Go and have a look at the amazing New Downtown Dubai Interactive website.

The Downtown Area is the most vibrant and all encompassing of areas in Dubai, and this site shows why.

By moving the scroll bar you can change the time of day to see the sunrise and fall over the whole Downtown area, as you do so new animations such as the Dancing Fountains spring into action to bring the whole screen into life accompanied by music and sounds for the various activities taking place along with informative videos to further illustrate the highlighted subjects. 

http://mydowntowndubai.com

WHAT & WHERE! - Want to find your way around The Emirates? Then this fabulous Interactive Map is for you.

Great fun and a great way to learn the location of the countries that make up the UAE.

www.exploretheemirates.com

The annual boat show in Dubai was held at the beginning of March 2011, and attracted families visitors and potential buyers from across the world. More than 750 companies and brands, including 200 first timers, were represented at the show which provided something to appeal to everyone’s taste.

With 425 boats and yachts on show, this Dubai show has the potential to become the largest and most prestigious boat show in the world, with its status of already being one of the top 5 international boat shows worldwide.

Trixee Loh, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre said "It is truly inspiring to see the level of interest across all ranges, sizes and prices at the show."

"The market has become far more accessible and the increased number of first time buyers the exhibitors are reporting is excellent news. The Dubai International Boat Show is recognised as a driver for new business and the exhibitors here are really showing that they have the adaptability to diversify in order to meet market demands. It is great news for the companies as well as the customers."

The boat show celebrated its 18th edition of the event with the opening being inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.  The super yacht “Dubai” dubbed a mega yacht, owned by the Dubai government for official state and private use of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, was seen cruising round the palm island during the boat show. At 162meters this super yacht is currently the largest of its kind in the world.

Built by Platinum Yachts, “Dubai” weighs 13,470 tonnes and has 7 accommodation decks with a capacity of holding 115 people, including passengers and crew. Decked out like a mini cruise ship, the facts and figures on this yacht are astonishing, from having its own helipad, swimming pool and Jacuzzi, this is a truly outstanding vessel, which shows the love and interest that the ruler of Dubai has within the boat industry.

Erwin Bamps, Chief Operating Officer of Gulf Craft, one of the show's largest exhibitors says the boat builders and brokers realise there is an increasing demand for the mid size and smaller boats and are seizing the opportunity to widen their portfolio.

"Even with the larger boats, people are expecting much more added value and they are getting that in the form of extra fittings, furnishings and so on. But the market is also becoming much more affordable and accessible to people who have regarded it before as very much a luxury leisure pursuit that would always be out of their price range. There are a lot more opportunities for excellent value boats for fishing trips and days out and people are taking advantage of the chance to purchase a boat, in many cases for the first time," said Bamps.

The IMG group made their debut at the show providing a varied choice of family friendly boats, as well as fishing boats which they are well known for, from its Dubai base, this shows how companies have had to diversify their businesses, by providing other types of water craft, particularly the relaxation and sporting activity.

The biggest sale recorded at the event was made by Sunseeker with a 40metre super yacht costing Dhs100m (£16.7m) pictured here. This tops the sale they had last year for a 38metre super yacht for Dhs72m.  Sunseeker Yachts are the ultimate builders of luxury and cruising craft. They custom build yachts to reflect the customers taste, no two boats are the same with the interiors built by hand and customised to the specification required.

Sunseeker has already committed itself to being present at next year’s show, after recording possibly the quickest sale of the show with the contract signed with the Bahrain boat builder Al Dhaen They sold a dh1.4m cruiser that was exhibited on their stand, in which the deal for the 500 Wavebreaker was completed in just 50 minutes, within the first hour of the show opening.

The boat show will be back again next year and no doubt will be even bigger and successful. Run alongside the Dubai boat show was the purpose-built Super  car Promenade, which was trialled as a unique concept and opportunity to exhibit the other fast and luxurious market that is prevalent in Dubai. This was a chance to make sales in the lucrative super car market, as well as a welcome break from just seeing boats at the high end of the market.

This was indeed the place for credit cards to be used and maxed out, and a great opportunity for car manufacturers to jump on the back of boat sales at the show, with the normal philosophy of “if you have to ask the price, you cannot afford to buy” which would obviously have been in place. The manufacturers would certainly have been looking to take a number of orders here for these exclusive cars; this was the perfect scenario for the inaugurated show alongside the boat show.

The Middle East’s premier of high powered Mercedes Benz cars. The premium brand cars included the BRABUS SV12 R which is the world renowned Luxury Sedan, with 800 hp under the bonnet, the car is an icon within the motor industry and a favourite for many high profile celebrities. Also taking place was the demonstration of the BRABUS Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG with its claimed top speed of close to 350kmh.

This is an exciting preview to the other famous vehicle show, the Dubai International motor show in November later this year.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has officially launched the new ferry service ‘Ferry Dubai’.

In 2008, the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, endorsed the design of Ferry Dubai, costing Dh178 million. The plan for Ferry Dubai was to reduce traffic congestion on the roads. The obvious use of the waters around Dubai is being exploited to help reduce road traffic, which is becoming more congested every day.

The DTA forecast that with the introduction of the ferries as well as the established water taxis, the traffic congestion on the roads should rectify itself within two years, as well as improving further, once federal legislations are approved in about a year's time.

The official launch of Ferry Dubai took place during a visit by his highness, to the Dubai international boat show on Friday 4th March 2011, where he was joined on a tour of the ferry by a large number of officials and dignitaries.

The 32 meter long 20 ton ferries are dual base Catamaran Low Wash vessels, with a passenger capacity of 100, Comprising of 84 economy class, 14 business class and 2 seats for people with special needs. This will initially start off as a fleet of two, increasing later up to ten, as the demand exceeds for more ferries, which are  scheduled for the end of 2011.

The ferry service operated by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), will sail in the Dubai Creek and link Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Marina and the major waterfront developments. The initial service will be a tourist route. Eventually the ferry service will operate between four custom designed stations strategically located along the creek:  The Gold Souk, Union Square, City Centre and Al Ghubaiba.

Once full service is in operation the ferry service will provide a link with the Dubai Maritime City, the emirate of Sharjah, The Palm islands, The World and The Waterfront.

The ferries are capable of 24 knots an hour which will ensure that they are on time and never run late, Estimates suggest that the ferries will transport around 3 million passengers during the first year.

Fitted on all of the ferries are the latest in entertainment to amuse the passengers for the hour journey, as well as having the necessary safety equipment in case of an emergency, with the ferry fleet all complying with all international and safety requirements. Each ferry is fitted with four LCD and DVD monitors, three toilets and a kiosk for selling gift items and snacks.