Dubai, UAE, 5^th November 2002

Comtrust the e-solutions business unit of Etisalat, today announced Eqarat.com as the latest organization to subscribe to the company’s dedicated ehosting programme. Eqarat.com, the first online real estate management business in the Middle East, has subscribed to Comtrust’s eHosting services, and will host its web facilities at the data center in Abu Dhabi.

The new deal will see Eqarat.com outsource its online presence and related technical requirements to experienced and technically proficient Comtrust staff, thereby allowing them to concentrate on revenue generating opportunities in their own business. Ahmad Abdul Karim Julfar, General Manager, Comtrust said, “The partnership with Eqarat.com is part of a growing trend within the Middle East as organizations become aware of the business benefits in outsourcing their IT requirements. Eqarat.com have realized they are better served by utilizing the local knowledge and expertise of our workforce, whilst still maintaining complete control over their own IT strategy.”

Eqarat.com offers both investors and property owners the opportunity to buy and sell real estate online and offline, dealing with a wide range of commercial and residential projects including apartment blocks, villas, hotels and factories. The website caters for both UAE nationals and international customers additionally providing other finance and property-related services. As the first ‘New Economy’ real estate management company in the Middle East, its main focus is to ensure buyers and sellers transact business in the most convenient way possible, through an interactive website that assists investors to make decisions in the presence of up-to-date market data.

Mr. Ali Rahma founder of eqarat.com commented, “The real estate market in the Middle East is one of extreme fluidity, where the real time information can be crucial. Without the necessary resource in-house to provide the IT infrastructure and support with which to publish this information, Eqarat.com needed external assistance. Comtrust provided that assistance through a dedicated team of IT professionals and infrastructure that is unrivalled in expertise and quality. We have now entrust our IT infrastructure to Comtrust, but have added peace of mind for our staff who will focus their energies on making our core business a success.”

Over the past three years, Comtrust has conducted an education and awareness program, highlighting the benefits of dedicated Internet hosting. In addition, Comtrust has heavily invested in state-of-the-art facilities and expertise to provide hosting services to rival those offered in the US and Europe, and present an affordable and viable alternative in the Middle East. Now, organizations in the region are in the position to host their IT infrastructures with Comtrust in the UAE, with the added security of locally managed network and facilities.