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.

Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment For Young Business Leaders Highlights Governmental Support For Small And Medium Enterprises

The Government Purchase Programme at Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders organized a debate on the role of the government sector in supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The session aimed at clarifying the relation between the government sector and Program’s members and the role of government departments in developing the SME sector.

Mrs Ibtihal Naji, Manager – Government Procurement Programme; Mr Osama Al Muharam, Assistant Manager, Mr Yousef Lootah, Senior Executive, and Mr. Essam Disi, Manager – Policy Formulation attended the session in addition to a number of directors and team members from the purchasing and contracting governmental departments.

Mrs Ibtihal Naji said: “This initiative comes in line with the directions of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, focusing on supporting nationals and to enhance their role in the development process through SMEs. This session is the result of several meetings arranged by the institution with government departments. We are looking forward to launch new initiatives aimed at enriching debate about legislations and laws on the relations between government departments and national SMEs.”

The session highlighted the success stories of the national SMEs and also showcased examples and case studies about the relationship between the government and SMEs.

Mr Yousef Lootah said: “Representatives from contracting and purchasing government departments discussed issues on their relations with Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders. The purchasing law to offer 5 % from the government purchases for the welfare of the Establishment’s members formed a major part of the discussions. The session also presented a clear picture on the support provided by government departments to small and medium businesses.”

Mr. Osama Al Muharam also discussed the purchasing plans of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders for the current year. This will further strengthen the relations with the government sector and enhance productivity and performance of the Establishment members.

The growth in the value of procurements from the Government Procurement Program (GPP) in Dubai over the last six years reached more AED 728 million till the end of 2008. The value of procurements made by governmental and semi-governmental sectors from members of the GPP for the year 2008 reached to AED 240 million, while it reached around AED 27 million from the private sector.

Dubai Customs Develops Two Approaches Of Enterprise Architecture And Polls Management

Dubai Customs received on Monday, May 25th, 2009 a delegation from Dubai Courts headed by Doctor Yousof Ali Hamid Al Suwaidy, Director of the Strategy and Corporate Performance Management who learned about a number of programs and approaches implemented at Dubai Customs. The visit comes as part of the cooperation and expertise exchanging initiative among governmental departments.

At the beginning of the visit, Mr. Ahmed Abdul Salam Kazim, Director of Strategy and Corporate Excellence at Dubai Customs has welcomed the Dubai Courts delegation. "This visit sustains the strong relations between the two departments and helps improve mutually implemented programs by exchanging expertise and knowledge. Dubai Customs takes pride in the programs it implements as they are developed internally without seeking any external help. The programs also rely on the extensive experience of the Department’s employees and on their understanding of the clients’ needs and requirements. Therefore, the results are always fruitful and cost effective”, he said.

The Dubai Courts delegation has learned about the most prominent programs adopted at Dubai Customs through a presentation given by the Department of Strategy and Corporate Excellence and the Department of Business Process. Some of the issues that were discusses also include: Enterprise Architecture and Process Management, the department’s methods for conducting opinion polls and its internal and external Satisfaction Surveys system. In addition to discussing Dubai Customs’ Standards of Excellence in relation to the quality of service , environmental policies, workplace health and safety policies as well as several other high standard programs all of which have contributed to Dubai Customs’ obtaining international Excellence Certificates and recognition.

Thanking Dubai Customs and praising its work methodology, Doctor Yousof Al Suwaidy said:" This visit is part of Dubai Courts coordination with other governmental departments aiming for continuous improvement and development in order to achieve Performance Excellence. Therefore, we are keen to know more about the distinguished practices that are applied by Dubai Customs, especially those that deal with managing and developing business and opinions polls systems. Despite the fact that some departments within Dubai Government cater for different clients, in general, there are many similar aspects of the work programs between them, and thus it would be useful to benefit from the wide-ranging scope of expertise that could be applicable from one department to another.”

One of the common aspects that Doctor Yousof Al Suwaidy pointed out was the fact that the Strategy Divisions at both Dubai Customs and Dubai Courts conduct Opinion Surveys programs in cooperation with the Human Resources Divisions in both departments. He said:" The practices implemented at Dubai Customs are exceptional, thus we intend to exchange expertise regarding this in the upcoming future".

The Dubai Courts delegation included Khalifa Mohammad Al Mahrizy, Head of the Performance Management sector, Miss Mariam Bin Lahej, Head of Quality Department, Ms. Mariam Hassan Al Marri, Head of the Polls, Complaints and Suggestions Department and Miss Suhaila Thani Al Mohairy, Officer of Complaints Suggestions. The delegation members were accompanied and received at Dubai Customs by Doctor Ahmad Al Hindawy, Advisor to the Corporate Excellence Department, Mr. Ahmed Saeed Al Khuroosi, Senior Manager of Business Process Department as well as Miss Shamsa Al Raisi, a Study Expert at Strategy and Corporate Excellence division.

The delegation has listened to a presentation on the methodologies implemented at Dubai Customs to conduct and study opinion polls as well as their effect on the department’s annual plans and strategic objectives. Several examples of these surveys which were done with clients, employees, suppliers, strategic alliances or other society members were demonstrated during the visit.

A presentation on the methodology of Enterprise Architecture and Process Management that applies the System Architect technology has been given to the delegation. This system is designed according to the best international practices in the field of Enterprise Architecture and applying it contributed to forming a comprehensive image about the Department. It also prevented the overlapping of tasks between the different organizational units and divisions. The system assists as well in allocating the best cost effective alternatives for Enterprise Architecture by using the simulation feature in the implemented methodology.

At the end of the visit, Mr. Ahmed Saeed Al Khuroosi and Mr. Yousof Al Suwaidy have exchanged memorial gifts and agreed to continue mutual communication and to exchange expertise between Dubai Customs and Dubai Courts in the near future.