Managed by the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), the Dubai Calendar website (www.dubaicalendar.ae) operates as a portal through which Dubai retailers can freely announce promotions, events and activities to their customers.

During DEPE’s promotional tour with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing in the Far East, which included Hong Kong and Singapore, major travel and tourism companies discussed the value of the calendar for international tour operators.

Senior officials from participating companies were impressed with the unique governmental initiative, commenting on the easy to use interface that provides comprehensive information regarding Dubai’s activities and events, it said.

The 1.794 billion dirhams net compared with 2.448 billion dirhams ($665.2 million) a year earlier, the company said.

Net operating profit was at 2.058 billion dirham ($560 million) in 2011, down 32 percent from 3.034 billion ($826.7 million).

But net profit in the fourth quarter surged 161 percent to 716 million dirhams ($195 million) from 274 million dirhams ($74.66 million).

Losses due to provisions made for impaired assets reached 264 million dirhams ($71.9 million), compared to write-offs of 533 million dirhams ($145.2 million), it said.

The company behind major property developments in Dubai, including the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, said annual revenues fell 33 percent to 8.112 billion ($2.209 billion) from 12.150 billion dirhams ($3.31 billion).

But it boasted that its Dubai Mall was the world’s most visited shopping and tourism destination marking record visitor numbers of 54 million people in 2011.

Shopping malls and retail businesses contributed 2.14 billion dirhams ($583 million) to annual revenues, or 26 percent of the total, and 13 percent higher than their 1.9 billion dirhams ($517 million) a year earlier.

Revenues from Emaar’s hospitality and leisure business rose 22 percent, contributing 1.22 billion dirhams ($332 million) in 2011, or 15 percent of total revenues, compared to one billion dirhams ($272 million).

“The robust financial performance of Emaar in 2011 is a testament to Dubai’s status as the Middle East region’s business and lifestyle hub,” said chairman Mohamed Alabbar.

“With The Dubai Mall hosting more than 54 million visitors, the city has firmly established its global credentials as an international business and leisure destination,” he said.

“This status perfectly complements the strategically diversified business interests of Emaar, supported by our shopping malls and retail and hospitality and leisure businesses, which achieved solid growth in their contributions to recurring revenues in 2011,” he added.

Revenues from international operations almost doubled to 1.81 billion dirhams ($493 million) from 973 million dirhams ($265 million), with its share of revenues increasing to 22 percent from eight percent.

“Our strategy for 2012 is to further increase the share of revenues from global operations and enhance the proportion of profit from recurring revenue streams, including shopping malls and retail and hospitality and leisure,” said Alabbar.

Emaar said it handed over 350 residential and over 800,000 square feet (74,322 square metres) of commercial space in Dubai and 604 units in other global markets, and has done so with more than 33,500 residential units since 2001.

The glitzy Gulf business and tourism hub of Dubai was hard-hit by the global financial crisis, especially in its once-booming real estate sector.

An Emirates spokesperson said that Emirates bookings from Dubai during the month of Ramadan are strong, with the airline witnessing a marked increase in bookings when compared with last year.

“This increase is a result of a number of factors, notably Ramadan falling within the full month of August in addition to our increased capacity and a number of new route launches, including Copenhagen on August 1,” the spokesperson said.

Emirates’ key markets for travel during Ramadan include Middle East points, the UK, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur and Colombo.

Meanwhile, Etihad’s performance during this summer continues to be in line with its projections, a spokesperson of the airline said. “We have witnessed a double digit growth during this period.” The spokesperson said that there has been a huge demand for travel to and from Europe, Asia and Australia. “While we still have some limited seats available to these destinations, the demand has exceeded our growth plans, with the majority of flights operating at peak capacity during this busy period.

The UAE and Abu Dhabi in particular has been in high demand from European markets, which is taking advantage of the various promotions we offer to visit the capital city during the holy month of Ramadan.”

The Madrid-based team followed in the footsteps of Malaga and Racing Santander, which were also taken over by overseas interests in the past year.

Royal Emirates Group, a conglomerate chaired by Sheikh Butti Bin Suhail Al Maktoum, has a portfolio of more than 200 companies including oil and gas, renewable energy, travel and tourism, health care, water purification, real estate & construction.

The deal is worth between €70-90 million ($101-131 million) and will see the club’s title rebranded to “Getafe CF Team Dubai.”

Getafe’s previous owner and president Don Angel Torres Sanchez signed over to his successors in a ceremony at Dubai’s Burj Al Arab hotel on Thursday, accompanied by club captain Manu del Moral.

The group said it was heavily involved in sports in the United Arab Emirates and abroad.

“The investment in Getafe CF is an evolution of this vision and an expression of renewed confidence that Dubai’s businesses are more confident today to make large investments abroad as well as at home,” Royal Emirates partner managing director Dr. Kaiser Rafiq said.

“Caring for community needs through sport is at the heart of what the Royal Emirates Group aims to achieve. This will send the positive message to the world that Dubai cares.”

Rafiq said that, being conscious of football’s popularity with young Arabs, the group hoped to build a bridge between Europe and the Middle East ahead of the 2022 World Cup to be staged in Qatar.

“Royal Emirates Group plans to invest heavily in inducting new blood and promoting the team in the region,” he said.

Getafe, first formed in 1946 and refounded in 1983, has been in Spain’s top flight since 2004-05. The club made a strong start to this season but hopes of qualifying for Europe have evaporated, with coach Michel’s team 14th out of 20 with six matches remaining.

Malaga became the first Spanish club to be bought by a foreign investor when Qatari billionaire Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani paid a reported €36 million ($52 million) in June 10.

He splashed out on players and hired former Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini, but the club is battling to avoid relegation.

Santander sold out to Indian businessman Ahsan Ali Syed in January, with his Western Gulf Advisory company taking over.

Since replacing coach Miguel Angel Portugal with the club’s former boss Marcelino, the Cantabria-based team is four points above 17th-placed Malaga.

The event features world-class racing, fashion, food and entertainment with international artist Jessie J and superstar DJ Seb Fontaine performing till late.
Tickets are available at Gate C Ticket Sales Office for Dh350.