February 18, 2010

Saleh Al Yarabi, a graduate of ALHOSN University, personally received the distinguished Abu Dhabi Award from H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, during a ceremony at the Emirates Palace. Al Yarabi and eight other individuals received Abu Dhabi award, the Emirate’s highest civilian honour introduced in 2005, for their valuable contributions to society.

More than 16,000 nominees underwent a stringent six-month selection to choose the nine winners. The prominent personalities present during the awarding ceremony included

H.H. Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Interior;

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade; and H.E. Saqr Ghobash, UAE Minister of Labour. 

Al Yarabi graduated from ALHOSN University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems on November 18, 2009.  He moved from Oman to Abu Dhabi in 1978 and has been using a wheelchair since the age of 18. The inspirational awardee has written several books and newspaper articles and has regularly delivered motivational speeches. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed knelt beside Al Yarabi and kissed his forehead in a show of admiration for his remarkable achievements despite his handicap.

R+T Middle East 2010, the Middle East spinoff of the world’s leading show for roller shutters, doors, gates and sun-protection systems, has announced that it will tap into Lebanon's huge market potential in light of growing investment activities in the country, which is expected to help boost commercial and industrial development. In 2009 alone, Lebanon witnessed a 6 per cent increase in construction permits to reach more than 11.42 million square meters of approved projects, a remarkable growth that has been further enhanced by improving availability of capital with local banks collectively reaching nearly USD 90 billion of liquidity.

R+T Middle East 2010 will open the gateway for developers of industrial, commercial as well as residential developments to access a premium selection of world-class automatic garage, industrial doors, and roller shutters. Jointly organised by Deutsche Messe Dubai Branch and Messe Stuttgart, R+T Middle East 2010 will be held from May 10 to 12 at the new exhibition halls of the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The event will showcase a comprehensive range of products and services, including roller shutters and accessories; windows, window shutters and accessories; awnings; Venetian blinds and roller blinds; doors/gates and accessories; drive and control systems; electrical security equipment; business fittings and furnishings; and technical literature. R+T Middle East 2010 will be concurrently held with DOMOTEX Middle East 2010, the MENA region's only dedicated carpets and floor coverings exhibition.

Angela Schaschen, Managing Director, Deutsche Messe Dubai Branch, said: "The enthusiasm of both local and foreign investors in Lebanon has been unprecedented. In addition, Lebanese living abroad, who are estimated to reach over 12 million, are likewise a significant source of capital that has been fuelling the development initiatives across the country. Doors, gates and various security-related solutions are key components of all these development projects. As such, numerous developers in the country are now actively scouting for the most advanced solutions that fit their security needs. R+T Middle East 2010 will certainly be a convenient platform for both buyers and sellers to discuss business opportunities."

Electronic roller shutters, a regular fixture in industrial and commercial facilities, is a key product category expected to achieve a surge in demand in the country as they offer numerous applications, including doors for vans, garages, warehouses and even in detention facilities. They are also being used in residential properties as they are best suited for weather protection, thermal insulation, anti-glare protection, and even sound insulation and burglary protection.

R+T Middle East is under the technical and conceptual sponsorship of the Federal Association for Manufacturers of Roller shutters and Sun protection (Bundesverband Rollladen + Sonnenschutz e.V.) and the National Federation of Door and Gate Manufacturers (BVT - Verband Tore). The German-based Messe Stuttgart, the organiser of R+T is the internationally renowned name in roller shutters and sun protection exhibitions with shows in three prominent construction material markets: R+T Stuttgart in Germany, the leading global trade fair of its kind; R+T Asia in Shanghai, China, which focuses on Asian and Chinese markets; and R+T Middle East in Dubai, which will cater to MENA markets.

Dubai, UAE, 13th February 2010: Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Emirates Central Cooling Corporation (Empower) discussed ways to foster UAE-US business relations at a meeting with the newly appointed US Consul General Justin H. Siberell.  Robert W. Dunn, Principal Commercial Officer, was also present at the meeting. 

The meeting stressed the need for boosting cooperation and exchanging expertise between Empower and the US companies engaged in the energy sector in particular and industrial sector in general.
Bin Shafar, the head of the largest district cooling service provider in the region, said the UAE is one of the “Top places To Do Business” in the world and US businesses are actively taking part in the economic boom of the UAE on all fronts.
The American delegation praised the liberal business climate in the emirate of Dubai in particular and the UAE in general. Siberell described the emirate as an IT, tourism, trade and education hub for the entire region, thanks to the far-sighted vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The delegation agreed that Dubai was a success story with world-class infrastructure that includes ports, airports, roads and urban amenities. Bin Shafar said that the flood of foreign and domestic investment, efficient government spending and highly developed infrastructure have earned the Emirate economic competitiveness in the global market.
Bin Shafar added: “The UAE, the largest US trading partner in the Middle East, managed to transform its economy from a conventional, labor-intensive economy to one based on knowledge, technology and skilled labor and this is where companies like Empower fit it.”
“Empower has succeeded in building world class district cooling infrastructure that is considered an ideal economic and environmental solution for residential and commercial units, offices and hotels in the UAE. I am pleased to share with you that residential units  are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of using district cooling system as an alternative to conventional AC systems, leading to energy saving and environment conservation.”
The Dubai based company tops the list of companies providing district cooling services in the region. It adopts a clear strategy to preserve environment through aggressively disseminating this technology and conducting campaigns to highlight its strategic value in the short and long run to the people and the society in general.

The meeting sought not only to promote US exports to the UAE, which is the Middle East’s booming trade hub, but also aimed to attract investment to the US from the UAE and strengthen two-way trade.

Among the most promising prospects for US Exports to the Middle East, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, is in the area of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment, leading greater significance to the meeting between the US Consulate and Empower.

DuPont announced an investment of $175 million to complete the multi-phase expansion of its high-performance DuPont™ Tedlar® PV2001 series oriented film production line.  This investment is in addition to $120 million in capacity expansions, announced in August 2009, for raw materials used to make the film, bringing the total commitment of these two phases to $295 million.  Tedlar® films serve as the critical component of photovoltaic backsheets, providing long-term durability and performance for photovoltaic modules in all-weather conditions.

The film line expansion will be located at the DuPont Circleville, Ohio, facility using existing and retrofitted assets.  This expansion provides Tedlar® oriented film capacity to support global demand of over 10 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaic module production.  The investment will deliver DuPont technology to help meet increasing needs for energy and environmental sustainability.  This reflects the company’s recently announced commitment to focus on meeting four emerging global trends, one of which is decreasing dependence on fossil fuels.  Film production is scheduled to start up in September 2011.

“The photovoltaic market increasingly demands materials that enable modules to reliably deliver power for decades,” said David B. Miller, president – DuPont Electronics & Communications.  “This major expansion underscores our commitment to maintaining DuPont leadership in the photovoltaic industry and specifically in the backsheet materials market for solar panels.”

The manufacturing steps for Tedlar® oriented film include producing vinyl fluoride (VF) monomer, which is converted into polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) polymer resins, and extruded into the Tedlar® film.  DuPont plans to increase monomer and polymer resin capacity by more than 50 percent.  Construction is under way for these new monomer and resin facilities at the DuPont Louisville, Ky., and Fayetteville, N.C., sites, respectively, and the facilities are scheduled to start up in mid-2010.

“Today, the photovoltaic industry in the Middle East is experiencing rapid growth. The region is aggressively pursuing diversification into renewable energy to reduce its carbon footprint. DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions is committed to address local needs, to continuously innovate and to provide innovative advanced materials for improving solar cell efficiency and module lifetimes. Through science and technology, DuPont is making the use of sustainable energy a viable solution,” said Hartmut Reinke, Director, DuPont Middle East, Turkey and Africa.

DuPont anticipates that the photovoltaic market will grow rapidly over the next several years, and this growth will drive the demand for Tedlar® and other new materials that increase the lifetime and efficiency of solar cells and modules.  DuPont expects that overall sales of its family of products into the photovoltaic industry will exceed $1 billion by 2012.

DuPont™ Tedlar® PVF films have been an essential component of photovoltaic backsheets for more than 25 years.  Tedlar® is widely recognized as the industry standard due to its excellent strength, weather resistance, ultraviolet resistance and moisture barrier properties.  As a result, Tedlar® enables solar modules to achieve long-life performance providing a long-term sustainable energy source for the marketplace.  This results in improved economic returns for investments in solar energy projects and therefore a lower cost of solar electricity to consumers.  Tedlar® films also are used in key applications for aerospace, construction and graphics arts because of their durability and weatherability.

UAE Minister of Foreign Trade H.E. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi has yesterday (February 10, 2010) opened a promotional tour of commercial and investment opportunities in the UAE in the city of Mumbai, representing the second leg of an official Indian visit which started in New Delhi. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade (MoFT) has been overseeing a tour of four Indian cities with the participation of 43 representatives from ministries, federal authorities, local government departments, and private companies.

Events included a joint forum with the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry held under the theme ‘Why UAE?’ which was attended by H.E. Sheikha Lubna; Mohammed Sultan Al Owais, UAE Ambassador to India; MoFT Director General H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh; UAE delegates from the Ministry of Economy; the UAE Central Bank; chambers of economic development in Abu Dhabi and Dubai; the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority; the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre; the Free Zone Authorities of Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah; Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority; Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry; and Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Also present were representatives of national private companies; officials from foreign banks and companies operating in the UAE; businessmen and investors; and key figures from India’s commercial, industrial and investment sectors. Detailed presentations on economic conditions in the UAE and  investment opportunities in the various emirates were also discussed, as well as the holding of bilateral meetings between representatives of government agencies, businessmen and UAE investors and economic, commercial and investment interests from India.

In her opening speech, H.E. Sheikha Lubna emphasized the UAE's commitment to enhancing trade and economic ties with is partners, particularly India, based on the Emirates’ policy of openness, trade liberalization, increased foreign investments, and expanded private-sector participation in development. These, she explained, are vital to expediting economic growth and strengthening the components of the overall development of the UAE in various sectors.

February 09, 2010: Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development (MBRCLD) has revealed that the present challenges in the global financial and banking sector and the experience of incumbent leaders in addressing such pressing concerns are crucial in enhancing the leadership acumen of Dubai's pool of future leaders. In view of this, MBRCLD announced that it recently discussed critical issues in the global financial and banking sector and their impact on Dubai during a new session of the Dubai Policy Watch Forum for all participants at the Center, who have exceeded 150 participants enrolled in the leadership programs: Government Leaders; Young Leaders; Promising Leaders; The Elite; UAE Women Leadership program; Hamdan Bin Mohammed Program for Sports Leadership Development and Qeyadi Leadership Skills Development Programme.

 H.E. Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), served as keynote speaker of the event where he highlighted practical challenges and shared  leadership insights and also offered invaluable advice about banking and finance and other key industries to participants. A former UAE Minister of State for Finance & Industry and a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from “Banker Middle East” magazine in 2007 and “The Arab Banker for 2006” award, Al Tayer has extensive senior leadership experience in both the public and private sectors.

In addition to being DIFC Governor, Al Tayer is Chairman of the Board of both Emirates NBD and the Commercial Bank of Dubai, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Aluminium Company (DUBAL) and Member of the Board of the Investment Corporation of Dubai. Concurrently, Al Tayer is also Chairman of several leading institutions, including the Board of Trustees of the Emirates Nationals Development Programme, Emirates Institute of Banking & Financial Studies, Higher Committee for Human Resources Development in the Banking Sector and the National Human Resource Development & Employment Authority (Tanmia). He is also Deputy Chairman of the Emirates Banks Association and the Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) and a member of Board of Directors at Zayed University.

H.E. Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer said: "The unprecedented challenges faced by the global banking and financial sector and its effects on various sectors of the economy, urged us to work on developing and strengthening the UAE’s financial and banking systems. At the same time, these challenges necessitated a thorough review of many plans and programmes in order to explore the future outlook for socio-economic development. We picked up valuable lessons from the experience, which have helped us better prepare against similar unpleasant incidents in the future. It has been a pleasure for me to support MBRCLD's programs by sharing the experiences and expertise gained during a career that covers more than 40 years of work in the public sector and state-institutions. I believe that it is important for government leaders to pass on their knowledge to the younger generation who will soon take responsibility in steering our society towards sustainable development."

The General Secretariat of the annual Sharjah Economic Excellence Award (SEEA) recently organised a series of workshops covering competition mechanics, at the headquarters of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). The sessions were held in the presence of managers and representatives of SCCI member companies taking part in the Award. 

The workshops discussed the proper preparation of the Award’s application forms, the pre-evaluation phase, methodology of evaluation, post-evaluation procedures, and the details of the technical report that is given to the winning companies during the award ceremony. They fulfilled the General Secretariat’s commitment to fully preparing the participants of the Award; motivating them to further enhance the quality of their services and products; improving their leadership and administration methods; and setting effective strategic plans.

“The past sessions generated a lot of interest and participation from those taking part in SEEA. This confirms growing confidence in and support for the competition, which will result in the adoption of administrative practices that foster corporate excellence. We thank the SEEA board of trustees chaired by Ahmed Mohammad Al Midfaa for supporting our goal of explaining the entire award process to all nominees so that they can adequately prepare for it,” said Nada Al Hajiri, SEEA General Coordinator, SCCI.

Al Hajiri noted that the workshops outlined the Award’s key criteria, including leadership, strategic planning, decision-making, customer and employee satisfaction, efficiency of human resources, and corporate social responsibility. She added that the entire awards process has been upgraded, from application up to nomination and selection of winners.

The Sharjah Economic Excellence Award aims to encourage the private sector to pursue the development and growth of its management, operations, products and services and reward enterprises for their efforts. It sets guidelines, standards and examples to emulate in order to positively change corporate culture and achieve excellence. SEEA was first launched in 1990 under the name ‘Best Exporters Award,’ and was originally intended to motivate exporters to develop unique mechanisms to increase their export rate.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has always been committed to further developing the criteria of the award and expanding its levels of participation. The award’s name was changed to the ‘Elites Award’ in 1995 and was again renamed the ‘Sharjah Economic Excellence Award’ in 2001 under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. SEEA’s latest model meets all the requirements of comprehensive quality management. It takes into account the potential of Sharjah’s private businesses as well as the sustained growth and accelerated development of this vital sector of the national economy.

The shipment of printing and document managing solutions in the Middle East is expected to grow by 4.8 per cent by 2010, according to latest industry analysis from IDC. Aiming to leverage this expected growth, Brother Gulf - a global leader in the development and manufacturing of printing, communication and digital imaging products for homes, SOHOs, and enterprises - has announced the Middle Eastern release of its latest line of innovative products. Launched during the recent 2009 Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX 2009), Brother’s newest additions include two models from the HL-3000 Series compact business colour printers (HL-3040CN and HL-3070CW), three from the 9000 compact business colour All-in-One Series (DCP-9010CN, MFC-9120CN and MFC-9320CW), and the first-ever trilingual (English, Arabic, Persian) P-Touch Label Printer in the Middle East. 

The IDC industry report shows that the predicted growth in the printing and document managing solutions segment indicates the Middle East market’s recovery from the global financial crisis. In fact, Brother Gulf’s sales during the second quarter of the fiscal year (July, August & September) reflected an increased demand for colour laser printers and mono laser single function printers. The release of its latest line of printers allows Brother Gulf to leverage and further consolidate its position in the region’s printing and document managing segment. 

“Brother continues to take strides in growing the market, which is the motivation behind the launch of the new models of colour printing equipment and MFCs,” said Shinji Tada, Managing Director, Brother International Corporation Gulf. “As we continue to invest in advancing the technologies that power our products, we keep in mind the evolving needs of our users amidst the ever-changing demands of today’s dynamic business environment, and tailor-fit our offerings to match these requirements.” 

Brother’s new range of high-speed compact business colour printers and Multi-Function Centres (MFCs), incorporate a host of unique features like fast professional colour and monochrome print speeds at 16 pages per minute, while its newest set of multifunction printing equipment offer the fastest single pass colour print speed within each of their respective market segments. The new line of products offers high quality print outs of up to 600x2400 dpi resolution. 

Models under the HL-3000 Series Printer and 9000 All-in-One Series have adjustable, 250-sheet paper capacity; Ethernet and Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interfaces and two-piece toner/drum set. In terms of individual key features, the HL-3070CW model showcases a built-in wireless network interface, USB direct interface and PCL6 and BR-Script3 emulations; while the MFC-9120CN has a Super G3 fax function. All new models are compact, affordable, ideal for small businesses and home-based office professionals, and comes with a three-year warranty. 

“With the printer market expected to rebound by the second half of 2010, our plans for the coming year will definitely include activities, which will further strengthen our relationships with retailers, partners, and distributors. Furthermore, our customers can count on Brother Gulf to invest in designing new products with a focus on providing powerful features and combining convenience and functionality, which will ultimately contribute to the enhancement of the overall operations of small, home-based or mobile businesses,” concluded Tada.

Dubai eGovernment has announced the launch of its popular instant information service on Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) 2010 events through mDubai, providing the public with a reliable, up-to-date communication platform about the daily activities related to Dubai's annual shopping extravaganza. mDubai is an innovative communication channel that facilitates interaction between the public and government departments via SMS.

The DSF 2010 service provides information about five random events on any given day. To request information in Arabic for five random events, users only need to type "DSF A" and send it as an SMS to 4488. The same information can be received in English by typing "DSF E".

“DSF is one of the most important entertainment and shopping festivals of the year as there are numerous fun-filled activities such as concerts, exhibitions, competitions and promotions that offer exciting prizes. Dubai eGovernment's goal is to allow residents and tourists to have a truly enjoyable experience throughout the DSF festivities by providing up-to-date information about the daily activities," said Ahmed Bin Humaidan, Director-General, Dubai eGovernment.

"Users may request information about a random list of activities so that they can set a schedule and choose which places they would like to visit first. This service is particularly useful for tourists or visitors who will be in Dubai only for a short period. Having experienced the advantages of the mDubai information service during DSF 2009, residents and visitors are now again taking advantage of this innovative service as shown by the growing volume of requests we have received since the service was launched," he added.

The mDubai service is one of the most successful e-services of Dubai eGovernment as it receives thousands of pull messages and sends millions of push messages each year. Some of the most common push messages include health card expiry notifications; traffic on roads; driving test notifications; traffic fines notifications; opening and closing timings of water bridges; trade licence expiry notifications and payment voucher notifications.

The most widely availed pull messages include fines enquiries from Dubai Police; flight information from Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; prayer timings from Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department; transaction status inquiries from Dubai Department of Economic Development and daily event schedule inquiries for Dubai Summer Surprises and DSF.

Cristal Hotels and Resorts, one of Abu Dhabi’s fastest growing hotel chains, has announced that it has achieved one of the highest month-to-date occupancy rate among Abu Dhabi's 4-star and 5-star hotels, garnering 84 per cent average occupancy in January 2010. The figure is in line with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority's (ADTA) 10 per cent growth forecast in hotel guests in the emirate this year. Abu Dhabi accommodated around 1.5 million hotel guests in 2009, which according to ADTA will grow to 2.3 million by 2012 when the emirate's hotel capacity reaches over 27,000 rooms.

Cristal Hotels and Resorts' surge to the top of the rankings is a significant achievement as it outperformed more well-established 5-star hotels despite having started operations only in July 2009. Month-to-date occupancy of 5-star properties, most of which have been in the market for more than 10 years, stood at 76 per cent during the same period. Moreover, after its opening, Cristal Hotels and Resorts was able to achieve an average occupancy of 80.35% from August 31 to December 31, 2009.

Peter Blackburn, General Manager, Cristal Hotel Abu Dhabi, said: "2009 was a remarkable year for us despite starting operations only around the third quarter and we are pleased to have carried the momentum through to 2010. As UAE residents and citizens often prefer to stay in local brand hotels, Cristal Hotel has introduced a new brand of hospitality with a distinct local taste, which has been a key factor in our consistently strong market performance."

"The high-level occupancy we have achieved is a strong manifestation of how our guests appreciate our efforts to maintain the exceptional quality of our hotel offerings and services. On account of Cristal Hotel's key focus on business tourism, we are particularly pleased to have seen an increasing number of business guests over the past few months. With government-led tourism initiatives expected to boost room demand in 2010 and beyond, we are confident that Cristal Hotel's growing reputation as a quality-driven hospitality destination will enable us to sustain our strong performance in line with the increasing market demand," added Blackburn.

Located at the heart of Abu Dhabi's business district, the 4-star Cristal Hotel caters to both business guests and tourists and is one of the few completely dry hotels in Abu Dhabi. Cristal Hotel offers a total of 192 rooms and suites, all equipped with high-speed internet connectivity, executive desk and IDD interactive telephone with voice mail. Other premium facilities of Cristal Hotel include an executive lounge, the exclusive Cristal Spa, an in-door swimming pool, sauna, and a beauty salon.

Cristal Hotel is also fully equipped with a full range of business facilities, including a business centre with full secretarial services and touch-screen workstations, five multi-purpose meeting and conference rooms, an executive lounge, and state-of-the-art audio visual equipment. In addition, the meeting rooms and business centre offer an excellent view of the city's skyline.

ALHOSN University, a leading Abu Dhabi-based university dedicated to high-quality and value-based education, inked a renewable three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UAE Society of Engineers. The MoU was signed by their Excellencies Dr. Khalil Ibrahim Al Hosani, Vice Chairman of the UAE Society of Engineers, and Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni, Vice Chancellor of ALHOSN University.

Under the terms of the MoU, ALHOSN will tap the local and international expertise of the Society to deliver high-quality engineering education and strengthen the role of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science in achieving ALHOSN’s vision “Global Knowledge with Local Vision”. ALHOSN and the Society will hold one joint event every year and meet every six weeks to discuss areas of mutual interest. Joint events include training workshops, conferences, and educational programs. The MoU also involves the exchange of technical reports and academic studies. Both ALHOSN and the society will co-promote their programs and activities.

Commenting on the agreement, Prof. Sabouni said: “Our partnership with the country’s leading organization in the engineering profession will enable us to expose our faculty and students to the latest engineering techniques, trends, and technologies. More importantly, it will introduce our students to real-life applications and thus enhance the level of their classroom understanding. Our agreement with the UAE Society of Engineers reflects our commitment to collaborating with leading enterprises and institutions to maintain our high-quality educational delivery.”

“It would be good for our profession if we start our future practitioners on the right foot. Our tieup with ALHOSN will enable us to impart key skills and knowledge so that engineering students can better adjust to how the industry works and build talent to suit real-world needs. We look forward to going beyond the initial three-year period of this partnership and create an enduring productive relationship with ALHOSN,” added Dr. Al Hosani.

The UAE Society of Engineers was established as a semi-government sector and a non-profit organization in 1979 in support of the national engineering sector. It has excellently accomplished its duties in accrediting engineering certifications, regulating professional practices, developing standards and specifications, and improving the skills and qualifications of UAE engineers through its training and development centre. The society issues several publications including the World of Engineering magazine, the Consultancy Directory, and the Building & Construction Directory, and actively participates in engineering-related activities through the UAE and the GCC. It will soon be relocating to its own building in Al Mamzar, Dubai, on land donated by His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Price of Dubai.

ALHOSN University was founded in 2005 and is fully accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Its three faculties offer eleven undergraduate and seven graduate programs that are open to students of all nationalities.

Mindware, a leading IT distributor in the Middle East, has been awarded the ‘Fastest-growing Distributor’ in the Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe regions by Citrix Systems, the global leader in virtual workplace software and services. The recognition honoured the company’s growth achievement - exceeding 18 other distributors of Citrix products in the region, which encompass the Middle East, Africa, France, Italy, Spain and Germany. Scott Herren, Managing Director and Vice President, Citrix EMEA; and Noman Qadir, Regional Channel Manager, Citrix Middle East handed the award to Nehme Mouchantaf, Networking and Solution Department Manager, Mindware Middle East; and Waleed Msabbeh, Product Manager for Citrix, Mindware KSA.

In addition to recording an impressive growth, Mindware was also lauded for creating and executing the most effective business and marketing plans. As a result, the company has further strengthened its repute as a reliable partner in application delivery, remote computing and virtualisation among customers in the Middle East and Africa.

“Mindware has been a Citrix strategic value-add partner across the region for over ten years now. To be recognised with this prestigious award will motivate us to take this thriving partnership to new heights,” said Nehme Mouchantaf, Networking and Solution Department Manager, Mindware. “We believe that this success has been spurred by our strong understanding of the brand and product, which has enabled us to formulate a strategy that guided us in achieving our targets and objectives. We are confident that further growth will highlight our partnership with Citrix in the years to come, starting with a common business plan, which we are jointly planning across the region.”

Mindware distributes Citrix’ entire solutions portfolio across the region, including application delivery (XenApps) and virtualisation (Xendesktop), as well as Application Networking Group (ANG) products (Netscaler for Web optimisation, branch repeater for Wan optimisation and Access gateway for SSL VPN security). The company is focused on creating market demand by recruiting partners, implementing POCs, providing consultancy services, undertaking account management for enterprise deals, and creating and executing marketing plans that spread awareness on Citrix. Living up to its repute as a real value-added distributor, Mindware is gearing up to intensify its promotion activities for Citrix though new plans, new recruitment and an enhanced VAD approach.

“Citrix is proud to deliver this high performance award to Mindware who have achieved the highest growth rate among Southern Europe distributors. This major achievement comes as no surprise to us.  Mindware management has shown great commitment, focus and dedication to execute our mutual business plan by setting up a dedicated Citrix Team. This team has successfully developed a network of certified Citrix Partners and has also been instrumental to educate the market on the value of virtualization and application networking solutions through regular marketing activities. As desktop virtualization promises to be one of the hottest areas in IT in 2010, we look forward to strengthen the Citrix-Mindware partnership for the benefit of solution providers and end-user organizations in the Middle East,” concluded Noman Qadir, Regional Channel Manager, Citrix Middle East.