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The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. has congratulated the Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) on being named 2008 “Exchange Newcomer of the Year”, by FOW, a leading global derivatives magazine. DME Chairman Ahmad Sharaf accepted the award in London last week.

The DME was honored by industry participants and the exchange community. Since its launch in June 2007, the DME has emerged as the premier international energy futures and commodities exchange in the Middle East, providing price transparency and market liquidity for crude oil from the world’s foremost oil producing and exporting region. The Dubai Mercantile Exchange lists the Oman crude oil futures contract, addressing the growing market need for price discovery of Middle East sour crude oil while simultaneously bridging the time-zone gap between Europe, Asia and North America.

The Dubai Mercantile Exchange Limited (DME) is a joint venture between NYMEX; Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holding; and the Oman Investment Fund (OIF).