IN THE
The world’s tallest tower
T
he world’s tallest tower, developed by Emaar Properties, was unveiled by his highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai to a crowd of thousands, and the world, in a crescendo of fireworks, lasers and fountain displays. The official height of the tower, unveiled as ‘Burj Khalifa’, was announced as 828 metres (2,716.5 ft). A closely guarded secret, the official height was flashed onto a giant screen before fireworks cascaded from the tower’s spire to the base and lasers blazed out from all levels, leaving the crowd awestruck.
Fuel self-serve study
Inter-faith understanding
A modernised self-serve concept for motorists buying fuel can bring about time and cost efficiencies and also reduce the waiting time at the service stations, Eppco/Enoc said, based on pilot studies conducted in the UAE. The group said it is considering the implementation of the self-serve concept as an option across its network of 170 service stations in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, looking at providing motorists the choice to fill up petrol on their own and pay at normal retail prices, or use the full-serve option by attendants at an additional fee. The self-serve option is widely followed in many developed countries, and is encouraged to save time, and reduce the hassle of waiting for customers. The UAE community is cosmopolitan and international and the self-service conceptcommon in many of the home countries of UAE expatriatesis generally understood. Services at the revamped stations will be managed from a remote facility, saving time and introducing new ‘interactive’ features for customers at the fuel pump. The new systems will be fully operational within the first half of 2010.
Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of United Kingdom posed for a photograph with Sunny Varkey, Founder and Chairman of GEMS Education, during a visit to Winchester School, where he attended an Islamic Studies class and interacted with students on issues connected to inter-faith understanding and the place of religious values in modern society. Students of the Islamic education class, were keen to learn Blair’s Perspective on issues connected to inter-faith understanding and the place of religious values in modern society. he also visited World Academy and met students who were keen to talk to him about issues relating to religious tolerance and understanding.
4 l UAE Digest, December 2009