Khaleej Times

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that the Dubai Metro, comprising the Red and Green lines, has posted high ridership rates last April, clocking 13,879,636 passengers, which compares well with the ridership recorded during the same period last year amounting to 11,298,414 riders.

Visitors to the observatory deck, located on Level 124 of Emaar Properties’ global icon Burj Khalifa, increased 13 per cent in 2013, up from 1.66 million visitors the previous year.

Hotels in Dubai reported the highest profit levels in the region in 2013 for the fourth consecutive year, and ended the year with occupancy above 80 per cent as rates surged, according to the latest HotStats survey of full service four and five star hotels in five Mena markets by TRI Hospitality Consulting Middle East.

Dubai’s hospitality market has rapidly absorbed this influx of new supply and continued to perform exceptionally well, as RevPAR has only declined by 0.3 per cent, according to Ernst & Young’s Middle East Hotel Benchmark survey.

Jaeyho Lee’s Chorus draws inspiration from the flow, movement and rhythm of a group of people gathering in South Korea's Gwanghwamun Square.

Getting a view from the world’s highest observatory deck will now cost one quarter more, Khaleej Times has learnt. Burj Khalifa’s viewing deck At the Top has increased the ticket prices for early purchase dated and timed general admission for adults from Dh100 to Dh125 and for children (aged between four and 12) from Dh75 to Dh95.

The 2014 Fifa World Cup was showcased on the 123rd floor of the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa – when official partner Visa, put on show the symbol of world soccer supremacy during a special presentation. The initiative to showcase soccer’s biggest prize is one of several events being hosted by Visa to promote the sport within the GCC.

In the lead up to the hour of darkness, more than 1,000 votive candles showing “Earth 60+ Dubai 2013” lit up the Burj Plaza floor. Splashy and Sparky, cartoonesque mascots, regaled the hundreds of children present at the event with their families.

The new city will be located between Emirates Road, Al Khail Road and Shaikh Zayed Road, and will include the Mohammed bin Rashid Gardens project. It will be connected to Downtown Dubai and Business Bay through a crossing that will be named the “Cultural Crossing” which will include art galleries and create the largest area for arts in the region.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday praised the level of preparations and the persistent efforts of the Higher Committee to Host the World Expo 2020 and expressed confidence in their ability to make this national quest a reality.