• Fourth Emirates NBD Business Banking Centre in the UAE
• Focus on enabling growth in SME sector

Sharjah, May 8, 2010: Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region, announced today that it has extended its services to its Sharjah-based SME (Small & Medium sized Enterprises) clients, with the opening of its first Business Banking Centre in the emirate. The opening of the Sharjah centre, on the mezzanine floor of Emirates NBD’s main branch on Al Qassimiya Street in Sharjah, follows the successful operations of three Dubai-based Business Banking Centres in Satwa, Jebel Ali and Deira.

Emirates NBD’s decision to open a dedicated Business Banking Centre in Sharjah, is in line with its strategic objective to support and grow the SME sector, which currently accounts for about 80 per cent of total activity in the UAE’s business sector. The opening of the centre is also in response to the growing demand for business banking services from Sharjah & Northern Emirates -based firms.

“Recent studies show that SMEs account for about 99 per cent of the business sector worldwide and for 50 per cent of global GDP,” said Jamal Bin Ghalaita, Group Deputy CEO, Emirates NBD. “This trend has begun to be increasingly reflected in the UAE, which is ranked 25th according to business environment for start-ups by the UAE Global Entrepreneurship Monitoring Report.”

“Emirates NBD recognises the significant need for more efficient and well organised channels that will address the banking requirements of SMEs,” said Vikas Thapar, Head of Business Banking, Emirates NBD. “In addition to providing easy access to physical business banking facilities, Emirates NBD’s new Business Banking Centre in Sharjah will provide a range of dedicated and personalised services that can be tailored to meet the particular requirements of our SME clientele.”
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Sharjah & Northern Emirates-based SMEs can now look forward to receiving the dedicated and professional services of their assigned Relationship Manager, who also brings along a sound understanding of business needs. The Business Banking Centre also offers a service proposition that includes a comprehensive range of products, preferential pricing and services, red carpet privileges, Emirates NBD Business Credit and Debit cards and access to online banking via smartBUSINESS.

Dh120m store is spread over 175,000 square feet in Al Nahda

Sharjah: Retail major Lulu has opened its newest hypermarket in Sharjah’s Al Nahda area, taking its store count to 77 amid an aggressive expansion drive.

The store inaugurated by Shaikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah’s Department of Islamic affairs, is the third outlet of Lulu in Sharjah.

The inaugural function was also attended by Ahmad Mohammad Al Midfa, chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Hussain Mohammad Al Mahmoudi, director general of the chamber, along with senior government officials and other celebrities.

Parking facilities

Spread over 175,000 square feet, the new Lulu hypermarket is accessible to both Dubai and Sharjah residents with ample car parking.

Commenting on the latest project, Yousuf Ali M.A., managing director of Lulu, said: “It’s our policy now to be as close to the shoppers as possible, thereby reducing the driving time and making it convenient for them to reach us easily. With an investment of over Dh120 million, the hypermarket offers a whole world of shopping with a good selection of brands and product lines under one roof.”

Besides the usual fresh food section comprising fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and hot and cold ready-to-eat food, the hypermarket also has a huge area dedicated to department store items such as electronics, home appliances, furnishings and furniture and fashion brands for ladies, gents and kids.

It also features a number of outlets including Lulu International Exchange, Malabar Gold, Dar Optics, Axiom Mobile, Lulu Pharmacy, Coffee Shop and Perfume counter.

Expansion plans

Commenting on the group’s expansion plans, he said: “We will be opening more hypermarkets in both existing as well as new markets in the UAE and other GCC countries. All our planned projects are on track and our immediate plans include a shopping mall in Al Ain, Mushrif Mall in Abu Dhabi, new hypermarkets in Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.”

The group plans to open its 100th store by the end of next year.

In India it is building one of the country’s biggest malls in the southern city of Kochi, and it intends to be operational in Egypt this year.

Lulu hypermarkets account for nearly a third of the entire Gulf’s retail market share accounting for nearly 350,000 footfalls daily.

The Shopping Weeks campaign, launched in Sharjah by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) to boost sales of stores retailing mobile phones and accessories, is generating a major response among residents of the emirate who are making the most of the promotional offers. The Shopping Weeks campaign, which is running from March 18 to 31, is part of a broader SCCI initiative to support small and medium enterprises in Sharjah.

As part of the Shopping Weeks campaign, customers spending AED 50 or above at the participating outlets get a chance to win a Nissan car and several other attractive prizes.        

Al Qasba joins millions around the globe in switching off non-essential power and bringing attention to messages of local sustainability and conservation

Sharjah, March 24th, 2010: Al Qasba—the premiere tourist, cultural and entertainment destination in the emirate of Sharjah—will be turning off all of its non-essential power outlets and lights on March 27th at 8:30pm in honour of this year’s Earth Hour event, held annually  on the last Saturday of March.  The venue will be holding all of its regular activities with the special theme of starry skies and glowing candlelight, which will illuminate Al Qasba walkways and businesses during the occasion.  It is the second time that Al Qasba has participated in the global campaign and will be marking its participation this year along with more than 3,900 cities around the world. 

Earth Hour is organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as an opportunity to address issues of global climate change around the planet.  According to Zainab Ahmed, Corporate Social Responsibilities Coordinator at Al Qasba, the venue’s involvement aims to increase the awareness among the public about the seriousness of global warming while highlighting opportunities to support energy conservation on the local level.  Pamphlets of energy-saving tips and volunteer information will also be circulated during and after the event.

“The most serious challenges facing our world today stem from global climate change and our dependence on non-renewable energy sources,” comments Zainab Ahmed.  “Our participation in Earth Hour will help us achieve our aims of conserving electricity and encouraging people around the world to start with simple yet effective actions in support of sustainable development.”

“In 2009, Al Qasba joined over one billion people from 87 countries around the world in turning off their lights for one hour. For this year’s Earth Hour event—held on March 27 at 8:30pm—we will once again endorse the initiative by calling on people of the UAE to take action and help preserve our planet through raising awareness of the effects of global climate change,” concludes Zainab Ahmed.

Sharjah’s first exclusive boutique spa for men to promote vitality and health among emirate’s business leaders and executives

March 1, 2010

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), in cooperation with Cleopatra’s Boutique Spa, a leading health and wellness franchise in the UAE, has announced the opening of a male health and spa facility at the chamber’s headquarters in Al Taawun, Sharjah. Cleopatra’s Boutique Spa for Men, which will formally open its doors on March 2, 2010, offers SCCI members access to fitness, spa and leisure services that are aimed at revitalizing and de-stressing the body and mind. The opening of the new facility complements the SCCI’s commitment to provide its members with essential services and facilities that can be instrumental in the efforts to package Sharjah as an ideal investment venue.

The new spa, which will be open daily from 7am to 10pm, offers modern facilities and equipment like a fully-equipped gym, squash court, billiard room and an indoor swimming pool. In addition to the sports and leisure facilities, the Cleopatra Boutique Spa for Men also has state-of-the-art conference halls that offer its members a unique environment for meetings and networking activities.

Manal Yaqoub Al Qaseer, Head of the Department of Investment, SCCI, said, “Businessmen are more health conscious than ever before, and understand that a balance between work and personal life can be achieved by making the right lifestyle choices—a healthy combination of exercise, the right diet, massages and some time out for leisure activities. Cleopatra’s Boutique Spa for Men not only offers SCCI members the opportunity to relax, de-stress, and re-energize, but also presents an ideal setting for them to socialize and network with other high-profile business leaders and executives, in the process creating investment opportunities that can benefit the members and the emirate as a whole.  This move falls in line with our broader commitment to develop Sharjah as an ideal investment destination and to achieve sustainable development in the long term.”

Cleopatra Boutique Spa for Men is the first of its kind health and wellness spa in Sharjah. The facility is characterized by the original and leading male spa franchise created by Wafi in Dubai, which is renowned for its excellent guest care and innovative services. Staffed with courteous and highly-skilled personnel, the spa’s working hours have been designed to meet the hectic schedules of the modern day businessman. The first 100 SCCI members to sign up for membership in the newly opened facility will be given free massage sessions and special discounts on the annual membership fees.

February 22, 2010

Dulsco has announced that it has been collaborating with government agencies in Sharjah to offer quality services and address the emirate’s waste management requirements, which have significantly increased as a result of rapid social and economic development across the emirate. Dulsco further revealed that it has recently inaugurated a dedicated office in Sharjah, and has also been in close contact with government entities to begin providing its services. 

Located at the Lagoon Tower near the Buhairah Corniche, the new Dulsco office was recently inaugurated by Dulsco Chairman Abdul Aziz Mohammad Khan, in the presence of officials from the Sharjah Municipality and Bee’ah, the Sharjah Environment Co. While it has already been working with Sharjah-based organisations such as Bee’ah, Lamprell, Maritime Industrial Services Co. Ltd., and Conmix Ltd., the new Sharjah office will allow Dulsco to collaborate more efficiently and better serve other public and private sector organisations in the emirate.

“Setting up a base in Sharjah is a strategic move aimed at better serving the emirate. It will increase our business effectiveness by capitalising on Sharjah’s impressive economic growth and through the opportunities offered by Sharjah Municipality, which is currently considering the privatisation of waste management services in the industrial areas and ports. There are currently very few legal operators established in the area, and our main strength is our extensive knowledge of the business and the local market,” said Prakash Parab, Director of Dulsco Waste Management Services (WMS).

Mr. Humaid Abdullah Al Mualla, Director of Environmental Services Department of Sharjah Municipality, said, “The rapid economic development being witnessed across Sharjah has increased the emphasis on efficient and organised waste management, and companies like Dulsco have a major role to play in this regard. By setting up an office in the emirate, Dulsco will not only be able to serve their customers better, they will also create more awareness among  residents and businesses about the importance of waste management through bigger participation in the environmental campaigns in Sharjah.”

Dulsco has more than a decade of waste management expertise in the UAE. Dulsco Sharjah’s local services include the collection, transportation and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous solid & liquid wastes and tank cleaning services for various industries. In addition, this year Dulsco plans to introduce several new services to its portfolio. Plans are afoot to introduce tanker services and also increase the customer base of companies using waste related services in the emirate of Sharjah. It also intends to actively promote human resource related services in the emirate. Dulsco’s clients within Sharjah include companies based in the Hamriyah Free Zone, ports, industrial areas, players in the construction industry and employee accommodation. 

“We maintain valuable business partnerships with leading companies involved within Sharjah’s various business sectors. We intend to acquire regular feedback on our services, regularly visit key clients to determine if we are meeting their expectations, and conduct yearly customer satisfaction surveys, including face to face interviews. These will provide us with inputs on what we should do to continue providing high quality services to our clients,” added Paresh Karia, Senior Manager, Dulsco Sharjah.

Dulsco’s Waste Management Services, the first waste management firm in the UAE to be Integrated Management Systems certified, handles hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste in compliance with strict municipal and environmental provisions.

Business administration students draw inspiration from programs and initiatives implemented by local chamber

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) recently hosted a special meeting and tour for a visiting delegation of business administration students from the University of Minnesota. Read the full story

Promotional & cultural event to boost tourism and investment in Sharjah, including the eastern and central regions

Hussein Al Mahmoudi, SCCI Director General.

The Supreme Organising Committee of the annual Sharjah Spring Promotions Read the full story

Event to be held under the patronage of Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qassimi and the KWB organizational committee

Mr. Rashid Al Kous, Manager of Cultural Programs at KWB

The “Knowledge Without Borders” (KWB) project will visit the Al Saja’a area in Sharjah on Thursday, Read the full story

Dulsco opens Sharjah branch to meet market requirements

Prakash Parab, Director of Dulsco Waste Management Services (WMS)

Dulsco has announced the opening of a new branch at the Lagoon Tower near the Al Buhairah Corniche in Sharjah Read the full story