Khaleeji Commercial Bank (KHCB), one of the leading Islamic banks in the Kingdom of Bahrain, has announced the appointment of Ms. Ameera Al Abbasi as the Bank’s Head of Retail Banking. Ms. Ameera Al Abbasi has undertaken several leadership roles since joining KHCB in the year 2008, as she was the Head of Business Banking before being appointed to this position.Ms. Al Abbasi has extensive experience in the banking sector and the field of retail and corporate banking, which extends for more than 17 years. She holds a number of career and academic qualifications, the most important of which are a BSc in Marketing from the University of Bahrain, Associate Professional Risk Manager “APRM” from the Professional Risk Managers’ International Association “PRMIA” in the USA, and has attended the Islamic Finance Management Development Program at Coventry University in the UK.On this occasion, members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Management congratulated Ms. Al Abbasi, wishing her all the best in her new position, while also praising her prominent role throughout the positions she held over the previous years within the bank’s team. They also emphasised their confidence in her and the role she will play as Head of Retail Banking during the upcoming period towards achieving the Bank’s strategic objectives.For her part, Ms. Al Abbasi expressed her sincere gratitude and appreciation to the bank’s Board of Directors and the Executive Management for their confidence, stressing that she will work to further enhance the leading position held by KHCB by continuing to develop its retail banking services, especially in relation to the digitisation of branches and continuing to offer additional innovative products and services that will add a new dimension to the banking experience provided to clients.KHCB is a leading Islamic bank that strives to achieve clients' aspirations through an Islamic banking model that offers a comprehensive range of high quality Shari'a-complaint banking services and investment opportunities to individuals and companies.

Zofeur, the world's first on-demand, pay-per-minute, chauffeur service platform, today launches its first business-to-business on-demand driver service. Zofeur’s B2B tool allows service providers in the automotive industry to seamlessly integrate its own systems with Zofeur to book on-demand drivers using a pay per use model.Zofeur is known for its consumer, on-demand drivers, available in under 20 minutes, anywhere in Dubai.Bunty Monani, CEO & Founder at Zofeur said: “Our newly launched service has attracted interest from hundreds of businesses already, going to prove our theory on the need to satisfy Dubai’s on-demand service model. Our B2B offering is set to supply businesses from gas station chains, major car rental and reseller companies through to garages and workshops. Partners who utilise our B2B platform will be able to provide free pick up and drop off services to its clients. Also, they get free marketing on Zofeur’s mobile app to reach our thousands of customers.”Ishrath Hasmin, COO & Co-founder at Zofeur said, “Providing the industry with flexible drivers on demand, will serve to save costs and scale core activity without the hassle of hiring full-time drivers and wasting resources. Our systems will provide equal opportunities to small and big players, in the automotive industry, with additional features like one-click invoicing to collect money without any hassle from their clients, a free CRM, customers’ car service history and much more.”The all-in-one platform plans to target 10,000 automotive service partners across the region over the next quarter. There is also a plan to add ancillary car-related services, starting with recovery trucks.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi are facing a shortage of new office space amid widespread return of workers to offices and rising business confidence, according to a report. In its latest analysis, Knight Frank confirmed that occupancy levels in the UAE’s two largest business hubs, particularly in modern and high-quality builds, are rising and that rents will continue to experience upward pressure, as supply remains limited. There is a growing number of occupiers looking to lease space in the Grade A segment, where occupancy levels are hovering at around 90% to 95%. “The severity of the shortage of new office space, combined with rising demand, particularly for high-quality offices suggests that office rents will continue to experience upward pressure,” Knight Frank said. Dubai market Demand for office space has rebounded since COVID-19 restrictions eased and businesses asked their staff to return from remote working. According to Knight Frank, Dubai alone required an additional 265,000 square feet of office space during the third quarter of the year. The market is on track to surpass the 1.1 million square feet of requirements registered in 2021, with year-to-date demand already reaching 739,000 square feet. “The biggest challenge for the market… is a shortage of prime Grade A space,” said Faisal Durrani, Partner – Head of Middle East Research at Knight Frank. According to Andrew Love, Partner – Head of Occupier-Landlord Strategy and Solutions, and Head of Middle East Capital Markets, some tenants are also shifting to new and good quality buildings. “There is a distinct trend of a flight to quality that has bedded in, with occupiers migrating away from older buildings into more modern builds that are well managed and maintained and many international businesses are looking for space with ESG credentials,” Love said. And with “best-in-class” buildings now highly sought after, rents are bound to increase. However, stocks in the secondary or older category may not follow a similar trend. “Office lease rates for the best buildings are going to continue rising,” said Durrani. “Grade B, or older, more secondary stock will however likely continue to struggle, with the gap between rental performance in the long established two-tiered office market likely to widen further,” Durrani added. Abu Dhabi In Abu Dhabi, average office rents have already climbed by 4.9% over the last 12 months. The emirate is also facing a shortage of Grade A office space, with locations like ADGM and other best buildings seeing occupancy levels at 95%. “What we’re seeing is a widespread return of employees to offices and business confidence is rising in tandem,” said Durrani. “Businesses feel good about life right now, as this is reflected in the non-oil sector PMI readings – and demand for office space is rising across the board… Like Dubai, the Abu Dhabi office market continues to face an insufficient supply of good quality fitted space in well managed buildings.” 

The Walt Disney Company Middle East and Alshaya Group officially opened doors to the region’s first-ever standalone Disney Store on 18th November. The grand opening was attended by special guests and officials of Alshaya Group and attracted over 1000 visitors and onlookers.Located at the Grand Avenue - The Avenues in Kuwait, the occasion was highlighted with an array of magical festivities and giveaways for little ones, transporting guests to the wonderful world of Disney.“We couldn't be more delighted with the opening of the first standalone Disney store in the region," said John Hadden, CEO of Alshaya Group, at the opening. "This stunning new landmark is more than just a store – it’s a destination that brings memories to life and truly offers a one-of-a-kind retail experience to children and families that only Disney can deliver.”Sonal Patel, Director – Consumer Products Middle East & Disney Store Southeast Asia, India, and Middle East, added: “The region’s first-ever standalone Disney Store is officially open and we could not be more excited. It was wonderful to welcome our first guests and see them experience all that the store has to offer. With the help of The Alshaya Group, we can’t wait to continue creating memories and connecting with our fans in Kuwait.”Spanning over 800sqm, the store has something for Disney fans of all ages, with lines exclusive to the Middle East, as well as a wide range of products from your favourite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars characters and movies. This includes costumes and accessories, toys and plushes, home décor and collectables, as well as apparel for both children and adults.Disney friends across the entire region can also visit over 30 Disney Store shop-in-shops in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. Located inside Alshaya-owned Debenhams and Mothercare stores, there’s a little Disney magic for everyone across the Middle East.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has announced the launch of the ‘Abu Dhabi Smart Manufacturing Index’, that guides and facilitates private sector players’ transition to Industry 4.0 technologies, applications, and methods as part of its rolling out of the initiatives and objectives set forth by the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy.Re-affirming the attributes of the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy, which was launched in June, the push by the Government of Abu Dhabi to expedite adoption of Industry 4.0 across all manufacturing and industrial players is meant to transform the state of the sector as it further aligns with international benchmarks and best practices. The launch of the ‘Abu Dhabi Smart Manufacturing Index’ provides a critical, comprehensive framework for assessing capabilities of industrial facilities, identifying gaps, and recommending practical steps for reaching the targeted Industry 4.0 maturity.To drive innovation and enhance competitiveness in the industrial sector, the Index empowers manufacturers with the necessary knowledge and training to initiate an Industry 4.0 transformation journey and scale up with speed and quality. It breaks down sophisticated concepts into six building blocks to provide a clear and easy-to-follow roadmap, which starts by evaluating a production facility’s current state, followed by ways to raise readiness levels, proposed steps necessary for transforming their facilities, and identifying optimal production solutions to help reap gains of shifting to advanced manufacturing.Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of ADDED, said, “The Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy has ushered in a new era, not only for the manufacturing sector, but for the whole economic landscape in the region. To further enhance a smart, circular, and sustainable economy, we are forging ahead with taking the manufacturing sector to the next level by empowering industrial facilities to keep pace with the latest trends and solutions.”Al Shorafa further explained, “Backed by strong fundamentals and a unique business ecosystem, Abu Dhabi continues to cement its status as a leading industrial hub in the region. We believe it is of paramount importance to equip manufacturers with vital, seamless, and effective mechanisms to transition to Industry 4.0 technologies and applications to drive future growth, and pre-empt for shifts in demand and supply. The 'Abu Dhabi Smart Manufacturing Index' addresses all aspects of the transition to methods of tomorrow’s manufacturing.”Since the launch of Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy, ADDED has been rolling out initiatives and partnering with leading global institutions to deliver the strategy’s ambitious objectives, including the targeted growth of the sector to AED 172 billion, creating 13,600 new jobs, and increasing the Emirate’s non-oil exports to AED178.8 billion by 2031.ADDED recently launched the Land Incentives programme, which offers long term lease contracts for industrial land through rental rebate with rates as low as AED 5 per square meter to promote manufacturers’ growth and development by enhancing capital expenditures and cash-flow management.ADDED also expanded the Energy Tariff Incentive Programme (ETIP 2.0) by offering preferential rates for gas and electricity to industrial sector based on eligibility criteria that include economic impact, Emiratisation rate, and energy management efficiency.Furthermore, ADDED continues to collaborate with major global players to enhance the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and build the technical capabilities of the industrial workforce to switch to Industry 4.0 technologies, including training and upskilling talents and specialists.During the first six months of 2022, ADDED’s Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) has assessed readiness of 76 facilities to transition to Industry 4.0 technologies.IDB is managing the ‘Abu Dhabi Smart Manufacturing Index’ and will be working closely with manufacturers and related entities to ensure successful execution during the next period. 

Gulf football fans will spend more on going out and socialising during the 2022 FIFA World Cup than they did during the last one, but inflation will have an impact on how they spend. A new survey showed that more than half (54%) of respondents in Qatar, 45% in Saudi Arabia and 42% in the UAE will spend more money than they did in the previous World Cup tournaments. However, around a third in all the countries said the rising cost of living or inflation will impact the food and beverages they consume during matches, as well as the venues they choose to watch the games. There is also widespread excitement about the competition coming to the Middle East, with at least 91% in all three countries saying they’re happy that the World Cup is taking place in the region. The majority said they are more excited about the Qatar World Cup than the previous one in Russia that took place in 2018, with 82% in Qatar, 75% in Saudi Arabia and 69% in the UAE saying this year’s World Cup has more appeal than the last. The World Cup will see a spike in the amount of food ordered during the event, with levels or ordering expected to be 80% normal at peak on match days compared to normal days. The UAE, as well as Qatar, is also expecting a huge boost in air traffic throughout the tournament, which opens on Sunday, November 20 and runs until December 18.

KPMG Lower Gulf has appointed a new chief executive officer (CEO) following the resignation of chairman and CEO Nader Haffer. Emilio Pera will become CEO effective 1st January, 2023, according to a statement on Friday. Pera is to replace CEO and chairman Nader Haffer, who resigned last month. Pera has 30 years of professional services and international business experience and is KPMG’s acting head of tax. He was previously head of audit and has been with the firm since 2016. “As head of audit, he embarked on a significant transformation of the business. He turned the audit practice around in a relatively short period, navigating some of the toughest times in the industry with added pressure of a global pandemic with related economic challenges,” the statement said. Pera said he is “deeply grateful to Nader for guiding the firm through some of the toughest economic periods including the COVID pandemic, and always putting our people first.” “I look forward to working with Nader over the next few weeks to affect a smooth transition and build on his achievements,” Pera said. 

 World-class sporting events tend to not overlap every year on the same weekend in the same part of the world. So for sports fans all over, especially local F1 and football enthusiasts, this weekend in the Middle East was particularly remarkable, commented a local newspaper.“Just as here in the UAE, fans eagerly awaited race day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, excitement was also building an hour’s flight time from the UAE, in Qatar, as all participating teams of the football World Cup arrived in Doha,” The National said in an editorial on Monday.In the words of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Qatar hosting the Fifa World Cup is a “historic milestone for all Arabs”.“Indeed, the significance of this cultural moment is one for the record books; if sports fans weren’t watching the race, they were clued into the football fever. It is a matter of great prestige for the Arab world – which is home to millions of fans, and nations with no small number of football clubs – that the opportunity to showcase their best should arise. One tremendous positive outcome of these events is the accompanying travel,” the paper continued.A fan who visits one sports venue in one Gulf country is likely to hop over to a neighbouring one, the proximity serving as a good reason to see the sights, experience the uniform hospitality and yet diverse culture and cuisine for which the entire region is famous.In doing so, a crucial and rare opportunity also presents itself: for the travelling fan to be pleasantly surprised when oft-quoted negative regional and cultural stereotypes are proved false. A benefit of tourism is that when preconceived assumptions don’t hold up to reality, it is often the truer experience that is carried back to home countries, enabling a virtuous cycle of more tourists, more business and fewer prejudiced impressions.The daily added, “With tourists likely to fly into the UAE, Oman and Bahrain, this is a chance for the Gulf to showcase itself.”That these world-class events are taking place “at home” is an important chapter in sporting and cultural history and a matter of undeniable pride for millions across the Middle East and North Africa. What is sometimes under-appreciated is the depth of footballing tradition that exists in the MENA region.Whether it is Arab ownership and funding to develop young talents at the grassroots level around the globe, or to rejuvenate world-renowned clubs in need of financial resources and leadership, the examples are numerous.The national teams’ achievements on the pitch also deserve to be acknowledged, whether it is Egypt’s seven African Cup of Nations wins, or memorable performances from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the Asian Cup, the Olympics and the World Cup. These success stories have their origins in the robust club structures that are in place in several of these countries. Abu Dhabi emirate alone, for example, is home to five major clubs.“Finally, the Middle East has been home to some of the biggest football tournaments in recent years. The UAE, it is worth recalling, hosted the previous Asian Cup, in 2019. That the World Cup should take place now, in this neighbourhood, is the icing on the cake – indeed for Qatar, and for the broader Arab world,” concluded the Abu Dhabi-based daily.

Ahmed Abu-Sharkh, Country Senior Partner, KPMG in Qatar, said: “Qatar’s CEOs have confronted many disruptions to their growth ambitions over a short period in recent times – COVID-19, geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, cyber threats, the war on talent, and a looming recession. Nevertheless, resilience and optimism in long-term growth prospects prevail. CEOs ranked emerging/disruptive technology, operational and supply chain issues, and regulatory concerns as the top risks that could potentially delay their growth agenda. Overall, CEOs can leverage experience gained from managing their growth disruptions by strengthening foundations of resilience and forging new or enhancing current opportunities in technology, talent and ESG.”One out of 10 (12 percent) CEOs believe a recession will happen over the next 12 months, but 2 out of 5 (16 percent) feel it will be mild and short72% believe a recession will upend anticipated growth over the next 3 yearsCEOs are better prepared to weather short-term challenges with resiliency measures in place, while still anticipating long-term growth.The KPMG 2022 CEO Outlook, which asked Qataris CEOs at the world’s largest businesses about their strategies and outlook, reveals that 16 percent of leaders expect a recession to be mild and short. While CEOs may be resilient, they’re also realistic about the challenges ahead. Seventy- two percent of CEOs believe a recession will upend anticipated growth over the next 3 years, and three-quarters (80 percent) also believe a recession will make post pandemic recovery.Over the next year, One out of 10 (12 percent) Qatari CEOs anticipate a recession to hit, with 52 percent predicting it will impact company earnings by up to 10 percent.ADDITIONAL FINDINGS:Hiring freezes and headcount reductions under heavy consideration for CEOsWith continued economic turmoil, there are signs the Great Resignation could be cooling down, with 32 percent of CEOs having already implemented a hiring freeze, and 32 percent considering downsizing their workforce over the next 6 months.Uncertainty fueling long-term digital transformationWhile current uncertainty is driving CEOs to continue to prioritize digital transformation, 40 percent of businesses have paused their digital transformation strategies.In the longer-term, more than a quarter believe that advancing digitalization and business connectivity is also vital to achieving growth objectives over the next 3 years. Eighty-eight percent also agree that their organization’s digital and ESG strategic investments are inextricably linked.Evolving focus toward reputational and technological risksEmerging and disruptive technology has landed as the top risk to business growth over the next 3 years. In addition, CEOs have identified several other areas as top risks to growth: pandemic fatigue, economic factors and the threat of rising interest rates and inflation.Strategic alliances (28 percent), organic growth (24 percent) and managing geopolitical risks (24 percent) top the list of the most important strategies for achieving organizational growth objectives over the next 3 years. CEOs indicate that geopolitical uncertainties will continue to impact their strategies and supply chains over the next 3 years. In fact, 96 percent of CEOs have adjusted or plan to adjust their risk management procedures considering geopolitical risk, and 44 percent of CEOs will be increasing measures to adapt to geopolitical issues to achieve their growth objectives.Cyber security no longer corporations’ biggest threat, with more companies prepared for attacksCyber security has dropped from the top 5 risks to growth over the past year. However, the cyber environment is evolving with 88 percent saying their organization views information security as a strategic function and as a potential source of competitive advantage. Geopolitical uncertainty is also raising concerns of corporate cyber-attacks for many CEOs (84 percent). In fact, four out of five CEOs (80 percent) say that protecting their partner ecosystem and supply chain is just as important as building their own organization’s cyber defenses.Stakeholder pressure increasing accountability in ESGQatar businesses are seeing major focus on the social aspect of ESG: 44 percent of CEOs believe progress on inclusion, diversity, and equity (IDE) has moved too slowly in the business world, and 84 percent believe scrutiny of IDE performance will continue to increase over the next 3 years.On talent, CEOs find it difficult to pick just one key driver when it comes to accelerating their companies’ ESG strategies: proactivity on social issues (40 percent), more transparency (20 percent), IDE strategy (20 percent) and net-zero strategy (20 percent). This shows there’s a growing consensus that they all matter.Economic pressure slowing ESG ambitionsCEOs see the importance of ESG initiatives on their businesses, especially when questioned about ESG’s impact on improving financial performance, driving growth and meeting stakeholder expectations. And this year’s survey shows a marked jump in demand from stakeholders, such as customers and investors, for increased transparency.CEOs believe that social and environmental priorities are key, they’re less convinced about making the connection between ESG programs and hard results. As only 16 percent of the CEOs believe that their ESG programs will improve financial performance as opposed to 68 percent of CEOs who believe that ESG programs may reduce the financial performance of their companies.

To celebrate Instagram’s Creator Week, Meta organized the region's first-ever Reels Masters Workshop led by Emirati content creator Khalid Al Ameri (@khalidalameri). The masterclass, which was Instagram in-person masterclass following the pandemic, took place at the region’s first and only content creation facility Thinksmart Hub and was attended by over 70 creators.The participants were guided by Khalid on elevating their content on Meta’s platforms using the latest tools, including AR effects, remixing, and stop motion techniques. The masterclass also focused on technical aspects like aligning tools, teleportation, and Greenscreen to help influencers devise a seamless production process.Talking about the relevance of the event Khalid said: “My brand of storytelling brings together humour and heart, and over the years, the Meta tools have been of great help! This masterclass was all about sharing that evolution and showing you can stay true to your core narrative while being adventurous with your style and approach.”Speaking of the event, Moon Baz, Creator Partnerships Lead, Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Meta said: “Today, with businesses back in action after the pandemic, we have noticed that every brand has embraced novel ways of consumer engagement and the change started with social media.. We are very proud to see Khalid Al Ameri discoursing the tricks of social media engagement to help creators stay relevant and memorable on our platforms. His content is best known to be culturally-relevant and is made for an international community.”Commenting on the event, Lina Husri, Founder, Thinksmart Hub said: “It is such an enriching experience for us to be the location host for the first Reels masterclass post-pandemic. Thinksmart Hub was conceptualized bearing in mind the burgeoning creators base in the region and we wanted them to have a creative space to unleash their ideas. Today, as Meta hosts this masterclass in the esteemed presence of Khalid Al Ameri, we feel that we’re a step closer to our vision of being the preferred location partner for creators in UAE. This event has been an inspiring session not just for our participants but for us as well since it further helped us understand the technical needs of content creators.”With the momentum set in with Meta’s The Reels Masters workshop, Thinksmart Hub plans to host many more brand partnership sessions to redefine content creation for the Metaverse.

Alwaleed Philanthropies (AP), chaired by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud, launched their latest innovative initiative on the metaverse, a center that combines multiple virtual spaces to provide users with an unparalleled digital and cultural experience. AP launched the center during the International Day for Tolerance, which is an annual observance day declared by UNESCO in 1995 to generate public awareness on the dangers of intolerance. The initiative is in line with AP's mission to bridge the gap between cultures and forge the way for global communities to become more open and tolerant, utilizing the latest disruptive 3D technology to spread their message throughout the world to connect with the younger generation.The experience will be live on the Decentraland platform where attendees can explore the multi-story building showcasing elements of historical stories while linking diversified cultures together. The development of the digital experience was inspired by AP's mandate since their founding over 4 decades ago to build, and nurture tolerance across humanity."Alwaleed Philanthropies is committed to deploy collective efforts towards exposing minds and dismantling borders, as we believe in an open world and operate on the concept of creating an impact on people's lives globally. Our commitment to mankind, is to permanently be on the lookout for innovative approaches as we build connections for better cultural understanding as well as boundless tolerance. At Alwaleed Philanthropies, we initiate and collaborate, to come together for good deeds, through cooperating with a range of philanthropic, governmental and educational organizations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, develop communities, provide disaster relief and create cultural understanding", said HRH Princess Lamia bint Majed Al Saud, Secretary General of Alwaleed Philanthropies.Alwaleed Philanthropies is one of the first Saudi philanthropies to meaningfully activate the metaverse with a social purpose and mission to spread the message of tolerance, cultural exchange and inclusivity extending from the physical world to the digital world. Alwaleed Philanthropies is committed to continuously explore new channels and technologies that empower humans and highlight important causes. It is worth noting this center will be reflecting all Alwaleed Philanthropies focus areas and is only the start for Alwaleed Philanthropies plans on the metaverse.

Emirates multi award-winning inflight entertainment system ice won’t be letting football fans down this winter, as all FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™matches will be aired live on Sport 24 onboard the aircraft, as well as in the A380 onboard lounges, and across dedicated Emirates airport lounges – ensuring fans don’t miss a moment of the action.      More than 200 Emirates aircraft are equipped with live TV, featuring dedicated sports channels - Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra. Kicking off on 20 November, Emirates passengers will be able to watch all FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ on Sport 24 via ice, including the highly anticipated final on the 18 December.Prior to boarding a flight, Emirates passengers can also watch live match action in dedicated lounges. Emirates Lounges are ideal places to relax and refresh before a flight and are accessible on a complimentary basis to First and Business Class passengers, as well as Emirates Skywards Platinum and Gold members. Silver members can also avail complimentary access to the Emirates Business Class lounge, in Dubai. Premium Economy and Economy Class passengers can also pay to access the lounge and enjoy the matches with a cold beverage and unlimited snacks. Emirates lounges offer a range of luxuries for travellers from generous buffet dining with regionally inspired cuisine and healthy options, to self-serve alcohol stations, showers, free Wi-Fi, and a private business centre.On Sports 24, fans can also watch live matches from the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, and the Asian Football Championship. Sport 24 also airs top international sporting events including the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup, International Cricket Council Men's T20 World Cup, the Olympic Games, National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), major golf championships, tennis grand slams plus sailing, horse-racing, and motorsports. Passengers can view full match schedules in advance and plan their viewing on https://www.emirates.com.Recognised as the best inflight entertainment system in the world by multiple travel and aviation entities, ice was recently awarded ‘Passenger Choice Award for Best Global Entertainment’ at APEX 2023 and for the 17th consecutive time, ‘World's Best Inflight Entertainment’ at Skytrax 2022. Emirates passengers in all classes can browse the world class entertainment library with over 5,000 channels of on demand entertainment, over 1,700 movies and 1,500 hours of TV, live news, as well as music, podcasts and audiobooks across 45 languages. 

Al Bayader International, the global manufacturer, distributor and retailer of creative solutions in sustainable food packaging, healthy food and personal and home care products, highlighted the need to bring innovation to the market in order to strengthen sustainable packaging solutions to drive the retail sector of the new era, as the UAE focuses on achieving its Net Zero goals by 2050.Addressing the 11th Middle East Retail Forum held in Dubai, Jamil Haddad, Head of Business Development & Sustainability at Al Bayader International, said that Sustainability, Innovation and People are key to transforming the retail sector which in itself has transformed significantly with the onset of omnichannel retailing, calling for new approaches to doing business.He said: “The UAE has announced its National Pathways to Net Zero by 2050 with a commitment to reduce absolute emissions by 18% compared to the UAE’s updated second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement by 2030, and then 60% by 2040, and 100% by 2050, compared to 2019. This is an opportunity and a call for the retail sector to step up its sustainability commitments.“At Al Bayader, we have been pioneering sustainable packaging solutions for the food and beverage industry, and we are committed to driving further innovations in this sector to meet the growing demand from the customers for eco-friendly packaging solutions. These are strong indicators of the support that consumers lend towards achieving sustainability goals. The industry must work together to focus on cutting emissions through creative and innovative approaches.”The 11th Middle East Retail Forum was held under the theme, ‘Unfolding Retail Stories.’ Jamil Haddad presented the Al Bayader story at a Presidential Debate-style session, titled ‘Trailer/Teaser 2030: Future of Retail’, where he shared the Plan of Action for further strengthening the sustainability commitments of Al Bayader International. He presented the strategic approach of the company and the disruptive innovations that have been implemented, including the embracing of the circular economy model.Haddad also mentioned that transparency is key to clients when one addresses the sustainability vs cost ratio so they know they are paying for that added value which eventually helps the planet.Further strengthening its sustainability and ESG framework, Al Bayader International is implementing its 4-R Pathway to Circularity, which focuses on ‘Redesigning, Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling.’ This approach prevents plastic packaging ending up in nature by improving reuse and recycling methods, as well as reduces the carbon footprint of packaging through eco-design to ensure circularity in every step. It also optimises resource use to promote energy efficiency.Al Bayader International has a wide range of sustainable packaging solutions, including the Sukkur range made from sugarcane pulp. The production process emits fewer CO2 emissions, is industrially compostable and reduces carbon-footprint. Al Bayader International’s Bio’d material is another sustainable packaging solution that features a new technology that allows plastic to biodegrade in landfills. Highlighting its commitment to sustainability, last year, the company installed a 980 kWp solar rooftop plant at its plant in Jebel Ali, which spans an area of 4,000 square metres and will generate over 1.5 GWh of clean electricity annually.

 Three global celebrities today signed Letters of Commitment to establish their respective businesses in Abu Dhabi, including Meditation guru Deepak Chopra, Manchester United icon Patrice Evra and NBA Los Angeles Lakers legend Metta World Peace. The three are in the UAE capital as part of Maven Global Access’ business expansion programme, Access Abu Dhabi, supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).The signings took place at Abu Dhabi Finance Week’s Celebrity Entrepreneur World Cup, an event headlined by the three celebrities and co-hosted by Shark Tank star, Kevin O’Leary and Maven Global Access’ Sarah Omolewu. Hosted by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), an international financial centre in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi Finance Week brings together a global audience of decision makers and industry leaders to accelerate the transformation of finance in the emirate.Maven Global Access’ Access Abu Dhabi programme is supporting the three celebrities to fast-track their expansion to Abu Dhabi. Deepak Chopra will establish a strong foothold in Abu Dhabi’s Web3 ecosystem with his ChopraVerse, a first-of-its-kind platform that empowers a culture of wellbeing in the metaverse. Patrice Evra is taking the creativity he is known for on the football pitch to the business landscape through a new content company. While Metta World Peace’s Artest Management Group’s XvsX Sports will bring competitive basketball experiences to cities globally for men and women.Sarah Omolewu is the founder and driving force behind the programme and has leveraged her close relationships in US celebrity and investor circles to secure relevant entrepreneurs and ambassadors for the programme.Eng. Abdulla Abdul Aziz AlShamsi, Acting Director General, ADIO, said: “ADIO supports innovation-focused businesses and entrepreneurs looking to explore the full potential of Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem. We look forward, through our support of Access Abu Dhabi, to working with Deepak Chopra, Patrice Evra and Metta World Peace as they take the next steps to grow their global ventures from Abu Dhabi.”Deepak Chopra said: “As realities merge and technology advances, opportunities for new immersive experiences focused on wellness and meditation arise. Abu Dhabi’s leadership in Web3 innovation and commitment to enriching happiness offer the perfect base for the expansion of the ChopraVerse. We are excited to see how the ChopraVerse can continue coming to life in partnership with the Access Abu Dhabi programme.”Metta World Peace said: “I was fortunate enough to visit Abu Dhabi just over a year ago with Maven Global Access’ and the Access Abu Dhabi programme. It became clear to me that now is the perfect time to bring competitive basketball experiences to the UAE for both men and women, and with Abu Dhabi being one of the few places worldwide to get a feel of real NBA action, this feels like the natural choice. We are excited for Abu Dhabi residents to showcase their talent on the court and are delighted to be expanding our operations.”Patrice Evra said: “After the privilege of a long career in professional football, I am now playing a different game in the corporate world. The opportunity to tap into Abu Dhabi’s world-class talent will bring about exciting prospects for our new company. I look forward to assembling a team that will explore the emirate’s creativity and capitalise on the support provided by Maven Global Access and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, amongst other people that I have had the pleasure of connect with across this innovative ecosystem.”Dhaher bin Dhaher Al Mheiri, CEO of the Registration Authority at ADGM said, “Several entrepreneurs, innovators and startups call Abu Dhabi and ADGM their “home” to thrive in, for sustainable growth and business development. We at ADGM are committed to enhancing and developing our ecosystem and regulatory frameworks to make sure that the IFC remains to be a destination of choice for success, flourishing investments, growth prospects and ambitious entrepreneurial talent. ADGM welcomes Kevin O’Leary and the high-profile delegation of internationally renowned cultural leaders to Abu Dhabi and ADGM. We look forward to supporting the expansion plans in their global growth strategy.”Maven Global Access’ programme, Access Abu Dhabi, is open to all US businesses and includes various support to accelerate expansion and growth in Abu Dhabi, including mentorship from programme ambassador, Kevin O’Leary. Interested companies can apply for the programme here: www.accessabudhabi.com

 Ceer’s Board of Directors has appointed James DeLuca as the company’s CEO. DeLuca has over four decades of experience in the automotive sector, including senior leadership roles at both General Motors and VinFast. DeLuca will oversee the development, manufacturing, and sales of Ceer’s portfolio of consumer vehicles with the aim of producing iconically-styled electric cars replete with advanced technologies and features.DeLuca led Vietnam-based car manufacturer VinFast as its first CEO, creating South East Asia’s first electric vehicle brand. Prior to VinFast, DeLuca led General Motors’ manufacturing function across the globe, overseeing the company’s production processes while managing over 200,000 employees at 171 plants in 31 countries.“Saudi Arabia recognizes the importance of the automotive sector when it comes to economic growth and job creation, and I am looking forward to shaping Ceer into a car brand that is admired by both Saudi consumers as well as the wider industry,” said DeLuca. “Ceer will help ignite Saudi Arabia’s automotive sector and create synergies of scale that the automotive industry will benefit from as more automotive manufacturing moves to the Middle East to make electric vehicles mainstream in the country and the wider region.”Ceer is a joint venture between the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Foxconn. Ceer will manufacture vehicles in Saudi Arabia. Each vehicle will be designed and manufactured in Saudi Arabia and tested to the highest global automotive quality control and safety standards. Ceer vehicles are scheduled to be available in 2025.Saudi Arabia has laid out a number of targets for its own automotive sector, with a focus on creating a sustainable industrial base that will contribute to the country’s GDP growth, promote the transfer of knowledge to the Kingdom and spur job creation. Today, Ceer has more than 400 employees who have already started designing and engineering Ceer’s vehicles.

Salesforce, the global leader in CRM, has released its eighth annual State of Marketing report. In the report, UAE marketers say their work provides increasing value despite macroeconomic and labor headwinds. The report also reveals how marketers in the countries surveyed are adapting to changes in privacy regulations — all while managing more data sources than ever before.86 percent of UAE marketers say their work provides greater value than it did a year ago. However, they face an uphill battle in an uncertain economy: 19% of UAE marketers cited budgetary constraints and 59% agreed that customer expectations are more difficult to meet than they were a year ago.To help meet the moment, marketers are focusing on:Experimenting with new marketing strategies / tacticsBalancing personalization with customer comfort levels “Organisations in the UAE are increasingly looking to their CMO and their marketing teams to meet the challenge presented by customers’ digital-first expectations. There are also growing concerns about budgetary restraints and the ability to do more with less in the face of global economic headwinds, and the need to accommodate evolving data privacy requirements to prepare for a cookieless future,” said Robbie Kearns, Senior Regional Vice President, Salesforce.The trends revealed in the State of Marketing report were collected from a survey of 6,000 marketing leaders across 35 countries and six continents, including 100 from the UAE. Insights include the following:The march toward digitally-led engagement treads new and familiar paths. Marketers are investing in a combination of channels and technologies to reach audiences in new places and build lasting relationships. Audio, Events and sponsorships, and website/app have seen the largest increase in usage in the last year by UAE marketers. However, email marketing remains dominant, accounting for over 80% of all outbound marketing messages, according to trillions of message sends from Salesforce Marketing Cloud.Marketers navigate a complex technology and regulatory landscape. Marketers are adapting to changes in privacy regulations and calls for data transparency. Although 72% of UAE marketers still invest in third-party data, 80% say they have a fully defined strategy to shift from third-party data.KPIs shift as marketers pursue real-time intelligence. Across every stage of the funnel, marketers are tracking more metrics year over year than ever before. Speed to insight remains a competitive advantage. Seventy-eight percent of UAE marketing organizations engage customers in real time across one or more marketing channels.Distributed teams unite with collaboration technology. Recognizing that remote and distributed work is here to stay, leaders are making investments into new collaboration tools. 58% of UAE marketers say it’s harder to collaborate now than pre-pandemic and are turning to an average of 3.38 collaboration tools to help.

 Women across the GCC are finding new and creative ways to overcome barriers to entering the workforce or beginning their own ventures, says a report.The study – GCC Women Entrepreneurship – highlights women efforts to set up their businesses in the region despite several challenges such as the gender gap and structural disadvantages in fundraising and investment activities.“Today, women entrepreneurs are key to inclusive economic growth, led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The region has been witnessing a change in recent years as countries are pushing ahead with gender neutrality measures as part of their national strategy to achieve sustainable growth for society,” according to the report launched by Dash Venture Labs.Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain have also incorporated women-focused initiatives in their future development plans and vision. The common goal is to move in tandem with Goal 5 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals -- aimed at achieving gender equality and empowering all women.Shailesh Dash, Founder of Dash Venture Labs, said entrepreneur and startups are an important engine for growth for the region, especially with the changing landscape coupled with the rise in technological advancement across industries.“Governments have also realised the importance and have introduced a number of initiatives to provide access to funding avenues to support entrepreneurship and whole ecosystem. Hence, supporting women entrepreneurs -- financially or non-financially -- in sustaining and growing their business is as important as starting their business,” he said.Diversification strategyThe report pointed out that GCC governments have been focusing on creating a stronger ecosystem around women entrepreneurs that can result in economic empowerment, a key to the region’s long-term diversification strategy. The rate of female entrepreneurship is positioning businesses spearheaded by females as an important source for jobs. Referring to the Council on Foreign Relations, the report said GCC could add as much as $812 billion to their GDP in next three years by achieving a holistic gender parity in the region.“Women-led startups are increasingly gaining recognition by alternative financial institutions such as PE/VC firms, angel investors, as well as HNIs and SWFs. Following the widespread interest by such entities, banks have started partnering with associations and PE/VC firms to lend their support,” according to the report.Women empowermentIt further indicated that tech-based startups are the most represented sectors by women entrepreneurs. Several accelerators and investors, both domestic and global, have been actively supporting women entrepreneurs with funding and mentoring to bring innovative ideas into businesses.The study also mentioned that women entrepreneurs still continue to face a series of barriers including access to finance and full participation in public life and the business ecosystem. These barriers appear at different stages of the entrepreneurial lifecycle.The report suggested that it is imperative for the public and private sector to increase participation and reduce the gap to empower more women towards entrepreneurship. Although, there are a number of success stories around the world with women-led unicorns, it is essential to further enhance the ecosystem in order to build a stable, prosperous and equitable society.“Women entrepreneurs are key to tackling global challenges, including catalysing the post-Covid-19 recovery. Unlocking the potential of women’s entrepreneurship requires micro-level interventions alongside a dismantling of macro-level constraints. It also requires concerted actions across the law, public policy and the private sector,” Dash concluded.

Jetcraft, the global leader in business aircraft sales and acquisitions, has named Idriss Abdelaziz as Sales Director. The appointment strengthens Jetcraft’s established footprint in EMEA, with Abdelaziz bringing extensive regional knowledge and market intelligence.Before joining Jetcraft, Abdelaziz was Managing Partner at Swiss-based jet broker, AeroProp, following an eight-year career in investment banking. As Sales Director, Abdelaziz will manage Jetcraft’s sales, acquisitions and trades across 19 territories, including France, Benelux, Southern Europe and Northern Africa.Pascal Bachmann, SVP Sales, EMEA at Jetcraft, says: “EMEA is an important market poised for continued growth. According to our latest forecast, the share of Jetcraft buyers under 45 has risen by 20% in the last five years, largely driven by activity in this region, and the UHNWI population in Europe, the Middle East and Africa is expected to grow 24% and 21% respectively by the year 2026. We look forward to working with Abdelaziz and drawing upon his experience to support growing demand from EMEA clients in Southern Europe and Northern Africa.”Idriss Abdelaziz says: “Jetcraft’s data science led approach sets the company apart, providing customers with expert analysis to facilitate even the most complex aircraft transactions. There is a lot of opportunity in the market and I am excited to leverage Jetcraft’s unmatched in-house resources to generate more success stories and build strong, long-lasting customer relationships.”

Spare, an open banking platform licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain, has announced its partnership with Eazy Financial Services “EazyPay”, a leading Bahraini Payment Services Provider specializing in POS and online payment gateway acquiring solutions to embrace opportunities in Open Banking.The partnership was officially signed by Abdulaziz AlOthman, General Manager of Spare in Bahrain, and Nayef Tawfiq Al Alawi, Founder & CEO of Eazy Financial Services, with the goal of contributing to the shared objective of accelerating the adoption of open banking services in the Kingdom, in line with Bahrain’s 2030 economic vision, which seeks to further strengthen the financial sector.Through this partnership, EazyPay will enable its merchants to accept open banking payments powered by Spare, which will add to the current options available to merchants. Businesses of all sizes will be able to capitalize on a more secure and convenient form of collection through the enhanced level of service powered by open banking. Customers will benefit from seamless payment solutions whereby they can pay directly from their bank account. This collaboration will also allow EazyPay to utilize Spare’s open banking connections to provide new products and services to its customers.Eazy Financial Services “EazyPay”, is a leading Bahraini financial institute specialized in Point-of-Sale (POS) & Online Payment Gateway Acquiring services licensed & regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain.Abdulaziz Alothman, General Manager at Spare, commented, “We are thrilled to have EazyPay on board with us for open banking services. Adopting Spare’s innovative transaction solution will undoubtedly bring great benefits to consumers with a seamless and hassle-free experience while allowing them to enjoy new, personalized financial services.”Eazy Financial Services Founder & CEO, Nayef Tawfiq Al Alawi, commented, “We are excited to partner with Spare, in line with our ongoing commitment to deliver beyond conventional payment practices and innovative solutions with the ease and speed that customers want. We believe that establishing these partnerships, especially with key ecosystem players, will allow various players to acquire the necessary capabilities and deliver innovative and unique propositions to a wide range of customers in the Kingdom and the region. We look forward to fostering a productive relationship with Spare for many years to come.”Spare is a licensed open banking enabler that offers a wide range of account information and payment initiation services to both merchants and consumers. With “Pay by Spare”, merchants can capitalize on a faster, cheaper, and more secure way to receive payments from their customers via a bank-to-bank transfer. Spare aims to grow and expand the presence of open banking and to introduce solutions that will enhance the way we transact. Spare is connected to the largest retail banks in Bahrain reaching more than 90% of the customers across the Kingdom.

Nozomi Networks, the leader in OT & IoT cybersecurity, today announced that Jared Waterman has been appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the company. In addition to leading Nozomi Networks’ global finance organization, Mr. Waterman will be responsible for support functions including overseeing the finance, legal and IT teams.“I’m excited to welcome Jared to Nozomi Networks,” said CEO Edgard Capdevielle. “He has a proven track record in guiding private companies through major growth phases as well as entering public markets or strategic acquisitions. He will play an integral role as we accelerate our business.”Mr. Waterman brings a number of years of experience in successfully executing strategic financial growth plans, fundraising and IPOs to his role at Nozomi Networks. As Vice President of Finance for Pandora he scaled Finance from the ground up, taking the company through an IPO and growing revenue to $1.5 billion. As Senior Vice President of Finance at Yext, he helped guide global expansion efforts that grew the company to more than $350 million in annual revenue. Before joining Nozomi Networks, he was Chief Financial Officer at HR tech company Inflection. At Inflection Jared helped guide the company’s go to market expansion, as well as helped drive a successful exit in Q2 2022.“Nozomi Networks is at a critical phase in its evolution. Our team, technology, and global presence uniquely positions us to capitalize on our market leadership,” Waterman said. “I’m excited to join this team as we take the company to the next level in providing enterprises and critical infrastructure providers with cybersecurity and analytics for all their connected devices. We have a significant opportunity ahead of us and I look forward to being part of the leadership team as we take the next step in our journey.”  

Bain & Company, the leading global management consulting firm is inaugurating the Middle East Women Leadership Forum, titled ‘Go Boldly: Bring Your Future Forward’, in Riyadh on November 23 and 24, 2022. It is the first high-caliber platform of leadership and connectedness bringing together regional female leaders across the GCC, to support them in achieving their full potential, learning from one another, and celebrating different models of success.The forum is a new program launched by Bain & Company where an annual cohort of exceptional female leaders in the Middle East can connect, share experiences, and learn. During the event and throughout the year, members will have access to capability-building and leadership modules, as well as connectedness, mentorship and coaching opportunities, and experience sharing.Anne-Laure Malauzat, Partner and Chief Diversity Officer of Bain & Company Middle East, added: “It is no secret that diverse and inclusive workplaces, at all levels of leadership, deliver the best results. Bain & Company’s research shows that men and women have consistent motivations when it comes to work, across factors like financial orientation and connectedness. However, the reality on-the-ground is that women still remain scarce in top leadership roles today: they held fewer than 5% of CEO roles globally in 2020 and this is also reflected in the GCC region with less than ~2% of women sitting on boards.As part of the program, participants will have access to a range of offerings to support them in their leadership journey. Such as:Mentorship and Coaching – Access to mentors and leadership coaches to work on both personal and professional developmentCapability-building Sessions – to support the participants on their path to leadershipQuarterly Speakers and Connectedness Series – organized by Bain & Company, to reinforce allyship and inspiration“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are a top priority for Bain as part of our internal culture, in our work with our clients, and across all countries and communities we operate in. We hire a highly-diverse set of people with exceptional talents, abilities, and potential and create a collaborative environment where people can become the best version of themselves,” said Tom De Waele, Bain & Company’s Middle East Managing Partner.Lise Abi Jaoude, Senior Manager and lead of the Middle East Women Leadership Forum added: “This year, we are honoured to be inaugurating the Middle East Women Leadership Forum. We have selected an exceptional group of leaders to join us in this first edition to foster connectedness and learning. Our aspiration is to create a supportive and collaborative community that can empower leaders of the current and next generation.”

 The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has organised several panel discussions on the role of artificial intelligence and future technology in media and the role of media in achieving the goals of sustainable development.International scientists, experts, researchers and researchers from the UAE University participated in the discussion during the second day of the Global Media Congress (GMC), which is being held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) until 17th November.Prof. Ahmed Murad, Associate Provost for Research at UAEU, said that the university's participation in this international event hosted by Abu Dhabi is an exceptional opportunity for the UAEU to enhance its global leadership and promote its remarkable presence in major international events.With wide participation of visitors, the UAEU platform students presented the outcomes and results of their media-related research projects and innovations, including a robot news anchor project that acts as a newscaster and a robot project that converts ideas into images using artificial intelligence, the "deepfake" project, among others.The UAEU also held a meeting for its media graduates, during which the participants discussed how the university graduates contribute to enhancing its international reputation, in addition to the role of field training for media students in enhancing their confidence, refining their skills and preparing them for the media labor market.

The Global Media Congress (GMC) has provided a platform enabling discussions on critical issues in the media sector, Jonathan Clayton, Editor/Reporter for The Times, told WAM.In a statement he made during Day 2 of the GMC, Clayton, a journalism veteran who serves as Africa correspondent for the London-based Times newspaper, described his participation in the congress as an "enormous privilege", as the event is being held at a critical time for the industry, with the growth of digital media.Commenting on the media's transition into the digital format, he said, "Traditional media has had to adapt, every major newspaper in the world today has an online presence.“There are all sorts of non-traditional news outlets coming up and this has had implications for democracy, for issues like false information, fake news, what is true, and how to assure balance in reporting. It's given opportunities for citizens to go out and record their own news, but then that also raises questions as to how do we ensure that the news that they are putting out is accurate and balanced,” said Clayton, who served as a moderator and panellist on the GMC's Media Future Labs, a future-focused series of invite-only roundtables made up of experienced industry professionals featuring no-holds barred and honest discussions on the various challenges confronting the media sector.“All of these issues are being raised at the conference today along with other issues like who finances digital media, who finances the news world of tomorrow and how do we assure that the developing world gets as loud a voice as the developed world. All of these issues have been discussed here in this wonderful setting this state-of-the-art conference centre. It’s a real pleasure to be here,” he said, in conclusion.

 A report created by Redseer in partnership with TikTok found that the upcoming football tournament in the region will provide a boost to the festive retail season, with a predicted peak gross merchandise value of USD 8.4 billion for online retail, compared to USD 6.5 billion in 2021. When including offline sales, the overlap of the football season with Black Friday will present a massive USD 70 billion opportunity for the retail sector in MENA.The report found that digital media will take the lead in enabling the opportunity with e-commerce, as product discovery is dominated by digital channels. Online searches (69%) were found to be the top channel that respondents plan to use to search for new products during the football season, followed by social media (64%), online customer reviews (63%), and brand/retailer apps (55%).Joanne Chehab, Head of Business Partnerships for Managed Services, Global Business Solutions, MENA – TikTok said: “The upcoming football season is an unparalleled opportunity for brands to tap into a huge, passionate, and highly engaged audience. TikTok will be one of the major channels through which this audience will engage with content; in 2021, there were 129 billion views for the #football hashtag globally on the platform. Prioritizing creativity to build brand-event adjacency, TikTok is the place to be for brands who want to seize the football moment and meet/engage their audience with authentic and impactful stories.”Seventy-two percent of respondents said they use social media to discover content related to their favorite sport, with 70% saying they expect to consume more short form video content during the football season.Akshay Jayaprakasan, Associate Partner, Redseer Middle East said: “The current digital era promises to make this football tournament the most inclusive one, helping it reach people from all walks of life. 93% viewers will watch the world cup with their friends and family, highlighting the theme of togetherness that will run through this period of celebration. Digital media has democratized advertising, ensuring that even smaller brands can find a suitable offering to meet specific needs at a reasonable price. With 83% of football fans, using their smartphone while watching matches, innovative storytelling, leveraging the right formats, will help brands create everlasting brand recall.The report also found that digital ad spend has overtaken traditional ad spend, indicating that brands and retailers should double their focus on digital media during this period to maximize value creation for themselves and their target consumers.Additionally, Creators will have a substantial role to play in driving home meaningful stories for brands. In fact, 80% of respondents said they are influenced by digital media Content Creators to follow football season updates.Aside from retail, the report found that the football tournament will bring a USD 4 billion opportunity through tourist spend, with 51% being attributed to accommodation. Furthermore, the tourist mix will see a higher representation from women and people under 45 than previous tournaments.

 Ras Al Khaimah welcomed crowds of visitors to its purpose-built stand, which highlights the unique proposition the northernmost Emirate offers during the first day of the inaugural Global Media Congress (GMC) at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court.  Represented by Ras Al Khaimah Government Media Office (RAKGMO), Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) and Marjan, the UAE’s northernmost Emirate showcased why it is the go-to destination in the region to live, work and explore to numerous media stakeholders who visited its contemporary stand situated centrally at GMC’s exhibition space. Meetings with these stakeholders detailed the considerable developments taking place across Ras Al Khaimah’s media landscape and cemented relationships between the Emirate’s representatives and their partners in the national, regional and international media.  Her Excellency Ms. Heba Fatani, Director General of RAKGMO, took part in a one-on-one discussion at the event today, while Mr. Ramy Jallad, CEO of RAKEZ, will participate in a discussion on ‘The role of integrated media hubs in the future of the media industry’ tomorrow at the Congress, which runs until November 17.   During a session titled ‘The changing interface of government communications’, Ms. Fatani stated: “In today’s world, the bulk of our audience are youth. Governments need to be able to speak their language while maintaining our credibility as a government entity. This means that governments need to find ways to remain relevant, relatable and reassuring in the digital age and key to that approach is being humane and transparent, as well as reliable. “RAKGMO utilizes digital communications to communicate efficiently and in real-time with the people. We have a digital-first and community-focused communications strategy that aims to inspire, engage and make a positive difference to the lives of people.“We endeavor to ensure our communications are honest, clear and transparent and we aim to create content that carries a positive message that can empower people to act in a manner that benefits not only themselves but the wider community too.” Ras Al Khaimah is currently witnessing exponential growth across multiple sectors – particularly in tourism, manufacturing and entrepreneurship – driven by a strategic and sustainable development plan that encompasses all facets of life in the Emirate. Ras Al Khaimah Statistics Center has embarked on a first-of-its-kind census in the Emirate, the results of which will be published online and will help inform future government decision-making across all developmental sectors.  

 Galactic Entertainment, an entertainment studio headquartered in the UAE, is transforming the entertainment industry by using blockchain technology to create innovative, immersive, and disruptive experiences. Backed by global investors including Kingsway Capital and Immutable X, Galactic Entertainment is set to become the largest player in the Middle East’s gaming space with its highly anticipated debut project, PlanetQuest.Founder and Chairman, Loren Roosendaal, is a serial entrepreneur who started developing games at the age of 11 and saw them played by millions of people before he graduated high school. Prior to founding Galactic Entertainment, he also founded Bright Star Studios where he currently shares the CEO role with fellow founder Mark Laursen. Loren has become a pioneer in conducting community-friendly sales, witnessing over $260 million in pledges through two successful application-based sales. These notable achievements, among others, have garnered him recognition as one of the founding fathers of the blockchain gaming movement, alongside figures such as Aleksander Leonard Larsen (Co-Founder of Sky Mavis, the studio behind Axie Infinity) and Sebastien Borget (Co-Founder of The Sandbox).The vision behind Galactic Entertainment’s PlanetQuest is clear: to build the first cinematic multiverse alongside a vibrant community that participates in its conception from the start. Community members and fans are treated to the stunning works of renowned writers, video game developers, and artists who have previously worked on IPs from Marvel and Star Wars to Game of Thrones and are now laying the foundation for PlanetQuest. With hundreds of thousands of fans joining the PlanetQuest community in just a matter of months, this approach has already proven to be successful.As part of the community, fans participate in votes that could decide the fate of the universe in the episodic storyline which is already being novelized, and perhaps just as exciting, are given the chance to own entire planets and in-game items that will play a key role in the upcoming PlanetQuest video game. The response to this proved overwhelming as the first planet sale saw fans submit over 10,000-plus applications pledging to spend over $60 million on planets in total in just a few weeks. This left just over 1,000 planets available for purchase in the sale oversubscribed by roughly 60 to 1, providing audiences and commentators with a glimpse of the long-term potential of PlanetQuest. Loren Roosendaal, Founder and Chairman of Galactic Entertainment, commented: “With the games and esports sector growing in the Middle East, we are thrilled to establish our headquarters here in the UAE. The country is becoming increasingly interested in developing homegrown games with over four million users expected by 2027[1]. Saudi Arabia is also a major market, with 70% of KSA's population under 30 years of age, and approximately 20 million gamers in the country[2]. Both markets are key contributors to the region’s growth in the gaming space.As gamers ourselves, we’re excited to be building a whole new generation of entertainment experiences for both regional and global audiences. Galactic Entertainment is pioneering games and stories that not only let fans participate in key decisions but also give them the opportunity to own a piece of this multiverse. After all, what Star Wars fans wouldn’t love to be able to say their votes helped determine the plot of the Star Wars movies? This is the exact opportunity that we’re offering the early fans of PlanetQuest today.”On the heels of its current progress, Galactic Entertainment plans to expand its product offerings by developing further multiverses, hinting that, next to continuing to expand its own IPs, it is also in talks with some massive external IP holders looking to work with Galactic Entertainment to bring various worlds from books and cinema to the metaverse. Whatever the future may hold, with PlanetQuest books, comics, and video games already on the way, and series and movies being a likely future prospect, fans of Galactic Entertainment’s first multiverse certainly have a lot to look forward to.

Dubai Future Labs, Dubai Future Foundation’s applied research and development lab specialising in robotics and artificial intelligence, has teamed up with the Rochester Institute of Technology and Khalifa University of Science and Technology to launch the Emirates Robotics Competition.The competition aims to demonstrate the technological skills of young talents specialised in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies, while encouraging them boost their capacities and be part of the UAE’s efforts to be a global hub for robotics and AI technologies.Teams are required to develop intelligent robotic perception systems that endow the robot with the ability to perceive, comprehend, and reason about the surrounding environment.The competition will include two challenges; the first one includes using the intelligent robots to autonomously perform pick-and-place of objects of varied sizes, shapes, and weights; while in the second challenge, competitors will use their intelligent robot to autonomously move over a track while observing rules and avoiding obstacles.The Emirates Robotics Competition aims to bridge the gap between the current real robotic capabilities and the requirements of potential applications. It tests the skills of the university students, raises awareness of robotics, and promotes the development of the country’s youth.Dr. Yousef Al Assaf, President of RIT Dubai, said, "We are excited to host the first Emirates Robotics Competition in February 2023. Through this competition, we aim to establish long-term engagements with academia and strategic partners in order to promote purposeful robotics solutions, machine learning, and automation."Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University, noted, “We are glad to partner with Dubai Future Foundation and the RIT to launch the Emirates Robotics Competition that challenges university students to design advanced robots. We remain committed to similar partnerships that not only inspire creativity but also help build local skill sets for a fast-expanding robotics and AI sector that impacts all economic areas in the UAE and across the world.”Khalifa Al Qama, Director of Dubai Future Labs, commented, “Though this partnership, we aim to encourage students to sharpen their skills and boost their creativity and innovation capabilities while ensuring that the next generation of talent is equipped with the skills required to succeed in the robotics and technology domains. This also establishes the position of the UAE as a global test bed for emerging technologies."Teams of between 3-6 students are allowed to enter the competition, with each group supervised by a member of the university’s faculty.Entry for the competition is now open till 30th November, 2022. The competition will be hosted at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Dubai campus in Dubai Silicon Oasis on 23rd February 2023.Participating teams will undergo an evaluation process, after which scores will be announced during a special event and cash prizes will be rewarded to the first three winners.

NEOM has organized a series of "Discover NEOM" meetings with investors and business partners in Berlin and Paris as part of its ongoing efforts to attract investors and highlight the rapid progress it has made over the past year.Entrepreneurs, industry pioneers and potential business partners from the two European countries had the chance to engage with NEOM's CEO and several of the project’s leaders to explore future opportunities and support NEOM's mission to redefine business, urban livability, and nature conservation. The Discover NEOM European events were attended by around 400 key business, financial and sustainability leaders and included a series of sector-focused presentations, panels and exhibitions.Speaking at the events, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM, said: "We were delighted to be in Germany and France. We have significant German and French partners in water, energy and advanced manufacturing, and these events allowed potential investors across a wide variety of industries to explore the significant market opportunities that NEOM presents. We were especially focused on how we can best support the collaborative global effort to redefine the way we conduct business in a sustainable and future-oriented way. I look forward to the meaningful partnerships that we will forge in the coming months following these visits and the investment opportunities it will bring to NEOM and Saudi Arabia."Discover NEOM is part of a globetrotting initiative that aims to seek opportunities and attract foreign direct investment into NEOM, a region being built from the ground up with the world’s most advanced technologies to redefine how humanity lives, works and plays. Similar events have been held in the UK and the US over the last twelve months.

 The launch edition of the Global Media Congress (GMC) opened today in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court.The conference-cum-exhibition Congress is organised by ADNEC Group in partnership with Emirates News Agency (WAM).The three-day event, taking place under the theme “Shaping the Future of the Media Industry”, sees participation from more than 1,200 media sector pioneers, specialists, and influencers from six continents in the globe, with more than 30 debates and workshops featuring more than 162 globally renowned speakers.The conference and workshops for young media persons will offer a platform for journalists, tech firms, content creators, digital marketing professionals, streaming giants, entertainment executives, regulators and key media stakeholders to share ideas and exchange experiences.Speakers in the first-of-its-kind event include decision-makers, thought leaders, and senior officials such as Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; Ramzan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Information Affairs of Bahrain; Monica Mutsvangwa, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting of Zimbabwe; Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Director-General of the Government of Dubai Media Office; Apurva Chandra, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India; and Michael Peters, Chairman of the Euronews Network from France.The line-up also includes Wayne Berg, CEO for Digital Media, Culture and Fashion of Saudi Arabia’s Neom city; Adrian Monk, Director-General and Head of Public and Social Engagement at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland; Dr. Paolo Ruffini, Dean of the Vatican's Department of Communications; Masoud Sherif Mahmoud, CEO of the Emirates Etisalat Group; and Caroline Farag, Vice President of CNN and Editor-in-Chief of CNN Arabic from the UAE.In addition, the exhibition hosts more than 170 prominent media establishments and companies from 29 countries from all over the world, showcasing the latest international technologies specialised in these vital sectors.

Islamic Arab Insurance Company, listed as "SALAMA" on DFM, today announced its audited financial results for the period ended September 30, 2022. The Company reported net profit of AED 25.1 million for the 9-month period. SALAMA's quarterly profit doubled year-on-year, rising 102% to AED 5.9 million.SALAMA's gross written contributions for the period ended September 30, 2022, reached AED 886 million amid a price-sensitive and competitive market environment. In the third quarter, GWC recorded significant year-on-year growth of 48% to AED 312 million.In the UAE, SALAMA remained profitable, while subsidiaries in Algeria and Egypt outperformed year-on-year, reporting profitability growth of 54%. General, administrative, and other expenses in the third quarter of 2022 declined by 5.6% compared to the same period last year, driven by improved cost control measures.SALAMA's solid digital transformation strategy, coupled with prudent underwriting, client portfolio diversification, new partnerships, and improved distribution channels, contributed to the year-to-date progress across its various product lines.In the coming quarters, SALAMA will prepare for the planned consolidation and acquisition of Takaful Emarat and the insurance portfolios of AMAN. The proposed transaction will expand SALAMA's capabilities, realize business synergies and improve business performance. The portfolio consolidation, which is expected to be completed in the second half of next year, will significantly strengthen SALAMA's position, giving the Takaful company a larger market share and making it one of the five largest Islamic insurers in the world.One of the main highlights of the third quarter was the restoration of SALAMA's solvency status. This was the result of the insurer working closely with the UAE Central Bank and taking the necessary measures to be able to maintain a good solvency ratio - demonstrating the insurer's financial stability and high ability to pay claims.Commenting on the SALAMA’s quarterly performance, Jassim Alseddiqi, SALAMA's Chairman said: "The Board is very pleased with SALAMA's strong financial performance to date. The restoration of our solvency status was critical this quarter and we are grateful to the Central Bank of the UAE for its support and guidance over the past 12 months – which has been instrumental in bringing SALAMA to where we are today in terms of capital strength. We also look forward to scaling up as we prepare for the proposed acquisition of insurance portfolios. In addition, SALAMA's ongoing commitment to digital transformation initiatives, combined with the Company's penchant for innovation, has continued to contribute positively to revenue growth. All of these steps have collectively yielded great results overall in terms of improving SALAMA's financial strength, unlocking growth opportunities and creating value in line with shareholder and policyholder expectations."Fahim Al Shehhi, CEO of SALAMA, said: "SALAMA's performance in the third quarter is a true testament to how our direct-to-customer approach and aggressive customer acquisition strategy continues to pay off. Our efforts in the strategic pillars of digitalization, innovation and collaboration will accelerate and lead to enhanced customer experiences and omnichannel services, as well as our ongoing digital marketing efforts and campaigns for our large customer base. Our progress to date and our future aspirations reinforce our commitment to making Takaful and its benefits as seamless as possible for everyone."The Takaful insurer's partnerships with banks, broker aggregators and e-commerce platforms have seen tremendous growth this year, establishing SALAMA as the preferred provider of digital Takaful solutions for underwriting and issuing policies online. The latest partnership is an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) to offer SALAMA's services on ADDED's 'Investor Journey' portal, which allows entrepreneurs and investors to apply for a wide range of services, including business insurance. Other recent key partnerships include one with policybazaar to offer online insurance to owners of non-GCC-specification cars who have not had access to comprehensive auto insurance in the past, and another with insuretech provider Wellx to offer hyper-personalised takaful solutions to its customers via wearables technology that helps them cultivate wellness and safety behaviours. SALAMA continues to build new strategic partnerships with leading banks in the UAE to provide omnichannel takaful solutions to the banks' customers.SALAMA is also one of the first takaful providers to allow its customers to access its services and products via WhatsApp. With initiatives like these, SALAMA is expanding its direct-to-customer portfolio to include product lines such as enhanced medical, motor, home, and pet insurance, as well as the recently added Essential Benefit Plan, which enables instant policy issuance and generates a health card online.SALAMA recently ran a 22-day social media campaign titled 'Kind Beings of Dubai' to share stories of extraordinary acts of kindness shown or experienced by UAE residents. Complementing the Dubai-wide initiative, SALAMA recently launched the Essential Benefit Plan - an offering licenced from DHA that is tailored to meet the needs of workers with dependents who earn less than AED 4000 per month.SALAMA stands as UAE's largest sharia'h compliant Takaful operator with AAA-rated capital adequacy rating from S&P and is one of the few insurers to meet the solvency requirements of the regulator.

stc Bahrain, a world-class digital enabler, is the Cyber Innovation partner at the largest gathering of cybersecurity professionals in Bahrain – connecting global leaders in the cyber and infosec community from around the globe. The Arab International Cybersecurity Summit will be held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, at the Exhibition World Bahrain from 6-8 December 2022.stc Bahrain was the first telecom operator in Bahrain to secure its network through a cloud-based cybersecurity solution, “Web Protect”. The service is offered to business customers to protect their digital assets and ensure customer safety by using an advanced threat intelligence platform. stc Bahrain also partnered with Sirar by stc to enhance its cybersecurity offerings for businesses in Bahrain, enabling businesses to manage digital risks effectively. The services are in line with the growing demand for cybersecurity solutions aligning with the Kingdom’s national ICT framework.Commenting on the partnership, Eng. Nezar Banabeela, CEO of stc Bahrain, said: “Cybersecurity remains a priority for us at stc Bahrain as we are implementing advanced technologies to keep businesses and customers in Bahrain digitally secure. We are proud to be named as the Cyber Innovation partner at the largest gathering of cybersecurity professionals in Bahrain and we are looking forward to taking part in insightful discussions about securing Bahrain’s digital infrastructure and the latest technological developments that will protect businesses in the Kingdom.”Co-hosting the event will be the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), as they are building a National Cyber Security Strategy to protect the Kingdom’s networks and infrastructures against cyber threats, cybercrime and espionage. The framework will address the new developments in the ICT sector that have integrated advanced technologies, providing a resilient infrastructure to combat rising cyber threats and attacks, and protecting the Kingdom’s digital infrastructure. The Managing Director of Faalyat, Amal Almurbati commented, “We are extremely delighted to be introducing the first ever ICS event in the country. In this event, we will be witnessing the outcome of two years of strategic planning and hard work to make this happen.”She added: “We are confident that the partnership with stc Bahrain will not only reinforce the importance of keeping the Kingdom safe and secure from cybercrime but will ultimately provide the perfect platform to engage, educate, inspire and build vital new business contacts for both the private and public sectors in the country.”The event will create the optimum environment for exhibitors to conduct business supported by a 3-day conference for global and regional industry leaders, experts and innovators to discuss critical aspects of the industry in a dynamic, knowledge exchange platform.General information on the event, schedule and participation can be gathered on https://www.arab-cybersecurity.com

Radisson Blu, Dubai Media City has announced the appointment of Laeeq Ahmed as the hotel’s new Human Resources Director. Mr. Ahmed brings almost two decades of experience to this vital role and is sure to be a great asset to the established team providing industry-leading hospitality in Dubai.Laeeq has spent 18 years in human resource roles, making him an ideal candidate to help develop and lead the talent and culture strategy of Radisson’s Media City hotel.From his first human resources role as an Executive at the TATA group in 2004, Laeeq’s drive for innovation in talent recruitment, retention, and development in a progressive business culture was quickly recognized as he implemented new initiatives and helped improve practices within the firm.In 2007, Laeeq became a Senior Human Resource Executive at the Aditya Birla Group before relocating to Dubai in 2009 when he accepted his first role in hospitality as the Assistant Human Resources Manager for Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach. By 2012, Laeeq was working as Personnel Manager at Accor MAF Central services to manage and streamline HR operations throughout the brand’s entire UAE portfolio. Over the following six years, Laeeq grew to become first Human Resources Manager and then Director of Talent & Culture in various UAE hotels.Laeeq’s last assignment was as Director of Talent & Culture at Sofitel Hotel Jumeirah Beach and, today, we are pleased to announce his place as the HR Director for Radisson Blu, Dubai Media City hotel.“I am delighted to welcome Laeeq to the Radisson Blu Dubai Media City team. He brings not only vast knowledge and experience but a proven record as a driver of innovation, providing inspirational leadership, and managing teams with real dedication and emotional intelligence. He has been both constantly successful and incredibly popular in every team lucky enough to have him and we are excited to see the incredible impact he will undoubtedly make with our already excellent team at Media City,” said James Berry, Cluster General Manager at Radisson Blu Dubai Media City and Park Inn by Radisson Dubai Motor City.“Radisson is one of the most respected names in global hospitality and I am honoured to accept the role of an HR Director at the fantastic Radisson Blu, Dubai Media City. I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with the amazing team they have across the hotel and to help lead a culture of real excellence and true teamwork across all areas of the business,” responded Laeeq Ahmed, HR Director, Radisson Blu, Dubai Media City.As Human Resources Director at Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City, Laeeq will be responsible for leading the organization's HR departments, including talent acquisition, learning and development, employee engagement, compensation and benefits, talent management HR information systems (HRIS) and for making strategic decisions regarding all aspects of human resource policies and processes.

Homegrown UAE startup Silkhaus (www.silkhaus.co) is betting big on technology and the surging demand for short-term rentals (STR) to disrupt and transform the region’s real estate sector. The disruptive prop-tech startup has secured USD 7.75 million in seed funding, backed by top global venture capitalists and entrepreneurs – one of the largest seed rounds in the history of the MENA region.Aahan Bhojani, Founder and CEO of Silkhaus, said: “We are witnessing a significant increase in alternative accommodation and short-term rentals. However, the management of short-term rentals is highly fragmented and largely offline. Property owners lack the technology and know-how to deliver a world-class and standardised experience. We are building the operating system for property owners - large or small - to operate high quality short-term rentals and deliver memorable guest experiences. With the backing of our global investors, we are excited to build Silkhaus into a global category-leader.”Demand for high-quality STRs has far outstripped supply as more professionals relocate to the UAE, on the back of progressive regulations and visa reforms that are attracting top global talent and companies to its shores. The rising trend of ‘global nomads’, professionals who are able work from anywhere and require transparent, yet flexible, tenancy contracts has also fuelled demand.Founded in 2021 by Aahan Bhojani and Ashmin Varma, Silkhaus has grown over 10x over the past 12 months, operating in stealth mode. A graduate of Harvard Business School and Yale College, Aahan previously worked across management consulting, investment banking, and product management, in roles that required extensive travel. Taking note of changing leisure and business travel preferences, Aahan founded Silkhaus to reimagine accommodation experiences for medium and long-stay travel across high-growth emerging markets.Silkhaus has identified a $13 billion TAM across MENA, South Asia and Southeast Asia to unlock opportunities for asset owners. For property investors, STRs offer flexibility in maximising returns on their investments in a red-hot market, without being locked into long-term tenancy contracts. While demand for STRs has been aggregated by online platforms, the supply of STRs still remains hyper-fragmented and largely offline in nature.Bringing trust, consistency and transparency to the UAE’s real estate sector, Silkhaus provides a technology-powered best-in-class platform for anyone to operate high-quality short-term rentals – be it individual apartment owners, institutional investors, or established operators. As part of its mission to make short-term rentals more accessible to diverse audiences, Silkhaus optimises revenue and streamlines operations for property owners, allowing them to list multiple or single units on the platform with an average revenue yield increase between 20 - 40%. Guests can easily access high quality, well-maintained properties, elevating their experience, whether they are travelling for business or leisure. Silkhaus’ investors include leading global venture capital funds, technology funds, real estate funds, and the strongest entrepreneurs across the emerging markets. Global and regional investors joining this round include Nuwa Capital, Nordstar, Global Founders Capital, Yuj Ventures, Whiteboard Capital, and VentureSouq. International family offices, business leaders, and several global prop-tech entrepreneurs have also joined this round. Nitin Reen, Partner at Nuwa Capital said: “Our investment in Silkhaus, alongside global technology and strategic investors, reflects our belief in the future of accommodation solutions and Silkhaus’ ability to operationalise and scale the affinity that customers will expect of the Silkhaus brand. Aahan and Ashmin have differentiated themselves in the right ways with an early emphasis on solid unit economics, market leading NPS, and a value add for all of their stakeholders, including guests and property owners.”Ole Ruch, Managing Partner at Nordstar said: "We are excited to see Silkhaus emerge as the leading platform for short-term rentals across Asia, and particularly excited to partner with Aahan and his team who in short time have proven their ability to disrupt two large and fragmented industries: real estate and hospitality. In Silkhaus we found a product that is loved and recognized by property owners, travellers and enterprises alike, and are tapping into the rapid growth of short-term rentals in emerging markets.”Silkhaus lists high-grade accommodation options, located in proximity to central business districts and leisure destinations. Multinational enterprises also choose Silkhaus for qualified long-stays for their employees. Connecting supply and demand seamlessly, Silkhaus has focused on assembling the best talent from the global start-up ecosystem, attracting leaders from Microsoft, Airbnb, Deliveroo, Careem, Talabat and other global tech-enabled businesses. Home to employees from 12 nationalities, women comprise nearly 40% of the Silkhaus team. As it focuses on growing global supply on its platform to keep up with demand, Silkhaus anticipates its market opportunity to grow from $13 billion (current) to $18 billion by 2026, across MENA, South Asia and Southeast Asia.  

Geidea, a leading fintech company in the region, has announced its participation in the 2022 ‘Techne Summit’ in Alexandria as part of its commitment to unleashing SME success and participation in the digital economy by widening access to digital payment solutions.The Techne Summit is one of the world’s biggest multi-industry-focused investment and entrepreneurship events, bringing together technology startups, fintech companies, investors, and some of the world’s most influential fintech innovators.As a market leader in the Saudi market with a 75% market share, and as considered the fastest growing payment services provider in Egypt. Geidea attended the summit to discuss the latest fintech solutions and to encourage investment and support for entrepreneurs and emerging companies in Egypt.Geidea’s presence in Egypt has gathered pace since it entered the market in 2021. In a little over a year, the company has served a growing network of more than 40,000 merchants.Ahmed Nader, Country General Manager at Geidea Egypt, said: “Our attendance at Techne Summit 2022 aligns not only with our mission to unleash the potential of the digital economy in Egypt but also with the Government of Egypt’s ICT 2030 strategy to transform the nation into a digital society. As one of the MENA region’s largest and most recognizable fintech innovators, Geidea is working closely with players across the Egyptian economy to widen access to enabling technologies and unleash success for entrepreneurs in every industry sector.”As part of its work at Techne Summit 2022, Geidea presented its full range of payment solutions and products to entrepreneurs and emerging companies, as well as discussed, the latest solutions and technologies in the world of financial technology.Ahmed Magdy, Commercial Director at Geidea Egypt, said: “We fully endorse the strategies of the Egyptian state in its bid for digital transformation and look forward to partnering with all government, private institutions & banks in the pursuit of an inclusive digital economy and greater financial inclusion. Geidea’s payment solutions and technologies are perfectly placed to enable Egyptian customers to conduct any financial transaction in just seconds and help merchants across the country to conduct more business in less time.”Magdy continued: “We aim to reach a community of the 3.4 million micro-enterprises, in addition to thousands of medium-sized enterprises. Our goal is to help them grow their businesses, achieve their aspirations and integrate them into the digital transformation process.”Magdy also welcomed cooperation with the Egyptian government in the digital transformation process and stressed that the environment for investments in Egypt is very encouraging, adding that the steps the Egyptian government has been taking make the electronic payments market ‘a very promising one’. He described the fintech technology market in Egypt as ‘very attractive for investments and one that is open to all companies.’

 The UAE has risen as a global hub for forecasting the future of the media industry worldwide, after putting in decades-worth of efforts to host and actively contribute to the success of international events and forums in the sector, and be home to the head offices of some of the world’s largest and most prestigious media institutions.Global Media CongressAs it prepares to host the inaugural edition of the Global Media Congress (GMC), which will begin on Tuesday, the UAE is continuing to add success stories to its track record and expanding its pivotal role in reshaping the contemporary media landscape and nipping future challenges in the bud, through launching a series of annual global events and platforms for boosting knowledge and experience exchange and international cooperation.Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, the GMC, a first-of-its-kind event in the region, will see industry decision-makers, thought leaders, experts, and specialists come together from around the world to shape the sector’s future.Serving as a global ‘brainstorming space’, the Congress will feature over 1,200 professionals, specialists and influencers representing 6 continents, across more than 30 panel discussions and a series of workshops, offering insights from over 162 prominent international speakers, as well as showcases presented by over 170 prominent media outlets and companies representing 29 countries.The Global Media Congress, which is organised by ADNEC Group in partnership with the Emirates News Agency (WAM), comprises a conference and exhibition, providing opportunities for various media institutions to discuss partnerships and cooperation in promoting for developing the media landscape to better serve humanity and drive prosperity worldwide through offering rich, highly credible and entertaining content.Holding the event in the capital, Abu Dhabi, confirms that the UAE’s status as a global mastermind of ambitious initiatives and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the global media industry, and optimising its capabilities in producing and disseminating top-notch news and media content.Over the past years, international events such as the Arab Media Forum in Dubai, the Abu Dhabi Media Summit, and the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF) in Sharjah have contributed to highlighting the influential role that the UAE plays in crystalising the future of media in all its forms, as well as the success of the country's media zones in luring in the most important and prestigious media institutions in the world, enabling them to operate and innovate at the highest levels.Arab Media ForumLast month, the Arab Media Forum, hosted annually by Dubai, celebrated the 20th anniversary of its inception, during which it emerged as a valuable and effective dialogue platform focused on analysing the situation of media on the Arab arena and its connection to the surrounding transformations at the regional and international levels. It also contributed to advancing the development of Arabic media, starting from the UAE.The report “A Look at Arab Media” was one of the most important contributions that the Forum served in advancing the media development process in the region, due to the large number of facts and figures it contained, which constituted an important and comprehensive professional reference for all parties concerned with media in the Arab region.The Forum Awards, with its three themes, “Arab Journalism Award”, “TV Award” and “Digital Media Award”, each of which includes independent categories with a total of 13 categories, in addition to the “Media Personality of the Year” award, played a prominent role in stimulating excellence and creativity.IGCFThe International Government Communication Forum (IGCF), one of the initiatives organised annually by the Sharjah Government Media Office, is the region’s largest gathering concerned with discussing global best practices in government communication.The forum is keen to develop a reliable platform for dialogue on the best methods used in global government communication, in order to improve government performance and methods of communication between governments and the public.Since its first session in 2012, the Forum has succeeded in building a new intellectual system for the benefit of government institutions and workers in the communication sector, not only in the UAE and the Arab region, but also at the global arena.Abu Dhabi Media SummitThe Abu Dhabi Media Summit, whose first edition was held in March 2010, was an unprecedented gathering of eminent personalities and pioneering companies leading the transition to a new, fully connected world.The event featured a unique blend of plenary sessions and private discussions, in the presence of major global leaders in the media sector alongside their peers in emerging markets.The summit focused on the most prominent trends in the regional and global media industry, and how to take advantage of the opportunities that have emerged in the digital age, among other topics, in the presence of many international pioneers of media, digital content and innovation.Media Cities and ZonesMedia cities in the UAE have succeeded in attracting local, regional and international media project owners, encouraging them to establish headquarters in the country, and to contribute to providing technical innovations and experiences in various forms of visual, audio, print and digital content.The country includes several free media zones that provide invigorating advantages for investors in the field of media, including full ownership, a tax-free environment, ease of registration and high-level establishment services.

 ToYou, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s largest mobility-as-a-service provider on a single-click platform has entered into a partnership with M2P Fintech, Asia’s largest API infrastructure company. The partnership, which was established through the signing of a memorandum of understanding during the Seamless KSA event, aims to provide end-to-end payment solutions to customers and businesses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ToYou’s platform will be powered by the infrastructure and technology layer of M2P Fintech, enabling smooth payments for its users and providing a seamless checkout experience for the App's products and services.ToYou is a SuperApp that aggregates multiple services and adds a new dimension to logistics in Saudi Arabia. Through a single app, ToYou enables consumers to find, purchase, and have anything delivered, from groceries and restaurant deliveries to passenger transportation and courier services. ToYou's rapid expansion mirrors Saudi Arabia's growing appetite for digital services, including new payment methods.In a country where 98% of the population has internet access, digital payments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are on the rise, with digital transactions expected to reach $42.3 billion this year and $78.4 billion by 2027. Regarding e-commerce, the numbers are similarly convincing. The Saudi domestic online market is anticipated to double to $2 billion by 2025.Speaking on the partnership Ms. Vaanathi Mohanakrishnan, Business Head of M2P Fintech, MENA said, “We are seeing a renewed focus on how businesses are leveraging technology to enable differentiated customer experiences that make the process of transacting on such platforms a lot more convenient. In line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 of increased inclusion and digital payment infrastructure leading to a cashless society, M2P is very pleased to be partnering with ToYou for extending digital payment options for ToYou’s customers. “In this regard, Eng. Ziyad bin Ali Al-Ajlan, CCO, ToYou, said: "Driven by our determination to provide the best logistics services in the Kingdom for delivering orders, the "ToYou" App was able to expand and reach more than 56 cities in record time." The next step is to expand regionally across several countries. Whereas logistics services are a critical factor for economic growth and competitiveness, we, in turn, are committed to the quality and global standards of the services, which are worthy of the Saudi Vision 2030 and its trend to advance in this field and become a global logistics platform. The "ToYou" App is considered one of the leading applications in delivering orders for restaurants, pharmacies, gift stores, clothing stores, and various other services because it is an integrated logistics platform that created a link between the user, the stores, and the representative. We are happy to partner with M2P Fintech that bring their knowledge, tech prowess and experience of seamless digital payments from around the world to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to benefit its people."M2P enables every company to become a fintech by integrating fintech into core business offerings and serves as a trustworthy technology layer between banks, fintechs, and financial institutions. M2P is present in over 20 markets throughout MENA, APAC, and Oceania. Through their core lending suite, M2P offer a $9 billion active loan portfolio and work with over 100 banks, 100 financial institutions and over 600 fintechs to serve over 35 million end customers. Companies can also quickly deploy future-ready, customer-relevant banking services using M2P's comprehensive core banking system to ensure quick go-to-market speed while maintaining the brand's core values.

Abu Dhabi growing influence as a major international sports destination will be on full display this month as Lionel Messi and his star-studded Argentina become the latest stars to strut their stuff in the UAE capital.Tickets for the November 16 friendly at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium between the UAE and two-time World Cup winners Argentina sold out in less than 24 hours, yet fans still have the chance to catch the South American stars – who are undefeated in 35 consecutive games – up close courtesy of a ticketed training session at Al Nahyan Stadium on 14th November.Messi has intimated that the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be his last, and it is telling that his final warm-up match before chasing the ultimate prize in world football one last time will take place in the UAE capital.“We know how important a World Cup is to many countries, especially a country like Argentina, so we are honoured that Argentina has entrusted Abu Dhabi to host the final preparations,” Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said, while highlighting their recently entered strategic partnership with the Argentina Football Association (AFA).“It demonstrates the growing global confidence in our city to provide the best environment for world-class sport to flourish, and it is our pleasure to welcome one of the most popular teams in world football.”“Whether it is a FIFA Club World Cup, a UFC fight night, or innumerable other international events, Abu Dhabi has proven its capabilities to host major sporting occasions and each time we do, our trust among international stakeholders becomes stronger. To have an international team of Argentina’s standing come to Abu Dhabi for the first time is a cause for celebration and further evidence of the emirate’s stature in the global sports industry," he added.Abu Dhabi recently raised the bar with October’s historic debut of the NBA at the Etihad Arena, which saw the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks play out a thrilling double-header. That was followed by a blockbuster UFC 280: Oliveira vs Makachev on Yas Island, one of the strongest UFC cards of the year.The emirate made another sporting history with the WBA Light Heavyweight Championship fight between Dmitry Bivol and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on 5th November hosting the first ever boxing world title match contested in Abu Dhabi. The UAE-Argentina match then falls just days before the 14th Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend at Yas Marina Circuit.The diverse calendar of international events combined with world-class infrastructure and facilities, have ultimately made the UAE capital a huge attraction. The inaugural Bike Abu Dhabi Festival is generating a vast amount of interest in the region, along with the 14th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, the World Triathlon Championship Finals and T10 – cricket’s fastest and most exciting format.Meanwhile, the popular FIBA 3x3 World Tour Final will be a two-day event, while eSports takes centre stage on Yas Island between December 14th and 18 th, with the BLAST Premier World Final taking place in the capital for the first time, offering a bumper US$1 million prize.Spartan World Championships, Mubadala World Tennis Championship and ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon all return before the end of the year.

 The Dubai Chamber of Commerce Sustainability Network’s Task Force on Managing Carbon Footprints recently organised an event offering valuable insights and guidance on how businesses can reduce carbon emissions and transition to becoming net zero.The event, titled Sustainability Management Simulation – Net Zero, examined different activities, tools and methods that can be adopted to reduce carbon emissions in line with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, a national drive to bring carbon emissions to zero by 2050.Participants learned about key aspects that should be considered as part of any net zero plan, such as industry, location, timeline, financial budget, stakeholders engagement, training and development for employees, sustainability team, carbon budget and sources of emissions, as well as tracking and evaluation.During the event, Dr. Tim Rogmans, Associate Professor, College of Business, Zayed University, facilitated the session and guided companies through a simulation and analysed participating companies’ data and results. The majority of the companies that took part in the simulation were projected to achieve 50 percent reductions in carbon emissions with their planning.Dr. Tim Rogmans said the simulation aimed to help companies better understand the challenges and benefits associated with reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He noted that carbon reduction strategies can help reduce costs and increase revenues, adding that companies utilising the right tools and methods can maximise the positive impact of net zero plans.Launched in 2010, Dubai Chamber of Commerce Sustainability Network is an essential platform for the business community to exchange information and experiences on matters related to corporate social responsibility and sustainability.The Network is a platform for member companies to identify and share expertise on CSR and Sustainability challenges and develop practical solutions, while it also provides the opportunity for members to engage with key stakeholders including government bodies.

 “By providing the industry with this international platform, the Global Media Congress is helping foster positive synergies that we want to replicate in Mauritius,” according to a top media official in the Indian Ocean island nation.The first edition of the Global Media Congress (GMC) is set to take place in Abu Dhabi from 15th to 17th November, 2022.Organised by ADNEC Group in partnership with the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the GMC is an opportunity for a great leap forward in the region’s and the globe’s media sector."The UAE example shows how collaboration between and integration of media industry players result in positive outcomes. The Dubai media city has demonstrated this. In fact existing media cities are not competitors but rather opportunities, because the tenants of these media cities will also want to settle in new markets. These companies are currently looking to establish themselves on the continent, and benefit from the new opportunities it has to offer,” Najib Gouiaa, MediaCity Mauritius CEO, said in an interview with local media. "Our goal is to bring together African and international companies from across the sector. And we want to be recognised as the leading global media city in Africa, serving as a creative hub, along with the likes of Dubai, Seoul, Salford and others.”"We are greatly encouraged by what the UAE has been able to achieve in the global media space thanks to Dubai media city and incredibly valuable initiatives such as the GMC. It’s a model we want to replicate by making MediaCity Mauritius Africa’s leading media hub for content creation, digital production, global interaction, and local collaboration.”According to him, culture and creativity are important economic drivers that create jobs, foster economic growth, and have a positive impact on urban development. The future media city will enable Mauritius to position itself in a market that has enormous economic potential by developing a platform capable of hosting the African headquarters or subsidiaries of international media groups and communications agencies, as well as audio-visual, video game and eSport companies.Najib Gouiaa noted, “The business model is tried and tested, not least in the UAE. By providing creative industry players with an opportunity to establish themselves in MediaCity Mauritius and expand their activities from there, the country will acquire a new source of revenue and growth, which is particularly significant given the current economic context." Following is the full interview:MediaCity Mauritius: An international gateway to Africa for the creative and media industriesAn interview with the MediaCity Mauritius CEO, Najib GouiaaAt the media and creative industries come together in Abu Dhabi for the Global Media Congress stakeholders argue that the sector is a major driver of economic growth worldwide. The industry is changing for the better: the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a surge in subscriptions to streaming services, and the increasing importance of technology are all having profound effects on how consumers and producers interact with all forms of media. As such, the creative sector has not been affected by the downturn caused by the global health crisis, and it has, on the contrary, continued to grow despite lockdown constraints. The coming years look highly promising for this sector. The African digital content market is no exception to this upward trend, having expanded dramatically over the last few years – a trend that is set to continue. Now more than ever, many well-known companies in Europe and Asia’s media cities are looking to develop a presence in Africa to tap into the potential of this emerging market. The MediaCity Mauritius project is taking that opportune moment to realise a unique, multifunctional creative and business concept, intended as a world-class centre for international production enterprises, creative agencies, video game companies and global media.MediaCity Mauritius is attending the GMC, and we spoke to its CEO, Najib Gouiaa, who told us: “Our ambition is very much in line with the increasing globalisation of the creative and media industries. We know that major players in these industries are constantly expanding their global footprint to be present in new markets. By establishing a media city dedicated to Africa, thereby joining the existing network of media hubs around the world, MediaCity Mauritius will be the gateway connecting the global media industry to the African market. Such an endeavour represents a huge opportunity for the continent to realise its long-awaited creative and commercial potential.”An international multi-media hub for Africa offering prime broadcast and production facilities to global playersMediaCity Mauritius will house a combination of media, technology, African and international media networks, production companies, creative agencies, learning infrastructure, drawing in key industry players, and enabling regional companies to grow into successful world-class corporations, all within a high-tech, sustainable infrastructure. It will also provide a wide range of key services to meet their needs, which include connectivity, storage, uplink, among others.Najib Gouiaa told us more about the objective behind the project: “We’re developing a world-class African hub for the media and creative industries in Mauritius. We want to attract major audio-visual corporations, the global media, and international creative entrepreneurs and connect them to the emerging market in the region.Our goal is to bring together African and international companies from across the sector. And we want to be recognised as the leading global media city in Africa, serving as a creative hub, along with the likes of Dubai, Seoul, Salford and others.” Mauritius is different from many African countries in that it has various assets which foster a conducive environment for creative and media industry playersThe target market of the project includes all the major segments of screen production, gaming, publishing as well as music and radio. In recent years, with changing customer profiles and needs, screen production around the world has increased considerably. It has even become a significant economic driver in many countries. COVID lockdowns have also boosted user engagement with video games, e-sports and live-streaming. MediaCity Mauritius wants to address the widespread growth in these markets, particularly in Africa.In Africa, the creative and media industries are booming, but the continent does not yet have a Media City capable of hosting international industry players in the same way that Dubai represents a hub for the Middle East, Seoul for Asia, and London and Brussels for Europe.According to Najib Gouiaa, Mauritius has the potential to be the epicentre of Africa’s media and creative industries.“I’m convinced that Mauritius is the perfect place to bring together international companies looking to establish themselves in Africa. The island provides the secure and connected environment these companies need to really prosper in this market. The country has super-fast broadband connectivity, and a well-educated and bilingual workforce (French and English). Above all, it’s a cultural melting pot of African, Asian, and European influences – such global openness is a critical factor in the development of a knowledge, information, and entertainment-based economy.”A campus at the heart of the media city, to provide a pipeline of business-ready talentMedia cities need a range of diverse creative professionals, from audio-visual technicians, graphic designers, and digital technology workers to production and management-related professionals. The ability to source qualified local personnel is essential. In this vein, a Media Campus will be set up in the centre of MediaCity Mauritius. Its purpose will consist in hosting renowned schools and universities delivering specialised higher education in the creative and media fields to develop a local pool of qualified talent. Najib Gouiaa described the media campus as “The strategic centrepiece of our development plan because the availability of local and qualified human resources will be critical. So, the academic offer is tied to the technological offer in our project. This is a key issue for any industry, but especially when it comes to the production of digital content. The companies which will be housed in MediaCity Mauritius will rely heavily on the availability of a skilled workforce. So, we believe we can both help the media industry meet its recruitment needs and support talented young professionals in the pursuit of their professional goals by placing a media campus directly alongside the industry.” Our partnership with Broadcasting Center Europe will bring industry-leading standards and provide high quality media servicesBroadcasting Center Europe and Media City Mauritius recently announced an agreement for the development of a new broadcasting centre dedicated to Africa (BCA). This new broadcasting centre will be built to meet the growing needs of the media industry in Africa. It will provide its occupants with the most up-to-date technological facilities in terms of broadcast equipment, hardware, and software.Najib Gouiaa added: “Our partnership with Broadcasting Center Europe, which is a European leader in media services, speaks volumes about the quality and reliability of our technological offer. It will bring industry-leading standards and provide high quality media services. Thanks to BCE’s expertise, our broadcasting centre will provide its occupants with the most up-to-date technological facilities in terms of broadcast equipment, hardware, and software.”We have identified a gap due to the huge demand in Africa and we want to be the main regional centre realising this creative and commercial potential.Many countries of the continent are plagued by poor internet connectivity, a lack of professional skills, cumbersome bureaucracies, and national censorship. By developing a Media City, Mauritius will position itself as the prime location for international companies who are having difficulty penetrating African markets due to a lack of infrastructure.Najib Gouiaa observed: “We have identified a gap due to the huge demand in Africa and we want to be the main regional centre realising this creative and commercial potential. Our localised operations maximise the assets Mauritius has to offer. This means we are able to position ourselves as a bridge between Africa and the rest of the world, while also stimulating talent and the economy at both domestic and regional levels.” The importance of the GMC for dialogue and sharing industry best practiceThe promoters of the project have established a needs-focused strategy based on mutually-beneficial collaborations with major urban, technological, and academic players. But how do they plan to attract the industry's most prestigious anchor clients?Najib Gouiaa answered: “By providing the industry with this international platform, the GMC is helping foster positive synergies that we want to replicate in Mauritius. The UAE example shows how collaboration between and integration of media industry players result in positive outcomes. The Dubai media city has demonstrated this. In fact existing media cities are not competitors but rather opportunities, because the tenants of these media cities will also want to settle in new markets. These companies are currently looking to establish themselves on the continent, and benefit from the new opportunities it has to offer.”MediaCity Mauritius will be an incentive in this respect, providing the gateway for the continent to generate its own content and tell its own stories.Culture and creativity are important economic drivers that create jobs, foster economic growth, and have a positive impact on urban development. The future media city will enable Mauritius to position itself in a market that has enormous economic potential by developing a platform capable of hosting the African headquarters or subsidiaries of international media groups and communications agencies, as well as audio-visual, video game and eSport companies.As Najib Gouiaa told us: “The business model is tried and tested, not least in the UAE. By providing creative industry players with an opportunity to establish themselves in MediaCity Mauritius and expand their activities from there, the country will acquire a new source of revenue and growth, which is particularly significant given the current economic context. The country will benefit from job creation in the digital technology sector, allowing young Mauritians to develop and express their talent in these industries. It will also benefit from the influx of knowledge and expertise related to the production and distribution of new audio-visual content for the African and international markets. MediaCity Mauritius will be an incentive in this respect, providing the gateway for Africa to generate its own content and tell its own stories.We are greatly encouraged by what the UAE has been able to achieve in the global media space thanks to Dubai media city and incredibly valuable initiatives such as the GMC. It’s a model we want to replicate by making MediaCity Mauritius Africa’s leading media hub for content creation, digital production, global interaction, and local collaboration.”

ServeU, one of the UAE’s leading facilities management (FM) solutions provider and a subsidiary of Union Properties, has launched two B2B mobile applications for clients with residential and commercial properties. This move comes in line with the company’s digitalisation strategy, which is aimed at enhancing customer interaction and satisfaction, primarily during emergency situations.With the rapid technological advancements and introduction of innovative mobile applications in the industry, the FM sector is also facing a transformational phase. ServeU has launched the first of its kind B2B mobile applications for the FM sector that facilitates seamless interactions with the corporates directly and allows them to log in service requests in a minute. The apps enable rescheduling of planned maintenance as per client’s convenience, which is directly reflected in the ServeU technician app.These apps have been specifically designed and developed on Microsoft’s backend system in Dynamic 365 Field Service to provide visibility of asset history, lifecycle, and planned maintenance, as well as tracking the breakdown of each asset.Gary Reader, General Manager of ServeU, said: “The journey and progress of the facilities management industry in the past few years has been incredible. As the years go by, the boundaries of the FM sector have been expanding, and companies are constantly adapting to new and innovative technological advancements, meeting market expectations and revamping working practices to address future challenges. It has been crucial to adopt mobile and flexible methods to keep up the pace with the rapid technological developments in the industry.”He added, “Our vision in the present digitalised FM ecosystem is to maintain our momentum and methods to address emergencies and problems faced by our clients. We are always exploring various avenues to upgrade and develop our solutions and services. This is the first time a B2B facilities management app has been introduced in the Middle East region and we are aiming at positioning this as a trendsetter. We are proud of achieving another notable milestone in our journey.”Previously, ServeU had developed and released the ‘ServeU Essentials’, a B2C mobile application available on iOS and Android, which enabled customers to make online bookings, process cashless payments, and manage subscriptions virtually.ServeU has been developing and innovating its services to provide customers with effective, efficient, and round-the-clock FM services, allowing the company to match the speed of the ever-evolving FM market.

Since its establishment in 2015, Mubkhar has witnessed dramatic growth in the region led by its innovation, high-quality fragrances, and loyal customer base; and has since expanded its footprint to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar from its home base in Kuwait.Floward believes in the enthusiastic and energetic entrepreneurs that took Mubkhar from nothing to where it is right now in a very short amount of time. The management will continue running Mubkhar on a day-to-day basis.The acquisition fits Floward’s strategy in maintaining and strengthening the vision of being the dominant online quick commerce gifting platform in the MENA region, and in the UK.Floward initially partnered with Mubkhar to sell their luxurious fragrances on its platform years ago and the brand has since become a top seller across the GCC, making this acquisition the natural next step of the two companies' relationship. Floward will be investing in expanding Mubkhar’s product breadth and points of sales and furthering its growth while preserving the uniqueness and exclusivity of its offering.Commenting on the acquisition, Floward Chairman & CEO, Mr. Abdulaziz B. Al Loughani said: “We are thrilled to join forces with Mubkhar, a brand that without a doubt has left its mark in the fragrances and gifts market. This acquisition is proof that we’re forging ahead in the right direction with expanding our gifting categories and having an exceptional team led by Khalid AlMannaa on board is a pivotal step forward in our expansion strategy. With our companies aligned on the same vision to offer our clients the best gifts through great customer services, we are certain that we will be further cementing our leading market position.”Mubkhar’s Founder and CEO Mr. Khalid Nawaf AlMannaa said: “We are proud of what Mubkhar achieved since we launched and being acknowledged and acquired by a brand as big and as successful as Floward is a true testament to the success we’re witnessed over the years. We are happy about taking our relationship with Floward to the next level and excited for Mubkhar’s future as we continue to bring our customers the best fragrances and the great customer experience they’re used to.”Established in 2017, Floward is a full-fledged e-commerce platform that offers prime fresh-cut flowers and gifts across the MENA region, and the UK covering 36 cities and nine countries. Floward sources products from the best suppliers around the world for its flowers and gifts, which include confectionary products as well as perfumes, jewellery, and a range of other categories. Floward also fully manages the last-mile delivery to its customers.Mubkhar is a fragrances company that offers the finest oriental and western fragrances manufactured with high-quality specifications and is considered the only perfumery store in the Middle East that carries natural essential oils that are certified and registered worldwide.

The MENA region witnessed 524 deals worth US$55.2 billion during the first nine months of the year, according to the latest EY MENA M&A Insights report.Rising inflationary pressures, dampening economic demand and global market disruptions resulted in moderate growth in deal activity of 6% year-on-year (YoY) while deal value slipped by 23% over the same period last year.According to the report, domestic deals were the main driver of activity in the region, contributing 51% and 33% of the total M&A deal volume and value respectively over the nine-month period.M&A activity involving private equity (PE) or sovereign wealth funds (SWF) accounted for 35% and 38% of the total deal volume and value respectively across the nine months. The report revealed that cross-border deals made up 49% and 67% of total volume and value respectively over the period. While government-related entity (GRE)-involved deals totaled US$21.0 billion in 9M 2022, accounting for 38% of the total disclosed deal value.Brad Watson, EY MENA Strategy and Transactions Leader, says:“Although we are living in uncertain economic times, the MENA region continues to record higher M&A activity, fueled by expected economic growth through higher oil prices and an acceleration in business-friendly reforms. Technology is driving a large number of deals, reflecting the rising digital transformation across industries in the region.”The top five MENA target countries by deal value were UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and OmanThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) remained at the forefront of the MENA region, with 155 deals signed worth US$17.2 billion in the first nine months of 2022. This was followed by Egypt with 99 deals worth US$3.9 billion, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with 58 deals worth US$3.4 billion, Morocco with 22 deals worth US$1.9 billion and Oman, where 10 deals have been inked with a total value of US$0.7 billion.Overall top five subsectors in the MENA region, by deal value, include transportation, real estate, consumer products, technology, and banking and capital markets.Anil Menon, Head of MENA M&A and ECM Leader, EY, says:“What is interesting from these latest results is the increasing M&A activity, not just emanating from traditional markets such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, but also from other countries across the MENA region, namely Egypt, Morocco, Qatar and Oman. Higher crude oil prices, combined with favorable regional government initiatives in attracting investments to the region and MENA investors looking for futuristic investment opportunities in foreign markets will be the major drivers of M&A activity in the region going forward.”Domestic deals in the MENA regionDomestic M&A activity saw a slight dip of 3% in 9M 2022, with 268 deals signed, compared to 275 deals for the corresponding period last year. The value of deals also dropped, by 48%, amounting to US$18 billion, compared to US$34.6 billion in the opening nine months of 2021. Excluding the deal involving the acquisition of utilities and power assets of Aramco by Air Products and Chemicals Inc (US$12.0 billion) in 9M 2021, deal value went down by 20% in 9M 2022.Egypt witnessed a surge of 37% in domestic deal activity in terms of deal volume in 9M 2022. The Egyptian government’s decision to sell several state-owned industries to help its struggling economy has attracted Gulf investors into the region.Over the nine-month period, Ghitha Holding PJSC agreed to acquire Tamween Management LLC for US$2.4 billion; Dubai Creek Harbour was acquired by Emaar Properties in a deal worth US$2.042 billion; Q Holding acquired Reem Investments PJSC for US$1.6 billion; Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund acquired a 16.8% stake in Kingdom Holding Company for US$1.5 billion; and International Holdings Company PJSC; Alpha Dhabi Holding acquired a 17% stake in Aldar Properties PJSC for US$1.452 billion.Inbound deals to the MENA regionAcceleration in business-friendly reforms, rising oil prices and the easing of government travel restrictions resulted in higher inbound deal volume in the MENA region, with 119 deals in 9M 2022 compared with 105 deals in the corresponding period the previous year.The UAE continued to be the favored investment destination in 9M 2022 (62 deals worth US$7.4 billion), supported by the reforms to strengthen its business environment, attract foreign investment, and incentivize companies to set up or expand their operations. The technology sector witnessed the highest deal activity in terms of deal volume and out of 37 technology deals, 23 deals were flowing into the UAE, reflecting the regional government’s appetite for digital transformationUSA-based entities are most active in MENA regionEntities based in the United States of America (USA) led the deal activity in the region, in terms of volume, taking part in around 30% of inbound activity with a particular focus on technology-related investments. Canada, however, took the top spot in value (four deals worth US$5.7 billion), largely driven by the US$5 billion deal signed in June by Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec to acquire a 22% stake in Jebel Ali Free Zone, a 22% stake in National Industries Park, and a 22% stake in Jebel Ali Port.The top five subsectors by deal value were: other transportation (US$5 billion), power and utilities (US$1.7 billion), technology (US$1.5 billion), chemicals (US$0.6 billion), and consumer products (US$0.4 billion).Outbound deals from the MENA regionIn the opening nine months of 2022, the region saw 137 outbound deals, which amounted to US$27.2 billion in comparison with 113 deals totaling US$11.9 billion in 9M 2021. The UAE continues to witness the highest number of outbound deals, led by technology, professional firms and services, and real estate, which contributed to 43% of the total outbound deal volume.The UAE saw the largest outbound deal, signed in May, as Emirates Telecommunications Group Company acquired a 9.8% stake in the UK’s Vodafone Group Plc in a deal worth US$4.398 billion.The top five outbound target subsectors by deal value were: telecommunications (US$4.4 billion), power and utilities (US$4.4 billion), media and entertainment (US$3.5 billion), chemicals (US$3.2 billion), and airlines (US$2.2 billion).The report by EY summarizes and tracks announced M&A activity in the MENA market (with MENA being defined and limited to Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the UAE and Yemen). Transactions less than US$5 million and a 5% stake are not considered in the analysis.

New additions to the board of directors of the top 40 UAE listed companies have shown a preference for first-time public board directors, according to Board Monitor United Arab Emirates 2022 by Heidrick & Struggles, the premier provider of leadership consulting, culture shaping and senior-level executive search services.Board Monitor United Arab Emirates 2022 report by Heidrick & Struggles marks the second time the firm has shared an analysis of trends of non-executive director appointments in the United Arab Emirates. The report accounted for 54 new directors in the various boards of the most prominent companies listed on Dubai Financial Market and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in 2021, up from 52 the previous year.First-time public board directors preferred for new perspectivesAmong the new directors, 61% of these seats were filled by first-time public board directors rather than those with experience, with a significant increase from 38% the prior year. A number much higher than those seen in Europe (43%) and in the US (43%).The first-time directors less often have CEO backgrounds (44% compared to 75% among experienced directors) and more often bring a wider set of C-suite experience. 13% had COO experience compared to 0% among experienced directors; and 19% other C-level beyond CEO, CFO and COO; compared to 10% across experienced directors.6% of first-time public board directors have a sustainability experience with no experienced directors having this background. “Internationally, a new corporate license to operate and a new conception of the corporation are developing. We see more boards looking for independent directors or individuals with international experience to help with this fresh direction. Another core business pillar is ESG which is becoming increasingly instrumental in corporate access to capital. Leaders are facing scrutiny as stakeholders demand more accountability and transparency; and to help organizations navigate this increasingly pertinent issue, we are starting to see boards in UAE add directors with sustainability experience in their portfolio,” said Maliha Jilani, partner in Heidrick & Struggles’ Dubai office and Social Impact Practice lead in the Middle East and North Africa region.Additional findings on gender and age diversityThe share of seats going to women in the UAE saw an uptick in 2021 (17%), though compared to Europe (43%) and US (45%) it remains low. UAE also saw one of the largest shares of seats allocated to directors under 45 of any of the 24 countries Heidrick & Struggles’ tracks. The average age of newly appointed directors in ADX/DFM companies in 2021 was 50, a marked decrease from the previous year’s average of 53.What the future holdsAs UAE companies seek to build sustainable international growth, their boards will need agility to both deal with unexpected events and achieve a certain level of foresight, as well as to continue to integrate fresh perspectives into their leadership that will complement the experience of more seasoned business leaders.However, there is no single prescription for board composition. Each company is in a different stage of maturity, in different industries and locations, and pursuing unique strategies. Each board should ensure its refreshment strategy reflects the organizational purpose and goals for the long term and prioritize efforts to add fresh perspectives where they will make the most difference. Thinking of board succession planning as an ongoing exercise will help UAE companies to be resilient and future-proof.Other key findings in the report include:The percentage of active executives in 2020 vs 2021 is 79% to 96%Share of seats going to directors with CEO experience in 2021 was 56%The industrial industry saw the highest number of board directors with same-industry experience (91%), with technology & telecoms seeing the most board directors with cross-industry experience (75%)

Knight Frank Middle East has expanded its presence in the Middle East with the opening of a new office in Doha, Qatar.The new office in the Qatari capital, Doha will provide tailored consultancy advice and transactional services to investors, developers, owners and users of commercial property across key sectors.With the much-anticipated FIFA World Cup 2022 fast approaching this November, this is an extremely exciting time in Qatar’s history and an exciting time for Knight Frank to enter the Qatari market, with recent huge investment into infrastructure developments in the country and renewed confidence in further strong economic growth for the country over the next decade, due to its government’s spending pledge, as part of Qatar’s 2030 vision.Knight Frank’s operations in Qatar will be led by Adam Stewart, Partner – Head of Qatar, who has over 15 years of real estate experience.Having begun his career in the UK, Adam relocated to Qatar in 2014. With a background in valuation and advisory, Adam boasts an expansive client network including government entities, banks, listed companies, private companies and private investors.Speaking on his appointment, Adam commented: “I am delighted to be joining a real estate business with the global breadth and depth of Knight Frank. Knight Frank’s expansion across the Middle East over the last 13 years shows their commitment to the region and I am thrilled to be part of the team.“I look forward to combining my local market knowledge with the global expertise of the Knight Frank business to provide Qatar with unrivalled real estate advisory and transactional services across both the residential and commercial sectors of the market”.Partner and MEA Managing Director James Lewis said “For 13 years Knight Frank has been helping clients across the Middle East through the provision of real estate advisory and transactional services. Our global mindset and local market experts set us apart and Adam’s appointment is going to broaden the repertoire of our business.“We look forward to working with Adam and rolling out our core services, including Valuation & Advisory, Real Estate Consultancy, specialised Consultancy sectors such as Hospitality, Education and Healthcare, as well as International Prime Residential and Private Office transactional expertise to clients in Qatar”.

 A10 Networks, today announced its participation at Black Hat MEA, the premier Infosec event taking place between 15-17 November at the Riyadh Front Exhibtion Centre, Saudi Arabia. The company will demonstrate its entire portfolio of on-premises and cloud-native security solutions designed to drive digital resiliency and protect enterprise applications and infrastructure against cyber attacks.Speaking about the company’s participation at the event, Rayan Mohtasib, Regional Sales Manager at A10 Networks says, “The world has changed irrevocably, and the pace of digital transformation globally as well as in Saudi Arabia has acclerated beyond expectations. The escalating threat landscape is a cause of great concern for regional organizations. A breach can happen unexpectedly at any point in time, and every second is critical when it comes to protection and remediation. Organisations are now laser-focused on digital resiliency, moving to the cloud and how they can shore up their defences. Companies in the Kingdom must continue to invest in modern technologies that enable automation and protection that strike the balance between defence and agility for an increasingly multifacted infrastructure, ensuring that business-critical applications are protected, reliable, and always available. Looking to the future, the adoption of cybersecurity initiatives will likely become higher, and this includes Zero Trust models.” “With our position and depth of experience in the security domain, we see Black Hat MEA as the perfect platform to educate the market about the need for security automation and also spread awareness about A10 Networks’ AI-driven application and network security solutions.”During the event, executives from A10 Networks will run a series of presentations delivered on the booth daily, with the intention of helping educate CIOs and IT managers about IT security best practices and strategies to combat the latest cyberthreats including DDoS attacks and the propagation of malware and botnets. The company will also showcase the following technologies:Web Security: A10 Networks protects users from modern encrypted threats on the internet by leveraging multi-layered security services, leading to stronger enterprise perimeter security and enhanced productivity. The company’s secure web gateway solution allows you to gain full control and visibility of your traffic, with granular, per-user policies that protect from internet-borne cyber attacks.TLS/SSL Inspection: Ensures that enterprise networks are protected from SSL/TLS encrypted cyber attacks by enabling SSL/TLS decrypted traffic inspection via a company’s enterprise perimeter security infrastructure.DDoS Protection: A10 helps address the growing problem of multi-vector and IoT-based DDoS attacks to avoid business downtime, lost revenue, and damaged reputation. A10 Thunder® Threat Protection System (TPS) is the scalable and automated DDoS protection solution powered by advanced machine learning leading the industry in precision, scalability, and performance.5G Security: A10 Networks is a leader in next-generation security technology for mobile operators worldwide—and the solution provider of choice for carriers undertaking 5G transformation. 5G requires high-performance, software-based security. 5G security is critical for new use cases such as connected cars or tele-mentored surgery, which will drive stringent new security and latency requirements, as disruptions could be catastrophic. A10 Networks’ 5G security suite provides highly flexible advanced security at strategic locations in the mobile network, delivering unprecedented performance and scalability in software – VNFs, container, bare metal – or physical form factors as needed.Zero Trust Model: Employing Zero Trust principles can not only protect networks but also ensure that they are not being used to launch attacks. A10’s security-led solutions for DDoS protection, TLS/SSL inspection of encrypted traffic and application delivery security capabilities can provide identity-based and context-based Zero Trust policies for specific enforced access.Simplifying multi-cloud Operations and Strengthening Security: A10 Networks has just announced the launch of Harmony Controller as-a-service, Release 5.4. It provides centralized management and analytics for A10 secure application services including A10 Thunder ADC, SSLi, CFW, and CGN in multi-cloud environments for application configuration and policy enforcement. It is available on self-managed (on-premises/cloud) and as-a-service.A10 Networks will be exhibiting from Hall 4, Booth A30.

 Sophos, a global leader in innovating and delivering next-generation cybersecurity as a service, today published a new sectoral survey report, “The State of Ransomware in Manufacturing and Production,” which found that the sector had the highest average ransom payment across all sectors—$2,036,189 versus $812,360, respectively. In addition, 66% of manufacturing and production organizations surveyed reported an increase in the complexity of cyber attacks, and 61% reported an increase in the volume of cyber attacks when compared to the previous year’s survey. The increase in complexity and volume is also 7% and 4% higher than the cross-sector average, respectively.“Manufacturing is an attractive sector to target for cybercriminals due to the privileged position it occupies in the supply chain. Outdated infrastructure and lack of visibility into the OT environment provides attackers with an easy way in and a launching pad for attacks inside a breached network. The convergence of IT and OT is increasing the attack surface and exacerbating an already complex threat environment,” said John Shier, senior security advisor, Sophos. “While having reliable backups is an important part of recovery, today's ransomware threat requires a detailed response plan that includes human-led threat hunting capabilities. Complex attacks require comprehensive protection, which, for many organizations, will include the addition of managed detection and response (MDR) teams who are trained to look for and neutralize active attackers.”While manufacturing and production had the highest average ransom payment, the percentage of organizations that actually paid the ransom was among the lowest across sectors (33% versus 46% for the cross-sector average).Additional findings include:The manufacturing and production sector had the lowest attack rate, tied with financial services, with only 55% of organizations surveyed targeted by ransomwareHowever, the percentage of manufacturing and production organizations hit by ransomware increased by 52% over the previous year’s report (up from 36% in the 2021 survey report)The sector also had the lowest encryption rate (57% versus 65% for the cross-sector average)Only 75% of those surveyed reported having cyber insurance—the lowest percentage across all sectorsIn light of the survey findings, Sophos experts recommend the following best practices for all organizations across all sectors:Install and maintain high-quality defenses across all points in the environment. Review security controls regularly and make sure they continue to meet the organization’s needsProactively hunt for threats to identify and stop adversaries before they can execute attacks – if the team lacks the time or skills to do this in-house, outsource to a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) teamHarden the IT environment by searching for and closing key security gaps: unpatched devices, unprotected machines and open RDP ports, for example. Extended Detection and Response (XDR) solutions are ideal for this purposePrepare for the worst, and have an updated plan in place of a worst-case incident scenarioMake backups, and practice restoring them to ensure minimal disruption and recovery time