UAE
‘Abandoned’ Cars gather dust at Abu Dhabi airport
ABU DHABI // Scores of luxury cars and sports utility vehicles are gathering dust in the short-term car park at Abu Dhabi airport.
According to the airport’s website, vehicles should be left there for no more than three days. And few would choose to with parking costing Dh240 a day.
But many of the cars have clearly been there for months – long enough for tyres to go flat and windows to become caked with sand and salt.
Beneath the grime, the marques are a checklist of luxury – BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, a Chevrolet Camaro S5 and a Jaguar XK8.
Also accumulating dust are sport utility vehicles such as a Nissan Prado, a Ford Escape, a Ford Edge and a Chevrolet Avalanche.
Others include a Kia Optima, Kia Rio, Honda Civic, Honda City, Nissan Altima and Nissan Tiida, Mazda 3, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Yaris, and a Peugeot 207.
“I’ve seen a few cars here that are covered with dust,” said MT Hassan, a Sudanese public relations officer.
“Maybe some of the owners will return, while others may have already left the country. We really don’t know.”
Ramesh Menon, 45, a technical officer at an Abu Dhabi government company, suspects the latter.
He visited the airport in mid-July. When he returned this week, the same cars remained parked.
“If there is a genuine owner who has parked there by mistake, he or she will claim it,” Mr Menon said. “If it is deliberate, the car should be auctioned off to the public.”
The flat tyres are a giveaway, he added. “Abu Dhabi airport has tight security measures. I don’t think someone will go to the car park and puncture the tyres.”
As on dirty cars everywhere, passers-by have inscribed messages in the dust. Some, including a black Ford Edge Sport and a white Honda Civic, bear the time-honoured “clean me”, while the rear windscreen of a blue-green Hyundai Tucson claims its owner has “gone fishing”.
A check on some of the number plates through the police website reveals the cars have a number of traffic and Salik fines.
One, a black Jaguar XK8 with Abu Dhabi plates, has accumulated Dh1,350 in fines – two for speeding in Abu Dhabi in June and July, and another for speeding in Dubai in May.
A grey Nissan Altima with Abu Dhabi plates had five Dubai police fines totalling Dh3,100 between December 2010 and April 2011.
A green BMW saloon, also with Abu Dhabi plates, had two Dubai fines from October 2009, and another from April 2010, totalling Dh1,900. A Kia Optima had a Dh100 fine from Oman, while a Kia Rio racked up nine Salik fines, totalling Dh450, between November 2009 and February 2010. Both cars have Dubai plates.
“The authorities should now consider removing them to allow other cars to park in this area meant for short-term parking,” Mr Menon said. “These cars are eating up a lot of space and it gives a bad image to the city.”
A spokesperson for the Abu Dhabi Airports Company yesterday declined to comment.
Several cars sit covered in dust, seemingly abandoned at the Abu Dhabi Airport short-term parking lot as seen on Wednesday afternoon, August 1, 2012. Silvia Razgova / The National
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How to cremate a loved one
How to cremate a loved one
Preeti Kannan/The National
The death of a loved one is a traumatic experience, and handling formalities and paperwork surrounding funeral arrangements can make it even more distressing, especially in a foreign country.
Time for Etisalat to improve its airport presence
Although it is the major telecommunications service provider in the UAE, Etisalat still falls short when it comes to providing good customer service.
At Abu Dhabi Airport, the location of the only Etisalat payment machine is unknown even to many of the airport staff. The plight of a visitor can be imagined.
When I tried to deposit money in the machine recently, it would not accept any notes. When I called the Etisalat contact centre to report this error, I failed to convince the operator about the importance of this issue.
He wanted to have the machine’s ID number, which was not displayed. I told him the machine’s location – it is just in front of the Etihad and NBAD offices on the mezzanine floor – but he was adamant about getting this number so he could log the complaint.
I wonder whether the machine was finally repaired. Considering the value of Etisalat’s reach and its prominence in this country, I think it should have a customer support and sales counter at the airport arrivals terminal.
This is especially significant as the airport will be the gateway for all the visitors arriving for the new season of international events, including the Formula One race.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
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Abandoned cars send a message
Abandoned cars send a message
I recently visited Abu Dhabi International Airport’s short-term car park and was shocked to see many cars there completely covered in dust.
Some of them had punctured tyres and the dust was inscribed with graffiti, so I guessed that they had been there for a long time. This was confirmed when I visited 10 days later and the same vehicles were still there.
I am not sure whether these are cars parked in the wrong place by travellers who are on long holidays or they have been abandoned by people who have left the country for good.
Graffiti on one of them saying “Gone fishing” made me think the latter might be the case.
I hope the relevant authorities at the airport can remove these vehicles, as they provide an unpleasant sight for visitors.
With several key events scheduled to happen immediately after Ramadan, this is one thing the authorities should take into consideration in their efforts to continue to keep the city neat and clean.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
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Highway facilities require attention
Highway facilities require attention
There is a serious lack of clean toilets at the highway petrol stations between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Even in the existing, limited number of toilets, hygiene needs seem to have been neglected.
Visit one on any given busy evening or morning, and it’s obvious that these toilets are not as well-maintained or cleaned as they should be.
Bear in mind that these are international roads connecting to bordering countries, and that children will need to use them.
I hope the petrol stations and health authorities initiate measures to address this issue.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
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Message of safety for Holy Month
Message of safety for Holy Month
The Holy Month of Ramadan is underway and with it comes renewed worries over road safety.
This year will be one of the hottest and longest Ramadan fasting periods in recent memory; it is a matter of concern for all who are on the road during the period just before breaking the fast.
On the first day of Ramadan, I happened to witness and experience at least three near misses on roads in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
Watching these dangerous driving habits made me think that it would be helpful for authorities to come out with stricter rules and fines for those who drive dangerously prior to iftar.
In addition, it would be a great move if warnings and messages about the dangers of speeding during this time were made at various iftar tents and prayer halls around the country. It would also be appropriate for religious scholars to offer messages about the dangers of careless driving.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit The National Online.
You may also read the below article and actions which followed the above article:
Dubai police report 3,605 traffic accidents since start of Ramadan
Historic landmarks need to be maintained
Historic Abu Dhabi landmarks not maintained
Authorities need to ensure that proper attention and respect is given to key sights
By Ramesh Menon, Gulf News Reader
Published: July 6, 2012
- Image Credit: Ramesh Menon/Gulf News Reader
- An iconic landmark in Abu Dhabi is covered in graffiti and dirt.
I was walking along the airport road of Abu Dhabi towards the corniche, where the historic canon and incense burner shaped landmarks are situated. It has been a prestigious piece for a long time.
The fountain along with its majestic positioning in the middle of high rise buildings on both sides gives a special feeling to whoever visits this central part of Abu Dhabi.
However, walking closer to the fountain and the canon shaped structure, I was astonished with the way it has been damaged and ignored for maintenance. The landmark had tiles missing, grills broken, waste thrown around, and graffiti on its wall.
- Image Credit: Ramesh Menon/Gulf News Reader
- The canon shaped structure appears to have been ignored for maintenance.
It gave me an unpleasant feeling of how people take care of these historic landmarks. Some years ago, the prestigious ‘Volcano Fountain’ was demolished, and it’s now history. We don’t know whether this is also an item marked to be demolished in the near future.
I request that the Abu Dhabi authorities give this historic landmark of Abu Dhabi a facelift and also take action against whoever spoils its beauty with graffiti or advertisements. Please take good care of Abu Dhabi’s historic landmarks.
This reader is based in Abu Dhabi
Be a community reporter. Tell us what is happening in your community. Send us your videos and pictures at readers@gulfnews.com
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Indians in UAE can’t fly home
Indians in UAE can’t fly home
Travel to India this summer is simply not affordable for ordinary salaried Indians in the UAE. The low-salaried shouldn’t even think about it. (Air India remains in holding pattern, June 22).
Almost no seats are available this weekend from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to anywhere in India, and the seats on offer seem to be priced starting at Dh3,200, or Dh2,500 one way.
With Air India’s labour unrest and other problems, travel back home has become a nightmare, especially for emergencies.
Helpless as ever, we non-resident Indians can only convey our wishes to India’s civil aviation authorities.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit The National online
Vice-President urges public to take part in UAE National Logo selection
Vice-President urges public to take part in UAE National Logo selection
Residents asked to vote for one logo from five finalists
By Derek Baldwin, Chief Reporter GULF NEWS Published: June 24, 2012
Dubai: In a country now home to some of the most famous brand placements in the world, the UAE has launched plans to come up with its very own brand logo to promote itself locally and abroad.
Two months after the UAE was named the second preferred international market by the world’s top 326 retail brands, the UAE is asking the public’s help to select its new future logo.
Five logo finalists have already been chosen and their work has been posted on http://www.uaepm.ae, the website of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The Ruler has also posted the logo launch on Twitter, where he said the brand logo will be used locally and abroad in all national promotional campaigns, projecting a unified UAE identity and highlight the uniqueness of the UAE.
The voting process begins on Sunday and ends on July 18, 2012.
Members of the public will be able to vote for one of the five logos uploaded on the Prime Minister’s website. The chosen logo will have variations that can be used in both Arabic and English.
Shaikh Mohammad said that the usage of the logo will be a part of a strategic plan that is based on coordination between governmental and non-governmental bodies to use major events held both locally and abroad to spread and narrate the nation’s message and story to the world.
Visitors to the website are being given the opportunity to select their favourite brand logo that best represents the country.
“The nation brand logo that you are going to choose is a promotional logo for the UAE. It shall be used locally and internationally to promote a unified identity for the UAE and express its unique aspects setting it apart from other nations around the world,” the website stated.
“The UAE nation brand is to be used as a visual identity for the nation, to communicate to the world its vision and tell its story. The nation brand must reflect the UAE’s global economic and political status and its diverse and attractive cultural and business environment, which make it a leading destination for tourism, economic, and cultural activities.”
The push to brand itself is a wise move in a world with a growing roster of big brand logos and recognisable names, said a Dubai-based branding expert on Sunday.
Haroon Popal, creative manager at Creative Studio, is a specialist in branding, design and logos and said that the branding move “means the UAE wants to position itself in the world to be recognised. Brand awareness is very necessary.”
Branding, he said, is more than just picking a graphic and a fancy font.
“When you brand something, it adds value, whether it’s a company or a country. It becomes valuable,” Popal said.
Constantly exposing a brand to the public also helps create a sense of awareness and identity that people begin to recognise automatically,“When you see something again and again, you start building trust. It will create recognition, build trust. It also helps one to identify itself a certain style,” Popal said.
Whenever an entity chooses to rebrand, it means they are seeking increased awareness about who they are, what they offer and the values for which they stand, he said.
Voting for the new logo semi-finalists began on Sunday and will remain open until July 18 – visitors to the website can only vote for one design.
To vote, log on to http://services.moca.gov.ae/en/index.aspx.
With input from WAM / Source, credits and thanks to : GULF NEWS
A midday break to benefit everyone
A midday break to benefit everyone
Enforcement of the law protecting workers who are out in the sun this summer period is commendable.
But perhaps the rule should be applied to others working outside. Mawaqif inspectors, for instance, are out all day. Why not give them a respite? While we’re at it, how about a summer free of Mawaqif parking fees? That would be a true win-win.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
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