Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced its art@fairmont programme which will roll out this year across the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The programme comes as Fairmont reveals the results of a recent survey in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt which demonstrate that 55% of travelers are interested in engaging with local artists one-on-one during their stay.

The art@fairmont initiative provides a distinctive opportunity for guests to be exposed to the arts and culture landscape of the Middle East, interact with regionally relevant artists and obtain a better understanding of the cultural significance of art through an artist-in-residence programme, specially designed lectures and workshops, local gallery tours and guest experiences.

The survey also revealed that cultural factors - such as the availability of cultural attraction - influence 73% of respondents’ decisions on where to travel.

“At Fairmont, we believe that memorable hotels are ones that are of the destination. They’re places that make you feel like you’ve officially arrived and provide you with a real sense of where you are. They’re integrated with the local community, embody a sense of place and serve as social hubs for local residents and visitors alike. The arts and culture here in this region are rich and vibrant, but perhaps not as well known or explored as other touchstones such as business and finance attractions. The recent survey provided us with insights into guests’ interest and understanding of art and culture of and within the region, and helped guide us in developing the art@fairmont programme. We are excited to connect our guests to the region in this unique way which affords them the opportunity to explore and enjoy meaningful experiences with us,” said Kent Cooper, Vice President, Regional Hotel Sales - Middle East & Africa.

A long-term project, art@fairmont will offer a number of activities throughout the year, across all three properties in the UAE - Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Fairmont The Palm, and Fairmont Dubai.

Survey respondents all valued visiting heritage sites, viewing sites of architectural importance, visiting museums and participating in educational activities as key pursuits while at home or travelling.

Fairmont will be creating a number of events and programmes for guests to appreciate and understand the region’s culture first-hand, and gain a deeper level of meaning from their travel experiences.

Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi gave a sneak-peak to the programme this month, with visiting artist Su Blackwell from the United Kingdom. Until May 11, Blackwell is working at an onsite studio located in the hotel lobby to reconstruct the Capital’s most iconic landmark - Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - through the medium of paper crafting and sculpture.

The word “paper” derives from papyrus, the name of the ancient material created in Egypt from compacted reed. It is believed that the first example of paper folding was an ancient Egyptian map, drawn on papyrus and folded like a modern road map, a technique which eventually evolved into origami and other paper folding methods as well as paper crafts.

Additional artists-in-residence will be installed at Fairmont properties in the coming year - Fairmont The Palm will host an artist-in-residence in partnership with Cuadro this fall. Cuadro is one of the region’s premier contemporary and postmodern art venues, focusing on exhibitions, education, residency and consultation. Fairmont’s artist-in-residence will live in a private studio on-location and also spend time sharing their artwork and experiences with guests. New artists will be introduced across the hotels following the culmination of the previous artist’s residency, to allow guests to continuously be exposed to new artists and their work.

Through the partnership with Cuadro, Fairmont will also host lectures at Fairmont The Palm and Fairmont Dubai, and extend invitations for guests to exclusive events and open-nights at the gallery; granting them an opportunity to experience different styles of art.

Fairmont guests will have VIP status during the open-nights, meaning they can tour the gallery in private before it is open to the public. Other events in partnership with Cuadro will be arranged for guests throughout the year, in addition to the open-nights.

Artful Experiences create meaningful packages that bring guests closer to local culture. The Arts of Arabia package at Fairmont the Palm offers art aficionados and history buffs the opportunity to go on a private gallery tour and take trips to the historical Bastakiya Quarter and Mirij Art Centre. Fairmont Bab Al Bahr invites guests to explore the culture of the Arabian Gulf by sailing on a traditional dhow boat to discover the unique pearling industry of the Emirati community with the Keep the Pearl! package.

Guests seeking a connection to the culture and destination will enjoy special art suites featuring framed artwork and other accoutrements highlighting Arabic and Islamic influences in art, literature, and local culture. Set to debut later this year, as the suites will also feature private gallery tours, individual workshops, social media programmeming and more.

Survey results also revealed that Dubai is viewed as a top cultural destination by 75% of respondents from Egypt, 72% from Saudi Arabia, 66% from the UAE and 66% from Qatar. The art@fairmont programme will bring art and culture within the city to life for guests travelling from afar and visiting from within the UAE.

In addition, respondents - particularly those of Arab descent - agreed that the preservation of Middle Eastern arts and culture is important to them, and that they do what they can to support the local culture. Fairmont also plans to invest in a programme within the local community to further support art and culture in the region, and to highlight the importance of art in people’s lives.

Award-winning Qatar Development Bank wrapped up yesterday its second edition of its home-grown training programme which brought together over 30 Qatari entrepreneurs for an intensive 5-day induction into establishing and managing manufacturing projects in Qatar.

The comprehensive training sessions presented attendees with a step-by-step approach to set up a viable, profitable and competitive manufacturing business in the country.

Mr. Mansour Bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Development Bank said: “It was a very successful programme on the account of the collective positive feedback of participants. At QDB, we believe that our role does not stop any funding and financing only but also stretches to transform our organization into the mentor of the industry with a pool of professionals that continuously contributes to furthering the knowledge and education of Qatari entrepreneurs.”

Initially, experts of Qatar Development Bank profiled the business ideas of every participant and explained how they can develop solid and convincing business profiles. Training facilitators showed how entrepreneurs can accurately identify and assess potential business opportunities by carrying a thorough scanning of their industrial macro-environment. The third day of the training entailed key aspects and procedures to start the manufacturing business such as industrial ventures options in Qatar, commercial representation, resources and contacts, distributorship, employment laws, credit and bankability, contractual agreement and the governing jurisdiction landscape.

Mr. Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, Executive Director Strategy & Business Development, QDB said:” The continuous launch of such educational and training programs aims to elevate the entrepreneurs sector in Qatar, thus, enhancing the competitiveness capabilities of the promising sector, leading to robust the economic and financial cycle in the country, hence, meeting the 2030 vision.

As part of its ambitious strategy to boost this sector and provide the SME owners with all needed support to ensure the desire success, QDB safeguards the continuity and momentum of such training courses which to be considered valuable information resources, an experience provider platform.

This is the second edition of the training program which faced a major content upgrade and an increase in the participating parties. The program is aimed for Qatari locals only, and will provide them with the know how steps for launching industrial projects & for the local entrepreneurs to know all the requisites and the risks engaged to launch an industrial project.”

Participants were also presented with methods of production schedule, planning and control, materials requirement, capacity, shop floor and inventory control, product costing and pricing, and feasibility studies. Day 4 comprised presentations on production management which includes product manufacturing process, plan layout, procurement of the necessary equipment and tools, plant engineering and maintenance, and production programming.

The last two days of the training programme looked closely into the model of the manufacturing process where QDB experts gave practical tips for developing and managing a manufacturing small- to medium-enterprise and the requisites for registration. Attendees were provided with an overview of QDB’s indirect loan facility, Al Dhameen, and the Qatar Business Incubator, a joint initiative between the bank and the Social Development Centre, in addition to QDB’s online advisory service, the SME Toolkit, as smart solutions to jump-start a business venture.

QDB concluded the 6-day programme by charting schedules for participants to avail of customized mentoring and counseling sessions.

The ENOC Lubricants and Grease Manufacturing Plant (ELOMP), an advanced lubricants and grease manufacturing facility located in the Fujairah Port, has won the Dubai Quality Appreciation Programme certificate, underlining its high quality standards and commitment to excellence.

At the Dubai Quality Awards ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, presented the certification to Zaid Al Qufaidi, ENOC’s Managing Director - Marketing and Mohammed El Sadek, Director, ENOC Lubricants Marketing on behalf of ELOMP.

Based on the Excellence Model of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), the Dubai Quality Awards evaluate entries on a holistic framework for organisational excellence.

The Dubai Quality Appreciation Programme certificate acknowledges the work of recipients on their journey for excellence, and is a stepping-stone before applying for the Dubai Quality Awards.

Zaid Al Qufaidi, said, “We are honoured to receive the Dubai Quality Appreciation Programme certification on our first attempt, thus highlighting our strong focus to uphold the highest quality standards across all aspects of operation. Adopting and sustaining quality and excellence is part of the organisational values of ENOC, which reflects in all our businesses.”

“ELOMP is one of the largest single lubricants plants in the Middle East and Africa, and with strong potential for exports of its products, setting quality benchmarks is extremely important. The Dubai Quality Appreciation Programme certification will further encourage our team to commit to global quality criteria,” Al Qufaidi added.

Following the submission by ELOMP, Dubai Quality Group officials and the assessor team reviewed the facility over 14 days. Various aspects related to the plant’s quality processes were thoroughly monitored, following which the certification has now been provided to the company.

Spread over an area of 63,500 sq m, ELOMP has a current blending capacity of 150,000 metric tonnes (MT) of mineral and synthetic lubricants based oils, and 5,000 MT of grease per annum. With the completion of its new phases, it will have the capacity to produce over 250,000 MT of lubricants and grease, which is almost 12% of total lubricants production in the UAE.

The plant is certified to ISO 9001:2008 for quality systems and ISO 14001:2004 for its quality and environmental management systems, and 18001:2007 OSHAS for its health and safety management system. It is equipped with the latest technologies for blending and filling services, and has an ISO 17025 certified laboratory for quality control and oils and fuels analysis.

ELOMP facilitates lube blending for various grades and applications, grease manufacturing, small package filling, drum filling, coding and labelling of packs and testing & analysis.

Market-leading careers and employment services portal Jobs4Bahrainis.com is further enhancing the employment prospects of Bahraini nationals by lending its support for a major work experience scheme at one of Bahrain’s leading telecommunications services providers.

Under the terms of the agreement with Zain Bahrain, Jobs4Bahrainis.com will support the telecoms company’s ‘Future University Network’ (FUN) programme, providing hands-on work experience to selected Bahraini university students.

Jobs4Bahrainis.com, which is powered by the Tamkeen Labour Fund, will source candidates for Zain’s FUN programme. The career portal will leverage from a comprehensive database of students and job seekers to match available skills with Zain Bahrain’s immediate and long-term talent requirements.

“The FUN programme, which is also supported by Tamkeen, is considered one of the most innovative career training programmmes of its type for Bahraini university students. Now in its third year, the programme exposes students to the working culture of a fast-paced, rapidly-growing and dynamic telecommunications company. Among the experience provided is extensive training in leadership, communication and teamwork, and practical on-the-job training in different departments at Zain for between one and four years,” said Dana Bukhammas, Human Recourses Manager, Zain Bahrain.

Jubran Abdulrahman, Managing Director, Jobs4Bahrainis.com, says: “This partnership is yet another example of the implicit trust leading employers in the Kingdom have in Jobs4Bahrainis’ strategic mission, which is simply to get more Bahrainis into employment by aligning available skills with market requirements. We and Zain Bahrain are committed to our country’s long-term economic plans, and we at Jobs4Bahrainis look forward to contributing to the long-term success of the FUN programme, which will aim to secure a long and rewarding career path for the students.”

Fully aligned with the Kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030 as well as Zain Bahrain’s commitment to Bahraini youth, Jobs4Bahrainis.com is designed to promote Bahrainis as the employees of choice by showcasing a community of available talent and skills. As well as offering a comprehensive CV database and job vacancy upload capability, the portal has searchable databases for employers and job seekers, as well as a business newsfeed providing the latest economic and business updates on Bahrain’s economy.

Jobs4Bahrainis.com is an initiative of Gulf Connexions, the Kingdom’s leading recruitment company.

GCAA Safety Team held a safety seminar at Emirates College Auditorium on April 4th 2013. The seminar was attended by safety managers and officials of the UAE aviation industry.

Mr. Omar Bin Ghaleb, the Deputy Director General, in his opening address, highlighted, “SMS requirements under the SSP provide a structured framework allowing the regulator and the service providers to interact more effectively in the resolution of safety concerns.”

In order to promote compliance to the regulations, Mr. Ismaeil Al Balooshi, Executive Director, GCAA Safety Affairs Sector, introduced attendees on the State Aviation Enforcement Programme followed by a new initiative undertaken for the development of monetary penalty scheme.

In keeping with ICAO requirements, GCAA Safety Management updated the attendees on the importance of SSP and its status on development. In fact GCAA’s journey towards developing SSP began in 2010 when the Reporting of Safety Incident (ROSI) system was successfully launched and subsequently followed by voluntary occurrence reporting system (VORSY) in 2011.

The event included presentations by the GCAA management and distinguished speakers from the aviation industry. As part of proactive safety risk management, emphasis was given to the successful development and implementation of SSP by the State Authority and Safety Management System (SMS) by the aviation industry.

Both Emirates and Etihad Airways safety executives presented their SMS and its effectiveness in managing safety risks. An effective SMS means a safe company which equals success.

In support of SSP, GCAA is committed to achieve acceptable level of safety performance in the coming years.

With Qatar’s largest career fair just days away, thousands of students are polishing their CVs, ready to find work or learn more about their career prospects. Yet despite the wealth of high-calibre opportunities offered by the burgeoning energy and industry sector, there is an increasing trend for Qatari high school graduates to pursue non-technical, humanities-based majors, potentially limiting their own career choices in technical industries and Qatar’s future growth.

In recognition of this challenge, Maersk Oil Qatar, the country’s largest offshore operator has developed a tailor-made Qatari Graduate Development Programme (QGDP), aimed at providing development opportunities for non-engineering students who want to succeed in the industry.

Fawzi Al-Ajji, Head of Qatarization at Maersk Oil Qatar commented, “Qatar’s economy is flourishing and nowhere more so than within the energy and industry sectors. Careers in this field are highly rewarding and provide wonderful long-term opportunities. Nevertheless, there remains a shortage of Qatari graduates choosing and succeeding in this career path due to a lack of technical or industrial knowledge; we want to help change this. So in 2012 we developed a graduate programme which has been tailored to attract and retain Qatar’s brightest and most ambitious young people to our industry by providing a development path for non-technical graduates, similar to the structured path offered to our engineers.”

Maersk Oil’s QGDP is targeted towards Qatari graduates who lack more than several years of work experience and aims to bridge the gap between graduating and being able to assume key positions in the E&I sector. It helps aspiring candidates to move more quickly up the career ladder by taking a holistic training approach towards the business, rather than just focusing on candidates’ sole area of study.

Al-Ajji went on to say, “Our graduate programmes are structured to help candidates understand our business and in doing so, develop him or her to have a successful and fulfilling career with Maersk Oil. The QGDP not only enables participants to better understand the endless career opportunities available to them, but it also gives talented and committed Qataris the ability to progress quicker and to go on to hold managerial positions within our company.”

The two-year programme consists of several rotations within selected departments - helping participants to understand the business value chain. It provides them with the necessary knowledge, skills and key competencies to help them both develop and grow personally, while also maximising their contribution to the company.

“Within our graduate programmes candidates learn and develop in a real job with real responsibilities. They also enjoy a broad range of formal training, overseas exposure and coaching, all designed to develop the depth and breadth of their personal and professional capabilities” said Al-Ajji.

Participants on the QGDP receive constant support from their line manager and colleagues, with regular reviews and feedback to help with accelerated development, defining training needs and most importantly to help them make the right choices in their career. They can also rely on both a buddy and a mentor throughout the programme, for more informal support and guidance.

Operating in Qatar for more than 20 years as the country’s largest offshore oil operator, Maersk Oil Qatar can certainly offer vast career prospects to the right candidates. The company provide opportunities both offshore and onshore, in Qatar and internationally in over 10 countries. It also supports local capacity building via a number of other initiatives in the areas of education, Qatarization, training and development, health, safety and the environment - all of which are central to supporting Qatar’s Nation Vision 2030. Its efforts toward local capacity building have already made significant progress, as the company has succeeded in attaining a 25 per cent Qatari workforce.

Al-Ajji concluded, “If you’re an ambitious achiever, looking to broaden your international exposure and be rewarded and acknowledged within a performance driven environment, then I highly encourage you to apply to be part of our Qatari Graduate Development Programme. It will challenge and engage you, while providing a high potential for career advancement.”

The QGDP application process is now open and Maersk Oil Qatar is currently on the lookout for new recruits in order to start the next programme on 1st September 2013. The selection process is designed to find the brightest and most motivated candidates, basis on their qualifications, interviews, and professional assessments.

United Arab Bank (UAB), UAE’s fastest growing bank has received the prestigious - Best Customer Loyalty Programme in the Middle East award from the Banker Middle East magazine which once again confirms its place as the leading innovative bank in the Middle East.

The award was received by His Excellency Sheikh Faisal bin Sultan bin Salem Al Qassimi, Chairman Board of Directors UAB during an elite ceremony held recently.

The award was based on a consumer survey conducted by the magazine that provided a unique insight into UAB’s Loyalty Programme.

Customers not only voted in great numbers online for UAB to win the award but also voted with their feet and joined the programme in great numbers.

Redemption of points in this unique programme can be made online anytime, anyplace, anywhere and with a choice of over 360 airlines and 150,000 hotels available at any given time .

Commenting on the award Paul Trowbridge, CEO United Arab Bank, said, “We are absolutely delighted with the response to our programme which we launched seven months ago keeping in mind the ever-changing demands of today’s consumers. The award we received today reinforces UAB’s leading position as pioneers in introducing innovative programmes which are positively altering the banking landscape in the UAE.”

Tom Smith, Executive Vice-President & Group Head of Retail Banking, added, “We are pleased to receive this award as it is not only an acknowledgement from the banking industry but represents a wider acceptance of our products in the market. It is recognition of our continued commitment to placing our customers at the centre of everything we do. UAB Rewards is the only plan of its kind where customers can earn points for debit card, salary transfer and fixed deposit transactions, in addition to earning points on all credit card transactions.”

“UAB Rewards Programme was aimed at engaging more closely with our existing and potential new customers who have overwhelmingly responded in a positive manner since its introduction. Through such initiatives UAB continues to put customers first. These and similar programmes have helped the bank build a closer relationship, establish trust and promote confidence among its clients who greatly value UAB’s attractive range of products and services,” said Tom Smith.

The Education for Employment Foundation Egypt (EFE Egypt) and Souq.com have teamed up to launch Egypt’s first dedicated e-commerce training programme, designed to identify needed skillsets in today’s modern workplace and develop tailor-made programmes that build this capability among Egyptian male and female graduate students.

The e-Commerce Associate Programme has already produced 120 graduates of which over 20% have secured employment at Souq.com following the intensive 8-week training programme.

“EFE Egypt was founded 3 years ago on the premise of reducing unemployment among Egyptian university graduates by identifying and addressing key skill gaps in today’s modern workplace collaboratively with employers,” said Shahinaz Ahmed, CEO at EFE Egypt.

“Working with public and private hiring organizations, we develop specialized, tailored programmes that create highly qualified, retainable candidates who can fill the needs of today’s job market. 80% of Egyptians aged between 15 and 29 already suffer from unemployment while there is a clear market shortage for qualified e-commerce specialists to address the country’s growing appetite for everything online. With almost 31 million Egyptians already surfing and shopping online, it’s a clear win scenario for everyone - employers, employees and the Egyptian economy,” she added.

As the e-Commerce leader in Egypt and the Arab world, Souq.com worked closely with EFE Egypt to develop the technical components of the programme and deliver best practice training for today’s fast-changing technology environment. Souq.com has already lent its know-how and expertise to the programme, developing key training modules that deliver specialized courses in 4 strategic areas: Online marketing, logistics and supply chain, content management and social media administration.

“Souq.com Egypt is delighted to be working with EFE Egypt on this strategic initiative that will serve as a catalyst for skills development and job creation for the next generation of Egyptian technology professionals,” said Omar Soudodi, GM of Souq.com Egypt.

“The Internet has created a new global economy and with it comes a growing need for specialized skills that can cope with the fast-changing requirements of this dynamic industry. Souq.com is proud to be contributing to such an initiative with far reaching benefits for Egyptians and the economy while we take steps to ensure an abundance of qualified, highly skilled e-commerce professionals to meet tomorrow’s anticipated workplace needs,” he added.

EFE Egypt is an independent Egyptian not-for-profit foundation established under the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity. Its goal is to reduce unemployment among Egyptian university graduates through specialized training while providing private businesses with qualified, retainable manpower. The e-Commerce Associate Training Programme currently includes training for: online marketing, Social media admin, Logistics & supply chain management and Content management.

Souq.com is enjoying unprecedented growth in Egypt since its launch three years ago. Souq is currently the fastest growing e-commerce site in Egypt. It is now ranked 33rd on Alexa Internet Inc’s list of most popular websites in Egypt, moving up from the rank of 7000 that it had held previously. Souq.com’s rapid growth is being driven by its popularity as the premier online retailer.

HE Butti Ahmed Mohammed Bin Butti Al Qubaisi, Director of Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi on Monday, honoured on the Centre’s staff who won or participated in the “innovation” Ibda’a programme, in the presence of a number of executive and department managers, section heads and members of the Program Committee.

Al Qubaisi presented certificates of appreciation and a cash awards to the winners, praising the winning ideas and the efforts of all participants; and calling on all the staff of the Centre to take part in the program to promote a culture of creativity, excellence and continuous development.

Through the Ibdaa “Creativity” program SCAD motivates its employees morally and financially, and encourages them to think creatively and propose ideas that would contribute towards higher efficiency and excellence in various aspects of work.

The “Creativity” program aims to enhance opportunities for taking best advantage of the skills of the staff and encourages them to adopt the best international statistical practices. It also seeks to establish direct communication between the management and staff to improve efficiency and boost morale, and to build a continually updated database of suggestions and ideas.

HE AL Qubaisi remarked that the “Ibdaa” Programme is an ideal initiative to reward employees for creativity and innovation and promote the spirit of competition in SCAD, adding that it is such internal competition and innovation that can pave the Centre’s road to statistical excellence at the global level. In the implementation of this program the Centre motivates employees by taking their contributions into consideration in annual staff appraisals. They also receive certificates of appreciation and material incentives. The inputs received are classified into suggestions and creative ideas and are required to be original, practicable and potentially conducive towards the higher standards of performance in administrative, technical and social aspects.

In addition, members of the “Ibdaa” Committee, Chaired by Mr. Bader Al Mansoori, and including in its membership Dr. Ahmed Al Minnawi, Mr. Ghassan Saleh, Ms. Shamma Al Romaithi Mr. Mohammad Al Baloushi, expressed their gratitude to the management for providing an ideal environment for creativeness and innovation, and conveyed their warmest congratulations to the winners. They also expressed their sincere thanks to all staff members who submitted suggestions as part of this program over the past ideas evaluation period, during which the Committee received 172 ideas. The committee looked into all of these suggestions, and discussed some of them with the executive directors and managers of the sectors and departments concerned, in order to ensure fair evaluation. Following this initial assessment, 73 idea were excluded, either because they did not meet the established criteria, were repetitive or are currently being implemented as part of the action plan of one of SCAD’s sections.

For their part, the honorees expressed their appreciation for this kind gesture from the centre, stressing its importance in boosting the staff morale and motivating them for continued dedication, fair competition and creativity.

SCAD also presented an award for the most frequent contributors to the program. Mr. Salah Al Naqi topped this list with 10 ideas, followed by Mr. Walter Robb, who won after a draw between him and Mr. Mohammed Alestad, both of them having submitted 5 ideas.

Under the initiative of Guidance and Counseling Centre at AUE, the American University in the Emirates organized recently an Orientation program, where it started with great pomp and show for two days.

The students were familiarized with the various amenities and facilities available along with the nitty- gritty of the policies and procedures at AUE.

The energy and enthusiasm of the new students can be witnessed throughout the orientation session which continued for few hours. Apart from the formal address by the AUE leaders, needless to mention, the vital role of peer mentors who were the senior AUE students and who were engaged the whole day in providing crucial information to the fresher’s informally.

The event started with the address by the president of AUE Prof. Dr. Muthanna Abdul Razzaq, who welcomed and congratulated the new students for choosing AUE. “Learning is a continuous process and at AUE we take all efforts to make this process intellectually enriching”, says the President.

He further emphasized that at AUE we have an open door policy and the students should never hesitate to share their problems with the concerned faculty, dean or any other AUE leaders.

The event also witnessed the presence of AUE leaders, faculty and other staff members for further guiding the students.