ABU DHABI // Abu Dhabi is now the second most expensive city in the world for business travellers and could soon take the number one spot, according to a new survey. While hotel room prices in the world's most popular business tourism destinations fell during the last six months - some by almost a quarter - the capital bucked this trend and rose by five per cent, according to the data from the international corporate travel firm, the Hogg Robinson Group.
Moscow remains the most expensive business destination in the world, despite hotel room rates tumbling by 14 per cent. Hotel guests in the Russian capital can expect to pay an average of US$447.36 per night while those in Abu Dhabi should expect to pay US$422.75. In contrast, Dubai hotel room rates tumbled by 24 per cent as the economic slowdown continued to bite, triggering an exodus of expatriate workers.
The report analyses room rates during the first six months of 2009. Abu Dhabi has risen rapidly among the most expensive cities of the world. It first featured in the Hogg Robinson list last year in eighth position and within only 12 months rocketed to its current place in the number two spot. "Moscow may soon lose its title to Abu Dhabi, which entered the top ten most expensive cities for the first time in 2008 six month survey," said the report, which was published on Thursday.
"Following substantial growth in 2008, Abu Dhabi has again seen average room rate increases... demonstrating demand for hotel accommodation in the city particularly from the banking and finance sectors, as well as the ongoing development and refurbishment programmes. "Neighbouring Dubai has continued to suffer from a fall in demand from the banking and finance sector, coupled with an exodus of expatriate and migrant workers due to the slowdown in the country's expansion programme.
"As a result, it has seen one of the largest rate decreases over the period." chamilton@thenational.ae rbundhun@thenational.ae hkhalaf@thenational.ae
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
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Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
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March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
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Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
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Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
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Third Test
Day 3, stumps
India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151
India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining
ALL THE RESULTS
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.
Catch 74kg
Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.
Strawweight (Female)
Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.
Lightweight
Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.
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How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
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