US embassy cable - 03ABUDHABI1478

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001478 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MARY R. CORSEY/DAVID POOLE 
SECSTATE FOR EB/ESP AND NEA/LAURA MALENAS 
US CUSTOMS HQ FOR STRATEGIC INVESTIGATIONS 
ROME FOR CUSTOMS ATTACHE 
DUBAI FOR FCS 
USDOC 3131 FOR FCS ANESA REGIONAL DIRECTOR BOBBETTE ORR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC, TC 
 
SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK PROSPORTS 
INTERNATIONAL 
 
REF A)USDOC 00754 B) USDOC 01173; APPLICATION NOS. 
 
D304672/D304689 
 
1.REFTEL B WAS A FOLLOW UP TO A REQUEST FOR A PRE-LICENSE 
CHECK TO DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY OF PROSPORTS 
INTERNATIONAL, BOX 26723 DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AS A 
RECIPIENT OF US ORIGIN GOODS OR TECHNICAL DATA. POST HAD NOT 
RECEIVED REFTEL A, WHICH WAS FAXED TO POST ON MARCH 10, 
2003. 
 
2. ON MARCH 12, 2003, COMMERCIAL OFFICER MARY O'BRIEN 
CONDUCTED A PLC ON PROSPORTS INTERNATIONAL, LOCATED IN 
DUBAI, TELEPHONE NUMBER 971-04-34-34-008, FAX 971-04-34-34- 
007. COMMOFF MET WITH MR. JULIAN HOLMES, GENERAL MANAGER, 
PROSPORTS INTERNATIONAL AND HIS ASSISTANT. 
 
3. MR. HOLMES STATED THAT PROSPORTS INTERNATIONAL IS A 
WHOLESALE COMPANY AND IS OWNED BY SHEIKH SAEED BIN MOHAMMED 
AL MAKTOUM, A MEMBER OF THE RULING FAMILY IN DUBAI AND AN 
OLYMPIC LEVEL MARKSMAN, WHO RECENTLY WON A GOLD MEDAL IN 
COMPETITIVE SHOOTING AT THE ASIAN SHHOTING COMPETITION. MR. 
HOLMES SAID THAT PROSPORTS INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTS SEVERAL 
MAJOR COMPANIES, INCLUDING ADIDAS, ANTIGUA AND MOOSE APPAREL 
FROM CANADA. MR. HOLMES SAID THAT PROSPORTS INTERNATIONAL IS 
MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION ADJACENT TO WHERE THEIR WAREHOUSE 
IS NOW LOCATED. 
 
4. MR. HOLMES SAID THAT ACCORDING TO THEIR AGREEMENT WITH 
BUSHNELL, PROSPORTS INTERNATIONAL IS THE EXCLUSIVE 
DISTRIBUTOR FOR BUSHNELL FOR THE MIDDLE EAST. BUSHNELL OWNS 
BOLLE SUNGLASSES AND SMITH ATHLETIC EYEWEAR, WHICH PROSPORTS 
INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTES. 
 
5. MR. HOLMES GAVE COMMOFF MARY O'BRIEN A COPY OF PROSPORTS' 
TRADE LICENSE ISSUED ON 04/05/1995 FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GOVERNMENT OF DUBAI. THIS DOCUMENT CAN 
BE IMAGED AND FORWARDED BY E-MAIL UPON REQUEST. 
 
6. MR. HOLMES SAID THE RIFLESCOPES AND ACCESSORIES LISTED ON 
THE EXPORT LICENSE APPLICATION WILL BE DISPLAYED AT THE 
HUNTING SHOW SCHEDULUED FOR ABU DHABI THIS YEAR. BUSHNELL 
PLANS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SHOW AS AN EXHIBITOR. IN 
ADDITION, MR. HOLMES HAS RECEIVED INQUIRIES FROM SOME RETAIL 
SPORTING GOODS AND SHOOTING ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE UAE ABOUT 
SELLING RIFLESCOPES. PROSPORTS INTERNATIONAL HAS NOT YET 
ORDERED ANY SCOPES AND THINKS THAT THE NUMBERS ON THE 
APPLICATION MAY BE OPTIMISTIC FOR THE TWO-YEAR LIFE OF THE 
LICENSE. IT APPEARS BUSHNELL IS SEEKING THIS LICENSE IN 
ANTICIPATION OF FUTURE ORDERS THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST 
OVER THE TWO-YEAR LIFE OF THE LICENSE. 
 
7. RECOMMENDATION: COMMOFF BELIEVES PROSPORTS INTERNATIONAL, 
WHILE NOT AN EXPERIENCED IMPORTER/EXPORTER OF FIREARMS OR 
ACCESSORIES, IS A RELIABLE RECIPIENT OF U.S. ORIGIN 
COMMODITIES.