Canada VISA war, my intake !

The UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Gargash, said recently that the UAE was working on securing visa on arrival for Emiratis in 34 countries, whose citizens can obtain visas on arrival here. [Gulf News]

This was in June 2008 and what happened since then? Nothing !

Actually, there is New Zealand which changed their rule recently giving Emiratis visas on arrival but who wants to wander with the sheeps anyway.

The only countries where there is reciprocity, beside the GCC, are Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Korea and New Zealand.

In HENLEY & PARTNERS VISA RESTRICTIONS INDEX the UAE scored 64 countries where Emiratis don't need to apply for visa prior to their arrival after Kuwait 71, Bahrain 67 and Qatar 66. This is kinda embarrassing especially if we compared ourselves to Bahrain and Qatar. [Arabian Business]

But there is this thing that has been bothering me for a while. It is the reason why I wrote this topic. No, its not the fact that I have to go all the way to Abu Dhabi to apply for the visa to go to Canada and then go all the way back to Dubai. Its not that we are almost treated like shit in the American consulate in Dubai Trade Center.

Here is the story; the privilege of easy visa regulations is mostly the effort of bi agreement between those two countries. It is also an indicator of the country status. The ministry of foreign affairs usually work to make this happen.

So I am wondering, and my non Emirati brothers wont like this, why is it that our effort go to waste for us Emiratis while other nationalities get privileges here that they wont get back in their country when it comes to visas. If it is because of our country effort that such visa measures were made easy with other countries, why should there be a rivalry or equal standards with other nationalities?

Why should I be in the same queue with someone who would have to book an appointment a month earlier for visa if he was in his country? Visa are sovereign decisions made by agreement between countries. So shouldn't I as an Emirati get my own queue here instead of being dipped in with 100 guys from other nationalties?

Ok, the topic does look silly, but am still annoyed !

Movie of the Week: The other guys

Another movie you should never see. Very silly but can be funny at times. Gets really boring by the end. Many have left the hall before the end of the movie.

Movie of the Week: Expendables

Bunch of old guys saying odd jokes and too much talking. The movie is so 1990s, with a predictable typical story line. I think they thought the movie will look better if they stick all those actors together. The movie should be watchable in MBC MAX or something.

Eid Mubarak

I forgive you Ultra[blue] :P

Picture stolen from dubaiinternetmarketing.com

The Development of Hypocrisy: Episode 3

Couldn't resist posting this one, its a continuation of my previous post.

The current trend seems like its going from this

TO THIS (project planned for Emirati housing)

The Development of Hypocrisy: Episode 2

For the clueless guys, Mohammad Bin Rashid Establishment is an entity that was formed to integrate the effort of several governmental institutions. The ruler court was responsible for giving the loans while the responsibility for granting lands was the Municipality. At that time and in the process of changing their procedures, when you go to the Municipality they would say that they can't give u a land unless u have 500k in your account and when you go to the Ruler court they say that they cant give you a loan unless you have a land so it was pretty messed up. Fortunately, they fixed all those issues.

I rememeber when they first annouced building 10,000 houses for Emirati youth worth 10billion dirhams, they even called it a gift "makruma" only to turn out as economical housing program where we need to pay a supposedly reduced amount of money. I bet the 10billion dirhams included the named land price and electricity and water connections and any form of infrastructure. They are not even that cheap especially considering that the land is being granted by the government, not to forget that they "stole" Emaar desings and the lands are smaller than our house extension. The lands are mere 8000 to 10000 sqft comparing to a general 15,000 in other areas. Oh, speaking of that, they lowered the new areas land plots sizes to 10,000.

So I heard from different sources that Mohammad Bin Rashed Housing Establishement has stopped accepting application forms from Emirati bachelors. In fact, they didn't only do that but also even the ones who applied 5 years ago and were about to get their loan was stopped. Ya3ny, its pathetic that we need to wait several years to get loans and then stopping it all together?

They also said that they will raise the pathetic loan of 750k in the boom but backed off when the crisis started saying that building houses is more affordable. Well, I don't think anyone can build a decent house with a stupid 750k before or now and while am not of those many people who say that we should be getting the 750k as a grant and not a loan I still think that they should raise the loan to 1.5 million dirhams and everyone will be happy.

Another final thing, they raised the mol7aq houses by 200 to 300 thousand dirhams too and that is in the so called depression and when the construction costs are way lower. Also the number of loans being granted every month has gone for 150 loans per month to God knows how many now. I don't even remember the last time the annouced granting those loans like they always do in the newspaper with an advertisement that occupy a full page, you know, the Dubai way of marketing and glorifiyng everything

So this is a main pillar the government didn't fulfill its duties in so some wonder, what should the government priority be?

Restaurant Review 1: Al Damyati

This is just another Karama resutarant. If you are looking for a fancy restaurant where you want to show off and use a fork and a knife then this one is not for you. It is tasty yet cheap.

• Value: 5
• Ambiance: 1
• Service: 2
• Decor: 1
• Food: 4

Location map

The food

The bill and the Menu

Ahmad Al Sheikh to turn Islamic Noor Dubai to a heritage channel

A source said that the general manager of Dubai Media Incorporation wants to to turn Noor Dubai to a heritage channel. Noor Dubai was once owned by the Dubai Media group, the same group that owns most Dubai radio channels as well as Nickelodeon and MTV Arabia and used to own Al Emarat Alyoum and Business 24/7 newspapers. Noor Dubai which calls itself a Social with an Islam vision channel won peoples heart with its creative yet traditional Islamic flavored was among the most popular channels in the UAE and the region.

Wonder why is it that when there is a brilliant idea someone comes from no where to ruin it. What's wrong with Noor Dubai the way it is? I don't think they had problems with advertisement revenues. If they do, why not turn the brilliant [not] Racing channel into a heritage channel since they are so into that. Don't think anyone will miss this channel. Not sure about the point of such awkward decision but am not surprised knowing how Al Shiekh think. All I know that it doesn't sound right and the channel will lose its main novelty factor. Lets hope they don't ruin it with too much falcon hunting, camel racing and Yolah. We already moved on from such ideas and if he wants a heritage channel why not make a new one? :D

Lets hope he comes back to reality and scrap the thought all together.

The Development of Hypocrisy: Episode 1

They cannot expand the Neonatal ICU in the only women and pregnancy government hospital in Dubai?

Fast News: Dubai freeze for Ramadan, Emiratis arrested in London

Dubai 'hot spots' freeze over as Ramadan nears
By Lynne Nahhas (AFP)

DUBAI - The music has been cut and the dancing has stopped -- Dubai is usually blusterous nightclubs are falling silent as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches.

Many of the city's night spots were subdued Monday night while others had shut their doors altogether even though the fasting month has yet to begin.
"You usually find dozens of taxis picking up people to and from clubs in the late night hours, but tonight no one's going because of Ramadan," a taxi driver told AFP.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hb7_HeJNbr5Mc6iGEZTBzgjNWi4A

Two Arabs arrested after crashing Lamborghini in London square

Complaints: two supercars, not involved in the accident, in Knightsbridge. Residents are angered at the revving engines

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23865512-two-arabs-arrested-after-crashing-lamborghini-in-london-square.do

Security Researcher Warns on UAE BlackBerry Replacement

As much as am anti-Etisalat, this article does seem far-fetched. They have many other alternatives to spy but this is not one of them ...

An offer of free smartphones may be a ruse for users in the United Arab Emirates to receive a handset loaded with spyware, a security researcher has warned, saying people who trade in their BlackBerry for a new smartphone should do a spyware check. [PCWorld]

Ramadan Kareem

Why I won't be surprised if some idiot start arguing about why eating in the public of Ramadan is punishable by law and that we should be tolerant, after all that happens ever year. Ok, no bad mouthing ...

Ramadan Kareem to all :P

Woman walking in underwear in Dubai Mall after a fight with another lady

What a $l*&^t, hope some one show her her place.

A British holidaymaker has been charged with indecency in Dubai after walking through the world's largest shopping centre in a bikini.

The woman was buying clothes and gifts in the Dubai Mall, fully dressed but in a low-cut top, when she was accosted by an Arabic woman and criticised for wearing 'revealing clothing'.

The pair then became embroiled in a heated row in front of hundreds of bemused shoppers.

Incensed by the Arabic woman's comments, the British woman told her to 'mind her own business' before stripping out of her clothes and 'taunting' the locals by walking around in only her bikini, it is alleged.

[Dailymail]

The Sun and 7days said that she was released. Grrr, #@$@# 325 12!$4 5#^$6$6 346 #4^

Bye Bye BB

According to Elaph, the reason for this ban is because the UAE wanted to have an access (spy) on all the blackberry phones that are located in the UAE, which RIM refused and offered an access of several thousands of phones instead, which the UAE rejected.

What is even funnier is that the so called survey where 75% showed their discomfort of a foreign company (RIM) being able to have an access of their data and stated 58% their concern that the applications of their phones might be out the jurisdiction of the country.

Etisalat and du said on their official statement that they will offer alternatives? Wonder what would they be? What about the compensations? Can we refund our blackberry phones? How would TRA deal with this? BB owners already invested couple of thousands on those devices so shouldn't they be treated fairly?

Some related this to an attempt of young Emiratis, who were arrested after the indecent, to protest against the raise of fuel few weeks back ...

Movie of the week: Salt

If you like movies that do not make sense with a super hero with many twists then this is the movie for you. Good movie though !

Movie of the Week: Inception

One of the greatest of this year or maybe in years. I confirmed today that most of the ones who don't like such movies are dumb. They don't understand them, hence say that they are not worth watching. Simpletons, lol.

Gas to Liter: What's behind the scene?

Ever wondered why they replaced the gallon with the liter as a unit of fuel?According to the director general of the Emirates Authority of Standardization and Meteorology, the reason behind is to consolidate the units of measurement with the world and reduce any possible margin of error.

[Gulf News]

Am I the only one who think otherwise?

The real reason behind changing the unit is purely so that the fuel increase doesn't look high. So by 20 Fils per liter is equal to 20 by 3.7 which equals to about 0.75 per gallon. So for the unfortunate ones who own an SUV like me, filling a car will be a pain in the @%#23.

and welcome to new hikes in the next few months !

[RANT]and then they say that we are in a united country, when the real reason behind the increase is because Dubai don't want to support the fuel of its companies ENOC and EPPCO and Abu Dhabi don't want to sell reduced fuel price to those companies.

So, shouldn't companies who lose in the market simply withdraw. Why can't we simply have ADNOC in Dubai. EMARAT, EPPCO and ENOC should declare bankruptcy or something.[/RANT]

UAE royalty lost the most in the crisis

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan, United Arab Emirates
Fortune: $15 billion (down)
Age: 62
Re-elected president of the UAE for a second five-year term in November by the emirates' Federal Supreme Council. The hereditary ruler of the tiny emirate of Abu Dhabi provided $10 billion bailout package to debt-burdened brother state of Dubai in December. Did not escape downturn; fortune down $3 billion as result of last year's 40% decline in oil export earnings, coupled with double-digit declines in real estate and stock markets. Continuing to promote his Abu Dhabi 2030 plan to reinvent it as a tourism and cultural hub.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai
Fortune: $4.5 billion (down)
Age: 60
Fortune tumbled due to emirate's heavy debt load of $109 billion racked up by state-owned companies in heady days; $15.5 billion of debt due this year. His own Dubai Holding owes banks $12 billion, majority through investment companies Dubai Group and Dubai International Capital, which own stakes in Sony's and Airbus' parent. Last December sold stake in Egyptian investment bank EFG Hermes at a 60% discount to purchase two years ago. Recently stated that the UAE economy is doing fine and that the worst for Dubai is over. Renowned horseman has valuable equine assets.

http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/07/richest-royals-wealth-monarch-wedding-divorce-billionaire.html?boxes=Homepagelighttop

U.A.E. diplomat mulls hit on Iran's nukes and the government says it was misquoted

I won't be surprised if this was true !




















"I think it's a cost-benefit analysis," Mr. al-Otaiba said. "I think despite the large amount of trade we do with Iran, which is close to $12 billion … there will be consequences, there will be a backlash and there will be problems with people protesting and rioting and very unhappy that there is an outside force attacking a Muslim country; that is going to happen no matter what."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/islamic-republic-of-iran/

The United Arab Emirates dismissed as "inaccurate" on Wednesday statements attributed to its ambassador in Washington backing possible military action over Iran's nuclear programme.
"The statements attributed by the Washington Times to the UAE ambassador to the United States, Youssef Al-Otaiba, are not precise," the official WAM news agency quoted deputy foreign minister Tareq al-Haidan as saying.

http://mobile.france24.com//en/20100707-uae-says-ambassador-washington-misquoted-iran

Movie of the Week: Toy Story 3