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.

With the mercury reaching 46 degrees Celsius, food outlets, cafeterias and restaurants have been warned of strict fines if their staff fail to wear caps and gloves while cooking inside the kitchen and are found not using tissues to wipe their sweat.
complaints from residents that small cafeterias lag far behind when it comes to cleanliness and hygiene in their outlets. People even complain about rats jumping from one corner to another while cockroaches creep around freely.

Despite regular inspections – and even fines – by the ADFCA, violations continue, leading to the closure of several food joints. Where does the fault lie? A number of cafeteria owners in the city blamed badly maintained shops.

If you witness any abnormality at any food-joint, GOVT would appreciate people would report lapses by restaurants and cafeterias on its toll free number 8006565

The burgeoning retail industry of the Middle East have tempted many International players to UAE. Current emerging name is WAITROSE with 2 operational stores – @ Dubai Marina Mall & @Mall of Dubai. by 2010 many of the SPINNEYs stores will be renamed to WAITROSE under a partnership agreement signed during End of 2008.

BUT

Pork products will be on sale in a separate room within the store., and that will be a High disadvantage among the local & 90% of Expatriates who come from diversified Muslim backgrounds where Pork is ‘HARAM’ to touch or being nerby.

That leaves WAITROSE with a big Question mark, as Ramadan is already around the corner.

Dubaisat-1 successfully launched on July 30 2009. The UAE’s first government satellite was successfully launched into orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan last night. Dubaisat-1 will orbit 680km above Earth and is expected to beam back its first images in a matter of days. The satellite was developed by a South Korean firm with the cooperation of 16 UAE engineers from the Emirates Institute of Advanced Science and Technology.

This is another achievement by the Govt of UAE to occupy International space in Space allocation segment for the UAE. Further details for the transponders & the specs are still unknown.

Tahhan the endurance runner horse belonging to HRH Sheikh Mohammed PM of UAE & Ruler of Dubai, was tested positive for dope and banned substances. In Januray & February the HRH rode the horse in the endurance races. He has been fined for the event and banned for six months.

Trainer Abdullah bin Huzaim was also fined and banned for a year after admitting to doping the horses.

Women in the UAE have voiced their opinion and made their views clear: they know sexual discrimination occurs in the work place and are ready to seek action if it happens to them.

When it comes to marriage, most women in the UAE have the freedom to choose their husband and if they are ever at the receiving end of spousal abuse, taking action is their first gut reaction.

Women in the UAE realise how important it is to be to financially independent and are motivated to work in order to advance their careers.

This is not to take away from the harsh reality of many whose financial burdens are what push them to go to work.

A total of 605 female UAE residents answered our questions; 57 per cent of the women were from the subcontinent (India/Pakistan); Arab expatriates constituted 15 per cent of the respondents and 10 per cent were Western expatriates.

The minimum Metro fare for a short trip for up to three kilometres will be Dh1.80 if a passenger is using a prepaid card. It will cost Dh2 if the passenger uses a standard single journey paper ticket.

The maximum fare for a single journey will be Dh6.50 when using a paper ticket and Dh5.80 when using the card.

The fares will be valid for trains, public buses and the water buses for a single journey. This means a passenger using the metro can continue his or her trip on buses without paying any additional fare.

The Roads and Transport Authority has provided various fare options to passengers including daily and monthly passes.

The daily pass will cost Dh14 for unlimited trips on the metro and public buses all over the city. The monthly passes range from Dh100 to Dh270.

Dubai Metro

Redha Salman, the director of public health and safety at Dubai’s municipality has said that city officials have seized dozens of types of pills and purported health supplements from shops over concerns that they could be dangerous, according to the National. Salman said increased use of the supplements and pills, most of which are priced at less than $1.40, had triggered the move. ‘These products were confiscated as they claimed to be a medicine, which was not approved by the Ministry of Health,’ he said.

Egypt court sentences tycoon to death for Suzan Tamim murder

Cairo: A Cairo court on Thursday sentenced an Egyptian tycoon and a former policeman to death for the murder in Dubai last year of Lebanese pop star Suzan Tamim.

The judge ordered businessman Hesham Talaat Mustafa and retired policeman Mohseen Al Sukkari hanged for the brutal slaying of the singer in a luxury Dubai apartment in July, 2008.

Palm Jumeriah Monorail is now operational
click link to see the video coverage by gulfnews

Mono Rail