Burj Khalifa beckons you to Sky At The Top

October 15, 2014

Dubai, Oct 15: The UAE is well renowned for its limit-pushing feats, and during a sneak preview of Burj Khalifa’s newest attraction on Tuesday, it’s clear even the sky isn’t the limit here.

UAE kalifAscending a knee-wobbling 555 metres above ground, ‘At The Top Burj Khalifa Sky’ opens to the public today and is the world’s highest observation deck — outgrowing its closest competitor in China by a staggering 67 metres.

Spread across two levels on floors 124 and 148, the new observation decks offer unmatched views of the ever-expanding city, with many calling level 148 the ‘hero’ as it’s now noted as the highest viewing point on earth in a building.

At Tuesday’s unveiling, the world’s tallest building added its seventh string to its record-holding bow and Country Manager for Guinness World Records Talal Omar told Khaleej Times the UAE is setting the benchmark when it comes to record making.

“Burj Khalifa was officially opened in 2010 and since then we’ve seen six records successfully attempted by it in terms of building records. But that has inspired other people to attempt records and since then we’ve seen the highest base jump from Burj Khalifa, as well as the highest building climb from it. I can’t wait to see what’s next.”

Rising 24 floors above the original ‘At The Top’, ‘Sky’ is set to see visitor numbers soar over the next few years and Emaar Properties executive director Ahmad Al Falasi is confident it will see a big increase on last year’s 1.8 million footfall.

“I urge all who live here and visit here to enjoy your bit of the sky,” he said at Tuesday’s preview.

Up, up and away

So what can we expect to see? With a stopover level on 125 hosting 360-degree indoor views, visitors will also get a new video perspective of the city with ‘Dubai — A Falcon’s Eye View’. But for those of you with a stomach to handle another 23 floors up, you won’t be disappointed.

Housing a premium food and drink lounge with panoramic views, level 148 also offers a brand-new, hands-on interactive experience for visitors allowing them to discover iconic destinations in Dubai using a life-size screen and sensory motion technology.

But enjoying the view from a steep height may mean even steeper pricing for some with pre-booked tickets costing Dh400 while immediate entry tickets will set you back Dh500. And it’s a view that just isn’t tempting enough, said British tourist Christopher Read.

“I’ve just been to At the Top and paid Dh125 for the privilege. I think that’s a fair price, so to me Dh400 is a little much and I honestly can’t see the view being all that different.”

But from what he’s seen so far in Dubai, people will always pay for the best, he said.

“I get the attraction though. To say you’ve visited the highest viewing deck in the world is pretty cool so I don’t think they’ll struggle to sell tickets, especially here.”

So if the dizzying prices don’t faze you, why not climb to even dizzier heights and become part of history.

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Khaleej Times
June 7,2020

Dubai, Jun 7: Emirates airline on Sunday confirmed that it extended the period of reduced pay for its staff for another three months as airlines around the world struggle to preserve cash due to the grounding of fleets.

An e-mail has been sent across to Emirates employees about extending the wage cuts till September 30. In some cases, the salary will be reduced by 50 per cent.

Emirates had previously reduced basic wages by 25 to 50 per cent for three months from April, with junior employees exempted.

The Dubai-based world's largest international carrier employs around 60,000 people across its spectrum. While the parent Emirates Group employs over 100,000 workers.

On Thursday, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways confirmed to Khaleej Times that it also extended salary cut of its employees till September 2020.

"Regretfully, Etihad has extended its salary reduction until September 2020, with 25 per cent reduction for junior staff and cabin crew, and 50 per cent for employees at manager level and above. Housing allowance and a number of benefits continue to be paid," the airline's spokesperson said in a statement last week.

In March, Etihad had announced temporary reduction of basic salaries for the month of April to all staff, including executives, between 25 to 50 per cent.

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News Network
July 18,2020

Dubai, July 18: An NRI student who passed away in Dubai shortly after shortly after attempting his Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Grade 12 papers in March, has scored an impressive 91.4 per cent on his board examinations, including 100 in his media studies paper.

Ahmed Ziyad, a student of GEMS Our Own Indian School in Al Qouz, Dubai, died on March 19, suffered a heart condition called Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) that stopped him from being active in sporting activities.

Ziyad's parents, teachers, and classmates remember him as a very ambitious pupil, who wanted to launch his own business and achieve great things in his life. His board results are - mass media studies 100, Marketing 97, English 84, Entrepreneurship 82, and Home Science 94.
 
Ziyad's father, Shanavaz Manangath, a real estate professional who has been a resident of Dubai for over two decades said, "Six months ago, he had collapsed while playing with his friends. Since there was an irregularity in his heartbeat, he could not take part in any strenuous activities." He added, "Ziyad had just started playing with his friends on March 19 when he suddenly collapsed and died shortly after. My family has not been able to overcome his loss."

Unable to hold back his tears, an emotional Manangath said Ziyad wanted to do his BBA and launch his own business, "He was very ambitious. Honestly, I haven't looked into his board exam results, but, I know he had studied very hard for the exams."

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Agencies
July 22,2020

Riyadh, Jul 22: Saudi King Salman held a cabinet meeting via video call from hospital in the capital Riyadh on Tuesday, a day after the 84-year-old monarch was admitted with inflammation of the gall bladder.

Three Saudi sources said the king was in stable condition.

A video of the king chairing the meeting was broadcast on Saudi state TV on Tuesday evening. In the video, which has no sound, King Salman can be seen behind a desk, wordlessly reading and leafing through documents.

The king, who has ruled the world’s largest oil exporter and close US ally since 2015, was undergoing medical checks, state media on Monday cited a Royal Court statement as saying.

Three well-connnected Saudi sources who declined to be identified, two of whom were speaking late on Monday and one on Tuesday, said the king was “fine”.

An official in the region, who requested anonymity, said he spoke to one of King Salman’s sons on Monday who seemed “calm” and that there was no sense of panic about the monarch’s health.

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