Close to 1,000 Turks gathered for an iftar program at a five star hotel in Dubai, which included interactive and entertaining games, puppet show and a draw sponsored by Turkish companies operating in the UAE.
Dubai - More than 900 members of the Turkish community living and working in the country gathered in Dubai Thursday for an unforgettable iftar program.
Among the high level executives honoring the event held at Grand Hyatt Hotel were Turkish Ambassador to the UAE, HE Selim Karaosmanoglu, Dubai Consul General Murat Yavuz Ates, attaches and staff at the Embassy and the Dubai Consulate.
Organized by newly-launched portal emiratesturk.com and Brand Clinic, a media services company, and sponsored by Turkish companies operating in the UAE, the iftar program, which included shows and interactive games for children aimed at bringing the Turkish expatriates together and providing a venue to establish new friendships as well as strengthen existing ones.
The Second Traditional Iftar Program, of which the first one was held last year again in Dubai and hosted close to 500 people at a hotel, brought together not only the Turkish community but also local guests together with expatriates from other countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East in general.
Guests, who needed to reserve their seats in advance due to high demand and limited space, started to arrive at the venue an hour before iftar time.
A short film which featured actual iftar time in Istanbul depicting various world-famous and historical mosques as well as people rushing to buy food and reach home was observed to make the guests feel home and somewhat emotional.
Welcoming the guests just after breaking fast was Ahmet Bulbul, CEO & Creative Director of Brand Clinic. Close to 900 people then headed for the open buffet where sumptuous food and various kinds of sweets and fruits were awaiting all.
The guests were also treated to a musical feast as a group of musicians from Istanbul who was invited to come to Dubai only for this event played instrumental music on stage complementing the spiritual atmosphere of Ramadan.
Fatih Kok, Co-founder of emiratesturk.com, in his introductory speech said, "Deep inside of human beings lies 'love' and the world around us could be considered a 'shanty'. However, it is 'love' that makes the world alive and fresh.
"If the universe is a love poem, the earth with its contents is its 'rhyme' and no one has the right to spoil the rhythm or the rhyme. We believe the spoilt rhythm of our lives get a 'fine-tuning' with the onset of Ramadan. We shall all try to keep the harmony throughout the year."
Inviting every member of the Turkish community to become a 'voluntary ambassador of culture' and look for ways to introduce our culture and values to others, Kok also talked about the plans to establish a Social Club in the UAE which will help increase awareness of Turkish culture and values in the country where people from hundred plus nations live together in peace and harmony.
HE Ambassador Selim Karaosmanoglu said he is delighted to be invited to such a distinguished event organized by distinguished people and thanked all who made it a success.
The ambassador also expressed that he would like to see more of these kinds of gatherings where the Turkish community can meet and establish firm relationships among themselves and with other expatriates in the country.
After the short speech by Air Arabia, the award-winning low cost airline based in Sharjah, which also flies to Istanbul and became a Platinum Sponsor of the Second Traditional Iftar Program, the entertainment group took stage.
The skilled artists, who were flown in from Istanbul only to attend the iftar program, entertained the little as well as the big ones with their games and traditional puppet shows.
At the end of the program, a draw with lots of surprises was waiting for the guests. Winning numbers were presented with exclusive gifts by sponsor companies including one business and one economy ticket from Turkish Airlines.
With happy memories to last a lifetime, many of the participating guests expressed their gratitude to the organizers for a wonderful iftar program and showed willingness to support the proposed Social Club.
The main sponsor of the iftar program was Atasay Simya, a luxury jewellery group; Platinum sponsors were Calik Holding, Air Arabia, Metropol Gulf; Gold Sponsors were General Mobile, Bader International Investment, CreArt; and Silver Sponsors were Gulluoglu, Metebronz Furniture, DRFCO, Yuksel Construction, Eldorado Furniture, Al Shahiq Trading, Al Sharif Advocates & Legal Consultants, Palermo Furniture, Gusto Furniture, Danat Dubai Jewellery, and Asa Light. Online Partner was emiratesturk.com and Brand Clinic was the branding partner.
-Ends-
For more information and images:
Ahmet Bulbul
ahmet.bulbul@brandclinic.ae
+971.50.4996958
Press Release 2007
