Rain Forecasts

Rainy days increase sale of umbrellas

By Jamil Khan @ Gulf Today-Sharjah, Dec 22, 2009

The recent spell of winter rains in the emirates compelled a large number of people to fetch umbrellas and other means of protection to continue their routine work throughout the rainy days.
In this regard, shopkeepers at Sharjah’s prominent business district, the Rolla Market witnessed a huge sale of umbrellas and jackets on a range of prices.
Talking to The Gulf Today various shopkeepers, who have thriving business through their outlets located in the narrow lanes as well as huge showrooms, mentioned the rain as a good sign.
Romail, a young trader near the Rolla Underpass, said that the winter has brought increase in sale of products like warm jackets, umbrellas, woolen caps and other materials.
“After the long summer, we usually brought the stocks of winter and filled our shops with a range of warm clothes in October and it lasted till mid-February,” he said.
Many other traders said that they had not expected the rains and harsh winter in this season. The recent rains brought smiles on many faces, especially those who have stayed here for a long time.
Murad, another trader, said nowadays the most of the stocks of umbrellas manufactured in factories in UAE are being sold at a price range between Dhs5 to Dhs45.
“A couple of years ago, the cheap stock came from China and other countries, but now various businessmen have established their small set up in different industrial zones to produce the products and save shipment charges and other expenses,” he said.
Sher Akhter, one of the gift shopowners in Rolla, said that a range of umbrellas with vibrant colours and low quality material are still popular and being sold at Dhs5 for one piece.
”There are many people, especially women who use umbrellas throughout the year to protect themselves from scorching heat and rain, but still a large number of office-goers had bought umbrellas,” he said.
One of the traders said that the gaudy coloured umbrellas are widely popular among school-going children and the price range is between Dhs5 to Dhs10.
He said that the good quality and big sized umbrellas are being sold at Dhs20 to Dhs45. There was huge surge in the sale of raincoats during the last a couple of weeks.
The traders said forecasts about more rains keep them bringing more and more stocks of umbrellas and such other products to meet the needs of customers.
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Capture Sharjah Contest

Amateurs explore heritage through photography

By Jamil Khan @ Gulf Today-Sharjah, Dec 20, 2009

Around 20 shutterbugs from different walks of life took part in a day-long photography contest called “Capture Sharjah – Photo Treasure Hunt,” organised by the British Council in collaboration with the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation on Saturday.
The winners of the treasure hunt were awarded certificates and gifts to capture the photographs on a five-point theme, to highlight the traditional and historical parts of Sharjah through their cameras and show a ‘creative look’ in their pictures.
The participants, including young schoolchildren and others, enjoyed the hospitality of museum officials as well. The British Council arranged the event as part of the ongoing “My Father’s House” photographic exhibition, which continue until Jan. 23.
Aisha Rashed Deemas, Curator of the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation, presented gifts and certificates among the participants, while the officials of British Council and others were also present on the occasion.
A total of nine teams comprised of 20 people took part in the quest, followed by a set of clues that led members to discover the Sharjah Arts and Heritage Area in a creative way. Every team submitted a total of five pictures (one for each clue) to capture the theme.
The presents were given under three categories: The best photo per clue, the best team photo and the best overall photo, which were won by different teams. Their unique pictures covered different subjects and showed souq activities, Arabian architectural treasures and the delights of architectural decoration as well as the gates and walls within the limits of the heritage area.
The two groups consisting of schoolchildren won two positions of the souq activities. The “defensive stronghold now keeps modern traffic at bay” piece captured labourers unloading the cargo of a ship. The third-best photo per clue was awarded to a photograph presenting a unique mix of old and new architecture.
While talking to The Gulf Today, Sheethal Rashee, Project Manager of Arts and Creativity for the British Council, said that the event was one of the supporting events of the ongoing “My Father’s House” photographic exhibition.
She said that the objective of this contest was to give people a chance to pay a creative look to their surroundings, which is full of historically and architecturally impressive elements. “Through this photo treasure hunt, the participants realised that the entire area has a unique presence of historical places,” she added.
The British Council has also planned to organise a three-day photography workshop for young emerging photographers.
The ongoing photographic exhibition will be moved next month to Qatar, and the final show will be held in London, the officials said.
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Global Village 14th Season

Pakistani handicrafts prove a major hit

By Jamil Khan @ Gulf Today-Sharjah, Dec 20, 2009

The ongoing 14th edition of Global Village is a major attraction for visitors, showcasing exotic products from 45 countries throughout the world. The event, which started last month, has become one of the most popular destinations for many to enjoy the indigenous products of host countries.
Global Village is one of the most famous cultural, entertainment and shopping venues, and will last until Feb. 27, 2010 in it’s 14th season, lasting 98 days. The participating countries are Egypt, Singapore, Thailand, Singapore, Iraq, the UAE, India and Pakistan besides many more, all of which offer indigenous products of their countries at affordable price ranges.
Every pavilion is set up with traditional theme of the host countries and offers an in-depth look to visitors.
The faade of the Pakistan pavilion shows one of the country’s prominent landmarks, Lahore Fort. It has also become one of the most popular destinations and offers a huge range of Pakistani products from handicrafts to hand-woven clothes, and striking colourful ethnic jewellery to fine leather products.
The pavilion is being supervised by the Pakistan Consulate of Dubai and has been taking part since 1996. When The Gulf Today talked to Sharafat Ali Shah, Cultural Coordinator, he said that the response from the public was gaining momentum with every passing day, with an increase in the number of shops touching 99 stalls.
The participation of Pakistani traders is a gesture of love, peace and friendship for the other traders, who are establishing their business in the event as well as promoting the locally produced products with affordable costs.
Shah said that the specialty of Pakistan pavilion is that each and every product displayed there is made in Pakistan, to provide visitors with a unique experience of culturally rich traditions and high quality products.
In response to a question, Shah mentioned that the number of visitors and the numerous cultural activities have won the Best Pavilion Award for Pakistan since the inception of this tremendous event.
Through talking to various businessmen, we learnt that the tempo of business at Global Village has been gaining momentum with the hope that the pace will be exhilarated in the next two months.
Nadeem Qadri from Multan, Punjab, has been taking part in the Global Village for the last 11 years, offering over 1000 designs of hand-made fancy shoes for ladies and children of every age group. The latest designs of “Nagra”, “Khusa” and “Kulapuri” sandals are major attractions for the visitors and one can find a pair between the price ranges from Dhs20 to Dhs55.
“It is not a matter of price; more importantly, a woman should like the design of such items,” he remarked on the prices of colourful designs decorating the corner shop on a prominent site in the pavilion.
Raees, a trader from Karachi selling leather products like jackets and waistcoats, said that during the previous editions, sales were good and that the current spell of pleasant weather also allows them to expect good business.
Heman Kumar from Sukkur was found very active amid the cluster of colorful hand-woven varieties of women’s clothes with traditional textures. He said that he has been attending the event for the last six years and is happy to promote the traditional clothes as well as culture.
“Different textures and colours on the small pouches designed for mobile phones, shawls and wall-hangings have become a major attraction for passersby,” he mentioned.
The huge variety of decoration items made of onyx, marble and wood showed high levels of skills in handicrafts from different parts of the Pakistan, and were among a wide range of other products attracting visitors to admire the craftsmanship on offer for nominal prices.
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Singing Competition for Pak Expats

Talent Hunt – a paradise for amateur singers

By Jamil Khan @ Gulf Today-Sharjah, Dec 20, 2009

The Pakistan Pavilion at Global Village has also started a “talent hunt” for Voice of Pakistan, to give Pakistanis residing in the UAE a chance to showcase their talent and win the title along with cash prizes.
To pursue the winning talented singer title, a number of amateurs have been showing their interest in this programme by singing songs at the stage being erected outside the pavilion under the theme “Facade of Lahore Fort”.
Pointing this out, Shah said that during the Global Village season, anyone can take part in this competition. The contest’s events are being held on Thursdays and Fridays and the finale will be held on the last day of the current season, Feb.27.
“The Voice of Pakistan is one part of our cultural activities being set for the visitors of the pavilion besides henna painting, and giving sets of national colour bangles every Monday (family day). There is also an elocution competition and awarding a ‘couple of the evening,” which are among the events enthralling the visitors,” he said.
“The participation shows peoples’ level of interest, especially on the weekends,” he added.
In the past, the organising committee had also invited prominent Pakistani singers to entertain a great number of visitors. The singers who mesmerised audience were Omar Sharif, Ali Haider, Muhammad Ali Shehki, Naeem Abbas Rufi, Saleem Javed, Jawad Ahmed, Ibrar Ahmed, Mehjabeen Qizalbash, Rahim Shah and Humaira Channa.
Shah said that they have planned to invite a couple of singers from Pakistan as part of ongoing celebrations in the next month.
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Xmas Preparations

Christmas shopping spree picks up momentum

By Jamil Khan @ Gulf Today-Sharjah, Dec 18, 2009

As Christmas draws nearer, the shopping spree in and around major shopping malls and markets is dramatically gaining momentum with every passing day, as life-sized palm trees and sparkling lights are only a few of the many ornaments being installed to attract the attention of shoppers.
In the past two weeks, more and more retail chains of shopping centres have announced sales promotions as well as the release of new ranges of products, so that people can enjoy the holiday season with great enthusiasm.
The sales promotions that have already started cover a vast range of goods from kitchenware to home decoration, and garments to gift items related to the Christmas.
The major retailers that have initiated a number of attractive promotions are Carrefour, Safeer Market, Ansar Mall, Al Maya Supermarket, and many others, all which are offering a huge range of products of all types.
To provide further benefit to consumers, many retailers dealing with ready-made garments also announced discounts of 25 to 60 per cent for major stocks of items relating to children and women.
Besides this, various prominent shoe brands have also started displaying promotions in all major shopping malls, while many retailers have started offering gifts such as cars that can be won through raffles or ballots held on or around Christmas.
In many  markets, various brands around the world have also been offering chocolate gift sets as ideal items to present on the occasion of Christmas.
Aswaaq, one of the largest retail outlets in Dubai, prepares for a month of holiday promotions starting with the celebration of the Hijri New Year on Friday, as its first campaign of the season running from Thursday Dec. 17 until Sunday Dec. 20 in all seven of its branches.
Promotions and giveaways are being held at four of Asqaaq’s community centres located in Nad Al Hamar, Mizhar, Umm Suqeim, Al Warqa’a and Mirdiff, as well as Aswaaq supermarkets in Sufouh and Al Rigga. The branches have been decorated to illustrate the holiness of the event and to represent the migration of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Traditional items like dates from Al Madinah Al Munawarah will be on special offer throughout the three-day campaign. For every Dhs100 spent, shoppers will be entitled to a coupon for entering a raffle draw for an Omrah trip, or a Dhs1,500 shopping voucher from Aswaaq if the winner is non-Muslim. Each of the seven participating locations will host their own drawing, with a total of seven prizes being awarded throughout the weekend.
Dubai Outlet Mall has also announced sale promotions for everyone, particularly appealing to fashionistas and shopaholics or entertainment gadget lovers, with many perfect gift items available.
The official said that the Christmas shopping season is now in full swing and for those Christmas shoppers hoping to stay on budget this year, the Outlet Mall offers great merchandise with amazing discounts. All of the stores have special holiday offers for Christmas shoppers.
Upon spending Dhs250, Outlet Mall customers will have the opportunity to enter a fabulous prize draw for a chance to win a Chevrolet Aveo5 promotional vehicle and an autographed cricket bat, signed by international cricket stars.
The mall has over 800 of the world’s premium and top fashion brands, allowing customers to enjoy discounts of between 30 per cent 90 per cent compared to regular retail prices every day.
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Hamleys At Thalassaemia Center

Thalassaemia centre children have fun time

By Jamil Khan @ Gulf Today-Sharjah, Dec 17, 2009

Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif Al Nahyan, Chairperson of the Make-A-Wish Foundation,UAE, visited the Thalassaemia Centre in Dubai on Tuesday and spent time interacting with children at the centre.
She also joined them in several exciting activities that were organised by Hamleys at the Dubai Mall, the Middle East flagship store of Hamleys, which sells the finest toys in the world.
Speaking at the event, Sheikha Sheikha said, “Over the years, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, UAE, has given several children in the country a reason to smile, and this was another instance. We should explore more opportunities where Make-A-Wish Foundation-UAE and Hamleys can come together and be part of the joint initiatives that will benefit the society.”
Dr Essam Dohair, Coordinator of the Thalassaemia Centre, Dubai, said, “We really appreciate this gesture by her and Hamleys to engage children at the centre in so many fun-filled activities. The happiness it brought to them was clearly evident on their faces.”
Emma Fitchett, Marketing Manager of Hamleys at the Dubai Mall, said, “While the nature of our business requires us to interact with children on a daily basis, it was really a special and overwhelming experience to spend time with children at the Thalassaemia Centre. It was truly heartwarming to see the joy and smile on their innocent faces.”
The event concluded with Sheikha Sheikha joining the Hamleys to distribute gifts to the children.
Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation each year in the UAE, children who are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness are provided with assistance as well as fun activities to assist them and their families by giving them an avenue for hope and strength.
Hamley’s is one of the UK’s most promiment toy retailers.
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DIFF 2009

Panel lauds media impact on masses

By Jamil Khan @ Gulf Today-Sharjah, Dec 16, 2009

Her Majesty Queen Noor Al Hussein said the establishment of world-class platforms like the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) can expand the exposure of global audiences about the perspectives and narratives of one another’s culture. She was addressing the annual Cultural Bridge panel organised by DIFF, as Guest of Honour.
The panel included Julia Bacha, Director of “Budrus”, Hollywood Producer Mike Medavoy and MIT Professor Rebecca Saxe, and was moderated by Shamil Idriss, chief executive officer of Soliya. The participants discussed the current trends in media, including the emergence of digital media, reiterating the importance of adhering to the traditions of good storytelling to bring meaningful change.
Highlighting the importance of media in identity formation and cross-cultural exchanges, she said its potential as cultural bridge builder is barely tapped. Her Majesty Queen Noor said films like “Budrus”, which was screened as the Cultural Bridge Gala at DIFF, has the power to open up communication and exemplify how media can influence us.
Citing examples and offering personal insights, she explained that media has the power to shift behaviour and thinking, underscoring the power of cinema to serve as a knife to cut through the differences and promote peace and prosperity.
DIFF Chairman Abdulhamid Juma said the Cultural Bridge panel, intrinsically linked to the central credo of the festival – Building Cultures, Meeting Minds – highlights the ability of cinema to break down cultural barriers. He said the media plays a central role in widening the understanding of different cultures.
Later, as panel discussion, Bacha said that documentaries should not ‘beat people over their head driven by the sole focus on changing the world, so much that the focus of the filmmakers become clouded. “Only good storytelling will change the people.” The speakers shared cutting-edge research from the fields of neuro-science and social psychology, offering a unique forum for topical discussion.
The panel discussion complements DIFF 2009’s initiative of unveiling a special study entitled “Media and InterGroup Relations – Research on Media and Social Change,” the result of a two-year effort by the non-profit Alliance of Civilisation Media Fund (AOCMF, renamed, Soliya). The study’s goal is to better understand the impact that media has and could have on cross-cultural understanding and intergroup relations.
Her Majesty Queen Noor Al Hussein’s work across the Arab World has focused on education, conservation, sustainable development, human rights and cross-cultural understanding. Initiatives such as the Noor Al Hussein Foundation, King Hussein Foundation and King Hussein Foundation International – all of which she chairs – have transformed developmental thinking in Jordan and the wider Middle East.
Prior to the panel discussion, the screening of the documentary “Budrus,” made by Brazilian director Julia Bacha, received huge appreciation.
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Online Service for NRIs

Indian travelers gain pioneer online service

By Jamil Khan @ Gulf Today-Sharjah, Dec 15, 2009

The current financial situation is a great opportunity for holiday-lovers to enjoy short trips anywhere in the world, as the tourism industry has not only been offering huge discounts, but the fares and those from other related industries have also become more affordable for everyone.
This was stated by Keyur Joshi in an exclusive interview with The Gulf Today on Monday. Joshi is also the co-founder and COO of one of the pioneer portals, MakeMyTrip.com, which, after having revolutionized the Indian market with its offerings, has announced the availability of its complete range of travel solutions in the UAE market.
He said, “MakeMyTrip is the first online travel agency in the emirates providing a platform that brings all available travel options together at a click, offering unparalleled convenience that was hitherto unavailable to local travelers. Customers can now search for the best deals and book products like air tickets, hotels and holidays online at www.makemytrip.ae,” he added.
Joshi said that the huge population of NRI (non residents of India) in the USA is among those obtaining huge benefits from this portal. He added that after the launch of the exclusive website for travelers in the United Arab Emirates, soon this part of the world will become a prominent area in enjoying the offers being provided for the travelers in the UAE through this website.
“One can access and compare availability and costs of both Full Service and Low Cost Carrier flights on one platform itself, gaining access to more choice and better deals in the bargain,” he added.
He mentioned that travelers also have the convenience of paying for online purchases in the local AED currency itself for all products at no additional transaction surcharge for credit card use, which is 100 per cent secure on this site. “The range of products available on www.makemytrip.ae include flights, hotels and holiday packages – both international and only within India, and also includes Indian train tickets,” he said.
Joshi said, “As the pioneering and most successful Online Travel Agency in India, we see a clear opportunity for our offerings in the UAE market. With over 61 per cent internet penetration, citizens are waiting for an online travel-services provider. We are very pleased to launch our full-scale portfolio of services here. This will be especially helpful to Non Resident Indians (NRIs) who can plan their last-mile travel in India on one platform, being able to book international and domestic flights as well as rail tickets.”
Joshi further added, “We are committed to developing and growing this business – offering customers the highest standards of service. To this end, we have set up a 24-hour dedicated Customer Care number to provide better on-ground customer support. Our experience in handling large volumes of credit card transactions and existing relationships with banks helped us offer this service to customers in UAE at no additional cost. It is through customer-focused initiatives like these that MakeMyTrip witnessed great success in India, becoming the largest OTA and one of the three biggest travel companies in the country within three years of inception.”
Responding to a question, he mentioned that they are in the middle of negotiation with a number of hotels to provide complete holiday facilities to travelers of Pakistan as well as many other destinations of Gulf countries.
However, Mohit Gupta, Chief Marketing Officer of MakeMyTrip, commented upon the business opportunity, saying, “There are some compelling statistics that support our strategic investment in the market. The UAE is the second-largest hub of NRIs in the world after the United States. The market has also seen healthy growth trends in inbound travel, especially from India into the UAE.
He further added that the UAE-India route is also among the largest network of inter-country flights in the world. It makes a sound business decision to invest in developing Dubai as an outbound destination around the world. Our local operations will enable us to build business strengths around hotels and localised products that will, in turn, benefit users.
Commenting on the business expectations, Gupta added, “We hope to sell almost 25,000 tickets online within the next six months.”
MakeMyTrip was launched in 2000 in the US to offer the best deals in travel solutions to India and extended operations to India in September 2005, pioneering the online travel industry in the country.
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Rain in UAE

Rain kindles sportive spirit

By Jamil Khan @ Gulf Today-Sharjah, Dec 14, 2009

Large empty parking lots in Dubai and Sharjah turned sports arena for many expatriates who throughout the day enjoyed a game of volleyball or cricket.
Talking to The Gulf Today, a group of youngsters from Bangladesh and Pakistan near Al Nahda Park said that the day-long rain brought memories of home countries.
Ameenul, a keen cricket player, said that the weather has turned pleasant for the past couple of days and the current spell of rains has brought old memories back.
Ahmed from Lahore was among those who were wearing Bermuda shorts and T-shirts like other players. He was of the view that playing cricket when it rains is a “unique, enjoyable experience.”
Another player mentioned that the current weather could also be remembered throughout the summer when everyone sweated it out under hot weather conditions.
In many parts of the Sharjah, youngsters were also seen playing volleyball at empty parking spaces.
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Preparations for Xmas

Christmas mood builds up

By Jamil Khan @ Gulf Today-Sharjah, Dec 12, 2009

Once again, the time has come for children to enjoy a new range of products offered by shopping centres and malls in time for celebrating the Christmas season with great enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, the elders still seem to prefer traditional paraphernalia to make their event special with religious dedication.
Besides the Christian communities throughout the world, the members of the community living in the UAE, residing mostly in Dubai and Sharjah, are also gearing up their preparations for celebrating the event with traditional zeal.
In this regard, the chains of shopping centres and malls in Dubai and Sharjah have established special sections for displaying a huge range of goods related to celebrating Christmas.
The branches of Lulu Hypermarket, Carrefour, Al Maya and Safeer Mall are some among those who have already set up exclusive sections to attract the attention of visitors through colourful displays of holiday paraphernalia.
The products that are drawing in the attention of visitors are especially the red-coloured Santa Claus hats, jackets, stocking socks, and Christmas trees from plain to fully-decorated options in different sizes.
The ranges of decorative pieces such as colourful ornaments, deco-ball grapes, streamers and lighting of different kinds for Christmas trees are a major attraction for almost every visitor, as prices run between Dhs4-20 depending on the size or quantity.
Children are showing great interest in the products arranged for throwing big parties, with a variety of crackers and foam sprays. Such products are being offered in different malls for varying prices, starting from Dhs20-30 for a six-piece packet.
The visitors, including both families and individuals, have expressed their satisfaction about the attitudes of the shopping centres and how they have considered customers’ needs by providing great value and such affordable prices, so that everyone is able to enjoy such events.
John, a resident of the UAE for many years, said that with each passing year in the emirates, the trend of displaying Christmas paraphernalia became a more attention-worthy spectacle.
“The other good thing is that most of the shopping centres introduce sale promotions, which is another great chance for everyone to have an opportunity to go for shopping,” he said.
The officials at some of the decked-out shops mentioned that most of the items have been imported from China, including a variety of artificial Christmas trees, so that the prices of such items are affordable for everyone.
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