India's leading tyre manufacturer, Apollo Tyres, has set up a new Middle East operations

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hub in Dubai, it has been announced here.

Apollo Tyres is the 18th firm to move to The Galleries' A-grade offices and retail facilities in Dubai's Jabel Ali this year and brings the number of international and local businesses currently based there or undergoing fit-out to almost 50.

More leasing contracts are in the pipeline and the potential is limitless, the developer of the project said in a statement.

Apollo Tyres joins China National Petroleum, Siemens, Arup, L'Oreal, Ericsson, Kraft Food, SPX Corporation and dozens of other firms at The Galleries, where 395,000 square feet -- over 50 per cent -- of the total available office space is now taken.

Satish Sharma, Apollo Tyres' Chief of Operations in India, said the Middle East currently accounts for almost a third of the company's revenues from tyre exports out of India and Dubai itself is the region's biggest tyre distribution hub.

"Our new office at The Galleries cements our commitment to Dubai -- where we also have a 10,000-square foot tyre storage facility -- and enables us to boost our business across the region by addressing the growing needs of our customers here," Sharma said.

Tenants at The Galleries get the option of a Free Zone licence, an onsite Metro station, nearly 2,000 underground parking spaces and dedicated facilities management and tenant relations teams.

Bahaa Abouhatab, Project Director at The Galleries, said: "The arrival of yet another leading international firm at The Galleries further highlights its position as one of the UAE's key business locations. Our growing Galleries community now has almost 50 tenants, with more on the way, and we are delighted to welcome Apollo Tyres on board."

The Galleries is less than an hour by car from Abu Dhabi and just 200 metres from the Jebel Ali Metro station. The development sits on 215,000 square feet of landscaped, communal grounds.