant, Mark Arnold, guilty of first degree homicide and (he) was sentenced to serve a custodial term of 15 years followed by deportation,” the lawyer for victim Kerry Winter’s family, Hussain al-Jaziri, said in a statement.

The defense is to appeal against the verdict, the prosecution against the sentence, Jaziri said.

As Winter’s corpse was never found, Arnold’s lawyer reportedly told the court she had faked her own death to punish her former partner for ending their relationship, dismissing the alleged act as “just a woman’s revenge.”

In April, her family issued a statement rejecting the defense claims as “fictitious information and baseless allegations.”

Winter, 36, disappeared in August 2008 following a quarrel with Arnold, 42. Prosecutors charged him with clubbing her to death with a baseball bat and dumping her body in the sea with weights attached.

Arnold’s lawyer had said that a policeman spoke to Winter on her mobile phone three hours after an argument between the two and claimed she said she was fine.

Earlier reports said Arnold told investigators he had argued with Winter and hit her on the head with a wooden stick until she bled and fell to the ground.

Arnold has been in custody since August 2008 and received a one-month jail sentence for endangering the life of a Lebanese housemate of Winter by swinging a baseball bat at him when he was alerted to the argument between the two outside her villa.

Murder is a capital offense in the United Arab Emirates but the death sentence is rarely carried out.

What do you think? Fake or true? Did Arnold kill Winter?

The infiltrators, nationals of Asian countries who illegally entered the UAE, were busted at random locations by plainclothes police officers who had been running an extensive follow up and monitoring procedure, according to Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, Acting Assistant Undersecretary of Naturalization, Residency and Exits Affairs at the Ministry.

The arrests were made after midnight upon a warrant by the public prosecution.

Al-Menhali stressed that the Ministry’s inspectors continues to work 24/7 and will not spare efforts to put an end to infiltration and violation of residency laws.

He warned the public against sheltering infiltrators stressing that violators will also be prosecuted.

A plumber and an assistant mechanic got handed out a life sentence each from the Court of First Instance in Dubai for dealing with marijuana. The Dubai court also sentenced another worker to 4 years in jail for using marijuana. After serving their life sentence the two Bangladeshi’s will be deported as usual in UAE. The Dubai based plumber had  9.52 gram of marijuana for peddling in his possession. He also used narcotics himself. The assistant mechanic was found with 335.6 gram of marijuana.

A policeman stated in court that he arrested a worker on June 12 2009 for using drugs. This worker also told him about the plumber. He actually bought the Marijuana from him. The Anti-Narcotics unit of the Dubai police set a trap for the plumber. An undercover officer was sent to buy drugs from him.

The plumber later stated at the Criminal Investigation Department CID that he himself bought the drugs from the assistant mechanic. You have to be really obsessed with drugs or the money you can potentially make selling them, considering the rather tough penalties you face when caught with drugs in the United Arab Emirates.

But some people don’t learn it seems. If you see the amount of drugs and the penalties then good luck to this Asian drug dealer in Al Ain. Can you imagine what will happen to him once he gets convicted? Not the smartest guy, what do you think? What will his sentence be?

The anti-narcotic personnel apprehended the Asian suspect after they set a trap for him.

Lt. Colonel Mohammed bin Hamadi, Head of the Anti-narcotic Unit, said a Police decoy was assigned to strike a deal for purchasing four kg of opium with the Asian opium peddler.

‘The drug peddler was caught red handed in a hotel in Ras Al Khaimah,”he added.

Sharjah Police are cracking down on men wearing the lungi, a wraparound dress worn across some South Asian countries, in public. An Asian man was arrested and interrogated by police patrols in Sharjah a few days ago for wearing a lungi in public. The man said police told him lungis cannot be worn in public.

He told Gulf News he had recently been stopped by CID officers who sought to know why he was going out in public wearing a lungi. “A few days ago I had an issue with police for leaving my home wearing a lungi,” he said.

The man said he had gone out wearing a lungi that had its two ends stitched together when he was stopped at a petrol station’s convenience store. “I was caught by a police at the petrol station mart. Police asked me why I had ventured out wearing a lungi and a T-shirt,” he said. He said he was warned not to go out dressed in that manner since there was a law that prohibited the attire.

“My lungi covered me right up to the toe. It was fully stitched and decent and clean,” said the man. The Indian man said the lungi is considered a traditional dress in his home country and is very commonly worn. “I want to know if there is any law of this kind,” he said.

Ambiguity in rules

“Why is it that people are not allowed to wear clothes they are used to if they are not revealing,” he said. “My lungi fully covered my legs. Why did the police have to arrest me while you see so many people wearing revealing dresses in public whom no one stops,” he said, adding that it called for clarifying the decency law. “Can anyone state the law for the public so that we can avoid being stopped by the police,” he said.

Sharjah Police maintain that indecent and revealing clothes are not allowed in public. “The decency law was implemented in Sharjah ten years ago,” an officer said. He said people were expected to wear decent clothes in public, but did not explain if there was a ban on wearing the lungi in public. The lungi is a piece of brightly colored silk or cotton cloth that is wrapped around the waist. It is worn in India, Pakistan, Myanmar and other South Asian countries.

So what do you think about this? Should the lungi be banned? What is next? Do you have to wear sandals, closed shoes not allowed anymore? Basecap’s forbidden? No yellow T-shirts anymore?

]]> http://dubaiinformer.com/society/2795/be-careful-what-you-wear-in-uae/feed/ 4 http://dubaiinformer.com/videos/2782/the-amazing-meydan-racecourse-opening-on-video/ http://dubaiinformer.com/videos/2782/the-amazing-meydan-racecourse-opening-on-video/#comments Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:38:35 +0000 Dubai Informer http://dubaiinformer.com/?p=2782 Last weekend the new Meydan Racecourse opened its doors for the first Dubai World Cup held there. And in typical Dubai fashion it was a big, big, bigger event. The video below shows the fantastic Meydan Racecourse opening ceremony including the fireworks. Horse racing just entered a whole new dimension we guess. Feel free to share and retweet this, enjoy…

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The firefighters took only 12 minutes to reach the yacht which was a few miles away from the dock and close to Le Méridien Mina Seyahi. The yacht’s engine was on when the fire broke out. One Asian worker jumped off the yacht once he realized it is burning. “So far, we don’t know the cause of the fire. It is still being investigated, but it looks like it was coming from the top side of the yacht,” said one official. Residents of Dubai Marina could see thick black smoke from far away.

What could be the reason that shiny yacht burned down? Maybe high maintenance costs? Maybe another attempt to get rid of someone in Dubai? Or just a simple insurance fraud? We probably just get carried away with the criminal ideas, still thinking of recent incidents here in Dubai…

According to the officials at the Atlantis it took so long to ensure the sharks survival after the release. Water temperature and migratory patterns together with the salinity of the water were brought in as excuses. Sammy is tagged now by the way to be able to track her whereabouts. So she can easily be identified should she ever check back in to the Atlantis Hotel.

“The whale shark is an animal about which little is known and Atlantis is proud that the research and data gathered can be shared amongst the marine community,” was the statement of Steve Kaiser, the vice president of marine and science engineering for the Atlantis Resort Hotel.

The pair, an Indian flight attendant and her cabin services supervisor, were convicted of “coercion to commit sin” over the messages and initially sentenced to six months in jail, The National newspaper said on its website, citing court documents. The sentence was reduced on appeal last week to three months and deportation orders against the pair were lifted, it added. It did not reveal the content of the messages.

Dubai’s foreign population has expanded rapidly in recent years as expatriates flocked to the Gulf Arab trade and tourism hub for its tax-free earnings and year-round sunshine. The changes have challenged the Emirati population, which is now vastly outnumbered by foreigners, raising concern that their emirate’s rapid pace of growth is a threat to their social and religious identity in what remains a deeply conservative region.

An Emirates spokeswoman declined to comment on the case as it was still ongoing. The paper said the case emerged after the flight attendant’s husband filed a lawsuit against his wife a year ago accusing her of being in an illicit relationship with her supervisor. It said the couple had been embroiled in a divorce battle since 2007.

The case is the latest decency case against foreigners accused of not respecting local mores. In a separate case, a British pair caught kissing in public in Dubai is appealing a month-long jail sentence handed down after an Emirati mother complained her child had seen their indiscretion.

The pair, a British man living in Dubai and a female friend, were arrested in November on accusations of kissing and touching each other intimately in public and consuming alcohol, their lawyer said. They were ordered jailed for a month.

In a high-profile case in 2008, a British couple narrowly escaped jail after a court found them guilty of engaging in drunken sexual activity out of wedlock, and for doing so in public on a beach in the emirate. They were sentenced to three months in prison followed by deportation, but had their jail terms overturned on appeal.

In a separate case this year, a British couple who shared a hotel room managed to escape trial in Dubai for having sex out of wedlock by producing a marriage certificate.

Located on the corner of Tripoli Street and Emirates Road, the new AED 3 Billion, 196,000 square meter mall, was completed in just over two years and has been delivered on time, as promised.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, a seven-day extravaganza of entertainment is scheduled to welcome the first week’s visitors to the mall, including daily shows with the world-renowned Bungee aerial acrobatic troupe – Team Extreme, the unveiling of a giant community eco-art project, and a host of festival parades and performances.

Peter Walichnowski, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Properties – the owner and developer of Mirdif City Center, said: “Mirdif City Center shows Majid Al Futtaim Properties’ continuing commitment and confidence in Dubai as the leading retail and leisure destination in the Middle East. It has been delivered on schedule, constructed to the highest quality and environmental standards, and is another example of innovation in design and retail planning by Majid Al Futtaim Properties.” “Our vision for Mirdif City Center was to create a large mall offering a full range of shops and experiences but with the friendly feel of a community focused environment. It’s a different kind of mall.” “Mirdif City Center is in line with the company’s strategy to develop large destination malls in the three most important trade areas of Dubai – Deira City Center in the heart of Dubai, Mall of the Emirates in the Southern New Dubai area and now Mirdif City Center to service North Dubai and the Northern Emirates. All three malls can now provide UAE residents and visitors with the fullest range of retailing, leisure and lifestyle choices found in any great city in the world,” added Walichnowski.

The importance of Mirdif City Center cannot be underestimated, having created over 16,000 jobs in the development and construction process and 5,500 permanent jobs within the mall complex going forward. It will serve a population of 450,000 within a 10km radius, as well as communities across the rest of Dubai and other emirates.

Mr Shahram Shamsaee, Senior Vice President, Asset Management, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, provided further insight on what makes Mirdif City Center special: “In a competitive retail market like Dubai, Mirdif City Center offers the best mix of retail, leisure and entertainment. It provides a distinct point of difference to what else is available, and a testament to this is that the best of both local and international retailers have opened their most successful and recognized brands in Mirdif City Center.” The retail mix has been carefully selected to bring customers both popular well-known brands, as well as never-seen-before stores in the region, across retail categories such as fashion, home, services, electronics, entertainment and leisure and as well as essential convenience shopping.

Despite its size, the design of the new mall creates an intimate, warm and welcoming environment. Water features and palms give the impression of an indoor oasis that is complemented with plentiful natural light and sophisticated interiors. The mall’s simple but clear layout also provides a logical and understandable flow for visitors that makes navigating Mirdif City Centre easy and convenient.

One of Mirdif City Center’s distinct points of difference is its approach to sustainability and the environment. Mirdif City Center will be the first shopping center in the Middle East to achieve a Gold Rating for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the sustainability rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Jonathan Emery, Senior Vice President, Project Management, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, highlighted the new mall’s credentials: “We are extremely proud of our achievements in green building and sustainable design, and believe that Mirdif City Center has set a new benchmark for all malls in the region. The ongoing support for Mirdif City Center from local residents and government agencies in particular has been phenomenal and the whole team is extremely grateful for their ongoing support.” Access to the mall is made easy with a sophisticated network of roads, complete with three dedicated bridges allowing convenient access from all directions. While the 7,000 free car parking spaces and twelve entry and exit points means parking is abundant, quick and easy.

Mirdif City Center aims to become a hub for the greater community of Dubai and is designed to provide a place for people to relax and socialize, as well as enjoy the great shopping and leisure offer.

“The new mall is home to an impressive line-up of over 75 restaurants and cafes with famous names like Tiffinbites and P.F.Chang’s making their debut appearance in the country, as well as regional favourites such as Butcher Shop and Grill, Mango Tree Bistro and Pinkberry,” said Mr. Yousif Al Ali, Vice President of Mirdif City Centre.

“In addition to these, the new mall also provides a range of dedicated services such as community areas, medical clinics, spa services, prayer rooms, personal grooming facilities and a fitness center that incorporate a perfect balance of public spaces and commercial areas.” “The entire Mirdif City Center team is looking forward to welcoming its first customers to this impressive new destination and we are sure they will feel completely at home from day one,” Al Ali adds.

The driver tried to avoid this  – but too late – his truck overturned. Two containers of the truck were completely gutted in the accident. The driver was killed instantly.

Dubai’s rapid construction-boom is slowing down and so should you. Think before you speed, you could kill yourself and others in an instant…

]]> http://dubaiinformer.com/society/2580/overloading-overspeeding-overturning-over/feed/ 0 http://dubaiinformer.com/society/2101/pinoy-fraudster-girl-arrested-in-dubai/ http://dubaiinformer.com/society/2101/pinoy-fraudster-girl-arrested-in-dubai/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:43:04 +0000 Robert http://dubaiinformer.com/?p=2101 A Pinoy woman who allegedly betrayed people with promises of work visas and flats has been arrested after residents complained to the police. The Philippina, M.C.K., allegedly charged her victims a fee by promising to help them obtain work visas. Later on, she pretended to be a real estate broker and charged people commissions for renting out flats to them. M.C.K. is believed to have collected commissions ranging from Dh5,000 to Dh10,000.

The Al Rashidiya police station reported 6 complaints from Arabic and Asian victims. The suspect has been a frequent visitor to Dubai since 2005. She started the crimes after she repeatedly failed to find a job. The first complaint was made by a Nigerian men in 2008. He claimed that M.C.K. charged him between Dh10,000-Dh15,000 for getting a work visa, which he never got. The Philippina was arrested and released on bail back then.

Four months after her arrest, M.C.K. allegedly duped a fellow Filipino in the same way. Police said many of her alleged victims did not lodge complaints or took a long time to do so, which made it difficult for the police to track down the suspect. Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Humaid Al Merri, the Director of the criminal investigation unit at the Dubai Police, stated that M.C.K. changed her strategy in 2009 and started to act as a real estate broker. She posted ads offering apartments for rent, especially in International City. First she would call up real estate companies to find out which flats were available. She then offered those flats on rent to her victims, Al Merri said.

An investigative team tracked the Pinoy lady down and arrested her next to a hotel in Riggat Al Buteen, Dubai. All the known victims apparently identified the suspect. Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Director of the general department for criminal investigation at Dubai Police, stated the public should report any suspicious incident directly. “I urge the public to seek official registered channels when they want to obtain any visa, apartment, or perform any transaction.”

Residents of Al Qusais were in shock over the gruesome rape and murder of a four-year-old Pakistani boy inside the toilet of a mosque where his father prays regularly. The parents of Mousa – who was found dead on November 27 – said they do not want “diya” or blood money. The father, Mukhtiar Ahmad Khuda, 30, a driver for Ahmad Eisa Ali General Trading, said that he will accept nothing less than capital punishment for the murderer. “I hope he gets executed,” said Jamala Khatoun, Mousa’s mother. Police detained a Bahraini suspect, 30, who they said confessed during interrogation that he killed the boy after sexually assaulting him. He told police he had been drinking alcohol on the night before Eid.

Confession

Maj Gen Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Deputy Chief of Dubai Police, said the suspect was among those immediately arrested after they received the report. He said the suspect had a criminal record and confessed to his crime during interrogation. Mousa, born on September 11, 2005, left their house in Shabiat, a colony of old houses in Al Qusais, around 11am on the first day of Eid (Friday) to play with his friends in front of the mosque near Al Geel Al Saeed Grocery. Mousa has two other siblings – Mustafa, seven, and Mariam, 14 months. Khuda said that Mustafa has been suffering from fever since his brother’s death. “He is terrified to go out of the house,” he said. Almost all the children in the neighbourhood were afraid to go near the area, he added.

Neighbours who were shocked by the news said they knew nothing about the suspect. The mosque’s imam, Jamal, said he noticed nothing unusual on that day, but when he headed to the mosque for afternoon prayer, men at the mosque told him there was a boy lying unconscious in the toilet. He said they immediately called the police. “We don’t know him,” said the imam of the suspect. A grocery worker said, “We’ve never seen him in this neighbourhood before.” The boy’s body was released on Saturday morning and was buried the same day in Al Quoz.

published @ The Dubai Life

Multicultural support

Ian Calgon, 25, Filipino, a volunteer who works for Filipino company ABS-CBN, said: “This [walk] will help the relief groups a lot. I have family in the Philippines, but they don’t live in Manila, so I’m here today to support my compatriots.” However, other members of Dubai’s multicultural society also took part in support of the victims. Leah James, British, and Brett Meadway, South African, have both been living in Dubai for two years. “We have a lot of Filipino staff in our company [Better Homes], so we’re walking for them. We want to show our support for them in any way we can … [The walk] is a fantastic event for the whole community,” James said.

Charity Walk Dubai

Strong turnout

Approximately 8,000 people took part in the walk, according to Lucille Ong, Chairperson, Philippine Business Council. “It went very, very well, better than expected. We ran out of t-shirts and giveaways, but people still came and donated money and took part, which was the aim. It was also good to see friends and colleagues who are non-Filipinos in the crowd,” she said. The exact amount raised will be announced early next week, when it has been counted.

Bodies join forces to ensure success

The walk was organised by the Philippine Business Council (PBC) in cooperation with Giordano and with the support of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, and Western Union, under the auspices of the Red Crescent Authority (RCA — Dubai Chapter). All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Philippine National Red Cross. Fitness First provided a warm-up for walkers and Red Crescent staff members were also present to gather donations.

in forces to ensure success

The walk was organised by the Philippine Business Council (PBC) in cooperation with Giordano and with the support of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, and Western Union, under the auspices of the Red Crescent Authority (RCA — Dubai Chapter). All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Philippine National Red Cross. Fitness First provided a warm-up for walkers and Red Crescent staff members were also present to gather donations. More than Dh400,000 was raised on Friday at a charity walk to raise funds for those affected by the natural disasters in the Philippines.

The Filipino community was out in full force at the early morning Safa Park event — the Giothon Hakbang Buhay Walk for Life, which was buzzing with activity. People brought their friends and families to show their support for the victims and the mood was a mix of celebration at the community coming together, and sombre recognition of the tragedy that has befallen their homeland and compatriots. Almost two weeks of horrific storms have raised the death toll in the Philippines to more than 600, including an estimated 100 who died in landslides caused by the heavy rains. Crowds sheltering in the shade of the park’s leafy green trees were entertained by the United International Private School marching band, free Oasis water was distributed and supporter Western Union gave out free hats, bandannas and t-shirts.

Multicultural support

Ian Calgon, 25, Filipino, a volunteer who works for Filipino company ABS-CBN, said: “This [walk] will help the relief groups a lot. I have family in the Philippines, but they don’t live in Manila, so I’m here today to support my compatriots.” However, other members of Dubai’s multicultural society also took part in support of the victims. Leah James, British, and Brett Meadway, South African, have both been living in Dubai for two years. “We have a lot of Filipino staff in our company [Better Homes], so we’re walking for them. We want to show our support for them in any way we can … [The walk] is a fantastic event for the whole community,” James said.

Strong turnout

Approximately 8,000 people took part in the walk, according to Lucille Ong, Chairperson, Philippine Business Council. “It went very, very well, better than expected. We ran out of t-shirts and giveaways, but people still came and donated money and took part, which was the aim. It was also good to see friends and colleagues who are non-Filipinos in the crowd,” she said. The exact amount raised will be announced early next week, when it has been counted.

Bodies join forces to ensure success

The walk was organised by the Philippine Business Council (PBC) in cooperation with Giordano and with the support of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, and Western Union, under the auspices of the Red Crescent Authority (RCA — Dubai Chapter). All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Philippine National Red Cross. Fitness First provided a warm-up for walkers and Red Crescent staff members were also present to gather donations.

published @ Gulf News

This time the station was open and not even crowded, at least the entrance. As soon as we reached inside we noticed loads of people queuing up at the ticket station and the Dubai Metro information counters. Luckily for us we spotted the ticketing machine on the other side of the Metro Station so it took us only a few minutes to get our tickets. The helpful gentlemen from RTA explained the procedure to every single passenger. Its a ticketing machine – not too complicated if you ever used one before

We got ourselfs the Dubai Metro Gold Ticket which costs 9 AED from Deira City Center to Mall of the Emirates or farther. The whole system is categorized in Zones. It is quite easy to understand.

After talking to some of the excited passengers and watching the behaviour of the crowd we went down to the trains towards Jebel Ali. The Dubai Metro Train arrived within minutes and was quite crowded, even in the first part, which is reserved for Gold Class Tickets. But this is probably the sightseeing effect of the first few days. The trains look inside really up to date, with flatscreens announcing the stations and the remaining time (was not yet working). There are also maps with the different stations and a big board which announces the next stop. This also happens via voice announcement in English and Arabic. We went all the way to the Nakheel Harbour & Tower station (which is currently the last one). The speed of the trains is quite fast already, considering that this is the first week of operation for Dubai Metro and not to forget that this is a driverless system. The crowd inside the train was cheering when another train passed by in the other direction. We left the train at the final station and went directly to the other side for our ride back. Little did we know.

The Dubai Metro train arrived quickly and we all boarded again, everything went fine until we reached Dubai Financial Center Station. The annoncement of the station was already interrupted for some reason. We would not move from this place for nearly 60 minutes. After 30 minutes there was a train attendant informing us that she also did not really know what happened, probably a technical issue which would quickly be resolved. A while after that we were ordered outside and had to wait for 30 more minutes. Then another train arrived and we all went inside, hoping that the advernture was finished now. 10 minutes later the train started and everything was fine until the next station – Al Jafiliya. This was where our Dubai Metro train stopped again for 60 minutes with different announcements, one train attendant knew that soemone in the other train pulled the emergency break, then there was again the story with the technical problem which was already attended to. Poor girls did not get any information form their bosses it seemed.

After this one hour stop someone finally told us to leave the train, without more information. The station manager was very friendly, but also clueless. The people who could handle refunds had already left (of course, if you see a problem and you realize you did not train your staff for this, better run away). He said that there are busses coming, but nobody could find them. So we went outside triyng to catch a normal bus. Finally we ended up taking a taxi back to Deira City Center to get back in our car. Dubai Metro shut down completely for that day we heard later on.

Dont get us wrong, a new system can always fail, and this is expected, absolutely correct. But why does RTA not have a backup plan for this? The staff was there for almost six months now and nobody trained them for such a situation? Refund a ticket – this can’t be so difficult. Especially in the first few weeks such things are expected to happen and should be planned. Dubai Metro – first experience – not so good

What was your experience with Dubai Metro? What should be improved? What is really cool already? Will you use Dubai Metro for your daily commute? Or just for fun and shopping trips? Or not at all? Tell us what you think and leave your comment below…

“In general, no medium can replace any other medium,” Gassan Harfouche, Managing Director of advertising firm MEMS, of the Choueiri Group, said. “Every type of medium complements the other.” Most experts agree that the more recently introduced advertising platforms are complementary. Advertising is too broad a term to limit to a homogenous definition of ‘space’, and with varying products and different target audiences, choice in advertising mediums is essential.

“Each advertiser has a specific target, but that is very tactical,” Harfouche said. Although he does not believe the Metro will detract listening ears from radio advertising commonly targeting commuters, it does present an opportunity for businesses, he said. This is also relevant to billboard advertising, he added. When comparing marketing goods on transport facilities to advertising on massive billboards, the two are so different that they will appeal to different businesses. “When you put advertising on a cab it is still, and is very limited in the type of message,” he said. On a billboard, however, “you have more space to put your ads up on and this is directly related to the impact.” Economic downturns are sometimes tipped to be boom times for radio, as the medium is seen as highly cost-effective. Those in the industry say they are faring well, but are not experiencing a surge in business from those moving away from other platforms.

“I do not think that radio advertising revenues are up substantially on 2008,” said Vikram Dhar, head of Gulf News Broadcasting (GNB). “But increases in volumes? It’s just not happening. We’re doing better than 2008, but we’re nowhere close to what I had predicted in October of last year.” Whereas GNB had hoped to increase advertising rates by 25 per cent for 2009, they are experiencing the same price freeze as many others in the industry, he added. Holding onto similar rates as last year however, he admits, is an achievement compared with other mediums that are suffering. This partly due to radio’s lack of dependence on the real estate sector, an industry that by nature requires visual advertising.

“We were very fortunate that real estate clientele only comprised about 9 per cent of our total revenue,” Dhar said. “But there were real estate-related industries that did a lot of advertising with us. They were the banks [and] the mortgage companies.” Most experts believe many commuters will still choose to use their cars despite the Dubai Metro, and those who do use the system will continue to listen to radios. “Dubai is peculiar in the sense people have luxury cars – not commuter cars – and the last mile connectivity, from station to the destination, to passengers will be a problem. The climate will play a major role too,” Sudhir Sharma, global branding expert and member of the Global Design Council for the World Economic Forum, said. Although many people will try the Metro during its first two months, he added, in the end it will settle down to regular commuters. “This would also mean a more segmented audience for radio channels. Which is a good thing,” Sharma said. “Higher segmentation in an audience has always resulted in laser targeting of advertising and an increase in revenues.”

India, he said, is a good example of a new medium adding to the whole market rather than eating into other’s share. “TV did not eat into print advertising – in fact it added to it,” he said. “Internet has not eaten into TV advertising, and I believe the Metro will not eat into radio. Very soon the regular commuters will need to listen to their iPods during the commute to get over the boredom of commuting. In India, the metro in Delhi gave rise to the sale of mobile phones with FM radio. Hence radio is back, and will be there, don’t worry.” The internet is another advertising medium that experts are saying is experiencing high growth. Despite this, it too is an “additional leg” to the industry rather than an alternative, Kamal Dimachkie, managing director of Leo Burnett in the UAE, said. “Obviously you have certain media vehicles or classes that are going to grow at a faster rate and we’re seeing it particularly this year with online, everything that’s digital and everything that’s mobile,” Dimachkie said.

“I think we’re experiencing growth figures in the range of around 1,200 per cent. So the growth is just phenomenal.” Ultimately, he stressed, the use of numerous advertising platforms is essential to any brand. What he calls “message whole-ism” is a powerful tool, particularly when that message can be tailored to suit the variety of mediums on offer. “We certainly preached it all along,” Dimachkie said. “The only thing that’s happening that’s different these days is we have a wider media choice, that’s all. That approach or philosophy has not changed at all for us, nor has such advice to clients. We think it’s absolutely spot on.”

published @ Gulf News