Aljomaih Automotive Company and Universal Motors Agencies (UMA) are among a select few retailers around the Middle East to receive the General Motors 2003 Chairman’s Challenge award. Hamad A. Aljomaih, chairman of Aljomaih Automotive and vice chairman of Aljomaih Holding Company, Ibrahim M. Aljomaih, vice chairman and CEO of Aljomaih Automotive Company along with UMA’s CEO Mohammed Abdul Jawad and COO Walid Al Thelmesani received their respective awards from General Motors Corporation’s CEO Rick Wagoner at a ceremony in Geneva recently. The chairman’s challenge is an annual GM program that recognizes the performance of retailers in sales customer enthusiasm and other operational measures against preset targets. Sales targets are set for Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and Opel. “2003 was a great year for GM in the Middle East thanks to the efforts of our retailers.” The Kingdom is GM’s biggest market and sales figures of Aljomaih and UMA were three percent and 11 percent respectively above target. Their contribution played a significant role in the region achieving double-digit growth over 2002.
Al-Jazirah/Ford
Al-Jazirah Vehicles Agencies Co., the Kingdom’s Ford and Lincoln importer-dealer, recently received two major awards from Ford Motor Company (FMC) recognizing its outstanding performance in 2003. Al-Jazirah Vehicles Agencies Co. is for the first time the world’s largest Ford brand dealer and largest Ford Crown Victoria dealer for the seventh consecutive year. “This is an outstanding achievement,” said Randy Ortiz, executive director and general manager of FMC’s worldwide direct market operations, who recently visited the region. “For almost two decades, Al-Jazirah Vehicles has been a flagship for the Ford Oval in the Middle East, and its management’s enthusiasm to scale new heights for the brand and deliver world-class products and services to its customers is greater than ever. These two titles clearly emphasize the increasing importance of the Saudi market to FMC. “To be Ford’s largest Crown Victoria dealer in the world is one thing and to hold the record for seven years in a row is quite simply amazing,” Ortiz said while presenting the awards to Abdullah Al-Kraidees, president of Al-Jazirah Vehicles Agencies Co. “But to climb the list of thousands of Ford dealers and to hold the No. 1 position in Ford sales worldwide is just exceptional and we commend Al-Jazirah’s leadership and employees for this remarkable triumph.” To celebrate and mark these achievements and recognitions, the dealership is planning its own “Ford Festival,” kicking off shortly with the aim of honoring all of its customers who have supported Al-Jazirah and the Ford and Lincoln brands from the day the dealership began operating. Al-Jazirah’s sales and service performance reflect a buoyant year for Ford across the entire region; Ford sales in the GCC grew by 25 percent last year.
Giordano
Giordano’s spring 2004 collection focuses on feeling light and comfortable with the new range of cotton-linen mix. For those looking to go basic, the gentle colors of white, khaki, pastel blue and pebble offer a spring feel for the season. For men, the look is basic short-sleeved linen shirt teamed with drawstring linen pants or seersucker shirts in cool blue and khaki colors or stripe kurta shirts. For women, there are linen embroidered kurta shirts and long-sleeved V-polo tunic shirts. Spring would not be spring without cool, pastel colors. Additional hues on the palette include canary yellow, baby blue, ebony, ginger and the classics in white, desert and black. “This season’s look has come from the combined efforts of the regional creative unit, which has taken climate and culture into consideration,” says Naomi Kasad, head of buying for Giordano Middle East. Males can also look to cargo pants and shorts as well as three quarter pants in desert and ginger combos. The pants have been designed to partner with polo T-shirts in stripe and solids, print and stripe crewnecks and the lightweight sweater knits. Females can choose from cotton-nylon pants in boot cut drawstring, three quarter cargo or washed canvas cargo, which blend well with feminine print tees and strap tanks in colors of white, black, yellow, baby blue, ginger and desert. “While the new collection certainly maintains a youthful look the styling is classic and designed to suit everyone,” he said.
EMAAR
Emaar Properties has entered into an alliance with Engel & Volkers, a leading German international property services company as part of the company’s ambitious international marketing drive to extend its reach beyond the GCC and into new growth markets in Europe. The alliance comes in at an opportune time when industry reports are already indicating a shift in investment patterns for Germans who are seeking to diversify currencies, assets and political risk. “Europe, UK, Canada and the united States are strategic markets for Emaar,” says Mansour Al-Othaimin, corporate director, sales and marketing, Emaar. Its world-class developments have already attracted considerable investor interest from key target markets in Europe, while making Dubai one of the most sought-after destinations for property seekers across the world. “Dubai has emerged a popular choice owing to its cosmopolitan lifestyle, sunny clime, sandy beaches world-class shopping and entertainment facilities,” said Christian Volkers, chairman of Engel & Volkers, a leader in quality property development. Emaar Properties has also launched a significant international corporate campaign signaling its new drive to build its brand value in markets across the GCC, Europe, Far East and the subcontinent. “The campaign echoes the ethos of Emaar’s continuous pursuit of crating world-class master-planned communities offering unmatched lifestyles,” Emaar Properties Chairman Mohamed Ali Alabbar said.
Pearl of The Gulf
Qatar Prime Minister Abdullah ibn Khalifa Al-Thani officially inaugurated the state’s largest real estate project, the Pearl of the Gulf recently. He marked the start of construction work by ordering dredgers to begin reclaiming land at a ground-breaking ceremony attended by ministers, ambassadors and business leaders. The project is the brainchild of the United Development Company (UDC) and is both Qatar’s largest real estate project and the state’s first development to offer freehold and residential rights to the international community. It will eventually cover 400 hectares of reclaimed land and house some 30,000 people in a multicultural residential and commercial community. “We’re proud to offer the first freehold properties in Qatar for international investors and look forward to welcoming the first residents in 2006,” said Hussein Al-Fardan, chairman of UDC, who presented the island’s master plan at the launch ceremony. The project has been designed to include all the latest facilities and services in an exclusive island retreat. It will become a peaceful haven offering a lush environment where families can live in secure harmony.
