The Sharjah-based Al Thiqah Handicapped Club has received a double boost after signing an agreement with the Emirates Automobile and Touring Club (EATC) for the sale of international driving permits (IDPs).
The agreement means the Al Thiqa Club joins the nationwide network of outlets entitled to sell legitimate IDPs which are issued exclusively in the Emirates by the EATC.
It means a useful role for handicapped people who will be engaged in sales of IDPs at ten outlets in Sharjah and Korfakan, while the Club receives a new revenue stream to boost its fund raising activities.
The agreement was signed today by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the EATC, and Colonel Hussain Ali Al Ghazal, head of Al Thiqah Projects for Employment and Rehabilitation, in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Thiqa Club.
The EATC is making IDPs available at a specially reduced rate to allow the Al Thiqa Club to make a healthy profit from sales by its handicapped members. “One of our key aims is to create opportunities for handicapped people to have an active life,” said Colonel Hussain. “We’re grateful to Mohammed and the Emirates Automobile and Touring Club for giving us this opportunity.”
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Sulayem said: “The Al Thiqa Club does some fantastic work for handicapped people. It’s important that we recognise the needs of the handicapped, not only by creating facilities to help them, but also by doing what we can to give them an active role in society.”
The Al Thiqa Handicapped Club now effectively joins an ongoing campaign launched by the EATC last July in conjunction with Emirates Post to counter sales of forged international driving licences.
Sulayem said: “With summer holidays approaching, it’s time to remind people that if they have an accident overseas while using a forged licence, their insurance may be invalid.”
While many countries now allow visitors to use their domestic driving licences when travelling abroad, this can lead to language problems, and an International Driving Permit has a number of advantages.
It is proof the holder has a valid driving licence in their own country, and is printed in ten languages, including Arabic. This helps overcome language barriers between drivers and police. The document is also a useful form of identification in the event of a lost passport.
Newly designed legitimate IDPs have dark blue covers and are stamped at point of sale with a silver ATCUAE hologram. They are available at all 84 Emirates Post offices in the UAE, EATC offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, and from other appointed EATC agents. To buy an IDP you need a valid UAE driving licence, passport copy and residence visa, two passport size photographs and a completed application form.
