Dubai Municipality to start second phase of Census 2005 in November 2005

This is the third census in the country since 1993, when the first ever census of the country took place.

Qassim Sultan, Director General of Dubai Municipality said that the Statistics Centre at the municipality has already completed the first phase of the census which covered buildings, housing units and establishments.

"We are now getting prepared for the second phase to collect data about people and this will start in mid November 2005," said Mr. Sultan.

He added that the third phase will involve analyzing the results to announce them in the beginning of 2006. Modern technology will be used during this census. PDAs and Tablet PCs will be used for the first time and UAE national staff will be trained to take up most of the census jobs. "We are using both electronic and traditional manual methods of filling up the forms to conduct our surveys to ensure accuracy," he said.

He said 500 enumerators and 70 inspectors are involved in conducting the survey in Dubai. They would cover 134 communities in the city and nine village areas.

Dubai Municipality had started preparations for conducting a census in December 2004 and completed its first phase in March 2005. "We started our survey for the census before the decision to have it on federal level," he said.

Preliminary results of the census 2005 will be announced on January 15, 2006 while the final results will be out on March 15.

The second phase of census in Dubai, which is expected to start in the first week of November will take 50 days to complete.

Mr. Sultan has called upon UAE nationals and expatriates to cooperate with the surveyors because the results of the census are beneficial for the development of the country and to plan for the facilities. It will be help build a clear social and economic picture, and help in planning for the benefit of residents and the country. The survey is conducted in Arabic, English, Urdu and Hindi languages.

He said that normally people cooperate with enumerators but they (people) are bound by law to fully cooperate with them and provide them with accurate information.

According to Law No. 7 of 2001 issued by His Highness Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, concerning the Statistics Centre of Dubai Municipality, any person who deliberately hinders any numeration of statistical work may be 'punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or by a fine in an amount not exceeding Dh10,000, or both.