April 2009 DH 5

IN FOCUS
Dubai Mall’s Gold Souk
Staff retention or replacement?
DISCUSSION
A 2010 recovery
ART
A royal artist
SPORTS
Dragon boating and company teamwork

TRAVEL
Affordable holidays
A different view

Life Story
al
e
AR
lulu_fresh digest.qxd 3/31/09 3:26 PM Page 1
 ‘Employability’
is key to sustainable jobs
B
loggers went into hyperactive mode
within hours of Dubai Police chief
Lt Gen Dhahi Khalfan Tamim calling
for the boycott of companies using
the economic crisis as a pretext to fire national
employees. Many of them felt it was unbeliev-
able. Some went to the extent of interpreting
what this boycott would entail, particularly its
implications on the security of non-compliant
establishments.
“Private companies must keep UAE nation- By K Raveendran naturally.
als in their jobs in order to keep the national
identity of the sector. Such layoffs harm the
relations between the public and private organisations
in the UAE”, a press release quoted the Dubai Police
chief as saying.
The issue was triggered by a group of sacked UAE
national employees of Al-Futtaim group approaching
the Ministry of Labour and the courts, complaining
against their dismissal, which the company attributed
to a ‘restructuring plan’ to tide over the impact of the
global financial crisis. The echoes of similar sentiments
were also heard at forums such as the Federal National
Council.
The global financial meltdown has come like a natu-
ral calamity. How will it sound if rescue operations in
the aftermath of a natural disaster are made selective
on the basis of the victims’ nationality, the bloggers
asked.
While some of the questions did merit answers, the
‘shock’ response was surely overdone. Who can refuse
to see that similar sentiments are being expressed all
over the world? In fact, this theme is central to Presi-
dent Barack Obama’s stimulus packages, which seek to
reward companies that provide good jobs to Americans
in preference to lower-paid immigrants.
Obama had last year introduced the Patriot Em-
ployer Act to reward companies that created good jobs
with good benefits for American workers. The legisla-
tion provided for ‘tax credit to companies that main-
tain or increase the number of full-time workers in
America relative to those outside the US; maintain their
Pg 1-5 fine-edit-cont.indd 1
corporate headquarters in America if it has
ever been in America; pay decent wages;
prepare workers for retirement; provide
health insurance; and support employees
who serve in the military.’
The comparison is outrageous, but what
Dhahi Khalfan meant and what Obama
had in mind are the same thing. The Dubai
Police chief said it in his own ‘typical’ style,
but Obama has more sophisticated ways,
There is no escape from the fact that the
financial crisis has brought protectionism
back in all its shapes and hues. Also coming to the fore
is the widespread revulsion against unfettered open
market policies and the very concept of the so-called
capitalist model, which seems to be folding up with
accelerated speed as the impact of the crisis sinks
deeper.
There is growing discrimination against, or prefer-
ence shown, depending on which side of the fence you
are, to interest groups in national employment policies;
tariff barriers are coming back with a vengeance, and
governments are doing everything possible to keep
foreign goods and services away from their shores. For
the US, the problem is even more acute as competitive
devaluation of currencies in Asian countries is making
American goods more costly and more inaccessible to
US customers.
Having said all this, one cannot overlook the quali-
tative difference in the situation obtaining here and
the rest of the world. Employability is a major factor
in ensuring sustainable employment and that cannot
be overcome with any amount of policy legislation or
administrative fiat. There is a clearly established link
between employment and productivity, and nothing
can be an effective substitute, including nationalist
fervour, for this organic connection.
To some extent, nationalism can make up for differ-
ences in skill levels, but can’t stand for the skill itself.
This is where Al-Futtaim and the rest of them in the
private sector have a point.
UAE Digest, April 2009 1
4/1/09 12:43:03‭ ‬PM
 April 2009 DH 5

IN FOCUS
Dubai Mall’s Gold Souk
Staff retention or replacement?
DISCUSSION
A 2010 recovery
ART
A royal artist
SPORTS
Dragon boating and company teamwork

TRAVEL
Affordable holidays
A different view

Life Story
al

e
AR

MANAGING EDITOR : K Raveendran

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2 UAE Digest, April 2009

Pg 1-5 fine-edit-cont.indd 2 4/1/09 4:57:11‭ ‬PM

 A REAL LIFE STORY

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Ahtesham was indirectly affected by the economic
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8074-MM Banner-UAE Digest.indd 1 3/31/09 6:21:50 PM

UAE Digest, April 2009 3

Pg 1-5 fine-edit-cont.indd 3 4/1/09 12:43:07‭ ‬PM

 Contents
48
On the Cover
Affordable holiday destinations
welcome us now that the rate
of exchange is changing and
encouraging stressed out
individuals to de-stress in
interesting, and slightly off beat,
locations worldwide.
4 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 1-5 fine-edit-cont.indd 4
8
Hopeful of a 2010 recovery
Transparency is one of the keys for the UAE to navigate
through the current economic crisis. Major industry
players in the country are of the opinion that there is no
reason to lose hope.
11
Staff retention or replacement?
Should companies retain the staff they have and use this
critical time to re-train and re-focus, or should they trim
their salary payments and hire already trained professionals
who are unfortunately now in the hiring pool?
17
Dimming the glow
Just like onions can make
eyes water, trees block a path
and icebergs rip ships apart,
cultural misunderstandings can
make life a lot harder than it
needs to be. Knowledge about
your own and other cultures
can help withstand some of the
challenges in a multicultural
environment.
34
All teamwork and all play
makes Jack a full boy
Dragon Boat racing is the latest sport that brings a mixture
of valuable skills at work
4/1/09 12:43:11‭ ‬PM
 Non Stop
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Fares starting from AED 260* One way

Delhi
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www. airindia.in

*Taxes / Conditions applicable

Air India AD.indd 1 4/2/09 11:41:25‭ ‬AM

 IN THE NEWS
New facility for global tea industry
T
he Dubai Tea Trading Centre
(DTTC), a division of the
Dubai Multi Commodities
Centre (DMCC), has unveiled
its new centralised tea storage, blending
and value addition services as part of
its expansion plans to accommodate
the growing activities of the centre.
The 23,731 square metre facility in the
Jebel Ali Free Zone also includes office
space for regional and international tea
companies.
DTTC’s new facility offers services
across the entire value chain of the
tea industry ranging from storage, tea
tasting, blending, packaging as well
as networking opportunities leading
to increased trade. It also provides
dedicated individual storage space, free
storage for a limited period of time, and
temperature-controlled blending and
packing facilities for a wide range of
teas under one roof.
Sanjay Sethi, Head of the DTTC,
said: “DTTC’s new facility is a milestone
for the centre as well as the global tea
trade. As Dubai is neither a producer
nor a significant consumer of tea, it
is well positioned to offer integrated
services across the tea industry. We
6 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 6 In The News-national bonds.indd 2
(from left to right) Jamal
Majid bin Thaniah,
Executive Vice Chairman,
DP World and Group CEO,
Ports Customs World;
Ahmed bin Sulayem,
Executive Chairman, DMCC;
Dr. David Rutledge, CEO of
DMCC; Sanjay Sethi, Head
of DTTC; Salma Ali Saif
bin Hareb Chief Executive
Officer - Economic Zones
World.
have already seen immense interest
from international tea traders to avail
these new facilities,” he added.
The new centre has the capacity
to pack up to 250 metric tonnes of
tea in tea bags every month and up
to 900 metric tonnes of loose tea
in retail format per month. These
comprehensive services are expected
to further help boost the volume of tea
traded through Dubai.
In addition to providing market
infrastructure, DTTC also enables
tea traders to access finance through
the services of the Global Multi
Commodity Receipt (GMR).
Dubai Aquarium & Under-
water Zoo at The Dubai Mall has
introduced Leafy Sea Dragons (Phy-
codurus eques), a unique animal
in which the males carry the young
in a stomach pouch. As soon as
they are born, the young ones are
independent and are left to fend for
themselves.
‘Leafies’, as they are more af-
fectionately known, are found only
on the coast of South Australia.
There are only a very small number
of aquariums in the world that fea-
ture these
enigmatic
creatures.
They grow
to a maxi-
mum size of
43cm and
are mostly
found hid-
ing away in
weed and
grassy beds,
as well as
man-made structures such as piers.
Mubasher, a provider of e-finan-
cial solutions, in collaboration with
the World Gold Council, Nasdaq
Dubai and Dubai Multi Commodi-
ties Centre (DMCC), announced that
it recently concluded a seminar that
introduced the Shariah-compliant
Dubai gold shares to investors and
industry professionals. Mubasher
revealed that the new tradable
gold securities provide a Shariah-
compliant secure, low-cost gateway
for clients from all over the world
to trade gold bullion without the
additional costs normally associated
with insuring, storing and transact-
ing in physical gold.
The company disclosed that
gold securities, which will initially
be worth one-tenth of the value
of an ounce of gold per share, is
a significant new development for
Nasdaq Dubai, particularly in view
of a sharp surge in interest in gold,
as investors continue to diversify
their investments in the wake of the
global financial crunch.
Non-profit organisation, Strays
of Abu Dhabi (SAD), will hold its
annual fund-raising ball on Fri-
day, April 17, 2009. The theme is
Diamond Collars and Black Leashes.
SAD is a grassroots organisation
committed to rehabilitating and
re-homing stray or abandoned dogs
in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The
event will feature dancing and a
silent auction.
Rachel Shaw, Director of SAD
said: “Each year, countless dogs and
other animals find themselves on
the city’s streets, in harm’s way and
with little food, water and shel-
ter. It is our mission to find these
animals, rehabilitate, resocialise,
and find them the loving homes
they deserve. Funds are needed
for a variety of reasons, such as vet-
erinary health exams, vaccinations
and worming, surgical sterilisation
(spays and neuters), boarding fees,
collar / leash / tag for each dog,
toys / chews during time in kennels
while seeking new adoptive homes,
The SAD phone / helpline and ad-
vertising, posters etc to re-home our
four-legged friends.”
4/1/09 3:55:35‭ ‬PM
 IN THE NEWS

The display on the Nasdaq Tower in New York, announcing the successful listing of the Dubai Gold Securities on Nasdaq
Dubai on March 2. Photo on the tower shows (from left to right): Jeff Singer, Chief Executive Officer, Nasdaq Dubai; Ahmed
bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, DMCC; and Aram Shishmanian, Chief Executive Officer, World Gold Council.

UAE Digest, April 2009 7

Pg 7 In the News-Nasdaq.indd 1 4/1/09 12:47:47‭ ‬PM

 DISCUSSION
Hopeful of a
2010 recovery
By Ambily Vijaykumar
T
ransparency is one of
the keys for the UAE
to navigate through the
current economic crisis.
Major industry players in the country
are of the opinion that there is no
reason to lose hope in the prospect
of the country in general, and
Dubai in particular, re-assuming the
centrestage of the region’s financial
market, once the dust over the
economic crisis settles.
A sizeable majority of industry
participants at an event organised
by the Dubai Knowledge Village
last month included those from
real estate, media and advertising,
information technology and banking
Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director of Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International
Academic City, (centre) with the speakers at the DKV Breakfast Club
8 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 8-10 Discussion.indd 2
industries. They were confident that
Dubai will recover from the crisis
in 2010.
The general optimism stems from
several factors. The Dubai industry
has reacted positively to the $20
billion bond programme by the
Dubai government. With half of the
bonds fully subscribed by the UAE
central bank, industry players say
that is a step in the right direction
and sends out a message that the
UAE ‘is reacting as a country’ to this
issue and that Dubai has not been
left to fend for itself.
Even the fear of the extent of
exposure to the real estate sector
that has gripped the market is not
a cause of worry, says the banking
industry.
“Yes there is exposure to the real
estate market. But it is only 17 per
cent of the GDP as compared to the
US and the UK markets where it is
a staggering 80-90 per cent, and at
times over 100 per cent of the GDP,”
says Marios Maratheftis, Regional
Head of Research, Mena & Pakistan,
Standard Chartered Bank.
On January 31 this year, the
loan-to-deposit ratio for banks
in the UAE exceeded Dh100
billion. Banking experts say that
the problem that has plagued
the banking industry is the lack
of liquidity and not a lack of
4/1/09 12:49:07‭ ‬PM
 DISCUSSION
willingness to lend to each other.
“When hot money, which was
close to $156 billion, left the market,
banks began looking at their balance
sheets. And the present crunch has
been a result of banks competing for
deposits. That is the reason they are
offering higher interest on deposits.
This is directly impacting interest
rates for loans,” explains Marios
Maratheftis.
Unlike countries like the US that
have run into a massive debt burden,
the UAE debt, experts say, is “very
acceptable”. Though there has been
a considerable devaluation of assets
held outside the GCC, that is not
a reason to panic, opine industry
experts.
The impact of the crisis has hit
home with exports tumbling on a
month-to-month basis for the past
couple of months. There has been
a two per cent decrease in exports
in the month of February when
compared to figures in January this
year and the percentage of exports
decreased by four per cent in
January as compared to December
last year. Compared to peak figures
in the month of August last year, so
far there has been a steep decline
of about 20 per cent in exports ever
since the economic crisis set in.
Curiosity has been triggered about
the exact number of companies
that have shut shop and given the
UAE, and Dubai in particular, a
skip. When the Dubai Chamber of
Commerce and Industry was quizzed
about this, they were unable to
provide any confirmation. “We can’t
know about it. With the law not
making it mandatory for companies
to go through a proper process
before wrapping up, the truth might
only be known once the company
has packed its bags and left,” says
Dr Belaid Rettab, Senior Executive
Director, DCCI.
In the light of events like this, the
DCCI says it is essential for both the
government and various corporates
to be more transparent about their
dealings. “This is the only way to
enhance confidence in the market,”
says Dr Rettab.
10 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 8-10 Discussion.indd 4
Industry players in Dubai and the
UAE are hopeful the emirate will
get back on track by next year
The confidence has been largely
lost because the real-estate bubble
has burst. Now the impact of that
will solely be decided by how long
the drop will last and how steep the
dive that the market has taken will
be.
“I do not see the super luxury
segment of the housing sector being
affected. It will be the luxury and
high-end markets that will take the
hit,” says Markus Alexander Giebel,
Chief Executive Officer, Deeyar
Development.
People are waiting for property
prices to fall further to invest in
homes. This has lead to fewer
buyers and prices tumbling further.
An overwhelming majority of
industry players said they expect
prices to go further down. So what
is the way forward for developers?
“Merging is a definite option.
Matching a strong balance sheet
with a bad one will be beneficial on
a mid to long-term basis,” says Mr.
Giebel.
With a cash crunch facing both
banks as well as customers, defaults
are a major worry for developers.
Has Deeyar faced a similar situation?
“As of now, we have zero defaults.
We are talking to our customers and
trying to extend their repayment
tenure. But then, we are only
delaying the defaults by doing that,”
informs Giebel.
Advertising has been another
segment of the industry that has
taken a beating. “We have registered
a 50 per cent drop in advertising
revenues in January this year as
compared to the same month last
year,” says Ronald Howes, Managing
Director, Memac Ogilvy.
This large-scale impact is because
the real estate and financial sectors
had become the mainstays of
revenue for the advertising sector.
With that no longer being the case,
the advertising industry says this is
the time to optimise public relations.
“In times like these, various
brands keep a low profile to save
on advertising costs. But this is
the time to put the public relations
department into an overdrive. It has
to be done to reassure people that
the brand still exists and what it
plans to do in the future,” says Mr
Howes.
Likewise, the industry also feels
there is room for more measures to
be taken to help revive the economy.
There was, however, only a thin
margin between those who thought
so and those who said that the
government’s steps so far have been
“ineffective”.
The industry would like to see
several steps taken to tighten loose
ends. Developers want residence
visas to be issued to people who
own property in the UAE. This,
they say, is an excellent incentive to
attract more buyers.
The banking industry wants the
cash flow restored. Apart from that,
they would like to be updated with
economic data by the government
and would also like to see
“investment in more productive areas
of the market apart from real estate.”
Industry players underlined
the need for the country and the
region to tab into the manufacturing
department. Also, food processing
was one area that received the
thumbs up from experts.
A common refrain that was
felt at the meet was that restoring
confidence and cash flow at the
moment was far more essential for
the Dubai market and the UAE than
chasing profits.
Experts would like to
see the government
‘take more steps’ to
tackle the crisis
4/1/09 12:49:08‭ ‬PM
 IN FOCUS

Staff retention or
replacement?
By Linda Benbow

T
he unfortunate truth is that blown itself out. But for those who,
people are getting ‘sacked’, due to money constraints, must trim
‘laid off’, ‘released’, ‘let spending and expenses, the decision
go’ all over the world due of who should be ‘allowed to leave’
to the global economic crisis. It and who should stay is not always
is happening in this country too as tricky as it could be. Careful
among all levels of workers, be they pruning of non-productive staff
manual, blue-collar, white collar, leaves a trimmer, more competent
professionals and, yes, even the firm to deal with future problems
top honchos of companies are not and future improvements and
exempt; hard working men and successes. Identifying low, cost-
women are losing their source of effective and meaningful retention
income due to no fault of their own. strategies is critical as this promotes
It is hard for the person who is a more sensible and productive
sacked. And it is a difficult time approach to economising and
for the person who has to do the Patrick Luby boosting productivity.
sacking. decisions to survive in a competitive “It is imperative that effective
Now that the country has realised world. Most, of course, would measures to retain people who
that the crunch has hit it, there have rather keep all their employees and display significant expertise and
been strong reactions and varying carry on trading until the crisis has knowledge be adopted, as they
methods of trying to cope with
difficult decisions. Traditionally,
the last person to join a company
is the first to be asked to leave
it. Employees who have gained
and used their experience within
the company are kept for as long
as possible to try and help the
company stay in business. They
are the ones who know what to do,
how to do it, and when.
But some old-timers may have
shown disgruntled feelings in the
past, or queried decisions that they
should not have. It isn’t always ‘last
in; first out’ as some are finding to
their dismay.
Employers have to make staffing

UAE Digest,April 2009 11

Pg 11-13 In Focus-Staff retention.indd 1 4/1/09 12:50:21‭ ‬PM

 IN FOCUS
form a part of the major assets of
a corporate entity,” said Patrick
Luby, Managing Director, Manpower
Middle East.
The company, which entered the
Middle East market in December
2007 through the acquisition of
Clarendon Parker Middle East -
staffing solutions provider - has
conducted a comprehensive study on
workforce engagement and retention
trends, revealing the urgency of
adopting more effective employee
retention programmes to attain both
competitiveness and profitability.
The study advocates the
implementation of HR policies that
encourage harmonious corporate
relations and employee loyalty.
The current shortage of
competent professionals in the
Middle East is not a unique regional
phenomenon, as up to 41 per cent of
employers worldwide are struggling
to fill job vacancies due to lack of
suitable talent. Results also reveal
that the replacement process could
cost up to 1.5 times the salary of
outgoing employees, thus making
retention a more cost-effective
option.
Employees are not always ‘made
redundant’; sometimes they resign
so as to find a better opportunity for
themselves. At a time when sacked
staff are returning to their home
countries, others are looking to fill
the gaps when employers realise that
they have let the wrong people go;
12 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 11-13 In Focus-Staff retention.indd 2
or when employers change their
tactics, get lucky with attaining new
business and need a good worker
to help them move forward.
According to the MME findings,
better employment opportunities
(79.4 per cent), career advancement
(80.8 per cent), and improved
work environment (45.9 per cent)
are some of the top reasons for
job mobility, aside from increased
pay, which is cited as the basis
for 85 per cent of respondents to
leave their current jobs. The study
indicates that organisations offering
benefits such as experiential
opportunities, a clear career path,
mobility options, and travel and
working conditions that balance
work, personal and family growth
are more likely to retain their pool
of talent.
If you want to keep your good
staff motivate them, encourage
loyalty and remember that old
adage “treat others as you would
like to be treated”.
Keep your staff motivated
and effective
Many successful managers say that
employee motivation is today’s key
for improving staff productivity. The
goal is to make a company better
without spending more money,
and the only affordable strategy
is to coax improvements from
employees, say many bosses. They
are not wrong.
When morale is high, staff get
continued satisfaction at their jobs.
Leaders help their people find pride
and self-esteem in their work, by
personally thanking them for doing
a good job. Morale is highest when
this recognition is given promptly,
often and sincerely. It is strong in
companies when leaders willingly
take time to meet employees and
listen. To staff an ‘open door policy’
means that their ideas for improving
the company are heard.
Morale is strong when leaders
involve staff in decisions, especially
the ones that affect their jobs and
careers. Staff may get the sense they
can make themselves more effective
and valuable.
The talent crunch
MME has also released an insight
paper, highlighting the need for
reforms in labour policies and
practices throughout the world,
particularly those involving female
work participation. Titled ‘The
underworked solution: Women and
the talent crunch’, the study affirms
that the rate of female participation
in the labour force is significantly
lower than that of men throughout
the world. It also identifies two key
trends that require a shift in the
regional and global employment
paradigm: a shortage of working-
age talent and the growing
dominance of the services sector.
Numerous positions remain
unoccupied in service sectors such
as IT, engineering and healthcare
where women have the potential to
excel, and yet a huge discrepancy
still exists in terms of the number of
women considered for and offered
these posts.
Although barriers to female
employment are mostly cultural
in nature, many of them can be
addressed at the structural level.
The company is encouraging
governments and enterprises to
discard inflexible work structures,
especially the prevailing 5-day,
40-hour work week and policies
such as limited maternity leave
and forced overtime which deter
women from returning to work.
The employment services specialist
is also advocating more equality in
terms of pay and job advancement
opportunities.
The paper advises women to
take the initiative themselves by
joining education and training
programmes that improve their
employability and skill levels, by
engaging the services of reputable
employment service providers to
enhance their chances of being
recruited in the right field, or even
by considering entrepreneurship as
a way of harnessing their talents.
4/1/09 12:50:22‭ ‬PM
 DILEMMA
How to be direct
with people
By Anesh Jagtiani
I
did a session on how to
communicate at a higher level.
The main point to question
in communication is “when
we communicate, are we merely
exchanging words or meaning in
order to connect?”
During an analyst conference
call in July 2004 – concerning a
massive corporate merger, a CEO
had repeatedly been telling Wall
Street that as much as $80 million
in cost savings could be achieved
by combining the two companies.
Finally, an analyst asked this
prominent CEO to expand upon his
$80 million savings claim. According
to the transcript of the call, here was
this man’s answer:
“I’ll try to answer you, but you
can’t put a lot of faith in what I’m
going to say. I know in one meeting
I said if we look at this a year from
now it will be clear, or should be
clear - you know - what is and what
we can do and what’s attainable and
14 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 14-15 Dilemma.indd 2
how quickly; and I still think that’s
true. God knows, I would hope
that’s true.”
Having heard that explanation,
do you understand how the
$80 million in cost savings will
be achieved? Analysts didn’t
understand either. In fact, they took
this confused response as a sign
of cold feet and that the proposed
merger might not be approved by
their boards. The stock price of the
executive’s firm, which had surged
when the merger was announced,
was quickly sold off. This caused
the stock price to sink eight per
cent in one day, decreasing the
value of his firm by an estimated
$1.5 billion.
Of course, I doubt that we all
will make a $1.5 billion mistake
when we communicate.
So what really constitutes good
communication where we exchange
meaning and not just words to
connect with people?
Here are five traits of leaders
who connect not just communicate:
• Open: They are open and feel
free to express themselves
• Direct: They are direct and come
to the point
• Sincere: They are sincere. No
need to act
• Respectful: They respect the
other person’s point of view
• Interested in making good things
happen: They want a win-win
situation that benefits both
parties
The above points are known to
everyone. I asked the participants
which one of the above five they
find most challenging in order to
connect with people?
Their answer: Being direct!
I found that quite interesting as
the fear of being direct is predicated
on the fear of being disliked by
being direct OR fear of hurting the
other person’s feelings. So the real
question is how can we be direct
with people and still connect to
them?
Let’s consider a scenario. You
are sitting in a staff meeting with
10 people discussing the budget
reports. One of your colleagues says
about you: “Roger was supposed
to finish the report yesterday.
Typical of him not to honour his
commitments”
Now that’s way below the belt.
You want to be direct: The cliché
style of being direct would be to
sandwich it: first say something
positive, then what concerns you,
and then end with a positive.
So you meet Jack after the
meeting and want to use the cliché
style of being direct. It would sound
4/1/09 3:11:20‭ ‬PM
 DILEMMA

something like this. “Hi Jack. Great
participation in the meeting. I didn’t
like what you said. By the way, nice
haircut!”
This approach is manipulative
because as soon as people start with
something positive, they are already
anticipating, when is the word BUT
going to surface. So starting with
something positive would make
people defensive.
Or, Roger can be direct and
still connect: “Jack. You made a
comment that it was typical of me
not to honour commitments. This
comment really concerned me. What
was the reason for that comment?”
Here, you are doing two things.
• You address the behaviour: This
comment really concerns me,
which is far better than saying “I
didn’t like what you said” as you
are then attacking his identity and
not his behaviour.
• You end with a question: What
was the reason you said that for?
This fosters a need to understand
instead of passing a judgement.
And gives you a chance as there
could be a hidden truth in the
comment.
Addressing behaviour as opposed to
the identity of the person is neutral
and makes the person less defensive
and enables you to connect.
Other examples:
Roger. I thought we agreed that
you would be in the office at 9:00
am every morning. You have been
coming at 9:30 am for the last two
weeks. What happened?
Chris. I noticed that you missed
the meeting you had agreed to
attend. I was wondering what
happened. Did you run into a
problem of some kind?”
You take the other person to a
private setting, describe the facts
(what was expected versus what
was observed), end with a question.  stronger human relationships.
And now you are listening to
diagnose the underlying cause.  Anesh Jagtiani is the CEO of
If one really fears being direct,
let’s consider the below:
If you don’t stand for something,
you will fall for anything. Just say it.
If you fear confrontation (if you
want to call it that), make a script
before you talk with the person
and practice it (Make sure you are
not reading the script when you in
front of the person unless you are
interviewing him/her about deep
rooted psychological problems)
Bottomline: If you want to
compliment a person, do only
that. If the behaviour of a person
concerns you, speak your mind and
let your thoughts stand on their own
feet as opposed to sandwiching
them. They will respect you more
for speaking your mind. It may be
an uncomfortable process. But the
end result is they will respect you
for it.
Effective communication is more
than exchanging words. It’s about
connecting the real meaning of
messages with people, leading to
Empowering Leaders Group (M. E).
He is a professional speaker and
trainer. Their leadership programme
helps managers motivate and retain
top people, improve their effectiveness
in communication and maximise the
bottomline of companies. He can be
reached at anesh@elgme.com

Motivate your staff

A great majority of employees start a new job enthusiastic,
but in 85 per cent of the 52 companies that were surveyed in
the UAE, an employee’s morale sharply declines in the first six
months
  - and continues to deteriorate for years afterward!
Here are three ways to stop demotivating your employees:
1. Instil an inspiring purpose
A critical condition for employee enthusiasm is a clear,
credible, and inspiring organisational purpose: a ‘reason
for being’ that translates for workers into a ‘reason for
being there’ that goes beyond money.  Every manager
should be able to expressly state a strong purpose for his
unit.  Starting a mission is a powerful tool.  But equally
important is the manager’s ability to explain and com-
municate to subordinates the reason behind the mission.  Comments concerning desired improvements should be
The best way to do is to use the power of stories as they
connect straight to the heart and can be remembered.
2. Provide Recognition
Now get this: Almost two thirds of employees say that
management is much more likely to critcise them for poor
performance than praise them for good work.  provide specific, concrete details about what you feel
A pat on the back, simply saying “good going,” a dinner
for two, a note about an employee’s good work to senior
executives, some schedule flexibility, a paid day off, or
even a flower on a desk with a thank-you note are some
of the ways managers can show their sincere apprecia-
tion for good work.  I still have a written thank you card
that was given to me by my manager eight years ago!  
3. Give employees feedback and coach them for improve-
ment
First and foremost, employees whose overall performance
is satisfactory should be made aware of that.  Perform-
ance feedback is not the same as an annual appraisal. 
Give actual performance feedback as close in time to the
occurrence as possible. Use the formal annual appraisal
to summarise the year, not surprise the worker with past
wrongs.
specific, factual, unemotional and directed at perform-
ance rather than at employees personally. Avoid making
overall evaluative remarks (such as, “That work was
shoddy”) or comments about employees’ personalities
or motives (such as, “You’ve been careless”).  Instead,
needs to be improved and how.
The reason you are giving feedback is to improve performance,
not prove your superiority.

April 2009, UAE Digest 15

Pg 14-15 Dilemma.indd 3 4/1/09 3:11:20‭ ‬PM

 CULTURE
Trip to Jazirat Al Hamra
By Mike McHugh
T
he United Arab Emirates
has over 1,400 historical
buildings distributed all
over the country. Some
of these monuments can be traced
back to the third millennium BC.
The Architectural Heritage Society
was formed in 2003 by a group of
concerned specialists motivated by
their firm belief in the importance of
preserving that legacy with a mission
to conserve the architectural heritage
of the UAE, rehabilitate and document
it and find new uses for the buildings
where they can. Lectures and training
courses are held and field trips
regularly organised. One of the recent
field trips was to Jazirat Al Hamra.
Until the coast around it was
recently reclaimed, Jazirat Al Hamra
used to be a small island. Located on
the southern coast of Ras Al Khaimah,
it was occupied almost entirely by
the Al Za’ab tribe. The majority of
its residents relocated from Jazirat Al
Hamra to Abu Dhabi when they were
offered land for resettlement, prior to
UAE independence in 1971, and they
16 UAE Digest, January 2009
Pg 16 Culture.indd 2
left their old village as it stood.
While the village was inhabited
throughout the 20th century and
houses were constantly upgraded,
large clusters of coral and plaster
houses dating to the turn of the
century still stand. Jazirat Al Hamra
was an active fishing and pearling
village. Substantial herds of cattle and
sheep were kept on the island.
The Za’ab had a number of ports,
and were active in the overland trans-
shipment of goods. They maintained
summer homes at the Khatt Oasis
and owned much of Khatt’s 20,000
date trees. It was, therefore, a not-
insignificant community.
The settlement was dominated by
the Sheik’s fort, or Hisn. It comprises
a group of fortified domestic
buildings and a circular burj or
watchtower, constructed in sea-stone,
coral and shell-stone, and plastered.
Close by stands a square tower or
murabbah, with emplacements for
cannon.
The souq is still standing, albeit
deserted, running parallel to the
former beach. It runs between the
windtower house at one end and the
mosque, with its distinctive minaret, at
the other end.
The domestic architecture displays
the characteristic Khaleeji patterns and
designs, elaborated and horned arches,
formed in gypsum. Houses comprise
individual nuclear family rooms
arranged around courtyards. Externally,
there are minimal openings to break
the privacy of the compound, but
internally, low-set barred and shuttered
windows restrict sun penetration,
though ensuring breeze flows across
the floor where people are sitting or
sleeping.
Although work has been done
on the towers, the development, as
a whole, is rapidly deteriorating and,
unless conservation measures are
introduced soon, much will be lost for
future generations to see.
Membership is open to all and
further information can be obtained
from Mike McHugh of the Dubai
English Speaking Chapter by emailing
mjmchugh@eim.ae
4/1/09 12:53:35‭ ‬PM
 IN FOCUS

Dimming the
glow?
By Ambily Vijaykumar

Shop owners at Gold Souk

in Dubai Mall say they don’t
get customers; some blame
management for not properly
advertising the souk, others
blame it on the global crisis

P
eople do not visit the Gold
Souk at the Dubai Mall,
they get stuck in it. For the
shop owners, the hopes of
a dream run in the largest mall in
the Middle East with all its brand
pull have not materialised so far.
From familiar names in the jewellery
business to new ones, a common
complaint is that “not many people
know there is a Gold Souk in the
mall”.
Blame it on the mall planning
many say. “The location of the gold
souk within the shopping precinct
does not work to our advantage.
The idea was to make mall
customers walk through the area.
But unfortunately, since the souk is
tucked away in a corner, people do
not notice it. If it had been near the
aquarium, things would have been
different,” says the person in-charge
at Mikura Pearls.
One of the entrances to the souk
is adjacent to the Olympic-sized
indoor ice rink, but as there are
fewer tourists about, mainly due to
the global crisis, this is not of much
use.

UAE Digest, April 2009 17

Pg 17-19 In Focus-Gold Souk.indd 1 4/1/09 12:54:48‭ ‬PM

 IN FOCUS
But once in the high-domed,
architecturally pretty winding
lanes of the golden marketplace,
the sparkle of jewels and
precious metal casts its magic
as window shoppers peer at
exquistly crafted pendants and
chains.
A walk through the souk
is more exhausting than
exciting. There are no seating
arrangements and the souk
is shaped like a snake, which
makes entry and exit points
unclear to the visitor. So, a
person coming inside spends a
better part of the time figuring the
way out rather than looking at the
jewellery.
“A large part of the Gold Souk has
unopened shops. This is damaging
to the reputation of the place. It does
not look good and only makes this
part of the mall look dirty and ill
maintained. Most of the time I am
left to answer queries about the way
out rather than showing customers
our designs,” says Irina at Farah.
The proof of their plight is the
sales figures. “The mall was officially
opened in November last year. Many
stores at the souk opened either
during that time or towards the
end of 2008. I can safely say none
of them has registered a consistent
customer flow,” laments Farah.
Three of the five stores UAE
Digest visited said they did zero
business in the month of February.
“We did not even do business worth
two or three thousand dirhams
last month,” says Ramakrishnan of
Kanwar Jewellery.
“Recession has played its part, but
what has worked against us also is
that we are almost anonymous here,”
says Divyesh at Cara.
Shop-owners complain that the
mall management has failed to
advertise the souk. Even within
the mall, individual shops are left
to do their own advertising. They
print leaflets and leave it at the
information desk so when customers
come in to ask for information, the
desk can put in a word.
But that is pretty impractical
considering the number of shops
at the souk. “Untrained staff also
18 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 17-19 In Focus-Gold Souk.indd 2
makes things difficult. People
standing to guide customers at the
souk are not familiar with the place
and this creates more trouble and
embarrassment,” says Srinivasulu of
Devji jewellers.
The general worry is not about
lack of business, but about even
the lack of access to potential
customers. “Even if we get ten
customers on a daily basis, it
would be good. They might not
necessarily buy things from us,
but then that opens a window of
possibility for a future business with
them. Even that is not happening,”
laments Farah.
KIA, a noted brand, says it has
had five customers in the two
months since it opened here. All of
them were old customers. The store
is hopeful, however, that in a year’s
time things will pick up. “This is a
new place and it will take time for
people to know about it,” says the
store manager at KIA.
Faith in the mall and the souk’s
future is what has prompted leading
international retailer Damas to open
a store at the Gold Souk, taking
the total strength of its retail
brands at the mall to 59.
Asked whether opening a
store for the Italian Leo Pizzo
brand at the gold souk has
been a wise decision, Tawhid
Abdullah, Managing Director
of Damas says, “When we
decided to open a retail store
for this new brand in Dubai,
we thought that it deserved
to be a stand-alone brand
with its own brand boutique,
so we chose the best place
in the region to open it. I
think it is the right location
for this project.”
That is quite opposite to what
a few of the people UAE Digest
spoke to at the gold souk say.
According to them, opening a store
at the gold souk of the mall was “a
big mistake”.
With most of the jewellers saying
their business has been badly hit,
what does the Damas head have to
say about his business?
“Unlike the rest of the world,
jewellers across the world have by
all means been the least affected
by the crisis. Jewellery still remains
the best place to park your money,”
Tawhid Abdullah says. “People
were psychologically affected at the
beginning of the crisis, but what
we see today in the region is that
people are out of that shock,” he
adds.
Even the psychological shock
does not seem to have receded.
When we walked around the gold
souk, there were only a handful
of customers who were window
shopping at noon on a week day.
Even weekends or evenings are no
solace, say shopkeepers.
“We are supposed to be open
from ten in the morning to ten in
the night whether business happens
or not,” says Irina.
Shop owners were frank while
talking about the lack of business
for them at the souk, but were
reluctant to talk about news of
people shutting shop there. A few
of them though did concede that
many owners who bought four or
five shops have cut them down to
one or two.
4/1/09 12:54:49‭ ‬PM
 Stores have been witnessing
depreciation in sales figures. There
has been a drop of 40 to 50 per cent
for many stores. The mall is trying
to attract visitors with special focus
on the weekends. The dome at the
centre of the gold souk has been
made the focus of attraction with an
audio-visual display on the ceiling
of the dome that is a treat to the
eyes and ears. But shop owners say
much more needs to be done. UAE
Digest tried to contact the Dubai
Mall management for their side of
the story, but they were unavailable
for comment.

Treasure hunt
The Dubai Mall has launched a
Treasure Hunt promotion at its Gold
Souk, a sprawling indoor gold and
jewellery shopping centre with inimi-
table Arab design and architectural
features. Until April 5, visitors to the
mall can take part in a free-to-enter
raffle draw to win Dh100,000 worth
in prizes. Visitors are only required
to explore the Gold Souk and find the
five chosen icons that are permanent
fixtures in its passages and complete
the competition entry form, which
can be collected from any Gold Souk
retailer or any Guest Service Desk
around the mall. The completed
forms are to be placed in a raffle
barrel located near the Gold Souk
Treasury Dome. The draw will be held
shortly after the promotion and win-
ners will be contacted directly.
Mr Yousif Al Ali, General Man-
ager, The Dubai Mall, said: “The
Gold Souk in The Dubai Mall is a big
draw among visitors not only for the
diversity of gold and jewellery on
offer by the over 200 stores but also
for its elegant décor. By focusing
the promotion on the Gold Souk, we
want more visitors to appreciate the
elegant collection of gold and jewel-
lery products offered for sale, and
also relax in the unique ambience
that is reminiscent of old world Arab
souks.”
Marvel at Leo Pizzo’s glamorous array of couture jewellery. Griffe is a glamorous line of
heritage rings crafted in the famous groumettes technique while the Diamond Collection
displays the gradual evolution of ceremony jewels such as seen in its white, yellow and rose
gold rings richly encrusted with the finest handpicked diamonds. The Pave technique
is what bestowed Leo Pizzo instant stardom in the world of jewellery, and detailed work
defines the Crop futuristic line of jewels. The latest line of jewels, Dream, is a poetic
interpretation of tradition - a scratched finish on the gold settings imparts a unique texture
to each jewel in this collection. Flair and flamboyance comes to the fore in Colour through
its use of natural coloured stones and coloured gold settings. It was a collier combining
white and pink gold with white diamonds from this popular collection that won the Design
American Couture Award declaring it to be the best creation worldwide.
Damas applauded award winning Italian
design house Leo Pizzo’s style panache on
the eve of its flagship boutique opening at
Dubai Mall. The three decade old Valenza
based jewellery house founded by Leonzio
Pizzo has become famous due to the
creative exuberance and lavish beauty that
distinguish its collections, hailed as the very
epitome of couture jewellery. Its international
standing today is credited to be an outcome
of the intense research, dedication,
imagination, knowhow and strategy of the
brand, and each of its well known collections
such as the Crop, Griffe, Dream and Colour
collections are distinguished for their unique
craftsmanship, colour combination, glamour
and vintage allure, offering women an array
of exciting jewels.

April 2009, UAE Digest 19

Pg 17-19 In Focus-Gold Souk.indd 3 4/1/09 12:54:52‭ ‬PM

 ENVIRONMENT
Barclays Wealth helps employees
see ‘green’
Barclays Wealth, a global wealth management institution,
is addressing concerns on the health
of planet Earth, by initiating an
Environmental Awareness Programme
with the launch of a Green Day Expo
which was held recently at their offices
in the DIFC.
The awareness programme initiated
by the company’s Corporate Real
Estate team (CRES) was designed to
implement conservation methods to
transform the financial institution into
an Earth-friendly community. These
initiatives supplement the bank’s
global call for responsible citizenship.
The Green Day event held in Dubai illustrated the steps
undertaken locally to promote recycling as well as reduce
water and electricity consumption, while educating
employees on how to apply these measures in their daily
lives at work and at home.
Potential for geothermal power
New technology and international cooperation, like
the geothermal collaboration between Iceland and
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, will help promote
awareness of renewable energy, according to Olafur
Ragnar Grimsson, President of Iceland.
Grimsson made such comments in an interview
with Oxford Business Group (OBG), a research and
consultancy firm, in relation to the agreement entered
into by Reykjavik Energy Invest of Iceland and Masdar
City of Abu Dhabi to explore the potential for using
geothermal power as the basis for the air-conditioning
system of the zero-emissions city.
In addition, Grimsson also praised the project as a
partnership between two countries that have already
taken independent measures to develop clean energy
resources.
“I strongly believe that clean energy cooperation
between my small country and the smaller Gulf states
20 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 20 Environment.indd 2
In the UAE, Barclays Wealth started a programme
aimed at implementing methods of conservation to further
reduce pollution and other wastes by adopting simple
changes such as the usage of crockery mugs instead of
paper cups, decrease of the monthly paper
usage and the installation of motion
sensor lighting throughout the offices.
The organisation also went a step further
by investing in ‘Thin Client’ personal
computers for all their employees, which
saves 75 per cent electricity consumption.
Further environmental initiatives will
be adopted during the course of 2009 and
will include the introduction of segregated
waste for recycling, a car pool challenge
and the introduction of organic meal
options for meetings and client hospitality.
Other global initiatives that
demonstrate Barclays Wealth’s
commitment to reduce toxic wastes include the installation
of carbon neutral carpet in the New York, Qatar, and
Mumbai offices. Assessments are also being made for all
new building projects against international sustainable
building design standards.
is a wise strategy which will hopefully continue
to develop,” Grimsson said. He further stated that
technology that enables drilling as deep as six kilometres
underground will transform the potential for geothermal
power in most parts of the world.
To create new opportunities, Grimsson noted that
governments, businesses and scientists should work
together to provide the framework, entrepreneurial drive
and the expertise.
“The diverse and rich experience of the respective
partners means that such partnerships offer many
fascinating opportunities,” he said.
The complete text of Grimsson’s comments can be
found in ‘The Report: Abu Dhabi 2008’, published by
OBG.
4/1/09 12:55:50‭ ‬PM

A vote for the Earth
Emirates Towers.... before and after the lights went out
T Energy saving tips
he Dubai Electricity and Water
Authority (Dewa) announced
on March 29 that power
consumption in Dubai fell by
146,000 kWh during Earth Hour 2009,
which took place on Saturday, March
28. The reduction in electricity was 46
per cent up on 2008 and represented an
88,000 kg drop in Co2 gas emissions.
Thousands of Dubai residents,
businesses and organisations switched
off unnecessary lighting and electrical
appliances, as they joined the global
one-hour power shutdown. The Managing
Director and CEO of Dewa, Mr Saeed
Mohammad Al Tayer, led the official
public display of support for Earth
Hour, held at The Walk, Jumeirah Beach
Residence. Government officials and
members of the public placed more than
5,000 lanterns to spell the words ‘Earth
Hour’ in English and Arabic for the
occasion. The lanterns were handed out
free of charge by Dewa staff, along with
Earth Hour T-shirts and balloons. Dewa
also organised a children’s activity area
that focused on energy conservation.
Among the Dubai landmark buildings
whose exteriors were plunged into
darkness, from 8.30pm to 9.30pm during
the hour, were the Burj Al Arab, Madinat
Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, DIFC’s
The Gate, Emirates Towers, and the World
Trade Centre.
Billed by the WWF as a ‘Vote for the
Earth over climate change’, Earth Hour
embraced more than 4,000 cities and
towns across the globe. In addition to
Dubai, lights were switched off in Abu
Dhabi, Sharjah and Fujairah in the UAE,
as well as all the world’s major cities,
including Sydney, Beijing, Hong Kong,
Manila, Singapore, Mumbai, Delhi, Cape
Town, Athens, Paris, Berlin, London, New
York, Toronto, San Francisco, Mexico City,
Rio de Janeiro and Honolulu.
Pg 21 Environment-Earth Hour.indd 1
Energy Management Services (EMS) • Take a shower instead of a bath,
released a series of recommenda-
tions for improving energy consump-
tion at homes; showing simple and
cost-effective ways for individuals to
make a start towards reducing energy
consumption and contributing to miti-
gating the country’s carbon footprint.
• Unplug appliances such as televi-
sions and computers, which con-
sume energy even when not in use.
• Dim or turn off lights in empty
rooms as lighting usually makes
up about 15 per cent of electricity
bills.
• Increase the temperature setting
for air conditioners and thermo-
stats by two degrees centigrade.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs
with  compact fluorescent bulbs,
which use four times less energy
and last an average eight times
longer (up to 20,000 hours).
• Remember to correctly turn off all
taps to eliminate dripping which
can waste 13 litres of water a day.
Children placing lanterns at The Walk
ENVIRONMENT
Burj Al Arab…. before and after
which can save up to 25 litres of
water.
• Ensure correct air pressure in tyres
of vehicles, which can save up to
five per cent on the fuel bill.
• Opt for car-pooling to cut down
nearly a third of all car mileage
clocked.
• Avoid using plastic bottles or bags,
as it takes around 450 years for a
plastic to biodegrade.
EMS is renowned for auditing
homes and businesses and deter-
mining ways in which individuals or
companies can reduce their energy us-
age. Experts visit facilities to identify
sources of energy use and uncover
inefficiencies. The audits comprise
qualitative and quantitative analyses
that usually start with a comprehen-
sive study of energy bills, consumption
trends and tariffs, and is followed by a
site survey and actual measurements
to review the physical energy use and
distribution.
Mr Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer,
CEO of Dewa, marking the
Earth Hour at The Walk
UAE Digest, April 2009 21
4/1/09 12:56:42‭ ‬PM
 EDUCATION
Key to the region’s future
The Wharton Global Alumni Forum panel discussed challenges
and opportunities in education, media and culture
I
n one of the most candid Najla Al Awadhi, Member of the
sessions at the Wharton Global UAE Federal National Council and
Alumni Forum, held recently Deputy Chief Executive Officer
at the Grand Hyatt Dubai, of Dubai Media Incorporated.
the GCC region’s thought leaders “Education will subsequently fuel
in media, education and culture media and culture.”
underscored the need for progressive Addressing queries from the
education to steer the future of the audience, she said that the UAE
Arab world. Progressive education guidelines not to retrench Emiratis
- that enables individuals to think from the private sector workforce is
creatively and critically and powers not an excuse for inaction. “There
innovation - experts said, is the are strict conditions in the law, and
only way to meet the Arab world’s it is in no way telling UAE nationals
challenge of creating 100 million to be lazy at their workplace. If they
new job opportunities in the region have a record for poor performance,
by 2020. they can be released from the job.”
“The returns on investment in She also said the UAE is not
education is felt only much later, trying to emulate the Western
but these investments will build idea of freedom of the press. “Our
the nucleus of our region,” said Ms country is only 37 years old and we
are part of a
“We are tough neigh-
bourhood.
not against The critics
freedom of (of the Media
the press, but Law) are
not being
we are for fair to the
responsible government,
freedom that which is
will not disrupt trying to
develop
the social and balance
order” – Najla the media.
Al Awadhi We are not
Professor N. Bulent Gultekin, Najla Al Awadhi, Abdlatif Yousef Al Hamad,
Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, Nabil Ali Alyousuf and Sir Paul Judge
22 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 22-23Education-Wharton.indd 2
against freedom of the press, but
we are for responsible freedom that
will not disrupt the social order.” Al
Awadhi said that the previous media
law was a “really bad one. Despite
that, we had a flourishing media
and there was no history of jailing
journalists. We have come a long
way, and there is a gradualism in
everything.”
The panel discussion was
moderated by Professor N. Bulent
Gultekin, Associate Professor of
Finance, The Wharton School of
the University of Pennsylvania.
Other panelists included Abdlatif
Y. Al Hamad, Director-General
and Chairman of the Board of
Directors, Arab Fund for Economic
and Social Development; Abdulaziz
Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, Chief Editor,
Al Arab newspaper; Nabil Ali
Alyousuf, Director-General, the
Executive Office of His Highness
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum; and Sir Paul Judge,
Chairman, Schroder Income Growth
Fund Plc, London.
Tourism and culture
Education in the Arab world must
give priority to tourism, culture
and the service sectors, said Mr
Abdlatif Y. Al Hamad who told
a panel discussion at the forum
that with tourism and services
collectively representing 35 per
cent of the region’s workforce,
education and training must focus
on these sectors. He was one of
the panelists on the New and
Unexpected Challenges and
Opportunities for Education,
“We have to create
100 million new jobs
by 2020” - Abdlatif Y.
Al Hamad
4/1/09 12:59:03‭ ‬PM

Culture and Media in the GCC.
Unequivocal in his views about the
quality of the educational system in
the region, he said that currently,
schools and universities do not
inculcate the culture of innovation,
free thinking and work ethic. More
than 70 per cent of the university
students are in liberal arts, which -
according to him - contribute little to
building the economy.
He said the GCC region had
achieved strong labour mobility over
the years, but the critical challenge
is to meet potential unemployment
levels. “We have to create 100 million
new jobs by 2020,” said Al Hamad,
“which can be achieved only through
quality education.” He said there
are only 330 universities in the Arab
world, and not one of them is in the
global ranking of the ‘Top 150’.
Mr Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al
Mahmoud highlighted developments
in the media and warned that
recessionary trends could force the
media to toe the government line.
He said the print media is faced
with the five daggers of “advertisers,
budget constraints, tribal and family
relations, press laws, and newspaper
ownership patterns” which constrain
their freedom.
Mr Nabil Ali Alyousuf presented
an overview of the education sector
in Dubai and the concerted efforts
being made to strengthen research
and bring in curricula that will help
students develop job-specific skill
sets. Sir Paul Judge said the GCC
governments must take initiatives
to meet the huge requirements for
teaching posts.
Growth opportunities
Gulf-based businesses are preparing
for the new economic order by
leveraging on the new growth
opportunities presented by the
current global financial crisis.
Long-term growth measures include
acquiring assets, recruiting fresh
talent and training them, and
exploring non-traditional growth
markets with a focus on ‘more
volume, less value’ deals. This was
the unanimous conclusion of the
panel.
Pg 22-23Education-Wharton.indd 3
EDUCATION
Professor Witold J. Henisz, Rami Makhzoumi, Tarek Sultan, Sami Bargoum and Mohamed Alshaya
“This is the time to identify opportunities
and act on them” -- Mohamed Alshaya
The session on Is the Dawn that the new generation of today’s
of the New Era of Mena business leaders are “MNCs in their
Multinationals Delayed? own individual capacity.”
witnessed much straight talk, with The panel highlighted that
one of the participants urging the the attitude of governments to
Arab world to “respect each other the private sector has shifted
before respecting outsiders”, which considerably even in conservative
was greeted by the audience with markets. Participants also urged for
loud applause. the need to create job opportunities
Professor Witold J. Henisz (the for Arab youth who are expected to
moderator), Associate Professor dominate the regional demography
of Management, The Wharton by 2030.
School, asked the participants what Mr Alshaya and Mr Bargoum
made their businesses succeed. said they were building on the
Mr Mohamed Alshaya, Executive current financial climate to invest in
Chairman, M.H.Alshaya Co, Kuwait, human resources and acquire new
said the key to the success of his assets. “This is a good time to take
organisation was selecting the right a pause, look inward, and look at
talent and ensuring fair deals for all how we can reduce costs. That is
stakeholders. Mr Sami Bargoum, because businesses are concerned
Managing Director, Savola Group, and must make contingency plans.
Jeddah, highlighted the need to But this is also the time to identify
tailor the brands for the region, opportunities and act on them,” Al
and focus on cultural proximity. Shaya said. One of the strategies
Identifying how governments and proposed by the panel was to look
the public sector work was the at non-traditional markets, and go for
niche route to success developed “bread and butter deals and larger
by Mr Tarek Sultan, Chairman and volumes.”
Managing Director, Agility Logistics, Professor Henisz concluded that
Kuwait. Mr Rami Makhzoumi, the concept of Mena-based MNCs is
President and Chief Executive a reality, and they need to build on
Officer, Future Pipe Industries, UAE, their technological, marketing and
said the ethnic origins of companies financial capabilities, and support
are not a constraint, and asserted them with strong leadership skills.
THE WHARTON SCHOOL
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania — founded in 1881 as the first
collegiate business school — is recognised globally for intellectual leadership and
ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. The most
comprehensive source of business knowledge in the world, Wharton bridges research
and practice through its broad engagement with the global business community.
The school has more than 4,700 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA and doctoral
students. More than 12,000 annual participants are in executive education programmes,
and the school is proud of an alumni network of more than 84,000 graduates.
April 2009, UAE Digest 23
4/1/09 12:59:03‭ ‬PM
 EDUCATION
World’s
youngest
professor
For Alia Sabur, teaching is something she finds
enjoyable and a way of reaching out to the
public. She is the world’s youngest professor and
is currently teaching at the Konkuk University in
South Korea. Rabis.M talks to this genius.
D
efining herself as someone
who loves learning
and prefers exhaustive
research before she gives
her opinion on any issue, Alia is
an intellect who, despite being the
world’s youngest professor, has no
airs for being that. She explains her
reasons for enjoying life: “ I enjoy
science and music, but at the same
time, I adore literature, crafts and
comparative religion.” This shows her
two sides, the serious one and the
other, softer side. She loves to read
and make good friends, and feels that
her passion for learning has a major
advantage; it makes her very flexible
and not committed to one area.
Sabur was born at the Beth I.
Hospital in Manhattan, USA, on the
22nd February, 1989. She recalls a
very special moment when she was
eight months old, when she spoke
her first few miraculous words, but
what were they? “ I am told that my
first words were ‘Daddy Honda’. I
had no clue that what I was doing
was something very remarkable. I just
recollect that from that time onwards,
I had a constant rage to learn, which
has never gone away.”
This rage has led her to becoming
the world’s youngest professor,
something that is only accomplished
after endless hard work.
Music plays a pivotal part in her
life; she enjoys playing her clarinet –
which usually keeps her busy. Despite
her interests being mottled, the
nutshell is ‘to learn’;- it is the entire
concept that is so important to her.
24 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 24 Education-youngest professor.indd 2
She also likes gaining knowledge
about medicine and neurology and
is a regular surfer of the Internet.
Alia talks about her fascinating
hobbies such as fantasy, science
fiction, kingdom of loathing and
origami. When she gets the chance
to go online, she likes spending her
time reading and catching up with
her friends, who are usually based
in the USA. She does emphasise she
misses them.
Regardless of who you are, the
support of family and friends is
something very pivotal to every
individual in their lives. In Alia’s
case, she is thankful to God
for gifting her with wonderful
parents and for their constant
support and belief in her. They are
certainly proud of their daughter’s
achievements and on her on being a
prodigy. She owes all of her success
to her parents. As she describes it, “it
is a combination of being gifted and
the environment around me that has
played a major role in shaping my
success.”
Teaching is something that has
been on Alia’s mind lately. She’s
always wanted to pursue that. For
her, it is a way of communicating
with people and reaching out on a
much larger scale. It is about public
speaking. “ It is something where
one can make a difference, it’s
not just what you can do, but also
how one enables people to make
changes. I am very keen on working
with students and I am hoping to
turn into an author in order to reach
out to the world.”
People wonder about Alia as a
person: Is she arrogant, will she
speak to everyone or not? Alia’s
behaviour has not changed despite
her being a prodigy; she explains
that she is very used to being who
she is and she likes being herself.
She does not think about being
smart. However, she does enjoy
helping people and she does it as
often as she can. “I help my friends
with their schoolwork, my parents
with their medical research and
anyone else that I can. I am working
on my first book - my memoirs.”
Currently residing in Seoul, South
Korea, she is teaching a graduate
programme in nano technology
at the Konkuk University, Alia
is overjoyed at this opportunity.
She may have attained endless
achievements at such a young age,
but Alia is not resting on her laurels
after all this. She is energetic and
believes this is only the beginning.
She wants to help people succeed
in their journey of achieving their
dreams.
She could be described as
someone with a heart of gold. Her
desire to help people is unique,
her eagerness to seek endless
knowledge is worth appreciation,
her sharp mind in obtaining so
much extraordinary knowledge is
commendable, and above all, she
has not forgotten how challenging
the journey has been in getting to
where she is now. Alia is indeed a
remarkable individual.
4/1/09 12:59:45‭ ‬PM

Taste of the Orient
By Vanit Sethi
Sarai, a restaurant featuring exotic Middle Eastern cuisine, opened recently at the Jumeirah Beach Residence
A
dusty, breezy Monday evening
seems the most inopportune
time to whet your appetite
under a New Dubai
skyscraper, even if it happens to be
close to the beach. Yet the temptation
of an exotic Middle Eastern meal at a
newly opened restaurant seemed too
difficult to resist. So, I was driving along
the Jumeirah Beach with better half in
tow, trying to locate Sarai.
The new eatery at the Jumeirah
Beach Residence appeared warm and
welcoming from a short distance.
Inside, the artistic wooden interiors
with exquisite artefacts and muted
chandelier lights radiated a ‘feel-good’
ambience. Outside, the leisurely pace of
life at The Walk, with people strolling
on stony paths without a care relaxed
my ‘weekday nerves’. Soon, the aroma
of food wafted in, laid on dozens of
plates with each containing a delicious
dish. Brought by smiling waiters and
waitresses dressed in traditional Middle
Eastern attire, the three courses of
salads and starters, kebabs and meat
preparations, and sweets and desserts
Pg 25-27 Food Review.indd 1
kindled all the five senses.
The rich variety included fresh
salads, hot and cold appetisers such
as Yalangi (stuffed mini vine leaves
with rice and oriental spices) and
Tochka (grilled Arabic bread stuffed
with spread of kebab and cheese
delicately seasoned with garlic, parsley
and paprika). Main course featured
authentic regional chicken and meat
savouries prepared with premium
quality ingredients. Dishes like Michwi
Moutabal (skewers of marinated and
grilled lamb fillet) and an assortment of
succulent kebabs such as Kebab Sarai,
Kebab Intakli, Kebab Adana, Kebab
Arab and the exceptional Bel Karaz
(kebab mixed with cinnamon parsley),
along with roasted pine nuts and
cherry sauce are certainly not to be
missed. All dishes are served here with
the typical Arabian bread, fresh out of
the oven, filling the restaurant with the
savoury aroma of the Orient.
The sinfully delicious desserts
included Halawet El Jeben (exquisite
cheese rolls filled with cream) and
Kashta Maa Aassal (clotted cream
FOOD REVIEW
topped with aromatic honey), rounding
off a truly hearty meal.
By now, the dusty evening was a
hazy memory and what remained was
the tantalising taste of a unique cuisine.
A memorable dining experience indeed!
After the success that Ruby Tuesday
has achieved in its first two branches:
Jumeirah Beach Residence and Jumeirah
Beach Plaza - BinHendi Enterprises has
opened a third branch in Dubai Mall,
located close to the ice rink.
Amna BinHendi, CEO of BinHendi
Enterprises, emphasised that the food
and nutrition industry in the UAE is
flourishing and has a promising future,
encouraged by its willingness to receive
new international restaurant chains.
She also stressed that Ruby Tuesday
is famous because of the care it takes
in choosing food items as well as its
commitment to adopting and applying
the highest global health standards in
making and serving meals.
“This new outlet is in a prime
location to appeal to tourists,
shoppers and residents who can now
enjoy a wide variety of signature
UAE Digest, April 2009 25
4/1/09 1:01:32‭ ‬PM
 TRAVEL
Ruby Tuesday
tempting menu selections the same
as others do worldwide. Driven by
an uncompromising commitment
to freshness, quality and gracious
hospitality, Ruby Tuesday has become
one of the fastest growing American
restaurant brands”.
It’s no wonder as the outstanding
menu contains juicy, individually
prepared burgers – of varying
ingredients, including a Thai fishcake
style burger; a fresh, self-service garden
salad bar and tender premium steaks;
complemented by mouth-watering
desserts and signature at affordable
prices.
February saw BinHendi launch the
first Cacao Sampaka store in Dubai.
Cacao Sampaka first opened its doors in
Barcelona (Spain) in 2000, successfully
making its way into the market as one
of the most revolutionary chocolate
shops. Although it is young at heart, it
managed to transform into one of the
market’s leading houses of chocolate.
Its chocolate makers are constantly
developing new tastes and mixing
these flavours with exciting and daring
combinations using natural ingredients.
The store offers a wide range of choices
from cookbooks and accessories to
a café that offers pastries and hot
chocolate.
Good food in good company
over some of the best vinos from the
world’s best terroirs are the perfect
ingredients for a great evening out. It is
from this belief that Cru was born - a
contemporary lounge bar at Souk Al
Bahar, Downtown Burj Dubai, owned
by Intercat Hospitality LLC. Cru brings
to life the popular tradition of enjoying
classic vintages in modern and stylish
settings, characteristic of the urban
26 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 25-27 Food Review.indd 2
Q’s Cuisine
metropolis which is Dubai. The warm alike a chance to savour traditional
lighting, minimalistic white interiors Arabic cuisine from the family-run
with ebony trimmings and a wall-
embracing cellar draws you in no time.
The Cru menu offers an exhaustive
selection with some of the most
reputed references. Here, you can taste
the finest Bourdeaux and Burgundy
as well as the very best the new world
has to offer. You can choose drinks
by the bottle or by the glass from the
specially installed, UAE’s first enomatic
machine, which perfectly preserves the
liquids, thus ensuring that those by the
glass are as enjoyable and full bodied.
All this and more over some freshly
prepared contemporary finger foods.
Le Méridien Hotels and Resorts,
in partnership with L’Atelier des
Chefs, has opened their latest new
cuisine offering at Le Méridien Dubai. Learning to cook fish at L’Atelier des chefs
This latest addition invites guests
to actively engage in the creative restaurant chain. The launch of Al
process of cooking in an entertaining, Sultan Brahim Beirut is the first of
contemporary environment. the chain to open outside their native
Founded in 2004 by brothers Lebanon, and a welcome addition to
Nicolas and François Bergerault, the hotel’s wealth of fine restaurants.
L’atelier des Chefs has built a network For a set fee, diners can enjoy a full
of 12 outlets in France, Belgium and set menu choosing from a selection of
UK. Based on hands-on accessible hot and cold Mezzas, grilled or fried
and friendly classes, the concept serving of fish for the main course,
helps people rediscover the pleasure accompanied with Fattoush salad and
of cooking. Each day, hundreds unlimited soft drinks or juices. The
of people enjoy cooking classes at business lunch is available between
L’atelier des Chefs in half to three- 12.30pm and 3.30pm for a minimum of
hour sessions, designed for individual two people per booking.
booking and corporate gatherings. Q’s Cuisine, a favourite destination
A special business lunch menu, among Dubai’s residents for North
highlighting the best of Arabic cuisine Indian food, has re-opened doors in
made from family recipes, has been City Tower Hotel Apartments, Bur
launched at InterContinental Dubai Dubai. The restaurant was previously
Festival City’s Lebanese seafood located near Strand Cinema, but was
restaurant Al Sultan Brahim Beirut, closed due to construction in the area.
giving business travellers and residents It has been re-launched recently, after
4/1/09 1:01:37‭ ‬PM

Cru
persistent requests from its loyal diners,
bringing back all of its classic dishes
and some fresh items to its menu.
Chefs at Q’s Cuisine have been hand-
picked by the management and brought
in from Lucknow, the home of Awadhi
cuisine, to ensure the authenticity of
their recipes and cooking styles. The a
la carte menu features Awadhi classics
such as char-grilled kababs, rich gravies
and varieties of the ever-popular
biryani. These are accompanied by
a range of refreshing drinks and an
extensive variety of breads that are
prepared on site. Guests are encouraged
to treat themselves to a complete
North Indian culinary experience, with
unique appetisers to precede the main
dishes and a fine selection of traditional
desserts to follow after.
Gusto, a Mediterranean inspired
restaurant, and a brand new boutique
Beach Club called Al Shalal Beach Club
recently opened on the shores of the
Palm Jumeirah. Both Gusto and Al
Shalal Beach Club are managed by the
five-star luxury hotel, Fairmont Palm
Hotel & Resort. Featuring authentic
cuisines from sun-drenched locales
including Southern France, Italy, Greece,
Spain and the Levant, Gusto offers a
relaxed, beachside dining experience
with unmatched views. The name of
the restaurant is a play on the Italian
word for ‘taste’ which also means
‘vigorous enjoyment’ in English.
With both al fresco and indoor
dining spaces, Gusto offers lunch and
dinner options within a contemporary
styled interior, with a flavour of Italian
design. Guests can enjoy superior
five-star service with views of the
Arabian Gulf, Burj Al Arab and infinity
swimming pool, while dining outside
Pg 25-27 Food Review.indd 3
Roadster Diner
in a relaxing marine influenced
environment. Poolside refreshments
and snacks are also available from the
Gazebo lounge. The restaurant is
located between Shoreline Apartment
Buildings Al Nabat and Al Haseer
(buildings 7 and 8).
Roadster Diner’s long-awaited
presence in the UAE has arrived with
the opening of its first outlet, facing the
ice rink in The Dubai Mall. It joins an
impressive F&B portfolio managed by
Cravia, which also owns and operates
Cinnabon, Seattle’s Best Coffee and
Zaatar w Zeit.
Cravia CEO, Walid Hajj, said
“Roadster Diner enjoys enormous
popularity as a premium dining
experience in its home country of
Lebanon. People have waited a long
time for the brand to make its way to
the UAE, and now, at long last, it is
here. It is a one-of-a-kind place that
showcases the great diner experience
of yesteryears, complete with private
dining booths, pedestal stools and
memorabilia on the walls. Fans say
its popularity centres on the twin
combination of its relaxed atmosphere
and an appealing menu which ranges
from juicy stakes to mega-burgers, and
fries to homemade desserts wrapped up
in a dining experience rarely found in a
normal franchise.”
The Village Club Restaurant, a
totally new concept
set to change The Village Club
entertainment and
dining in Abu
Dhabi, successfully
opened its doors
to guests and
patrons last month.
The restaurant
TRAVEL
is the first phase of the Village Club
project – a full-fledged recreation club.
As part of the One to One Hotel, this
restaurant jazzes up the dining scene in
the capital by introducing a mix of live
entertainment, as well as unique meal
experiences. Employing a rustic look
and feel, it is a place where groups of
all sizes can congregate to settle down
after work, relax during weekends or
celebrate special occasions. It is open
from 5pm to 12midnight on weekdays,
5pm to 1am on Thursdays and Fridays
and opens at 12noon on Saturdays.
Excellent for parties and get-
togethers with colleagues as well as
for couples and families, the restaurant
offers Arabian style cuisines fused
with contemporary barbeque-style
food options served in a buffet. Guests
can choose to sit on wooden chairs
or the less conventional beanbags
while enjoying their meal, listening to
music or having shisha. There will be
approximately 30 different grilled items
to choose from, including whole sides
of beef, lamb racks, kebab, chicken
portions, and kofta, with various stew
style dishes to compliment the grilled
items. Salads, starch and sauce items
will be presented on an island buffet,
along with baked potato ovens, bread
displays, and certain Middle Eastern
specialties such as foul.
February
April 2009, UAE Digest 27
13
4/1/09 1:01:39‭ ‬PM
 HOSPITALITY
Celebrate Easter
with your family
T
reat your family this
Easter, to unlimited
bubbly at Le Méridien
Al Aqah’s Sunday brunch
on April 12 for only Dh215 per
person. The hotel celebrates the
occasion with a day out package
which includes unlimited access to
pool, beach, recreational activities
and Easter Brunch at Dh250 per
person. It will be a fun-filled day of
entertainment for the children, who
get complimentary access to pool
and beach when accompanied by
parents who have bought the day
out package. Meals for Kids will
be chargeable 50 per cent discount
(ages 5 to 12). For reservations,
call 09 244 9000 or visit www.
lemeridien.com/fujairah
Now, there’s more reason to head
Le Méridien Al Aqah
28 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 28-31Hospitality.indd 2
for the East Coast with Al Diar Siji
Hotel’s irresistible Easter package.
Stay at Al Diar Siji Hotel Fujairah
from 9th to 15th April, and avail of
a whopping 30 per cent discount
on normal room tariff rates. The
Easter Package includes value
added benefits such as fruit basket,
midnight chocolates and oriental
Arabic sweets upon arrival. Guests
checking-in in a deluxe room also
get a bottle of house vintage.
The team of chefs in Al
Murooj Rotana Dubai has
prepared a special lavish buffet
menu for featuring traditional
Easter dishes and much more.
It will bring an unforgettable
experience for everyone with rich
gastronomical spreads and plenty
of entertainment. The spacious
Al Diar Siji Hotel Room
settings of Pergolas restaurant and
its outdoor terrace surrounded by
verdant greenery and magnificent
waterfall will be a perfect venue
to celebrate the bright holiday of
Easter with your family and friends
this year. Good news for parents
– your children will be taken good
care of in a dedicated kids corner
with games and an exciting Egg
Hunt.
Join Dubai Creek Golf &
Yacht Club for Easter brunch on
Good Friday, 10th April in Legends
Restaurant or outside on their
terrace overlooking the views of
the skyline, golf course and Creek,
with traditional favourites including
roast lamb, live cooking stations,
chocolate goodies, plus an Easter
egg hunt for the little ones to keep
them entertained along with a
bouncy castle and face painting!
Dubai Creek Golf Academy
is offering you the opportunity
to come and try out the latest
equipment available on the
market, with a Demo Evening on
Wednesday 8th April from 5pm to
9pm:
• Callaway launch their new range
of products
• Demo the new FT-9 and Diablo
drivers and fairway woods
• Demo the new X-22 and Diablo
irons
• 15 per cent off all orders/
purchases on the night
Al Murooj Easter
4/1/09 1:03:25‭ ‬PM

• Fun competitions with great prizes
Don’t miss out on Emirates Golf
Club’s Early Bird Special, valid until
30th April 2009. Tee off before 8am
for nine holes on the Faldo Course,
Sunday - Thursday, for Dh240,
including a breakfast sandwich, a
coffee and a cart. Bookings can be
made seven days prior to play for
UAE residents and EGF members.
Emirates Golf Club will
celebrate Easter with festivities for the
whole family on Friday 10th April.
An Easter-themed International
Brunch Buffet will be served in the
Conservatory Restaurant & Terrace
from 12pm to 3pm for Dh150 for
adults and Dhs75 for children under
12 years of age. Join in the fun of
an Easter Egg hunt, face painting, a
bouncing castle and a host of other
activities.
Just in time for the Easter
celebrations, Felchlin teams up
with Panini and offers the finest
in Swiss chocolate. From April 3
to 5, Panini, Grand Hyatt Dubai’s
Italian Deli, will be featuring live
cooking demonstrations of how to
make delicious chocolate creations,
including Easter eggs, Easter bunnies
and truffles. Looking for an Easter
surprise? Panini will be stocked with
a scrumptious selection of chocolate
gifts and other treats throughout the
month.
Welcome to a new teppanyaki
restaurant and bar on the 1st level
of Munchi, Habtoor Grand Resort &
Spa. Enjoy sumptuous set menus and
try varieties of Teppanyaki delights
made from seafood, chicken, lamb
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
Pg 28-31Hospitality.indd 3
and beef.
Escape the stress of city life and
relax in a deluxe chalet-style room
while absorbing the breathtaking
scenery of the Hajar Mountains at
the unique Hatta Fort Hotel. Avoid
the weekend rush and stay midweek
for Dhs995 per room per night. Valid
until 30th April 2009, this exclusive
offer is available for UAE residents
and includes breakfast and a three-
course dinner at Jeema restaurant.
Tel. 04 852 3211 for reservations.
Spend Easter at Hatta Fort Hotel
with your family and friends and
feast on a sumptuous buffet by the
Rock Pool with outstanding views of
Hajar mountains and spend the day
by the pool for Dh150 on Sunday
12th April. Children will enjoy
numerous entertainments such as
Easter egg treasure hunting, camel
rides, magic show, games, sand
colouring and bouncing castle.
Give your children a taste of
the pastry kitchen at Holiday Inn
Dubai – Al Barsha at a special Kids
Cooking Class on Thursday 30 April.
The children will be welcomed into
the Arabic restaurant’s kitchen to
make cookies and muffins from start
to finish. In this great opportunity
to see behind the scenes in a
professional kitchen, the youngsters
will get hands-on with baking, and
their parents will be the taste testers
of the final product, getting to
sample their children’s efforts with
a selection of tea and coffee. There
are limited spaces at the event,
with space for eight children to get
hands-on in the pastry kitchen, at a
Emirates Golf Club
HOSPITALITY
cost of Dh60 per person.
The Easter bunny arrives at
Holiday Inn Dubai - Al Barsha
and brings along all the Easter
magic to keep the whole family
entertained. On April 10, The Gem
Garden, a beautiful Zen minimalist
all-day dining venue, plays host
to the event. The décor may be
minimalist, but the fun certainly
isn’t. All the traditional favourites
will be there – the children can leave
no stone unturned in our Easter
egg hunt before putting their artistic
hat on for the egg painting. They
can have their faces painted in all
manner of styles in preparation for
meeting the Easter bunny.
Of course everyone will need
energy for all this fun and there is
a special Easter lunch buffet with
a great variety at the salad bar; a
salmon bar; traditional braised
Easter lamb with balsamic vinegar
and mushroom sauce; a variety of
different main courses, including
fish curry and beef stroganoff and
an extensive dessert menu with
everything from Easter egg nests
to Tiramisu. Perfect for fuelling the
kids’ Easter egg hunt.
Get ready for an unforgettable
odyssey of the finest Thai flavours as
The Royal Buddha at Holiday Inn
Dubai – Al Barsha lays out a feast to
celebrate Thai New Year celebrations
on April 13. Thai cuisine offers a
delightful symphony of tastes with
an exotic medley of spices, herbs
and aromas that entice your senses
like no other cuisine in the world.
To titillate your tastebuds, chefs
April 2009, UAE Digest 29
4/1/09 1:03:28‭ ‬PM

Hatta Fort Hotel Landscape
Holiday Inn Dubai-Al Barsha
Special kids cooking class
Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek
have created a special New Year
Dinner Buffet that will include an
array of authentic Thai delicacies
such as Kang Pet Phed Yang Sai
Gno (roasted duck in red curry
and rambuttan), Gai Ob Kha Mine
(roasted chicken with fresh tumeric
and Thai herbs), Kaa nom jeen
nam yap ha (fresh traditional Thai
noodles with sauce) and Tom Krong
Pal Bai Mar Kaam (spicy fish with
young tamarind leaf).
Join family and friends for a
30 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 28-31Hospitality.indd 4
lavish start to the Easter holidays.
Hyatt Regency Dubai’s Friday
brunch combines Focaccia,
Shahrzad and The Bar in a culinary
‘East Meets West’ trip. Enjoy all
your favourite Easter treats, spring-
like decoration and eggs in almost
every style. Kids get their very
own buffet, enjoy face-painting and
can participate in the egg-painting
competition. The Good Friday
Easter Brunch runs from 12:30pm
to 4pm.
Easter Lunch Bonanza
Celebrate the festive Easter holiday
with your loved ones by having
a mouth watering Easter lunch
at Palmito Garden, Jebel Ali Golf
Resort & Spa. Take in the moment
as live entertainment plays in the
background, the young ones will
be amused by face painting and
egg hunting while the whole family
can compete in the mini Olympics.
Commemorate the tradition of
Easter by creating a day that
everyone will cherish on Sunday
12th April from 12.30pm until 4pm.
The world-class stables at
Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa cater
to riders of all levels. Beginners,
experienced equestrians, children
and adults, can all enjoy trekking,
trail riding, training or lessons with
our friendly experienced instructors
at the paddock or outside. From 30
minutes riding lessons to one-hour
outdoor ride, the choice is yours.
Please note that the Stables operate
from 7am to 12noon, and again
from 4pm to 7pm and the Stables
are closed on Mondays.
Jumana – Secret of the Desert
- experience this unique theatre
production with stunning audio-
visual, water, laser and fire effects,
staged at the imposing outdoor
amphitheatre of the Al Sahra Desert
Resort. With its Arabian fortress
inspired architecture, the Al
Sahra Desert Resort set within
the extraordinary Dubailand
complex, is the perfect venue to
host this highly acclaimed stage
play which celebrates Arabia’s
spellbinding fables and folk tales.
A cast of over 60 dancers, camels
and horses perform to voice
narration by Omar Sharif, making
this a truly awe-inspiring theatre
experience. Jumana is performed
daily at 9pm from Tuesday to
Saturday. For reservations, call the
Al Sahra Desert Resort on 04 367
9500
Join us at Latitude restaurant
at Jumeirah Beach Hotel for our
special Easter brunch with an
electric mix of cooking stations,
including traditional Easter
favourites in a fun and relaxed
environment. Children will be kept
entertained with an exciting variety
of activities on offer, including egg
painting, face painting, balloon art
and egg hunting, in addition to the
opportunity to decorate their own
Easter cup cakes on 12th and 19th
April.
Join The Radisson SAS Hotel,
Dubai Deira Creek on April 10th
2009, starting 12:30 pm for an
exciting Friday Fun Food Festival
- Easter Brunch special, located
on the second floor of the hotel,
featuring extensive buffet stations
of specially selected traditional
dishes from 11 different outlets,
all in one location - including
Italian, Japanese, Chinese, British,
Iranian, Seafood, Steakhouse, Asian
Noodle bar, Japanese BBQ, Arabic
and delicious Easter goodies and
pastries from the cake shop.
World Autism Day falls in April
and Vista Rooftop Bar and
Restaurant has teamed up with
the Dubai Autism Centre to hold
a fundraising Friday BBQ on 3rd
April. For every person enjoying
the Friday BBQ at Vista Dh50 per
person will go to the Dubai Autism
Centre.
Aussies and Kiwis can celebrate
Anzac Day on April 25 with a
BBQ on the Shisha Terrace with
unlimited hop beverages and vino
for Dh249 per person.
4/1/09 1:03:31‭ ‬PM
 . Three & four bedroom villas . Low-to-medium rise apartment buildings . Equestrian-themed boutique hotel . Covered riding arena .
. Multi-purpose grass show arena . HoofbeatZ Centre . Equine spa & therapy centre . Equestrian centre for 200 horses .
. State-of-the-art business, health, sport & leisure facility . Indoor sports complex .

Tel : +971 6 746 3335 , Fax : +971 6 746 3392 P.O.Box 6959 Ajman U.A.E. www.escapeajman.com

Escape Ajman.indd 1 4/1/09 3:28:48‭ ‬PM

 ART
A royal artist
By Rabis.M
T
he first words that come to
mind when I think of Latifah
Al Said is “full of life”. Despite
being born into royalty, the
princess has no airs and graces, and
is very down to earth. She is a bubbly
person who loves to interact with
people. She loves talking and is deeply
in love with life. Sheikha Latifa was
born in the UK to an Omani father
who is a royal and an English mother.
Latifa was brought up in Oman till the
age of eight, sent to boarding school in
England till the age of 18, after which
she embarked on higher education in
arts in Italy.
If you ask her how did she manage
to get involved in the world of arts,
her answer is simply, “I cannot image
myself not sketching”. It is something
that comes to her naturally. “I don’t
think there was a moment when I did
not have the urge to draw. Drawing
is part of my expression, it’s about
32 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 32-33 Art-a royal princess.indd 2
drawing things around me, it’s the
way I see the world and how I want to
interact with the world.” She describes
how there are moments when she
would prefer to sit alone and draw
what she has felt or seen throughout
the day, rather than sit around chatting
with her friends.
It is daily life that really inspires
Latifah - the people she meets, the
things she sees and her passion for
observation. When walking down
the street, she tends to notice the
structure of the buildings and every
little detail entailed. She comments on
the individual style of the buildings:
“ For a considerable amount of time
now, buildings have been stylised
in an individual manner. They were
not designed in the same way. For
example, if you notice the glass panels,
they are sculptured with patterns,
encryptions and certain writings.”
An ardent fan of theatre, cinema,
music, dance, reading, and animals,
Latifah finds herself at peace when
she is home with her two dalmations:
Bella and Bambie, who are a bundle
of joy to her.
Latifah is not afraid of interacting
with an array of people who she does
not know. She sees this as a method
of learning from each other and finds
it interesting talking to people. Giving
an example of talking to an old lady
while waiting at the bus stop: “You
get that lady asking what time it is and
she asks what you are doing that day;
4/1/09 1:04:31‭ ‬PM
 ART

it’s quite nice to be interacting. I would and paints in a naturalistic renaissance to do what you do well.”
find it extremely sad if you are unable manner. “ I want to do something The field of arts has progressed
to talk to someone because you are a which is far different from what rapidly in Oman, with the emergence of
stranger to them. I believe sometimes everyone else is doing.” a considerably large amount of Omani
you can have the most amazing Latifah believes that art is all about artists participating in exhibitions. It
conversations with people you don’t emotions and that this world can is evident that in the last ten years,
know. I say I love to live and this is my be a tragic place at times, but also things have changed so much. “I
way of living: talking to people.” something that makes you feel happy am really impressed by what’s going
Her first exhibition took place in – without knowing what it is - maybe on, and a lot of support has been
September 2006 and turned out to be it’s an experience that one has had in coming to artists recently. That is really
a big hit. She was thoroughly excited life; or maybe it is a feeling because important because you do need to be
on her return to Oman: “ I was moving there is a sense of similarity with the supported by your own community. I
back to Oman after living 23 years in people. “What I love about art is that it believe all these competitions, awards
the West. It was a way to reconnect can uplift you and then transport you and government support is highly
with my father’s side of the family and to another dimension.” necessary.”
also reinvent myself. I do not define A keen admirer of Leonardo Da Latifah’s enthusiasm for the arts is
myself as a stereotypical European Vinci, Rembrandt, Monet and Van incredibly amazing and her passion is
person. In fact I do not look European, Gough works, Latifah also likes the endless. She wants to express Oman
I look more of a Middle Easterner. For work of Middle Eastern artists who are in her works, and says Oman will
me, it was wonderful going back to doing very well in the international be in her heart forever. With a lot of
Oman, to my roots and resume the play arena. She recollects her childhood adventures in her mind, Al Said is
button of my life there.” when there weren’t many Middle keen on continuing her journey of arts,
She calls herself ‘fortunate’ to have Eastern artists on the international producing excellent work and holding
received so much support from the level. “I think it’s very vital for everyone more exhibitions. She believes that if
community in Oman in the preparation to have a role model, especially if they you have a dream, make it a reality; art
of her exhibition. There were a lot of come from an identity you can relate to her is love, a love that is deep and
people who were willing to give her to. It then gives you more confidence mystical.
advice and motivate her, which she
found fascinating.
If Latifah does not draw for
two weeks, she suffers and feels
claustrophobic, sad and frustrated.
“I would certainly say that the first
exhibition was a big warning curve,
especially thoughts like: why do
we create, why do we paint - that is
something any person thinks about
when they have a job, especially when
it is a creative one.”
With a dual heritage, Latifah is truly
blessed. She manages to incorporate
both these cultures in her works.
Back in Italy, she was producing work
using Italian themes with her classical
training; but when she returned to
Oman, she was left to make choices
and become an individual. It felt
fantastic, she emphasises, to be free for
once and be able to express herself on
a blank canvas. It felt simply liberating.
Omani souqs to landscapes are
her source of inspiration for drawing
in Oman. She strolled through the
traditional bazaar and used old battered
pots, pans and antique jewellery to add
an individual mark to her work. She
has made a connection with Oman

April 2009, UAE Digest 33

Pg 32-33 Art-a royal princess.indd 3 4/1/09 1:04:32‭ ‬PM

 SPORTS
All teamwork and all play
makes Jack a full boy
By Angelina Wong
How dragon boat racing is the latest sport that brings a mixture of valuable skills at work
“
Being successful in dragon boat
racing requires a well thought
out strategy and demands a
high level of teamwork, mental
concentration and physical fitness” says
Ben Hughes, Marketing Manager for
Fronterra. Also the crew captain for the
Dubai Flying Dragons, Dubai’s first-ever
Dragon Boat team formed almost three
years ago. Ben is keen to see more
enthusiastic people and even corporate
executives in Dubai take up the sport.
The Dubai Flying Dragons team was
founded in December 2006 with goals
to promote the sport in the Middle East
and to build a competitive team. Since
then, the team has had a succession
of victories winning domestic and
international races including first place
for the women’s race at the European
Regatta in Hungary and second place
for the mixed team at the Dragon Boat
34 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 34-36 Sports.indd 2
Festival in Dubai last year. The team
is now preparing for the 2009 races in
Dubai which will be held once again
at the Dubai Festival City on April 3-4.
Dragon Boat racing originated from
the ancient Chinese 2,500 years ago.
The team sport is built on positive
team spirit, community, healthy
living, making friends and having
fun. Hughes says: “Dragon Boating is
an exciting water sport that is full of
adrenaline, strategy, camaraderie and
technique.” Training four times a week
up and down the creek and by the sea
at the Mina Seyahi hotel at the crack
of dawn and on the weekends gives
Ben’s team an opportunity to connect
with one another, he says.
This will be the fifth time Ben will
have taken part in a local competition
along with two international
championships under his belt. He
believes that the rigorous training
regime and being part of a team built
from scratch has helped develop his
mental toughness and drive for results,
and enhanced the skills and attributes
he brings to his role at Fonterra. The
team is made up of both men and
women aged between 25 and 50.
Each paddler works in a diverse range
of professions from school teachers
and PR professionals to business
executives leading major international
corporations.
Dragon Boat racing typically
consists of 18-20 paddlers in each boat
who then race against up to six other
boats. Races range from 200 metres to
2000 metres.
“The nerves are intense as we all
wait focused in silence at the start
line” Ben says. “All eyes in the boat!”
is all we hear our helmsman shout and
4/1/09 1:05:50‭ ‬PM
 SPORTS

as soon as the bell sounds, our paddles

plunge into the water furiously like an
automated wave machine,” he added.
There is a method to the madness
however. Ben and his team have
learnt that a winning team is also
about discipline and mental training.
If you don’t prepare yourself mentally,
it is difficult to race well as a team
consistently.
Just ask dedicated Dragon Boat
paddler, Sarah Edgar: “We were made
to listen to a motivational CD during
the World Championships in Malaysia
last summer. Lying in a conference
room with the lights switched off and
the words: ‘You are a winner! You are
a Champion! Believe in yourself and
visualise yourself at the finish line
because you were born to win!’ droned
on in the background, the phrases have taken part in some of the local working within the Tecom free zone
sunk into our conscience. We were dragon boat festivals as part of their business parks to compete against each
all psyched after the session and even corporate team-building activity other in various team sports including
though we couldn’t compete against the and they have seen the benefits of football, tennis, basketball, volleyball
powerhouses of the national Chinese participating. Jacque Souplet, President and dragon boat racing that took place
and Canadian teams, it was agreed that of a global oil and gas company by at the ICT free zone lake.
being together as a team mentally had day, and the Dubai Flying Dragon’s Back in the office, Ben and the
boosted our confidence and improved team manager by night, agrees: “There rest of the team apply the skills they
our performance as a whole.” comes a point where each paddler on have learnt from racing with some of
Team-building and communication the team is aware of the role they play the world’s best teams and with fellow
are the key to dragon boat success just in the boat. We don’t hesitate and we colleagues at the corporate games.
like it is in the corporate world. Team don’t argue because we’re all headed to “The secret with sports, hobbies or
meetings are planned and run with the a common goal.” non-work related stuff is about bonding
coach whether it is a round-up after The fourth Dubai Corporate and promoting the personal qualities
training or chilling out by the beach Games was recently held at Tecom employers like. At the end of the day,
over a few drinks watching the sunset. Investments’ Dubai Internet City. The nothing beats a bit of sporting banter at
A number of companies in Dubai event attracted a number of companies job interviews,” Ben says.

April 2009, UAE Digest 35

Pg 34-36 Sports.indd 3 4/1/09 1:05:54‭ ‬PM

 SPORTS

On golf greens and racetrack

By Peter Potter

S
ome of the finest
amateur golfers in the
region participated
in the Dulsco Classic,
which was played as both an
individual and team event at
the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht
Club recently. Playing on a
three-fourth handicap, the team
format was made up of four
alliances, with the two best
scores on each hole counting
towards the team total. Ninety
golfers teed off in the 1pm shot
gun start of the event organized
by Dulsco for the sixth time
for its customers and invited Dulsco winners
guests, who included CEOs, corporate
executives and decision makers. achievements of the 1959 DBR1 driven V12 engine which, last year, helped
In the individual category, Pieter by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori, Aston Martin secure its second
Van Wyk and Dileep Kumar won Aston Martin will endeavour to bring successive Le Mans GT1 title with the
honours in their respective divisions. the Le Mans title back to Britain. DBR9. It also powered the Charouz
Pieter Van Wyk took first place with Aston Martin Chairman, car to a new La Sarthe lap record for a
34 points in the Div A (handicap 0-14), David Richards said “We do not petrol car.
Babu Subramanian was placed second underestimate the task. While we In 2009, the ACO is introducing
with 30 points, while Wayne Sheridan have won the GT1 class for the last new regulations aimed at balancing
walked away with the third prize two years, competing against the the performance of petrol and diesel
scoring 29 points. proven speed and endurance of the engined prototypes, making the LMP1
Dileep Kumar won the first place diesel-powered cars with all their years category more appealing and relevant
in the Div. B (handicap 15-36) with 39 of winning the prototype class, will be to Aston Martin. In addition to the Le
points, followed by Robin Roddricks a massive undertaking. Nonetheless, Mans 24 hour race, the team will also
with 33 points. Qamar Rasheed was I see this as a great opportunity to compete throughout the year in the Le
third with 30. showcase the ingenuity of British Mans Series (LMS), which opens with
The team of Rajeev Lal, Dileep engineering talent.” the 1,000 kilometre de Catalunya on
Kumar, Arvind Kittur and Pritpal S. The new car, which is based on the the 5th of April.
Thethy won the first place in the team 2008 Charouz Racing System Lola, will
event, scoring 78 points. be powered by the same production-
On the 50th anniversary of its based Aston Martin
outright win at Le Mans, Aston Martin
will return to La Sarthe with two
Works LMP1 cars bearing the
iconic blue and orange
livery of Gulf Oil.
In an ambitious
attempt to emulate
the legendary

36 UAE Digest, April 2009

Pg 34-36 Sports.indd 4 4/1/09 1:05:56‭ ‬PM

 AUTOS

Classic car competition

Several classic car enthusiasts from
the region participated in a two-day
public exhibition and competition, the
first-of-its-kind in the region. The Burj
Dubai Classic Car Show was held in
Downtown Burj Dubai and had several
categories, including a Public’s Vote
Award, which elicited strong response
from the hundreds of visitors to the
show.
The winners in the various
categories are: Public Vote (1921 Ford
Model T); Best Heritage Car (Blue
Mercedez Gullwing); Best Parade Car
(1928 Ford Essex); Club Merit, Best
American Car (1959 Ford 500 Skyline); Mr Ahmad Al Matrooshi distributes the award for the Burj Dubai Classic
Best European Car (1956 Green Jaguar); Car Show Award to the winner at the event held at Downtown Burj Dubai
Best Classic Truck (1977 Chevrolet
Orange pickup); Best Pre-World War aesthetics. A highlight of the event also thankful to the support extended
II Car (1931 Pierce Arrow Convertible was the winner’s parade on the closing by Mr Mohammed Ben Sulayem,
Roaster); Best Post-World War II Car day, and the several colourful classic Vice-President of the Federation
(1961 Red Daimler) and Burj Dubai car parades held over two days. Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)
Classic Car (1967 Ford Mustang). Mr Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Managing and President of the Automobile &
An expert panel of judges selected Director – UAE, Emaar Properties Touring Club of the UAE; the El Serkal
the winning cars in the nine categories said: “We thank the Automobile & family; Mr Ahmed Abdulrahim Baker;
based on the criteria of car originality, Touring Club of the United Arab Mr Khalid Yousuf Baker; and Sharjah
engine cleanliness, original car colour, Emirates (ATCUAE) for their support Museum for presenting their rare
historical car value, finishing and in organising this initiative. We are collection of cars for the exhibition.”

Audi delivers 330 vehicles to rental firm

Audi Dubai, represented by Al economic situation, it is needless sends a message to the individual
Nabooda Automobiles LLC, has to point out how great it is for us buyers, that the world keeps moving
recently closed a major fleet vehicle to see that our customers place this and every successful business
deal with limousine and rental huge amount of trust into the Audi transaction turns the spiral further
company ‘German Rent A Car’, brand and keep investing. It also upwards.”
which is part of the Al Jaber Group
of companies. Audi Dubai delivered
330 vehicles in total, including 50
Audi A4, 30 Audi A6, 30 Audi TT,
80 Audi Q7, as well as 140 Audi A8
and S8.
The vehicles will be used
in serving some of the biggest
names in the UAE, including the
government and embassies, the
Emirates Group, airlines and tourism
companies, several five-star hotels,
a number of international and local
companies as well as individuals.
Ali Al Nabooda, General
Manager of the Audi Centre Dubai,
commented: “In the current

UAE Digest, April 2009 37

Pg 37-39 Autos-3pgs.indd 1 4/1/09 1:07:31‭ ‬PM


A thrilling drive around the
Autodrome
Al Habtoor Motors-Bentley Emirates, exclusive dealer
in the UAE of the exceptional driving machines from
Bentley Motors, has always had the honour to treat its
prospective customers to memorable driving moments.
The VIP test drive held at Dubai Autodrome in late
January was one such occasion. A limited group of
guests test drove the stunning Bentley Continental Flying
Spur 2009 and Continental Flying Spur Speed on the
challenging tracks of the Dubai Autodrome.
Commenting on the eventful day, Mr. Khalid Dadoush,
General Manager, Bentley Emirates, said “We were
pleased to provide our guests magnificent Bentleys to
test drive, on one of the most challenging tracks in town.
The highlight was the professional Bentley drivers who
flew in from Crewe, UK, to assist our guests to assess the
driving machines.”
A sumptuous and spacious four-door Grand Tourer
with the soul of the most breathtaking high performance
coupé in the world, Continental Flying Spur offers
enhanced levels of personalisation, comfort and ride
quality taken to new heights. Meanwhile, the new
Continental Flying Spur Speed delivers a more powerful
and engaging Bentley driving experience.
24-hour BMW fast lane service
As part of its efforts to offer added value to its customers,
AGMC, the exclusive importer of BMW and MINI
vehicles in Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates,
has introduced the 24 –hour BMW Fast Lane Service to
increase efficiency and offer improved services to its
customers in its Dubai showroom.
BMW Fast Lane Service, a concept designed to cater
for the regular servicing requirements of all new BMW
models, covers the servicing of engine oil and filter,
air filter, fuel filter, AC microfilter, spark plugs, brake
fluid, brake discs and pads, wiper rubbers and Standard
38 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 37-39 Autos-3pgs.indd 2
Scope Vehicle Check. The new service complements
the company’s Condition Based Service alerts, fitted
as standard on all new models, which is automatically
activated by the car when it requires a service. For any
model that has the BMW Service Inclusive package,
covering five years or 100,000 kms, the CBS servicing is
provided free of charge.
A sporty ‘all new City’
The design of Honda’s all new City is based on the
total pursuit of a compact, yet dynamic form with road
presence. Class-leading interior space was achieved to
create a cabin that surrounds the occupants with an
open and secure feeling. The new City is equipped
with a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine, which is further
advanced in every way, including greater output and
fuel consumption. With Honda’s unique commitment
to provide both
advanced
safety and
environmental
performance,
the new version
achieves the
highest levels
in every area
in the effort
to become the
new benchmark
for subcompact
sedans.
Today, City
is enjoyed by
customers in 39
nations around
the world and is
becoming one
of Honda’s core
models, along with Civic, Accord, CR-V and Jazz.
The car features an Advanced Integrated Audio
System which is the world’s first car digital audio system
compatible with assorted storage devices, ranging from
ipod, MP3 players, USB devices to cell phones and even
VCD’s.
Hummer available from
Dh129,500
The all-new 2009 Hummer H3T is now on sale across
Liberty and Liberty Abu Dhabi showrooms where the
vehicle is bringing its unmistakable style and unmatched
capability to the pick-up market. It is bigger than a
midsize pick-up and smaller than a full-size pick-up,
creating its own niche in the market. It is also infused
with attributes such as exceptional off-road capability
and a premium interior that is as functional as it is
4/1/09 1:07:33‭ ‬PM
 comfortable.
In addition to its
segment-defying size, the
H3T also stands apart
from other trucks with its
signature off-road capability.
The H3T is the only midsize
truck to come standard with
full-time four-wheel drive,
32-inch tyres and functional
skid shields. It also is the
only midsize truck to offer
front and rear locking
differentials, as well as 32-

Mercedes-Benz shows
compact SUV at Al Ain
inch tyres.
While aircraft swooped and soared overhead at
the Al Ain Aerobatic Show in January, closer to
the ground, Mercedes-Benz showed off its latest
vehicle, the new GLK-Class Compact SUV, in a
specially-designed off-road zone. Visitors to the air
spectacular had plenty to occupy them at tarmac-
level as well as in the skies above as professional
Mercedes-Benz drivers took passengers for a spin
around the man-made obstacle course and talked
them through the features of the new, distinctive car. 
The GLK-Class described as a multi-talented
SUV, reconciles attributes that were previously handling safety that is matched by a first-class level of
contradictory in a vehicle of this type, thanks to the ride comfort. The car rounds off an extremely successful
Agility Control suspension, outstanding performance and SUV family, and transfers typical Mercedes-Benz
attributes such as refinement, dynamism and safety into

VW Passat CC launches in Abu Dhabi

a compact format. This means that the bar in this market assistance system, when driving in reverse, images of
segment has now been raised considerably. the surroundings behind the Passat CC are transmitted
Following the popularity of Volkswagen’s original Passat to the screen from a rear view camera. It also has an
saloon, Ali and Sons, representing Volkswagen in Abu electronic chassis control system called ‘Lane Assist – a
Dhabi, has launched VW’s stylish new Passat CC – an world first.
upgraded hybrid combining the best of both sedan and Newly developed is a climate control feature which
coupé worlds. This sporty, dynamic evolution of the provides active ventilation of the seat and seatback
familiar Passat represents a brand new segment in the surfaces, improving comfort considerably. About 320
automobile industry, combining the rationality of a litres of air are exchanged per minute here, using
saloon and the emotional appeal of a sports coupe. ventilation fan motors that are particularly silent.
A total of three leather sport steering wheels
are available. Depending on the version, the
multifunction keys in the steering wheel can be
used to control the trip computer, various assistance
systems, the audio systems and telephone.
The Passat CC is being offered with a new
generation radio and navigation system. Features of
the top version, the RNS 510, include intuitive touch
screen control and a hard-disk supported navigation
system. In conjunction with the ‘Rear Assist’ parking

April 2009, UAE Digest 39

Pg 37-39 Autos-3pgs.indd 3 4/1/09 1:07:34‭ ‬PM

 ENTERTAINMENT
Global Village
Home-made entertainment
I
n these days of counting the
dirhams and spending wisely,
it is nice to see residents of
the city opting more and more
for home-grown, and participation
entertainment for all members of
the family. “Well done” to those
who have opened their doors
free-of-charge, and to those who
charge a nominal fee. We look
forward to seeing more and more
entrance prices tumble downwards
as organisers realise that our hard-
earned money is ours to keep or
spend as we wish. The days of
‘only’ Dh200-900 for a ticket are
on their way out. The days of
bigger crowds attending reasonably
priced entertainment is making a
comeback…
In mid-March, Global Village
opened a ‘Spring Festival’ allowing
free entry to visitors for the
entire duration until 1st May.
Entertainment events include
50 thrilling fun fair rides, a Kite
Festival held on Friday 20 March,
a reptile pavilion, and tents with
sporting activities such as paint ball
competition, archery and air rifle
range in an urban design setting.
A themed outlet, ‘Shaabeyat Al
Cartoon’ enables visitors to meet
cartoon characters in person.
More than 250 retailers in
an outdoor souq style setting,
merchandising several categories
of products from clothes, jewellery,
accessories and gifts are taking part
in the festival which also has several
restaurants and kiosks offering a
variety of cuisines.
Global Village is Dubai’s
exciting and unique annual tourism
destination and spectacular
40 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 40-41 Homemade Entertainment.indd 2
Cirque du Soleil
multicultural family entertainment
centre. Launched in 1996,
Global Village made its debut
on the Creekside opposite Dubai
Municipality. It later moved to the
Oud Metha area and then on to
Dubai Festival City, until it found
a permanent home in 2005 at
Dubailand, situated on the Emirates
Road, halfway between Arabian
Ranches and City of Arabia.
Master developer Nakheel has
brought Cirque du Soleil back to
Dubai. Book your tickets in ‘the big
top’ to see Alegría, a breathtaking
and powerful performance
packed with incredible acrobatic
performances by artistes from 17
countries which have created some
of the most talked about musical
moments from Cirque du Soleil’s
repertoire. Alegría is being held
at Ibn Battuta Mall at the all-white
Big Chapiteau until April 5. Book
your tickets now by visiting www.
cirquedusoleil.ae
The Arts and Crafts Souk being
held on the second Friday of each
month at Times Square Centre,
Sheikh Zayed Road, showcasing
many ranges of handmade crafts is
growing in popularity as February
and March shows attracted
thousands of visitors.
Times Square Centre (TSC),
the newest community oriented
shopping centre in Dubai, hosts
these different kind of shopping
experiences in its spacious atrium,
The souk has a wide array of
authentic homemade food items
like pastries and cakes and special
handcrafted items like jewellery
and accessories. The event also
features some of the UAE’s best
Arts and Crafts Souk
contemporary artwork created by
the members of the Artisans of the
Emirates (ARTE) group.
The stalls featuring works of
members of ARTE are a major
highlight during the Souk. They
contain handmade items like
decorations, individualist pieces
of jewellery, accessories, artwork
and photography. Demonstrations
are also made in knitting and
embroidery by ARTE members.
A three-day festival will feature
international comics who are on
the frontiers of global comedy.
Headlining the opening night will
be Omid Djalili, the British/Iranian
stand-up comedian and Hollywood
celebrity. The Dubai Comedy
Convention is the latest addition to
the portfolio of Chillout Productions
and will complement the quality
one has come to expect from the
company behind the Skywards
Dubai International Jazz Festival
and Abu Dhabi International Jazz
Festival. The patronage of the
Dubai Culture & Arts Authority
comes as a boost to the company’s
newly established division,
Chillout|Comedy, which will
handle the convention and all other
comedy-related events throughout
the year.
The Dubai Comedy Convention
will host shows on the nights of
April 22nd, 23rd and 24th, 2009 at
Commenting on his first Middle East appearance,
Omid Djalili said “Dubai? I thought I was going to
Mumbai to shoot ‘Slumdog Fat Fighters.’ I need to
speak to my agent!”
4/1/09 1:08:25‭ ‬PM
 Sharmila’s Annual Dance Show
the Palladium in Dubai Media City.
Sharmilas Annual Dance Show
is a dancing extravaganza with
a unique blend of dance styles,
performed by over 160 talented UAE-
based performers of all ages and
proficiencies. Happening at 2.30pm
and 7pm on April 24th and 25th at
The Dubai Community Theatre &
Arts Centre on the roof of the Mall
of the Emirates, the entire show is
choreographed by Sharmila Kamte
and her Dance Academy students
to whom she teaches Street Jazz,
Hip Hop, Jazz and Ballet with over
300 students attending her classes
weekly at the Dubai Community
Theatre.
This year’s show includes
retentions of Latino, Soul, Indian and
Hip Hop styles among the 23 dances
being performed. Audiences will
also have the opportunity to enjoy
performances from Sharmila Kamte
and her ensemble as well as Piso
Caliente, the Latino dance specialists.
Sharmila’s Dance Company is an
imaginative, stimulating and creative
run company. The company has
choreographed product launches,
fashion shows, video shoots, live
concerts, gala dinners, entertainment
for exhibitions, theatre shows
and large opening ceremonies.
In addition to choreography, they
provide a group of exclusive dancers
as well as freelancers in Dubai and
internationally.
More performing students, this
time the El Firulete BNF Dance
Company and School (BNF) invites
Dubai residents to watch its first
pure salsa show, performed by BNF
students and teachers on May 1,
2009, at the First Theatre Group at
Souk Madinat Jumeirah. The show
titled DXB Salsa Explosion takes the
audience through an upbeat journey
Pg 40-41 Homemade Entertainment.indd 3
of various salsa styles.
BNF is a Columbian dance
company and school that launched
in Dubai in 2007. The show
will introduce the audience
to Columbian salsa, which is
characterised by its vibrant rhythms
and limitless potential to incorporate
all kinds of rhythms and moves like
the Bolero, Cha-Cha, Mambo, and
Salsa on I and Salsa on II.
Ticket price includes entry
to watch a professional salsa
competition starting at 5pm and the
DXB Salsa Explosion which starts at
8pm.
The Walk recently organised the
Red Bull Urban Ride, a spectacular
winter-sport event, at the Jumeirah
Beach Residence (JBR). Bystanders
witnessed skiers and snowboarders
demonstrating skilful tricks during
the day-long event while music
kept onlookers and performers
entertained throughout the day. At
the end of the Urban Ride, trophies
were given to top athletes for best
performance.
Matthew Reay, The Walk Property
Director said: “In our commitment
to delivering innovative retail
solutions and great entertainment
to the fore, we invited the Red Bull
team to host this performance.
The event brought together
exceptional athletes who defied the
laws of gravity in Dubai’s perfect
Red Bull Urban Ride Community Market Day
DXB Salsa Explosion
spring weather, over beachfront
surroundings.”
In addition to hosting the
Red Bull Snow Jam, Dubai Retail
supports several community
focused activities, including the
Dubai Shopping Festival and Covent
Garden Market Dubai.
Emaar Properties hosted its
popular Community Market Day
on March 27 for residents in The
Springs, The Meadows and Emirates
Hills. The ‘buy and bring sale’
event was held at the Car Park next
to the Meadows Village, which
also features several children’s
entertainment activities. The fete,
organised by the Emaar Community
Management Department, brought
together families in a fun-filled
retail experience. It was a great
opportunity for neighbours to get to
know each other better. Residents
of these communities rent tables
to showcase home and personal
products ranging from toys to
apparels, electronic gadgets and
accessories.
Emaar routinely organises
Community Market Days and other
social events for residents in its
master-planned communities –
Arabian Ranches, Dubai Marina,
Downtown Burj Dubai and Emirates
Living, which includes The Views,
The Greens, The Springs, The
Meadows and The Lakes.
April 2009, UAE Digest 41
4/1/09 1:08:29‭ ‬PM
 ENTERTAINMENT
Poetic justice
Dubai International Poetry Festival’s mantra was ‘A
thousand poets, one language’; organised by the
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation with
Wasl, the asset management group owned by Dubai
Real Estate Corporation (DREC), as its co-organising
partner. The event attracted approximately 100 regional
and international poets and writers from 45 countries,
a host of senior government officials, dignitaries and
poetry lovers from the UAE. The week-long DIPF 2009
hosted various workshops and commemorative evenings
at select venues across Dubai, including the Dubai Mall,
Dubai Festival City, Mall of the Emirates, and Souk
Madinat Jumeirah.
Wole Soyinka, the first Nobel prize winner in
Literature from the African sub-Saharan region, was to
give the welcome address but due to ill-health, activist/
poet Breyten Breytenbach gave the inaugural speech on South African poet /activist Breyten Breytenbach at the inauguration
his behalf. One of his most striking lines was “the tongue
doesn’t have teeth but it bites as deep.” gatherings, poetic soirees and festivals in the Arab world
The event was a cultural exchange programme and Europe, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Television
for poets of various countries and showcased Dubai Production from Ohio University (1996) and a Master’s
in its diversity. As Saoud Al Abdooli, Head of Events degree in Cinema Direction from Griffith University (1999).
Committee of DIPF aptly said: “The Emirati society Arif Umar Al Khaja, was born in 1959 and started
has a cultural mosaic of more than 200 nationalities, writing poetry while still in
all residing in Dubai which is now considered a bridge secondary school. He was
for cultures.” Poetry workshops, poetry recitals, music first published in the ‘Akhbar
and poetry evenings plus the unique ‘Souq Ukadh’ Dubai’ magazine and later in
reawakened the memory of the halcyon days of Arab several Arabic newspapers.
creative expression. He started by writing in the
International Women’s Day on 8 March was celebrated traditional metrical poetry
with a special poetry evening exclusively for women style and then turned to free
poets too. verse after graduating from

Bards of the UAE

university. Later, he created
a unique combination of
both. As a student in Cairo,
Creativity knows no boundaries and that was amply he penned the lyrics of a
seen in the narration of various works of Emirati poets number of UAE national
during the poetry festival. Cutting across gender barriers, songs. Among his well
the artistes expressed themselves on various issues and known works are ‘Beirut’,
showcased to the world a glimpse of Emirati creativity. ‘Jamrat Al-Aqabah’, ‘Al-Eid
Nujum Al Ghanim, an Emirati poetess born in Dubai Prayers’, ‘Fatigue’ and ‘From
in 1962, started the camp’. Arif Umar Al Khaja
writing poetry Like him, Mahmud Nur
in the late started writing poetry at an early age, publishing his
1970s, but did first poem in his school magazine. He writes in both
not publish her vernacular and classical Arabic and has significantly
works until the promoted the genre of poetry by producing several
early 1980s. She programmes dedicated to poetry on various local TV
has a collection channels. Nur has edited collections of local poems and
of six books to has organised a number of poetry gatherings and soirees.
her credit, the A recipient of prestigious awards for poetry, he holds a
first of which bachelors degree in Arabic Language and Literature.
was Paradise One of the senior poets is Dr. Shihab Ghanim. Born
Evening (1989). A in 1940, he started publishing in the early 60s and has
regular participant to his credit 10 anthologies on Arabic poetry and over
in cultural 40 collections and literary books. His works include
Nujum Al Ghanim

42 UAE Digest, April 2009

Pg 42-43Entertainment-poetry.indd 2 4/1/09 4:18:21‭ ‬PM

 ENTERTAINMENT

up considerable momentum and is starting to match the rhythm of pioneering

poets such as Salim Ali Al Owais and Sultan Al Owais, Hamad Bu Shehab and
Ahmad Amin Al Madani who established the art form in this great country, he
stated.
Abdullah Mansouri, Muhammed Balabd, Huda Al Saadi and Maysun Al
Qasimi too read out their artistic verses.

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of

Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, popularly known as ‘Fazza’
and HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, known as ‘Az-
zam’ and Chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation narrat-
ing their poems
Dr. Shihab Ghanim

‘Between a Shore and Another’, ‘It is

Love’ and ‘The Surrealistic Time’. Dr
Shihab has also penned a collection
of poems in English and is a well-
known translator with more than
16 collections of translated poems
from Arabic into English and from
English or other foreign languages
into Arabic. He has participated in
several regional and international
festivals of literature and poetry and
has received prestigious awards. He
holds a doctorate in Economics from
Cardiff University, UK.
Another poet is Majid
Abdulrahman, born in Dubai in
Royal soiree deeply involved in poetry at a very young
age. His pen name ‘Fazza’ means the one
Dubai was all ears to the poetry recitals who rushes to help people and save lives.
1969, who was the head of Dubai of two of its endearing royal family Noted for his love of literature and
Committee for Vernacular Poetry members: HH Sheikh Hamdan bin vernacular poetry, Sheikh Ahmed or
for eight years. He is a member of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ‘Azzam’ emulates his father in poetry
The Committee for Riddle Series, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman and horsemanship. His poetry involves
represented the UAE in many of Dubai Executive Council, popularly great passion and remarkable love for his
regional events and has received known as ‘Fazza’ and HH Sheikh Ahmed homeland.
coveted awards for his contributions bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
to vernacular poetry. known as ‘Azzam’ and Chairman of Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai and Vice
During the course of the event, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum President of the UAE attended the event
Emirati poet Ibrahim Ahmad Ibrahim Foundation, which organised the poetry that saw more than 4,000 poets, men
rendered his poems that won high festival. of letters and avid poetry lovers who
praise from the audience. “The Versatile imagery and fascinating were enthralled by the recitation that
Emirati poetry movement is building figures of speech are the hallmarks of the revolved around topics such as patriotism,
poems of Sheikh Hamdan, who became community and togetherness.

Princely poetry
Prince Badr Bin Abdulmuhsin Al Saud, Deputy Commander of the Saudi Arabia
National Guard (SANG) and an avid poet hosted a poetry evening during the first
chapter of DIPF. Prince Badr writes poetry in various styles, including the traditional
Nabti style, vertical prose, and free-style poetry. He is keen on other forms of art
such as painting and presented a unique piece of work that combines his handwriting
and self-made decorations in an interesting weave of words and drawings. Prince
Badr’s poetry is most well known for its patriotic sentiments towards the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, in addition to his affection for other Gulf countries including the UAE.
His writings are also personal reflections on love, life and the intricacies of human
emotions.

Mahmud Nur

April 2009, UAE Digest 43

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 ENTERTAINMENT
H
e can be described as
‘hip’ and ‘happening’
in the world of hip hop
dancing; Moufdi El Bellaj
is simply energetic. One of the most
popular acts in the world of hip hop
from the Middle East, he takes pride
in being the debut break dancing
mentor. Currently based in Dubai,
Moufdi El Bellaj was born in Morocco
and had thorough dance training
since the age of 12.
“By the age of 14, I realised
I wanted to learn every aspect
of dance, for instance: practical,
theoretical and historical
characteristics. After many years of
training, I had the opportunity to
perform professionally in musicals,
shows, stage performances,
video clips and events. I had the
opportunity to travel to Europe and
44 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 44 Entertainment-break dancer.indd 2
Acrobatic moves
Hailed as the first Arab break dancer, Moufdi El Bellaj is
passionate about dance. He is a man of several talents.
Rabis.M talks to him about the hip hop culture and why Dubai
should have break dance battles
the Middle East.”
It is rather unconventional in an
Arab society to step into this fast
paced world of break dancing, but
Moufdi was an ardent lover of the
art. He loved the vigorous amount
of precision and power involved
and he loved the audience being so
watchful of each movement of the
performance; he is an entertainer
highly keen on ‘crowd pleasing’.
For Moufdi, getting inspired was
more about individuality; there are
an array of dancers from the USA
that have fascinated him. He loves
the fact that these dancers bond
their steps to the basic roots of break
dance, simultaneously incorporating
their own ‘flavour’ and ‘personality’
into their moves. As far as he
recollects, his entire life has all been
about dance. “I have always danced,
for as long as I remember with my
family and friends from the street to
the studio to where I am now.”
When Moufdi first came to Dubai,
break dancing was non-existent,
so for him it was a challenge to
introduce it, as the Arab society did
not understand this kind of art; a
dance revolution that took place.
“Nowadays, it is far easier, as
the hip hop culture has become
extremely
fashionable and
people enjoy the
excitement this
offers.”
His own style
is more focused
on power and
acrobatic moves,
even though
he incorporates
the different
aspects of basic
break dancing. Interestingly, all of
them seem to evolve into something
new and crispy every time. With the
popularity of the hip hop culture,
there are now several trance and
break dancing institutes. These include
The Ballet Centre Dubai, where
Moufdi taught for two years. Another
institute is the Kadomz Dance Studio
at the Dubai Marina Mall where he is
teaching currently.
So how does Moufdi define ‘dance’?
“I see it as a connection between
people, an expression of emotion
through movement, and if it is done in
the right way, it can touch one deeply
and make them fall in love with
dance.”
Among his most famous
performances: his crew has appeared
at the Cannes Film Festival, World
Cup Akro Ball, The Legends Rock
Dubai, Bob Sinclair and the World
Cup Horse Racing, followed an
opportunity to choreograph Nancy
Ajram’s music video ‘Elli Kaan’. His
list of performances is endless- he’s
not only had the opportunity to
perform at concerts and events,
but he’s also been featured in TV
commercials.
Moufdi firmly believes there is a
need for competitions to take place, as
they would not only boost the profile
of this genre, but also bring in more
dancers. “I predict in the near future,
this form of dance shall pick up
because there is an ongoing interest.”
Moufdi has come a long way since
starting a journey in the hope of
becoming a performer, and he still
looks forward to entertaining the
masses, and hopefully seeing an uplift
in this highly energy bursting world of
dance that is not simply a move, but
also a story in itself.
4/1/09 1:10:33‭ ‬PM
 REAL ESTATE
Fractional ownership of a
golfing des.res.
For property investors with an eye for golf, one particular
opportunity arriving from the game’s 600-year-old home in
Scotland could prove irresistible, particularly as confidence
in other investment vehicles is dragged down by the global
financial crisis…

A
s every good developer or real estate agent
will tell you, location, location, location are the
top three attributes to consider when buying
property. With this in mind, property investors –
particularly those with a passion for golf – may be unable
to ignore a rare opportunity coming their way in the
form of a five-bedroom home in the Kingdom of Fife on
Scotland’s East Coast.
The beauty of The Residence, 9 The Links, St Andrews,
is that it sits just a few steps from the hallowed turf of the
historic Old Course, the world’s most famous golfing venue,
occupying a stunning location overlooking the 18th Green
and 1st tee. From its balcony and bay windows, there are
magnificent, uninterrupted views of the Royal & Ancient
Golf Club, West Sands Beach, and the historic Swilken
Bridge. Little wonder it has been hailed as “the most
exclusive and exceptional property in the golfing world”
and ‘The Royal Box of Golf’.
The owners of The Residence are offering investors the
chance to acquire fractional ownership of the freehold for
the exquisite townhouse. The five-bedroom property has
been beautifully restored and extended with 3,000 square of selling the property outright to a single buyer for the
feet of living space and an exquisite interior. right price.
One of the owners is Martin Glynn, who, between 2003 “The crisis in the world financial markets has shaken
and 2006, was Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Bank, investor confidence, and we feel this makes such a solid
USA. Says Glynn: “Shared or fractional ownership is the investment opportunity even more attractive,” said Glynn.
fastest growing form of second home ownership in the “We’d prefer to sell fractions and would like to retain an
luxury sector. It enables co-owners to share the cost and interest ourselves, but we would listen to offers to buy the
maintenance of a property while experiencing superior property outright.”
levels of service and management.”
Prices for an equity share of the property
(www.theresidence-standrews.com) start from £500,000. What you get for your money
While fractional ownership is a relatively new concept • Private balcony overlooking the 18th green & 1st tee of
in many parts of the world, I have no doubt that given its The Old Course, Royal & Ancient Clubhouse and West
location, its heritage, and its facilities, The Residence will Sands Beach
have instant appeal at the luxury end of the market. It will • 180 degree views from the R&A Clubhouse down the
be of particular appeal to those with an interest in golf. fairways to the Old Course Hotel
The property is targeted unashamedly at the very top end • Five well-appointed bedrooms (sleeps eight)
of the second home market and buyers used to the very • Open plan lounge and dining room
best will not be disappointed. • Formal living room
As well as equity in the property, owners will have • Seven Kohler washrooms
use of it for four weeks a year, two in high season, two • Luxury bespoke designer kitchen
in low season, while investors can buy more than one • Utility room
share if they wish. To ensure fairplay during The Open • Golf equipment storage area
Golf Championships at St. Andrews, the world’s leading • Butler’s pantry
golf tournament, The Residence will be transformed into a • Bang & Olufsen home entertainment system throughout
private clubhouse for all its owners and their guests. • Hi-speed wireless internet access
While Glynn and his partners have made fractional sales • Integrated security system, and
their preferred route, they are not ruling out the prospect • Private enclosed courtyard garden

UAE Digest, April 2009 45

Pg 45 Real Estate.indd 1 4/1/09 1:11:12‭ ‬PM

 CAREER
The sky in their eyes
By Ambily Vijaykumar
Two young Emirati women aim to create history by becoming Etihad’s first female pilots:
Salma and Aisha say a career as a pilot will open a whole new world to them
I
t is a restless young generation
out there; unwilling to settle
for just anything in life. The
restlessness to achieve is the
fuel for increased focus on their
targets, and their targets are sky-
high. They value dreams and so dare
to dream, chase and achieve them.
Barriers of gender have long been
overcome. The young today have
wings.
Two such daredevil dreamers
will soon take to the skies. Twenty-
one-year-old Salma Al Balouchi
and twenty-year-old Aisha Hassan
Al Mansouri are on the route to
realising their dream to become
pilots. Interestingly, neither of them
46 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 46-47-Career-Etihad.indd 2
Salma Al Balouchi at The Horizon Flight Academy in Al Ain
has a driving licence yet.
The duo is currently training at
the Horizon Flight Academy, Al Ain,
along with 61 others to become
pilots, as part of Etihad Airlines’
Emirati Cadet Training Programme.
The 18 month course, that wraps up
by the end of April, will pave their
way for stimulator training at Etihad
airlines in Abu Dhabi. Later, after
about four months, they qualify to
become second officer and then
first officer, which means a co-pilot,
after sufficient experience. History
will be created at Etihad Airways,
with the duo becoming their first
female pilots.
“That might take time,” says
Aisha Mansouri. The twenty-year-
old from Khor Fakkan in Fujairah
dreamt of becoming a doctor as a
child, but was “too lazy to study”.
“It was better to study for eighteen
months and become a pilot than go
through the grind for five years to
become a doctor,” she says with a
laugh.
Aisha’s sister is a fighter pilot
with the UAE Air Force and her
brother pilots helicopters for the
Dubai Police. So wanting to make
the sky her world was but a natural
choice. With a father who is into
research in the field of education,
support for her academic aspirations
was readily available. Even when
4/1/09 1:58:52‭ ‬PM

it came to taking up her career, her
father has been a pillar of support.
Her siblings, who know exactly what
she is going through, are always
there to guide her.
“My mother is always worried
for me. But that is how all mothers
are,” Aisha says emotionally. Salma’s
mother, on the other hand, was
completely in the dark about her
daughter’s decision to enrol for the
programme.
“She answered the call from
Etihad Airways for the interview,
thinking it was from Etihad
newspaper. She also took me to
the Etihad office in Abu Dhabi for
the interview. It was only after that
she realised what I was up to,” says
Salma with a chuckle.
Salma was studying to become a
nurse, but opted out of the course
within a year of joining it to take up
the pilot training programme. It was
her mother’s dream to see her enter
the medical profession. “I could not
cope with studies. I did not clear
one of my subjects. So with the help
of my aunt’s husband, I enrolled
for the pilot training programme
after I saw the advertisements in the
newspapers,” Salma informs.
A couple of interviews and tests
later, she qualified for admission to
the academy in October 2007. Her
decision to switch streams came as
a complete surprise to her family,
but they eventually supported her
decision and have stood by her since
then. Salma says she remembers
with fondness the reaction of her
cousins when they learnt that she
was aspiring to be a pilot.
“They would make fun of me
when they visited us. They would
ask me to serve them tea and snacks
since they thought I was becoming
an air hostess. When I got my cadet
uniform after joining the academy
and wore it for them to see, they
were speechless,” Salma recounts.
Both she and Aisha stay at the
accommodation provided by the
academy at Al Ain. “It is essential
for us to concentrate on studies.
At home, it is a very different
atmosphere. But we do visit our
families regularly,” informs Salma.
Pg 46-47-Career-Etihad.indd 3
Theory formed a major part
of the beginning of the course. “I
found theory very tough. But when
we began flying, I started enjoying
it,” says Aisha. For Salma, the fear
of flying was overcome after a
couple of flights to Ras Al Khaimah
and Fujairah.
The two completed their single-
engine solo flights last year in June.
The feeling after the successful flight
and safe landing is something that
the two say they will cherish for a
lifetime.
“It gave me a sense of
achievement. It made me feel like
a real pilot. You are always on the
edge because if something goes
wrong, then that is the end of the
story. It was a great feeling to have
landed in one piece,” says Aisha,
joking.
But even the strongest go weak
in the knees sometimes. What then
keeps the two of them motivated
when the going gets tough?
“I love adventure. That was the
main reason why I chose this field.
Moreover, this career will open up
the gates for me. I will get to travel
to new places, meet different people
and get to know different cultures. I
am a self-confessed foodie and this
will also give me an opportunity to
get a taste of the world in the real
sense of the word,” says Aisha.
Salma sees this as an opportunity
to challenge traditional beliefs
that women are only meant to get
married and raise children. This
career will give her a chance to go
places. “This will give me wings,”
she says confidently.
Captain Ayesh Hamili, the UAE’s
first female pilot has been Salma’s
inspiration. As for Aisha, the thought
of a great life in the future and
challenging new opportunities
keeps her going.
So, where would they prefer
to fly first once they become
qualified pilots? “That is not in our
hands. It is for Etihad to decide.
But nonetheless, I would like to
take my parents to Pakistan. My
grandparents are from there and
I have never visited the country. I
would like to go there,” says Salma.
CAREER
“I would like to fly to a short
distance destination so that I can
get back home to family and friends
easily. But definitely, Rome is high
up on my priority list, basically
because of my love for authentic
Italian food, and of course, the
chance to explore and enjoy the
richness of Italian culture,” says
Aisha.
With the two competing to
become the first female pilots for
Etihad, there definitely has to be
some room for competition.
“For me, everything is
competition, but in a good way,” says
Salma. “I am trying my best to give
my best, so in that case I deserve to
be the best,” she adds.
“Salma is a hard worker and she
will be a good pilot. She loves her
job,” says Aisha. The two hope that
many more women in the country
and across the region take up such
challenging jobs and scale great
heights.
Especially lauding the UAE
government’s Emiratisation drive,
the two say the rulers of the country
have given ample opportunities to
the people of the country to achieve
success. “It is a matter of taking up
those opportunities and returning a
portion to the nation that has given
you so much,” says Aisha.
April 2009, UAE Digest 47
4/1/09 1:58:53‭ ‬PM
 TRAVEL
Walking at Torridon in the Scottish Highlands
Affordable Britain
B
ritain’s top tourism chief, VisitBritain executive
chairman Christopher Rodrigues, has reminded
consumers around the world of Britain’s new
affordability. As the sterling weakens, visitors’
money goes further and exchange rates have never been
better for many international travellers; while the economic
downturn means great deals on flights, accommodation and
attractions.
As Mr Rodrigues says: “As anyone who has spent time
with us will know, our destinations are undergoing radical
change and Britain today can offer world-class service and
quality, ‘star-rated’ accommodation for every budget. We are
a globally attractive and popular destination with a range of
enviable tourism assets, from stunning landscapes to vibrant,
multicultural cities. Our rich history of tradition, heritage
and culture lives beside modern design, music, theatre and
architecture, as well as accommodation. There’s never been
a better time to come for a long weekend of shopping and
the theatre or a longer break to explore Scotland, Wales or
one of our regional cities. If you haven’t planned your trip
yet – what are you waiting for?”
Among the wealth of reasons to visit Britain today:-
• Oil prices have fallen, so many airlines are reducing their
fuel surcharges and airfares are dropping. National flag
carriers and low-cost airlines are all offering discounts.
• Choose official, discounted or half-price theatre tickets
for hit musicals, comedy, drama, dance and opera – all
at a bargain price from London’s TKTS booths. Check
out the shows available on www.officiallondontheatre.
co.uk/tkts/whats_on_today: (prices in January) Avenue
Q £22.50 (down from £39.00), Grease £29.75 (down from
£53.50), Les Miserables £30.50 (down from £55.00),
Sound of Music £29.75 (down from £53.50) or We Will
Rock You £30.50 (down from £55.00).
• Pick up a BritRail pass for unlimited and flexible rail
travel and enjoy discounts for families, groups travelling
together, seniors, younger people and off-peak seasonal
travel. Travel with British friends or relatives and they
get 50 per cent off too. Enjoy Britain’s heritage on your
journey – take a Harry Potter route over the Glenfinnan
Railway viaduct in the West Highlands of Scotland, stop
off at Carnforth station in Lancashire made famous in the
48 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 48-UK.indd 2
Westfield Mall
film Brief Encounter, enjoy
the scenery of one of our
most beautiful landscapes
on the Settle to Carlisle
Railway, travel through the
high peaks of Snowdonia on
the Llandudno to Blaenau
Ffestiniog line. All are covered by your discounted
BritRail pass.
Britain is unique in its government’s support for the
arts – so much so that entry to the world’s most famous
museums and galleries is entirely free. Enjoy the collections
of the Tate Modern, the Lowry Gallery in Manchester, see
the Elgin Marbles at the British Museum, Stephenson’s
Rocket at the Science Museum, and the Burrell Collection in
Glasgow.
A number of major exhibitions and installations are
closing or going back into the vaults soon and may not be
seen again for a while.
• Kuniyoshi at the Royal Academy until June 2009
• Anish Kapoor at the Brighton Festival May 2009
• Le Corbusier at The Barbican until May 2009
• Gerhard Richter’s Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery
until May 2009
• Constable Portraits at Compton Verney, June – September
09
• 2009 emphasis on Indian art and culture with Indian
Highway at the Serpentine Gallery, Indian Summer at
the British Museum, and Maharaja: the Splendour of
India’s Royal Courts at the V&A.
Get a four-day Great British Heritage Pass for £32 and
take your pick of 580 heritage attractions absolutely free.
Base yourself in London and in a long weekend you could
pack in an itinerary that includes Blenheim Palace near
Oxford; Hampton Court Palace; Eltham Palace, the boyhood
home of Henry VIII; Leeds Castle, the ‘loveliest castle in
the world; Dover Castle and the Secret Wartime Tunnels;
Sissinghurst Castle in Kent; Bodiam Castle in East Sussex;
Hever Castle and Gardens, the childhood home of Anne
Boleyn and Arundel Castle, a stunning ancient castle and
stately home containing priceless treasures, a medieval keep,
grounds and organic gardens.
4/1/09 1:59:53‭ ‬PM
 TRAVEL

Selamat Datang,
Malaysia
(Hello, Malaysia)
Malaysia is an ideal holiday destination
with something to interest everyone –
swinging on rope bridges in a rainforest,
looking for the old trails of Borneo’s
head-hunters or simply relaxing on idyllic
beaches. Linda Benbow discovers a
portion of this tropical wonderland in the
South China Sea

D
o they still have head hunters with poisionous arrows in
Borneo? That was the main concern when holiday thoughts
flew to Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur
“Let’s go and find out” said the excited family.
“OK, but remember that I like to do my adventuring in safety
and comfort” was the only stipulation I could think of in the heat of
the moment. As I discovered by the end of the trip, there is a lot of
adventuring, discovering and comfortable enjoyment to be found in the
14 Malay states which comprise a unified Malaysia, situated in the heart
of South East Asia.
Geographically, peninsular Malaysia extends from the Thai border
down to Singapore, while the states of Sabah and Sarawak are
separated by the South China Sea on the west and east extremes of the
island of Borneo.
Kuala Lumpur, the nation’s capital, is just over six hours flying time
from Dubai. KL, as it is fondly called by the locals, is the cultural,
administrative and commercial nerve centre of the country. On
arrival at the airport, you will get an excellent opportunity to read the
variety of free leaflets and brochures as you wait in the queues to clear
passport control. It is advisable to start planning tours and visits from
that moment as it will save precious time later. These can be arranged
with ease with the country’s many travel and tourist agencies.
The city tour in each new destination you visit is essential if you are
to appreciate one place in a short space of time. Apart from it being
the most relaxing and comfortable way to learn about the place you are
in, it’s people, it’s customs and it’s history; it will also give you an idea
of the road layout so that you can return to the places you liked best at
your own leisure. Taxis are metered and very reasonably priced.
Kuala Lumpur is a bustling city full of old and new buildings,
modern highways and narrow streets, huge, clean air-conditioned
shopping malls and bustling street markets. Visit the imposing
Islamic style Central Railway Station which was designed and built
approximately 100 years ago. Barter for handicraft bargains in Central
Market which sells silk batik scarves and sarongs, paper shadow

UAE Digest, April 2009 49

Pg 49-51Travel-Malaysia.indd 1 4/1/09 2:00:50‭ ‬PM

 TRAVEL
Inside Batu Caves
puppets, wooden masks and statues.
Eat at the roadside tables in Chinatown
before setting forth among the barrows
and stalls piled high with fashions of
all kinds. The hotels are worthy of
mention as their shop prices are not
excessively higher than those in the street.
International entertainment and cuisine
vie with the authentic Malaysian.
Still within the federal territory of
Kuala Lumpur, to the north of the city,
are the Batu Caves in Selangor. Two
hundred and seventy two steps and a
huge limestone façade fringed with lush
greenery provide the entrance to a shrine
visited by Hindus every year for the
Thaipusam festival. A procession leads
them to the caves where they perform
rites of penance before an audience
of hundreds of thousands. They carry
ornate frames supported by metal spikes
inserted into the skin to demonstrate
suffering and to seek forgiveness. Others
pierce their tongues and cheeks with
silver spear-like skewers.
Steps lead into Batu Caves Hornbill
50 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 49-51Travel-Malaysia.indd 2
Kampong Villa at Pangkor Laut
Islam is the official religion of
Malaysia, but there is total freedom of
worship and the country has many Hindu
and Chinese temples as well as churches.
For a relaxed, indulgent holiday with
a little bit of exploring for the livelier
minded of the party, travel up the north
west coast to the island of Penang in the
Straits of Malacca. Around this area, there
are several smaller islands. We visited
Pangkor Laut, south of Penang, which
can only be described as Malaysia’s very
own Fantasy Island. One is greeted by
pretty Malay girls presenting garlands of
flowers the moment you step off the ferry
boat from Lamut. That pampered feeling
starts here.
The whole 500-acre island is privately
owned and you are free to roam. Climb
the central jungle coated hills along well-
marked paths. A 10-minute hike from
one side of the island to the other leads
to Emerald Bay where a thatched shelter
under the almond trees discreetly hides a
bar full of cold refreshments.
Take a river ride at Kuching in a sampan boat
In the evenings, flocks of Pied
Hornbills can be seen flying among
the treetops. These colourful toucan-
like birds have a distinctive call which
echoes over the island.
Accommodation is in three types of
chalets, a limited number of them so as
to keep the exclusivity and charm of the
island intact. They are all designed to
blend in with the natural surrounding
beauty. Hillside villas scattered up the
jungle-clad hills are connected by sturdy
wooden stairs and walkways. Beach
chalets under palm trees are excellent
places for families with children. There
are also chalets on stilts built to look
like a Malay fishing village (known as
kampong) perched over the sea. Sit on
the verandah and watch the colourful
coral life below you.
For such a tiny island, it has quite a
lot of history. Most of it is connected
with its bigger neighbour, the island of
Pangkor, just 10 minutes ferry ride across
the sea, and is well worth a sightseeing
4/1/09 2:00:55‭ ‬PM

trip. Sumatrians, Portugese and others
invaded over the centuries, each leaving
their mark, and, for a short while in the
early 1900s, it was even used as a leper
colony.
World War II saw Colonel Spencer
Chapman,a top British commando and
author of The Jungle is Neutral, fighting
the Japanese army on the mainland. His
last task was to get out by submarine
before a planned offensive was carried
out by the British. The rendezvous point
was Pangkor Laut which the Colonel
reached in a dug-out boat called a
sampan disguised as a local Chinese.
After all that relaxing and soaking
up sun and history, you will be eager
to get on the move again. Head for the
wilder parts of Malaysia on the mainland
of Borneo. A two-hour internal flight
from KL will take you either to Kuching
in the state of Sarawak to the west, or to
Kota Kinabalu in the state of Sabah at the
extreme northeast of the island. Both
places have much to recommend for
themselves.
Sarawak is a riverine state and most
transport is via the waterways, Despite
being a place of economic importance
with its production of oil, gas, timber
pepper, rubber and sago, it also retains
it’s natural beauty with vast areas of
still untouched rainforests. The state is
inhabitated by several different ethnic
groups. Many of the people live on the
waterways in longhouses, which is a
covered, thatched building sub divided
into rooms for different families within
the tribe; a whole village under one roof.
Kuching is an old city with many
types of architecture to reflect its past
association with the British Empire,
Chinese travellers and missionaries.
It also has some extremely modern
Walk amongst the tree tops in Sarawak
Pg 49-51Travel-Malaysia.indd 3
shopping malls and fast food outlets,
successfully combining European and
Malay tastes.
Excellent hotel facilities and a wide
choice of tours into the hinterland beckon
the explorer. A two-hour leisurely cruise
in a traditional sampan on the main river
allows you to see a gentle pace of life.
Pull into shore and visit Fort Margherita,
now a police museum, originally built
in 1878 to defend the city against pirate
attacks from the River Sarawak.
The best way to learn about the
head hunting tribes of old is to visit the
Sarawak Museum in Kuching which has
a wide ranging collection of Borneo
ethnological and archaelogical artefacts.
Do not worry about encountering any
head collecting natives as it has been
quite a number of years since anyone has
been in danger of having their head cut
off and shrunk in specially built steam
huts in the jungle.
After that experience, one derives
a morbid sense of glee in walking
around the antique shops in town and
recognising blow pipes, poison arrows
and frightening tribal masks.
Journey north to the state of Sabah,
known also as ‘the land below the wind’
because it lies below the typhoon belt,
where you find mountains and lush
tropical rainforests which are sometimes
used for survival training by militants of
various countries.
The capital of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu,
known as KK, demands a little more time
than one might originally think. That is
because many of the organised tours last
two days or more to enable you to see
and appreciate the magnificent scenery.
Travelling to the appropriate sites also
takes a long time. It is in Sabah that
you will find South East Asia’s highest
Orangutan at the sanctuary in Sabah
TRAVEL
mountain, Mount Kinabalu, which towers
an impressive 4,101metres in Kinabalu
National Park.
There is plenty to see and do within
the 754 square kilometre park. Have a
dip in the hot sulphur springs which were
first developed by the Japanese during
World War II and which are now piped
into several open air Japanese style baths
built for standing up in. The sulphur
in the water is believed to have health
properties as well as curative properties
for skin diseases.
Walking on rope bridges high in the
treetops gives a real sense of adventure
and, of course, you must allow time to
climb the lower mountain slopes so that
you can get up to the same level as the
leaves. Allow time for resting too as
it can be quite tiring breathing in the
rarified air so high up.
But, if you are feeling particularly
adventurous and fit, you could climb
Mount Kinabalu. For this feat, it is
necessary to hire a guide who knows the
terrain and who will take you up, and
down, safely. The expedition takes two
days, and accommodation is available
at 3,500metres and 3,750metres on the
summit trail.
The wonderful flora and fauna to be
seen is well worth all that huffing and
puffing. There are over 1,000 species of
orchids here; also, the largest flower in
the world, and the smelliest, the Rafflesia,
is found here. You may catch a glimpse
of brilliant blue feathers of exotic birds
or the orange fur of an orangutan high in
the branches.
While in Sabah, you can also visit
the Rungus tribe, famous for still living
in longhouses. You can spend the night
with the villagers if you want – mattress,
sheet and pillow provided!
Rafflesia
April 2009, UAE Digest 51
4/1/09 2:00:57‭ ‬PM
 TRAVEL
Adventure
island
Abundant in natural reserves, flora
and fauna, Sri Lanka promises to
draw out the adventurer in you
Spas in Sri Lanka
Leopards and bears can be
found abundant in the Sri Lanka
animal reserves
52 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 52-53 Travel-Sri Lanka.indd 2
A
dventure has marked Sri Lanka from time
immemorial. The country figures in the
Indian epic, the Ramayana, as the ‘golden
Lanka,’ of the demon king Ravana, who
abducts the Indian princess Sita, the consort of King
Rama and keeps her captive till Rama and his monkey
army rescue her.
Epochs after the legend, the adventure streak into
Sri Lanka continues. Bountiful in natural resources
and vegetation that makes it an ideal climate for
nature tourism, the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ is
currently being marketed by the Sri Lankan Tourism
Promotion Board (SLTPB) as an intrepid destination
since adventure-seekers have been identified as a
potential growth market.
Wild elephants, leopards and a nesting turtle
laying her eggs on the beach or the dazzling display
of a peacock in dance, spotted deer and sambhar,
wild buffalo, bears and different species of monkeys,
including the macaque and the large-eyed loris, the
scaly pangolin, giant squirrels, wild boars, jungle cats
and the cat-like palm quivet, peacocks, painted storks,
herons, parrots, spoonbills, bee-eaters, hornbills,
woodpeckers and over 450 species of birds can be
spotted there.
Over 250 species of butterfly-most of them found
in the foothills up to about 900 metres, -54 species
of freshwater fish, a variety of frogs and reptiles,
3,350 species of flowering plants, lush tropical fruits,
majestic tall trees, rare orchids and medicinal plants
can be found in the country. Sri Lanka has large
areas rich in flora and fauna conserved in 13 national
parks, sanctuaries and natural reserves, extending
to 950,000 hectares across the country with over 100
other protected areas. Some of them include Bundala
National Park, Horton Plains, Kumana Bird Park,
Sinharaja Forest, Wasgomuwa National Park, Wilpattu
National Park, Yala National Park, and the Habarana
Safari Park.
A taste of ayurveda
As many as 6,500 registered ayurveda practitioners,
- all of whom have undergone a seven-year course, -
followed by two years in a conventional hospital, now
cater to the needs of an increasing numbers of tourists
to Sri Lanka. Many luxurious hotels and beach resorts
have a spa or massage centre that practise ayurveda.
It is the oldest holistic medical system that originated
in India and is widely used in Sri Lanka. Ruins of
ancient hospitals with medicinal baths and toilets
dating back to the 4th Century BC can be seen even
today in the ancient capital of Anuradhapura in north
central Sri Lanka.
Ayurveda’s pharmacopoeia of preparations includes
a vast range of leaves, roots, bark, resin, spices and
fruits. Used with the experience of 3,000 years, the
ingredients continue to work their restorative and
healing magic.
4/1/09 2:01:55‭ ‬PM

Among
the newest
to offer
in-house
therapy for
visitors is
ayurveda
pavilions in
the coastal
fishing town
of Negombo.
The first
health
holiday
resort on the
west coast of
Ayurveda in Sri Lanka the country,
Ngombo
provides a peaceful environment
for providing preventive and
curative treatment with the help of
a team of highly qualified ayurveda
practitioners. Accommodation
is provided in small villas with
modern facilities, including luxurious
bathrooms and featuring traditional
architecture. Outdoor baths in a small
courtyard in each villa allow visitors
to enjoy herbal baths in the privacy
of their own pavilions. Futher along
the coast is Barberyn Reef Ayurveda
Resort in Beruwala.
The Ministry of Indigenous
Medicine oversees the several
ayurvedic hospitals and over 10,000
registered physicians in the country,
each of whom has to undergo a
seven-year training period before
being allowed to practice. Ayurveda
is used to treat everything from
stress to diabetes, migraine, asthma,
arthritis and high-blood pressure,
to help boost the immune system,
and even help in delaying the ageing
process.
New destination: Kalpitiya
Sri Lanka Tourism has launched a
new tourism development project
consisting of 14 unspoilt islands
known as Kalpitiya, located 150
kilometres north of Colombo. The
Kalpitiya Integrated Development
Project (KITDP) will select the
islands best suited for development
to generate environment friendly
sustainable tourism to satisfy the
needs of a varied visitor profile.
Pg 52-53 Travel-Sri Lanka.indd 3
Working on a ten to twelve-year plan,
Sri Lanka Tourism is currently in the
process of finalising the groundwork
for this ambitious project. There will
be botanical gardens and a marine
sanctuary for exotic tropical fish and
the coral formations found in the
shallow waters. During November
to March each year, the wetlands
around the islands attract many
species of local and migratory birds.
Whales and dolphins can also be
spotted without having to sail into
the deep seas. This project will not
only develop the area which has
hitherto been unexplored, but also
provide employment to the people
in the area, provide livelihood to the
fishermen and improve the economic
situation of Kalpitiya.
Middle East travellers
buck the trend
Bucking global economic recession
and a downward spiral in the tourism
industry worldwide, Middle East
travellers visiting Sri Lanka surged
by 24 per cent in 2008, according
to SLTPB, with the strongest growth
markets being UAE, Kuwait, Qatar,
Bahrain, Lebanon and Iran.
Declining costs of travel, changing
lifestyle patterns, consumer-friendly
travel facilities, and good childcare
and maid facilities for Arabs travelling
with families have been key
growth drivers. Cultural attractions,
entertainment, shopping and dining
are some of the factors that draw
modern day Arab travellers to their
preferred destinations, and Sri Lanka
offers a good product that scores on
all counts and is less than four hours
flying time away from the Gulf.
Ceylon Tea Trails
wins awards
Ceylon Tea Trails, the world’s first
tea bungalow resort connected
by walking trails, situated in
Dickoyal; the heart of Sri Lanka’s
tea country, has won the coveted
2009 Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice
Award. Unlike other hotel awards
programmes, the ‘Choice Awards’
are based on an analysis of real,
TRAVEL
Tea Plantations
unbiased
reviews and
opinions
by actual
guests.
The resort
comprises
four colonial
tea planters’
bungalows
set among
lush tea
plantations, infused with a new
and decidedly gourmet vibe. Each
villa, built between 1890 and 1939,
offers a taste of colonial living
with butler service and authentic
period furnishings. Castlereagh
and Summerville bungalows have
lakefront positions, while Norwood
has the best pool, with panoramic
views. Tientsin is the most traditional
colonial bungalow. Opened by the
tea company Dilmah, the resort
teaches visitors everything they need
to know about the perfect brew.
Guests are absorbed into the life on a
working tea estate, while revelling in
five-star luxury.
Tips for tourists
Sri Lankan Airlines has direct flights
from the UAE. It has a network
of 41 destinations in 25 countries
throughout Europe, the Middle East,
the Subcontinent, and the Far East
and offers convenient connections
to East and West through its hub
in Colombo. The Bandaranaike
International Airport is considered
to be one of finest airports in South
Asia.
Sri Lankan Airlines commenced
flights to Rome in December 2008.
The flight, operated on Airbus A340
wide-bodied aircraft, on Wednesday,
Friday, and Sunday, takes the
route Colombo-Rome-Paris-Rome-
Colombo. Flying time to Colombo is
10 hours.
April 2009, UAE Digest 53
4/1/09 2:01:56‭ ‬PM

TRAVEL
Surfing at Taghazout, Morocco
The Dunes at El Kantaoui is an exclusive resort
located on Tunisia’s Gold Coast, between two of the
country’s busiest airports and offers on-site world class
Thallasso Spa facilities including Turkish baths, sauna
and beauty and massage treatment rooms
A sunny African future
A
somewhat less mainstream
holiday destination, Africa
remains a largely untapped
continent for international
visitors, but one whose tourism sector
is significantly on the increase with
the World Travel & Tourism Council
having reported growth in tourism on
the continent of 5.9 per cent in 2008.
Not only this but with a great deal to
offer all travellers, from a welcome
sunshine getaway to an adventurous
escape, Africa is set to share some
of its hidden secrets to a growing
number of privileged visitors in the
coming years.
An exciting array of wildlife, a
generally warm and sunny climate
and varied and captivating landscapes
can be said to be offered by all parts
of this, the second most expansive
continent in the world. As one of
the most diverse continents, Africa
has an arguably unrivalled richness
and variety, with countries such
as Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and
Botswana, for example, all offering
something different to those looking
to visit - and perhaps also as places to
54 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 54-55 Travel-Africa.indd 2
Entrance to the
Kasbah at Agadir,
Morocco
invest.
Colourful Morocco is a well-
known African destination, having
founded itself both as an exotic
holiday location as well as an exciting
property investment choice. A wealth
of property developments have
sprung up around the key tourist
areas driven by King Mohammed
VI’s ‘Vision 2010’, a national focus
on increasing the country’s tourism
industry, and in turn industry profit.
Morocco’s aim was to increase tourist
numbers to 10 million in 2010 and
in response to this national focus,
the country is well and truly on
track - with 2008 figures showing
tourist numbers had increased to 7.88
million.
The freehold resort of Apple
Gardens in the tourist hotspot and
capital city of Marrakech not only
takes advantage of the growth in
Morocco’s tourist industry - with
15 per cent annual capital growth
predicted - but also the myriad of
cultures that define the country.Just
15 minutes from the city centre, you
can get breathtaking views of the
rugged Atlas Mountains, as well as be
close to the Unesco World Heritage
site of Djamaa El Fna Square.
Though also in northern Africa,
Tunisia offers something different
for the seasoned traveller, with a
property market in its infancy for
foreign buyers due to relatively new
legislation to allow and encourage
foreign ownership of property in the
country. The Global Competitiveness
Report 2008-2009 ranked Tunisia the
top African country when looking
at a number of factors including
infrastructure, health and primary
education, technological readiness
and financial market sophistication,
making looking to the future bright
for the country, and in turn for those
looking to invest in property. Not
only this, but the newly signed Open
Skies Agreement which will allow
European, American, Canadian and
Arabian airlines to operate freely
in Tunisian airspace, along with
the construction of a new airport
at Enfidha on the Gold Coast, all
point towards a predicted significant
growth in the numbers of those
4/1/09 2:03:06‭ ‬PM

visiting Tunisia.
If historical significance, cultural
splendour and a slightly more established
property market is more your thing,
then perhaps Egypt should be your
destination of choice. The warm desert
climate and luxurious properties being
built at reasonable prices have meant that
Egypt has positioned itself as a popular
holiday destination, with the ABTA 2009
Travel Trends Report recognising the
country’s magnetism. For the past few
years, holidaymakers have been drawn
to the country’s Red Sea resorts, attracted
by the promise of good weather, top-
class hotels and bargain prices.
If instead, it is more of a lifestyle
investment you are looking for, and
ecological and ethical returns are of
significance, the bushlands of Botswana
may well hold the answer. This more
southerly country is a truly different
corner of Africa, and in turn holds a
wealth of unique and extraordinary
wildlife that is bound to amaze
and enrapture. It is also here that a
balance of tourism and environmental
responsibility is being closely worked on
Existing camp hut on Limpopo-Lipadi Game Reserve
Pg 54-55 Travel-Africa.indd 3
TRAVEL
by the government.
The Limpopo-Lipadi Game and
Wilderness Reserve is one project Tunisian beach
that is setting the standard for this
mix of environmental awareness and
eco-tourism in Botswana. Covering
an expanse of over 80,000 acres, the
reserve offers a unique investment
opportunity to become part of this
project that aims to educate and enrich
through working to a strict ecosystem
and conservation model. Visit Botswana,
become part of the decision-making
process surrounding the reserve, learn
about the country’s unique species
through local knowledge courses,
sleep in game hides or tree platforms
Delta Del Okavango, Botswana
and even train to become a game
ranger. The Limpopo-Lipadi Game and
Wilderness Reserve will broaden your
horizons and teach the wide variety of
experiences that Africa has to offer.
For more information on investing in
Morocco, Tunisia or Egypt visit www.
experience-international.com.
For more information on investing in
Botswana visit: www.limpopo-lipadi.
com.
April 2009, UAE Digest 55
4/1/09 2:03:09‭ ‬PM
 TRAVEL
Try Thai
T
hailand is often referred
to as a golden land, not
because there is precious
metal buried underground,
but because the country gives off
a certain lustre, be it the fertile
rice fields of the central plains,
white sandy beaches, or the warm
hospitality of its citizenry.
There is so much to see and do
in Thailand...whether you are a food
lover, serious shopper, club hopper,
culture vulture, keen golfer, or in
search of holistic healing.
First introductions are made
in Bangkok, a modern behemoth
of screaming traffic, gleaming
shopping centres, and international
sensibilities interwoven with devout
Buddhism. It is a magnet for a
broad range of visitors because of its
eclectic attractions, and this buzzing
56 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 56-58 Travel-Thailand.indd 2
Royal temple
Royal Palace and Temple
metropolis offers surprises at
every turn. Gleaming skyscrapers,
glittering temples, colourful street
markets, sophisticated shopping
malls, a bustling nightlife scene,
and an energy that reflects the
city’s incredible economic growth
over the past few years. Despite
this growth, the capital of Thailand
remains true to its cultural,
historical and spiritual roots – as
the city’s many ‘wats’ or Buddhist
temples are testament to. Bangkok
is a melting pot of races, creeds and
cults, as well as food and culture.
Indeed, ‘Khrungthep’, as the Thais
call their capital, makes for one
heady brew.
Geographically, Bangkok is
Thailand’s heartland, extending
from Lop Buri in the north and
covering the rice bowl of the
Central Plains around the Chao
Phraya River. Further south, the area
embraces the east and west coasts
of the upper Gulf of Thailand. This
is Thailand’s most fertile farming
area, a wide-ranging landscape
of paddy fields, orchards and
plantations. More than 1,000 years
ago, Thai settlers moved down
from the north, gradually replacing
Mon and Khmer influences and
establishing communities at Lop
Central & East Coast Buri, then
at Sukhothai, before founding a
kingdom that lasted 417 years with
Ayutthaya as its capital. When the
Burmese destroyed Ayutthaya in
1767, the capital moved to Bangkok.
Chiang Mai, the country’s
bohemian centre, is where the
unique and precise elements of
Thai culture become a classroom,
4/1/09 2:07:20‭ ‬PM
 for cooking courses and language
lessons; while climbing into the
mountain ranges around Mae
Hong Son, you’ll find stupa-studded
peaks and villages of post-Stone
Age cultures. Chiang Mai is a land
of mist-covered mountains, ethnic
hill-tribe villages, rolling rivers,
historic temples, and elephants
in their natural habitat. These are
just some of the charms Thailand’s
northernmost city is famous for.
It offers something for everyone;
nature lovers, adventure seekers,
shopaholics, people who cherish
culture and art, and those who just
wish to be spoiled at an exclusive Hand carved elephants Thai masks Umbrellas galore
spa. It is located some 700 kilometres
north of Bangkok. At 300 metres
above sea level, the city is somewhat
cooler than other parts of Thailand,
and also the centre of the country’s
well-known handicrafts industry. It
is your gateway to explore northern
Thailand and beyond.
On the eastern side, 400
kilometres of coastline extend from
Chon Buri to Rayong, with some of
the finest beaches in Asia. Pattaya,
with an enormous range of resorts,
hotels and guesthouses, is its centre.
If you are seeking a more relaxing
experience, travel further down
the coast to Rayong or Ko Samet,
and the lovely islands of Ko Chang
National Park near the Cambodian
border.
Pattaya is a place where fun,
excitement, and adventure come
together at a tropical seaside
hotspot with more than 35,000
hotel rooms in its many resorts.
It boasts expansive beaches, a
variety of dining choices, exciting
water and land sports, surprising
attractions, high-end shopping,
and a thoroughly wild and famous
nightlife. Indeed, Pattaya has it all. Sliding down the coastal tail are they find in the daily rhythm of
Located less than two hours (150 the evergreen limestone islands Thailand a tranquillity that isn’t
km) from Bangkok, this highrise of Ko Tao and Kho Phi Phi Don, confined to vacation time.
beach city is a top destination for filled with tall palms angling Koh Samui is the country’s third
many tourists. In recent years, more over pearlescent sand. Thailand’s biggest island and lies in the Gulf
and more families, tour groups and beaches are stunning, hedonistic of Thailand. It is surrounded by 60
leisure travellers have discovered and mythic among residents of other islands, mostly within the Ang
Pattaya’s attractions, from its northern latitudes. People come Thong National Marine Park. Samui
extensive recreational facilities to here as miners: first perhaps for the has a population of about 50,000
offbeat museums and lush botanical uniquely Western concept of R&R. people and the island’s popularity
gardens, providing a holiday And while they toast themselves to makes certain parts a busy place
destination second to none. a bronze hue on the sandy beaches, to be, but it still has some quiet,

April 2009, UAE Digest 57

Pg 56-58 Travel-Thailand.indd 3 4/1/09 2:07:31‭ ‬PM

 TRAVEL
secluded beaches. From the 1980s
onward, tourism has gradually
eclipsed the coconut industry
as the island’s biggest source of
revenue. Unlike Phuket, Samui’s
major and busiest beaches are
on its east coast with the island’s
main port Nathon, on its west
coast, facing nearby mainland
and Surat Thani.
Koh Chang - with over 70 per
cent of the landscape consisting
of preserved and virgin rainforest,
Thailand’s second largest island
is a tapestry of adventure waiting
to be had. Whether it is elephant
trekking, diving among the
colourful coral or some well-
deserved pampering at one of
the island’s many spas, Koh
Chang offers the perfect fusion
Thai Neilloware
of recreation and relaxation.
Thought to be Thailand’s best
conserved tourist destination,
visitors are spoilt for choice with
a rich landscape consisting of
pristine sandy beaches, secluded
beach coves, and rainforest with
an abundance of tropical wildlife.  here, you can dive deep into the
For many, the main incentive
to spend a holiday in Phuket
is the incredibly wide reach
of activities the island has to
offer. Not only that, but with an
Chiang Dio elephant
training centre, Chaing Mai
58 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 56-58 Travel-Thailand.indd 4
encyclopaedia-long list of hotels and
accommodation as well as startling
scenery and seascapes, Phuket is a
dream destination.
The island’s west coast has long
been the ‘tourism side’ of the island,
but nowadays, the east coast and
even some inland districts have
been developed with new resorts
springing up all the time. In spite
of this, Phuket never feels crowded
because of its size, and pockets of
tranquillity can easily be found.
The resorts of Cha-am and Hua Hin
attract international travellers who
prefer their more sophisticated yet
laidback atmosphere.
Far from the sea in the northwest
of the region is Kanchanaburi,
whose forested mountains,
waterfalls and caves, national
parks and wildlife sanctuaries on
the border with Myanmar provide
some of Thailand’s most enthralling
scenery.
The northeast is a region better
suited for homestays and teaching
gigs than quick souvenir snapshots:
Thai psyche, emerging with a
tolerance for searingly spicy food
and a mastery of this strange tonal
language. Welcome to a life-altering
experience disguised as a holiday.
4/1/09 2:07:38‭ ‬PM

Naukuchiatal Lake is the centre of attraction
Beauty spots
in this lesser explored tourist spot
By Ambily Vijaykumar
Two little-explored places in the north and south of India offer relief from crowded tourist
spots. A lake is central to both the destinations that are growing in popularity with travellers
D
on’t take the beaten track.
Give the little known
destinations a chance to
sweep you off your feet.
One such destination is Naukuchiatal
or the nine-cornered lake. Located
in the northern state of Uttarakhand,
this hill station is less explored as
compared to Nainital, approximately
thirty kilometres away. The place is
catching on with tourists because of its
tranquility, orchards and dense jungles
surrounding it. Naukuchiatal is a body
of sparkling water that is 1,220 metres
above sea level and situated in an
enchanting valley.
The place also finds reference
in mythology. According to the
Mahabharata, the Pandava brothers
came to Naukuchiatal during their days
of banishment. Also, a local belief is
that if you succeed in seeing all nine
corners of the lake from a single point,
you will attain salvation.
There is a lot more to see and do
though in this serene setting, such as
trekking, rock climbing, paragliding,
boating. Also it is a paradise for bird
watchers.
If you set out early from Delhi, you
Soon after the successful branding of Incredible
India buses in Dubai, India Tourism Dubai
office has branded a high rise building with
Incredible India –Visit India Year 2009
message to woo potential tourists from the UAE
this summer. The 35 metre tall building
wrap is on a highrise building, opposite
one of Dubai’s landmark malls-The City
Centre. This is one of the many initiatives
being undertaken by India Tourism
Dubai office as a lead up to the Arabian
Travel Market in May this year and the
summer campaign roll out to make
Pg 59-63 Travel-India.indd 1
Yercaud is famous for its coffee plantations and orange groves
can reach here within seven hours.
Travel from Delhi to Kathgodam, - a
distance of 269 kilometres and a further
26 kms to Naukuchiatal. By rail, the
Ranikhet Express will take you from
Delhi to Kathgodam, from where you
can travel further by road.
Yercaud in the south. This hill
station, also known as the poor man’s
Ooty, is located in the Servarayan
range of hills in the Eastern Ghats. It
is near Salem in the southern state of
Tamil Nadu. Located at an altitude of
1,500 metres above sea level, the town
is famous for its coffee plantations
and orange groves. With a maximum
temperature of 29 degree Celsius for
most part of the year, the weather is
always pleasant for a visit. The must-see
places in the hill station include Yercaud
lake, Servarayan Temple, Killyur Falls,
the horticulture farm and the botanical
garden.
The beautifully carved cave temple
is located on the highest point of the
hill and sees a very low tourist inflow
even during the local festival organised
by the tribes. Water from the Killyur
Lake falls 300 feet into the valley
below. The horticulture farm houses
India a destination of choice for the Arab tourist.
This will be followed by road shows in Muscat and
Bahrain and preceded by Indian food festivals in
Ankara and Dubai.
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around 5,000 varieties of plants which
include innumerable roses. The forest
surrounding the hill station is home to
many animals, including bison, deer, fox
and snake, among others.
You can get here either by air, rail
or road. The nearest airport is Trichy,
163 kilometres from Yercaud. You can
also choose Coimbatore, 190 kilometres
from here, or Bangalore. All these
places are connected to Chennai that
has an international airport. By rail,
the Yercaud Express from Chennai
is most preferred. Salem junction
is 36 kilometres from here and all
southbound trains passing via Salem
stop there. If you are taking the road,
then Yercaud is an hour’s drive from
Salem. Yercaud is also well connected
by road to Chennai, Trichy, Madurai,
Bangalore and Coimbatore.
UAE Digest, April 2009 59
4/1/09 2:09:11‭ ‬PM
 TRAVEL
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
N
o journey within India is
complete without travelling
in a train. In fact, a train
journey is the best and
most economical way to discover the
vast country with its mind-boggling
diversity of people, races, languages,
religions, food, cultures and traditions.
But how do you decide which train
to hop on to? As a tourist, here is a
guide to some of the most scenic and
luxurious journeys in the country.
These are India’s special trains, and
they can be further classified into
three different categories – luxury
trains, hill trains and superfast
trains. Read on and embark on these
memorable journeys.
Deccan Odyssey
60 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 59-63 Travel-India.indd 2
Romancing
the railways
By Vanit Sethi
India’s luxury trains serve you with personal attendants, libraries,
recreational facilities, and unexplored and delightful stopovers
LUXURY TRAINS
To explore this mysterious country,
vacationers find luxury trains the
best option as a convenient and
suitable mode of transport. These
provide world-class comfort on
wheels while covering a number of
excellent travel destinations in the
shortest possible time span. Focusing
on the most preferred destinations,
these luxury trains serve you with
personal attendants, libraries,
Inside the Royal Orient
recreational facilities and unexplored
and delightful stopovers. The
itinerary on most of these journeys is
sightseeing during the day and travel
at nights with a total duration of
eight days and seven nights on each
luxury train.
Palace On Wheels (Delhi-
Rajasthan): This is the oldest and
most popular luxury train in India
- one that carries within it the royal
ambience of the Rajputana era and
an exciting fairytale journey which
takes the visitor to
the imperial cities of
Rajasthan every single
day. The coaches
also carry images of
the Rajput states with
beautiful interiors.
The ‘royal treat’ for
passengers on board
includes saloons, bar
4/1/09 2:09:15‭ ‬PM

Palace On Wheels
lounges and libraries in every coach,
as well as restaurants and organised
shopping facilities. (Other luxury
trains on this same route include
Royal Rajasthan on Wheels and
Heritage on Wheels.)
Tour itinerary: - Day 1: Delhi; Day
2: Jaipur; Day 3: Jaisalmer; Day 4:
Jodhpur; Day 5: Sawai Madhopur,
Chittaurgarh; Day 6: Udaipur; Day 7:
Bharatpur, Agra; Day 8: Delhi.
Tariff: Dh957 to Dh2,061 per day.
Royal Orient (Rajasthan-Gujarat):
This is an enchanting journey
through two of India’s most colourful
states in the northwestern border
– Rajasthan and Gujarat – both of
which have a rich history and a
landscape replete with heritage sites
like palaces, forts and walled cities.
The region has seen some of the
most ferocious battles and courageous
kings in Indian history. For students
of history and art, this journey would
be unforgettable.
Tour itinerary: - Day 1: Delhi; Day
2: Chittaurgarh-Udaipur; Day 3:
Ahmedabad; Day 4: Mehsana; Day 5:
Udaipur, Ranakpur; Day 6: Udaipur;
Day 7: Jaipur; Day 8: Delhi.
Tariff: Dh486 to Dh1,286 per day.
Deccan Odyssey (Maharashtra-
Goa): Built for the Maharashtra
Tourism Development Corporation,
the 21-coach luxury train has all the
facilities of a five-star hotel - except
a swimming pool. The train has an
air-conditioned suite car (coach),
11 air-conditioned cabin cars, a
conference car, two restaurant cars
with bar attached, and a health car
with a gym, beauty salon and a
yoga centre. There is also space for
Pg 59-63 Travel-India.indd 3
Golden Chariot
ayurvedic treatment and massage.
Facilities and services aboard this
luxury train include two tastefully
designed lounge and conference
cars allowing passengers to mix
business with pleasure. This royal
tour will take you to various historic
forts and temples, the oceanfront
and a trip to the beautiful village of
Tarkali. All meals reflect the specialty
coastal cuisine of Maharashtra.
Goa will definitely prove to be the
most enjoyable destination due
to its stunning beaches, historic
churches and temples, among many
other attractions. Passengers will
revel in a traditional Goan cultural
extravaganza on a luxury boat cruise
down the meandering Mandovi river.
Tour itinerary: Day 1: Mumbai; Day
2: Jaigad-Ganapatipule-Ratnagiri; Day
3: Sindhuburg-Tarkali; Day 4: Goa;
Day 5: Pune; Day 6: Aurangabad;
Day 7: Ajanta-Nashik; Day 8:
Mumbai.
Tariff: Dh720 to Dh2,843 per day.
Golden Chariot (Karnataka-Goa):
A journey on board the Golden
Chariot – India’s most recent luxury
train - gives you a chance to visit
beautiful places with your family
in splendid luxury. All destinations
on the train’s route have their own
unique charm – from cosmopolitan
and fashionable Bangalore,
historically rich and exquisite
Mysore and Hampi, to stunningly
beautiful Goa. Facilities offered on
board the Golden Chariot is on par
with those offered in the top-notch
hotels of the country. The cabins are
fully air conditioned with facilities
like LCD television, DVD, satellite
channels, wardrobe, vanity/writing
TRAVEL
desk and private bathroom. There is
one special cabin for the physically
handicapped. Apart from this, the
train also has restaurant coaches,
a lounge bar coach, a conference
coach and a gym coach. There are
two massage rooms too where you
can enjoy the magic of ayurveda.
The hospitality services on board the
Golden Chariot are provided by The
Mapple Group-India’s premier hotel
and resort group.
Tour itinerary: Day 1: Bangalore; Day
2: Mysore-Kabini; Day 3: Mysore;
Day 4: Hassan-Halebidu/Belur; Day
5: Hospet-Hampi; Day 6: Aihole and
Pattadakal-Badami; Day 7: Goa; Day
8: Bangalore.
Tariff: Dh926 to Dh1,870 per day.
(For details on tariffs, please see
www.luxury-train-travel-tours-
india.com)
HILL TRAINS
While luxury trains – though cheaper
in comparison to some train journeys
in Europe – could pinch the pockets
of budget travellers, there is another
way to explore the beauties of India,
especially the country’s salubrious
hill resorts. Catch the narrow gauge
toy trains winding up the hills of
northern, southern, eastern and
western India. For those with enough
time to spare and in a mood for
old-world romance, the hill trains of
India are like nowhere else in the
world. There is nothing to match
the experience of chugging up the
hills, past little hamlets and terraced
fields, amidst pine trees, making
your way through long tunnels and
over breathtaking bridges – and to
top it all, often while it’s raining or
April 2009, UAE Digest 61
4/1/09 2:09:17‭ ‬PM
 TRAVEL
Matheran Railway
snowing. The invigorating air and the
delights of scenic hill resorts provide
a welcome respite from the heat and
congestion, hustle and bustle of the
cities.
Kalka-Shimla Railway (Kalka-
Shimla): The train journey from
Kalka (near Chandigarh – the
modern, well-planned joint capital
city of Punjab and Haryana) to
Shimla (the former summer capital of
British India) is entrancing with 107
tunnels and lofty arched bridges. The
dazzling view and the stops at the
picturesque stations along the way
add up to an exhilarating experience.
The toy train covers the 96-kilometre
track in six hours. The Shivalik
Deluxe Express - chugging its way
up the beautiful hillside - has only
one stop in its over four-hour journey.
The train also has an attached tourist
coach called the Shivalik Palace. For
honeymooning couples, the Shivalik
Queen Coach offers exclusively
designed coupes.
Kangra Valley Railway
(Pathankot-Jogindernagar): This
train connects northern Punjab to
Himachal Pradesh. Few places can
match this scenic region in the sub-
Himalayas. One will stumble across a
land that has cast its magic spell upon
those who planned the railway and
those who built the line. The Kangra
Valley is not one place in particular. It
happens to be the name given to the
Kangra Valley Railway Kalka-Shimla railway
62 UAE Digest, April 2009
Pg 59-63 Travel-India.indd 4
entire region that lies between the
Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalayas
to the north and the last strangling
foothills to the south. The Kangra
Valley Railway is ample proof of
how railway engineers can create a
work in harmony with nature. This
they have done without destroying
the grandeur of the mountain, and
at the same time, revealing to the
traveller an enchanted fairyland
– from the beautiful valley full of
flowers to the deep gorges through
which sparkling streams tear their
way to the Great Plains of India.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
(New Jalpaiguri-Darjeeling): The
most famous of the little trains (now,
a World Heritage site) is the one
linking the town of New Jalpaiguri
in the plains of West Bengal to the
lovely hill station of Darjeeling in
north-eastern India. With a two-foot
gauge, the Darjeeling Hill Railway
is indeed a ‘toy train’, being the
narrowest of the regular narrow
gauges. The tiny century-old engine
is a connoisseur’s delight. The
86-kilometre long Darjeeling line
has no tunnels, thus allowing the
traveller an uninterrupted view
of the breathtaking scenery of
the Himalayas. The seven-and-a-
half hour ride is a journey meant
especially for rail buffs. Many
Bollywood film songs and dances
are shot in this scenic stretch full of
tea gargens.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
(Mettupalayem-Ootacamund):
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway in
southern India starts from the town
of Mettupalayem in Tamil Nadu - a
journey full of twists and turns, as
this narrow gauge train ascends
46 kilometres on its way to the hill
resort of Ootacamund, or Ooty in
short. The railway gets its name from
the Nilgiris, which literally means
‘Blue Mountains’ (after a blue flower,
which blooms once in twelve years).
At a maximum speed of 33 kph,
this ‘toy train’ treks across plains,
plantations and forest-clad hills. The
16 tunnels and tall girder bridges
on the way, along with breathtaking
views, make this journey to Ooty an
engineering marvel, something not
to be missed.
Matheran Light Railway (Neral-
Matheran): The 77-year-old line,
connecting Neral to Matheran (both
in the western state of Maharashtra),
is the main way to reach the tiny
hill resort, close to Mumbai. As the
little train zigzags its way up into
the clear mountain air, one can view
the scenic vista of hills and plains
For those with enough time to
spare and in a mood for old-
world romance, the hill trains
of India are like nowhere else
in the world
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
4/1/09 2:09:21‭ ‬PM

Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani Express Inside the Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express
For tourists, the superfast Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains are a convenient way of covering
the vast country in air-conditioned comfort over tasty, nutritious meals
below. The lack of vehicular traffic
at Matheran (the toy train is the only
way you can reach Matheran) makes
it an unusually peaceful retreat. The
journey up to Matheran from Neral
takes about one-and-a-half hours.
The train runs between sunrise and
sunset. Earlier, the route used to
be closed in the monsoons due to
landslides, but now it is open year
round. It is a refreshing summer
retreat from the humidity of Mumbai.
SUPERFAST TRAINS
Though air travel within India
has become very reasonable and an
increasingly popular mode with the
country’s bourgeoning middle class,
trains continue to remain the most
preferred means of travel because
of the vast railway network, the
convenience of train journeys, and
above all for its value-for-money
factor. For tourists, the superfast
Rajdhani (between New Delhi and
state capitals) and Shatabdi trains
(between different state capitals and
major cities) are a convenient way
of covering the vast country with a
reasonable amount of air-conditioned
comfort and tasty, nutritious meals
(vegetarian and non-vegetarian)
served on board. (For details, check
the Indian Railways website www.
indianrailways.gov.in)
Bullet trains (on the lines of the
Shinkansen in Japan) are proposed
between lucrative commercial and
tourist-frequented routes. The first
bullet train may however, not arrive
in India before 2015. The following
three routes have been proposed in
the first phase (Delhi-Chandigarh-
Amritsar; Pune-Mumbai-Ahmedabad;
and Delhi-Lucknow-Patna). Other
Pg 59-63 Travel-India.indd 5
routes like Hyderabad-Vijayawada-
Chennai and Chennai-Bangalore-
Cochin are expected to follow,
depending on the success of the
first routes. A Maglev (magnetic
levitation) train is also planned
between Mumbai and New Delhi,
connecting India’s commercial and
administrative capitals. If successful,
the train journey between India’s
two premier cities could take only
three hours, but the prohibitive cost
of the project may well make it just a
pipedream.
Metro trains are now already
operating in India. Kolkata (formerly
Calcutta) got its first metro train in
1984, followed by Delhi in 2002.
At present, these are the two main
modern metro train systems in India,
but Mumbai, which already has a
vast rail network, is expected to get
a modern metro sometime next year.
Hyderabad and Bangalore are already
racing ahead for the metro, and so
is Chennai. Other cities bidding
for the metro rail are Ahmedabad,
Pune, Cochin and Chandigarh.
Metro trains are now an increasingly
popular mode of travel within cities
throughout the world. In India too,
they are expected to significantly
reduce the traffic and congestion of
its clogged cities. In cities like Delhi,
Mumbai and Kolkata, it is preferable
now to catch these trains than travel
by cabs.
So, if you’re travelling to India, it
is advisable not to ignore the train
Train bookings in UAE
Train bookings for Indian journeys can be done in the UAE itself either by website
(www.irctc.co.in) or through the Indian Railways booking office in Sharjah
(SNTTA building, Rolla, near Fish Market/Bus Stand), Tel: 06-5517468.
TRAVEL
The new, modern Delhi Metro
option. You can come back with a
new experience worth narrating.
Indian Railways –
a brief history
Indian Railways (IR) is the state-
owned railway company of India,
which owns and operates most of the
country’s rail transport. It is overseen
by the Ministry of Railways of the
Government of India. IR has one of
the largest and busiest rail networks
in the world, transporting over 18
million passengers and more than
two million tonnes of freight daily.
It is the world’s largest commercial
or utility employer, with more than
1.4 million employees. The railways
traverse the length and breadth of
the country, covering 6,909 stations
over a total route length of more
than 63,327 kilometres. IR owns over
200,000 wagons, 50,000 coaches
and 8,000 locomotives of rolling
stock.
Railways were first introduced to
India by the British in 1853. By 1947
- the year of India’s independence -
there were 42 rail systems. In 1951,
the systems were nationalised as one
unit, becoming one of the largest
networks in the world. IR operates
both long distance and suburban rail
systems on a multi-gauge network
of broad, metre and narrow gauges.
It also owns locomotive and coach
production facilities.
April 2009, UAE Digest 63
4/1/09 2:09:23‭ ‬PM
 END PAGE

Let’s go green and clean!

E
very year, on the last Saturday of March, mil- note in our diaries would do. Why?
lions of people across the globe shut off their There are too many questions we don’t want to an-
lights for one hour to highlight the urgent need swer? Quite simply – we’re too lazy and selfish. But our
for citizens of this planet to conserve their re- planet will not wait any longer. We’ve got to change our
sources, lest we be left with an unlivable world. With the bad habits for our future generations. The time to act is
lead given by Sydney in 2007, 35 countries joined what now, or never!
is now called ‘The Earth Hour’ last year, with Dubai the
first Arab city to do so. This year, 4,000 cities from 88 Projects for people
countries participated. Within the UAE itself, Abu Dhabi
While on the environment, many people can’t help but
and Sharjah joined Dubai on March 28 to switch off all
feel that the recession has been a blessing in disguise.
their non-essential lights between 8.30 and 9.30pm.
With many extravagant projects being put on hold, it
Does it make a difference? According to Sayeed Al
makes sense to reconsider the economic model around
Tayar, the CEO of Dewa, there was a 20 per cent sav-
which our cities are built. Dubai has, no doubt, been a
ing in energy consumption last year during the Earth
phenomenal success story, thanks to a visionary leader
Hour. This year, with greater participation, it’s expected
who saw it as a ‘mini-world’ where the best of talents
to be more. But there are sceptics who feel this is just
gather.
a symbolic act. They say the burning of candles during
But success does breed excess. Many saw easy money
the hour could produce more emissions than electric
to be made while the going was good. Castles in the
lights do. One Danish professor remarked that “even if
air were promised, and they turned out to be just that!
a billion people turn off their lights during the hour, the
Unfortunately, many hard working people too burnt
entire event will be equal to switching off China’s emis-
their fingers. Several people lost their jobs because a few
sions for six seconds.”
were having a ball at their expense. And the fat cats of
While this may be true, one cannot dismiss the im-
the banking industry got hefty bonuses out of the tax-
portance of such events, for they do bring to public con-
payer’s hard-earned money.
sciousness the fact that the earth’s resources need saving.
Will the world learn something from this crisis? Can
For the UAE, this event assumes a special importance
we expect a new economic system where endless con-
because we have the dubious distinction of being the
sumerism is not the driving force? Can we expect good,
largest consumer of the earth’s resources.
affordable housing for the middle classes so they don’t
Take power. Day in and day out, we use the AC,
have to travel long distances for work? After all, no city
whether required or not – in houses and in cars. We
can be built for the rich alone. Rapid mass transport is a
keep lights on most of the time, except while sleeping.
step in the right direction.
In daytime, many people draw the curtains or the blinds
Cities become great not by grand properties but by
to keep off sunlight and then switch on bulbs. We heat
wonderful, creative minds. Dubai should become a truly
water when absolutely unnecessary for 10 months of the
great city in which everyone has a stake and a sense of
year. We keep computers, music systems and TV sets on
belonging. The present crisis is a great opportunity to
standby. Why?
overturn many misconceived ideas.
Take water. We splash around in showers - the most
wasteful way of using water for baths. We brush teeth
with the tap running. We buy bottled water, drink some
The rain dance
and throw most of it. When water is so scarce here, we They say the best things in life are free. Sadly, we don’t
use it like nobody’s business. Why? realise it too often. But when the heavens poured,
Take oil. Granted we have enough oil, but the world people woke up to the wonders of Mother Nature. How
doesn’t. Two people here use two cars where one would beautiful is this rain in the desert! And it’s a double
do for four. We travel short distances on them where we bonanza when this cosmic dance happens on the week-
can very well walk, saving fuel and getting exercise. We end.
travel long distances for a chat, where a phone call or an Thank heavens for the simple joys of life! Be grateful
email would do. Why? for life’s little pleasures. If we want our grandchildren
Take plastic. We use those ugly bags for small things to enjoy them too, let’s look at life afresh. Let’s preserve
and let them fly around to clutter the drains – and then Mother Earth. If we destroy her, she will destroy us too.
blame the municipal authorities for not improving the Don’t do that.
sanitation system. We use rolls of tissues where a hand- Sing a song in the rain and let’s hope for more rainy
kerchief would do. We print reams of paper where a weekends.

64 UAE Digest, April 2009

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