Tuesday, March 31, 2009

UBER AMAZING BLOG AWARD


My deepest gratitude to my NFF (new found friend) in the blogosphere who called himself, The Pope, and who happened to be one of my favorite followers. To him, I owe this tag/award. Pope, thank you so much for this Uber Amazing Blog Award tag. No words can best describe the feeling of being tagged. Uber sa saya!

Because of this, I wanted to share also this award to all my virtual friends who keep on inspiring me for their wonderful sites.

Uber (synonym to Super) Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to sites who:

* inspires you
* makes you smile and laugh
* or maybe gives amazing information
* a great read
* has an amazing design
* and any other reasons you can think of that makes them
* uber amazing


The rules of this award include:

* Copy the badge and put the logo on your blog sidebar or post.

* Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing!

* Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.

* Share the love and link to this this post and to the person you received your award from.

* Come back and comment here so that your link could be added to the master list of awardees.

I would like to pass this award to my favorite sites:

Arabian Josh
The FEFL Don
Ultraelectromagneticblog
Kablogie
Life’s a Twitch
Desert Aquaforce
On My Own
Natural Hunch
Ano Daw
Thoughtskoto

Monday, March 30, 2009

STORM IN DUBAI?

For one week now, the bad weather of Dubai keeps on disturbing its expats. Well, some expats like it but some don't. For the Emiratis this is an answered prayer.

Let's take a look on these pictures forwarded to me by my friend. Off course, let's give credit to him.











See those dark clouds? Those snow - I mean ICE? Those broken windshield? That's because of the falling ICE.

CHIP TSAO Discriminating Filipinos


I did not regret myself for being a Filipino or I condemned my fellows for being loyal to their foreign masters when they work abroad. At least it shows that Filipinos are more human than this Hong Kong Chinese writer whose behavior and writings are inhuman.

I am posting the whole article of Mr. Tsao so you can see for yourself and be the judge:

The War At Home
by: Chip Tsao

The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen on board. We can live with that Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Dioy Island.That’s no big problem we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke.

But hold on even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.

As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.

Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings.

Oh yes. The government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout China, Madam/Sir loudly whenever they hear the word Spratly. They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, Long live Chairman Mao! at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. Im not sure if thats going a bit too far, at least for the time being.


“Chip Tsao is a best-selling author and columnist. A former reporter for the BBC, his columns have also appeared in Apple Daily, Next Magazine and CUP Magazine, among others.”

To you Mr. Tsao, have you ever considered yourself human enough to do this inhuman act? Why are you belittling the Filipinos? Why are you starting this turmoil? Should I say you are an old writer and all your good ideas have faded away and you need to write a viable issue so that you can have a penny to pay for your International Politic servant? Well, I hope you paid your Filipina servant.

Friday, March 27, 2009

DOWNLOAD: Angels and Demons by Dan Brown


If you are a book lover and to purchase your favorite author's masterpiece is only a thing of the past, check this post. I have had sleepless nights to do some research on how to own a copy of my favorite books and to share them with other end users. But before I'll take you to the proper link, let me show what others say on Dan Brown's Angels and Demons:

WELL PLOTTED AND EXPLOSIVELY PACED.
Crammed with Vatican intrigue and hi-tech drama, Brown's tale is laced with twists and shocks that keep the reader wired right up until the final revelation. Packing the novel with sinister figures worthy of a Medici, Brown sets an explosive pace through a Michelin-perfect Rome.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

A BREATHLESS REAL-TIME ADVENTURE

Exciting, fast-paced, with an unusually high IQ.
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

ANGELS & DEMONS IS ONE HELL OF A BOOK
Intriguing, suspenseful, and imaginative.
12-time New York Times bestselling author, Dale Brown

A READING EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NEVER FORGET.
Dan Brown has created another frantic paced thriller that rivals the best works of Clancy and Cussler.
Book Browser Reviews

ANGELS & DEMONS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS.
A pulse-pounding, edge-of-your-seat thriller. ANGELS & DEMONS is as compelling as Umberto Eco... as engaging as Tom Clancy... as fast-paced as Michael Crichton... and rivals the best Thomas Harris thriller. Angels & Demons earns Dan Brown a place among these literary peers.
Joe Mauceri, syndicated book reviewer

AMONG THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ.
Angels & Demons is part thriller, part mystery, and all action. A highly entertaining, page-turning thriller.
Davina Morgan-Witts
BookBrowse.com


THRILLING CAT-AND-MOUSE MANEUVERS.
Life-or-death cliff hangers, romance, religion, science, murder, mysticism, architecture, and action. Angels & Demons is a GO!
KIRKUS REVIEWS

A BIG-CONCEPT BEAT-THE-CLOCK THRILLER.
Well researched, and pulsingly told. With so much to enjoy, the only problem for the reader will be to keep from turning the pages too quickly.
Barbara Peters
The Poisoned Pen


ONE OF THE BEST READ WE'VE EVER SEEN

If Tom Clancy and Umberto Eco got fused together, Dan Brown would be the result.
eBooknet.com

ONE HECK OF A GOOD READ
Angels & Demons is a no-holds-barred, pull-out-all-the-stops, breathless tangle of a thriller -- think Katherine Neville's The Eight (but cleverer) or Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum (but more accessible). Brown manages to hurl the reader headlong into an almost surreal suspension of disbelief. "Brain candy" it may be. But my! It's tasty.
AMAZON.COM
EDITOR'S PICK


Now that you've read all the reviews, CLICK DOWNLOAD to own a copy. If you want more of Dan Brown's books you can post a request under the comment section and I'll be ready to do what I can to furnish you a copy. Happy reading..

Thursday, March 26, 2009

REQUIRED: TEMPORARY ACCOUNTANT

I am posting this advert for free..hehe Actually, one of our suppliers asked me if I could work with them for a couple of months. I refused because I don't have spare time plus they required me to work from 9:00 to 6:00 Sundays through Thursdays. I promised I will find one good temporary accountant for them. So, guys, out there. Grab this opportunity. Well, before you send your CV to rranoa@ihrpm.com be sure to read the following criteria:

1.) Must have at least 2 years experience in Dubai
2.) Must have knowledge in Tally Accounting Package
3.) Fluent in English, both oral and written
4.) Preferably Filipino

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

HOW RECESSION AFFECTS UAE?

This is a forwarded e-mail from my friend, Vinoj. For Vinoj, thank you so much for sharing this information. This is all about the projects in the United Arab Emirates which are currently on-hold or canceled. Some of these projects are owned by giant companies like Nakheel, which is a semi-government company. This is how recession affects the country. Many have lost their job especially in the field of real estate. Many have whined but this is the reality - it's not only affecting few people. It's affecting all of us. PLEASE CLICK THE PICTURE TO ENLARGE.



How far this recession go? If you have any bright ideas please feel free to comment on this post.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Kahit sa Dubai may ganito?

Sa lahat ng mga bumabasa sa post na 'to, gusto ko lang pong ipaalam na ang larawang nasa ibaba ay hindi po pagmamay-ari ng inyong lingkod. Ito'y hiram ko lang po sa pinaka paborito kong newspaper sa Dubai - ang 7Days.

Marahil ngtataka kayo kung bakit ko pina-plaster ang larawan na 'to. Ito'y hindi lang po basta larawan. Ito'y isang kahihiyan nating mga OFWs. Ito ang headline ng 7Days sa araw ito. Isang Pilipino na sakim sa laman. Nakakahiya ang Pilipinong 'to na kahit ang kanyang pamangkin ay pinagsasamantalahan. Sa kabuuang kwento sundan n'yo lang po ang link sa ibaba ng larawan.


CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY..

FILIPINOS WORLDWIDE

Let me quote these lines I read from a local newspaper in Dubai, “We call ourselves OFWs. We are Filipinos who permanently or temporarily reside outside the Philippines for work and greener pasture. We are the heroes of our country in the recent times. We are the Filipinos who give blood to our nation. Without us, our beloved Philippines is nothing but the poorest country in the whole world.”Melba Mendez

I agree with Melba. A couple of weeks ago, the book “World Fact” which I bought from City Center describes Philippines as one of the poorest countries in the world. Its geographical situation and wars between its people make the country poor. It depends its earnings from the remittance of Filipinos working abroad.

It’s with my great pride to be one of the OFWs – earning not just for our families but for the country as well. But I am worried. Many Filipinos lost their jobs because of recession and they have to return home – hopeless. How will the government of the Philippines help in return to these people often acclaimed by President Arroyo as heroes of the nation? I doubt. Forget about the OWWA. Forget about the programs, the loans to OFWs. They are not substantial.

OFWs are everywhere. According to the statistics, there are around 11 million Filipinos abroad. The table below shows the significant population of OFWs around the world.

• United States 4,000,000
• Saudi Arabia 2,000,000
• Malaysia 636,544
• Canada 437,940
• UAE 450,000
• Japan 258,977
• United Kingdom 200,000
• Italy 200,000
• Mexico 200,000
• Qatar 200,000
• Taiwan 158,116
• Singapore 150,000
• Kuwait 144,955
• Hong Kong 130,810
• Australia 129,400
• South Korea 70,000
• Germany 65,000
• France 65,000
• Guam 45,600
• Greece 40,000
• Israel 37,155
• Bahrain 36,718
• Lebanon 30,000
• Spain 26,505
• Norway 19,291
• Netherlands 18,456
• Macau 18,447
• Sweden 17,343
• New Zealand 16,938
• Ireland 11,000
• Thailand 5,000

Thursday, March 19, 2009

TEN WORST JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

While scanning CV's scattered on the table of our hr this morning, I was reminded of my past interviews. There were times that employer asked me bad questions which confused and offended me. Bad questions really don’t make sense unlike the good ones, but these help the employers judge the technical and mental qualifications of the applicants.

With my actual experiences I have hereunto enumerated my top 10 worst job interview questions along with my answers and "comments".

# 1 How will you see yourself after 5 years?

The most irritating questions of all times. When I was in high school, our English teacher required us to write a formal theme with the topic "My life after 5 years". Absolutely, my teacher was not thinking. She did not realize that we need 4-5 years to complete a bachelor's degree.So it is very much certain that 5 years after high school graduation we are still in college. And when I was in college, our English 101 instructor did the same thing. During our final examinations he gave us one hour to make an essay with this topic "What I wanted to be after 5 years". I hate to be asked by this question. I thought this question is asked only by teachers. I never thought this is one of the favorite questions in the interview. My response: Well, your company looks pretty good!

# 2 Describe yourself in three words.

Is this a beauty contest? How will we describe ourselves in three words? For questions as nonsense as this why don’t we give the interviewer a choking answer? Begin your answer with the phrase "I am". I am lovable. I am "papable". I am yummy. I am sincere. I am loyal. I am honest. My response: three words are not enough!

# 3 Tell me about yourself.


If you got nuts on your head you will surely ask the interviewer, "Don't you read my curriculum vitae?" Curriculum vitae show all the information about the applicant – his jobs experiences, educational background, personal details and so on and so forth which are enough to answer this question. My response: Would you be willing to listen and be with me for at least one hour?

# 4 Rate yourself.


Here it goes. Another irritating question. If you don't expect this question, this will give you a crack on your head. How are you going to rate yourself anyway? You should ask the interviewer what's the highest? If he said 10 rate yourself 9. Certainly his follow-up question would be, "Why only 9?'' Tell him you're not perfect. My answer: 9 over 10, 1 for reservation in case you disagree.

# 5 Why are you interested to work in our company?


This is the common question the employer often asks to the applicants. It's pretty obvious that the need to work for a living is the main reason why an applicant is interested to work. My straightforward answer: I need a job!

# 6 Can you work under pressure?

Nobody will say no to this question. If during the first question, you felt bad about the interviewer and sensed his different aura, then, answer him no. My answer: I'm used to that.

# 7 Do you know how to drive a car?

Funny but true. First time I encountered this question during my interview with my current company. The last interviewer (it was a panel of interview) asked me this question. I was speechless. I applied for accounting position and not as a driver. My answer (short and thoughtless): I know.

# 8 Do you abuse alcohol and drugs?

This is one of the offending questions I always avoid to hear. What made the interviewer ask this question? Do I look like a drunkard and a drug addict? My response: I'm an occasional drinker and I only take OTC drugs.

# 9 If you are a lost character, what would you be?

I don’t like to recall my answer to this question. It was so frustrating.

# 10 If a train is traveling to the north, what is the speed of light?

Is this a question of a normal person? This question was asked to my friend. He stood up and walked out.

Tricky and hypothetical questions are often asked by the interviewer to test the psychological abilities of the applicants. They really exist on the interview whether we like it or not.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Review: Richest Countries in the World

Last year, I posted in my other blog www.ruphestimate.i.ph the richest countries in the world. This year CIA world factbook has new set of the world's richest countries. As I reviewed the data I had found out that this new set is absolutely different from the old one. For example, my host country, United Arab Emirates which ranked 3rd place last year did not able to guard its position and chopped to 13th place.

To give you a picture of the new set of the world's richest countries, I have outlined hereunder the top 10 richest (off course they are ranked according to its Gross Domestic Product or GDP).

Here they are:

Rank Countries GDP

1 Liechtenstein $118,000
2 Qatar $101,000
3 Luxembourg $85,100
4 Kuwait $60,800
5 Norway $57,500
6 Brunei $54,100
7 Singapore $52,900
8 United States $48,000
9 Ireland $47,800
10 Iceland $42,600

Background

1) Liechtenstein (previous rank: 32) is situated in Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland. The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. Shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering legislation over the past several years and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US went into effect in 2003.

2) Qatar (previous rank: 26) is in the Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia. Ruled by the al-Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, overthrew him in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

3) Luxembourg (previous rank: 1) is situated in Western Europe, between France and Germany. Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.

4) Kuwait (previous rank: 38) is found in Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the ruling Kuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961. Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91. The AL-SABAH family has ruled since returning to power in 1991, and reestablished an elected legislature that in recent years has become increasingly assertive.

5) Norway (previous rank: 4) is located in Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden. Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Although Norway remained neutral in World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping. Norway proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (1940-45). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is on containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU.

6) Brunei (previous rank: 30) is found in the Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia. The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in Asia.

7) Singapore (previous rank: 22) is located in Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest in terms of tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.

8) United States (previous rank: 6) is found in North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico. Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65) and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.

9) Ireland (previous rank: 5) is in the Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain. Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the UK. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland is being implemented with some difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British governments developed and began working to implement the St. Andrew's Agreement, building on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.

10) Iceland (previous rank: 8) is situated in the Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK. Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

If you are observant enough, you can notice that none of these countries were able to retain their post. Some climbed up to the higher rank while some momentarily went down. Well, I guess (hope not) this is because of the current world financial crisis.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Review: Top 20 Brands

What is your favorite brand?

People are tempted to ask this question if they sensed that you are exactly different from them – different style of fashion, unique scent of perfumes, etc. etc. For the elite a brand of product is very significant in their social life. Wearing a Prada for instance is a must in attending a social party. This will give them fame and confidence that they are attractive to the eyes of the crowd. But the question is does your brand belong to the top 20 brands in the world?

I have outlined below the top 20 brands in the world together with their respective ranking and value.

Here they are:

Rank Company Value (In Million dollar)

1 Google 66,434
2 GE (General Electric) 61,880
3 Microsoft 54,951
4 Coca Cola 44,134
5 China Mobile 41,214
6 Marlboro 39,166
7 Wal-Mart 36,880
8 Citi 33,706
9 IBM 33,572
10 Toyota 33,427
11 McDonald's 33,138
12 Nokia 31,670
13 Bank of America 28,767
14 BMW 25,751
15 HP 24,987
16 Apple 24,728
17 UPS 24,580
18 Wells Fargo 24,284
19 American Express 23,113
20 Louis Vuitton 22,686

How many of your brands are listed above? Me, I got 6 of them.

(Source:)

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Is your passport expired?

Renewing your Philippine passport is no longer a problem. Thanks to the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai.

This morning I went to the consulate to renew my passport which is going to expire this coming 19th of March. I thought this would take a lot of time to renew and employees of the consulate are very slow to work like typical government offices in Manila. But I was wrong. All of them are warm and exemplary. It only took me less than 30 minutes to process it.

Wondering how fast, right? Anyway, I admit I did a research before going to the consulate and I am pleased to share it with you.
These are the things you must consider:

Know the office location. I don’t want you to ruin your day traveling to strange places. Keep in mind that the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai (also called as Philippine Embassy) is located in Al Quosais, Dubai, right-side of Dubai Police Station (Al Quosais). It is accessible by RTA Bus 32C and 33 (if you chose to go by Bus).
Be on time. The consulate opens at 8:30. If you wanted to be served first you need to come earlier. Each day many people are queuing to renew their passport. According to the encoder he has an average of 200-300 clients a day (there are 3 encoders in the consulate).
Bring a photo ID. If you don’t bring with you 4 copies of passport size photos with blue background, the consulate has a rush photo studio that you can pay 20 dirhams.
Fill-in the form. The document examiner will provide you a form to fill-in your personal details. Remember to bring your own pen and photocopy of your first, last and visa page if you don't want to pay 15 dirhams.
Pay in the cashier counter. After the document examiner validates your documents the next step is to pay 200 dirhams to the cashier.
Submit documents for encoding. This is the final stage. You have to sit-in with the encoder for around 5 minutes for checking the accuracy of your details and fixing your signature and thumb marks on the form.

That's all guys. After one month you have can your new passport.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

What you will do if you lose your job?

Redundancy is one of the life’s most stressful experiences and as the number of Dubai’s jobless continues to rise more and more people across the emirate are being left feeling despondent. But if the worst does happen, where can you turn?

A recent survey revealed 54 per cent of expats are worried about keeping their jobs and 46% per cent are considering fleeing the UAE to escape redundancy.

Redundancy is very alarming. Most expatriates say that as soon as the school year ends in June, they will be leaving the country. What does the future holds for them? Nobody knows. Whether they will try to find relevant position in their home country or in London or Paris or Manchester it is not certain they can find.

The number of people losing their jobs and leaving the country means that Dubai’s consumer class is shrinking which will also have a very serious effect on the city. For those who find themselves in similar position to that of a project manager, architect and engineer it is important to find out what your options are.

I am not an expert of the UAE law but as an accountant I know few things about the labor law. I advise the workers (those who are losing their jobs) to please check their contracts carefully to find out where they stand in terms of repatriation and end-of-year service packages because repatriation schemes can differ greatly, especially in terms of details like covering the cost of sending possessions back home.

Many expats are under the impression employers have to pay for their flight home. But the labor law states that companies only have to pay for flight back to the country where the job offer was made. So for Dubai workers on their second job in Dubai, they could find an airfare home is not part of the deal. But it comes down to the discretion of the employer you are always entitled to ask. Once the contract has been terminated, expats can stay in the country for a maximum of 30 days only.

So for you guys out there, you need to calm down. Many workers are bringing the matter to the Ministry of Labor filing a case against their previous employers claiming for the repatriation expenses. The Ministry of Labor has the laws and it is fair.