The Kensington Nursery caters to children from 4 months upwards delivering the British Foundation Stage curriculum through the Reggio Emilia Approach. Maha Seddiqi, Nursery Director says, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to share The Kensington experience with the DSO community. We understand that the formative pre-school years are a crucial stage of a child’s personal and social development .Accordingly, the purpose built setting, has been thoughtfully designed to support our objectives of providing a happy, secure and stimulating environment.”

The Nursery offers a rounded pre-school experience, helping children to develop social and emotional skills as well as cognitive and physical skills. The children participate in a variety of activities which include language development, creative expression through arts and crafts, drama and imaginative play and early reading skills. Sand and water play, physical education, cookery and information technology also feature in the weekly schedule.

The Nursery environment includes the Kensington’s signature elements such as the Language Majlis, children’s organic garden, large indoor soft play area and a pet zone featuring rabbits, guinea pigs, tortoise and birds.

The Nursery is also committed to contributing to the wider community, holding open fun days for all families on special occasions such as National day and Halloween. It also works with local charities on fund raising activities. Maha Seddiqi says “Our events programme is central to our philosophy of cooperation and collaboration with our parents and community neighbours and we look forward to joining the Dubai Silicon Oasis community.

Airberlin flies thrice-weekly from Dubai to its hub Berlin with connecting flights to points all over Europe. All flights are operated with state-of-the-art Airbus A330 aircraft in a two class configuration with Business and Economy Class. Further information airberlin can be obtained at 04-3966969 or airberlin.dxbres@oasistravel.ae and on airberlin.com/uae.

This unique artist is a compilation of music and fashion fantasy, proving that her character and spirit express tremendous respect to all genres of arts and creativity, with a high emphasis on musical, performance and productive ability when it comes to showcasing her vocal skills and exclusive style.

Macy is a sensual artist by far, and a inimitable singer songwriter, with 5 studio albums under her belt and a 15 million albums selling record, she scored two Grammy Awards, two MTV awards and her massive hit single “I Try,” had one of the most successful singles of all time going number one worldwide. With her fifth studio album, The Sellout released in June 2010; this artist confirmed a strong comeback on the scene, with the initial reviews of the album firmly indicating that she just may be a solid choice.

“Macy is one of the very few artists whom kept an original and exclusive style on the music scene, her rich repertoire and diverse profile of skills are the highlights of her personality which makes her a looked after artists, she perfectly fits the profile of the festival line-up and will we are surely talking about a “Sellout” show!” declared Anthony Younes, founder and organizer of the festival.

The same night, February 17th, 2011, will host a performance of Jazz duo Mindi Abaire & Peter White and the headlining alternative band LIFEHOUSE.

The festival line-up includes as well the band Train, Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Alison Moyet, Mica Paris, and Joshua Radin amongst a long list of many more bands performing throughout 18 days at different venues.

For more info visit www.dubaijazzfest.com

The popular TV presenter, pianist and bandleader will perform live in front of the Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival spectators on February 16th, 2011 at the Dubai Media City Outdoor Amphitheater, following the concert of the Pop Icon Alison Moyet.

Anthony Younes, founder and organizer of the festival, said “We are really pleased to have such popular and respected artists as Jools Holland and Alison Moyet headlining the opening night of the festival, the 2 shows will certainly appeal to large tasteful crowd, and I hope they can surprise the crowd with a special dual appearance, let’s wait and see! ”

Jools’ Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra will include Gilson Lavis, special guest vocalists Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall.

The musical maestro sprang to fame in the 1970s aged 15 when he formed Squeeze with Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford. Their hits included Up The Junction and Cool For Cats. After co-presenting The Tube on TV with Paula Yates, Jools formed The Jools Holland Big Band in 1987 and this has gradually morphed into the current 20-piece band, with organist, drummer, three female vocals, guitar, bass guitar, two tenor saxophones, two alto saxophones, baritone saxophone, three trumpets, and four trombones. They play live in front of more than 500,000 people around the world annually.

Jools’ career as a recording artist has also seen him collaborate with performers like Sting, Tom Jones, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Bono, Joe Strummer, KT Tunstall, Robert Plant, Smokey Robinson, Sugababes, Ringo Starr and Peter Gabriel.

This night will kick off with a performance of the awarded star Mica Paris the power, and sheer soulfulness of her singing that made a major impact on the UK music scene.

Festival line-up includes as well the band Train, Lifehhouse, Macy Gray, and Joshua Radin amongst a long list of many more bands performing throughout 18 days at different venues.

For more info visit www.dubaijazzfest.com

Alison Moyet will warm up the night prior to Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra show. She will be performing a fantastic selection of songs from her incredible three decade career.

Alison Moyet is a multi-award winner who is branded as one of pop’s greatest survivors. Everyone adores Alison Moyet; the Basildon punk, the high priestess of electronic pop, and the peerless soul singer who has warmed British hearts since the early 1980s. She first became famous aged 21 as the singer in Yazoo, and released her triple-platinum debut solo debut, Alf, at 23. During her well established career she has released 7 solo albums, performed at Live Aid, won BRIT Awards, been nominated for a Grammy and taken on roles in London’s West End.

“Alison tops the list of the leading names from across the music world, she is going to add greatly to the line-up of the festival this year, we are sure that her show will be a great attraction to a remarkable fan base and real music appreciatives in our region” commented Anthony Younes, founder and organizer of the festival.

The 9th edition of the Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival will kick off with the World of Jazz, a series of outdoor free concerts, at the Walk – JBR followed by another 7 nights of Jazz shows at the Jazz Garden and tying up with the main concerts nights on February 16th, 17th and 18th, 2011 at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre featuring a line-up of international artists.

For information on tickets, line-up and venue, please visit dubaijazzfest.com.

That single set a record by spending more than 60 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Their singles have sold over 3 million copies. Later Lifehouse singles “First Time,” “Whatever It Takes,” and “Broken” have also achieved major chart and sales success.

For the duration of Los Angeles-based Lifehouse’s ten-year career they’ve been delicately balancing two identities: radio-ready song craftsmen and raucous live rock and roll band. On their fifth studio album, Smoke & Mirrors, the band finally unites these two personalities. , The guys in Lifehouse have an impressive resume!

Leading up to Lifehouse concert, Grammy award winner Macy Gray, will take the stage for a first appearance in the region. With five releases under her belt, Macy sold 15 million albums, scored two Grammy Awards, two MTV awards and with “I Try,” had one of the most successful singles of all time, selling “On How Life Is” like hotcakes, entering the Top Ten and going triple platinum by the end of 2000.

The festival is set to start on February 1st, 2011 and tie up on February 18th of the same month offering multiple activities and concerts; with the last 3 nights hosting the main concerts at Dubai Media City Amphitheater. The band is set to rock the Skywards stage as the closing act of the night.

Festival Line-up includes as well the band Train, Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Alison Moyet, Mica Paris, and Joshua Radin amongst a long list of many more bands performing throughout 18 days at different venues.

For more details visit www.dubaijazzfest.com

Until today Canadians were able to obtain free 30 day visit visas on arrival at Dubai International Airport and other points of entry into the UAE.

According to the website of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Ottawa a short term visit visa, valid for 30 days, will cost Canadian citizens $250.

The change is a result of a diplomatic argument between Canada and the UAE over airline landing rights at Canadian airports.

Sol Kerzner’s passion for hospitality was recognized by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the award of the insignia of Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG) for his outstanding and exemplary contribution in the area of business and community in the Bahamas. This highest honour was awarded in the annual Queen’s Birthday Honours list for 2010.

“I am truly humbled and most honored by these recent accolades,” says Sol Kerzner. “I would not be here today without the hard work and dedication of our people around the world. While I feel proud of all we have accomplished, there is still much more work to be done and we look forward reinventing the hospitality experience yet again in the next decade.”

With the opening of his latest resort, One&Only The Palm, Dubai, in November and the launches of Atlantis The Palm, One&Only Cape Town and most recently, the Mazagan Beach Resort in Morocco, Kerzner has continued to successfully grow during the two challenging years of the global recession.

Kerzner operates the successful 3,500-room Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas and the 1,500-room Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai. Kerzner also operates some of the top-rated luxury resort properties in the world, under the One&Only brand, which are located in The Bahamas, Mexico, Mauritius, Maldives, South Africa and Dubai.

Last week, Sol accepted the ILTM/UltraTravel Lifetime Achievement award in Cannes for his life-long service and dedication to international travel in Cannes. In February 2010, Kerzner was awarded the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Albert E. Koehl Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to advertising and marketing in the hospitality industry. Kerzner was also lauded for his humanitarian achievements outside the travel arena with two distinguished awards from both sides of the pond. Kerzner’s dedication to helping raise over £200 million for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children was acknowledged by The Variety Club Children’s Charity in London honoring him with their May 2010 19th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award. In June, Kerzner accepted Cornell’s 2010 Hospitality Innovator of the Year Award, given annually by the Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.

“Sol’s enterprising spirit and boundless imagination are evident in the spectacular properties that he and his team have created in markets around the world,” said Tom Ward, Managing Director of the Pillsbury Institute during the awards dinner in New York. “From urban settings to remote islands, Sol has put a uniquely distinctive imprint on our industry.”

The new Hard Rock Cafe is schedule to open in October 2010 at the Festival Centre, Dubai Festival City.

Dubai’s previous Hard Rock Cafe, situated on Sheikh Zayed Road near Dubai Media City, closed in March 2009.

The new 26,000 square foot restaurant will be the largest Hard Rock Cafe outside North America. It will feature seating for more than 300 diners, a large music stage and the world’s largest Rock Shop. A 35 metre ornamental guitar, the tallest in the world, will adorn the exterior of the restaurant.

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”.