2006
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Diamondlease, 40% growth
UAE car rental firm Diamondlease has seen a 40% growth in business this year and it now has a fleet of 6,000 vehicles. Khalaf Al Habtoor, the Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group which owns the Diamondlease franchise, said plans are in place to double the size of the fleet over the next four years. 80% of Diamondlease's vehicles are rented on a long-term basis to corporate clients and individuals.
Sheikh Zayed Rd flooded
Traffic chaos ensued on Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road last night as a contractor working on a service road accidentally broke a water pipe, causing flooding between the Defence Roundabout and the Al Safa Interchange, reported Gulf News. The Roads and Transport Authority had opened drains and was also using water tankers to try and get rid of excess water. The pipe was broken at about 10pm opposite the Metropolitan Hotel.
Pilgrims killed in Saudi accidents
Four foreign pilgrims have been killed and 60 others injured, some critically, in two major accidents on the Mecca-Medina Expressway yesterday, reported Arab News. In one incident, a coach carrying about 50 pilgrims, most of them British, crashed 90km north of Jeddah, killing three people. In another accident about 100km from Mecca, a bus carrying 35 Indian pilgrims overturned, killing one man.
Mercedes E-Suite at DIC
Mercedes Benz has opened an E-Suite at the amphitheatre in Dubai Internet City where customers can not only take the E-Class sedan for a test drive, but have a massage or mocktails at a juice bar. The E-Suite, which is being staffed by Gargash Enterprises, is also offering customers the chance to win a Bang and Olufsen BeoSound 2 digital music player. The E-Suite will remain open until December 18.
GM, 21% Mideast sales boost
General Motors' Q3 sales in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East region reached 270,000 units. Maureen Kempston Darkes, GM's Group Vice-President for the LAAM region, said the firm had already exceeded 2005's total sales and was on track to hit 1m for the year. Year to date results for the Middle East show an increase of 21% over the same period last year.
Dubai, Sharjah target traffic
Dubai and Sharjah are to join forces in a bid to combat traffic congestion according to a senior official from Dubai's RTA cited in Gulf News. Salem Al Shafei, Director of the Strategic Transportation Planning department, said one of the main reasons for congestion was a lack of organisation in traffic flow in busy areas. He also blamed accidents and the many construction projects underway in the UAE.
42% fewer deaths in Dubai
The death toll from road traffic accidents in Dubai dropped by 42% in November, according to the Gulf News. The latest Roads and Transport Authority figures reveal there were 19 deaths last month, compared to 33 in October. The RTA put the drop down to the government's recent crackdown on road safety. On average, there was a fatality every 38 hours in Dubai, compared to one every 22 hours in October.
Rolls-Royce prepares for convertible
Middle East Rolls-Royce dealerships met in Oman to discuss after sales service, as a prelude to the release of a new convertible in 2007. The luxury car maker is also developing a completely new model, which will be cheaper than the Phantom, which is due around the end of the decade.
Bugatti Veyron in Saudi
The Bugatti Veyron is now available in Saudi Arabia, Arab News reported. The speedster has an 8-litre, 16-cylinder engine matched to a 7-speed double clutch gearbox and permanent four-wheel drive. The car can reach 100kph in 2.5 seconds, and has a top speed of 407kph. Saudi buyers are expected to account for 10% of all cars produced, according to a Buggati spokesman.
Toyota Aurion in Gulf
Toyota has brought its new Aurion V6 to Qatar and the UAE through distributors Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros and Al Futtaim Motors respectively. The mid-size sedan has a 3.5-litre V6 engine that can turn out 265 bhp and is linked to a a new 6-speed sequential automatic transmission. Toyota places the Aurion between its Avalon and Camry cars.
Audi drives S models at BIC
Audi will hold a three-week driving event at the Bahrain International Circuit to demonstrate its new Audi S models, Trade Arabia reported. The Audi S4 and S4 Cabriolet, the A6 and the S8, the sports version of the A8, will be put through their paces by regional media, VIPs and potential customers.
Free parking plan for Dubai
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority is considering offering residents the opportunity to park their vehicles for free in paid parking zones in front of their homes, reported Gulf News. An official at the RTA told the UAE daily that the authority is also looking at revising parking fees and increasing the number of paid parking zones in the city. Any new proposal will need sanctioning by the Dubai government.
Heavy rain floods UAE roads
Persistent heavy rain brought traffic chaos to the UAE yesterday as several parts of the country witnessed flooded roads and hazardous driving conditions, reported Gulf News. Sharjah received 51mms of rain and several main routes in the emirate were under water, causing large tailbacks. More rain and strong winds are likely this week.
Mercedes S-Guard at EMC
The Mercedes-Benz S-Guard, specially designed to withstand violent attacks, is now available from the Emirates Motor Company. The vehicle has a long wheelbase and comes equipped with a twelve cylinder engine which can generate 517 hp. Its armour can resist military-standard small-arms projectiles and provides protection against fragments from hand grenades and other explosive charges.
National Day parking bonus
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has declared that no parking charges will be enforced in the city during the National Day holiday from December 2-3. The RTA urged motorists to show co-operation when parking and to enable as many drivers as possible to benefit from the exemption. The move is part of a campaign to ease traffic flow during major public events.
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