Dubai Metro! On The Right Track..

How happy you feel when you find your dream is becoming reality!

If we, people, felt this much of happiness when we first saw this great achivment of Dubai Metro being tested, successfully.. Then how did the crew who worked on it hardly with big efforts and high efficiency, how did they feel?!

That's really amazing! Incredible! Awsome!

Dubai Metro Since 2006 till now
The Roads and Transport Authority announced the Dubai Metro Project on March 21, 2006 with His Highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai inaugurated the construction work. [As in Khaleej Times]

The first testings, successfully, have been done this month .

Work will be continued and testings as well and whole project is expected to be completed by 2010. When completed, Dubai Metro will have a total of 70 kilometres of lines.

Expectations:

The total length of the Dubai Metro is expected to reach 318 km by 2020. When fully functional, the metro will be able to carry about 1.8 million passengers every day.

The lines are divided into 4,
which are[Dubai Metro]:

RED LINE (Under Construction)
The Line is 52.0 km long
Completion: 2009
Rout: Rashidiya to Jabel Ali

GREEN LINE (Under Construction)
The Line is 22.5 km long.
Completiion: 2010
Rout: Al Qusais to Al Jedaff

BLUE LINE (On Plan)
The Line will be 47.0 km long.
Completiion: 2011
Rout: Dubai International Airport to Jebel Ali Airport, along Emirates Road

The Purple (On Plan)
The Line will be 49.0 km long.
Completiion: 2012
Rout: Dubai International Airport to Jebel Ali Airport, along Al Khail Road

Note: The total cost of the project is Dh15.5 billion (USD 4.2 billion) and will be completed in a matter of 49 months time.

List of Stations:

Dubai Metro stations will be designed along the theme water and sea life, e.g. the sea shell form is preferred for its total impression, smooth roofs and a seeming light construction. Also, trains are painted this way, light blue is dominating.

Red Line:
- Jebel Ali Port Station
-Stations 2 - 5
- American University in Dubai
- Internet City Station
- Stations 8 and 9
- Souk al Nakheel Station
- Stations 11 - 17
- Burj Dubai Station
- Financial City Station
- Emirates Towers Station
- Trade Center Station
- Stations 22 - 24
- BurJuman Station
- Station 26
- al-Ittihad Square Station
- Salahuddin Station
- Stations 29 - 34
- Airport Free Zone Station

Green Line:
- Festival City Station
- Stations 2 and 3
- Health Care City Station
- Stations 5 - 7
- BurJuman Station
- Stations 9 - 13
- al-Ittihad Square Station
- Stations 15 - 16
- Dubai International Airport Terminal 1 Station
- Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 Station
- Station 21
- Rashidiya Station

Trains will be driverless and include 3 classes: the Golden Class (VIP), the Women and Children’s Class and the Silver Class (economy).

Stations will offer taxi depots and park-and-ride facilities.

HOW GREAT!

Prices of Essential Items Rising Again in UAE

Previously, I talked about the egg price increase in the UAE.
The problem of increasing prices is getting worse now, instead of doing something towards that!
The prices are in continuing rising for the most essential items.
An article published in Gulfnews yeseterday, May 15, 2008, about this tight spot issue, mentioning some examples, like:

- A kilogram of whole local Kanaad fish is sold at Carrefour Dubai for Dh39.90, whereas it was Dh33.90 last month - an increase of Dh6.

- Anchor milk powder, also locally sourced in the UAE, which was Dh59.95 per 2.5 kilogram, is now sold in the market for as high as Dh65.20, which shows a rise of more than Dh5.

- The Lacnor full cream milk (long life) also went up to Dh3.50 per one litre from Dh2.90.

And the list doesn't stop here...

The question which arises itself here: Why is that? And what's the aim?
We need an answer.. because this is related to many important factors, which must be taken into consideration besides the main subject!

From my side, I'm feeling that this subject is not covered and analyzed by media the way and much it needed to.. All the updated articles are just mentioning two main points:
1) Prices are rising again.
2) People can't handle and they're watching their budgets!

So, that's all?
It shouldn't.

Tower Fire in Dubai Internet City

Again.. and in short.. Fire Accident in Dubai!

I really don't know if that should be called delinquency... unconsciousness... or what!

You can go to this page to understand why I'm being angry about this subject.

Some details about today's newest fire accident in Dubai:

A fire broke out in a skyscraper on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai on Wednesday, with no casualties or injuries reported.

Abu Nasier, head of media coordination at Dubai Civil Defence, said the fire started at 2:12 pm (GMT 1012) on the 30th floor of Al Salam Tecom Tower, a 47-storey building still under construction in Dubai Internet City (DIC).

The building is located along Sheikh Zayed Road behind the BBC World Building in Dubai Media City (DMC). [arabianbusiness says]

So far no casualties have been reported. [Gulfnews says]

The Massive Increase in the Number of Cars in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE, is facing a massive increase in number of cars. This problem has been arisen in the year 2000 and the number of cars was gradually increasing since then till 2005. But from 2005 till now; 2008, the number of cars is increasing so vastly and the problem is just being worse.
The problem in having this huge number of cars doesn’t count for causing traffic jam only, but also in causing difficulty, or dilemma, in finding a parking whenever you reach your desired destination.
Yes that’s true! If you need 15 minutes to reach the place you want to go to, then you need one extra hour or more to get a parking for your car. (And this is now in almost all the areas of the city).

Statistics:

(As in UAEInteract & ADPolice)

According to statistics provided by the Abu Dhabi Traffic Department, the number of vehicles in the Abu Dhabi Emirate, inclusive of Al Ain and Tarif, has gone up from 242,409 in 2000 to 526,161 in 2007.

On average, 250 licences are issued every day in Abu Dhabi.

Reasons:

The increase in the number of licences issued every day, easy availability of car loans and more and more companies providing cars for their employees have contributed to the drastic increase in the vehicle to population ratio in the country. As UAEInteract mentioned.

Solution:

As I said, the capital is facing a shortage of parking spaces. And if we just come back to 2006, from the UAEInteract archive I got this:

“The Municipality and the Town Planning Department is working on a pilot model project for better parking management, which if found useful, will be implemented in congested areas of the capital.”

Exclamation Mark
So, those are 2 years since 2006 and we have not seen anything.. instead, the problem is getting worse and no serious steps have been put into action.

Out of Control !!!!

"Idols" or "Art Sculptures" in Abu Dhabi?

Watch

Doubts
Are these things “Idols”? Or shall we call them “Sculptures”?
What a confusion! I hate uncertainty and hesitations. Since they not specified and not defined, I can call them whatever I want, either “Idols” or “Sculptures”.

Definitions
An idol is a man-made object that is venerated in some way. [From Wikipedia]

Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping hard or plastic material, commonly stone (either rock or marble), metal, or wood. [From Wikipedia]

Doubts Again
After having the definition of both, idol and sculpture, and knowing the difference between them, I still don’t know what to call those stuff which have been put in the public road, Corniche street, in the city of Abu Dhabi; UAE.
Let me tell you why I’m still in doubts. I’m still in doubts because an idol to be considered an idol, it should be venerated (or worshiped) by someone.So, whether the country government meant to put these 3D-sculpts to be worshiped or they didn’t mean it, we will still have the possibility of someone to idolize one of the sculpts. And whatsoever, even what I’ve said carried out with one person amongst the 1.6 million publication of the city, then I can confidently say that this 3D-sculpt is an “Idol”. And this talk is not brought from scratch. Look: Hindu views of idolatry.

But, if those 3D-sculpts are very clearly specified and defined (Like writing a sign next to each sculpt explaining about this brilliant peace of art) + if they are not placed in the most important street in the city (Like placing them in a museum or such), then I can confidently say that this 3D-sculpt is an “Sculpture, public art, or stacked art”.

Reminder: We still have the possibility to say we have “idols” in our city.
Notice: Many different forms of sculpture were used in Asia, with many pieces being religious art based around Hinduism and Buddhism (Buddhist art). [From Wikipedia]

Proof (No Doubts Anymore)
This subject is so significant when it’s to be considered in any Islamic country.
It’s so important, not to me only, but to the majority in the area.

Recall: When Prophet Mohammed [Blessings Be Upon Him] defeated the enemy and got the ruling of Mecca, he destroyed all the idols which have been there in the city.

Also, Wikipedia says: … a war that finally ended with the conquest of Mecca in the year 630. In the aftermath, the Prophet did three things. Firstly, with his companions he visited the Kaaba and literally threw out the idols and destroyed them,… [Look Wikipedia]

Now, what I’m aiming to say here is that despite of the fact that the city became Islamic one and all people were Muslims (which means all of them are believers and worship the one God), despite of this fact, Prophet Mohammed [BBUH] destroyed all the idols.
So, as a Muslim country, we should follow our prophet. And as I mentioned, even if the sculpts are not for idolization or worshiping we shouldn’t have them there.

UAE in the vein of USA, Canada, UK, Taiwan,…

I have shown the new sculpture we lately had in UAE, Abu Dhabi.
Now, I just want to show how similar it is to some sculptures in other non-Islamic countries such as UK and Taiwan:

UK:

Iron Man by Anthony Gormley, in Victoria Square Birmingham, UK

Taiwan:

Between Sky and Earth (Ariel Moscovici, France, 2002) depicts cycles of building, erosion and renewal. The work stands outside Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan.

At Last
At the end, I’d like to say that this great art, these sculptures never match out our traditions and religion.
Add to this that I don’t find those sculpts beautiful at all. Maybe I’m not conversant and not able to appreciate such an art!

Just out of ordinary!

(I’ll post the other pictures of the new sculptures soon).

First Season of Red Bull Air Race World Series 2008 in Abu Dhabi

Red Bull Air Race lasted for two days (Thu & Fri , Apr 11 – 12) and took a place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for the forth time since 2005.

Audience of 350,000 spectators(Khaleej Times said) gathered at Abu Dhabi Corniche to watch this great and interesting event and to see some of the world's most skilled pilots.
This was the first season of tenth in the Red Bull Air Race World Series for this year, 2008, and the following season will be in California, USA (Sat & Sun, May 3 – 4).

This event was held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor & Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sports Club, with a valuable support from HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.

The result of the competition was as follows:
1st Place : Paul Bonhomme (UK)
2nd Place: Hannes Arch (Austria)
3rd Place: Mike Mangold (USA)

Winner: Paul Bonhomme (UK)

What’s Red Bull?
Red Bull is the brand name of an energy drink that originated in Thailand and, in a version adapted to Austrian tastes, is now popular throughout the world. (Look wikipedia)

What’s Red Bull Air Race World Series?
The Red Bull Air Race World Series, established in 2003 and created by Red Bull, is an international series of air races in which competitors have to navigate a challenging obstacle course in the sky in the fastest possible time. (Look wikipedia)


What About Red Bull Air Race World Series Locations?
These are the countries which held the Red Bull Air Race since 2003 till 2007:
(and the number of rounds in each country)
Australia: 2 rounds
Austria: 2 rounds
Brazil: 1 round
Germany: 1 round
Hungary: 5 rounds
Ireland: 1 round
Mexico: 1 round (cancelled = 0 rounds)
Netherlands: 1 round
Portugal: 1 round
Russia: 1 round (cancelled = 0 rounds)
Spain: 2 rounds (1 was cancelled = 1 round)
Switzerland: 1 round
Sweden: 0 rounds (first round in 2008)
Turkey: 2 rounds
United Arab Emirates: 3 rounds
United Kingdom: 4 rounds
United States: 5 rounds

For more information, look at Wikipedia - Red Bull Air Race World Series.

14,000 Fire Accidents In The UAE Just In 5 Years

Today at 1:52 AM, in Dubai; Diera Area.. A fire accident happened due to an electrical short circuit at Nayef Market and 100 shops were burnt out, as said by “info2cell”.
As mentioned in “wam.org.ae”, 184 shops were burnt out, and 14 shops in the neighborhood were protected. And Dubai Police and Civil Defence brought this accident to an end within 2 hours and 16 minutes as mentioned in

In accordance, another fire accident happened in Dubai; Al Qouz Area, just last week, on Wednesday –Mar 26,2008. That accident was close to the one happened today and it ended up with burning around 81 shops in the nearby, 2 deaths, and losses of about $ 200 million according to “CNN Arabic”.

Finally, I’m feeling repentant and disappointed to reveal the fact that UAE reported 14,000 fire accidents in five years (from 2002 to 2007); “wam.org.ae”. So this problem should be seriously solved for the sake of human lives and environment.