Tag Archives: dubai
155 million-year-old dinosaur at Dubai Mall
155 million-year-old dinosaur at Dubai Mall Kelly Clarke / 12 March 2014 Emaar asks public to give a unique name to the world’s rarest fossil A plant-eating dinosaur that met its demise at the bottom of a waterhole 155 million years ago has taken up residence at The Dubai Mall, and now it’s up to the public to name the rare find. The 24.4-metre-long and 7.6-metre-high Diplodocus longus was unveiled to an eager crowd on Monday evening, and as the curtain was drawn, a ricochet of gasps could be heard across the mall. “I was expecting to see a luxury car or yacht, not a dinosaur,” Italian tourist Vicardo Lorenzo told Khaleej Times. During the lead-up to the big reveal, many in the crowd speculated as to what was lurking behind the big, black curtain, and the wagging tongues were not disappointed. Expecting something “a little more mainstream”, Lorenzo said the 30-minute delay was well worth the wait. “I’ve been in Dubai for about five days and this will definitely be a memorable part of the trip for me. I mean a dinosaur fossil in a mall…it’s crazy, but a good crazy.” Mall becomes museum The latest, jaw-dropping attraction from Emaar is the first fossil of its size to go on display in such a public venue, and Houston Museum of Natural Sciences’ president and CEO Joel Bartsch, said it could make The Dubai Mall one of the most “important museum’s in the world”. The skeleton of the 24.4-metre-long and 7.6-metre-high dinosaur unveiled at The Dubai Mall on Monday. — KT photo by Juidin Bernarrd “This is the most important and complete fossil we have ever found. With a footfall of six million people per month, the mall is the perfect venue to show off this authentic discovery,” he said. Moments before the big reveal, Emaar’s Chairman Mohammed bin Ali Alabbar brought founder of Etihad Modern Art Gallery Khalid Seddiq on stage, before narrating how the story came to be. “My dear friend Khalid made this happen. Years ago we talked about bringing something like this to Dubai and he told me, ‘Mohammed, if you want a dinosaur, you’ll get a dinosaur’, and here we are today.” And when Khaleej Times asked why he wanted a dinosaur of all things, Alabbar joked: “Well for one, it’s a great directional sign within the mall. If you get lost, you can always meet at the dinosaur.” “Human beings are mesmerised by dinosaurs and fossils, so this is their chance to get up close and personal with a real one.” Final resting place Excavated by German Paleontologist Raimund Albersdoerfer in 2008 from the Dana Quarry in Wyoming, USA, experts took five years to excavate and prepare the bones. Found in the sleeping position, Albersdoerfer said the feeling upon discovery was intense. “My hammer hit something hard, then I saw a beautiful bone. I kept digging then found the next bone, and the next. It was an incredible feeling.” Towering above the floors of The Dubai Mall, the dinosaur’s new stance looks set for battle. Perched on its hind legs, with a long sweeping tail and slender neck, at first glance the dinosaur appears headless, but Albersdoerfer laid Khaleej Times’ speculation to rest. “It’s just a very, very small head.” World’s rarest fossil The most complete of any gigantic dinosaur ever found, the Diplodocus longus’ skeleton is more than 90 per cent intact, making it one of the rarest discoveries in paleontology history. “If you go to London, its largest exhibit is completely casted. Go to New York and they have a similar one but it is only about 30 per cent complete. Dubai is the first city to house such a thing.” So why choose a mall? Albersdoerfer said no museum in the world would get the same amount of visitors as The Dubai Mall, so what better place to showcase it. “Seddiq called me and said ‘Raimund, we’re going to buy this’, so I said okay. I’m absolutely happy. Here everyone can see it, people can get inspired by it, which is all I want.” The name game Referring to the colossal exhibit as “the lady”, Alabbar said the next step is to give the anonymous dinosaur an identity and he has tasked us, the public, with the job. “This is your chance to become more than just a spectator, so think of something unique,” he told an excited crowd. So, after 155 million years underground let’s do “the lady” justice and give her a name to be proud of. Tweet you suggestion at: #NameTDMDino kelly@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Wife can sponsor family only under certain criteria
Wife can sponsor family only under certain criteria Ashish Mehta / 10 March 2014 There are certain criteria and rules based on which a mother may be allowed to sponsor her children’s residence visas in the UAE I work for an organisation in Dubai. My husband started his own business some months ago in Sharjah. But his business is in the initial phase, which means he’s not getting his salary regularly as it’s not fully operational. I recently switched my job from Sharjah to a Dubai firm and I cancelled my kids’ visa (they were on my visa). Can I sponsor my kids again? It is understood that previously you were working in Sharjah and that your children were under your sponsorship. Subsequently, you have now moved to Dubai with a new job and you had to cancel your sponsorship for your children prior to taking up employment in Dubai. Now your husband has his own business. It is assumed that your husband is a partner/owner of a company in Sharjah and holds an investor visa. Therefore your husband should be able to sponsor your children as he is not required to present any proof of salary as he holds an investor visa. Since your husband holds a UAE visa you may not be able to sponsor the visa of your children. There are certain criteria and rules based on which a mother may be allowed to sponsor her children’s residence visas in the UAE, pursuant to which the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigner’s Affairs may consider your application. You may contact the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigner’s Affairs to check if you could sponsor the visa of your children. Wife’s sponsorship I was working in the UAE and my family was on my sponsorship. My wife opened a company as partner in 2011 but remained on my visa as I gave an NOC. In December 2013 I lost my job and the visa was cancelled for me and my family. Now, my wife’s residence visa has been stamped as partner. Can she now sponsor us till the time I get a job? What are the additional documents required? It is understood that the visas for you and your family members were cancelled after you lost your job last year. Subsequently, your wife set up a company where she is a partner and hence holds an investor visa from this company. Pursuant to your questions, it may be suggested that your wife may sponsor visas for you and your children. However, this is strictly subject to the approval of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigner’s Affairs. There are certain criteria based on which your wife may be allowed to sponsor visas for you and other family members. Further, as per the prevailing regulations, you will not be allowed to undertake any type of work during the period you are on your wife’s sponsorship. Once you secure a job, you will have to cancel your visa under your wife’s sponsorship and then obtain an employment visa. For detailed information regarding the procedure involved for securing a visa and the required documents, you may contact the General Directorates of Residency and Foreigner’s Affairs. Ashish Mehta, LLB, F.I.C.A., M.C.I.T., M.C.I.Arb., is the founder and Managing Partner of Ashish Mehta & Associates. He is qualified to practise law in Dubai, the United Kingdom, Singapore and India. He manages a multi-jurisdictional law firm practice, providing analysis and counselling on complex legal documents, and policies including but not limited to corporate matters, commercial transactions, banking and finance, property and construction, real estates acquisitions, mergers and acquisitions, financial restructuring, arbitration and mediation, family matters, general crime and litigation issues. Visit www.amalawyers.com for further information. Readers may e-mail their questions to: news@khaleejtimes.com or send them to Legal View, Khaleej Times, PO Box 11243, Dubai. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Senior citizens will get priority for Haj this year
Senior citizens will get priority for Haj this year 10 March 2014 Haj contractors need to strictly abide by set rules and regulations, particularly quota and electronic advance reservation. Expansion project at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. — Supplied photos Aged pilgrims will be given priority for Haj this year, which will take place from October 3 to 6. Mohammed Obaid Al Mazrouie, Director-General of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowment Foundation (GAIAEF), said: “The number of pilgrims on previous Haj trips and the time of the nearest pilgrimage will be examined.” Addressing a workshop organised by the GAIAEF, Dr Mazrouie said they will be holding a number of meetings with Haj contractors and other participants concerned to come up with an “excellent” vision and mechanism. All Haj contractors need to strictly abide by set rules and regulations, particularly quota and electronic advance reservation. “However, priority is to be given to first time and old pilgrims,” Mazrouie, who is also the chairman of the UAE’s official Haj mission, said. In late August 2013, Saudi authorities asked countries across the world to cut the number of Haj pilgrims by 20 per cent due to ongoing developments at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. The number of UAE Haj pilgrims was reduced from 6,228 in 2012 to 4,982 last year. Mazrouie urged those who have already performed Haj to give a chance to those who have not. “This will help protect all pilgrims against possible risks of crowding.” Ahmed Shabib Al Dhahiri, Director-General of the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, said they will adopt certain criteria during the “electronic election” of pilgrims. “We want to give equal and fair chances to all eligible pilgrims.” The Haj contractors present called for better streamlining of quota distribution in the country. “All Haj applicants are proposed to register in the GAIAEF web portal and key in their details in a unified database for pilgrims using their Emirates Identity cards.” They have also requested clear benchmarks for sorting out and picking pilgrims. “However, priority is to be given to old people who have not performed Haj.” The Haj contractors have called for registering pilgrims in the electronic database by surname and not by the first name. “A unified management has been proposed by some Haj tour operators to provide better services.” ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
