Al Raha Beach Abu Dhabi

Sunday, May 17, 2009


Al Raha Beach

Beach lovers should visit the golden sands of Al Raha Beach that offer miles of unrestricted walking space. This public beach - open to all - is situated on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi-Dubai road, past the Umm Al Nar roundabout. The beach offers excellent amenities and has a special area dedicated for women.

The Mall of Emirates in Dubai

Saturday, May 9, 2009






The Mall of the Emirates is a shopping mall in the Al Barsha district of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is currently owned by Majid Al Futtaim (MAF Holding). The mall was designed by the American architectural firm, F+A Architects. Prior to the opening of the Dubai Mall, the Mall of the Emirates was the largest shopping mall in the Middle East but the largest one in the middle east Avenues in Kuwait. It contains approximately 2,400,000 square feet (223,000 m2) of shops and the entire mall forms a total of approximately 6.5 million square feet. In a global perspective, the World's largest shopping mall, the South China Mall in Dongguan, China, contains approximately 7,100,000 square feet (660,000 m2) of shopping space in a complex that totals approximately 9,600,000 square feet (892,000 m2).

Features

Although it features the usual amenities for a mall (a fourteen-screen movie theater, a gaming arena, a typical variety of stores, and a dramatic theater), its biggest claim to fame is the Middle East's first indoor ski slope, Ski Dubai. With the ski area, one of the largest in the world, the Mall of the Emirates seeks to differentiate itself from the dozen or so other newly completed malls in Dubai and the surrounding emirates. Half of the mall opened in September 2005, then officially opened in late November 2005 with the inauguration of the ski area, although it had already been in operation for several weeks. Al Accad Group opened a 10,000 square foot organic supermarket near the mall, the second in the country's history.

Century Mall Dubai




Location:
Mamzar Area, near Shabab Club
Tel: 296 6337
Opening hours: 9:00-24:00 Fri: 14:00-24:00

Century Mall is the new locality mall in Dubai's Al Mamzar area. Covering an area of over 300,000 square feet of leasable space, The Century Mall is designed as a service orientated locality mall offering not just great shopping but great services. Century Mall features added services such as valet parking, shoe-shine, customer assistance, baby sitting service, creche facilities and many more, this will make our customers feel at home with there mall. There are twelve food court outlets within the food court and one branded coffee shop. Food Court consists of a variety of cuisines and delicacies form all over the world, fast food corners, ice cream parlors, bakery etc. with a seating capacity for over 400 people. Totally, there are 70 outlets available for lease to stores selling latest trends and reputed brands of handbags, cosmetics, shoes, garments, jewelry, perfumes, electronics etc. Besides these, the mall also holds a number of service based sectors including a laundry, pharmacy, beauty parlor, saloon, business center, post and parcel service, exchange center, ATM machines etc.

Al Bustan Shopping Centre Dubai



Location:
Al Nahda Road near Al Ahli Club
Tel: 263 0000
Opening hours: 10:00-22:00 and Fri 14:00-22:00

Situated in the heart of the city, Al Bustan Centre & Residence has been an ideal combination of shopping as well as residential facilities. It offers most modern amenities for the shoppers and tourists to Dubai. Located at the intersection that separates Dubai from Sharjah, it is a mere 5 minutes from Dubai International Airport, 2 minutes from Terminal 2, and barely 7 minutes from downtown Dubai. Al Bustan Centre & Residence is a luxurious self-contained complex that offers a little something for everyone. Encompassing one of the largest indoor children's amusement arcade in the UAE- Fantasy Kingdom, which boasts the first of its kind in games seen in the Gulf. A recent addition has been the Horror Cave, which promises a spine tingling blood-chilling ride. Definitely not for the faint hearted. The spacious (seating 600) restaurant area caters to a variety of palates, be it Italian, oriental, Indian and even for the fast food aficionado there are the ever popular McDonald and Subway. Also recently opened is Al Massa Cinema. They show a variety of the latest Arabic as well as English movies, on their two screens. At Al Bustan Centre & Residence, simply lie back and feel totally at ease in any of the opulent 640 suites (available as studio, single bedroom or double bedroom & 3 bedrooms), work off those extra pounds at the fully equipped fitness centre, or simply unwind in the sauna or steam room. There is also a beautiful pool to frolic in, or just relax by the poolside soaking in the sun.

Abu Dhabi International Airport

Sunday, May 3, 2009


Abu Dhabi International Airport is the gateway to the city of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. It is reputed to be one of the fastest growing airports in the world and it is the second largest airport in the United Arab Emirates. This airport which was opened in 1968 was then called Al Bateen Airport and was located within the city of Abu Dhabi itself. Development and space constraints forced the airport to be shifted to the present location which is about 32 kms. from the city.

Abu Dhabi International AirportThe Abu Dhabi International Airport has a donut-shaped passenger terminal equipped with telescopic boarding walkways. This saves you the trouble of walking through long and endless corridors. The world –famed Abu Dhabi Duty Free Shop which has twice won the Best Travel Retailer in the Middle East Award is located in the passenger terminal. The airport has two runways that are about 4.1 km. long, 2 cargo terminals, 12 gates, 5 baggage claim belts, and 24 aircraft stands. The Abu Dhabi International Airport which contains 36 check-in counters accommodates 40 passenger airlines serving 90 destinations. The airport has handled over 9 million passengers last year.

The Abu Dhabi International Airport is managed by the Abu Dhabi Civil Aviation Department and maintained by Abu Dhabi Airport Services. The airport has a Check-in-facility in Abu Dhabi city, called the City Terminal. This facility permits passengers to check in their luggage and obtain a boarding pass. This reduces or eliminates the waiting time for the passengers at the airport.

Transportation from the Abu Dhabi International Airport to the city is made available by means of taxi, car rental, or by bus. Taxi fare is around US$ 18 while a bus ride would cost you US$ 1. Car rental charges vary from US$ 24.00 to US$ 188.00 depending on the type of car you wish to have.

The Abu Dhabi International Airport has a five star hotel - Abu Dhabi Airport Hotel - with 40 rooms. The guests can avail the comforts of a VIP lounge, a restaurant, a bar, a children’s play room, a health club with massage parlors, sauna, and gym. The hotel also boasts of an all-equipped Business Centre for conducting your business.

The Government of Abu Dhabi has started an all round development drive for the development of Abu Dhabi’s tourism, business and boosting foreign investment. A master plan has commenced to make Abu Dhabi International Airport a world-class facility. In the long term needs, the master plan envisages handling of 40 million passengers per year. The airport proposes to handle 20 million passengers per year by the end of 2011. It also proposes to open a third terminal capable of handling an additional five million passengers by the end of the year. A new cargo terminal is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

The present development taking place in Abu Dhabi International Airport is Phase 1 of the 5.9 million square feet terminal that will have 42 gates and is expected to cater to an additional 20 million passengers a year. This phase is likely to be completed by 2012. Ultimately, there would be more than 90 gates at the Abu Dhabi International Airport and it is likely to handle more than 50 million passengers and more than 2 million tons of cargo per year.

Abu Dhabi Tourism



The magnificent and sprawling city of Abu Dhabi was once a remote fishing village till about 40-45 years ago. The transition from the fishing and pearling village to the modern and gleaming city of today took over 200 years. The discovery of oil about 50 years ago, transformed the entire region to one of the richest and best tourist destinations in the world. This prosperity is reflected in the modern constructions, architecture, shopping malls, real estate development, and development of Abu Dhabi tourism.

Abu Dhabi is an important tourist hub in the Middle East and there is a heavy flow of tourists almost throughout the year, barring a couple of extremely hot summer months. It is the safest tourist destination in the whole world and Abu Dhabi offers the best tourist facilities. Abu Dhabi tourism has made this a prominent shopping destination with most of the tourists concentrating on shopping.

Abu Dhabi TourismAbu Dhabi plays a vital role in promoting tourism and tourist related activities. A tourist to Abu Dhabi finds a whole lot of activities waiting for him/her. To any visitor here, Abu Dhabi is a paradise on earth. Fun filled activities including shopping and bargaining in the market, riding a camel in the desert, driving in an air-conditioned car, going to a Bedouin camp and partaking of their hospitality, and dining in the only revolving restaurant in Abu Dhabi. Any of these activities is bound to bring out the child within you and make you enjoy any event and remember it as an experience of a lifetime.

October to April is the ideal time to visit Abu Dhabi. There are a number of attractions in and around Abu Dhabi, and a few of them are:

The White Fort, which was once the home of the ruling family, is the oldest building in Abu Dhabi and one of the most prominent destinations that Abu Dhabi Tourism flaunts. It is now a Documentation and Research Center and museum. A Heritage Village now stands in the middle of Abu Dhabi and is reminiscent of the lifestyle, traditions, and cultures of the Bedouins and other tribes. The Cultural Foundation displays a weekly art exhibition. It also houses a library, theatre auditorium, and lecture halls. This is renowned as a cultural centre. The Corniche is a 6 kilometer long road stretching from the Sheraton to the Hilton. Several gardens are lined along the road making this one of the most beautiful places in Abu Dhabi.

The best part of Abu Dhabi tourism is its shopping experience. Abu Dhabi is a veritable shoppers’ paradise. It has a number of shopping plazas and malls that display the most modern and exclusive international brands. People from all over the world come to Abu Dhabi for their shopping. This is especially evident during the Shopping Festival which is held every March. You can visit the old market which is called the Souk and you can practically bargain for everything – from a pin to a car.

Abu Dhabi tourism has lined up a number of attractive things you could do, especially shopping. Are you planning to come to Abu Dhabi for this year’s Shopping Festival?



Emirates Airline (Fly Emirates)






Emirates is the official airline of United Arab Emirates. It is among one of the best airline service of the world. It is rated very highly around the world.
It's destination chart can be view from here:

www.emirates.com/ae/english/flash/route_map.aspx

Official website is: www.emirates.com

Dubai Shopping Festival DSF

Saturday, May 2, 2009





Introduction

Dubai Shopping Festival was launched in 1996 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to position Dubai as a leading tourist destination and to stimulate the economic and tourism sectors in the city. The concept was the first of its kind in the region and proved to be highly successful mainly due to the close cooperation between the government and the private sectors.

Dubai Shopping Festival has become a global attraction today and a distinguished landmark in the global festivals industry, offering the best in shopping, winning and family entertainment. The DSF theme of 'One World, One Family, One Festival' is a reflection of the event's universal appeal and attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year.

In late 2007, HH Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued a decree to formally establish the office of the Dubai Shopping Festival, which will be a financially and administratively independent public sector company. This decision affirms the great importance of the annual extravaganza, and the emphasis on DSF as a national event that reflects the development and prosperity of the city of Dubai.

The Aim
Dubai Shopping Festival was initiated with two key objectives in mind: to promote Dubai as the ultimate global shopping and tourist destination by creating world class events and retail promotions, and to set the benchmark for events and festivals around the world.

The Concept
Dubai Shopping Festival is based primarily on the theme of 'One World. One Family. One Festival' that aims to treat families of diverse nationalities and family members of all ages with the best shopping and family entertainment experience in the region.

Shopping is an integral part of Dubai Shopping Festival and the retail sector in Dubai comes alive during a whole month of amazing promotions and incredible prizes. The Dubai Shopping Malls Group, the official body representing malls in Dubai, plays an important role in attracting shoppers by organizing entertainment events and promotions. The Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, representing jewellery outlets in Dubai, offer the latest and the best in gold and jewellery to shoppers during DSF. In addition to the numerous malls that offer promotions, the streets of Dubai also host shopping bazaars that recreate the authentic shopping atmosphere of souqs. Dubai Shopping Festival offers the finest shopping experience in the region for the millions of visitors, tourists, and shoppers from around the world.

Winning is a vital characteristic of DSF and it is interlinked to shopping as every shopper is provided the chance to be rewarded with incredible prizes. Over the years, prizes in the form of cash, cars, and gold have been given away as shopping incentives and it has become the vibrant visible face of the shopping festival.

Success of DSF
Dubai Shopping Festival became an instant success from its very first edition in 1996, redefining the nature of entertainment and shopping in the region and raising the bar high for other festivals. Its diversified events and relentless strive towards providing the best in shopping experiences, winning, and family entertainment has attracted millions of visitors over the years and positioned the glamorous city of Dubai as the new hub for tourism and commerce in the region. The carefully planned progress in each edition paved the way for unprecedented achievements in terms of stimulating various economic sectors in Dubai and the UAE, and setting new records in visitor numbers and retail revenues.

This success has been possible through the cooperation between the government and the private sectors. The synergy between the two entities has been responsible in contributing to development plans in all areas to position Dubai as one of the most advanced cities in the world.

The sponsors of DSF have contributed immensely to the success of the festival by offering unwavering support through organising various entertainment events and promotional offers. These events and promotions have succeeded in attracting visitors and residents to shopping malls throughout Dubai.

The city of Dubai has undergone massive changes in the past decade to emerge as a world-class destination with a high level of infrastructure that includes the largest shopping malls, the most luxurious hotels, state-of-the-art facilities, and a fast developing transport system. These factors will always be a cutting edge for Dubai Shopping festival to lead the way in the festival industry.

The success of DSF can be gauged from the visitor and visitor spending figures over the past editions. In the inaugural edition of DSF in 1996, 1.6 million visitors spent about AED 2.15 billion in 43 days. By the year 2006-2007, which witnessed a combined 11th and 12th edition of DSF, the visitor number had touched 3.5 million and the spending figure had reached a massive AED 10.2 billion.

Dubai Interantional Airport




One of the best around...... See pics

Atlantis Hotel Dubai




Atlantis Hotel Dubai
Rising from the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf, this luxury resort is situated on 113 acres. Opening in September 2008 this resort is an Architectural Wonder and one of Dubai’s newest Landmarks, located on the crescent of The Palm Jumeirah, known as the 8th Wonder of the World. Offering something for everyone, this resort features “Aquaventure” – a 42-acre waterpark with the “Zigguret” Centerpiece that touts a 27.5 metre-vertical drop; “The Lost Chambers” – where you can journey through a labyrinth of chambers to experience its fascinating underwater world with over 65,000 fish, the 11-acre “Dolphin Bay” with its innovative Dolphin Education Centre, and the “Ambassador Lagoon” with 100’s of species of marine life. Everything you need is on-site. Its Spa and Fitness Center offers treatments from all over the world. Enjoy Atlantis’s Aquatic Gardens, or a day of windsurfing and kayaking from its Private Beach. Shop in the up-scale boutiques in “The Avenues”, a 7500 sqm. retail and entertainment complex, or dance the night away in their ultra-chic nightclub, “Sanctuary”. Atlantis – The Palm offers an array of fun-filled activities for children of every age. Through nature and science, arts and crafts, and marine welfare, Atlantis–The Palm offers a series of educational programs for families to enjoy. The hotels also offers convenience to many of Dubai’s other Tourist Attractions. Guests can experience the Region’s largest Indoor Ski Resort, Ski Dubai, located in the Mall of the Emirates, or Dubai’s other waterpark, Wild Wadi in Jumeirah Beach. Other nearby sites to see are the Burj Al Arab, the world’s only 7 Star Hotel and the iconic structure that represents Dubai, Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building, and the famous Dubai Marina. Guests will find a vast array of shopping venues in the area. There is the popular Mall of the Emirates with its own Indoor Ski Resort, known as Ski Dubai. For those looking for a more unique style of shopping, there is the Madinat Jumeirah offering Designer Boutiques in an Arabian Style Souk. And, opening in Oct. 2008 is the Dubai Mall, slated to be one of the largest malls in the world. With so much to do and see, guests of the Atlantis – The Palm will not want to leave this vacation paradise.

Burj Al Arab Dubai 7-star hotel



In it's relatively short tenure on the Dubai coastline this legendary and symbolic hotel has attracted international attention and awe, ensuring its place as one of the most photographed structures in the world. Designed to resemble a billowing sail, Burj Al Arab soars to a height of 321 metres, dominating the Dubai skyline. Illuminated at night by choreographed lighting representing water and fire – Burj Al Arab is simply individual, inspired, impressive.

This all-suite hotel reflects the very finest that the world has to offer. With your chauffeur driven Rolls Royce, discreet in-suite check-in, private reception desk on every floor and a brigade of highly trained butlers, you can be assured of the ultimate in personal service throughout your stay.