KDS and Dnata Travel Services, part of the Emirates Group and a division of Dnata Travel Services, one of the largest travel organisations in the Middle East, announced an agreement by which Dnata Travel Services has exclusive representation of KDS in the region.

This new relationship provides KDS global customers with a strategic advantage to deploy and support KDS travel solutions in the region and gives local sales and support to KDS product users.

Stephane Donders, Executive Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, KDS, said: "Dnata's unrivalled travel leadership in the Middle East, their travel information systems and their expertise in project management was the cement of our partnership. These are assets for KDS and now corporate users can count on Dnata to implement and support their KDS services in the Middle East."

KDS has historically been present in Europe where it leads the market in France, Germany and the UK; more recently the company has opened offices in Sydney, Australia. KDS forecasts that, driven by the booming Middle Eastern economy, demand for online travel solutions will take off in the coming months.

According to the Dubai International Financial Exchange, the Gulf region's combined gross domestic product is estimated at more than 600 billion dollars in 2006 and set to rise to 800 billion dollars 2010. The economic development of the Gulf region not only spurs domestic investments, but also supports growth in the rest of the Middle East and North Africa.

Iain Andrew, Divisional Senior Vice President, Dnata Travel Services, said: "Teaming with KDS required little thought, KDS boasts enough global household brand names among its clients to convince anyone of the quality of its solution. We are proud to offer this technology, corporations in the Middle East will now be able to optimise their travel processes and slash travel costs while providing added services and security to travellers."