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.

As part of a global academic initiative focussing on education and developing the capabilities of gifted children, the United Arab Emirates will host The 12th Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness 2012, from 14-18 July at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
 
The event is organized by the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance, under the supervision and the guidelines of the Asia-Pacific Federation on Giftedness (APFG), a non-profit organization for the development and education of gifted and talented children in Asia-Pacific region.

His Excellency Humaid Mohamed Obaid Al Qutami, UAE minister of education and chairman of the 12th Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness 2012, highlighted the significance of the event, which will take place under the theme “Nurturing Talent, Growing Potential.” His Excellency commented on the significance of hosting the event has to the UAE.

He said, “Giftedness 2012 is scientific forum and a gathering of the brightest minds from across the globe with their educators, parents, administrators and professors. Giftedness 2012’s objective is to create educational benchmarks for our gifted youth, to build a knowledge centre to identify nurture, develop, protect and support individuals whose intellectual uniqueness and innate predispositions hinder their social wellbeing.”

His Excellency further explained that the UAE has been making exceptional efforts in its public initiatives, especially in the fields of education and empowerment of human resources, with plans to implement its national curriculum for gifted children. Through the organization of the exhibition as well as the country playing host to leading experts in science and research, it will provide unrivalled access to the latest studies, research and practices within this sector.

Dr Jamal Al Muheri, secretary general of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance and president of the supreme committee for Giftedness 2012, added, “Dubai is the first Arab country in the Middle East to be chosen to organise this event. We are honoured to host the 12th edition of The Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness. The UAE has positioned itself as one of the driving forces behind raising the standards and quality of education across the Middle East, at all levels, and we are quick to realise that the gifted minds of young children require special tools to help nurture their talents, ensure their happiness and grow their intellectual acumen.”

He added, “This conference provides an unrivalled platform for those from across the globe to share experiences, put forward innovative solutions and best practice to maximise human potential and provide an education system that helps grow our children’s talents.”

Khawla Bahlooq, head of the gifted department of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance and conference director for the Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness 2012, discussed the activities that will take place during the event, which will run for five days.

The conference and the exhibition will include workshops as well as the Children and Youth Summit with more than 2,000 participants from around the world, specialized in the field of education, particularly the education of gifted and talented children, and gifted children with special needs.

There will be experts in psychology, scientists and innovators in the fields of science, literature, mathematics and music, who will discuss the latest development and legislation in the field of education and gifted education.

The Children and Youth Summit will cater to the needs of 500 gifted children from the Asia-Pacific region from an age range of nine to 18 years old.

Mariam Al Ghawi, the chairperson of the Children and Youth Summit emphasized that the event is a chance to promote the gifted intellectual abilities through participation in innovative programs designed to develop their creative problem and teamwork.

Professor Helen Siu Yi KU-YU, Honorary Secretary of the APFG, commented, “This is the first time that Giftedness will take place in the Middle East region, and it is fantastic to see that the conference’s success has grown to encompass such a emerging educational market. The Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness was founded 24 years ago, on the premise of highlighting the need for specialised education curriculums and facilities to be put in place for children with exceptional talents, and at an early age. This is important not only so that these talents can be nurtured and developed, but so that the child can learn to grow with them through social interaction and self-enhancement.”

Four members from the Asia- Pacific Federation on Giftedness, representing China, Taiwan, Korea and Singapore, is meeting this week with the supreme and organizing committees in Dubai to see the progress that has been made since Sydney 2010, where the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance was officially chosen to host the 12th edition of one of the world’s most prestigious educational gathering.

Middlesex University Dubai hosted the inaugural First International Conference on Emerging Research Paradigms in Business and Social Sciences (ERPBSS) from November 22 to 24 at the Pullman Hotel in Dubai.

The unique multi-disciplinary conference provided an important platform for academics from a range of different fields, to discuss new concepts, progressive methodologies, embryonic approaches and innovative practices in the context of the wider social environment. The three day event saw 175 delegates from 35 countries and 102 universities, present and discuss 160 research papers. The conference consisted of six tracks: 1) Education; 2) Psychology and Sociology; 3) Media Studies; 4) Information and Knowledge Management 5) Tourism and Hospitality; 6) Business and Management;

The keynote sessions were delivered by soft systems pioneer, Professor Peter Checkland, and leading social scientist, Professor John Urry, both from Lancaster University in the UK. Delegates were also treated to a presentation by UAE’s cultural ambassador and The National columnist, Ali Alsaloom, at the gala dinner. Pro Vice Chancellor Jan Williams, Dean of the School of Health and Social Sciences from Middlesex University in London, presided over the conference proceedings, together with the Conference Chair, Professor Ajit Karnik, and Conference Co-ordinator, Dr Marcus Stephenson.

The Director of Middlesex University Dubai, Professor Raed Awamleh, commented: “The ERPBSS conference is an important milestone for Middlesex University Dubai and firmly places us at the forefront of research developments in the UAE due to the multi-disciplinary nature of the event and the delegate base. The conference is the result of 18 months of work by the university’s Research Committee, which ensured that the papers selected were appropriate in the context of this region, and in terms of the social scientific component. We received over 400 submissions from all over the world, and the diversity of the delegates’ backgrounds complemented the diversity of the research presented”.

A Scientific Advisory Committee, composed of highly established academics associated with the specific subject areas, played a key role at various key stages of the process. The conference was sponsored by the Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), and Dubai International Academic City (DIAC). The second ERPBSS conference will be held in 2013.

Dubai, UAE; November 16, 2011: The Dubai International Film Festival and luxury Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen will host a gala dinner and charity event under the patronage of UN Messenger of Peace HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during the 8th edition of the Festival, with all profits going to UAE-based philanthropic organization Dubai Cares and global development and aid agency, Oxfam.

Money raised will benefit communities and individuals around the world, including the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

‘One Night to Change Lives,’ the black-tie charity evening, will be held on December 10, 2011, at the Armani Hotel Dubai. Tickets to the exclusive event are limited, and are available from Dubai Cares at www.dubaicares.ae. The event is part of the 8th Dubai International Film Festival that will take place from December 7 to 14, 2011.

DIFF Chairman Abdulhamid Juma said: “Just as meaningful films have a transformational impact on people and cultures, we believe that film festivals have a larger societal role to play. Over the years, the Dubai International Film Festival has strived to make a difference in our world by partnering with charity initiatives that have far-reaching impact.”

“We are particularly proud this year to support a UAE-based organization, Dubai Cares, and an international institution, Oxfam. By providing access to quality primary education, Dubai Cares is offering children in developing countries the skills and chance to become positive contributors to society. Oxfam directs its efforts to address one of the foremost challenges that humanity faces today – poverty – by empowering individuals and communities. We hope the UAE community will join us in making a tangible difference to the lives of underprivileged people in our region and around the world.”

Since its Oxford-based beginnings in 1942, Oxfam has grown into a worldwide force.  Oxfam works with partners in 98 countries on a diverse range of projects, from providing emergency water sources to education, to supporting community health projects, to helping communities adapt to the effects of climate change.

In the region, Oxfam operates and supports projects in Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Ethiopia and Bangladesh, among others. Dubai Cares is one of Oxfam’s prominent partners in the region. The charity has provided funding for Oxfam’s education programmes in both Niger and Pakistan, and is currently funding an Oxfam project in Mali.

Oxfam’s Global Ambassadors include A-list actors Colin Firth, Scarlett Johansson, Minnie Driver, Gael Garcia Bernal, Djimon Hounsou, Kristin Davis, Rahul Bose; musicians Coldplay and Annie Lennox; Helena Christensen and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. A number of Oxfam ambassadors are expected to attend the December event. 

Oxfam has been engaged in the Arabian Gulf for a few years and, in addition to Dubai Cares, has also established partnerships with the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, AlWaleed Bin Talal Foundation, AGFUND and the UAE Red Crescent.

Oxfam Director Barbara Stocking said: “In recent years Gulf states, and particularly the UAE, have been playing an increasingly prominent role in supporting humanitarian and development work worldwide. This prestigious new partnership with DIFF offers a fantastic opportunity to increase awareness in the region of Oxfam’s vital work combating poverty and suffering. Poverty is preventable and we want everyone to join together to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable people around the world. “

Founded in 2007 by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Cares is working to improve children’s access to quality primary education in developing countries. The philanthropic organization expresses the UAE’s commitment to achieve, by 2015, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UN MDG) 2 and 3 - namely, to guarantee universal primary education and to promote gender equality, respectively. It is also helping to forge a global partnership for development, as represented by UN MDG 8.

Today, Dubai Cares is reaching more than five million beneficiaries in 24 countries with its comprehensive primary education programmes that integrate four key components: School Infrastructure; School Health & Nutrition; Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) in Schools; and Quality of Education. To date, Dubai Cares has implemented programmes in Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, Chad, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Laos, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, Niger, Palestine, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sir Lanka, South Africa, Sudan, Yemen, Zambia and with Palestinian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon.

In addition to OXFAM, Dubai Cares has partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Care International, GAIN, Médecins Sans Frontières, Microsoft, Plan International, Room to Read, Save the Children, Scholastic, Teri Press, UNICEF, UNRWA, WaterAid and World Food Programme.

Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Cares, said: “Our success over the last four years is largely due to the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the tremendous support and contributions from the UAE community. DIFF and IWC Schaffhausen have presented Dubai Cares with an excellent opportunity to showcase its achievements and raise funds in support of its efforts to reach as many children as possible with its primary education programmes and help developing countries achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals.”

IWC Schaffhausen is the official watch manufacturer of the Dubai International Film Festival. DIFF is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The Festival is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit www.dubaifilmfest.com or join DIFF on     and 

IPEX Digital Middle East which opens today (14 November) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) will provide a platform for digital technology in commercial and large format printing sectors as well as online marketing and social media discussion relevant to the Middle East region.

“IPEX will bring together businesses involved in print production, creative and design, print finishing, pre-press, photography, publishing and many other sectors of the industry – both global and regional,” said Binu Pillai, Exhibition Director of IPEX Digital Middle East.

HP, a gold sponsor of IPEX, will be showcasing their ‘versatile’ printing solutions for graphics, as well as books and publications. HP Scitex LX850 3.2m and HP Scitex FB500 1.63m printers will form part of the wide-format technology line-up, along with HP Designjet Z6200 and Designjet L25500 printers – the latter a 1.52m machine suitable for indoor and outdoor graphics such as car wraps and soft signs.

Running alongside IPEX is Signage, Imaging and Media (SIM), sponsored by Advanced Interactive Media Solutions, which will focus on the exponential growth of social media and other online marketing communications throughout the region.

“At SIM we have the Digital Out of Home (dOOh) media forum, which takes place on 15 November, will discuss the current trends and drivers in the industry and provide insight into the successful development of digital signage in the Middle East, an industry which is estimated to be worth in excess of $6.5 billion in the first six months of 2011,” said Pillai.

A firm favourite at SIM is the Social Media Forum, which takes place on day one of the show. The seminar features social media experts and media communication leaders to discuss the impact and future direction of social media on the region’s marketing, media and communications.

A key issue to be discussed at the forum this year is the fundamental changes taking place in consumer behaviour online, which consistently challenge the region’s marketers.

“The changes in consumer behaviour being driven by digital innovations such as social media are fundamental and important. There are a number of forums in the region that examine the movement towards digital information consumption, sharing and activation and the Social Media Forum is an important platform for communicators and marketers in the UAE to examine quite how they can make the most of the challenges and opportunities these changes in our behaviour represent.” said Alexander McNabb, Director, Spot On Public Relations who will chair the Social Media Forum.

“There are some really strong speakers at the Forum, some smashing case studies and a great deal of expertise available on the stage. The Social Media Forum should be a powerful tool for information sharing and debate” added McNabb.

Although IPEX Digital Middle East will be an annual event, the event as a brand has an impressive pedigree. Its UK event only takes place once every four years, and the 2010 edition in London attracted over 50,000 visitors from 135 countries and 1,000 exhibitors from 40 different countries.

“With digital technology driving innovation in the sector at an unprecedented pace, it is now essential for industry players to stay connected to this fast-paced marketplace,” commented Pillai.

Also exhibiting at the show are silver sponsors Konica Minolta Holdings Inc, a Japanese manufacturer of office equipment, medical imaging, graphic imaging, optical devices, and measuring instruments.

• Two-day event to showcase full spectrum of wedding venues at The Address Hotels + Resorts
• Professional wedding planners, dress designers, entertainment and decoration options to be highlighted at the fair

Constellation Ballroom at The Address Dubai Marina

Dubai, UAE; October 6, 2011: The Address Dubai Marina, the five star premium hotel adjoining Dubai Marina Mall and located in one of Dubai’s most popular lifestyle district, is hosting the fourth edition of ‘The Address Hotels + Resorts Wedding Fair,’ a popular annual event that showcases the entire spectrum of wedding services, on October 22 & 23, 2011.

The Address Hotels + Resorts Wedding Fair is a one-stop destination that brings together all wedding related services under one roof. This includes a choice of venue options at the various properties of the hotel group, decorators, professional wedding planners, dress designers, diverse selection of buffet set-ups, florists, souvenir providers, make-up artists and entertainment providers.

Brides to-be can make informed choices regarding the full planning of weddings, and also draw on the expertise of a dedicated wedding planners at The Address Hotels + Resorts venues, who will ensure that all the preparations are executed to the last detail with style and panache.

Mr. Patrick Heuze, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Hospitality Group said: “The response to The Address Hotels + Resorts Wedding Fair in the past three years has been overwhelming, and this year, we are hosting the event in one of the popular lifestyle destinations in the city – The Address Dubai Marina. The fair will provide a comprehensive overview of all wedding requirements and enable visitors to make informed decisions that will help them to conduct the weddings with ease and peace of mind.”

To be held at the spacious Constellation Ballroom of The Address Dubai Marina, the fourth Wedding Fair will showcase all the stunning venue options available at the five prestigious properties of The Address Hotels + Resorts in Dubai.

The hotels, located in prime destinations, include: The Address Downtown Dubai, The Address Dubai Mall, The Address Dubai Marina, The Address Montgomerie Dubai and The Palace - The Old Town. In addition to this, the Dubai Marina Yacht Club and Dubai Polo & Equestrian, two prime leisure assets of Emaar Hospitality Group, will also showcase their venues that are ideal for wedding functions

Exciting three-day program to feature leading designers including Beau McClellan, Joost Bakker, Danillo Mandelli, Amartey Golding and Scarlet Opus

October 4, 2011

The Pavilion Downtown Dubai, a leading artistic venue for the local UAE artist community, has announced that it will be hosting three exciting days of design-centric events for the inaugural Festival of Interior Design (FoID), which will be held from October 22 to October 24, 2011 throughout Dubai. The three-day program will include design talks, movie screenings, networking events and other activities under the themes - ‘Prognostication’ day, ‘Preservation’ day, and ‘Illumination’ day. FoID is being organized by the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID), an organization representing professional interior designers in the Gulf Region, and will run in conjunction with this year’s edition of the INDEX International Design Exhibition 2011, which will be at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICE).

“We are very excited to host these events as part of the inaugural Festival of Interior Design as this will also allow us to live up to our vision of being a prime venue where local artistic community can meet, hold art exhibitions and host lectures and workshops,” said Yasmine Rasool, Art Coordinator, The Pavilion Downtown Dubai. “Our partnership with APID reflects a common goal of being able to showcase the creativity of emerging talents in the UAE and act as a strategic platform to discuss new trends and issues in the artistic community.”

According to FoID organizers, ‘Prognostication’ day will be held on October 22, 2011 and will include a seminar titled ‘Catch the Color’ by NCS, movie screenings, and a presentation on the latest design trends by Scarlet Opus, a leading trend forecasting and business development firm for interior products and services. The second day will be ‘Illumination’ day and will feature a presentation by Danilo Mandelli from Viabizzuno on the ‘8 rules of Light’ in addition to a special lighting workshop and lighting themed soiree by multi-award winning lighting design expert Beau McClellan. The third and final day called ‘Preservation’ day will include a screening of the ‘Greenhouse’ movie followed by a special video teleconference with ‘Greenhouse’ creator Joost Bakker. The day will conclude with a special networking event featuring leading young British artist Amartey Golding who will create live art at The Pavilion Downtown Dubai.

Joost Bakker is a discipline-crossing creative who constantly draws on his ‘horti-culture’ to make artful commentary on the world’s wasteful ways. Working exclusively with the discard of human activity, he has been commissioned to design furniture, vertical gardens and event spaces in his trademark style juxtaposing nature and industry. In March 2006, Joost set about the construction of a new home for his family, employing a unique building system; a contemporary take on a great sustainable construction method utilising straw bales set into a 100 per cent recyclable steel framework. In 2008, the same building principles were utilized to construct the first ‘Greenhouse by Joost’, an exhibition and event space at Melbourne’s Federation Square.

“Being able to reach out to a Middle East audience allows me to convey my vision of a more environment friendly world to live in,” said Joost Bakker. “Despite not being able to physically present at the event, the wonders of modern technology will give me the chance to share my experiences and views on the world’s wasteful ways and how we can start making a difference by adopting and implementing more green initiatives.”

Beau McClellan is a widely renowned artist and multi-award winning lighting design expert. Under his design firm, Beau McClellan Design, he has created a wide collection of lighting based products and has also been commissioned to render lighting design services for film, set design, music and advertising. When a chance commission to create an artwork involving illumination came along in 2000, Beau threw himself into researching the world of lighting design, which later resulted in an emotive, exciting and expressive medium that has changed his perspective forever. McClellan’s work can be seen across major projects in Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Scarlet Opus is a leading business development and trend forecasting company specialising in Interior Products and Services. The company, which offers strategic services like trends forecasting, business development and product design, works closely with its diverse clientele to help achieve sustainable increases in profits, revenues and market shares. Meanwhile, Amartey Golding is a young British artist who draws large figurative portraits on paper and canvas mixed with photography, a key focus being the thoughts and contemplations of the individual and their identities. He puts his art on the streets as well as in galleries, which resembles his feeling of being at home and working in any environment or crowd. In 2009, he had his first solo exhibition entitled ‘Charcoal Diary’ at Showcase Gallery in Dubai, and has followed this up with 2 more successful solo exhibitions, ‘One for Sorrow, Two for Joy’ in 2010 and ‘Thorns have Roses’ in 2011.

“We are delighted to be taking part in the first FoID as it gives us an opportunity to talk about the key trends and changes in today’s interiors market sector,” said Phil Pond, Dream Weaver, Scarlet Opus. “The Middle East region has a wonderful cultural heritage demonstrating a wonderful synthesis of vibrant hues and colors in traditional Arabic elements. Our presentation at The Pavilion Downtown Dubai will focus on talking new trends and sharing a view of the future in consumer motivation, design direction and color.”

With less than a month to go before FoID, APID has revealed that it is right on track with regards to the preparations of activities and events for FoID. Some of the major events for the festival include a Product Design competition, with the top eight entries to be showcased at ‘thejamjar’. The top four finalists will later be auctioned off at the FoID Gala Dinner on October 22, 2011. APID has also revealed its partnership with the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), which is set to attract strong participation from the UAE retail sector. The activities during the festival reflect its objectives to bind and unify interior design professionals in the Middle East region and provide a strategic venue to showcase the designs and work of emerging individuals and firms while also allowing access to key opportunities created by the event.

“The partner events at The Pavilion Downtown Dubai are the results of the extensive preparations that we have been making for FoID. Our goal is to hold these activities with the intention of getting the whole city involved, giving us a wider extension and allowing us the opportunity to showcase emerging creative talent and host engaging lectures and discussions on the latest in interior design trends today,” concluded Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi, President, APID.

UAE’s best baristas battle for the 3rd UAE Barista Championship

October 2 , 2011

The 2011 Middle East Coffee & Tea Convention, the only dedicated event for the coffee and tea industry in the Arab World will be held at the Meydan Grandstand between 3rd and 5th November. The organisers have announced that the event is a boon for business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals within the Hotel, Restaurant and Catering (HORECA) sector as it offers an unprecedented networking opportunity and access to some of the leading national coffee and tea export associations, the world’s most respected coffee and tea professionals and a host of suppliers and services related to the industry.

The Middle East Coffee & Tea Convention is one of the key attractions of the World Discovery Fest, an exposition set in a coffee shop atmosphere, of exciting holiday destinations, short getaways and vacation options for consumers.

30 of the country’s top baristas will compete to win the title of UAE Barista Champion, at a highly competitive event this year, with the winner going on to represent UAE at the World Barista Championship in Vienna in 2012.

There is a myriad of ethnicities living in the Middle East which is a society that is fast developing its own café culture and efforts to introduce the art of coffee making as a recognised and respected occupational trade in the UAE has been gaining momentum. Recent studies show that coffee consumption in the UAE has increased by up to 85 per cent while the country also has the largest re-export market for Indian and Sri Lankan tea.

The Conference offers a learning opportunity for entrepreneurs, franchise owners, coffee shop operators, retailers, roasters, importers and other business segments within the coffee and tea industry. The ME Coffee & Tea Convention will also host a series of Certified Skill-Building Workshops where “The Specialty Coffee Association of America” (SCAA) and World Coffee Events (WCE) will provide hands-on training through four industry fundamental courses taught by qualified industry leaders.

Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E) organisers of the event, said: “Recent studies show that the coffee and tea trade is becoming an important revenue source for the national economy and this certainly is opening up new investment and business opportunities in the region. The convention in its entirety will provide information, knowledge and technical expertise that will aid in the robust growth of the distribution, retail and trade of coffee and tea.”

Sunalini Menon, Founder & Managing Director of Coffeelab Limited – India, and Rohantha Athukorala, Head of National Portfolio, Sri Lanka & Maldives United Nations Office, Colombo – Sri Lanka, will be two featured presenters at the conference among a larger panel. Sunalini Menon’s presentation entitled “From Small Beginnings” will trace the journey of the coffee bean and tea leaf from the past to the present and what needs to be done to ensure the sustainability and growth of the coffee and tea industry and businesses in the Arab region.

The title of Rohantha Athukorala’s presentation is, “Activating a communication strategy globally using the Ceylon tea experience as business model”, where he will present insights in developing cutting-edge marketing strategies, understanding how stakeholder participation can be orchestrated, learning the process of conducting an advertising pitch, and selecting and working with global PR agencies.

The Skill-Building Workshop program will include two courses on the art of preparing an espresso, ways to identify the features and faults of a prepared espresso, recognizing and employing international definitions of espresso, step-by-step espresso preparation instructions, understanding the basics of dosing, distribution and tamping, and identifying espresso equipment component parts. The courses will also include the preparation of milk and other cafe drinks according to World Barista Championship standards and how to independently manage a coffee work station.

Also included is a course dedicated to “Milk & Latte Art”, where participants will learn how to relate to the basic concept of the makeup of milk and how milk is prepared for Latte Art, understanding the important supply and equipment considerations and pre-requisites necessary to pour Latte Art, and maintaining milk texture to enhance visual appearance of drink design. Participants will also learn the four basic pouring techniques of latte art design as well as other techniques to develop their own style.

The fourth course is about the “Essentials of Customer Service”, which will teach trainees how to identify simple yet effective ways of improving customer service, and show examples of habits that lead to a disappointing customer service. The course will also show how to formulate strategies to improve customer service interaction that builds customer loyalty and identifying staff strengths and defining roles within a working cafe environment.

For the first time ever, trainees in the UAE will have the unique opportunity to apply for the Barista Guild of America (BGA) certification examination conducted onsite at the Middle East Coffee & Tea Convention, which will provide them with a qualification recognised anywhere in the coffee world.

Leading paint company calls on Middle East region’s construction industry to adopt more ‘green’ building policies

September 25, 2011

Jotun Paints, one of the world’s leading producers and suppliers of paints and coatings, and the Emirates Green Building Council (Emirates GBC), an organisation aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices in the UAE, will jointly host a networking event on ‘Paints and Building Sustainibility’ on September 27, 2011, at the Novotel Hotel, Dubai. Jotun Paints is a key corporate member of Emirates GBC, and this joint initiative is part of the leading paint company’s continued call to the Middle East region’s construction segment to adopt more ‘green’ building policies. The networking event is expected to draw in the participation of key stakeholders in the construction industry like consultants, developers, architects, interior designers and contractors.

The event will feature a special panel discussion with resource speakers and senior officials from the Emirates GBC and Jotun including: Bent Haflan, Group Vice President R&D - Decorative, Jotun A/S; Malek El Husseini, Business Development Director, GE Healthcare; Tyrone Lawson, Sustainability Technical Director, WSP Group and Samuel Keehn, Environmental and Sustainability Manager, EMS. At the event, Haflan will make a presentation on ‘Paints contribution to Sustainability’, and Jotun’s latest line of eco-friendly paints, ‘Jotashield Extreme’. The new product line, which is the result of Jotun’s extensive research and development efforts, addresses the growing need for heat reflective and eco-friendly paints in the Middle East region. The panel discussions will touch on key topics like ‘Is being Green a trend or a response to a true awakening in the Middle East,’ ‘Are the terms ‘Green Building’ and ‘Green Construction’ misused?,’ ‘The growing concern towards Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect’ and ‘The challenges of building sustainability in the Middle East.’

“Our co-operation with the Emirates GBC will allow us to further our commitment towards calling for the adoption of more ‘green’ building policies in the Middle East region, in general and the UAE in particular,” said Bent Haflan. “In line with this, we are jointly organising the ‘Paints and Building Sustainability’ networking event to increase awareness on the significance of following green building policies for the major projects ongoing in the UAE. This also proves to be an opportune time to demonstrate our new ‘Jotashield Extreme’, which has unique heat reflective capabilities and can help cut energy consumption.”

Adnan Sharafi, Chairman, Emirates GBC, said: “The networking event on ‘Paints and Building Sustainability’ organised with Jotun Paints underlines our commitment to actively involve various stakeholders in the building supply chain and promote the importance of sustainable built environments. Every aspect of building development can be managed effectively to make it environmentally sustainable, and a concerted approach by all our partners will help us to achieve our vision of a greener city.”

Jotun is considered as one of the key members of Emirates GBC in the field of paint manufacturing. Over the last few years, the company has remained steadfast in its commitment to raise the benchmark of environment friendly production techniques and the creation of products that conform to international standards. In fact, Jotun’s long years of experience in the Middle East alone have resulted in the development of conventional and specialized paints and coatings that have made use of technological developments. With its continuous call for the production of more eco-friendly products and call for adoption of more ‘green’ building regulations, Jotun is aiming to set an example for other companies to follow suit.

Abu Dhabi, : Khalifa University will hold the first student workshop on Cryptology on December 11, 2011, at the Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi. The one day workshop is being organized by graduate students at Khalifa University.

The event will be held in recognition of Abu Yusuf AlKindi, an Arab and Islamic philosopher (801-873), for his prominent contributions in the field of cryptology.  He is considered as a pioneer in cryptanalysis and devised several new methods of breaking ciphers. The 2011 Al Kindi Student Workshop on Cryptology aims at providing a forum for both undergraduate and graduate students to present their research work in the area of cryptology. The workshop will run in conjunction with the 6th International Conference for Internet technology and secured transactions.

Commenting on the upcoming Student Workshop, Khalifa University’s Senior Vice President, Research & Development, Dr. Mohammed Al Mualla, remarked; “We at Khalifa University are proud of our students for taking the initiative in organizing this event. The Al Kindi student workshop will offer attendees a chance to share their research with one another and establish a dialogue with leaders in this field. Cryptology is an area of vital importance to the development of our national infrastructure and therefore this workshop is in line with the University’s mission to support Abu Dhabi Vision 2030.”

The workshop on Cryptology will offer attending students an interactive forum to discuss critical research areas in cryptology. It is the first workshop of its kind that will be hosted in the region. Over the course of the one day workshop, attendees will be invited to present their research findings and will also participate in two tutorials with other young researchers and professionals who are experts in cryptology.

Essa Ibrahim Basaeed, PhD student and Research Assistant at Khalifa University and one of the organizers of the workshop said: “We, graduate students at Khalifa University aim to contribute to our academic community, to help our colleagues take the first step to master their fields, and to highlight the great contributions of Arab and Muslim scholars in different fields of today’s sciences. We therefore took the lead and with the support of Khalifa University, Al Kindi Workshop saw the light to be the first workshop designed by students for students.”

“The workshop is honored to be chaired by Prof. Fred Piper, an internationally renowned figure in the field of cryptology. We hope this initiative will inspire others to organize similar events which will definitely encourage research and advance science.” said Basaeed.

Al Kindi student workshop is generously sponsored by the Emirates Advanced Investment (EAI). It is technically supported by the IEEE UAE Computer Society Chapter, the IEEE UAE Communication and Signal Processing Chapter, and the British Computer Society.