Dubai, UAE, 9th February, 2012: A medical symposium co-organised by Emirates Allergy and Respiratory Society, in collaboration with Takeda Pharmaceuticals FZCO, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, yesterday evening (Wednesday 8th February, 2012) warned that while most chronic diseases in the UAE are being controlled, the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is rapidly increasing, with 4 per cent of the Abu Dhabi population affected by it, according to recent study done by Dr. Ashraf H. Alzaabi, Chair, Clinical Assistant Professor, UAE University, and Head, Respiratory Division, Zayed Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Dr. Mirza Ali Al Sayegh, President, Emirates Allergy and Respiratory Society said a new study on COPD is being conducted by the Society to cover the whole GCC region and its details would be announced soon.

Dr. Bassam Mahboub, Consultant Pulmonary Medicine, Asst. Prof. University of Sharjah, Head of Allergy and Respiratory Department, Dubai Hospital and Vice Chair Emirates Allergy and Respiratory Society Dubai, UAE said: “COPS is currently the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. The prevalence of smoking in the UAE is around 23 percent. The 4 percent figure of the COPD prevalence will rise as the smokers’ group in the UAE grows older.”

Professor Leonardo Fabbri, an expert from the University of Modena in Italy, Reggio Emilia, provided latest updates on COPD, which is still widely disregarded by most people.

Dr. Al Sayegh alerted participants that COPD is an under-diagnosed, life-threatening lung disease. COPD is used to describe chronic lung diseases in which breathing is severely restricted because of lung damage and inflammation. He emphasized that the disease is preventable and can be managed but it is progressive.

Professor Fabbri said: “The WHO estimates 80 million people have moderate to severe COPD worldwide. Three million people died from COPD, which corresponded to five percent of all deaths globally. Every hour COPD is estimated to kill more than 250 people worldwide, which means that COPD kills someone every 15 seconds.  It is also costly to manage with the annual healthcare bill adding up to more than 10 billion Euros in the EU alone.”

Professor Fabbri emphasized that effective management of COPD should be aimed at improving daily control of the disease, including actions to relieve symptoms and improve exercise tolerance and quality of life. Another important goal is related to reducing future risk, including actions to prevent and treat exacerbations, prevent disease progression, treat complications and reduce mortality.

Dr. Osama Al-Nawasany, Medical Affairs Director, Takeda Pharmaceuticals FZCO, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who organised the symposium added: “One of the most promising new treatments for COPD is Roflumilast, a first-in-class phosphodiesterase (PDE4) inhibitor that is the only licensed oral therapy that targets COPD-specific inflammation.”

At the symposium, Emirates Allergy and Respiratory Society launched, in collaboration with Takeda Pharmaceuticals FZCO, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a campaign to raise the awareness of the risks, prevention means and treatment for COPD that affects mostly smokers.

Professor Fabbri said that clinical studies have shown that Roflumilast is edacious in patients with severe COPD who have a history of frequent exacerbations and symptoms of chronic cough and sputum. In these patients, Roflumilast significantly reduces exacerbations and improves lung function when added to bronchodilators, making it easy for physicians to do more for patients who need additional treatment to reduce exacerbations.

The symposium pointed out that many people with COPD continue to suffer from frequent exacerbations and an increased risk of a more rapid disease progression.  It is thus an important goal to identify these patients and to initiate actions to prevent exacerbations such as smoking cessation, influenza and pneumococcal vaccination, secure adherence to prescribed therapy or initiation of additional therapy.

Dr. Mahboub added: “Exacerbations are episodes of worsening of patients’ symptoms, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. COPD exacerbations are associated with increased airway and systemic inflammation as well as physiological changes in the lungs. They include increased breathlessness and a chronic cough, mucus production, extreme fatigue and other signs of health deterioration. They are triggered mainly by respiratory viruses and bacteria, which infect the lower airway and increase airway inflammation.”

Smoking cigarettes is the major cause of COPD in 80 per cent of cases. Other causes include: pollution generated by a number of domestic heaters and air pollution. Besides smoking cessation, there are several treatments, which should be closely monitored by qualified physicians. Self-medication is not an option for this disease. 

Dr. Mahboub added: “A new class of tablets (called phosphodiesterase inhibitors), such as the new Roflumilast, hold great promise. This medication, when used with inhalators, has been shown to reduce “lung attacks” and improve lung function especially in severe cases.”

Abu Dhabi, 9th February 2011

SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, has announced the successful completion of the first phase of its “Intelaqa” initative, a programme of intensive training courses to support Emiratis who are looking to build their careers in the healthcare sector. The first phase saw 627 Emiratis pass through training, which inculcates in them SEHA’s ethos of professionalism and consistent excellence, as well as practical leadership skills.

The last course saw an outstanding closing lecture titled “Thinking Skills, Development and Creativity” by the UAE’s lecturer adviser Khalifa Mahrazi. The Intelaqa initative is in line with the directives of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, to open 6,000 UAE public sector job vacancies to be filled by Emiratis.

“We are pleased to announce the completion the first phase of the ‘Intelaqa’ program, which is specifically designed for UAE Nationals to become competitive in the labour market,” says Mr. Mohammad Al Qemzi, HR Manager, SEHA. “The second phase of the programme will involve the participants in field work for eight months, with evaluation and development reviews occuring during this period”.

 As per its goal of developing UAE national competencies and support Emiratisation, SEHA’s ‘Intelaqa’ program is specifically designed to train all candidates and prepare them for the public sector jobs they were nominated for. The programme will be implemented in two phases; the first incorporating training for competencies and technical skills, including the use of the ‘Cerner’ program used throughout SEHA’s facilities, and the second that will span eight months of field work and evaluation. The company has also developed a unified plan to attract, develop and retain UAE nationals in all departments and facilities, and is taking a proactive approach to sustainable development of the workforce in the UAE’s healthcare sector.

Dubai, UAE: Mercedes-Benz Middle East & Levant has announced re-gional sales during its 125th Anniversary year in 2011 as the second best ever achieved, celebrating record performances and touching highs last experienced in 2008. Revealing the results to media at a press conference held at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the luxury German automotive manufacturer also ‘Tee’d-Off’ a strategy to drive the momentum of 2011 sales, branding 2012 both the ‘Year of the SUV’, and ‘Year of AMG’.

Mercedes-Benz’ impressive roster of new models launched in 2011- includ-ing SLK Roadster, C-Coupe, CLS and C-Class Facelift - contributed to the overwhelmingly positive sales, with nearly 17,000 units sold overall in the region. It was a best year ever for Mercedes-Benz SUVs too, with year on year (YOY) sales up 16% across all models in the range. Highlighting this achievement was Mercedes-Benz’ “S-Class of SUVs” GL-Class, the flagship model growing 93% versus 2010.

Also celebrating best ever years was the company’s executive E-Class, with both sedan and coupé variant sales up 2% YOY.  The world’s best selling luxury sedan S-Class also came to the fore with another strong perform-ance, driven by the strong product offering of the Business Edition and AMG Sports Package options available.

Looking across the region, the three-pointed star shone brightest in Kuwait and Qatar, outperforming in both markets and posting record results of 40% and 30% YOY respectively. Dubai and Abu Dhabi retained their strong mar-ket position, with consistent sales performances delivering a 10% increase in sales and accounting for 39% of Middle East sales overall.

Frank Bernthaler, Director, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Middle East & Levant said: “Driven by Mercedes-Benz ‘Best or Nothing’ mantra throughout our 125th anniversary, we are delighted to congratulate our regional distributors’ best ever performances, and celebrate a second best year ever for us in the Middle East. We must thank our regional dis-tributor network for helping to achieve this and underline the importance of compliance in everything we do, which has further catalysed our sales suc-cess while supporting our long-term goal to achieve profitable growth and higher customer satisfaction.”

2011 momentum is expected to continue into 2012, with a regional strategy unveiled by Bernthaler focussing on SUVs and the company’s AMG sports car division to drive sales to new heights.

Dubbed as the ‘Year of the SUV’, the March launch of Mercedes-Benz new M-Class unveiled at the Dubai International Motor Show 2011 is marked as a key to growing market share for the company, and will be bolstered by new GLK- and top of the range GL-Class model launches in later months.

‘The Year of AMG’ represents the other side of Mercedes-Benz’ two pronged 2012 plans. A fearsome armada of new AMG models are geared up to turbo-charge sales for the company’s high-performance sports car division when they reach the Middle East’s shores. Models include the most powerful C-Class of all time - C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series; athletic and sporty SLK 55 AMG Roadster; dual personality E 63 AMG executive saloon; and 525hp, zero to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds ML 63 AMG.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Mercedes-Benz lightweight, athletic and luxurious SL-Class Roadster – the latest aluminium-body version of the ‘super-light’ will be launched in June/July this year. An announcement of a thunderous AMG version is expected from the Affalterbach headquarters soon, with a Middle East launch date to be announced shortly afterwards.

A return of the AMG Performance Tour in spring will once again give thrill seeking customers a chance to command the full fury of new Mercedes AMG models, building on the sales successes achieved from 2011’s AMG night driving experience.

Bernthaler also stressed the importance of the company’s refined Proven Exclusivity pre-owned vehicle offering. Available across the entire Mer-cedes-Benz Middle East and Levant general distributor network with a strong online and showroom presence, Proven Exclusivity sales grew by 22% last year and represents almost a fifth of the company’s total regional vehicle sales. Together with an existing fully fledged English website re-cently launched in Arabic as well, Mercedes-Benz has become the bench-mark in the pre-owned vehicle business.

Dubai Exports, an agency of the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED), Government of Dubai, has assisted Guarana LLC, a recently formed Dubai-based drinks producer, to become a strong player in the beverage sector in the UAE and the region.

Since its establishment a little over six years ago, Dubai Exports has successfully adopted a proactive approach to achieve its objectives of supporting not only local exporting community but more importantly the new local products manufactured in Dubai and the UAE. Dubai Exports has been assisting Guarana in building their overseas strategy and formulating on the ground tactics since its establishment last year. An important aspect of the tactics provided by Dubai Exports has been to connect with companies in international market that can support the Guarana product.

“We have been championing the cause of not only exporters but newly founded firms in various industries in the country. We have developed a portfolio of innovative tools to meet their needs and eventually encourage them to expand into foreign markets,” said Mohammed Ali Al Kamali, Director of Export Markets Development, Dubai Exports.

“Guarana’s venture in the global beverage market is a great achievement for Dubai and is typical of the UAE’s capability of producing world class products. We are proud to be part of Guarana’s journey from establishment to overseas success. We are pleased that our portfolio of services has allowed for a local brand to be established in the first instance and then to be exported regionally. This is one example of how Dubai Exports has increased the value of exports in goods and services sectors from the emirate over the last six years,” he added.

Guarana LLC was founded in June 2011 by a group of young Emiratis seeking to capitalise on the latest global trends in the beverage industry. In the very near future the company aims to launch Guarana products in Asian, African and European markets. 

“As a very young company, we appreciate Dubai Exports’ assistance in providing us with consultancy and guidance in the manufacturing of our products for the global market right from the start of our activities. The ability to think global has given us the right approach and a target to aspire,” said Mohammed Rustam, General Manager, Guarana LLC. “While the UAE remains our core target, new markets in the region are also critical to support our growth. Through the services provided by Dubai Exports, we are optimistic that Guarana will become a beverage of choice not only locally but regionally and internationally in the coming years.”

Guarana, the premium product of Guarana LLC, contains the guarana concentrate which gives it a superior taste and its special appearance. Guarana is a berry kind fruit which grows in the north of Brazil and Venezuela.

“The strong economic performance in Dubai, as demonstrated by the high number of business licenses issued, was led by the visionary policies of the government. It also shows the high level of investor confidence in Dubai, chiefly on account of its leading economic role in the region and the world. One of DED’s strategic objectives is to create a suitable environment that retains Dubai as a destination of choice for investors,” said His Excellency Mr Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of DED.

“We always seek to attract investment and boost economic activity in Dubai by providing value-added services to investors and the business community,” added Al Qamzi.

The top ten business activities in Dubai accounted for 12,527 - 24.8% - of the 50,589 activities for which licenses were issued in 2011, compared to a share of 11,733 in a total of 46,287 licensed activities in 2010. ‘General trade’ led the list of the top 10 licensed activities in the commercial category with 1,799 licences issued in 2011, compared to 1,543 licenses in 2010. Dyes & paints; carpentry and flooring & tiling were the other business activities that showed significant growth last year.

The total number of amended liceses in 2011 was 58,129, an 18% increase over 2010, while the total number of renewed licences grew 4% to reach 97,355. The total number of transactions rose 25% to 503,792 in 2011, from 402,081 in 2010.

The total number of commercial permits issued in 2011 was 39,898, while the total number of trade names reserved reached 52,136, a 15% increase. DED also conducted 82,916 random and organised inspection visits in 2011, 3% more compared to 2010. The number of trademarks protected by DED was 132 in 2011, a 30% increase compared to 2010. Meanwhile, the number of commercial agencies that has been protected was 22 in 2011, an increase of 45% over 2010.

The number of licenses issued to companies according to legal status and for investing in Dubai reached 14,361 in 2011. Limited liability companies topped the list of companies at 8,787 and a growth rate of 17%. There was also a 33% increase in simple partnership firms and 300% increase in government liaison offices.

The total number of licenses issued to the top ten foreign nationalities among investors in Dubai was 58, or 73% of the total licenses issued (80) in this category during 2011, compared to 51 in 2010. British nationals topped the list with 14 licences in 2011, followed by Saudi Arabians, Indians and Bahrainis in that order.

Dubai, February 8, 2012: DM Healthcare, a leading healthcare conglomerate with operations in the GCC and India, today announced the launch of its ‘Care Beyond Boundaries’ initiative as part of its silver jubilee celebrations.

The unique initiative, which marks DM Healthcare’s 25 years of providing quality healthcare to the community, will run throughout the year offering various services and undertakings to offer support to the community. Under the ‘Care Beyond Boundaries’ banner, DM Healthcare promises to undertake various initiatives to promote healthy living in the community.

Dr. Azad Moopen, Chairman, DM Healthcare, said: “For us, ‘Care Beyond Boundaries’ is not just a catch phrase. It is a philosophy and practice which is ingrained in our genes for over a quarter of a century now; it is part of our DNA.”

“We serve across regions, nationalities and different verticals of healthcare. With presence in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman in the Middle East and with an expanding footprint in India, we really are now present across boundaries of regions and nations. With equal presence in all the three important verticals of healthcare namely clinics, hospitals and pharmacies, we today serve about 8 million people a year, who represent various nationalities,” he added.

Dr. Moopen further added: “We provide a complete bouquet of medical services and this is why we claim to be unique and celebrate ‘Care Beyond Boundaries’”.

Mr. Jamal Majid Khalfan bin Thaniah, Business Associate and Director of DM Healthcare said:  “The journey of DM Healthcare has been possible only with the strong support of the visionary rulers of the country and the support of the authorities and local population here. The ‘Care Beyond Boundaries’ initiative is our small way of giving it back to the community that has been supportive of our operations through these years. Twenty five years is a major milestone. For us it is an opportunity to look back at what we have achieved, take strength and learning from the journey and be inspired to carry on with this service for the next 25 years and more,”

Today, DM Healthcare is the largest private healthcare provider in GCC with over 125 establishments under Aster and Medcare brands. Commenting on the future business plans of the group, Dr. Moopen said: We have plans to increase our network across the region, with projects that are all set for completion in the coming months. Our operations in India have been growing at a rapid pace too. Apart from increasing the network of hospitals in India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, DM Healthcare is constructing the Aster-MedCity, a state-of-the-art quaternary care referral hospital in Kochi, master planned in 38 acres of land and a medical college with 750 beds hospital in Wayand, Kerala. We have acquired a large hospital in Saudi Arabia and are constructing three hospitals in UAE. With these, the total beds being managed by the Group will be over 3,000 in India and GCC.”

As part of the ‘Care Beyond Boundaries’ initiative, DM Healthcare aims to take up awareness campaign against Road Traffic Accidents as a major project in the next decade. This will be done in association with local authorities like RTA in Dubai. DM Healthcare will soon launch a mobile healthcare vehicle for Dubai to aid the CSR activities. The vehicle will also be a channel through which the Group will focus on spreading awareness on the ill effects of tobacco. The vehicle equipped with latest infrastructure and built keeping in mind the regulations set by Ministry & Health Authorities, Road Transport Authority and Municipality will provide healthcare screening and awareness camps as part of Aster’s ongoing Community Good Health Programme initiative. The service will mainly target to offer health awareness and possible healthcare screening services to the lower income strata of people, who are not covered by medical insurance. The vehicle will have doctors and paramedics on board.

Aster clinics will provide a 25% discount on all its Preventive Healthcare Packages throughout the year, as part of the celebrations. The packages can be availed at most of its Medical Centres & Hospitals across the region.

As part of its 25 years celebrations, DM Healthcare also announced the launch of a Loyalty Card called ‘Aster Care’, for its customers. The loyalty card will provide various privileges, including discounted fee, for loyal customers across the Aster network, comprising of clinics and pharmacies in the UAE.

As part of the ‘Care Beyond Boundaries’ initiative, DM Healthcare will organize free medical camps this year across the region. The camps are expected to provide health screening and preventive care for diabetes and other lifestyle related diseases to approximately 25,000 people during this year. The medical camps, which would be a continuation of Aster’s Community Good Health Initiative, will be conducted in co-ordination with various authorities, community associations and charity organizations based in the region.

The Group also announced the launch of an exclusive helpline number: 04 4400 500 which will provide information and assist with doctor appointments.

She moves to the hotel from the Jebel Ali International Hotels where she spent over five years working for the corporate office. Amira held an Assistant Director of Marketing position, which enabled her to combine her twin passions for the hospitality industry and marketing communications.

Of Egyptian origin, Amira was born and raised in Dubai, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from the American University of Sharjah where she focused on advertising, public relations, marketing and print journalism.

Her career began at a media monitoring agency in Dubai in 2004 before she became a freelance journalist, later joining a marketing consultancy to broaden her experience of the communications sector.

According to General Manager Peter Mansourian, the addition of Amira to the team at the Grand Millennium Dubai will expand opportunities for the promotion of the hotel to a wider audience.

“With her knowledge of the region and its media industry, plus extensive knowledge of the latest marketing avenues opening up with new technology, we look forward to a higher profile both here in Dubai and also in overseas markets,” he said.

For more information about the hotel please visit http://www.grandmillenniumdubai.com

The jury explained their decision for selecting the Siemens headquarters in Masdar City, one of the integrated units of Masdar, saying: “This is a thorough investigation of the design of large floorplate space in an extreme climate, with a well-explained proposition emerging. The ambition for a LEED Platinum rating means the project will be followed by many designers and clients with great interest.”

The new headquarters building is part of a long-term strategic partnership between Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multifaceted renewable energy company, and Siemens to develop and utilize key energy efficient technologies. The building, commissioned by Masdar, designed with strong oversight by Siemens Real Estate, will meet the highest requirements in terms of architecture, energy efficiency and equipment – potentially resulting in a 45% reduction in energy consumption and a 50% reduction in water consumption (compared with the international acknowledged ASHRAE standard.)

Masdar is already working on several projects for ensuring energy efficiency in government buildings. It has expanded its outreach to other government departments in Abu Dhabi to encourage them to adopt green initiatives.

For Siemens in the Middle East, the recognition of this award further underscores the growing importance throughout the region of building new structures with energy efficiency in mind.  “We clearly see that there is a very thoughtful, growing mindset to keep building in an energy efficient way.  It is important to receive this recognition and help sustain more efforts like this throughout the region,” said Joachim Kundt, CEO of Siemens Lower Gulf Region.

Masdar’s innovative architecture has previously won the Royal Institute of British Architects International Awards for Masdar Institute’s architectural excellence.

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the CEO of Masdar, said, “This award is a testament to the innovative and sustainable architectural design that Masdar promotes. Sustainability is an integral part of Masdar’s core values as we seek to help transform Abu Dhabi from a fossil-fuel based economy to a knowledge-based one. Masdar City is a place where businesses can thrive and innovations can flourish and this building will serve as a model for sustainable cities across the world, pioneering best practices in sustainable urban planning, design and development.”

Mark Kowal, Partner and Head of Offices at Sheppard Robson, said, “Siemens Middle East Headquarters was designed from the inside out – led by the ambition to achieve efficiency, rather than a predetermined aesthetic, the resulting building is both commercially successful and environmentally sound: a truly sustainable solution aligned with Masdar’s vision for the low carbon city.”

The MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Award in the office category recognizes the contribution that the new building will make to its context in terms of urban design and its human qualities, as well as the attributes of the building, particularly in enhancing workplace productivity.

The Siemens headquarters building will perfectly fit into the concept of Masdar City, an emerging global hub for renewable energy and clean technologies. A special economic zone, Masdar City is a model for sustainable urban development regionally and globally, as it delivers the highest quality of living and working environment with the lowest possible ecological footprint, all in a commercially viable development. At full build-out Masdar City will have residential, retail, offices, research and development facilities, leisure and hospitality areas. The city is expected to host 40,000 residents and 50,000 commuters at peak periods.

Masdar City has already attracted an impressive list of partners, who are themselves technology leaders in their fields. In support of the strategic partnership, the Siemens Middle East headquarters in Masdar City will become operational in 2013.

Girma Wossenseged, VP – E-commerce Development, HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings, said, “It is a great way to engage with our guests – something that people are fascinated with and enjoy. In addition to the different perspectives for our brand, it brings us an instant feedback without being staid.

The participants have to write about 300 words on “why anybody should stay at a Coral Hotel” in order to enter a draw. The winning entry will receive a complimentary weekend stay (2 nights including breakfast for maximum 2 adults and 2 kids) at any hotel of their choice across our network of properties (subject to availability).

The response to the competition has been excellent. Girma confirmed, “We are receiving a lot of entries. Of course some are amateurish ramblings but there are others that are absolutely awesome. It is going to be very hard to select a winner that will be done by a special panel of journalists and marketing experts led by our agency MPJ – Marketing Pro-Junction.”

Last date for submitting entries is March 31, 2012. Terms & Conditions Apply.

For more information visit http://www.coral-international.com

“Spend a dream Valentine’s evening with your loved ones on the hotel’s sandy beach, soaking in the atmosphere redolent with emotion,” he adds.

Jean is talking about the hotel’s ‘Valentine’s Day Dinner’, an AED250 package that gets you a dedicated table showered with petals and decorated with flowers, and a candle-lit dinner.

“There’s a flower for the lady and a drink to welcome you to a barbecue on the beach. The mood is romantic, the ambience electric …  the perfect setting to celebrate the festival of love,” says Jean.

Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14, sweeping men and women, boys and girls across the globe off their feet. The day was first associated with romantic love in a poem written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the Middle Ages.

Today, it is a global phenomenon, part of a syncretic culture, its symbols being typically the heart-shaped outline, the rose, doves and the winged Cupid figurine.

Coral Beach Resort - Sharjah, located on a sandy beach in Sharjah, is popular with discerning leisure and business travellers as well as families looking to spend quality time together. Its facilities include a child pool, indoor playroom, swimming pools and tennis, badminton and volleyball courts.

More info from http://www.coral-beachresortsharjah.com