Hertz UAE marks tenth birthday with growth forecast and car rental prize extravaganza

Placing a big emphasis on service quality, Hertz UAE has developed a network of 15 car rental branches stretching across the Emirates, and has constantly expanded and modernised its fleet, which is now nearing 1,900 vehicles, with an average age lower than six months.

Backing its plans for more significant business growth, the company will in the next two months open a customer service centre to route calls more effectively, while there are ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of its vehicle collection and delivery service, and upgrade its IT system.

"In the first half of this year, our revenue was up more than 60 per cent compared with the same period in 2002, while the market overall grew only by around 15 per cent," said Bob Farrow, general manager of Hertz UAE.

"This was despite the effects of the war in Iraq, SARS, and instability in the Middle East. It was also despite the fact that we are operating in a market in which all major international car rental companies are represented, and where there is a continuing proliferation of other car rental and leasing operations."

Added Farrow: "We aim to achieve more growth in the coming year, with the backing of our growing number of loyal customers. Over the past decade, they have helped Hertz UAE develop into one of the country's top car rental companies, and the prize draw we're launching this week is our way of saying 'thank you' to them."

Hertz UAE is 100 per cent owned by Al-Futtaim Group, one of the UAE's leading local family business organizations. The Group has more than 10,000 employees, and its myriad of business activities include major car dealerships, consumer electronics, insurance, civil engineering, hardware, advertising, construction, ship repair, steel fabrication, real estate and property development, with projects such as the $4 billion Dubai Festival City currently under way.