Destination News - middle east

Dubai International Horse Fair

nospam@example.com (Roger Balmer) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 13:01:24 +0200

Since its inception in 2005, the Dubai International Horse Fair (DIHF) organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has been generating tremendous excitement in the global equine industry.

This year, once again under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and Deputy Ruler of Dubai, the 3rd DIHF, recognised as the largest equestrian exhibition in the Middle East, will offer even more to look forward to.

The much-awaited event will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, between April 1 and 4. The Dubai International Horse Fair will play host to many local and international companies from over 22 countries, offering a range of modern equestrian equipment, services, care products and some exciting new equestrian features.

>From breeders to nutritionists and riding clubs to veterinarians, visitors to the Fair will be offered an international choice of what’s new in the equestrian world. Another key attraction is the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship (DIAHC) that will run alongside the Dubai International Horse Fair, and showcase the beauty, agility and heritage of purebred Arabian horses.

In addition to equestrian related products and services, visitors can enjoy displays and lessons at the riding and show jumping arena, an equine art exhibition featuring artists from around the world and a riding display by the Dubai Police. Professionals can also take advantage of several useful seminars and demonstrations that will be conducted during the fair.

Dubai International Horse Fair 2007 will be held in Hall 1 and Zabeel Hall at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).

This information is provided by the Department of Tourism and Commerce of Dubai.

Dubai International Jazz Festival

nospam@example.com (Roger Balmer) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:59:31 +0200

The three-day event attracted more than 25,000 people from various nationalities.

The Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival 2007 (S-DIJF) brought jazz fanatics who flocked to Dubai from all over the UAE, the AGCC and from Europe.

This was the 5th year of this hugely popular event and its success, thanks to an unparalleled, legendary line up, was evident from the cheers of an appreciative crowd the applauses of which are still resonating around the idyllic venue at Dubai Media City’s outdoor amphitheatre.

The 2008 Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival will take place in the first 10 days of March.

This information is provided by the Department of Tourism and Commerce of Dubai.

Two cruise ships dock in Dubai

nospam@example.com (Roger Balmer) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:57:17 +0200

Dubai received 800 cruise tourists with the arrival of two cruise ships, Le Levant and Silver Whisper, at its state-of-the-art Dubai Cruise Terminal in the Port Rashid, according to Mr. Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Acting Manager for Dubai Cruise Terminal, operated by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

He said on the Le Levant, the passengers were mostly French nationals. The ship arrived from Abu Dhabi and left for Fujairah after a two-day stay. Gulf Agency Dubai was the ground handling agent, while SNTTA Emir Tours was the tour operator.

Silver Whisper arrived in Dubai on March 14 for a three-day sojourn with passengers mostly hailing from the US and European countries. Gulf Agency Company was the ground handling agent while Arabian Adventures was the tour operator. The vessel arrived from Khasab and left for Muscat after visiting Dubai .

Up to 50 cruise ships are expected at the region’s first and only dedicated cruise tourism facility during the cruise tourism’s winter season ending April 2007.

The passenger vessels, some of which making their debut in the Middle East region, are scheduled bring a total of 64,993 passengers and crew members on board.

The ship-shaped terminal, opened in 2001, is the world's first to receive ISO-9002 certification and also the world’s only cruise facility run by the government tourism body.

This information is provided by the Department of Tourism and Commerce of Dubai.

Bahamas Tourism Team visit Dubai

nospam@example.com (Roger Balmer) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:55:21 +0200

A high-level delegation from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism has recently visited Dubai for five days to get themselves acquainted with the tourism developments in the emirate.

As part of its ongoing efforts to crate increased awareness about the emirate’s attractions in the key markets around the world, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) assisted the visit of the Bahamas delegation headed by Ms. Vernice Walkine, Director General of Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.

The department organized a presentation on Dubai for the delegation. The DTCM Manager Missions, Mr. Hamad bin Mejren, and his team welcomed the visitors at the DTCM Head.

Mr. bin Mejren outlined the evolution of Dubai , DTCM initiatives to promote and market Dubai across the world, and a variety of multi-million dirham infrastructure and tourism-related projects.

The delegation visited Burj Al Arab, Madinat Jumeirah, and Palm Island, Mall of the Emirates and Ski Dubai, and Jumeirah Mosque. They also held talks with Emaar officials.

This information is provided by the Department of Tourism and Commerce of Dubai.

DTCM organise workshop for Dubai Hotels on E-Services

nospam@example.com (Roger Balmer) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:49:43 +0200

Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Roudha bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) organized a workshop for representatives of five and four star hotels on familiarize them with its current eServices and future plans.

The workshop, held at the Shangri La Hotel in Dubai on March 21 was attended by 80 representatives from five and four star hotels in the emirate.

In her keynote address, Sheikha Roudha highlighted the importance and benefits of eServices in different economic domains, especially tourism. She said eServices offered to the public goes hand in hand with the sweeping developments taking place in the emirate and around the world.

Ms. Aisha Butti bin Bishr, DTCM Acting Manager Information Technology, said the first-ever workshop on DTCM e-Services for the tourism industry was conducted is in line with the objectives of the Dubai eGovernment of offering more eServices to the public.

The DTCM website was launched in 1996 and the portal’s visibility has been enhanced through a link on the Dubai e-Government portal. The hugely-popular website has been attracting 50,000 page views per day and is available in six languages – English, Arabic, German, French, Spanish and Japanese.

Among the most-downloadable items by the website visitors are Dubai map, Press releases, business and tourism promotion videos, and photographs. Web camera and hotel directory are equally popular with the surfers. Statistics about Dubai has been placed online by the DTCM’s One Stop Information Centre (OSIC).

Mr. Shafeeq Hamza, DTCM Executive Information Technology, said two latest and popular eServices offered through the website - Dubai Weekly eNewsletter and Dubai Map. The weekly newsletter, whose subscription base has crossed the 5000 mark, offers latest news and developments about Dubai. Done by DTCM Media Relations Division, It has an automated subscription management system and one year archives.

The Dubai Map has been found an ideal instrument for tourists and visitors. All the hotels, hotel apartments and tourism companies are already listed. The map is searchable and printable.

The officials also offered insights into the working of Imtiaz scheme which allows tourism industry players and other organisations to provide marketing access to DTCM’s 400 plus staff members. Another important service is SMART suggestion scheme which has been opened recently to public to seek their suggestions. It offers an online system to track suggestion status.

About the future plans, the DTCM officials said the Hotel Statistics System will allow online submission of guest information. Future template-based automation was under study. The Overseas Exhibition Participants Registration System will provide enhanced online registration system for overseas exhibition co- participants. It will incorporate multiple log on and notification system.

Information provided by the Department of Tourism and Commerce of Dubai.

Dubai Holding takes stake in Emaar

nospam@example.com (Roger Balmer) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:43:33 +0200

Emaar Properties and Dubai Holding have announced that the two companies have reached an agreement in which Emaar will issue 2.364 billion new shares to Dubai Holding in lieu of land and work towards a strategic partnership to drive further growth in Dubai and international markets.

Mr. Mohammad Al Gergawi, Executive Chairman of Dubai Holding, and UAE Cabinet Minister, said: "Dubai Holding’s mission is to provide a better future for all, to dynamically support the development of Dubai as a world-leading hub and to drive our companies to become leaders in their respective fields in the Middle East and beyond. Emaar has generated tremendous value for its shareholders."

Emaar Properties will call for an Extraordinary General Meeting to be convened for shareholders’ approval of the increase of the company’s capital with the issuance of new shares to Dubai Holding.

"Dubai Holding is the driving force propelling the extraordinary rise of Dubai and its prominence on the global map," said Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties. "It is one of Dubai’s most visible success stories in global investment and development today. We are highly impressed with Dubai Holding’s singular vision and on-target growth strategy. Under its comprehensive corporate umbrella, Dubai Holding has created a spectrum of companies that have each become a world-class leader in its field."

Dubai Holding currently has 19 companies operating in a variety of sectors, ranging from health, technology, finance, real estate, research, education, tourism, energy, communication, industrial manufacturing, biotechnology and hospitality.

Emaar Properties is one of the world’s largest real-estate companies and is evolving relentlessly to become a global provider of premier lifestyles. A Dubai-based Public Joint Stock Company, Emaar Properties is listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and is ranked among the top four stocks of the Dow Jones Arabia Titans Index.

Information provided by the Department of Tourism and Commerce of Dubai.