The Michelin man is about to embrace the capital.
The tyre giant is rolling out five branches of its one-stop shops in Abu Dhabi as it caters to surging demand.
The company has opened five TyrePlus branches in the capital, which offer customers extra services such as braking or air-conditioned refilling.
"The customer needs more than just a tyre change, so we train the technicians here as well in oil change and brakes and shock absorbers, all of the ancillary works alongside tyres," said Christopher Preston, the chief executive of Al Fahim's automotive division, which distributes Michelin Tyres in cooperation with Central Motors & Equipment.
"What that means is not only can the customer get a full service here, but we can identify all of the safety and maintenance issues when he comes for the tyres," he added.
TyrePlus, a franchise of Michelin, already has 30 branches in the Arabian Gulf, 10 of them in Dubai, which it entered in 2008.
"We wanted first to find the best location and be sure that our model is really successful for the dealers, so we started in Dubai as the headquarters was in Dubai so it's easier to control and monitor everything," said Herve Skrzypczak, TyrePlus franchise manager for Africa, India and the Middle East.
"We adjusted all the standard operational procedures coming from the rest of the world. We first stabilised the results in Dubai and then we can start to expand the network when we are sure that it's successful," he added.
Tyre sales are a competitive business in the UAE, where hot temperatures mean drivers have to change them regularly. But the extra services offered by TyrePlus as well as its locations, two of which are downtown in Abu Dhabi's Al Bateen and Salam areas, may set the company apart.
"There is a move to move all car maintenance out to the Mussaffah area and the municipality is very cautious about allowing other works," Mr Preston noted.
The company aims to increase its presence to around 15 branches in Abu Dhabi over the next three or four years.
gduncan@thenational.ae
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
ICC T20 Rankings
1. India - 270 ranking points
2. England - 265 points
3. Pakistan - 261 points
4. South Africa - 253 points
5. Australia - 251 points
6. New Zealand - 250 points
7. West Indies - 240 points
8. Bangladesh - 233 points
9. Sri Lanka - 230 points
10. Afghanistan - 226 points
Other key dates
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Finals draw: December 2
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Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENomad%20Homes%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHelen%20Chen%2C%20Damien%20Drap%2C%20and%20Dan%20Piehler%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20and%20Europe%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20PropTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2444m%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Acrew%20Capital%2C%2001%20Advisors%2C%20HighSage%20Ventures%2C%20Abstract%20Ventures%2C%20Partech%2C%20Precursor%20Ventures%2C%20Potluck%20Ventures%2C%20Knollwood%20and%20several%20undisclosed%20hedge%20funds%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
