UAE

Police shrug over radar-locating GPS

'We put up big red signs to warn that cameras are in use'

Essam Al Ghalib

September 02, 2008

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ABU DHABI // Police say no decision has been made about the legality of new global positioning system (GPS) devices loaded with the location of radar cameras, but they are not concerned that speeding drivers may use them to evade detection. Maps on the new Garmin Nuvi 710 device alert drivers to the locations of radar speed cameras in the capital.

However, Col Hamad al Shamisi, the chief of Abu Dhabi traffic police, says he is not worried. "Everyone has already memorised the position of the speed cameras," Col Shamisi said. "In fact, we ourselves put up big red signs to warn motorists that cameras are in use." Lt Col Khamis al Mahoodi, deputy director of the traffic police, added: "The speed cameras are placed in a conspicuous manner so that drivers see them and slow down. They are not there to catch people speeding, although they often do."

There is some debate on GPS blogs and websites about whether mapping systems loaded with the positions of cameras are legal or not. Robert Brady of PocketGPSWorld.com, a GPS news, reviews and forums website, confirmed that the latest models were programmed with speed camera locations, but questioned the legality of their use in the UAE. According to Col Shamisi, their use may not necessarily be illegal.

"No decision was ever made as to whether the maps indicating the position of speed cameras should be banned or not," he said. "As things stand at the moment, I cannot say they are illegal or legal. It was never discussed." The National took a radar gun out to test whether drivers knew where the speed traps were located. The trial was held on Khaleej al Arabi Street heading out of Abu Dhabi towards the airport, where there are a number of speed cameras, and along Corniche Road and in the downtown area of the capital.

On Corniche Road, where the speed limit is 60kph, the radar gun clocked some drivers travelling at more than 110kph. However, motorists slowed to between 60kph and 80kph when they approached a speed camera, even before it was visible. Several drivers set off the camera, which took a photograph on average every 10 seconds, indicating that not everybody had memorised camera locations. Along Khaleej al Arabi towards the airport, drivers were braking before they reached the speed cameras, but accelerating to speeds as high as 180kph after passing them.

@email:ealghalib@thenational.ae

Green ambitions
  • Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
  • Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
  • Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
  • Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water 
Tips to keep your car cool
  • Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
  • Park in shaded or covered areas
  • Add tint to windows
  • Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
  • Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
  • Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”

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