IT Marathon 2010

Question

Al-Ain city is one of the main cities in the UAE. Al-Ain Municiapality has decided to go online in order to reach a large number of families in Al-Ain and surrounding cities as well as tourist from around the world. Given the following content describing Al-Ain city, it is required to design a Web site in which the information about the city will be arranged in an attractive way to reflect the image of the city. All resources are provided below and in your computer folder under the filename: “Web Resources” (you are not expected to use any additional resource, except those provided in your web development environment, if any).

Al-Ain City

Man settled in Al Ain Area since seven millennia. Since its early days, Al Ain has been a focal point for its surroundings. In the past, desert caravans visited Al Ain regularly to get provisions. Today the city is a booming tourist attraction.The existence of fresh water has supported wide palm plantations. The city has developed from seven main palm oases where people have built their houses and forts since early ages. The city is served by many tourist facilities which combine traditions, heritage, history and modernity. Al Ain is located in the Eastern Region, 160 km from the capital Abu Dhabi. Its renowned tourist attractions are essential components of the tourism industry in Abu Dhabi Emirate in particular and the UAE in general. Covering 12,955 km2, Al Ain is surrounded by mountains from the East and Empty Quarter Desert from the South-West.

Known as "The Garden City of the Gulf" for its extensive greenery due to its fertile oasis, Al Ain is located inland in the eastern region of the Abu Dhabi emirate. Al Ain is an oasis with many natural landscapes, 70 beautiful parks, and numerous date palm farms. The city's name comes from the Arabic word for spring, after the natural hot spring called Al Fayidah. Al Ain is approximately 160 kilometers from Abu Dhabi, and borders with the Sultanate of Oman and its town Buraimi. A modern city in many regards, Al Ain is still very traditional and conservative in comparison to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The population of Al Ain is approximately 300,000.

ATTRACTIONS

Al Ain city is renowned for its tourist attractions such as oases, forts, gardens, nice coloured sand dunes and Hijr Mountains. Parks, museums and green areas like Mabzarat Al Khadhra at the foot of Hafeet Mountain as well as festivals and sports events add to the great potential of the city. Fertile soil attracted human settlements in Al Ain since early historical ages. The city comprises five oases. These have been throughout history destinations for traders' caravan crossing the desert to get their provisions of water, dates and other agricultural products. Al Ain is a prime destination for family tourism.

ENTERTAINMENT

Al Ain is a bustling city with wide variety of social, cultural, economic entertainments. Its perennial dynamism throughout the years, make the city a hot tourist destination from inside and outside the UAE. The city is a hub of the sports excellence in the country, especially those related to the domestic and international events organized by Al Ain Sport Club. In addition, there are cinemas, coffee shops, various restaurants and shoping malls which put the city on the as a prominent destination with distinguished range of attractions.

RESTAURANTS

There are numerous ethnicities represented in the restaurants of Al Ain to suit almost any palette. Some of the most popular restaurants are:

Indian

The Super, The Falcon, and The Sun Gulf (vegetarian) are all located near the flyover. The Unique (near the Nakeel Guest House), the Sindian (opposite the British Bank) also offer terrific value for your money. The Bukhara (behind the Post office) also has good quality cheap fare. Tanjoor (Intercontinental) is excellent, but more upscale. Also on the pricey side, The Moghul in Al Ain Mall.

Asian

The Golden Gate (across from Choithram Downtown), Chinese Dragon (near the Globe roundabout), and The Golden Fork (on Khalifa St) all serve reasonably priced Chinese and Filipino dishes. The Wok (Intercontinental) and Trader Vics (Rotana) serve an array of Asian cuisine, but are pricier.

Arabic/Lebanese/Iranian

The Golden Sheep (Khalifa St), Al Mallah (Al Muwajji), Al Mallah Cafeteria (Khalifa Street), Al Sahary (near the British Bank), Al Dar (at the International Centre), Al Noor (near the Men?s campus), Al Mansoura (Falcon Roundabout), Prestos (Tunisian food behind the Union National Bank near Carrefour), the Al Sahary (near HSBC Bank), Al Safadi (Khalifa Street).

Fast Food

Many common fast food franchises are available in Al Ain with some minor variances in their menus from offerings in the West. Fast food establishments include Pizza Hut, Subway, Hardees, McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King, Baskin Robbins and other Arabic and Chinese fastfood franchises can be found along Khalifa Street, in the Al Jimi or Al Ain Malls.

Cafes

Cafes can be found throughout Al Ain. The Hut, Grand Cafe and Medarrassen are available along Khalifa Street. You may notice that mostly men will frequent the cafes. Volcano is located near the Globe Roundabout. Heritage Village is like a traditional cafe – it’s a great place to spend the evening. However, you can find some popular coffee franchises in the malls such as Starbucks, Gloria Jeans, and Coffee, Bean, and Tea Leaf.

SHOPPING

The two most popular places to shop in Al Ain are the Al Jimi and Al Ain Malls. Both malls have a supermarket, clothing and footwear stores, pharmacy, and perfume, card and gift shops. They both offer food courts and restaurants. The Al Jimi Mall also has a sports equipment store and film shops, a pharmacy, a bookstore and several gift shops. The Al Ain Mall, a larger mall, has several jewelry and watch stores, a major furniture store (Home Center), an electronics store (Jumbo Electronics), fabric and many other specialty shops.

Other popular supermarkets are located at Prisunic/Al Ahlia (near Al Jimi Mall), Al Falah Plaza and Choithram (downtown). Other department stores are Lulu Centre, Al Ain Co-op, Jashanmal, The Discount Market, City Plaza, Safeer and Safa.

A popular choice of many is to have their clothes made by local tailors; both the materials and labor are inexpensive for a customized fitting and styles to suit your taste in clothing.

Link to the websites for the two malls to find more information: http://www.al-jimi.co.ae/ or http://alainmall.org/ .

PLACES OF INTEREST AND THINGS TO DO

There is much to explore in the city of Al Ain. Some of the places to consider include:

Local Sights:

· Al Ain Museum-Home of collections from local archeological sights, it is an excellent way to learn about the lives, customs, and traditions of the Bedouin people of the UAE.

· Public parks and gardens (some are for women and families only)

· Al Ain Oasis-picnic spots at its centre.

· Al Ain Faydah-A holiday resort residing around a lake created by underground springs at the foot of Jebel Hafeet Mountain. The resort offers restaurants, a cafe, a swimming pool, bowling, boating lake, etc.

· Camel Racing-Winter months.

· Greyhound Racing-Winter months.

· Forts (Jahili, Muraijib, Al Muwaiiji, Al Murabba)-Previously used for defensive purposes, now provides a means of sharing the history and culture of the Bedouin people and Al Ain.

· Hili Fun City-A theme park, it offers rides, restaurants, and an Olympic-sized ice rink.

· Hili Archaeological Gardens-Park popular for picnics and rollerblading

· Al Ain Zoo-Home to the largest wildlife collection in captivity in the Middle East.

· Jebel Hafeet Mountain - The highest mountain in the UAE, it offers good views, a nice place for a picnic, and is always several degrees cooler than in the city.

Sports Clubs

Another way to socialize and to be physically fit is to join one of the local sports clubs. The four major hotels in Al Ain offer such facilities and activities:

The Hilton (768-6877)
Intercontinental (768-6686)
Rotana Hotel (751-5111)
The Grand Mercure (Jebel Hafeet, 783-8613)

Most of these clubs are family oriented and offer discounts to university employees. There are several other fitness centers throughout Al Ain.

Depending on the season, you will find a variety of activities available in Al Ain. Many are offered by the hotel sports club while others are available at various locations throughout Al Ain:

Horse Back Riding - Private Stable
Scuba Diving - Intercontinental
Karate / Tai Chi - Intercontinental
Aerobics - Intercontinental, Hilton
Golf and Driving Range - Al Ain Golf Club, Hilton
Tennis - Intercontinental Hilton, Rotana
Squash - Intercontinental, Hilton, Rotana
Adventure Tours (dune driving/sand skiing etc.) Intercontinental
Scottish Dancing - Intercontinental
Line Dancing - Intercontinental
Aqua Aerobics - Hilton
Modern Dance - Intercontinental
Swimming Squad - Intercontinental
Yoga - Intercontinental
Ice Skating - Hili Fun City and Al Ain Mall
Bowling - International Center, Al Ain Mall, and Al Ain Al Faydah

For Kids

For those with children, there are many activities available to meet the many developing interests of children.

Hilton Playgroup Co-operative.
Foton Center (Al Jimi Mall) - an indoor mini-amusement park.
Action Zone (Al Ain Mall) - another indoor amusement park.
Hili Fun City - An outdoor amusement park. Sometimes other venues are offered there such as art showings and cultural festivals.
University Spor Club (Al Multaqa) has offers different activities for kids through out the year. It is a recommended complementary venue for children?s parties, etc.
Ice Skating - Two ice skating rinks are available at Hili Fun city and the Al Ain Mall. There is also a children's hockey team at the Hili rink.

SCHOOLS

Al Ain has many reputable schools for those with children. For native English-speakers, two excellent options are the Al Ain English Speaking School and the International School of Chouiefat.

The Al Ain English Speaking School accepts children beginning at the age of 3 and offers education through 11th grade. Their website will be useful for your preliminary investigation of this school and provides contact information, http://www.aaess.com .

The International School of Chouiefat has schools in countries around the world using the SABIS Point System. They offer education to ages ranging from 3 to 18 years of age. For more information about Chouiefat in Al Ain, visit their website at http://www.sabis.net .

Some other options for expatriates include the following:

Al Ain American School	03-7675030
Al Ain Education Zone	03-7662000
Al Ain Juniors British School	03-7669494
Al Dhafra Private School	03-7661175
Madar International School	03-7611330	http://www.madarschool.com
Al Sanawbar	03-7679889
Emirates Private School	03-7679322	http://www.emiratesprivate.sc.ae
Lighting	03-7667667
Liwa Private School	03-7810444
Our Own English High School	03-7679747	http://ww.ooehs-aln.sch.ae

COLLEGES:

HCT Al Ain's Men	03-7820888	http://aam.hct.ac.ae/
HCT Al Ain's Women	03-782-0777	http://aaw.hct.ac.ae/

LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES

Once you have your university ID card you can join the Zayed Central Library network. You will find many publications, in English and Arabic, and discover it is has an excellent electronic collection. To use the library, simply take your University ID Card to establish your membership. For hours of operation, call the Central Library at 7043-206 or visit their website at http://www.library.uaeu.ac.ae/.

Al Multaqa, the UAEU's Social Club, also has a library with many publications in Arabic and English. You can find a limited selection of English language books at Jashanmal, a store on Khalifa Street. Request your UAE University discount! Organizations will often have a library, too, of materials of interest to that organization.

You will find a small bookstore (The Book Corner) in the Al Jimi Mall very convenient for you.

Recommended bookstores in Dubai are:

· Magrudy's - Magrudy's Shopping Mall, Jumeirah Beach Road, Oasis Centre and City Centre. Magrudy's also has an internet site and will order books.

· The Book Corner - Jumeirah Beach Road (near Spinney's)

· House of Prose (secondhand books with good prices) _ Jumeirah Plaza (past Magrudy?s and the petrol station).

· Al Ghurai Centre

MEDICAL FACILITIES

Al Ain has both private and government operated health facilities. In emergency cases, visitors can be treated at the government hospitals for a nominal fee, depending on the services needed. The hospitals in Al Ain include:

· Al Ain Hospital (commonly known as Al Jimi Hospital): A government operated facility; it provides comprehensive medical care including various surgical operations for valid health card holders. Phone: 03-7635888.

· Tawam Hospital: A government owned and operated provides comprehensive medical treatment treating critical cases from all over the UAE and from GCC countries primarily for UAE nationals, but expatriates are treated in emergencies. Phone: 03-7677444. Their website is http://www.tawam-hosp.gov.ae .

· Oasis Hospital: A private hospital offering many medical services, and always expanding their services, they offer both inpatient services for primarily childbirth and outpatient care for all other needs. Their website is http://www.oasishospital.org. Phone: 03-7221251

· Emirates International Hospital: A fairly new hospital with many modern services. Phone: 03-7637777. Their website is http://www.eih.ae.

· Specialized Medical Care: Phone: 03-7667077

HOTELS AND ACCOMODATION

Hilton

Hilton Al Ain is set in ideal location close to the heart of the city.It provides guests with a wide range of deluxe rooms, suites, apartments and duplex chalets as well as a variety of international cuisine including Italian and Persian.

The Hotel caters for corporate customers and offers them business meeting rooms. Visitors seeking comfort and relaxation can enjoy a wide array of amenities including swimming pools, tennis and squash courts, a football field, a full equipped health club, a modern gym and golf course.

For more information: Tel. +97137686666, Fax: +97137686888, www.hilton.com .

Intercontinental Resort

The Intercontinental Resort Al Ain offers a wide range of leisure and recreational facilities for families including lush gardens, swimming pools with rocks and waterfall formations as well as an international selection of culinary delights from its Italian, Indian, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern restaurants, as well as its English pub.

Guests can enjoy the Arabic traditional hospitality and relax smoking a shisha (water pipe) at Nwafeer Terrace or spend their time dancing the night away at the Metro Nightclub.

For more information: Tel. +9713686686, Fax: +9713686766, www.interconti.com.

Rotana

Located at the heart of the city, Al Ain Rotana Hotel is an ideal choice for both business visitors and tourists with its fine range of food and beverage outlets, meeting rooms and other business and leisure amenities.

This five-star hotel is well located within the business and commercial districts of the city and close to major tourist attractions.

For more information: Tel. +97137515111, Fax: +97137515444, www.rotana.com .

Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet

Located on Jebel Hafeet mountain at a height of 1,034 meters with panoramic views overlooking the city, Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet Al Ain Hotel was opened in 2002. Its rooms and suites are designed for families as they can be interlinked to provide large self-contained accommodation.

Leisure facilities include swimming pools, tennis and squash courts, a mini golf course, fitness club, sauna, children playgrounds in addition to French and Mediterranean restaurants. Corporate customers can avail the services of fully equipped meeting rooms.

For more information: Tel. +97137838888, Fax: +97137839000, www.mercure.com