Dubai Calendar launches mobile Application and Widget 

(MENAFN Press) Dubai Events & Promotions Establishment (DEPE) today announced two exciting new developments for the official Dubai Calendar website, www.dubaicalendar.com “ a mobile app for consumers and a customised widget for Dubai's businesses and government agencies. Both technology tools are designed to help boost the events sector in Dubai, encouraging more local, regional and international visitors, and driving sector growth.

The free smartphone application is currently available for iPhone, Blackberry and Android, and allows users to access a mobile version of the Emirate's events calendar at any time from their device. Users can customise the application to suit their individual needs; the app offers an option to set reminders for favourite activities, and to connect with an internal GPS device to locate nearby happenings. To further enhance their experience, subscribers can also sync with popular social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.

The widget allows UAE-based businesses and organisations - including government agencies, retailers, the hospitality industry, and events companies - to embed a compact, digital version of Dubai Calendar directly onto their own websites. The Dubai Calendar widget is easily accessed on the Special Features section of the Dubai Calendar website.

Farhad Mohammad Ali Abdulrahman, Director - Customer, Brand Development, and Innovation, Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment says that both of these technologies hold value for residents and visitors, as well as for the public and private sectors across Dubai's events industries.

Mr. Abdulrahman explains: "The official Dubai Calendar is a portal through which Dubai's event organisers can freely announce activities to the world. Both the widget and the mobile application take this initiative one step further by linking businesses and their clients directly to the Dubai Calendar. Now travel companies, retailers, government organisations, event organisers and other businesses can embed the calendar directly onto their own websites using the widget, generating additional awareness and helping to communicate all of the great things that are happening in the Emirate throughout the year. Members of the public can also get closer than ever to the city's events “ with easy access to all that's happening in Dubai in the palm of their hand."

Dubai Calendar, the Emirate's own official events portal, was launched in May 2011, providing bilingual activity listings for events up to 12 months in advance. Filling a much needed gap in Dubai's burgeoning events sector, the site attracted nearly 41,000 worldwide visitors in February alone. Events organisers, government agencies, retailers and other businesses are now able to upload details of their events and activities directly onto the Dubai Calendar.

Mr. Abdulrahman says: "The Dubai Calendar, the widget and the mobile application all offer a sense of ownership to local event organisers. DEPE encourages all event organisers to get involved and to share their news and listings with the world through the Dubai Calendar. The response to these technologies has been very encouraging, and we look forward to tracking their success over the coming months."

Dubai Events was formally established on October 28, 2008 under the authority of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. Formerly operating as the Dubai Shopping Festival Office - an entity responsible for the organisation and management of one of the world's largest annual shopping festivals “ Dubai Events recently expanded its remit to take a more comprehensive role in the management of Dubai's events and festivals industry, as well as supporting corresponding growth across the retail sector.