Dubai Update

Prepared and circulated by the Dubai Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board

MARCH 1996 The Gross Domestic Product of the UAE is expected to reach Dh152 billion in 1996, up from Dh144 billion (preliminary) in 1995 and Dh135 billion in 1994, according to the Ministry of Planning.	Dubai's non-oil trade increased by 8% to Dh65.2 billion in the first eleven months of 1995. Imports rose 3.3% to Dh 49.4 billion, while exports soared by 45% to Dh4.3 billion and re-exports increased by 19.7% to Dh11.6 billion.
Dubai has been named the world's best conference venue in the 1996 Business Travel World awards. The Dubai Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board received the award. Dubai was also honoured for best international airport (Department of Civil Aviation), best Middle East business airline (Emirates), best European/Middle East incentive venue (Hatta Fort Hotel) and best Middle East hotels group (Hilton International).	SRF Overseas, part of India's giant DCM Group, has officially inaugurated its $30 million tyre cord fabric plant in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. The factory is one of the largest industrial projects in the zone.
French Gulf Airconditioning and Refrigeration Manufacturing Company has opened a new $3 million factory in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. The 6,000 square metre plant is expected to double annual production capacity from the present level of 20,000 AC units.	Berger International, one of the world's largest paint manufacturers, has relocated its Middle East headquarters from Bahrain to Dubai. The company has also opened a new plant at Al Quoz. It will produce 15 million litres of paint per year.
Finland's largest company, Neste Oy, has officially opened its Middle East regional office in Dubai.	Mattel Inc, one of the world's leading toy manufacturers, is opening an office in Dubai. Future plans may include establishing a regional warehousing and distribution facility in the Jebel Ali Free Zone.
Cedel Bank of Luxembourg has officially inaugurated its Dubai representative office.	Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry has announced the establishment of its new Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre.
The Department of Civil Aviation has announced that a new terminal dedicated to charter and other non-scheduled flights will go into operation in February 1997.	Emirates, Dubai Ports Authority and the Department of Ports and Customs have created Emscape, a joint venture company for the development of an electronic cargo community system. Named Mirsal, the system will link all parties in a cargo transaction.
The Department of Civil Aviation has signed an agreement granting five companies - Shell, Caltex, BP, ENOC and a joint venture between Emarat and Mobil - renewable ten-year concessions to supply aviation fuel at Dubai International Airport.	The MacGregor Group of Finland has opened an office in Dubai to supply and service shipboard cargo handling products, such as hatch covers, cranes, ro-ro equipment, elevators, cold rooms and liquid cargo handling systems.
Qatar Steel Company Ltd (QASCO) has announced plans to open an office in Dubai.	S & H GmbH, a German water treatment company, is reported to be planning to set up an assembly plant in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. It will produce water recovery, recycling and sewage treatment equipment.
Safinter of Spain has opened its Middle East regional office in Dubai. The company is a leading producer of saffron.	Horst Wellmann Stahl- und Metalbau of Germany is planning a Dubai presence to market its construction products.
Kurlon Ltd, part of India's Manipal Group, is setting up a Dh30 million finishing plant for its mattresses in Dubai.	The German National Tourist Board has announced plans to open a representative office in Dubai to serve the Middle East market.
The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) is to open a showroom and warehouse facility in Dubai to cover the Middle East.	Dubai Ports Authority has been named as the best port in the Middle East in the 1996 Asian Freight Awards for the second consecutive year. The award is based on a poll of 14,000 readers of Cargonews Asia.
The largest Harley-Davidson showroom outside the United States has been opened in Dubai.	Vector International of the UK has set up its first overseas base in Dubai. The company specialises in pipeline sealing and connections.
Emirates has been named top airline to the Middle East by Travel Trade Gazette Europa and best cargo carrier to the Middle East by Cargonews Asia. These are the airline's 95th and 96th international awards.	The Ram Kaashyap Group of India is to set up a Dubai office.
Ansal Group, the Indian property developer, plans to set up a joint venture in Dubai to build residential and commercial complexes in the Gulf region.	The new Four Points Sheraton Dubai hotel is scheduled to open in June in the refurbished and modernised former Excelsior Hotel building. It will have 245 rooms and 36 suites.
Rotana Hotels has announced plans to open the 325-room Al Bustan Hotel in February 1997. It will have eight food and beverage outlets and conference and banqueting facilities for 1,500 people.	The Leading Hotels of the World, which represents 300 hotels in 66 countries, is considering the opening of a regional office in Dubai.
Tetra Ltd, the British software supplier, has formed a joint venture with in Dubai with its Middle East distributor, OCS. It will cover a region stretching from Morocco to Oman.	Triangle Airline of Uganda is to introduce direct cargo services from Dubai to Lagos and Kano in Nigeria and N'Djamena in Chad.