• Tariq Dajani presents a first ever photographic exhibition of the purebred Arabian horse “ASIL” at The Empty Quarter Photography Gallery
• Launch taking place on Tuesday 6th October 2009, 7pm – 10pm;
• “ASIL” showcases an exclusive collection of portraits of the Arabian horse, including large, almost life-like prints, previously exhibited in art galleries in Europe and the Middle East, will now be shown in Dubai for the first time;
• Show runs from Tuesday 6th October  – Friday 16th October.

The Empty Quarter Fine Art Photography Gallery is proud to announce the first ever photographic exhibition of the purebred Arabian horse “ASIL” from photographer, Tariq Dajani.

Asil is the Arabic word signifying purity, nobility and authenticity. The horses photographed vary from being elegant champion show stallions, including those from HRH Princess Alia Bint Al Hussein’s ‘Royal Jordanian Stud’, to athletic endurance horses from privately-owned desert stables.

“My choice to photograph the Arabian, the oldest and purest breed of horse, is a result of a life-long fascination with these graceful creatures”, said Tariq Dajani, “I also wish to pay tribute to their importance in the history and culture of the Middle East and Islam.”

The photographer’s distinctive style brings out the lustrous beauty and elegance of the Arabian horse. These poetic studies resonating with charm, confidence and charisma, are unparalleled and unique in equestrian photography.

Increasingly recognized for their collectable potential, all prints are signed limited editions. Tariq Dajani’s work is owned by art lovers and collectors worldwide, including leading members of several Middle Eastern Royal families. Read more

Use of phrase ‘Sold goods cannot be returned or exchanged’ is against Federal Law for protection of consumers

The Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division at the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) has unveiled a new consumer-focused campaign urging retailers to accept or exchange goods sold. The new campaign highlights that the stance of some retailers that ‘sold goods cannot be returned or exchanged’ does not comply with Federal Law No 24 of 2006 in respect of protection of consumers, Article (5).

Article (5) stipulates that the supplier is required to return or exchange the goods in the event of any defect discovered by the consumer. Such return or exchange shall be carried out in line with the rules decided in the implementing regulation of the law. Additionally, Article (12) of the same law stipulates that all suppliers are required to include in their contracts an obligation of repair, maintenance or after sale service and to return the goods if a defect is discovered.

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1. Exhibit to include projects set for delivery in 2010; company stand located at Hall 4, D10
2. To provide customers with value-enhanced programmes in line with evolving market conditions

Deyaar Development PJSC, a regional real estate company dedicated to innovation, customer care and long-term sustainable growth, today announced that it will showcase select properties from its diverse portfolio, including projects set for delivery in 2010 at the upcoming Cityscape Dubai 2009, to be held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre from October 5, 2009.

Deyaar will exhibit on all three days of Cityscape from its 270-square meter-stand located at Hall 4, D10. In line with the company’s 2009 business strategy, Deyaar will guide customers and investors on gaining optimal value from its various schemes, including the Deyaar Easy Payment Plan. The company will also provide assistance to customers in gaining access to the best mortgage financing options through its strategic partnership with seven of UAE’s leading banks.

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Titan, one of the world’s leading watchmakers, has enhanced its Raga range of sensuous feminine watches with the launch of Raga Diva, an exquisite portfolio of distinctive designs presented in contemporary styling. The new collection is marked by rich craftsmanship, and accentuated with crystals and intricate enamel work.

The Raga Diva watch is a premium collection from Titan and is a perfect accessory for the festival season. It is a reiteration of Raga’s promise to be an essential part of the woman’s wardrobe and an expression of her distinct style.

Mr. Ajoy Chawla, Vice President, Titan & Retail, Titan Industries Limited, said, “The new collection of Titan Raga watches is a reflection of the desire of every woman today – to express the Diva within her. The Raga Diva collection is a beautiful illustration of this theme.”

Raga Diva represents the values of beauty, femininity and sensuality.

The collection is available in all GCC markets from authorised Titan outlets, and is priced from AED 280 upto AED 600.

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12 selected works to feature in DIFF 2010 tabletop calendar

The Dubai International Film Festival, the leading cinema event of the Middle East, Africa and new Asia, today announced its second school painting competition for children under 12. The contest, which focused on Dubai schools in 2008, has been extended to schools across the nation this year.

Children in the age group 5-12 can submit drawings and paintings in any medium, including crayons, watercolors, acrylic and oil paints, through their schools. Entry to the competition is free, and all entries should reflect the theme ‘Children and Film.’ Twelve finalists will feature in the DIFF 2010 tabletop calendar.

Mahsa Motamedi, Director of Marketing and Sponsorship said the annual competition is part of DIFF’s community outreach campaign, aimed at strengthening the involvement of students in the Festival, honoring children’s outlook on cinema and supporting their creativity.

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Two new machines valued at AED 4 million increases Al Ain Dairy’s capacity of yoghurt and fermented products by 40%.

Al Ain Dairy, the first established dairy farm in the UAE and a leading producer of dairy products, has purchased two new systems; a primodan rot-o min cups filling machine and a filmatic rotary bottle filling machine. The two new systems, valued at AED 4 million will play a key role in increasing Al Ain Dairy’s capacity and meet growing demand for its dairy and non-dairy products.

Whereas the first machine, Primodan rot-o-min cups filling machine, will fill stirred fruit yoghurts, crème caramel, custards and fruit desserts into cups, the second machine, filmatic rotary bottle filling machine will fill bottles with fresh milk and juices. With higher operational speeds, these new systems will ensure that more bottles are filled, thus increasing the amount of products and quantity that Al Ain Dairy can produce on a daily basis. With the installation of the Rot-O-Min Primodan cup filling machine, Al Ain Dairy’s production of fermented milk products has increased by 40% and now fills over 8,000 cups an hour.

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Fortinet’s FortiGate® Carrier-Grade Security Chassis Enables New MSSP Service through Integrated and Virtual Network Security

FFortinet® – a market-leading network security provider and worldwide leader of unified threat management (UTM) solutions – today announced that Zain Group, formerly known as MTC (Mobile Telecommunications Company), has deployed Fortinet’s FortiGate® carrier-class security chassis as the cornerstone of its managed security services and to address its own security needs. Zain leverages FortiGate’s security virtualization and integrated protection to offer superior security services to its clients.

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Sharjah Museums Department (SMD) has announced its participation in the ‘Let’s Save for a Noble Goal’ campaign launched by Nahtam Social Responsibility in collaboration with the Swiss and Austrian embassies. SMD’s participation comes in line with its new initiative ‘Because We Care’ that highlights the role of museums as vehicles for social change and their responsibility to the communities they serve.

As part of the campaign, a saving box in the shape of a football named ’Hadaaf,’ to embody care and responsibility, is being distributed among children to motivate them to save money and care for others.

Manal Ataya, Director General, Sharjah Museums Department (SMD), said: “We are committed to working towards societal welfare, and extend the support of various museums under SMD for supporting charitable causes. ‘Let’s Save for a Noble Goal’ not only instills in children the need to save but also supports children’s charities.”

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Industry Leaders to Use Nielsen Products to Help Marketers Better Measure Online Advertising Impact and Realize Greater ROI

The Nielsen Company and Facebook have announced a multi-year, strategic alliance to help marketers better use the Internet to develop and market new products.

The alliance combines Facebook’s global consumer reach with Nielsen’s market research expertise to provide better insight and information to marketers around the world.

The first product of the collaboration, Nielsen BrandLift, is designed to provide marketers with effectiveness measurement for Facebook advertising.  It will launch this week in the United States with select test partners and roll out to all Facebook advertisers in the coming months.  BrandLift uses opt-in polls on Facebook’s homepage to measure consumer attitudes and purchase intent from display advertising that has appeared on the site.

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World’s top publishers pledge support for “Project Natal,” helping pioneer a new category of controller-free games and entertainment

Xbox 360 today announced widespread enthusiasm from the world’s leading video-game publishers for “Project Natal,” a whole new way to play — no controller required. Developers across the globe have embraced the technology and have begun work on titles that will deliver extraordinary entertainment experiences for everyone to enjoy. Coming just three months after “Project Natal” was unveiled at E3, the announcements at the Tokyo Game Show underscore the swift industry support for the revolutionary controller-free experiences being developed exclusively for Xbox 360, the premier games and entertainment system.

Among the elite publishers actively working on games for “Project Natal” are Activision Blizzard, Bethesda Softworks, CAPCOM, Disney Interactive, Electronic Arts, Konami, MTV Games, Namco Bandai, Sega, Square Enix, THQ Inc. and Ubisoft. Together, these publishers account for more than 70 percent of third-party software sales for this generation of console and most of the world’s most recognized video game franchises.

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