Tag Archives: dubai
Dubai Tram to put leisure, business districts on the map
Dubai Tram to put leisure, business districts on the map Lily B. Libo-on / 2 March 2014 Accessibility and mobility within Dubai, particularly in the new leisure and business districts of the emirate, will be improved as the Dubai Tram becomes functional by November this year. Tram facilitates zero-emission and hassle-free travel around new communities. — KT file photo The tram spanning 10.6km from Dubai Marina to Al Sufouh, is expected to transport about 27,000 riders per day at the start of operations in the initial phase in 2014. The technical trial run concludes on November 10, and the ridership is expected to hit 66,000 per day by 2020. The world’s first tramway that uses Platform Screen Doors in passenger stations fully synchronised with the tram’s doors opening and shutting mechanism, the Dubai Tram started testing without passengers on January 26 at Zone 1. In an interview with Khaleej Times , Abdullah Yousif Al Ali, Acting CEO, Rail Agency and Transport Authority of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said a series of 11 stations will provide a faster and more reliable way to get around the new communities in the area with zero emission and hassle. He said that the trip to Downtown Dubai and major business hubs of Dubai will be more convenient and hassle-free by the new integrated multi-modal rail system of Dubai. “The Dubai Tram will be running mainly along al Sufouh Road to link the Knowledge Village and Dubai Marina,” he added. A series of 11 stations along the way will give passengers access to and from shopping malls, hotels, offices and residential developments. Dubai Tram will run in both directions simultaneously, departing at six minute intervals, seamlessly linking the Dubai Metro to leisure and business hubs in the Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Internet City, Media City and Knowledge Village. “The Dubai Tram project complements the Dubai Metro Red Line, serving the city’s economic nerve-centre, the premium resorts and beaches that are at the heart of the city’s tourism trade, its prime residential areas and vibrant business centres,” Al Ali said. Dubai Tram is expected to transform the life of people within its catchment areas for the better. It will offer everyone a smooth, safe and spacious ride right in the heart of where it all happens. “Apart from its convenience and amazing features, the introduction of Dubai Tram will hugely benefit the community in creating a street culture of its own. It will also play an important role in paving the way for better commuting,” said Al Ali. lily@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Federer trounces Berdych to clinch sixth title in Dubai
Federer trounces Berdych to clinch sixth title in Dubai Alex Leach / 2 March 2014 Roger Federer came back from a set and a break down against Tomas Berdych to clinch his sixth Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship title here on Saturday night. Federer broke in the third game of the first set as Berdych netted a forehand, but he lost his own service game immediately thereafter with similarly sloppy play off the same wing. The Swiss was broken again when a poor second serve sat up nicely for his 28-year-old opponent, whose forceful return could only be directed back into the net by Federer. Berdych thus had the initial impetus and he kept that momentum for the remainder of the opener, winning it with a characteristically strong serve to Federer’s backhand that meekly found the net. The Rotterdam Open winner then looked to be honing in on his second tournament win in succession as another wayward Federer forehand coughed up another break of service. However, just as Federer’s challenge looked to be cruelly falling short at the final hurdle, he retaliated with two breaks to force a crunch third-set decider; Berdych’s backhand and forehand misfiring at the crucial moments respectively. Another long Berdych forehand in the fourth game there handed the perennial winner and all-time record holder here a two-game cushion and he didn’t look back from that point on. Berdych’s failure to capitalise on some crucial break point opportunities in the seventh game perhaps adversely affected his service game in the subsequent eighth as Federer scented victory. He still staved off two championship points to make Federer serve for the half dozen, which he did with typical aplomb to close it out 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 58 minutes. “I’m really happy with my game tonight and for the week,” the 17-time Grand Slam champion said. “It has been tough match clearly and Tomas had the advantage. He could — and maybe should — have brought it home. “I guess I got a little lucky at times out here tonight, but I fought well and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome at the end of course. I stayed calm and then, once I was I got back on even terms, I really started to play better. “I really enjoy playing against Tomas. He’s a great player and he’s had a great streak as well, what with winning in Rotterdam and reaching the semis of the Australian Open, so I wish Tomas all the best for the coming weeks as well.” This win in the emirate was the 78th on the ATP Tour for Federer, who moved above John McEnroe in the all-time list to outright third behind Ivan Lendl (second, 94) and Jimmy Connors (first, 109). It also places Dubai among the Swiss’ happiest hunting grounds alongside the Barclays ATP Tour Finals (six), Halle (six) and — of course — Wimbledon (seven). Federer collects $465,830 and 500 Emirates Airline ATP Ranking points as a consequence, whereas Berdych pockets $210,020 and 300 Emirates Airline ATP Ranking points for his runner-up finish. alex@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Man pays PRO for visa, spends one night in detention
Man pays PRO for visa, spends one night in detention Marie Nammour / 2 March 2014 Legally speaking, if you want a thing well done, do it yourself; never trust a person you hardly know with handling your sensitive documents. Take for instance the case of Samir (name changed), who took the easy way out to sponsor his 4-month-old daughter’s residence visa by seeking the services of a PRO. However, after making the due visa payments, instead of getting the visa, he found himself involved in a forgery case. Samir, 26, works as a manager in a real estate firm and lives in a hotel apartment. He told Khaleej Times that since the day he trusted the PRO with his daughter’s visa application, his life has taken a turn for the worse. Samir claims he paid the PRO Dh2,500 to have the visa issued and to cover expenses such as typing, medical fitness fees, Emirates ID fees, and other typing expenses. He went to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) on November 20 last year to collect the visa. “He told me I need to go in person to collect the visa since I am the girl’s father.” To his surprise, he was apprehended by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers and taken to Al Aweer Detention Centre where he spent one night. He was released on bail after depositing his passport. “I have been told at the Land Department that my Ejari certificate was forged. It bore a serial number that belongs to a tailor shop’s tenancy contract while its details are mine. The PRO forged it.” KT has learnt that the police are on the lookout for the PRO in connection with the case. “This whole thing happened when my daughter was only one-month old. Now she’s almost four-months old and I have not got the chance to hold her yet.” Samir said he loves Dubai and doesn’t want to be deported because of someone else’s wrongdoing. He submitted an authentic tenancy contract and was unaware the Ejari letter was forged, he claimed. His case is currently under investigation by the Naturalisation and Residency Prosecution. “I never told that man to forge any document for me. I paid him for his services and enclosed my application with authentic documents. I was not aware of what he did with it.” Legal procedure Hotel apartment residents should submit their tenancy documents at the GDRFA, as the Land Department in Dubai is no longer issuing tenancy contract registration certificates or Ejari letters in such cases. An Ejari customer service employee said that residents living in hotel apartments and wanting to sponsor a family member should submit their tenancy contracts, among other documents, for verification at the GDRFA. “We, in Ejari, register tenancy contracts for residents of residential flats when they apply for visas for a family member. As for the residents who live in hotel apartments they should submit their tenancy documents for verification at the GDRFA.” The applicant should also get a letter from the hotel stating that he is a tenant of a room at the hotel paying a specific annual rent. The letter should bear the hotel manager’s signature and be stamped with the hotel’s official seal, according to the Ejari employee. Earlier, Ali Humeid bin Khatem, the head of the Naturalisation and Residency Prosecution, in an interview with KT , urged all residents to refrain from forging and presenting forged tenancy contracts registration certificates because “they would be caught and be held legally accountable”. He advised the residents who want to sponsor their relatives to avoid fraudulent ways when applying for visas. “They should indeed have a rented flat or own property so that they could provide the required documents to be able to sponsor their relatives,” the Chief Prosecutor said. Thanks to the Ejari programme, he said, forgery cases are being easily detected and exposed. “The Ejari staff, available at the Residency and the Land departments as well as in several other branches across Dubai, are there to verify the authenticity of the tenancy contracts and then issue the visa applicants tenancy contract registration certificates.” Penalty for forgery According to article 217 of the Federal Penal Code, whoever forges an official document shall be sentenced to a period not exceeding five years in prison. According to article 121 of the Federal Penal Code, the courts, both Criminal and the Misdemeanours, may order the deportation of the accused, if found guilty, in forgery cases. mary@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
