UN Office for Project Services expands Dubai office

The Rapid Response Division includes an Emergency Response Unit, which responds to natural and other disasters around the world, as well as the Rapid Technical Services Unit which provides technical expertise including engineering and logistics to humanitarian projects. The Middle East Region Office will focus on building relations with both governments and private sector entities within the Middle East to support humanitarian efforts critical to the region.

The Dubai location was chosen because the UNOPS Rapid Response Division relies on resources such as the Dubai Airport, the Jebel Ali Cargo Facilities, the emirate's existing procurement capacity and favorable geographic location, to ensure that projects are served as rapidly and effectively as possible. In addition, the community created by the Dubai Aid and Humanitarian City bringing together all of the humanitarian partners, exemplifies the culture of coordination that UNOPS believes in.

The UNOPS Middle East Regional Office operates out of its new building in Dubai Aid and Humanitarian City, generously provided by the Government of Dubai 2 years ago. The facility in DAHC, designed to the specific needs of UNOPS, has become the critical logistics nerve center coordinating development projects in post conflict countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, Sudan, and others; and providing critical support to emergencies like the Tsunami and Pakistan Earthquake.

Commenting on the expansion of the Dubai office, UNOPS' Executive Director a.i., Mr. Gilberto Flores acknowledged the generous support provided by the Government of Dubai: "That support has ensured that we could truly strengthen UNOPS capacity to deliver rapid response support. Dubai provides many advantages as a city and location. We hope that in partnership with its thriving private sector, we can deliver excellent services and that contribute to saving lives and help people rebuild their future after crises"

Gary Helseth, Chief of the Rapid Response Division and Director of the Middle East Regional Office said:

"We have been working with the Government of Dubai and DAHC to leverage the Dubai location as a support centre of our critical projects in the field. The expansion of our operations in Dubai is a testament to the capacity that has been delivered over the past few years. It also shows our commitment to improve the quality of service to our clients around the world, by utilizing the resources Dubai and the Middle East Region provide."

Bruce Mckerrow, Infrastructure Technical Advisor said: "Dubai is setting world building records and standards, which makes it the perfect place to locate our Infrastructure Technical unit. In Dubai we not only have access to the best building companies in the world, the best materials, but we are also constantly surrounded by building techniques and design that inspire the team. We couldn't imagine a better place to be."

According to Charles Callanan - Large Scale Operations Technical Advisor, UNOPS, only Dubai can handle the number of staff that UNOPS needs to transport, house, orientate, and train to service their different projects around the world. "From Census's, to Elections, to Currency Conversions, we need to mobilize the best experts from around the world, and prepare them quickly to go into harsh field conditions. Dubai gives us the resources to get them in, trained, and out to the field, fully equipped within hours and days not weeks and months," he explained.