Mohamed Hassan in Portugal and our new company and site (www.gulf.pt)

My friend and partner Mohamed Hassan was in Gaia on 22 and 23 of December to have some meetings with companies with interest in Arab markets.

Our companies, GULF - Consulting & Investments ( www.gulf.pt ) and Tropical Line Investments ( www.tropicalline.org ) are now very active and prepared to open the "gold doors" of Arab markets.

GULF - Consulting & Investment, Lda. is a newly formed company which provides management consulting and business development in the broadest sense of the term, since it covers different areas of expertise, but the focus on development of trade relations between Midle East masket and adjacent countries and the European market.

GULF, having been born as a spin-off group of large business, the result of an experience in business related to the constrution, energy, commerce and tourism developed in Arab markets over the past four years, intends to build on the experience acquired in the course of them, is the promotion of trade, business creation, assembly of consortia, establishment of personal relations of trust and business development, a set of very specific and difficult markets as are the Midle East markets.

Abel Xavier, portuguese football player, is now a Muslim

Former Portuguese international player Abel Xavier has announced his conversion to be a Muslim.

 

Xavier held a press conference in the Ras Al Khaimah stadium in the UAE before a league match in which he announced his conversion and his new name – Faisal.

 

The former Benfica and Liverpool defender held the press conference in the presence of members of the local royal family and announced his official retirement from football. He is now set to take part in a humanitarian project which will benefit the lives of millions in Africa.

 

"It's an emotional goodbye and I hope to participate in something very satisfying in a new stage of my life," said Xavier. "In moments of grief, I have found comfort in Islam. Slowly, I learned a religion that professes peace, equality, freedom and hope. These are foundations with which I identify. Only after a thorough knowledge and an intense experience, I took this decision. I'd like to thank the royal family for its love and affection. They embraced me and made me feel special."

Christmas in DUBAI

Christmas has arrived early and residents can now take their children along to celebrate the holiday cheer with Santa Claus.

 

Dozens of curious shoppers gathered outside the metro station at Mall of the Emirates to see Santa, along with his wife, Mrs Claus, who made their way to Ski Dubai on their sleigh on Wednesday night.

 

Accompanied by a dozen elves who sang "Santa's Coming to Town," Santa made a quick stop to light up the 13-metre high Christmas tree that is located at the Galleria.

Santa and Mrs Claus then went on their way to take up residence at Ski Dubai where they will be available until December 24.

 

"This place feels exactly like the North Pole and I am not home sick at all. It feels great and I cannot wait to meet all the good children in the UAE," said Santa.

 

Entertainment

Santa and Mrs Claus will be welcoming visitors at Ski Dubai from 2 to 10pm everyday, and guests can meet the jolly couple in front of the Christmas tree in the snow with Christmas Fairy Lou.

 

"This year is unlike any other because Santa, along with Mrs Claus, will be greeting children in the snow and they will also be offered lots of games and entertainment," said Mike Mahoney, General Manager of Ski Dubai. Every child entrance ticket into Snow Park comes with a complimentary photograph with Santa. Santa and Mrs Claus will also host a Christmas Carol stage show on Christmas Eve that will be performed along with the Dubai Choir and guests from the Dubai Centre for Special Needs.

 

As part of the festive season celebration, a number of activities will be held to raise funds for the Dubai Centre for Special Needs.

 

The main activities that will support the special needs centre including breaking the UAE record, where chefs today will be creating a 355 metre long Stollen at the Galleria.

Christmas on BURJ AL ARAB

Christmas or Christmas Day is a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity. Aspects of celebration may include gift-giving, Christmas trees, display of Nativity sets, church attendance, the Father Christmas/Santa Claus myth, and family gatherings. Users of the Gregorian calendar observe the holiday on December 25. Some Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate on December 25 by the Julian calendar, which currently corresponds to January 7 on the Gregorian calendar. These dates are merely traditional; the great majority of scholars agree that the actual birth date of Jesus is unknown. In Western countries and during the last few years, Christmas is the most economically significant holiday of the year, and is even celebrated by non-Christians. In Western culture, the holiday is characterized by the exchange of gifts among friends and family members, some of the gifts being attributed to Santa Claus (also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicolas, Father Frost). Various International Christmas traditions are practiced in Dubai, due to the widespread influence of American and British Christmas motifs disseminated by film, popular literature, television, and other media.

UAE National Day Parade

Click here to see "UAE National Day Parade" video

Eid in Dubai

Click here to see Eid in Dubai video