Under the Patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nayhan

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 26 July 2010: Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) today (Monday, July 26, 2010) announced plans to host the industry’s first World Ports & Trade Summit in 2011 under the patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nayhan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

In a show of strength from the industry, Abu Dhabi Terminals and the Arab Sea Ports Federation joined ADPC and event organisers Turret Media and Seatrade, at a press conference to pledge their support for the inaugural Summit in Abu Dhabi. Other confirmed partners include Bechtel as platinum sponsor and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority as exclusive destination partner.

Scheduled for 28-30 March 2011 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, internationally renowned economists, ports authorities, terminal operators, shipping companies, global cargo owners and investors will be brought together to study the alternative futures facing the industry; to learn about new projects; to understand the investment opportunities taking shape and to find suppliers who can make projects happen.

Tony Douglas, CEO of ADPC commented, “The World Ports & Trade Summit will deliver a vital exchange of knowledge as the ports and shipping industries look to evolve development strategies in line with economic management and recovery.”

“ADPC is extremely proud to be a key partner of this brand new event in the United Arab Emirates. As ADPC continues to make the Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone (KPIZ) a reality, the company is now taking centre stage in the diversification of Abu Dhabi’s economy. KPIZ is set to become a major trade and business hub for the Middle East and we look forward to sharing our plans and developing our strategies alongside industry peers and experts at the Summit.”

The UAE isn’t the only country with grand designs in place for its coastal development. Despite the global economic downturn, spending on port developments in the Middle East is still growing, and industry sources state that USD 46.5 billion worth of port development projects are now planned or under way. The market for building and expanding the region’s ports has proved to be far more resilient than the wider construction sector as Governments and investors try to look beyond the current economic conditions and towards recovery and the future infrastructure needs of the Middle East.  

Chris Fountain, Managing Director of Event Organisers Turret Media explains, “We are consulting with port authorities, terminal operators, shipping companies, investors, and they are all thirsty for knowledge as Governments work towards economic recovery.”

Chris Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade, added: “The aim for the Summit is to deliver an unrivalled information exchange and networking platform for the industry in a city spearheading the development of ports and associated industrial zones.”

Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade of the UAE has already confirmed participation as a keynote speaker.

Comprising a carefully designed mix of keynote conference sessions, panel debates, training workshops and round table discussions, the Summit will also include an international exhibition and a fringe programme of networking events, association meetings, investor workshops and hosted tours of ports facilities in the UAE. The opening conference session is set to be a lively start to proceedings as award winning interviewer Tim Sebastian, Chairman of the Doha Debates and former presenter of BBC’s HARDtalk  moderates a discussion between leading economists, investors, retailers, freight forwarders and shipping lines. The panel will be tasked with debating the answers to some tough questions such as ‘what does the global macro-economic outlook mean for the region?’, ‘how will the recovery influence the pattern of trade?’ and ‘how will the major freight markets perform in 2011’?  Additional streams will look at the efficient operation of ports whilst reviewing the commercial impact of current and future legislation.

Companies being invited to exhibit include port equipment manufacturers and service suppliers, port and marine construction contractors and consultants, port authorities, terminal operators and government departments. Companies already requesting participation include Bechtel, Archirodon, Boskalis, SGS, Kone Cranes, ALE, Liebherr, Uzmar Shipbuilding, ADTA and ADBIC.

For further information and announcements visit www.worldportsandtrade.com

• Air Arabia fifth destination from its new Egypt hub
• Four direct flights per week between Alexandria and Abu Dhabi
• Promotional launch fares are available on www.airarabia.com

Egyptian Ambassdor to the UAE with Air Arabia and Abu Dhabi Airpory Company officials cutting the cake

Abu Dhabi, UAE: July 12, 2010: Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), announced today the start of its direct services from its latest hub in Alexandria, Egypt, to the UAE’s Capital Abu Dhabi.

Inaugural ceremony was held at Abu Dhabi International airport included officials from Egypt and the UAE as well as representatives from Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) and the airline’s management. Roundtrip flights to Air Arabia’s fifth destination from its Egyptian hub will operate four times per week between Burj Al Arab International Airport, Alexandria, Egypt and Abu Dhabi International Airport in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The LCC will fly to Abu Dhabi on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Flights depart from Alexandria at 22.00 to arrive in Abu Dhabi at 02.40 the following day, and return flights depart from Abu Dhabi at 03:20, to arrive in Alexandria at 06:20 the same day. 

“We are glad to announce the start of our services to the UAE’s Capital and one of the regions fastest growing cities,” said Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia. “We thank Abu Dhabi’s Civil Aviation Authority and ADAC for their continuous support. Abu Dhabi represents Air Arabia’s fifth destination from our month-old hub in Alexandria, Egypt, and we are confident of the strong demand for air travel between the two countries.  Air Arabia will continue to offer best rates in the market along with the highest standards of service and value for money products.”

Ahmed Al Haddabi, Senior VP Operations, ADAC commented: “We are pleased to be welcoming Air Arabia’s inaugural flight to Abu Dhabi International Airport from Alexandria Egypt, which adds one more destination to our network. Air Arabia is the 5th new airline that ADAC has added to its portfolio this year and will be contributing to our continuing traffic growth. We look forward to seeing this route further develop since the Egyptian market as a whole has great potential. 

“We are dedicated to extending the airport’s services to fit the needs of our local and transfer passengers, which in turn will support Abu Dhabi International Airport’s position as the ideal destination for regional and international airlines.”

Abu Dhabi International Airport is the gateway to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, and a cosmopolitan centre for business and a tourist attraction. The airport is an award-winning facility that is increasingly being recognised as the airport of choice offering passengers a unique combination of functional advantages and convivial travel experience.

Air Arabia is the Middle East and North Africa’s leading low-cost carrier that operates over 65 routes from three hubs in Sharjah, UAE; Casablanca, Morocco and Alexandria, Egypt. The airline recently announced plans of launching its fourth hub in Amman, and currently offers its services to Khartoum, Kuwait, Beirut and Amman from Alexandria.

Air Arabia’s fleet consists of brand new Airbus A320 aircraft, offering its passengers the best economy configuration in the market with a 32” seat pitch as well as all inclusive free baggage allowance. The carrier offers customers comfort, reliability, and value-for-money air travel.

For flight schedules and promotional fares, please visit: www.airarabia.com

• Air Arabia Egypt’s fifth destination
• Four roundtrip flights per week between Alexandria and Abu Dhabi commencing July 12, 2010
• Promotional launch fares are available on www.airarabia.com

Alexandria, Egypt: July 3, 2010: Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), announced today that the next destination from latest hub in Alexandria, Egypt, will be Abu Dhabi. The new service to the UAE’s capital will commence on July 12, 2010.

Roundtrip flights to Air Arabia fifth destination from its Egyptian hub will operate four times per week between Burj Al Arab International Airport, Alexandria, Egypt and Abu Dhabi International Airport, UAE.

The LCC will fly to Abu Dhabi on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Flights depart Alexandria at 22.00 arriving in Abu Dhabi at 02.40 the following day, and return flights depart Abu Dhabi at 03:20, arriving in Alexandria at 06:20 the same day. 

“We have received incredible demand from both our Abu Dhabi and Alexandria residents for low-cost travel solutions between the two countries,” said Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia. “In line with the increasing demand, we are pleased to announce that our fifth destination from Alexandria will connect North Africa to the UAE.”

Air Arabia is the Middle East and North Africa’s leading low-cost carrier that operates over 65 routes from three hubs in Sharjah, UAE; Casablanca, Morocco and Alexandria, Egypt. The airline recently announced plans of launching its fourth hub in Amman, and currently offers its services to Khartoum, Kuwait, Beirut and Amman from Alexandria.

Air Arabia’s fleet consists of brand new Airbus A320 aircrafts, offering its passengers the best economy configuration in the market with a 32” seat pitch as well as all inclusive free baggage allowance. The carrier offers customers comfort, reliability, and value-for-money air travel.

For flight schedules and promotional fares, please visit: www.airarabia.com.

Creations of 17 world-renowned artists to be installed

The next time you go to Abu Dhabi, don’t be surprised to see huge sculptures around the corniche area.

The capital recently hosted a six-week long Abu Dhabi International Sculpture Symposium (Adiss) during which 17 world-renowned contemporary artists – including Hassan Sharif, Jon Hudson Barlow, Ehab El Labban, Gheorgi Filin, Hwang Seoung Woo and Jo Kley – transformed huge blocks of marble, granite, steel and stainless steel into distinguished pieces of art in front of an admiring public. Now, these pieces will be displayed all over the emirate.

Salwa Zeidan, Artistic Director, Adiss, told Emirates Business: “Until the Abu Dhabi municipality readies the locations in the capital, where the 17 sculptures are to be displayed, they will stay at the park near the Abu Dhabi corniche.

“Later on they will be placed at prominent places all over the emirate where people can see them. Even though the municipality is still to finalise the 17 locations, some of the places where they are likely to be displayed are Emirates Palace, Al Kalam street, Al Arabi street, Al Khaleej street, etc.

“However, the municipality is still studying the places where they would like to install these sculptures and I don’t think that they will be able to do so before the end of the year or so as preparing the locations with landscaping will take a long time.”

Talking about the future plans for Adiss and the artists who created the sculptures, Zeidan said: “We chose these 17 sculptors among 400 artists who had applied for participation in the Adiss. We kept the criteria very high and only those who had participated in a minimum of seven international-level symposiums were even considered, before we made the final selection.

“We were looking for established artists whose work was known the world over, whose work stood out and who were experienced enough to be able to create a huge sculpture in front of the public in a short period of 40 days.

“However, we also chose one emerging artist from Lebanon, Husam Chaya as we want to promote emerging artists too. For the next symposium, we will choose an emerging artist from another part of the world. But that does not mean we will compromise on quality as we have set very high standards this time and we can only go higher as we give Abu Dhabi the look and feel of the art and cultural capital of the UAE.”

1. ‘Symphony No.7: Energy of Life’

Artist: Husam Chaya, Lebanon

Details: Mugla white marble for sculpture, Mugla grey and black granite for base, dimensions: 3 x 1.35 x 1.35 metres, base 1 dimensions: 30 x 164 x 164 cm

Concept: This is a cathartic work, and symbolises the passage from shadow into the light

2. ‘Energy’

Artist: Jo Kley, Germany

Details: Green Diabas from Turkey, 2.6m L x 1.8m W x 1.7m Height

Concept: Energy is known to travel in a spiral shape. The spiral is a universal artistic intervention of nature. On the microscopic to small scale it manifests itself as the perfect package for hereditary information, as spirilla bacteria or as a snail’s shell. Moved by physical powers, a spiral-formed water jet is created or a macro-cosmic construction in which remote stars form a spiral nebula

3. ‘Eidolon Elliptical Sphere’

Artist:Jon Hudson Barlow, USA

Details: Mild steel, painted purple. Base in concrete, 6m high

Concept: Eidolon is a Greek word for the Kernel of an idea. This motif is one that Barlow has been working with for a long time in many different permutations. In this particular case, he has changed the format to an Ellipse with a spherical centre

4. ‘Sinuous Red’

Artist: Konstantin

Dimopoulos, Australia

Details: Fiberglass composite high performance rods, 7m high x 1.2 diameters

Concept: Sinuous red is a wind driven kinetic sculpture. The work focuses on the simple but elegant and dynamic rhythms of nature. The sculpture reaches upwards creating an immediate sense of awe and scale for viewers.

5. ‘Twisting the Void’

Artist: Gregor Kregar, Slovenia

Details: Stainless steel and Base is concrete, 6m high x 5m wide, base is 5 x 5 m x 90 cm high

Concept: The geometric shapes reflect ancient connections between nature and mathematics on one side and are also associated with eco-friendly architecture and design of the 21st Century. Geometry and Mathematics have strong tradition in the Arabic and Islamic worlds

Every newborn discharged from Corniche Hospital will ride home in his/her first protective, infant car seat

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Health Insurance Company (DAMAN) has donated 700 maxi-cosi car seats to the Corniche Hospital in Abu Dhabi.

The hospital, an Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) facility, has announced a strict policy commencing in June, whereby every newborn discharged from Corniche Hospital will ride home in his/her first protective, infant car seat.

The Abu Dhabi Health Insurance Company (DAMAN) has donated 700 maxi-cosi car seats, made by the European manufacturer, to the hospital.

In a traffic survey conducted by UAE University, it was found that most children travel with their parents in vehicles not wearing any safety devices. Securing a child in a children’s car seat and placing it in the rear seat of the car could prevent 71 percent  of infant fatalities and 54 percent of toddler’s fatalities.

This initiative comes under the guidance of Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, who stresses on the importance of upgrading a mother’s level of child care, and overall child safety and security.

The car seats will be distributed to every newborn at Corniche Hospital, free of charge starting June and a specialized team from the Hospital will train new parents on the proper installation.

“As one of the premier maternity health care facilities in the region, Corniche Hospital is proud to make a positive contribution to the public in the UAE including the road safety of newborns. We have been working with Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the United States on this initiative. We are delighted to partner with the leading health insurance company in the region - Daman in launching the project,” said Ron Lavater, Chief Executive Officer of Corniche Hospital.

Daman’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Michael Bitzer, said: “Promoting child-safety procedures falls within Daman’s continuous efforts in building public awareness and support for issues that affect the well-being of the community. Supporting Corniche Hospital in this initiative would definitely encourage parents to install the recommended car seat for newborns to ensure a safe ride home.”

Currently, UAE traffic laws dictate that children are to be securely fastened by seat belts in the rear seats of the vehicle and children under 10 years of age are not allowed to ride in the front seat.

At the 2009 Gulf Traffic Conference in Dubai, it was mentioned that in a recent study, car seats are mandatory in North America, UK and Europe, and are said to prevent around 53,000 injuries and 500 deaths of children aged four years and younger every year, if properly used.

The aim of this project is to help parents take responsibility for their child safety. This initiative is the first step in helping parents to protect their children on the road for years to come,” said Amira Wali, Director of Public Health and Communications, Corniche Hospital.

“Our dedicated, full-time educators will continue to distribute free car seats on-site until a law that compels parents to take road safety seriously is passed.”

Health Authority Abu Dhabi closes two pharmacies for selling, exchanging and buying counterfeit medicine.

Abu Dhabi: Based on the recommendations of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Licensing Committee, the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (Haad) has taken disciplinary decisions against a number of medical facilities and professionals for violating  the rules and regulations of the healthcare system in the Emirate.

These decisions included closing down two pharmacies for one month and withdrawing two pharmacists’ licenses and suspending another pharmacist for one month due to exchanging and buying counterfeit medicine. 

Haad also issued warnings to various healthcare facilities and allowed a two month period for other facilities to comply with the health system requirements.

“HAAD is striving to improve the healthcare system in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi through regulations and systems that ensure better quality of health services to the public. We call upon health institutions and professionals to adhere to the systems and policies laid down by Haad. We are ready to provide advice and technical assistance to various facilities to assist in their development and improvement of performance levels,” said Zaid Al Siksek, CEO of Haad.

Dr. Ali Obaid Al Ali, Chairman of the Licensing Committee and Director of the Health Regulation Division at Haad said: “The Health Quality Audit team, through a number of field visits by its Auditors, submitted a series of reports on irregularities spotted within medical facilities and by professionals.”

One such report included a pharmacist and his assistant, who exchanged counterfeit medicine with a customer and sold it to another pharmacy.

As a result, both facilities were closed for a period of two months. The license of the pharmacist and his assistant were also withdrawn and a suspension period of one month was issued against the second pharmacist who bought the counterfeit medicine.

The Health Authority also issued a warning to a healthcare facility manager for employing an unlicensed dentist working as files clerk in the sterilisation section and issued another warning to a pharmacy after discovering it was disbursing prescription-only medicines without a prescription.

Haad also instructed the Pharmaceutical Quality Audit Section to confiscate all existing medicines in a pharmacy and to destroy it due to power outages for about a month for non-payment of electricity bills, thus violating all the medicine storage standards and affecting the medicine validity. The Health Authority issued a warning to the owner of the facility in this regard.

Abu Dhabi has reiterated its stance on clean energy and renewable energy and further investment in future demand for power.

In his message to the Arab Power and Water Summit 2010 organised by Meed in the capital, Sheikh Diab Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (Adwea), one of the world’s largest utility organisation, said sourcing clean and alternative energy and water supply is the key agenda of Abu Dhabi Government.

He said: “Sources of energy and water in the region, clean energy alternatives and the implications of global questions on carbon emissions are the main topics discussed at the summit held in Abu Dhabi. This is considered a milestone in the emirate’s adoption of pioneering solutions in future energy.”

About Adwea’s privatisation drive, he said Abu Dhabi’s initiatives, such as Masdar, the world’s first carbon neutral city, are steps that highlight the emirate’s commitment to establishing a benchmark for others to follow. “We are proud of Adwea’s privatisation programme enabling us to produce a surplus of energy and contribute to the region,” said Sheikh Diab.

Commenting on the Arabian Energy and Water Industry Leadership Award Adwea received yesterday, Sheik Diab said it was a tribute to the choices adopted by the Abu Dhabi Government more than a decade ago to develop the energy and water sector – a strategic choice that led to the launch of a programme to privatise the sector, resulting in nine major projects in electricity and water production.

Addressing the summit, Meed Events Chairman Edmund O’Sullivan said the organisation estimates that new power capacity requirement by 2015 will be 7,500MW and new desalination requirement will be 210 million gallons per day. This, he added, calls for substantial investment in the country and region.

Violations are on the decrease following continual inspections by authorities

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) closed down four food supply units during February for serious violations of food safety regulations, according to a statement issued by the Authority.

Of a total of 2,443 visits to food supply units, retail outlets and warehouses, the number of fines issued stood at 47.

Warnings stood at 956, said Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, Director of Public Relations and Communications at the Authority. The rate of compliance with all food safety regulations was almost the same as the warnings at 908, he added.

The inspections conducted by the Specialised Food Inspection Department (SFID) indicated a high level of compliance with the rules and regulations reflecting the impact that regular and continual food safety campaigns have had on the Abu Dhabi food industry.

“A total of 2,733 inspection visits made to various food outlets by our inspectors from the SFID resulted in issuing only 11 fines and 300 warnings.

“These visits covered slaughter houses, hotels, manufacturing units and educational institutions.

“A whopping 2,125 visits were greeted with full compliance with the regulations,” Al Reyaysa said.

He said that during specialised inspections, the number of food items found unfit for human consumption and destroyed was 2.2 tons.

Over eight tons of foodstuffs unfit for humans were found during separate inspections at food supply units, retail outlets and warehouses.

The official said that while enforcement of rules took care of a large chunk of violations, consumers have a responsibility to report any food safety violations or malpractices to the attention of the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority

FIA & FIM Cross Country qualifier event marks 20th edition

March 31, 2010

HTC Corporation, a leading global designer of smartphones, will act as major sponsor of Team FJ, which is keen to better its fifth place overall position at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (ADDC) 2010 running from March 27 to April 1, 2010. Team FJ, made up of UAE-based expatriate duo Dave Mabbs and co-driver Xavier Caminada, is taking part in their second ADDC, having come fifth last year in their purpose-built Toyota FJ Cruiser. Apart from sponsoring Team FJ, HTC will reward top-performing drivers in the rally with a special phone under a ‘Spirit of the Rally Award’.

“Having a strong backing from companies such as HTC goes a long way in helping us better prepare for important races like the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. We are very confident about building on our impressive performance achieved last year, and we certainly have an exceptional vehicle and a team that can ensure success this time as well,” said Team FJ’s Dave Mabbs. 
 
“Last year we sponsored Team FJ in the Saudi leg of the FIA and FIM cross country races in support of activities that highlight the Middle East’s growing popularity as an events destination. This time we are backing Team FJ in the Abu Dhabi rally, where we strongly believe they will put in a winning performance. HTC is also especially excited to support the Abu Dhabi rally by sponsoring the ‘Spirit of the Rally Award’ as this emirate has become a favorite venue for international motor races and other sporting events. Our participation in the Challenge is also our own way of highlighting the importance of the Middle Eastern markets to the HTC brand,” said Nikitas Glykas, Regional Director of HTC South Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Backed by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is a season-opening qualifier for both the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Cross Country Rally World Cup and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Cross Country Rallies World Championship. It is open to competitors driving cars and trucks complying with FIA T1, T2 and T4 technical regulations or FIM-sanctioned motorcycles and quads. HTC will join in celebrating the 20th edition of the prestigious international cross country rally by giving away special prizes throughout its four sponsored days.

The roadshows for the $1.5 billion (Dh5.51bn) proposed bond issue by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (Dewa) will kick-start from Abu Dhabi followed by Dubai on April 6, according to a statement issued by the utility major.

This will be followed by similar investor meetings in different cities overseas.

The schedule of the investors’ meetings for the bond issue, which will be managed by Citi, Standard Chartered Bank, National Bank of Abu Dhabi and Royal Bank of Scotland, shows the UAE roadshows will be followed by a meeting in Singapore on April 7. While the Hong Kong meetings will take place on April 8, the roadshows in London will be held on April 9.

Dewa has said the United States meetings will be spread over three days starting with Los Angeles on April 12 and followed by one each in New York and Boston on April 13 and 14.

The processes for the Dewa bond issue were supposed to have commenced in March, but a statement from the Dubai Government-owned utility company about two weeks ago said that it would postpone the roadshows, without giving any specific timeline for the same.