 Colin Leitch, managing director of Al-Futtaim Motors |
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Since that day, the people of the UAE have embraced the fine Japanese engineering provided by Toyota.
Aside from being a distributor of Toyota, Al-Futtaim Motors also holds the exclusive franchise to some of the world's top vehicles and automotive products, including Hino heavy-duty vehicles, Toyo and Chen Shin/Maxxis tires and GS and Panasonic batteries.
Meanwhile, parent company Al-Futtaim Trading is the sole distributor in the Emirates for Honda cars, motorcycles, marine and power products; Volvo cars, Chrysler and Dodge cars and trucks. It is also the sole distributor of Jeep in Dubai and the northern UAE.
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Managing Director Colin Leitch attributes the success of Al-Futtaim Motors to the overall drive of the company. He explained, "To be successful, the first thing you have to do is to look at your staff. I consolidated our staff. I've changed some. I've added some. When I came here, we were selling about 8,000 vehicles. Now, we're selling between 23,000 and 24,000 per year. We've also improved our infrastructure."
"Toyota, as a product, is an exceptional product," he continued. "There's probably not a finer product in the world. Obviously, I'm biased. But, having been in the motor trade for over 30-odd years, I would say that there's not a finer product made. The success of Toyota is because they put so much of the profit they make into the engineering. That's their success and that's been our success."
This firm commitment has made Al-Futtaim Motors synonymous with Toyota and Lexus, which enjoy undisputed leadership in the UAE in terms of prestige and the largest number of vehicles on the road.
"The UAE is a huge 4WD market. It's the biggest 4WD market outside Australia. We sell about 9,000 to 10,000 units a year. You have the different range of 4WDs- the Rav 4, the Prado, and the Land Cruiser, which is the finest 4WD in the world," said Leitch.
Recently, Al Futtaim Motors inaugurated its flagship showroom. The glass-walled, two-story building displays the best models of the Toyota and Lexus lines and incorporates a sizeable staff that is able to answer virtually any customer inquiry.
And, while deciding on that next purchase, customers can spend their time at the sleek Lexus café or at a sushi bar, which features revolving sushi boats. "No doubt it is the finest showroom in the Middle East. It's a magnificent showroom," said Leitch.
Al Futtaim Motors is also taking the lead in the world's new way of selling automobiles by going online.
It's newly launched Web site (www.alfuttaimmotors.com) provides comprehensive information, including colors and optional features, on every model carried by Al-Futtaim.
"We've just launched our Web site and we've received a lot of hits. We've actually sold about 14 cars from the Web site. When somebody goes to the Web site with questions they will receive a reply within 24 hours," he said.
"I see that the whole Internet is critical. There's a lot of information on it. This area helps to improve our services to our clients," he added, explaining the vital role of e-commerce in the future of the Al-Futtaim.
Having top-of-the-line automobiles, an attention-grabbing showroom, a knowledgeable staff, and a popular Web site, Al-Futtaim appears poised to reel in even more customers.
SHARP MIDDLE EAST FZE
The picture looks (liquid) crystal clear
Innovation. It is a word that companies around the world have used to define their brand and identity. Only a handful of firms have taken that word seriously. And Sharp is one of the few companies that have built a reputation for state-of-the-art technology.
Of all its innovations, Sharp is most proud of the liquid crystal display (LCD) technology. Being a world-leading developer of LCD technology and application, Sharp has applied the technology to its laptop computers, TVs, camcorders, cellular phones, microwave ovens, and refrigerators. In fact, Sharp also supplies LCD screens to other manufacturers of high-tech products, often competing brands.
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 Yoshikazu Saeki, managing director of Sharp Middle East FZE |
The company believes that its brand of LCD technology provides a clearer and more dramatic display, as well as increased user- and environmental-friendliness.
Having set up operations in Dubai, Sharp has consolidated its leading position to serve 77 countries and territories within the Middle East region. In fact, Yoshikazu Saeki, managing director of Sharp Middle East FZE, sees Dubai as the Japanese company's "showroom to the Middle East."
And with a significant part of Dubai's population coming from several parts of the world, Sharp has had an opportunity to show off their products world from here.
Although Sharp Middle East FZE has only been operating in Dubai since April 1998, it has reached the top position in terms of sales volume compared to the electronic giant's 25 subsidiaries around the world.
The achievement has been due also to the close ties with distributors in region which run as far back as 30 years.
For Saeki, much of Sharp Middle East FZE's success can be attributed to the infrastructure and business advantages present in the UAE, namely in the Jebel Ali Free Zone.
Meanwhile, Sharp Middle East FZE is working towards double-digit growth this year, or at least a 10 percent increase in sales in the UAE and the surrounding region. The company is relying in part on the tech-savvy nature of this regional market to reach the target.
Saeki aims for total staff efficiency through a "paper-less office." In the head office, everybody carries a Sharp laptop, according to Saeki, who insists that the spirit of innovation is what will take the company to the future.
Sharp Middle East FZE appears well-armed to take on the future, with its cutting-edge technology, long standing distribution partners in the region, unique consumer products, and the ability to serve its customers effectively and efficiently. With that, and the unwavering support of the UAE government, the company faces a clear and sharp future.
 Fareed Lufti, chief executive officer and director of Alliance Insurance |
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Alliance Insurance reaches the top
Alliance Insurance has become the top insurance company in the northern UAE, which includes the country's commercial center Dubai. Curiously, the insurer did not score that feat by pursuing big companies but rather by servicing small- and medium size companies.
The bulk of Alliance Insurance's business in the UAE comes from shop owners and their employees, as well as from setting up pension funds for businesses that are too small to implement benefits programs.
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"Each and every customer, no matter how big or small, is of equal value to Alliance. Many clients have been with Alliance since it started operations 25 years ago. And that can be attributed to the company's personalized customer service. Truly, Alliance is `insuring every walk of life,`` said Fareed Lutfi, CEO and Director of Alliance Insurance.
Alliance has captured a large chunk of the international insurance demands in the Persian Gulf region. As one of the UAE's largest maritime insurers, Alliance has played a vital role in ensuring that cargo to and from the Gulf Region arrives safely and that releases compensation claims greatly.
And, with sights trained toward the future, the company hopes to tie up with insurance firms in other countries, particularly in Japan, the second- largest insurance market in the world.
Alliance also looks well-positioned for the future in a highly competitive market. With conservative investment of assets, Alliance gives their policyholders stable backing. Offering a broad range of products, this industry leader has the UAE and surrounding region covered.
