Leading UAE companies are joining forces to support the International Standards Organization (ISO) in its 31st general assembly taking place in Dubai on Oct. 12-17. The event is being held in the Middle East for the first time and is hosted by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. Etisalat, Hydra Properties, Dubai Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), and General Holding Corporation (GHC) are lead sponsors for the General Assembly which will be attended by delegations representing 157 member countries. Sponsors also include the Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department (DNRD), the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), and the Dubai Convention Bureau. “Different public departments and private companies are showing great eagerness in supporting the UAE's leaders' initiatives towards abiding by the highest standards in different fields of their operations,” Sultan Bin Saeed AlMansoori, UAE minister of Economy and chairman of ESMA.” “Having so many leading local companies at the event demonstrates clearly the advanced level reached in the UAE towards adapting the highest international levels of quality standards and best practices.” Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim, CEO of Hydra Properties, said: “ISO gives exemplary service in maintaining high technical standards, and at Hydra Properties we are striving daily to meet global standards of excellence. Our values and best practices, I'm sure, reflect the spirit of the ISO general assembly.” Ahmed Bin Ali, Vice President Corporate Communications, Etisalat said: “We seek to continually improve our services and the experience of our customers. This depends on quality management systems which are assessed against international standards and best practices to ensure enhancing a Total Quality Culture across the corporation. Sponsoring this event reflects Etisalat's commitment to maintain quality management systems that enhance customer satisfaction.” The ISO general assembly, organized in cooperation with DNATA World of Events, comes to the Middle East for the first time, and to Dubai in recognition of the emirate's commitment to abide by the highest standards in different fields, as set by the ISO. ISO's current portfolio includes more than 17,000 international standards, and more than 1,800 of these have been adopted as UAE standards by ESMA. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates central bank has asked local banks to report any exposure to Lehman Brothers, which filed for bankruptcy earlier this week, by Thursday, three bankers said on Wednesday. The central bank issued a directive for all banks on Tuesday, the bankers said. “We will shortly be responding to the Central Bank request,” one banker said, declining to be identified. __
