Dubai – July 29th, 2010: SanDisk® Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), the inventor and world’s largest supplier of flash storage cards for digital consumer products today announced its participation with Rock Nation, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) first local rock talent platform. For the month of July, Rock Nation is conducting the July Rockathon, which is sponsored by SanDisk Middle East and Africa to encourage budding local rock music talent.

The July Rockathon is an on-going rock and roll event that has 16 bands playing on four back-to-back weekends all through the month of July at different venues across Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Elaborating on SanDisk’s participation, Tareq Husseini, SanDisk’s Middle East and Africa Sales Director said: “We have constantly read about the lack of sponsors in the entertainment industry to encourage and harness young talent in the region. We, at SanDisk, believe in encouraging new talent and providing them a platform to showcase their skills. We hope that our partnership with Rock Nation will provide rock music in the region the much-needed boost.”

The performances so far in the month of July included IED, Fatiniza – the Columbian performer who launched her debut album – Confusion, GoPilot – The energy punk rock and BrownFusion – the reggae rock band among others.

The final performance slated for July 30th, 2010 is an acoustic show for all ages and will be held at The Shelter, Al Quoz. Some of the performing bands include Point of View, IED, BrownFusion, Ray the BeatBoxer and many more. One band will be selected from the 16 finalists that have the talent to put Dubai on the international rock and roll map.

Rudy Karsan

Dubai; July 28, 2010: Kenexa® (NASDAQ: KNXA), a leading provider of business solutions for human resources, today announced the acquisition of The Centre for High Performance Development (Holdings) Limited (). CHPD’s extensive research on leadership development and training will add to Kenexa’s existing research and content portfolio.

Founded in 1996 and with offices in London and New York, CHPD specializes in leadership development and management training.  Kenexa’s acquisition of CHPD further expands the company’s leadership development expertise by joining some of the most experienced consultants and researchers in the world and is expected to create one of the strongest leadership development, management training, diversity and inclusion, and executive coaching teams in the industry.

Rudy Karsan, Kenexa’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We’re delighted to welcome CHPD and its clients to the Kenexa family. CHPD’s leadership model has been used by more than 100 organizations around the world and its database of more than 10,000 leadership profiles is recognized as one of the foremost benchmarking tools available today. The combination of Kenexa and CHPD will provide the most researched and proven leadership development content in the industry.  CHPD is a valuable addition to the Kenexa family and our clients will benefit from its depth of offerings.”

CHPD’s clients will also benefit from Kenexa’s award-winning technology offerings and comprehensive solutions for employment branding, recruitment technology, employee assessment, recruitment process outsourcing, performance management, employee surveys and HR analytics.

“Joining with Kenexa is an exciting opportunity for CHPD and our clients,” said Chris Parry, Chairman and Co-Founder of CHPD. “Kenexa’s business solutions approach to human resources fits perfectly with CHPD’s research-based solutions in leadership development, diversity & inclusion and executive coaching. The strength of our combined company broadens significantly the services we can offer to our clients.”

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.  Kenexa does not expect the transaction to have a material impact on the company’s non-GAAP net income. The company will provide guidance for the third quarter and full year 2010, which includes the anticipated contribution from CHPD, when it issues its financial results for the second quarter 2010.

July 27, 2010

DuPont today reported second-quarter 2010 consolidated net sales of $8.6 billion, 26 percent higher than the prior year. These reflect 21 percent higher volume, 5 percent higher local selling prices, one percent positive impact from currency exchange rates, and one percent reduction from portfolio changes. All segments had double-digit sales increases, with more than 25 percent volume growth in the Electronics & Communications, Performance Materials, and Safety & Protection segments. Emerging markets sales increased 32 percent. Net income attributable to DuPont for the second quarter 2010 was $1.2 billion versus $0.4 billion in 2009.  Excluding significant items in both years, net income attributable to DuPont increased 92 percent from the second quarter 2009.

“Our outstanding focus and disciplined execution delivered excellent results,” said DuPont Chair and CEO Ellen Kullman. “DuPont’s global team worked closely with customers, applying the breadth and depth of our science capabilities to meet market needs. We grew sales across every segment. Several businesses, including electronics and titanium dioxide, delivered results that far exceeded pre-recession levels. We continue to hit our productivity and cost-control targets, and remain highly disciplined in creating operating leverage to further grow the company.”

The company increased its full-year earnings outlook to a range of $2.90 to $3.05 per share, excluding significant items, from its previous range of $2.50 to $2.70 per share.  The outlook increase reflects strong second-quarter results and expected continuation of year-over-year gains from higher sales, further strengthening of mid-cycle businesses such as Safety & Protection, and ongoing productivity improvement.  The outlook also assumes Pharmaceuticals full-year pre-tax income will be in a range from $460 to $480 million.  The company expects full-year free cash flow to be greater than $1.7 billion.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company.  Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.  Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

July 27, 2010

Jotun Paints, one of the world’s leading producers and suppliers of paints and coatings, has launched an Arabic version of its ‘Jotun Lady’ website (http://lady.jotun.com), following the successful launch of the English website last year and demands for a localised online portal from women customers in the region. The online initiative, which incorporates features to guide users on the latest design trends and help them update the overall appearance of their homes, is aimed at further expanding the website’s reach and enhancing service levels provided for regional customers.  Designed as a new contact point between the ‘LADY’ brand and its target users, the highly interactive portal provides users with extensive product information, advice on colour psychology, as well as on how to decorate their homes.

The Arab world is continually witnessing increasing usage of the Internet, with majority of sectors in the region recording rising online dependence for both information and connectivity. Combining this growing trend with the insight that almost half of the users of the famous online networking site Facebook in the region utilises Arabic as their primary language according to latest reports, Jotun has identified the potential in launching the ‘Jotun Lady’ website in the vernacular.  The website also links to ‘Colour Advisor’, Jotun Paints’ revolutionary, easy-to-use online colour visualisation tool that lets users enjoy a more realistic experience through the extended interactivity and accessibility to more colours.

“Having the website in Arabic allows us to talk to Arab women without any barrier and directly in the language that they feel, think, and use to communicate naturally,” said Trine Finnevolden, General Manager, Jotun Paints UAE. “With the growing affinity of Arab women towards using the Internet, we have been inspired to communicate with them through technology in a platform that will revolve around inspiration, colours and advice for choosing the right paint products and colours, which enables them to make better planning and painting decisions. In addition to the website, we are also looking to launch domain names in Arabic, as a testament to our focus on the regional market.”

July 26, 2010

Danube Building Materials, the leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries, has announced its expansion plan that aims to penetrate the Africa market and strengthen its presence in the Middle East through dealer and franchise networks. This follows the opening of the first ‘Danube BUILDMART’ branch at in India, which marked the leading company’s 22nd global store. Specifically, the company revealed that it expanding to Qatar and other parts of Saudi Arabia and Oman, as well as in China, where it currently has one of its major manufacturing plants.

Initially established as a building materials supplier, Danube transformed into a one-stop shop concept called ‘Danube BUILDMART’ in 2009, offering products from a host of reputed vendors  as well as expert product and design advice under a single roof. Today, there are a total of nine ‘Danube BUILDMART’ stores in operation, which the company hopes to grow to 16 branches by 2010 through the AED 200 million expansion plan it has embarked on since the second quarter of this year. Including its non-‘BUILDMART’ stores, the company has a total of 22 global retail facilities – 16 in the UAE, two in Oman, one each in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and two in India as well. The company has also invested AED 50 million in a new 1.3 million square feet manufacturing facility in TechnoPark, which will be functional by early 2011.

“With the global economy approaching the recovery phase and investors starting to regain confidence in the regional market as a result of massive government actions to revive the construction and real estate industries, we are expecting the demand for building materials in the Middle East and Africa to witness a significant increase this year,” said Rizwan Sajan, Chairman, Danube Building Materials. “We have already made massive investments toward additional manufacturing hubs to boost our production and sufficiently address the expected rise in demand, and now our focus is to establish highly convenient ‘Danube BUILDMART’ stores in the most strategic locations within our target regions.” 

Danube has also recently launched an AED 15 million ‘Danube BUILDMART’ in Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai, thereby marking its third retail branch to be based within a mall, which is a new concept pioneered by the company. Spanning an area of 15,000 sq. feet, ‘Danube BUILDMART’ in Ibn Battuta Mall offers products from a host of reputed international and regional vendors under a single roof, installed in an actual home set-up to allow customers to enjoy a more personalised shopping experience with excellent service and design assistance.

“Staying true to our commitment to being the pioneer in the industry, we are taking major strides to acquire major market share thought the MENA region in the next five years. We believe that this is the perfect time to expand to be able to place ourselves in a strategic position to fully leverage the opportunities once the market fully recovers,” concluded Sajan. 

Driven by the significant growth it has witnessed in the recent years, Danube recently announced that it is looking at an initial public offering (IPO) listing in Saudi Arabia or the UAE within the next 5 years. Targeting to secure AED 2.5 to AED 3 billion in total revenues in the next three to four years, after hitting a total of AED 1 billion in annual turnover despite the challenges presented by the financial crisis, the company revealed that it is also open to dual listing in both countries.

Andrew Shaw, Managing Director of Ducab receives ‘Superbrands’ award

Dubai, July 26, 2010- Following a year marked by business expansions, Ducab—one of the leading manufacturers of power cables in the Middle East—has been honoured for the second consecutive year by the Superbrands organisation for its marketing and branding excellence.  The honour is a powerful endorsement that recognizes Ducab’s exceptional work in positioning the brand while strengthening business relationships from its UAE headquarters. Ducab has been chosen for second time as a UAE “Superbrand” against stiff competition and as one of the very few recognised industrial brands.

Andrew Shaw, Managing Director of Ducab, says that as one of the leading companies in the UAE’s manufacturing sector, Ducab is very proud to have been recognised & honoured by the local business community and its industry peers.  “Focusing on client relationships coupled with the development of reliable & high quality products has taken us far in the past thirty years,” comments Shaw.  “As a joint venture between the governments of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, our success is a testament to the remarkable achievements that can be realised by mutual cooperation and the visionary leadership of UAE as a whole.”

Ashish Chaturvedy, Marketing Manager at Ducab, says, “Our products are supplied to partners around the world including Middle East, Asia & Africa from a series of UAE factories and business offices.  The company has consistently gained ground over the years, capturing a market share of over 50 per cent in the UAE and with strong ambition to expand within the GCC region over the next few years.” 

With two factories in Jebel Ali—one of which is a cable factory and the other a PVC compounding plant—the company also operates two cable manufacturing facilities in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE’s first copper rod casting plant also located in Abu Dhabi.  Looking to the future, Ducab is also preparing to launch a high-voltage cables factory jointly owned by ADWEA & DEWA (known as Ducab HV) which is currently under construction in Dubai and due for completion during 2011.

This last year, Ducab’s advanced cable solutions have laid the foundation for world-renowned projects including the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Metro and the Yas Marina Circuit, amongst many other landmark projects within the region and overseas.

July 25, 2010

Abdallah Massaad receiving Superbrand award

RAK Ceramics, the world’s largest ceramic tiles & sanitaryware manufacturing company, has announced that it has been named as one of the UAE’s SuperBrands in 2010, a distinction it has earned for the second consecutive year. The award ceremony was held on 20th of July at the Intercontinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City. RAK Ceramics was presented the UAE SuperBrand award by the SuperBrand Council, the world’s largest independent brand arbiter.

RAK Ceramics has been credited for helping enhance the reputation of Ras Al Khaimah and the rest of the UAE as an ideal manufacturing base through its powerful global brand image and its sustained efforts to set new industry benchmarks and expand its presence in all international markets. Available in more than 150 countries, the RAK Ceramics brand is also renowned worldwide for offering the industry’s widest selection of colours, textures and finishes as well as an extensive array of coordinating trim and angle pieces.

Dr. Khater Massaad, CEO, RAK Ceramics said: “The UAE SuperBrand award reaffirms the continued success of our brand awareness campaign, which focuses on product quality and service excellence. Moreover, the distinction serves as a powerful endorsement of RAK Ceramics’ ability to deliver on its brand promise, which is to be a trend setter and a benchmark for quality in the global ceramic tile industry. RAK Ceramics will continue to pursue its aggressive brand identity programs in parallel with our efforts to maintain the highest quality standards in all our products and services, in line with our mission to enhance customer loyalty and further strengthen our brand image across global markets.”

In addition to the UAE SuperBrand label, RAK Ceramics has also consistently won several other industry distinctions, including being rated as among the top four brands in the UAE by Brand Finance Middle East of the UK, Company of the Year by Arabian Business Awards, and the MRM Business Award for manufacturing, the topmost manufacturing award in the UAE. Earlier in April 2010, RAK Ceramics was awarded the Best Brand at Middle East Business Leaders Summit and Awards held in Dubai. Moreover, in the latest issue of Ceramic World Review, RAK Ceramics was officially recognised as the world’s largest manufacturer of ceramic tiles.

The Ras Al Khaimah-based company was established in 1991 by H.H. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah and RAK Ceramics Chairman, and Dr. Khater Massaad, CEO, who directed the company towards global competitiveness, technological advancement, and high-quality production. Within just a decade of operations, RAK Ceramics quickly established itself as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of ceramic tiles and, ultimately, the largest producer in the global market.

RAK Ceramics’ products include world-class ceramic wall and floor tiles, Gres Porcellanato, and sanitary ware, which are distributed in Europe, Asia, Australia, USA and Canada. The company uses more than 8,000 production models, with new designs added almost every week to its product portfolio.

Renowned as an industry pioneer, RAK Ceramics is the world’s first company to launch Luminous, Golden or Silver Glazed tiles and the Antimicrobial, a super specialty tile for the hospital industry. RAK Ceramics’ latest creations include the high-valued brand “Elegance Ceramics”, and “RAKSLIM”, an eco-friendly 4.5-millimetre thick tile that sets new industry benchmarks in thickness, strength, cost and ease of use.

The SuperBrand Council consists of eminent personalities in the world of branding and seeks to pay tribute to established brands all over the world. The SuperBrand Council also produces various publications featuring the world’s SuperBrands. Being voted a SuperBrand serves as a powerful endorsement and evidence for existing and potential customers, media, suppliers, investors and employees of a brand’s exceptional status.

The public-listed RAK Ceramics is currently the world’s largest manufacturer of ceramic and porcelain tiles accounting for more than USD 1 billion global sales annually. The company’s global production of tiles exceeds 360,000 sqm and 12,000 pieces of sanitary ware per day from its local and global state-of-the-art manufacturing plants.

Dubai, UAE, 23 July, 2010: Mr. Kim, Ki Tae, President of RYN Korea, the world’s leading manufacturer of functional shoes, has hailed Dubai as a gateway to access the regional markets in the Middle East.

Speaking during his first visit to the UAE, Mr. Kim said, “Dubai has all the essentials to grow as a retail hub for consumer goods, being surrounded by fast growing markets of the Subcontinent and Africa. We look at the UAE as one of the most promising markets for our products.”

“The UAE has succeeded in developing a world-class infrastructure for B2C businesses to grow which is critical for global brands to strengthen their position in this market and fully exploit the potential to reach out to neighboring countries.”

According to Dubai World Trade Center statistics, Dubai sees over $17 billion domestic imports annually and it is a gateway to a $150 billion regional import market with a catchment population of 1.4 billion.

“We use UAE as a gateway to expand our footprint to the entire Middle East region. The functional shoe business is well developed in the world and we foresee high growth potential in the UAE five years from now. We are focusing on the rapidly growing functional shoe industry in the Middle East through Dubai. We are pleased by the response our products are getting in the market.”

July 20, 2010

Dr. Khater Massaad

The Ras Al Khaimah Government has recently announced that it has achieved significant success in its efforts to launch socioeconomic programs that promote economic sustainability, enhance the quality of life, and preserve the emirate’s abundant natural and archaeological attractions. During a press conference held today (Tuesday, July 20, 2010), Dr. Khater Massaad, CEO, RAKIA, outlined a growth roadmap to boost the economic integration and lifestyle offerings of RAKIA, RAK Ceramics and Al Hamra Village in order to achieve the long term socio-economic goals within the emirate.

The Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, H.H. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, has been widely recognised as the architect of the emirate’s new direction towards a more diversified economy. Under H.H. Sheikh Saud’s leadership, the emirate’s GDP, which now stands at USD 4.30 billion, achieved a remarkable average growth of 14 per cent per year from 2004 to 2008, and 9 per cent in 2009.

One of the key initiatives undertaken by H.H. Sheikh Saud was to invite the World Bank to make a series of studies on how to make Ras Al Khaimah a business-friendly and efficient investment destination, which resulted in the establishment of manufacturing, tourism, real estate, construction and services as key growth sectors of the local economy. In the last two years, Ras Al Khaimah has also achieved “A” ratings from S&P and Fitch primarily through H.H. Sheikh Saud’s efforts to consolidate the RAK Government’s balance sheet.

H.H. Sheikh Saud said: “The goal of the emirate is to create an atmosphere that is conducive to work and to live. The guiding principle has always been to enhance the quality of life in Ras Al Khaimah both on the social and economic fronts, and we are certainly making excellent progress towards establishing the emirate as a place where business and lifestyle converge.”

The emirate’s commitment to realise its long-term objectives of becoming a haven for business and home living is manifested by the success of key initiatives that have been launched by the emirate. In particular, three such success stories stand out: RAKIA, RAK Ceramics and Al Hamra Village.
RAKIA

Established by an Emiri Decree in 2005, RAKIA’s mandate is to be the main vehicle that oversees the socioeconomic development of the emirate. Specifically, RAKIA is responsible for the industrial, commercial, trade, health and educational development initiatives in Ras Al Khaimah. RAKIA also manages the emirate’s three investment zones – the Industrial Zone and the Free Zone in Al Hamra, and the Industrial Park in Al Ghail, which have been developed to attract local and international investors. To date, RAKIA has generated investments close to USD 3 billion from all over the world.

Under RAKIA, infrastructure facilities were developed to cater to several high-potential investment sectors, including industrial and manufacturing; warehousing, cold stores, transport and distribution; tourism; real estate and construction; mining, minerals exploration, extraction and quarrying; food processing and dairy products; international maritime-related industries and services, including maintenance and fabrication works; and trade and commerce.

To maximise business potential of investors, RAKIA also developed a full range of business incentives that include 100 per cent income and corporate tax exemptions; 100 per cent capital and profit repatriation; 100 per cent ownership in free zones; no foreign exchange control; avoidance of double taxation with many countries; and absence of restrictions on hiring of expatriates. All goods produced in Ras Al Khaimah also enjoy a duty exemption in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. 

Highlighting the continued success story of RAKIA, a recent report revealed a 75 per cent growth in the total number of businesses registered in the emirate – comprising local and international investors – during the first quarter of 2010. In the month of March, 115 new businesses registered with RAKIA, setting an all-time record with the most number of businesses registered with the investment authority in a single month. Overall, there are more than 6,500 companies registered with RAKIA, representing investors from diverse non-oil sectors, including industrial, commercial, trading, services/consulting, and media companies. There are 3,030 on-shore companies and a total of 3,500 companies registered through RAKIA’s off-shore facility, which recorded a 90 per cent growth during the first quarter of 2010 over the same period in 2009.

In addition, negotiations are underway with several more companies from countries including Belgium, UAE, USA, Kuwait, Egypt, Turkey, Italy, India, Germany, France, Pakistan and Canada to set up business ventures and investment activities in the emirate. Up to 66 per cent of businesses registered in RAKIA are from international destinations like Europe, India, USA, Russia, CIS and several Asian countries, while 19 per cent are from the rest of the Middle East. Domestic investors account for the remaining 15 per cent of business registered in the emirate.

RAKIA is also the master developer of Bab Al Bahr, which is one of the premier development projects on Al Marjan Island. Bab Al Bahr offers six residential buildings with 992 apartments (studio, 1BR, 2BR and 3BR), a 4-star hotel and a commercial complex, all offering a 180-degree sea view. Another major development under RAKIA’s portfolio is the prestigious Banyan Tree project, which was completed and handed over in 2009. The Banyan Tree project features 31 luxurious tented villas and 70 block villas equipped with conference facilities, restaurants and bars, making it a unique desert resort.

RAK Ceramics

RAK Ceramics is a USD 1 billion global conglomerate that has been officially recognised as the world’s largest ceramic tile manufacturer by the Ceramic World Review, the best known and most widely circulated international magazine devoted to ceramic tile and sanitary ware production technologies. With exports to over 150 countries, the company achieved a 16.5 per cent business growth in 2009 and a 20 per cent increase in profits despite the global recession.

In dominating the rankings of the world’s top 25 ceramic tile manufacturers in 2009, RAK Ceramics achieved a total production output of 115 million square metres from 15 manufacturing facilities located in six countries. RAK Ceramics remains in a strong position to boost its current production capacity of 117 million square metres as expansion programs are underway to cater to new markets in different parts of the world. RAK Ceramics produces ceramic tiles, sanitaryware and tableware through 15 factories situated across six countries which collectively employ a workforce of 15,000 people. The state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Ras Al Khaimah alone produce more than 225,000 square metres of tiles per day and over 8,500 pieces of sanitary-ware. Global production exceeds 360,000 square metres of tiles and 12,000 pieces of sanitary-ware per day.

The company continues to expand its businesses through joint ventures and diversification of its product range. RAK Ceramics has joined hands with Laticrete International Inc. of USA to form LATICRETE RAK, a joint-venture that offers highly effective, strong and durable tile adhesives, grouts and epoxy-based products having tiling applications. RAK Ceramics has also partnered with Kludi of Germany to establish KLUDI RAK, which offers world-class bathroom and kitchen fittings that contribute significantly to ecological balance with its water-saving systems.

New business ventures initiated by RAK Ceramics include RAK Porcelain, which produces high-quality porcelain table ware for professional application in hospitality industry and consumer usage; and RAK Paints, which manufactures eco-friendly, water-based and epoxy-based high-quality paints with a variety of colours for industrial and residential usage.

A recipient of the Company of the Year award during the 2004 Arabian Business Achievement Awards and the Excellence in Industry award during the 2005 Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award, RAK Ceramics continues to reap various industry accolades and was recently named by the SuperBrand Council as one of the UAE SuperBrands in 2010, a distinction it has earned for the second consecutive year. The company was also recently conferred the Best Brand while Dr. Khater Massaad, RAK Ceramics was awarded the Visionary CEO 2010 award during the Middle East Business Leaders Summit and Awards.

Al Hamra Village

Al Hamra Village is a 5 million square meter coastal development built around its own yacht club and marina with water views and an 18-hole championship golf course, the longest golf course on a sea site. Offering 100 per cent freehold properties that redefine the meaning of luxury living, Al Hamra Village will feature more than 1,000 villas, town houses and 2,500 apartments on completion.

A 200-berth marina and a Palace Luxury Hotel to be built in the UAE, known as Al Hamra Palace, are among the key attractions of the coastal community. Strategically located between the Musandam mountains and the Arabian Gulf, the mixed-use project will also feature a diverse range of leisure and commercial facilities, including fine dining, refreshing spa experiences, a premium selection of shopping outlets, boutique hotels and restaurants, private beaches, water sports, the latest telecommunication facilities, and state-of-the-art on-site security to ensure safety and privacy. There is also a dedicated Business Suite and a fully equipped Business Centre, while the Al Hamra Convention Center is located just nearby.

The offerings of the Marina at Al Hamra Village include deep-sea fishing trips, catamaran rides, scuba diving and snorkelling and various other water sports like kayaks, paddle boats, parasailing, speedboats and water skiing.

The Al Hamra Mall was opened in early 2009 with retail space for at least 186 shops. The mall now features a total of 125 major retail outlets and leading brands, including Spinneys, Adidas, Starbucks and Esprit among others.

Al Hamra Village also offers a novel investment concept wherein property owners at Al Hamra Residences have the option to generate additional income through a special management agreement with Hamra Hotels and Resorts.

“RAKIA, RAK Ceramics and Al Hamra Village help perpetuate the success that Ras Al Khaimah has achieved over the years through the long-term social and economic benefits that these initiatives deliver. Ras Al Khaimah will build on these success stories to develop more innovative programs and development projects that are in line with our ultimate goal of achieving sustainable socioeconomic development for the emirate,” concluded Dr. Massaad.

July 20, 2010

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has announced that its annual summer sales festival, “Sharjah Summer Promotions 2010,” successfully concluded its run yesterday (Tuesday, July 20, 2010). The event, which aims to boost the emirate’s bid to become one of the Middle East region’s top shopping and family entertainment hubs, included activities such as promotional mall sales, awareness-raising presentations and entertainment programs that were held in key tourist destinations like Al Qasba, the cultural district and local malls. Coinciding with similar shopping festivals held in the UAE, Sharjah Summer Promotions 2010 reflects the effective cooperation between the local government, shopping centers and other participating commercial organizations. The success of the event complements the local chamber’s continuous efforts to position Sharjah as an ideal business and family oriented venue; moving it one step closer towards achieving its goal of total sustainable development.

Sharjah Summer Promotions has become one of the emirate’s most awaited events, showcasing a wide mix of promotional sales, cultural exhibitions and entertainment programs that have been designed to attract more visitors. The event also allows SCCI to provide participating commercial entities with the necessary posters, ads and other campaign materials to help attract more foot traffic into malls, cultural venues and parks. Through the years, the Sharjah Summer Promotions has given shoppers and visitors alike a unique shopping and visiting experience and has also contributed greatly to boosting Sharjah’s stature in the UAE tourism map.

Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director General, Department of Economic and International Affairs, SCCI, said, “Sharjah Summer Promotions 2010 ended on a very successful note and has once again served as a key driver in the efforts to make Sharjah a prime tourist and shopping destination not only for neighboring emirates but for nearby GCC countries as well. The SCCI is humbled by the overwhelming number of participating shopping centers and organizations and the large number of visitors and shoppers who visited Sharjah during the festival. We credit the success of this event to the great efforts exerted by government departments, agencies and institutions; especially to the Sales and Promotions Section of the Economic Development Department for their efforts to provide all the essential facilities and services to the festival’s organizing committee and commercial entities participating in the event. Moreover, SCCI initiatives like the Sharjah Summer Promotions, fall in line with the vision of His Highness Sh

eikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to strengthen and develop the emirate as an ideal integrated community for investment and tourism and to also achieve total sustainable development.”

Special events like the Sharjah Summer Promotions play an important role in Sharjah’s comprehensive growth and contribute greatly to the emirate’s gross domestic product (GDP). These events have helped bolster production in several industrial and manufacturing facilities to meet the demand of local markets during the summer season and have given local businesses such as hotels, restaurants and car renting facilities the advantage to promote and market their services on a wider scale.

The Sharjah Summer Promotions 2010 is part of the SCCI’s continuing effort to help advance Sharjah’s economic activity and strengthen the communication ties between the different members of the emirate’s business community. These series of events and festivals encourage emirate-wide participation by hosting various social, cultural, environmental and traditional activities that cater to Sharjah’s diverse community.