NEWS FROM THE UAE
Excerpts from UAE Dailies

Eid Al Fitr holidays for govt sector

DUBAI — OCT. 8: Eid Al Fitr holidays for the government sector will begin on Thursday, the 29th of Ramadan (October 11), according to a circular issued by Minister of Government Sector Development Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri.

The circular said government departments will return to work on Monday (October 15) if the first day of the Eid falls on Friday (October 12).

However, if Eid is on Saturday (October 13), the day of return to work will be Tuesday, October 16.

KHALEEJ TIMES

'Coin any trick, Salik can track'

DUBAI - OCT 8: COIN tricks may not help road users in avoiding Salik fee. Roads and Transport Authority said that Salik gates which are installed on Al Garhoud Bridge and on Sheikh Zayed Road can easily detect the number of cars passing through the tolled gates even if you cover the Salik tag with a Dhs1 coin.

"The system which is installed on the tolled roads is a highly sophisticated one and has the capacity to screen all the cars that passes through the gates. The system will automatically deduct Dhs4 from your account whether you cover the Salik tag with a coin or not," said a RTA spokesperson denying a report which appeared in a newspaper recently. The news report said that motorists are trying to beat the Salik system by holding a Dhs1 coin behind the Salik chip on the windshield while passing through a Salik gate.

The much publicised Salik which means 'clear' in Arabic was launched in Dubai on July 1 in order to bring down traffic congestion in two of the most important roads in Dubai. RTA is collecting a toll fee of Dhs4 from the motorists for using these roads.

Officials said that around 600,000 cars have registered for Salik so far. "A large number of people are using the tolled roads to travel. Though there are some violations, but the number is very less. People are aware of the new system and have bought Salik tags before they take these roads," officials said.

RTA has recently launched a new group of integrated services on Salik website www.salik.ae which offers motorists a chance to get detailed information on their Salik account.

The new web services enable motorists to check their balance accounts and view the number of crossings through the tollgates located at Garhoud Bridge and Sheikh Zayed Road near Mall of the Emirates. These services will also allow subscribers to amend their personal data and print out financial statements.

RTA said that the traffic reduced by 30 to 40 per cent due to introduction of Salik.

However, commuters are not happy with the system and said that Salik has actually contributed to traffic jams in different roads of Dubai.

GULF TODAY

No compensatory off if Eid falls on Friday, Saturday

DUBAI — OCT. 8: No compensatory offs will be given to public sector employees if Eid Al Fitr falls on Friday and Saturday, according to a government official. The official attributed the decision to an order issued by the Cabinet last year regarding not granting extra days as compensation for public sector employees.

“The public sector usually takes a three-day holiday for Eid Al Fitr. Employees of the government and public departments used to take compensation days off if Eid fell on Friday or Saturday. However, this has changed since the Cabinet’s order last year,” the official said.

Meanwhile, Assistant Undersecretary in the Ministry of Labour Humaid bin Deemas said private sector employees would get only a two-day holiday for Eid Al Fitr.

“A statement will be issued by Minister of Labour Dr. Ali bin Abdullah al Ka’abi in a few days on the upcoming Eid Al Fitr holidays,” he said.

Bin Deemas also stressed that there would be, as usual, no compensation for the private sector for Friday or Saturday if Eid falls on either of those two days. “If Eid falls on Friday and Saturday then the holidays will be those two days off for the private sector. No compensation days will be given for the private sector employees as per the UAE labour law. If Eid falls on, let us say, Saturday and Sunday then the holidays will be relatively long when combined with Friday,” Bin Deemas pointed out.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Neo Sports targets enhancing reach by 60% across the region

UAE - OCT 8: NEO Sports, India's first cricket-only TV channel, targets a growth of close to 60 per cent from its current reach in the Middle East markets, as the Australia and Pakistan tour India in October and November respectively, the series which is being telecast Live only on Neo Sports.

Neo is available on flexible subscription options on the Pehla network ­ Pehla Silver and Pehla Gold. Pehla, the leading Asian Pay TV bouquet in Middle East is the main provider of Premium Asian Television for a huge strong Asian expatriate community living across the region.

Vinod D' Mello, executive vice-president ­ Group Strategy and Planning, Arab Digital Distribution (ADD), said "Pehla is the largest Asian Pay TV provider across the Middle East and Cricket is the most popular sport for Asian expatriates in the region. The ongoing India-Australia and upcoming India-Pakistan series are going to be filled with excitement, thrills and enthusiasm for cricket fans."

Commenting on the significance of live cricket matches, D'Mello said, "The current success of the Indian cricket team has enhanced the appetite of cricket fans. Nothing can replace the excitement of live cricket matches and Pehla along with NEO Sports promises an uninterrupted telecast of the same."

Announcing its expansion in the Middle East, Vikram Das, VP, International and Syndication said, "Cricket is an extremely popular sport for Asian expatriates in the Middle East. Our partnership with Pehla has helped us reach our target audience in this region, which has a mammoth fan following for both the teams. These matches cumulatively may constitute the largest ever televised audience in the Middle East."

The upcoming India - Australia and India - Pakistan Series, Pehla anticipates a high level of adrenalin rush for the cricket fanatics in the region.

GULF TODAY