testing patience in dubai

Today is the very first day of ramadan and it’s taking place for a month.  This is a sacred thing for all the muslims around the world.

Yesterday had a heavy traffic almost everywhere in Dubai.  I left work 15 minutes before 6pm in order to avoid traffic.  Unfortunately, the traffic started to build up just a little early.  So the bus which are coming from Bur Dubai to Al Quoz was already stranded on the way.  We waited for more that an hour until one bus came.  It was full and didn’t stop at the bus stop.  We waited again for more than half an hour then came another bus, but still full and didn’t stop.  I already wanted to fly if only I could because someone was waiting for me back home.  One thing more that would really test your patience while waiting is the humid and hot air since summer is not yet finished.   Good thing and thanks there are air-conditioned waiting sheds in almost all bus stops in Dubai.  I realized there is almost no difference in the road situation back in Manila.  The only difference is in Dubai you are just stuck in the traffic but no pollution and noise from horns of various vehicles.

At last, one van stopped and we boarded but oh my…. that was a real test of endurance and patience and strength and whatever might call it.  The car stinks with bad smell from clothes full of sweat from the laborers who are riding the van everyday and from the stinking feet that were wet the whole day.

Im not complaining though I just wanna say… that was really a tough test of patience.

coming to dubai?

Dubai map

Dubai, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, has reached its tremendous economic growth due to the flourishing trade and tourism. It has built quite a number of world’s man-made wonders like the Burj Dubai, to become world’s tallest building; Ski Dubai, one of the largest indoor skis in the world and the Palm Deira, that would become the largest artificial island in the world. Not forgetting Burj Al Arab, which is the very first seven star hotel in the world. These are only few of Dubai’s many wonders that made this tiny city in the Gulf a favorite destination for rich people, for tourists and even for job seekers. It has become probably the most successful city in the whole of the Middle East.

I myself can’t hide my admiration of the vision of the leader of this emirate who has turned this place one best example of a modern city in a muslim-dominated place in the Middle East. He has proven the world that this once sleepy desert emirate could become a modern metropolis with a proper vision. I can’t deny the fact that Dubai has become a wonderful place to live.

Dubai Sheikh Zayed

But reality doesn’t stop there. Very recently, many expats have felt the difficulty of surviving here. Even this economic wonder was affected by the inflation hard. Based on the report surging inflation is affecting global competitiveness of UAE according to the survey released by World Economic Forum. News said that the inflation is caused by skyrocketing house rent, cost of production and the prices of goods and services. It is so felt by the expats who can hardly make ends meet now due to the rising of prices of major commodities and particularly the house rent. Many are complaining why did they chose to come here. Well I am not saying there is no more opportunities in Dubai. There is always and there are still many opportunities here. Fact is, there are so many on going projects in Dubai. They are not simple projects. They are mega projects that cost billions of dollars. Check my previous post: meydan, another mega project in Dubai, that is only one of example of the ongoing projects here.

But I can’t hide the reality that now it is not easy to survive in Dubai. Especially if you are from a third world county who is equipped with a bachelor degree. I bet you will still have a hard time finding a promising and a good salaried work. Considering the fact that there are jobseekers from India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and others. There are the Arab nationals (Egyptians, Moroccans, Syrians, Lebanese, Jordanians and others) who are more favored compared to Asians because they speak Arabic and yet many job positions require applicants to be bilingual. There are the European who are always sought after by big companies and paid pretty good for the same position that an Asian can handle sometime better than them but thanks lucky are they for being western. I am not racist though. I am just speaking from my experience. That is only one reality here. So, you are going to apply for a position wherein you have experience and in line with your qualification. How many nationalities are there and how many people in every nationality are going to fall in a queue to get this position? How much now is your probability to get the position? One more thing, for sure those who have experience in Dubai or in GCC would have the advantage to get the job. Again, the possibility to get it is at stake.

So, my piece of advise is – if you are coming here for a visit or tour. Well, it is but fine. But if you are going to come here to search for a job. First, sit down. Second, think it over. Not once, not twice, not thrice… Do some research on what’s going on now in Dubai. There is the internet that can answer most if not all your questions. It can show you the real picture here. Or from anyone you know who is here or who have been here. Remember, there are so many things that you need to know before you make up you mind to come here. If you have that faith and wanted to come here. You are going to do all the possible means to make it here. Probably, you might seek the help of any agency there who are deploying manpower – skilled and unskilled. If you are not lucky enough, definitely you are not going to be one of them, so, you might fall in the hands of advantage-takers who are going to ask you triple the amount of you are supposed to spend to be able to come here. Promised of a job that would pay you of a salary that even yourself can hardly be fed. Then, there is the reality that you might be promised of a work in the office and later on found out that you will be working as a servant for a son of the d***l that no one ever knew. You know, there are so many unexpected things that can happen that we could have never imagined it’s going to happen after coming here despite of your good intention of earning a decent pay however hard it could be. So, think about it. Pray. That is the only thing that sure can help you.

If despite of your effort you cannot still find some one to give you enough information you need, well, I am willing to help. You can ask any question or if you need a little assistance and I will do help you in a little way I can with God’s help. I will help how you can make it here without paying to someone too big amout that would cost even losing your small property just to make it here.

If only you want I am just a post away. Good luck!

seer says…

We do not just say the truth. We have to know the deeper meaning of truth. There exist divine truth and natural truth. Divine truth is synonymous to spiritual truth or the invisible truth, while natural truth is physical truth, tangible truth – a kind of truth that physical people like us can easily comprehend. But our beings as humans have two important elements – the physical and the spiritual or divine. And so with everything that exists in the universe.

(2 Corinthians 4:18) “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

It is clear that there are things which are not seen and there are things which are seen, the visible and the invisible, the spiritual and the material. But outside the Bible which is the source of all truth, how can we prove this glaring truth or this doubted truth among many scientists of today? In a magnet, there are two truths that exist – the material which is the steel itself, and the unseen which is the power of magnet to attract objects or metals. The magnet is a very good example of two existing truths – the magnetism which is unseen and the steel which is seen.

The Bible or God’s word tells us of two distinct truths.

(Romans 1:19-20) “ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse…”

It is clear that there are invisible things of God. And the invisible things of God are made manifest by the things which He made. How do you prove that the spiritual or the invisible things of God are manifest by the things which He made? The Bible tells us that God can see. In fact, He sees everywhere.

(Proverbs 15:3) “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”

If you notice, it is not God Himself who is everywhere, but His eyes are everywhere. Meaning, He can see everywhere. The proof that God can see is well ventilated in the Bible.

(Psalms 94:9) “He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?”

The understanding to make an eye that can see comes from someone who can see. The understanding that made an ear that can hear comes from someone who has the capacity to hear. It is very much like a learned technician who has invented the microphone – a device that can hear what we say and transmit it through the speaker. A learned technician can create a camera that can see because he has the understanding of how something can see like his very eyes. These are truths that no one can deny. The spiritual truth that an invisible God can see, is manifest in the eyes he made.

But we must not forget that there are two kinds of truth: the spiritual, or the heavenly, or the divine, and; the physical, the literal and human truth. The Lord Jesus Christ, when He taught His disciples and even those who do not want to believe Him, made use of material truth to make them understand the essence of spiritual truth.

(John 3:12) “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?”

It is clearly stated in the verse that for us to understand spiritual truth or heavenly truth, we have to be learned and believing in the material examples or discussions that the Lord Jesus Christ teaches us. Is there a way that we can separate divine truth from physical and tangible truth? There is a way.

(Hebrews 4:12) “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any

twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the

joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The power of the word of God can separate the soul from the spirit. So, by the word of God, we can distinguish between physical and spiritual things. And the Bible has this to

(Matthew 5:30) “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”

Of course, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Almighty God, speaks of no nonsense information. When He said, “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off,”

(Matthew 5:30) “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”

We will see that the cutting away of the hand requires your initiative and effort. You will not let anybody cut your own hands. It is through your power that you must cut your hand and throw it away. It is also in your initiative that you have to throw away your right hand. But can this be a physical truth?

Others regard this as physical, so there are countries in the world that execute this thing – the cutting away of the hand of someone who has stolen something or a thief. But, could that be perfectly compatible to the pronouncement of the teacher from heaven? It will not. Not so many human beings will cut their own hands although there are people who are willing to cut another man’s arm or hand. We can presume that not so many people, not so many human beings will voluntarily cut their hands and throw them away. So we have to see from the Bible what that means. Is the cutting away of one’s hand, his own initiative, the cutting away of the literal hand?

(Ephesians 4:28) “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”

Somebody who steals or commits an offense by his hands is admonished by

the Scriptures to stop stealing, “steal no more.” By that, spiritually, he is cutting off his

evil hands and not his literal hands because the verse continues to say, “let him labour,

working with his hands”. Meaning, the hands, the literal hands will remain intact. What is to be cut off is the stealing or the evil deeds of hands but not the literal hand because in that case you will not have the hand anymore to do what is good but the verse says, “working with his hands the thing which is good”. So, the hands remain.

What does that mean therefore? It means that the words of the Lord Jesus Christ has in it spiritual truth. Spiritually, we must cut a stealing hand and it must come from your own initiative. No outside force can make you do that but your own determination. Even if you are forbidden by the law or by force, you are forbidden by somebody powerful than you are, when a stealing hand sees an opportunity to steal, when there are no eyes watching, it will still steal. So, the initiative must come from the owner of the hands. “…cut it off, and cast it from thee:”

What are you going to throw away and cut? The stealing. Let us prove that.

(Colossians 3:5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Mortify – to put off, to kill, to cut off your members which are upon the earth; fornication”, et cetera. It is very clear in the Bible what the Lord Jesus Christ means

when He said “cut it off”, it must come from your initiative. To cut off or to mortify the evil

deeds, not only of your hands, but the entire body itself.

Therefore, we find a glaring truth that if it cannot be done physically, it possibly

can be done spiritually. Proving that there are two kinds of truth in the Bible: the

spiritual or the divine, and the material or the human. Of course, not all these kinds of

truths will always jive or harmonize with each other. There are spiritual truths that go

against the material truth. Let me prove that. In Hebrews 11:24-27, it says –

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy thepleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

Moses has rejected the pleasures of sin for a season because he was after eternal life.

It is very clear in the verse, there are pleasures of sin. That is physical truth, human

truth. When we sin, there is pleasure in our flesh. The flesh of human beings, without

the knowledge of God’s words and divine wisdom, has pleasure in sins. There is

pleasure in being drunk. There is pleasure in being addicted to drugs.

There is pleasure in marijuana. There is pleasure in fornication. There is pleasure when

you are out with another woman for the first time after you have been encapsulated in

the arms of the woman you first loved for the last 20 or 30 years. For the first time you

go out with another woman, there is pleasure in it. So, the Bible tells us something very

important and true. There is pleasure in sins; that is physical truth, human truth. But it

doesn’t harmonize with spiritual truth. The pleasures of the flesh are against God,

against the Spirit of God. Let us read –

(Galatians 5:17) “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

So, we know in our being deep inside us that the Bible speaks the truth. You can notice it by your own experience. After sinning, there is something in our being that makes us regret. After sinning, after having had enjoyed the pleasure of sin, there is in us, in our conscience that tells us that what we have done is not good. It is against the pleasure of our flesh.

I believe in the Bible with all my heart. Because it tells me what is deep inside my being. No other book on earth can tell us what is deep inside our hearts. The Apostle Paul is having a confession before the First Century Christian Church –

(Romans 7:19-20) “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”

This is such a wonderful confession from a very straightforward and frank person in the Bible, the Apostle Paul. He’s not after being admired by people in the flesh; he’s not after attaining glory in the flesh. In fact, he is revealing the dishonor in his flesh. But he’s teaching us spiritual truth that what is pleasurable for the flesh is against the spirit; it is against God.

I hope you will believe in the Bible and try for yourself. Remember, the Bible has two kinds of truth – the divine and the human, the spiritual and the physical. Regarding the subject matter, we’ll be indulging in more lengthy discussions in the future, God willing. But in the meantime, I want to hear from you after reading this blog. Your comments, suggestions, and the added information that you know give me an inspiration to go on even how tired I am.  I, thank you.

Sincerely in Christ,

Brother Eli Soriano

(Bro Eli Soriano is the Presiding Minister of Members of the Church of God International. You can reach him on his web blog: esoriano.wordpress.com)

setting up a business in dubai

Free zones in Dubai

Dubai with its tremendous growth and development has become an excellent business environment for many investors around the world. It has one of the most liberal and attractive operating conditions as far as rules and regulations are concerned. Setting up a presence in Dubai can be considered one favorable move for an investors. Setting up a business here can mean a lot of headache and tiring if someone is going to do it himself. One best option is to hire a consultancy that offers assistance in setting up a business in Dubai. One very important thing we need to consider if we don’t have that much of a capital is – what type of a business are we going to set up that is not going to cost us much.

Business types. Here are the different types of business that can be set up in Dubai.

• General Partnership
• Partnership en-commendam
• Joint Venture
• Public Shareholding
• Private Shareholding
• Limited liability
• Share Partnership

Aside from these, someone can set up its presence in Dubai through an LLC, a Freezone enterprise or company, an offshore company and a branch of a foreign company. Choosing these type of presence is cheaper and easier.

LLC and Freezone. The following should be considered when to set up an LLC:

• Dubai economic development department has classified all the activities under the different heads. The prospective investor has to choose the activity group.
• To establish LLC, as per the Dubai government law, it is compulsory to keep one UAE national as a partner in the company. So the prospective investor has to choose the one UAE national (sponsor) as a partner in the company.
• After selecting the activity group and the local national partner (sponsor), investor has to take initial approval from the Dubai economic department.
• After having the initial approval, the investor has to select the trade name of the company and has to take the trade name approval from the Dubai economic department.
• After taking the trade name approval, the investor (partners) and the sponsor has to register LLC contract- a memorandum in the Dubai court.
• The investor has to select a proper business place and bring the tenancy contract along with the location plan, which has to be approved by planning and civil defense departments in Dubai Municipality.
• After executing the LLC contract in the court, the authorized partner has to open a bank account and deposit the capital required to register a company in this account. Then the authorized person has to obtain a letter from the bank mentioning that the partners have deposited the specific amount in the bank.
• After that the partners have to obtain an auditor’s report mentioning that partners have deposited the capital amount required to register a LLC.
• After processing all above documents, the partner has to submit them in Dubai economic department and after due scrutiny, the department will issue a trade license on payment of the required fees.
• After obtaining the trade license, the partner has to open an immigration and labor computer card.
• The partner can now apply for the investor visa by depositing the required amount.

One advantage that Dubai has in attracting investors are its having so many freezones. There are about 38 freezones including the upcoming freezones in Dubai. Generally, there are three possible structures to have a legal presence in a freezone. These are a Branch, a Freezone Enterprise (FZE) and a Freezone Company (FZC). A branch does not require separate capital. Free Zone Establishment is a legal entity incorporated/registered by single shareholder. The shareholder can either be an individual or a non-individual/corporate.The minimum required capital is AED.1,000,000/- represented by one share. Any additional capital shall be in multiples of AED.1,000,000/-. An FZE enjoys limited liability status. An FZCO is a legal entity incorporated/registered by a minimum of two shareholders. The shareholders can either be individuals or a non-individual(s)/corporate. The minimum required capital is AED.500,000/- represented by 5 shares. Each share shall be of minimum value AED.100,000/- or in its multiples. Maximum number of shareholders with minimum capital of AED.500,000/- shall be 5. This can go up to 10 shareholders provided the capital and/or the numbers of shares are increased corresponding to the proposed shareholding. An FZCO enjoys limited liability status.

The Benefits in Free zones. The free trade zone in the UAE are well equipped to set up a business. Further, 100% ownership is allowed with no recruitment or sponsorship problems. Corporate tax and customs duty exemption or imported raw materials and equipment and no levy on exports and imports are the other benefits. No personal income tax. There is a 100% repatriation of capital and profits. Modern efficient communications.

This flourish in freezone that is happening in Dubai has been instrumental to making the Free Trade Agreement declaring Jebel Ali Free Zone as an Offshore Center.

Many are getting interested in setting up a presence in Dubai in order to grab a share of the success that is happening now.

(You can log on to www.sequestracorp.com for more info and assistance on setting up your business in Dubai.)

today is one of my memorable day

The Chicago Board of Trade

Today is one unforgettable day as I have learned how to read the things I just see in business report in television – that is how to read and do trading in stock exchanges.

During my college when I was taking up my Bachelor in Commerce I was already dreaming to get into stocks trading. Now, thank God I have met this one simple but learned guy who has been in this business for just 10 years yet have made already millions.

The training was not enough to learn all what he has and has experienced but I surely can say would be very helpful to start our career in stocks trading.

Godwilling, this is a way for us to see the dawn of a brighter future ahead.

Above all, thank God for all the good things that come my way.

If anyone is interested to learn as well you can post a message and I will introduce you to his team.