Dubai Update

Prepared and circulated by the Dubai Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board

NOVEMBER 1996

Highlights of Dubai's Strategic Development Plan 1996-2000 include: 5% annual GDP growth; 6.9% annual growth in the non-oil sector (raising its share of GDP to 88.7%); increase industrial growth rate to 7%; increase the share of UAE nationals in the workforce to 10%; Dh44.5 billion investment required during 1996-2000.
Dubai's non-oil trade in the first half of 1996 totalled Dh40.99 billion, an increase of 18.7% over the same period last year. Imports rose by 16.4% to Dh30.78 billion and re-exports by 39.6% to Dh8.11 billion, while domestic exports fell by 6.5% to Dh2.11 billion during the period.
The winners of the Dubai Quality Awards ,96 were: construction/ contracting - Dutco Balfour Beatty; services - Abela & Co; manu-facturing/production - Dubal and Caltex Alkhaleej; trade - Dubai Duty Free and Xerox Emirates; and tourism - JW Marriott and Dubai Hilton.
Emirates has signed an agreement to purchase 16 Airbus A330-200s at a cost of $2 billion, with options on a further seven. The aircraft, to be delivered between 1999 and 2002, will replace the existing A300-600s and A310s.
Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) is to set up a $400 million topping plant in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. It will process oil condensate and have a total production capacity of 100,000 barrels per day.
Dubai Investments Co has announced plans to set up a private industrial park on a 30 sq km site near Jebel Ali. The company has also acquired majority stakes in Emirates Glass LLC, Al Marmum Dairy Farm and Emirates Building Systems.
Burgmann. the German manufacturer of mechanical seals, has opened its Dh2.75 million Middle East headquarters in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. It will incorporate logistics, repair and maintenance and adaptive hardware manufacturing facilities.
Senao International, the Taiwanese telecommunications equipment company, has opened an assembly line, warehouse and office facility in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. It will service the Gulf, Africa and CIS markets.
Jumbo Electronics has announced the establishment of an advanced $3 million digital post-production facility in Dubai. It will offer a full range of editing, graphic animation and special effects for the region's rapidly developing media industry.
Jaguar Cars has opened a new showroom in Dubai.
Techmedia, the South Korean computer hardware manufacturer, has announced that it expects to establish its regional distribution centre at the new Dubai Airport Free Zone.
Honda Middle East has officially opened its offices and training centre in Dubai.
MacGregor, the UK-based ship cargo access equipment maker, is to establish a service and maintenance facility in Dubai.
Two French banks, Societe Generale and UBAF, are expected to open representative offices in Dubai before the year-end.
Dubai's latest beachfront hotel, the 257-room Radisson SAS Hotel, has opened for business.
The 245-room Four Points Sheraton Hotel has held its official opening ceremony.
Dubai Ports Authority has taken delivery of two additional post-panamax cranes, bringing the total to 25. Container traffic is projected to reach 4 million TEUs by 2004. DPA handled 22.4 million tonnes in the first nine months of 1996, an increase of 6%.
The Intersun Group has completed construction of its $4 million tea packing and blending plant in the Jebel Ali Free Zone.
The new Palestinian Trade Development Centre will open its first overseas branch in Dubai in March 1996.
The Philippines is to open a consulate in Dubai in the first quarter of 1997.
Turkey is planning to set up a tourist information centre in Dubai.
Informix, the database technology provider, has announced plans to open an office in the Jebel Ali Free Zone.
Harman International, the US-based manufacturer of JBL speakers, is planning to establish a distribution centre in the Jebel Ali Free Zone.
The Sheraton Dubai is currently being upgraded and refurbished and will be re-branded the Sheraton Dubai Hotel and Towers.
The 117-room Lords Hotel has opened in Dubai's Deira district.
Dubai Ports Authority and EPPCO have commissioned a new Dh39 million tanker jetty at Jebel Ali Port. With a water depth of 15 metres, it will be able to accommodate 125,000 tonnes tankers.
Namibia is planning to set up a trade centre in Dubai to strengthen business relations with the Gulf.
The National Algerian Shipping Line (CNAN) has launched a monthly service linking Dubai with Algiers and Tunis. Transit time is 16 days.
Dubai-based accountancy firm and management consultants, MAK & Associates, has opened an office in India.
Great Plains Software is to establish a marketing and development office in Dubai.
Gainwell Medimart, the Indian healthcare group, is to set up operations in Dubai.
The 100-year-old Sheikh Saaed's House, restored at a cost of Dh 14 million, has been opened as a national museum.
The Dubai Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board has published the 1997 edition of Destination Dubai, its flagship tourism publication. Copies may be obtained from any DCTPB office.