Dubai Says Farewell To The Flambe

Dubai inspectors are looking for illegal alcohol, but this time inside sauces, soups and desserts.

Media reports say Dubai authorities plan to step up enforcement of a 2003 law prohibiting restaurants from using booze in food preparation.

Alcoholic drinks are widely available in Dubai and the 2003 law has been mostly disregarded.

But the latest move appears aimed at easing worries from Muslim restaurant goers that no wine or liquor were used in preparing their meals. Fines for violators can run nearly $5,500.

Several Dubai chefs have argued that strict enforcement of the ban would compromise their dishes. They are in talks with the municipality for less severe regulations.

Emirates Crew Face Jail Over Sexy Texts

Two Emirates airlines cabin crew have been ordered jailed for three months in Dubai over sexually explicit text messages, the latest in a string of indecency cases against foreigners, a newspaper reported.

The pair, an Indian flight attendant and her cabin services supervisor, were convicted of “coercion to commit sin” over the messages and initially sentenced to six months in jail, The National newspaper said on its website, citing court documents.

The sentence was reduced on appeal last week to three months and deportation orders against the pair were lifted, it added. It did not reveal the content of the messages.

Dubai’s foreign population has expanded rapidly in recent years as expatriates flocked to the Gulf Arab trade and tourism hub for its tax-free earnings and year-round sunshine.

The changes have challenged the Emirati population, which is now vastly outnumbered by foreigners, raising concern that their emirate’s rapid pace of growth is a threat to their social and religious identity in what remains a deeply conservative region.

An Emirates spokeswoman declined to comment on the case as it was still ongoing.

Couple Faces Jail Time In Dubai Over Kiss

A British pair caught kissing in public in Dubai face up to a month in jail in the Gulf Arab emirate for indecency after an Emirati mother complained her child had seen their indiscretion.

The pair, a British man living in Dubai and a female friend, were arrested in November on accusations of kissing and touching each other intimately in public and consuming alcohol, their lawyer said. They were ordered jailed for a month.

The case is the third time in under two years in which Britons have hit the headlines by falling foul of decency laws in Dubai, a flashy Muslim emirate popular with sun-seeking Western tourists and expatriates.

Dubai Mall Evacuated After Aquarium Leak

The aquarium at Dubai Mall, one of the world’s largest and a symbol of Dubai’s grandeur, is leaking and part of the mall has been evacuated, a police official said.

“There was a small problem, a simple crack, and the water leaked,” the official said, declining to be identified.

One of the largest tanks in the world, the aquarium features the world’s largest viewing panel at 32.8 metres (107 ft 7 in) wide and 8.3 metres high.

Dubai Aquarium has been planned to have more than 33,000 living animals, representing more than 85 species including over 400 sharks and rays combined, according to Dubai Mall’s website.

A Reuters witness said the mall had been partly evacuated and dozens of emergency vehicles were outside the mall, billed as one of the world’s largest and operated by Emaar Properties.

An Emaar spokeswoman confirmed it was investigating an incident at the mall.

Healthy Camel Burgers Hit The Menu

A traditional Emirati restaurant in Dubai has added a new entree to its menu billed as a fat-free choice for carnivorous but health-conscious diners: the Camel Burger.

For 20 UAE dirhams ($5.45), the Local House restaurant offers a quarter pound camel burger, loaded with cheese and smothered in burger sauce, the Xpress weekly newspaper reported on Thursday.

Ali Ahmad Esmail, Local House assistant manager, told the paper that the burger patties were fat- and cholesterol-free. But he declined to say how the outlet tenderized the tough camel meat.

“It’s a trade secret,” he said.

Camel meat is widely eaten in some Arab countries, but is not typically sold in supermarkets or served in restaurants.

The paper reported that Local House said it was the first to introduce the burger in the United Arab Emirates. A fast food outlet in neighboring Saudi Arabia put baby camel burgers on its menu last year.

The camel burger, a hit with residents and tourists, could soon also be on offer in the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower formerly known as Burj Dubai, where Local House may open a branch, the paper said.

The burger is served with fries or potato wedges, and the paper suggested it could be washed down with a soft drink or a camel milkshake, also available in Dubai.

Giant Candy Store To Open In Giant Mall

A Dubai-based company is opening what it says will be the world’s largest confectionary store in Dubai as it looks to tap demand from the Gulf Arab region‘s hunger for candy.

Candylicious, which initially opens in one of the world’s largest shopping centers, The Dubai Mall, is also planning a second store in Singapore early next year, Sunaina Gill, director of Retail Is Detail, a Singaporean family business in Dubai told Reuters.

“We are planning 10-15 stores in the Gulf Arab region over the next 3-5 years, with additional stores to open in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the next 12 months,” said Gill.

Dubai, one of seven emirates comprising the United Arab Emirates and the tourism and trade hub of the Middle East, already has the world’s tallest skyscraper and one of the longest driverless train systems globally after investing billions of dollars to propel the emirate on to the international map during a six-year oil-fueled boom.

Dubai is an ideal place for the store, said Gill, adding there was a gap and sufficient demand in the market for a confectionary store of this type, especially with 30 million visitors a year expected to visit the Dubai Mall.

Gill said the group, which will sell everything from chocolates, soda and popcorn, was aiming for sales of $10 million annually.

In addition to its sweets, the 10,000 square foot store features a huge 10-meter singing chocolate tree decorated with lollipops.

Customers will not need to necessarily have venture into the store to taste the candy. The store will also employ “Candylicious Junior,” a car that will circle the mall.

UAE Grants Visa To Israeli Andy Ram To Play In Tennis Tournament

Organizers of Dubai’s tennis tournament say Israeli player Andy Ram will have all the security he needs for the upcoming ATP Tour event.

UAE authorities granted Ram permission to enter the country on Thursday. Ram is ranked No. 7 in the world in doubles.

Another Israeli player, Shahar Peer, was denied entry into the country a week ago, preventing her from playing in the women’s tournament.

 Organizers cited security concerns, prompted protests from the Women’s Tennis Association and fellow players.

As a result of keeping Peer out of the country, the tournament lost important sponsors, the Tennis Channel cancelled coverage and other important events taking place in finacially troubled Dubai faced threats of cancellation.

Wall Street Journal And Tennis Channel Take A Stand

The Wall Street Journal’s European edition withdrew its sponsorship of the Dubai Tennis Championships after the United Arab Emirates denied a visa to Israeli player Shahar Peer.

“The Wall Street Journal’s editorial philosophy is free markets and free people, and this action runs counter to the Journal’s editorial direction,” the paper said in a statement.

The UAE, like most Arab countries, has no diplomatic ties with the Jewish state and routinely denies entry to Israelis.

The WTA meets next month to discuss the tournament’s future. The Association of Tennis Professionals has said the men’s tour would review the status of its Dubai tournament, which starts next Monday.

In related news, The Tennis Channel has announced that it will not televise the tournament to protest the action.

“This is an easy decision to come by, based on what is right and wrong,” Ken Solomon, the chairman and chief executive of the network, said from Utah.

“Sports are about merit, absent of background, class, race, creed, color or religion. They are simply about talent. This is a classic case, not about what country did what to another country. If the state of Israel were barring a citizen of an Arab nation, we would have made the same decision.”

For additional coverage:

http://alindenauer.wordpress.com/2009/02/15/uae-mixes-sports-and-politics-bars-israeli-tennis-player/

UAE Mixes Sports And Politics – Bars Israeli Tennis Player

The future of the two million dollar Dubai Open may be at risk afterIsraeli tennis star Shahar Peer, 21,  was prevented from competing in the event.

The 48th ranked player has been denied a visa into the Gulf state, bringing a strongly worded statement from the Women’s Tennis Association, which runs the tour.

“We are deeply disappointed by the decision of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) denying Shahar Peer a Visa that would permit her to enter the country to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships,” said Larry Scott, chief executive of the WTA.

“The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour believes very strongly, and has a clear rule and policy, that no host country should deny a player the right to compete at a tournament for which she has qualified by ranking,” Scott said. “The Tour is reviewing appropriate remedies for Ms. Peer and also will review appropriate future actions with regard to the future of the Dubai tournament.”

President Obama Appears On Al Arabiya

In his first interview with an Arab television station and his first sit-down interview as President, Barack Obama Monday told Al Arabiya that Americans are not the enemy of the Muslim world and said Israel and the Palestinians should resume peace negotiations.

Although Obama expressed support for a contiguous Palestinian state, he hedged on specifying when or with what borders.

“I think it is possible for us to see a Palestinian state – I’m not going to put a time frame on it – that is contiguous,” the president told the Dubai-based station.

Obama reiterated America’s support for Israel.

“Now, Israel is a strong ally of the United States. They will not stop being a strong ally of the United States. And I will continue to believe that Israel’s security is paramount.” said the president.

Obama made no mention of the just ended Gaza war or the continuing Israeli blockade of the terrorist controlled territory.

For the full transcript click: http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/01/27/65087.html#004