2005
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Grand Stores in DIP
UAE-based retail distributor Grand Stores will establish a warehouse over 400,000 sqft at Dubai Investments Park, following an agreement with the Dubai Investments' subsidiary. DIP is a mixed-use industrial, business, residential and recreational development in Dubai.
Cellucom at Abu Dhabi Mall
Mobile communications retailer Cellucom has opened a showroom in Abu Dhabi Mall, which it says will strenghten its position in the UAE market. Cellucom offers a range of mobility products such as laptops, PDAs, and memory cards, and now sells mobile computing products. The company has plans for 25 more outlets in the GCC.
Jewellery testing service
Dubai Municipality has started a certification service at the Gems and Precious Material Unit at Dubai Central Laboratory for traders of diamonds and other gemstones. The service was introduced to guarantee the quality of jewellery being sold in Dubai. Certificates will include grading reports and list carat weight, colour, clarity and cut.
Alcohol banned at Baghdad airport
Alcohol sales at Baghdad International Airport have been banned by Iraq's transportation minister Salam Maliki, a Shiite Muslim, who says the facility is a holy and revered piece of Iraq, reported the Washington Post. The airport duty-free shop so far has refused to comply, and Maliki is threatening to destroy its $800,000 supply of alcoholic beverages.
Qatar suspends festival
The Qatar Tourism Authority and Qatar Telecom have suspended the activities of the country's summer festival as a mark of respect to Saudi's King Fahd. Events will resume at the end of a three-day mourning period ordered by the Qatari Emir. Live television shows connected to the festival were also cancelled.
Zabeel Park, November opening
Zabeel Park in Dubai, the first recreational park in the region with a technology theme, will open in November, a Dubai Municipality official said. The park will feature a series of high-tech interactive displays including educational and recreational exhibits grouped into three zones: alternative energy, communications and techno.
Back to School expo
The Modhesh Fun City in the Dubai World Trade Centre is holding a Back-to-School Exhibition with a wide range of items on sale to help prepare parents and school pupils for the coming school term. The exhibition includes workshops and six major sections combining buying, entertaining and education.
Nokia sponsors Boutros performance
Nokia is bringing Lebanese singer Julia Boutros to the annual Beiteddine Festival in Lebanon. Boutros is best known for singing songs about humanity and compassion. Held at the Beiteddine Palace, the festival brings regional and international musical acts to audiences in Lebanon during weekends in July and August.
DSS Gold sales hit $49m
Gold sales during the Dubai Summer Surpises have reached $49m, while sales of diamonds, jewellery and other precious stones have hit $12.25m, according to the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group. It credits the increase in sales to the group's gold, diamond and jewellery giveaway promotion.
Thailand shows wares at Motexha
About 40 exhibitors from around Thailand have confirmed their presence at the upcoming Motexha Autumn 2005, being held from September 12-15 in Dubai. This will be Thailand's biggest ever participation at an international fashion and trade event, according to a statement by organisers. Thailand's growing textiles, fashion and leather industries are focusing on Middle East markets as part of expansion plans.
Al Raha summer fitness promotion
Al Raha Beach Hotel health club in Abu Dhabi is running a summer promotion to attract new members which includes free sessions with a personal trainer, massages and entry vouchers until the end of August. In addition, members joining for a six-month period qualify for an additional month's free membership, while annual membership is extended to 14 months, and anyone signing up for two-year membership gains three extra months free.
Global Village sets opening
The Global Village in Dubai will open on October 26 and run for 129 days to March 3. All 35 pavilions and 40 restaurants have been leased, according to director Ebrahim Abdul Al Rahim. More kiosks have been added due to the high demand for space.
AD Duty Free sales up 10.5%
Abu Dhabi Duty Free recorded sales of $44.8m for the first half of 2005, an increase of 10.5% over last year. The results follow a 10.8% increase in passenger traffic through Abu Dhabi airport, mainly due to increased services by local carrier Etihad Airways.
Plug Ins looks overseas
UAE based electronics retailer Plug Ins, part of the Al Futtaim Group, is looking overseas for expansion, director Vishesh L. Bhatia told Gulf News. The first international store will be operating by the end of the year, most likely in Saudi Arabia.
Homes r Us, pan-GCC sale
Homes r Us the home furnishings store with branches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait and Qatar has announced its up to 50% off summer sale. There is also an easy instalment plan available for finance of up to 36 months from Citibank.
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