du plans a 100% Emirati-run Customer Care Centre in Fujairah

In a landmark initiative that demonstrates the company’s commitment to the Emiratisation vision of the United Arab Emirates and building the future of the nation – du announced in a press conference held today in Fujairah its plans to set up a 100% Emirati managed Customer Care Centre, which is to be located in the Emirate of Fujairah. The first-of-its-kind in the country, this initiative is being undertaken to create new job opportunities in the Emirate of Fujairah and surrounding Emirates, encouraging UAE nationals to build their career in the area of customer care.

“Our commitment to the Emirate of Fujairah is unwavering; as the country’s development soars and becomes an important hub for business and travel it is vital that businesses in the region take note and work proactively in establishing key services to support its thriving population. “said Farid Faraidooni, Chief Commercial Officer, du. “For us this involves ensuring that a reliable support mechanism is in place to cater to our customer requirements.  The newly established du Customer Care Centre is designed to do exactly that – providing a 24 hour a day support mechanism to cater to our customers across the UAE”.

Commenting on du’s undertaking, H.E. Mohammed Al Zeyoudi, Director General, Fujairah Human Resources Department, “It has been a pleasure collaborating with du to provide Fujairah and its surrounding Emirates with a first-class service while creating a substantial number of new jobs for the local population. While in recent years we have witnessed high business concentration and development across the region, such as in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, this recent initiative that we have undertaken with du will contribute to revitalising the country’s economy with the goal of cementing the Emirate as a business hub for the region. A truly innovative organisation that is known for its ground-breaking advances in the telecommunications sector, du has set a leading example for other businesses in the private sector as it empowers the local youth, demonstrating the true spirit of Emiratisation. ”

Scheduled to be opened during the third quarter of 2011, the new facility at Fujairah will enroll young dynamic Emiratis providing an equal career opportunity to both genders. The facility will be fully managed by du.

“The first customer care centre in Fujairah that will be operated by 100% Emirati staff lends itself to provide practical experience and hands-on exposure in all facets of running a call centre – from technical know-how to day-to-day operations. We are not just providing young Emiratis a job or a livelihood; we are offering them a career. A career, that is challenging and importantly one that exposes them to the industry’s best practices,” said Fahad Al Hassawi, Chief Human Resources and Shared Services Officer, du.

du is also participating at Fujairah Career Fair for  the fifth consecutive year and supports the show this year as the Diamond Sponsor. The company has introduced an online application system at its stand this year, where Emiratis can register their details and qualifications to create a database instead of submitting paper-based CVs. This is part of its ongoing strategy to create its own database of Emirati jobseekers through various channels including the Masar page on the company’s website http://du.ae/masar where both fresh graduates and experienced UAE nationals can post their applications. The company has over the years been earnestly laying a sustainable foundation in promoting and nurturing young talents in the country. “Masar”, du’s very own Graduate Trainees (GT) program has been institutionalised to provide young Emirati’s the required experience and exposure to the private sector.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Emiratis to join the fast-growing telecom industry and build a promising career in this sector. With the opening of this facility we intend to not only cater to our customers’ need for enhanced customer support but also support the cause of Emiratisation in the process. We are thankful to the Fujairah government for their full cooperation in making this effort a reality.” said Al Hassawi.

The Customer Care Centre will be located at the entrance of the emirate of Fujairah and is leased from Fujairah Charity Society. The area is over 7000 square meters spanning over two floors. It will have a capacity to seat over 150 customer care representatives on each floor.