Big City Informer

Kenya’s rugby team made history on Saturday by charging their way into the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai. Along the way they thrashed defending champions Fiji 26-7 in the quarterfinal before being stopped by a resurgent Argentina who paid heavily for their victory over the local boys. The stadium stands were [...]

Contractor Drake & Scull International will list its shares in Dubai on March 16 in a delayed move following its initial public offering (IPO) in July last year, the company said. Drake, which specialises in mechanical, engineering and plumbing businesses, raised 1.22 billion UAE dirhams ($332.1 million) in the IPO aimed at expanding its business across [...]

With only 47 days to go until Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 kicks off in Dubai, event organisers are confident that the eagerly awaited three-day showpiece will set new standards on and off the pitch. Over 100,000 people packed into the purpose-built ‘The Sevens’ for the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens in November and the magnificent venue [...]

The World Bank’’s report Doing Business in the Arab World 2009 says the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the easiest country to do business in the Middle East. The report ranked UAE in the 14th place globally in its assessment of 181 countries. “Economies that have efficient customs, good transport networks and fewer document requirements, making [...]

A 13ft whale shark that has spent weeks as the star attraction in a huge tank in the lobby of a luxury hotel is to be freed after a campaign that included protest songs and the setting up of a “Free Sammy” page on Facebook. Since the £950 million Atlantis hotel opened in Dubai last [...]

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced the award-winning Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens will once again launch the IRB Sevens World Series. The IRB confirmed the dates of the eight international tournaments to form the 2008/09 IRB Sevens World Series, which marks the 10-year anniversary of RugbyCs highly successful international Grand Prix-style event. The [...]

Property prices in Dubai are likely to fall 10 per cent by 2010 as supply outpaces demand, but they are expected to rise in Abu Dhabi’s undersupplied market, Morgan Stanley said in its latest report on Tuesday. “For 2009, we expect prices to start coming under pressure as oversupply becomes evident [in Dubai]. We forecast [...]

This Gulf desert nation, one of the world’s most environmentally unfriendly with its ubiquitous air conditioning, swimming pools and SUVs, may be looking to redeem itself. It has begun building what it calls the world’s first zero-carbon city. Environmentalists say Masdar City – powered mainly by solar energy and recycling waste and water – is [...]

Emaar’s The Dubai Mall showcases new trends in retail and entertainment The Dubai Mall, one of the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destinations, developed by Emaar Properties PJSC and located in the Dhs73bn mega-project Downtown Burj Dubai, is putting finishing touches to several retail and entertainment concepts that are a first for the region. The [...]

New Zealand has won the opening round of the International Rugby Board’s World Series Sevens in Dubai. The defending champions beat Fiji 31-21 in the final early this morning (NZ time), making the most of a period when Fiji’s Emosi Vucago was yellow-carded. While Vucago was in the bin, New Zealand scored twice to race [...]

Dubai is contributing more than its fair share to overcoming illiteracy problem in the world. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Dubai Cares project in the first week of the fasting month of Ramadan. The project aims at educating one [...]

Dubai will soon have a new addition to its growing program of art fairs and exhibitions, with the launch of “Art and Antiques Dubai”, scheduled for February 2008. With the support of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, major organizer Haughton International Fairs plans to stage the event at the Madinat Jumeirah, putting [...]

A World Economic Forum on the Middle East wraps up on Sunday after highlighting the need for education to strengthen competitiveness and amid calls to support an Arab plan for peace with Israel. United Arab Emirates Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum announced a 10-billion-dollar education fund to bridge what he called a wide [...]

NBC Universal has announced a licensing deal to create a Universal-branded theme park in Dubai set for a grand opening in 2010. The $2 billion-plus project by Dubai developer Tatweer — dubbed Universal City Dubailand — will feature Uni-themed rides and attractions, as well as 4,000 hotel rooms, 100 restaurants, retail outlets and office space [...]

Dubai Festival City announces the start of Festival of Art, a one month unique event, which occurs from April 15th to May 15th 2007. For the duration of four weeks, Dubai Festival City will host various art demonstrations, every week highlighting a special artistic theme and showcasing different activities. All the artistic activities will take [...]

A victory at the Dubai Desert Classic won’t count toward Tiger Woods’ streak of seven straight wins on the U.S. PGA Tour. That doesn’t mean Woods came halfway around the world to finish second. “It’s very simple,” he said Wednesday. “Whatever tournament I enter I’m going to try and win it, plain and simple.” The [...]

The Spirit of Dubai Airship celebrated reaching the midway point of its landmark journey from London to Dubai in spectacular style by flying over some of Rome’s greatest landmarks. The airship, whose journey is marking the first residents moving into The Palm Jumeirah, circled over some of history’s greatest monuments including the Colosseum, the Trevi [...]

South Africa rallied from 12-0 down at halftime to crush New Zealand 31-12 in the final of the rugby Dubai Sevens after New Zealand routed Canada 31-0 in heavy rain earlier Saturday. Canada was in the quarter-finals of an IRB Sevens rugby tournament for the first time since 2004. The Canadians lost to France 36-0, [...]

Pop diva Beyoncé Knowles looks likely to be performing in Dubai next year as part of her massive world tour. The former Destiny’s Child singer is set to come to the UAE midway through 2007, according to the Dubai-based firm that represents her in this region. The 25-year-old is now riding high in the charts [...]

GITEX celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2005 & continues to reflect the importance & phenomenal growth of the IT industry in the region by continually highlighting the latest technology & services from international manufacturers and suppliers. In 2005, GITEX welcomed over 1,163 exhibitors representing over 2,724 companies from 61 countries. This turnout topped that of [...]