Emergency Notification and Crisis Management Service

Company F-24 UK Ltd
Date 23.05.2014

How Dubai has changed since 2000!

Back in the 90’s,  I was a frequent business traveller to the Middle East in particular to the U.A.E. and Dubai and hence my joy when given the opportunity to represent F24 at the most recent BCI Middle East Conference and Exhibition held on the 7th and 8th May 2014.

I recall my last visit to Dubai which was back at the turn of the millennium the year 2000, this visit was actually a holiday where I stayed at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, a wonderful holiday and a fabulous hotel. Back in 2000 the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and its neighbour sister hotel Burj Al Arab were pretty much the most south westerly point of Dubai, everything further afield was pretty much sand and desert.
How things have changed! Towards the south west of Dubai the sand and desert has been transformed into the Internet City and Dubai Marina which is now a sprawling and expanding metropolis which has a striking resemblance to the Manhattan skyline, yet a climate of significant contrast to that of NYC.

In terms of Business Continuity there has been similar change over these years, despite the Business Continuity Institute (BCI) itself being established in 1994, the practise of BC in the early days was generally regarded as an IT discipline. However like the rapid growth in Dubai, Business Continuity has matured, changed and developed since 2000, specifically through the introduction of standards such as BS 25999, ANSI/ASIS SPC. 1-2009 and ISO 22301:2012. The BCI Middle Chapter was introduced in 2004 and it has successfully grown over recent years enhancing the attitudes and maturity of Business Continuity management across the region. This was most notable at the recent BCI Awards Ceremony which recognised Business Continuity professionals and organisations throughout the region for outstanding Business Continuity contribution, congratulations go to those shortlisted and the winners in each of the categories. Many of the organisations involved in this regional event recognise that their BC programs are still in the early stages of development and further maturity is required to develop ongoing management, awareness and to meet business continuity methodologies and emerging new standards such as BS 11200, the new crisis management standard.

F24 were extremely pleased to participate at this regional BCI event, it was an excellent opportunity to meet existing customers, industry experts, reconnect with former colleagues and friends and help strengthen future business growth in the region. I don’t expect it to be another 14 years until my next visit to Dubai however given the continued development plans of Dubai, I am certain that the future changes will be equally impressive regardless of the timeline taken to achieve, I am also confident that individual and organisational contribution to Business Continuity will continue to grow in the region over the months and years ahead.

Contact

F-24 UK Ltd
Cardinal Point
Park Road
Rickmansworth
Hertfordshire
United Kingdom
WD3 1RE
  • +44 (0) 1923 432 715