Link issue12 Final One - SCLG

More documents

Recommendations

Info

36 Gateways (R-L) HH Sheikh Mohammed presenting the Dubai Government Excellence Program Award to DAFZA Director General Dr. Mohammed Al Zarouni DAFZA – a benchmark for free zones What others take decades to achieve, Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA) has accomplished more than that within first decade of its inception. The free zone has grown from strength to strength every year. With just 10 employees and less than 55 companies in 1998, today DAFZA stands proud with more than 100 staff members serving 825 major companies. After ten years, the Dubai Airport Free Zone has uniquely positioned itself to become the most favourable home for a large number of major multinational players active in various sectors. According to DAFZA Director-General Dr. Mohammed Al Zarouni, the free zone’s success is no doubt attributed to the support of the Dubai government, the confidence and trust that our clients rest on us and the excellent job performed by the employees on implementing the strategic goal of the free zone authority. “We’re fully focused to continue reasonable and sustainable growth, improve the quality of services to the maximum to satisfy our clients, employees and all associates. DAFZA also keeps an eye on the major global companies to help them tap the regional market through setting up offices in the free zone,” he added. The free zone has also strongly contributed to the growth of the UAE in general and Dubai in particular in the first decade of its operations. With more than 1,000 companies operating within the free zone’s periphery, the investments attracted to Dubai is immeasurable. “We shall continue to play this role as long as we keep improving our services to the international standards. And I assure investors and our clients that Dubai Airport Free Zone will become a benchmark for the free zones in the region,” he added. Dubai Airport Free Zone has become an ideal platform for multinational companies eyeing investment opportunities in the UAE and the region. The ongoing rapid expansion of Dubai International Airport, the most modern and fastest growing airport in the world serving over 100 airlines flying to more than 136 destinations worldwide, will benefit the free zone great deal by leveraging the zone's logistical, cargo and avionic services. In addition to having access to a vast consumer market of over 1.5 billion, the free zone investors enjoy the benefits and the facilities provided by Dnata FLC and Customs Department in the free zone making it the right link in the logistics chain. DAFZA has always been selective in choosing its companies. All companies applying to DAFZA must satisfy stringent evaluation criteria, including analysis of the company's reputation Supply Chain & Logistics Group | www.sclgme.org
Gateways 37 and financial strength. “Our aim is to bring in those companies that would add value to the airport as well as the business community of Dubai,” Zarouni said. The free zone offers countless incentives to foreign investors. “We do offer every thing that makes the job easier for our clients, including full ownership, 100 per cent repatriation of capital and profit, services for the company employees including visa procedures and introducing the business to local and regional markets using Dubai as a brand.” Zarouni said free zone has been growing in line with its vision to be the investor's top choice and will continue to succeed as the preferred investment destination for its excellence, commitment and services. The free zone's list of prestigious companies has consolidated its position as the hub for major players from various industry sectors. Some of the successful names include Boeing, Airbus, Porsche, Schuco, Richemont, Audi, Lufthansa Tecknik, US Robotics, Dicom and the list goes on. Focusing on aviation Commenting on the free zone’s future growth plan, Zarouni said: “We plan to put more focus on the aviation sector as our experience revealed that this sector holds unlimited business opportunities. The sector represents around 15 per cent of the total business in the free zone. Our targets are rationale and pragmatic.” “We are also in the process of improving and working out new strategies and initiatives to make DAFZA facilities more appropriate to clients’ expectations. We look forward to sticking to the world’s best standards DAFZA provides the world’s best standards and specifications in every aspect of services. It aims to optimise the facilities and services and do everything possible to surpass clients’ expectations. and specifications in every aspect of the services we provide. We aim to optimise the facilities and services and do everything possible to surpass clients’ prospects. We firmly believe in continuously improving the competency, knowledge and skills of our employees.” Dubai has become a natural choice for international companies to launch operations in the Middle East region but DAFZA is the preferred choice for multinational companies to set up regional headquarters to cash in on the proximity of the Dubai International Airport and the fast growing UAE economy. Last year, the free zone achieved staggering growth of over 62 per cent, registering 850 companies compared to 500 in the previous year. This strong growth is on the basis of great opportunities and a wide range of high quality services free zone offers to companies based in the zone. DAFZA employees have also increased dramatically. “In brief we have achieved excellent progress in terms of improving services and facilities in preparation for more companies especially in aviation sector which is growing very fast. The year 2006 is even more significant as we complete 10 years,” Zarouni said. Major expansion DAFZA has also embarked on a major expansion project in order to incorporate more companies waiting to set up offices. Currently, expansion work is progressing at a fast pace to complete the foundations of the new Phase 7 & 8 by the end of 2007. This expansion will enable the free zone to house more than 400 companies upon the completion. Companies will be able to cater the whole region through their offices in the free zone. As Dubai’s companies are going global, DAFZA has also set sights to become a major regional player and play a crucial role in managing the regional free zones and exchange its expertise with them. This is a very significant step in the development of free zone to diversify its resources. DAFZA experienced many challenges and tests of the time during the last ten years. But Dr. Zarouni believes it’s always the intelligent and good management, clear objectives, good strategies, transparency and strong human resources which help an organisation to eliminate those hurdles no matter how big they are. “We always overcame those obstacles and emerged a stronger organisation. I believe no organisation in the world operates smoothly without having certain obstacles on its way to growth and success,” he summarised. Supply Chain & Logistics Group | www.sclgme.org
Page 5: 5 Designed and produced by Media On
Page 8 and 9: 8 Supply Chain & Logistics Group -
Page 11 and 12: About SCLG 11 Meet SCLG President (
Page 13 and 14: About SCLG 13 SCLG CONSULTIVE COMMI
Page 15 and 16: Retail 15 is influenced by relation
Page 17 and 18: Supply Chain 17 processes, from the
Page 19 and 20: Logistics 19 for airport parking an
Page 21 and 22: Warehousing 21 visibility upright g
Page 23 and 24: Market Watch 23 FAMCO wins warehous
Page 25 and 26: Market Watch 25 Euroblast makes AED
Page 28 and 29: 28 Material Handling Power for the
Page 30 and 31: 30 Product Watch Intermec launches
Page 32 and 33: 32 Transportation Boeing sees $2.6
Page 35: Human Resources 35 Workplace In har
Page 39 and 40: Legal 39 Author: the ability to som
Page 41 and 42: Construction 41 Schüco products qu
Page 43 and 44: Banking & Finance 43 E-payment bene
Page 45: Case Study 45 Virgin Atlantic Airwa
Page 48 and 49: 48 Information Technology productio
Page 50 and 51: 50 Academia John Mee, M.D. Supply C
Page 53 and 54: Events Spotlight 53 First Annual Mi

Link issue12 Final One - SCLG

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?