Dnata gears up for corporate and government travel expansion

The new Dnata Corporate Travel division brings together Dnata's established Corporate Travel Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) U.A.E. and Government Travel Services (GTS), to provide an integrated scope of customer products and services.

Abdulla Tawakul, a long-standing Emirates Group senior manager, has been appointed Vice President Dnata Corporate Travel and now combines his corporate travel expertise with overseeing government travel services.

The creation of the new division comes as increasing numbers of multinationals flock to Dubai, boosting its status as the region's premier business hub. Demand for government travel services has also surged, in line with expansion of overseas projects.

Iain Andrew, Senior Vice President Dnata Agencies, said: "This consolidated structure enables us to meet the diverse demands of our customers with a resource which will deliver the highest quality travel products. Abdulla is ideally suited to his new role, providing established expertise coupled with a fresh approach to travel services."

Abdulla Tawakul has more than 15 years experience in the Emirates Group, and an extensive management portfolio involving all aspects of airline and travel operations.

He held a succession of senior positions in Emirates Airline including Commercial Administration Manager for the Gulf, Middle East & CIS; Area Manager Iran; and Regional Manager Saudi Arabia responsible for all the Kingdom's three provinces.

In 2002 he moved back to Dubai as Manager Sales & Marketing Dnata Agencies, and was later appointed to head Corporate Travel (HRG-UAE). He was promoted to Vice President in 2005 and now takes up his new role with responsibility for the expanded Corporate Travel division, which now includes Government Travel Services.

Dnata Agencies is the retail and corporate travel services arm of Dnata, the region's leading travel management company, with more than four decades of experience backed by the industry's latest technological innovations and tools.