An Iraqi court decided to divorce a 10-year-old local girl after she was forced by her father to marry a much older man, becoming the youngest divorcee in the Arab nation, an Iraqi news network reported on Monday.

The girl reported her father to court in the southern Iraqi town of Nasiriyyah after he forced her to marry without considering her small age.
“The girl complained to court about her father and the scholar who performed the marriage contract.

“The court decided to divorce the couple after they married outside court,” Nasiriyya news network said.

It did not mention whether the father and the scholar would be prosecuted but noted that persons performing marriage outside court could be jailed for at least six months.

Man rapes sister herding sheep

A Moroccan man waited for his sister to go out for herding her sheep in a desolate place and raped her before fleeing, triggering a massive police manhunt.

The woman, who is married with several children, has just left her house in the western town of Azemmur when she was attacked by her 25-year-old brother.

She told police that he raped her in a “violent and obscene” way before fleeing the area, according to newspapers.

If you thought that ‘Bodyguard’, despite its substantial success at the box office, was not a good film, be ready for something worse.
Here is the sequel to the Atul Agnihotri produced and Siddiqui directed film starring Salman Khan.

Needless to say the film will star Salman Khan, but then Agnihotri is looking out for writers who will pen a sequel to the film.

Currently busy with the post production and working out on the nitty gritties of the promotion of his Pulkit Samrat starrer film ‘O Teri’, Agnihotri is primarily waiting to crack the plot first.

But we are told that Agnihotri who wants to get a little more serious on getting a better script has not found one good enough to ensure that Salman Khan makes a comeback after a bad ‘Jai Ho’ at the box office which tanked following poor reviews and low turnout at the box office.
 

The UAE is conducting pilot tests to introduce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for a range of civilian government services including delivering documents to the public and monitoring traffic.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, personally attended pilot tests for the UAVs, which are also known as drones.

Mohammed bin Rashid, Hamdan bin Mohammed watch the drone tests.

The UAE intends to use drones for a wide variety of government services, including infrastructure monitoring and geographic surveys.

This initiative supports the UAE leadership’s drive to make government more responsive to its customers and to deliver services as efficiently as possible as an early adopter of the latest technology.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed his satisfaction with the project, which Emirati engineers have been running for three months.

He instructed that drones should be used for a wider variety of services and across a larger area of the UAE.

"We want to reach to people before they reach us.

“We want to save time, to shorten distances, to increase effectiveness and to make services easier," Sheikh Mohammed said.

He was accompanied at the pilot tests by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

The UAVs under testing feature advanced technology allowing a remote pilot to track and control the plane in real time, including a high-definition instantaneous video feed.

Drones that deliver government documents will use fingerprint recognition to confirm the customer’s identity. Google map technology will be used to specify the survey area, or the location of the customer’s home for delivery.

Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said initial testing with the UAV technology had been promising.

"His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has given the instruction to proceed quickly with final testing and to widen the range of these experiments to encompass new services and broader geographical areas," Al Gergawi said.

"This initiative is part of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s integrated vision for a smart government, a smart society and global innovation in the use of technology to enhance government services.

“His vision is that technology should be used for the good of people and in the service of the people, and that governments should be the first to adopt the latest technologies."

Al Gergawi noted that UAVs represent a modern technological revolution with many applications, especially in the military field, but that the UAE is the first government worldwide to develop civilian applications for drones to provide government services directly to the people.

He added that the UAE leadership was committed to developing drone technology using Emirati engineering talent, in cooperation with local stakeholders, and deploying it as part of an array of unique innovations that mark out the UAE as a model for government service delivery.

The specs

A close up of the UAE drone. (REUTERS)

The battery-operated vehicle, about half a metre (1-1/2 feet) across, resembles a butterfly with a top compartment that can carry small parcels. Coloured white and enblazoned with the UAE flag, it is propelled by four rotors.

Local engineer Abdulrahman Al Serkal, who designed the project, said fingerprint and eye-recognition security systems would be used to protect the drones and their cargo.

Gergawi said the drones would be tested for durability and efficiency in Dubai for six months, before being introduced across the UAE within a year. Services would initially include delivery of identity cards, driving licences and other permits.

Amazon experience

A file picture of the 'octocopter' mini-drone that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos once wanted to use to fly small packages to consumers in just 30 minutes. The UAE drone is a different design. (AFP)

In December Amazon.com Inc chief executive Jeff Bezos said his company planned to deliver goods to millions of customers with a fleet of drones, but safety and technical issues mean the plan is unlikely to become a reality in the United States this decade, engineers say.

Dubai Municipality (DM), in collaboration with 61 entities from government and the private sector, has geared up to organise the 5th Car Free Day on Wednesday, February 19.

Employees will travel to their job locations using different public transport means such as the Metro, buses and Abra.

This was announced in a press conference held at DM's main building in Deira in the presence of senior officials of the major participating government bodies and institutions, Mohammed Al Jarman, Director-General of Emirates Transport, Mohammed Al Zarooni, Director of Dubai Red Crescent, Arif Mubarak, COO of Dubai Real Estate Group and Ahmed Serkal, Chairman of Al Serkal Group.

The initiative is aimed at contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions and spreading awareness about global warming and methods of controlling it.

The participants this year include the Ministry of Environment and Water, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Land Department, etisalat, Dubai Police, GDRFA, DCCI, RTA, Dubai Properties Group, Department of Economic Development, Financial Audit Department, Dubai Mall, Al Bayan, DHA, Dubai Educational Zone, Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai Civil Aviation, American University of Dubai, University of Wollongong Dubai, Emirates Foundation for Cooling Systems, DMI, Dubai Arts and Culture, Al Serkal Group, Radisson Blu Hotel, Public Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, Department of Finance, Dubai Customs, Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities, Sheikh Zayed Housing Foundation, Awqaf, Minors Affairs Foundation, Dubai Ambulance Services, Civil Defence, Dubai Police Academy, Dubai Courts, Dubai International Financial Centre, U.A.E. Red Crescent Authority, Emirates Transport, Dubai Government School, University of Dubai, Mohammed Bin Rashid School, Umm Suqeim School, Institute of Applied Technology, Holiday Inn, Dubai Sports Council, Al-Ahly, Al Wasl, the U.A.E. Football Association, Dubai Sports City, and Al-Futtaim. 

A number of new openings will come up this week when local companies from different sectors hold walk-in interviews.

Among the companies holding open days for jobs include Dubai Refreshments, Dubai Islamic Bank, Crown Plaza Hotel, Gulf Medical University and an IT company.

Dubai Refreshments, the sole franchisee and distributor for Pepsi Co. in the UAE, is recruiting Warehouse Supervisor, Store and Spare Parts Supervisors, QA/QC Chemist, Line Mechanic, Electrical Technician, Postmix Technician and Vending Technician, Van Salesman, Pre-Seller, Accountants Assistant and Helper.

The distributor is hiring candidates with over one-year experience in the field and must have completed 2-year service with current employer or on free zone visa. They should be fluent in spoken English and Arabic or Urdu; driving licence is also must.

The interviews for Van Salesman, Pre-Seller, Accounts Assistant, Helper and Market Auditor will take place on Monday, February 10, between 9am to 5pm at Emirates Grand Hotel Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Center 2 next to Financial Metro Station. While interviews for the other positions will be held at the same location on Tuesday, February 11, between 9am to 5pm.

The candidates must bring CV and other supporting documents. Interview for the post of Accounts Assistant will be held till 12noon only.

Dubai Islamic Bank will also be recruiting to fill a number of positions; it will recruit staff for Branches, Call Center, Retail Credit, Operations, Sales of cards, Personal Finance, Auto, Bank Takaful, Home Finance and SME sections.

The Shariah-compliant bank will hold walk-in interviews on Tuesday, February 11, at Al Bustan Rotana Hotel near Cargo Village in Al Garhoud. The candidates must bring along CV and copies of passport and educational certificates.

The bank promises attractive salary package and other benefits.

Crown Plaza Hotel in Abu Dhabi will hold open day on Saturday, February 8, and Sunday, February 9, to fill a range of vacant positions at the hotel. The hotel will hire to fill posts of Masseuses, Front Office Agents, Waiters/Waitresses, Hostesses, F&B Supervisors, Chefs, Shift Technicians, General Technicians, Electrician, Painter, A/C & Refrigeration Technician, Finance Coordinator among others.

The interviews will be held at Crown Plaza Abu Dhabi, Hamdan Street from 9am to 9pm during the two days.

Ajman-Based Gulf Medical University is looking for specialist doctors in biochemistry, clinical cytogenetics, clinical pathology, clinical molecular biology and clinical microbiology; the candidates should be PhD or MD in the respective speciality with at least 7 years experience. The college is also looking for lab technicians for clinical histopathology, clinical microbiology, clinical hematology and clinical cytogenetics with at least 2 to 5 years experience with valid UAE licence. Furthermore, it’s looking for marketing executive and general practitioner with over 3 years experience. The college will hold walk-in interviews on Saturday, February 8, at Gulf Medical University Campus, Al Jurf, Ajman.

An information technology is also hiring Professionals of Java, Oracle, TIBCO and Testing with over 4-year experience. The interviews will take place at Four Point Sheraton, Khalid Bin Waleed Road, near Musalla Tower, Bur Dubai on Saturday, February 8, between 9am to 1pm.

An increasing number of UAE residents believe an "all-cash diet" is best suited to them, reveals an Emirates 24|7 online poll.

It is a strategy, they believe, that works best to cut down on credit card debt in a “shopaholic” and “upgrade” environment.

Even though the majority of the respondents in the country own credit cards, surprisingly, 35 per cent of those who participated in the poll, say they don’t use plastic to make purchases online or in real time.

These are the people who dread the high interest rates that credit card companies charge if you fail to make payments on time.

The concept of buy now and pay later does not attract many in the country.

“These are just ways to entice the customers and there are deals everywhere. Why get carried away? I don’t have a credit card and only buy what the money in my wallet can,” says one respondent.

Next are the 27 per cent of residents polled, who claim to use only one card.

“I use my credit card but only for the fixed and big purchases like online airline tickets, car insurance premium and a few other things.

“I don’t use it at the grocery store or in the mall. This helps me manage my finances better,” wrote a Dubai resident.

The rest of the participants use more than one credit card – a good 17 per cent say they use two cards, 10 per cent three and 11 per cent say they have four and more credit cards in use.

According to reports, the average annual percentage interest charged on credit cards issued in the UAE is 37.75 per cent.

And, many in the country use their credit cards to make loan repayments, a sure way to get into a debt trap.

A report released by compareit4me.com, a UAE-based price comparison website, released last year shows that 20 per cent of the people they polled made use of a credit card to cover repayments on a personal loan or car loan, exposing them to very high interest rates – warning signals to cut on plastic and go on an all-cash diet this year.

A quick look at shows interest rates that banks charge on credit cards.

An Egyptian company manager received a phone call from a woman asking him to come to her apartment and telling him she already knows him.

When the man knocked at the door, he was surprised when he came face-to-face with a pretty, half-naked woman. But his surprise turned into a shock when he found a man pointing a gun at him and ordering him to strip off.

After forcing him to take his clothes off, the man identified himself as the woman’s husband and filmed the manager naked with his wife.

She then forced him to sign cheques for 500,000 pounds (Dh270,000) and sign a letter giving up his car for the couple.

Newspapers said police in the northeastern town of Bani Suwaif arrested the couple for interrogation on charges of extortion, deception and threatening the manager with a gun.

[Image via Shutterstock]

A Saudi family was reported by social networks to have been swallowed by a giant whale at a beach in the Gulf Kingdom, but authorities on Tuesday denied the news and said a picture that was carried along with the report was a fake.

The report was circulated by thousands of Saudis on social networks and BlackBerry mobiles that a huge whale surfaced at the beach and swallowed the entire family that was strolling in the area in the western port of Qunfudah.

“These reports are not true and the picture which was published along with these reports is totally not correct,” ‘Ajel’ newspaper said, quoting Saudi border guard spokesman in the western region, Colonel Naji Al Jahni.

“We call on all media networks not to publish such rumors which will only spread fear among the people and scare them off the beaches.”

Taiwanese tech firm HTC says it will come out with cheaper models to reverse its downward slide in profits.

According to a senior HTC official in Dubai the new phones will be Android-based as the company sees more demand for Android as compared to the Windows platform.

Earlier, the company’s chief financial officer, Chang Chia-Lin told Reuters that new phones at a price range of $150 (Dh550) to $300 (Dh1,100) would be launched soon into the market.

The company has also plans to launch a new flagship model soon.

The cheapest HTC phone that can now be found in the market is priced at Dh650 – the HTC Windows 8X 4 GB model.

The HTC One and the One Max are priced at more than Dh2,000, while the HTC One mini is priced around Dh1,500.

Neeraj Seth, Senior Brand communication Manager - MEA at HTC told Emirates 24|7 that the company is indeed planning to launch cheaper models and said all would be Android-based.

“Android seems to be the most in demand. We are going to launch more models in the ‘desire’ segment,” he said in a telephonic interview.

However, he added that in the Middle East the driver continues to be the premium models priced at over $600. “The trend in the Middle East is for the high-end phones. The most popular are the $800-plus models,” he added.

He however added that HTC will continue to retain its association with the Windows phone.

The company has reported a significant drop in sales and an 80 per cent drop in share price.

The company has reported an 83 per cent drop in profits during the second quarter of 2013 and Chia-Lin says they are determined to reverse this trend.

"The problem with us last year was we only concentrated on our flagship.

“We missed a huge chunk of the mid-tier market,"  Chia-Lin is quoted to have told Reuters.

He also said that HTC will, however, avoid getting into the really low-end segment.
 

The timeline for the Dubai Government 2021 Initiative. (Dubai Media Office)

The ‘Dubai Government 2021 Initiative’ -- created in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai– was launched by Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

‘Dubai 2021’ -- a first-of-its-kind initiative in the world -- was unveiled during a special session on the sideline of the Government Summit 2014, which opened on February 10 in Dubai.

The ‘Dubai Government 2021 Initiative’ is inspired by Sheikh Mohammed’s vision of the Government of the Future’ launched in 2013. It promotes the adoption of best international standards and practices in the field of government services.

Single application interface

The idea is to provide a single window, allowing the client to access all government services through their own account. This interface is to be designed according to the client's preferences and needs.

Such an interface can also provide the client with uninterrupted updates for all transactions in progress, as well as recalling important dates such as renewal dates of passport, residence, car ownership or licence, and others.

The interface will constantly provide the client with the maturity of financial obligations for public utilities such as water, electricity or telecommunications.

In addition, the client will receive a reminder of the dates of scheduled medical examinations in hospitals and health centres in the public sector, or later in the private sector.

In case the client is the owner of a facility or representatives of economic, commercial or service activity, the interface will enable him to accomplish all transactions related to his business such as commercial licensing or work permits or any other permits or approvals from any other concerned government entity.

Overall, the user, be an individual or institution, would not deal with various government departments, but rather with one entity, which is the ‘Government of Dubai’.

This will be his constant authority and reference in getting a certain service, regardless of which government entity renders this service.

The interface provides additional services using data of client’s geographical location.

The client will be able to identify options for schools or health centres and hospitals or public transport stations or petrol stations, or any services and public facilities located in the vicinity of client’s place of residence or work.

Moreover, the client will be able to design the interface according to his preferences, in terms of adding or deleting services as needed.

He will be able to use the interface as an application to organise his private appointments.

This interface will be a reliable and recognised front gate for electronic payments of all government services, in addition to its being an application for both computers and smartphones.

Unified contact

Access to government services will not be limited to electronic applications, but will be also available through dial-up.

As is the case with the application interface, access to all government services will be available via phone through a ‘unified telephone number’ (Dubai 800) which reaches a unified call centre that will answer all queries relating to government by either a single employee, or through the automated answer mechanism.

All-inclusive employee and accounts director Dubai Government is keen to make the government experience a personal experience. In this, it will benefit from the experience of leading global companies in delivering services, including through an ‘Account Manager’ for clients categorised as distinguished according to the size or nature of their dealings.

The client will be able to communicate with one employee, who is aware of all his transactions, and who can accomplish them for the client, in addition to providing advice and counsel on any transactions related to him personally or his family or the nature of his work.

Unified identification number

Typically, in every government body, it is imperative for the client to present papers, identification and documents to prove that he is the one applying for a certain service such as a passport photocopy, residence or ID, and others. The client is often forced to provide these documents to the same entity repeatedly every time he wants any service.

This process weighs on the shoulders of both clients and government entities in terms of time and effort used in the provision of these documents, reviewing and archiving them.

Instead, the idea of a ‘Unified ID Number’ is to submit these documents by the client once, at the beginning of dealing with any government agency. In return, the client gets a ‘reference number’ that is identified by all entities, and linked to national identity.

This number is used to identify the client both in accessing his account in the unified application interface, or to speak with all-inclusive employee or even to get the service through branches and service centres in various parts of the city.

The unified identification number is intended to lift the burden on the client as well as the service rendering body. It also contributes to raising the level of data accuracy and averts mistakes, in addition to reducing service delivery costs significantly by avoiding dealing with a large number of documents in every attempt to get the service.

The first steps in the roll out of the mandatory health insurance scheme of Dubai are being rolled out and insurance companies are gradually submitting their new packages, complying with the new requirements.

However, some companies will need a little extra time to toe the line.

In December, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced the timeline of the roll out of the scheme, which is expected to be fully in place by mid-2016.

The insurance companies were the first to be held responsible for complying with the new Law; in order to participate they were required to apply for a permit, for which they had until January.

But, they have been given some more time, as not all companies were able to meet the new requirements.

"At the moment 49 companies have been approved under the new rules.

“We might see some more companies joining this list, as we have given them until February  to comply with the new requirements," explains Haidar Al Yousuf, Director of Health Funding at the DHA.

According to him, there are certain technical requirements that might  "not be very conventional. For example, companies need to show their plans, and they might not be used to that," he explained.

While all insurance companies have been asked to comply with a new set of requirements, the companies that would like to offer Essential Health Benefits (EHB) have the longest list of conditions, Al Yousuf explains.
 

Essential Health Benefits

The EHB is minimum health insurance coverage that should be available for all citizens, residents and visitors to the UAE.

It is the package tailored for the employee with a salary of Dh4,000 and below, and expected to be offered against a premium between Dh500-700.

"This package caters to a very specific audience, a very large audience.

“The list of requirements for companies that would like to provide this package is much longer. These companies might need some more time to meet these requirements."

Although Al Yousuf would not reveal how many of the registered companies would be providing the basic package, he said that there were "quite some".

The companies that have received a permit can already offer the package.

The full list of companies provided with a permit is expected to be complete in February.

The DHA said earlier that it would announce the list to the public
 

The EHB package covers the following:

- Access to general physician/ family physician.

- Referral to specialists.

- Surgical procedures.

- Laboratory services: Tests and investigations provided to help a doctor diagnose an injury, illness or condition, or to monitor the effectiveness of a particular treatment.

- Emergency services: Medical attention required for conditions that could lead to serious disability or death if not treated immediately, such as accidents or sudden illness. Prior authorisation is not required for such cases.

- Maternity care – Medical care that women receive during pregnancy (prenatal care), throughout labor, delivery and post-delivery.

Meanwhile, insurance companies will be permitted to offer competitive packages, with an expected average price tag of Dh600.

Companies may also offer varying co-payment possibilities.

However, there are requirements for the co-payment cap.

Dustmen collecting waste at a main garbage site in Saudi Arabia stumbled across a two-month-old boy wrapped alive inside a garbage bag which was surrounded by hungry cats, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Doctors raced against time to save the baby’s life as they estimated that the boy had been in that bag for nearly two days, Sada said.

“Doctors said the baby was in a serious condition and that they were racing against time to save his life,” the paper said, quoting police in the western town of Makkah.

“He was stuffed inside a waste bag and hungry cats were seen sniffing at the bag. God the Almighty saved him from being devoured by cats.”

A number of new openings will come up this week when local companies from different sectors hold walk-in interviews.

Among the companies holding open days for jobs include Dubai Refreshments, Dubai Islamic Bank, Crown Plaza Hotel, Gulf Medical University and an IT company.

Dubai Refreshments, the sole franchisee and distributor for Pepsi Co. in the UAE, is recruiting Warehouse Supervisor, Store and Spare Parts Supervisors, QA/QC Chemist, Line Mechanic, Electrical Technician, Postmix Technician and Vending Technician, Van Salesman, Pre-Seller, Accountants Assistant and Helper.

The distributor is hiring candidates with over one-year experience in the field and must have completed 2-year service with current employer or on free zone visa. They should be fluent in spoken English and Arabic or Urdu; driving licence is also must.

The interviews for Van Salesman, Pre-Seller, Accounts Assistant, Helper and Market Auditor will take place on Monday, February 10, between 9am to 5pm at Emirates Grand Hotel Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Center 2 next to Financial Metro Station. While interviews for the other positions will be held at the same location on Tuesday, February 11, between 9am to 5pm.

The candidates must bring CV and other supporting documents. Interview for the post of Accounts Assistant will be held till 12noon only.

Dubai Islamic Bank will also be recruiting to fill a number of positions; it will recruit staff for Branches, Call Center, Retail Credit, Operations, Sales of cards, Personal Finance, Auto, Bank Takaful, Home Finance and SME sections.

The Shariah-compliant bank will hold walk-in interviews on Tuesday, February 11, at Al Bustan Rotana Hotel near Cargo Village in Al Garhoud. The candidates must bring along CV and copies of passport and educational certificates.

The bank promises attractive salary package and other benefits.

Crown Plaza Hotel in Abu Dhabi will hold open day on Saturday, February 8, and Sunday, February 9, to fill a range of vacant positions at the hotel. The hotel will hire to fill posts of Masseuses, Front Office Agents, Waiters/Waitresses, Hostesses, F&B Supervisors, Chefs, Shift Technicians, General Technicians, Electrician, Painter, A/C & Refrigeration Technician, Finance Coordinator among others.

The interviews will be held at Crown Plaza Abu Dhabi, Hamdan Street from 9am to 9pm during the two days.

Ajman-Based Gulf Medical University is looking for specialist doctors in biochemistry, clinical cytogenetics, clinical pathology, clinical molecular biology and clinical microbiology; the candidates should be PhD or MD in the respective speciality with at least 7 years experience. The college is also looking for lab technicians for clinical histopathology, clinical microbiology, clinical hematology and clinical cytogenetics with at least 2 to 5 years experience with valid UAE licence. Furthermore, it’s looking for marketing executive and general practitioner with over 3 years experience. The college will hold walk-in interviews on Saturday, February 8, at Gulf Medical University Campus, Al Jurf, Ajman.

An information technology is also hiring Professionals of Java, Oracle, TIBCO and Testing with over 4-year experience. The interviews will take place at Four Point Sheraton, Khalid Bin Waleed Road, near Musalla Tower, Bur Dubai on Saturday, February 8, between 9am to 1pm.

Earlier Katrina Kaif only had to work on her Hindi diction; and then she got into Urdu diction as well.

And now Ms Kaif has to work hard on her Arabic diction for the Saif Ali Khan-starrer ‘Phantom’, directed by Kabir Khan and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala.

If you thought that poor Ms Kaif only had to learn acting, think again now.

The actress, who is shooting for the film now in Punjab is working round the clock learning Arabic because she wants to dub for the film herself, having dubbed for her last few movies as well.

Kaif plays a girl in the film from the Middle East and hence, is required to speak Arabic. But then Kaif who has spent quite a few years in India and in Bollywood now clearly wants to fight the language barrier.

Unconfirmed reports state Kaif's character will be based out of the UAE, and most likely Dubai.

So her training is said to focusing on the Arab sensibilties from this part of the Gulf.

The role that she plays in the film requires the actress to not just speak in Arabic, but also look and sound bona fide when she essays the said role.

Kaif whose film ‘Phantom’ will clash with her other movie 'Jagga Jasoos' on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, surely wants to look and sound different from her Ranbir Kapoor-starrer.

And she certainly hopes that both Ranbir and Saif rake in the bucks at the box office.

Parents of students in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are upset with some private schools for raising the registration fee for the academic year 2013-2014 without giving any reason.

The parents said the hike in registration fees is more than what is fixed by the education departments of the UAE’s emirates.

Dubai has fixed the raise in registration fee at not more than 10 per cent of total tuition fees.

In Abu Dhabi, the maximum hike allowed is five per cent.

In Sharjah, the increase should not be more than Dh500 regardless of the tuition fee.

Parents are hoping that the proposed new federal law to regulate private schools will be issued soon which will limit the fee for registering their children for the next academic year.

Education department officials in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah said they are receiving many complaints from parents regarding registration fees for in the next academic year.

The officials said they take quick action against those schools if any wrongdoing by them is proven.

The first step is to warn the schools violating the law, after which they can be fined. The fine in Sharjah can be up to Dh10,000.

Mohammed Ahmed bin Darwish, Chief of Regulations and Permits at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai, said there is a regulation for fixing various kinds of school fees.

According to this regulation, the ceiling on registration fees for new students has been fixed at 30 per cent of total tuition fees and 10 per cent for existing students for the next academic year.

He said KHDA had fined 10 private schools in Dubai since the framework rules began to be applied in April 2012.

Offences included imposing extra charges for optional services and raising tuition fees without approval of the authority.

He added some private schools had refused to refund the fees to parents who had decided to transfer their children to other schools within the state or outside.

He said KHDA had taken strict administrative measures against such private schools.

Federal law

Hamad Al Dhaheri, executive director for private education at the Abu Dhabi Education Council, said private schools are allowed to charge no more than five per cent of the total tuition fees as registration fee.

He added the student’s guardian can file a complaint if the school seeks a larger amount as registration fee.

Al Dhaheri said the proposed federal law on private education would help achieve uniformity in school fees which will reduce complaints from parents.

Hessa Al Khaja, head of private education at Sharjah Educational Zone (SEZ), said the registration fee for the next academic year for schools in the emirate had been fixed at Dh500, regardless of the tuition fee.

She said if any private school seeks a higher amount as registration fee, parents are entitled to file a complaint at the Private Education Department, with documents to substantiate the complaint.

Al Khaja said the school has to resolve the issue within three days of the complaint being brought to their notice.

She pointed out that there is a list of sanctions against offending private schools, ranging from forcing them to refund the increased fee and issuing a warning to imposing a fine of Dh10,000.

Fawzia Hassan, Assistant Undersecretary of the MoE for Private Education, said the ministry has not set any ceiling on registration fee.

She said what is happening is that, because of the rush to register the students for the next academic year, some parents prefer to pay extra to ensure that their children are registered.

She denied receiving any complaints from parents and said the new federal private education law is still in the legislative stage.

[Image via Shutterstock]
 

The application process towards obtaining Canadian citizenship should take no longer than a year and the current backlog should be reduced by 80 per cent by the year 2015, anticipated the Canadian Government.

Last week, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander unveiled the first comprehensive reforms to the Citizenship Act since 1977 in the form of Bill C-24, or the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act.

Creating a faster and more efficient process for those applying for citizenship is one of the objectives of the reforms. In order to achieve this, important legislation will be adopted reducing the decision-making process from three steps to one.

“It is expected that, by 2015–2016, this change will bring the average processing time for citizenship applications down to under a year. It is also projected that by 2015-2016, the current backlog will be reduced by more than 80 percent. Citizenship application fees will be better aligned with the actual cost of processing, relieving the burden on Canadian taxpayers who currently subsidize 80 per cent of the cost,” writes the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

Acquiring Canadian citizenship currently is a lengthy process, which can take up years. After residents have resided in the country for the minimum of 1,095 days in the four years prior to the application, they may submit their request becoming a citizenship of the country. However, after their application their names often end up on the long list of other waiting residents.
With the reforms, the application is simplified. Further, some of the rules and conditions will be amended. Applicants will need to be physically present in Canada for a total of four out of their last six years. In addition, they would need to be physically present in Canada for 183 days per year for at least four of those six years.
The fees for the applicants are likely to change. “The current citizenship fee does not reflect the actual processing cost. Changes will ensure applicants are responsible for more of the actual processing cost,” wrote the CIC.

Measures to ensure a better transitioning to Canadian society will also be taken. In the period before application, residents will be required to pass a knowledge test and meet certain language requirements.
“Our government is strengthening the value of Canadian citizenship.  Canadians understand that citizenship should not be simply a passport of convenience. Citizenship is a pledge of mutual responsibility and a shared commitment to values rooted in our history. I am pleased to bring forward the first comprehensive and overdue reforms of the Citizenship Act in more than a generation,” commented the minister.
Meanwhile, additional measures will be adopted to crack down on immigration fraud.  Fraud and misrepresentation will be fined with stronger penalties up to CAD100,000 (Dh332,000) and/or five years in prison.

Reforms will also enable denying the application of those with a criminal record, and dual nationals who are convicted of terrorism, high treason, and spying offences will be revoked of their Canadian nationality.

New provisions will also help individuals with strong ties to Canada, such as by automatically extending citizenship to additional “Lost Canadians” who were born before 1947, as well as to their children born in the first generation outside Canada.

In 2013, and average of 10,745 people were granted citizenship per month. While 8,250 people obtained Canadian citizenship in the first month of 2013, this number rose to more than 16,000 people in January 2014.

Accordingly, the demand for citizenship has increased by 30 per cent, and Census data show 86 per cent of eligible permanent residents become Canadian citizens.

“We are proud to have welcomed more than 16,000 new Canadian citizens this past month and we look forward to their full participation in Canada’s economy and Canadian society. We will continue to improve Canada’s citizenship program to ensure deserving applicants can become citizens more quickly,” said Alexander.
 

[Homepage Image Courtesy: Shutterstock]

Legal experts in Abu Dhabi have urged the emirate’s government to intervene to legalise and regulate the recent sharp increase in residential and commercial rents in the UAE capital.

Arabic newspaper ‘Al Bayan’ said the legal experts said this was necessary to prevent worsening of problems between landlords and tenants.

They said the abolition of the five per cent ceiling on rent hikes, leaving rents to the forces of supply and demand, had made the market unstable.

Tenants are claiming that many owners of old houses have jacked up rents by 40 to 100 per cent, though some have sought increases of five to seven per cent only.

The newspaper said complaints by tenants have increased after many landlords took advantage of the current market situation and raised housing and office rents sharply.

The rental burden on many middle-income tenants have doubled in the absence of regulations to determine reasonable rents, making urgent government intervention necessary, the paper said.
 

Justified hikes?

Judge Mohammed Saeed Mohammed Mattar Al Za’abi, head of the Abu Dhabi Federal First Instance Court, said there is some justification for rent hikes as owners of old buildings have seen a decline in the growth of their incomes in the past few years as a result of inflation and the five per cent ceiling on rent hikes, though it is also true that the real estate market is now much stronger than in 2008 and 2009.

Al Za’abi also said a large number of low-income tenants working in both government and private sectors have suffered after housing rents were left to free market forces.

It is difficult for this segment of society to bear the burden of a 50 to 60 per cent rent hike. The rent hikes for government employees are generally more than the rise in their housing allowances, he added.

Some tenants living in three-room flats, whose rents of Dh100,000 a year were paid by their employers, have seen their rents shoot up to as much as Dh160,000, making it difficult for employers to compensate their staff fully, Al Za’abi said.

The judge also said even if the tenant is able to find a new place at the old rent, he has to bear the very high cost of moving to the new house, besides the mental stress.
 

Three-year contracts

Al Za’abi said though rent hikes are permissible, the demands of the landlords should be logical and reasonable.

Exploitation and greed should not be acceptable and all should aim to achieve a stable housing market in Abu Dhabi, he added.

Al Za’abi suggested drawing up three-year fixed rent contracts which could be revised for two more years.
 

Complaints rising

Mohammed Yassin Mansour, legal adviser to the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, confirmed that complaints from tenants have risen significantly as a result of inordinate rent hikes by landlords.

Yassin said complaints are likely to increase in the coming months, especially with the end of house leases of majority of government employees in April.

He said significant hikes in both residential and commercial rents, ranging from Dh85,000 to Dh160,000, had taken place.

He also expressed fears of a return to the pre-2009 conditions which saw dramatic surge in rents.
 

Effect on investments

Lawyer Tariq Al Serkal said the increase in residential and commercial rents will affect investments in Abu Dhabi.

Al Serkal said it is important to create a safe investment environment for Abu Dhabi to achieve its ambitious economic plans until the year 2030 and such an environment cannot be created without regulating rents.

The first question any potential investor in Abu Dhabi would ask is about rent hikes which could harm his profit margins, he added.

If rent hikes continue uncontrolled, investor will be reluctant to come as all companies need offices and houses for their staff.

It will be difficult for companies to make profits as long as rents remain high, he added.

Rents should match the incomes of the largest segments of Abu Dhabi’s residents to prevent the capital from becoming too expensive, Al Serkal said.

He said hikes in shop rents will force traders to raise prices which in turn will raise the cost of living.

A return in house rent hikes to 2008 and 2009 levels will also have negative psychological and social impact on tenants living with families, forcing them to send their families home and take to bachelor accommodations, he added.

When house rents are reasonable, tenants with families spend much on their children’s education in private schools and medical treatment.

The emirate’s economy will be affected by fewer students, patients and shoppers, all because of high rents, he pointed out.

He also said, because of high rents in Abu Dhabi, major international companies prefer to open its representative offices only in Abu Dhabi and open regional offices in other emirates or neighbouring countries even when the booming UAE capital has launched huge projects.

Al Serkal said high rents could force international companies to move out of Abu Dhabi to more attractive places.
 

New housing

Lawyer Hidya Hammad said new buildings cannot help solve Abu Dhabi’s rent problem because rents are too high even there which most of the tenants cannot afford.

Some landlords have exploited the situation to raise rents of old buildings by as much as 100 per cent, she added.

Tariq Serkal stressed the need for government intervention in the real estate market in Abu Dhabi.

He added the government is still the main player in the market and should not stay away from the market in the present worrying situation. State intervention has helped achieve economic stability and increased investment in the past.

He said the problem of residential and commercial rents could be solved by fixing rents for the various areas of the city like Corniche, Al Murour and others.

Legal adviser Mohammed Yassin said the law in Abu Dhabi requires the tenant to be given a notice period before raising the rent.

He said that, according to Article 16 of the law, lease contracts are considered to have been renewed automatically unless the tenant has been notified about the change in the terms of the contract or has been asked to vacate the property.

United Arab Bank, one of the fastest growing banks in the UAE, is hiring qualified front and back office staff to meet its operational needs in the country.

The bank is looking to fill vacancies for the positions of Relationship/Senior Relationship Managers (Corporate Banking ), Relationship Officers/Credit Analysts (Corporate Banking), Relationship Manager for SMEs, Compliance Manager, Sales Officers, Tellers, Customer Service Representatives, Audit Manager and Area Manager for branches network.

UAB is the second bank to announce hiring in the same number of weeks. Dubai Islamic Bank last week held walk-in interviews to hire staff for branches, call center, retail credit, operations, sales of cards, personal finance, auto, bank takaful, home finance and SME sections.

The bank last month announced record profits for the year ended December 31, 2013. The Sharjah-based lender reported net profit of Dh552 million in 2013, an increase of 35 per cent over the previous year.

The bank is striving to build upon its fundamentals to support further growth. UAB's successful network expansion programme continued in 2013, with the bank now benefiting from 25 fully operational branches across the UAE. Going forward UAB will continue to invest in its people and infrastructure to ensure it remains the bank of choice for its customers, it said in its annual statement.

United Arab Bank said interested candidates should possess relevant banking experience in the same field and can send their CV to recruit@uab.ae<mailto:recruit@uab.ae>
 

Premier League leaders Chelsea's title challenge suffered a setback when West Bromwich Albion's Victor Anichebe grabbed an 87th-minute equaliser to snatch a 1-1 draw on Tuesday.

It looked like Jose Mourinho's side would move four points clear after defender Branislav Ivanovic, who got the winner in Chelsea's 1-0 triumph at Manchester City last week, smashed the ball home in first-half injury time to put the visitors ahead.

Anichebe, however, grabbed a precious point for the struggling hosts when he headed in Saido Berahino's cross to move West Brom out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

Chelsea now have 57 points from 26 matches, two ahead of Arsenal, who host Manchester United on Wednesday, and three clear of City, who are at home to Sunderland.

At the other end of the table, West Ham United again showed they can win without suspended striker Andy Carroll as they beat Norwich City 2-0 to ease their relegation fears with a third successive victory and fourth straight clean sheet.

Second-bottom Cardiff City missed the chance to move out of the drop zone when they were held 0-0 at home to Aston Villa while Southampton jumped to eighth with a 1-0 win at Hull City.

FULL TIME

West Brom (Anichebe 87") 1 Chelsea 1 (Ivanovic 45+2")

Chelsea had to settle for a 1-1 draw against West Brom after dictating most of the proceedings at The Hawthorns on Tuesday.

Jose Mourinho's side proved their mettle dishing out a fine performance to outmatch the Baggies with brilliant moves from Willian and Ivanovic.

Koulossa and Amalfitano co-ordinated well but failed to get past Cahill, Azpilicueta and Ramires who read well their moves.

As the game spilled into stoppage time Chelsea got their much awaited break with Willian shooting a corner touched on by Luiz.

Ivanovic in the 45+2", who dodged his marker and turned home from close range with a right footed shot from very close range to shoot the ball to the left corner of the net.

With their title rivals all playing on Wednesday, Jose Mourinho's side could go four points clear at the top of the table with victory over the 18th-placed Baggies but things did not go as planned for Mourinho's men.

"In the last 20 minutes they put us under pressure and they scored a goal as a consequence. Maybe they deserved that point. A point is a point and at the end of the season we will see," said Mourinho.

"I think the game for 60 minutes was completely in our hands, West Brom didn't put one foot in our box. We couldn't kill the game," added Mourinho after the game.

A five-match winless streak has seen West Brom drop into the relegation places for the first time since round four of the season, and another loss would result in slipping a place lower.

Chelsea going into a 1-0 lead at half time looked as if they would pile more misery in the second half. But Pepe Mel's side endured all to reverse the tide at The Hawthorns.

The Baggies who had drawn their last two home games against Everton and Liverpool, were in the hunt for a win to avoid the drop.

Anichebe in the 87" levelled the score to knock off the shine over table top Chelsea and fought on till the end.

The Baggies looked exceptionally dangerous in the counter attack and on more than two occasions came close to finding their mark.

Chelsea having more ball possession  and corner kicks failed to capitalise earlier in the game.
The referee was kept busy with Ivanovic, Cahill, David Luiz, and Willian being booked while West Brom's Yacob and Amalfitano got a yellow for dangerous tackle.

90+6" Corner for Chelsea but Foster safely collects the ball as the referee blows the final whistle.

90+5" Baggies go all out with their attack but Willian is just not giving up.

90+3" Cahill comes to the rescue to block Ridgewell who makes a dash on the counter attack into the box.

90+1" Azpilicueta looks upset as the match is halted due to injury in the Baggies squad.

90" The match now levelled hots up with both teams fighting for ball possesion and six minutes added for stoppages.

88" West Brom does another substitution. Dorrans is brought into the attack as the Baggies look for another goal.

87" YELLOW! for Matic, the fast paced game gets nasty at this stage.

86" GOAL! Mourinho's men fail to contain Anichebe who surfaces in the box to take a clever header into the net stunning the Chelsea defence.

West Brom (Anichebe 86") 1 Chelsea 1 (Ivanovic 45+2")

85" Mourinho's men attempt long shots as the clock ticks. Chelsea look in trounble in the counter attack by the Baggies.

83" Luiz and substitute Anichebe engage in a tackle resulting in a warning for Anichebe.

82" Brunt takes yet another free kick for the  Baggies but the alert keeper safely collects the ball.

80" Yellow card for Luiz and Baggies earn a free kick at the edge of the box but fail to convert.

79" Baggies attack from the right flank to earn a corner.

77" More changes as Mikel replaces Oscar and the game looks well poised for a good fight at this stage.

76" Chelsea strongly defend their slender lead as Vydra replaces Thievy.

75" Yellow card for Ivanovic as the Baggies step up their attack.

73" The Baggies look good on the counter attack and earn a corner with Koulossa volleying the ball from the right but fails in his plan.

71" Morrison takes a lofted shot in front of the box which goes well over the box. The desperation beginning to show.

70" Willian has been proving too strong for the Baggies defence and on more than two occasions has completely beaten them but failed to find the target.

69" The Baggies looking to reduce the deficit with Amalfitano making a solo dash into the box but the ball is cleared away.

68" Torres replaces Eto'o making his 100th Premier League appearance for Chelse.

67 Eto'o fires wildly wide of the goal.

67" West Brom in all sorts of trouble now and battle on to keep the ball but Hazard wins it over.

66" Yellow card for Dawson for a dangerous tackle on Willian.

64" Chelsea's Willian is brought down by Ridgewell attempting to get a header in the midfield.

63" The Baggies working to a plan with Reid and McAuley making inroads and unleash the ball into the box.

61" Injured Yacob is brought out as the game continues with Mulumbu taking his place.

60" The Baggies defend solidly and push into counter attack.

59" Mourinho's men torment the Baggies with Willian once again in the thick of action.

58" Ivanovic takes a throw in with Chelsea going strong into the attack at the edge of the box.

57" Mourinho looks on from the lines as Willian makes a dash from the midfield to take a clever shot well saved under the bar by Foster who deflects it initially.

54" Ramires moves the ball once again to danger man Hazard who returns the ball Matic. Chelsea gain on ball possesion at this point.

53" Hazard on the ball makes a quick pass to Ivanovic, who taps it to Willian in front of the box but his rasping shot is well blocked by the defence.

51" Baggies earn a free kick but fail to threaten their rivals.

50" Chelsea battle on with Willian plotting the moves. Hazard is closely marked and loses the ball quickly to the defence.

49" The Baggies lose the ball to Willian who darts towards the post.

47" West Brom desperate to get open their account fight fiercely with Amalfitano and Thievy in the attack.

46" Play restarts with Mourinho's men looking stronger on the attack as Oscar is nearly gifted a goal after a feeble clearance but his shot is way off target.

HALF TIME

45+3 Chelsea take a 1-0 lead at half time with West Brom once again struggling to find form.

45+2" GOAL! Willian takes a corner with Ivanovic making no mistake latching onto the end of a David Luiz flick to slam home into the net from five yards.

West Brom 0 Chelsea 1 (Ivanovic 45+2")

45" Oscar and Ivanovic press on and win yet another corner for Chelsea.

44" Ramires volleys the ball into the box but is headed out by Dawson.

43" Luiz and Ivanovic move the ball from the right flank.

41" YELLOW! The first card of the game is shown to Amalfatino for a foul on Hazard out on the left.

40" Hazard is strongly marked as Willian and Oscar time and again push on the attack.

38" Azpilicueta guards well an oncoming threat to pass the ball onto Ramires.

37" Chelsea build on their attack with Matic and Willian plotting moves.

36" Ramires back into the thick of action as Thievy and Berahino surge ahead into the box.

34" Ramires is brought down with an ugly challenge by Koulossa.

33" The ball put out of play for a corner taken by Willian. The ball floats over the heads of Oscar and Eto'o in the box.

32" Willian in the box looking for a cross to Ivanovic.

30" Willian moves the ball to Matic with Oscar waiting to latch on.

29" West Brom good on the counter attack put Chelsea defence on guard.

26" Willian strongly marks Brunt but is outsmarted by Reid who drills a long range shot missing the woodwork by inches.

25" West Brom attack with Brunt but the ball is snatched away by Hazard who passes the ball into the box but Eto'o fails to latch on.

24" Ridgewell takes the free kick from the centre but the ball curls onto Oscar.

22" Chelsea go close as Willian finds Samuel Eto'o with a clever ball through. Eto'o beats his man and cuts the ball back for Ivanovic but he can't force it over the line under heavy pressure.

21" A close call for Chelsea with a corner being awarded again.

20" Morrison and Brunt torment the Chelsea defence but Yacob pushes the ball out of the box.

18" A fierce battle in progress with West Brom's Amalfitano and Koulossa in the attack.

16" Ivanovic gets going with the ball spotting Luiz but Reid steps into the act with Ridgewell supporting him in the front to block the threat.

15" Neither keeper properly tested yet at the Hawthorns.

13" The West Brom boys move around the ball but fail to actually threaten the defence at this stage.

11" Hazard atempts attack from the left flank but Berahino latches onto a miscalculated pass to make dash into the box and was spotted given offside.

10" Hazard is brought down for a corner but the ball is pushed away to safety by Yacob.

9" Chelsea step up their attack with Ivanovic attempting a long shot but Koulossa blocks it.

7" Willian on the move but ball is pushed onto Cahill who returns it back with a weak pass to Eto'o in the danger zone.

5" West Brom put Chelsea under pressure for the first time in the game, but twice David Luiz snuffs out danger.

4" Chelsea on the attack with Ivanovic and Cahill passing the ball around. But fail to get past the defence.

2" West Brom's Koulossa along with Ridgewell surge ahead. But Chelsea diffuse the threat with Luiz getting on top of the ball.

The players are walking out onto the pitch at the Hawthorns where snow flakes are falling heavily.

STARTING XI

West Brom: Foster; Reid, McAuley, Dawson, Ridgewell; Yacob; Amalfitano, Morrison, Brunt; Thievy, Berahino.

Subs: Myhill, Lugano, Anichebe, Dorrans, Vydra, Mulumbu, Gera

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, David Luiz, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Eto’o.

Subs: Cole, Lampard, Torres, Mikel, Schürrle, Salah, Schwarzer

Fernando Torres is ready to return for Chelsea's Premier League visit to West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday, manager Jose Mourinho told a news conference on the eve of the game.

Spain striker Torres has been out for three weeks with a knee injury.

Fernando Torres is back available but likely to sit on the bench as he rebuilds his fitness after a knee injury.

Mourinho may be tempted to rest a few players with the weekend's game in mind, with Matic perhaps dropping to the bench at the expense of Ramires.

As for the Baggies, West Brom are comfortably sliding back into mid-table after a tricky start and Mourinho’s former assistant manager Steve Clarke has put the Midlands club back on course.
 
A win at Manchester United and a draw at home with Arsenal in the past few weeks has shown that WBA can hang in with the big boys, and the emergence of youngster Saido Berahino has given Clarke’s team a massive boost.

Both Berahino and new signing Thievy had an impact from the bench at the weekend and could line-up on the wings on Tuesday.

Pepe Mel substituted Liam Ridgewell at half time against Palace but will surely stick with a conventional back four against opposition of Chelsea's quality.

With Anelka still sidelined and Vydra failing to impress thus far, Anichebe should keep his place in the side.

Chelsea have now been reinstated as favourites to win the Premier League having moved to the top of the table for the first time this season.

The Blues have kept clean sheets in their last four away matches in the league and face a West Brom side that are yet to win under the stewardship of Pepe Mel.

Though the Baggies have struggled to convert draws to wins this season they've proven to be a tough nut to crack for the big teams, taking points off of 7 of the top 8 sides this season.

Probable formations

West Bromwich Albion   

4-2-3-1   
                                                                                      
Chelsea

4-2-3-1
 
Head-to-head

WEST BROM
 
Having failed to beat Chelsea West Brom have won their last two matches against the Blues at The Hawthorns.

They have lost just one of their last four games against the Blues.

The 2-2 result between the sides was the first time they squared off.

West Brom are winless in four matches and have won only one of their last 15 league games.

The Baggies have kept just three clean sheets in their last 22 league games at The Hawthorns.

CHELSEA

Chelsea have earned 26 points out of the last possible 30 and have a clean sheet in nine games.

They conceded six goals fewer than any other side in the Premier League this season.

Eden Hazard has 12 top-flight goals this season, three more than he managed in the whole of 2012-13.

The Blues have scored 11 goals from outside the box in open play this season in the Premier League, more than any other side.

UAE's fuel retailers intend to introduce a new system whereby motorists will be offered petrol and diesel at discounted rates for self-service.

According to highly placed sources, the plan is currently on the negotiating table and will be implemented once approved by the higher authorities. The scheme will reward customers for using self-service petrol stations.

Sources told Emirates 24|7 that in the next phase of expanding the self-service, customers are most likely to be rewarded for the self-service with fuel at a rate lower than at manned petrol stations.

Fuel at discounted rate at self-service petrol stations is offered in some countries around the world and has attracted a large number of cost-conscious customers. Self-service was introduced at fuel stations in Europe, America and Canada to reduce  manpower cost and to circumvent fuel station employee strikes.

Currently, 25 fuel stations are offering self-service – but not offering discounted rate – in Dubai on experimental basis.

The operational cost at a self-service fuel station is considerably less than the cost of manned fuel stations, sources said.

An official told Emirates 24l7 that the initial response to introducing self-service at selected petrol stations yielded mixed results. Some customers felt it is inconvenient but giving fuel at discounted price may tempt them to get out of their car, make payment at the convenience store and personally fill his/her vehicle’s tank.

“It is a novel idea to give a monetary incentive to motorists who’re comfortable with  self-services. Womens, handicapped people, unwell and old customers are now given special preference and the staff is advised to give help,” an official said.

“I will definitely opt for self-service if I can save Dh5 by filling the car’s tank. I think everybody in town will opt for self-service. Even if my saving is small per filling, the option will have an impact on my monthly budget,” said Mohammed, who spends Dh300 per week on fuel for his four-wheel drive.

Many customers, especially women, are reluctant to get out of their vehicles to fill petrol particularly in  hot and humid weather.