BBG deal with Qatar Airways

The British Business Group and *Qatar Airways, Abu Dhabi have entered into a Corporate Agreement valid until 31st March 2008 relating to a discount to the Members of the BBG & their families in Abu Dhabi (and to staff of the British Embassy and the British School and their familes ) for officialorpersonal travel on Qatar Airways. The Corporate Agreement offers an upfront discount of 5% on Economy & 10% on Business class to all passengers. The applicable conditions are - Passenger must present the Identity Card of the BBG/ British Embassy / British School to the staff at the QR ticketing office.The tickets must be purchased from the QR ticketing counter in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain only. The deal is valid on all QR destinations except GCC Countries.

*For further information please contact 02-6664252 / 02-6210007 or email ddasaur@ae.qatarairways.com

HSBC appointed for Khalifa Port project

The Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) has appointed HSBC to provide financialadvisory services to Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone (KPIZ) project. HSBC will advise ADPC on the financingoptions available, including debt, equity and mezzanine structures.

KPIZ is a multi-billion dollar project designed as a multi-purpose facility that involves the construction of a world-scale container and industrial port, in addition to the development of over 100 square kilometres of industrial, logistics, commercial, educational, and residential special economic and free zones.

HSBC was awarded the contract following a competitive tender. The bank’s international experience and expertise in financingportprojectsall over the world was a key factor in the decision to award it the financialadvisory mandate.

Announcing the agreement, Ahmed Al Calily, CEO and Managing Director of ADPC, said: “Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone is set to be a state-of-the-art facility that will contribute to a new phase of development in both Abu Dhabi and the entire UAE. We are very keen on selecting only the best in class and we are delighted to be working with HSBC on one of Abu Dhabi’s largest and most important projects.”

Speaking for HSBC, Youssef Nasr, CEO of HSBC Bank Middle East, said: “With a heritage of 60 years in the UAE, and an unrivalled global presence in fast-growing emerging markets, HSBC is perfectly positioned to play a leading part in the further development of Abu Dhabi. We are grateful to ADPC for giving us this opportunity.”

British Computer Society launches ME section

The Middle East section of the British Computer Society was formally launched in Abu Dhabi at the Emirates Palace Hotel in June, at a ceremony held under the patronage of Minister of Higher Education HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.

The event, which coincided with the BCS’s golden jubilee, was also attended by the British Ambassador, Edward Oakden, BCS Middle East section members and people from the IT industry.

In a speech on the occasion, Sheikh Nahyan welcomed the establishment of the section and said that its aim to develop the IT sector in the region would help to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a centre for IT.

In response, the section chairman, Adel Akaff, the manager of GASCO’s IT Division, thanked the Minister for the support he had provided the Society in promoting its mission in the UAE’s Universities and the Higher Colleges of Technology.

The ceremony was sponsored by HP, Cisco and Quest Software, who made presentations of some of their state-of-the-art IT.

Etihad back Chelsea

Etihad Airways has entered a three-year agreement with Chelsea Football Club to be its platinum sponsor and official international airline partner, it was announced in September.

The agreement entitles the airline to place its logo and branding at the English Premier League team’s Stamford Bridge stadium in London.

Etihad and Chelsea will also work together on several projects including potential team tours to the UAE and the Far East.

“The partnership with Chelsea marks a new and exciting chapter in the history of Etihad Airways and will provide the airline with terrificexposuretoaglobalaudience,” the airline’s CEO James Hogan was quoted as saying.

“It also illustrates Etihad’s ambitions to be associated with the best names in sport and therefore we are delighted that the Etihad brand will be seen every week at Stamford Bridge and on Chelsea media and merchandise,” he added.

“This partnership with Etihad is an exciting one for Chelsea. ...We look forward to working with each other during the next three years,” Chelsea’s CEO Peter Kenyon said.

Rotork win gas project contracts

Bath-based Rotork Controls have won contracts to supply their electric, hydraulic and pneumatic actuators for the Habshan Onshore Gas Development Phase 3 (OGD-3) and the Asab Gas Development Phase 2 (AGD-2).

Six hundred IQ intelligent electric actuators have been ordered, together with up to sixteen Rotork Pakscan two-wire digital control systems. In addition, approximately one hundred quarter-turn pneumatic and linear hydraulic actuators are being supplied, providing a single source for multi-technology actuation products that simplifiesthecontractualroute for the four contractors involved.

The contracts were placed by Bechtel in the USA and UK, Snamprogetti and the National Petroleum Construction Company.

Completion of the OGD-3 and AGD-2 projects is due in the first quarter of 2008.

A company press release noted that:” Contractual negotiations have been… assisted by Rotork’s increased commitment to the area, as demonstrated by the presence of a Rotork Middle East Regional Office in Abu Dhabi. For the OGD3 and AGD2 projects, regular meetings with the three end-user clients GASCO, ADCO and TAKREER resulted in Rotork being awarded all five of the actuator packages on offer.”

Besides work in the Asab field, the projects involve the construction of NGL and condensate recovery facilities at the Habshan onshore field and a 110 kilometre pipeline to Ruwais, where new storage tanks are also being constructed. When complete, they will provide natural gas liquids, NGL, and condensate for the Ruwais refinery, to help in the planned expansion of petrochemical projects in the Ruwais area, and will also generate substantial volumes of liquid gas which will be re-injected into the oil fields for pressure stabilisation.

New recruits for law firm

International law firmReedSmithRichards Butler has strengthened its team in Abu Dhabi with the recruitment of three new members of staff, specialising in mergers and acquisitions, projects and infrastructure.

Arash Amai, Gillian Hamblin and Raya Abu Gulal formerly worked for the Abu Dhabi office of Simmons & Simmons.

Arash joins as a Partner with particular focus on Middle East M&A and project work. In particular he has worked on some of the region’s largest transactions in the Oil & Gas sector. Prior to joining Simmons & Simmons, Arash was a Partner at Gadens Lawyers in Australia.

Gillian Hamblin joins as a Senior Associate and specialises in infrastructure projects and real estate. Gillian advises UAE-based developers and has considerable experience in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS).

Vince Gordon, Managing Partner, Reed Smith Richards Butler Abu Dhabi, said:

“These appointments are an important milestone in the firm’s Middle East development. It enhances our corporate and project teams significantly and creates one of the largest international law firms in Abu Dhabi.”

Reed Smith Richards Butler is the 15th largest law firm in the world with more than 1,500 lawyers in 21 offices throughout the United States, Europe and the Middle East. The firm’s Abu Dhabi office opened in 1978 making it one of the first permanently established law firms in the UAE. It also has an office in Dubai and an association with two offices in Oman.