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Series of measures to stimulate Dubai’s hospitality sector
Series of measures to boost Dubai’s hospitality Issac John / 21 January 2014 Fee waivers and reduced approval timeline for three and four star hotel projects to further stimulate the growth of its vibrant hospitality sector. Dubai has initiated a series of bold new measures and incentives including fee waivers and reduced approval timeline for three and four star hotel projects to further stimulate the growth of its vibrant hospitality sector. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, on Monday pronounced a string of directives to this effect to offer exciting new opportunities for hotel investors. A prime focus of the move is to cut red tape to expedite the approval process for three and four star hotel projects. The range of incentives includes the allocation of government land at favourable rates and an exemption from fee for change-of-use of land for hotel construction. For three and four star hotels that begin operations before June 2017, there will also be an extension of the period of exemption from the 10 per cent Dubai Municipality fee to five years from the previously four years. The directives, which were made in response to recommendations raised by Dubai’s private sector hotel developers during a consultation workshop, will act as a catalyst to the booming hospitality sector and help bolster the industry’s room capacity in time for hosting over 25 million visitors expected for World Expo 2020. According to Dubai Tourism Vision 2020, the city needs to double its hotel inventory to around 164,000 hotel and hotel apartment rooms within the next seven years. In 2013, Dubai has added around 3,000 new hotel rooms to its inventory. Dubai, the regional hub for hospitality, tourism and shopping, is the world’s biggest growing market outside of China since 2008 in terms of new hotel openings. The city has been named a top-10 global destination for business, leisure and shopping tourists, in a research exercise by Genesis Consulting ME. Hotels in Dubai exceeded the regional and national average and recorded a 9.9 per cent growth in average daily rate to $290.68. In line with the directives, hotel construction pre-approval process period will henceforth be reduced to two months (currently the approval process for private developers ranges from three to six months); a one-stop-shop for all sector approvals to be created (a single streamlined system will be managed by the Dubai Municipality to help reduce red tape for businesses and ensure the new reduced approval timeframes are met); approval processes of planning permission for all hotel establishments in the emirate to be standardised through the Dubai Municipality (currently some free zones manage their own building regulation approval processes for hotels in areas across Dubai. These will now be moved to Dubai Municipality); Government land to be allocated for the development of three-star and four star hotels; Dubai Municipality and government-linked master developers will work with Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) to identify key locations for hotels at favourable investment terms. Incentives to help ensure the development of more three and four star hotels that Dubai will need by 2020 to meet the growth in visitor numbers include: no fees on change-of-use of land for hotel usage, and the establishment of a special committee to review the re-zoning of plots: and an additional year of exemption of the 10 per cent Dubai Municipality fee for any three and four star hotels which begin operating before June 2017, based on the hotel Incentive initiative announced by DTCM in September 2013. The consultation workshop of private sector hotel developers was organised and hosted by DTCM and Dubai Municipality on January 16. It was attended by representatives of key investors in the hospitality sector, including Al Habtoor Group, Al Futtaim Group, Al Ghurair Group, Rotana Group, Dubai Holding and Emaar. The workshop was designed to discuss the Tourism Vision for 2020, including the recent positive growth in the hospitality sector in terms of visitor numbers and hotel openings, to identify barriers-to-entry currently being faced by hotel investors and to find solutions to further stimulate the sector, particularly in the three and four star segment, as Dubai prepares to welcome more than 20 million annual visitors by 2020. Hussain Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, said in partnership with public and private sectors, Dubai will identify opportunities for streamlining in the hotel development sector. “Our aim is to continue Dubai’s journey, to further progress from our position as the region’s leading tourism and business destination to being recognised as a global leader in trade and tourism. To achieve this, we will demand and help our partners to deliver world-class buildings standards and to create an environment of high quality, sustainable growth.” Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of the DTCM, said collaboration and consultation between the public and private sector is essential to ensure delivery of the infrastructure, accommodation, events and attractions needed to meet not only the current growth of the tourism sector but also the ambitious future growth. “The directives offer new and exciting opportunities for hotel investors. They will act as a stimulus to the sector and help to broaden our current accommodation offering, particularly within the three and four star segment, which is needed to meet the targets outlined in the Dubai Tourism Vision for 2020,” said Almarri. issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Anti-tobacco law violators to be fined from today
Anti-tobacco law violators to be fined from today Asma Ali Zain, Amira Agarib and Sajila Saseendran / 21 January 2014 Main offenders targeted by the authorities include smokers in cars with children, people selling cigarettes to minors, and shisha joints operating in restricted areas. Violators of the UAE’s anti-tobacco law will be fined from today as the executive regulations of the law come into effect. Enforcement agencies across the emirates are entitled to impose fines and other penalties on a wider group of violators of the executive bylaws of the Federal Law. Main offenders targeted by the authorities include smokers in cars with children, people selling cigarettes to minors, and shisha joints operating in restricted areas. Anyone caught smoking in a car with children will be fined Dh500. A repeat offence will attract a Dh1,000 fine. Fines ranging from Dh100,000 to Dh1 million will be slapped on violators of prohibitions in commercial establishments. However, the UAE’s anti-tobacco crusader feels most of the government bodies assigned to implement the regulations are “only partly” ready to get tough on violators. The Head of the National Tobacco Control Committee at the Ministry of Health (MoH), Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, said the authorities may not be fully ready for enforcement of the tobacco bylaws today. “I also don’t expect the enforcement to be strict initially,” she said. The implementation of the executive bylaws approved by the Cabinet on July 21 last year means public places become 100 per cent smoke-free, and ban on tobacco advertisement comes into effect, among other regulations — such as tobacco packaging — that have already been implemented. They also include stringent curbs on sale of cigarettes and shisha, mainly meant to protect the health of the younger generation. The regulations drafted by the MoH will now be implemented by the municipalities, police and economic departments of all the emirates. Dr Wedad said enforcement shows the government’s seriousness in protecting the people from the harms of tobacco. Salem bin Mesmar, Assistant Director-General of the Dubai Municipality for Environment, Health and Safety Sector, said the enforcement of the bylaws did not mean the municipality would jump and attack shisha cafes and other commercial outlets. “We are working on it (enforcement) and we are chalking out a plan to make the implementation smooth. But nobody can now claim that they were not aware of the implementation of the laws from today. We had run advertisements about the date of implementation of the laws and issued a comprehensive guide book on the regulations.” He said inspectors from the Department of Public Health and Safety would now be stricter in acting against the violators. The official warned outlets that they need a special permit to serve shisha. Shisha cafes, he said, cannot operate in residential areas or areas close to places of worship and educational institutes. Tougher regulations on shisha smoking are expected to bring about a change in the culture of smoking in the local society. However, the municipality, Mesmar said, is yet to find out how many outlets operate within the restricted areas. “We will be doing a survey on this at least by next week and if they have not moved from such places, we will take action,” he said. The official added that the anti-tobacco local orders previously implemented by the municipality would now be replaced by the federal regulations. This will mean a change in the minimum age for sale of cigarettes and tobacco products in Dubai. The previous local order had prohibited shops in the emirate from selling tobacco products to those under 20. The municipality had also barred those under 20 from entering the designated smoking areas in public places. However, these prohibitions will now be applicable only to the under 18 group as per the Federal Law. Health experts have praised its provision to fine anyone found smoking in cars with children under 12. This clause of the bylaw will now be implemented by the Ministry of Interior. The Dubai Police said it had already been issuing a fine of Dh500 on drivers for throwing cigarette butts out of car windows and four black points. This is in addition to the same amount of fine slapped on motorists for throwing waste out of cars. With the bylaws coming into effect, the police can now slap another Dh500 fine on people smoking in the presence of children in the cars. However, a senior police official said the police are yet to receive any update on enforcing the bylaws from today. When asked about this, Dr Wedad said the ministry had sent a copy and a letter to each of the departments responsible for the enforcement when the bylaws were issued. “It clearly explained what was expected of them from today…but I think we will need to send out reminders.” The second step the government intends to take now is to increase cigarette prices, said Dr Wedad. “We hope this can be done through enforcement of taxation on tobacco.” news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Now travel all over Dubai at just Dh270 per month
Now travel all over Dubai at just Dh270 per month Lily B. Libo-on / 21 January 2014 Travellers can top up their blue NoL card once on salary day with Dh270 and they can travel all over Dubai the entire month. Travelling around Dubai can sometimes be tiresome for regular travellers, who have to be out on the road early. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced a solution to their travel woes in the form of a personalised blue NoL card. Travellers can now stop worrying about setting aside cash for their daily fares. In fact, they can save Dh150 per month by using this card. They just have to top up their blue NoL card once on salary day with Dh270 and they can travel all over Dubai. Similarly, students can travel all over Dubai with a personalised blue NoL card for just Dh170 a month. Emirati senior citizens are eligible for a 50 per cent discount on the card, while people with special needs can travel with it free of cost; they just need to pay Dh70 as an application fee. When travelling by the Dubai Metro, there are four tiers. The daily fare for travellers using the silver NoL card is capped at Dh14, which is applicable on all four tiers. On Tier zero (T0), less than or equal to 3km costs Dh1.80; on Tier 1 (T1) it costs Dh2.30; Tier 2 (T2) costs Dh4.10; and Tier 3 (T3) costs a maximum of Dh5.80. After they use up the maximum Dh14 daily cap, they are travelling free of charge. Blue NoL card holders have more privileges embedded in a more secure card. Louloua Yousif Al Asmakh, Deputy Director and Clearing and Settlement Manager, UAFC Department, RTA, said by just paying Dh70 as an application fee, the blue NoL card will be secured with the holder’s name, photo and signature. “If the holder loses the card, the balance of the card can be protected by calling the RTA to hold or block it so the finder cannot use it. Anyone can apply for a blue NoL card at any RTA ticket offices inside the Dubai Metro stations or through its website, www.NoL.ae.” The card will be delivered to the applicants within 10 to 14 days. Blue NoL cards come in different special designs. Applicants can choose from any of the five designs at an additional cost of Dh30. -lily@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
