Abu Dhabi, UAE, 27th March 2012: As part of its expansion plans to cover more areas of the UAE, BinSina Pharmacy Group launched its second outlet in Dalma Mall in Abu Dhabi at a glittering ceremony.

Al Khayyat Investments, owner of BinSina and representative of over 200 brands across the Middle East said the move was prompted by the huge response to the first outlet launched two months ago.

The new branch is located at the ground floor of Dalma Mall for easy access through the main gate.

Dr. Saleema Shurrab, General Manager of BinSina Pharmacy Group in the UAE, said: “The new branch is stocked with a complete range of health and beauty products, ranging from cosmetics and skincare to personal and baby products, in addition to foot care.”

Dr. Shurrab added: “The opening of the new pharmacy outlet is in response to a strong need for pharmacy services at Dalma Mall. Our team in this outlet is well equipped to serve customers through quality service in an ideal ambience.”

Rashid Doleh, Executive Director, Dalma Mall said: “We are pleased to see Al Khayyat Investments strengthening their commitment to Dalma Mall by opening its second BinSina pharmacy.  Dalma Mall stands to become the most comprehensive shopping experience in the capital, which will address a currently under-serviced catchment area of over 400,000 residents.

Dr. Shurrab said: “BinSina Pharmacy was the first pharmacy to be licensed in Dubai emirate in 1965 and we are working harder to hold the lead position. The year 2012 will see lots of initiatives that will be announced in due course of time.”

Surrounded by established communities such as Baniyas, Mafraq, Wathbah and Shahama and serving Abu Dhabi’s rapidly developing areas, including Khalifa City A, Khalifa City B, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Raha Beach, Raha Gardens, Officers City and Between the Bridges, Dalma Mall has attracted top brands in the UAE, including the 46 year old BinSina brand name which stands for professionalism and intimate understanding of customer needs.

*Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012, March 6-8

Dassault Falcon presents business jet range at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Middle East deliveries and orders rising as regional aviation market recovers

4th March 2012 (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates):* Dassault Falcon, the business jet operation of Dassault Aviation, will present its range of business jets at the Abu Dhabi Air Expo, Al Bateen Executive Airport, from March 6-8, 2012. Dassault will feature its flagship aircraft - the Falcon 7X – at the show, with a model on display at the event. The Falcon 7X is proving to be the best selling business jet for the company around the world, including in the Middle East, where three Falcon 7X business jets were delivered to owners in the six month period of Q4 2011 to Q1 2012.

Dassault is experiencing an increase in aircraft deliveries throughout the Middle East as the market for business jets recovers, helped by economic growth and the rise of strong regional and international operators in the area. Companies in the region now operate more than 60 Falcon business jets and will take delivery of a dozen additional aircraft over the next 24 months, boosting the regional fleet by 15%.

“The business aviation market in the Middle East has matured to the extent that, today, a business jet is viewed in the region as a powerful tool to enable quick and convenient access to customers, within the region and worldwide. Falcon business jets are recognized as a vital business asset,” declared John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon. “The Middle East represents a major market for Dassault Falcon, with a two year backlog of aircraft deliveries. Our view of the Middle East business aviation market over the long term remains very positive because of the vitality of the region and the strong internationalization of business.”

The Falcon 7X accounts for 40 percent of Falcon Middle East sales. Saudia Private Aviation, the respected business aviation unit of Saudi Arabian Airlines, operates four of these aircraft, , which makes it the largest Falcon 7X customer in the world. Dubai based Empire Aviation Group manages three Falcon 7Xs.

The global 7X fleet recently passed the 100,000 flying hour milestone. The tri jet offers flexible range, a large and comfortable cabin interior, efficient and economical performance and advanced technology based on Dassault’s military heritage. The aircraft’s 5,950 nm range enables it to handle more than 90 percent of the missions flown by the typical business jet. It can connect New York to Riyadh, Riyadh to Perth or Dubai to Tokyo and access challenging airports such as London City Airport–the only business jet in its category capable of doing so

Renaud Cloatre, Dassault Falcon sales director for the Middle East added: “Dassault Falcon aircraft are very well-suited to the demands of our Middle East customers, offering long range and large, comfortable cabins. Our customers are mostly companies and entrepreneurs who are highly mobile, and who move all around the world on business. They need comfortable and well equipped aircraft in which to work and rest en route. Above all, they value the efficient Falcon aircraft design and performance, which means 20% to 40% less fuel consumption and lower emissions, as well as Dassault’s extensive local support network.”

Dassault Falcon has continued to invest in regional infrastructure and now operates Authorized Service Centers in Dubai and Jeddah, a spares distribution center in Dubai and a technical office in Jeddah. The company also has a regional sales office in Dubai.

The Dassault Falcon range includes four large-cabin models: the tri-jet Falcon 7X and Falcon 900LX and the twin-jet Falcon 2000S and Falcon 2000LX. They share a number of common features, including flexible range, large and comfortable cabin interiors, efficient and economical performance and advanced technology derived from Dassault’s considerable military experience. Dassault introduced the Falcon 2000S into the super mid-size category in 2011 as an entry level option to the Falcon family offering outstanding performance, luxurious, roomy interior and ultra-low operating cost for a price tag comparable to the smaller models featured by its competitors.

The number of hotel guests staying in Abu Dhabi’s 127 hotels, hotel apartments and resorts rose by 29% in January this year compared to the same month last year, according to the latest figures released by the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.

Last month some 198,139 guests stayed in Abu Dhabi with the number of guest nights also rising, this time by 20% to 571,672.

“The strong increase in guest arrivals and guest nights appears to have been significantly influenced by January’s dynamic events calendar, which included the hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race and the fortnight of activities staged to coincide with it, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and the World Future Energy Summit, which attracted some 650 exhibiting companies to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre,” explained His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.

“Stays are also likely to have benefited from increased air access to the destination brought about by Etihad Airway’s recent launch of its four-times-a-week service from both Chengdu, China and Dusseldorf, Germany and the start of Air Berlin’s four weekly flights from its home base,” Mubarak added.

Combined revenue for Abu Dhabi’s hotels rose 11% last month compared to January 2011 to Dhs408m ($111m). Food and beverage revenue rose 18% during the same period to Dhs155.3m ($42.3m). Hotel occupancy stabilised at 66% - the same rate as January 2010 - though average length of stay was down slightly by 7% to 2.89 days and the average room rate dropped by 6% on comparative months to now stand at Dhs503 ($137).

“This is all promising news on which to start the year given that the past 12 months has seen considerable additions to the destination hotel room inventory. Competition has heightened, yet new beachfront and golf course fronting properties are significantly enhancing our leisure appeal,” explained Al Muhairi.

“We also anticipate good results for February with the recent World Ophthalmology Congress having delivered significant bookings for the hospitality sector.”

Domestic tourism accounted for 18% of January’s hotel guest tally with the GCC producing the strongest regional increase of 120% in arrivals, primarily driven by a 218% rise in guests from Saudi Arabia who totaled 8,574 in all, accounting for 18,415 guest nights - a 22% rise on January last year. This led to the Kingdom now being ranked fourth in Abu Dhabi’s international guest ranking.

Other GCC countries also proved good source markets for Abu Dhabi with guest arrivals from Qatar rising 69% to 2,022 last month compared to January 2010, those from Kuwait increasing 65% to 1,541. Guest arrival from Oman climbed 57% to 2,699 while those from Bahrain were up 45% to 812.

India sustained its ranking as the destination’s second largest international source market, after the UK, with a 45% rise in hotel guests to 10,924 delivering 37,559 guest nights, which was up 17% month-on-month.

“We are hopeful of further improving on arrivals from India having recently hosted a major inbound familiarisation trip for a delegation from the Travel Agents Association of India, staged a five-city road show throughout the republic and completed a highly successful showing at the SATTE travel fair in New Delhi,” explained Al Muhairi.

European guests increased 30% last month on January 2010 with Germany turning in a strong 64% increase to 9,204 to make the country Abu Dhabi’s third largest international source market. The UK, produced a 15% increase to 13,005, France accounted for a 22% rise to 4,004, while Italy turned in a 20% surge to 3,556 while The Netherlands climbed 47% to 1,532.

China also returned a stellar increase in hotel guests for Abu Dhabi - rising 235% in January compared to the same month last year to deliver 4,407 arrivals, 7,339 guest nights, and taking the country to eighth in the emirate’s guest rankings.

“Prospects from China should increase further with the impending March 1st launch, by Etihad Airways of a daily non-stop service from Shanghai to Abu Dhabi International,” said Al Muhairi.

Octavia Spencer receives Best Supporting Actress for her role in “The Help”

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 28 February, 2012: Abu Dhabi reached the pinnacle of motion picture recognition yesterday, winning its first ever Oscar for “The Help” at the 84th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles.  The Award was given to Octavia Spencer for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal as Minny Jackson, a headstrong and outspoken African-American maid in Mississippi at the dawn of the Civil Rights era.

Image Nation co-produced the film with Participant Media.  Image Nation’s Chairman Mohammed Al Mubarak said, “We are extremely proud for Abu Dhabi to be associated with such a successful and recognized film.  I want to extend our heartiest congratulations to Octavia and all involved.  In 2011, we were happy to have the film’s producer Brunson Green in Abu Dhabi to meet with aspiring filmmakers and we expect him to return in the near future to share his experience in the film industry.  Brunson is a perfect example of how our international partnerships provide guidance and support to aspiring filmmakers from the U.A.E.”

Image Nation CEO Michael Garin said, “Current Oscar not withstanding our commitment to Abu Dhabi and building the foundations of a motion picture industry remain the focus for Image Nation.  We hope that one day one of our Emirati filmmakers could be on stage accepting on Oscar for him or herself.”

Internationally acclaimed German watchmaker A. Lange and Söhne is pleased to announce the opening of its first boutique in the Middle East at the recently opened Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi.

Following the launch of Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai and Dresden, the boutique will be the brand’s sixth worldwide. Watch enthusiasts and collectors alike across the UAE, and neighbouring countries, will soon experience first-hand the works of art bearing Lange’s interpretation of the quality seal “Made in Germany” in the UAE capital and luxury hub.

Anyone who has visited the Lange manufactory and looked over the shoulders of master watchmakers at work understands the craftsmanship, precision, and above all passion that go into the timepieces bearing the esteemed signature “A. Lange & Söhne”. However, it is a long way from Abu Dhabi to the idyllic watchmaker’s town of Glashütte, near Saxony’s baroque capital, Dresden. Although connoisseurs have had the pleasure of enjoying.

A. Lange & Söhne’s creations at regional authorized retailers, the new boutique in Abu Dhabi will bring the ultimate of watchmaking artistry one step closer to followers, offering fascinating insights into the world of fine haute horology.

Etihad Towers is a true reflection of Abu Dhabi as a whole: contemporary, sophisticated and deluxe. It is this reason that the location was selected to house Lange’s first regional boutique - for its exclusivity, prestige and uniqueness. “This opening is a logical milestone for the brand in the Middle East. We will continue to develop perceptions of A. Lange & Söhne, enhancing the brand’s image and relationship with our ever increasing number of aficionados. The boutique will become a place where time is at home, where visitors are invited to encounter the history and philosophy of Lange watchmaking artistry and become one with our values,” said Mr. Matthieu Dupont, Middle East Brand Manager.

With roots dating back almost 170 years, A. Lange & Söhne has become reputed as a leader in the realm of precision watchmaking since being re-established almost two decades ago. Its constant quest for perfection is always reflected in the unrivalled technical excellence and perfect quality of the brand’s exclusively manufactured calibres. Only a few thousand fine mechanical watches leave the Lange workshops every year, commanding respect the world over. Lange is often referred to as the ‘pearl of fine watchmaking’, and prides itself on having masterminded some of the most ground-breaking technologies in the watchmaking world, with an unmatched degree of craftsmanship in the making.

A. Lange & Söhne has presented over 40 in-house developed movements, hand-crafted to perfection. These include the iconic LANGE 1, with its decentralized dial design and patented outsize date, the TOURBOGRAPH “Pour le Mérite”, which is limited to 101 watches and unites three grand complications: a tourbillon, a rattrapante chronograph, and a fusée-and-chain transmission, and the LANGE ZEITWERK which broke ground as the world’s first mechanical numeric time reading watch.

The decor of the A. Lange & Söhne Abu Dhabi boutique reflects the personality of the brand shaped by the motto “state-of-the-art tradition”. The furnishings and ambiance are welcoming, and embodying the same spirit of perfect craftsmanship and technological innovation expressed in the watches of A. Lange & Söhne. However, it is the art of watchmaking that takes centre stage here: almost the entire collection of elaborately crafted timepieces from Saxony can be experienced at A. Lange & Söhne Abu Dhabi - including the RICHARD LANGE TOURBILLON “Pour le Mérite” HANDWERKSKUNST, a limited edition of which only 15 exist in the world.

Abu Dhabi: Experts have warned an estimated one in every seven species of bird, one in every four species of mammal and one in every three amphibian species are globally threatened with extinction.

Many species in the UAE are also threatened with extinction including the Socotra cormorant, Arabian tahr, Arabian oryx, Arabian leopard, dugongs, hawksbill turtles, as well as many other species of reptiles, fishes, amphibians, and invertebrates, they said.

They were speaking during a six-day conference on global species conservation which began in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Hosted by the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD), the experts are members of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN SSC) and are world experts in their specialised field of species conservation.

Most IUCN SSC members are deployed in more than 100 specialist groups and task forces. Some address conservation issues related to particular groups of plants or animals while others focus on topical issues.

“These specialists are world experts on almost every conceivable creature or plant on the planet. Abu Dhabi is hosting this conference out of a deep and historical commitment to protecting biodiversity on a national, regional, and global scale,” said Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary-General of the EAD.

“This meeting will set the global species conservation agenda for the next four years and the EAD is proud to support it,” she said.

“We are continually impressed with Abu Dhabi’s strong support of species conservation both locally and internationally,” said Dr Simon Stuart, chair of the IUCN SSC.

“Abu Dhabi has been instrumental in regional efforts to bring the Arabian oryx back from the brink of extinction. Its efforts with locally threatened species such as the dugong, Houbara bustard, and hawksbill turtles are also very impressive,” he said.

UAE programmes

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognised as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species. It has grown in size and complexity and now plays an increasingly prominent role in guiding the conservation activities of governments, NGOs, scientific institutions and scientists.

Three experts from the EAD’s Marine and Terrestrial Biodiversity sector spoke about UAE-based programmes for biodiversity at the forum. Dr Salim Javed, manager, Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring, spoke about the satellite-tracking of migratory birds, while Dr Himansu Das, scientist, Marine Endangered Species and Habitat, spoke about the world’s second largest population of dugongs living in Abu Dhabi’s waters.

Ashraf Al Cibahy, manager, Biodiversity Management and Conservation, highlighted the EAD’s efforts in protecting the coral reefs of the Arabian Gulf.

With inputs from Nada Al Taher

February 22, 2012, Abu Dhabi, UAE: Experienced instructor Jae Min Lee from South Korea has joined the award-winning coaching team at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

The 33-year-old, who comes from the Troon-managed Alpensia Golf and Country Club in PyeongChang east of Seoul, is looking forward to making a difference to golfers in the Emirate and working closely with the growing Korean community.

“I’m committed to enhancing and expanding the Troon Golf experience for the Koreans here, the Golf Institute development programs and golf in Abu Dhabi,” said Jae, who is also studying accountancy.

“There are a lot of Koreans living and working in Abu Dhabi so it’s an exciting opportunity for me. “I’m keen to make a mark and really add to the tremendous reputation the club has.”

Jae has worked as an instructor at a range of clubs in the United States, including Mountain Brook Golf Club, Palm Springs Golf Centre and Castle Creek Golf Course. He has a bachelors degree in Agribusiness and professional golf management from the Arizona State University.

It was in Arizona where Jae made an impact on the 10,000-strong Korean community, coaching juniors right through to more senior players. He is a natural teacher and has also taught as a ski instructor and Sunday School teacher.

Danny Jakubowski, Director of instruction at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, believes Jae brings a wealth of talent and enthusiasm to his team.

“Jae is a huge asset for us and he not only offers a tremendous amount of experience but his passion for the game and teaching people is what has seen him deliver such great results for golfers of all standards in the past.”

“He has a distinct way of working with people which we think will be ideal for here and we are very much looking forward to seeing some fantastic results while he is in Abu Dhabi.”  

Abu Dhabi Golf Club, which hosts the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, offers one of the most luxurious golf resort experiences in the Middle East. The 27-hole layout is managed by Troon Golf and is a par-72, 7,600-yard course. The course provides a tough-but-fair challenge, with 18 holes of lush fairways, strategically placed bunkers and generous greens.

Ian Robertson, Board Member for Sales and Marketing of BMW AG and Chairman of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd, arrived in Abu Dhabi to attend the opening of the world’s largest BMW Group showroom facility in the Umm Al Nar area of the UAE’s capital.

The showroom was formally inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, His Excellency Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Finance Minister and Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing, at an exclusive event on Tuesday evening attended by over 1,000 guests. The invited guests also included Graeme Grieve, Vice-President for Importer Markets of BMW AG, Adrian van Hooydonk, Director of BMW Group Design, and a large number of VIPs and celebrities from the region, including fashion designer Walid Atallah and Lebanese singers Maya Diab and Wael Kfoury.

The impressive and unprecedented facility, built by Abu Dhabi Motors, the exclusive BMW Group importer in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, covers an area of over 35,000 sqm and is the culmination of an AED 300 million investment in expanding and improving all areas of the facility at the importer’s flagship showroom.

Located in Umm Al Nar, between the two bridges and in the same place as the previous Abu Dhabi Motors showroom, the new facility offers 172 parking spaces for customers and 120 work bays for BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles. Aimed at delivering a premium experience to its discerning clientele, the state-of-the-art facility can accommodate the display of 80 new and pre-owned cars, 10 motorcycles, and features a private cinema-style theatre, Gloria Jean’s Cafe, F1 Racing Simulator, children’s play area, dedicated waiting rooms for men and women, in addition to the latest in audiovisual technology such as touch-screen tables and televisions screening BMW Group videos on the latest product and technology information.

Commenting on the landmark opening, Ian Robertson said: “The Middle East is an important region for the BMW Group, not only because it’s a market where our top-of-the-range models are best sellers, but also because of future growth potential in many of the countries such as the UAE. The investment in this impressive and unique facility that makes it the world’s biggest BMW Group showroom, is testament to the continued opportunities that lie ahead in Abu Dhabi.”

Abu Dhabi Motors began its operations in May 1986 with a small showroom and workshop in Umm Al-Nar employing just 24 people, and has grown over the years to become the leading BMW Group importer in the Middle East. It currently employs over 450 staff members in 6 different facilities across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

2011 saw the importer maintain its status as the biggest-selling importer of BMW Group vehicles in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi Motors broke its record for BMW Group vehicle sales, selling 4,436 cars in 2011, a growth of 23% over 2010 sales, with most sales coming from high-end models such as the BMW 7 Series, BMW 5 Series, X5 and X6.

On a brand specific level, the importer sold 4,240 BMW cars, an increase of 21% over 2010 and 196 MINI cars, a growth of 63 %. It also maintained its status as one of the top ten Rolls-Royce Motor Cars dealers in the world, with a 16% sales growth in 2011, boasting the highest bespoke revenue per car in the Middle East.

Arno Husselmann, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Motors said: “This new facility will not only allow us to match our sales growth with our physical growth, but also underline our ambition to achieve greater results in the coming years as they have been designed with customer requirements and expectations in mind. We have already seen the benefits of this customer-oriented approach as we came out top of the customer service satisfaction index for the entire BMW Group Middle East.”

The new Abu Dhabi Motors BMW Group Showroom in Umm Al Nar is open from 9am to 1pm and 430pm to 9pm

Tuesday January 31st 2012 - Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) employees now have full access to the latest publications in the field of education through a new ADEC ‘E-Resources Research Portal,’ launched in September 2011.

The portal contains subscriptions to five major databases for a wide range of media: journal articles, e-books, newspapers, dissertations and theses, country reports, case studies, video seminars, and citations and abstracts, amongst others.

All 15,000 ADEC employees can now have full-text access to over 11,000 journals and 70,000 books from more than 500 publishers, approximately 1.2 million dissertations and theses, and more than 2,000 newspapers in 54 languages from 95 countries, in addition to many other forms of media.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Rafic Makki, Executive Director, Office of Strategic Affairs at ADEC said: “This project will help empower every single staff member, whether a policy researcher, curriculum developer, urban planner, school principal, or teacher with nearly unlimited amounts of up-to-date and authoritative information on the latest literature and best-practices in education, as well as cater to their professional development needs.”

Interested candidates signed up for a two hour training session to learn how to access/use the portal throughout a three day workshop held at ADEC on Thursday January 26th, Sunday January 29th and Monday January 30th 2012.

“The mission of the portal is to promote and encourage ADEC staff to engage in research to better inform their work and professional capacities, and to build their e-literacy and research skills by developing the ability to better evaluate the reliability of general and online resources, and the tools required to engage in that process” continued Dr. Makki.

“In addition, it builds an foundation within ADEC for one of the priorities of the Abu Dhabi Higher Education Strategic Plan, which is to build and maintain a research ecosystem to drive an innovation-based economy by fostering an environment of scholarship and discovery.”

“The whole idea is to go beyond public information, often unfiltered, and retrieve credible and updated information and news on education or any other field.  For instance, individuals can access dissertations and theses written by doctoral candidates all over the world.  These are valuable resources for any of our staff who may be considering furthering their studies, who are already engaged in their studies, or who wish to read only the abstracts to gauge trends and gain general information on a particular topic related to their work.” added Dr. Makki.

The portal contains publications by the world’s largest and leading publishers.  Publishers include organizations such as the OECD, World Bank, UNESCO, US Department of Education, and WHO; private publishers such as Economist Intelligence Unit, Elsevier, Routledge, McGraw-Hill, and Taylor & Francis; and University Presses of Oxford, Cambridge, University of Chicago, Yale and Harvard, amongst many others.

Eleven local coaches accredited at leading UAE soccer school

Abu Dhabi, UAE 29 January 2012:  Manchester United Soccer Schools (MUSS) in Abu Dhabi has underlined its commitment to the development of local talent by accrediting eleven UAE-based football coaches through its rigorous coaching programme.

The coaches who support the MUSS team of Andy Dixon and Craig Taylor all hail from sporting backgrounds and have proved their commitment to developing young football talent in the UAE.

A true blend of nationalities and cultures, reflecting the population of Abu Dhabi and of the children who take part in the MUSS programmes, the 11-strong team of local coaches include UAE national Ahmed Hamoud, a former Al Jazira striker and former professional Dutch footballer with AFC Ajax, Khalid Hamdaoui.

Leading the UAE’s first girls-only football programme is local coach Stela Samuela, a physical education teacher with GEMS American Academy in Khalifa City who is originally from Romania and has lived in the UAE for eight years.

Andy Dixon, MUSS head coach in Abu Dhabi, said: “We have trained these coaches to fully understand how to deliver fantastic soccer programmes the Manchester United way and make a difference in the lives of the children who take part in our programmes.

“We attract players of all abilities, from many different backgrounds, and with different learning abilities, and we develop our coaches so that they are able to get the best out of every individual they work with.”

Gavin Rhodes, Head of Coaching for Manchester United Soccer Schools based in Old Trafford who oversees all local coach development in the UK and abroad visited the UAE capital to formally accredit the Abu Dhabi team. 

“Our commitment to work with and be part of the local community in a city like Abu Dhabi is so important,” he said.  “Having seen the coaches in their sessions, watching the way they teach the art of football to children from all over the world underlines to me the vital role our local coaches play in delivering the very best teaching methods to our MUSS children.

“We are very proud of our coaching team in Abu Dhabi.  They continue to represent Manchester United Soccer Schools in a very professional and positive way, delivering against our key coaching philosophies.  To see such a development across the last 12 months is great testimony to everyone concerned with the Abu Dhabi programme”.

Manchester United Soccer Schools in Abu Dhabi Local Coaches
 Adil Bentafrit, Morocco
 Ahmed Hamood, UAE
 Brett Dickerson, USA
 Khalid Hamdaoui, Holland
 Khalid Al Maflahi, UAE
 Llion Thomas, UK
 Marc Evans, UK
 Paul Walker, UK
 Reda El Hammouni, Morocco
 Seth Amoafo, Ghana
 Stela Samuela, Romania

The MUSS Abu Dhabi coaching team is now teaching more than 350 children signed up to the latest soccer school programme which focuses on the skills and attitude of three Manchester United legends, Ryan Giggs, Nani and Antonio Valencia.  The new girls-only sessions are now fully booked, emphasising the popularity of football among girls in the UAE.

Registration is now open for the April 2012 programme, ‘Learn to attack with flair the United way’, which features 12.5 hours of on-field coaching by the certified MUSS coaches.  The cost of AED1,650 includes an exclusive Nike Manchester United training kit of shirt, shorts and socks, MUSS drawstring bag, water bottle and skills ball as well as catch-up sessions and individual player evaluation.

All players enrolled in the programme in Abu Dhabi will take part in the MUSS series of skills challenges with the top two point scorers receiving an all expenses paid trip to Manchester to represent Abu Dhabi in the World Skills Final at Manchester United’s Carrington training ground as well as the world famous Old Trafford stadium in 2012.

Abu Dhabi based developer Reem Investments, which signed a partnership agreement with MUSS, built the Dome@Rawdhat to create a vibrant sporting community in the area.  More than 12,000 people use the facilities every month. 

To learn more about the MUSS programme visit www.manutdsoccerschools.ae or call 02 449 8480.