SHARJAH // Almost a month after a fire destroyed their homes, families who lived in a tower block have each received Dh50,000 in compensation to help get their lives back on track.
The cheques, issued after a decree by Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed, the Ruler of Sharjah, were awarded to 51 of the worst-affected families, in a brief ceremony yesterday at the department of housing.
The delighted former tenants of Al Baker 4 Tower, many of whom have been living in hotels or with relatives since the blaze, said they would use the cash to find new homes and start to rebuild their lives.
"I'm really grateful," said Siraje Hassan, an Ethiopian who plans to use his Dh50,000 to replace his belongings and reunite his family. "I had to send my family back to Addis Ababa and I've been staying with a friend. This week I will find a new flat, furnish it and bring them back next week."
Ehab Abdul Hamid, a Palestinian tenant, said he had been counting the days until the cheques were handed out and was very grateful.
"Just when we all turned hopeless and desperate watching the fire destroy all our property, Sheikh [Sultan] has made us happy and hopeful again," Mr Abdul Hamid said.
The Nigerian Godbless Damian was also full of praise for the Ruler after receiving his cheque.
"God bless him," Mr Damian said. "I don't even know how to thank him, but God bless him. God give him all he wants in this world. God give him a long and happy life."
The beneficiaries didn't waste any time in cashing their cheques, with many crowding into the nearby HSBC bank.
"It is better I get it directly in cash and see what I need to deposit in my own account, or what I need to use now," said Mohammed Asif Ali, from Afghanistan.
"All my neighbours are here to collect our money. We are all very happy."
Amanullah Jamal, an accounts manager at an IT company in Dubai, said he had been living in a small flat since the fire but was looking forward to using the cash to rent a larger flat.
"I have been staying in a small place with my wife, but now we will go and rent a bigger apartment like the one we had before with the money from His Highness," Mr Jamal said.
A total of 125 families were left homeless after the fire, but only those living on the back section of the tower, where the fire did the most damage, received the Dh50,000.
The remaining 74 tenants, including Samsul Alam, received no compensation despite also losing their homes.
"I also lost everything and have still not found a place to live," Mr Alam said.
He has been staying with relatives and arrived at the housing department yesterday hoping to receive some cash.
"All along I thought a cheque was coming to help me out," Mr Alam said. "Though we were in the front block, the foam used in firefighting spoilt all our property and we have been rendered homeless - we need help."
Jawdat Ayoub Thabit, a legal consultant for the department of housing, said: "The selection of who receives and who misses out on the compensation was done by a careful assessment of losses by the police.
"It was the police who recommended who deserved to receive and who did not."
About 16 beneficiaries did not turn up in time to receive their cheques yesterday, but Mr Thabit said they could come to the department at their convenience.
ykakande@thenational.ae
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
Dunki
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Scoreline
UAE 2-1 Saudi Arabia
UAE Mabkhout 21’, Khalil 59’
Saudi Al Abed (pen) 20’
Man of the match Ahmed Khalil (UAE)
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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