News from Dubai

Rotana, one of the leading hotel operators in Middle East, has opened its first property with beach access.

The Amwaj Rotana is a 5 star hotel situated at The Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence. It offers 301 rooms and suites, numerous restaurants, plus a health club and swimming pool.

Timur Ilgaz, General Manager of Amwaj Rotana Jumeirah Beach Dubai said: “We are proud to launch Rotana’s first property with beach access in Dubai and our aim is to provide the ultimate in comfort and convenience, for great value accommodation”.

The population of Dubai grew by 2 percent in the quarter ended March 2010, despite the economic crisis affecting the emirate.

Figures released by the Dubai Statistics Centre reveal that the population at the end of the first quarter of 2010 reached 1,803,000.

The data showed that males comprised 77 percent (1.4 million) of the population, a distortion caused by the large number of male expatriate labourers employed in Dubai.

America’s largest chocolate manufacturer has opened its first store in Dubai and the Middle East.

Hershey’s Chocolate World at the Dubai Mall stocks a range of more than 400 Hershey products, both confectionary and non-confectionary.

Sunaina Gill of franchisee Retail Is Detail said ‘At Hershey’s, you will find hundreds of exclusive products including giant chocolate bars, Hershey memorabilia, and even customized products. The store is a great way for people to enjoy our chocolate, but it’s also a fun, interactive experience for visitors of all ages.’

The store features a ‘green screen’ where families and individuals can have their photos taken and placed on a customised chocolate bar or other product. It is also home to the World’s Largest Hershey Chocolate Bar, measuring 60 cm by 30 cm and weighing 5 pounds.

Hersey’s Chocolate World is located on Level 2 of the Dubai Mall, next to the Reel Cinemas.

InterContinental Dubai Festival City is about to welcome a VIP (Very Important Purple) guest to the hotel. Barney the friendly dinosaur is coming to Dubai to perform live at the hotel, including a special performance at a family themed ‘Purple Brunch’. The brunch will cost AED 150 for children and AED 75 for adults, from 12:30pm to 4pm on Friday 23rd July 2010. Barney will also perform a series of live shows in the hotel lobby for free, from 20th – 24th July inclusively.

That’s not all though, as the hotel is also offering 100 lucky children the chance to enter into a raffle draw to meet Barney in person! From now until the end of July, simply spend AED 100 or more at InterContinental Dubai Festival City to earn a ‘purple ticket’. 100 of these will be selected to meet Barney after his performances. Every child who comes to the ‘Purple Brunch’ will also enter into the draw, with extra tickets available for the best dressed Barney impersonators!

Tickets for the Purple Brunch are expected to sell faster than the shake of Barney’s tail, so book yours quickly to avoid disappointment. For more information or to book your place on the Purple Brunch, call 04 7011128 or email restaurant.reservation@ichdfc.ae. To learn more about the dining options at InterContinental Dubai Festival City where you can spend AED 100 or more to earn the chance to meet Barney, visit www.diningdfc.com.

Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai is offering the trip of a lifetime with ‘The Atlantis Big Break Competition’.

To win the holiday at Atlantis, applicants have to make a video depicting why they should win a holiday with nine friends or family for five nights. The awe-inspiring prize includes return economy class flights for all 10 guests, five deluxe rooms at Atlantis on a bed and breakfast basis, return private transfers, ten Dolphin Encounters at Dolphin Bay and a complimentary dinner at Ronda Locatelli.

There are three ways to enter the Atlantis Big Break Competition:

1.) Download the Atlantis iPhone application and go to ‘Win Amazing Prizes’. Make a video explaining why you and nine friends should win a holiday to Atlantis. Upload the video entry and fill in the competition entry form.
2) Visit www.atlantisdubaibigbreak.com and read the instructions. Make a video explaining why you and nine friends should win a holiday to Atlantis. Upload the video entry and fill in the competition entry form. The video can also be uploaded to http://www.youtube.com/atlantisthepalmtv
3) Visit www.facebook.com Search for the fan page “Atlantis Resort.” Click on Atlantis, The Palm and The Atlantis Big Break Competition. Read the instructions, make and upload the video entry and finally, fill in the competition entry form.

In addition, Atlantis is offering the ‘Romantic Rendezvous’ Competition where entrants only need to answer a multiple-choice question correctly after watching a short video. The winner of the “Romantic Rendezvous” will win round-trip economy airfare for two guests, three nights in an Imperial Club room, daily breakfast, one complimentary dinner in Nobu and Seafire respectively, a spa treatment for two in the Atlantis Spa and two Dolphin Adventures.

As the competition is judged by the number of total of votes, applicants should encourage their friends and family to vote for their video to increase their chances of winning. The ten videos with the most votes will then be reviewed by a panel of judges and a winner selected.

“This competition really gives potential guests an opportunity to show us their creativity on why they should come and enjoy Atlantis,” commented Alan Leibman, President/Managing Director, Atlantis, The Palm. “I can’t wait to watch the videos from the Atlantis iPhone application, the Atlantis facebook page, as well as the Atlantis website.”

To enter the Atlantis Romantic Rendezvous competition, watch a video on the Atlantis iPhone application, the Atlantis website at www.atlantisdubaibigbreak.com or by visiting the Atlantis Resort fan page on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/atlantisthepalm

Both competitions are open until midnight (Dubai time) on 25 June 2010. Winners will be announced on 2 July 2010.

Four holidays for two to Hong Kong or Rome are up for grabs for diners at Mirdif City Centre this month, as the mall kicks off its ‘Dine & Fly’ competition.

Four lucky Mirdif City Centre customers have the chance to win a holiday package to the modern metropolis of Hong Kong or to the ancient city of Rome, including two business class tickets and 5 nights accommodation in a luxury 5-star hotel for each winner, simply by dining at any of the mall’s mouth watering cafes and restaurants (excluding food courts).

The competition runs until 16th June and for every AED 50 spent at Mirdif City Centre restaurants or cafes, diners will receive a stamp. Customers simply have to collect six stamps and complete a Mirdif City Centre Dine & Fly card to enter the draw.

Yousif Al Ali, Vice President of Mirdif City Centre said: “Mirdif City Centre is home to over 79 restaurants and cafes, which serve up an international flavour with a range of cuisines from around the world. This amazing array of dining options is reflected in our latest F&B spend and win promotion where Mirdif City Centre diners have the chance to win the ultimate culinary experience in the unique destinations of Hong Kong or Rome.”

“This promotion is a great way to re-enforce and add value to what is on offer at our diverse F&B outlets that offer international cuisines from East to West. I am sure our customers will really embrace the opportunity to have a shot at winning one of these amazing prizes,” he added.

Participating outlets include foodie favourites such as Abou El Sid, California Pizza Kitchen, Caffe Nero, Carluccio’s, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Mango Tree Bistro, More Café, Pars Iranian Restaurant, PF Changs, Pinkberry, Tiffinbites, Tony Roma’s, Uno Chicago Grill, and Yo! Sushi, to name a few.

The Mirdif City Centre F&B Dine & Fly cards are available via direct mail, or from customer service desks at the mall from May 20 to June 16.

Purchase your 30-day or 96-hour UAE visa on www.emirates.com

Emirates airline has introduced yet another initiative to simplify travel with the launch of ‘Purchase your UAE visa online’. Emirates is the only airline in the Middle East to offer this complete online visa solution to its passengers visiting its hub – Dubai, UAE – for business or leisure.

The feature – an extension of the online flight booking process on www.emirates.com – can be accessed by valid Emirates ticket holders from 35 select countries. Only 30-day and 96-hour visit visas to Dubai, UAE are available through the new feature, subject to all pre-requisites being met. The pre-requisites are defined by Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) as it takes the decision to grant the visa. (www.dnrd.gov.ae ).

A 96-hour visa will cost US$ 44 while a 30-day visa will cost US$ 57. Service fees are applied separately.

Visas are delivered via email within four international working days. Passengers can continually track the status of their applications via www.emirates.com

Richard Vaughan, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide noted: “Advancements in aviation are often related to simplifications in the travel process. I’m delighted Emirates is advancing travel convenience by allowing its customers to apply, purchase and track their UAE visa online – another initiative in a series of self-service tools that offer more convenience, flexibility and control to passengers. Taking place from the comfort of one’s home, office or hotel, it requires none of the running around often associated with submitting forms, securing approvals and collecting visas.

“It also demonstrates our ongoing commitment to Dubai and its tourism industry. The timely introduction of this feature ahead of the summer rush will facilitate travel for scores of tourists visiting the emirate during the Dubai Summer Surprises.”

Groups and families stand to gain significantly as the feature accepts multiple requests of up to nine people as long as they are on the same booking. It is available to Emirates ticket holders regardless of whether the booking is facilitated via www.emirates.com, an Emirates office or a travel agent.

In its initial phase the facility is being rolled out in 35 countries* in the Far East, Indian sub-continent, Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas. In the second phase, due to roll out in the coming weeks, offline markets will be targeted. These comprise countries that do not have Emirates services, but which connect to nearby gateways of the Dubai-based airline.

Passengers click ‘Manage Your Booking’ on www.emirates.com and proceed with seven simple steps to complete the transaction. Passengers have the flexibility to request visas at the time of or after the flight booking has been completed.

Emirates has partnered with VFS Global to introduce this feature. VFS Global – a part of Switzerland-based Kuoni Travel Group – is a specialist partner for diplomatic missions worldwide, processing over 7 million (contracted) visa applications per year. It operates the Dubai Visa Processing Centre (DVPC) in 11 countries. DVPC does not process work visas.

The Dubai Road and Transport Authority has announced that three more Metro stations on the Red Line will open tomorrow.

The new stations are GGICO in Garhoud, Trade Centre, and the Noor Islamic Bank in Al Quoz.

The new stations will bring the total number of operational stations on the Red Line to 21.

Emirates Business reports that 7 stations on the Dubai Metro Red Line will open on April 30 2010, and not April 25 as previously reported.

The new stations opening are: Emirates HQ, Dubai International Airport Terminal 1, GGICO (Al Garhoud), Al Karama, Trade Centre, Dubai Marina, and the Ibn Battuta Mall.

The remaining 11 stations will open in October.

Mirdif City Centre, the latest development from leading shopping centre pioneer Majid Al Futtaim Properties, has unveiled today what is believed to be the largest mural created by children that the region has ever seen.

Painted by over 500 students from five GEMS Education Schools across Dubai the massive work of art took more than 3,000 hours to produce over recent weeks. The giant 36 x 7 metre educational work of art depicts eco-systems and endangered animals and will be exhibited in Mirdif City Centre Galleria for the next few weeks.

It was unveiled at a special ceremony in the Central Galleria of Mirdif City Centre with students involved in the art project enthralling guests with a dance performance based on the environmental themes of the mural. This was followed by displays from Team Extreme, a high tension bungee acrobatic team from Germany and a parade by the Italian Saltambico troupe of entertainers, all watched by thousands of visitors to the new mall.

Mr Yousif Al Ali, Vice President of Mirdif City Centre, described the art project as perfectly in line with the mall’s core ideals of engaging the community and making a commitment to the environment: “Sustainability and our community are two fundamentals of Mirdif City Centre, and this project embodies both these things.

“Involving and educating the next generation on key issues, such as the protection of the environment and endangered species is so important, and what better way to do this than through the medium of art? The expression created by the students will provide the perfect backdrop to celebrate Mirdif City Centre’s opening week and we are pleased to provide a platform to showcase their talent and learning,” added Al Ali.
The mural project involved primary to secondary school students from five GEMS Education Schools – GEMS Royal Dubai School, The Westminster School, Cambridge International School, The Millennium School, and Al Khaleej National School, in addition to participation by Mawaheb from Beautiful People, a charity that helps children with disabilities through art therapy.

The mural is endorsed by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Environment and Water, and the Emirates Wildlife Society in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature (EWS-WWF), and depicts six different ecosystems – Mountains, Oceans, Desert, Cold/Polar, Tropical Rainforest, Savannah/Grasslands.

Mirdif City Centre opened this week on 16th March with over 350 stores open for business from day one, making it one of the most impressive openings of a mall ever in this region.

Located on the corner of Tripoli Street and Emirates Road, the new AED 3 Billion, 196,000 square metre mall, was completed in just over two years and has been delivered on time, as promised.