Month: July 2008
Authority for community development
Authority for community development
(Wam)8 July 2008
DUBAI — His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, a local law establishing Dubai Community Development Authority (DCDA) as a government entity mandated with enhancing social development and national identity, as well as strengthening citizens and residents’ role in social life.
Shaikh Mohammed also issued a decree appointing Dr Mariam Mohammed Matar as Director-General of the DCDA.
According to the law, the DCDA shall be in-charge of regulating community development in the emirate of Dubai and overseeing provision of social services with the aim of establishing an integral and efficient social development system in the emirate.
The DCDA will combine under its umbrella a number of service-oriented entities.
It will also cooperate with the Ministry of Social Affairs. The Secretary-General of Dubai Executive Council, Ahmed bin Bayat, said the establishment of the DCDA was consistent with Dubai leadership’s approach to further strengthening social bonds in the emirate which has hundreds of nationalities living together in great harmony. —
Bus service exclusively for women
Bus service exclusively for women
By Joy Sengupta Staff reporter/KHALEEJ TIMES 8 July 2008
DUBAI — The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) plans to introduce a bus service exclusively for women by the end of this year, according to a senior RTA official.
The CEO of Public Transport Agency at the RTA, Essa Al Dossari, said: “We are in the process of planning better public transport services. The number of women travelling by buses is very high. Our future plans include a fleet of buses which would be only for women.”
More seats
Women commuters have been demanding more seats in the buses, he said. There are also complaints that bus drivers often do not stop to pick up women passengers because of non-availability of seats for them as the seats are few. Presently, there are only 12 seats in each bus for women.
Dossari had told Khaleej Times earlier that RTA was studying the bus routes on which the number of seats for women could be increased. He said that during peak hours, the bus drivers needed to stop at the bus stops which had women waiting. “Logically, if all the seats are occupied the driver can normally carry on the trip flow. During peak hours, however, the drivers must stop and take all the women on board.”
Self-service bag check-in at airport
Self-service bag check-in at airport
7 Jul 2008, 0000 hrs IST,REUTERS
AMSTERDAM: Passengers departing from Amsterdam airport can now cut waiting times and minimize human contact by using a machine to check in their luggage.
Schiphol airport launched a trial with Dutch airline KLM on Friday that allows passengers who have checked in via a self-service kiosk or on the internet to drop off their luggage at a machine. The six-month trial is the first to be undertaken by any airport in the world, a KLM spokeswoman said.
Passengers place their luggage into a large, white machine, scan their boarding pass and answer the usual security questions via a touch-screen. The machine weighs the luggage and prints out a label that passengers attach to their suitcase.
The luggage will be subjected to the same security screening as bags checked in at the regular counter.
An employee will check passports during the trial to make sure that the luggage belongs to the passenger, but future machines will have the capability to scan passports as current self-service kiosks already do, the spokeswoman said.
Faced with increasing numbers of passengers, the Schiphol airport has been working towards the self-service baggage checks for two years.
Wellness in the lap of nature
Wellness in the lap of nature
By Bharat Thakur, Correspondent Published: July 04, 2008, 23:41 for GULF NEWS
Yoga is a science over 5,000 years old. The sages used to practise yoga outdoors in the lap of nature even though going green was not a concern at the time.
Going green has now become a necessity and yoga is one of the few practices that can be done outdoors.
This goes a long way in minimising energy consumption too.
Yoga needs no equipment and the attire is simple.
Hence, the consumption of electricity for machines, lights and air-conditioning can be eliminated completely. It can also be practised any time of the day.
Breathe in the freshness
There is no better place than the outdoors to practise yoga.
By not utilising machines, air-conditioners and lights, as are found in a studio-gym environment, yoga helps you go green.
The fresh air benefits the yogi tremendously, especially because there are many breathing exercises, or pranayamas, that can be practised.
Pranayama teaches one to breathe correctly and helps to get the respiratory system in order while also purifying the body by releasing toxins.
The ethical principles of yoga — the ten yams and miasmas — include ahimsa (non-violence), aparigraha (generosity) and saucha (purity).
These are key aspects that are meant to be practised on the yogic path.
Non-violence is minimising the harm caused to other living things.
However, it also means building the positive qualities of honouring and revering Mother Earth.
By practising yoga, we learn to serve, heal and protect the environment, and treat it as an extension of ourselves.
But only once we learn to honour our bodies, can we learn to honour Mother Earth.
However, there is another element at work outdoors too — negative ions. These negatively charged particles in the air are found in great numbers in forests and places near oceans, rivers and streams.
Negative ions make you feel alert and invigorated and reduce anxiety and depression.
According to researchers, this is because they increase our capacity to absorb and utilise oxygen, so it can reach our cells and tissues faster.
Here are asanas that can be practised outdoors.
Trikonasana (Triangle pose)
Stand erect with the feet about a metre apart.
Turn the right foot to the right side.
Stretch the arms sideways and raise them to shoulder level so they are in a straight line.
Bend to the right. Don’t bring the body forward.
Place the right hand on the right foot.
Lower the left arm over the ear, until it is parallel to the floor, with the palm facing down.
Look at the left hand.
Return to starting position.
Repeat on left side.
Veerabadrasana (Hero’s pose)
Start on the knees with the arms at the sides.
Take one step forward with the left leg.
Bend forward and place the palms flat on the floor so they are on both sides of the left foot.
Stretch the right leg back fully. Only the toes should rest on the floor.
Raise the arms over the head and keep the elbows straight.
Return to starting position.
Repeat the position on other leg.
Vatayanasana (Arched moon pose)
Stand with the left leg behind the right, its heel off the ground, and the left arm hanging on the side.
Raise the right arm straight up.
Inhale and slowly raise the left foot behind and hold the toes with the left arm, making a triangle between your back arm and leg.
Exhale and bend your torso forward and lower the right arm in front of you till it is parallel to the ground.
Balance the body on the right leg, still holding the left foot with the left hand. Hold the posture.
Repeat with other leg.
Natarajasana (The Statue)
Stand with your feet far apart and your hands on your waist.
Bend your knees, keep your back straight and stretch your arms straight above your head.
Join the palms and hold the posture.
Stand with your feet far apart and your hands on your waist.
Eka Pada Pranamasana (One-legged prayer pose)
Stand upright with the feet together and the arms at the sides.
Focus your gaze on a fixed point in front of the body at eye level.
Bend the right leg, grasp the ankle and place the sole of the foot on the inside of the left thigh.
The heel should be close to the perineum. The right knee should point to the side.
Hold the ankle until the body is balanced, then place the hands in the prayer position and raise the arms and keep the elbows next to the ear.
Repeat on other side.
Stand upright with the feet together and the arms at the sides.
Sahaj Pranayama
Sit in a meditative posture. Ensure that your back is straight.
Inhale, allowing your stomach to expand outwards.
Hold breath and exhale slowly.
Try and maintain the ratio of 1:2:2.
As you inhale, chant “So” and as you exhale, chant “Hum”.
— Bharat Thakur is the founder of Bharat Thakur’s Artistic Yoga. For questions on yoga, write to dubai.artisticyoga@gmail.com. For more information, log on
to http://www.bharatthakur.com. An avid golfer, Bharat Thakur is also the creator of the Yoga-for-Golf Workshop. For queries, please write to info@yogaforsports.net
Over 90,000 vehicles hit road in Abu Dhabi
Over 90,000 vehicles hit road in Abu Dhabi
(WAM) Abu Dhabi:
Over 90,000 new vehicles hit the road in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and over 28,000 driving licenses were issued in the first half of the year, according to Police figures.
Lt Colonel Mohammed Al Kitbi, Director of Vehicle and Driver’s Licensing Department, said 28,068 new driving licenses were issued and 91,509 new vehicles were registered in the period from January to June in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
”The share of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Western Region of these licenses were 20,925, 4,975 and 2,168 respectively, ” he explained.
As for vehicle registration, he added new cars registered in Abu Dhabi numbered 67,722. Al Ain and the Western Region saw registration of 21,876 and 1,911 respectively in the same period.
DP World – UAE launches large scale recruitment drive for UAE nationals
DP World – UAE launches large scale recruitment drive for UAE nationals(WAM) Dubai:
DP World – UAE, the local arm of global marine terminal operator DP World has announced a major recruitment drive for UAE nationals in its various departments, mainly at DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali Port.
The recruitment campaign is in line with the company’s policy of providing opportunity to national youth to join its workforce and contribute to its growth as well as that of Dubai and the country.
There are currently over 150 job vacancies in the various departments, including the
Container Terminal, Commercial, Documentation, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Marine, Procurement and Technical departments.
DP World – UAE has reserved vacancies exclusively for the UAE nationals who have
sufficient experience and also for fresh national graduates holding high school certificates, diplomas and university degrees.
Selected applicants will go through an intensive training programme according to the
respective department specialisation. The aim is to prepare and qualify them to take up positions in DP World’s UAE Region. Opportunities will also be available for many of the selected candidates to undergo training at other DP World ports around the globe.
Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of DP World’s UAE Region, said: “We are committed to encouraging national talents to become part of Dubai’s and the UAE’s development efforts. In line with this policy, we open the doors to all UAE nationals who are qualified, ambitious and committed to join the team of DP World – UAE, one of the biggest national companies and one of the main pillars of the national economy.”
Omar Al Awadi, Training and HR Development Manager of DP World’s UAE Region said: “A specialised team from the Human Resources Department is working intensively to interview, evaluate and nominate the right applicants. We are keenly facilitating the recruitment procedure, including the processing of submitted applications and conducting interviews, through our website, organising Open Days as well as providing the opportunity to apply and be interviewed live on Noor Dubai radio station.
We received tremendous response over the last week, which encouraged us to organise it again during the upcoming weeks.” “The job opportunities are not restricted to the current vacancies. We are updating our website with additional details on vacant positions according to the requirements of various departments. Our primary goal is to allow the largest number of Emiratis to join DP World, which is part of the UAE’s Emiratisation policy of supporting and encouraging the national youth to enter the job market in various fields,” he added.
DP World – UAE will receive the job applications over its webpage:
Master Vidyuth Menon – A REAL Talent from Bahrain
How many of you can forget the always smiling little boy who came to perform in the recently concluded Super Dancer Junior show of Amrita TV?. How many of you can forget his innocent replies complementing his mother and grandmother for his beautiful costume selection and hair style. How may of you can forget a boy studying and living in Bahrain expressing his liking for Kanji and Payaru?. It is none other than Master Vidyuth Menon from Bahrain about whom I am writing today.
Many of us were shocked beyond imagination when this little champion was voted out from the Final 5 of the Super Dancer Junior competition for the Final 3. Master Vidyuth was not selected for the Final 3!!! It was utter dismay and disbelief as he was progressing from one round of performance to the next extremely well and giving us an almost flawless performance which we all expected from the contestant of such a Reality Show. That was history – of course man made.
Greetings to you Vidyuth. You have been one of the contestants of the recently concluded Super Dancer Junior programme conducted by Amrita TV. Participating in a talent hunt show of this calibre to find out the best amongst children of your age, it gave a feast to all the viewers and the contestants. It is the same interest of the viewers that made me now approach you for a brief and casual talk to find how your progress is after the post-elimination from this show.
1. Vidyuth, congratulations for participating in the Super Dancer Junior Competition and getting selected to the top 5 level. Your elimination was a shock news for many of your fans. Tell me, how did you hear about this programme?
Hi all… Thanks a lot for including me in this focus. In fact I was so keen on watching Super Star Junior and Super Dancer shows. After watching the advertisement in ATV, my parents enrolled my name.
2. How did you find the different stages of the competition? Particularly on the challenges thrown to you to perform non-conventional rounds.
Though it was very tough, I was enjoying each round of the competition. Classical round and folk round was very new to me and I had to really work hard for those segments. My mother is a trained classical dancer. But as she was busy with my costumes and other work, Sajna Najam (Sajna aunty) helped me in classical round. Myself and aunty became very close in that short period.
3. Who is your Guru? Could you please give us an idea how you went about preparing for each round.
Mr. Jyothiraj (Bahrain) is my master in western dance. He was so thrilled when I got selected and even accompanied me to Trivandrum. At Trivandrum I had Sajeesh master (foot loosers) to train me. Shaine sir and Baby Shivaram also helped me in one round each. My mother is my inspiration & was there with me for every thing; she gave me tips on improving my facial expressions and even helped me to improve my performances.
We had minimum four dances in each rounds. After one shoot we hardly get two days to rest. I used to have classes till late night. It was a bit tough but novel & nice experience. Learning from different choreographers helped me to improve my style.
4. How was the support given by the Amrita TV channel in terms of co-ordination and arrangements for contestants like you, especially since you were not from Trivandrum and based outside India.
The support given by the channel was very minimal. Not that they didn’t support us at all. Even the song selections were done by my mother and my master. They used to give us the next round. About money and things.. I am not aware of it but, my mum tells me that they give very little for the preparation of each dance. Very good support was given by the Amrita make up team. My hair style was done by my mother herself.
5. How do you rate the grooming sessions before each stage of this competition? Did you all get sufficient notification about each stage and also did you get sufficient guidance about how your performance should be for each one of them?
We didn’t have much grooming sessions (for dance) except from Mrs. Vimala Menon and Aravind chetan. I wished to have one from Kalamaster but we never got & I am so sad about it.
Kalamandalam and SOS village visits were unforgettable ones in my grooming sessions. SOS village visit had a very strong impact on my mind. I wish I should do something for them when I grow up.
6. How do you rate the other contestants who participated along with you? Did you all get along well?
All 15 are very good dancers. Of course we had a great time there. I enjoyed their friendship very well. Now, since I am at Bahrain I will be visiting TVM during my next vacation to see all my SDJ friends. My mother keeps in touch with almost everyone through sms or phone calls.
7. Was there any stress on you with regards to the SMS votes / campaign which was a part of the requirement for getting through to the next level in each stage? How did you work on this, especially in your case, being from an ordinary family compared to the other rich contestants?
Frankly speaking I didn’t have much stress with regard to the sms votes as I always used to be in safe zone until the semi final round. I was very confident that I was getting many votes from Bahrain (which made amrita channel to include vodafone voting too from Bahrain after one month of my participation)
May be my parents experienced the stress regarding sms votes. They kept my posters all over the state(tvm, calicut, ekm, mankombu etc) My uncle (venumama), and my grand father introduced me to each and every shops and offices in tvm & calicut and requested them to see my dance and send sms for me. I did request people to vote for me while travelling in train or bus too. It was so embarrassing to ask people who never had heard about such a show to vote for me. How can you rate a participant from such votes? Anyway I use this opportunity to thank all my well wishers, friends & relatives for giving me their love and support through out the show. They are my strength.
8. What do you rate amongst the various stages for this particular competition as the toughest round? What was the reason that made you say this particular round as very challenging?
In my case free round (where I did Krishna – Asura dance) was very challenging because that dance had duel personality and it was really difficult for me. As my master’s wife was sick he had to teach me the whole dance in one (prior to the shoot) day. I still remember after the performance that I burst into tears. I tried to give variety performance in all my dances. I never got this exposure in my life before and I thank Amrita TV for that. My parents used to tell me that people should remember my name with my performances and not just as a participant or winner, and I tried my very best to fulfil this.
9. Looking back at this competition after elimination, do you feel, the stages set were tough or that you could have performed well in those?
I could have performed well in classical and album rounds. It was really tough to learn four or five dances in a span of ten days. Still it was a great & challenging experience and it helped me to build up my confidence in life. I don’t think the stages set were tough but the time limit was not enough and the over strain made many of us sick during the shoot.
10. How often you give performances? How many hours normally you practise?
I do not practice one full dance daily, but I do at least five steps everyday in front of my mirror. Now I perform with a professional group (THE RAPCITY BOYS, Bahrain), which is lead by my master Mr. Jyothiraj. Now I am more interested in learning difficult jumps, waves and such kind of things. I do watch Jaykumar’s dance (boogie woogie fame) in my phone and try to attempt his steps.
11. Other than dance, are you learning any musical instruments or any other extra-curricular activities?
Yes I learn violin, interested in singing and drawing and I am very much in to sports especially cricket, basket ball and foot ball. In school I won prizes for English poem recitation, dance and fancy-dress for many years. I am very active in Bahrain Keralyeeya Samajam youth festival for the past 6 years and won ‘GROUP CHAMPION’ award in 2005 and became ‘KALAPRATHIBHA’ in 2007.
KALAPRATHIBA 2007 AWARD CEREMONY
12. I understand you are good at studies. Tell me something about your activities other than those involved with dance.
Though I am not trained in music I like to sing Tamil and Hindi songs. Other than this I spend time in computer games, game boy and play station. Watching Mr. Bean and Jackie Chan movies are my pass-time hobbies.
13. Which grade/school you are attending and what was the reaction from the school, your friends and well wishers when they came to know about your participation in Super Dancer Junior?
I was studying in 5th STD (Asian school, Bahrain) when I got selected for super dancer junior. It was a pleasant surprise for my friends and teachers. My head teacher used to announce my voting format in the school everyday. My teachers helped me by sending notes to Tvm. I thank my school Principal Mr. Joseph Thomas, vice Principal Mrs. Thomas, head teacher Mrs. Molly mammen, co-ordinator Mrs. Rebeiro , and all my teachers and friends for supporting me.
14. Did you get any support/recognition from any associations or any other news media channels for your excellent performance in this competition?
The Indian club, The Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam and Fraternity Of Cochin (Bahrain) were the three associations who felicitated me with mementos. I got a chance to perform in front of the ruling family members of Bahrain. After the dances they called me near them and shook hands with me. I got a special gift from one of the sheikhas and that was a thrilling and unforgettable moment.
BAHRAIN KERALEEYA SAMAJAM FELICITATION
15. Who is your favourite Dancer? And who else do you like to follow closely from this field?
Lawrence, Prabhu Deva and Hrithik Roshan are my favourite dancers.
16. What are your future plans? What do you want to become – other than a Dancer?
I don’t have any plans right now. My parents don’t insist on anything. They say that whatever you do it should be done with perfection and aim to achieve the goal. Studies come first so I am fully involved in studies now.
17. Do you get noticed when you travel within Kerala/outside Kerala after participation in this show. How do you handle this popularity / recognition/encouragements?
Certainly, people do recognise me after my participation in this show. I love being loved by the people especially the strangers and passer-by. I never knew and expected that people love me this much and that is a great honour you could ever receive than winning any titlest.
18. Tell me anything additional you want to include here.
Looking back at the SDJ participation, I am so lucky to be one among them and for this I am so very thankful to God first and secondly to my parents & grand parents. My mum, Priya, being a teacher in Bahrain, sacrificed her profession and was there with me for the entire show. My dad, Arun, encouraged me through phone calls; my both grand mothers were there in Tvm throughout to help us leaving out their chores. One thing I have to remind others is that “if there is a will there is a way”.
You may contact Master Vidyuth Menon on the following:
Cell Phone No : +973 36200910
Email: vidyuthmenon@gmail.com
Vidyuth Menon with his parents
Age & DOB: 10Yrs. 30-05-1997
Father’s name & occupation: Mr. Arunkumar, Chief accountant, Manamma, Bharain
Mother’s name & occupation: Mrs. Priya Arun
Teacher (British Senior Section), Al-Noor
International School, Bahrain
Residence address: Aathira, Mankavu (P.O), Calicut -7, (Kozhikode -7)
School: The Asian School, Bahrain
Passions or hobbies:
Dancing, Singing, Drawing cartppm charactors, Cricket, Foot ball
Choreographer’s Name: Mr. Jyothi Raj (Bahrain), Mrs. Priya Arun (Mother)
Now let us see some of his performances:
Vidyuth’s performance at Indian club, Bahrain
Vidyuth with Rapcity Boys, Bahrain
Vidyuth’s western dance
Vidyuth pair with swathi
Vidyuth property round for Amrita TV Super Dancer Junior
Other performances:
I sincerely wish this young boy a bright academic and artistic future.
Ramesh Menon
04072008
Photo Speaks – The face of old Dubai
Photo Speaks – The face of old Dubai
The Date Seller (1950) by Ronald Codrai
Pearlers rowing into Dubai Creek (1950) by Ronald Codrai
One barrel of Caltex oil, Jumeirah Beach Road (1975) by Anita Van der Krol
Carpet seller in Jumeirah (1975) by Anita Van der Krol
Children’s streetplay in Satwa (1976) by Anita van der Krol
A creek-side scene at Bury Khalifa (1951) by Ronald Codrai
Taxis suffer as bus business booms
Taxis suffer as bus business booms
Matthew Chung and Suleman Din for THE NATIONAL Last Updated: July 01. 2008 11:58PM UAE / GMT
Passengers ride one of the new public buses along Al Salam street in Abu Dhabi. Manuel Salazar / The National
ABU DHABI // Two days after it was launched, the city’s free bus service has been so successful that it has left taxi drivers struggling to find passengers.
Taxi drivers say they are already seeing a drop in business as they compete with the fleet of air-conditioned buses picking up passengers around the streets.
“Before, people were fighting over who would get into my taxi,” said Ghadi Hussain, a gold and white taxi driver. “Now, who will go to taxis? Taxi drivers are going around and their cars are empty.”
The turquoise buses have quickly become a hit with residents, who say riding for free and in air-conditioned comfort is a hard deal to beat.
“Now we can visit all our Abu Dhabi customers very easily,” said Kashim Raza, 25, a credit card salesman commuting from Marina Mall. “It takes longer, but it saves us money.”
However, opting for the bus is by no means the fastest transport option.
A ride from Marina Mall to the Al Meena shopping centre, with all stops in between, took more than one hour yesterday. The trip takes about 15 minutes by taxi.
Taxi drivers claimed they were losing money.
“Last night, I was at Abu Dhabi Mall. There were two lines of people waiting for buses and no one was taking taxis,” Mr Hussain said.
Silver taxi drivers, including Khawaja Sultan Ali, said they were also scrambling for customers.
“We’re going after the buses, to their stops, thinking that some passengers will come to us,” Mr Ali said. “But no one comes.”
Mr Ali said the timing of the introduction of the bus service was bad.
“Right now, there are less passengers on the streets,” he said. “School is out, people are on holiday. There are all these extra cabs out on the street, all trying to get the same passengers.”
Ghadi Hussain, who drives a white and gold taxi, said he could not compete with the free fare for the bus. The majority of his passengers were labourers who use cabs for short-distance rides.
“The market in Abu Dhabi is different than Dubai; there are less Europeans taking taxis,” he said. “Most of our passengers are poor workers: Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis. They will, of course, choose the cheaper way to travel.”
Khadim Hussain said Abu Dhabi was too small a market for old and new taxis and now the new buses.
“This isn’t India or Pakistan. How far do most people travel?” he said. “People don’t go out much at night, maybe to Marina Mall for shopping or for a walk along the Corniche.”
Business was booming on the buses yesterday. There was standing room only on buses heading towards Carrefour on Airport Road and into the city on Fourth Street.
Mr Raza, 25, and his colleague, Mohammed Shahid, 26, said they would continue to use the buses as it would save about Dh50 (US$13.61) a day, the amount they usually spent on taxis.
Richelle Celda, 31, who works at the Arty Shop in the Al Meena Shopping Centre and at Marina Mall, said the spacious, air-conditioned buses were more comfortable and reliable than taxis. Before Monday, the only other means of public transport was a municipally run van that had a capacity for about 15 passengers. “If the seats are full, you could not get on,” Ms Celda, from the Philippines, said.
“Most of the time, I was waiting for taxis or for the [van].”
At Marina Mall, Mohammed Haneefa, a bus supervisor, was handing out copies of route maps and schedules.
He said interest in the bus service was growing rapidly. “Today it is going up, up, up,” Mr Haneefa said. There are four routes for the new service, which will be free until the end of the year. Buses depart from Marina Mall, Al Meena Shopping Centre, near Abu Dhabi Mall on 10th Street, the City Air Terminal on 12th Street and from Carrefour on Airport Road.
The first bus sets off at 6am and the last leaves at 11.30pm.
The buses, which can carry about 45 passengers, are a short-term solution. They will be replaced by buses of a higher quality by the end of the year, according to the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport. Next year, the department plans to have buses making 2,000 trips a day on 21 routes on the island.
By 2010, there will be 1,360 air-conditioned buses operating in the emirate.
* The National
Calls for credit ‘capping’ system
Calls for credit ‘capping’ system
The National Last Updated: July 03. 2008 11:32PM UAE / July 3. 2008 7:32PM GMT ABU DHABI //
Mall of the Emirates’ expectation of a 40 per cent increase in sales during Dubai Summer Surprises has highlighted the need for a federal credit bureau to help tackle rising consumer debt.
Money owed on personal loans and credit cards in the UAE in the last three-month period alone was Dh40 billion – with 70 per cent of it owed in Dubai.
A draft law is being finalised at the Ministry of Justice, establishing a federal credit bureau to function as a national credit data-sharing structure to supervise banks’ lending policies.
The legislation was intended to be drafted last year but has been delayed. The ministry established a special committee to draft the law before passing it to the Cabinet for approval.
The proposal is being backed by Visa, the credit card provider, and has received the support of some of the UAE’s banks. However, a recent investigation by The National found one bank was still prepared to offer four credit cards with one account.
Expatriates who earn more than Dh5,000 a month are offered up to 30 times their salary.
The general manager of the UAE’s largest credit collection service, CRCQ, also supports a national capping system to prevent excessive debt and backs government plans to introduce the federal credit bureau.
“It would be very beneficial to consumers to have a capping system,” he said.
“It would need to be based on a regular source of income that an individual earns. But it’s essentially about education. People in the UAE have unprecedented access to Visa cards and loans which they would not have in other Gulf states.”
He said the reason for debt among middle and lower classes in the UAE was the same as in the rest of the world: globalisation.
“People are living beyond their means and feel social pressures to drive nice cars and wear nice clothes and so on. It’s globalisation but it is not helped by the fact that banks and financing companies make it easy for people to incur more debt.
“On the positive side, the economy here is booming and it’s a very prosperous society, but on the other, it means the consumers have no savings and high debts.”
Personal loans in the UAE increased by 39 per cent last year, reaching Dh43.6bn compared with Dh28bn in 2006.
* The National
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