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CITYSNIPPETS THE LATEST NEWS FROM AROUND THE EMIRATE OF ABU DHABI

HOWZAT! STARS IN LOCAL Cricket took centre stage in sports in Abu Dhabi recently THE CITY SHOWCASE with a three-match one-day international series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The regional travel industry awards took Top architects have been invited to Pakistan beat Sri Lanka 2-1 in the event held at the place in Abu Dhabi last month which design one of the new museums main stadium in the capital. Fans were able to see the attracted big name stars to the emirate. planned for the capital’s flagship likes of Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lanka captain, and Chris Noth, famous for his role as project on a nearby natural island. Pakistan’s world number two ranked batsman, Mr Big in Sex and the City, and US The museum will showcase local Mohammad Yousuf, show off their talents. actress Lauren Holly appeared at the culture and art and be based in the World Travel Awards’ (WTA’s) regional cultural district of Saadiyat Island, ceremony which was held at the iconic which will also be home to Emirates Palace. international branches of the Louvre Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and Guggenheim museums. celebrated winning best new tourist destination and best promotion board following on-going efforts to boost the emirate’s tourism offering. “Abu Dhabi is spearheading the globe when it comes to luxury travel,” said WTA president Graham Cooke. “Their offerings are setting the benchmark for the industry worldwide.” The winners and top nominees from the contest will be put forward for their respective categories at the global awards held in the Caribbean later this The Sheikh Zayed National year. The verdicts are decided by surveys Museum, named after the late UAE of thousands of industry professionals. president, will be one element of what the emirate’s government hopes will be a cultural landmark in the region. It will have five galleries tracing the history of the small sheikhdoms’ transition into the modern Emirates. One of the highlights was when Pakistan all-rounder As well as showing how the Shahid Afridi struck a blistering 73 not out from only 34 money from selling oil has been balls, including four sixes, in the first game. used to develop society, the Following the successful one-day showcase, the sport museum will have specific themes, is set be given a further boost to its development in the including the country’s heritage and emirate by the addition of new facilities at Zayed the environment. Cricket Stadium. Saadiyat, meaning ‘happiness’, “We have already decided to build a full-fledged cricket lies around 500 metres off the academy that will help serve the community here,” said eastern coast of the city of Abu Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Dhabi. A public exhibition on the Cricket Club’s chairman. “We have plans to both develop cultural district is currently being the game and keep Abu Dhabi on the international held at Emirates Palace. cricket map. It is all in the preliminary planning stages.”

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NEWS

SOLAR POWER GUIDES ON TOP OASIS OF CALM

As more and more visitors are attracted The UAE is among the top 40 most Solar power is being launched in Abu Dhabi’s to Abu Dhabi, tourist guides are growing peaceful countries in the world, schools in an effort to spread awareness of the in value to help give people a more according to leading magazine environment to children. A pilot scheme has enjoyable, informative stay. The Economist. The UAE finished been brought into one local school with a view of Many are receiving intensive training 38th out of 121 countries and eventually putting solar panels in government from an on-going programme so that third in the Gulf behind Oman and private schools across the emirate and the they qualify for an official tourist guide and Qatar. rest of the country. licence. Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority Together with the year-round (ADTA) has witnessed a rise in the sunshine and standard of hotels, number of UAE nationals taking part the security in the UAE is viewed in training. as one of the main attractions for “Nationals with good knowledge, visitors. Apparently, Norway is the language and communication skills will world’s most peaceful country, make excellent tourist guides, thus according to criteria including offering the visitor an authentic Abu crime, strength of security, human Dhabi experience,” said Nasser Saif Al rights, terrorism and deaths Reyami, ADTA’s licensing director. from conflict. FILM FEST Initially, an exhibition is being held at the privately run Emirates National School so young Abu Dhabi is launching its own film people can learn about the technology and its festival at the luxurious Emirates use as a source of energy. Palace as part of an effort to position The exhibition and school programme are part itself as a cultural hub in the Gulf. of a venture involving Abu Dhabi’s Environment The emirate’s government is also Agency (EAD), which represents the UAE, and the aiming to support local, regional and German government’s energy agency. international films with a huge cash fund. The Abu Dhabi Film Commission will provide money for new pictures and encourage REDFORD filmmakers to use the emirate, with its vast desert landscapes, for HITS TOWN shooting on-location. The festival aims to attract people from all Hollywood legend Robert Redford paid a visit aspects of the film industry, including to Abu Dhabi last month. investors, directorsand producers. “This is the first time I’ve been to this part The announcement is the latest in a of the world and I can’t tell you how grateful series of cultural projects unveiled by I am to have the experience to see what the emirate. exists here,” the US actor said. Speaking to The first Middle East International students at the local Zayed University, Film Festival, which is planned for Redford added. “I guess I don’t see films as October 12-17 this year, will show just a simple way of entertainment; that’s international co-productions and be a just a small part of it,” he said. “The bigger place to talk about the financing of films. role I think now is cultural exchange.”

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