Partnership in protecting wildlife

In late October, The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, EAD, and Britain’s Department of Food and Agriculture, along with the Convention on Migratory Species, CMS, part of the UN Environment Programme, organised a major international conference in Abu Dhabi to finalise an agreement to conserve and protect migratory birds of prey in Africa, Europe and Asia. The meeting followed one last year at Loch Lomond in Scotland, also jointly sponsored by EAD, DEFRA and the CMS.

The agreement covers over 70 species of birds of prey, with the UAE, Britain and a number of other countries expected to be among its initial signatories.Around 50 countries attended the Loch Lomond meeting last year, which agreed to proceed to a Memorandum of Understanding type of agreement.
In remarks made before the Abu Dhabi meeting, the secretary general of EAD, Majid Al Mansouri, commented that: “Developing an agreement for such a large number of species involves more than 100 countries and is a big challenge for us. However, collective efforts and a strong commitment from governments can help us overcome such a challenge.”

The new agreement has implications that go far beyond the birds of prey, such as falcons, hawks, eagles and owls, to include aspects related to habitat loss, hunting, trapping and poisoning throughout their mgratory range.

Airports Company eyes British airports

The Abu Dhabi Airports Company, ADAC, operators of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Airports, has expressed an interest in purchasing one of Britain’s major airports if the current owner, the British Airports Authority, BAA, is forced by government to reduce the number of airports it operates.

In an interview in September, the ADAC chief executive, Rudy Vercelli, said that an investment in one of the British airports is “on our radar.”

ADAC, he said, aims to become “one of the top three airport owners and operators in the world”, and part of achieving this goal will be investing in projects abroad.

“The split-up of BAA is something interesting that we have on our radar,” said Vercelli.

“We definitely want to be recognised as one of the premier airport owners and operators,” he said. “We will start gradually, building on solid foundations and will not be rushing into things just because it’s the thing to do. But if an investment makes sense, we will go ahead with it.”

In a preliminary report issued in August, the UK Competition Commission proposed that BAA be forced to sell two of its London airports and one of its Scottish facilities. London Gatwick and Stansted are the two London airports most likely to be sold.

ADAC is also interested in projects in Southeast Asia, North Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
It also recently unveiled plans to invest an initial $55 million into Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen military airfield to create a dedicated business jet airport for the capital.

Department of Planning sign deal with LSE

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Planning and Economy, DPE, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the London School of Economics, LSE, to provide executive training and research support for the Abu Dhabi government and business community.

Signed by DPE chairman Nasser Al Suwaidi and the CEO of LSE Enterprise, Simon Flemington, the agreement aims to bring the latest thinking in economics and renowned academic resources to economic planning and policy making.

Under a strategic partnership, the DPE and the LSE will provide a series of roundtables, workshops and executive sessions on a broad range of topics including economics, public policy, finance, money and banking.

“Abu Dhabi is undergoing profound changes right now and the pace of economic development is accelerating. This agreement supports our leaders to make better informed decisions about complex and sensitive matters that affect everyone who lives here. The London School of Economics has a distinguished record in this field. We’re pleased to enter this partnership with them,” said DPE Under Secretary Mohammed Omar Abdullah.

As part of a wider effort by the Economic Leadership Programme of the DPE to raise economic awareness and understanding, the agreement lays the foundation for further coordination in the areas of economics education and research.

The Department of Planning and Economy, in association with other partner institutions in the Abu Dhabi Government, is also exploring possibilities for the establishment of an Abu Dhabi School of Economics and partnerships with institutions like the LSE are likely to be instrumental in achieving such an objective.

Mubadala deal with Rolls-Royce …

Government-owned Mubadala Development Company and Rolls-Royce have announced the launch of a new joint venture company to serve the rapidly-expanding Middle East aviation services market.

The new joint venture will offer On-Wing Care through Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies, ADAT, which is the twelfth largest maintenance, repair and overhaul company in the world. Services will include provision for a wide range of specialist line maintenance support services from boroscoping to engine changes for Rolls-Royce Trent family operators in the region. In addition, it will also launch a new service to provide asset management services for engine system accessories.

The new company joins a worldwide network of centres which can offer specialised support services at the closest point of operation for Rolls-Royce customers.

“Our partnerships with world-class companies like Rolls-Royce are solidifying the creation of Abu Dhabi’s aerospace hub, Humaid Al Shemmari, the Director of Mubadala Aerospace, commented. “Specifically, this joint venture will attract knowledge intensive industries to Abu Dhabi.”

“The Middle East is a rapidly growing market, and the United Arab Emirates presents a major hub for airlines and aerospace activities within the region,” added Miles Cowdry, President – Services at Rolls-Royce.

“The launch of this joint venture in Abu Dhabi extends our existing presence and close partnership with Mubadala. On-Wing Care and the launch of the line replacement units leasing pool form a valuable operational support to our customers and are part of our comprehensive, global service strategy.”

Rolls-Royce has other On-Wing Care service centres in London, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Indianapolis and Singapore. The centre in Abu Dhabi will predominantly support the growing Trent engine family.The new JV will support plans to develop Abu Dhabi’s existing aerospace cluster into a significant global aerospace hub.

… and with Petrofac

Mubadala have also struck a deal with UK-based oil and gas facilities service provider Petrofac to establish a joint venture company, Petrofac Emirates LLC. Based in Abu Dhabi and scheduled to begin operation within the next few months, the new company will provide a full range of engineering, design, procurement and construction services for onshore oil and gas, refining and petrochemical projects throughout the United Arab Emirates.

“Petrofac Emirates will provide safe, efficient and cost effective services to the energy industry,” said Ibrahim Al Ansari, Chairman of Mubadala Petroleum Services Company. “The establishment of this joint venture also furthers the diversification of Abu Dhabi in the energy sector and will contribute to ensure the future sustainability of a very important industry through investment in local capabilities and human resources,” added Al Ansari.

Petrofac have a major base in Aberdeen and were admitted to the London Stock Exchange in 2005. The firm is currently on the major FTSE 100 index. Already well-experienced in the Gulf, they have a major engineering and construction base in Sharjah and also operate Dubai’s offshore oilfields on behalf of the Dubai Government. Staff will be seconded by Sharjah to help the new JV establish its initial business structure and operating procedures before the end of this year.

“We plan to have a world class engineering centre in Abu Dhabi with several hundred full time staff within the next few years,” according to Rajesh Verma, executive vice president of Petrofac’s Engineering & Construction division.

Penspen win IPIC pipeline contract

British firm Penspen have been awarded the detailed engineering contract for the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline, ADCOP, project being constructed for the International Petroleum Investment Company, IPIC. The contract was awarded by the China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation, CPECC, who are building the pipeline for IPIC.

The pipeline will run from Habshan, in western Abu Dhabi, to Fujairah on the East Coast, and will transport up to1.5 million barrels a day of crude oil from Abu Dhabi’s onshore fields to a new refinery being built by IPIC just north of the Port of Fujairah.

Project facilities will include a 370 kilometres long and 48 inch diameter oil export pipeline, a main pumping station, intermediate pump station, main oil terminal and three single point mooring buoys for deepwater tanker loading at Fujairah

World Future Energy Summit wins award

The World Future Energy Summit held in Abu Dhabi in January won the ‘Best Launch Event’ award at the annual Association of Event Organisers Excellence Awards in London. The AEO excellence awards are the top accolade in the events industry and were presented in front of 2,000 of the industry’s top professionals.

The event was attended over three days by heads of state, numerous energy and environment ministers, other govenrment officials and heads of businesses from 77 countries, 220 exhibiting companies and over 11,000 visitors.

“The patronage and support of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the defining factor in our great success”, according to Richard Hease, chairman of British-based Turret ME, the event organisers, while H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, ADNEC, and of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, ADTA, commented that: “ Awards of this nature are a great vote of confidence in the UAE capital.”

The second World Future Energy Summit will be held from 19-21 January 2009.

Turret Middle East is a leading organiser of conferences and exhibitions in the Middle East and North Africa region and a foundation partner of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company. The company is also organiser of the biennial ADIPEC, one of the largest oil and gas shows in the world, being held in early November, and is planning the launch of a new weekly Abu Dhabi news and events magazine.

Barclays open flagship branch

Barclays Bank opened their first flagship branch in Abu Dhabi in June, this coinciding with the launch of its new premier banking service. Inaugurated by Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the new branch, on Hamdan Street, offers a full range of retail and corporate banking services. The new Barclays UAE training academy is also located in the same premises.

Aman Khan, chief executive for Barclays global retail and commercial banking in emerging markets, said that it was now the right time for Barclays to expand its footprint in the UAE. “Our services have long been available in the UAE, but the launch of this flagship branch will offer one-stop banking for all of our customers here in the capital city. Just because something is working it does not mean that it is working well. With this enhanced service, we will provide our customers with well designed banking.”

More British legal firms for Abu Dhabi

Three more major British legal practices are to open offices in Abu Dhabi. First to gain its licence to practice was Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, whose application was fast-tracked during the summer. The office will have a focus on corporate, dispute resolution, energy-related projects, financial products, infrastructure development and real estate.

Freshfields joint senior partner Guy Morton commented: “Because of [Abu Dhabi’s] political stability and rapidly diversifying economy, helped by the continuing high price of oil, it has experienced very rapid growth, with good levels of activity in both inbound and outbound investment. We have a number of clients in Abu Dhabi and our office there will complement our already strong presence in the region.”

Also due to open up shortly is Linklaters. The head of its Emerging Europe, Middle East and North Africa unit, Nick Eastwell, said that the decision to open up in Abu Dhabi had been in response to client demand.

“It’s pretty well-known that Abu Dhabi is keen to see that its advisers, be they lawyers or bankers, are on the ground there. We’ve talked to our clients and the feeling is that we need to be in Abu Dhabi,” Eastwell said. “In terms of timing and the size of the office, at this stage it will be crystal-ball gazing.”

By early 2009, another London firm, Berwin Leighton Paisner, is also hoping to have an Abu Dhabi office up and running. The launch represents the first venture by BLP into the Middle East, with their only other overseas offices being in Brussels, Paris and Singapore. They decided to open up in Abu Dhabi after an increase in work from the region, including a recent large instruction from Aldar Properties.

Managing partner Neville Eisenberg said: “It makes sense [to open the office] considering the workflow and we remain committed to our international strategy, but we identified a region where we can expand on the ground.”

London hospitality and leisure partner John Sipling , who will head the office, said: “BLP has been a firm that has had its critical mass in London with very specific offerings overseas. The preferred firm network will remain our primary solution in overseas territories, but we are open-minded and ready to invest where there is a case for it. Abu Dhabi is a clear-cut example where the case is made and our clients have been very supportive.”

Abu Dhabi Rugby Club becomes Abu Dhabi Harlequins

London rugby club Harlequins have expanded their links with the UAE’s capital following their main sponsorship agreement signed last year with Etihad Airways.

It was announced in June that the Abu Dhabi Rugby Club, also sponsored by Etihad, was to become an affiliated club of ‘Quins, and was to be officially re-named Abu Dhabi Harlequins Rugby Club. The Abu Dhabi Club has over 1600 members, ranging in from age groups Under 5 to Under 19 in the junior section, to men, veteran and women in the senior section. Its teams are now playing in the historic ‘Quins four-quartered shirts, but with a special local flavour, using the four colours from the UAE flag, red, green, white and black.

Future plans will see Abu Dhabi coaches given the chance to shadow ‘Quins coaches at training sessions in London, developing Harlequins Etihad Rugby Schools in Abu Dhabi and sending ‘Quins players and coaches to Abu Dhabi to assist with the future development of junior rugby.

Commenting on the new affiliation, Richard Harris, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Harlequins Rugby Club, said: “From the Abu Dhabi perspective, we can only see huge positives coming out of the affiliation. Exposure to the workings of an operation the size of London Harlequins will allow us to fast track the development of the club both on and off the field. Apart from the obvious player and coaching benefits, we are hoping that this affiliation will lead to greater media and local interest with a stated aim of developing rugby as a sport of choice amongst the local Emirati population.”