Tag Archives: dubai
Dubai tramway trial run begins smoothly
Dubai tramway trial run begins smoothly 26 January 2014 The trial run of the Dubai tram began today, with the RTA carrying out a technical run of the tram in the depot’s rails, before carrying out a test run along a distance of about 2km. Photo by Rahul Gajjar/Khaleej Times Each tram consists of seven coaches, with 11 trams due in the first phase of the tramway operation and a further 14 to be added later on. The 14.6km Dubai Tramway extends along Al Sufouh Road in Jumeirah Beach Residence, and the initial phase of the project envisages the construction of a 10.6km long track starting from the Dubai Marina and stretching up to the Tram Depot near the Dubai Police Academy. There will be 17 passenger stations, of which 11 will open in the first phase. Al Tayer said he expected the tram will carry about 27,000 riders per day at the start of operations in 2014 and the ridership is “bound to hit 66,000 riders per day by 2020”. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Shaikh Khalifa stable after surgery
Shaikh Khalifa stable after surgery Staff Reporter / 26 January 2014 Ministers, residents, GCC nationals wish him speedy recovery. Social networking sites saw a number of hashtags supporting and praying for the wellbeing and health of Shaikh Khalifa. The Ministry of Presidential Affairs said on Saturday that the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is stable after he underwent an operation. “The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, suffered a stroke on Friday morning. He immediately underwent a surgical operation. His health is now stable. May God safeguard him and grant him a quick recovery,” a ministry statement said. Social networking sites, especially Twitter, on Saturday saw a number of hashtags supporting and praying for the wellbeing and health of President Shaikh Khalifa. The hashtags and tweets asked for people’s supplication for the President after he underwent the emergency operation. Some of the hashtags tackled the most trending topics and issues being spoken about at present. Photos of the President were also carried on Instagram pages. UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan posted a tweet saying: “May God Allah preserve my lord — the President — from all harm and evil, and bestow the wellbeing and good health on him.” Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash tweeted: “May Allah protect Bu Sultan — referring to the President — from all harm and ill, and dress him a gown of wellbeing and good health.” GCC and Arab citizens also shared their Twitter comments following the #SheikhKhalifa hashtags. They showed affection and love by writing and giving heartfelt posts and sharing some poetic verses. Twitter posts were also sent from some GCC countries thanking Allah for keeping the President safe and sound. Emirati citizen Majid Al Rae’si wrote about the cohesion of the late Shaikh Zayed’s sons and highlighted their prayers to Allah asking him to preserve their father Khalifa is the rarest and greatest medicine. FNC member Dr Mona Al Bahar tweeted: “Hope Allah the Almighty bestows complete wellbeing and good health on Bu Sultan and protects you from all evil and harm.” Mohammed bin Zayed receives calls from Saudi, Kuwaiti officials General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received telephone calls from a number of top Saudi and Kuwaiti officials, inquiring about the health condition of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, after the President underwent a surgical operation on Friday. Shaikh Mohammed got over the telephone best wishes for speedy recovery and good health for Shaikh Khalifa from Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia; Prince Fahad bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Makkah; and Shaikh Mohammed Al Khaled Al Sabah, Kuwaiti Interior Minister. (With input from Wam) news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Dubai is third most dynamic city in the world
Dubai is third most dynamic city in the world Staff Reporter / 23 January 2014 The new City Momentum Index released by Jones Lang LaSalle names San Francisco, London and Dubai as the three most vibrant cities. Not just steady GDP growth but a soaring real estate industry and the halo of Expo 2020 have combined to catapult Dubai to third place in the list of the world’s most dynamic cities compiled by Jones Lang LaSalle. The new City Momentum Index released by the realtor names San Francisco, London and Dubai as the three most vibrant cities, displaying strong short-term socio-economic and commercial real estate momentum as well as longer-term foundations for success. Chinese cities Shanghai and Wuhan complete the group of the top five. Describing the yardsticks for the index, Jeremy Kelly, LaSalle’s director for global research, said highly dynamic cities are characterised by their speed of innovation and creation of cutting-edge businesses. New building construction, property price movement and investment in real estate from cross-border investors and corporations are the other factors. Dubai is also among the eight elite cities that together accounted for one-fourth of the world’s direct commercial real estate investment activity in 2012-2013 and wield “clear economic might on the global stage”. The other seven are San Francisco, London, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Los Angeles and Tokyo. The index also clubs Dubai, which will host World Expo 2020, with Tokyo, that will stage the Olympics the same year, calling them resurgent cities gearing up for their respective events with renewed vigour. However, there’s a note of caution as well. Investors and corporates should note that high momentum poses both opportunity and risk. The index assesses 111 cities, basing the score on 34 short-term and longer-term variables. The remaining cities in the Global Top 20 are New York, Austin, Hong Kong, San Jose, Singapore, Shenzhen, Jakarta, Beijing, Chengdu, Los Angeles, Tianjin, Boston, Seattle, Tokyo and Lima. news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
