Tag Archives: personality
Dubai to get 2,000-seat opera house in The Opera District
Dubai to get 2,000-seat opera house in The Opera District Staff Reporter / 19 March 2014 Dubai Opera within The Opera District in Downtown Dubai to take the shape of a traditional dhow. The city is set to make a lasting contribution to the performing arts and events sector with Dubai Opera, a 2,000-seat multi-format venue for opera, theatre, concerts, art exhibitions, orchestra, film, sports events and seasonal programmes, within The Opera District, the newest development by Emaar Properties in Downtown Dubai. Set to promote the arts, culture and events scene of Dubai by ensuring global exchange and promoting local talent as well as serve as a vibrant events venue, The Opera District will also feature luxury hotels, elegantly designed residential and serviced apartments, a retail plaza, waterfront promenades, recreational spaces and parks. A technological masterpiece, Dubai Opera will feature state-of-the-art audio-visual technology and support systems to ensure an unmatched events experience. Entered from Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai’s main thoroughfare, The Opera District faces the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, Burj Park, and The Dubai Fountain. Complete with a sky garden and rooftop restaurant, Dubai Opera will be the centerpiece of this wider development. Envisaged to be as iconic in appearance as the world-famous Sydney Opera House, Dubai Opera is styled on the traditional sailing vessels of the Arabian Gulf, the classic wooden dhows that are synonymous with the famous Dubai Creek. The ‘bow’ of the structure will contain Dubai Opera’s main stage, orchestra and seating areas, as well as the proposed sky garden and restaurants. The elongated ‘hull’ area will feature the waiting areas for spectators, taxi drop-off area, and parking amenities. Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, said: “The Opera District highlights the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to develop a vibrant cultural community and events destination in the city which will encourage our talented local artists and also promote global cultural exchange. “Dubai Opera, which is central to the new arts and lifestyle district, will be a spectacular addition to Downtown Dubai, already home to global icons such as Burj Khalifa. The state-of-the-art opera house and the varied lifestyle components of The Opera District will energise Dubai’s events and tourism sectors. With the city establishing its global reputation as an arts hub, the new development will also strengthen the ‘Dubai Art Season,’ which brings together the city’s vibrant arts initiatives.” Downtown Dubai has already established its clear differentials in the arts and culture scene. In addition to hosting premier events, the vibrant community also has several exquisite works of arts, including Al Sidra, a free-shaped bronze sculpture by Kuwaiti sculptor Sami Mohamed Al Saleh; world-renowned figurative artist Fernando Botero’s Horse 2007, a bronze sculpture weighing 1,500kg; Syrian artist Lutfi Romhein’s Together featuring two sculptures — that of an Arab man and an Arab woman; Spanish sculptor Xavier Corbero’s Gathering; South African sculptor Vincent Da Silva’s Life Size Andalusian Horse and Rhims Gazelle Herd Edition 1; and South Korean sculptor Jaeyho Lee’s Chorus. news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Putin moves towards annexing Crimea
Putin moves towards annexing Crimea (AP) / 18 March 2014 Putin is set to address both houses of the parliament at 3pm Moscow time (1100 GMT) in a nationally televised speech where he is widely expected to stake Russia’s claim on Crimea. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday approved a draft bill for the annexation of Crimea, one of a flurry of steps to formally take over the Black Sea peninsula. Crimea on Sunday voted overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine and seek to join Russia. The West and Ukraine described the referendum which was announced two weeks ago as illegitimate. The United States and the European Union on Monday announced asset freezes and other sanctions against Russian and Ukrainian officials involved in the Crimean crisis. President Barack Obama warned that more would come if Russia didn’t stop interfering in Ukraine. Read more: US, EU and Japan set sanctions Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, however, hailed Crimea’s vote to join Russia as a “happy event.” Russian troops have been occupying the region for more than two weeks. The decree signed by Putin and posted on the official government website Tuesday morning is one of the steps which that formalize the annexation of Crimea. Russia, however, still has room to back off: the treaty to annex Crimea has to be signed by leaders of Russia and Crimea, approved by the Constitutional Court and then be ratified by the parliament. Putin is set to address both houses of the parliament at 3 p.m. Moscow time (1100 GMT) in a nationally televised speech where he is widely expected to stake Russia’s claim on Crimea. Gorbachev, in remarks carried Tuesday by online newspaper Slon.ru, said Crimea’s vote offered residents the freedom of choice and justly reflected their will. The referendum showed that “people really wanted to return to Russia” and was a “happy event,” he said. Gorbachev added that the Crimean referendum set an example for people in Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine, who also should decide their fate. Crimean Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Temirgaliyev said in an interview with RIA Novosti on Tuesday that the peninsula has already received some financial aid from Russia but stopped short of saying how much. Many in the ethnic Tatar minority in Crimea were wary of the referendum, fearing that Crimea’s break-off from Ukraine would set off violence against them. Temirgaliyev seemed to confirm those fears, saying that the government would ask Tatars to “vacate” some of the lands they “illegally” occupy so authorities can use them for “social needs.” The Russian State Duma, the lower chamber of parliament, on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution condemning US sanctions targeting Russian officials including members of the chamber. The chamber challenged President Barack Obama to extend the sanctions to all the 353 deputies who voted for Tuesday’s resolution, suggesting that being targeted was a badge of honor. Eighty-eight deputies left the house before the vote. Crimea had been part of Russia since the 18 th century until Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred it to Ukraine in 1954. Both Russians and Crimea’s majority ethnic Russian population see annexation as correcting a historic insult. Ukraine’s turmoil, which began in November with a wave of protests against President Viktor Yanukovych and accelerated after he fled to Russia in late February, has become Europe’s most severe security crisis in years. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Project to transform metro stations into art museums
Project to transform metro stations into art museums Staff Reporter / 18 March 2014 Shaikh Mohammed gave directions to complete the project by the commencement of Art Dubai 2015. The Dubai Metro Museum project that will transform the metro stations into art museums was detailed on Monday during a presentation to His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Shaikh Mohammed gave directions to transform Dubai Metro stations into art museums displaying artworks and creations from different themes and cultures, an initiative that aims at making arts and creativity accessible to all segments of the society. It also aims at enhancing the UAE’s international position in general and Dubai’s in particular as a vital supporter for arts and artists. He was briefed on the project and its different implementation stages. The presentation was also attended by 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. Shaikh Mohammed gave directions for the project to be completed within 12 months and to synchronise the launch with the commencement of Art Dubai 2015. “We want to reach everyone through arts. We want creativity to reach every individual. We want to inspire and communicate with every employee on his way to work, every student on his way to pursuing education and every tourist visiting Dubai,” he said. “We want to transfer Dubai Metro stations to museums accompanying passengers to all destinations,” he added “Art is a universal language that has power to unite humanity. It removes barriers that seems to separate them from one another,” he said. Station art themes Phase one of the project will include transforming four vital metro stations into art museums. Each of the museums will have a specific theme that highlights a specific aspect of arts or cultures. The interior and exterior designs of the museums will reflect their themes. Islamic arts and Arabic Calligraphy Museum; Inventions Museum; Contemporary Art Museum; and Visual Art Museum will be launched during phase one. The Islamic art and Arabic Calligraphy Museum will include a collection of artworks inspired by Islamic art and its development phases over 1,400 years. Manuscripts, ceramics and jewellery will be some of the items on display. Inventions Museum will offer a unique and interactive educational experience that illustrates the most important human inventions in different fields. The Contemporary Art Museum will have paintings, designs, graphic illustrations, models, and many other items that reflect the expressive and intellectual styles created by contemporary artists. Visual Art Museum will give visitors the opportunity to share their work and have it on display as well. The museums will be provided with state-of-the-art technology and smart and interactive mobile applications in line with Smart Dubai initiative. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said the initiative will add a new attraction factor for commuters and an aesthetic dimension to the facilities. Operational hinderances to the metro stations will be minimal. news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
