HRACH KALSAHAKIAN

Place & Date of Birth: Athens, 18 December 1966
 

Citizenship: Armenian and Syrian (dual citizenship)

Location:  Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Marital Status: Married to Sona Hadjian (Children: Arman and Alvina)

Postal Address: P.O. Box 94670, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Courier Address: Cyprus Tourism Organisation, Al Ghurair City, Office 436B, Deira, Dubai, UAE (Telephone: +971 4 2277637)

Mobile: +971 50 6144787

E-mail: hrach@emirates.net.ae

Alternative e-mail: kalsahakian@gmail.com

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATION

1984

Graduate of Karen Jeppe Armenian College. Syrian Scientific Baccalaureate (rating 95%)

1990

Greek language certificate from the School of Modern Greek Language at the Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece

Certificate of Proficiency in English from the British Council in Athens, Greece
 

1990-1994

Graduate of the Department of Tourism Business, School of Management and Economics, Technological Educational Institute of Patras, Greece (rating 81%) 
 

1995

Certificate of Galileo Computer Reservations System
Advanced Diploma of IATA (International Travel Consultant)
Certificate of German language (Goethe Institute, Athens)
 

1998

Tourist Guide Diploma and Licence from the Ministry of Tourism in Syria 
 

2000

Employee of the Month of January in Sheraton Abu Dhabi
 

2002

Certified Member of the Arab Translators Network, Arab Professional Translators’ Society (ATN-APTS) and Translator of the Month of March 2003
 

2003

Member of the Arab Writers Union in Damascus, Syria  
 

2007

Member of the Chamber of Tourism in Northern Syria (Aleppo and Idlib)

2008

Licenced Tour Guide in the Emirate of Dubai, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing

WORKING EXPERIENCE

1993-1994

Keramidas Travel, Patras, Greece

1994-1995

Himalaya Travel, Athens, Greece

1995-1998

Military duty, Damascus, Syria

1998

Alpha Travel, Aleppo, Syria

1998-2000

Reservation Department, Sheraton Abu Dhabi, UAE

2000-2005

Translator and Administrative Assistant in the Embassy of Greece, Abu Dhabi, UAE

2005-onwards

Sales and Marketing Manager, Cyprus Tourism Organisation, Middle East and Gulf Office, Dubai, UAE

ACTIVITIES

Author of one book and translator of three books (cultural, linguistic, historical).
 

Frequent contributor to tourist, cultural and social magazines.
 

Official translator of the Embassy of Greece in Abu Dhabi, Cyprus Trade Center in Dubai and the Embassy of Armenia in Abu Dhabi.
 

Founder of the Middle East Armenian Portal (Azad-Hye) with three versions (English, Arabic, Business)

Founder of the Emirates Greeks website.

Regional Co-Chair of ArmTech Congress.