Tag Archives: horse-racing
Visitors barred from driving to Hatta wadis
Visitors barred from driving to Hatta wadis Sajila Saseendran / 2 September 2013 Visitors and tourists to Dubai’s Hatta will be barred from driving into the wadis in the areas surrounding the dams in the mountain village as part of efforts to protect its environment. The Dubai Municipality has also prohibited tourist activities like swimming, fishing, camping, bonfire and barbecuing in these areas near the border. Hunting, cutting or uprooting the bushes or trees in the areas and destructing the flora and fauna are also strictly prohibited. Tourists are also barred from walking their dogs in the wadis and littering the area. The new instructions have been issued by the Environment Department of the Dubai Municipality which intends to declare the valleys surrounding the dams as ‘protected land,’ an official told Khaleej Times . “The dam area is part of a proposed conservation area. That is why the municipality has come up with the new guidelines to protect the environment in this place,” said Nature Conservation Officer with the Environment Department Jeruel Aguhob. The Environment department, with the support of the advertisement section at the Planning Department and the Municipality Centres Department, has fixed huge boards on the way to the wadis to alert the travellers about the new instructions. The boards say that legal action will be taken against those not complying with the new environment and safety regulations. The boards are fixed for tourists and visitors mainly to educate them to follow practices that preserve the environment including air, water and soil, the municipality said. “We want to prepare the people ahead of winter. A lot of tourists are expected in the winter. They shouldn’t be shocked when they go down the valley. That is why we have kept the boards on the main road leading to the wadis,” said Aguhob. He said people wishing to drive down to the wadis will now have to take special permission from the Municipality Centre in Hatta. “We won’t allow everybody to drive their SUVs down to the valleys. Those going there for research purposes and scientific programmes will be definitely allowed. Trekking in still allowed. But littering is strictly prohibited.” Tourists wishing to take photographs in the wadis will have to walk down to the valley, he said. Thousands of tourist and residents visit Hatta every year, mainly to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Dubai’s city life and to enjoy the beauty of the nature in the mountain and the valleys. Aguhob said the municipality will be preparing more educational materials to make tourists and tour companies aware of the new regulations. A tour manager from a Dubai-based tour company said the regulations would make the weekend Hatta trips less exciting for residents and tourists “There are only two major things to see in Hatta — the heritage village and the wadis. If people are not allowed to have any tourist activities in the wadis, it will affect the flow of tourists,” he said. However, a staff at a prominent hotel in Hatta said not many tourists are into swimming or fishing in the wadis and camping in that area. “They know that they cannot swim over there. They just go for a couple of hours and take pictures,” she said.— sajila@khaleejtimes. com Continue reading
Mohammed bin Zayed reaffirms UAE’s support to Egypt
Crown Prince reaffirms UAE’s support to Egypt (Wam) / 2 September 2013 General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the Egyptian interim President Adli Mansour discussed the fraternal relations and cooperation between the UAE and Egypt on Sunday. The discussions took place as the Egyptian President received the Crown Prince and his entourage at Al Etihadiya Palace in Cairo. Gen. Shaikh Mohammed holding discussions with Egyptian President Adli Mansour and prime minister Dr Hazem El Beblawy in Cairo on Sunday. -Wam During the meeting, Gen. Shaikh Mohammed conveyed to the Egyptian President greetings of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and their best wishes of progress, stability and prosperity for the leadership and people of Egypt. The two sides also discussed ways of bolstering and supporting aspects of cooperation between the UAE and Egypt in the service of their interests and the aspirations of their two brotherly peoples. At the meeting attended by Shaikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor and Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, and Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, the two sides also discussed the latest regional developments, and the efforts by Arabs and the international community to contain their consequences and to boost the opportunities for regional and international peace and security. Gen. Shaikh Mohammed affirmed the UAE’s satisfaction with the return of security and stability to Egypt, thanks to the efforts being made by the Egyptian leadership at this critical juncture. He reaffirmed the UAE’s support to the Egyptian people and its choices for determining their national requirements and aspirations. He also reaffirmed that the UAE’s support to Egypt stems from its Arab national affiliation and its own national and humanitarian policy which is based on peace, security, tolerance, love, as well as on urging for cooperation, rejection of division and violence, so as to establish stability and implement development and prosperity for all peoples. He emphasised that the directives by Shaikh Khalifa in this regard are clear and stipulate providing support to Egypt and its people. This emanates from Shaikh Khalifa’s belief that a strong and stable Egypt is a strength for, and a pillar of the renaissance of the Arab Nation and the Islamic Nation. Gen. Shaikh Mohammed said: “The UAE people and leadership will always remain a strong supporter for Egypt and its brotherly people in continuation of the UAE’s unwavering approach established by the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who also established the historic and solid relationship with Egypt and its brotherly people, based on love, friendliness and cordiality and on the principles of fraternity, mutual respect. This approach continues under the leadership of Shaikh Khalifa who is always keen on deepening pan-Arab solidarity in the service of the causes of the Arab Nation and the Islamic Nation.” Gen. Shaikh Mohammed wished Egypt further glory, pride and eminence, and continuous peace and stability. He also wished the Egyptian people success in fulfilling their aspirations for progress and dignified living. For his part the interim Egyptian President Adli Mansour asked Gen. Shaikh Mohammed to convey his greetings to Shaikh Khalifa and Shaikh Mohammed. He thanked the UAE for standing by Egypt and supporting the Egyptian people’s choices. UAE’s support hailed Meanwhile, Sakina Fouad, Egyptian presidential Adviser for Women’s Affairs, on Sunday hailed the support extended by the Gulf states, the UAE and Saudi Arabia in particular, to the June 30 revolution, aborting plans targeting Egypt. The Egyptian senior official also hailed the visit by His Highness Gen Shaikh Mohammed to Egypt on Sunday. She noted that the positive aspects of the UAE’s position on Egypt is represented by an emphasis on the strength of the intra-Arab relations and their coming back to normalcy. The Egyptian Permanent Representative at the Arab League, Amr Abul Ata, thanked the UAE and Saudi Arabia, for supporting and helping Egypt after the June 30 revolution. In a speech at a meeting for the permanent representatives of Arab states to the Arab League, the Egyptian representative said Egypt astonished the world with its January 25, 2011 revolution which was triggered under the slogan, “Bread, Freedom and Social Freedom.” Continue reading
Standoff at public prosecution ends, woman arrested
Standoff at Public Prosecution ends, woman arrested Amira Agarib & Marie Nammour / 2 September 2013 A woman who threatened to blow herself up with her five-year-old son at the Dubai Public Prosecution headquarters has surrendered and was taken into custody, police said early on Monday. Police said they reached a breakthrough in the negotiations with the Uzbek woman a little after 1am on Monday morning. Officials negotiating with the woman. – Courtesy Twitter The woman had entered the department at noon on Sunday and claimed she was wearing an explosives belt and the Government of Dubai Media Office said she “threatened to blow herself up if she doesn’t receive help to end a personal dispute to prove the fatherhood of her child. “Dubai Police immediately evacuated the building and the surrounding area taking all precautionary measures to secure the place and ensure the safety of all individuals who are in the vicinity of the building,” the Press statement by the Government of Dubai Media Office said. “Preliminary assessment of the incident shows that the woman resorted to this extreme action in an attempt to attract attention and win sympathy that may help her put an end to this family dispute,” the statement said. Sources said the woman entered the building around midday and wanted to meet senior officials to explain her plight. The sources said she had previously visited the prosecution headquarters several times and that problems with her husband drove her to this desperate act. A picture of the evacuated building main hall was circulated by an unknown source after the incident was first reported. An advocate told Khaleej Times that if the woman was indeed carrying explosives, she would get a stiff penalty. The penalty would depend on whether the act results in the damage of public or private property. “She disrupted a public department after the authorities had to evacuate it. The staff had to be put out of work. Besides, her talk about carrying explosives and her threats of using them could have resulted in a public panic and disorder. – news@jkhaleejtimes.com Continue reading
