UAE New development projects

Kizad set to become one of world's largest industrial zones due to easy access to markets and lower operational costs.

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Executive Council last week approved a plethora of new development projects in the emirate, especially in the areas of social services, housing, health and education.

One of the projects, the 417 square kilometre Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad), with its enormous size and strategically planned approach, has been projected as the hub for manufacturing, logistics and trade across a number of sectors.

The development is set to become one of the world's largest industrial zones due to easy access to markets and lower operational costs and greater ease of doing business.

Kizad is located at the western end of the first stage of the container terminal. Phase 1 of Kizad is now 78 per cent complete.

Kizad which forms part of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 is located within Khalifa Port and features an advanced deepwater seaport. The budget for Phase One which covers 51 square kilometres is Dh26.5 billion.

The Khalifa Port and industrial Zone is "ahead of its construction schedule", Khalid Salmeen, executive vice-president of Abu Dhabi Port Company (ADPC) said earlier.

"The port is 90 per cent done, while Phase One of the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi is 78 per cent complete," confirmed Salmeen.Port facilities

Khalifa Port is due to open in the fourth quarter of this year along with the completion of infrastructure work in the 51 square kilometre first phase (Area A of Kizad).

The project is the flagship of ADPC and the new port will have a capacity for 2 million containers and 12 million tonnes of general cargo.

Khalifa Port is an ultra-modern facility. The approach channel and basin have been dredged to a depth of 16 metres to accommodate the largest container ships.

Another key feature is the first semi-automated container terminal in the region.

The Port Island extends 6km offshore, has a principal quay wall of 3.2km and is linked to the mainland by a 1km bridge.

ADPC expects that by 2030 Kizad will account for more than 15 per cent of the non-oil GDP of Abu Dhabi, and 70 per cent of the emirate's total export of manufactured goods.

It is also expected that between 60 and 80 per cent of goods manufactured in Kizad will be exported, further boosting the economy of Abu Dhabi emirate.

The first and second phases of Kizad have been designed to accommodate various types of light, medium and heavy industries.

The targeted business sectors include petrochemicals, steel, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, chemicals, biotechnology, metals, food and beverages, logistics and transportation.

The strategy of Kizad is to attract word-class companies and establish international industry best practices through the zone.

Efficiency

The industrial zone will offer local, regional and international companies numerous benefits including business efficiency, easy access to various markets, low-cost operational environment and other essential support to achieve long-term competitive advantage.

Kizad also offers renewable leasehold for a period of 50 years with great flexibility for industries and companies that play a major role in the economy of Abu Dhabi.

In addition, 100 per cent foreign ownership will be allowed in certain strategic economic sectors.

Establishing businesses

Kizad has launched a One Stop Shop service aimed at helping businesses speed up the process of obtaining the necessary permits, licences, approvals and clearances from the government bodies and licensing authorities.

Investor requirements and all necessary information and services related to establishing businesses within the zone will be provided by a single point of contact who will be an industry specialist with the essential skills, knowledge and good understanding of the procedures.

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Small firms welcome expansion of DIFC Courts jurisdiction

Tribunal finds favour owing to speedy settlement of claims.

Dubai: The DIFC Courts has extended the jurisdiction of its Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) to include entities based outside the free zone.

Since expanding its jurisdiction, the SCT recently heard and resolved its first non-DIFC related case. The case — related to the non-payment of an invoice, involved two Dubai-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The settlement followed mutual selection by both parties of the DIFC Courts' mediation process and the SCT. Both parties accepted the DIFC Courts jurisdiction and subsequently reached a settlement on December 29.

"The process was extremely efficient and transparent and I am currently working through two similar debt repayment cases with the SCT," the claimant, Rajesh, an operations manager with a Dubai-based furniture trading company, said.

The SCT — which caters mostly to SMEs — hears disputes in which the value of the claim does not exceed Dh500,000. Lawyers are not permitted to represent parties before the SCT and the time taken for judgments to be handed down is also significantly reduced. On average, such cases are resolved in less than a month.

Language issue

"One of the great things of the SCT is that everything can be heard in English, which is the international business language; the judges are international and have better experience; and the way arguments are heard from both sides ensures a better outcome for both," Brian Wilkie, founder of Gulf for Good, said.

"I know of a few small companies who have gone out of business because they couldn't get paid by major suppliers."

It was in October that the SCT was formed, initially to cater solely to DIFC-registered companies. "The DIFC jurisdiction area has so many retail sectors from which the courts have seen many employment issues — it will double now with this new jurisdiction," Amnah Sultan Al Owais, deputy registrar of the Courts, said.

Moreover, the filing fees for an SCT claim are lower than at the Court of First Instance. The registrar also has the discretion to waive such fees when the claimant proves they are unable to afford it.

Omar Juma Al Muhairi, an SCT judge at DIFC Courts, recently had a case involving a restaurant and 17 of its employees. Within one hour, the 17 cases were settled.

According to Shamlan Al Sawalehi, another SCT judge, there's been a trend of claimants reducing the claim amounts so it is within the SCT jurisdiction. "They know they won't waste time with litigation and legal representation — it's a good facility for SMEs," Al Sawalehi said.

"It's nice to have it in a confidential environment in a more friendly, unofficial way. SCT is the place where they can settle problems without going into the company-catered environment of litigation as proper contractual disputes would have," he added.

Other options

SMEs who wish to settle their disputes also have the option of going to the mediation centres at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce or register their complaint at the Dubai Courts.

"If you go to the Chamber of Commerce, it will go to settlement, but it is not legally binding — so I am not sure if other parties will carry out their obligations," Al Muhairi said. "If you went to Dubai Courts, it would take some time."

The announcement about the extension of SCT's mandate comes just as the Ministry of Economy is expected to release the much-awaited SME laws, which aim to streamline the process of setting up a small business in the UAE by cutting back on red tape and reducing start-up costs. "We can expect the laws to come out around April to July," Al Muhairi said.

Dubai slashes companies' fines up to 40%

Shaikh Mohammad issued a decree reducing the fines imposed on economic establishments in the emirate of Dubai.

Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, Sunday issued a decree reducing the fines imposed on economic establishments in the emirate of Dubai.

As per decree No. 1 of 2012, discounts will be implemented for fines received prior to the issuance of this decree and its accompanying table.

As per the decree, fines paid during the period from January 1 to February 29 will receive a discount of up to 40 per cent, fines paid between March 1 to April 30 will receive a discount of up to 30 per cent, while fines paid between May 1 to June 29 will receive a discount of 20 per cent.

UAE ranks 30th on UNDP Index

Annual report shows country is above average of other Arab states in human development.

Abu Dhabi: The UAE was ranked 30th in 2011 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) out of 187 countries globally in its latest Global Human Development Report released here yesterday.

"Between 1980 and 2011, the UAE's Human Development Index (HDI) value has increased by 30 per cent and developed from the medium to long term," UNDP said in the report.

The HDI provides a composite measure of three basic dimensions of human development : health, education and income.

The UAE's 2011 HDI is above the average of other Arab states, UNDP added.

"The UAE continues to evolve as a world leader in promoting dialogue on fundamental global challenges, and this year at the World Future Energy summit, the UAE is providing an innovative platform for international policy makers, business decision makers and investors to explore global energy challenges with the view of creating real and sustainable solutions," said Elissar Sarrouh, UN Resident Coordinator at the regional launch of the 2011 Human Development Report.

Norway, Australia, Netherlands, USA, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, Leichtenstein, Germany and Sweden came in the first ten places in the index of human development world report 2011.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohammad Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehi, Director General of the Ministry of Economy said the wise leadership of the state used the oil revenues to establish new stages in social and economical development and focus on developing the state's infrastructure of schools, hospitals, ports and airports.

Opportunities

Mohammad Omar Abdullah, Undersecretary of the Department of Economic Development (DED), Abu Dhabi said the UAE realised early the importance of providing equitable opportunities for all citizens, giving them the same rights and responsibilities as this has a great impact on sustainable development and a prosperous.

Amatul Aleem Sowsawa, UN General Secretary Assistant for UNDP in the Arab region said in the field of health care, the UAE has invested vigorously and wisely during the past 40 years.

Sowsawa said average life expectancy had improved, and was now 76 years.

"In education, UAE has achieved clear progress gradually along the past 30 years," he added.

Economic progress

The growth in the UAE's gross domestic product (GDP) was 4 per cent in 2011, a senior government official said here yesterday.

"UAE has accomplished a remarkable economic progress. It has become the second biggest GCC economy, as its GDP grew from Dh6.5 billion in 1971 to Dh1,248 billion currently, as of real value," Abdullah Lootah, Secretary General of Emirates Competitiveness Council, said while speaking at the launch of United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Human Development Report 2011.

The country's economic growth for last year exceeded UAE Central Bank's expectations which had estimated a growth of more than 3 per cent for 2011. The annual pace of growth in the UAE economy was 2.5 per cent in 2010.

Manufacturers bring good news

Stronger data is an indication that the US economy is strengthening early in the year.

The manufacturing sector is one of the most important indicators of the health of the real economy. Manufacturers produce goods — from washing machines to cars, among others — that are in demand from consumers. Consumer demand is essential to any sustainable economic recovery.

Manufacturing also tends to be labour intensive and a pick-up in the sector is normally a good sign for job creation.

So, while it is still too early to read too much into the figures, it is a good omen for the global economy that manufacturing is picking up in the United States. The boost in manufacturing figures — along with stronger retail and construction data — is an indication that the world's largest economy is strengthening early in the new year.

However, it must be kept in mind that, especially the retail figures, have received a seasonal boost and it is not yet clear that they can be sustained.

But, it has been reported that growth in Asia and emerging markets is helping sustain orders for US goods, which shows that these economies are in relatively good health. Overall the international manufacturing data is a sign that the global economy and financial system is beginning to cope better with the dangerous volatility caused by the persistent European debt crisis.

UAE National ID card application and renewal can now be done online

Currently available for Emiratis, expatriates in the UAE can use facility in two months

Abu Dhabi: Residents who apply for national ID cards online using a credit card will be able to save the Dh30 typing fee.

The online application (www.emiratesid.ae) was test-launched on Thursday for Emiratis. Expatriates will be able to use the online application within two months.

Moreover, ID card-holders will be able to renew their cards online at home without the need to visit a typing centre or Emirates Identity Authority's (Emirates ID) registration centres, a top official told Gulf News.

Only those card-holders whose fingerprints are not clear on Emirates ID's system will have to visit the Emirates ID registration centre to have their fingerprints taken again to renew the cards, said Dr Ali Al Khoury, Director-General of Emirates ID.

But only two per cent of ID card-holders have unclear fingerprints and the system will notify them while applying online for renewal, he added. Mainly professionals who come into contact with chemicals, the elderly and construction workers have unclear fingerprints, he said.

Those people and applicants for a new card will be able to choose an appointment online to visit an Emirates ID registration centre to complete the process by having their fingerprints and photograph taken.

Saving money

At present, the pre-registration process, which includes filling an application form, having documents scanned and paying a fee is done at certified typing centres. That process can be done online.

Apart from the card fee, currently there is a Dh70 extra fee, which includes the Dh30 typing fee.

Online applicants can save the Dh30 typing fee, Dr Al Khoury said. Credit card companies may charge a minor fee which may be at least 1.5 per cent of the total amount for using the credit card, he added.

For example, an expatriate with a residence visa valid for two years has to pay Dh270 at typing centres for the pre-registration process. This includes a Dh200 card fee for two years (Dh100 per year) and Dh70 extra charges including application and administration charges. But they only have to pay Dh240 online.

Online applicants can print out their receipt which will mention the appointment to visit an Emirates ID registration centre. They can scan their original passport and any other documents to upload on the system.

When the online application system becomes operational, typing centres will cater to people like labourers who may not have access to the internet, Dr Al Khoury said.

Dubai Health Authority targets banned doctors

Dubai Health Authority steps up crackdown on banned doctors trying to work undercover.

Dubai: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is making it harder for banned doctors to work undercover in the country.

"We are making sure that they do not sneak around or change their title and work," said Dr Ramadan Ebrahim, Director of Regulation at the DHA.

"We are blocking such doctors."

He said there will be closer cooperation with the police and the immigration authorities.

A meeting was held with various departments to discuss joint inspection of health facilities, he said.

Dr Ebrahim said that information about erring doctors is presently passed on to health authorities across the GCC region and other countries where doctors are hired from.

"Now we will inform all the [local] authorities about such cases so that they can be alerted and can look into taking further action if required," he said.

Access to information

Dr Ramadan said the joint efforts and cooperation will help further strengthen the health sector in Dubai.

"Everyone will have clear access to information," he said.

In the recent past there were cases such as a plastic surgeon who was banned in the US but who worked from a villa in Dubai and caused painful damage to many women.

A CEO of a private health care company said it was obligatory and also standard practice to make sure the certification of the doctor is in order when bringing professionals into the team.

Judged by their peers

Mark Adams, CEO of Gulf Healthcare International, said doctors who commit medical errors should be judged by their peers and called for measures to encourage doctors to perform their work without fear of criminal prosecution or being struck off.

He said it will help raise confidence in the health facilities if patient complaints are recorded and made available to everyone.

The CEO said recording complaints of bad customer service or about a clinic is increasingly happening in the UK and other countries.

He said such an objective assessment of a clinic or a professional will make it easier for patients to choose where to go.