Tag Archives: exclusive-dubai
Dubai set to stage charity bouts
A number of renowned sporting stars will take part in a series of amateur boxing matches in Dubai on Friday (May 24th).Former rugby and cricket players will square off against each other at Dubai Sports City, with the proceeds from the event going to the Fighting Chance Dubai charity.The bouts will pit athletes from the northern hemisphere against contenders from the southern hemisphere and it is likely to be a memorable occasion.Former England cricketer Adam Hollioake is set to take part in the fight night and he will be faced by ex-New Zealand rugby player Carlos Spencer.Hollioake told the National that he is looking forward to the charitable event.”I know [Spencer] is a big strong boy, there is no doubt about that. If it was a beauty competition, he would definitely beat me,” he was quoted as saying.”He has got the body, hasn't he? But I'm a pretty tough dude myself, so we'll just have to see what happens.”Hollioake is no stranger to competitive bouts, as he made the unlikely transition into cage fighting when he retired from cricket.Former Wales winger Shane Williams is also on the card and he will step into the ring with ex-South Africa scrum-half Bolla Conradie.Not only is this event being held for a good cause, but it also highlights Dubai's status as a sporting hub.The city is accustomed to staging high-profile competitions and more and more sports are considering the emirate when organising future tournaments. There is a certain glamour about Dubai that promoters seem to love.Rumours have been circulating that Dubai could be in line to host one of the most highly anticipated boxing matches of the year.Manny Pacquiao revealed earlier in 2013 that he is looking for locations outside the US to stage his next big fight and his team suggested that Dubai is a possibility.While it is not clear exactly who the Filipino ace will face, the fact that Dubai is even being mooted as a potential destination for the encounter emphasises just how far the emirate has come. Continue reading
Dubai businesses are predicting growth
The majority of businesses in Dubai believe their profits will have increased by the end of the second quarter of 2013.A new study conducted by the Department of Economic Development (DED) showed that confidence is riding high among the city's corporations, with 91 per cent expecting bumper revenues during the three-month period.This is great news for people who are looking to move to Dubai on a permanent basis, as more job opportunities are likely to crop up as companies expand.Indeed, the DED study indicated that 75 per cent of firms are planning to maintain their current headcount, while 23 per cent said they would be hiring new workers in the second quarter.Like many other parts of the world, the UAE was hit hard by the global economic downturn, but His Excellency Sami Al Qamzi – director general of the DED – said the outlook is now far brighter.”Economic activity in Dubai is on a firmer ground, especially with key sectors such as tourism, logistics and aviation flourishing and real estate on a recovery path,” he remarked.”The services and retail sectors are also signalling strong growth, which reaffirms Dubai's reputation as a resilient and vibrant economy.”According to the DED research, confidence levels are particularly high among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at the moment.The government is always stressing how important start-up firms are to the nation's economy and Dubai has become a rich breeding ground for SMEs in recent years.A separate study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) showed that 83 per cent of small businesses based in the Middle East reported an upturn in sales in 2012, which was much higher than the global average of 65 per cent.Leaders at PwC said family enterprises in the Gulf are less fazed by the stuttering global economy and so this has given them more scope to grow.The report also revealed that women are having greater influence on how Middle Eastern companies are run. Continue reading
Dubai retains status as global retail hotspot
Dubai has retained its status as an important global retail hub, as a new study confirmed it is streets ahead of other renowned shopping hotspots like Paris and New York.CBRE's latest report – entitled How Global is the Business of Retail? – suggested the UAE-based city only plays second fiddle to London when it comes to worldwide “hot markets”.Dubai has attracted some of the most famous and exclusive brands in the past few years, which is hardly surprising given the emirate's incredible reputation.Indeed, the city is home to the largest malls on the planet and it is also a playground for the rich and famous, so there is always a stream of wealthy holidaymakers looking to add expensive new items to their wardrobes.Global retailers are well aware of this and the CBRE research indicated that Dubai is still the highest ranked target market for brands that are looking to increase their presence in the Middle East.In total, 25 new retailers launched outlets in Dubai for the first time in 2012, including established names such as Franklin & Marshall, Galvanni and Cheesecake Factory.Managing director of CBRE Middle East Nicholas Maclean said Dubai's status as a family-friendly tourism destination also makes it an appealing location for retailers to open stores.”The doubling of its visitor numbers to ten million per annum in 2012 and its commitment to double these numbers again by 2020, makes the emirate highly attractive for existing and new retailers,” he remarked.There is every chance that Dubai will remain near the top of CBRE's future retail hotspot lists, as a multitude of well known firms have outlined their intention to take advantage of the lucrative Middle Eastern market in the next few years.Leaders of UAE conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim recently revealed that US clothing manufacturer Abercrombie & Fitch has agreed to open its very first Dubai-based store in 2014.It is yet to be confirmed exactly where the company may locate its store, but there is every chance it will be in one of the city's main malls. Continue reading
