News Dubai

Fashion TV islands on The World ruled out
by Dylan Bowman

UK-based developer Salya said on Monday the design and concept of two islands it has purchased on The World were still under review and would not be fashion islands as previously reported.

UAE daily Emirates Business 24/7 said on Sunday the developer had bought the islands of Finland and Brunei and planned to transform them into Fashion TV (FTV) branded resorts, citing a company official.

World's Finland and Brunei to be hub of fashion
By Hamed Al Sewerky

The islands of Finland and Brunei in The World cluster have been sold and will be developed into two fashion-themed resorts, Emirates Business has learnt.

Salya Corporation has spent around Dh800 million to acquire the man-made islands and will plough a further Dh2.4 billion to develop the attractions.

Director Dr Rakesh Chandola said Brunei Island will be turned into a Fashion TV resort – a boutique development based on FTV channel – which will feature the world’s finest and best known brands.

Bahrain labour minister warns of ‘Asian tsunami’

DUBAI - A Bahraini minister has warned of an ‘Asian tsunami’ because of the reliance of ‘lazy’ Gulf Arabs on foreign labour to carry out even the simplest tasks, in an interview published on Sunday.

Labour Minister Majid Al Alawi told Asharq Al Awsat that the presence of almost 17 million foreign workers in the Gulf, mostly from the Asian sub-continent, represented ‘a danger worse than the atomic bomb or an Israeli attack’.

Abu Dhabi plans ban on smoking in malls
By Silvia Radan (Our staff reporter)

ABU DHABI — The Abu Dhabi Municipality is in the process of devising a plan to ban smoking in malls in the city. For this purpose, a meeting was held here recently, during which the officials sought suggestions from mall managers on how best to pursue this initiative.

Sources in the municipality disclosed that the smoking ban might be implemented as early as next month.

Hospital limits admission of premature delivery cases
By Asma Ali Zain (Our staff reporter)

DUBAI — Premier government hospital Al Wasl has limited the admission of pregnant women who are likely to deliver premature babies following the death of a newborn in the intensive care unit due to infection from a hospital bug earlier this month.

Earlier reports had said two babies had died, but Director of the hospital Dr Abdullah Al Khayat told Khaleej Times yesterday that only one had died.

New Dh37m parks to make city greener
Staff Report

Dubai: The city Municipality is undertaking four different projects, worth Dh53.5 million, to offer better services to the city's residents.

The projects include a Dh27 million pond park in Al Qusais 2, a Dh10 million neighbourhood park in Mirdif, a Dh12 million expansion project for Dubai Sports and Cultural Club, and Dh4.5 million animal quarantine centre in Al Khawaneej.

Shell-shaped Metro stations start taking shape
Staff Report

Dubai: Stations for the Dh15.5 billion Dubai Metro have started taking shape.

"Construction of the Jebel Ali Industrial Station, which started in October 2007, is already 60 per cent complete," said Engineer Adnan Al Hammadi, Director of Construction Department of Dubai Metro.

He added that round 2,500 workers are currently working on the construction of the stations on the Red Line, which is scheduled to be operational by September 2009.

Dubai International - world's fastest growing airport in 2007

Dubai International, the aviation and cargo centre of the Middle East and the world's emerging hub, was the world's fastest growing airport in 2007 in terms of international passenger throughput with a growth of 19.31 per cent.

The airport handled a total of 34.34 million passengers, well over the projected 33 million for the year.

DP World further consolidates Dubai cargo handling at Jebel Ali

Global marine terminal operator DP World today announces that in response to customer requests it is moving its general and non-containerised cargo handling operations at Port Rashid in central Dubai to its flagship facility at nearby Jebel Ali.

Following requests from container shipping lines to move to the brand new container terminal at Jebel Ali opened in the third quarter of last year, most of the containerised cargo handled at Port Rashid has already moved to DP World's flagship terminal.

Ministry studies proposal to change school timing
By Wafa Issa, Staff Reporter

Dubai: The ministry of education is studying a proposal to start the school day at public schools one hour later during winter time.

Dr Fawzia Badri, Deputy Executive Director for Educational Affairs, at the ministry told Gulf News that they are studying a proposal to change the timing for public schools during winter.

"In order to avoid having children going to school while it is still dark, a proposal to start the school day an hour later is on the table" said Badri.

Dubai to be home to world's first fashion island

Dubai Infinity Holdings (DIH) today announced, Isla Moda, the world's first dedicated fashion island.

A mixed use development set in the iconic development The World, Isla Moda will combine a fashion resort, themed residential villas, haute couture boutiques and luxury hospitality facilities in a drive to establish Dubai as a global fashion hub. World renowned fashion designers from each continent will be instrumental in designing each element of the development.

Abu Dhabi set to start the Bride Show

The Bride Show Abu Dhabi will be bigger and better than ever with an exclusive range of local and international exhibitors and a new fashion competition while still covering all the needs for today's bride-to-be.

The show will be officially opened on 5 February by patron Her Highness Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif, wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Abu Dhabi moves step closer to 'desert Louvre'

ABU DHABI (AFP) — Abu Dhabi's "desert Louvre" moved a step closer to reality on Monday as French and Emirati officials sealed a deal to bring the iconic name, and its tourist pulling power, to the Gulf.

Under the 30-year agreement, Abu Dhabi will pay 400 million euros (525 million dollars) for the Louvre brand name and for hundreds of artworks loaned from the Paris museum for periods of between six months and two years.

DSF plans 100 exciting events
By a staff reporter
8 January 2008

DUBAI — Altogether 100 colourful and exciting events will take place during the month-long Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) 2008 from January 24.

Mission visa workers do not require NOCs
By Ahmed Abdul Aziz (Our staff reporter)
7 January 2008

ABU DHABI — Workers on mission visas do not require ‘No Objection Certificates’ (NOCs) from the current sponsors to change jobs, it was stated by an official.

Obaid Rashid Al Zahmi, assistant under-secretary of the Ministry of Labour (MoL), said that workers on mission visas can switch jobs after completing the period of three to six months (including three months after mission visa renewal).