Don’t be alarmed if you spot a vehicle rolling down Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard with no person in the driver’s seat.

The future has accelerated into Dubai as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in collaboration with Emaar Properties, is starting the trial run of the first autonomous on public roads

The 10-seater car will be shuttling from today over a 700-meter long track in the Downtown Dubai area.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA said: “The trial run of the smart vehicle at the Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard represented the phase one of this technology.

“This experiment is also part of RTA’s plan to test driverless transit technology under the climatic environment of Dubai.”

He continued: “Through this trial run of the smart vehicle, RTA intends to educate the public about autonomous cars technology and the experimental use of the technology in Dubai’s climatic conditions.

“The experience also elucidates the smart driverless mobility strategy launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, aimed at switching 25 per cent of total mobility journeys in Dubai into driverless journeys using various transit means by 2030.

“It also aims to screen the views and responses of residents and visitors about the driverless mobility experience using a survey measuring satisfaction rating."

RTA and Emaar,are starting tomorrow the trial run of 1st Smart Vehicle at Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard@emaardubai pic.twitter.com/Z3mGXb0nmA

— RTA (@RTA_Dubai) August 31, 2016

Al Tayer explained the ‘Driverless’ vehicle is produced by Easy Mile/Omnix Company to travel short distances over pre-programmed routes in multi-use environments.

The vehicle travels on virtual routes, which can easily be reset to accommodate sudden changes as required.

The vehicle is fitted with all safety requisites and controls specifying its planned route.

The sensor system, as well as the intelligent system of the vehicle, enable coping with any obstacles encountered en route to avoid collision.

Mohammed Ali Al Abbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties said: “We thank the RTA for supporting our plans aimed at using driverless cars in Dubai downtown.

“The trial run of the vehicle is a further testament to the firm commitment of the Emirate of Dubai to encouraging sustainable transit means compatible with Dubai Plan 2021 for building a technologically-connected smart city.”

He continued: “Transport innovation and smart mobility solutions of the city is one of the key drivers of the Smart Dubai vision unveiled by Sheikh Mohammed, and constitutes an integral part of the recently launched Dubai Self-driving Transport Strategy.

“This strategic direction is expected to thrust Dubai to the forefront of cosmopolitan cities adopting clean transport solutions contributing to the sustainable development.”

He further stated that Emaar sought to connect various Dubai Downtown landmarks, the most attractive tourist and entertainment destination for visitors worldwide through driverless vehicles as they involve added convenience and luxury to residents and visitors of illustrious tourist attractions such as Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall,
Dubai Opera and Souk Al Bahar as well as different hotels.

The  RTA had launched the first trial operation of a ‘Driverless’ vehicle during the opening session of MENA Transport Congress & Exhibition 2016 organised by  RTA and UITP under the theme: Urban Mobility: Think Big Act Smart last April.

Samsung has delayed shipments of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in South Korea for extra quality control testing after reports that batteries in some of the jumbo smartphones exploded while they were being charged.

Samsung said the delay affects only the South Korean market. Local reports that Samsung has stopped shipping the flagship phone are not true, according to company spokeswoman Sophia Kim.

Company officials did not reply to questions about how Samsung determined which phones are deemed safe and which require further testing.

The company said it is investigating the reports of phones catching fire and exploding. South Korea's Yonhap News said five or six explosions were reported by consumers. It cited pictures of severely damaged phones shared in local online communities, social media and YouTube. The photos and accounts could not immediately be verified.

There were no confirmed reports of any injuries.

It is unusual for Samsung to confirm a delay in sales of a device.

The company said the testing would not delay the Note 7's launch Thursday in Chinese online markets, and did not say if those phones are different from the ones sold in South Korea.

Battery problems are not unusual during the early production of a new smartphone, but the latest explosion claims dented investor sentiment. Samsung's stock lost 2 percent in Seoul on Thursday.

"It is an unexpected issue and until the cause is confirmed, a short-term impact is inevitable," Eo Kyu-jin, an analyst at eBEST Investment & Securities, said in a report.

The Galaxy Note 7 smartphone is the latest iteration of Samsung's Note series that feature a giant screen and a stylus. The Note series smartphones are one of the most expensive lineups released by Samsung and usually inherit designs and features of the Galaxy S series that debut in the spring. Samsung also added an iris scanner to the Note 7, which lets users unlock the phone by detecting patterns in the eyes.

Samsung launched the Note 7 on August 19 in some markets, including South Korea and the U.S.

Even before the issue of battery explosions emerged, supplies were not keeping up with higher-than-expected demand for the smartphone.

Emirates airline has denied any connection with a new social media competition offering free airline tickets, calling it a ‘hoax’.

“The recent competition on Facebook offering free flights is a hoax and has nothing to do with Emirates,” the airline said in a statement sent to Emirates 24|7.

“Our competitions are always run from our officially verified social media channels. Emirates has been working with Facebook to have these pages removed.”

The statement comes in wake of a Facebook post put up on Saturday, which was offering residents free first class tickets for a winner and five friends to a destination of choice, along with over Dh16,500 in spending money.

At 12noon on Sunday the ‘Emirates Air’ community page that posted the hoax was still active and using the airline’s official logo.

The post had garnered nearly 18,000 shares on Facebook, along with over 15,200 likes.

 

Volumes on the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) touched close to 13 million contracts, growing 43 per cent from same period last year to record the highest ever volume for this period in over a decade. This year, the exchange recorded an average volume of 75,516 contracts a day, valued at around $1.70 billion.

The Exchange also registered an impressive average Open Interest (OI) position of 156,965 contracts representing a growth of 167 per cent over the same period last year.

On 29th August 2016, the Exchange recorded the highest ever OI of 503, 262 contracts valued at over $8 billion.

The OI records indicate the increased trust and participation of market participants on DGCX, the region’s largest and most diversified derivatives bourse.

Performance of DGCX products

DGCX’s Indian Rupee traded an average of 41,751 contracts in August, valued at over US $ 1.24 billion. The Indian Rupee options contract set the highest ever average OI record with 5,353 contracts, up 38 per cent from last year, and also registered a 115 per cent year-to-date volume growth from 2015.

Average Daily Volumes (ADV) in DGCX’s gold product suite touched 2,749 contracts in August, growing 15 per cent from last year, while average OI in August 2016 was up by 153 per cent.

Commenting on DGCX’s performance, Gaurang Desai, CEO of DGCX, said:  “We are pleased to end the summer on a high note. The last few months saw DGCX set number of volume and open interest records.

"Yet as we move forward to the rest of the year, our focus remains on development of two key parameters which is (a) introducing more products that are unique, innovative and regionally relevant and (b) expand our membership base to deepen the market outreach.”

In August 2016, Exchange also introduced what is known as full-depth market data feed to equip sophisticated traders to understand the market dynamics more efficiently and execute newer trading strategies.

The Full-depth market data flow disseminates all available market orders in an order book on real time basis for better market visibility. The new data flow works in parallel to existing best-Five market data feed.

DGCX also offers proximity hosting services along with low-latency trading access with its telecom services partners.

This premium service cuts down execution time significantly for global traders. Faster services like this encourage more participation from global market participants to access DGCX markets and in turn increase diversity in participant base.

“We have significantly stepped up efforts on providing world-class connectivity and market accessibility solutions for our global and diversified trading community by constantly investing in our technology infrastructure and technology services.

"These efforts will go a long way in establishing DGCX and Dubai as a key global trading hub, amongst the likes of Chicago, New York, London, Mumbai and Singapore,” concluded Shah.

Bollywood Parks Dubai has partnered with Shah Rukh Khan to shoot the high speed chase scenes for its immersive 3D ride – Don: The Chase which will premiere at the opening of Bollywood Parks Dubai on October 31, 2016.

Getting back into his character from the movie, the star was seen reciting his famous dialogues, especially for the thrill seekers who can’t wait to experience this ride.

Commenting on the ride, Khan said, “This time the chase is in Dubai, on the very famous Sheikh Zayed Road and also other famous landmarks of Dubai. As the famous dialogue of the movie goes – ‘Don ko pakadana mushkil hi nahin, namumkin hai’ that means it’s not only difficult to catch Don, but impossible as well.”

Bollywood Parks Dubai is the world’s first Bollywood inspired theme park and part of Dubai Parks and Resorts, the largest integrated theme park destination in the region.

While shooting for the ride, SRK said: "The park is a mix of rides, excitement and adventure, while staying true to the ethos of Bollywood. Films are a reflection of reality where we strongly believe in our hopes, and the same will be translated to the park where you will have fun!”

With the fans and families of Dubai waiting for the opening of the first Bollywood inspired theme park, the fine detailing of the elements recreated from the actual movie witnessed during the chase, will cast the feel of being a part of the movie.

Directed by Reema Kagti, this ride was completed with the support of over 100 members from the production team.

Under the guidance of the Don movie producer, Ritesh Sidhwani and the lead actor Khan, the team ensured that every aspect of the ride should exude the essence of the original movie, so that the fun begins right at the start as visitors enter the ride pre-show area and immediately become a part of the story.

He further added, “A movie star is made by the team, who work’s behind him or her.

"You feel completely redundant and useless, if you don’t have a good team supporting you. The star of the show carries a lot of his own notion on the set and if it is channeled in the wrong direction, then the whole set or the making goes wrong.

"But if it is nice, then it permeates to everyone and the hard work required does not seem like ‘hard’ work at all.”

Located within the Mumbai Chowk zone at Bollywood Parks Dubai, the Don – The Chase ride, a 3D motion immersive tunnel, will have visitors chasing their favourite diabolical mastermind across the city of Dubai, hoping that they will be the first to catch him.

Paying tribute to Bollywood’s hometown, the Mumbai Chowk zone will also provide unique offerings such as a recreation of the famous Victoria Station, built alongside a classic Mumbai suburban railway train offering typical Indian curries while showcasing performances on its roof - the Mumbai Express stage - will bring to life the colours and sounds of this vibrant city.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened three new lanes as part of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road Widening Project on Friday, making a total of six lanes stretching from Al Yalayis Road Junction to Jebel Ali-Lehbab Roundabout in the direction of Abu Dhabi only.

“Completing this sector of the project would significantly contribute to the smooth traffic flow, especially for vehicles coming from the existing Al Houdh Roundabout towards Abu Dhabi. This is the first phase of Al Yalayis Interchange project, which comprises four phases to be completed by end November 2016 according to the project timetable,” said Nabeel Mohammed Salih, Director of Roads, RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency.

He continued: “Last February, RTA opened three lanes of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road Widening Project, making a total of six lanes in each direction, stretching over seven kilometers from Al Maktoum International Airport R/A to Jebel Ali-Lehbab Roundabout.

"It contributed to a smooth flow of vehicles from Al Yalayes Road heading east towards Dubai Investment Park, and west towards Sheikh Zayed Road and Jebel Ali Free Zone. It also eased the movement of north and south-bound vehicles on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to and from Abu Dhabi.”

Dubai Holding has taken the decision to relocate Mall of the World to a site on Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Road, where the project’s positive tourism contribution can be fully realised, announced Ahmad Bin Byat, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Dubai Holding.

“Tourism remains a major part of Dubai’s diversification strategy and Mall of the World will be a critical part of that vision. Dubai Holding is committed to developing Mall of the World, and believes that the new location on Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Road, will be an outstanding home for the project, as it will allow Dubai Holding to further expand as needed it in the future according to market needs,” Bin Byat said.

The Mall of the World will now undergo extensive planning to become a major retail and leisure destination, Dubai Holding added in the media statement.

Tech giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is recalling millions of new Galaxy Note 7 smartphones worldwide after reports of the devices catching fire while charging, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported, citing a company senior official.

Samsung's Note 7s are being pulled from shelves in 10 countries, including South Korea and the United States, just two weeks after the product's launch.

Customers who already bought Note 7s will be able to swap them for new smartphones in about two weeks, Koh Dong-jin, president of Samsung's mobile business, told reporters at a news conference

Samsung said it had confirmed 35 instances of Note 7s catching fire or exploding.

There have been no reports of injuries related to the problem.

Dong-jin, head of the South Korean company's smartphone business, declined to comment on how many phones needed to be  replaced, but said Samsung had sold 2.5 million of the premium devices so far.

It estimated that about 24 out of one million units may have a faulty battery.

"There was a tiny problem in the manufacturing process, so it was very difficult to figure out," Koh said. The reason we made this decision is because what is most important is customer safety."

Models in China feature a different battery and are not being recalled by Samsung, the world's biggest smartphone vendor.

The recall comes just over two weeks after the company launched its latest premium phone, which features an outsized screen and high-resolution camera.

It follows reports of the 988,900 won ($885) phone igniting while charging.

The manufacturer plans to replace not only phones with faulty batteries sold to consumers, but also retailer inventories and units in transit.

Strategy Analytics said the combined cost of the recall and lost sales would lop $5 billion off Samsung's smartphone revenue this year and cut smartphone profit margin by 1.5 per cent.

The scale of the recall is unprecedented for Samsung, which prides itself on its manufacturing prowess.

While recalls in the smartphone industry do happen, including for rival Apple Inc , the nature of the problem for the Galaxy Note 7 is a serious blow to Samsung's reputation, analysts said.

The company should act quickly to minimise damage to its smartphone recovery, after a string of product successes had reversed a fall in market share, they added.

CUSTOMERS PUT ON HOLD

The phone first launched in 10 markets in North America, Asia and the Middle East.

Further roll-outs have occurred since in markets like China, where sales started just this week. Its wider availability, set for coming weeks, is now on hold.

While there are occasional reports of phones catching fire or otherwise burning users, documented cases that lead to widespread product recalls remain relatively rare.
Samsung said it was aware of 35 reports of affected Note 7 batteries.

In 2007, the largest battery recall in consumer electronics history took place when Nokia, then the world's top mobile handset maker, offered to replace 46 million phone batteries produced for it by Japanese maker Matsushita Battery.

Germany's biggest operator, Deutsche Telekom, said it had stopped delivering orders for the Galaxy Note 7, while French operator Orange said on its website that it had stopped pre-sales of the phone and postponed its planned sales launch - scheduled for Friday.

In Britain, mobile carriers EE and Vodafone continue to accept pre-orders for the Note 7 on their sites. A Vodafone spokesman said its planned Sept. 19 sales launch could now slip, but the company was waiting for more details from Samsung to decide.

Strategy Analytics said Samsung will likely sell fewer than 10 million Note 7s this year compared with its previous estimate of 14 million globally.

Samsung said new sales of the Note 7 in affected markets would resume after it deals with replacements, a process it expects will begin in about two weeks.

The firm would extend refund periods for affected customers and offer exchanges for other Samsung phones, Koh said.

Samsung's mobile division accounted for about 54 percent of the firm's January-June operating profit of 14.8 trillion won.

Dubai master developer Nakheel is drawing on the talent and expertise of home-grown engineering and architectural consultants to help deliver its new Dh7.5 billion Jebel Ali Gardens community.

Nakheel has tasked six Dubai-based, Emirati-led companies with overseeing the design and construction supervision of the sprawling development, where 42 towers will house 40,000 people in nearly 10,000 apartments.

A construction tender will be released in Q1 2017, with anticipated completion in Q1 2020.
 
Nakheel stated the six-way consultancy appointment reflects the company's policy of engaging local engineers and designers – for both in-house and consultancy roles – to deliver its vast range of new projects.

The appointed consultants include MEECON (Middle East Engineering Consultants), Golden Square Engineering, Eng. Adnan Saffarini Office, Arif & Bintoak Consulting Architects & Engineers, Design Center Architects & Engineers Consultants and Bel-Yoahah Architectural & Engineering Consultants.

Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah said: “Nakheel itself is a home-grown developer which has rapidly become one the world’s biggest names in real estate.

"As we embark on a new phase in our growth, we are proud to support Emirati companies to help us achieve our business goals and reinforce our positon as a global leader in creative, innovative engineering.

“We are delighted to name these six firms as the consultants who will work with our in-house design, engineering and construction teams to deliver what is set to become one of Dubai’s largest, most desirable residential communities.”

Jebel Ali Gardens is one of a growing number of developments in Nakheel’s residential leasing portfolio – a key focus of the company’s new business strategy – which aims to double the number of existing units for lease to nearly 36,000.

Jebel Ali Gardens is set on a 5.5 million sq ft site – of which around 20 per cent will be communal green space – with a built-up area of 19 million sq ft.

The 10,000 apartments, ranging from one to three bedrooms, will be set in over a million sq ft of lush, landscaped gardens featuring a central park, swimming pools, jogging track, football fields and tennis and basketball courts. There will also be three mosques accommodating up to 3,000 people between them.

The 42 buildings, ranging from 18 to 29 floors, will be grouped into 12 blocks, each featuring a gym with panoramic views over the landscaped grounds.

There will also be ground-floor retail space in each building.

The world's longest glass bridge, over a scenic canyon in China, has been closed less than two weeks after it opened after being overwhelmed by a swarm of visitors.

More than 10,000 visitors a day flooded over the Guinness record-setting attraction, overwhelming managers who had planned to limit visitors to no more than 8,000, local media reported.

The bridge is undergoing "an internal system upgrade", the official Xinhua News service quoted officials as saying, but did not specify when it would reopen.

The group in charge of the attraction said that it would use the closure to update "software and hardware" related to managing visitors, Xinhua said Friday.

In an announcement on one of its social media accounts, the company apologised for inconveniencing the many travellers who had made reservations to visit.

"You... have cheated consumers," one angry commenter replied.

"I'm on the train right now. I can't change my travel plans or get a refund. You have made the world lose hope. I see you are the world's number one cheat."

Some 430 metres (1,400 feet) long and suspended 300 metres above the earth, the bridge spans the canyon between two mountain cliffs in Zhangjiajie park in China's central Hunan province.

The nature reserve is known for its otherworldly natural beauty. Famous for its precipitous cloud-wreathed mountains, it is a UNESCO world heritage site that reportedly inspired the landscapes of James Cameron's sci-fi blockbuster Avatar.

Following an alarming glass bridge cracking incident at the Yuntai mountain in northern Henan in 2015, authorities in Zhangjiajie were eager to demonstrate the safety of the structure.

They organised a string of media events, including one where people were encouraged to try and smash the bridge's glass panels with a sledge hammer, and another where they drove a car across it.

Nonetheless, visitors were banned from wearing high heels as they ventured out onto the deck.

With September 12 making the first day of Eid Al Adha, as reported by Saudi Press Agency, countries around the world are preparing for the annual sacrifice.

In the UAE, Dubai Municipality has stated it has completed the preparations for Eid Al Adha by placing programmes and plans to absorb the expected congestion to receive the livestock at Dubai's Abattoirs.

The abbatoirs are equipped to work at its full capacity where the number of livestock is expected to increase by 20 per cent in Dubai's, compared to last year.

Additionally, nine service centers will be equipped and ready to welcome the public in Eid Al Adha to accomplish 550 slaughtering processes per hour, Dubai Municipality has further stated.

The authority has also opened a new showroom at Al Qusais Abattoir for slaughtering with a capacity for 300 animals per hour and that it will work around the clock.
 
Additionally, the morning period will be allocated to the public audience, while the evening period will be for charities.

The Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Saturday announced the launch of Jumeirah Central, an urban mixed-use city district expected to become a comprehensive model for future urban planning in Dubai and around the world.

The district will comprise 47 million square feet (sq.ft) of gross floor area (GFA) along Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road and will introduce new international standards in city planning that are able to balance requirements from an environmental, urban development and societal perspective, conceptualising Sheikh Mohammed’s vision of Dubai’s future development and evolution.

The Jumeirah Central masterplan is a product of the collaborative work of over 19 government and private agencies, international experts and consultants under the leadership of Dubai Holding over the last two years.

Jumeirah Central will have smart world-leading infrastructure that includes a multi-modal transport network, environmentally-friendly transport options and aerial gondolas.

The district, of which over half will be open space, will offer one million sq.ft. of climate-controlled arcades for all-season lifestyle and a comfortable pedestrian experience.

The district will be home to 35,000 residents and will host 100,000 people annually. It will be connected by a comprehensive cycling network that spans over 33 parks and open spaces.

Commenting on the announcement, Sheikh Mohammed said: "As our vision for future cities evolves, Dubai will continue to set the benchmark for city development across the globe. 

"Jumeirah Central is a clear milestone in our journey towards building the city of the future and the creation of engaged and happy communities. 

"We will not stop investing in our economy, and these projects are tools to expedite that journey of growth. 

"We are confident in the strength of our economy and are optimistic for the future of our nation. To that end, our vision will continuously evolve and expand."

The district is located on Sheikh Zayed Road with 25 points of vehicular access. 

Residents of Jumeirah Central will enjoy a self-sufficient and holistic mixed-use experience, through a range of facilities including schools, offices, parks, shopping centres, smart police services and comprehensive community amenities.

The all-season city district will comprise nine million sq.ft of retail space including three malls, 4.5 million sq.ft of outdoor shopping space and supported by more than 44,000 car parking spaces.

A unique tourism destination, Jumeirah Central will offer 7,200 hotel rooms, which will be the largest number of hotel rooms centred in one district.

Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Chairman of Dubai Holding, said: "Jumeirah Central is a result of extensive research into future urban development and the creation of more cohesive societies.

 "It is a clear demonstration of our leadership’s vision, aiming to further Dubai’s global position as an attractive destination for residents and tourists alike. 

"The uniqueness of this project will not only be a model for advanced urban development, but will also play a key role in enhancing the quality of life and in shaping future generations."

He continued: "All project plans and designs have been endorsed by government authorities in Dubai and we expect to start development in the coming months."

Jumeirah Central was unveiled at a private event in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Mohammad Abdulla Al Gergawi, Chairman of Dubai Holding; Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director General of Dubai Protocol and Hospitality Department; Ahmad Bin Byat, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Dubai Holding; Fadel Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding, and Huda Buhmaid, Chief Marketing Officer at Dubai Holding.

Dubai is a city of many firsts, and it isn't surprising that a shopping village would find its way into the retail space of this metropolis.

Dubai-based holding company, Meraas, has announced the opening of The Outlet Village, a picturesque retail enclave offering visitors a unique shopping experience.

Housing three department stores, family attractions, international dining and over 125 brands such as Galeries Lafayette, DKNY, Dunhill, Guiseppe Zanotti and many more, The Outlet Village aims to be a shopper's paradise housings some iconic brands.  

Located in Jebel Ali, and within easy reach of the centres of both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, The Outlet Village adds another dimension to Dubai’s rich retail landscape and is expecting to welcome 30 million visitors annually.

Phase one spanning 1.5 million square feet with additional phases expected to create another 3 million square feet housing over 400 brands under one roof.

The Outlet Village’s layout takes inspiration from San Gimignano in Italy.

This spectacular Tuscan hilltop town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its authentic craftsmanship, timeless style and cultured approach.

Brands receiving shoppers at The Outlet Village cover luxury and contemporary fashion, sportswear, furniture and household items.

Opening just in time for the UAE’s peak travel season, fashion devotees will find Ted Baker, Tommy Hilfiger, Diesel and BCBGMAXAZRIA alongside multi-brand stores Priceless and Etoile hosting luxury brands including Fendi, Tom Ford, Jimmy Choo, Valentino, Tory Burch, Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana and Kenzo.

Whilst décor aficionados can find premium designer furniture at Aati and Villeroy & Boch. Furthermore, The Outlet Village has given labels such as Galeries Lafayette, M Missoni, BEBE and Roberto Cavalli the opportunity to open their first outlet concepts in the region.

Abdulla Al Habbai, Group Chairman, Meraas said: “The Outlet Village is part of Meraas’ commitment to build on the Dubai Fashion 2020 strategy, helping to diversify the fabric of the city’s retail infrastructure and bolster Dubai’s position as an evolving fashion capital of the world.

"The retail mix of prestigious fashion and consumer brands within The Outlet Village is perfectly matched to the tastes of sophisticated UAE residents and visitors, and we are excited to welcome customers to this unique shopping experience.”

Paying homage to San Gimignano’s Gothic and Tuscan architecture through mismatched stonework and a myriad of sophisticated details including several fountains and a delightful stone wishing well, shoppers can enjoy the feeling of being transported straight to the heart of Italy, home to some of the world's most famous fashion labels, while availing some of the best value deals in the region.

For visitors looking to take a breath after perusing a selection of fabulous stores, the destination’s elegant piazzas boasts a variety of eateries, including PF Changs, Operation Falafel, Tashas, Godiva and The Brass.

The Outlet Village will offer over 2,000 parking spaces, available for the convenience of customers, along with a valet service.

Complimentary luxury coaches will be transporting visitors to and from popular hotels and tourist destinations in Dubai, including The Beach.

Its opening hours are from Sunday to Wednesday, 10am to 10pm and from Thursday to Saturday, its 10am to midnight.

The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has declared September 11 as Arafat Day, with the first day of Eid Al Adha falling on Monday, September 12.

The UAE’s official news agency, Wam, also reported on the sighting of Eid Al Adha 'Dhu al-Hijjah' crescent, most of the Islamic countries detected the crescent on Thursday, September 1 (29th of Dhu al-Qi'dah), the same day of the solar eclipse.

Based on the moon sighting, the month of Dhu al-Hijjah begins on Saturday, September 3.

Therefore, September 11 will be the (Day of Arafah), and September 12, the first Eid Al Adha day.

While there is no official word as yet on holidays for the public and private sectors in the UAE, private sector employees will most likely have holidays from September 9 to 13 and resume work on Wednesday, September 14.

For public sector, which generally enjoys a four-day break on Eid Al Adha, government employees could have six days off from September 9 to 14 if the current Hijri month of Dhul Hijjah ends after 30 days.

The public sector in the UAE enjoyed nine-day break for Eid Al Fitr this year.

The Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) has revealed plans to implement a prepaid water control system that will put the cap on excess consumption.

SEWA has already launched a pilot programme, stating advanced technological devices to detect water leakage at government entities, residential buildings and mosques in the emirate of Sharjah have produced encouraging results in energy efficiency and saving.

Dr Rashid Al Leem, the Chairman of SEWA said these devices were part of an innovative pilot project approved by the Ministry of Energy to rationalise consumption of electricity and water under the National Strategy for Innovation.

The prepaid water control circuit systems for water metering and leakage, he said, had achieved promising results in detecting unseen leakages.

According to him, SEWA was planning to expand the project to include all government departments, schools, mosques and high end-consumers.

Essam Al Mulla, Head of Water unit, said the systems were installed in 25 mosques, eight government departments and a number of housing units.

"Water consumption was reduced by 40 per cent in government departments, 30 per cent in mosques and 20 per cent in residential complexes," he noted.

The Central Bank of the UAE discussed and approved its five-year strategic plan during a retreat it had held on 30th and 31st August at Jebel Ali Hotel and Resort.

The retreat, which comes in the context of the federal government’s fourth strategic cycle (2017-2021), was chaired by Mubarak Rashed Al Mansouri, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE, in the presence of the bank’s senior management.

Al Mansouri stated that the strategy is based on the central bank’s role in achieving the UAE Vision 2021.

He further revealed that the central bank's new strategy includes a number of initiatives which were added in response to the outcomes of the Ministerial Retreat held at the end of January 2016 in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

He also announced the vision for the Central Bank as 'Promoting monetary and financial stability towards sustainable economic growth'.

"This will be achieved through enhancing monetary and financial stability through effective supervision, prudent reserve management, and robust financial infrastructure in line with international best practices and standards," the central bank said.

The UAE central bank's new strategy for 2017- 2021 includes "Major Strategic Objectives" that focus on the bank’s role in "enhancing financial stability in the UAE; strengthening the monetary and reserve management; enhancing the regulatory and supervisory framework for banks and other financial institutions, the Central Bank’s role in the national economy and UAE’s competitiveness; improving banking operations services and ensure safe, sound and efficient clearing and settlement systems within the UAE."

The promotion of a culture of innovation has been added as one of the objectives to the bank's new strategy is in line with the National Innovation Strategy.

The major initiatives that the central bank will focus on according to the strategy include upgrading the legislative and regulatory system for banks and financial institutions and improving financial institutions' licensing procedures and processes.

The bank will also focus on supporting and encouraging the banking sector to finance small and medium enterprises, in addition to reinforcing the legislative, regulatory, and supervisory environment for Islamic finance.

Emiratisation of the banking sector is also a priority in the coming period, in addition to enhancing anti-money laundering plans in line with the international criteria and the UAE's competitiveness in these areas.

The bank said the issue of reinforcing the consumer protection system is of special significance for it.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has confirmed that the trial phase of ‘Al Raqeeb’ System, a smart system to detect exhaustion signals in bus drivers sitting behind the wheel has shown a remarkable drop in such reported cases by as much as 88 per cent in city and inter-city services.

The RTA reckoned that physical exertion can result in accidents that may undermine the safety of riders, besides having a direct impact on the operational efficiency of buses in terms of on-time arrivals.

The system had been adopted in line with the smart city initiative launched by the Government of Dubai.

Adel Shakri, the Director of Transportation Systems, RTA’s Public Transport Agency, said: "The RTA is the first government entity responsible for public transport to adopt this system to monitor the drivers.

"The 88 per cent drop in cases of  exhaustion and fatigue experienced by bus drivers is indicative of the success of the trial phase covering 50 buses in an initial step."

‘Al Raqeeb’ system involves fitting a sophisticated device in front of the bus driver to monitor any indicators of fatigue, tiredness or illness suffered by the driver.

The technological indicators about the state of the driver’s health are transmitted to the Control Room at the RTA where the case will be immediately responded to.

There is also another smart system that monitors the driving attitudes in terms of exceeding the speed limit, disregarding safe driving principles, irresponsible use of brakes, sudden swerving and using the mobile phone while driving, among others.

"The two systems are being experimented on standard buses, articulated buses and double-deck buses covering Dubai city service or inter-city service," said Shakri.

He added: "According to the results, a plan will be set up to implement the system in our bus fleet comprising more than 1,500 buses operated by more than 3,000 drivers.

|The RTA offers everything possible to support the public transport system, especially buses which are used by a large proportion of public transport riders."

In a bold and daring operation, Dubai Police’s Cyber Crimes division restored a UAE resident’s Dh800,000 after the money had been illegally transferred to a European country through an online hack.

According to the authority, a native Arab filed a complaint with Dubai Police, informing someone had hacked into the email account of an overseas firm with which he had business dealings.

The fraudulent mail commissioned a shipment of goods to the UAE resident for the sum of Dh800,000.

However, the resident realise he had been duped shortly after the money had been transferred.

By then, the sum had already been transferred to a secondary account in Europe.

Lt Col Saeed Al Hajri, Director of the Cyber Investigation Department at Dubai Police revealed they immediately contacted the bank in question and managed to freeze the account before the hacker transferred it elsewhere.

Rise in cybercrimes

Dubai Police’s Cyber Crimes division successfully thwarted 1,849 potential attacks in 2015, recording a significant increase from 2014’s 1,580 cases.

Major-General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police for Criminal Investigation attributed the success rate to the intensive campaigns and lectures that raised public awareness among community members and motivated them to report crime.

Al Mansouri confirmed that Dubai Police is harnessing all material to fight electronic crimes, in addition to developing the capacity of experts and technicians.

Modern day criminal cases have changed in light of advanced technological methods now executed in crimes of fraud, forgery, extortion and more, Al Mansouri explained.

He added that due to such a development in criminal methodologies, Dubai Police established a special department to combat cybercrime in 2002 on instructions of Lt. General Dhahi Khalfan Al Tamim, the Dubai Police commander at the time.

Since its inception in 2008, the department has investigated 8,493 possible criminal cases.

Cybercrimes are on the rise, with H1 2016 seeing Dubai Police record 1,072 potential attacks.

From 2009, Dubai Police has launched electronic journals to address all kinds of cybercrimes, which are fought even before they occur.

Al Mansouri said the best way to combat cybercrime was via international cooperation. Al Hajri further added that cybercrimes were threatening the stability of society.

He pointed out that there are many examples of cybercrimes such as hacking and piracy, violation of intellectual property rights and the sexual exploitation of children.

Al Hajri called for community members to contact the toll free number 800-CID (800 243), or email: cid@dubaipolice.gov.ae, or come in person to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to report cybercrimes such as extortion or fraud.

The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has declared September 11 as Arafat Day, with the first day of Eid Al Adha falling on Monday, September 12.

The UAE’s official news agency, Wam, also reported on the sighting of Eid Al Adha 'Dhu al-Hijjah' crescent, most of the Islamic countries detected the crescent on Thursday, September 1 (29th of Dhu al-Qi'dah), the same day of the solar eclipse.

Based on the moon sighting, the month of Dhu al-Hijjah begins on Saturday, September 3.

Therefore, September 11 will be the (Day of Arafah), and September 12, the first Eid Al Adha day.

While there is no official word as yet on holidays for the public and private sectors in the UAE, private sector employees will most likely have holidays from September 9 to 13 and resume work on Wednesday, September 14.

For public sector, which generally enjoys a four-day break on Eid Al Adha, government employees could have six days off from September 9 to 14 if the current Hijri month of Dhul Hijjah ends after 30 days.

The public sector in the UAE enjoyed nine-day break for Eid Al Fitr this year.

The Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and the Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced dates for the Eid Al Adha holidays for the public sector.

Sheikh Mohammed announced the dates via a tweet on his official Twitter account, stating the public sector will enjoy Eid holidays from Sunday, September 11. Work will resume for government departments on September 18.

Sheikh Mohammed made the announcement following a cabinet meeting.

UAE residents working in the public sector will enjoy a nine-day break, starting on Friday, September 9, until Saturday, September 17.

Meanwhile, the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation also announced holidays for the private sector, declaring Sunday, September 11 as a public holiday in celebration of Arafat Day.

Private sector employees will also enjoy a paid holiday on the two days of Eid Al Adha, September 12 and 13, thus enjoying a total five-day break when combined with a two-day weekend.