Gulf Kannadiga - a reflection of Karnataka in the Gulf

Sex-related products and games are being sold openly in the UAE and 90 per cent of the customers who purchase such items are women.

While most of these toys are illegal in the country and are smuggled in, some toys do make their way to the shelves of branded stores in upscale malls. Especially stores selling lingerie.

Demand for these products is very high and they run out of stock very quickly, said a saleswoman in one of the malls in Dubai.

“Our products range from flavoured lubricants to sex games, body stickers, costumes, handcuffs, sticks, rings, and a bevy of other items. They are very popular and demand is very high,” she said.

“We also have Arab men, mainly from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who like these things," she added.

A saleswoman in another outlet in a trendy mall said the demand for sex toys is very high.

“However, we don’t sell them, as it is illegal. They also ask for videos, which we also don’t sell.”

The majority of their customers are middle aged, said the sales representatives of some such outlets.

“Our customers are mainly aged 30 to 45 years. We also have a few customers aged below or above this age group,” said one.

“Our customers find these prices very reasonable and almost similar to those in countries such as Thailand, Australia and Germany,” said a salesperson.

“Our products are mainly made in the USA. These are approved by the authorities there and customers can eat some of them,” she added.

And the staff is proud of what they sell as they consider it part of education, said the saleswoman.

“By selling these products, we are actually helping married couples by bringing them closer. Our products make them happy,” she added.

The Department of Transport (DoT) in Abu Dhabi has invited proposals from qualified firms to develop and complete the Abu Dhabi Regional Rail Study.

The study, which will determine the emirate’s long-term rail passenger requirements, will also consider potential links to Dubai and other emirates within the UAE, as well as other GCC countries, according to the DoT’s public tender advertisement.

According to plans revealed earlier, the DoT plans to develop a metro rail in Abu Dhabi as part of a master public transport plan.

The metro will mainly connect the proposed Central Business District with Sowwah Island, Reem Island, Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi International Airport and Masdar, Capital City District, Emerald Gateway, Zayed Sports City and ADNEC.

Most of the proposed network is expected to be underground.

The monorail track (which is part of the metro project) is expected to be 31km long.

Each monorail station is expected to handle 1,000 commuters.

The monorail might also include 15 two-coach trains and 5-minute intervals between each service train and another.

The Abu Dhabi Metro is proposed to be linked to Dubai Metro and to other cities in the UAE and to other GCC states.

This project is part of the DoT’s plan to invest $82 billion in the transport network of Abu Dhabi, which includes the construction of roads and a Light Rail.

The feasibility study for the AD Metro project started in the second quarter of 2010, and the ITB for the main construction contract is expected to be issued by the end of this year, and the study is expected to be completed in September next year while construction is expected to start after that.

The first segment of the AD Metro is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2015 while the entire Metro project will complete in 2016.

New sophisticated devices can click a speeding car and detect seat-belt violations

More speed radars will ensure drivers do not get away with violations of traffic rules. (FILE)

Motorists in Dubai were torn between the spectre of more speeding fines and better safety on the back of new traffic rules regarding speed radars being announced.

Speed radars will be installed after every kilometre in Dubai to ensure drivers do not get away with violations of traffic rules, police officials have said.

“This will definitely check the reckless driving we see on some of the roads in Dubai,” said Tahir Habib, a resident of Sharjah who daily commutes to work in Dubai.

John Hamilton, a resident of Dubai, said: “I think the new speed radars will be installed on only major roads. Many accidents also take place on some of the smaller roads in Dubai, but they don’t even have a single radar.”

Most of the people are in favour of more radars on the roads as these will help to curb rash driving and reduce the number of traffic accidents.

Major Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, acting Director of General Department of Traffic, Dubai Police, said: “We have plans to increase the number of radars. Soon we will fix one radar every kilometre as we noticed that some motorists slow down when they see them and then speed away.”

In addition to this, police also have cars that look like those belonging to civilians to keep track of violations on the roads.

The new sophisticated radars can click a speeding car, pick up seat-belt violations, besides keeping track of space between vehicles and also monitor lane discipline.

Two years after the Naif Souq was burnt down in a fire, it was reopened on Sunday morning.

All the old traders whose shops were burnt in the fire have been allotted new facilities.

For the first time, traders are getting centrally air-conditioned shops with all amenities and parking. Other facilities include elevators, lifts, WiFi and kiosks.

Traders are expecting a fresh start, especially since the Holy Month of Ramadan is fast approaching.

Mustafa Kolykkandy, who has a 25-year old business operating from the Naif Souq, said he was glad to return to the old place.

“The municipality shifted us to a temporary souq on Nakheel street after my shop was burnt down in 2007. I lost goods worth Dh120,000 in the fire then,” said Kolykkandy.

About 183 shops were completely destroyed then. Dubai Municipality paid 40 per cent compensation to all the shop owners following the accident.

For Pakistani vendor Kudratullah, there are high expectations from the new place. “We were all waiting patiently on the expectation that business will be alright once the new market is opened,” he said.

Siddique PMC, who has 10 shops in the new facility, said he had lost about Dh1.5 million in the fire that completely destroyed the Naif Souq.

Since the fire broke out in the middle of the night, no human casualties were reported.

“It is a memorable day for us. I remember coming here with my father 35 years ago. Those days, it was called the Oont Bazaar (camel market).”

Before Sheikh Rashid allotted the land for the traders, camels used to be tied at this location. “Initially, we only had a small wooden table. A few years later, a tent was built, and we used to operate our shops from the tent. Back then, we never had electricity and used to operate with a lantern, which was fuelled by kerosene.”

Siddique’s father, who traded in toys, glass and kitchen utensils, also used to repair the lanterns for the 150-odd traders operating from the facility.

Several years later, electricity was introduced and the traders started having fans within the shops.

“Until two years ago, when the fire took place, we continued to operate with fans without air-conditioning. Today, the new facility has central air-conditioning and parking space for 99 cars,” said Siddique.

However, the rents have been increased for the new facilities. Traders who used to pay Dh6,000 per year two years ago, are being charged between Dh17,000 and Dh30,000 depending on the size of the shop. The new shops were allotted following a draw