Dubai Intl named ‘Airport of the Year’

• Dubai International has been named Airport of the Year at the Air Transport News Awards 2015, recently held in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, who received the award at the ceremony, said: “Winning the Air Transport News ‘Airport of the Year’ award is meaningful as it was decided by the passengers that use our airport as well a panel of experts from within the industry.”
Dubai International won the Award based on votes from the readers of Air Transport News as well as the deliberations of a jury comprising nine executives and experts from different sectors of the aviation industry.

Investment
GGICO reports Dh115 million profit for 2014
Gulf General Investment Co (GGICO) reported a profit of Dh115 million for the year 2014, as compared to a profit of Dh110 million in the previous year.
The company is also up-to-date with its bank payments, with partial pre-payments one year ahead.
GGICO reported that its recent real estate sales launches were successful, with all units sold, although the sales will be recorded in 2015 upon building completion.
The company also announced that it had started many new freehold projects and expects to complete them in stages, starting 2015. More sales launches are expected in 2015 and 2016.
GGICO’s retail, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing and real estate development divisions recorded growth.

Retail
Ecco opens 17th UAE store at Ibn Battuta Mall
Ecco has expanded its UAE retail presence with the launch of its 17th store at Ibn Battuta Mall. The 1,528 square feet store will offer customers a selection of shoes, leather bags, wallets and accessories.
Consumers can choose from Ecco’s casual, formal, kids, golf, men, women’s and sports collections. The highlight of this store is the brand’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection.
Aija Karklina, marketing manager for Ecco Middle East, said: “We have been on a great streak in terms of targeting our core customers at strategic locations in the UAE, and this continues a series of store openings that we have done recently, which includes Yas Mall, Dubai Festival City, and the newly-renovated flagship boutique at The Dubai Mall.”

Banking
Habib Bank opens new branch in Dubai
Habib Bank Limited (HBL), the largest bank in Pakistan, opened its eighth branch in the UAE on Sunday.
The branch opening comes on the heels of HBL launching its car loan product in the UAE and the small business loan by the name of ‘Irtiqa’, which caters to small and medium enterprises.

“Since HBL opened in the UAE in 1967, we have been contributing to the country’s economic progress. We provide a wealth of services. The Jumeirah branch is the fourth branch in Dubai and eighth in the UAE,” said Afaque Majeed, officiating regional general manager at HBL.

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