Legoland Dubai’s opening day wows visitors

DUBAI // The sheer scale of the models at Legoland Dubai brought a wow factor to visitors on its opening day on Monday.

Hundreds of visitors who poured through the turnstiles at the opening of Dubai Parks and Resorts’ latest attraction were greeted by an oompah band, dancers and popular characters from the hit Lego movies.

Lego models recreating the Dubai cityscape seemed to impress many but, with some still being built and many of the rides yet to open, others were a little disappointed.

Countless hours have been spent putting together each of the models to recreate the Marina, Downtown, DIFC and the Burj Khalifa, which takes centre stage as – appropriately – the world’s largest Lego construction.

One ride that was open for use was the Kids Power Tower, a seated ride that gently rises, then drops back to ground level.

Katerina Kovalenko, from Russia, said it was perfect for young children including her daughter Liya, 4.

"This is our first visit to a Legoland so didn’t know what to expect," said Ms Kovalenko, who lives in Dubai. "The buildings are amazing but the rides that are open seem more suitable for younger children.

"There are a few things that are not finished yet, but they’ve done well to open on time."

Harold Charette, an American working in Abu Dhabi, was visiting with his two children Ruben, 10, and Nick, 19, and their mum Eileen.

"We lucked out as we bought a Lego kit and won free admission, so we had to come," said Mr Charette.

"I’m sure it will be popular with tourists and families living here. The buildings are impressive and I love the model of Petra. The detail is amazing, you can see the fisherman pulling in their reels."

The day, however, had some critics.

"It was an opening day so I expected everything to be perfect and open, ready to use," said Sanjay, who lives in The Green community.

"It was a bit disappointing, particularly when you see how much work is still being done."

Once inside, children can explore six themed lands, each offering entertainment and educational activities.

At the City zone, they can fly a plane at a mini airport, steer a boat or earn a Lego driver’s licence.

Model dragons, squires, maidens and knights are scattered throughout the Kingdom zone, although work is still being done to complete the dragon rollercoaster.

Kids can race cars and younger children can learn how to build in the Imagination zone, while the Adventure area gives young explorers a submarine adventure, and challenges them to dodge water blasts as they discover ancient ruins and the Pharaoh’s treasure.

Miniland hosts the Dubai skyline and a tour of the factory shows how the bricks are made. A nearby Lego water park, also due to open later this year, is aimed at children aged between 2 and 12.

Other parks sitting alongside Legoland include the Indian-themed Bollywood Park, feature film attraction Motiongate, and Lapita, a Polynesian-themed attraction.

Legoland, off Sheikh Zayed Road opposite the Palm Jebel Ali, is the latest brick in the path towards Dubai’s goal of becoming a global family destination.

Which areas in Dubai have the cleanest homes?

Dubai: Whether you’re looking to change neighbourhoods, or are just merely curious about your own district, the top three areas with the cleanest areas have now been rated.

According to VIS, the organisers of Middle East Cleaning Technology Week (MECTW), the highest intake of cleaning services in Dubai were found in the areas of Arabian Ranches, Dubai Marina, and Mirdif.

The survey found that residents from these areas have their homes cleaned every alternative day.

"The last few years has seen a shift towards an increased preference for superior services offered by third party cleaning companies, even if they have a resident maid cleaning for them,” said Jamal Abdullah Lootah, CEO, Imdaad – an Integrated Facilities Management and Environmental Services Company.

“This can be attributed to the more than satisfactory performance of their services, especially in Dubai where the quality of the service being offered is in compliance with set international standards and best practices," he said.  

The survey also looked at pest control services and found that on average residents use the service at least once a year. Commercial enterprises like restaurants are more frequent users, up to three times a year.

Residents living in a villa with a garden were the biggest users of pest control services where areas, such as Arabian Ranches, have ants, cocokroaches and other simliar pests.

“The harsh summer climate here often brings unwanted guests to your home, and the huge number of pest control complaints we receive from Dubai residents involve ants. Villas with a garden, in residential communities, would likely need pest control service for ants and other pests on a scheduled basis,” said Malik Hassan, General Manager, AKI Environmental Services.

“Cockroach and bedbug infestation is another issue we are often called for at homes and restaurants,” he said.

The survey also looked at offices in Media City, Jumeirah Lake Towers, and Dubai Silicon Oasis. The study recoded an even split on cleaning services provided by the building management and companies relying on third party cleaning services.

Cleaning services provided by the building management clean offices on a daily basis, whereas third party services are used at least twice a week.

“Cleaning services industry in the region is growing with a lot of demand for specialised cleaning services from residential and small office customers.

"They not only demand a high quality of service but also sophistication in addressing issues that involve chemical treatment of water, pest control and management of drainage systems,” said Jayaraman Nair, Chairman, VIS Exhibitions and Conferences.

The biggest users of cleaning and maid services in the UAE

1.       Western expats

2.       Arabs

3.       Asians

Source: gulfnews

How to get around Dubai in dirhams 1, 2, 3

Explore every inch of the city without even breaking the bank.

Dubai has now become one of those cities where it's possible for someone to not own a car and yet stay well-connected.

Thanks to the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, getting from one place to another is a breeze, and cheap!

Abra - Dh1

The abra is one of Dubai's oldest modes of public transport. Connecting Bur Dubai and Deira since the early days, the abra is not only a cheap mode of transport but also a cultural experience in itself.

Water Bus - Dh2

The water bus is a cheap and interesting alternative to walking around the Dubai Marina. Offering scenic views along the cruise, fares start at Dh2 and you can try roundtrips for Dh4. With three stations, you'll get to see the entirety of the Marina for a total of Dhs6!

Bus - starts at Dh3

The RTA bus is the cheapest and best option to reach virtually any point in Dubai. Bus lines operate all over the city and prices start at a mere Dhs3! Bus stops are also air conditioned so one doesn't need to worry about standing in the heat.

Tram - Dh3

A fresh entry in the public transport scene of Dubai, the Tram operates around the JBR and Al Sufouh areas and charge only Dhs3 whichever station you alight on. See and experience the beauty of Dubai Marina and JBR's The Beach on the cheap.

Metro - starts at Dh3

The Dubai Metro, next to bus is the fastest way to get to both ends of town from Jebel Ali all the way to Deira; it also has dedicated airport stations for backpackers and travelers who opt to go off the beaten path. The Metro works in tandem with the bus to guarantee that you'll reach any and every sort of destination you might have in Dubai.

Source: khaleejtimes

Etisalat to launch e-SIM within six months

Global standard for the card approved at Dubai event

Dubai: The days of “traditional” SIM cards may soon be over.

Embedded cards, also known as e-SIM or electronic SIM, will be coming to a smartphone near you soon.

Rashed Majed Al Abbar, Vice-President for Consumer Product Innovation at etisalat, said users with e-SIM smartphones won’t need to change the SIM cards when travelling to another country. Instead, the e-Sim will be able to interact with the foreign networks just as if they were “local”.

“The move is part of GSMA and all telecom operators globally are part of it,” he said. The GSM Association is an association of mobile operators and related companies.

Etisalat has been showcasing some of the e-SIM technology At Gitex this week on products such as smartphones, smartwatches, rings, bicycles and connected cars.

Al Abbar said the smartwatch with an e-SIM will work without a mobile phone and people can make a call from the watch directly.

E-SIM-enabled electric supercar

The telecom operator also showcased e-SIM-enabled rings, which has almost the same functionality as the watch, and also has a screen to read messages.

Etisalat is displaying the world’s first e-SIM-enabled electric supercar — Rimac — at its stand which will track all the details of the car and report problems directly to the dealer.

Depending on the car manufacturer and the market the manufacturer will be focusing on, like infotainment (live TV, video, search information and stream music) and navigation can be built on real-time data.

“The connected car solutions are accelerating and will close the technological gap before and currently between the home and the office, by ensuring fast internet access available in the car,” he said.

Etisalat has tied up with Toyota to develop connected car technologies and applications to enhance the connected car ecosystem in UAE.

Instant messaging

All the new 2017 models of Toyota Land Cruiser, available exclusively on vehicles from Al-Futtaim Motors, will allow drivers to remotely lock or unlock their vehicles, control cooling and even instantly message the owner if the car is involved in a collision.

Etisalat is adding a 4G modem as an aftermarket solution to the car and can be controlled through an app.

Last year, etisalat teamed up with Nissan to offer the same feature on Nissan Maxima and Patrol models.

Al Abbar said that the technology will arrive within three to six months in the UAE.

Technologically, he said that etisalat is ready but “we are currently clearing some regulatory compliance.” The standard for e-SIM was published at the GSMA 360 Series event taking place at Gitex, and etisalat is the first operator to display the technology in various products.

Factbox: E-Sim

“E-SIM” relates to a new standard being promoted by the GSMA, an association of mobile operators and telecom companies devoted to supporting the standardising, deployment and promotion of the GSM mobile phone system, as part of the Internet of Things era.

It will come embedded within the device and cannot be removed and the main advantage is that it will give consumers the option to switch provider and plan without having to request a brand new SIM card.

Apple released its own SIM card in 2014 and the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 tablets sold in the US and the UK are embedded with it, allowing customers to switch operators directly from the device.

The information on e-SIM will be compliant or rewritable by all operators and it will be completely standardised across manufacturers.

Source: gulfnews

UAE businesses need to get smarter with transparency

It’s budget time at banks and the next few weeks will be very revealing indeed, as results for the last quarter will be announced. And so will budgets for 2017.

Both will have a critical element in determining bottom-lines, both past and future. And there will be the banks’ view on provisions to be created for bad debts, past and future.

For the future, banks can take two approaches to this aspect of lending. First, grow the loan book at a reasonable pace with a more conservative approach to bad debts, i.e., expect a higher level of bad debts and therefore create higher provisions. Or go for option two — curb loan growth to an extremely slow pace, almost in single digits, and with a lower expectation (and therefore provision) of bad debts.

Need of the hour

The former, slightly more aggressive posture, is the need of the hour to a) prevent the economy from sliding into very low growth rates; b) keep client acquisition for banks going so that 2018 and beyond is not affected (because it will if banks don’t add sufficient number of new clients next year). The CEO of Mashreq has alluded to this in a recent article and emphasised the importance of de-risking in this context as well.

What will banks do? I’m almost certain most banks will follow the herd and take the second route. There are a couple of banks that have the courage to take the contrarian view and they will benefit in the long run.

Some underlying assumptions I am making are that the economy of the UAE will grow, albeit at a low rate; some spend on 2020 will start feeding into the economy by 2Q17; and the macroeconomic environment (as represented by the effect of low oil prices and depressed export markets) will continue to be difficult. A look at the past year and the current thinking among bankers will throw some light on what small businesses can expect in 2017.

What lies for SMEs

Here are some facts. First, numerous small companies with financial and business problems were wiped out last year and owners skipped town. Second, dozens of larger companies who were engaged in serious “kite flying” or “accommodation” (fake) transactions to raise bank debt for non-business purposes suffered the same fate.

Third, many of those companies which had raised increasing amounts of debt with the express objective of defrauding banks also skipped. And lastly, thinly capitalised, over geared but genuine companies, operating in badly affected industries, were also wiped out. Banks, for a variety of reasons, lost money.

So, does this all mean that the Augean stables have been cleansed? That this exorcism by bad debts represents a thorough purgatorial expungement of toxic debt? Many bankers think the bulk of the cleansing is done as evidenced by the decreasing number (and pace) of skips. That things have settled.

Lurking problems

This may well be partly true, but there are problems lurking around the corner, certainly not to the same scale as witnessed during the last 12 months, but certainly on the horizon.

Our experience in working with SMES, in assisting them with raising bank finance and advising on restructuring their bank facilities (for those under stress), has been extremely revealing.

First, the challenging environment continues to belabour hundreds of firms that continue to lose money, while putting on a brave but foolish front of being profitable.

Second, innumerable companies (especially the larger ones which show annual sales of Dh100 million to Dh150 million) carry large holes in their balance-sheets, resulting from business losses, diversion of funds and so on, camouflaged by falsified numbers.

Third, these holes are impossible for statutory auditors to detect, even if they had the intention to do so. Auditor firms are supposed to audit books of accounts presented by management and test procedures and practices adopted. They are not forensic fraud investigators, and expecting them to unearth these holes is fallacious and wishful thinking.

Fourth, companies with hollow financials are not necessarily in default with banks. There could be occasional signs of stress, but eternal hope, borrowings from loan sharks and creative accounting keeps the truth at bay.

What should SMEs do?

What does this all mean for banks and their lending strategy for 2017? Based on anecdotal evidence and our own due diligence work conducted for banks, I think we will see defaults among the larger SMEs as the problems have by no means disappeared. This will continue through the remainder of this year and into the next.

Bankers also suspect this and therefore will err on the side of caution. Banks will carry out more due diligence, ask more questions, react at the slightest hint of trouble and will be edgy. Borrowers will not receive the benefit of doubt.

What should SME owners do? Our advice to those we are working with has been to admit there are problems and have open discussions with banks by surfacing issues.

Practicality will determine how this should be handled, but frankly, now is a good time to adopt this strategy. Fear of banks’ reactions is justified, but banks are willing to listen now.

Delaying matters and having the problem explode in your faces later will not buy any sympathy from banks in the near future.

The writer is the head of Vianta Advisors

Source- Gulf News

Best passports in the world revealed in new index

New index ranks countries based on number of places citizens can visit without visa or with visa on arrival

Image Credit: Gulf News Archive

Picture for illustrative purposes only

Dubai: UAE nationals have the most powerful passport in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, with swift entry to 120 countries around the globe, according to the latest power rankings by a financial consultancy firm.

Arton Capital’s passport index, announced on Wednesday, ranks countries based on the number of destinations their citizens can travel to without a visa or with a visa on arrival.

The UAE passport holds the 27th position globally and 60th on the individual ranking. Within the GCC, the UAE is followed by Kuwait, which grants access to 80 countries, in the second place.

The Qatari passport takes the third position, allowing holders relatively easy entry to 75 countries. In the fourth place is Bahrain (71 countries), followed by Saudi Arabia in the fifth position (68 countries) and Oman in the sixth (67 countries).

Overall, Germany takes the crown as the most powerful passport, with a visa-free score of 157, followed by Sweden, Finland, Italy and Switzerland.

The American  passport occupies the fourth rank, together with Austria, Portugal, Luxemburg and Singapore. USA passport entitles holders to visit 154 countries without visa, or with visa on arrival.

View image on Twitter

 

Dubai Media Office 

✔@DXBMediaOffice

#UAE passports ranked 27th in the Global Passport Power Rank 2016, with visa-free travel to 120 countries

10:28 PM - 6 Apr 2016

 
•  6767 Retweets
 
•  7171 likes

Canadian passport holders can visit 152 countries visa-free, which ranks them 6th together with New Zealand.

In Asia, the most powerful is that of South Korea, ranked 3rd, with a visa-free score of 155, followed by Singapore (4th), Japan (5th) and Malaysia (8th).

Source: Arton Capital - Gulf News

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Top 10 Reasons to do Business in Dubai

Dubai is a cosmopolitan city of diversity and contrasts at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. Our city is a vibrant and unique destination, combining variety and excitement with excellent infrastructure and first-class hotels, as well as conference, dining, shopping and entertainment facilities. Dubai brings together the highest standards of comfort and convenience with the traditional adventure of Arabia. From bustling souks, to towering skyscrapers, to the vast desert, Dubai is an ideal location for any business event.

Why choose Dubai? Here are the top ten reasons:

1. Global Aviation Hub
Dubai International Airport is ranked second in the world for international passenger traffic with over 7,000 weekly flights. The airport is operated by 125 airlines that connect to over 260 destinations across the globe. Dubai’s new airport, Al Maktoum International Airport in Jebel Ali, will have the capacity to handle 160 million passengers when it’s fully operational. Currently, phase one has been completed.

Emirates Airlines is Dubai’s flag carrier with flights to and from over 140 destinations worldwide, and flydubai has also become the world’s fastest start-up airline since its launch in 2008, flying to more than 65 destinations across the GCC, Asia, Africa, India and parts of Europe.

2. World-Class Infrastructure
Who ever imagined a small Arab village would become the powerhouse it is today? Dubai boasts well-maintained roads and excellent public transport and connectivity, including the state-of-the-art Dubai Metro — just some of the services you can expect here.

3. Venues For Meetings and Conventions
We have a wide option of flexible business event facilities, from meeting rooms for 10 people to convention halls for thousands. Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) has 90,000+ square metres of exhibition and meeting space and is only a 10-minute drive or a Metro Red line ride from the airport. In addition, arrays of hotels in Dubai offer high quality and sizeable meeting space.

4. Hotels
Choose from one of our premium, standard or budget hotels, all of which have excellent conference and meeting facilities. There are currently more than 625 hotels with more than 85,000 hotel rooms. Current estimates show that the end of 2016 expects 20,000 to 30,000 more rooms.

5. Business Growth Opportunities
Thanks to our ideal location, excellent connectivity and extensive services to help you with all aspects of your business, Dubai has become a centre of trade and commerce for the Middle East. Our government is pro-business with the most transparent business regulations in the region, and provides tax-free zones, first-class physical infrastructure, and access to an experienced and skilled labour force. With the newly established Dubai Association Centre, the Emirate now has a platform that lets you easily set up an international association here, whether it’s a headquarters or a regional office.

6. Knowledge Hub
Dubai is a growing knowledge hub that includes a significant number of universities and research centres committed to paving the way for technological and scientific advancements. Dubai Silicon Oasis offers state-of-the-art research, development, and industrial facilities, while Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park is the leading life sciences cluster in the Middle East. In addition, Dubai Healthcare City is home to over 4,000 licensed professionals in two hospitals, and over 120 outpatient medical centres and diagnostic labouratories occupying 4.1 million square feet in the heart of Dubai.

7. Safety
Rated by Interpol as one of the safest cities in the world, Dubai offers a crime-free and politically stable environment. Delegates also have access to state-of-the-art health facilities and paramedics in hotels.

8. Adventures and Experiences
Adrenaline-pumping desert safaris, luxurious spa breaks, sumptuous meals, relaxing dhow cruises, high-octane skydives and exhilarating waterpark rides — these are just some of the unique experiences Dubai offers its guests. You’ll find that our city is one of contrasts, and our people a great mix of cultures. The meeting point of old and new provides a cultural experience deeply rooted in Arabic tradition, set in a modern environment.

9. Restaurants and Entertainment
From Arabic to Asian, French to Mexican, and everything in between, Dubai offers food lovers a tantalising array of mouthwatering options to delight your taste buds. The city is known for its vibrant nightlife and entertainment scene, a place where you can relax at blissful beach clubs or watch one of the world’s most exciting horse races.

10. Experienced Industry Support
The Dubai Bid Alliance, chaired by Dubai Business Events, provides professional organisers and conference managers a unique bid package that includes incentives, specific discounts, pre-negotiated rates, and harmonised terms and conditions from Dubai stakeholders.

Source: visitdubai

Sheikh Mohammed’s top tweets on The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, was at the ground-breaking of The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour, on Monday evening.

Workers started construction on The Tower in Dubai Creek Harbour, which will overtake Burj Khalifa as the world’s tallest tower, at a cost of $1 billion.

Sheikh Mohammed took to Twitter after the event. Here’s what he had to say:

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HH Sheikh Mohammed 

✔@HHShkMohd

Today we placed the foundation stone of what will stand as the world's highest man-made structure by 2020, the Dubai Creek Tower.

9:28 PM - 10 Oct 2016

 
•  1,0581,058 Retweets
 
•  1,8281,828 likes

View image on Twitter

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HH Sheikh Mohammed 

✔@HHShkMohd

The new tower sets another challenge in the history of human architecture: a race the UAE deserves to lead.

9:29 PM - 10 Oct 2016

 
•  1,4751,475 Retweets
 
•  2,2692,269 likes

View image on Twitter

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HH Sheikh Mohammed 

✔@HHShkMohd

We strive for new achievements.
A new heart for our city and global landmark. Humankind has no ceiling or border but our imagination

9:30 PM - 10 Oct 2016

 
•  1,2841,284 Retweets
 
•  2,7712,771 likes

SOURCE: 7days