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Indian expat community marks Republic Day in style
Indian expat community marks Republic Day in style Sajila Saseendran / 27 January 2014 Thousands of Indian students showcase the unity in diversity of their country on its 65th Republic Day. Indian Republic Day celebrations at Indian High School in Dubai on Sunday. – KT photos by Shihab Thousands of Indian students donned the roles of cultural ambassadors on Sunday morning, showcasing the unity in diversity of their country on its 65th Republic Day. The over two million-strong Indian community, which forms the largest expatriate group in the UAE, celebrated the day to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India as the governing document of the world’s largest democracy on 26 January, 1950. The official celebrations in Abu Dhabi took place at the premises of the Indian Embassy. The Indian Ambassador to the UAE, TP Seetharam, raised the national flag in the presence of over 800 Indians from all walks of life. A large group of Indian workers also attended the event during which the envoy read out excerpts from the Indian president Pranab Mukherjee’s address to the nation on the eve of the Republic Day. In Dubai, the official celebrations took place at the Indian High School (IHS) following a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Indian Consulate. Chairman of IHS, L.M. Pancholia, welcomed the gathering comprising children’s parents, senior members of the community and consular officials. Consul-General of India in Dubai, Anurag Bhushan, unfurled the tricolour and hoisted it once again at the event in the IHS. This was followed by recital of the National Anthem by the school choir. A march-past of 243 students followed, adding grandeur to the celebration. Speaking on the occasion, the Consul-General said: “This is a special day to remember the sacrifices of our founding fathers who participated in the freedom struggle, and the members of the armed forces who guard our borders.” He also read extracts from the President’s address, which highlighted the importance of the democratic set up of the country. “India’s true strength lies in her republic; in the courage of her commitment, the sagacity of her constitution, and the patriotism of her people. 1950 saw the birth of our Republic. I am sure that 2014 will be the year of resurgence,” it said. The president’s message also reminded Indians the need for introspection and action to re-discover the sense of national purpose and patriotism. Showcasing the young generation’s patriotic spirit, nearly 2,000 students from IHS Dubai’s junior and senior campuses and the International Indian High School in Silicon Oasis presented colourful and synchronised performances. The theme for this year’s celebrations revolved around a message: “Let there be progress, peace and prosperity…Mere Bharat, Yashaswi Bhava!” The two-hour long performances, which also saw boys dressed up as India’s freedom fighters, concluded with the children holding placards saying ‘Our People…Our Strength’ and “Bravo Dubai” for the Expo 2020 win. NM Aboobaker, whose son participated in a performance, said the performances by the students wearing the tricolour and ethnic attires of various Indian states were splendid. “When people in Delhi get to see the performances of adults, it is the children over here who perform to the tunes of patriotic songs and rekindle the nostalgic feelings and nationalistic emotions of the expatriates.” For Rosy George, one of the senior most teachers in the school, whose birthday falls on Republic Day, the celebrations in Dubai always made her feel at home. “I have been here for 33 years and these functions make me feel as if I am in India,” said the head of the English Department in the Senior Girls’ Section who was seen being wished by students on her 60th birthday. sajila@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Projects to improve roads in Godolphin and Zabeel areas
Projects to improve roads in Godolphin and Zabeel areas Staff Reporter / 26 January 2014 Directives issued to rename Al Khail First Road as Al Saadah Road. The Al Saada Road extends about 7.5km linking Shaikh Rashid Road and Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard Road. — Supplied photo Inspired by the nature of the district, Al Khail First Road has been renamed Al Saada Road which means happiness in Arabic. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has also ordered improvement of two parallel road projects in the Godolphin and Zabeel areas costing about Dh1 billion, according to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The now Al Saada Road extends about 7.5km linking the Shaikh Rashid Road and the Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard Road and is inspired by the nature of the district which harbours towering facilities including the Executive Council of Dubai, Dubai World Trade Centre, Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall in addition to an array of hotels and tourist attractions. Starting from a point nearby the World Trade Centre, Al Saada Road passes by the Dubai Financial Center and stretches up to the downtown Burj Khalifa. “These vital facilities bring welfare and happiness to citizens, residents and tourists alike,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA. “This classifies the UAE as one of the happiest countries on earth,” Al Tayer said that the Parallel Roads Improvement Project in Godolphin area would be undertaken in the last quarter of this year. “It requires about 30 months to complete and costs about Dh900 million,” he added. The project comprises construction of several roads, bridges and tunnels to ensure smooth traffic flow on the parallel roads and alleviate congestions in the neighbourhood. “It is considered an extension to Al Asayel Road and Al Saada Road aimed to support the existing roads in the Business Bay district improve the traffic services and provide entry and exit options for the area stretching along the Shaikh Zayed and Al Khail Roads besides linking with the surrounding communities such as Al Qouz, Zabeel and Jumeirah,” continued Al Tayer. The eastern Parallel Roads Project at Zabeel will be an extension of the Al Asayel Road and will cost about Dh100 million. Work on the project is set to start as early as February 2014 and will continue for 210 days. “The project links the Business Bay district with the existing Oud Metha Road through the underpasses of the Financial Centre Road and Zabeel 2 Road. This new road extends 3km and comprises three lanes in each direction,” said Al Tayer. “In future it will be linked with the Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed crossing through a bridge passing over Oud Metha Road to link Bur Dubai with The Lagoons, Al Warqaa, Nad Al Hammar and the International City. The project works include ceramic cladding and lighting of the underpasses of the Financial Centre Road and Zabeel Road,” he added. news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Dubai real estate brokers earn Dh1.8b in commission
Dubai real estate brokers earn Dh1.8b in commission Staff Report / 26 January 2014 Total real estate sales for 2013 accounted for Dh93.2 billion Buoyant property sector helped earned Dubai real estate brokers Dh1.8 billion in commission last year, the Dubai Land Department (DLD) revealed in a statement on Saturday. The figure encompasses the amount of commission earned by property brokers registered in the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera), DLD’s regulatory arm, with the sum representing two per cent of the total value of recorded deals. “We have seen these high commissions because of the increased activity in the real estate market and in other economic sectors across Dubai,” said Yousif Al Hashimi, deputy chief executive officer of Rera. “The impressive figure is mainly due to the optimistic atmosphere among investors, particularly over the past few months period ….. that saw many regulatory initiatives launched by DLD and also witnessed Dubai’s winning bid to host Expo 2020,” he added. A recent report issued by DLD revealed that the total real estate sales for 2013 reached Dh93.2 billion, with transactions comprising all sales operations, such as selling usufruct, registering deferred sales and registering land addition by sale. The figure was calculated from the recorded buying and selling of different types of real estate units, including apartments, hotels and commercial offices in freehold areas. “We are keen to follow the highest standards of quality in order to guarantee the rights of all dealers in the market, as well as ensuring the implementation of transactions in an easy, smooth and accurate way,” said Al Hashimi. “We are able to achieve this by tracking all activities through our comprehensive database, which records all real estate activities across the emirate,” he added. Al Hashimi reiterated that no individual or company is permitted to work in real estate brokerage unless they are officially registered with Rera, pursuant to Regulation No 85 issued in 2006. This mandatory requirement identifies the names of individuals and companies engaged in property brokerage and records the rights and responsibilities of all stakeholders in the market. This stipulation, he said, is essential to ensure maximum transparency and competitiveness within Dubai’s property sector, as well contributing significantly to DLD’s efforts to be the first choice global real estate environment for attracting investment. — abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
