As more businesses around the world adopt Azure — including 95 percent of the Fortune 500 — Microsoft has introduced a powerful new solution to enhance the performance and security of its cloud.
The Azure Cloud Collaboration Center (CCC) is a new, state-of-the-art, 8,000-square-foot facility on Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington corporate campus. The centralized workspace allows engineering teams to come together to resolve operational issues and unexpected events that could impact customers.
The first facility of its kind among major cloud providers, the CCC features a dramatic, 1,600-square-foot video wall that displays the real-time status of Azure, from internal processes and network infrastructure to the health status of customer services. At a glance, engineers can identify potential issues before they become problems — and quickly triage incidents when problems do occur.
“A high priority for us in building this space was to enable faster problem resolution and proactive work to strengthen the Azure platform for our customers,” says Jason Zander, executive vice president for Azure.
The Cloud Collaboration Center hosted a hackathon for Microsoft employees.
He notes that the CCC was purpose-built for collaboration. Dynamic, customizable workspaces can be reconfigured for small or large groups. Cutting-edge visualization and Skype technology enable experts to be pulled into discussions, no matter where they are in the world. In addition, anything on the video wall can be viewed on a desktop for closer analysis and correlation of information.
“The CCC provides a flexible workspace for engineers to spot potential problems and troubleshoot them in real time,” Zander says. “Having this kind of collaborative space to push forward the Azure platform and resolve incidents has proven to be invaluable. It’s allowed us to provide customers with new levels of responsiveness, security and efficiency.”
Case in point: The CCC played a big part in the effort to make Azure compliant with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the user privacy law that went into effect May 25. With 140 distinct Azure services, “The law had enormous implications for us,” says Lindsay Berg, director of product marketing for Azure. “It affected literally every aspect of how we run Azure.”
She notes one regulation dictating that, at a customer’s request, all their personal data must be immediately, verifiably removed from all systems. “That meant we had to go through every one of our 140 services for every way we touch customer data, so we can provide or delete it on request,” she says. “We had to ensure that it could be done, was verifiable, and could be audited.”
It was a weeks-long effort involving Microsoft engineering teams around the globe, and it was driven through the CCC. Azure ended up GDPR compliant on schedule. “Without the CCC, it would have been harder to meet the deadline,” says Berg. “Our engineers say it made an enormous difference to have this collaborative space.”
Zander thinks this could be a template for the company moving forward. Already the space is hosting global hackathons, like a recent three-day Azure Support Hackathon. The event brought together 200 Azure program managers and engineers as well as Microsoft Customer Support Services (CSS) engineers. The goal: To foster a bigger, better community of employees working to improve Azure customers’ support experiences.
“These Hackathons are vital in increasing the resiliency of the Microsoft cloud,” he says. “They allow the Azure support teams to work directly with the engineers to improve tooling and the customer experience. That kind of effort wasn’t possible before.”
The Dymaxion map, by Buckminster Fuller, is featured at the CCC entrance to symbolize Microsoft’s commitment to customers around the world, and the global presence of Azure.Guided tours for Azure customers
The CCC’s engineering workspace opened in November 2017, internal tours of the customer space began last spring and guided customer tours kicked off in July. Since then, 70 different customer groups have received an inside look at the Microsoft cloud through the second-floor Customer Experience Suite.
One of those customers was Volkswagen AG, who recently announced that they are building the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud with the help of Microsoft, the largest dedicated cloud of its kind in the auto industry.
Says Heiko Huettel, head of Connected Car at Volkswagen, who attended the tour, “We were impressed by the innovation and scale in the Azure Cloud Collaboration Center.”
Customers like Volkswagen who visit the CCC can get up close and personal with the technology that powers Azure datacenters. Windowed displays showcase innovative chips and server racks, created in collaboration with the open source communities.
Statistics pepper the displays, highlighting the global reach and scale of the Microsoft cloud: over 100 datacenters in 140 countries and all continents except Antarctica; a growing number of regions — now 54, more than any other cloud provider; and currently, Microsoft hosts more than 200 cloud services for more than 1 billion customers.
“We’ve seen case after case of companies that have transformed their businesses with digital services made possible by IoT and the Microsoft cloud,” says Zander. “With the CCC, our hope is to inspire customers with a vision of what they can do with cloud computing.”
Visitors to the CCC experience an interactive tour that illustrates how Microsoft manages its cloud infrastructure at hyper-scale.
Visitors also learn about Marea, the 4,000-mile-long subsea cable between Virginia and Spain that Microsoft built with Facebook and Telxius. Dubbed “the future of subsea cables,” Marea offers connection speeds 16 million times faster than the average home internet.
Customers with sustainability goals will find resonance with Microsoft’s focus on renewable energy. The company has been 100 percent carbon neutral since 2012, and is the largest corporate purchaser of solar energy in the U.S. By 2020, 60 percent of the energy in its datacenters will be from renewable resources.
The tour culminates in a visit to the viewing gallery, called the Skybox, where customers get a 30,000-foot view of the CCC in operation. They look down on engineers collaborating, and the video wall streaming the massive amounts of data generated by Azure every second — on the status of Azure services, Microsoft infrastructure and network processes, and even customer health like tweets and support tickets (filtered for confidentiality).
Hitoshi Momma, vice president of the Digital Solutions Business Unit for Fujitsu Limited, who recently toured the facility, said, “We were so excited when we visited the Azure Cloud Collaboration Center, which demonstrated the Azure datacenter as the ‘world’s computer’ in an innovative way.”
According to Anja Ziegler, the Azure principal program manager for the CCC who has worked with a number of customers on their journey through the facility, “When customers see the video wall, it’s an ‘ah-ha’ moment for them. It shows the incredible complexity of managing cloud services at global scale. The CCC makes Azure real to customers in under an hour.”
Top photo: A visitor gets a look at the Open Platform Compute wall, which showcases IoT devices that use open source data transfer standards for industrial automation.
The Monitoring and Enforcement Department along with the Quality, Health and Safety Office at RTA’s Licensing Agency have held a workshop about health, safety and works continuity for driving centres in Dubai. Driving Centers in attendance included Dubai Driving Center, Al Ahli Driving Center, Emirates Driving Institute, Belhasa Driving Center, Galadari Motor Driving Center and Dubai International Driving Center as well as Emirates Transport.
“RTA is keen to enhance the performance of Health & Safety and Business Continuity in all business units and workplaces of service providers such as driving centres and external parties that have common business with the RTA like the Emirates Transport,” said Moosa Al Raeesi, Director of Monitoring and Enforcement at RTA’s Licensing Agency.
“Issues discussed in the workshop included risk management, disaster management, response to accidents, investigation, and measurement of business disruption along with its cumulative effects. The Workshop also stressed the importance of reporting accidents sustained by vehicles of driving institutes along with associated injuries, and investigations ought to be carried out by Centers to avoid offences.”
“The workshop discussed procedures of entering accident details in RTA’s internal system and the reporting of accidents by driving centers. Such a step will enhance the cooperation and maintain the image of Dubai in traffic safety and accidents management,” added Al Raeesi.
A presentation explaining the procedures of data entry and the reporting of serious accidents in the internal system of the RTA.
Attendees praised the lecture and benefits achieved. They also hailed the cooperation of the Monitoring and Enforcement Department and the procedures of reporting accidents in RTA’s internal system. They also commended RTA’s continuous efforts to improve monitoring & enforcement measures in collaboration with the operating driving centres for the safety of all.
Apple today introduced the new iPad Pro with all-screen design and next-generation performance, marking the biggest change to iPad ever. The all-new design pushes 11-inch and 12.9-inch Liquid Retina displays to the edges of iPad Pro and integrates Face ID to securely unlock iPad with just a glance.1 The A12X Bionic chip with next-generation Neural Engine in iPad Pro outperforms most PC laptops and offers a new USB-C connector, Gigabit-class LTE, and up to 1TB of storage to enable powerful new mobile workflows.2 With over a million apps designed to take advantage of the large Multi-Touch display, including next-generation apps like Photoshop CC on iPad (coming 2019), the new iPad Pro will push what users can do on a computer further than ever before.
A second-generation Apple Pencil magnetically attaches to iPad Pro and wirelessly charges at the same time. A new touch sensor built onto Apple Pencil detects taps, introducing an entirely new way to interact within apps. The new Smart Keyboard Folio features a streamlined design that’s adjustable for added versatility. The new iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard Folio are available to order starting today and in stores starting Wednesday, November 7.
All-New, All-Screen Designs
iPad Pro features the world’s most advanced display — a stunning, edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display with rounded corners that follow the curves of iPad Pro’s unibody enclosure. With precision-milled glass, advanced pixel masking, sub-pixel antialiasing and a new backlight design, the new Liquid Retina display in iPad Pro is Apple’s brightest and most color accurate iPad display, featuring wide color support, True Tone and anti-reflective coating for a natural, accurate viewing experience indoors and out. ProMotion technology automatically adjusts the display refresh rate up to 120Hz for ultra-smooth scrolling and incredible responsiveness on iPad Pro.
The display of iPad Pro easily adjusts content to the orientation of the viewer.
The new 11-inch iPad Pro packs a bigger display with more pixels in the same footprint as the 10.5-inch model, yet still weighs just one pound. The new 12.9-inch iPad Pro places the largest display of any iPad into a more portable package — a massive 25 percent reduction in volume.3 Both models are just 5.9 mm thin — the thinnest iPad design ever — making iPad Pro now even easier to take with you.
The new iPad Pro is just 5.9 mm thin — the thinnest iPad design ever.
A12X Bionic and Next-Generation Neural Engine
Built specifically for iPad Pro, the A12X Bionic is the smartest and most powerful chip in a tablet, making even the most demanding computing tasks like editing photos or creating 3D models faster and more responsive. Built on industry-leading seven-nanometer technology, the powerful eight-core A12X Bionic features four performance cores and four efficiency cores for up to 35 percent faster single-core performance and a new performance controller for simultaneous use of all eight cores for an up to 90 percent boost during multi-threaded tasks.3 A seven-core, Apple-designed GPU delivers up to twice the graphics performance for incredibly rich and immersive AR experiences and console-quality graphics. On iPad Pro, the breakthrough performance and capability lasts all day thanks to great 10-hour battery life.4
Built specifically for iPad Pro, the A12X Bionic is the smartest and most powerful chip in a tablet.
Apple’s next-generation Neural Engine is built for advanced machine learning in everything from photography to AR, completing up to 5 trillion operations per second. This enables fast Face ID, faster plane detection for AR apps and other new features that use real-time machine learning. The Neural Engine is designed to deliver improved performance for Core ML tasks, empowering developers to build apps and new iPad workflows that utilize this highly efficient machine learning engine.
Next-generation apps take advantage of the power and large display of iPad Pro.
Face ID Comes to iPad
Face ID, the most secure facial authentication system in any tablet or computer, comes to iPad for the first time. Designed to work while holding iPad Pro in any position or while seated using the new Smart Keyboard Folio, Face ID takes advantage of the TrueDepth camera system to accurately map and recognize the face to securely unlock iPad Pro, enable Apple Pay in apps and online and allow users to easily gain access to secure apps. The TrueDepth Camera on iPad Pro also enables Animoji and Memoji.
Face ID, the most secure facial authentication system in any tablet or computer, comes to iPad.
Best Device for AR
Advanced cameras and sensors and improved four-speaker audio combine with the power of A12X Bionic to turn iPad Pro, with its large viewfinder, into the best device ever for AR. With support for the next generation of AR apps, a new world of AR experiences is possible on iPad, such as measuring the reflection on real-world objects, navigating buildings in 3D and exploring entire universes. Adobe’s Project Aero (coming 2019) will enable creators to design experiences that take AR on iPad even further.
Advanced cameras and sensors, improved four-speaker audio, powerful chip and a large viewfinder turn iPad Pro into the best device ever for AR.
New Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard Folio
The new Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard Folio, available for purchase separately, give iPad Pro users new levels of precision and productivity. The second-generation Apple Pencil magnetically attaches to iPad Pro for pairing and wireless charging. It becomes even more powerful and intuitive as users can select just the right tool or brush with a simple double tap on Apple Pencil within apps like Notes. Powerful apps from leading developers like Adobe, Autodesk and Procreate also give users the power to be even more creative than ever before.
iPad Pro gives users the ability to be even more creative and productive.
The new Smart Keyboard Folio protects both the front and back of iPad Pro in a simple, thin and light design encompassing a full-size keyboard that never needs to be charged or paired. Easily adjustable for lap or desk use, the new Smart Keyboard Folio is perfect for getting thoughts down and multitasking.
The new Smart Keyboard Folio features a streamlined design that’s adjustable for added versatility.
New Power and Possibilities with USB-C
A new USB-C connector replaces the Lightning connector in support of the powerful ways iPad Pro is used. Incredibly versatile, USB-C offers power for charging, supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 for high-bandwidth data transfers up to twice the speed to and from cameras and musical instruments, and drives external displays up to 5K. With USB-C, iPad Pro can even be used to charge an iPhone.
A new USB-C connector and up to 1TB of storage enable powerful new workflows on iPad Pro.
iOS 12 on iPad Pro
iOS 12 brings new gestures to iPad that are already familiar to iPhone X and iPhone XS users including tap to wake and swiping to go home, access Control Center and for multitasking. The new Shortcuts app helps iPad users link together powerful, yet simple automated workflows for photo editing, video editing and file and asset management. Improvements to Photo import and support for native RAW image editing give photographers more efficient ways to work and multitask on iPad Pro.
Group FaceTime now makes it easy to connect with groups of friends or colleagues at the same time. Participants can be added at any time, join later if the conversation is still active and choose to join using video or audio from an iPhone, iPad or Mac. With new Animoji and customizable Memoji, users can take advantage of the large screen on iPad to add more personality to photos and videos in Messages and FaceTime.
Group FaceTime makes it easy to connect with groups of friends or colleagues at the same time.
Pricing and Availability
The new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro will be available in silver and space gray finishes in 64GB, 256GB and 512GB configurations as well as a new 1TB option. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at AED 3,199 for the Wi-Fi model and AED 3,799 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at AED 3,999 for the Wi-Fi model and AED 4,599 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model from apple.com and Apple Store locations, and is also available through Apple Authorized Resellers and select carriers (prices may vary).
The new iPad Pro models, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard Folio are available to order starting today from apple.com with availability starting Wednesday, November 7, in the US and more than 40 additional countries and regions, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UAE and UK. Later this year, the new iPad Pro models will be available in Colombia, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, India, Israel, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Macedonia, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and South Africa, with other countries and regions to follow.
The second generation Apple Pencil for the new iPad Pro will be available for AED 529. The new Smart Keyboard Folio for the new iPad Pro is available in space gray for AED 729 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and AED 799 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with layouts for over 30 languages, including simplified Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Spanish.
A new Smart Folio for iPad Pro, in a protective, polyurethane folio design, will be available in a variety of colors for AED 339 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and AED 419 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro at apple.com and Apple Store locations.
A wide assortment of Apple-designed USB-C accessories including adapters and cables also support iPad Pro and are available at apple.com and Apple Store locations, including a new USB-C to SD Card Reader and USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter.
With Apple GiveBack, customers can trade in their eligible device for an Apple Store Gift Card or partial refund on their purchase. If their device isn’t eligible for credit, Apple will recycle it for free.
Every customer who buys iPad Pro from Apple can enjoy free Personal Setup in-store or online, and receive guidance on how to customize their iPad Pro, set up email, find new apps from the App Store and more.
Anyone who wants to learn more or go further with iPad Pro or iOS 12 can sign up for free Today at Apple sessions at apple.com/today.
1 The displays have rounded corners. When measured as a rectangle, the iPad Pro 12.9-inch screen is 12.9 inches diagonally and the iPad Pro 11-inch screen is 11 inches diagonally. Actual viewable area is less.
2 iPad Pro is faster than 92 percent of all portable PCs sold between June 2017-June 2018. (NPD US data)
3 As compared to the previous iPad Pro model.
4 Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results may vary.
DAMAC Properties announced the completion of the raft foundation for tower C of AYKON City, its 4 million square feet development centrally located between Sheikh Zayed Rd and the Dubai Water Canal. The setting of the foundation slab, the second one at the development, saw over 288,600 cubic feet of concrete poured within a 30-hour period, and requiring more than 1,500 metric tons of steel.
“The foundation work presented a complex challenge for the project management team as the site is in the middle of a busy metropolitan.” said Niall McLoughlin, Senior Vice President at DAMAC. “To ensure that the setting of the raft did not disturb the flow of traffic in the area, the team orchestrated the job across several shifts, ensuring to complete the feat within 30 hours.”
In adherence to best standards, the slab required concrete to be poured in a temperature-controlled environment. With the successful completion of the foundation, construction can now begin on the main columns and core walls, accelerating the pace at which the tower will rise to complement the existing skyline.
Slated for completion in 2021, the multi-tower AYKON City community, centred in the heart of Dubai, consists of residences with ample lifestyle facilities, serviced apartments, a hotel property and office spaces. It also offers stunning views of the popular Dubai Water Canal, rated as one of the top attractions in the city. The promenade of Dubai Canal is the ideal place for residents and visitors to relax, and indulge in world-class experiences, owing to the scenic pedestrian tracks, waterways and bridges, as well as restaurants and stores that dot the area.
Industry-leading effort will help hotels manage removal of materials during renovations and make a positive difference in local communitiesIHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) and the IHG Owners Association have launched the Renovation Donation Initiative, an industry-leading reuse program that is part of a shared commitment to operating responsibly. IHG-branded hotels undergoing renovation or property improvements in the U.S. and Canada will be able to donate furniture, fixtures and equipment to non-profit organizations, including United Way Worldwide and Good360.
The Renovation Donation Initiative will reduce the amount of materials reaching landfills, and support the important work these non-profit organizations do in local communities, including workforce development and hospitality skills training programs. This effort is part of IHG’s new program for community work and charitable giving, True Hospitality for Good.
Developed based on input from owners, the initiative comes at a time when many hotels are implementing new design concepts to remain leaders in meeting guest needs. This includes the hundreds of hotels transforming under the Holiday Inn Express® Formula Blue, Holiday Inn® H4 and Crowne Plaza® WorkLife concepts, as well as Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® hotels which will soon be transitioning to new design prototypes.
Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer, Americas, IHG said: Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer, Americas, IHG said: “Responsible business is core to providing True Hospitality for everyone – we’re delivering a true win-win for our owners and the communities in which we operate with the support of these non-profit organizations. This initiative further strengthens our commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement.”
Don Berg, Chief Executive Officer, IHG Owners Association said: “Our members have shown tremendous interest in the potential impact of this effort. Through the Renovation Donation Initiative, we’re providing another way for owners to deepen the positive impact they make in their communities.”
Hotels will have access to a single point of contact to schedule pickup of items, making the process as easy and seamless as possible. At scale, there’s a real opportunity to make a large difference, with each hotel donating hundreds of items. For example, a 100-room IHG-branded hotel could furnish 200 mirrors, 150 bed frames, 101 TVs, 500 light fixtures and 22,500 sq. ft. of carpeting for potential donation.
Following an initial pilot phase, the Renovation Donation Initiative will be open to all owners of all IHG brands in the U.S. and Canada in early 2019.
Digital solutions enhance process for diagnosing diseases including cancer
85% of cancer confirmations in Saudi Arabia based on histopathology reports
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, and Al Borg Medical Laboratories, the largest chain of private laboratories in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf Cooperation, today announced that Al Borg’s laboratory in Jeddah has adopted the Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution and fully digitized its diagnostic process for patient tissue examination.
“The digitization of pathological diagnostics provides an opportunity to radically change the way that complex diseases like cancer are diagnosed by improving collaboration among pathologists and enhancing their daily workflows,” said Marlon Thompson, General Manager of Digital & Computational Pathology at Philips. “With digital pathology and the application of smart software, we aim to help pathologists boost efficiency, with the goal of ensuring accurate and personalized diagnoses for patients.”
Pathology plays a critical role in disease detection, particularly with cancer diagnosis. Suspicious tissue samples are investigated to determine if the tissue is malignant and to guide treatment decisions.
king this step with Philips will accelerate the drive to support pathologists in the Middle East in their transition to digitized pathology workflows.
Dr. Sameh Elsheikh
CEO of Al Borg Medical Laboratories
“We are proud for being early adopters of digital pathology in the Middle East, and one of the few labs around the world that are fully digitizing histopathology services. It will give us a competitive advantage in the market, as we see that this technology will become a necessity for laboratory groups in the near future.”
According to the Saudi Cancer registry reported in late 2017, 85% of cancer malignancy confirmations were based mainly on histopathology reports [1]. Historically, each tissue slide needed to be prepared, analyzed through a microscope, diagnosed, reported, and archived. If a patient wanted to seek a second opinion, the patient needed to ship or hand deliver these slides to the second pathologist, which carried the risk of slides being lost or damaged in transport.
By digitizing its pathology workflow, Al Borg is able to provide specialist pathologists with remote access to review tissue samples with the goal of offering patients a precise and faster diagnosis. Al Borg’s laboratory in Jeddah is now able to fully digitize high volumes of tissue samples with Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution. Pathologists can then review, interpret, analyze and easily share these digital images from any Al Borg location and by more than one person at a time through the Image Management System, allowing pathologists to quickly consult a (sub-) specialist, or conveniently share images during multi-disciplinary team meetings without physically transporting tissue samples.
“We are committed to making a major contribution to excellence in patient care by incorporating modern techniques and management concepts inside the lab,” said Dr. Hisham Shams, Chief Medical Officer of Al Borg Laboratories. “Determining whether a patient has cancer and determining which kind of cancer it might be is a critical step in making sure patients get the right treatments and care. Implementing digital pathology will help us to advance care and provide excellent laboratory medicine services across the Middle East.”
Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution is available in various countries globally for primary diagnostic use. The solution received CE-IVD clearance in the Middle East in 2015. Additionally, it became the first – and currently only – digital pathology solution to be marketed for primary diagnostic use in the U.S. in April 2017 and in Japan in December 2017.
After being crowned ‘Overall Afternoon Tea of the Year’ for the UK this June by Hotel F&B magazine, Jumeirah Carlton Tower is proud to reveal its festive Afternoon Tea offering for winter 2018. Served in the opulent Chinoiserie lounge, the Festive Afternoon Tea will be offered from 3-6pm daily, alongside melodies by the hotel’s resident harpist.
Hand crafted by top pastry chef Thomas Coley, the brand new Afternoon Tea experience takes guests on a culinary journey through the quintessential British festive period. Seasonal sweets include: Frosty the Snowman; a roasted coconut and white chocolate snowman macaroon, Reindeer Fuel; a dark chocolate and orange yule log and Santa’s Choice; a custard, nutmeg and mincemeat tart, amongst other goodies. On top of this, guests will be treated to a selection light sandwiches and warm scones with Cornish clotted cream and traditional preserves. The Festive Afternoon Tea will be complemented by a wide selection of traditional and contemporary teas and guests can add some extra sparkle with a glass of Champagne Laurent-Perrier should they wish.
Located just off Sloane Street, Jumeirah Carlton Tower offers luxurious accommodation and generous hospitality in the heart of London’s most fashionable shopping district. The Festive Afternoon Tea will be served daily in the Chinoiserie lounge, and costs £39 per person or £49 including a glass of Champagne Laurent-Perrier. Festive Afternoon Tea is running until 31 December 2018.
For more information on the Festive Afternoon Tea, visit www.jumeirah.com/chinoiserie.
To reserve a table for tea, call +44 (0)20 7858 7185 or email jctdining@jumeirah.com.
Follow Jumeirah Carlton Tower on social media @JumeirahCT.
-Ends-Notes to Editors:
About Jumeirah Carlton Tower:
Jumeirah Carlton Tower, situated in the heart of Knightsbridge, is a landmark hotel acknowledged as one of London’s finest. The hotel is noted for its fine dining, exclusive Peak Health Club & Spa and enviable location off Sloane Street – the capital’s most fashionable shopping area. Jumeirah Carlton Tower offers 216 rooms and suites, individually styled with a calm and contemporary feel, together with dining in the Chinoiserie lounge, The Rib Room and The Club Room.
AboutJumeirah Group:
Jumeirah Group, the global luxury hotel company and a member of Dubai Holding, operates and manages a world-class portfolio of 15 properties in the Middle East including the flagship Burj Al Arab, 5 properties in Europe and 2 in Asia with 18 properties currently under construction around the globe.
For further information or images please contact:
Nicole Favish
Marketing Manager
Jumeirah Carlton Tower & Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel
Email :nicole.favish@jumeirah.com
Contact Number: +44 (0)207 858 7162
Today, Startupbootcamp launches its FinTech Accelerator program in Dubai to support the city in its bid to become a world leader in financial services innovation and technology.
Over the next three years and in partnership with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Visa and HSBC, Startupbootcamp will accelerate 40 startups working in a range of fields impacting financial services innovation, such as artificial and machine intelligence, distributed ledger technologies and digital and open banking. The program will be open to startups from the MENA region as well as from around the world.
Dubai’s strong FinTech ambitions are focused on becoming the key financial hub serving a unique and rapidly developing region. Startupbootcamp, together with the partners, will support this vision by taking FinTech startups through a focused three-month growth program located in FinTech Hive at DIFC to address all critical areas of their business and prepare operations for future scaling. Partners and mentors of the program provide startups with an unparalleled level of highly curated access to resources, insights, technology, and expertise.
The program provides all the tools to take a startup from its initial launch to developing a highly scalable business with solid revenue growth. The program will provide startups with support from Startupbootcamp’s global network of entrepreneurs, investors and industry corporations, free co-working space, €15,000 to cover living expenses and over €450,000 worth of partner deals.
Startupbootcamp has invested in and accelerated more than 200 FinTech and InsurTech startups to date across programs in London, New York, Singapore, Amsterdam, Mexico City, Mumbai and Hartford, Connecticut, enriching and developing their FinTech ecosystems. Startupbootcamp is no stranger to innovation in Dubai after successfully launching its Smart Cities accelerator program in 2017, partnered with Dubai Silicon Oasis, du, Visa, Dubai Chamber, Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai, Smart Dubai and Orange Business Services.
The Startupbootcamp FinTech Dubai team will be hosting a series of ‘FastTrack’ events in different cities across the Middle East as well as international cities such as New Delhi, London, Singapore, New York and more over the next two months, in order to give startups the chance to present their ideas and to find out more about the program.
-QUOTES-
Todd OBrien, CEO of MENA, Startupbootcamp, said: “We are extremely excited to begin this journey that will see some of the best financial innovations from around the world come to enrich the financial ecosystem in Dubai and the region.”Raja Al Mazrouei, Executive Vice President – FinTech Hive at DIFC, said:“Building on the success of our existing accelerator programmes that target growth-stage FinTech companies, we are excited to partner with Startupbootcamp on this latest initiative that provides a growth platform for early-stage startups. The partnership will contribute significantly to developing the regional FinTech and Venture Capital ecosystem, and promoting entrepreneurship in line with the UAE 2021 Vision.”
Shahebaz Khan, Visa’s General Manager for the UAE and Innovation Lead for MENA, commented: “The future of digital payments will be shaped through collaboration and we look forward to working with our startup partners to transform the payments landscape and support economic modernization efforts to the benefit of consumers, merchants and banks alike. We are proud to partner on the FinTech startup accelerator program to help foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem where innovators from across the region can thrive and to enable a smart economy powered by secure, innovative digital payment solutions.”
HSBC’s CIO of Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, Ghinwa Baradhi, commented, “HSBC UAE is pleased to tie-up with Startupbootcamp to foster innovation and entrepreneurship through mentoring of young technology companies. We look forward to helping FinTech startups shape their products at scale and expand their markets, while providing more established entrepreneurs with strategic guidance on market opportunities and trends. Our aim is to explore options for collaboration to build innovative solutions which shape a better future for our customers and colleagues.”
More information about the Startupbootcamp FinTech Dubai program can be found at www.startupbootcamp.org/accelerator/fintech-dubai/
Applications for the program are now open.APPLY NOW
With prices starting at AED 999,888 for a three-bedroom residence, a monthly payment plan over five years and the fast-growing demand for homes near the Expo 2020 Dubai site, the Al Maktoum international Airport and an 18-hole championship golf course, Emaar has launched the ‘Expo Golf Villas’ that stand to bring high potential yield for investors.
Expo Golf Villas also stand out for their location by the Emaar South boulevard, a bustling hub of lifestyle and leisure activities, and featuring retail and F&B outlets. The neighbourhood is also near two green parks and a community centre.
The homes will appeal to professionals working in the various business hubs in Dubai South including the Aviation District, Logistics District, Business Park, Exhibition District and Humanitarian District.
Sporting a modern architecture that assures the privacy of residents, Expo Golf Villas offer premium views of green parks and immaculate landscaping.The homes are thoughtfully designed with balconies to maximise the views, while the internal finishes are in neutral tones.
The amenities include an outdoor pool, lawn, kids play area, and shaded parking in addition to the neighbourhood community centre featuring a gym and serving as a hub for social interactions.
For details on Expo Golf Villas, visit the Emaar South Sales Centre on the DWC Peripheral Road in Dubai South; the Emaar Sales Centres in Downtown Dubai; the Dubai Creek Harbour Sales Centre in Ras Al Khor; the Dubai Hills Estate Sales Pavilion located on Umm Suqeim Road; and the Abu Dhabi Sales Centre on the ground floor of Al Nahda Tower on 4th Street, Al Muroor Road. The centres are open from Saturday to Thursday, 9.30am to 7pm, and on Fridays from 2 to 7pm at the Emaar Sales Centre in Downtown Dubai only. Alternatively, call 800 36227 (UAE) or +9714 3661688 (International); or email: Sales_Enquiry@emaar.ae.
Emirates has expanded the network of destinations served by its flagship A380 aircraft with the launch of new scheduled A380 services to Hamburg and Osaka this week.The inaugural A380 service from Dubai to Osaka landed on October 28 at 16:55 local time while the second A380 service launch from Dubai to Hamburg landed at 12:55 local time on 29 October. Both aircraft were greeted by traditional water cannon salutes, and VIP delegations from Dubai, Hamburg and Osaka, including Emirates executives, VIP guests, media and industry partners, attended ceremonies in the arrival airports.
For Emirates, the A380 inaugural flight to Hamburg was a special celebratory event, marking the homecoming of the aircraft to the city where it was manufactured and fitted out. To celebrate the launch, Emirates’ chefs created a special menu allowing passengers to have a taste of the region in flight and enjoy specialty German dishes. As with all Emirates flights to Japan, passengers on board the inaugural flight enjoyed Japanese – inspired cuisine, including traditional Kaiseki menus and specially-designed bento boxes. On arrival at Kansai International Airport, flight EK316 was received with a warm welcome and both its operating crew and airport staff greeted each other by exchanging a traditional Japanese bow.
Emirates has grown demand for its services on both routes and together with the increasing popularity of the Emirates A380 experience among customers, the airline made the decision to deploy its A380 aircraft to both Osaka and Hamburg. With 105 A380s in its fleet, Emirates operates this popular aircraft to the most number of global cities of any airline. Osaka became Emirates’ 49th global A380 destination while its long-time friendship city Hamburg joined the A380 network as the airline’s 50th A380 destination.
Flights to Osaka’s Kansai International Airport were introduced as a daily service in April 2004 and Emirates has since transported nearly 2.6 million passengers between Osaka and Emirates’ Dubai hub. With the A380 now serving the route, Osaka joins Tokyo’s Narita as another of Japan’s airport gateways operated by Emirates’ A380 aircraft. Emirates is now operating all German gateways with its A380 fleet, including Frankfurt, Munich and Dusseldorf in addition to Hamburg, making Germany the most served European country by the Emirates A380 after the UK. Emirates started operating daily Hamburg flights in March 2006 and introduced a second daily service from September 2011.
“We are finally bringing our flagship aircraft ‘home’ as all our A380s are being fitted at Airbus in Hamburg. We are the first airline to offer scheduled A380 services into Hamburg and we are proud to operate the A380 on flights to all German gateways. This year marks the tenth year of Emirates’ A380 operations. This aircraft has become the most recognisable and admired ones in the world, loved by over 105 million passengers that have experienced the Emirates A380 to date and sets the benchmark for travel comfort in commercial flying,” says Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.
“Adding Osaka to our growing list of A380 destination cities allows us to provide our customers in Japan with the best-in-class onboard product and innovative offering that the aircraft offers – this is a great achievement for us. Osaka is a significant gateway for Emirates in Japan and this capacity increase allows us to extend our A380 service to passengers who appreciate an unrivalled travel experience. Features such as the generous space and legroom in economy class, Onboard Lounge for First and Business Class, showers in First Class as well as our award-winning in-flight entertainment system across all cabins make travelling on this aircraft a sought-after experience. Our customers also enjoy the personalised service we have created including the authentic Japanese dining experience with Japanese cabin crew on all flights to make our customers feel at home. Travellers from the Kansai region will now find it even easier to seamlessly connect to more than 155 destinations worldwide through our hub in Dubai.”
Flights on Emirates’ Dubai-Osaka route operate as EK316/ 317, served by a three-class configured A380 aircraft that can accommodate 489 passengers, with 399 spacious Economy Class seats on the main deck and 76 fully flat-bed mini-pods in Business Class in addition to 14 First Class Private Suites on the upper deck. EK316 departs Dubai (DXB) daily at 03:05hrs and arrives in Osaka (KIX) at 16:55hrs (arrival time is 17:05hrs from 1 December 2018 until 31 March 2019). EK317 departs Osaka at 23:35hrs and lands in Dubai (DXB) at 05:45hrs the following morning (all times are local).
For travellers from Hamburg, flights will have a total of 517 seats in a three-class configuration, with 427 spacious seats in Economy on the main deck, 76 fully flat-bed seats in Business and 14 First Class Private Suites on the upper deck. EK061 will depart from Dubai every day at 15:00hrs and arrive in Hamburg (HAM) at 19:05hrs. The return flight, EK062, is scheduled to depart Hamburg at 21:00hrs and lands in Dubai at 06:20hrs the next morning (all times are local). In addition to the flight operated by the A380, the additional daily flights EK059/EK060 between Dubai and Hamburg will serve the route, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
