HH Sheikh Mohammed makes another great personal contribution to the arts

Original poem by HH Sheikh Mohammed to be sung by Arab opera star

Performance by one of the region's very first sopranos

Event broadcast live on Sama Dubai TV

Performance to cap spectacular evening at Dubai International Financial Centre

Dubai, November 29, 2006: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and President of the DIFC, has made another great personal contribution to the arts. One of his many original Arabic poems, "Anta Alhawa," will be sung by a regional opera star at Dubai International Financial Centre's second annual celebration "Notes of  Success" on Thursday 30^th of November 2006. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed strongly committed to the arts providing visionary leadership in promoting the written, visual and performing arts in the UAE and across the World. This commitment  is matched by the full range of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed's contributions to Dubai, the UAE and the region from his economic leadership.

Pioneering soprano Hiba Al Kawas, one of the Arab world's most famous classical musicians, will perform the first-ever operatic performance of "Anta Alhawa" at Dubai International Financial Centre's (DIFC) distinctive "Gate" building as part of the cultural program of DIFC's second annual celebrations, which are being held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed, who is President of the DIFC.

His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the DIFC, said: "His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum continues to provide both visionary leadership and personal inspiration. Through the magic of his poetry, as through his clarion calls for economic growth, Sheikh Mohammed adds great value to the society and culture of not just the UAE but the whole Arab world."

He added: "The force of this vision is borne out by the astonishing achievements that have taken place here under his leadership - from the unprecedented economic growth of Dubai, the UAE and the Middle East, to the fostering of artistic excellence here at home and across the region. We are all profoundly inspired by his shared wisdom and personal commitment to the common good." 

More than 2,500 VVIP guests are expected to attend this prestigious and exclusive event, including a veritable who's who of global and regional decision-makers from the financial industry. For those unable to attend, the festivities will be broadcast live on Sama Dubai TV at 8:00 PM on Thursday, November 30. Other highlights of the evening include a performance by international opera star Jose Carreras, who will be accompanied by the City of London Sinfonia.

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About the DIFC:
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is an onshore hub for global finance. It bridges the time gap between the financial centers of Hong Kong and London and services a region with the largest untapped emerging market for financial services.

In just under two years, over 295 firms have registered at the DIFC. They operate in an open environment complemented with world-class regulations and standards. The DIFC offers its member institutions incentives such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, zero tax on income and profits and no restrictions on foreign exchange. In addition their business benefits from modern infrastructure, operational support and business continuity facilities of uncompromisingly high standards.

The DIFC is made up of the following core bodies:

1. The DIFC Authority (DIFCA) - Responsible for the Companies and Security Registries and attracting financial as well as non-financial institutions to set up in the DIFC. The DIFC Authority is also responsible for developing the financial services industry. (www.difc.ae)

2. The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) - An independent, unitary regulatory authority, responsible for the regulation of all DIFC operations. Its principle-based primary legislation is modeled on that used in London and New York and its regulatory regime operates to standards that meet or exceed those in major financial centers. (www.dfsa.ae)

3. The DIFC Courts - An independent court system set up to uphold the provisions of DIFC laws and regulations, the courts provide comprehensive legal redress in civil and commercial matters within the DIFC. The DIFC Courts system is especially designed to deal with all of sophisticated transactions that will be conducted within DIFC. The DIFC Court laws, based on the common law, not only sets out the jurisdiction of the court but also provides for a dispute resolution services, including arbitration and mediation, thus allowing for the independent administration of justice in the DIFC. ( www.difccourts.ae)

DIFC Investments- The creation of DIFC Investments will result in the allocation to it of all non public administration activities previously carried out by DIFC Authority. This will include amongst other things all commercial and other activities such as the operation and management of any current and future subsidiaries, the development of the centre's investment strategy and relevant policies and any other strategic investments or alliances which will further the goals and objectives of the Dubai International Financial Centre and contribute to the fulfillment of the Centre's vision. Some of the companies and organizations that DIFC Investments owns include:

1. The Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX) The DIFX is the region's first international financial exchange for equities, bonds, Islamic products, funds, index products and (subject to regulatory approval) derivatives. The target areas of the DIFX for seeking issuers include the Middle East and North Africa, as well as South Africa, Turkey and the Indian sub-continent. The regulator of the DIFX is the Dubai Financial Services Authority. The DIFX is located in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and its owner is the DIFC Authority. (www.difx.ae)

2. Hawkamah- the first Institute for Corporate Governance in the region, has been established in partnership with a group of international institutions, including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), UAE Ministry of Finance and Industry, Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Union of Arab Banks (UAB), Dubai School of Government (DSG), Young Arab Leaders (YAL), and the Institute of Management Development (IMD). (www.hawkamah.org) .

© Press Release 2006