The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) is calling on the local business sector to reinforce its efforts in the adoption of more benchmark trade practices and the promotion of corporate excellence to help the emirate come closer to its goal of achieving sustainable development. The call was made during a special introductory seminar on the Sharjah Economic Excellence Awards (SEEA) held at the Oceanic Resort and Hotel in Khorfakkan, Sharjah. The event, which is one of a series of orientation seminars, was created to help give the business sector of Sharjah’s eastern region a better understanding of the SEEA’s vision and to help promote more participation from local business units. Now in its eighth cycle, the award continues to encourage the private sector to take up causes and initiatives that aim to boost Sharjah’s economic growth and development.

Present during the event were Khalid Bin Butti Bin Obaid, SCCI Assistant Director General for Membership & Branches Affairs; Khalel Mohammad Al Mansouri, SCCI Branch Manager-Khorfakkan; and Abdul Aziz Shattaf, SCCI Follow-Up Officer. Also present during the event were representatives of Khorfakkan’s business sector.

During the seminar, Nada Al Hajiri, SEEA General Coordinator, delivered a detailed presentation about the awards, which included its objectives, criterion, participation rules and other important details. The introductory seminar series was organised by the SEEA’s General Secretariat to help highlight the award and the important role it plays towards Sharjah’s growth and development. SEEA 2009 is held in line with SCCI’s continuous efforts to encourage the business sector to adopt and implement best practices that can improve its products and services and help showcase Sharjah as an ideal venue for investment opportunities in the Middle East.

Khaled Bin Butti Bin Obaid said, “This introductory seminar is part of a series of initiatives and strategies that aim at creating a better understanding of the various aspects of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award, such as nomination procedures, evaluation methods, criterion and participation guidelines. These seminars also aim at leveraging Sharjah’s position as one of the region’s rapidly developing investment destinations. The SCCI is particularly holding these seminars to help reinforce our business and communication ties with the business sector from the emirate’s eastern region and encourage them to adopt and utilize more benchmark practices that can help Sharjah move closer towards its goal of achieving sustainable development.”

“Moreover, the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award was developed and based on a fully integrated program that aims to recognise the efforts of the private business sector towards Sharjah’s economic growth. This year’s awards mark the entry of additional award categories, which include a Gold category, the Large firms category, the Medium and Small firm’s category and a Business Leadership category. One of the highlights for this year’s awards is a new award called the “Sharjah Economic Excellence Award—Economic Personality of the Year,” which aims at recognising excellence in company management, business ethics and corporate responsibility. We will also be recognising companies who have adopted eco-friendly practices as part of the global initiative to conserve natural resources and protect the environment,” he added.

The SEEA offers a free and independent assessment of the winning firm’s performance by specialised experts, to be accompanied with a feedback report highlighting success areas and key points where improvements can be achieved. Other benefits include free advertisement in a trade magazine and the Award’s website; one-year free participation in SCCI’s foreign exhibitions; inclusion in the VIP firms list of all government departments of Sharjah; the use of special facilities in World Trade Club, Sharjah TV and Expo Center Sharjah. The SCCI will also provide media and marketing based activities for the winning firm and will allow the use of the final stage logo for three years. Newer incentives being introduced for winners of this year’s award is the exemption from Chamber’s annual renewal fees and the free use of the SCCI headquarters hall to organise conferences and meetings.

According to its online survey, over 90 per cent of the attendees at the Congress rated very good or excellent the developments in preventive medicine, genetics, aesthetic and cosmetic surgery and see the Gulf as a major player in the burgeoning Middle East anti-aging market, valued at *US$5.58billlion by 2010.

Supported by the Ministry of Health UAE and the Department of Health and Medical Services, DCAAAM attracted healthcare professionals from over 50 countries, with positive comments from delegates, speakers and exhibitors on the high standard of presentations, the benefits of networking and exploring expansion opportunities throughout the Middle East.

The only Middle Eastern event endorsed by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, the three-day congress encompassed a conference, workshops, live demonstrations and an exhibition.

Scientific Committee member Dr Howard W Fisher said: “The second annual Congress demonstrated significant growth and a directional focus that encompassed the broader spectrum approach of personalising anti-aging regimens for each individual and empowering the attending physicians with the prerequisite knowledge to move from chronological aging to physiological aging.”

Kuwait-based Bader Sultan and Bros. Co. W.L.L. (BSBC), a leader in the field of medical services and supplies since 1960, and Platinum Sponsor, was delighted with the event. General Manager Emad Al Zaben said the quality of trade visitors and the programme of events was extremely encouraging given the current economic climate.

“ DCAAAM was an excellent platform for us to be at the forefront of the fastest developing Middle Eastern anti-aging medicine industry. I am very positive about our prospects for the Middle East and the region.”

Jason Sanyal from locally-based Transformbody, which was exhibiting for the second year, added: “The footfall was good and we saw a large potential in terms of leads generation.”

Speaking at one workshop was Daniella Russell, Independant Consultant for Spas and Wellness, Dubai. “This year had the latest and most comprehensive topics and viewpoints relevant to our Industry. It allowed good dialogue between speakers and audience to ensure all angles of concern were raised and covered. An excellent turnout of the industry leaders.”

Scientific Committee member and Speaker Dr Maria Khattar from Aesthetica Clinic, Dubai, said: “ A ground breaking technique was presented by Dr Jean March Guichet from France for the first time in any anti-aging congress. Worldwide.”

Feedback from the delegates was just as enthusiastic. Said Dr Ketan Marulka from India: “The entire event was well organised and conducted. The information provided by the speakers in their abstracts and case studies were extremely valuable. I liked the current trends in BiHRT and listening from the experts themselves will prove to be a valuable tool in my clinical practice.”

Dates for the 2010 Dubai Congress on Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine have already been confirmed as October 26-27 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Employees and customers of Dubai Chamber of Commerce put their thumbprints on Al Mutahida postcards which were sent to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE and Their Highnesses, members of the Supreme Council Rulers of the UAE demonstrating their commitment to their vision for the future of the UAE.

The card, which emphasize the word Mutahida (united) in the name of the United Arab Emirates, was part of a nationwide campaign to further strengthen the message of the UAE unity: A shared vision.

Watani representative shared with the employees symbols of the UAE’s federation including copies of constitution, the UAE flag, national anthem and photos of the first time the flag was raised at Union House.

“These tokens are a reminder of the guiding principles and values that led to the creation of the UAE,” said Director General of Watani Ahmed Al Mansoori.

visitors to the Dubai Chamber also joined in stamping the postcards which created a platform allowing all members of the UAE community to greet the UAE leaders and demonstrate their belief and commitment to the nation’s future, a gesture that embodies good citizenship, according to Mr. Al Mansoori

Hamad Mubarak Bouamin, Director General, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, praised the loyalty and commitment of its employees to the nation.

“Al Mutahida campaign allows members of the UAE community to express the appreciation and renew commitment to our leadership in leading the nation to prosperity and development. The postcard is a clear message of love and gratitude from the people in the UAE to the efforts of our leaders in providing an ideal lifestyle and empowering the economic and social development drive”.

Al Mansoori added: ”Al Mutahida campaign echoes the assertion of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum that the UAE is an inseperable entity. The drive also echoes the reelection of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, by the Supreme Council, as President of the UAE.”

Al Mutahida campaign is organized in association with Emirates Post. The campaign also features an art competition and exhibition in coordination with the Emirates Association for Fine Arts and Tashkeel Gallery. The competition will engage young and talented artists in the UAE to present their personal artistic interpretation of the word “Mutahida” reflecting its true significance and the underlying principles and values of the UAE union. A judging panel will select the submissions to be exhibited alongside the works of renowned artists at the Al Mutahida art exhibition to be held at The Dubai Mall from Nov. 26 to May 5, 2010.

-Ends

Current statistics suggest that the region’s job seekers are eager for the sophisticated recruitment interface that Bayt.com provides. In a recent poll series conducted by Bayt.com, virtually all polled regional professionals – 94% – expressed a willingness to start a new career, but many noted that they were unsure about how best to pursue their career goals. Bayt.com’s comprehensive online job site, with postings from across the region, smart-search options, job alerts, and an array of affordable professional career services, offers an ideal solution for those seeking a new job or even a new career.
“Bayt.com has always prided itself on its commitment to the markets it serves and to the region’s populations in all their wonderful diversity. It is our vision to empower MENA professionals as they build their lifestyle of choice by providing unparalleled access to superior job opportunities – and the tools to connect effectively with leading employers. With our anniversary initiative, we aim to raise the bar even further and enable the region’s top candidates to make positive career decisions through continued free, instantaneous access to all the region’s hottest job opportunities online on www.bayt.com.”
The free job postings offer will give employers visibility with all job seekers registered with Bayt.com as well as with the leading online traffic the Middle East’s #1 jobsite generates on a daily basis, traffic that is considerably greater than any other jobsite in the region. The free jobs may be posted online any time between November 10th and November 22nd and will be activated to go live on November 22nd collectively and remain live for a month after that.
“With this unique gesture, we are inviting regional job seekers and employers to experience the myriad benefits of Bayt.com’s superior online recruitment tools and to take their job search or recruitment efforts to the next level while together unharnessing the tremendous promise and opportunity in MENA job markets today,” concluded Lama Ataya, Head of Marketing, Bayt.com.
For job listings and to see how the Middle East’s number one range of recruitment solutions can help your business, visit www.bayt.com/en/recruiting-solutions/
-ends-

Coverage in the British media focused on the activities at the Sharjah stand, and shed light on the emirate’s tourism attractions, particularly its distinct culture and heritage, which are particularly important to European tourists in general, and British tourists in particular.

Speaking to the British media, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), said that Sharjah’s tourism sector is expected to bounce back after a period of decline arising due to the global financial crisis in mid-2008, and continue to grow rapidly.

Said Al Qassimi: “The tourism sector in Sharjah experienced four percent growth in Q3 2009 compared to Q1 of the same year. This increase in growth will help the emirate achieve great returns that will contribute to a further increase in growth rates and make up for the losses resulting from the global depression”.

He added, “Sharjah will continue to establish tourism oriented projects and developments to attract tourists and investors, despite the global financial crisis. The first of these projects will be announced in Q1 2010”.

Al Qassimi noted that the tourism sector is one of Sharjah’s most active sectors, attracting the attention of numerous international organisations and institutions due to its diversity and depth. In addition, Sharjah’s historical attractions, moderate climate and beautiful natural environment continue to attract tourists and investors, and hotel occupancy in the emirate during Q3 2009 reached 75 percent, which is approximately the same as that attained last year.

Al Qassimi believes that the attention drawn by Sharjah’s stand at WTM exhibition, one of the biggest tourism-oriented exhibitions in the world, reflects the importance of Sharjah’s tourism product, which led to the number of tourists visiting the emirate doubling in the last five years. “The emirate of Sharjah, under the wise leadership of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, takes a special interest in the tourism sector, as the emirate tries to strengthen the interactive relation between infrastructure development and the diverse factors that attract visitors, which will result in greater returns for the national economy.”

“The SCTDA has gone to great lengths to achieve its goals and promote the emirate of Sharjah through participation in international events such as WTM, in which we are participating for the sixth consecutive time. We are confident that these efforts will lead to economic development for Sharjah, which is regarded as a fine example of a new tourism experience that combine the modern and the historical to create a rich and unique tourism product,” he added.

Al Qassimi concluded by saying: “The success we have achieved today in this world-class event motivates us to work even harder for the sustainable growth of Sharjah’s tourism sector, which is one of the main contributors to the emirate’s Gross Domestic Product.”

END

SAHARA Communications, the leading regional communication, advisory and corporate marketing company and part of the SAHARA Group, will be taking part in the event, which is a four-day business to business travel industry expo aimed at bringing together key players from every sector of the industry. SAHARA will share a stand with its long-standing client, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), in an effort to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business with designates from major tourism markets such as the UK and Europe.

Says Fahad Al Deeb, Vice President of the SAHARA Group: “WTM is an important event for us. While we always endeavor to support our clients at major marketing events, this fair also provides us with the opportunity to demonstrate what we can do for potential clients. In addition, we get to feel the pulse of the tourism industry, ensuring that we are better placed to advise our clients who form part of this ever-important sector.”

“The GCC is in an excellent position to benefit from this increase in tourism spending, particularly as the region focused on building up its tourism sector during the golden economy days,” continues Al Deeb. “And while tourism budgets are increasing, funds are still tight, so although there will be more money available for marketing and promotional packages, it will be difficult at this stage to pour in the funds required to develop and update tourism and hospitality components such as hotels and resorts.”

Britain is considered one of the most important tourist markets for the UAE, and there is a strong inflow of tourists to the various emirates from Britain each year. Says Al Deeb: “The UAE is a hugely popular destination for leisure and business tourists from across the world. However, the UK is considered one of the leading source markets for our widely-expanding tourism industry. Thus, our presence here is aimed at familiarizing potential visitors with our company, as well as our country’s, distinctive offerings.”

SAHARA, especially, has displayed extreme resilience during the tough economic climate of the past year, overcoming various obstacles while maintaining its existing client base. Says Al Deeb: “Promoting one’s business requires direct presence in key markets. SAHARA’s participation in WTM will not only help in introducing the UAE’s existing tourist attractions and investment opportunities available to the UK and European tourism and business communities, but will also establish the SAHARA brand in the minds of the key decision-makers attending the event.

“As part of our strategy to expand into the UK market and enhance our position as one of the world’s largest media consultancy agencies, our aim is to showcase our professional public relations and media support services.”

END

Around the Middle East and North Africa region, countries reported varying propensity to hire as part of the Jobs Index. More than a third of respondents in Oman, 34%, said they would definitely be hiring in the next three months. This was closely followed by Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, where 31% and 30% respectively said their organisations will definitely be recruiting new staff in the coming months.

Around the Gulf, the countries largely varied in terms of their intentions to hire more staff. In Qatar, 55% said they would definitely or probably hire in the coming three months, compared to 53% in Kuwait and just 47% in Bahrain. The figures suggest that organisations in Saudi Arabia are currently faring the best during this current economic cycle.

The Jobs Index (JI) is conducted to gauge perceptions of job availability and hiring, to identify job trends and to provide an understanding of the key skill sets and qualifications required in the Middle East job market.
When asked how many jobs would be available in the next three months, 42% of respondents said that there would be less than five jobs ‘on offer’ for job seekers in their organisations. Another 24% said that their organisations would be offering around six to 10 jobs, while at the other end of the spectrum, just 3% of the respondents said that more than 100 jobs would be available.

In terms of the jobs that would be available in the next quarter, junior members of staff are the most likely to be employed; 22% of organisations said that they would be looking to employ junior executives, followed by 21% that said they would be looking to hire on an executive level. Unsurprisingly, limited C-suite jobs are going to be on offer: 2% said they would be seeking to appoint a new President, 5% said they plan to appoint a CEO, and 6% said they would advertise vacancies for a COO, CFO or CMO.

According to the study, organisations around the Middle East favour employing staff that are graduates in the fields of engineering or business management: 21% of organisations agreed that these two were the most important disciplines. The Gulf countries all showed a significant preference for graduates in these areas. Less important qualifications according to the study were qualifications in law and hospitality, with just 5% and 4% of organisations respectively agreeing that these are important when selecting staff.

“This data with regard to preferred qualifications is interesting, but it is perhaps more indicative of the dominant industries that exist in the region, rather than the fact that some types of qualifications are seen as worth less than others,” commented Lama Ataya, Head of Marketing, Bayt.com. “Considering that the Gulf region is growing significantly in terms of its industrial output and in terms of its intellectual capital as a finance and commerce global hub, then the case is very clearly made as to why graduates in these fields are likely to find it easier than others to find employment.”

Good communication skills in English and Arabic were clearly advantageous among the region’s organisations when selecting a new employee: 60% said that these skills were most desirable when choosing potential candidates. Lebanon and Saudi Arabia were the countries that placed most emphasis on these bilingual skills, with 71% and 69% respectively citing them as the clear skill priority. In the UAE, just 55% of employers stated that English and Arabic language skills were important; while being a cooperative and helpful team player and possessing good leadership skills were all similarly important traits in new recruits.

“As many regional companies struggled to stop spiraling costs during the recession, many people caught in the cross-fire lost their jobs. It follows now, as business picks up, that companies find themselves short-staffed and in need to recruit. This is another indication that the economic situation is improving,” said Joanna Longworth, Chief Marketing Officer, YouGov Siraj.
The JI is in part gauged by asking the respondents what their hiring expectancy is in a year’s time; this forms the Hiring Expectancy Index (HEI). In the long term, 66% of the region’s organisations expect to hire, suggesting widespread optimism for the future. Oman, Algeria and Saudi Arabia were found to be good potential countries for job seekers, with 57%, 45% and 43% respectively saying that they will definitely hire. In the UAE, 33% of organisations said that they will definitely be hiring in a year’s time, while another 30% said they will probably hire in a year. All of the Gulf countries, with the exception of Qatar, came across as optimistic for the future in terms of projected capacity to hire. Following Saudi Arabia’s positive lead, 38% in Bahrain and 34% in Kuwait said they will definitely be hiring next year, compared to Qatar’s total of 31% – the lowest figure among all the surveyed countries. Notably, respondents in Algeria (45%), Jordan and Tunisia (35% each) all said they will be hiring in a year’s time, suggesting significant predicted growth in these countries.

When asked how they rate their current country of residence as a job market compared to those around the rest of the region, respondents in the UAE were the most positive about their country: 49% said it was much more attractive than other countries. Positivity about current country of residence was also felt in KSA (44%) and Qatar (38%).

Asked which industries the respondents feel are attracting or retaining top talent in their country of residence today, the majority agreed it was either banking and finance (32%) or telecommunications (31%). “This is most likely as a result of the perception that banking and finance and telecoms positions are the highest paid in the region, and as a direct result, manage to retain their well-paid talent,” explained Longworth.

“By launching the Jobs Index and conducting it quarterly to gauge how the region’s employers feel they are poised – or conversely – poorly-placed to hire in the coming months which can then be compared over time, we will be eliciting a clear overview of the way that the region’s job market is moving – allowing us to chart its improvements, stability or indeed decline,” commented Ataya.

“We therefore want to use this data to enable regional businesses, HR professionals and other relevant industry stakeholders to have an up-to-date series of indicators about job market trends across the Middle East.”

Data for the October 2009 Jobs Index was collected online between 1 and 21 October 2009 with 5,084 executive managers/HR managers/senior officials from the UAE, KSA, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Pakistan. Males and females aged over 18 years old, of all nationalities, were included in the survey.

-ends-

Accordingly, Al Basel will coordinate dialogues and facilitate meetings between Jimmy Carter and prominent regional personalities and organisations to advance humanitarian causes. Al Basel Consultancy will also promote literature from the Center to further enhance cultural and historical relations between the US and the Middle East. The Carter Center was set up in 1982 to advocate human rights and lessen human suffering. Since its inception, it has helped improve the quality of life for people in more than 70 countries.

“It is truly an honour working with such a famous historical figure, distinguished author and respected statesman. This is the perfect time to promote Jimmy Carter’s humanitarian philosophies as embodied by his Center across the Middle East, as more businesses in the region are turning to corporate social responsibility to balance development with social welfare. We look forward to promoting the Carter Center and its activities in the region,” said Al Basel Consultancy’s CEO Basel Al Kasem, shortly after meeting Jimmy Carter to discuss areas of cooperation and how the region as a whole can benefit from the Center’s programs.

The Carter Center operates in partnership with Emory University and is governed by a Board of Trustees which includes prominent business persons, educators, former government officials and renowned philanthropists. President Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his humanitarian achievements through the Center. His book, ‘Beyond the White House: Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, Building Hope’ chronicles the 25-year history of The Carter Center and has become a major source of inspiration among human rights advocates.

Further to Basel Al Kasem’s meeting with Jimmy Carter, Omar Al Kasem from Al Basel Consultancy met with John Hardman, President and CEO of Carter Centre, to discuss the finer points of cooperation between the parties to promote the Centre in the region.
- ends -

The MoU, which was signed on the sidelines of Jordan-Italian Business Forum held in Milan recently, stipulates that both sides provide training opportunities for their respective members, arrange visits of trade missions and organize trade fairs and promotion campaigns in order to proximate industrialists and investors in Jordan and Italy.

QRCE’s Executive Director Mohammad Khawaja, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Jordanian side, said the MoU underlines the importance of efforts planned by both sides to contribute to better trade ties among members of the two organizations.

He added: “This agreement falls within the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah to boost Jordan’s status on the advanced world’s ICT map”.

Khawaja indicated that through cooperation with Assintel and Milan Chamber of Commerce, QRCE seeks to connect Jordanian startups and SMEs with their Italian counterparts with a view to create joint business opportunities that benefit both sides, which, he said, emphasized the importance of investment promotion within the proper technical frameworks and periodic exchange of literature on relevant laws and regulations in force in both countries.

He noted that among the deal’s provisions is one stipulating that “both parties shall organize meetings whenever deemed necessary in order to discuss matters of mutual interest and to prepare programs for future activities”.

Participating in the business forum, QRCE representatives made a presentation offering the center’s expertise in the field of Trizmatic innovation programs, highlighting the role these programs can play in boosting initiatives and employ it in the organization and management of Italian companies.

The center has previously taken part in a variety of such events in Italy, where participants were acquainted with QRCE’s support of entrepreneurship at the local and international levels.

Ends

About Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship:
The QRCE is a non-profit, non-governmental organization established in October 2004 and is now a complement of El Hassan Science City. The center’s mission is to support economic development through offering a package of services to promote excellence and market technology. The centre particularly targets college students, researchers, inventors and initiators to enhance and build their personal capacities. QRCE offers this group consultation and works to develop their sense of excellence and initiative through a set of programs including Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Excellence Competition, Technology Commercialization Program, Connect Jordan and Princess Sumaya University for Technology’s Entrepreneurship Society (DART).

For more information please call:
PR Launchers / Tel: 0096265691861 – Fax: 0096265691863
Email: info@PRLaunchers.com – Web: www.PRLaunchers.com

The five-day event, organized under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and hosted by the Dubai Institute of Technology – TechnoPark, the science and technology facilitator of Economic Zones World, will take place in the period at Atlantis, The Palm.

The Organizing Committee reviewed the final arrangements being made by different local and international bodies for the conference and exhibition, which will attract more than 1,800 delegates from around the world.

The IDA World Congress 2009 will feature 26 technical sessions, 240 presentations, lectures, round table discussions, interactive sessions, workshops and concurrent exhibition.

Members of the committee voiced their satisfaction over the progress being made by the various sub-committees responsible for the logistical and other arrangements.

Ibrahim Al Janahi, Chief Commercial Officer, Economic Zones World, and Member of the IDA Organizing Committee, said:
“We are pleased with the progress made so far and the countdown for the opening of IDA Congress 2009 is proceeding as planned. The level of cooperation among the various agencies involved is very high and we are extremely encouraged by the selfless of those involved in the preparations. This international gathering on water desalination is one of the most important events to be held in Dubai and, as hosts, we are determined to make it a grand success.”

Under the theme “Desalination for a Better World”, the IDA Congress 2009 will address environmental and energy impacts of desalination on the global stage by exploring the challenges, trends and advances in the industry, as a reflection of the aim of both IDA and the industry to make desalination and water reuse sustainable and affordable.

Hamad Al Hashemi, Managing Director, Dubai Institute of Technology – TechnoPark, said:
“The IDA World Congress 2009 will see hundreds of international dignitaries and renowned scientists converge in Dubai to tackle one of the biggest challenges faced by our collective quest for a sustainable future. The debates and discussions will be of immense value and help to the UAE and other countries of this region, the world’s leading users of desalination technology for common good.”

As hosts, Dubai Institute of Technology – TechnoPark hope the IDA World Congress 2009 will generate greater regional and global awareness about the need to step up research and development in the water desalination field and water re-use issues.

The conference inaugural ceremony will be attended by a large number of ministers, experts, scientists, decision-makers, manufacturers and end-users.

The exhibition on desalination and water re-use will cover an area of 2,000 sq. m. area, with some 70 companies from 21 Countries showcasing the latest equipment and technologies.

The global water crisis is as critical as the challenges thrown up by climate change. The UAE is the world second largest producer of desalinated water with a capacity of producing 8.4 million cu. m. of desalinated water per day. About 95 per cent of water used for local consumption flows from this source.

Though the Middle East has five per cent of the world population, it has only one per cent of the earth’s renewable water resources.

-Ends –