New in Qatar : 24x7 help for cars in distress

DOHA • Qatar's first specialist patrol-based roadside repair and recovery service, Raha Auto Assistance (Raha) was launched here yesterday.

Raha will take to the roads of Qatar with 27 fully-equipped patrol vehicles offering 24-hour on-the-spot repair and recovery service. It has plans to keep its fleet increasing regularly. Raha is also carrying out feasibility studies to expand regionally, the promoters said.

The promoters added that the Qatar Technical Inspection Company owns 60 percent of Raha while the remaining 40 percent stake is held by shareholding partners, Nasser Bin Khaled Al Thani Holdings and the Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Company.

To receive roadside motoring assistance, individual Raha members have to pay an introductory fee of QR600 per year. The membership covers each vehicle regardless of who is driving it. Non-members can avail of Raha's services but will be charged QR 300 and QR 600 for membership fee. Raha membership is available for all cars registered in Qatar which are less than 10 years old with a maximum weight of 3,500kg — in simple terms, virtually all cars and pickups. The services of the patrols have been included in the membership fee so there are no additional costs, other than any spare parts fitted.

From the end of this month individual and business members who have had a break down or an accident can call to Raha's 24-hour Doha Call Centre and a fully-equipped, highly trained mobile patrol will be sent quickly to provide assistance.

The 24-hour call centre has highly-trained bi-lingual employees.

The launch ceremony was held at the Doha Sheraton and was addressed by Dr Khaled bin Jabor Al Thani, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Qatar Technical Inspection Company and Ikram Hamdad, Raha General Manager, Chris Clibbery, Raha Director, among other officials. Dr Khaled said: "Since 2004, there has been more than 100 percent increase in vehicle registrations to over 90,000 new registrations in 2007. There are some 600,000 vehicles on the roads of Qatar, and this rising trend is expected to continue in the future."

Raha membership includes round-the-clock access to emergency roadside assistance. The service provides emergency assistance whatever be the cause of the breakdown with patrols carrying a wide range of guaranteed spare parts and specialist equipment to perform repairs at the roadside. Routine repairs such as tyre changes, battery boosts and vehicle unlocking services will also be undertaken, he added.

Hamdad said: "Until today, there was no specialist roadside assistance service in Qatar focusing on roadside repair."

Clibbery said: "Our focus is on-the-spot roadside repairs to get their vehicles moving after a breakdown or traffic accident — giving motoring peace of mind for individuals, families and businesses."

He added the patrols aim to repair seven out of every 10 vehicles at the roadside. "In the unlikely event your car cannot be repaired safely at the roadside within a reasonable time, Raha transports your vehicle and passengers to a destination of your choice in Qatar."

Source ::: The Peninsula / By Mohamed Salem