by Peter Ward
The UAE is facing a water shortage and demand could outstrip supply by 2012, the Minister of Environment and Water has revealed.
Speaking exclusively to Utilities-ME.com at the launch of the UAE’s water conservation campaign, H.E Dr Rashid Bin Fahad revealed: “The UAE is also facing a water crunch, where there is risk that demand for water could outstrip supply by 2012, due to gas shortages. Increasing supply is only part of the solution and managing demand through water conservation also has a crucial role to play.”
The Minister also stated desalination will be the main source of household water in the UAE for the long term future, despite an integrated approach being taken for water resources.
“Desalination is our main source for water for the household. So it is a main source. We are looking at integrated water management. We have ground water and we have the reuse of wastewater which has been high in the last year. We are looking at all of the sources and not just desalination.”
In order to tackle this growing problem, the EAD and ADWEA have announced a scheme to install water saving devices in buildings in the Emirate. “EAD and Adwea will also be installing water saving devices for free in mosques, schools, commercial and government buildings, and households throughout 2010 in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. These devices will reduce the water consumption of the Emirate by 30%, and will have a significant positive impact on the environment,” said Bin Fahad.
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World's tallest hotel opens in Dubai
Rose Rayhaan by Rotana has been officially certified by Guinness World Records as the world's tallest hotel.
Dubai: Dubai broke another world record on Wednesday by inaugurating the tallest hotel.
Rose Rayhaan by Rotana has been officially certified by Guinness World Records as the world's tallest hotel.
At 333 metres it is five metres higher than its rival in Bangkok, and is located on Shaikh Zayed Road, close to the Dubai International Financial Centre.
Built by the Arabian Contracting Company, the hotel cost $180 million (Dh660.6 million).
Construction started in 2004 and was completed in April 2009.
"We were looking to create something different in Dubai," said Ayad Hamadi, Director of Engineering.
"We had a very small plot of land, only 10,000 square feet, and we had to think how we were going to build such a tall tower with such a limited area. The proportion of the height to the area was a big challenge," he said.
The hotel, which held its soft opening two weeks ago, has had room occupancy of 25 per cent, said Omar Kaddouri, Rotana's Senior Vice-President of UAE Operations.
It has 72 floors and has 482 rooms including suits and penthouses. However, the highest rooms are located on the 65th floor. From here one gets a wide view of Dubai and its famous landmarks such as the Burj Khalifa, The World and Burj Al Arab.
To draw more visitors, the hotel is temporarily offering low opening rates. "The opening rate of Dh400 a room is our biggest promotion," Daniel Mathew, General Manager, said.
Vantage point
The management also expects the location to help attract more customers.
"We're expecting it to get busy at the end of the month because we are approaching the Arab Health Congress from January 25 to 28, which is one of the largest trade shows in the health industry," Mathew said. "Because of our proximity to the Trade Centre, we are expecting a lot of customers."
"Being the tallest in the world isn't the only aspect and isn't what's going to make us fill up this hotel," Kaddouri said.
The Rose Rayhaan is also an alcohol-free hotel catering to families and residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
"Being a non-alcoholic hotel is an advantage because we have a niche in the market," Mathew said. "We attract people from the GCC, China and Iran."
Mathew said the management seeks 65 per cent average occupancy. "Some days will be busy, some will not. It's about how you get creative to balance your occupancy," he said.
Fast facts
* Rose Rayhaan is 333 metres high.
* It has 72 floors, but the highest floor for rooms is 65.
* It has 482 rooms.
* It has 8 meeting rooms, three food and beverage venues, a fitness club and an outdoor swimming.
* Around 300 employees work in the property.
Source
Dubai: Dubai broke another world record on Wednesday by inaugurating the tallest hotel.
Rose Rayhaan by Rotana has been officially certified by Guinness World Records as the world's tallest hotel.
At 333 metres it is five metres higher than its rival in Bangkok, and is located on Shaikh Zayed Road, close to the Dubai International Financial Centre.
Built by the Arabian Contracting Company, the hotel cost $180 million (Dh660.6 million).
Construction started in 2004 and was completed in April 2009.
"We were looking to create something different in Dubai," said Ayad Hamadi, Director of Engineering.
"We had a very small plot of land, only 10,000 square feet, and we had to think how we were going to build such a tall tower with such a limited area. The proportion of the height to the area was a big challenge," he said.
The hotel, which held its soft opening two weeks ago, has had room occupancy of 25 per cent, said Omar Kaddouri, Rotana's Senior Vice-President of UAE Operations.
It has 72 floors and has 482 rooms including suits and penthouses. However, the highest rooms are located on the 65th floor. From here one gets a wide view of Dubai and its famous landmarks such as the Burj Khalifa, The World and Burj Al Arab.
To draw more visitors, the hotel is temporarily offering low opening rates. "The opening rate of Dh400 a room is our biggest promotion," Daniel Mathew, General Manager, said.
Vantage point
The management also expects the location to help attract more customers.
"We're expecting it to get busy at the end of the month because we are approaching the Arab Health Congress from January 25 to 28, which is one of the largest trade shows in the health industry," Mathew said. "Because of our proximity to the Trade Centre, we are expecting a lot of customers."
"Being the tallest in the world isn't the only aspect and isn't what's going to make us fill up this hotel," Kaddouri said.
The Rose Rayhaan is also an alcohol-free hotel catering to families and residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
"Being a non-alcoholic hotel is an advantage because we have a niche in the market," Mathew said. "We attract people from the GCC, China and Iran."
Mathew said the management seeks 65 per cent average occupancy. "Some days will be busy, some will not. It's about how you get creative to balance your occupancy," he said.
Fast facts
* Rose Rayhaan is 333 metres high.
* It has 72 floors, but the highest floor for rooms is 65.
* It has 482 rooms.
* It has 8 meeting rooms, three food and beverage venues, a fitness club and an outdoor swimming.
* Around 300 employees work in the property.
Source
Metric move gains pace at pumps across UAE
Across the UAE, 122 fuel stations have adopted the new system, shifting from the gallon.
Abu Dhabi: A total of 122 fuelling stations across the country have adopted the litre instead of the imperial gallon as a unit of measurement, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Mohammad Saleh Badri, Acting Director-General of the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (Esma), said the conversion from the gallon to the litre by all oil companies and corporations operating in the country from January 1, 2010 for a period of four months was in line with UAE Cabinet Decision No. 31 of 2006 on the national system of measurement, which mandates the use of the International System of units (SI) as a basis for the legal units of measurement in the country.
Decree
Accordingly the UAE Cabinet issued Decree No. 270/3 in 2009 stating petrol will be sold in litres instead of gallons effective January 1.
The imperial gallon equals approximately 4.5 litres.
Badri also emphasised that the main aim of Esma is to build quality infrastructure for the country through traceable and reliable measurements, which enhance the national economy and enable UAE products to compete effectively on global markets.
‘'Since the new measurement went into effect from 1st of January 2010 up to yesterday, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) Distribution has converted dispenser gauges in 21 stations in Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates.
The number for Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) was 12 in Dubai and for Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (Emarat) it was 89 in Dubai and the northern emirates,'' he added.
He also focused on the importance of changing the unit of measurement in line with international practices.
Source
Abu Dhabi: A total of 122 fuelling stations across the country have adopted the litre instead of the imperial gallon as a unit of measurement, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Mohammad Saleh Badri, Acting Director-General of the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (Esma), said the conversion from the gallon to the litre by all oil companies and corporations operating in the country from January 1, 2010 for a period of four months was in line with UAE Cabinet Decision No. 31 of 2006 on the national system of measurement, which mandates the use of the International System of units (SI) as a basis for the legal units of measurement in the country.
Decree
Accordingly the UAE Cabinet issued Decree No. 270/3 in 2009 stating petrol will be sold in litres instead of gallons effective January 1.
The imperial gallon equals approximately 4.5 litres.
Badri also emphasised that the main aim of Esma is to build quality infrastructure for the country through traceable and reliable measurements, which enhance the national economy and enable UAE products to compete effectively on global markets.
‘'Since the new measurement went into effect from 1st of January 2010 up to yesterday, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) Distribution has converted dispenser gauges in 21 stations in Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates.
The number for Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) was 12 in Dubai and for Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (Emarat) it was 89 in Dubai and the northern emirates,'' he added.
He also focused on the importance of changing the unit of measurement in line with international practices.
Source
