An Airbus A380
Emirates has become the world’s largest operator of the A380 aircraft with a total of 12 in its fleet, which has been generating interest from around the world, a company spokesman said.
The airline’s expanding A380 fleet has been attracting attention from airports across the globe as Manchester became the latest city to be served by the superjumbo, Emirates Airlines said in a statement… MORE
Sphere: Related Content
Cinemagoers in the UAE will soon be able to download mobile bar-coded cinema and entertainment show tickets through cellphones, eliminating the need for physical delivery.
Etisalat Wednesday announced a strategic partnership with Mobiqa, specialists in mobile content optimisation, to bring mobile phone ticketing to the region… MORE
Sphere: Related Content
Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn)
Authorities in Sharjah have announced plans to revamp the old areas of the city and give it a fresh and modern look while still retaining its picturesque appeal. Soon the city’s old quarter will not only be filled with museums, but will boast a hotel and a promenade too.
“Construction on the first phase of the plan includes reconnecting Saqr Souq with Al Arsa Souq, by rebuilding Al Shanasiah Souq, which disappeared as a result of building extensions in the 1970s,” Marwan Jasem Al Sarkal, chief executive officer of Shurooq, or Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, announced on Tuesday.
Construction of the ‘Heart of Sharjah’ project began last week, and the first phase is due to be completed in 2012.
As part of the first phase of the project, renovation work began last week at the Sharjah Art Foundation, in preparation for the Sharjah Biennale 2011… MORE
Sphere: Related Content
When Mall of the Emirates first opened in 2005, its combination of high-street favourites and luxury stores soon made it the go-to place for discerning shoppers. Bringing together designer labels such as Louis Vuitton, D&G and Gucci, its ski-sloped roof also housed the UAE’s first Harvey Nichols… But tomorrow, Mall of the Emirates will attempt to regain the designer-heeled footfall it lost to Fashion Avenue with its new extension, the Fashion Dome. With more than 30 luxury fashion outlets, 20 of which are new to the mall, the piazza-style Fashion Dome promises a return to the exclusive shopping experience it used to monopolise… MORE
Sphere: Related Content
…
Gulf News observed a large number of pilgrims talking on mobiles while doing their tawaf (circumambulation) or sa’i (long walk between the mountains of Safa and Marwah).
The pilgrims take advantage of the time it takes to do sa’i to talk to their families and friends or send text messages. Some of them even discuss business projects while performing Umrah.
The use of mobile phones is particularly worrying when thousands of worshippers leave the mosque at the same time. Many insist on stopping to finish a chat while actually obstructing the flow of movement out of the Grand Mosque… MORE
Sphere: Related Content
More than two million national ID cardholders will soon be able to renew their cards at certified typing centres, cutting out the need to go to Emirates Identity Authority (Eida) registration centres, a top official told Gulf Newsyesterday.
The advantage of the new renewal system is that ID cardholders will not have to make an appointment or check the working hours of Eida centres, Dr Ali Al Khoury, Acting General Manager of Emirates Identity Authority (Eida), said.
“Instead they can visit any certified typing centre which mostly work long hours,” he said.
He said the new renewal system was expected to be operational by next month.
At present ID cardholders have to visit Eida registration centres for renewal with separate counters set aside for them… MORE
Sphere: Related Content
Virgin Blue Holdings Limited (ASX: VBA) and Etihad Airways PJSC today signed an agreement establishing a commercial partnership that will enable Virgin Blue’s international arm, V Australia, to launch direct services to Abu Dhabi in 2011 and the two airlines to offer a joint network of more than 100 destinations from October 1, 2010.
Together, Etihad and V Australia will move towards a total of 27 weekly services between Abu Dhabi and Australia – including double-daily services between Abu Dhabi and Sydney, daily Melbourne-Abu Dhabi flights and six frequencies per week between Abu Dhabi and Brisbane.
V Australia will operate three Sydney-Abu Dhabi services per week from February 2011 and three Brisbane-Abu Dhabi services per week by February 2012, using its new fleet of three-class Boeing 777-300ER and becoming the first Australian carrier to operate to the Middle East since 1991.
From October, Virgin Blue Group customers can access Etihad’s network of 65 destinations across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Subcontinent. All Virgin Blue services will be available to Etihad customers, opening up 45 destinations in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, and to Asia, South Africa and Los Angeles… SOURCE
Sphere: Related Content
…
The Coral Reef Restoration programme was launched in March this year in association with Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology (TUMSAT) and Japan Oil Development Company (JODCO).
Scientists on the programme are interested in gathering information about two aspects — the reproductive cycle of coral reefs and information that would help in restoration of damaged reefs in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Experts have been diving into the waters close to Saadiyat Island and Al Dhabeiyah to install devices that would help them explore the world of corals… MORE
Sphere: Related Content
bu Dhabi will save 40 per cent of water used for farming in the next five years thanks to the introduction of new irrigation practices, officials said.
Up to 60 per cent of water applied on farms in Abu Dhabi’s Seih Al Kheir area is wasted by current irrigation practices, they said during the inauguration of the first Irrigation Demonstration Farm in the area.
The transition to the new system will eventually result in the reduction of water use for farming by 40 per cent in the next five years, said Rashid Mohammad Al Sharqi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre and Director-General, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) who inaugurated the farm.
“We are living in an extremely dry region. Preserving water is like preserving life here. The developmental strategy of the Government of Abu Dhabi places great emphasis on the preservation of natural resources. It also aims to mitigate the harmful effects of certain agricultural practices on the environment,” he said… MORE
Sphere: Related Content
…
Jessica Bilson, a British apartment owner in Discovery Gardens, said, “I’ve seen a lot of people hanging their clothes out of windows or in balconies. This just ruins the look of the area and makes it scruffy and unkempt. It just looks like a badly-maintained housing estate,” she said.
Amanda Coles, an American tenant there, however, feels people should be allowed to dry their clothes in balconies. “I live in a studio, so there is very little space for me to put the clothes out to dry in my apartment…. MORE
Sphere: Related Content
Dr Khaled Abdelalim, an Islamic preacher who has a show on Ajman TV, argued that Ramadan should be the high season for worship because it is a time when the rewards are unlimited compared with the rest of the year.
“During Ramadan the doors of heaven are open and the doors of hell are closed,” he said. “So not a single breath should be wasted with anything that does not please Allah.”
He said people do need to release their stress with some “fun” but suggested they focus on positive, “halal” fun.
“For example, one could play sports, go out and enjoy nature, visit relatives,” he said. “These activities are fun and are encouraged in Islam, which makes them a form of worship as well.”
Watching soap operas during Ramadan not only wastes time, but no true joy can come from doing so as real happiness comes from doing what pleases God and helping others, he said.
“Even those who watch comedy shows are not truly happy, they are just laughing hysterically,” he said… MORE
A likely increase in fuel prices within the next few weeks will exert greater inflationary pressures on the UAE economy as producers and suppliers will pass on the increase in transportation costs to the consumers, experts cautioned Sunday… MORE
Sphere: Related Content
Petrol prices in the UAE are set to rise a third time this year. Sources from oil company Adnoc told Gulf News that the fuel distribution companies are about to increase price on fuel… MORE
Sphere: Related Content
he mother of the ruler of Sharjah, Sheikha Maryam bint Ghanem bin Salim Al Shamsi, has died at the age of 95.
Funeral prayers were performed yesterday after Isha prayers at Ahmed ibn Hanbal Mosque. Her body was laid to rest at Al Jubail cemetery, the royal cemetery of the Sharjah royal family, situated in the heart of the city… MORE
Sphere: Related Content
Residents, arriving back from their summer vacation, have been shocked to find that their electricity bills have more than doubled — despite a power cut last month, which left much of the emirate without power for days.
“I was on holiday in Egypt for a month and when I came back here I had to pay the electricity bill for Dh1,000, even though I usually pay Dh500 at the most,” said Ahmad Mansoon… MORE
USA2UAE on Twitter UAE News on Twitter
