DUBAI // Work to build a Pakistani community hall in the city has restarted after a four-year delay, and it is expected to be completed early next year.
The foundations for the multipurpose hall were laid in 2010, but funding ran out that year and work was halted with only the hall’s outer shell in place.
Since then the cost of the project had also risen from Dh6.5 million to Dh7.2m as the price of labour and materials increased.
“We have now secured the rest of the funding and work restarted on the project about three months ago,” said Faisel Ikram, general secretary of Pakistan Association Dubai (Pad).
“We are hopeful that it will be fully open to the public by March 2015.”
Last year a group of Pakistani businessmen and other members of the community pledged to make up the Dh4.5 million shortfall with services in kind.
“We had people come forward and pledged in-kind services like providing materials, such as aluminium and wood,” said Mr Ikram.
“The work began again about three months ago but there was a lot of administrative stuff we had to go through with Dubai Municipality to allow us to restart the construction, and that took a long time.
“At the moment, they are working on the exterior of the building but we will soon start fitting out the inside. Everyone with the association wants this project to be completed because it has been a long-running issue and it will make a huge difference to the community once it’s done.”
The association was still short of Dh2.5 million and has been appealing to the community and Pad members for the remaining amount.
“We are confident we will get the rest of the amount, if not in cash, then with services in kind and we will complete this project.”
A soft opening is planned for January with the hall opening to the public fully in March.
“The delay really made it difficult because the longer it took to raise the rest of the money the higher the cost became,” said Mr Ikram.
“We basically had to get new contractors and new consultants, which all cost more money and that doesn’t take into account the rise in the price of materials and labour since 2010.”
The news was welcomed by members of the Pakistani community in Dubai.
“We have been waiting for this to be done for so many years,” said Ali Khan, who lives in Deira.
“The community really needs this hall because it will become an affordable place for people to hold events and functions.
“At the moment people have to pay a lot of money to book other halls, but once the association centre is done we will have a much more affordable place to go.”
The hall will also provide a focal point for the community.
“Whenever there is an event the community needs to mark we end up having things spread out at different locations,” said Asif Ismail, from Bur Dubai.
“This will be great for things like celebrating Independence Day, or when there is a big event on.”
The multipurpose hall will have enough space for 650 people. Facilities will include a library with 16 computers and space for indoor games such as badminton.
The centre’s 1,688 square metre ground floor will include a kitchen, toilets and a 43-space car park. The first floor will have a gallery with capacity for almost 200 people.
nhanif@thenational.ae
The%20specs
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh12 million
Engine 8.0-litre quad-turbo, W16
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch auto
Power 1479 @ 6,700rpm
Torque 1600Nm @ 2,000rpm 0-100kph: 2.6 seconds 0-200kph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
MATCH INFO
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Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What is the Supreme Petroleum Council?
The Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council was established in 1988 and is the highest governing body in Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas industry. The council formulates, oversees and executes the emirate’s petroleum-related policies. It also approves the allocation of capital spending across state-owned Adnoc’s upstream, downstream and midstream operations and functions as the company’s board of directors. The SPC’s mandate is also required for auctioning oil and gas concessions in Abu Dhabi and for awarding blocks to international oil companies. The council is chaired by Sheikh Khalifa, the President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi while Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is the vice chairman.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
THE DETAILS
Deadpool 2
Dir: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz
Four stars
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Poland Statement
All people fleeing from Ukraine before the armed conflict are allowed to enter Poland. Our country shelters every person whose life is in danger - regardless of their nationality.
The dominant group of refugees in Poland are citizens of Ukraine, but among the people checked by the Border Guard are also citizens of the USA, Nigeria, India, Georgia and other countries.
All persons admitted to Poland are verified by the Border Guard. In relation to those who are in doubt, e.g. do not have documents, Border Guard officers apply appropriate checking procedures.
No person who has received refuge in Poland will be sent back to a country torn by war.
UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
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Mobile phone packages comparison
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
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THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
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