NEWS FROM THE MONTH

UAE AND BMW EXPANDING EV NETWORK / RTA AND CAREEM HELPING HALA CAPTAINS / AFTE EXPANDS IN FUJAIRAH

NETWORK

UAE and BMW agree to expand electric vehicle charging network

ASSISTANT UNDERSECRETARY FOR WATER, ELECTRICITY & FUTURE ENERGY AFFAIRS SAYS NEW ALL-ELECTRIC BMW I7, SUPPORTS “OUR GREEN MOBILITY PROGRAMME”

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

A key member of the Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure has welcomed the arrival of BMW’s fully electric I7 following the UAE government’s and the German giant’s announcement that they have signed an agreement to expand the electric vehicle charging network across UAE federal roads and destinations. The deal between the ministry and BMW Group Middle East is described as part of a joint commitment to bringing sustainable mobility to the UAE.

“I want to first congratulate Abu Dhabi Motors on the arrival of the new BMW 7 Series, including the all-electric BMW i7, supporting our green mobility programme as we aim to increase the number of electric vehicles in the country,” said His Excellency Yousif Alali, the Assistant Undersecretary for Water, Electricity & Future Energy Affairs, UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.

“As a part of our efforts towards supporting the UAE’s net zero strategy, we are also looking forward to our partnership with BMW Middle East to expand the electric vehicle charging network in the country and unify our efforts.”

Abu Dhabi Motors (ADM), the official importer of BMW Group vehicles in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, launched the all-new BMW 7 Series as well as the BMW i7.The complete luxury segment was also presented at the event, including the new BMW X7 and new BMW 8 Series. By implementing a charge range of up to 625km, the i7 provides sustainable mobility solutions courtesy of responsible sourcing of materials, including the use of aluminium produced using solar electricity through Emirates Global Aluminium, explained BMW Middle East.

Whichever powertrain the customer choses, they will “experience the best in sophistication, comfort and performance that are hallmarks of the BMW brand,” it added.

Dr Hamid Haqparwar, managing director of BMW Group Middle East, said the arrival of the new 7 Series to Abu Dhabi is a big milestone for the new chapter of BMW’s luxury segment.

“Together, the new 7 Series and the electric i7 signal an exciting new era of sustainability, technology and design,” added Haqparwar.

“We are also honored to announce the partnership between the Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure and BMW Group Middle East to expand the electric vehicle charging network across the UAE.”

WE MUST URGENTLY RE-ORIENTATE FINANCIAL MECHANISMS TO LIMIT THE EFFECTS OF 1.5O GLOBAL WARMING, SAYS VOLVO CARS AT COP27

RTA AND CAREEM OPEN WELFARE CENTRE FOR HALA CAPTAINS

FLEET

RTA and Careem have opened a new care and welfare centre dedicated for the wellbeing of Hala Captains, the drivers of their taxi service.

According to the mobility JV, Hala Home is aimed at empowering Captains by providing the best service while prioritising their happiness. Described as a massive opportunity, the centre will foster a culture and space of belonging, care, and ownership.

The centre served over 2,500 Captains in its first two weeks of opening in October and acts as a central hub to address all Captains’ needs, including technical support and continuous learning and development.

“Our Captains play a critical role in keeping Dubai in motion, and we have an unwavering commitment to maintaining their happiness as they are at the heart of everything we do. Since inception, our priority has been to engage with them, ensuring they are taken care of in every way possible. The launch of Hala Home is an achievement we’re all proud of, and I’m confident that our Captains will benefit from this space they can call their own.” commented Khaled Nuseibeh, Chief Executive Officer for Hala.

Hala Home was built in just 23 days and is based in Al Quoz Dubai. It is equipped with an on-ground team for immediate access to support, including help with their ride-hailing app experience through first-hand solutions to all their technical queries.

Hala Home is also the location for the Captain University and Learning Hub for training and networking.

AFTE ENTERPRISES EXPANDS FOOTPRINT IN UAE

AUDI PROVIDES CHAUFFEUR SERVICES FOR QATAR CREATES 2022

RETAIL

Al-Futtaim’s Trading Enterprises has continued its expansion in the UAE with the opening of the new facility located on Mohammed Bin Matar Road in Fujairah.

The facility perfectly reflects Al-Futtaim’s new standards of corporate identity which is being implemented across all its brands to further strengthen their equity globally, claimed the firm.

Al-Futtaim Trading Enterprises selected the location after extensive research to fully understand the growth of Fujairah city, opting for Mohammed Bin Matar Road due to its proximity to the ‘expected growth area’ of Fujairah, its accessibility and traffic flow.

The project is the first facility to operate all CDJR brands under one roof, providing customers in Fujairah and its surrounding areas with as many choices as possible to find the perfect car for them, said the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram dealer.

“We strive to offer our customers the highest quality of vehicles, with a customercentric and value-added business approach that allows us to be the automotive distributor of choice in all areas in which we operate,” commented Oscar Rivoli, Managing Director at Trading Enterprises.

The Fujairah showroom will include new sales, service center and parts facilities express lane and is staffed with a ‘highly skilled and professional’ team.

FLEET

Audi Qatar provided the chauffeur services for with Qatar Creates last month, a week-long series of community events and programmes by Qatar Museums, celebrating art, fashion, design, culture, and architecture.

Through Audi Qatar’s association with Qatar Creates, the German brand supplied 100 vehicles including branded A8s and e-tron models, to transport VIPs, royalty, and celebrities during the series of events and activations across Doha.

Audi Qatar said the tiein conveys Audi’s vision of progress through design with its flagship products, during what is arguably the proudest period for the nation.

“This is an extremely exciting partnership for Audi to be involved with, as the automotive partner of such an inspiring cultural event to promote the country of Qatar and also the Middle East,” said Sheikha Hanadi Al-Thani, Founding Chairperson of Q-Auto, Audi’s official distributor in Qatar.

Qatar Creates aims to build a movement that embeds arts and culture into Qatari society, executing this through cultural activities and entertainment featuring the biggest celebrities and local talent in various activations across the country, say the organisers. Audi is also holding a series of exhibitions around Doha until the end of the year, such as the Audi House of Progress at M7. The city will also host the local debut of the Audi RSQ e-tron E2 ahead of its debut at the Rally Dakar 2023.

MOBILE TRAINING HELPS KHIDMAH DELIVER

AFM AUTO FLIES INTO VIP FLEET DEAL IN AD

FLEET

Khidmah says it has successfully trained and upskilled 7,000 new and existing employees and delivered more than 62,000 training hours across multiple Hard and Soft Facilities Management specialities.

Over 47,000 training hours were conducted at the company’s dedicated Khidmah Training Centre, while more than 15,000 training hours were delivered by its Mobile Training Vehicle launched in September 2021 to cater to on-site technical staff’s training needs.

The Khidmah Training Centre was founded in 2019 to provide technical staff with training programmes that teach both Soft and Hard FM skills as well as familiarise them with new technologies and industry trends.

Khidmah also launched the Mobile Training Vehicle in 2021 to provide on-site training for its technical staff across the country. The Mobile Training Vehicle is a converted 59-seater bus that has been divided into two zones for theoretical and practical training with a capacity to train up to nine employees simultaneously.

The Khidmah Training Centre and Mobile Training Vehicle are led by certified trainers who deliver training courses across a variety of FM disciplines in accordance with international standards and provide certifications to Khidmah employees, including the British Institute of Cleaning Science certification (BICSc).

FLEET

Al-Futtaim Automotive has signed an exclusive agreement for Al-Futtaim Lexus to become the “exclusive vehicle partner for VIP moments” with Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH).

The signing took place on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Airshow where Al-Futtaim Automotive spotlighted its powerhouse mobility solutions, fleet, and innovations, explained the firm in a statement.

As part of the collaboration, Al-Futtaim Automotive is providing AUH with a new fleet of Lexus vehicles worth AED 10 million ($2.7 million), including the LX and LS models from its premium SUV and Sedan range, “to ensure a luxurious passenger journey from VIP terminal to the aircraft and from the aircraft to the VIP terminal.”

“As a leading provider of mobility solutions in the UAE, Al-Futtaim Automotive is proud to have a portfolio comprising some of the world’s most recognised and widely respected automotive brands,” said Vincent Wijnen, senior managing director, Al-Futtaim Automotive, commented.

“This partnership with Abu Dhabi Airports reflects our commitment to offering an exceptional experience wherever customers engage with the Lexus brand. Abu Dhabi Airport’s VIP Terminal and Al-Futtaim Lexus both represent a certain level of exclusivity in the market, and we look forward to offering VIP passengers at Abu Dhabi International Airport the latest in automotive excellence and luxury.”

During the Abu Dhabi Airshow, Al-Futtaim Automotive also hosted a panel session where it discussed developments in green mobility.

GCM DRIVER RATED AS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD

FLEET

Qatar-based Kanwardalip Singh has been rated as the fourth best driver in the world during The UD Extra Mile Challenge 2022 global final in Japan. The UD Extra Mile Challenge is a driver-skill based competition that tests drivers in three key areas: pre-drive inspection, fuel efficient and safe driving, and maneuvering and parking skills.

Fighting off the top out 30 drivers from across the region, Singh took place in a competition including 11 elite drivers from around the world at the October event. Due to the pandemic, this was the first time since 2018 that the global final was held, and the fifth such competition since it was introduced in 2015. To compete in the final, the drivers had to win their individual regional competitions from a field of 260 drivers. Three drivers for the heavy-duty Quon and eight for the heavyduty Quester battled in their bid to become the Ultimate Driver, explained UD Trucks.

Kandarwalip Singh drives for Gulf Construction Machinery in Qatar and finished top in the regional qualifying, securing his place as the only representative from the Middle East to participate in the final stage of the challenge.

Commenting on finishing fourth in the final, Singh said: “My participation in the UD Extra Mile Challenge was a true honour, even if I didn’t win. But has motivated me to continue driving safely and efficiently, and it was a truly wonderful experience meeting and competing with other drivers from around the world.”

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: LOOKING BACK AT COP27, TRANSPORTATION AT THE FIFA WORLD CUP, EXPERTS ON ENGINE ALTERNATIVES, AND MUCH MORE!

GENERAL MOTORS OFFERS POD INTERNSHIPS AT MIDDLE EAST DC

TRAINING

General Motors Africa and Middle East (GM AMEO) is working with SANAD Village, the region’s largest rehabilitation center for people of determination, to provide internships to its students at its Middle East Distribution Center.

SANAD Village is located in The Sustainable City, Dubai and it is hoped that the internship programme will fostering a mutual learning experience while empowering people of determination to make their mark in the workplace.

Over a duration of four months, students will have access to informative pre-training and vocational tasks based on their age, interests, and capabilities, to help empower them in the workplace and provide them hands-on experience.

Salah Habib, CEO of Sanad Village said the organisation was pleased to join hands with General Motors and strongly believes that these kinds of partnerships play a critical role in ensuring more safe spaces and comprehensive programmes tailored to meet the needs of people of determination.

As part of SANAD’s Village vocational program, the internship is aimed at students aged 13 years old and above. Through the collaboration, the programme will provide students with vast exposure to the automotive industry and insights in a potential career in mobility.

“Partnerships like these can ultimately, further the common goal of creating truly inclusive communities where people of determination and their families are engaged and empowered,” commented Habib.

GM AMEO believes the initiative will help ‘unleash incredible talent’ by building a tolerant and inclusive culture: “Engaging everyone in the workforce, while creating a culture where every employee can thrive.”

Monica Hernandez, Regional HR Director for GM Africa & Middle East, added: “For over 90 years now, the Middle East has been our home and we are committed to supporting its efforts towards an inclusive and resilient work environment for all. The shared vision of the UAE government and SANAD Village, is one we are completely aligned with, as we see inclusion to be an integral aspect of our corporate culture and social responsibility. In fact, our goal is to become the world’s most inclusive organization, starting by building up leaders of tomorrow for a better future.

“We are delighted to support students while giving them the right tools to unlock their full potential.”

Diesel Performance Oil Change Service