CEO of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) I think the big challenges for TAQA are around people. Not that TAQA has had trouble retaining people, in fact TAQA has got over 96 percent retention rate for people TAQA has offered positions to, but keeping people aligned with who TAQA is, where TAQA is going as a group of co-workers, building the identity. TAQA believes completely in health safety, security and the environment.
General Manager of Dubai Investments Park Mainly, we are not a free zone area so major tenants or clients are GCC market companies and from the domestic market, especially after converting so many areas from industrial to commercial, this is the ideal location or solution for those who have been shifted or are going to shift from their old industrial location to the Dubai Investments Park.
Gerard Kearney, General Manager of Aviation Club Dubai Aviation Club is a mixing place, it’s a meeting place, people network in Dubai Aviation Club all the time. You know the old story: you go on the golf course and have business done there. We find the same thing here at the Dubai Aviation Club. Arguably the premier leisure facility of Dubai and undoubtedly one of its most popular venues. The Aviation Club has it all. Whether seeking a tranquil oasis to escape the bustle of the city, a state-of-the-art fitness and recreation centre, a lively and entertaining social hub, a myriad of dining options or a chance to relax in Dubai’s newest and most elegant spa, The Aviation Club Dubai always has you in mind.
CEO of Tameer”We’re considered one of the leaders in this market, what was done of in 3 years is a great achievement.”
H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Chairman & CEO of Manafa & Vice-Chairman of Coral International Hotels, Resorts & Spas My company, Manafa, is a holding company for different investments, it has operations in hospitality – Coral International Hotels we have the HMH which is a hotel management company that manages Coral International Hotels that has 4 brands of varying standards. We have 10 different corporations around the UAE and we hope to expand that to 35 in the future which would add a lot to the tourism industry in Sharjah and the UAE.
Janes Warwick, General Manager of Metropolitan – Habtoor Hotels Metropolitan Hotel brand recognition has come over the years, Metropolitan Hotel has over the years built it up. Actually, we just changed, we were known as the Metropolitan and now we’re Habtoor Hotels. With this change in times, we’ve changed our logo and our image. So we’ve gone from Metropolitan Hotels to Habtoor Hotels, our logo has changed, our vision has changed.
Henning A. Fries, General Manager for The Monarch Dubai and Regional Director UAE for Refad Hotels & Resorts Well, our group has 14 different brands and the Monarch Dubai brand is the high end brand, it is a five star deluxe property. That speaks to a very different clientele than our other brands speak to. Monarch Dubai is a favourite destination for the influential people.
COO of TamouhI think the future here is very exciting. Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the UAE, and it’s also the largest emirate of the federation of the United Arab Emirates. It is growing; the whole region is growing and Abu Dhabi has to project itself as an international capital city. The market is very much driven by that. The growth of Abu Dhabi is going to increase. We have the 2030 report, which has come out from the Executive Council and the government of Abu Dhabi. It projects that we will grow from a population of 900,000 to somewhere round about 2.8 to 3 million by 2030.
Kamal Naamani, General Manager of Fairmont Dubai The future looks great for Fairmont Dubai and, because Fairmont Dubai has great opportunities and great ownership. We’re in a very strong position now and we’ll be even stronger in the future. Our expansion plans are aggressive, but as I said, for the right reasons and locations. The industry is very healthy now so we’re very confident.
Major General Omar Al Bitar, Vice President of Management Council of Paris Sorbonne Abu Dhabi We’ve decided that this motto is very suitable and applicable to the Sorbonne Abu Dhabi. The Sorbonne is a very ancient university, it is 750 years old, with a heritage and culture that is very rich. We are at a time where we need to encourage dialogue between nations, in accordance with the vision of His Highness the president and Sheikh Mohammed. Upon a visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, to France, they decided to boost the relations between France and the UAE, hence Sorbonne Abu Dhabi was born.
