Business
Dynamic companies shaping Dubai’s future
Emirates Airlines
“award-winning service and record results.”
The Emirates Airlines is an aviation success story and a reflection of Dubai’s potential. Launched in 1985, the Dubai-based airline was named “best scheduled airline in the Middle East and Far East” at the prestigious Travel Weekly Globe awards this year, and was also chosen “best first-class airline in the world” and “best airline for business class to the Middle East” by readers of Business Traveler magazine, among many other top awards.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates’ Chairman and CEO, announced in September 2007 that the airline had achieved an impressive 99 percent growth in net profits in the first half of the year compared to the first half of 2006, with the number of passengers rising by 23 percent to reach 10.3 million over the six-month period. “We have continued to invest in a high-quality product for our customers,” he says.
Etisalat
“meets the challenge of competition.”
Etisalat has met the challenge of the United Arab Emirates’ decision to allow a second operator in the local market. Building on its 30 years of experience, the former monopoly player has not only maintained a huge market share at home but has also expanded rapidly throughout the region and is now licensed to provide telecommunications services in 15 countries.
A winning combination of best-of-breed technology, a third-generation and 3.5-generation network that covers 97 percent of the United Arab Emirates, a commitment to providing the best services, and a highly trained workforce are the keys to Etisalat’s success. Essa Al Haddad, Chief Marketing Officer, comments, “Etisalat has become a strong competitor to many of the biggest telecommunications corporations worldwide by following a policy of setting industry standards and matching the best operators worldwide, even in the absence of local competition.”
Dubai World
“putting Dubai on the map”
Dubai World, which manages and supervises businesses and projects for the government of Dubai, has been instrumental in bringing about Dubai’s rapid development in a wide range of sectors. Dubai World’s subsidiaries include property developer Nakheel, responsible for the headline-grabbing Palm and World projects as well as for Dubai Waterfront, the world’s biggest and most ambitious waterfront development to date.
Other flagship companies within the Dubai World group are DP World, now ranked the third-largest port operator on the planet, and Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA), both of which have won numerous awards for their facilities and services.
Dubai World continues to make headlines and to add value to Dubai’s attractions as a business hub. Limitless, which handles master developments for Dubai World, recently announced a USD 11 billion project to design and build the Arabian Canal, the largest, most complex civil-engineering project ever undertaken in the Middle East.
Emaar Properties
“building tomorrow today”
The world’s tallest building – the USD 20 billion Burj Dubai, set for completion in 2008 – is only one of the headline-making properties currently under construction or planned by dynamic Emaar Properties, which has projects throughout the Middle East and beyond.
Now ranked one of the world’s biggest real-estate enterprises, Emaar Properties is listed on the Dubai Financial Market, the Dow Jones Arabia Titans Index, and the Financial Times Global 500 index. Emaar Properties entered the retail sector last year, investing more than USD 4 billion in the development of around 140 shopping malls throughout the Middle East, North Africa and India.
Emaar Properties is well on the way to reaching its goal of becoming one of the world’s most valuable companies by 2010: the company’s third-quarter 2007 revenues showed an increase of 48 percent over the same period in 2006. Arif Amiri, Emaar Properties’ Director Investor Relations, Corporate Governance and Business Development, comments, “Emaar’s third-quarter 2007 results reflect the overwhelming response to our international sales launches and are indicative of Emaar’s success in replicating our Dubai bus
Jumeirah International
“stays different”
Jumeirah International, the rapidly growing Dubai-based luxury hospitality group, is helping to make Dubai one of the world’s top tourism destinations and is setting industry standards for upscale tourism projects worldwide.
Jumeirah International’s flagship hotel, Burj Al Arab, was recently named the world’s most luxurious hotel in the Condé Nast Reader’s Choice awards. This magnificent property is truly off the scale, having been ranked a seven-star hotel when five stars are considered the ultimate.
Jumeirah International will continue to set benchmarks for its competitors to attempt to match. New ventures include an agreement to manage a unique property in Dubai’s high-profile Palm Jumeirah development that aims to set new standards for exclusive service. At all Jumeirah International properties, guests can be sure of having the experience of a lifetime.
