United for a cause: No celebrations

The traditional New Year revelry turned into a sombre salutation yesterday as a gesture of support to the Palestinians suffering from heavy Israeli bombings. The crowd-pulling New Year fireworks, supposed to be held next to the Burj Al Arab, were called off, an official from the Jumeirah Group said.

The move came following an order issued by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to cancel all New Year celebrations in the emirate as a "token of solidarity with the Palestinian people in general and in Gaza Strip, which is currently under Israeli military fire".

Israel continued to pound the Gaza Strip for the fifth day yesterday, leaving over 390 people dead and thousands wounded. An official from the Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) said an instruction was sent to hotels by noon yesterday. "The instruction was clear from Shaikh Mohammad’s order," a DTCM official said, requesting anonymity. "A letter was sent out at noon  that we will send inspectors to make sure the order is followed."

However, till 5pm yesterday, confusion clouded some of the biggest New Year events in Dubai, though event organisers announced outright cancellations.

Events cancelled

The New Year party at Neo, Crowne Plaza Hotel, featuring DJs Martijn ten Velden and Afroboogie’s was cancelled, the hotel management said.  The Country Club’s New Year bash, featuring Bollywood sensation Mallika Sherawat, was also called off, the ticket office said. A Grand Hyatt Dubai spokesperson said the hotel planned to cancel the live entertainment in the lobby (Groove Ston band) along with the fireworks.

City toned down

The beverage package was moved to the Mix nightclub, where the Moksh night – featuring eight DJs playing Bollywood music – was cancelled and replac-ed with a couple of in-house DJs. The management of Mirchi night club at Ramee Royal Hotel decided to tone down the party featuring Bollywood star Asmit Patel, singer Mika Singh and hip-hop artiste Ishq Bector.

"We did not cancel it, but we did not celebrate. There was no live entertainment, the evening was just like any other regular night," an official from Ramee Hotels said. Kamlesh Rajani, Manager of Astoria Hotel, which had announced a dinner and dance party at its Banquet Hall, said regular dinner was served "but there were no celebrations".

Dubai Drums said they toned down their New Year Desert Party. The Gulf Ventures camp was not decorated with New Year lights and the event did not include a countdown with party poppers. Instead, people were expected to bring in a candle, which they lit five minutes before midnight during a prayer for peace in the region. Those who did not attend the event will be refunded.

No DJs or outdoor music were heard at the grand opening of Hive, an outlet at Souq Al Bahar. "It was a regular night at Hive," said Kumar Asnani, Marketing Executive for Ohm, the event organiser.

The programmes at the Kandy Club at Crowne Plaza Hotel, however, took place as planned with a line-up of entertainers. Alpha Club, at the Airport Le Meridien, sent an SMS to people saying: "In support of the Palestinian cause, we’re open with music at Alpha but not celebrating New Year’s Eve. May 2009 bring peace and prosperity to all".