With the regional retail industry forecast said to reach US $ 500 billion by 2010, Thrifty UAE, the region’s largest and fastest-growing car rental company, is looking to capitalize on this growth.
The car rental giant recently signed a major deal with the Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) Group and has opened mall counters in Deira City Centre, Mall of the Emirates and Sharjah City Centre in April 2006, offering transportation solutions to meet the varied needs of shoppers.
Commenting on the arrival of the Thrifty car rental desk, Jim Badour, Vice President of Mall of the Emirates said, “Since opening, the mall's unrivalled mix of great international retail brands and unique leisure experiences has been a major attraction for visitors to Dubai.”
“These tourists have a different set of needs to residents and it is important that we offer services tailored to their requirements. Car hire is one such requirement and we are delighted to welcome Thrifty UAE to the centre. They are the leader in the market and this sits well with our position as one of the most prestigious malls in the region and indeed internationally. Their excellent range of cars will be of great interest to our customers,” he added.
These counters will give mall visitors access to a cross section of customer services including rates and reservations, confirmations, cancellations, account information, payments, renewals and customer relations. “Footfall figures continue to grow across the UAE and no where is this more evident than in the shopping malls under the Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) Group umbrella. This tie-up affords Thrifty UAE a lucrative opportunity to reach out to a captive audience of visitors and residents who frequent these malls as they indulge in a spot of retail therapy,” said Khalid Al Moosa, Director, Thrifty Car Rental.
Thrifty Car Rental also recently announced a significant enhancement of their rental fleet, which now features a full line of vehicles, from economy through full-size cars, as well as minivans, full-size pickups, convertibles, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), all of which will be accessible to mall visitors in the UAE.
© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
