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Countdown begins for Dubai IIFA Weekend
MUMBAI: Tiara Residence, the AED 2.1 billion island lifestyle community developed by Zabeel Investments, will present the IIFA Weekend in Dubai from 14 June to 17 June, 2006, said the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA). The IIFA Weekend will feature a film festival, awards ceremony, charity fashion show and a bilateral business forum.
A media briefing, organised to explain the schedule, was addressed by his highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation, chairman of the Emirates Group and chairman of the Supreme Committee of Dubai Shopping Festival and Dubai Summer Surprises; IIFA Brand ambassador and Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan; and Mohammed Ali Al Hashimi, executive chairman of Zabeel Investments.
A glamorous traveling showcase of the best of Indian cinema, culture and business opportunities, the 7th Annual IIFA Weekend is being held in Dubai for the first time after debuting to spectacular effect at the Millennium Dome in London in 2000, and spending subsequent years in equally celebrated destinations including Sun City, Johannesburg; Genting Highlands, Malaysia; Singapore and Amsterdam, states an official release.
More than 450 delegates from India, including the crème de la crème of Indian cinema and international media, are expected in Dubai for the duration of the event and the show will be watched by a record global television audience of over 400 million people, the release adds.
“It is a great honour for Dubai to be chosen to host the prestigious IIFA Weekend and Awards for the first time in an Arab country,” HH Sheikh Ahmed said. “We see the hosting of this massive event as a giant stride ahead in further cementing the age-old ties between India and the UAE, and a celebration of the cultural and social harmony between the two countries.”
“IIFA in Dubai will not only be the last word in entertainment but one to herald stronger business relationships, and open new avenues of trade and commerce between India and the UAE,” he added. The Dubai government, Sheikh Ahmed said, is committed to making the 7th edition of IIFA Weekend and Awards the most successful ever.
The Tiara IIFA Weekend will be hosted under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed and the auspices of Dubai Summer Surprises, and culminate with the glittering Idea IIFA Awards ceremony scheduled for 16 June, 2006.
Amitabh Bachchan also thanked Sheikh Ahmed, the Government of Dubai and Zabeel Investments for the opportunity and interest in bringing the global showcase of Indian cinema to Dubai. “The IIFA Awards have marked the beginning of a new era for recognizing and applauding the achievements of Indian cinema,” Bachchan said. “IIFA is one of the most credible award processes voted on by the Indian film industry professionals and audited by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), and I am proud to be associated with it.”
Bachchan, named BBC’s Superstar of the Millennium in 1999 and an entertainment icon who enjoys the largest fan following in the world, said he is looking forward to the celebrations in Dubai this summer.
Mohammed Ali Al Hashimi, executive chairman of Zabeel Investments, said the IIFA’s reputation for quality and excellence and its vision of uniting the cultures of the world made it the perfect choice for a partnership.
“Both IIFA and Zabeel Investments, the developer of Tiara Residence, are dedicated to providing distinctive services, exclusive quality, true elegance and style and the finest in Asian hospitality to the people of the world,” Al Hashimi said. ““The Indian community has established long-standing relationships here in Dubai, and our support of the IIFA Weekend is only the beginning of our commitment to this exciting and emerging market.”
Sabbas Joseph, director of IIFA organizers Wizcraft International Entertainment, said the five-day June extravaganza in Dubai will be unlike any event the city has seen before. “The IIFA Weekend 2006 is being planned on a grand scale and will feature a host of events designed to not only promote Indian cinema in the GCC and the wider Arab world but also internationally,” he said. “The Arab world has always been one of the strongest audiences of Indian cinema, and bringing IIFA here is our way of saying thank you.”
Star Network will broadcast the IIFA Weekend and Awards exclusively across the globe, said Star India EVP Marketing & Communication Ajay Vidyasagar, “It is fitting that IIFA, which celebrates the emergence of Indian cinema on a global platform, is partnering with STAR yet again,” he said. “Following the success of IIFA last year, millions of viewers across India, UAE, Pakistan, USA, UK and South East Asia who have chosen Star Plus to be their preferred choice of Indian entertainment are looking forward to IIFA in Dubai. We are proud to associate with IIFA and will work together to make this year’s event a truly memorable celebration of Indian cinema for all our viewers”.
The IIFA Weekend 2006 is spearheaded by Tiara Residence, the property development of Zabeel Investments, and supported by Grand Hyatt Dubai, Gulf News, Arabian Radio Network, Dubai International Film Festival, Dubai Studio City, Grand Cineplex, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Emirates Airlines, Dreamhorizon, Mac, Indian Business Professional Council, City of Dubai, Dubai International Airport Expo, Idea Cellular from India and the Star Network.
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Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
