Western Motors reveals Fiat’s “window to the sky”, 500 convertible in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain

Abu Dhabi: - Western Motors, Fiat general distributors in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and a member of Al Fahim Group, announced the debut of the new Fiat 500 super-mini adorable convertible version. This event coincides with Fiat 500 receiving the Best Small Car of the Year Award from CAR Middle East – the GCC’s premier motoring magazine and directly affiliated to the world’s leading automotive magazine brand in the UK (CAR).

“We are pleased to reveal the long-awaited convertible, Fiat 500C, featuring an innovative soft-top, also known as ‘a fully fledged window to the sky’, in addition to a great set of other safety and comfort options that add to the pleasure of driving such a beautiful and practical Italian master piece,” commented Mr. Kamal Rafih, General Manager of Western Motors.

The 500C is of the ‘open source’ design where new functions have been added to a highly successful existing product. Incorporating top-of-the-segment safety features, four adult-seat habitability and generous luggage space, the Fiat 500C also exhibits excellent load ability even with the soft-top fully open, thanks to a clever parallelogram hinge device.

The soft-top is available in ivory, red and black and may be matched with several bodywork color schemes, two of which are specifically for the 500C model: pearl red and a special warm grey, typical of sports supercars.

Similar to the basic model, both models are the same size and powered with the same engine (1.4 liter producing 100 hp) all with either manual or robotized Dualogic transmission.

“Ideal for our weather conditions, the innovative sliding soft-top combined with a styling concept which retains all-round protection, the 500C is delightful to ride if you take it for a drive on the Abu Dhabi Corniche and admire the skyscrapers from the car’s  ‘window to the sky’ or even a trip to Jebel Hafeet,” continued Mr. Rafih. “Its many special features make this new super-mini one of the best cabriolet models in the city-car segment in the emirate.” 

INTERMAT Middle East 2011 to Become Region’s Premier Construction Expo

World Renowned Construction and Infrastructure Exhibition to Debut in Abu Dhabi 

Dubai-UAE: 27 December, 2010 – Clarion Events Middle East and S.E. INTERMAT today announced the first edition of INTERMAT Middle East - the second largest construction sector exhibition worldwide, which is set to become the most important construction summit in the Middle East.

INTERMAT Middle East will be held from 28 to 30 March 2011 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) centre in Abu Dhabi.

INTERMAT takes place in Paris, France, every three years with approximately 1,500 exhibitors participating from 48 countries to showcase cutting edge products and services in the construction industry. It welcomes 200,000 visitors out of which almost half are international delegates.

The Middle East and North Africa region is experiencing rapid growth, with the United Arab Emirates one of the largest markets for non-residential buildings, construction activity, civil engineering/infrastructure and tourism. This makes Abu Dhabi the prime location in the Middle East to host such a power-packed event.

INTERMAT Middle East 2011 will be co-located with Arabian Construction Week 2011. Delegates will comprise high-ranking government officials, construction company representatives, local authorities, airport and port authorities, importers, distributors, firms that supply or rent out materials and equipment, and senior executives interested in methods and technology for future construction projects and building efficiency.

Christopher Hudson, Managing Director, MECOM Forums, a Clarion Events Partner, said: “INTERMAT is a world renowned exhibition in the construction sector and is the perfect complement to Arabian Construction Week. It offers visitors and delegates an opportunity to understand construction processes, define suitable technologies for projects and examine how successful builds are completed, while also presenting them with an exclusive platform to meet solution providers.”

The exhibition addresses the need for an event dedicated to construction materials and equipment for the fast growing markets of the Middle East and North Africa, with visitors from across the GCC attending. INTERMAT Middle East will extend its reach to other countries in the region, including Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. During the event, attendees have an opportunity to meet international suppliers and constructors that can provide solutions to meet their infrastructure and construction equipment needs.

Exhibiting organisations at INTERMAT Middle East include: Liebherr, Hyundai, Al Wasit Machinery, Doosan Heavy Industries, Doosan-Bobcat, Kanoo Group, Manitowoc, Potain, Schwing-Stetter, Al Laith Scaffolding, Orbit, Pega, Cattaneo, Mitas, Platform Basket, Sunward, Tuckerbilt, Yongmao, HIFI Filter, ArcGen Hilta, Rapid, Locatelli, Tum-Mak, Goldola, United Machinery and Equipment, Halco Rock Tools, BV Beko and Jura Filtration, among others.

The Arabian Construction Week consists of three dedicated trade shows: Green Building Middle East for sustainable construction solutions, Future Build Middle East for Innovative construction products and Civil Engineering Middle East.

In addition the Arabian Construction Week also hosts four international summits: Building Smart, which addresses interoperability delivered by building information modelling processes; the Green Building Summit; the Climate Control Summit in association with ASHRAE; and the Infrastructure Summit.

About MECOM Forums

MECOM Forums is a Clarion Events Partner with offices in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. MECOM Forums, a Clarion Events Partner has grown into a highly successful business. In 2009, over 800,000 targeted people visited their 200 exhibitions, conferences and seated events across Britain, Europe, North and South America, Africa, Middle East and Asia.

The business-to-business and business-to-consumer, serve 15 different market sectors that include; Defence, Energy, Construction, Retail, Leisure, Entertainment, Finance and Life Sciences.

 Clarion Events employs over 400 people in twelve offices: UK (London Earls Court Exhibition Centre, and Birmingham NEC); Germany (Bielefeld); The Netherlands (Maarsen); South Africa (Cape Town); USA (Connecticut and Reno): Brazil (Sao Paulo); United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai); Singapore and Turkey.

More information on www.mecomforums.com.

About COMEXPOSIUM

Comexposium is the leading events organiser in France of both trade fairs (Intermat, SIAL, SIMA, Emballage, Equip Auto, Silmo, etc.) and exhibitions open to the general public (Salon de l’Agriculture, Salon du Cheval, Foire de Paris, etc.). The Group organised 121 events and posted consolidated turnover of €226m in 2008. The Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Paris (CCIP) and UNIBAIL RODAMCO hold equal shares in the Group’s capital.

More information on www.comexposium.com

Global Summits to be Held at Arabian Construction Week 2011 Addressing Key Topics in the Region’s Construction Sector

Dubai-UAE: 28 December 2010 – Clarion Events Middle East, along with Corporate Publishing International, the strategic partner of Arabian Construction Week 2011, today announced it will host four summits during the event – Building Smart, Infrastructure, Climate Control, and Green Building.

The Arabian Construction Week consists of three dedicated trade shows - Green Building Middle East for sustainable construction solutions; Future Build Middle East for innovative construction products; and Civil Engineering Middle East highlighting major infrastructure developments.

Held alongside the tradeshows, the summits have been designed to give delegates the opportunity to understand construction processes, define suitable technologies for projects, and examine how successful builds are completed.

Central to the event is Building Smart, which refers to the concept of integrated construction and how it can be achieved. There will be three parallel summits supporting Building Smart, covering Green Building, Infrastructure and Climate Control. The conference will demonstrate how using such processes in generating and managing real-time data can result in efficient designs, cost effective build and profitability, specifically in today’s economic environment.

Abdelrahman Muneer, Development Manager of buildingSMART ME, a not for profit international organisation representing businesses across the whole spectrum of construction, said: “At a conference held in Abu Dhabi in November 2010, buildingSMART ME released results of a Middle East survey detailing the construction industry’s awareness of Building Information Modelling (BIM), the desire to deploy these processes and the reasons preventing deployment.

“The conference established that there was desire among government and industry leadership for these new processes, especially the production of measurable standards to guide efficient and profitable deployment. These standards are in the final stages of development and will be launched during Arabian Construction Week 2011.”

With a growing number of construction firms embracing eco-conscious business models, the Green Building Middle East Summit is the ideal complement to the Build Green Exhibition. A selection of the world’s leading sustainable building experts will speak about ‘green’ technologies, practices, materials and initiatives that can benefit construction sites across the Middle East. They will also discuss and update delegates about global perspectives on rating systems, power projects, educational development and carbon reductions.

Infrastructure is an essential market for the region's construction industry as GCC countries plan to invest heavily in various infrastructure projects, with Abu Dhabi at the forefront of numerous major developments. The Infrastructure Summit will focus on opportunities and challenges in developing key areas of infrastructure, such as building schools, ports and industrial projects, and roads and railways.

According to the Kuwait Financial Centre, the GCC plans to invest over US$123.45 billion (AED453bn) on infrastructure projects over the next 10 years. Abu Dhabi is estimated to spend more than US$81bn (AED297.27) on roads, bridges and railways over the next two decades, while the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has allocated US$5.3bn (AED19.45bn) to upgrade and build over 3,500 schools.

The most substantial of these is the $15bn (AED55bn), pan-GCC rail project, designed to facilitate travel between GCC countries. The Infrastructure Summit will consider the future of these developments whilst also providing a full construction update on Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone, as well insights into the new design and building methods which will pave the way for future ports projects in the UAE and beyond.

The Climate Control Summit will see advocates of district cooling and standalone systems discuss various issues, providing vertical and horizontal residential, commercial and mixed-use developments with technologically viable and economically sustainable comfort cooling solutions, that conserve energy and meet the comfort-cooling and process-cooling needs of the Middle East region.

Christopher Hudson, Managing Director of MECOM Forums, a Clarion Events partner, said: “Arabian Construction Week 2011 provides a great platform for key decision makers, high profile delegates and future leaders of the industry to share ideas. The setting makes the event an idyllic place to set a vision for the future - one that concentrates on cost-effective and environmental standards of construction brilliance.”

The Arabian Construction Week will take place from 28-30 March, 2011, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). The conference will be attended by industry leaders, contractors, developers, urban planners, architects, consultants, government organisations and financiers.

-Ends-

About MECOM Forums

MECOM Forums is a Clarion Events Partner with offices in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. MECOM Forums, a Clarion Events Partner has grown into a highly successful business. In 2009, over 800,000 targeted people visited their 200 exhibitions, conferences and seated events across Britain, Europe, North and South America, Africa, Middle East and Asia.

The business-to-business and business-to-consumer, serve 15 different market sectors that include; Defence, Energy, Construction, Retail, Leisure, Entertainment, Finance and Life Sciences.

Clarion Events employs over 400 people in twelve offices: UK (London Earls Court Exhibition Centre, and Birmingham NEC); Germany (Bielefeld); The Netherlands (Maarsen); South Africa (Cape Town); USA (Connecticut and Reno): Brazil (Sao Paulo); United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai); Singapore and Turkey.

More information on www.mecomforums.com.

About the Arabian Construction Week

The Arabian Construction Week combines three events dedicated to the construction industries: Green Building Middle East, Future Build Middle East and Civil Enginnering Middle East.

Green Building Middle East will display the best sustainable construction products from around the world and bring together the world’s top sustainable building experts to discuss the latest practices, materials and initiatives that can be implemented on construction sites across the Middle East.

Civil Engineering Middle East will display the latest products and solutions for major infrastructure and transport projects which are rapidly transforming the landscape of the Middle East. The exhibition will focus on various sectors including airports and ports, buildings, bridges, transport, urban planning, roads, railways, power and energy, recycling, environment and major structures.

In addition to the three dedicated exhibitions, the Arabian Construction Week will host four international summits including Building Smart, The Green Building Summit, the Climate Control Summit in association with ASHRAE and the Infrastructure Summit.

More information on www.arabianconstructionweek.com.

About buildingSMART

buildingSMART is a not for profit international organisation managed by its members, representing businesses across the whole spectrum of construction. buildingSMART is delivered via ‘regional alliances’, also known as ‘chapters’, each representing a country or a group of countries. Every alliance promotes interoperability. Interoperability is the dynamic and seamless exchange of information, from design through to facilities management. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the process, Industry Foundation Class (IFC) is the interoperable technology. buildingSMART International is the governing body responsible for maintaining diligent global operations. buildingSMART ME is the regional alliance covering the Middle East, North Africa and India. Launched in 2009, it is now well established, with a growing membership.

THOUSANDS OF EMIRATI JOB PROSPECTS AT LARGEST AND MOST ANTICIPATED CAREERS UAE FAIR

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

As the UAE economy continues on a steady upward curve, and with more than half of the country’s companies looking to take on staff by the end of the year, UAE nationals hungry for the right jobs will be descending on Careers UAE in March 2011 in their thousands.

The exhibition, the most established recruitment, training and education event in the UAE has been a strong driver in successful Emiratisation partnerships between employers and employees since the programme’s launch ten years ago. Careers UAE 2011 will be more relevant than ever before as new Emiratisation laws have increased the minimum number of Emirati workers in private sector companies to 15%.

Attendance at this year’s event, its 11^th edition, is also expected to be high in light of recent predictions of a stronger economy and business growth. The latest Jobs Index Survey conducted by Bayt.com and YouGov Siraj, showed that the UAE is one of the top job markets in the Gulf, with 54% of organisations surveyed saying they would be recruiting by the end of 2010.

Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre, the show’s organiser, said: “There is growing economic optimism in the UAE which is leading to increased prospects for Emiratis. Human Resources departments continue to focus their strategies on Emiratisation, and Careers UAE 2011 is at the forefront of matching a highly skilled local workforce with recruiters seeking a solid blend of ability and enthusiasm.

“The new federal initiatives for a stronger Emirati labour force make the event even more significant, providing genuine opportunities for employers to approach and assess the right candidates.”

  

Held under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Careers UAE 2011 is being held between 21-23 March 2011 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Careers UAE 2011 welcomes 110 exhibitors, across a record 12 sectors and industries including: government and semi-government; finance; education and recruitment; trade and commerce; oil and gas; transportation; telecoms; ministries; training and HR.  IT and hospitality sectors are being introduced for the first time due to the increasing labour market demand.

New features in the event include a dedicated platform to showcase professional bodies, training courses for career development, networking forums for industry professionals and an e-learning area.

Open exclusively for UAE Nationals and HR practitioners, Careers UAE 2011 will be held in Sheikh Saeed Halls at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC). The event will take place from 21 – 23 March 2011 and will be open from 10am to 6pm daily. For more information, please visit www.careersuae.ae.

About Careers UAE 2011

The 11th annual Careers Show Exhibition is being held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, from 21 - 23 March 2011. The exhibition is organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre, in conjunction with TANMIA, Higher Colleges of Technology, Zayed University and UAE University.

Careers Show is a high-caliber event that enables talented UAE nationals in all fields to meet directly with recruiters and hiring managers from top employers. Careers Show was designed to expose job seekers to various training and career opportunities. Take advantage of Careers Show for exciting networking possibilities, career leads, learn about various companies, meet employers, and to apply for job positions and internships.

Careers Show provides an opportunity for UAE nationals to meet and obtain information on:

• Opportunities within organisations and general company information
• Market information
• Training and education opportunities available in the market

About Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)

Website: www.dwtc.com

As the organiser of GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK, Dubai World Trade Centre offers more than 31 years' experience of delivering world-class events in the Middle East, providing local, regional and international exhibitors with unmatched expertise and in-depth market knowledge.

Our team organises 18 of the largest and most successful international and regional shows in Middle East, providing an ideal platform for business development in the region. Our commitment to ongoing innovation within the exhibition industry has supported the rapid growth and development of a wide range of business-to-business and business-to-consumer shows, and delivered consistent satisfaction to exhibitors and visitors.

DWTC works the region's leading trade bodies and industry associations to ensure that all conferences deliver full value and are built upon the real needs of their specific sector. 

MIDDLE EAST LEADS DEMAND FOR MONITORING SYSTEMS

As global threat perceptions rise and awareness about the need to guard against internal and external security breaches increases, governments and local authorities around the world are turning to increasingly sophisticated means to detect and prevent these threats before they can occur.

This has led to an unprecedented rise in demand for parameter monitoring devices and video surveillance systems around the world – with the Middle East region among the prime movers in this regard.

“The awareness of the need to provide cutting-edge security measures to protect against ever more sophisticated threats is driving the demand for high-tech surveillance and detection systems in sensitive civilian and military installations,” said Ahmed Pauwels, Chief Executive Officer of Epoc Messe Frankfurt GmbH, organiser of the Middle East’s largest and most comprehensive trade and networking event for the security, health and safety, protection and rescue industries – Intersec.

“According to recent research, the global market for perimeter security sensory systems will be worth AED 1.6 billion (US$ 440 million) by 2014. This is being driven by new regulations being imposed by governments in the US, Europe and Asia regarding enhanced security measures at sensitive sites like airports, nuclear plants, power plants and other high-risk locations,” Pauwels stated.

Video surveillance and detection systems have become increasingly popular as a means of threat detection in cities worldwide. Video cameras are increasingly popping up at most places with a large throughput of people. Recent market estimates expect that demand for video surveillance systems in Middle Eastern countries would grow by 10% in 2010, with even stronger growth forecast through to 2014.

Dubai alone is expected to spend AED 500 million this year to install security cameras across the emirate.  There are currently 25,000 security cameras in Dubai, which is policed by 16,500 police officers and another 4,000 administrative staff who oversee security in the city. Dubai is also expected to set up a modern forensics laboratory at a cost of AED 500 million, as it gears up to face the increasingly spohisticated threats posed by modern criminals.

The Homeland Security and Policing division of Intersec trade fair and conference 2011, will feature the latest developments in threat management and prevention systems, monitoring and surveillance systems from leading manufacturers and security experts worldwide looking to tap into the burgeoning Middle East market.

Intersec trade fair and conference 2011, which will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from January 16 to 18, will bring together decision makers, suppliers, distributors, security consultants, fire and rescue experts, police and security authorities and professionals involved in the health, safety, security and protection industry throughout the region and beyond.

In 2010, Intersec trade fair and conference attracted over 19,000 trade visitors and buyers and 700 exhibitors from over 50 countries. The next edition will be divided into different areas of interest: Commercial Security & Information Security, Aviation, Homeland Security & Policing, Fire & Rescue and Safety & Health and will also feature a three day conference running parallel to the exhibition.

SAINT HONORE HONOURS FORMULA 1 STAR PAUL BELMONDO AND CREATES THE ORSAY BLACK RACING LIMITED EDITION WATCH

Parisian luxury fashion house SAINT HONORE and brand icon Paul Belmondo open the doors into a fascinating world of movies, former French Formula One star and actor Paul Belmondo moves brilliantly between F1 and show business. SAINT HONORE created its Orsay Black Racing limited edition in honour of this prestigious ambassador.

Born on April 23, 1963, Paul is a successful former French racing driver who raced in Formula One for the March and Pacific Racing teams. He is the son of legendary French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo and grandson of sculptor Paul Belmondo.

Paul Belmondo has made a smooth and successful transition from the world of Formula I into show business and epitomizes Parisian style that is synonymous with SAINT HONORE.

Through 1987 Paul participated in Formula 3 and Formula 3000 too. In 1992 he joined the March F1 team as a pay driver. Two years later he became a member of the Pacific Grand Prix team, where he qualified for two races. Thereafter he concentrated on GT racing, at the wheel of a Chrysler Viper GTS-R. He started his own team, Paul Belmondo Racing which raced in the FIA GT Championship and Le Mans Endurance Series championship.

SAINT HONORE has created a special watch - the Orsay Black Racing limited edition in honor of this prestigious ambassador and the watch is available to watch lovers and racing fans in the Middle East region.

Developed in conjunction with Paul Belmondo, the Orsay Black Racing chronograph has featured in the greatest world car races like the Paris-Dakar and the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The Orsay Black Racing watch, is available in two versions: black PVD case or stainless steel case.

Both finishes magnify the aesthetic qualities of the model and promote the technical features - 3-counter chronograph movement to 1/10th of a second - of this watch produced in a limited series of 250 for each version.

“Vintage” spirit, bold finishes - the tradition of Orsay Black Racing watches draws its inspiration from the "beautiful cars" of the 1970s: dial with alternating smooth, guilloche and brushed surfaces; black or white pierced leather straps decorated with red topstitching emphasizing the sophisticated, masculine feel of the watch. This watch will clearly catch the eye of male enthusiasts of racy elegance and strong sensations.

Top Five Consumer Cyberthreats for 2011 Revealed by Norton

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Dec. 28, 2010 – With the recent international headlines surrounding  several high-profile data leaks, Norton, the Internet security specialist, today issued its top five cyberthreats facing consumers across the Middle East in 2011.  In addition, the security specialist offered insight into how the region’s increasingly connected online community can protect itself as the new year approaches.

“It’s almost inevitable that 2011 will see a larger number of people in the Middle East region falling victim to cybercrime than ever before. Taking your online personal protection seriously is a key New Year’s resolution, as the number of high-profile cyber attacks witnessed globally is increasing consumer fears about the threats of spending time online,” said Tamim Taufiq, Head of Consumer Sales, MENA for Symantec, provider of Norton solutions.

“With technology gifts and purchases surging in the winter holiday season, the fact is that the more connected we become in the Middle East, the more cybercrime opportunities are created  for criminals to exploit. Users in this region need to ensure that they take proactive steps around the security and protection of their online devices and their data."

Norton’s Top Five Cyberthreats for 2011

1.      Social media identity theft – The tremendous popularity of social media sites can come with a dark side as well. Virus writers and other cybercriminals go where the numbers are and that includes these popular sites. Beware of any unusual messages or requests from your friends online, and never give out your password to anyone.

2.      Smartphone and tablet hacking – Although cyber criminals have shown little interest in mobile devices in the past, as devices grow more sophisticated and as a handful of tablets corner the market, it is inevitable that attackers will hone in on mobile devices in 2011 and confidential data loss will become increasingly problematic.

3.      Beware of trending topics – Cybercriminals are savvy when it comes to the latest social trends. Whether it’s X Factor or Strictly Come Dancing gossip, cybercriminals catch on to these trends and poison search engine results, which can leave users at risk of clicking on an infected link. Norton Safe Web Lite is a free tool that identifies poisoned search results to help Internet users protect themselves from cybercrime.

4.      Shortened Web addresses – Internet users should be careful about clicking on shortened URLs ("Uniform Resource Locator," the Web address). They can be found everywhere on social media sites, but the URL hides the full location. Clicking on unknown links can direct users to their intended site, or one that installs malware on an Internet connected device. 

5.      Pharming – Pharming is another form of online fraud very similar to its cousin, phishing. Pharmers are more difficult to detect because they are not reliant upon the victim accepting a “bait” message, but instead redirect victims to a bogus Web site even if they type the right Web address of their bank or other online service into their Web browser.

About Norton From Symantec

Symantec’s Norton products protect consumers from cybercrime with technologies like antivirus, anti-spyware and phishing protection -- while also being light on system resources.  The company also provides services such as online backup, PC tuneup, and family online safety.  Fan Norton on Facebook at www.facebook.com/norton and follow our international Twitter feed @NortonOnline on Twitter.   You can follow Norton on Twitter at twitter.com/norton_uk.