Dubai’s Dot Info

DUBAI — Tennis celebrity Maria Sharapova will jet into Dubai to launch Dubai Lifestyle City, the multi-dimensional project to VIP’s on November 13, a media release said.

I wanted to go to Dubai, Bhutto said. But when these rumour surfaced, I decided to change my program, she added. If a state of

Ecco, one of the world's leading footwear brands has opened its first franchised concept stores in Egypt. The stores will be located in Cairo at the City Stars Mall and Maadi Grand Mall. Jens Hattab, Chief Executive of Ecco Middle East, said eight more stores are planned for Egypt in the next two years.

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), the leading carrier in Northern Europe and the fourth largest airline group in Europe, has launched a non-stop, thrice-weekly service from Dubai to the Danish capital, Copenhagen - the first to directly link the UAE with Scandinavia.

In the presence of President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, Aldar Properties, the leading property development company in Abu Dhabi, and Al Maabar launch Abu Dhabi Plaza in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, in the Special Economic Zone.

The Middle East's surging population is giving rise to a rapidly growing market for healthcare and its associated industries, which is now touching $100bn mark in the region, according to the Arab Health Congress. Saudi Arabia, the richest regional market, has planned to increase its number of hospitals from 264 to over 500 in next 7 years. Meawhile, the UAE healthcare market is projected to rise from $3.2bn in 2005 to $11.9bn in 2015.

Bhutto prepares to go to Dubai to visit husband KARACHI, Pakistan -- Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is planning a trip outside of the country

Two dream cars are setting out on their next Gran Turismo lap of the Middle East - BMW Group Middle East will introduce the new 6 Series Coupé and the new 6 Series Convertible in November of this year.

The Arab Journalists Union has praised a recent decree by the ruler of Dubai that prohibits journalists from being jailed for doing their work, reported Gulf News. Salah Al Deen Hafez, Secretary General of the union, said the decision provides support for freedom of expression amid pessimism in the Arab world.

UAE-based Aldar Properties has announced the launch of Abu Dhabi Plaza in Kazakhstan, the firm's first project in the Asian country, reported Gulf News. Aldar chairman Ahmad Ali Al Sayegh said the project, which will be located in the capital of Astana, will include 90,000 square metres of commercial space, 598 residential units in an 88 storey tower, a retail space of 111,000 square metres and two hotels.

Qatargas Operating Company Limited achieved a new project milestone recently with the successful completion of the Qatargas 2 project's required offshore drilling program.

DUBAI — Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), the fourth largest airline group in Europe, yesterday announced the launch of a seasonal non-stop, thrice-weekly service from Dubai to Copenhagen from today and said the UAE would be its gateway to reach out to other regional destinations.

Moody's Investors Service has assigned long term local and foreign currency issuer ratings of A1 to Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA), the exclusive provider of power and water to the Emirate of Dubai. The outlook is stable.

The UAE is the source and target of the most internet security threats in the Middle East, reported Gulf News citing a global report of 180 companies by Symantec. The report said the UAE ranks 40th in terms of origin of attacks as well as being targetted by online fraudsters as compared with 46th in second half of 2006. Online perpetrators are attracted to the UAE because it has become a commercial hub in the Gulf, the report said.

Emirates NBD, the banking group resulting from the merger of Emirates Bank and National Bank of Dubai, has reported a net profit of Dhs2.56bn ($698m) and total assets of Dhs228bn during the first nine months of this year. Net profit for the nine months ended September 30 was Dhs1.77bn, compared to Dhs1.36bn in 2006, reflecting a 30% growth.

"Dubai, they say we build the highest towers, they have the best hotels. But all the news, they hide it. They don't want the world to know that Dubai still lives in the Middle Ages."

Alexandre Robert, a French 15-year-old, was having a fine summer in this tourist paradise on the Gulf. via New York Times

Vivir México [ES] asks Day of the Dead or Halloween?

South Korea is bidding to supply about 40 training jets worth $1bn to the UAE, reported Gulf News. Kim Young-ju, South Korea's commerce and industry minister, led a delegation that met with government leaders in the UAE this week. Korea's T-50 Golden Eagle is competing against Italy's Aermacchi M-346. The UAE is expected to choose its next generation trainer aircraft early this month.

U.S. oil hit a record over $95 a barrel on Wednesday, after a steep drop in U.S. inventories fueled winter supply worries and the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates, reported Reuters. U.S. oil rose $4.90, more than 5%, to $95.28 a barrel in late electronic trading after settling at $94.53 earlier.