United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi, capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has defied critics since its formation as the UAE capital on December 2, 1971. The British announced a total withdrawal from the Trucial States, later renamed the UAE, in 1968.
Area: 26,000 square miles Population: 1,6 million Language: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu GDP per capita: USD 22,000 Monetary unit: AED Imports: Machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food Exports: Crude oil, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Vision and leadership of Sheikh Zayed creates peace and prosperity
H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President
This prompted many skeptics – noting the poverty, history and fickle nature of Middle Eastern politics – to believe it impossible to build an independent nation out of seven emirates.
Yet wealth from oil exports helped the UAE to escape poverty. Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the seven-emirate federation, the UAE is today a nation of peace and prosperity.
Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven emirates, with 1.6 million residents. It accounts for more than 90 percent of the country’s oil reserves, and 85 percent of the country’s actual output. With the third largest proven oil reserves in the world, the UAE has an estimated output of 2.6 million barrels per day (bpd), projected to increase to four million bpd in the future. Abu Dhabi is thus the wealthiest city in the UAE, evident in its modern skyscrapers and clean streets.
Oil exports began in 1962, transforming an arid land of traveling Bedouin tribes dependent on pearl harvesting, date farming and trading into a wealthy, modern metropolis. Under the leadership of President Zayed, Abu Dhabi is pursuing privatization and diversification.
Oil wealth has given the government power akin to that of a venture capitalist. The government has provided the overwhelming bulk of the funds for the federation’s development, and in Abu Dhabi, every viable, innovative business proposal has the chance of finding funding through the government. This report highlights some of the emirate’s greatest non-oil entrepreneurial success stories.
President Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, referred to by his people as His Highness Sheikh Zayed, has served as ruler of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, one of the seven emirates that together comprise the Federation of the UAE, for almost 38 years. Sheikh Zayed has also been President of the UAE since its creation on December 2, 1971. It is his vision and leadership to which many in Abu Dhabi attribute their success and prosperity.
Now aged 93, the President still actively looks after his country and his emirate and remains much-loved. As Bedouin tradition dictates, Sheikh Zayed is an accessible ruler who constantly speaks with and listens to his people, often visiting them in their homes. Under his leadership, Emirati citizens receive free education, healthcare and land for farming from the government. Sheikh Zayed is assisted by his sons, in particular his son Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
General Exhibitions Corporation
Ahmad Humaid Al Mazrouie, Acting Director General
The creation of the General Exhibitions Corporation (GEC) in 1998 came as a direct result of the Abu Dhabi Government’s forward planning. GEC was initially created to be a regulator of the exhibitions industry in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, and to raise industry practices to the highest international standards.
The exhibition and conference industry brings two tangible results to any economy: a focus on sectoral industries that attract contracts and direct investments, as well as visitors who drive growth in the tourism and hospitality sectors. GEC’s vision is to establish an active channel of cultural and trading contacts between the Middle East and other parts of the world.
As a government company, GEC enjoys the full support of every government department in the capital, as common goals are shared. These goals include the growth and diversification of the economy, and the development of Abu Dhabi as the preferred destination to do business in – and with – in the Middle East.
Historically, due to the UAE’s strategic location on many of the region’s principal trading routes, the countrybecame popular as a port of call, allowing the coastal settlements to develop and prosper. Since then, the UAE has continued to welcome seafarers and traders to its shores, where they have been greeted by a strong tradition of hospitality. Merchants have spread their business from the shores into the growing towns, and this type of commerce forms one of the foundations of the country’s heritage.
Exhibitions have also always been part of the region’s tradition. Seasonal markets such as ‘Okadh’ were annual events to which merchants traveled from around the peninsula in order to trade goods. Trade caravans were themselves moving exhibitions with every stop on the way, a new opportunity to buy and sell merchandise. The ‘Made in the UAE’ exhibition showcased by GEC takes into consideration the tradition and cultural dimension of trade caravans. ‘Made in UAE’ is a proactive step specifically designed to show the export potential and investment opportunities of the UAE abroad, to enhance export statistics for the country, and to promote Abu Dhabi industries.
Today, the UAE’s multi-cultural environment owes much to its position mid-way between the East and the West, and this welcoming environment is fostered through the Islamic values of courtesy and hospitality.
The Government’s commitment to driving industry and business opportunities for Abu Dhabi and the UAE through exhibitions was clear from the inception of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in 1993. The organization of the event, founded on the instruction of the UAE Government and the UAE Armed Forces, was handed over to the newly created GEC, which was given the mission of developing further specialized exhibitions to enhance the UAE’s economic growth.
IDEX is not alone in attracting this level of support; every exhibition has a strong level of government / ministry commitment, from the Ministry of Defence (IDEX), the Ministry of Interior (Security & Safety), and the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (ADIPEC), to the office of the President H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (Environment).
One of GEC’s primary objectives is to develop alliances with key international partners. By being proactive and working alongside experts in the various fields, GEC is set to continue its business expansion and raise its global profile to new heights.
CONSTRUCT-light+building, a joint venture between GEC and Messe Frankfurt, is one result of the organisation’s objective to build alliances. Security & Safety Middle East has teamed up with Messe Essen as well. The Jordan Armed Forces also signed an agreement to work with GEC for their Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference (SOFEX), held at the King Abdulla Military Airbase in Amman, Jordan.
GEC’s headquarters are based on site at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition and Conference Centre (ADIEC), providing full administrative servi-ces all year-round. The multi-national staff members are professional, dedicated, highly qualified, and undergo frequent training to maintain their skills at an optimum level. In accordance with the UAE Government’s Nationalisation policy for the employment sector, GEC is committed to achieving 50 percent Nationalisation of its staff in the immediate term. Employees are encouraged to develop their skills in order that they can maximize their potential for the benefit of the company’s future success. This does not mean, however, that other nationalities do not play a role in GEC; on the contrary, GEC believes that each member of staff plays a vital role in the success of the corporation, hence all staff members receive complete support from the management.
Though a government organization, GEC functions as a private enterprise, delivering world-class facilities and services, and real opportunities for customers to do business. With support from the very top echelons of the UAE Government, GEC’s prime objective is to continue to lead from the front.
Sharjah
