When Abdul Jalil Al Fahim imported his first Mercedes-Benz vehicles in 1962, Abu Dhabi had no streets and very few cars.
That year he sold just four vehicles.
But by 1964 his new dealership, Emirates Motor Company (EMC), had become the authorised distributor for Mercedes in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and construction had started on the flagship showroom on Airport Road in the capital.
As the years passed, sales ticked up and the showroom expanded. In 1995, the company had to add more buildings to its Airport Road base to accommodate the growing number of employees.
In 2008 it relocated to Mussafah, establishing the world's largest Mercedes-Benz facility, measuring about 92,000 square metres.
Today, more than five decades after it was founded, EMC remains the sole dealer for Mercedes in the emirate and one of the most successful businesses in the country.
"It started at a time when there were really no roads in Abu Dhabi and very poor infrastructure and it grew with the emirate, with the country," says Kamal Rafih, the general manager of EMC, the flagship company of the Al Fahim Group.
"It started to take off after Sheikh Zayed came into power and when the development programme started in Abu Dhabi and when they started to have roads infrastructure, people coming into the country, more projects, more construction and then it started to grow together," he adds.
Sales have risen and fallen over the years in line with the car industry's fortunes.
"During the recession, 2009 and 2010 there was a serious drop but since 2011, 2012 and this year there has been steady growth," says Mr Rafih.
In fact, last year was the company's best ever, with a 26 per cent increase on 2011 sales.
The most popular model was the E-Class while the CLS registered a 41 per cent increase.
But G-Class models are also very popular here, according to Mr Rafih, with new GL and GLK models launched in the second half of last year.
"It's the design. It's the association with people who drive it. It's the power of the car and it combines classic with modern, so classic design with up-to-date features so people just love it," he says.
"Mercedes is a premium brand and people in Abu Dhabi appreciate value and premium cars. They look for safety, innovation, for reliability, for durability. All these things are available in Mercedes cars."
EMC said last week the prestigious, all-new Mercedes S Class 2014 model, had arrived in its showrooms, and the firm also announced an increase of 7 per cent in sales for the first half of the year compared with the same period last year.
"With the exciting launch of the long-awaited all-new Mercedes-Benz S Class 2014, our loyal customers and Mercedes-Benz admirers are eager to explore this dazzling invention," says Mr Rafih on the company website.
"This is evident in the long list of orders we have been receiving from our valuable customers since last year.
"Hundreds of bookings have been requested and we are striving to deliver to our dear customers their lavish dream cars."
gduncan@thenational.ae
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
Brief scoreline:
Wales 1
James 5'
Slovakia 0
Man of the Match: Dan James (Wales)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
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The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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SPECS
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A State of Passion
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Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
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Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
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Quercus
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
