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Discuss this article (6 Comments)Simply the truth
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Sunday, 15 March 2009
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We get back to the list of negative claims. What about stories that appeared in the British media claiming that 3,000 cars had been abandoned at Dubai airport by fleeing expats? "It is absolutely not true. It just isn't true, it is nonsense that is being written," says the Major General.
"And while we are on the subject, let me officially invite the world's media to come to Dubai and see what is happening for themselves. Don't sit behind the desk in another country, come here," he continues.
"I invite you as my guest, I will answer your questions and show you what is going on in this country, and then after that you can make your judgment. We are very proud of what we are doing and are very happy for journalists from all over the world to come and see the real truth."
Al Marri admits that one of the problems surfacing in the UAE is overspending - some residents are clearly living beyond their means, leading them into financial problems. But again, he stresses that if they live sensibly, there is nothing to fear.
"If you have a job and you get your salary why are you worried and thinking about sending your family back home? I can't understand this," he says.
"Everyone has to organise his budget according to his life. You need to see what you earn, and then decide whether to spend two dirhams or two thousand dirhams on a meal. You don't have to buy a Mercedes, you could just buy the car you can afford. You should buy the clothes you can afford."
People must live in a responsible way, and live not just for today but for tomorrow, he says, adding: "There are many things that make Dubai a very attractive place to live. Our lifestyle, and the way we respect families and our culture means that whatever your religion you are welcome. That is why so many people love to live in the UAE."
Looking around the DNRD, there can be little doubt that during his three-year reign, the Major General has had a hugely positive impact. The switch to online services, plus a major new training complex, has seen a huge improvement in services.
Al Marri himself says that he has been so busy in the past three years, he has almost forgotten about his 26 years prior to that in the police force. Despite his immense authority, he is very much a ‘people person', who exudes confidence and charm in equal measure.
And you get the feeling that he has only just started.
As he says: "Life is short, you must experience it and enjoy it to the full. That is not a philosophy: that is simply the truth."
Moving forward
Department of Naturalisation and Residency - Dubai (DNRD) recently introduced a new e-service that makes best use of the latest technologies. Visitors, residents and guests residing in the UAE and abroad will receive instant notifications via email and text messages upon issuance of their entry permits or visas of all types through the Mobile Visa (M-visa) service.
Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri hopes that the online services would be helpful for individuals with special needs as they will reduce to minimum the number of visits required to DNRD offices.
As customers apply for their entry permits either by visiting DNRD offices or using online applications at www.ednrd.ae, they will be requested to make the necessary payments to enable them to receive their visa via email or text message.
When their visa is issued, customers will be notified through an email message, which will include an original e-visa document, bearing the DNRD logo and signature of the director. The PDF file will be secure to prevent any tampering with the details of the visitor.
Customers will also receive an SMS notification containing the same barcode printed on the original visa document in a 2D format, as well as key information about the visitor and the sponsor. The UAE-based sponsor will receive the notification at the same time. SMS messages can be forwarded to any destination around the world.
Upon arrival at any of the entry points, the barcode scanner installed at the DNRD checkpoints will read the details of the entry permit directly from the mobile device of the visitor. UAE visitors will also be able to track online their applications again and request e-mails and text messages to be resent according to their convenience.
DNRD informs that its www.dnrd.ae website received more than three million visitors during 2008. The website offers a variety of relevant information to users including the different requirements relevant to transactions and a list of external centres that customers can visit in their proximity.
Department of Naturalisation and Residency - Dubai (DNRD) recently introduced a new e-service that makes best use of the latest technologies. Visitors, residents and guests residing in the UAE and abroad will receive instant notifications via email and text messages upon issuance of their entry permits or visas of all types through the Mobile Visa (M-visa) service.
Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri hopes that the online services would be helpful for individuals with special needs as they will reduce to minimum the number of visits required to DNRD offices.
As customers apply for their entry permits either by visiting DNRD offices or using online applications at www.ednrd.ae, they will be requested to make the necessary payments to enable them to receive their visa via email or text message.
When their visa is issued, customers will be notified through an email message, which will include an original e-visa document, bearing the DNRD logo and signature of the director. The PDF file will be secure to prevent any tampering with the details of the visitor.
Customers will also receive an SMS notification containing the same barcode printed on the original visa document in a 2D format, as well as key information about the visitor and the sponsor. The UAE-based sponsor will receive the notification at the same time. SMS messages can be forwarded to any destination around the world.
Upon arrival at any of the entry points, the barcode scanner installed at the DNRD checkpoints will read the details of the entry permit directly from the mobile device of the visitor. UAE visitors will also be able to track online their applications again and request e-mails and text messages to be resent according to their convenience.
DNRD informs that its www.dnrd.ae website received more than three million visitors during 2008. The website offers a variety of relevant information to users including the different requirements relevant to transactions and a list of external centres that customers can visit in their proximity.
READERS' COMMENTS
Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.
Simply the truth
Posted by WILDYUVAA, SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE on Monday 8 June 2009 at 08:01 UAE time
i don't understand like the rest of the commentators which is "Truth"
he is talking about???. Accepting the truth is not easy and simple it
requires guts to acknowledge the real problems and the expat people
are really fed up with these "bla bla blas" from these officials.
Posted by WILDYUVAA, SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE on Monday 8 June 2009 at 08:01 UAE time
i don't understand like the rest of the commentators which is "Truth"
he is talking about???. Accepting the truth is not easy and simple it
requires guts to acknowledge the real problems and the expat people
are really fed up with these "bla bla blas" from these officials.
why is it so hard to admit the truth?!
Posted by SoNotHollywood, Toronto, Canada on Thursday 9 April 2009 at 00:58 UAE time
I left Dubai on February 27th after losing my job as a stockbroker for the local Dubai Financial Market. I have watched day by day for years peoples fortunes reduced from literally millions of dirham’s to thousands and in some cases serious debt.
I still own property in the springs that I plan to return and rent out. Everyday I go to Dubizzle.com to see how much properties in my area are renting for, hundreds of listing being offered at lower prices everyday. Rent offers have been slashed by over 25% since I left a little over a month ago , don't even get me started on selling prices.
Yes we all knew this was going to happen, but no one including me thought it would happen so fast, its a spectacular crash, stocks trading at near 30 dirham’s are now trading at less than 3 Dirhams, over half the listed shares are trading at less than 1 dirham!
We all know this crash is real, weather we like it or not, things should come back to normal realistic levels.
Dubai shouldn't be one of the most expensive cities in the world, no reason for that what so ever. People moved to Dubai to save and make money, I hope this will be possible in the future, when it is, people might consider coming back, me being one of those people, for know its a waiting game.
Posted by SoNotHollywood, Toronto, Canada on Thursday 9 April 2009 at 00:58 UAE time
I left Dubai on February 27th after losing my job as a stockbroker for the local Dubai Financial Market. I have watched day by day for years peoples fortunes reduced from literally millions of dirham’s to thousands and in some cases serious debt.
I still own property in the springs that I plan to return and rent out. Everyday I go to Dubizzle.com to see how much properties in my area are renting for, hundreds of listing being offered at lower prices everyday. Rent offers have been slashed by over 25% since I left a little over a month ago , don't even get me started on selling prices.
Yes we all knew this was going to happen, but no one including me thought it would happen so fast, its a spectacular crash, stocks trading at near 30 dirham’s are now trading at less than 3 Dirhams, over half the listed shares are trading at less than 1 dirham!
We all know this crash is real, weather we like it or not, things should come back to normal realistic levels.
Dubai shouldn't be one of the most expensive cities in the world, no reason for that what so ever. People moved to Dubai to save and make money, I hope this will be possible in the future, when it is, people might consider coming back, me being one of those people, for know its a waiting game.
'Simply the truth'
Posted by paul, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 17 March 2009 at 12:47 UAE time
Did your journalist go into a DNRD department without official minders and discreetly talk to some people to get an idea of the ration of cancellations/applications? Did he find the airport security chief and deputy police chief widely quoted in the western media articles who confirmed a large number of cars being abandoned?
If you just want to interview an official and report his comments, then that is fine. But please don't insult our intelligence by putting 'Simply the Truth' as the title and implying that it is truth simply because it came from an official.
Posted by paul, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 17 March 2009 at 12:47 UAE time
Did your journalist go into a DNRD department without official minders and discreetly talk to some people to get an idea of the ration of cancellations/applications? Did he find the airport security chief and deputy police chief widely quoted in the western media articles who confirmed a large number of cars being abandoned?
If you just want to interview an official and report his comments, then that is fine. But please don't insult our intelligence by putting 'Simply the Truth' as the title and implying that it is truth simply because it came from an official.
Business as usual ?
Posted by Peter Peter, dubai, UAE on Monday 16 March 2009 at 15:15 UAE time
How can it be business as usual Mr Marri , when my business is down by 40% ?
How can it be business as usual when my friend , who early last year did not have time to sit down for a meal has had no new business for his interior design company since the last two months ?
How can it be business as usual when leading advertising agencies are not paying their suppliers , when even small invoices for a couple of thousand are going unpaid for months ?
How can it be business as usual when a friend's friend's daughter had her salary slashed by 30% by one of the leading property developers in Dubai and when the management makes everyone sign "non disclosure" agreements to keep this fact form becoming public ?
How can it be business as usual when crime is on the rise and at least two people I know have had their house burgled within one month - and this in a city where such things were unheard of ? Police admit that there are several gangs active and they are not able to get their hands on all of them.
So much as we would like to believe and hope that it is business as usual in Dubai , the fact is that it is not !
Posted by Peter Peter, dubai, UAE on Monday 16 March 2009 at 15:15 UAE time
How can it be business as usual Mr Marri , when my business is down by 40% ?
How can it be business as usual when my friend , who early last year did not have time to sit down for a meal has had no new business for his interior design company since the last two months ?
How can it be business as usual when leading advertising agencies are not paying their suppliers , when even small invoices for a couple of thousand are going unpaid for months ?
How can it be business as usual when a friend's friend's daughter had her salary slashed by 30% by one of the leading property developers in Dubai and when the management makes everyone sign "non disclosure" agreements to keep this fact form becoming public ?
How can it be business as usual when crime is on the rise and at least two people I know have had their house burgled within one month - and this in a city where such things were unheard of ? Police admit that there are several gangs active and they are not able to get their hands on all of them.
So much as we would like to believe and hope that it is business as usual in Dubai , the fact is that it is not !
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