Entertainment
Hamdan unveils Dubai’s hi-tech profile beyond 2021
Hamdan unveils Dubai’s hi-tech profile beyond 2021 Allan Jacob and Muaz Shabandri / 11 February 2014 The emirate offers a glimpse into the future with its vision of electronic and mobile governance where services and solutions are provided at the touch of a button. You can count on Dubai to think smart as it imagines what life would be like in 2021. On Monday, the emirate offered a glimpse into the future with its vision of electronic and mobile governance where services and solutions are provided at the touch of a button. Shaikh Mohammed flanked by other Shaikhs and officials at the Government Summit on Monday. -KT photo by Shihab Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, unveiled the ‘Dubai Government: Towards 2021 Initiative’, as His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; Lt.-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister; Mohammed Al Murr, FNC Speaker; Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum; and other senior officials looked on at the second Government Summit. A video presentation showed the ease at which government services could be accessed from anywhere in the world — for people on the move, or from the comfort of their homes. Dubai’s vision for the future promises to be exciting as the city leads the way in providing facilities for its residents through technology, and Shaikh Hamdan signalled the emirate’s intentions of dreaming big and delivering on its promises. “We’re confident of the ability of leadership & staff of the Dubai gov to reach targets on time, always dedicated to working for the public good,” he tweeted. In another tweet, he said the government aimed to compete with the private sector in effiency and speed of delivery. “There should be no more talk of multiple departments & agencies. The govt works as one: one ID, one phone number, one center & one employee,” he said. He went on to say that “our ambitious & entrepreneurial, innovative ideas will be implemented by Dubai govt & the world will seek to learn from our experience”. The Crown Prince said 2021 would be an important year when the world would sit up and take notice of Dubai’s arrival as a city of excellence. Earlier in the day, Shaikh Mohammed arrived at the Madinat Jumeirah and took a keen interest in the interactive sessions by experts and officials from various sectors. Minister for Interior Shaikh Saif earlier said the UAE was a hub of peace and was fulfilling the dreams of its founding father Shaikh Zayed through innovative leadership. He offered words of support for Egypt and said “any enemy of Egypt was an enemy of the UAE”. Minister for Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Al Gergawi said the country was taking its pursuit of happiness seriously. “If we can make your life hassle-free and provide information and services on your mobile, we save your time. The aim of our government is to serve. We don’t want to just serve in a normal way, we want to excel,” he told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the event. news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Egypt’s enemy is UAE’s enemy, says Shaikh Saif
Egypt’s enemy is UAE’s enemy, says Shaikh Saif Allan Jacob / 11 February 2014 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior states the country’s resolve to wipe out forces that bring instability. The UAE reiterated its backing for the Egyptian government and its people and said any ‘enemy of Egypt is an enemy of the UAE’. Lt-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, chose the second Government Summit on Monday to spell out the country’s determination to keep out “any enemy” from spreading its influence in the region. “Egypt was very dear to the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is dear to the heart of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, dear to His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Egypt is dear to all of us,’’ he said, while stating the country’s resolve to wipe out forces that bring instability. Shaikh Saif said Shaikh Zayed was preparing Shaikh Khalifa “for a bigger role” when he sent him to Egypt during the Arab conflict with Israel in 1973. “We stood by them against the enemy Israel then, and Shaikh Khalifa, Shaikh Zayed’s eldest son, was sent on the mission,” he said. Exceptional leadership Elaborating about the values of leadership, he said the Founding Father of the UAE, Shaikh Zayed, had instilled in his sons and citizens certain qualities that had been the hallmark of governance. He shed light on the how UAE ministers lead from the front and said: “If you want exceptional children, you should be exceptional parents; good students should be taught by exceptional teachers, officials should be exceptional.” “If you’re not an exceptional minister, you will not be able to continue in the ministry,” he said to applause. He said the UAE raised the bar for governance and its leaders Shaikh Khalifa, Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have their ears to the ground. “They monitor what is happening, and interaction between the public and the government is constant. Performance of ministries and departments are measured and there is accountability at all levels,” he said. The President and the Prime Minister, he said, have the same goals and ensure projects are implemented. Citizens are encouraged to participate in decision-making and ministers interact with people on social media. Development goals Even during the economic crisis in 2008, the country’s leaders did not put a freeze on development projects, the Minister said. “We built roads, buildings, bought aircraft; now real estate is booming again and people are coming in droves for tourism and investment. There is a 40 per cent increase in investments.” Shaikh Saif said the country launched three satellites, hosted the Formula 1 race, Irena headquarters, and won the bid to host Expo 2020. “All this was possible because of internal security measures which have made the UAE a haven of peace. From number 32 on the list, we are number one for security in the region today, which is no mean achievement. We have ensured there is no organised crime in the country,” the Minister said. He also lauded the military for being a strong pillar of the country, and said it made the UAE proud in places as far as Afghanistan and Kosovo. Smart government stems from imagination Shaikh Zayed saw how far the country could progress back in the fifties, so does Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum today, he said. “Shaikh Mohammed says the government should be electronic because he sees the future. Good leaders see the larger picture and are determined to take their vision through to its logical conclusion.” allan@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Dubai’s real estate sector gets ‘smarter’
Dubai’s real estate sector gets ‘smarter’ Issac John / 11 February 2014 World Expo will have limited direct effect in 2014 because of restricted short-term activity, says real estate advisory firm. Expo 2020 will have a positive impact on the UAE over the long-term with hospitality, logistics and retail being the major winners, Jones Lang LaSalle, a leading real estate investment and advisory firm, said on Monday. However, the World Expo will have limited direct effect in 2014 because of restricted short-term activity, the real estate advisory firm said while warning that both price expectations and excessive new supply would require careful management leading up to 2020. In its “2014 top trends for UAE real estate” report, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) brushed aside concerns that Dubai would experience another bubble with unsustainable price growth in the residential market, increasing cost pressures and return of speculative activity. On the other hand, JLL said there are many differences this time around that makes for a ‘smarter’ market with investors getting more cautious, better regulations, and phased out property development in line with demand. “There is also less reliance on pre-sales and sub-developers and significant levels of new supply are being provided,” JLL noted. The International Monetary Fund has cautioned that Dubai might need to intervene in its property market if there are signs of overheating to prevent another boom-and-bust cycle. “When you see rapid increases in any asset prices then you just need to be prepared to act,” Masood Ahmed, the IMF’s director for the Middle East and North Africa, has said. In its report, JLL said mega projects that were either put on hold, significantly slowed or were not initiated during the financial crisis are a reality again because of growing confidence in the UAE’s market. “The plans are more measured and there is an increased focus on phasing projects over many years in line with end user demand. In Dubai, these master-plan communities include Dubai Canal, Mohammad Bin Rashid City and Dubai Waterfront. In Abu Dhabi, they include Saadiyat Island and Capital District, now known as Zayed City.” JLL predicted more varied approaches to funding real estate. It expects that equity would be a preferred funding approach in 2014 rather than debt. Pre-sales will remain important in the residential market and pre-leases and build-to-suit will be funding many new office projects, it said. “Sale and leasebacks, REITs (real estate investment trust) and IPO’s (initial public offering) and last mile financing will become increasingly popular options for funding as banks remain cautious to enter into new relationships. There may be some further IPO’s and bond issuances in 2014, but these are not expected to be widespread and to be limited to just a few major real estate players,” it said. Overall, JLL expects that 2014 will remain primarily a tenants’ market with little decline in the current excessive vacancy levels in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. However, with pent-up demand increasing from corporates who are now freeing up more capital for expansion of their business, JLL sees an increase in corporate activity in the UAE in 2014. “The current two-tier market is likely to continue, with the best buildings experiencing increased take up and little demand for secondary space. As corporates focus on more innovative workplace solutions, such as hot desking and open floor plans, efficiencies are being achieved that will result in the demand for real estate growing less quickly than employment levels.” JLL also expects more investment sales in the hotel sector across the UAE, as owners now have more realistic expectations and hotels continue to perform strongly. “There remains strong interest from investors in this sector and the willingness of owners to make strategic disposals will allow this interest to be converted into more sales than have been experienced in recent years.” Dubai became the first country to back new international property measurement standards (IPMS) in September 2013, and this should help better regulate the market in 2014, the real estate advisory firm observed. According to JLL, Dubai is growing towards the South with Dubai World Central, which includes the Expo 2020 site and Al Maktoum Airport, driving this trend. There is also a notable trend towards development closer to central Dubai, in filling some of the gaps left by the previous scattered development. “Mohammed Bin Rashid City is a good example of this trend, incorporating many of the components originally envisaged for Dubailand.” — issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
