Free zone licenses will be processed only online in the future

Jafza, Economic Zones World’s flagship free zone has introduced e-License, its latest value-added service to customers that simplifies all license-related processes to a quick-response online transaction. Free zone licenses will be processed only online in the future. Read more

Dubai Civil Defense partners with aswaaq to host fire safety workshop for second consecutive year

Building on its reputation for exceptional customer care, aswaaq has recently concluded a fire awareness and prevention workshop in cooperation with Dubai Civil Defense (DCD), marking the second consecutive year that the two organizations have come together in support of greater employee and customer safety. The partnership follows a MoU signed between aswaaq and DCD earlier this year in which both organizations recognized their mutual interest in promoting public safety campaigns in high population areas throughout Dubai. Read more

Working hours for private sector during Ramadan

The Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash has issued a ministerial circular on the reduction of work hours in implementation of the article 65 of the federal law number 8 of year 1980, on regulation of work relations and its amendments. Read more

Ramadan Working Hours of Residency, Naturalisation and Foreigners Affairs Departments

The Ministry of Interior has set working hours at the Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs and the Departments of Naturalisation nationwide from 09am to 06p at all service sections to speed up transactions of clients during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Read more

How your company can survive the crisis?

Majority of the scientific research conducted proves that companies implementing efficient marketing strategies during crises tend to grow.

As the world is facing it’s least certain financial and economic moment in all of our lives, we are being forced to either adapt or get out of the way. No matter what professional industry you are in, you are either being affected by this economic downturn already, or bracing yourself for imminent impact one way or another. Many companies, multinational to local, small to conglomerate are scrambling to downsize spending to a minimal level as they should be. Times like this call for swift changes and a lack of reluctance to getting with the times in order to survive. We have already seen many previously thought of as invincible companies fall due to the effects of this ever increasingly depressing situation and so we all know certain measures are necessary in order to maintain operation.

However, some companies are quick to cut their marketing budgets in an effort to cut costs in the wake of an unforeseeable future, while most marketing experts think that the exact opposite is necessary. Read more

Aswaaq signs MOU with Boecker to strengthen community health and hygiene standards

Aswaaq has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boecker Public Health, a specialized company in hygiene services and public safety, to promote community health and hygiene in Aswaaq locations throughout Dubai. The agreement was signed by Mr. Jassim Sajwani, the Executive Director of corporate Services at Aswaaq, and Mr. Antoine Abdel-Sater, Country Manager of Boecker.

The two companies aim to share expertise on the latest methods for implementing health and food-safety management in Aswaaq’s Dubai locations, including a full-day training session hosted by aswaaq.  Additional coordination on issues such as in-store sanitation have also been outlined in the MoU, with Boecker receiving the opportunity to sign yearly contracts across all Aswaaq branches.

According to the MoU, Boecker will offer special rates on Pest control contracts for the houses and villas surrounding aswaaq community centres and will support aswaaq’s initiatives and campaigns that are targeted to schools in Dubai. Boecker will also offer aswaaq employees a series of training programs which will be aimed at ensuring the health and food safety standards are met and that the companies’ services are delivered to the customers in a healthy environment.

Commenting on the agreement, Mr. Sajwani said that the MoU provides both companies with great opportunities for strengthening health and safety standards in the UAE, especially as summer gets into full swing. “The agreement highlights our commitment to cooperating with various companies and organizations in providing local communities with the very highest quality and safety standards,” said Sajwani.

Mr. Abdel-Sater further commented that the agreement with Aswaaq is an important step in complementing Boecker’s efforts to raise awareness about health and safety standards in the country.  He stressed that the agreement will ultimately benefit all members of the Dubai community as such programs are adopted throughout the coming months.

Daman to implement renewal procedures as of May 2010

In compliance with circular number (30) issued by the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) on May 4th; the National Health Insurance Company – Daman, the leading health insurance company in the region, has announced that it is taking necessary measures to ensure members are able to renew their policies by the expiry date.

All Daman members enrolled in Basic and Enhanced plans in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi will now need to ensure that their policies are renewed by the expiry date as instructed by circular number (30), ensuring continuity of coverage without any interruption. Read more

UAE Capital Takes Centre Stage for Knowledge-Based Events

Abu Dhabi is increasingly attracting knowledge-based events and fast becoming a centre for meaningful dialogue on human capital as demonstrated by a series of successful conferences organised by Aim Events, conferences and events organisation arm of Abu Dhabi University (ADU).

With the emirate investing heavily in developing world class venues to host events and its mission of building a sustainable knowledge-based economy, companies like Aim Events have created niche activities to contribute towards its fulfilment. Read more

Department of Economic Development website wins ‘Best Government Website’

The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) website (www.dubaided.gov.ae) has been adjudged as the ‘Best Government Website’ by Dubai E-Government.

The DED website was selected for its ease of navigation, customer-friendly initiatives and regularly updated information from 27 websites of government entities in Dubai.

In the Dubai Government Websites 4th Annual Evaluation and Status Report 2009, the DED website showed a marked increase in scores with overall impression scoring 96 per cent last year compared to 69 per cent in 2008. The look and feel of the website scored 98 per cent compared to 70 per cent in 2008; content won 96 per cent marks (70 per cent in 2008) and website design scored 94 per cent, compared to 66 per cent earlier. Read more

Dubai eGovernment to provide accredited certificates

Dubai eGovernment has recently announced that it will award accredited certificates to Dubai government employees who successfully complete the Government Resource Planning (GRP) Systems training courses.
The certificates will be handed out to the participants who fulfill the requirements and pass the relevant tests during the advanced training sessions for GRP systems, which are an essential tool for government departments to efficiently managing their basic resources.
The Customer Relationship Management Department at Dubai eGovernment has been appointed to carry out the preparations and coordination needed to implement the training courses and to provide the tools necessary to guarantee their success and achievement of the goals set by Dubai eGovernment. The Training Unit serves as the point of contact with the Department’s customers and is responsible for the management and organisation of the training sessions offered to local government employees.
The program aims at enhancing the capabilities and skills of the employees of government departments regarding the usage of the GRP Systems and reinforcing the relevant services in cooperation with the GRP Systems Department, whose specialists provide training and are responsible for preparing the training material. Currently, the Training Unit intends to launch training courses targeting all end-users of GRP Systems. In the long term, the Unit aims to organise training sessions for end-users at the eServices and Infrastructure Management Departments.
“The program is one of the major projects for the year 2010 and an important step in our efforts to improve our communication lines with customers. It will also help further enhance government performance, reinforce administrative transparency and increase operational efficiency. We have organised these training courses in line with our commitment to make the best out of the multiple features being offered by these systems in supporting our vision, which is reaching the highest levels of excellence and enabling the employees to perform their duties with high efficiency. In addition, this program promotes decentralisation and automation, and helps in managing human resources according to the highest international standards,” said Ahmed Bin Humaidan, Director General of Dubai eGovernment.
“Dubai eGovernment’s Customer Relationship Management Department conducts training for primary users from Dubai Government’s local departments. The department annually formulates four major plans to organise 140 training courses and so far we have awarded course participation certificates to all the trainees who have demonstrated serious commitment during the courses. Currently we are in the process of finalizing the “Accredited Certificates” that will be awarded to the trainees after they pass the advanced and intensive courses they enroll for. The certificate confirms that the government employees have the basic knowledge about the Government Resource Planning systems. At the conclusion of each course, a comprehensive evaluation shall be conducted to determine the effectiveness of these courses, in addition to exploring the trainees’ feedback and ensuring that programs that fulfill their diverse needs and requirements are developed,” said Huda Mohamed Al-Hashimi, Director of Customer Relationship Management Department, Dubai eGovernment.
The Government Resource Planning Systems, which has been adopted by 29 Dubai Government departments, relying on the support of 25 integrated systems, is the main system that government departments depend on to efficiently manage their basic resources. The GRP System covers the following areas: financial systems, HR administration systems, payroll systems, supply chain, asset management and several other automated systems that increase the efficiency of government departments and facilitate interaction with external parties such as job applicants, government customers, and government suppliers.
The GRP systems give government department employees the opportunity to efficiently perform their duties, as they provide a wide range of training data to enhance professional expertise. Dubai eGovernment is keen to activate these systems and train government department employees to use them, in line with the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 objectives of achieving governmental excellence and building an integrated knowledge-based society.

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