RTA Partners with Etisalat and du to Launch ‘Smart NOL’ service

RTA Partners with Etisalat and du to Launch ‘Smart NOL’ service

RTA – Nashwan Atta’ee

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) today announced its partnership with Etisalat & du to launch its first ‘Smart Nol’ Service for Dubai commuters utilizing public transport. Smart NOL enables smoother travel and accessibility via NFC (Near Field Communication) enabled mobile phones.

“We are providing this service for NFC enabled mobile phone user via a special SIM card to use NOL services for public transport and in future for micropayments in UAE. Customers will have similar experience to NOL cards and there is no major change in using it. Currently we have more than 6 million NOL cards and we are expecting good adaptation from our customer base since UAE has a good number of NFC enabled handsets.” said Abdulla Ali Al Madani, CEO of RTA CTSS.
“By virtue of this pivotal service, you can use your NFC phone to check in and check out at the metro stations, public bus and water bus as well as reload and check your Nol balance” added Al Madani.
“RTA always endeavors to harness the latest technology so as to introduce to the public whatever makes their daily commute via public transport modes safe, smooth, enjoyable and assist them to reach their varied destinations in the nick of time,” he continued.

Commuters can utilize RTA’s Smart NOL technology by placing their mobile devices against the card readers at the passing gates of the metro stations, or validator devices onboard public buses and water buses. Smart NOL can be used to pay for daily trips via certified NFC enabled devices. Public Transport users can subscribe to the Smart NOL service through Etisalat & Du outlets and know what devices and model are compatible with the NFC service.

Khaled El Khouly, Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat, said: “The launch of the latest NFC technology solution will be the beginning of a new era on how we empower our customers as well as service providers in the country. This will not only revolutionize the travel industry but also enhance service levels for consumers providing innovative solutions and products.”
“The partnership with RTA is in line with our long term strategy to support mGovernment and initiatives raising the profile of the country as well as impacting the lives of the people of UAE,” he added.

Fahad Al Hassawi, Chief Commercial Officer, du, said: “We believe that our role goes beyond providing telecom services to be a catalyst for society’s advancement, through our involvement in projects such as this which revolutionize the public transport experience and support the ‘Smart Government’ vision. Our collaboration with the RTA to launch NFC is in line with our ongoing commitment to innovation and enhancing customer experience. This ground-breaking new payment system will make travelling across Dubai even more easy and convenient than ever before, and we are proud to be part of it.”

“Our relationship with the RTA is long standing and we proud that we are providing Wi-Fi across all metro stations and onboard, since 2010 we have ensured that commuters enjoy world-class broadband services on-the-move. ” Al Hassawi added.
The NFC SIM cards will be available at Etisalat and du business centers from Sunday, 29th September 2013. Customers can contact their telecom service provider or RTA contact center 800 9090 for more information.

Emirates and Etisalat top the list of most valuable GCC brands: Genius Marketing Forum 2011

Emirates and Etisalat top the list of most valuable GCC brands: Genius Marketing Forum 2011

London Business Forum Middle East to host a renowned Guardian Columnist on 31st May at its second event

Dubai, UAE, 25th May 2011: The ‘Genius Marketing’ international forum held yesterday 24th May, 2011 in Dubai Knowledge Village Conference Centre revealed that two UAE brands occupy the top two slots in the most valuable GCC portfolio GCC brand study conducted by Brand Finance.

Peter Fisk, presenter of the forum announced that Emirates took the first spot, followed by Etisalat, with a portfolio brand value of $3.622 billion and $3.390 billion respectively.

Qtel from Qatar was ranked third with a portfolio brand value of $2.949 billion, according to the Brand Finance study.

Hany Mwafy, CEO, London Business Forum Middle East (LBFME), organisers of forum, said that the event attracted more than 180 participants, including chief executive officers, vice presidents, directors and marketing professionals.

Mwafy announced that the second international forum will be on the 31st of May, 2011, at Dubai Knowledge Village Conference Centre, presented by renowned Guardian columnist Guy Browning. He added: “The second forum is expected to see even larger participation from the business community of the UAE and neighbouring countries, including Bahrain, Oman and KSA.”

Commenting on Dubai as a brand, Peter Fisk, who spent many years working with the likes of British Airways and Coca Cola, Marks & Spencer and Microsoft, Virgin and Vodafone, said: “The concept of genius brands is applicable to Dubai as this city thinks outside the box. It has achieved a lot as tourism and leisure destination and now it is time to position itself as an ideas’ hub of the region, just as Singapore has done in another region. Dubai realised that the world is changing and it has embraced this change. The city is inspired by its leaders who have the vision to lead it to new levels of growth on the global stage.”

Peter Fisk, who is described by Business Strategy Review as one of the best new business thinkers today, said he was delighted to present the region’s debut forum of (LBFME) in Dubai.

On the 31st of May, Guy Browning, Guardian Columnist who has counselled and entertained Guardian readers in his column, ‘Office Politics’, and whose highly humorous books include Double Your Salary, Bonk Your Boss, Go Home Early and the intriguingly entitled Never Hit a Jellyfish with a Spade, will interact with business professionals to give them insights about international best practices on using innovation in business. He will also throw on latest creative techniques for business people.

According to Browning, great ideas come from being both innovative and creative. Innovation is integral to business success but so many businesses fail to use them effectively, he emphasised.

Etisalat Partners with Al Barari to ensure Total Connectivity

Etisalat Partners with Al Barari to ensure Total Connectivity

Enables creation of a Self-sufficient Sanctuary with 21st Century Technology

Dubai, May 18th, 2010: As part of its ongoing commitment to providing a world-class communication network across the emirate, Etisalat has signed an agreement with the Al Barari residential project, to supply fast, reliable mobile phone, landline and data communications to each of its exquisite 275 palatial villa residences.

As per the agreement, Etisalat will create a dedicated communications hub, within the Al Barari development, which will be at the core of the telco’s local infrastructure, and will provide data-ready fibre optic cabling to all homes and businesses, as well as relay towers for Etisalat’s 2G and 3G services.

“One of the core principles of Al Barari was always to be as self-sufficient and sustainable,” explained Mr Mohammed bin Zaal, Chief Executive Officer of Al Barari. “Our alliance with Etisalat to provide dedicated on-site infrastructure works hand-in-hand with that principle, and it means we can deliver on the promise to provide every resident with active purpose-ready utilities as soon as they move in.”

For Etisalat, it has also provided an opportunity to develop a close relationship with Dubai’s most successful real estate story. “Our association with Al Barari provides us an opportunity to provide modern, future-ready infrastructure as part of our overall development strategy to bring the fastest, most reliable and technically advanced telecommunications system in the region,” said Abdulla Almana General Manager of Etisalat Dubai region.

Maintaining the integrity of Al Barari, which prides itself on its celebration of nature, has been a key consideration for the partnership. One of the most coveted addresses in Dubai, the secluded Al Barari development is located in the royal enclave and protected wildlife reserve of Nad Al Sheba and is built on 14.2 million square feet of natural and landscaped gardens. Etisalat has commissioned two specially designed palm-shaped communication towers to enhance the local mobile telephone signal, without compromising the aesthetic beauty of the project.

For both Etisalat and Al Barari, the partnership agreement offers a mutual benefit for both companies and, importantly, the residents and businesses who will enjoy the tranquil, sanctuary environment of Al Barari, while still remaining connected – at high-speed – to the world.

About Al Barari:
Founded in 2005 by Emirati entrepreneur and investor Zaal Mohamed Zaal, Al Barari was created to appeal to discerning clientele through innovative and exquisitely designed villas and apartments, matched only by the stunning landscaped surroundings of exotic gardens and waterways. Al Barari’s mission is to continuously raise the benchmark of property development in the U.A.E. through the creation of eco-friendly, sustainable communities and the implementation of superior standards in estate planning, environmental controls, and ongoing quality-driven management.

About Etisalat:
Etisalat is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world and the largest operator in the Arab world headquartered in the UAE.

Etisalat operates in 18 countries across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, servicing over 100m customers out of a total population that exceeds 1.9bn people.

In 2009, Etisalat reported annual Net Revenues of AED 30.831billion and Net Profits of AED 8.836 billion marking a 5% and 16% increase respectively, compared to 2008. Etisalat is rated by Moody's: Aa2, Standard & Poor's: A + and Fitch Ratings: A+.

Etisalat advises construction businesses on how to construct a sustainable ICT strategy

Etisalat advises construction businesses on how to construct a sustainable ICT strategy

Conducts focused ICT workshop for Construction Industry

Abu Dhabi, May 11th 2010: Etisalat hosted a focused group workshop for construction industry today to showcase how ICT (Information & Communication Technologies) can deliver the impetus to the construction sector and create a lasting business value. The one-day workshop, with a specific thrust on hosting and managed services, was targeted at construction focused business, like developers, MEP contracting firms, and contractors. Delegates from both large and small and medium sized businesses attended the event.

During the workshop, Etisalat demonstrated its end to end Managed Telecom & ICT capabilities and customized solutions for the construction sector. The focal point of the workshop was to guide the businesses to create a sustainable ICT strategy for future, and leverage the already existing ICT infrastructure, through managed services.

Speaking on the occasion, Abdulla Hashim, Senior VP, Business Solutions, Etisalat said, “The construction sector today is witnessing an inflection point, where businesses need to take prudent yet swift action. Leveraging technology hence becomes crucial, not only from a cost perspective but also from an operations perspective. Construction businesses in these times, should focus on their core competencies of constructing buildings, and outsource the development and management of their ICT infrastructure to ICT experts like Etisalat.”
With Managed services gaining momentum globally, businesses today are seeking expert ICT support, to utilize their technology infrastructure to the maximum, while eliminating the possible faults and downtimes, through round the clock proactive network monitoring and management.

“ICT can play a critical role in facilitating growth by allowing organizations to move away from a capital expenditure model to a operational expenditure model. With our end to end Managed telecom and ICT expertise and state of the art infrastructure, Etisalat can provide a very strong value proposition to drive productivity and optimize efficiencies across the value chain,” Hashim added.
In terms of Business Solutions, Etisalat today is engaged in delivering a comprehensive range of services encompassing Business Connectivity, Managed ICT, Business Mobility and eBusiness services, thereby offering organizations an ICT partner for better business.