Dubai sets up region's first outsourcing zone

Dubai has undertaken a major step towards attracting the region's outsourcing buisness by announcing the Dubai Outsource Zone (DOZ), which will become part of the Dubai Internet City.

The announcement was made by Dr Omar bin Sulaiman, CEO of Dubai Internet City, at Europe's biggest conference on outsourcing, Outsource World held in London.

Structured as a free zone, DOZ, the region's first outsourcing centre will offer 100 per cent foreign ownership of companies. It will offer a comprehensive infrastructure and one-stop service to investors in setting up companies.

India has been attracting a large chunk of the global outsourcing business, mostly cashing on in its quality and cheap manpower. DOZ will help many multinational companies to base their call centres in Dubai.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone, said: "DOZ is both inspired and driven by the vision of General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, to build Dubai into a global knowledge economy hub.

"DOZ builds on Dubai's past economic successes that have been inspired by Dubai's Rulers and is aimed at building our competencies in a fast-growing sector of the global economy. The DOZ initiative will add considerable value to both the UAE's and the region's economies."

DOZ seeks to build a cluster of outsourcing service providers that will bring such benefits to the global and regional economy.

A recent study ranked it among the world's three best offshore locations, judged on the potential of available talent, environment and economy.

DOZ provides a strong base for companies wishing to provide mid- to high-end IT and business process outsourcing (BPO) services.