Tag Archives: history
About Sharjah: Around the city in 1.15h
About Sharjah: Around the city in 1.15h Lily B. Libo-on / 1 June 2013 Sharjah’s premier tourist destinations and heritage sites can be served up in an hour and 15 minutes. Three double-decker city sightseeing buses have been bringing tourists to more than 20 museums, traditional souqs, beaches, parks, as well as Al Majaz Waterfront and Al Qasba. One of the City Sightseeing Sharjah buses. — KT photo by M. Sajjad To Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), the ‘City Sightseeing Sharjah’ tour buses will provide an international standard of service to further develop the emirate’s already flourishing tourism industry. The daily “hop on, hop off” tours on the‘City Sightseeing Sharjah’ buses, where tourists can get on and off at different stops they choose, are an affordable service that can loop to destinations including the Central Souq, Marbella Resort Sharjah, Al Noor Mosque, Al Majaz Waterfront, Buhairah Corniche, Al Qasba, Sharjah Aquarium, Al Khan Corniche/Beaches, Al Muntazah, the Fish Market, Heart of Sharjah, Sharjah’s Museum of Islamic Civilisation, Radisson BLU Resort, Clock Roundabout, and Mega Mall in just one hour and 15 minutes. Rosita, Filipina wife of German tourist Karsten Schmidt, said she had enjoyed the tour around Sharjah for just Dh85. “With Dh45 a child, our kids have (been able to) look around in places with fun. It is worth it,” Schmidt said. Italian tourist Aadishree is all praise for the tour sites and the quick but compact tour that goes around the important traditional, heritage and historical places of Sharjah. “I cannot believe it. Coming in and out of every museum, I can see historical Islamic maps, books of (His Highness) Shaikh Sultan (bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah), the traditional souqs, and the heart of Sharjah in just an hour and 15 minutes. It is so amazing.” Shurooq CEO Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal said the authority was constantly looking to expand Sharjah’s tourism infrastructure. “The addition of a tour bus service was the logical next step to further adding value to Sharjah’s tourism experience.” “The tour is part of the collective efforts to encourage significant projects that promote the emirate and boost its position on the world tourism map,” Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) Mohamed Ali Al Noman said. The SCTDA is keen to support all events and initiatives that help attract more international tourists and visitors to the emirate, the number of whom stands at more than 1.5 million annually. “All of us are constantly working to increase this number by various projects and events organised all year round.” The city sightseeing tour buses have a convertible rooftop that can be removed during the temperate winter months to create an open-top tour experience or kept in place to ensure a fully air-conditioned interior for comfortable summer tours. Launched in December 2012 and operational from mid-January, the sightseeing buses have captured a large number of tourists and residents. Shurooq is expecting more than 30,000 tourists by the end of this year. “Our strategy to collaborate closely with hotels, tour operators, travel agents, online booking engines, along with the support from the City Sightseeing worldwide, is positively boosting the expected number of passengers. At this point, we are happy that the service is becoming increasingly known amongst tourists and residents, and our focus is to further increase guest satisfaction, and deliver an exceptional tour in Sharjah linking all of its many touristic destinations,” Al Sarkal said. The service is also promoting attractions like the Heart of Sharjah, Al Majaz Waterfront and Al Qasba by increasing footfall and exposure. “We are working on linking all destinations to provide tourists with an exceptional overview and insight of the history, culture and heritage of Sharjah. This will also create interest amongst tourists visiting neighbouring emirates to come to Sharjah and explore its rich and diverse culture and heritage experience.” lily@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
15 Questions To Ask Before Purchasing Farmland
Friday, May 31, 2013 WASHINGTON — The increase in crop and livestock prices have generated significant profits for many farmers, which some are using to buy additional land. Growing demand has driven land values to record highs in many areas. Whether farmers are using cash or borrowing money, buying land should include a well-researched financial plan. “Farmers should consult their banker throughout the land buying process, to ensure decisions made today best position them to prosper and obtain credit in the future,” said John Blanchfield, senior vice president of agricultural and rural banking at ABA . “When it comes to buying land, you cannot spend too much time researching all of the contingencies.” Given current market conditions, ABA’s Agricultural and Rural Bankers Committee , made up of leading agricultural bankers in the country, has developed the following recommendations for buying farmland: • What is your business’s financial condition? Consider needed investments, expected expenditures, and crop conditions to determine if buying land is the best use for your cash. Are there other opportunities that can provide a better return? • Have you created a pro-forma cash flow? Research sales trends and expected revenue of a potential plot of land to determine how well the purchase fits within your plan. Does the potential return meet your objectives? Your banker can help you develop this essential planning tool. • Given your revenue forecast, are you overpaying? If you are paying a premium, how long will it take you to recoup? Determine how much your business should prudently spend on a land purchase and the revenue needed to justify your purchase and stay within those targets. • Have you thought long and hard about it? Never be rushed by a broker and never confide your best price or financial goals with a party working for the seller. Don’t buy impulsively or make a deal before visiting the property numerous times. Rework the standard broker’s purchase contract with your lawyer, deleting what you don’t like and adding what you want, before presenting the offer. • Does it make more financial sense to rent the land rather than owning it? Rental rates are high, but renting frees your cash for other activities. What will be your total land payment per tillable acre owned and how does this compare to cash rents in your area? • Should you go all in with your cash? Talk to your banker about alternatives to using all cash in the transaction. Land is an illiquid asset and purchasing it will impact your farm’s liquidity. Your banker can work with you to structure a loan that will enable you to acquire the land you need while preserving some of your working capital for necessary expenditures. • How much land are you acquiring? Sounds simple, but many times there is confusion about how much land is actually being purchased. Know exactly what you’re getting before making a bid. See if the land has been surveyed and make sure it matches the details of the offer. If the land has not been surveyed, work with your attorney to determine the acreage based on the legal description or consider having the land surveyed and determine who will pay for it. Make sure that there are no special easements tied to the land. If there are, make sure you spend time studying them and understanding them completely. • What does the land appraise for? Are there some comparable sales in the area? Appraisals are expensive, but they are the best way to establish value. Even if you do not get a full appraisal, attempt to find some comparable sales to determine if the purchase price is reasonable. • What is the soils story? What is the capability of the soil you are buying and how does this impact your revenue forecast? Good soil is paramount. Know the type of soil you’re buying and the history of annual crop rotation. Any seller should be more than happy to provide you with a soil’s profile and information about past farming practices. • What is the water source? Is the property irrigated? Do the water rights convey with the property? Adequate water is essential to establishing the value of the property. Account for water cost in your financial plan to ensure this cost doesn’t negatively impact your return. Make sure all water wells are registered with the appropriate authorities. Each state has its own water laws so make sure you are familiar with the state that you are doing business in. • What do you know about the gas, mineral, and wind rights for the property? Do these rights convey to you as the purchaser? Have they been surveyed or severed from the surface rights? Are they currently under lease? If so, under what terms? Have a thorough knowledge of property rights, as mining and drilling can have an impact on surface and water quality, access to the property, and the viability of the farm or ranch. • How is the property zoned? Will your plans for the property conflict with existing zoning restrictions? Are there conservation easements that could restrict use of the property? This factor has a significant impact on your valuation of the property, particularly if your plans conflict with current zoning restrictions. Make sure that you understand the assured leases that may go with the property — many of the states in the west have a large percentage of their ground that falls into this category (bureau of land management, forest service, state land, national grass land). • How will you hold deed in the property? Will you own it individually, jointly with a spouse, in a family owned entity (corp., LLC, LLP) or in a trust? The pros and cons of how you own the land will depend on your long term goals. • Are there any environmental problems? The last thing you want to buy is a costly environmental problem. Paying for an onsite environmental audit before you buy the land may be worth the cost and will help ensure you are not buying into an expensive cleanup. • How long will you actively farm? Make sure your financing plan matches the rest of your intended career as an active producer. Will you fully retire all debt from the acquisition before you retire? Do you have sufficient life and disability insurance? Continue reading
Oil Exploration In Kenya Moves To A Well Dubbed "Etuko"
The search for oil in Kenya moved to yet another stage. This time, drilling works are at a site christened “Etuko” where it is estimated that there could be … Continue reading
