04 July 2019. Makateb Business Center (Makateb) joins the Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi as Gold Member. Makateb is a group of business centers that offer a full range of serviced offices, tailored to any arrangement required. MBC have the expertise required to meet the needs of their clients and they make sure that they continue to be their partners of choice. Makateb currently operates two business centers, in Ajman and Abu Dhabi.

With a view to expanding in the GCC, Makateb is looking to partner with investors and or building owners for mutual benefit through its Franchise offering or Management Contracts.

To learn more of the services MBC are offering, please go to their website at www.makatebgcc.com

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) announced today that it is reducing its trading commission fees starting 1st of July 2019 thus making ADX among the MENA region’s least expensive stock markets with regards to trading commissions. This initiative is designed to reduce costs on investors, build confidence, increase liquidity, as well as attract more investors into the Exchange.

The new initiative not only reinforces ADX’s competitive position, it is also a key step towards achieving the Ghadan 2021 plan's objective of removing barriers and lowering the cost of doing business in Abu Dhabi. The seeds of the initiative were first sown in June 2018 with the announcement by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces of a three-year, AED 50 billion stimulus package for Abu Dhabi.

ADX continuously seeks to launch new initiatives aimed at diversifying investment products available to its stakeholders. This approach helps facilitate the expansion and diversification of the Emirate’s economy. It will also allow Abu Dhabi to compete as a primary center for attracting FDI as well as contributing to the Emirate’s sustainable development goals.

Commenting on this initiative, H.E. Khaleefa Al Mansouri - ADX Acting Chief Executive said: “Through this initiative and the introduction of other investment opportunities, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) is providing additional incentives for both local and international investors to invest on the Exchange providing liquidity into the market and helping to finance listed companies’ projects which will support the of expansion their business.”

The ADX is reducing its trading commission with a range from 50% up to 90%. ADX cost for annual transactions of less than AED 250 million will be 5 basis points (0.05%) of the transaction value. For transactions in excess of AED 1 billion over the period of 1 year, the cost will range to one basis point.

In other words, an investor who trades AED 500 million a year will be charged 5 basis points over the first 250 million and then a commission lower than 250 million during the year. The Exchange’s trading commission has also been reduced for transactions exceeding AED 1 billion by 90% from the previously implemented transaction fees which makes ADX one of the region's least expensive stock markets in terms of trading commission. Prior to the implementation of this new initiative, ADX has set up a number of awareness sessions for the stakeholders in order to familiarize them with the new mechanism.

The number of institutional investors in the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchanges (ADX) at the end of May 2019 was 8395, including 6318 foreign investors. During the first five months of this year, institutional investors traded AED 1.5 billion compared to AED 890 million in the same period of 2018, an increase of 73%. This shows a positive trend on a medium to long term basis.

Source: www.adx.ae

Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi
CEO and Managing Director
 United Eastern Medical Services (UEMedical)

Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi brings a host of strengths to his role as the CEO and managing director of UEMedical with his track record and proven abilities in strategic planning, policy implementation, financial investments and innovative management skills.

He is also a board member in the Strategic Partnership Council of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, as well as a board member and chairman of the Healthcare Working Group of the UAE-UK Business Council. 

With UEMedical’s investment in the healthcare sector reaching over $1.15bn (AED4.2bn) and employing 3,000 staff, Al Hammadi aspires to redefine the definition of healthcare in the UAE by promoting quality services that meet international standards.

By strategically partnering with leading international players, Al Hammadi aims to create an unbeatable healthcare proposition that combines exceptional services, highly-qualified medical teams and innovative technologies to create a reassuring and welcoming patient-centric environment across the UEMedical portfolio in the UAE and the wider region, including Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children, HealthPlus Fertility Centres in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and KSA, HealthPlus Network of Specialty Centres and Family Clinic, Moorfields Eye Hospital in Abu Dhabi and Al Muhaidib Dental Group that includes over 60 dental centres across KSA. He serves as a board member in a number of leading organisations throughout the region, which include UPI and Baniyas Concrete.

He is also the vice chairman of United Eastern Group (UEG) and Gulf Contractors Company (GCC). Prior to launching UEMedical, Al Hammadi worked for more than nine years at Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) before taking up his current role in the healthcare sector. 

Source: www.arabianbusiness.com

CCC: Where Fast Fashion Meets Miracle Prices

UAE, June 20, 2019: CCC, Europe’s Most Wanted Footwear brand, with over 1,500 stores across Europe, added another feather to its cap by launching its first store in the UAE at World Trade Center Mall, Abu Dhabi.

H.E. Robert Rostek, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the UAE and Talal Al Dhiyebi, Chief Executive Officer at Aldar inaugurated the grand launch event of CCC’s first store on June 19^th, 2019 along with Nilesh Ved, Chairman of Apparel Group.

Spread across 8,583 square feet of retail space, the CCC store provides customers with a range of products for every occasion – from casual and sports to elegant leather footwear as well as bags and accessories.

CCC boasts a collection of over 30 brands under one roof including Adidas, Skechers, Vans, Reebok, Asics, Jenny Fairy, Lanetti, Lasocki, Bassano, Action Boy, K-Swiss, Berastogi and Anta to name a few. Many of the brands are CCC’s very own and have been introduced to the UAE market for the first time.

The core values of CCC are, ‘Fast Fashion’ and ‘Value for Money,’ ensuring their customers receive thousands of product lines, styles, colors and fashions at value prices living up to their name of Cena Cyzni Cuda - ‘Price Makes Miracles.’

About Apparel Group LLC

Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate residing at the crossroads of the modern economy – Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Today, the Apparel Group caters to thousands of eager shoppers through its more than 1750+ stores and 75+ brands across all platforms employing 12,000 multicultural staff covering four continents.

Apparel group has carved its strong presence not only in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia but opened thriving gateways to market in India, South Africa, Poland, Singapore, Jordan, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Additionally, clear strategies are in place to enter emerging markets such as Hungary, Pakistan, Egypt and Philippines

Apparel Group Operates Brands from around the world, originating from USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia and include leading names in Fashion, Footwear & Lifestyle such as Tommy Hilfiger, Juicy Couture, Skechers, Nautica, Aldo, Nine West, Aeropostale to name a few and other key brands include Tim Hortons, Cold Stone Creamery, Inglot, Rituals etc..

The Apparel Group owes its amazing growth to the vision and guidance of its dynamic Chairman, Nilesh Ved, who has taken the company from strength to strength since its inception in the last two decades. www.appareluae.com

The board of directors of United Eastern Medical Services (UEMedical) announced the second phase of the expansion project of Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women and Children in Abu Dhabi.

The second phase includes the construction of a new tower with a capacity of 100 beds, at a total cost of AED300 million. The new tower will be adjacent to the current hospital building located in Abu Dhabi Gate City and will be operational by mid 2020.

H.E. Mohamed Hamad Al Hameli, Undersecretary of Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH) said, “The Department of Health supports expansions of services and operational facilities that are aligned with the current market needs and in line with the capacity gaps study that was published by DOH recently which identifies the most needed medical services in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.”

He added that the second phase of Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women and Children will be a new addition to women and children healthcare services, increasing the overall capacity of beds, especially number of advanced NICU beds, as well as bringing in pediatrics subspecialties and improving the services provided to women and children in the Emirate.

Mr Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, CEO and Managing Director of UEMedical said “Construction will begin in the next three months, adding that with the completion of the second tower, the total number of hospital beds will increase to 225 beds covering various specialties. With that, UEMedical's assets will increase to 2.5 billion AED. The design project has been awarded to the renowned American architectural firm HKS, who designed the existing tower of Danat Al Emarat in addition to Amar Golden Design.

He pointed out that the expansion project of Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women and Children followed detailed studies in cooperation with the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, identifying specialties needed, capacity gaps and beds required especially in the fields of pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology.

“Danat Al Emarat Hospital is considered as a referral center for high-risk pregnancies, encompassing a full fledge department of fetal medicine, level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, pediatric surgery and pediatrics subspecialties needed for newborns and older children up to adolescence such as pediatric cardiology, speech language therapy, pediatric allergy and more. The hospital also encompasses an advanced center for women's laparoscopy and minimally invasive gynecology surgery; and a Bariatric and Metabolic Center, specialties that are highly needed," he said.

He added that such an expansion comes in line with the growing interest in maternal and child healthcare services, which are highly supported by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, GWU, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, FDF.

“With the completion of the second phase and the operation of the new building, the number of beds at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit will be doubled to 40 beds equipped to the highest international standards. Pediatric subspecialties including pediatric orthopedics, pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric pulmonology and pediatric neurology, in collaboration with the renowned The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, Canada, will be further expanded,” Mr Al Shorafa further added.

“We have considered expanding services and departments that are high in demand, taking into consideration the agreements we have signed recently with international medical institutions such as SickKids, which require providing new specialties and increasing the number of beds in some specialties. Overall, 50 new beds will be added for children in the new tower besides our current pediatric ward, in addition to further expanding our Pediatric ICU to 10 PICU beds.”

He avowed that the new expansion of the hospital also includes the addition of 50 new beds for women, in addition to adding new service lines for women. Moreover, 3 new digital operating rooms will be added bringing the total number of operating rooms to 8 rooms; and 10 additional delivery rooms will also be opened making the total number of delivery rooms 20.

Mr. Al Shorafa pointed out that these expansions will be accompanied by an increase in the number of medical and technical staff recruiting over 500 new employees including 100 doctors in different specialties and 200 nurses who would join during the final stages of the project. He noted that, after the second phase, the hospital is expected to attract over 50 thousand new female patients, and children, which currently cares for more than 100 thousand registered patients since it first opened in October 2015.

Source: www.arabianbusiness.com

• The new Bombardier Line Maintenance Station in Dubai will be the ninth to open and will provide enhanced service capabilities in the Middle East
• Bombardier to work with leading business aviation firm JETEX in establishment of the project
• New Line Maintenance Station will serve all Challenger and Global business aircraft
• New Line Maintenance Station is the latest addition to the rapidly expanding Bombardier customer service network

Bombardier is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with JETEX for the establishment of a new Line Maintenance Station in Dubai, further complementing the tip-to-tail maintenance services provided by Bombardier’s Service and Support Network in the Middle East and around the globe.

The new Line Maintenance Station will initially offer unscheduled maintenance services and build toward scheduled maintenance operations in the coming months. The technical engineers supporting the line station are certified for all Challenger series and Global series business jets, including Bombardier’s flagship Global 7500 aircraft.

“This expansion is an integral part of our overall mission to enhance OEM support for our operators in the Middle East – and we are very pleased to be working with highly-respected business aviation leader JETEX in the development of this project,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Vice-President and General Manager, Customer Experience, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “As a part of our commitment to offering an exceptional customer experience, we are delighted to offer our customers expanded support, more resources and increased flexibility closer to their base of operations.”

“The shared vision between Bombardier and JETEX to provide a comprehensive and exceptional experience makes this new service expansion an exciting venture for us,” said Adel Mardini, President and CEO of JETEX. “This is a significant boon for our customers who rely on our services to give them the peace of mind that they have trusted partners ready to go the extra mile around the clock and around the globe.”

The introduction of the new Line Maintenance Station in Dubai comes on the heels of the announcement of major Bombardier customer experience enhancements worldwide including: a new customer service super centre at Miami Opa-Locka Executive Airport in Miami, Florida; a major expansion of the Singapore Service Centre at the Seletar Aerospace Park, quadrupling the current service centre footprint; the addition of five new trucks to the Mobile Response Team (MRT) network throughout the U.S.; a new Paris Line Maintenance Station at Paris-Le Bourget Airport bolstering customer service offerings in Europe; and the addition of a dedicated Challenger 300 Mobile Response Team aircraft based in Frankfurt, Germany, to provide additional parts shipping and response to Bombardier aircraft operators in the region.

The new Line Maintenance Station in Dubai will join Bombardier Business Aircraft’s award-winning network of nine service centres and a total of 30 Customer Response Team mobile units around the globe, all equipped to support Bombardier Learjet, Challenger and Global business aircraft. The network’s approximately 1,000 dedicated technicians share best practices to provide industry-leading maintenance and care. Bombardier Business Aircraft customers also have access to a broad network of 38 Authorized Service Facilities around the world.

Note: This important agreement will be celebrated with a photo opportunity at EBACE in Geneva, with details to follow.

Source: www.bombardier.com

PAL Aerospace is proud to announce that it has been ranked 8th by Canadian Defense Review Magazine in its annual Top 75 ranked aerospace and defence companies in Canada. The recognition is a testament to the hard work and commitment of PAL Aerospace's dedicated employees.

Source: PAL Aerospace twitter

Abu Dhabi - MENA Herald: Corodex Industries has picked up two separate awards for the excellent performance of its operations in various water purification and wastewater treatment plants.

The company was recognized for its excellence in quality and innovation in the manufacturing sector and was awarded the prestigious Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Awards (SKEA)-Gold Category hosted by Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) at a ceremony held recently at Emirates Palace.

Corodex Industries has adapted world-class practices on quality and excellence and has evolved to become a leader in the water, wastewater and the odor control industry offering a diverse portfolio of products and services including operation and maintenance services. 

Mahmoud Awad, Managing Director of Corodex Industries said: “We are honoured to be bestowed with the recognition of the highest standard of quality and excellence carrying the name of our leader, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

“Receiving the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award is a testament to our 40 year unwavering commitment to quality of services and furthering best practices in the environment sector of the United Arab Emirates.”

SKEA recognizes organizations across a range of sectors that demonstrate high performance and continuous improvement to support a healthy economy and unify their management practice in a balanced holistic model. It uses the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model to assess the participating entities and the winners are the ones who have successfully implemented the parameters as recommended by the model.

Corodex Industries was also declared the national winner of the ‘Water Project of the Year’ in UAE at the 2019 MEED Quality Awards for Projects for its work on the Dubai Industrial Park (DIP) Wastewater Treatment Plan. 

The winners were selected based on evidence of engineering and construction excellence, as well as the economic, social and environmental impact of the project. The results were audited by accounting and consultancy firm Grant Thornton.

“We are grateful to accept this prestigious award from MEED. This has further cemented our position as one of the leaders in the water purification and sewage treatment sector.

“We implemented an effective Sewage Treatment Plant that mitigates water shortage, improves productivity and minimizes any adverse impact the industrial park may have.”

The sewage treatment plant set up by Corodex Industries at DIP currently produces a 2000 m3/d (cubic meter per day) of treated water per day that is reclaimed for applications such as urban irrigation, utilities or lavatory purposes.

“We have always set high quality standards to better our systems and processes. These recognitions underscores our promise to deliver game-changing systems in the water treatment sector by partnering with key players to introduce technologies that propel the UAE as a leader in the industry,” Mahmoud said.

Source: www.menaherald.com

BIOGRAPHY Gregory (Greg) Zoughbi is the Chairman of the Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi and is Senior Principal of Business Development for Harris Corporation. Throughout his career, he held positions of increased responsibility in strategy and business development, project management, consulting, and engineering of mission-critical systems with organizations including UAE Center of Excellence, CAE Inc., General Dynamics and BMW. A published author with multiple awards and professional certifications, he has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Alliance Manchester Business School, a Master of Electrical Engineering from Carleton University, and a Bachelor of Computer Engineering from McGill University.

How does CBC promote trade, investment, and commerce between the UAE and Canada?

CBC promotes the bilateral economic relationship by serving as a hub for the private sector to network, grow relationships, discuss business trends in both countries, and identify opportunities. Our key mechanisms are events, marketing, roundtables and our Community of Interest (COI) programs. CBC events include informative business seminars, the Ambassador's receptions for Canadian business delegations, community galas and socials. More recently, member organizations have turned to CBC for business advice, advocacy, digital marketing across borders, and access to exclusive roundtables with visiting Canadian organizations. For example, we recently hosted a roundtable for a leading Canadian organization to meet with UAE-based experts to discuss healthcare, youth and education. We also significantly expanded our marketing outreach through a combination of improved online presence, social media, newsletters, email lists, and strategic partnerships. For instance, we entered into strategic partnerships with the organizers of leading conferences such as Global Aerospace Summit, Global Space Congress, and Abu Dhabi International Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC). Such exposure has benefited our corporate members, which include iconic Canadian brands such as Bank of Montreal (BMO), SNC-Lavalin, Bombardier, PAL Aerospace, and Air Canada, and UAE brands with Canadian interests such as UE Medical, Al Amal Business Services, Apparel Group, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and Concorde Corodex. Our business connections and expertise, coupled with our impeccable reputation in the UAE and Canada, have enabled us to successfully use our mechanisms to promote bilateral trade and investment.

Where do you see the greatest potential for increased trade?

The greatest potential is in technologies and innovations where Canada has long been a world-class leader, given the UAE's continued vision to develop and adopt innovations and digital trends. Potential sectors include aerospace, energy, healthcare, clean technology, space, information technology, and artificial intelligence (AI). For example, the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the UAE have recognized AI as fundamental to the fourth industrial revolution. We witness many sectors eager to explore AI and its benefits. Canada has an AI legacy with world-leading hubs in cities such as Montreal and Toronto, which attracted investment from many reputable Silicon Valley organizations such as Google, Facebook and Microsoft. Other significant areas include healthcare as evident through UE Medical's partnership with Canada's SickKids Hospital, energy as evident through the province of Alberta's decision to expand its trade presence in the UAE and Mubadala's multi-billion dollar investments in the Canadian energy sector, and space as evident through the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Canadian Space Agency and the UAE Space Agency. This increased bilateral relationship and trade growth is a sign of innovative Canadian technologies and capabilities, and it reflects the Canadian private sector confidence in the UAE's legal system, business practices, and stability. We project trade to further increase given such opportunities, common sectors of interest, and suitable business environment.

How will the shared values of both Canada and the UAE serve to deepen the bilateral relationship?

There are evident similarities between the UAE's and Canada's values, for example on tolerance and women empowerment. Canada has long been globally recognized as a leader in tolerance, with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom at its core. This is evident through examples such as its progressive immigration system, acceptance of refugees, protection of indigenous rights and the maintenance of a gender balanced cabinet with 50% women. Tolerance is also one of the UAE's core values, which has a Ministry of Tolerance and administers a National Tolerance Program. With about 200 nationalities that are resident here, the UAE themed 2019 as the Year of Tolerance with key milestones such as a Papal visit and mandating that 50% of Federal National Council (FNC) members be women. The implications of such shared values are strengthened people-to-people relationships. This makes it more attractive for Canadians to feel accepted and call the UAE home, move their families here, and make long term investments such as buying properties. Similarly, Emiratis are able to integrate within the Canadian society to study, train, and work. They then bring back knowledge and contribute towards enriching the UAE and developing its knowledge-based society.

Source: thebusinessyear.com

Abu Dhabi hosts the 2nd Obstetrics, Gynecology and Fertility International Conference from March 28 to 29 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC), with the participation of seven international experts from the University College London Hospitals (UCLH), and leading medical institutions in UK, Switzerland, Lebanon and the UAE. During the conference, organized by Danat Al Emarat Hospital and HealthPlus Fertility Centers, the experts will present the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of obstetrics, gynecology and fertility conditions. The conference is expected to attract over 300 healthcare professionals from the region.

Mr. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Managing Director & CEO at United Eastern Medical Services (UEMedical), the parent organization of Danat Al Emarat Hospital and HealthPlus Fertility Centers, said “Organizing such conferences annually showcases our commitment to develop our services and support medical education initiatives in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. We intend to help transfer global expertise in the obstetrics, gynecology and fertility fields to the region, through holding international conferences and scientific meetings, primarily aimed at exchanging knowledge, providing continuous medical education to the medical community, and providing information on the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. This comes in line with the strategies of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) to improve healthcare services across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.”

Dr. Sadoon Sami Sadoon, Conference Chairperson, Obstetrics & Gynecology Consultant and Medical Director at Danat Al Emarat Hospital, explained that the conference focuses on laparoscopic surgery, and the use of modern surgical techniques in the treatment of various diseases, the prevention and treatment of medical problems associated with pregnancy, especially severe placenta problems including morbidly adherent placenta and placental insufficiency. The experts will also discuss the reasons for the increase in caesarean deliveries worldwide, as well as the ways to apply international medical protocols to reduce perinatal mortality.

He explained that through the scientific sessions, experts will discuss important topics, including the broad debate on the recommendation of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to stop the use of power morcellation in laparoscopic fibroid surgery, which increased the use of traditional open surgeries for this type of conditions that are associated with many other complications.

He added that the conference will also focus on discussing the adhesion of placenta, which occurs as a result of previous caesarean sections and is considered a medical issue that put the pregnant women at risk. The experts will also present their views through their practical experiences to reduce these complications. Recent developments in fertility and IVF will also be discussed in some sessions.

He added, “Alongside the conference, a medical exhibition will be held with the participation of a number of medical pharmaceutical companies. Moreover, the Department of Health Abu Dhabi has accredited the conference for 14 hours of Continuous Medical Education (CME).”

Source: https://www.uemedical.ae