IMAX Corporation have announced that they have signed and agreement to install an IMAX theatre at Meydan, a commercial and residential project in Dubai incorporating the Meydan Racecourse. The advanced motion picture system is expected to be installed by the end of 2009.
The first IMAX theatre in the UAE opened at the Grand Megaplex cinema at the Ibn Battuta Mall in 2005 and features a screen measuring 44 feet tall and 70 feet wide.
Emirates Airline is set to close boarding gates at Dubai International Airport 15 minutes before the scheduled flight departure time to ensure its flights leave on time. The new policy will be introduced on June 22.
Passengers are requested to check in 2 hours before their scheduled departure time and be at the boarding gate 35 minutes before their flight departs. Passengers will be advised of the new 15 minute gate closure policy at check in.
Mohammed H Mattar, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Airport Services said, ‘Emirates is implementing the 15-minute before departure gate closure in consideration of our customers who arrive on time for their flights. The new policy will allow aircraft to take off as scheduled as it takes about 15 minutes to locate and off-load the baggage of missing or late customers.’
Plans for a massive water fountain at Downtown Burj Dubai have been unveiled by Emaar Properties. Situated in the Burj Lake, it will be capable of shooting jets of water 500 feet high, equivalent to the height of a 50-storey building.
It will be complemented by a visual effects system consisting of more than 6,000 lights and 50 colour projectors. The total cost of the lake and fountain is budgeted at AED 800 million.
Emaar Properties has announced that the opening of the Burj Dubai will be delayed by around 8 months. Completion is now expected in September 2009.
Part of the Downtown Burj Dubai development, the tower is the world’s tallest building. Work came to a halt in November 2007 when 40,000 labourers working on the project went on strike over conditions and pay.
The Jumeirah Group has been appointed by Al Fattan Properties to manage the Jumeirah Al Fattan Palm Resort. The contract was signed at the Burj Al Arab hotel yesterday.
The 5-star resort is situated on the crescent of the Palm Jumeirah and features 213 rooms and suites, 4 restaurants, a private beach, beach club, spa, and meeting and conference facilities. Opening is scheduled for late 2009.
High-end store Saks Fifth Avenue has opened a 15,000 square foot men’s clothes shop at The Walk at the Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai. The store will complement their existing 80,000 square foot store at the Burjuman Centre which opened in 2004.
Lines offered include clothes from Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, John Glliano, and Ralph Lauren, leather goods from Prada and Tumi, watches by Parmigiani and Roger Dubuis, shoes, and fragrances.
The store offers personal shopping, luxurious fitting rooms, and a lounge with wireless internet access.
Silverjet Airlines has grounded its fleet after rescue funds promised last week failed to materialise.
A statement on the company’s website dated May 30 reads, ‘Silverjet continues to be in discussions with investors interested in supporting the business of Silverjet, however it has yet to conclude such discussions to its satisfaction. It is with deep regret that the Board of Silverjet has therefore decided that it must suspend operations with immediate effect. The last service of Silverjet was the flight from Dubai to London Luton, which departed at 7.30 am (BST) this morning.’
Dubai Municipality has outlawed cigarette sales to anybody under the age of 20. The ban takes place with immediate effect and was advertised yesterday in several Arabic-language newspapers. Young people are also barred from public areas where smoking is permitted.
Salem Mesmar, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for Health, Safety and Environment Control Sector said, ‘Statistics show that three out of 10 people in the UAE smoke. There is an even greater danger from the passive or second-hand smoking.’
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that car parks will be built at 3 Metro stations to encourage use of the system.
The car parks will be situated at Al Ghusais at the end of the Green Line, at Rashidiya on the Red Line, and at the Jumeirah Islands station on Sheikh Zayed Road. They will accommodate 6,000, 2,800, and 2,000 cars respectively.
There will be no car parks at any of the other Metro stations.
De La Soul, the Grammy Award-winning, hip hop group from New York will be performing at The Lodge in Oud Metha on June 3 2008. Entry is Dhs 140 and the doors open at 8 pm.