2005
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Gem unit tests for fakes
Bahrain's Commerce and Industry Ministry is opening a diamond grading section to give buyers of precious stones better protection. Local media reported cheap stones worth $8 to $13 are being sold in markets for up to $26,000. The centre will test the cut, colour, clarity and carat of diamonds. The ministry already has a gem and pearl testing laboratory which issues certificates verifying the quality of precious stones.
Balinese jewellery on show
Fashion jewellery crafted by Balinese artisans will be on display at the third Indonesia Solo Exhibition 2005, being held at the Expo Centre in Sharjah from September 19-23. The Balinese are renowned for crafting intricate ear rings, necklaces and brooches using beads, silver and gold pieces.
HBG to sell Young's products
Dubai-based HBG Holdings has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Young's Food Products, a leading food manufacturing and processing company in Pakistan, to market and distribute its brands in the UAE, Oman, Jordan and Qatar. HBG is planning a number of other distribution agreements with regional food manufacturers.
Itsalat opens Dubai store
Itsalat, the Saudi-based mobile phone retailer, has opened its first Dubai outlet. Itsalat aims to secure a presence in more than 20 countries in the Middle East and Africa by 2008. It also plans to open an online store.
ADDF expects sales increase
Abu Dhabi Duty Free is anticipating a 15% increase in retail sales by the end of 2005 and 20% by the end of 2006, after the opening of two new terminals at the airport increased retail space by more than 13,500 sq ft, according to MD Mohammad Mounib. The airport retailer has employed and trained 250 new staff to accommodate the expansion.
Gold prices hurt traders
Abu Dhabi gold traders say rising prices in the yellow metal may result in a stock pile-up, reported Gulf News. The retail price of gold has risen to Dh50 per gram, after being at Dh48 per gram for most of the summer. Most traders have experienced sales increases of 30-35% to date in 2005.
Playstation Zone attracts players
Dubai eGovernment says its Playstation Zone set up in shopping malls in Dubai as part of DSS 2005 has had a huge response, with over 500 children playing games in each of the five participating shopping centres. Sponsored by Jumbo Electronics and Sony Corporation, two Playstation consoles and ten games are being offered through raffle draws at the centres.
DSS sales up
Dubai retailers are reporting increased sales and footfalls, particularly in shopping malls, at DSS 2005, compared to last year's event. Jumbo Electronics says its sales are 20% up on last year and almost 15% up on the period prior to DSS. Retailers expect further increases in the coming weeks as expatriates start returning from summer vacations.
Damas open all night
Damas, retailer of jewellery and watches in the UAE, has opened a 24-hour outlet at the Millennium Airport Hotel in Dubai. The store fills a retail gap for after-hour shoppers, including shift workers and travellers coming or going from Dubai at irregular hours.
Motorola, Harley offer
Buyers of a Motorola HS850 Wireless Bluetooth Headset have the chance to win a Harley Davidson Motorcycle under the terms of a promotion between Motorola and Harley Davidson. The offer runs to 13 August. On the spot prizes are also being offered including Motorola mobile phones and other devices.
Duty free stores for Saudi
The Saudi Civil Aviation Department is establishing duty-free stores in all Saudi international airports, Al-Watan newspaper reported. Saad Al-Tasaan, manager of King Khaled International Airport said that the project would start soon and denied the stores would be monopolised by the private sector.
Collins tickets on sale
Tickets are now on sale for the Dubai performance by singer Phil Collins on 10 November. Ticket prices range from Dh155 to Dh595. Organisers are hoping for a crowd of over 15,000 at the one-off event being held at the Dubai Autodrome, where Collins will be supported by a four-piece horns section and five backing vocalists.
Kids Cinema, with a message
Cinemas in Dubai are running special screenings for children, called Kids Cinema, which include informative bilingual cartoons in English and Arabic about health conditions such as thalassaemia and diabetes. The children-only sessions are running daily in cinemas at Ibn Battuta, BurJuman and Al Ghurair City malls until 10 August.
Karama Centre, DSS sales up 15%
Karama Centre in Dubai says it has experienced a 10-15% increase in sales so far during DSS 2005, and expects the figure to climb higher during the final month of the summer shopping festival. The number of visitors to the shopping mall has also gone up, by over 30%, compared to the corresponding period in 2004.
Illegal vendors pursue tourists
Tourists to Dubai's old gold souq have complained about being harassed by counterfeit watch sellers in the area, according to a Gulf News report. A source from the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group said they had contacted the authorities about the problem.
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