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Gulf Today
a day ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
Expo Centre marks Global Exhibitions day, celebrating 48 years of excellence
Staff Reporter, Gulf Today Expo Centre Sharjah organised a ceremony to commemorate the 10th annual Global Exhibitions Day (GED) that took place on Wednesday, under the theme 'Exhibitions Unleash Potential'. The celebration reflected the Centre's strong commitment to supporting economic and cultural progress in Sharjah and the UAE. It also highlighted the vital role of the exhibition industry in driving sustainable development and creating new pathways for growth and prosperity. The ceremony was attended by Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI and Expo Centre Sharjah, and Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, alongside the Centre's department heads, managers, and staff. The commemorative event featured a video presentation highlighting Expo Sharjah's journey of achievements and milestones since its establishment in 1977 as the region's first-ever exhibition centre, marking Sharjah's path toward global leadership and excellence. Thanks to the wise guidance and unwavering support of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Expo Centre Sharjah was relocated in 2002 to its current state-of-the-art facility, spanning 128,000 square metres. Today, Expo Sharjah stands as a premier venue in the Middle East, with an annual calendar featuring over 80 exhibitions and events and attracting around 3 million visitors and more than 7,000 companies and brands from nearly 60 countries, establishing the emirate as a leading destination for major global events. Abdallah Sultan Al Owais said that celebrating the Global Exhibitions Day underscores the strategic significance of the exhibition sector in advancing Sharjah's comprehensive and sustainable development goals. He noted that strengthening the exhibition industry remains a top priority for the Sharjah Chamber, as it serves as a key growth driver, positively influencing related sectors such as tourism. In 2024, the emirate recorded 1.6 million hotel guests, reflecting an 11% increase compared to 2023. For his part, Saif Mohammed Al Midfa remarked that Global Exhibitions Day coincides with a period of continued growth and diversification at Expo Centre Sharjah. In 2024, the Centre welcomed close to 3 million visitors, with an expanded portfolio of sector-specific events. In the first half of 2025, performance indicators remained strong, with new exhibitors representing nearly 20% of total participation, an achievement that reinforces the Centre's position as a globally competitive hub for international trade shows and exhibitions. Al Midfa also noted that the exhibitions sector plays a vital role in driving economic activity. According to the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), the exhibitions sector made a substantial economic impact in 2024, recording $398.2 billion in total spending, including $162.3 billion in direct expenditures. The sector also contributed $ 233.1 billion to global GDP, as reported by UFI. During the first half of 2025, Expo Sharjah, along with its affiliate centres in Khorfakkan and Al Dhaid, delivered a robust performance and significant milestones. Expo Centre Sharjah's 2025 events calendar commenced with the 'SteelFab' exhibition, attracting nearly 300 companies from 35 countries. The event facilitated the signing of significant trade agreements, further reinforcing Sharjah's position as a key industrial hub. The agenda also included the Sharjah Real Estate Exhibition 'ACRES 2025', which brought together over 110 exhibitors and achieved remarkable success, with real estate transactions exceeding Dhs 4.3 billion and a footfall of more than 15,000 visitors. In January and February 2025, the Jewels of Emirates Show stood out with the participation of over 500 brands and elite designers. The momentum continued with 'Ramadan Nights' exhibition that took place in March and Hive Furniture Show in May. The 55th edition of the Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show, held across May and June, set new attendance records with over 87,000 visitors, 500 exhibitors, and 1,800 designers and industry experts, marking first-time participation from Russia, Mexico, Tanzania, and Egypt. In 2024, Expo Centre Sharjah strengthened its international footprint and its broad network of partnerships by signing approximately 12 global cooperation agreements and receiving numerous high-level foreign delegations. The Centre also continues to invest in the growth of the exhibitions sector, as demonstrated by its hosting of the inaugural 2025 World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) Middle East Members Conference, bringing together leaders and representatives from the region's growing number of 18 World Trade centre businesses. Expo Centre Sharjah is set to deliver a dynamic calendar of specialised exhibitions in the second half of 2025. Key upcoming events include debut editions of the Middle East Cosmetics Show, the Evolve Future Mobility Show, and Dairy Tech Middle East, exhibition reflecting the Centre's focus on sectoral diversification and innovation. Al Owais and Al Midfa concluded the ceremony by honouring a group of distinguished employees and team members who played a vital role in the Centre's accomplishments in recent years. The recognition highlighted their dedication and efforts in enhancing event performance and contributing to the development of the exhibition sector.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Local police department hiring more officers
WEATHERSFIELD Twp., Ohio (WKBN)- The Weathersfield Township Police Department announced that they are looking to hire more officers. This is according to a post on Facebook. According to the post, job benefits include: Wage- $29.26 per hour Overtime Shift differential PERS Pension Healthcare Longevity 13 paid holidays Take Home Cruiser Program Officers said that the minimum qualifications include: Minimum age of 18 High School Graduate (or GED) No felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions involving theft, dishonesty, violence or use of a weapon. Valid driver's license with no citations indicating irresponsibility Must have OPOTA certification For more information, email Captain Hodge at khodge@ or Chief Naples at mnaples @ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Observer
2 days ago
- General
- Observer
More than 51,000 students register in HEAC
MUSCAT: As many as 51,027 students were registered in the Higher Education Admission Center (HEAC) at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. The number included 25,706 males and 25,321 females. The figures reflect the number of students who applied to the HEAC to contest seats in government higher education institutions, internal scholarships, private sector grants, external scholarships and grants from Arab countries for the academic year 2025/2026. The applicants will be given an opportunity to change their study preferences during a "Choice Modification" period that follows the announcement of results of the General Education Diploma (GED) exams in July 2025. The Higher Education Admission Center announced that the outcome of the first sorting will be made public during the first week of July 2025. These results are based on students' performance in the first semester and their current placing of the programmes of their preference. The aim is to enable the students to amend their choices and make the most appropriate decision in consultation with their parents. The "Choice Modification" period plays a significant role in a student's admission, because registration during this stage becomes final ahead of the 'First Round Sorting'. This stage is followed by procedures like personal interviews, admission tests and medical tests, in accordance with the requirements of the academic programmes. - ONA
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
After Fani Willis Drops YSL Murder Charge, Defendant Is Sentenced to 5 Years
One of three remaining YSL trial defendants was sentenced to five years in prison by a Fulton County Superior Court judge Wednesday afternoon. Damekion Garlington was originally facing life in prison if convicted on all charges — including murder and attempted murder — but he entered into an Alford plea with the district attorney's office earlier this week. An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain their innocence while admitting the prosecution likely has enough evidence to secure a conviction. In exchange for prosecutors agreeing to downgrade the murder charge to aggravated assault and drop the attempted murder charge, the 29-year-old pleaded guilty. Garlington had been Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis' last hope to hold one of the four people charged with the 2022 murder of Shymel Drinks accountable. Drinks was central to the prosecution's argument that Atlanta rapper Young Thug and 27 others were members of a criminal street gang called YSL. Last year, Willis' team dropped murder charges against Miles Farley and Quamarvious Nichols, two of the three other defendants charged with Drinks' murder, in exchange for guilty pleas on lesser charges. The third, Shannon Stillwell, was found not guilty in early December. The district attorney's office did not respond to Capital B Atlanta's request for comment. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced Garlington to 20 years in jail — five years to serve incarcerated, and 15 years on probation. She suspended a five-year sentence for possession of a firearm during a felony that will be voided as long as he successfully completes probation. Garlington will also receive credit for the nearly three years he's spent in jail since his arrest in September 2022. 'I hope that … this has been an opportunity for you to realize that the direction that your life was going is not a good direction, and that you are determined at this point to turn your life around and make good decisions from here on out,' Whitaker said after the sentencing hearing. She reminded Garlington that he must stay out of Fulton County throughout his probation and will be required to serve the five-year suspended firearms sentence if he violates the terms, which include: no contact with the victims, their relatives, or any gang members; no drugs; no gang paraphernalia; and no guns or replicas of guns. Other conditions stipulate that he must also complete a GED program within the first year of probation, which the judge noted he had already begun working on, and secure full-time employment within the first six months of his release. Garlington will also have to sign a Fourth Amendment waiver as a condition of his release, which means that for the entirety of his probation he, his car, his home, and his social media accounts will be subject to search by law enforcement at any time with or without probable cause. Garlington was one of the 28 people indicted on racketeering charges in May 2022 by the Fulton County DAs office for their alleged involvement in YSL — what prosecutor's classified as a criminal street gang that operated in the Cleveland Avenue neighborhood. Like many of Young Thug's co-defendants, Garlington wasn't able to find a defense attorney by the time the main trial began so his case was severed and scheduled to be tried separately. Jury selection in the trial for the two remaining YSL racketeering defendants, Christian Eppinger and Demise McMullen, is scheduled to begin June 9. The post After Fani Willis Drops YSL Murder Charge, Defendant Is Sentenced to 5 Years appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
Gulf Insider
29-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Oman Bans Power And Water Cuts During Exams, Holidays And Night Hours
The Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR) has reiterated that electricity and water services must not be disconnected during certain sensitive periods, including exam seasons, holidays and nighttime hours. According to APSR, utility disconnections are prohibited between 5pm and 7am, as well as on the last working day before weekends or official holidays. Additionally, no power or water cuts are allowed during the General Education Diploma (GED) exams and throughout the month of Ramadan, in coordination with education authorities. These regulations apply to both the electricity and water sectors, ensuring uninterrupted service for residents during crucial times for families and students. In a move to ease financial pressure on households, Oman has also reduced residential electricity bills for the summer months of May to August 2025, when demand is at its peak. Eligible residents are encouraged to register for the National Subsidy System, which provides additional support based on income and residency criteria. The announcement comes amid strong growth in the energy sector. In 2024, Oman's electricity production rose by 7.5%, reaching 45,388 gigawatt-hours by the end of November. Growth was driven by increased output in North and South Al Batinah, Al Dhahirah, and Dhofar. The electricity and water sectors contributed 2.5% to Oman's GDP in 2024, with total investments in regulated sectors reaching 2.837 billion Omani riyals from 2020 to 2024. Of this, 450 million riyals were directed toward electricity generation. Looking ahead, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts Oman's electricity consumption to grow by around 3% annually over the next three years, while APSR continues to advance renewable energy and infrastructure development.
