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New report says Saab is One of the Safest Cars in the World

Two of the USA's most respected safety institutes have published new surveys on the safety of passenger cars. Saab's 9000 and 900 models were T given top ratings in both of the surveys, consolidating their reputation as two of the safest cars on the road.

SAABThe Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) survey shows that the Saab 9000 had the safest drivers area of all the 153 car models surveyed from 1990 to 1994 regardless of size.

The IIHS survey is constructed by analysing the statistics on the number of driver fatalities per model. Setting an average value of 100 for each model corresponding to two fatalities for every 10,000 cars registered. The lower the rating the safer the car.

The Saab 9000 received a rating of 25, four times lower than the average. and well below the Lexus LS 400 (31), the Mercedes E Class (45), the Volvo 940/960 and the BMW 5 Series. This means that you are almost 50% less likely to have a fatal accident driving a Saab 9000 than driving most of the 153 models in the IIHS survey.

Closely following the release of the IIHS survey, the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) which analysed the personal injury and cost of repair statistics of different makes of cars to come up with a measure to indicates the personal injury and financial costs attached to each model.

Based on an averaged value system with 100 being the bench mark, the Saab 900 received a rating of 56, 44% lower than the average car in this size class. As the safest car in its class the Saab 900 was placed ahead of the Buick Regal (62), the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (65) and the Volvo 850 (66).

Commenting on the results the HLDI report stated: "The difference between the best and worst car in the same class is striking when it comes to the personal injury results. The Saab has the best injury result for example, and is three times safer than the worst car in its class".


The Metropolitan Hotel - Dubai hosts the CTC Disney Jawa Conference at the Al Andulus Ballroom

HunchbackIf anyone tells you that they saw the 'the Hunchback of Notre Dame' with the charming Esmeralda and Frollo at the Metropolitan Hotel - Dubai, don't think they are hallucinating or mad... because they are telling the truth.

These Walt Disney characters came to the Metropolitan with the CTC- Disney Jawa Group who held their annual conference in the "Al Andulus Ballroom" on the 21st of October 1996.

The entrance to the ballroom was transformed into a 17th Century Parisian scene straight out of the Walt Disney production encompassing all its mystery and charm.


Primary moves at EIS

Emirates International SchoolMoving house may be listed as one of the most stressful changes in human lives. But at Emirates International School (EIS), the moving of an entire section of primary school children proved a welcome challenge that was undertaken with excitement and enthusiasm.

With the school rapidly growing in numbers over the past few years, especially in the primary section, the need for a new building to house the new entrants became a necessity. Come October and a full new structure with eighteen brightly coloured classrooms and allied facilities had been completed. Besides the classrooms, there is a music room, an expanded and improved computer room and a library, in addition to smaller rooms for teachers to work with individual groups. The library meanwhile, has also been expanded greatly with the addition of new books and a reference section on CD-ROM.

Come moving day, and the whole operation turned into an adventure, especially for the children who played a major part in the work. Boxes and bags of books, fish tanks, plants, maps and models all became part of the inventory of a very hectic moving day. Three months on, the new building is a bustling hive of activity and a proud addition to the EIS campus.


Al Shindagah joins the Digital Highway

By being one of the first companies in the United Arab Emirates to go 'Online" when Etisalat started its Internet service in 1995, DNIC recognised the revolution in communication that the Internet represented, and realised it would change future relationships between nations, communities and people.

To keep pace with the changing nature of this global revolution in personal communication, Al Shindagah has created a web site on the Net to enable readers to update or download any of the information, articles, stories or photographs contained within its covers. It will contain links to the DNIC Company homepage, and to other interesting sites relating to Dubai and the UAE.

So please visit our website, www.dnic.com, we think you will like it. If you have any comments or observations about the site or wish to comment on any of our stories, please E- mail us at habtoor@emirates.net.ae or call our freephone 800 service and leave your message.

We are now receiving so much comment about the issues and topics written about in the magazine, that from our next issue we will be giving over a whole page to readers letters and opinions. We would like to hear your views on the features and stories in the magazine, and will welcome E-mail, faxes or letters, on any of the subjects dealt with in the magazine, or on any related issue that would be of interest our readers.


Movie Making Fever Hits Dubai

Although movies have been a part of the entertainment scene of the Emirates for a long time, especially since the Copyright Laws were implemented, movie making itself has remained an elusive mirage.

But all that is set to change when Al Habtoor Entertainment was established late this year. Created with the aim of bringing film production to the Emirates, the new firm sees itself in the dual role of both producer and regional co-ordinator for other production houses planning to produce movies in the region.

According to the executive producer of the company, Gerry Sherard, "Al Habtoor Entertainment will offer a complete range of production and editing services. These will include everything from the hiring of equipment and location assessment to staffing, accommodation and government procedures. In effect, we will be the trouble shooters for any production, solving the problems that are often experienced on location shoots."

MovieThe firm's official launch came at the 1996 Milan Film Festival. While at the show Sherard and general manager, Dane Earnhart, met with industry figures from around the world to discuss the advantages of Dubai as a destination for on-location shoots and pre and post production. A specially commissioned seven minute video on Dubai put a dramatic emphasis on the pitch for Dubai.

According to Sherard, Milan '96 resulted in strong interest in Dubai as a production centre. The firm is currently in active negotiations on several co- productions while also developing their own projects. The firm plans to capitalise on the potential of Dubai while also laying the foundation for the beginnings of a future film industry here. Banking on the year round consistent weather, low labour costs, excellent global communications and no tax structure to make it attractive to production companies, Al Habtoor Entertainment believe they have a formula few locations can match. "Film companies coming to Dubai can be assured that every aspect of a production will be handled professionally to international standards," claims Sherard.

"Where else can you find the neon glitz of Las Vegas and the cool coastline of the French Riviera in the same location?" asks Earnhart. "Quite simply, Dubai is a great place for filming."