ABU DHABI, 17 May 2007 — The launch of Etihad Airways’ new flights from Abu Dhabi to Dublin will play a significant role in the enhancement of trade ties between the UAE and Ireland. Annual trade figures between the two countries for 2006 stood at more than $343 million (AED1.25 billion), an increase of nearly 40 percent from the previous year. The predictions are that this figure could double further for 2007. Business opportunities between the UAE and Ireland will receive this further boost from July 2 when Etihad begins flying to the Irish capital from Abu Dhabi, offering a total passenger capacity of 1,600 seats every week. James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “There is enormous demand for this new Etihad frequent service between these two rapidly expanding economies. Trade ties have increased considerably during the last decade and Etihad looks forward to supporting further growth when our flights start soon.” Etihad will operate a three cabin Airbus A330-200 aircraft between Abu Dhabi and Dublin configured to carry 200 passengers.
Emirates Gardens Residential Project
DUBAI, 17 May 2007 — Luxury lifestyle provider, DAMAC Properties, has appointed Al-Awtan Contracting (LLC) as the main contractor for its Emirates Gardens-1 project at Jumeirah Village South. The construction of the project will commence in July this year and is scheduled to take 19 months for final completion. Formed in 1986, Al-Awtan is one of the largest established civil construction companies in Dubai. “This project at Jumeirah Village South will be built with highest construction standards offering the latest in living standards. We are confident that Al-Awtan will come up with a world class finish based on the wealth of experience that the company has gathered over the last two decades,” said Peter Riddoch, CEO, DAMAC Properties. Emirates Gardens-1 spread over 750,000 sq. ft. comes with a mixture of studios, 1 and 2 bedroom luxurious apartments and retail on the ground level. The project comes with leisure facilities including health club, gym, sauna, steam, swimming pool and roof garden including child play areas.
Traders Hotel Rated Four-Star
DUBAI, 17 May 2007 — Traders Hotel, Dubai was recently awarded the government of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing four-star classification. The official four-star rating has been pending since the deluxe city hotel’s opening on July 4, 2004. “Traders Hotel, Dubai, a brand managed by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, has always been a deluxe hotel offering four-star facilities, amenities and hospitality, catering to the mid market niche of the corporate business travel sector,” said Mark Kirk, the hotel’s newly-appointed general manager. “Now that the star rating has been made official, the staff and I are proud to have achieved this recognition,” Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently manages 50 hotels under the Shangri-La and Traders brands, with a rooms inventory of over 23,000.
IBM, Dubai in Deal on e-Government
DUBAI, 17 May 2007 — Sultan ibn Saeed Al-Mansouri, UAE minister of Development for the Government Sector, signed a joint agreement on Tuesday with Dubai e-government and IBM, to implement the e-government project in the UAE federal ministries. This agreement comes under the Ministry of Development’s plan to create strategic partnerships with local government departments and the private sector, in order to utilize from their expertise in the field of e-services.
Boulder Steel Listed on DIFX
DUBAI, 17 May 2007 — Boulder Steel, an Australian company that is building a plant to make seamless tubes for the oil and gas industries in Australia as well as a seamless tube finishing facility in Sharjah (UAE), on Tuesday listed its ordinary shares on the Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX). Carl Moser, director and general manager of Boulder Steel said: “the DIFX is the ideal market for us to attract investors.”