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

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.

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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

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

Source: Gulf News

Global Village ready to launch VIP package | GulfNews.com

Dubai: Global Village will officially launch its VIP package on September 22, 2012.

TECOM investments, has launched the VIP pack annually for the past seven years.

The pack includes prepaid entry tickets, funfair tickets, valet parking passes, loyalty cards, and stickers with special numbers that grant priority parking in the VIP area.

The VIP package comes in three categories. The number one package which provides 200 entry tickets to the outlet, 100 funfair tickets, 30 valet parking passes, two car stickers and one loyalty card.

The first category is priced at Dh4,000, while the second and third category costs Dh1,500 and Dh900.

Global Village Chief Executive Officer His Excellency Saeed Ali Bin Redha, said the VIP packages aim to raise the bar of customer satisfaction, particularly among loyal visitors. “Such regular customers are the keenest to buy before the operating season of Global Village even begins.” Global Village will open its doors to the public on October 21, 2012. Call centre staff will be available to receive calls and provide full details about the packages available.

The event attracts nearly five million visitors a year and remains to be one of Dubai’s most popular seasonal attractions. Global Village operates with a team of more than 10,000 people for 161 days.

Source: Gulf News

Manny Pacquiao set for fourth bout against Juan Marquez in December

Three compelling bouts in eight years haven't resolved the rivalry between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Marquez.

So they're stepping in the ring together for a fourth bout on December 8 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

And this time, they're both looking for the only decisive ending to any fight: a stone-cold KO.

1. ​
   Pacquiao and Marquez are stepping in the ring together for a fourth bout on December 8 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas

"I want to erase the doubt of the last three fights," Pacquiao said. "There's so many people still asking if I won the fights. I think to myself, 'Something is wrong. I have to do it again.' This time, I will train hard to put this fight up in the history of boxing. I want to make this fight short. I want to knock him out."

Although they're extending a rivalry to rare lengths in modern boxing, the fighters and promoters believe fans will warm to the matchup when they remember just how good the first three fights were.

Pacquiao and Marquez fought to a draw in 2004, while Pacquiao won by split decision in 2008 and again by majority decision last year. The bouts featured knockdowns, wild momentum swings and fascinating contrasts in technique — but Marquez and many fans still believe he won all three fights, while Pacquiao says he clearly won the last two.

"It's been an incredible ride," Top Rank promoter Todd duBoef said. "People ask me whether it's going to be hard to sell a fourth fight. Did you see the first 36 rounds? There wasn't a dull moment."

With a combination of unfinished business and unmatched financial reward, Pacquiao and Marquez both had plenty of incentive to get together again. They have fought at 125, 130 and 144 pounds, and their fourth fight will be a straight welterweight contest at 147.

Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38 KOs) is coming off his first loss since 2005, a wildly disputed decision to Timothy Bradley. Still stinging from that embarrassment, he says he's going back to the ferocious, relentless style of fighting that made him an eight-division champion. Pacquiao hasn't stopped an opponent in more than three years, a once-unthinkable drought for a relentless puncher.

"I want to be the other Manny Pacquiao, like when I was 24, 25 years old," Pacquiao said. "I want people who watch this fight to be satisfied. I don't care about a belt. I don't care about the money. I want the win."

Marquez (54-6-1, 39 KOs) has tested Pacquiao more than any opponent, with counterpunching skills and comprehensive boxing knowledge that can negate many of Pacquiao's strengths. But Pacquiao also is a nightmare matchup for Marquez, whose relentlessness hasn't been enough to overcome Pacquiao's once-in-a-generation combination of speed and strength.

While Pacquiao has a plan to recapture his best form, Marquez believes the only way to be sure he'll finally get his hand raised is to stop the Filipino congressman. Marquez swore off the rivalry and nearly retired in frustration immediately after Pacquiao's victory last fall, but agreed to return after a few months to cool down.

"I won all of the last three fights," Marquez said. "I would like the referee to raise my hand. Everybody knows I won the fights, and I don't know what happened with the judges. I have to take it out of the judges' hands this time."

Pacquiao won't train in Baguio, the high-altitude northern Philippines city where he has traditionally started training camp before heading to trainer Freddie Roach's gym for the final few weeks.

Instead, Pacquiao and Roach will be in Hollywood for their entire training camp, dramatically reducing the number of distractions for the Philippines' most famous person.

Pacquiao and Marquez will join the short list of rivalries that couldn't be contained by a mere trilogy, including Sugar Ray Robinson's six fights with Jake LaMotta and Robinson's four bouts with Gene Fullmer. More recently, Israel Vazquez's sensational rivalry with Rafael Marquez, Juan Manuel's brother, extended to four fights, concluding with Marquez's third-round stoppage of Vazquez in May 2010.

"I never thought it would go to four fights," Pacquiao said. "It's a first for me."

Source: 7days

Leave pest control to professionals | GulfNews.com

Dubai: Improper use of pesticides could pose safety and environmental threats, the Dubai Municipality said.

The recent death of an Egyptian child in Sharjah due to improper use of pesticides has alarmed the public.

Earlier this month, investigations into the death of two-year-old Habiba Resham Abdul Rahman revealed that an unlicensed pest control company used aluminium phosphideat a neighbouring flat where the victim’s family live.

Traces of aluiminium phosphide were also found in the blood of the victim’s brother, who became critically ill.

The Municipality has recently issued a warning against using highly toxic chemicals like aluminium phosphide, which usually comes in grey tablet form and is used to exterminate rats and other pests.

Police also arrested a group of people believed to be behind the unlicensed pesticide company.

According to experts, people should be cautious about pesticide use and should only engage the services of registered pest control companies.

Al Mahi Al Tilib Gubran, Senior Pest Control Studies Officer at Dubai Municipality, said people are prohibited from using pesticides and should use the services of professionals duly licensed by the Public Health Pest Control Section of the Dubai Municipality.

“Improper use of pesticides may adversely affect children, adults, animals and environment. Actual impact on health depends on the active ingredients of the pesticides.

“The best and safest pesticides to be used against various pests are those registered by the Ministry of Water and Environment and applied by licensed companies by DM,” said Al Mahi.

Experts say that apart from environment hazards, improper pesticide use could cause health problems like skin irritation, suffocation that could be fatal.

“A duly licensed company takes the responsibility of using the correct pesticides so that the pest control treatment is effective and, at the same time, it does not cause any adverse affects like health hazards,” Hani Shehadeh, President of Ecovar, which is the representative of National Pest Management Association in MENA region, said.

Residents should also follow the instructions given by pest control professionals to avoid poisoning risks, experts say.

At present, there are nearly 120 pest control companies licensed by the Dubai Municipality. The updated list of the companies can be obtained from Dubai Municipality Call Centre (800-900) or from Public Health Pest Control Section in Al Quoz (04-3474448)

Source: Gulf News