Hotel Accommodations
Make your hotel reservations now to get the special symposium rate!
Towers Rotana Hotel is the official hotel for the Web Services Symposium.
Situated on the prestigious Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai's thriving new business district, Towers Rotana Hotel is 20 minutes away from Dubai International Airport. It stands tall opposite the Dubai World Trade Centre and Exhibition Halls and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
Room Rate:
AED 1100.00 per night for Single room and
AED 1200 per night for Double room.*
To make a registration, call: 800-768-161 (toll free in UAE) or (+971) 4-343-8000.
Hotels in Dubai fill up very quickly!!! We encourage all registrants and attendees to make reservations early. Mention the group block code (RV-ZAY0408) to receive the special symposium rate. Cut-off date for this special rate: February 25, 2008 or whenever all of the room block is sold, whichever occurs first.
- Above rates are quoted per room per night
- Above rates include 10% service charge and 10% municipality fees.
- Above rates are valid for the symposium dates only.
- Buffet Breakfast is subject to additional Charges : AED 85.00 net Per meal
- No Show : Subject to one night Charges
Other nearby hotels where you can stay:
Please note that the hotels listed below don't have any special symposium rate.
Visa
The categories given below identify whether an individual requires a visit visa before arrival or whether one can be issued at the airport or entry point.
AGCC Citizens - Citizens of the Arab Gulf Co-operation Council (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE) do not need a visa.
AGCC Residents - AGCC expatriate residents may obtain a non-renewable 180 days visa upon arrival. Residents must have at least months validity on their passport and residence visa.
UK Citizens - Residents of the UK with the right to abide in the United Kingdom may obtain a free visa on arrival, valid for 60 days from the date of entry.
Selected Countries - Citizens of the following 33 countries are given a visit visa upon arrival to the UAE. It is valid for 60 days from the date of entry: France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Should your passport come from a country not among the above four categories, there are three ways to get a visa to the UAE.
- Obtain a visa through the UAE embassy in your country. Contact information is available here. In addition to your passport, passport photographs and application form, you will need to submit a letter from Zayed University stating that you will be attending the conference. Send us a message at Zakaria Maamar with your full name, mailing address, passport nationality and passport number, and we will send you this letter right away. Expect the embassy to take about three weeks to complete the visa process. Call beforehand to get details.
- The hotel which you are staying can apply, on your behalf, for a visa. When making your hotel reservation you will need to send a clear passport copy (photo page) and a completed visa request form from the hotel. Visa costs vary between hotels but are usually priced at around 300-400 AED, which you must pay upon checkout.
- If you are flying on Emirates Airlines, they can arrange a visa for you. Contact them at least two weeks prior to your flight to make arrangements.
For a comprehensive guide to UAE visa regulations, see the Ministry of Information Web site.
Remember, visa regulations are subject to change, so you should check directly with the nearest UAE embassy to confirm details.
Location
Zayed University
Zayed University was founded in 1998 to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees to the young women of the United Arab Emirates. The University also currently offers four master's degree programs. Approximately 3000 students attend the University, which has campuses in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Zayed University's mission is to prepare students for meaningful and successful twenty-first century lives, support the economic and social advancement of the U.A.E., and foster and promote the advancement of excellence and leadership. It seeks to accomplish this by producing graduates who, in addition to excelling in Arabic and English, are masters of the computer, well-grounded in the academic disciplines, fully prepared in a professional field and capable of providing leadership in the home, community and nation.
The curriculum of the University is modeled upon the best educational practices of leading universities around the world, but especially those found in the highest quality universities and colleges in the United States.
Find out more information about the university here.
Dubai
Dubai is a thriving tourist destination that hosted over six million visitors in 2003. The city is also a commercial hub linking the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Indian subcontinent, and a regional center for finance, health care, information technology and media. Awe-inspiring projects such as Burj Dubai (world's tallest tower), Ski Dubai (the world's only indoor ski slope), Dubailand (a colossal leisure and entertainment complex), and offshore property development ventures such as The Palms and The World are rapidly transforming Dubai into city unlike any other in the world.
With guaranteed sunshine, sea, sand, sports, desert excursions, unbeatable shopping, top-class hotels and restaurants, an intriguing traditional culture, and a safe and inviting atmosphere, Dubai offers visitors the conference opportunity of a lifetime.
The United Arab Emirates
Located on the tip of the Arabian Peninsula, the United Arab Emirates is a prosperous, modern, peaceful nation. Founded in 1971, the country is young and dynamic, with a progressive leadership that is setting new trends in development for the Gulf region. The leadership and most segments of the population desire more prominent roles for women, who work side-by-side with men and, in fact, outnumber them in the country's higher education system. The country hosts a large population of expatriates, who live and work in a safe, tolerant and welcoming environment.
In the United Arab Emirates, a rich and enduring cultural heritage blends with the energy and excitement of one of the most rapidly changing areas on earth.
To find out more about the UAE, we recommend the following sites:
UAE Interact, the website of the Ministry of Information and Culture.
Gulf News, a national newspaper
Khaleej Times, a national newspaper
Emirates Today, a national newspaper
7 Days, a national newspaper