The Address Downtown Dubai, the 5-star premium hotel set in the city’s most-visited tourist and leisure destination, has introduced a stylish new lounge billed to become the must-be-seen place for the city’s elite and trendsetters.

In the company of like-minded individuals and high-flyers, yet with the value for privacy carefully safeguarded, The Cigar Lounge is where business associations can be strengthened, camaraderie fostered, or one can relax totally, pampering oneself with their favourite after-work indulgences.

Located on Level 13 with the added convenience of al fresco seating, The Cigar Lounge is all set to become the definitive destination for the city’s trend-setters and connoisseurs, offering one of its kind views of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.

An ideal getaway to network or unwind, The Cigar Lounge is stylishly designed and evokes the charm and magnetism that befits the high profile of its visitors, complemented with personalised service, an unbeatable menu of premium beverages and a choice of the finest cigars from around the world. The ambience of the outlet is heightened by the strains of jazz and lounge music.

Reflecting the sophisticated elegance that is underlined by The Cigar Lounge, its food offerings include exquisite delicacies from around the world - each selection a proud declaration of the social standing and the class-apart lifestyle of the guest.

Philippe Zuber, General Manager, The Address Downtown Dubai, said, “The Cigar Lounge at The Address Downtown Dubai has been specially designed to appeal to those who seek distinctive class and sophistication. We envisage the lounge to be the ultimate and most accessible retreat where guests can step into a true comfort zone.”

Other restaurants and lounges in the award-winning Address Downtown Dubai hotel include the upbeat Chinese restaurant, Hukama; an all-day restaurant offering a blend of Japanese, Asian, Indian, Arabian and Mediterranean cuisine - Fazaris; the vibrant Latin-inspired Calabar lounge; the panoramic sky lounge, Neos, located on the 63rd floor; the inviting Lobby Lounge, Risala; the outdoor pool restaurant, Zeta and Saha Cafe, a lake-side coffee shop serving Arabic mezze and shisha. The restaurants and lounges are tailored to The Address’ philosophy of ‘Where life happens.’

The Address Downtown Dubai assures a luxury hotel experience defined by its central location, tangible guest benefits and superior service standards. The 63-storey hotel has 196 luxury rooms and suites, and offers an array of amenities including diverse restaurants, lounges and a Spa.

POS (Point of Sale) finally has the WOW factor. Dubai-based company RWN Technology launches POS payment terminal to simplify life of retailers and merchants. The product is a mobile terminal that allows user to pay any time, any where, any how.

If one is involved in money tranactions for his business then this is the pefect gadget to go.

Restaurants, take away services, couriers, hotels, bars and out door activity the list is endless for Smart Retails.

Plain and simple the terminal allows mobile and effective payment processing that allows retailers and merchants to accept credit, debit and loyalty card payments for goods and service anywhere, anytime.

The basic standard in retailing is that the customer must go to the payment point and wait to be served. Now, the retailer can go to the customer with a mobile EFTPOS payment terminal, adding value to customer service with speed and effiency.

For retail merchant services and home deliveries the added simplicity of taking payments using credit and debit cards is all done on a mobile terminal, removing cash transactions and once again giving great customer service.

Dubai Industrial City (DI), the region’s manufacturing and logistics destination and a member of TECOM Investments, launched the second phase of its warehouse and showroom development, offering state-of-the-art storage facilities that will augment the growing logistics industry in Dubai and the UAE.

Built at a cost of Dhs750m ($204.21m), the new phase comprises 3.5 million square feet of warehouses and retail showrooms equipped with back storage, featuring units measuring 5,000 and 10,000 square feet.

These new facilities double the present size of the current storage facilities, and along with an additional 3 million square feet of open storage yards that are equipped with asphalted tarmacs and round-the-clock security, bring the aggregate amount of current storage at the light to medium industrial destination to 10 million square feet - the largest-of-its-kind under one area in the UAE.

Dubai Industrial City now features a total of 627 eight-meter high warehouses, and 122 retail showrooms with amenities for temperature-controlled and chemical storage, workshops for light industrial activities and machinery operation, in addition to warehouses for general-use.

Abdulla Belhoul, Managing Director, Dubai Industrial City, said: “There is an increasing demand for quality and specialized storage facilities in the market, with a heightened emphasis on health and safety. The launch of the second phase of warehouses at Dubai Industrial City addresses such needs, and will further consolidate Dubai’s position as the current logistics hub in the UAE and the Middle East. It will also spur growth in the nation’s industrial sector, which has grown by approximately 11% in 2011, making it the second largest contributor to the UAE’s economy after the hydrocarbon sector.”

Underlining the health and safety dimension of the warehouses, Belhoul added, “The warehouses are engineered to respond to the sophisticated industrial and safety needs of the diverse light and medium industrial units operating at Dubai Industrial City such as food and beverage, machinery and equipment, as well as base metals and chemicals. The units are subjected to periodic monitoring and supervision by Dubai Industrial City’s Health, Safety and Environment Department to ensure full compliance.”

Located on Emirates Road near the new Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai Industrial City offers a strategic advantage due to its proximity to major highways and the Jebel Ali Port. Covering an area of 560 million square feet (55 square kilometers), it offers a dedicated manufacturing destination comprising six industrial clusters - food and beverage, base metal, mineral products, chemicals, transport equipment and parts and machinery and mechanical equipment.

French manufacturer uses Commercial Vehicles Middle East to showcase vehicles capable of operating under extreme conditions

Dubai, UAE, 25 January 2012: Renault Trucks is launching the civilian version of the Sherpa Scout military vehicle in the Middle East, as it looks to address the needs of customers beyond the defense sector, including leisure and commercial buyers.

The versatile full time 4×4 vehicle can be adapted to multiple applications, and will be available in three models in 2012 – the Sherpa Scout for leisure buyers, the Sherpa Carrier pick-up truck for commercial use, and the fully armored Sherpa Station Wagon used for transport purposes in high risk countries.

Renault began testing the first prototype Military Sherpa Truck in 2006 for more than two years in the toughest desert conditions of the Empty Quarter, and it will be showcased for the first time at Commercial Vehicles Middle East, taking place from 6-8 March 2012 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Marco Bonaveglio, Head of Marketing at Renault Trucks Middle East, said that the Sherpa Scout’s off-road capabilities make it unmatched as an all-wheel drive multi-terrain vehicle.

“Initially offered as a military vehicle, the Sherpa Scout is now available for civilian and industrial applications,” said Bonaveglio. “With a ground clearance of 600mm, an approach angle of 40 degrees, and a centralised tire inflation system, the Sherpa Scout is capable of tackling the harshest and most difficult to access off-road terrain in the Middle East.

Measuring 5.43 meters long, 2.35 meters wide, and 2.1 meters high, the Sherpa Scout has ABS assisted four-wheel disc brakes, an automatic Allison gearbox, and can be fitted with racing seats and a dashboard to add contemporary styling to the functional and roomy cabin.

Bonaveglio added that the vehicle is ideal for hard to access locations such as oil and mining exploration sites, or a fully armored escort vehicle in volatile countries. “The Sherpa Scout’s application adaptability means it can be targeted towards certain niche markets that are not easily catered to,” he added.

“The Sherpa Carrier truck can transport up to twelve people, and the add-on armour capabilities of the Sherpa Station Wagon, including ballistic, hand grenades and anti-personnel devices provide a safe form of transport for diplomats and executives in high risk locations such as Iraq, while still capable of travelling at speeds of 110km/h”.

Renault Trucks will also showcase the 30 tonne GVW Kerax 6×6 heavy transport vehicle at Commercial Vehicles Middle East.  Also built for off-road applications, the Kerax 6×6 is the official support vehicle for the Dakar rally in Argentina, and participated in the famous Renault Trucks expedition in 2009 between Cape North in Norway and Cape South in South Africa.

Continued Bonaveglio: “We will be using Commercial Vehicles Middle East as a key platform to showcase our capabilities as a manufacturer able of developing sophisticated trucks for every application and any kind of terrain”.

Organised by Streamline Marketing Group, Commercial Vehicles Middle East covers all types of heavy and light commercial vehicles, special vehicles, vehicle attachments, accessories, maintenance and repair services.

Other headline exhibitors taking part in the exhibition include title sponsor Mercedes Benz, telematics sponsor Trinetra Wireless, along with IVECO, Hyundai, Daimler Middle East, and Emirates Transport.

Running alongside the exhibition for the first two days is the Commercial Vehicles Conference, presenting case studies on fleet management systems to transform performance, increase operational efficiency and reduce costs of heavy and light commercial vehicle fleets.

With the keynote address to be delivered by CEO of the RTA Licensing Agency, Ahmed Bahrozyan, the conference will host an expert line up of regional and international vehicle management professionals from AECOM, Daimler Middle East, Hertz UAE, ETA Ascon, and Leaseplan.

Commercial Vehicles Middle East was launched in 2010 to position the UAE as a regional focal point for the commercial vehicles industry in the region.  Those wishing to be involved as an exhibitor, sponsor, or visitor can contact Alexandria Robinson at alex@smg-online.com or +971 447 5357.

22 January 2012 – Epson has announced the UAE launch of the MG-850HD, the first HD-Ready 3LCD home cinema projector featuring an iPod docking station[1], leveraging the company’s experience as global leader in the projector market[2]. Users don’t need to download apps or clip on attachments, they simply connect their iPod, iPhone or iPad[3] to the docking station.

The MG-850HD, which comes with inbuilt 10W stereo speakers, is able to play music, videos and photos, as well as TV programmes and feature-length films previously downloaded from iTunes, on a large, cinematic scale that can reach up to 300 inches. Its versatile connectivity also means that content can be viewed from traditional Blu-ray, DVD, PC, TV and gaming sources.

Harnessing Epson’s latest technologies, the projector delivers equally high White and Colour Light Output of 2,800 lumens and a high contrast ratio of 3,000:1, ensuring high quality images are projected, even in daylight. Epson’s 3LCD technology ensures that images are clear, bright and easy on the eyes.

Moreover, the plug and play functionality allows users to set up and use the projector quickly and easily. Whatever the angle of the actual projector, users can easily align the projection to ensure a straight and correct image with its user-friendly horizontal keystone slider.

Khalil El-Dalu, General Manager, Epson Middle East, said, “Epson continues to stretch the boundaries of innovation as is clearly evident with the MG-850HD. The user-friendly menu, for example, has been designed to help viewers navigate with ease, while a unique remote control design features a stylish button layout and backlight for ease of use while watching content in the dark.”

The new Spring/Summer 2012 prêt- a-porter collection “Tiffany meets Warda” by Dubai designer Warda Haute Couture celebrates the glamour and iconic style of Audrey Hepburn. Inspired by the elegant silhouettes of the 1960s, the collection is unique, distinctive with clean lines and minimal cuts. Soft fabrics including silks, crepes and silk chiffon of pastel colors with bold hues feature in this collection.

“For spring/summer 2012, I wanted to bring back the glamour of the 60s and chose the timeless fashion icon, Audrey Hepburn as the inspiration for the collection. I injected clean cuts and slightly flared silhouette to create a modern collection that was renewed for today’s woman” said Rahil Hesan, Designer, Warda Haute Couture.

The iconic dresses in this collection showcase an ultimate style that transcends fads and revisit fashion memories from the past. Each piece has been carefully designed and beautifully crafted by Warda Haute Couture to allow modern woman the freedom to wear exclusive fabrics, colours and textures. “Tiffany meets Warda” is a distinctive collection with minimal cuts enhanced by exclusive abstract and geometric prints that will make the collection this season’s striking fashion statement.

January 12, 2012

ALHOSN University, a leading Abu Dhabi-based university dedicated to high-quality value-based education, officially launched its Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) program during a ceremony held yesterday (Wednesday, January 11, 2012) at the university campus. The BSME program will be offered alongside the existing Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering (BSIE) track, and will fall under the newly-instituted Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

ALHOSN’s mechanical engineering curriculum is a four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Many of its courses have compulsory hands-on laboratory components. The undergraduate program combines strong foundations in the engineering sciences with exceptional quantitative, problem-solving, design, and communication skills. The BSME program is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

“We developed our BSME curriculum with an eye on gaining national and regional recognition as a leader institution in mechanical engineering education and research. We intend to expose our students to a wide range of theories and practices to ensure successful careers. Mechanical engineering plays an important  role in our region’s growth, as it is an essential discipline in the production and processing of petroleum and natural gas, as well as the broader energy sector, including civilian nuclear energy. In fact, nuclear engineering is an option in our mechanical engineering program. We shall create world-class talents for these vital fields,” said Dr. Mohammed Chacha, Chair of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, ALHOSN University.

Registration for the first BSME courses offered in Spring Semester of 2012 is now open. Students and other interested parties are advised to contact the Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences or visit www.alhosnu.ae for more information on BSME and ALHOSN’s other engineering programs.

Named after Abu Dhabi’s historic ALHOSN Palace, ALHOSN University was founded in 2005 by the Abu Dhabi Holding Company in response to growing local demand for high-quality, value-based educational institutions. It currently offers 12 undergraduate and 7 graduate programs under the Faculties of Engineering and Applies Sciences, Business, and Arts and Social Sciences. ALHOSN accepts students of all nationalities and also accommodates youths with special needs. All its programs are accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

8th January 2012 Dubai, UAE - AFSANA, a collection of exquisite and luxurious handmade shawls, launches across several high-end boutiques in Dubai, following its recent unveiling in the European fashion capital, Paris. Exclusively and intricately designed to the highest standards and quality with exceptional skills inherited over the generations, this luxury shawl collection is designed and hand embroidered by women for women. The brand launches 5 unique lines: Aquarelle, Naturelle, Jaquard, Elegance, and its Limited Edition collection and strives to bring to light the thousand-year old expertise in shawl-making. Using fine pashm , the AFSANA signature motif , which is a recreation of what used to be worn during imperial ceremonies in the 19th and early 20th century, takes approximately two months to produce. AFSANA luxury range of scarves are already available at Laurel – Bur Juman; O’ Concept -Jumeirah Beach Road; Carlotta – Madinat Jumeirah; Betina’s closet – Palm Strip; Valley Dez – Wafi & Sunset Mall.

AFSANA, which means “true story”, narrates the stories and struggles of women in war-torn provinces and it is aimed to build an equitable and sustainable work environment for them.  True to its promise, AFSANA brings authentic practices and materials in each of its shawl, making sure each one is handcrafted from the purest and highest quality of Pashm.

AFSANA is a fusion of modernity with elegance and a symbol of endurance, determination as well as perseverance. AFSANA Collection presents a new venture into the world of fashion and is dedicated to raising awareness of social causes that effect women.

AFSANA is distributed in Paris, Dubai, New York. In Dubai it is available in the following stores:

Laurel – Bur Juman; Carlotta – Madinat Jumeirah; O’ Concept – Jumeirah Beach Road, Betina’s  closet– Palm Strip; Valley Dez – Wafi & Sunset Mall; O’ Concept – Jumeirah Beach Road;

Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, announced the release of two facility module power and cooling solutions for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region (EMEA). The new modular units enable data center power and cooling capacity to be added in 500kW increments, allowing physical infrastructure to be right-sized to the IT load and eliminating a major cause of inefficiency and wasted energy.

With leading power and cooling product brands including APC and Uniflair in its portfolio, Schneider Electric is uniquely positioned as an end-to-end solutions provider to address the need for fast, flexible, easy and predictable data center solutions. The new facility modules simplify the process of data center construction, removing unnecessary complexity as well as saving time, money and other resources involved in field construction and integration.

Tony Day, Director of Data Centre Projects and Professional Services at Schneider Electric said, “Facility modules are a step towards the commoditization of data center physical infrastructure. Customers can now expect additional capacity to be deployed within weeks as opposed to the earlier wait time of several months. Schneider Electric pre-engineers configure and test facility modules prior to delivery to the customers, thus ensuring reliability and efficiency. Site installation is also made simpler and speedier, reducing associated costs and the risk of human error.”

The new integrated systems from Schneider Electric address contemporary data centre challenges throughout EMEA, with solutions that are:
• Fast - facility modules are verified for compliance for safety, energy efficiency, compatibility and security, reducing design cycles from months to weeks, installation from months to days, and reducing complexity in the whole commissioning process.
• Flexible - facility modules enable infrastructure to be deployed and scaled as needed to meet demand, instead of upfront deployment with no visibility to future needs. These systems can extend the life of current data centres in need of additional power and cooling and can be transported to new locations for reuse at the end of the data centre’s lifecycle.
• Easy - facility modules have factory verified operation instead of relying on field testing, have reliable lead times, and are tuned for maximum energy efficiency “out of the box”.
• Predictable - facility modules utilise manufactured components limiting product defects and reducing overall design and installation time. The enclosures are purpose-engineered with structural frames to meet data centre requirements - not converted ISO containers. All solutions have software pre-programmed and fully integrated management systems.

These factors combine to make facility modules predictably more energy efficient than typical traditional data center builds.

The new products join existing containerized data center infrastructure solutions by Schneider Electric including its EcoBreeze™ chilled air cooling module, and specialized power and cooling facility. EcoBreeze™ provides adaptable cooling based on environmental conditions, automatically selecting either indirect evaporative cooling or air-to-air heat exchange, depending on external environments.

White Paper 163 from Schneider Electric titled “Containerized Power and Cooling Modules for Data Centers” compares the cost of facility modules against traditional approaches to physical infrastructure, presents their respective advantages and disadvantages and identifies which environments can best leverage the facility module approach. The white paper can be downloaded at no cost from the Schneider Electric website.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 3rd January 2012 - Angsana Hotels & Resorts, the sister brand to Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, announces the launch of Angsana Balaclava in Mauritius. This charming and intimate retreat with hydrotherapy spa will appeal to those seeking a chic topical holiday experience in a secluded and romantic setting.  Nestled directly on the white sand beach and calm lagoon of Turtle Bay, the property is just a 15 minute drive from the capital of Port Louis in the northwest area of the island.

The 51 suite and one villa resort emulates a traditional Mauritian village with its thatched roofs and use of bespoke local artistry including wrought iron entrance gates.  The expansive reception features an arched roof, natural stone floors, lava stone walls and teak wood furniture decorated with rattan style woven leather. The views of the ocean and mountains beyond showcase sunset views that light up the entire resort in the evening. 

Guests can choose between 18 Garden Suites (72 sqm), 21 Spa Suites (84 sqm) or 12 exclusive Beach Front Suites (125 – 180 sqm) – most of which feature private plunge pools (Garden Suites do not) and are staggered to lend an extra sense of space and privacy.  Just a short sandy walk to the sea, the Beach Front Suites are spacious and exotic with mosaic tiled water features, deep plunge pools and plush day beds along with mood-enhancing teardrop and up-lighting designed by the resident light architect.  A deep stone bathtub for two overlooks a private infinity and jet pool sited on a large private sun deck.  For spa enthusiasts, the Spa Suites offer a complimentary 90-minute massage per person as part of the holiday experience.   Lastly, for the pinnacle in exclusivity, the Imperial Villa (770 sqm) is a four bedroom haven with three private pools and a personal butler for families and couples travelling together.

The resort’s main public area features three overlapping swimming pools separated by waterfalls, leading from an expansive seawater pool complete with sand to a lap pool and then wading pool below. 

The Angsana Spa offers nine treatment rooms (three double rooms and six single rooms), a yoga pavilion, a restorative vitality pool with several different water jet stations and a hammam.  Eight expert spa therapists, trained at the renowned Banyan Tree Spa Academy in Phuket, offer Asian and Ayurvedic spa treatments using local ingredients from botanical coconut, ylang ylang and sugar cane to marine elements such as seaweed and mud.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 3rd January 2012 - Angsana Hotels & Resorts, the sister brand to Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, announces the launch of Angsana Balaclava in Mauritius. This charming and intimate retreat with hydrotherapy spa will appeal to those seeking a chic topical holiday experience in a secluded and romantic setting.  Nestled directly on the white sand beach and calm lagoon of Turtle Bay, the property is just a 15 minute drive from the capital of Port Louis in the northwest area of the island.

The 51 suite and one villa resort emulates a traditional Mauritian village with its thatched roofs and use of bespoke local artistry including wrought iron entrance gates.  The expansive reception features an arched roof, natural stone floors, lava stone walls and teak wood furniture decorated with rattan style woven leather. The views of the ocean and mountains beyond showcase sunset views that light up the entire resort in the evening. 

Guests can choose between 18 Garden Suites (72 sqm), 21 Spa Suites (84 sqm) or 12 exclusive Beach Front Suites (125 – 180 sqm) – most of which feature private plunge pools (Garden Suites do not) and are staggered to lend an extra sense of space and privacy.  Just a short sandy walk to the sea, the Beach Front Suites are spacious and exotic with mosaic tiled water features, deep plunge pools and plush day beds along with mood-enhancing teardrop and up-lighting designed by the resident light architect.  A deep stone bathtub for two overlooks a private infinity and jet pool sited on a large private sun deck.  For spa enthusiasts, the Spa Suites offer a complimentary 90-minute massage per person as part of the holiday experience.   Lastly, for the pinnacle in exclusivity, the Imperial Villa (770 sqm) is a four bedroom haven with three private pools and a personal butler for families and couples travelling together.

The resort’s main public area features three overlapping swimming pools separated by waterfalls, leading from an expansive seawater pool complete with sand to a lap pool and then wading pool below. 

The Angsana Spa offers nine treatment rooms (three double rooms and six single rooms), a yoga pavilion, a restorative vitality pool with several different water jet stations and a hammam.  Eight expert spa therapists, trained at the renowned Banyan Tree Spa Academy in Phuket, offer Asian and Ayurvedic spa treatments using local ingredients from botanical coconut, ylang ylang and sugar cane to marine elements such as seaweed and mud.

The main restaurant, Oryza, offers both al fresco and indoor dining options and is surrounded by the pool, beach and Sylea bar.  Executive chef Nyoman Suardi Nio’s menus feature a combination of local dishes to complement classics from the international menu.  The Passion Grill, with its swim up bar, is perfect for those who relish sand underfoot while dining poolside on crab, lobster and langoustine.  There are also in-villa dining or private dining experiences for those seeking quiet companionship. 

The resort also features a beauty salon, fitness facility, small business centre and children’s activities.  It is soon to launch a dedicated conservation team to develop environmental initiatives that include coral planting and there will also be snorkelling safaris for guests to learn about the rich biodiversity of the neighbouring marine world. 

Accommodation begins from Euro 405++ per room per night for a Garden Suite and includes daily breakfast and dinner.  For reservations and enquiries, please call Angsana at +230 204 1888 or email reservations-balaclava@angsana.com.