Minister Spammed

The National, Sheikh Abdullah complains about Etisalat spam, 2 May 2012 "After being bombarded by unsolicited text messages for two days, the minister turned to Twitter to voice his frustration with the telecoms operator."

Fatwa allows Quran reading on smartphones

The National, Fatwa allows Quran reading on smartphones, 29 Mar 2012 

"Now, officially, Muslims in the UAE are allowed to stay connected to Islam while keeping up with today's fast-paced lifestyle.

 ""There isn't just one specified way of reading the Quran," said the fatwa, released by the Ifta centre of the Abu Dhabi General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf)."

  Abu Dhabi General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf)

ADACH National Library

middle-east-online.com, ADACH National Library joins World Digital Library, 14 Feb 2011 "The National Library of Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) has joined the World Digital Library (WDL), an international project that places on line important historical and cultural documents from countries around the world. 119 partner institutions from 66 countries are currently contributing to the WDL, which is being developed with the support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)."

UAE internet research

Sokol, D. and Sisler V. Socializing on the Internet: Case Study of Internet Use Among University Students in the United Arab Emirates. In: Global Media Journal, Vol. 9, Iss. 16, 2010 "This paper analyzes socializing on the Internet and attitudes towards the Internet as a medium of social interaction among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It stems from a larger research project conducted at seven different institutions of higher education in the Abu Dhabi Emirate between 2007-2009 through anonymous questionnaires."

Abu Dhabi fatwa issues

The National, Unofficial fatwas ‘should be avoided’, 15 Jul 2010 "Imams will call on Muslims to shun unauthorised fatwas in today’s sermon in an effort to curb fundamentalism and rigidity in religion.

"The sermon advocates moderate interpretations of Islamic law, stressing that issuing fatwas, or religious edicts, is a “big responsibility”."

Arabic Bloggers Forum

WAM (Emirates News Agency), Arab Blogging Award launched in Ajman, 10 June 2010 "Outstanding Arab and Gulf bloggers will be recognised under a new ''Arab Blogging Award'' launched at the end of the first Arab Bloggers Forum hosted by the Emirate of Ajman."

More at GIA News, First Arab Bloggers Conference concludes sessions, 10 June 2010 "The First Arab Bloggers Conference, co-organised by the Department of Culture and Media (DCM) – Ajman, the Information General Authority and the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, has shed light on the personalities and fads of the people behind the over 75 million active Arabic blogs on over 120,000 platforms."

TRA bans Facebook site

Abdulla Rasheed, gulfnews.com, TRA bans offensive Facebook page in UAE, 16 Mar 2010 "The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) instructed all internet service providers in the UAE to block a specific site on Facebook that is insulting to God, the prophets and Islam.

""TRA received numerous calls and complaints from internet users expressing their anger against unidentified people who created a site on Facebook that is offending to God, prophets, messengers, the Holy Quran and even to all God's books," said Mohammad Al Ganem, TRA General Manager."

VEVO

Middle East Online, Abu Dhabi invests in music video site VEVO, 19 Oct 09

"ADMC chairman says deal is part of integrated approach to expanding firm’s global digital presence, brand portfolio."

Abu Dhabi Fatwa Clampdown

Zoi Constantine and Tala al Ramahi, The National, Fatwas to be brought under federal umbrella, 6 Apr 09 "The country’s principal religious body has drafted a law that aims to counter what some senior clerics are calling “fatwa chaos” with the religious edicts coming from unqualified sources.

"Legislation proposed by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf) and awaiting cabinet approval, would bring in a more “unified” approach across the emirates."

Cyber Crime Abu Dhabi

Khaleej Times, Workshop on Cyber Crimes, 2 Apr 09 "A workshop on combating cyber crimes to enhance the capabilities of the Public Prosecution in this field was conducted by the technical office of the Attorney General in 
Abu Dhabi."

Abu Dhabi

The National, Abu Dhabi’s real men to play at being geeks, 13 Oct 08 "The founder of AMD used to say that “real men have fabs”, referring dismissively to those microchip design firms which outsourced, rather than owned, their fabrication plants."

Fatwa phone

Times, Dial M for Mufti and you can quiz the world's first Islamic helpline, 10 Oct 08 "One of the most distinguished muftis in the Gulf switches on his computer, dons a headset and prepares to issue yet another fatwa.

"Abdulrahman Ammoura, 48, usually dispenses his religious advice to the faithful at a nearby mosque but today he is in a cramped cubicle in Abu Dhabi, answering the telephone at the world's first call centre for people seeking a fatwa, or religious edict. The popularity of the service easily eclipses attendance at his Friday prayers; it is used by Muslims all over the world, and its organisers say it now takes about 3,700 calls a day, including queries from Britain."

Details (in Arabic) awqaf.ae

Well worth reading (also an imaginative headline).

khaleejtimes.com, '50pc drugs marketed via Internet are fake', 9 Dec 07 ""We could safely say that 50 per cent of the drug products sold on the Internet are fake. Moreover, they could cause serious health complications and might even lead to death in some cases,” cautioned Dr Mohammed Abuelkhair, Head of Drugs and Medical Products Department at the Health Authority, Abu Dhabi (HAAD)."