Tag Archives: opinion
Now get Dubai Customs on your smartphones
Now get Dubai Customs on your smartphones Staff Reporter / 3 October 2013 With the services sector being a key competitive advantage that draws investors and traders to Dubai, Dubai Customs has upgraded into a “smart” department to hone the edge. Now Dubai Customs services are available through mobile phones 24/7, a leap from its earlier e-services. This is part of the initiatives to support the UAE’s bid to host Expo 2020. Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and Director General of Dubai Customs, made the announcement at a Press conference on Wednesday, saying the transformation was in accordance with the integrated vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The vision is of a “Smart Government” that “is readily accessible to people and does not burden the user, one that works 24/7 and 365 days a year and provides its services through mobile phones”. Dubai Customs’ integrated system will allow clients to submit their requests through mobile phones and ensure that the requested services are processed on reception. The department sends emails to clients immediately, telling them when the work will be done. It helps businesses become cost-effective since the process takes less time and effort. It also eliminates the need for human resources to follow up on the implementation. Butti said the smart government services started with a 100-day plan that took into account the high competitiveness of the UAE, along with its regional and international economic role. Now clients using smartphones can get 19 main services with a variety of sub services. “This procedure saves time as we reach clients rather than be reached by them, and we provide our services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” Butti said. “The customer service centres of Dubai Customs are now located on clients’ smartphones.” Smart services also help eliminate the use of paper documents and save the original documents needed for administrative procedures. This has been one of the main goals in employing the latest IT applications. Dubai Customs was the first government department in Dubai to provide all its services electronically in 2009. Jumaa’ Al Ghaith, Executive Director of Customs Development division, said the smart system ensures that managers and directors at different managerial levels supervise the timely implementation and delivery of services. A committee oversees the development and improvement of the services of the smart government. It comprises all concerned divisions and departments in Dubai Customs. The plan is to encourage customers to switch to smart services so that they save time and effort, along with lessening the need for human resources to follow up on customs transactions. These benefits, in turn, result in reduced business costs and higher revenue. news@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
An artistic twist to the Expo bid
An artistic twist to the Expo bid Staff Reporter / 30 September 2013 The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) hosted a three-day event at the renowned Institut Du Monde Arabe (IMA), the Arab World Insitute, in Paris in support of the 2020 World Expo bid. The event featured artworks and talks by Emirati and UAE-based artists and cultural figures, depicting stories of human connections in the city of Dubai, the launch of the second edition of ‘Dubai Next’, held under the patronage of Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture. The cultural delegation from the UAE at The Louvre in Paris, during their visit to support Dubai’s bid for World Expo 2020. — Supplied photo Using Le Mobile Art Pavilion, designed by Zaha Hadid as a platform for this international dialogue, the programme provided vivid insights into the region’s art industry and was attended by some of the UAE’s leading cultural figures, including, Mohammed Al Murr, Chairman of the UAE Federal National Council; Abdul Ghaffar Hussain, Chairman of the UAE Human Rights Association; Bilal Al Budoor, Assistant Deputy of Arts and Culture, Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Community Development; Dhaen Shahin, Director-General for Publishing, Dubai Media Incorporated and Chief Editor of Al Bayan newspaper; Ali Obaid Al Hamli, President of the News Division of Dubai Media Incorporated; Hussain Al Jazeeri, Lawyer and Honorary President of the French Association of the UAE; Ahmed Issa Al Serkal, President and Founder of Al Serkal Avenue; Abdulqader Al Rais, artist; and from Dubai Culture, Dr. Salah Al Qassim, Advisor to Dubai Culture, and Khalil Abdulwahid, Manager of Visual Arts of Dubai Culture. The UAE has a thriving cultural industry and very strong links with France, ‘Dubai Next’ in Paris is a demonstration of the partnership between the two countries. The work Dubai Culture has done to support the UAE’s bid for Dubai Expo 2020 has helped reiterate Dubai’s global position as a hub for collaboration and creativity. With nearly 200 different nationalities who live in Dubai and call it their home, the UAE can bring a unique cultural plurality to World Expo. At the same time, a World Expo in Dubai in 2020 will play an important role in spearheading and supporting the continued development and growth of the vibrant cultural scene in Dubai and across the region. An expo in Dubai would take place on the eve of the UAE’s 50th anniversary, starting countrywide celebrations. It would also be the first time that a World Expo is held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, presenting a significant opportunity. Dubai is competing against three other candidate cities in its bid to host the World Expo in 2020. news@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Abu Dhabi to begin work on Dh7.4b highways
Abu Dhabi to begin work on Dh7.4b highways Staff Reporter / 30 September 2013 The Department of Transport (DoT) will soon commence the construction of new Mafraq-Ghuwaifat and Abu Dhabi-Dubai highways with a budget of Dh7.4 billion. The announcement comes following the approval by the Executive Council during its recent meeting presided over by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Council. The Council authorised the DoT to appoint contractors to execute both projects. The 327 kilometres Mafraq-Ghuwaifat main road is expected to be accomplished by 2017 and extends it Mafraq to the international border linking the UAE with Saudi Arabia in Ghuwaifat. It also passes through the Industrial Centre in Ruwais and some tourist and commercial locations in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. About 80 kilometres of this road linking Baynounah Forest (East of Ruwais with Baraka to the west of Ruwais towards Silaa) was built in 2011. The project, parallel to the existing highway, encompasses constructing four new lanes in each direction from Mafraq to Baraka. Then, three lanes in each direction, but the road will expand to four lanes in each direction in the 22 kilometres closest to the borders with Saudi Arabia. In addition, the new road will be raised to avoid undesired impacts of underwater whilst helping drain rainwater and boost the road capacity to withstand the expected increase of number of vehicles. The road median has been designed to accommodate two future lanes in each direction, if needed. The project will also see the construction of (15) new upper interchanges with different engineering designs in Musaffah, Al Dhafra, ICAD, Tarif, Al Mirfa East and Al Mirfa West. Existing interchanges in Mafraq, Hamim, Abu Al Abbyad, and Madinat Zayed will also be modified. Mafraq-Ghuwaifat main road will encompass layby(s) (rest stops/side parking) on each direction for both light vehicles and heavy trucks as well as areas for ambulance, police vehicles, petrol stations and weight station. There will be a shoulder on the right of both directions for emergencies, a fence to protect road users and new sustainability-approved and energy-saving road lightening systems will be made. Concurrently, the DoT also unveiled that it is gearing up for the new Abu Dhabi-Dubai (E311) main road of 62 kilometres costing Dh2.1 billion. The project, parallel to existing Abu Dhabi-Dubai (E11) main road, extends from Mohammed bin Zayed Road in Seih Showaib through Al Maha Forest and Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) and will join up at the Suweihan Road (E20). The road is also expected to be accomplished by 2017. This project aims to alleviate traffic congestion on the current main road connecting Abu Dhabi to Dubai (E11), as studies show that traffic will go up from 700 vehicles per hour at peak time to more than 12,000 vehicles in 2030. For optimal road safety, the new Abu Dhabi-Dubai main road will feature four lanes in each direction; two shoulders on both right sides of the road and the wide median is designed for a staged upgrade and future expansion if needed. Six upper interchanges will be built. To ensure maximum safety, the new main road will come with a rainwater drainage system and will benefit from ample lighting system at night which follows best sustainable standards of reducing energy consumption. -news@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
