Dubai Lifestyle News
UK aims to help British firms in the UAE
The UK Department of Trade and Investment (UKTI) and British Business Groups in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have struck a deal that will benefit companies in the UAE.New business centres will be set up to help British small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are looking to conduct more trade in the Middle East.More and more firms have recognised the immense potential of the UAE and it is no surprise that some of the world's major companies now have bases in Dubai.Of course, SMEs do not have the same amount of financial muscle or international experience as the mega-rich corporations that reside in the city's thriving business districts, so these new centres could prove to be crucial.It is an agreement that everybody will benefit from, as British SMEs will receive expert help, which will in turn boost the UAE economy. Indeed, the UK and UAE governments have set a target of increasing trade between the two nations by 60 per cent (based on 2009 levels) by 2015.Dominic Jermey signed the memorandum of understanding for the UKTI and he has high hopes for the venture.”Lord Green's initiative is a great opportunity for the government to work with business in delivering a range of services to UK companies wanting to set up in the UAE,” he remarked.”It will create a platform for UAE and UK SMEs to work together across the emirates to increase bilateral trade, but also in getting companies to work together in third countries.”There has hardly been a better time for businesses to expand into the UAE, as companies already operating in the Middle Eastern country are confident of boosting their profits in the future.A recent study by the Department of Economic Development showed that 91 per cent of firms in Dubai think their revenues will have grown by the end of the second quarter of 2013. In addition to this, nearly a quarter of the survey respondents expect to hire new staff during the three-month period. Continue reading
Didier Drogba attends Vogue Cafe launch in Dubai
Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba joined a number of top international models to launch the glamorous Vogue Cafe in Dubai.The establishment is Conde Nast's first restaurant in the region and the company pulled out all the stops to ensure the grand opening was an occasion to remember.Drogba – who played for Turkish club Galatasaray last season – shared the red carpet with renowned models Karolina Kurkova and Petra Nemcova at the glitzy even in the Dubai Mall.The 35-year-old Ivory Coast striker told the National he was glad to be back in Dubai.”I love being here, especially right now when the weather is so bad in Europe,” he was quoted as saying.Drogba made his name playing for Chelsea in the English Premier League, having signed for the Blues from Marseille in 2004.He won numerous trophies during his time at Stamford Bridge, most notably the Uefa Champions League in 2012. The powerful forward scored the goal that took the final against Bayern Munich to extra time and then later stepped up to take the decisive penalty in the resultant shootout. Dubai is accustomed to welcoming such high-profile stars and there is a strong chance you will see a celebrity during your stay in the city, especially if there is a swanky new club or restaurant being unveiled.This is the second Vogue Cafe launched by Conde Nast, as the firm previously opened one in Moscow and the organisation's director of restaurants Stuart Nielsen said plans are in place to expand even further in the UAE.”The Middle East is a very exciting market for us and one that we are proud to be a part of,” he commented.It is fair to predict the high-end Vogue Cafe will be a big hit among the rich and famous holidaymakers who flood into Dubai every year and it will certainly be very interesting to see exactly where Conde Nast opens its next Gulf-based venue. Continue reading
DTCM chiefs outline ambitious tourism plans
Leaders of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) have outlined ambitious plans that are aimed at boosting the number of people visiting the emirate.Chief executive officer of strategy and tourism sector development at the DTCM Dr Ahmad Belhoul told Emirates 24/7 that money spent by holidaymakers currently accounts for five per cent of the city's gross domestic product and he is hoping this will reach double figures by 2020.Although 66 million people are expected to fly into Dubai International Airport throughout 2013, many of this number will be business travellers or merely stopping over on long-haul flights to places like Australia.Dr Belhoul hopes that a wave of exciting new projects – such as the Al Fahidi historical district redevelopment – will encourage more people to stay in the emirate. He is targeting 20 million annual visitors in the next seven years.”The average tourist in Dubai spends [between] $250 and $300 (£164 and £197) per day, with annual income generated at AED 600 million (£107 million). Our plan is to increase this number to AED 840 million by 2015,” he was quoted as saying.In order to reach its target, the DTCM is looking to diversify Dubai's tourism offerings, giving visitors a lot more to explore.Mr Belhoul continued: “In the past, the core strength in tourism has been beach holidays, shopping and sightseeing. To hit the 20 million tourist figure, we are looking at different targets where gaps remain.”The emirate will focus particularly closely on promoting sports and heritage trips and a lot of emphasis is being placed on cultural tourism too.Numerous studies have shown that Dubai is already an immensely popular place to take a holiday and the city was recently hailed as the leading destination in the Middle East at the prestigious World Travel Awards.The emirate will also benefit from the plethora of brand new upmarket hotels and resorts that are being built throughout the area. Continue reading
