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Abu Dhabi airport to get VIP terminal
Abu Dhabi airport to get VIP terminal (Wam) / 19 August 2013 A VIP terminal is set to open at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the coming months, and whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, the luxury surroundings, private drop off area and dedicated team of staff will be on hand to ensure a relaxing start to your trip. As part of its Capacity Enhancement Programme (CEP) and in line with its ambition to provide a world class travel experience, Abu Dhabi Airports Company will open the VIP terminal which will be available to all interested travellers. The terminal will be operated by National Aviation Services (NAS), an internationally recognised aviation services provider, which also provides Golden Class services in Terminals 1 and 3. Through the VIP terminal, passengers will experience a unique personalised service ensuring completion of all travel procedures in the fastest manner possible while enjoying a range of services within the private terminal. Scheduled to open its doors in the 4th quarter of 2013, the VIP terminal will be available to all passengers flying to and from Abu Dhabi International Airport at a pre-set fee, and will offer added privacy, convenience and luxury — a completely new proposition. The terminal will have its own facilities, separate from those of Terminals 1 and 3, which include a dedicated drop off area, with a new road being built specially to accommodate it, and will also provide separate immigration, police and baggage handling services to its passengers. Chief Commercial Officer at Abu Dhabi International Airport Mohammed Al Bulooki, said: “Abu Dhabi Airports Company is committed to providing the best services to airlines and passengers despite the existing capacity challenges. In 2012, the airport saw an 18.9 per cent growth in passenger traffic compared with 2011; and, with the strong growth registered to date this year, traffic in the upcoming years is expected to follow the same if not an increased growth trend.” He added that the new VIP terminal, spanning 924 square feet, will add to the handling capacity of the airport, accommodating the foreseen growth. Guests using the new terminal will be welcomed and escorted by a special services NAS agent to facilitate check-in, baggage and immigration procedures, as well as escort guests to and from the aircraft directly utilising a limousine service. NAS’s chief executive officer Hassan El Houry said: “NAS is proud to partner with Abu Dhabi Airports Company once again in our mutual endeavour to offer passengers world class luxury and a unique travel experience. The VIP Terminal will…provide style and sophistication for travellers, on par with the best airports in the world. With its seamless immigration and baggage handling services, and private limousine services directly to and from the aircraft, the VIP Terminal is set to take “travel in style” to the next level.” Continue reading
Mohammed: Bureaucracy inhibits innovation
Mohammed: Bureaucracy inhibits innovation (Wam) / 19 August 2013 His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has said bureaucracy and routine are counter-productive and inhibit innovation and excellence, referring to the importance of developing government administrative work. “Let us be advocates of innovation and excellence. Our mission is to join forces and make our beloved country rank top globally in terms of services provided to citizens,” he said, as he paid an inspection visit to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) on Sunday. Shaikh Mohammed, Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed and Lt-Gen Shaikh Saif bin Zayed looking at the old passports displayed at Al Dana Museum in the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai on Sunday. — Wam Shaikh Mohammed underlined the significance of tolerance and respect for the rights of people irrespective of their religion or ethnicity, stressing the value of enriching the welcoming experience for visitors who enter the country by means of air, sea and land. During the visit, Shaikh Mohammed was briefed on the efforts being made to streamline workflow at the directorate. He was accompanied by Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Lt-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Lt-General Musabbah Rashid Al Fattan, Director of the Office of the Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director- General of Dubai Protocol and Hospitality Department; Major-General Nasser Lakhraibani Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister; and a number of senior officials. Shaikh Mohammed was also accompanied during his tour to the departments and sections GDRFA Director-General Major-General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, who briefed him on the transactions carried out by various sections at the department. Al Marri pointed out the efforts and technology adopted by the GDRFA to streamline workflow with aims to reduce transaction time to a minimum and raise output. Shaikh Mohammed stopped at the Entry Permits and Visa Department, where he was briefed on the daily work carried out by the employees before visiting the Online section where transactions are processed swiftly. Shaikh Mohammed inspected the numerous facilities designed to make people’s visit to the department as comfortable as possible such as the waiting places dedicated for women. He also stopped at Al Dana Museum within the GDRFA headquarters which displays passports dating back to the establishment of the UAE. The Electronics Services Department was the next stop where Shaikh Mohammed listened to a briefing on the various projects carried out by the department such as the electronic link project with different Dubai Government entities. The department successfully processed over five million e-Transactions and received over 500,000 SMS service requests through “Jadid” service last year. During the first quarter of this year, the GDRFA processed more than three million e-Transactions and received more than 400,000 SMS service requests. He also stopped at the Call Centre operated by GDRFA staff. Shaikh Mohammed expressed satisfaction with the high level of proficiency the GDRFA staff had and their dedication to their work which, in turn, reflected the civilised and advanced status of public services in the UAE. Continue reading
Egypt army chief says new clashes won’t be tolerated
Egypt army chief says new clashes won’t be tolerated 19 August 2013 Egypt’s military leader vowed on Sunday that the army will not tolerate further political violence after nationwide clashes that left hundreds dead, as security forces detained Muslim Brotherhood members in raids aimed at disrupting planned rallies. Defence Minister Gen Abdel Fatah El Sissi, who led the July 3 coup that toppled President Mohammed Mursi, again said the army has no intention of seizing power in the Arab world’s most populous country. El Sissi removed Mursi after four days of mass rallies by millions of Egyptians who demanded the president step down. “We will not stand by silently watching the destruction of the country and the people or the torching the nation and terrorising the citizens,” he said in a speech aired on state television. The general said that the military didn’t seek power but instead “have the honour to protect the people’s will — which is much dearer (than) ruling Egypt.” El Sissi also said Islamists must be included in the country’s politics moving forward. A military timetable calls for the nation’s constitution to be amended and for presidential and parliamentary elections to be held in 2014. “We have given many chances … to end the crisis peacefully and call for the followers of the former regime to participate in rebuilding the democratic track and integrate in the political process and the future map instead of confrontations and destroying the Egyptian state,” he told a gathering of top military commanders and police chiefs. El Sissi’s remarks come ahead of an anticipated harsher stance by the military-backed government toward the Brotherhood. The Cabinet held an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss potentially banning the group, a long-outlawed organisation that swept to power in the country’s first democratic elections a year ago. A possible ban — which authorities say would be implemented over the group’s use of violence — would be a repeat of the decades-long struggle between the state and the Brotherhood. It also would drain the group’s financial resources and allow for mass arrests of its members. That likely would diminish the chances of a negotiated solution to the crisis and push it again underground. The Brotherhood, however, has shown no signs of backing down. Under the banner of an anti-coup alliance, the group said it will hold a demonstration in front of the Supreme Constitutional Court in southern Cairo later Sunday. Authorities already stationed armoured vehicles and troops at the building, which could turn into another focal point of street violence. The Brotherhood faces increasing public criticism and blame over the ongoing violence in Egypt. Sheik Ahmed Al Tayyeb, the powerful head of Al Azhar mosque, issued an audio statement asking Brotherhood members to stop the violence. “The scenes of violence will not grant you any rights and the bloodshed nor chaos spreading across the country will give you no legitimacy,” Al Tayyeb said. The violence in Egypt also has sparked deep concerns worldwide. Egypt also lost one of the few doves in the country’s military-backed administration as Mohammed El Baradei, who resigned as vice-president in protest of the use of force against Mursi’s supporters, left Cairo for Vienna on Sunday. Continue reading
