Thursday, December 29, 2011




UAE, Dubai 22 December 2011: Global Village showcased a spectacular

Taekwondo show to a captivated audience last night. The fabulous show,

which went on for an hour and 10 minutes, was performed by 25 Korean

Taekwondo performers. The show was performed in the Middle East for the

first time last night.

Using highly advanced light and audio technologies, the Taekwondo show

enacted an exciting story about the conflict between good and evil through

the characters of Mars and Terra.

This show is supported by The World Taekwondo Federation in the UAE,

and has been brought to the region for the first time. The Korean Taekwondo

band aims to spread peace and love around the world.

The Taekwondo dancing band has performed in many different regions and

countries, including Europe, Los Angeles, Vietnam, and New York, and will

now stage the show in Dubai, before returning to Europe.

The exciting show uses human feelings and stories, along with music and

light, to communicate the idea in about 70 minutes.

The opening show, performed on Thursday evening, enjoyed tremendous

success, and attracted a high turnout. The success of the show last night is

an indicator for a larger audience this evening. This show comes within the

Spectacular Shows schedule that is presented by Global Village during this

season.

Since its inception in 1997, Global Village has become the key

entertainment and shopping destination in the region. It includes rich diverse

cultures and civilizations, and offers a diverse range of restaurants and shops

from across the world. In fact, Global Village is the main entertainment,

culture and family fun destination in the region.

Vacant spaces near DM centres available for rent



Dubai Municipality has decided to allow parties to make use of the vacant spaces near Customer
Services with its Centres ,for rent. It was announced by Hussain Nasser lootah , Director General of
Municipality after the civic body passed an administrative resolution regarding this. The new
resolution allows individuals and parties interested to make use of the vacant spaces near
Municipality Customer Centres, to establish advertisement kiosks or stalls for promotional
activities , for an amount of AED 200 per square meter daily.

The new resolution by the civic body comes in accordance with the provisions under the 1997
law No.6 and its amendments regarding contracts of government departments in Dubai. The law
has detailed about the type, purpose, place, duration ,and payments of the contracts for making
use of vacant places .The parties may not be allowed to change purpose, place ,duration of the
business sought as per the contract, at any cost, and should have to strictly abide by the conditions
the law extends.

New resolution also underlines that the parties take over the spaces on contract should have
to abide the other laws and regulations of the municipality as well as those are enforced in the
Emirate of Dubai ,and they will be responsible for any damage of the place or disruption of
Municipality services that may happen as the result of their occupation to the vacant spaces.

Global Village offers 40 fun games to all ages granting them a more exciting time during the event.


UAE, Dubai 28 December 2011: Global Village, member of TECOM
Investment, is always keen to welcome the first minutes of the New
Year and conclude the year with an impressive performance schedule. 45
countries from around the world offer free special shows and arts to Global
Village visitor. In addition, a variety of shopping offers have be compiled
from around the world.

As of today, visitors can enjoy exciting decorations starting from the main
gate, entrance gates, internal lobbies, pavilion facades all of which have
witnessed major changes this year. Visitors can also ride the boats decorated
with dazzling lights in the Global Village lake.

Since the Global Village season began, unique art and cultural events
have captured millions of visitors such as the fabulous Dancing Fountain
and Water Screen displayed for the 1st time the Middle East. In addition
all pavilion s will participate in entertaining folk shows. Furthermore,
fireworks will add more delight and joy greeting the New Year before the
start of the countdown.

The New Year celebrations at Global Village include a festive parade that
will take place on Saturday evening at 11:15PM, starting from Gate 1 to
roam through Global Village and ending next to Wheels of Danger Show
location. It includes rich diverse folk costumes and flags for every pavilion’s
country and will present distinguished entertainment experience to the
audience. Also, the parade will include special shows from the pavilion of
China, Egypt, Pakistan, Yemen, Morocco, Thailand, Africa, Afghanistan,
India as well as UAE’ folk show.

To further spread joy and happiness, there are several street events awaiting
visitors in more than one location at the Global Village arena. All pavilions
are competing to provide the best shows for visitors, especially for children
interacting with world music.

Shopping offers
Global Village stores will cater to all family needs through a range of
featured products including children’s apparel. Visitors can also enjoy
pavilion restaurants which will offer special cuisines that visitors may
recognize from their own Countries.

Global Village offers 40 fun games to all ages granting them a more
exciting time during the event.

The main aim of the event is for Global Village to blend the borders and give
visitors the chance to gather amongst various cultures and share in the joy
and happiness of the New Year.

Since its inception in 1997, Global Village has become the key
entertainment and shopping destination in the region. It includes rich diverse
cultures and civilizations, and offers a diverse range of restaurants and shops
from across the world. In fact, Global Village is the main entertainment,
culture and family fun destination in the region.

Symantec Discovers New Malware with Potential to Exploit Interest around Arab Spring



New malware found targeting individuals specifically in the Middle East through an app could
open the door to more malicious attacks

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 29th December, 2011 – There has been a lot of discussion
regarding the impact of the Internet, social media, and even the availability of cheap cell
phones on the uprisings in the Middle East. Three major themes from 2011 – mobile malware,
hacktivism and the “Arab Spring” – have converged in a new threat dubbed Android.Arspam
by Symantec. Based on our research, the malicious version was only distributed through forums
focusing on Middle Eastern issues, utilizing the open nature of Android operating platforms to
grow and spread the attack by means of ‘Hacktivism.’

Hacktivism is based on an activist agenda where there may be no visible monetary gain by
the instigator. Instead the overall goal is to send a message or get a point across. Even though,
on occasion, the message may be something many will sympathize with, this doesn’t mean
it’s a victimless crime. In many cases, the cost of getting an agenda across may involve using
resources, even people without consent.

“The Middle East has undoubtedly seen a rise in hacktivism and cybercrime in 2011, not only is it
an emerging market that has great financial appeal for cybercriminals but the region plays host to
an increasingly connected and mobile online community that offers great scope for those looking
to exploit these devices to reach a wider audience. The ‘Arab Spring’ is just one of many trending
topics that are attracting a higher volume of online traffic which is essentially where the low
hanging fruits lie,” said Bulent Teksoz, Chief Security Strategist, Emerging Markets, Symantec.

“In a way, this threat is a testament to the rise of Hacktisivm. Attacks like Android.Arspam
further offer Hacktivists and cybercriminals targeting this region an opportunity to test and
develop their methods. It is of crucial importance that individuals and organizations secure
themselves across all devices as these ‘gateway’ threats become more sophisticated and
potentially harmful.”

How does it work?

The Android.Arspam Trojan was embedded into a pirated, popular Islamic compass app. The
official version of the app, available on the Android Market, is not affected and, as the screenshot
indicates, this pirated app contains expanded permissions beyond what is requested from the
official one.

After the installation of the app, the code goes to work on device start up, silently working in the
background as a service called “alArabiyyah”. It randomly picks one link from a list of eighteen
and then sends out an SMS message to every contact in the address book of the compromised
device, sending them a link to a forum site. Each forum site has identical content and appears to
be a tribute to Mohamed Bouaziz.

Measures to control livestock diseases successful: DM



“Dubai Municipality has been successful in providing curative services and preventive
actions to control infectious diseases of animals and to ensure sustainable development
in the live stock sector”.This was stated by Mohamed Yusuf Sheikh, head of Veterinary
Services, Public Health Services Department at Dubai Municipality.

“We had extensive immunization campaigns and preventive actions throughout the year.
Through this we could rise the immunity of our live stock in Dubai and we are at good pace
on our efforts to root out threat of parasites and insects that may risk not only animals but
humans’ also.”

“To know the real value of live stock is essential. it was for this goal municipality organized
counselling and workshops to cattle breeders” he added.

According to Mohamed Yusuf Sheikh, this year 1157 insecticide spray drives was conducted
against ectoparasites with some 760 930 animals including camels, cows and goats.
Vaccination was given to 220255 horses, cows, and goats against infectious and lethal
epidemics. Another 67596 animals were undergone checking to find out risk of brucellosis
disease and out of this 303092 were given proper therapeutic assistance.


Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Accor’s New Geo-Localised Website Attracts More Online Guests


 Dubai, UAE, 19 December 2011: Accor Middle East has launched its new ‘geo-localised’ website, Accorhotels.com since July 2011 and is already attracting more online guests from the region generating more bookings for the French hotel operator.  The website is geo-localised which means that when web-users based in the Middle East visit the Accorhotels.com website, their location is identified through their IP address and they are automatically re-directed to the localised Middle East version of the website. This version of the site is locally updated and is tailored to provide offers and promotions dedicated specifically to Accor’s Middle East destinations. Christophe Landais, Managing Director, Accor ME said: “With the launch of the latest version of Accorhotels.com, we have observed a significant increase in our online bookings with approximately 30% increase.

More than 800,000 users are currently going online, surfing our new improved website. By end of this year, we will nearly reach 1,000,000 users in the Middle East.” “Our Middle Eastern website users will have faster, more direct access to the deals and promotions which are most relevant for their region. In this digital age, it is often faster, more efficient and more convenient to book online and we will be continuing to make updates and improvements to our site,” he added.

Accorhotels.com enables quick and easy hotel bookings with Accor’s extensive network of regional hotels ranging from budget to luxury, for business or leisure travel. Users can also easily navigate key online content areas such as Accor’s worldwide network of hotel brands from ibis to Sofitel; on-going promotions in special destinations; as well as travel ideas on which hotel is best suited for the guest whether they have in mind golf or resort hotels.

“The specially customised Accorhotels.com for the Middle East region is a great opportunity for us to serve our online guests better with efficient hotel bookings. We want to make it just ‘a simple click away’ to access Accor’s wide range of exciting offers, in our regional portfolio and worldwide network,” concludes Mr. Landais. 

Sony Forays into Tablet Segment with Launch of Sony Tablet S



• Host of Inbuilt Apps Offer Holistic Entertainment Experience

• Cross-Device Connectivity Enables Better Network
Capability

Dubai-UAE: 19 December, 2011 – Sony, the leading consumer electronics brand, today
announced the launch of Sony Tablet S marking the company’s maiden venture into the tablet
landscape.

Sony Tablet S promises rich media entertainment on its 23.8cm (9.4 inch) high resolution
touchscreen. Its powerful NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 mobile processor coupled with Sony’s rapid
response technologies allow for faster browsing of content and applications.

The Sony Tablet S model features a front and rear facing camera for still and video image
capture. The inbuilt USB 2.0 port and SD card slot permits direct file transfers from other
devices such as PCs, digital cameras or camcorders.

Weighing approximately 598 grams (WiFi version), the tablet’s unique asymmetrical design
conveys a sense of lightness for hours of comfortable use. The screen slopes gently when
placed on a flat surface, enhancing visibility and facilitating ease of typing.

The device is also equipped with TruBlack™ technology by Sony, which reduces reflection and
glares for high-contrast visibility by controlling the refraction of light between the LCD and the
screen. The tablet’s highly responsive and smooth touchscreen and large keys of its virtual
keyboard add to the comfort of usage.

Sony Tablet S lets you control your home entertainment devices and share content wirelessly
with friends and family. Personal photos, music and video content can be streamed at the
touch of a button from Sony Tablet S to DLNA-compatible TV sets, wireless speakers and other
devices.

Additionally, the tablet includes infrared technology and can be used as a fully customisable
remote control for multiple home devices, including your television, Blu-ray Disc™ player and
home theatre set-up. It is also compatible with ‘Media Remote’ that provides users with control
of Sony devices including ‘BRAVIA’ through WiFi.


The Sony Tablet S is embedded with a wide range of preinstalled applications for a holistic
experience on the video, music, games, eBooks and much more. Additionally, it provides instant
access to Google™ mobile services and applications, including 3D maps and easy web search
with Google Voice Search.

The inbuilt ‘Select App’ recommends applications, content and network services for Sony
Tablet that can be downloaded via Android Market™. Other preinstalled unique entertainment
applications by Sony include the Social Feed Reader, Music Player and Video Player.

Accessory options feature an AC adaptor, LCD screen protector, a variety of carrying cases,
USB adaptor cable and Bluetooth keyboard.

You may pre-book your Sony Tablet at selected outlets across UAE starting 20 December,
2011. The Sony Tablet S will be available at all leading electronic stores from January 2012.



Key technical specifications

Model
Number
Storage

Platform

Display
CPU

External
Ports
Bluetooth
Infrared
technology

Card Slot

Camera

SGPT111
16GB

“Sony Tablet” S

SGPT112
32GB
WiFi: 802.11b/g/n
Android™ 3.2

23.8cm (9.4”) WXGA (1280x800 pixels) TFT colour LCD
NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 Mobile Processor 1GHz
USB 2.0 Micro-AB connector (host/client) x1, Headphone (Stereo, mini jack) x1 (also serves as
mono mic jack)
Bluetooth® 2.1 + EDR standard
Infrared Remote Control Functionality

SD memory slot x1

Front: 0.3 effective megapixels

Sensor

Battery
Life1

Dimensions
(WxHxD)

Weight

1

The testing conducted by Sony. Testing consisted of full battery. Battery life depends on device settings, usage, the condition of battery pack,
and many other factors. “Standard usage” means browsing web with WiFi, playing music, playing video for the same amount of time. The built-in
battery is consumable.

Rear: 5.11 effective megapixels (HD camera powered by "Exmor for mobile“)

32-Axis Accelerometer, Gyrosensor , Digital Compass, Ambient Light Sensor

Approx 8 hours Browsing web with WiFi, watching video, listening to music
Approx. 430 hours (Standby), Approx. 31 hours (playing music), Approx. 6 hours (playing video),
Approx. 6.2hours (web browsing via WiFi)

241.2 x 10.1 - 20.6 x 174.3 mm

Approx. 598g

Sony Gulf FZE, P.O. Box 16871, Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE.
Telephone: (+9714) 8816912/ 8815488 Facsimile: (+9714) 8816259

About make.believe

“make.believe” (make dot believe) is a Group-wide brand message that unites Sony’s communications initiatives
across electronics, games, movies, music, mobile phones and network services. “make.believe” symbolizes the
spirit of Sony – the power of creativity, the ability to turn ideas into reality and the belief that anything you can
imagine, you can make real.

About Sony Gulf

Sony Gulf FZE is a 100% subsidiary of Sony Corporation and is the regional headquarters for the Middle
East and Africa regions. The company is engaged in the business of Sony Consumer Electronics, VAIO
laptop computers, Computer Peripherals, Data media, Recording Media and Energy (Batteries), Mobile
Electronics (Car Audio) and Computer Entertainment (PlayStation) products in more than 40 countries in
the region.

Apart from stock operations in the Jebel Ali Free Zone Establishment in Dubai, Sony Gulf FZE leads
execution of various logistics, sales, marketing, advertising and customer services activities through its
business partners and representative offices. A network of representative offices in Kenya, Saudi Arabia,
Iran and Pakistan, in addition to well over 250 accredited third party service centers reinforces Sony’s
presence in key markets in the region.
For further information, please visit www.sony-mea.com


Ernst & Young wins ICAEW’s Accountancy and Finance award for ‘Excellence in Client Service’


Dubai, 19 December 2011: Ernst & Young has won the award for Excellence in

Client Service at the first ever Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and

Wales (ICAEW) Middle East Accountancy and Finance Excellence Awards.

Noor Abid, Managing Partner, Assurance, Ernst & Young MENA, said: “Ernst

& Young is extremely proud to have been given this award. To be recognized

by such a prominent organization in the accounting industry is indeed a great

honor. The ICAEW is a globally renowned organization that many of our

experienced professionals are associated with and their recognition validates the

exceptional quality of our services.”

The award ceremony was attended by over 350 finance professionals from

across the region. The awards were spread over eleven categories and

celebrated the very best of accountancy and finance from throughout the Middle

East. Winners were selected by a judging team of 14 industry experts from

accounting, finance and business.

- Ends -

About Ernst & Young MENA

The MENA practice of Ernst & Young has been operating in the region since 1923. For over 87 years,

we have evolved to meet the legal and commercial developments of the region. Across the region, we

have over 4,200 people united across 20 offices and 15 Arab countries, sharing the same values and

an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our

wider communities achieve their potential.

For more information, please visit www.ey.com/mena

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our

152,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a

difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

For more information, please visit www.ey.com

Global Player in Fiberglass Pipe Systems to Establish Factory at Dubai Industrial City


Strategic Location to Support Growing MENA-Wide Operations

Dubai-UAE: 19 December, 2011 – Dubai Industrial City, the region’s leading manufacturing
and logistics destination and a member of TECOM Investments, today announced it has signed
a project development agreement with Gulf Eternit Industries (GEI), a member of Future Pipe
Industries Group (FPI), to establish a fiberglass pipe factory.

The new factory will replace its current operations in Um Al Ramool that was set up in 1972
and consolidate Gulf Eternit’s growing role as a leading supplier of fiberglass pipes to local and
regional clients including Dubai Municipality, DEWA, Dubai Transport Authority, SEWA, FEWA,
ADWEA, Abu Dhabi Municipality, ADNOC Group of Companies, and Borouge.

Established in Dubai in 1984, Future Pipe Industries Group has evolved from a local
manufacturer to a global leader in the large diameter fiberglass pipe industry. Currently, the
company develops, manufactures and supplies pipe systems to more than 300 major customers
in over 50 countries across the power, oil and gas, petrochemical, infrastructural, municipal,
desalination and marine market segments.

Abdullah Belhoul, Managing Director, Dubai Industrial City, said: “Dubai Industrial City
welcomes not only a world-class leader that is a prominent technology developer and
manufacturer of advanced fiberglass pipe systems, but also.a homegrown company that has
not only made its mark in the global marketplace but also stands testimony to the progress
achieved by Dubai’s industrial sector.”

Fiberglass pipes are gaining increasing market share over counterparts made with commodity
materials such as iron and concrete. In addition to being environmentally friendly, fiberglass
pipes have a high strength-to-weight ratio, which results in lower transportation and installation
costs. Additionally, fiberglass is non-corrosive, highly resilient to harsh climactic conditions, and
offers a lifespan of over five decades that translate to lower replacement needs.

Mounib Hatab, Vice President, Future Pipe Industries Group and Gulf Eternit Industries (UAE),
said: “Our region is witnessing a rise in housing, non-residential buildings and infrastructure
projects, all of which need quality supplies from the pipeline industry. Our relocation to
Dubai Industrial City, with its close proximity to the Jebel Ali Sea Port and the Al Maktoum
International Airport, along with our planned state-of-the-art factory will allow us to introduce a
new competitive edge to our business. We are thankful to Dubai Industrial City for the constant
support they have extended to us during our relocation process.”
Earlier this month, Dubai Industrial City, the second largest non-real estate project in Dubai,
announced it has completed large infrastructural development work associated with its power,

water, sewage, irrigation and telecom systems covering an equivalent area of 15 square
kilometers (161 million square feet) of the city.

Located on Emirates Road near the new Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai Industrial City
offers a strategic advantage with its proximity to major highways and the Jebel Ali Port.

About Dubai Industrial City

Dubai Industrial City (DI), a member of TECOM Investments, is the second largest non-real estate project in
Dubai and is spread across 55 square kilometers (560 million square feet) of land. The industrial destination was
established to serve as a catalyst for the growth and expansion of the industrial sector in the United Arab Emirates -
especially in light to medium manufacturing sectors with specific emphasis on Machinery and Mechanical equipment,
Transport Equipment and parts, Base Metal, Chemicals, Food and Beverage and Mineral Products.

Dubai Industrial City provides a cost effective and efficient business environment together with a number of industry
supporting products and facilities including warehousing and logistics solutions, labour villages, vocational training,
commercial space as well as a one stop shop for the issue of required licenses and permits.

Dubai Industrial City is strategically located next to the new Al Maktoum Airport (Dubai World Central) and in close
proximity to the Jebel Ali Free Zone. The City provides a traffic free environment with direct connections to the
Emirates Road, Dubai By Pass Road providing easy and convenient access to global transportation points via road,
air and sea.

About Future Pipe Industries Group

Future Pipe Industries Group (FPI) is the global leader in the fiberglass pipe industry, developing, manufacturing and
supplying fiberglass pipe systems for customers throughout the world. FPI serves more than 300 customers in over
50 countries across the Oil & Gas, Water and Industrial markets. FPI’s customers are typically companies engaged
in infrastructure and construction projects, such as engineering, procurement and general contracting companies and
infrastructure building contractors. The end-users of FPI’s pipe systems include governments, municipalities, other
state-owned enterprises, oil & gas exploration and production companies and power generation companies.

For further information on the Future Pipe Industries Group, please contact:
Anne Bleeker
Email: a.bleeker@futurepipe.com

DM to accomplish Port Saeed Plaza project



Dubai Municipality is about to complete its Port Saeed Plaza project, which is a public park
on Sheikh Zayed Road by the end of this year in line with the strategic directions through
the design and implementation of service projects in Dubai.

Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality said that we
considered the climate change and global environmental situations aiming the reduction of
environmental pollution, gas emissions and savings in energy consumption.

“The Municipality applied highest international standards for buildings and green cities, to
preserve our natural resources and environment. The ​ green roofs save 25% of the power.
Therefore, the idea of ​green roofs and heat insulation plants has been implemented in most
of our projects, residential parks, and squares,” he said.

“Port Saeed Park also considered in this criteria, where people can enjoy open parks with
facilities made out of recycled materials. It is expected to be a place for social interaction,
activities, comfort, relaxation and fun in the downtown,” he added.

Moreover, the municipality used innovative alternative solar energy system, in addition to
LED technology in lighting, which increases in the efficiency of the operating system.

The project is located in Port Saeed in ​ ​ nearly 25000 square meters and consists of green
spaces, which can be used as seats or multi-use outdoor herbal theatre. It also includes
shaded walking tracks, seats and grounds, which can be used for any type of events and
games in the open air.


Dubai Municipality organizes recreation day for orphans



The Environmental Awareness Section at Dubai Municipality on Saturday organized a
recreation day for orphans in cooperation with Beit Al Khair Society in Al Zabeel Park, Dubai.

The drive came in line with the directives of the Dubai Municipality to build community-
based initiatives that contribute in enhancing the level of strategic partnership of different
groups in the society and promoting the role of the Municipality in the relevant areas of
work.

A workshop on ‘Proper use of materials in making and drawing new paintings’ was
organized by Environmental Awareness Section. Children also enjoyed their tour in train,
cycling, face painting, photography, henna designing, competitions and recreational games.
Various gifts were distributed to kids at the end of the day.

Dubai Municipality was the first to offer community-based initiatives and link with its
Strategic Plan as it assumes the responsibility of promoting the principles and practices of
corporate social responsibility towards the community in order to develop it to become
more innovative, productive and competitive.

Around 50 orphans and a number of supervisors attended the programme from Beit Al
Khair Society in addition to Municipality officials. The programme included visit to a number
of recreational areas for children.

In addition to these establishments, the initiative was also supported by Abella, Oasis,
McDonald's, Patchi, Al Rawabi, Al Wasl Club, By Ky Sport Rental, ِAl Mutamayez for Renting
camels and horses and Tawasul Weddings and Events.


Over US$4 billion of renewable energy projects confirmed for Project Village at World Future Energy Summit 2012


Twenty five renewable energy projects sign up for purpose-built
platform bringing together owners, developers and solutions
providers; another 10 are in the pipeline

Abu Dhabi, UAE, December 19, 2011: The combined value of renewable
energy projects confirmed for the Project Village at the 2012 World Future
Energy Summit has reached more than US$4 billion, it was announced today.

Those projects are on top of the large-scale investments in renewable energy
under development by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted renewable energy
company and host of WFES, and other companies exhibiting at the summit in
January.

Twenty five projects, spanning photovoltaic power, wind energy, solar thermal,
waste-to-energy, concentrated solar power and other technologies, have already
confirmed for the Project Village, which highlights selected projects from MENA
countries, India and other international markets.

Introduced at WFES 2011 as a business and networking platform for project
owners, developers and solutions providers, the Project Village complements
a growing pipeline of renewable energy initiatives – from the world’s largest
concentrated solar power plant Shams 1, located in Abu Dhabi’s Western
Region, to the 1,000-megawatt London Array wind farm.

WFES Exhibition Director Naji El Haddad said: “The increasing interest in the
Project Village component of the summit demonstrates the success of WFES
as a marketplace for technology suppliers, investors and other stakeholders
committed to the realization of clean energy.

“Through the Project Village, we bring together the decision makers that can
action real progress on existing partnerships and agree new collaborations.
Confirmations for the Project Village for 2012 indicate the growing involvement
of the private sector in the renewable energy space and reflect Abu Dhabi’s
leadership in developing renewable projects in the Middle East and overseas
markets.”

Countries represented at the Project Village so far include the UAE, Saudi
Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, India, South Africa, Sudan, the UK and US.

1

Supported by IRENA and held in association with Ernst & Young and
Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the initiative highlights both new and planned
developments, helping to source technology, secure financing and enter into
business partnerships.

El Haddad said: “Five years after the first WFES, the Summit is now established
at the centre of the global renewable energy industry. That’s the reality as we
prepare for the 2012 edition of WFES. With another 10 projects expected to
participate, the value of developments within the Project Village for 2012 may
easily surpass US$4 billion.”

Flagship projects already confirmed for the Project Village include a 200-
megawatt wind farm under development on the Gulf of Suez, led by Egypt’s New
and Renewable Energy Authority; a 160-megawatt solar power plant in Morocco;
and the US$400 million Shams Ma’an photovoltaic power plant under way in
Jordan.

Now in its fifth year, the World Future Energy Summit is the world’s foremost
annual meeting committed to promoting advancement of renewable energy,
energy efficiency, and the water and waste sectors.

The annual summit engages political, business, finance, academic and industry
leaders to drive innovation, business and investment opportunities in response to
the growing need for sustainable energy.

On the theme Powering Sustainable Innovation, WFES 2012 will stage both a
high-level conference and exhibition, with companies from all over the world
promoting their latest products and services.

Over 26,000 attendees, including 3,000 delegates, 650 exhibiting companies and
20 national pavilions, are expected to participate in the summit.

To be held under the patronage of H.H General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed,
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed
Forces, and hosted by Masdar, the World Future Energy Summit 2012 runs from
January 16-19 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Prestigious Journal Highlights Paper Published by Scientists from Masdar Institute


Fundamental Study on ‘Nanoscale Energy Dissipation’ Carried Out at
Masdar Institute Chosen as One of the Best in 2011 by Esteemed Scientific
Publication Nanotechnology

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 19 December, 2011 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an
independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and
sustainable technologies, today announced that a fundamental study on nanoscale energy
dissipation carried out at the Masdar Institute has been chosen by the esteemed scientific
publication Nanotechnology as one of the best in 2011.

The scientists group led by Matteo Chiesa, Associate Professor, Laboratory of Energy and
Nano-Science (LENS) at Masdar Institute, include Sergio Santos of LENS, the leading author of
the manuscript, and a group of collaborators including Dr. Victor Barcons, Joseph Font, Albert
Verdaguer and Neil H. Thomson from Spanish and British universities.

The article titled ‘How localized are energy dissipation processes in nanoscale interactions’ is
one of 21 accepted for publication within the nanotechnology domain developed by the Masdar
Institute’s LENS in 2011. This article has been chosen for its impact by the editorial board of the
Nanotechnology journal to be part of a special edition that collects the highest relevant articles
from 2011. To underline the significance of the results presented in the study, one of the figure
from the article was picked as the main cover for this special edition.

The article focuses on the degree or level of localization in nanoscale dissipative interactions.
Written by the scientists, it presents a fundamental explanation of the area of interaction
between a sphere of a radius of few nanometers and a surface of different material. This has
implication for the study of energy dissipation at the nanoscale and thus on the quantification of
properties of surfaces. For the nanotechnology community, this is a great achievement since it
allows controlling or manipulating of the process at the nanoscale.

The Nanotechnology magazine is part of the not-for-profit society Institute of Physics (IOP)
Publishing, which publishes a range of journals, websites and magazines. It has more than 60
journals that reflect the growth and interdisciplinary nature of scientific research and application,
from topics as varied as nanotechnology, astronomy, mathematics, the biosciences and
physics.

Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, said: “The
recognition from one of the most respected magazine indicates the significance of the

advanced-level research work that is being conducted at LENS in Masdar Institute. We offer
our heartfelt congratulations to our scientists and believe such recognitions will further motivate
them to move forward with their pioneering work. We thank the country’s leadership for their
support and will remain committed to further expanding our capacity building and human
development efforts in the UAE.”

Dr. Matteo Chiesa, Associate Professor, LENS, Masdar Institute, said: “The work is of
fundamental origin and by itself cannot be commercialized. However, there are other published
works for which we have filed invention disclosures. Our research work on the area of
interaction for each of the elementary dissipative processes can be pivotal in the development
of advanced materials for various industries such as defense or energy. We are extremely
honored that our paper has been chosen by the Editor of the Nanotechnology magazine as one
of the best among all of those published in 2011.”

The research work calculates the effective area of interaction for each of the elementary
dissipative processes. It then uses a figure of merit defined as M to quantify both the density
of the energy dissipated and the level of localization of each dissipative interaction. Each
process is shown to present a different pattern in M with decreasing separation between the
colliding bodies from tens of nanometers to angstroms. Though the work is theoretical, it uses
parameters that can be readily measured with an atomic force microscope.

The UAE-based scientists at Masdar Institute have been prominently featured in industry and
scientific publications respected worldwide and avidly read by scientists and researchers. Prof
Matteo Chiesa has already published his works in other scientific journals such as Nature
Materials, Journal of Physics D and Solar Energy. Earlier, the prestigious 'Science' journal
published for the first time a paper co-authored by a UAE-based scientist – Dr. Iyad Rahwan,
Assistant Professor - Computing and Information Science, Masdar Institute.

Established as an on-going collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and
entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. With its
world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the
challenges of clean energy and climate change.

ENDS

About Masdar Institute

Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (Masdar Institute) was established by the government of Abu Dhabi as
a not-for-profit, private graduate university to develop indigenous R&D capacity in Abu Dhabi addressing issues of
importance to the region.
In collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute has developed an academic
and research platform that articulates its mission and vision according to critical energy and sustainability challenges.
An important characteristic of Masdar Institute is its focus on complex real-world problems that require a
multidisciplinary approach for the development of solutions from an integrated technology, systems and policy
perspective. This multi-interdisciplinary and integrated approach is supported by the structure of its academic
programs and by the emphasis placed on engaging external partners from industry, government, and other academic

institutions in collaborative activities.
Masdar Institute offers degrees in:
• MSc Engineering Systems and Management
• MSc Computing and Information Science
• MSc Materials Science and Engineering
• MSc Mechanical Engineering
• MSc Water and Environmental Engineering
• MSc Microsystems Engineering
• MSc Electrical Power Engineering
• MSc Chemical Engineering

For more information please visit our website http://www.masdar.ac.ae/.


Sheikh Hamdan visits DM pavilion in first Dubai Government Achievements Expo 2011



His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Executive
Council Chairman visited Dubai Municipality pavilion in Dubai Government Achievements Expo 2011,
organized by the Government of Dubai for the first time under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
The two-day exhibition at the exhibition hall of Dubai World Trade Centre with the participation of
25 government departments and institutions is aimed at maintaining the culture of excellence and its
dissemination.
Eng. Hussain Nassir Lootah, Director General of DM said Municipality's participation comes within its
keenness on highlighting the achievements, and service excellence levels achieved in the Emirate of Dubai.
The presentation of the achievements and services to various segments of society contributes in raising the
level of awareness regarding the availability of these services and directing them to the optimal methods to
utilize them, which contributes to the success of various relevant projects and programs for the community.
He stressed that the standards of excellence demanded institutions to strengthen communication channels
with different categories of customers and community as well as to publicize its services and operations and
train on how to use them.
Lootah briefed the Prince most outstanding achievements of Municipality displayed at the pavilion such
as Gas-powered Car, a project to preserve the environment to reduce pollution in the air, and Olympic
Swimming Pool Model, an architectural contribution to the urban landscape of the Emirate of Dubai,
designed to conform with the requirements of the International Swimming Union.
The pavilion also includes model of vegetables and fruits market located in Al Aweer Street a modern
integrated market with all facilities and equipments as a substitute for the market in Hamriyah, aiming to
reduce the traffic jams in Hamriyah market and the rush of trucks considering the rapid growth of Dubai.
Municipality's achievements in the field of Green Buildings, activities of Computer Rehabilitation
Department in addition to the achievements in forestry, agriculture, laboratory tests, jewellery, toys, and
food control are also exhibited.
Moreover, Municipality pavilion showcased the government achievements as well as posters of the projects
implemented by municipality such as Dubai Courts, Hatta Border Port, Al Faheedi Market, Naif Market, First
Aid Building, Qusais Garden Pond 3, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Complex and
Green Roofs.

Adoption of global accounting standards, hampered by lack of professionals


20th December 2011, Dubai UAE - Calls for companies in the UAE to adopt common global
accounting standards have had very little success, mainly due to cost barriers, according to IMA®
(Institute of Management Accountants), the association for accountants and financial professionals
in business.

“One of the major reasons for the delay in migration to globally accepted standards has been
the lack of qualified professionals within organisations,” said Jim Gurowka, IMA Vice President
International Development, Institute of Management Accountants.

According to Mr. Gurowka, professionals with advanced financial management skills are
increasingly integral to business performance. Accountants and financial professionals need
additional skill sets to evolve from “counters of wealth” to “creators of wealth” and influencers of
strategy in organizations. “This includes providing advice on such important matters as accounting
standards – to allow companies to share important financial information for business performance
evaluation, or for mergers and acquisitions,” he added.

In the first quarter of 2011, the UAE alone reported more than 100 mergers and acquisitions with a
combined value of US$3.6 billion. “And there could be more, given the challenging global business
environment, which puts a pressure on companies to have more qualified finance and accounting
professionals ,” continued Mr. Gurowka.

As a leading global organisation of accounting professionals, IMA estimates there is a shortage
of professionals with appropriate skills to meet the needs of organizations. Mr. Gurowka
explained, “There is such a big demand for accounting professionals with advanced financial skills.
IMA’s Certified Management Accountant (CMA®) programme helps develop professionals with
the on-the-job knowledge and skills they need in this changing profession, especially in these
challenging business conditions.”

The CMA credential represents the most rigorous assessment for business performance-minded
accounting and finance career professionals: those responsible for financial planning, risk analysis,
internal controls, and financial decision support. “The CMA credential is the most substantial
measure of management accounting skills and qualifications. IMA members pursue CMA
certification to expand their career potential and demonstrate that they are professionals,” said Mr.
Gurowka.

To help professionals advance their careers, IMA is offering a one-time opportunity for finance and
accounting professionals to join the organisation and take the examination for CMA certification
at a reduced rate. This special offer, combined with the accelerated examination timetable now in
place allows finance and accounting professionals to obtain the internationally recognized CMA
credential quickly and affordably. Interested professionals who wish to become members may
do so for only US$122, excluding the exam fess, for a savings of over 40%. The special offer is
available from December 5 to 25, 2011. More details are available at www.imamiddleeast.org.

IMA’s latest Middle East Salary Survey shows that CMAs in the region earn 122% more in average
salary than their noncertified counterparts. “This translates into over US$2.6 million in extra lifetime
earnings for someone in their early 20s,” added Mr. Gurowka.

Yet another compelling reason for accounting professionals to get advanced certification.

About IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants):
IMA® , the association for accountants and financial professionals in business, is one of the largest and most respected
associations focused exclusively on advancing the management accounting profession. Globally, IMA supports the
profession through research, the CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) program, continuing education, networking,

and advocacy of the highest ethical business practices. IMA has a global network of more than 60,000 members in 120
countries and 200 local chapter communities. IMA provides localized services through its offices in Montvale, N.J., USA;
Zurich, Switzerland; Dubai, UAE; and Beijing, China.

For more information about IMA, please visit www.imamiddleeast.org.

Adel Ali named ‘Business Leader of the Year’ at Middle East Accountancy and Finance Excellence Awards




CEO recognised for establishing Air Arabia as region’s number one low-
cost carrier

Sharjah, UAE; December 20, 2011: Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air

Arabia, has been named “Business Leader of the Year” at the inaugural Middle East

Accountancy and Finance Excellence Awards. Ali, CEO of the first and largest low-

cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, collected the award during a

ceremony held in Dubai.

Organised by ICAEW, a professional membership organisation supporting over

136,000 chartered accountants around the world, the Awards celebrate the very best

of the accountancy and finance profession in the Middle East. Ali received the award

in recognition of establishing Air Arabia as the region’s number one low-cost airline.

Commenting on receiving the award, Ali said: “I am proud to collect this award on

behalf of the entire Air Arabia team. Air Arabia’s proven business model has enabled

us to expand into new markets and ventures, while continuing to provide millions

of passengers with the most reliable value-for-money air travel options in the wider

region.”

Amanda Line, Regional Director, ICAEW Middle East, said: “We were overwhelmed

not only by the high level of interest in the awards, but by the quality and

professionalism of the entries. This year’s winners truly reflect the excellence in the

accountancy and finance profession across the Middle East, and we are delighted to

see winners from the whole region.

The awards were open to finance professionals, business leaders and organizations

and were based around the themes of excellence, leadership and best practice.

The awards recognize those individuals and organisations who have demonstrated

superior excellence in their field – who are the very best in what they do.

-ends-

About Air Arabia:
Air Arabia (PJSC), listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is the Middle East and North Africa’s leading
low-cost carrier (LCC). Air Arabia commenced operations in October 2003 and currently operates a
total fleet of 31 new Airbus A320 aircraft, serving 70 routes from three hubs in UAE, Morocco and
Egypt.

Air Arabia is an award-winning airline that focuses on offering comfort, reliability and value-for-money
air travel. For further information, please visit: www.airarabia.com.


Dubai Ice Rink turns into Winter Wonderland for Festive Season


It’s officially winter and Festive Season at Dubai Ice Rink
‘Snow Babies on Ice’ programme teaches children from 18 months to 5 years old how to
skate

Dubai, UAE; December 20, 2011: Emaar Retail LLC, the provider of premium leisure and retail
experiences, presents the Winter Wonderland Programme featuring ‘Snow Babies on Ice’ until
December 31, 2011 at Dubai Ice Rink, the Olympic-sized ice-skating and events venue, located
in The Dubai Mall.

Families will get a real feel of winter and the festive season this year at Dubai Ice Rink, as it
transforms into a Winter Wonderland featuring festive music, activities, decorations, a festive
tree, sleigh rides, gifts and much more.

Gordon Kirk, General Manager, Dubai Ice Rink, said: ‘It’s that special time of the year again,
and we want to offer families a unique Festive Winter atmosphere. With this year’s programming
at Dubai Ice Rink, we bring you the cool and delightful feel of winter and the festive season in all
its splendour.”

Santa will be handing out sweets, treats and gifts while skating with the little ones every
Thursday, Friday and Saturday until Dec. 24 between 4.45 and 7pm. Children will have the
opportunity to take their picture with him on Dec. 23 between 9.45pm and midnight.

The new ‘Snow Babies on Ice’ programme will allow parents to see their little ones familiarise
and learn how to skate, every Monday at 10:00am. Toddlers from 18 months to five years old
will be introduced to skating by a team of well-trained coaches that will evaluate age, level and
teach a 30 minutes class accordingly.

Parents will be allowed to get on ice with their little ones to proudly witness their progression
as they familiarise with the ice rink. In order to learn, toddlers get on the ice, sit, feel and touch
the ice and play with stimulating colourful toys. The coach will encourage the children to pick up
toys of their choice, and once they are ready, will teach them how to skate. Every new skating
athlete gets a certificate upon completion.

The Winter Wonderland Programme will end with a special New Year’s Eve Disco party on Dec.
31 from 9.45pm to midnight. A promise to put everyone in a celebratory mood, a DJ will make
everyone dance and skate to the best beats of 2011.

In addition to Dubai Ice Rink, Emaar Retail LLC manages a strong portfolio of exclusive leisure
and retail concepts including Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo featuring the Guinness World
Record for the largest acrylic viewing panel and featuring over 33,000 aquatic animals; the
unique children’s’ edutainment centre KidZania®; Reel Cinemas, the UAE largest megaplex
with 22-screens; and SEGA Republic, the region’s first and largest SEGA indoor theme park -
all in The Dubai Mall. Reel Cinemas has also introduced the first ‘premier’ boutique 6-screen
Cineplex at Dubai Marina Mall.
-ends-

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi Pledges to Rebuild Scientific Complex in Cairo


Promises to Donate Original Manuscripts of Rare Documents to
Egyptian National Archives

Sharjah-UAE: 20 December, 2011- His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al
Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, today pledged to rebuild the
Scientific Complex in Cairo that was partially destroyed by fire during the recent riots.

His Highness also pledged to donate rare manuscripts, maps, and a book titled “Describing
Egypt” to the National Archives of Egypt that were burnt earlier this week during the riots.

The announcements came during His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan’s address on Dream 2 TV
Channel last night, when he expressed his anguish on the riots in Egypt and the subsequent
damage to national monuments of global standing.

His Highness added: “The Scientific Complex and the National Archives are monuments
that represent the cultural heritage of Egypt. They serve to play an important part not just in
chronicling the country’s rich history, but also as a rich resource of information for generations to
come. It is our responsibility to restore these pillars of knowledge to their former glory.

“The gesture to rebuild the Scientific Complex and donate original manuscripts from my
personal library is in acknowledgement of the relationship Sharjah has shared with Egypt. I
recall a visit of an Egyptian delegation in 1954 that helped us lay the foundations of higher
learning in Sharjah. Our gratitude for that knowledge exchange cannot be quantified. We also
cannot forget Egypt’s crucial support to Kuwait during the 1991 Gulf War. Through our offer
to rebuild and restore the country’s monuments, we hope to express our appreciation for the
continued synergy we share.”

During his interview, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi offered insight
into the documents that have been destroyed in last week’s fire. These include the original
manuscripts of journals that were printed in 1860 as well as maps from the private collection of
Prince Youssef Kamal, a descendant of Mohamed Ali of the Ottoman dynasty. The rarity of the
books is authenticated by the fact that a portion of them are only found in the Madrid National
Library in Spain.

His Highness said: “I have authorized a team to draw up a list of books that were destroyed.
During the period that the complex is getting restored, I will make sure that these books are
sourced from my Grand Library and donated to the Egyptian archives. I have also directed
a team to ensure that no books in the archives are exposed to pilferage and are kept in safe
hands. Work on the restoration of the Scientific Complex is anticipated to be completed early
next year.”

The Egyptian government has granted land behind the Scientific Complex in Ain El Sira that
will be used for the construction of a resource house for stocking parliamentary and municipal
documents in safe custody.

About Sharjah Media Centre

The Centre represents the main link between the Government of Sharjah and the media on a local, regional and
international level. It provides journalists, broadcasters or any other media professionals the opportunity to join as
members and benefit from a unique position which allows them a direct and active dialogue with Sharjah’s People
and Government officials.

Sharjah Media Centre was established by the Amiri Decree No. 5, 2011, issued by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan
bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The Centre’s role can be
summarized by saying that it is the voice with which the Emirate of Sharjah addresses the world.

Broadband MEA Expands Content and Reach for 2012



The Middle East and Africa’s premier broadband event to include larger programme with more operators and industry players than ever

London, 20 December 2011 – Broadband MEA, the region’s premier broadband event, is expanding its programme in 2012, making it the most informative and insightful conference yet. Leading operators, Etisalat, STC, Sudatel Telecom Group and du, are already on board, as well as vital industry content players and industry ‘game changers’ such as Google and Al Jazeera.
The conference, which takes place from 25 – 27 March, already has an exceptional speaker line-up, made up of prominent industry experts, including Nasser Bin Obood, CEO at Etisalat UAE, Dr. Saad Zafer Al Kahtani, CEO Strategic Operations at STC and Hatem Bamatraf, Senior VP of Network Development and Operations at du.

Dr. Saad Zafer Al Kahtani of STC said: “We are very excited to be part of the Broadband MEA 2012 show next year. It is a key event in the calendar for STC as it provides a fantastic networking opportunity with our key industry partners and enables us to showcase our latest innovations. STC has embarked on major developments within the ICT industry through smart investments on a state of the art broadband infrastructure and its related ecosystems.”
In recognition of its work in driving the sustainable growth of broadband in the Middle East and Africa region, Broadband MEA 2012 has the official support of the TRA UAE, the event’s Official Government Partner. Delegates will also get the opportunity to hear a keynote presentation from H.E. Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, Director General of the TRA.

UN Special Advisor for Africa, High Representative Cheick Sidi Diarra, has spoken ahead of the event on its importance in highlighting the potential of the region. He says: “The conference is a very important space that brings together business people from abroad and policy makers so they can attract potential clients for networking. I hope it will continue to try to help implement policies that will enable the accessibility and affordability of new technologies and information to African and Middle East countries. It’s a tool that will help them to leapfrog into this new era of knowledge economy and develop their own potential.”

Now in its fourth year, the conference and industry leading exhibition will take place at The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina, Dubai, UAE. Bringing together over 1,000 decision makers, Broadband MEA will provide networking, learning and business development opportunities. With a combination of local and international knowledge, experience and best practice, the event promises to deliver inspiration, insights and ideas that will further regional business.

Broadband MEA’s programme also features The Rural Broadband Summit, which is set to explore delivering broadband connectivity to rural areas, and The Executive Summit - an invitation-only event that will focus on convergence and ensuring the co-existence and sustainability of future fixed and wireless technologies.
To view the full event programme and register for Broadband MEA, please visit www.broadbandworldforum.com/mea or call +44 (0) 20 7017 5506. For a limited time* regional operators can receive a 50% discount when purchasing a full conference pass.

*offer ends 31 January 2012

ENDS
About Broadband MEA
Part of the successful Broadband World Forum Series, 2012's forum will bring together over 1,000 decision-makers from all corners of the broadband ecosystem from across the Middle East and Africa.

Now in its fourth year, Broadband MEA, formerly known as the Broadband Global Summit, is the region’s premier broadband conference and exhibition attracting 70 speakers, including over 40 operator case studies, to address the current issues surrounding broadband.

The conference focuses on fixed access evolution, mobile broadband development, service implementation and monetisation, regulation and digital inclusion. For further information on Broadband MEA or to register to attend, go to www.broadbandworldforum.com/mea

About Informa Telecoms & MediaInforma Telecoms & Media (www.informatm.com) is the leading provider of business intelligence and strategic services to the global telecoms and media markets. Driven by constant first-hand contact with the industry, its 90 analysts and researchers produce a range of intelligence services including news and analytical products, in depth market reports and datasets focussed on technology, strategy and content. Informa Telecoms & Media also organises 125 global annual events, attended by more than 70,000 executives worldwide.

UTICO to manage utility projects worth US$4 billion across GCC



New infrastructure projects in Gulf states fuelling demand for full
service utilities deployments

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 20th, 2011:
UTICO Middle East, one of the largest independent utilities management
companies in the GCC, confirmed today that it has won orders valued at over
US$4 billion to manage utilities projects across the GCC.

Richard Menezes, UTICO’s Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director,
pointed out that the company was working with GCC governments and
other related authorities on the implementation of several projects that will
eventually lead to lower consumer tariffs and better utilities systems in those
countries.

“The continuous campaign by the Gulf states to improve and develop
infrastructure is fuelling the demand for water and power across the region,”
said Menezes. “While traditionally the utilities sector was managed by the
public sector in the Middle East, the increasing demand for providing these
essential services is signaling the entry of private sector players in the
projects.”

A Ghantoot Group company, UTICO will also meet the demand for its services
by investing in new regional offices, plants, service centres, training facilities
and other infrastructure. Its clientele includes government bodies, private
entities as well as oil and gas companies and several leading business houses
across the Middle East.

Currently, the company is completing several large integrated water
desalination and power plants across the Middle East. Exact details of the new
projects will be announced soon.

UTICO is headquartered in the UAE and is the country’s first independent full
service utilities provider. The company was recently in the news for being
the first organization in the MENA region to achieve the ISO 50001 energy
management certification. The certification was in recognition of UTICO’s

environment protection policies and energy management systems and joins a
slew of certifications achieved by the company in recent times.

Although originally intended for industry, the standard applies to any type
of organization wishing to effectively manage its energy uses and efficiency.
UTICO was selected for the distinction after a stringent six-month audit and
review of its operations and services by Quality Austria.

Established in 1992, UTICO has played a key role in developing the region’s
utilities with specialization in water, waste, steam, power and related services
for clientele requiring reliable and low-cost utilities. The company also offers
full consultancy from concept to design and implementation, conducting
feasibility studies, aiding in policy formulation for regulatory authorities and
large industrial parks, conservation and efficiency building, investment and
development.

About UTICO Middle East
UTICO is a subsidiary of the prestigious Ghantoot Group of Companies, a privately owned
US$2 billion conglomerate, and is managed by a highly professional team of experts with
experience in utilities management, along with engineers and scientists specializing in
water, waste and power services. We provide innovative and cost-effective solutions in
water management and treatment solutions. UTICO is the leading single company that
takes care of the overall utility needs pertaining to water, power, waste and steam.

Being the trendsetters in the region for offering water treatment solutions, waste water
re-use and assistance to large-scale developments using water, UTICO promises reliable
solutions, simultaneously treating waste to environmental friendly standards. Our state-
of-the-art water quality programs and designs offer the client best value for money which
complies with international quality standards, environmental and safety standards and
reliability.

For more information about UTICO Middle East, please visit www.uticome.com.

Meraas Launches Dubai Adventure Studios



Investment of AED2.2 Billion Earmarked for Development of
Movie-Based Theme Park

Dubai-UAE: 20 December, 2011 – Meraas, a Dubai-based real estate company,
today announced the launch of Dubai Adventure Studios, a movie-based theme
park that will be located at its master development in close proximity to the Arabian
Ranches intersection.

Dubai Adventure Studios will form Phase-1 of a three-phase project spread across
eight million sq. feet. Hosting major US-based movie IPs, the two million sq. feet
park will be developed with an estimated investment of AED2.2 billion. Work on the
project is scheduled to begin in early 2012 and completed towards the end of 2014.

The movie-based theme park will comprise five zones featuring the latest-in-
technology games and new-generation rides, in addition to hospitality and F&B
zones to shape an all-inclusive entertainment destination that meets visitors’ needs.

Sina Al Kazim, Chief Business Development Officer, Meraas Holding, said: “Meraas

recognizes the need for a theme park in Dubai that will complement the UAE’s
growing popularity as a tourism hub. Dubai Adventure Studios will offer a truly unique
experience that will set a distinctive benchmark in the evolution of the theme park
industry.”

Dubai Adventure Studios will take centre stage at the Meraas stand in the 2012
Arabian Travel Market Exhibition (ATM) that will be held from 30 April - 3 May at the
Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Meraas is a Dubai-based real estate company with operations and assets in the
UAE and overseas. It operates with a mission to create integrated master-planned
communities that embody global standards of sustainability and quality.


Tuesday, December 13, 2011

COOL (Construction Online) designed to facilitate, expedite information exchange



Dubai, UAE: Dow Corning, a leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation
for the construction industry, has introduced a first-of-its-kind interactive web-based project
management system that enables contractors, designers, and architects to access a global
network of building materials experts who together provide fast, efficient service.

“The Dow Corning COOL (COnstruction OnLine) website is one of several innovations we are
implementing to better integrate our global support services and ensure that every interaction
builders have with us is a positive one,” said Ron Fillmore, Vice President, Construction Industry,
Dow Corning. “COOL helps contractors save time, save money, and stay on the fast track to
success by enabling faster, more efficient service than ever before from Dow Corning's sales and
technical support team.”

By registering at the COOL website, members can quickly and easily request construction
services such as print reviews, sample tests, and warranties online; receive real-time progress
reports; get recommendation letters and documentation sent directly to them and their partners;
and ask questions, get answers, and access information critical to the success of their project 24/
7.

“A successful project requires the collective efforts of the design and construction industries to
share best practices and new ideas,” Fillmore said. “Expediting service requests and working
more collaboratively with your Dow Corning team through COOL is one way to avoid costly
design, material and application errors.”

Dow Corning materials are incorporated into many products that contribute to building
performance, such as structural glazing, weatherproofing and insulating glass building
applications, as well as photovoltaic solar panels, and energy efficient LED bulbs and fixtures.

More information, videos, and registration for COOL can be found at dowcorning.com/cool

To learn more about Dow Corning’s full range of construction solutions, visit: dowcorning.com/
construction.

Dow Corning Construction News

About Dow Corning

Dow Corning (dowcorning.com) provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the
diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicones, silicon-
based technology and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 products and services
via the company's Dow Corning® and XIAMETER® (xiameter.com) brands. Dow Corning is
equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of
Dow Corning's annual sales are outside the United States.

A fragrance that Smurfs you



Concept Brands launches a special line of perfumes for kids based on the popular comic

Dubai, December 13, 2011: Smurf yourself in the magical world of The Smurfs. The

popular comic characters take your breath away with a new line of perfumes for kids.

Fresh, energetic and vibrant, the fragrances capture the playful youth of children in

a bottle. The Smurf perfumes come in six fragrances following the Smurf characters:

Papa, Smurfette, Grouchy, Gutsy, Clumsy, and Brainy. The product line consists of five

unisex fragrances and one exclusively for girls.

Adding an element of mystery and adventure, The Smurfs perfume bottles are shaped

like potion bottles or elixirs. Available in colours that refer to the Smurfs, the perfumes

are packaged in the shape of cute little milk boxes.

In addition, the range includes six different tin can sets, which are in the shape of a

typical mushroom Smurfs’ house.

Concept Brands Group, the Dubai-headquartered company that brings leading kid’s

brands to the UAE, distributes the Smurf perfumes in the region.

Commenting on the launch of The Smurfs perfumes in the UAE, Mr Vijay Samyani, the

Founder and Managing Director of Concept Brands Group, said, “At Concept Brands, we

are committed to bringing brands from around the world to the UAE at affordable prices.

The Smurfs are extremely popular among kids as well as adults across the globe. The

Smurfs perfumes are all about kids, they are fun, youthful and fresh. The perfumes are

a great way to connect to the energetic world of The Smurfs, and make watching the

cartoons even more fun.”

The Smurfs perfumes have been launched by the First American Brands in 2011. FAB is

one of the fastest growing fragrances design, manufacturer, promotion and distribution

companies in the U.S.

Commenting on the new Smurfs perfumes, Mr. Antonio Lemma, CEO of First American

Brands, says: “We are very excited about these new fragrances and are certain kids will

love them as much as we do. The Smurfs perfumes are wonderfully fresh and exuberate

childlike energy and innocence. The perfumes have been received with an incredible

excitement and enthusiasm across the whole world, and we believe it will be a great

success in the UAE as well.”

The Smurfs perfumes are available at Babyshop, Carrefour and other leading

hypermarkets in the UAE.

ADIB Wealth Management Seminar Presents Range of Investment Opportunities


Abu Dhabi, 13 December 2011: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), a top-tier Islamic

financial institution, hosted its first Wealth Management Seminar for high net worth

customers and presented its outlook on global markets. The seminar provided

customers with the knowledge to understand diverse investment options and make

effective investment decisions in a rapidly changing environment.

During the seminar, ADIB revealed the results of its customer survey on investor

attitudes towards risk which shows that the proportion of ADIB customers who have

an enhanced appetite for risk remains low, while conservative investor numbers have

grown continuously and balanced investors with a moderate appetite for risk remains

the largest group.

Stuart Crocker, Global Head of Private Banking Group at ADIB said: “UHNW individuals

have a unique and individual approach to risk. Significant changes in the global economy

have impacted investor attitudes and this is clearly evident in the decline of enhanced

risk taking investors and the growth of conservative to balanced investors. ADIB

has responded to this customer trend by announcing a range of capital protected

investment instruments.”

The seminar was held at the ADIB Headquarters in Abu Dhabi and hosted a well

renowned speaker, Mazin Baghdadi, Deputy Head of Mutual Funds at HSBC Saudi

Arabia. He presented updates on local and regional markets as well as reports on

the worldwide economic outlook and the unfolding situation in the Eurozone. ADIB

presented its views on the various financial instruments that have increased in appeal

in today’s investment environment. ADIB offers a complete range of Shari'a compliant

investment solutions customised to the needs and risk tolerance of customers.

As part of ADIB’s strategy to update and educate clients, the bank regularly hosts

seminars to help clients make the right financial decisions.

Symantec.cloud Intelligence Report: Daily Targeted Attacks Increase Four-Fold since January



November’s Report demonstrates changing nature of cybercrime with a growth in targeted attacks

Dubai, UAE – December 13, 2011– Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced the results
of the November 2011 Symantec.cloud Intelligence Report, revealing that the number of daily targeted
attacks increasing four-fold compared to January this year, with an average of 94 targeted attacks being
blocked each day during the month of November.

New research further shows that the Virus Rate in the United Arab Emirates is up to 1 in 327.9 from 1
in 433.4 last month. The news comes ahead of the second edition of the Black Hat conference coming to
Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace next week, a series of briefings and training sessions which will discuss and
demonstrate the latest and most important security issues faced in the market today.

“The aim of these targeted attacks is to establish persistent access to the targeted organization’s network,
in many cases with the aim of providing remote access to confidential data. They have the potential
to cause serious damage to an organization and in the long term represent a significant threat against
the economic prosperity of many countries in the Middle East,” said Bulent Teksoz, Chief Security
Strategist, Emerging Markets, Symantec. “There targeted attacks are designed to gather intelligence, steal
confidential information or trade secrets, and in the case of attacks like Stuxnet, disrupt operations or even
destroy critical infrastructure.”

While targeted attacks are on the increase, the global spam rate has now reached its lowest level in three
years. Despite this fall, Saudi Arabia was still ranked in the top five countries, this month the country was
the second most-spammed geography in November with 76.6 percent of email traffic blocked as spam
(down from 80.5% in October) and second only to Russia with a spam rate of 76.7 percent.

“The effect of spam volumes three years ago was very dramatic and spam accounted for 68.0% of global
emails. Recently the decline has been much slower, but spammers have also adapted to using more
targeted approaches and exploiting social media as alternatives to email,” added Teksoz.

This month’s analysis also indicates that large enterprises consisting of more than 2,500 employees
received the greatest number of attacks, with 36.7 being blocked each day. Small-to-medium sized
business sector with less than 250 employees are further facing security issues - according to Symantec’s
latest regional study on average only 29 percent of a total of 628 senior level employees or owners of
small to medium sized businesses across UAE, Egypt and Saudi claim they had never faced a known
attack on their systems by a virus or malicious code while between 57 and 72 percent of respondents

identified virus attacks as a key concern and between 44 and 63 percent expressed concerns around
external hacks

Click-to-Tweet: Targeted attacks increase four-fold compared to January of 2011: http://bit.ly/slWzF5
November Symantec Intelligence Report

Other report highlights:

Spam: The global ratio of spam in email traffic in November fell by 3.7 percentage points since October
to 70.5 percent (1 in 1.42 emails).

Phishing: In November, the global phishing rate increased by 0.04 percentage points, taking the average
to one in 302.0 emails (0.33 percent) that comprised some form of phishing attack.

E-mail-borne Threats: The global ratio of email-borne viruses in email traffic was one in 255.8 emails
(0.39 percent) in November, a decrease of 0.03 percentage points since October 2011. Further analysis
also shows that 40.2 percent of email-borne malware contained links to malicious Web sites, an increase
of 20.1 percentage points since October 2011.

Web-based Malware Threats: In November, Symantec Intelligence identified an average of 4,915
Web sites each day harboring malware and other potentially unwanted programs including spyware and
adware; an increase of 47.8 percent since October 2011.

Endpoint Threats: The most frequently blocked malware for the last month was WS.Trojan.H1.
WS.Trojan.H is generic cloud-based heuristic detection for files that possess characteristics of an as yet
unclassified threat. Files detected by this heuristic are deemed by Symantec to pose a risk to users and are
therefore blocked from accessing the computer.

Geographical Trends:

Russia became the most spammed geography in November; with a spam rate of 76.7 percent
Saudi Arabia was the second most-spammed with 76.6 percent
The spam level in the UK was 69.5 percent.
In The Netherlands, spam accounted for 70.5 percent of email traffic, 70.1 percent in Germany,
70.4 percent in Denmark.
In Australia 68.6 percent of email was blocked as spam, 69.2 percent in Hong Kong and 68.0
percent in Singapore, compared with 66.6 percent in Japan.
Spam accounted for 70.1 percent of email traffic in South Africa and 74.3 percent in Brazil.

Phishing
• South Africa once again became the country most targeted for phishing attacks in November,
with one in 96.2 emails identified as phishing.
• The UK was the second most targeted country, with one in 167.0 emails identified as phishing
attacks.
• Phishing levels for the US were one in 461.8 and one in 242.4 for Canada.
• In Germany phishing levels were one in 426.2, one in 781.5 in Denmark and one in 250.4 in The
Netherlands.

1 http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2011-102713-4647-99

In Australia, phishing activity accounted for one in 361.0 emails and one in 517.0 in Hong Kong;
for Japan it was one in 2,058 and one in 609.7 for Singapore.
In Brazil one in 775.3 emails was blocked as phishing.

E-mail-borne threats
• The UK remained at the top of the table with the highest ratio of malicious emails in November,
with one in 149.4 emails identified as malicious.
• Switzerland had the second highest rate, with one in 185.6 emails identified as malicious.
• South Africa returned to the top-5 list this month with one in 222.5 emails blocked as malicious.
• Virus levels for email-borne malware in the US reached one in 360.1 and one in 219.9 in Canada.
In Germany virus activity reached one in 275.0, one in 710.5 in Denmark and in The Netherlands
one in 238.2.
• In Australia, one in 326.2 emails was malicious and one in 325.8 in Hong Kong. For Japan the
rate was one in 1,147, compared with one in 450.0 in Singapore.
• In Brazil, one in 570.6 emails in contained malicious content.

Vertical Trends:
• With a drop in spam this month, the Automotive industry became the most spammed industry
sector in November, with a spam rate of 73.0 percent.
• The spam rate for the Education sector was 71.5 percent and 69.1 percent for the Chemical &
Pharmaceutical sector, compared with 69.3 percent for IT Services, 69.0 percent for Retail, 68.8
percent for Public Sector and 69.2 percent for Finance.
• The spam rate for small to medium-sized businesses (1-250) was 69.4%, compared with 69.7.1%
for large enterprises (2500+).
• The Public Sector remained the most targeted by phishing activity in November, with one in
120.9 emails comprising a phishing attack.
• Phishing levels for the Chemical & Pharmaceutical sector reached one in 407.5 and one in 377.0
for the IT Services sector, one in 397.0 for Retail, one in 130.5 for Education and one in 331.7 for
Finance.
• Phishing attacks targeting small to medium-sized businesses (1-250) accounted for one in 211.0
emails, compared with one in 334.0 for large enterprises (2500+).
• With one in 74.3 emails being blocked as malicious, the Public Sector remained the most targeted
industry in November.
• Virus levels for the Chemical & Pharmaceutical sector reached one in 275.5 and one in 276.6 for
the IT Services sector; one in 337.1 for Retail, one in 105.2 for Education and one in 386.6 for
Finance.
• Malicious email-borne attacks destined for small to medium-sized businesses (1-250) accounted
for one in 253.7 emails, compared with one in 249.9 for large enterprises (2500+).

The November Symantec Intelligence Report provides greater detail on all of the trends and figures noted
above, as well as more detailed geographical and vertical trends.

Related
• Whitepaper: Advanced Persistent Threats (PDF)
• SlideShare Presentation: November 2011 Symantec Intelligence Report
• Symantec.cloud Global Threats
• Symantec.cloud Intelligence Reports
• Symantec.cloud In the News
• Symantec.cloud Podcasts

W32.Stuxnet Threat Write-up

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About Symantec Intelligence Report

The Symantec Intelligence report combines the best research and analysis from the Symantec.cloud
MessageLabs Intelligence Report and the Symantec State of Spam & Phishing Report. The new
integrated report, the Symantec Intelligence Report, provides the latest analysis of cyber security threats,
trends and insights from the Symantec Intelligence team concerning malware, spam, and other potentially
harmful business risks. The data used to compile the analysis for this combined report includes data from
September and October 2011.

About Symantec

Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help
consumers and organizations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and
services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence
wherever information is used or stored. More information is available at www.symantec.com.