UAE – Dubai GET The 2010 S Class
The new 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been launched in Dubai by Gargash Enterprises, the Mercedes-Benz authorized agent in the emirate. Some of the innovative features of the new S-Class include attention assist-drowsiness detection system, adaptive high beam assist and night view assist with special pedestrian detection. It also incorporates the ’splitview technology’, which enables the driver and front seat passenger to view different content on the same screen simultaneously. While the driver is using the map-based navigation system, the co-driver can watch a movie on DVD.
Burj Dubai
Come January 04 2010, The WORLDS LARGEST man made concrete & steel structure will be opened for WORLD. The date will coincide (not by accident) with the date of accession to power of HH Sheikh Mohammed Ruler of Dubai & Prime Minister of UAE. The 160-plus storey structure is considered the world’s tallest building., under the banner of EMAAR. The leading realtor & developer under the flag ship company of Sheikh Mohammed’s ETA
The ICON of Dubai
RTA Incentive 090909
Babies born in the UAE on 09/09/09 — the day of the Dubai Metro launch — have brought good luck to their parents, who will get free Metro rides for a year.
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) effort to keep the Metro launch date alive received more than 200 entries from parents whose babies were born on September 9 this year.
More rewards – as time passes away
Both the mother and father will get Nol Silver Cards valid for travel on the Metro for one year.
RTA confirms that these babies will keep getting more rewards as they grow older with the Metro, for they will always be considered special people, just like the Metro is special.
There is also the possibility that they may get free lifetime passes for the Metro in future., keep fingers crossed.
Communities uniting to clean-up and conserve the environment
Schoolchildren from primary to high school with plastic gloves and sporting white caps an aprons with “Clean up campaign” printed in bold joined 22,000 volunteers in the biggest clean-up campaign, launched on Tuesday at Mamzar Park.
It is the largest volunteer clean-up drive in the country in terms of participation and waste collection.
Wednesday’s activities, to be held at Al Mamzar area, will include volunteers from government educational institutions. The programme will include distribution of litter bins at schools, an abandoned vehicles removal campaign in coordination with the operations unit, and honouring participants and distribution of certificates and souvenirs.
On Thursday, volunteers from private schools, colleges, and universities will participate in the clean-up programme at Al Sufooh. Also on this day, a competition will be held on can collection for private schools, in addition to undertaking pest control activities, workshops on pest at all waste bins in coordination with the operations unit and honouring participants and distribution of certificates and souvenirs.
Friday, the last day of the campaign, will see thousands of volunteers from the general public including private company staff, NGOs, community groups and private entities joining hands in cleaning up the Nad Al Sheba Area
Technology – GITEX 2009
Gitex 2009 opened at WTC, & airport exhibition centres.
The Visitor turnout is not as expected, however it was decalred that the sale is at PAR in comparison to 2008.
Etisalat today unveiled its first self-branded mobile device. The company is aiming the Etisalat 211 FM at its price-conscious customers, who can purchase the device bundled for as low as Dhs265. Etisalat has also bundled the device with a Wasel SIM card along with Dhs165 of free airtime credit for international calls, over a period of 3 months
Misery in Dubai – GCC
Dubai specific & GCC in general is not the easiest place to live, yet many like me have spent the best years of our adult life here – away from our families back home.
This is more out of compulsion than choice. If I had to leave, I would have to do so now, without thinking – because if I bring logic and reason in to the equation, I will never leave.
I’m not looking for your sympathy, but here’s your answer anyway – I know you have been dying to know why I’m still here. I know people back home would gladly swap places with me.
- The words of a common white collar worker in Dubai -
The place suck blood, youth, vigor & peace from age bracket 25 to 45, and at the end of bone rashes you are still an EXPATRIATE., compelled to go back home because employer does not wish to extend your visa and someone full of youth is ready to take your place.
If an edcuated white collar law abiding human live & work in any Developed country of the world for 5 plus years, he is awarded with citizenship and rights equal to born citizen,
whereas UAE & GCC as whole lack this humanitarian value.
- above is quoted from data compiled after doing a chit chat for over 2 years from office workers from multinational Free zone companies to local LLCs .
Real Estate – Cityscape 2009
Some of the projects touted in the Dubai property market during the boom years showed that the developers behind the schemes had ‘lost touch with reality, and clearly lost touch with the cost and value aspect of the development’. ‘It got to a point where crazy projects were coming up, and people thought that the only way to keep up was to announce an even crazier one. There was no longer any concept of tracking the cost or sustainability of a development versus the returns…Not every project can be the ‘biggest’ and ‘the best’.’
A new report on the state of Dubai’s property sector as the market enters the fourth quarter of 2009 has found that all facets remained in the downward phase of the cycle, with prices and rentals likely to continue falling over the rest of the year
Underage without Licence to DRIVE
Teenage Emiriti brothers killed in gruesome vehicle collision.
3 boys & two cars – 2 brothers and one solo – solo landed in hospital, brothers died at the scene.
Parents of 3 shall be prosecuted for gross negligence and their licence be black pointed.
Now Saudis
It may be local disaster when finanical market started to collapse in 2nd half of 2008, but with the passage of time the cat is coming out of bag. It is Saudis who have managed to PLAY upon UAE banks and dried them out. The Saad and The Algosaibi groups, of KSA are the 2 major groups who have cheated upon the Banks of UAE.
So far, only Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), mashreq and National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) have disclosed their exposure to Saad and Algosaibi. ADCB and mashreq said they are owed $609 million (Dh2.2 billion) and $400 million respectively, while NBAD has reported an almost negligible $11 million. “It has been clear for some time that banks in the UAE and elsewhere have been hit fairly hard by Saad and Algosaibi,” said David Butter, Economist Intelligence Unit chief economist. “But it will be difficult for central bankers to take any decisive measures on this affair because it is still subject to some fairly large lawsuits.”
Al Suwaidi is due to participate in today’s meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) central bankers.
Yesterday, he reasserted the UAE is still not considering rejoining the proposed GCC monetary union. “The subject is not currently under discussion,” he said.
Whats does he think of people in UAE… are they STUPID????
Own your business
UAE may allow foreigners to get full business ownership.
The UAE is considering changes in its federal laws that would permit international companies to hold 100% ownership of businesses they establish in the UAE, The National has reported. Currently, foreigners must have a UAE national as a sponsor and are limited to a maximum 49% ownership of businesses in the country, except in free zones. The new legislation, which will be submitted to Cabinet within two months, are aimed at boosting foreign investment. ‘A lot of industries worldwide are very interested to move here to the UAE, providing there are certain terms and conditions they would like to see in the industrial law,’ Sultan al Mansouri, the Minister of Economy, said yesterday.
This will help foreign investment INFLOW, Bahrain is 1st in the region to adopt the Own your business laws.
090909 0909 PM (2100 hrs UAE time)
Dubai Driverless Metro
tonite at 090909 hrs the previliged elites of Dubai – UAE will be riding the Dubai Metro. The selected station to launch the metro is Mall of Emirates on Sh. Zayed Road. Among elite passangers, few of commoners selected through a ballot will be onboard as well. Tonite the Gulf State of Dubai will be 1st one of the region to have driver less mass transport system which is elevated & underground as well.
come 10 09 09 and it will be open for all.
Brief Updates from MBHQ
You’ve no doubt by now noticed that the sites got a bit of a re-design and some things got changed around last week. We wanted to highlight two changes to make sure everyone knows what changed.
The first and biggest is COMMENTS! Registration is no longer required to post a comment on any post. Of course if you already have an account you can still login to ensure your comments are attributed to you, but those who don’t can now post a comment without any long term commitment. Also, on the right you can see some of the recent comments so you’ll always know what the active discussions are. This was the most requested thing we’ve heard from people since our last redesign and we’re excited to see where it leads.
The next change is also something that was heavily requested, and that is a change to the ADS on the sites. You’ll immediately notice fewer of them, but what might not be as obvious is those smaller square ones to the right are specific to this city only and are being sold for a flat rate for a period of time rather than a confusing CPM/traffic/network model. Depending on the city, these range from $7-$175 for a full week. If you purchase one, during that time your ad will be the only one in that spot and will show on every page. We set these up both to make it easier for smaller local businesses to get their ads on our site, and also to help us bring in ads that relate better to our local audiences. Also, keeping these sites online is expensive and every little bit helps.
There are a bunch of other things we changed but we’ll leave those to you to investigate and take advantage of. Hope you like it, and we look forward to seeing you in the comments!!
Love,
The folks at MBHQ
Here Comes Dubai Metro
Dubai Metro operations begin on 09/09/09 with 10 stations on the Red Line
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President & Prime Minister of the UAE -Visionary Ruler of Dubai, will officially launch Dubai Metro on 09/09/2009, starting with 10 key stations on the Red Line, namely: Rashidiya, Terminal 3 (Dubai International Airport), City Center, Al Rigga, Union, Khalid bin Al Waleed, Jafliah, Financial Center, Mall of the Emirates, and Nakheel Harbour & Tower.
DIP in Dubai Financial Market
The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) followed the rollercoaster mood at international exchanges and closed 1.45% lower after rebounding 2.30% yesterday. Market bellwether Emaar Properties ended 3.61% lower at Dhs2.94. Investment bank EFG Hermes says upgraded its stance on Emaar from ‘reduce’ to ‘neutral’ in the short-term. EFG says it will reconsider its judgment on Emaar until more details about the possible merger with three real estate subsidiaries of Dubai Holding will be disclosed. Shares of logistics specialist Aramex bucked the trend and added 0.64%, closing at Dhs1.58. Aramex soared 33% during the last three months amid extending its presence in Europe. Trading volumes remained stable at the DFM as three shares gained, 23 declined and one stock remained unchanged.
