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Christmas spirit grips UAE
Christmas spirit grips UAE Staff Reporter / 26 December 2013 People get together with loved ones on Christmas to pray for peace, harmony and prosperity in the coming year. The Christmas tree put up at the Mall of the Emirates and the decorations surrounding it served as the perfect background for photo enthusiasts. — KT photo by Shihab The festive spirit gripped the country on Wednesday, as people got together with loved ones on Christmas to pray for peace, harmony and prosperity in the coming year. Several residents that Khaleej Times caught up with, especially children, said their wish to Santa is to end the suffering of children in Syria, Philippines, and other areas, where people are grappling with the aftermath of disasters — both natural and man made. Eight-year-old Julian Duff, a British expatriate, said: “My mother said that we should always pray for people who are in need. So my wish to Santa is that children everywhere must be happy.” Christmas wishes put up at the St Mary’s Church in Dubai on Wednesday. — KT photo by Rahul Gajjar Julian’s parents’ got him a brand new battery operated race car and clothes on Christmas eve. People were also seen crowding at shopping malls, completing last minute shopping. Some residents said they miss celebrating with their family members back in their home countries. Melanie Donohue, an Irish national, said: “I miss my family and the Christmas weather back home. But Dubai so far has been great as well. You can buy pretty much everything that you usually get back home. I just finished a whole lot of last minute shopping and am heading back home for some turkey and other delicious Christmas goodies.” Sharjah resident and school teacher Seena Japeth said: “We miss our relatives back home. Here we celebrate more with friends than with our family. There was a hearty Christmas meal; we shared cake with our friends.” Indian national, Cherian V, said: “There is a wonderful spirit in the air and Christmas is mostly about spending quality time with friends and family members, which is exactly what we try and do. Our kids need to know the importance of tradition and spending time with family. This is one of the ways in which we can remind kids of family values.” An evening at the church Roses outside St Mary’s Catholic Church in Oudh Metha were being sold by the dozen on Christmas. Muthu, a rose-seller stationed at the Church, told Khaleej Times that he sold about 100 stems of pink and red roses by the afternoon of the 25th. The roses were bought and placed at the foot of the barn inside the church premises, constructed with hay and gunny sacks and a small toy figure of baby Jesus. Multiple counters were bustling with people buying 2014 calendars with photos of Mother Mary and Jesus, Bibles, Novenas and prayer beads. On Tuesday afternoon at 3.30pm, the church held a mass for the old and sick. Carol singing took place from 11.30pm onwards. The mass itself had a packed audience. In the main hall, at least 30 rows of pews tightly accommodated hundreds of worshippers singing hymns. Loudspeakers in the compound carried the voices of the hymns outside. People were dressed in their Christmas-best and were seen posing for photos. Office-goers were present too. They were either given the day off or availed of one to spend Christmas with families, eating festive food. It was a merry Christmas indeed. – news@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Cost Of Farmland Rising Faster Than Housing: Arable Land Prices Up 10.7% In A Year Compared To 3.4% For Property
By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 23:54, 29 October 2013 | UPDATED: 00:06, 30 October 2013 Read more: http://www.dailymail…l#ixzz2jgAZE1P9 The price of farmland is rising faster than property for the first time in nearly two decades. Experts say the cost of prime arable land rose by 10.7 per cent last year, compared to an average 3.4 per cent for house prices across the UK. Estate agents Savills said it rose to £7,594 an acre last year and could rise by 40 per cent to £11,000 by 2018. Countryside bliss: The price of farmland is rising faster than property for the first time in nearly two decade It is the first time in 16 years that farmland prices in Britain have risen quicker than even prime Central London property. Christopher Miles, director at Savills, said: ‘Farmland is seen as a tangible asset. ‘People invest in arable land for the same reason they invest in housing, it’s not a piece of paper or a derivative and people have confidence in it because it won’t disappear.’ Arable outperformed prime central London property during the 1973 oil crisis, the winter of 1980 – when interest rates hit 15pc – and the 1990 Gulf War. Easy street: Farmland prices are rising quicker than prime Central London property in areas such as Mayfair, pictured, and Knightsbridge In addition, low numbers of transactions are propping up the price per acre as farmers hold on to arable land as a long-term investment. Overseas buyers consider Britain to have some of the most liberal land ownership laws in the world, while landowners also enjoy business property relief and can pass down holdings to the next generation without incurring inheritance tax. But a resurgence in the UK agricultural industry to meet the demands of a growing global population is also increasing the appeal of farming as a business or an investment. Mr Miles said: ‘As commodity prices remain volatile, land remains an excellent store of wealth.’ Read more: http://www.dailymail…l#ixzz2jgAW1Lf1 Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook Continue reading
Shaikh Mohammed flags off Jumeirah Corniche project
Shaikh Mohammed flags off Jumeirah Corniche project (Wam) / 27 October 2013 The project will run along the beach adjoining six residential districts, starting from the area behind Dubai Marine Beach Resort down to the Burj Al Arab Hotel. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has sanctioned the Jumeirah Corniche Development Project. The project will run along the beach adjoining six residential districts, starting from the area behind Dubai Marine Beach Resort down to the Burj Al Arab Hotel, stretching 14km in length, thus constituting the longest corniche in the emirate. Shaikh Mohammed directed to link both the walkway and the jogging track with the Dubai Canal Project, and for the corniche project to be completed in one year’s time. Shaikh Mohammed stated: “Our objective is to achieve peoples’ happiness.. we are keen to establish all the necessary components to make nationals, expatriates and visitors happy and enjoy quality life. Our developmental projects are integrating to attain this ultimate goal. We are committed to invest in building healthy human capital through providing ideal enabling environment”. Shaikh Mohammed, accompanied by Shaikh Maktoum and Mattar Al Tayer, viewing the Jumeirah Corniche Development Project. -Wam Shaikh Mohammed asserted that sport is an essential element for the society and a fundamental prerequisite for having healthy and productive individuals. He said: “We instructed the authorities concerned to increase the number of walking and jogging tracks around the emirate, and we will create and develop more to serve various residential areas in Dubai. We hope the people of Dubai will make use of these tracks and practise sports for the best of their body and mind. A lazy individual lacks positive energy and does not innovate or create. We have great hopes for the future, and these hopes will not correlate unless we have a healthy and fit people that are able to fulfil their duties towards themselves and their families and stand up to their community and country”. Shaikh Mohammed’s statement came during his tour of the project site, accompanied by Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; and Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of the Ruler’s Court of Dubai. By conclusion of the developments operations, Jumeirah Corniche will be the longest in the emirate giving the public a bigger area to enjoy several activities. The project is a manifestation of Shaikh Mohammed’s vision to provide quality life for the people of the UAE and its visitors. The project serves big sectors of the community, especially families, and offers public utility services, parks, beaches and outstanding touristic attractions. In addition to the project’s value as a recreational and entertainment addition to the emirate, Jumeirah Corniche represents crucial contribution in developing social infrastructure in Dubai, most particularly on the public health. Once completed, the project facilitates for variety of sports including jogging, walking, swimming, rowing and other activities that suite families and contribute in enhancing physical fitness. Shaikh Mohammed was briefed by Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), about the Jumeirah Corniche Development Project, which will be the new apt avenue for recreation, swimming, jogging and hiking for the populace of the neighborhood in particular, and citizens, residents and tourists in general. “The project includes constructing a five-metre wide walkway and a four-metre wide jogging track, in addition to lay-by facilities containing kiosks & shaded seating areas overlooking the beach, stylishly designed lighting fixtures, and public & health amenities, in addition to landscaping works which will be developed and spaced in consistent manner, giving gorgeous and eye-catching sceneries,” he added. “The project aims to transform the sandy beach into a more vibrant area by adding aesthetic, recreational elements and public services for beach goers, be it residents or tourists who flock to Dubai beaches to savour fabulous beach sitting, jogging or hiking,” continued Al Tayer. Continue reading
