DUBAI, UAE - Bidaya has formally inducted 20 new members to its ranks for the 2008/2009 academic year.

ICDL Saudi Arabia, the governing body and certification authority of the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) programme in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), has announced that it is complementing its efforts in line with the objectives of the Saudi Government’s “Tatweer” initiative which was launched to promote digital literacy in the Kingdom’s education sector. In line with this, ICDL Saudi Arabia is focused on enhancing computer competency among teachers and workers in the education sector by helping them obtain ICDL certification, and establishing a unified standard for all teachers to measure their skills in using computers and various computer applications.

Alcatel-Lucent has signed a contract to deploy the Atlantic-Mediterranean segment of the 15,000 km (9,000 mile), Europe India Gateway (EIG) submarine cable system.
EIG is the first direct, high-bandwidth optical-fiber submarine cable system from the United Kingdom to India, and will significantly enhance capacity and diversity between the countries and territories of three continents.
With completion scheduled in the second quarter of 2010, EIG will deliver an ultimate capacity of up to 3.84 terabits per second (Tbps) to provide upgradeable transmission facilities that support Internet, e-commerce, video, data and voice services.

BenQ has launched the dual-lamp SP920 DLP projector that uses the latest picture-enhancing technologies to provide superior picture quality with adjustable lumen output, superior optical efficiency, greater connectivity and lights-on convenience.

Since the inception of Path Solutions, Naji Moukadam was keen to spread the name of Path Solutions to new horizons and to new destinations. Moukadam is reputed in the industry for his vigor to drive his company and his team to global fame. Finally, he did it. Today, Path Solutions has strongly established its presence in Kuwait City, Beirut, Manama, London, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Karachi, Riyadh and Khartoum. The company also succeeded to maintain presence through partner companies in other locations around the globe. It is the human drive that made Path Solutions to be known as the global provider of Islamic banking software.

PC loaded with pirated Microsoft® Windows® XP software seized; highlights zero-tolerance government anti-piracy policy. Microsoft Gulf, in collaboration with the Qatar Ministry of Economy,

The Ministry of Culture and Information (MoCI) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has started the implementation of a number of major anti-piracy measures in a move intended to establish the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a regional leader in anti-piracy efforts.

The Emirates telecommunication Corporation, Etisalat, announced its plan to invest up to $1B in India in 2009. It is worth noting that the company approved a35% dividend in the second half of 2008, raising its full year payout to 60%. In addition, Etisalat raised its capital to Dh7.1B ($1.9B) as it recorded a 22% growth in revenues last year. More than 38,000 Pirated CDs Confiscated from Riyadh Streets The Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information has recently confiscated more than 38,000 pirated CDs from illegal street vendors as part of a comprehensive anti-piracy crackdown throughout the streets of Riyadh, KSA.

Al Habtoor Motors is preparing for the arrival of the 2009 Lancer Evolution X, the newest and most sophisticated version of the legendary high-performance model series that began 16 years ago.

Terminal 2 at Dubai International has undergone a major refurbishment, extending check-in and boarding facilities, revitalising the interior and exterior décor, plus offering more dining choices, to give customers an enhanced travelling experience. Currently serving more than 25 scheduled airlines, the extended facility will increase capacity from three to some five million passengers a year. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, commented: “Terminal 2 has seen tremendous growth over the past decade of its operation, due to its popularity as a convenient and flexible gateway for customers travelling into and out of Dubai.

The successful exercise paves the way for the phased transition of operations to the new terminal, beginning 14th October. The phased opening of the terminal, which is dedicated to Emirates, will be implemented in four phases to ensure that systems and processes are all in place and thoroughly tested. The aim is to make sure that all aspects of the customer experience at the new terminal are smooth and convenient when it opens to public. Some 3,800 volunteers from the public were involved in the final simulation which was focused on testing both the arrival and departure processes as well as the facilities

Dubai Airports has announced that a phased transition of operations to Dubai International’s new Terminal 3 will start from October 14, 2008. 

The ‘soft’ opening will be implemented in four phases, to ensure that systems and processes are working to the highest standards of efficiency

Etihad Airways is to provide customers with access to the the Maldives following an extension of its existing codeshare agreement with Sri Lankan Airlines.