Why this is the age of the Metro train

It was the weekend when there was talk of one thing only: Dubai Metro. And Emirates Business was there, on-hard, with full coverage of the landmark occasion.

We spoke to people riding the train system – and in one case, any train system – for the first time. There was everything you needed to know about the Nol payment cards, a story on future plans, and an interview with the Metro's marketing man.

Elsewhere in last Friday's edition, we looked at what to wear to look your best on the multi-billion dirham mass-transit line. We included a photo-shoot with a designer, a property guide for people thinking of renting/buying near a station, and a tongue-in-cheek look at the best movies set on trains.

But, despite all the serious and fun issues covered in our Metro special, it was not a Metro story that caught a majority of online readers' attention (see panel right).

Indeed, in our exclusive interview, Hakeem Olajuwon, a former NBA superstar and Houston Rocket centre spoke of the importance of his faith.

The piece, written by Sports Editor Gary Meenaghan, was the latest in a serious of articles in which leading sports personalities discuss the central role Islam plays in their lives.

In 'Hakeem the Dream: My life as a Muslim', the player said: "[Ramadan] is not difficult because it is something you look forward to.

"Fasting is really a training programme for your willpower.

"Whether people around you are fasting or not doesn't make any difference. If people are eating in front of you, the willpower of the Muslim should be stronger. That's what the training is for.

"It's like somebody who swims in a pool or somebody who is swimming in the ocean. The ocean is stronger so makes a better swimmer.

"I find in the Arab World that when they are fasting, they say they are weaker and they don't work as hard. But it should be the opposite."

Staying with the religion-inspired content, our guide to great getaways for Eid was a popular read, perhaps putting pay to the idea of "staycations" during the recession.

If home is not the ideal place to spend the festive season, then who would not be tempted by a short break in the Seychelles, the Maldives, Beirut or, closer to home, Fujairah or Oman?

Mac and iPod-maker Apple was back in the spotlight in the days leading up with last weekend's editions – like it is ever very far from the media gaze – with its new products for the festive season. Our story looked at the impact of CEO Steve Jobs' return after a liver transplant. And the general sentiment from analysts was one reality – Jobs will eventually leave the company he founded, much to investors's dismay.

One analyst pointed to Jobs' appearance at the launch event in San Francisco, saying the 54-year-old CEO looked "frail".

"I'm sure [Jobs] looking so frail – the guy's had the most extreme surgery you can have – didn't help matters, but I think people have come to grips that the torch is going to be passed," said Dave Rovelli, Managing Director of US equity trading at Canaccord Adams. "It's just a matter of when."

To date, Jobs role at Apple is seen as so crucial to the continuing success of the company that even the hint of a rumour about his health can send its stock diving.


- Find out more at business24-7.ae/weekend  

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