For a few hours on Wednesday night, the constant stream of updates, tweets and blog posts went still. Dubai's technological elite were lured from their computers.
Lattes in hand, they were instead sitting around a circular table at GeekFest Dubai, trying to think of something to say.
An outing devoted to those whose social lives revolve around online networking, for many, GeekFest, was the first time many had actually met the people they had spent months "speaking" to online.
Introductions begin: "What's your name?" Followed by: "What's your twitter handle?" And then," Oh, I think I'm following you!"
Twitter, a micro-blogging site that forces users to post updates shorter than 140 characters, was unblocked in the UAE in August of last year. Since then, the site has attracted about 5,000 users in the country, according to research compiled by SpotOn Public Relations, a local agency.
While that represents rapid growth, the popularity of Twitter is still marginal when compared to how many people communicate online. Twitter is still limited to a dedicated community of geeks.
Chit chat was slow and small talk awkward at GeekFest, which was held at the Shelter, a coffee shop in Al Quoz Dubai.
Then one geek began to expound on the speed of the microprocessor inside the latest Samsung mobile handset. Another became enigmatic when discussing his latest blog post; the discovery of a company that turns human remains and dead pets into diamonds.
Others continued with conversations they had been conducting earlier in the day on Twitter.
"My dog is probably tweeting right now," said Simone Sebastian, 25. "She actually has some pretty profound things to say. You should follow her. Her name is Anoucky. That's at, a, n, o, u, c, k, y."
All of them had the latest BlackBerries, iPhones or keyboard-enabled smartphones.
Some at the conference took a moment to pull out those phones and tweet during the 'Twitterati' meeting. Two held a quick phone typing conversation. Several took pictures of GeekFest and posted them on Twitter picture sites, TwitPic and Yfrog, in real time.
Alexander McNabb, a group account director with SpotOn, was one of the organisers of the event.
These events are more than just a chance to get out of the house and away from the computer screen, Mr McNabb said. They're the beginnings of a community. In January, a small "Tweet up" was held. A month later, more than 100 twitterers met in Dubai during "Twestival."
GeekFest also sought to include bloggers and avid Facebook users.
"I just liked the idea of a get together, not only for bloggers but also technologically minded people," he said.
Dubai's online elite have been increasingly meeting in real life and forming friendships based on true identities rather than pseudonyms, Mr McNabb said.
"Over the past year I've started to meet people one on one. Among bloggers, there used to be a lot of paranoia. People here used to conceal their identities," he said.
"Four years ago, all of the bloggers were anonymous."
In the recent past, blogging was thought to be a dangerous activity, a perception fortified by the caution about offending the culture displayed by the local media.
However, anonymity attracts a vitriolic crowd and Mr McNabb said he soon became bored and began posting under his real name at fakeplasticsouks.blogspot.com.
"And I didn't see the need for [anonymity] as long as I was respectful of the culture."
Now, more bloggers are using their real names and Mr McNabb heralds events like GeekFest as a sign that online culture is becoming more open.
The dozens of attendees at GeekFest were not stereotypically bespectacled. Most were young professionals who, after a few initial uncomfortable opening pleasantries, were quick to discuss their passions; technology, communication and internet culture.
"I'm just here to meet people," said Bhavishya Kanjhan, a student and Twitter user who also operates a technology blog. "This is a good social event to find people who think like me. Sometimes, that's really hard to find."
jgerson@thenational.ae
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Specs
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4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
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4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m
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5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m
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7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner: Hawkbill, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
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if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
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Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
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Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
