Recycle your mobile phone to win an iPad from Jacky’s

Jacky’s Electronics raises awareness on its Eco-exchange campaign via Facebook competition

Jacky’s Electronics, in connection with its Go Green campaign – ‘Eco-Exchange: Recycling that pays’ – is giving away an Apple iPad to one lucky Facebook Fan who will exchange his old mobile phone at any Jacky’s store. The old mobile phone could be in a working or non-working condition.

All Facebook fans of Jacky’s Electronics can enter the competition by taking interesting photos with a Jacky’s customer service executive whenever they exchange their mobile phones for a cash voucher from Dec. 20 to Jan. 19, 2011. Dubbed as ‘Go Green and win an iPad’, all photo entries must be uploaded on Jacky’s fan page – www.facebook.com/jackysuae/ – to get an entry into the draw for the Apple iPad.

“In October, we have enhanced our Go Green programme by launching the ‘Eco-Exchange’, which hopes to help in the proper disposal of electronic products in the country without any harmful environmental effects,” said Ashish Panjabi, Chief Operating Officer, Jacky’s Electronics. “Our partnership with The Green Foundation, a leading organisation specialised in electronics recycling, assures us that all devices including accessories are 100% reused or recycled to the highest industry standards through a strict zero landfill policy.

“This Facebook competition hopes to encourage more consumer awareness for recycling programmes such as this and to encourage recycling of old phones. The fact that you could be the proud owner of an iPad at the same time in addition to a cash voucher which you receive is a bonus for the customer,” he added.

Jacky’s Eco-Exchange scheme accepts up to five mobile phones in a single transaction as well as offers bulk recycling for larger quantities of mobile phones. In addition, customers can trade in their devices in whatever brand or condition. Jacky’s is offering value for non-working mobile phones, and if no value is available, the phones will still be recycled free of charge. 

“As the region’s full service recycling company, we are focused on partnering with leading electronic retailers in the UAE to ensure that all electrical items are recycled to the highest industry standards. With Jacky’s Electronics’ significant fans on Facebook, we are able to promote the recycling of electronic products which are generally being set aside by users,” Dominic Gothard, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, The Green Foundation said.

All registered Facebook users should become a fan of Jacky’s Electronics page and post their photos with a Customer Service Executive every time they exchange their old mobile phones at any Jacky’s outlets in the UAE. For the official competition rules, please visit: http://www.facebook.com/jackysuae/.

RIM unveils BlackBerry Bold 9780 smartphone in UAE

Research In Motion (RIM) announced the BlackBerry Bold 9780 smartphone for customers in the United Arab Emirates.

BlackBerry Bold 9780

As the newest addition to the BlackBerry Bold series of smartphones, the BlackBerry Bold 9780 is a compact and stylish smartphone that offers a compelling blend of features, performance and design. It supports 3G networks around the world, includes Wi-Fi and GPS for location-based applications and geo-tagging. It comes with a 5MP camera with a full complement of high-end features including continuous auto focus, scene modes, image stabilisation, flash and video recording. The new smartphone also provides 512MB Flash memory and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 32GB of additional storage.

The BlackBerry Bold 9780 is the first BlackBerry Bold smartphone to come with the new BlackBerry 6 operating system, which retains the familiar and trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh, approachable and engaging experience that’s powerful and easy to use. It integrates a new and rich WebKit-based browser that renders HTML web pages quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience. The browser offers fluid navigation using the handset's optical trackpad, includes tabs for accessing multiple sites simultaneously and provides a zoom feature that can intelligently auto-wrap text in a column while maintaining the placement of a page's key elements for easier viewing.

The BlackBerry Bold 9780 smartphone will be available from Etisalat, du and leading UAE retailers.

Research In Motion introduces three new BlackBerry smartphones in UAE

 Research in Motion (RIM), the designer and manufacturer of BlackBerry smartphones, recently celebrated its exciting new product and service introductions to the UAE, including the arrival of three new BlackBerry smartphones at Prive in the Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa, Dubai.

BlackBerry Pearl 3G: This powerful smartphone is compact, smooth and un-put-downable. It lets you chat in real time, not next time, with BlackBerry Messenger and listen to music for upto 30 hours. There's a flash on the camera, apps and even BlackBerry Maps with GPS in case your best friends are really bad with directions.

BlackBerry Torch 9800: The new BlackBerry Torch 9800 features a full-size touch screen on enhanced media player, 5MP camera with flash and apps to download to your hearts desire. In addition it comes with a combined 8 GB of media storage out-of-the-box and includes a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that can bring the total storage memory to 36 GB for customers that want more.

Blackberry Curve 3G: The new Blackberry Curve 3G smartphone is fully and completely dedicated to helping you master your everyday. It is better for browsing, fast attachment viewing, quicker downloading etc. With 3G you can talk and surf at the same time, so multitasking is even easier. Wi-Fi helps you stay connected wherever you are. And with built-in-GPS, wherever is remarkably easy to find. In fact, navigating with GPS is almost as effortless as navigating the BlackBerry curve 3G with touch-sensitive optical trackpad.

RIM Unleashes BlackBerry 6

Research In Motion (RIM) recently announced BlackBerry® 6, a new operating system for BlackBerry® smartphones that retains the trusted connectivity features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh, approachable and engaging experience that is both powerful and easy to use. BlackBerry 6 features a redesigned interface that seamlessly works with a touch screen and trackpad, expanded messaging capabilities that simplify managing social media and RSS feeds, an advanced multimedia experience that rivals the best in the industry, a convenient new Universal Search tool, and a new and efficient WebKit-based browser that renders web pages quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience.

“BlackBerry 6 is the outcome of RIM’s ongoing passion to deliver a powerful, simplified and optimised user experience for both touch screen and keyboard fans,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-ceo, Research In Motion.  “Following extensive research and development to address consumer needs and wants, we are delivering a communications, browsing and multimedia experience that we think users will love, and we are thrilled to debut BlackBerry 6 on the amazing new BlackBerry Torch smartphone.”

Visual, Fluid Interface
BlackBerry 6 has been redesigned making it easier and more intuitive, with clean, sleek visuals and natural, fluid navigation. Designed to be both fresh and familiar, the new interface enables a productive, fun and highly satisfying user experience whether using a touch screen or trackpad and keyboard.

Fast Rich Web Browsing
BlackBerry 6 integrates a new and efficient WebKit-based browser that renders web pages (as well as email) quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience. It features tabs for accessing multiple sites simultaneously, a double-tap to zoom feature that can intelligently wrap text in a column while maintaining the placement of a page's key elements, and pinch to zoom.

Social Feeds and Text Messaging
The new Social Feeds application simplifies the management of social networking and RSS feeds and provides integrated access to the native BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™), Facebook®, Twitter™, MySpace™, AOL® Instant Messenger™, Google Talk™, Windows Live™ Messenger and Yahoo!® Messenger applications for BlackBerry smartphones. Social Feeds streamlines the user experience, provides an integrated view of friends’ activities across multiple social networks, and let's users post updates across multiple networks simultaneously. Users can also easily add their favorite RSS Feeds from the Social Feeds application or directly from a website while browsing.

Engaging Multimedia Experience

The multimedia experience in BlackBerry 6 is designed to give users a more engaging and streamlined experience with album art everywhere in the new music and video players. The new BlackBerry® Desktop Software 6 integrates media sync for easily syncing photos and videos as well as iTunes® and Windows Media® Player music with the smartphone*.

Compatibility with Existing BlackBerry Smartphones
BlackBerry 6 will debut on the new BlackBerry® Torch™ smartphone (announced recently) available from AT&T on August 12 and it is also designed to run on select BlackBerry smartphones already in market. Subject to carrier certifications in the months ahead, the new OS is expected to be available for the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700, BlackBerry® Bold™ 9650 and BlackBerry® Pearl™ 3G, as well as future BlackBerry smartphones.

Haider sets off journey through emirates on solar powered wheelchair

Haidar Taleb receives the Guinness World Record certificate

Guinness World Record holder Haidar Taleb will set off tomorrow (Nov., 22, 2010) on a journey that will take him across all seven emirates in a solar-powered wheel chair. Haidar, a 47-year-old-Emirati, who built and designed the wheelchair himself, will travel more than 350km to promote innovation and renewable energy across the UAE in the run up to the National Day.

Starting in Fujairah, his 11-day journey will take him to schools, universities, police stations, and social centers for people with disabilities, before he finishes in Abu Dhabi’s Corniche on Dec. 2. Haider’s journey is sponsored by Masdar, Abu Dhabi's renewable energy initiative.

Haidar rose to national fame after setting a Guinness World Record for the longest distance travelled in a motorised solar-powered wheelchair, when he travelled 14 hours non-stop from Masdar City to Sharjah on Nov 11.

“With this journey I hope to raise awareness of disability and sustainability, as well as what we can achieve as individuals if we have the courage and determination to try.  When we have this determination, there are no limits to our creativity. That is the message I want to spread,” said Haidar. “I set off in the hope of inspiring people across the UAE, but it is the overwhelming support I have already received that will be my inspiration until I reach Abu Dhabi.”

Haidar has already travelled part of the UAE with his first prototype of the solar-powered wheelchair, which he presented to the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL), a Masdar Institute initiative - part of the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in 2010. Haidar will also participate as a speaker in next year’s YFEL in January 2011.

“With my upgraded solar-powered wheelchair, developed with Masdar’s support, I want to visit the seven emirates to demonstrate the value of renewable energy and sustainability,” Haidar said. “Investing time and effort to develop green technologies is very rewarding on different fronts. I believe there is a lot of talent in the UAE and one of the best ways to celebrate the National Day is by demonstrating what we are capable of achieving.”

TBS launches Cartoon Network Arabic 24/7 free-to-air channel

Turner Broadcasting System Europe Limited (TBS), a Time Warner company, launches its free-to-air Cartoon Network in Arabic recently in a function held at Media One Hotel, Media City, Dubai. TBS regional officials and celebrities attended the official inauguration. The channel, broadcasting completely in Arabic across the MENA region, will feature over 500 episodes of the kids’ most popular shows including: Ben 10, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Ben and Izzy and Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, in addition to the Middle East’s popular 3D animation series, FREEJ.

The launch coincides with the opening of Turner Broadcasting System’s offices in Dubai Media City, the region’s leading media hub and a member of TECOM Investments.

With a reach of a potential 35 million homes in the MENA region, the new channel will be launched to target the growing audience base who are dedicated followers of Cartoon Network through airing locally produced shows, blockbuster movies and original productions.

In commemorating this announcement, Alan Musa, Turner Broadcasting System Europe Ltd. Vice President and General Manager, Middle East, Africa & Pan Region said: “Cartoon Network Arabic reflects TBS’s ambition and belief in local talent. Our initiative has come to life through investing in different strategic partnerships with companies such as ‘Lammtara’ and ‘Rubicon’. Both partnerships will result in generating new ideas and content in addition to distributing them outside the MENA region.”

Under the deal with Lammtara, the studio and creator of FREEJ, Turner will license and distribute FREEJ episodes and merchandise, and produce a local version of its original production, Skatoony, which will feature FREEJ characters, a first for the global animated channel. Rubicon Group, the creator of ‘Tareq wa Shireen’ and ‘Ben and Izzy will be working with Turner to air these series on Cartoon Network.

“We are thrilled to work with prestigious names such as Turner Broadcasting System and Cartoon Network. Their efforts and determination to create localised high quality content is admired and will be recognised amongst the industry. We are confident that our relationship with TBS will create new and innovative opportunities in the future.” says Mohammed Saeed Harib, Creator and Director of FREEJ.

Mohammad Abdullah, Managing Director of TECOM Investments’ Media Cluster, said: “We welcome Turner Broadcasting Systems to TECOM Media Cluster with the launch of its free-to-air Cartoon Network Channel in Arabic. This is particularly noteworthy as Turner will focus on original content creation for the channel in collaboration with regional companies. There is a huge demand for locally produced content and we believe this initiative will add definite value to the Arab media industry.

TBS’s efforts in publicizing and marketing Cartoon Network Arabic have manifested itself through various communication channels such as Print, broadcast and online. In addition to traditional media, community campaigns are being carried out throughout the region focusing on schools and mall visits to raise awareness among the targeted audience and educate them about the new channel and programs it will air.

Moreover, a website dedicated to the new channel was launched to provide detailed and up-to-date information about the channel and its shows.

Jacky’s Electronics and AMD announce Facebook winners

 Jacky’s Electronics, the UAE’s leading multi-brand consumer electronics retailer, and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) Middle East, have declared Naveen Kumar as the winner of their latest collaborative Facebook competition dubbed 'Every Store Counts' which concluded on Oct.10.

 The event was held at Jacky’s Electronics, Mirdif City Centre, Dubai. Ashish Punjabi, chief operating officer, Jacky’s Electronics and Bernard Biolchini, AMD Vice President Sales and GM, Middle East, Turkey & North Africa were present at the event. 

The winner Naveen Kumar, who visited 10 out of 11 Jacky’s outlets across the UAE, received an Acer notebook powered by AMD VISION Technology. Among the runners-up from the competition were Analyn Placides, Manu Gopal and Karen D’Souza. AMD Middle East selected the winners from participants who posted the most creative photo among the entries.

For more updates on the latest gadgets and technologies, please visit Jacky’s Electronics’ fanpage on www.facebook.com/jackysuae/

Alauddinte Adbhuthavilakku on Asianet

 Airing Time: Monday To Friday at 9.30

The new serial Alauddinte Adbhuthavilakku, started airing from October 4, depicts the classic Arabian tale of Aladdin and his magic lamp.

It begins with the story of Aladdin's forbearers and then goes on to depict Aladdin's story — his quest for the lamp, the strange events that happen to him while on the quest and how he must fight to keep the lamp and the genie from getting into the wrong hands.

Jacky’s and AMD launches latest Facebook competition ‘Every Store Counts’

Wild hunts for the AMD staff are happening across all Jacky’s outlets in the UAE to win the newest personal computer with AMD VISION Technology.

Jacky’s Electronics and AMD Middle East, have launched the latest Facebook competition dubbed as ‘Every Store Counts’ from Oct 3 to Oct. 9. Fans must visit any Jacky’s store and look for a staff member wearing an AMD VISION t-shirt and take funky pictures of themselves with the so-called ‘AMD Visionary’ staff.

All Facebook users from the UAE and fans of Jacky’s Electronics can enter the competition. Participants must visit the Jacky’s Electronics Facebook page, and post their entries on the said fan page www.facebook.com/jackysuae/. Fans may post as many entries taken from different outlets. The more photos taken at various outlets mean the more chances of winning. Official contest rules are posted on the fan page’s competition tab.

AMD Middle East will select the most creative photo among the entries to receive a PC with VISION Technology from AMD. The winner will be announced on Oct. 10 in an award ceremony at the Jacky’s Mirdif City Centre outlet.

“Facebook is an effective way to directly communicate with our customers. Through our fan page, we manage to update and inform our loyal customers on the latest products available in the market as well as knowing their feedback on our services,” said Ashish Panjabi, Chief Operating Officer, Jacky’s Electronics.

“Holding competitions on a regular basis allows us to reward our fans with the newest gadgets such as an Apple iPad, Sony Ericsson Xperia and HP Envy Notebook. Together with AMD, we are giving away a computer powered by VISION Technology, a combination of cutting edge processing and video power for a remarkably vivid visual experience,” he added.

VISION Technology from AMD simplifies the PC buying process by embracing the contemporary ways in which consumers use PCs, rather than relying upon often confusing technical specifications. By combining powerful visual processing technologies, VISION Technology from AMD is ready to help consumers use their computers to enjoy high definition video entertainment, edit and share photos and video with friends, or collaborate and communicate online.

Bernard Biolchini, Vice President Sales & General Manager, AMD Middle East, Turkey & Africa said, “We are delighted to partner with Jacky’s for this Facebook competition. We believe that this social media activity will increase the awareness of AMD amongst the internet-savvy. This is only the beginning as customers will see more exciting activities from AMD and Jacky’s in the future”.

Jacky’s Electronics and HP Middle East announces Facebook competition winners

Jacky’s Electronics and HP Middle East, who recently delighted shoppers with a range of great deals and promotions, announced the winner of Facebook competition in a press conference held at Jacky’s Electronics outlet Level 2, The Dubai Mall.

Raaghini Wazacz receiving her HP Envy Notebook 

Ashish Panjabi, Jacky’s Electronics’ COO; Jimmy Patel, Jacky’s Electronics general manager and Suad Merchant, HP Middle East’s Retail and Trade marketing manager were present at the function.

Raaghini Wazacz won the latest HP Envy Notebook in the Facebook competition. The five runners-up were Mohammed Qubaisi, Joel Haddad, Hasina Nagaria, Abdul Mukit and Mudassar. HP Mini Raffle winners Purva Milind Khare, Renji M. Jacob, Ali Abdullah, Araman, Banschand, Min Guobring and Zuber Mohsen received HP Mini Netbooks.

3D enabled Blu-ray Disc Home Theatre Range from Sony

Sony Gulf recently unveiled its latest 5.1 channel 3D-enabled Blu-ray Home Theatre Systems BDV-IZ1000 and BDV-E970W, and the 3D-enabled HT-CT350 and HT-CT150 3.1 channel sound bars.

The 5.1 channel surround systems feature Blu-ray Disc playback, DVD upscaling, the award winning XrossMediaBar XMB on-screen menu and Internet streaming, allowing access to a wide range of on-demand content and the latest cinematic technologies that allow consumers to experience the ultimate entertainment in their living rooms.

Both systems sport a slimline, minimalist look to match the stylish new BRAVIA(r) models. The Home Theatre Systems BDV-IZ1000W and BDV-E970W can play 3D content from Blu-ray via the latest 3D-enabled BRAVIA HDTVs. The first all-in-one home cinema systems, the two models from Sony can play high-definition 3D content from Blu-ray Disc, and can also access a world of online video entertainment from the BRAVIA Internet Video platform.

The Home Theatre Systems also include Entertainment Database Browser by Sony to access disc cover art, actor, and production information, as well as IP Content Noise Reduction technology and Precision Cinema HD Upscaling to improve standard definition and web video quality. Both systems are also DLNA Digital Living Network Alliance certified, enabling the system to stream content from a wide range of external devices that can be controlled with their own universal remote control or with an iPod touch or iPhone.

The BDV-IZ1000W and BDV-E970W are equipped with Sony's S-Master digital amplifier and both deliver 1000W power output. The BDV-IZ1000W delivers the full cinema experience via five ultra slim speakers, using a virtual 7.1 wireless rear speaker system, while with the BDV-E970W, a real 7.1 set-up is also possible with the wireless upgrade kit WAHT-SBP2. The BDV-E970W comes with four floor-standing main speakers for front and rear, left and right channels, a high-power subwoofer and a centre speaker as standard.

Linkin Park Go Live in Abu Dhabi

FLASH Entertainment unveil top American rock band to headline at Yasalam 2010 concerts

FLASH Entertainment, the region’s premier live events company, recently announced double-Grammy Award winning rock band Linkin Park are confirmed as the act performing on November 13 as part of the Yasalam after-race concerts on Yas Island.

Originally from California, Linkin Park formed in 1996. They have since achieved critical and popular success with the albums Hybrid Theory, Meteora and Minutes to Midnight, as well as collaborations with artists such as Jay Z and Busta Rhymes. Last summer the band contributed to the score of the movie ’Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen' which also featured the hit single ‘New Divide.’

John Lickrish, Managing Director, FLASH Entertainment, commented: “The FLASH team cannot wait to welcome Linkin Park to Yasalam 2010; the annual Formula 1 celebration programme in Abu Dhabi.  Following the rock legacy of Aerosmith last year, Linkin Park will blow audiences away at the Yasalam After-Race concerts on Yas Island this year.”

Talking about Yasalam 2010, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park said: “We're looking forward to playing at the 2010 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Dhabi Grand Prix after-race concert this year. We can't wait to share our new music for our fans in Abu Dhabi.”

Yasalam, meaning wow, is the most diverse and ambitious city-wide entertainment programme ever seen by a Formula 1™ host city.  The 2010 programme will offer a stunning line-up of entertainment on Abu Dhabi’s famous Corniche, Yas Island and across the Capital during the 2010 Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.  Further details of Yasalam 2010 and other headline acts are still to be confirmed.

The Yasalam After-Race Concerts are exclusively for Formula 1™ race-day ticket holders.

Entertainment for shoppers at Oasis Center's Ramadan Tent

Children learn about the significance of lamps during the holy month, as they decorate their own lamps at Oasis Centre's Ramadan Tent

Oasis Centre has lined up an exciting calendar of activities for their shoppers this Ramadan.

A beautiful Ramadan tent in the mall atrium comes alive everyday at Iftar, after they break their fast with traditional kahwa and dates.

Shopper breaks his fast with traditional Kahwa and Dates at Oasis Centre's Ramadan tent

An array of artists has been commissioned at the mall, to keep shoppers engaged. This is led by calligrapher and micro-artist Mohamed Imran Anwar and his team, which skillfully writes the names of shoppers on grains of rice. Visitors can also enjoy other art-entertainment offerings such as ‘colour and glitter your moon’, ‘paint the pillar of Islam’, ‘colour your masjid puzzle’, ‘traditional kahwa pot painting’, ‘zakat jar decoration’, ‘clay art’, Islamic calligraphy and ‘henna painting’.

Writing on a grain of rice, Imran Anwar at Oasis Centre's Ramadan tent 

The mall is also giving away 64 all-expenses-paid vacations to Kuala Lumpur through an exciting raffle being held through the holy month, and over 30 winners have already received their prizes.

Omar Abdel Rahim, one of the winners of this an all-expenses-paid trip said: “This promotion is a very nice gesture from the mall; a refreshing change during the holy month of Ramadan. We visit the Oasis Centre almost every day, because it is the most convenient shopping experience for my wife and I. We love the mall and are so excited about our holiday to Malaysia. Oasis Centre has given us the best opportunity to that our family out for a vacation!”

Oasis Centre’s initiatives for Ramadan run through the holy month, until the end of Eid.

Fight to glory at Arabian Center

For the first time in the UAE, the mall hosts a Martial Arts tournament with karate apprentices training hard to prepare themselves

Arabian Center paves the path for a new karate kid in the UAE. The mall, the latest hotspot for shopping, leisure and entertainment in Dubai, is hosting the ‘Ramadan Martial Arts Tournament 2010’ as part of the festivities for the holy month of Ramadan. The competition will have a stunning display of martial arts skills and agility. The tournament started on August 26 and will be held on Aug 27 and 28 and September 2, 3 and 4.

Acting as apt inspiration for prospective candidates is Col. Magdy Eid Sulaiman, karate extraordinaire who holds the 6 Dan Black Belt and is recipient of over 60 international certificates in martial arts. “Karate is commonly referred to as a form of self defense. However, I believe it is a definition of your personality and character. Not only does it provide you with a skill to protect yourself, it also keeps you healthy, focused and disciplined.”

Commenting on the tournament, Mathew Thomas, Marketing Manager, Arabian Center, “We are very excited about hosting this unique tournament. Martial Art is considered a very noble skill to attain and we are proud to hold this tournament for children of all age groups. Arabian Center has always strived to provide different and enticing entertainment options for its patrons. We are positive that this event will be well received and enjoyed thoroughly by the competitors and spectators alike.”

The tournament is spread over three age groups: 5 – 12 years, 13 – 19 years, 20 years and above.

Arabian Center is home to over 200 internationally renowned brands ranging from clothing to home furnishings, electronics, jewellery, perfumes, fashion accessories, toys and games. Sprawling over a generous area of 80,000 square meters, the mall also houses a hypermarket – World Mart, which carries a wide variety of products fulfilling the daily needs of the shoppers. Arabian Center is also home to a large food court that offers a variety of popular eateries, apart from a number of scrumptious dining options available at the mall.

The mall has recently opened a fully digital Dolby CinemaCity, equipped with eight big screen state-of-the-art digital theaters and a highly scrumptious sushi bar. Catering to a large audience of Arabs, Europeans and Asians, the Arabian Center is a complete family destination for shopping, leisure and entertainment.

The mall houses many public utility services such as a medical clinic, a children’s day care center, banks, post office and immigration department, Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department (DNRD) and a travel agency, attempting to create a convenient one-stop-shop destination for all living requirements. Sporting Arabian architecture with a modern outlook, the mall houses a variety of shopping options for men, women and children, facilitating an effortless and fun shopping experience.

The quaint charm of Masafi Friday Market

Friday Market, near the small town of Masafi, on the Dubai-Fujairah highway is a big attraction for people from all walks of life. The well known street market, where goods are comparitevily sold at a cheaper price is a favourite place of shopping for locals, expatriates and tourists, especially those who have bargaining skills. Unlike the fully air-conditioned departmental stores with dashing lights, decorations and special offers to magnetise the customers, the Friday Market, surrounded by mountains, have no such charms. The market is free of credit cards, branded products and computerised billing.

The asbestos roofed stalls at the Friday Market offer a wide range of products like fruits, vegetables, plants, toys, musical instruments, furniture and carpets. It is also famous for handcrafted rugs and antiques. Locally made pots and cups to bedding plants and trees are also available in several nurseries in the market. You will also find traditional pottery items made of local clay and the modern toys, which links the past with the present.

The shops are open all days, but business is good on weekends and public holidays. Even if you are travelling by the road at midnight there are sellers waiting for customers in the market. If you have no intention of making a purchase and show less interest, they will offer the wares for a lesser price.

Mohammed Hussain from Bengladesh, a salesman with a fruits and vegetable shop for the last six years said: "Most of the fruits and vegetables are fresh and locally grown. This is one of the advantages of buying fruits and vegetables from here. The market is open on all days, but business is good on weekends, especially on Friday." He added that the market is known as Masafi Friday Market for its popularity on Fridays.

All the people visiting the market are not necessarily buyers, but most of them break their journey here, get out of the vehicles and take a stroll around. They enjoy looking at the items in the market and chatting with the friendly shopkeepers. Most of the tour operators and people from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman buy something from the market or at least stop here and experience the joy of bargaining.

Sherly Joseph, a housewife from Dubai said: "While going to Khorfakkan, we stopped here and the children liked the atmosphere here very much. They loved to taste the mangoes, corns and to buy toys displayed in the shops. We have recently shifted to a new flat and want to buy plants, pottery and handmade carpets on our return journey. I think the price of carpets is less than in the shopping malls."

Most of the vegetable and fruit shops here are owned by Bangladeshis. Carpet shops are the monopoly of Pakistanis and Afghans. Indians normally run cafeteria, grocery and toyshops. The sociable vendors in the fruit shops offer a piece of fruit to taste before you buy.

There is no fixed price in the market and one should use one's bargain skills especially in the carpets and antiques shops. When you ask the price of a carpet, initially they quote a high price. If you disagree and step out from the shop, the salesman will follow you asking, "How much you will give?" And finally, you can buy the product for half the asking price.

Though there are no special staffs for outdoor delivery, they help by delivering the purchase to your vehicle.

DPG hosts Bazaar for Al Noor Centre

Dubai Properties Group (DPG), a member of Dubai Holding, hosted a two-day bazaar for Al Noor Centre at their headquarters in Dubai to support children with special needs.

The bazaar, which proved popular with the more than 1100 DPG employees, displayed a wide variety of handicrafts made by students at the Centre ranging from office stationery to home decor, ladies bags and wallets to homemade cookies.

The event also allowed employees to interact with the Centre’s inspiring students who attend Al Noor Centre for professional training, which allows them to integrate into the community.  All proceeds from the bazaar were donated to the Centre.

As a builder of diversified communities, Dubai Properties Group seeks to connect people and support diverse strata of our society through community-oriented activities. DPG continuously endeavours to host events and activities that engage and support the community in which we live and work.

LG’s New LED Monitor promotion

Launching its superb new E40 and E50 monitors, LG issues a worldwide call for touching stories with the promise of surprising prizes including a Volkswagen Wagon Golf GTI2, 2 travel vouchers worth AED 30,000 and full HD TV Monitors E2380VX

Marking the arrival of its new LED monitors series, the E40 and E50, LG Electronics Business Solutions (LG), launched Sincerity, an online campaign (http://sincere.lge.com/gf) that aims to elicit and share touching stories from LG consumers around the world.

“The LG LED ‘Sincerity’ campaign will be conducted simultaneously in 9 countries, with people sharing 2,073,600 sincere messages, one for each pixel on our new monitors,” said Mr HS Paik, President of LG Gulf FZE.

Sincerity Shared, Prizes Won

As part of the Sincerity campaign, which runs from May 15 to July 13 this year, participants will be asked to “show their sincerity” by leaving on the campaign’s website moving personal stories or their own personal reflections on what sincerity means.

Smartphone users can take part in this event through their phones. Using Pixel Soldiers, i-Phone and Android Phone users can contribute their sincere stories by simply tapping them into their phones. Smartphone users can also download “wallpaper” containing their own sincere stories.

Each participant will be allotted one of 2,073,600 pixels, which will collectively form a full picture with as many pixels as LG’s new LED monitors.

During the promotion, LG will display selected messages across all retail stores in UAE “LED Zones”. Better still, those winners will also receive one of a range of fantastic prizes, including a Volkswagen Wagon Golf GTI2, travel vouchers worth AED 30,000 and full HD TV Monitor E2380VX. There will also be special sweepstake prize draw where 30 lucky winners will take home an LED LCD Monitor E2350V.

A Smart and Fun Friend

By highlighting the amount of time we now spend with our computers, LG is using the Sincerity campaign to cast its new monitors as more than just products. In providing the perfect place for users to talk, see, work and play, the E40 and E50 series are aimed at becoming a true friend in the workplace or at home.

Through their smart technology, the E40 and E50 provide a host of “sincere” functions that make the monitors a delight to use. The E50’s Smart+ Package includes a dual web feature that automatically splits the screen to allow easy multitasking, an auto brightness function that measures the light surrounding the monitor to ensure optimal brightness at all times, and a cinema mode, which creates the perfect environment for watching videos.

The E40’s Fun Package, meanwhile, boasts various photo editing features, and an original ratio function that enables viewers to watch videos in their original 4:3 wide angle without any on-screen distortion.

The First Monitor with UL Environment Certification

Though providing features as strong as on any monitor on the market, the E40 and E50 series boast impeccable ecological credentials. As well as being 30 percent lighter, the monitors use 45 percent less energy and fewer hazardous materials, with no halogen and mercury at all. Thanks to these improvements, the E50V model has become the first monitor to be awarded environmental certification from the US safety testing organization UL.

For those looking for something a little extra from their picture, the E50VR model boasts super resolution technology, for a picture as vivid and sharp as anything on the market. And with all E50 models, a depth of just 17.5mm creates a sleek, elegant finish, while a detachable two-way stand makes the monitor even more convenient to use. 

Equipped with convenient, smart technology, eco-friendly features, an exceptional picture quality and sophisticated design, LG’s E50 and E40 are set to raise the bar once more for the computer monitor market.

They are now available in all leading retail stores and will retail at AED 1199 (E2250V) and AED 1399 (E2350V).