Your guide to watch Dubai's world record NYE fireworks across 100km of shoreline

Fireworks will also erupt on all continents on The World Islands; the largest pyrotechnic flag ever attempted will flash the UAE colours

An extraordinary extravaganza lies in wait for residents who will witness the live spectacle as Dubai puts forth its ambitious plan to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest firework display.

As part of Dubai’s commitment to excellence, the city is coming together to set a phenomenal pyrotechnic record on December 31 that aims to light up the city in an extraordinary show that will showcase a six-minute display choreographed across the whole of The Palm Jumeirah and The World Islands.

Over 200 expert pyro technicians, 400 firing locations and 100 computers networked to control the show down to the millisecond will be in position.

The world record-breaking attempt will cover a distance of approximately 100km of seafront and feature over 400,000 fireworks in a series of dramatic imagery designed exclusively for the event and set to a specially choreographed musical soundtrack.

The breath taking display, which includes a ‘Flying Falcon’, ‘UAE Flag’ and a ‘Sunrise’ scene, will begin shortly before midnight and showcase the city as one of the world’s premier locations for the global community to visit.

Visible from numerous vantage points across Dubai, all hotels on The Palm Jumeirah will be hosting events to celebrate their involvement in the Dubai World Record 2014 attempt.

Programme for the night

Over 400,000 fireworks will be placed along 100kms of seafront to achieve this world record.

Aside from The Palm Jumeirah, fireworks will also be set off from the seven continents on The World Islands in celebration of and an invitation to the global community to come to Dubai during the journey to World Expo 2020.

A Flying Falcon will open the programme, leading the countdown in English and Arabic digits – using the exclusive GrucciSkyEtching technology.

The display features seven 24-inch shells that will rise 600m above the seven World Island Continents, each spreading a canopy over 700m wide.  

A UAE flag will be presented at 225m wide x 130m high – using a patented PixelBurst technology that uses embedded computer chips for precision firing.  At 29,250 square meters, it will be the largest pyrotechnic flag ever presented.

Grucci has designed a ‘Sunrise’ scene that will awaken the World across nearly 10kms wide.               

The fireworks performance will be choreographed to music composed specifically for this event, but inspired by a local song

The performance, which has taken over 5,000 plus man-days to complete the attempt, will last six minutes in total, with over 400 firing locations.

The fireworks specially handcrafted for the programme in the USA, China and Spain.

Traffic management

As revealed earlier, restrictions will apply in terms of traffic movement and access to The Palm Jumeirah on December 31, which will include a pass system to ensure the safety of all residents and visitors.

Residents can use their passes to bring in their guests, providing they follow the permitted access timetable.

From 8am to 9pm, access to event pass holders in their personal vehicles and passengers in taxis holding event pass.

From 9pm to 10.30pm, access to passengers in taxis holding event pass only.

Between 10.30pm and 1am access will be stopped for the purpose of safety and security. However, provisions will be made only for emergency situations.

As parking space on the Fronds is limited, residents are advised to limit the number of guest vehicles to a maximum of five vehicles per villa.  Each vehicle will have a car pass.

Walking around The Palm Jumeirah will be restricted from 10.30pm onwards to ensure the safety of residents and visitors during the show.

Image courtesy www.shutterstock.com

 

Dubai attempts to stun world with 400,000 NYE fireworks across 100km of shoreline

Fireworks will also erupt on all continents on The World Islands; the largest pyrotechnic flag ever attempted will flash the UAE colours

An extraordinary extravaganza lies in wait for residents who will witness the live spectacle as Dubai puts forth its ambitious plan to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest firework display.

As part of Dubai’s commitment to excellence, the city is coming together to set a phenomenal pyrotechnic record on December 31 that aims to light up the city in an extraordinary show that will showcase a six-minute display choreographed across the whole of The Palm Jumeirah and The World Islands.

Over 200 expert pyro technicians, 400 firing locations and 100 computers networked to control the show down to the millisecond will be in position.

The world record-breaking attempt will cover a distance of approximately 100km of seafront and feature over 400,000 fireworks in a series of dramatic imagery designed exclusively for the event and set to a specially choreographed musical soundtrack.

The breath taking display, which includes a ‘Flying Falcon’, ‘UAE Flag’ and a ‘Sunrise’ scene, will begin shortly before midnight and showcase the city as one of the world’s premier locations for the global community to visit.

Visible from numerous vantage points across Dubai, all hotels on The Palm Jumeirah will be hosting events to celebrate their involvement in the Dubai World Record 2014 attempt.

Programme for the night

Over 400,000 fireworks will be placed along 100kms of seafront to achieve this world record.

Aside from The Palm Jumeirah, fireworks will also be set off from the seven continents on The World Islands in celebration of and an invitation to the global community to come to Dubai during the journey to World Expo 2020.

A Flying Falcon will open the programme, leading the countdown in English and Arabic digits – using the exclusive GrucciSkyEtching technology.

The display features seven 24-inch shells that will rise 600m above the seven World Island Continents, each spreading a canopy over 700m wide.  

A UAE flag will be presented at 225m wide x 130m high – using a patented PixelBurst technology that uses embedded computer chips for precision firing.  At 29,250 square meters, it will be the largest pyrotechnic flag ever presented.

Grucci has designed a ‘Sunrise’ scene that will awaken the World across nearly 10kms wide.               

The fireworks performance will be choreographed to music composed specifically for this event, but inspired by a local song

The performance, which has taken over 5,000 plus man-days to complete the attempt, will last six minutes in total, with over 400 firing locations.

The fireworks specially handcrafted for the programme in the USA, China and Spain.

Traffic management

As revealed earlier, restrictions will apply in terms of traffic movement and access to The Palm Jumeirah on December 31, which will include a pass system to ensure the safety of all residents and visitors.

Residents can use their passes to bring in their guests, providing they follow the permitted access timetable.

From 8am to 9pm, access to event pass holders in their personal vehicles and passengers in taxis holding event pass.

From 9pm to 10.30pm, access to passengers in taxis holding event pass only.

Between 10.30pm and 1am access will be stopped for the purpose of safety and security. However, provisions will be made only for emergency situations.

As parking space on the Fronds is limited, residents are advised to limit the number of guest vehicles to a maximum of five vehicles per villa.  Each vehicle will have a car pass.

Walking around The Palm Jumeirah will be restricted from 10.30pm onwards to ensure the safety of residents and visitors during the show.

Image courtesy www.shutterstock.com

 

Illegal devices used to boost mobile reception

Dead spots force users to consider 'other' options

The device known as 'repeater' (Supplied)

Banned devices that can enhance mobile coverage are being sold in the UAE, mainly through internet for select customers. 

The device known as 'Repeaters' can enhance mobile coverage within a particular apartment or home and costs about Dh2,500 for a unit that boosts GSM signal and Dh5,000-6,000 for 3G signal enhancement. 

One agent who was trying to sell the product told this reporter that he could deliver the product at Bank Street in Bur Dubai. "The cost will vary depending on the number of units you require. Anything from Dh2,500 for just GSM to Dh5,000 for 3G connectivity and use of BlackBerry service. However, we are not responsible for any penalties by building owners or etisalat or du," the agent warned. 

The installation involves fixing two antennas, one inside the apartment and one outside. 

Repeaters captures and boosts a weak mobile signal through an antenna and amplifier and boosts coverage for areas up to 800 square metres, an online advertisement claims. 

However according to Aurad, another exporter of Repeaters, the sale of the device within the UAE is banned. 

“I have been told that it is banned by both the TRA and the telecom operators. I mainly sell the products to customers in Africa and other Middle Eastern countries,” he said. 

According to him there are several cases of mobile users of both operators facing difficulty in obtaining connectivity inside certain buildings and in parking areas. 

“Mobile signals are hardly available in some heavily concrete buildings. In Reem Tower in Makhtoum street, which is just behind the etisalat building I know people who have to come out of the building to make calls. There are many such cases across the Dubai and other emirates,” he said. 

Many residents in Tecom in Dubai have repeatedly complained to etisalat about no connectivity within the buildings. “We moved in to Tecom in March 2011. I was not able to get connectivity even in the balcony. Finally after several complaints Etisaalt did something and I am now able to get some signal, in some select locations within my apartment,” said Sangeeta T. 

Many residents in the area say they were forced to change their operator to Du due to etisalat’s lack of connectivity. 

“Du surprisingly has increased its mobile coverage, form being terrible to much much better during the last year or so,” says Santosh Kumar, a marketing professional. As part of my work I visit many areas and buildings across Dubai, meeting many clients and Du’s coverage ahs significantly improved. They still have issues in some parts especially in parking lots. But it is negligible,” he added. 

An etisalat spokesperson yesterday told 'Emirates24|7' that except Tecom where du has exclusive coverage rights it has had no major complaints from other areas in the UAE. 

“Tecom issue has to be addressed to the TRA. When we do receive complaints from other areas we do send our technical team and try and boost the signal.” The official also said that in special cases special antennas are placed on top of specific buildings located in a dense area. “We take permission from the owner of the building and even pay him charges for electricity usage in such cases,” the official said,

 

Dh37m ‘Royal Fantasy’ bra on display in Dubai Mall: Here’s how to buy it for Dh1,000

Victoria’s Secret garment displayed at Dubai Mall is studded with 4,200 precious jewels

A Dh37 million ($10m) bounty for a bra sounds, well, a bit much. But not lingerie maker Victoria’s Secret, who unveiled the ‘Royal Fantasy’ bra at Dubai Mall this week.
The garment is studded with more than 4,200 precious gems from around the world, all set in 18-carat gold by hand and has been designed by Swiss-based jeweller Mouawad.
The piece comes with complementary pink briefs and a gold belt, in case you were wondering.
Of course, a price-tag of Dh37 million, effectively, rules out 99 per cent of the population ever giving a serious consideration to buying it.
But wait, there’s another way to buy the garment – a Victoria’s Secret retail replica of the famous innerwear is available for about Dh1,000 ($295), but it’s embellished with rhinestones, not rubies.
Yes, even Dh1,000 sounds a lot for innerwear, but let’s tell you that the company has produced only 1,000 such replicas, so stocks are limited.
Back to the original piece, it comes complete with diamonds and sapphires, while the showstopper is the 52-carat pear-shaped ruby in the centre.
Unveiled globally last month by South African model Candice Swanepoel at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show in New York, supermodel Adriana Lima jetted down to Dubai to showcase the garment here.
Lima, who has been a model for Victoria's Secret since 2000, has walked the ramp for the lingerie maker five times in the past, most notably when she strutted down the catwalk two months after giving birth.
Victoria’s Secret is selling the one of a kind piece if anyone is looking for unique Christmas gift ideas.

Dubai Duty Free 30th Anniversary offer: Get products at 1983 prices

Dubai Duty Free celebrates its 30th Anniversary on December 20, 2013, with the special day likely to set another sales milestone for the airport retailer when the operation extends up to 30 per cent discount across a wide range of merchandise throughout the 24-hour period.

“This is a major milestone for the operation and we want our customers to celebrate along with us and to thank them for supporting us for the past three decades,” said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free.
“Also on the anniversary day, we have identified and sourced seven different products which we will sell at 1983 prices and that’s just something special for our customers,” he added.
The discount offer will run from midnight on December 19 to midnight December 20, for all departing and arriving customers at Dubai International Airport and at Al Maktoum International Airport - Dubai World Central. The anniversary discount offer, which began with Dubai Duty Free’s 20th Anniversary in 2003, has proved so successful and popular that it has now become a much-anticipated travel day.
Traditionally a high sales period for Dubai Duty Free, the December 20 offer will undoubtedly ensure that the cash registers are kept ringing throughout the day. The Dubai Duty Free team will be hoping to surpass last year’s anniversary day when sales reached Dh76.91 million ($21 million).
“I think the big discount day is going to create a fantastic atmosphere at Dubai Duty Free for the entire 24 hours and it would be terrific to break the daily sales record on the anniversary day,” added McLoughlin.
As part of the 30th Anniversary celebrations, Dubai Duty Free will ensure a party-like atmosphere prevails throughout the retail operation on that day. Plans are in place to conduct a Millennium Millionaire, a Finest Surprise Luxury Car draw, the final ‘Shop and Win’ draw which ran for 30 days leading up to the anniversary day with the prize of a 30g gold coin being won each day.
When Dubai Duty Free opened for business on December 20, 1983, the operation had 100 employees, 44 of whom are still in active service and are referred to as the ‘pioneers’. The operation currently employs 6,000 staff comprising of 51 different nationalities.
Dubai Duty Free achieved $20 million sales on its first year of operation and is expected to record $1.8 billion by year-end.

Dubai Shopping Festival 2013 dates released

Festival will be held from January 3 to February 3, 2013

 

The 18th edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival will be held from January 3 to February 3, organisers have announced.

The Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), an agency under the Department of Economic Development, aims to build on the huge success of last year’s event and will again project “Dubai at its Best” as its marketing slogan and promises a rich and varied programme of events.

“Our stakeholders and partners were very positive with our main message last year and were very excited about it, to the extent that most of them incorporated “Dubai at its Best” into their own individual campaigns and products, which sent a strong message to the world that Dubai brings out the best of everything during the festival,” said Laila Mohammad Suhail, DEPE CEO.

“This year, again with the help of our strategic partners and sponsors from the private and public sectors, we are planning to capitalise on this success and reaffirm this statement through a diverse offering of shopping, competitions and entertainment.”

Launched in 1996 under the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, to position Dubai as a leading tourist destination, Dubai Shopping Festival stayed true to its slogan “One World, One Family, One Festival” and has attracted more than 42 million visitors from across the world, who have spent close to Dh100 billion.

Laila indicated that the dates for DSF 2013 were decided in consideration of the spring break in neighbouring countries and some international target markets, but also stressed the importance of announcing the dates of the event as early as possible to allow many stakeholders to plan for the events.

“Government agencies, event organisers, the retail and hospitality sectors, tour operators, tourists and many others would benefit from knowing the dates of DSF in advance. This announcement also comes as part of enhancing the Dubai Calendar brand, the gateway for a more eventful Dubai and the official point of reference for all events happening in Dubai across the year,” said Laila.

In addition to the shopping and prizes, hundreds of other events and activities are planned, from international concerts, musicals and shows, to sports, outdoor and fashion events.

Air India Express cancels key Eid holiday flights from UAE

Air India Express cancels key Eid holiday flights from UAE

Passengers booked to fly between August 16 and 22 being informed that flights have been cancelled

Air India Express has cancelled several key flights scheduled to fly during the Eid holidays.

Passengers who had booked their tickets to fly between August 16 to 22 are being informed that their flights have been cancelled and they need to make alternate arrangements.

The airline has not given any reason for why it is cancelling the flights except that passengers are being informed well in advance and that they should look for alternate flights.

Following the cancellations, affected passengers will now have to pay more than 150 per cent to book flights on private airlines for the same dates. Most flights are fully booked for Eid holidays.

Jayanthan one of the passengers says he had planned his holidays well in advance and the announcement is nothing but a shocker. “Tickets are at its peak. A one way ticket to Calicut is now costing me Dh2,000 plus. I had initially booked the Air India Express ticket for Dh1000,” he said.

The airline has cancelled flights to most major destinations in Kerala such as Trivandrum, Cochin and Calicut apart from other destinations in India.

However it is still not clear how many passengers have been affected. Travel agents too are clueless about the cancellations and say they were not informed in advance. There was no official comment available from the airline.

Meanwhile according to reports, Air India Express has announced new schedule of flight operating from the Middle East to Mangalore and Mumbai, effective July 23.

The Mangalore-Kuwait-Mangalore flight will operate on three days - Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and will depart at 5.45 pm from Mangalore.

The Mangalore Bahrain flight will now operate on Saturdays and will depart Mangalore at 10 am.

The Mumbai flight will operate on Mondays and will depart at 10.30 am.