Tag Archives: dubai investment news
Dubai Metro express service to become permanent
An express train that was introduced on the Dubai Metro's Red Line in October 2012 is set to become a permanent feature, it has been confirmed.The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) launched the service on a temporary basis and it has proven to be a big success.Speaking to Emirates 24/7, director of the RTA's rail operations Ramadan Abdullah revealed the train – which runs between Rashidiya and Jebel Ali in the early hours – will continue to operate on a daily basis.”The express service has been made a permanent service. The number of daily users is between 700 and 800, more than we initially expected,” he was quoted as saying.Extra trains were laid on from 05:30 and 05:40 local time in order to cater for the large number of commuters who need to move around the city every morning. Regular services start at 05:50 each day.Journeys between the two stations usually take between 60 and 70 minutes, but the express service manages to cut this down considerably by missing out 14 stations.A number of popular stations are included on the route, including Emirates Towers and Dubai Internet City, which perhaps explains why the trains have been such a success.The RTA has been working hard to ensure Dubai's public transport network is able to accommodate the growing number of people moving to the city.Plans are in place to expand the Metro and the organisation has also launched new bus services, some of which will provide links to railway stations.The RTA has been showcasing Dubai's latest transport developments at the 60th International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Congress and Exhibition, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland between May 26th and 30th.As well as highlighting the impressive work that has gone into making Dubai one of the best connected cities in the Middle East, the RTA also outlined plans for the UITP Congress in the Middle East & North Africa 2014 – an important event that will take place in Dubai. Continue reading
Dubai Festival City Mall continues to grow
The recent growth seen at the Dubai Festival City Mall is indicative of the wider expansion of the emirate's retail sector.Numerous studies have confirmed that Dubai is still one of the leading shopping hotspots on the planet and with new record-breaking malls in the pipeline, this looks certain to be a long-term trend.Dubai Festival City Mall is one of the Middle East's leading retail and lifestyle facilities and it has already opened another eight outlets so far this year.Italian concept store Cioccolatitaliani has moved into the mall and has been joined by a number of clothing retailers, including Rockport, Vince Camuto and Stadium.Plans are also in motion to add even more outlets in the centre over the coming months, with Mothercare, Boots and luxury international designer Elie Tahari all taking up residency in the complex.Viewers of hit British TV show The Apprentice saw just how diverse Dubai's retail offerings are during a special episode last night (May 28th). The 12 remaining contestants were told to buy eight obscure items from merchants in the city and the programme allowed people in the UK to see the stark differences between the emirate's wonderful, rustic souks and the ultra-modern malls.Dubai is renowned for embracing cutting edge technology and this is evident in the city's malls.Earlier this month, reports confirmed that shoppers in the Wafi mall will soon be able to take advantage of a hi-tech loyalty programme, which is designed to allow consumers to obtain points wirelessly.The scheme – which uses near field communication (NFC) and Bluetooth technology – also gives shoppers an opportunity to receive instant notification of special offers and discounts in nearby stores.”We believe the technology delivers a win-win situation for both merchants and consumers,” commented Souffiane Houti, founder and chief executive officer of ViaFone Technologies – the company behind the initiative.With so many exciting developments being unveiled, it is certainly a good time for investors to take advantage of the UAE's thriving retail industry. Continue reading
The Apprentice hopefuls head to Dubai
Fans of the popular BBC One reality TV show The Apprentice will be able to see the UAE in all its glory on tonight's (May 28th) episode.The 12 remaining candidates travelled to Dubai to take part in a special task that required them to purchase eight items for a new hotel that is currently being built in the Middle Eastern country.They had to buy the goods – which included a UAE flag in a specific size and a sago palm tree – for as little money as possible.Lord Alan Sugar wanted to see if the contestants had what it takes to conduct business in a different part of the world, but unfortunately some of the entrepreneurs came unstuck when they got their dimensions all wrong when buying the flag.Nick Hewer – Lord Sugar's right-hand man who oversees the candidates as they set about each task – explained what had happened.”Here in the land of the sand dune, the camel, and the Burj Al Arab, size really matters,” he remarked.”They came to buy a flag of a certain size, they got the size wrong, they got one the size of a napkin. Why? Because they weren't paying attention.”The overall winner of the show will have a unique opportunity to go into business with Lord Sugar himself and they must continue to prove themselves over the coming weeks.Producers of the programme said the two teams adopted different tactics, with one opting to scour Dubai's famous traditional souks while the other attempted to sniff out bargains at one of the city's mega malls.If nothing else, the show highlights the fact that Dubai is not only a global shopping hotspot, but a thriving business hub too.The episode is also likely to give viewers an insight into the emirate's stunning multi-million dollar hotels. More and more luxurious resorts are springing up across the city all the time and investors from all over the world are increasingly keen to pump money into Dubai's lucrative hospitality sector. Continue reading
