Amantra FM, a Dubai-based niche facilities management company, today announced the acquisition of AL MANQAB Technical Services LLC, a specialist in fire fighting and safety solutions. The acquisition of AL MANQAB marks Amantra’s foray into the construction industry, where the integration of firestop solutions in design stages helps significantly avert fire hazards in the future. Founded in 2018, AL MANQAB has built a strong portfolio of firestop solutions and ancillary offerings such as safety programs, fire safety audits, hazard identification, and risk assessment. AL MANQAB’s expertise encompasses MEP penetrations, electrical risers, shaft openings, floor/wall openings and joints, where sophisticated firestop solutions can play an integral role in averting and mitigating fire-related incidents in the future. The broad-based solutions, coupled with installation from trained technicians, constitute AL MANQAB’s and, by extension, Amantra’s competitive edge in construction.“AL MANQAB’s tested-and-proven competencies in firestop solutions will synergize perfectly with Amantra’s existing MEP capabilities to offer enhanced value to our customers. The construction industry can be the custodian of fire safety in future buildings by incorporating sophisticated solutions in the design stages. The resulting preventive rather than reactive approach to fire safety has profound implications for liveability in the urban context. Amantra FM is proud to champion this righteous cause in GCC,” explained Sangeetha B., CEO of Amantra FM.ABM (Al Basti and Muktha), ASGC, and Innovo are among the leading clients who will benefit immensely from that synergy following the acquisition. AL MANQAB has a good track record of improving fire safety and awareness in organizations through employee engagement programs. Such programs touch upon accountability measures and administrative controls to minimize exposure while underscoring the need to comply with global fire safety standards and protocols.As toxic smoke and fires in buildings are a multi-faceted challenge with causes such as inadequate firestop measures in design stages, the lack of awareness among occupants, and indifference towards regulations and compliance with safety standards, a comprehensive solutions suite like Al MANQAB’s is highly desirable today.Commenting on the acquisition, Naveed Yakub, Area Operations Supervisor at Amantra, said: “AL MANQAB’s competencies, coupled with Amantra’s growing ecosystem and an impact-driven approach to facility operations and management, will help institutionalize fire resistance in buildings across GCC. Al MANQAB adds a new dimension of MEP capability to the comprehensive suite of value-centric services we are building under the umbrella of Amantra.”Consistent with Naveed’s words, Amantra has differentiated itself in the facility management industry through offerings and initiatives rooted in social impact. Amantra FM recently partnered with US-headquartered AtmosAir to help facilities in the region achieve optimal indoor air quality (IAQ) and improve well-being. As part of the landmark partnership, it became an authorized distributor and promoter of AtmosAir’s bi-polar ionization technology, which boasts a pathogen reduction rate of up to 99% in indoor environments.“The acquisition of AL MANQAB, closely following a major partnership with AtmosAir, adds more impetus to Amantra’s aspirations of driving social, economic, and environmental sustainability in FM operations. We are building an ecosystem around customer-centricity, partnering with and acquiring companies we believe can add measurable value to life in urban facilities without compromising on the liveability of future generations,” noted Neethu Padmanabhan, Contracts and Customer Experience at Amantra FM.

 Delinea, a leading provider of solutions that seamlessly extend Privileged Access Management (PAM), today announced it has acquired Authomize, an innovator in the detection and elimination of identity-based threats across the cloud. The continuous discovery and visibility capabilities of Authomize, married with Delinea’s industry-leading SaaS solutions for PAM, will extend the Delinea Platform’s reach for comprehensive privileged controls in the cloud while expanding its role to provide a strong defense against identity-based attacks such as account takeovers, insider threats, and lateral movement. CIEM and ITDR capabilities will be delivered through the cloud-native Delinea Platform, adding depth to its execution of the company’s vision to extend PAM across the modern enterprise.Osterman research indicates that 80% of enterprises now use multiple clouds, while 76% lack complete visibility into access policies and applications across multiple clouds, increasing the threat landscape. CIEM extends controls to SaaS applications and public cloud infrastructure to minimize the risk of overprivileged cloud identities. A June 2022 report by the Identity Defined Security Alliance revealed that 84% of organizations experienced an identity-related breach over the previous year, with 96% stating they could have prevented or minimized the breach by implementing identity-focused outcomes. ITDR works across all identities to detect threats and mitigate risk with better visibility and remediation.“The combination of Delinea and Authomize gives customers the power to detect and mitigate active identity threats across SaaS applications, cloud, and hybrid infrastructure,” said Art Gilliland, CEO at Delinea. “The extension of human and non-human identities beyond the traditional firewall requires continuous visibility into all SaaS applications, their connections to each other, and across hybrid environments. I'm very excited to bring the Authomize team into Delinea, which greatly extends the reach and expands the role of the Delinea Platform to help organizations of all sizes reduce identity-related risk.“Broaden least privilege in the cloud, detect threats and reduce risks for all identitiesAuthomize CIEM empowers enterprises to extend least privilege controls into their cloud environments by continuously monitoring access privileges, usage changes, and connections between cloud services, SaaS applications, and IAM solutions. Adding Authomize ITDR will increase protection against threats across all identities by detecting abuse and responding to attacks.On the Delinea Platform, the enhanced capabilities will identify and address issues such as stale accounts, over-privileged identities, and privilege escalation paths, significantly bolstering cloud security by proactively detecting and mitigating threats while maintaining operational continuity. This approach will most effectively safeguard assets and data while reducing risk, all without introducing complexity.“This marks an exciting milestone in our mission to greatly enhance identification and mitigation of identity-based risks,” said Phil Calvin, Chief Product Officer at Delinea. “Our joint technologies will harness continuous monitoring and deliver adaptive and broad privilege controls, all within a consolidated cloud-native platform, ensuring awareness and response to protect identities and data.”Integrating ITDR and CIEM capabilities will extend the Delinea Platform’s ability to address modern PAM requirements as well as emerging use cases, including:Increase visibility of privilege across multi-cloud environments with the continuous discovery of all privileged accessContinuously monitor and protect all identities to detect threats and automatically mitigate risks in any application or serviceStreamline and accelerate security and compliance audits with automated User Access Reviews (UAR) and out-of-the-box policies“Joining Delinea is a thrilling continuation of our journey of innovation and Authomize’s commitment to detect and eliminate identity-based risks across the cloud,” said Authomize CEO Dotan Bar Noy.“Together, we will greatly expand and enhance privilege security across the enterprise, addressing the rising identity threats across the industry,” added Authomize CTO Gal Diskin.

Emirates Stallions Group (ADX:ESG), the Global investment, engineering, and construction solutions company and a subsidiary of International Holding Company (IHC), has announced today the acquisition of a 60% stake in AFKAR Financial & Property Investments, an Abu Dhabi-based company with diversified interests across the UAE. This significant move marks ESG’s robust expansion in the real estate and retail sector, further solidifying its position as a leading global investment powerhouse in the region.AFKAR has been active in various sectors including commercial enterprise investment, institution and management, companies’ representation, real estate enterprise investment and development, and the retail trade of household and office furniture and interior decoration materials. The company flagship brands, 2XL Home and OC Home, have strengthened their market presence with new showrooms and a strategic expansion plan, reflecting their commitment to quality and customer-centric approach.Kayed Khorma, CEO of Emirates Stallions Group, said: "Through this strategic acquisition, we are fortifying and diversifying our Group's portfolio, with the aim of expediting the development of our business plan for the upcoming year. Our focus is on delivering a higher Return on Investment (ROI) and continuing to add value to our investors."AFKAR has demonstrated remarkable growth with a 13% increase in assets and a 10% rise in revenue during the past 3 years, underpinned by a workforce of over 600 employees. This acquisition underlines ESG’s commitment to diversifying its portfolio in the real estate and retail sectors, recognizing AFKAR’s significant market presence and growth trajectory in key regional markets."ESG remains committed to investing in high-growth sectors and diversifying its business verticals throughout 2024. That's our strategic vision." Khorma added.The acquisition is a strategic move by ESG to invest in high-growth sectors, contributing significantly to the UAE’s economic diversification efforts. AFKAR’s extensive portfolio, including key showrooms in prime locations like Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, Al Ain Mall, Mega Mall and The Galleria - Al Maryah Island, complements ESG’s existing holdings and positions the group for further expansion. Complementing this strategic growth, the company has recently developed a new warehouse in Sharjah and is in the process of constructing an additional 2XL showroom in the vibrant Al Barsha area of Dubai.2XL Home, a distinguished retail brand in the UAE, is celebrated for its luxurious home furniture offerings, showcased across nine branches in the UAE. The Emirati brand features a series of beautifully crafted contemporary collections, inspired by classic French interiors, that align perfectly with a modern home setting. Complementing this, OC Home stands as a beacon of excellence in the furniture retail space, specializing in high-quality and stylish home furnishings that cater to discerning tastes and contemporary lifestyles.This partnership is expected to create a formidable presence in the UAE’s real estate and retail landscape, offering innovative solutions and enhancing customer experiences. With ESG’s diversified portfolio in Investment, Construction, and Real Estate sectors, and a track record of delivering exceptional products and services across more than 20 countries, this collaboration is set to redefine market dynamics and establish new industry benchmarks.

WPP, one of the world's leading advertising and marketing services companies, has announced a significant development in its client offerings. This move involves the merger of Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R, creating a new entity known as VML. This strategic move establishes VML as the world's largest creative company, bringing together top creative agencies with world-class capabilities in commerce, customer experience, and marketing technology. VML is poised to support clients with creative brand growth strategies and transformation initiatives, bolstered by robust data operations, cutting-edge technology platforms, and partnerships with leading tech firms. Additionally, VML will offer specialized services for healthcare companies and B2B marketers.The merger is set to leverage the strengths of both agencies, making them highly complementary. It will result in a combined workforce of over 30,000 professionals across 64 global markets. The new management team will be led by Jon Cook, the new VML Global CEO, and Mel Edwards, VML Global President. Together, they aim to capitalize on the interconnectedness of brand experience, commerce, and customer experiences, with a focus on creativity and depth in customer experience and commerce.Mark Read, CEO of WPP, emphasized the importance of scale in the rapidly changing marketing landscape and stated that VML's integration of creativity and expertise in data and marketing technology will deliver a competitive edge for ambitious brands. The creation of VML aligns with WPP's ongoing efforts to reshape its offerings for the future, simplify its operations, and provide clients with fully integrated capabilities in every market.Both Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R, prior to their merger, have gained recognition for their creativity and expertise, and have been celebrated by various industry awards and rankings. Their extensive capabilities have also been acknowledged by technology partners and industry analysts.The merger is expected to result in an even stronger, fully integrated suite of services for clients across the globe, responding to the demand for seamless connections between brand advertising and technology solutions.Key leadership appointments within VML include Debbi Vandeven as Global Chief Creative Officer, Eric Campbell as Global Chief Client Officer, Juan Pablo Jurado as CEO of LATAM, Ewen Sturgeon as CEO of EMEA, and Audrey Kuah and Yi-Chung Tay as Co-CEOs of APAC. The merger aims to drive growth and innovation for clients across markets, marking a significant step in the evolving landscape of modern marketing.

The leaders of the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) have described Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become one of the top 5 destinations in the world in the next decade as “unparalleled” in the history of tourism and travel. Opening the 22nd edition of the Summit, Arnold Donald, Chair, WTTC & Vice Chair of the Board, Carnival Corporation, welcomed the nearly 3000 participants to what will be the biggest ever meeting of global tourism and travel industry leaders.Praising the goals set by the Kingdom to welcome 100 million international and domestic travelers a year by 2030, Mr. Arnold said: “These are ambitions that are unparalleled in the history of our sector. Over the past three years it has been a great privilege to see the progress made here with our own eyes.”Summit host, Saudi Arabia Minister of Tourism, HE Ahmed Al-Khateeb welcomed the leaders of the tourism world to Riyadh said: “We have the power to shape the sector, bridge cultures, and transform communities. We are fortunate to be in the position to effect change. We must not let this opportunity pass by us. Let us ensure that here in Riyadh, we really do deliver a better future for travel.”WTTC CEO Julia Simpson focused on the vital importance of nature to the long-term prosperity and sustainability of the sector. She said: “The WTTC Positive Travel and Tourism Report shows tourism from nature generates over $600 bn which provides opportunities for some of the world’s poorest countries to protect biodiversity and their communities.”In a day packed full of debate, dialogue and the sharing of innovative ideas from around the world, leaders of the global tourism industry participated in panel discussions and keynote speakers.The Summit has attracted the leaders of the world’s biggest hotel groups and Christopher J Nassetta President & CEO, Hilton Worldwide, told the audience:  “We are in a new golden age of travel. Travel and Tourism is an unstoppable force for good. People want to see places they want to interact with people. My advice to everybody is to believe in the power of travel.” Former UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon was in discussion about the sustainable future of travel. He declared: “Tourism has made a substantial contribution to humanity’s social and economic progress. Whether you belong to Saudi Arabia, China, United States or South Korea – there are no boundaries.“We need to become global citizens. We have so many problems – health issues, political issues, environmental issues – but with global citizenship we can solve them. Let’s work as global citizens to make this world more sustainable, to transform this world and pass it on to the next generations in a better way than we found it.”Speaker after speaker focused on a number of key developmental areas to ensure the successful future of tourism. Stephen Scherr, CEO, The Hertz Corporation explained:  “You need infrastructure in the various markets and countries. Whether it's an airport that can handle the kind of traffic that you will have or in our business, you need to build infrastructure that is accommodating and inviting for the people you want to be traveling around.”Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Indonesia H.E. Sandiaga says that when you consider Indonesia and Bali that means sustainable tourism and it means a change in mindset. He said: “The new trend of tourism is more personalized, localized and customized, and smaller in size also means better revenue. This year we are creating three times more revenue from tourism than we had expected with only a quarter of previous numbers of foreign tourists arriving.”Creating a truly local and unique welcome for visitors was also a powerful topic of debate as international destinations work to ensure they offer visitors a unique taste of local culture, customs and heritage.Bahrain Minister of Tourism H.E. Fatima Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism, said: “We have noticed in Bahrain that whenever we get tourists visiting our country, one of the main things that they leave with is the authenticity of the experience they have enjoyed. We have successfully incorporated that in our tourism experiences that we offer in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Those authentic experiences are delivered by Bahrainis.”Hashil Al Mahrouqi, Chief Executive Officer, OMRAN added: “Today, everyone is talking about sustainability. Everyone is saying protect nature, everyone is saying protect this planet. But I think in Oman we have been prepared for it. What we need to do now in Oman is capitalize on what we already have there and I think we are on the right track doing it.”The Summit has also seen a number of major announcements and signing of MOUs on the sidelines of the main Summit debates. These have seen Saudi Arabia sign MOUs with Oman, Indonesia and Barbados and Wizz Air appoint Arjaa Travel and Tourism Company as the exclusive agent for Wizz Air in Saudi Arabia. The Summit is the largest ever staged to date and has nearly 3000 participants taking part from 140 countries. The enormous global interest in the Summit was shown by one million livestreams of sessions on the metaverse on the first day.

DUBAI,, Dubai's DAMAC Group has purchased celebrated Swiss jewellery brand, de GRISOGONO. The brand, which filed for bankruptcy early 2020, was identified by Hussain Sajwani, Founder and Chairman of the DAMAC Group, who became the top bidder amongst several others bidding for the acquisition.Most known for its 'Creation I' necklace, which featured the largest D flawless diamond in the world and fetched a staggering $33.7 million at an auction in 2017, de GRISOGONO is a name synonymous with glamour. The jeweller has adorned many celebrities on the red-carpet including Hollywood actress Natalie Portman and supermodel Naomi Campbell."Keeping in line with our ambitions to expand our business into the luxury and high-end fashion realm, bidding for de GRISOGONO came to us naturally. A relatively young, but established brand it has immense potential that needs to be uncovered and leveraged. I believe that with DAMAC's expertise and know-how, we will be able to bring the brand to a justifiable success, by strengthening its global development and network," says Sajwani.