Website on Ajman shopping festival launched

The Organising Committee of this year's Ajman Shopping Festival, Ajman Fantazia 2002, has launched a new website to promote the festival worldwide.

The site, www.Ajmanfanta-zia.com, was launched in cooperation with Emirates Online for Information Technology as part of the preparation for the grand festival, to be held in the emirate from January 16 to February 28.

According to Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the festival's Higher Organising Committee, the web site will help introduce various social, cultural, sporting, shopping and entertainment programmes to the public through the Internet.

"It will also help its visitors view the various activities and learn about the festival and the emirate," said Sheikh Rashid. He said it will provide information about Ajman, including the Ruling Family, the tourist sites, education, health and infrastructure, in addition to economic development.

The site will also introduce the new location of the festival, Ajman souqs, the festival's directory, in addition to a daily online competition. This will be done in cooperation with Ajman Satellite TV Channel.

The site will also enable the public to communicate with the organisers through its chat room, and will receive all suggestions and comments regarding the festival. It will also supply visitors with the latest news about the festival and provide an opportunity for investors and manufacturers to display their products.

Ajman Fantazia 2002 is organised this year in co-ordination with various public and private sector departments and companies in the emirate. The Ajman government had already allocated a special area of more than 50,000 square metres next to Ajman City Centre, to host the festival.

Eyad Khalil Matter, Head of the Festival Activities Committee, said: "This year's will carry an assortment of nice surprises. With decorated and illuminated streets and markets, fireworks, thrilling carnival rides, skilled street performers, hundreds of retail kiosks, fine cuisine, live media coverage and hundreds of thousands of people attending, our Ajman Fantazia will definitely be a meaningful and unique event."

He added that the Organising Committee was striving to make the festival this year as different and unique as possible. "The event will start on January 16 just as the school spring break starts, and will continue to February 28 including the Eid Al Adha holiday," he said.

Matter also extended an invitation to all private businesses in Ajman to support the government's efforts and take an active part in the festival. "If Ajman is to have a spectacular event, then all of Ajman has to participate," he asserted.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Ajman Department of Culture and Information, has already formed a Higher Organising Committee for the Ajman Fantazia 2002. The Committee is headed by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi.

The Higher Committee comprises nine members and every member is the head of one sub-committee. They include: Abdul Aziz Zakri Al Jasmi, General Coordinator; Ghalib Kamil Tabir, Consultant; Salem Abdullah Al Shamsi, Head of the Festival and Sports Committee; Eyad Khalil Matter, Head of the Activities Committee; Humaid Ahmed Al Attar, Head of the Public Relations Committee; Thani Obaid Al Matroushi, Head of Security Committee; Omar Abdulla Al Mazrouki, Head of Media; Abdulla Ismaeel, Deputy Head of Media Committee; Jamil Abdul Rahman Al Saeedy, Head of City Centre and Raffle Committee.

Sheikh Abdul Aziz assigned a new committee to draw up the framework for the festival to achieve its main objective – to promote business and provide shopping and entertainment opportunities for community members in coordination with the public and private sector.

He directed the Higher Committee members to co-ordinate with local and federal departments to make this year's festival a great success.