Tag Archives: georgia
UAE’s priciest mobile number tops Dh7.8 million
UAE’s priciest mobile number tops Dh7.8 million Kelly Clarke (kelly@khaleejtimes.com) / 10 March 2014 Selling for a hefty Dh7,877,777, etisalat’s Diamond Plus mobile number, 0507777777, was the clear favourite among the 700 bidders on Saturday, and made more than six times that of the runner up. The UAE’s most expensive mobile number has raised a staggering seven-digit figure — or Dh7,440,777 — for charity, after going under the hammer during a live auction across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Selling for a hefty Dh7,877,777, etisalat’s Diamond Plus mobile number, 0507777777, was the clear favourite among the 700 bidders on Saturday, and made more than six times that of the runner up. Seventy of etisalat’s most exclusive number packages went up for grabs at the auction, with the top 10 numbers alone making a hefty Dh13,852,777. Pocketing only the starting prices of all number packages showcased by the auctioneer, etisalat will donate the extra earnings to several charities, including the Khalifa Foundation. Fifty of the 700 bidders were vying for etisalat’s most exclusive digits on the day and Emirates Auction’s managing director Abdulla Al Mannaei told Khaleej Times the atmosphere was electric. “I cannot describe the feeling in the room. It was so different from any other auction we’ve had.” And when the gavel finally hit the rostrum, it brought an end to a very tense few minutes, he said. “The price went from Dh7.5 million to the winning bid in a matter of seconds. One bidder even offered Dh7,777,777, in keeping with the mobile number itself,” a move which didn’t bag the goods he said, after the winning bidder raised the offer by a further Dh100,000. Starting at a price of Dh437,000, the Diamond Plus digits alone will see a number of charities receive donations totalling Dh7,440,777. “With all the events that take place at Emirates Auctions, we give a considerable amount to charity. Etisalat will be doing the same,” Al Mannaei said. Unable to reveal the winning bidders identity, Al Mannaei did confirm that it was a man and said he will be using the number personally. “Although it is the government who own all mobile phone numbers, this bidder has the right to use it himself. He can assign the number to someone else if he wants, but he can’t sell it on.” Back in 2012, a similar auction took place in Kuwait where local telecommunications company, Viva, sold a number for Dh2.8 million, making it the most expensive in the country at the time. “That number was actually better than this one I think, because it was one zero, followed by nine fives,” Al Mannaei said. And although the auction house was expecting the etisalat number to exceed this figure, Al Mannaei admitted many were shocked that it more than doubled it. “I don’t know in terms of the rest of the world, but this is certainly the most expensive mobile number in the UAE now,” he said. A first for Emirates Auction house, Saturday’s VIP mobile number auction took place across two halls at Emirates Palace in the Capital and the Armani Hotel in Dubai. On Sunday Al Mannaei was unable to confirm the total amount raised from the auction. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
1,000 Dubai govt services to go smart in three years
1,000 Dubai govt services to go smart in three years (Wam) / 6 March 2014 A strategy to transform Dubai into a ‘Smart City’ was launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday. Shaikh Mohammed, Shaikh Hamdan and senior officials during the launch of Smart Dubai Strategy at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre on Wednesday. — KT photo by Shihab The strategy features six key pillars and 100 initiatives on transport, communications, infrastructure, electricity, economic services, urban planning. Under the strategy, 1,000 government services will go smart in the next three years. Shaikh Mohammed affirmed: “Our country is today ushering into a new era for the improvement and development of quality of life through this gigantic project which got underway through an unprecedented public-private partnership to make a new reality for all and change the concept of city which the human being lives in so as to live with him through his smart phone and who will be its key pivot.” “Our ambition is that this project touches the life of everyone in our country, or every mother in her house, or every employee in his work, or every investor in his project, or every child in his school, and doctor in his clinic. Our goal is to bring about happiness to all. May Allah help us in achieving this end,” Shaikh Mohammed said. The launch ceremony was attended by Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and General Supervisor of Dubai Smart City Project; Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group; Shaikh Hasher bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Information Department; Shaikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the Higher Committee for Dubai Smart City, and a number of senior officials. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Longest bridal veil at Sharjah wedding show
Longest bridal veil at Sharjah wedding show Lily B. Libo-on / 6 March 2014 Fashion shows, bridal couture, hairstyling main attractions World’s longest bridal veil measuring 5-km in length, weighing about 7kg, and embellished with crystals and pearls at its first 5 metres, was unveiled at the ninth edition of Perfect Wedding Show, which opened on Wednesday at the Expo Centre Sharjah. The veil by Rozana Hospitality broke the four-year Guinness Book of World Records held by Sandra Mechleb of Lebanon, who wore a 3.358-km long bridal veil when she married Chady Abi Younis in Arnaoon, Lebanon on October 18, 2009. World’s longest bridal veil on display at the Perfect Wedding Show in Sharjah. — Supplied photo This year’s Perfect Wedding Show, which is open daily from 3pm to 10pm, is also presenting a mega prize of a fully paid ‘royal wedding package’ comprising a five-star ballroom for the winning couple and their guests, a bridal beauty package, Kosha decoration and a honeymoon trip to Istanbul. To participate in the royal wedding package, the couples due to get married are urged to register at the website of the Perfect Wedding Show 2014 at www.sharjahweddingshow.com and they will be automatically entered in a raffle draw to be done on Saturday (March 8), the last day of the event. Shaikha Aisha bint Mohammed Al Qasimi opened the four-day Perfect Wedding Show, which features a wide range of perfumes, ouds, cosmetics, jewellery, gifts and accessories, health and beauty products, cards and stationery, and related materials and accessories for weddings apart from designers, couturiers, décor specialists, wedding planners and caterers. A play area is also available for children under 12 years since they won’t be allowed inside the exhibition halls. The fair is also organising a 45-minute fashion show that will be performed daily and will feature local, regional and international design houses and designers, including Fouad Sarkis, Dar Mona Al Mansouri, Dar Sara, Amato and Emirati designer, Aisha Al Muhairi. The Perfect Wedding Show has a special section for Egyptian furnishings sponsored by the Egyptian Trade Centre, special bridal couture shows, cultural parades, live demonstrations of hair-styling and make-up and dance performances. “The increasing popularity of the show can be attributed to the emergence of the UAE as a leading wedding destination, lavish wedding ceremonies and engagements taking place here,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah. National Bureau of Statistics shows that the number of marriages registered in the UAE has gone up from 6,475 in 1995 to 14,934 in 2012. But, this figure excludes the multiple wedding receptions and other related functions that are taking place in UAE. Al Midfa said that even though the number of marriages has remained stagnant for a few years, wedding planners are doing a brisk business due to the rising demand for wedding receptions and related functions. “This is because though several expatriates prefer to tie the knot in their home country, however, they hold their engagements and receptions here since they work and live in UAE,” he added. With the industry observers putting a tag of $80,000 as average wedding expense and close to 15,000 weddings taking place annually, the wedding sector here could be conservatively be valued at $1.2 billion. lily@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
