Dubai, July 10, 2010: Emirates Gas, the leading supplier of LPG cylinders in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, recently launched a safety campaign in collaboration with the Public Health and Safety Department of Dubai Municipality, to raise awareness about implementing safety procedures in the handling, storage and usage of LPG cylinders. The two-week long campaign targeted business establishments like restaurants, cafeterias and hotels in Dubai.

The campaign ensured that businesses had special well-ventilated cabinets made of un-inflammable substances that were provided for gas cylinders and that no other hazardous or flammable substances are stored. Emirates Gas also ensured that fire-extinguishers were easily accessible in case of an emergency and pipelines and valves were serviced and maintained regularly.

Hesham Ali Mustafa, General Manager, Emirates Gas said that the company is committed to strengthening the use of safety requirements amongst its customers, “Safety first is our motto at Emirates Gas. LPG cylinders, which is one of the most popular fuels for cooking can also be very hazardous if not installed within certain standards. We believe that educating our customers is vital to reduce the incidence of fires and accidents due to gas leakage which is why it is important that the properties and safe handling are understood and applied.”

Eng. Sultan Al Suwaidi, Head of the Public Safety section at the Health and Public Safety Department, Dubai Municipality said, “Gas distribution companies, restaurants, cafeterias, public kitchens, and bakeries were targeted to avoid gas cylinders explosion due to misuse. It is also part of the daily department activities to ensure the implementation of safety procedures for gas cylinders.”

Emirates Gas regularly trains distributors and their employees in safe distribution, transportation and storage of LPG cylinders.

Partnership to boost Kanoo’s Corporate Travel Services in the region

Dubai, UAE, July 3, 2010: Amadeus, a leading travel technology partner and transaction processor for the global travel and tourism industry today announced a three-year partnership agreement with Kanoo Travel, the largest Travel Company in the Middle East.

Under this agreement, Kanoo has chosen Amadeus’ e-Travel Management, the widely deployed online booking solution for managed travel, for its corporate travel services in the Middle East.

Featuring a quick and easy booking process, Amadeus e-Travel Management helps companies increase business travel program compliance, reduce total travel spend and drive online adoption. Available in 12 languages, the global platform is easily adapted to local needs. Its low-fare search capabilities ensure corporate travellers have a wide choice of travel options. It provides corporations with improved administration features and new flexible faring options designed to help companies balance their global and local travel management needs.

This agreement demonstrates Kanoo’s commitment to enhance the value it already provides corporate clients by integrating Amadeus e-Travel Management, Amadeus’s award-winning globally distributed self-booking solution, into Kanoo’s portfolio of solutions.

Abdulla Abo Khamseen, Executive General Manager, Kanoo Travel said, “Our partnership with Amadeus is a step forward in offering our customers the best online travel solutions that is available in the region today. The solution integrates with our existing applications allowing our clients to enjoy the benefits of working with a harmonized global infrastructure. Additionally, the agreement helps us deliver greater value to our network of clients by being the most effective travel management consultancy in the region.” 

Growing number of corporations today cite the ability to improve efficiency and processes as one of the most significant benefits of a global travel management programme. Amadeus e-Travel Management addresses this issue by providing improved administration features that help travel managers to simplify the booking process. Features include an enhanced display that allows travel managers to view a traveller’s status quickly and easily; simplified profile management options giving profile managers a greater flexibility to assign users or travellers to an arranger or approver; and a risk-free way of offering assistance through the ‘Helpdesk’ feature, where support staff can view details in a “read only” format.
 
“We are committed and strongly positioned to support Kanoo’s business growth needs in the region. As one of the leading travel management firms in the Middle East, Kanoo has been an early adopter of online booking technology,” said Antoine Medawar, Vice President, Amadeus, Middle East and North Africa. “Through this new deployment, Kanoo can continue to offer seamless travel management programs while helping their clients optimize revenues and improve profitability.”

New solutions aim to streamline operations of regional enterprises

Collaboration, Management and Control Solutions (CMCS) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with WRENCH Solutions, the world’s only end-to-end enterprise software company for the engineering and manufacturing industry, to introduce automated project management solutions into the MENA markets, which can streamline operations of regional enterprises. The agreement will make WRENCH’s unique technology available to the construction and EPC industry in the region.

The solution, WRENCH enterprise™, helps organizations achieve project deliverables by automating project workflows, compliance, collaboration, and document management, to name a few, and will revolutionize the way such organizations manage their project lifecycle from engineering/procurement/Construction to close-out phases.

“Our existing and new clients will get a boon with WRENCH as today’s construction projects become more complex and deliverable schedules get tighter. These companies using or planning to use complementary software like Primavera. MS/Project, MS/Office, AutoCAD, Microstation will benefit from WRENCH’s integrated process flow.  Our target clients will be EPC contractors, general contractors and engineering firms. Until now we have been able to  offer a  comprehensive suite with our EPPM solutions by showing the steps and documents at the activity level, and WRENCH will be the tool to take it further for clients who want to better monitor and control project deliverables,” said Bassam Samman, CEO and Founder CMCS.

“We are pleased to be working with the region’s premier project management solution provider, CMCS, as a strategic partner, especially as they are known for their professional services and support centers across the Middle East and Africa. We thus are able to extend our support to corporations seeking to streamline their operations and projects in this region,” said Daniel Varghese, CEO Wrench Solutions.

CMCS is a leading UAE-based provider of total project management solutions and offers Project, Portfolio and Risk Management Information Solutions for successful delivery of organizations’ strategies.

WRENCH Solutions Pvt. Ltd is a 15 year-old ISO 9001-2008 certified Software Product Development Company. It develops and implements the WRENCH suite of IT products that provide end-to-end document, process, and time management solutions for the engineering sector. With 60 per cent market share in India, WRENCH SOLUTIONS is the leading player in the domain of information and process management for medium-to-large enterprises. The company’s key clients in the MENA region include Al Habtoor Leighton Group, CH2M HILL VECO Engineering, Khatib & Alami, Murray & Roberts, Energy City Qatar and Metito, among others.

Enables creation of a Self-sufficient Sanctuary with 21st Century Technology

Dubai, May 18th, 2010: As part of its ongoing commitment to providing a world-class communication network across the emirate, Etisalat has signed an agreement with the Al Barari residential project, to supply fast, reliable mobile phone, landline and data communications to each of its exquisite 275 palatial villa residences.

As per the agreement, Etisalat will create a dedicated communications hub, within the Al Barari development, which will be at the core of the telco’s local infrastructure, and will provide data-ready fibre optic cabling to all homes and businesses, as well as relay towers for Etisalat’s 2G and 3G services.

“One of the core principles of Al Barari was always to be as self-sufficient and sustainable,” explained Mr Mohammed bin Zaal, Chief Executive Officer of Al Barari. “Our alliance with Etisalat to provide dedicated on-site infrastructure works hand-in-hand with that principle, and it means we can deliver on the promise to provide every resident with active purpose-ready utilities as soon as they move in.”

For Etisalat, it has also provided an opportunity to develop a close relationship with Dubai’s most successful real estate story. “Our association with Al Barari provides us an opportunity to provide modern, future-ready infrastructure as part of our overall development strategy to bring the fastest, most reliable and technically advanced telecommunications system in the region,” said Abdulla Almana General Manager of Etisalat Dubai region.

Maintaining the integrity of Al Barari, which prides itself on its celebration of nature, has been a key consideration for the partnership. One of the most coveted addresses in Dubai, the secluded Al Barari development is located in the royal enclave and protected wildlife reserve of Nad Al Sheba and is built on 14.2 million square feet of natural and landscaped gardens.  Etisalat has commissioned two specially designed palm-shaped communication towers to enhance the local mobile telephone signal, without compromising the aesthetic beauty of the project.

For both Etisalat and Al Barari, the partnership agreement offers a mutual benefit for both companies and, importantly, the residents and businesses who will enjoy the tranquil, sanctuary environment of Al Barari, while still remaining connected – at high-speed – to the world.

Dubai, UAE, 28 April 2010: In another first-time initiative in the UAE, du announced today that it will be franchising its du Shops in various phases throughout 2010. This comes as part of its ongoing strategy to provide a unique and convenient experience for customers.  The project will expand du’s retail scope and boost convenience for customers throughout the UAE, providing greater flexibility and availability through the proliferation of anytime, anywhere du outlets.

The company launched the first step in the franchise module today, as part of its partnership with the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Programme for Young Business Leaders - part of Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development. The collaboration will give priority to UAE national entrepreneurs when applying for a franchise with du, providing them with the opportunity to showcase their abilities and grow professionally.

“This initiative is yet another example of du’s commitment to providing customers with easy and convenient ‘anytime, anywhere’ accessibility, by broadening du’s retail scope across the UAE, while also offering a unique customer experience with a local flavour,” commented Farid Faraidooni, Chief Commercial Officer, du.

“We are proud to announce our partnership with the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Programme. This first phase in our franchise module aims to support the state’s Emiratisation efforts – in-line with our own Emiritisation strategy - by giving UAE nationals entrepreneurs the chance to develop the state’s small and medium enterprises (SME) business sector and thereby enabling them to contribute to the UAE’s economy,” commented Faraidooni.

As part of the franchise project, du will give support to its selected franchisees by providing them with training and marketing collateral, as well as suggesting suitable locations to set up their retail outlets. The company’s support plan aims to assist local entrepreneurs in establishing their businesses, while also ensuring du customer relations are maintained at the  highest standards.

“Our partnership with du comes in-line with our commitment to affiliate with different organisations in Dubai to strengthen the participation of UAE nationals in the business sector. du is one of the UAE’s fastest and most successful companies and will therefore benefit small and medium businesses through this project by helping them to develop and grow,” commented Abdul Baset Al Janahi, Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development.

The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Programme for Young Business Leaders forms part of the ‘Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation’, which promotes human development and provides hope and opportunity by investing in education and knowledge-development in the region. The Foundation aims to open doors for future generations of leaders in the region and shape their future by equipping them with world-class knowledge and education.

Staying in touch is a primary requisite of both individuals and eterprises. Telecommunications today forms an integral part of the UAE economy. The franchise opportunity provides a golden scope for self-driven UAE nationals to make the most of today and secure a prosperous future for themselves and also contribute to the growth of the economy. The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Programme for Young Business Leaders invites interested UAE nationals to apply for the opportunity through the establishment.

Epson has announced the launch of a reseller programme for its partners in UAE and Egypt that aims to raise the incentives for partners reselling the company’s products. Epson also revealed that the new Authorised Reseller Programme will be launched in Saudi Arabia during the company’s participation in GITEX KSA exhibition, which will be held at the Riyadh Exhibition Center from April 25-29, 2010.    

As per the new Epson Authorised Reseller Programme, dealers will be rewarded based on the volumes they accomplish. Quarterly targets for the UAE and KSA markets range from USD 10,000 for Bronze partners to USD 300,000 for Platinum partners,. The programme classifies partners into four categories and includes five product categories: Consumer, Business, Supplies, Large Format Printers and Projectors.

Khalil El-Dalu, General Manager, Epson Middle East, said, “We believe that a major contributory factor for our continued success and market leadership in key product categories in the Middle East has been the excellent performance of our channel partners. The introduction of the new Authorised Reseller Programme aims to better reward our partners for their efforts in boosting sales of Epson products, while it also enables us to strengthen our support to them.”    

El-Dalu also noted that the percentage and structure of the incentives varies according to partnership category, ranging from 1 per cent up to 8 per cent. The new programme will also give partners access to a range of marketing resources, portals, technical support and sales tools. Moreover, partners can also avail discounts of between 10 per cent and 40 per cent on demo units.  

• Bank authorised to receive payments on behalf of DED at all Dubai Bank branches
• Customers can make DED payments through bank’s e-payment channel

Dubai, March 14, 2010: Further demonstrating its continued excellence in developing bespoke platforms for both institutional and retail customers, Dubai Bank today announced its partnership with Department of Economic Development (DED) to offer exclusive payment support to clients of DED and customers of Dubai Bank.

As part of the partnership, Dubai Bank has been authorised to receive payments on behalf of DED, including all government-related fees for licensing and renewal. The partnership agreement mandates the establishment of a single-counter fee collection service for DED through all Dubai Bank branches and additional online payment services through Dubai Bank’s sophisticated e-banking channels.

“The agreement with DED is in line with Dubai Bank’s commitment to leading innovation in customer service and banking technology platforms within the UAE,” said Mohamed Amiri, Head of Retail Banking of Dubai Bank. “We have already activated the new service, whereby all payables in favour of the Department are being received through in-house teller services provided by Dubai Bank at all its branches.  This agreement further broadens the scope of our partnership with DED, resulting in added convenience for DED’s clients and an efficient payment mechanism for the Department itself.

“Additionally, this agreement enables our customers to make all their DED-related payments through Dubai Bank’s electronic channels. Further, this will be accomplished through a secure integration of the Bank’s electronic systems with that of DED, ensuring a safe electronic gateway for our customers. We look forward to rolling out this initiative with DED, as we continue to explore new avenues to offer even greater value and service to our customers,” Amiri said.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 8, 2010: HP today announced that Sahara Petrochemicals Company (Sahara), a Saudi based industrial development company specializing in petrochemical, chemicals and related products, has selected HP BladeSystem and HP ProLiant servers solutions to automate and optimise its datacentre processes.

The new implementation is part of Sahara’s technology overhaul to support and meet its growth objectives.

The HP BladeSystem c7000 enclosure deployed at Sahara will allow it to consolidate its server, storage, network, power and management capabilities into a ‘datacenter in a box’. 

Additionally, the HP ProLiant BL460c G6 Server Blade will provide leading performance, expandability and the latest energy efficient technologies that are needed for a dense compute environment such as Sahara’s. The HP ProLiant Server Blade delivers excellent performance and energy savings to reduce overall datacenter spending in power constrained scale-out environments.

Commenting on the hardware implementation, Ihab Y. Hawari, IT Manager at Sahara said, “HP is our chosen technology partner to deliver both immediate business value and ongoing business advantage. When it came to selecting the right datacenter solution we studied the different offerings from various vendors that were available in the market and found that HP solutions best met the requirement of our IT infrastructure. Through this implementation our aim is to address our technology automation and flexibility challenges.”

Sahara has also implemented HP’s Virtual Connect Flex-10 10Gb Ethernet Module for BladeSystem which offers high performance connectivity to the datacenter and makes server administration and server applications more efficient.  With Virtual Connect, Sahara will be able to reduce costs and simplify connections to LANs and SANs, consolidate and precisely control their network connections and enable administrators to add, replace and recover server resources as an when it is needed. 

“The solutions implemented at Sahara offer the best-run IT infrastructure out of a box that is available in the market today. They are manageble, simple to operate and offers flexibility to expand depending on the company’s growth needs. It will also help Sahara reduce up-front capital costs and ongoing power and cooling costs. Our aim is to support companies in the manufacturing sector with our end-to-end solutions and allow them to realize the full potential of their business investment,” said Ali Tamimi, Enterprise Storage, servers and Networking Manager HP Saudi Arabia.
 
HP partners with the industry’s leading hardware and software providers to develop and implement solutions to help customers solve their most pressing datacenter transformation issues.