Britain in Business

BRITAIN

in business BRITISH BUSINESS GROUP DUBAI & NORTHERN EMIRATES MAGAZINE

AUTUMN 2010

Welcome back

HM Queen Elizabeth II returns to the UAE after 31 years

WORLD’S BEST BUSINESS CLUB 2010

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, PO Box: 60616 Tel : + (971) 4 333 1145 Fax: + (971) 4 333 0697 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, PO Box: 114547 Tel : + (971) 2 679 7714 Fax: + (971) 2 679 7715 Amman, Jordan, PO Box: 18049 Tel : + (962) 79 823 2709

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Regional Manager – Middle East, Red Sea, Turkey & Southern Africa

+971.50.650.9540 Mark Grennell

Territory Manager – Dubai (UAE), Bahrain & ME Financial Institutes

+971.50.457.5634

Aneel Jacob

Elena Badulescu

+971.50.552.6069

+971.50.552.2981

Mostafa Ibrahim

Nader Khouri

Samir Sartawi

+20.11.221.6221

+971.50.551.6578

+971.50.550.2142

Ammar Odeh

Territory Manager – Abu Dhabi/Al Ain (UAE), Kuwait & Qatar

Territory Manager – Sharjah, Fujairah & Eastern Region (UAE)

+971.50.450.8258

Territory Manager – Egypt & Libya

Territory Manager – Oman

Territory Manager – Jebel Ali Free Zone (UAE)

Territory Manager – Dubai (UAE)

Territory Manager – Sharjah & Northern Emirates (UAE)

Territory Manager – Istanbul, Turkey

Barbaros Güç

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Alper Güvener

+971.50.658.3906

+90.553.763.1170

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Yousef Jameel El Masre

Territory Manager – Istanbul, Turkey

Territory Manager – Ankara, Turkey

CONTACT P.O. Box 16897, Jebel Ali Free Zone Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel: +971.4.812.0600 Fax: +971.4.883.8495

www.rbauction.com

BRITAIN

46 Sparkling through the ages

in business

Jewellery parures up for sale

48 Collectors’ classics

Autumn 2010

Bid for a classy British model

51 Power ahead Iberdrola ups Scottish investment

53 Fast track

The contents and opinions in this issue do not necessarily reflect the views of the BBG, nor should they be taken as an endorsement by the BBG of any specific product or service. All currency conversions correct at press time.

HM The Queen travelling in a Mercedes with her Standard flying on the front of the car in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Tim Graham/Getty Images, February 25 1979.

Editor-in-Chief

Naveed Ahmed

UK high-speed rail gets green light

10

Obaid Humaid Al Tayer Group Editor and Managing Partner Ian Fairservice Group Senior Editor Gina Johnson Group Editor Catherine Belbin | catherine@motivate.ae Contributing Editors

55 Reflections on Ramadan Work leads rise in the Holy Month

56 Best in the business UAE employers will soon be ranked

7 Foreword Letter from Alistair Burt MP, Minister for the Middle East and South Asia, Foreign & Commonwealth Office

8 BBG news

58 Conversation is king The business of social media

62 Sister act Arab fashion line breaks into Harrods

Dominic Ellis | btme@motivate.ae Ingrid Valles Pó | ingrid@motivate.ae Chief Sub Editor Iain Smith | iains@motivate.ae Art Director

64 Break down the borders

13 Members’ news

New UK hotels open north and south

24 Ties that bind UAE gears up for Queen’s visit

Karen Evans | karene@motivate.ae Senior Designer B Raveendran | raveendran@motivate.ae General Manager – Production and Circulation S Sasidharan | sasidharan@motivate.ae Production Manager Sudhakar Chandran | sudhakar@motivate.ae General Manager Group Sales Anthony Milne | anthony@motivate.ae

70 Reach for the heights Sign up to a Gulf 4 Good Challenge

30 Passport makeover Design changes to beat the fraudsters

32 David May Building opens Pictures from the offical launch

36 New cancer drug trials UK charity in ground-breaking work

71 BBG Events Lord Sassoon’s breakfast forum, Institute of Civil Engineers function, BBG and DIFC lunches

72 Book reviews Tony Blair’s memoir & new guide

General Manager Special Projects Ashish Limaye | ashish@motivate.ae Senior Advertisement Manager Rowena Miranda | rowena@motivate.ae Advertisement Manager Debashish Shome | debashish@motivate.ae Deputy Advertisement Manager

38 Attractive proposition Top tips from UKTI’s Jeff Wilson

75 BBG Members’ offers Don’t miss these UAE and UK offers

76 Members’ directory

42 Crack the code Exploring new Stewardship moves

Who’s new to the BBG

Abhinay Bhartiya | abhinay@motivate.ae

82 Grounded leader

45 Work and play More Gulf students flocking to UK

Sir Maurice Flanagan shares his views

48 66 PO Box 2331 | Dubai | United Arab Emirates Tel: +971 4 282 4060 | Fax: +971 4 282 4436 motivate@motivate.ae | motivatepublishing.com Printed by IPP, Dubai

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 5

CHAIRMAN & CEO Mark Beer chairman@britbiz-uae.com mark.beer@difccourts.ae DEPUTY CHAIRMAN & COO Jonathon Davidson jdavidson@davidson-legal.com DIRECTOR LEGAL & SECRETARIAT Peter White Peter.White@marsh.com DIRECTOR FINANCE Eesh Aggarwal eesh@eesh.com DIRECTOR MEMBERSHIP Ben Goodman ben@it-serve.com DIRECTOR COMMUNICATIONS Melanie Faithfull Kent melanie.faithfull@hillandknowlton.com DIRECTOR EVENTS Beth Thomas beth.thomas@jumeirah.com DIRECTOR FOCUS David J. Burns hr@uhyuae.com DIRECTOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Nick Pearson nick.pearson@beyondsaleseffectiveness.com DIRECTOR UAE ALLIANCES Lubna Qassim lubnaqassim@gmail.com DIRECTOR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Adel Al Awadhi adel.alawadhi@serco.ae EMBASSY REPRESENTATIVE Jeff Wilson Jeffj.wilson@fco.gov.uk British Business Group PO Box 9333 Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 3970303 Fax: +971 4 3970939 bbgdubai@britbiz-uae.com britbiz-uae.com

I AM DELIGHTED to write this foreword for the second edition of ‘Britain in Business’. The UK Government has been busy re-affirming its commitment to the UAE, which is Britain’s 13th largest export market and an extremely significant one globally.

More than one million Britons visit the UAE every year and around 100,000 live in the UAE, while thousands of Emiratis come to the UK every year for business, leisure or education.

I very much enjoyed my recent visit to the UAE, which complemented previous visits by Prime Minister David Cameron and Defence Secretary Liam Fox, and was followed by the visit from Lord Sassoon, Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, all

of which underline the importance of the region to the UK. The forthcoming state visit of HM Queen Elizabeth II in November will further raise the profile of both nations, and help cement long-standing commercial and political ties.

The UK-UAE Taskforce have agreed a range of areas in which the two countries will look to extend and deepen co-operation during the next year, covering defence and security, trade and investment, energy and climate change, international development, culture, education, health, sport and consular relations.

This relationship will therefore go much deeper than a pure commercial one, indicating the store the UK sets by such wider partnerships which we will see elsewhere in the Gulf also.

Together, with the strong commitment on the ground of the British Business Group of Dubai & The Northern Emirates, we are laying the foundations for future economic growth and aim to increase annual bilateral trade from the current £7.5 billion to £12 billion by 2015.

I appreciate all that those from the UK do to further our relationship here, and look forward to future visits.

Alistair Burt MP Minister for the Middle East and South Asia, Foreign & Commonwealth Office

FOCUS GROUP CHAIRS BANKING & FINANCE Sandy Shipton sandy.shipton@difc.ae

EDUCATION Tim Carnley tim.carnley@ae.britishcouncil.org

HUMAN RESOURCES Sam Stephen sam@knet.ae

MARITIME Edward Newitt edward.newitt@hfw.com

Andrew Pitt andrew.pitt@lloydstsb.ae

ENERGY Terry Willis Terry.Willis@the-eic.com

INSURANCE Peter White Peter.White@marsh.com

REAL ESTATE Dr. Brian Etemad betemad@emaar.ae

ENTREPRENEURS John Martin St Valery john@linksdubai.com

IT Ross McGregor ross@unlimited-it.ae Peter Job pjob@intergence.com

TRAVEL, TOURISM & LEISURE Carol Maddison carol.maddison@visitbritain.org

CEO Stuart Crocker Stuart.crocker@hsbc.com COMMUNICATIONS Rebecca Hill rebecca.hill@mepra.org CONSTRUCTION John Alford john@jasaf.com Nigel Truscott ntruscott@trowers.com

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Sean Heckford sean.heckford@echarris.com GOLF Richard Musty richard.musty@lloydstsb.ae Janice Marler janice@alarabitravel.ae

LEGAL Dominic Treays dtreays@cragus.com

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS Naomi Ellen Jones naomi.jones@ae.biworldwide.com David Cook david@it-serve.com

Robert Surcouf rsurcouf@caversham.com

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 7

FOREWORD

BBG COMMITTEE

NEWS

Worst may not be over, warns Chairman

Naveed Ahmed

Dubai’s business community should not rest on its laurels and think that the worst of the financial crisis is over, according to BBG Chairman Mark Beer.

In a written message to members, he said liquidity remains tight in terms of bank lending and receivables, and despite reports of a recent upturn in business, Dubai still needs to address debt and competition issues.

“We read about Qatar’s $100bn investment in infrastructure, and its planned campaign to promote Doha as THE business destination in the Gulf,” he wrote.

“I believe Dubai needs to respond to that: Dubai has always been a place of business and trade innovation and needs to take some fundamental steps forward if it is to remain a magnet for capital and talent in the region.”

He praised the new government for “living up to its promise” made by Andrew Mitchell MP to the BBG in January, that a new Government would send a lot more Ministers to the UAE. – one of the first Government visits by Prime Minister David Cameron was to the UAE, which was followed by a visit from Alistair Burt, MP for the Middle East and South Asia.

“With the planned arrival of Her Majesty the Queen to the UAE later in the year, we can see a renewed focus by the UK on the UAE which is most welcome,” he added.

He said members can expect greater quality and value from BBG’s events programme, with more emphasis on high-calibre speakers, as well as a slew of social events including the BBG Quiz (repeated quarterly), an autumn ball, Christmas party, Christmas Golf Swing, Hercules Challenge next February and BBG Annual Golf Day in March.

Lord Sassoon promotes UK bonds and infrastructure potential Lord James Sassoon met officials in Abu Dhabi and Dubai during a recent visit to the UAE designed to boost UK government bonds and bilateral trade.

Lord Sassoon, commercial secretary to the UK treasury, and a key financial adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron, said the visit aimed to show the UK has “a very strong story to tell”.

“The UAE is already a big investor in equity, real estate and infrastructure and we think there are going to be some great new opportunities, particularly in infrastructure, where we’ll have maybe a £150bn investment requirement over the next three to five years.”

He said another key objective was to highlight the new government’s economic plans and ensure that the “appetite” for UK bonds continues.

The UK plans to grow annual trade with the UAE from the current £7.5bn to £12bn by 2015.

8 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

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NEWS Naveed Ahmed

Spacious BBG office opens up for business

His Excellency Abdulrahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Consul General Guy Warrington performed the ribbon-cutting duties at the official opening of the new David May building.

The opening of the British Business Group’s spacious new David May Building reflects the professional needs of the group and its presence in the community, according to chairman Mark Beer.

Addressing dignitaries and members at the building’s official opening on September 29, he said: “As the membership expands, and what we offer grows, we need more space and space that reflects the professional way in which the group runs.

This building embodies all that has been achieved and provides further space to grow in future.”

He paid tribute to David May’s long-serving contribution and thanked all donor companies, which have been commemorated on a special plaque in the entrance. “I don’t think there’s a position that David has not held, including Chairman twice and treasurer for eight years. He was responsible for the Group’s first move into premises at the Embassy, designing, building and fundraising for it...and it is right that David’s contribution to the Group and community is recorded and that the building, which takes the BBG to the next level, bears his name.”

Embassy news update

BBG looks to boost FM links

BBG diary dates

t The British Embassies’ website has been refreshed with new information posted on a weekly basis. ukinuae.fco.gov.uk/en/ t New consular openings are now between 8am11am Sunday to Thursday t Are you new to the UAE, or know people who have recently moved to the Emirates? Then make sure you register on LOCATE, the online registration service for all British nationals resident outside the UK. In the event of a crisis, consular staff can concentrate you or friends and family. Registraton takes only a few minutes. locate.fco.gov.uk/locateportal/ t A new list of ‘do’s and don’ts’ has been produced for UAE visitors and residents to ensure British nationals respect local laws and customs. ukinuae.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-britishnationals/living-in-uae/DosDontsinUAE

The BBG is keen to boost synergies with Dubai’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority and Middle East Facilities Management Association (MEFMA) and enhance inter-body communication and collaboration.

New developments include an inaugural Roundtable involving the BBG and MEFMA and series of Focus Events to enhance MEFMA’s profile.

BBG FM Focus Group Chairman Sean Heckford has supported some of the key players from the conception MEFMA since his arrival in Dubai in 2008 after Dubai’s property boom had contributed to a fragmented FM sector. MEFMA, a non-profit organisation designed to serve as a platform for FM knowledge and best practice, was duly launched by RERA last year.

The BBG has a special interest FM group which meets around four times annually. FM is an $870bn industry in the UAE alone. mefma.org

October 6:

10 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

Networking, Mahi-Mahi, Wafi 7:30pm October 13: BBG Focus Finance, The Palace 7:30am October 20: BBG New Awake, Venue TBA, 7:30am Platinum Ball TBA November 1: UKTI roadshow November 3: Networking, venue TBA, 7:30pm November 11: Dubai Business Gala Venue TBA, 6:30pm November 30: Networking, Venue TBA December 10: Christmas Ball December 15: Christmas Networking December 23: Christmas Swing

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UK motorway service stations are invariably plastic uniform environments often selling generic overpriced products that do little to lift weary motorists’ spirits.

But that could be all set to change. New proposals being drawn up by Glenn Howells Architects and Pegasus Landscape Design aim to drive service stations into the 21st century, placing greater emphasis on sustainability and modernity, and redefining industry standards.

The first groundbreaking station, located near Stroud between Junctions 11a and 12 of the M5, aims to blend into the landscape with Scandinavian-style modern timber-clad interiors complete with curvy chairs, low coffee tables and

subtle lighting. Where possible, building materials will be locally sourced and traditional craft skills deployed.

The fast-food franchises will be noticeable by their absence, instead shops will sell home-made and locally sourced goods, revenues which can be fed back into the community.

A unique business model has been formulated between the developers, Westmorland, the firm behind the Tebay services in Cumbria and the Gloucestershire Gateway Trust, a charity established to manage the anticipated Dhs57m windfall generated to support local voluntary and community projects across the county.

Stroud District Council has given the green light to the project.

The new-look stations are designed to use 80 per cent less than their standard counterparts, and incorporate a range of water conservation methods including rainwater harvesting, low water landscaping, water-saving appliances, and leak detection.

Retail and catering waste will be recycled or composted on site for garden use, while hedges, grasslands, wetlands and woods will be planted with native species to encourage wildlife.

In a separate development, Glenn Howells Architects and Severn Trent have obtained planning for a sustainable office development in Shelton, Shrewsbury. The 28,000sqft two-floor building has been oriented to maximise solar gains and lowenergy ventilation.

Services and Credit Management departments. In addition, the building will include a 300-cover restaurant that will form the development’s social heart. glennhowells.co.uk

Tesco trials drive-through store, Carrefour starts online shopping After the fast-food drive-through, it was always only a matter of time before grocery shopping went the same direction.

Tesco is trialling its first drive-through store at Baldock, Hertfordshire, with a view to rolling it out nationally should it go down well with customers who are either unwilling or unable to carry their weekly shop, or don’t want to hang around at home waiting for their internet deliveries.

The service aims to appeal to young mums who don’t want the hassle of being pulled down every aisle and timepressed professionals who can just order, collect and go. Customers pay a flat GBP2 fee (about Dhs12) for the service, which will be open seven days a week with collections valid until 9pm on weekdays.

Tesco.com, which is handling the drive-through concept, generated total sales of around £2.1bn in 2009/2010, contributing £136m in profits.

The move is likely to raise the stakes in the increasingly digital and convenienceoriented UK retailing arena.

Sainsbury’s website will allow you to order just about anything you’ll find in its supermarkets, and Waitrose, which offers free grocery deliveries and home direct services for kitchen, home and garden products, has launched an iPhone app and mobile site, alongside an “interactive digital magazine”.

The UAE may not be quite so advanced yet, but it is starting to step up its digital shopping profile.

Majid Al Futtaim Hypermarkets recently launched an online store for Carrefour in the UAE. The new portal (www.ic4uae. com) allows customers to buy up top 3,000 non-food items online, including cameras, mobiles, printers, gaming products, TV’s, home appliances, garden & sports, homeware, and some beauty and personal

care items. Free delivery is available on all orders over Dhs1,000 and an average of Dhs12 for any orders under this amount.

Henry Changeux, GCC Country Head of Carrefour said: “We live in the age of the internet and as Carrefour is committed to offering customers choice, flexibility and convenience, launching an online store seemed the next natural step for us in the region.

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 13

NEWS

Motorway service stations set for Green makeover

NEWS

UK heavyweights back bio-fuels project British Airways is among a host of British companies backing Cranfield University’s pioneering project to harvest algae in order to produce jet fuel in commercial quantities.

The Sustainable Use of Renewable Fuels (SURF) consortium – which comprises British Airways, Rolls-Royce, Gatwick Airport, Cranfield University, IATA, Finnair and Airbus – was announced at the Aviation and Environment Summit in Geneva.

SURF is based around Cranfield’s ‘Sea Green’ project and will serve as an advisory group supporting the definition, objectives and outcomes of this project. The University already has a pilot facility on campus which is growing and processing algae for bio-fuels but the eventual aim is for Sea Green to be an ocean-based facility for

the sustainable production of commercial quantities of biomass for biofuels.

It is envisaged that the first commercial quantities of products from Sea Green will become available within three years.

Jonathon Counsell, Head of Environment at British Airways, said: “Sustainable fuels will play a critical role

in reducing the carbon footprint of global aviation by 50 per cent by 2050, delivering substantially lower life-cycle emissions whilst avoiding other environmental impacts.”

The Cranfield project follows British Airways’ recent announcement that it plans to establish Europe’s first sustainable jet-fuel plant and plans to use the low-carbon

fuel to power part of its fleet from 2014.

The new fuel will be derived from waste biomass and manufactured in a stateof-the-art facility that can convert a variety of waste materials, destined for landfill, into aviation fuel.

Professor Feargal Brennan, Head of Cranfield University’s Department of Offshore, Process and Energy Engineering said the consortium aims to see how algae could benefit the aviation industry, looking particularly at ways to grow and harvest naturally occurring species of algae in large volumes and to process these into fuel.

“Algae grows naturally in sea water and with over 70 per cent of the surface of the earth being water, Cranfield’s Sea Green project is a logical and potentially high yield solution.”

GCC tax changes ‘go unnoticed’ by Gulf businesses Many tax regime changes in the GCC have gone largely unnoticed by businesses, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ biannual Middle East Tax Update report.

Current fiscal challenges faced by governments across the region will result in potentially far reaching tax changes, the introduction of new taxes and increases in existing tax rates.

Among the plethora of tax changes are: t new tax legislation in Jordan, Lebanon, Libya and Oman. introduction of conditions for withholding tax relief claims in Egypt t KSA taxpayers now required to make advance payments of tax if their total annual liability is in excess of SAR500,000. t withholding tax position on services performed for Qatar Financial Centre entities clarified. t Dubai to enforce housing tax for all residents and property owners.

14 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

t recent developments in double tax treaties across the region.

These changes will present major challenges for businesses based in the region as they need to monitor and comply with new tax laws, or changes to existing tax laws, or face increased risks due to the penalties for non-compliance.

Dean Rolfe, Middle East Tax Leader at PwC, said with sweeping reforms taking place across the region, businesses need to monitor changes to tax laws and where necessary respond to those changes by modifying their business practices.

“Debt levels will continue to be front of mind for Governments around the world and tax laws will continue to evolve in order to help balance the books,” he said. “The Middle East region is no exception and businesses need keep a close eye on any proposed changes and the impact those changes could have on their business.”

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NEWS

Benoy rides into Ferrari World Abu Dhabi spotlight Ferrari World Abu Dhabi opens its doors on October 28 and it will be an auspicious milestone for Benoy, which designed the Yas Island mega entertainment project. The building has been conceived as a simple ground-hugging structure, like a red sand dune, and features a 60-metre G-Force Tower as its centrepiece, as well as extensive ‘claws’ which contain the heart-pumping attractions. Thrill seekers can zoom along the world’s fastest roller coaster in Ferrari-style cars at speeds exceeding 200km/hour. The metal skin roof is highly insulated and the main facades use glass designed to reduce thermal glare.

ABCN expands in MENA

Naveed Ahmed

Alliance Business Centers Network, ABCN, the International Operator of Office Business Centers, plans to spread its wings over Middle East and North Africa appointing Dubai-based Executive as President for MENA with plans to invest more to set up business centers in the region.

Sherif Medhat Kamel, ABCN’s newly appointed President of the Middle East & North Africa Region-MENA said; our confidence in Dubai’s future remains steadfast. Through the current economic dust we foresee great business opportunities. Dubai will be the platform and regional office for overlooking MENA activities.

HE Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads & Transport Authority, received an honorary fellowship from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in recognition of his significant contribution to Dubai’s infrastructural development. He was presented with the award at The British Embassy, Dubai, by Professor Paul Jowitt, President of the ICE, in the presence of Consul General Guy Warrington, RTA officials and managers from leading British engineering firms. After receiving the prestigious award – only four people have received an honorary fellowship in the past five years – HE Al Tayer said he had “not been able to sleep”.

“I have had many awards in my career but this is very special – and to receive it from the people of the UK, whom I have a great deal of respect for, and where I love to go every year, makes me very proud.”

Airport director spreads his wings Steve Jones, Managing Director of London Oxford Airport, is to take up a new aviation challenge in the Middle East as General Manager of Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, effective November 17. He has 36 years’ aviation experience, including 10 years at Oxford. oxfordairport.co.uk.

Springboard into luxury stays The Gulf’s geographical centrality and proximity to a range of stylish villas and chalets are among the key messages that new BBG member, The Hideaways Club, is promoting to UAE-based investors.

The club, which is looking to buy a property regionally which would make it additionally appealing to local members, is Europe’s leading luxury property investment fund, offering its 160-strong membership exclusive usage and ownership of a portfolio of luxury properties for a fraction of the cost of buying a single home overseas. Three scales of membership are available. An Associate membership costs £132,500 with an Annual Cost Contribution (ACC) of £7,000 per year, which offers 2-3 weeks a year in a property of choice; Lifestyle costs £171,666 with an ACC of £9,333 per year and 3-4 weeks’ usage; and Premium costs £250,000 with an ACC of £14,000 per year and between 4-6 weeks’ usage. Members own an equity share in an entire portfolio of luxury homes that are stylishly furnished, efficiently maintained and available for members and their families.

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 17

NEWS

Dubai Metro transports 30 million passengers in first year of operation September 9 2010 marked the first anniversary of the opening of the Dubai Metro, a milestone for Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) and UK-based Serco Group, which operates and manages the Metro on the RTA’s behalf.

The Metro transported 30 million passengers on the Red Line in its first year, and feeder bus services have showed increased numbers using its services.

The number of Emirati employees working at Serco currently tops 127 employees, around 11 per cent of the company’s total workforce locally.

The percentage of UAE citizens employed at top management positions in Serco is as high as 40 per cent, and the percentage of those employed in intermediate management positions is 28 per cent. According to the contract signed with the RTA, Serco will seek to push Emiratization rate to 50-60 per cent in top and intermediate management positions by the end of 2014.

Emiratis work in various fields and sections of the Dubai Metro such as customers service, trains operation & maintenance, stations management, ticket sales, public relations & marketing, administrative affairs, security of stations & trains, training and personnel,” said the Acting Director of Rail Agency.

Serco has launched several training programs in cooperation with universities & colleges of the UAE with the aim of training & qualifying Emiratis to work in public transport sector, especially rail transport.

Serco has been appointed to operate and maintain the Palm Jumeirah Monorail.

The Palm Jumeirah Monorail is a critical component of the Palm Jumeirah and runs along the entire length of the development, some 5.5kms from The Gateway Station on the Dubai Mainland to the Atlantis Station on the Crescent.

The Monorail has proved extremely popular with both Palm Jumeirah residents and tourists as it enjoys stunning views of the world famous development, as well as providing essential access.

Serco already operates and manages the Dubai Metro on behalf of the RTA and since 1997, has operated London’s Docklands Light Railway. rta.ae

Nexus wins Takaful brokerage award Nexus has been named “Best Takaful Brokerage” in recognition of its professional service to clients at this year’s International Takaful Summit held in London.

The award was presented to founder and CEO of Nexus, Mahmoud Nodjoumi by Lord Mohamed Sheikh, a peer in the UK parliament and a senior figure in the country’s insurance sector, at a glittering prize-giving ceremony attended by 200 industry representatives.

Nodjoumi said: “Nexus are honoured to receive this prestigious award from the international insurance community. We have been working hard to expand our service to clients with regard to Takaful products and the requirements that clients have for Sharia compliant insurance and financial offerings.”

“This award recognises the hard work of everyone within Nexus and we pledge to continue to offer our clients the highest quality service, whatever their needs,” he added.

The annual International Takaful Summit and associated awards are run by Istishar iQ, a consultancy on Islamic Finance, and Afkar Consulting, a firm that specialises in services aimed at the Muslim community. nexusadvice.com 18 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

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Business students in London and Dubai unite in learning

The Education UK Exhibition, which will be held in Abu Dhabi (January 16) and Dubai (January 17-18), will provide a platform for more than 50 UK further and higher education institutions to interact with prospective UAE students and representatives.

Last year’s event attracted 43 exhibitors and around 500 visitors in Abu Dhabi, and 48 exhibitors and approximately 1,100 visitors in Dubai.

The majority of exhibitors are universities offering higher education courses (Bachelors, Masters, MBA, PhD), joined by several independent education colleges that offer both vocational and higher education courses. Several private institutions providing English language training and university preparation courses – the latter a must for Emirati students – are also in attendance.

Britishcouncil.org/me, educationuk.org/me

The London and Dubai streams of London Business School’s Executive MBA (EMBA) programme have joined together for the first time to deliver a truly international programme experience. Students who will be based at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) joined London EMBA students recently for the opening block week, designed to fully integrate the two student groups, forging connections that will enrich their experience through the programme and beyond.

Take ‘best from both worlds’ advises CIMA President

UK first for cross-border investment in first half of 2010 The UK has been the most popular destination for cross-border investment so far in 2010 with $7bn invested, according to Jones Lang LaSalle research. Germany replaces the US as the second most popular destination and the US drops to third despite a doubling in transactions in its market, to $4.3bn. Japan, Australia and Sweden feature in the top 10 for the first half of 2010’s most popular destinations for cross-border investment.

George Glass, President of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), is visiting the UAE in October to promote the benefits of management accounting.

He will discuss new research carried out by the institute which compares current business styles and highlight some of the key differences between Western and Asian practices.

The research concludes that those who extract “the best from both worlds” may stand to benefit most in the long-term.

In the wake of the near-meltdown of the Western banking system, many business leaders are looking to adopt more robust, sustainable business models. CIMA has 172,000 members and students in 168 countries. cimaglobal.com

Banks offer will services Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Mashreqbank and Dubai Bank are now offering wills as a service to customers as more banks become aware of the consequences for expats who die without making one.

The UAE follows Islamic Shariah law, which is complex and different from laws in European countries – and any expat living in the UAE with investments needs a professionally written will to dispose of property and other assets.

Just Wills Al Wasiyya JLT claims to be the first company providing professional will writing services duly registered and licensed as a freezone company under the rules and regulation of the DMCC. It is part of Just Wills PLC, reportedly the largest estate planning organisation in the UK. just-wills.net

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BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 21

NEWS

EDUKEX 2011 to shine spotlight on UK universities

NEWS

UAE Ambassador to UK visits London Gateway The UAE Ambassador to the UK and the CEO of DP World have visited the London Gateway port development to inspect dredging work being carried out on the UK’s first deepsea port in over 20 years.

Over 3 million cubic metres of dredging has now been completed for the new port that will bring the world’s largest container ships to within 25 miles of central London. Work continues 24 hours a day seven days a week at the site in Thurrock, Essex. Visitors can now walk 200 metres out onto new land that has been created from the beneficial reuse of the dredged material.

His Excellency Abdul Rahman Ghanem Al Mutaiwe’e, UAE Ambassador to the UK, said: “I am very pleased to visit London Gateway, which is the UK’s largest jobs creation project today. This project is one of the largest investments into the UK by the UAE and I look forward to DP World delivering an exemplary world class infrastructure asset.”

DP World’s CEO Mohammed Sharaf said work is progressing well. “London Gateway will be one of the most advanced container terminals in the world connected to one of Europe’s largest logistics parks.”

Dredging is a key element in DP World’s investment at London Gateway. Work will continue until nearly 30 million cubic metres has been completed. London Gateway will provide 3.5 million TEU capacity for the UK when fully operational.

Stylish hotels up for World Travel Awards in London

The Yas Hotel and Armani Hotel Dubai will be among the nominees for “World’s Leading New Hotel” and “World’s Leading Landmark Hotel” at the World Travel Awards Grand Final in London in November.

The stylish UAE newcomers will face stiff competition from Borgo Egnazia (Italy), Capella Pedregal, Cabo San Lucas (Mexico), 22 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

Hotel Missoni Edinburgh, PuLi Hotel & Spa (China), Viceroy Anguilla Hotel (Anguilla) and W Santiago (Chile). The awards ceremony will be held immediately before World Travel Market.

Elsewhere, Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways also feature prominently among the award nominees, and Yas Island has been nominated for “Leading Tourism Development Project.”

UAE-UK TRADE

British companies have been instrumental in the development of Dubai’s infrastructure during the past 40 years and continue to be actively involved in current operations such as Dubai Metro, as well as projects shaping the city’s future growth.

Ties that bind To coincide with HM Queen Elizabeth II’s second state visit to the UAE in November, Britain in Business looks back at the UK’s pivotal role in the development of Dubai and the Northern Emirates and considers how bilateral trade links have grown and continue to flourish.

24 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

Noor Ali Rashid Dubai International

HM Queen Elizabeth II and former UAE President HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan during the 1979 state visit.

NO COUNTRY ENJOYS closer cultural and commercial ties with the UAE than Britain, and the two nations’ long-standing relationship has been built on sincerity and mutual respect.

Historians trace the links as far back as January 8 1820, when regional sheikhs signed the General Maritime Peace Treaty with the British Government, and the bond was further strengthened when the UK and Trucial Sheikhdoms established the 1892 treaty.

But it was the advent of the oil era in the 1960s that sent commercial links between the two countries to a whole new level. In 1968, the UK announced its decision to end the treaty relationships with the seven Trucial Sheikhdoms which had been, together with Bahrain and Qatar under British protection, and the UAE federation was formed on December 2 1971.

British companies were instrumental in establishing Dubai from the outset. Four years before the federation was formed, in fact, Halcrow dredged the Dubai Creek to double its length, and built Port Rashid, the emirate’s first modern port, both developments which catapulted its trading status globally.

One cannot underestimate the vision and risktaking of the Ruler at that time by investing in these projects, which many said would be White elephants – and it almost bankrupted Dubai. It was, however, by taking those bold and brave steps that Dubai put itself way ahead of the others in the region as a trading hub.

As the oil flowed, so did the commercial opportunities and the UAE’s GDP grew by 10 per cent annually during the 1970s. Dubai’s focus on

financial services, luxury homes and mass tourism attracted UK skyscraper designers and roadnetwork planners like WS Atkins and builders including Carillion. Balfour Beatty arrived on the scene and with a local partner, Dutco, built the Mina Jebel Ali port and by the time the Jebel Ali Free Zone opened in 1985, Dubai was firmly ‘on the map’.

Businesses in Dubai had long been frustrated

by Federal legislation, particularly around employment and ownership, and the Free Zone offered a solution – 100 per cent foreign ownership and hassle-free employment of staff.

Dubai had, once again, looked to the present needs of business, taken a radical step, and put itself so far ahead of the competition that its place as the number one trading hub in the region was secured for years to come.

The subsequent opening up of Dubai’s property market to freehold buyers fuelled an unprecedented boom. Dubai Media City and Internet City served as a magnet for leading communications and technology companies respectively, and Dubai International Financial Centre, designed to attract capital and jobs to Dubai, while providing a safe harbour for companies to invest in the region and beyond, proved an instant success, as companies warmed to the fact the DIFC had its own laws, regulations, regulator and courts.

The leadership continued to adopt the ‘build it and they will come’ philosophy and through the early to mid 90s no city on earth, with the possible exception of Shanghai, grew so quickly.

Halcrow remained as active as it was in the BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 25

Noor Ali Rashid

Gulfpics

UAE-UK TRADE late 1960s, excavating Dubai Marina to accommodate a new high-rise residential area, extending Dubai Creek to create the Business Bay commercial office district, and the masterplanning Dubai Internet City and Dubailand, the mammoth three-billionsquare-foot tourist destination being built by Tatweer.

Major infrastructure projects, such as Dubai Metro, Emirates Terminal 3 and Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, were built with breathtaking speed, providing the foundations for the city’s next growth era.

But then came the ‘credit crunch’ and global financial crisis, which directly impacted Dubai’s economy, and particularly its nascent property sector. Dubai World’s announcement that it needed to restructure its debt sent shockwaves internationally, although today, the alarmist headlines have died down as deals have been reached with the majority of creditors.

THE PRESENT The UAE is the UK’s biggest market in the Gulf and British companies are active in a broad number of sectors (see panel).

The number of UK firms taking official advice on doing business in the Emirates is expected to rise this year despite the effects of the global recession. A 10 per cent increase in UK exports to the UAE is also projected this year.

Service-based companies such as consultancies and firms in the education, health and manufacturing sectors are among those showing strong interest, UK officials and bankers say. UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the government’s organisation for international business development, expects this year to help more than the 1,500 companies it advised last year on setting up operations in the Emirates.

“I am confident we will assist more this year,” said Jeff Wilson, the director of the UKTI. “The level of interest is at least 26 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

Dubai International

Gulfpics

This page, clockwise from top left: Halcrow dredged Dubai Creek in 1967; Queen Elizabeth II during her visit in 1979; Sheikh Rashid greets Margaret Thatcher at Dubai International Airport, which was developed

by Costain and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary; Sir William Halcrow was the consultant engineer for Al Maktoum Bridge.

Noor Ali Rashid photos taken from the forthcoming commemorative book, The United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

the same as last year, and that’s significant as we are talking about a high level of activity last year.”

Sectors where UK businesses already have a strong presence, such as construction, infrastructure, security and transport, continue to be of interest, he said. The organisation recently held roadshows across the UK to assist firms interested in the UAE. Wilson said the UAE still held a strong attraction for UK firms considering operations overseas as it remained the biggest export destination in the Gulf for UK products. Exports to the Emirates were expected to rise 10 per cent this year, having increased by 30 per cent last year from 2007 to Dhs22.6bn.

Lloyds TSB Middle East, the regional division of the UK bank, has experienced a “substantial uplift” in the number of western firms opening UAE accounts with the bank in the fourth quarter from the previous quarter, said Graham Mitchell, the head of commercial banking for the division. The vast majority of those firms were UK-based, he said.

UK SPEARHEADS RAK’S EUROPEAN INTEREST Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (Rakia) issued a total of 400 licences to different businesses between JanuaryApril 30, 2010, representing a 78 per cent growth over the corresponding period in 2009 and taking the total number of registered companies to almost 3,000. Moreover, the number

WAM Gulfpics

of licences issued by Rakia has increased by 10 times in the last five years. Almost 75 per cent of the European investments have come from seven countries in Europe – and the UK is in pole position (41%), significantly ahead of Germany (18%), France (9%), Netherlands (7%), Italy (6%), Switzerland and Austria (4%). Of the 1,935 total new registrations in RAK Free Trade Zone in 2009, UK companies were second with 12 per cent representation. RAK Ceramics, the world’s largest ceramics maker, has rapidly expanded abroad and operates in the UK. NEW BOOK CELEBRATES SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP To commemorate the long-standing relationship between Britain and the UAE, and mark the second state visit to the UAE of HM Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh between November 24-28, Motivate Publishing is publishing The United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, featuring a special collection of images by the UAE’s Royal Photographer, the late Noor Ali Rashid.

The book contains nine sections, comprising a historical summary of UAE-UK relations, photographic overview across eight key sectors and foreword and preface by top-level UAE and UK representatives, and will form part of the Royal Collection series of Noor Ali Rashid.

The Queen and Prince Philip accepted an invitation to visit the UAE from President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al

George Shelton

This page, clockwise from above: Atkins was the architectural and engineering consultant for Burj Al Arab; UAE President HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai (left), escort UK Prime Minister David Cameron during his recent visit to the UAE; and Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Colm McLoughlin meets HM The Queen at Newbury.

MONTBLANC RELEASES LIMITED EDITION PENS Montblanc is leaving its mark on HM Queen Elisabeth II’s second state visit to the UAE by unveiling its Patron of Art Edition Elizabeth I Limited Edition 4810 and 888 models. Elizabeth I was a gifted writer and this special edition comprises two writing instruments conceived with striking and clever adornments, celebrating her intellect and inimitable regal flair. The design and adornments reflect the life, reign and heraldic regalia of Elizabeth I. Hand engraved on the 18k gold nib is a bejewelled gold crown which she brandished ascending the throne in 1559. Lacquer barrel and cap signify the spots which appear on an ermine cape, part of the traditional coronation attire which Elizabeth also flaunted. While an ivory coloured Montblanc emblem tops the cap, the clip descends from gold plated Tudor Rose. The 888 gold fountain pen features a barrel and cap in precious lacquer and its 18k gold nib also contains a bejewelled gold crown marking her ascension to the throne. Topping the cap is the Montblanc emblem rendered in shimmering mother-of-pearl.

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 27

UAE-UK TRADE

Nahyan during the summer. Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh will visit Abu Dhabi between November 24-25 and Muscat between November 25-28, with the Oman visit marking Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed’s 40-year reign.

The Queen last visited the UAE in February 1979, spending time in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where she was greeted at the newly opened Dubai International Airport by then Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. During her previous visit, Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated the Dubai Municipality building adjacent to the Creek, Jebel Ali Port and Dubai Dry Dock.

THE FUTURE Lord Sassoon said to the BBG on his recent visit that although the UK has been here a very long time “that only gets us to first base”, and the focus should now be future growth. The UKTI is targeting a 60 per cent rise in bilateral trade to Dhs73bn by 2015 and proposed legislation to relax UAE foreign ownership rules is likely to encourage more firms to expand in the UAE. In return, the UAE Ministry of Economy plans to hold regular video conferences with UK officials from January next year to discuss progress on the formation of task forces, with a view to encouraging more UK firms to operate in the UAE.

A-TO-Z BUSINESS LINKS Architecture Foster + Partners

Retail Spinneys was established in

Construction Major companies

Finance The British Bank of the Middle East, now HSBC Middle East, was established in London in 1889.

Renamed the Imperial Bank, the first branch opened in Dubai in 1946, and then reverted to the British Bank of the Middle East in 1952. Today leading

all here including Carillion, Halcrow,

institutions represented include Barclays

Spencer, Debenhams and Harvey Nichols

Atkins and Hyder who have been

and Standard Chartered, while the UAE

among a host of major brands.

involved in major projects such as Sheikh

enjoys close regulatory and legal links

Zayed Mosque, Al Raha Beach, Burj

with the City of London. There is a strong

Shipping DP World proceeding with

Khalifa and Burj al Arab.

UK legal presence (Trowers, Clyde & Co,

Dhs8.6bn London Gateway project.

Eversheds) and 10 per cent of English &

Largest inward investment to UK creating

Defence/security Most of the major

Wales Law Society solicitors practising

12,000 direct jobs. Abu Dhabi National

UK defence and security companies are

overseas are based in UAE. Borse Dubai,

Energy Company, TAQA, employs 800-

present including BaE Systems, Babcock,

holds a 20.6 per cent stake in the London

plus people and has Dhs7.45bn assets in

Dascam, Olive Group and Group 4.

Stock Exchanage Group, making it the

the UK. Masdar a major partner in the

largest single shareholder.

Dhs11.46bn London Array project.

institutions comprise over 30 per cent

Healthcare Moorfields and Imperial

Sport Sheikh Mohammed’s investment

of the entire foreign academic presence

College established, GlaxoSmithKline &

in the UK horse racing industry supports

in the UAE, with campuses across

AstraZeneca have regional offices in Dubai.

60,000 UK jobs. Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh

(Sheikh Zayed National Museum) and WS Atkins (Dubai Metro) among a host of companies working on a range of key

Companies listed in this article are among the leading ones involved in Dubai’s development but it is not a definitive list.

projects across the UAE.

Education/training British

the UAE in 1942 in Al Nasr Square, Deira and was originally known as ‘The Frozen Chicken’ because it launched the first chiller van selling frozen chickens. Major presence throughout the UAE today, along with Marks &

Mansour bin Zayed Al Nayhan owns

Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.

Nord Anglia Education, CFBT Education

Media Financial Times and The

Manchester City Football Club.

Trust, Piscari and Penta International

Times printed in Dubai. BBC & Sky

The 14th Dubai Duty Free International

are working with Abu Dhabi Education

both present, ITV recently announced

Raceday was held in Newbury on

Council, while British University in Dubai

it is opening a Dubai bureau.

September 17-18. Saeed bin Suroor has trained at Godolphin Stables in

(BUiD) partners with Universities of Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester

Power Eric Tulloch arrived in Dubai in

Newmarket during the spring and

and Cardiff along with CASS Business

1960, charged with bringing fresh water

summer each year since transferring from

School. British Council established.

to Dubai and developing distribution. He

nearby Moulton Paddocks in 2004.

Oxford University Saïd Business School

went on to establish the Dubai Water

Reem Investments has signed a

works with the Abu Dhabi Civil Service

Department. Today, United Utilities,

partnership agreement with Manchester

Department. Heriot-Watt University is

Aggreko, Lucy Switchgear established and

United Soccer Schools (MUSS) to run its

building a new campus to accommodate

Rolls-Royce interested in UAE’s proposed

programmes exclusively in the UAE for

more than 3,000 students by September

civil nuclear programme programme. Abu

two years.

2011. HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin

Dhabi’s Future Energy Company, Masdar

Rashid Al Maktoum graduates from the

has MoU to develop renewable energy

Transport Rolls-Royce major engine

Sandhurst Military Academy in 2002.

and low carbon technology. UK pledges

supplier for Emirates and Etihad’s Airbus

Sharjah ruler Dr Sheikh Sultan Al Qassimi

support for IRENA office in Abu Dhabi.

aircraft. Serco has a Dhs2,866m deal to

holds a doctorate in history from

Foster & Partners, Mott MacDonald and

operate and maintain Dubai’s Metro for

Exeter University.

others active in Masdar projects.

10 years.

28 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

SECURITY

Passport makeover New designs and security features aim to keep IPS one step ahead of the forgers.

NEW-LOOK BIOMETRIC British

What other security features are included in this passport?

In addition to the electronic chip, other security features include intricate designs and complex watermarks on each page of the passport. The passport photo will continue to be recorded in line with strict standards so that facial recognition technology can be used at international borders.

passports are being rolled out in October to keep pace with latest security developments. Principal changes include placing the personal details page at the front rather than the back, inserting an electronic chip in the back cover and introducing new distinctive page designs.

The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has sought to bolster the security of passports so UK nationals have a safe and secure document when they travel. Here we explain the changes.

What is a biometric passport?

A biometric passport (also known as an ePassport) contains an electronic chip which stores a photographic image and personal details printed in the passport. The information on the chip is securely encrypted to protect it from being altered.

Every biometric passport will feature the electronic passport symbol on the cover. The UK has been issuing biometric passports since 2006.

Can the information on the electronic chip be viewed?

Yes, the details held on the chip can be viewed by using the self service ePassport reader kiosks at any of the Identity and Passport Service regional offices in the UK. Can this passport be used at automated immigration gates in airports?

Yes, at all borders where the electronic passport symbol appears.

Why are changes being made?

The new passport will continue to meet the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) and the new hysical security features in the passport will help fight identity fraud and make it harder to forge.

What about existing passports, will they remain valid?

Yes, existing passports remain valid until their date of expiry.

It is usual for the passport design to change every few years and there are always different versions of a country’s passport in circulation at any one time. For more information on current passport designs visit the ‘Basic Checks’ document at www.ips.gov.uk.

What information is stored on the electronic chip?

The information stored will continue to be the same as that printed on the personal details (photo) page of the passport.

Will biometric passports soon be replaced by new technology?

The previous UK government intended to introduce a ‘second generation’ ePassport in 2012 which would have incorporated

PASSPORT FUTURE From April 1, 2010, all countries must have begun to issue Machine Readable Passports (MRP) and the second deadline, related to the first, is that all issued non-Machine Readable Passports must expire before November 24 2015.

Interestingly, neither of these deadlines requires that biometric or

30 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

e-passports must be issued at all. The deadlines are focused solely on machine readability globally.

There are approximately 81 countries that are issuing electronic, chipbased biometric e-passports that are in compliance with ICAO requirements.

More futuristic plans include an international

‘identity register’ that would force the inclusion of biometrics and controversial RFID tracking tags in all passports by 2015 – but civil liberties groups oppose the proposed introduction and cross-border sharing of biometrics and RFID in more than one billion passports worldwide.

German company Bundesdruckerei recently showed off what it called the world’s first e-passport equipped with an AMOLED display at CeBIT 2010.

It could be the future of airport security, with paper passports replaced by driving license-like cards that can display a rotating view of the passport owner.

fingerprint data (considered to be a ‘true’ biometric), in line with the EU’s minimum standards. Passport applicants would have had their identity details and biometrics stored on the National Identity Register.

However, the Coalition Agreement of May 2010 indicated that the Government does not intend to proceed with these plans. Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the USA are amongst the countries which are not issuing ePassports with fingerprint data.

What happens if a passport is lost or stolen?

The process remains the same. Any loss in the UK will need to be reported immediately to the Identity and Passport Service and if it is stolen, reported to the local police. An application will need to be made for a new passport, either online or by completing a passport application form.

If abroad, visit either the British Embassy, Commission or Consulate websites. Details will be found including a local phone number to call to get further advice including how to get an emergency travel document. Crime reference details may be required.

What happens if a passport is damaged?

If a passport gets damaged, it may prevent travel and a replacement may be needed. General information about passports can be found at: www.direct.gov.uk/passports and www.ips.gov.uk

PASSPORT HISTORY The first UK passport was issued in 1915 when the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act came into force. It was a one-page document folded into eight, with a cardboard cover, containing a photo and signature, together with details of the holder. Some might say these details were overly personal: it would give the size of a person’s nose and eyes (small, large) as well as their forehead (broad, narrow) and also describe their complexion.

After World War One, the 32-page blue British passport came into use

and with it, the modern British passport service.

When the blue UK passports were phased out and the the burgundy ones were introduced in 1988, these mentioned the European Community (EC) – but they were still UK passports, not ‘European’.

They were also machinereadable. Information on a strip within the passport could be read electronically and validity checked on the spot. This innovation aided faster progress through border controls. The passport has a traditional role as a document of national identity, as well as an aid to travel.

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BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 31

DAVID MAY BUILDING Steve Shore, David May, Saeed Alnajjar and Eesh Aggarwal.

Photography: Motivate Publishing

BBG David May Building opening, British Embassy, September 29

Mark Beer, HE Abdul Rehman Saif Al Ghurair and HH Guy Warrington.

32 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

Walter Bailey, Andrew Putt and Ian Fairservice.

Mrs and Mr David May.

Phil Ellerby.

Jonathan Davidson.

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 33

DAVID MAY BUILDING HE Abdul Rehman Saif Al Ghurair and Mark Beer.

34 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

DAVID MAY BUILDING

Members of the British Business Group at the opening of the David May building.

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BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 35

Ground-breaking work involving leading British charity could save thousands of lives.

astrazeneca.com

HEALTH

New drug trials raise cancer cure hopes

CANCER RESEARCH UK and Cancer Research Technology, the charity’s development and commercialisation arm, have reached an agreement with AstraZeneca to take compound AZD-3965 – a first-of-its-kind experimental drug which could potentially treat a range of cancers – into clinical trial.

AZD-3965 targets the monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) which is essential in cell metabolism. Blocking this transporter limits cancer cells’ ability to generate energy, and decreases their ability to survive. The drug is ready to be taken into early phase clinical trials.

Cancer Research UK will fund the Phase I/IIa clinical trial of up to 60 patients to start in 2011. The trial will be managed by its Drug Development Office. The lead clinical trial centre will be Newcastle’s Cancer Research UK Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre Network, led by Professor Ruth Plummer.

“It is incredibly exciting to have the opportunity to run a trial of a completely new type of potential drug to treat patients across a range of different cancers,” she said. “We hope to recruit the first patient soon – and it is thanks to the generosity and time of these patients that it is possible to develop new treatments to potentially treat thousands of patients in future.”

It is the sixth treatment to enter Cancer Research UK’s Clinical Development Partnerships (CDP) scheme.

UAE RESIDENTS NOT WALKING ENOUGH A new study conducted by RYN Middle East reveals that just 4 per cent of UAE residents walk on a weekly basis, compared to more than 40 per cent in the UK. Walking 150 minutes per week makes a person lose 7% of the body weight (12-15 pounds), which reduces risk of diseases.

36 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

CDP is a joint initiative between Cancer Research UK’s Drug Development Office and Cancer Research Technology, to progress promising anti-cancer agents which pharmaceutical companies do not have the resources to progress through early phase clinical trials.

The deal with AstraZeneca will enable the charity’s Drug Development Office to carry out early clinical trials of the compound to see if it can benefit cancer patients.

Dr Ian Walker, licensing manager for clinical partnerships at Cancer Research Technology, said: “It is fantastic to see a drug from our CDP programme progressing toward a clinical trial to be tested as a potential new treatment for cancer patients.

“This clinical trial simply would not have been possible without the CDP initiative and it demonstrates how Cancer Research UK and Cancer Research Technology can work with industry to develop anti-cancer drugs that would otherwise remain on companies’ shelves. We will continue to work to set in place future similar agreements with industry with the aim of licensing more drugs to provide new treatments for patients.”

Les Hughes, global vice president of cancer research at AstraZeneca, said: “AstraZeneca is committed to the discovery and development of new, targeted anti-cancer therapies to improve the lives of cancer patients but if we are going to be successful in delivering new treatments for cancer patients, it will be important for charities, academics and industry to work collaboratively.

Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca can decide if they wish to develop the drug further based on the clinical trial data results at the end of the Phase I/IIa trial. If it chooses not to, the rights will be given to Cancer Research Technology to secure an alternative partner and ensure the drug has every possible chance of reaching patients. In either case, the charity will receive a share of any future revenues generated by the drug.

TRADE

Attractive proposition UKTI is investing time and effort promoting Britain in the UAE and new-to-market executives must do the same advises of Jeff Wilson.

SUMMER IN DUBAI is a quiet time as holidays are taken, and business slips into low gear. But not for Jeff Wilson. As the Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy Dubai, and the Director of UK Trade & Investment Dubai (UKTI), this summer has been exceptionally busy with much planning and execution.

The British Government has emphasised the need to drive the economy through increased trade, and Wilson believes

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY * GITEX 2010 * British Showcase Event * INDEX Exhibition (Interior Design Show) * Building Future Education MENA * Big 5 Exhibition * Britain in the Region * Chemspec For more details click on: ukinuae.fco.gov.uk/en/business/event/ britainintheregion2010.com ukti.gov.uk

38 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

October 17-21 November 1 November 8-11 November 21-22 November 22-25 November 24 November 29-30

that UKTI is in a turnkey position to effect positive change in supporting this initiative.

“We are building on a position of real strength and high activity”, he says. In the last financial year, the UKTI team helped over 2,000 British companies, many of whom were new to market. “There is already tremendous interest in the UAE as a business venue and as a springboard into the wider region”.

Entering the UAE market is not without its challenges for British businesses, but Wilson is quick to address them. “The Britain in Business audience know a lot more about the Middle East than I do, but there are a lot of companies out here who don’t know the Middle East, the UAE, not the Gulf. It’s a different market and it’s crucial for them to understand that doing business here will not be the same as doing business in more traditional UK export markets in the West.”

For example, he cites meetings, weekends and language as three areas which can present problems for unsuspecting corporates.

“In your first meeting here, you may not talk about business at all,” he says. “If you push it and insist on doing so, you may do more harm than good. Weekends and holidays can also be a stumbling block. UAE weekends are Friday and Saturday, while in Saudi Arabia and Oman they are Thursday and Friday. Some religious holidays are announced the day before they happen, so

British businesspeople need to bear this in mind when they are making travel arrangements and planning meetings.”

Those who fall foul of UAE legislation also need to be aware of language challenges.

“If you end up in court here – and I hope you don’t – the local courts will be looking at what it says in Arabic, not in English, in any agreements you may have in place. The challenge for British businesses is not to get caught out by these differences, and the challenge for the UKTI team and the BBG is to guide them through those differences so that they come out on the other side with a successful entry into the market.”

Wilson has some words of advice for those who seek to enter the market. “It takes time. You need to invest company time and resource in building relationships with people here to do business. You can’t just arrive and expect to shake hands on a deal – if you do, good luck to you – but more often than not it’s about gaining the trust of the people you want to work with.

Only at the point where they feel they trust you will they begin to offer you business.”

Understanding the cultural differences in doing business in the Middle East is one thing, but companies who are considering the UAE also need to understand the impact that the economic downturn has had on the country. Wilson sees an opportunity for British businesses.

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 39

TRADE “We went through the boom and the downturn, and now we are coming out the other side, so we have seen a lot of change. One positive to come of that is that the UAE is a less-crowded marketplace than it used to be. Another positive is the recalibration of costs: the market prices came down for rent for both commercial and residential space, and with it came inflation”.

Inflation is projected to be around 2.5-3.5 per cent this year, a massive drop from 18.5 per cent three years ago. As a result, Wilson sees the UAE as a good place for British businesses to base themselves, both for intra-UAE and regional activity.

NEW EVENTS PUSH The UKTI team continue to drive efforts to deliver results for British businesses. Helping customers access markets is fundamental in these efforts, and to that end, several initiatives are in the offing.

The Middle East High Growth Market Tour around the UK took place at the end of September. UKTI representatives from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, plus UKTI partners, gave presentations and met with around 250 businesses over five days in London, Bristol, Preston, Durham and Glasgow.

UK Trade & Investment is also running the annual British Showcase Event for the creative industries on November 1, and will also have a strong presence in regional events such as GITEX, Big5, Chemspec and Building Future Education Middle East.

UKTI’s flagship event in the Middle East, Britain in the Region, will take place in Dubai on 24 November, which serves as a one-stop-shop for companies to receive advice on doing business in the region.

There will be UKTI representatives on hand from 17 markets across the Middle East and North Africa, with country presentations, sector discussions, and one-to-one meetings throughout the day.

40 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

The UKTI Regional Hub Manager, Meghna Elder, is tasked with helping companies already in the region to find opportunities elsewhere in the Middle East. “If BBG members are pressed for time they should book a one-to-one meeting with one of the advisers from the country they are interested in. Britain in the Region is a valuable networking event for businesses – we are providing the setting but it will be up to each business to make the most of this opportunity,” says Elder.

The right events are key to meeting the right people. And meeting the right people can be very easy. “The biggest piece of advice I would give to new-to-market companies is to use the infrastructure already here to help you. Use UKTI – we give impartial advice across specific sectors. Use the BBG, their networking events and focus groups. You’ll learn a lot by talking to people who are already here and already doing business. Do those two things and there’s a good chance you will be successful.”

With that, Wilson heads off into another meeting – knowing he’ll have to leave any hopes of grabbing some downtime until next summer.

INVESTMENT

Crack the code The world’s first Stewardship Code for institutional investors was recently launched in the UK. Amanda Line, Regional Director for ICAEW Middle East, outlines the key developments.

THE WORLD’S FIRST Stewardship Code has been launched in the UK, requiring institutional investors to commit to shareholder engagement or explain why they cannot. Although it will only apply to UK-based investors in UK-listed companies, it is likely to attract attention globally, given the international nature of today’s markets.

Some even believe that it is reasonable to assume that responsible ownership and investment will become the norm for major significant investors worldwide by 2020.

So what is stewardship? According to a study by Tomorrow’s Company in 2008, it is one of four areas of shareholders’ responsibilities, alongside the provision of finance, the election of directors and holding them accountable, and trade shares to set the market price. A key responsibility under the stewardship umbrella is to keep companies’ management to account, ensuring they perform, are aware of risks as well as opportunities, and plan for the future.

The Code builds on reviews of the governance of banks and other financial institutions, carried out in the UK last year, and comes as a response to concerns raised about the quantity and effectiveness of engagement between institutional investors and boards of listed companies – and asks whether the boards challenged company managers enough.

It also builds on the Code on the Responsibilities of Institutional 42 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

Investors, prepared by the Institutional Shareholders’ Committee, which ICAEW played an important developing role. This has been adopted on a voluntary basis in the UK for some years already.

In the UK, the concept of active share ownership is key to the governance of listed companies. The thinking behind the Code is that it will contribute to improving the stewardship, and thus the governance, of listed companies.

That, in turn, should assist the efficient operation of markets and increase confidence in business and trust in the financial system. It should increase transparency and benefit the ultimate owners of a company, who are typically quite detached.

It is also likely to encourage dialogue between investors across country borders, something which makes it relevant to Middle Eastern markets. One can always ask how the world would have looked if more questions had been asked of those running large companies in the run-up to the financial crisis.

Stakeholders that fed back on the consultation by the UK Financial Reporting Council, which oversees the Code, were broadly supportive of the idea of shareholders to disclose whether, how or when they will engage actively with the management of a company in which the invest. However, they raised some concerns over it becoming too onerous or prescriptive.

While the Code, to a great extent, only formalises what is already quite widely adopted as best practice, it marks an important shift in how the running and responsibilities of companies are weighted. Many investors, both in the UK and elsewhere, already follow the majority of the rules spelled out in the Code, however, for it to become truly effective, it needs to be given time to become ingrained and mature. While disclosure on implementation is important, the critical part is how the policies have been implemented. If it only turns into a boxticking exercise, not much will be achieved.

The success of it also depends on how it might be replicated in other markets, as broader adoption is required if market behaviours are going to see a real change. In the 1990s the percentage of shares held by foreign investors in UK companies stood at just over 10 per cent – yet by 2008 this level had climbed above 40 per cent. Middle Eastern investors also have a much greater share of UK companies than before. In other words, real change is only likely to be seen if the Code is adopted more widely globally.

As with all new rules, there will be cost implications. However, the benefits should outweigh these costs and should not discourage its adoption. Any expense should be recouped through increased trust and confidence.

The Middle East should keep an eye on how the Code gets embedded in the UK and engage in debates on how this formalisation of investor responsibilities can impact on market stability.

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Chance to combine academic learning with adventure sports fuelling Scotland and Wales interest.

THE NUMBER OF students from the Middle East choosing to study at one of the UK’s higher education universities or colleges has seen double-digit growth in the past two years, according to figures collated by VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, and supplied by the British Council.

More than 13,500 students from GCC countries studied higher education courses in the UK between 2008 and 2009, an increase of 18 per cent on the previous year. Figures for the UAE reveal that around 2,800 students, including 1,120 Emirati nationals, chose to study in the UK in the same year, indicating a rise of 16 per cent.

Students from the region are not only choosing the UK as their preferred place of study because of the world-class academic facilities on offer, but also because of Britain’s fascinating heritage, multicultural communities and vibrant cities.

Those looking for a taste of the great outdoors are heading to universities in Scotland and Wales many of which are located in rural areas where students have plenty of opportunity to indulge in outdoor pursuits, such as racing circuits, quad bikes, fishing, shooting and falconry.

“While the priority for students is to find colleges and courses that suit their requirements, foreign students are also attracted to the UK by the array of extra-curriculum activities on offer across the country,” said Carol Maddison, UAE Manager, VisitBritain.

“With an estimated two-thirds of the Middle East region’s population under 30 we are seeing an increase in demand for exciting adventures and unique experiences from our visiting regional students. In particular the British love of out-door adventure sports and pursuits is a great way for students to make friends and unwind after class,” she added.

St Andrew’s University, located on the east coast of Scotland, is ranked sixth out of the country’s top 30 universities in The Complete University Guide 2010, and was the higher education institute of choice for England’s future king, Prince William. The town is famous for its golf course but is also surrounded by wild countryside and beaches where students can go off-roading and fishing.

Heading slightly north is Scotland’s fourth largest city, Dundee, another well respected university town which offers youngsters the chance to take part in white-water rafting, kayaking and freefall abseiling. A visit to Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands with its stunning backdrop of mountain landscapes provides visitors with the opportunity to indulge in skiing and snowboarding. www.angusanddundee.co.uk For students heading to prestigious academic institutions in Wales, such as Aberystwyth, Cardiff and Swansea, there are three national parks to enjoy. The National Mountain Centre in Plas y Brenin in North Wales runs rock climbing, caving, canoeing and numerous other activities and courses pyb.co.uk, while Snowdonia National Park covers 832 square miles of beautiful, unspoilt countryside. snowdoniaguide.com

STUDENT DIGS GO UPMARKET Graduates of a certain age will recall battling with draughty windows, uncomfortable beds and indifferent electrical appliances during their university years – but it seems some of the class of 2010 have never had it so good.

Nido Spitalfields (pictured above), which opened in London in July, is more akin to a five-star hotel, complete with snooker facilities, open air terrace and 24-hour security guards – and student accommodation is becoming no less opulent up north, where the Sky Plaza in Leeds offers plush penthouses, flat-screen TVs and leather sofas.

Opal, which has halls of residences in 16 British cities, is taking students’ health facilities to a whole new level, offering heated pools, jacuzzis, steam rooms and saunas.

Bloom Properties has announced Tiger Contracting has started construction work on Brighton College School at its Bloom Gardens community in Abu Dhabi. To be operated by the UK Brighton College, the school – due to open in September 2011 – will span over 34,000sqm. Brendan Law has been appointed founding Headmaster.

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 45

EDUCATION

Gulf students flock to UK

AUCTIONS

Sparkling

through the ages Christie’s Dubai will soon be lighting up Jumeirah Emirates Towers with the sale of the largest private collection of jewellery parures JEWELLERY AFICIONADOS WILL be visiting Jumeirah Emirates Towers between October 24-27 when Christie’s hosts the largest private collection of jewellery parures. The five-star hotel will be ablaze with sumptuous suites of jewellery, comprising 2,180 carats of rubies, 1,970 carats of emeralds, 1,630 carats of sapphires and 6,460 carats of diamonds.

Christie’s auction of International Modern and Contemporary Art takes place at the hotel on October 26 (7pm), followed by the auction of Jewels and Watches: The Dubai Sale, sponsored by Credit Suisse on October 27 (7pm).

David Warren, International Director of Christie’s Jewellery department and Head of Jewellery Middle East says from Ancient Egypt through to 1950s Hollywood glamour and beyond, the parure provides the ultimate jewellery gift. “Whether you wear a single ring or you wear the whole suite, a parure provides flexibility, variety and extravagance to last a lifetime,” he says.

Parure refers to a set of three or more matching pieces of jewellery, traditionally consisting of a necklace, bracelet, ring and a pair of earrings. The name was first applied in the 17th century although the fashion of matching suites of jewellery extends far further back, over 5,000 years, to Ancient Egypt and Rome, where women adorned themselves with sets of jewellery.

The story develops during the French Empire as the parure reached a height of popularity in the Neo-classical period (1760-1830), most particularly during the Napoleonic era (1800-1814). Napoleon Bonaparte restored Paris to its former glory and extended his patronage to the jewellery craftsmen in the city. His court jewellers designed expensive and elaborate parures for the court, made from the best 46 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

gemstones available. Napoleon lavished expensive parures on the ladies of his court; predominantly for his first wife Empress Josephine and later for his second wife Empress Marie-Louise.

A century later, in the late 1950s, iconic Hollywood actresses such as Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe inspired a resurgence in the fashion-world’s love of parures both off and on screen. Classic films such as Cleopatra, Gentlemen prefers Blondes, or Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend showcased the beauty and allure of matching jewellery.

In Elizabeth Taylor’s most famous role, Cleopatra wears a collection of exquisite parures reflecting ancient Egyptian styles. The film sparked her personal fascination with jewellery and also led her to designing her own collection of parures for AVON. Most recently the Royal Families of Europe gathered for the wedding of HRH Princess Victoria of Sweden to Daniel Westling. Many wore their suites of jewellery which were met with great admiration.

Christie’s October 27 sale offers 41 parures, the highest number for sale at auction, although this is not the first time that Christie’s are bringing parures to Dubai. In 2006, it showcased the Gulf pearl parure,

by Harry Winston, which subsequently sold in Geneva for a record price of $4.1 million.

All October’s parures are signed by Chatila, Jahan and Mouawad and each lot consists of earrings, a ring, a matching necklace and bracelet and will be accompanied by a certificate from its maker. Estimates range from $40,000- $400,000 and all lots will be offered without reserve.

Viewing is open to the public at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel on October 24 (2pm-10pm), October 25 (2pm-10pm) and October 26 (10am-1.30pm). christies.com

AUCTIONS

Emerald parures The collection includes 13 emerald parures. The most outstanding include a necklace set with seven large pear-shaped Colombian emeralds weighing a total of 158.52 carats, each mounted within a brilliant-cut and pear-shaped diamond surround and suspended from a double diamond festoon; with bracelet, ear pendants and ring en suite, signed Jahan. The total weight of the emeralds is 261.47 carats and 129.58 carats of diamonds (estimate: $350,000-450,000).

Sapphire parures

A total of 10 sapphire parures will be offered and are led by an example which boasts 375 carats of sapphires and 164 carats in diamonds. This particular parure will be offered individually as a spectacular bracelet set with a fine Ceylon sapphire of 180.84 carats (estimate: $250,000-350,000); while a striking ring is set with an important Kashmir sapphire of 26.12 carats (estimate: $120,000-180,000); an important sapphire and diamond necklace, with a central cabochon Ceylon sapphire of 131.17 carats (estimate: $180,000-250,000), a matching pair of earrings (estimate: $30,000-50,000) and a watch en suite (estimate: $20,000-30,000) will also be offered.

Diamond parures

Four diamond parures are led by a demi-parure by Chatila, composed of necklace and ear-pendants, contains 340.09 carats of Marquise, pear and round brilliant cut diamonds (estimate: $250,000-350,000).

BRITAIN IN BUSINES S | 47

AUCTIONS

Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith.

Pick up a classic car Luxury cars are plentiful in Dubai but few can rival the stylish models up for auction in October – and beautiful British models will be among those listed in the first auction of its kind regionally DUBAI MAY BE synonymous with novelty, but it’s not averse to rolling out the historical red carpet. That’s certainly the case with the automotive sector, which has seen increased demand for Collectors Motor Cars, fuelled by events such as the Dubai Classic Car Show and other motoring events.

The retro market is poised to take another turn for the better in October, when Bonhams hosts a Classic Car auction at the One&Only Royal Mirage on October 11 for the first time in the Middle East. The Dubai car sale is valued at over $6 million with one car, the Ferrari Pinin, expected to fetch $1 million or more.

BMW has consigned two cars from its museum reserve collection for the sale, the first time cars have ever become available from the official factory collection, representing an unrivalled opportunity for collectors.

Classy British models on show include the 1947 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith (Dhs330,583-477,509) and 1979 Rolls-Royce Camargue Coupé (Dhs128,561-202,025).

Introduced towards the end of 1946, the Silver Wraith – RollsRoyce’s first post-war model – employed a chassis similar to that of the Silver Dawn and MkVI Bentley, though with a 7” longer

48 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS Ferrari Daytona Sports Saloon.

wheelbase at 10’ 7”. The last word in motoring luxury in its day, this Silver Wraith carries two-door, four-light, sports saloon coachwork by Freestone & Webb of North London, one of the finest of all British coachbuilders and a firm associated with quality marques from its earliest days, particularly Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Mercedes-Benz.

Bodied to what is believed to be a unique design, chassis number ‘WVA 74’ is fitted with a sliding sunroof, picnic tables and a cocktail cabinet in the rear compartment.

The car has travelled less than 5,000 miles since major mechanical works were carried out by Rolls-Royce Motors in Crewe in 1991 at a cost exceeding Dhs227,484. The black over sand coachwork is complemented by a beautifully finished interior, which is trimmed in tan hide and features highly figured polished woodwork, all of which is in excellent condition. ‘WVA74’ comes complete with a detailed history file documenting the restoration process and a series of letters between the owner and the works manager at Rolls-Royce.

Styled by Pininfarina of Italy, the Rolls-Royce Camargue was launched in 1975 to a mixture of awe and disbelief. Was this audaciously styled car, its lines reminiscent of the Continental sports saloons of the past, really worth almost twice as much as the Silver Shadow on which it was based?

The company’s flagship, the Camargue was priced at 50 per cent above the Corniche and, like the latter, used an up-rated version of Rolls-

Royce’s dependable, 6,750cc pushrod V8 engine. In keeping with tradition the power output remained undisclosed but most testers reported a healthy improvement in acceleration above 70mph and a top speed in excess of 120mph.

Camargue production was shared between Mulliner, Park Ward in London and the Crewe factory for the first few years before being concentrated at the latter plant from 1978.

Produced at the rate of around one car per week, the Camargue was an exclusive model even by Rolls-Royce standards, output totalling just 531 units by the time production ceased in 1986.

The Warranty Acknowledgement (issued 28th June 1980) records the first owner as ‘Prince Turki Bin Faisal Bin Saad’ (most likely Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a past ambassador to both the UK and USA). ‘50198’ was previously owned by a prominent lady collector in the Gulf States, who bought it from the Prince.

The current vendor has owned the Camargue for over four years and driven it less than 2,000 kilometres since acquisition, dividing his motoring among the many cars in his collection.

the planned ‘Volante’ (convertible in Aston Martin speak) was launched simultaneously at the Detroit and Los Angeles auto shows in January 1996.

This particular DB7 Volante was delivered new on August 2 1996 through Emilian Auto of Bologna, Italy.

Acquired by the present owner in Paris, France in February 2005, the Aston shortly thereafter came to the UAE where it has formed part of a private collection and been used sparingly. The odometer reading was 49,000 kilometres when the previous owner acquired the DB7 in 2002 and currently reads 63,057 kilometres.

Likely to take centre stage, in financial terms, will be the 980 Ferrari Pinin Sports Saloon (Dhs4.407m-5.142m), with coachwork by Carrozzeria Pininfarina. Since the dawn of the 1960s, Pininfarina has been Ferrari’s favoured coachbuilder and so it was only fitting that when Pininfarina celebrated its 50th anniversary, it would do so by creating a very special Ferrari, the Pinin, named in honour of the famous Carrozeria’s founder, Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina.

Aston Martin DB7 Volante.

“The last word in motoring luxury in its

day, this Silver Wraith carries two-door, four-light, sports saloon coachwork

by Freestone & Webb of North London”

Other super-stylish models up for auction include the 1996 Aston Martin DB7 Volante (Dhs91,829-128,561). It was the company’s 1987 acquisition by Ford that ensured the future of Aston Martin, and the former’s takeover of Jaguar two years later which made possible the revival of the legendary DB line, dormant since the end of DB6 production in 1970.

Brilliantly styled by Ian Callum in a manner reminiscent of the traditional Aston Martin, the DB7’s body was notable for employing numerous composite-material panels in its construction. The chosen engine was a supercharged 3.2-litre straight six-cylinder with twin-camshafts and four-valves-percylinder. The result was 335bhp and a top speed of 160mph, a performance that put the DB7 on a par with rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz 500SL and Porsche 928.

A little under three years after the DB7’s debut at Geneva,

Another model sure to attract plenty of interest is the white BMW 3.0 CSL with motorsport stripes and concours factory restoration. With its aerodynamic spoilers for racing, the car became known as the ‘Batmobile’, and it is estimated to fetch Dhs587,712-808,104. It’s set to share the spotlight with a 1979 white BMW M1, whose price is expected to fall into the same bracket.

Other cars for sale include a 1993 Italdesign Aztec Barchetta (Dhs367,320-587,712) and the one-of-a-kind 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Shooting Break (Dhs918,300-1.432m).

“Collectors’ motor cars have been resilient – even immune – to the recession,” said James Knight, International Managing Director of the Motoring Department at Bonhams. “In fact, people have turned to this field as an area in which to place their liquidity.”

He added that companies will consider financing an acquisition and that insurance can be remarkably good value, strangely enough given the price tags of the cars.

“Although some cars are very valuable it is all about risk,” added Knight. “These cars are generally well looked after, are garaged, and don’t cover many miles. As such the risk is greatly reduced and premiums are much lower than your everyday car.”

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 49

ENERGY

Iberdrola powers ahead in Scotland Leading energy firm set to strengthen its profile north of the border. company’s key future projects. Iberdrola Renovables and Vattenfall have been awarded the rights to construct the largest offshore wind farm in the world – 7,200 MW – known as the East of Anglia Array, capable of providing energy to five million homes.

The company also has an additional 2,300MW in the pipeline in the UK, including the 500-MW West of Duddon Sands wind farm (developed in partnership with Dong), the construction of which will commence in 2012.

Iberdrola established the group’s Offshore Business Division in Scotland at the start of this year to channel the development of the significant volume of facilities it has been awarded around the world, totalling close to 10,000MW. On shore, ScottishPower Renewables is now the leading wind power developer and generator in the country, with an installed capacity of 816 MW. It also operates the largest wind farm in Europe: Whitelee located south of Glasgow. The aim is to increase the capacity of this installation by 217 MW to 539 MW by 2012.

Iberdrola has also won through to the final round of the British Government’s public tender process to construct a commercial-scale carbon capture storage (CCS) facility at its Longannet plant. The company has confirmed plans to establish a global Centre of Excellence in the UK to develop CCS technology.

The company plans to gradually roll out smart electricity distribution grids across the UK, and has announced a project to start installing these networks in Glasgow.

Iberdrola Renewables, Inc

IBERDROLA IS POISED to invest €4.8 billion in the UK in the next two years, following a meeting between Iberdrola Chairman Ignacio Galán and Scottish First Minister Alex Samond in Bilbao in September.

Two-thirds of the earmarked investment will be for Scotland, primarily to develop wind farms, smart grids and carbon capture – in the event that ScottishPower wins the government competition – and purchases associated with this investment are estimated at €5.4 billion, opening up trade opportunities for Spanish and Scottish suppliers.

Galán stated that Iberdrola will continue to act as “a driving force behind development in Scotland” and support Basque suppliers, which are highly specialised in the electricity sector.

“We can say that this union between Scots and Basques is achieving unbeatable results because we have very similar sentiments and share a strong entrepreneurial spirit that makes our partnership increasingly stronger and fruitful,” he said.

He believes Iberdrola and ScottishPower “are much stronger now than three years ago” and that the merger and £2.7 billion in investments have enabled the company to establish itself as wind power leader.

Through ScottishPower, Iberdrola aims to play a key role in the British energy sector and contribute to the plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions through its investments in wind power, nuclear energy and clean coal.

The start-up of offshore wind farms ranks among the

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 51

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TRANSPORT

Fast track High-speed rail link will transform business links between England’s two premier cities.

High speed train investment is gathering speed with models such as this one from Bombardier set to transport passengers into the 21st century.

PLANS FOR A new high-speed rail network which would cut journey times from London Euston to Birmingham Airport to 38 minutes have been approved, and been warmly received by the UK’s business community.

The HS2 line, a key part of the UK’s future low-carbon sustainable transport policy, is projected to be extended to Glasgow by 2030, with 250mph trains reducing journeys between London and Scotland to two hours 16 minutes.

The preferred 120-mile, first phase route – estimated to cost up to £17.4bn –will leave north-west London, skirt south-west of Aylesbury, west of Buckingham and east of Brackley and Banbury, before passing between Leamington Spa and Coventry and into the east side of Birmingham. Work is due to start by 2015.

Network Rail said high-speed rail will drive economic growth and create around 10,000 jobs, as well as provide a ‘greener’ transport by taking cars and lorries off the road, cutting domestic flights and releasing capacity on the existing rail network, thereby transforming services even for those communities not served directly by a high-speed line.

Not everyone is convinced by HS2’s credentials, however, and opposition includes the National Trust and affected homeowners, whom the Government hopes to placate through a recently launched £50m compensation fund.

Birmingham Airport is understandably delighted by the project’s approval, saying the advent of high speed rail will be the equivalent of placing Birmingham “in Zone 4” of the

London Undeground map, and will relieve pressure on capacitystrained Heathrow.

Paul Kehoe, Birmingham Airport’s Chief Executive Officer, said aviation has its part to play in an integrated transport system, and rail must play a part in distributing the demand for international gateways, to airports such as Birmingham which have capacity.

“Birmingham is just over an hour from London and Birmingham Airport is a vital yet underused piece of national strategic infrastructure,” he said. “The prospect of HS2 from Central London to Birmingham International Airport will make journey times comparable with Gatwick and Heathrow, and shorter than Stansted and Luton.”

Emirates introduced a larger Boeing 777-300ER plane on one of its two daily services between Birmingham Airport and Dubai in July, meaning both services were operated by the larger aircraft, which boosted passenger capacity by 22 per cent.

An Emirates spokesman said: “The introduction of this larger aircraft, along with the opening of our new dedicated lounge facility, reaffirms our commitment to our operation from Birmingham.”

A team of local bankers refinanced Birmingham International Airport in July in a £45m deal that will support its development plans, including the proposed runway extension, with the revolving credit facility arranged with Santander and RBS, according to local media reports.

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How was the Holy Month for you and your business? For BBG Focus Group chairman David Burns, it turned out to be the best time of the year.

JUGGLING WORK COMMITMENTS in shorter working hours can be one of the perennial challenges of Ramadan, and certainly the fact the Holy Month fell in the height of summer this year provided another cultural dimension. But the long days and evenings provide plenty of networking and commercial opportunities too – so how was it for you? Did you and your company use the time constructively?

BBG Focus Group Chairman David Burns is someone who loves Ramadan. “From a business perspective, Ramadan has to be the best time of the year,” he says. “On a typical working day during the Holy month I would have the opportunity of discussing business proposals from 8am to 5pm with directors and managers who were not being interrupted by their sponsor.”

The capacity for opportunities to present themselves after hours is another major benefit of the Holy Month, added Burns.

“At 7pm I would have the opportunity to meet new people in a relaxed environment during an Iftar event and be in a position to discuss possible appointments,” he said. “This year like many before, I met the Ruler HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ministers and senior business figures.”

And the opportunities didn’t end there. After Iftar, there was also the prospect of attending Suhoor events, normally at residences where he would meet more new contacts and make new friends.

“Suhoor is much earlier now than before as I can remember starting at 3am and finishing before sunrise in some years,” he recalls.

From a business viewpoint, Ramadan for Burns is ultimately a time for consolidation. “It allows me to regulate my time getting those mundane jobs finished whilst looking forward to meeting

new people. The phone rings less and emails are reduced.”

The friendly and relaxed nature of the evenings makes it the perfect time to forge new business alliances.

“There are other upsides to Ramadan,” he adds. “The roads are less busy which means fewer accidents and retailers put on special offers making produce less expensive, and the golf courses are definitely less busy – providing networking opportunities in leisurely surroundings.”

If it had to be picky, Burns said he was “a little disappointed” to see some of the outlets display lumps of boneless lamb leg instead of the traditional carcass during iftar, and the variable attitude to smoking was another quibble.

“We sat inside one outlet next to a table of guests who were smoking shisha. Not only did the smoke put me off my meal, but I thought smoking was banned inside restaurants?”

Burns, who has been working in the GCC since 1967, believes Ramadan is less rigid than he experienced years ago.

“I can remember when police used to go round town shutting shops and making sure no one was cooking in public,” he says. “Western style music was frowned upon as were women not covered up to a respectful level. Eid holidays lasted much longer than now and we used to enjoy a week’s holiday sometimes more if the first day fell correctly.”

There were also a lot less temptations in the past with very few fast food outlets, restaurants and hotels open during daylight hours. Now food deliveries can be made throughout the day to offices and drinks are available in many offices for those not fasting.

“Ramadan is a more tolerant Holy Month than it was in the past and much easier for non Muslims to adapt to.”

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CULTURE

Reflections on Ramadan

EMPLOYMENT

Best in the business Ever wondered if you’re working for the premier company in your field? You’ll soon be able to find out the answer.

THE GREAT PLACE to Work® (GPTW) Institute, a global research and consultancy firm that recognises the best workplaces in over 45 countries worldwide, has expanded to the Middle East.

Any UAE private or public company with 50 or more employees is eligible to participate in the fee-based program, which involves an employee survey and independent assessment of HR policies.

GPTW Institute UAE hopes to publish a list of the top 20 companies and to reach that, they aim to poll at least 40 companies.

Registrations for the UAE list close on October 31, and the shortlist of Top Companies to Work for in the UAE will be published in January.

While participation does not guarantee a place on the final lists, companies are increasingly looking to Great Place to Work’s research service as a robust indicator of workplace stability.

In association with Gulf Business, which will publish the list in its January issue, there will be an official awards ceremony, with winners entitled to use the official title “Top 20 Companies to Work for in the UAE”.

UK INCENTIVE Companies in the UAE that register for the “Top Companies” program will have an option to have free registration this year in the UK list if they meet the eligibility requirements.

UK companies that register for their program and have a presence in the UAE will have an option to have free registration in the UAE process if they meet the eligibility requirements (in other words, have at least 50 employees).

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The “free participation” in the other country is the basic package – application, list consideration, and basic report. For example, if a company applies in the UK and has a presence in the UAE, they could enroll in the UAE list process, at the Bronze ($2500) level for free.

The UAE subsidiary would have the option of buying additional reports later on. If a company applies in the UAE, they would receive the basic package for free in the UK (which has the same offerings).

The Institute says its workplace assessment is a valuable tool for companies seeking a competitive edge in the post-recessionary business climate. Following last year’s slowdown in the UAE labor market, when one in 16 professionals lost their jobs, measuring the extent to which employee loyalty and engagement has been maintained will be vital in preparing for the upturn.

“Our ‘Top Companies to Work For’ program helps companies perform better by understanding their employees and enhancing their workplace experience so that they stay longer and are higher achieving, with a greater level of personal and professional satisfaction,” said Dr. Michael Burchell, Partner & Director of Great Place to Work® Institute UAE. “As we emerge from the recession, those businesses that have been focusing on their employees are likely to prove more competitive. Employers that have maintained rather than eroded their staff’s trust, loyalty and engagement, will typically perform better financially, attract the best talent and enjoy higher levels of customer

satisfaction. Our research methodology shows you the strength of your employer brand, which has proven to be so important in protecting a company during times of economic instability.”

GLOBAL PROFILE The Institute publishes similar lists in 39 other international markets including the FORTUNE “100 Best” in the US and top companies lists with the Financial Times in the UK and Nikkei Business in Japan. This makes it the world’s largest workplace evaluation tool, surveying 4,500 companies or 1.5 million employees every year.

Companies that regularly feature on the Great Place to Work lists in other markets include Google, Coca Cola, Novartis, IBM, Cisco, Telefonica, Kimberly Clark and Microsoft.

Widely acknowledged as the pre-eminent corporate award for workplace practices, the “Top Companies to Work For” research program is recognized by leaders in a variety of industries, including government and education institutions, as a chief means to improve their workplace environment, public image and financial performance. In fact, portfolios of FORTUNE’s “100 Best” stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 by a wide margin since the first list was announced in 1998. They also experience at least 50 per cent less voluntary staff turnover compared to the industry average and enjoy higher levels of customer satisfaction.

The Great Place to Work Institute has received strong interest in the program ahead of its official launch in the UAE, particularly among multinationals already familiar with the process.

HOW COMPANIES ARE JUDGED The list is a benchmarking study that assesses the level of trust between three key relationships within the workplace – employees and their managers, employees and their jobs, and between employees and other employees. The GPTW model uses a proprietary employee survey and auditing process to evaluate five critical behaviours within workplace relationships – credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie. The results indicate levels of employee happiness, trustfulness, engagement and effectiveness. GPTW’s research shows that organisations with high levels of trust tend to perform better and enjoy inherent cost savings, which translates to higher profitability.

The process is kept confidential. Only those companies that make it onto the final list are named. GPTW is about sharing best practice and helping businesses learn from industry peers.

That said, the process is also a valuable learning experience and a lot of HR directors see value in undertaking the top companies program as a health check on their employer brand.

HOW MUCH IT COSTS Four levels of investment are available, and each level includes the employee survey and assessment of existing HR processes and policies. The price varies according to the level of reporting, to what extent they would like GPTW to evaluate their results. The packages start at $2,500 and go up to $22,000. These are fixed rates irrespective of the number of employees.

Executive Office: 17, Building 16, Ground Floor, Dubai Internet City | P.O. Box: 73030 | Phone/Fax: +971 4446 2640

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SOCIAL MEDIA

Conversation is king If you’re embracing social media for business, be transparent and consistent – and remember what goes online stays online the BBG, and organised in conjunction with the Middle East Public Relations Association and UKTI, recently met at the BBG Offices to explore social media and its relevance and use by businesses.

Social media is a rapidly emerging and mutating tool and rather like the first days of the internet it’s certainly one we will not recognise in a few years’ time.

The key finding was that social media is here to stay and, if it is not already an essential business communications tool, it soon will be, even if those who engage in social media approach it in different ways.

Some users engage with personal and business contacts through the same sites, others choose to segregate their personal from business contacts – either by identity (same

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iStock

A FORUM ON SOCIAL media hosted by

HIGH USAGE DESPITE RESTRICTIONS Interestingly, active use of social and professional networking sites is high in the UAE despite limits that employers have placed on their use. Around half (54 per cent) of respondents in the UAE are forbidden from accessing social media sites at work, making the UAE the most restrictive of all 13 countries surveyed, and 17 per cent more restrictive than the global average of 37 per cent. Netherlands was the leastrestrictive country, as only 14 per cent of respondents there indicated their company forbids the use of such networking sites. Furthermore, in the UAE, just 24 per cent of respondents are allowed to access such sites without any restrictions, versus the global average of 38 per cent.

Sayer says it isn’t surprising that employers in the region are more

restrictive about the use of sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, compared to elsewhere.

“Generally speaking, companies in the region are relatively new to this discussion and are refining their approach to the level of access they should allow their employees, particularly compared to Europe and America, where employers have more experience with this issue.

We see companies in the region that are considering revisiting their restrictions or seeking employee input about how they use networking sites, all with an eye toward loosening some guidelines.

They may find that their rules need some adjustments to fit today’s Internet-influenced workplace, and that employee’s value such sites in their career development.”

forum, different profiles) or by the forum itself. For example, those who joined Facebook to share photos with family and friends tend to join LinkedIn for business use. Twitter is often a forum that straddles both, offering a stream of conversation where one can personalise business connections and find business through personal interaction.

As social media pervades different facets of life and work, these business and personal forums collide in a converging force that many find impossible to separate so distinctly. As a result, business users may find they need to re-organise their presence, manage privacy settings, edit content, and actively control contact or group access to personal information online.

It is clear is there’s no hiding in the digital world, a fact often frightening to ‘Generation X’ and ‘Baby Boomers’ who tend to be the ones keeping corporates sitting on the sidelines. Much recent media discussion has centred on privacy issues and it is certainly wise to remember that what goes on line stays on line.

Many in the forum felt this mandated honesty on the part of users. “You can’t really lie in social media because you’ll

BRITISH EMBASSY BOLSTERS SM PROFILE The British Embassies will shortly be launching their official presence on Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and LinkedIn and use this media to interact with the range of Embassy customers, including Consular customers, and serve as a forum for two-way discussion. ukinuae.fco.gov.uk

An employer may consider allowing employees to use social/ professional networking sites at work but only during their lunch hour, or by signing an agreement that they promise to use such sites responsibly without infringing excessively on the company’s time or negatively affecting the company’s reputation.

“Such policies show that the employer acknowledges that employees actively make use of networking sites, and encourages them to do so responsibly and openly with management’s approval.

It also shows that employers recognise there can be positive benefits of employees maintaining an active online profile, such as promoting the company as an employer of choice and in recruitment,” says Sayer.

be found out,” said one. From a corporate perspective this translates as the need for integrity, transparency and consistency through social media and across all other types of communication.

This global issue is as relevant in the US and Europe as in the MENA region; CV fraudsters who are found out through LinkedIn are an obvious example of victims of social media’s long – and easily searchable – memory.

Many describe social media as another world where the everything is separate; but that’s a little like assuming conversations over the phone aren’t real. Social media and telephones are both just different places to talk – the conversation is what matters. When looked at like this it’s clear that neither individuals nor organisation should try to ‘reinvent’ themselves online. The gap between offline and online behaviour is where credibility is lost. Instantly.

The forum had especially strong agreement on the generational aspects of social media use. Generation Y sees no distinction between social media and “real” life – important in the MENA context where the workforce is young. Social media use among Emirati university students is very high and professors say these students are much more likely to read material and contribute towards a debate that is online – or on instant messaging – as opposed to more traditional learning methods. They have made the transition, and those who wish to engage them need to make it too.

In fact, Generation Y is very comfortable with relationships made on line and instinctively uses them in their work. This means that in sharing their interests, news, opinions and learnings with the digital domain, they are building a business BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 59

SOCIAL MEDIA

reputation online by default. This is fact that will become increasingly important for organisations to manage, and highlights the critical requirement for clear company guidelines on ethics for this space.

Unlike one-to-one conversations held face-to-face or on the phone, online conversations are recorded and often scrutinised by hundreds of other social media users. This means it is almost inevitable that dishonest statements will be identified and publicly challenged. Damage done to reputation online could mean the end of trust between the business and its audience.

As such, it is important that those who represent organisations in digital fora are themselves trusted, as well as trained and empowered to service social media engagement properly.

Twitter was cited at the forum most in need of senior input, with a viewpoint put forward that only executive staff should tweet on behalf of an organisation. As with corporate blogs previously, this is a response by businesses seeking to try and control an arena they see as risky.

But trying to control something so fluid as social media is like sending an employee to a party and scripting their conversations with quotes from the corporate brochure. It only serves to make them look stilted and unable to engage in a valuable, meaningful conversation.

Developing a personality online is important for organisations.

Many don’t understand this and try to present a corporate image online rather than engaging in dialogue. Yet the conversational approach is particularly relevant in a region where building relationships, including for business development, is less about the bottom line and more about building trust over time. It is important to remember that credibility and relevance are constantly being tested, and businesses need to take time to develop the message and online personality to ensure success.

Social media is not an alternative to business networking; it doesn’t replace face-to-face contact, it complements and enhances it. It’s a networking event taking place through another medium, and like a party or business gathering those that engage and put effort into it are those who will ultimately benefit.

Social media networking is subtly different because it breaks down the normal barriers in society and this is particularly the case in the MENA region, where multiple cultures and social groups are a barrier to interaction. Here, region social media makes it possible for people to engage who might not normally get a chance to meet.

The key for business or organisational success in social media is relevant content. Just as plugging a product at a party shows

JOINT VENTURE AIMS TO HARNESS SM POTENTIAL The Nielsen Company (Nielsen) and McKinsey & Company (McKinsey) have held the Middle East launch of NM Incite.

The joint venture has been created to help leading companies harness the power of social media intelligence to drive superior business performance. NM Incite gives companies the capabilities to better understand value and take advantage of the rich insights made possible by social media.

“This is an exciting time for businesses in the Middle East as NM Incite will help them incorporate social media insight and intelligence into their organizations, enabling them to leverage it for growth and take full advantage of what is possible,” said Brad Little, Head of NM Incite, EMEA. “The growing prevalence of digital data generated by the region’s consumers presents an extraordinary opportunity for companies to unlock the largely untapped business value of social media intelligence and to capitalize on its impacts.”

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McKinsey will contribute client capability building and expertise in the areas of marketing and sales, organization, and service operations.

McKinsey serves multiple clients and has developed proprietary knowledge and distinctive insights in areas such as digital marketing, marketing ROI, word-of-mouth marketing, and consumer purchase behaviour.

“As our clients’ needs evolve, so our firm continuously innovates in the way we work” said Dominic Barton, Global Managing Director of McKinsey. “Social media is an increasingly critical issue for business leaders and an area of untapped opportunity for many of our clients. This joint venture will equip institutions with real-time insights to help their leaders drive better results.”

NM Incite is headquartered in New York and is led by CEO Dave Hudson, previously Executive Vice President, Global Client Services of Nielsen’s Telecom Practice.

Hudson brings more than 20 years of experience in operating and consulting roles, working with clients to leverage Nielsen data to improve business performance and drive growth.

NM Incite builds upon the industry-leading social media and online brand metrics, consumer insights, and real-time market intelligence of Nielsen BuzzMetrics to transform business operations, including product development, marketing, communications, and customer service.

NM Incite provides clients with a wide range of services across industry sectors and business functions, from standard oneoff brand reporting to ongoing insight on products, customers, and company reputation to social media-informed business process reengineering strategies. The initial areas of focus are measuring and improving marketing effectiveness, product launch optimization, and customer service experience.

poor social skills, simply advertising the business online isn’t the answer to engaging with the audience. In social media the conversation is king. ndividuals want to engage; so if the business is relevant to an individual and can demonstrate this online, it can make friends.

But it can’t do this as a faceless brand. Corporations need personalities, opinions and insights to gain access. If corporate content is useful and interesting then individuals will more likely chose to follow its messages.

This is different to traditional advertising-led media production, where content is developed for mass consumption. Successful strategies are more aligned with public relations practice, where messages are highly targeted to audience interests. So, social media content needs to speak to the individual. (And before you dismiss this for business-to-business marketing, remember that an organisation is ultimately a collection of individuals.

The forum found that the UAE is not an especially sophisticated market for social media use. There’s no cuttingedge technology being created here and no critical mass of producers or developers to make a revolution – at least, not yet.

But content more than digital platforms will determine the way social media grows here.

Content is critical and the lack of rich Arabic language material is hampering the development of a tool embraced by

an estimated 300 million population. Around 89 per cent of Arabs are internet users and almost half of these use sites in Arabic – yet only 1 per cent of internet content is tailored to their language.

So businesses face a somewhat urgent choice. The majority of their workforce and in some cases their stakeholders and customers are already engaged with social media and see it as a natural extension of their business conversations. They expect those that matter to them to be talking online too.

So for business, there is a pressure to get involved. But the rules are different and the use of social media is not something that should be entered into lightly. Integrity and consistency with the offline experience are central to the overall brand management, so those who engage on the corporation’s behalf should be carefully chosen (but fully empowered).

Many at the forum felt that if business is not prepared to give it 100 per cent then they should wait. I believe social media is the future of communications and that no one should wait and that every business needs to engage in the conversation or be left behind.

Melanie Faithfull Kent is Regional Corporate Practice Director at Hill & Knowlton and Communications Director of the British Business Group.

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FASHION

Sister act

Hind and Reem Beljafla’s DAS Collection is now on sale in Harrods. BY DOMINIC ELLIS INNOVATION MEETS TRADITION with Hind and Reem Beljafla’s DAS Collection, which is now on sale at Harrods.

The abaya from their new collection features a design which embraces a feminine side with metallic flowers and the ‘grubby gold’ colour highlights the distinct cut of the abaya against the black. The outfit can be worn for formal daytime events, and a simple change of accessories can transform it for the evening.

“Our abayas are created to make the wearer feel unique, but conservatively so,” says Hind, who produces the designs with older sister Reem. “If you look historically at high profile women who dressed conservatively, such as Audrey Hepburn, that finesse and style has made her a fashion icon 40 years later.”

Launched in 2008, fashion label DAS consists of a unique range

of abayas based on Middle Eastern traditional designs, infused with ‘cutting edge style’. DAS is an acronym for Daffa, Abba and Suwaieya which refers to the different styles of traditonal abayas that were worn across the Gulf region.

Reem attended several design courses at St. Martin’s College in London and then learned how to work with colours from famous florist Jane Packer. She trained in London as an interior designer and was awarded Best Business Woman of the Year and Best Design Business by the Mohammed bin Rashid Awards for Young Business Leaders 2008. Reem is also owner-managing director for Elev8, a communications and design house. DAS is now available exclusively at its first boutique in Dubai as well as the premium London store. dascollection.com

HIDDEN ART SELECT 2010 CAPTURES LONDON LEGACY The fourth Hidden Art Select range was recently launched at the London Design Festival, at the Hidden Art Design Store @ 100% Design and online (hiddenartshop.com).

Seven British designers have delivered a unique range of designs for the home, evoking British urban and rural imagery, including references from historical London buildings to classic British fairytales.

Hidden Art focused on having minimal impact on the environment by developing the range through sustainable processes and materials.

Since their selection, the chosen designers have worked closely with the Hidden Art team to transform their passion into products, creating the collectibles of the future.

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The products in Hidden Art Select 2010 include Your Placemat or Mine? by People will Always Need Plates (set of four placemats) which pays tribute to the architecture of Britain through the ages. The eight designs can be used individually or placed together as a table runner charting the timeline of British homes.

Queen of Hearts by Rentaro Nishimura is a self-assembly ring, laser-cut from a single plastic piece, Sprig by Shan Annabelle Valla is a free-standing vase made from three glass tubes, shaped to look like flower stems, and Balloon by Renata Manau of Biscuit Design is a balloon- shaped nesting box for birds. hiddenartshop.com.

UK FASHIONS ON DISPLAY Exclusive British-designed and manufactured products will be on show at Al Murooj Rotana, Dubai on November 1. A 20-strong group of British interiors and equestrian lifestyle companies will visit the UAE, complemented by UAE-based executives working in both sectors.

The group is supported by British embassies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, UKTI and Advantage West Midlands.

The BBG and Association of Professional Interior Designers are organising a programme of seminars at the event and speakers include Professor Peter Di Sabatino, Dean, College of Architecture, Art and Design, American University of Sharjah. For further details, contact Iman Zaky at The British Embassy Dubai on (04) 3094237 or email: iman.zaky@fco.gov.uk

Vikram Gawde

FASHION

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TRAVEL

Break down the

borders UK Hotels catering for every budget are opening north and south and London visitors booking the new Town & Country Getaway can enjoy the best of both worlds.

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CitizenM Glasgow

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TRAVEL

DUTCH GROUP OPENS GLASGOW HOTEL CitizenM has jumped the English channel and opened a 198-room hotel in Glasgow, its first outside Amsterdam, and confirmed four new hotels totalling more than 1,100 rooms in London and New York.

Since launching its first property at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport in summer 2008, followed by a second in the Dutch city last year, citizenM has targeted global mobile travellers – hence the ‘M’ suffix – with hotels rooted in ‘affordable luxury’. Rates at the Glagow hotel, located on the buzzing corner of Hope and Renfrew streets and close to the city’s art school, start from Dhs276 a night.

“Glasgow is actually the number one conference city outside London, and the UK’s second retail destination,” says Michael Levie, citizenM chief operating officer. “And it has plenty of music, art and shopping, we really like its dynamics.”

The eight-storey property’s façade is made of robust natural granite, although inside it’s a modern feel with guests entering

through an illuminated, double-height glazed red entrance leading to the first floor via a striking red spiral staircase.

Upstairs, to the right of the lobby is a long bar and relaxed lounge area, canteenM, and 24/7 kiosk-style cafeteria where guests can indulge in sushi, barista-made coffee and hot breakfasts.

Guests can relax, meet, converse or work in areas with furnishings by Hella Jongerius, Verner Panton, Jasper Morrison and more designer classics from Vitra, citizenM’s exclusive interior design partner.

Wall to wall windows allow a fabulous first-floor view of the bustling street scene outside, and the public space’s L-shape allows a more intimate, hang-out feel. Another novelty: the new room typology. Rooms feature king-size beds, power rainshowers, Philips ‘mood pads’, integrated bathrooms, a larger closet and vanity, and built-in worktable. “We wanted the room to be more efficient in space and more functional in its design,” says Robin Chadha, citizenM chief marketing officer.

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS SPEARHEAD BLITZ 70TH ANNIVERSARY Britain is hosting a number of events and exhibitions to mark the 70th anniversary of ‘The Blitz’, the period between September 1940 and May 1941 when the German Luftwaffe made 127 night raids, 71 of which targeted London.

A number of exhibitions will be held in and around the capital, including the Museum of London, Galleries of Modern London, Docklands at War galleries, Imperial War Museum, Croydon Clocktower Museum and Whitehall Sutton Museum.

Coventry, which suffered extensive damage from air raids, is staging an authentic 1940s Blitz Ball at its Transport Museum on November 13.

Billed as a “fantastically nostalgic evening”, a drinks reception will be followed by a three-course dinner and then legendary John Miller Orchestra will play two sets to dance the night away. As part of the evening’s entertainment, Coventry Scouts Gang Show, who are celebrating 50 years in variety shows this year, will be singing three songs with the orchestra as part of their year long celebrations.

Tickets cost £40 (Dhs226) per head.

Did you know? A National Memorial to the Battle of Britain stands at Capel-le-Ferne near Dover,

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Churchill War Rooms

and there is also a Battle of Britain Monument at Victoria Embankment in London.

Experience the war through Winston Churchill’s eyes One venue sure to be popular during the Blitz anniversary period is the Churchill War Rooms (cwr.iwm.org.uk) next to London’s St. James’ Park, which shows where the indomitable leader and cabinet plotted their subterranean strategies during World War II.

Images, artefacts and the first-hand oral accounts of those who worked in the Cabinet War Rooms – which were built in 1938 – bring the working conditions in Winston Churchill’s secret underground headquarters vividly to life.

During the October half-term (October 25-29), the Churchill War Rooms presents Blitz Flicks, with regular showings of films produced by the Ministry of Information, designed to lift people’s spirits and strengthen resolve during the Blitz.

The upcoming London hotels will be located on the South Bank close to the Tate Modern Museum, due to open by the end of next year, and the other is coming up on Tower Hill in time for the 2012 Olympics. The New York locations will be on 50th and Broadway on Times Square, and the hip Bowery on the fringe between Soho and the Lower East Side. More properties are earmarked for China, Paris, Milan and Zurich.citizenm.com

OLD COACHING INN TAKES ON NEW LIFE For a provincial break with a difference, check into the Archangel hotel in Frome, Somerset, which was originally a medieval coaching inn. Many parts of the building date back to long before the Protestant Reformation, to the doomsday book in fact. Unsurprisingly there was a lot of work to be done to update it and Archangel was two years in the making. Once renovations were complete Archangel opened for breakfast this summer and has been almost entirely full ever since.

Architect Piers Taylor of Mitchell Taylor Workshops has preserved the ancient walls with their extraordinary patina, the medieval ‘street’ behind the big double doors to the street and the stable buildings within. To them he has added post-modern glass and steel, zinc and slate, leather and copper, in a luxuriously rustic style that references the ‘Rough Luxe’ Hotel by Rabih Hage in London’s King’s Cross.

The interior design concept for was created by Piers Taylor, co-owner Louise Waterfield, and consultant Niki Turner: a multi-talented designer of opera, theatre and ballet sets, as well as domestic and hospitality interiors.

There are many unusual elements to the décor at Archangel, including feature lights by installation artist Bruce Munro. Another focal element is the use of wallpaper panels printed with details of early renaissance paintings of angels, a repeated theme throughout the hotel. archangelfrome.com

E-LEARNING PROGRAMME BOOSTS AGENTS’ UK KNOWLEDGE There will also be Blitz handling artefacts, such as gas masks, air raid sirens and warden kits.

Visitors looking to expand their knowledge of the period may want to attend The Churchill Lecture Series, running until the end of March 2011 in the War Rooms, and presented by some of the world’s leading authorities on Churchill.

In addition to enjoying the lecture in a historic setting, guests will have the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of the rooms and be able to view the 70th Anniversary Exhibition, Undercover: Life in Churchill’s Bunker – which due to popular demand, has been extended until the end of 2013.

Churchill War Rooms Tickets: £14.95 adults; £12 seniors and students; £9 visitors with disabilities (Free Carer); under 16s free, Special admission rates for groups of 10 or more.

Opening hours: 9.30am-6pm, last admission at 5pm Location: Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ Nearest tube: Westminster

Some 25 travel agents in Dubai and 15 from Abu Dhabi have been nominated by VisitBritain to sign up for a free online training programme that aims to supply Middle East travel agents and regional travel trade organisations with expert destination knowledge on the UK. The E-learning programme, designed to help front-line travel sales staff increase visitor numbers to the UK through a more in-depth knowledge of Britain, consists of three modules followed by a quiz. On completion, ‘BritAgent’ status will be awarded to signify expertise in UK travel.

The scheme is designed to highlight regional awareness of the UK ahead of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralymic Games.

“Travel agents play a crucial role in assisting our visitors to plan and book their holidays to Britain. By launching the BritAgent Specialist Programme in the UAE, we are able to provide travel agents with the necessary tools to offer improved service to customers, consequently increasing their business,” said Carol Maddison, UAE Manager, VisitBritain.

HM Consul General Guy Warrington hosted and launched the BritAgent Programme at the British Embassy in Dubai on September 29, with Ambassador Dominic Jermey performing similar duties in Abu Dhabi during the first week of October.

Nominated travel agencies are supplied with a Brit Agent Kit and will have the opportunity to nominate members of staff they want to do the course, which officially begins on October 11.

Participants have until December 15 to complete the online modules.

As a way of encouraging staff to grasp the opportunity to learn more about Britain as a global destination, a graduation ceremony will be held in February in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for those who successfully complete the modules and certificates will be presented.

The e-learning programme divides into three modules, covering basic information, top attractions and features, and finally an ‘Experience Britain’ component which is designed to help UAE agents build strong itineraries for their customers.

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 67

TRAVEL

Archangel hotel

COMBINE A BREAK IN TOWN AND COUNTRY

TRAVEL BRIEFS: r Visa has launched the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection, giving Visa Platinum and Visa Infinite cardholders in the UAE a way to book stays at a handselected group of prestigious hotel properties globally. There are 15 London hotels included in the collection, including the Jumeirah Carlton Towers, The Dorchester and The Connaught. visaplatinumhotels.com, visainfinitehotels.com r At the other end of the budget spectrum, hotel chain Travelodge is offering 300,000 rooms across the UK from just £9 (Dhs50) as part of the company’s winter sale. Stays are valid between November 1-January 31 2011. Travelodge rooms cater for up to two adults and two children (or three adults), with an all-you-can-eat breakfast menu for £7.50 (Dhs42), and discounts on meals when you book online. travelodge.co.uk. r A Conservative peer has reportedly donated £25m (Dhs141m) to the British Museum in what is thought to be the biggest gift to the arts for two decades. The donation from Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover will go towards a major redevelopment of the London museum’s facilities and help fund a new World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre. britishmuseum.org

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Holidaymakers can now combine a stay at both Dorchester Collection’s iconic London hotel and its new country house hotel, offering travellers the best of both worlds.

The Town & Country Getaway includes two nights’ bed and breakfast at both The Dorchester and new luxury country house hotel and spa, Coworth Park, set in 240 acres of Berkshire parkland, plus the transfer in between.

Guests booking the package can take advantage of the expert concierge at each hotel to recommend the ideal itinerary to get the complete English town and country experience. Whether guests seek a culinary experience or the chance to enjoy London’s vibrant cultural scene, simply to indulge in a spa break or get active with horse riding, golf and polo, plenty of options are available at both hotels.

The Dorchester offers the UK’s only three Michelin-star hotel restaurant with Alain Ducasse, food matching in the Krug room with Executive Chef Henry Brosi, traditional British menus in The Grill, cocktail master classes with legendary Bar Manager Guiliano Morandin and celeb-favourite authentic Cantonese at China Tang.

Guests can also enjoy The Promenade’s award-winning afternoon tea alongside a calendar of fashion teas, children’s teas and social calendar teas such as the October Mad Hatters Tea Party and December’s Christmas carols and mince pies.

Setting the benchmark as London’s most luxurious destination spa, The Dorchester Spa exudes 1930s inspired art deco glamour. There are nine treatment rooms, including two double suites, a vibrant mani/pedi suite, serene relaxation room and the uniquely named ‘Spatisserie’ where guests can dine during their pamper experience.

BRITAIN’S REMOTEST PUB UP FOR SALE

The Old Forge pub in Knoydart, Scotland is up for sale, and while the views look breathaking, passing trade may be a bit of a problem.

With no roads in or out, an 18-mile hike over munros or seven-mile sea crossing to reach its doors, the Old Forge pub is officially the remotest on mainland Britain, according to the Guinness Book of Records. It’s on sale for offers over £790,000 (Dhs4.5m) but cash alone won’t guarantee a sale. Owner Jackie Robertson says the successful buyer must understand the culture of the place: good food, good music, and good people. theoldforge.co.uk

Coworth Park, which opened in September, is headed up

by Michelin starred chef John Campbell with his eponymous fine-dining restaurant in the main house and a separate more informal restaurant, The Barn, featuring an outdoor terrace.

Bespoke culinary experiences will be available with Chef Campbell and children will be able to take part in the garden nursery as part of the ‘Kids at Coworth’ programme.

Horse-riding can be enjoyed in both locations. The Dorchester overlooks London’s glorious Hyde Park where horse-riding is offered all year round while Coworth Park is home to its own equestrian centre stabling up to 40 horses. With its two private polo fields, it is the perfect place for guests, both young and old, to try their hand at the ‘sport of kings’.

London’s diverse attractions need no introduction, but just 45 minutes away in rural Berkshire, the local attractions around Coworth Park are varied.

Visit Wentworth Golf Club for a round of golf, take to the River Thames for kayaking, and Ascot racecourse is a short distance away. Less strenuous outdoor activities include croquet on the lawn at Coworth Park or a stroll through Windsor Great Park. Children are easily entertained at local attractions such as Legoland, and the Royal Family’s own home Windsor Castle beckons for curious visitors.

The Town & Country Getaway starts from £1,400 per person (Dhs7,892), exclusive of VAT for four consecutive nights; two at The Dorchester and two at Coworth Park including full English breakfast and one transfer between the two hotels.

Additional nights are available at prevailing rates, subject to availability. Tel: (44) 207 3197102 or email: reservations.uk@ dorchestercollection.com

CORINTHIA GEARS UP FOR LONDON LAUNCH Corinthia Hotels’ five-star luxury hotel in central London, due to open in early 2011, will become the ninth hotel in the brand’s portfolio. Set within an imposing Victorian building, on a city block location between Whitehall Place, Northumberland

Avenue and Great Scotland Yard, overlooking Trafalgar Square and the River Thames, the grand Victorian exterior houses fullyreconstructed elegant and contemporary interiors set around an inner foyer and garden.

Inside are two restaurants, a luxury spa, a concept cocktail bar, boardroom meeting facilities and a beautifully refurbished grand ballroom. There will be 294 intricately designed guest accommodations, including 45 luxurious suites – some of which are located on duplex floors, inside historic turrets, and feature private lifts and terraces.

The two-bedroom Royal Suite, at more than 470sqm, will be the largest in London, and can be connected to adjacent rooms to provide additional accommodation.

The Corinthia’s individual bedrooms, averaging 45sqm, are also amongst the largest in their category in London’s luxury hotel market.

Interior design is led by GA Design International, which is also creating the hotel’s 2,140sqm ESPA spa (set to be the first of its kind – laid out over four levels, with pioneering design and treatment offerings), as well as the suites, public spaces and one of the two restaurants. World-renowned luxury interiors’ designer, David Collins, is creating the hotel’s bar, Bassoon, and specialty restaurant.

Corinthia Hotel

The interior design will aim to deliver a mix of sophisticated luxury and ‘residential’ style: a home-like approach that maintains an uncompromising standard for hospitality and service.

Chef Massimo Riccioli, celebrated owner of La Rosetta in Rome, in his native Italy, will introduce London to his fresh market style with a fish and seafood specialty restaurant at the Corinthia. The hotel will also provide for all-day dining with a new wave British restaurant.

With its central location near Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, a short walk to Buckingham Palace, the Southbank and the city’s leading theatres and museums, the Corinthia sits at the heart of London’s cultural scene, making it an ideal location for business, leisure travellers and Londoners, alike. Corinthialondon.com.

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 69

CHARITY

Reach for the heights Jamie Knights explains why taking part in a Gulf4Good challenge will change a lot of lives – not least your own.

IT’S NOT OFTEN that you find yourself at midnight, five kilometres above sea level, about to spend the next six hours attempting to scramble up the near-vertical scree slope of a volcano. Stinging -20 degree winds whipped us as a lack of oxygen made every step feel like a mile, as we threw ourselves at the mercy of Kilimanjaro, the world’s largest free standing mountain.

The reason I was up a freezing mountain in Tanzania last July was actually a result of a group of BBG members, who decided to cycle across Cuba in January 2000.

Brian Davies, Kevin May, Paul Oliver and Brian Wilkie were raising funds for the British charity Guide Dogs for the Blind, and on their return Wilkie, BBG Chairman at the time, wrote an article about what a great trip it was. However, the group had felt it strange to be cycling across a poor country to raise money for a comparatively rich one, thousands of miles away.

UPCOMING CHALLENGES Trek Ethiopia 2011 March 10-19 Trek through the gorges,, cliffs, peaks and plateaus of this dramatic African mountain massif. Rising to 4,620m (Ras Dashen), the route will challenge you physically, but delight you with stunning scenery and wildlife. You’ll camp in small villages along the route and explore Amhara villages, far from the regular tourist trails.

The Wilds of Borneo 2011 July 7-15 Kayak in a remote marine park, mountain bike through tea plantations, explore a nature reserve and hot spring before scaling SE Asia’s highest peak, Mt Kinabalu (4,095m). Build your own bamboo raft to ride the rapids of the Kiulu River.

Staying in a traditional bamboo longhouse, guest

70 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

houses and riverside camp, you can get to know the local people as well as their culture.

Everest Base Camp Challenge 2011 Nepal, October 14-28 Explore altitudes up to 5,500 metres in this 12-day trial where, surrounded by the majesty of the Himalayas.

The terrain is immensely varied with rhododendron forests, roaring mountain rivers, alpine meadows and impressive glaciers, all towered over by the awesome backdrop of the snow-covered Mount Everest.

Cycle The 7 Emirates 2011 Nov 27-Dec 2 Be part of the first-ever charity group to cycle round all seven Emirates over 6 days, finishing in Dubai on the 40th National Day.

Brian wrote that the idea of doing a challenge to raise money in Dubai could be a far more exciting alternative to the traditional black-tie fundraising dinners. The seed of an idea took root when a few months later Paul (then chairman of Roundtable Dubai) asked him if he had any ideas to help buy an ambulance for a desperately poor community in Namibia.

Brian suggested getting a self-sponsored group together to climb Mount Kilimanjaro under the name Gulf for Good and voila, one of the region’s most successful charities was born. They managed to secure the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Emirates Group, and held their first publicity drive at a BBG function the following March.

The 49 intrepid adventurers who took on Kilimanjaro in July 2001 under the Gulf for Good banner raised enough for four Land Rover ambulances, which were delivered by supporters later that year to charities in Tanzania, Malawi and Namibia.

The ambulances are still in use today, having helped many thousands of people get medical help over the last nine years.

The founding members of G4G realised the potential of what they had begun and to date, 30 challenges have been held in 20 countries. More than 600 people, ranging from 15 to 73 years old, of all fitness levels and representing 37 nationalities, have taken part in challenges, raising more than a million pounds for projects across the globe, usually for children disadvantaged by poverty, war, or AIDS. While the data speaks for the charity aspect of G4G, the challenges are called such for a reason, as Chairman Brian Wilkie explains.

“What it means is that more than 600 people have got fitter and pushed their own limits; very often radically changing their own lives as well as those helped by the funds raised,” he says. “The challenges are certainly not holidays – they’re tough physical and often mental tests. But they’ve enabled G4G to build and renovate hospitals, schools and orphanages; supply much-needed medical equipment to poor communities across the globe, and in the process improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, particularly needy children.”

EVENTS

BBG Forum Lunch ‘The Future of the DIFC’

Photography: Motivate Publishing

Godolphin Ballroom, Emirates Towers Hotel

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 71

EVENT

Lord Sassoon BBG breakfast forum BBG members gathered for a special breakfast with Commercial Secretary to the Treasury

Honorary Fellowship signing

Photography: Motivate Publishing

HE Mattar Al Tayer joins prestigious group within the Institute of Civil Engineers

72 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

HOTELS

HOTELS

Share meaty fare at Rhodes’ second Dubai restaurant

Photography: Motivate Publishing

FOLLOWING ON FROM the success of Rhodes Mezzanine at Grosvenor House Dubai, Michelin-starred celebrity chef Gary Rhodes OBE has unveiled his second venture in the UAE, Rhodes Twenty10, at sister hotel Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort + Spa. Rhodes Twenty10 is a new generation of culinary grill with a twist, where the emphasis is on sharing, bringing family and friends together in sleek and contemporary surroundings.

“The concept is a culinary grill with a difference,” said the acclaimed British chef. “The idea is to give guests the chance to tailor-make their meal depending on their tastes and create a sociable dining experience, by introducing sharing platters and offering a variety of flavours all on one plate.”

Signature dishes include the Rhodes Twenty10 burger made with fillet steak and topped with fois gras, followed by British favourite sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce and toffee ice cream.

The restaurant’s interior features a monochrome colour scheme with hints of lilac, complemented by sparkling chandeliers and twinkling candles to create an intimate, relaxing atmosphere.

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 73

BOOK REVIEW

Blair recounts struggles and successes in memoir FEW PRIME MINISTERS have shaped Britain’s course as profoundly as Tony Blair, and his legacy will be debated for years to come. Amid the millions of words written about him, Tony Blair: A Journey (Hutchinson) is unique as it has been penned by the man himself, making it this season’s must-read political blockbuster.

A Journey is Blair’s first-hand account of his 10 years in power and beyond, from the aftermath of Princess Diana’s death to the war on terror. In frank, unflinching and often wry detail, he charts the ups and downs of his career to provide insight into the man, as well as the politician and statesman.

His memoir reveals leadership decisions that were necessary to reinvent his party, relationships with colleagues such as Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson, gruelling negotiations for peace in Northern Ireland, battles over education and health, the implementation of the biggest reforms to public services since 1945, and his relationships with leaders on the world stage, from Mandela and Clinton to Putin and Bush.

He analyses the belief in ethical intervention that led to his decisions to go to war, in Kosovo, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan and, most controversially of all, Iraq.

Blair’s emergence as Labour leader in 1994 marked a seismic shift in British politics. Within a few short years, he had transformed his party and rallied the country behind him, becoming prime minister in 1997 with the biggest victory in

Labour’s history, and bringing to an end 18 years of Conservative government. He took Labour to a historic three terms in office, as the dominant political figure of the last two decades.

He explores the challenges of leadership, and explains why he took on public opinion to stand up for what he believed in. He also looks forward, to emerging power relationships and economies, and to Britain’s changing role, addressing the vital issues and complexities of our global world.

As befits the man, the book’s launch was a microcosm of these complexities. He cancelled a book signing at Waterstone’s London Piccadilly for fear of the “inevitable hassle caused by protestors” and it was no less tempestuous across the Irish Sea, as a shoe and eggs were hurled at him in Dublin.

Even his decision to donate all the book’s proceeds to The Royal British Legion divided people, some seeing it as a noble gesture, others as a means of assuaging guilt over losses incurred in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Kosovo.

Chris Simpkins, Director General of the Royal British Legion, said it was a very generous donation which gives an excellent start to its fundraising target of £12m for the Battle Back Challenge Centre.

“Whatever view people take of my decisions, I think that there is only one view to take of our forces: they are the bravest and the best,” he said. tonyblairjourney.co.uk

New edition of cultural guide packed with reliable advice DON’T THEY KNOW IT’S FRIDAY? has been the definitive guide to business culture and etiquette in the Gulf since it was first published in 1998. This exciting and informative book has been reprinted 11 times.

Motivate Publishing is now releasing a new edition fully updated with new information, maps and illustrations. This modern and enlarged second edition is packed with remarkable insights into Gulf life and business; the book is required reading for anyone having business and other interests in the GCC and in the wider Middle East.

Sir James Craig GCMG, President of the Middle East Association and formerly British Ambassador to Syria and Saudi Arabia, says it is the best guide he has read. “Trust it without fear in your early days when you are new to the region. Be very cautious about departing from its advice, for it is full of information, common sense and good manners, all reliable.”

Dr Obaid Ali bin Butti of the Juma al-Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage in Dubai, echoes the sentiments, saying it is well written and corrects some stereotypical images of the Gulf.

The book prepares its readers for many life-style changes, 74 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

addressing in particular the cross-cultural aspects of life affecting westerners and other nationalities in business with nationals in or from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Oman. It deals with the realities of Gulf business and outlines the stresses and strains which most visitors or expatriates will experience. Don’t they know it’s Friday gives excellent guidance on proper behaviour in the Arab world generally and in the Gulf particularly.

Published by Motivate Publishing in October, Don’t they know it’s Friday? will be available at all leading retail outlets in the Gulf and internationally and online.

Author Jeremy Williams OBE, with 30 years’ experience of the region, and formerly British Defence Attaché to the UAE and Bahrain, has gained invaluable knowledge concerning the way of life in the Gulf. His company, Handshaikh, conducts seminars, briefing programmes and negotiation training for organisations with Gulf business connections. Contact Therese Theron + (971 (0)4) 205 2326 or therese@motivate.ae, booksarabia.com, handsheikh.com

MEMBER OFFERS

BBG offers

Join the BBG and you’ll open the door to a range of business and leisure offers.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS BBG is giving you the opportunity to add additional members at the special promotional rate of Dhs200 (a saving of Dhs500) per additional member – and you can add six new names for Dhs1000 (a saving of Dhs3200).

The additional member will receive all member benefits including member access rights to the website and its information, invitations to all events at membership rates.

To ensure our members continually gain best value for money, we strive to create Focus Groups that target a variety of business needs and specialities. Our aim is to provide events that cover all areas of business, accomodating all business professionals. Please note that we have now implemented 20 different Focus Groups for networking, that cover a wide variety of industry specific sectors.

In order for you to experience the benefits of these Focus Groups, we would like to ask for your help to ensure we cover all aspects of your organisation, and that each event is beneficial in adding value by targeting the right audience, i.e. HR Manager to attend our Focus HR or Focus Legal Events; Young Managers (all departments) to join the Young Professionals.

FREE BOTTLE WITH MMI Spend Dhs150 or more at your local MMI store and you’ll receive a free bottle of Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc valued at Dhs87 including tax. Simply flash your BBG membership card at the check-out. Offer restricted to one bottle per licence.

MMI has also put together a special members’ promotion, offering 10 per cent off purchases at MMI Dubai shops and 5 per cent off drinks bought at Al Hamra Cellar in Ras Al Khaimah.

Don’t forget to have your red liquor licence card handy too though – as legally you need to have the card on you to buy alcohol.

Shaken, not stirred – Ian Fleming alledgedly wrote this famous James Bond phrase at the Duke’s Bar, a cosy hideaway in the Dukes Hotel in St. James’ Park in Central London.

The Weekend Package: (minimum 2 nights including Fri & Sat or Sat and Sun) has a room rate £195+VAT (Dhs1111.50) per night, which includes guaranteed upgrade from Dukes to Classic room 20 per cent discount in the hotel restaurant or on room service, along with a bottle of champagne and canapés in the room on arrival Both offers are valid until December 31. Note there are a few black out dates so please check when booking. +44 207 318 6585 (quote BBG Dubai offer).

FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO GULF BUSINESS

EXCLUSIVE: FOUR-PAGE REPORT ON TOP DEALS AND MARKET DATA Vol. 15 Issue 6 October 2010

All UAE-based BBG members and new members will receive a complimentary subscription to Gulf Business. All BBG members also have the opportunity to be enrolled in the Motivate Book Club where members receive a 25 per cent MASSAAD discount on the cover price of over 200 books. booksarabia.com or email books@motivate.ae.

RBS CEO denies Dubai World firesale Where have all the IPOs gone?

The problem with subsidies

The man who sold the world: RAKIA CEO on divesting global assets

KHATER Bahrain..............BD 1.0 Kuwait............... KD 1.0 Oman................ RO 1.0 Qatar.................. QR 10 Saudi Arabia.......SR 10 UAE.................. DHS 10

FREE ADS IN THE TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES SIGN UP AND JOIN SIRIUS All new members joining the BBG are eligible for a Silver Sirius card from the Jumeirah Group. Current Silver Sirius card holders will be upgraded to a Gold Card.

Explore the world of Sirius benefits in the link below: jumeirah.com/Sirius/ About-The-Program1/ Member-privileges/Silver/

BOOK INTO DUKES HOTEL The BBG has secured an exclusive offer at the Dukes Hotel for members who are travelling to London on business or leisure.

Mid-Week Package: Room rate costs £195+VAT (Dhs1111.50) per night which includes guaranteed upgrade from Dukes to Classic room 20 per cent discount in the hotel restaurant or on room service.

We are delighted to remind members that we have secured a fantastic offer from one of our platinum sponsors, SAB Media, publishers of The Times and Sunday Times.

The Times &The Sunday Times newspapers are happy to offer BBG members an opportunity to advertise your company for free upon subscription to the newspaper. t For every Daily Package subscription (Dhs2,900) a BBG Member is entitled to three quarter page coloured advertisements worth $2,600 (Dhs9,542) each. t The ad can be placed in any edition of the newspaper within the year of the subscription period. t Artwork / design subject to approval by SAB Media. t Two-weeks prior notice should be given to SAB Media for the ads to be printed.

If you need any assistance on member offers, contact edelma at the BBG office on 04 3970303.

Email: edelma@britbiz-uae.com BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 75

NEW MEMBERS

New members

The BBG extends a warm welcome to the following who have joined in recent months.

Atlantis The Palm, Dubai P.O. Box 211222, Dubai Tel: 04-4260000 Fax: 04-4260005 www.atlantisthepalm.com Nominee: Catherine Mead Vice President – Sales Mob: 050-5589104 Cathy.Mead@atlantisthepalm.com Alternate: Paula Moore-Jones Vice President – Sales Mob: 056-6035742 Paula.MooreJones@atlantisthepalm.com Atlantis, The Palm offers unmatched conference, banqueting, entertainment facilities and the largest unique capacity for delegates in Dubai.

As the first and flagship resort to open on The Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis combines exceptional meetings and conference facilities with outstanding leisure opportunities, worldwide cuisines, and fabulous panoramas of the Arabian Gulf. In addition to offering one of the biggest meeting spaces in Dubai with capacity for up to 2,500 people in the Atlantis Ballroom, the resort is unique in its ability to sleep up to 600 delegates under the same roof, opening up a new one-stop destination for meeting planners who want to ‘wow‘ their associates into the new decade.

Al Futtaim Carillion L.L.C P.O. Box 1811, Dubai Tel: 04-3331200 Fax: 04-3331018 www.afcarillion.ae Nominee: Simon Spencer Webb Managing Director Mob: 050-1896421 simon.webb@afcarillion Alternate: Alan Raymon Ferguson Technical Services Director Mob: 050-5537240 aferguson@afcarillion.ae Additional: Timothy David Sansome Business Development Mob: 056-6839602 Tim.Sansome@afcarillion.ae The principal activities of Al-Futtaim Carillion LLC cover a broad range of civil engineering, infrastructure and building works. They are based on providing integrated solutions tailored to meet Client demands and achieve successful completion, safely and efficiently, on time and on budget.

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Chartered Institute of Management Accountants P.O. Box 502221, Dubai Tel: 04-4347370 Fax: 04-4341998 www.cimaglobal.com Nominee: Geetu Ahuja Country Manager Mob: 050-4216110 geetu.ahuja@cimaglobal.com Alternate: Fiona Harvey Administrator Mob: 050-6330799 fiona.harvey@cimaglobal.com The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, founded in 1919, is the world’s leading and largest professional body of Management Accountants, with 172,000 members and students operating in 168 countries, working at the heart of business.

CIMA members and students work in industry, commerce and not-for-profit organisations.

CIMA works closely with employers and sponsors leading-edge research, constantly updating its qualification, professional experience requirements and continuing professional development to ensure it remains the employers’ choice when recruiting financially-trained business leaders. CIMA is committed to upholding the highest ethical and professional standards of members and students, and to maintaining public confidence in management accountancy. CIMA’s syllabus and examination structure are the most relevant to the needs of business of all the accountancy bodies assessed. See the CIMA Difference report at www.cimaglobal.com/ thecimadifference

Crowne Plaza Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road P.O. Box 23215, Dubai Tel: 04-3311111 Fax: 04-3317704 www.crowneplaza.com/dubai Nominee: James Young General Manager Mob: 050-6254112 James.Young@cpdxb.com Situated on Sheikh Zayed Road, opposite the Dubai International Convention Centre, Crowne Plaza Dubai enjoys a central and convenient location. Close to well-known places of interest for tourists and business travelers, in addition to local golf courses and the central Business District and only 15 minutes from Dubai International Airport. Crowne Plaza Dubai’s 568 rooms include

suites, apartments and family rooms, plus Crowne Plaza Club Floors for VIP Guests, offering a private lounge serving breakfast, refreshment & cocktails. Hi-speed internet access and wireless connectivity are also available throughout the hotel. Furthermore, the hotel features 12 awardwinning bars & restaurants, including worldrenowned brands such as wagamama and Trader Vics, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center with indoor squash court, 15 meeting rooms with natural daylight and a Ballroom with capacity up to 1,800 guests.

Creative Concepts P.O. Box 77519, Dubai Tel: 04-3476940 Fax: 04-3476950 www.creativeconcepts.ae Nominee: Dale Ashwell Business Development and Marketing Manager, UAE Mob: 050-6561443 dale@creative-c.biz Alternate: Lara Christopher Director Business Development Mob: 050-6548836 lara@creative-c.biz Creative Concepts Focuses on developing Advertising & Marketing Solutions to help build brands & deliver results – Competitively & on time Our services include: above / below the line, event & exhibition management, corporate identity, digital development, database management, marketing, consultancy incentives & promotional items, and copywriting.

Dulsco LLC-HR Solutions P.O. Box 62678, Dubai Tel: 04-3477500 Fax: 04-3477600 www.dulsco.com Nominee: John Neale Managing Director Mob: 050-6568831 john.neale@dulsco.ae Alternate: Balakumar Shanmugam Director Mob: 050-6537990 bala.kumar@dulsco.ae Dulsco is a pioneering UAE based limited liability Company with 75 years of experience in the local business environment. With a workforce in excess of 6,000 employees, the Company has grown with the region and has established itself as a premier service provider. It prides in offering Human Resource Solutions and Waste Management Services to its

customers in the UAE and Qatar. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to its diverse clientele is reflected in its ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and IMS certifications.

Dulsco HR Solutions (HRS) is a pioneer in manpower outsourcing in the UAE. Manpower is outsourced on a short or long term basis. The categories currently outsourced are skilled, semiskilled and unskilled personnel. From rank and file to managerial positions, we also provide complete contract staffing and recruitment solutions to our vast clientele. Furthermore Dulsco provides additional services to its clients in the logistics and facilities management industry apart from meeting their manpower requirements.

Dulsco Waste Management Services provides organizations with solutions to manage the generated waste in an environment friendly manner. Presently hazardous and non-hazardous solid and liquid waste services are being offered across the following sectors: shopping malls, office towers, hotels, hospitals, construction, residential and other industrial sectors.

Over the years, Dulsco has seen its involvement across the UAE and Qatar grow steadily. To keep pace with industry demands and offer better services, Dulsco has offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Fujairah, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and a joint venture operation in Doha, Qatar.

Dubai Multi Commodities Center P.O. Box 48800, Dubai Tel: 04-3903883 Fax: 04-3756283 www.dmcc.ae Nominee: James Bernard Associate Director, Business Development Mob: 050-4593378 james.bernard@dmcc.ae Alternate: Abhijit Uday Shahane Business Development Executive Mob: 050-3959730 abhijit.shahane@dmcc.ae Jumeirah Lakes Towers Free Zone (JLT) is the first mixed-use Free Zone development in Dubai offering Freehold property. It has been designed as a community where people can live and work in comfort with all the facilities to hand, and enjoy the benefits of a guaranteed zero personal and corporation tax rate as well as 100% business ownership.

JLT Free Zone, the head quarters of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority (DMCC), was established in 2002 and is the fastest growing Free Zone in Dubai with over 2200 licensed member companies from around the world. As a Government of Dubai Free Zone Authority DMCC is dedicated to enhancing trade flow through Dubai, offering a unique value proposition that incorporates a fit-forpurpose regulatory environment, state of the art infrastructure, and innovative products and services. JLT is located in the heart of Dubai and offers a comprehensive range of products and services which include new company registration and lice

Falcon and Associates FZ-LLC P.O. Box 214432, Dubai Tel: 04-3833500 Fax: 04-3833501 www.falconandassociates.ae

Alternate: Richard Lineveldt Operations Manager Mob: 050-1053525 richard.lineveldt@gamagroup.com

Nominee: Giselle Pettyfer CEO,UAE Mob: 056-6037227 Giselle.pettyfer@falconandassociates.ae

Additional: Oliver Hewson Regional Sales Manager Mob: 050-1053526 oliver.hewson@gamagroup.com

Alternate: Gerard Anthony Foulkes Finance Manager Mob: 056-6813463 gerard.foulkes@falconandassociates.ae

Gama Aviation is the regional operating division of the international Gama Group, a business aviation services company founded in the UK in 1983 and currently operating over 75 aircraft ranging from the Learjet 45 through to the Boeing Business Jet and at every level in between.

The group, headquartered at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire, is now one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading business aircraft management and charter companies with aircraft and offices located around the world. Gama Aviation currently operates out of Sharjah and Dubai International Airports and provides aircraft management and charter services utilising the skills and experience gained in over 25 years of successful, safe and efficient business aircraft operation.

Falcon & Associates was established to deepen the understanding and appreciation of the vision of Dubai both nationally and internationally.

We deliver initiatives to help with the long-term strategic positioning of Dubai as part of the UAE. Falcon partners with businesses and government departments to deliver specific social, economic and trade-related goals.

Galadari & Associates Advocates & Legal Consultants P.O. Box 7992, Dubai Tel: 04-3937700 Fax: 04-3937764 www.galadarilaw.com Nominee: Rosanna Chopra Director, Business Development Mob: 055-4147024 rosanna@galadarilaw.com Alternate: Leonora Riesenburg Senior Legal Consultant leonora@galadarilaw.com Additional: Manish Narayan Legal Consultant Mob: 050-5542908 manish@galadarilaw.com

GPW + Co. Ltd. P.O. Box 333357, Dubai Tel: 04-7050438 Fax: 04-7050436 www.gpwltd.com Nominee: Nicholas Jonah Bortman Associate Partner Mob: 050-8152119 nbortman@gpwltd.com Alternate: Patrick Grayson Senior Partner Mob: +447768274205 pgrayson@gpwltd.com

Galadari & Associates is a leading law firm in Dubai and is celebrating its Silver Jubilee this year. Over the past two decades the firm has grown into a thriving international commercial practice, with a client base unrivalled by any other UAE firm. What makes us the frontrunner in the region is our unique ability to combine regional cultural expertise with modern and innovative solutions for our client. We are recognised for our capabilities in Corporate and Commercial law, Litigation, Conventional and Islamic Banking and Finance, Property and Construction, Energy and Infrastructure, Maritime, International trade, insurance, Free Zone Regulations and Incorporations, Intellectual property and Information Technology.

A corporate intelligence and investigations firm with offices in London, New York and Dubai.

Our core skills encompass: Business intelligence in support of investments, new ventures, M&A, competitor intelligence and integrity due diligence; Investigations in support of corporate adversity, internal malpractice, fraud, US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enquiries, leaks and breaches of confidentiality, hostile takeovers, shareholder activity, litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution; Asset tracing to identify, freeze and recover stolen or hidden assets or assets awarded in resolution of litigation or arbitration; and Government relations in the context of intractable problems to develop a deep understanding of the political landscape in commercially difficult jurisdictions.

Gama Aviation Ltd

GyroHSR

P.O. Box 54912, Dubai Tel: 04-6091688 Fax: 04-6091689 www.gamagroup.com

P.O. Box 502746, Dubai Tel: 04-4331866 Fax: 04-4355647 www.gyrohsr.com

Nominee: Dave Edwards Regional Director Mob: 050-1053521 dave.edwards@gamagroup.com

Nominee: Lucy Clare Miller Managing Director Mob: 050-1046744 lucy.miller@gyrohsr.com

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 77

NEW MEMBERS

Alternate: Fiona Menzies General Manager Mob: 050-1046745 fiona.menzies@gyrohsr.com

Indu Maritime & Logistics

GyroHSR is an integrated agency with one mission; to create big IDEAS that ignite. We are one network with 600 highly creative people in 19 offices around the world.

Nominee: Kush Kishore Lakhani Managing Partner Mob: 050-6556178 kush.lakhani@indulogistics.com

The Hideaways Club

Alternate: Aijaz Mohammad Ashraf Partner in Charge Mob: 050-5115669 aijaz.mohammed@indulogistics.com

136 Sloane Street London SW1X 9BW United Kingdom T: +44 (0)20 7824 9940 E: uaeinfo@thehideawaysclub.com W: www.thehideawaysclub.com Nominee: Jemma Lester Alternate: Giovanna Gallo The Hideaways Club, Europe’s leading luxury property investment fund, offers its members exclusive usage and ownership of an entire portfolio of luxurious properties for a fraction of the cost of buying a single home overseas.

As a Member, you own an equity share in an entire portfolio of luxury homes that are stylishly furnished, efficiently maintained, and all available for you and your family to use and enjoy. You benefit from the upsides of ownership – enjoying any future capital growth - but without all the hassles of looking after a distant property or the monotony of having to return to the same place year after year. A personal concierge service takes care of every detail of your holiday.

Indigo Living P.O. Box 282425, Dubai Tel: 04-3397705 Fax: 04-3397704 www.indigo-living.com Nominee: Joe Hepworth General Manager, Middle East Mob: 050-4778576 jhepworth@indigo-living.com Established over thirty years ago in Hong Kong, Indigo Living has been in Dubai since 2005. Spanning the full spectrum of interior services, Indigo has three main business channels: 1. Retail We have three showrooms in Dubai selling our unique range of home fashion, furniture & accessories. 2. Rental We are pioneers of furniture leasing in the UAE. Anything you see in our stores can be rented for up to two years which is mainly aimed at corporate clients for their incoming secondees in the UAE. 3. Projects Indigo is responsible for the FF&E at landmark projects such as The Westin, Dubai; The Address Dubai Marina, Yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi. We offer a full turnkey service from interior design through to install and specialise in the custom design & manufacture of high-end furniture pieces for the hospitality industry.

78 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

P.O. Box 12715, Dubai Tel: 04-8860141 Fax: 04-8860142 www.indulogistics.com

creative solutions to satisfy our customers’ needs.

No matter how large or small the transaction, it is always our goal to earn the trust and respect of those we have the opportunity to serve. We are constantly dedicated to staying on the cutting edge of technology by offering our clients the state-of-the-art professionalism and expertise they deserve at an affordable price.

Metropolitan Hotel Dubai

Indu Maritime Logistics is a third party logistics provider based out of the Jebel Ali Free Zone. IML manages all kinds of products, ranging from general cargo and perishables to chemical products and marine equipments. Specialising in the Oil and Gas industry, IML has the facilities and infrastructure to manage all kinds of shipments. IML’s Procurement division handles the sourcing products, ensuring a one stop solution for all clients where various aspect of Trade is taken care of, same time ensuring that the interest of the parties are protected.

JohnsonDiversey Gulf FZE P.O. Box 61485, Dubai Tel: 04-8819470 Fax: 04-8815657 www.johnsondiversey.com Nominee: David Turnbull david.turnbull@diversey.com Alternate: Ian Veazey General Manager Sales, UAE ian.veazey@diversey.com Cleaning and hygiene systems. Training & Consulting; HACCP, FSMS and Auditing. Lodging, Retail, Building SVS, Food & Beverage, Healthcare & Laundry. We go beyond clean in caring for your business with experience & professionalism.

Tel: 04-3430000 Fax: 04-3437616 www.habtoorhotels.com Nominee: Paula Hutchinson Director, Sales Mob: 050-1045226 Paula.Hutchinson@habtoorhotels.com Alternate: Chantel Moore General Manager Chantel@habtoorhotels.com A signature of Dubai’s hospitality for over 30 years, the Metropolitan Hotel has been welcoming guests and residents since 1979. With 192 traditionally furnished rooms including 13 luxurious suites, meeting rooms and banqueting facilities for small or large functions Metropolitan can cater for all your personal and business needs. Featuring over 8 restaurants & bars including Chinese, Italian, Thai Seafood, Indian, International Buffet, Tex Mex, and Dubai’s oldest English Pub, “The Red Lion” Metropolitan has something to offer everyone.

With Dubai’s only outside temperature controlled garden – enjoy traditional ‘pub grub’ with friends or family in a relaxed atmosphere.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers PO Box 16897 Jebel Ali Free Zone Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 812 0600 Fax: +971 4 883 8495 www.rbauction.com

LOC8 P.O. Box 54013, Dubai Tel: 04-3681568 Fax: 04-3688017 www.loc.ae Nominee: Stewart John Arbuckle Managing Director Mob: 050-6459858 stewart@loc8.ae Alternate: Kevin Barrett General Manager Sales, UAE Mob: 055 6095802 kevin@loc8.ae LOC8 is a UAE based organization established with a clear objective of adding genuine value to our cherished clients in by providing innovative and creative storage and handling solutions. LOC8 is a company that manages a wide and varied range of Products & Services providing tailor made solutions that meet our customers’ individual requirements. Our goal is to offer innovative and

Nominee: Steve Barritt Regional Manager - Middle East, Red Sea, Turkey, S. Africa & Yemen Mob: +971 50 6509540 SBarritt@rbauction.com Alternate: Mark Grennell Territory Manager - Dubai, Bahrain, Finance Sector Mob: +971 50 457 5634 Mgrennell@rbauction.com Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers is the world’s largest industrial auctioneer selling more used equipment to online and on-site bidders. In its 52 years of conducting auctions, Ritchie Bros. has expanded dramatically globally, enabling thousands of people to buy or sell equipment in a transparent and fair auction environment. Currently Ritchie Bros. has 42 permanent sites and holds auctions in North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia.

In Dubai, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Ritchie Bros. hosts five auctions a year at it’s full-service auction facility.

All Ritchie Bros. auctions are completely unreserved and everything sells on auction day. This means that there are no minimum bids or reserve prices on the items being sold in the auction. Buyers come to the auctions in great numbers and are encouraged to inspect and test the items before bidding. Placing a bid on an item is easy and can be done on-site and online. In 2009, Ritchie Bros. registered a record breaking 336,000 bidders and sold nearly 283,000 lots.

SJ Berwin P.O. Box 24482, Dubai Tel: 04-3289900 Fax: 04-3289911 www.sjberwin.com Nominee: Timothy Hugh Christian Taylor Partner, BA (Law) Mob: 050-2485354 tim.taylor@sjberwin.com Alternate: Benjamin Dudley Aller Partner, BA (Law) Mob: 050-1541157 benjamin.aller@sjberwin.com This leading international law firm was established in 1982, and has grown to 600 lawyers, including around 170 partners, delivering commercial legal advice to blue chip financial institutions and international companies. A full service corporate law firm with strength in commercial, communications, media & technology, corporate/

M&A, employment & pensions, EU & competition, finance, financial markets, investment funds, intellectual property, litigation & dispute resolution, private equity, real estate, reconstruction & insolvency and tax.

Start Creative P.O. Box 28710, Dubai www.startcreative.com

Relationship Management (CRM) software for medium and large organizations. Sageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world class, award-winning product portfolio includes Sage Accpac ERP, Sage Line 500 ERP, Sage ERP X3, , Sage CRM Saleslogix, Sage CRM, Peachtree and ACT by Sage.Today, Sage has over 1500 customers and 45 skilled partners in the Middle East, marketing and distributing a range of ERP & CRM.

Nominee: Darren David Cooke Regional Director Mob: 050-9238425 darren.cooke@startcreative.com

Switch (a division of Intrade FZE)

Sage Software Middle East FZ. LLC.

Nominee: Peter Cowan Owner / Managing Director Mob: 055-8872014 peter@switch-mea.com

P.O. Box 500198, Dubai Tel: 04-3900180 Fax: 04-3908506 www.me.sage.com Nominee: Vikram Suri Managing Director Mob: 050-6251755 vikram.suri@sage.com

P.O. Box 102900, Dubai Tel: 055-8872014 Fax: 04-8820343 www.switch-mea.com

The aim of our company is to bring ecological, financially viable solutions to the GCC. Initially, the main focus is on energy-saving lighting, air-to-water systems, and air conditioning optimisation. Our range of products and services will expand once evaluation and feasibility has been completed.

Alternate: Reggie Fernandes Manager, Sales Mob: 050-7082295 reggie.fernandes@sage.com

Twofour Arabia

With more than five million customers globally, Sage is a leading global vendor of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer

P.O. Box: 77810, Abu Dhabi Tel: 02-4012696 www.twofourarabia.ae Nominee: Jonney Steven

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 79

NEW MEMBERS

General Manager Mob: 055-5390504 jonney.steven@twofourarabia.ae

Nominee: Pooja Dhakka Mob: 055-5421853 pooja@whitelight.ae

Twofour Arabia is part of Twofour – the award-winning international media group that creates and delivers engaging content across corporate communications, broadcast TV and digital media technology markets. Through offices in the UK, US, India and the UAE, it assists brands, broadcasters and governments in creating new multi-platform propositions for their customers, employees, audiences and citizens. An interactive division, HMC, creates exciting bespoke interactive experiences for museums, corporations and brands.

Alternate: Mehboob Hussein

UK Dental Clinics P.O. Box 505031, Dubai Tel: 04-3635371 Fax: 04-3635372 www.ukdental-clinic.com Nominee: Dr. Dale Swallow Dentist info@ukdentalclinics.com Alternate: Margaret Swallow Branch Manager m.swallow@gmail.com The UK dental Clinic is amongst the best dental clinics in the UAE. We pride ourselves on giving the best possible treatment. Our dentists have the best UK qualifications. We undertake all cosmetic treatment including tooth whitening, veneers, crowns, bridges, implants and orthodontics.

Varal LLC P.O. Box 11726, Dubai Tel: 04-3595821 Fax: 04-3595827 www.varaluae.com

You Gov Siraj P.O. Box 500592, Dubai Tel: 04-3670340 Fax: 04-3672830 www.yougovsiraj.com Nominee: Sundip Chahal CEO, UAE Mob: 050-8163961 sundip.chahal@yougov.com

Exec-Appointments

NEW INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS Amanda Ahlgren P.O. Box 32835, Dubai Tel: 04-3180646 amanda.a@globaldinteriors.com

George Traub P.O. Box 506751, Dubai Tel: 04-4361772 Fax: 04-4361800 Mob: 055-4916442 george_traub@yahoo.com

CHANGES TO EXSISTING MEMBERS

Nominee: Andrew Holdway Key Account Manager – Intermediaries Mob: 050-5570874 andrew.holdway@axa-gulf.com

80 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

P.O. Box 502221, Dubai Tel: 04-3690706 Fax: 04-3664588

YOUGOV is a full service market research agency with offices in North America, the USA, Germany, Scandinavia as well as the Middle East.

YOUGOV is known globally for its pioneering online research and accuracy demonstrated through accurately predicting the results of national elections in the USA, UK and Australia.

Alternate: Ravindr Prabhakar Deshpande General Manager Mob: 050-2599706 ravindr@varaluae.com

P.O. Box 111395, Dubai Tel: 04-3327248 Fax: 04-3329062 www.whitelight.ae

City & Guilds of London Institute

Alternate: Matthew Clarke Sales & Business Development Manager matt.clarke@cityandguilds.com

AXA Insurance (Gulf) B.S.C.

White Light Advertising

Alternate: Mark Elliott Acting Director, Consumer Banking Mob: 050-9122023 mark.elliott2@barclays.com

Alternate: James Starkie Business Development and Marketing Manager, UAE james.starkie@yougov.com

Nominee: Ramapati Gopalkrishna Singhania Managing Director Mob: 050-6241776 ramapati@varaluae.com

Varal serves clients who are in search of a UAE business advisory that provides reliable information, inspires trust and provides clients with confidentiality and no hidden charges. The company provides a detailed comparison of three best options, access to online monitoring, detailed estimates of cost and time before hand. Its money back guarantee endorses service quality. Varal Web-Based marketing designs the internet dimension for the clients’ digital needs.

Barclays Bank PLC P.O. Box 1891, Dubai Tel: 04-4381000 Fax: 04-4355932 www.barclays.ae

P.O. Box 290, Dubai Tel: 04-3243434 Fax: 04-3242375 www.axa-gulf.com

British Council P.O. Box 1636, Dubai Tel: 04-3370109 Fax: 04-3370703 www.britishcouncil.org/me.htm Nominee: Kate Owen Deputy Director Mob: 050-5521723 kate.owen@ae.britishcouncil.org

Bertling Global Logistics P.O. Box 18042, Dubai Tel: 04-8864222 Fax: 04-8864220 www.bertling.com Nominee: Peter Robinson Project Director peter.robinson@bertling.com

P.O. Box 293700, Dubai Tel: 04-7017208 Fax: 04-2149501 www.exec-appointments.com Alternate: Mohammed Kiswani Manager, Sales Mob: 055-9318259 mohammed.kiswani@ft.com

Greenfield Community School P.O. Box 282627, Dubai Tel: 04-8856600 Fax: 04-8854902 www.gcschool.ae Nominee: Angela Hollington Mob: 050-8424232

Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates P.O. Box 120679, Dubai Tel: 04-3410000 Fax: 04-4095050 Alternate: Yara Misske Sales Executive Mob: 050-5989028 yara.misske@kempinski.com

Operon Middle East P.O. Box 111154, Dubai Tel: 04-3635494 Fax: 04-3635495 www.operon.ae Alternate: Stephen Ryan Head of Operations Mob: 050-5576324 stephen.ryan@operon.ae

Quintica / Eaton Group UK P.O. Box 505107, Dubai Tel: 04-4267303 Fax: 04-4267302 www.quintica.net Nominee: Colin Cloete Managing Director –MENA Mob: 050-4557163 colin.cloete@quintica.com

Raffles Dubai P.O. Box 121800, Dubai Tel: 04-3248888 Fax: 04-3246000 www.dubai.raffles.com Alternate: Peter French General Manager peter.french@raffles.com

Royal Bank of Canada Representative Office P.O. Box 3614, Dubai Tel: 04-3323230 Fax: 04-3313960 www.rbcwminternational.com Alternate: Simon Stirzaker Senior Manager Mob: 050-7083191 simon.stirzaker@rbc.com

ADDITIONS TO BUSINESS MEMBERS British Council P.O. Box 1636, Dubai Tel: 04-3370109 Fax: 04-3370703 www.britishcouncil.org/me.htm Additional: Larissa Malycheva Director Business & Comml Partnerships, MED & MENA Mob: 050-4537499 larissa.malycheva@ae.britishcouncil.org

Broadway Interiors LLC P.O. Box 31644, Dubai Tel: 04-3366840 Fax: 04-3366820 www.broadwayinteriors.com Additional: Dianne Roces Sales Account Administrator dianne@broadwayinteriors.com

Barclays Bank PLC P.O. Box 1891, Dubai Tel: 04-4381000 Fax: 04-4355932 www.barclays.ae Additional: Iain Ross Senior Relationship Manager for Premier Banking Mob: 056-1494478 iain.ross1@barclays.com

Bracewell & Giuliani LLP P.O. Box 6750, Dubai Tel: 04-2283194 Fax: 04-2227250 www.bgllp.com

Additional: Mohammed Zaheer Vice President Mob: 050-3504646 mohammed.zaheer@coutts.com

Sovereign Corporate Services

Additional: Bal Bains Senior Vice President Mob: 050-5598913 bal.bains@coutts.com

Additional: Nicholas Cully Business Development Manager ncully@sovereigngroup.com

Ernst & Young P.O. Box 9267, Dubai Tel: 04-3324000 Fax: 04-3324004 www.ey.com/me Additional: James Potter James.Potter@ae.ey.com

Jumeirah P.O. Box 214159, Dubai Tel: 04-3647777 Fax: 04-3016514 www.jumeirah.com Additional: Linda Lewis Director of Sales Corporate Dubai Mob: 050-1002663 linda.lewis@jumeirah.com

Holborn Assets P.O. Box 333851, Dubai Tel: 04-3369880 Fax: 04-3369961 www.holbornassets.com Additional: Helen Louise Morris Senior Financial Consultant Mob: 050-7885759 hmorris@holbornassets.com Additional: Anthony Walker Managing Director Mob: 050-3783694 tony.walker@holbornassets.com

IBN Battuta Gate Hotel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dubai P.O. Box 211508, Dubai Tel: 04-444000 Additional: Beth Thomas Marketing Manager beththomas@mail.com

Marsh INSCO LLC P.O. Box 64057, Dubai Tel: 04-2237700 Fax: 04-2236777 www.marshweb.com Additional: Ian Michael Peters Practice Leader, Middle East Region Mob: 050-4510560 Ian.Peters@marsh.com

Omnia Dubai P.O. Box 500475, Dubai Tel: 04-3671414 Fax: 04-3672522 www.omnia.ae Additional: Darren Bingley darren@omnia.ae

Additional: Marc Anthony Deeby Attorney Mob: 050-5583096 marc.deeby@bgllp.com

Raffles Dubai

Coutts & Co

Additional: Sue Wheatley Director, Sales & Marketing Mob: 050-4542477 sue.wheatley@raffles.com

P.O. Box 191525, Dubai Tel: 04-7065501 Fax: 04-7065801 www.coutts.com

P.O. Box 62201, Dubai Tel: 04-4486010 Fax: 04-4486011 www.SovereignGroup.com

P.O. Box 121800, Dubai Tel: 04-3248888 Fax: 04-3246000 www.dubai.raffles.com

NEW NON-RESIDENT MEMBERS Bellwood Prestbury Limited Post Code: GL50 1QB, UK Tel:+441242584558 Fax:+441242588688 www.bellwoodprestbury.com Nominee: Peter Dean Bellwood Director Tel: +441242588671 pdb@bellwoodprestbury.com Alternate: Rob Thompson Director Tel: +441242588672 rt@bellwoodprestbury.com Bellwood Prestbury is a long-established company specialising in international employee benefits, fully authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority. Its services have proved particularly useful to clients in the security, mining, construction and oil/gas industries. Highly qualified staff provide a hands-on service ensuring the efficient running of any insurance programs; improving value for money, reducing HR and administration costs.

Checkmate Fire Solutions Post Code: HD6 1LQ, UK Tel: +441484721154 Fax: +441484723152 www.checkmatefire.com Nominee: Alan John Oliver Managing Director Mob: +447826865990 alan.oliver@checkmatefire.com Checkmate Fire Solutions is a specialist passive fire protection and air sealing company that offers a range of survey, design and installation services for clients requiring guaranteed fire compliance Working through UAE agents, Haven Fire & Safety, Checkmate is the first company operating in the Gulf who are members of the BRE/LPCB installer scheme, and authorised to issue LPCB Certificates of Conformity upon completion of work.

BRITAIN IN BUSINESS | 81

PROFILE

Grounded leader Sir Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman of Emirates Airline and Group, reflects on 32 years’ service in the UAE and the privileged position that the British community enjoys in the country.

SIR MAURICE FLANAGAN left British Airways to become Director and General Manager of Dnata, the forerunner of Emirates and now its sister company, in 1978, before becoming Managing Director of Emirates in 1985 when the airline began operations.

He was appointed Group Managing Director of the Emirates Group in 1990 and became Vice Chairman and Group President in July 2003 and Executive Vice Chairman in 2006.

This year, he was awarded Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in recognition of his contribution to community relations in the UAE and services to aviation. He received a letter from the Queen, stating the knighthood was effective from the publication of the Birthday Honours list on June 12.

The KBE complements the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) award in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2000, and a host of other accolades including Liveryman of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators and Freeman of the City of London in November 2008, and the Official Airline Guide (OAG) Lifetime Achievement Award during the OAG Airline of the Year Awards 2005 ceremony.

The UK business community has contributed greatly to the development of Dubai in the last 30 years, and when it comes to the next 30 years, he urges more of the same. “The BBG is recognised as the most effective British Business Group in the

world (Daily Telegraph Survey), and I feel privileged to be allowed in as a member.

As more British businesses establish themselves in Dubai, and I see that happening in the make-up of Emirate passenger traffic from the UK, it will become even more effective.”

He advises expatriates to respect local traditions and conventions, particularly with regard to women’s dress, observance of Ramadan restrictions, and behaviour in general.

“We British are fortunate in the way we are made welcome in Dubai. We have our own schools, and our own churches on land given by the Ruler.

However this privileged position depends upon the British maintaining the respect of the Government of Dubai, and the Dubai Nationals who, despite being relatively small in number, are the most influential group in the community.”

He believes the A380, which Emirates currently flies to 10 destinations globally, is an incredible aircraft that will form the backbone of Emirates’ fleet. Its capacity allows the airline to comfortably seat up to 517 passengers, depending on the configuration.

“We have no trouble filling these aircraft on every route that we operate to – running at over 90 percent load factor.

People are realising that this is the passenger aircraft of the future. As a result of our recent announcement in Berlin, we have had enquiries from more than 20 airports across the world, asking whether Emirates would fly the A380 to their airports.”

The UAE and UK aviation industries have enjoyed a close, long-standing relationship and Emirates has worked incredibly closely with the UK aviation authorities since its first flight into London Gatwick in 1987.

Today, the airline operates 98 flights per week into the UK, including eight flights into London each day helping to bind together the UK and UAE business communities.

“I see this relationship continuing to evolve and prosper,” he says. “It is a mutually beneficial relationship for both parties and I look forward to a long and fruitful future.”

Maurice Flanagan (centre) celebrates the inaugural A380 Dubai-Manchester service.

82 | BRITAIN IN BUSINESS

to john,with peace and love.

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