Oxford Business Group launches The Report: Abu Dhabi 2009

The Report: Abu Dhabi 2009, which has been produced by Oxford Business Group (OBG), the global publishing, research and consultancy firm, was launched on Monday, 7th September 2009 at the Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

It was launched in the presence of Oliver Cornock, Regional Editor of Oxford Business Group; Tirad Mahmoud, CEO of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank; Abdulla Al Otaiba, General Manager of Corporate Banking Group (UAE) & Deputy Senior General Manager of Corporate Investment Banking Group, National Bank of Abu Dhabi; and A. Munim Al-Rubaie, Group Managing Partner of Baker Tilly MKM Chartered Accountants.

OBG's latest report on Abu Dhabi's economy includes a detailed, sector-by-sector guide for foreign investors, together with a wide range of interviews with the most prominent political, economic and business leaders, including Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority (EAA) of Abu Dhabi, Lord Peter Mandelson, UK Secretary of State for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform and Bernard Kouchner, French Minister of Foreign Affairs.

High profile personalities from politics and business, such as Nasser Alsowaidi, Chairman of the Department of Economic Development (DED) Abu Dhabi and Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, also give their views on Abu Dhabi's development.

The Report: Abu Dhabi 2009 looks in detail at the significant investment that the government is making in heavy industry in line with its move to further diversify the economy.

As the shift towards downstream industries gathers pace, the new report provides an insight into the areas of business that are witnessing significant growth, including particular emphasis on the major emerging fields of petrochemicals and plastics.

With expectations running high as Abu Dhabi looks towards the construction of the Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone, The Report: Abu Dhabi 2009 analyses the roadmap of what may well prove to be the world's largest and most integrated industrial zones.

It also considers the important contribution that Abu Dhabi's gas reserves are set to make with demand forecast to rise in the coming years, while analysing the dominant role that oil continues to play in economic activity.

As Abu Dhabi looks to broaden its appeal to visitors, The Report: Abu Dhabi 2009 explores the steps that the Emirate is taking to tap into high-end tourism to complement its already healthy business niche market.

The publication provides detailed coverage of the cultural and eco-tourism projects earmarked for Abu Dhabi, with a careful analysis of the huge potential that exists in the picturesque region of Al Ain.

The Report: Abu Dhabi 2009 has been produced in partnership with National Bank of Abu Dhabi, as OBG's banking partner; Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, as OBG's Islamic financial services partner; ReedSmith as its legal partner; and BakerTilly MKM Chartered Accountants, as its accountancy partner.

Oliver Cornock, OBG's Regional Editor, said that given the global economic environment over the past 12 months, Abu Dhabi's strong performance, and positive outlook has led to interest in the Emirate never being greater.

"The abilities of the government to continue to fund major infrastructure projects and keep to their development strategy will ensure Abu Dhabi is in a very strong position when the global market picks up," he said.

Michelle Solomon, OBG's Country Director, agreed, saying the Emirate had instilled great confidence in the international business community by mapping out and standing by its five-year Abu Dhabi Strategic Plan 2008-2012.

She also highlighted the important role that OBG's partners had played in producing The Report: Abu Dhabi 2009.

"Our partners have used their expertise to provide OBG's team with high-level credible and accurate analysis of Abu Dhabi's economic developments. This first-class business intelligence will help ensure that The Report: Abu Dhabi 2009 offers key decision-makers and potential investors the information they require,"

she said.

The Report: Abu Dhabi 2009 marks the culmination of more than ten months of groundbreaking field research by a team of analysts from OBG, assessing trends and developments in all major sectors of the economy, including energy, industry, finance, banking, tourism, transport and real estate.

Available in print form and online, it forms part of the range of OBG's publications renowned as leading sources of information on developing and emerging economies around the world.