Tag Archives: entertainment
Pedalling to a greener future
Pedalling to a greener future (Staff Reporter) / 27 April 2013 DUBAI – Cycling enthusiasts in the emirate have a good reason to cheer about with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) approving a plan to construct additional cycling tracks stretching 52km across 11 residential districts in Dubai at a cost of Dh40 million. “The construction of the cycling tracks is part of a master plan developed by the RTA to provide dedicated cycling spanning the entire Dubai Emirate in a bid to encourage the use of bikes as an environment-friendly transit means, as well as for the benefit of cycling enthusiasts. It also comes in implementation of RTA’s vision of safe and smooth transport for all as the advanced countries are focusing on raising the proportion of pedestrian and cyclists since they involve traffic, health and environmental benefits,” said Mattar Al Tayer, RTA chairman. Th e cycling tracks are part of RTA master plan to encourage the use of bicycles as an environment-friendly transit.— KT photo by Shihab The cycling tracks plan will cover Al Barsha, Al Khawaneej, Al Warqa, Al Qouz, Al Safouh Road, Al Mamzar Park, Mushrif Park, Hor Al Anz East, and Mirdif. The selection of these districts was based on a number of parameters including the tourist and aesthetic nature of the area and its attraction to cyclists and residents of the neighbourhood, public transport stations, suitability of the site, traffic safety, and the appeal to pedestrians. The design of the track was tailored to ensure the security and safety of bikers. The plan will extend from this year until 2016. “In 2008 the RTA developed a Cycling Master Plan that included charting routes for bikes within the rights-of-way as well as separate lanes. The Plan detailed the specifications and standards of separating cycling tracks from pedestrian pathways, and addressed the intersection points with cycling tracks, provision of biking tracks in general and at the public transport stations in particular, cycling lanes in entertainment areas, materials to be used in the construction of cycling tracks, and the signage for bikes and tracks,” elaborated Al Tayer. There are now more than 100km-long cycling tracks, including 25km-long cycling lane on Jumeirah Road and about one km-long lane near the Mall of the Emirates station. Other tracks by private entities are at Al Mizher and Al Mamzar Park. “The RTA is currently constructing a 4.5km-long track in Bur Dubai, and has completed the designs of four tracks linking Jumeirah Road with 4 metro stations on the Shaikh Zayed Road. Additionally, the RTA has completed the construction of 1,400 bike tracks around the metro stations,’’ Al Tayer said. news@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Dubai set to be ultimate destination for summer
Dubai set to be ultimate destination for summer (Staff Reporter) / 27 April 2013 DUBAI – Summers will never be the same again with Dubai set to become the ultimate destination for the season. To communicate its position as the ultimate summer destination, Dubai is launching ‘Summer is Dubai’, a three month campaign from June 7 to September 7. The objective of ‘Summer is Dubai’ is to demonstrate to residents and visitors from around the world the extensive leisure and tourism Dubai have to offer, showcasing the city as a summer destination that offers more than any comparable city in terms of the scope of its events, world class infrastructure, hassle free entry to the country and ease of transportation. With its air conditioned hotels, transportation facilities, shopping malls, water parks, climate controlled indoor entertainment and even indoor skiing, the city has been designed to ensure that visitors have the most comfortable experience compared to many other destinations when the weather hots up. The ‘Summer is Dubai’ campaign aims at attracting millions of visitors to the emirate during an eventful three month period featuring the festivities, special occasions and celebrations that are a feature of Dubai’s annual summer season including Dubai Summer Surprises and Modhesh World, as well as a number of other events, before the season moves into Ramadan in July and finally Eid in August. These key phases of Dubai’s summer will blend seamlessly, thanks to the combined efforts of the government and private sectors to collectively promote the emirate’s uniqueness as a family destination. Director-General of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) Helal Saeed Almarri commented: “Summer is Dubai’ is in line with the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to position the city as the region’s ultimate family tourism destination throughout the year, and especially during the summer season. The unique attractions, rich diversity and range of events and entertainment, world-class infrastructure, facilities and services, and enticing shopping offers are complemented by the attractive value for money offered by hotels and restaurants, making Dubai the ideal summer destination for visitors from around the region and the world.” This summer, in addition to the hugely popular Dubai Summer Surprises and Modhesh World, a wide range of world-class events including Dubai Sports World and the Dubai Rock Festival will provide activity and event options. Visitors and residents will also be able to take advantage of many exciting promotions and value for money offers, for example leading hotels in Dubai will reward families who check in for a minimum 3-night stay with an unbeatable offer that gives a maximum of two children under the age of 12 the opportunity to stay at the hotel for free, including complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner. Laila Mohammed Suhail, CEO of Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), an agency of DTCM said: “We are committed to offering events that cater to the aspirations of residents and visitors during the summer and our range of exciting offerings will reflect the campaign line ‘Summer is Dubai’.” “Furthermore, by utlising the network of DTCM international offices, the marketing and communication activities of DEPE will reach a wider audience and new market. We are gearing up for a campaign that will not only stimulate an increase in visitor numbers but also ensures that at the end of their holiday our guests leave the city with many wonderful memories.” news@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
It’s story time for the little caterpillars
It’s story time for the little caterpillars Nivriti Butalia / 27 April 2013 Motivated by the excess of ‘gadgets and gizmos’, Nishi Chatterjee is starting a one-woman campaign to improve children’s reading in Dubai. Mother to 5-year-old Arritro and wife to urban planner Roopak, Chatterjee moved to Dubai four months ago from Bahrain. Since she got here, Chatterjee, who has a doctorate in Education and a post-graduate degree in child development and human studies, has felt the need to further the habit of reading in children in Dubai. “Nowadays children are taken in too much by gadgets and gizmos.” And so in her home, that has paper cut-outs of butterflies in shiny purple and green paper among other children’s wonderland adornments, she set out to gather an audience of children aged between 5 and 10 at her place in Mankhool. Twice a week, for an hour-and-a half, the children sit and listen to stories about Jack and The Beanstalk and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Chatterjee engages with the children to a phenomenally interactive and educational extent. For instance, if she’s reading out, very animatedly, the story of how Jack (of beanstalk fame) grew so tall, she injects a little homily on the benefit of beans and spinach, and why it is essential not to trouble one’s parents and eat this healthy food. The children are, on the whole, attentive. They sing rhymes, mingle with children of their age, and answer all the questions that Nishi quizzes them on as the stories are read out. Chatterjee, sensing that one little girl is losing her battle with attentiveness, might ask her, “Sarah, what kind of beans were there?” and if Sarah doesn’t know the right answer, a little chorus will chime to her rescue: “Magical beans!” At the end of the class, the children are involved in further educational exercises, such as preparing their own pots of bean sprouts. “In the next class,” Nishi promises the children who are all called ‘little caterpillars’, “we will learn to make golden eggs.” This is followed by squeals of excitement. Parents who come to pick and drop their children are advised to sit a little distance away from the actual carpet space where the children are sitting cross-legged hanging on to Nishi’s every expression and constantly changing intonation. It’s a joy to watch the lady, who originates from Rajasthan in India, skillfully negotiate the temperaments and attitudes of these ‘little caterpillars’. Some are more attentive. Some want to rattle the cage of the lovebirds just to see them squawk. The undeniable common thread seems to be all these children are learning the joys of a good read and are going back asking their parents for more books. nivriti@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
