Arun Panchariya-Kuwaitis Head To The Polls For Sixth Time Since 2006

Kuwaitis voted for the sixth time in seven years on Saturday in a parliamentary election boycotted by the main Islamist and populist opposition, which may help liberals and independents win seats.

Turnout was expected to be low in summer temperatures hitting 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, and as Kuwaitis become fed up with voting in short-lived parliaments.

The opposition boycott may produce a parliament more willing to cooperate with the government on economic development than some of its predecessors in a country where political infighting has held up investment.

“Voting is a national duty,” said Mohsen Dashti, a 40-year-old doctor who was casting his vote in a coastal district south of the capital. “We need reconciliation between the parliament and the government as well as a focus on development.”

The oil-producing U.S. ally has the most open political system in the Gulf Arab region. While it has witnessed sizeable street protests in the past two years over local issues, its generous welfare system and relative tolerance of dissent have helped to shield it from Arab Spring-style unrest.

But parliaments have been dissolved time and again, usually for getting too bold in challenging government ministers.

The snap election was triggered by a ruling from the top court in June, which said the process leading up to the last one in December was legally flawed.

Almost constant political upheaval and entrenched bureaucracy have held up major parts of a KD30 billion ($105-billion) development plan announced in 2010 to build a refinery, airport, hospitals, housing and highways.

Kuwaitis say they face housing shortages, clogged roads and an old-fashioned airport despite living in one of the world’s richest countries per capita. They point out that other Gulf states, such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, have pushed ahead with bold modernisation projects.

“It is very difficult and it is very depressing for us to have so many elections in such a short time,” said lecturer Wasmeyah al-Abbad after casting her ballot in an upmarket district close to Kuwait City.

Abbad, in her 50s, said the issues important to her were women’s rights, inequality and the dominance of powerful families in politics and the economy: “Men get houses, but women don’t, we don’t get to choose our careers, and some names are dominating positions.”

Campaign themes have included corruption, loan relief and concern over a $4 billion aid package to Egypt after the military overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi.

On Saturday Kuwaitis on Twitter vented frustration at the aid promise, saying the money could be better spent at home.

Kuwait and other Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were glad to see the back of Mursi because they are fearful of Islamist influence in their own conservative, dynastically ruled countries.

“WASTE OF TIME”

Polls were open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (0500-1700 GMT) and results are expected early on Sunday.

The mainly Islamist and populist opposition is boycotting in protest against a new voting system announced last October, which cut the number of votes per citizen to one from four, and which it says would prevent it forming a majority in parliament.

In a country where political parties are banned, the old system helped opposition politicians to form alliances by offering reciprocal backing from their supporters.

“The election will lead to a sham parliament that the government will control,” said Mohammad al-Dallal, a former Islamist MP who joined the boycott. He said many Kuwaitis believed the parliament would not last long and be invalidated by a court ruling or by the emir, like previous assemblies.

“Electing such parliaments is a waste of time,” he said.

The government says the voting changes brought Kuwait into line with other countries and will ensure stability.

Saturday’s vote will elect a 50-member assembly which can pass legislation and interrogate government ministers. But the 84-year-old emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, has the final say in state matters and can dissolve parliament.

The emir courted groups unhappy about the new voting system and encouraged several powerful tribes to endorse the election. That led to splits in the opposition, with liberals deciding to run as well as Salafi Islamists, who support the austere form of Islam practised in Saudi Arabia.

Arun Panchariya- Dubai, UAE residents have no gender preference for babies

More than half of the 760 Nabd Al Arab survey respondents say they have no preference when it comes to the gender of their baby.
The results are a reflection of the growing opportunities for women in the country, says Dr Souad Al Oraimi, a professor of gender and development at UAE University.

"It means that now parents consider the two genders equal," Dr Al Oraimi says. "Women are now capable of taking care of themselves. They have access to education, they can work and fulfil their potential, so they are equally valued by society."

Twenty-six per cent of respondents show a preference for a baby boy and 16 per cent for a baby girl. The other 58 per cent give no preference.
"These are really impressive results," says Rima Sabban, an assistant sociology professor at Zayed University.

"It shows that the woman's active role is being recognised. Society is getting modernised and women can now generate money to help the family.
"At the end of the day they're making a difference, so there's no reason why someone would choose a boy over a girl."

But men's and women's preferences were very different.
Thirty per cent of men say they would rather have a baby boy compared with 21 per cent of women, while only 12 per cent of men show preference for a girl, against 24 per cent of women.

But Dr Oraimi says that the numbers should be approached with caution.
"I still see a preference for boys in our society," she says. "This is part of the traditional thinking and the only thing that can change this is time.
"It all depends on how quickly society develops and the UAE is moving rapidly."

A 2011 Gallup survey of more than 1,000 respondents in the US showed 40 per cent of respondents would prefer a boy to a girl if they were only to have one child.

Arun Panchariya-Worries over rise in eating disorders in the UAE

Three-quarters of young Emiratis suffer with body issues, and one in five of those need clinical intervention, a study suggests.

The number of sufferers from anorexia and bulimia has increased in recent years, mainly among teenage girls, said Sana Karim, head of student counselling at the Ministry of Education.
While ministry psychologists visit schools to deal with behavioural issues, including eating disorders, she said it was vital for parents and teachers to look for the signs.
“There are certain symptoms you can see as to whether a child is well or not,” she said. “Early on, parents notice children’s habits and teachers see them in class. Some students may seem sleepy in class or may struggle to focus.”
Dr Justin Thomas, from Zayed University, and Sabrina Tahboub-Schoult, from the American University of Sharjah, found the alarming results during a study of 361 undergraduates – 284 women and 77 men.
Their paper has just been accepted by the journal Eating Disorders.
The researchers pinned much of problem on rapid social change, which has affected men and women almost equally. That was a surprise; the team had expected male participants to be less affected.
“Social change brings uncertainty, and eating disorders appear to increase in prevalence as societies move through major sociocultural transitions,” said Dr Thomas.

Top 3 bars in Dubai-Arun panchriya

Siddartha Lounge: 


Rivalling the great Buddha Bar in Tower One, the first of Grosvenor House’s many new ventures is a sleek white, faintly-Eastern themed poolside bar which came into its own over the cool winter months.

Embassy: 


Arriving directly from London, this exclusive supper club was instantly the talk of the town. Split across three stories, it offers thrilling 360° views and trendy lounge feel.

Nell Gwynne: 


With a theme recalling Medieval times, plus a large floor plan, pool table, dartboards, plenty of flatscreen TVs, Dubai’s first Welsh-themed bar has proved an instant hit. 

Reference: timeoutdubai

Dubai is thinking big for 2013

A replica of the Taj Mahal four times larger than the original. An underwater hotel. A 5 sq km complex of homes linked by canals. The world’s biggest mall (again). A crocodile park. If you wanted any proof that Dubai’s economy is back on track following the financial meltdown that shook the world in 2008, one need only look at the list of ambitious new developments announced over the past 12 months. Many of the proposals have had seasoned expats whispering ‘it’s like 2006 all over again’, with a look of both excitement and desperation in their eyes.

There’s no denying that the new developments – sublime, ridiculous, beautiful, thrilling and garish as they each might be – will be a marvel to watch evolve in front of our eyes. But for those who lived through the sky-high property prices of Dubai’s 2006-2008 boom (a time when general inflation alone soared to 10.8 percent by 2008), a sense of anxiety may be somewhat justified. With this recent recovered economic confidence, Dubai has also seen property and rental prices soar – most of the sales and letting firms we spoke to reported that property prices in prime areas have soared by as much as 25 percent over the past 12 months, with rental prices rising by up to 15 percent. ‘When 2008 hit, I thought it would take six years to recover,’ says Priyesh Patel, a sales director with real estate firm Aston Pearl. ‘Yet it only took three years.’

Reference:Time Out Dubai

Best 3 Malls of Dubia UAE- Arun Panchariya

Burjuman Centre

Burjuman is the home of high end fashion in Dubai; host to all the best brands money can buy such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Bvlgari to name a few. BurJuman is the height of shopping luxury in Dubai. Beyond the exclusive luxury brands, there are also some great ready to wear items on offer from brands like Guess and DKNY.

There are two parts to the mall, the old and the new. Stick to the older part for the more expensive brands all in one place. There is a play area on the third floor for children, which includes an interactive fountain. The mall is made up of sunny courtyards and impressive gardens, giving it a distinctive outdoor feel. There are great restaurants and cafes to choose form if you need a break form all the shopping. Parking is easy to find, there are plenty of spaces underground, and a taxi rank just outside the complex.

Deira City Centre

Located on the waterfront, Deira City Centre is known for it’s friendly service. Many shoppers are surprised to be greeted with a smile and a complimentary bottle of water. What a great relief from the hot sun of Dubai! There are over 350 stores with a diverse range of merchandise. You’ll find all of the great fashion brands, as well as electronics, jewellery and local specialities such as silk, cashmere and oriental rugs. It’s a great place for jewellery with 33 dedicated stores.

Jumeirah Plaza

Centrally located and close to many of the major hotels, Jumeirah Plaza is certainly one of the most convenient malls to visit. Opened in 1994, by Dubai standards it’s one of the older malls, although it’s still very much worth a visit. There are all the international brands you expect as well as jewellery, home wares and quite a lot of watch showrooms.

Don’t miss TGI Fridays fro a great steak and some happy hour mocktails! There is also office space, a hotel and furnished apartments that are part of the complex. A large exhibition centre plays host to a wide range of activities throughout the year, from fun interactive things for kids to art shows to cultural events. Many locals prefer to shop at Jumeirah Plaza as opposed to some of the larger malls as it is often less crowded.

Top 3 Dubai Architectures by Arun panchariya

Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab (Arabic: برج العرب, "Tower of the Arabs") is a luxury hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates managed by the Jumeirah Group and built by Said Khalil. It was designed by Tom Wright of WS Atkins PLC. At 321 metres (1,053 ft), it is the tallest building used exclusively as a hotel. However, the Rose Tower, also in Dubai, which has already topped Burj Al Arab's height, will take away this title upon its opening in April 2008. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 metres (919 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the billowing sail of a boat.

Burj Dubai


Burj Dubai (Arabic: برج دبي "Dubai Tower") is a supertall skyscraper currently under construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. When it is completed in late 2008, it is predicted to be the tallest man-made structure in the world, as well as the tallest building by any measure. Scheduled for occupancy in September 2009, the building is part of a 2 km² (0.8 sq mi) development called 'Downtown Burj Dubai' and is located at the "First Interchange" (aka "Defence Roundabout") along Sheikh Zayed Road at Doha Street.
The building is being built mainly by a South Korean company Samsung, along with the Belgian company Besix and the UAE company Arabtec. It was designed by American Adrian Smith before he left Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP (SOM) of Chicago to start his own independent practice, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture in October 2006. However, SOM continues to lead the architectural, structural engineering and mechanical engineering of Burj Dubai. The total budget for the Burj Dubai project is about $4.1 billion US and for the entire new 'Downtown Burj Dubai', $20 billion US.

Dubai Marina

Dubai Marina is a district in the heart of what has recently become known as 'new Dubai', in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is located at 25°4′52.86″N, 55°8′38.67″E on Interchange 5 between Jebel Ali Port and the area which hosts Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and the American University in Dubai. The first phase of this project has been completed.

Reference: dubai-architecture info