Dubai International Film Festival showcases Sabah retrospectives to mark Lifetime Achievement honour

Dubai, UAE; December 8, 2010: To celebrate the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ being presented this year to Sabah, the pan-Arab actress and singer, the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) will host a special retrospective covering her rewarding career.

Festival Chairman Abdulhamid Juma said: “In her own inimitable way, Sabah has influenced generations of film-lovers and inspired aspiring talent to pursue their dreams. The retrospectives at DIFF will highlight how she won over audiences and made her distinct imprint.”

Known popularly as Sabah, Jeanette Gergi Fighali is one of the Arab world’s most prolific and popular actresses and singers. DIFF 2010 will screen two of her critically acclaimed films, Joz Merati (My Wife’s Husband) (1961) and Leila Baka Fiha El Qamar (1980).

Joz Merati (My Wife’s Husband), a 1961 film, features a typically-vivacious and dynamic performance from Sabah. It is a comedic yet melodramatic love story of a woman torn between husbands. Leila (Sabah) is married to a hopeless loser, Ahmad (Omar Hariri). It’s a volatile, tempestuous relationship not helped by Ahmad’s continuous infidelity. The film will be screened on Dec. 16 at DIFF’s newest outdoor venue, The Walk at JBR, preceding a concert with the Lebanese diva Rima Khcheich.

The story of a famous singer, Hanan, who meets Ahmad when she finds herself stranded with car trouble is the theme of Leila Baka Fiha El Qamar. Hoping to live his dream of establishing a theatre through the famous singer’s success, Ahmad marries Hanan. Over time, Ahmad begins to despise the life he lives with Hanan. After Ahmad commits adultery, Hanan leaves Ahmad, and uses her pain to create some of her greatest songs. The film will screen on Dec. 13 at Cinestar, Mall of the Emirates.

DIFF 2010 box office locations are: Cinestar Mall of the Emirates, Madinat Souk, the CNN Building in Dubai Media City and The Walk at JBR. Tickets can also be purchased through DIFF’s Dial-a-Ticket service at (04) 391 3378 and from the website www.dubaifilmfest.com.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 will be held from December 12 to 19. DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The event is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit www.dubaifilmfest.com

DAMAC Tower in Beirut attract top accolade at Bloomberg International Property Awards

November 29^th: The Middle East’s largest private luxury developer, DAMAC Properties, has won a prestigious International Property Award for DAMAC Tower, its landmark collaboration with VERSACE Home in Lebanon. 

DAMAC Properties beat a field of international developers to win the award for “Best High Rise Architecture” for its luxury DAMAC Tower development in Beirut. The award was announced at a gala ceremony in London at the weekend.

Speaking at the event, Niall Mc Loughlin, Senior Vice President of DAMAC Properties said “DAMAC Tower is a masterpiece. It’s a stunning blend of exquisite VERSACE interiors, unique architectural design, in an enviable location on the shores of the Mediterranean. This international accolade recognises DAMAC Tower on the global stage, and distinguishes the project as one of the most highly regarded residential developments in the world.”

DAMAC Tower was launched in June and is the first exclusive VERSACE Home branded residential tower in the region. Situated in the elite marina area of the new Solidere development in Beirut, DAMAC Tower has extensive views of the Mediterranean. The spectacular flowing curves and undulating volumes of the 28 storey building were designed to emulate the surging waves of the ocean. “DAMAC Tower is a majestic development which strikes a balance between technology and luxury without compromising on style and aesthetic appeal. This innovative collaboration between DAMAC Properties and VERSACE Home will deliver to residents the luxurious Italian lifestyle concept.” Mc Loughlin said.

DAMAC Tower will feature spacious private units resplendent with custom designed interiors. All the common areas including the health and fitness facilities, the concierge reception, and the main lobby will feature VERSACE Home products. “DAMAC Properties’ partnership with VERSACE, the world-renowned Italian fashion house synonymous with glamour and luxury, defined the interiors of DAMAC Tower. The shared vision of the two companies has combined to deliver the most prestigious and sought-after property in Beirut” said Mc Loughlin, “and now that DAMAC Tower has been recognised as being one of the most outstanding developments in the world, interest in this project is likely to come from much further afield.” He added.

The judging of the International Property Awards was carried out by an esteemed panel of international judges. This year’s judges included Luke McKend, industry head property markets of Google UK; Peter Bolton King, group chief executive of the National Federation of Property Professionals; Christopher Hall, president elect of FIABCI; Thijs Stoffer, International Consortium of Real Estate Agents Association (ICREA); Fiona Nixon, chairman of the Australia Institute of Architects, Hendrik Nelde, president of FIABCI Belgium; Helen Shield, editor-in-chief of International Homes Luxury Collection magazine and Sven Johns, CEO of the German Real Estate Association.

DAMAC Properties has a proven track record of designing and developing world-class luxury projects across the Middle East, North Africa and the Levant. The name ‘DAMAC’ has become synonymous with superior quality and luxury lifestyle living. DAMAC Properties’ recognition in the International Property Awards further cements the developer’s position as one of the most highly regarded property developers in the region.

Further information is available at www.damacproperties.com

DAMAC Properties, part of DAMAC Holdings was established in 2002, as a private residential, leisure and commercial developer in Dubai and the Middle East. Since then, DAMAC Properties has expanded rapidly into North Africa, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

2009 was labelled the ‘Year of Construction’ at DAMAC Properties, during which it aggressively focused on construction and contract delivery to trusted and quality contractors.  DAMAC Properties have already delivered more than 3500 units into the market with projects at IMPZ (The Crescent), TECOM (Executive Heights), JLT (Lake View and Lake Terrace) and the Marina (The Waves and Marina Terrace) already delivered and is expected to have handed over a further 3,971 in the next year.

In June 2010, DAMAC Properties further reinforced its position as a premium developer with the launch of DAMAC Tower in Beirut, Lebanon. A 28 iconic tower, this project is in association with Italian design group, VERSACE, with all interiors being designed by Versace Home.

The company has a diverse range of expertise that allows them to have a good oversight and management of all aspects of a project right from the acquisition of land, appointment of architects and designers, construction and sales to after sales service.

The company’s projects are located in the most desirable and exclusive locations and homes are built to a high quality specification that has become synonymous with the group. DAMAC Properties aims to develop projects that include residential, commercial and leisure facilities that will create an integrated community.

In addition to support services provided by the Dubai headquarters, the company’s comprehensive Customer Care Program provides solutions through its vast network with offices in the UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, KSA and Qatar.