Shaukat Khanum Fundraiser Dinner

Last Sunday I volunteered at a charity fundraiser along with my friends here in Dubai. I thought it'd be an interesting and quick way to get some insight into the community here and how charity fundraisers may be similar or different than from the states.

The fundraiser was a for a Pakistani based charity by the name of Shaukat Khanum for the Memorial Cancer and Research Center. The event was held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel and was a donation based event. A sponsor had paid for the hall and catering and tickets were more like reservations at tables with donations slips. 

Volunteers basically registered all of the entering guests as they filed in before Iftar (sunset - time at which you break your fast) and then lead them to their assigned tables. Since it is a Pakistan based charity, the majority of the guests were Pakistani as well. Everyone was really friendly and easy to talk to, even when there were a few mix ups including filled tables or missing reservation confirmations.

After the event began, the volunteers were able to hang out and eat in their own area (probably to avoid costs of another table and for some exclusivity). The food here has been so-so thus far. The theme at dinner was Arabic food and I'm honestly not that accustom to those flavors and dishes. There are plenty of restaurants here so hopefully I'll be able to try a few of them and find a few that I like. 

 

The event program also included a presentation of the recent accomplishments of the hospital as well as an outline of the present and future needs of the organization. After collections, the evening began to wind down  as people left to go to prayers at their mosques. I was told that the organizers expected around 150k Dhs. but actually received around 200K Dhs which is around $50-55,000!

Abandonment

A few days ago, my friends and I dropped off a friend who was passing through the city to the Dubai international airport and I found a few things worth sharing.

First of all, the Emirates airline has it own terminal and it is ridiculously cool. Everything is very wide and spread out to allow for a large amount of travelers. Indoors the floor is all white w pearl white pillars infused w a hint of glitter to add some sparkle to the experience. The terminal also has numerous check-in desks to expedite the process.

Emirates Terminal at Dubai International Airport (DXB)

The terminal makes me want to fly just for the sake of this experience.

Another interesting event occurred in the parking structure of the airport. When we parked we found a lot of cars that were filthy and looked like they hadn't moved in months!

Abandoned car in parking, there were many of them, note: deflating tires  

We weren't in long term parking that is for sure.

Apparently, when someone quits or loses their job they have exactly 30 days to leave the country and sometimes that includes abandoning your car as you catch your flight out of the country.

Omani Labour Laws

I just read over this excerpt and found the cultural and religious allowances for special leaves incredible! In the US, there isn't as much detail in the types of leaves beyond the death of a family member. Most of the calculation in time-off is a balance between your accrued leave and the cooperation of the administration of your workplace.

Sultanate of Oman, Oman Labour Law, Article (67):
The worker is entitled to a special leave with Gross Wage as follows:
1- Three days in case of his marriage and shall not be granted more than once throughout the period of his service.
2- Three days in case of the death of a son, daughter, mother, father, wife, grandfather, grandmother, bother or sister.
3- Two days in case of the death of an uncle, or an aunt.
4- Fifteen days for the performance of Al-Haj [pilgrimage] once throughout the period of his service, provided that he has completed one year in the service of the employer.
5- Fifteen days during the year for purpose of sitting for examination in case of an Omani worker who is an associate student with one of the schools, institutes, collages or universities.
6- One hundred and thirty days for a working Muslim wife in the event of her husband's death.
The entitlement to the leaves set out in paragraphs 2, 3 and 6 shall be conditional upon the presentation of the proof of death from the relevant authority

According to these Omani laws, you qualify for leaves for significant changes in your life such as marriage, death (different for immediate and relatives), Haj (pilgrimage), examinations, and even a special remark for women who are working. The woman's 130 days off is a religious principle in the event of her husband's death. The woman is to remain at home in order to evaluate whether she is pregnant. It sounds a bit absurd but its actually a really beautiful principle in Islam. The motive behind this clause is to protect the widow and child's name so as to ward off any accusations that the child may belong to any other man. After 130 days, it will be clear whether she is with child or not and after which she may resume to what sense of a normal life she can as best she can without her spouse. 

Labour Laws

I am working at a geotechnical construction company here and am helping streamline their HR policy with UAE labor laws. Since all legal documents here are in Arabic, the translated packets can be confusing. The company essentially wants me to help create an organized 'new employee' packet which employees can easily read and understand.

My projects include reading the labor laws for the UAE, and I've also been assigned to reorganize the new employee manuals for Oman, Qattar and Saudi Arabia. 

Reading the UAE labor laws, or the 'labour" laws, has been really interesting. For example, the laws have special regulations for "Nationals" and "Non-nationals," considering that there is a huge flux of people coming and going to the UAE for business purposes, I understand how there is a need to specify rules between the two groups.

See below:

U.A.E. LABOUR LAW, FEDERAL LAW NO. (8) OF 1980

LABOUR LAW AND ITS AMENDMENTS

Chapter I

ARTICLE (9)

Work is a right of the United Arab Emirates Nationals. Others may not be employed in the United Arab Emirates except as provided for in this Law and its executive orders.

ARTICLE (10)

In the event of non-availability of national workers, preference shall be given to:

1. Arab workers who are nationals of an Arab Country.
2.   Workers of other nationalities.

This stratification of  preference of employment is important to note because it shows the government's preference and consideration in ensuring employment for its own people before passing on opportunities to foreigners. 

Success!

I've now been here for a whole week! I don't know why but it seems like I've been here much longer. I've been catching up with some old friends and they've made me feel like I've always been here so its very homey and welcoming.

So the good news I'd like to report is that I am now CAFFEINE FREE! After a week of trying to adjust an 11 hr time difference and Ramadan fasts on top of that, my body has been so confused but is finally starting to come around. Somewhere in the midst the chaos I was able to kick my caffeine habit which I am SO grateful for! I felt like an addict; needing coffee or tea in the morning everyday. I despise the idea of not having control over myself and hated the fact that I needed something on a daily basis. 

Now I have a few sips of soda or tea here and there but I can at least get through my day without a caffeine headache. Its a small win, but a win nonetheless!

Alhamdullilah! Woohoo!

Respecting the UAE

UAE arrests internet activists

Salam, the above article has been an indirect notice to myself that this blog could potentially come under speculation. This blog is simply a student observation of a new environment and is not meant to disrespect anything or anyone. The questions or analysis found anywhere on this blog is out of a pure intent to learn and understand how the UAE functions.

I am here with the utmost deference and I have no intention as to disrespect any of the customs of this country. Dubai is a captivating and beautiful city and I hope to admire how it has grown so quickly in the past few years.

Wasalam,

Ramadan Kareem,

-V

A Transient environment

Last night, I had the pleasure of dinner with my friend and her coworkers. We met up a restaurant and broke iftar (end of the day's fast) with their buffet menu. The food was plentiful but I've never really eaten much Arabic food so I need someone to kind of walk me through the dishes. Nothing is too crazy or anything, it just something that requires some familiarity.

Anyways, the conversation for dinner was really interesting when we started talking about working in Dubai. The economy here seems to thrive very well however there are many regulations in place which seem to max out or hinder entrepreneurism. It seems built with the idea of laborers and investors will come and go.

First off, if a foreign investor wants to open a branch of whatever hotel, firm, company, retail store here, they will need a local resident to sponsor them. This resident receives a cut  from the profits simply for vouching for the interested party. Its very difficult to actually own your own business completely unless its in the 'free zone' which is an area that is exempt from these regulations. My host family actually operates their own business from this zone.

Another interesting part of the economy here is that there is relatively zero unemployment. Everyone here is working. If you are here for travel, you only have a visa for 30 days. In order to get anything for a prolonged time, you must get a job and your employer will then apply for an extended visa on your behalf so that you may stay. If you are a spouse or child, you will be exempt but you must be registered. Everyone also has identification here.

I went to the Mall of the Emirates, which is basically a larger version of South Coast Plaza, to purchase a phone and SIM card and they asked me for my passport or Emirates ID card. I wouldn't be able to get a phone number without it. I thought it was interesting but it is probably a way to curb illegals (undocumented or pass their visa expiration date) from being able to stay in the country.

One of the people present at our dinner is actually leaving tomorrow for a vacation. He said that he is switching jobs between two sister hotels and he has to take a leave because as his position (and thus visa) expires at one location he has to leave the country until his paperwork comes in for the other position. He's using the time for vacation however for someone who didn't expect the transition, this type of work could be very difficult and hassling.

These regulations are very different from what I am used to and seem to be obstacles in establishing a long term future here. This may be insight as to the underlying attitudes towards foreign investment in the sense that it is purposely difficult and at a high cost in order to attract the best competitors and to deter anyone from permanently staking a claim in the area. This area perhaps is just in such extreme demand that the regulations here may be cumbersome but still worth the return on investment.