ABU DHABI // Jeric Aquino had just heard that the BlackBerry ban would not be enforced on Monday and he could not stop grinning. The ban had hurt business at his mobile phone booth in Al Wahda Mall.
"We used to sell 20 to 25 BlackBerrys a day before the ban was announced. After the TRA [Telecommunications Regulatory Authority] sent the memo saying that they would be banned, we only sold around one a day," he said.
Khaled al Ghuneem runs a small mobile shop on Defence Road and he had a similar story. "Before [the ban] I sold too many BlackBerrys, I did not even bother to keep count."
He used to have 10 of the latest models and he also bought and sold used BlackBerrys. Now he only has two old BlackBerrys on display. "Now, I don't buy used," he said. He hopes sales of the device will revive now that the ban will not go into effect.
Sisters Rafia and Sheikha al Muhairi were sitting in Starbucks having coffee when they heard the news that the threatened ban would be avoided.
"I'm happy, otherwise I would have had to get an iPhone," said Rafia. Sheikha said the BlackBerry message system was a major factor in her decision to buy the handset.
"I like BlackBerry for the BBM," she said, referring to BlackBerry messaging, the proprietary SMS service whose secure nature sparked the stand-off between Research In Motion and the TRA.
Yacine Boumalik was alternating between his iPhone and his BlackBerry. "I have a friend who had two BlackBerrys. She sold them for half the price she paid because they were going to be banned," he said. "Can you imagine? She will be unhappy when she finds out, but it's too late for her."
It was also too late for Nagi Salloum. The 30-year-old owner of loomni.com expressed frustration that the news broke on the weekend before the ban was to be enforced. "I cancelled my BlackBerry two days ago," he groaned. "Why did it take them so long to decide?"
A source close to the negotiations said implementing the changes to make BlackBerry compliant with UAE laws took time. "For Blackberry to be compliant with the UAE's telecommunications regulatory framework required a large number of parties to work together on what is a very complex issue."
smclain@thenational.ae
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
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