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Letters to the Editor
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Monday, 23 July 2007Posted on Wednesday, 21 October 2009
More Indian Schools in Abu Dhabi
Posted by Zulfikhar Ahmed at 22:30 UAE time
As one Big grioup of Indian School is about to close down in next 2 years in Abu Dhabi, request Delhi Public school or Gems grioup or any other group to start here since there is less choice of Indian schools compare to Dubai.
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Posted on Saturday, 18 July 2009
No Refunds Paid
Posted by Sal at 10:59 UAE time
Security Deposit is not returned by the Property Management Company
I had stayed in a villa for 4 years. Upon vacating the villa my security deposit refund was held by Betterhomes who were the managing the property on behalf of the owner. All the contracts and final documentation stated that after acceptance security deposit will be refunded. I vacated 13 days ahead of end of tenancy date and returned all keys in good faith to the property manager of Betterhomes. Now more than a month has passed and no refund yet.
Surprisingly, Betterhomes corresponded with me saying that owner did not received any deposit from the previous owner whom he bought the property, which was not mentioned earlier. If though it is landlords mistake and not mine? Since I moved in the property were transacted twice (changed hands).
As a well known property company Betterhomes know this very well.
Can you please publish my letter in order for people to aware and not to trust anyone, not even a reputed firm in terms of any deposit or refunds.
Thank you.
Sal
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Posted on Wednesday, 15 July 2009
Where are the user comments gone?
Posted by DAG at 17:40 UAE time
Dear Editor,
What's happened to the user comments today 15th July - the only comments published were for Etisalat BB problem.
Best regards
DAG
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Posted on Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Sticking 2 The Point
Posted by Dr. Madichie at 03:19 UAE time
It is rather worrying that such a big issue as restricting women entrepreneurship through unjustifiable government instruments and policies should only get a brief commentary of no more than four paragraphs as reported on p. 16 of Arabian Business, May 10-16, 2009. I would personally like to follow the news story on what has become of the Saudi IT firm "2 The Point" which is run and staffed exclusively by women.
It behoves me how an industry worth over $15.9bn - the combined capital investment of the 20,000 women businesses in Saudi Arabia - can be dismissed by one circular from the Ministry of Commerce. Lest we forget this industry is worth the combined GDP of The Bahamas and Barbados going by estimates from the CIA Worldfactbook 2009.
Please keep us posted on the developments over government policy and women entrepreneurship in the Arabian Gulf - lets stick 2 The Point.
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Posted on Wednesday, 13 May 2009
National bonds are NO more attractive.
Posted by Ramesh at 16:46 UAE time
I got a mail from Natioanl Bonds saying
"Now Bondholders have the chance to be Millionaires every week, that's one Millionaire per week !!!!
To be eligible for the Millionaire draw, the minimum bond holding should be AED 10,000 at the time of the draw"
The second statement is IMPORTANT, it means if you have bonds worth say AED 500 or 2000, you are not eligible for the big prize. It is like riches for the rich. If some one has AED 10000 worth of bonds, they already have a better chance of winning because of higher number of bonds.
Seems this move is aimed at expatriates from South Asia and Africa, who have dreamt of becoming millionaires just by investing AED 100. Now they have been made ineligible just by a single decision. On the top of it, profits made with small investors money will go to rich investors in the form of prizes.
This move is clearly discriminatory towards small investors. No where in the world are such stupid rules. Premium bonds of UK, Prize bonds of Ireland, Lottery bonds in New zealand. they don't have such rules.
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Posted on Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Dubai International Boat Show
Posted by Barbara Edney at 13:54 UAE time
In your report No.4 of 7, you state "American yacht manufacturer,
"Sunseeker". Sunseeker is a wholly owned British manufacturer and has no connection to the USA.
I wondered why people were asking me if we had been taken over by an American company and now I know the reason why.
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Posted on Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Rumours of Dubai’s demise are greatly exaggerated
Posted by Jeeja Kishan at 10:46 UAE time
I googled to find the truth in the article and located the below explanation on one dubai blogspot. I am surprised that the author did not do his home work before including such news in the article; even if there was a mistake in the press release given, he could have clarified it through his article - see the below note.
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There's a grave mistake in the article, or you can call it lack of research, but a mistake nonetheless.
"last week the federal constitution was pointedly amended to bar the prime minister (Dubai's Sheik Mohammed), his deputies and federal ministers from "any professional or commercial job" and to prohibit them from any business transactions with the federal or local governments."
Barred from any professional or commercial job?
For those who could read Arabic, the next excerpt from Al Sharq Al Awsat website shows that the new amendment to the constitution HAS GIVEN THE PRIME MINISTER MORE AUTHORITIES!
كما نص التعديل الذي اقره المجلس الاعلى للاتحاد للمادة 62 من الدستور على انه لا يجوز لرئيس مجلس الوزراء او نوابه او لأي وزير اتحادي اثناء توليه منصبه ان يزاول اي عمل مهني او تجاري او مالي او ان يدخل في معاملة تجارية مع حكومة الاتحاد او حكومات الإمارات او ان يجمع الى منصبه اكثر من منصب رسمى واحد في حكومة احدى الإمارات.
ومنع رئيس الوزراء ووزراء الحكومة من ممارسة الأعمال التجارية أثناء أدائهم لأعمالهم، ليس مادة جديدة في الدستور الإماراتي، وإنما هي من المواد الأساسية في الدستور الحالي، وما تم هو فقط حذف فقرة في المادة ذاتها تتحدث عن «أو أن يجمع بين منصبه والعضوية في مجلس إدارة شركة تجارية أو مالية». وبالتالي يفتح التعديل الدستوري الباب أمام الجمع بين الوزارة والعضوية بمجالس إدارات الشركات. ويمتلك كثير من الوزراء في الإمارات بعضا من اكبر الشركات واكثرها ربحية في البلاد ويشغلون مقاعد في مجالس ادارة العديد من الشركات في نفس وقت شغلهم مناصبهم الرسمية.
http://www.asharqalawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&article=497407&issueno=10963
Let me explain, the item barring the prime minister from professional or commercial job was ALREADY in the UAE's constitution. What happened is that the amendment had omitted a part barring the prime minister from holding a board membership in commercial companies. i.e. giving him more power. Or more maneuverability.
" How this can be enforced is an open question—to a large extent, Dubai is Mohammed Al Maktoum—but the message was clear enough: Abu Dhabi is now in charge."
Notice how the writer of the article had dramatized the conclusion drawn from this amendment.
If only journalist who report false and misleading info about Dubai would end up laid of
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Posted on Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Animal Welfare Petition
Posted by Elizabeth Krammer at 08:20 UAE time
I would just like the readers to know that there is an online petition for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare, that can be accessed by visiting the World Society for the Protection of Animals website at wspa.org.uk
Ten million signatures are required worldwide to introduce this Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare to end extremely cruel acts such as bear-baiting in Pakistan, bear farming in Asia, battery hen farming in New Zealand, and the live exportation of animals from Australia to England etcetera.
This Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare will also bring to an end numerous other extremely cruel acts towards animals that are happening on a daily basis worldwide. Approximately 1.3 million or more people worldwide have signed the petition so therefore many, many more signatures are needed.
Thank you very much
Sincerely
Elizabeth Krammer.
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Posted on Monday, 22 December 2008
Need Financial Helps
Posted by Ayesha at 11:10 UAE time
financial help For the Muslim girls working for their families and can't marry, which is a must, not only for living in this world, but also as strong Islamic advice, only for the reason that their family's financial survival is not possible even if they will not earn for them.
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Posted on Monday, 24 November 2008
Thaksin Shinawatra
Posted by Peter Williams at 12:14 UAE time
I understand that you are to broadcast an interview with Thaksin. I am also led to believe that he is to be offered a home, perhaps asylum, in Dubai.
It is reported that "Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra lashed out at the British authorities for withdrawing his UK visa"
I hope the authorities are aware of how he will respond when Dubai does not grant him a visa. How dare he expect a Muslim country to treat him favourably when such things as the Tak Bai massacre of Muslims occurred whilst he was the Prime Minister of Thaiiland. Dubai does not need someone like him.
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Posted on Monday, 17 November 2008
DUBAI FINANCIAL MELTDOWN
Posted by KRISHNAKUMAR S NAIR at 08:48 UAE time
The governmentwill have to step into action without any further delay. Dark clouds are looming over the financial skies of Dubai. One can see the sprawling and crawling stock market slain reaching to each other for help. The real estate buffs that had just realized that their estates were unreal and virtual, now cry loudly for the elixir of life. How did the Tsunami of financial meltdown reach the shores of Dubai? Were we not well protected by the oil rich and traders haven Gulf and its unique geography? Can the financial Tsunamis put to dust, the strong seismic resistant Investor’s paradise, which disproved all economic theories till date? What went wrong and where? Who is responsible for this doom? What happened to the grey matter of Dubai?
The question is still open and at large available for any one to answer. The term “Investors” needs to be understood with more clarity. When one tries to interpret the term, the range is commonly misconstrued as people having access to large volumes of surplus funds and is currently in the effort of multiplicating them. In the process, one tries to forget the majority who are also classified so, belonging to the category of putting their hard earned savings into financial schemes to add security to their lives and attain financial independence to survive their dark ages which is more of need than greed. The various patients (poor investors) in the hospital catering to financial catastrophes present themselves with following ailments
Stock market burns
Life’s hard earned savings lost completely or minimised to irrecoverable levels in the Stock market. No respite or corrective action or control measures from any governmental bodies, relevant authorities or intelligentsia of Dubai. Stocks and share values tumbling down and down by the hour. People trying to close deals and get out with what they can has plummeted the market further down. Securities and shares are becoming worthless by losing values without any rhyme or reason. One coke 3 ltr bottle and Emaar share cannot be the same value, at least to me and many others. These losses of net worth seriously affect companies as well as their development plans.
The stock market should have been closed as was done in many countries until the fear grip and panic leaves the populace. Investors losing money is not good sign for the stock market which in turn flings the people’s confidence into a black hole of uncertainty. Once again it is a highly counter productive trend for the economy and future of Dubai. Government should inject funds to revive the lost market, build investor confidence and encourage growth of the companies. Government should restrict sale and institutional investor games by not falling prey to power and prejudice.
Real Estate loss of limb
Life’s hard earned savings being threatened by the developer as to be forfeited on non-payment of instalments. Recall the poor investor swung into the game of monopoly unknowingly by the examples of successful so called industrialists who turned around money multi-fold in the un-Real estate market. Recollect developers starting the launch like auction with poor folks waiting at doorstep waiting for their turn under the false belief of securing their fortune – key to the doors of financial independence. The shrewd developer opens the launch with unrealistic prices guaranteeing self approx 300 – 400% ROI; stops after the sale of the first batch of units; increases prices by another mind-boggling figure and starts selling again, giving the poor investor a false perceived value of their investments. This game goes on until they declare that the current launch is completely sold out. The reality is that a few units are still available as reserves which the developer intends to sell at a very high premium once the secondary market has caught up to ever high. Here who is the speculator, the poor investor or the shrewd developer? Who is regulating the developer’s action and checking his records? Where units available when he declared in the launch that they were sold out? How is the price increase of a property within hours of sale justified? Are the reasons hourly escalated construction costs or hourly escalated opportunistic profits? Who will lose the game finally?
The financially strangulated investors (people who build and uphold the economy) whose entire hard earned money coupled with hopes of financial independence lost are now driven to a suicidal point or a point of no return. A feeling of emptiness - everything lost. Any economy is made up of these investors, predominantly middle class with purchasing power when counted together and not by the rich and famous. Here the economical balance is stirred up which gives rise to fear, panic and doubt in turn snowballing the economy into financial frigidity. These courses of events are enough to bring down the developer set aside the entire economy. One should understand the basic truth like day and night there is no seller in the absence of a buyer.
Brains of Dubai should interfere. Fair market value of each property on the primary market should be re-valued on an as is where is basis at least for properties ranging from 0 to 5 million, being the budget barriers of the middle class folks. Parity in prices from the developer amongst units in a single development should be the essence. Extra collected by developers should be refunded. Developers have no right to play with investor’s sentiments, create virtual hype and speculate. Their business is to develop the infrastructure with social responsibility and not to make opportunistic profits. Furthermore to alleviate the surgical damage already caused by the developers, they should revise payment plan to the new fair market value as well as provide holiday on payment defaults and ease the payment plan to a frequency of 6 months or more.
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Posted on Saturday, 27 September 2008
Raw Sewage on our Beaches
Posted by Nanette Fairley at 12:41 UAE time
As a long time resident of the UAE, I am saddened to see the current state the beautiful because of this country. Not only for tourists and expats, but for nationals alike. I have had the priviledge of listening to elderly UAE nationals speak of their childhood in this place, both the creek and the beach were a big part of those memories. It is a shame that their great grandchildren will only know the Um Sequiem beach as a health hazard to be avoided.
I know it is a tough problem Dubai Municipality but you can solve it!
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Posted on Friday, 26 September 2008
Raw sewerage on our beaches
Posted by Alex Fisken at 18:26 UAE time
Good evening,
I am writing to highlight a major health problem at the beaches at Umm Sequim.
For many weeks a storm pipe has been ‘dumping’ raw sewerage into the sea in and around the beaches at Umm Sequim.
The Municipality has been notified on many occasions (and they ignored the problem) until early this week when they eventually closed the pipe.
At 21.00 hours Tuesday night they opened the pipe again and the filthy water is back flooding the beach, the sea and the surrounding area.
The sewage in and around the harbour and public beaches and the beach area in Umm Sequim is a major health hazard to all people who swim or walk and relax on the beach.
The Eid holiday is about to start and many residents and tourists alike, will be enjoying their holiday on the beach.
The 'sewerage slick' spreads over 3-4 kilometres of sea and beach. This is a HEALTH HAZARD.
For health and safety reasons, something must be done now to stop the destruction of Dubai’s beautiful, but now polluted beaches.
Kind regards – Alex Fisken
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Posted on Saturday, 23 August 2008
WHAT?? ZARDARI AS PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN?
Posted by RAJENDRA K. ANEJA at 10:14 UAE time
According to the media, Mr. Asif Zardari, whose only claim to fame is that Mrs. Benazir Bhutto was married to him, is being considered for becoming President of Pakistan!
The man has no claim to fame at all. He is not a political leader, has no political base or following, lacks a political or economic agenda, is not even articulate! His party rode to power, on a sympathy vote, following the assassination of Mrs. Bhutto. Zardari does not know the A, B, C of politics.
Pakistan, is in the danger of slipping into irrelevant fundamentalism, if weak and incompetent leaders are allowed to capitulate themselves into power. How can Pakistanis leave the future of the country and their nuclear arsenal in the hands of a man, without any international experience or knowledge?
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Posted on Monday, 18 August 2008
Al Raha Beach at Abu Dhabi
Posted by Jane at 00:44 UAE time
Reading this article on Damac and other Property Developers gives me pause for thought on the much acclaimed Al Raha Beach Developement by Damacs counterpart in Abu Dhabi, Aldar. This project has spent far more than ever intended on individual developments such as Al Bandar, Al Muneira and Al Zeina where properties have already been sold ...at a loss of hundreds of millions. Costs were underestimated and delays have caused inflation to bite hard. Yes, some have cashed in on the low start costs only to sell at the next release at much inflated costs. Who would want to live on a construction site lasting for 15 years in a completed (it is hoped) condo at £4500 per sq metre in the back row? True the new Aldar HQ looks fantastic as its steel frame reaches for the sky but does anyone realise that it is built with its glass cocoon facing East / West with only window shades to shelter its occupants from the sun (against consultants recommendations). Post completion it could turn out to be the world largest microwave oven in an overcooked market!
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