Sniper Radars Deployed in Abu Dhabi… #uaenews http://bit.ly/97jl5g

Sniper Radars Deployed in Abu Dhabi… #uaenews http://bit.ly/97jl5g

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Sniper Radars Deployed in Abu Dhabi… #uaenews http://bit.ly/97jl5g

Sniper Radars Deployed in Abu Dhabi… #uaenews http://bit.ly/97jl5g

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Sniper Radars Deployed in Abu Dhabi… #uaenews http://bit.ly/97jl5g

Sniper Radars Deployed in Abu Dhabi… #uaenews http://bit.ly/97jl5g

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Abu Dhabi Kissing Couple Deny Lip-Lock… #uaenews #uae #dubai #sharjah http://bit.ly/cArJV4

Abu Dhabi Kissing Couple Deny Lip-Lock… #uaenews #uae #dubai #sharjah http://bit.ly/cArJV4

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Abu Dhabi is spending 28million to promote Bu Tinah as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Nature #UAE #uaenews http://bit.ly/d1M2Iy

Abu Dhabi is spending 28million to promote Bu Tinah as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Nature #UAE #uaenews http://bit.ly/d1M2Iy

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CCTV comes to Abu Dhabi #uaenews http://bit.ly/c4awH1

CCTV comes to Abu Dhabi #uaenews http://bit.ly/c4awH1

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UAE Banks Stuck with 50% Non-performing Loans

Non-performing loans are expected to swell almost 50 per cent to nearly Dh65 billion (US$17.69bn) this year as the global economic downturn and sagging property prices take a further toll on the country’s lenders.

The rise is likely to force lenders to set aside more reserves to protect themselves.

“Non-performing loans are already at a reasonable level,” Sultan Nasser al Suwaidi, the Central Bank Governor, said yesterday.

“If you take into account write-offs, non-performing loans would be higher.”…SOURCE

Non-performing loans were expected to rise to 6.5 per cent of bank lending this year from 4.4 per cent last year, he said. The total value of loans and advances in the UAE is Dh1 trillion, according to Central Bank statistics.

Banks’ loan books have been adversely affected by exposure to a severe correction in the country’s property sector, with estimated price declines of up to 50 per cent in Dubai and 40 per cent in Abu Dhabi.

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Thumbs-up to the Abu Dhabi Police Crackdown on Tail-gaters

Police fined 750 motorists in the first two days of a campaign against tailgating on the capital’s roads.

Most of the fines were issued on Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street and Mahawi Street – in the direction of Abu Dhabi – and other city streets, Lt Col Hamad al Ameri, the head of the traffic investigation section of the Abu Dhabi traffic and patrols department, said yesterday.

The majority were handed out during peak hours in the morning and around noon, Lt Col al Ameri said.

The number of fines issued was more than double the 351 given out the previous month.

Lt Col al Ameri said most of the motorists fined were young and were not keeping a safe distance from vehicles ahead of them, annoying other drivers and creating a major risk on the road.

Sixteen unmarked police cars are patrolling the roads as part of the “Leave Space Before it is Too Late” campaign, which began on Sunday. The number of officers on patrol has also been stepped up.
Drivers ticketed for tailgating face a fine of Dh400 (US$110) and four black points on their licence… SOURCE

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Abu Dhabi Bails Out Dubai

Dubai today unveiled a sweeping US$10 billion (Dh36.7bn) rescue package from the Abu Dhabi Government that will allow Dubai World to deal with a slew of immediate financial obligations, including a $3.5bn Islamic bond that is due today.

Will the Palms Ever Be Completed?

The move ends months of speculation about how Nakheel, a developer owned by Dubai World, would pay off the sukuk amid declining property values and a slowdown in sales that left it virtually bereft of revenues.

It also represents by far the most direct and explicit support of Dubai to date by the Abu Dhabi Government in the wake of the financial crisis. The crisis battered property values in Dubai and slowed its ambitious growth plans as it struggled to find a solution to a crippling debt load that has been estimated at $85bn, a total greater than Dubai’s annual GDP…MORE

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Seven star service

Here’s a lucrative career suggestion for anyone struggling in the Dubai recession, and you don’t even have to get out of bed:

“STUNNING star student Paige Ashley turned her back on a lawyer’s career to make £1million as a real life Belle de Jour.

“Arab men are fascinated by Western women. We’re almost like status symbols to them. I’ve met girls working in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Bahrain who’ve made a million out of escorting.”

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Sour Reactions

Today, I read in the papers that a Chef in Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace hotel has been fined AED 92,000 ($27,000) for storing a bucket of yoghurt 1 day too long.

First, the Abu Dhabi guys need to loosen up a bit and maybe learn a bit more about the meaning of “Expiry Dates”. Maybe this video can help.

Oh, one more thing… i just had yogurt that is about 1 week past the printed date of expiry.. and I enjoyed every spoon full of it.

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UAE sheikh filmed committing torture

This is an unpleasantly graphic story to quote extensively from, but the response of UAE authorities is relevant and disturbing:

In a statement to ABC News, the UAE Ministry of the Interior said it had reviewed the tape and acknowledged the involvement of Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al Nahyan, brother of the country’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed.

The government statement said its review found “all rules, policies and procedures were followed correctly by the Police Department.”

That someone born into immeasurable wealth and luxury could commit an act of such inhuman depravity over “a grain delivery” is beyond words. That this man is the son of the late Sheikh Zayed is, for all of us who loved and admired Zayed and greatly mourned his death, a exceedingly bitter pill to swallow.

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Round Table Pizza to Expand in the UAE

Round Table Pizza, an American pizza restaurant icon known for quality and innovation, has signed a long-term development agreement with United Arab Emirates partner Ghassan Wehbe.

Mr. Wehbe, who currently operates 7 Round Table Pizza restaurants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, has acquired rights to expand to 17 locations within the UAE. Additionally, Mr. Wehbe and Round Table Pizza are laying the groundwork for further development in other Gulf Coast countries based on their success.

“We are excited to extend Round Table Pizza to a broader global audience,” says Round Table President Rob McCourt. “Our founding principles of providing families with a comfortable place to dine and serving premium pizzas are universally appealing”…SOURCE

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Trees down as gales hit UAE

Since this, we have had rainstorms over night…

Gale-force winds battered parts of the UAE yesterday and visibility along stretches of the Abu Dhabi to Dubai motorway was reduced to zero at times.

Traffic lights above many of Abu Dhabi’s roads swayed alarmingly as winds gusted at more than 60kph, whipping up clouds of dust and uprooting trees.

Weather forecasters at the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) warned that the gales were likely to continue throughout today and that the Western region would continue to be the worst hit.

“Visibility on the main motorway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi has dropped to zero in places,” said the one meteorologist.

“The wind has reached 62kph at times and Abu Dhabi has seen winds of around 50kph. The west of the country has been worst affected, including parts of Sharjah.

“Dust and sand raised by the wind have made driving conditions very dangerous. Al Hamra saw visibility drop to 100 metres.”

The meteorologist added that trees had been torn down by the strong gusts along parts of the E11 motorway and on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi.

“The roads are very dangerous and drivers should take precautions such as slowing down.

“Cars travelling quickly on the roads become more unstable in strong wind, and this combined with poor visibility can be very dangerous.”…SOURCE

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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.”…

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