Dubai Informer
Information about Dubai in all aspects
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
A victory at the Dubai Desert Classic won't count toward Tiger Woods' streak of seven straight wins on the U.S. PGA Tour.
That doesn't mean Woods came halfway around the world to finish second.
"It's very simple," he said Wednesday. "Whatever tournament I enter I'm going to try and win it, plain and simple."
The Dubai tournament, which starts Thursday with a field that includes Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Paul Casey, won't affect the streak because it's a PGA European Tour event.
Woods needs five more U.S. tour wins to beat Byron Nelson's record of 11 straight.
"I feel good about where I'm headed, the understanding I have of my game and my swing," Woods said, three days after winning the Buick Invitational. "It's always good to get another 'W' under the belt."
Despite the tough competition in Dubai, Woods said he worries only about his own game.
"I see where I stack up going into Sunday and then you start looking around at what's going on," he said. "But there's 72 holes, and I have a lot of things I need to take care of before I start thinking about anybody else."
Woods, who gets a huge appearance fee for playing in Dubai, praised the course at the Emirates Golf Club.
"They have the golf course in perfect shape," he said. "It's going to be I'm sure some pretty low scores out there considering how good the greens are."
Els, who won in Dubai in 1994, 2002 and '05, knows Woods is his main competition.
"The way he's playing now, every week, he's the one to beat," Els said. "You can't go head to head against him. You've got to have your own goals. But I'd like to win some more tournaments with him in them."
The Dubai Desert Classic is the last of three straight tournaments in the Gulf region, after the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the Qatar Masters. Goosen won in Qatar last week and Casey took the title in Abu Dhabi.
Former Dubai champions Mark O'Meara, David Howell and Colin Montgomerie are also in the field, as well as Greg Norman, Sergio Garcia, Darren Clarke, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjorn.
Still, everyone expects the final round to come down to Woods and Els, who first won in Dubai as a 23-year-old unknown.
"I didn't know who I was. And nobody else did, for that matter," said Els, who finished two strokes behind Goosen last week in Qatar.
"I felt the juices flowing there last week," Els added. "I've always felt confident around here. I'm at the start of my season. I'm fresh. I want to play."
Besides playing golf, some players, like Garcia and Montgomerie, plan to visit the sites of courses they are designing.
Woods said he's got a few other "business meetings" in Dubai, but declined to elaborate. Els spent Tuesday evening at a South African steakhouse promoting his Ernie Els label of South African wines.
Norman, who is also designing a Dubai course on the side, said he hasn't touched a golf club in more than a month.
"I don't have the motivation that I used to, to go out and practice 10 hours a day," Norman said. "Hitting golf balls isn't good for me. It beats me up pretty good."
Dubai is considered the world's fastest growing city, and many golfers don't recognize it on their return. When Els first won the 1993 Classic, the Emirates Golf Club sat alongside a two-lane road that drifted off into the empty desert dunes.
Now the course is surrounded by million-dollar mansions and shimmering skyscrapers. The sound of jackhammers drifts across the course, as does the roar of trucks on the road, now 12 lanes across.
"It's looking like the New York skyline a bit now," Woods said, mentioning the row of half-built skyscrapers rising behind the eighth hole.
That doesn't mean Woods came halfway around the world to finish second.
"It's very simple," he said Wednesday. "Whatever tournament I enter I'm going to try and win it, plain and simple."
The Dubai tournament, which starts Thursday with a field that includes Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Paul Casey, won't affect the streak because it's a PGA European Tour event.
Woods needs five more U.S. tour wins to beat Byron Nelson's record of 11 straight.
"I feel good about where I'm headed, the understanding I have of my game and my swing," Woods said, three days after winning the Buick Invitational. "It's always good to get another 'W' under the belt."
Despite the tough competition in Dubai, Woods said he worries only about his own game.
"I see where I stack up going into Sunday and then you start looking around at what's going on," he said. "But there's 72 holes, and I have a lot of things I need to take care of before I start thinking about anybody else."
Woods, who gets a huge appearance fee for playing in Dubai, praised the course at the Emirates Golf Club.
"They have the golf course in perfect shape," he said. "It's going to be I'm sure some pretty low scores out there considering how good the greens are."
Els, who won in Dubai in 1994, 2002 and '05, knows Woods is his main competition.
"The way he's playing now, every week, he's the one to beat," Els said. "You can't go head to head against him. You've got to have your own goals. But I'd like to win some more tournaments with him in them."
The Dubai Desert Classic is the last of three straight tournaments in the Gulf region, after the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the Qatar Masters. Goosen won in Qatar last week and Casey took the title in Abu Dhabi.
Former Dubai champions Mark O'Meara, David Howell and Colin Montgomerie are also in the field, as well as Greg Norman, Sergio Garcia, Darren Clarke, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjorn.
Still, everyone expects the final round to come down to Woods and Els, who first won in Dubai as a 23-year-old unknown.
"I didn't know who I was. And nobody else did, for that matter," said Els, who finished two strokes behind Goosen last week in Qatar.
"I felt the juices flowing there last week," Els added. "I've always felt confident around here. I'm at the start of my season. I'm fresh. I want to play."
Besides playing golf, some players, like Garcia and Montgomerie, plan to visit the sites of courses they are designing.
Woods said he's got a few other "business meetings" in Dubai, but declined to elaborate. Els spent Tuesday evening at a South African steakhouse promoting his Ernie Els label of South African wines.
Norman, who is also designing a Dubai course on the side, said he hasn't touched a golf club in more than a month.
"I don't have the motivation that I used to, to go out and practice 10 hours a day," Norman said. "Hitting golf balls isn't good for me. It beats me up pretty good."
Dubai is considered the world's fastest growing city, and many golfers don't recognize it on their return. When Els first won the 1993 Classic, the Emirates Golf Club sat alongside a two-lane road that drifted off into the empty desert dunes.
Now the course is surrounded by million-dollar mansions and shimmering skyscrapers. The sound of jackhammers drifts across the course, as does the roar of trucks on the road, now 12 lanes across.
"It's looking like the New York skyline a bit now," Woods said, mentioning the row of half-built skyscrapers rising behind the eighth hole.
Dubai Municipality has entered into a joined venture with Dubailand in building a new zoo in Dubai. The construction is aimed to start this year.
There is also a possibility of introducing a camel safari in the Dubai Zoo.
Animals in the existing Dubai Zoo will be moved to their new home in about after a year and a half. The core zoo is being prioritized to be finished first to facilitate the transfer of the animals, as around 1,200 of them are currently confined in their current location in Jumeirah.
The new location promises 500 acres of land. However, this will not be an ordinary zoo, as it will also have zoo safari, night zoo, and educational and recreational facilities for kids and adults. This is part of the aspiration of Dubai Municipality to make this project to be a major tourist attraction in Dubai.
There is also a possibility of introducing a camel safari in the Dubai Zoo.
Animals in the existing Dubai Zoo will be moved to their new home in about after a year and a half. The core zoo is being prioritized to be finished first to facilitate the transfer of the animals, as around 1,200 of them are currently confined in their current location in Jumeirah.
The new location promises 500 acres of land. However, this will not be an ordinary zoo, as it will also have zoo safari, night zoo, and educational and recreational facilities for kids and adults. This is part of the aspiration of Dubai Municipality to make this project to be a major tourist attraction in Dubai.
Labels: Construction, Dubai
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
UAE football finally came of age on a cool, crisp evening in the capital. And our dreams are finally coming true. Watched by The President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and a standing room only crowd at the Zayed Sports City stadium, UAE got their hands on the prestigious Gulf Cup on the 18th attempt.
Thirty-five years of waiting was finally over.
The two-week long tournament started with the UAE against Oman. That match turned out to be the only hiccup in UAE’s campaign as our neighbours won that contest 2-1.
It ended with the UAE against Oman. But this time, when it mattered most, UAE’s Ismail Matar had his best scoring boots on and struck a beauty of a winner that sent seismic waves across the country and put the whole nation into party mode.
Amazing goals
In between Matar scored some amazing, opportunistic goals against the likes of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Those were classy strikes from a mercurial master striker. Five goals in all came off his scoring boots.
Except for the players themselves and a handful of people, no one really expected the UAE to climb such lofty heights, specially with the many Gulf football powers in the fray.
Bruno Metsu, the colourful Frenchman with the Midas touch, turned out to be a shrewd tactician. Initially playing down his team’s chances, Metsu moulded the team into a strong fighting unit who believed in themselves.
Pessimists predicted Mohammed Omar and his team-mates would fall by the wayside due to a lack of depth in the squad. But they proved them all wrong as they performed minor miracles after miracles during the tournament.
Metsu’s stock, which had risen considerably after he converted to Islam, will skyrocket now. The coach with lovely, long tresses could ask for anything and it will be delivered to him on a platter.
The hard work actually begins now. UAE should build on this success and go from strength to strength. And Metsu can be entrusted with this job; to guide UAE to the next World Cup finals and to greater glory.
The Frenchman nearly pulled off his hair during the first-half when UAE’s domination was not being converted into goals or near chances.
But then came Matar’s awesome strike and Metsu’s frayed nerves were calmed. When the final whistle blew, the noise the fans in the stadium made could have been heard all the way to the other end of the country.
Cars roamed through the streets with klaxons blaring and waving flags. The old, the young and the women, specially the women, partied like there was no tomorrow.
It has been two great weeks of football. And it ended the way we all wanted it to end. UAE are champions.
Thirty-five years of waiting was finally over.
The two-week long tournament started with the UAE against Oman. That match turned out to be the only hiccup in UAE’s campaign as our neighbours won that contest 2-1.
It ended with the UAE against Oman. But this time, when it mattered most, UAE’s Ismail Matar had his best scoring boots on and struck a beauty of a winner that sent seismic waves across the country and put the whole nation into party mode.
Amazing goals
In between Matar scored some amazing, opportunistic goals against the likes of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Those were classy strikes from a mercurial master striker. Five goals in all came off his scoring boots.
Except for the players themselves and a handful of people, no one really expected the UAE to climb such lofty heights, specially with the many Gulf football powers in the fray.
Bruno Metsu, the colourful Frenchman with the Midas touch, turned out to be a shrewd tactician. Initially playing down his team’s chances, Metsu moulded the team into a strong fighting unit who believed in themselves.
Pessimists predicted Mohammed Omar and his team-mates would fall by the wayside due to a lack of depth in the squad. But they proved them all wrong as they performed minor miracles after miracles during the tournament.
Metsu’s stock, which had risen considerably after he converted to Islam, will skyrocket now. The coach with lovely, long tresses could ask for anything and it will be delivered to him on a platter.
The hard work actually begins now. UAE should build on this success and go from strength to strength. And Metsu can be entrusted with this job; to guide UAE to the next World Cup finals and to greater glory.
The Frenchman nearly pulled off his hair during the first-half when UAE’s domination was not being converted into goals or near chances.
But then came Matar’s awesome strike and Metsu’s frayed nerves were calmed. When the final whistle blew, the noise the fans in the stadium made could have been heard all the way to the other end of the country.
Cars roamed through the streets with klaxons blaring and waving flags. The old, the young and the women, specially the women, partied like there was no tomorrow.
It has been two great weeks of football. And it ended the way we all wanted it to end. UAE are champions.
Monday, January 29, 2007
The UAE Minister of Health Humaid Mohammed Obeid Al Qutami today inaugurated the region’s largest healthcare and related services exhibition, Arab Health 2007, at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre.
The 32nd Arab Health Exhibition and Congress 2007, organised by IIR Middle East, under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and president, Department of Health and Medical Services, is widely acknowledged as one of the most essential healthcare events in the world today.
The Leaders in Healthcare conference will headline the largest multi-track medical congress in the world. New conferences added to the congress this year include the IT In Healthcare, Molecular Imaging for Cancer, Vascular Surgery, Management of Rheumatic Diseases, Middle East Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Conference, Healthcare Insurance and Advances in Healthcare.
Coupled with the regular offerings of conferences such as Hospital Design & Upgrade (HDU), Middle East Laboratory Management & Medicine, Complementary Medicine: Evidence Based Treatment, and Middle East Wounds Congress, Arab Health, for the first time in 2007, will be offering all attending specialists a complementary E-book (CD format) in their area of expertise for those attending Leaders in Healthcare, Middle East Obs-Gyne, Orthopedics, Vascular Surgery, ME Imaging and Diagnostic, and Advances in Laparoscopic Surgery Conferences.
In addition to the E-book, the Advances in Healthcare Conference, presented by Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), Harvard Medical School Dubai Center (HMSDC) and the Dubai Harvard Foundation on January 30, will be offered free of charge for all attendees. Distinguished speakers such as, Dr. Joseph B. Martin, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, will discuss the latest trends in medical education and technology.
Arab Health 2007, which will occupy all 11 halls of the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, will run till February 1. Almost 2,200 companies from 70 countries are participating in the event, which features 30 national pavilions and an expected visitor turnout of 30,000 people. This year, Arab Health will run a total of 16 conferences, 14 of which will be accredited by the American Academy of Continuous Medical Education (AACME), over four days, with an expected 4,500 delegates attending.
The 32nd Arab Health Exhibition and Congress 2007, organised by IIR Middle East, under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and president, Department of Health and Medical Services, is widely acknowledged as one of the most essential healthcare events in the world today.
The Leaders in Healthcare conference will headline the largest multi-track medical congress in the world. New conferences added to the congress this year include the IT In Healthcare, Molecular Imaging for Cancer, Vascular Surgery, Management of Rheumatic Diseases, Middle East Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Conference, Healthcare Insurance and Advances in Healthcare.
Coupled with the regular offerings of conferences such as Hospital Design & Upgrade (HDU), Middle East Laboratory Management & Medicine, Complementary Medicine: Evidence Based Treatment, and Middle East Wounds Congress, Arab Health, for the first time in 2007, will be offering all attending specialists a complementary E-book (CD format) in their area of expertise for those attending Leaders in Healthcare, Middle East Obs-Gyne, Orthopedics, Vascular Surgery, ME Imaging and Diagnostic, and Advances in Laparoscopic Surgery Conferences.
In addition to the E-book, the Advances in Healthcare Conference, presented by Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), Harvard Medical School Dubai Center (HMSDC) and the Dubai Harvard Foundation on January 30, will be offered free of charge for all attendees. Distinguished speakers such as, Dr. Joseph B. Martin, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, will discuss the latest trends in medical education and technology.
Arab Health 2007, which will occupy all 11 halls of the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, will run till February 1. Almost 2,200 companies from 70 countries are participating in the event, which features 30 national pavilions and an expected visitor turnout of 30,000 people. This year, Arab Health will run a total of 16 conferences, 14 of which will be accredited by the American Academy of Continuous Medical Education (AACME), over four days, with an expected 4,500 delegates attending.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Mirage Promotions has announced that global pop sensation Shakira will be performing a live concert in Dubai on 
March 23 2007 as part of her ‘Oral Fixation Tour’. The concert is being presented by PLAYSTATION3 also due to launch in March and will be staged at Dubai Autodrome.
The concert is expected to sell out quickly with Shakira being the best selling artist in the Middle East – this will make the Dubai concert the largest ever regional contemporary music concert with Dubai Autodrome holding a record breaking 25.000 people.
Nasim Tabatabaei, Marketing and PR Manager for Mirage Promotions commented: “The 30 million albums Shakira has sold world wide, more than 7 million copies of her latest album Oral Fixation, shows how popular she is and after the recent sell out Phil Collins concert at Dubai Autodrome we will be expanding the arena to accommodate one of the most anticipated concerts ever staged in the region – bringing this super star to Dubai is only possible thanks to the support from PlayStation. “The 25.000 hip shaking fans can expect to hear a selection of her new songs and many of her greatest hits including Whenever-Wherever, La Tortura, Underneath Your Clothes, Don’t Bother, Objection, Hips Don’t Lie…”
Lebanese-Columbian Shakira continues: “I have heard a lot about Dubai and performing in the Middle East for the first time will be something special. The Dubai show will be one of the biggest shows on my 2007 “Oral Fixation Tour”.
Shakira, the two-time Grammy Award and eight-time Latin Grammy Award-winning Colombian/Lebanese singer-songwriter, musician and record producer has been a major figure in the worldwide pop music scene throughout the last decade and this will be her first visit to Dubai.
Colin Thomas, Marketing Manager of the PlayStation Division for Sony Gulf said: “We are delighted to be helping to boost the Middle East’s popularity as a tour venue for mega stars. March will be a great month for the region with what is expected to be the largest pop concert ever held here as well as the launch of PLAYSTATION 3 taking place across the Gulf. We are sure both will be a resounding success!”
March 23 2007 as part of her ‘Oral Fixation Tour’. The concert is being presented by PLAYSTATION3 also due to launch in March and will be staged at Dubai Autodrome.The concert is expected to sell out quickly with Shakira being the best selling artist in the Middle East – this will make the Dubai concert the largest ever regional contemporary music concert with Dubai Autodrome holding a record breaking 25.000 people.
Nasim Tabatabaei, Marketing and PR Manager for Mirage Promotions commented: “The 30 million albums Shakira has sold world wide, more than 7 million copies of her latest album Oral Fixation, shows how popular she is and after the recent sell out Phil Collins concert at Dubai Autodrome we will be expanding the arena to accommodate one of the most anticipated concerts ever staged in the region – bringing this super star to Dubai is only possible thanks to the support from PlayStation. “The 25.000 hip shaking fans can expect to hear a selection of her new songs and many of her greatest hits including Whenever-Wherever, La Tortura, Underneath Your Clothes, Don’t Bother, Objection, Hips Don’t Lie…”
Lebanese-Columbian Shakira continues: “I have heard a lot about Dubai and performing in the Middle East for the first time will be something special. The Dubai show will be one of the biggest shows on my 2007 “Oral Fixation Tour”.
Shakira, the two-time Grammy Award and eight-time Latin Grammy Award-winning Colombian/Lebanese singer-songwriter, musician and record producer has been a major figure in the worldwide pop music scene throughout the last decade and this will be her first visit to Dubai.
Colin Thomas, Marketing Manager of the PlayStation Division for Sony Gulf said: “We are delighted to be helping to boost the Middle East’s popularity as a tour venue for mega stars. March will be a great month for the region with what is expected to be the largest pop concert ever held here as well as the launch of PLAYSTATION 3 taking place across the Gulf. We are sure both will be a resounding success!”
Saturday, January 27, 2007
The five star Le Royal Meridien Hotel in Dubai in January sounds great - and believe me it is great! Never mind Ali Baba and the 40 thieves.
We're here with Nickey Brennan and the Vodafone GAA Allstars.
It's the annual trip which has seen us in the past go to places like San Diego, Hong Kong and Singapore and I can say that Dubai is as good as any of them.
The only drawback is that it's the biggest construction site in the world.
Would you believe 75 per cent of the world's cranes are here building multi high-rise hotels, financial centres and top of the range luxurious apartments overlooking the Arabian Gulf.
It's like Disney with a different accent.
It's a place which now attracts premiership footballers by the dozen and it's not hard to see why they come as our own superstars of gaelic footballers enjoy the trappings of five star luxury.
The Allstars are here to play their exhibition game today at the Dubai Polo Grounds and the Dubai Celts club have made a huge effort to ensure everything has gone off without a hitch.
Along with the Allstars are members of the Limavady Wolfhounds club who are one of two Irish clubs competing at the Gulf Games this weekend.
The other team is St Vincents of Dublin.
While the games are important it's fair to say the lads have been enjoying themselves.
The staff at the local hostelry Fibber Magees can certainly testify to that! The GAA do many things wrong but the Allstars trip isn't one of them.
No stone is left unturned to ensure that the cream of the sport's every need is catered for.
Also out here is Ulster President Micheal Greenan and would you believe as I predicted a couple of weeks ago, Tyrone would beat Cavan in the Dr McKenna Cup but then lose the points for the victory over Derry so that the Council can be seen to be in charge.
The McKenna Cup is far from people's minds over here and as Mickey Harte continues to fight the cause of his players it's a situation that needs to be sorted out for next year.
It should not be allowed to overshadow the province's secondary competition.
Micheal Greenan steps down next month after three eventful years in charge.
There are many things that I disagree with in the way he's gone about things but you can't take away from the fact that he put the hours in and worked hard.
The journalists out here also work hard (for 10 minutes of every day anyway!)
There is a daily news conference and this week GAA President Nickey Brennan used the opportunity to outline the new rules for the organisation and presentation of championship and national league games for the future.
Whilst not trying to ape their soccer counterparts, there will be a new-look manager's zone with only eight designated officials allowed.
Learning from their experiences Down Under a team runner is being introduced for the purpose of ferrying instructions on to the park and also two water carriers will be allowed for each team.
It's an area which President Brennan has always wanted to tidy up and on the face of it these new regulations will probably help in the overall outlook.
This has all come about after a large dose of common sense.
Initially new rules were introduced for the managers which the latter said were unworkable and done without consultation.
Nickey Brennan moved quickly to ease the worries of the managers and these new guidelines and regulations have come about after discussions with them.
The President hinted out here that avenue of communication will remain open throughout the course of this year's competitions.
From camel rides back to Croke Park
Please don't be jealous.
We had a great time this week at the Wild Wadi water park.
And we also had an amazing night's fun at Nad Al Sheba racecourse to kick off the Dubai International festival of racing which concludes in March with the richest horse race ever, the $$6million World Cup.
Like us, the Sheiks take their racing very seriously.
On the bus back from the racing we passed the palace of His Highness, Sheik Mohammed Al-Maktoum, the vice-president and ruler of Dubai.
By all accounts he's about to write a cheque to take over Liverpool Football Club.
I hope it goes through and he can construct a team as well as he is constructing this city.
Back to gaelic football and with the league just around the corner, this is a fabulous opportunity for the players and WAGS from all counties to meet on this spectacular social outing.
The sponsors Vodafone ensure that it is a trip to remember and for me it's always a delight to see the likes of Paddy Bradley, Steven McDonnell, Seamus Moynihan, Alan Brogan and Peter Canavan (pictured) get a chance to let their hair down (well obviously that doesn't apply to the Sultan of Errigal Ciaran who doesn't have any hair!)
Joking aside it's a pity that we won't be able to see the wee maestro running out on February 3 to share in a moment of history for the GAA when Tyrone face Dublin.
The attendance record for the national league was the Down v Offaly final in 1963 which attracted 73,000 punters.
That record will surely go under the magnificent new floodlights at Croke Park in that Tyrone game against the Dubs..
Aren't France and England in for a treat when they take on the Irish rugby team at Croker.
We're here with Nickey Brennan and the Vodafone GAA Allstars.
It's the annual trip which has seen us in the past go to places like San Diego, Hong Kong and Singapore and I can say that Dubai is as good as any of them.
The only drawback is that it's the biggest construction site in the world.
Would you believe 75 per cent of the world's cranes are here building multi high-rise hotels, financial centres and top of the range luxurious apartments overlooking the Arabian Gulf.
It's like Disney with a different accent.
It's a place which now attracts premiership footballers by the dozen and it's not hard to see why they come as our own superstars of gaelic footballers enjoy the trappings of five star luxury.
The Allstars are here to play their exhibition game today at the Dubai Polo Grounds and the Dubai Celts club have made a huge effort to ensure everything has gone off without a hitch.
Along with the Allstars are members of the Limavady Wolfhounds club who are one of two Irish clubs competing at the Gulf Games this weekend.
The other team is St Vincents of Dublin.
While the games are important it's fair to say the lads have been enjoying themselves.
The staff at the local hostelry Fibber Magees can certainly testify to that! The GAA do many things wrong but the Allstars trip isn't one of them.
No stone is left unturned to ensure that the cream of the sport's every need is catered for.
Also out here is Ulster President Micheal Greenan and would you believe as I predicted a couple of weeks ago, Tyrone would beat Cavan in the Dr McKenna Cup but then lose the points for the victory over Derry so that the Council can be seen to be in charge.
The McKenna Cup is far from people's minds over here and as Mickey Harte continues to fight the cause of his players it's a situation that needs to be sorted out for next year.
It should not be allowed to overshadow the province's secondary competition.
Micheal Greenan steps down next month after three eventful years in charge.
There are many things that I disagree with in the way he's gone about things but you can't take away from the fact that he put the hours in and worked hard.
The journalists out here also work hard (for 10 minutes of every day anyway!)
There is a daily news conference and this week GAA President Nickey Brennan used the opportunity to outline the new rules for the organisation and presentation of championship and national league games for the future.
Whilst not trying to ape their soccer counterparts, there will be a new-look manager's zone with only eight designated officials allowed.
Learning from their experiences Down Under a team runner is being introduced for the purpose of ferrying instructions on to the park and also two water carriers will be allowed for each team.
It's an area which President Brennan has always wanted to tidy up and on the face of it these new regulations will probably help in the overall outlook.
This has all come about after a large dose of common sense.
Initially new rules were introduced for the managers which the latter said were unworkable and done without consultation.
Nickey Brennan moved quickly to ease the worries of the managers and these new guidelines and regulations have come about after discussions with them.
The President hinted out here that avenue of communication will remain open throughout the course of this year's competitions.
From camel rides back to Croke Park
Please don't be jealous.
We had a great time this week at the Wild Wadi water park.
And we also had an amazing night's fun at Nad Al Sheba racecourse to kick off the Dubai International festival of racing which concludes in March with the richest horse race ever, the $$6million World Cup.
Like us, the Sheiks take their racing very seriously.
On the bus back from the racing we passed the palace of His Highness, Sheik Mohammed Al-Maktoum, the vice-president and ruler of Dubai.
By all accounts he's about to write a cheque to take over Liverpool Football Club.
I hope it goes through and he can construct a team as well as he is constructing this city.
Back to gaelic football and with the league just around the corner, this is a fabulous opportunity for the players and WAGS from all counties to meet on this spectacular social outing.
The sponsors Vodafone ensure that it is a trip to remember and for me it's always a delight to see the likes of Paddy Bradley, Steven McDonnell, Seamus Moynihan, Alan Brogan and Peter Canavan (pictured) get a chance to let their hair down (well obviously that doesn't apply to the Sultan of Errigal Ciaran who doesn't have any hair!)
Joking aside it's a pity that we won't be able to see the wee maestro running out on February 3 to share in a moment of history for the GAA when Tyrone face Dublin.
The attendance record for the national league was the Down v Offaly final in 1963 which attracted 73,000 punters.
That record will surely go under the magnificent new floodlights at Croke Park in that Tyrone game against the Dubs..
Aren't France and England in for a treat when they take on the Irish rugby team at Croker.
Labels: Construction, Dubai, Hotel
Dubai Expects Liverpool Bid to Win, al-Ansari Says (Update1)
Dubai International Capital LLC, which has been in talks with Liverpool Football Club for almost two months, still expects to buy the soccer team even after Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett made an approach, said Sameer al-Ansari, Dubai International's executive chairman.
``I understand he offered 5,000 pounds a share while we offered 4,500 pounds a share,'' al-Ansari said in an interview yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. ``We are very confident the club will not consider the other offer.''
After weeks of speculation, Liverpool yesterday told the London Stock Exchange it received an approach from Gillett that ``may or may not lead to an offer.'' An acquisition would cost Dubai about 150 million pounds ($294 million) plus as much as 300 million pounds to finance a new stadium, according to al- Ansari. Chairman David Moores owns more than 51 percent of the team.
Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al-Maktoum and U.S. billionaire Gillett are vying for control of a team that won the last of its record 18 English league titles in 1990. Liverpool, which would become the seventh of 20 English Premiership clubs to be owned a foreign investor, has been seeking a buyer for three years to try to compete better on and off the field with Roman Abramovich's Chelsea and Malcolm Glazer's Manchester United.
Gillett had no comment, his spokesman Donald Beauchamp said.
Motives
Bruno Delorme, a sports management professor at Concordia University in Montreal, said Gillett's motives for wanting to take over Liverpool aren't clear.
``It's hard to know why he would bid for Liverpool, other than the fact he has a long history of being involved with sports teams,'' Delorme said in a phone interview.
Gillett is chairman of Booth Creek Ski Holdings Inc., a closely held company based in Vail, Colorado, that owns six ski resorts in California, New Hampshire and Washington. He bought the National Hockey League's Canadiens in 2001 and used to own the Harlem Globetrotters.
Glazer in 2005 bought Manchester United and fellow U.S. billionaire Randy Lerner in August took over Aston Villa. Chelsea was bought by Russia's Abramovich in 2003.
Dubai expects a decision on its Liverpool bid ``in a few weeks,'' al-Ansari said. It would initially buy the chairman's controlling stake and then seek to buy the remaining shares within four to six weeks, he said.
West Ham
The most recent Premiership team to be bought by someone from outside the U.K. was London's West Ham, which in November agreed to an 85 million-pound offer by Iceland's Eggert Magnusson. At the time of the purchase, he acknowledged that the increase in the value of television accords was one of the factors behind his decision.
The Premiership, already the world's richest soccer league, this month completed agreements worth 2.7 billion pounds -- covering live domestic telecasts, overseas broadcasts and Internet rights -- that will lift the champion team's revenue from TV and prize money to 50 million pounds next season from 30.4 million pounds currently.
On the field, Liverpool is the only English team to have won Europe's elite Champions League twice -- most recently in 2005 -- and only Spain's Real Madrid and Italy's A.C. Milan have a better record.
United's Revenue
Even so, Liverpool's annual revenue of 122 million pounds trails that of Manchester United, winner of eight league titles in 14 years, and Chelsea, English champion the past two seasons.
The club plans to lift revenue by moving to a new 60,000- capacity stadium less than a half-mile from the 45,000-seat Anfield. United's match-day sales are more than double Liverpool's.
``We understand what the club needs,'' said al-Ansari, a self-professed Liverpool fan. ``We're keen to build the new stadium.''
The 115-year-old team has previously turned down investment offers from a group of Thai businessmen, 5 percent shareholder Steve Morgan, Hollywood movie producer Mike Jefferies and Juan Villalonga, the former chairman of Spanish phone company Telefonica SA.
Dubai International Capital LLC, which has been in talks with Liverpool Football Club for almost two months, still expects to buy the soccer team even after Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett made an approach, said Sameer al-Ansari, Dubai International's executive chairman.
``I understand he offered 5,000 pounds a share while we offered 4,500 pounds a share,'' al-Ansari said in an interview yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. ``We are very confident the club will not consider the other offer.''
After weeks of speculation, Liverpool yesterday told the London Stock Exchange it received an approach from Gillett that ``may or may not lead to an offer.'' An acquisition would cost Dubai about 150 million pounds ($294 million) plus as much as 300 million pounds to finance a new stadium, according to al- Ansari. Chairman David Moores owns more than 51 percent of the team.
Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al-Maktoum and U.S. billionaire Gillett are vying for control of a team that won the last of its record 18 English league titles in 1990. Liverpool, which would become the seventh of 20 English Premiership clubs to be owned a foreign investor, has been seeking a buyer for three years to try to compete better on and off the field with Roman Abramovich's Chelsea and Malcolm Glazer's Manchester United.
Gillett had no comment, his spokesman Donald Beauchamp said.
Motives
Bruno Delorme, a sports management professor at Concordia University in Montreal, said Gillett's motives for wanting to take over Liverpool aren't clear.
``It's hard to know why he would bid for Liverpool, other than the fact he has a long history of being involved with sports teams,'' Delorme said in a phone interview.
Gillett is chairman of Booth Creek Ski Holdings Inc., a closely held company based in Vail, Colorado, that owns six ski resorts in California, New Hampshire and Washington. He bought the National Hockey League's Canadiens in 2001 and used to own the Harlem Globetrotters.
Glazer in 2005 bought Manchester United and fellow U.S. billionaire Randy Lerner in August took over Aston Villa. Chelsea was bought by Russia's Abramovich in 2003.
Dubai expects a decision on its Liverpool bid ``in a few weeks,'' al-Ansari said. It would initially buy the chairman's controlling stake and then seek to buy the remaining shares within four to six weeks, he said.
West Ham
The most recent Premiership team to be bought by someone from outside the U.K. was London's West Ham, which in November agreed to an 85 million-pound offer by Iceland's Eggert Magnusson. At the time of the purchase, he acknowledged that the increase in the value of television accords was one of the factors behind his decision.
The Premiership, already the world's richest soccer league, this month completed agreements worth 2.7 billion pounds -- covering live domestic telecasts, overseas broadcasts and Internet rights -- that will lift the champion team's revenue from TV and prize money to 50 million pounds next season from 30.4 million pounds currently.
On the field, Liverpool is the only English team to have won Europe's elite Champions League twice -- most recently in 2005 -- and only Spain's Real Madrid and Italy's A.C. Milan have a better record.
United's Revenue
Even so, Liverpool's annual revenue of 122 million pounds trails that of Manchester United, winner of eight league titles in 14 years, and Chelsea, English champion the past two seasons.
The club plans to lift revenue by moving to a new 60,000- capacity stadium less than a half-mile from the 45,000-seat Anfield. United's match-day sales are more than double Liverpool's.
``We understand what the club needs,'' said al-Ansari, a self-professed Liverpool fan. ``We're keen to build the new stadium.''
The 115-year-old team has previously turned down investment offers from a group of Thai businessmen, 5 percent shareholder Steve Morgan, Hollywood movie producer Mike Jefferies and Juan Villalonga, the former chairman of Spanish phone company Telefonica SA.
Labels: Dubai
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Gold trade through Dubai reached US$14.75 billion in 2006, an increase of 37 per cent from 2005, according to a statement by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC). In 2005, Dubai’s gold trade was estimated at US$10.73 billion, up marginally from US$10.17 billion in 2004.
A total of 489 tonnes of gold was imported into Dubai in 2006, while exports from Dubai increased by 23 per cent to 274 tonnes. In line with global trends, there was a minor decrease in imports in 2006, which touched 522 tonnes in 2005. Dubai’s top trading partners for gold are India, Switzerland, the UK, Malaysia and the GCC states, but the geographical reach of business has certainly expanded.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chief Operating Officer at DMCC, said: “Despite consistently high prices, the significant growth in the value of gold imported and exported through Dubai in 2006 reinforces the Emirate’s traditional role as the gold centre of the region. The figures compare very well against other global gold centres, particularly in Europe where higher gold prices resulted in significantly lower demand in 2006.”
He continued: “It is also worth noting that a large percentage of Dubai’s gold trade is conducted by companies operating under the DMCC umbrella.”
“Gold trade through Dubai remained remarkably steady throughout the year, touching US$3.58 billion, US$4.06 billion, US$3.37 billion and US$3.74 billion respectively for the four quarters of 2006,” said Colin Griffith, Executive Director for Gold at DMCC, commenting on the release of the data received by DMCC from the Statistics Department of Dubai World.
“Gold prices, which averaged US$604 per ounce in 2006, have rallied in the last few years, backed by strong investor sentiment,” said Griffith. “The significant amount of gold trade through Dubai, while prices are at historical highs, fully reflects the good service and excellent pricing in the ‘City of Gold.’”
He added: “Several factors are expected to impact the prices of gold this year, including fluctuations in the US economy, the price of oil, and social and political unrest around the globe. We expect the market to remain extremely volatile as a result. But as Dubai becomes an important destination for gold refining and manufacturing, the gold trade through the Emirate will be impacted positively. In addition to being the ‘Golden Gateway to India,’ the level of trading in gold on the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange continues to increase year on year.”
A total of 489 tonnes of gold was imported into Dubai in 2006, while exports from Dubai increased by 23 per cent to 274 tonnes. In line with global trends, there was a minor decrease in imports in 2006, which touched 522 tonnes in 2005. Dubai’s top trading partners for gold are India, Switzerland, the UK, Malaysia and the GCC states, but the geographical reach of business has certainly expanded.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chief Operating Officer at DMCC, said: “Despite consistently high prices, the significant growth in the value of gold imported and exported through Dubai in 2006 reinforces the Emirate’s traditional role as the gold centre of the region. The figures compare very well against other global gold centres, particularly in Europe where higher gold prices resulted in significantly lower demand in 2006.”
He continued: “It is also worth noting that a large percentage of Dubai’s gold trade is conducted by companies operating under the DMCC umbrella.”
“Gold trade through Dubai remained remarkably steady throughout the year, touching US$3.58 billion, US$4.06 billion, US$3.37 billion and US$3.74 billion respectively for the four quarters of 2006,” said Colin Griffith, Executive Director for Gold at DMCC, commenting on the release of the data received by DMCC from the Statistics Department of Dubai World.
“Gold prices, which averaged US$604 per ounce in 2006, have rallied in the last few years, backed by strong investor sentiment,” said Griffith. “The significant amount of gold trade through Dubai, while prices are at historical highs, fully reflects the good service and excellent pricing in the ‘City of Gold.’”
He added: “Several factors are expected to impact the prices of gold this year, including fluctuations in the US economy, the price of oil, and social and political unrest around the globe. We expect the market to remain extremely volatile as a result. But as Dubai becomes an important destination for gold refining and manufacturing, the gold trade through the Emirate will be impacted positively. In addition to being the ‘Golden Gateway to India,’ the level of trading in gold on the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange continues to increase year on year.”
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Dubai’s skyline is about to get a new landmark shaped like a traditionally dressed Gulf national that will act as a truly welcoming beacon for people flying into the new Jebel Ali International Airport.
As well as being visible to those flying in and out of Jebel Ali Airport, the AED 500 million Burj Al Arabi building will also keep a watchful eye over those living in both the Jebel Ali and Jumeirah Palm developments.
An AAA Group project, it will be part of the Jumeirah Village being developed by Limitless Co and will be expected to feature in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest concrete and glass human shaped building in the world when completed in 2009.
Burj Al Arabi will be 140 metres tall and have 35 floors. It will have a total built area of 400,000 sq.ft, of which 350,000 sq.ft will be for commercial offices and the remainder will be for retail outlets, restaurants and parking. A major feature will be the use of specially coloured glass that will be harmonised in the Arabic fashion. The “iqal” or peak of the tower may include a rotating restaurant and conference centre.
AAA Group Chairman Mohammed Al Syoufi says the development of the Burj Al Arabi concept has come about through his desire to celebrate all that is good about the people of the Gulf and the Arab world in general.
“It will rank alongside the Burj Arab and similar projects as a truly local icon that reflects both Islamic and Arabic history,” Al Syoufi says.
Burj Al Arabi has won praise from a leading local Islamic scholar, Mr Ahmed Al Kubaisi, who says the project is both aesthetic and elegant in design.
“Our Islamic and Arabic history is full of what we can be proud of but we do not make enough effort to reflect this in our real estate sector, as many developers race to copy foreign buildings which have nothing to do with our property heritage nor highlight our historic values,” Mr Al Kubaisi says.
“Burj Al Arabi is not intended to be the statute of a person, but symbolises a particular style of dress. It honours the religion, culture and language of the Arab people from a real estate perspective.” Construction is expected to start in the first quarter of this year, but those interested in purchasing a part of what will become a local icon will have to wait – the developer has decided not to launch it for sale at the present time.
As well as being visible to those flying in and out of Jebel Ali Airport, the AED 500 million Burj Al Arabi building will also keep a watchful eye over those living in both the Jebel Ali and Jumeirah Palm developments.
An AAA Group project, it will be part of the Jumeirah Village being developed by Limitless Co and will be expected to feature in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest concrete and glass human shaped building in the world when completed in 2009.
Burj Al Arabi will be 140 metres tall and have 35 floors. It will have a total built area of 400,000 sq.ft, of which 350,000 sq.ft will be for commercial offices and the remainder will be for retail outlets, restaurants and parking. A major feature will be the use of specially coloured glass that will be harmonised in the Arabic fashion. The “iqal” or peak of the tower may include a rotating restaurant and conference centre.
AAA Group Chairman Mohammed Al Syoufi says the development of the Burj Al Arabi concept has come about through his desire to celebrate all that is good about the people of the Gulf and the Arab world in general.
“It will rank alongside the Burj Arab and similar projects as a truly local icon that reflects both Islamic and Arabic history,” Al Syoufi says.
Burj Al Arabi has won praise from a leading local Islamic scholar, Mr Ahmed Al Kubaisi, who says the project is both aesthetic and elegant in design.
“Our Islamic and Arabic history is full of what we can be proud of but we do not make enough effort to reflect this in our real estate sector, as many developers race to copy foreign buildings which have nothing to do with our property heritage nor highlight our historic values,” Mr Al Kubaisi says.
“Burj Al Arabi is not intended to be the statute of a person, but symbolises a particular style of dress. It honours the religion, culture and language of the Arab people from a real estate perspective.” Construction is expected to start in the first quarter of this year, but those interested in purchasing a part of what will become a local icon will have to wait – the developer has decided not to launch it for sale at the present time.
Labels: Burj Dubai, Construction, Dubai, Properties
Monday, January 08, 2007
The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has announced that a large cruise ship, Albatros, has arrived in Dubai for a two-day tour with 958 passengers and crew members, mostly Germans and Austrians. Traditional heritage display of weaving, tool making house building by local ladies and men were demonstrated at the DTCM-operated Dubai Cruise Terminal in Port Rashid complex. Traditional Arabic coffee, Gahwah, and dates were served to passengers on arrival.Staffs were at hand at the information counter to assist passengers with any inquiries as well as giving out maps of Dubai in different languages and brochures on Dubai.Dubai is expected to welcome 50 cruise ships at its state-of-the-art cruise terminal during the cruise tourism’s winter season running until April 2007. Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, DTCM Director General, said: “The arrival of a record number of cruise ships over a six month period speaks volumes about the status that Dubai enjoys on the world cruise tourism map.”
The DTCM officials are coordinating with the other government organizations like the Dubai Ports Authority (DPA), Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) and Dubai Customs to handle the winter season rush. The ship-shaped terminal, opened in 2001, measures 3300 square metres and is able to accommodate two ships simultaneously on a 335-metre quay. The Dubai Cruise Terminal is the world's first to receive ISO-9002 certification and also the world’s only cruise facility run by the government tourism body.
Labels: Dubai
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Dubai's currently most anticipated tower to be finished is now 95 storey's in completion - in terms of concrete structure. The US$900million-budgeted project is boasting its 329-metre height. This makes Burj Dubai taller than the Burj Al Arab, which is standing at 321 meters. However, it is still yet to win over against the height of the Emirates Towers office tower which stands at 355 meters. With the heavy rains during the past several weeks slowing down the construction phase for most projects in the UAE, it is most likely that they are back on track and will reach the 100th level in the next few days.
Labels: Burj Dubai, Construction, Dubai, Properties
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
The Dubai government has capped the annual rent increase at a maximum of seven per cent on all rental properties as of January 1.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued a decree yesterday saying the rent increase will not exceed seven per cent of the annual rent of the property, WAM reported.
Dubai was the first emirate in the UAE to introduce a rent cap in November 2005, when Shaikh Mohammad issued a decree capping the increase at a maximum 15 per cent of the annual rent. That decree ended on December 31.
According to the new decree, the rent increase must not exceed seven per cent of the annual rent of the property. This applies to all rent contracts that are to be renewed in 2007 on the condition that no rent increase was made on that particular property during 2006.
Article 2 of the new decree says no rent increase can also be made in 2007 on properties whose contracts had already been signed in 2006 with a new tenant.
The decree tasked the special judiciary committee in charge of settling disputes between landlords and tenants (Dubai Rent Committee) to come up with appropriate measures to implement the new decree, which takes effect from the date of its issuance, January 1.
Residents, realtors happy
Residents yesterday welcomed the cap, saying it will provide much-needed relief. They said it has come at the right time when rents were spiralling, forcing many expatriates to send their families home. Mohammad Kazerouni, an Iranian, said: "The 7 per cent rent cap will help many to save."
Real estate agents also welcomed the new rule, saying rent increases were not commensurate with employee salaries. Ryan Mahoney, managing director of Better Homes, a Dubai-based real estate company, said the rent cap would be good for the emirate.
"Dubai needs this kind of short-term surgical approach to the rental-control problem," he said.
"Any more than the rents are now is too much. People can't afford to accommodate themselves, and businesses can't afford to accommodate themselves," he added.
With additional inputs from Scott Shuey, Chief Business Reporter, and Sunita Menon and Daniel Bardsley, Staff Reporters
How and where to get help
Tenants and landlords can contact the Dubai Rent Committee in case of disputes relating to rents. Mohammad Ahmad Al Shaikh, General Secretary of the Committee, said the rent committee takes action on rent increase issues only if a tenant formally files a complaint with the rent committee. "We cannot, however, do anything if both landlords and tenants agree on the rent increase," he said.
He advised tenants not to hesitate to come to the rent committee because it was formed to settle disputes between landlords and tenants.
The rent committee's telephone numbers are: 04-2232766, 04-2215555. Its office is located on the ground floor of the Dubai Municipality headquarters on Baniyas Road in Deira.
"They should not hesitate to come to us as their rights are well protected under the law," he said. The committee also receives complaints from landlords against their tenants over rent disputes and other related issues.
published by Gulf News
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued a decree yesterday saying the rent increase will not exceed seven per cent of the annual rent of the property, WAM reported.
Dubai was the first emirate in the UAE to introduce a rent cap in November 2005, when Shaikh Mohammad issued a decree capping the increase at a maximum 15 per cent of the annual rent. That decree ended on December 31.
According to the new decree, the rent increase must not exceed seven per cent of the annual rent of the property. This applies to all rent contracts that are to be renewed in 2007 on the condition that no rent increase was made on that particular property during 2006.
Article 2 of the new decree says no rent increase can also be made in 2007 on properties whose contracts had already been signed in 2006 with a new tenant.
The decree tasked the special judiciary committee in charge of settling disputes between landlords and tenants (Dubai Rent Committee) to come up with appropriate measures to implement the new decree, which takes effect from the date of its issuance, January 1.
Residents, realtors happy
Residents yesterday welcomed the cap, saying it will provide much-needed relief. They said it has come at the right time when rents were spiralling, forcing many expatriates to send their families home. Mohammad Kazerouni, an Iranian, said: "The 7 per cent rent cap will help many to save."
Real estate agents also welcomed the new rule, saying rent increases were not commensurate with employee salaries. Ryan Mahoney, managing director of Better Homes, a Dubai-based real estate company, said the rent cap would be good for the emirate.
"Dubai needs this kind of short-term surgical approach to the rental-control problem," he said.
"Any more than the rents are now is too much. People can't afford to accommodate themselves, and businesses can't afford to accommodate themselves," he added.
With additional inputs from Scott Shuey, Chief Business Reporter, and Sunita Menon and Daniel Bardsley, Staff Reporters
How and where to get help
Tenants and landlords can contact the Dubai Rent Committee in case of disputes relating to rents. Mohammad Ahmad Al Shaikh, General Secretary of the Committee, said the rent committee takes action on rent increase issues only if a tenant formally files a complaint with the rent committee. "We cannot, however, do anything if both landlords and tenants agree on the rent increase," he said.
He advised tenants not to hesitate to come to the rent committee because it was formed to settle disputes between landlords and tenants.
The rent committee's telephone numbers are: 04-2232766, 04-2215555. Its office is located on the ground floor of the Dubai Municipality headquarters on Baniyas Road in Deira.
"They should not hesitate to come to us as their rights are well protected under the law," he said. The committee also receives complaints from landlords against their tenants over rent disputes and other related issues.
published by Gulf News
Labels: Dubai, Properties
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Labels: Dubai
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