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Resist the urge for loans, Mansour tells Emiratis
Resist the urge for loans, Mansour tells Emiratis Muaz Shabandri / 12 February 2014 Shaikh Mohammed launches Ehtmam Web initiative along with the Deputy PM at the end of the plenary session. Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan has urged Emirati citizens to be more careful and prudent when taking loans from banks. “My advice and recommendation to UAE citizens is not to take a loan unless you are in dire need. Take a loan in order to establish your own business and if you are aware of the risks. The citizen has to be aware of this matter and the media can play an important role in highlighting financial guidance,” he said during a plenary session on the second day of The Government Summit on Tuesday. Shaikh Mohammed, in the presence of Shaikh Mansour, inaugurated ‘Ehtmam’, a website of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, on the sidelines of the Dubai Government Summit on Tuesday. Citizens can log on to the website and submit suggestions and ideas aimed at development of local community. — Wam His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Ehtmam Web initiative along with the Deputy PM at the end of the plenary session. The Ehtmam service will help members of the public to submit comments and suggestions on services provided by government entities and give feedback for improving government services. It will also allow residents to raise complaints concerning customer service, problems or unjustified delays in finishing processing the applications or any mistreatment from a government employee. Talking about loans earlier, Shaikh Mansour said: “A bank has certain responsibilities and people who benefit from loans should also be aware of the risks involved. We do realise there are some weaknesses in our laws and we should improve these laws for the sake of UAE,” . In 2012, the government’s initiative to pay off debts by Emiratis reached 1,500 citizens. A total of Dh1.3 billion was paid to banks in 2012 to help heavily indebted ones. In 2013, the number of beneficiaries of the debts settlement fund reached 2,000 citizens and it had paid off Dh2.05 billion. Shaikh Mansour, who is also Minister of Presidential Affairs, acknowledged the efforts of local and international banks and recognised the support extended to the UAE Government. Asked about the Arab spring and its effect on the UAE, the Deputy PM highlighted the openness of the UAE’s leaders to innovation and development. “Throughout our history, the people of the UAE have always been very supportive of the leadership because of the strong bond between the leaders and people.” He added: “When a revolution takes place, there should be a positive outcome. We pray to Allah to stabilise these Arab countries and I hope these countries go back to better conditions. Arabs are welcome in the UAE and we do really exchange our experiences with them. We want to take advantage of their ideas and we have implemented some schemes to benefit from Arab experiences.” During the session, Shaikh Mansour was also asked about the increasing energy needs of the UAE and how the country planned to meet the infrastructure requirements. In reply, he said: “The energy minister is doing a great job in upgrading water and electricity infrastructure. The ratio of increase in demand for energy services is very high and it has reached 12 per cent in some areas of the UAE. Federal institutions have created a 10-year plan and providing water and electricity to all emirates is a priority. These high ratios of increase do not suit the requirements of water and power generation and we have insisted on more cooperation (between federal and city authorities).” muaz@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Dubai airports are ready to see more growth: Ahmed
Dubai airports are ready to see more growth: Ahmed Patrick Michael / 12 February 2014 Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and CEO of Emirates airline and Group, wears many hats with effortless ease. Even as airline and airport operators in other global markets struggle with uncertainty, he is leading the continuing growth of Dubai’s aviation sector, an unprecedented record in times of sectoral volatility. Under his supervision, the senior team of Emirates airline has proven to be reactive, consistently innovative and ahead of the global game. Having learnt the lessons of the global financial crisis, Shaikh Ahmed is adept at using the aviation sector’s significant footprint on gross domestic production (GDP) to steer Dubai’s economy along the right track. Beyond the immediate economy — and aviation-sector related strategies — he is also in charge of ushering in a greener Dubai, serving as chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy. Across all these roles, his functioning style is characterised by a thoroughly hands-on approach. More recently, he has been formulating economic, investment and fiscal policies and strategies in support of the emirate’s overarching vision. In a freewheeling interview, Shaikh Ahmed talks about Dubai’s aviation sector, Emirates’ challenges and opportunities and dismisses fears of another Dubai bubble. Excerpts from the interview: Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum with Jonathan Chen Chwen-Jing Ph.D, Political Deputy Minister, Ministry of Transportation (left), and Wan-Lee Lee, deputy director-general of the Civil Aviation Administration (right), during a Press conference to celebrate the launch of Emirates’ non-stop daily service between Taipei and Dubai. — Supplied photo Dubai went through a very difficult phase between 2009 and 2011. As the person who led the financial advisory council, what are the key lessons you learnt from the crisis? Is Dubai ready for another bubble? Shaikh Ahmed: There is no real bubble in Dubai and there’s nothing to indicate it is leading up to one. The countries that were crippled by the 2009 economic crisis have learnt their lessons well and most of them are now almost back on track, and so is Dubai. The real estate bubble that everyone seems obsessed with is really not there. The creation of regulatory bodies to oversee developers, brokers and financiers, besides others safeguards that have been put in place will ensure there will not be a repeat of the 2009 crisis. Dubai has surpassed the targeted GDP growth and achieved 4.9 per cent growth in 2013. Its property market will continue to grow even as its economy continues to climb. Remember, Dubai’s fundamentals as a regional hub of shipping, services, people, trade and capital have not changed. If one considers the construction sector, a corporate diversification yielded high returns for five years, which helped (install) new infrastructure and fund the acquisition of new talent. What is the direct contribution of the aviation sector to the economy’s growth? What is the indirect jobs creation impact of Emirates in the UAE? Emirates is one of the major contributors to Dubai’s economy and we support the emirate’s overarching vision. We now support 28 per cent of Dubai’s GDP growth and will continue to do so as we move towards our target of 20 million passengers by the time Expo 2020 opens. Emirates has created thousands of jobs, both direct and indirect, and as we continue to expand these numbers will continue to grow. Dubai follows a three-pronged model for its aviation sector growth: Investing in airports, investing in aircraft, and addition of new destinations. Several other cities in the Arab world are following the same pattern. How much regional competition can be sustained in this industry? Is the growing competition a cause for worry? Are there openings for strategic collaborations? There’s absolutely no cause for worry. Everyone wants a slice of the cake and taste success and the cake is big enough for all who want to enter the industry and take a slice of it. It would be up to us to see how much of that slice we can take. I’ve always maintained, there is room for all. Over the years, there have been many new players like Qatar Airways, flydubai and Etihad, and all of us (are) doing well with enough of the cake left for those still eyeing a piece. As far as strategic collaborations go, we have an open mind. We already have code-sharing deals which are working to both parties’ benefit and we will continue to look at and study any and all collaborations that come our way, since these will vary from country to country. Shaikh Ahmed meets Taiwan President Staff Report Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and CEO of Emirates airline and Group, met the President of Taiwan Ma Ying-jeou in Taipei on Tuesday. Shaikh Ahmed was in Taiwan to celebrate the launch of Emirates’ daily non-stop flights between Dubai and Taipei, which will open new opportunities both for business and for tourism, inbound and outbound. Shaikh Ahmed was joined at his meeting by Ali Mubarak Al Soori, Emirates’ executive vice-president — Chairman’s Office, Facilities/Projects Management and Procurement & Logistics, and Mohammad Al Ghaith. Later, Shaikh Ahmed along with Jonathan Chen Chwen-Jing Ph.D, Political Deputy Minister, Ministry of Transportation and Wan-Lee Lee, deputy director-general of the Civil Aviation Administration, held a Press briefing with over 70 Taiwan-based journalists and also media that had travelled from the UAE and the GCC on Monday’s inaugural flight. “Emirates has been working hard to promote Taipei across our global network and we will continue to do so. We are known as a connector of people, places and passions, and we look forward to connecting Taipei with our network,” said Shaikh Ahmed. Minister Chen extended his congratulations to Emirates, “Emirates is well known for its premium and quality service worldwide. Emirates’ Taipei-Dubai direct flight service offers Taiwanese passengers a more connected network and diversified options, and more importantly, help promote Taiwan tourism to the world. We expect more frequent interactions between both sides, and more people could learn about Taiwan.” “Emirates has been awarded Skytrax World’s Best Airline 2013, and we are happy to welcome another world-class airline to enter Taiwan. In recent years more and more Taiwanese value their pastime and choose travelling abroad to experience different cultures. Emirates non-stop service between Taipei and Dubai enables more Taiwanese to visit the Middle East, and vice versa,”said Lee. Is there possibility of overcapacity post-Expo 2020? Dubai is investing significantly in new aircraft and airport expansion in preparation to host World Expo 2020 and I can see no threat of overcapacity. Dubai is now the world’s fourth busiest airport for international passenger and cargo traffic and I expect to see more growth and recognition for Dubai. Expo 2020 is not for just two or three weeks. It’s for six whole months. This will allow us to spread our wings further and sustain the (airline’s) growth and profitability long after the expo is over. We will continue to expand and connect to more destinations. Many countries continue to approach us because of the airline’s high standards. The Dubai International Airport is set to undertake runway repair work later this year. What are the measures taken to ensure the shift does not affect international airlines’ operations? While the shifting is not simple, I am confident it will be a smooth one. We have picked the months when air traffic into Dubai is not so high. Some of the airlines will operate from Al Maktoum International Airport while most will continue to land at the Dubai International Airport. We expect no problems in the operations. The repair work will be undertaken between May and July and I don’t foresee any major disruption in traffic. Does Dubai have the capacity for two airport hubs? Al Maktoum International Airport is set to become a hub by 2020, especially as infrastructure in the vicinity gains traction. Dubai has always been about growth. The core business model of Dubai remains sound. With or without a booming real estate sector, Dubai is a commercial and tourism hub for a region that encompasses the markets of emerging Africa, South Asia, Russia, Central Asia and of course, the Gulf region. So yes, I am confident Dubai has the capacity for two airport hubs. Even as airline connectivity gains ground, one of the key concerns in the region is the choking air traffic congestion over the regional airspace. Will that affect Dubai’s expansion plans? We are not worried. We are in talks with other GCC aviation industry officials about air traffic congestion fears, but this will not in any way stop our expansion. At a time when airlines globally are yet to make robust returns, how does Emirates sustain its profitability? I have no doubts that Emirates will continue to be a profitable airline. Our strategies are in place and we will continue to expand and connect with more destinations even as we order new aircraft. The Boeing 777X is one of the largest orders we have placed and we hope to see this aircraft take to the skies by 2019. The new aircraft we have ordered will also have something even more pleasing and exciting for our passengers. The design is being worked on but right now that is a secret that will be revealed only when the time is right. Why the new flight to Taipei? Taipei has been an important market for Emirates since we launched our freighter services to the city in 2003. We have continued our commitment to Taiwan and due to the demand, we felt now was the right time to launch non-stop daily services between Taipei and Dubai. The service will bring Taiwanese consumers much closer to the UAE and the Middle East and we are very optimistic about this route. Through Dubai, Emirates offers passengers from Taipei a one-stop connection to 80 countries across the world. We are confident that this new route will open up new trade opportunities across the Emirates network as well as supporting business and tourism travel to Taipei. Etihad is expanding its footprint significantly through new alliances and equity participation. Will Emirates look at such participation in markets such as India, where the aviation sector is opening up? India has always been an important market for us and will continue to be so. Its sheer size and population dictate this and a big percentage of our profits comes from this market. But as far as the first part of your question goes, we have an open mind. Nothing is ruled out. What are Emirates’ plans for Africa? Which are the growth markets you see on the continent? Africa is another big market for us. It is a growth market and we will be looking at it very closely though I cannot tell you right now which market we will be connecting to next. — patrick@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Hidden secrets of Global Village
Hidden secrets of Global Village (Sadiq Shaban) / 12 February 2014 You are likely to take home a special piece that has a soul and sensory value, unlike anything. There is so much more to Global Village than meets the eye. As one of the region’s most visited cultural, entertainment and shopping destinations, Global Village tucks away some of the finest artifacts, relics and objets d’art from around the world. Some of the interesting products on display at the pavilions of the UAE and the UK at Global Village. — KT photos by Juidin Bernarrd and M. Sajjad Those with a knack for the exotic and curio will find exquisite handmade goods, authentic wooden statutes and hand-painted ceramics in several of the 30 pavilions dotting the 17-million-square-feet facility. But that is not all. From Jordanian shadow artists whose calligraphy is sure to leave you awe-struck to waterproof papier-mâché masks from Venice, it is the less-explored side of Global Village, which should set you thinking to take another trip. “Throughout Global Village, there are a plethora of handmade artifacts that are unique to each country’s pavilion. Visitors can find lots of authentic tribal shields and masks at the African Pavilion, as well as great mosaic handicrafts and lamps that are available from the Moroccan Pavilion. We want to make sure that when people come to Global Village, they get to experience products that are genuine and hold real cultural value to the country it comes from. Bringing authentic goods to Global Village makes the cultural experience we provide to visitors unique within the UAE and the Middle East,” Ahmed Hussain, Executive Director of Operations, Global Village, told Khaleej Times. Once you sashay into the African Pavilion and walk past psychedelic stalls, you cannot help notice some of the most striking hand-carved artifacts from Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, Madagascar and Gambia. Intricate designs on these products, lending them a touch of the peregrine, are often made on the finest types of wood such as ebony, mahogany, rosewood and soapstone. It is tough to take a pick from the vast variety of styles, often varying within the same context, but the African solid wood-carved tribal mask surely stands out. Worn during special events or situations that take place in the tribal communities, these souvenirs reflect the true soul of Africa. Similarly, you will find large wooden croc-figurines for sale along with uncountable designs that are meant to bring good energy, warding off bad spirits. The Tanzanian stall features stunning knife paintings, a unique form of art in which artists use knives to paint. This form of painting, which is quite a rarity, affords a close relationship between the artist and the painting surface. The displays have brilliant textures reflective of the spontaneous and dramatic movement of this art form. “We have been looking around in the African Pavilion and ended up buying an unusual stash of things like horns, knife paintings and vintage walking sticks — all of which carry the signatures of these innovative cultures. I visited the Mauritania, Angola and Nigeria stalls. Without doubt, the wood-carved products available here are priceless and the best part is that one can have them at very competitive prices,” said Sarmad Misgar, a Pakistani art collector visiting Global Village. In the Afghanistan Pavilion nearby, you can meander through piddly kiosks selling the latest crop of mountain almonds, pistachios, walnuts, dried white berries, apricots, figs and raisins. Soon you will come across the daintiest Afghan rugs in town. These eco-friendly carpets are made from colours derived from pomegranate, herbs and cinnamon in addition to other natural ingredients. The best quality Afghan wool and silk, one of the salesmen in a stall told Khaleej Times, is used in these oriental rugs, which are adorned with elongated human and animal figures. Usually woven in Shindand and Adraskan regions in Afghanistan’s Herat province, the rugs are available in warm tones and extraordinary patterns. An alcove in the European Pavilion transports you back to the 15th century Tudor England. The combined pavilions of France, the UK and Germany offers the service of History Land Studios, one of London’s best-known photo studios for old-time portraits. The branch in Global Village, the only one outside of the UK, helps you create your own history by dressing you in costumes from the 15th and 16th century England. You can also have your pictures taken in Victorian attire or the gangster Wild West style. “The History Land Studios is an experience of a lifetime. They have a splendid staff that ensure you are comfortable, styled and pampered royally before you get your portrait clicked,” Kenneth Raley, an English tourist visiting the pavilion, marvelled. The Indian Pavilion, owing to its sheer size (largest in Global Village with 300 stalls), has the feel of a traditional Asian bazaar. However, the must-visit cubbyhole in the sprawling enclosure is a corner shop that sells the splashiest collection of Punjabi juttis. Bargain hunters can haggle for a wide range of bright-coloured traditional footwear here. Embroidered with beautiful phulkari work, these shoes are made from genuine leather with multi-hued sequins and flamboyant threads. Curiously, there is no left or right foot distinction, because this party-wear is supposed to take the shape of the foot over a period of time. Available in flat soles, the sharp extended tips of these must-haves are dazzlingly embellished. In its 18th season now, Global Village has emerged not only as a great entertainment venue, one that has stolen the hearts of millions, but an ideal destination which showcases a selection of the world’s most contemporary designers, artists and craftsmen selling their products directly to public. From the enigmatical figurines ensconced in the various African shoppes to the satiny rugs in the Afghanistan Pavilion, Global Village is a track through some of the world’s most avant garde ideas. sadiq@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
