Dubai Airport Freezone achieves 48% growth in revenue during the first half of 2009

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airport Freezone, has stated that this achievement is a direct result of Dubai Government's balanced policies toward foreign investments and that the role of the Freezone has exceeded the financial success to play a strategic part in boosting the national economy through its added value with the international companies working within the Dubai Airport Freezone.

Shaikh Ahmed also noted that Dubai Airport Freezone has tried to overcome the global crisis by keeping companies and applying sophisticated techniques to support the companies that target new markets.

Dr. Mohammed Al Zarouni, Director General of Dubai Airport Freezone, said the registered numbers during the first half "Tell a positive indicator for growth rates during the rest of the year."

"Indications confirm that companies are seeking new markets for their products in the region, and this creates new opportunities which we handle flexibly and transparently to achieve goals."

He added that the Free Zone has shown full commitment to double its efforts and apply a new, more flexible trend to maintain its continuous triumphs in growth rates.

"Several leading companies have been licensed during the first half, including French companies like SAGM, SOKOMEK, Middle East, Air Cost Control Middle East and Air Logistics, some Japanese companies such as EDIMESTO Middle East, and some Korean companies and companies from Scandinavian countries like Denmark,"

Dr. Al Zarouni said.

He explained that more than a dozen major companies operating in the Free Zone have expanded their office space and are working to support their business goals of deployment in the region.

Dr Al Zarouni also attributed the strong performance at the end of the first half of this year to the "unlimited support of the senior leadership whose role is very important in overcoming the effects of the financial crisis, through the planning of a strategy of dealing with the elements of the crisis."

He stressed the importance of doubling all efforts at various levels through focusing on customers, and taking into account companies' circumstances and conditions in terms of their performance and their growth rates in addition to customer support at this important economic stage to achieve the principle of strategic partnership.

The Free Zone, he added, has recently undertaken an initiative to honour a number of companies that participated in an environment awareness initiative competition, where companies which took into account the health and safety of its occupants in the design of their offices were awarded and honoured.

Dr. Zarouni added that last year's expansion plans have become "An implementable strategy with some flexibility, taking into account the changes and developments around us."

He stressed on the role of the Dubai Airport Freezone in promoting the national economy "As it has become a living example of developmental support by attracting major international companies that have pumped large investments, accounting for significant support to the trade balance and the economy in general."

Dr. Zarouni said that the rates of growth in European and American companies in the Free Zone "Has constantly encouraged us to communicate with these markets and try to attract more of them. European companies represent more than 45% of the companies that opened their offices at the Free Zone in the first half of this year, while the total percentage of American companies nears 11% in the various sectors, including aviation industry, pharmaceutical, electronics and other sectors."