Stay in Dubai for $ 27 per Night

          DUBAI: The Dubai Government has launched a new scheme called `Dubai for Free' to run from June 20 to August 30 to boost occupancy levels in hotels during the lean summer months.

           Dubai has matured as a year-round destination over the years through a series of sustained promotions since 1995 and not just a winter escape, claims the Department of Tourism and

A beach resort hotel

Commerce Marketing. It has coordinated special rates and deals this summer in conjunction with the hotels and hotel apartments to make Dubai attractive, said Awadh Al Seghayer, DTCM manager for heritage sites and events.

           However, Dubai for Free will run concurrently with Dubai Summer Surprises. Fifty-eight hotels and 11 hotel apartments participating in the scheme are offering special net rate inclusive of service charge varying from $ 27 (AED 100) to $ 204 (AED 750) per room night for hotels and hotel apartments. The participating hotels will offer one night free for every three nights booked and the hotel apartments will offer one night free for every six nights booked. However, only guests booking through travel agencies will be able to avail of these offers, the DTCM said. Two children below 12 years age can stay free with their parents.

           The complementary bonuses offered by participating outlets include fruit basket, welcome drink on arrival, daily bus service to the beach, airport transfers, breakfast, freee use of health club, free access to night club, transfers to DSS activity sites, toys for children below six years on departure, late check-out, 20 per cent discount on food and beverages, 50 per cent discount on spa and beauty treatments, free unlimited access to water theme park and a chance to participate in a weekly raffle for a trip to Disney Paris.

-India Overseas
May 8, 2002

 

New Gold Trade Centre

          DUBAI: The UAE is establishing a Dubai Metals and Commodities Centre (DMCC) to provide a wide range of facilities for trading in gold, diamonds and key commodities. DMCC will be a free zone offering 100 per cent ownership and a 50-year tax holiday to resident companies.

A trade centre

         The centre will offer a full service to those organisations involved in gold trading with physical trading facilities, storage, hall-marking/assaying as well as package and delivery facilities available on-site. Three refineries will also be housed within the complex. Trading facilities, a convention centre, a training centre and a gems lab will be available to DMCC resident companies in the diamond trade while the commodity industry will be provided with trading, storage and logistics facilities.

          Strategic partners for resident companies in the gold industry will include banks, refineries, jewellery/coin dealers and central banks. Those from the diamond industry will be partnering with banks, jewellery dealers as well as other international centres while commodity organisations will work with trading companies and international exchanges.

-India Overseas
May 8, 2002

 

An All-in-One Destination

           NEW DELHI: Contrary to popular belief, Dubai doesn't depend on its oil industry alone for its economic prosperity. Tourism is a major economic activity contributing substantially to its GDP, like the oil industry and conventional trade.

           And India as a neighbouring country has contributed largely for the growth of its business and economy in many ways. Over 2,18,000 Indians stayed in hotels and hotel apartments in Dubai during 2001. This segment has grown by nearly by 17 per cent over a 4-year period making India a key market for inbound visitor traffic. 

Camel racing

         The growth is due to an increasing realisation of Dubai as a multi-faceted destination,

offering desert safaris, golfing, theme parks, water sports, beach resorts, sea cruises etc., said Ibrahim Ahli, Manager, Overseas Promotions, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai.

FALCONRY: A traditional pastime

           To spread awarenesss about Dubai's potential as an upmarket tourist destination across India, the DTCM conducted multi-city roadshows in Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai in April 2002.

           According to Carl Vaz, Country Manager, DTCM, there were only 22 travel agents and tour operators promoting Dubai in India in 1977. Now there are 450 agents and operators. The main objective of the roadshow was to expand the base of agents promoting Dubai as the destination.

           The network of Emirates, the international airline of the UAE, played a substantial role in boosting tourist traffic to Dubai. There are other airlines too offering over 55 flights a week between various Indian cities and Dubai.

           There is also a new project coming up - Palm Islands. It will add another 60 km of beaches to the coastline. Once completed in 2004, it will have 40 boutique hotels, 2000 residential villas, extensive shopping complexes and a marine park.

A dhow in the Creek

           Today when one thinks of Dubai, one thinks of not just oil, and not even just gold and shopping but a whole gamut of tourist activities like sports, adventure, entertainment and sight-seeing.

           To cap it all, Dubai now allows foreigners to acquire real estate in the Emirate. Dubai Marina and Palm Islands are two mega projects conceived on these lines.

-India Overseas
May 8, 2002