Al Ansari: right on target

Dubai Industrial City (DI) has said it successfully managed to maximise the use of all its plots in 2007 and increase its client base to more than 430 industrial investors.

Its CEO, Rashed Al Ansari, said DI had managed to lease more than 200 million sq ft of land in 2007.
He added that the city had ensured a high level of efficiency at all times from master planning to actual handover of industrial plots to clients.
Dubai Industrial City is a member of Tatweer.
Al Ansari said DI was successful in attracting international companies and brands planning to set up base in the city to offer unique and innovative facilities that would leverage the city as a leader and hub for the industrial sector across the country.
“We have attracted international clients such as Siemens and DHL, and major brands like Porsche, Aston Martin, Infinity, Audi, and Volkswagen in our automotive zone. These clients will set up innovative facilities and services including specially-designed test tracks for a wide range of vehicles ranging from four wheel drives to high-performance vehicles, in addition to modern service centres that will further enhance the level of service and quality offered,” said the official.
He also stressed that Dubai Industrial City achieved more than Dh1.5 billion in commercial plot sales of land for use as schools, shopping centres, hospitals, residential areas, and recreation and entertainment facilities.
The great demand from investors was a testament to the growth of industrial activity in Dubai and the uniqueness of what Dubai Industrial City had to offer, he said
Al Ansari stressed that Di was strategically located and offered a comprehensive range of commercial and industrial facilities and services. It was close to major highways and to Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport. “This mix is proving to be very attractive to industrial investors across the region,” he commented.
He recalled that during the past 12 months the city launched four office buildings, 1.5 million sq ft of warehouses and the Dubai Industrial Academy (DIA), the first vocational industrial training academy of its kind in the UAE.
“We have so far leased three out of the four buildings we launched in June 2007 and have already started leasing warehouses,” he explained adding that transPARK, the logistics provider that DI set up in partnership with Deutsche Post World Net (DPWN), the world leader in contract logistics and the parent company of DHL, Danzas and Exel, was managing all logistic services and operations for warehouses in DI.
During 2007, Dubai Industrial City launched a dedicated permits department in Maqayees, the Dubai centre for industrial standards.
The department was set up to facilitate investors as Maqayees is in charge of enforcing the Dubai Quality Mark.
“We have a goal of developing and nurturing a strong and growing industrial base in Dubai and we are right on our target. The launch of our various projects was met with great success and we see demand spurring our growth for the future,” Al Ansari said.
Spread over 560 million sq ft, DI features six industrial clusters for food and beverage, base metal, mineral products, chemicals, transport equipment and parts, and machinery and mechanical equipment.
Complementary facilities include those for logistics, warehousing, industrial training and labour accommodation.