British Defence, Trade Ministers visit

Britain's Secretary of State for Defence Des Browne visited Abu Dhabi in early June as part of a tour of the Gulf, meeting with H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for discussions on collaboration between Britain and the UAE in defence issues.

The meeting was attended by Lt. General Hamad Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, Yousuf Al Otaiba, Director of International Affairs at Sheikh Mohammed's Court, and the British Ambassador, as well as by officials accompanying the Defence Secretary.

A report from the Emirates News Agency, WAM, said that H.H. Sheikh Mohammed had expressed his satisfaction with current relations between the UAE and Britain and that he had stated that both sides had agreed to further expand their cooperation, with particular reference to defence and military issues.

The discussions were said to have covered ways of developing greater co-ordination between the two sides.

Browne and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed also discussed a number of issues of mutual interest related to the improvement of security and stability in the region.

Browne also met separately with the UAE Chief of Staff for more detailed discussions.

Browne's visit was quickly followed by one from another senior British official, Trade and Industry Minister Alistair Darling, at the head of a delegation seeking to promote economic relations between the UAE and Britain.

Discussions between Darling and the UAE Minister of Economy and Commerce H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi were focused on the two-way flow of tourists and on developments in talks between the GCC states and the European Union on a free trade treaty, according to a WAM report.

Al Qasimi urged British and European businessmen to take advantage of current opportunities for investment in the Emirates.

The Big Bus for Abu Dhabi?

The Abu Dhabi-based Al Fahim Group, one of the largest family business groups in the UAE, has become a major strategic shareholder of the London-based tourist and travel operation, The Big Bus Company. Al Fahim has taken a thirty per cent stake in the company, and has appointed two members to its board.

The Big Bus Company operates sightseeing and tourist opentop double-deck bus services. It started its services in London in 1991 and set up similar services in Dubai in 2002; preparations are well under way to commence operations in Hong Kong later this year. The existing service tours take in all major sightseeing locations and events during which tourists may listen to a live English commentary or foreign language recordings made available on the bus. In 2004, The Big Bus Company earned the prestigious award of 'Sightseeing Tour of the Year' from Visit London.

By joining with Al Fahim in a strategic partnership, The Big Bus Company will increase the pace of the internationalisation and geographical coverage of its unique tourist and travel brand. In addition, the Group will explore the expansion of its services to passenger bus operations in selected cities.

Al Fahim's existing interests already embrace travel and tourism and the automotive industry which clearly align with the Big Bus Company. The Al Fahim international contacts, strategic real estate holding and financial strength will enhance the ability of Big Bus to meet it's long term aspirations.

According to Peter Beynon, Al Fahim's Managing Director and, along with Rashid Al Fahim, now a director of The Big Bus, the company "will certainly look at opening a Big Bus operation in Abu Dhabi once the critical mass of tourists builds to a level which will justify operating a service. This will depend on the rapidity of the growth of tourist hotel rooms in the Emirate and, of course, the success of Abu Dhabi of building its reputation as a 'tourist attraction'. The Big Bus have already done preliminary surveys of the Emirates and planned routes. It is only a question of 'when' not 'if' that a service will be started here. "

"This new venture is consistent with the Al Fahim vision to provide quality services and products while serving the community at large. Al Fahim strives to embrace new ideas and eagerly seeks ways to build brands and build on existing successes," Beynon says.