Tag Archives: UAE

As US Violence Escalates Countries Warn Citizens to Take Care

In what is either a sign of the dangerous level of violence now plaguing the US or an overseas overreaction to that violence, three countries have issued travel advisories to their citizens planning on traveling to the United States.

The embassy of the tiny Middle Eastern island nation of Bahrain in the US issued a warning to its citizens visiting the US to “be cautious of protests or crowded areas occurring around the US.”

The Caribbean nation of Bahamas, where the majority of citizens identify as having a black African heritage, advised its people to be cautious when visit US cities which have had “shootings of young black males by police officers.”

“In particular young males are asked to exercise extreme caution in affected cities in their interactions with the police. Do not be confrontational and cooperate,” Bahamas foreign ministry said in a travel advisory.

Students and other citizens of the United Arab Emirates visiting the US have also been warned to practice caution during their travels. The warnings are evocative of the comparable warnings issued by the US State Department to citizens traveling to countries where extremists have perpetrated violent acts against their own citizens as well as visitors.

“Please be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid crowded places when possible,” the UAE embassy said, urging people to stay away from any U.S. demonstrations. “Exercise particular caution during large festivals or events, be alert and stay safe.”

UAE Bank Disallows Tele-Marketing for Loans

In the United Arab Emirates, a recent decision by the region’s Central Bank has resulted in the prohibition of banks marketing their loans and other financial services over the telephone. This is meant to be beneficial to both customers and banks. According to Fund Administrator at the National Bank of Abu Dhabi Asset Management Vikram Shetty, “this step by the central bank will help improve service levels across the banks and increase competition among them to directly attract customers.”

Increased Unemployment?

While this marketing prohibition may be beneficial to many, it runs the risk of impacting others negatively. What this ultimately will mean is that people could be out of a job; in fact, they will be out of a job if they were the ones employed as telemarketers. Further, it could lead to greater efficiency as customers who want to order a credit card or apply for a loan, will now have to “approach the bank directly.”

Advantages and Disadvantages

At the end of the day this move will have both advantages and disadvantages for clients and workers alike. The banks will have to work harder in getting to know their clients better and they will be forced to review their profiles. It will also take pressure off customers who will no longer be harassed by telemarketers. Aggressive tactics will no longer be acceptable.

End to Telemarketing Scams

The other advantage of this decision is that it will put an end to telemarketing scams that have been a problem for way too long. For example in Auckland, a couple of weeks ago the Newmarket Business Association sent out a warning against a telemarketing scam that was “using the association’s name to raise funds.” Using emotional blackmail, someone is pretending to be a representative of the association and asking them to donate $35 to “send sick kids to a holiday camp.” This was brought to Ashley Church (head of the Association)’s attention by the Child Cancer Foundation, one of three causes that is being used in this manner.

Telemarketers have had a bad rep for a while. In this case above, completely justifiably. People in general hate to be bothered by them. They often call at the worst time, around 7pm in the evening when you may be enjoying a nice dinner with a loved one, or trying to put overtired kids to bed. The only shame in this whole situation is those telemarketers who will now be forced to find new jobs, but other than that it is generally a good thing when telemarketers get the boot.