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Dubai shopping festival begins with a bang

January 3, 2014

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Dubai, Jan 3: Since its inception 19 years ago the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) continues to attract people to its array of shopping and entertainment activities.The glittering opening at Al Seef Street on Thursday drew regular fans and the spirit of the season was palpable.

The lineup of performers was truly international. Some of the performers included Pele Pele dance group from Swaziland, the Mexico Tierra Mestiza troupe, giant Russian Metuskha dolls, stilt walkers, flamenco dancers, flame throwers, uni-cyclists, clowns, drum beaters, Sudanese performers, dancers in ancient Venetian costumes, traditional Argentinean dancers, and traditional Irish dancers. Those wanting to catch a glimpse of the carnival can head to Al Seef Street, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Boulevard, Jumeirah Street, Al Riqqa Street and Global Village. The long-awaited opening ended the long wait for residents, families and tourists eager to participate in the region’s biggest shopping event.

Indian national and resident of Dubai Rakesh Gaekwad said: “I have been living in Dubai for the last 20 years and the DSF is something my family and I attend every year. But since its inception, the celebration has definitely taken a 360 degree turn. It is so different from what it once used to be. It’s become better, livelier, and way more international.

Another Indian national and tourist, Prakash Jain said: “The DSF happened to coincide with my New Year celebrations. This is my first Shopping Festival and I am looking forward to it.” Another tourist Rana Sawhney said: “This is our first visit to Dubai during the shopping festival and I am looking forward to being a part of the fanfare.”

A British tourist Holly Andrews, who was attending the carnival with her husband and two children, said: “It’s not region-specific. What is best about what I am seeing right now, is that it is truly global. I mean look at all these performers; they are from all over the world.” With this year’s theme, “Shop At Your Best”, DSF 2014 kicks off with a promise to offer visitors from around the world, a one-of-kind opportunity to savor a wide selection of discounts, promotions and raffles.

Apart from the celebrations at Al Seef Street, prizes worth half-a-million dirhams are given away on the opening day. The celebrations began at The Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Centre and Dubai Festival City. Shoppers had the opportunity to win the prizes on the opening day in line with the festival theme ‘Shop at Your Best’ at the DSF Lucky Shopper hosted by Sama Dubai TV at various shopping malls alongside competitions by local radio stations. “I am a big fan of the DSF but I did not expect to win. I wait for this special event every year as it offers a lot of exciting events that I can enjoy over the month. I am used to the DSF being unique each year and I am sure it will once again strengthen Dubai’s reputation as an incredible city full of pleasant surprises for both residents and visitors,” said Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi.

Zaher Al Muhairi, another shopper, said: “Not only Dubai, but other parts of the UAE also enjoy all the celebrations that DSF offers. DSF has something for everyone, irrespective of which part of the world they’re from – that’s why families from all over the world wait for this special event each year.”

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News Network
May 20,2020

Cairo, May 20: A senior Kuwaiti lawmaker has called for imposing a tax on expatriates’ remittances to shore up the country’s finances.

MP Khalil Al Saleh, the head of the parliament’s Human Resources Committee, has presented a draft law on the proposed tax to the legislature.

“Imposing fees on expatriates’ transfers will have a role in improving the state's revenues and diversify sources of income,” he told Al Rai newspaper.

Migrant workers transfer about 4.2 billion dinars annually from Kuwait, he added, citing figures from Kuwait’s Central Bank.

“This system is in effect in most countries of the world and in more than one Gulf country. Expats there have not objected to it. Allowing this money to exit the country is very dangerous and has a direct effect on economy,” MP Al Saleh said.

“We do not target brotherly expats because imposing symbolic fees on financial transfers will not affect their money, but will have a positive effect on the state’s sources,” he said. “This has become a necessity after the money transferred outside Kuwait has reached 4.2 billion dinars annually without the state [Kuwait] making any benefit from this.”

Foreign workers make up 3.3 million of Kuwait’s 4.6 million population.

Several Kuwaiti public figures have recently pushed for redrawing the demographic imbalance in the country, accusing expatriates of straining health facilities and increasing the Covid-19 threat.

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News Network
April 10,2020

Dubai, Apr 10: Saudi Arabia reported 364 new coronavirus cases and three new virus-related deaths, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday.

The total number of confirmed cases in the Kingdom is 3,651, out of which 2,919 are currently active, the ministry added.

Out of the new cases, 90 were recorded in Mecca, 78 in Medina, 69 in Riyadh, and 54 in Jeddah, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the number of fatalities rose to 47, while th number of recoveries reached 685.

The daily number of confirmed cases in Saudi Arabia has not peaked yet, and has been rapidly accelerating.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health had said earlier this week that four different studies showed that the number of coronavirus cases in the Kingdom could reach between 10,000 to 200,000 within weeks.

The ministry spokesman emphasized the urgent need for citizens and residents to remain at home and maintain social distancing practices to ensure that the virus does not spread further.

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News Network
July 5,2020

Riyadh, Jul 5: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has approved the extension of the validity of the expired iqama (residency permit) and exit and reentry visas of expatriates who are outside the Kingdom for a period of three months without any fee.

The iqama of expatriates inside the Kingdom as well as the visa of visitors who are in the Kingdom of which the validity expires during the period of suspension of entry and exit from the Kingdom will also be extended for a period of three months without any charge.

The validity of final exit visas as well as exit and reentry visas issued for expatriates, who are in the Kingdom, but were not used during the lockdown period will be extended for a period of three months without any fee, the Saudi Press Agency reported quoting an official source at the Ministry of Interior.

The ministry source said that these measures were taken as part of the continuous efforts made by the government of King Salman to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on individuals as well as on private sector establishments and investors, economic activities in the Kingdom, following the adoption of the preventive measures to stem the spread of the pandemic.

The beneficiaries of the King’s order include all expatriates who are outside the Kingdom on exit and reentry visas, which expired during the lockdown period and after lifting of the lockdown.

These expatriates are not in a position to return to the Kingdom due to the enforcement of suspension of international flight service and temporary ban on entry and exit from the Kingdom.

The beneficiaries also include those expatriates who are still in the Kingdom after issuance of final exit visas or exit and reentry visas but could not travel because of the suspension of entry and exit from the Kingdom.

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