18 May 2008

Abu Dhabi: A group of young Emiratis will introduce a mobile car wash service which will be environment-friendly, time-saving and cheaper than existing services.

"You don't need to wait at car wash stations but they will do it when you park your car at any shopping mall, club, hotel or any such locations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai," said young Emiratis Jasem Al Hosani, 29, Abdullah Al Shahi, 29 and Saleh M. Sandel, 27, who have set up Q2 company to provide the new service.

"Using a special technique of low pressure water and no-foam detergent we are able to reduce water usage to a quarter gallon per wash," said Jasem Al Hosani, General Relations Manager of the company.

US technology

Q2 has signed a franchise agreement with a US-based company which provides the technology to wash a car with less than a quarter gallon of water on average.

The service is based on Washing Kart technology that sprays a low-pressure mix of water and no-foam detergent in a procedure that takes about 20 minutes.

"The mobile unit operated by two attendants will be a perfect solution to the shortage of car wash centres in the country, said Al Hosani. He said it would protect the environment by reducing the large amounts of water used by concentional car wash centres.

"We thought of this idea when we noticed long queues at car wash centres," said Al Hosani.

"Wasting large amounts of water for car washing was also our concern," he said. "One of our friends who visited Argentina found this technology there."

Although they did not disclose the price of the service, they hinted that it will be less than that charged by conventional car washes.

A mobile unit will be displayed at the exhibition centre at the World Trade Centre in Dubai from May 18 to 21," said Al Hosani

He said the car washing units are ideal for shopping malls, hotels and large companies.

"We will provide the units and also attendants or training for their staff in case they want to use the facility," said Al Hosani.

By Binsal Abdul Kader

Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.