Fake Phones

I just saw a news clip in one of the Arabianbusiness alerts that I receive that both Etisalat and Du will block services of people who uses fake phones (look here and here).

This (in my honest opinion) be good and bad for their business. I guess bad in the sense that people will find it difficult to make use of their super shiny fake phones and now have to buy the legit ones. For the telecommunication and mobile phone companies, this is good because they get to sell their products as per the price they wanted and the other bundle products that they have on offer.

To be honest, there is really no point in buying fake items. If you cannot afford to do straight payments, retail stores tied up with credit card companies and started offering customers with their installment plans. In this, you get to have the phone that you want in staggered payments that you can extend for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months if possible.

I mean what can cheap fake phones benefit the user? Aside from not knowing when will it bog down, there is no guarantee that you get the value of the money you have paid - this does not only apply to phones but for other items as well such as bags, watches and more.

I just don't understand people who sells fake items. I know this is good business especially for people who like to keep up with the Joneses but isn't this like misleading people too?

I hope the fake stuff be put into halt and small businesses with authentic items to promote will make it for next year.

Phones can be a good start to combat other fake items right? :)

Happy holidays!

Change is good

I have just seen the latest news flash about President Mubarak stepping down and handing over his duties to the military. 

After almost 20 days of protests, the Egyptians have gotten what they wanted - for their President to step down. As I read through the tweets in Twitter, you can sense the jubilation for Egyptians and other nationalities that the unrest is now over. The people were heard (finally) and the country now faces a new chapter, a new beginning. 

We all like new beginnings, a fresh start which is why I guess we always look forward for the New Year because it gives us a clean slate.

Now that the people of Egypt have proven that they can be united for one purpose, I hope they also use the same 'urge' to rebuild their country. In an economist's point of view, the country has lost a lot in terms of its financial standing however this can work on their advantage or disadvantage - it depends on how foreign and local investors would see how things will go in the coming days.  

I am positive that Egypt can rise up and be one as a nation - they were able to join forces regardless of background, financial standing, etc what more in re-building their nation?

(image from Best Picture Gallery)

Blackberry being suspended due to security threat

It caused a lot of boos in the mobile world - most especially to those people who are so attached to their Blackberry phones that the UAE is officially banning the BBM or Blackberry Messenger from operating in the UAE. 

After the declaration, a few countries followed the lead - Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and India to name a few. 

click on this link to read more about this article

In our office, we do have a few BBM fanatics and were sad. They have used BBM to keep in touch with friends who are also users of the ever-popular Blackberry phones. As I am now part of the tech department in our office, speculations were made about why they are banning the service. 

Mentions of national security being threatened, BB users exchanging information that could and potentially harm a country (hence the national security threat), a person (not being able to follow a lead in case a murder / rape was planned via BBM) or culture (the Y generation having more freedom in expressing their thoughts without their relatives having a chance to intervene). 

Though the national security part is the most important issue at the moment because the only keeper of the BBM encryption can be found in the United States. 

I think control is important in order for each one of us to function accordingly. Let's use our companies as an example. In our companies, we have a set of rules and regulations to follow.We need to have these set of rules so that people are aware of the boundaries. Not doing this at all will cause chaos. 

This is also one of the main reasons we have rulers / presidents in each of our countries where they implement laws and decrees for people to follow. 

I guess this goes the same with BB phones. 

I believe that this will be resolved soon - depending on how the BB manufacturers will cooperate with the country's demands.  

For now, we can only wait and see. 

*Image courtesy of Yahoo! Maktoob Business (clicking on the link can also give you a history of news regarding the BBB (Blackberry Ban)

Forbes' 15 Richest Royals

If you were given one billion dollars to spend what would you do with it?

Probably, I will buy a three-bedroom house complete with backyard and swimming pool. After that, I will buy my husband a car or maybe a van whatever he likes which we can use for the food / internet cafe business that we will be putting up.

The rest will be saved in the bank or will be invested in stock bonds or another business venture but I want to make sure that we keep enough money for the family - for the kid's education.

How do you think these royals spend their money? Forbes has recently named 15 of the richest royals in the whole world.

Starting it off with Thailand's King Bhuminol Adulyadej. 

Abu Dhabi's ruler came fourth and Sheikh Mohammed came sixth.

It seems like even with the recession happening all over the world, these royals still have enough billions in their sleeves. 

I sometimes wish I'm just like them but when I think about the riches that I have - not the material ones. It makes me smile and think that I will not trade that for anything in the world. 

**to see the full list of richest royals here>

Expatriates

While browsing my emails, I saw this news alert from Maktoob Business:-

Expat_workers_threaten_Gulf_existence

In a nutshell, the article talks about the role being played by the expatriates in the country and how it has greatly affected the working condition for the locals.

If you think about it, in every country, there are expatriates and at times, if the rules & regulations of the country allows it, people from other country can be known as an immigrants or retirees. 

I think, that is a fact of life. All of us wants to have a decent life - in a country where we can do what we want, earn what we think is right for us and live the way we want to as long as we adhere to the country's laws.

I don't think the expat workers poses a threat to the locals - though if they do, the people should see it as a healthy competition. An expatriate was hired by the company because he  / she has a certain skill set that will be beneficial to the company. If the said position was also available to a local, bearing the same skill set, the company have to deliberate who should be hired - that is healthy competition.

Expatriates are visible in most of the countries because there is work being offered to them - with a decent salary which can support the family they have left behind or the family that they have brought with them.

Taking steps
The UAE government has already started implementing boundaries on which industry can an expatriate work , including defining the salary package, accommodation, etc. The government has even open doors for the younger generation to see the importance of work.

The decision is left with the labour force - are they willing to spend their time working or would they rather be somewhere else?

Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

Expatriates are hired because they are determined to earn every centavo to survive and provide. 

Making that bold move
The younger generation should be encouraged to work. The families should be able to allow their children to work - having a strong local labour force would be able to help the country's economy.

They need to make that bold move so that the country will also move forward.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Canada, Australia rank highest in survey of expat workers (nationalpost.com)
• Canada ranked among best places for foreigners to work (financialpost.com)

Burj Dubai

Image by uniquebuildings via Flickr

After suffering a hard blow from the economic crisis, Dubai is trying to revive itself by continuing projects that can boost the country's tourism and finance industry.

First, the city launched the Dubai Metro with a slogan 'My City, My Metro'. Second, they are now trying to complete another historical landmark that will definitely bring more revenue for the country - BURJ DUBAI.

According to the Arabianbusiness.com, the exterior of Burj Dubai is coming together as the contractor will now be installing the final sets of the cladding and glass panel to complete the exterior of the Burj.

Having stayed in Dubai for a long period of time, I have seen the start and (hopefully) the completion of the Burj and the development around it.

I know this will cause great pride to Sheikh Maktoum and to the Emiratis as well.

There were news reports early July 2009, that the Burj was suppose to be completed at the same time the metro was opened but as Emaar Properties said, they cannot afford to let any important detail / information slide which can cause for this great achievement to be put into waste.

I agree.

Currently, the expected completion date for the Burj is on December 2009 - all set for the celebration of the New Year.


All we can do is wait and see.

Dubai Metro opens on 09.09.09 at 9PM in 9 stations

Are you ready?

It was just a dream before… however through the persistence of one man, the dream became a reality.

Today is a remarkable day for the Emiratis and for Sheikh Mohammad, a well-deserved pat on the back, as the Dubai Metro opens its doors.

Image by DubaiFM via Flickr

Dubai, being the tourism and business hub of the UAE, was becoming too congested and thus the plan of having a metro rail system.

This idea caused a stir. Others welcomed the metro because most of the time, they get stuck in traffic after spending most of their day in the office. Others say, this will just remain as a dream.

Construction started in January 2005. The contractors involved in building the metro need not only think of completing the project on time but also the traffic management in the whole of Dubai. They had to make sure that the motorists are given alternate routes so that there will not be a bumper-to-bumper traffic taking place.

Managers, engineers and labourers work day and night. I remember seeing people still working whenever I pass by Burjuman Area (or what is known as the Khalid Bin Waleed Station).

It was then announced that the metro will open on 09.09.09. Others laughed it off and concluded that it will not open on that day – well, Road & Transport Authority (RTA) and the Dubai government used this as a motivation to complete it!

The stations were like caterpillars turning into butterflies! A complete transformation!

Ongoing construction of the metro station

Almost complete!

Check out this link that shows the metro's destinations!

The metro will be operating in five zones. The initial fare (3 kms) is Dhs. 2.50. This is equivalent to the bus fare which is also being operated by the RTA. The next rate is for Dhs. 4.50 if you are crossing two zones and Dhs. 6.50 if you are crossing more than two zones.

Aside from being ‘just a station’, it will also have food and shop establishments that will suit the needs of its everyday commuters.

This is just the beginning for the Dubai Metro. There will be more to come!

(images courtesy of constructionweekonline.com)