VOICES FROM THE TRANSPORT SECTOR
What measures are you taking to become an eco-friendly company?
We opened our shipyard in 2014. When we built it, it was in line with all the European environmental regulations. Therefore, it is easy for us to comply with the changing local environmental regulations. The UAE has committed to greatly reducing its carbon footprint, though at the same time we have to realize it will be difficult to run a zero-carbon emission operation in the region. Fortunately, there is a lot more interest in the environment today compared to nine years ago. This is evident from the number of large solar projects and wastewater treatment plants.
Do you have any new projects under development at the moment?
We have new eco-friendly and specialized shallow-draft vessels under construction at the moment. A few years ago, we realized the oil industry would need shallow-draft vessels, which is one of our key strengths. Therefore, we have started marketing these eco-friendly special vessels, especially in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia.
What are your goals for the coming year?
Our goals are to maintain and improve our position in the repair and new building markets. We hope to see more conversion projects, which is a positive addition to our repair business. We aim to do our best to ensure our new eco-friendly shallow draft vessels become a success in the market.
Considering the consistent growth in the number of passengers, what is Air Arabia aiming for?
As the leading low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, Air Arabia plans to expand its network even further in the region in order to improve connectivity and provide passengers with cost-effective travel. Our expansive route network and a multi-hub strategy allows us to achieve our targets in an efficient manner. With our plans to expand and grow in the region, we aim to become the low-cost carrier of choice among passengers and maintain sustainable growth across our entire operation.
The company has been constantly opening new routes in recent years. What other initiatives are in the works?
We have added 14 new routes to our global network in 1H2019. We launched four new destinations from our main hub in Sharjah to Kuala Lumpur, Tunis, Vienna, and Bishkek. Flights from our hub in Morocco commenced from Casablanca to Lisbon, Pisa, Prague, and Tunis, while new flights have started between Tangier and Lyon and Fez and Rome. We also expanded operations from our Egypt hub with new flights connecting Sharm El Sheikh to Milan Bergamo, Amman, and Luxor, as well as Sohag to Riyadh. During 1H2019, Air Arabia launched its new complimentary in-flight entertainment system SkyTime. We also received our first brand-new Airbus A321 neo LR airplane, bringing our total fleet size to 54.
VOICES FROM THE TRANSPORT SECTOR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry is encouraging firms to undergo “smart transformation" when digitalizing their operations or introducing Industry 4.0 technologies.
read articleSpotlight Feature
Making a Difference
Sharjah has long been a pioneer in the fields of culture and education since the beginning of the UAE. Thanks to His Highness' continued focus on culture, there has been an ongoing effort to focus on educating the youth and families, encouraging greater interest in the arts, fostering social harmony, appreciating diversity, and nurturing a more mindful generation.
read articleGuest Speaker
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka , Under-Secretary-General , UN & Executive Director of UN Women
Freeing women from the fear of domestic violence and opening up opportunities for them in business is not just about doing the right thing, but also serves as a potent formula for economic growth.
read articleInterview
Taher Abu Laila , Senior Director of Northern Emirates, Consolidated Engineering Company Khatib & Alami (K&A)
The concept of smart cities is yet to be fully realized, but K&A is pioneering the adoption of digital services and working with the public sector to move toward a smarter future in an organized way.
read articleFocus: Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park
A Walk in the Park
Working toward becoming an information economy, the UAE is cashing in on the high-tech dividend, and homing in on the Emirate of Sharjah, kudos goes to the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation (SRTI) Park.
read articleInterview
Abdulla Ali Al Mahyan , Chairman, Sharjah Health Authority & Sharjah Healthcare City (SHCC)
The digital revolution underway in the healthcare sector has not skipped over Sharjah, affecting everything from patient records and software-enabled diagnostic systems to telehealth, robotic surgery, and e-pharmacy.
read articleInterview
Khalid Jasim Al Midfa , Chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA)
Niche desert lodges, water parks, huge new infrastructure projects, and a world-class architectural restoration project are but a few of the things putting Sharjah on the global tourism map.
read article