Monthly Archives: October 2013

The 2,177-km-long GCC rail network, which will link all six Gulf states by rail for the first time, providing an alternative to air or sea travel for both goods and passengers in the region, will be fully operational in 2018, said Dr Ramiz Al Assar, World Bank resident adviser of the GCC Secretariat General in Riyadh, on Tuesday.“The designs of the nearly $200 billion Dh734.490 billion network, which will run down the Gulf coast from Kuwait, through Saudi Arabia, to the UAE and Oman, with branches linking Bahrain and Qatar, will be completed by the end of this year or in the first quarter of next year. Construction on the network is to start in 2014-15 and it will be fully operational in 2018,” Dr Al Assar told the MENA Rail and Metro Summit, being held in Abu Dhabi.

via GCC rail network to link all 6 Gulf states by 2018 | GulfNews.com.

More airlines are expected to join the three launch carriers at Al Maktoum International before the end of 2013, a Dubai Airports executive has said.

Speaking to Gulf News at the opening of Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports Chief Executive Officer, said he was “convinced” there would be announcements on new airlines flying from the airport before the end of the year. “We are very close to signing some deals with more carriers,” he said.

via More airlines to be announced for Al Maktoum International airport | GulfNews.com.

On November 27, delegates from around the world will meet to decide the venue for Expo 2020. I believe they should choose Dubai. Let me explain why.First, this is Dubai’s moment. As you approach Dubai its incredible skyline makes a stunning first impression. But as I discovered when I visited last year, you leave with a lasting impression of something far greater.In just 50 years, Dubai has been transformed from a small fishing and pearling town into one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. This is a city where you will hear Arabic, Urdu, Malayalam, Somali, Tagalog, Russian and English all being spoken and where more than 200 nationalities live and work. One hundred thousand Britons call Dubai home, while thousands more visit for work or vacation, with over 20 flights between Dubai and the UK every day.

via Dubai deserves to host Expo 2020 | GulfNews.com.

Dubai: Joseph Ghossoub, chairman and chief executive officer of MENA Communications Group (Menacom), believes that Dubai deserves to win the bid for hosting Expo 2020 for its capability and distinction.

“The world will lose a big opportunity if Dubai does not win the bid for Expo 2020,” he added.

According to Ghossoub, “Hosting an Expo means bringing the world together to exchange views on commerce and culture.”

“It is not a matter of winning the bid or just hosting it. It is about hosting the bid successfully and Dubai is the only city that can make a difference,” he said.

“What Dubai has to offer and is able to offer promotes this city to be the perfect place for hosting an international event of this stature.”

Ghossoub added: “Dubai has proven to every one that ‘yes’ it can be done and ‘yes’ it can be achieved and ‘yes’ it can be made better.”

via Dubai Expo 2020: world loses if we don’t win: Menacom chief | GulfNews.com.

Dubai continues to gain stronger popularity in the international community after climbing six places to 41st on the list of most reputable cites in the world, a survey by a reputation-based advisory firm showed.

The 2013 City RepTrak, which surveyed more than 22,000 people from the G8 countries between January and February this year, showed Dubai overtaking cities like Brisbane, Seattle, New Orleans and Houston, which were ahead of the emirate in last year’s survey. Earning a score of 66.6, the city maintained its lead over Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta and Singapore.

The results of the study, which annually ranks the world’s 100 most reputable cities based on levels of trust, esteem admiration and respect, was announced last week. Sydney emerged top, followed by Toronto, Stockholm, Vienna and Venice in the top five.

via Dubai’s reputation continues to climb | GulfNews.com.

Dubai: An in-depth symposium presented to more than 250 representatives from 167 member nations of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the international organisation that oversees World Expo, will be showcased from October 22 to October 24.

The conference concentrates around the Dubai Expo 2020 theme entitled “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future: Partnerships for Global Innovation and Sustainable Development”.

Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, in his capacity as Chairman of the Higher Committee for the Dubai Expo 2020 bid, said, “ It is my hope that our guests enjoy their short stay with us and leave with an understanding of what a World Expo in Dubai and its legacy could mean, not only for Dubai and the UAE, but for all member nations of the BIE, the wider Menasa region and for future generations across the globe.”

via Dubai welcomes World Expo 2020 delegates | GulfNews.com.

DUBAI // Wireless internet access could become available across the city under the latest plans to turn Dubai into a “smart city”.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has announced on Twitter a plan to increase Wi-Fi penetration across the city.

“The project aims to provide all Dubai residents with high-speed internet in public places, and live services and information,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted on Saturday.

“The Dubai Smart City project involves remote sensor devices all over Dubai. Education, health care and general security will be managed via smart systems.

“City management today requires new tools and a new thinking. We want to create a new reality for our people, a different life for our children and a new global development model.”

The announcement was made on the eve of Gitex Technology Week, which begins on Sunday at Dubai World Trade Centre.

via Dubai plan to include web access across city | The National.

Dubai: The creek – known in Arabic as Khor Dubai – is considered as a unique heritage not only because of its location, but its nature and vitality in comparison with other creeks around the world.Throughout the test of time, settlements were made around water and the city of Dubai was no different. Even though the city has witnessed a vast amount of growth and undergone several phases of dredging and expansion, the creek’s shape has not changed in the last 1,000 years.It has managed to maintain its authenticity and versatility of fusing the past and the present through its trading connections with countries around and beyond the Arabian Gulf, evidently with the docking of merchant dhows and the flourishing bazaars of silks and spices.

via Dubai Creek stands test of time | GulfNews.com.

Dubai is the second most attractive real estate investment market in the world for high net-worth individuals HNWI, a new report has said.Wealthy investors only choose London ahead of Dubai, according to Cluttons in its International Private Capital Survey 2013/14.The survey of seeks to draw out the appetite for international real estate investment and unpick the underlying drivers behind the intentions as an indicator of future trends in capital allocation.The findings showed that Dubai has risen to second place behind London as the go-to real estate investment destination for HNWI according to the results of a survey of 461 HNWI from around the world.

via Dubai is hot spot for worlds wealthy property investors – Property – ArabianBusiness.com.

UAE national airline Etihad has launched direct daily flights to Los Angeles, which will be the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s fourth US destination.

The flights are due to take off from June 1, 2014, pending regulatory approval, the airline said.

Etihad already flies to American cities of Chicago, New York and Washington DC, and the Californian city – the largest on the west coast with a population of 18m – will see the airline provide 28 return flights each week between the UAE and the US.

The new service will increase the airline’s operations in the US market by 33 percent and cater for growing leisure and business traffic demands in LA, as well as the city’s considerable catchment area.

via Abu Dhabi’s Etihad launches non-stop LA flights – Transport – ArabianBusiness.com.