ABU DHABI // Quick response codes are the latest thing in smart technology and will make travelling around the emirate a lot easier.
QR codes are a central part of Abu Dhabi’s new addressing system.
They appear on every street signpost and every building number, providing pinpoint location information, which can be shared with family, friends and service providers. The QR codes on street signs, which look like electronic barcodes, give road directions, a map and historical background of the area to explain how the street was named.
According to the Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA), QR codes are the future of the emirate.
Omar Al Shaiba, director of property and the geographic information systems division at the DMA, said the codes were designed to help residents and visitors.
“This is smart technology to facilitate way-finding and directions,” he said. “It’s very easy to scan QR codes and quickly you can get all the information about the address and how you can reach your location,” Mr Al Shaiba said.
“You can scan the code and send it to anybody visiting.
“As the addressing system is being rolled out across the emirate, we have a clear awareness plan for residents that will be initiated later this year,” he said.
People will be educated through media such as radio, television, newspapers and brochures. The technology can be used on smartphones, such as iPhones, BlackBerrys and others that support QR code readers.
The addressing system for the emirate of Abu Dhabi was launched by the DMA last year and every home and street will have a unique address by the end of next year.
According to the DMA, about 12,000 street names will be introduced, 200,000 addresses will be simplified, 200 district names will be created and 20,000 new road and district signs will be installed.
“The future is for QR codes with smart information and technology. This is the best technology we use for our addressing system. Anywhere in the newspaper you see one, you can get details by scanning it [with your phone],” Mr Al Shaiba said.
Public services, such as road works and emergency response teams, will also be able to more accurately identify and reach locations.
“For example, if my friend in Dubai or another emirate wants to visit me in Abu Dhabi, I can just send him a scanned QR code that will narrate everything about the location, direction and map,” Mr Al Shaiba said.
He advised that people must first download a QR code reader on to their phone from an app store or a similar site. This will allow them to scan the codes and get the information they need.
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About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
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Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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