Sunday 23 November 2014

World's longest graffiti to mark UAE's National Day


Resembles UAE's map and seven emirates

By 
  • Staff of emirates247
Published 

Expected to enter Guinness Book of World Records as the world's longest graffiti, 'Our Journey' will be 2,180 metres long. (Supplied)
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, has directed the prompt implementation of a new art and cultural project, entitled ‘Our Journey’, marking the UAE’s 43rd National Day celebrations.

Expected to enter Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest graffiti, ‘Our Journey’ is 2,180 metres long and will be executed by the Crown Prince Office in collaboration with Brand Dubai, and initiative launched by the Government of Dubai Media Office.

Resembling UAE’s map and the seven emirates, His Highness directed that ‘Our Journey’ should mirror glimpses of UAE history, starting from the beautiful past to the bright present and promising future.

The project responds to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to make Dubai an open air gallery that reflects the city’s unique experiment and outstanding achievements.

Commenting on the project, Director General of the Office of the Crown Prince of Dubai Saif Bin Markhan Al Ketbi said: “Our Journey is an artistic documentation for UAE’s unity with a contemporary view.
“A host of the world’s most renowned graffiti artists and most distinguished local artists will participate in the artwork.”

Al Ketbi added: “The event will take place on November 29 and 30 near Jumeirah Beach Park.
“Availing this opportunity, we invite UAE’s citizens, residents and visitors to join UAE National Day celebrations, and even participate in painting ‘Our Journey’ under supervision of qualified artists”.

Chairman of Organising Committee of ‘Our Journey’ Ismail Al Hashemi said: “We expect about 150 artists to take part in completing the graffiti.
“Once completed, it is expected to enter Guinness World Records as the world’s longest graffiti. The team includes 100 of the world finest graffiti artists, 30 Arabian artists and 20 Emirati artists. Moreover, participation is open for public, especially students”.

Al Hashemi explained that there is coordination with various official organisations to motivate their employees to participate in the project, and prizes will be awarded to the most beautiful works.

Al Hashemi also valuated the roles of Brand Dubai, Government of Dubai Media Office, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Awards, Dubai Media Corporate, Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, RTA, Dubai Culture and Skydive Dubai.

‘Our Journey’ will consume over 7,000 paint spray containers. The eco-friendly containers will be used in another artwork.

The committee will also host many cultural and recreational events starting from 10am to 5pm.

The committee also provides short training sessions on graffiti principles and safety procedures through the website www.U43.ae. The public may follow the event via @RehlatnaUAE.
 
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Monday 17 November 2014

Ask the Law: Your boss cannot force you to resign


Ask the Law: Your boss cannot force you to resign
You may end up in a weaker legal position than your employer if you do so
·        
Ask the Law questions are answered by lawyer Mohammad Ebrahim Al Shaiba of Al Shaiba Advocates and Legal Consultants
 Termination threat
Question 1: A reader from Dubai asks: I have been working for a local company in Dubai for the past two years on an unlimited contract. The company is struggling due to low performance in sales and other problems. My department is forcing me to tender my resignation and I have also been receiving termination threats. They have even started the countdown of my notice period by sending a mail. My two-month notice period has supposedly started from October 1. As per UAE Labour Law, what are the legitimate grounds for termination? In my case, are these valid grounds? Can they really force me into signing a letter of resignation? When should the notice period officially start? What are the disadvantages of resigning as against termination?
 Answer 1: As per the UAE Labour Law the questioner should not be forced to resign. The submission of resignation by the questioner will put him in a weaker legal stance than the employer in connection with labour rights. Besides, the end-of-service gratuity will be lower, and in the case of the questioner it becomes a third of his specified gratuity as per the Labour Law. As for the notice period and in case the labour contract is unlimited, the Labour Law obliges all parties (worker and employer) to submit notice to each other if one wishes to dispense of the other, the notice period as per the Labour Law shall be not less than one month and an agreement may be made to increase this period. The notice period shall be effective from the date of resignation or termination of the labour contract by either party. Therefore, if the company fires the questioner, the questioner may claim his rights specified by the Labour Law and also has the right to ask the concerned court for compensation for arbitrary dismissal if he can proves that the company has not acted in accordance with the labour law.
Reduced salary
Question 2: Questioner from Dubai asks: I worked for a company for more than three years with a good salary in addition to other entitlements. Two months ago, the employer sold the company. My problems started then, as the new employer asked me to move to another branch for the company to handle another position on a salary 25 per cent less than the salary I was receiving. I understood later that the new employer intended to fire me and he was trying to force me into submitting my resignation by reducing my salary. Thus, I submitted my resignation as per the Labour Law after providing one-month’s notice. Upon the expiry of the notice period, I demanded the employer settle my end-of-service entitlements but he disapproved and said that he was not obliged to pay for the period in which I was working for the previous employer. How can I obtain my entitlements, who is responsible, the previous or new employer?
Answer 2: As per the UAE Labour article (126) of UAE’s Labour Law which states the following:
“Where a change occurs in the form or legal status of the establishment, contracts of employment that are valid at the time of the change shall remain in force between the new employer and the workers of the establishment, and their service shall be deemed to be continuous. Both the original employer and the new employer shall be jointly liable for a period of six months for the discharge of any obligations resulting from contracts of employment during the period preceding the change; after the expiry of this period the new employer shall solely bear liability.”
 Passport security
Question 3: A reader from Dubai asks: I work for a Dubai-based company and one of our activities involves offering equipment such as generators for hire. As usual practice when anyone wants to hire equipment they have to provide us with a post-dated cheque as security for the equipment value but there have been cases where customers could not provide us with a cheque, instead they are ready to give us their passport. Is it legal to hold someone’s passport as security against the equipment rented. If yes, what documentation and paperwork needs to be maintained.
 Answer 3: No one may detain a passport as a guarantee, because such conduct is contrary to UAE law, as the passport is considered a document related to the person and shall be detained only by the competent judge.
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Emirates National Auto Museum

The Emirates National Auto Museum is located about one hour drive south of Abu Dhabi, on the E65 road to Liwa Oasis 24°05′N 54°25′E. It houses the private collection of Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan with approximately 200 exhibition items.
Signs on the highway to the museum are easy to follow admission cost is AED50 for adults. However, it is advisable to check local news for latest opening times before the trip.
 Exhibits
The pyramid-shaped building houses an unusual collection of predominantly 1950s to 1990s vehicles in various stages of customisation, hard to find in any other car museum,http://www.enam.ae/index.html
This museum is the private collection of H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan.
The collection houses a vast array of cars and other vehicles; some seemingly bought from owners there and then, such as a customised camper van, others received as presents from all around the world. While some have been kept as originally intended, others have been modified to suit the Sheikh's preference.  
You will find several Mercedes, one in each colour of the rainbow for each day of the week. And they are all fitted with conveniences such as refrigerators and TV. A number of other vehicles are also rainbow coloured or have a rainbow logo painted on them and have matching seats and hubcaps. There are a number of military vehicles into which children are allowed to climb; one even has a golfing range on top.
The Dodge comes in all sizes but none is as impressive as the 5-metre-high model with a complete apartment under its roof. It was parked next to some dune-bashing monstrosities and a shiny see-through disco car. including:
·         An 8 times oversized replica of a Dodge Power Wagon truck, this is a tow-able caravan and has four bedrooms inside.
·         A very detailed replicable of an 1890s Benz three-wheeler.
·         A collection of 4-wheel-drive vehicles.
·         A small collection of identical Mercedes limousines, representing together all colours of the rainbow, are the trademark of the owner.
·         A number of 1950s American and 1970s European limousines with their large dimensions build a striking contrast to a sizable collection of bubble and mini cars in the adjacent row.
·         Some 10 prototypes and racing cars.
With a workshop located behind the building, all exhibits are in excellent condition and several are roadgoing. There are also many gaps in the displays with no explanation. Only a handful of vehicles have information placards at all and even then it is simple specification info. There is no history or provenance provided.
On display outside are:
·         a 4:1 scale Jeep
·         a 4:1 scale Land Rover
·         Lockheed Tristar L-1011-385-1-114 MSN 193N-1093 the former British Airways Loch Fyne 
Watch our Video :Largest JEEP in the World
Exhibiting an astonishing suite of more than 200 cars, the Emirates National Auto Museum is not, in fact, a national museum but rather a car collection turned into an exhibition. The owner is H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, probably the most eccentric member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Hamad is also known as the "Rainbow Sheikh" not for the first thought that crosses your mind but because he has a passion for colors and in particular the colors of the rainbow. As a result, he uses a rainbow logo for all his leisure businesses.

The building housing the collection is not particularly attractive: a rusty steel pyramid. 

Going back to the cars: this collection wow-ed all the connoisseurs that have been there: it features everything one could think of: from the weirdest items ( military vehicles - tanks, a New York yellow tax cab, a Red Cross vehicle, a NYPD car) to Guinness Book records: an 8 times oversized replica of a Dodge Power Wagon truck - used as a caravan, and unique items such as: a 4x4 Lamborghini, a world globe-shapped 3-storey caravan with all the facilities in a normal house - usually used by the Sheikh and his family during their trips in the desert.

I remember watching a show with Sheikh Hamad presenting his museum. He was mentioning that some of his cars were bought, some were custom-made from scratch and some were gifts. When asked if he sells any of his cars in case he doesn't like/use it anymore his answer was: "Sell it? That's embarrassing for me. I just give it away to friends..."

The story behind the 7 Mercedes 500 SELs painted each one in one color of the rainbow : When Sheikh Hamad got married, the party lasted for 7 days during which he wanted to use the same car but in different colors. It was just another "wedding decoration".

Open daily 9am-1pm , 2pm-6pm (Timing may vary). Make sure you call in advance to check someone is there. 

Entry fee: AED 50.

The only downside of this museum is the poor signage and explinations. With such auto jewels, it's a shame no to know the stories behind the cars.

Emirates National Auto Museum is an exhibition of private cars collected by Hamad bin Hamad Al Nahyan, one of the sheikhs of the UAE who is known as the 'Rainbow Sheikh'. The cars include Mercedes (one of each colour of the rainbow), Dodge pick-ups and also oversized caravans (one in the shape of a globe). The bizarre collection was once featured on the BBC television programme Top Gear.
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