Dubai Silicon Oasis Signs Mou With Dubai Department Of Tourism And Commerce Marketing

Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) today announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) to provide best of class services and support for companies aspiring to develop hospitality ventures within the DSO.

According to this agreement, DTCM will take the responsibility for licensing and categorizing hotels according to DTCM regulations. It will also ensure the implementation of all other procedures related to tourism events activities.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Mohammed Al Zarouni, Chief Executive Officer of DSOA, and Mr. Khalid A. bin Sulayem, Director-General of DTCM, in the presence of senior officials from both organizations.

Dr. Mohammed Al Zarouni, Chief Executive Officer of DSOA, said: “Since the establishment of Dubai Silicon Oasis we have endeavored to develop the technology park into a fully integrated community that offers enabling services and facilities to all our customers. Consequently, we have been engaged with several governmental departments and signed various agreements and contracts that will serve to achieve the ambitious objectives for our business partners.

“Through this partnership, DTCM will be responsible for licensing companies aspiring to develop hospitality ventures at DSO. In addition, it will also oversee tourism related events and activities that will complement the overall deliverables of the technology hub.”

Khaled A. bin Sulayem, DTCM Director General said: “This agreement falls in line within the framework of cooperation and strategic partnership between the DTCM and public and private sector organizations to enhance the tourism industry standards and services. This will go a long way in enlarging the scope of tourism industry and help regulate the hospitality sector to better the tourism product offering of Dubai.”

“Companies that are interested in hospitality business will benefit from the DTCM’s expertise and efforts to promote and market Dubai across the word. This partnership between DSO and DTCM will help create better synergies for better tourism standards and regulations for the hospitality sector,” he said.

DSO is a free zone technology park for semiconductor, microelectronics and other high technology-based companies looking to set up their regional headquarters and R&D facilities in the Middle East and North Africa region. DSOA is the regulatory body for DSO, the region’s premier integrated innovations hub for high-tech industries.

Dubai World stresses commitment to Dubai Leaders Program’s excellence

The global economic turmoil offers an excellent opportunity for Dubai’s emerging generation of corporate executives to study and understand the complexities of crisis management and decision-making, according to HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World.The Dubai World Chairman made the remarks while addressing the 3rd intake of the group’s senior management executives who are undergoing custom-made leadership development under the Dubai Leaders Program (DLP) in partnership with the Wharton Business School. The 44 participants are currently in the final phase of the year-long programme.  One of the participants is from the Dubai Autism Center, and has been included as part of Dubai World’s commitment to reach out to the wider UAE community.Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman Dubai World, said:"We believe that nurturing talent plays an important role in achieving corporate success. The development of leadership skills at a personal level contributes to the growth of the company as well. This is the basis of our commitment to the Dubai Leaders Program. We believe the global economic turmoil offers an excellent opportunity for this emerging generation of corporate executives to study and understand the complexities of crisis management and decision-making. This initiative furthers our contribution to grooming the country’s future business leaders to the highest level of excellence."Abdul Qader Obaid Ali, Director of Dubai World Leadership Center (DWLC), said:"We are pleased to announce that Dubai Leaders Program has progressed as planned. The programme will help participants further develop their leadership perspective, and better equip them to face any crisis.  Dubai World management has enthusiastically supported DWLC, further strengthening Dubai Leaders Program’s outcome, which is designed to create a cadre of world-class leaders who are able to maintain the pace of Dubai’s growth."Bedoor Khouri, Manager of Dubai World Leadership Center, said:"The commencement of the final phase of Dubai Leaders Program marks an important step in our development matrix. We have developed a carefully tailored matrix in partnership with Wharton School that takes the participants through various case studies and action learning experiences in order to fine-tune their leadership skills."This year Dubai World Leadership Center is bringing Wharton School’s faculty to Dubai exclusively for the final phase sessions. The DLP participants have already spent three weeks at the Wharton campus in Philadelphia, USA. Earlier this year they also travelled on a Global Learning Journey to Hong Kong, Singapore and China.Faisal Al Raisi, Deputy Head of Development of Arabian Canal at Dubai World’s global, integrated real estate master developer Limitless and one of the DLP participants, said:"The study matrices were challenging, but it is a great learning experience. The theoretical and practical sessions we underwent at Wharton opened our eyes to new ideas and concepts of crisis evaluation and decision-making. The Global Learning Journey that followed brought us face-to-face with booming economies and different cultures. I am proud to be part of DLP, which has helped me develop not only my leadership skills, but also my overall capabilities."Dubai Leaders Program is custom-made to suit Dubai World’s corporate national leadership development goals. The participants are handpicked after a careful screening process. The chief executives of Dubai World companies nominate the list of senior emirati executives based on their job track record for the year long programme. Every year DWLC assesses around 400 applications out of which 45 are finally chosen.The previous two DLP intakes, comprising a total of 70 senior executives from all Dubai World business units, graduated in 2007 and 2008. The graduation of the third group will be held in June, 2009.

DTCM Director General Opens Photoworld-Dubai 2009

PhotoWorld-Dubai 2009, the fifth International Digital and Imaging Exhibition – the region’s only specialized photography and digital imaging show, was inaugurated here today by Khalid Bin Sulayem, Director General of Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).Organized by Channels Exhibitions, the exhibition runs till April 22 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and has brought together leading brands such as Canon, Hasselblad, Manfrotto, National Geographic, Vanguard, Hoya, Sigma and Sony.Exhibitors from Italy, Singapore, Germany and India are showcasing cutting-edge hybrid technology in digital imaging at the show. The exhibition also includes leading distributors from regional digital imaging sector such as National Stores, Advanced Media LLC and M.K. Trading.Among the highlights of the exhibition is the series of workshops, organized in collaboration with leading international and local professional photography associations. The workshops focus on the salient features of digital photography, zooming into the various photo-equipment, such as lens, flash as well as concepts such as Digital Asset Management.Geared to both imaging professionals and photo enthusiasts, the workshops are aimed at providing a unique opportunity to get up to speed with the latest techniques, fads and movements within the digital photography scene.In his comments, Mr Justin Boutros, CEO of Channels Exhibitions, said: “PhotoWorld-Dubai 2009 is an annual forum for international digital imaging brands to showcase their latest convergent imaging technology – exhibited through devices capable of video, audio and imaging attributes. The exhibition is being held amidst an interesting growth phase for digital SLR camera, which is expected to grow by 13% during 2009.”The industry is witnessing increased growth on auxiliary services and products for digital imaging like imaging software, web services, web sites, storage devices as more than 50% of images which are captured are edited in some form or the other. PhotoWorld-Dubai 2009 offers not only a good networking opportunity for distributors, dealers and buyers in the imaging industry but also a unique and vital platform for maximizing new business opportunities.The exhibition showcases the latest technology in each category of digital imaging including digital cameras, cameras (medium as well as large formats), consumables, digital imaging educational institutes, digital mini labs, digital video, films, digital printers, digital photo kiosks, lighting and studio equipment, mobile imaging, photographic and printing paper, studio accessories, photo finishing chemicals and digital albums.
 

DMCC To Host International Gold Forum In Dubai

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) announced today that it will host a major international gold forum on April 27, 2009, at the Atlantis, The Palm. The “DMCC Gold Convention” will be addressed by industry experts from organisations such as Standard Bank Plc, the World Gold Council, McKinsey & Co., GMFS Ltd. and Dubai Gold Securities.

Gold continues to command significant attention both in global and regional markets with investment demand registering a year on year increase of 27 per cent in 2008. While jewellery sales rose by 17 per cent to touch AED13.7 billion in 2008, there has been a significant drop in this segment during the first quarter of 2009 as a result of the economic downturn.

Organised against the backdrop of considerable volatility being witnessed in both global and regional gold trade, the “DMCC Gold Convention; 2009: Year of the Bull or Bear?” will encourage debate and discussion on the key factors impacting this sector. The half-day summit will bring together bankers, traders, investment professionals, jewellers, miners, refiners and other stakeholders to discuss and gain insights into price trends, demand-and-supply dynamics and other issues that impact the gold industry.

“As an asset class, gold has retained its allure and ‘safe-haven’ appeal amidst the current challenging economic environment,” said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of DMCC. “Sustained strong levels of gold trade through Dubai, and the opening up of a range of gold financing and investment opportunities here, demonstrate Dubai’s continued leadership in the sector. As a key facilitator of the gold industry, DMCC is pleased to host the ‘Gold Convention,’ which will reaffirm the Emirate’s position as the City of Gold.”

The day’s programme includes presentations from Standard Bank on the relative position of gold in the commodities spectrum, the investment case for gold by the World Gold Council; price and demand-supply trends by GFMS Ltd; strategic insights from McKinsey & Co; and the latest innovations in Shariah-compliant gold investments by Dubai Gold Securities. The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion that will include local and international experts who will discuss their views on the outlook for the price of gold.

“The DMCC Gold Convention will explore the various opportunities and business possibilities that present themselves within the context of the current challenges,” said Harendra Kailath, Director, Gold, DMCC. “The vulnerability of particular segments of the industry to the effects of the global slowdown, the value of the US dollar relative to other currencies and inflation are all factors that have a bearing on the outlook for gold. We look forward to an engaging dialogue on how these and other issues can be addressed to support Dubai’s premier position as a hub for the global gold trade.”

GFMS is the world’s foremost precious metals consultancy
The DMCC Gold Convention is supported by Standard Bank and the World Gold Council as the main sponsors, while CNBC Arabiya is the official broadcaster for the event.