Rolls showroom open as Abu Dhabi provides 176 per cent sales rise
Rory Jones
The Middle East made up 15 per cent of worldwide Rolls-Royce sales last year, helping to drive the car maker's rapid growth.
The luxury manufacturer sold 406 luxury cars in the region, of a total 2,711 around the world last year. The global figure is a 171 per cent increase from 2009.
Sales in Abu Dhabi were up 176 per cent last year from 2009, prompting Abu Dhabi Motors, the car maker's local partner, to invest in a showroom covering 894 square metres.
Speaking at the launch of the showroom in Umm al Nar, Arno Husselmann, the general manager for Abu Dhabi Motors, said anything other than double sales growth this year would be a disappointment.
"We have had more than 117 per cent growth in the first two months of the year," Mr Husselmann said. "We'll certainly do better than last year, with the new facility and workshop."
Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, the chief executive of Rolls-Royce, said the Middle East was "still an important driver of growth" for the company and one of the group's top five markets globally. Rolls-Royce has dealerships in the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait, but Mr Mueller-Oetvoes said it had no plans to take the brand to showrooms to other countries in the Middle East.
"We are currently very satisfied," he said. "We've seen a lot of investment over the last few years in the showrooms and sales force [in the region]. What's true in Abu Dhabi is true for the whole region. We've seen excellent growth in the first two months [of 2011]."
Rolls-Royce sales growth was significant in many markets last year - 400 per cent in India, 600 per cent in China and 200 per cent in the US.
The Middle East is Rolls-Royce's third-largest market. By country, the UAE was its fourth-largest market behind the US, China and the UK.
"I would think the Middle East will continue to contribute a similar percentage in 2011 [to global sales]," Mr Mueller-Oetvoes said. "We're anticipating globally we'll experience strong growth throughout the year across all markets."
Abu Dhabi Motors is the sole dealer for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and the new showroom floor replaces the former facility on the Corniche.
The showroom features exclusive parking for Rolls-Royce customers, a coffee bar, a lounge including colour and trim samples, and a direct connection to the new dedicated Rolls-Royce workshop.
"This facility is one of our best, if not the best, showrooms," Mr Mueller-Oetvoes said.
Abu Dhabi Motors also unveiled one of 17 special edition Phantom Drophead Coupes to be sold in the Middle East.
The car maker will sell 100 of the hand-built cars worldwide to celebrate the centenary of the Spirit of Ecstasy, the figurine on the bonnet of every Rolls-Royce.
The car will have a unique bespoke exterior that the customer will be able to select from four newly created exterior paints, wood veneers and leather colours.
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The view from The National
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Essentials
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Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
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Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
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