Dubai Update

Prepared and circulated by the Dubai Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board

SEPTEMBER 1996

Dubai's non-oil trade increased by 17.2% to Dh27,165.15 million during the first four months of 1996. Imports increased by 15.6% to Dh20,221.89 million and re-exports by 39.4% to Dh5,552.66 million, while domestic exports fell by 18.0% to Dh1,390.59 million for the period.	Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal) has announced the start-up of the first production cells of its $500 million expansion programme ahead of schedule and well under budget. When completed, the project will raise production capacity by over 50% to 375,000 tonnes per annum.
Gulf Oil, part of the Hinduja group, is to open a $10 million grease plant in the Jebel Ali Free Zone within 18 months. It will have a capacity of 12,000 tonnes per annum.	US computer company Hewlett Packard plans to open a representative office in Dubai this autumn. It will cover the AGCC and Yemen.
Gulf Worldwide FZE has opened a 10,000 square metre warehouse and office complex in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. The company is a major distributor of ball and roller bearings.	Federal Express has signed a lease agreement for a 192,000 square foot distribution facility at Dubai Cargo Village. It will become operational during 1997.
AP-Dow Jones News Services, the US-based economic news and information group, has opened a bureau in Dubai as a base for Middle East operations.	Dubai's new Sheraton Four Points hotel is scheduled to open next month. Built at a cost of Dh160 million on the site of the former Excelsior Hotel, it will have 213 rooms and 32 junior suites.
American Airlines has opened a dedicated office in Dubai. It is the first US carrier to have an independent office in the city.	The New Zealand Trade Development Board has consolidated its regional operations in Dubai. The move involves the closure of the Bahrain office and the transfer of New Zealand's Riyadh-based trade commissioner to Dubai.
Scottish Provident International, the Edinburgh-based financial services and fund management group, has opened a regional office in Dubai.	Dubai Cargo Village handled a total of 237,176 tonnes of air freight in the first eight months of 1996. This represented an increase of 13.4% over the corresponding period of last year.
Dubai Transport Corporation is to expand its taxi fleet by 400 to 1,500 vehicles by the end of 1996.	Dubai's second JC Penney store has opened at the Al Ghurair Centre. The US retail giant also has an outlet in the Bur Juman mall.
Radio Shack, the US-based Tandy Corporation's chain of electronics stores, has opened its first outlet in Dubai.	Emirates Livestock and Meat Products Trading Company is setting up a 150,000 sq. m. covered sheep pen in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. The Dh27 million facility will handle 100,000 Australian sheep per month.