du inaugurates three new outlets in UAE Capital Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Municipality, Abu Dhabi Mall and Carrefour

du, the UAE’s integrated telecom service provider, recently opened three new outlets in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, providing customers easier access to du’s portfolio of products and services. While new du shops have been opened at Abu Dhabi Mall and Airport Road Carrefour in Abu Dhabi, an existing service facility was expanded to create a du kiosk at the Abu Dhabi Municipality.

The new du kiosk in the Abu Dhabi Municipality is conveniently located in the customer service area, and its opening was inaugurated by Hamad Salem Lekhrebani Al Nuaimi, Executive Director of Commercial Affairs Sector, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (DEP), Maher Murad, VP Sales, du and Ahmed Abu Rahima, VP Government Relations, du.

Each of the new du outlets will sell du Pay as you Go® SIM cards, Elite Plan Monthly Plan lines, WoW recharge cards, du Call Select (fixed line service), and will offer bill payment services for both individual and business customers. In addition, the du shop located in Abu Dhabi Mall will offer a wide range of mobile handsets for sale.

Farid Faraidooni, EVP Commercial, du, said: “The opening of three new outlets in the capital strengthens our presence in the UAE; through shops and kiosks which are within easy and convenient reach of the local community. These three new outlets will open new doors for residents and visitors in Abu Dhabi and we look forward to welcoming both new and existing du customers.”

du’s wide range of products and services for individual and business customers are available through du’s retail network, currently numbering 30 du shops and kiosks, located in strategic locations across the UAE. Customers can also purchase du’s products and services at more than 3000 authorised dealers or online at its e-shop www.du.ae/en/where-to-buy/eshop.html

Share Best Practice Conference Highlights Dubai’s Commitment To Promote Quality And Excellence

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman – Dubai Airports, President – Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO – Emirates Group, the Department of Economic Development (DED) and Dubai Quality Group (DQG), today, organised the “Share Best Practice 2009” Conference & Exhibition at the Intercontinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City. The annual event is an ongoing initiative to further promote the practical concepts of quality and excellence amongst the business community.

More than 450 people from the business community attended the event at which winners of the Dubai Quality Award (DQA), Dubai Human Development Award (DHDA) and Dubai Service Excellence Scheme (DSES) 2008 shared their best practices in quality management and service excellence with potential applicants of the awards.

“Share Best Practice 2009 comes in line with Dubai Government’s commitment to further strengthen quality and excellence, and introduce global best practices across all economic sectors of the Emirate. Dubai’s economic fundamentals encourage companies and corporations to compete among themselves to adopt best practices and deliver quality services and products to further gain investor trust,” said Khalid Al Kassim, Deputy Director General for Planning and Development at DED.

“The Department of Economic Development continuously works to enhance Dubai’s competitiveness by partnering with the private sector to strengthen the quality of products and achieve the highest levels of customer satisfaction. DQA, DHDA and DSES have strengthened the culture of quality and excellence in Dubai’s business community. They had a very positive impact on an increasing number of private companies and individuals who participate in the awards’ processes, thus, also enhancing their role in economic development,” added Al Kassim.

“In line with Dubai Quality Group’s objective of spreading quality in the business community, Share Best Practice Conference & Exhibition serves as a very cost-effective platform to benchmark and benefit from the best practices of leading organizations in the UAE,” said Dr Wafi Dawood, Chairman, DQG.

“The conference has been successfully running in the past years by promoting the best practices of Dubai Quality Award winners. A major highlight this year is that the event has further expanded by bringing together the winners of Dubai Human Development Award & Dubai Service Excellence Scheme,” added Dr Dawood.

The full-day event had four sessions with many of the DQA, DHDA and DSES 2008 winners presenting a selected best practice to the audience. His Excellency Awad Khalifa Al Darmaki, General Manager of Al Ain Municipality, and Mr Reg Athwal, author & international speaker, were among the keynote speakers at the conference.

Presentations were made by the winners of DQA 2008 including Dubai Healthcare City, Sharjah Islamic Bank, Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company Ltd (ADGAS) and Dubai Properties; and winners of Dubai Quality Appreciation Programme (DQAP) including Amana Steel Buildings Contracting Company, Al Rostamani International Exchange, Joy Alukkas Jewellery, Associated Constructions & Investments Company (ASCON), DAMAS, The Kanoo Group-Power & Industrial Projects Division and India Club.

Participants from Dubai Human Development Award included Dubai Ports World – DP World and Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA), and UAE Exchange from the appreciation program. The list of participants from DSES included MARINA Exotic Home Interiors and DUNE.

At the conference, Mr Khalid Al Kassim and Dr Wafi Dawood honoured young business leaders, who have achieved a strong track-record in best practices and for their contributions to quality management practices. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Director General of Ajman Free Zone Authority (AFZA), Major Fahad Al Muttawa, Dubai Police; Hani Hossni, Abu Dhabi Distribution Company; Mohamed Sharaf, Dubai Asset Management; Shamma Al Rahmah, ENOC; Ibrahim Salman Al Hammadi, Ajman Municipality and Planning Department; Muna Aldhabbah, Prime Mister’s Office and Ali Fadhlani, Dubai Holding received the honours.

His Excellency Awad Khalifa Al Darmaki opened the conference with the first presentation entiled ’The engine of leadership of Al Ain Municipality,’ where he focused on leadership. Mr Reg Athwal’s presented on ‘Unleash Your Quality DNA – Putting the Quality into Talent Acquisition to Achieve High ROI in Tough Times’ focused on meeting the challenges of the global financial crisis.

DED And DQG To Organize ’Share Best Practice 2009’ Conference On June 25

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman – Dubai Airports, President – Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO – Emirates Group, the Department of Economic Development (DED) and Dubai Quality Group (DQG) will organize the “Share Best Practice 2009” Conference & Exhibition on Thursday, 25 June, 2009. The event is aimed at promoting the culture of quality and excellence among the business community in Dubai.

The annual conference, which will be held at the Al Ras Ballroom in Intercontinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City, will provide winners of Dubai Quality Award (DQA), Dubai Human Development Award (DHDA) and Dubai Service Excellence Scheme (DSES) with a platform to share their best practices in quality management with different organizations. His Excellency Awad Khalifa Al Darmaki, General Manager of Al Ain Municipality who holds a Masters degree in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego, and Mr Reg Athwal, author & international speaker will address the conference.

“Share Best Practice 2009 plays a major role in facilitating companies to benefit from the internationally recognized criteria for excellence and quality. Through this conference, we hope to work closely with the business community and enable the alignment of their management techniques with global best practices," said Mr Khalid Al Kassim, Deputy Director General for Planning and Development at DED.

“The conference highlights the remarkable co-operation between the public and private sector in Dubai, in addition to showcasing the business community’s commitment to promoting business excellence,” added Mr Al Kassim. “This is an annual conference and an ongoing attempt to strengthen synergies on the concepts of quality and excellence,” he added.

Dr Wafi Dawood, Chairman, DQG, said: “Ultimately, the power of best practices is best realised when they are shared for the society’s larger welfare. The Share Best Practice 2009 brings together the leaders in the quality drive in Dubai and offers them a platform to discuss their experience with the larger firms.”

Pioneering young business leaders, who have achieved a strong track-record in quality practices, will be honoured during the conference. The Business Excellence Centre at DED will also distribute a book outlining the best practices submitted by 2008 award winners from DQA, DHDA and DSES. The book will include detailed entries by each of the award winners, thus enabling potential applicants to get an insight into the benefits of applying for the awards.

A specialised exhibition, which includes booths for the DQA, DHDA and DSES winners, will be organised alongside the ‘Share Best Practice 2009’ Conference.

Admission to the conference is by invitation from the winners of the DQA, DHDA and DSES. Those interested in participating can contact the Dubai Quality Group on (04) 3431950 or visit the DQG website at www.dqg.org.

Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment For Young Business Leaders Invites Firms To Join Entrepreneur Business Village

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders is inviting small, medium and large businesses and investors to be part of the Entrepreneur Business Village, the city’s first integrated hub dedicated to entrepreneurs and business innovation. Commercial space within the landmark project in the heart of Dubai will be offered at special rates from June 28 to July 2, the MBRE said today.The Entrepreneur Business Village, a brand new purpose-built one million sq. ft. facility, is located adjacent to the Clock Tower roundabout in Deira. The Village is one of several initiatives from the MBRE to unlock and cultivate the immense business potential among entrepreneurial Emirati, Arab and resident populations, and provides a comprehensive array of services and facilities to drive business.A number of public and federal bodies are moving to the Village premises, including the MBRE offices, the Dubai Department of Economic Development, UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade, Dubai Shopping Festival Office, Dubai Export Development Corporation, Business Incubation Center and Aswaaq.Abdul Baset Al Janahi, MBRE CEO, said: “We believe the Entrepreneur Business Village is a great opportunity for small-to-medium business owners and emerging entrepreneurs across the UAE to realize their full potential. We have done as much as possible to create the ideal business environment that encourages networking, partnership building and provides consultancy and training services, all under one roof.”“We are confident that the Business Village will be a hub for innovative thinking and business practice and an incubator for good ideas and fledgling businesses, and this special offer is our way of opening the door to as many interested and committed partners as possible,” he said.Exposing young entrepreneurs to successful businesses, best practices and quality professionals at the Village will benefit both groups and accelerate the growth of small and medium enterprises in the country, Al Janahi said.A fully integrated business hub, the Village includes purpose-built halls for business conferences and meetings, a child-care centre, gymnasium and health club facilities as well as soon-to-open catering services and retail outlets including Subway, Elmondo, Gloria Jean’s Coffee, Fitness First, N.Bar, 1847, Curries & Grills, Apollo Flight Center, China Wall Express, and Hatam. All Village tenants also receive free parking facilities, and access to a full-fledged business centre with administrative, consulting, financial and business support services.The Entrepreneur Business Village welcomes firms and entrepreneurs from all economic sectors, including media, healthcare, telecommunications and law.

Dubai Shopping Malls Group’s Weekly DSS Raffle Draws Worth AED 500,000 Starts Tomorrow

The first ten lucky winners of Dubai Shopping Malls Group’s (DSMG) weekly ‘Surprising Millions’ campaign for Dubai Summer Surprises, will be revealed on June 18th at a special event at the Dubai Marina Mall. The draw to select ten winners, each of who will receive AED 50,000 in cash and gift vouchers, is scheduled for 7.00 pm at the shopping mall’s atrium.

All raffle coupons obtained from participating malls when shopping for a minimum purchase of AED 200 is eligible for the draw. The weekly draws are held under the auspices of the Department of Economic Development.

Speaking about the first weekly draw being held at the Dubai Marina Mall, Mr. Ian Ferguson, General Manager from the mall said: “We are honoured to be hosting the first weekly raffle of DSMG’s summer long promotion as it helps us to position Dubai Marina Mall as a great new shopping destination. This popular promotion run by DSMG helps to reward our visitors throughout the summer months.”

The ‘Surprising Millions’ campaign offers total prizes worth AED 5 million in weekly draws, instant winnings and competitions. Since the start of the campaign, DSMG has reported brisk sales in all the participating twenty three malls which include Al Bustan Centre, Al Ghurair City, Al Manal Centre, Al Mulla Plaza , Arabian Center , BurJuman ,Century Mall ,Dubai Festival City, Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai Marina Walk, Dubai Outlet Mall, Gold & Diamond Park, Ibn Batutta Mall, Lamcy Plaza, Mazaya Center, Mercato Mall, Oasis Centre, Reef Mall, Souk Al Bahar and Downtown Burj, The Dubai Mall, Town Centre, Time Square Centre and WAFI Mall.

Around 4,000 retailers are participating in DSS 2009 with offers up to 75-90 percent discount on leading brands.

For further info, please contact: Lisa George, ASDA’A Burson Marsteller, Dubai. Tel: 0097143344550, E-mail: l.george@asdaa.com

DED hosts delegation from Diplomatic Ladies Group

The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) hosted a delegation from the Diplomatic Ladies Group, formed by the wives of Consul Generals of various embassies in Dubai and headed by Larisa Krasnogor, wife of the Russian consul-general to Dubai and chariman of the Group.The visit is part of the social, cultural and economic co-operation between the UAE government institutions and the various strata of the society.Mr Mohammed Shael, CEO, Business Registration and Licensing Division; Mr Mohammed Hilal, CEO, Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection; Mr Abdulrahman Shaban, Executive Director Governance and Internal Audit; and Mohammed Bushanain, Executive Director Business Excellence Centre, DED, received the visiting delegation who were given an insight into DED’s initiatives in business development, economic affairs, compliance & commercial protection and quality management.In an open dialouge, representatives from DED gave a comprehensive review of the Department’s role in enhancing the growth of Dubai’s business sector, DED’s relations with other government bodies, and the various programs, activities and initiatives provided by DED for customers and staff.Mr Mohammed Shael, who welcomed the delegation, reiterated the Department’s commitment to enhancing the economic growth of the emirate, increasing its competitiveness, promoting investment opportunities and consolidating Dubai’s standing as a knowledge-based economy. He said: “One of the strategic objectives of DED is to provide a suitable environment for international investors and entrepreneurs, and to encourage them to choose Dubai as an ideal destination for businesses”.“The visit of the Diplomatic Ladies Group goes a long way towards strengthening the long-standing relations between DED and various sectors of the society, and will contribute to enhancing the services offered to customers,” said Mr Shael.
 

Dubai Department Of Economic Development Praises Dubai Industrial City

The Director General of Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) toured Dubai Industrial City (DIC) and was introduced to various projects under development from more than 500 industrial investors located within the six industrial zones of the city.

Sami Daen Al Qamzi, DED’s Director General headed a delegation from the department which included Mr Mohammed Shael, CEO, Business Registration and Licensing Division, and other senior officials. He was welcomed by Khalid Al Malik, Chief Executive Officer of Tatweer. Rashed Al Ansari, Vice President of Dubai Industrial City, and heads of other departments at DIC, were among those present at the occasion.

The delegation from DED was informed about the latest developments at Dubai Industrial City, including the investments of more than 500 small and medium size industrial companies at the city, as well as the building of open storage lands, warehouses, logistics facilities and infrastructure work across the destination.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation and praising the achievements at Dubai Industrial City, Al Qamzi said: “The visit to DIC comes in line with DED’s keenness to enhance the growth of the industrial sector by attracting foreign investment and improving the overall investment climate of Dubai. DED is keen to provide industrialists with a high level of value added services in addition to offering them consultation, and ensuring that all their needs for basic services are met.”

The high-ranking DED tour of Dubai Industrial City came as part of the on-going cooperation between both entities. The DED has supported the city small and medium enterprises registered with the department and are interested in setting up industrial facilities at the city industrial sector.

The delegation toured the main offices of Dubai Industrial City, the offices of Dubai Industrial Academy (DIA) and the Taasees government service centre, which is the largest facility of its kind in the UAE, offering daily transaction services from 10 UAE government ministries and local departments. Also reviewed were the services offered to the public by the DED counter in Taasees to ensure that all requirements are met.

Al Malik said that the visit of the DED is a testimony of the role the destination plays in supporting the industrial sector in the country, as well as in increasing the cooperation between both entities through the exchange of expertise and sharing of knowledge on various industrial issues of interest including manufacturing, industrial marketing, quality and industrial standards.

Al Ansari added that the industrial hub has already commissioned several factories and industrial facilities including 2.8 million square feet of open storage yards, three million square feet of warehouses in addition to 64 showrooms, and four office buildings. The city is also witnessing the construction of 30 manufacturing facilities, at a cost of AED 1 billion that are due to be operational by end of 2010.

“Various industrial facilities and infrastructure projects are currently being built and we plan to operate several of them within the next couple of months. All these projects will eventually provide more support to the industrial sector and increase our close cooperation with the Department of Economic Development. ”

The 560 million sq. feet Dubai Industrial City is a comprehensive one stop-shop industrial and commercial destination featuring six industrial clusters including food and beverage, base metal, mineral products, chemicals, transport equipment and parts, as well as machinery and mechanical equipment.

DED and DTMFZA Sign Agreement To Facilitate Licensing Procedures For Investors

The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) and The Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority (DTMFZA) have signed a co-operation agreement to facilitate licensing procedures and provide a stronger growth-environment for investors in Dubai.As per the agreement, DED will open a new branch in DTMFZA to issue licenses, business registration services and save trade names for companies and corporations that are planning to do businesses in the emirate.This initiative is aimed at enhancing the business diversity within Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone by increasing geographical proximity between clients and service providers. It will contribute to adding more amenities and facilities to complement the lifestyle and operational requirements of the community, besides generating more business opportunities.

His Excellency Mr Sami Al Qamzi, Director General, DED, and His Excellency Ahmad Bin Byat, Director General, DTMFZA, signed the agreement. Officials from DED and DTMFZA attended the signing ceremony held, recently, at DED headquarters in Deira.“The agreement with DTMFZA comes in line with DED’s objective to enhance the performance of Dubai’s business sector. The Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority is one of the strong growth drivers of the Emirate’s economy and the new partnership will further enable investors to complete business initiation procedures swiftly,” said Mr Al Qamzi.  “DED will coordinate with concerned local and federal government bodies and encourage them to establish their branches within DTMFZA and assign staff members to offer comprehensive services to investors looking to set up new businesses. DED will also coordinate with DTMFZA to use DED’s data licensing and business registration system to review data and information related to all licenses,” added Sami.His Excellency Mr Bin Byat said: “The agreement plays a vital role in further strengthening the growth of the business sector in Dubai in line with the Dubai Government’s strategy. It will also contribute to providing a business-friendly environment – a key factor for the success of Dubai”.“DTMFZA is committed to cooperate with concerned government departments such as DED to attract investment and encourage trade and economic motion at all levels,” added Mr Bin Byat.

Dubai Department Of Economic Development And UAE Ministry Of Social Affairs Sign Mou On Licensing Of Social Activities

The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) and the UAE Ministry of Social Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further strengthen foreign investment in the Emirate, especially in social services.

The MoU is part of efforts to enhance Dubai’s economic development by facilitating procedures for investors and encouraging investment in social affairs. As per the MoU, the two parties will review the licensing of social activities, and exchange views, information, data, studies and projects related to such activities to develop social services structure.

His Excellency Mr Sami Daen Al Qamzi, Director General, DED, and His Excellency Abdullah Rashid Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Ministry of Social Affairs, signed the agreement. Officials from DED and the ministry attended the signing ceremony held at DED headquarters in Deira.

“We are pleased to sign the MoU with the Ministry of Social Affairs, which complements our objective to further strengthen the economic growth of the Emirate. The MoU’s focus on social services will help us to attract more investment and contribute to the social and economic welfare of the society. Together with the Ministry, DED will adopt international quality standards in monitoring social activities and raise the standard of related businesses,” said Mr Al Qamzi.

He added: “As per the MoU, we will organize periodic meetings to exchange expertise and discuss administrative, legal and technical issues related to the licensing of social affairs activities”.

His Excellency Mr Al Suwaidi said: “Partnership and coordination with federal and government departments is one of the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Social Affairs for the years 2008-2010. The MoU completes the ministry’s plan for 2008 and Q1 for 2009, which witnessed the signing of a number of successful partnerships. These agreements were positively reflected in the lives of UAE nationals and the services provided to them”.

“The ministry hopes the MoU with DED will be a model to follow for other local departments, NGOs and private sector as we seek to strengthen the standards of social services, facilitate procedures and further improve the quality of life of UAE nationals,” added Mr Al Suwaidi.

DED And The Italian Business Council Organise Business Meeting On Sustainable Economic Development

The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) and the Italian Business Council of Dubai and Northern Emirates organised a business meeting on “Together for sustainable economic development”. The event aimed at enhancing and strengthening strategic partnerships with public and private sector organisations and contributing to the economic development of the emirate.

Over 200 representatives from major private sector companies and corporations and several business councils and groups attended the meeting that highlighted the need for sustained co-operation in developing a viable and sustainable economy for the future of Dubai.

His Excellency Mr Sami Al Qamzi, Director General, DED, presented an overview of DED’s vision and mission and outlined DED’s structure with its four key agencies.

“Together with our agencies, the Foreign Investment Office, the Export Development Corporation, the Dubai Shopping Festival Office and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders which supports SME growth in Dubai, we will contribute to the economic growth plans of Dubai,” said Al Qamzi.

Al Qamzi added that DED’s focus in the short to medium term is to work together not only with other government departments but with the private sector to implement strategies to soften the impact of the global financial challenge, and to ensure the Dubai economy continues to be competitive.

"A key objective of ours is to work more closely with the private sector and ensure that they have the opportunity to provide inputs for economic policy development. In order to deliver economic policies that are in the best interest of Dubai and those who do business here, we must understand the issues that the private sector face in doing business in Dubai,” said Al Qamzi.

Dr Ottavia Molinari, President of the Italian Business Council, expressed her confidence in the various growth initiatives of Dubai and congratulated the government for its response to the global economic crisis. “The meeting on sustainable development offers a perfect opportunity for Italian entrepreneurs to analyse the growth potential offered by Dubai and partner in the growth story.”

“The strong international business representation in the event reflects the interest and need for the private sectors in meeting with the public organizations to work together in a common commitment to overcome the repercussions of the global financial crisis,” Dr Molinari added.

Khalid Al Kassim, Deputy Director General for Planning and Development, DED; Dr Raed Safadi, Chief Economist, DED; Mr Fahad Al Gergawi, CEO, Foreign Investment Office; Mr Saed Al Awadi, CEO, Dubai Export Development Corporation; Mr Mohammed Shael, CEO, Business Registration and Licensing Division, DED, gave an overview about strategy development in the areas of economic policy development, foreign investment, export development and business registration.