Dubai: Du has awarded its first franchise licence to a UAE-based company, AST Telecomm LLC, owned by two Emirati entrepreneurs and brothers, Ali Sulaiman Al Taheri and Shahin Sulaiman Al Taheri.
"This is the very first achievement of du's partnership with the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Programme for Young Business Leaders part of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development," the company said in a statement.
Du has announced a dedicated email address where people can apply for a franchise opportunity by writing to franchising@du.ae
Farid Faraidooni, chief commercial officer, du, said: "We are pleased to award our very first franchise licence to AST Telecomm LLC, in partnership with the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Programme, confident in our belief that this greenfield company will prove to be a great success in the future.
"This first-of-its-kind franchise scheme is in line with our Emiratisation strategy, giving local entrepreneurs the chance to develop our country's SME business sector, thereby enabling them to contribute to the UAE's economy.
AST Telecomm LLC will start its first franchise operation at Dragon Mart, where the entrepreneurs will sell du products and services through their du outlet.
The brothers applied for the franchise opportunity through the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Programme for Young Business Leaders — part of Mohammad Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development and plan to open further outlets across the UAE through partnership with other entrepreneurs.
Du is franchising 18 out of its existing 35 shops and five new franchise outlets in 2010.
