Pinoy Expats UAE: 2012

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Dubai’s mega-project to boost sector growth

Mohammad Bin Rashid City will feature the world’s biggest shopping mall and a park larger than London's Hyde Park

Dubai: The new Mohammad Bin Rashid City is expected to encourage public-private partnerships, increase foreign investment inflows and further boost growth in the retail and tourism sectors, top business leaders and analysts said.

“This is really a bid to make Dubai the capital of the Arab world, that’s the bottom line. It’s got the airports and the port facilities, now this is an attempt to take it to the next step, to become the equivalent of Las Vegas and become the tourism centre of the Arab world,” Dr Nasser Saeedi, former Chief Economist of Dubai International Financial Centre and former minister of economy and trade of Lebanon said.

The ambitious project could become an example of public-private partnerships (PPP) at work.

“The most important thing to create employment is PPP. It will encourage the private sector from all over the Arab countries to invest. India and china could also invest,” Saeedi said.

With the largest mall in the world and the largest family leisure centre in the region planned within the city, it has significant impact on the retail and tourism sectors in the long term, analysts say.

“There will be more growth and competition, but also great opportunity for retail and tourism business in Dubai… there will be a great opportunity for new brands to enter the region with this announcement,” said David Macadam, regional director, head of retail at Jones Lang Lasalle.

Growth in tourism sector by 13 percent annually and footfall of 44.5 million visitors to Dubai Mall alone in the first nine months of 2012, justify the increased capacity of the planned project, Macadam said.

“If Dubai is successful in its bid for the Expo 2020, it will need to expand its infrastructure to absorb the large numbers expected from the expo,” Saeedi told Gulf News.

Hani Al Hameli, secretary-general of the Dubai Economic Council, called The Mohammed Bin Rashid City a “qualitative leap in infrastructure for the leading sectors in Dubai” that include tourism, retail, entrepreneurship and exhibitions.

“The countries in the region are moving within an intensely competitive economic environment and therefore without acknowledging the challenges of globalization and competitiveness among major business partners in all sectors, the region cannot sustain growth and increase prosperity for its citizens,” he said in an emailed statement.

Funding and investment

Asked if the project was financially feasible amid the current global and regional economic situation, Saeedi said: “They did not put a timeline on it so this is definitely a long-term plan…in that sense, it can be funded,” he said adding that a mix of private funding and government revenue from high oil prices will make liquidity available.

“The questions is: will there be an investment environment there to make the private sector play its part?” he added.

The project marks the beginning of “Dubai 3.0” development plan—“a new grand city for family tourism, innovation & business entrepreneurship,” His Highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, tweeted yesterday.

Source: Gulf News

Monday, October 15, 2012

Eid Al Adha could begin on October 26

Dubai: Astronomers predict that the first day of Eid Al Adha may be October 26, a Friday.

According to Dr Humaid Majol Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Science and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of University of Sharjah for Academic Affairs, “based on astronomical calculations, October 25 will be the 9th of Dhu Al Hijja, Arafat Day, and consequently Friday will be the first day of Eid Al Adha”.

Etisalat to cancel unverified SIM cards

Dubai: Etisalat’s mobile subscribers who got SMSs from the telecom service provider should update their personal information within three months, failing which their mobile connection will be disconnected and later on their SIM card numbers will be cancelled, a top etisalat official told Gulf News.

Hassan Al Abdouli, Director of Channel Management at etisalat, said: “Etisalat has sent SMSs to 1.5 million subscribers kindly asking them to update their personal data within three months, otherwise they will be eligible to lose their SIM cards. If the subscribers fail to update the information within the specified period following the SMSs, the SIM card will be suspended and after another three months the number will be cancelled as well.”

According to etisalat’s policy, he said the telecom service provider can resell the number to another customer three months after the number has been cancelled.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the UAE has launched the “My Number, My Identity” campaign in collaboration with the two telecom service providers (etisalat and du) to increase awareness on the new registration procedures which are aimed to organise registration processes and requirements for mobile phone services, provided by the licensees.

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The TRA has warned that 18 months after the launch of the campaign, owners of the mobile phone SIMs which were issued under their names will have to bear the consequences of any misuse of SIM cards issued to them, their family members or even friends.

“Etisalat has around 8.6 million subscribers and we are going to inform them through several phases requesting 1.5 million subscribers every three months to update their mobile registration. After three months of this notice, the mobile subscription would be disconnected and won’t be activated until the actual owner of the SIM card submits the necessary documents to complete registration. The new registration procedures will be considered as strict measures to protect the users’ rights against fraud, bad debt as well as criminal cases,” Al Abdouli said.

Al Abdouli said that to register the personal information, etisalat subscribers should visit any of the 104 etisalat offices or service centres across the Emirates and submit original copies of their personal documents for authentication.

“It won’t take more than ten minutes to fill up the form handing it to etisalat staff to enter the date and save it,” he said.

“The information will process automatically and subscribers would get SMSs saying that they have completed the registration update successful.”

The service will not be affected or interrupted during the process. It involves just updating the customer profile, he added

Source: Gulf News

Monday, September 24, 2012

Sharjah tightens noose around trash scavengers

Sharjah: Authorities in Sharjah plan to crackdown on illegal scrap dealers and trash scavengers whose activities pose a public health and safety risk, an official said.

The illegal collection and sale of recyclable waste was highlighted by Gulf News last week.

The report exposed how an army of scavengers have been recruited by unauthorised scrap traders to scour a Dubai landfill, near the Sharjah border, for metal, plastic and paper worth a fortune to recyclers.

Officials from Sharjah Police, immigration and the municipality are joining forces to curb the underground trade.

The Sharjah Environment Co, better known as Bee’ah, is also involved in the efforts, which include dedicated “anti-scavenging teams.”

“New legislation by Sharjah Municipality is expected soon against this activity. Sharjah Police and Bee’ah are also working together on this,” said Ibrahim Al Houti, Bee’ah’s vice-president for operations. “We’re presently observing a situation of high levels of waste scavenging activity, where violators are collecting volumes of recyclable paper and cardboard from municipal waste collection bins located around Sharjah, and selling them directly to scrapers.”

To raise awareness, officials have set up posters on main roads to warn against the practice. The public service ads show pictures of scavengers rummaging trash bins and creating a mess on the roads.

The posters include a slogan: “Say No to Violators.”

They can be seen on Old Airport/Immigration Road and parts of the Buhairah Corniche, among other places in Sharjah.

Al Houti said: “This is a health concern to them and to the general population, as they could be potential pathways to transmit various diseases due to unsafe handling of waste materials and lack of protective equipment.”

“That’s why we are currently addressing this issue with the Sharjah Municipality and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs of Sharjah to introduce guidelines and laws to prevent waste scavenging in the Emirate,” He added.

Industry sources believe the blackmarket cash for trash trade is worth tens of millions of dirhams.

Gulf News reported last week how the scavengers say up to a thousand of them raid the landfill on Fridays, outnumbering the guards on duty to monitor the vast site.

One scavenger, who makes around Dh600 a month from the illegal practice, admitted: “A few of us keep the guards busy with chases, while others collect the stuff. We’ve got our own turfs and teams.”

Al Houti said: “Demand for aluminium and paper recycling is increasing in our region — the former is especially very high in demand by recycling firms. Last year, the anti-scavenging team collected an average of 300 tonnes per month of cardboard alone, that’s not to mention how much is available in aluminium and plastic materials. This translates to millions of dirhams worth of material diverted out of the proper waste management system and sold illegally to scrapers.”

Residents have been urged to report any scavenging activity on 800-Tandeef (800-8263333) or by notifying Sharjah Police.

To view our video of the illegal scrap pickers, log on to www.gulfnews.com

Lorna’s remains may be released this week

Dubai: After almost a month of hearing mostly sad news, the family of the slain Filipina businesswoman received good news on Sunday from the Sharjah Public Prosecution — their mum’s remains could be released within the week.

Lorna Lim Varona, 51, a Filipina businesswoman, was found dead inside the trunk of her car in Sharjah with six stab wounds on August 31.

Maria Lourdes, Varona’s eldest daughter, told Gulf News that Sharjah Public Prosecution had started processing the release papers for their mother’s remains yesterday and will hopefully be completed by Tuesday.

“When we heard the news we were very glad that finally we can bring her home and she could finally rest in peace,” Lourdes said.

“At least now we can have a definite timeline and plan accordingly for her last rites,” she added.

The family will then have to present Varona’s death certificate and autopsy report at the Philippine Consulate-General in Dubai which will then issue a No Objection Certificate that is required by airline companies in shipping human remains. This, a consulate official said, could be accomplished within minutes if all the documentary requirements are met.

Philippine labour attaché Delmer Cruz meanwhile said that his office had already communicated with Manila airport authorities to assist the family on this matter once they land there.

As soon as Varona’s body is released, it will be shipped to the Philippines for a five-day closed casket wake at the Holy Trinity Memorial Chapel in Paranaque, a city south of Manila.

Source: Gulf News

12 workers in Sharjah hospitals with suspected pesticide poisoning | GulfNews.com

12 workers in Sharjah hospitals with suspected pesticide poisoning

Sharjah: Twelve Asian workers were rushed to Al Qasimi and Al Kuwait hospitals Sunday morning from a workers’ accommodation in Industrial Area 10 in Sharjah with symptoms of suspected pesticide poisoning.

All the workers had earlier complained of dizzy spells and vomiting. It is learnt that workers living in a room adjacent to the one whose occupants reported sick may have used banned chemicals for fumigation.

The workers, who sources say are Bangladeshis, were questioned by Sharjah Police and an investigation is continuing. It is not clear if any charges have been filed against anyone.

Three men whose condition was reported to be more serious than the others were admitted to Al Qasimi Hospital and the rest were admitted to Al Kuwaiti Hospital where they will remain under observation for the next 48 hours, Dr Safiya Al Khaja, a doctor at Al Qasimi Hospital, told Gulf News.

Authorities initially suspected the workers were suffering from food poisoning, but hospital officials said they believed chemical poisoning from banned pest control products may be responsible.

Doctors initially treated the case as food poisoning but on speaking to the affected men, were told that workers in the neighbouring room at the workers accommodation had used pesticides.

“Many of the workers vomited and some fainted,” said Asif, a Pakistani foreman of a furniture factory four of whose employees took ill. “We found four pieces of pesticide in the neighbouring room,” he said.

Hospital officials said only licensed and certified companies are permitted to administer pest control products in the UAE, and the municipality must approve each professional. “This is an education issue. People have to know what to do before and after treatment,” Dr Safiya said.

Earlier this month, two-year-old Habiba Hesham Abdul Rahman died after exposure to pesticides. Her brother Abdul Rahman was left critically ill in hospital but has since made a recovery. Seven suspects have been arrested for running unlicensed pesticide companies. “Controlling pests is really the job of experts,” Dr Safiya said.

The hospitalised workers are suspected to have been poisoned by aluminium phosphide, a highly toxic substance used to kill insects and rodents.

Source: Gulf News

193 arrests in clampdown on illegal residents

Dubai: A total of 127 illegal Asian residents were arrested in Dubai in a few hours as part of a campaign by the General Directorate For Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

Lt Colonel Khalaf Ahmad Al Ghaith, Assistant Director General at GDRFA, said the men were arrested in the Satwa area on September 15.

He said: “We received a tip from a member of the public and after checking the credibility of the tip we arrested the illegal men, who were taken to Al Aweer deportation centre. The case will be transferred to the public prosecutor for more investigation.”

Lt Colonel Al Ghaith added that a series of intensive random inspection campaigns had been implemented in different areas of Dubai and promised to track offenders of the residency law “around the clock”.

“Any breach of the law threatens the stability of the society, because illegal residents can commit crimes and affect the safety of the country,” said Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, Director General of General Directorate of GDRFA.

Meanwhile, a total of 66 illegal Asian and African domestic helpers were arrested last week in the Al Bidaa, Satwa and Jumeirah areas of Dubai as part of the GDFRA campaign.

Major General Al Merri said they were charged with absconding from their sponsor and staying and working in the emirate illegally.

Lt Colonel Al Ghaith said: “We are contacting their original sponsors and if it is proved that they were working illegally, the people who hired them will have to pay a Dh50,000 fine.”

He encouraged illegal residents to approach the department in order to amend their legal status or leave the country and called on members of the public to cooperate with the authority and report illegal residents by calling 8005111.

Source: Gulf News

Filipino tourists travelling to UAE caught in bribery scams

Philippine nationals travelling to the UAE as tourists are regularly having to bribe immigration officers at Manila before leaving the country, UAE daily The National reported on Sunday.

As a way of fighting human trafficking and illegal labour, Filipino tourists heading to the UAE are obliged to get clearance from airport immigration officers.

But in many cases, officers are abusing these regulations by telling tourists to pay them a fee in order to continue their journey to Dubai in a process commonly known as “offloading”, the report claimed.

“In October last year, my wife was offloaded three times. People at the airport offered to help her leave for a certain fee,” a Filipino hotel chef residing in Dubai was quoted as saying by The National.

The chef had to contact a travel agency in Dubai that had a contact in Manila. The wife was escorted to a specific immigration counter and then to the departure gate in exchange for 25,000 pesos ($600).

A spokesman for the Bureau of Immigration in Manila urged conned tourists to come forward and reveal corrupt officers. “Please give us names … we can’t act on allegations unless they identify the immigration officers,” Spokesman Antoinette Bucasas-Mangrobang was quoted as saying by The National.

Dubai taxis drive up satisfaction

Dubai: There is a decline in complaints against taxi drivers and companies after traffic officials introduced a new fine scheme in Dubai, Gulf News has learnt.

Most of the complaints involve misbehaving drivers, who were held responsible.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has also started imposing fines on taxi companies if the number of complaints against their fleet breach the limit set by the agency.

As a result, complaints against taxi services have come down significantly, a senior official told Gulf News.

A total of 3,760 complaints ranging from refusal to convey passengers, misbehavior, delays to reckless driving were recorded in January. The number dropped to 1,992 in August.

There are five licensed taxi companies in the emirate.

“The new measure has proved to be very helpful in bringing down the number of complaints as well as the number of fines issued to cab drivers,” Furat Ali Al Amri, Director of Franchise and Monitoring at the RTA, said.

“The companies were notified that if the complaints are beyond the limit set by RTA they will be fined.”

From June, the RTA began issuing fines to erring companies. As a result, the complaints dropped from 2,656 in June, to 2,532 in July and further to 1,992 in August, Al Amri said.

“The fines encourage the companies to maintain stringent customer service quality.”

In addition to the fines, increased focus on training the drivers and improving benefits provided to them have also helped the figures, he said.

“Educating drivers about etiquette, customer service, personal hygiene and other aspects has had a positive impact.”

Repeat offenders, who fail to improve even after training, are terminated from the service. However, this is done only as a last resort.

Complaints such as disrespect of RTA inspectors are taken very seriously; as two such complaints within a year could result in a driver getting sacked.

September marks the beginning of the season for events, as well as an increased influx of tourists, and several inspections will be organised to ensure the quality of cab services, Al Amri said.

In a recent survey by Dubai Police, 96 per cent of the 2,050 Dubai residents who took part in the survey said they felt safe when riding a taxi at night.

RTA opened the doors of the Taxi Drivers Training and Qualification Centre in January this year. It was made mandatory for anyone wanting to work as a taxi driver in Dubai to undergo training and get certified at the centre.

The integrated training course offered to drivers is accredited by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority and includes 240 training hours of practical and theoretical lessons. It covers 26 topics such as safe driving, customer service, meter function, traffic accidents and offences.

Source: Gulf News

Sunday, September 23, 2012

New rules issued after US navy shooting

Dubai: The National Transport Authority has issued new rules to all UAE-registered boaters warning not “to approach a naval ship closer than 800 metres” in response to the death of an Indian fisherman who was fired upon by a US navy vessel on July 16 off Jebel Ali.

New regulations have been issued following calls in the last two months for a clear set of new maritime rules for UAE mariners to frame formal operating clearances to avoid clashes between foreign military vessels operating in Gulf waters and domestic water craft.

In an email to all registered boat owners in the UAE, Capt Saleem Alavi, maritime adviser with the National Transport Authority, said that the “purpose of this flyer is to inform the public about the safety zone the naval ships have created for their protection”.

The regulations include two additional warnings for boat operators advising them; “Do not approach the naval vessel at fast speed other than to turn away from the ship [and] do not make sudden alterations to the course towards the naval ship.”

To help boat operators grasp how far 800 metres measures, the transport authority proffered a simple means whilst on land of sizing up distance at sea as outlined in the rules.

“To determine 800 metres, we suggest that you approach a building and value its size. Then walk 800 long steps from that same building and look back at [the building] for a full appreciation of size and distance.”

The authority also directly addresses warnings from naval vessels that come in many forms ranging from audio to visual.

“Pay attention to the warnings given by the naval vessel. The type of warnings can be … by loud hailer, by shooting flairs to attract your attention, laser light in your eyes, VHF Channel 16, warning shots across the bow,” states the authority advisory.

If a vessel operator is confronted with warnings, the transport authority advised that maritime crews should “turn away from the ship without delay; stop the boat immediately if it is safe to do so and call on VHF Channel 16 to identify your boat”.

The newly released rules are important given that the US Navy insisted that the crew of its vessel, Rappahannock, tried to warn the crew of the fishing vessel that by all US accounts was approaching in a rapid manner.

At the time, Lt Greg Raelson, a media officer at the US 5th-fleet based in Bahrain said, that when “those efforts failed to deter the approaching vessel, the security team on the [US navy vessel] Rappahannock fired rounds from a 0.50-calibre machine gun.”

The American response, amid high tensions in Gulf waters over Iran’s nuclear activities, was defended by a US defence official who told AP that the navy has “been very concerned about small boats” since the 2000 suicide attack against the USS Cole in the Yemeni port of Aden.

Meanwhile, there has been no new word on an ongoing investigation by both the UAE and the US Navy following the incident.

In the days after the incident, India Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna called the incident “unfortunate” and said he hoped that “the necessary action will be initiated”.

The UAE “has filed a case against this incident. They are proceeding according to the laws of that country”. Krishna told reporters in the Indian capital at the time of the incident.

Source: Gulf News

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Abu Dhabi government staff must stay in capital

Abu Dhabi: Employees of Abu Dhabi government and other government bodies must reside in the emirate, the Executive Council’s General Secretariat decided.

Employees living outside the emirate have been given a grace period of one year to move to Abu Dhabi.
The decision is aimed at ensuring the safety of government employees and to achieve social stability for their families.

It follows in-depth studies on the effect of the distance between the employees’ residence and workplace.

Accidents

Employees face the prospect of road accidents when they drive long distances to reach their offices, especially during inclement weather faced early in the day and late at night.

Data issued by the Abu Dhabi Transport Department showed that 10,869 vehicles enter Abu Dhabi from 6 to 9am, transporting more than 16,000 passengers which can reach a high of more than 19,500.

These numbers reflect the extent of traffic on the emirate’s highway leading to Abu Dhabi and how this affects the commuters due to speeding and the necessity to reach the workplace on time.

The decision will help improve the employees’ productivity as shorter distances to work will help maintain and preserve their energy.

Source: Gulf News

Abu Dhabi amends housing allowance rules

Abu Dhabi: A decision by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council to ask public employees to live in the capital could bring in millions of dirhams to the local economy and see rents rise, experts have predicted.

Civil Service sources put the number of employees of local departments, public authorities and government-owned companies that will be affected by the new rule at more than 10,000. The employees under consideration draw between Dh1.5 billion and Dh2 billion in annual housing allowances, which they cannot now claim if they do not reside in Abu Dhabi.

Dr Mohammad Amerah, an Abu Dhabi-based economist, said the decision might not only affect rents but also prices in other related sectors.

“Spending could increase by Dh1.5 billion to Dh2 billion in Abu Dhabi and this will positively affect the economy of the emirate but will also increase prices.”

Paul Maisfield, general manager of the Abu Dhabi office of Asteco Property Management, expects rental prices to increase. “After a year, rental prices could rise based on the number of people who will decide to move to Abu Dhabi,” he said.

Real estate officials estimate that up to 11,000 new units will be completed in the second half of this year, many of them high-end apartment buildings, which will improve options for higher-income residents and increase vacancies in lower-grade assets.

The move received a mixed reaction from people across the capital, with some attacking it a violation of the UAE Constitution’s principle of equality among citizens, while others said it will help reduce traffic jams, increase productivity of workers and ensure a supply-demand balance in the property market.

A researcher in an Abu Dhabi authority, who asked not to be named but lives in Jebel Ali, Dubai and commutes to work daily, says the move will help many landlords bring up their occupancy rates and increase rents at the expense of tenants. “These landlords got many buildings on loans at the time of the real estate boom. Now they are unable to pay back the heavy loan service, so the government forced employees to relocate.”

He added: “How will the government treat employees who live with their relatives in Abu Dhabi, and what about other workers who cannot leave behind sick members of their families?”

The decision, issued on Wednesday and signed by Dr Ahmad Mubarak Al Mazroui, secretary general of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, obliged public departments and companies to change human resource polices regarding accommodation of Emirati and foreign employees and take all measures to encourage them to live in Abu Dhabi.

The decision states that employees living outside Abu Dhabi for any reason will be deprived of their housing allowances. “Housing allowance may not be availed directly or indirectly by employees who opt to live outside Abu Dhabi for any reason,” the decision says, giving a grace period of a year for employees to adjust their legal status.

“Workers of offices of Abu Dhabi local departments located outside Abu Dhabi, will be exempt from the rule,” the decision says.

According to the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport, as many as 10,869 cars carrying between 16,303 and 19,564 passengers travel to Abu Dhabi between 6am and 9am on a daily basis.

Source: Gulf News

Dubai to have one of the biggest solar parks in the region

Dubai: Dubai will soon build one of the biggest solar parks in the region with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts, Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, announced at the Mena Renewable Energy Forum.

The park, named Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, will have a 1,000MW capacity by 2030, and would make a substantial contribution to Dubai’s future energy needs.

The first phase, which involves a 13 MW solar PV plant, will be in operation before end of 2013.

“By 2030, Dubai’s average energy growth is projected to be in the range of four to five per cent per annum and our target, under the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030, is to reduce energy consumption by 30 per cent through the implementation of enhanced energy-efficient initiatives and, by the same token, to significantly reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide,” said Al Tayer.

Under the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy, by 2030 Dubai will have diversified its fuel mix by adding new energy sources and about five per cent would come from renewable energy including solar power, he said. He added that 12 per cent would come from clean coal, 12 per cent from nuclear power and 71 per cent from gas.

The Supreme Council of Energy of Dubai was formed as a formal governing body and seeks to ensure sustainable energy resources for the Emirate’s growing economy in a cost-effective manner.

The council developed Dubai’s Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 two years ago and started implementation in January 2011.

“This strategy is driven by our vision to make Dubai a role model to the world in energy security and efficiency. Accordingly, the mission is to support Dubai’s economic growth through a secure supply of energy and efficient energy usage, while meeting environmental and sustainability objectives,” said Al Tayer.

He said it has also been identified that distributed rooftop solar power sources can make a practical contribution of almost 20 per cent to Dubai’s power needs.

“Small scale applications of solar are in use in Dubai, such as in commercial and industrial buildings, street lights and so forth. Recently, Dewa has constructed a building where over 25 per cent of its electricity needs are managed by solar energy.”

Al Tayer said: “We at Dewa share the same goals as the rest of the world to secure a diverse and sustainable energy supply, through the integration of renewable energy into our energy mix, rationalisation of consumption and reduction of our carbon footprint.”

Source: Gulf News

Interior Ministry denies ban on tourist visas

DUBAI: A top Ministry of Interior official has denied reports of a ban on tourist visas for unskilled workers.

Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, Assistant Undersecretary for Naturalisation and Residency, and Ports Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, said residency departments across the country were processing visit visa transactions for applicants following “standard procedures”.

“We have not been told of any new restrictions for visit visas”

Nisar Fenoje Typing Centre

The official denied earlier reports that visitors from some Asian countries — such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Philippines — will be required to submit university diplomas alongside applications for tourist, visit and conference visas to the UAE.

Al Menhali said these reports are false. “Any new procedures would be announced to the public and posted on the ministry’s website or released to the media by the Security Information Department,” the news agency WAM quoted him as saying.

Earlier, citing an unnamed federal official, local media reported that new rules for issuing visit, tourist and conference visas would apply to a certain category of applicants from mostly Asian countries as part of an ongoing crackdown on human trafficking and begging in the UAE.

The clampdown, the report said, was part of a “new regime” aimed to check the influx of low-paid workers who end up begging on the streets or pose security threats to citizens and residents.

The unnamed official said that visit visa applicants must have enough money to cover their visit and obtain health insurance.

Al Menhali said such reports came from “unofficial” sources and were “unreliable”.

Meanwhile, most typing centres in Dubai said they were doing business as usual.

“We have not received instructions from the authorities about any visa rule changes,” said Mohammad Ebrahim, manager of Quality General Services, whose typing centre is visited by hundreds of applicants daily. “The requirements are the same.”

Typing centres are the first stop for visit visa applications, attending to thousands daily.

Business as usual

“We’re not aware of any stricter visit visa rules,” said Nehal Ahmad, manager of Darwish Shakeel, a Bur Dubai typing centre. “We have not been told to implement or ask for additional papers from applicants.”

Nisar of Fenoje Typing Centre, said: “There are no new restrictions for visit visas,” said Ahmad.

Ahmad, however, has said that stricter rules requiring expatriates to present a Dewa bill, a tenancy contract validated by the Ejari system and a two-bedroom apartment when applying for a residency visa for a next-of-kin or housemaid visa has significantly cut down on the number of applications.

“Applications for this category are down by 40 per cent. Our business is down. But we have to adhere to the rules.”

Source: Gulf News

Dubai celebrates World Car Free Day

Dubai: Maia Baltika loves nothing more than zigging and zagging around Dubai behind the wheel of her Toyota Camry to a myriad of beach sports games, shopping adventures and off to work.

But today she will leave her car behind for World Car Free Day, a 24-hour campaign traditionally held on September 22 every year.

“It’s only one day a year and if we all stopped using our car for only 24 hours, think of the pollution we would save,” said the Russian national who works as a retail clerk.

As an alternative, Baltika will be taking the Dubai Metro to work, a surefire way of cutting carbon emissions from her car.

According to Dubai’s Statistical Yearbook 2010, as many as 69 million travellers took the metro that year in direct contrast to figures that show more than 1.031 million vehicles were registered in Dubai, producing an estimated 23.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each day.

“One small step can make a difference,” Baltika said, “especially if a lot of us take action the same way.”

Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) was putting its best foot forward in recent days by encouraging its banking customers on its website to leave their car behind and participate in World Car Free Day.

“Express your desire to save the earth by not taking your car on that day,” read the CBD website. “Let’s burn calories, not petrol and save the earth and our health.”

According to the World Carfree Network, World Car Free Day has now “grown to involve official and unofficial participants in over 1,000 cities and 40 countries” including the UAE.

In recent years, Dubai and Abu Dhabi government employees have left their cars at home and taken alternative transport to work as a gesture of working toward a greener tomorrow.

Tanja Eskola of the World Carfree Network said in a statement on the organisation’s website that she considers all cars “clunkers, flopped vehicles failing to meet any criteria of sensible means of transport.”

On the ecological front, Eskola said that a “car emits three times its own weight in pollutants every year, whereas a bicycle does not pollute.”

“Exhaust fumes cause acid air, pollution, cancer, lead poisoning and a variety of bronchial and respiratory illnesses,” the network stated. “The average car emits a cocktail of more than 1,000 pollutants.”

The ironic environmental impact of the average family car, the Carfree Network said, is that the ecological damage is already done before the new car is driven off the lot.

“A car causes more pollution before it’s ever driven than in its entire lifetime of driving,” said the organization.

Fast Facts

• Transport is blamed for causing anywhere from 20-25 per cent of total greenhouse emissions released into the atmosphere

• Raw materials associated with vehicles such as plastics, scrap tires, used engine oil, cooling liquids and battery acid are extremely hazardous to the environment if disposal is not closely monitored.

Source: Gulf News

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

New parking offence in Sharjah... car must face the road

When Suleiman Abdullah returned to his car in a parking area in Sharjah, he was surprised to see a ticket stuck on his windscreen. Abdullah had thought the ticket was placed by mistake and it could be meant for another vehicle before he stared in disbelief at the car number on the ticket. He rushed to the traffic police department as he was sure his car was parked in the right place and he did not commit any offence. At the department, his surprise turned into a shock when the police man told him he has to pay the Dh200 fine under a new penalty dubbed “abuse of parking.” “It is not only the fine but this offence also involves three black points…I was told that I abused the parking space by parking my car in a reverse direction,” Abdullah said, quoted by the Arabic language daily Alittihad. “I again made clear my car was parked in the right place and safely…but they again stressed that the car’s back rather than the front must face the road.” The paper said many other drivers complained that they had a ticket on their cars, which were parked with their front side facing the road inside the park. It quoted Sharjah traffic police as saying the new measures are intended to serve the public interest and ensure discipline on roads and inside parking areas. “All drivers must abide by such rules…they should park their cars in the right direction and in the same way which they practiced when they were tested for a driving licence…parking in a reverse direction violates the rules.”

Real Estate licensing rules to change soon | GulfNews.com

Dubai: The Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera) will revise the licensing rules and regulations of the real estate management and leasing companies in the wake of the recent real estate scam cases in Dubai, top Rera’s official told Gulf News.

The proposal will be applicable to existing real estate companies across the emirate at the time of licence renewal. The new rules which has been in the works for some time is expected to be issued soon by the agency. It is aimed at protecting tenants, owners and investors from fraud.

Yousuf Al Hashemi, Senior Director of the Rera’s Real Estate Licencing Department, said: “Following the recent real estate scam cases in the Dubai market, the department is proposing to getting stricter with its licensing measures.”

“We are going to revise the old rules and regulation of the licensing law for 2003. By modifying the article No.2,, the security deposit for companies granted property management and leasing licence will be increased from Dh5 million to Dh10 million, or they should own property worth Dh10 million, in addition to Dh1 million security deposit.”

Rera is working to create a professional real estate environment governed by clear laws and regulations, according to Al Hashemi, “Regulating the real estate brokerage profession aims at clarifying relations between different parties, clients and firms in order to protect the rights of clients against any violations of laws and professional ethics by real estate brokers.”

There are more than 6,000 real estate companies in Dubai with over 20 different activities and 200 were licensed for property management and leasing, he remarked.

“The rules modification will not only protect tenants’ rights but will serve to support the real estate activities of individuals and companies within a legal framework.”

Real estate companies in Dubai will be fined if they are found violating the Land Department’s rules and regulations and breaching customers’ rights. Fines will range from Dh50.000 and could reach Dh150.000 if the company is running the business without licence, Al Hashimi clarified.

In the first six month of 2012, the agency warned and imposed fines worth Dh900,000 on 22 real estate companies and brokerage firms across Dubai for not adhering to its terms and regulations.

These companies were found violating the licensing terms issued by Rera.

Al Hashemi remarked that they have inspection team designated to conduct a daily media or online follow-up in addition to the regular inspection campaign and customers’ complaints.

However, he added: “Ignorance is not an excuse.”

“Tenant and landlord should be fully aware of their rights and duties. This in turn will enhance the contractual relationship between them and avoid any disputes.” 

Tips to follow 

Al Hashemi also confirmed that Rera has taken a number of steps that should be followed by tenants to safeguard the rights of all parties and specifically tenants as per the requirements of Law No. 26 of 2007, regulating relationship between landlords and tenants in the emirate of Dubai

Concerned parties should check the real estate company’s licence and the type of activity by visiting the official website of Dubai’s Land Department, www.dubailand.gov.ae.

Check if the concerned company is an active one by verifying the company’s registration numbers and the broker’s ID card issued by RERA, The cheques must be written on behalf of the property management company rather that on behalf of individuals and also obtain a copy of the bank guarantee.

In case of leasing directly from the individual owner, tenants are advised to verify the ownership of the property by the landlord or to check the management contract in the case of property management companies. Tenants need to obtain a lease contract registered in Ejari system to ensure their rights and to make the contract acceptable in government transactions.

In the past three months, Rerahad registered 60,000 properties in Ejari system. This system organises the contractual relation between landlords and tenants.

Source: Gulf News

New screening saves lives of 13 babies in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: A critical shortage in the number of paediatric cardiologists in the emirate of Abu Dhabi puts the lives of hundreds of babies at risk, especially if a mandatory test to detect serious congenital heart abnormalities is not administered, health experts have said.

The test, which screens for critical congenital heart disease, affecting three of every thousand babies worldwide, is important because babies in the GCC region could present certain abnormalities that can kill them within the first two months of life without the necessary treatment, said Dr Mohammad Hamdan, division head and consultant of paediatric cardiology at the Tawam Hospital in Al Ain.

“In the emirate of Abu Dhabi, there are probably less than 10 paediatric cardiologists, which is why administering the test, known as the pulse oximetry, is even more crucial,” Dr Hamdan told Gulf News.

According to the 2010 Health Authority Abu Dhabi Annual report, critical capacity gaps exist in both neonatology and cardiology specialists.

The pulse oximetry has therefore been implemented by hospitals in the emirate since January 2011, and by June 2012, 13 babies born with CCHD had been saved, the HAAD announced.

The test is a simple process of measuring the level of oxygen in the hands and foot of a newborn to determine whether a baby has a possible congenital heart condition.

The Tawam Hospital was the first to administer it in January 2011, after which all other medical facilities in the emirate with obstetric sections screened babies born in their wards. By June 2012, more than 32,000 babies had been screened in 21 hospitals.

While doctors stressed the need for more paediatric cardiologists, they added that the pulse oximetry significantly reduces the chance of an affected baby being undiagnosed.

“Heart disease is invisible to the naked human eye, and only 25 per cent of such congenital conditions can be detected during pregnancy. A physical exam of the newborn within 24 hours of birth helps detect another 50 per cent of cases.

“However, the pulse oximetry helps to pinpoint nearly 23 per cent of all remaining babies born with CCHD,” Dr Gerard Martin, co-director of the children’s heart institute at the Children’s National Medical Centre in Washington.

The Centre has so far trained hundreds of medical professionals in the emirate to administer the screenings.

More such training sessions will be conducted for medical personnel this year, Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, director of public health and policy at the HAAD, told Gulf News.

“The CCHD screening has been part of the Neonatal Screening Standards in the emirate since September 2011, and we are working to ensure that all relevant medical staff are familiar with how to administer it,” Dr Al Hajeri said.

Source: Gulf News

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Biometric scans must for Schengen visas

Abu Dhabi: All diplomatic missions of the Schengen member states in the UAE will start recording biometric data of people applying for visas to their respective countries from October 2.

Schengen visa applicants have to undergo biometric scans to record 10 fingerprints and a facial image as part of the visa application process. This new requirement is part of efforts to link the diplomatic missions of Schengen states with the Visa Information System (VIS) introduced by the European Commission.

The French Embassy in Abu Dhabi, one of the Schengen diplomatic missions, said it had already started recording biometrics of Schengen visa applicants.

“We started it in Dubai two years ago and in Abu Dhabi about a year ago,” Alain Azouaou, the French ambassador to the UAE told Gulf News yesterday.

Currently, 26 European countries are Schengen members and many of them have diplomatic missions in the UAE.

The Schengen cooperation agreement took its name from the town of Schengen in Luxembourg, where it was signed for the purpose of ensuring the free movement of persons and goods between the member states.

All European Union (EU) member states except five countries — UK, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus — and four non-EU countries namely Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are part of the Schengen area.

The remaining 22 member states are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

All diplomatic missions of Schengen states in the UAE should start recording biometrics of visa applicants from October 2, Max Bjuhr, the Swedish ambassador to the UAE, told Gulf News.

Ilkka-Pekka Simila, Finland’s ambassador to the UAE and a spokesperson for the Swiss Embassy in Abu Dhabi, also confirmed that their missions will follow suit.

The Visa Information System (VIS), which was commissioned by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Home Affairs, allows Schengen States to exchange visa data for short-stay or transit visas by connecting their diplomatic missions in non-EU countries and all external border crossing points across the region.

The system currently processes an average of 4,000 visa applications per day with up to 11,000 applications handled on a ‘peak’ day.

The system has processed approximately 1,000,000 visa applications, according to media reports.

Since October 2011, the diplomatic representations of the Schengen member states have been gradually connected to the Visa Information System (VIS) region by region, in a process that is to be completed within two years.

Over 400 million Europeans currently enjoy passport-free travel across the Schengen area.

The Schengen Agreement was integrated in the EU through the Amsterdam Treaty