Furthermore, Mr Al Gergawi announced the appointment of Saeed Al-Muntafiq as Chief Executive Officer of Tatweer. Mr Al Muntafiq is also Director General of the Dubai Development and Investment Authority.

Tatweer will drive the development of a group of companies which have such diverse interests as energy, tourism leisure and entertainment, industrial, and healthcare but which also have a common purpose to deliver long-term growth for all aspects of life in Dubai.

Tatweer's portfolio of companies will include Dubailand, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai Industrial City, Dubai Energy, Dubai Mercantile Exchange, Global Village and Moutamarat. It will act as a corporate centre setting strategic direction and targets for the entire portfolio and assisting companies in business development, investment planning and talent management. It will also bring the companies in line with international best practice, quality and health and safety standards.

Dubailand launched in October 2003, is well on its way to creating the region's - if not the world's - largest entertainment, tourism, leisure and lifestyle complex in the UAE. It sprawls across three billion square feet of land and offers a variety of experiences for families and individuals of any age.

Dubailand offers an unmatched mix of day and night activities and a variety of themed accommodations to appeal to the widest tourist segments across genders, age groups, world regions and activity preferences.

Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) was launched in November 2002 to fill the gap between Europe and South East Asia by establishing a regional gateway for customers and patients to receive world-class healthcare and to enjoy first class medical and wellness services.

DHCC is made up of a core Academic Medical Centre (AMC) comprising Harvard Medical School Dubai Centre (HMSDC), Institute for Postgraduate Education and Medical research, a University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and the Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical research (DHFMR). Complementing the AMC, DHCC has Medical and Wellness Clusters of world-class private healthcare institutions.

Some of the other renowned partners who have joined DHCC are Mayo Clinic, AstraZeneca, Harvard Medical International, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Centre and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

Dubai Industrial City is an industrial zone that clusters manufacturing facilities in high value sectors. It provides a business environment that aims to attract companies from around the world with the very best in infrastructure, logistics and skilled labour, combined with low costs and a pro-business regulatory framework.

Launched in November 2004, Dubai Industrial City covers 560 million square feet of land close to the commercial centre of Jebel Ali. Closely linked to the logistics hub, transPARK Dubai, it focuses on the sectors of machinery and mechanical equipment, base metals, food and beverages, transport equipment, chemicals and mineral products.

The growth of the Dubai economy is being illustrated by the sustained increase in GDP as well as the growth in population and tourism. Dubai Industrial City will take advantage of this growth and combine a world class environment for manufacturing with a strategic geographic location and a cost base that makes it globally competitive.

By creating a destination that empowers the manufacturing sector in an environment that fosters growth, Dubai Industrial City will become one of the most active industrial centres in the world.

Dubai Energy was launched in June 2005 to spearhead Dubai's investments in strategic regional and global energy opportunities. It will focus on building a diversified global energy investment portfolio.

Dubai Energy concentrates on strategic opportunities that will broaden its trade relationships and will play a vital role in developing the importance of Dubai and the UAE in the dynamic global energy landscape.

Dubai Mercantile Exchange was launched in June 2005 and is the first energy futures exchange in the Middle East and a joint venture between the leading commodities exchange, NYMEX and Dubai Holding.

The DME will be a world-class, highly sophisticated energy exchange that will provide price transparency in the world's principal oil region providing a benchmark for crude oil pricing. It will also strengthen Dubai's ties with the international finance and commodities trading community and will develop itself as the gateway between the world's energy market and the Middle East.

Global Village - located in Dubailand, Global Village is Dubai's exciting new tourism destination which started off as a huge cultural entertainment centre to cater to the need for a central meeting point where different countries could showcase the myriad cultures. Over the years it has grown into a star attraction among UAE nationals, resident expatriates from over 160 different countries and visitors from across the world.

Today, this major crowd-puller has been transformed into a unique international destination for tourism, entertainment, leisure and culture. As a world-class tourism destination, the Global Village brings together diverse customs and cultures covering a broad spectrum of activities including music, dance, arts and handicrafts, theatre, costumes and cuisine of different countries.

Moutamarat, launched in June 2005, is a Dubai Holding joint venture with Saudi Research and Publishing Company (SRPC). Moutamarat manages major conferences and exhibitions that will facilitate transfer of knowledge and technology across the Middle East.

Moutamarat is developing its own portfolio of conferences and exhibitions with a strong focus on quality, innovative research and a clear sense to serve the Arab business community and the public interest.

Any opinions, advice, statements, offers or other information expressed in this section of the AME Info Web site are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of AME Info FZ LLC. AME Info FZ LLC is not responsible or liable for the content, accuracy or reliability of any material, advice, opinion or statement in this section of the AME Info Web site.

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