Qatalum, the state-of-the-art aluminum smelter that is being built as a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Hydro in line with Qatar’s long-term economic diversification strategy, has been awarded ISO 9001:2008 Certification. The certificate was handed over to Qatalum CEO Jan Arve Haugan by accredited ISO auditors Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Business Assurance Middle East at a ceremony held at the Marriott in Doha on July 15. Speaking of the certification, Haugan said, “Receiving ISO 9001:2008 Certification is a significant milestone for Qatalum confirming our drive to continuously improve the Qatalum Production System (QPS), our very own quality management system. It is a particularly impressive accomplishment given that the auditing and certification process took place in the middle of ramp-up. Thanks to the hard work of all involved, we have now received our certification, and are looking forward to the next milestone.” Acting Quality Production System (QPS) Department Head, Melmar Aquino said, “It is important for us to reach the highest standards possible while planning to develop our work processes. Attaining ISO 9001 certification is to attests an effective and efficient management practices throughout Qatalum and enhance our competitive edge in markets in the future.”
 

Bridgestone Middle East and Africa FZE (BSMEA) is proud to announce its collaboration with Emirates Wildlife Society in association with World Wide Fund for Nature (EWS-WWF) for the forthcoming year as a sponsor of the Wadi Wurayah Project in Fujairah, UAE. Shoichi Sakuma, Bridgestone Middle East and Africa FZE, President says, “Bridgestone’s sponsorship objective is to lead the regional market toward environmental conservation and not only support and facilitate the Wadi Wurayah research and conservation project, but also to educate and inspire the region’s corporate and community to become aware of the beauty and importance of nature, and the sustainability thereof.” Wadi Wurayah was formally declared the UAE’s first mountain protected area in March 2009 by Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Sharqi, UAE Supreme Council member and Ruler of Fujairah. It lies within a priority WWF Global 200 Eco-region, of Arabian Highlands and Shrublands, sheltering a rich diversity of rare and endangered mountainous and freshwater habitats and species, providing opportunities for the sustenance and revival of local livelihoods.
 

Saudi shoppers can look forward to a delightful shopping experience at two newly opened REDTAG stores in Saudi Arabia — Khurais Plaza, Riyadh, and Aziz Mall, Jeddah. With the opening of the two new stores, REDTAG, a value fashion and home store, marks 20 stores in the Kingdom and 31 stores in other countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). REDTAG is part of the Jazirat S’maa Fashion Company Ltd, a member of Faisal Al-Suwaiket Group of Companies. REDTAG is a value-focused retailer offering a range of fashions for the entire family and homeware for budget-conscious shoppers. Customers who step into REDTAG will love the new store as it is well-planned — facilitating easy movement through spacious sections offering the latest in fashions and accessories for men, women, children and newborn babies. This is supplemented by a vast range of merchandise for the home, dining, bed, bath as well as home décor items and toys. Shoppers at the new stores will be surprised to find that they get very good quality at affordable prices! This is a confident expression of ‘Rediscover Value’, the REDTAG philosophy. It invites customers to discover first hand what ‘value’ really means by offering them a range and depth of quality fashion and homeware that will make them feel that their money is well-spent. The newly opened stores are currently carrying the new spring and summer collection which is vibrant, light and cool. The collection presents a riot of pastels as well as bold shades that gives it a fashion edge this summer.
 

BMW Group Middle East has completed the first six months of 2010 with a 13 percent sales growth over the same period in 2009. Across 14 Middle East markets, the world’s most successful premium automotive manufacturer delivered 8,096 BMW and MINI vehicles to customers, signaling the underlying strength of both brands in the region. The company made gains virtually in all 14 Middle East markets. Pakistan and Yemen achieved record sales for BMW with both markets more than doubling year on year sales with Pakistan up 180 percent (14 vehicles sold) and Yemen up by 105 percent (39 vehicles). Other markets that recorded double digit growth were: Syria with an increase of 65 percent (742 cars); Abu Dhabi up 38 percent (1,707 cars), the highest number of vehicles sold across the region, and Saudi Arabia, where sales increased by 19 percent (1,478 cars). Notable increases were also recorded in Oman and Bahrain where sales were up 9 percent (304 cars) and 4 percent (319 cars) respectively. BMW’s flagship BMW 7 Series remained the top selling model with 2,402 cars sold, an increase of 16 percent; followed by the BMW X6, a popular model in the Middle East, which achieved 1,319 cars, a growth of 6 percent.