Entertainment
Executive council nod for Dubai medical tourism plan
Executive council nod for Dubai medical tourism plan (Wam) / 20 March 2014 The DEC members discussed the plan to transform Dubai into a global hub for health tourism as proposed by the Dubai Health Authority. The Dubai Executive Council (DEC) on Wednesday approved a plan to implement the strategy to turn Dubai into a world hub for medical tourism. Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed; and Abdulla Al Shaibani, Secretary-General of the Dubai Executive Council, at the council meeting on Wednesday. — Wam A meeting of the council chaired by Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, also discussed a proposal to invest wisely the plots of land set aside for housing with the aim of earning sustainable profits to support the housing projects in the emirate and to give a backup to the government. The DEC members discussed the plan to transform Dubai into a global hub for health tourism as proposed by the Dubai Health Authority. According to the plan, Dubai would provide selected, distinctive and quality health services at competitive prices which would attract tourists visiting the emirate. The plan aims to build a system which would boost excellence in the field of healthcare, which would attract people willing to get curative services to the emirate of Dubai. The Dubai Health Authority has laid down a comprehensive strategy to achieve a number of investment targets in health tourism in six medical areas of specialisation, including dentistry, plastic surgery, ophthalmic surgery, general medical checkups, orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, in addition to recuperation and healing from skin diseases. The executive plan has been developed to include four main pillars: competition and prioritisation; Dubai’s global status; increasing the number of tourists and medical revenues through delivery of high-quality medical services; and achieving medical sustainability. The other proposals and projects discussed during the meeting included the investment of land allocated for housing to achieve a sustainable income to support housing projects and government’s support for these projects and providing sites for the delivery of public services near residential complexes that the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment has embarked on constructing. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Clusters of Light show in Sharjah for 4 days
Clusters of Light show in Sharjah for 4 days Afkar Abdullah / 20 March 2014 Operetta on Islamic history to be held for public on March 27, 28 and April 3, 4. Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Executive Committee Chairman for the Sharjah Islamic Culture Capital 2014 (SICC 2014) celebrations, on Tuesday shared some details and insights regarding Sharjah’s forthcoming musical spectacular “The Clusters of Light”. Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed announcing the details of The Clusters of Light show in Sharjah on Tuesday. — KT photo by M. Sajjad The show will be performed for the public on March 27 and 28, and April 3 and 4. The revelations came during a Press conference held in Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre in the presence of Shaikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Head of the Projects Committee for the SICC 2014 celebrations. The conference was also attended by members of the Executive Committee for Sharjah’s celebrations for being declared the capital of Islamic culture, as well as prominent members of the crew and representatives of the media. Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed said: “The Clusters of Light is the culmination of the vision of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who ordained a work to be “recorded by history and engraved in memories of next generations”. “In presenting the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the early story of Islam, it promotes humanitarian values of justice, brotherhood, love and peace. The Clusters of Light contains such dazzling elements that words fail to describe them. The efforts of the administrative, technical and artistic staff will leave an indelible imprint in the history of this epic,” he said. He added that the show will bring values of love, justice, tolerance and peace to the entire world. More than 750 people came together from various countries to produce an artwork that, as the Sharjah Ruler said, reminds us of the most important moments in the formation of the Islamic civilisation. Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed said that this first-ever performance at the new Al Majaz Open Theatre is Sharjah’s gift to the entire world: “By telling the story of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and clarifying the true nature of Islam, we hope we will enrich the world of ideas, highlight the civilising aspects of Islamic culture and irrigate the intellects of present and future generations,” he said. Khalid Al Shaikh, Bahraini artist who composed The Clusters of Light, commended the “spring of culture” currently being enjoyed by Sharjah. Christian Steinhauser, German musician and conductor of the Global German Orchestra that completed recordings of the momentous operetta, said the last six months of his life were the most important in his career. He co-operated with 50 musicians and 20 sound engineers from around the world to offer a spiritual and emotional soundtrack inspired by Islamic history. Steinhauser said that admiration for the biography of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) helped the team produce a monumental artwork about Islam in a short period of time. The audience watched a short film about Al Majaz Theatre, which will host the first performance of the world’s greatest oratorio of Islam, The Clusters of Light, on March 26. The theatre will be the official headquarters of the Sharjah Capital of Islamic Culture 2014 Celebrations. Tickets are available at http://www.ticketmaster.ae/ and at selected outlets across the UAE. afkarali@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
8,500 register for Colour Run in Capital on March 29
8,500 register for Colour Run in Capital on March 29 Silvia Radan / 20 March 2014 Participants of all ages are encouraged to run, walk or dance the five-kilometre track, passing through several colour stations to celebrate healthiness and happiness. . The first-ever Colour Run will be held in Abu Dhabi on Yas island on March 29. According to the organiser, IMG, it is not just a first for the UAE capital, but also it is the first time it is happening on a Formula1 racetrack. Dubbed as the “happiest 5 km on the planet”, Colour Run is a paint race that celebrates healthiness, happiness and individuality. There is no trophy, no timing and no actual racing involved in the run. Instead, participants of all ages are encouraged to run, walk or dance their five-kilometre track, passing through several colour stations, where vibrant coloured powder is thrown over them just for fun. At the finish line, all participants are rewarded with ever more red, blue and various other colours. “The Colour Run fun doesn’t have to end with the Finish Festival. Located just 45 minutes from Dubai, Yas Island and our official partners have everything you need to escape the everyday, and add some colour to what will make a spectacular weekend,” said Greg Sproule, managing director of IMG Middle East. On the day, Yas Waterworld will offer 50 per cent discount and Yas Viceroy hotel has a preferential rate via the official website thecolorrun.ae/Abu-Dhabi, as well as a free two nights stay through its Facebook page. With thousands of people expected to take part, Abu Dhabi Motors has just announced it is joining the part by launching its all-new Mini Hatch at next weekend’s Colour Run. The run will actually start when the Mini Hatch, wrapped in official branding, will lead waves of Colour Runners over the start line at the circuit. MINI will also sponsor the ‘Red Colour Station’, one of four spots along the course, where volunteers will shower runners with coloured powder. In the lead-up to the event, fans will have the opportunity to win a Mini for the weekend if they spot one of the three branded cars driving around key Abu Dhabi locations and send a picture to Mini’s social media channels. Colour Runners will also have the chance to win a Mini for the weekend on the day by taking the “craziest photo” at the Mini photo booth. Only launched in January 2012, Colour Run started with 50 events that year and moved up to over 100 runs in 2013. This year, at least 250 runs are projected, involving some three million participants worldwide. The Colour Run presented by Activelife burst into the Middle East in December 2013, when the sold-out Dubai event saw 9,000 Colour Runners dance, walk and run their way around the course. Among them, the youngest “runner” was a one-year-old and the oldest a 73-year-old. Worldwide, the oldest Colour Runner was 97-year-old Hilda from Louisville. Meant as a happy event, some 94 people took advantage of the occasion to propose marriage to their loved ones! During the Abu Dhabi run, about 3,000 kilogrammes of colour will be doused over runners. The organiser, though, assure participants all colours are 100 per cent natural, safe and food grade quality with the main ingredient being corn starch. After the event, the clean-up will take about two hours, using an industrial air blower and the stand-by sweep-up team. The 8,500 tickets are nearly sold out, but organisers are considering increasing the numbers. Each ticket is Dh140 and includes a pack with an event T-shirt, sweatband and colour pack. In keeping with The Colour Run’s tenet of giving back to the community, $1 from every registration will be donated to charity through Just Giving. silvia@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
