Sumitomo Rubber, a diversified industrial manufacturer of rubber products such as tires, sport equipment and office automation equipment, has established a presence at the Dubai Airport Free Zone (Dafz).
“Unlike Western and some Asian economies suffering from a general economic downturn, the UAE and Gulf economies are solid on the feet benefiting from the  soaring high oil prices,” said Mohammed Ali bin Suwailem, sales director, Dafz. “The choice of Dubai Airport Free Zone as the regional office of so many multinational industrial companies from all over the world validates the excellent services and infrastructure that the free zone offers.”
Masaru Tabata, a representative of Sumitomo Rubber Middle East FZE, said among the benefits of having an office at the Dubai Airport Free Zone was that it was possible to establish a 100 per cent foreign company and also be close to customers’ offices. The advantage was also that such a company could drive its customers from and to the airport. 
Tabata observed that Dubai and the GCC were important markets for his company in terms of current sales turnover and future strategy.
“Since Japanese domestic and US/European markets have reached the ceiling recently, we have to target emerging countries such as BRIC and the GCC/Middle East region. In the past several years, we have invested much and expanded our operation in those regions actually, and we plan to continue to do the same in the future.”
He added that Sumitomo Rubber expected a high degree of business opportunities and sales and profit figures due to the booming economy
In the tire business, Sumitomo manufactures and markets tires under the Dunlop, Falken, Goodyear, Sumitomo and Ohtsu brands. In addition to overseas subsidiaries in China and Indonesia, the group carries out tire production and sales in Europe and North America in joint ventures with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
“Time is money and the savings in time and state-of-the-art facilities and services that we offer are a boon to companies located at the Dubai Airport Free Zone,” said Bin Suwailem.
Established in 1996, the Dubai Airport Free Zone is home to 1,425 multinational companies from various sectors.
Companies at the Free Zone enjoy 100 per cent tax exemption, 100 per cent ownership rights, and easy access to airport facilities, rapid cargo clearance and availability of competitively priced multinational talent in a cosmopolitan city. Leading companies located at the zone include Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Airbus, Isuzu, HTC, Benq, Victoria’s Secret, and Boeing.
Trade through Dubai Airport FZ represented approximately 7 per cent of total Dubai Trade in 2007. It contributed five per cent to Dubai’s GDP. Businesses at Dubai Airport Free Zone resulted in a 75 per cent increase in Dnata’s cargo-handling facilities at Dubai Airport Free Zone since its establishment. Dnata handles passenger, cargo, ramp and technical services at the airport. The free zone has contributed to a 100 per cent increase in the handling capacity of Dnata at the zone’s premises in 2005-2007 (current capacity 200,000 tonnes per annum).