CNN EXCLUSIVE: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Ruler of Dubai
Source Emirates 247
In an exclusive interview with CNN, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said: “We want to be number one”, answering a question by anchor Erin Burnett about his aspirations for the UAE.
Erin Burnett has had the rare chance of spending a whole work day with Sheikh Mohammed. The interview, which took place at various sites in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, was characterised by full frankness and transparency. A number of issues were discussed, with special focus given to internal affairs.
The interview began with a brief report on the UAE celebrations of the 40th anniversary of one of the youngest countries in the world; this is the United Arab Emirates, and the man who built its crown jewel is still on the helm.
Diversity and Stability: The report mentioned that Sheikh Mohammed dreamt of skyscrapers. Forty years ago, there were literally sand dunes, tents and small forts; now the world’s tallest buildings rise from the desert. The center of the city and a backdrop for the rich and famous including Tom Cruise and his latest movie “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” where he dangled from 153 stories in the air.
In the light of the Arab Spring, Dubai is a haven for people seeking escape. In this context, Jodi Essa, a student from Syria, said: “I’m living here alone; I’ve never felt unsafe; I’ve never felt uncomfortable living here”. The report added: “Even the Ruler still walks without any security details”.
Dubai is a diverse city. Eighty five per cent of the people living here are expats, and people from over 200 countries pass through the city.
Answering a question about His Highness’ fears of extremists who may target Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed said: “They have not made any problems for us, you know, they’re living together and they have an interest to come here, so they work and they send home some money from here, so they don’t want to spoil that”.
A video footage in the report indicated that Sheikh Mohammed starts his day on his horse farm in the outskirts of Dubai. Commenting on this footage, Sheikh Mohammed said: “Horses, falcons and dogs are part of our life”.
Direct Communication: The interview also touched on bridges of communications between the people and the Ruler. A video footage that was included in the interview showed that the weather temperatures may reach 49 degrees Celsius during Summer: in December, during the TV team’s visit to record the interview, the weather temperature was 26 degrees. That day was a good day to follow up how the emirate’s government works at the majlis where citizens can directly talk to their leaders about their needs.
Sheikh Mohammed said:” We have the Majlis where everybody can come to the ruler and say ‘I didn’t get this or that’; or this department, or that ministry did not give me my right.’”
Burnett asked, do they directly come to you and ask for what they wanted directly? Sheikh Mohammed replied: “Yes, they might complain about a ministry, so I get hold of the minister and ask him why he didn’t do his job?”
Burnett went on to tell how Sheikh Mohammed preferred to spend a night in the desert every ten days to experience the life of a Bedouin, despite belonging to the ruling family and living in a country that sits on 10% of world oil reserves.
In another video footage, the report further pointed out to the meetings of the UAE Cabinet in Abu Dhabi, where Burnett had the chance to attend one, at which the budget was discussed and its details to be published online in a move that Brunett viewed a step towards transparency. This step is also welcomed by students from Arab Spring countries. Burnett, in this regard, cited a point view of an Egyptian student who said: UAE must be a role model for all Arab countries with the way it is ruled. Saud Masoud: Dubai has really been the front runner in terms of freedom of the press.
Press Freedom: Regarding this issue, Burnett asked: “Some people are saying press is not totally free!? Sheikh Mohammed plainly replied: “As long as they do not say something wrong about a person or whatever it is, they can say things they want, and as I told you, we are not perfect; we are still learning.”
Answering a question about democracy, Sheikh Mohammed said: “We have our own democracy; you cannot transport your democracy to us.”
Burnett asked: “Your son Hamdan will rule after you, father to son, will that continue forever? His Highness answered: “As long as people want that.”
Keenness on Development: Referring to the aftermath of the Arab Spring, Burnett pointed out that: “Some say Dubai’s Sheikh and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi are using money to prevent unrest.” She further asked:” The salaries for government workers, and you recently doubled that, and some people said that you did it because you were worried about unrest in the UAE from Arab Spring, is there any truth in that?” Sheikh Mohammed answered: “No, it is not because of the Arab Spring, we did it before the Arab Spring started and we did it many times before, if you look in the past 10 years, you will see we have doubled salaries several times.”
During the interview, Burnett mentioned that despite the motivation behind salaries increase, most youth and expats are pro-government. A young Emirati female said: “I would like to thank His Highness for what he has done for us, for everything.” Another expat said: “Sheikh Mohammed is a true visionary.”
The “OutFront” anchor touched on the punishment facing those who failed to pay their mortgage, His Highness clarified: “Some laws may be strict; but we don’t put in jail everybody who comes here.”
Erin Burnett concluded the interview by stressing the point that Sheikh Mohammed focuses on one thing that is building Dubai on the hill in part of the world where hills are few and far between.
And, when she asked him: “How much further do you want to go?” Sheikh Mohammed answered: “To be number one”
It is worth mentioning that the CNN aired snapshots of the interview on December, 6th concurrently with the UAE’s 40th National Day. The interview has widely attracted regional and international attention; various world media agencies and outlets have published highlights of Sheikh Mohammed’s statement, especially those dealing with regional issues.
QATAR – THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
The year 2011 was record-breaking for the Qatari economy, reaffirming the country’s position as one of the world’s fastest growing economies amid fears of the ongoing European sovereign debt crisis and the US budget deficit.
In 2010 Qatar achieved a 16% growth rate, and is projected to reach 20% growth in 2011 driven by Qatar National Vision 2030 aimed at cultivating a “knowledge-based economy.”
Qatar’s nominal gross domestic is expected to jump from QR547bn ($150bn) this year to QR775bn in 2016, according the statistics announced by the first National Development Strategy (NDS) 2011-2016 meant to translate the QNV 2030 into specific actions and targets.
The five-year NDS predicts that the country’s gross domestic investment will reach QR820bn.
With record growth rates, the Qatari economy has pursued a path of development. In fact, Qatar’s real GDP jumped by around 16.6% in 2010 while the GDP yearly growth reached 15.7% during 2006-2010.
Qatar has developed a long-term programme of diversification into a more broadly based economy.
Established as a key innovator in the global LNG market after achieving 77mn tonnes per annum (Mta) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity, Qatar succeeded during the year to launch a number of projects that would enhance its place as a major player in LNG and gas-to-liquified (GTL) industries.
Launched in November, the $10.3bn Barzan project, will able Qatar to produce 14mn tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) yearly, 4mn tonnes more than current production average of LPG.
The Barzan project will help meet growing domestic energy demand in the world’s top LNG exporter.
Besides 1.4bn cu ft a day of lean sales gas, which is mainly methane, Barzan’s Ras Laffan facility will also produce about 29,000 barrels per day (bpd) of both field and plant condensates, 1,900 tonnes per day (tpd) of ethane, 860tpd of propane and 680tpd of butane.
The first Barzan gas production line is expected to become operational in 2014 with the second in 2015, with an initial production of 700mn cu ft a day.
Qatar achieved a milestone in GTL industry where it reached a daily production capacity of 170,000 barrels of natural gas liquids by the time Pearl GTL project opened last year.
Established at a cost of $19bn, Pearl GTL is a phenomenon in GTL technology as the biggest plant of its kind in the world. Pearl GTL has the largest capacity in the world to produce high-quality lubricating base oil in addition to being the world’s biggest producer of normal paraffin that depends on GTL.
The project can boast a daily production of 140,000 barrels of high-quality GTL, 120,000 barrels of LPG, capacitors and ethane in addition to the world’s largest hydrocracking capacity in one place and the largest oxygen production volume in one place in the world.
First phase of the project sees it daily producing about 70,000 barrels of GTL products, and 60,000 barrels of natural gas liquids (NGLs) and ethane. Second phase of production is expected to start at the end of this year to take the project to its full production capacity by mid-2012.
Creating a balanced industrial development is one of the significant goals of Qatar’s energy sector. The country’s energy sector is able to meet these goals by expanding and diversifying the industrial base and developing supportive industries as well as industries associated with basic ones in order to provide the state with diversified sources of income. Although the greater part of natural gas production is exported, expanding the production of value added materials is witnessing rapid growth with Qatar’s annual petrochemicals production expected to reach 19mn tonnes in the coming few years. Balanced industrial plans such as launching Qafco-5 last month were critical to getting closer to achieving that goal.
The $3.2bn project’s significance stems from the fact that reaching its full production capacity in 2012 will establish the facility as the world’s largest producer of urea and ammonia in one location with Qafco annual production of ammonia rising from 2.2mn tonnes to 3.8mn tonnes, and annual production of urea rising from 3mn metric tons to 4.3mn tonnes.
Qatar’s economic success story is a result of the country’s commitment to formulating local and global partnerships and interpreting them to practical steps in a strategy based on enhancing partners’ mutual benefit. A clear proof of the successful partnerships is the QR11bn deal Qatar Petroleum (QP) agreed with Barwa Real Estate for the sale of Barwa Financial District that is due to complete in 2015.
One of the partnerships Qatari companies managed in 2011 is QP agreement with Royal Dutch Shell to establish a petrochemicals complex in Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLC). The project, worth $6.4bn, includes a world-scale steam cracker with feedstock coming from natural gas projects in Qatar; a mono-ethylene glycol plant with annual production capacity of up to 1.5mn tonnes and 300 kilotons per annum of linear alpha olefins and another olefin derivative.
Qatar has successfully managed national strategies and plans thanks to the continuous pursuit of partnerships that help transfer experiences through establishing giant projects locally and abroad to take advantage of Qatar’s richness in gas and oil and guarantee a diverse economy for future generations.
QP agreements with China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and Royal Dutch Shell to build a refining and petrochemical complex in Taizhou, China stand out as a remarkable partnership. Economic feasibility studies started for the agreement that was signed in October.
QP negotiated oil and gas projects abroad such as engaging in talks to take a stake in the Arctic LNG project of Yamal developed by second biggest Russian gas producer Novatek. Yamal project will develop the South Tambey field located in the Arctic area of Yamal peninsula.
Qatari expansion in LNG field continued in 2011 with Qatari firms RasGas and Qatargas signing long-term deals with North American countries to supply them with LNG.
Launching such a huge number of multibillion dollar projects is done according to well-advised economic feasibility studies that go in line with budgets, and put the projects away from investment risks according to the vision of HH the Emir.
Qatar recorded its largest budget ever in 2011-2012 both quantitatively and qualitatively. On the quantitative side, Qatar’s total estimated revenue increased to QR162.474bn, 27% more than previous fiscal year, while total estimated expenditure was QR139.93bn, an increase of 19% from figures of last fiscal year. Rises in expenses and revenues meant Qatar managed a surplus of QR22.5bn as price of a barrel of oil is set at $55 while calculating budgets of the two fiscal years.
On the qualitative side, Qatar continued its steady progress towards sustainable development according to its developmental policy seen in finalising LNG projects ahead of schedule to take the country’s production capacity to 77mn tonnes per annum compared to a total production capacity of 30mn tonnes in 2008. Qatari government’s backing of the banking system, and the increase in rates of public spending both helped push the qualitative side forward more.
In addition to the familiar administrative division, budget for this year added functional division of public expenditure and distributed them to ten major sectors in order to enhance its current development to programs’ budget based on a value-for-money principle, and focuses on outputs and outcomes.
The budget took into consideration QNV 2030 and NDS 2011-2016 as 41% of it were assigned for public projects such as
The New Doha Port Project, Qatar railways project, finalising New Doha International Airport (NDIA), sewage and other infrastructure projects while giving priority to education and health sectors.
According to statements by HE Minister of Economy and Finance Yousuf Hussein Kamal in October, Qatar’s infrastructure spending is set to reach $150bn in the upcoming five years. Non-oil-based infrastructure spending is expected to range from $120-140bn and petroleum infrastructure spending being in the region of $30-40bn with an annual average of $30bn for expenses made in the two fields.
One of the notable infrastructure projects currently underway is the new Mesaieed port which was launched in October. The project goes in line with the wise vision of HH the Emir who believes that comprehensive development is the main goal of achieving progress and prosperity for citizens.
The QR25.6bn project, set to open in 2016, is considered one of the biggest seaports in the region and will be erected on about 26.5 sq km.
The state works on strengthening existing facilities too with a new departure terminal, named Terminal B, opening last June at Doha International Airport. The new terminal was dedicated to foreign airlines while Terminal A was exclusively assigned for Qatar Airways.
NDIA is set to open soon with an initial capacity of 24mn passengers annually and will increase to 50mn passengers at later stages of the $15bn project.
Last May, Ras Girtas Power Company launched as the biggest electricity generation project in Qatar. The Ras Laffan based project will produce 2730 megawatt of electricity and 63mn gallons of desalinated water, and will cost QR14bn (about $4bn).
Qatar General Electricity and Water Corp (Kahramaa) awarded QR 3.6bn worth of contracts to global firms in 2011 so as to develop and extend main electricity network and base stations. This comes as part of the tenth phase of developing electric transport in Qatar due to the increasing number of Kahramaa electricity clients who are estimated now at 272,000, 16% more than 2010.
In addition, Public Works Authority (Ashghal) signed six major consulting services contracts with global firms at a cost of more than QR2bn. Global firms will manage, design and supervise programmes execution and redeveloping the internal roads network, sewage networks and infrastructure at a total cost of QR40bn.
Qatar worked on expanding its global investments to establish a diversified economy. Qatar Holding LLC (QH) founded a subsidiary in Indonesia in 2011 with a capital of $1bn in order to identify and assess investment opportunities particularly in commodities and natural resources among other sectors.
QH acquired 9.9% of European Goldfields in addition to future share options equal to 5% of shareholders Aktor Construction International, which would take QH share in European Goldfields to 15%.
QH is expected to continue its investment, already considered an important investment portfolio in Qatar. QH major investments include China’s Industrial Bank, Barclays PLC, Canary Wharf, Credit Suisse, Harrods, Iberdrola, Sainsbury, London Stock Exchange, Lagardere, Porsche and Santander (Brasil).
Political and economic stability stimulated a positive atmosphere that encouraged foreign capital into Qatar. Meanwhile, Qatar’s internationally acclaimed powerful banking system provided the capital needed to finance the projects. Qatar’s classification increased in 2010 to AA to become the highest in the Middle East while it also continued to rank highly in business confidence index for investment in Qatar.
This positive atmosphere has been reflected in encouraging foreign companies to open branches in Qatar, which led to increasing the number of companies affiliated with Qatar Money Center, which are licensed by the Authority for Qatar Money Center. The number of these companies reached about 128 foreign companies, including J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., which was licensed last year.
The Authority for Qatar Money Center had announced the publication of its new system and tax regulations, where companies registered in the center are subjected to a 10% tax applied to profits gained from local sources.
The Qatari economy’s strength lies in stable banking and monetary bases and the governmental procedures taken by relevant entities to maintain a sound credit condition along with ensuring the availability of sufficient liquidity levels for banks while simultaneously trying to curb inflation through effective monitoring by Qatar Central Bank; inflation remained at around 2% throughout 2011 whilst the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had predicted inflation to be around 2.4% in 2011.
The percentage of liquidity improved to a large extent in the Qatari banking sector during the first quarter of 2009, and remained at reasonable levels since then, as the sector managed to overcome issues of limited liquidity it faced in the second half of 2008. Qatar seeks to keep up with the developments such as to benefit the banking sector, as Qatar Central Bank issued a decision last year that mandated closing Islamic windows of commercial banks by the end of the year so as to enable monitoring and segregation of commercial and Islamic bank briefcases.
In its decision-making, Qatar Central Bank keeps up with the international economic climate as it has intervened more than once last year to adjust the interest rate due to domestic considerations and international economic realities, and thus gradually reduced the primary interest rates during 2011.
The government has taken several precautionary measures in order to minimise the impact of the world economic crisis on domestic banks through working to enhance banks’ liquidity and capital base, in addition to reducing financing costs and enhancing market confidence. Indeed, capital has been increased and assets purchased as precautionary preventive measures during 2009, 2010, and 2011 to enhance the banking system’s strength, liquidity and flexibility.
In 2011, Qatar Investment Authority purchased the remaining portion of the cost of banks’ shares, whose worth is 10% based on what had been previously agreed upon, rendering the total purchase worth 20%.
Upon purchasing this portion, the gross amount of money transferred to banks reached QR5.5bn, which have been fully delivered to the banks involved, namely Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, National Bank, Qatar International Islamic Bank and Qatar Islamic Bank.
The State of Qatar works to develop the financial sector as part of steps toward improving the performance of the Qatar stock market. And perhaps Qatar Central Bank’s announcement that procedures to float the national debt stocks for exchange within secondary markets of the Qatar stock market best testifies to that, as the floating of short-term bonds started last Thursday.
The Qatari economy sparked international entities’ admiration, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) noted in its report on results of discussing the fourth point, which relates to Qatar in 2011, that the year 2012 will present the Qatari economy with positive horizons. The IMF said that Qatar-related large investments in infrastructure projects and increasing the production of the conversion industries sector will pay for the growth of the real GDP without hydrocarbons, raising the figure to about 9% in 2011, while its growth will continue between 9% and 10% after 2011.
The IMF report expected that the real GDP growth rate will increase from 17% in 2010 to 19% in 2011. The report also noted the profits garnered by the Qatari banking sector, saying that this sector enjoys a good level of capital and remains profitable and strong, as capital sufficiency reached 22.3%, while the average return on base reached 2.7% and bad loans were at 2.3% by the end of June 2011.
And perhaps a testament to progress has been Qatar’s hosting of international events and proceedings last year. It hosted the 20th World Petroleum Conference (WPC). Taking place for the first time in the Middle East, the five-day event featured more than 6,000 participants, among whom were 30 ministers along with a number of executive officers and managers within the petroleum and gas industry sector. Also among notable events was the first summit for the Gas-Exporting Countries Forum, which was held to set in place dialogue between gas-producing and -consuming countries and to enhance gas production worldwide.
Find Out Where the Stars Are Celebrating New Year’s Eve!
The stars are all coming out to play tonight — and will be celebrating New Year’s Eve with huge bashes in Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and even Atlanta.
Still looking for a place to party tonight and have some extra cash to burn? Check out the list below to see where Kim Kardashian, the stars of “Jersey Shore,” LMFAO and more will be ringing in 2012!
LAS VEGAS:
- The Situation – Chateau Nightclub & Gardens on Friday, December 30
- DJ Pauly D – Vanity nightclub on Friday, December 30
- Kim Kardashian – TAO in the Venetian hotel
- Chris Brown – Pure at Caesars Palace
- Fergie (and presumably Josh Duhamel) – The Mirage’s 1 OAK
- will.i.am. – Surrender at the Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
- LMFAO – Aria Hotel’s HAZE
- Samantha Ronson is set to deejay at Lavo inside The Palazzo
- Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick – Paris Las Vegas’s Chateau; Benji and Joel Madden are DJing
- Mary J. Blige – RPM Nightclub
- Rob Kardashian – Tryst at the Wynn
- Taryn Manning – Tabú Ultra Lounge at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
- Holly Madison – Planet Hollywood’s Gallery
- Pamela Anderson – Studio 54 at the MGM Grand
- Guns N’ Roses – Hard Rock Hotel New Year’s Eve performance; Drake takes the stage on New Year’s Day
- Stevie Wonder – Cosmopolitan Hotel; Kaskade will also be continuing his DJ residency at the Cosmopolitan’s Marquee nightclub.
- Newly engaged John Legend and Chrissy Teigen – the Palms
- Bruno Mars – The Bank nightclub at the Bellagio hotel
- B.O.B – LAX nightclub
MIAMI:
- CW stars, including Jessica Lowndes, Chace Crawford and Jessica Szohr will be at the Fontainebleau Hotel New Year’s Eve Bash at LIV nightclub, with performances from Busta Rhymes and members of the Swedish House Mafia.
- Robin Thicke is performance at the Delano Hotel. His wife, Paula Patton, will also be there.
- Lauryn Hill – Shelbourne in Miami Beach.
NEW YORK:
- Lady Gaga – Times Square as part of Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve, which will also feature Ryan Seacrest and Jenny McCarthy
- Other celebs performing in Times Square include Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez and Jason Derulo. (Justin Bieber, Pitbull, Hot Chelle Rae, Florence + The Machine, Gym Class Heroes, Nicki Minaj and Taio Cruz are among the other featured performers from New York and Los Angeles)
- Vinny Guadagnino – hosting “It’s New Year’s Eve Time!” party, at AMC Loews 34th Street cinemas
- Karina Smirnoff – hosting a party at Bowlmor Lanes Times Square
- Mena Suvari, Christian Siriano and others: Masquerade Black & White Ball at the Soho Grand
- Giuliana & Bill Rancic – hosting Nivea’s Kiss of a Lifetime contest at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square
LOS ANGELES:
- Mario Lopez – Hollywood & Highland, featuring performances by Lupe Fiasco and Cobra Starship
CHICAGO:
- Lee DeWyze – Hard Rock Hotel with DJ Chris Kennedy
- “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Taylor Armstrong – Enclave nightclub
ATLANTA:
- T.I. – 200 Peachtree in the Grand Atrium
Source Too Fab
First phase of Doha retail strip to open in March 2012
The first phase of Qatar’s 8km long Barwa Commercial Avenue is set to open in March 2012 and will include ‘Dragon Mart’, which will be the first Chinese retail offering in the emirate.
Described as one of the longest single retail strip development in the world, the first phase – known as Sayer – will cover an area of 265,000 square metres.
With Sayer due to open in March next year, the entire project is due to be completed in the second half of 2012, Saad Dehaim Al Dosari, chairman of Barwa Commercial Avenue (BCA) told Doha-based Gulf Times.
Located along Muntazah Road, in Doha’s Ain Khaled district, Sayer will provide businesses with 172,000 square metres of leasable space, of which 51 percent will be dedicated to retail space.
“In such a short space of time, Sayer has secured leasing agreements with major local, regional and international businesses. Sayer is also set to introduce new concepts to the Qatari market, like “Dragon Mart”, which will be Qatar’s first market with offerings from China,” Al Dosari said.
The Dragon Mart concept has already proved popular in Dubai, where operator Nakheel said in August it was planning to more than double the size of the store.
At 1.2km long, Dragon Mart in Dubai is already the largest trading centre for Chinese products outside mainland China, with more than 2,800 stores – many of which offer discounted products.
The Qatar version is expected to operate in a similar way with discounted electronics, building materials, and household items.
The BCA project will feature five major low-rise buildings, which are expected to accommodate up to 24,000 residents.
Comprising five distinct, the mixed use project is being developed by Barwa Real Estate and is due to be connected to the proposed Doha Metro rail network.
Source Arabian Business
Jay-Z and Kanye West get paid $6 Million to perform at birthday bash in Dubai
Rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West were paid $3 million dollars each for a performance at a girl’s 16th birthday bash in the UAE.
West, 34, and Jay-Z, 42 were flown out to Dubai two weeks before Christmas for the mega-party.
The girl is a member of a wealthy royal family that rules the UAE, and sister of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour.
The rappers, who recently released the album “Watch The Throne” together, performed several numbers at the party.
Bollywood heavyweights to perform at Zee Cine Awards 2012
Bollywood heavyweights Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Shahid Kapoor and Anushka Sharma are all set to make Zee Cine Awards 2012 a spectacular affair by dancing to their latest hits on stage. To be held at the Venetian in Macau on January 21, the four will be joined by Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra who have been roped in as the chief anchors of the evening.
Though the full list of nominations are trickling in, tabloid! has learnt about the nominees in the coveted categories — International icons of the year. In the male category, the battle is between the old and the new heroes. Don 2 star Shah Rukh Khan, Desi Boyz hero Akshay Kumar, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara actor Farhan Akhtar, Ranbir Kapoor of Rockstar fame, and Delhi Belly’s Imran Khan are the candidates who will be vying for the gong.
The nominees in the female category are no less competitive with Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Vidya Balan in the list. While Balan has been praised for The Dirty Picture, Kaif drew attention in Meri Brother Ki Dulhan. Sonam Kapoor displayed considerable screen presence in Mausam. Sharma proved her worth with Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl. And Kareena Kapoor stood out with hits that included Bodyguard.