Bucking the year’s doom and gloom start amid plummeting oil prices and regional conflict, NIMR, the UAE military vehicle manufacturer, plans to build on its success story with fresh plans this year to conquer fast-growing markets in South East Asia and eastern Europe.
“First we were looking to target the Middle East and North Africa, we have contracts in Algeria, Bahrain and Qatar,” says Fahad Harhara, the chief executive of NIMR Automotive, which has manufacturing facilities in Abu Dhabi.
“In 2016 our prime target is South East Asia. We are targeting Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia; we are also targeting eastern Europe.”
NIMR is already working in North Africa following a 2012 deal to jointly produce vehicles in Algeria.
Overall, defence spending is forecast to remain fairly resilient amid slowing economic growth in emerging markets and is forecast globally to increase to US$1.68 trillion in 2016 from $1.65tn in 2015, according to IHS Jane.
“Rising tensions in Asia Pacific have seen a long overdue process of military modernisation move up the political agenda in a number of countries,” says Craig Caffrey, a principal analyst at IHS.
“The Philippines, Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam are all following China’s lead and we see no sign of this trend coming to an end.”
Middle East defence spending is expected to be flat at $170 billion over the next two years as eastern Europe overtakes it as the region with the fastest growing defence budgets, with double-digit increases in response to the Ukraine crisis.
After a turbulent five years, defence spending is set to soar in eastern Europe as countries move towards spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence. “Driven by the crisis in the Ukraine and Poland’s modernisation programme, Eastern Europe is now the fastest growing region globally,” says Fenella McGerty, a principal analyst at IHS.
“This position has been held by the Middle East for the last three years.”
Defence spending growth in the region averaged 13 per cent in 2015, up from 4 per cent in 2014, according to the IHS report. Notably, Ukraine’s defence budget increased by 70 per cent in the past year as Kiev responded to unrest in the east of the country. Meanwhile, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Latvia also enacted double-digit real terms increases.
“The regional surge in defence spending is particularly notable in the North-East,” Ms McGerty said. “We saw remarkable growth of 20 per cent in the Baltics in 2015 and this is expected to continue in 2016.”
Founded in 2004, NIMR, or “tiger” in Arabic, was established by Bin Jaber Group, before it was 60 per cent acquired by Tawazun Holding in 2010.
At the end of 2014, the army vehicle manufacturer became part of the Emirates Defence Industries Company, or Edic, which incorporates 16 of the UAE’s defence industry entities under one umbrella.
The formation of Edic is in the line with Abu Dhabi’s 2030 vision to diversify its economy away from its dependence on oil to industries such as defence.
Other economies in the region are trying to hastily catch-up, especially after seeing the oil price crash by more than 70 per cent over the past 18 months, falling from $110 per barrel to about $30 per barrel this month.
Saudi Arabia, for example, is set to reveal details of its new diversification plans amid measures to cut costs and for economic reform. Last month, according to Bloomberg, Saudi Arabia said it plans to gradually cut subsidies and sell stakes in government entities as it seeks to counter a slump in oil revenue.
The government expects the 2016 budget deficit to narrow to 326bn Saudi riyals (Dh319.56bn) from 367bn riyals in 2015. Spending, which reached 975bn riyals last year, is projected to drop to 840bn. Revenue is forecast to decline to 513.8bn riyals from 608bn riyals.
The 2015 deficit is about 16 per cent of GDP, according to Alp Eke, senior economist at National Bank of Abu Dhabi. Oil made up 73 per cent of this year’s revenue, according to the finance ministry.
Designed for harsh desert conditions, NIMR’s vehicles were first tested in real combat in Yemen last year. The Abu Dhabi company manufactures 4x4 armoured vehicles, known as Ajban, and 6x6 vehicles known as Hafeet. They can come as either a “tactical” armoured vehicle that is blast and ballistic protected for front-line battlefield operations or a “soft skin” unarmoured vehicle for utility and logistics purposes.
“People are buying tactical vehicles particularly because of the warfare that are taking place right now [in parts of the region and] people are protecting their borders,” says Mr Harhara.
With healthy order books until 2018, according to Mr Harhara, NIMR is increasing its production capacity to eight vehicles per day this year from one vehicle a day in 2014. The company is also underway with its “winning chip” the N35, a 4x4 or 6x6 armoured vehicle that operates in the desert as well as in wet conditions. The N35 will be perfectly suited to the eastern European markets, according to Mr Harhara. The first of the 4x4 version is expected to roll off the production line in the third quarter.
Despite coming late to the game and competing with the likes of America’s Oshkosh and Global Dynamics, NIMR’s strength lies in its agility.
For example, a new special operations vehicle can be produced over a span of nine-months – between the initial idea, manufacturing, and testing. This can take several years elsewhere.
The firm also plans to increase its vehicle line-up to 15 models this year from the current eight.
“We are pushing hard to expand our footprint outside the GCC and getting the NIMR brand known,” says Mr Harhara.
Real-life fast and furious
After a 30-minute tour at NIMR’s Automotive facilities and seeing workers as they assiduously assemble parts and wires around chassis of armoured vehicles, the adventure began with a desert ride on the Ajban Special Operations Vehicle (SOV).
Used by Special Forces, the open-top 4x4 SOV looked like the marriage of a safari Jeep and a Hummer. I was strapped to my seat by a tight cross belt and asked to keep my laptop bag tight under my feet, so it did not fly into the air over the bumps. The four-crew vehicle has a gun on each side, with an optional fifth seat at the centre giving an all-round situational awareness position. We took the SOV to the sand dunes, which were right outside the facility, the ultimate field operations environment for NIMR staff, who often take vehicles for desert testing there.
During the ride, I was accompanied by a seasoned driver, NIMR's sales manager, and a photographer for The National. The SOV is light enough for dune-bashing, yet powerful and stable. To get a good photo of the SOV, our photographer asked the driver to take us on a ride on one side of a steep sand dune – there we were driven at high speed at what seemed to be a more than 45° angle on the dune. After a couple of repetitions, I was left impressed, excited and exhilarated … yet a little nauseous after the powerful, almost gravity defying trip.
selgazzar@thenational.ae
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If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
MATCH INFO
England 241-3 (20 ovs)
Malan 130 no, Morgan 91
New Zealand 165 all out (16.5ovs)
Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47
England win by 76 runs
Series level at 2-2
Review: Tomb Raider
Dir: Roar Uthaug
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Daniel Wu, Walter Goggins
two stars
THE SPECS
Engine: 3-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 424hp
Torque: 580 Nm
Price: From Dh399,000
On sale: Now
The biog
Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology
Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels
Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs
Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Essentials
The flights
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.
MATCH INFO
Watford 1 (Deulofeu 80' p)
Chelsea 2 (Abraham 5', Pulisic 55')
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Match info
Wolves 0
Arsenal 2 (Saka 43', Lacazette 85')
Man of the match: Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal)
if you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals (more at www.hertz.com/etihad). A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
UAE WARRIORS RESULTS
Featherweight
Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)
TKO round 2
Catchweight 90kg
Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)
Split points decision
Welterweight
Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)
TKO round 1
Flyweight (women)
Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)
Unanimous points decision
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)
TKO round 1
Catchweight 100kg
Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)
Rear neck choke round 1
Featherweight
James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)
TKO round 2
Welterweight
Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)
Unanimous points decision
Bantamweight
Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)
Unanimous points decision
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)
TKO round 1
Bantamweight
Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)
TKO round 3
Lightweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)
Submission round 2
Lightweight
Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)
TKO round 2
Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others
Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.
As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.
Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”
Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.
“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”
Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
MATCH INFO
Delhi Daredevils 174-4 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians 163 (19.3 ovs)
Delhi won the match by 11 runs
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
Need to know
When: October 17 until November 10
Cost: Entry is free but some events require prior registration
Where: Various locations including National Theatre (Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, Zayed University Promenade, Beach Rotana (Abu Dhabi), Vox Cinemas at Yas Mall, Sharjah Youth Center
What: The Korea Festival will feature art exhibitions, a B-boy dance show, a mini K-pop concert, traditional dance and music performances, food tastings, a beauty seminar, and more.
For more information: www.koreafestivaluae.com
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Formula%204%20Italian%20Championship%202023%20calendar
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
