Courtesy - Gulf News, Khaleej Times & Other Authors for Contents of this Free Service Site


Sunday, November 30, 2008

Abu Dhabi unveils interactive website for residents and businesses

By Binsal Abdul Kader ,Staff Reporter (Gulf News) Published: December 01, 2008, 00:34
Abu Dhabi: The Department of Municipal Affairs on Sunday launched its advanced website which gives advice on property regulations and the related laws and rules.
Visitors can also submit their suggestions or comments on existing or new regulations.
The information on a latest municipal rule and regulation or where and how to get a municipal service in Abu Dhabi is now just a click away now.
If you would like to know to which municipality you belong to, the "frequently asked questions section" will refer you to the "municipality border map" on the homepage to the municipality of your jurisdiction.
Ahmad Shereef, undersecretary of the department presented the website at a media briefing.
The presentation showcased the newly developed site and its capabilities.

The site contains information on responsibilities and activities of the department, in addition to strategic initiatives, latest policies and regulations introduced in the municipal sector of the Emirate.
The new website was created to enhance communication with the residents and businesses of Abu Dhabi, as well as increase exchange of ideas and coordination between Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region Municipalities, said Shereef.
http://www.abudhabi.ae/

New Licence Rule Applies to Sharjah Only

By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter (Gulf News) Published: December 01, 2008, 00:34
Sharjah: A total of 86 professions will be denied the right of obtaining driving licences by Sharjah Police.
Gulf News reported on Tuyday that certain categories will be barred from applying for driving licences in the UAE, but officials from Sharjah Police confirmed that this is a local decision taken only by the Sharjah Government and will only be applicable in the emirate.
The authority decided to stop issuing driving licences to certain categories of residents, to curb the sharp rise in the number of vehicles.
A memo was issued last week by the Sharjah Police Traffic Department and circulated to all driving schools, stipulating the rule, Gulf News has learnt.
Those whose residency visa has been issued from Sharjah that details any of the 86 professions will not be allowed to open a file for a driving licence.
The Police decision stated that only those who have university degree, such as doctors, engineers, architects, managers, accountants, nurses with university degrees and other similar professions can apply. Full list of banned categories will be issued soon.
Those who are on a drivers' residency visa can also apply. Those who cannot apply include: watchmen, typists, cooks, carpenters, housemaids, tailors, cafeteria waiters, unskilled labourers, gardeners and bakers and others who do not have university degrees.
A Sharjah Police official said that the decision was taken last week to reduce the number of applicants, as there is pressure on the Police from those applying for driving licences.
Last week, the Sharjah Traffic Department stopped opening driving licence files for people in these categories.
"Many applications from these categories were turned down," the official said. The official clarified that those who fall under the 86 categories and have already opened driving licence files will still be able to obtain them.
A number of driving schools in Sharjah have announced that such a decision will affect their business badly.
"It will have bad impact on our business as we will have fewer students," a driving school manager said.

National Day, Eid holidays from Dec 2-11 (2008)

(Khaleej Times Report) 1 December 2008
ABU DHABI - The Federal Cabinet decided on Sunday to merge the holidays of the UAE’s 37th National Day and Eid Al Adha for the public sector, which start from December 2 to 11. Work will resume on December 14.
The Cabinet took the decision at a meeting on Sunday.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The meeting gave its nod for creation of a federal committee to coordinate arrangements for National Day celebrations at the national level from next year. Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, will chair the committee.
The Cabinet reviewed a preliminary report on the budget performance from January 1 to September 30, 2008. It also approved the closing accounts of the Marriage Fund for the fiscal year 2007 and the budget of the Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority for 2009.
A federal draft law on organic inputs and products was passed.
Earlier, on Sunday the Civil Service Council issued a circular saying federal ministries and departments will remain closed from December 2 to 11 for UAE’s 37th National Day and Eid Al Adha.
The Council extended its congratulations and best wishes to The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council Rulers of the emirates, the glorious occasions.

Monday, November 17, 2008

How to Get Your UAE Identity Card

(Gulf News Article)
By Alice Johnson, Staff Reporter - Published: June 21, 2008, 00:08
Dubai: In April 2006 the UAE Government introduced a single identity card. This card is compulsory for everyone living legally in the UAE, including nationals, expatriates and GCC citizens.
The Emirates Identity Authority has rolled out the first phase, as part of a three-year plan.
In the future, the cards will be used as a travel document within the GCC.
However, when the scheme was introduced for expatriates, 'not many' expatriates actually turned up to take part in the scheme, as reported in Gulf News.
Registration for expatriates working in government departments commenced on June 1, after being postponed from May 1 because of the number of Emiratis that had not finished registration.
Other sectors will need to register for the cards according to a schedule that is to be announced.
It is mandatory for expatriates who are at least 15 years old living lawfully in the UAE to obtain a registration card.
For children below 15, registration for the Population Register and ID card programme is also mandatory, although having an ID for them is a matter of choice and is subject to a guardian's consent. The Population Register includes a centralised database that includes the aim of upgrading governmental services and putting an end to forgery.
Registration: How to apply for an ID card
1. Book an online appointment
2. Before going for your appointment, fill in an online application form from the EIDA website (www.emiratesid.ae) and take a printout, using a laser printer.
3. Visit the nearest EIDA service centre and pay the registration fee, while submitting your form.
4. Allow biometric and fingerprinting to be done and get your original documents scanned.
5. You can either choose to have your ID card sent to you by Empost or personally collect it after 3 working days.
EIDA can also be contacted on: 600 523 432
Documents and fees
UAE Nationals: Original Family Book and Passport. Dh100
UAE Residents: Original passport. Dh100 per year of visa validity.
Lost or damaged card: Dh300
Source: Emirates ID Authority

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Gulf Envoys to Attend New Delhi Meeting

Anwar Ahmad and T Ramavarman (Khaleej Times) 15 November 2008
ABU DHABI - There will be a meeting of ambassadors from the Gulf and some Asian countries on November 27-28 in New Delhi, where issues relating to the Indian workers will be discussed, according to Vayalar Ravi, the Indian Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs.
“There will be particular focus on the problems of the women domestic helps working abroad and their minimum wages as they differ from country to country,” he said at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi while briefing the media on Thursday.
Also, the Government of India will soon amend the Emigration Act 1983 as part of its efforts to tighten the noose on the unscrupulous recruiting agents engaged in the illegal trafficking of Indians to different countries.
The minister said the Indian Cabinet had already approved the amendment proposals and they would now be presented before the parliament.
The amendments would seek to impose tougher punishments like hefty fines and imprisonment of agents found cheating workers seeking employment abroad.
“A number of steps are being taken by our government to safeguard the rights of Indian workers abroad and to ensure that they move on after complying all the legal procedures,” Ravi said.
There are around 50,000-60,000 housemaids in the UAE and half of them are employed by Indian families.
“The Government of India is particular that the Indian women who are working abroad as domestic helps should get minimum wages and other minimum facilities.
“We have allowed some flexibility in the level of wages saying that it can be between $250 to $300 depending on the wage levels prevailing in each country,’’ the Minister said.
The Indian Consul General, Venu Rajamony who accompanied the minister said the minimum wage that had been fixed for the Indian workers in UAE was Dh 1,100.
The minister also said that the women domestic labourers would have to be provided with a cell phone and they must be in a position to contact the Indian Embassy in the respective countries.
The Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Talmiz Ahmed, said: “There is no adverse effect on the Indian workers in UAE due to the global financial downturn.
“We have not received reports or complaints of delayed or non-payment of wages, or termination of jobs in the UAE particularly in the construction field. We are also monitoring the situation. The liquidity situation in the UAE is far better than the other countries of the world.”
anwar@khaleejtimes.com , ramavarman@khaleejtimes.ae

Construction Sites Under Safety Scanner

Dhanusha Gokulan (Khaleej Times) 15 November 2008
DUBAI - Inspections at construction sites in Dubai have been intensified after the introduction of the Safety Manual for Construction Workers earlier this year.
Waseem Al Alami, Health and Safety Manager of Mirdif Security and Safety, which advises Dubai Municipality, said, “The safety measures have been beefed up, the number of professionally trained inspectors has been increased, and everything shall be done to ensure safety of the workers and people living in the vicinity of construction sites.”
The safety manual outlined specific safety procedures for all types of construction works, demolition and associated jobs.
In the backdrop of recent fatalities in accidents at construction sites, the German exhibition organisers, Epoc Messe Frankfurt, would be featuring “Construction Safety” as the key theme at the Intersec Trade Fair and Conference, which will be held from January 18 to 20, next year.
Most experts blame workers’ lack of awareness of the seriousness of the risks that face them every day.
Angela Schierholz, Senior Show Manager for Epoc, said, “Safety at height is a categorical must for all jobs, either work or rescue. Professional and high-end products, along with safety training programmes, are absolutely important at the construction sites to understand and avoid potential risks.”
Another factor was that most labourers hired for projects had no experience in construction and were hired to fill in as manpower supply could not match with the demand from the large number of construction projects going on across the UAE and the Gulf region.
Reports indicated that 50 per cent of all construction-related accidents in the UAE and the GCC countries are a result of falls.
Each year about 2.3 million work-related deaths take place around the world, with the construction industry accounting for 60,000 deaths, according to Ray Hurst, President of Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, United Kingdom.
“That is, one death occurring every 10 minutes in the construction industry somewhere in the world,” Hurst pointed out.
According to Dubai Municipality, there were 865 construction-related accidents between 2004 and 2007. Falling from heights accounted for 45 per cent of the accidents. Among other type of accidents were collapse of cranes and other machinery, and fire and electrocution.
Municipality officials said among the violations of basic safety rules were non-provision of helmets to workers, failure to erect safety barriers and deploying men to work on highrises without protective equipment.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

Surf the internet for free while you smell the roses in Abu Dhabi

By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter - Published: November 09, 2008, 23:02 (Gulf News Article)
Abu Dhabi: Residents can enjoy free wireless internet connectivity in two public parks on the corniche within a month, thanks to a new initiative of Abu Dhabi Municipality, a senior official told Gulf News on Sunday.
"We are trying to complete the preparations in co-operation with etisalat to introduce internet connectivity within one month," said Abdul Aziz Al Jeraishi, Director of Public Parks and Recreation Department at Abu Dhabi Municipality.
"Initially, the connectivity will be available in two public parks on the corniche - Musical Park and Official Park." The connectivity will be available round the clock, said the official. "The entry is free to those two parks, so people can enjoy free browsing.
"If successful, we will gradually extend the service to other parks in the capital," said Al Jeraishi.
The Municipality expects more visitors to those parks once web connectivity gets operational. "We will make necessary arrangements like seating and lights for the visitors," said the official.
Residents welcomed the initiative. "This is great, I can hang on park or beach and do something useful", said Diego Galliker, a Swiss resident.
"Now I can do some research or related things as part of my work while relaxing at the park," said Gallikar who is an architect.

Two killed as speeding car falls off Abu Dhabi flyover

By Dr Abdul-Hadi Al Timimi, Abu Dhabi Editor - Published: November 14, 2008, 18:01 (Gulf News Article)
Abu Dhabi: Two people died on Friday afternoon after their car veered off the road and plunged from a fly over down into the junction below.
The driver and passenger, an Egyptian and a French national, died, a senior police officer told Gulf News at the scene of the crash. "Both seem to in their 30s."
The flyover straddles the junction of Sa'ada Street and Airport Road close to the passport offices and Abu Dhabi Police Headquarters.
A large crowd gathered at the scene of the crash. All that was left of the car was a mangled mass of red metal.
Eyewitness
Bassam Eisa, a Syrian, terrified by what he had witnessed, said he was at the end of the zebra crossing on Sa'ada Street beyond the flyover when he heard a loud bang and a red object hurtling down over the bridge. He said that some motorists must have had a lucky miss.
The car was travelling on Airport Road out of Abu Dhabi towards the airport.
"The car must have been travelling at very high speed," an Abu Dhabi Civil Defence officer said. "The fact that it broke through the cement barrier of the flyover shows that the main culprit is speeding even if there was a serious mechanical failure."

Job Cuts on Emaar Radar as Stocks Crash

Financial Times - Published: November 14, 2008, 23:21 (Gulf News Article)
Dubai/London: Emaar Properties, one of the world's largest property developers, is preparing to cut jobs to help it steer through the biggest crisis in its 11-year history amid a sharp fall on Dubai's stock markets and a cooling of its property sector.
The company, which accounts for about 10 per cent of the Dubai stock market, on Thursday said it was reviewing its 5,000-strong workforce in light of the weakening Dubai property market, which is declining for the first time since foreigners were allowed to buy property in 2002.
Emaar emerged on the property scene from nowhere a decade ago, establishing itself in more than 36 countries through an aggressive acquisitions policy that helped its land bank grow to 519 million square metres, with a value of Dh28.3 billion in 2007.
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The company became the face of Dubai's booming property market, which has been constantly raising the bar for building the biggest, best and fastest.
However, the six-year bull run in Dubai property prices has run out of steam as the financial crisis washes up in the Gulf. HSBC said last week residential prices had fallen in October for the first time since 2002. "To address the new challenges that we face, it is important to reorient our growth strategies and align our business model to tackle new realities," Emaar said.
It has sought to diversify outside the core Dubai development market into a wide range of businesses around the world, from estate agency chain Hamptons International in the UK, John Laing Homes of the US and the Armani hotels business, as well as assets in healthcare and education.

THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FACT SHEET

THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The United Arab Emirates is the united form of seven emirates and are; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Um Al-Quwain, Fujairah, & Ras Al-Khaimah. Abu Dhabi is the capital of United Arab Emirates (in short, UAE).

ABU DHABI

Abu Dhabi is one of the most modern cities in the world. It is the center of government and business life in the UAE, headquarters of the emirates oil operating companies and embassies are based here. The architecture of its modern buildings and sky scrapers is the finest in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi's oil wealth has been wisely utilized to encourage a healthy trade and commerce atmosphere apart from oil industries too. The promotion of tourism and various tourism-related projects will elevate Abu Dhabi to a Singaporean status in the region. Large gardens and parks, green boulevards lining all the streets and roads, sophisticated high-rise buildings, state-of-the-art communication services and transport, the presence of all the international luxury hotel chains, rich shopping malls, cultural centers and events provide tourists a one-of-a-kind experience all the year round.

Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven Emirates and the Federal capital of the UAE. Its long coastline - the shallow waters of the Southern Gulf, extending from the base of the Qatar Peninsula in the west to the border of the emirate of Dubai on the north east, was once the world's best waters for pearling. When the pearling industry declined, oil discovery in the offshore oilfields of the Southern Gulf revived the economy of Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi was also the first emirate to export oil from the Umm Shaif offshore field in 1962. On the land, it stretches south to the oases of Liwa where some of the world’s largest sand dunes can be found, and east to the ancient oasis of Al Ain. This makes Abu Dhabi the largest as well as the most populated of all the emirates.

Desert Heritage

The emirate was inhabited as far back as the third millennium BC, but the Abu Dhabi of today only truly came into existence in the latter half of the 18th century when it was first settled by the Bani Yas tribe in 1761. In the early days of the 20th century the economy of Abu Dhabi was centered on camel herding, date oases, fishing and pearl diving.

The discovery of oil in 1958 and its subsequent export from 1962 produced a sudden upsurge in Abu Dhabi 's prosperity and laid the foundations of today's modern society. Abu Dhabi was the first emirate to export oil and under the leadership of the late and much revered HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the subsequent revenues were wisely invested in the infrastructure of the emirate.

Traditions

The city’s progressive vision is tempered with a deep-seated respect for traditions and culture, and tucked away between modern towers are heritage locales that tell tales of Abu Dhabi’s past. Priority has been given not only to future development but to rediscovering the past through archaeology, the restoration of buildings, museums, establishing indigenous wildlife parks and much more. Traditional musicians, calligraphers, artists and craftsmen are encouraged to develop their skills and thereby prevent their ancient crafts from dying out. The artifacts and tools of pearl divers, fishermen and dhow builders are carefully preserved and displayed. Especially honored is the Bedouin way of life. Even though nomadic societies leave little in the way of permanent structures, the people of Abu Dhabi aspire to the noble traditions and values of their desert ancestors.

DUBAI

Places of Interest

The city of Dubai embraces its namesake creek, dividing it into two halves. The main sightseeing circuit in Dubai is split between Bur Dubai and Deira which lie on opposite sides of the water, and the gently curving Dubai Creek is an attraction in itself. You will have plenty of opportunities for some brilliant views of the city from the water: gleaming skyscrapers on one side, and old trading dhows on the other.

Deira's many attractions include the historic quarter of Bastakia, as well as old souks and covered marketplaces. Wandering along the alleys, you can explore the Spice Souk and the Gold Souk. The Dubai Museum is housed within the beautifully restored Al Fahidi Fort, and is a must-see for first time visitors to Dubai. Built in 1799 to defend the city against invasion, it has served as both palace and prison and the museum's collection includes life-size figures and galleries depicting Arab houses, mosques, date gardens, desert and marine life.

On the Bur Dubai side, Heritage Village, located in the Shindagah area, is a family destination where you can watch potters, weavers and artisans at their crafts. The adjoining Diving Village offers a cultural microcosm of pearl diving and fishing. Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, a museum restored from the house of Dubai's former ruler and dating back to the late 1800s, is within the same complex. With its unusual layered rooms and authentic wind towers, Sheikh Saeed's House showcases regional architecture at its best.

If you drive west from the city centre, you will reach the popular suburb of Jumeirah, home to some of Dubai's finest luxury hotels and resorts, unspoilt stretches of sunny beaches and water sports complexes. In Jumeirah is the Grand Mosque, re-built in 1998, with the city's tallest minaret, nine large domes and 45 small domes - a distinguished landmark and an important place of worship.

About 115 Km south east of Dubai, in the heart of the rocky Hatta Mountains, is the 3000 year old Hatta Village, an important historical site for the region. The two towers overlooking the village used to be defense fortresses against hostile invaders, and during a relaxed day at the Village, you can visit the Houses of Traditional Handicrafts and Palm Products, The Castle Centre, and the 200 year old Sharia Mosque.

In contrast to the traditional attractions of Dubai and the surrounding areas, the city boasts world-class business and leisure facilities.

Best Buys and Bargains

Dubai is a veritable shopper's paradise! Whether it is for gold, electronics, carpets, spices, textiles or more.

The city is one of the largest retail gold markets in the world, selling everything from ingots to intricately hand crafted jewellery, and bargaining is welcomed almost everywhere. The Gold Souk area in Deira has glittering street-front stores and hides dozens of alleys housing smaller shops. The newly built Gold and Diamond Park on Sheikh Zayed Road is an attraction for serious jewellery shoppers.

The city is also home to some of the Middle East region's most prestigious shopping malls, boutiques and department stores that house retailers of haute couture, hi-tech electronics, home furnishings and accessories or traditional Arabic crafts. Dubai is famous for offering top international brands at unbelievably reasonable prices.

The larger shopping mall complexes also house cinema theatres, food courts, entertainment centers and play areas for children, allowing for complete family shopping experiences.

Choose to browse through the older markets and the narrow walkways located in the Meena Bazaar, Karama and Naif areas, dedicated to inexpensive reproductions of international brands; leather goods and textiles; computer and electrical accessories and Arabic perfumes.

Most shopping venues and cultural destinations sell a range of gifts and souvenirs representing Dubai: The Seven Sands of the UAE, traditional Bedouin jewellery, sand art, packaged dates and date products, Arabic sweets, wooden crafts and palm leaf handicrafts.

Seasonal Highlights

Dubai has a very eventful social calendar. With international sporting events, shopping and entertainment festivals, music and cultural programmes held at various indoor and outdoor venues all year around.

Varying from the world's richest horse race - The Dubai World Cup, and international jazz festivals, to the home grown Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai also hosts regionally significant exhibitions and trade shows on a regular basis.

While the actual dates of many important events are timed to match the season, the Lunar calendar and the holy month of Ramadan change from year to year. The chart below provides a guideline to the city's many events:


January - The Dubai Marathon, Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai International Jazz Festival, Emirates Cup Traditional Dhow Sailing Race, Dubai International Sailing Week Regatta


February - The Dubai Terry Fox Run, Dubai Tennis Championships


March - Dubai Desert Golf Classic, Dubai World Cup, Dubai International Kite Surfing Challenge


April - International Jewellery exhibition


May - Local and international events


June - Dubai Summer Surprises, UAE National Sailing Championship


July - Dubai Summer Surprises


August - Dubai Summer Surprises

September - Gulf IT Exhibition (GITEX), Local and international events (Dubai, the City that Cares festival)

October - UAE Desert Challenge

November - Horse racing season, Dubai Traditional Dhow Sailing Race

December - Rugby 7s, Dubai Air Show, Dubai Grand Prix, National Day celebrations

Rest and Recreation

Dubai is an exciting year round destination that offers unlimited opportunities for rest and recreation, be it a walk through a lush green family park, an adventurous day in the waters of the Arabian Gulf, or a pampering session at one of the many health spas.

Beaches: Some of Dubai's beaches are attached to private hotels, where, for a small fee, you can spend the day on the sand and in the waters of the Arabian Gulf. Other beaches and waterfronts - the Corniche and the Creek - are free for public access, and feature a range of water sports offered by several operators.

Desert safaris: One of Dubai's most popular tourist attractions is the desert safari: a unique experience that combines an adventurous 4WD car ride over sand dunes with camels, belly dancers, henna designers, falconers, and a barbecue dinner by starlight. Other attractions include sand skiing, sand boarding, sand carting and 4WD desert driving

Fishing: The warmth and shelter of the Gulf attract a large variety of fish, and several local companies provide full and half day trips to the best fishing waters about 12Km offshore from the mainland.

Golf: Dubai has the unique distinction of being the only golfing centre in the world to host major international tournaments on both the European and Asian PGA circuits. Visiting golfers can choose from various clubs and courses, each of championship quality and presenting a different type of challenge.

Treatments and therapies: Dubai is home to an extraordinary number of spas and wellness clinics, ranging from internationally renowned brands to ancient Chinese and Indian holistic treatments.


SHARJAH

Sharjah is a city of learning and the arts, as confirmed by its 1998 UNESCO designation as the Cultural Capital of the Arab World. This context facilitates the university's intention to be an academic center at the intersection of ancient cultural traditions and contemporary intellectual currents. The city of Sharjah is home to more than 20 museums with splendid collections of artifacts and art as well as exhibits on science and natural history. Sharjah host many cultural festivals, educational conferences, fairs and economic expositions also. These resources permit the university to broaden students' formal education in a way not possible elsewhere in the region.


Strategically situated between the Far East and the West, Sharjah is a global trade center. The third largest of the seven states that form the United Arab Emirates, Sharjah probably has the most colorful history of all the Emirates. From the days of the early trading with the East to the settlement of the Qawasim seafaring tribe and into the first half of the 19th century, Sharjah was the most important port on the lower Arabian Gulf.


It was here that the British chose to set up their military base and the Trucial Coast's first international airport was established in 1932. The flow of oil into the UAE and the recent gas revenue has sustained Sharjah's modern development. But it is perhaps the people, a lively trading tradition and the culture that have created and maintained the unique flavor of the Sharjah Emirate.


Sharjah has beautiful beaches on the shores of the Arabian Gulf in the West, the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean in the East. Sharjah is the only emirate to have land on both the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Geographically, Sharjah emirate covers approximately 2,600 square kilometers.

AJMAN

The Emirate of Ajman is situated on the coast of the Arabian Gulf, extending over a distance of 16 km, between the emirates of Umm al-Qaiwain and Sharjah. The area of the emirate is 259 square kilometers, equivalent to 0.3% of the country's total area, excluding the islands. The town of Ajman, the capital of the emirate, lies on the coast of the Arabian Gulf. It comprises the Ruler's office, companies, banks and commercial markets. The port of Ajman is located along a natural creek (Khor) which penetrates the town. The two major regions in the emirate are Masfout, an agricultural area, lying at a distance of 110 Km long at the South east, and Manama located 60 km to the east.

UMM AL-QAIWAIN

Umm al-Qaiwain is situated between Ajman and Ras al-Khaimah on the West coast. The traditional occupation of this emirate has been fishing and date cultivation.


Umm al-Qaiwain's attraction lies in its long clean beaches, an enclosed lagoon and public horse riding stables. Located 50 Km south of Umm Al Qaiwain is Falaj Al Mulla, the agricultural part of the Emirate. Seneyah Island, one kilometer away from the town of Umm al-Qaiwain, is a natural reserve for a large species of birds, deer and Al Qaram trees.

RAS AL-KHAIMAH

Ras al-Khaimah is the northern most emirate of the UAE. It’s history extends into antiquity. Archeological excavations reveal that a settlement with an advanced civilization that carried on trade with the Indian sub-continent existed in this region. Later historical records cite that the town of Ras al-Khaimah, then known as Julfar, belonged to early Muslim Caliphs. In the 18th century, after the invasions of the Persians, Portuguese and the Dutch, it finally became a part of the Al Qawasim State. It was also once the center of the naval strength of the southern Gulf States.


The traditional occupations of this emirate are mainly fishing, trading and agriculture which have been heavily modernized to meet the demands of the UAE's economy. Fruits, vegetables, milk; poultry are supplied to the other emirates from here.


The sea around Ras al-Khaimah abounds in tuna fish. The mountains have enabled the set up of stone quarries and a cement factory. Also the oilfield of Saleh, has boosted up the revenues of the emirate.


Mina Saqr, located next to the town of Ras al-Khaimah, is a deepwater port with heavily utilized bulk handling facilities where major amounts of transshipment takes place. It can handle vessels up to 260 meters long and 11.5 meters maximum draught and is ideal for low cost general cargo and container handling.

FUJAIRAH

Fujairah holds a unique position in the UAE. It is the only emirate that lies on the eastern side of the UAE, along the Gulf of Oman, while all the six other emirates are along the Arabian Gulf.

The Hajar mountain range that divides the UAE in two, from Ras al-Khaimah to Al Ain has kept Fujairah separated from the rest of the country.

Fujairah's main occupations in the past were fishing and agriculture. Pearl fishing was non-existent because the waters of the Gulf of Oman were much deeper and colder than the Arabian Gulf, not suitable for the growth of pearl oysters.

The Fujairah port is an important port for container liners and for the world's largest livestock shipping companies which have set up their main holding station for sheep and cattle for the entire Arabian Peninsula here.

Its clean beaches, the numerous water sports like swimming, yachting, water surfing and deep sea fishing attract tourists all round the year. The Fujairah Tourism Bureau has the specific task of promoting in bound tourism. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries are planning to build a dam in this area where there is a famous waterfall.