Dubai developers set ball rolling with mega projects

Details of Expo 2020 plan will unleash private developments as well

Meraas’ La Mer, Jumeirah [SUPPLIED]

Upbeat property developers in Dubai kicked off the day one at Cityscape Global on Sunday with series of new launches – master developments to standalone projects, but primarily targeting the upmarket segment.

Prices in Dubai’s luxury market still are growing at the fastest pace in the world. In the year to March 2014, prices are up almost 25 per cent, though transactions have slowed down.

However, Dubai Land Department said that total value of real estate transactions had crossed Dh155 billion on as of September 2014, and the market was set for further growth.

The new projects launches were apart from the ones that Emirates 24|7 reported earlier yesterday.

The major announcements, once again, came from state-owned developers, however, property experts believe private sector will become active once the work starts on Expo 2020 venue site and all infrastructure plans are unveiled.

In its Q3 Dubai property market report, CBRE, a global real etsate consultancy, said positive market and economic fundamentals over the past 12 months has seen a growing number of developers moving ahead with stalled projects as well as the launch of multiple new schemes within a short time period.

The sales market, however, grew at a slower rate than in previous quarters with average sales prices increasing by around three per cent quarter-on-quarter, bringing the annual growth close to 23 per cent.

The best performing segment of the market during the quarter was found to be high-end apartments, a trend that was also visible in buying patterns with prime areas such as Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah seeing the majority of transaction activity, the consultancy said.

Meraas’ La Mer, Jumeirah

Meraas Holding, which is building theme parks and Bluewaters Island launched La Mer, a mixed-use development that will take shape in Jumeirah in the vicinity of Pearl Jumeirah Island.

Construction is set to commence in Q4 2014, the developer said, which is also building theme parks and Bluewaters Island.

La Mer will spread across 9.5 million square feet of existing and reclaimed land. It comprises four distinct zones - the beach, a leisure and entertainment hub, North Island, and South Island and feature commercial, leisure, residential and hospitality components.

“Our feasibility studies have confirmed that La Mer will be one on the projects which will positively contribute to Dubai's economy and set new global benchmarks for beachfront developments,” said Abdulla Al Habbai, Group Chairman, Meraas Holding.

On North Island and South Island, La Mer will include fully integrated residential neighbourhoods that will have 688 apartments and villas and a 160 key hotel.

Midtown by Deyaar

Deyaar Development, listed on Dubai Financial Market, unveiled Midtown by Deyaar - a 5.5 million square feet “upscale” master development adjacent to the southern end of Jumeirah Golf Estates.

“Midtown will continue Deyaar’s tradition of quality projects taking design-led luxury living to a new level in the region. This project will create a distinctive cultural ambiance that enriches the lifestyle of its occupants,” Saeed Al Qatami, Chief Executive, Deyaar, said.

Midtown by Deyaar will include a total of 27 buildings and will house two hotels on the northern and southern tips, along with 13 separate residential buildings on the east side of the development, and 12 buildings clustered into four groups.

While three buildings are joined into one group on the west side of the master plan, all the 27 buildings will share a one level podium covering retail, parking, and essential services.

Nakheel’s The Palm Gateway
Nakheel launched The Palm Gateway – a three-tower waterfront living and leisure complex with more than 1,300 homes, a beach club, retail, dining and health and fitness facilities.

The Palm Gateway comprises three individually - designed high-rise residential buildings – the tallest topping 260 metres – with one, two and three bedroom apartments, available for lease.

The trio of towers will be constructed on the existing Palm Monorail Gateway terminal, the roof of which will be transformed into a 15th floor podium with infinity pool, shops and sports facilities set in extensively landscaped grounds.

Palm Gateway will also have its own beach club and park – a shaded, landscaped complex with a diverse range of waterfront dining and shopping options, pool, barbecue areas and fitness facilities, including a jogging track.

Meydan’s District Eleven

Meydan Group announced two major new projects: Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City District Eleven and Meydan Avenue, two mixed-use developments.

District Eleven is a suburban mixed-use community development featuring parks, private schools and retail businesses with two prime residential areas. The residential areas cover a total ground floor area of 450,000 square metres and 210,000 square metres, respectively.

One of the unique elements to District Eleven will be Kent College Canterbury – Meydan, a partnership between Meydan Group and one of the most respected educational institutes in the UK. The school will eventually accommodate up to 2,000 students; sport and recreational facilities will include football and rugby fields, cricket grounds and a running track.

Meydan Avenue, which was previously known as Diamond Business Park, will offer a blend of residential, commercial, retail and recreational
facilities enhanced by the sports and leisure attractions.

Completing the range of developments at Meydan Avenue will be the new Meydan Headquarters, a 17,500 square metres facility with 11,600
square metres available as leasable office space to local and international businesses.

Meydan Chairman, Saeed Humaid Al Tayer, said, "We are building desirable communities in Dubai which will become integral areas for living and working in the years to come. It’s an exciting time for us at Meydan as construction is underway on both of these major new projects and will soon be coming to life."

DP’s Maram Residence
Dubai Properties (DP) launched Maram Residence in Burj Khalifa district, a two-tower project.

“The project will cater to the increased demand for luxury residential and commercial property in strategic locations across Dubai, and we anticipate that its launch will further support the development of Dubai by catering to its growing population,” said Mohammed Alhabbai, Chief Officer for Urban Planning and Infrastructure at Dubai Properties Group.

The two 27 storey towers will have unit options including one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments along with six exclusive penthouse suites.
Maram Residence will include a business lounge, an indoor children’s play area, an outdoor children’s play and pool area, a state of the art gym and fitness area, a jogging track, a sky Garden with seating areas and water features, and an infinity pool deck at roof level with a lounge for an ideal urban living experience.

Contract awarding process has begun, with the piling and enabling contract being awarded to NSCC Contracting Company.

Damac’s Paramount Hotel

Damac Properties and luxury hotel operator, Paramount Hotels & Resorts launched Paramount Hotel Dubai, Downtown. Housing 1,250 rooms and suites, the hotel will showcase timeless Hollywood elegance with Californian lifestyle and integrate elements of Paramount Pictures movies through high tech media mapping and digital signage.

Concept design of the project which will be developed on a plot located just off Sheikh Zayed road in the Downtown area is already underway with the hotel set to open its doors in 2018.

“The number of visitors to Dubai is set to double in the next six years and the Paramount Hotel Dubai, Downtown will support the growth with a high-end, theatrical and immersive experience for international tourists,” said Ziad El Chaar, Managing Director, Damac Properties.

6 checks when buying a used car in UAE

From the exterior to the dashboard – what to look for when checking out a second-hand car

True car lovers will only vouch for buying brand new cars equipped with the latest technology.

Used machines depreciate, they believe, and will only give you a lot of heartache and headache as you discover a new problem each day.

This is true, especially for those who, to begin with, are true car lovers and of course have the money to drive a new set of wheels every two years.

For the rest, who consider a car as only a medium to take them from point A to B, from their homes to office and to the grocery store, a used car at a fraction of the original price makes practical and economic sense.

Buying a used car is not a bad idea and, with a bit of research and caution, you can still drive second-hand wheels without all the associated problems that keep the car and technology enthusiasts at bay.

Here are six important things that you should remember when going in for a used car to avoid the frequent garage visits. 

#1 Check the exterior of the car

The exterior of the car can tell you a lot about what to expect when you open its doors.

The upkeep of the car will speak of the engine maintenance and its overall health and a little bit of attentiveness can also reveal the difference between the original and a new coat of paint.

According to Al Futtaim Automall, a pre-owned cars dealer in the UAE, you should carefully check the exterior paintwork for fading, rust, dents and scratches.

“Study the car surface from its four corners. Any waviness spotted in the body paint indicates new paintwork.

“Also, run your finger along the edges of the joints, between the panels, feeling for roughness which is created from leftover masking tape, another tell-tale sign of a recent paint touch-up,” experts at the company says.

If you can feel a new layer of paint on top of the original paint, be wary of red flags. The car has probably been in an accident.

Examine the chassis of the car very carefully.

“Never buy the car if there is any kind of damage to the chassis because that car will generally not be given a green light by car registration and inspection authorities, particularly in UAE,” says Hassan Siddiqi, Business Head, www.yallamotor.com
 

#2 Look for rust

Look for corrosion or rust in all possible areas. According to www.uaeusedcar.com, this is one thing that potential buyers should not forget, especially if the machine is more than five years old.

With the UAE’s hot and harsh weather, chances of rust increase if the car hasn’t been maintained well.

Look for rust at the top and rear of the front wings, along the side sills, below front and rear bumpers and the bottoms of the doors – in a nutshell, in all possible areas where the metal can get rusted.

“Sometimes a rust blemish on the paintwork can indicate more serious corrosion underneath.

“Press the panel gently with your thumb. If there is a cracking noise, it indicates advanced corrosion,” the website advises.
 

#3 What does the mileage say?

This is a very obvious one, but an important factor nevertheless that you need to consider. Always check the car’s odometer for mileage. It’s like the wrinkles on our face and easily tells the age of the machine.

“On average, a normal usage car will cover between 25,000km to 30,000km a year.

“However, this depends on many factors. Remember, cars age by mileage and over time too. So, buying a 10 year old car with very low mileage is not necessarily a good thing either. It is equally important that the owner has taken good care of the car and serviced it regularly as well,” suggest experts at Automall.
 

#4 Get a feel of the engine

The engine should be neither too clean nor too dirty. A very dirty one says that the car has suffered from neglect whereas a sparkling shiny one will tell you a clean-up job has been done to cover problems.

Have a look at the general state of the engine.

Check the colour of the oil, the quantity and colour of coolant and pay attention to the kind of noise that the engine makes as you turn on the ignition.
 

#5 Get to know the history

You should always find out about the history of the car, especially ones that have American specifications.

And this is why we suggest doing so. “In many cases, these cars still have their VIN number printed on the dashboard. A quick check-up using VIN number can be done online.

“Also, use other sources, like the stickers on the car giving details of the original US dealer or the original registration that might still be in the car. If you are a resident of Al Ain or Abu Dhabi in UAE, you can check car service history by logging to Abu Dhabi Ministry of Interior website,” explains Siddiqi.

“In most situations, the previous owner would have kept a record of the car’s service history and should be willing to share this information with you. If this information is not available, Automall recommends taking it for a further check-up.
 

#6 Stick to cars meant for UAE roads

While in Rome, do as Romans do. This was apt then and is so now. If you are living in the UAE and will drive on these roads, it’s best to buy in the country than get it imported from elsewhere.

Cars bought elsewhere can have specifications that don’t meet UAE requirements and may cause trouble later.

Another word of caution here – don’t get a car from the junkyard of another country into your parking bay.

“Last year there were many cars imported that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy in New York.

“For example, a 2013 Honda Pilot Touring, which has been damaged in hurricane Sandy was imported.

“This car will be taken to workshops, made to look brand new and then sold to customers at below market prices. Unsuspecting customers may buy it, thinking they got a bargain.

“In reality, they will be buying cars that have been written off by insurance companies and banks in the US,” maintains Siddiqi.

UAE employees allowed to work part-time at another job: MoL

Employees of one entity may work for another if conditions are met

Many employees in the UAE believe that having a part-time job if s/he is employed elsewhere is illegal in the country and those flouting the rules will be penalised. That isn’t entirely true.

Since 2010, the UAE’s Labour Law has provisions that allow an employee to opt for a part-time job along with a full-time one. If certain conditions are met, a person who is already employed by an entity may work for another employer – legally.

What the UAE Ministry of Labour says

As told to Emirates 24|7, the UAE’s Ministry of Labour says that a part-time work permit is valid for one year. This work permit can be issued to local, GCC and expatriate employees to work in another company on a part-time basis, which is less than eight hours and at the same time with their current work.

It is up to the employer to give the no objection certificate (NOC) to the employee. The applicant (18 years) on family sponsorship/ student (male and female more than 18 years) can also work on a part-time work permit with NOC from the sponsor. Such work permits can be issued to employee between 18 and 65 years of age.

The fee for part-time work permit includes an application fee of Dh100 and an approval fee of Dh500, the UAE’s Ministry of Labour said in comments to this website.

“As a result of amendments to the Federal Immigration and Labour Laws in 2010, it is now possible for non-UAE nationals (expatriates) to hold a second job,” Jamie Liddington, Senior Associate at Hadef & Partners, explained to Emirates 24|7.

“The employee must remain employed and sponsored by the first (full-time) employer who must consent in writing to the employee taking on a part-time job,” Liddington told this website. “An application for a part-time work permit should then be submitted to the Ministry of Labour by the second (part-time) employer together with supporting documents (including the first employer’s letter of consent) and payment of a fee which varies according the part-time employer’s status,” he explained.

Sara Khoja, Partner, Middle East Employment Group at Clyde and Co LLP states that all parties should agree amicably and the route to a part-time job can be paved.

“If both employers are registered with the Ministry of Labour, then, it is possible for an employee to be sponsored by one company but to also work part-time for another company, provided the Ministry of Labour issues a temporary work permit for the second employer,” she told this website.

“If the employers are registered with the Department of Immigration only and not with the Ministry of Labour, then there are also temporary work permits which can be obtained,” she explains further.

And, the good news is that many employers are letting their employees go for this option. “In our experience, most employers will allow employees to take on a second job where the employee can show that the part-time work will not interfere with or adversely affect the employee’s performance in the full time role. However, each sector is different and each particular case will depend on the facts,” says the Hadef expert.

Another important thing to consider here is the difference between part-time jobs and freelancing and both should be treated differently.

Freelancing is working for yourself, where you are essentially a company made up of one person, which is perfectly legal as long as you are licensed to do so. If you are a freelancer, then you will need to secure a Trade License pertaining to your business activity from your selected Licensing Authority, and adhere to their stipulations, says Alexandra Tohme, Community Manager at Nabbesh.com, a virtual skills marketplace, especially catering to freelancers in the region.

The add-on part-time jobs may provide a sort of quick-fix solution to those who may have missed payments to banks or are finding it hard to make their ends meet, or simply wish to make more money and are ready to burn the midnight’s oil, proverbially speaking.

Almost 8 out of 10 people in the UAE are indebted to their banks, according to an online poll run by compareit4me.com.

More than half of the respondents of the online poll run by the website said they have a credit card loan (54.7 per cent), followed by personal loans (43.6 per cent), car loans (12.6 per cent) and mortgages (4.1 per cent) and, worse, they are missing on the schedules payments.

If you are in such a sticky situation, financial prudence is the best policy but to get rid of these payments and also to sustain yourself, you could well consider a part-time after you finish your daily obligations with your full time employer.

It may be a good short-term solution to financial woes, but can be a very exhausting exercise in the long term. Nonetheless, something to fall back on until the next increment at your workplace.

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Registration of child for EOI

Documents Required

Application in EAP-I (Abu Dhabi) (EAP-I Dubai.pdf) form. The name and other details should match the birth certificate of the child. Surname can be added for the child by getting sworn affidavit duly attested by the Indian Embassy. All originals should be produced at the time of submission for verification. 5 recent photos with white background and frontal view.(51mm*51mm). English Legal Translation of the Birth Certificate has to be attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs UAE. Two forms one for declaration and other for registration of birth has to be signed by both the parents. Passport copies of both the parents must include front page, back page and the valid visa page. Both father and mother name has to be endorsed on the other passport. If it was not done the same can be done with the joint affidavit declaration by the parents duly attested by the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi along with the original marriage certificate. Or the parents can apply for Endorsement of spouse name along with the child s application.(Details can be found under Endorsement of spouse name). If any one of the parents is from other nationality, NOC has to be produced from the embassy of the same stating that Embassy doesn’t have any objection in issuing an Indian passport and also the embassy has not issued any passport to the new born. Refer Checklist before going to BLS for submitting application.

Gratuity (End of Service Benifit) Calculation as per UAE Labor Rules

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How to spot a fake tyre

Summer or winter tyres?

The winter tyre is among the biggest challenges to tyre safety in the UAE. In the UAE, only the sale of a Type A and Type B is permitted, codes which symbolise the heat resistance of a tyre, In other countries where temperatures do not come near those in the UAE, tyre Type C might be a perfectly fine tyre, but this is not the case in the UAE. Although the Type C tyre is not permitted in the UAE market, some may still ends up in the shops. There can be tyres available for sale that are not fit for the local market requirements, such as different climate conditions, or wrong car specifications. This is due to import from parallel markets, which can pose a safety risk.

When buying a tyre, checking the temperature code is therefore a must. It is a simple trick. “The code is engraved on the tyre and can be A, B, or C. C is strictly prohibited in the UAE, while A is most suited and B is acceptable.”

Read the tyreprint

Engravings are important information to check when buying a tyre, Rami continues. Other than the temperature, the information engraved in the tyre tells the customer about the size, speed and the load index, which are car-model specific, so this should adhere to the standards of the particular vehicle.

"We always recommend to respect the specification of the vehicle manufacturer, if not possible then you go higher in speed and load, but never lower. If the numbers on the tyre are higher, this means that a tyre will be able to carry a heavier load or handle a faster speed,” says Rami.

Equally important is the tread wear of a tyre. The tyre tread is the pattern in the rubber formed by the grooves all around the tyre surface. This tread wears off and reduces in depth as the tyres come into contact with the road. It is a natural process that comes along the kilometres driven in the vehicle.

Whereas a new tyre usually has a depth of 8mm, the minimum legal requirement for a tread in motor cars in the UAE is 1.6mm, and motorists are recommended to change a tyre when its tread is 3mm.

A handy tool to determine whether the tyre tread is up to the standard is by observing the tiny piece of rubber that sticks out in between the grooves. “When the tyre tread is at the same level as this tread indicator, it means that the tread has worn out and the tyre must be replaced,” explains Rami.

As straightforward as this may seem, according to the Iranian tyre dealer, it is not. “There are some people in this market who know how to engrave a tyre. They can engrave a date, and even the tyre tread. They can imitate the tread in order to adapt the alignment.”

Suddenly, the search for a safe tyre looks more challenging. Can these tyre dealers really fake essential tyre features and therewith jeopardise safety on the road? “I highly doubt it,” says Rami.

According to him, most tyres are not made in such a way that a tread could be engraved, as there is other material under the surface. Only when the tyre reads ‘regroovable it is possible, which is the case in many truck tyres. And in that case, it is permitted, he explains.

Avoid used tyres

The best way to guarantee that the tread wear is genuine is simple: never buy a used tyre, says Rami. In 2012, the sale of used tyres was banned in the UAE. “It is easy to recognise a used tyre. The tread-wear has decreased, the tyre is damaged or dirty, and in most dealers the used tyres are wrapped in plastic. The dealers do not hide them either; they will tell you which ones are used and which ones are new.”

A common misconception is that the ban on the sale of used tyres includes the sale of old tyres, but this is not true, continues Rami to explain. “An untouched tyre manufactured two years ago is safer than a used tyre manufactured this year.”

Reason for this is that the tyre easily gets damaged when the dealer removes it from the vehicle, says Rami. A removed tyre in one of the shops demonstrates what he means; from the inside the rubber has crumbled off and gathered like the crumbles of a flaky cake.

While a used tyre comes with many safety hazards, an unused tyre can easily be stored for a couple of years. “In the UAE, a tyre may be sold two years after its manufacturing date, which is engraved in the tyre,” says Rami.

The dealer

Further, tyre safety depends on the services of the tyre dealer. “A good tyre dealer follows the protocol regarding tyre storage, tyre fitting, tyre repair and tyre alignment. A tyre can be of great quality, but if these services are not provided up to the standards, it can affect the tyre performance,” Rami says.

“In a storage place, there should be no oil, dust or chemicals on the floor. It should be shaded and ventilated and the tyres should not be piled up too high. Storage in racks is the best option. You can observe these standards as you enter a shop.”

Further, every dealer, distributer and manufacturer should be able to present a Gulf Standardisation Organisation (GSO) conformity certification, which implies that it has been approved according to the Gulf regulations.

The Iranian dealer has been around for 20 years, and says that there are maybe 10 out of every 100 dealers that do not operate through the proper channels. “They operate through parallel channels. Most of them sell exactly the same products, but some of them sell products that do not adhere to the norms.

“They cater to the customer with a smaller budget,” he adds. “Not everybody is able to afford a good quality tyre. As a result, these people search for the cheaper options, which they can find on this market.”

In order to be sure of the purchase of a good tyre, customers should look for premium brands, he thinks.

However, that spotting the brand name is not enough becomes clear as we enter a random shop on the side of the road. The used tyres that catch our attention are of several premium brands, realises Rami. There is still a lot of work to be done to secure the market.