Saeed Al Abbar, a 26-year-old Emirati, was recently named the International Young Consultant of the Year by the British Expertise International Awards 2010. As a sustainability consultant in a multinational firm, his role essentially revolves around the future of the UAE: sustainable design of communities, infrastructure and buildings.

The British Expertise International Awards recognises excellence in design, planning, management and construction of projects around the world. The multinational company’s Yas Island Primary Infrastructure project was also shortlisted in the major consultancy project of the year category.

“Architects in this region are among the most creative in the world. People of this region have been able to live without electricity, air conditioning or abundant fresh water for centuries. So there are certainly design elements that can be incorporated in buildings, cities and infrastructure of today,” said Al Abbar, who works for Halcrow.

Al Abbar recently took on the offer to project manage the Emirates Green Building Council’s new headquarters in Dubai which will strive to achieve the highest LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) ratings as well as demonstrate leadership in sustainable design and construction practices.

The building that stands out most for the award winning consultant Saeed Al Abbar in the UAE is the Dubai World Trade Centre, specifically for reasons that the design incorporates the environmental conditions and availability of natural resources.

“Built in the 1970s, I think it has stood the test of time and remained an iconic landmark in spite of all the changes that have taken place in the city. It also has numerous sustainable design features before the term ‘green buildings’ even existed and it was simply known as ‘common sense design for the Middle East climate’.

“You will notice that the window glass is limited to about 30 per cent of the wall area and all windows are set back. So they receive shading throughout the day. Despite being built in the 1970s, it is somewhat disturbing to note that it is probably more energy efficient than a lot of new buildings in the UAE,” he said.

[Gulf News]

Video created by Emiratweet to this is year’s DIFF Emirati Filmmakers

“We have reached a stage where we can compete, and it is great to have an award for Emirati filmmakers.” – Khalid Al Mahmoud

This year’s DIFF celebrates local filmmakers with the inaugural Muhr Emirati award. Fourteen directors have been shortlisted to compete for the inaugural Muhr Emirati award, which will be presented on Sunday at the festival’s closing ceremony. They include well-known names and younger directors who submitted new work covering a wide variety of subjects and in many different styles, from documentary to feature and from real stories to fantasy. Here are some of the competitors:

1. “Two Guys and a Goat” By: Saeed Al Dhaheri The film is a comedy about two guys who steal a goat, and I selected this topic because I like comedy. It was near Eid time, when the prices go up, and the idea started developing.
2. “Letters to Palestine” By: Rashid Al Marri The film is a number of video messages sent from the UAE to the Palestinian people. The idea was based on Ziara Initiative, which organises a visit to Palestine for some groups, but Arabs who can’t travel to Palestine would also like to send video messages. The film was completed in October.|
3. “Malal (Boredom)” By: Nayla Al Khaja The film is about an Emirati couple who go to South India for their honeymoon, but the bride is bored during her honeymoon. The idea occurred to me when I was once trapped in a hotel in Sharjah during the rain. I couldn’t go out or do anything, and I was extremely bored. This is when I started writing the story.
4. “Etmah (Darkness)” By: Ahmad Zain The film is about the role of the postman in the past. He used to deliver messages, read them for their recipients and sometimes even write their reply for them. The idea was mine, but the scenario was written by Saeed Salmeen.
5. “Soweer” By: Saud Mohammad Merwesh Soweer is a traditional game. The film is about a lonely girl who lives with her grandmother. She meets a fairy who becomes her friend and plays with her. It is a fantasy, and I always wanted to make a fantasy movie.
6. “Hayat Min Sakhar (Life of Stone)” By: Moaz Bin Hafez The film is a documentary about an old Emirati man from Ras Al Khaimah who gathers stones from the mountain and sells them. It is a real story that inspired me.
7. “Ghawas Gaza (Gaza Diver)” By: Ali Khalifa Bin Thalith The film is a documentary about a Palestinian boy who had his legs amputated in Gaza and came to the UAE for treatment, but ended up learning how to do dive and loving it. I am a member of the Tawasul Diving Society, and I suggested that the boy tries diving to help him heal.
8. “Sabeel” By: Khalid Al Mahmoud The film is about two kids living with their grandmother. They sell vegetables to buy her medicine. It is a simple story and a window through which we can see the lives of these people.
9. “Hamama” By: Nujoom Al Ganem Hamama is a documentary film about a 90-year-old woman who works as a healer. I was looking for a real life character and a friend of mine who is interested in heritage suggested her.

As posted in 7days 2 foreigners (who are Iraqis) beat a 65 year old Emirati up over a parking space. (Shocking) A father and son have been accused of assaulting a frustrated motorist and punching out his teeth in a row over a parking space at a shopping mall. (What a pity and a unnecessary behavior)

A 48-year-old and his 24-year-old son came to blows with the victim after they snipped and pinched into the slot he had been waiting for at Dragon Mart, Dubai Court of First Instance was told.  The 65-year-old Emirati, confronted them and said that the son punched him in the face and dragged him along the ground and then the father got out of the car and joined in, holding him back while the son rained down blows on his face and stomach. (unacceptable)

The assault only came to an end when passers-by intervened. The two attackers have now been charged with assault and “causing two per cent disability” to the victim after they knocked out a number of his teeth. (and why not deport?)

Now here is more about how it all took place:

The victim told the court: “I had been looking for a parking space for 15 minutes when I saw someone stepping out of the mall and heading for his car. He told me that he was going and I waited by the space for another 15 minutes for him to leave.

“Then the two men came in their white Mercedes and stopped in front of me to get the parking space so I hit my horn and flashed my lights.

“They reversed and pulled up on my left and opened their window, asking me why I was doing that and said the space was theirs. I told them the space was mine because I was there before them and they insulted me, saying ‘Old man, you are lying’.”

The victim says the men then assaulted him. [7days]

Watch with Joy and Pride … and describe your feeling! Emiratis Singing the national anthem with pride and heart.

The National Anthem of the United Arab Emirates, ( Ishy Bilady, literally means Long Live my Nation), was officially accepted as the United Arab Emirates’ national anthem after the formation of the country in 1971. The anthem was composed by Saad Abdel Wahab, and the lyrics to the anthem, were written by Arif Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan.

Hessa Al Falasi said, “I feel fashion and style is what really completes the look of a beautiful woman. Besides, the beauty of the fabrics has had a great impact in drawing my attention to the field. My love of the field started when I was a little girl when I used to make dresses for my Barbie dolls,” she said.

Hessa, a 21 year-old and student at Zayed University, said: “I have specialised in teaching children because I love to learn about children and families, and I also took courses in fashion.”

Her passion for fashion also drove her to fashion design courses to enhance her skills, and she had courses in Dubai international school for art.

“I always aspired to be in the fashion industry but I used to procrastinate [on] the idea. However, the credit goes to my friend and partner Hind Al Mutawa who encouraged me to create our brand Nabrman. I owe her a lot, because she believed in me.” Hessa is a partner at Nabrman boutique in Jumeirah.

Morover, For Moza Al Mazroui the tryst with fashion started for fun.

“My interest in fashion started for fun, I used to design handbags with a friend for fun, and after taking a fashion illustration course I entered a competition in 2006 for designing evening dresses, where I won second place,” she said.

She enjoys the whole process of design, and that made her study fashion design and earlier this year she launched her first collection during Dubai Fashion Week A/W2010.

Counting my blessings is characterized by a simple and interesting writing style. Its simplicity takes you inside the writer’s world and makes you fly amidst his own memories with affection. The story makes you interact with the events and live the story as if you were a member of his family. Hussein has succeeded in narrating his life story in his own way which is different from the traditional style of writing autobiographies. His eagerness and determination to have the best life he could have is an inspiration to everybody who reads this book. [To buy the book]

Hussein will capture your heart with his fascinating charm and loving personality. [Read More]

Mohammed Salih Al Amri, studying if Grade five in Liwa Private School, Al Ain, scored 5.5 points, reported Al Ittihad newspaper.

Fouad Charlie Estaiban, Director of IELTS Center of the admission requirements unit at the UAE University, said: “This is an unprecedented global achievement by a child to obtain such an international certificate.”

Charlie said: A score of 5.5 is incredible, as students applying for medical and engineering colleges manage to score only up to 5 points and the admission requirement to arts colleges is 4.5.”

He could recite some parts of the Holy Quran when he was just two years, said the boy’s father and added that he was excellent at school, too. (Mohammed you make us proud)

Farah Saeed who is 27 years old and from Dubai is categorized as the first Emirati cabin crew member. She has graduated from initial eight week training course at the Etihad training complex in Khalifa City and is the only UAE national among 3,000 cabin crew members of more than 100 different nationalities.

Etihad group has more than 166 Emirati pilots and cadet pilots in its ranks, besides many UAE nationals starting to pursue their careers in the airline. That entirely attaches comfort and motivation to Farah’s job environment.

She was a receptive Etihad cabin crew member since she always takes skies in her role by flying to Istanbul and London Heathrow.

Farah’s expressed “The support and guidance I have received since joining Etihad has been immense. Throughout training, and now as a qualified cabin crew member, I have been warmly welcomed by everyone in the company and I hope more Emiratis will now look to join Etihad in-flight services.”

Following Farah’s graduation, she got to know the good news of having an exclusive contact center that will be operated in January 2011 by 80 UAE national women, in Al Ain.

As it is stated “The contact centre is the latest element to be introduced into Etihad’s innovative Emiratisation scheme that currently includes a cadet pilot, engineering, and graduate manager programme.”