Tag Archives: georgia
Prestigious Indian school to open in Abu Dhabi
Prestigious Indian school to open in Abu Dhabi Olivia Olarte-Ulherr / 6 July 2013 India’s prestigious Mayoor School in Ajmer is opening branch at Al Wathba to serve the middle to upper class Indian families in the Capital. Known as the ‘Eton of India’, Mayoor Private School Abu Dhabi will open its doors in April 2014 to over 1,500 students from Kindergarten to Grade 7 for the first phase. It will follow the CBSE curriculum. Construction of the school started this month and is expected to be completed by mid-March next year. Phase 2 includes the high school building and is slated to be completed by September. Artist’s impression of the Mayoor Private School Abu Dhabi which will open in April 2014. — Supplied photo The Abu Dhabi branch, which will be operated by Taalem National Private Education and Facilities Management Company, will follow the century-old tradition of the Mayo College General Council in providing quality learner-centred education. “The school board is known to many Indians and I know this school has graduated elite and famous people in India. It has the highest standard and does not compromise whatsoever on education,” said Abduljabbar Alsayegh, chairman of Taalem. According to Alsayegh, education-wise, the Mayoor Private School will rival some of the top schools in the emirate. However, fees will be lower by 50 to 60 per cent. “The fees will be between Dh12,000 and Dh20,000 annually depending on the year. Middle and upper class Indian families will be able to afford. We’re not here to make money, it will be a while before we break even,” Alsayegh told Khaleej Times. Admission to the school will be stringent. Students will have to prove their academic competence, undergo an interview and pass the entrance exam. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, Mayoor School will offer multi-media platforms in all classrooms with interactive whiteboards and tablets. Facilities include art and music studios, learning resource rooms, laboratories and IT suites, a 1000-capacity multi-purpose auditorium and gymnasium, swimming pool, two lawn tennis and basketball courts, cricket practice pitches and a five-a-side soccer playing field. The opening of Mayoor Private School will offer relief to the perennial shortage of places at Indian schools every year. There are currently about 18 Indian schools in the Abu Dhabi island, all of which are running at full capacity. The shortages were primarily caused by more expat students entering school age and Indian families moving to the emirate, creating additional demand. This year’s dilemma was exacerbated by the closure of villa schools. Mayoor will be the second Indian school to open in Al Wathba next academic year. The Abu Dhabi Indian School (ADIS) branch is also expected to help meet the demand for more places at CBSE schools. olivia@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Female Oud star sets out to conquer Japanese hearts
Female Oud star sets out to conquer Japanese hearts Caitlyn Davey / 6 July 2013 Excitement and nervousness are the two emotions Sherine Tohamy is feeling about her overseas tour. The Abu Dhabi-based Arabic Oud professor and performer is jetting to Japan, for a week, to showcase her musical talents on July 9 and 15. Tohamy released the first female Oud solo album and was the first female graduate of Bait Al Oud (House of Oud). The Egyptian, who has lived here for eight years, is now a professor at the Abu Dhabi campus of the music school. She was the first female Arabic Oud player to perform in Malaysia and now is going to Tokyo. Despite her impressive resume, the high-achiever remains modest about her tour. “I am a little nervous…they may not like me,” she said. “I am excited to visit Japan because this is the first time for me to see Tokyo and the first time for an Arabic female Oud soloist to visit Japan.” The tour will include a collaborative performance with Japanese singer Karen Tokita and a Brazilian band as well as a performance for Tohamy’s native Egypt’s embassy in Japan and a solo concert for Japanese students of Oud including a workshop. Tohamy said: “It’s a different culture and a different audience to Abu Dhabi, but I think Japanese people are really interested in Arabic music and culture, especially the Oud.” Encouraging everyone to try Oud, Tohamy hopes to inspire other women to have a go. “It’s not just for men, some people think it is; but I hope women will try and see how wonderful it is. We even make smaller-sized Oud for ladies.” news@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
About Sharjah: The gold rush in Sharjah
About Sharjah: The gold rush in Sharjah Lily B. Libo-on / 6 July 2013 Varieties of gold jewellery change hands each day as hundreds of gold and diamond shoppers visit the Gold Centre located at Sharjah’s Al Wahda street to exchange and buy the latest designs. Opened in 1996, the centre has come to be known as the best place to bargain and exchange gold jewellery for the latest designs. Yet, for years, the outlets were not visible from the outside. Six months ago, the management redesigned the 52 shops to open directly onto the streets to lure people to stop and look at what is in store for them inside. Hossam Ali, general manager of the Gold Centre says that he made a study which resulted in the opening up of the shops directly on to Al Wahda Street. “The new setup has increased the number of customers, mostly Emirati families by 400 per cent. Before this, just a few hundreds would came to shop as nobody knew there were gold shops inside the centre. Now, people driving on Al Wahda Street stop and pull over as the gold and diamond jewellery collections beckon from a distance through the glass doors and walls,” Ali says. Yasmine, an Egyptian lady who loves buying gold jewellery for personal use, says that she started coming to the Gold Centre immediately after seeing the gold jewellery through the glass from the outside. “I felt even richer when the prizes of gold plummeted three months ago. With my Dh5,000, I can buy more gold, which is a good investment, gold being very cheap now. I am buying Italian and Bahraini gold every month,” she declares. The Gold Centre has for almost two decades been a bargaining point for exchanging old gold jewellery. Sahal, manager of Atlas Jeweller, says that more than 200 customers come during weekends to exchange necklaces, bangles, earrings and rings.” A jeweller at Al Romaizan Jewellery says that 25 per cent of his buyers are families, and the figure is growing with Syrian, Emirati, Egyptian, Jordanian, and Lebanese families topping the list. As the selling rate of gold plummeted, families particularly rush to the Gold Centre to exchange or sell their old jewellery. There are exquisite designs from Turkey, Korea, Italy, Singapore, Malaysia, and India. Sought-after designs from India come from Kolkata, Rajastan and Kerala. Mohamed Saleem, store manager of Joy Alukkas, says that 99 per cent of the customers coming to his store walk out with gold daily. “Before, only a few bought at once; they just checked on specific gold designs and left. Now, majority buy what they check,” he said. Diamond jewellery is becoming increasingly popular among gold buyers in Sharjah. Polished diamonds from South Africa, Belgium and Poland are popular. The best diamond setting is from Hong Kong. Between 500 and 600 customers come daily during weekdays and more on weekends, sometimes reaching 1,000, and most are families. “The price of gold is the lowest in the last two years. So more people are coming in. Customers also buy 24k and 22k gold jewellery with uncut diamonds,” Saleem says. The positive response from Emiratis and expatriates has prompted jewellers at the Gold Centre to pile up stocks of new and exquisite diamond and gold designs. A new trend is also shaping up with people preferring fresh water pearls. Other favourite stones are blue sapphire, rubies, emeralds and Belgian diamonds. Most of the jewellery shops at the centre allow exchange after checking on the purity of the gold. This summer there is literally a gold rush at the Gold Centre. And it goes to the credit of the management of the centre that it is attracting more customers after the face-lift. lily@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
