Day: September 23, 2021

VIENNA, The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at US$74.46 a barrel on Wednesday, 22nd September, compared with US$73.68 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced that it resolved 100 percent of customer complaints in the first half of 2021.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, said that DEWA welcomes customer feedback and suggestions and handles them swiftly to find appropriate solutions that ensure their happiness.

He noted that DEWA adopts innovative and effective mechanisms in responding to complaints.

“At DEWA, we adopt a solid approach to identify and understand customer needs and expectations. We employ innovative channels and tools to communicate with stakeholders, including customers, to get their feedback and translate them into services that exceed their expectations. We see customer feedback as necessary tools for continuously developing our services and achieving our vision to become a globally leading sustainable, innovative corporation,” Al Tayer said.

As part of its efforts to promote transparency and benefit from feedback to achieve the best results and make customers happier, DEWA has several channels to communicate with customers and the public. These include the Dubai Government Unified Complaints Portal, the Dubai Government Unified Suggestions Portal, DEWA’s website and smart app, surveys and focus groups, and creativity labs.

In 2016, DEWA was the first government entity to receive ISO 10002:2014 for providing guidance on handling complaints about planning, design, operation, maintenance, and improvement services.

In 2020, DEWA’s Customer Care Centre received the ISO18295–2017 certification for Customer Contact Centre Management.

DEWA’s Customer Care Centre operates 24/7, including on public holidays, to answer all customer enquiries and through email: customercare@dewa.gov.ae It accepts calls via its number 991 for technical notifications and 04-6019999 for general enquiries.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, AD Ports Group today announced that the number of licences issued in the construction and building material sector in its Industrial Cities and Free Zone Cluster has reached 281, occupying a land area of 12,765,938 square metres, in August 2021.

A key sector of the UAE’s economy, the total market size of the construction sector was valued at US$101.45 billion in 2020. According to analysts, the UAE’s construction and building materials markets are very mature and are expected to reach a value of US$133.53 billion by 2026, registering an annual growth of 4.69 percent throughout 2021-2026.

Abdullah Al Hameli, Head of the Industrial Cities and Free Zone Cluster at AD Ports Group, said, “The building material sector has been making a huge come back in the Emirate as a result of the ongoing incentives offered by the government in line with the leadership’s vision to drive the sector forward. The Emirate has been attracting more construction and building material businesses that aim to seize the opportunities in this growing sector and target local and regional markets.”

AD Ports Group has witnessed an increasing interest from industry leaders in its Industrial Cities and Free Zone Cluster that covers over 550 sq km of industrial and commercial land and is home to over 1,500 local, regional, and international companies.

Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, CEO, ZonesCorp, said, “We have witnessed increased interest from the sector to leverage the strategic location of our industrial zones in the cities of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and cater to an ever-growing real estate market in the region.

“We are committed to ensuring the reliability of our infrastructure within our sustainable, and highly efficient ecosystem with the needs of the heavy industries, building material, and construction sectors in mind.”

ZonesCorp and KIZAD are currently home to some of the biggest building material companies like EGA, Emirates Steel, Emirates Float Glass, Exceed Group, Xtramix group, Talex, and Porcellan Tiles, among others.

As part of AD Ports Group’s participation at the Big 5 Show, which ran from 12th to 15th September in Dubai, the company showcased opportunities available in the emirate, garnering interest from various parties looking to establish their base of operations in Abu Dhabi. The Group’s Industrial Cities & Free Zone Cluster comprises KIZAD, the largest integrated trade, logistics, and industrial hub in the region, and ZonesCorp, one of the largest operators of purpose-built economic zones in the UAE.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The Board of Directors of the Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers under the umbrella of the newly formed Dubai Chambers, held its first meeting today at the Dubai Chamber headquarters where board members discussed priorities and new plans to boost Dubai’s trade with global markets.

The meeting was chaired by Sultan Bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai International Chamber, in the presence of board members Helal Saeed Al Marri; Stephen Moss; Gassan Al Kibsi; Mark Willis; Nader Haffar; Dr. Habib Mulla; Nabil Habayeb; Sanjiv Kakkar; Elissar Farah Antonios; Julia Onslow-Cole; Rani R. Raad; Rola Abu Minh; May Nasrallah Merville; Shukri Eid; and Ahmed Alkhallafi. The meeting was also attended by Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, of the Dubai Chamber.

The board discussed ways to leverage the Chamber’s international network to tap into the 30 priority markets, which have been identified as high potential markets that can accelerate the growth of Dubai’s foreign trade.

Bin Sulayem stated that trade is the cornerstone of Dubai’s economy and essential for its diversification and the new board will focus its efforts on implementing the new strategy announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, which aims to boost Dubai’s foreign trade to AED2 trillion within the next five years and cement the emirate’s position as global trade hub.

“Through integrated plans, the chamber will target new international markets and support the expansion of national companies abroad. The chamber will also support and integrate global investors, entrepreneurs and talent into Dubai’s flourishing business community within a comprehensive framework that ensures providing an agile pro-business environment,” Bin Sulayem said.

“I am confident that the Dubai International Chamber will not only achieve its new targets but take Dubai’s trade ties with promising markets to the next level. The Chamber is already in a strong position to achieve its objectives as it can leverage Dubai Chambers’ resources and vast network of international representative offices across Africa, Eurasia and Latin America,” he added.

Dubai International Chamber was established to strengthen partnerships with global corporations, investors and entrepreneurs and boost Dubai’s status as a major trade hub. Adopting a more specialised approach to driving Dubai’s foreign trade, the chamber will promote the opportunities that the emirate offers in facilitating trade flows.

Source: Emirates News Agency

SHARJAH, The Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) discussed ways of enhancing economic cooperation and establishing partnerships with a Portuguese economic delegation, headed by Eurico Brillhant Dias, Portuguese Secretary of State for Internationalisation.

The delegation included Joaquim Moreira de Lemos, Portuguese Ambassador to the UAE; Francisca Guedes de Oliveira, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Portuguese delegation participating in Expo 2020 Dubai; Marta Costa, and Daniel Pontes, economic advisor to the Portuguese Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of the SRTIP, received the delegation, in the presence of Portuguese entrepreneurs Joana de Almeida Rodrigues, Director of the Research and Development Experience Studio, located in the park, and Pedro Rodrigues, Global Chairman of PLM, a global retail technology and design specialist.

The delegation began its visit at the Research and Development Experience Studio, built through a solid and promising partnership between the PLM and SRTIP to unify local expertise and R&D capabilities with PLM’s retail knowledge and user experience. Being an expert in functional design and technology integration, PLM has several projects in the region, such as the management of the Portuguese Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The delegation listened to an introductory explanation from Hussein Al Mahmoudi, CEO of the SRTIP, during which he talked about the park, the most important features, services and facilities it provides to investors and its plans through a presentation. It addressed the most important investments that the SRTIP incubated due to world-class services in an ideal environment that helps companies and innovative investments grow and prosper.

The readiness of the Sharjah Research and Innovation Park to provide all facilities to Portuguese companies wishing to work and invest in the knowledge sector is a focal point based on the vision and mission of the park. It supports, encourages and develops the innovation system and supports applied scientific and technological research to conduct investment activities within an area that follows the best international standards to help attract investments to work in a safe investment atmosphere and integrated infrastructure.

The delegation also learnt about the advantages of the SRTIP and what distinguishes it with its presence in an integrated and comprehensive university city.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The Board of Directors of the newly formed Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers under the umbrella of the newly formed Dubai Chambers, held its first meeting earlier today at the Dubai Chamber headquarters where board members discussed priorities and new plans to boost Dubai’s trade with global markets.

The meeting was chaired by Sultan bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai International Chamber, in the presence of board members Helal Saeed Al Marri; Stephen Moss; Gassan Al Kibsi; Mark Willis; Nader Haffar; Dr. Habib Mulla; Nabil Habayeb; Sanjiv Kakkar; Elissar Farah Antonios; Julia Onslow-Cole; Rani R. Raad; Rola Abu Minh; May Nasrallah Merville; Shukri Eid; and Ahmed Alkhallafi. The meeting was also attended by Hamad Buamim, President & CEO, of Dubai Chamber.

The board discussed ways to leverage the Chamber’s international network to tap into the 30 priority markets, which have been identified as high potential markets that can accelerate the growth of Dubai’s foreign trade. Member companies of Dubai International Chamber will work towards achieving the target of boosting Dubai’s foreign trade to AED2 trillion within the next five years, consolidating Dubai’s position as global trade hub.

Sultan bin Sulayem, stated that trade is the cornerstone of Dubai’s economy and essential for its diversification and stated that the new board will focus its efforts on implementing as new strategy announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which aims to boost Dubai’s foreign trade to AED 2 trillion within the next five years and cement the emirate’s position as global trade hub.

“Through integrated plans, the chamber will target new international markets and support the expansion of national companies abroad. The chamber will also support and integrate global investors, entrepreneurs and talent into Dubai’s flourishing business community within a comprehensive framework that ensures providing an agile pro-business environment,” said Bin Sulayem.

“I am confident that the Dubai International Chamber will not only achieve its new targets but take Dubai’s trade ties with promising markets to the next level. The Chamber is already in strong position to achieve its objectives as it can leverage Dubai Chambers’ resources and vast network of international representative offices across Africa, Eurasia and Latin America,” he added.

Dubai International Chamber was established to strengthen partnerships with global corporations, investors and entrepreneurs and boost Dubai’s status as a major trade hub. Adopting a more specialised approach to driving Dubai’s foreign trade, the chamber will promote the opportunities that the emirate offers in facilitating trade flows.

The Chamber was established under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as part of a recent government restructuring that aims to drive a comprehensive economic development in Dubai.

Source: Emirates News Agency