Not just radars, Dubai Police is catching violators with 2,000 cameras

Traffic Police Chief confirms violators will be caught with security cameras

Dubai Police is cracking down on road violations with the aid of 2,000 street cameras installed across the city.

The authority will be watching around the clock with these new purpose-built cameras that will work in conjunction with the radars that are already installed across the emirate.

Speaking with Al Bayan newspaper, the director of the Dubai Police Traffic Department cautioned violators, these non-flashing cameras would be able to pick out speedsters, hard shoulder and red light jumpers, along with motorists who are causing a menace on the roads and endangering the lives of others.

Colonel Saif Muhair Al Mazroui stated these 2,000 cameras are part of the ‘We Are All Police’ initiative the authority launched earlier.

He further added that these cameras are designed to adjust to road hazards around the clock, which is especially required in the month of Ramadan that has witnessed an alarming spike in road offenses.

Dubai Police had revealed earlier, over 250 traffic accidents were recorded in the emirate on the first day of Ramadan, which the control room received 2,419 calls on the day alone.

Al Mazroui stated motorists are deliberately not adhering to road rules in absence of traffic control devices or police officers.

He also pointed out that activating those cameras would enhance the traffic culture where everyone will be certain their cars and the roads they are driving on is under observation by authority.

A special technical team has been appointed to analyze the video recordings and single out violators with screen grabs and concrete evidence to hold them accountable.

Patrolling gets smarter

These cameras will further support Dubai Police’s smart patrol initiative, which was launched recently by Dubai Police.

The smart patrol sees 12 state-of-the-art cameras installed that can take photos with 360-degree visualisation.

Al Mazroui disclosed among these cameras, there are four special cameras that transmit live broadcast to the command centre; while eight cameras monitor the security of the roads, as well as monitor road violations.

He added, the side camera angles allow the devices to take pictures and run number plates of parked cars.

These images will be linked via an internal computer system with the police patrol and indicate whether the car is required in an impending case, or is wanted by banks or stolen.

He added: “The smart patrol also functions as a regular radar, which can evaluate the vehicle speed if passing near them. If found violating the traffic laws with an excess to the required speed limit, the vehicle will be photographed and recorded with authorities as a violation.”

He added in such a case, the driver would receive an alert via a text message immediately, within in a few minutes.

Al Mazroui asserted these strict controls are aimed at reducing traffic violations and accidents and road death, with the strategic goal of the Dubai Police to achieve zero deaths per 100,000 inhabitants by the year 2020.

Forget Kohinoor, a diamond four times bigger is now in Dubai

Uncut diamond weighs in at 404 carats compared with Kohinoor’s 105.602 carats

Even as the governments of India, Pakistan and even Afghanistan have all laid a claim on the world-famous Kohinoor diamond that is set in the front of UK’s Queen Mother’s Crown, it is Dubai that can be called home to one of the world’s rarest and largest rough diamonds even discovered.

The astonishing rough diamond in Dubai is characterised not only by its sheer size – an impressive 404 carats – but also uniquely by its colourlessness and flawless clarity. The cut-down Kohinoor, on the other hand, weighs 105.6 carats.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of DMCC and Chair of the Kimberley Process, hosted a press conference in Dubai along with Fawaz Gruosi, Founder and Executive Board Member of diamond jewellers de Grisogono, to announce the latter’s acquisition of the rights to one of the world’s largest and rarest rough diamonds ever discovered.

“Dubai and DMCC have become the global epicentre for the diamond trade and we are delighted to have been part of facilitating the access to one of the world’s largest and rarest diamonds by de Grisogono here at Almas – the world’s tallest diamond tower,” said bin Sulayem.

“Not only does this further cement Dubai’s role as a leading diamond trading hub globally, it also highlights how DMCC connects the industry and the producing and consuming countries along the Silk Road,” he added.

One of the 30 largest top quality rough diamonds ever found, and the largest ever found in Angola, the diamond weighing 404 carats will now be cut and polished by de Grisogono’s cutters.

While Kohinoor was much bigger at 793 carats when it was first found, it was repeatedly cut and polished over the years to achieve its dazzling oval-cut brilliance. Even now, at 105.6 carats (21.12 g) and measuring 3.6cm x 3.2cm x 1.3cm, the Kohinoor’s cut is far from perfect by modern standards. Its culet is unusually broad, giving the impression of a black hole when the stone is viewed head-on.

On the other hand, DMCC along with jewellery-makers de Grisogono have the perfect opportunity to craft the recently discovered diamond into “one of the most beautiful jewellery pieces ever created”.

Contrary to the traditional process, where jewellers are restricted to the polished stones that already exist in the market, with this partnership, de Grisogono will have the opportunity to bring a jeweller’s perspective into the cutting process, maximising the beauty of the final jewellery pieces.

de Grisogono has partnered with Nemesis International, a leading rough diamond trading company based at the DMCC, which works on a day-to-day basis with the best diamond mines in world to identify, select and acquire the most precious diamonds in existence.

DMCC’s Almas Tower, purpose-built for the diamond industry and one of the most influential diamond trading centres in the world, provides a leading platform for such a significant acquisition.

“This diamond marks one of the most important milestones in my career both as a jeweller and a designer. Words cannot express how grateful my team and I are to DMCC and Nemesis International for such a unique collaboration,” said Fawaz Gruosi.

Do Ramadan timings also apply to non-fasting employees?

UAE Labour Law does not differentiate among fasting, non-fasting staff, but regulations differ in Dubai’s financial free zone

During the month of Ramadan, employees in the UAE are entitled to work reduced office hours, with an average two hours reduced from the daily job schedule, but there may be exceptions.

While the UAE Labour Law does not differentiate between fasting and non-fasting employees, the regulations are different within Dubai’s financial free zone.

The UAE Labour Law provides that working hours should be reduced by two hours per day during Ramadan, and does not differentiate between fasting and non-fasting employees. So, the reduced work-hours rule is applicable to all Muslim and non-Muslim employees and irrespective of whether they are fasting or not.

Within the DIFC, however, only fasting employees’ working hours are reduced by two hours. Non-fasting employees may be required by their employers to work regular hours.

As per Article 65 of the UAE Labour Law, the maximum number of ordinary working hours for adult workers shall be eight hours per day, or 48 hours per week. The number of hours may be increased to nine hours per day for people employed in trade, hotels, cafeterias, security and other jobs.

Pay-cut for reduced working days?

According to the UAE Labour Law, ordinary working hours shall be reduced by two hours during Ramadan; so this means that employees should only work 6 hours per day (as the statutory maximum working hours are 8 hours per day).

This, however, does not mean that employees should take a pay cut for the reduced hours.

Compensate for reduced hours by working from home?

Employers cannot ask their employees to work extra hours from home, as this will also be counted towards the employee’s total hours.

Exceptions?

There are certain exceptions that both employers and employees need to be aware of. The law for non-fasting employees in the DIFC also varies.

If a company does ask their employees to work their regular hours during Ramadan, they should compensate the staff accordingly as these hours will be considered overtime.

The authorities do conduct checks from time to time to ensure that companies are compliant with the Labour Law and employees are working Ramadan hours.

If a company is found in breach of the Labour Law, the authorities have the discretion to penalise such a company. The penalty is at the discretion of the authorities and may be imposed on a case-by-case basis.

A ministerial circular on the reduction of work hours this Ramadan is awaited.

UAE bank warns of 'Magic Pen' fraud; how to avoid it

Never issue a blank security cheque, fill details with your own pen

Banks in the UAE are warning customers not to fall prey to a new 'Magic Pen' method used by fraudsters.

“In our effort to provide you with an environment of safe and secure banking, we would like to inform you about a new 'Magic Pen' method used by fraudsters recently, posing as bank representatives to dupe customers,” the bank said in a notice sent to customers.

“These fraudsters ask customers to complete the loan / credit card applications and provide a blank signed security cheque wherein the imposter fills up the details on the cheque in their presence using his magic pen.

“Subsequently, the details of beneficiary and amount in the cheque are altered since it was filled up with the magic pen, which allows the details entered to be erased without a trace.  The cheque is then cashed from various banks using third parties,” the notice said.

We spoke to an Indian businessman based in Ras Al Khaimah who has fallen prey to the 'magic pen' a fraud.

The businessman, who asked not to be named, claimed that he was approached by a person, who claimed to be representative of a local bank and offered him the much-needed credit facility.

“The caller introduced himself as a bank representative and took all the documents, including a ‘security cheque’ for Dh100,000 and asking me to keep a minimum balance of Dh100,000 in my bank account.

“I gave the cheque in the bank’s name, but the amount and beneficiary details were found to have been altered, allegedly using a ‘magic pen’,” the businessman claimed, adding that Dh98,000 had been withdrawn from his account.

A complaint has been filed with the Ras Al Khaimah police and an investigation is ongoing.

So how do you protect yourself? Here is what the bank states:

# Please ask the representative to identify himself and check his photo ID card issued by the bank.

# Do not issue a blank security cheque.  Please fill in all details in the cheque including name of the beneficiary (which should be the bank’s name) and amount with your own pen.

# Do not use the pens provided by the other party to fill in details of the cheque
 
# If in doubt contact the concerned bank on their land line and confirm that the representative indeed works for the bank he claims to represent.

Pooja

Ohm Maha Ganapathaye Namaha

Dubai launches International Centre for 3D Printing

Dubai launches International Centre for 3D Printing

Centre will host 700 companies to make Dubai a major hub of 3D printing technology

Dubai Holding has launched the International Center for 3D Printing to make Dubai an international destination for 3D printing by 2030.

The project, located at Dubai Industrial City, will create a suitable atmosphere and provide the appropriate infrastructure to bring under one roof a network of design and technology suppliers as well as factories.

It will include research centres and laboratories for testing materials used in 3D printed products within an integrated environment dedicated to serve construction, medicine, and consumer products sectors. It will also involve the academic sector, which will add innovation and educational value to this initiative through research and development.

The new project aims to build a network of distinguished companies in the 3D printing sector by attracting entrepreneurs and innovators as well as targeting international enterprises locally and globally by offering special laboratories for 3D printing. It will also offer services, professional training, facilities, storage solution, and other logistical support to strengthen this sector.

“We will work on providing a suitable environment for specialised companies and attracting innovative minds by offering the required infrastructure that match the aspirations of the wise leadership. We believe that the new strategy will be a vital element in creating support for Dubai's key role in the area of 3D printing,” said Dr. Amina Al Rustamani, Group CEO of Tecom Investments.

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The centre focuses on providing all the components in an integrated system to take this technology from the ideas and innovation stage to the design phase,  and  provide the materials to a promising market within the, construction, medical and consumer product sectors,” said Saif Al Aleeli, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation.

Al Aleeli pointed out that the Dubai 3D Printing Strategy is particularly relevant to the construction sector considering that the strategy aims to 3D print 25 per cent of buildings in Dubai by 2030. This will create a huge demand in the market and offer large investment opportunities for companies and investors locally, regionally and globally, he added.

“The next phase of the International Centre for 3D Printing is to translate the vision of our wise leadership in the 3D printing domain by providing the latest technology and the best solutions in the industry to meet the requirements of local and international companies in this sector. The centre will offer the advantages of strategic location, advanced infrastructure, developed offices, warehouses, exhibition facilities, not to mention the integrated support system that will enable companies to establish their business. The centre will host more than 700 local and international companies to make Dubai a major hub of 3D printing technology,” said Abdullah Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Industrial City.

Dubai 3D Printing Strategy, which aims to make Dubai a global capital of 3D printing technologies by 2030, will focus on three major sectors: Construction, Medical Products, Consumer Products.

The Dubai 3D Printing Strategy has five main pillars, namely: Infrastructure, Legislative Structure, Funding, Talent and Market Demand.

The recent report of Strategy &, a global research institution, showed that 3D printing is at the forefront global industry trends in 2016 and will play a major role in reducing the manufacturing cost and time in construction sector. The sector will grow dramatically to become an important segment in the coming period, it added.

Midumidukkan

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