Real shocker at Dubai Mall Reel Cinemas

Cinema-goers experience different type of action at Reel Cinemas as ceiling near entrance caves in; luckily no one was injured

 

 

DUBAI: As blockbuster screen action rolled at the Dubai Mall, a different sort of real-life action took place outside when a huge portion of the ceiling near the cinema entrance collapsed just before midnight on Monday while the place was packed with movie-goers.

Eye witnesses said they heard a loud, cracking sound before the ceiling caved in, portions of which crashed into the 10th floor near the entrance where cafeterias and the lounge of the 22-screen Reel Cinemas are located. Luckily, no one was injured. "I heard a cracking sound, then the ceiling just came crashing down," said Ahmad, an Arab youngster.

It was not immediately clear what caused the ceiling to collapse.

Many of the movie-goers were made up of families and children who were there to catch the last show of current box office hits Mr Popper's Penguins, Smurfs, Captain America and Conan the Barbarian as well as Bollywood blockbuster Bodyguard.

Alarm bells rang out as fluorescent lamps - still lit - broken pieces of the ceiling and the mangled metal frames littered the floor. Security staff quickly sealed off the area and shut down the rolling door that led to the lifts next to the portion where the ceiling caved in. A cinema staff said the collapsed area was "huge", but reported no injuries. "It was a huge portion of the ceiling that gave in. Thankfully, no one was hurt," he said.

The staff said the incident did not affect the screening of movies scheduled for the night.

A Dubai Municipality official said the concerned section will investigate the incident. "In a case like this, the standard procedure is to review the structural design to pinpoint any flaws and establish whether or not the approved design was followed and specified materials were used -- to establish who was at fault," said the official.

A Dubai Mall spokesperson while confirming the ceiling collapse, said, "The incident occurred after mall hours in an area that is not accessible to the public and repairs are in process."

Metro’s Green Line opens tomorrow

Find out where can you go and what can you do if you hop onboard

Billions of dirhams and five years later, Dubai Metro's 22km-long Green Line will open with a bang and a VIP inauguration tomorrow, as thousands of hours of hard work pay will benefit the city's commuters.

Eighteen stations spanning Al Qusais to the Creek will open their doors for business, gearing up to welcome thousands of passengers eager to test out their Nol cards on the high-tech railway. Despite delays and a few frustrations along the way, workers who made the city's latest transport network possible say they are proud of being part of the project.  

Safety engineer Subhajit Bodhak and colleagues have set up a facebook page dedicated to everyone who worked on the railway to pay tribute to their dedication.  

He said: "I was in the team devoted to Dubai Metro environment control system, tunnel ventilation system and other safety systems. It was a very wonderful experience for us to complete our job successfully and the Green Line is only possible because of our hard work."

Project engineer Umesh Sunkara, part of a 25-man sub-contracting team, told 7DAYS the summer months were a particular struggle for him and his workmates, who hail from India and have worked on the Delhi Metro project.

He said: "I have seen the hard work of people, their struggle to perform and the pain they had to pass through in those extreme summers leaving their families far behind. But behind us we have left a success story at each station and each is a benchmark for excellence."

Apart from providing another route for tourists, city slickers and everyday travellers across Dubai, the Green Line will also give a glimmer of hope to Sharjah-based commuters who have to battle their way through heavy traffic.

The Etisalat station at the start of the line is a park and ride facility with more than 2,000 spaces and just a few kilometres from the Sharjah border. The Green Line trains will open to the general public from 6am on Saturday.

Source: 7days

Mawaqif scheme to cover 5,700 new parking spaces

Will include sectors located in Al Khalidiya and Al Wahda areas

 

 

Abu Dhabi: Starting Sunday, drivers will have to pay to park their cars in more than 5,700 spaces in Al Khalidiya and Al Wahda areas, a senior official said Monday.

The pay-to-park system will be extended to sectors E20-02 located in Al Wahda area, between Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Street and Delma Street, and between East Road and Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street (Airport Road), providing more than 3,000 parking spaces, said Najeeb Al Zarouni, general manager of parking at the Department of Transport.

"Moreover, the scheme will be implemented in sector W9 is located in Al Khalidiya area between Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street and Zayed the First Street, and between King Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Street and Al Falah Street, providing more than 2,700 parking spaces," he added.

The service will be enforced from 8am to 10pm, from Saturday to Thursday, at a rate of Dh3 per hour for premium parking (identified by turquoise and white kerbstones) with a maximum stay of four hours.

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It will be available at a rate of Dh2 per hour or Dh15 per day for standard parking (identified by turquoise and black kerbstones). Parking spaces will be free during official holidays. Fines will be applied to cars that are parked illegally at any time.

The implementation of the Mawaqif parking management programme in new areas follows a three- phased approach. The first phase is a preparatory period and involves creating awareness for people in the area about the programme.

A trial period is then carried out, followed by the actual implementation of the paid parking, including the issuing of fines in case of violations. Mawaqif users are encouraged to observe timings, rules and regulations posted on the signs in each Mawaqif sector. The signs also display general information and instructions about Mawaqif.

The DoT also announced that resident parking permits will be provided by Mawaqif Customer Service Centres to residents in the newly-assigned areas, allowing them to park in available standard parking spaces in the vicinity of their residence. This permit is available to home owners or tenants and their next of kin residing with them. A maximum of two permits is allowed per household and each permit must be sector-specific and vehicle-specific.

To apply for a parking permit, residents must submit copies of their passport with a valid residency visa; leasing contract or proof of residency ownership; their last water and electricity bill; and proof of vehicle ownership or proof of the nature of the relationship between the vehicle owner and the holder of the tenancy contract.

Annual fees for the resident permits are Dh800 for the first vehicle and Dh1,200 for the second vehicle.

Source: Gulf News

Vehicles with expired registration to face fines

Police campaign aims to catch defaulters

 

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi police has announced to launch a campaign to fine vehicles with expired registration as of September 20.

"The objective of the campaign is to catch vehicles with expired registration and to improve the safety to be in-line with international standards and to minimise accidents," said Brigadier Hussain Al Harthi, director of Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrol Department.

"The validity of car registration is an indication that the car is sufficiently safe to operate on the roads, and does not represent a danger to its operator and others," he added.

Al Harthi warned the public that the police would not hesitate to enforce the law, as violations endanger the lives and property. Owners have no excuses to avoid compliance," he further added.

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Al Harthi called on all drivers to keep registration and licenses in cars. "Absence of these documents is a violation subject to confiscation of the vehicle until such documents are presented" he added.

Source: Gulf News

Limited edition Nol card on Green Line launch

RTA to sell only 10,000 commemorative cards exclusively at stations to coincide with inauguration of new line

 

 

Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has issued exclusive Silver and Gold Nol Cards for public transport users in Dubai to commemorate the opening of the Green Line of Dubai Metro.

The Green Line, the Metro's second, is set to open on September 9.

"We are launching a limited edition of only about 10,000 cards to commemorate the opening of the Green Line," said Abdullah Al Madani, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Corporate Technical Support Services Sector at the RTA.

He said the new cards feature a special design marking the opening of the Metro's Green Line and will be sold at a price of Dh35 per card including credit of Dh14.

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"The RTA is always seeking to roll out ideas that fit effectively and positively with key events. Opening of the new line has prompted us to offer public transport users in Dubai a chance to acquire distinctive new Nol cards in a limited edition," he said

All the exclusive Gold and Silver Nol Cards will be sold only at the Metro stations.

Meanwhile, according to RTA statistics, more than three million Nol cards have been sold until July this year since the launching of the Metro on September 9, 2009.

"This comes to an average of more than 5,000 Nol cards of different categories being sold every day and it shows how fast the public transport system is getting popular in Dubai," said Al Madani.

Nol silver card is the top seller, with sales records showing about 3,000 cards being sold daily.

Al Madani said the Metro has yet to complete its second full year, but the number of commuters, now more than 150,000 daily, is showing an upward trend due to its efficient services and facilities.

Al Madani said due to this radical change in the public transport sector in Dubai, the daily transactions of Nol cards are on an unabated rise.

The RTA offers four categories of Nol cards — Red, Silver, Gold and personalised Blue Cards. It also offers discounted Blue Nol Cards for students and senior citizens in addition to monthly passes. Those with special needs have free passes

Source: Gulf News

Passport delay sours honeymoon

Patricio, a Filipino IT executive in Dubai, blames passport snags for his prolonged bachelorhood

DUBAI: Patricio, a Filipino IT executive in Dubai, blames passport snags for his prolonged bachelorhood.

The 34-year-old man got married in the Philippines in December, but has been unable to start his married life in Dubai due to the long wait for his wife's passport. "We have gone through the formalities so my wife could join me here soon," said Patricio, whose wife is a teacher.

Patricio fell ill during their honeymoon week and had to fly back to Dubai as his one-month vacation was already over. After his wife went through the trouble of having their marriage certificates attested, Riza applied for her passport on March 15. And though she paid for a "rush" passport processing (10 working days), she was told it would take 43 days. Worse, when the April 28 scheduled release date came, Riza was told her passport wouldn't be available for another two weeks. "This is frustrating, but all I can do is wait," he said.

The Philippine law bans outsourcing of passport processing.

Rosie, a Dubai retail executive, applied for a new passport for her son Ronald, a high school student, on March 9. He is expected to get his passport on June 8. They had to ditch plans for Ronald's visit to Dubai in April as a result of the passport glitch. School starts in June in the Philippines.

"A huge country like India can process passport applications in a week or two, I don't understand why we Filipinos must endure this three-month wait," she said.

According to Manila's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), technical snags and an "unprecedented number" of passport applicants mean that Filipinos now have to wait for at least three months to renew their passport.

Philippine consular officials in Dubai have said the wait for a new passport will be longer and those who need to travel on an urgent basis must apply for a one-year extension only.

In Dubai, the Philippine Consulate accepts up to 230 passport renewal applications daily. Printing of the Philippines' biometric passports is done centrally at the Bangko Sentral facilities in Manila. On May 6, DFA said it will process 500 more passports daily in a bid to curb delays. The Office of Consular Affairs in Manila is now open on Saturdays too. These measures will raise the monthly production of passports from 88,000 to 106,000. The DFA issued 1,583,183 passports in 2010.

Around 10 per cent of the over 90 million Filipino population work overseas.

Snags

The Philippine government will extend (for free in Manila) up to one year the validity of passports that are about to expire if applicants have to travel on an urgent basis.

Manila charges $21.40 (Dh79) for regular processing of a passport (20 days); $28 (Dh103) for "rush" (10 days) passports. Diplomatic missions charge $60 (Dh220) for applications.

Source: Gulf News

Filipinos sweat to meet employment certificate rule

Dubai facility overwhelmed by demand from those heading for vacation

Dubai: A surge in the number of applications for Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) has led to people having to endure tiring waits at the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (Polo) in Dubai.

A number of Filipino expatriates have complained about having to wait for more than four hours for the OEC, which serves as a form of exit pass for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) travelling back home.

"They only have a few personnel to process the OEC of hundreds of applicants," said Pia Y. after a long wait for her certificate. "I arrived at 1:30pm and was given a priority number of 313. I was only served at 6:30pm. It was a very slow process. Authorities should speed up the process," she said

Ida C., another Dubai-based expatriate worker, received her certificate more than four hours after arriving at the centre at noon on Monday. She said she was heading to her province of Iloilo and wanted to get the document in Dubai itself before starting her holiday.

 

Tighter rules by authorities in the Philippines have made it mandatory for OFWs to present an OEC after visiting the country and before going back to their places of work. The requirement is meant to ensure that OFWs are properly documented and protected. An OEC costs Dh10 and exempts Filipino overseas workers from paying travel tax (Dh160). Expatriates have to personally apply for the certificate at the Polo office and show proof of employment and a valid residence visa.

Labour Attache Amilbahar Amilasan told Gulf News on Monday that the number of applications for OECs surged after the Philippines government announced through a newspaper in April that immigration officials had tightened the screening of workers and would require them to show proof of their employment abroad.

"So people thought they'd rather wait in the queue here than face difficulties in the Philippines," he said.

He said steps were being taken to increase staff levels. "But rest assured that despite the limited number of staff, we still work beyond office hours just to accommodate all approved applications for the day," he said.

Source: Gulf News