Sharaf DG opens 'Big Box' in Sharjah

Dubai’s electronics retail powerhouse launches 50,000 sq feet store
in the Sharjah Emirate in Safeer Mall located at the Dubai-Sharjah highway on June 09, 2009.
Pursuing its aggressive expansion plans despite the overall recessive market conditions, Sharaf DG- UAE’s leading electronics retailer, extended its footprint and opened a store in Safeer Mall, Sharjah. The launch marks the retailers first entry into the Emirate and takes its tally of stores across the region to nine.
Commenting on the launch, Yasser Sharaf, Managing Director Sharaf DG said, “Sharaf DG has experienced tremendous success in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and recently in Bahrain, and we were looking for the right location and opportunity to launch in Sharjah for a while now. As a market for electronics & IT products, the Emirate has matured with residents becoming more conscious about brands and service quality, which is good for Sharaf DG”.

Sharaf added ‘’Residents of Sharjah can be assured of a treat of the widest range of all the reputed world class brands at the best possible value in the market, which is synonymous with shopping at Sharaf DG. Just like our stores in Dubai, the Safeer mall store will offer our brand promise ‘If we don’t have it, you get it free’. This means if any customer does not find what he is looking for; he can register his requirement with our sales team who will procure the product within a stipulated time. And if we cannot deliver as per our commitment, the customer will get the product absolutely free. This way we assure you that you will always find what you want at Sharaf DG”.
The choice of Safeer Mall as Sharaf DG’s first address in Sharjah was made considering its strategic location along the busy Dubai-Sharjah highway which ensures a steady flow of shoppers. The one-stop shop located on the first level of the newly renovated Safeer Mall will follow the big-box format of the existing Sharaf DG stores where customers will enjoy the widest selection of brands in the region across categories like consumer electronics, home entertainment, gaming, IT, telecom and photography. This, in addition to getting sound advice from trained staff, outstanding customer service and attractive promotions all year round. The store will also be offering a ‘Lowest Price Guarantee’ where any customer can get twice the difference in amount if he finds the same product at a lesser price at any other mall based store in Sharjah.
In line with its previous store openings, Sharaf DG is launching with a series of outrageous ‘Killer’ Store Opening Special offers across a wide range of products. The best of the picks on offer is a free 32 inch LG LCD with a Nikon 10 megapixel camera for only AED 1199/- and a Motorola mobile for just AED 1/- on purchase of any mobile worth AED 300/- plus. These offers are for a limited period only till stocks last.
The store will also feature a revolutionary concept in retailing - the ‘touch and feel’ display where real working models will be displayed in the open. The open display provides customers a hands-on experience of real models of cameras, mobile phones, MP3 players and other electronic gadgets to ‘test drive’ before deciding their purchases. Customers are thus reassured that the product they buy is exactly what they are looking for, resulting in guaranteed satisfaction which is a hallmark of shopping at Sharaf DG.
This year Sharaf DG has won four awards for retailing excellence, including the most recent ‘Best Retailer of the Year 08’ conferred by the prestigious Channel Middle East magazine.

Cinegoers miss South Indian hits

BY KK MOIDU
THE United Arab Emirates is witnessing a boom in multiplexes which are mainly into screening English films, but several cinema halls screening movies of South Indian languages — Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu — have closed down.
Although many South Indian films are box office grossers, multiplexes are not keen to screen these pictures.
There are around 200 cinema screens in UAE. If a rough survey was to be done, one would find that about 80 per cent of these screens show English films, 15 per cent show Hindi films and a few select screens show Arabic films.
Less than five per cent of the cinema halls screen South Indian films.
After the closure of Al Nasr Cinema in Dubai, Metro Cinema in Sharjah, South Indian cinegoers are in despair as they do not have enough facilities to watch their favourite heroes on the silver screen.
Al Hamra Cinema in Sharjah was earlier showing Malayalam films but now it has started screening Hindi films.
Al Nasr Cinema in Dubai which had closed down early last year, used to screen Malayalam and Tamil films. The Deira Cinema which had closed down a couple of years ago was also another popular venue for screening Malayalam and Tamil films.
At present, Galleria Cinema I is the only theatre which has four shows for new Malayalam releases. On the other hand, Galleria II screens four shows of new Tamil movies. Although Plaza Cinema screens Malayalam films, there is only one show which is at 1:30pm. Donya Cinema in Jebel Ali also shows Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films, but they screen it one or two weeks after the movie is released.
There are around 100 cinema screens in Dubai and 75 of them screen English movies. More than 15 screens show Hindi films, few screens show Arabic and Iranian films and the rest five screens have South Indian movies.
At present in Sharjah, Concorde Cinema is the only theatre which screens Malayalam films. The hall has four shows daily and a midnight show on first Thursday of every month. Earlier, Metro Cinema and Al Hamra Cinema used to have three shows for Malayalam films. Since Metro was closed recently, Al Hamra now screens only Hindi films.
Although Metro Cinema was in Al Khan, people residing in Dubai used to take pains to reach here. This was due to ample parking facilities available around that area. Al Hamra Cinema near Lulu Centre in Rolla, also has good parking facilities.
Concorde Cinema near Clock Tower is one of the biggest movie halls in the United Arab Emirates. But on weekends, people return without getting tickets for megastar movies. The lack of parking facilities is another problem for cinegoers who go to Concorde Cinema.
People from other emirates like Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah also come to Sharjah Concorde for watching the new releases.
This has happened because cinema halls in Northern Emirates screen new Malayalam movies, couple of weeks after their release in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
So on the movie’s premier day, fans who have no patience to wait till two weeks, drive down to Sharjah to watch their favourite stars on the silver screen.
Sasi Kumar, a Sharjah reisdent who regularly watches Malayalam movies at Concorde Cinema on the first day of its release, said,”I couldn’t watch Maayavi which stars Mammootty and Chotta Mumbai which stars Mohanlal and Vinodhayathra which has Dilip in lead, for the first three days of its release as tickets were not available.” Kumar has solved this problem by going for the 4.30pm show.
Anjali Unnikrishnan, a working woman and mother-of-two, said: “I watch new Malayalam films regularly. Earlier, we used to go for movies on Thursdays and Fridays. But now, I don’t go even if I get a ticket because it is too crowded. I don’t like to watch with a huge crowd. I prefer to watch movies on weekdays so that I can watch it at peace.”
In Sharjah and Northern Emirates more than 50 screens are available, around 10 screens show Hindi films, Concorde Cinema screens new Malayalam releases. Granada Cinema in Umm Al Quwain, Plaza Cinema in Fujairah, and one screen in Dana Cinema Fujairah also screens Malayalam films one or two week after its release. Other screens only show English films and a few Arabic films.
The situation in Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE is no different. Around 80 per cent of the screens in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain are reserved for English films. Around 10 per cent screens show Hindi films. Eldorado I and Eldorado II in Abu Dhabi have four shows for Malayalam and Tamil films. They also have morning shows on Fridays.
For major blockbusters they have two screens to play one film so that they can avoid rush. Club Cinema in Al Ain also screens Malayalam films.
In the coming days, the cinema halls screening South Indian movies are expected to attract huge crowds. High-profile Tamil movies like Sivaji The Boss starring Rajnikant and Dasavatharam starring Kamal Hassan will soon be released. Major Malayalam films like Mission 90 Days, Time, Nadiya Kollappetta Rathri, Nagaram, Goal, Khaki, Nazrani, Alibhai, Hello etc. will soon hit the screens. This will add to the already crowded atmosphere. During festivals like Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, Onam, Vishu, Christmas only a few cinegoers get seats and a huge section of the public returns home dissapointed.
Since English films have shorter durations, most theatres play six or seven shows in most of the screens. On the other hand, South Indian movies have a longer duration, hence there is no possibility of running more than four shows.
South Indian film lovers, who form a sizeable number among the expat population in the UAE, say they have a genuine grievance. They want more theatres to screen movies of their interest.

SaReGaMaPa Challenge 2009-Grand Finale on Zee TV

Grand Finale of SaReGaMaPa Challenge 2009 on January 24^th, 2009 at 8:30pm (UAE) on Zee TV

CNN Enlists iReporters to Capture ‘The Moment’ of Obama’s Oath

Network to Use Microsoft Photosynth and User-Generated Photos to Create 3-D Image of Inauguration

CNN plans to create the most unique view of the exact moment US President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office on Tuesday 20^th January at 8pm (UAE). Using Microsoft Photosynth technology, CNN and Microsoft Corp. will produce the first “synth” of a major historical moment.

Photosynth, part of the Microsoft Virtual Earth product family, enables users to create synths, detailed 3-D environments of photos that are identified by minute similarities and then fused together. In this case, the initial images comprise those captured on cell phones, cameras and mobile devices by inauguration attendees of the moment Obama is sworn in as president. From the vast sweep of the crowd to a close-up on the new president’s raised hand, every angle of this historic moment will be frozen in time. To see examples of synths, visit http://photosynth.com.

CNN is inviting people witnessing “The Moment” to take part in a special iReport assignment by e-mailing their pictures to themoment@CNN.com. The photos will post immediately to iReport.com, CNN’s user-generated news community, and shortly after the oath of office, viewers and users can see the resulting synths on-air and online. In staying with CNN’s long tradition of using technology to reinvent political coverage, the network will feature the synths on the Magic Wall. The use of Photosynth within the multi-touch environment will be made possible by the strong relationship among CNN, Perceptive Pixel and Microsoft.

Visitors to CNN.com will also be able to explore the images captured in this transformative moment on either their PC or Mac. Photosynth will allow CNN.com visitors to glide around the Capitol, virtually experiencing the occasion from every angle. For more details on sending in photos and to view the synths on Inauguration Day, visit www.CNN.com/themoment.

“We’re pleased to partner with CNN to bring this historic event to life through the eyes of those attending the inauguration,” says Yusuf Mehdi, senior vice president, Microsoft. “Microsoft Photosynth technology enables an immersive experience for CNN to share with all of its viewers.”

“As the nation watches this momentous occasion on Tuesday, CNN, through its partnership with Microsoft, will again make television history,” adds David Bohrman, CNN’s senior vice president and Washington DC bureau chief. “From the YouTube debates to the Magic Wall, CNN has proven itself as the network which embraces technological tools to engage viewers and allow them to witness news events in ways never before imagined.”

On 20^th January, CNN’s The Inauguration of Barack Obama begins at 2pm (UAE), with continuous live coverage of the day’s events, including the swearing-in ceremony, parade and official inaugural balls. Throughout the special programming, viewers can expect to see the synths their pictures helped create.

For more information on Virtual Earth, visit www.microsoft.com/virtualearth.

SCCI hosts business meeting with key representatives of Sharjah’s banking and financial sectors

The meeting is a part of Chamber initiatives to enhance support to local business community.
The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) hosted a business breakfast on January 19, 2009 for representatives from Sharjah’s banking and financial sectors, at its new building. The event was attended by SCCI Director General Hussein Mohammed Al Mahmoudi; other senior representatives from SCCI; in addition to representatives from several banks and financial institutions in Sharjah.
This meeting is in line with the SCCI’s new agenda for 2009, which aims to improve communications and the exchange of views on vital issues with Sharjah’s economic sectors. The Chamber also wants to encourage dialogue on present and future challenges faced by Sharjah, ideas and visions on creating cooperative business opportunities, and strategies to enhance work performance in accordance with the highest standards of quality and excellence.
The event mainly focused on how the SCCI could assist the banking and financial sectors in overcoming obstacles to their optimal performance, especially in light of the global financial crisis. Discussions also highlighted the actions taken by the Federal Government to protect the national economy and the local banking system, including the development of convenient mechanisms to ensure more liquidity for banks in the short term; this would maintain the national economy’s high growth rates and protect it from global uncertainties.
The meeting commenced with Hussein Al Mahmoudi expressing his appreciation for the role played by the banking and financial sector in developing the local economy. He also noted the importance of organising this meeting and highlighted the Chamber’s continuous commitment to enhance its strategic relations with its partners in various sectors. He emphasized on SCCI’s role of facilitating the launch of new projects and initiatives that contribute to strengthening the process of sustained economic development in the business community of Sharjah and supporting economic concepts and practices that provide promising opportunities.
“This event is the first of several meetings that will be held by the Chamber during the current year with the various economic sectors of Sharjah. They will be part of overall initiatives to encourage joint cooperation with our partners and to create a superior economic working environment within the emirate. Actually, the business breakfast is an opportunity to attract new investments, forge new strategic partnerships and open communication lines with the private sector, as it provides a venue for interaction between businessmen and decision makers from government bodies. I would also like to thank all the parties in the banking and financial sectors for their efforts to develop their respective industries and to make the UAE a financial hub that gains the confidence of investors and attracts capital through a transparent regulatory environment,” Al Mahmoudi said.
The meeting also featured a general review of the economic conditions in the UAE at present, particularly of the banking and financial sectors. The participants also discussed the contributions made by the UAE’s private sector in promoting sustainable development.
“The following months will allow us to evaluate and review plans and strategies to enhance prevailing business realities. The implementation of principles of transparency at the regulatory level is a fundamental goal that must be achieved in Sharjah and throughout the UAE. The establishment of efficient governance practices for corporations is the ideal approach to attaining sustained development, especially in the banking sector. This shall be done by outlining qualifications and responsibilities expected from board members and providing them with insights on the latest developments in the financial sector, training them whenever necessary. As for the banking sector, there are plans to expand the scope of the regulatory and supervisory powers of the central banks to include investment banks and related financial brokerage firms,” added Al Mahmoudi,
According to data issued by the SCCI’s Information Centre, there are 36 banks operating in Sharjah; 22 are national banks while 14 are foreign banks. These institutions have branches all over the emirate, with eight branches of different banks in Khorfakan, four branches in Kalba, and three branches in Dibba Al Hosn.

Chilling out in desert: Safari tours pick up gear

by KK Moidu

Talks of recession or job cuts do not seem affect Desert Safari tour operators. In fact, such tours are gaining popularity with winter providing inspiration for the common people to chill out.
Tour operators are offering special packages at convenient times covering morning, evening and overnight for adventure enthusiasts.
People who do not find the evening hours convenient, but interested in dune bashing and adventure, can enjoy a morning desert safari.
These two-hour morning package includes awesome dune bashing, quad biking, camel ride and sand skiing with free water and soft drinks.

Evening desert safari, a six-hour tour package, begins in the afternoon with exciting dune drive before reaching the first destination.
People can enjoy the gorgeous Dubai desert sunset, camel ride and sand boarding before reaching the camp. A delicious barbecue dinner, Shisha and belly dance around the campfire are also part of the package.
Overnight desert safari, a 17-hour tour of the desert gives an opportunity to experience a night in the desert under the stars and also enjoy the inspiring sunrise in the desert.
Dune bashing, camel rides, shisha, traditional costumes, buffet dinner and BBQ, overnight stay at the camp site and breakfast are the highlights of the tour.
One of the main attractions of the desert safari tour is the adventure sport, dune bashing.
A smart driving over sand dunes is a highly popular pastime in the UAE.
Tourists consider adventure journey to the desert of golden sand dunes as a great experience to share with their family and friends back home.
Although dune bashing is possible anywhere in the Arabian deserts, certain places like Liwa Oasis in Abu Dhabi are known as the real playground and are chosen by adventures for unending fun.

The climate here is suitable for dune bashing except at the time of sandstorms and heavy rains.
"But the travellers should plan their route much in advance with a map and a tricky driving on soft sands by looking for camel footprints, which are the signs of hard and compacted sand or depend on the service of an experienced guide," according to a tour operator.
"Dune bashing is definitely a good way to enjoy the beauty and peace of the desert in the comfort of an air-conditioned four-wheeler."
All experienced 4WD licence holders can enjoy adventure tour by exploring sand dunes. First timers are recommended to book a trip with professional tour operators, who specialise in dune bashing to learn a few lessons on driving in the sand. This will save the inexperienced drivers from getting stuck on the deserts which will harm the expensive vehicle and a long wait for the rescuers.
A professional driver with experience and skill should accompany the group for preventing accidents.
Larger sand sailing vehicles like Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol, Mitsubishi Pajero, Hummer etc. are comfortable, because smaller vehicles are not recommended by experts as they easily tend to get stuck in the sands.
"Those who want to enjoy the maximum, better seek a fully efficient driver, who can be arranged by a professional desert safari tour operator," he pointed out.
A vehicle can carry as many people but a working seat belt is a must.
Before entering the desert the tyre pressure must be reduced by half for increasing the footprint of the tire. A group leader can lead the vehicles through the desert in single file to prevent them from losing the direction.
An Indian expatriate, Ratheesh, explains his first desert safari tour with family as "real fun."
He said, "We were supposed to be picked up at 3pm, but as a Tunisian family arrived late, the Land Cruiser left Sharjah City Centre only at 4pm. The charge was Dhs150 per passenger. The vehicle was wonderful and the Indian driver from Mumbai was smart. Hence the bumpy, bouncy desert travel experience turned out to be highly enjoyable."
He added: "Up and down went the cruiser while sand splashed all around the vehicle for nearly 20 minutes. Taking photographs with traditional costumes, camel rides, watching the beautiful desert sunset and a henna session for my daughters made the safari really enjoyable. In less than six hours we were back in Sharjah at the pickup point after a wonderful dinner, which was part of the package."

People resolve to quit smoking on the New Year day

KK Moidu

Quitting smoking is one of the most common New Year resolutions this year too like the previous years. Grocery vendors have confirmed that the sale of cigarettes fell on the New Year day.
Rafeeq, a salesman at Al Jaf Grocery, Sharjah said, only a few people bought cigarettes on the New Year day and some regular customers who buy cigarettes on a daily basis talked about their desire to quit smoking on the New Year day. Rafeeq added, "This happens every New Year and unfortunately most of them couldn't succeed in their resolutions. They return to the bad habit of smoking after a couple of days or within a week or month. But a few of them who succeeded in quitting smoking. Of 25 smokers who regularly bought cigarettes from the shop, only two quit smoking last year and fulfilled their year commitment."

 
Nishad, a 28 year old Indian, who decided to quit smoking on the New Year day proudly says,  "I haven't smoke any cigarette on the New Year day and  will try to fulfill my New Year resolution. I married recently and stopped smoking inside the house but still I was smoking half a packet of cigarettes everyday. I started smoking for a fun during my college days and it became habit and now I  want to save my health by quitting the bad habit."
Fifty-year-old Abdul Muthalib, who smokes more than a packet of cigarettes daily quit  smoking on the New Year's eve. He said, "I  decided to quit smoking on the New Year day. My room-mate was admitted to a hospital due to health problems. He was a chain smoker and doctors warned him about the harms of smoking. Since he can't smoke, and If I smoke in front of him he may start smoking again, and I will become partially responsible for his ill health."
Although many people are taking New Year resolutions, but all of them are not confident about the success of their goals. Mohammed the owner of Abu Moosa Grocery said most of the smokers return to their bad habits later, but women smokers succeed more when they decide to quit smoking or lose weight.