Is that crystal?

It’s the niggling things that can make Dubai in particular a frustrating place to exist. You might have read elsewhere about group boss Stuart Matthews’ recent trouble with finding a plumber.

Meanwhile I’ve just resolved a thorny problem with the RTA about transferring ownership of a car – not normally a problem, but this one didn’t have a functioning engine.

It only took a year. Elsewhere, my landlord has a dispute with the developer, with the upshot that through no fault of mine, I can’t use any of the building’s facilities, including the parking, while the pair of them slug it out. On both occasions, I’m met with the ever-so-helpful response; ‘It’s your problem’. I’m sure you have stories of your own.

Translated into the workplace, such small details where the precise, or at least alternative, way to proceed is unclear leads to unplanned downtime, and therefore idle machinery, increased costs and operators who should be operating.

Usually this comes through no fault of the machine contractor, but from further up the chain – and usually because something wasn’t clear to somebody in the first place.

Dubai has been built on a culture of minimal regulation – which is great – but cutting detail doesn’t always make things easier or more functional. I’ve noticed some other places in the world issue contracts, permits, and other items of pettifogging beaurocracy with a ‘crystal mark’.

This shows that the document has been checked by a panel of boffins to be as clear possible, so that the intended audience will have no doubt at all as to what is happening as well as how, why and when.

It’s a bit like PMV really, but without words like ‘pettifogging.’ We hope local versions of these ‘marked’ documents both in English and Arabic will be available soon.

Elsewhere, a big thanks to all those who attended the recent Saudi PMV Show in Jeddah. There were some great plant on the stands and some brilliant displays of live equipment in the sand pit.

I’m pleased to say some business was done too, with one firm shifting no less than ten light and heavy trucks to several different customers. If you have any thoughts about the event, or suggestions for next year, do let me know.