Top Emirati celebrities to participate at Dubai World Hospitality Championship 2014

UAE, November 1, 2014 - Dubai World Hospitality Championship 2014 (DWHC 2014) is gathering top-notch artists, sports and media celebrities along with professional and amateur chefs to celebrate the UAE’s local culinary heritage and hospitality. This year’s edition of the event is featuring a variety of competitions, including the ‘UAE Celebrity Competition,’ which has been adopted by the DWHC Committee following the successful response it hosted during Ramadan.

The three-day ‘Celebrity Competition’ is featuring 90 participants with an average of 30 individuals competing per day. Each team is made up of not more than five members, with an aim to create a friendly ambience and bring the public closer to Emirati celebrities. Participating celebrities are composed of a variety of local singers, actors, actresses, media celebrities and athletes—competing extensively in live cooking of local dishes before the audience. The ‘Celebrity Competition’ is poised to contribute in raising awareness on Emirati heritage and hospitality while also enriching the 2nd cycle of the championship and attracting more residents and tourists.

Khaled Hasan, Jury Member, Celebrity Competition, DWHC, said: “The ‘UAE Celebrity Competition’ is a key feature of the DWHC 2014, where a group of Emirati artists, athletes and media celebrities are competing to win the top prize for this category. Visitors will be able to watch their favorite stars prepare the finest Emirati dishes. Celebrities include members of 1990 UAE national team who qualified to the World Cup finals in Italy, along with renowned singers and artists, such as Abdullah Bil Khair, Fayez Al Saadi, Saeed Salem, Faisal Al Jassim, Aryam, Shamma Hamdan and Balqees; media celebrities Saud Al Kaabi, Saeed Al Maamari, Rowa Al Sabban, Tariq Al Hammadi, Lojain Omran, Diala Ali, Amal Salem and many more. The two famous poets Ali Al Khawwar and Saeed Bin Drai Al Falasi also participated in the Celebrity Competition. We are delighted to have the support and participation of these Emirati celebrities, which are adding more excitement and help explore new talents in the culinary industry.”

DWHC has given the participating celebrities the title of ‘Ambassadors of Hospitality,’ in recognition of their efforts to increase international awareness on Emirates heritage and hospitality. The celebrities agreed that the title serves as an incentive to support local hospitality, which is an integral part of UAE’s heritage and hospitality-related customs and traditions. They said that DWHC is distinguished with encouraging national cadres and highlighting country’s heritage products and crafts.

Dubai World Hospitality Championship attracted positive response from the users of Social Media. Many best-known personalities highlighted the championship, including Mohammed Saeed Bin Hareb, Eman Al Flamrzi, Elham Al Flamrzi, Mohammed Al Mahrazi, Sultan Al Shomali, Ali Al Jasmi and his daughter Mariam Al Jasmi, who posted photos on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, depicting various aspects of DWHC’s competitions and events.

The second cycle of DWHC is taking place from October 30 to November 1, 2014 in Dubai World Trade Centre, in cooperation with World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) and The Emirates Culinary Guild (ECG). The event featured exciting categories like the UAE Celebrity Competition, Gulf Exhibition and the Emirates Heritage Village model, which showcased heritage handicrafts, Majlis and traditional arts.