Press Releases

Al Gharbia Photography Contest deadline extended

Competition extended to provide college students opportunity to participate after their final exams

Al Gharbia, May 19, 2009: The Western Region Development Council (WRDC) – the central coordinating body leading development and promoting opportunity in Al Gharbia, the Western Region of Abu Dhabi – announced today that the deadline to receive entries for the first “Al Gharbia Photography Contest” has been extended until the 31st of May 2009.

Launched in partnership with The National newspaper, the contest is open to both amateur and professional residents of the UAE and requires the contestants to submit images of Al Gharbia in three categories: adventure; natural scenery; and wildlife.

Entries will be judged by a panel of jury members from WRDC, The National and Emirates Photography Society based on the power of the message delivered about Al Gharbia, relevance to the contest theme and category topic, technical criteria and creativity.

The top three entries of each category will be announced by the end June and will be awarded monetary prizes of AED 30,000, AED 20,000 and AED 10,000 respectively. Entry forms can be downloaded online from the contest’s website http://www.algharbia.ae/en/news-events/photo-competition and these should be returned to WRDC’s office in Abu Dhabi city or Madinat Zayed – for more information or details call 800-WRDC (800-9732).

Contest to promote Al Gharbia

April 28, 2009: A photography competition dedicated to capturing the landscape and life of Al Gharbia ahead of the area's proposed urban development is open to UAE residents, regardless of photographic expertise. ??The launch of the competition by the Western Regional Development Council (WRDC) in association with The National coincides with the first Al GharbiaWatersports Festival, which takes place from May 1 to May 9.
"It's an excellent initiative that aims to encourage the youth in Al Gharbia and the UAE to develop their talents while capturing the spirit of Al Gharbia's serene beaches and the watersports festival action," said Mohamed al Mazrouei, the WRDC's director general. ??Submissions can be made in three categories: adventure, natural scenery and wildlife. Adventure shots should capture water sport or other outdoor activities, natural scenery photos should be of the landscape, while the wildlife category includes marine as well as terrestrial animals. All photographs should be taken in Al Gharbia. Entries will be accepted from May 1 to 20 and will be judged by a panel from the WRDC, the Emirates Photography Society and The National.
Brian Kerrigan, the newspaper's photo editor, said: "The National is committed to investing in the creative and media talent of the UAE. Events like this are a great way to inspire young people to think about the environment, participate in sport and develop their creativity. We're delighted to support an event that will encourage creativity and photography skills."??The top three photographs in each category will win cash prizes of Dh30,000, Dh20,000 and Dh10,000 respectively.

Entry forms will be available online from www.algharbiafestivals.com or can be collected from the competition kiosk during the watersports festival in Mirfa.

Al Gharbia stand inundated with visitors on first day of Cityscape, Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, April 20, 2009: The Western Region Development Council (WRDC) - the central coordinating body leading development and promoting opportunity in Al Gharbia, the Western Region of Abu Dhabi - has completed its first day at Cityscape, Abu Dhabi 2009 with great success.

In spite the global recession and a slowdown in the property sector - WRDC reports record attendance at its Al Gharbia stand at Cityscape on the event's opening day. The stand, which promotes Al Gharbia - a unique part of the UAE - renowned for its authentic heritage and Bedouin hospitality and where the desert meets the sea, is one that should not be missed at the exhibition.

This is the second participation of WRDC at Cityscape, Abu Dhabi following the successful launch of the region's new name and brand - Al Gharbia - last year. Since this launch, Al Gharbia has witnessed the approval of several commercial and residential projects on top of the 98 billion dirhams of investments that were already announced.

H.E. Mohamed Hamad Bin Azzan Al Mazrouei, WRDC Director General, said: "After the amount of interest we received last year, WRDC is proud to again participate in Cityscape, Abu Dhabi to market and promote Al Gharbia. Al Gharbia is a unique region that cannot be compared to any other. It is important for us to attend such events to raise awareness of what the region has to offer - not only to potential investors, developers and key organisations - but to potential visitors also.

He added: "The success of the opening day at Cityscape has proved once again that people are interested in Al Gharbia and what can be found there. It is an untouched and vast region, abundant in natural resources and one that should be explored and enjoyed."

WRDC is committed to promoting Al Gharbia as a unique destination for people to live, work and raise their families in whilst enjoying a higher quality of life. The council pursues four key goals -- the social and economic development for the benefit of the region's people, enhancement of infrastructure, promotion of investment and improvement of enterprises.

Cityscape, Abu Dhabi 2009 is being held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from April 19 - 22. It is a unique networking exhibition focusing on all aspects of the property and development cycle. It attracts top regional and international investors, property developers, leading architects and designers.

Al Gharbia to host first water sports festival in Mirfa
posted on 16 April 2009

The Western Region Development Council (WRDC), the central coordinating body leading development and promoting opportunity in Al Gharbia, the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abu Dhabi Motors Club (ADMC) and Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) to launch the first 'Al Gharbia Water Sports Festival 2009'.

he festival, the first of its kind in the region, is scheduled to start on Friday May 1 to end on Saturday May 9, 2009 and will be held in Mirfa in Al Gharbia, which is approximately 90 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport.

The main aim of the event is to encourage the social, cultural and sporting activities among residents of Al Gharbia and the UAE, and to support local athletes, especially the region's younger generation.

Commenting on the agreement, H.E. Mohamed Hamad Bin Azzan Al Mazrouei, Director General of WRDC, said:
'This MoU signifies a coming of age for Al Gharbia's development - positioning it as the tourism and leisure destination on the UAE's map and attracting fans of water sports to Mirfa's serene beach. We are pleased to initiate this new upbeat and unique festival and we hope it will encourage all UAE citizens and residents alike to attend and compete.'

The event will hold a number of competitions including an international kiteboarding championship, surf ski kayak race, beach volleyball and beach football. The festival will also offer night camp activities accompanied with live music in addition to building a traditional market or 'souk'. For those interested in learning more about kiteboarding or kayaking, the festival will have professional trainers offering free training sessions on-ground during weekdays.

'We are pleased to enter this MoU with our fellow partners in Abu Dhabi and we are positive that pooling our experiences and knowledge together will ensure the success of the festival,' said Abdullah Butti Al Qubaisi, General Manager of ADMC - the organizing party of the festival. 'The event underscores our commitment to the emirate and provides us with an excellent opportunity to strengthen relations with our fellow Emiratis in Al Gharbia.'

The parties will also leverage on ADIMSC's technical expertise in organising similar events. 'The ADIMSC is always looking to support and organize any event that attracts marine sports fans and this festival will be a perfect embodiment of what we aim to promote. We are committed to provide the technical guidance, advice and direction and proud to be a part of this event,' said Salem Rashid Al Rumaithi, Deputy General Manager of ADIMSC.

So far, the festival has managed to gain massive support and assistance from the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and many other organizations including the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and the Western Region Municipality (WRM) as additional technical partners.

'It is a great pleasure to word hand in hand and receive the support of these top government organisations,' commented H.E. Al Mazrouei. 'Their expertise and backgrounds are of significant importance for the success of the event and we are happy to have them on board.'

Al Gharbia to host first water sports festival in Mirfa

April 15, 2009: The Western Region Development Council (WRDC), the central coordinating body leading development and promoting opportunity in Al Gharbia, the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abu Dhabi Motors Club (ADMC) and Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) to launch the first 'Al Gharbia Water Sports Festival 2009'.

The festival, the first of its kind in the region, is scheduled to start on Friday May 1 to end on Saturday May 9, 2009 and will be held in Mirfa in Al Gharbia, which is approximately 90 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Large dates a matter of pruning for island farmers
posted on 21/08/2008

Mezirah - A giant date, possibly a world record, was put on show at the Liwa Festival. With the correct fertiliser, pruning and watering it is possible to produce dates that are up to 7cm in size, Abdul Hafeez Mousa, an engineer and head of the Agriculture Department on Zirku Island, told Gulf News.
He said using simple methods such as organic fertiliser and by reducing the number of fruit branches on a tree, it is possible to cultivate large dates. Mousa showed samples of the Ambara date at the fourth Liwa Festival in the Western Region, which ended Saturday.

Zirku Island (138km from Abu Dhabi) is an oil field run by the Zakum Development Company, with a population of 1,000, all working in the oil field. The company runs a well-developed agriculture program on the island and grows fruits such as orange, mango, fig and grape for local use.
"The size of dates can be controlled by reducing the number of branches. A tree could have more than eight fruit-carrying branches every year. "We keep only four and also reduce the number of fruits on every branch," he said. The organic fertiliser is made locally from agricultural and restaurant waste.

Abdul Hamid Al Marzouqi, Housing and Services Supervisor on the island, said: "We did not participate in the date competition because we don't want to emulate other farmers. We just want to show our experience and teach others how to improve their production." He said they want to register the Ambara date as a world record. – Gulf News

Freej icons to visit Liwa date fair
posted on 25/07/2008

Life-size characters of the UAE animation sensation Freej will make an appearance at the 4th Annual Liwa Date Festival on July 29, according to a top official in Al Gharbia Municipality.

In a statement issued yesterday, the General Manager of Al Gharbia Municipality, Hamoud Humaid Al Mansouri, said the Freej characters would add to the fun by performing live and posing with visitors for photographs.
He said that the festival showcases the bedouin culture and heritage and traditional handicrafts with a variety of activities such as date auctions, a mass wedding, and exhilarating music and dance performances.
"The Freej character show puts a smile on children's faces and also highlights important cultural values that are unique to the UAE," added Al Mansouri. Freej, an animated show created and produced in the UAE by Mohammed Saeed Harib, is the story of four elderly national women living in an isolated neighbourhood surrounded by the growing city of Dubai. The show's main characters — Um Saeed, Um Saloom, Um Allawi and Um Khammas — try to live a peaceful life in the midst of the commotion that surrounds them.
The characters tackle many social and moral issues that the country's citizens face in present times in a simple and straightforward way. – Khaleej Times

Abu Dhabi and golf firm team up to boost tourism
posted on 27/08/2008

World-class golf courses could be developed in some of the most remote parts of the emirate to help boost tourism, it was revealed yesterday. A new alliance between the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) and Troon Golf, the world's largest golf course management company, will promote the emirate as a future top golfing destination. Improving the standard of golfing facilities across the emirate is a priority, with new golf developments likely to be built in Al Gharbia and near Al Ain. They will complement other courses being developed by the TDIC elsewhere in the region.

"Other facilities are on the drawing board and will be progressively announced as confirmation of major developments in Abu Dhabi's eastern and western regions are finalised,” said Lee Tabler, the chief executive of TDIC.

"Alongside the courses planned by other private sector developers, the TDIC network will ensure Abu Dhabi rises rapidly up the ranks of the world's fastest-growing international golfing destinations.

In June, Tabler said the TDIC was dedicated to improving golfing facilities to attract more tourists. "Golf resorts have been shown to be integral to any long-term tourism strategy and TDIC is enhancing Abu Dhabi's golfing facilities with additional world-class courses.”

A TDIC spokesman said talks on developing courses in "a number of destinations” around Al Ain and Al Gharbia were continuing. DJ Flanders, the general manager of the TDIC-Troon Golf alliance, was previously general manager of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club for 18 months. "Everything is conceptual at this stage, so they are still talking about the individual locations,” he said.
Under the alliance, Troon Golf will oversee the TDIC's golfing assets, including the new course on Saadiyat Island being designed by Gary Player, the three-time Masters champion from South Africa. The company is also developing another golf course on Saadiyat Island.

Troon Golf already manages the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, which is owned by TDIC, and where a Dh1.3 billion (US$353.9 million) golfing resort is being developed. The TDIC spokesman said suggestions that a luxury golf course was to be built on Sir Bani Yas Island, 250km from Abu Dhabi, where they were developing a major new resort, were "premature”.

Bruce Glasco, managing director of the Europe, Middle East and Africa division of Troon Golf, said the work with the TDIC in Abu Dhabi would bring "international acclaim to the region's leisure and sport activities”. – The National

Preparations in full swing for Al Dhafrah camel festival
posted on 11/12/2008

The Al Dhafrah Festival organising committee is preparing to kick off the big event on December 23 in Madinat Zayed, Al Gharbia (Western Region).
It will run until January 1.

The festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and is part of its strategy to preserve cultural heritage in the UAE.
It has been organised under the patronage of General Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The festival started last year as an annual event and is dedicated to give life to the traditional camel-raising culture; the event includes a camel beauty contest, camel auction, date-wrapping competition, handicraft market and a photography and poetry competition.

Last year approximately 15,000 competitors from the UAE and GCC took part in the event and this year the number is expected to rise. This increase is expected because of the recent transfer of camels from neighbouring GCC states to the UAE.

Mohammad Khalaf Al Mazrouei, general manager, ADACH, said: "The festival aims to preserve the authentic breeding line of local camels known as Asaile and Majaheem. The festival also aims to create awareness about Bedouin culture and encourage heritage-related tourism, which will make Al Dhafra an international tourist city." – Gulf News

Desert Challenge: UAE all set to leave its mark on Empty Quarter
posted on 24/10/2008

Challenges are meant to be fought. So it's no surprise that when the UAE Desert Challenge starts on Sunday the large number of competitors in this year's race will be up against each other, the elements, their minds and bodies... and, perhaps, even their horsepower-churning beasts.

Starting with the spectator-friendly prologue stage in Jebel Ali, the race traverses the Empty Quarter, which, much like its name, happens to be one of the most hostile environments on the planet to do anything, let alone race in a body-clinging jumpsuit in a vehicle that swaps air conditioning for extra horsepower.

The profile of the UAE Desert Challenge as one of the most notorious races on the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup and FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship calendars is the stuff of fables. Great stories are told of how man and machine must join forces to simply stand a chance of getting to the finish.

Sean Linton, who will lead a seven-person Gecko Honda team at this year's race, which ends on October 31, has his own story to narrate. Through his seven years of competing, he has realised how "relentless" the Liwa Desert can get in its quest to prevent drivers and riders from taming her.
"The toughest part of the Desert Challenge is the simple fact that the entire rally traverses across the desert; and not just any desert, but the Liwa, which is one of the toughest and most hostile places on earth. It's just relentless," says the 37-year-old Scot, a veteran set to ride in his eighth Desert Challenge.

On the contrary, having raced and won the 450 class and secured sixth position overall in the Transoriental Rally, a 10,000km sojourn that runs from St Petersburg in Russia to Beijing in China, Linton feels this will finally be the year Gecko-Honda stamp their authority on the event. The septet also comprises Sean Gaugain, Minky Botha (the only woman quad rider this year), Simon Pavey, Obaid Al Kitbi, Mohammad Al Shamsi and Dave McBride, and Linton feels the team has bonded well in the run-up to the race.
"We are entering two official teams - quads and two-wheel bikes - with the intention of securing our third consecutive 450cc class and GCC win. This will be a major achievement for Honda and Gecko Motorcycles, which we feel have a great chance of completing due to the quality of riders in both teams. We will do our best to get to the end in top positions.

"The team has trained together constantly, not just for riding, but to build up stamina through fitness and to hone their navigational skills. It is important for the members to familiarise themselves with their teammates, as we live very closely with each other during the race. – Gulf News