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Doing This at Accident Sites in Abu Dhabi Can Land You in Jail or Fined AED 150K

Doing This at Road Accident Sites in Abu Dhabi Can Land you in Jail or Fined of up to AED 150,000

Road accidents are among the top causes of deaths in the UAE. It is for this reason that authorities are expanding their measures to effectively address this situation and to limit the cases of deaths due to accidents on the road.

Furthermore, another issue that authorities have looked into is their emergency response system, which could spell life or death for victims of accidents. It is, therefore, crucial for responders to get right on the scene of the accident, or to transport victims to medical facilities as efficiently as they can.

Posting Photos of Accidents Could Land You in Jail or Fined AED 150K in Abu Dhabi

Owing to this, the government has reiterated that posting photographs or videos of accidents in the UAE on social media sites could lead to jail and a fine of up to AED150,000 ($40,800) under the country’s cybercrime law, as shared in a report by the Arabian Business.

Furthermore, anyone found obstructing or blocking roads near accidents sites may be dealt with an AED 1,000 ($270) fine.

In line with this, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has issued warnings on social media and said that the circulation of accident images “is deemed an irresponsible behaviour among citizens, which violates a person’s privacy and human dignity. It is also a violation of the law”.

The ministry added, “Taking pictures of accident scenes and sharing them online is against the UAE’s values derived from the Islamic concept of tolerance.”

For their part, the police pointed out that not only do people crowding around crash sites cause extra stress for those involved, they also hinder emergency services attending to the scene.

According to Brigadier Khalifa Mohammed Al Khaili, director of traffic patrols at Abu Dhabi Police, “Crowding and taking photos at accident sites could delay the work of traffic patrols, ambulances and civil defence vehicles, which will result in worsening the condition of the injured or may even cause fatalities.”

Al Khaili called this as “uncivilized behaviour”, and reminded all residents to consider the consequences of their actions, which may endanger their lives as well as the lives of others.

The reminder should be taken to heart, as it’s common to find passers-by crowding accident sites, and even making it difficult for authorities and medical personnel to render help to those who were involved, and may be in a serious condition.

ALSO READ: UAE Police Caution Residents Against Heatstroke

Here’s Why Majority of Workers in the Middle East Leave Their Jobs

Amid the looming tension in the region, the Middle East has been and will still be among the top destinations of expats for work. However, this doesn’t mean that working in the region is all rainbows and flowers, as there are still areas for improvement in terms of work environment in the region, as in the case of any workplace elsewhere in the world.

When pay and job perks no longer make an employee happy, what else can? In this post, we will look at some of the most important factors that keep employees stay in the job in the Middle East.

What Happens when the Work Culture Doesn’t Work for You

Of course, happiness and job satisfaction vary from one working individual to another. However, according to a research from recruitment firm Robert Walters, almost three quarters – or 73 percent – of professionals in the Middle East have left a job because they disliked the company’s culture.

According to the firm’s survey composed of more than 1,000 professionals and hiring managers across the region, 82 percent of professionals have previously worked for a company where they disliked the company culture.

Meanwhile, the vast majority – 90 percent – of employers recognise the importance of finding candidates that are a good cultural ‘fit’ for their organisation.

According to Jason Grundy, Robert Walters Middle East’s managing director, “The majority of employers recognise that ensuring potential staff are a good cultural fit is important, given the serious impact poor cultural fit can have on productivity at work and ultimately whether or not staff will stay with the company.”

“However, given the high number of professionals who have left a job due to issues with the company culture, it is clear that many employers should consider the impact that company culture can have during the hiring process and in attracting and securing top talent,” Grundy noted.

Furthermore, as working habits evolve and the priorities of workers have shifted, employers should review their company culture to ensure that they are responsive to these changing needs, he added.

The research also pointed out that 67 percent of professionals felt that they had been misled about company culture during their induction processes, with at least 53 percent noting that the overall environment did not match the job description on paper.

Similarly, just over half – 51 percent – expressed that they felt misled over opportunities for career progression.

Grundy explained that while competition for the best professionals is fierce and employers are keen to promote the best aspects of their company culture to secure the best professionals, employers should also consider the importance of being transparent regarding the realities of working for their company.

In practice, securing a highly skilled professional that leaves a company quickly can pose a detrimental impact on a firm’s workforce and professional image, and can have a negative effect on the remaining staff.

ALSO READ: 12 Things to Know Before Working in UAE

Over 450 Female Drivers Hired in Saudi Arabia in Q1 of 2019

As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia heads towards a period in its history, where acceptance of the female gender’s contributions to society has gotten more mainstream and gender biases in terms of work and professional expertise, are somehow being shelved, the next step to these changes would lie on the numbers of the actual (nameless) women in society who would get the same opportunities as those that dared to break the mould.

And as more companies and people of influence, particularly in the government talk about women empowerment and gender equality, focus and attention are now placed on the women in the country and where they may find opportunities as working citizens in the country.

Saudi Families Hire Over 450 Female Drivers in First Half of 2019

In line with these changes, Saudi families have employed around 459 foreign women as family drivers during the first quarter of 2019, as shared in a report by the Saudi Gazette.

In a related report shared by Makkah Daily, the General Authority of Statistics (GaStat) reported that by the end of March 2019, the number of foreign home drivers in Saudi Arabia increased by 12.8 percent—from 1.36 million in 2018 to 1.54 million up until the first quarter of 2019.

The surge in the number of foreign female drivers comes from the fact that many Saudi families prefer foreign women drivers for safety purposes. And at the same time, driving instructors also believe that the mass recruitment could be because there is still no guarantee that Saudi women with a driving license may drive their children to school.

Since Saudi women have been allowed to drive in the Kingdom starting 2018, it is expected that there will be a drop in the hiring of foreign drivers once they become experts in this field.

While it is still debatable as to how safe Saudi women drive in the Kingdom, the fact that female drivers are generally preferred by Saudi families, mainly to service the children to and from school, while also providing services to family members as needed, means that society has already considered this service from female employees, but proper training and professional measures must also be set in place in order to ensure safety and secure the rights and well-being of female drivers in the Kingdom.

ALSO READ: Saudi Fund Invests on Women Empowerment in Kingdom

Number of Expat Health Workers in Oman Take Huge Hit in 2018

Number of Expat Health Workers in Oman Take a Huge Hit in 2018

Not even the historic significance and contributions of expat workers in the country can challenge the new nationalisation programme, which aims to bring in more Omani workers into the workforce to help the sultanate’s challenged social system and economic performance.

As several countries in the Middle East have already imposed its nationalization scheme, many foreign nationals who have long been eyeing employment in the Gulf region, and even those who have already been in the workforce, are experiencing a major shift from being stably employed to permanently out of place across various industries wherein they have already earned their keep throughout the years.

Expat Health Workers in Oman Replaced by Citizens by the Thousands

In line with this, around 3,000 expats employed in Oman’s health sector were replaced in 2018 as the on-going Omanization project aimed at reducing unemployment levels among the country’s nationals pushes through, as shared in a report by the Arab News.

From 2015 to 2019, around 2,869 foreign nationals were replaced by Omanis, pushing the proportion of locals working within the Ministry of Health to 39,220 – which is now at 71 percent of the total workforce by the end of last year – according to Ministry of Health figures.

In January 2018, the Sultanate introduced a six-month visa ban across certain professions, and there have been a number of extensions to the ban since then and it has also been expanded to cover other industries and professions.

As a result, tens of thousands of Omanis have found work since the ban was brought in.

However, looking at history, Gulf countries have long been dependent on expatriate workers to power their economies.

In 2013, a survey revealed that up to 71 percent of Oman’s labour force were foreign-nationals.

Furthermore, labour estimates revealed that in Qatar, the expatriate workforce was as high as 95 percent, in the UAE it was 94 percent; 83 percent in Kuwait; 64 percent in Bahrain; and 49 percent in Saudi Arabia.

However, due to the challenges brought by the oil crisis that has hit the region in recent years, the ballooning cost of social services among unemployed nationals simply cannot sustain economies that apparently give out more than what they receive, thus, the nationalisation programme came to be.

These programmes aim to absorb more of their citizens into the workforce, slashing the high levels of unemployment, and creating an environment, where nationals are capable of producing money through their own efforts, as well, and not only through their dependence from their governments.

ALSO READ: Manpower Ministry to Rectify Work Status of Over 16,000 Expats in Oman

Mall in Oman Soon to Open Inside Sports Club Premises

Despite being one of the relatively smaller countries in the region, Oman has matched all its contemporaries in terms of wealth, natural resources, and economic performance, among others.

Along with the national government’s efforts, many stakeholders and other industry leaders in the country are also developing new ways to position the country in the region among the best in terms of innovation and services in their respective fields. This makes Oman among one of the most exciting places to visit in the Middle East.

A Mall and Sports Club in One: A First in Oman

And in a first of its kind, one of Oman’s most decorated clubs, Seeb, has announced that it is all set to open a mall on its premises, as shared in a report by the Muscat Daily.

The new project, known as the Grand Bazar Seeb, will span over 10,000 sqm, and is expected to be formally opened early next month, and will be an example for the other clubs in the country to follow.

According to HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq al Said, the club’s president, the Grand Bazar Seeb will serve the youth and the people of the wilayat of Seeb.

He added, “It is a project that we envisaged many years back and we are happy to see it completed. It is an example of how sports clubs in the sultanate can look into private investment opportunities to become self-reliant. The Grand Bazar Seeb will boost the club’s financial well-being and is certain to provide benefits on all fronts.”

Of note, Sayyid Shihab has been instrumental in leading Seeb Club to great heights as it boasts of a record number of 12 His Majesty’s Cup for Youth titles including four in a row, with the last coming in December 2018.

HM’s Cup for Youth is the symbol of club supremacy in the sultanate and Seeb is known for its all-round excellence in various sports, with 11 sporting activities practised and promoted by the club.

As the club has strove to focus on different sports rather than just football, it has seen it bring laurels in other sports. Meanwhile, the Grand Bazar is expected to pave way to more (recreational and sports) activities in the sultanate.

“This is the largest mall coming up on a club premises and it is a pioneering initiative. I hope other clubs can take cue from this project and move towards such innovative plans to enhance their financial situation. We are proud that the investors displayed trust in us. We thank JINFA for investing in the project.” Sayyid Shihab noted.

The mall is expected to offer nearly 300 outlets for apparels, toys, household goods, ample parking space and restaurants. The mall will also have accommodation for foreign players of the club and would also rent out office spaces for its other corporate ventures.

ALSO READ: [GUIDE] Top Destinations to Visit in Oman

Nicki Minaj to Banner Music Festival in Saudi Arabia

Just when the world is seeing progress with Saudi Arabia’s stand towards women’s rights and treatment, a new issue comes up concerning this topic, as an international concert is set to take place in the Saudi capital this month.

As the event is branded as an international concert, a list of high-profile names in the music industry will be featured on Saudi stage for the first time. Certain names on the list caused several eyebrows to raise, touching on the sensitive topic of how women must behave in Saudi society.

Gov’t Draws Criticism Over Saudi Concert to Feature Nicki Minaj

Among the top artists included on the list of international artists who are set to perform in Jeddah World Fest on July 18 is Nicki Minaj, as shared in a report by the Guardian.

The said concert – in line with Saudi laws – is alcohol and drug-free, open to people age 16 and older, and will take place at the King Abdullah Sports Stadium in the Red Sea city.

The announcement was believed to be a move by the ultraconservative kingdom to shed decades of restrictions on entertainment.

However, reactions on social media ranged from shock and joy to criticism and disappointment. In a profanity-laced video posted on Twitter, which has already gained over 37,000 views, a Saudi woman wearing a loose headscarf criticized the Saudi government of hypocrisy for inviting Minaj to perform but requiring women who attend the concert to wear the modest full-length robe known as the abaya. Most Saudi women also veil their hair and faces.

The woman pointed out the kind of “entertainment” Minaj will bring to the show, but expresses her frustration as to how women in the Kingdom are still expected to be covered up, when attending the concert.

Here’s an intro video on the Jeddah World Fest, as shared on their official Facebook page:

Saudi organizers shared that the concert will be broadcast globally and covered by MTV. Other notable performers include the British artist Liam Payne and the American DJ Steve Aoki. The kingdom is also promising quick electronic visas for international visitors who want to attend.

Over the past several months, major performances from artists such as Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, Black Eyed Peas, Sean Paul, and the DJs David Guetta and Tiesto, have been featured in the Kingdom.

Of note, these concerts portray a stark change from when Saudi morality police would raid establishments that played loud music.

Also, to this day, gender segregation between single men and women is still enforced in many restaurants, coffee shops, public schools and universities, but other rules have been loosened, with women now allowed to drive and attend events in sports stadiums.

ALSO READ: Saudi Fund Invests on Women Empowerment in the Kingdom

Why is the UAE Pension Fund Necessary for Expats?

Working overseas can be tricky for expats because aside from paying taxes, they also need to pick or set up their pension funds either in their host country or homeland, looking ahead into their retirement, which is always a sound plan for any working individual.

However, as the decision to set up one’s own pension fund can be quite tedious to do by oneself, does joining the state pension fund, say, for those living in the UAE, advisable or important at all?

UAE Pension Fund: Is it Necessary for Expats ?

While the Gulf country has earlier announced that it will enhance and improve the end-of-service gratuity scheme, there is still a need for the UAE to set up a pension fund for expats according to experts, as shared in a report by the Khaleej Times.

According to Barney Almazar, a director at Gulf Law, this is particularly important in the case of the UAE, where around 90 percent of the workforce is composed of expatriates.

Almazar explained that for an employee working in his or her own country where the employer is mandated to contribute to one’s social security services, the employee may rely on the state for healthcare benefits.

However, this is not the case for expats – unless the person opts to contribute voluntarily to his home country pension fund – there is no secured source of income after retirement.

“In this regard, a viable framework is geared towards prefunding. The company and the employee can both contribute to a retirement fund, including post-employment healthcare coverage,” Almazar pointed out.

He further said, “As majority of the workforce are expats, relevant investment and portability provisions should be in place, giving the employee the ability to manage their individual ‘savings’ accounts. This also minimises the risk of employers not having set aside enough money to pay for the promised benefits.”

However, legal experts, financial analysts and medical professions also emphasized that gratuities should not be considered as “a nice exit bonus” because these are way below enough to cover an employee’s retirement expenses.

For his part, Prasanth Manghat, CEO and executive director of NMC Health, said: “Majority of UAE residents depend on their end-of-service gratuity payment to fund their retirement, and the new system stands to help fund the retirement gap between the gratuity payment and retirement costs. Such plans would also provide support for an individual’s healthcare needs during his or her twilight years.”

In line with this, a mandatory pension fund will be ideal and the management of the fund must be transparent to ensure sustainability in the future, Almazar noted.

In a nutshell, expats need to invest for their retirement for the following reasons:

Longer years of service – medical advancements supporting increased retirement age and years of service will assure expats to benefit from retirement and end-of-service benefits.
No secured source of income or social coverage – unless the person opts to contribute voluntarily to his home country pension fund – there is no secured source of income after retirement in a foreign country.
Rising healthcare costs – medical services are constantly on the rise. Therefore, having healthcare coverage through a pension fund will prove to be a big help financially during an expat’s twilight years.

ALSO READ: Why Should I Get Health Insurance in the Middle East?

UAE Lands in Top 10 Best Countries for Expats Worldwide

In all of its efforts to improve the people’s quality of life through innovation, diversity, and tolerance, the UAE has positioned itself among the most popular countries pursued by expat in terms of work, living conditions, and overall appeal.

And while there are so many great places an expat can be in the world, the high number of foreign nationals going to the UAE is a testament of how progressive and ideal the UAE is for residence and employment among expats coming from all parts of the world.

UAE Claims 9^th Place in World’s Best Countries for Expats – Survey

This phenomenon has been duly confirmed when the Gulf state has been ranked among the world’s top 10 countries to live and work in for expatriates, according to the annual expat report by HSBC, as shared in a report by Gulf Business.

The country placed ninth for 2019, up by a spot from last year’s ranking.

Career progression, financial security, and a great place to raise a family were cited as the biggest positives by expats living in the UAE, according to HSBC’s expat explorer survey.

Of note, up to 62 percent of millennial expats cited career progression as a key reason for relocating – 15 points above the global average.

Furthermore, around 35 percent of millennial expats shared that their move had resulted in quicker promotions compared to their home country, while the salary uplift they get in the UAE is the highest globally, with the average young executive adding 51 percent to their annual income – more than any other age group.

According to the report, the top-most financial priorities for UAE expats were saving and investing for retirement (82 percent), children’s education (47 percent), and property (43 percent), which create an ideal environment for settling down and/or raising a family.

Marwan Hadi, head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, HSBC UAE, noted: “While earning potential and career growth are what bring people here, it’s the improved quality of life and safe environment that keep them here for good.”

Accordingly, the report also revealed that up to 83 percent of expats who relocated to the UAE expressed that they feel safer and more secure than in their home country, compared to 48 percent of movers globally.

Interestingly, the survey also revealed that almost half of the expats living in the country plan to stay long. Since moving to the UAE, 46 per cent of all UAE expats expect to stay for five to over 10 years.

The survey was completed by 18,059 expats from 163 countries and territories through an online questionnaire posted between February and March 2019.

ALSO READ: UAE Announces Charges for New Long-term & Multiple-entry Visas

UAE Police Caution Residents Against Heatstroke

In the Middle East, environmental temperatures can be one of the most challenging adjustments, which expats and even some residents have difficulty dealing with even today.

Because of this, many governments in the region have issued a ban for employees whose work requires them to remain under the sun for a long time, in consideration of the dangers staying under prolonged heat could cause to their health. In the UAE, extreme temperatures recorded could reach up to 60 degrees, which is extremely hot for some nationalities who come from colder parts of the world.

Heatstroke Warning in Extreme Weather Issued by UAE Police

In the UAE, the Abu Dhabi Police issued a summer warning on Tuesday (July 2), urging residents to remain hydrated and to stay in the shade as much as possible, as shared in a report by the Khaleej Times.

The reminder issued comes from the Directorate of Emergency and Public Safety at the Abu Dhabi Police’s Central Operations Sector, in recognition of the dangers of heatstroke, as the summer heat peaks in the region.

In line with the department’s ‘Have a Safe Summer’ campaign, the police advised people to avoid long periods of direct sun exposure as this may lead to heatstroke, which can be fatal if not treated right away.

Heatstroke, also known as sunstroke, is a medical condition in which the body is unable to control its temperature due to exposure to extreme weather conditions.

According to the police, the condition may progressively worsen and damage the brain cells or internal organs, such as the heart or kidneys.

“The temperature of the body may reach 41 degrees Celsius. The symptoms of sunstroke may include nausea, rapid heartbeat, muscle spasm, hallucinations and disorientation, lack of sweating despite high fever, loss of consciousness and fainting,” the police said.

In line with this, all residents were advised to drink enough water, wear loose and light clothing, and limit their stay in open spaces.

In previous years, authorities have recorded cases of heatstroke, due to prolonged exposure under direct sunlight and failing to drink enough water.

The authorities also shared these important tips to help those suffering from heat exhaustion, or emergency cases of heatstroke:

Transfer the patient to a cooler place, preferably under the shade with good ventilation.
Remove any restricting or unnecessary tight clothing and give them a cool shower and cold drinks, if they are conscious.
If a person is unconscious, make sure that they can breathe without any difficulty. They may be put in the recovery position (sideways), with ice packs placed in the armpits, groin and on the neck.
Immediately dial 999 and seek medical help and assistance from relevant authorities. Give accurate descriptions of the victim, as well as the first aid or steps done to provide help to them.
Stay with the patient until the ambulance arrives.

ALSO READ: Gulf Country Announces Mid-day Work Ban for Workers

Saudi Fund Invests on Women Empowerment in Kingdom

For the longest time, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has lagged in terms of gender equality and women’s rights, as called out by various international human rights organizations through the years.

However, nothing is ever too late, as the Kingdom, with its progressive stand on transforming Saudi’s society into a more global environment for all of its residents – locals and expats alike, has been pursuing initiatives, as supported by national stakeholders such as businesses and public organizations to create a more gender-neutral society, starting with the workforce.

Saudi Fund Invests on Women Empowerment in the Kingdom — Credits: SIDF

Women Empowerment Prioritized by Saudi Development Fund

In line with this, the number of women in the Saudi Industrial Development Fund workforce has increased from 0 to 13 percent in the past two years according Noor Shabib, the fund’s assistant director general for strategic planning and business development, as shared in a report by the Arab News.

According to the report, women were hired in various positions, including as directors and managers, and across different organizations.

Shabib shared that they are very proud of the achievement that they have all worked hard for as a firm, and with everything that is happening in the Kingdom in accordance to its Vision 2030.

Speaking during a panel discussion entitled “A Business Priority: Empowering Women Leaders” during the Diversity Council conference, in Dubai, Shabib, who is the first female senior executive in the fund, plans to increase contributions relative to GDP in industry, mining, logistics, and energy to $320 billion by 2030.

She further noted that their plan all along was to “attract the top talent,” and allowing women to join the workforce to provide companies with a wider selection of skills and talents to ensure that they are hiring the best candidates for the position.

In her talk, Shabib explained that there are certain prerequisites that make it easier to empower women, such as the support of top leadership, taking chances on women leaders, and providing a supportive and safe environment for them to work and lead.

“And, I think if I was to summarize everything… (it) is to empower, listen and adjust,” she shared.

Shabib shared the platform with the founder of the international Diversity Council Tine Willumsen, UN Resident Coordinator for the UAE Dena Assaf, and du CEO Osman Sultan, who gave their own inputs on how to help women reach leadership positions in business.

And while the prevailing culture in Saudi Arabia and the region still dictates that women must prioritize family life, marriage, and children above having a career, there has been a remarkable change at a greater pace in Saudi Arabia.

ALSO READ: Meet the First Female Saudi Commercial Pilot