General
RTA legalises car-pooling
RTA legalises car-pooling
By Alia Al Theeb, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: July 22, 2008, 13:11
Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has legalised car pooling by launching Sharekni, “a share your car service.”
The move aims to give people a way to legally car-pool in Dubai and encourages motorists to share rides and cut traffic congestion.
Abdul Aziz Malek, CEO of the Dubai Taxi Agency at the RTA, announced the launch of the free service yesterday in the form of a dedicated website.
“The services comes after extensive field studies carried out by a specialist team in the Public Transport Agency (PTA) in collaboration with a global consulting firm, which found that car occupancy is 1.6 person per one private car and this is one of the factors that is worsening the problem of traffic jams on the streets and roads of Dubai,” he said.
Malek said those sharing cars with relatives and friends need not register. RTA inspectors check vehicles only if they suspect that someone is picking passengers up on the road or using their vehicle as an illegal taxi.
Database
He said the those interested in car-pooling should visit the RTA’s website to register.
The website offers various options, which includes a search to find drivers or passengers in a certain company or emirate.
The PTA will maintain a database of subscribers and car owners. Residents can log on to either one of the two websites, the dedicated website or the RTA’s website, and register to acquire a six-month valid permit and be part of the car-pooling service. Parties may agree a fee between themselves or share costs.
Malek said the maximum number of passengers in one car is four and all their names must be mentioned on the permit.
Currently, RTA inspectors issue a Dh5,000 fine to motorists for car-pooling or running an illegal taxi. The fine is aimed at stopping people from using their cars as illegal taxis. But there have been numerous complaints of motorists being fined while sharing cars with friends and colleagues.
Mohammad Bin Fahad, Acting Director of Planning and Business Development at the PTA, said the initiative will help lower costs commuters incur by using one car for sole use in addition to reducing stress caused by traffic jams especially during peak hours.
He said it will also contribute to reducing emissions from the large numbers of private cars, which means cutting pollution. “The service will also contribute effectively in reducing the phenomenon of illegal taxis, as all passengers in one car will have to be registered and their names mentioned on the permit which the driver will carry.”
For car-pooling register at website http://www.sharekni.ae or the RTA’s website http://www.rta.ae.
Stress buster
Residents said the service would not only ease traffic on roads but also minimise road rage. Almost all of them agreed it would also lessen the burden on their pockets.
Mohammad Rizwan, a Pakistani, currently car-pools. He said: “Five of us travel from Sharjah to Dubai Media City. All of us hold valid UAE driving licences and own a car. Each one of us takes turns to drive the rest of our colleagues to work every day. In my view car-pooling has lessened the stress level when driving in traffic and getting stuck. We all chit-chat and reach our office in a happy mood.”
Avinash G., an Indian computer analyst who lives in Bur Dubai, uses car-pooling to reach his place of work in Jebel Ali.
“There are four of us in the car. A couple of us get off on Shaikh Zayed Road while the rest get off in Jebel Ali. We are all charged Dh150 per month by the driver who runs this service. He is an office boy who after dropping us goes to work. He comes to pick us up after he leaves his work at 6.30pm. I have to wait half an hour after work for him but it’s worth the wait. I used to drive and I hated the traffic. I only take my own car out during weekends or to run errands,” he said.
Raziya Kazmi, a Bangladeshi who works as a secretary has no intention of getting a driving licence of her own. She lives in Hor Al Anz and has been making use of a car-pooling service run by an office boy. “I have been using the service for two years. I work in Rashidiya. We are charged as per the location of our workplace. For example I pay Dh200 a month, a fellow passenger whose office is on Shaikh Zayed Road is charged Dh250. The public buses are so overloaded and so I prefer car-pooling. It is economical.”
To register log on to: http://www.sharekni.ae
New procedures for visit visas to start soon
New procedures for visit visas to start soon
By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: July 22, 2008, 22:22
Dubai: Applications can be filed starting next Tuesday for new visit visas which were revamped under a Federal ruling last June, a senior residency department official said on Tuesday.
The new fee schedule for the visas, which range from visit visas to visas for medical treatment should have started August 1, according to an earlier announcement, but have been pushed forward due to the weekend holidays.
July 30 is an official government holiday. The rules apply to nationalities who currently have to get sponsorship before arriving in the country.
The Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) and the Economic Department will meet with representatives of hotels, tourist agencies, hospitals and educational institutions on Wednesday to brief them on how the changes will be implemented.
Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, Director-General of DNRD, reiterated the fact that all visitors should have health insurance cover and sponsors have to pay a Dh1,000 refundable deposit.
He said the visit visa holder will be allowed to enter the UAE once within two months from the date of issue of the visa. According to the amendments, there will be 16 new types of visas.
Residents can apply for a visa for their spouse or blood relative. Expatriates will not be allowed to sponsor friends. And sponsoring other blood relatives will require approval of a senior officer.
Under the new rules, expatriates cannot apply for relatives who wish to come to the UAE for medical treatment, only hospitals can.
‘No instructions given’
Typing centres still do not have a clue what applications to fill out when new visa rules come into effect.
“We are aware new visa rules will be implemented soon but we are still working on the same old visa and residency applications,” said Mohammad, an employee at a typing centre in Jafiliya, Dubai.
“So far everything in our system is the same, including the online fees. So far, we have no instructions on the changes,” said Ali at a typing centre in Sharjah.
The Federal authorities announced 16 types of visas and new fees under the revamped rules earlier in June. These include visas for medical treatment to entry visas for students.
Under the rules, expatriates are not allowed to sponsor friends to visit the UAE.
New visa fees in Dhs
Short Entry (visit) Visa – 500 (1 month)
Long Entry (visit) Visa – 1,000 (3 months)
Multiple Entry Visa – 2,000
Entry Visa for Study – 1,000
Renewal of Study Visa – 500
Entry Visa for Medical Treatment – 1,000
Renewal of Medical Treatment Visa – 500
Entry Visa for Expos and Conferences – 100
Tourism Entry Visa – 100
Renewal of Tourism Visa – 500
Entry Visa for GCC State Residents – 100
Renewal of GCC State Resident’s Visa – 500
Entry Visa for GCC State Resident’s Companions – 100
Renewal of GCC State Residents Companions’ Visa – 200
Mission Entry Visa – 200
Transit Entry Visa – 100
Source: B.A.J./GULF NEWS
Mission visa holders must leave and return on work visa
Mission visa holders must leave and return on work visa
By Ahmed Abdul Aziz (Our staff reporter)22 July 2008
ABU DHABI — Workers who enter the country on temporary work permit (mission visa) must leave the country and re-enter if their sponsors seek employment visas, according to a senior official of the Ministry of Labour (MoL).
This was stated yesterday by the Acting-General Manager in the MoL, Humaid bin Deemas, during the ‘Open Day’ in the ministry’s office that was attended by nearly 100 people who sought to find solutions to their problems.
Bin Deemas rejected an application from a contracting company in the capital to apply for a permanent work permit to complete the formalities for issuance of employment residence visa to an engineer who had entered the country on mission visa.
“The engineer must leave the country because the mission visa was issued for three months and extended for three months. Hence, the worker must depart from the country and the company can then apply for an employment visa to bring him back and complete the formalities of either residence or employment visa,” Bin Deemas clarified.
He added that the ministry allowed the companies to bring workers on mission visas for a period of three to six months.
The mission visa costs Dh600 (including Dh100 application fee) in addition to Dh3,000 refundable bank guarantee. This three-month mission visa is extendable at a cost of Dh600.
“The worker must leave the country and the company must produce a statement from the Naturalisation and Residency Department (NRD) confirming that the person had left the country,” added Bin Deemas.
According to the Naturalisation and Residency Department instructions, there is no limit on the period that the worker should stay out of the country in case he had departed after the expiry of the mission visa until the issuance of fresh employment visa.
The ministry’ strongly stressed that the companies shouldn’t apply to bring in labourers who were banned from work in the country as these applications would be rejected and the firms would lose the Dh100 application fees.
There is no need to attest the academic certifications of the worker to get a mission permit issued, the ministry said.
Emirates to do away with paper to cut weight
Emirates to do away with paper to cut weight
By Saifur Rahman, Business Editor GULF NEWS Published: July 20, 2008, 23:43
Dubai: Emirates airline said on Sunday it could reduce up to one tonne in weight by doing away with in-flight magazines, newspapers, entertainment guides and shopping catalogues. This is part of its cost-cutting measures.
“We are looking into ways to reduce the extra weight that will help reduce fuel emission and cut costs. By doing away with the printed materials, we could save up to one tonne in weight in an A380 aircraft,” an Emirates spokesperson told Gulf News.
Emirates, which is the biggest customer of A380s, with 58 A380s on firm order, will receive its first super jumbo next week, which will be put into service a few weeks later.
With a reduction of two kilograms of paperweight per seat, the load could be reduced substantially.
Similar content
Emirates says it plans to feed similar content into its in-flight entertainment system – ICE – that will offer news, features and information including the in-flight magazine and catalogue.
“We are working on these to offer the passengers a better experience,” the spokesperson said.
“However, this means, we will have to subscribe to certain channels and suppliers.”
He said the airline will retrofit the new third-generation ICE system in all aircraft on the fleet, gradually.
Face recognition system to be installed at all UAE entry points
Face recognition system to be installed at all UAE entry points
By Samir Salama, Associate Editor
Published: July 20, 2008, 15:34
Abu Dhabi: In an attempt to enhance homeland security and deliver the highest level of public safety, a biometric face recognition system will soon be installed at all entry points in the UAE.
The highly-advanced technology will be used for the first time in the world, said Major Dr Fawwaz Khalil Dawood, head of the committee in charge of the system at the Interior Minister’s office.
“The system will perform identification checks of all people who enter the country and those at transit lounges from a distance and without their active participation,” he said.
A facial recognition system verifies a person from a digital image or a video frame by comparing selected facial features from the image and a facial database.
The system analyzes the relative position, size and shape of the eyes, nose, cheekbones and jaw.
It also identifies a face from a range of angles, including a profile view.
The technology was launched by General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, at Abu Dhabi international Airport last week.
How it works
The face recognition system performs identification checks on all people who enter the country from a distance and without the subjects’ active participation.
It ensures the person who checks in is the rightful holder of the passport.
The system also ensures the resident who enters the country is the same person who went out of the country.
It integrates the iris recognition system, currently being deployed at 35 land, sea and air border point across the UAE.
It takes just two seconds from the time of capturing the image to the time of responses and has a 0.5 per cent error.
The iris recognition system has blocked more than 250,000 deportees, who attempted to return to the country on forged documents, ever since it was deployed in 2003.
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RTA to launch webpage for car pooling
RTA to launch webpage for car pooling
By Joy Sengupta (KHALEEJ TIMES staff reporter)15 July 2008
DUBAI — A dedicated webpage to register private car pooling service, part of the government’s efforts to reduce traffic congestion, is set for launch next week, a senior Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) official told Khaleej Times recently.
The service is expected to also help eliminate the illegal taxis plying on Dubai roads, the official said on condition of anonymity.
He said: “The new car pool webpage on the RTA web site — http://www.rta.ae — will allow interested motorists to register themselves online after which the authority would conduct investigations about the applicants and grant them the permit.”
A decision on allowing six- and eight-seater vans to start similar car pooling services will be taken in the near future. But, currently, only light vehicles are approved to offer this service in Dubai, he said.
He clarified that family members travelling together in the same vehicle need not register for the permit.
Once the car pool service is formalised by the RTA, the motorists have the permits will not have to worry about fines and penalties.
Explaining the procedure to register, the official said, “Motorists can log on to the RTA web site and view the car pool registration page. Personal details and the details and identity of three others who will be travelling in the vehicle, who should be employed in the same organisation, should be furnished in the application form, besides the details of the vehicle, he said.
Several motorists reacted positively to the new car pooling initiative.
“Around three months back, I was in the Al Baraha area. I had given my friend a lift in my vehicle but as was fined Dh4,000 by an RTA inspector. He just issued the ticket without enquiring about or listening to my pleading. This move sounds good as people would not be fined unnecessarily. The question remains whether the RTA inspectors would listen to motorists when they are taking their family or friends on a trip?” said Pragyan Ganesh, a motorist.
“Not many people would be interested in the car pooling service. In Dubai, almost everyone has got own car and car pooling in general has not caught up with the people. The reason behind this is the lack of interaction among the people. Moreover, the RTA norm says that people wishing to register should be working in the same organisation. This is yet again a disadvantage,” said Aarti Mathur Sinha, who works with ABN Amro Bank in Dubai.
“Though the RTA should be congratulated on this new initiative, it must also train its inspectors in a better way. The inspectors must give a proper chance to the motorist to explain his problem,” said Kundan Singh, who works with another bank.
joy@khaleejtimes.com
Abu Dhabi outpaces Dubai in housing costs and rentals
Abu Dhabi outpaces Dubai in housing costs and rentals
By Suzanne Fenton, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: July 15, 2008, 00:08
Dubai: The housing prices and rental prices in Abu Dhabi have overtaken prices in Dubai for the first time, according to the latest industry report.
Figures from the latest HSBC report show that the average rent per square metre in Abu Dhabi was $272 per square metre in the last quarter 2007 and $430 per square metre in the second quarter 2008, representing a 58 per cent growth.
In the same time period, Dubai’s average rent was $343 per square metre in the last quarter 2007 and $420 per square metre in the second quarter of 2008, representing only a 22 per cent growth.
Similarly, for buying a house, Abu Dhabi witnessed a 61 per cent growth in house prices between the last quarter 2007 and the second quarter 2008, while Dubai saw a 37 per cent growth in the same period.
HSBC analyst, Majid Azam told Gulf News, “The main reason prices in Abu Dhabi are outpacing Dubai is because the market is much tighter and delivery delays are more apparent. Ultimately, we believe that Abu Dhabi should be at a premium because affordability is higher.”
Basic infrastructure
The report concluded that there are delays in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi and Dubai is experiencing such rapid growth, that basic infrastructure, such as water, electricity and sewerage systems cannot keep up with the pace of development.
Around 160,000 units were expected to reach the housing market in Abu Dhabi by 2010, but Colliers International now estimates that only 31,000 units will be available, due to the problem with delays.
A recent Fitch report had warned of a dangerous oversupply situation in Dubai with the massive glut of housing units set to hit the market in 2009.
However, HSBC note in their report that they expect most deliveries of units will be made in 2011.
The lack of housing in Abu Dhabi has led people to move to Dubai and commute to Abu Dhabi, similar to Sharjah and Ajman residents. This will prevent a possible oversupply situation in Dubai.
“We believe that the housing shortage in Dubai is here to stay at least until 2010, when the bulk of deliveries are expected to hit the market. However, with continuous delays, even an oversupply in 2010 seems unlikely,” Azam said.
The report also says while prices in the UAE are increasing, they are still affordable by international standards.
“Based on current plot prices of Dh7,000 per square metre, we estimate a residential property sales price of Dh28,000 per square metre by year end, suggesting price growth is set to slow from the rapid rates, since the start of the year,” said the report.
Face scan system launched at Abu Dhabi airport
Face scan system launched at Abu Dhabi airport
WAM Published: July 14, 2008, 22:25
Abu Dhabi: A biometric face scan system to identify wanted people and suspects was launched on Monday.
General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, inaugurated the scan system at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.
The system, the first of its kind in the world, helps to recognise wanted people or suspects [who are accused of committing crimes in the country or abroad] by identifying their facial features.
The scanner will start functioning at the Abu Dhabi airport before it is installed at all exit points in the country.
Shaikh Mohammad stressed the UAE’s keenness on supporting security services and authorities to enable them to carry out their duties in the best possible way.
The move is in line with the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Abu Dhabi launches index to monitor prices of commodities
Abu Dhabi launches index to monitor prices of commodities
Staff Report GULF NEWS Published: July 12, 2008, 23:18
Dubai: As part of enhancing consumer awareness the Department of Planning and Economy in Abu Dhabi has launched an index to monitor price trends of essential commodities.
The index, prepared by the statistics unit of the Department of Planning and Economy, will be a regular index to monitor prices trends by way of providing scientific and accurate data.
“To be published monthly at the initial stage and weekly later in the dailies, the index will contain commodity prices at major stores in Abu Dhabi. Justifications for any changes in the prices will also be featured in conjunction with consumer protection unit at the Department of Planning,” DPE said in a statement.
The index has been constructed on data collected through a survey of family income and spending conducted in 2007. That study identified some 53 key items in the family consumption basket with food, beverages and tobacco accounting for a major share in the family spending in Abu Dhabi.
The consumption trends showed that items such as bread and cereals, beef and poultry products, fish, milk, cooking oil, vegetables, sugar, tea, coffee and other beverages topped the shopping baskets of Abu Dhabi families.
The index will be regularly updated and will be available at most of the outlets and stores in Abu Dhabi. “This will make access to price information easy for the general public. The next step would be to post this index on the website of the Department of Planning,” the DPE said.
The information will be published in four sections. While the first section will show the list of commodities and their prices as per the outlet, section two will guide the consumer through the price list as well as indicate the nearest store to their residence.
Section three will give consumers access to highest and lowest price of an item at the outlet and section four will focus on electronic shopping, where viewers can shop through different outlets and then get an idea of the total tally of their shopping items.
DPE said it has plans to include a news bar on its website, showing commodity price trends. Apart from food, beverage, and tobacco, new price segments will be added based on the latest consumption trends in the emirate.
According to the study, the prices of essential commodities were generally stable at main outlets in Abu Dhabi during June. However, it observed that prices of agricultural products had dropped due to promotional prices being offered to consumers.
A notable exception was rice price which according to the DPE study went up because of factors such as the failure of importers to agree at a price with the Ministry of Economy, drop in supply because suppliers are responding to their local demands, crop failures in a number of countries and the use of rice as a biofuel input.
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