MMI in position to capitalise on UAE opportunity

Mr Chapman, who is also Chief Director of Support and Development at Emirates Group, was addressing MMI's annual company meeting, held recently at the Grand Hyatt Dubai. The meeting brought together the company's full complement of 484 staff for a review of company performance in 2002 and to recognise outstanding staff contributions to the company in the year.

"MMI has started the process of re-shaping into a business that will be well-placed to take advantage of the growth and development of Dubai and the UAE, and to serve the growing local market - and increasing number of visitors - through all the services, products and consumer events that MMI delivers. The opportunity for MMI is very attractive and the strategic shift towards a focus on retail and leisure is proving to be absolutely right," said Mr Chapman.

Kerem Camcigil, CEO of MMI, picked out the highlights of the year, during his review of 2002, including the success of the Costa Coffee franchise and the launch of 'Seasons' - MMI's own-brand healthy-menu restaurant - which opened in Dubai Internet City in 2002: "Last year was a pivotal year for MMI with a number of significant developments, from the acquisition of OUA (Oman United Agencies), to the opening of four new Costa Coffee outlets in Dubai and the launch of 'Seasons'.

"MMI continues to look for new business areas where we can innovatively exploit our core competencies. We will continue to invest and to focus on the downstream, high value end of our business operations in retail and leisure."

Looking ahead, Gary Chapman added a comment about future prospects from an Emirates Group perspective: "The current year has been challenging - not surprising for a group with travel and tourism at our core - and it continues to be challenging. But the Emirates Group has fared incredibly well and the future looks extremely promising."

MMI, a member of the Emirates Group of companies, is a marketing company representing some of the world's biggest brands in the UAE and Oman, as well as its own brands.