25th February 2009, Abu Dhabi- Al Taif Technical Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala), and the leading provider of maintenance, repair & overhaul and upgrade services for heavy utility vehicles, ground support equipment and fighting platforms, signed today, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Al Masaood leading specialists in MTU diesel engines repair and maintenance.

Present during the signing were Cyril Arar, CEO of Al Taif Technical Services and Eng. Safwat Ali Farhat, General Manager of Al Masaood. The MOU's primary objective is to serve the UAE Armed Forces General Headquarters/General Maintenance Corps in supporting the maintenance and repair of their diesel engine capabilities. Al Masaood known for their efficiency and effectiveness allows this collaboration to provide mutual benefit for both parties.

Cyril Arar, CEO of Al Taif said: "This MOU is another strong link that will create and provide a network of mission critical, cost effective and efficient, support services for the UAE Armed Forces. The partnership with Al Masaood adds another dimension to Al Taif's existing capabilities and will further demonstrate our ability to meet the ever-growing needs of the Armed Forces".

"Our experience in this space makes us a perfect partner for Al Taif, as they strive to provide first class support services to the UAE Armed Forces". Eng. Safwat Ali Farhat, General Manager of Al Masaood.

The announcement for the MOU was made during the fourth day of IDEX 2009, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region's largest defence exhibition and conference. IDEX is the foremost venue for defence business and is the ultimate event for government officials and military personnel for sourcing of the most state-of-the-art technology and equipment for land, sea and air.

The international exhibition, held from 22-26 February 2009 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), gathered over 900 local and international companies - presenting the broadest range of suppliers, delegations, industry analysts and military strategists. 

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About Al Taif Technical Services:
Al Taif Technical Services is a leading Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services provider for defence-related land systems, armoured combat vehicles, main battle tanks, tracked and wheeled heavy utility and ground support equipment in the UAE and the Gulf region.

The Company was launched by Mubadala Development Company in late 2006, and operates in close collaboration with the General Head Quarters (GHQ) of the UAE Armed Forces.

With global expertise and partnerships, a significant skills base, first-class facilities, local knowledge and the commitment to building a sustainable and commercially viable support system for the UAE and regional armed forces, Al Taif is fast becoming a centre of excellence and a regional partner of choice.

About Al Masaood
Al Masaood supports the UAE Armed Forces in the maintenance and repair of Trucks and Equipment. In addition to that, Al Masaood is also the sole agent of the maintenance and repair of MTU diesel engines in UAE. 

About Edelman
Edelman is the world's leading independent public relations firm, with over 3,200 employees in 54 offices worldwide. Edelman was named PRWeek's "2008 Large Agency of the Year," Holmes Report's "2008 Global Agency of the Year," and listed as top-10 firm in Advertising Age's "2007 Agency A-List," the first and only PR firm to receive this recognition. In 2007, CEO Richard Edelman was honored as Agency Executive of the Year by Advertising Age and "Most Powerful PR Executive" by PRWeek. For more information, visit www.edelman.com.

For more information, please contact:
AL TAIF, A MUBADALA COMPANY
Matthew Cochran
Director of Business Development & Commercialization
Al Taif Technical Services
A Mubadala Company
Tel: +971 2 4185508
Email: CochranM@altaif.ae

Mariam Bumajeed
Manager, PR & Marketing
Office of Commercialization
Tel: +971 2 4185534
Email: bumajeedm@altaif.ae

Elizabeth Lockett
Senior Accout Executive
Edelman Abu Dhabi and Middle East
e: Elizabeth.Lockett@edelman.com
m: +971 50 441 6265
t: +971 2 406 9848
f: +971 2 406 9810

© Press Release 2009