European Commission Commends Emirates’ Websites

The European Commission’s Director General for ‘Health and Consumers’ (DG SANCO), has confirmed that Emirates airline’s websites are fully compliant with all the requirements laid down in EU consumer legislation, and it further commended the airline for its commitment to consumer transparency.

In a statement, Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said: "I am delighted to confirm that contrary to some earlier reported indications, Emirates airline is fully in compliance with all the requirements laid down in EU consumer legislation that were monitored in the recent ’health check’ in relation to air ticket selling websites and therefore belongs to those companies that can serve as an example to be followed by others. I commend Emirates airline as a non-EU carrier for the observance of Community law and for the commitment to maintain these standards and to consumer protection in general demonstrated at a meeting held in Brussels on 17 June".

DG SANCO’s ‘health check’ investigation and report on airline websites published in May listed Emirates as being non-compliant. Subsequent discussions between the airline and DG SANCO confirmed that this was inaccurate.

Richard Vaughan, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide, said: “We have had a number of open and productive conversations with DG SANCO over the past weeks. Although we were disappointed with how the original investigations were conducted, we are pleased that this is now resolved, and that consumers can be absolutely satisfied that Emirates’ websites not only fully comply with EU regulations, but also demonstrate leadership in terms of transparency and inclusive pricing.

“As a responsible global airline, our commercial operations are guided by fair business practices and transparency for our customers. All Emirates’ fares include taxes and surcharges and no service fees apply when bookings are made and paid for online. We also provide a breakdown of the fare components both online and with Global Distribution Systems (GDS).”

Mr Vaughan added: "Emirates wants to see high, universal standards across our industry to ensure a level playing field for those airlines, like Emirates, who adhere to transparency and the highest possible standards versus some who continue to practice more opaque pricing and other less consumer-friendly techniques".

Dubai Customs Becomes Investor Partner Of DQG

Dubai Customs has become an Investor Partner of Dubai Quality Group (DQG), which is a highest profile membership of DQG.Mr. Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Director General of Dubai Customs was given a certificate of partnership by Mr. Osama Al Rahma, Vice-Chairman of the Board while receiving DQG delegates yesterday Tuesday 16th June 09 at Customs main building.The DQG membership is awarded to public and private establishments having made remarkable achievements in the area of promoting quality and business excellence.Dubai Customs membership with DQG is a new phase of establishing strategic cooperation and consolidating its 10 year strong relations with DQG, reflecting continuous communication and sharing expertise with different government agencies.With this membership, Dubai Customs will have a number of benefits particularly those aiming at improving quality and services, developing employees’ expertise and capability and cooperation among members.At the beginning of the meeting Mr. Butti praised DQG role over the past 10 years in developing and inculcating concepts of quality and excellence considering it a leading establishment regionally and internationally in the domain.From their part, DQG delegates lauded Dubai Customs efforts in implementing quality standards, which made it a leading customs administration in the world confident of its clients.“Dubai Customs has strong and historical relations with DQG. We are keen to strengthen these relations in all respects over the upcoming period through exchange of expertise and business practices”, said Mr. Butti.The Director General of Dubai Customs affirmed that “Dubai Customs is fully satisfied with implementing quality and excellence standards in its core business regarding such move as a firm commitment to its employees, clients and strategic stakeholders.”“Dubai Customs commitment is clearly demonstrated through the programmes, activities that have been achieved over the past 10 years making it one of the most significant, advanced and developed customs administration worldwide,” he maintained.Mr. Butti pointed out that Dubai Customs business processes and practices have been documented in accordance with (ISO 900), (ISO 1400), (OHSAS 18000) and (ISO 10002).“The foregoing systems are automated and computerized for easy access and use by all clients”, he said.Moreover, Dubai Customs has completed the development of Mirsal (2), which provides online customs services and hence saving clients` time and effort.Dubai Customs takes a great interest in its strategic stakeholders and has a number of achievements in this respect culminating such efforts by winning the recent DGEP award of best joint project category.“Dubai Customs accession to the membership of DQG reflects our commitment to quality in customs methodologies and business plans and enhances our strategic partnership with organizations and establishments dealing with quality and excellence,” he added.“Dubai Customs continues in taking the path of creativity, quality, business processes development and customer service delivery standards improvement,” he said.The membership of DQG will provide Dubai Customs with a number of benefits including training and awareness programmes about quality and excellence, receiving DQG monthly newsletters and the nomination of 10 members enjoying the right to vote in connection with the Board resolutions.From his party, Mr. Osama Al Rahma, the Vice-Chairman of the Board at DQG underlined the importance the partnership agreement with Dubai Customs being a leading government department in developing the national economy.“The agreement affirms the extent of DQG keenness on providing support to the public and private establishments and companies in the UAE with the aim of disseminating concepts of corporate quality and excellence in a way contributing to maintain the advanced business environment in the country,” said Al Rahma.Al Rahma pointed out that DQG in collaboration with Dubai Customs would organize benchmarking programmes, disseminate best practices in customs business mechanisms, allow all customs employees to take part in DQG sub activities and use DQG library facilitations including books, periodicals and other references for benefiting from them in developing customs sector in Dubai.“DQG will contribute through its specialized and numerous services to develop the capabilities and skills of customs employees and officers and improve the quality of customs services delivery standards in Dubai as to keep Dubai as a global trade destination,” he added.DQG delegates comprised of Mr. Farid Mohammed Ahmed, the Honorary member at DQG and Dubai World Secretary General, Mr. Abdul Qader Obaid, the Honorary member at DQG, Mr. Khalid Al Jowder, DQG Secretary General, Ms. Maryam Al Thani, Board member, Ms Samiya Al Yousef, Managing Director of DQG and Ms Fatima Abdul Qader, the Business Development Executive.The meeting was attended by a number of Executive Directors and senior managers at Dubai Customs.
 

Dubai Customs Delegation Visits UK Customs

A delegation from Dubai Customs visited the UK during the period from 11 to 16 January 2009 in response to an invitation from UK Customs.

The visit, which comes within the framework of joint cooperation, aimed at exchange of expertise between the two organizations, learning about business practices and how to benefit from them at all levels.

The two sides agreed to practically move forward to organize joint training programmes and workshops for their officers and strengthen sharing of customs information.

Dubai Customs delegation comprised of Abdullah Al Khaja, Director of Customs Intelligence, Rashid Al Dhabbah, Manager of Customs Investigation and Mohammed Musabah, Manage of Technical Support.

The delegation visited UK Customs main building in London where they viewed the latest applicable processes and agreed to enhance avenues of joint action including knowledge sharing in connection with customs investigation and intelligence.

A visit to Heathrow airport was organized where the delegation learnt about latest equipment and devices used in detection and examination of goods and inside the body, mechanism for dealing with passengers in the event of seizing prohibited items and the procedures followed by customs officers for referring them to prosecuting agencies.

Later the delegation moved to Ipswich and then to Port Felixstowe where customs investigators and intelligence officers’ business mechanism and the Central Control Unit operational processes have been viewed in order to identify how information and reports are received and actioned.

The visit comes as parte of a series of continuous business trips being conducted by Dubai customs to many countries worldwide as well as receiving representatives from such countries throughout the year.