87 Per Cent Of Special Needs Express Satisfaction With The Dubai Metro Service

Road & Transport Authority – Manal Khalid: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) revealed that the Rail Agency is all set to chalk out a comprehensive plan to close the existing gaps in all stations and carriages of the Dubai Metro in a bid to improve the quality of services delivered in keeping with RTA Strategic Plan 2009 – 2013.

RTA also revealed that such plan called for the Rail Planning & Development Dep’t at RTA Rail Agency to carry out a diagnostic study of the special needs’ logistics in place at the Dubai Metro facilities in order to assess the basic requirements of this category in the course of implementing RTA’s Vision of Safe & Smooth Transport for All in all the metro stations and cars. The study, which targeted a sample of special needs, showed that the satisfaction rating of the facilities & services of the Dubai Metro was as high as 87 per cent; viewed as a highly positive result and an indicator of the efforts made to avert negativities.

Commenting on the study, the CEO of RTA Rail Agency Adnan Al Hamadi, said that the importance of the study was underlined by the fact that it highlighted the extent to which RTA transit modes were customized to service the special needs and concluded to a host of important recommendations. “This study, which has been compiled by a work team of the Dep’t, encompassed carrying out substantial field survey, in coordination with the Ministry of Social Affairs (Welfare and Rehabilitation of Special Needs), to verify the practical effectiveness of services provided by the RTA, and the possibility of improving the facilities in place at the metro carriages and stations to attain a public rating higher than the services provided in other public transport modes.

“The study pointed to a host of positive indicators identified by the team comprising special needs volunteers such as the provision of the tactile floors for visually impaired persons where Dubai Metro is the leader in introducing this new language at the level of the UAE and the whole region. The study has yielded a number of conclusions such as stressing the need for carrying out some improvements focusing on giving more education and awareness to special needs in order for them to use the metro facilities handily, and maintaining cooperation with the Rehabilitation of the Disabled Centers in order for them to carry out the required education enabling this category to optimally use these facilities.
 

Tamweel Brings Back Baiti To Address Home Finance Needs Of UAE Nationals

Tamweel PJSC, the UAE Islamic home finance provider, announced today the launch of a new product to meet the home finance needs of UAE nationals. “Baiti” is specially designed to help UAE nationals to buy their homes.

Baiti, which means “my house” in Arabic, was first launched by Tamweel in 2006. The home finance provider is bringing the product back following its January Ijara promotion, and its resumption of new business origination on 1st November 2010. Tamweel understands the importance of bringing the Baiti product back to the market and has now developed an exclusive home finance product for addressing the housing needs of UAE nationals.

Tamweel will make home finance available to UAE nationals for up to 85 per cent of the current value of ready residential properties in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The maximum finance value is AED 5 million with a repayment tenure of up to 25 years.

“Baiti makes a welcome return to the UAE’s home finance market,” said Varun Sood, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Tamweel. “Today’s announcement is in line with Tamweel’s commitment to provide innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of customers. We believe there is a need in the market to address this specific segment, therefore our product is catered to do just that. The demand for housing among the UAE Nationals is on the rise and Tamweel is committed to cater to this segment of the market which is ever growing.”

For further information regarding home finance solutions from Tamweel, customers may visit the company’s branches at Business Avenue building in Deira, Dubai, and at the Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi. Customers may also contact the company by calling its call center on 800-TAMWEEL (8269335) or via its website: www.tamweel.ae
 

Arjaan By Rotana-Dubai Hosts The Christmas Dinner For SNFs Special Needs Children

With Christmas day right around the corner, Arjaan by Rotana-Dubai took this opportunity and organized the SNF Special Needs Group’s Christmas dinner.

The event gathered more than a 100 guest, from SNF’S students, their parents and employees, who enjoyed a festive evening that was tailor-made specifically for them during this festive season. The children enjoyed a warm and homely welcome by the Arjaan team and celebrated an eventful Christmas highlighted by a bedazzling magic show and exciting themed giveaways.

Arjaan team didn’t forget the parents and the dedicated employees at SNF and rewarded them through an exciting raffle draw, which included numerous vouchers offered by other Rotana Properties. “We are glad to be able to give back to organizations and associations such as SNF for special needs and support them by drawing a smile to their hearts, this festive season, “said Mark Deere, the General Manager of Arjaan by Rotana- Dubai.

This activity joins a long series of social, environmental and humanitarian activities hosted and organized by Arjaan by Rotana – Dubai, since its opening in September 2008. Concluding, Mr. Deere said, “Organizing such events is a key focus at Arjaan by Rotana-Dubai and we always want to create a sense of awareness in the society towards others who are in need of a helping hand, especially children.”
 

UAE Needs Energy Supply Growth Of 71% To Match Demand By 2019

According to research company Business Monitor International (BMI) in its second quarter 2010 power report for Middle East and Africa (MEA) primary energy demand (PED) in the UAE will increase by more than 71% by 2019. But that demand will only be met if the country’s utility providers generate annual energy growth of 5.4% over the next nine years.

The country’s power consumption is expected to increase from an estimated 68 Terra Watt hours (TWh) last year to nearly 95 TWh by the end of 2019, whereas UAE electricity generation, which was over 76 TWh in 2008 must grow by 5.4% per annum to maintain a broadly balanced market. However, regional and international sustainability experts have warned that the clock maybe ticking on traditional power generation.

Anita Mathews, Exhibition Director at Power Generation and Water Middle East, which takes place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 17-19 October 2010, commented: "Something has to give. Increased demand can be met through existing resources in the UAE, but there will be a negative impact on the environment, with increased carbon emissions. Sustainable power projects must be implemented to ensure clean renewable energy past 2020 and beyond."

Although BMI estimates that thermal power generation in 2009 accounted for 93% of the total electricity supplied throughout the region, experts agree that a varied but balanced energy policy is the best way to a sustainable future, combining traditional thermal power generation with hydroelectricity, nuclear power, solar power and wind power. However for the moment, gas is the dominant fuel for the UAE, accounting for an estimated 70% of primary energy demand (PED), last year followed by oil at 30%.

These issues will be debated at length at this year’s Power & Water Leaders Forum 2010, which is being held in conjunction with Power Generation and Water Middle East, where Scott Minos, Senior Policy & Communications Specialist, US Department of Energy, will discuss how the Obama Administration is taking a different energy path to that of George W. Bush, and what the GCC can learn from its efficiency models.

"Within the current scope of technology and environmental issues such as rising carbon emissions there is possibly no such thing as true energy independence, but nations can take steps to manage energy more productively. In the first instance this means managing demand, supply and footprint," said Minos.

Elsewhere on the programme, Darrin Rovere, President of Jordan-based Sustainability Excellence will outline why sustainable working practices are key to the future of power supply for the Middle East. During his presentation, Rovere will also discuss sustainability as a management framework to tackle the transformative challenges facing the industry.

In its ’Responsible competitiveness in the Arab world 2009’ report, Sustainability Excellence, highlights ongoing green projects across a number of industry sectors, including Abu Dhabi’s eco city Masdar and Algeria developing a unique hybrid solar and natural gas plant with plans to export to Europe.

"These sustainable initiatives show that the region is making steady and tangible progress," added Mathews.

Power Generation and Water Middle East provide companies operating in these sectors a unique opportunity to showcase their products and services and benefit from the massive investment programmes currently underway.

The event has established itself as the meeting place for industry professionals wishing to network with, and source suppliers from, local and international companies offering solutions to the power, water and wastewater industries. Areas covered include; energy supply, transmission and distribution; innovation and new technologies,  water  & waste water and desalination.

For more information log on to http://www.powerandwaterme.com

Global Economy Needs To Move To An Architecture Of Networked Financial Markets, Says Dr. Nasser Saidi

The global economy needs to design and move to an architecture of networked financial markets, which will create a more stable and sustainable ‘spider-web’ model instead of the ‘hub-and-spoke’ model that has so far dominated the world financial system and led to the creation of systemic risk, according to Dr. Nasser Saidi, Chief Economist of the DIFC Authority.

Speaking at the plenary debate of the MENASA Forum focused on the topic ‘MENASA Capital Markets Going Forward’, Dr. Saidi said: “In 1976, the world’s economic centre of gravity was at a point between London and New York. However, in the 30 years since then, that centre of gravity has moved away towards the East and is now located somewhere between Dubai and Shanghai.”

Dr. Saidi said the global economic crisis will contribute to eradicating the hub-and-spoke model centred on London and New York and provide the impetus for a transition to a polycentric, ‘spider web’ model. “In a spider web model, instead of a small number of financial centres intermediating and reallocating the entire world’s savings, there will be numerous international financial centres –including the prominent examples of Dubai-Mumbai and Shanghai- across the globe that have the capital market depth and regulatory sophistication to absorb excess capital from their own regions and elsewhere. Such a model will prevent the enormous accumulation of savings in just one or two financial centres. The GCC countries need to invest in financial services capacity in order to locally manage and control their rapidly growing financial wealth. This is happening in DIFC,” he added.

He further said that the world’s new economic geography is reflected in the evolution of capital markets across the world. While the United States accounted for 46 % of global capital markets in 1999, its share dropped to 28 % in 2009. In comparison, Emerging Markets increased their share of global capital markets from 8 % in 1999 to 32 % in 2009 while the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) economies increased their share from 2 % in 1999 to 19 % in 2009. Meanwhile, the GCC increased its share from 0.3 % to 1.2 % in the same period.

Dr. Saidi also emphasised the vital need to develop local currency debt markets in the GCC region. “Well functioning debt markets will help reduce dependence on bank finance at a time when the banking sector is in a process of de-leveraging as well as provide governments with an alternative source of funding to smooth out volatile revenues will diminish macroeconomic and financial vulnerability from energy price fluctuations,” he said.

Other participants in the plenary debate focused on MENASA Capital Markets included Ivor Dunbar, Co-Head of Global Capital Markets, Deutsche Bank and Sameer Al Ansari, CEO of Shuaa Capital. All the speakers emphasised the importance of further developing the region’s market infrastructure in order to promote capital market growth.

Talking about IPOs in the GCC region, Sameer Al Ansari announced that an IPO led by Shuaa Capital will be floated in Abu Dhabi soon. In order to attract more institutional investors who drive capital markets, it is critical to improve regulatory frameworks and other aspects of the market infrastructure that will raise standards of transparency and corporate governance, he said.

Hosted by DIFC, the MENASA Forum is focused on discussing the critical opportunities and challenges confronting the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region over the next decade. Under the theme of ’Finance for the Next Decade of Growth’, the MENASA Forum features over 250 members of the regional and international banking and financial services industry, regulators and senior business executives. The event is being held in association with Abraaj Capital and Deutsche Bank and supported by Barclays, Goldman Sachs and Shuaa Capital. Being held from 23 to 24 May, 2010, the Forum presents a mix of interviews, debates and keynote addresses featuring financial leaders, experts and investors.

The MENASA Forum commenced yesterday with a welcome dinner that featured a high-level keynote address by HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Fiscal Committee. This was followed by a keynote dialogue with Arif Masood Naqvi, Founder and Group CEO, Abraaj Capital, and Juergen Fitschen, Member of the Management Board, Head of Regional Management Worldwide and CEO, Germany, Deutsche Bank.
 

ENOC Challenge IV Empowers People With Special Needs Through Focused Job Skills Training

As part of its efforts to empower disadvantaged members of the community, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) today launched ‘ENOC Challenge IV’, the fourth edition of an annual comprehensive training programme aimed at providing disadvantaged individuals with a unique opportunity to acquire critical professional skills and prepare them to join the workforce. This year’s programme will focus on people with special needs.

ENOC has tied up with Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, which nominated 15 individuals to participate in a seven-month training programme that will help develop their social and professional skills. ENOC Challenge will provide them with courses on work ethics, customer care, CV writing, and job interview techniques.

Saif Al Falasi, ENOC’s Group General Manager, said that programme reflects the company’s sustained commitment to strengthening the social fabric of the UAE and underlines the government strategy of integrating people with special needs to the public and the private sectors.

He added: “Our cooperation with Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre reiterates our commitment to partner in a sustainable socio-economic growth initiative that will make a difference to the lives of the participants. Through the seven-month training, the participants will be motivated and their skill sets sharpened to become part of the workforce. I thank Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre for their support in nominating candidates for ENOC Challenge IV.”

The progress of each trainee will be regularly evaluated by the mentors and trainers of the ENOC Learning and Development Department. Upon successful completion of the programme, the participants will be provided with a training certificate and a chance to work with ENOC in the future.

Khalid Hadi, ENOC Group Brand and Marketing Manager, said: “Now in its fourth year, the ENOC Challenge programme grooms people with special needs to become real professionals. ENOC challenge is about developing the participant’s potential by providing him with a specialized training programme and exposing him to different areas of the ENOC business. Since the launch of the programme in 2006, we have had a number of Challenge participants assigned across ENOC subsidiaries.”

Maryam Othman, Director of Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre said, “We thank ENOC for this great initiative. The programme is designed to help people with special needs to strengthen their interaction skills, especially with people in the workplace, and teaches them to become active members of the community.”

The event was attended by senior officials from ENOC, Ministry of Social Affairs, Community Development Authority, Rashid Paediatric Centre and Red Crescent.

ENOC and all of its subsidiaries uphold the highest standards of corporate social responsibility and support practices and activities that target all segments of society.
 

Dubai Properties Group Sets Up Al Noor Tuck Shop At Headquarters Retailing Works Of Children With Special Needs

Dubai Properties Group (DPG), a member of Dubai Holding, today announced its initiative of setting up an Al Noor Tuck Shop received an overwhelming response during its three day run at the DPG Headquarters in Dubai Internet City.

Manned by the staff of Al Noor Centre for Children with Special Needs, the shop merchandised endearing art and craft works and stationary items such as t-shirts, mugs, pencil holders, and books that were designed and sculpted by the students of the centre. All proceeds from the tuck shop sale were donated to the centre.

Fareda Abdullah, Executive Director of Human Capital at Dubai Properties Group, said: “We are pleased to have held the Al Noor Tuck Shop at our headquarters, offering for sale many creative pieces prepared by the highly gifted students. The shop received great interest from DPG employees and the general public. We invite everyone to encourage the promising talent of special needs’ children from the Al Noor Centre through supporting all their future endeavours.

“Dubai Properties Group has always aimed to support the skills of our own employees along with that of the community, particularly kids. Giving back to the society is a big part of our corporate responsibility campaign and we are looking forward to backing many such events and initiatives in the near future.”

Run under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Al Noor Centre is committed to helping special needs children from infancy to adulthood as part of its profound aim to successfully integrate them into mainstream society.

The Al Noor Tuck Shop initiative validates Dubai Properties Group’s commitment to participate in community-related activities through cementing partnerships with various educational and humanitarian entities.

Dubai Properties Group recently released its inaugural Corporate Responsibility Report, the first in the Middle East to be endorsed by the Amsterdam-based Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the world’s leading multi-stakeholder organisation. The report outlines in detail DPG’s philosophy, programmes and achievements in the areas of environment, people, market and the community.

For more information, visit www.dubaipropertiesgroup.ae/

Community Development Authority Trains Dubai International Airport Staff For Meeting Needs Of People With Disabilities

The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai conducted a two-day awareness workshop on topics related to people with disabilities for the front line staff at the Dubai International Airport. The initiative, which was organized in collaboration with Standards & Procedures section, is part of CDA’s strategic objective of enhancing social inclusion and to raise awareness surrounding people with diabilities.

Dr. Eman Gaad, Director of Disability Services at CDA, who is also an international expert in the field of international integration for people with disabilities, Associate Professor at the British University in Dubai and honorary professor at the University of Birmingham, UK, led the workshops, which aimed at promoting the concepts, facilities and services provided by travel and tourism industry physically disadvantaged people.

The workshops included general knowledge about causes of disabilities, a better understanding of the most common disabilities and ways to approach and treat certain categories of disabilities to ensure equal opportunities and rights among tourists as they constitute 10% of the total number of tourists in the world.

“This initiative is part of CDA’s role in strengthening the role of individuals in the society to contribute positively to all sectors of development. CDA focuses on social convergence that is based on the principles of accepting and respecting others and also on the openness to other cultures. The workshops is part of joint efforts to spread awareness on people with disbilities and ways to fulfill their needs during their travel and stay,” said Her Excellency Dr Maryam Matar, Director General, CDA.

“Such constructive initiatives are part of the UAE’s efforts to qualify its tourism and hotel infrastructure to receive people with disabilities by providing services and facilities that meet their needs. The workshops targeted the staff members who deal with all segments of the society including those with diabilities,” said Mr. Ismail Al Banna, Executive Vice President, Dnata

Participants from Dnata included Mr. Nick Moore, Senior Vice President, Mr. Jaafar Daoud, Vice President Customer Service and Mr. Ali Nizar, Special Handling Manager.