Caterpillar is set to build a ‘Regional Training Center’ in Dubai, UAE at an investment of more than $7 million for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.

The 1,700-sq-m centre will offer hands-on machines and power systems technical and sales training to Caterpillar’s dealers and customers in the MEA region, said a statement.

It will employ about 40 people, mostly high-level technical staff who will primarily be recruited from the region, it said.

Currently, more than 7,000 technicians at Cat dealers in the region have some of the most direct connections with Caterpillar customers as they service and maintain their equipment. 

The training they will receive at the new centre in Dubai will help to enhance their skills and knowledge on both product and the latest product support technologies.

The centre will also feature a lab for Scheduled Oil Sampling analysis that will help meet critical customer required turnaround time of emergency samples and reduce downtime of Caterpillar products in the region.

It will be located at Caterpillar's Middle East parts distribution centre and Regional Sales and Marketing office in Jebel Ali, Dubai.

It is expected to be operational in the last quarter of this year.

Nigel Lewis, vice president, Caterpillar’s EMEA Distribution Division, said: “Our training centre in Dubai is a key part of our plans for the Middle East and Africa and will ensure Caterpillar and our dealers can be relied upon for providing unsurpassed support to our customers. 

“This is an important region for Caterpillar and we expect to see strong, continued growth for our customers, and we will grow to support that.” - TradeArabia News Service