Two groups of four teams each compete at Gulf Extrusions sports grounds in Jebel Ali

August 31, 2010

Gulf Extrusions, one of the largest aluminium extrusion plants in the Gulf, has recently opened the 2nd Gulf Extrusions Ramadan Football Tournament 2010 at the Gulf Extrusions sports grounds in Jebel Ali. The tournament has been organised as part of activities to celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan, while providing employees of different aluminium companies an opportunity to enjoy sports and foster camaraderie.

Eight teams divided into two groups are competing in the tournament. Each group will play in a round-robin format over a period of seven days, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the crossover knockout semifinals. The winning teams in the semifinals play each other in the finals to be held on September 02, 2010.

Marwan Al Zaubi, HR and Finance Manager, Gulf Extrusions, said, “The inaugural Ramadan Football Tournament received a very positive response, prompting us to organise the event for the second consecutive year. Gulf Extrusions’ decision to hold this tournament also underlines the company’s strong commitment to promote the welfare of employees through various social activities. Moreover, organising sports events is an excellent way to celebrate Ramadan as it helps promote positive values such as team work, fairness and diligence, which are the same qualities we want to inculcate among our employees.”

The champion team, runners-up and special awardees of the tournament will receive various prizes from Gulf Extrusions. The participating teams are Dubai P, Technical Glass & Aluminum Co., Petra Gulf LLC and Al Ghurair Construction Co. in Group A; and Gulf Extrusions, Schuco Middle East Windows & Façade Systems LLC, Jotun Power Coatings and Gulf Agency Co. in Group B.

Fashion Suhoor 2010 Invitation

August/September 2010 – Dubai, UAE: Soirée will host a Mid-Summer Night’s Dream Fashion Suhoor on September 1 2010 at Soirée from 8pm. Guests will be treated to suhoor delicacies, welcomed to visit the Soirée Abaya Salon, Sheila lounge and the unveiling of our stunning Eid Collections.. Ladies looking for outfits for Ramadan and Eid will find a huge selection of kaftans, jalabiyas, evening dresses, abayas and shalwar kameez available at the store on this special evening.

For our Asian clientele, designers such as Umar Sayeed, Deepak Perwani, Zurke, Nida Azwer, Mehdi, Maheen Karim, Sania Maskatiya and Ammara Khan have put together fabulous Eid collections perfect for the festive season. For our Arabic clientele Claire Talon of Aïs will be flying down from Paris for the Suhoor to present her collection of couture Abayas and jalabeyas. In addition, Le Trousseau, Rabia Z, NCollection, Wafa Saifi, Glamonyou and Mahari have created spectacular collections of abayas and jalabeyas for our Ramadan fashionistas

Soirée owner, Mariya Kassam, says, “We are looking forward to welcoming our guests during Ramadan. We’ll be offering them new collections to choose from for their festive activities and parties. There will be something for everyone from a traditional Emirati dress to contemporary evening wear to shalwar kameez for our Asian clientele.”

Refreshments will also be served in a Ramadan tent at the boutique to add to the festive atmosphere. For private viewings, please contact: 04 349 4995 or soireedubai@gmail.com

ICLDC's annual football tournament at ADNEC

Abu Dhabi, 29 August 2010: With outdoor temperatures soaring, the air conditioned halls at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre have proved a safe haven for sports enthusiasts this summer. 

Capitalising on the outstanding infrastructure for events available at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the annual PLAY SPORTS! Live Healthily Ramadan Football Tournament, was held indoors for the very first time last week, with matches played on specially prepared pitches in Halls 8 & 9.

“ADNEC has among the best facilities available for such events in Abu Dhabi. Despite the heat of summer, we are glad to have been able to conduct our annual football tournament at this time. ICLDC has had another opportunity to drive home our message; no matter what the season, it is absolutely imperative to raise public awareness year-round on the role of physical activity in maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” said Carol Sansour, Marketing & Communications Manager, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, the organisers of the tournament. .

“ICLDC’s annual inter-corporate football tournament has already become an important fixture during Ramadan in Abu Dhabi and ADNEC is pleased to have played our part this time around in setting the stage for this key ICLDC initiative,” said Humaid Al Dhaheri, ADNEC’s Director of Finance and Human Resources.

In two weeks from now, the ADNEC halls will once again host another sporting- related endeavour – an indoor charity run over 12 hours organised by Aloft Hotel during which runners will raise money for Starwood’s Road to Awareness charity initiative in support of UNICEF.

“Throughout summer, there are clearly many sporting activities that can be undertaken at indoor venues such as ours. ADNEC is seeing an increasing requirement from event organisers for use of our facilities during the summer months and we look forward to working with a range of organisations in providing the setting for a variety of indoor sporting events in years to come,” added Al Dhaheri.

Manal Dowayan - Landscape of the Mind

‘Maraya Art Centre’ welcomes public to capture remarkable experiences in ‘Regarding Borders’ exhibition

Sharjah, August 28, 2010:  Al Qasba—the premier tourist, cultural and entertainment destination in the emirate of Sharjah—has announced that registration has begun for an exciting new photography exhibition, ‘Regarding Borders’, which aims to reveal and depict the social, cultural and geographical frontiers of the Arabian Peninsula.

Open to the public at large, residents and visitors alike are invited to explore the region’s rich natural environment and examine the interplay between its many contrasting cultures.   All lens-based art including photography, photo-collage, and film & video works will be considered for inclusion in the exhibition as long as they are received ahead of the September 25th deadline.

It is the hope of exhibition curators at ‘Maraya Art Centre’ to collect a “visual record” of this particular time and place in Middle East history, creating a snapshot of the Arabian Peninsula in the modern era while promoting a greater appreciation for the treasures that define the region today. ‘Regarding Borders’ exhibit will be finalized this autumn and appear to the public before the end of 2010, hosted at ‘Maraya Art Centre’ in partnership with ‘The Shelter’.

‘Regarding Borders’ is an open invitation for local artists to express their unique perceptions of life in the Gulf”, says ‘The Shelter’ Curator, Madeline Yale.  “This is an ever-changing region where ancient traditions are kept alive in a modernizing global system, and that balance sets the stage for an incredible insight into the character of Arabia and its people.”

‘Maraya Art Centre’ frequently hosts cutting-edge exhibits from all over the world, including recent shows from countries like Iraq, Italy and UAE.  Most recently, the Centre hosted ‘Life in Ramadan’ photography exhibition showcasing the works of 13 photographers from the region that express their view of the holy month.

For more information about the exhibition, please log on to www.alqasba.ae

Cooperative exhibition features creative works for 13 photographers

Sharjah, August 23, 2010:  Bringing colourful insights into life of UAE residents during the Holy Month of Ramadan, ‘Life in Ramadan’ photography exhibition was inaugurated yesterday (August 22), 10:00 pm at Maraya Art Centre in Al Qasba. The exhibition which is held in collaboration with the Emirates Photography Society will run from August 22nd – September 18th showcasing photographic works of UAE’s talented photographers. The exhibition was inaugurated in the presence of H.E. Marwan Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Al Qasba; H.E. Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting General Director at Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Mr. Peter Jackson, Architect Advisor, HH The Ruler’s Office along with other distinguished guests.

Featuring the works of 13 photographers, 10 of which hold the UAE nationality, the ‘Life in Ramadan’ exhibit gives visitors the chance to discover a local perspective on the many unique traditions and customs that characterize this very special time of the Islamic year.  With predominantly local photographers, organizers say that they are also working to promote photography within the UAE while strengthening the connection between art foundations and local communities.

Open to the public at large, Life in Ramadan is one of several cutting-edge exhibits from across the globe being featured at Maraya Art Centre. Recent projects have included partnerships with institutions like the Sharjah Art Foundation and award-winning pieces on display from the 2009 Abraaj Capital Art prize.

AROUND 13 photographers from different parts of the UAE have gathered to bring colourful insights into the life of UAE residents during the holy month of Ramadan. The ‘Life in Ramadan’ exhibition started at Maraya Art Centre in Al Qasba on Sunday.

The exhibition, which will continue till Sept. 18, is being held in collaboration with the Emirates Photography Society to showcase the photographic work of the country’s talented photographers.

The exhibition was inaugurated in the presence of CEO of Al Qasba Marwan Jassim Al Sarkal, Acting General Director at Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Saeed Al Nabouda, and Architect Advisor- The Ruler’s Office Peter Jackson, along with other distinguished guests.

Local perspective

Featuring the works of 13 photographers, 10 of whom are UAE nationals, the exhibition gives visitors the chance to discover a local perspective on the many unique traditions and customs that characterise this very special time of the Islamic year.  With predominantly local photographers, organisers say that they are also working to promote photography within the UAE while strengthening the connection between art foundations and local communities.

Talking to The Gulf Today, Ammar Al Attar, one of the photographers who has displayed a unique project of photography, said that he had been taking part in various exhibitions and showcased his work throughout the UAE.

At Maraya Art Centre’s exhibition, Al Attar has displayed his work “Untitled” - a combination of 500 still images covering the “Taraweeh” prayers in a series - through a video. “Taraweeh is one of the important prayers during Ramadan and through this project I am showing the importance of this to the world,” said Al Attar. “I had completed this project in  two days to capture 500 pictures. I then combined them to use a timeless technique and am showcasing it in the exhibition to highlight the different aspects of Ramadan in the UAE.”

He noted that it was not an easy task for him, but  he managed to do so with the help of his associates.

Al Attar said that last year the theme of Al Qasba exhibition was mosques and before it was prayers in which various photographers under the banner of Emirates Photography Society took part. “Photography is a way of documentation of various accounts and sharing with other people,” he added.

Young photographer

The exhibition is also showcasing the work of a 16-year-old Emirati photographer, Naser Ali Naser, entitled “Some people in Ramadan,” which drew attention of almost every visitor.

Naser resides in Abu Dhabi and came to Sharjah to take part in the exhibition. He is a student of Grade 12 and is self-taught in terms of photography techniques. This is his third exhibition to showcase his work.

“I have captured every mood of life but love landscape photography very much to help me explore nature,” he said. “I will continue my hobby of photography to capture more and more scenes and will display them in other exhibitions.”

Open to the public at large, Life in Ramadan is one of the several exhibits from across the globe being featured at Maraya Art Centre. Recent projects have included partnerships with institutions like the Sharjah Art Foundation and award-winning pieces on display from the 2009 Abraaj Capital Art prize.

Kalima published the Arabic translation of Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, one of the greatest philosophers of India and founder of yoga practices

Abu Dhabi: Kalima, the translation project of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (Adach), published the Arabic translation of a book on the wise words of Patanjali, one of the greatest philosophers of India and founder of yoga practices more than 1,500 years ago.

The book consists of 195 proverbs divided into four chapters: Yoga and its aims (includes 15 proverbs); Yoga and its practice (includes 55 proverbs); Powers (includes 56 proverbs); and Liberation (33 proverbs).

It is a major work on the practice of yoga meditation, control of mind, and achieving inner freedom and peace with many health benefits.

These proverbs were translated into English and other languages one century ago, and are said to have helped many individuals following its old philosophy.

The works were originally translated into English from Sanskrit, where the translators had simplified the difficult vocabulary for readers

DUBAI — Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, inaugurated the Farjam Collection’s latest exhibition, ‘The Story of Islamic Art
in 99 Objects’.

Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami, Minister of Education; Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development; and Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water were also present.

The Farjam Collection launched a captivating exhibition which tells the story of Islamic art from its inception to the dawn of industrialisation. 

The exhibition reflects on the essentials of Islamic art and was organised through collaboration between the Farjam Collection and Zayed University. 

Shaikh Nahyan, who is also the President of Zayed University, praised the organisation for the exhibition which spans the entire history of Islam. The exhibition includes some of the rarest artistic masterpieces of the Islamic world inspired by the principles and spirit of Islam and reveals the milestones of Islam founded on piety, tolerance and peace.

He stressed that disseminating Islamic cachet would require all concerted efforts to present it through various ways to spread cultural and artistic awareness among all segments and groups of the society, especially younger generations.

He praised the cooperation links between Zayed University and the Farjam Collection and emphasised the importance of supporting communication between educational institutions and national as well as international entities for a cross-cultural exchange of experiences to enhance students’ innovation and creativity.  “Being part of this exhibition has made me appreciate Islamic art much more,”
said Alia Al Siri, a student from Zayed University. 

“Seeing and learning about each individual object has magnified the smallest details and the thoughts that have been put into each object by the creator. It has been an amazing experience to be part of this exhibition. I am so proud and excited to finally have the exhibition open for public, and I can’t wait to hear their feedback and reviews.”

Infused with the principles and spirit of Islam, the 99 objects selected by Zayed University’s art students include manuscripts, elaborate textiles and splendid ceramics and glass wares.  The exhibition will run through the end of Ramadan and is supported by the Hafiz Foundation and National Auto Company. —

ABU DHABI — Kalima, the translation project of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), published the Arabic translation of the book ‘Fear of Small Numbers: An Essay on the Geography of Anger’ written by Arjun Appadurai.

The book was translated by Mufida Mnakiri Labyadh, a professor of English at the National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology at the University of Carthage in Tunisia. She is a researcher in Applied Linguistics and an expert translator at legal and international bodies.

Appadurai is a specialist in social sciences, a professor at the New School University, and Senior Advisor for Global Initiatives. He is one of the founding editors of the journal ‘Public Culture’. He has worked as a consultant for a wide range of public and private organisations, including UNESCO, the World Bank and the National Science Foundation.

The book deals with the theme of violence spreading extensively in our time, explaining the close relationship between violence and terrorism, discourse with the phenomenon of globalisation and its role in the regulation of policies, markets and ideas.

It seeks to understand what makes an era dominated by the free flow of capital, liberal ideas and the vigorous expansion of human rights to produce new forms of hatred, ethnic cleansing and genocide ideology.

The book also highlights new types of political organisations which are not governed by traditional laws of policies and countries, suggesting that globalisation could reveal a dangerous flaw in ideologies. It analyses the close connection between the concept of the state and the idea of belonging to a national ethnicity, and the link the latter has to generate social mistrust. It also shows how globalisation sparks this uncertainty between ‘us’ and ‘the other’ and undermines the borders of the sate-nation and its influence.

Through his studies for the development of Muslim minorities in India and other small groups in the world, the book asks the question over anger toward minorities, whose small number did not save them from being the subject of suspicion, fear and anger. It is normal for the few to fear the many, or for the weak to fear the strong. But it is odd how the most violent, aggressive and far-reaching events are those triggered by the fear of the weak, and fear by the majority of the minority.

What distinguishes this book is the keenness of the author to use sociological and anthropological tools whose concepts are derived from a different discipline, namely the medical field to develop a new theory which explains social phenomena (such as terrorism and mass violence), which until recently seemed difficult to explain. 

DUBAI — The universe does have a Creator, and can never be the masterpiece of a blind coincidence as affirmed in thousands of scientific and logical evidences stipulated in the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

This was said in a lecture delivered on Saturday night at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce as part of the cultural programme of the 14th session of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award.

The lecture was also attended by Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

In his lecture ‘The cosmos has a God’, Prof Dr Sabri Al Demerdash from Egypt, substantiated the fact with several examples from the Holy Quran and the Sunnah.

“Science has recently proved that the heavens are built the same way as on earth, yet with other material. They are even lifted up on real poles.”

It has been lately discovered that four columns have been lifting up the seven heavens — the gravity, electromagnetic, minor and major nuclear powers.

“The real problem is that people are not aware of those facts as stipulated in the Holy Quran,” he said, citing Verse 6/91 which reads, ‘No just estimate of Allah do they (disbelievers) make.’

Prof Demerdash then mentioned some amazing facts about our universe, the only one known to us. “Our cosmos comprises one million galaxies, of which the Milky Way contains 4,000 suns. If the earth gets three metres closer or farther to the sun, it will either evaporate or turn into an ice ball,” he said. The earth ‘runs’ in a very precise orbit at an extremely fixed speed, exactly 1,600km/ph. “Should the earth move slower or faster, the centrifugal force which keeps it safe and stable in its orbit will be imbalanced, and the sun will suck it,” he said.

Prof Demerdash said the word atom was only named in 1674 by a British scientist, though it was mentioned earlier in the Holy Quran. “The Quran has been more accurate and affirmed that there are particulars smaller than the atom. The word atom, which is of Greek origin, means the undivided and that proves incorrect as per the Holy Quran.” An average man’s body contains 100 trillion cells. “A drop of water consists of 10 billion atoms of hydrogen and oxygen; this is more than the whole population on earth,” he said, noting that such sophisticated facts were mentioned by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in the Holy Quran more than 14 centuries ago.