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 International Financial Centre Gets Full-Service Immigration Office for Convenience of Member Firms

A VIP delegation from the Dubai Naturalization and Residency Administration (DNRA), paid an official visit to the full-service immigration office at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), which caters to the needs of the growing DIFC community.Marwan Lootah, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at the DIFC Authority, welcomed the top-level delegation, which was led by Lt. Col. Awad Alowaim, Assitant Director for Management and Finance.

Members of the high-ranking DNRA delegation included Lt. Col. Khalifa Matar Mubarak, Assistant Director for External Centres Sector, as well as Khalid Adullkarim, Director of Finance and Investment; and 1st. Lieutenant Salem Bin Ali Head of Naturalization & Residency – DIFC.

Marwan Lootah, DIFC Authority Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, said: “We have created a lifestyle option at the DIFC, making it a preferred destination to live and work in for the global financial industry.

“Today, the DIFC is ranked the world’s fastest growing international financial hub. We have 20 of the world’s top 25 banks and 6 of the world’s 10 largest asset managers. Attracting top institutions from across the world has been helped in a major way by the ease of doing business from the DIFC. The partnership with the DRNA has brought another added convenience to the DIFC Community,” Lootah added.

LT. Col. Awadh Al Owaim Director of General Dep. Of Human Resourses & Finance at Department of Naturalization & Residency– Dubai (DNRD) said, "This visit comes in line with strengthening the strategic partnership and finding ways for collaboration with DIFC. He stressed the Department’s efforts to expand its corporate and community relations to execute one of the strategic plan goals that the Department pursues and to reinforce the integral and strong role between DNRD and its major strategic partners so they can achieve security system for the community in the Emirate of Dubai.

Lt. Col. Khalifa Matar Mubarak Asst Manager of External Centres Sections praised the efforts of staff in specialised areas at DIFC and pledged to overcome any obstacles facing them. He asserted his endeavour to enhance DNRD work at DIFC through creating a distinguished work environment to raise the performance level and support the sense of professional dedication of staff.This strengthens DNRD role, according to Balqoubaa, and its responsibilities in community through its contribution to the development of its political systems and internal communications and sustainability of the high quality and excellence in achievement.

Dubai World Championship: The Countdown Begins As Rolex Is Named First Official Sponsor

With 175 days to go until the Dubai World Championship, Leisurecorp, a division of Nakheel Leisure, has announced a global partnership with Rolex, naming the world’s leading watch company and the Official Timekeeper of The European Tour as the first official sponsor of the much anticipated season ending event of the inaugural Race to Dubai.The partnership also includes the significant sponsorship of this week’s European Open and the 2009 South African Open, which will take place at Pearl Valley Golf Estates, a Leisurecorp-owned golf resort.The agreement is part of a long-term strategic partnership across Leisurecorp’s trilogy of tournaments and extends throughout its global portfolio of golf assets which includes Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, Pearl Valley Golf Estates in South Africa, and Turnberry in Scotland – host venue for The Open Championship in 2009.A key sponsor of the four main bodies governing golf worldwide, Rolex adds three more tournaments to its prestigious calendar of golf events through its partnership with Leisurecorp, thus reinforcing its enduring commitment to and support for world golf.Jean-Noël Bioul, Co-Director, Sponsoring at Rolex, said: “As one of the Tour’s longest standing sponsors and sponsor to more than 20 tournaments in The Race to Dubai, the decision to back such an exciting group of tournaments was a natural progression for our long-term support of golf and one that we are very excited about.“The advent of The Race to Dubai and the drama that surrounds it has made this European Tour season arguably one of the most important in its long and distinguished history. Due to the quality of the competitors and the prize fund on offer, the grand finale in Dubai will be one of the most important sporting events to ever be hosted in the region and we are extremely pleased to be a part of it.”The Race to Dubai season-long competition includes 49 golf tournaments at 26 destinations around the world. The contest will climax in November, when the number 1 to 60 players qualify for the Dubai World Championship, thereby ensuring that only the world’s best players will have the chance to compete for what has become golf’s ultimate prize.Hamza Mustafa, Managing Director of Nakheel Leisure, said: “We are delighted to announce Rolex as a global partner to our international golf programme and as the very first official sponsor of the Dubai World Championship. To have the support and backing of such a respected and world-class brand provides a strong foundation for success, as we progress towards delivering the most anticipated and exciting tournament in world golf.“The Dubai World Championship will provide a thrilling crescendo to The Race to Dubai and in challenging economic times it just goes to show that the most desirable sponsorship properties will continue to attract considerable interest from the corporate community. This is the first of several major partnerships to be announced in the coming months.”The Dubai World Championship will be held on the Greg Norman-designed Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, from 19 to 22 November. The event recently received patronage from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of the Executive Council.The 32nd edition of The European Open will be the first of the three events, taking place at The London Golf Club in Kent from 28 to 31 May. This year, golf fans will be able to see a world-class field free of charge on any day of The European Open, following the huge success of The European Open’s ‘free ticket Thursday’ last year, which attracted nearly 24,000 spectators.The 2009 South African Open Championship will take place at Pearl Valley Golf Estates in South Africa, from 17 to 20 December. Set against the backdrop of the Drakenstein Mountains in the heart of the Cape Winelands, Pearl Valley is one of the most spectacular courses on the European Tour and the Championship promises to be an important event in the early stages of the 2009/2010 season.

Better Homes Launches Its Market Report On Dubai Real-Estate; Preview Analysis And Predictions Unveiled

Following the recent announcement of Better Homes’ strategic partnership with the expertise of Dubai-based Investment Boutique, a real estate research consultancy firm, to develop a comprehensive examination and forecast of the Dubai real estate market, the study, ‘State of the Market 2009’, is due for release on Wednesday 29th April.Covering several key chapters, State of the Market 2009 will address Residential, Commercial, Retail and Hospitality sectors; examining and predicting future behaviour of Dubai’s overall real estate market over the next 2-3 years.“This is the first time Better Homes has engaged in this sort of exhaustive market study,” said Ryan Mahoney, Managing Director, Better Homes LLC. “The report will aim to provide clarity to market observers during these turbulent times and will provide proprietary data, totaling approximately 100 pages of crucial insight in the full version of the report, available from Wednesday”.Providing a preview into the reports, available from Wednesday 29th April, Better Homes has unveiled the following information on Dubai’s real-estate market:Residential preview:
2009 – Affordability is the name of the game
• Prices will continue to fall as long as demand stalls and income levels remain at the point where property is not affordable for most end users
• A shakeout of speculative investors will lead to increased relative demand in the middle income market, rather than upper income segment.
• Rental demand will continue to exceed sales demand as uncertainty and liquidity constraints reign in buyers
Commercial preview:
2009 – Continued slowdown and decline in business activity further impacts sector
• Continued job losses in nearly all sectors of the economy, leading to companies looking to exit or downsize office space
• Price renegotiation will be sought by companies currently under contract
• Commercial projects that have not yet started construction, or made much progress in construction, are likely to be delayed, if not cancelled
• Lower office prices are likely to start attracting newly viable business venturesRetail preview:
2009 – Significant oversupply hits current occupancy levels
• Mall of the Emirates, Mercato & Deira City Center continue to trade at close to 100% occupancy
• Festival Center, Dubai Mall, and Dubai Marina Mall are all currently trading with noticeable unopened stores.
• Established malls with sound anchorage, positioning and parking continue to deliver more stable rental income streams, but should experience some downward pressure on historical 2008 rental income revenuesHospitality preview:
2009 occupancy rates fall on dwindling tourist arrivals and influx of supply:
• Plane fares and room rates have fallen, bolstering leisure tourist demand. Overall leisure tourists remain relatively stable from 2008 levels
• The state of the global economy begins to impact the Dubai hospitality sector as global business activity declines, resulting in a depression in hotel occupancies due to lack of business travel
• Hospitality projects that were previously delayed are delivered, increasing supply by an additional 30-35%
• Room rates drop on generally stable demand combined with increased supplyMuch more insight will be available from the State of the Market 2009 reports, which will be launched at a special price to ensure availability to a wide audience. During the launch period, each specific chapter will be offered at AED 275/- or as a full report at AED 950/-.Further details of State of the Market 2009 are available at www.bhomes.com
 

Attractive International Study Programs In Canada Offered To UAE Students During GETEX Dubai 2009

Education Zone (EZ), a leading education consultancy firm in the GCC, and Seneca College, one of Canada’s largest degree-granting colleges and a leader in polytechnic education, have announced a strategic partnership to offer UAE students a premium selection of “study abroad” programs during their joint participation in stand J314 at GETEX Dubai 2009, being held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from April 15 to 18, 2009.

EZ and Seneca will also jointly organize a seminar on Sunday (April 19, 2009) from 11:00 to 8:00 PM at the EZ headquarters in Knowledge Village as part of a campaign to promote awareness about the simplified process to gain access to the excellent higher-education programs being offered by Seneca. Representatives from Seneca are in Dubai to enlighten students about the advantages of Seneca’s study abroad programs particularly in terms of enhancing the job potential of students, while there will also be discussions on how applicants can take advantage of EZ’s education placement services to facilitate admission to one of Canada’s most prestigious academic institutions.

Angela Williams, Director, International and Business development, Seneca, said: “Having been here for many years, United Arab emirates has proved to be an important aspect of our International Student Development program because of the large number of students who pursue higher education abroad each year. We feel strongly that our partnership with Education Zone will allow us to better serve this region and help encourage more students from UAE to pursue quality education at Seneca. It is also our goal to strengthen our local presence in this region through our participation at GETEX Dubai, which will enable us to work closely and initiate projects with government and private organizations that support and offer scholarships to students who want to pursue higher education abroad.”

Suad Alhalwachi, Director, Education Zone, said: “Education Zone is offering its professional expertise in education placement services as part of a strategy to create a convenient and simplified platform to receive admission to Seneca. Our ultimate goal is to encourage more students to pursue world-class higher-education studies and enhance their career prospects and job potential.”

Seneca, which is achieving high overall student and employer satisfaction,” caters to over 2,000 international students from 75 countries, offering over 145 career ready programs, a four-year bachelor’s degree, two and three-year diploma programs, and one-year post-graduate “Specializations” programs. Being the largest government-funded college in Canada with a total student population of 17,800, Seneca has been privileged to provide all graduates one-year Canadian work permits while also offering students a range of off-campus part-time jobs.

Education Zone is a customer-focused organization with a total cumulative experience of over 100 years in the fields of education, management, recruitment, marketing and IT. As an international education consultancy firm, Education Zone provides professional advice and assistance to students, helping them make informed decisions in terms of choosing the appropriate country, course and academic institution.

Omniyat Property Services Enters Into Strategic Partnership With Independent Finance

Omniyat Property Services (OPS), an arm of Omniyat Asset Management, has partnered with Dubai-based firm Independent Finance, one of the UAE’s leading financial consulting firms, to provide tailored financing solutions to owners and tenants of Omniyat’s projects.

With this strategic partnership, OPS will be able to help investors deal with two major hurdles during the settlement phase by providing them with two unique financing alternatives: financing for fit-out and financing for the 15% payment. Financing packages can also be negotiated for tenants in an effort to help owners lease their properties.

Lloyd Budd, Commercial Director of Omniyat Property Services, said: “Omniyat has established this division, to offer key real estate functions to our clients, and to add significant value to their investment. With seven projects in Business Bay, our expertise and focus is tailor-made solutions for our clients through commercial leasing, property management, sales brokerage and turn-key-fit-out solutions. We also provide value added components such as finance, insurance and valuations.

“We have partnered with leading local and international agencies in Dubai to ensure that the client needs only one point of contact, but receive the benefit of numerous agencies working for him. Should a client require any additional, specialized services, OPS will find the right partners and will negotiate on his behalf to guarantee that he is getting the best value for his money,” he added.

Independent Finance is a specialist in financial consultancy and offers property owners and tenants tailored solutions. The company guides and assists clients to find the best financial products, which range from financing annual rents, monthly payment and worldwide mortgages, to private offshore banking.

“As the markets change and move, so do we; we are constantly bringing new and innovative financing options to the client, making sure to meet his exact needs. We believe that Omniyat is the best partner for our Handover Initiative, ‘Putting Client First.’ We both are committed to providing customers with a convenient and efficient way to capture and enhance the value of their property investments and maintaining high quality standards. The advantage of Independent Finance is that we deal with all professional lenders across the UAE and many international banks,” said Chris Green, Managing Director of Independent Finance.

The Exclusive Omniyat Handover Initiative ‘Putting Client First’ will help investors save up to 4% on currency transfers today by offering superior commercial exchange rates with no commissions and no transfer fees. The initiative also offers forward buying which limits orders to safeguard against rate fluctuations, without charges or regular monthly currency payments for corporate exchange rates on mortgages and pensions. A personal dedicated currency dealer is available to efficiently guide investors.

“Our aim with the OPS and Independent Finance partnership is to ensure investors’ properties achieve higher occupancy, better returns and a seamless tenant relationship. We measure our success one client at a time and provide solutions that are in the best interest of the owner and tenant,” concluded Budd.

Thales International Of France Expands Regional Operations

HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airport Free Zone has expressed satisfaction at the level of cooperation and strategic partnership between Thales International Co. and the Dubai Airport Free Zone where the French company has its regional office.

HH Sheikh Ahmed said: “Thales presence in the Dubai Airport Free Zone supports the commercial and business co-operation between UAE and France and the global business opportunities that have become a major necessity in the information based economy”.

HH Sheikh Ahmed and Dr. Mohammed Al Zarouni, Director General of the Dubai Airport Freezone met the company’s high-level delegation led by Alexandre de Juniac, Executive Vice President of Thales and Chairman of Thales International Asia, Afica, Middle East and Latin America, . Also present were Olivier Badard, the President, Thales International, Middle East based in the Dubai Airport Free Zone and Raphael Eskinazi, Director General, Thales International and Michael Licoc, Director of Abu Dhabi branch.

HH Sheikh Ahmed added: “Many big companies such as Thales have established operations in Dubai and this underscores the emirate’s good investment environment and the required infrastructure for these companies to do business.”

HH Sheikh Ahmed noted that Dubai is looking forward to more cooperation between the Dubai Airport Free Zone and the global companies and businessmen in UAE and neighboring countries as well.

He emphasized the importance of supporting the commercial goals of these companies through facilitating measures to achieve Dubai’s strategy to attract international organizations to the Dubai Airport Free Zone.

“”Over the past 30 years, Thales has been a proud industrial partner of the UAE both in the civilian and defence markets. In Dubai alone, with more than 250 local staff based in the Emirate, Thales is a major contributor to the Dubai Airport and Metro projects in the field of security and signalling and look forward to continuing supporting DCAA and RTA over the next many years.
Dubai also houses Thales’ Regional Headquarter for the Middle East region. The Dubai Airport Free Zone under leadership of Dr Zarouni has proven to be the ideal vehicle to base its regional operations and benefit from Dubai ’s unique airport infrastructure.”” said Mr. Badard.

The company’s office, located in the Dubai Airport Free Zone, adjacent to Dubai International Airport, represents an extra boon to connect Thales to its strategic partners in the region and helps more efficient work, Mr. Badard added.

Dr. Al Zarouni added that the Dubai Airport Free Zone, with more than 1500 multinational companies, over 70% of which are international companies, saves no effort to provide the best facilities and services for these companies. He stressed that Thales is one of the leading companies in our list of global organizations choosing Dubai as a base.

Speaking on behalf of Thales, Mr. De Juniac said, “Over the past 30 years, Thales has been a proud industrial partner of the UAE both in the civilian and defence markets. In Dubai alone, with more than 250 local staff based in the emirate, Thales is a major contributor to the Dubai Airport and Metro projects in the field of security and signaling and look forward to continuing supporting DCAA and RTA over the next many years.”

“Dubai also houses Thales’ Regional Headquarter for the Middle East region. The Dubai Airport Free Zone under leadership of Dr Zarouni has proven to be the ideal platform to base its regional operations and benefit from Dubai’s unique airport infrastructure,” Mr. De Juniac concluded.

Dubal and DP World Sign New Four-Year Contract

Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (“DUBAL”) – the world’s largest modern smelter with a captive power station, and DP World, UAE region have extended their strategic partnership, signing a new four-year contract to handle DUBAL’s inbound and outbound cargo management services. The contract entails DP World handling more than 14.5 million tonnes of imported raw materials and close to 5 million tonnes of aluminium products for export to destinations across the globe.

“The signing of this new contract between DUBAL and DP World brings great pleasure to me, as it reinforces the long-term, mutually beneficial relationship between two world-class UAE entities, both of which are strong brands in their respective fields of expertise,” says Abdulla J M Kalban (President & CEO: DUBAL). “The partnership between our two organisations will undoubtedly be enhanced.”

Mohammed Sharaf (CEO: DP World), said, “We are delighted to extend our contract with DUBAL. We have had a close relationship over 30 years, during which time we have grown with DUBAL, expanding and developing to continue to meet their needs. We value the new contract with them as recognition that our advanced technology and focus on excellent service helps DUBAL achieve high levels of operational efficiency.”