UAE
Special number plate to be exhibited at Abu Dhabi private motor show
Special number plate to be exhibited at Abu Dhabi private motor show
By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS
Abu Dhabi: Vehicle plate number 1, which is expected to set a record as the most expensive, will be exhibited at an exclusive private motor show next week, an official told Gulf News.
The world’s top 30 most luxurious supercars will be displayed at Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace from February 2-4, and it will be best venue to showcase the prestigious number plate, said Abdullah Mattar, Managing Director of Emirates Auction, which jointly organises the number plate auction with Abu Dhabi Police.
The exclusive automotive event held under the patronage of Shaikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan will present the latest trends and inventions.
Plate “1” is expected to set a new Guinness world record for the most expensive plate when it goes under the hammer at the ‘Emirates Golden Auction’ on February 16, 2008 at 4 pm in Abu Dhabi.
Big expectations
It is only the third single-digit number plate to go on sale in Abu Dhabi, Mattar said, adding that Emirates Auction already holds the records for the six most expensive plates worldwide, followed by a Hong Kong plate in seventh place.
Plates “5” and “7” sold for Dh25.2 million and Dh11 million respectively. Both were snapped up by Abu Dhabi businessman Talal Ali Mohammad Khouri.
The expectations for Plate “1” are sky high,” Mattar said.
Auto Riksha’s in Dubai
Come on and enjoy a ride for this DSF. Special discount for all Team 1 Dubai readers.
Abu Dhabi’s oldest hospital on its last legs
The Central Hospital is part of the Shaikh Khalifa Medical Centre and was the only hospital in Abu Dhabi till Al Jazeera Hospital was set up by the mid-70s.
Abu Dhabi’s oldest hospital on its last legs
By Dina El Shammaa, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: January 28, 2008, 00:11
Abu Dhabi: Central Hospital, the oldest hospital in Abu Dhabi, is slated to be demolished by the end of next week.
The 40-year-old hospital located near Shaikh Khalifa Medical Centre (SKMC), was the only hospital in Abu Dhabi till Al Jazeera Hospital was set up by the mid-70s, said the management of SKMC.
Two crucial sections at Central Hospital – the Urgent Care section and the Renal Unit Dialysis (RUD) – are being transferred.
The Urgent Care section is scheduled to be transferred to the new Khalidiya Urgent Care Centre (KUCC) at SKMC, which will service patients the same day the Central Hospital is closed.
The urgent case section is meant to relieve the ER section at SKMC which receives a large number of patients suffering from accidents, heart attack, renal-related cases and others. The ER section has 28 beds in the surgical ward with 10 beds at the Children’s Accident Section. Seven new beds are to be added, to increase the current bed capacity to 45 for adults and children.
During the first ten months of last year, the ER ward treated 72,091 patients, including 24,368 children.
The KUCC will have 20 doctors specialised in emergency related cases, 43 nurses and 59 technicians, with a total of 19 rooms.
The second department to be transferred, the Renal Unit Dialysis (RUD), will be re-located in the medical pavilion, formally known as Al Jazeera Hospital.
The RUD will continue treating non-Emiratis. The section will have 17 new dialysis machines. Five more machines are to be added soon.
Healthcare: SKMC employs 4,600
* Shaikh Khalifa Medical Centre (SKMC) consists of a 550-bed Acute Care Hospital, a 120-bed Behaviour Sciences Pavilion, an 88-bed Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation Centre, 10 primary healthcare centres, and more than 12 specialised outpatient clinics. SKMC employs about 4,600 caregivers and administrators from 62 nationalities.
* The various sections at the SKMC are Shaikh Khalifa Surgical Pavilion; Shaikh Khalifa Medical Pavilion; Outpatient Specialty Clinics; Primary healthcare (PHC) facilities; Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation Centre; Abu Dhabi Blood Bank and Diabetes Centre.
Urgent Care patients include less life-threatening cases that need not be admitted to the Emergency Room ward (ER).
Barjeel Geojit opens online mutual funds trading platform for NRIs
Barjeel Geojit opens online mutual funds trading platform for NRIs By Babu Das Augustine, Banking Editor GULF NEWS Published: January 25, 2008, 00:04
Dubai: Barjeel Geojit Securities, a UAE-based brokerage and financial services provider has launched Mutual Funds Online, a new web-based trading platform of Indian mutual funds for non-resident Indian (NRI) investors from the UAE.
“We are the first independent financial intermediary to launch such a service, designed to make the investment process paperless, hassle free and seamless,” said Krishnan Ramachandran, CEO of Barjeel Geojit Securities.
Barjeel Geojit Securities, a partnership between Indian brokerage company, Geojit Financial Services, and Al Saud Group of Sharjah were the first financial services firm in the UAE to offer direct brokerage investment services to the NRI community in the UAE.
Expansion
The company has five offices and plans to open two more – in Al Ain and another in Fujairah – this year. “The NRI community in the UAE is increasingly participating in the Indian capital markets and are taking advantage of the Indian economic growth,” said Shaikh Sultan Bin Saud Al Qasimi, chairman of Barjeel Geojit Securities.
Despite the high volatility experienced by the Indian market along with other global markets during the recent weeks, Shaikh Sultan said, the Indian growth story is built of solid fundamentals and Investors should have longer term outlook.
Along with the online services, Barjeel Geojit will offer investment advisory services on Indian mutual funds and capital markets.
“Although the number of NRI investors in Indian markets has increased significantly, many have missed the opportunity. The recent market corrections offers them the chance to enter the market at attractive prices,” said KV Shamsudin, director of Barjeel Geojit.
Chairman of the Association of Mutual Funds of India, A.P. Kurian, said: “Mutual funds are emerging as one of the best investment options. Even those funds which give a small return perform better than other investment alternatives for NRIs.”
More informations can be obtained by logging on to:
http://www.barjeel.ae
or on phone:
Abu Dhabi : +9712 6441555
Dubai: + 9714 3555900
Sharjah: + 9716 5732555
Ras Al Khaimah: + 9717 2277468
Oman: +968 9232067
or in India: Geojit
Phone: = 91 484 2445501
http://www.geojit.com
Beat poet
Beat poet
Staff Report GULF NEWS Published: January 24, 2008, 00:06
Tabla legend Zakir Hussain is sure to enthrall you as he matches beats with other renowned artistes on February 1.
Get set for the ultimate fusion concert, headlined by renowned percussionist Zakir Hussain. A classical tabla virtuoso, his consistently brilliant and exciting performances have not only established him as a national treasure in India, but gained him worldwide fame.
The favourite accompanist for many of India’s greatest classical musicians and dancers, from Ali Akbar Khan and Ravi Shankar to Birju Maharaj and Shivkumar Sharma, he has not let his genius rest there. His playing is marked by uncanny intuition and masterful improvisational dexterity, founded in formidable knowledge and study.
Widely considered a chief architect of the contemporary world music movement, Zakir’s contribution to world music has been unique, with many historic collaborations including Shakti, which he founded with John McLaughlin and L. Shankar, the Diga Rhythm Band, Making Music, Planet Drum with Mickey Hart, and recordings and performances with artistes as diverse as George Harrison, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison and the New Orleans Symphony orchestra.
This time around in Dubai, he will be joined by Vinni Colaiuta (The lead drummer for Sting); banjo player Bela Fleck; bassist Edgar Meyer; U. Srinivas (The first exponent of the electric mandolin in India); V. Selva Ganesh (The Kanjira maestro); Niladari Kumar (The finest young sitar virtuoso today) and Taufiq Qureshi ( a percussionist and folk drummers from Rajasthan).
With Zakir’s fingers creating superb music and Viinie Colaiuta’s impeccable strokes, rhythm is going to hit new highs.
Date: February 1
Venue: Tennis Stadium, Aviation Club
Tickets: Dh1,000 (Paradise); Dh700 (Tranquility); Dh400 (Serenity); Dh300; Dh200 and Dh100
Time: 7pm (Show begins at 8pm)
Contact: 050 4216250 or http://www.ticketingboxoffice.com
Ongoing / Upcoming events in Abu Dhabi
Ongoing / Upcoming events in Abu Dhabi
21 – 23 Jan 2008 World Future Energy Summit 2008
30 Jan – 2 Feb 2008 Abu Dhabi Real Estate and Investment show 2008
February
5 – 8 Feb 2008 The Bride Show 2008
12 – 14 Feb 2008 Abu Dhabi Recruitment Show 2008
March
2 – 5 Mar 2008 Homeland Security Conference
2 – 5 Mar 2008 ISNR 2008
11 – 16 Mar 2008 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2008
30 Mar – 2 Apr 2008 Interiors UAE 2008
April
8 – 10 Apr 2008 GIBTM 2008
8 – 10 Apr 2008 Incentive Business Travel Conference
20 – 23 Apr 2008 Building Futures Gulf by BATIMAT Conference
20 – 23 Apr 2008 Building Futures Gulf by BATIMAT 2008
20 – 23 Apr 2008 Envelope Gulf Exhibition 2008
20 – 23 Apr 2008 HVAC Gulf Exhibition 2008
20 – 23 Apr 2008 Intelligent Building Gulf Exhibition 2008
20 – 23 Apr 2008 Structure Gulf Exhibition 2008
28 – 30 Apr 2008 Middle East Workboats 2008
28 – 30 Apr 2008 Work Boats Conference
May
13 – 15 May 2008 Cityscape 2008
13 – 15 May 2008 Cityscape Conference
26 – 28 May 2008 Mecom 2008
September
9 Sep – 4 Oct 2008 Ramadan & Eid 2008
October
19 – 21 Oct 2008 Najah Conference on Education
19 – 21 Oct 2008 Najah Education Training Careers 2008
26 – 28 Oct 2008 Abu Dhabi Medical 2008
26 – 28 Oct 2008 Abu Dhabi Medical Congress 2008
26 – 28 Oct 2008 Abu Dhabi Patient Safety Congress 2008
26 – 28 Oct 2008 Emergency Congress 2008
26 – 28 Oct 2008 ME Power Generation and Water 2008
26 – 28 Oct 2008 Primary Healthcare Congress 2008
November
3 – 6 Nov 2008 ADIPEC 2008
3 – 6 Nov 2008 Petroleum Conference
11 – 13 Nov 2008 Halal World 2008
11 – 13 Nov 2008 LabME
23 – 25 Nov 2008 Int Freight Conference
23 – 25 Nov 2008 International Freight Week 2008
23 – 25 Nov 2008 Memex 2008
23 – 25 Nov 2008 Roadex Conference
23 – 25 Nov 2008 Roadex/Railex 2008
25 – 27 Nov 2008 SIM 2008
December
14 – 16 Dec 2008 Equip Hotel
17 – 21 Dec 2008 ADIMS 2008
Jaywalkers to be fined in Abu Dhabi
Jaywalkers to be fined in Abu Dhabi
By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: January 18, 2008, 23:12
Abu Dhabi: People caught jaywalking will soon be fined Dh50 after Abu Dhabi recorded 91 pedestrian deaths last year, mostly involving people running across busy streets, police said.
Police will start a campaign against jaywalking in the capital on Monday to try to stop deaths on the roads. Last year, 647 pedestrians were involved in traffic accidents, said the police.
“Fatalities have increased by 20 per cent,” said Colonel Adel Hamad Al Shamsi, Director of the Traffic Department. He urged people to cross streets only at zebra crossings. “Lack of attention while driving is also a major cause of accidents,” he said.
The safety campaign’s motto is, “Pedestrian safety is everyone’s responsibility.”
According to statistics, 584 accidents involving pedestrians occurred last year. Besides the 91 pedestrians who died, 91 others were seriously injured.
The figures show that 140 pedestrians involved in accidents were younger than 18. Eight teenagers died and 36 others were seriously injured.
There have been a number of deaths due to jaywalking in Dubai and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is planning to spend more than Dh70 million to construct pedestrian crossings.
In Dubai alone, 56 pedestrian deaths were recorded in the first six months of 2007.
An RTA executive said that 17 pedestrian crossings will be constructed. The main reason pedestrians were killed is because they crossed dangerous roads, he said.
Fence
A number of deaths have been recorded on Emirates Road near a labour accommodation.
Shaikh Zayed Road was also a major site of pedestrian deaths until the RTA constructed a fence along it. But there are no pedestrian bridges except one near Emirates Towers.
The other dangerous spot where a number of pedestrian deaths have occurred is in front of Ansar Mall at the entrance to Sharjah.
Residents have been complaining of a lack of a pedestrian bridges being constructed.
It’s a rainy rainy day
“Happy Rain” – that was the sms doing rounds today in UAE. Weather forecast for next two days is predicting more heavy rains. Schools are clossed in Dubai, Sharjah and Northern Emirates for tomorrow – news report says.
Incessant rains throw life out of gear in UAE
Incessant rains throw life out of gear in UAE
By Zoe Sinclair KHALEEJ TIMES 15 January 2008
DUBAI—A record rainfall for a January day in Dubai yesterday threw normal life out of gear in the emirate. While the rain led to widespread flooding across areas of Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, partly submerging cars, disrupting traffic and forcing schools to close yesterday, five people were reported killed and many injured in separate road accidents in the emirates.
In all, more than 800 road accidents were reported in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi yesterday morning.
Airports, however, were functioning normally, with minor delays, the maximum of about an hour for some flights. But the traffic jams and waterlogged roads meant many passengers missed their flights and some were even forced to walk to the airport to catch the flights.
Fujairah reported landslides and rock falls although the impact on streets was limited. The emirate also experienced power outages for short periods.
For the third consecutive day, particularly for Dubai residents, life was thrown off gears. Residents of Sharjah, Ajman and other emirates braced through the incessant rainfall and waterlogged streets in the hope of safe shelters of their homes.
More than 105mm of rainfall -20mm higher than the January record- was recorded in Dubai from Monday evening to 6pm yesterday, according to the duty forecasters at the Dubai International Airport meteorological office. The average rainfall for January in Dubai is 17mm.
Sharjah, with 100mm rainfall, was one of the worst affected, where residents alleged weak rain contingency plans. Many woke up to find their cars submerged in rainwater.
Rainwater brought the Ittihad and Emirates Road virtually to a halt, with the traffic across Sharjah and Dubai going into a spin for the third day straight.
Hundreds of municipality workers across the UAE worked non-stop through the day pumping water out of the roads. The Dubai Municipality (DM) earmarked Rashidiya, Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, Abu Hail and parts of Shaikh Zayed Road as the worst affected areas in the city.
Senior officials of DM said they would be extending their rainwater drainage system within a year in coordination with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
While a limited number of houses, mainly in Ras Al Khaimah, were affected by the floods, labour camps in low lying areas were badly impacted.
A construction worker at the Sonapur labour camp in Jebel Ali said the camp was flooded, with residents desperately trying to patch up leaking roofs with plastic and deal with the flowing sewage as bathrooms backed up. “There is water all around. The conditions of the bathrooms are particularly messy with all the sewage water coming out of it,” he said.
Workers at other labour camps across Dubai too complained of similar experiences.
Many students were unable to reach their schools in the morning, causing high number of absentees, reportedly forcing Dubai and Sharjah schools and universities to close and send students home.
Meanwhile, some residents enjoyed the rain yesterday with Dubai and Sharjah students celebrating a day off and farmers grateful for the much-needed water. Fujairah dams recorded good water levels, including 1.5m at Al Bosira Dam and 2m at Al Rakbi Dam. This signalled relief for farmers who were earlier complaining about the dry month of December.
In Al Ain, mercury dipped to 14 degree Celsius, as the city experienced light to heavy showers in the past 36 hours since Sunday morning.
Heavy showers are expected to continue in Dubai and Sharjah until midday today when it would begin easing. Temperatures are expected to remain between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius.
Authorities have issued warning to residents against venturing out to the sea because of rough swells. Residents and tourists have been advised not to travel to mountainous areas, valleys or wadis because of the danger of flash flooding.
RAINFALL RECORDED ON TUESDAY
ABU DHABI
· City: 21.2mm
· Dhudna: 90.6mm
· Falaj Al Moalla: 65.2mm
· Ghantuat: 59.2mm
· Jabal Mebreh: 58.2mm
· Masafi: 64.1mm
· Sir Bu Nair: 109.2mm
DUBAI
· Airport: 105mm
SHARJAH
· City: approx.100mm
FUJAIRAH
· City: 1.8mm
· Dhedhna: 46.2mm
· Dibba: 44.2mm
RAS AL KHAIMAH
City: 35.2mm
Rain lashes the UAE
Rain lashes the UAE
Gulf News web reportLast updated: January 15, 2008, 12:40
Dubai: Rain has lashed the UAE, causing widespread flooding across the country and traffic chaos.
While Abu Dhabi has largely escaped serious rain, the major roads in Sharjah have been completely flooded.
Weather forecasters have predicted more heavy rain for Wednesday morning.
On the roads, police diverted traffic away from the Emirates Road in both directions because the rain has made it impassable.
Police also cordoned off the National Paints roundabout in Sharjah, making it more difficult to access the major roads.
Several schools in Dubai and Sharjah have cancelled lessons for the day, while Our Own English High School in Sharjah cancelled exams.
Residents in the Al Nahada area of Sharjah have reported their cars being partially submerged by the heavy rains.
Flooding has also been reported at the Emaar office building near the Burj Dubai
Satellite dish antennas were blown off the roof tops in the Al Meena Bazaar area of Dubai
Traffic has also come to a standstill in Dubai with heavy flooding causing long delays on all roads.
In Bur Dubai, readers have reported widespread flooding, with residents having to wade through knee deep water to get to their cars.
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