Dubal sponsors aluminium Dubai 2009
State-owned aluminium giant is a major global player and a key driver of the Middle East’s emergence as an important hub of the aluminium industry.
Having begun operating in 1979, Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (“DUBAL”), the world’s largest modern smelter with a captive power station, is one of the longest-standing and best-established businesses in the UAE. The company, renowned as Dubai’s industrial flagship, is not only one of the largest non-oil contributors to the economy of the Emirate, but is also an industry leader in the Middle East – both in the aluminium sector and across many other facets of business.
Acknowledging the responsibilities that come with this status, DUBAL – which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year – is the Platinum sponsor of Aluminium Dubai 2009, which takes place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 29 to 31 March. The exhibition is expected to feature a broad range of exhibitors, including aluminium manufacturers and suppliers of technologies and equipment used in smelting, extrusion and fabrication of aluminium; as well as vendors of other services used in aluminium production, such as tooling, plant equipment and engineering.
Commenting on the company’s involvement in Aluminium Dubai 2009, Walid Al Attar (Vice President: Marketing & Sales) said, “DUBAL has played a key role in developing the regional aluminium industry into a significant hub. Not only have we grown steadily into a major, global player with a smelter of capacity of 960,000 tonnes primary aluminium per year; but we’ve also networked closely with regional aluminium players on industry-related matters – including lobbying against the 6 per cent EU tariff; establishing the Arab Aluminium forum which celebrated its 25th anniversary year in 2008; and forming the Gulf Aluminium Council, which was formally announced earlier this year.
“Moreover, DUBAL’s growth over the years has been undertaken responsibly,” Al Attar adds. “We have invested substantially in technology with the aim of protecting the environment from the impacts of our operations while simultaneously safeguarding the health and well-being of our employees and people in the greater community. We have also led the quality movement in the UAE by conforming to the highest quality standards, in terms of both our products and services. By building our business on these tenets, DUBAL has attained world-class status as well as a strong brand reputation internationally. We are intensely proud of our achievements to date, and are pleased to have the opportunity to showcase them in our own city.”
As a good corporate citizen, DUBAL supports initiatives, projects and events that promote Dubai to the rest of the world. “Being a wholly state-owned enterprise, DUBAL is keenly aware of its duties and therefore diligently partners with the Dubai government to uplift the local community,” explains Al Attar. “For example, we engage in corporate sponsorship of world-class sporting and industry events – such as the annual Dubai Desert Classic, and Aluminium Dubai 2009 – that highlight Dubai’s superb tourism and business infrastructure to international audiences while demonstrating the city’s innovative and cosmopolitan flair. We also give generously of our company’s time, financial resources and expertise to support a broad range of community-orientated events and activities.”
Emirates Aluminium (“EMAL”), the green-field smelter development at Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi in which DUBAL is a joint venture partner and is providing both leading edge smelting technology and technical expertise, will also have a stand at Aluminium Dubai 2009. The relatively close proximity of the two companies’ stands will enable visitors to meet with representatives of both: an important dynamic given that DUBAL will be responsible for marketing EMAL’s entire metal production from the moment the plant is commissioned (the first phase is scheduled to come on stream by late-2009/early-2010).
