- Turbo Month (April) – In this season you can watch out for Fifth Gear 16, American Chopper 6, Wheeler Dealers 6, Street Customs Berlin, Twist the Throttle and many more that will get the car lovers heart revving!

For more information, please contact:
Adnan Abdel-Razzak
Rawaj International
Adnan.a@rawajinternational.com
+971 4 365 4557

On this occasion, Chaumet hosted an exclusive VIP event at its boutique in Dubai Mall on November 11th, 2009.

Around 500 guests including Mr. Thierry Fritsch – President of Chaumet, Mr. Patrick Chalhoub – CEO of Chalhoub Group, Ingie Chalhoub – President and Managing Director of Etoile Group, Chaumet’s VIP clientele and members of the press attended this lavish event.

On this occasion, the guests were honored to witness the unveiling of “Le Grand Frisson” collection which was introduced in “Avant-premiere”.

Mr. Peter Pollak, General Manager Passenger Sales UAE & Director Gulf, Lufthansa German Airlines said, “I would like to wish everyone a warm felt Ramadan Kareem. In our consistent efforts and dedication to our UAE, Oman and Kuwait customers, Lufthansa introduces this Ramadan special with very attractive fares to 40 European destinations, combined with our extensive network worldwide. We are positive this offer will be well received by our passengers who would like to beat the summer heat and fly to their favorite destinations in Europe with these special fares from Lufthansa”.

Customers can book their tickets before September 18, 2009 and are required to commence travel latest by February 15, 2010. Hence, Lufthansa is also offering a very long travel period. This gives customers the opportunity to buy now and travel in the coming months, either for leisure, business, Eid break or Christmas holidays. The maximum period of stay is 3 months.

Lufthansa German Airlines is the only airline connecting Dubai and Abu Dhabi with 20 weekly flights to Frankfurt and Munich. . Lufthansa flies daily from Kuwait to Frankfurt and also offers daily flights from Muscat to Frankfurt shortly before midnight (actual departure times vary for the different weekdays). Lufthansa, the German flag carrier has an extensive route network, connecting the region to a total of 194 destinations in 79 countries which can be reached from Frankfurt and Munich.

The Ramadan Special fares offer quoted above for UAE, Kuwait and Oman are available if booked online at www.Lufthansa.com as well as through local travel agents. These fares are excluding taxes and service charges and subject to special conditions. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit our website or contact the Lufthansa office in Dubai on 04-3432121, in Oman on 00968-2479-6692 and Kuwait on 00965-2242-2493 or your local designated travel agencies.

Based on the Islamic concept of Murabaha, INTALEQ Ramadan Promotion offers an array of benefits and features such as competitive profit rates, installment & profit holiday for after 90 days and a host of other benefits.

“Ramadan holds a special significance for our bank, our customers and the community, and we wanted to reflect this by launching a very special offering which reflects the spirit of Ramadan!” said Mr. Faisal Aqil, GM Retail Banking for Emirates Islamic Bank.

Customers can also benefit from tailor-made features designed to suit their wallets like the 72-month repayment periods. This feature gives them the distinct advantage of planning out their finances and simultaneously helps them have an improved lifestyle today with the ease of long-term repayments.

Commenting on her win, Shouq said:

“I’m very pleased about winning this competition, which allowed me to bring my creative ideas to life and showcase my talent in fashion design, especially in designing abayas that distinguish Khaleeji women. My abaya was inspired by spring, designed as a butterfly full of the happy and vivid colors of this season.’

‘In the past, the Khaleeji abaya consisted of one piece that is worn from the head down to cover all the body, despite differences in some details that reflected the individuality of each country. This dress changed over the years and consisted of two separate pieces for the head and the body,’ said Mohammed Al Samhan, one of the competition judges and owner of Al Yashmac Fashion. ‘Even as designs of abayas became more creative and fashionable, this traditional dress maintained its black color across the region. The move by Persil Abaya Shampoo to launch this competition has proved the great talent that Arabian woman enjoys, as she translates her creativity into beautiful designs that contribute to highlight this dress as part of our proud heritage.’

UAE designer Amal Murad, jury member and owner of ‘Redaa’, said:

‘Abayas in the GCC have become more than just a traditional black dress, and now reflect a wide variety of models and designs that serve the needs of khaleeji women – students workers or housewives. These abayas are elegant, and at the same time preserve the decency and originality of this traditional dress.

‘Arwa’a Abaya’ was a great way to discover creative designing talents that will help launch new designs to further introduce the world to this special line of fashion, which now runs its own fashion shows,’ she added.

The competition, the first of its kind in the region, has captured huge attention in terms of participation and audience, who watched its updates on leading Arabic channel MBC1.

Members and non-members alike are invited to participate in large selection of cultural and social events, art exhibitions and workshops. The workshops and events are open to ladies and children only.

The many various planned attractions will include the first ladies-only Ramadan tent in the UAE overlooking the clubs pristine and private beach. Each week, the tent will feature a new theme (African/Moroccan/Lebanese/Emirati) and will incorporate beautiful traditional design and cuisine of the country; hence guests will learn and experience how Ramadan is celebrated around the world. There are no entry charges for the Ramadan tent. However, the Ramadan Tent will now offer an impressive buffet menu (Iftar for AED95 per person and Suhoor for AED75) as well as à la carte menu.

Moreover, guests visiting the tent will receive a goodies bag and also be entered into a raffle to win a Family Holiday Package to Thailand worth AED50,000. The package will include four return tickets from Dubai to Bangkok as well as a 4-nights stay at a luxury 5-star property in Thailand.
Dubai Ladies Club will be open from 9 am till midnight during Ramadan.

For more information: info@dubailadiesclub.com

Hyderabad biryanis are a staple of the cuisine in Hyderabad, the fifth largest city in India which has a rich heritage from the Qutb Shahi dynasty. Swaad Restaurant will be offering a variety of different biryanis, starting from AED 50, including traditional Hyderabadi Kacchi gosht ka biriyani, Sofiyani biryani, Kheema biriyani and Tarkari biryani.

The Layali tent will be open daily during Ramadan, from 7:00pm to 2:00am, serving traditional Arabic delicacies prepared by Le Méridien Al Aqah’s famous Arabic chef who will be flown in for the occasion. The extensive menu includes fetir, pastry stuffed with scrumptious fillings such as cream, fruit and nuts; hommous, foul madamas, and balila. Hot and cold Ramadan drinks, such as tea, coffee, sahlab, helba and karkade will also be served, and flavored shisha will be available. Mezzes are priced between AED 25 to AED 35, mains are priced between AED 45 to AED 60 and desserts are priced between AED 30 to AED 40. The cover charge is AED 75 per person.

Views restaurant will serve an affordable iftar menu during Ramadan, priced at AED 78 per person while Taste Restaurant will offer Regional Food of Thailand from September 1 to 15. Prepared by Chef Praiwan, the menu will feature favorites from the four main regions of Thailand – Central/Bangkok, North/Chiang Mai, Northeast (Issan) and the South. Dishes are priced from AED 50.

Swaad Restaurant and Taste Thai Restaurant are both open daily for dinner from 7:00pm to 10:30pm.

Throughout September, Views continues its international evenings, priced at AED185. Starting at 7pm at Views, diners can choose from Festa Italiana on Saturdays, Asian Breeze on Sundays, Tour de France on Mondays, Locavores on Tuesdays, Mexicana on Wednesdays and Sea View on Fridays. All of the menus include a refreshing selection of beverages. Views restaurant is also offering a value-packed Friday lunch from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, priced at AED 199 including pool and beach access.

Gonu Bar and Grill, on the shores of the resort’s private beach, offers all day dining, as well as moonlight dinners tailor-designed for guests. During September, enjoy a romantic dinner on the beach for AED 600 per couple for a special set menu, including limited special beverages.

And for more private dining, hotel guests can enjoy the convenience of dining in the comfort and privacy of their own rooms through the 24-hour In Room Dining service. During September, a special Al Aqah Burger menu will be on offer, in addition to the existing menu featuring a range of international cuisines.

Astro’s, the 20th floor bar with a spectacular view of the Hajar Mountains and the Indian Ocean, is an ideal venue for after work-beverages. Astro’s is open daily from 7:00pm to 1:00am and happy hour is from 9:00pm to 10:00pm

Tea & Dates, the hotel’s stylish lobby lounge, offers a daily special, and is open from sunset to midnight during Ramadan. The menu features an assortment pastries, fresh croissants, sandwiches, salads, dates, and delectable cakes, complemented by the finest hot and cold beverages, including a signature coffee menu. After Ramadan, Tea & Dates will be open daily from 10:00am to 10:00pm and on weekends from 10:00am to 11:00pm.

For reservations, please call +971 9 244 9000 or visit lemeridien.com/fujairah

One of the key activities is Dubai Bank’s partnership with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), to serve as a sponsor of the 8th Ramadan Forum. The Forum is a large annual event organised by the DTCM, featuring scholars and lecturers from Arab and Islamic countries. It also has significant exhibitions, community-style Iftars and charity caravans that roam the streets of Dubai to distribute brochures and pamphlets in a range of languages outlining the values and beliefs of Islam.

Dubai Bank has also partnered with the Dar Al Bar Society, a leading Islamic charitable and educational organisation, to host Iftars for the local community, including underprivileged members of society.

Dubai Bank is also organising a unique Suhour at the Madinat Jumeriah for its Royal Banking clients, as a recongnition of their special contribution to the ongoing success of the bank

Recognising value is also the theme behind a series of special events organised by the bank for its staff during Ramadan. Along with gifts of the traditional box of dates, employees will also be invited to participate in a wide range of athletic and cultural events designed to foster community spirit, in line with the guiding principles of the Holy Month.

“Throughout the year, and especially during the Holy Month of Ramadan, we make a special effort to give back to the community that we are so honoured to serve. By working closely with organisations like the DTCM and Dar Al Bar Society, we are privileged to be able to make a lasting contribution to the welfare of the community here in Dubai and across the UAE,” said Mohamed Amiri, Head of Retail Banking at Dubai Bank. “At Dubai Bank, all our actions are guided by Shari’a, which means that all our staff conduct themselves with the highest level of transparency, integrity, fairness, respect and care in all aspects of our business.”

“During Ramadan, Dubai Bank takes pride in sharing its success with our loyal customers, dedicated employees and society as a whole,” said Asim Al Ali, Head of Human Resources at Dubai Bank. “Through our corporate social responsibility activities and internal events, the bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to the principles of Shari’a, and its overriding vision of giving back to the community.”

Festival activities will start on August 22, 2009 and run until October 3, 2009. A huge number of participants from different social, business, cultural, religious, sports, environmental and heritage sectors will be joining this year’s edition. SCCI is organising the event in collaboration with various local governmental departments to determine and provide the necessary elements to ensure the success of the festivities, with strong support from its numerous sponsors.

The press conference, which was headed by SCCI Director General Hussein Mohammed Al Mahmoudi, was attended by Assistant Director General of Economic and International Affairs Mohammed Ahmed Amin and Director of Economic Affairs Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan. Representatives from concerned governmental departments, companies and organisations sponsoring the event were also present, along with several media representatives.

Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, SCCI Chairman and Vice President of the festival’s Higher Organising Committee, underlined the importance of the continuous support and contributions from all local departments. He explained that under the supervision of H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority Chairman and president of the Higher Organizing Committee, the festival would exert maximum effort to help advance the growth of Sharjah’s economy and society.

Al Midfa noted that the campaigns and promotions of the past 19 editions have helped enhance Sharjah’s investment, economic and business appeal while highlighting positive artistic, social and humanitarian aspects consistent with Sharjah’s’s heritage and culture. He added that the SCCI has been actively encouraging the private sector to participate in the festival and other promotional initiatives. He emphasized the Chamber’s role in developing the ability of nationals to organise marketing and other special events in the emirate and affirmed the valuable contributions of the Sharjah Tatweer Forum in this regard.

For his part, Al Mahmoudi said that this year’s festival is the result of a detailed study conducted by the Chamber which explored various policy and organisational strategies to enhance the holding of local festivals, special events, promotions and marketing campaigns. The best organising mechanisms were determined based on ideas and recommendations from governmental departments, supervisors of related establishments such as malls and supermarkets, other concerned parties, and the general public.

The Director General discussed the importance of organising this festival and ensuring collaborative support for other seasonal promotions among Sharjah’s government offices. This, Al Mahmoudi said, is in line with the SCCI’s commitment to support private sector investments and motivate retail activities specifically by creating a competitive environment among malls and retail shops, while leveraging Sharjah’s tourist attractions to draw people living outside of the emirate.

Mohammed Ahmed Amin stated that although there are many other festivals and promotions held every year, SRF is very special due to the diverse activities it offers during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr. He outlined the festival program covering various cities of Sharjah, the specific benefits of its activities to commercial establishments, and its focus on public markets, malls and tourist destinations.

Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan attributed the high level of interest and expected attendance this year to incentives and facilities conceptualized by the Higher Organising Committee. These took into consideration the effects of the international financial crisis on Sharjah’s economic sectors. He added that the committee assigned to participation and promotions has instructed SCCI members to continue receiving applications from companies and trading organisations until the start of the festival. This will be done in cooperation with malls to encourage participation from retail shops. Al Jarwan also mentioned that slots are still available for the Ramadan Exhibition slated for August 27, 2009 at the Sharjah Expo Centre in conjunction with SRF 2009.

Al Jarwan confirmed that all preparations have been made for the launching of special activities addressing the needs of visitors from Sharjah and the other emirates. He referred to sporting, exhibition, social and other entertainment events as well as shows targeting children and families. He noted that the shopping activities in particular would attract great interest. The SCCI official added that the Committee and the sponsors are shouldering valuable raffled prizes and that free gifts and low-priced goods would also be available throughout the festival.

“It can be hard to keep up with drinking the required daily 2 glasses of milk and an extra dairy serving when you are fasting. However, there are many easy ways to ensure that your bones get their recommended daily intake of Calcium and other nutrients necessary for maintaining strong and healthy bones,” says Lynn Al Khatib, Nutritionist, Nestlé Middle East.

Calcium should still be adequately consumed as part of your diet during Ramadan to keep your bones healthy and maintain normal blood calcium levels. Al Khatib explains that when you are running low on calcium in your body, it is removed from your bones (your calcium bank) in order to make up for it and maintain the right levels in the blood. So as long as you make sure you are consuming enough calcium, or 1000 mg/day for adults, your bones will not be depleted.

Dr. Gemma Adib, President of the Pan Arab Osteoporosis Society says, “During Ramadan, people tend to eat around 30% more than they are used to. To avoid the negative effects of over-eating we recommend monitoring the quality of foods consumed for their nutritional value, and to ensure we are getting the nutrients necessary for our bones. For example, juices and drinks high in sugar can be replaced with low-fat cold milk or yoghurt. We can also add more calcium-rich fruits and vegetables to the Iftar and Sahour meals, like broccoli, spinach, tofu etc.”

There are many other ways you can ensure your proper daily Calcium intake is maintained during Ramadan, through including dairy products in your food starting with your Iftar meal, advises Lynn Al Khatib.

“One way is to include yoghurt or a milk-based recipe in your meal every day. Another trick is substituting the traditional daily Ramadan sweets we tend to consume in the evenings with dairy-containing types of sweets, such as rice pudding, sahlab or mohallabiah. You can also try a smoothie or a milk shake with some bananas and strawberries; a great way to have a tasty dessert with less calories!”

“Then at Sahour, you can compensate for the rest of your Calcium needs,” continues Al Khatib.

“Sahour is a very important meal in Ramadan and it helps you maintain your energy in the following day. We highly recommend drinking a cup of milk which also helps you stay hydrated while fasting. One glass of specialized, fortified adult milk like Nestlé NESVITA® pro-Bones could provide you with 50% of your recommended daily intake in addition to all the other supporting nutrients your bones need.”

Keeping your bones strong and healthy during Ramadan is simple: adopt healthy Ramadan eating habits, choose sensibly, and most importantly, follow a healthy, balanced and varied diet that provides the recommended amount of calcium and other nutrients. And it goes without saying, don’t forget to exercise regularly and get a little bit of sunshine into your life. Fortified food products are also a good way to ensure your daily recommended intakes of bone nutrients are met: Nestlé NESVITA® pro-Bones could help you achieve that.

For more useful bone health tips, visit www.nestle-family.com.