Thursday, October 10, 2013

A century of letters in the desert

Dear Comrades,
 
On the eve of World Post Day we celebrate the UAE’s 104-year-old mail service

Dubai: Before there were post boxes and same-day delivery, UAE’s post moved across the desert on camel-back. 

Wednesday marks World Post Day, and it is the year the country’s postal system — Emirates Post — turns 104 years old.
Fahad Al Hosani, acting president of Emirates Post Group, said: “Emirates Post has emerged as the leading postal corporation in the region, offering diversified services by using innovation and technology. We have been constantly expanding our portfolio of non-postal services, while at the same time upgrading our postal offerings. As a result, our network of over 120 post offices located across the UAE, provide the most varied services.
“On the occasion of World Post Day, we are delighted to reiterate our commitment to delivering quality service to individual and corporate customers.”




The letters that now zip to their destination in a matter of hours, can trace a long, rich history in the UAE.
All mail went through UAE’s first post office, which opened in Dubai in 1909. At the time, since the UAE was still 62 years from formation, the post office in Dubai was managed by the Indian Post Office Services.
Abdullah Mohammad Al Ashram, chief executive officer (CEO) of Emirates Post, said: “The posts came under the dominion of different... country... controlling the area. During the transitional period [when India gained its independence in 1947 and Pakistan separated from it], Indian stamps, printed over with the word ‘Pakistani’, were used on letters and parcels sent through the Dubai office.”
In 1948, the British Postal Administration took over management of the Dubai post office and the services were extended to the rest of the emirates.
Post offices in the various emirates were linked to Dubai’s office, in order to receive and dispatch private mail through Dubai Airport.
When Abu Dhabi’s government took over operations in 1967, the use of British stamps ceased.
Al Ashram said: “With the establishment of the UAE federation on December 2, 1971, it turned out to be a turning point in the development of post in the region.”
Today, there are more than 400,000 PO boxes in the UAE and thanks to advanced technology, the post office has sophisticated sorting machines that ensure mail is delivered within one day.
A focus on innovation has also helped UAE’s post offices to become the nerve centre for a host of non-postal services, such as registration of tenancy contracts, money transfers, payments for utility bills and so on.
Al Ashram said: “Post office counter staff can offer multiple postal and non-postal services. In most cases, the computer system has a real-time link with partners, so that transactions are recorded instantly.” 
With each added facility, the postal service of the UAE sets a new benchmark for the region. Locally, too, new initiatives are underway.
“A door-to-door mail delivery system has been introduced recently on a selective basis in certain villa communities in Dubai,” Al Ashram said. “The plan is to extend this service to other communities across the country.”

http://gulfnews.com/
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