DOLPHIN
Dolphin Energy Ltd. has won the coveted category of “Best Company in Gas” at the 7th Annual Middle East Excellence in Energy Awards. These were organized by the region’s leading energy publication, Pipeline Magazine, under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed ibn Saeed Al-Maktoum, president of Dubai’s Department of Civil Aviation and chairman of Emirates Airline and of the Dubai Supply Authority. The award, which was made by the magazine’s specialist panel of independent judges, recognizes Dolphin Energy’s role in the creation, construction and inauguration of one of the largest international gas development projects ever built. In the period 2002 through 2008, Dolphin Energy drilled twenty-four 4,000 meter deep gas wells offshore Qatar, fabricated and installed two offshore production platforms, and designed and built its complex $1.6 billion onshore gas processing plant in Qatar. The company also completed the longest and largest undersea gas export pipeline in the Middle East, between Qatar and the UAE, as well as the receiving and distribution facilities to serve customers throughout the Emirates and in Oman. Dolphin Energy’s General Manager-UAE, Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Ansari, received the award for “Best Company in Gas” from Saeed Khoory, Group CEO of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC). This was the fourth Excellence in Energy award won by Dolphin since 2004.
CAYAN/AMLAK
Cayan Investment & Development has signed an agreement with Amlak International, the first specialized home finance provider in the UAE and lately in Saudi Arabia. This agreement will entitle Cayan purchasers to put a minor down payment and use the finance over the next few years. Cayan already has an agreement with Amlak International for all its properties in Dubai, which includes The Jewels, Dorrabay, Infininity, Silverene and Cayan Business Center. This new agreement that covers the Kingdom and Lamar in Jeddah, gives clients flexibility and more purchasing power as they pay less upfront. Cayan Chairman Ahmed Al-Hatti said: “We are proud to announce our collaboration with Amlak International. Our aim is to serve our clients by providing the finance facilities that will assist buyers in acquiring their dream home or office in an exquisite project such as Lamar.” Lamar, the first high rise development in Jeddah with a leading location on the Red Sea coastline, offers residential, commercial and retail space plus a spa, all as part of one development. The ground works on this 7 star luxury project has started and will be completed by the end of 2010 with the cost of around SR3 billion.
HINO TRUCKS
With the ongoing construction boom coupled with overall economic buoyancy across Saudi Arabia, transportation needs are growing and the market for trucks expanding. “The market constitutes an estimated 25,000 trucks of all sizes — light duty, medium duty and heavy duty — and the number is increasing at the rate of 15 percent per annum,” Mansoor Ali Khwaja, general manager sales and marketing at Jamjoom Vehicles & Equipment (JVE), told Arab News on the sidelines of the launch of new Hino 300 series light duty trucks at Jeddah InterContinental on Sunday. Describing the new light duty Hino 711 truck as a new feather in the Hino cap, Marwan A. Jamjoom, vice president of JVE, emphasized the contribution made by the Hino trucks in the infrastructure development of the country for over three decades. Since its inception 100 years ago, JVE has been pursuing a path marked by “trust, honesty and dependability.” Its long path of success dates back to 1972 when Tokyo-based Hino Motors Ltd. (HML) joined hands with it to meet the transportation needs of the market, he said. Masahiro Kumasaka, chief engineer, light duty trucks section at HML’s product planning division, said the sturdiness of the Hino heavy-duty trucks has been incorporated in the new light duty range by blending the comforts synonymous to passenger cars.
DANA GAS
Dana Gas, described as the Middle East’s first and largest regional and private-sector natural gas company, has announced an agreement for the exploration and development of the Western offshore concession in Sharjah, where the company is headquartered. The deal marks Dana Gas’ entry into the GCC exploration and production sector, and is also the first offshore upstream asset for the company in the Middle East. The 25-year agreement was signed Dr. Sheikh Sultan ibn Mohammed Al-Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council member and ruler of Sharjah, and Hamid Jafar, executive chairman of Dana Gas, at a ceremony attended by Sheikh Ahmed ibn Sultan Al-Qasimi, deputy ruler of Sharjah and chairman of the Sharjah Petroleum Council, and several Members of the board of directors of Dana Gas, including the company’s Deputy Chairman and former Kuwaiti Oil Minister, Dr. Adel Al-Sabeeh. “We are very pleased to enter into this long-term agreement with Dana Gas, as a local and regional company with proven capabilities in all areas of the region’s natural gas industry,” said Sheikh Ahmed ibn Sultan Al-Qassimi, deputy ruler of Sharjah and chairman of the Sharjah Petroleum Council. Dana Gas Executive Chairman Hamid Jafar said: “Dana Gas is proud to enter into this important agreement, marking the first exploration and production project for the company in the GCC region, and complementing the company’s assets and activities in the processing, transportation and marketing of natural gas. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with the government of Sharjah in this regard.”
TAMEER
Major real estate and development firm, Tameer Holding, has announced the appointment of Ramzy Abou-Ezzeddine as its new chief marketing officer. Prior to his appointment at Tameer, Abou-Ezzeddine worked at Leo Burnett, one of the international advertising agencies, as regional planning Director for the Middle East and North Africa, at the regional head office, and has served several assignments including managing director for the Egypt operations. Abou-Ezzeddine has had a distinguished career with several world-renowned organizations, gaining invaluable experience and expertise in communication in general, and brand building in particular. And this experience is not limited to one type of market, but rather extends across a number of industries, including real estate. Having worked with a number of international brands throughout the MENA region, Abou-Ezzeddine has had a definitive impact as one of corporate world’s leading lights. Tameer President Omar Ayesh said: “Ramzy’s experience and understanding of Middle Eastern markets make him a prime asset to our company.” Abou-Ezzeddine said: “I am excited to be joining such an inspiring firm.”
AUJAN
Adel Aujan, chairman of Aujan Industries Co., described as the largest privately owned beverage and confectionery company in the GCC, has announced yesterday the appointment of Dr. Kamel Abdallah to the board of directors of Aujan Industries, where he is currently executive adviser to the chairman, and CEO of Rani Investment, an Aujan Group Holding firm. Continuing his role as the CEO of Rani Investment, executive adviser to Adel Aujan and member of his executive committee, Dr. Kamel Abdallah has expanded responsibilities in his capacity as board member chairing the strategy and audit committees of the board. His success with Rani Investment, an international, investment company, has resulted in equity ownership across the GCC, Iran, the Levant, and the region. Rani investment focuses on the following sectors: Manufacturing and distribution of beverages and confectionary, hospitality, mining and trading. Aujan Industries is also the largest private bottler of juice under its own brands in the Gulf.
HITS GROUP
Hits Telecom Group, the new opportunity communications company, has announced the appointment of Talaat El-Lahham as the CEO of Hits Africa. El-Lahham brings over 10 years’ C-level experience in managing telecommunications operations in Africa and other emerging markets. He is to head a new management team tasked with driving Hits’ aggressive growth strategy in the continent. “I am proud to be able to name Talaat as Hits Africa’s new CEO. His deep experience of the African communications market, together with his pragmatic and results-oriented approach to managing sound operations in challenging environments is precisely the mixture of qualities we believe is critical to the company moving forwards,” said Dr. Mohammed Bahabri, vice chairman of the Hits Group. El-Lahham was previously chairman and CEO of South African mobile operator Cell C, where he was responsible for taking the company from its license bid through to the launch of services 21 weeks later and then on to becoming a 2,000-strong, about $1 billion revenue company with over 3 million subscribers. Prior to leading Cell C, El-Laham worked with Ogero on the corporatization of the Lebanese national fixed line telecommunications operator. His time with the Saudi Oger saw him taking leadership roles in a number of major group companies.