BUSINESS & JOBS

A who’s who of the region’s MICE, events and entertainment industry gathered on Wednesday night at the Armani Hotel in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa for an evening of networking in a social setting. The first in a series of networking events organised by those behind the Middle East Event Show, it was a great way to connect with potential clients, meet new suppliers and network with fellow industry professionals in an informal atmosphere, according to those that attended. The night is planned to run every second month, with this next event to be held in January.

SAMENA Telecommunications Council held its Telecom Chairman and CEO’s Dinner 2010 at Armani Hotel in Burj Khalifa recently.

Emaar Properties, the developer of the world’s tallest tower in Dubai, incurred a loss of 38.5 million dirhams ($10 million) from the sale of Hamptons Group Ltd.’s operations in Europe, UK and Asia to Countrywide. The property sold is building Number 5 in the Emaar Square project near Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, and houses the local offices of HSBC Holdings Plc, The National newspaper reported today, citing people it didn’t identify.

Cluttons, property consultants and estate agents, estimates there are about 2,000 owners’ associations in Dubai with Burj Khalifa having seven. The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera) has set an October deadline to complete all documentation process and register owners’ associations.

Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality and leisure subsidiary of global developer Emaar, has appointed Stefan Viard as general manager of Al Manzil and Qamardeen Hotels. The group took over operations at the Downtown properties in Dubai from South African operator Tsogo Sun earlier this year.

Depa Limited, the interior design contractor who fitted out the Emirates Palace Hotel, Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa, has signed a $60m contract in Angola, the Dubai-based company announced on Wednesday. Based in Dubai, but with sixteen offices and 8,000 staff worldwide, Depa has worked on projects such as the Atlantis Hotel, Armani Hotel and Burj Al Arab in Dubai, Yas Island and Emirates Palace hotels in Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Metro, Dubai Airport and the Savoy and Waldorf hotels in London.

Burj Khalifa was the undisputed winner in the ‘Building Project of the Year’ category sponsored by Technal Middle East, while the ‘Transport Project of the Year’ sponsored by Cadillac was picked up Dubai Metro Red Line.

The gallery will hold the opening ceremony at Residences 2, Shop S-08 in Downtown Dubai, on Burj Khalifa Lake. A ‘concept’ gallery founded by Moza Mohammed Al Abbar, the gallery aims to expose young and aspiring artists from around the Arab world.

Eager crowds may catch their final glimpses of Tom Cruise this week as filming outside the Burj Khalifa for Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol wraps up. The Hollywood star has been dangling off the world's tallest tower this week, reprising his role as Ethan Hunt in the fourth instalment of the spy thrillers. On Saturday, he dropped down to the observation tower on the 124th floor to the shock - and delight - of tourists inside.

(MENAFN Press) Ramada Downtown Dubai, located in Dubai's most prestigious and vibrant district, hosted a familiarisation trip for the top travel agents from Tez Tours Stravropol Russia to promote Dubai as a hot destination for Russian travellers. During the familiarisation trip, the travel agents were facilitated and shown around the hotel property to showcase the distinctive features, the first-rate amenities and the world-class hospitality service of the hotel.