Tag Archives: horse-racing
DoT urges Abu Dhabi residents to register watercraft
DoT urges Abu Dhabi residents to register watercraft Staff Reporter / 18 August 2013 The DoT has set a clear and easy personal watercraft (Jet Ski) registration process through which owners visit the Unified Centre in the Mina area to complete the inspection of their craft, followed by filling out a registration application by owners or representatives (with Power of Attorney). Owners have been told to bring along a number of valid documents to ensure a smooth registration process including copies of UAE identity cards; bill of sale (or any other proof of ownership); customs clearance certificates (if applicable); valid insurance policy for 13 months issued by a licensed insurer in the UAE, in addition to any other documents that the DoT may deem necessary for registration and licensing of personal watercrafts. Furthermore, the DoT has announced the areas in which watercrafts are not allowed in Abu Dhabi waters due to safety and/or environmental considerations. These PWC-prohibted waters are the Corniche, Al Bateen, Ras Al Akhdar, Al Maqta Khor, North Saadiyat Island (in which motorised boats are also not allowed) and Al Raha Beach. In all other PWC-allowed waters, personal watercraft users are required by law to observe speed limits, marine signs and all other rules related to the use of Personal Watercrafts (Jet Ski). DoT’s acting director of the Maritime Sector Humaid Saber Al Hameli said: “The registration of watercrafts highlights the DoT’s commitment to enabling a larger segment of PWC owners to practise their water activities in accordance with standards that ensure highest levels of safety, security and protection of watercraft owners, other water users as well as natural and environment-sensitive areas in Abu Dhabi. “This registration process as well as decisions issued by Abu Dhabi relating to licensing and registering watercrafts aim to optimise the rapidly growing status of the emirate as one of the key destinations for water sports.” The DoT has also recently begun the registration of watercrafts owned by rental companies available for hire to the public. Reacting to the announcement, French resident of the Capital Vivien Martinez said, “I would think it’s an annoyance for any owner to have to pay extra costs and go through a bureaucratic process to register their motorsport vehicle, but I do not own one, so I can’t tell for sure.” As a “beach pedestrian”, it’s a good thing that motor boats and jet skis would be kept away from the shores of public beaches, she said. “There are often jet ski riders going at high speed and playing about close to the beaches just to show off. That in itself wouldn’t bother me, but it’s not safe. There are people swimming about and these jet skis don’t see them sometimes — several times I’ve seen near-fatal accidents.” silvia@khaleejtimes.com (With inputs from Wam) Continue reading
Dh500,000 up for grabs
Dh500,000 up for grabs Staff Reporter (silvia@khaleejtimes.com) / 14 August 2013 The Abu Dhabi Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex) will give away over half a million dirhams to winners of its several competitions to be held on September 4-7 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. This year, the competitions include Arabic coffee brewing, Nabati Poetry and hunting, and equestrian and heritage-related photography and painting. “To qualify for these competitions, local entries must be submitted before August 28, while international ones should be submitted by September 1 at the latest,” announced Abdulla Al Qubaisi, director of Adihex. As in previous years, participants for the Arabic coffee competition are allowed to enter late, prior to show opening. For the past few editions, Emirati Bedouin men have dominated this competition, which is one of the most popular attractions at Adihex as participants sing and sometimes share stories of the past while roasting, grinding and brewing the coffee beans. Additionally, Adihex will host a competition for the best falcons bred in captivity in the categories of Gyr-Horr (Peregrine), Gyr Shahin and Male Gyr, overseen by the Emirates Falconers’ Club, as well as a competition for the most beautiful hunting saluki in the two categories of Hoss (smooth) and Reesh (feathered). Painting and photography competitions are open to amateur and professional artists of all nationalities, and are restricted to one piece of artwork per artist in any of these categories: falconry, equestrian or UAE Heritage. All artworks received will be handed to a special viewing committee which, along with the exhibition higher committee, will have the right to refuse any artwork that does not meet the requirements; a special jury committee will then choose the winners in each category — painting and photography. “The 11 th edition of Adihex will see an array of heritage and cultural activities, and is expected to attract nearly 100,000 visitors of all ages, who share the passion for the unique UAE heritage,” added Al Qubaisi. These include a museum style display of local customs and traditions in the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority’s pavilion, where there will be demonstrations of Emirati sewing, weaving and cooking, along with showcasing the fishing and pearling traditions of the past. Full details about the competitions and rules are available on www.adihex.net . Continue reading
It’s a pricey affair
It’s a pricey affair Staff Reporter / 13 August 2013 Students in the UAE continue to opt for engineering and business programmes, new research confirms — though the UAE is the most expensive place to attend university in emerging economies. According to the research by HSBC Bank, business and engineering are the two most popular degrees amongst university students in the UAE. The research was done in eight key markets around the world and it examined the most popular university courses, the cost of studying and comparisons between different social and economic factors driving these choices. It revealed that students in new or emerging markets were much more likely to study vocational subjects at university than their counterparts in developed countries. The UAE, in particular, has among the highest proportions of individuals choosing vocational subjects, with 84 per cent of students in the country’s top ten courses selecting Business, Engineering, Law, Medical & Health Sciences and IT to study. In the UK, USA and Canada, the trend is opposite with more students opting for non-vocational courses, including humanities and social sciences with fewer than 60 per cent choosing vocational courses. Economic activities in each country appeared to affect the choice of programmes opted for. Students in the UAE tend to enroll in courses that lead to specific in-demand jobs in the country, which is seen as an important route to good careers and financial prosperity over the course of a lifetime. With infrastructure and construction spending to reach more than Dh480 billion by 2016, nearly double the amount in 2011, students are looking to be part of the UAE’s ongoing growth, which is driving interest in Business and Engineering courses. One of the key insights highlighted by the research is that while the cost of Higher Education is higher in developed countries, notably 81 per cent of GDP per person in countries such as Canada, there is less emphasis on studying courses that lead to a greater “return on investment” in terms of long-term job prospects. Students in economies such as the UK, USA and Canada are being drawn to courses that support their ageing demographic populations, such as Medicine, Nursing and Social Sciences. In contrast, students in emerging economies such as the UAE, Singapore and Hong Kong are more interested in courses that develop skills to meet the growing needs of boom sectors such as Engineering. In the UAE, the cost of studying is equivalent to 51 per cent of GDP per person and an average of $27,375 per year including university fees and living expenses — the highest amongst the emerging economies. When considering the costs of education in the country, students look to reap the benefits of a degree that provides a greater “return on investment” in terms of graduate employment. HSBC Bank Middle East Limited’s head of retail banking and wealth management in the UAE Rick Crossman said: “As higher education increasingly becomes one of the most important investments people can make in their lifetimes, either for themselves or their children, they have to realise the importance of being financially prepared for this goal. This is particularly pertinent in the UAE where we see a greater focus on vocational degrees, which require significant investment.” – muaz@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
