DUBAI, 26 November 2007 — Six Dubai government departments yesterday launched e-customer complaint system, the world’s first unified mechanism for improving customer satisfaction in government services. The Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department (DNRD), the Road and Transport Authority (RTA), the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Police and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) are among those that implemented the innovative system, which was launched by the Dubai Executive Council in February this year. “The system will ensure complaints are resolved in a transparent manner within a seven-day period. A customer will also be able to track the resolving process through his or her account number and can receive alerts and updates on the progress of the complaint,” said Ahmad Bin Byat, general secretary of the Dubai Executive Council. Customers who wish to register complaints related to any department may log on to the official Dubai Government website (www.dubai.ae)
MENA Factors Operates at DIFC
DUBAI, 26 November 2007 — National Bank of Dubai (NBD), an Emirates NBD company, and FIMBank plc, the Malta-based trade finance institution, yesterday announced that MENA Factors Limited, a joint venture between the two banks, has commenced operations at the DIFC. MENA Factors is the first specialist financial institution in the GCC region to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ offering factoring and forfaiting services. Commenting on the announcement, Nasser Al-Shaali, CEO of the DIFC Authority, said: “Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are a crucial part of our economy, and by targeting this large and growing group of companies, MENA Factors is supporting the overall development of the market.”
Green Buildings Priority in Dubai
DUBAI, 26 November 2007 — Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, acting director general of Dubai Municipality said that Dubai is giving priority to the new concept of green buildings in order to make Dubai more environmentally friendly. He was delivering the opening speech at “Vienna Meets Dubai”, the expert conference in urban and environmental technologies for policy makers, executive personnel, NGOs, private experts and engineers at Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai yesterday.
Nuetel, BT in Voice Node Deal
MANAMA, 26 November 2007 — Bahrain’s alternative telecommunication provider Nuetel Communications has signed a strategic voice node agreement with UK-based BT — one of the world’s leading providers of global communications solutions and services in over 170 countries — to deploy its first global voice gateway outside of Europe. The move will allow other service providers throughout the Middle East the ability to switch calls, without the need to pass through the major international hubs in Europe, the US and Asia, ensuring the highest degree of service quality. It will not only provide inter-regional voice services, but through BT’s global network, it will also provide access to 650 other service providers worldwide, including more than 100 dedicated mobile operators. (Walid Mazi)
Citi, Saxo Bank to Launch CitiFX Pro
MANAMA, 26 November 2007 — Citi announced plans to launch CitiFX Pro, an on-line foreign exchange (FX) trading platform, in collaboration with Saxo Bank, the Copenhagen-based online bank. Two global leaders in their own fields, Citi and Saxo have come together to pool their capabilities and offer FX trading to sophisticated individuals and smaller institutional traders. With CitiFX Pro, Citi will offer the sophisticated client access to robust FX trading capabilities with more than 150 currency crosses in a market with a daily turnover of more than $3 trillion, according to the latest BIS report. CitiFX Pro will offer Citi’s clients an opportunity to take full advantage of the world’s largest financial market with access to the same level of data and trading technology as institutional traders. (Mahmood Rafique)
Volvo Construction Equipment Display
DUBAI, 26 November 2007 — FAMCO (Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company), the Al-Futtaim Group’s distributor of Volvo construction equipment, trucks and buses yesterday announced that it will be showcasing the latest additions to its Volvo Construction Equipment product range at the BIG5 PMV until Thursday.
