Hertz to open first Middle East corporate office in Dubai as part of regional investment

Michel Taride, President of Hertz Europe Ltd and Executive Vice President of Hertz Corporation, announced the move today during his first visit to the UAE when he also outlined plans to increase support to the Middle East's 11 Hertz franchisees.

"We will be taking steps to set up the Dubai office over the next few months and it will officially open on 1st January 2010,"

said Taride, who has been present this week at the Hertz stand at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

"It is part of our three to five-year Middle East investment plan which is designed to deliver increased support to our franchises and other partners in the region.

"The new corporate operation will be headed by a regional commercial director, and we are also in the process of identifying an experienced regional sales manager.

He added: "We have a good deal of new business in the pipeline in the Middle East and we are taking steps to ensure that the Hertz brand is in the best position for growth and strong performance once the market bounces back from the effects of the global economic crisis."

Taride said plans include the introduction of a "green" fleet of low emission environmentally friendly vehicles.

"We see the Middle East is an increasingly important market and want to bring more of the innovative services and technology that we have already introduced elsewhere in the world to this region," he said.

Taride took a break from Arabian Travel Market yesterday afternoon to visit Hertz UAE's headquarters in Rashidiya.

Hertz UAE, which is part of the Al Futtaim group of companies and has been in operation since 1993, provides a comprehensive range of car rental and leasing services and runs a nationwide network of 13 outlets in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah

At Arabian Travel Market Hertz UAE has been promoting new pre-paid outbound car rental packages for holiday makers heading overseas this summer as well as attractive monthly rental deals for local residents who want to avoid the hassle and expense of buying cars.

Last night Taride outlined the Hertz regional investment plans to regional franchisees and other Middle East business partners at a cocktail reception at the Burj Al Arab.