The Dubai Headlines

The authority’s dashboard is filled with useful information regarding each individual’s consumption – information that goes beyond just bill payment

If leading a more sustainable lifestyle is part of your 2023 resolutions, then you need to be part of Dewa’s My Sustainable Living Program. In fact, Dewa’s dashboard for every account is filled with useful information regarding each individual’s consumption – information that goes beyond bill payment and delves into the nitty gritty of consumption. There’s even a year-on-year comparison for every month of the year.

My Sustainable Living Program:

Log on to your account and go to ‘My Sustainable Living Program’ at the bottom left.

The first necessary step is to update your Consumption Profile. To do, that you need to answer a series of questions including the following:

Following that, click on ‘Configure your saving plan’ to get a series of tips to save electricity and water consumption in your house. Pick the ones you will follow, and they will be saved under ‘my saving plan’.

Other useful features on Dewa’s Dashboard

The Dubai Health Authority(DHA) has developed a self-assessment tool, which is an instant 24/7 online service that is free of cost to support investors, health professionals, and medical facilities.

The service aims to provide support and guidance to stakeholders and enhance the sustainability of the health sector in the Emirate.

Dr. Marwan Al Mulla, CEO of the Health Regulation Sector at the DHA said that the self-assessment tool is an important initiative and enables applicants who want to apply for a medical license to check whether they meet all the conditions required to obtain a health professional license to practice medicine in the Emirate of Dubai.

Professional titles and all licensing requirements are clearly mentioned in line with the standards approved in the country.

He pointed out that the self-assessment is carried out by the applicant by answering some short questions, and then obtaining the initial evaluation result immediately.

The user needs to select the category of license he is applying for. For example Physician, dentist, nurse, midwife, allied health, or traditional complementary and alternative medicine.

He stated that this service helps applicants, health facilities or investors to ensure the applicant is eligible to obtain the required license without the need to submit any documents.

Al Mulla said that the authority has developed another service which supports the health sector in Dubai, known as the Document Verification Service.

This smart electronic service allows the concerned authorities to verify the authenticity of all documents and certificates issued by the authority, through the DHA’s online electronic licensing system known as Sheryan.

He stated that the Document Verification Service includes several documents such as sick leaves approved by the authority, professional licenses, health facility licenses, professional registration certificates, and certificates of good standing.

The online service is simple to use and the user simply needs to enter the barcode number and the existing PIN code at the bottom of the document and the user will be able to see and verify the identical copy issued by the DHA.

Al Mulla added that the aim of adding additional online services is to provide stakeholders with added convenience, enhance efficiency and reduce the time taken for these processes.

Starting from 1 January 2023, private sector companies with 50 employees or more that have not raised Emiratisation targets by 2 percent of skilled jobs in 2022, will be fined, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) said on Thursday.

The fines are AED6,000 per month, a total of AED72,000 annually, for each Emirati who has not been employed as per the requisite percentage to be achieved by the end of 2022.

The value of the monthly penalties increases progressively at a rate of AED1,000 annually until 2026, by which companies are required to achieve up to 10 percent growth rate in their Emiratisation targets.

In a statement, the Ministry said:

“We aim to achieve an effective participation of the private sector in the development process of the UAE, as raising the participation of Emiratis in this sector will have a positive impact on the competitiveness, attractiveness, and stability of the business environment in the country.”

“We will continue to activate the partnership between the government and the private sectors on Emiratisation, based on our belief that Emiratis can make a positive impact within the vital economic sectors, as well as our aspiration to advance the growth of the private sector companies and improve their ability to keep pace with successive developments locally and globally,”

it added.

The Ministry noted that the legislation governing Emiratisation will contribute to

“strengthening the diversification of the labour market and will consolidate the UAE’s position as an incubator of national and international talents and an ideal destination to work, live and invest.”

The Ministry lauded the steps taken by companies that have met the required Emiratisation targets for 2022, adding:

“Now, we look forward to witnessing a greater impact in 2023, as the Emiratisation targets will increase by 2 percent until 2026, resulting in a growth by 10 percent of Emirati skilled employees.”

The Ministry offers support and incentives for the companies that achieve qualitative achievements in training and employing Emiratis in accordance with the objectives of the Nafis programme, which include joining the Emiratisation Partners’ Club that leads to be classified as a category one companies in the Ministry’s establishment classification system, thus obtaining discounts of up to 80 percent on the Ministry’s service fees.

The force teamed up with a UAE car distributor for scheme aimed at giving inmates second chance

A prisoner receives a certificate from Dubai Police officers and officials after completing a car mechanic training course.

Dubai Police have teamed up with a car dealership to offer mechanics courses to prisoners as part of their rehabilitation.

The force partnered with Al Masaood Automobiles to train male inmates in an effort to equip them with the practical skills they need to get their lives back on track once they are freed.

Brig Marwan Julfar, director of the General Department of Correctional and Punitive Establishments, said such support was crucial to give prisoners a chance to make a meaningful contribution to society.

“Our programmes tackle various psychological and emotional problems and help to remove the barriers of fear and hesitation that may haunt the inmates after their release,” Brig Julfar said.

“They also aim to make it easier for the inmates to reintegrate back into mainstream society.”

He spoke of the importance of both mental health and financial support for inmates and their families.

Police host a number of skills-building courses and workshops under the initiative and also host social and sport events throughout the year.

UAE leaders typically offer pardons to hundreds of inmates each year on important occasions such as National Day, Ramadan and Eid.

Dubai inmates raise their children in prison — in pictures

A nanny teaches a boy in the nursery at Dubai Central Jail for Women in Al Aweer. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National