Tag Archives: education
Dubai to have sustainable residential city for Emiratis
Dubai to have sustainable residential city for Emiratis Sajila Saseendran / 4 March 2014 Civic body to implement Dh20 billion projects Shaikh Mohammed, Shaikh Hamdan and Shaikh Maktoum attend the briefing on the Dubai Municipality’s new projects on Monday. — Wam Dubai has announced a new residential city for Emiratis which will be self-sufficient in terms of resources, transport and energy, said to be the first of its kind in the world. The ‘Dubai Smart Sustainable City’ was one of many Dubai Municipality projects worth Dh20 billion that were approved by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday. An estimated 160,000 people will live in this self-reliant city that will come up near Al Aweer Roundabout, by the time Dubai hosts the World Expo in 2020. Shaikh Mohammed was briefed about this ambitious project of the Dubai Municipality during his visit to the municipality headquarters. The Director-General of the Municipality, Hussain Nasser Lootah, and senior officials briefed Shaikh Mohammed on various projects aimed at providing the essence of good life for citizens and residents, and quality facilities and smart services to the public in all areas of the emirate. Shaikh Mohammed in discussion with members of the Unesco’s World Heritage Committee in the presence of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed and Hussain Nasser Lootah when they visited the municipality on Monday. The delegation is visiting the UAE to get first-hand knowledge about the Dubai Creek as a natural and cultural heritage site. — Wam Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, also attended the briefing. The most important of the new plans was the project titled ‘Dubai Smart Sustainable City’ which will be spread across a total area of 14,000 hectares and will be built in the shape of a desert flower. Surrounded by a green belt, the city will provide 20,000 plots for Emiratis. The roofs of the homes and buildings will be covered with solar panels which will provide 200 megawatts of electricity. The city will also recycle over 40,000 cubic metres of waste water. In line with the directives of Shaikh Mohammed, work on the project will commence immediately and is expected to be completed in 2020, the state news agency Wam reported. Dawood Al Hajri, the director of the Planning Department, presented the project which is aimed at bolstering Dubai’s ambition to become one of the top-10 sustainable cities by 2020. In September 2013, the Dubai Municipality had formed a high-level sustainability committee under the chairmanship of Assistant Director-General for Engineering and Planning Sector Abdullah Raffia to implement the green building regulations and other sustainable projects in the emirate. An artist’s impression of the proposed Dubai Boats Market. — Wam The Director of the Projects Department, Mohamed Al Mashroom, presented the Dubai Boats Market that is considered the first of its kind in the Middle East. Proposed to be located at Al Barsha South, covering 35 acres with a 10 hectares man-made lake for boats, the project will be an attraction for water sports enthusiasts once completed. It will contribute in converting Dubai to a global hub for manufacturing and selling of boats and fishing equipment and attract investments to the industry. Shaikh Mohammed also watched a presentation on the Palm Park project by Engineer Fatima Al Muhairi. Containing over 150 types of palm trees grown in the UAE, the project aims to be an educational, cultural and heritage project from which the current generation of the UAE can learn about the nation’s heritage and culture. The park will include a plaza for various activities, a lake, seating areas for families and playgrounds for children. Shaikh Mohammed was also briefed about other prestigious projects like digital address for Dubai and electronic system for food imports. Expressing his satisfaction with the projects, Shaikh Mohammed gave the green light for their implementation. He also praised the exemplary efforts of the municipality teams to make Dubai a smart and sustainable city. On the sidelines of the visit, Shaikh Mohammed also met a delegation of ambassadors and representatives of member countries of the Unesco World Heritage Committee who are on a visit to the UAE to acquaint themselves with Dubai Creek, which is nominated to be registered in the World Heritage list. sajila@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Enjoy boating, kart racing at Al Montazah Park
Enjoy boating, kart racing at Al Montazah Park Afkar Abdullah (afkarali@khaleejtimes.com) / 2 March 2014 Spreading over 126,000 square metres, Al Montazah Park boasts three main sections comprising a first-of-its-kind water park in Sharjah that will cover 26,000 square metres, a 50,000 square metre green park and a 50,000 square metre leisure park. An overview of the Al Montazah Park.- Supplied photo The trial opening of Al Montazah Park, previously known as Al Jazeera Park, took place on Sunday in the run up to its grand opening on March 13. Spreading over 126,000 square metres, Al Montazah Park boasts three main sections comprising a first-of-its-kind water park in Sharjah that will cover 26,000 square metres, a 50,000 square metre green park and a 50,000 square metre leisure park. The water park offers world-class facilities and water rides for all ages along with green areas for picnics. In addition to its modern design, the water park offers safety and protection services, along with lifeguards. The green park section will include green picnic areas and a venue dedicated to host events as well as a number of world-class restaurants, cafes, a lake for boating, and a mosque. The third part of the park called leisure park will entertain video game lovers with a variety of electronic games for all ages, along with a kart racing track for adults and children, and two mini football pitches. The trial opening of Al Montazah Park aims at ensuring that safety and security standards are in place, so visitors can enjoy quality services safely throughout the week. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), developers of the project, said: “The opening of Al Montazah is a new addition to tourism in Sharjah and the UAE, a move that will contribute to increasing the flow of tourists into the emirate, particularly family tourism. “Sharjah has firmly established itself as family tourism region, due to its excellent attractions and tourist landmarks offering diverse options for visitors, to share and enjoy precious time with family, friends, and loved ones in a safe and beautiful atmosphere. He added: “The management has begun the trial operation of the project which will be open to the public within two weeks.” He pointed out that Al Montazah will receive a limited number of visitors during the trial operation so as to allow the project’s management to monitor the efficiency and quality of facilities and services, as well as to listen to visitors’ comments, before the official opening. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Director-General, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), has welcomed the initiation of several new tourism projects in Sharjah including the Al Montazah Park developed by Shurooq at a cost of Dh100 million. The strategic location of Al Montazah Park (in the heart of Sharjah) on the edge of the Khalid Lagoon and with its capacity to receive around three million visitors a year, the latest addition to Sharjah’s skyline will help attract more visitors to the emirate from across the UAE and the region, Al Midfa said. Shurooq is currently undertaking the development and management of other tourist, leisure and family entertaining facilities in Sharjah, most notably Al Qasba, Al Majaz Waterfront and the Flag Island. It is currently embarking on a range of new projects, including the Heart of Sharjah, Al Jabal Resort, The Chedi Khorfakkan and the Kalba Ecotourism project. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Russia launches media war over Ukraine action
Russia launches media war over Ukraine action (AFP) / 2 March 2014 State media controlled by the Kremlin launched a full-scale propaganda operation with footage aimed at discrediting the new Kiev authorities and rousing anger at alleged outrages perpetrated against the Russian-speaking population. Taisia Bullard, who was born in central Ukraine, holds a protest banner in front in the Russian embassy in Washington.- AP Russian state media and ruling party officials on Sunday warned of armed marauders in Ukraine and urged the public to stand firmly behind President Vladimir Putin on possible military action. State media controlled by the Kremlin launched a full-scale propaganda operation with footage aimed at discrediting the new Kiev authorities and rousing anger at alleged outrages perpetrated against the Russian-speaking population. Fanning suspicions of international involvement in the Kiev protests, news channel Russia 24 aired an apparent confession from a young Russian who claimed he was paid to serve as a sniper with opposition forces. “There are mercenaries there… they come from very different countries: the United States and Germany, they come wearing identical military uniforms,” he alleged. He said he feared violent reprisals for his revelations, alleging that the protest leaders in Kiev would “just put people in a cellar and kill them”. Named only as Vladislav, he was filmed being grilled by investigators after being detained in the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine. A Russia 24 anchor added a warning that “mercenaries are now going to Crimea. Their aims are clear enough: to provoke a new wave of the crisis and rob people on the sly”. The same channel interviewed the governor of the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, Yevgeny Savchenko, who warned that “crowds of armed people” were on the move and on Saturday tried to block a highway to Crimea. Meanwhile top lawmakers spoke out reassuringly on the situation, stressing a mood of national unity. “The situation in Ukraine consolidates all Russian civil society,” said United Russia lawmaker Leonid Slutsky, who heads the lower house’s committee on links with ex-Soviet states. “Everyone is unambiguously in support of protecting our people in Ukraine, so as not to allow Russian language and Russians to be pushed out of Ukraine,” he said, cited by RIA Novosti news agency. Ruling party United Russia invited Russians to march in central Moscow on Sunday, calling Ukraine’s people a “brother” nation that “needs our protection and support”. The march, hastily organised and sanctioned by city authorities, was set to start at 1300 GMT at Pushkin Square and cover a route across central Moscow. United Russia warned that ethnic Russians in Ukraine were “suffering persecution and violence because they speak Russian, remain friendly towards Russia and do not recognise the nationalist Bandera supporters who have seized power”. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
