More than 300 people helped Dubai National Insurance to celebrate the opening of its Beirut office with dinner at the Lebanese capital’s Summerland Hotel recently. Mr. Khalaf Al Habtoor, chairman of the Emirates-based insurance company, said he had decided to open an office in Beirut because “he believes in the future of Lebanon.” Although the Lebanese Trade and Economy Ministry had not issued licenses to new insurance companies for seven years, Dubai National Insurance, along with one other British company, received their authorizations to operate at the beginning of the year. The new DNI offices are in the Sin El Fil area.
Outsized balloons bearing the colours of the UAE flag hung from the chandeliers, and sterling silver baskets filled with chocolates were offered to all the guests, there were also three large cakes, the first decorated as the Lebanese flag the second with the Dubai National Insurance logo, and the third decorated as the flag of the UAE.