THE tourism sector is to get a fresh impetus with the investment of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority into a resort project in the emirate.

Shaikh Tariq bin Faisal Al Qasimi, SCTDA Chairman, said that the resort hotel property development in Sharjah will be a "unique concept", aimed at realising the full potential of the inbound leisure market, especially from Europe, the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent.

"These three traditional source markets have still not reached the saturation point for the UAE. I feel there is so much potential for inbound tourism into this country from these three regions," said Shaikh Tariq, speaking at the ninth Arabian Travel Market which opened yesterday.

The Gulf and Middle East region's premier travel and tourism show was opened by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, and Chairman of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing at its new venue the Airport Expo Dubai.

Gen. Shaikh Mohammed toured the show with Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Information, Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates, other Shaikhs, government officials and foreign delegates. The Crown Prince of Dubai was briefed about the show by Tom Nutley, Managing Director of ATM organisers Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE).

Gen. Shaikh Mohammed first unveiled a model of the emirate's world-class resort development 'Madinat Jumaeirah' at the Jumeirah International stand.

He then spent a considerable time touring the East Hall dedicated to the airlines, national tourism bodies and country stands from the Gulf, Middle East, Asia, Africa and Pacific-Australasia.

Gen. Shaikh Mohammed then moved over to the West Hall which houses participants from Europe and hotel chains. At the Dubai stand, he expressed satisfaction at the full show, and said he hoped for an ATM show on an even bigger scale next year. ATM 2002 while being hit by a negligible participation from US companies, has seen a tremendous increase in participation from the Middle East, with a growth of 10 per cent since last year.

The four-day show has seen a two per cent increase in floor space booked over 2001 and indicates that the decline caused by the September 11 syndrome may have "bottomed-out", according to RTE. Moreover, the major suppliers in global travel, sensing that the high-spending Arab market is looking closer to home for holidays, are seizing the opportunity to show their best and cash in.

With over 700 exhibitors from 56 countries having contracted for the show, the ATM features 212 main stands - 68 of which are ATM newcomers - covering 8,500 sq m. The Middle East countries themselves are raising their profiles, especially Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan, all popular summer haunts of Gulf Arabs, which have suffered a decline from their traditional European markets due to the crisis in Palestine.

Middle East participation at ATM 2002 is at an all-time high of 258 exhibiting companies - 182 of them are from the Arabian Gulf Co-operation Council countries, including 119 from the UAE.

The biggest stands at the show are: Dubai (360sqm), Emirates (276sqm), Lebanon's Ministry of Tourism (222sqm), Department of Civil Aviation, Dubai, and the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority (both 200sqm each).

In addition, Qatar, Bahrain and Morocco have substantially increased the size of their participation.

With two airlines from the Gulf, Emirates and Qatar Airways, starting flights to Casablanca, Morocco is also being featured for the first time in the 2002/2003 Emirates Holidays tour brochure, as one of the Gulf region's most popular FIT holiday programmes.

THE number of employment visas issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has shot up dramatically in the past few months to between 800 and 1,000 individual and group visas a day, according to a senior official of the ministry.

Salem Ali, Head of the Visa Committee at the ministry's premises in Dubai, attributed the sharp increase in the number of employment visas to restrictions on sponsorship transfer imposed under the Cabinet Order No 30 of 2001 which came into effect on October 23 last year.

The order restricts the sponsorship transfer initially to expatriate employees of eight categories, but an explanatory memorandum of the order further expanded the facility to other professions, besides engineers, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, professors of universities and other institutions of higher education, experts and legal consultants, economists, administrative staff with high educational qualifications, finance personnel, computer programmers, experts and technicians working in oilfield, sports coaches and marine and air navigation specialists, including pilots and skippers.

The categories added later included teachers, drivers, journalists and auditors. "The restrictions denied the transfer to many other employees particularly workers in the construction sector. So it was a natural result for private companies to apply for new employment visas for employees they need for their projects. It was the only way out for them," Mr. Ali told Khaleej Times yesterday.

Despite the fact that around 80 per cent of the applications filed with the ministry are for Asian workforce, the ministry is strictly implementing its policy to diversify the cultures at work place. "Accordingly we are denying employment visas to some nationalities in order to strike a balance between various cultures at the work place as well as in the country," Mr Ali said.

At a session at the Sharjah Consultative Council recently, Dr. Khalid Al Khazraji, Under-Secretary of the ministry for Labour Affairs, highlighted the success of the cultural diversity policy, stating that last year around 25 per cent of the expatriate employees who entered the country were Arabs, while the percentage of Indians dropped to 32 for the first time in so many years.

Mr Ali said that the cultural diversity at work place is a major criterion on which the visa committee bases its decision to approve or reject an employment visa application. Other conditions for obtaining new visas include giving priority in recruitment to UAE nationals who are qualified to occupy the vacant position, the actual need of the company for employees, and many others stipulated in a long list.

The head of the visa committee said that there is no change in regulations concerning employment visas following the Cabinet's order on merging the fees for labour transactions.

"The new fees have not yet been introduced. They will be implemented when the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs issues an order to this effect. Until such time, the ministry will continue to charge the same old fees for its various labour transactions," Mr Ali emphasised.

THE Ministry of Education and Youth yesterday warned students planning to join an academic institute or training centre to check with its offices if the institution is licensed by the ministry.

Dr Ahmad Butti Al Shamsi, Director of the Department of Continuous Education at the ministry issued the warning in response to a complaint filed with Al Muraqqabat police station on April 25 by 15 students against a Dubai-based computer training centre, claiming that the centre was conducting teaching activities without being licensed by the ministry. The list of complaints made against this centre and its director includes: students being barred from attending classes for which they have already paid, using connection with influential individuals to threaten students and hiring teachers not on the centre's visa.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Dr Ahmad said: "The centre is not licensed by the ministry and this is a violation of an order issued by the UAE Cabinet specifying the authority of each ministry. The ministry had sent a letter to the Ministry of Information as well as the newspapers which published advertisement for the training centre in question asking them to publish such ads in the future because many people were deceived by the false claims in these advertisements.

"Quick action should be taken to clear this mess, because students are not only wasting their money but they are also wasting their time," Dr Ahmad said. He appealed for Microsoft's cooperation in this regard since it approves certificates issued by such institutes.

One of the students who complained against the training centre, Ali Al Shamsi, an accountant at the Dubai Court, said: "There is only one teacher at the centre, who teaches us all subjects including: MCSE, A+, Oracle, Visual Basic and CIW. The centre's director even offered online exams (from Microsoft) on our behalf, in exchange for money."

He charged that the centre's director used to change class timings without giving prior notice to students in an attempt to force them to quit, thereby allowing him to take on new students in their place. No refunds were given.

In response to the students' claims, the centre's director who did not want to be identified, said: "The computer training centre's mission is to prepare students to take international exams of programs taught at the institution, as each program, such as A+ and MCSE, has an international exam number."

"My centre is a non-profit training centre and certificates issued by us are approved by Microsoft. The centre's commercial licence has been issued and attested by the Department of Economic Development in Dubai. I am not doing anything illegal."

The centre's director, who claimed to have 10 years experience in the field of computer engineering, said: "We conduct interviews and exams for teachers before hiring them, to ensure they meet the required qualifications.

"There are Friday classes as well, which I organise for weak students who wish to improve themselves. Ten students from Dubai Police studied at the centre and now they are doing great projects in their departments," said the director.

When Khaleej Times contacted Ali Ibrahim, Director of the Department of Registration and Licence at the Department of Economic Development in Dubai, he said that the department was investigating the matter with the centre's director. "The department will take quick action if the director of the centre is found to have violated the rules and the regulations of the licence," Mr Ali said.

JUMEIRAH International, the operator of Burj Al Arab, Emirates Towers Hotel, Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Wild Wadi Water Park, yesterday announced that construction is well under way for its latest resort development, Madinat Jumeirah.

The 40-hectares resort will be adjacent to Burj Al Arab and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. Madinat Jumeirah that stretchs over one kilometre of the idyllic Jumeirah beach will offer the ultimate Arabian experience against the setting of a highly luxurious resort.

Officials briefed the media about the project's progress at the Jumeirah International's stand at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) yesterday. General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, unveiled a full-size model of Madinat Jumeirah at the stand in the Dubai pavilion, set up by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

The resort is designed to encompass and promote the rich heritage and traditions of Arabia, allowing visitors and guests to experience the history and roots of the Arabic culture within an exclusive environment. Madinat Jumeirah will include two 300-room complexes, five-star hotels, Port Al Salam and Al Qasr and clusters of 340 rooms and suites in courtyard villas, all featuring authentic architecture reflecting the heritage and culture of Dubai and the Arabian region.

Port Al Salam is to be completed in the first phase of the multi-billion dollar project by the summer of 2003, and the resort is expected to be completed in autumn 2004. To link the hotels, villas and facilities throughout the resort, Madinat Jumeirah will feature a three-kilometre waterway that flows through the entire area, allowing guests to access all facilities by using traditional abras.

This unique facility will enhance the total experience that guests will be offered when staying in the resort. Madinat Jumeirah will feature the largest and most versatile spa in the Middle East, offering both European and Oriental style relaxation therapies and treatments, as well as traditional-style steam rooms, baths and other facilities.

In addition, the main souk and cultural village, with over 120 shops, cafes and restaurants, will be designed to represent the traditional trading culture where gold, spices, fabrics and curios will be on sale. As many as 36 small restaurants and cafes will be located in the alleys within the souk and throughout the lush, landscaped gardens of the resort itself.

Madinat Jumeirah will feature a meeting and convention centre of over 9,000 square metres with a 2,000 square metres ballroom. There will be a large amphitheatre at the centre of the cultural village and will be enough to accommodate up to 1,000 people for shows and entertainment events.

SHAIKH Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubai Municipality, has approved cash compensation worth Dh15.12 million in eight cases in which rented industrial plots were acquired by the Municipality for the Airport Road expansion project in Al Garhoud.

Qassim Sultan, Director-General of Dubai Municipality said the cash compensation was given against the buildings, which were located in the plots before the project was taken up.

He said the Municipality had earlier distributed land in other localities of the city against the plots acquired for the project for setting up similar projects. Mr Sultan said the Municipality in the coming days would be distributing the money to eligible people after completing the necessary formalities.

The companies and establishments in the compensation list included Obeid Abdullah Tahwarah (Warehouse), Aswan International Co. for Engineering LLC, Global Company for Sponge Manufacturing, Al Siyad Boat Manufacturers, Ibn Al Bahr Car Repair and Washing, Ahmed Saif Mohammed Al Falasi, Eppco, Hassan Abdul Kareem Al Dari, Abdul Raheem Galadhari and Sons and Muawiah Al Shanar.

THE Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Foundation is taking part in the third regional meeting of the UN Commission for Refugees Affairs and non-governmental organisations in the AGCC.

The two-day meeting is starting today in Doha. It has been being organised by the regional bureau of the UN Commission for Refugees in the Gulf states in cooperation with the Qatari Charity Association. The foundation is attending the meeting on the invitation of the commission's regional representatives Dr Mustafa Omar.

Abdul Rehman bin Sobeih, member of the foundation's Board of Trustees and head of the relief and international aid committee, will be presenting a paper at the conference on the charity works carried out by the foundation in Afghanistan. He will highlight the role of the foundation in supporting the Afghan refugees during the war by setting up five-star camps for them in an area near the Afghan-Pakistan border.

"Even after the war ended, the foundation continued to provide assistance to the refugees through ensuring their safe return to their villages and cities with enough provisions and money that will enable them to reconstruct their demolished houses," Mr bin Sobeih said before leaving for Qatar yesterday. He added that the foundation has rehabilitated around 321 Afghan families who spent more than six months in the camps as part of a project aiming at sending more than 15,000 Afghan refugees back to their homes.

"Our foundation was the first charity organisation in the world to be granted permission to set up refugee camps inside Afghanistan which allowed us to extend a helping hand to thousands of the Afghan refugees who fled their villages," Mr Bin Sobeih explained.

The Doha meeting will discuss on the first day the future scope of cooperation between various charity organisations, in addition to the procedures of returning the Afghan refugees to their home country and the means of supporting the activities of the commission.

VISITORS to the Emirates stand at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will have a chance to win 100,000 Skywards Miles - that's equivalent to two return tickets to Europe, two flights to the Maldives, or a range of luxury goods from Rivoli!

Open to the public on May 9 and 10, the ATM will showcase airlines, hotels and holiday destinations that will give visitors ample choice on where they want to go with their fabulous prize. Skywards, the frequent flyer programme of Emirates and Sri Lankan Airlines, is asking ATM visitors four questions about the programme, which can be obtained by visiting the programme's web site at www.skywards.com.

Brian LaBelle, General Manager, Skywards, said he was enthusiastic about the programme's participation in the ATM. "Skywards not only offers travellers a chance to earn miles when flying, they can also earn miles with our airline, hotel and car rental partners, a number of whom are represented at this exhibition, such as the Jumeirah International hotel group and Budget Rent-a-Car.

"Our competition is open to everyone visiting the ATM and the questions, most of which are multiple choice, are easy and fun," said the general manager. The draw will take place at the Emirates stand, just before the close of the exhibition on May 10 and the winner will be notified within 10 days.

Skywards is the innovative frequent flyer programme of Emirates and Sri Lankan Airlines. Personal rewards for passenger loyalty and business include earning Skywards miles on every flight with Emirates, Sri Lankan airline and its partner airlines and hotels worldwide, in addition to car hire and financial services companies.

Miles can be redeemed for free flights to hundreds of destinations, for leisure activities and quality goods. UAE residents can also earn Skywards miles with the co-branded Emirates-Citibank credit card - earning one mile for every dollar spent.

There are three tiers of membership - Skywards, Silver and Gold. The higher the membership tier, the more the privileges. Tier miles are accumulated whenever they fly with Emirates and Sri Lankan. Privileges include wait-list priority and pre-assigned seating for all classes and priority check-in.

INTER-Continental launched yesterday their novel global summer promotion for holidaymakers - whole world half price - at the inaugural day of the Arabian Travel Market.

The promotion offers holidaymakers a chance to stay at more than 140 hotels in over 70 countries for half the normal price. Though the promotion period starts on June 14 and continue till September 8, the summer holidaymakers can start the bookings immediately to reserve rooms at its hotels all over the world.

Some of the top Inter-Continental properties worldwide including Inter-Con Sydney, Bali Inter-Continental resorts, Hurghada inter-Continental resort in Egypt and Inter-Continental in Nairobi are taking part in the promotion. Besides, Inter-Continental properties in London, Paris and Hong Kong will also be part of the holiday promotion package.

"This is the best deal we have launched yet, as we are introducing whole world half price initiative as means to give our guests a true incentive to travel," said Denis Johnson, vice-president sales and marketing Middle East and Africa. "We are supporting the promotion with a global advertising and direct marketing campaign which will run in the US, UK, Germany, Italy, Dubai and Saudi Arabia and key Asia Pacific sites," said Mr Johnson.

THE executive committee of the Pakistan Association last week laid out an ambitious blueprint for their next year's plans amidst vows to revive the long-pending and long-forgotten multi-purpose building project for the Pakistani community living in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

Chalking out the plan, the executive committee of the association met the Press at the Pakistan Sports and Recreation Club, and promised to fulfil the long-standing demand of the community to build a decent leisure and activity club for the members and their families.

"We have formed a special committee of technocrats, architects, consultants, and financiers to work out the feasibility of the project, and I am sure soon it will see the light of the day," said association Secretary-General Sohail Anjum, who was flanked by President Shafi Samana and other committee heads.

"Our organisation believes in putting in efforts and not words. God willing, you will see us turning this place into a family entertainment place equipped with food outlets, library, computer coaching centres and sports amenities," said Mr Anjum.

The welfare committee of the association has always been a matter of pride for expatriates in Dubai and the Northern Emirates and the new body also pledged to maintain its high activity profile.

"We'll be spending around half a million dirhams on the welfare activities this year. Our routine business is going on as usual with regular Monday meetings in which we try to help as many needy Pakistanis as we can," he said.

The executive body of the association also vowed to expand its membership base in order to give more representation to all segments of the community and to broaden the finance base.

"We are also planning a new wing, especially for chartered accountants who are eager to set up their own activity platform as their number in the UAE is substantial, said Mr Anjum. The association also announced plans to launch a career counselling service for Pakistani students by preparing a career path directory for those who wish to study in Pakistani professional institutes.

A NEW web site has been launched that offers infromation on the UK visa and fast track immigration clearance for groups at UK airports. Jon Yarrow, Second Secretary for Policies and Information at the British Embassy in Dubai, said the newly-commissioned site, www.ukvisas.gov.uk, is a visa web site that has been created in collaboration with the Home Office and the Foreign Office of Britain.

The site gives an applicant information on required forms and documents for a UK visa and the methods of obtaining a visa with contact details of the nearest UK diplomatic mission. It also provides the facility of downloading and printing the application forms, thereby cutting down the number of visits to the UK embassy.

"The British embassy in Dubai is preparing for the summer rush by employing extra staff in the visa section," said Mr Yarrow. "In addition, there is a dedicated side entrance for visa applicants to avoid the rush at the main gate." Mr Yarrow said that the waiting rooms are also being refurbished. This summer, the British embassy hopes to issue over 200 visas per day, going by the figures last summer. Mr Yarrow said the number of rejections or refusals was very little. Under the UK Data Protection Act, the Consumer Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act, all information passed on by applicants will be treated in "strict and utmost confidentiality," he said.

On the UK side, there is now fast track processing for large groups of people travelling together, at various entry points and ports of the UK, according to a directive from the Home Office. This is expected to facilitate Arab visitors, who generally tend to travel in large numbers together.

A TWO-DAY campaign to support the Palestinian people, dubbed 'Fidaki Falastin,' will kick off today at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The campaign is organised by the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation in cooperation with the Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Humanitarian and Charity Foundation.

Employees of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation have donated one working day's salary to support the Palestinian people in attaining their rights.

The campaign's programme includes many activities, starting with a speech by the Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates airline, Shaikh Ahmad bin Saeed Al Maktoum at 7pm this evening. The programme will include a lecture, followed by poetry reading and Islamic chants performed by the Emirates Chants Group.

The two-day campaign will include a charity dish, a photographs section, a paintings exhibition, a charity bazaar, an open auction and a video screening show. Donations for the Palestinian people will be accepted during the campaign.

The second day of activities will be exclusively for women, which will include a speech by Shaikha Amena Al Tayer, wife of Shaikh Hasher bin Maktoum Al Maktoum and Director of Dubai Information Department. A show will be presented by the children of the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre.

At the end of the show the children will present a message to the US President George W. Bush on behalf of the children of the UAE, in which they will ask the US president to help halt the killing of Palestinian children by stopping support to murderer Mr Sharon.

The show will be followed by a lecture by Dr Moza Ghobash and then there will be chants presented by the UAE National Committee for Resisting Normalisation with the Zionist Enemy.

THE Public Health Department of Dubai Municipality organised an awareness lecture on diabetes and the common fungal infection Athlete's Foot, as part of its ongoing campaign to increase awareness on diverse health issues among its employees.

The lecture was conducted by the Health and Environment Education Office and the Clinic and Medical Services Section, in coordination with Johnson and Johnson and Novartis Consumer health, manufacturers of Lamisil.

A number of municipal staff attended the lecture following which free blood sugar tests were also administered. Speaking on fungal infections, Zuhoor Al Sabbagh, Head of the Clinic and Medical Services Section of the Public Health Department, said: "The workers who wear long and closed boots, which can become hot and sweaty during the day, are particularly susceptible to skin fungal infections, such as athlete's foot.

"We want to ensure (workers) are aware of the risk for developing fungal infection and know how to prevent and treat the problem. We are highlighting fungal disease as part of our ongoing health awareness programme and will continue it by offering talks and information on other health issues, including diabetes and smoking hazards."

Nada Shaban, a pharmacist from Novartis, discussed the causes, symptoms and treatment of athlete's foot. She said the use of tight boots for long hours and lack of washing feet or wiping them could cause this disease. She said if left untreated the condition could spread and affect nails and larger areas of the body.

Dr Mohammed Idris of the Municipality Clinic pointed out the necessity for taking care of the affected foot and giving it special treatment. He said workers should wash, clean and dry their feet in order to avoid infection. He also said that it is important to keep boots clean and avoid using boots made of polyester.

Momin Abu Nasser, a Pharmacist from Johnson and Johnson, who delivered a lecture on diabetes, talked about the causes, symptoms and treatment of the disease.

He said the symptoms include tendency to drink water frequently and a feeling of dryness in the throat. He said there are two types of diabetes; lack of insulin in blood and inadequate activity of pancreas.

"Anybody who wants to control this illness should control their diet first. The patient should go for a regular balanced diet without sugar," Mr Nasser said.

THE Arabic Language Protection Association should increase its control on the media in order to ensure that all media programmes fulfil the classic Arabic language rules.

This was recommended yesterday at 'The Arabic Language and Media' symposium held at the University of Sharjah (UoS). The one-day symposium was organised by the Arabic Language Protection Association in cooperation with the Faculty of Arabic Language at the university. The symposium appealed to all media personnel to enrich the Arabic culture through media promotions for the public. Training on use of classic Arabic while conducting interviews and in the articles will also be provided to journalists and writers.

The symposium also underlined the need for more creative writing especially in the field of children literature.

Several lectures were presented at the symposium by number of Arabic literature professors at the University of Sharjah and the association. The lectures covered Arabic poetry by Dr Hussam Al Nuaim, the richness of Arabic language, the Arabic language and its effects on the media as well as the Arabic language and the media challenge.

MOHAMMED Jameel Vanjara, owner of a trading business in Abu Dhabi, was the lucky winner of Dh1 million at the MashreqMillionaire draw held on April 15.

Mohammed's fortune is thanks to his son Khalid, who re-invested part of his Dh2 million winnings in his father's name after becoming a winner of MashreqMillionaire Multiplier draw in June 2001. Mohammed was on a vacation to India when his son told him the good news.

"I was always very confident about the MashreqMillionaire scheme because it offers 100 per cent security of original investment and there are plenty of opportunities to win fabulous prizes. "I plan to reinvest the majority of our winnings in the hope that it will happen again," said Mohammed.

Steven Pinto, Head of Retail Banking Group of Mashreqbank said: "This father and son victory demonstrates the power of MashreqMillionaire to bring windfall returns far in excess of any other savings scheme, at the same time guaranteeing 100 per cent security."

THE South Indian state of Karnataka is poised to make its presence felt in the Middle East by launching an eye-catching tourism promotion campaign, dubbed the Theatre Of Inspiration.

Known as the Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore will be taking part in this year's Arabian Travel Market with a delegation comprising Karnataka Minister of Tourism Roshan Baig and I.M. Vittilamurthy, Commissioner of Tourism, as well as the leading players from the state's travel and tourism sector visiting the show.

"Karnataka's multitude of attractions are unique. Hampi is the world's largest open-air museum and a world heritage site. Major international tour operators have shown keen interest in co-promoting Karnataka, and Europe's largest tour company TUI has already included Karnataka in their itinerary," said Mr Roshan Baig.

"Our attractions are so powerful that it is only a matter of time before Karnataka claims its place on the world tourism map as one of India's leading destinations," the minister added.

A new player on the world tourism scene in recent years, Karnataka, has, within a short time, been able to entice tourists with its wildlife parks and sanctuaries, adventure tourism, breathtaking waterfalls, secluded beaches, enchanting art, pilgrimages and heritage stops, traditional festivals and last but not least, the lively modern garden city of Bangalore.

Karnataka Tourism pavilion is located at the East Hall, Stand No.1970, near the India Pavilion at the Arabian Travel Market. "The Middle East holds tremendous potential, especially when it comes to nature holidays and adventure tourism that Karnataka can comfortably offer," said a Karanatka Tourism team member yesterday.

"We take pride in our culture and heritage and attach great importance to tourism promotion. The profile of our delegation here, which is headed by the minister himself, is a proof of it," he pointed out.

NEW excavations at archaeological site at the Abu Dhabi Airport Golf Club, following earlier discoveries of flint tools have confirmed the importance of the site during the Late Stone Age period dating to 5500 BC to 4000 BC, the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey, ADIAS announced yesterday.

The site was first discovered on a range of low hills inside the Golf Club perimeter in 1995. ADIAS said in a Press release that the excavations revealed the site to be occupied during the Late Sone Age, the early middle Bronze Age around 3000 BC to 2000 BC in the late pre-Islamic periods.

In April a review of the stone tools and animal remains from the site was conducted by two ADIAS experts, Dr Heiko Kallweit of the University of Freiburg, Germany and Dr Mark Beech of University of York, UK. Dr Kallweit said the review produced valuable new information and showed that the site covered a larger area than previously surveyed.

A complete flint arrow-head was recovered from the Southern fringe of the site. The arrow-head was of a type not previously known to have been found in the UAE.

He said the new finds provide valuable new information on the possibility of trading routes stretching right across the Arabian peninsula during the late Stone Age period. Discovery of tiny crescent-shaped fragment of worked flint known as microlith gives an insight into the UAE's way of life in the Late Stone Age.

A DUBAI-based Jordanian national, Ghassan Naman Fakhouri, has become the latest $1 million winner of Dubai Duty Free's Millennium Millionaire promotion in Series No.20 - Ticket No.1428.

"I first thought someone was playing a joke on me, but I soon realised it is true when all my details were read over the phone. I'm just so happy and still in a shock," said Mr Fakhouri after he was informed about his win yesterday. Mr Fakhouri, 35, a civil engineer, has been a resident of Dubai for the last 12 years. He has purchased 10 tickets of the Millennium Millionaire since it was launched in June 1999.

The lucky ticket was picked by Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Department of Civili Aviation and Chairman of Emirates, at the opening of the Arabian Travel Market. Also present at the draw were Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, George Horan, General Manager, Salah Tahlak, Senior Manager Promotions & Advertising, and Anita Mehra-Homayoun, Director of Marketing & Media Relations, DCA.

UAE artist Shaikha Azza Al Qasimi is staging her first solo exhibition at the University of Oxford in the UK to help promote "cross cultural understanding and awareness."

Shaikha Azza has dedicated the exhibition to her father, His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah - and a lifelong patron of the arts.

Titled 'Mirage,' the exhibition opened on May 6 at Oxford's St Antony's College, where Shaikha Azza is studying, and continues until May 10. 'Mirage' features 25 paintings in a unique setting. In keeping with its title, it embodies a Gulf theme and the entire exhibition room has been transformed by ten tonnes of sand. The authentic atmosphere is further heightened by desert flora and fauna, a central Majlis, Bedouin-style seating, Arabic coffee pots, carpets and furnishings.

Arabic music will play throughout the exhibition and visitors will enjoy a touch of native hospitality - with the traditional welcome of Arabic coffee and dates extended to all.