Tag Archives: entertainment
Mohammed opens MBC studios
Mohammed opens MBC studios 16 July 2013 His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday, inaugurated Dubai-based MBC Group’s “O3” Drama Production Studios, a state-of-the-art facility running on an area of 15,000 square feet, being one of three sound stages to be launched at the end of 2013. Accompanying Shaikh Mohammed during the inauguration ceremony, was Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI). In presence of MBC Group Chairman Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim and a number of senior officials and media leaders, Shaikh Mohammed reviewed the latest equipment that match the efficiency and capacity of the largest international production studios equipped with the latest audio/visual technologies that are in par with the best international standards; affirming Dubai’s leading position as a high-tech centre for delivering premium content of international standards and consolidating its statue as a favourable destination for major media institutions as well as a popular destination for Arab and International investment in various sectors. The ceremony was also attended by Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Ahmad bin Byat, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Holding; Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director-General Of Protocol Department; Mona Al Marri, Director-General of the Government of Dubai Media Office; Sami Al Qamzi, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Dubai Media Incorporated; and Dr Amina Al Rustamani, CEO, Tecom Investments. Shaikh Mohammed was briefed about the production of TV programming and drama carried out by MBC Group, which has a portfolio of 12 TV channels and two Radio Stations. He was also briefed on the most important contents MBC Group channels offer. Shaikh Mohammed also toured the studios, located in the heart of “Dubai Studio City”, and was familiarised with the state-of-the-art technologies available, expressing his admiration over the advanced level of the studio. During the tour, Shaikh Mohammed watched a short 3-D film, especially prepared for the occasion that embodied a future panoramic view, inspired by the character, cultural and humanitarian components of the city of Dubai, and that projected the larger-than-life future outlook of the city. Later, Shaikh Mohammed was familiarised with the “Visual Backlot” technique compiled by “Stargate” global production technology of simulation visual multidimensional and the green screen technology that allows one to feature scenes from around the world without leaving Dubai. Extending his best wishes for the MBC Group and its staff, Shaikh Mohammed affirmed that the UAE will continue to support both private and government media sectors as well as provide the necessary requirements and space for local, regional and international media outlets operating in Dubai so as to be able to spread the media message and boost their role in building the society and making the future. His Highness also toured two mega sound stages, the largest in the Middle East and Europe, running on an area of 50,000 square feet and inspected the technologies and logistics set up to meet the best international standards before being briefed about the most important achievements and future projects. Shaikh Mohammed expressed his satisfaction over the great accomplishment by Dubai Studio City noting its impact in supporting Dubai strategy towards establishing a high-tech centre for audio-visual production to compete with the best centres established worldwide and, consequently, towards cementing Dubai’s position as a TV and film production hub attracting global production institution and facilitating their work offering cutting-edge services. On its part, the MBC Group expressed its appreciation to UAE’s leadership support for Media institutions and media persons. Continue reading
Hypermarket chain slashes food prices
Hypermarket chain slashes food prices Silvia Radan / 15 July 2013 Dozens of products are to have their prices slashed by Lulu Hypermarket during the holy month of Ramadan. Every week, new dry and fresh goods are chosen for a significant price cut, including fruit and vegetables, sweets and cooking oil “At the moment we have 34 items on Ramadan sale, with more and different ones to come next week,” said Nanda Kumar, head of corporate communications at LuLu Hypermarket. Lulu announced its Ramadan promotions during an official visit from Dr Hashem Al Nuaimi, Director of the Customer Protection Department in the Ministry of Economy, which took place on Sunday at Abu Dhabi’s Lulu Al Wahda Mall. Dr Al Nuaimi toured the food section of the hypermarket, seeing to it that the prices are not hiked, and also launching LuLu’s Ramadan baskets. “I want to tell consumers that Lulu does a lot of hard work and makes all products available during Ramadan without increasing prices,” said Dr Al Nuaimi. He also revealed that the hypermarket is contributing free food to the Ministry of Economy’s families in need. “We have about 10,000 poor families across the UAE, mostly comprising five to seven members. Lulu is helping us to feed them by providing 700 vouchers,” explained Dr Al Nuaimi. In store, the Ramadan sale included items such as Crown Dates, the price of which was reduced from Dh20 to Dh16.90. Apart from these particular Ramadan price cuts, the hypermarket is also running a price lock promotion for certain food products. “We have 80 items under price lock, which means their prices will not change for one year,” said Ashraf Ali, executive director of Lulu Group. These include a pack of eight cans of tomato paste, each weighing 198gms, sold for Dh8.95. “We are also launching, for the sixth year, our Ramadan kits,” he added. The “kits” are two boxes of various dry foods. The Dh130 one contains 20 items, including cooking oil, rice, sugar, pasta, dates, tomato paste, and lentils, while the smaller, Dh90 kit contains 12 items such as salt, dates, ketchup and UHT milk. On July 28, Lulu hypermarket will also launch its Dates Festival, which will include over 100 different types of dates from the UAE and elsewhere. silvia@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Oil slick causes scare along Fujairah
Oil slick causes scare along Fujairah Salah Al Deberky (news@khaleejtimes.com) / 15 July 2013 The Environment Protection Department at the Fujairah Municipality is cleaning up the oil slick washed ashore which polluted the beaches of Mirbiah and Gadfa on Saturday. It appeared that the loading and unloading of a vessel off the Fujairah coast was behind the pollution. A heavy oil slick stretched nearly four kilometres along the two areas and a top official of the Fujairah Fishermen Association says it has gone even to a depth of one kilometre, making it a serious spill. A large portion of the slick, especially on the beaches, has been cleared. The Ministry of Environment and Water, on Sunday, sent specialised technicians to examine the pollution and clean up the beaches. The oil pollution brought fishing to a halt, and eyewitnesses said the pollution resulted in the piling up of a thick layer of oil tars stretching over four kilometres from Gadfa area to the fishing harbour in Mirbiah amid fears that the slick would hit the major water desalination plant in Gadfa adversely and, consequently, the water supply in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. “The oil spill which hit Mirbiah and Gadfa shores is one of the serious ones due to the thickness of the layer, which spread largely on water and in depth of more than a kilometre,“ said Mohammed Al Yateem, Secretary-General of Fujairah Fishermen Association. “A patch of the oil tar which deposited on the beaches of the two neighbourhoods caused a foul odour that inconvenienced the people,” he said. This type of pollution was detrimental to environment, and posed a threat to fisheries, especially the fish on the surface and not in the deep, for the oil spill covered the water surface and was about 20 centimetres thick, he said, adding that it was one of the rare kinds of pollution in these areas in a long time. Meanwhile, Abdullah Al Hantoobi, Deputy Director of the Fujairah Municipality, said the oil slick hit sea water and beaches of both Gadfa and Mirbiah and reached as far as the Fujairah Seaport, adversely affecting the fish production. Al Hantoobi, however, said Fujairah water desalination and power stations 1 and 2 were not affected by the spill, and that was assured and confirmed by the management of the stations when contacted. Water supplied to the stations was from deep sea, which was free of oil slick, he said. Oil slicks were caused by dumping of waste by oil tankers into the sea and in the UAE territorial waters illegally. The municipality, in coordination with the Fujairah Seaport, had already started cleaning up the oil slick. The beaches were being cleaned using earth moving machines. Continue reading
