What’s in Your Tap Water: Legionnaires’ tests are 80% positive

Eighty of 100 water samples analysed by a Dubai laboratory this year have tested positive for the bacterium that causes Legionnaires’ disease, scientists said yesterday.

Legionella pneumophila is particularly common at this time of year, when the summer heat boosts its ability to grow in air-conditioning systems and in water tanks and fittings… MORE

Al Ain will soon become a Google town

The oasis city has reached a deal with the US-based company to provide a host of online services to connect with residents and manage its internal operations.

Residents will be able to check information on new developments on Google maps, have city documents translated to another language and, possibly, have a direct e-mail connection with the local government.

Internally, the municipality will use Google systems for tasks such as document management and project planning.

Al Ain to Incorporate Google Services

“We can help Al Ain to maximise the effectiveness of its e-government portal [and] link all the information and resources available to Al Ain residents,” said Matthew Landeg, the head of enterprise sales for Google.

He was in Al Ain to speak with municipality department heads about how the company could strengthen the city’s online resources and provide better services and greater transparency to the community.
One idea that came out of the meeting was to set up a Google e-mail account for every household and use it to communicate with residents.

“If this idea is indeed put into effect, the Al Ain Municipality will probably be the first in the world to do this,” a spokesman said…SOURCE

Morality Police Strike in RAK

Ras Al Khaimah: The Ras Al Khaimah Police have arrested scores of young people in shopping malls for violating decency laws. The police summoned their parents and made them sign pledges to make their children dress in a decent manner.

Sources said that complaints have been made by families visiting malls regarding the clothes as well as the unusual hair styles of the youth. Authorities organised a campaign in which several youngsters were caught.

Revealing dress

Young people were apparently wearing trousers and shirts showing parts of their bodies thus violating norms of decency.

The sources said that police gave haircuts to some of the youngsters and summoned their parents who were instructed to sign an undertaking to monitor their children and stop them from visiting malls in indecent clothes…SOURCE

Idiots Hitting the Emergency Stop Button Ruin Dubai Metro Debut

“Misuse” of the Metro by some commuters had led to intermittent service with delays at stations and causing inconvenience to commuters during the first two days of the Metro operation, an RTA official said.
Peyman Younes Parham, an RTA spokesperson, said: “Some passengers on board pushed emergency buttons to open or close the doors or just for fun and this led to delays in the train service,” he said, adding that most of the commuters do not yet know how to use the train… SOURCE

Falling palm trees cause panic in Ras Al Khaimah

Why does everything bizarre in the UAE happen in RAK?  Seriously?:

Ras Al Khaimah: Palm trees which fall over for no apparent reason are spreading panic among some residents in Ras Al Khaimah.
The Fisheries Section and other RAK departments have announced they will address complaints in the northern parts of Ras Al Khaimah and test palm trees – which are falling over.

Sources from those departments said experts will be despatched to examine some of the trees which have fallen in the northern parts of the emirate including Shamal, Al Rams and Khor Khowair. Residents in these areas have reported several cases where mature palm trees have suddenly fallen to the ground with no clear reason… SOURCE

Abandoned, the dream cars of Dubai

A few months ago, any one of them probably would have turned heads. Today, few people give them a second glance except, perhaps, to read the latest graffiti scrawled in the thick dust that has obliterated their lustre.

They are the abandoned cars of Dubai, among them Porsches, Mercedes and BMWs. Each was once someone’s dream, but now they are unloved, unwanted and making a poor job of fending for themselves on the streets of the city.

Take the BMW Z3 wasting away on a side street in Dubai Marina. There is little sadder than the sight of a once proud sports car slumped in the gutter, its top down, tyres all but flat and its gleaming black paint job lost beneath an ever-thickening layer of dust… MORE

Crossdressing crime wave

When a ban on men working in women’s shops was announced two months ago, there were concerns that security could be a problem without male guards.

But few could have predicted the move would lead to a cross-dressing crime wave.

On Monday, police arrested seven Afghans whom they accuse of dressing in abayas to rob stores. The men targeted shops staffed only by women, a senior police officer said.

The abayas brought the dual benefit of gaining the men access to women-only shops and disguising their identity to make them harder to catch… SOURCE

“We [had] several complaints of men robbing women shops almost on a daily basis,” the officer said. “The cases were so many that police decided to make a plot to catch the criminals.”

The thieves would usually enter stores staffed by a lone saleswoman and threaten her with a knife. They would take money, clothes and jewellery.

Dubai is Getting Unfriendly to Western Dress: Dubai malls join anti-indecency campaign

Dubai seriously needs to reconsider what it wants to be.   No one will visit the equivalent of Saudi Arabia on a vacation.

Dubai’s shopping malls don’t just combine the awesome collections of international brand labels, but go further to enlighten newcomers on Emirati cultural rules and what’s the acceptable general behaviour.

The rules are on signs at the main entrances and distributed by security personnel as well.

It includes no smoking in the mall, wearing of respectable clothing and no kissing or public displays of affection, no consumption of alcohol in the mall and few other don’ts.

Sabina Khanvwani, Head of Public Relations and Marketing Department at Burjuman Centre, said despite the signs, there are still visitors who still need to be reminded of what is and what is not acceptable.

“Burjuman has already fixed stickers on the main entrances in order to deliver the message directly to them, some of them adhere and others don’t. We cannot enforce them to comply but we keep reminding them that Dubai is part of the UAE and it’s a Muslim country with a conservative society and must be respected.”

Most expatriates Gulf News spoke to say they didn’t do things on purpose or to annoy the Emirati community. They just grew up dressing that way.

Tania N. a 29-year-old Russian businesswoman, said she got confused when a security guard at the Mall of the Emirates handed her a brochure on how to dress appropriately.

“I respect Dubai, its religion, culture and people, I come here frequently for business and pleasure, and I was never asked to cover my shoulders or my knees until recently,” she said.

“I used to wear a sleeveless short gown or miniskirt and according to my background it is a decent outfit and doesn’t cause any kind of embarrassment. But lately a security approached me and in a polite way handed me a brochure that includes the mall’s courtesy policy regarding dress code and general behaviour.”

Asked whether she will adhere to the mall’s dress code, she said: “I really don’t find it necessary, besides I don’t have long or covered outfits, and the most importantly I didn’t do something bad to Dubai or its people.”

Katayoon Tahmoress M, an Iranian writer based in Dubai agrees with Tania.

“I love Dubai and I like its style. But the way I dress is completely a personal matter and I don’t allow anybody to educate me on what to wear and what not to wear.”

Gabriel and Elena, both Americans, said the visitors and expatriates should’ve been informed of the dress and behavioural rules before they fly into the country.

“Such instructions should be informed before we enter the country not while we are shopping. Besides the weather in Dubai is truly hot,” they said.

Mariam Al Salem and her Emirati companions said visitors and expatriates should tow the line.

“Our rules must be strictly followed,” Mariam said… SOURCE

Baby Declared an Illegal Alien and Subject to Deportation

18-month-old baby declared illegal

04/14/2009 02:15 PM | By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter

Sharjah: An 18-month-old baby has been declared an illegal resident by the Sharjah Naturalisation and Residency Department (SNRD) and has been given one week to leave the country after which she will get a one-year ban.

Nayana Sanjay Kumar was born in October 2007 at Al Qasimi hospital in Sharjah, but her parents, both Indians from Kerala, could not sponsor their new-born baby as their salary was not enough at the time.

The girl’s mother, Sheeja, who works as a nurse at a Ministry of Health run government hospital told Gulf News that when her baby was born, she tried to sponsor her, but the application was rejected by the SNRD as she and her husband were not earning enough to sponsor the girl.

“In October 2008 my salary was increased. I was then able to sponsor my baby, but when I applied for a residency visa for her at the SNRD it was rejected too. My baby was declared an illegal resident and I had to pay hefty fines because she had been staying illegally in the country for one year since she was born,” the mother said.

Sheeja said SNRD officials told her the baby had to leave the country in less than a week with an outpass to avoid the fines, otherwise she would get a one-year ban.

“I was told that after one year I could obtain a new visa for my baby and bring her back to live with me,” she said.

“I told them my baby is very young, she is only one year old and I cannot send her away from me, but they did not listen to me, saying the law will be implemented equally.”…

First Camel Clone Hits the UAE: Should I Be Scared Yet?

First camel cloned in UAE

04/14/2009 12:19 PM | By Kevin Scott, Staff Reporter

Dubai: The world’s first cloned camel has been born in Dubai.

The female calf, called Injaz (meaning achievement), was produced at the Camel Reproduction Centre (CRC) last Wednesday.

The team at the CRC, headed by Dr Lulu Skidmore and Dr Ali Redha, said Injaz was created from cumulus cells harvested from the ovary of a female adult camel, which were grown in culture before being frozen in liquid nitrogen.

Dr Lulu Skidmore, Scientific Director of the CRC, told Gulf News: “We are all very excited at the birth of Injaz as she is the result of great skill and teamwork of everyone at the Camel Reproduction Centre. This significant breakthrough gives a means of preserving the valuable genetics of our elite racing and milk producing camels in the future.”

The team said the camel was born after an uncomplicated gestation period of 378 days. Injaz currently weighs 30kg. The DNA of Injaz’s cells and that of the original ovarian cells have been tested using microsatellite DNA analysis at the Molecular Biology and Genetics Laboratory in Dubai, and have been found to be identical, thereby proving that Injaz is indeed a clone of the original female camel….

And The Stupid Headline Award Goes to: Red tide is not affecting enjoyment at beaches

Red tide is not affecting enjoyment at beaches

04/11/2009 10:54 PM | By Mariam M. Al Serkal and Dina El Shammaa, Staff Reporters

Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Beaches were on the alert last week as the red tide passed through the Gulf waters, stirring the curiosity of residents as to where it was going to hit next.

The Environment Agency at Abu Dhabi (EAD) said that the red tide did not affect the capital, as its usual life cycle is about 3 to 4 days.

Last week red tide was spotted along the Dubai coastline, which prompted Dubai Municipality to close the beaches near the Burj Al Arab and Umm Suqueim Park.

Residents were also warned to avoid eating seafood that had been collected from the algal bloom area since it may be contaminated. City Talk took to the streets and asked residents if they are worried about the red tide and how this has affected them.

Mohammad Al Taweel, 27-year-old sales developer, Saudi Arabia, said: “I was planning to go to the beach [at] the weekend but have cancelled the plan now just to be safe. I read about it in the newspapers and am aware of the red tide phenomena, although I am not exactly sure what side effect it has on humans. But that has not stopped me from eating fish.”

Sibtain Hirji, real estate manager from the United Kingdom, 48, said: “The red tide is supposed to be harmless but it does give you rashes. I have seen that many beaches are empty now but think that people are only scared about it this week, and people will start going to the beach again soon. I have read that it is dangerous to eat fish that are affected by it, so I am not eating it and will wait a couple of weeks before buying it again.”

Jelena Bundesmann, German manager, 45, said: “I spend a lot of time on the beach, and have noticed that the water is milky and that there is less visibility and marine life. There are also more algae on the shores but that is not going to stop me from going to the beach and swimming, unless I see that reddish-brownish colour around me in the water. I will not stop eating fish unless they prove to me that the red tide has an impact on it until then, I have to assume that they only catch fish in good areas in the sea since fish only survive in good water conditions.”…

Looks Like Hard Rock Will Lose the Guitars

This could be the end of the road for the iconic black and brick-red twin guitars outside the Hard Rock Cafe. There may be no more strumming for the larger-than-life six-strings that have been mute spectators to the ‘rise and fall’ of the landmark cafe at Dubai’s Media City.

Management at the cafe’s Middle East office confirmed that there was no guarantee if the guitars, which are as old as the 11-year-old cafe, will be a part of a new Hard Rock Cafe expected to open soon in the emirate.

Khaleej Times reported on Wednesday that the cafe had closed its doors to ‘hard rockers’ last Saturday after operating out of the emirate for over a decade.

Even as Hard Rock scouts for a new place to relocate in Dubai, the two concrete guitars — unique to the emirate, may disappear from the entrance of cafe forever.

“There is no guarantee they will be part of the new cafe. They are made of concrete and we are not sure if they can be moved. If they are not (part of the new cafe), there will be something else more spectacular,” Jihad Allabban, director of the cafe’s Middle East operations, told KT.

The guitars were designed and erected especially for Dubai just ‘to keep with the theme of the place’ “Each Hard Rock Cafe has its own theme and we do not replicate it anywhere else. At present, we do not know what we are doing with them. We will have to check with our engineers,” he added.

According to the cafe’s website, blues and rock guitarist Eric Clapton set the trend when he gave away his guitar to the American cafe in the 1970s after dining at the first Hard Rock in Hyde Park in London. British guitarist and singer Pete Townshend followed suit, after which guitars, drums, pianos, harmonicas, microphones, shirts, pants, scarves, shoes, handwritten lyrics, cars, bikes, a bus and assorted rock memorabilia from celebrities have found their way into over 138 Hard Rock Cafes, hotels and casinos in 42 countries…

New Sex on the Beach Couple Get Reduced Sentence

Sex on beach couple given reduced sentences

03/13/2009 09:46 AM | By Bassam Za’za’, Senior Reporter

Dubai: An intoxicated couple, from Myanmar, were given a reduced jail term after being convicted of having sex on Jumeirah Beach and committing an indecent act in public.

The couple, a 26-year-old salesman and a 20-year-old saleswoman, had earlier admitted having sex on the beachside and pleaded for leniency before the Dubai Court of Appeal, which Thursday overturned the initial ruling.

Presiding Judge Adnan Al Farra granted the couple a reduced punishment when he awarded them three months for having consensual sex in public and committing public indecency. The judge awarded then an additional month in jail for having liquor.

The two will be deported after serving their sentences

The Appeals Court on Thursday overturned the primary verdict – one year in jail for consensual sex and public indecency and one month in jail for consuming liquor – delivered by the Dubai Court of First Instance.

“I did consume liquor and have consensual sex with my partner, but I didn’t commit any indecency in public& there was no one watching us when we had sex on the beach,” said the salesman, L.Z…

David Hasselhoff’s Love of Dubai

Blogosphere: March 10, 2009

03/10/2009 10:58 AM | By Adam Flinter, Web Editor

Like all good columns, it always helps to have a celebrity endorsement or two. Movie and television, erm, egend David Hasselhoff is currently spending some time in Dubai, and felt so moved that he had to blog about it.

So, to mark this momentous occasion, this week’s blogosphere will not look into events in cyberspace. No, this week we’ll be looking at what’s happening in Hoffspace (yes, that is what he calls it). The Hoff, as he is affectionately known around the world, waxed on lyrically about Dubai in his video blog, spending quite a bit of time at Ski Dubai.

This is The Hoff unedited: “Dubai is a fun place; it’s a little bit like the Las Vegas of the Middle East because there’s always something fun to do!

“The Mall of the Emirates is huge as you can see and filled with some of the best shopping in the world, but the best part of the mall is Ski Dubai; an indoor ski slope!!!! We had such a great time here and the skiing was really good! Check it out if you’re ever in Dubai. It’s awesome!”…

OMG, Britney Spears May Come to Dubai