Emirates Home Nursing introduces Salamah, the new School & Nursery pick up and drop off service in partnership with Careem

If you are picking up and dropping off your children at nursery or school every day, unavoidably the day will come when you will not be able to make it, for any number of reasons.

School and nursery pick-up or drop-off is a carefully orchestrated endeavour. It is essential to be on time, prepared, and above all else, safe. So, if you are stuck in a meeting and can’t leave work on time, or if you are worried about your children using public transport alone, then Salamah services from Emirates Home Nursing and Careem is the perfect solution for you.

Safety of children on public transport and school buses is a significant concern for parents. Emirates Home Nursing is partnering with Careem to bring you a safe and reliable solution. Careem launched their Careem Kids car type in 2017 specifically to keep your child and family safe.

Our qualified and experienced childcare nurses will pick up from school, nursery or home and drop off your child(ren) in a Careem that parents can book with 30% discount on rides. This applies to Careem Kids where the car comes already equipped with a child’s car seat. Unique Careem discount codes will be provided with your Salamah booking confirmation from Emirates Home Nursing.

Madina to list on Dubai bourse

Kuwait’s Al Madina for Finance and Investment Co. will list on the Dubai Financial Market on Sept. 11, the firm said on Wednesday.

The Islamic firm said in a statement on the Kuwait bourse Web site it had obtained approval from the United Arab Emirates authorities for the listing.

Al Madina shares closed flat at 660 fils on Wednesday. There are 1,000 fils to the dinar.

United Designers Launch their 2019 Curated Ramadan Collection

Luckily, United Designer has launched their carefully curated Ramadan collection!

“Our line of kaftans brings out the elegance of traditional yet inspiring techniques, which our clientele very much value”
– Malak Nasrallah, General Manager of United Designers.

This year’s collection features geometric decorations embroidered onto pastel hues and vivid colours, from baby blue and pink to deep red and gold. The kaftans present as standalone designs, with a limited number of pieces, making each look unique to the area.

Make sure you stop by to check out this series of glam, floor-sweeping kaftans that put a modern twist on modest fashion while mixing and matching colourful prints and feminine details!

Ora Nursery of the Future reshapes early childhood learning

First of its kind curriculum prepares children to become future leaders and global citizens

Dubai aims to transform early childhood education with the opening of Ora Nursery of the Future in Emirates Towers. Representing a cooperative effort between the Prime Minister’s Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future and Al Madina for Finance and Investment Co, Ora’s future-focused learning model is the first early learning curriculum in the world to concentrate on equipping children with the skills they need to become resilient adults and global leaders.

Named the Zayed Early Learning Framework, the Ora curriculum aims to enhance children’s cognitive capabilities in the fields of science and innovation, whilst building their characters with a futuristic mindset. Inspired by the leadership of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE, and guided by the insights and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the framework seeks to nurture a future-proof generation.

Ora Nursery of the Future underscores the UAE government’s commitment to create an education ecosystem that realises the objectives of the ‘UAE Vision 2021’ and the ‘UAE Centennial 2071’ plan. Its progressive, interactive and technologically-enhanced learning environment works to maximise the creative potential inside each child, to instil the habits of innovation and futurism.

A leading learning model

Founded on the pillars of leadership; happiness and positivity; advanced science and artificial intelligence; and technology and coding, the Zayed Early Learning Framework serves as a springboard for children’s imaginations.

His Excellency Mohammed Bin Taliah, Assistant Director General for Government Services in the Prime Minister’s Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, stated: “The newly established Ora Nursery of the Future aims to build a creative and innovative generation by developing the strengths and personal characteristics of each child. The goal is to prepare them for their academic journeys ahead and equip them with the essential skills they need to become future leaders.”

The blended Ora framework incorporates the best of conventional early learning curricula and future-focused methods from renowned institutions like Alt School and Blue School to introduce a new archetype for early childhood education. Emphasis is placed on skills-based learning enhanced by technology to deliver an immersive, multi-sensory and experiential experience for each child. These methods guide children in the pursuit of their intellectual curiosity and discovery of their own creativity.

Catalyzing creativity

The CEO of Al Madina for Finance and Investment Co stated: “In line with the lively spirit enjoyed by Emirati youth, Ora Nursery of the Future encourages the curiosity, creativity and vitality of each child in a comprehensive and advanced social environment. Our future approach in education encourages children to explore and understand the world that surrounds them. This is crucial because in their first three years children develop physically, cognitively and emotionally at a faster rate than at any other time in their lives. By harnessing this learning potential, we seek to develop high levels of innovation literacy. Ora will impart to children the skills and knowledge they need to learn without limits so they can innovate the world they want to live in.

Interactive spaces and 22 learning areas

Ora Nursery of the Future spans an area of 600 square meters, with 22 learning zones including: The Third Dimension, an interactive digital wall; The Mars Lab, a scientific futuristic lab; a library containing English and Arabic books, some of which are authored by the Ora team; several reading platforms; a micro programming centre; a Splash Pad, an entertaining area; an outdoor garden; and The Crib, the nursery sleeping room.

The interactive areas allow all age categories to interact and learn from each other, while the classrooms provide the necessary structure for older age groups to ease their transition into primary school.

Informed by the latest findings in paediatric neuroscience, the nursery design also considers the visual development of younger children. The colour scheme of the 0-2 years’ zone is black and white, while a neutral and white colour palette features throughout the rest of the nursery, providing the perfect backdrop for the children, educators and resources to be the main stimulation.

Ora learning spaces do not focus on teaching children specific skills like reading or math, but encourage them to become active participants in their learning journeys. The nursery offers a learning experience that is playful, stimulating and social. The combination of analog and digital elements creates an immersive environment in which the children and Ora’s Zayed Early Learning Framework can shine. The space augments the learning experience, acting as a ‘silent educator’ in facilitating self-discovery for each child.

As important partners in their children’s learning experience, parents are encouraged to play an active role in their child’s journey at Ora by participating in social activities and events. They can also remain informed of their child’s daily activities and progress through the custom-built Parent App. Designed to support working parents, the nursery features a feeding pod for nursing mothers and a dedicated area for parents to watch their children without affecting classroom activities.

Ora Nursery of the Future is located in the Emirates Towers and is open all year. It offers full time, part time and casual enrolment options for children aged between 45 days up to four years old.

Al Madina Solutions opens dedicated Tas-heel/Amer Service Centre in DIFC

Personalised support and advisory services, flexible packages and launch of first-of-its-kind online government transaction app to support company’s goal to become PRO concierge service of choice

Burgeoning market demand for high-quality PRO services delivered by highly experienced and well connected local experts has been the catalyst for Al Madina Solutions’ expansion plans, with the business support services company gearing up open its first dedicated Tas-heel/Amer service centre in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) mid December.

Located in Central Park Towers, the 3,555-square-foot space is set to become a permanent point of reference for start-ups, SMEs, large-scale corporates and, now, individuals looking for expert and credible PRO assistance across a wide range of operational needs.

“The success of our original kiosk in DIFC, which we opened in 2014, prompted us to look at expanding our offering to accommodate a growing number of enquiries from both existing and new clients,” says Walid Emara, general manager, ALMADINA Solutions.

“With the Dubai economy expected to grow by 4.2% in 2019 (according to IMF estimates), due in large part to the Expo 2020 effect and government infrastructure investment, we forecast that demand will only increase over next 12 to 18 months as inbound businesses look to set up shop in the Emirates, and existing firms expand in relation to related opportunities,” he adds.

ALMADINA Solutions is differentiating itself from the traditional ‘typing centre’ style of service by homing in on personalisation as the cornerstone of its operational philosophy, and Emara is confident that the hands-on support offered at the new Tas-heel/Amer service centre will add value to the client experience.

“We’re not pencil pushers or box tickers, and our 33-strong team of highly experienced, multilingual local government experts work in an advisory capacity. They are also our clients’ go-to resource for the latest updates on government legislation, with a finger on the pulse when it comes to understanding the nuances of the business regulatory environment,” he explains.

The suite of Al Madina Solutions services runs the gamut of government mandated requirements from document translation and attestation, visa processing and medical check-up facilitation to driving license renewal, Ejari services and visa cancellation.

Says Emara: “Another reason to work with us is flexibility. Our business model offers 24/7 year-round access to the full spectrum of government administrative functions with a choice of either pay as you go (solo transaction) services or annual contract agreements for companies – specifically targeting companies looking to save money, reduce hassle and add value by outsourcing the PR role or department.”

Al-Madina invests $925mn in UAE projects

Kuwaiti Islamic investment firm Al-Madina for Finance and Investment has agreed to buy real estate projects worth $925.7 million, it said on Sunday.

The firm bought four towers in the United Arab Emirates’ capital Abu Dhabi through two of its units, it said in a statement on the Kuwait bourse website.

Al-Madina Real Estate Development Co purchased three towers for $789 million, while Sarh Al-Madina Real Estate Co, in which Madina has a 50 percent stake, bought a property for $138 million.

Future-ready leaders need an Early Years education rethink

A changing world is being powered by new modalities of how knowledge is generated and applied. With automation and machine learning coming to the fore, the nature of jobs, human endeavour and applicable knowledge is set for drastic change in the immediate years to come. The World Economic Forum calls this shifting paradigm Industry 4.0 – firmly situating it in the annals of other revolutions that irrevocably altered the means of production over human history.

Each industrial revolution also fundamentally changes the skills and aptitude humans need to gainfully contribute to society. The industrial revolution of the 18th century, for instance, saw mass displacement and unemployment before people found new roles working in symbiotic relationships with rudimentary machines.

Industry 4.0 will be no different. Tomorrow’s workers, and those who lead them, will need to be agile, to pivot, to understand and control technology, and to think laterally. And research shows that early years education is crucial in forming these skills.

Hence why there is now a global spotlight on early years education, with the question foremost of whether, in its current guise, it is fit for purpose in terms of developing the leaders for tomorrow. As science probes further into the inner workings of the human mind, it is now established fact that the brain’s fundamental “wiring” is laid down in the first four years of human development. UNICEF, for instance, has noted that, “The early years of childhood form the basis of intelligence, personality, social behavior, and capacity to learn and nurture oneself as an adult.”

The Study of Early Education And Development (SEED) report for the UK has come to similar conclusions. Its findings support the urgency of imparting effective early years education. The report shows differences in cognitive and socio-emotional outcomes as early as age 4 years for children who have received early years education, regardless of other factors such as household income or disadvantage. Early years education is important, and getting it future-ready crucial. As the world works to overhaul the carefully-developed education systems of yesteryear, a small country nestled in the Arabian Peninsula is leading the way. The United Arab Emirates – a country merely 47 years young – has always emphasised the importance of leadership. Small wonder, given that all the development schemes that have turned it into a 21st century trade and innovation hub were enacted by visionary leaders – sometimes in the face of scepticism. The ability to create future leaders, and people imbued with the skills to succeed in a dynamic technological future, is very important to the UAE. In fact, the UAE Vision 2021 places education at the centre of its message when it says: “Education is a fundamental element for the development of a nation and the best investment in its youth.”

Ghoulish delights from Eat this Halloween

We’re trusting you’ve heard, but in case you haven’t EAT Artisanal Bakery has just launched their Halloween menu!

Eat Artisanal Bakery, a charming eatery tucked away in Bay Square, is celebrating Halloween with wholesome, fresh, distinct flair. We definitely recommend checking it out.

Food is best when celebrated and shared with those you love, so throw a frighteningly fantastic evening or even a party for your little rascals with EAT’s custom-made spooky treats made from fresh, wholesome ingredients!

Hummingbird Early Learning Centre Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary

Hummingbird Early Learning Centre recently celebrated their 10th anniversary in their Dubai and Abu Dhabi centres. Kieny Watts, General Manager, congratulated and thanked all the staff, parents and children on this occasion. “When I look back on the past 10 years of Hummingbird, I am bursting with pride at my team for building from ground up a Dubai institution which stands alone as a provider of excellent early education. We have made such an immense difference to so many of the children we have come to love. It’s incredible and I’m so proud and thankful to everyone!”, Kieny shared on the momentous occasion.

She started Hummingbird Early Learning Centre following her passion for early years education and its impact on the future. She established the nursery and has overseen its growth from one branch with 5 employees in 2008 to its existing staff of 85.

Hummingbird’s mission to provide the parents across our centres a holistic and stimulating learning environment for their young ones and we established the first nursery to fill that gap. Her focus has been to build an establishment that serves the growing number of working parents who wish to provide their children with the best opportunities during their early years in a caring and secure environment. Across our four centres now in DIFC, Business Bay and Al Reem Island, we encourage children to learn through play, exploration and discovery in order to understand the world around them.

“We have our 2 boys at Hummingbird and we are really happy and satisfied with everything! I believe that our kids receive the best they can get for their age at this nursery. They are so happy to go to the nursery and they leave with a smile every day” shared a Bay Square parent, Erini.

Another parent from our DIFC Centre remarked“Elly has been at Hummingbird since he was four months old, he smiles every morning when he is picked up by Marites. As a working mother, I feel confident that my child is looked after by trained staff and comforted in knowing that he is happy and learning every day. The management is lovely and a pleasure to deal with. I can highly recommend Hummingbird. “

Recognised as a leading centre for early years education and development in Kuwaits, Dubai and Abu Dhabi over the last decade, Kieny and the team have strived to provide outstanding learning and nurturing opportunities to our students. We are also accredited by the UK’s Pre-School Learning Alliance for meeting the highest standards in teaching, care and delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum.

United Designers is Back With a New Flair at City Centre Mirdif

Make A Difference With Our Expert Team