Tag Archives: opinion
Permit must to display, sell Iftar snacks outside shops
Permit must to display, sell Iftar snacks outside shops Staff Reporter / 4 July 2013 The Dubai Municipality has issued strict instructions to the owners of food establishments who plan to sell snacks outside the shops during the holy month of Ramadan which is just a week away. The instructions issued by the Food Control Department have been directed to all restaurants, cafeterias, sweet shops, bakeries and catering companies in Dubai. Director of the Food Control Department Khalid Mohammed Sharief Al Awadhi said all food outlets that intend to display and or sell food outside their premises should take prior approval from the department. These permits can be obtained from the Dubai Municipality Centre at Al Twar for a fee of Dh210. “As we are preparing to observe the holy month from next week, we would like to boost up the mechanism already in place to ensure safety of the food items sold and served in the city,” Al Awadhi said. It’s a tradition to display and sell food items, especially snacks and sweets, outside the outlets during Ramadan. “Without prior and due approval from the Food Control Department, no food establishment would be allowed to display or sell snacks outside their premises. As people are very fond of snack items in their Iftar, there are chances (of them) forgetting from where the stuffs are bought and up to what levels of safety and hygiene they are kept,” the official said. Urging the public to be highly alert when purchasing food items from the displayed areas, Al Awadhi advised them not to buy food from people or businesses that are not authorised to sell them. He also urged the consumers not to store the food long after purchasing. It should be consumed as soon as possible. Health requirements for food sale The Food Control Department of the Dubai Municipality has published the health requirements specifically meant for the display and sale of food items outside the outlets during Ramadan. Published in Arabic, English, Urdu and Malayalam to ensure that message reaches several sections of the people, the main instructions include the following: Food establishments must adhere to the food safety requirements that are relevant to display and sale of foods All foods should be displayed in closed food cabinets that are suitable for food display and storage. Display cabinets must be located in a suitable place adequately protected from external contaminants Food establishments must refrain from preparing, cooking and reheating foods outside the food establishment Food items can be displayed and sold from two hours before Iftar time. No food should be displayed or sold outside the premises after Iftar time It is preferred that final cooking shall be done maximum two hours before the selling time Cold foods should be kept in cold display units and hot foods should be in hot display units. However, if temperature control is not used, the food should be consumed within two hours of preparation Food establishments should maintain temperature and time records for foods that are displayed. news@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
An urban oasis
An urban oasis Staff Reporter / 3 July 2013 The Municipality of Abu Dhabi on Tuesday announced yet another mega project — downtown fusion of an Arabian oasis and modern steel and glass structure — in the heart of the capital city. The municipal department said the urban oasis will offer improved community services and combine retail and recreational facilities, together with parking in Sector E6, between Hamdan Street and Khalifa Street and between Eastern Road and Street 10, in a built-up part of the city. It will be the first in a series of urban oasis developments that the municipality is planning. “The innovative design of this new project will enable the municipality to address the needs to provide a wide range of public facilities in a constrained and highly populated location. The green space and recreational and retail facilities will enhance the image of the city and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors, while at the same time reducing traffic congestion and boost car parking,” said Rashed bin Ali Al Omaira, Advisor Investments and Assets for the General Manager’s Office at the department. The Municipality of Abu Dhabi will formally invite private sector bids in the coming weeks to deliver the two-phased project, which will span an area of 19,000sqm using a build-own-transfer (BOT) model. A benchmark study undertaken by the municipality highlighted that the densely populated Sector E6 area could be enhanced further by adding 3,000sqm of leisure, education and sport facilities. The sector is home to more than 13,000 residents living in around 2,600 apartments, making the area very congested. nissar@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Dubai records significant growth in all key sectors
Dubai records significant growth in all key sectors Staff Report (abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com) / 30 June 2013 Dubai posted significant growth in all key economic sectors in 2012 and the emirate will continue to maintain its position as a regional and global hub for business and finance, according to a latest report from the Dubai Economic Council, or DEC. The report revealed that Dubai’s real economic growth during the last quarter of 2012 increased to 5.3 per cent compared to same quarter in the previous year. This reflects the outcome of the growth in two of Dubai’s key sectors — construction and manufacturing — in addition to transport and storage, wholesale and retail trade, real estate and the financial sector, which altogether contributed to about 90 per cent of Dubai’s gross domestic product. The report stated that there was a decline in the consumer price index, known as inflation, during the fourth quarter of last year by 0.14 per cent compared to the growth in domestic liquidity that amounted to two per cent. The government’s budget deficit fell to less than $2 billion in 2012 as a result of public spending rationalisation. The real estate sector has witnessed significant growth by about 94 per cent compared to the corresponding quarter in 2011. The average price per square metre for apartments has increased to around three per cent compared to the corresponding 2011 quarter. Last year witnessed an unprecedented growth in the tourism sector, which saw tourism indicators increase notable gains. The number of guests in hotel establishments increased by seven per cent compared to the summer of 2011. Tourism activities have contributed in attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from outside of Dubai and the state. According to the report, it also coincided with the preparation of tourist facilities and hotels and apartments buildings which aim to increase tourist numbers, the number of buildings have increased by 200 and hotel rooms by 80,000. The number of tourists has exceeded 10 million for the first time in the emirate. The average length of stay in Dubai hotels has increased by 3.77 nights, and the result of the high occupancy rate saw an 83 per cent increase compared to 79 per cent in the corresponding quarter of 2011. Dubai’s foreign trade during the last quarter of 2012 also witnessed remarkable growth, as imports totalled Dh186 billion compared to Dh117 billion of exports. Total trade at the end of 2012 was about Dh1.234 trillion compared to Dh1.1 trillion at the end of 2011. Free zones continued to play a major role in the emirate’s trade, with total exports and imports of these areas during the fourth quarter of about Dh95 billion, equivalent to 32 per cent of Dubai’s total trade. As for the banking sector and financial markets, the industry has continued to increase deposits and loans in the banks of Dubai. The merger of Emirates Islamic Bank and Dubai Bank has increased the ability to attract deposits. These trends would continue in light of the high level of demand for investment and the return of economic and commercial activity in the emirate. Money markets were up significantly in local indicators. At the sector level, the real estate and construction sectors lead the engine of growth in the Dubai Financial Market, with the financial services and investment sectors following. Continue reading
