Dubai International Airport handles 6.9m passengers; Wafi Mall Dh14.7 million heist: 'Pink Panther' in Dubai court; Dubai non-oil foreign trade hits Dh319 billion

Market News

Dubai International Airport handles 6.9m passengers

Dubai International recorded a 7.2 per cent increase in passengers in April as visitors from neighbouring Gulf Arab states surged.

The airport handled 6,978,268 passengers in April compared to 6,510,653 in the same month a year earlier, operator Dubai Airports said in a statement.

There were 1.64 million passengers from the Indian Subcontinent, up 9.49 per cent, 1.53 million from the Gulf Arab states, up 36.8 per cent, and 1.25 million from Western Europe, down 12 per cent, the statement said.

Wafi Mall Dh14.7 million heist: 'Pink Panther' in Dubai court

One of the accused involved in an infamous Dh14.7 million heist at Dubai's Wafi Mall in 2007, who was handed over to Dubai Police by Spanish authorities, appeared before the Dubai Criminal Court.

The gang has been named 'Pink Panther' by the Interpol after they committed series of jewellery thefts in Europe and Japan as reported by Emirates 24/7.

In Dubai's Graff store robbery, the gang used two stolen Audi cars, one black and a white, by which they raced into the font gates of the mall at around 10pm, shocking shoppers.

Members of the Pink Panther gang smashed into the glass facade of Wafi mall with cars, and within seconds fled with Dh14.7 million worth of jewellery.

Dressed in black, the men covered their face with masks and rushed into the store carrying hammers and guns (which turned out to be fake), smashed glass display cabinets, and fled with the valuables in bags they were carrying.

The gang drove away to a nearby Road where they burnt the two cars in an attempt to wipe out all evidence.

Later, Dubai Police arrested two suspects NM and MM before they could flee the country. The stolen jewellery was found in a Nissan Sunny that was rented by one of the members identified as ML.

ML had entered the country using a forged passport that carried the name of NZ.

ML, however, fled the country after the crime. The rented car was found parked at about 500m away from the flat where some of the accused were staying, including AB, who appeared before the court.

AB also fled from the country on April 17, three days after the crime. He had entered the UAE on March 17 using a forged Yugoslavian passport under the name of Marin Stanic.

A couple of days after the robbery, a car renting firm informed the police about an overseas call asking them not to inform the police and that their charges would be paid.

Police arrested one of the accused MM when he approached the same rented car. Later, Dubai Police arrested NM.

In 2009, the Cassation court upheld 10 years jail sentence for NM. However, the court acquitted MM from possession of stolen jewellery charge.

During the investigation, Dubai Police in a meeting with the Interpol identified AB, 34, Serbian, whose DNA was found in the crime scene.

When shown pictures of the suspect, the watchman of the building in Al Rifaa area recognised him and his compatriot, fugitive LM, who entered the country with a forged Yugoslavian passport.

Dubai non-oil foreign trade hits Dh319 billion

Dubai’s non-oil foreign trade reached Dh319 billion in the first quarter of this year, according to a statement from the Dubai Media Office, citing data from Dubai Customs.

The emirate’s non-oil foreign trade reportedly reached Dh331 billion in the first quarter of 2015, down slightly from the current year period. Imports in the first quarter of this year contributed Dh196 billion, exports Dh36 billion and re-exports Dh87 billion. Dubai maintained its global market share of precious metals and jewellery commodities trading.

Company News

A.Lange & Sohne presents a special watch to the winner of the “Best of Show”

Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid presented a special watch to this year’s winner in the “Best of Show” category of the Concorso d’Eleganza: a LANGE 1 TIME ZONE “Como Edition”. The prize for the most beautiful automobile of the tradition-steeped competition, graced with a special engraving, was handed over to the anonymous owner for the Maserati A6 GCS from 1954.

Richard Mille Official Timekeeper of Chantilly Polo Club

Richard Mille is delighted to extend its partnership with the Chantilly Polo Club for the next three seasons. As official timekeeper to Europe’s leading polo club, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary, the Swiss watchmaker is keenly anticipating the 2016 season, with its three major events.

TAG Heuer is the Official Sponsor for Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix

For the first time, at the invitation of TAG Heuer, Chinese superstars, the singer G.E.M. and actor Li Yifeng, accompanied by a raft of Chinese media, attended the prestigious Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, of which TAG Heuer is the Official Sponsor. Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of TAG Heuer & President of the LVMH Watches Division, welcomed them alongside racing driver, actor and TAG Heuer Ambassador Patrick Dempsey, as well as the Ambassador for Monaco in China, Catherine Fautrier.

Tiffany launches Ramadan Initiative in KSA

Tiffany & Co. celebrates the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan with an event held at its newly opened boutique in Jeddah at the Boulevard mall. In an unprecedented initiative to honor this blessed month, this year Tiffany dedicates its legendary windows to a Ramadan-inspired installation, and reveals a special partnership with the reputed Dar Al-Hekma University.

Zenith celebrates the 50th anniversary of a Cuban Legend: Cohiba

Zenith and Cohiba share the same philosophy of excellence, sophistication and exclusivity. The first ever Cohiba watch, the El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Cohiba Edition by Zenith celebrates the 50th anniversary of the world’s most prestigious cigar brand. Zenith is presenting a limited series of its legendary El Primero chronograph, with 50 watches in rose gold and 500 in stainless steel, all featuring a Havana brown dial and emblematic Cohiba motifs.

IWC Schaffhausen hosts exclusive watchmaking class with Kurt Klaus in Dubai

IWC Schaffhausen hosts an exclusive watchmaking class for its watch collectors in Dubai at the Four Seasons DIFC. The event offered participants an exciting glimpse into the world of watchmaking with legendary IWC watchmaker Kurt Klaus. This unprecedented event celebrated the recent launch of the new Pilot’s Watch collection at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva in January.

Vacheron Constantin awards to Dr Alberto de la Torre

Vacheron Constantin prize was awarded to Dr Alberto de la Torre, a student at the Faculty of Science of the University of Geneva, for his doctoral thesis entitled Spectroscopic Studies of Layered Iridium Oxides and reporting “the doping evolution of the electronic structure of the single and bilayer iridates Sr 2 IrO 4 and Sr 3 Ir 2 O 7 from angle resolved photoemission (ARPES) experiments”.

Product Launch

Roger Dubuis unveils its first Kuwait Limited Edition

Roger Dubuis unveils its first-ever Limited Edition timepiece dedicated to Kuwait. The stunning Excalibur timepiece with a uniquely striking Malachite stone dial has been commissioned to celebrate the long and fruitful partnership between the Swiss luxury maison and their Kuwaiti partner, the M. Y. Behbehani Group. The unique green of the malachite also sets off the silvery time markers.

Hermès enriches signature Arceau Collection for Ladies

Hermès presents its signature Arceau line with new 36mm quartz timepieces for ladies. The steel set version is offered with diamonds and comes with a mother-of-pearl dial; the non-set version features a white lacquered dial. There are over 60 interchangeable strap colours available, in both alligator and calf.

Jaeger-LeCoultre presents special Eid Al Fitir collection - the Rendez-Vous collection

The Rendez-Vous Moon watch - The captivating pink-gold, along with the purple-red aventurine dial representing the constellations of the Northern Hemisphere and The Rendez-Vous Night & Day watch clothed in anthracite grey strap and dial with the pink gold graced with jewellery finishes.

RAYMOND WEIL unveils a new FREELANCER

RAYMOND WEIL supports the Realteam sailing team as its Official Timing Partner for the 2016 season of the D35 Trophy on Lake Geneva and the GC32 Racing Tour internationally. The new FREELANCER case is available in polished stainless steel or with a black PVD coating. It has a unidirectional rotating bezel in black ceramic with white, green or orange graduation and a luminescent indicator, as well as a screwed-down crown, and the folding clasp of the rubber watch strap.

Robert Wan launches the Hanaa Collection for Ramadan

The Hanaa Collection pays tribute to the traditional Fatima’s Hand amulet. This Ramadan, Robert Wan offers those exquisite and refined bracelets composed with gold, diamonds and mother of Pearl, as an ultimate symbol of purity. As one is never enough, it will be declined in Rose and White gold. Each piece is in pure gold. The Hanaa collection is available for mothers and daughters, the perfect gift for the Holy Month.

Ulysse Nardin presents Diver Chronograph Hammerhead Shark

Ulysse Nardin celebrates an evolution with the Diver Chronograph Hammerhead Shark, featuring the self-winding manufacture chronograph caliber UN-150 with silicium escapement and balance spring. The Diver Chronograph Hammerhead Shark is presented as a limited edition in both stainless steel and rose gold 5N. Exceptionally nautical in style, both versions sport a deep blue dial with a signature hammerhead shark motif. Case-back is open with sapphire crystal. Bracelet is rubber strap with gold or titanium elements and folding buckle.

VERTU introduces bespoke phones designed by renowned Arabic calligraphy this Ramadan

Vertu unveils its collaboration with renowned artist, Wissam Shawkat who has created exclusive designs available as a part of the brand’s bespoke offering. Vertu customers will have the opportunity to purchase a New Signature Touch handset featuring one of Wissam’s iconic Arabic calligraphy designs honoring the theme of ‘love’. This unique collaboration between Vertu and the UAE-based calligraphy artist Wissam Shawkat reinforces the importance of the Middle East to the luxury handmade mobile phone brand.

HYT Novelty launches the H4 RC44

The new H4 RC44 unites all the maritime codes of this race: blue liquid, technical design, the same colour codes of the regatta and an ultra-light carbon case like the RC44’s hull. And the last detail that we will only see at HYT: A second’s wheel that emulates the golden bar that the monohull raises when it is winning. The grey anthracite tones of the carbon case are found again in the bezel that displays the titanium DLC insignia. The crown is made of the same DLC and sheathed in rubber.

Celebrity News

Gaspard Ulliel wore the MONSIEUR DE CHANEL watch at the Cannes Film Festival

Gaspard Ulliel, face of BLEU de CHANEL, wears the "MONSIEUR de CHANEL" watch at the Cannes Film Festival.

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