The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has announced that it will be hosting the 7th edition of the Dubai International Exhibition of Arabic Calligraphy from February 16 to 23, thereby bringing the best works of Arabic calligraphy by 21 artists from 12 countries to the multi-cultural residents of the emirate.

The eight-day exhibition is being held at the Dubai Cultural and Scientific Association in Al Mamzar under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.

The annual show is being organized in cooperation with the Istanbul-based Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA).

Mr. Ahmed Hassan, General Coordinator of Dubai International Exhibition of the Art of Arabic Calligraphy, said there will be lectures, seminars and workshops on various facets of Arabic calligraphy alongside the annual exhibition. In addition to the works of Emirati calligraphers, the exhibition will feature the works of calligraphers from the UK, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Turkey and Islamic Republic of Iran.

The educational seminars and technical workshops will deal with the history and evolution of Arabic calligraphy and different schools of Arabic calligraphy in the Islamic and Muslim communities around the world, he added.

His Excellency Mr. Mohammed Al Murr, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC) and renowned cultural personality of the UAE, will be attending the seminar to be held on the sidelines of the exhibition.

Mr. Ahmed Hassan said the DTCM has been keen to promote the ancient art of Arabic calligraphy though the dedicated Arabic calligraphy exhibition and has improved the show format building on the success of the previous editions and the visitors’ feedback. Such exhibitions not only uphold Dubai’s heritage and culture but also promote the art form of Arabic calligraphy, he added.

He said that one of the main reasons why the exhibition has met with increasing success in its previous sessions was because it has moved forward in translating the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum by keeping in mind the supreme task of upholding the creativity of Arab and Islamic Arts.

He pointed out that Dubai has a long history of maintaining and enriching the successful Arab and Islamic experiences at various levels, and its continued support to the Arabic Calligraphy Art was always directed towards this aim.

Dubai, UAE; February 4, 2012: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, is hosting the second edition of ‘Bidaya,’ an exhibition that highlights Emirati creative talent.

Showcasing the works of young Emirati artist Wafa Al Marzooqi, the second Bidaya exhibition is being held until February 6, 2012 at the Waterfall Atrium in the ground floor of the mall. Honoured as the ‘Outstanding Graduate 2011’ at the Abu Dhabi Industry Awards for Academic Excellence, Wafa’s works are being presented under the auspices of the Mansoor Bin Mohammed Photography Award initiative.

Nasser Rafi, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Malls Group, said: “We are committed to celebrating the wealth of creative talent in the UAE, highlighted by our support of ‘Bidaya.’ The event brings a new dimension to the emerging trends in arts scene in the UAE, and is a perfect fit to The Dubai Mall, which hosts entertainment and cultural activities that appeal to all visitors.”

Wafa is known for her creative story writing skills, and is the author of several children’s books including Water = Life, the Al Qatoo Hasson series and In the Fridge. Passionate about art and character design, she has worked on several character design projects for various entities and individuals.

A first of its kind initiative in the country, Bidaya showcases a wide range of artistic ideas by young Emirati artists from different fields including art and culture. It aims to crystallise the aspirations of young talent and highlights the creative thinking and outlook of young Emiratis.

Located in the heart of Downtown Dubai, described as ‘The Centre of Now,’ The Dubai Mall has 1,200 retail outlets, two anchor department stores and over 160 food and beverage outlets, in addition to a rich portfolio of leisure attractions including Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo; KidZania®, an innovative children’s ‘edutainment’ concept; SEGA Republic, a 76,000 sq ft indoor theme park; the 22-screen Reel Cinemas; and the Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink.

Qatar Petroleum recently took part as the Gold Sponsor of the 13th GCC Industrialists’ Conference and International Exhibition, a major event that was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and attracted the participation of many companies throughout the Middle East region.

In appreciation of QP’s sponsorship of the event, His Excellency Dr. Taufiq bin Fauzan Al-Rabiah, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, presented the corporation with a trophy during the conference, and he also personally visited the QP stand during the opening of the exhibition.

Held every two years, the GCC Industrialists’ Conference and Exhibition was first held in Doha in 1985. The event is organized by the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC), a Doha-based organization which was established by all six GCC countries in 1976 to promote industrial development in the region by facilitating the flow of knowledge and information. Yemen later joined the organization in 2009.

The GCC Industrialists’ Conference and Exhibition is hosted in rotation by its member states, and the 12th edition of the event was previously held in Doha in 2010, with QP serving as the event’s Strategic Partner.

For its 2012 edition, which took place on January 17-19 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, the theme of the event was “Knowledge-Based Industries and New Technologies.” The event was held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud.

Being a major sponsor of the event and as one of the leading companies in the region, QP attracted the attention of many delegates and visitors, and the corporation used the opportunity to further spread awareness of its extensive operations. Over 900 delegates and visitors visited the QP stand during the three-day event, and they mainly inquired about QP’s range of projects as well as the employment opportunities in the corporation.

Dubai, UAE: The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated Authority for culture, arts, and heritage, will showcase its varied cultural initiatives that have contributed significantly to enhancing Dubai’s cultural scene at the first Dubai Government Excellence Programme exhibition to be held until December 20, 2011, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Dubai Government Excellence Program’s first-ever exhibition is a national initiative held to underscore the excellence, drive, and accomplishments of the various government entities in the Emirate, and how they have contributed collectively to strengthening the social and economic fabric.

Dubai Culture will highlight its impressive series of initiatives and projects including the prestigious Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of Arts Awards, SIKKA Art Fair, Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre, Heritage Centers and Dubai Public Library.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director General, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said: “One of the central goals of the Dubai Strategic Plan, envisaged by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, is to promote the city’s cultural identity and establish Dubai as a regional hub for culture and the arts.

“Over the past years, we have introduced several path-breaking initiatives with the objective of promoting national talent, drive original content creation, promote intercultural dialogue and highlight Dubai’s status as a thriving cultural destination. With initiatives such as the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of Arts Awards we also continue to encourage individuals and organisations to become part of the vibrant cultural movement of Dubai.”

Reiterating Dubai Culture’s role in spearheading the growth of the culture and arts scene of the city, the Authority has commissioned ‘Tinkah,’ a young group of UAE national artists to conceptualise and design of the Authority’s stand at the exhibition.

The artists, Reem Al Ghaith, Abeer Tahlak, and Kholoud Sharafi, are sharing their individual strengths and design expertise for ‘Tinkah.’

The Dubai Government Excellence Program exhibition will host some 33 government departments and expects to host over 1,500 visitors. For more details, also contact Dubai Culture on 8004003 or visit www.dubaiculture.ae  

13 December 2011-Amman, SSS Process, the regional leading company specialized in providing e-government services and software solutions, participates in “Sahil 2” for Finance and Investment Exhibition-Forum, taking place on December 14th in Zara Expo.

The 3-day event which is coinciding with the Preparatory Conference for Libya’s Reconstruction, aims to concentrate on the companies and the institutions and its investment role.

A delegation from Libyan Transitional Council and Libyan businessmen, in addition to a large number of Jordanian companies, specialized in many industrial and service sectors, participate in the event which will give a big chance to connect, interact and make local and international business deals.

“The event lays its importance through focusing on the companies and institutions, especially, their investment role in Libya’s reconstruction, leading to create great cooperation and investment opportunities that we hope to help Libyans to reconstruct their country,” stated Alaa Ensheiwat, SSS Process CEO.

“We have the responsibility as Jordanian and regional companies to employ our professional experiences and technical capabilities, serving the Libyan society to recover as soon as possible. Through our participation, the Libyan delegations can figure out our professional capabilities, and readiness to meet their needs in many sectors ranging from infrastructure, construction sectors, telecommunication and technology sector. In addition to other vital sector such as education and health,” he added.

Ensheiwat also paid tribute for the importance of such exhibitions and forums as a starting point for leading future partnership agreements and projects, where the companies offer their experience, capabilities and staff   to complete highly quality and professional achievements to realize the aspirations of the brothers in Libya.

“The Exhibition- forum is considered as a leading step to refresh the Jordanian economy with its various sectors. It is as through our participation, we will provide various services and products via construction, commercial and infrastructure projects” he also added.

It’s to be noted that Saltus Jordan, specialized in organizing conferences and exhibitions, is considered the Exclusive Marketer for this event through hosting “Foundation Prince Jamal Al Noaimi International”, the important representative for the Libyan Transitional Council, which supports and helps the Libyans hugely through logistic support especially during this sensitive period full of social and human disasters in Libya.

United Arab Emirates, Dubai : In line with this year’s international healthcare quality week, the Dubai Health Authority organized a day-long awareness seminar and exhibition to highlight the importance of quality as a fundamental goal in the field of healthcare and health management to help further improve patient outcomes.

The event organized by the Governance and Internal Audit Department at the DHA.

His Excellency Khalid Al Sheikh Mubarak, Deputy Director-General of the DHA inaugurated the ceremony and said that the aim of holding such an event is to educate  all  the healthcare professionals practicing within the DHA including doctors, nurses, technicians and administrative staff, about the importance of ensuring sustained quality in line with the principles of the Dubai Government Excellence Program.

He said, “The importance of quality in improving patient care outcomes and healthcare delivery systems is of pivotal importance. Through this event we will create awareness and encourage our healthcare professionals about the importance of complying with the standards of the Dubai Government Excellence Program.”

He highlighted that DHA employees as well as the management have in the past won DGEP awards for quality and excellence.

Dr Mohammad Al Olama, CEO of the Hospital Services Sector said, “We are keen to inform all DHA employees about the requirements for achieving the DGEP award as well as international accreditations such as the Joint Certification International Accreditation( JCIA) which are all aimed to improve the quality of healthcare which we provide to the population of our Emirate. The DHA pays strong emphasis to such benchmarks as they are important to provide high level of sustained quality healthcare.”

In 2009, the DHA won the distinguished management initiative award for obtaining the JCIA for its three hospitals- Al Wasl, Dubai and Rashid as well as the Thalassemia centre. Later the Airport Medical Centre of DHA which is based at the Dubai International Airport also received the JCIA for ambulatory care making it the world’s

first medical centre to achieve this accreditation. Furthermore, DHA employees also received the DGEP award in 2010 for various categories such as creative employee award, distinguished employee award as well as the shared government employee award.

Dr Abdulla Al Khayat, CEO of Al Wasl Hospital also highlighted Al Wasl Hospital’s role in complying with WHO and UNICEF standards which led to the hospital being conferred the, ‘Baby-Friendly,’ hospital status by UNICEF.

Dr. Zakaria Al Attal , Director of Quality & Performance Department, Hospital Services Sector, DHA said, “Benchmarking oneself with the criterions of the DGEP and international accreditations is essential to ensure that the healthcare services we provide to our population meets international standards. We are certain that such awareness initiatives will further motivate our healthcare professionals to meet and excel these standards.”

Products on display for two weeks with top four entries to be awarded at FoID gala dinner

October 18, 2011

An exhibition of the top seven entries for the ‘Product Design’ competition organized by the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID), an organization representing professional interior designers in the Gulf region, opened today (October 18, 2011) at ‘thejamjar,’ a leading creative space that works to promote artists and interior designers and support the development of Dubai’s arts scene. The ‘Product Design’ competition is a part of the inaugural Festival of Interior Design (FoID), which will run from October 22 to 25, 2011 across Dubai. The competition was aimed at showcasing the creativity and talent of the local design community and was opened to members of the design industry and local community including individuals, groups or any design-based firms. The shortlisted entries include submissions from design professionals Sarith Shersha, Tania Eltal & Shirine Osmansoy, Bersun Erturk, Norah Al Twaijri, Rami Al Khatib, Giorgio Caporaso and a joint entry from Franzita Fernandes, Tooba Sarfaraz and Jaspreet Kaur, from the Manipal University.

As part of the competition, judges will narrow down their choices to the top four entries, which will be displayed and awarded at the FoID Gala Dinner on October 22, 2011 at The Address Hotel, with the winners earning the distinction of being recognized by peers from the region’s thriving interior design industry. The exhibition, which will run until October 29, 2011, displays the unique designs of the entries, ranging from chairs, shelves, lamps and tables. Bersum Erturk’s entry is a coffee table called ‘LOCT,’ which demonstrates the strength of family ties via the traditional octagonal Islamic pattern.

“The opening of today’s exhibition, which showcases the top entries of the ‘FoID Product Design’ competition, is a clear demonstration of the region’s immense pool of talented and creative designers,” said Deepa Bhatia, Head of Art Consulting, ‘thejamjar.’ “Showcasing these entries complements the core objectives of ‘thejamjar,’ which is to serve as both an artist commune and staging area to display the works of local artists. We are hopeful that the exhibition will receive strong response and help in reaching APID’s vision of highlighting the importance of interior design in our everyday lives.”

Norah Al Twaijri entered her piece called ‘Rest and Read’ consisting of a seating area, two compartments for books or magazines and a right armrest that is flat to be used for writing or holding plates or cups. Looking towards presenting form in multi-functional roles, Tania Eltal and Shirine Osmansoy put forward a product called ‘Prototype I,’ which is a multi-use object that can be used as a stool, table, footrest or standalone sculpture. Rami Al Khatib submitted his entry entitled ‘Loop Concept Table’ showcasing a fluid line to form an interesting structure supporting the fulcrum points of a table.

“We extend our appreciation to ‘thejamjar’ for hosting the display of the winning entries of the ‘Product Design’ competition, which is one of the many attractions that we have prepared for the first ever Festival of interior Design. We are also encouraging everyone to come see the exhibition and be witness to the unique designs of these entries, capturing traditional Arabic elements and infusing them into modern fixtures like chairs, shelves and even lamps. We congratulate the designers as they have already proved that they have what it takes to succeed in the interior design industry. However, we are all very eager to find out who emerges as the overall winner in this competition,” concluded Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi, President, APID.

Shersha Sarith’s entry, ‘Azpire,’ is a decorative light fixture built by joining 16 symmetrical polygonal boxes with LED’s arranged in particular positions. ‘Azpire’ is a simple, yet complex model, designed to attract and make people admire the complex beauty that lives in every corner of the model. Equally interesting is the entry of Manipal University students Franzita Fernandes, Tooba Sarfaraz and Jaspreet Kaur called, ‘Shape Shifter,’ which is a uniquely designed lamp incorporating a hook design that allows for shape shifting movement and form. Lastly, Giorgio Caporaso submitted a design called ‘2ONDE,’ an innovatively designed chair that has been reclined and showcases the display of key lines across its body.

The shortlisted top four entries will later be placed on display during the FoID gala dinner. Attendees for the evening’s event will then be asked to vote for the winning concept in boxes assigned to each entry. Winners will be announced according to four categories, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze, and will also receive a certificate, and publicity through the support of APID, FoID, INDEX and industry publications. The ‘Product Design’ exhibition at ‘thejamjar’ at their Al Quoz gallery is open to the public and free to attend from 18th October to 29 October. The timings of the gallery are: 10am - 8pm on Monday to Thursday and Saturday; 2pm - 8pm on Friday; and 10am - 6pm on Sunday.

Sharjah, UAE –: His father once taught him: “earth is a mosque, and everything in it is sacred.”  Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, acclaimed author of ‘Green Deen’, believes in demonstrating the Islamic religion as that which protects the planet.

Arriving from Brooklyn - New York this month, the American Muslim is set to speak at the ‘Forum for Environmental Change’ held on Monday 17th October, 2011 during the Green Middle East exhibition, at the Sharjah Expo Center.

Ibrahim hopes that his latest book, ‘Green Deen’ will help rebrand Muslims from terrorists to environmentalists. “I use ‘Green Deen’ to (also) mean finding inspiration in one’s faith to become more conscious about humanity’s effects on the planet. Islam is a ‘Green Deen’ in many ways. First and foremost, Islam recognizes that while God is all-powerful, humans can and do impact the Earth,” he stated.

“The planet is my home, and yours too. Together, we can protect, maintain, and respect it. How we treat the planet is a reflection of how we treat ourselves. And that’s why I’m a pedestrian. There’s nothing better than walking on the Earth as God intended.”

With Sharjah being at the forefront of leading positive environmental change, the ‘Forum for Environmental Change’ which is organized and hosted by Bee’ah – the UAE’s leading integrated and award-winning environmental and waste management company – and held at the Expo Centre Sharjah, aims to create a platform of knowledge and expertise for the region’s environmental industry.

“The Emirate of Sharjah is renowned as the cultural and religious hub of the UAE. We at Bee’ah are committed to positioning Sharjah as the ‘Green Emirate’, by not only building the systems and infrastructure, but also fostering the social change required to achieve our goals.” commented Chief Executive Officer at Bee’ah, Mr. Khaled Al Huraimel.

“Ibrahim’s dedication to the environment is rooted in his teachings of Islam, inspiring and connecting people through their faiths, encouraging them to bridge the gap between their beliefs and their affection for our planet Earth.”

Mr. Saif Al Midfaa, Director General of Expo Centre Sharjah added saying, “As a key speaker at Green Middle East, Ibrahim will motivate both delegates and Sharjah’s youth, through his experiences and well-spoken persona, about how Islam has been in existence for quite some time and the role of Muslims to protect the world and its environment.”

Ibrahim Abdul-Matin is a second generation American Muslim, media personality and a policy advisor in New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability. He has worked with Green for All, Green City Force, Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice and the Prospect Park Alliance.

A strong and inspirational public speaker, Abdul-Matin has appeared on “Fox News,” Al-Jazeera and ABC News “This Week”. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, CNN.com, HuffingtonPost.com, The Daily Beast, GOOD Magazine, ColorLines, Wiretap, and Elan Magazine. “Green Deen” has been featured on “The Brian Lehrer Show,” “Global Grind,” “Energy Now” The Center for American Progress, and America.gov.

Green Middle East is set to be the leading regional exhibition for the environment industry in the Middle East region. Visitors from across the region will visit Sharjah, including government institutions, ministries and municipalities, to attend and exhibit their latest products, services and initiatives to demonstrate their commitment and sense of environmental responsibility towards enhancing our ‘Green’ nation.

For attendance to the Green Middle East exhibition and Environmental Forum, visitor registration forms are available online at www.green-middleeast.com

• Global market for green building materials estimated to be worth USD 406 billion by 2015 
• More than 35 international concrete construction experts to share insights on advanced construction materials, innovative practices and smart construction
• Event to be held from December 12 to 14 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, DIFC

1st edition of Future Concrete Conference

Dubai, United Arab Emirates; October 3, 2011: Advanced Construction and Technology Services (ACTS), a consulting organisation in the field of construction materials and geotechnical engineering, has announced that the upcoming edition of its Future Concrete Conference will feature the first Environmental Construction Exhibition which will showcase an array of products and technologies designed to make the construction industry in the Middle East more environment friendly. The exhibition will run concurrently with the Future Concrete Conference in Dubai from December 12 to 14, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, DIFC.

The event is being hosted at a time when the global market for green building materials is expected to be worth USD 406 billion by 2015, fuelled mainly by increasing environmental consciousness, high energy costs, and a better understanding of the long-term benefits of green buildings such as improved efficiency, cost savings and higher production.

Regionally, countries like the UAE have been leading the green building drive. For instance, in late 2007, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, issued a directive mandating builders and developers in Dubai to comply with green building standards to ensure a healthy and environment-friendly city. On the other hand, the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, with its Masdar initiative, is seeking to become a centre for the development and implementation of clean energy technology. Further, the emirate recently rolled out the Arab world’s first specialised green building rating system, Estidama, requiring all new developments in Abu Dhabi to comply with the standards set by the system, including commercial and government projects.

“Most attention in green buildings is focused on reducing the emissions of operating a building because of the long life and thus cumulative impact associated with energy, waste, and other materials used during a building’s lifetime. However, increased attention will focus on the practices necessary to reduce the emissions associated with building construction, renovation, and demolition. This is the next frontier for the construction industry, which must establish new systems and procedures to lower the carbon footprint of construction activities,” said Abdul Kader Kairouz, Chairman of the exhibition’s organising committee and ACTS Vice-President.

More than 35 international construction experts are set to share their insights on a number of issues including concrete of the 21st century, advanced construction materials and innovative practices and smart construction.
 
“Participating in the Environmental Construction Exhibition this year will provide a very effective marketing platform for suppliers of innovative construction products and services. It is a unique opportunity for local and international design firms, contractors and suppliers to position their companies in the environmental construction industry that is clearly set to grow,” said Dr. Maher El Barrak, Chairman of the Technical Committee and head of the conferences and training division at ACTS.

Incorporating the Environmental Construction Exhibition into the Future Concrete Conference promises to reward attendees with a great opportunity to access a wealth of information from exhibitors and speakers under one roof. This combination will link hot topics in concrete construction with the practical aspects of green building, eco-construction, environmental consulting, demolition recycling and waste and water management.

Meeting, held in cooperation with Dubai Export Development Corporation, was attended by several UAE food companies

July 9, 2011

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade (MoFT) held a preparatory meeting for the UAE delegation that will be part of the country’s pavilion at Africa’s Big Seven Exhibition, taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa from July 17 to 19, 2011. The meeting was held in Dubai on July 7th, in collaboration with the Dubai Export Development Corporation, and was attended by free zone representatives and UAE-based food companies.

The meeting opened with a welcome address by Mohammed Nasser Hamdan Al Zaabi, Director of Trade Promotion at MoFT, in which he emphasized that the UAE’s participation in Africa’s Big Seven Exhibition, was imperative due to several key factors. He pointed to the strong trade and investment ties between the UAE and African countries, as well as the study of markets in these countries which would enhance the added value of UAE exports and the National Economy and caters the investment requirements of the country. He also pointed out that this participation comes within the framework of the Ministry’s efforts to develop export opportunities for UAE products, the recommendations by the national economic regulators and their plans for overseas expansion. Al Zaabi also emphasized the importance of the Ministry’s support to Emirati entrepreneurs and SMEs in the UAE.

A presentation on the volume of bilateral trade between the UAE and South Africa was also made during the meeting, as well as an overview of key investment opportunities, in addition to the steps involved in setting up business operations in South Africa. The UAE delegation participating in this meeting included a number of companies specialised in food and beverage that are interested in exporting to the African market, in addition to the participation of a number of free zones, and UAE-based SMEs.

The only event of its kind in the continent, Africa’s Big Seven Expo presents a combination of seven separate but co-located events that define the various stages and specific technologies required to move produce from the field through the processing, packaging and marketing phases eventually culminating in retail sales in Africa – a market with 725 million consumers. Africa’s store of oil and mineral resources and packaging equipment and related technology as well as finished products for retail sale, provide massive business opportunities.