Learning from our experiences: #DubaiFire

Credit: Off Facebook

Nothing makes us stronger than learning from our experiences; no matter how painful they can be. When one recounts the evening of ringing in 2016, we recall Dubai's outstanding performance in handling the fire situation to come out of it still strong at the stroke of midnight. Everyone's concern was the safety of the people of course, and rest assured, 14 minor injuries, and 1 moderate case is far from being a matter of luck.

Fire Safety and Security in Buildings

It has been announced that the cause of the fire was possibly due to an electric fault. How the fire was spread to engulf almost the entirety of the building is probably best explained by this 2012 article by The National on the use of flammable panelling in the UAE.

If this proves to be the case, it is most certain now that most, if not all, high profile hotels and buildings (at least in Dubai) making use of this type of material will be directed to be refitted with panelling material more in compliant with international fire-safety regulations.

Crisis Management using Social Media

Crisis communication is one of the specialized focus areas of public relations. Depending on how the communication plan is implemented, public opinion can either sway towards supporting you, or heavily criticizing you. 

While tackling the fire, the various communication channels have made sure to keep the public up to date with what was going on as it happened. It was as if somehow, though unannounced, putting out the fire became part of our new year's countdown to 2016. People kept on wondering, will the Burj dazzle us at midnight, and the dazzle us it did (though the show was scaled down) to remind everyone that Dubai is and will always remain strong in front of all the challenges it faced.

On January 3, Dubai Police posted the below video on its Youtube channel. After watching it, once again you feel the strength and importance of using social media for the positioning of a brand image, in our case here, Dubai.

The short 1min 40 seconds clip is a recount of the main events that happened that evening. Starting from the opening scene of everyone gathered at the NYE's fireworks main control center, leading up to when the fire breaks out, and followed by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum (the son of the Ruler of Dubai) joining the Civil Defence team heroically fighting off the fire hands on. The closing shot is a message to the public from Dubai Police emphasizing "your safety is our happiness".

Moving forward

Just recently, Emaar had announced that a contractor has been appointed to restore our beloved Address Downtown hotel to its architectural all time glory, and more. Certainly, we will once again be amazed with record breaking completion of this restoration...and trust me when I say, it will be well publicized.

It is also with most likelihood that fire engineering and safety guidelines and its implementation will be scrutinized, and a possible market for fire preventive technologies can play a big role in the coming year as there is probably no more room (from an emotional perspective) for any more fires to break out, at least for the coming year.

Dubai still continues to deal with the issue, even though the fire has been out for days now, as it is taking care of all the guests who have been displaced due to what had happened. One way it can still sway this to its favour, and use it to build on its positive image, is by working towards a 2017 new year's celebration that is concentrated on the Downtown area with a fully restored and functional Address Downtown Hotel being a part of the attention instead of just the Burj. I'm sure that will get many feeling very emotional and proud of Dubai yet again.

I am very glad that there weren't any serious injuries from that evening, and I am even more proud of the leadership and the different teams whom continue to teach us that Dubai is truly the city of life. Salute to our leadership, salute to the Civil Defence and Dubai Police, and salute to the people of the UAE.

Happy new year everyone!

Happy Endings!

It's been quite a sad time for the UAE for over a month now. First, we learn of 45 families (now more than 70) who have lost their loved ones in Yemen. And just a couple of days ago, yet another tragedy strikes, and we learn of the sudden loss of His Highness Sheikh Rashed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the son of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai, due to a heart attack. He was 34. 

I've been contemplating for a while now on the topic of sudden deaths as I myself lost my father this past Ramadan. Without any warnings and without any illness, we quickly lost him as we were getting ready to have Iftar. He was 61. 

I bumped into an old friend today who also shared with me his story about loosing his father this last December. Though he seemed to be holding it together, I can tell that he also seems to be still in shock about what happened as he was sharing his story. He told me that his father suddenly fell ill, was taken to the ICU, and a few days later, he was gone. He was 80.

It seems to me that the only certainty about life is death. No matter who you are, how old you are, how healthy you are, when it's time, it's time and there is nothing much you can do about that. What you actually can have some control over is how you live the very short time that we have in this life. I find myself sometimes worrying about the most meaningless things. What I have come to appreciate over the past few months, that what truly matters in your life, comes down to two things only: putting a smile on the face of your loved ones, and taking a shot at everything you ever wanted to do.

As there is only one way out of this life, why live it in either fear or regret, or even worse, both? A lot of times, I think people miss living in the now. Sometimes I feel some people are still stuck in the chains of the past, or live in the fear of the shadows of tomorrow. 

Albert Einstein once said that the only constant in life is change. Embrace it, don't fear it, nor fight it, as in change we find growth, progress, and ultimately happiness. And like in many things we encounter in life, death is also a change. A difficult one for sure. But ask yourself, do you want this change to define you? To limit who you will always be for the rest of your life? Or would you prefer to grow from it? To become someone who is soo much more than who you are now? 

Not a day goes by without me thinking of everyone I lost in my life, especially my father. But my father always inspired me to be happy. To always pursue whatever i want, as long as I don't loose sight of my values. So in happiness and progress, I have found my father, very much alive, and still being there as my driving force towards finding happiness. 

Change is difficult, but it is inevitable. So how about we live an awesome life, and move on from the silly little things that don't really mean anything to us? What I really hope from this post is to inspire you to realize that your life is in your control, despite how it doesn't seem so sometimes. I also hope I inspire you to do more of what inspires you, and be more with people who matter to you the most, before there's nothing much you can do about it anymore.

Here's, hopefully, to a life with a happy ending! 

image credit/freeimages.com

How much should your SALARY be in the UAE?

Car petrol prices have been deregulated; real estate prices are higher than they were a few years ago; and discussions are underway on whether or not VAT should be rolled out within the next few years.


Sometimes when I am sitting with some friends, the topic of economic inflation comes up and one can't help but wonder about how much should a person's monthly salary be so that all expenses can be covered and hopefully a little cushion remains so you can save it aside. Though it may be nice to be earning as much as you possibly can think of, the exact figure differs from one person to the next.

When applying to a job opportunity, some recruiters ask you about what is your expected monthly income. A mistake many job seekers do is respond by coming up with an average figure they determine by interacting with people, whether friends or professionals within the same or different field. The answer, thus, isn't an accurate reflection on how much you actually need, but is in fact a biased response that is developed based on what you know of the market. Simply put, if everyone you know makes an average of say AED 10,000 a month, you will perceive that you should be making around that same figure irrespective of your own personal requirements.

Your monthly salary should at all times be a true representation of your needs. As needs differ from person to person, salary expectations should also differ from person to person. It's a simple equation. So how much do you really need? The answer to this depends on many factors as explained below. 

Look at the essentials
What you receive as a salary should cover (and hopefully exceed) all your monthly expenses. The most substantial expense a working person usually incurs is the housing expense. This is usually made up of the monthly rent of the property, along with gas, water and electricity expenses. When choosing a place for living, it is recommended to pick a location that is at most 20 minutes (driving time) away from where you work to avoid building up stress developed from longer driving time.

Owning a car is still a necessity in the UAE. Ask yourself, are you still paying its monthly instalments? How much money are you spending on its petrol? How much are you paying annually for the insurance? Translate all those to monthly costs and add it to your requirements.

Your monthly grocery shopping and telephone bills (including your home WiFi) are also part of your essentials. Are your children in kindergarten or school? Will they be any time soon? Factor those in too!

Once you have figured out the monthly costs of all the essentials, figure out how much you need for sustaining all your routines. This could include going to the gym, shopping for new clothes, or even travelling. Once you do, translate those to monthly costs and add them up.

Finally, once all expenses have been figured out, add a contingency percentage which in reality should represent your target savings. Different people have different thoughts on how much this figure should be, but it is usually recommended to factor in around 20%. 

Are you making enough?
Hopefully, after going through the above, the total number that you just calculated works out to be equal to or less than what you are currently making. If it is higher, you will either have to re-visit your expenses to figure out how you can reduce them, or start looking for a new opportunity that is within your career ambitions and also can sustain your financial requirements. 

To recap
What you make as a monthly income should be a true representation of your financial needs, rather than a perception of what you should be making based on your interaction with others. Figuring out how much this number should be is determined by adding up your monthly essential costs with your monthly equivalent routines and topping the total with a 20% contingency that represents your savings. The total, therefore, should be equal to or less than what you are currently making, otherwise you'll need to either review your monthly expenses in order to reduce them, or start looking for a new opportunity that can sustain your requirements.

The essentials (in monthly equivalent):

• Housing rental 
• Water, gas and electricity bills
• Grocery
• Car instalment
• Car petrol cost
• Car insurance cost 
• Telephone bills (includes WiFi)
• Education
• Any other unavoidable cost

Personal routine (in monthly equivalent; subjective to each person)

• Gym
• Travel
• Shopping for new clothes
• Cinema
• Dining out
• Entertainment
• Books
• Any other cost developed from personal habits and preferences

5 fuel consumption saving tips

Save on fuel consumption by following these 5 tips, and you'll have more cash to spend on something else:

1. Drive at steady speeds

Accelerating and breaking your car frequently consumes more fuel than driving at constant speed. From personal experience, I noticed that driving in the middle lane is usually more steady compared to driving on the left lane mainly because of tailgaters. In the case of dealing with rush hour, it's more economical to try to get up and arrive to work earlier than being stuck in traffic. If you manage to do so, try to speak to your manager to allow you to leave earlier so you can perhaps beat the traffic home. 

2. Clear out the trunk

Many of us tend to treat the trunk of our cars as our secondary storage unit; but did you know, that your car will consume more fuel to carry around this extra weight? 

3. Turn down the air conditioning

Ok, it is scorching hot during the summer and our reflex is to max out the AC as soon as we get into the car; but after a while, the temperature inside your vehicle does cool down, and your body will adjust to the heat, so choose to turn down the AC a few notches once this happens and save up on fuel usage. During the cooler weather, turn off the AC all together and crank the window open just a little to enjoy longer driving distances.

4.  Combine your errands in one trip

Taking the car out for a drive after it has been parked for a few hours will require more fuel consumption during the first 10 kms as the engine has gone cold and needs more energy to heat up. Rather than planning to purchase your grocery shopping, and visiting the bank on separate days, try to combine those errands (and others) on the same day and such that the destinations are within close proximity to one another as much as possible.

5. Eliminate unnecessary trips by going online

Many utilities providers such as Etisalat, du, DEWA, SEWA, etc offer you the service of settling your bills online, yet still many prefer to physically go the service center and queue up to settle the bills. Also, online shopping hasn't yet picked up like it has in the US and Europe due to preference to physically see the product before purchase. But with many websites now offering free return policy, it will definitely be more economical to buy your clothes online rather than making the trip to the mall. 

Will you consider relying on online shopping to save on fuel consumption?

Yes

No

Will deregulating fuel prices negate the effects of Salik?

As the UAE gets ready to implement its newest policy pertaining to deregulating fuel prices, one wonders, will this initiative negate the effects of Dubai's Salik that it currently has on drivers?

When Salik went into implementation in 2007, many drivers slowly changed their routes to avoid the toll gate charges. Back in those days, the cap per day was set to be AED 24, which translated to AED 720 Salik monthly charges. It was later decided to remove the daily cap to further motivate drivers to use the Salik route less frequently. Say what you want, it is in my opinion that Salik did achieve success in its implementation, and this is particularly evident when you compare driving times between using Al Ittihad Road and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road though the latter consists of more lanes.

But effective August 1, commuters will have a confusing choice to make. Depending on fuel prices, drivers will certainly prefer to choose the routes with the shortest distance to save on petrol costs. In the case with many residents, this could mean bringing them back to drive more on the Salik route. The alternative routes, due to Salik, are usually more congested during peak hours which means that fuel consumption will also be higher due to this factor. Hence, the solution to reducing driving expenses may not lay between figuring out which route is more economical to drive on, but in committing to new unfamiliar habits such as car pooling and splitting the cost of the ride.

What do you think?

Do you think that the deregulation of fuel prices will impact driving choices already altered by Salik?

Yes

No

Deregulating UAE fuel prices, and how this will impact consumer behaviour

Starting from August 1, 2015, the UAE will be deregulating gasoline and diesel prices. Without the price being subsidized as it currently is, this initiative will result (at least for the short run) in car petrol prices to increase.

This move comes with a number of benefits and challenges. The advantage from an environmental perspective is that, in theory, residents will become more conscience about the number of trips they make, and will attempt to eliminate unnecessary ones which ultimately means an overall reduction in carbon monoxide emissions. Families may also become more encouraged to own less cars and be more encouraged to car pool with one another in order to save on the expected increase in costs. Car purchasing behaviour may also change in the sense that car buyers may start considering fuel efficiency as a factor at the time of purchase.

On the other hand, one of the challenges that will be faced with this policy will be on how ready the public transport system is to accommodate for commuters who would seriously consider using it as an alternative transportation mode. Though already advanced compared to the other emirates, Abu Dhabi and Dubai's local public transport system is still in the process of improving and expanding its network to become very efficient for its residents; but until those networks are completed, using them will remain efficient only to those who live within close proximity to the current network, and are heading to a place which is also near the network they are using.

Trans-emirates public transportation is still confined to taxis, and buses mainly; with the former implicating substantial charges, and the latter still consuming more time than driving your own car. Certainly, now and more than before, it would be a great move if works on a passenger rail network between the emirates is expedited, that once completed, is also connected to the local public transport systems such as the metro.

There is also the aspect of consumer behaviour. There will probably be those who will still prefer to pay more on fuel consumption rather than choosing to car pool, or using the public transport system in order to save on the costs. I fear also that those people will ignore fuel efficiency as a consideration factor when buying a car. All this to maintain social status in their perspective. 

Though surely one can continue arguing more benefits and challenges, the new policy adopted certainly is a sound one that reflects a strategy that would be implemented by developed economies. Fuel is a scarce resource, and its inefficient consumption will continue to adverse affects both the economy and the environment, we all know this. Money is also another limited resource, so rather than yielding to paying more, perhaps it is time for us to seriously consider becoming more conscience of our living expenses, and more responsible with our daily choices.

How will this policy affect you? Will you be considering using alternative transportation methods? IF so, which ones? Do you think people will switch to more fuel efficient cars? Please do share your feedback in the comments section.

Diaries of a fasting man: Tailgating is a driving culture

We've all been there, driving peacefully on the left lane, just a kilometer per hour under the speed limit and suddenly, the inside of our car lights up so bright that you think it is day time again when in fact, its just midnight. "Ok, ok" you think, "I'll move out of the lane but just when I get a chance to do so in between the stream of cars flying by me on the next lane" who seem not to regard your tight situation as the car behind you is now practically kissing your car's rear bumper.

And we've all been there, in a rush, driving as fast as we possibly dare to on the left lane trying to make it on time 20minutes late from when you were supposed to be there in the first place. And now there's this car that is driving 40kph below the 120kph speed limit without any concern with how much in a rush you are evidently in. As much as you might hate it, you briefly signal off your request for the car to clear the lane, and let you pass through. But this one, no, this one is stubborn and doesn't want to change lanes, even though all 6 of them to his right are clear. "Now it is a matter of principle", you think to yourself. "Why doesn't he change lanes when he is clearly driving well below the speed limit, and he can clearly see that I am in a hurry?". So you retaliate with the only way you know how and that is by getting as close as you can, to fire off your light beams so he understands that it is your right of way.

Dubai had recently installed radars around town that can detect if the distance between your car, and the car in front of you is 5m or less, and issue you with a 400 Dirhams fine should you be traveling at 80kph or more. The objective is to reduce, if not eliminate, tailgating in order to assure safety on the roads, and achieve less accidents.

Tailgating is surely an issue in Dubai, and I am certain that nobody will say that they like it happening to them. And yes, the deployment of those radars will surely get drivers to think twice now before pacing the rear of any car and flashing off the head lights so they clear the lane, but the challenge will remain in the space between radars. The real issue in hand, in my opinion, is not tailgating; but it is with the driving culture as an overall. For some reason, we tend to underestimate driving time thinking that a certain trip will take 15 minutes, when it probably needs more like 45 minutes with traffic, just like it did the last 10 times and so, we find ourselves reacting by stepping on the pedal.

In some of the countries I visited in Europe, I noticed that the left lane of a highway is usually kept clear. The reason for this is because as best as people try to manage their time, they are still subject to being late. Therefore, and as a courtesy, people who managed to be on the road on time will tend to keep the left lane clear so those who are in a rush can overtake without the need to hassle anyone else about it.

With highways in Dubai being at least 6-7 lanes in each direction, I think it is highly feasible to reserve the left lane for overtaking during off peak hours. This will likely result in more cars driving on the remaining lanes, which in theory, should slow them down given the anticipated traffic that should be generated by the same number of vehicles now driving on lesser number of lanes. This courteous practice, combined with better time management, will surely not only reduce traffic accidents, but also, lower people's overall stress levels generated by road rage. And guess what, you'll probably be on time as well! Wouldn't that be nice for a change?

Do we really need to have new driving rules, and a new fines system so that car drivers become more empathetic towards driving safer? We don't! Just start with yourself and decide that you'll become a better driver, and as you start feeling better because of your better driving etiquette, start encouraging your family and friends to do the same. Tailgating became a problem because one person started it, and everyone else followed practice. Maybe it's time for the solution to be achieved in the same way.

Happy Friday!

Diaries of a fasting man: Should the last 10 days of Ramadan be declared as a public holiday?

Hello everyone,

There has been a discussion going on for a while now about whether the last 10 days of Ramadan should be declared as a public holiday. The argument by FNC member Mosabbah Al Katbi is made on the basis that such a move will allow for more time to be dedicated towards worship in this period, especially during the late hours of the night. In fact, the UAE ministry is in the stages of currently studying whether or not to approve this proposal.

I must say that the feedback that some have given to counter argue the benefits of the proposal are valid from one perspective...but not from all perspectives. I have read comments on how some think that people won't really be dedicating their time towards worship, rather, they'll be spending it either sleeping, eating, or watching TV. In addition, I have read a deeper argument on how working is also considered as a form of worship, and as such, it shouldn't be neglected. And there's also your economists who argue that having more days off from the working calendar will inhibit, if not harm, the growth of a developing country like the UAE.

Again I say, I think all the above are valid points but I don't think that they should be the basis for consideration to strike off the proposal. Think about it for a second. On the perception that people will abuse their free time rather than dedicating it for worship, yeah, I think that this may and will happen...but not with everyone; so why generalize? Why not give those people who really want to spend this time in worship the opportunity to do so and be more happy and satisfied? Should the work-life balance for many be disrupted just because we think that some people won't make use of their time in the way that Al Katbi described? That doesn't make sense. 

Also, on the point that work is a form of worship. I totally agree with the principle of this one, but I don't see how it is applied here. As it is already, many people in the UAE work very long hours resulting in more stress, demotivation, and a loss in productivity. While driving into Dubai earlier today at around 6.45pm (i.e. 30mins before Iftar), Al Ittihad Road was jam packed on its Sharjah bound side, and this is when everyone is supposedly working 2 hours less every day. Is this healthy? Employers often think clocking in more working hours lead to higher productivity. In today's age, this isn't as effective as more people are susceptible to taking their work with them back home. Giving more time off, may surprisingly lead to higher productivity, as the time left to do work in the office will now be managed more effectively since employees morale will most likely be boosted from such an initiative.

On the final remarks; I am not an economist, nor do I have figures on why I think those 10 days won't affect the growth of the economy whether positively or negatively; yet all I know is that the work culture of many companies operating in the UAE is about leaving most of the tasks till the last minute. Perhaps it may be worthwhile to look into innovative ways to managing work and time more efficiently and effectively, because I assure you, those extra 10 days on their own (which some people are already taking as time off from their annual leave by the way) is not what is inhibiting this great country from growing more than it already has. Matters such as commute timings, compensation and professional growth, work-life balance, and employer culture are but some of the factors that probably need more immediate attention.

No matter what will be decided, I am certain that the outcome will be after a much deeper deliberation than what I presented here; but one thing I wish to convey is that let us have more trust in each other as working professionals, rather than always shutting down ideas merely on the basis of the perception that all people by nature are lazy and do not wish to work. If such employees exist in your company, then the problem won't be the 10 extra days off, it will definitely be a deeper one that is exclusive to the employer's sole doing.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.