Mohammed streamlines hotel investments

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, In his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, has issued a series of directives designed to enhance and streamline hotel investment and development in the Emirate.

The directives were made in response to recommendations raised by Dubai’s private sector developers, during a consultation workshop organised and hosted by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai Municipality, and attended by representatives of key investors in the hospitality sector, including Al Habtoor Group, Al Futtaim Group, Al Ghurair Group, Rotana Group, Dubai Holding and Emaar.

The workshop, held at The Address, Dubai Mall on January 16th, was designed to discuss the Tourism Vision for 2020, including the recent positive growth in the hospitality sector in terms of visitor numbers and hotel openings, to identify barriers-to-entry currently being faced by hotel investors and to find solutions to further stimulate the sector, particularly in the three and four star segment, as the Emirate prepares to welcome 20 million annual visitors by 2020.

The directives made by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum are the following: Hotel construction pre-approval process period to be reduced to two months - currently the approval process for private developers ranges from three to six months: A one-stop-shop for all sector approvals to be created- a single streamlined system will be managed by Dubai Municipality to help reduce red tape for businesses and ensure the new reduced approval timeframes are met: approval processes of planning permission for all hotel establishments in the Emirate to be standardised through Dubai Municipality - currently some free zones manage their own building regulation approval processes for hotels in areas across Dubai so these will now be moved to Dubai Municipality: and Government land to be allocated for the development of three-star and four star hotels - Dubai Municipality and government-linked master developers will work with DTCM to identify key locations for hotels at favourable investment terms.

Additional incentives to help ensure the development of the additional three and four star hotels that Dubai will need by 2020 to meet the growth in visitor numbers include: no fees on change-of-use of land for hotel usage, and the establishment of a special committee to review the re-zoning of plots: and an additional year of exemption of the 10 per cent Dubai Municipality fee for any three and four star hotels which begin operating before June 2017, based on the Hotel Incentive initiative announced by DTCM in September 2013.

Hussain Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, said, "Dubai Municipality is fully committed to working with our Government partners and with investors to ensure that we deliver on His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s directives and on his long term strategic vision.

"In partnership with public and private sectors, we will identify opportunities for streamlining in the hotel development sector, and work together to address them. Our aim is to continue Dubai’s journey, to further progress from our position as the region’s leading tourism and business destination to being recognised as a global leader in trade and tourism.  To achieve this, we will demand and help our partners to deliver world-class buildings standards and to create an environment of high quality, sustainable growth."

Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of DTCM, said, "The directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, once again demonstrate his vision and his unwavering commitment to identifying and addressing any and all challenges to growth, to ensure Dubai’s continued success and prosperity.

"Collaboration and consultation between the public and private sector is essential if we are to ensure delivery of the infrastructure, accommodation, events and attractions needed to meet not only the current growth of the tourism sector but the ambitious plan we have for future growth. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s directives offer new and exciting opportunities for hotel investors. They will act as a stimulus to the sector and help to broaden our current accommodation offering, particularly within the three and four star segment, which is needed to meet the targets outlined in the Dubai Tourism Vision for 2020."

Mohmmed bin Rashid, Mohammed bin Zayed discuss national issues

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received today General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

During the meeting, they exchanged talks on a variety of issues concerning the nation and the wellbeing of citizens, where they stressed the importance of promoting values of citizenship and community partnership.

Present also were Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and a number of senior officials

Mohammed bin Rashid attends graduation of 120 experts of UAE Assessors Programme and Excellence Experts Diploma

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has highlighted the importance of training and rehabilitation of young Emirati.

He made the remarks while attending the graduation day of 120 graduates of the UAE Assessors Programme and Excellence Experts Diploma.

Speaking to the graduates, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed said, "Our country needs your efforts to walk towards achieving the national march steadily and confidently and drawing new reality for government action and the establishment of the Future Government; our confidence in you is great as you are possessing all the components of success" .

He added, "We are proud to develop governmental work with Emirati hands and we are doing our best to prepare Emirati people and enable them in accordance with the requirements of the next phase of national work to achieve the national vision 2021"

Also present at the Graduation Ceremony, held at the Presidential Palace, were Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, in addition to a number of ministers.

The Sheikh Khalifa Government Excellence Programme organised the graduation day of the first batch of Excellence Programmes: Excellence Experts Diploma for Federal Entities and the UAE Assessors Programme for non-federal entities, as part of the programme's initiatives in spreading the culture of excellence, supporting continuous learning and capacity building.

Mohammed bin Rashid receives Jimmy Carter

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, this morning received Jimmy Carter, former US President and Chairman of The Carter Centre.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Carter exchanged talks about a number of humanitarian issues around the world, especially in the countries experiencing political tensions and natural disasters.

During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on the content and objectives of cooperation and coordination between the Noor Dubai Foundation and The Carter Centre on the treatment of around 18 million patients in Ethiopia who suffer from Trachoma disease over the next three years.

His Highness lauded the cooperation between the Noor Dubai Foundation and the Carter Centre on the treatment of eye diseases, not only in Ethiopia but also in various other areas with underprivileged populations.

The meeting was attended by Lt. General Misbah bin Rashid AI Fattan, Director of the Office of the Vice-President, Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director-General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai, Essa Al Maidour, Director-General of Dubai Health Authority and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Noor Dubai Foundation, along with the delegation accompanying Mr. Carter.

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