ABU DHABI, 23 Feb, 05 (WAM) - The Dubai Ladies Club held its firstannual board meeting since the Club was officially launched in December,2003 under the patronage of Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid AlMaktoum, President of the Club.

The meeting examined the Key Performance Indicators to access the achievementsof the Club after the first year of operations to access the achievementsof 2004 and chart out the plans for 2005. The meeting was chaired byMona Al Marri, Vice President of Dubai Ladies Club and was attended bySana Suhail, Director of Human Resources at The Executive Office, businesswoman Faiza Al Sayed, Hala Badri, Marketing Director, EPPCO and businesswoman Najla Al Awer.

Mona Al Marri, Vice President of Dubai Ladies Club said, "A host ofnew services and amenities have been introduced over the past year topropel the Dubai Ladies Club into one of the finest such facilities inthe region." She added, "Dubai Ladies Club's mission is to excel in helpingwomen nurture their body and nourish their mind by providing a rangeof innovative and creative facilities." Talking about the membershipregistered Al Marri said, "The Club has received very positive responsewith the membership rising to over one thousand in the first year itself.

Membership is offered at all levels each including single, family, non-residents,each with a special set of benefits. The Club also developed and organizedspecial student summer packages and kids summer camp." The Vice Presidentof the Dubai Ladies Club said that the strategic objective of the clubwas to provide quality service and at the same time be an avenue forwomen of all nationalities living in Dubai to realize their full potential.

She added, "We are planning to continue implementation of a host of facilitiesto improve our services." Dubai Ladies Club also organized a number ofsports tournaments in order to encourage the participation of women insports and improve their fitness level. The Club has developed a planthat will cover a host of sporting activities that target women fromvarious age groups. The programme covers sports such as soccer, tennis,squash, Tae-kwando and swimming. Professional instructors provide trainingfor individual and group members and children as well. The Club housesspecial tennis courts, equipments and playgrounds for the different activities.

The Health Center at the Club over the past year hosted a number ofworkshops and events and initiated support groups to raise the healthawareness.

An important achievement in this regard is the launch of the first everU.A.E. Down Syndrome Support Group by the Dubai Ladies Club. It is atremendous step forward for the residents of UAE especially the parentsof children with Down Syndrome and their families. The group is planningon holding monthly meetings covering a heavy agenda for 2005: a substantialprogram of talks and events which are all directly related to Down Syndrome.

The Art and Talent Centre at DLC also registered tremendous responseto its fascinating and varying selection of courses in a wide range ofmedia ranging from pottery, photography, calligraphy, oil painting, watercolour to decoupage, twist art, marble mosaic and interior design. TheArt and Talent Centre in collaboration with the Fitness Centre also launchedthe summer camp which involved a series of art and craft activities andspecial Ramadan workshops. The Dubai Ladies Club also established itselfas the prime venue for hosting exhibitions.

Mona Al Marri said, "The need for such a exclusive club for ladies isevident by the response to the Club. There was clearly a need for sucha facility, which caters exclusively to the ladies where they could relaxand rejuvenate and which offers them the much treasured privacy."