Dubai's underwater villas go on sale for Dh5m

Plans to build underwater villas as part of Dubai's The World islands project are still to win approval from master developer Nakheel, it has been reported.

Although the sale of the partially submerged villas on the artificial islands off Dubai’s coast was announced last week, approval has yet to be granted, according to a report in The National newspaper.

The 1,700 sq ft villas, which will cost about AED5 million ($1.36 million), are being built on Monaco island, part of Kleindienst’s The Heart of Europe (THOE) project, which covers six islands.

THOE is the first permanent development at The World, a collection of manmade islands in the shape of the world, 4 kilometres off the coast of Dubai.

But according to the paper, Nakheel said it was still discussing the underwater villas proposal with Kleindienst.

“All developers are required to submit the development proposals for their respective islands to Nakheel and the appropriate authorities for approval before any construction can take place,” it quoted Nakheel as saying.

Kleindienst has said that it has no plans for further sales until approvals are granted.

“Our underwater villas are on a boat and can be moved, therefore this arrangement requires maritime authority approval,” said Josef Kleindienst, chairman of Kleindienst Group, adding that his company had already sold some of the underwater villas to Privilege Dubai.

Monaco island will offer the only residences within THOE, which also includes Sweden, Germany, St Petersburg, Switzerland and Austria, which will represent mainland Europe with various features from across the continent.

It also will include an exclusive marina and pool, while guests are expected to arrive by private luxury yachts, sea planes or helicopters.

The entire THOE project includes various hotels and entertainment. Kleindienst CEO Josef Kleindienst told Arabian Business last year he intended for guests to be able to spend 14 days at THOE.

The 300 manmade islands that make up The World were built by Dubai developer Nakheel at the height of the emirate’s real estate boom but there has been almost no work on the islands since the economic crisis in 2008-09, when property values in Dubai plummeted as much as 60 percent.

It's official: Eid Al Adha is on Oct 4; UAE holidays announced

Federal employees get four days off; private sector may get three days offBased on the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Chairman of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, has issued a circular on Eid Al Adha holidays for Federal ministries and agencies.

The holidays will start from Friday, October 3, 2014, until Monday, October 6, 2014.

That is a four-day holiday break for the festival. All Federal employees will return to work on Tuesday, October 7.

Eid Al Adha will fall on Saturday October 4, 2014, in Saudi Arabia, accordng to Saudi Supreme Court as the crescent moon has been sighted.

This was after the Saudi Supreme Court had called on all Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of the month of Dhul-Hijjah on Wednesday evening, 29th of Dhul-Qi'dah, 1435 AH corresponding to September 24, 2014.

Arafat Day will be on Friday October 3. Consequently, Eid Al Adha would begin on Saturday, October 4.

With Eid Al Adha falling on a Saturday in Saudi Arabia, there are little chances of extended holidays in the UAE even as GCC peer Kuwait has given the entire week off to its residents, resulting in nine days of holidays.

UAE residents are now eagerly awaiting the official confirmation on the length of the break they will get early next month.

The Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia had requested in its announcement that whomsoever sees the crescent of the month of Dhul-Hijjah with naked eyes or binoculars to report to the nearest court and register his testimony or report to the nearest centre to facilitate his reaching of the court.

It also urged all Muslims to sight the crescent for the cooperation of all in righteousness and piety.

Earlier Story

Shorter Eid Al Adha holidays in UAE? Could Eid fall on October 4?

The Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia has called on all Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, on Wednesday evening, 29th of Dhul-Qi'dah, 1435 AH corresponding to September 24, 2014.

The court requested in its announcement that whomsoever sees the crescent of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, with naked eyes or binoculars, to report to the nearest court and register his testimony, or report to the nearest center to facilitate his reaching of the court.

It also urges all Muslims to sight the crescent for the cooperation of all in righteousness and piety.

If sighted, Arafat Day would be Friday October 3. Consequently, Eid Al Adha would begin on Saturday, October 4. If so, holidays would be shorter and may not extend for the whole working week.

But, with about two weeks still to go and depending on the sighting of the moon, Eid Al Adha may also fall on Sunday, October 5, 2014, according to the Chairman of Islamic Crescent Observation Project (ICOP). However, Eid may well fall on October 4, as Mohammed Shawkat Awda was quoted as saying in the 'Al Bayan' daily.

UAE residents are eagerly awaiting the official confirmation on the length of the break they will get early next month.

If Eid Al Adha does fall on Sunday (October 5), a nine-day holiday break could well be in store for employees working in the country's public sector.

While an official announcement will come closer to the actual dates, going by past precedent, public sector employees in the UAE could enjoy a nine-day break, including weekends. October 5 is a Sunday, and as has been the case previously, five days of public holidays may well be declared - till Thursday, October 9.

Real Madrid looking to build Abu Dhabi theme park

While its plans for a resort in Ras Al Khaimah may have collapsed, Real Madrid is still pursuing leisure plans in the Middle East, with a theme park in Abu Dhabi a strong likelihood.

The Spanish football club had signed a deal with the RAK government and the RAK Marjan Island Football Investment Fund to build a 50-hectare themed resort on the man-made island.

While it had been scheduled for completion in January 2015, the plans were shelved last year and the RAK authorities are negotiating with new partners for the project.

However, speaking at the club’s general assembly recently, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez indicated that it still had ambitions for the UAE, Sport 360 reports.

“We're getting there,” he said. “There has never been any economic cost to us. But instead of doing it in a small Emirate, we're trying to do it in a location in Abu Dhabi.

"We are continuing to advance plans for a theme park where the experience of living Real Madrid will be unique."

This comes amid rumours that the club is preparing to sell naming rights to IPIC (International Petroleum Investment Company), which is owned by the royal family of Abu Dhabi.

According to Marca, which closely follows Real Madrid developments, the rights could be sold for up to €500 million over 20 years.

Earlier this year, the world’s first ever Real Madrid Café opened in Jumeriah Beach Residence in Dubai.

Qatar could lose World Cup, says FIFA official

A senior FIFA official has said he believes the 2022 World Cup will not take place in Qatar, the planned host country, because of the risks posed by the hot weather. [SCROLL DOWN FOR AN UPDATE, WITH COMMENTS FROM QATAR 2022 ORGANISERS AND FIFA]

Qatar won the bid for the football tournament in 2010 and the event is widely expected to be a big boost for the tourism and hospitality industries, among others.

However, it has been mired in controversy since it was awarded the World Cup, with concerns over the treatment of workers in the country and allegations of corruption in the bidding process, as well as the hot weather.

"I personally think that in the end the 2022 World Cup will not take place in Qatar,” FIFA Executive Committee member Theo Zwanziger told Sport Bild.

"Medics say that they cannot accept responsibility with a World Cup taking place under these conditions.”

While organisers have insisted that they would cool stadiums, training areas and fan zones, the former German football chief insisted there are still health concerns.

According to a Reuters report on his comments, he raised the possibility of investigations by state prosecutors if a fan was to be out in a life-threatening position.

“They may be able to cool the stadiums but a World Cup does not take place only there," he said.

Both FIFA and the 2022 World Cup organisers have raised the possibility of the World Cup moving to the winter to avoid high temperatures.

However, this is likely to be met by strong opposition from domestic leagues around the world, which would be disrupted by the tournament.

UPDATE: 2022 organisers swiftly responded to Zwanziger's comments, insisting the tournament will take place in Qatar. "The only question now is when, not if," Qatar 2022 communications director Nasser Al Khater said in a statement. "Summer or winter, we will be ready."

FIFA also emphasised that Zwanziger was expressing his personal opinion and that they did not represent the organisation's views.

Marriott 'teleports' guests to new lobbies

Using the latest virtual reality technology, Marriott Hotels is 'teleporting' guests at a number of its hotels so that they can explore the new Marriott Greatroom lobby. 

The brand has partnered with Academy Award-winning Framestore to create Marriott Hotel’s virtual travel experience, giving consumers a fully immersive, 4-D sensory experience based in Oculus Rift technology

Taking its cues from science fiction books and movies, The Teleporter features the Oculus Rift DK2 virtual reality headset, wireless headphones and suite of onboard 4-D sensory elements.

Once guests enter The Teleporter and attach the necessary devices, they can visit a virtual version of a new Marriott Greatroom lobby, before experiencing the feeling of traveling to Hawaii’s Wai’anapanapa Black Sand Beach in Maui and London, seen from the dizzying heights of Tower 42.

While ‘traveling’, 4-D elements such as the feeling of the warm sun on the ski, or breeze in the hair, kick in to enhance the experience.

“Marriott Hotels is pioneering the use of innovative technologies that will transform the guest experience to heights unseen in the current reality experience in unprecedented ways,“ said Marriott Hotels Brand Marketing vice president Michael Dail.

“Marriott seized on virtual reality and teleportation to give the next generation of travellers the clear cut notion that more amazing travel experiences are coming and to encourage them to co-create the future of travel with us on TravelBrilliantly.com, where their best ideas enter Marriott’s innovation pipeline. Together, we are pushing the limits of what is possible.”

The Teleporter is touring eight select Marriott properties from September to November, offering hotel guests and the public the chance to teleport themselves at Marriott Hotels in New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Dallas, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco.

This video gives a behind-the-scene

Now THIS Is How You Mix Old & New

A classic city townhouse is on the shortlist of nearly everyone's fantasy real estate purchases. One couple, Jennifer and Jimmy Oppenheimer, get to live the dream in their Chicago townhouse. Though the home's handsome features make it seem as if the property has been there for generations, it's actually new construction. (Local architect Phillip Liederbach carefully researched the iconic homes of the period designed by David Adler, for inspiration.)

To give their new home unforgettable style, the Oppenheimers called in the fabulous designer Steven Gambrel to create a look that's one part vintage and one (big) part modern drama. Check out the photos below to see what we mean, along with what you can learn from this incredible townhouse.

Meet Abu Dhabi’s exclusive luxe community on Nurai Island

 Nurai Island, Abu Dhabi, is a 10-minute boat ride from an air-conditioned jetty house on Saadiyat Island. As we board and speed away, past the mangroves, all thoughts of the bustle of the city melt away. Rounding a corner, we catch our first glimpse of the private, beachfront estates and water villas of Zaya Nurai Island, and could be forgiven for thinking that we’ve been transported to a luxury resort in the Seychelles.

This is Abu Dhabi’s most exclusive address: all 23 residential, waterfront villas – each costing upwards of Dh20 million – on the 4.3-million-square-foot island have been sold. Nurai Island’s master plan includes 32 luxury boutique retreats for hotel guests, a spa, restaurants, a marina, a non-motorised water sports centre, a yoga studio, a gymnasium, a tennis court, a helipad and more.

The resort and living environment have been designed for a community of successful, discerning individuals who want somewhere they can really relax, explains Nadia Zaal, the chief executive and co-founder of Zaya Retreats. “The wives had been saying: ‘We keep having to cancel our holidays.’ So wouldn’t it be amazing to give them a holiday environment, closer to home, which they could use more often?”

                                                  

Just 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi, or an hour from Downtown Dubai, the island getaway was envisaged as the perfect antidote to city life – without international flights and extensive travel.

Each of the island’s private residences sits on a generous plot – up to 65,000 square feet – and has uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf, not to mention the occasional dolphin.

Nadia has worked on the island’s development since its acquisition in 2008, and explains that they wanted to create a “virgin island; the rationale behind the design was that you felt like it was integrated into the landscape and wasn’t harsh on the eye”.

                                                   

Curved, eco-friendly “grass” roofing seamlessly joins banks of planted grasses to pull the estate villas into the island topography. Planting is still in progress, but this has already bedded the architecture to the land, creating an aspect that is both natural and enticing.

The island’s only hotel, Zaya Nurai Island by Zaya Retreats, is due to open in the fourth quarter of this year, and will provide the island’s residents with full concierge services, housekeeping, maintenance, security and catering. When a new homeowner queried what he needed to bring for his first trip, Nadia responded: “Just bring your clothes, that’s it; everything else is taken care of.” There are no cars on the island – residents can arrive either by a regular or on-demand speedboat service; there's also provision for private yacht mooring. On-land transport is strictly by buggy only.

To create a destination that’s beautiful, functional and unique, and a location where people can “disconnect in order to reconnect with what’s important”, Nadia sought those who could respond on an emotional level to the vision that they had for Zaya Nurai Island. She decided to “take a chance”, not with an architect, but with a product designer – Drow of Drow Studio – as she felt an immediate rapport with the young designer and his ability to think differently. Drow worked on developing the concepts for Nurai’s architecture, creating the desired "virgin-island" homes, with buildings melded into the landscape.

Drow joined forces with AW2, the Paris-based architects responsible for a number of award-winning resort projects including The Nam Hai in Vietnam. The results speak for themselves.

No two homes are the same, as owners select various permutations and functions for their rooms, as well as the hard finishes for their properties. 

We visit an estate villa, where Nadia’s mother, Lesley Zaal, an interior designer and the founder of Etcetera Living, is putting the final touches to the interiors and pool area of the property. The owner and his family are due to arrive shortly to view their new home.