BUSINESS & JOBS

A sculpture of a traditional Gulf couple, unveiled in Downtown Dubai yesterday, is intended to contribute to the area's evolution as a cultural and arts centre, said Mohamed Alabbar, the chairman of Emaar Properties. The white marble and black granite figures of a man in a khandoura and a woman in an abaya, called Together, have been placed on Emaar Boulevard, close to the entrance of the Burj Khalifa.

A new gallery that will showcase the best in Arab contemporary talent is planning to open its doors in Downtown Dubai during April. The 3,000 square foot Ara Gallery, located near the base of the Burj Khalifa, has also earmarked community engagement as a key pillar of its strategy.

The fallout from the political upheaval in Egypt and other parts of the Middle East is likely to benefit Dubai's tourism industry as travellers seek out alternative destinations, according to a new report by CitiGroup.

Emaar handed over 3,500 units in the UAE and internationally in 2010, including over 770 units in Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building and over 420 units in international markets. In line with the business strategy of the Group to focus on the core sectors of property development, shopping malls & retail and hospitality, Emaar Properties transferred its healthcare and education assets to renowned service providers, which will contribute to additional recurring rental revenues in 2011 and later years.

Saudi Arabia will help China build a $1.3bn luxury hotel modelled on Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, according to newspaper reports from Beijing. The People’s Daily Online quoted a senior official as saying that graphics and planning of the ‘seven-star’ hotel had already been completed. The announcement was made at a press conference on Wednesday.

The country's main indexes rebounded yesterday as declines posted last week were seen as overdone, fund managers said. The Dubai Financial Market General Index gained 1.5 per cent to 1,605.89. Emaar Properties, the developer of the Burj Khalifa, gained 1.5 per cent to Dh3.30.

Dubai: British photographer Stu Williamson is "proud" to have won a competition with a shot of Dubai's Burj Khalifa, and to have seen the iconic building being constructed. "It's an iconic building for the world, not only the UAE," he told Gulf News from his Jumeirah Beach Road studio. "Dubai has got some fabulous buildings. We're spoilt for choice, really."

Mark Coady from Australia agrees. "Business Bay is 10 minutes to virtually all the places that one needs." Apart from the traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road, he says, the area is quiet. "All the buildings are big and new. The views of the Burj Khalifia are pretty great. There are not too many buildings blocking the views and there are plenty of wide-open spaces." The Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall are a 20-minute walk away. Al Manzil Hotel in Old Town houses the Hayya Gym, which allows non-members to attend classes.

Welcome to One World, One Family, One Festival. Welcome to Dubai, the Shopping Paradise. Entertain yourself with hundreds of options. Go for a dash of culture, custom and tradition. Then, perhaps drive and laugh as you collect your winnings from the bank.

Visitors to the Burj Khalifa can now take home a souvenir of their visit in the shape of a gold bar emblazoned with the logo of the tallest building on the planet. The first Gold To Go machines in the emirate were installed at tower’s observation deck and in the souvenir shop at the adjoining Dubai Mall on Wednesday. Each dispenses four different types of gold bars, in sizes ranging from 2.5 grams to one ounce (28.3g).