Abu Dhabi-UAE: 20 May, 2009 - Emirates Motor Company (EMC), general distributors of Mercedes-Benz for Daimler Middle East and Levant (DMEL) and the flagship company of Al Fahim Group today inaugurated the opening of the world's largest Mercedes-Benz facility in Abu Dhabi.

The high-profile event drew a galaxy of senior government officials and dignitaries including Dr. Joachim Schmidt, President & CEO of Daimler Central/Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia, Mr. Frank Bernthaler, Director of Sales & Marketing for Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle East & Levant, His Excellency Saeed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, Chairman of Al Fahim Group, Mr. Rashed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, Managing Director of Al Fahim Group, Mr. Christopher Preston, CEO Automotive of Al Fahim Group and Mr. Irfan Tansel, General Manager of EMC.

The opening of the brand new one million square feet Mercedes-Benz dealership located in the Mussafah district of Abu Dhabi coincided with the unveiling of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

His Excellency Saeed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, Chairman of Al Fahim Group, said: "We are extremely delighted to launch the landmark facility in Mussafah as the 'New' Abu Dhabi is expanding around this area and we already see numerous, large developments under construction. We are grateful to the UAE Government for supporting private sector initiatives that has significantly facilitated our contribution towards Abu Dhabi's Vision 2030.

"EMC complements our group's objective of placing Abu Dhabi on the global map. The world's largest Mercedes-Benz facility has additionally consolidated the status of the Emirate as a key destination for the global automotive sector."

Mercedes-Benz's new E-Class Sedan sports a sleek and dignified design. With its sophisticated and powerful presence, it has set itself apart as a class leader in safety, comfort and environmental sensitivity.

Christopher Preston, CEO of Automotive Division of Al Fahim Group, said: "The new-generation vehicle builds on a model that has achieved success all over the world.  Mercedes-Benz cars in the 'E' series symbolize the world's most successful business sedan. It is our goal to continue providing our customers in the Middle East with all-round quality and perfection to ensure the highest levels of comfort and luxury."

Designed and created to accommodate EMC's growing customer base, the new EMC headquarters features a 4,382 sq metre showroom, 20,873 sq metre service centre with over 250 work-bays, 7,196 sq metre area for spare parts, a multi-storey parking lot and staff accommodation, enough space to fit in 50 airbuses.

Rashed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, Managing Director of Al Fahim Group, said: "Our corporate philosophy is to create a customer-centric environment, as the sole distributors in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain of the most luxurious automobile brands in the world. Our objective is to offer an environment where customers will experience a smooth hassle-free process whether they are buying, servicing or just visiting our new dealership.  We are pleased that we have successfully achieved this in our constant endeavour to surpass global industry standards."

EMC offers a range of unique premium services to customers to complement its profile as one of the most prominent service providers in the region. Amongst its various offerings available Saturdays to Thursdays, it has 'Car-for-a-Day' rentals for those wanting to maintain mobility while the vehicle is undergoing maintenance or repair. It also offers the 'While you Wait' option under which customers can avail facilities such as a coffee shop, children's play area and a special lounge with free Internet access that enables them to better utilise the time while awaiting express service jobs to be completed.

The new energy efficient office structure is built with three vertical openings ascending to the roof for filtering in daylight to add a sense of spaciousness to the facility. It additionally features glass exteriors and environmentally sustainable concepts symbolizing the group's core values.

Irfan Tansel, General Manager of EMC, said: "The new EMC headquarters has been designed to reflect modern aesthetics, keeping in mind unique elements that reflect the corporate identities of both Mercedes-Benz and the Al Fahim Group."

Founded by the late Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, EMC, which was earlier located on the Airport Road, was the first establishment for Al Fahim Group that has expanded over the years to accommodate the growing business. The new facility is set to become the world's largest mixed use Mercedes-Benz operations centre, making EMC one of the most prominent Mercedes-Benz distributors globally.

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About Al Fahim Group Profile
Established in 1958 by the late Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, Al Fahim Group is one of the largest business groups in Abu Dhabi and in the UAE. In five decades, the business has transformed from a simple shop in Al Ain market into a remarkable, multi-faceted conglomerate with numerous business lines and an array of growth avenues.

Al Fahim has a stronghold on luxury car sales, provides specialised services to the oil and gas industry, and is the largest private sector owner of hotel rooms in UAE. Also, Al Fahim strategically invests in Industrial Development, Travel & Tourism and Real Estate. 

About Emirates Motor Company
As the flagship company of the Al Fahim Group, Emirates Motor Company (EMC) symbolizes the phenomenal growth and success that the Group has achieved. As one of the Middle East's leading distributors of Mercedes-Benz, EMC is synonymous with immaculate quality in true Mercedes-Benz tradition. EMC has been the general distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Abu Dhabi since 1962. From the beginning, dedicated customer service has played a major role in the company's success. EMC is also the first Mercedes-Benz distributor in the Middle East to be awarded the ISO 9002 certification.

EMC markets, distributes and services all Mercedes-Benz vehicles from luxury saloons to the largest trucks and provides qualified service with the constant availability of genuine parts. Innovative, customer-oriented marketing programs designed to provide comprehensive support for its loyal clientele remain EMC's focus. Operations in Abu Dhabi are carried out from purpose-built premises with a well-integrated network of showrooms, offices, parts depots and workshop.

EMC is constantly involved in community-driven activities that include social, environmental, charity and sports efforts. Combining the finest marketing skills with state-of-the-art service facilities, EMC guarantees what the Mercedes-Benz name stands for the highest level of customer satisfaction.    

For further information please visit: www.sama-dubai.com, or contact:
Diana Al Shafie
Al Fahim Group
Tel: +9712 050 817 3514
Email: Diana.alshafie@alfahim.ae

Muhannad AlBadri
JiWin Public Relations
Tel: +9714 361 3333
Fax:+9714 388 8001
Email: muhannad.albadri@jiwin.ae

© Press Release 2009