#StayHome Ramadan: Social distancing makes the heart grow fonder for this Emirati family

Family gatherings - arranged by Emirati boat captain Salem Obeid Bin Suwaidan for his sons and their families, relatives and friends - were a routine during weekends and on every special occasion, especially Ramadan.

However, when the pandemic came, they had to put an end to this routine that used to take place at the Bin Suwaidan majlis in Dubai's Umm Suqeim 2.

His son, Emirati lawyer Abdul Moneim bin Suwaidan of Bin Suwaidan firm for Advocacy and Legal Consultancy, shares with Khaleej Times his feelings about the holy month of Ramadan this year.

"We miss praying at the mosque - the Taraweeh prayers and the Maghrib prayers are not allowed currently as part of public safety measures. So, now, we have to pray at home as we respect the instructions of the UAE government,"  Abdul Moneim said.

"During Ramadan, previously, the whole community would come together to hold mass buffets where we would serve the poor and needy people."The family definitely misses the majlis get-togethers, too, he added."In the holy month and after the Taraweeh prayers (and during the weekends for the rest of the year), we would gather there daily, have a chit-chat and receive guests."

Now, while they may not be able to come together because of social distancing rules, Abdul Moneim makes sure they stay in touch with their parents and friends via Zoom video conferences - usually after 8pm.

When it comes to iftar, the family opts for private meals at home.

"We prefer to have our iftar at home because we feel it's more private. I know that every household has its own customs and routine habits. Previously, three or four families in the same neighborhood would have iftar together (separate for men and women). But due to the pandemic, breaking the fast has now become limited to one family."

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, indeed, for the Bin Suwaidan family.  Abdul Moneim believes that crises and ordeals strengthen family ties.

"I did not see my parents for almost a month due to the social distancing rule. They were in Abu Dhabi and my mother had a knee surgery. We managed, nonetheless, to stay in contact with her via Zoom so that she would not feel lonely," the Emirati shared.

"After the recent easing of movement restrictions, my parents came from the Capital and other family members joined us in Jumeirah."

It was a much-awaited moment for the family.

"But prior to the family gathering, my siblings and I agreed not to kiss or hug them - and it happened for the first time ever,"  Abdul Moneim said.

"Even though we missed them dearly and it was a painful reunion, we took it with an open heart for the good of all. We would not want to put my parents' safety at risk due to negligence."

UAE draft law to protect whistleblowers, witnesses of crime

A draft bill on protecting witnesses in court cases would be introduced and discussed at the Federal National Council (FNC). In a recent virtual meeting, the FNC committee on defence, interior and foreign affairs discussed the draft bill on the protection of witnesses and other secret sources in criminal cases.

The draft law proposes fines of up to Dh100,000 and a six-month jail term for those who violate the programme and leak confidential information.

The milestone programme is aimed at providing security to individuals who may come under threat for giving evidence in court cases.

The draft law gives powers to judicial authorities to provide the necessary protection to witnesses, victims, whistleblowers, experts and members of their families from any threat including assault, revenge, intimidation and others.

Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, head of the FNC committee, said the draft law aims to encourage residents to report serious crimes.

"The government had proposed for this bill as part of its endeavours to achieve a safe society and a fair judiciary," said the FNC member. "The bill aims to encourage witnesses and secret sources to come up, report and make statements against criminals well assured that their protection is guaranteed by the law. Participation of the public in detecting and reporting criminals to the police will reduce crimes across the country."

Currently, there is no witness protection programme in the UAE, according to FNC members. The regulations of the scheme and people to be enrolled in it will be specified once the law has been issued.

The new draft bill will need to be discussed and passed by the FNC before it is sent to the UAE President for approval.

UAE to cover coronavirus treatment cost of workers

Providing protection to workers' health is one of the top priorities of the UAE government.

The UAE government will cover the diagnostic and treatment costs of workers suffering from coronavirus, and the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) announced that it will fully support people infected with the virus and their families, as well as the families of those who died of the disease, pointed out Dr Amna Al Dahhak Al Shamsi, official spokesperson for the UAE government, on Monday during a regular briefing on Covid-19 update.

The government is keen to offer the workers testing, treatment and basic health services, and obligating companies and business owners to provide them with health insurance and cover diagnosis and treatment expenses.

Dr Al Shamsi affirmed that when it was seen that a large segment of labourers was affected by the precautionary measures, dozens of federal and local government departments were keen to mitigate the repercussions and provide them with all kinds of material support and care.

These departments launched awareness campaigns that included lectures and workshops in different languages on the prevention of the coronavirus, methods of transmission and how to protect themselves and other health advice.

Awareness leaflets were also distributed to workers and educational films in several languages were shown on how to comply with health procedures and public health rules while emphasising the importance of hygiene and sterilisation.

The precautionary measures required restrictions on the movement of some workers. The government and charitable organisations joined hands to ensure the living and health requirements at their places of residence, including distributing hundreds of sterilisers and face masks, as well as food supplies and integrated food bags.

The authorities were also keen to carry out inspection visits to the residential complexes of workers and to ensure their commitment to complying with the precautionary measures, the cleanliness and sterilisation of cooking places and dining halls. They will also inspect shops and clinics frequented by the workers, as well as the buses used to take them to their work sites.

Dr Al Shamsi explained that the UAE is one of the first Arab countries to implement a series of regulatory measures to manage the relationship between employers and workers to safeguard the rights of both parties, following the impact of the crisis. She noted that the UAE law requires employers to pay the dues to the terminated employees and buy their return tickets.

World-first telecom marketplace launched in UAE

A first-of-its-kind marketplace for the telecom industry has been announced in the UAE, which will help users make the most out of their mobile plans.

Aladdin.Life - which is chaired by former du CEO Osman Sultan - aims to connect customers to a platform that will help them discover, compare and make informed decisions about mobile and broadband plans and home services in the UAE. 

"Being connected has been a very vital part of what we do," he said during a video conference on Sunday.

"And now, more than ever, it is even more important in the situation we are in," he added, referring to the current Covid-19 crisis that has significantly increased the usage of mobile communications.

Aladdin.Life addresses challenges through solutions based on promoting transparency, choice and convenience for customers. Its 'Genie' search helps existing customers maximise the value of their current spend or increase savings. This is done by instantly matching their basic usage pattern with dozens and hundreds of price plans offered by UAE operators.

'Bazaar', meanwhile, is an online marketplace with online and online-to-offline shopping. It features the UAE's largest collection of mobile plans with sims and devices, and includes over 1,000 mobile price plans and more than 1,500 device installment plans offered by UAE operators. 

"It's all about reimagining the mobile experience... and this is such a big deal for customers," Subhra Das, Aladdin.Life's founder and CEO, said in the conference.

Citing research from Ericsson, he said that globally, the No.1 concern for users is that they are "crying for an effortless buying experience". Customers are also looking for more tools to customise their plans.

In the UAE, further research by the company showed that only 20 per cent of UAE customers believe they are on the best mobile plan that suits their needs, with 70 per cent believing they can save a moderate to significant amount by moving to the best plan. A similar 70 per cent have not switched to their best plan because they don't know what plans are available or anticipate difficulties in switching.

These findings are consistent with global trends in the industry; customers worldwide have difficulties navigating and finding the right plan and cannot keep up with frequent prices changes and promotions.

Telecom operators will also benefit from the platform, Das added; it would help increase "customer stickiness", as they feel more comfortable when they unlock more usage that will expand their mobile experience.

"Our reason for existence is to help customers understand what they need," Das said.

He confirmed that after its UAE launch, Aladdin.Life will move on to other countries in the region.

"Aladdin.Life is a reimagination of the entire buying experience in the telco industry and one that is focused to help customers take informed descisions," Sultan added:

"The platform supports the efforts of digital transformation in the UAE by creating an ecosystem system that helps the cooperation and partnership and between all parties and maximises value for each of them starting with customers."

SOURCE:KHALEEJ TIMES

New law on national safety approved in UAE

The UAE Cabinet, chaired remotely by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved a draft law on the protection of national safety to guarantee the protection of society in cases of disasters and any healthcare, economic and environmental threats to the country.

During a virtual meeting held today, the Cabinet also hosted a group of frontliners to thank them for their tremendous efforts. Sheikh Mohammed also thanked citizens and residents healthcare workers who are working hard in their fight against corona virus pandemic.

"Today, I chaired a Cabinet meeting in which we followed up on developments of the global Covid-19 pandemic in the UAE, in terms of health, education and the economy. The session hosted members of our front-lines of defence. We are grateful for their tremendous efforts," Sheikh Mohammed said.

"We approved a draft law on the protection of national safety. The new law guarantees the protection of society in cases of disasters and any healthcare, economic and environmental threats to our country," Sheikh Mohammed tweeted.

He went on to say: "We approved the formation of a taskforce to develop the UAE's modern agricultural sector headed by Minister of State for Food Security & representatives from government and private sectors. Sustainable agriculture is an economic, security and social guarantee for the UAE.

"We approved the setting up of a taskforce to develop government human resources and provide new applications to raise productivity and skill-sets, with technical preparations for after the crisis. The reality of work will change & the post-Covid-19 world needs new provisions," the Dubai Ruler said in a separate tweet.

"We approved creating a taskforce to study the optimal use of government buildings and facilities and the possibility of converting them into medical facilities amid this global crisis. All government capabilities will be utilised to rapidly overcome this unprecedented time" Sheikh Mohammed tweeted.

New law on national safety approved in UAE

A new draft law to protect national safety has been approved in the UAE. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said on Tuesday that the law would determine when a state of national safety was required, its duration and the entity responsible for making such an announcement.

Taking to Twitter, Sheikh Mohammed said the law passed by the UAE Cabinet aims to protect society during disasters and emergencies that threaten the health, economy and environment of the country.

Sheik Mohammed has also approved the formation of a team that will study the possibility of converting government buildings into store houses for the health sector. "All of the government's resources will be made available to help the country pass through these exceptional circumstances," Sheikh Mohammed tweeted.

The Cabinet also approved the formation of a team to develop "modern agriculture". This team will use technology to increase the production of crops in the country. The team headed by the Minister of State for Food Security will work towards ensuring food sustainability, Sheikh Mohammed added.
source:khaleej times

Will coronavirus become the newspaper industry’s final battle?

The coronavirus pandemic has led to an unprecedented surge in media reporting, phenomenal rise in readership and a relentless demand for reliable news in the past few months.

But in a cruel paradox, while journalists are performing an essential business in diligently covering every aspect of the pandemic, the business of the newspaper itself is facing an extinction-level threat across countries and communities due to collapsing revenues.

According to a Digiday survey, 88% of top publishing executives of legacy media companies expect to be nowhere near their business goals this year due to the outbreak, and 85% also expect to see a sharp decline in advertisement revenues triggered by shutdowns due to the pandemic. The virus, industry experts have warned, will spell the end for hundreds of news companies and titles unless radical intervention measures are adopted by the collective initiative of companies, governments and global tech giants, who have profited for long from the content generated and published by journalists.

source:gulfnews

Coronavirus: Dubai Police set up checkpoints to stop worker movement

Dubai Police have put checkpoints in place at entrance points on Emirates Road in both directions between Sharjah and Dubai to prevent the transportation of workers from one emirate to another, an official confirmed on Sunday.

Colonel Jumaa Salem bin Suwaidan, Deputy Director of Traffic Department at Dubai Police, said they were coordinating with Sharjah Police to prevent the transportation of worker’s in buses between the two emirates as part of a Dubai Municipality decision last week.

“After the order, police caught drivers who were using private cars to transport workers between Dubai and Sharjah. Legal actions were taken against them,” Col Bin Suwaidan said.

He said that strict orders were given to police patrols to monitor the workers buses and stop them if they are found to be breaking the law.

In a circular released last week the municipality said: “The transport of labour workers to areas outside of Dubai will be prohibited, as movement will be restricted to the boundaries of the emirate, the purpose of which is to restrict the outside entry of workers not residing in Dubai, and to be implemented to date.”

Meanwhile, Col Bin Suwaidan said that the decision’s aim is to reduce the contact between workers to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

He urged public to adhere by the precautionary measures and orders by the concerned authorities.

COVID-19: You can now draft and register a will online in the UAE

Dubai: Are you worried about making your will? Despite the current restrictions on movement, you can easily make a registered will online in Dubai, which is enforceable within the UAE.

Why do you need to make a will?

Non-Muslim expats with assets (cash, bank accounts, properties) in the UAE should make a will and register it in order to ensure that their assets are passed on to the legally assigned family members or friends or even a legal entity.

The UAE courts adhere to Sharia law and in the absence of a will, the local courts will distribute your estate and appoint guardians according to the principles of Sharia law.

This is why it is important to draft and register a will, which you can do in the UAE at the Abu Dhabi courts as well as Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts. During the current restrictions on movement, DIFC Courts have also offered additional will registration services online.

Shannon Herriot, Manager and Senior Compliance Officer, DIFC Courts Wills Service Centre, spoke to Gulf News about how many non-Muslim residents were unaware that there was no concept of the right of survivorship in the UAE, which affects jointly owned assets.

What is right of survivorship?

When jointly owned property includes a right of survivorship, the surviving owner automatically receives the dying owner's share of the property.

“In fact, some [expatriates] were even unaware until they considered having a will that if they own property and bank accounts jointly with their spouse, ownership would not automatically pass to the survivor, but instead will be divided according to the UAE’s sharia-based law, whether or not they are Muslim. This can lead to a time-consuming and complex legal process to transfer assets in the absence of a will,” Herriot added.

Thinking of death can be uncomfortable, to say the least. Preparing for it, then, could lead to much more discomfort. However, having prepared for matters after your death can lift a lot of stress off your shoulders.

“Many people feel uncomfortable when it comes to writing or registering their wills, but the point to understand is that the will is not for you. Your loved ones are not required to do guesswork on what your wishes were, or to go through lengthy and costly court procedures,” Herriot said.

“We would always suggest starting the process by having a conversation with your family members, even if it can feel uncomfortable. Property, shares, bank accounts, cars, jewellery — all need to play a role in taking care of tomorrow and securing this future,” she added.

Do you need to be a UAE resident?

No, as long as you have assets in the UAE or have minor children living with you in the UAE, you can register a will. You can also include your assets from outside the UAE within this will.

Different types of wills

There are different types of wills available through the DIFC Courts Wills Service:

1. A Full Will, which encompasses all assets and guardianship provisions.

2. A Property Will, which can apply for up to five properties in the UAE.

3. A Guardianship Will, which appoints both interim and permanent guardians for children.

4. A Financial Assets Will, which applies specifically to bank and brokerage accounts; and

5. A Business Owners Will, which applies to free zone or UAE onshore companies

Property wills, business owners wills and financial assets wills already had a virtual registry at DIFC. The courts have now started an online service for Full wills.

“The registration of Full wills happens via video conferencing, enabling the service to be accessed remotely from your smartphone, tablet or desktop devices and from the comfort of your home. The system allows the Testator and two witnesses to join in on the video conferencing call from different locations, and further allows an approved Will to be directly uploaded on the system and to affix electronic signatures,” Herriott said.

How do I begin the process?

The first step is to reach out to a legal practitioner registered with DIFC Courts, who can draft your will following the basic requirements as laid out by the UAE law.

This is a crucial step, because if you do not fulfill the basic legal requirements, you will would not be enforceable.

You can do so, by clicking here.

Drafting the will is the most detailed part of the process, as you would need to select your beneficiaries, choose the executor of your will, appoint a guardian for underage children and be specific about who gets what. This is another reason you should consider getting a legal expert to guide you through the process.

Once you have drafted the will, you would then need to book an appointment online or via the DIFC Wills mobile app, which is available on Apple AppStore and Google PlayStore.

You would then need to make the necessary payments in order to go ahead with the registration.

Payment

The cost of your will registration can vary depending on the type of will. Also, single wills – made for an individual – can cost less compared to a mirror will – which a couple can opt for. Mirror wills are virtually identical wills where one person in a couple leaves their estate to the other in the event of their passing away.

This is the cost of wills as listed by the DIFC Wills Service Centre:

Full Will

(covering all movable and immovable assets)

Single Will: Dh10,000

Mirror Wills: Dh15,000

Guardianship Will

(covering guardianship provisions for minors below the age of 21)

Single Will: Dh5,000

Mirror Wills: Dh7,500

Property Will

(covers shares in up to 5 real estate properties; can be registered in the DIFC Wills Service Centre office or via Virtual Registry*)

Single Will: Dh7,500

Mirror Wills: Dh10,000

Business Owners Will

(covers shares in up to 5 different companies; can be registered in the DIFC Wills Service Centre office or via Virtual Registry*)

Single Will: Dh5,000

Mirror Wills: Dh7,500

Financial Assets Will

(covers shares in up to 10 different bank accounts; can be registered in the DIFC Wills Service Centre office or via Virtual Registry*)

Single Will: Dh5,000

Mirror Wills: Dh7,500

Registering the will

At the registration hearing, which is now being done online, you would need to be present along with two witnesses.

You would need following documents during this process:

• Official IDs of the two witnesses

• Your unsigned draft will

• Your Emirates ID, passport and proof of payment.

Once the details have been reviewed, all parties will be able to affix electronic signatures to complete the process.

How long will the process take?

The registration of a Will in person at the DIFC Wills Service takes approximately 45 minutes to one hour.

source:gulfnews

UAE banking sector joins law enforcement agencies to fight fraud

UAE Banks Federation (UBF), the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), Abu Dhabi Police and Dubai Police have launched the UAE’s first national fraud awareness campaign. The initiative aims to educate and protect consumers from financial cybercrime, particularly in light of the increased use of digital banking services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As digital solutions disrupt the banking industry, fraudsters have become increasingly sophisticated, resulting in a surge in the number of cases of fraud. Unfortunately, the UAE is no exception to this trend. In 2018, there was a year-on-year increase of 18.2 per cent in fraud cases, and increased again in 2019.

Abdulhamid Saeed

“As digital banking transactions are witnessing a significant spike, we at Central Bank of the UAE have been quick to deploy robust fraud prevention measures to protect consumers. Today’s announcement further validates this commitment,” said Abdulhamid Saeed, Governor of Central Bank of the UAE.

Globally, fraud and cybercrime are expected to rise further. And with millions of people mandated to stay at home, COVID-19 related fraud is also expected to climb as fraudsters exploit people’s anxiety during these difficult times.

Common scams

These target victims via email, SMS, phone and social media, with fraudsters posing as genuine organizations, including government entities, banks, and healthcare providers to trick victims into disclosing personal or financial information. The CBUAE has urged the public to be wary of potential fraudulent activities using its name and warns that there will be a rise in these types of scams during the outbreak.

AbdulAziz Al Ghurair

To counter this and encourage people to remain vigilant, the national fraud awareness campaign will be rolled out across social and traditional media channels with the support of the UBF Fraud Prevention Committee and UBF’s 53 member banks. Under the theme #TogetherAgainstFraud, content will include educational videos and articles that will raise awareness on how to identify scams and avoid them.

As part of the campaign’s efforts to help banks and authorities further combat fraud, UBF has launched a micro-website where customers can report fraudulent activity.

“We not only aim to equip the public with the knowledge and resources they need to protect themselves from fraud, but also disrupt criminal networks that are targeting UAE residents. This can only be achieved if we work together,” said AbdulAziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of UAE Banks Federation.

Collaborative efforts

Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri

The national fraud awareness campaign will run until the end of the year, focusing on different topics every month. These include SIM swap fraud, phishing, vishing, lottery scams, vanishing ink scams, card skimming, email redirection fraud, and data privacy.

“One of our strategic goals is to reduce fraud across the country This initiative underpins our will and readiness to tackle fraud and cybercrime, and strengthen our collaborative efforts alongside our partners to combat this threat to society,” said Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri of Dubai Police,

Major General Maktoum Ali Al Sharifi

“The fight against fraud can only be won if we work together. I am confident that through this #TogetherAgainstFraud campaign, we can significantly reduce the number of fraud cases across the country.” Major General Maktoum Ali Al Sharifi, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Police.

During 2019 to February this year, Abu Dhabi Police arrested 13 criminal gangs made up of 142 fraudsters involved in vishing attacks. The fraudsters were posing as bank employees and asking customers to disclose their bank details to steal their money.

COVID-19: This is how Dubai Police responded to an eloquent request for a free-pass

With the majority of residents in self-isolation, people are taking the time and effort to be more creative with their day.

In this case, a woman in Dubai decided to use her creative skills to write a poem to Dubai Police about the emirate’s 24-hour restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The poem, which was written in Arabic by a social media user called Bint Jumeirah, tagged Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of the Traffic Department at Dubai Police.

In the poem, Bint Jumeirah eloquently addressed Brig Al Mazroui and explained how she is not used to receiving fines by Dubai Police. The aspiring poet then went on to ask for a special request, urging police to consider her case and offer a movement permit that will be valid as long as the 24-hour restrictions continue in Dubai.

Bint Jumeirah also addressed coronavirus COVID-19, and said that hopefully, we will all be able to overcome this pandemic soon.

Much to everyone’s surprise, Brig Al Mazroui responded to the poem and even took the time to post his reply in the same poetic manner as Bint Jumeirah. “This is a mandate for all of us from the law, and who ever leaves the house without a permit will receive a fine,” he said.

Brig Al Mazroui pointed out that the effects of COVID-19 range from mild to severe, and in order to flatten the curve, it is essential that each and everyone of us stay confined to our homes unless absolutely necessary.

“The law is applicable to everyone, and who ever breaks it will have to face the consequence,” he added.

The 24-hour restriction in Dubai was implemented on April 4 and will run for two weeks, subject to renewal. The decision to impose restrictions on the movement of Dubai residents, according to the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, aims to protect the health and safety of the community.

In addition, extensive medical tests will be conducted across densely populated areas of Dubai to ensure members of the community are free from COVID-19.

The intensified measures require everyone to stay at home during this period. Food retail outlets such as Union cooperative stores and supermarkets, as well as pharmacies and food and medicine deliveries are allowed to operate as usual.

source:gulfnews

Dh500,000 fine, jail for immoral posts on UAE social media

Residents who post immoral videos on social networking sites in the UAE can face a hefty penalty of up to Dh500,000 in fines.

The Abu Dhabi Attorney-General on Monday ordered the arrest of people who misuse social media and who offend the morals of the public, after it came to light that offensive video clips have been circulating across the country.

دائرة القضاء-أبوظبي

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النائب العام لإمارة أبوظبي يأمر بضبط أشخاص لإخلالهم بالآداب العامة على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي

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The Attorney-General emphasised that UAE laws tackle all types of practices that constitute as an offence against public morals, which include the misuse of technology and social media.The penalties were announced in line with Federal Decree-Law No. 5 of 2012 that combats cybercrime, which stipulates that “a person shall be punished by imprisonment and/or a fine of no less than 250,000 and not exceeding 500,000.”

The penalty applies to those who are found responsible in operating a website, or broadcasting, posting or forwarding offensive material, such as pornographic images and videos.The Attorney-General stressed that social media users should adhere to a responsible code of ethics when posting photos or videos via their social media accounts, since platforms ae widely accessible to children and the youth.

The Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution further warned social media users against publishing material that may harm or offend the morals of the public, including phrases, signs, symbols, images or photographs, as well as any form of text, in addition to any type of visible or audible material.The prosecution confirmed that it will take legal action against such violators.

source:gulfnews