Fourth – year participation aims at attracting global tourists to Sharjah’s leading tourist destination

Sharjah, March 10, 2010: Al Qasba, the premiere tourist, cultural and entertainment destination in the emirate of Sharjah has announced its participation in ITB Berlin 2010, the largest global tourism and travel exhibition, for the fourth consecutive year. Al Qasba officials have revealed that the objective of the participation will be to introduce the many attractions that Al Qasba and the Emirate of Sharjah offer and to draw more visitors to the picturesque destination.

Representatives of Al Qasba will be educating trade visitors and general public about the new offerings in Hall 21A. Running from March 10-14 at the Messe Berlin exhibition centre, ITB Berlin is expected to showcase the world’s hottest destinations with the participation of over 11,000 exhibitors from around the globe.

Commenting on the participation, Hazem Sawaf, Sales and Marketing Director of the Al Qasba Development Authority said, “Al Qasba has positioned itself as the premier cultural, entertainment and tourism destination of the region in a very short span of time thanks to a combination of dynamics of effort by a great workforce and a truly delightful location.  Our previous participations at ITB Berlin as well as other travel and tourism sector exhibitions have proved that such participation indeed educates visitors not just about Al Qasba, but the UAE and the emirate of Sharjah as well.”

“We are looking forward for our fourth consecutive participation in one of the world’s top exhibitions and we are eager to talk directly to our target audiences including tour operators, residents and tourists from various nationalities and age groups,” added Sawaf.

Positioned as a popular destination in Sharjah, Al Qasba offers a unique mix of high quality dining, entertainment, cultural events and lucrative business opportunities. Furthermore, Al Qasba houses the ‘Etisalat -Eye of the Emirates’, a giant Ferris wheel offering 360 degree aerial views of the Buheira cornice, lagoons and landscape. Al Qasba will celebrate this year the fifth year anniversary of the 60 meters high wheel in April.

“We have what it takes to be a leading tourist and entertainment destination in the world, our visitors can enjoy the best of dining, fun experiences and a wide variety of year-round events. We have witnessed an amazing visitors’ turnout in 2009 and our plans in 2010 will be to drive the figures higher,” concluded Sawaf.

Providing a unique mix of high quality dining, entertainment, cultural events and lucrative business opportunities, Al Qasba aspires to become a major tourist attraction destination on the regional and global scales, and strives to offer a combination of leisure and business through high quality events and services.

The joint-venture between Ducab, DEWA and ADWEA appoints Jon Vail as CEO

Dubai, March 9, 2010- Ducab—one of the leading manufacturers of high quality power cables in the Middle East—has announced at WETEX 2010 the appointment of Jon Vail as the CEO of a new company Ducab HV Cable Systems. This comes exactly one year after announcing the formation of the joint venture company in which Ducab has a 50% share with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) each holding an additional 25%. 

The new company will sell cable systems in the voltage range of 66kV to 400kV, covering the highest voltage currently used in the GCC and operating as the first dedicated high-voltage facility in the region. Once fully operational, the company plans on selling over AED 1 billion of cable and associated services annually, approximately 60% of which will be consumed in the UAE.

Andrew Shaw, Managing Director at Ducab, affirms that Vail’s history of working in diverse fields ranging from technical to product development as well as business management make him the ideal candidate  to lead the launch of the Ducab HV Cable Systems.

“It is an honour to be able to serve as CEO of such a young and promising venture,” comments Vail.  “Providing a reliable, local supply of strategically vital HV cables to the Middle East is our ultimate goal, and we look forward to being the only high-voltage facility in the region dedicated first and foremost to reducing GCC dependency on foreign suppliers.”  Vail also confirmed that construction of the new dedicated factory is in progress at the Jebel Ali site and the machinery will start to be installed later in 2010.

Vail will be joining representatives from Ducab and DEWA as the companies showcase their latest technologies and projections during WETEX 2010—Dubai’s foremost water, energy technology and environment exhibition. 

Sharjah, March 8th, 2010- “Share the Light” walk, an initiative organized by Al Qasba, gathered over 800 participants who came together from all over UAE to walk for the aid of Palestinian children. The walk was held in cooperation with the Palestinian Children Relief Fund (PCRF), UAE Red Crescent, and Higher Colleges of Technology in Sharjah. 

Arrival and onsite registration began at 5:00pm and ended at the Al Maghreb prayer at sunset.  Participants of the walkathon cross the Al Qasba Bridge, the Al Qasba Marina, and circled back to the main Al Qasba complex.  The walk, that shined with illuminated LED – red colored- balloons, included many activities such as earth management workshop, activities included cookies and flowers arrangement workshop, jewelleries making workshop, face painting, and on-stage activities later in the evening.

Event expected to attract over 1000 participants as numerous activities are planned throughout the evening at Al Qasba

Sharjah, February 24th, 2010- Al Qasba—the premiere tourist, cultural and entertainment destination in the emirate of Sharjah—announces the establishment of the first ever “Share the Light” walk, which will be hosted on Friday, March 5th, sponsored by Nestle Dubai LLC and in cooperation with the Palestinian Children Relief Fund (PCRF), UAE Red Crescent, and Higher Colleges of Technology in Sharjah.  The event will take place from 5:00pm onwards and welcomes people of all age groups to express their support for Palestine in a community walk that will circle Sharjah’s waterfront walkways as the sun sets on the Al Qasba complex.  All fees and donations will go directly to aid charities. 

“We are very blessed here in the UAE, and by coming together as a community to share our experiences, we will be able to honour and support the Children of Palestine,” says Zainab Ahmed, Corporate Social Responsibilities Coordinator at Al Qasba.  With a variety of activities geared towards the whole family, the Al Qasba team says they are expecting over 1000 participants to attend the walkathon.

Arrival and onsite registration will begin at 5:00pm till the Al Maghreb prayer at sunset.  Participants of the walkathon will cross the Al Qasba Bridge, the Al Qasba Marina, and circle back to the main Al Qasba complex.  Along the way, illuminated LED – red colored- balloons will guide the ‘Share the Light’ walk; one of Palestinian national colours and a symbol for love and aid.  The theme of reconstruction will be emphasized throughout the evening’s workshops and activities.  In addition to an earth management workshop, activities will include cookies and flowers arrangement workshop, jewelleries making workshop, face painting, and on-stage activities later in the evening.

The funds collected will go the children of Palestine through the UAE Red Crescent and PCRF, which is a non-political, non-profit organization established in 1991 to address the medical and humanitarian crisis facing Palestinian youths in the Middle East.

“This is an opportunity for us to partner once again with these aid organizations by hosting the ‘Share the Light’ walkathon, and we are all very excited to see the public’s reaction,” adds Zainab Ahmed. 

Registration is open for adults and kids above the age of twelve. Participants will receive the official ‘Share the Light’ walkathon t-shirt upon registration.  Although individuals can register on the day of the walk, pre-registration kiosks will be set up around Al Qasba, University City in Sharjah and the American University of Sharjah along with other distribution locations.

Company announces launch of new range of products and hosts joint seminar with Dow Wire & Cable on building reliable MV cables in the Middle East market

Dubai, February 10, 2010- Ducab, the leading manufacturer of high quality power cables in the Middle East and winner of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Business Excellence Award for their achievements in the manufacturing sector, is showcasing its latest technologies in cable manufacturing at this year’s Middle East Electricity Exhibition (MEEE) held at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from February 9-11.  Items on the company’s agenda include the display of state-of-the-art products produced in the Special Cables Unit, the launch of a new range of Ducab Connect products, and a series of joint seminars in cooperation with Dow Wire & Cable and FM Sudafix.  Senior staff including Ducab’s Managing Director and General Managers will be at the event to connect with stakeholders as the entire range of Energy and Instrumentation Cables, Copper and Connect accessories are on display. 

“This year Ducab is celebrating 30 years of powering the region as a manufacturing leader, and we look forward to meeting our customers in person during this week’s events,” comments Mr. Andrew Shaw, Managing Director at Ducab.  With a new office in Qatar and a number of planned expansions outside of the UAE market, Shaw believes that MEEE is the ideal platform for the company to network with the best in the industry. 

So far Ducab has updated stakeholders on the new Ducab HV plant opening by the end of 2010, the launch of a Special Cables Unit in fall 2009, and new production processes in its cable and copper manufacturing.  Ducab’s copper rod plant—the first of its kind established in the UAE in 2008—has become so successful that the company now sells the copper commercially to other manufacturers in the region in addition to using the material for internal consumption.

Ducab also welcomed international delegates to a seminar jointly hosted with Dow Wire & Cable on Feb. 9 titled A Value-Chain Approach to Long Lasting Cable Lifecycle.  The program addressed challenges of increased load levels for utilities in the Gulf, internal benchmarking standards for product suppliers, and how companies can build reliable supply chains in the region.  Mr. Hassan Omar, General Manager Technical at Ducab, and Mr. Jon Penrice, Global Marketing Director of Dow Wire & Cable, led the joint seminar as they brought their own extensive experience to the floor.

Ducab is also set to unveil a new range of Ducab Connect products during a presentation later today—the final day of the exhibition.  Mr. Roy Heatherington, Sales Manager of Ducab Connect, will be joined by fellow industry colleagues including Mr. John Maher, Technical Director of FM Sudafix Group, in a discussion highlighting the application of such products in infrastructure projects around the Gulf.   Ducab spokespersons say that the expanded product range will offer a comprehensive selection of cable-connecting solutions previously unavailable through local distributors, including products for control and instrumentation applications. 

These and other discussion at MEEE 2010 take on an even greater significance this year following the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) announcement that the UAE has earmarked almost a third of its 2010 budget—approximately AED 10.7 billion—to infrastructure projects. 

Last year over 1000 companies from around the world attended Middle East Electricity—now in its 35th year—and event organizers say that approximately 98 countries are represented at this year’s conference.

In cooperation with Sharjah museum authorities, hundreds gather to view timeless models from the 20’s and 30’s including Ford and Buick models 

Sharjah, February 9, 2010- Visitors can take a step back in time this week as Al Qasba—the premiere tourist, cultural and entertainment destination in the emirate of Sharjah—enters the final days of its Classic Car Show exhibition featuring rare automobiles from around the world.  The event—which is being held at the complex’s Block A walkways—is free to public audiences of all ages. 

Held in coordination with the Classic Cars Museum in Sharjah, the exhibit features cars from a variety of international companies, specifically models from the 1920’s and 1930’s era.  This was the first period in history with a real boom in commercial car sales and rapid advancements of the industrial mechanics.  The historic automobiles featured this week include 1928 Buicks, Ford 1928 and 1930 Model A cars, 1928 Chryslers and 1930 Plymouths. 

Chatting with car enthusiasts at the exhibition, the Chairman of Sharjah’s Classic Cars Museum Mr. Ahmed Al Jarwan has expressed his own enthusiasm for hosting the public event at Al Qasba.  “Displaying the museum’s priceless treasures is always a very rewarding experience, and by taking the show to new public audiences, we hope to inspire the modern generation of car enthusiasts to learn about the historical impact that this industry has played in global society,” comments Al Jarwan.   

Dina Al Nakhi, Events Manager at Al Qasba, also believes that automobiles are a great way to connect people of all ages through a passion for innovation and design.  “The exhibition is one of many important cultural events that we aim to introduce in 2010, offering a unique value to audiences with a particular interest or hobby,” says Al Nakhi.  Huge audiences have already attended the two-week event, which this year was held from January 28th – February 11th.

Other upcoming events at Al Qasba include special activities surrounding Earth Hour Day, the “Share the Light” walkathon for Palestine, and a huge sporting exhibition to be held during the FIFA World Cup this summer.

aswaaq to offer ‘Wafa’ Loyalty Cards to DCD’s employees in appreciation of their efforts

Dubai, February 6, 2010- In a move to increase awareness of community wellbeing and safety issues, aswaaq has signed an MoU with Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) in which the two organizations will work together to develop cooperative public-safety campaigns in high population areas throughout Dubai.  The MoU was signed in aswaaq between Mr. Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of aswaaq, and Colonel Ahmed Al Sayegh, Director Advisor for Fire and Rescue Affairs of behalf of Major General Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, Head of Dubai Civil Defense.

The signing of the MoU reflects both organizations desire to enhance communication between neighborhood residents and civil security representatives.  . The MoU details a knowledge-sharing program in which DCD will provide aswaaq with expertise on a number of security and emergency-response measures.  Part of that includes new employee-training initiatives and licensing aswaaq facilities with voluntary building-safety guidelines. 

As agreed in the MoU, aswaaq will provide temporary Wafa Cards to DCD’s employees whose names and contacts will be provided by DCD. Once the employees gain over 1000 points on their cards, they will be offered the permanent Wafa Cards. Aswaaq will also supply the main Cafeteria in DCD’s headquarters with all the needed food and dairy products. Aswaaq will prioritize the leasing of rental spaces in its centers to DCD’s employees as well as free spaces for public events and campaigns organized by DCD.

Representing the interests of DCD, Major General Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi believes that the MoU is an important step in the organization’s long-term strategy of developing partnerships with the business sector.  “Working in the public interest means connecting with the public at every opportunity possible,” comments Major General Al Matrooshi.   “This MoU is the first step, and we are confident that aswaaq and DCD will be able to benefit from each other’s experiences. We are looking forward to the support that aswaaq will provide us to ensure the success of our campaigns and events and we will make sure that our professionals transfer the needed knowledge and expertise in safety and security issues to aswaaq’s employees through extensive training.”

“We look forward to working with DCD on implementing new building standards and increasing our employee’s knowledge of security-related issues,” says Mr. Al Janahi. “These kinds of partnerships ultimately create a better environment for our customers and the neighbourhoods in which we operate. Offering DCD’s employees Wafa cards that will include special promotions and discounts is a small appreciation towards those whom we consider heroes and soldiers who are there to serve and protect our community and families.”

DCD will offer aswaaq additional resources during community CSR campaigns including seasonal promotions and holiday events.  DCD professionals will train aswaaq’s employees to handle emergencies and fires and will provide them with the needed knowledge and techniques that should be used for immediate evacuation. Also, DCD will help improve aswaaq’s buildings so that they are eligible to gain the building completion and readiness certificate. Moreover, DCD will participate in various campaign and event that aswaaq will host during national celebrations and occasions.

Dubai, 03/02.2010

Dubai Islamic Insurance and Reinsurance Company (Aman) has announced that its net profits for 2009 have reached AED 20.57 million, compared to year 2008.

Company officials have stated that the company’s reached AED 495.777 million in total Premiums.

Dubai, January 30, 2010: UAE Genetic Disease Association (UAEGDA), the sole non-profit genetics organization in the UAE, has concluded a fruitful week of discussions with regional and international bodies during the group’s first appearance at Arab Health Congress earlier this week.  As a first-time exhibitor, UAEGDA says that the experience has proven extraordinarily valuable and that the Health Authority of Dubai has played a tremendous role in raising local awareness of battling genetic diseases in the country.

Listed under Dubai’s Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, UAEGDA strives to reduce the prevalence and impact of common genetic disorders through sponsoring nation-wide education and screening campaigns. 

During the week-long congress, UAEGDA connected with other GCC organizations to identify methods in which regional entities from the public, private and non-profit sectors can align business interests and public policy to advance screening campaigns in the upcoming year.  “Regional coordination is extremely important for an organization like ours because of the high number of expatriate populations in UAE,” comments H.E. Dr. Maryam Matar, Executive Director of UAEGDA.  “Arab Health is an ideal platform for us to communicate our message to GCC healthcare professionals and likeminded groups from around the globe.”

This year’s Arab Health Congress included 17 internationally-accredited conferences addressed by nearly 400 acclaimed speakers from around the globe.  With an estimated value of around $80 billion per year, preventative medicine and routine screenings have been hot topics within the Middle East healthcare market.

Al Ain, January 27, 2010: Al Ain Farms for Livestock Production—the first established dairy in UAE and a leading producer of dairy products—has been awarded the ISO 22000 Certificate in a ceremony held today at the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.  In attendance were Mr. Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairman of Al Ain Farms for Livestock Production and Mr. Alex Smith, Director, SGS Gulf Limited along with other key representatives from both organizations.

The ceremony began with a speech from Mr. Al Suwaidi who talked about Al Ain Farms’ continuous efforts to meet international standards and the importance of the award in strengthening the position of Al Ain Farms in UAE and the region.

“Receiving the ISO Certificate is a true testament to the company’s continuous efforts to provide its customers with the best quality products which meet the highest national and international standards,” commented Mr. Al Suwaidi.  “We are confident that with the improvement of our product lines and the introduction of new technologies, we will be able to set the standards for the industry in UAE and the region.”
 
“In the last year, the market has definitely placed a greater emphasis on health and safety”, added Mr. Al Suwaidi. “As customers put more effort into determining the value of their consumer choices, we want them to know that Al Ain Farms will never compromise on the quality of their products.  Throughout all aspects of our operations, we’ve worked to achieve complete quality management by investing in our equipment, our farm herd, and most importantly in our employees. We are and will always be committed to inspiring the highest levels of consumer confidence in our products and services.”

In order to secure the ISO certificate, Al Ain Farms had to pass various tests and examinations.  This included planning, implementing, and maintaining a Food Safety Management System to work across the company’s operations.  Al Ain Farms also had to demonstrate compliance with all applicable statutory and regulatory food-safety requirements in the UAE.  This involved assessing customer requirements and effectively communicating food-safety issues to Al Ain Farms suppliers, customers and relevant interested parties.

In addition to the ISO certification, Al Ain Farms was also recently eligible for the PAS 220 Food Safety Certificate, which endorses the proactive development of pre-requisite programmes on food manufacturing safety.