travel arabia dec

Dubai Mall Mania

A Shopper’s Destination

Festive Holiday TraditionsSpecial Feature

Welcome 2009 with a BangLama Tours GIVING

I T ’ S G I F T

H o l i d a y G i f t I d e a sSE ASO N

12121212Flor B. Pamintuan

12 I Travel Arabia I December 2008

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COVER STORY

Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club

One of the UAE’s greatest attractions

is its fabulous shopping. Here,

shopping is a leisure activity. The

shopping malls located in the Emirates

can accommodate a large number

of “shopping tourists” - from its

neighbouring countries to as far as

Africa, Eastern Europe, the Americas

and the Far East.

Of all the emirates, Dubai has

the greatest number of shopping

malls. Called the shopping capital of

the Middle East, Dubai’s low import

duties attract a great number of

shoppers to the city. The low import

duties literally translate to money

spent for what it’s worth. The retail

prices are reasonable and the variety 4

IBN Batuta Mall - Persia


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satin and chiffons.

Gold is another of the city’s best-

buys. The Gold Souk in Deira which has

become a major tourist attraction houses

row after row of shop windows adorned

with gleaming jewellery and ornaments.

The prices of the jewellery and ornaments

are mainly determined by weight and not

so much by workmanship.

If you’ve come in search of designer

knock-off, the Karama district is

another shopping area frequented by

tourists and residents. Karama is a

general shopping complex for all kinds

of goods like shoes, t-shirts, handbags,

spectacles, watches, CDs and DVDs,

brass and silver works and popular

traditional gifts.

Whether you are shopping for

designer labels to traditional items,

Dubai has everything to offer. In the

coming years, much bigger malls are

expected to open, offering different and

unique facilities to cater to the most

discerning shoppers in the world.

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of products available is unrivalled.

From the chic designer brands

to teen fashion, the latest electronics

gadgets, jewellery, shoes, bags, toys,

books, spices or textile, Dubai has it

all. Most of these products are found

in the malls or the traditional souks

(market) where you can practice your

bargaining power.

Each mall in Dubai reveals a

different theme and experience. From

the Creek-side Dubai Festival City

to the popular Mall of the Emirates

which is home to Ski Dubai to Ibn

Batuta with its six themed shopping

malls and the recently opened The

Dubai Mall, shopping is definitely an

experience in Dubai.

The shopping malls in Dubai serve

as complete entertainment centres

with miles of air-conditioned hallways,

unique window displays and often

feature extras like dancing fountains,

fashion and entertainment shows for

both young and adult shoppers. The

malls have cinemas, fast food outlets

and restaurants, fitness centers and

play areas for kids. Some even offer free

wireless internet connections. All have

large parking areas (which are filled up

easily during weekends), others offering

valet for your convenience. With all

these facilities, one can easily spend an

entire day in the mall.

However, if you want to experience

authentic shopping, the traditional

Shopping hourSnormal Dubai hours are from

9:00am–1:00pm and 4:00–9:00pm or later.

Some boutiques in the residential areas

do not open until 9:30 or 10:00am. Shopping

malls tend to open from 10:00am–10:00pm. Most

supermarkets stay open until late at night

seven days a week, while some remain

open 24 hours. Shops close for prayers on Fridays from

11:30am–1:30pm. Shopping malls and

most shops are open on Friday evenings

until late.

markets, also known as the souks will

definitely charm you. The souks in

Dubai are found in Deira and Bur Dubai

and are alive with the buzz of trade and

the spirit of a strong and traditional

past. Items being sold at the souk range

from gold, perfume, electronics, spices

to textile and a lot of souvenir items. You

can test your bargaining skills at the souk

but make sure you buy what you have

bargained for.

A visit to the souk is always a

memorable experience. Along the

narrow alleyway are small booth-type

shops where the traditional goods of the

east can still be weighed and measured.

Spices brought in by dhow from India

and Sri Lanka fill the air and perfumed

oils are stored ready to be mixed

according to the customer’s demand.

The Souk Al Kabeer and the Meena

Bazaar area great places to visit if you

are in search of colourful materials -

from wares from India and Pakistan to

jewel encrusted silk, brightly coloured

Mall of the Emirates Attraction

Souk Al Bahar


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The Dubai MallThe newly-opened 12 million square feet shopper’s paradise,

The Dubai Mall is an integral part of the master-planned

Downtown Burj Dubai development. With a total internal

floor area of 5.9 million square feet, The Dubai Mall will have

more than 1,200 retail outlets, two anchor department stores

and more than 160 food and beverage outlets.

The mall itself will be equivalent in size to more than

50 soccer pitches and will feature specialty stores in distinct

retail category precincts. For the fashion-minded, The

Dubai Mall will pay homage to haute couture with more

than 70 signature stores in Fashion Avenue alone, including

Galeries Lafayette, France’s leading lifestyle retailer and

Bloomingdale’s, America’s leading department store. This

marks the first time both retailers will open stores in the

Middle East region.

A key centerpiece is Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre,

which has clinched the Guinness World Record for the

‘World’s Largest Acrylic Panel’, will be one of the largest tanks

in the world at 51m x 20m x 11m. With the capacity to hold

10 million litres of water, Dubai Aquarium will illuminate

the marvels of the ocean floor and showcase one of the most

diverse collections of marine animals worldwide. A special

‘lunar-cyclic’ lighting system will change the ambience of the

tank depending on the time of day.

The adjoining Discovery Centre is located above the

tank, and takes an interactive approach to educating children

and visitors on the ecology and sustainability of marine life

through activities such as touch pools and glass bottom boats.

The Discovery Centre will feature a number of interactive

features that involve human-animal contact.

The Gold Souk, the largest of its kind in the world, is a

dazzling precinct showcasing a collection of over 220 of the

region’s most trusted gold and jewellery retailers. Highlighting

the Gold Souk will be the treasury atrium with a 24.2m x

12.6m dome, a dynamic projection ceiling featuring ever-

changing design and images.

Other outstanding features of The Dubai Mall include

KidZania®, an award-winning children’s ‘edu-tainment’

concept, SEGA Republic®, a two-level, high adrenaline indoor

theme park appealing to the younger generation, and also

adults. The Dubai Mall also features the Olympic-size Dubai

Ice Rink capable of hosting international competition and

standard events.

The Dubai Mall will also act as a gateway for those

wanting to visit the world’s tallest free-standing structure,

Burj Dubai. Tickets to the 124th Floor will be available

exclusively only to visitors of The Dubai Mall, and will offer

stunning views of Dubai.

Mall of The eMiraTesMall of the Emirates is one of the largest malls outside of

North America. Built in anticipation of the city spreading

south across the Dubai Creek, Mall of the Emirates is an

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Mall of the Emirates

The Dubai Mall


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Mall of Emirates

enterprising initiative, combining leisure, retail, tourism and sports

in the world’s first shopping resort.

The mall has attracted 27 million visitors in 2007 making it the

most popular retail destination in Dubai for tourists and residents

alike. Mall of the Emirates is the flagship mall reflecting the Majid

Al Futtaim Group’s desire to lead by example and to develop its

impressive reputation as an international visionary in the retail

and property industries.

Home to well over 460 retail stores, the shopping resort boasts

an unprecedented range of international brands from across the

world. By selecting only the very best retail concepts, shoppers are

offered a choice of stores that include local and regional success

stories as well as global retail brands. By cleverly combining Italian

and French designer fashion with new names from countries

including Lebanon and Turkey, Mall of the Emirates successfully

bridges the gap between classic and contemporary, as well as east

and west.

To help visitors navigate such an expansive space and range

of stores, the outlets have been strategically positioned in three

specific zones - Convenience, Fashion and Entertainment - each

having a distinctive design and architecture. A number of key

anchor stores have been placed in each zone to guarantee an even

flow of people around the building.

The Mall of Emirates is home to the first indoor ski slope in

the Middle East, the iconic Ski Dubai, which presents visitors with

year-round winter fun in an accessible and welcoming format. As

well as being the world’s third longest indoor ski run, Ski Dubai

offers a Snow Park with tobogganing hills, twin track bobsled

racing and a snowball throwing gallery in recognition that many

visitors to the facility have never seen snow before and may be

intimidated by only a slope to ski on.

Dubai fesTival CiTySet upon 1,300 acres of prime waterfront land extending more

than 3 kms along Dubai Creek, Dubai Festival City offers a rich

and vibrant living experience that encompasses the finest and

easily accessible shopping, dining, entertainment, homes, schools,

hotels, offices and leisure in one place.

The landmark 2.1 million square feet Festival Centre forms

the epicentre of Dubai Festival City and promises to be one of the

UAE’s most exciting retail, dining and leisure attractions.

This popular shopping district brings together a magnificent

retail offering, an unsurpassed selection of restaurants and cafés

and a rich entertainment experience all within an architectural

masterpiece. Shimmering with water features and infused with

natural light, it features 600 shops, including 25 anchor stores, 100

restaurants, cafés and bistros and a vast entertainment centre.

Festival Centre is also the first to house ‘big box’ power stores

in the Middle East and is the largest dedicated household shopping

centre in the UAE. It encompasses the 164,000 square foot

HyperPanda hypermarket, the first in the UAE; 40 convenience and

lifestyle stores and big-box retailers such as Plug-Ins ElectroniX

35,000 square foot flagship showroom, the largest ACE Hardware

and Garden Centre outside North America, and the 227,000 square

foot, country’s largest IKEA ‘destination’ store.

Adding to the entertainment portfolio at Dubai Festival City

is the 73,000 square foot cinema complex with seating for over

2,300 people. The 12 screen cinema complex has access to a wide

variety of café’s and restaurants offering a varied selection of fast

food outlets.

There are also plans for a 550,000 square foot Luxury

expansion, housing over 170 luxury brands and connecting

Festival Centre to the 400-room Four Seasons Hotel. The

expansion will have dedicated parking for 2,000 cars, and along

with Four Seasons Hotel, will open in 2010.

ibn baTTuTa Mall Launched in April 2005, Ibn Battuta Mall is the world’s largest

themed mall and a shopping destination unlike any other. From

the bustling North African marketplace beneath magnificent blue

skies, to the crashed vessel run aground on the shores in Calicut

Harbour, to the intricate hieroglyphic friezes which adorn the walls

of medieval Cairo; the unique theme of the mall is a testament to

the life of legendary Islamic traveller Ibn Battuta.

The mall traces the route that had the most impact on Ibn

IBN Batuta Mall - China

Dubai Festival City

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28IBN Batuta Mall - China

Battuta’s life throughout its six elaborately themed courts -

Tunisia, China, Egypt, India, Persia and Andalusia. From the

splendour of Arabic wind towers, to the majesty of Indian domes,

visitors could be forgiven for thinking they had stepped back in

time to the 14th century.

A major attraction is the 25-metre long Chinese junk located at

the mall’s China Court; a replica of the ship in which Ibn Battuta

sailed through the Indian Ocean. Inside the ship, state-of-the-art

technology has been used to create a 3D virtual aquarium by which

visitors can observe marine life ranging from different schools of

fish to great white sharks.

The spacious mall, covering an area of more than 1.2 million

square feet of retail space, offers a spectacular mix of more than

265 shopping outlets, including fashion, sportswear, specialty

shops, restaurants, Geant hypermarket, Fitness First health club

and a cinema Megaplex featuring the UAE’s first IMAX theatre.

Parking space has been allocated for more than 5,000 cars, taking

the total site space up to 5.4 million square feet.

Owned by Nakheel and managed by Nakheel Retail, Ibn

Battuta Mall’s distinctive design embodies a perfect blend of

tradition and modernity and continues to change the face of

shopping and leisure entertainment in Dubai.

souk al bahar Souk Al Bahar is a flourishing shopping and entertainment

destination with Arabesque architectural features located at The

Old Town Island, within the prestigious Downtown Burj Dubai

mixed-use community.

Souk Al Bahar (meaning ‘Market of the Sailor’) derives its

name from its traditional Souk-style architecture featuring natural

stone corridors, high archways and subdued lighting and its unique

‘waterfront’ location on Burj Dubai Lake. Complementing the

surrounding ‘old world’ Arab ambience, Souk Al Bahar completes

the shopping experience for visitors to Downtown Burj Dubai.

Already bustling with over 50 retail outlets and specialised

food and beverage outlets, the mall features carpet and antique

shops, electronics stores, men’s and women’s fashion stores,

jewellery outlets and health and beauty stores and boutique shops

showcasing the Arabian heritage through a mix of authentic

handicrafts, accessories, artwork and furnishings.

Souk Al Bahar features some international brands that have

debuted in the region, giving the mall an advantageous edge

over some of Dubai’s established shopping malls. These include

Havaianas, the famous international shoe store, and Dean &

DeLuca, a gourmet food and beverage café.

Souk Al Bahar is adjacent to The Palace, The Old Town, a

5-star, 242-room luxury hotel sharing the same alluring exterior

architectural features as the mall.

Dubai ouTleT Mall Dubai Outlet Mall brought a breath of fresh air to shopping in

the region by delivering a genuine value retail shopping experience.

Phase 1 of Dubai Outlet Mall is approximately 1 million square

feet of built up area and the mall launched in August 2007. The

mall is dedicated to being a true value retail destination and you

can snap up discounts of between 30% to 90% on the majority of

products available in the 240 stores on offer – every single day.

Located on Route 66, the Dubai – Al Ain Road, 20 minutes

from the World Trade Centre, Dubai Outlet Mall is home to many

major retail groups/brands for their outlet concepts such as Paris

Gallery, Al Tayer Group, Allied Enterprises, Mango, Massimo

Dutti, Azadea Group, Diesel, Magrabi Optical, Boutique One,

Rodeo Drive, Aizone, MAF Fashion, Apparel Group (Bally, Tommy

Hilfiger, Kenneth Cole, Nine West & Aldo), Guess, Esprit, Grand

Stores, Salam, Adidas, Puma, Tchibo and many other significant

names, totalling over 800 premium and top fashion brands.

Dubai Outlet Mall also offers very comprehensive food and

beverage choices. It is also home to the first ever Chuck E. Cheese’s

family entertainment venue in the UAE. Chuck E. Cheese’s offers

families a one-of-a-kind total entertainment experience that

Dubai Outlet Mall

Souk Al Bahar

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includes great food, the coolest games and rides, an ice-rink, a

bowling alley and other unique attractions.

The mall is very focused on delivering a superior customer

experience with customer service staff that was chosen for their

broad language capabilities which enable them to converse with

customers in 15 different languages. Another exciting initiative is

the first Mall Taxi Lounge in Dubai to enable taxi customers to

wait in comfort for a taxi.

Dubai Outlet Mall is the centerpiece of Dubai Outlet City, which

is a mixed use development featuring retail, offices, residential and

hotels, and one of the iconic developments at DUBAILAND™.

burJuManBurJuman brings the world of couture and fashion before

your eyes. With the world’s largest concentration of high

fashion luxury shopping brands under one roof, BurJuman

is the place where leading iconic fashion names mingle

comfortably with one another. Soaring glass entries reveal a

timeless elegance that is both warm and inviting. Temptations

abound, but the feeling of getting the finest in an ambiance of

elegant comfort and luxury is mesmerizing.

Shopping at any of BurJuman’s outlets is an absolute pleasure.

BurJuman is home to some of the world’s most luxurious brands,

such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Dior, Christian Lacroix, Hermes, Louis

Vuitton, Valentino, Chanel, Chaumet, Prada, Versace, Dolce &

Gabbana, Fendi, Loewe, Cartier, Emmanuel Ungaro, Etro, and

Burberry, to name a few. With over 300 leading fashion stores,

you’ll always be spoilt for choice. BurJuman’s atrium courtyards,

beautiful seating and abundant foliage create a relaxed yet vibrant

shopping environment.

Shopping is not the only thing to whet your appetite. A sunlit

food court with cuisines from around the world and the fabulous

cafés spread throughout the mall helps you unwind and relax after

your shopping trip.

Wafi Wafi is synonymous with style and class and is the home of

exclusive and luxurious retail. Home to more than 1000 leading

brand names with over 200 stores catering to the most discerning

consumers who are seeking unique retail choices. Located just

south of Dubai Creek, Wafi enjoys an excellent position and is an

award-winning lifestyle destination for both residents and visitors.

The major expansion has been completed and has added an

extra 250,000 sq ft of retail space offering an additional 100stores,

plus a 100,000sq ft department store from Salam, which will

include many new exclusive brands to Wafi and Dubai.

Wafi

Burjuman


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egypTBecause of the time the Holy Family spent

in Egypt with the infant Jesus, Christmas is

a very special celebration in Egypt. In Egypt,

Copts who are Egypt’s traditional Christians,

have their own Pope who is the head of the

Coptic churches of Egypt and the Sudan.

Copts consider St. Mark to be their first Pope.

He introduced Christianity to Egypt, and for

hundreds of years, Alexandria was the home

of the Pope. Today his cathedral is in Cairo,

where services are usually held in the ancient

Coptic language

Much of the Christmas celebration

actually begins in the last week leading up to

Christmas. This is when much of the cooking

takes place, and like in the west, homes are decorated with lights and Christmas trees. Some Christmas trees are real, but many are

artificial. One will even find Christmas trees in Coptic operated businesses. Christmas cards are also sent out.

Christmas in Egypt is not nearly as commercial as it is in the west. Stores are not nearly as crowded as one might expect. In fact,

many gifts are purchased at special Christmas bazaars that support local charities. Other bazaars are more commercial, but still some of

their profits usually go to charity.

The holy lanDChrist was born at Bethlehem and thus, it

is known as the Holy Land. Many travelers

come here for the pilgrimage during the

Christmas season. There is a grotto here,

where the Christ is supposed to be born

and there is a 14-pointed Silver Star on the

floor here.

Three Christmas Eves are celebrated in

the Holy Land: The Protestant and Catholic

churches celebrate Christmas on 24th of

December. Another Christmas Eve is for the

Greek Orthodox, Coptic (Egyptian) and

Syrian churches. Third Christmas Eve is for

the Armenian Church. Sometimes, all three

Christmas Eve services are going on at the

same time, in different languages and in

different parts of the church.

On Christmas Eve, Protestant church members go around and sing carols. In the morning, children open their presents before

breakfast and after the breakfast, Protestant people go to church and visit family and friends to wish them a happy Christmas. In

Catholic churches, priests bless everybody with the Holy Water and all the family members take a sip. For the Greek Orthodox Church

members, Epiphany is quite important, in which a special church service is held. In this service, a cross is dipped into water to bless it

and people take the water home to their homes and take three sips before eating anything.

CHRISTMAS FEATURE


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easT asiaIn China, Christian children adorn trees

with colorful paper ornaments in shapes

of flowers, chains and lanterns. They

hang muslin stockings for the Christmas

Old Man to keep gifts and treats for

them. There, Christmas trees are called

‘Trees of Light’ and Santa Claus is known

as ‘Dun Che Lao Ren’, which means

‘Christmas Old Man.’ Non-Christian

Chinese celebrate holiday season as the

Spring Festival. There pay respect to their

honors and festivities and feasts ensue.

Children receive new clothes and toys,

eat delicious food and enjoy firework

displays and crackers.

Hundreds of church services are

conducted in Chinese for Christians of

Hong Kong. For Europeans, there are

services in English. Christmas cards

are exchanged and talented people love

to give handmade Christmas cards

to their loved ones. The main theme

of these cards is the Holy Family in a

Chinese setting. Christmas decorations

feature poinsettias and Nativity scenes

and Chinese alphabets can be seen on

streamers and paper chains. Santa Claus

is known as Lan Khoong or Dun Che

Lao Ren here.

Christians constitute only 1% of

Japanese population. Yet, most Japanese

people decorate their homes and shops

with evergreens during Christmas

and exchange gifts. A priest called

Hoteiosha acts like Santa Claus in Japan

and distributes gifts and presents to all

children, going door to door. It is said that

he has eyes on the back of his head, so

children try to be nice when he is nearby.

Japanese Christians do not consider

Christmas as a family holiday and do not

have turkey or plum pudding. Rather,

they spend the day doing social work

and charity such as helping the sick and

the poor. In Sunday schools, programs

and events are organized for children on

Christmas Eve or Christmas night that

last for hours. They may include singing,

recitations and Nativity plays.

Christmas is an important festival

of India. It is celebrated differently in

different parts of India. Christians in

India decorate banana or mango trees.

There are several old churches in Goa

which are frequented by locals as well

as the foreign tourist during Christmas.

One should make an advance booking

in Goa Hotels if planning a visit to Goa

during Christmas and New Year.

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lebanonAll over the Middle East including

Lebanon, people plant seeds of

chickpeas, wheat grains, beans and

lentils in cotton wool two weeks before

Christmas. Seeds are watered everyday

and by Christmas, they usually have

shoots that are as high as six inches.

These shoots are then used to surround

the manger in Nativity scenes. A star

is suspended over the scene of Christ’s

birth and figures in the scene are made

from brown paper.

As a Christmas tradition in Middle

East, people visit friends on Christmas

morning. Coffee, liqueurs and sugared

almonds are served to the guests.

Festive Christmas lunch is the highlight

of the holiday season celebrations and

family gatherings are arranged at grandparents’ home or the eldest sons’ home.

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save a good chunk of money because

almost anything you may want to buy

eventually goes on sale. If you’re up to

it, consider taking advantage of “After

Christmas Sales” to get supplies and

gifts for next year. You’ll have to put up

with the crowds, but it may be worth

the money you’ll be saving and the

satisfying feeling it gives.

6. BUY EXTRA GIFTSDuring the holidays, you might receive

an unexpected gift from someone so it

is better to have a gift ready to return

the favour or to give to someone who

you might have not seen for ages but

suddenly appear on your doorstep.

7. WRAP YOUR GIFTSChristmas gifts are more than just

gifts. They reflect the sentiments of

the giver. So save a little money to

wrap up your gift in a special way. You

can even add a customized note to

each family member.

8. SHOP ONLINEEvery year, more and more people shop

1. DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTEAvoid the rush of doing last minute

shopping. When you shop days before

Christmas or on Christmas Eve you’re

going to have to fight the crowds, choose

from limited merchandise, and wait in

long lines. Buy your gifts little by little,

beginning in November, and you can

avoid last-minute shopping fiascos.

2. MAKE A LISTStart your Christmas list early in the

season. When the holidays near, keep a

pen and paper handy to write down your

entire gift ideas. Always take that checklist

with you when you go shopping. Impulse

shopping can keep you up at night

worrying about bills!

3. SET A BUDGETYou don’t need to buy a very expensive

gift that you need to pay until next year

especially when you purchase it using a

credit card. Work out a budget and stick to

it. Buy only affordable gifts and you’ll find

it much easier to pay off your holiday credit

card debt. Remember when buying gifts, it’s

always the thought that counts.

4. SHOP IN OFF-PEAK HOURSSince most stores have extended hours

during the holidays, try to do your

shopping early in the morning when the

shops are not very busy. Shop at slow times

and you can forgo the crowds and long

lines. Salespeople are also a lot friendlier

when they don’t have a crowd to handle.

5. WATCH OUT FOR SALESSeveral malls do a pre-holiday or holiday

sales. Be on the lookout for this. You can

from the comfort of their own home.

Most stores offer online shopping, so

get your list and buy your Christmas

presents at a leisurely pace to avoid

the stress. Look for special deals that

allow free shipping or discounts that

will offset the shipping fees. When you

shop online, you can find out instantly

if an item is in stock, and you’ll find a

receipt right in your email inbox after

the transaction.

9. SAVE RECEIPTSSave all the receipts from your

Christmas shopping expedition. You

may need it later, when your gift turns

out to be faulty, wrong size or has a

missing part. Your gift recipient will be

glad you can get a replacement.

10. REWARD YOURSELFFinally, treat yourself to a special

lunch or buy a small token for a job

well-done. Christmas shopping is

enjoyable if you acknowledge your

accomplishment and reward yourself

with something inexpensive

and fun.


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The season of gift giving is here once again so check these bright gift ideas for your family and friends. Give a gift that will make this year’s Christmas a truly memorable one.

sony lCD Tv bravia klv - 20s400a

hp iQ500 Touchmart pC

hp elitebook 6930p notebook

sony Cyber-shot DsC T700

nokia’s first Mass-Market Device with a Touch screen

lumix DMC-fZ28 DsC

MoTopure h15univ. bluetoothheadset

Tod’s The usb pen-Dive

WD

pas

spor

t elit

e

belkin Tune base fM

belkin n52te

gaming speed pad


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aquatimer Chronograph “Cousteau Divers“

baume & MercierClassima executive

louis vuitton Tambour silverdust Chrono

girard-perregauxseahawk pro 1000m

girard-perregaux novel

Da vinci Chronograph laureus

ingenieur automatic edition “Climate action“

Montblanc profile ladies elegance Diamond

louis vuitton Watch

Diesel Watch

3939

louis vuitton

acn

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ral

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laur

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December 2008 I Travel Arabia I 39

Diesel shoes

Diesel softrock shoes for men

Tods shoes

Diesel snappy boot for men

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louis vuitton ringTods bracelet

lv bracelet

Montblanc

Montblanc

Diesel earrings

Montblanc earrings


louis vuittonpendant

louis vuitton band

Montblanc bouquet

louis vuitton Monogram band

4242

Diesel piston bag

lacoste satchel bag

lacoste shopping bag

Diesel Dorothy bag

Montblanc lady star small pochet

Montblanc lady star bouqette

Montblanc soft leather Collection Tod’s pashmy

bag

Mulberry east WestMaggi in green

louis vuitton bags

lacoste bag


4343louis vuitton Men’s Wallet

Tod’s porta MouseTods Dice Case

Diesel belt

louis vuitton Cellphone Case

lacoste Dream of pink

b1 perfume from boutique 1

louis vuitton belt ladies

louis vuittonZippy Coin purse

louis vuitton Men’s shade

louis vuitton ladies shade


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At the end of the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca), Muslims throughout the world celebrate

the holiday of Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). In 2008, Eid al-Adha will begin on approximately December 8th, and will last for three days.

WHAT DOES EID AL-ADHA COMMEMORATE?

During the Hajj, Muslims remember and commemorate the trials and triumphs of the Prophet Abraham. The Qur’an describes Abraham as follows:

“Surely Abraham was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous.” (Qur’an 16:120-121)

One of Abraham’s main trials was to face the command of Allah to kill his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Allah’s will. When he was all prepared to do it, Allah revealed to him that his “sacrifice” had already been fulfilled. He had shown that his love for his Lord superceded all others, that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in order to submit to God.

WHY DO MUSLIMS SACRIFICE AN ANIMAL ON THIS DAY?

During the celebration of Eid al-Adha, Muslims commemorate and remember Abraham’s trials, by themselves slaughtering an animal such as a sheep, camel, or goat. This action is very often misunderstood by those outside the faith.

Allah has given us power over animals and allowed us to eat meat, but only if we pronounce His name at the solemn act of taking life. Muslims

slaughter animals in the same way throughout the year. By saying the name of Allah at the time of slaughter, we are reminded that life is sacred.

The animal must be without blemish and smaller animals such as chickens are not acceptable for sacrifice. The sacrifice should be performed with care not to cause unnecessary suffering to the animal, and small children and other animals should are often excluded to prevent them from being traumatized. While the animal is being cut, the name of Allah is pronounced and a ritual prayer is usually recited.

The meat from the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha is mostly given away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor. The act symbolizes the willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts, in order to follow Allah’s commands. It also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. We recognize that

all blessings come from Allah, and we should open our hearts and share with others.

It is very important to understand that the sacrifice itself, as practiced by Muslims, has nothing to do with atoning for our sins or using the blood to wash ourselves from sin.

The symbolism is in the attitude - a willingness to make sacrifices in our lives in order to stay on the Straight Path. Each of us makes small sacrifices, giving up things that are fun or important to us. A true Muslim, one who submits his or herself completely to the Lord, is willing to follow Allah’s commands completely and obediently. It is this strength of heart, purity in faith, and willing obedience that our Lord desires from us.

WHAT ELSE DO MUSLIMS DO TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY?

On the first morning of Eid al-Adha, Muslims around the world attend morning prayers at their local mosques. Prayers are followed by visits to family members, beginning with parents and then extended family, friends and neighbors. A trip to distribute meat to friends and family is often an occasion for a social visit as well. The graves of relatives are also visited during this time and mosque visits are often made more frequently.

Special foods, most of which include meat, are prepared during this time, and large family gatherings occur during the evenings of the festival. As with Eid al-fitr, traditional deserts and candy are also given as gifts and included in family celebrations.

Since many businesses are closed during these days, families often take the opportunity to go on vacations or to visit out-of-town family members.


4545


Al Diar Siji Hotel, Fujairah, 5-Star hotel

managed by Abu Dhabi National Hotels

has joined the elite list of five-star hotels

in the GCC with HACCP (Hazard

Analysis and Critical Control Point

System) certification this year. Al Diar Siji

Hotel has also been holding the BS EN

ISO 9001:2000 certification since 2005

for quality provision of hotel services &

associated facilities.

Also this year, it launched the latest

in hospitality technology, installing

in all its rooms and suites the Multi

Media Channel (MMC) Interactive

system powered by the Internet Protocol

Television (IPTV) System. This is

an interactive television and media

solution which integrates audiovisual

and multimedia technologies to

deliver on-demand entertainment,

clear digital images, and offer exciting

and comprehensive range of services.

The hotel features 90 spacious

and luxurious rooms and suites that

have panoramic views of the Hajjar

mountains and the Indian Ocean.

Among the 19 luxurious suites is the

Royal Suite comprising of 2 bedrooms

with bathrooms each, Jacuzzi, a living

room and a dining room with luxury

amenities. All standard rooms have a

dining area which makes each room

particularly spacious.

The hotel’s restaurants and bars

include the Al Diwan International

Restaurant, the hotel’s flagship dining

destination serving International

cuisines for all–day buffet dining,

Asmak Specialty Restaurant offering

an exciting selection of Italian dishes

of pastas, pizzas and meat, and Siji

Café serving a variety of snacks, freshly

baked cakes and pastries, a wide

selection tea and Starbucks coffee.

Also providing superb food and live

entertainment with resident bands

are Zorba Bar & Cocktail Lounge and

Starlight Supper Club.

Al Diar Siji Hotel also boasts

of its Al Majlis Executive Lounge,

Masafi Ballroom and Auditorium for

conferences and banqueting events.

The Olympia Health Club &

Spa features a14 Weight Stations and

Cardiovascular Section Gymnasium,

Steam Bath, Sauna, Jacuzzi,

Swimming Pool and Two Floodlit

Tennis Courts. Al Diar Siji Hotel also

houses Fujairah Bowling Centre, the

only computerized 6-lane bowling

alley in the East Coast which also

offers snacks and refreshments.

46Miraj Islamic Art Center is a humble tribute to Islamic Art and

to the creativity of thousands of artisans from all over the world

where Islamic culture touched the lives of Man.

Opened three years ago, the Miraj Islamic Art Center is

being managed by Cottage Industries Group, a company based

in India, whose concept is to bring in a bygone era into the

modern world and showcase the existence of skilled and God-

gifted people who can produce the finest pieces of art.

“The company believes art is a form of worship so for eight

years we sent experts around countries like Iran, Iraq, Egypt and

India to collect the finest pieces of art. This company is holding

about 20 thousand families under its roof to create art. We ask

them to make the best they can and the first outlet to showcase

these all is this Islamic Art Center called Miraj,” explained

Manzoor Kaachroo, Director of Sales.

Located along Jumeirah Road, Miraj Islamic Art Centre

resurrects various Islamic arts in the form of metal ware, silver,

calligraphy, paintings, bejeweled carpets, marble inlay, pictorial

carpets, pashmina shawls, jamawars, silk textiles and papier-

mache, among others.

“We try to incorporate some antiques, old pieces of art into

contemporary arts, too,” added Kaachroo.

Visiting Miraj Islamic Art Centre is like going to a museum

where huge vases, centerpieces and gigantic carpets are

displayed. If a piece of art catches your attention you can buy

it or if you have a question about a certain art piece, the well

LIVING ARABIA


47

trained and knowledgeable staff will be

happy to assist you.

“Miraj Islamic Art Center is not like

a normal shop. We don’t push people

that they should buy. We work with

agencies so they can send tourists to the

center to appreciate the art pieces and

make them understand what the center

is about. We want them to visit us but

there is no hard selling in the store. It’s

more of appreciating the arts and at the

same time exposing it to the modern

generation,” points out Kaachroo.

All the art pieces at the center

have Islamic background because the

foundation of Islamic art is worship,

a communion between the Artist and

his God.

Kaachroo also hopes that by

showcasing Islamic art to the world,

people will changed their view about

the Muslim people. “At the moment

unfortunately Muslims are projected in

a wrong way. But we want to tell people

that Muslims have God-gifted sense.

To us, art is a form of worship and we

want people to know that whatever they

think about Muslims they are also in a

position to produce such beautiful art,

such beautiful culture and such beautiful

heritage to the modern world.”

The metal wares displayed at the

center are the legacy of metal craft

produced during early Islamic period.

One of the most magnificent of Islamic

metal ware is the armory (arsenal

masculine), long been admired for

its beauty and effectiveness. Religious

inscriptions abound. Collected for

centuries as weapons, and much

respected by their opponents in warfare,

these objects stand out as works with

sculptural beauty.

Silver in ancient times were used to

demonstrate power and wealth. Used as

luxury tableware at the Persian court,

silver were also given as expensive

diplomatic gifts or exchanged as

items of barter. To this day, whether

hammered, chased, perforated or

pierced, silver continues to cast its

spell on discerning collectors and

connoisseurs around the world.

Calligraphy is most highly regarded

as the most fundamental element of

Islamic art. It is significant that the

Koran was revealed in Arabic, which

has great potential for developing a

variety of ornamental forms. Calligraphy

as ornament had not only a definite

aesthetic appeal but often also included

an underlying talismanic component.

Calligraphy is principally a means to

transmit a text, albeit in a decorative form.

One of the most intriguing art

displays at Miraj Islamic Art Centre is

the pictorial carpet (a portrait carpet),

which is an intricate and time-consuming

task. With about a million threads to

keep track, it can be tricky to get the

features of the face correct and still

suggest the personality of the person.

The portrait carpet artist has not only to

be an unusually skillful weaver, but also

an accomplished artist. Pictorial carpet

weavers generally created carpets with

pictures of Kings and Queens, showing

them holding court or hunting. The

technique later on evolved to produce

scenes of great beauty or equally great

battle scenes.

Pietra-dura (marble inlay) literally

means hard stones utilized in any

decorative scheme by any technique.

Whether as a part of sculpture or

architectural embellishment, pietra-

dura has been prized by almost all

civilizations for its rarity and value,

from the Roman Emperors, Pope to

the great merchant princes of Florence.

This inlay work of delicate shivers of

precious stones reached great zenith in

the workshops of Florence during the

renaissance period. Although geometric

motifs are also used in this art form,

floral designs are predominant.


4848


Dubai, while emerging as an important financial

centre in the Gulf is simultaneously turning into a

shopping capital to the world; particularly for the

millions of visitors that come here for business or pleasure

every year.

Paris, London, New York and other great capitals each

have great department stores reflecting their character and

identity. Dubai too needed one. An exclusive, luxurious,

stand alone department store, dedicated to its life style

and Islamic culture. Saga World was conceived.

Saga World, conscious about the distinguished

company it keeps on the Jumeirah Road, with Miraj Islamic

Art Centre and the Dubai’s iconic hotel Burj Al Arab

all within a kilometer on either side, offers a shopping

experience that captures the spirit of Islamic culture and

takes you on a voyage of discovery to some of the greatest

treasures made by man.

The vast cultural and ethnic diversity of Islamic

heritage has enabled a fusion of techniques and crafts to

flourish over centuries that Saga World feels proud

to showcase. Going beyond tradition, here are

great eras of design, from the classical, to the Art

nouveau to the cutting edge of today’s styles, all

494949


touched by genius!

The majestic interiors of Saga World

play host to a high profile fusion of fashion, beauty and

lifestyle. Amidst a cultural cornucopia, delectable cuisines

in lush ambience, unique souks with exotic memorabilia’s,

fragrances, rubies, emeralds, diamonds studded into tapestries

and tiaras, plus accessories for modern day connoisseur.

Once you enter Saga World, you will discover an

extravaganza of culture, cuisine, music, fashion and style.

Like Miraj Islamic Art Centre, Saga invites you to discover the

intricate pieces of Islamic arts, all displayed in their grandiose.

The most intricate designs of carpet abound at Saga

World. Silk carpets that will transform your house into a

luxury home of extraordinary beauty. Radiating mystique and

aura, a Silk carpet reveals its mysterious hues in changing light

of the evenings and mornings.

You can also re-create the life of a regal splendour

through silver ware, each piece produced with precision and

care. Intricately twisted strands of silver, braided together

are hammered and chiseled into gentle lattice patterns of

artistic beauty then beautifully ornamented with floral

motifs, birds and animals, symbolizing the close link

amongst God’s creations.

Saga World also features fashion creations from hand-

picked designers to hand-painted silks and embroidered

chiffons in a blend of the wild and the innovative, the

ethnic and the western. Several stores display fashion

hits with contrasting colours and sharpened silhouettes.

Fashion shows and cultural shows are held daily,

showcasing the most outré fashionistas, an experience

you wouldn’t like to miss.

Saga World, the one and only stand alone

luxury department store in Dubai metamorphoses

into a cultural centre several times, every day.

For information, call +971 4 3959071 or email:

[email protected]

From the dunes of Arabia to the mighty himalayas, fluid hands of royal patrons nurtured artistic legacy for centuries. A legacy where gold and silver are muted to dazzling surface; where floral delights are etched graciously in pietra dure; where tales from epics mimic a visual drama on the weave, where divine thoughts are copiously embossed on stone.

Your search for this extraordinary lifestyle ends here at Saga World.

50

OUTSIDE ARABIA

hristmas in New York: illuminated snowflakes scintillate overhead, giant trees outdo themselves

with ornaments and lights, and carols float from street corners. The shops pulsate with frenzied

consumerism and dazzling window displays. Then there are the less obvious delights: ice skating in

Central Park, icicles on the Statue of Liberty, a religious procession through Little Italy.

And of course there’s the holiday spirit: Santas ho-ho-ho in your hotel lobby, elves work in

bookshops, and even the suited stockbrokers of Wall Street come with tinsel attached. There’s no other

place that captures the childish delight, consumer passions and traditional ritual of the Christmas

season quite like New York, which comes wrapped in ribbons like one giant big holiday present.

It doesn’t seem like the most obvious time of year to visit New York, but December holds a host

There’s no other place that captures the childish delight, consumer passions and traditional ritual of the Christmas season quite like New York, which comes wrapped in ribbons like one giant big holiday present. BriAn JohnSTon tells us why.

C


51of holiday delights. Best of all is the

decorative lighting that enlivens those

long, dark December days. Perhaps

the most dazzling of all these displays

beautifies Park Avenue’s leafless cherry

trees: a serene two miles of pure white

lights that serve as a memorial to peace.

Over on Broadway the Holiday Tree

twinkles in red, green and gold, with

ornaments that reflect the musicals and

other shows in currently running in

Broadway’s theatres. On Fifth Avenue,

elegant illuminations include a giant

snowflake on the corner of 57th Street.

The Bronx Zoo encourages you to brave

the cold with over a hundred illuminated

animal sculptures, more giant snowflakes,

and over eight miles of tree lighting.

Not to be outdone, the Botanical

Gardens break out in an extravagant

display of lights and toy trains that

meander past replicas of the city’s most

famous landmarks; the lights are reflected

in the glass panels of the garden’s great

Victorian glasshouse like a scene straight

out of Dickens. Down at South Street

Seaport, meanwhile, there are more

white lights and a giant Christmas tree,

under which the St Cecilia Chorus regale

passers-by with carols.

Of course, a great deal of festive

glow also comes from the windows of

New York’s many famous department

stores, which redefine the whole concept

of window-shopping. Indeed, many of

these windows have become Christmas

attractions in themselves, complete with

fairytale backdrops, chugging toy trains,

marching wooden soldiers and animated

soft toys and puppets.

Lord & Taylor on Fifth Avenue is

generally considered to have the best-

dressed windows of the lot; thousands

line up here for the official unveiling in

early November in order to be first to see 4


5252

the extravagant mechanized scenes

Further along Fifth Avenue, Saks

goes for genteel red awnings and

traditional Christmas bunting on its

facade, as well as equally entrancing

window displays. The legendary

toy store F.A.O. Schwartz, with its

Christmas cornucopia of goodies, is

also entrancing. Macy’s takes a brasher

approach, with assistants dressed as

elves, exteriors draped with fairy lights

and an interior Santaland which isn’t to

be missed.

Right in the heart of New York’s

best shopping, the Rockefeller Center is

perhaps the hub of the city’s Christmas

activity. The famous plaza is decorated

with silver angels blowing elongated

trumpets, and presided over by a gigantic

Christmas tree that carries a staggering

30,000 lights in a blaze of golden color.

The first lighting of the tree shortly after

Thanksgiving is a major New York event,

and is a duty usually carried out by some

celebrity or other.

The Tuba Concert is also held here,

featuring 300 brass band members

trumpeting carols with impressive

festive energy. But perhaps the most

quintessential experience of the

Rockefeller Center – and indeed,

perhaps of all New York – is a spin

on its renowned sunken ice rink,

which has appeared in so many

Hollywood movies. Here you can skate

overlooked by the gold-colored statue

of Prometheus and the twinkling

Christmas lights that surround you on

all sides, just like a scene from some

Bing Crosby Christmas song.

There are two other skating

rinks worth visiting, both in Central

Park, where you can skate under the

Manhattan skyline in a considerably

less crowded environment. While the

streets of downtown quickly turn

to slush after a snowfall, the great

expanses of Central Park can remain

white for weeks, even bringing out

cross-country skiers for a spin. A

walk in the park, while you need to

be warmly wrapped up, is a real treat,

with trees encased in ice and great

drifts of snow banked up on every side.


535353

HOW TO GET THERE

1. Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways have flights to new York. For details and bookings, log on to www.etihadairways.com and www. emirates.com

2. Qatar Airways has five flights a week to new York. For details and bookings, log on to www. qatarairways.com

3. For tips for visiting new York City, log on to www.nycvisit.com and gonyc.about.com

If there’s another pleasure about

the cold outside, it’s the excuse it gives

you to head inside and enjoy some cozy

winter venues. In Greenwich Village

you might find a bar with piano music

and a blazing fire. In Grammercy, some

restaurants go so overboard with their

decorations it’s like eating inside a

Christmas tree. In food emporiums like

Zabar’s on Broadway and Balducci’s

on Sixth Avenue, you’ll find seasoned

turkeys, plum puddings, Italian

panettone and candied fruit.

Even the street markets still operate

in December; grab some mulled wine

and a mince pie at the Farmer’s Market

in Union Square, just the thing to warm

your fingers and insides before setting off

once more into the winter wonderland.

Music is another defining part of the

Christmas experience in New York, which

has innumerable seasonal shows running

from early November. The most famous

is undoubtedly the Christmas Spectacular

at Radio City Music Hall, which has

been a New York institution almost from

the time of its debut in 1933. The show

features the famous chorus line in skimpy

Santa costumes known as the Rockettes,

as well as dancing dolls, wooden soldiers

and prancing reindeer.

And there you have it: the weather

outside might be frightful, but New York

in December is frequently delightful.

Italian immigrants in fingerless gloves

roast chestnuts on open fires at street

corners, the sleighbells of Central Park

carriages resound across the snow, and

Christmas carols surround you on all

sides, from the tinny chants of shop

elevators to the hearty singing of local

chorus groups.

Santas loiter at every subway exit,

bringing a festive smile to the faces of

even the most hurried New Yorker.

There’s no place in America that captures

the seasonal spirit quite like New York,

and no better place to head if you’re

dreaming of a white Christmas.n


54

arts & entertainment


Treasures kuwait fro

m

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

5555


5656 Classical themes and Arabian

traditions are two of the

characteristics of The Palace

– The Old Town that sets it apart from

the rest of the properties situated in the

Downtown Burj Dubai area.

But while these two characteristics

are evident when you see the hotel from

outside, there is more that awaits you the

minute you step into its doors. And you

need to be there to experience it.

Olivier Heuchenne, General Manager

of The Palace, The Old Town is vey proud

The Old TOwn THE PALACE –

to share that the hotel is a favourite of

the GCC guests in the Downtown Burj

Dubai area because of “the service we

provide to our guests.”

Due to the increasing number

of hotels in the market, Heuchenne

observed that people in Dubai suffer

from the inconsistency of service

provided by the hotels. “It can be

really good one day but the next day

it would be awful. At The Palace, we

want to focus on service through

experience. We want to focus on

engaging with the customers. We want

the customers to feel as though they

have a relationship with our team.

It’s truly like an engagement where

two people would be promising each

other certain things that will work in

the future based on dialogue, response

and building a rapport. In here we do

that, we create a relationship.”

“This is what I think differentiates

The Palace with the rest of the hotels in

Dubai because we truly want to create a

relationship for each customer. We want

FACE TO FACE


57

the customer to feel like this is home.

We want the guest to feel like I’ve just

come home, they know my preferences,

they know my needs, they know me and

they are able to keep it on a professional

level so they keep me coming back

because of the relationship and that’s

what most important,” said Heuchenne.

And the strategy is working. Most

of The Palace’s guests coming from

the region love the style of the hotel as

well as its location. “The Old Town is

attractive and it’s the hot spot of Dubai.

I think they also like the fact that it’s not

all huge wide space, like the lobby where

there are places that you can hide. It’s a

bit exclusive that way, a bit private and

then of course it has bit of a resort feel

to a city property. The lakes around the

property will eventually give that feel of

a lake side resort.”

The Palace – The Old Town

is located in the Downtown Burj

Dubai community where there are

several other luxurious properties but

Heuchenne is confident that he will not

be competing with his sister hotels but

more so complement each other.

“This hotel is in a location that is

meant to be in a hot spot not just in

Dubai but around the globe. The Burj

Dubai for me is very iconic and it will

continue to prosper. I really see that

people will want to come to The Palace

to experience what the Downtown has

to offer. I see that people would want to

be a part of it. It’s definitely a stop on

Olivier HeuchenneGeneral Manager of The Palace – The Old Town

“We want the people from Dubai to fit in as it relates to Christmas and activities. We want them to have a sense of true Christmas spirit at The Palace by involving them.”

any given map on Dubai.”

This holiday season, Heuchenne

invites residents and guests to

experience the elegant service at The

Palace by joining an array of events that

have been rolled out from December

13th, 2008 to January 1st, 2009. The

celebration at The Palace will start with

a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

on December 13th, from 7pm, and will

feature a wide spread of delicacies and

free beverages, and performances by

two choir groups.

The Palace will also celebrate a

special Christmas tradition coming

from Santa country – the Santa Lucia

Celebration when children will be

dressed in a special long white dress

with a red ribbon around the waist while

having wreath made out of leaves and

candles on their heads, carrying a candle

in their hands and singing “Santa Lucia”.

In the days to follow, the hotel will

host floral classes, cooking lessons,

decorating wreath demonstrations,

Gingerbread Palace contest and Santa

activities, complemented by festive

afternoon tea, festive brunches and

varied F&B specials.

“December sees a beehive of activity

for the hospitality sector and we are

ushering in the festive season in style.

The focus of our activities is the entire

family, and the event roll-out will

delightfully engage children and adults.”

“We want the people from Dubai

to fit in as it relates to Christmas and

activities. We want them to have a sense

of true Christmas spirit at The Palace by

involving them,” added Heuchenne.

The Palace - The Old Town is

offering tailored packages of events

and F&B activities for customers. A

high-point of the festive calendar is the

Christmas Eve Dinner, Christmas Day

Festive Brunch and Boxing Day Brunch

to be served at Ewaan, the signature

restaurant of the hotel.

The events calendar also features

several events for children including a

Teddy Bear Tea event where the little

ones can pose with Santa and indulge

in fun games and take part in story

telling sessions. Teddy bears, brought

by children, will be donated to a

charity organisation.

The festive season’s events conclude

with a spectacular New Year’s Eve party

with the theme being ‘white’ including

a white dress code. The dancing party

at Ewaan will feature a DJ to pep up

the proceedings. Asado and Thiptara,

the other outlets in the hotel, will also

celebrate New Year’s Eve in style with a

6-course set menu, and an Argentinean

live band playing at Asado.

Christmas and New Year will be

different at The Palace. So make sure you

will be part of it. For reservations and

more information on the festive season

celebration, please call: 04-428 7888 or

email: [email protected]


58

“During the festive season,

we invite the people of

Sharjah and our visitors to

celebrate Christmas and New Year here at

Millennium Hotel so we are hosting a feast

that family, friends and visitors will surely

enjoy,” said Sherif Ezzat, Acting General

Manager, Millennium Hotel Sharjah.

The celebration on Christmas Eve,

Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and

New Year’s Day have been meticulously

prepared by the food and beverage team

to give diners and in-house guests an

unforgettable and magical experience at

Sharjah’s favourite hotel.

To start off, Al Dallah is offering

Christmas cakes and Yuletide logs from

December 18th to the 25th. Make your

Christmas table complete with the

delicious and divine Christmas cakes and

the creamy Yuletide logs. But you need to

make your reservations because they

sold out really fast.

A breath-taking view of the Khalid

Lagoon plus a delicious Christmas

Eve dinner awaits you at Mojo where

Executive Chef Wassim B-Fakhredeen

cooked up a five-course dinner to give

you a memorable Christmas Eve. Start

off with Prawn Ceviche, followed by

Mozzarella in Carozza, Main course

Roast Tom Turkey with Giblet Gravy.

Finish your meal with Traditional

Christmas strawberry Pudding with

vanilla Sauce. Priced at Dhs 150/-net per

person inclusive of beverages and live

entertainment from a European band.

On Christmas Day, the chefs will

serve up dishes at Citrus. Enjoy a

Christmas feast, fit for a king, with

selections of Roasted Stuffed Turkey

with Red Current pepper Sauce &

Crispy Roast Duck with Honey &

fresh Thyme. Don’t forget the festive

treats available at the dessert station

where you can find your favourite

desserts like Classic Panettone

Traditional Italian Christmas Cake,

Profiteroles au Chocolate, Baileys

Cheese Cake, Strawberry Pies & more

temptations. The Christmas Day

“our Christmas and new Year will be different. There will be lots of surprises and the atmosphere will be what everyone is wishing for.’’


5959

buffet is priced at Dhs 130/-net per

person inclusive of selected beverages,

including live entertainment.

On New Year’s Eve, gear up for

an evening of fantastic cuisine, festive

atmosphere and live entertainment as

Millennium Sharjah say goodbye to

2008 and welcome 2009 with a New

Year’s Gala Dinner buffet at the Al

Jawhara Ballroom. Bring your friends,

loved ones and colleagues to share the

evening filled with merriment and a

wide selection of European, Asian and

Arabic cuisine for Dhs 450/-net per

person inclusive of beverage. Sample

Seafood mountain, Pici-pici Sashimi,

Thai Seafood Salad, Duck & Herbs

Galantine, plus more Salads Choices,

from the main courses buffet, Stuffed

Ostrich Fillet with figs and pistachio

with red current Sauce, Lamb Rack

marinated in Miso & roast potato &

garlic, Norwegian Salmon Steak with

Dill lemon Butter Sauce & more.

Remember, if you will book a table for

10 persons, one gets to eat free.

Meanwhile, if you want to have

a cozy New Year’s Eve celebration

with your spouse or partner, head to

Shiraz where the Iranian chef Hassan

Doniadar prepared an Iranian set

menu for Dhs 270/-net per couple.

Ring out the old year with the

selection of Traditional Iranian Salads,

Life charcoal Grill Lamb Kebabs &

Koubideh, Joojeh, Lobster & Shrimps

(Main of dishes) and mouthwatering

Makloud Iranian Ice Cream served

with falouda as dessert.

“Our Christmas and New Year

will be different. There will be lots of

surprises and the atmosphere will be

what everyone is wishing for. We will

decorate the lobby with the biggest

Christmas tree. Our staff will be

dressed for the occasions and Santa

Claus will be around giving gifts,”

added Ezzat.

So head to Millennium Hotel

Sharjah and make your Christmas

and New Year celebration fun and

meaningful. For reservations and

bookings, please call +9716 519 2222

Ext 2043 / 2045.

The Banquet Team


60

Enjoy a lavish Christmas dinner

buffet starting from November

30th and each Sunday of

December until Christmas eve

on 24th of December with the

drone of Christmas carols in the background

sung live by a choir from 7 to 7:30 p.m.

CHrISTmaS EvE – 24TH of DECEmbEr 2008

In addition to the Palm Garden, our other

outlets offer you equally delectable Christmas

Eve dining options.

GrIll roomEnjoy the festive spirit including a glass

of Champagne, Savor delicious starters and

a specially prepared main course by our

Executive Chef, Michel Soulet.

And for all the kids in the heart, Santa will

drop off his special presents for everyone!

PEaCoCk An array of authentic Chinese awaits you at

our exclusive Chinese Restaurants. While Chef

Xiao Jun dazzles you with his culinary skills and

Santa will also be there giving the presents for all.

CoffEE HouSEWalk in at any time of the day or night and

take a break in a relaxing atmosphere at our

coffee House where you can wash down all the

Christmas cookies served with some delightful

mulled wine. And the outstanding Christmas

Choir will entertain you between 7 and 7:30 p.m.

CHrISTmaS Day – 25TH of DECEmbEr 2008

Celebrate Christmas day with family and

friends at The Palm Garden Restaurant; enjoy

our extravagant lunch buffet and let Santa

surprise your kids with goodies during the meal.

You can also choose the beach access

option with lunch. And the festivities carry on

with our sumptuous dinner buffet.

GrIll roomCelebrate this Christmas dinner at the Grill

Room with a fantastic spread of mouth watering

dishes and a glass of champagne.

PEaCoCk Go oriental this Christmas! Taste some of

the finest Chinese cuisine specially prepared

for the occasion.

orTHoDox CHrISTmaS lunCH aT THE Palm GarDEn

Our Christmas celebrations carry on

well into the New Year and culminate on

the 7th of January, 2009 with the orthodox

Christmas Celebrations.

Enjoy traditional Christmas delicacies at

the Palm Garden Restaurant.

Jumeirah BeachSheratonadds joy to your Christmas

Christmastime is such a rich well-spring of rituals and at the Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Christmas Celebration is about adding joy to your Christmas by offering wide variety of traditional festivities where among is the famous four Christmas Sundays dinner buffet at The Palm Garden’s Restaurant.

TErmS anD ConDITIonS aPPly – for morE InformaTIon, kInDly Call 04 - 3995533

SumPTuouS WEEkEnDS In a rElaxInG aTmoSPHErE WITH a ConTEmPorary fEEl

pamper your mind and soul with great weekend getaways at the Sheraton Jumeirah Beach resort & Towers with rates starting from AED 500* per person per night in a double room inclusive of buffet breakfast and taxes to start an energetic day!Enjoy our freshly rejuvenated rooms newly equipped with the latest state of the art facilities where among 32” LCD screens; new door lock & telephone system were complemented by a wireless internet in all the rooms & public areas.

not to mention our acclaimed Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed, now along with the finest fabrics are present in every room in an addition to a stylish décor with the new Curtains and the new upholstery that has covered all the guestrooms and public areas, making each guest’s stay a pleasant one.

Looking forward to welcoming you soon!


6161See Dubai as never before from

the top of a Big Bus, the king of

all sightseeing vehicles.

The distinctive double decker bus

offers a flexible hop on and hop off

service over its 21 starting and drop off

points. With its two routes, the Red City

Tour and the Blue Beach Tour, Big Bus

provides a complete and unforgettable

sightseeing excursion.

All the major sights are covered

including modern icons such as the

Burj Al Arab, Atlantis on the Palm, and

Burj Dubai, as well as the traditional

locations including Dubai Museum and

the Mysterious Gold and Spice Souks.

Passengers can hop on and hop off at

any time and design their own excursion

spending as much time as they want in

each place before boarding the Big Bus to

take them on their next adventure.

To make this experience enjoyable

and unique, Big Bus tickets also

include a large selection of additional

activities such as walking tours, a

traditional Dhow Cruise and entry to

Dubai Museum and Sheikh Saeed Al

Maktoum’s House – all at no extra cost!

The Big Bus Company offers frequent

departures from 09.00 until 17.00 7

days a week and we make sure that

Big Bus speaks your language with live

English commentary or a choice of eight

digitally¬recorded languages. (English,

Arabic, Russian, German, French, Italian,

Farsi, Hindi).

Each bus has a capacity of 80

passengers and is available for special

occasions such as group tours,

corporate events, weddings and private

parties. All quotes include central Dubai

pickup and set down and the services of

a Big Bus trained guide and driver.

DouBLE DECKEr BuS TourS L.L.C P.O BOX: 116250 Tel: 04 3407709 Fax: 04 3416553 [email protected]


6262


ur Culinary team has assembled exclusive

menus, activities and great entertainment

to ensure that you and your loved ones will

have a memorable experience.

ChriSTMAS EvE DinnEr24th December 2008

ChannelsBegin the Christmas celebrations at the

newly opened Channels restaurant. A Lavish

International Festive Buffet will be served

in a warm and jovial atmosphere with a

Christmas carol singing and a visit by Santa

for only AED 150 exclusive of beverages.

prego’sStep into Prego’s and enjoy true Italian Fare

with our specially created Set menu from

our Italian Chef. Prego’s Modern and lively

setting are sure to add that special touch

to the Christmas Eve with carol singing for

only AED 150 exclusive of beverages.

nelson’s BarIf you wish to experience some tasteful

flavor to your Christmas Celebration,

then Nelson’s is the ideal venue. Savour

our extensive A la Carte menu options

or choose from our Goose and Turkey

specials. A Great destination to eat,

Drink and Be Merry with our DJ

providing the entertainment.

ChriSTMAS DAY BrunCh25th December 2008

ChannelsFeast on a sumptuous global festive

buffet to stimulate your festive appetite.

Feast on the all –time traditional

favourites, oriental flavours and the best

of international delicacies. Come along

with your family and friends and enjoy

the Christmas spirit with carol singing

for AED 215 Inclusive of selected house

wines and beer

prego’sLet the Festive spirits fill the Prego’s

restaurant and joy be everywhere. That’s

the mission of the Prego’s team who will

be offering a Xmas Day a la carte menu

to make Santa proud. Join the choir in

singing lively carols to announce the

arrival of Santa.

nEW YEAr’S EvE31st December 2008

ChannelsAt the close of another wondrous year,

a lively celebration will take place at

Channels. With an exquisite buffet of

Culinary treats join with your friends

and family and bid goodbye to 2008 in

the Channels way for AED 399 Inclusive

of Selected Beverages

ELTon John TriBuTE ArTiST in nELSon’S BAr

get together with your family, friends and the nelson’s team to have real proper knees up into 2009…..We will have you singing

Auld Lang Syne well into the wee hours of the new Year with our resident DJ and the live performance of Elton John’s Tribute Artist; his look, vocals and mannerisms are second to none to the man himself. he will sing the whole night the best of Elton John’s songs and will count you down into the new Year!For reservation or more information, please call 04-4350000, 04-4350440 or e-mail: [email protected]

O

prego’sWelcome the New Year in Italian Style.

Prego’s sets up a gratifying dining

experience that features a 5 course

set menu complemented by a glass

of Italian Sparkling to spark up your

celebrations for AED 299 inclusive of

one glass of Sparkling

nEW YEAr’S BrunCh “ThE Morning AFTEr”01st January 2009

Out with the old and in with the new…

Come over and keep celebrating the

first day of the New Year in Channels.

Enjoy our New Year Brunch and

afterwards you can get that New

Year Resolution written for AED 175

Inclusive of Selected wine and Beer

Pregos

Channels

64


raders Hotel, Dubai is offering guests annual holiday feasts and treats during Christmas and New Year celebrations from 15 to 31 December 2008. Santarina will entertain guests at the Lobby Lounge, where festive offerings such as Ginger Bread House, Mince Pies, decorated Christmas cakes, puddings and cookies are available.

On the eve of Christmas, 24 December 2008, The Junction restaurant is offering guests a Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet at only AED165 nett for adults and AED83 nett for children. The buffet is available, from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Diners can sample traditional Roast Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing, Bavaroise Pudding and other festive delicacies. The buffet price includes free- flowing of soft drinks and chilled juices.

On Christmas Day, 25 December 2008, The Junction will offer an All Day Christmas Brunch at AED180 nett for adults and AED90 nett for children. The brunch is available from 12.30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The brunch includes unlimited soft drinks, chilled juices and mulled wine. Diners can also indulge in Grilled King Fish with Saffron Calamansi Sauce, Sesame Breaded Chicken with Garlic Mayonnaise, Vanilla Yule Log, Hot Chocolate Bread Pudding with Ginger and Spice and lots more.

As Christmas draws towards New Year’s Eve, a New Year’s Eve Countdown Party will be host on 31 December, 2008 with “Black & White” theme. The countdown party will start with a pre-dinner cocktail at Courtyard at Level One, from 8:00

TOffers Christmas & New Year Promotion

p.m. till 9:00 p.m., before heading to Samail Ballroom for the countdown dinner. At only AED395 nett per adult and AED 198 nett per child, countdown dinner includes highlights of festive delicacies such as Beef Fillet Rosini, Roast Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing and Giblet Gravy, French Seafood Thermidor, Lemongrass Crème Brule, Lemon Meringue Pie and Flamed Ice Cream Cake. Diners will also be served free flow of house beverages, soft drinks and chilled juices. For reservations, please call The Junction at (04) 214 7272.

For guests who would like to hold private festive gatherings, the hotel also offers Year End Banquet Party package for a minimum of 30 guests and above. The package is available from 1 December 2008 to 31 January 2009 at AED125 nett per person, which includes the use of Samail Ballroom, party favours, one round of soft drinks or chilled juices during dinner, festive centrepieces, dance floor and surprise prizes to be won. Guests also get to choose either International or Filipino dinner menus, which includes Braised Lamb with Mediterranean Vegetables, Steak Tagalog with Black Pepper, warm Christmas Pudding with Custard Butter Sauce and traditional Christmas Cake among other favourite gastronomy.

For weekend parties on Fridays and Saturdays, guests will enjoy special price of only AED99 nett per person. For reservations above 80 guests, the hotel will provide a complimentary DJ service. For enquiries and reservations, please call the Events Management team at (04) 214 7306 / 07 or by e-mail at [email protected].

66

Whether you want to spend a nice cozy

dinner for two, a smashing party in the

desert or a cruise along the creek, Lama

Tours has all these for you.

mEGa DESErT SafarI ParTyFor the last 10 years, Lama Tours has

been holding its desert safari party

to the delight of more than 1000

guests. Held at the Margham area

at the Dubai Desert Conservation

Reserve, the New Year’s Eve party will

bring again to Dubai the famous DJ

Manj and DJ Amaa from the United

Kingdom to make sure the party is

active and bustling.

Kulwant Singh, Managing Partner

of Lama Tours, said that for the last

three years, these two DJs have been

Usher in the New Year with a big bang with Lama Tours’ packages that will surely welcome the year 2009 with much fun and revelry.

entertaining their guests who were all

satisfied with their choice of music.

“People are telling me that if we bring

the same DJ this year, they will surely

come to the party.”

The party which will start from 6

pm till 2 am is open to families and

small groups as well as guests of Lama

Tours. There will be an extensive

dinner buffet of international dishes.

While enjoying your meal, Bollywood

dancers from India and belly dancers

will provide entertainment. There will

be camel rides and parents who will

bring their kids to the party will enjoy

the kiddie programmes prepared for

the youngsters.”

“Our guests will not be

disappointed. We will give them more

than what we promised them because

we know that this is what people look

forward to for the new year. They don’t

want to get stranded on the road where

they don’t know how to get out, they

do not want to be wasting their time

Mr. Kulwant Singh

Managing Partner of Lama Tours


67

in traffic or get stuck in a hotel where

there is a capacity for 400 but there are

1000 people present and you can’t even

move,” adds Singh.

“What people like is space, they

would like to have privacy, they would

like to have value for their money,

they would like to have a good evening

without hassle, without fighting,

without getting angry because this is the

day when things can go wrong if things

are not well organized but we are very

particular and clear on our strategies.

This is what we want to sell and this is

what we will give you, we definitely will

give you the best and we will give you

much more than that.”

Transportation to the venue will be

provided either by a 4 x4 Land Cruiser

or luxury coach buses. Prices for the

Land Cruiser package is 399 AED per

adult and 299 AED per child. The

luxury buses package is 299 AED per

adult and 199 AED per child.

Lama Tours also offers overnight

packages for those who do not want

to drive back home after the party.

The overnight stay package includes

breakfast and a trip to Hatta for a swim.

DInnEr CruISEThe dinner cruise is offered to those

who want to welcome the New Year in a

calm and romantic setting.

From 10 pm to 2 am, the three-

decker Lama Dubai Cruise will sail along

the Dubai creek where guests will enjoy

the cool evening with a nine-course

dinner and live band entertainment.

“Depending on the positioning of

the cruise, our guests will be able to

enjoy the firework display held yearly at

the Jumeirah Beach area,” adds Singh.

“The cruise is basically for couples

because of its romantic setting. These

are the middle-aged and elderly people

who don’t want to be push around

in line. They just want to have a nice,

easy time. Relax, have a couple of

drinks, wine or champagne and enjoy

the evening. There are many people

who don’t want to get into the hustle

and bustle of New Year’s eve so this is

targeted for those people.”

The cruise can accommodate up to

90 couples so reservations are requested

for the package because Lama Tours is

very specific in satisfying their guests,

making sure that they will enjoy the

occasion and always get the value for

their money.

“Every year we are getting more

inquiries and bookings and we want to

accommodate these people so they too

can enjoy and have fun,” he adds.

Online bookings and reservations

for the above packages are available

at Lama Tours website at www.

lamadeserttours.com. There are kiosks

located at selected malls like Ibn Batuta,

Burjuman, Lamcy, Sahara Mall, Greens,

Marinawalk and Arabian Ranches

where you can get instant confirmation

and your ticket.

For more information, call Lama Tours at +971 4 3344330.


68

The only difference is that there are

no railings or box cars; instead,

you’re in a four-wheel drive van

maneuvered by a skilled operator plowing

the vehicle through the sand, making

turns, climbing up, sliding down, making

it jump even, to the ecstatic shrieks and

yelps of everyone around you, including

yourself, of course.

Outside, the rest of the desert stares

in awe as the sun slowly dips down the

horizon, casting that red-orange spell on

that red-orange, velvety sand.

Catch the experience. Catch Hormuz

Tourism’s Desert Safari.

The adventure begins with a

45-minute-to-an hour’s drive away from

the city and on to an assembly point on

Hatta Road, Al Habab where rows of

marts line up for souvenirs and novelty

items; and the 4WDs’ tires are checked

for safety.

The thrill begins shortly with a brief

ride to the desert where the convoy

positions itself and the front vehicle

signals the start of what could yet be the

longest joy ride of your life in the dunes.

Up the slope, down the hill, and on to

the great divide.

Another brief stopover, this time in the

That’s exactly how it feels—a rollercoaster ride.

middle of the desert, gives everyone a

stab at sand skiing.

But like they say, it’s not over till

it is. So, following a trip back to the Al

Habab assembly area, the convoy then

makes its way to yet another desert

stop some 10 minutes away—a camp,

that is, in Al Awir, where you can go

for a camel ride; take posterity shots in

traditional Arabian garbs; enjoy shisha,

the Arabic water pipe also known as

hookah, used in smoking tobacco with

flavored extract; henna skin artwork,

refreshment, and a sumptuous Arabian

dinner that you could probably only

have in your dreams.

A long exhilarating ride on the

desert should be complemented with a

long spread of food on the buffet table.

At Hormuz Camp, that’s just exactly

what you’ll find—a table lined up with

hommus, a delicious Mediterranean

dip; tabouleh, a popular Middle Eastern

salad containing many vegetables, olive

oil and spices; shish taouk, a traditional

Turkish chicken kebab (shish meaning

“skewered” in Turkish; and taouk

meaning “chicken”, also in Turkish);

tikka, or boneless chicken cutlets; and

kofta kabab, spiced ground beef that

also is a great alternative to meatloaf.

Also on the buffet are lamb chops,

fried rice; rajma or red kidney bean

curry; curried vegetables, bandi, and

fruits galore.

Having dinner without

entertainment is like having spaghetti

without the basil leaves, meatballs

and toasts, or hamburger without the

ketchup and mustard.

At Hormuz Camp, this is well taken

care of. A belly dancer swaying to

traditional Arabian music hits the stage,

hips churning vigorously, arms flailing

in the air as the drumrolls kick up a

crescendo to a tumultuous climax—an

absolutely jaw-dropping act!

The performer is not entirely on her

own during the show. Every now and

then, she’d pick up someone from the

crowd to dance with, and there’s where

the fun begins.

The performance also culminates

what have been some five hours of

Arabian experience—the kind you’ll

keep getting back for.

Just get in touch with Hormuz

Tourism at +971 4 2280668 / 2280663

for inquiries. Also check out their

website at www.hormuztourism.com.

Desert Safari68 I Travel Arabia I December 2008

69

free hour, including the Qatar National

Islamic Museum and the newly

renovated Souk Al Waqf.

Swiss-Belhotel International has

more than 20 years of experience

and enjoys strong global brand

recognition. The group intends to

add several properties to its Middle

Eastern portfolio over the coming

years in both resort and city locations.

Swiss-Belhotel International

manages 48 hotels and projects, with

more than 8,000 rooms globally.

Hotels are located in China, Vietnam,

Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia,

Australia, Oman and Kuwait. The

group also has a Middle East

development office located in Dubai,

United Arab Emirates and hotels under

construction in the Middle East region

including Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi

Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Sharjah and

Dubai. For more information on Swiss-

Belhotel Hotels & Resorts please visit

www.swiss-belhotel.com

Suites & residences - QaTar

78 precious jewels being

spacious and well

appointed apartments are

now added to the crown of Swiss-

Belhotel International in the Middle

East. This expands the management to

the total complex of 165 room 4 star

hotel and 78 serviced residences.

The management contract between

the Hong Kong based Swiss-Belhotel

International and Abdullah Ali Al

Majid & Sons WLL Doha, Qatar has

recently been signed as an extension to

the Management Agreement of the 165

room 4 star property ‘Swiss-Belhotel

Doha’. The layout of the complete

property is spread over 2 towers – one

housing the hotel rooms and the other

the serviced residences.

The soft opening of both the Hotel

and Apartment Buildings is planned

for the 1st quarter of 2009. Mr. Gavin

M. Faull, President of Swiss-Belhotel

International, who was in Doha for

this prestigious occasion stated that

“To be able to expand our business

in these challenging times of the

global economic crisis gives a sense

of optimism and confidence in Qatar,

and confirms that determination and

confidence between developers and

management can produce a positive

business environment.”

Mr. Edgar Solenthaler, Vice President

of Swiss-Belhotel International The

Middle East confirms this positive

development stating that, “These 2

towers are now 1 entity, promoted and

managed as Swiss-Belhotel Doha Suites

& Residences.” The fully furnished

apartments are built with luxury and

convenience in mind and provide a mix

of 2 and 3 bedroom options. Sizes range

from 140sqm to 180sqm providing guests

with high standards of services to meet

their expectations”. As these apartments

are located adjacent to the Hotel, the

guests can enjoy the specialty restaurants

and lounges, room service, business

center, recreational facilities and basic

services like laundry.

The Swiss-Belhotel Doha Suites &

Residences is ideally located 8 Km away

from Doha International Airport in the

business district of the city. Attractive

shopping areas and International

Banks are close by. Doha has sights

and attractions for a business traveler’s

Pictured (L-R) Mr. Edgar Solenthaler, Vice President - Swiss-Belhotel International Middle East LLC,

Mr. Ghazi Abdullah Al Majid, Real Estate Investment Manager - Abdulla Ali Al-Majid Est., Mr. Gavin

M. Faull, President - Swiss-Belhotel International, Mr. Oktay Bulgurcouglu, General Manager, Swiss-

Belhotel Doha Suites and Residences

Swiss-belhotel Doha


70

Varieties of theme nights are

offered at Le Méridien hotel

in Abu Dhabi, satisfying every

craving from seafood and char grills

to exotic fruits and spices. Sway your

way through our international buffet

style experience with grill stands on the

terrace in the midst of lush greens of

our centre garden with a gentle breeze

at La Brasserie. The tranquility of the

sea view and for a dinner by the blue

waters of the gulf head on Tuesdays to

Talay, where we will be taking you away

the tiresome of the week. Fridays’ Oasis

BBQ at the beach is your destination for

a fun weekend.

MondaysSEAFooD nighT at La BrasserieAn array of seafood delights from

mussels, shrimps, crabs and oysters,

with wide selection of finely prepared

seafood salads, mouth-watering

appetizers and grill stands located on

the terrace. From 7.00 pm till 11.00 pm

for AED 180*

Tuesdays Ar hAn ThAi ThAi BuFFETat TalayAppetizing assortments of Thai delicacies, exotic fruits, and variety of sauces to spice up your meal. Terrace seating is available overlooking the Arabian Gulf. From 7.00 pm till 11.3 pm for AED 121*

Thursdays ChArr… griLL at La BrasserieA special treat for grill enthusiasts, indoor buffet with salads and appetizers and grill stands on the terrace. Choose your meat or poultry and seafood grills to your likeness and garnish with sauces and vegetables. The wide desserts selection will complement this fulfilling night. From 7.00 pm till 11.00 pm for AED 145*

fridaysEXTEnDED BrEAKFAST at La Brasserie

For the tardy up-risers with an appetite

on the weekend, our generous breakfast

buffet will appeal to your whole family.

Starting with your choice of eggs,

muffins and freshly squeezed juices

then at noon the hot food and main

meals arrive to the scene igniting every

taste bud and gets you ready for the

weekend’s activities. From 06.00 am till

3:00 pm for AED 95*

BBQ at oasis by the beachAlso on Fridays, after a good swim or just to enjoy your lunch by the beach with friends and families, the BBQ stands on the terrace at Oasis by the sea breeze will surely fulfill your hunger. From 1.00 pm till 4.00 pm AED 55*

MASALA SpiCE at La BrasserieIndian inspired theme night on Fridays for the Tandoori and curry lovers. A dash of spices to complement your meal. Freshly made Naan bread. Wild choices of deserts. From 7.00 pm till 11.00 pm for AED 100*

All prices are subject to 10% service charge and 6% tourism fee. For more information or for reservations please call Le Méridien hotel at 02 644 6666.


7272

72 I Travel Arabia I December 200872 I Travel Arabia I December 2008

This Christmas the Mövenpick Hotel Bur Dubai have teamed up with

Toblerone to create a truly magical charity initiative- a life-size Toblerone

Christmas Tree! The tree, which will stand at over 15 feet in height, will

grace the lobby of the hotel throughout the month of December for revellers to

drool in delight.

With every donation made, guests have the chance to win one of two prizes by

guessing how much Toblerone chocolate was needed to build the tasty tree. The

first prize is a round trip to Switzerland with Swiss International Air Lines to visit

the Kraft factory, where Toblerone is born, complete with a four night stay at the

Mövenpick Hotel Zurich. The person with the second closest guess will win their

body weight in Toblerone chocolate. The winners will be announced at the annual

Christmas Day Brunch held in the Mövenpick hotel Bur Dubai’s sunlit atrium.

The proceeds from this charity drive will benefit Red Crescent Society, a local

U.A.E. charity committed to benefiting the lives of those less fortunate. This event will

not only mark the festive period but also celebrates Toblerone’s 100th Anniversary.

Christmas Charity ChoColate heaven with

74al BUstan rotana DUBaiChristmas DayChoices and Blue Elephant bring together a Global Christmas

Brunch that’s sure to stimulate your festive appetite. Complete

with live entertainment and fun activities for the kids

highlighted by a special appearance of Santa Claus, feast on an

endless array of traditional favourites, oriental flavours and the

best of international delicacies for only AED 200 per person

inclusive of soft drinks, AED 220 per person inclusive of wine

and beer and AED 320 inclusive of champagne.

al Diar siJi hotelChristmas Night SpecialCelebrate Christmas the Siji way with a festivity of taste, sights,

sounds and color. The hotel’s flagship restaurant, Al Diwan is

bringing you the choicest meals for this exceptional occasion.

Indulge in mouth-watering buffet of traditional holiday favorites

including roasted turkey, pumpkin pie, specialty Christmas soup

and other delectable dishes.

al manZil & QamarDeen hotelsChristmas Day Lunch Conservatory, an all day dining restaurant at Al Manzil Hotel,

will serve a special Christmas lunch buffet with refreshing

dishes bound to satiate your appetite. Enjoy a luscious four

course spread for AED 165 (inclusive of non alcoholic beverages

only) and AED 220 (inclusive of house beverages).

Give your taste buds a treat and indulge in the delectable

Enjoy the holiday season with sumptuous and authentic meal offerings from the leading dining places in town.

JW Marriott Festive Cookies at Vienna Cafe

DINING PROMOTION


7575


Christmas lunch buffet specially prepared

by the Chef ’s at Esca, Qamardeen Hotel.

Shrimp and snapper skewers, grilled

salmon fillet, roasted lamb chops, pan-

fried duck breast, and cheese tortellini are

just a few treats in store for this special

time of the year.

al mUrooJ rotana DUBaiChristmas DaySavor a sumptuous Christmas Day Lunch

buffet at Pergolas for AED 245* net

per person including selected standard

beverages. Children will have a dedicated

Kid’s corner with Christmas carols sung

and a photograph session of kids receiving

gifts from Santa.

Christmas Day Brunch at Double

Decker is AED 159* net per person

including selected beverages.

al raha BeaCh hotelChristmas Day Celebrate the big day with family and

friends at Sevilla Restaurant’s superb

Christmas buffet. Enjoy fabulous

appetisers, followed by succulent turkey

and crispy roast potatoes and sweet

temptations to end a perfect meal!

For those who seek a more tranquil

celebration of this day, the newly opened

Azur Restaurant is the place to be.

Celebrated guitarist Louis will delight

you with melodious music of the season

played gently in the background.

BUrJ al araBChristmas DayThe magical aquarium setting of Al

Mahara provides the most memorable

festive season with outstanding seafood

dishes. A Christmas four-course set

menu lunch is on offer for AED 695 per

person from 12:30 to 3:00 pm and a five-

course set dinner for AED775 per person

from 7 pm to 12 midnight.

With 12 live cooking stations and no

less than 45 specialized Asian chefs,

Junsui offers a mouth-watering union

of culinary festive delights from Japan,

China, Thailand, Indonesia and Korea

for AED 525 per person for a brunch

buffet and AED495 per person for a

dinner buffet.

CoPthorne hotel DUBaiExperience an Arrabiata Night at

Crystal restaurant! Anti-Pasta Station,

main course buffet, Selection of

oven fresh pizza, live cooking pasta

and Desert corner accompanied by

chocolate fountain, tiramisu and much

more tempting Italian savories for Dhs.

88/- * per person. Kindly contact our

restaurant reservations team on+971

4 2094 262 to book your table or for

further information.

Coral DeiraRasoi Rasoi servers the finest and most

authentic Mughlai cusine in town along

with a slice of the golorious Mughal

history and culture. Decorated by the

well-known French designer Francois

Desroches, the resturant is a mini

museum with a spicy twist. Rasoi prides

itself in being the only outlet of its kind

in the Middle East.

Sayniya PromotionFor a truly enjoyable Oriental

experience, try our set Sayniya

Promotion which includes the following

dishes Mixed Grills, Fattoush, Tabouleh,

Muttabal, Vine leavaves, labneh, pickles,

kebbeh & sammoussekk, oriental rice.

Prices for 2 persons at 65 Dhs and 4

persons at 110 Dhs only.

Open round-the-clock, a café and

bakery ideal for a quick coffee,

afternoon tea and different flavors of

traditional hot chocolate with home-

made cakes, pastries, fresh sandwiches

and ice cream corner. 50% discount

after 7:00 pm for all cakes and pastries.

Danat resort JeBel DhannaChristmas DayNo child’s day is complete without a

visit from the jovial Father Christmas,

Al Manzil & Qamardeen Hotels

Al Murooj

4

76

join him for lunch at Tides restaurant

where you will also be treated to live

Christmas Choir, live cooking and a

irresistible Turkey Dinner with all the

trimmings for Dhs.160+16% service

charge, inclusive a glass of mulled wine

and egg nogg. Children from 6 to 12 years

old, 50% discount

If you are seeking a more relaxed

and tranquil atmosphere try our award

winning signature restaurant, Zaitour for

an exquisite three-course dinner complete

with exclusive Italian Wine for Dhs.

175+16% service charge per person

DUBai CreeK GolF & yaCht ClUBChristmas DayAquarium will offer a Festive Season Aqua

Christmas Brunch, with a selection of

platters placed in the middle of the table

for you and your guest to share. Package

price is Dhs 260 (Food only), Dhs 380

(Food and Half bottle of wine & water)

and Dhs 140 for children under 12 years

old. Aquarium will re open in the evening

offering a 5 courses Christmas set menu,

plus Ala Carte.

Legends will host a fabulous Festive

Christmas Day Brunch, available from

11:30am-3: 30 pm, for only Dhs 240 for

adults and 140 for children under 12

years old. Legends will re-open in the

evening for the Ala Carte menu and the

5 courses Christmas set menu.

DUsit thani DUBaiChristmas DayThe Californian Buffet Restaurant

will offer a Christmas Day Special

Lunch Buffet with a lavish selection of

traditional Christmas flare. Enjoy the

festive goodies for AED 219/person or

children (6-12 years old) AED 110/child.

emaar hosPitalityCelebrate Christmas Day with the whole

family with a Christmas Buffet Lunch at

Ranches Restaurant at Arabian Ranches.

While adults enjoy a sumptuous seasonal

lunch overlooking the greens, the little

ones are entertained at their own special

party in the Academy with a visit from

Santa for AED 240 per person including

soft drinks. Children between 4 – 12

years charged half price; includes access

to the party.

Set the festive mood with drinks

by the water’s edge before settling

down to an afternoon of gastronomic

indulgence at Dubai Marina Yacht

Club. Festive Christmas brunch

includes a selection of premium

seafood, traditional roasts, sweets from

Europe and handmade cheese for AED

300 per person including soft drinks.

Christmas crackers, mouthwatering

cuisine and children’s entertainment by

a ‘special visitor’ provide an afternoon

of fun for all the family at Dubai Polo &

Equestrian Club. Savour a magnificent

buffet lunch with traditional roast turkey

and all the trimmings while children

open their presents from Santa for AED

240 per person including soft drinks.

Children 4 – 12 years charged half price.

Join the Lakes Club team at

Hayya! The Lakes for an afternoon

of fun including a barbecue sizzling

with festive food, live entertainment

and activities for the little ones. From

1:00pm – 3:00pm the children are kept

amused with a variety of games and

competitions for AED 150 per person

including soft drinks.

Spend Christmas Day with the

family overlooking the beautiful driving

range at The Academy Terrace at The

Montgomerie Dubai whilst savouring

the traditional flavours of the festive

season from the buffet. As a special

treat for the little ones, Santa will also

be popping in. AED 300 per person

including soft beverage and AED 425

per person including house beverages.

Copthorne Dubai

the FairmontChristmas Day Guests are invited to indulge in a haute

collection of over 50 signature offerings,

including traditional roast turkey, plum

pudding and other seasonal favourites at

Cascades. The little ones can delight in a

visit from Santa and a holiday choir from

12:30 - 1pm for AED 275 per person

(includes one glass of house wine, fresh

juice, soft drink or eggnog) and AED 138

per child (aged 5 - 11 years).

Spectrum on One’s ‘Brunch in

the City’ returns for the season with a

specially themed holiday brunch. Enjoy

the decadence of traditional holiday

favourites and an extensive dessert

station featuring the confectionary

of famed Executive Pastry Chef Eric

Gouteyron, formerly of The Plaza, New

Moevenpick

Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Shrimps Salsa

Gaucamole


77

Rebuffo’s take on the traditional Christmas

dinner. Christmas Dinner in Pachanga on 24

& 25 December, 2008 is Dhs 450 per person.

Enjoy a lavish Christmas Day buffet

in the bright, bustling Oceana restaurant.

Oceana’s vast buffet will also include

alternative delicacies such as fresh oysters,

sushi and confit of duck!

haBtoor GranD resort & sPa Christmas DayEnjoy a luscious Bubbly Brunch at the

twenty fifth overlooking the magnificent

Arabian Gulf for AED 695* per person

inclusive of half a bottle of sparkling

beverage or AED 295* per person non-

inclusive of Sparkling Beverage.

A live band will entertain the whole

family at Al Dhiyafa on Christmas day

and promotes the joys of conviviality.

While children enjoy their own special

Christmas brunch buffet and activities,

their parents savour from a rich and

abundant festive international buffet and

a live wok station.

Jw marriott DUBai Christmas Day

After a late night celebration on Christmas

Eve, sleep tight, forget breakfast, open your

presents and then come to the longest

buffet brunch in town. If you feel famished,

this is the place to be. Just imagine you

can eat from all 4 buffets from all 4

restaurants, irrelevant which restaurant

you sit in. Relish international dishes at

The Market Place, Far Eastern delights at

the Bamboo Lagoon, Bavarian specialties

at the Hofbräuhaus and Arabic flavours at

77

Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Chocolate Souffle

Radisson SAS Dubai Creek

York. Price: AED 800 per person and

AED 400 per child (aged 5 - 11 years)

FoUr Points By sheraton Downtown DUBai & FoUr Points By sheraton sheiKh ZayeD The home cooking lovers can enjoy the

same great dining deal in the hotel of

their choice in an “All you can eat and

drink” promotion at Eatery Restaurant

at the Four Points by Sheraton. Guests

and visitors can eat and drink all they

want from a great selection of home

cooked dishes and grills and choose

the beverages of their choice. The

promotion runs for the whole winter

season and welcomes friends and

families for the ultimate comfort food

and homely atmosphere.

For bookings please call 04 3230333

(Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed

Road) and 04 3543333 (Four Points by

Sheraton Downtown Dubai).

hilton DUBai CreeKChristmas DayChristmas comes but once a year, but

Gordon Ramsay and his dedicated team

at Verre promise to put you in the festive

mood in the days leading up to and post

the 25th. Executive Chef Matt and his

kitchen brigade have created a tempting

six-course dégustation menu that is sure

to be one of the highlights of 2008!

Join us on Christmas day for the

ever-popular Glasshouse Christmas

brunch, featuring all the long-

time favourites and the modern

Mediterranean cuisine for which

Glasshouse is known and loved.

Expect a carvery station, freshly

prepared market vegetables and all the

traditional accompaniments.

hilton DUBai JUmeirahChristmas DayWarm up to Christmas in style with

a fabulous Christmas dinner at BICE.

Chef Andrea Mugavero takes pride in

bringing a traditional Italian Christmas

dinner to your table with his special

festive menu.

Setting a new tradition for Christmas

in Dubai, Pachanga offers a Latin-

American inspired menu and Chef Ruben


4

78

Reinassance Hotel Dubai

the Mays El Reem. There is so much to eat

and drink. While the parents are tucking

into the buffet, the kids will be having a

jolly good time at the Town Square with

heaps of games and clown acts. Santa Claus

will be there to surprise you with his bag

of gifts. Buffet prices start at Dhs 239 per

person, food only.

le meriDien aBU DhaBiChristmas DayCaptivate the spirit of Christmas

with your family and friends and

treat yourselves for a giant Christmas

lunch buffets in our variously themed

restaurants. La Brasserie, Centre garden,

Le Bistrot, Pappagallo and Talay will

be awaiting your presence with Turkey

rolls, Salmon fillet, stuffed Turkey,

traditional Christmas pudding and Yule

log while NRG will turn into a venue

for our younger guests to enjoy the

Christmas lunch buffet. Santa Clause

will distribute gifts throughout the

Hotel, bring the kids for a great time

with Santa and make sure the batteries

of your cameras are fully charged.

ParK hyatt DUBaiChristmas DayPark Hyatt Dubai will open Traiteur and

The Terrace for an epicurean Christmas

Day “Brunch at the Park”. Guests will

be able to experience a wide variety

of culinary delights from the Traiteur

kitchen from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm on

this special day. The Christmas brunch

is priced at Dhs 550 per person,

including Veuve Clicquot champagne.

Café Arabesque and The Thai Kitchen

will continue to serve their popular à la

carte menus on Christmas Day.

raDisson sas hotel, DUBai Deira CreeKChristmas DayYou can have the world on a plate at our

famous Christmas Brunch located on

the 2nd floor, where 10 different outlets

come together to treat you for the best

traditional Christmas buffet in town,

for only Dhs. 195 per person. Enjoy the

best of Christmas delicacies at Italian

La Moda, Chinese The China Club,

Asian Yum, Arabian Boulvar, Persian

Shabestan, English at The Pub, Japanese

Minato, Seafood Fish Market, and the

best of Prime Rib Live Carving at Palm

Grill steakhouse

Also on Christmas Day, you can

indulge into a special Christmas lunch

cruise aboard the Al Mansour Dhow

featuring a wide selection of Christmas

favourites starting from the cold buffet,

soups, Roast Turkey, hot buffet and

sweets for only Dhs. 219 per person. For

all Christmas bookings and inquiries,

please call InfoCentre on 04/2057033,

7043, 7333, and 7444.

raFFles DUBaiChristmas DayFeast on an array of mouth-watering

dishes from our Festive buffet at Azur,

for a special experience to share with

the entire family during these festive

celebrations. Festive Brunch and Dinner

Buffet is priced at AED 400 per person.

Entice your taste buds with a fine dining

celebratory Brunch at Fire & Ice for AED

775 net (limo transfer within Dubai for

an additional AED 500 net).

renaissanCe DUBai hotelChristmas DayTake a joyous nightcap at Harry’s

Place with your family and friends and

enjoy the special Christmas cocktails.

Have fun creating your own signature

cocktail drinks – just ask our friendly

bartenders to roll the Cocktail culture”

blocks for you. Sing and dance with

the Sugar free band and chill out with

DJ Rukie. As a treat, get a chance to

win exciting prizes for our balloon pick

for every Dhs 299 that you spend.

A lavish Christmas buffet awaits

you and your loved ones featuring all

your Christmas favorites at Spice Island

starting from the perfect roast turkey

and trimmings, yorkshire pudding and

pork gammon as well as a selection of

international gustatory delights. Don’t

forget to ask the chefs to cook your

special meal at the live cooking stations.

As a sweet ending, pamper yourself with

a variety of heavenly desserts.

shanGri-la hotel, aBU DhaBiChristmas DayCelebrate this Christmas with our

extensive buffet spread with cuisines

from all around the world. Available

in the all-day dining restaurant, Sofra

bld, Shangri-La signature Chinese

Raffles Dubai


79

elaborate Antipasti Buffet. Indulge in a

wonderful feast filled with traditional

dishes of the Italian Christmas

Day Lunch. Pop the Christmas

crackers for good luck and enjoy our

complimentary sweet giveaways! AED

115 for the Antipasti buffet per person

50% discount for children under 12. For

reservations please call 02 697 0258

sheraton Deira hotelChristmas DayThe Terrace offers you a richly laden

buffet table, open from 1230 hrs till 1530

hrs and is priced at Dhs. 159 net per

person inclusive of soft drinks or Dhs.

199 net with regular house beverages.

Kids below 12 years eat at half price.

During the course of lunch some lucky

diners will win ‘meal vouchers’.

sheraton DUBai CreeKChristmas DayAfter a wonderful night out, you should

wake up to a traditional Christmas lunch

buffet at the Vivaldi Restaurant where

you can indulge in a wide selection

of food. Priced at AED190 with soft

beverage and AED245 with house

alcohol. Available on 25, 26 and 31

December 2008. For reservations, please

call 04 207 1717.

Creekside will be back with a

vengeance after a much-needed facelift 79

Traders Hotel Sri Lankan Food

Sheraton Deira Hotel Eid Al Adha

Sheraton Dubai Creek Ashiana

restaurant, Shang Palace, and the

award-winning Vietnamese restaurant,

Hoi An from 12pm – 4pm. Enjoy

delicacies in Shang Palace and Hoi An,

inclusive of soft drinks, house red or

white wine, beer, coffee and tea for AED

300++ per adult

Party at Pearls & Caviar, the latest

trendsetter in Abu Dhabi, and enjoy

French champagne and savour a

delicious four course set menu in the

elegant setting of the black Caviar

restaurant for AED 380++ per person

shanGri-la hotel, DUBaiChristmas DayBlaze a trail across the world’s

gastronomic capitals as our popular

buffet takes on the Season’s flavours

at Dunes. An exciting buffet spread

featuring international favourites

including the traditional Roast turkey

with stuffing and cranberry sauce

as well as a cheese station and a

seafood station welcomes everyone on

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

sheraton aBU DhaBiChristmas DayJoin us at Flavours for Christmas Day

Brunch, where the buffet will overflow

with all your favourite Christmas

goodies. Enjoy the merry atmosphere

with pianist Olexandra performing

seasonal melodies and don’t forget

your wonderful Christmas crackers

and sweet giveaways on your way out

for AED 185 per person, 50% discount

for children under 12. For reservations

please call 02 697 0262

Come to La Mamma and celebrate

Christmas Day with family and friends.

Join us on this occasion, where Chef

Rakesh and his team invite you to an

and will be re-opened this month. We

know how much you miss the Theme

Nights, therefore Chef Narit will roll-

out its ever famous theme night menus

during Christmas which include Seafood

Night on Christmas Eve, Japanese buffet

on Christmas Day and Asian Night on

Boxing Day. Seafood Night is priced at

AED240 net per person with beverage

on consumption. Japanese Buffet and

Asian Night are priced at AED175 net per

person with beverage on consumption.

Children between 6 and 12 years old

enjoy 50% discount. For reservations,

please call 04 207 1750.

towers rotana DUBaiChristmas DayEnjoy all the traditions of a truly

festive Christmas Day with Flavours

Christmas Day Brunch. For just AED

225 per person you can savour all the

traditional favourites, including roast

turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce.

And with unlimited selected beverages,

your festive season will really go with

a swing. Kiddies will be entertained

all afternoon with fun and games, face

painting, a clown and even a special visit

from Santa Claus himself.

traDers hotel, DUBai Sri Lankan Zest promotion is making a

come back at Traders Hotel, Dubai from 1

until 30 December 2008. The authentic Sri

Lankan buffet promotion is held available

daily for dinner from 7.30 p.m. to 11.30

p.m. and Friday brunch from 12.30 p.m.

to 3.30 p.m. at The Junction restaurant

located next to the Lobby Lounge.

The Sri Lankan bBuffet pPromotion

is priced at only AED99 nett per adult and

AED49 nett per child. For reservations,

please call The Junction at (04) 214 7272.n


80

EMBASSIES & CONSULATES

Argentina 718683 6438437 Rue HamaniAustralia 40593300 5920817 Rue Jean Rey, 75724 Paris cedex, France Austria 562699 567352Les Vergers,Rue No.2 DZ-16330 Bir Mourad RaisBangladesh 594805 60362914 Ave.des Frères OughlisBelgium 922446 92503622 Chemin Youssef Tayebi,El-BiarBrazil 749575 74968748 Boulevard Mohammad VBulgaria 691514 69178713 Boulevard Bougara,El BiarCanada 914951 69392018 Mustafa Khaled St.,P.O.Box 48China 692724 69305634 Boulevawrd Des MartyrsColombia 922090 9238177 Avenue Malika Gaid,El-BiarCote D’ivoire 692828 693683Parc Paradeaux P.O.Box 710,HydraCzech Republic 692274 693031P.O.Box 999,Villa MalikaDenmark 692234 69284612 Ave.Emile Marquis,HydraEgypt 691807 692952

P.O.Box 297,HydraFinland 691212 691637P.O.Box 256 HydraFrance 692488 69136925 Chemin Gaddouche,HydraGermany 741956 740521P.O.Box 664,165 Chemin SfindjaGreece 600855 69165560 Blvd.Col.BougaraHoly See 623430 5723751 Rue Noureddine Mekiri 16090 BologhineHungary 691709 694431P.O.Box 68 ,El-MouradiaIndia 923444 92401114 Rue Des AmbassadesIraq 603125 6010974 Rue Arezki Abri,HydraItaly 292330 79376618 Rue Mohammad Ouidir,Amellal Al-Biar Japan 912004 9120461 Chemin Al Bakri,El-BiarJordan 692031 6915546 Rue Chenoua,HydraKorea Repub 692076 69301421 Rue Stambuli El-MouradiaKuwait 693408 693037Chemin Abdel Kader Gaddouche

Lebanon 594977 692397Rue Du Hoggar,HydraLibya 921502 92468715 Chemin Sheikh Bashir IbrahimiMauritania 792139 784274107 Lot Baranes,Air de France, BouzareahMexico 924023 923451P.O.Box 329,El –BiarNetherlands 922828 923770P.O.Box 72 El-BiarNigeria 691849 691175P.O.Box F629,HydraOman 941310 941375126 Rue Didouche MouradPakistan 693781 692212P.O.Box 621,Djeann El-Malik,HydraPoland 92255337 Ave.Mustafa Ali Khodja,El-BiarPortugal 925313 9254112 Lot El-Feth El-BiarQatar 922856 922415P.O.Box 118,Bin AknounRomania 690871 69364224 Rue Arezki Abri, HydraRussia 783134 782882Chemin Prince D’Amman El-BiarSaudi Arabia 603518

4 Rue Arezki Abri,HydraSpain 922713 92271910 Rue Azil AliSweden 692300 691917Rue Olof Palme Nouveau Paradou,HydraSwitzerland 737310 738158P.O.Box 482,27 Boulevard Zirout YoussefSyria 912026 91203011 Chemin A.Gaddouche HydraTunisia 691388 69231611 Rue Du Bois De Bologne HydraTurkey 691257 693161Chemin De La Rochelle, Blv Col.BourgaraUAE 692574 593770P.O.Box 454 El MouradiaUK 230068 230067P.O.Box 8,7 Chemin DES GlycinesUSA 691255 6939794,CHEMIN Sheikh Bashir El-IbrahimiYemen 693085 691758Villa 41,Ave.Les VergesVenezuela 693846 607555Chemin du Kadous HydraZaire 5912275 Rue Saint Georges,Kouba

ALGERIA

GENERAL INFORMATIONArea2,381,741 Sq.Kms

Population33,739,635 (2008 est.)

CapitalEl-Djazair (Algiers)

Main CitiesAlgiers, Wahran/Oran,

Constantine, Annaba Al-Boulaida,

Si di Bel-Abbes, Setif, Tizi Ousou.

Temperature/climateSummer: 27 to 32C

Coast temperature,13 to 24C

Winter:Temperature variations inland,dropping to

as little as 10C in the Sahara at night

LanguagesArabic (official)

French (commercial)

Berber (in rural areas)

Airports Algiers (920 Km from city centre)

Annaba (12 Km from city centre)

Constantine (9 Km from city centre)

Wahran 910 Km from city centre)

Tlemcen (20 Km form city centre)

No airport tax on departure

PortsAlgiers (principal), Annaba, Oran, Skikda,

Mostaganem, Bejaia

Business HoursGovernment offices and state Enterprises

08.00 to 17.00 Sat to Wed

0800 to 12.00 Thu

Banks09.00 to 16.00 Sat to Wed

08.00 to 12.00 Thu

Electricity220 volts (110 volts in some areas).

A continental adapter is necessary 127 volts or

3-phase 127/220/380 AC 50 cycles. Hotels

may have a mixture of 127 and 220 volts.

VisasVisas are required by all except nationals of

Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,

Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan,Syria, Tunisia,

Yemen, Andorra Denmark, Finland, Guinea,

Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Leichenstein, Mali, Monaco,

Norway, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland

Customs Regulations200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 400 gr of

tobacco and 1 bottle of wine are admitted free

of Duty

Currency regulationsAny amount of foreign currency may be taken

into Algeria but is prohibited to take any Algerian

currency into or out of the country. Proof of all

foreign exchange transactions must be presented

on departure.All foreign visitors must change a

minimum of AD 1000.

Currency1 Algerian dinar (AD) =100 Centimes


81Algeria 713669 713662 P.O.Box 26402,Manama

Bangladesh P.O.Box 26718,Manama 714717 710031

Belgium P.O.Box 5820,Manama 224631 229994

China P.O.Box 3150,Manama 723800 727304

Denmark P.O.Box 997,Manama 725119 826582

Egypt P.O.Box 818,Manama 720005 721518

France P.O.Box 11134,Manama 291734 293655

Germany P.O.Box 10306,Manama 530210 536282

Greece P.O.Box 5790,Manama 259211

India P.O.Box 26106,Adiliya 712785 715527

Iran P.O.Box 26365,Manama 722400 722101

Iraq P.O.Box 26477,Manama 786929 786220

Japan P.O.Box 23720,Manama 716565 715059

Jordan P.O.Box 5242,Manama 291109 291980

Korea Rep P.O.Box 11700,Manama 291629 291628

Kuwait P.O.Box 786,Manama 534040 536475

Lebanon P.O.Box 2102,Manama 786994 784998

Libya P.O.Box 26062,Adliya 714162

Morocco P.O.Box 26229,Manama 740566 740178

Netherlands P.O.Box 350,Manama 224320 212295

New Zealand P.O.Box 5881,Mnama 210284 210271

Norway P.O.Box 10580,Manama 531480 530158

Oman P.O.Box 26414,Manama 293663 293540

Pakistan P.O.Box 563,Manama 244113 255960

Palestine P.O.Box 1102 276099 276054

Philippines P.O.Box 26681,Manama 710200 710300

Portugal P.O.Box11030,Manama 531533 530445

Russia P.O.Box 26612,Manama 725222 725921

Saudi Arabia P.O.Box 1085,Manama 537722 533261

Sudan P.O.Box 5438,Manama 252546 252578

Sweden P.O.Box 412,Mnama 531085 530063

Switzerland P.O.Box 795,Manama 227811 224623

Tunisia P.O.Box 26911,Manama 714149 715702

Turkey P.O.Box 10821, Manama 533448 536557

UAE P.o.Box 26505, Manama 723737 727343

UK P.O.Box 114, Manama 534404 531273

USA P.O.Box 26431, Manama 273300 272594

Yemen P.O.Box 26193,Manama 277072 262358


KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

GENERAL INFORMATION Area716 Sq.Km

Population(2007 estimate) 1,046,819

CapitalManama

Main CitiesManama, Muharraq Town, Isa Town, Jidhafs,

Rifaa.

Temperature/climateSummer: 40 to 45 C,hot, humid.

Winter: Warm, dry, 10 C to 20 C.

LanguagesArabic (official), and English (commercial).

AirportMuharraq (505 Km from Manama)

Taxis, hotel reservations, duty free shop Airport

tax on depature BHD 3.

PortsMina Sulman

Business HoursGovernment Offices

07.30 to 14.30 Sat. to Wed.

Commercial Offices

07.30 to 12.30 and 15:30 to 19:30 Sat to

Thu.

Banks7.30 to 14.00 from Sunday to Wendesday.

Thrusdays bank are open from 7.30 to 13.00

but closed on Friday and Saturday.

Electricity220-240 volts, Single-phase AC and 400 volts,

three-phase AC.

VisasVisas required for all except GCC and UK

nationals.

Tourist visas available at Bahraini embassies or

on arrival at entry points-Bahrain Airport or the

King Fahd Causeway from Saudi Arabia.

Customs regulations200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 250g of loose

tobacco, 8 oz of perfume, 1 liter of wine and gifts

up to the value of BD 250.00

Currency regulationsThere are no restrictions on the amount of

currency bring in/take out of Bahrain.

Currency1 Bahraini dinar (BHD)=1.000 FILS

Qatari riyal and UAE dirham are exchangeable at

rate of DH 10 or QR 10=BHD 1.


82Afghanistan 4177236 417723059 El Ourouba St. HeliopolisAlgeria 3407671 341415814 Al-Brazil Street, P.O.Box 39, Zamalek Argentina 3401501 34143558 Al-Saleh Ayoub street,ZamalekAustralia 5750444 57816381191 Corniche El-Nile, BoulaqAustria 5702974 57029795 Wissa Wassef St.GizaBahrain 3407996 3416609 15 Brazil Street,Zamalek 3407996 3416609Bangladesh 3402642 341263147 Ahmed Heshmat Str.ZamalekBelgium 3547494 354314720 Kamel El-Shinnawi St.Garden City 1125Brazil 5756938 761040Corniche El-Nile MasperoBulgaria 3543110 35635486 El-Malek El-Afdal Street, ZamalekCanada 3543110 35635485 El-Saraya El-Kobra Square,Garden CityChina 3411219 340945922 Bahgat Ali Street,ZamalekCyprus 3411288 341529923 A Ismail Mohammad Street,ZamalekCzech Republic 3485469 36080894 Dokki St.,Giza

Denmark 3402505 341178012 Hassan Sabri Street,ZamalekFinland 3411487 34213763 Abdul Feda Sreet,ZamalekFrance 5703920 571027629 El-Giza Street, GizaGermany 3410015 34105308 Hassan Sabri Street,ZamalekGreece 3547200 356390318 Aisha El-Taimouria St.Garden CityHoly See 3402250 3406152Apostolic Nunciature 5 Mohammad Mazhar Street Hungary 3408634 340864829 Mohammad Mazhar Street, ZamalekIndia 3413051 34140385 Aziz Abaza Street,ZamalekIraq 3408087 34150759 Mohammad Mazhar St.,ZamalekItaly 3543194 354065715 Abdel Rahman Fahmi St. Garden CityJapan 3553963 35635402 Abdel Qader St.,Garden CityJordan 3485566 36010276 El Guhaini Street,Dokki,GizaKenya 3453628 3443400 7 El-Mohandis Galal St.MohandisinKuwait 3602661 360265712 Nabil Al-Wakad Street,Dokki

Lebanon 3610623 36104635 Ahmad Nesim Street,GizaLibya 3402487 7 El-Saleh Ayoub,ZamalekMauritania 3490671 348906014 Mohu El-din Abou El-Ezz St.,DokkiMexico 5716156 57830406 Ahmed Shawki Street,GizaMorocco 3409849 340093710 Salaheddine Street,ZamalekNetherlands 3401936 341524918 Hassan Sabri Street,ZamalekNorway 3413955 34207098 El-Gezira St.ZamalekOman 3031708 303646452 El-Hegaz Street, MohandiseenPakistan 3487504 34803108 Al-Salouli St. DokkiPortugal 3363950 336395257 El- Giza St.,GizaQatar 3604693 360361810 El-Themar St.,Dokki , GizaRomania 3410107 34101514 Aziz Abaza Street, ZamalekRussia 3489354 360907495 Giza St,GizaSaudi Arabia 3490797 34945902 Ahmad Nessim St.,

Singapore 3490468 348168240 Babel Street, DokkiSlovakia 34865504 Dokki St. DokkiSpain 3406397 354735944 Ismail Mohammed St.ZamalekSudan 3545658 35426933 El Ibrahimi Street, Garden CitySweden 3411484 340435713 Mohammad Mazhar St.ZamalekSwitzerland 3402250 574523610 Abed Al Khalek Sarwat St. Syria 3358320 335823218 Abdel Rahim Sabri St. DokkiThailand 3408356 34003402 Malik El-Afdal St.ZamalekTunisia 3408962 341247926 El-Gezira street,ZamalekTurkey 3563318 355811025 El-Falaki Street,Bab el-LouqUAE 3609722 57008444 Ibn Sina St.,Giza UK 3540850 35430657 Ahmed Ragheb St.,Garden CityUSA 3557371 35732005 Latin America Str.,Garden CityYemen 3614225 360481528 Amin El-Rifaii Street,Dokki


EGYPT

GENERAL INFORMATIONArea997.738 sq.Km

Population(2008 est.) 80 million

CapitalCairo

Main CitiesCairo,Alexandria,Ismalia,Port Said.

Temperature/climateSummer 22 to 35 C in Cairo,

Winter: 9 to 22 C in Cairo.

More temperature along Mediterranean coasts

“Khamsin” (hot,dry wind in Spring)

LanguagesArabic, ( official),English and French (

commercial).

AirportsCairo (22.5 Km from city centre).

Coaches/taxis,duty-free shop,airport tax on

departure.Alexandria (8 Km from city centre)

Local airports at Aswan, Hurghada, Luxor, Sharm

El –Seikh.

PortsAlexandria (principal), Port Said, Suez, Damietta,

Safaga.

Business HoursGovernment: 08.00 to 14.00 Sat.to Wed,08.00

to 13.00 Thu,10.00 to 12.00 Sun.

Businesses: Variable (some closed on Fri, others

on Sun.)

Banks09.00 TO 13.30 Mon.to Thu.,10.00 to 12.00

Sun.

Electricity220/240 volts 50 cycles AC in Maadi and

Heliopolis some 110 volts, 50 cycles AC.

VisasVisas are required by all foreign visitors except

most Arab nationals.

Customs regulationsCurrency,jewellery and other valuables must be

declared on entry.

Goods valued up to £E100 may be

exported.200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200

gms tobacco,1 litre wine or spirits.

Currency regulationsThe import or export of Egyptian currency is

prohibited.All receipts for the exchange of foreign

currency into Egyptian pounds should be kept to

be presented on departure.

Currency1 Egyptian pound(£E)=100 piastres=1.000

millimes.


83


IRAQ


Population29.58 million(2006 est.)

CapitalBaghdad

Main CitiesBaghdad, Basra, Mosul, Kirkuk

Temperature/climateSummer 24 to 42C in Baghdad,humid,hotter

and more humid in Basra

More temperature in north.Winter:4 to 16 C in

Baghdad.

LanguagesArabic (official and commercial).

AirportBaghdad (17 Km from City Centre)

Coaches/taxis,duty free shop-airport tax on

departure

PortsBasra (principal),Fao (oil)

Government Offices: Summer 08.00 to 14.00

Sat.to Wed & 08.00 to 13.00 Thu.

Winter: 08.30 to 14.30

Sat To Wed. and 08.30 to 13.30 Thu.

Shops and Firms: Summer 08.30 to 13.00

and 16.00 to 20.00 Sat.To Wed.& 08.30 to

13.00 Thu.

Winter:08.30 to 14.30 and 17.00 to 19.00 Sat

To Wed and 08.30 to 13.30 Thu.

BanksSummer 08.30 to 12.30 Sat to Wed. and

08.30 to 11.30 Thu.

Winter: 09.00 to 13.00 Sat To Wed. and 09.00

to 12.00 Thu.

Electricity220 volts,50 cycles AC.

VisasVisas are required for all visitors except nationals

of Egypt, Jordan, and Sudan.

Visa applications should be made well in advance

and supported by a written invitation from a

government organization.No admission granted

to visitors holding passports showing evidence of

travel to Israel.

Visitors must register for stays exceeding

14 days and exit visas are required for visits

exceeding 30 days.Apply to Directorate of

Residence,52nd street Baghdad, Tel:92377 Test

for HIV (The Aids Virus) is required.

Customs RegulationsCountry under UN embargo,The import of most

goods is prohibited.

Currency1 Iraqi dinar (ID)= 1.000 FILS

AfghanistanP.O.Box 674 5560562AlgeriaP.O.Box 444, Lane 35 5372181ArgentinaP.O.Box 2443,Lane 24 7768140AustraliaP.O.Box 661, Al Masbah 7193434AustriaP.O.Box 294,Lane 2 7199033BahrainP.O.Box 27117, Lane 7 5428945Bangladesh75/17/929 Hay Babe 7196367BelgiumHay Babel,Mahallat 929 7198297BrazilP.O.Box 2088, Lane 16 5411365Bulgaria 5568197Amireyah Embassies QuarterCanadaP.O.Box 323,Lane 1 5421459ChinaP.O.Box 225 5562741Czech RepublicMansour St., Lane 37 7767367 5430275Denmark

P.O.Box 2001, Alwiyah 7717052 7170635EgyptP.O.Box 6315,Lane 11 5430572FinlandP.O.Box 2041, Alwiyah 7766271 7760488FranceP.O.Box 118 7196061GermanyP.O.Box 2036, Lane 2 7192037 7180340Greece63/3/913Hay Al-Jamia AL-Jadiriya 7766572Holy SeeP.O.Box 2090,Lane 2 7195183 7196520HungaryP.O.Box 2065 7765000IndiaP.O.Box 4114, Adhaiyah 4222014 4229549IndonesiaSt. 2, Houre 77, P.O.Box 420 7198677 7198680ItalyP.O.Box 2043,Lane 73 7765058JapanP.O.Box 2369, Lane 17 7195157 7196186JordanKindi Quarter 1 sec.213 5412892

Korea Rep.915/222/8278, Hay al -Jamia 7765496Malaysia6/14/929 Hay Babel 7762622MauritaniaAl Mansour, Baghdad 5518261Mexico601/11/45 Al- Mansour 7198039MoroccoP.O.Box 6039,Lane 11 5421779NetherlandsP.O.Box 2064, Lane 35 7767616New ZealandP.O.Box 2350 7768176Norway20/3/609 Hay-Al Mansour 5410097OmanP.O.Box 6180, Lane 13 5518198PakistanAl-Mansour 14/7/609 5415120PalestineP.O.Box 3122 7183146PhilippinesP.O.Box 3236,Lane 3 7193228PolandP.O.Box 2051, Lane 13 7190297Portugal

P.O.Box 2123,Lane 25 7764953QatarP.O.Box 2445,Lane 46 5412186RomaniaP.O.Box 2571 7762860Russia4/5/605 Al-Moutanabi 5414749SomaliaP.O.Box 2078, Lane 1 5410088SpainP.O.Box 2072, Lane 1 7192852SudanP.O.Box 213, Lane 15 5424889SwedenP.O.Box 720, Lane 41 7195361SwitzerlandP.O.Box 2107, Lane 5 7193091ThailandP.O.Box 6062, Al-Mansour 5418795TunisiaP.O.Box 6057,Al Mansour 5517786TurkeyP.O.Box 14001,Waziriya 2220021 2228353UAEP.O.Box 6192, Lane 13 5417026YemenP.O.Box 13037,Lane 28 7760647


84Algeria 4641271 4616552 P.O.Box 1223,3rd Circle,Jabal Amman

Australia 5930246 4616552 Bet.4th & 5th Circles,Zahran St.

Austria Jabal Amman 4644635 4612725

Bahrain Jabal Amman 5664148 5664190

Belgium 5931859 5930487 Hawari Boumedienne St.,Near 4th Circle

Brazil Jabal Amman,3rd Circle 5925416 4612964

Bulgaria Amman 5529391 5539393

Canada 5666124 5689227 P.O.Box 815403,PC 11180

China P.O.Box 2023,PC 11181 5931530 5932607

Egypt Jabal Amman,3rd Circle 5605175 5604082

France P.O.Box 5348,Mutanabi St. 4641273 4659606

Germany Jabal Amman 5930351 5932887

Greece P.O.Box 35069 5672331 5696591

Holy See Amman 5929934 5694059

Hungary Amman 5925614 5930836

India P.O.Box 2168,1st Circle 4623175 4619172

Italy 4638185 4659730 5/7 Hafez Ibrahim St.,Jabal El Webdeh

Japan 5930486 5931006 Al-Aqsa Street,Jabal Amman

Kuwait Jabal Amman 5675135 5681971

Lebanon 2nd Circle, Amman 5929111 5929113

Libya Amman 5693102 5693404

Morocco Jabal Amman 5921771 5925185

Oman Jabal Amman 5686155 5680404

Pakistan Jabal Weibdeh 4624680 4611633

Philippines Amman 5518134 5518441

Qatar Jabal Amman 5607311 5607350

Romania 5667738 5684018 Jabal Amman, P.O.Box 2869

Russia 4641158 4647448 Jabal Amman

Saudi Arabia Jabal Amman, 5th Circle 5924154 5921154

Spain Jabal Amman 4614167 4614173

Sudan Jabal Amman 4644251 4644187

Sweden 5931177 5930179 12 Embassy St. Jabal Amman Jabal Amman 5931416 5930685

Syria Jabal Amman, 4th Circle 4641935 4651945

Tunisia Jabal Amman 5674307 5605790

Turkey P.O.Box 2062,PC 11181 4641251 4612353

UAE 5934780 5932666 Jabal Amman

UK 5923100 5923759 P.O.Box 87, Abdoun, Amman

USA 5920101 5920121 P.O.Box 354,PC 11181

Yemen Jabal Amman 4642381 4654717


JORDAN


Population(2000 est.) 5 million

CapitalAmman

Main CitiesAmman, Aqaba, Irbid, Zarka

Temperature/climateSummer 18 C to 22 C in Amman,Dry,

Winter 4C to 12 C in Amman,dry.

LanguagesArabic (official), English (commercial)

AirportAmman (32 Km from city centre. Taxi, duty free

shop,airport tax on departure.

PortAqaba

Business HoursGovernment Offices:

08.30 to 15.30 Sat to Thu

Ramadan: 09.30 to 13.30 Sat to Thu.

Commercial Offices:

Summer:08.00 to 13.30 and 15.30 to 19.30

Sat to Thu.

Winter: 08.30 to 13.30 and 15.00 to 18.30

Sat to Thu.

Banks08.30 to 15.30 Sat. to Thu.

Electricity220 volts,50 cycles AC.

VisasVisas required by all and can be obtained from

any Jordanian consulate.

Some visitors may acquire visas on arrival at

International airports.

Customs regulations200 cigarettes,25 cigars or 200 g tobacco,1

bottle of spirits.

Currency regulationsExport of currency equal to the amount declared

on entry is permitted.

Currency1 Jordanian dinar(JOD)=1.000 fils.


8585


KUWAIT


Population(2005 estimate) 2.7 million

CapitalKuwait City

Main CitiesKuwait City, Ahmadi, Hawali, Farwaniya, Al-Jahra

Temperature/climateSummer 40 to 45 C, dry, dust, storms.

Winter cool, some rainfall in November to

January.

LanguagesArabic (official), English (commercial).

AirportKuwait (16 Km or 30 mn from city center).

Taxis, duty-free shop, no airport tax.

PortsMina Abdulla (oil)

Mina Al Ahmadi (principally oil)

Shuwaikh (container,ro-ro, slipway) Shuaiba

Business HoursGovernment Offices:

Winter 07.30 to 13.00 Sat to Wed.,

07.30 to 11.30 Thu.

Summer 07.00 to 13.00 Sat.to Wed.

Ramadan 08.30 or 09.00 to 13.00 Sat to Thu.

Commercial Offices:

08.00 to 12.00 and 15.00 to 18.00 Sat.to

Wed.08.00 to 12.30 Thu.

Ramadan 08.00 to 14.00 Sat to Thu.

Banks

08.00 to 12.00 Sat.to Thu.

Ramadan 8.30 to 12.30 Sat to Thu.

Electricity240 Volts single-phase

50 cycles AC

VisasVisas or entry permits are required in advance by

all visitors except for nationals of the GCC states.

Transit visas are not required by passengers

continiuing their journey to a third country bt the

same aircraft,or by passengers transiting within

24 hours.However,passengers must have tickets

with reserved seats and valid documents for their

onward journey.With visas for a visit sponsored

by a kuwaiti resident a form in duplicate must

be validated by the Ministery of Interior.For a

visit without a sponsor, form in duplicate can

be obtained from a Kuwaiti consulate.Some

Nationals require a No Objection Certificate

issued by Minister of Interior.

Customs regulationsNo alcohol,500 cigarettes,2lb tobacco.

Currency regulationsThere are no restrictions on the import or export

of currency

Currency1Kuwaiti dinar(KD)=1.000 fils

Afghanistan 2433075 5326274 P.O.Box 22944 Safat,13015Algeria 2427185 2519497 P.O.Box 578,SafatAustria 2467421 2449993 P.O.Box 44180,Hawali 32056Bahrain 5318530 5330882 P.O.Box 196,Safat 13002Bangladesh 2542688 5722018 P.O.Box 22344,Safat 13084Belgium 2561029 2562153 P.O.Box 3280,SafatBrazil 2561029 2562153 P.O.Box 39761,SafatBulgaria 5314458 5321453 P.O.Box 12090,Kuwait CityCanada 2563025 2560173 P.O.Box 25281,Safat 13113China 5330165 5333341 P.O.Box 2346,Safat 13024Cuba 5382024 2402971 P.O.Box 23685,Safat 13124Czech Republic 2529015 2529021 P.O.Box 1151,SafatEgypt 2519955 2563877 P.O.Box 11252,Safat

Finland 5312890 5324198 P.O.Box 26699,SafatFrance 5319850 2571058 P.O.Box 1037,Safat 13011Gabon 4830975 P.O.Box 1230,Hawali 32013Germany 4817055 2520763 P.O.Box 5930,Safat 13060Hungary 5312600 5313782 P.O.Box 5671,Safat 13057India 2530600 2525811 P.O.Box 1450,Safat 13015Indonesia 2514588 4819250 P.O.Box 21560, Safat 13076Iran 2560694 2529868 P.O.Box 4686,SafatItaly 2445120 2445124 P.O.Box 4453,Safat 13045Japan 2518155 5326168 P.O.Box 2304,Safat 13024Jordan 2533500 2570894 P.O.Box 5242,Safat 13053Korea Rep. 4814004 2526874 P.O.Box 20771,Safat 13068

Lebanon 2562103 2571682 P.O.Box 253,SafatLibya 3529172 2575182 P.O.Box 21460,Safat 13075Morocco 4813700 5317423 P.O.Box 784,Safat 13008Netherlands 5312650 5326334 P.O.Box 21822,SafatNiger 5316802 5652943 P.O.Box 44451, Hawali 32059Nigeria 5320794 5320834 P.O.Box 6432,Hawali 32039Oman 2561962 2961963P.O.Box 21975,Safat 13080Pakistan 5327649 5327648 P.O.Box 988,Safat 1310Philippines 5329315 5329319 P.O.Box 26288,Safat 13123Poland 2510355 2534760 P.O.Box 5066,Safat 13051Qatar 2513599 2563428 P.O.Box 1825,Safat 13019Romania 4843419 4848929 P.O.Box 11149, Dasmah 35152Russia 5646277 5659044 P.O.Box 1765,Safat 13018

Saudi Arabia 2400250 2420654 P.O.Box 20498,Safat 13065Spain 5325827 5325826 P.O.Box 22207,Safat 13083Sweden 2523588 2564224 P.O.Box 21448,SafatSwitzerland 2551872 5340176 P.O.Box 23954, Safat 13100Syria 2531164 5396509 P.O.Box 25600,Safat 13112Thailand 5317530 5317532 P.O.Box 66647,Bayan 43757Tunisia 2522416 2528995 P.O.Box 5976,SafatTurkey 2531785 2560653P.O.Box 20627,Safat 13067UAE 2518569 2526382P.O.Box 1828,Safat 13019UK 2403335 2426799 P.O.Box 2,Safat 13001USA 2424151 2407368 P.O.Box 77,Safat 13001Yugoslavia 4818872 5327568P.O.Box 20511,Safat 13066


86Algeria P.O.Box 4794,Jnah 01/826711 826712Argentina 01/987900 987903 P.O.Box 11-5245,Starco AreaArmenia Rabieh 04/418860Australia 01/374701 374709 Bliss Street,Ras BeirutAustria 01/217412 217772 Tabaris ,Ashrafieh Bahrain 03/611936 367952 Bliss Street,Itani BldgBelgium 05/920551 923987 Hebu Building,Baabda BeirutBrazil 05/921138 923001 P.O.Box 166175,Rue Des Antonins,BaabdaBulgaria 01/861352 RaouchehCanada 0211/6116851 611803 Sheraton Hotel,DamascusJal el 04/713900 710595 Dib HighwayChile 04/418670 418672 Naccache

China 01/850315 822492 Ramlet Al-Baida

Denmark 01/364264 372970 Ain Mreiseh

Egypt 01/867917 863751 Ramlet El-Baida

France 01/420000 420013 Hazmieh,Beirut

Germany 04/914444 914450 P.O.Box 2820,Rabieh

Greece 04/521700 418774 P.O.Box 309,Naccache

Hungary 01/898857 Fanar

India 01/372811 373538 P.O.Box 113-5240,Kantari St.

Iran 01/821230 821224 Bir Hassan Italy 01/985200 985305Centre Ville,Beirut Japan 01/989751 989754 P.O.Box 3360,Baabda

Jordan 05/922500 922502 Baabda

Kuwait 01/822515 842220 Bir Hassan,JnahLibya 01/806314 805349 Verdun,BeirutMexico 04/418870 New Naccache Morocco 01/862966 865194 Ain-el-TinehPakistan 01/863041 864583 Shell Bldg,RaouchehPhilippines 01/791093 791095 Raoucheh,BeirutPoland 05/468152 746620 BaabdaQatar 01/865271 810460 P.O.Box 6717,ChouranRomania 05/924484 924747 BaabdaRussia 01/300042 303837 Mar Elias,BeirutSaudi Arabia 01/860351 861524 Koreitem, BeirutSpain 05/464120 464030 Palace Chehab, Hadath Antounieh

Sudan 01/353270 Mme Curie St.

Sweden 01/339505 339394 Achrafieh

Switzerland 01/324129 324167 Ave.Fouad Chehab, Achrafieh

Tunisia 05/457431 950434 Hazmieh,Mar Takla

Turkey 04/412080 407557 Rabieh,Area 2,Str.3

UAE 01/857000 857009 Wafic Tabbara Bldg,Jnah

UK 01/990400 990420 Zkak El-Blat

USA 04/542600 544136 Aoukar,Beirut

Venezuela 01/888701 403670 Zalka,P.O.Box 603

Yemen 01/852682 821610 Bir Hassan,P.O.Box 114-5097

Yugoslavia 01/739633 739638

P.O.Box 742, Sanayeh


LEBANON



CapitalBeirut

Main CitiesBeirut, Tripoli, Jounieh, Zahle, Sidon, Tyre

Temperature/ClimateSummer 23 C to 32 C in Beirut, humid.

Winter 11 C to 17 C in Beirut,moist, rainfall,

especially in January.

Highlands are cooler, with winter snowfalls.

LanguagesArabic (official), French and English (commercial)

AirportBeirut ( 16 Km from city centre) Coaches/

taxis,duty-free shop-airport tax on departure.

PortsBeirut (principal), Tripoli (main port for North),

Jounieh, Sidon (main port for South)

Business HoursGovernment offices

08.00 to 14.00 Monday to Thursday.

08.00 to 11.00 Friday, 08 to 13 Saturday.

Commercial offices08.30 to 18.00 Mon.to Fri.

Banks08.30 to 12.30 Monday to Friday.

08.30 to 12.00 Saturday.

Electricity110 Volts,50 cycles AC and 220 volts,50

cycles AC.


of Syria.Telex/Fax invitation required from

sponsor to be sent to Embassy.

Westerners wishing to visit Lebanon can get

instant visas at Beirut airport ,seaport or at

Lebanese border checkpoints.

Customs regulationsVisitors should check with airport duty-free shops

on current regulations.

Currency regulationsNo Restrictions.

Currency1500 Lebanese pound(£Leb)= 1 US dollars.


87


LIBYA

GENERAL INFORMATIONArea1,757,000 sq.Km

Population(2003 estimate)5.5 million

CapitalTripoli

Main CitiesTripoli,Benghazi,Misurata,Surt,Sabha

Temperature/Climate

In Tripoli:Summer:22 to 38 C,dry.

Winter:8 to 20C,most rainfall in January.

LanguagesArabic(official),English and Italian(commercial)

AirportsTripoli(25 Km from City Centre)

Benghazi(main port for East)

Business HoursGovernment offices

Winter:(1 Nov.to 31 March)

08.00 to 15.00 Sat.to Thu.

Summer:07.00 to 14.00

Sat.To Thu.

Commercial offices

07.30 to 14.30 Sat.To Thu

16.00 to 17.30 Sat.To Wed.

Banks

Winter:08.00 to 13.00 Sat. to Thu.

Summer:08.00 to 12.30

Sat.to Thu.and 16.00 to 19.00 Sat.to Wed.

Electricity220 volts 50 cycles AC.


of all Arab countries.Passport may need Arabic

Translation.Invitation from Libyan company

required.

Customs regulationsNo alcohol.200 cigarettes,250 grams

tobacco,0.25 litre perfume.

Currency regulationsA maximum of 20 Libyan dinar on entry and

departure.No restrictions on other currencies

though the amount taken out must not exceed

that taken in.

Currency1 Lybian dinar(LD) =1.000 dirhams.

Afghanistan 4775192Sharia Al-Aftas 4771183,4775192AlgeriaSharia El-Kairouan 4440052 4447042ArgentinaSharia Ibn Mufarrej 4770588 TX20190Austria 4443393,444Dahra 4440838BangladeshHadbe El-Khadra 903807 900856 901866 TX20970BelgiumTower No.4,5th Floor 3333660 3333771 75618Benin, Quartier Gout-Shaal 830990 Tx 20357Bosnia, Ben Ashour 602406 602162Brazil, S.Ben Ashour 607969,608 3614895BulgariaS.Benin Ashour 609690/4444Burkina Faso, Gergaresh 4771221 4772626ChadDahra 4443955 TX20341China, Andalous 4775131 4775689China-Taiwan 4775052/478Gergaresh 4774980

CubaAndalous 4771346 4776294Cyprus 609547Ben Ashour 609728/6015 Czech Rep.Ben Ashour 361543/37 600839Denmark, Andalous 606848 TX20978Egypt 4444945Sharia-El-Shatt 4448909 4449262Finland, Ghot Eshaal 830559 830559France 4778267Andalous 4773807 4778266Germany 4448552S.Hassan El-Mashai 4448333 4448968GhanaAl-Suwae Khetumi 4444256 TX20879India 4447899S.Mahloud Shaltut 4441835 3337560 Iraq, Gourgi 4770487 4770780Iran 606871El-Jamahiriya 6069 602687Italia 3333447 3331673S.Uahran 3334131/2/3JapanTower No.4 Hall 13/14 607462/3 607462Korea 8331 833503

Gergaresh 833484/Kuwait 444 607053Ben Ashour 4440282/Lebanon 3333733/Ben Ashour 334 TX20609Malaysia 833693/Andalous 8337 833692Mali 33313304/Rue Dahanal 44 3331304Malta 3338081/Rue Dahanal 334 4448401MauritaniaS.Eysa Wokwak 4443223/444Morocco, April Str. 611101Nicaragua, S.Al Nassr 3330800 TX20346PakistanManshia Ben Ashour 608269 333600411Palestine, TripoliPhilippines, TripoliPoland 607619/Ben Ashour 6076 TX20049Ruanda 4772864/Andalous 4772865 4770317Romania 607904/Ben Ashour 6079 TX20482Saudi Arabia, Tripoli 3330485/333

Slovak Rep 3332568/Jallal Bayar St. 3332805 3332568Somalia 4773124/Gurji 477 TX 2205SudanGergaresh 4772728 4774781Syria 3337955/Mohamed Rashed St. 333 TX20218Switzerland 607365/Ben Ashour 607366 607487TogoKhalid Ibn Al Waleed 4449565 3332423Tunisia 33.310.613.Tripoli 331.052 TX20217UAE 4773146/Gergaresh 47 TX20189UgandaBen Ashour 4448006 TX20219UNDP 3330852/Turkiya Street 3/4/5/7 3330856UNICEFAdr.UNDPUNICAndalous 4770251 TX20733Venezuela 3600407/Ben Ashour 36 3600408Vietnam 833704/Gergaresh 8307 830994


88Algeria 765474 762237 46 Boulevard Tarek Ibn Ziad

Argentina 755120 755410 12 Mekki Bitaouri str.,Souissi

Austria 2 Tiddas,Rabat 764003 765425

Belgium 6 Marrakesh Ave., Rabat 764746 767003

Brazil Cadi Benjalloun St.,Rabat 755291 755291

Bulgaria 4 Ave.de Meknes 765477 763201

Canada 13 Bisr Jaffar Assadik 672880 672187

China 16 Ahmad Balagies Ave 754056 757519

Czech Republic Ate.Zaers,Km 4,Souissi 755421 755420

Denmark 769293 769709 P.O.Box 203, 4 Khemisset St.

Egypt 31 Alger Avenue 731833 706821

Finland 16 Khemisset Street,Rabat 762312 463925

France 3 Sahnoun Street,Rabat 689700 689750

Germany 7 Maduine St. 709662 706851

Greece Rte. Zaers,Souissi 638975 702270

Holy See P.O.Box 1303, Souissi 772277 756213

Hungary 21 Bisoulad Jerrar,Soussi 750757 754123

India 10 Michlifen Street,Agdal 671339 671269

Indonesia 757861 757859 122 Ambassador Quarter Rte.Zaers

Iran 659121 659118 Route des Zaers,Bin Kasem Quarter

Iraq 754466 754572 2 Oukaimdem St.Agdal

Italy 2 Idriss Al Azhar St. 706598 706882

Japan 631782 750078

39 Ahmed Balafrej Ave., Souissi

Jordan Villa Al-Wafae, Soussi 751125 758722

Korea Rep 41 Mehdi Benbaraka Blvd 751767 750189

Kuwait 751775 753591 300 Iman Malik Street, Km 4

Lebanon 19 Fes Avenue, Rabat 760728 766667

Libya 1 Chouaib Doukkali Street 707400 705200

Oman 673788 674567 21 Hamza Street, Agdal, Rabat

Pakistan 11 Azrou Street, Rabat 661611 766742

Portugal 5 Thami Lamdouar Street 756446 756445

Qatar 4 Tarik Ibn Ziad Blvd. 765681

Russia Km 4, Route des Zaers 753509 753590

Saudi Arabia 730171 43 Place de L’unite Africaine

Spain 3 El Fath St. 268000 707387

Sudan 5 Ghomara Ave, Souissi 752863 752865

Sweden P.O.Box 428 759303 758048

Switzerland P.O.Box 169,Berkame Sq. 706974 705749

Syria 757521 757522 5 Rte., Zaers, Km 1, Souissi

Tunisia 6 Fez Avenue 730636

Turkey 7 Fez Avenue 762605 704980

UAE 11 Alaouines Avenue 707070 742145

UK 17 Tour Hassan Boulevard 720905 704531

USA 2 Marrakech Street 762265 765661

Yemen 674363 674769 11 Abou-Hanifa Street, Agdal


MOROCCO

Area710,850 sq.Km

Population33.757 million(2007 estimate)

CapitalRabat

Main CitiesRabat, Casablanca, Fez,Marrakech, Meknes,

Tangier,Agadir

Temperature/ClimateSummer 35 to 45 C in the interior,dry

18 to 28 C along the Mediterrenean,dry.

Winter wide daily variation in the interior,dry,8 C

to 17 C in the North,

With frequent frosts,rainfall in December.

LanguagesArabic, French (commercial), Berber

AirportsTangier (15 Km from City Centre)

Rabat (10 Km from City Centre) Casablanca (30

Km from Town Centre)

Agadir (20 Km from Town Centre)

PortsCasablanca (main sea port)

Tangier (sea port for the North)

Business HoursGovernment

Winter 08.030 to 12.00,14.30 to 18.00 Mon

to Fri 08.00 to 13.00 Sat.

Summer 09.00 to 14.00 Mon to Fri. 08.00 to

12.030 Sat.

Ramadan 09.00 to 14.00 Mon to Sat.

Businesses

08.00 to 12.30 and 16.00 to 19.00

Banks

Winter 08.15 to 11.30 and 14.15 to 16.30

Mon to Fri.

Summer 09.00 to 15.00 Mon to Fri

Electricity110V.,127V or 220V/50 cycles AC in Rabbat,

Casablanca and Tangier.

115/50 cycles AC in Marrakech,110V/50

cycles AC in Fez.

VisasVisas required except by nationals of Andorra,

Argentine, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium,

Brazil, Canada, Chile, Congo, Côte D’ivoire,

Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,

Guinea, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan,

Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico,

Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway,

Niger, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Porto Rico,

Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,

Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia,

Turkey, UAE, UK, US, Venezuela.

Customs Regulations400 grammes of Tobacco, 200 cigarettes or 50

cigars are admitted free of duty.1 litre of wine

or spirits.

Currency regulationsNo Moroccan currency may be imported or

exported.

Currency1 Moroccan Dirham (MD or DH)=100 centimes


89


OMAN



CapitalMuscat

Main CitiesMuscat-Muttrah-Ruwi-Seeb,Salalah

Temperature/Climate

Summer: 35 C - 47 C, Very humid

Winter: 20.7 C men minimum


AirportsSeeb (40 Km from City Centre).

Taxis,airport tax on departure,duty-free shop.

Salalah (domestic)

PortsMina Qaboos, Muscat (principal), Mina Raysut,

Salalah (main port for Dhofar)


Winter:7.30 to 14.30 Sat.To Thu.

Summer:7.30 to 14.30 Sat Top Wed.

Businesses

08.00 to 13.00 and 16.00 to 19.00

Sat.to Wed. 08.00 to 11.30 Thu.

Banks

08.00 to 12.00 Sat.to Wed.08.00 to 11.30

Thu.

Electricity220/240 volts 50 cycles AC


of the GCC.

Customs regulationsNo alcohol.No Limit for Tobacco products.

Currency regulationsNo restrictions on the amount of currency taken

into or out of Oman.

Currency1 Omani Riyal(RO)=1,000 Baizas

Algeria 601698 694419 P.O.Box 216, Madinat Sultan Qabous

Austria P.O.Box 2070, Ruwi 112 793135 793669

Bahrain P.O.Box 66, P.C., 115 605912 605072

Bangladesh P.O.Box 3959, Ruwi 112 707462

Canada P.O.Box 1275,Ruwi 112

China P.O.Box 315, Muscat 112 696782 602322

Egypt P.O.Box 2252,Ruwi 112 600411 603626

Finland P.O.Box 84, Muscat 113 702133 703826

France P.O.Box 208, Muscat 115 604222 604300

Germany P.O.Box 128, Ruwi 112 702482 705690

India P.O.Box 1727, Ruwi 112 702960 797547

Iran P.O.Box 3155, Ruwi 112 696944 696888

Iraq P.O.Box 1848, Ruwi 112 604178 605112

Italy P.O.Box 3727, Muscat 112 560968

Japan P.O.Box 3511, Ruwi 112 601028 698720

Jordan P.O.Box 2281, Ruwi 112 786350 619495

Korea Rep. 691490 P.O.Box 2220, Madinat Sultan Qabous 115

Kuwait P.O.Box 1798, Ruwi 112 699626 600972

Lebanon P.O.Box 67, Ruwi 118 595844 695633

Morocco P.O.Box 3125, Ruwi 112 696152 601114

Netherland P.O.Box 3302, Rruwi 112 705410 799020

Norway P.O.Box 89, Ruwi 112 703289 793892

Pakistan P.O.Box 1302, Ruwi 112 603343

Qatar P.O.Box 802, Muscat 113 701802 794588

Russia P.O.Box 80, Muscat 112 602893 604189

Saudi Arabia P.O.Box 1411, Ruwi 112 601744 603540

Sudan P.O.Box 3971, Ruwi 112 697875 699065

Syria 697904 603895 P.O.Box 85, Madinat Sultan Qabous 115

Tunisia 603486 697778 P.O.Box 220, Madinat Sultan Qabous 115

Turkey P.O.Box 417, Muttrah,115 697050 697053

UAE P.O.Box 551, Seeb 115 600302 604182

UK P.O.Box 300, Muscat 113 693077 693087

USA P.O.Box 202, Muscat 698989 699189

Yemen 600815 605008 P.O.Box 105, Madinat Sultan Qabous 115


90Algeria P.O.Box 2494 4831186 4836452

Bahrain 4839360 4831018 Bangladesh P.O.Box 2080 4671927 4671190

Brunei 4884202 4873959 China P.O.Box 17200 4884202 4873959

Egypt P.O.Box 2899 4832555 4832196

France P.O.Box 2669 4832283 4832254

Germany P.O.Box 3064 4876959 4876949

India P.O.Box 2788 4672025 4670448

Iran P.O.Box 1633 4835300 4831665

Iraq P.O.Box 1526 4672237 4673347

Italy P.O.Box 4188 4667842 4664644

Japan P.O.Box 2208 4831224 4832178

Jordan P.O.Box 2366 4832202 4832173

Korea Republic P.O.Box 3727 4832238 4838264

Kuwait P.O.Box 1177 4832111 4832042

Lebanon P.O.Box 2411 4477773 4478817

Libya P.O.Box 547 4667546 4660548

Mauritania P.O.Box 3132 4836003 4836015

Morocco P.O.Box 3242 4831885 4833416

Oman P.O.Box 3766 4670744 4670747

Pakistan P.O.Box 334 4832525 4832227

Russia P.O.Box 1540 4329117 4329118

Saudi Arabia P.O.Box 1255 4832030 4832720

Sudan P.O.Box 2999 4423007 4329118

Syria P.O.Box 1257 4832409 4832139

Tunisia P.O.Box 2707 4832645 4832649

Turkey P.O.Box 1977 4835204 4835206

UAE P.O.Box 3099 4885111

UK P.O.Box 3 4421991 4438692

USA P.O.Box 2399 4884101 4884298

Yemen P.O.Box 3318 4432555 4429400


QATAR

Area11.437 sq.Km

Population(2004 estimate) 792,883

CapitalDoha

Main CitiesDoha, Rayan, Umm Said,

Al-Khor, Al-Wakrah, Ras Laffan

Temperature/ClimateSummer 36 to 40 C, in Doha very humid

especially mornings

Winter 13 to 23 C in Doha, very humid, wide

diurnal range

LanguagesArabic (official), English ( commercial).

AirportDoha (8 Km from city centre). Taxis, No

Duty- Free shop, no airport tax.

PortsRas Laffan (Gaz and ind.)

Doha, Umm Said (oil and petrochemicals)


07.30 to 13.00 Sat To Thu.

Businesses

07.30 to 12.00 and 15.30 to 18.00 Sat to

Thu.

Banks

07.30 to 11.30 Sat to Wed.

07.30 to 11.00 Thu.

Electricity220/240 Volts 50 cycles AC.


of Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.

No objection certificate required from Qatari

Minsitery of Foreign Affairs. Other businessmen, if

their visit is sponsored by a reputable Qatari, may

obtain a 72- hour visa at Doha Airport.

Customs regulationsAlcohol is prohibited.No limit for Tobacco

products.

Currency RegulationsNone

Currency1 Qatari Riyal (QR)= 100 dirhams


91


KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

GENERAL INFORMATIONArea2.240.000 sq.Km (approx)

Population(2006 est.) 23.6 million

CapitalRiyadh

Main CitiesRiyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran, Dammam, Al-Khobar,

Qatif, Makkah, Medina, Abha, Khamis Mushayat,

Taif

Temperature/ClimateSummer 38 to 45 C in Riyadh dry diurnal range

up to 20 C.

35 to 42 C in Jeddha, very humid.35 to 45 C in

Dammam, very humid.

Winter 8 to 30 C in Riyadh, night frosts rain in

March.19 to 33 C in Jedah,humid 15 to 30 C

in Dammam, very humid


Airports

Dammam (28 Km from City Centre)

Jeddah (24 Km from City Centre)

Medina (12 Km from City Centre)

Riyadh (35 Km from City Centre)

Taxis-no duty-free shops except at Jeddah-No

airport taxes.

PortsJeddah(main port for Western province and the

Kingdom’s principal port)

King Abdel-Aziz, Dammam (main port for Eastern

province)

Jubail(industrial port for Eastern province)

Yanbu(industrial port for Western province)


07.30 to 14.30 Sat to Wed.

Ramadan 09.30 tom 14.30

Businesses

Variable from business to business

But generally,07.30 to 13.00 and 14.30 to

20.00 Sat to Thu.

Banks

08.00 to 12.00 and 16.30 to 18.30 Sat to

Wed.08.30to 12.00 Thu.

Ramadan 10.00 to 13.30

Electricity220 Volts and 110 Volts,60 cycles AC.

VisasVisas are required for all visitors except GCC

nationals.

Applications have to be applies for by sponsor

in Saudi Arabia

To the Ministery of Foreign Affairs who will inform

Saudi Embassy

On approval.Assistance from trade associations

and chambers of commerce is advised.

Marriage certificate for travelers accompanied by

spouse required.

Customs regulationsNo alcohol,600 cigarettes,100 cigars or 500g

tobacco.

Currency regulationsNo restrictions

Currency1 Saudi Riyal(SR)=100 halala

Algeria 4887171 4887616P.O.Box 94388, Riyadh 11693Argentina 4652600 4653057P.O.Box 94369, Riyadh 11693Australia 4887788 4887973 P.O.Box 94400, Riyadh 11693Austria 4801217 4801526P.O.Box 94373, Riyadh 11693Bahrain 4880044 4880208P.O.Box 94371, Riyadh 11693Bangladesh 4195300 4193555 P.O.Box 94395, Riyadh 11693Belgium 4882888 4882033P.O.Box 94396, Riyadh 11693Brazil 4880018 4881075P.O.Box 94348, Riyadh 11693Canada 4882288 4880137P.O.Box 94321, Riyadh 11693Denmark 4880101 4881366 P.O.Box 94398, Riyadh 11693Egypt 4658425 4652800P.O.Box 94333, Riyadh 11693Eritrea 4801726 4827537P.O.Box 94002, Riyadh 11693

France 4881255 4882882P.O.Box 94367, Riyadh 11693Germany 4880700 4880660P.O.Box 9941, Riyadh 11693Greece 801974 4801969P.O.Box 94375, Riyadh 11693India 4884144 4884750P.O.Box 94387, Riyadh 11693Iran 4881916 4888890P.O.Box 943394, Riyadh 11693Ireland 4882300 4880927P.O.Box 94349, Riyadh 11693Italy 4881212 4886590P.O.Box 94389, Riyadh 11693Japan 4881100 4880189P.O.Box 4095, Riyadh 11491Jordan 4880039 4880072P.O.Box 7455, Riyadh 11693Kenya 4882484 4882629P.O.Box 94358, Riyadh 11693 Korea(Rep of) 4882211 4881317P.O.Box 94399, Riyadh 11693Kuwait 4883500 488368P.O.Box 2166, Riyadh 11451

Lebanon 4197000 4192767P.O.Box 94350, Riyadh 11693 Libya 4544511 4567513P.O.Box 94365, Riyadh 11693Mexico 4828218 4828379P.O.Box 94391, Riyadh 11693Morocco 4826382 4827016P.O.Box 94392, Riyadh 11693Norway 4881904 4880854P.O.Box 94380, Riyadh 11693Oman 4823120 4823738P.O.Box 94381, Riyadh 11693Pakistan 4887272 4887953P.O.Box 6891, Riyadh 11452 Philippines 4880835 4883945P.O.Box 94315, Riyadh 11693Portugal 4644688 4044419P.O.Box 94328, Riyadh 11693Qatar 4825544 4825694P.O.Box 94353, Riyadh 11461Singapore 4657007 4652224P.O.Box 94378, Riyadh 11693Spain 4880606 4880400 P.O.Box 94347, Riyadh 11693

Sudan 4887728 4887729P.O.Box 94337, Riyadh 11693Sweden 4883100 4880604P.O.Box 94382, Riyadh 11693Switzerland 4881291 4880632P.O.Box 9265, Riyadh 11413Syria 4887481 4826196P.O.Box 94323, Riyadh 11693Thailand 4880300 4881179P.O.Box 94359, Riyadh 11693Tunisia 4887900 4887641P.O.Box 94368, Riyadh 11693Turkey 4887721 4887823P.O.Box 94390, Riyadh 11693UAE 4826803 4827504P.O.Box 94385, Riyadh 11693UK 4880077 4882373P.O.Box 94351, Riyadh 11693USA 4883800 4883278P.O.Box 94309, Riyadh 11693Yemen 4826764 4881757P.O.Box 94356, Riyadh 11693


92Algeria P.O.Box 80 451084

Austria P.O.Box 1860 77170

Belgium 489229 4899230 P.O.Box 969,St.33,House 15

China P.O.Box 1425 272730 271138

Czech Republic P.O.Box 1047 43448

Denmark P.O.Box 2758 80489

Egypt P.O.Box 1126 72836

France 471082 465928 P.O.Box 377, St.3, Plot 29

Germany P.O.Box 970 77990

Holy See P.O.Box 623 74692

India 451031 452266 P.O.Box 707, 61 Africa Rd.

Iran 81490 78668 House No.8, square 2, Mogran

Iraq Burri, Garden City 271863

Italy 451614 451217 P.O.Box St.39 Khartoum 2

Japan 75875 77668 P.O.Box 1649, St.43, House 67

Jordan 25 Sreet Number 7 451164 451038

Kenya P.O.Box 8242 440386 452264

Korea(Rep of) P.O.Box 322 451136

Kuwait P.O.Box 1457 81525 81142

Lebanon P.O.Box 1407 45008

Libya P.O.Box 2091 2235358

Morocco P.O.Box 2042 451603 451053

Netherlands St.47 House 76 471012 471204

Oman P.O.Box 2839 451605 451027

Pakistan P.O.Box 1178 222000

Qatar P.O.Box 223 451620 451036

Romania

P.O.Box 1494 338114 761113

Russia P.O.Box 1161 451042

Saudi Arabia P.O.Box 258 452583 451069

Spain P.O.Box 2621 45072

Sweden (Consulate)P.O.Box 2206 71913

Switzerland P.O.Box 1707 451010 452804

Syria P.O.Box 1139 451152 451066

Tunisia P.O.Box 3533 75906

Turkey St.2, House 31 471197 472542

UAE P.O.Box 1225 451100

UK P.O.Box 801 777105 776457

USA P.O.Box 699 74700

Yemen P.O.Box 1010 451623 451020

Yugoslavia P.O.Box 1180 41252


SUDAN

GENERAL INFORMATIONArea2,505,813 sq.Km


CapitalKhartoum

Main CitiesKhartoum, Oumdurman, Khartoum North, Port

Sudan, Wadi Medani

Temperature/ClimateSummer : 26 to 45 C, in

Khartoum,sandstorms,humid,

Rain in August and September,hotter and more

humid in South.

Winter : 15 to 32 C in Khartoum, dry, wide

diurnal range, Chilly nights.


AirportKhartoum (4Km from city centre).

Coaches/taxis, Duty-free shops,airport tax on

departure.

PortPort Sudan


Khartoum :08.00 to 14.00 Sat to Thu.

Other centres :08.30 to 14.00(with Breakfast

interval)

Sat to Thu.

Businesses

08.30 to 13.30 and 17.00 to 20.00 Sat.to Thu

Banks

08.30 to 12.00 Sat to Thu.

Electricity240 volts,single phase AC

VisasVisas are reqiured for all visitors

Customs Regulations200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 1 lb tobacco

Currency RegulationsImport or export of Sudanese currency is illegal

Currency1 Sudanese Dinar(SD)=100 piastres=1,000

millimes


93


SYRIA

GENERAL INFORMATIONArea185,180 sq.Km


CapitalDamascus

Main CitiesDamascus, Aleppo, Homs, Latakia, Hama

Temperature/ClimateSummer : 30 to 42 C, in Damascus, occasionally

humid.

Winter : 0 to 20 C in Damascus, occasional

snowfalls

LanguagesArabic (official), French (widely understood in

business and government) English (Sometimes

used in Business)

AirportDamascus (32 Km from citycentre).

Coaches/taxis, duty-free shop, airport tax on

departure.

PortsLatakia (principal), Tartous, Banias (oil).


08.00 to 14.00 Sat to Thu.

Ramadan :08.00 to 13.oo

Businesses

Winter :09.00 to 14.00 and 16.00 to 19.00

Sat to Thu,

Summer (May to October) :08.30 to 13.30 and

17.00 to 20.00 Sat to Thu.

Banks

08.00 to 14.00 Sat to Thu.

Electricity220 volts

50 cycles AC in Damascus.

115/220 volts in Aleppo


Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan,

Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco,

Oman, PLO Gvt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia,

Sudan, Tinisia, United Arab Emirates And Yemen.

Appilications should be accompanied by

supporting letter from employers.Transit(for Visits up to 3 days), entry (for visits up to 2

weeks)and visit(for re-entry from neighbouring

countries) visas are available.

Customs Regulations200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 250 grams of

tobacco and 1 bottle of wine and one bottle

of spirits.

Currency regulationsUp to £Syr 100 in local currency may be

brought into or out of the country.Currency

declarations are necessary for more than

US$5000 in local or foreign curency.Visitors

are advised to keep adequate amounts of Bank

notes on hand since it is sometimes difficult to

cash travelers checques

Currency 1Syrian pound (£Syr)=100 piaster or qirsh.

Algeria Rawdah Street, Nass Bldg

Argentina P.O.Box 116 3334167 332732

Armenia 3732992 3711757 Malekie-Ibrahim Hanano St.

Austria P.O.Box 5634 3327691 3329232

Belgium 76 Ata Ayoubi Street 3338098 330426

Brazil P.O.Box 2219

Canada P.O.Box 3384 6116851 6114000

Cyprus P.O.Box 9269 6130812 6130814

Denmark P.O.Box 2244 3331008 3337928

France 3327992 P.O.Box 769, Ata Al Ayoubi St.

Germany P.O.Box 2237 3323800 332812

Greece P.O.Box 30319, Mezzeh 2233009 2233035

Holy See 3337966 3327550 P.O.Box 2271, 82 Masr Street

Hungary 3337966 6667917 P.O.Box 2271, 102 al Fursani St.

India P.O.Box 685 3719580 3713294

Indonesia 17 Assalam St., Bldg 10 6119630 6119632

Iran P.O.Box 2691 6117675 6110997

Italy 82 Al Mansour Ave 3332621 3320325

Japan Al Mindi Bin Baraka St. 3339181 3339920

Jordan Abu Roummaneh Street 3334642

Kuwait Ibrahim Hanano Street

Netherland P.O.Box 702 3336871 3339369

Pakistan P.O.Box 9284, Al Farabi St. 6662391 3339369

Poland P.O.Box 501, M.Ben Baraka St. 3330101

Qatar P.O.Box 4188 3336717

Romania 8 Ibrahim Hanano St. 3327570 3327572

Russia Omar Ben Khattab St 4423155

Saudi Arabia Al-Jala’ Avenue

Slovakia P.O.Box 33115 6669043 6616714

Spain 81 Al-Jala’ Avenue

Sudan

Al-Jala’ Street 3332126

Sweden

P.O.Box 4266 3327261 3327749

Switzerland

Al-Mahdi Ben Baraka St. 3715474 3321137

Tunisia

P.O.Box 4114 6660356

Turkey

P.O.Box 3738 3331411 3339243

UAE

62 Rawda Street/Abu Rummana St. 3333038

UK

P.O.Box 37, Malki 3739241 3731600

USA 3332184 3319678

P.O.Box 29, No.2 Al Mansour St.


94Algeria 18 Niger Street 783166 788804

Argentina 10 H.Hassan Street 231222 750058

Austria 16 Ibn Hamdis St., Menzah 751091 767824

Bahrain 231811 766549 72 Bin Abi Soufiane, Menzah

Belgium 781655 792797 47 1st January St. Belvedere

Brazil 37 Africa Avenue, Menzah 232538 750367

Canada 796577 792371 3 Senegal Street, Belevedere

China 792107 792631 22 Dr. Burnett St., Mutuelleville

Czech Republic 280486 793228 P.O.Box 53, 1002 Tunis

Denmark 792600 790797 5 Mauritania Street, Belevedere

Egypt 792233 794389 Ave.Med V, Mont Plaisir, Belvedere

Finland 721700 721670 61 H.Bourghiba Ave., Carthage

France Independence square 358000 358001

Germany 786455 788242 1 al Hamra st., Mutuelleville

Greece 9 Imp.Atlas, Belvedere 288411 789518

Hungary 12 Achtart St., Al-Menzah 780544 781264

India 787819 783394 4 Didon Square, Notre Dame

Iraq 890347 799949 10 Ben Ashour Ave. Menzah

Iran 791015 783177 10 Doctor Burnett St., Mutuelleville

Italy 37 Jamal Abdel Nassr St. 321811 324155

Japan 9 Apollo St. Mahrajenne 791251 786625

Jordan 780875 784661 10 Chankatti st., Mahrajene

Korea Rep 893060 791923 16 Caracalla St., Notre Dame

Kuwait 32 Mansoura St., Ariana 754811 767669

Libya 781913 795338 48 Bis., Rue du 1er Jiun, Belvedere

Morocco 782775 795338 39 Rue du 1er Jiun, Belvedere

Netherlands 799442 785557 6/7/8/ Mercen St.Mahrajene

Pakistan 234366 752477 7 Ali Bin Abi Talib Street, Al-Menzah

Portugal 2 Sufetula St., Belvedere 893981 791008

Romania 766926 767695 18 Africa Avenue, Al- Menzah

Russia Bergamate St., ManarII 882446 882478

Saudi Arabia 781722 783235 16 Jugurtha Ave., Belvedere

Spain 782217 786267 22 Conseil Avenue, Cite jardin

Sudan 30 Afrique Avenue

Sweden Berges Lac, Mhiri 860580 860810

Switzerland 783997 788796 10 Echenkiti st., Mutuelleville

Syria 119 A. Rebai St., Manar II 888018 887989

Turkey 30 Ave. Africa 750668 767045

UAE 9 Ashtart St., Belvedere 783522 783507

UK 141 Liberty Ave., Belvedere 793322 792644

USA 144 Liberty Avenue, Belvedere 782566 789719

Yemen 9 A.Ibn Abi Taleb St., Menzah 237933


TUNISIA

GENERAL INFORMATIONArea164,418 sq.Km


CapitalTunis

Main CitiesTunis, Sfax, Ariana, Bizerte, Djerba, Sousse

Temperature/ClimateWinter:13∞ with frequent rain.

Summer: 35∞C,hot and dry

LanguagesArabic (official), French (commercial),

Berber (in rural areas).

AirportsTunis (8 Km from Tunis)

Skanes (8 Km west of Monasrtir)

Melita (6 Km west of Djerba)

Tozeur (south oasis area)

PortsTunis (main port), Zarzis, Sfax,

Sousse, Bizerta


Winter :08.00 to 13.00 and 15.00 to 17.45

Mon.to Thu.08.30 to 13.00 Fri.and Sat.

Summer:07.00 to 13.00 Mon.to Sat.

Businesses

Winter:08.300 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 16.00

Mon to Fri.

Summer:07.30 to 13.00 Mon to Sat.

Banks

Winter:08.00 to 11.00 and 14.00 to 16.00

Mon to Fri.

Summer:07.00 to 13.00 Mon. to Sat.

ElectricityDomestic 220V and 110V.

Industrial 220V 50 cycles AC


Angiulla, Antigua, Austria, Bahrain, Barbados,

Belize, Bermuda, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada,

Cayman Is, Chile, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, Eire,

Falkand Is, Fuji, Finland, France, Germany,

Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Giunea, Hong Kong,

Iceland, Italy, Ivory coast, Japan, Korea(South),

Kuwait, Liberia, Leichtenstein, Malaysia, Mali,

Malta, Mauritania, Mauritus, Monaco, Montserrat,

Morocco, Nevis, Niger, Norway, Pitcairn Is.,

Porugal, Romania, St.Helens, St.Kittis, San

Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, Sweden,

Switzerland, Turkey, Turks,& Caicos Is., UAE, UK,

USA, Venuatu, Virgin Is,(Britsih) and Yugoslavia.

Customs Regulations200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 400g tobacco

and 1 litre of alcohol are admitted free of duty.

Currency regulationsThe import or export of Tunisian currency is

prohibited.O departure all Tunisian currency must

be converted into foreign currency on production

of exchange slips from Tunisian banks. This can

be done at the Airport .The amount of excess

currency exchanged back must not exceed 30

per cent of foreign currency originally exchanged

or 100 dinars, whichever is the greater.

Currency1 Tunisian Dinar(TD)=1,000 millimes(m)


95


UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

GENERAL INFORMATIONArea90,559 sq.Kms

(including Offshore islands)

Population(2007 est.)4.4 m

CapitalAbu Dhabi

Main CitiesAbu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah,Ras Al-Khaimah

Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al-Qaiwan

Temperature/Climate Summer:35to 40C peaks up to 48C along Gulf

Coast,very humid in Dubai, more temperate

along eastern(Gulf of Oman)coast. Winter : 20C,

very dry in Abu Dhabi, Wet in Ras El Khaimah

LanguagesArabic (official), English ( widely spoken in

Business and government)

AirportsAbu Dhabi International (19 Km southeast of

City), duty-free shop

Abu Dhabi New International Airport (Nadia, 35

Km form city centre), duty-free shop

Al Ain International,Duty-free shop

Dubai International (4 Km east of city),

duty-free shop

Fujairah Int’l, Duty-free shop

Ras Al Khaimah International (20 Km south of

Town), duty-free shop

Sharjah International (10 Km southeast of

Sharjah town and 25 Km north of Dubai Town),

duty-free shop

PortsJebel Dhanna/Ruwais Abu Dhabi

Mina Zayed ( Abu Dhabi town, 20% UAE

tonnage)

Mina Jebel Ali (Dubai)

Port Rashid(Dubai Town), 50% UAE tonnage

Ajman, Fujeirah

Mina Saqr (Ras Al Khaima) Khorfakan (Sharjah/

East coast), container terminal.

Mina Khalid (Sharjah Town), 20% UAE tonnage


08.00 to 15.00 Sat. To Wed. And 08.00 to

12.00 Thu.

Businesses

08.00 to 15.00 and 16.00 to 20.00 Sat.to Thu

ElectricityAbu Dhabi 220/240 volts, 50 cycles AC,

Northern Emirates

220/380 volts, 50 cycles AC.

VisasVisas are required by all except GCC nationals.

UK Citizens will be granted 30-day visa at

International Aiports.Other Will be required to

obtain visas through sponsorship.

Customs Regulations200 cigarettes or one half pound of

Tobacco(Abu Dhabi), 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars

or 500 gm tobacco(Dubai) are allowed duty-free.

However locally retailed tobacco products are as

cheap as duty-free goods.

Alcohol, drugs, pearls and firearms are prohibited

Currency regulationsNone

Currency1 UAE Dirham(Dh)=100 fils

Algeria 4448949 4447068P.O.Box 3070, Abu DhabiArgentina 4436838 4431392P.O.Box 3325, Abu DhabiAustralia 3217444 3212677 P.O.Box 58010, DubaiAustria 4766611 6715551P.O.Box 35539, Abu DhabiBahrain 6657500 6674141P.O.Box 3367, Abu DhabiBangladesh 4465100 4464733P.O.Box 2504, Abu DhabiBelgium 6319449 6319353P.O.Box 3686, Abu DhabiBrazil 6320606 6327727P.O.Box 3027, Abu DhabiBritain 6101100 6101518P.O.Box 248, Abu DhabiCanada 6940300 6946399P.O.Box 6970, Abu DhabiChina 4434276 4436835P.O.Box 2741, Abu DhabiCzech Republic 6782800 6795716P.O.Box 27009, Abu DhabiEgypt 4445566 4449878P.O.Box 4026, Abu Dhabi

Finland 6328927 6325063P.O.Box 3634, Abu DhabiFrance 4435100 4434158P.O.Box 4014, Abu DhabiGermany 6446693 6444942P.O.Box 2591, Abu DhabiGreece 4492550 4493119P.O.Box 5483, Abu DhabiHungary 4470100 6667877P.O.Box 44450, Abu DhabiIndia 4492700 4444685P.O.Box 409, Abu DhabiIran 4447618 4448714P.O.Box 4080Italy 4435622 4434337P.O.Box 46752, Abu DhabiJapan 4435696 4434219P.O.Box 2430, Abu DhabiJordan 4447100 4449157P.O.Box 4024, Abu DhabiKenya 6666300 6652827 P.O.Box 3854, Abu DhabiKorea Rep 4435337 4435348P.O.Box 3270, Abu DhabiKuwait 4477146 4477675P.O.Box 926, Abu Dhabi

Lebanon 4492100 4493500P.O.Box 4023, Abu DhabiLibya 4450030 4450033P.O.Box 5739, Abu DhabiMalaysia 4482775 4482779P.O.Box 3887, Abu DhabiMauritania 4462724 4465772P.O.Box 2714, Abu DhabiMorocco 4433963 4433917 P.O.Box 4066Netherlands 6321920 6313158P.O.Box 46560Norway 6211221 6213313P.O.Box 47270Oman 4463333 4464633P.O.Box 2517Pakistan 4447800 4447172P.O.Box 846Palestine 4434048 4434363P.O.Box 841Philippines 6415922 6412559P.O.Box 3215Qatar 4493300 4493311P.O.Box 3503Romania 4459919 4461143 P.O.Box 70416

Russia 6721797 6788731P.O.Box 8211Saudi Arabia 4445700 4448491P.O.Box 4057Spain 6269544 6274978P.O.Box 46474Sudan 4446699 4490530P.O.Box4027Switzerland 6274636 6269627P.O.Box 46116Syria 4448768 4449387P.O.Box 4011Thai 6421772 6421773P.O.Box 47466Tunisia 6811331 6812707P.O.Box 4166Turkey 4453330 4452522P.O.Box 3204UK 6326600 6318138P.O.Box 248USA 4142200 4142469P.O.Box 4009Yemen 4448457 4443691P.O.Box 2095


9696Algeria 209689 209688 P.O.Box 509, 67 Amman ST.

Belgium P.O.Box 2616 285865 289568

Canada P.O.Box 340 208814 209523

China Al Zubeiri St 275337

Czech Republic 247946 244418 P.O.Box 2501, Safia Janubia

Denmark P.OBox 5302,Taiz 215170 212334

Egypt Jamal Abdul Naser St. 275948 274196

France P.O.Box 1286, Al Bounia 268888 269160

Germany P.O.Box 41 413179 413179

India 12 Jiboti Street 508084 508105

Indonesia Hadda Area, house 16 414633 412956

Iran 412690 414139 P.O.Box 1437, Hadda Street

Iraq P.O.Box 498 244153

Italy P.O.Box 1152 269164 266137

Japan 207356 209531 P.O.Box 817, street 38 house2

Jordan P.O.Box 2152 413279

Korea(PDR) P.O.Box 1209, Al Hasaba 232340

Kuwait P.O.Box 17036 216317

Lebanon P.O.Box 2283 203459

Morocco 247964 P.O.Box 10236,Westy Safia

Oman P.O.Box 105 208933

Pakistan P.O.Box 2848 248812

Poland P.O.Box 16168 413523 413647

Romania P.O.Box 2169 205515 214100

Russia 278719 283142 P.O.Box 1087,26 sep.street

Saudi Arabia P.O.Box 1184 240429

Sudan P.O.Box 2561 265231 265234

Syria P.O.Box 494, Hadda Road 413153

Tunisia 240458 P.O.Box 2561,Diplomatic Area

Turkey P.O.Box 18371, Al Safia 241395 241395

UAE P.O.Box2250 248777

UK P.O.Box 1287 264081 263059

USA P.O.Box 22347 238843 251563


YEMEN



CapitalSanaa(political), Aden(economic)

Main CitiesSanaa, Aden, Hoddeida, Taiz, Ibb, Dhamar, Hajjah

Temperature/ClimateSummer:35 to 40 C,peaks up to 47 C in

Hodeida,Very humid, rainfall cooler and drier

in Sanaa.

Winter: 26 C in Hodeidah,Humid, much cooler ,

with occasional frosts,in Sanaa.

Summer:average 35 C in Aden, very

humid,hotter but wideDiurnal range and drier

inland.

Winter: average 28 C in Aden, humid, much

cooler inland.


AirportsAl-Rahaba(10 Km north of Sanaa).

Hodeida

(6 Km Southeast of city)

Al-Janad

(4 Km northeast of Taiz)

Khormasakar International

(10 Km from Aden).

No duty-free shop.Sanaa

PortsHodeida(principal), Aden, Mokha, Saleef(relief

port for Hodeida)


08.00 to 13.00 Sat.to Thu.

Businesses

08.00 to 13.00 and 16.00 to 19.00 Sat.

to Thu.

Banks

08.00 to 12.00 Sat.to Wed. and 08.00 to

11.30 Thu.

Electricity220 volts, 50 cycles AC

VisasVisas are required for all visitors.One application

form and 2 photographs must be presented with

employer’s supporting letter.

Processing of applications takes 3 to 6 days.

Visitors must register within 5 days to obtain an

exit visa which can sometimes also be arranged

by hotels.

Customs regulations200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or _ lb tobacco and

1 qt wine are admitted duty-free.

Currency regulationsBecause the exchange of riyals is difficult

abroad, visitors exchange all local currency

before departure.

Currency1 Yemeni Riyal(YR)=100 fils


travel arabia dec

Documents

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ski dubai

general shopping complex

dubai festival city