Spending in leisure, amusement and theme parks in the Middle East and Africa was expected to reach US$609 million (Dh2.23 billion) in 2023, according to a report issued by International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the global industry association, as more than 250 industry experts, CEOs, COOs, MDs Head of the Leisure and Entertainment department from 75 participating companies from Theme parks, Water parks, Resorts, Family Entertainment Centres plan to attend he first Saudi Theme Parks & Entertainment Confex, scheduled to take place at the Raddison Blu, Riyadh on March 06, 2023.The day-long convention takes place at a time when the leisure industry has started to grow at an exponential rate following the COVID-19 pandemic and boosted by the Expo 2020 and FIFA World Cup Football in Qatar that kicks off in a few days’ time.The event announcement comes just a few days after Abu Dhabi's Miral Asset Management had launched a new group identity to streamline the delivery of Dh13 billion (US$3.5 billion) worth of leisure and cultural projects across the emirate.“Trade, tourism and retail are key economic growth drivers that will push the economies of the GCC countries in the years to come. These sectors are playing a pivotal role in diversifying the economy of the Gulf countries and will play even greater role in the economy,” Nizam Deen, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CS Events – organiser of the UAE Corporate Tax Forum, says.“Recently the UAE Government has announced that it plans to attract 40 million tourists to the country every year by 2040 with investment to the tune of Dh100 billion that will further diversify the country’s economy and reduce its dependence on oil. Therefore, the countries in the GCC region will now sharpen their focus in developing leisure tourism facilities to attract more visitors. “The event will highlight the upcoming leisure projects that will help the industry grow further. The first Saudi Theme Parks & Entertainment Confex will bring the industry stakeholders closer to each other and they would then benefit immensely from the deliberations and the huge opportunities coming their way.”Along with direct and indirect contribution, the Middle East’s Travel and Tourism industry generates US$237 billion (Dh870 billion) worth of economic activity, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). In the Middle East, Travel and Tourism represents 8.7 percent of the region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and supports 5.4 million jobs. In North Africa, Travel and Tourism represents 11.2 percent of the region’s GDP, and supports 5.6 million or 10.4 percent of all jobs, WTTC research shows. The report projects attendance to increase at a 12.2 percent compound annual rate to 13.0 million in 2023 from 7.3 million in 2018. It expects overall theme and amusement park spending to grow at an 18.1 percent compound annual rate to $605 million in 2023 from $263 million in 2018.This conference will create massive business opportunities that are going to keep suppliers and manufacturers busy and help boost the leisure entertainment and attractions industry. Organised by CS Events Management, the Saudi Theme Parks & Entertainment Confex 2023, will bring together decision makers from Tourism Authorities, Entertainment Sector, Family Entertainment Centres, Resorts & Attractions, F & B, Developers etc. to discuss and evaluate the latest of Saudi Arabia's development in "Theme parks, Entertainment and Leisure" market, while showcasing cutting edge technology and solutions to real buyer. The global amusement parks market grew from $42.68 billion in 2021 to $69.27 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 62.3 percent, according to research reports. The amusement parks market is expected to grow to $140.5 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 19.3 percent.The entertainment industry of Saudi Arabia is growing massively. Saudi Arabia has been putting its best effort to build a unique and world-class entertainment hub that includes innovative rides, cultural or historical attraction, and mega sporting events. It will also have accommodation facilities and merchandise in amusement parks that are gaining popularity among visitors of all age groups. Its entertainment sector offers an enormous opportunity for companies operating in this space. According to Renub Research, the Saudi Arabia Entertainment & Amusement market will reach US$1.17 billion by the end of the year 2030.Industry experts will address the key issues, challenges and trends in the industry through presentations and panel discussions on this forum. Speakers from 20 countries, including countries from North America, Europe, Asia and Middle East will discuss challenges and opportunities and vendors and solution providers will get a chance to showcase the latest innovations in front of hundreds of industry leaders. The Leisure and Attractions Industry is a great contributor to the tourism sector and our regional economies, industry experts said at the conference. The Saudi government has played a central role in supporting the growth of the entertainment sector by implementing the General Authority for Entertainment (GAE) established under the umbrella of the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Saudi Arabia is creating a host of attractions and giga-projects as part of Vision 2030, including the first water park in Saudi Arabia at Qiddiya. The company has awarded a contract worth 2.8 billion Saudi riyals ($750 million) for the construction of the kingdom’s first and the region’s largest water theme park.Qiddiya, which is being built in the outskirts of the Riyadh, is one of several mega-projects being developed in the kingdom as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme, the overarching blueprint to overhaul the kingdom’s economy and reduce its dependence on hydrocarbon revenue.Saudi Arabia’s Al Hokair Group has partnered with Hasbro to launch a unique family entertainment centre (FEC) concept called Playocity across the kingdom. Additional developments include the kingdom’s $500 billion city of the future Neom and the Red Sea Project.Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) from global oil and gas contractors for a $5bn ‘oil rig theme park’ called The Rig. The Rig will be an offshore ‘extreme park’ in the Persian Gulf. Covering an area of more than 150,000 square metres, the attraction will be situated on repurposed oil platforms.The region’s theme parks are currently getting busier with a growing number of visitors and investing heavily in technology to create fully immersive and connected guest experiences they cannot get anywhere else. Experts will discuss on the digitalization of Theme Parks as well. The various experience upgrades that the industry in the Middle East are investing in include the deployment in digital ticketing, cloud-base solutions, digital payment, augmented and virtual reality, experiential attractions etc. The Saudi Theme Parks & Entertainment Confex conference will highlight the massive business opportunities in the the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, where government and the private sector investors are injecting billions of dollars to build new theme parks, amusement parks, large cinema complexes, shopping malls with family entertainment centres – that will help the suppliers and manufacturers of leisure products to expand their businesses.

Arab Bank ranked first as the “Best Service Bank” in Bahrain as voted by Corporates according to the global Euromoney Cash Management Survey 2022, a reference survey for the global cash management industry.The Cash Management survey examines customer feedback around financial services provided by banks to evaluate best cash management service providers and rank them based on the survey results across financial and banking markets.The survey collects data from multiple qualitative and quantitative sources, including institutions and customers to build an objective assessment. The magazine’s team of editors then evaluate the data based on specific criteria and ranking across multiple categories and markets as a global benchmark for leading providers of cash management products and services across the banking and financial industry. This year, the survey collected responses from over 21,000 customers across different markets around the world, including Bahrain.  This ranking complements Arab Bank’s significant success record and recognizes the bank’s cash management offering in light of the digital transformation era. The ranking also reflects Arab Bank’s constant efforts in deploying the latest banking services and solutions in the industry for the corporate sector. Commenting on this achievement, Nadya Talhouni, Country Manager at Arab Bank – Bahrain, said: “This global recognition reaffirms Arab Bank’s constant efforts in providing the latest banking services to its customers across the corporate sector and others in Bahrain.” Talhouni added: “Arab Bank will continue to provide the most advanced banking solutions and services that meet the needs of its customers and provide them with an innovative banking experience in line with the latest technologies in the banking industry.”Arab Bank is one of the leading financial institutions locally and regionally in providing the latest banking solution for its customers across the different sectors. The bank recently received several international recognitions, most notably the “Best Bank in the Middle East 2022” award from New York-based Global Finance magazine for the seventh consecutive year.

Dubai, UAE – Dyson has brought to life its pioneering haircare technologies via an interactive 3D billboard located in Downtown Dubai, for the first time globally.Specially designed to show the intricate and pioneering technologies within Dyson’s revolutionary haircare innovations, the digital display in Dubai will be the first 3D billboard from Dyson globally, showing the importance of the UAE market for the brand.Located above CZN Burak Restaurant on the Boulevard next to the Dubai Mall, the 3D advert will be on display until 30th November allowing for customers to experience Dyson’s haircare product ranges in virtual reality. Some of the products on display include the industry-leading Dyson Airwrap™ multi-styler, SupersonicTM hair dryer, and Corrale™ straightener, all in the limited edition Vinca Blue & Rosé colourway.The 3D billboard comes as Dyson has recently committed to investing half a billion GBP to expand and accelerate its research and technology development across its beauty portfolio, announcing plans to launch 20 new beauty products in the next four years.

The Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Arab Open University (AOU) in Riyadh to cooperate on implementing sports programs and promoting a sports culture with the common objective of building a healthy and active society. The MoU will further see the two entities work together to promote community sports and build a healthy lifestyle among university students.The MoU was signed in the presence of HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, President of the Saudi Sports for All Federation, and Dr.Ali bin Mohammed Al-Shahrani, Rector of the Arab Open University.Under the MoU, the Saudi Sports for All Federation will use AOU's sports facilities to launch initiatives, implement sports capacity development initiatives and sports groups, organize community sports events, and motivate students to participate in events organized by the SFA.Commenting on the collaboration, HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, President of the Saudi Sports for All Federation, said: "The signing of the MoU forms part of our strategy to launch partnerships with several relevant entities, most notably the Arab Open University, where we will work together to promote a sports culture among students by organizing sports events and activities."He added: "Through this agreement, we will work together to organize community sports events and programs at the Arab Open University. We will also cooperate with the university in the fields of research, studies, data, and statistics to enhance our objective of attracting a large number of university students to participate in sports and physical activities. This will help achieve our strategic objectives."Dr. Ali Al-Shahrani, Rector of the Arab Open University in the Kingdom, said: "We are pleased to sign this MoU with the Saudi Sports for All Federation, through which we seek to provide an integrated educational environment for our male and female students by launching initiatives, sports events, and community programs within the university's facilities. This agreement will help promote a sports culture among our students."Al-Shahrani added: "Through this memorandum, we aim to provide multiple opportunities for people to participate in sports and physical activity in order to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevent diseases."SFA is the main body responsible for promoting a healthy lifestyle in the Kingdom by providing opportunities for Saudi society members to participate in sports activities. The Federation will continue partnering with government entities, sports executives, sports federations, and the wider public and private sectors to achieve its objectives of promoting a healthy lifestyle.SFA focuses on four strategic priorities to increase physical activity rates: education, community, and volunteering, fitness and health, campaigns, and promotions. This strategy has been designed for women, men, youth, the elderly, and people with special needs across the Kingdom. The Federation also adopts a dynamic international networking program to introduce the brand to the sports community.The Arab Open University is a regional university located in nine Arab countries. It was founded in 1996 by HRH Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as a non-profit institution and a non-traditional education academic entity. The institution focused on scientific, social, and cultural fields. In 2002, the academic institution partnered with the Open University in the United Kingdom and transformed into an integrated university.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced details of the many inspirational women in philanthropy, business and government who will take the stage for its upcoming Global Summit in Saudi Arabia from 28 November to 1 December.Women dominate tourism employment worldwide and the presence of such inspirational leaders in Riyadh will stimulate debate on the need for them to play a greater role in decision making and leadership in the travel and tourism sector.Today the tourism industry employs 54 per cent of women in the sector but only one in 5 of Tourism Ministers worldwide are women and they are under-represented in senior roles in many hospitality and travel companies.Among the many women leaders present at the Summit are Former British Prime Minister Theresa May.Patricia Espinosa, former executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Desiree Bollier Chairwoman & Chief Merchant, Value Retail, and European Union Parliament member Elena Kountoura will join them along with the Founder and Chief Executive Office of Healing Hotels, Anne Biging, and Global CEO of JLL Hotels & Hospitality, Gilda Perez Alvarado.HH Princess Haifa Al Saud, the Saudi Vice Minister of Tourism, said: “Tourism is one of the few global industries where women are the majority of the workforce. And our young women and men are not just tomorrow’s travellers, they are the chefs, entrepreneurs, inventors and leaders of tomorrow. I have no doubt that this prestigious group of women speakers will help in inspiring our youth here in the Kingdom and around the world as a key to the future of tourism.“I believe there is no other industry like tourism that has the same power to offer opportunity to young people and Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in training to ensure those opportunities become reality.”These leading women will address the world’s tourism industry leaders as they join with key government representatives to align their efforts to support the sector’s recovery and move beyond to a safer, more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Travel & Tourism sector.

Dubai Chambers has unveiled new plans to establish new country-specific business councils operating in Dubai and expand their roles to support ongoing efforts to boost Dubai’s non-oil foreign trade and create new channels of economic cooperation between business communities in the emirate and promising markets around the world.The announcement was made by H.E. Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chambers, who addressed more than 150 ambassadors, consul generals and commercial attachés at the Diplomatic Circle Dinner 2022.The event was held at the Bulgari Hotel & Resort in Dubai in the presence of H.E. Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary for International Trade Sector - UAE Ministry of Economy; Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers; and Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM).H.E. Al Ghurair called on ambassadors and members of the diplomatic community in the UAE to offer their support in establishing several new business councils that would provide the right platforms for businesses in the UAE and abroad to connect, collaborate and build mutually beneficial partnerships.“We are putting a new comprehensive framework into place that will restructure and expand the role of business councils in Dubai to boost its foreign trade and promote cross-border business opportunities for member companies. These councils will cover markets of strategic importance to Dubai and support us as we further expand our presence across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East and attract more companies and investment from these regions,” said HE Al Ghurair.H.E. Al Ghurair encouraged existing business councils to leverage Dubai International Chamber’s vast network of international offices to their benefit, operate more effectively and provide their members access to attractive growth opportunities in the UAE and abroad.He revealed that Dubai Chambers would organise a special forum in 2023 to engage members of business councils, as well as representatives from embassies, consulates and foreign trade and commercial offices operating in the UAE and invited participants to attend the event.He informed participants about important economic developments and several new initiatives and functions introduced by Dubai Chambers aligned with its new strategic priorities that aim to enhance the business environment and economic competitiveness in Dubai.In addition, he thanked members of the diplomatic community for their vital support in assisting Dubai Chambers’ events, trade delegations and other activities in 2022, including its participation at Expo 2020 Dubai, which he says significantly contributed to the organisation’s success and achievements.During his special remarks, H.E. Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary for International Trade Sector - UAE Ministry of Economy, elaborated on the UAE’s strategic plans to enhance the regulatory environment, open new export markets, adopt advanced technologies and ensure an ideal ecosystem for talent and entrepreneursHe stated that the UAE is building a modern economy as a global hub for trade and foreign investment in line with the government target of doubling the size of the economy from AED 1.4 trillion to AED 3 trillion by 2030. He highlighted the importance of bilateral trade deals and comprehensive economic partnership agreements signed between the UAE and leading economies in accelerating trade, strengthening supply chains, creating investment opportunities and boosting innovation.“The UAE is ready - more than ever - to do business with the world and form mutually beneficial partnerships that promise brighter, better future for all,” Al Kait said as he called on business communities from around the world to capitalise on market opportunities emerging in the country.The UAE is also attracting a new generation of foreign direct investment to accelerate our industrial innovation ambitions. We are welcoming all forms of capital – technological and financial, H.E. Al Kait said, identifying healthcare, education, agritech, food production, fintech, financial services and advanced technologies as key target sectors for FDI. He added that new residency rules applicable to golden visas and green visas, as well as upgraded laws related to commercial companies, employment and family-owned businesses will help ensure the UAE’s sustainable economic growth.The Diplomatic Circle Dinner 2022 featured a panel discussion joined by H.E. Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chambers; H.E. Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary for International Trade Sector - UAE Ministry of Economy; Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers and Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM).During the discussion, the panellists shared their valuable insights and views on a wide variety of important matters, including cost of doing business in Dubai, the role of comprehensive economic partnership agreements in driving trade and existing support for local and international companies, in addition to new plans to streamline government services for companies in the UAE and abroad that aim to enhance ease of doing business.

Ahmed Hassan joins FlyFeed and will be in charge of product development, customer relations and growth strategy to help offer pet food producers insect protein products that best meet their needs and requirements.FlyFeed, an international insect farming tech startup, announces the newest addition to its advisory board: Ahmed Hassan. The former General Manager of several subsidiaries at Colgate-Palmolive joined the company in a personal capacity to help optimize product development to the needs of feed producers, including pet food companies, as well as build the customer network in this market and assist with company-wide scaling.FlyFeed is actively expanding to the pet food market with plans to start supplying pet food companies with commercial products by 2023.Ahmed has more than 30 years of experience in FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods), including working as general manager on several continents for Colgate-Palmolive and leading Hills Pet Nutrition’s regional division for six years. He also holds senior advisory and board roles advising startups, SMEs and established companies on strategy, brand positioning, marketing, organization, supply chain and expansion.“I believe in the importance of innovation, sustainability and high-value nutrition for pets’ well-being. FlyFeed scores extremely high on these factors, which makes it exciting to partner with a company whose vision and values match my own. The 115 billion-dollar pet food market has huge potential for insect farming companies. With a targeted approach, I believe FlyFeed has all the prerequisites to become a market leader within several years,” says Ahmed Hassan.Ahmed will be responsible for overseeing product development and building customer relations with pet food producing companies. He will also advise on the company's strategy and key hires to speed up and enhance the overall scaling process.“One of FlyFeed's main priorities is to be close to our clients, learning together with them and deeply understanding their real needs. Having run a large-scale pet food business, Ahmed has unmatched market knowledge and insight into our clients' businesses. Together, we'll bring FlyFeed's relations with the pet food industry to a new level, unleashing the potential of insect products for the benefit of pets' health,” says Arseniy Olkhovskiy, CEO & Founder of FlyFeed.World compound feed production is estimated at over one billion tonnes annually. Global commercial feed manufacturing generates an estimated annual turnover of more than $400 billion. The global pet food market is projected to grow from $115.50 billion in 2022 to $163.70 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.11%. With Ahmed’s participation, FlyFeed is planning to revolutionize the pet food industry by offering the most affordable and nutritious insect protein to all major pet food producers. 

 With Bahrain experiencing its fastest GDP growth rate in over a decade, real estate transaction volumes have improved in Q3 reaching a total of 5,482. This was underpinned by 2,431 recorded transactions in August, making it Bahrain’s second most successful month since 2018.Looking at Bahrain’s office sector, the flight to quality has continued, with the Kingdom’s landmark and newer office buildings recording the highest occupancy rates of those tracked by CBRE in Q3 2022. Leading Grade A buildings are providing competitive rates and flexible solutions to attract tenants. In addition, we have witnessed occupier space requirements decreasing by an average of 11% in 2022 compared to 2019. Nevertheless, we have observed a rebound in occupier demand, with a 27% increase in the number of enquiries in Q3 2022 compared to Q3 2021.In the residential sector, both quoted average apartment sales and rental rates witnessed only marginal changes from Q2 to Q3 2022, with sales rates increasing by 1.3% and rental rates falling by -1.6%. The biggest variation, at -5.9%, was seen in apartment rents in the Capital Governorate, with growing supply likely placing downward pressure on rental rates. In terms of villas, Q3 saw a slight decrease in average quoted sales rates at -0.3%. Conversely, quoted rental rates increased by 4.1%. This can mostly be attributed to increases in the Muharraq and Capital Governorates, with rates regulating after witnessing a slump in Q2.Preferences on residence location have seen a shift over the past year. Heather Longden, Director - Advisory & Transactions, at CBRE in Bahrain comments: “A CBRE poll on consumer preferences found that 60% of people in Bahrain now prefer to live near work, compared to 40% preferring to live near leisure destinations. This contrasts with last year’s overwhelming majority of 80% of people preferring to live near lifestyle-related facilities. This shift appears to corresponds with organisational directives pushing for employees to return to the office, rather than working from home, as well as the traffic issues experienced across the country during rush hours.’’Within the hospitality sector, data found that international arrivals, inbound tourism flows, and total overnight stays all sit higher than the same period in 2019, with inbound tourism receipts totalling 46% more than pre-pandemic figures. The pandemic also led to an increase in residents considering staycations. Our Bahrain poll found that 71% of respondents prefer affordable hotels when planning a staycation. In terms of Hospitality KPIs, STR data for the end of Q3 shows that hotel occupancy in Manama is up six percentage points compared to year end 2021, and three percentage points compared to Q2. Similarly, compared to 2021, RevPAR has increased by 37.1% and ADR by 22.0%, with the latter reaching the highest rate since 2016.In the retail sector, we have observed a relatively even split between demand for larger destination malls offering more retail variety, and smaller community and neighbourhood retail that require shorter travel time. When considering convenience, however, we have also found that the majority of consumers in Bahrain prefer drive-thru over dine-in F&B options, at 60% and 40% respectively. This is demonstrated by the growing number of drive-thru units being constructed by investors and developers, and the continued expansion of fast food and coffee shop operators. In terms of footfall, data shows that retail and recreation visitation in September 2022 increased by 1.3% compared to its pre-Covid baseline. However, visitation for the whole of Q3 was -0.6% below the baseline, which can likely be attributed to a large portion of the Bahrain population travelling during the summer months.

DE-CIX, the world’s leading Internet Exchange (IX) operator and du/datamena celebrate this week the 10th anniversary of the first and foremost data centre and carrier-neutral IX in the Middle East, UAE-IX powered by DE-CIX in Dubai. Established in 2012, the Exchange has experienced consistent double-digit annual growth, and in 2022 alone has enjoyed more than 30% growth in data traffic and 50% growth in connected capacity, bringing the platform to 3 terabits. It now interconnects close to 100 customers, comprising a mix of global enterprises, carriers, cloud, content providers, and emerging technology platforms, alongside banking and financial services companies, making it home to the largest data center and carrier-neutral interconnection ecosystem in the Middle East. In addition, the initiative to create a Union of Internet Exchanges in the UAE, led by the UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), has recently been completed. Interconnecting UAE-IX powered by DE-CIX with Etisalat by e&’s SmartHub IX, this initiative breaks new ground as the first collaboration of its kind ever to be undertaken in the Middle East, creating the best-ever connectivity reach in the region. The digital pearl of the GCC“The ecosystem around the UAE-IX which has been created in Dubai and the UAE over the past 10 years is a unique and marvelous real-life example of how a global Internet hub can be established, and how, in turn, it can begin a cycle of success that will benefit the surrounding countries, economies, and users. This approach to development sets the stage for undreamt-of investments and quality improvements for Internet experience and digital services for both businesses and consumers. The UAE-IX today stands as a global Internet hub, bringing together the network operators, content, applications, and cloud services to serve the entire GCC region with resilient and low latency connectivity,” commented Ivo Ivanov, CEO of DE-CIX during the celebrations yesterday. “I would like to thank our partner du/datamena and the TDRA for the excellent collaboration over the past decade in bringing the UAE-IX powered by DE-CIX to life as the heart of an international Internet hub, and look forward to a bright future working together for the next decade of digital development. Beyond that, I am delighted that we are now able to offer UAE-IX customers the opportunity to connect in a cost-effective and low latency way with customers on SmartHub IX. This agreement will revolutionize connectivity in the Middle Eastern region and lead the way in creating a more integrated connectivity landscape, solidifying Dubai’s standing as the digital pearl of the GCC.” Over the last decade, Dubai has become recognized as an international Internet hub. With high-quality digital infrastructure, stable and cost-effective power, and a stable regulatory environment, the UAE has been able to attract more networks than anywhere else in the GCC. While in 2012, 90% of data traffic that should have been exchanged locally needed to leave the GCC region to be exchanged in Europe, ten years later, the reverse is the case: in 2022, 90% of local data is exchanged locally, resulting in a vast improvement in the latency (response time) of connections and the performance of applications. Together with the UAE’s 50-year plan, Dubai’s ambitions to transform into a smart city, and Abu Dhabi’s Ghadan 21 program striving towards a knowledge-based economy, this has resulted in the UAE ranked 12th on the IMD World Competitive Ranking, and Dubai becoming a center of attraction for international investment and global corporations. Extending reach to new communities Furthermore, the UAE-IX powered by DE-CIX and Etisalat by e&’s SmartHub IX, in an initiative led by the TDRA, have just implemented a trailblazing collaboration to connect the two leading interconnection platforms in the United Arab Emirates to create a Union of Internet Exchanges. The initiative involves DE-CIX, with its partner du/datamena, and Etisalat by e&, along with the support of the regulator in the UAE, the TDRA. The interconnection of the two platforms enables all connected customers, regardless of provider, the opportunity to interconnect with each other cost-effectively – this is the first collaboration of its kind in the entire Middle East. Services available include peering, and enterprise interconnection services like DE-CIX Cloud Exchange and direct interconnection with the Microsoft 365 software as a service clouds (MAPS – Microsoft Azure Peering Service), as well as access to the DE-CIX global ecosystem via DE-CIX Marseille. Commenting on this step, H.E. Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, TDRA Director General, said: “Our national journey, since the union in 1971, has reflected the meanings of integration and unity of efforts to achieve major goals. Today, we celebrate an achievement that bears these meanings and puts them in their rightful place within the process of future shaping. This initiative is an embodiment of the wise leadership directives towards enhancing interconnection and integration to serve the objectives of attracting investments, providing the best customer experience while maintaining data security and improving response time. All this will lead to advancing the process of transformation towards a comprehensive and integrated digital lifestyle.”E. Al Mesmar added: “We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the achievement of the initiative “Unition of Internet Exchanges”, particularly Emirates Telecommunications Group Company (Etisalat by e&), Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du), and all other parties involved in this project. We appreciate their cooperation to overcome challenges and achieve this goal, which will make the UAE a hub for interconnection at the regional level. The parties worked together for a long time before reaching this result, and today we are reaping the fruits of this effort, which reflects the correctness of our bet on the ICT sector to create a prosperous future in light of the major digital transformations.”  On the occasion of the 10th anniversary celebrations and the announcement of the Union of Internet Exchanges, Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO of EITC, said: “We congratulate DE-CIX on the past 10 years of operations of the UAE-IX. Seamless and reliable communication is an essential pillar for modern organizations that seek to keep pace with the requirements of the digital future. Therefore, providing enhanced communication capabilities supported by an interconnection ecosystem that meets the requirements of organizations is the main driver of our new partnership with DE-CIX and Etisalat. As part of this partnership, we will harness the world-class capabilities of our datamena center to create and design hybrid environments for ICT systems. Our interconnection services and solutions that we will provide under this partnership will enhance the capabilities and quality of modern communication technologies, enabling our partners and all stakeholders to establish direct and secure communications and link their operations across multiple sites, as well as achieve savings in time and costs.” Sudhir Kunder, Country Director, DE-CIX India said, “The steady growth of UAE-IX reflects the opportunities in the interconnection ecosystem. I would congratulate the team of UAE-IX for achieving the milestone and building world-class infrastructure to address the evolving requirements of enterprises.” Accelerating growth of international digital hubUAE-IX powered by DE-CIX is the first carrier and data center neutral Internet Exchange for the Middle East. It has experienced in excess of 30% growth in 2022 and more than 180% since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, reflecting the platform’s criticality for the digital economy and digital welfare of the region. As an example of this criticality, in 2020, UAE-IX powered by DE-CIX was able to provide seamless support for the government’s 400% upgrade of their connectivity to Microsoft to support the migration of all 1.1 million pupils in the UAE to home-schooling in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. The UAE-IX’s cutting-edge technical set-up, based on the multi-award-winning DE-CIX Apollon platform, enables hyper-scalability and Cloud Exchange features alongside its global peering services. Connected customers can reach 50+ cloud providers, from specialist niche providers to global hyperscalers.To know more visit https://www.de-cix.in/

DUBAI, UAE — Checkout.com releases the second phase of its Digital Transformation in MENA 2022 report. Following the launch of part one last month – which included insights from 15,000 consumers in the region – the next chapter interviews businesses and their leaders at the forefront of the rapidly growing digital economy.Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, VP of Commercial, MENA at Checkout.com said, “If our nearly ten years in the region have taught us one thing, it is that it’s impossible to underestimate the potential, drive and dynamism which exists in this diverse and rapidly changing region. It will be increasingly important on the global stage.”Retail sector rides the digital waveData from the report shows that 91% of consumers across MENA bought products online in the past year, with fashion and clothing making up 46% of all online purchases in the region. 1 in 5 consumers across MENA purchase retail products online more frequently than last year, with 33% shopping more frequently for fashion and clothing online. This points to a rapidly developing digital ecosystem that allows government agencies, established companies and start-ups to flourish, observed Paul Carey, Executive Vice President of Cards & Payments, Al-Futtaim Group. “This is particularly evident in payments, where governments have set up regulatory sandbox infrastructure and made it easier for businesses in the region with more flexible visa options and commercial licensing,” he added.Food & beverage overcome historical resistance to digital  While the pandemic forced consumers to stay away from their favourite eateries, it opened MENA’s appetite for home delivery services. Checkout.com’s data shows that in 2022, local consumers are ordering meals online more frequently than ever. Over half (53%) of MENA consumers purchased food online in the past year, with 42% of MENA consumers saying they are buying food online more frequently this year than in 2021.The online food ordering sector has numerous moving parts that need to come together in each transaction, from the restaurants to drivers and aggregators to payment providers. Close collaboration is therefore vital for the many stakeholders, noted Ramzi Alqrainy, Chief Technology Officer at The Chefz, a leading Saudi-based food delivery app. “Collaboration allows us to innovate effectively and to reach and serve society in its most inclusive sense. These days, one provider doesn’t need to manage all aspects of a consumer experience from A to Z. We all need to work together. This is the death of ownership,” said Alqrainy.Travel and entertainment: navigating digital in the experience economy While a drop in travel and live entertainment sales was inevitable in 2020, the survey shows that the sector is regaining its momentum and is making its presence in the digital economy felt as it continues to grow.According to Checkout.com’s findings, 20% of consumers in MENA purchased entertainment services online in the past year, with 14% reporting purchasing them more frequently now than in 2021. Moreover, 32% shopped for travel services online in the past year, with 21% of consumers reporting buying them more often now than in 2021Alexandre Morin, Director of Payments - Risk and Fintech, Wego, the region’s biggest travel marketplace, said: “MENA has become a priority market for many of the world’s tourism boards as it’s a reliable source of long-stay visitors with excellent spending power.”The relentless growth of fintechThe survey shows that remittance apps remain the most widely utilised form of fintech in MENA, but as other products increase, so does adoption. The report found that 82% of consumers in MENA use some form of fintech app in 2022, up from 76% in 2021. Innovation has been underpinned by solutions such as Visa’s Account Funding Transactions (AFTs) which pull funds from an account and for use on a pre-paid card, top up a wallet, or fund a person-to-person (P2P) money transfer. “The secure, reliable, and fast movement of digital money between individuals, businesses and governments is the engine powering today’s global economy”, said Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for GCC, Visa.Meanwhile, half of the consumers in markets such as KSA and UAE used Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) options this year and as many as 67% across MENA indicated they may use it in 2023. In crypto, 55% of 18–35-year-olds in UAE and KSA would like to be able to pay for goods and services in crypto or stablecoins in the next 12 months. “Previously, retailers viewed BNPL as just another payment method and often compared BNPL services to other payment providers, resulting in downward pressure on rates. However, we see retailers increasingly focusing on overall growth, including marketing, customer experience and product maturity. As a result, we see a win-win, sustainable partnership model.,” said Sargun Bawa, VP of Growth at Tamara, the homegrown BNPL platform.

Dubai - IHG Hotels & Resorts is proud to announce the appointment of veteran hotelier Sayed Tayoun as General Manager of Holiday Inn & Suites Dubai Science Park.With more than twenty years’ experience in hospitality operations & commercial leadership in the region, Sayed has been leading and inspiring teams across different IHG brands to excel in operational standards & achieve rooms, F&B & other revenues streams at optimum profitability. A Graduate with BA in Hospitality Management from Notre Dame University in Lebanon, an achiever in online career enhancement programs from Cornell University and Harvard Business School. His remarkable career in IHG began back in 2005 at InterContinental Doha, climbing up the ranks to become Director of Sales & Marketing in InterContinental Abu Dhabi in 2010, then leading the commercial functions for IHG Hotels in Abu Dhabi in 2012 and later with IHG Hotels at Dubai Festival City in 2016. Most recently, he was named the Cluster Hotel Manager of the InterContinental Hotels at Dubai Festival City, where he led operations for the multi-branded complex of over 1,598 rooms, 10,000 square meters of events space, and 11 award-winning F&B outlets; introduced new F&B concepts in the business; and initiated more than 20 key projects to enhance the guest experience and drive revenues.  In his new position as General Manager of Holiday Inn & Suites at Dubai Science Park, Sayed is driven by his passion for people and support for the local community, as well as his ambition to successfully launch a pioneering green hotel that supports responsible hospitality. Together with his leadership team, he is pouring his considerable energies towards bringing IHG Hotels & Resorts’ “Journey to Sustainability” to life in Holiday Inn & Suites Dubai Science Park through a variety of channels such as a no single-use plastic policy, an in-house water bottling plant, and digital amenities to reduce the use of paper in all the guest rooms, suites and apartments.  Built inside the hotel, the water bottling plant, for example, reduces the consumption of at least 1,500 plastic bottles a day by producing glass bottled water instead. The bottling plant has a 3,400-liter capacity, generating 80 liters per hour of cold still water, ambient still water, and sparkling water. “With travel bouncing back, it’s important that people have options for accommodations that help them reduce their carbon footprint. Many hotels have already begun by limiting the use of single-use plastics, and our hotel in particular, has implemented the use of eco-friendly products from eco bags, plantable seed pens, pencils & notebooks and biodegradable vanity kits as a replacement to traditional plastic toiletries, but we want to go an even bigger step further with pioneering innovations like our water bottling plant. In this way, we provide our signature hospitality and service to our guests while being environmentally responsible,” Sayed shared. “Our vision is for Holiday Inn & Suites Dubai Science Park is to become one of the city’s most vibrant communal hubs. It is important for our guests, both local and international, to feel a sense of place and familiarity when they stay with us. Our aim is to support the local community by providing a place where people come together for business, social or leisure. We also plan to offer unique experiences that encourage local exploration and support local businesses and attractions,” Sayed adds.  Aside from championing responsible hospitality and supporting the community, Sayed is also a firm advocate of diversity and equality. A polyglot who can speak fluent Arabic, English and French, and with his passion for history and travel, Sayed believes that diversity enriches the workplace and helps to deliver true hospitality to guests of the hotel.  To this end, he has worked to champion diversity and inclusivity in the workplace including improving the hotel’s Emiratization program; implementing a flexible schedule for working mothers in the hotel; and ensuring gender equality amongst the employees of Holiday Inn & Suites Dubai Science Park, with a diverse number of nationalities, and is still opening its doors for more. Holiday Inn & Suites will soon be opening its doors at the Dubai Science Park, a thriving community that fosters development in the medical, wellness, pharma, and technology sectors while being ideally located near Dubai’s beaches, golf courses and malls.  The hotel features a sleek and brand-transforming public space design which will allow the guests to meet, relax and socialize, as well as 324 guestrooms, suites and one-bedroom apartments conceptualized to optimize guest comfort. Integrating a modern approach, all hotel rooms, suites and apartments include features such as a Digital TouchPad panel and a Bluetooth speaker with wireless charging. Upper-scale one-bedroom suites will also be equipped with a built-in kitchenette, cookware and flatware, washer and dryer – facilities that are quintessential to long-staying guests. The?hotel also includes?seven?ultra-modern?collapsible?events and conference space and an extensive upper mid-scale ballroom, all equipped with modern technology, which can accommodate over 340 guests. For recreation, the hotel will have a fully equipped fitness center, an outdoor pool and a sizeable activity space. When it comes to food and beverage offerings, Holiday Inn & Suites at Dubai Science Park offers a variety of exciting choices to suit every taste. The hotel will have a sleek pool bar; Kitchen25, a restaurant serving international cuisine; and Café Verde, a café that will feature smart, communal working spaces. This fulfills the hotel’s brand promise of providing a space to support startup companies, entrepreneurs and “digital nomads” or remote-working professionals. The hotel will also be home to McGettigan’s - the famous Irish pub, which is set to be the new hotspot in the neighborhood for dining and drinks, with its unrivalled Irish hospitality and entertainment and al fresco seating. All this with the comfort and services they have come to know and love at Holiday Inn including the brand’s signature “Kids Stay and Eat Free” program. Complemented by memorable, warm and friendly service, Holiday Inn & Suites Dubai Science Park will be the perfect destination for both business and leisure travelers, as well as residents within the community. 

Abu Dhabi, UAE: The Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council received a delegation from the Women’s League of Central Asia (Kyrgyz Republic) to promote the development and diversification of economic and bilateral partnerships between women entrepreneurs in Kyrgyzstan and the United Arab Emirates.The meeting was attended by Her Excellency Asma Al Fahim, Chairwoman of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council; H.E. Noor Al Tamimi, member of the Abu Dhabi Business Women Council, among other representatives of Abu Dhabi’s private sector.The delegation from Kyrgyzstan included Mr. Marat Sharshekeev, President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic; Mrs. Elmira Bataeva, Vice President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic; Asel Atabekova, Chairman of the Public Foundation "Women's League of Central Asia", among other representatives of the private sector of Kyrgyzstan.Her Excellency Asma Al Fahim, Chairwoman of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council, said: “We are proud of the strong and solid relations between the UAE and the Kyrgyz Republic. The two countries have signed different agreements that support economic cooperation and attract investments. We would like to build on these strong relations by working together and exchanging knowledge and expertise to explore opportunities that establish the position of female entrepreneurs as major contributors to the economic growth.”“We are pleased to join hands today to enhance the contribution of female entrepreneurs to the trade exchange between the UAE and the Kyrgyz Republic, and get hold of key trade exchange and investment opportunities in a wide range of industries, including education, culture, and tourism, among others,” Her Excellency added.Asel Atabekova, Chairman of the Women's League of Central Asia, said: “Female entrepreneurs play a key role in growing the economy of Kyrgyzstan. The activities of the Women's League of Kyrgyzstan supports women in promoting their ideas and projects, and assists them in the implementation of various projects. We have had very interesting and promising conversations with Abu Dhabi’s female entrepreneurs, centred on expanding our presence in the region and exchanging knowledge and expertise to support different industries in Abu Dhabi and Kyrgyzstan. We hope that these discussions bring about successful joint projects.”The meeting included presentations about prospects of cooperation, in the light, tourism, food production, construction, and creative industries, and the benefits of investing in Abu Dhabi. By the end of the meeting, female entrepreneurs had a networking session to explore new investment opportunities for the benefit of both sides. 

Dubai, UAE: du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), has partnered with Community Development Authority (CDA) to give Dubai citizens the opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of the World Cup throughout the days of the tournament. The company revealed that it will provide broadcasting of all matches in the Dubai Majlis that are supervised by CDA, allowing the residents of the neighborhoods to watch them in an enthusiastic atmosphere and enjoy the encouragement of their favorite teams.Huraiz Al-Murr bin Huraiz, CEO Social Care and Development Sector CDA said : “Partnerships between the public and private sectors contribute to enhancing the happiness of community members and improving the quality of their lives at all levels. The World Cup is an important season for football fans around the world, especially for young people to support their favorite teams and enjoy the enthusiastic atmosphere of the game, which greatly intersects with the objectives of Dubai Majlises that work to attract the residents of the neighborhoods to enjoy their time and communicate positively.”Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO at du said: “To strengthen engagement with local communities, we must continue to scale efforts that create a culture of inclusivity, just as the Football World Cup brings people from all backgrounds together to enjoy a season of sports and festivities. Our long-standing collaboration with the CDA aims to expand and diversify ways to interact and engage with the community as highlighted in du’s comprehensive corporate social responsibility (CSR) framework.”The CDA is in charge for the overall supervision to achieve social sector outputs and the goals outlined in the Dubai Strategic Plans, as well as create an integrated and efficient management system for the development of social services in Dubai. du’s long-standing association with the CDA is aligned with its commitment to boost community engagement as one of the key pillars of the telco’s CSR agenda.

Cairo – Capgemini announces the appointment of Hossam Seifeldin as CEO Capgemini in Egypt. In this role Hossam is responsible for building and growing the Group’s newest Global Delivery Center team of experts that serves global clients with a focus on Europe and the Middle East region. Capgemini’s Global Delivery Center in Egypt has been set up to meet growing client demand for its offerings in Cloud Infrastructure Services, Intelligent Operations, Engineering, Research and Development, and Data and Artificial Intelligence. Through its network of Global Delivery Centers, - now including Egypt, Capgemini provides large organizations with 24/7, multi-lingual business and transformation services. Thanks to its time zone, the new Egypt Global Delivery Center is ideally placed to provide services to clients across Europe and the Middle East.“After spending a number of years working in the region Hossam is returning to his homeland of Egypt to establish and grow Capgemini’s first delivery center in the country,” comments Aiman Ezzat, CEO of the Capgemini Group. “He is an accomplished business leader and technologist, with a strong track record in building and leading new organizations as well as ensuring delivery excellence. I am delighted to welcome Hossam to the Group and wish him every success in his new role.” “In leading Capgemini’s newest Global Delivery Center, I will combine the skills that I have accumulated over the years in serving global clients, as well as building and shaping new business units and teams founded on trust and an inclusive culture,” said Hossam Seifeldin. “The work that we are undertaking for clients spans the fast-evolving fields of cloud, data and AI, connectivity, software, digital engineering, and platforms. The rich talent pool in Egypt has a well-matched skill set. I am really looking forward to growing our portfolio of services and welcoming new team members to Capgemini, from graduates and developers through to data scientists and engineers.”Prior to joining Capgemini, Hossam worked for 27 years in IBM where he held several leadership positions across the different business units and geographies. In 2013 he was appointed as the Middle East & Africa (MEA) Vice President, where he led the IBM Transformation across MEA and delivered strong performance across the different metrics. He also led the Operations, Transformation and Strategy since 2008 whereby he developed and executed the Operational and Strategic operating model across MEA. In addition, he has held several leadership roles on top of his VP responsibilities: General Manager for Saudi, Gulf, and Pakistan from 2019 till end of 2021 and General Manager Africa from 2014 to 2016. Hossam started his career in IBM Egypt in 1996 as a Systems Engineer.Hossam is passionate about building new business units and creating inclusive culture with trust, teamwork and speed with execution at the center.He holds a B.Sc. in Engineering from Ain Shams University in Cairo and a Diploma in Management from Henley University (UK). He is also certified board director from International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank Group.

Football fans flying with Etihad Airways during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ can watch every match live onboard while in the air on Etihad’s E-BOX entertainment channels Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra. The live TV service is available onboard the airline’s fleet of wide-body aircraft connecting destinations in Europe, North America, Australia, Asia and Africa with its hub in Abu Dhabi. Guests looking to maximise their experience can visit etihad.com to view full match schedules. To support the large influx of travellers to the region, Etihad Airways has increased flight capacity to Qatar, and is operating six daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Doha until 18 December 2022. “Showing live football matches is an extension of Etihad’s extensive live tv programming and inflight entertainment. Many football fans from across the world will be flying to the region for the first time, and we look forward to extending our renowned Arabian hospitality to these guests” said Terry Daly, Executive Director Guest Experience, Brand and Marketing, Etihad Airways. As well as the live football, Etihad’s guests can also stream other international sporting events such as the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Football League (NFL). Etihad’s E-BOX also features live global news channels and the latest movies from Hollywood, Bollywood and more. Etihad Airways has been awarded the 2022 Passenger Choice Award for Best Entertainment in the Middle East by The Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). APEX once again partnered with TripIt® from Concur®, the world’s highest-rated travel-organising app, to gather anonymous passenger feedback based on neutral, third-party passenger feedback and insights for the honour. For the 2022 Awards, nearly one million flights were rated by passengers across more than 600 airlines from around the world using a five-star scale. On the same screen, passengers were given the opportunity to provide anonymous ratings in five subcategories: seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment, and Wi-Fi. The single screen rating allows airline passengers to easily rate their flight in less than 15 seconds.

Orange Jordan concluded its participation in two of the leading events that took place in the kingdom, by sponsoring and taking part in the MENA ICT Forum in the Dead Sea and SOFEX 2022 in Aqaba, both held under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II.As a responsible digital leader seeking to develop the digital sector and support entrepreneurship, Orange was the telecom sponsor of the MENA ICT forum and presented its digital solutions such as Orange jood, Orange Money, and Smart Life Solutions, as well as the 5G Lab, prototypes created by the FabLab graduates, and a booth for its accelerator BIG season 9 startups including Kader, JordiLight, Smart Green, Kaleela and Smart Face. Digital, Data, Innovation and Money Chief Officer at Orange Jordan, Wilfried Yver, participated in a session on unlocking the power of the data universe where he stated that the world is living in a new era of data that provides opportunities and enables leaps across organizations, noting the importance of realizing the speed of data expansion.Innovation Space, a project co-funded with the European Union, was also present at the forum’s startup village, as the project continues to expand free digital programs to develop digital skills, especially among women and youth, and support entrepreneurship by defining great opportunities that can drive growth in the national economy.Moreover, Orange Jordan sponsored SOFEX 2022, a leading event for developments in security solutions. During the event, Orange showcased its solutions in two booths, the first comprising various solutions for security, energy efficiency, services in partnership with Fortinet, a leader in cybersecurity, Orange Money mobile wallet for secure financial transactions, and the fastest internet that won the Speed Checker award.In another booth at SOFEX, Orange Jordan showcased enterprise solutions including Trismart solutions for integrated systems, security solutions, customer experience, and the Balador app that brings together public and private sectors in one platform.Orange seized the opportunity of SOFEX, attended by 300 exhibitors from 38 countries, 75 delegations, and 300 VIPs including leaders and security experts from across the world, to feature 2 startups from BIG by Orange: ION, the biggest platform for electric cars charging stations, and JordiLight which offers a flexible flashlight named one of the Best Inventions 2022 by Time Magazine. Orange Jordan affirmed its keenness to support and be part of leading national events that promote the kingdom and provide a platform to exchange insights and opportunities that will contribute to the ICT sector, adding that it continues to serve as an active partner supporting businesses across sectors in digital transformation and growth.

 Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group, the integrated trade, logistics, and industrial hub of Abu Dhabi and a fully-owned subsidiary of AD Ports Group, and noon.com, the Middle East’s leading online shopping destination, today broke ground on the UAE’s largest fulfilment centre in Abu Dhabi, which will form part of an anchor investment by noon into the emirate’s fast-growing e-commerce space.The 252,000 square metre fulfilment centre facility is being designed and developed by KEZAD Group under a Build-to-Suit agreement and is scheduled for delivery in 2024. With the introduction of new automation technologies for storage, material movement, and sorting, the facility will enable rapid delivery of products to millions of noon customers throughout the UAE and will bolster the local economy with the creation of several thousand new jobs.The UAE’s e-commerce market has grown exponentially in recent years, with customers increasingly moving toward the variety, convenience, and price benefits of online shopping. With managing inventory efficiently and cost-effectively being critical to meeting the spike in online consumer demand, fulfilment centres not only offer scalable warehousing opportunities, but provide speed and quality control across the entire value chain, from order picking and processing to packaging and shipping.Mohamed Al Abbar, Founder of noon, said: “More than 5,000 small businesses will use our fulfillment center to store their goods and conduct business. This will allow our youth and small businesses to connect with the growing number of e-commerce customers without having to invest in technology or real estate.“I'm especially proud that this facility, built with our partners Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and KEZAD Group, will create thousands of jobs in Abu Dhabi and will accelerate the digital penetration of core sectors such as retail and logistics. This is not your typical real estate project—technology infrastructure projects of this scale are change agents for the future, not just for our company, but also for our community and country.”Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and CEO of AD Ports Group, said: “Under the guidance of our wise leadership, AD Ports Group is committed to positioning Abu Dhabi as a global hub for trade through the development of an integrated and future-ready industrial ecosystem within KEZAD. The state-of-the-art noon fulfilment centre perfectly aligns with this mission and represents an important milestone in our collective journey to enable the rapid expansion of e-commerce and same-day delivery models in the region. The facility will bring significant economic benefits with the creation of thousands of jobs and will offer newopportunities for the private sector looking to reach customers across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe.”While noon already has a facility with KEZAD, it has decided to expand its operations to a larger area by utilizing KEZAD Group’s Build-to-Suit solution, which will facilitate the design and delivery of noon’s turnkey facility. The development has been tailor-made to meet the company’s specific operational requirements, helping to reduce costs, boost productivity and offer essential supply chain efficiencies. Additionally, the completed facility will be a sustainable building conforming to Estidama 2 Pearl rating which incorporates initiatives to enable water, energy and waste minimisation.By leveraging the innovative development solution, the noon fulfilment centre will be delivered by KEZAD Group on a fast-track basis to the end users’ exact specifications. This approach offers a very strong option for businesses seeking an asset light approach while still retaining full control of their operations and standards.The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is also providing noon with financial and non-financial incentives as part of the continued expansion of Abu Dhabi’s fast-growing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ecosystem.Eng. Abdulla Abdul Aziz AlShamsi, Acting Director General, ADIO, said: “Abu Dhabi’s e-commerce sector has taken another step forward with work commencing on the country’s largest fulfilment centre. ADIO congratulates noon and KEZAD Group on reaching this important milestone in rapid time and looks forward to working closely with our partners through the next phase of their growth and expansion.”Noon’s new Abu Dhabi operations further strengthen e-commerce as an emerging sub-sector within the emirate’s ICT cluster. It will enable entrepreneurs, startups and SMEs to leverage noon’s platform, advanced technology and expansive delivery networks to reach new customers. Noon will operate in line with Abu Dhabi’s e-commerce policy launched in August 2021 to unlock investment opportunities in the emirate.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Standard Chartered Bank announced the appointment of Mazen Fahad Al Bunyan as Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Saudi Arabia, effective November 2022.Prior to joining Standard Chartered Bank, Mazen was the CEO of Alawwal Invest Company, the investment subsidiary of The Saudi British Bank (SABB/HSBC) based in Riyadh, where he led the integration of Alawwal Invest with SABB/HSBC Saudi Arabia. Prior to that, he held various leadership positions including Co-Head of Global Banking within SABB/HSBC Riyadh as well as Vice President of Corporate Banking Coverage for KSA and Kuwait at Deutsche Bank.Standard Chartered Bank Saudi Arabia launched its operations in Riyadh in June 2021, providing banking services to sovereign and government related entities, large corporates, financial institutions and multinational companies operating in the Kingdom. Commenting on the announcement, Dr Boutros Klink, CEO Standard Chartered Middle East (ex UAE) said “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Mazen Bunyan as Country CEO for Standard Chartered Bank Saudi Arabia. Mazen brings deep regional experience, and strong track record. In his new role as CEO, Mazen will oversee the operations of Standard Chartered Bank Saudi Arabia, and will lead the Bank’s expansion in the market, strengthen our client base, expand our products and services offering, and solidify our network in support of the Kingdoms growth ambitions.”Standard Chartered Bank operates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its Standard Chartered Bank Saudi Arabia entity licensed by the Saudi Central Bank and its Standard Chartered Capital Saudi Arabia entity licensed by the Capital Market Authority.

Intigral’s CEO, Markus Golder was the recipient of one the top accolades at this year’s BroadcastPro ME Summit, ‘The OTT Executive of the Year, 2022’ award.The luxurious awards gala, attended by over 230 industry innovators and change-makers, celebrated a year of achievements, that culminated in the 12th edition of the BroadcastPro Summit that brought together the best minds in the industry to collaborate, refine and inspire the way forward to unlock the full growth potential within the sector throughout the GCC. Golder, one of the featured panelists at the summit, expressed his enthusiasm for receiving the prestigious accolade: “I am deeply honored to be recognized as this year’s OTT Executive of the Year. This award represents the hard work and dedication shown by all Intigral’s team members who came together during a very challenging yet exciting period to achieve this fantastic accolade. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished in our endeavors to enhance the digital entertainment industry, guided by our customer-centric approach and embedded in the wonderfully unique Arabic culture.”Intigral took part as the ‘Strategic Partner’ in this year’s summit that brought together the stalwarts of the industry as well as promising new entrants to discuss and analyze current trends, share their experiences, and offer insights that will ultimately shape the future of the digital entertainment sector. The company has achieved significant success, as seen by its sweeping expansion into eight major markets in the region with its premium OTT platform Jawwy TV.Setting the stage for more exciting developments to come, Intigral has leveraged the vast digital nationwide transformation driven by Saudi Vision 2030 to deliver a seamless and personalized experience to its subscribers. The Jawwy TV platform has delighted viewers across the MENA region with its super aggregator strategy to curate high-quality content through partnerships with globally renowned providers such as MBC, OSN, STARZPLAY, Wide Khaliji, Shahid, and Discovery, offering customers access to over 200 Live TV channels and more than 28,000 Video on Demand (VoD) Arabic and Western titles.As one of the few companies in the region capable of delivering the latest advancements in streaming technology, Intigral has emerged as a leading challenger brand in the industry, captivating audiences and enabling them to access the Jawwy TV platform anywhere, on any device and all in one place.

Dr. Deepak Chopra, a world-renowned pioneer in mind-body medicine and personal transformation, delivered a lecture at the Museum of the Future on Monday 21 November as part of the ‘Future Talks’ series. Helping people to unlock the power of meditation and work towards unleashing their true selves, Dr. Chopra took the audience on an experiential journey of inner discovery and enlightenment.The talk is part of the museum’s efforts to amplify the message that mental well-being, wellness, and happiness are important points of focus in the digital age. It builds on the Museum of the Future’s endeavours to provide experiences, such as the Al Waha exhibit, that encourage people to detach from technology and connect with their inner selves.During the lecture, Deepak highlighted the significance of joy as the most important measure of success and well-being, noting the need to harness technology in societies to create a critical mass of consciousness in the world, for a more peaceful, sustainable, healthy, and joyful world.Deepak also stressed the importance of having a leader with a proactive vision in anticipating and shaping the future. He said: "Dubai is very lucky to be blessed with visionary leadership that unites various components of society and creates a diverse social and economic system, strong enough to face any future challenge."Future Talks‘Future Talks’ supports the museum’s objective to provide a space where great minds come together to design and shape the future. It champions a knowledge-and technology-based movement in the region, bringing together people - from all around - to harness and channel their creative energies to create a better future for our communities.The series of talks have covered many topics such as humanity’s relation to robots, Dubai’s role in investing in the future, the future of mixed reality, the state of sciences and the Arab world, the future of mobility, the role of the metaverse as well as, the future of finance and technology. ‘Future Talks’ reflect the museum’s role as a global intellectual centre that brings together international partners and specialised research institutions to study current and future challenges to provide new and innovative solutions.The Museum of the Future has hosted seven leading experts, who have delivered sessions to nearly 2,500 members of the public. Past speakers include the first Emirati astronaut Hazzaa Almansoori, and future cities expert Professor Grey Clark, colonization expert Dr. Mohamed Qasem, metaverse thought leader Alex Kipman, robotics luminary Professor Oussama Khatib, and Binance founder Changpeng Zhao.

A new survey by Bayt.com, the Middle East’s #1 job site, revealed a variety of insights about lifestyles of professionals and how employers can elicit a healthy change in the workplace. According to the ‘Health and Wellbeing in the MENA’ survey, the majority of respondents (94%) have the intention to become regularly active and follow a healthy diet and 80% reveal that their work schedule allows them to allocate time for physical exercise.Interestingly, 92% of respondents believe that employers should be involved in the health and wellbeing of their employees. Further, 28% of respondents prefer working for an employer who provides health insurance over a higher salary, 13% believe that higher salary is more important and 59% believe that they are both equally important.Ola Haddad, Director of Human Resources at Bayt.com said: “Our latest survey highlights how an increasing focus on health is shaping MENA job seekers’ choices and what employers can do to promote a holistic approach to wellness at the workplace. The main aim of our research is to help both professionals and companies create a supportive environment to boost happiness and give rise to important conversations in relation to wellbeing.”Professionals in the MENA region look for multiple health and wellbeing aspects while searching for jobs. These include relaxed and friendly environment (58%), flexible work hours (23%), health insurance (12%), gym facilities or free memberships (5%) and healthy meals or snacks (2%). In fact, 84% of respondents claim that they will exercise more if their workplace had a gym or offered subsidized gym memberships.On a positive note, 70% of respondents say that their employer provides them with a health and wellbeing plan, workshops, or educational sessions. 80% believe that their current workplace provides a relaxed and happy atmosphere. Additionally, two-thirds of professionals (66%) are satisfied with the level of communication that exists within their organization.According to survey respondents, employers can take several actions to contribute in reducing stress at the workplace. These include offering a flexible workplace environment (53%), providing time / resources for physical activity (24%), organizing more social activities for the team (17%) and encouraging healthy eating habits (5%).Data for the ‘Health and Wellbeing in the MENA’ survey was collected online from October 3 to November 2, 2022. Results are based on a sample of 2,833 respondents from the following countries: UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Yemen, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Sudan among others.

Cybereason, the XDR company, today published results from a global study of organizations that had suffered a ransomware attack on a holiday or weekend. The study highlights an ongoing disconnect between the increased risk organizations face from ransomware attacks that occur on holidays and weekends and their readiness to handle them, as year-over-year, ransomware attacks during these times take longer to assess and resolve.The higher assessment and remediation times stem from the fact that 44% of companies reduce security staffing on holidays and weekends by as much as 70% from weekday levels. Shockingly, 20% of companies cut security staffing by 90% from weekday levels. Conversely, only 7% of companies are at least 80% staffed on holidays and weekends.Titled Organizations at Risk: Ransomware Attackers Don’t Take Holidays, the study of 1,203 cybersecurity professionals, across 8 countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), found that holiday and weekend ransomware attacks result in greater revenue losses than ransomware attacks on weekdays. One-third of respondents said their organization lost more money from a holiday/weekend ransomware attack, up from 13% of respondents in the 2021 study. In the education and transportation industries, the number of respondents reporting higher revenue losses jumped to 43% and 48%, respectively.“Ransomware actors tend to strike on holidays and weekends because they know companies’ human defenses often aren’t as robust at those times. It allows them to evade detection, do more damage, and steal more data as security teams scramble to mobilize a response. Cybereason found that risk assessment is slower, it takes companies longer to assemble the team to fight the initial attack, which leads to slower remediation and recovery times,” said Lior Div, Cybereason CEO and Co-founder.Financial losses aren’t the only thing businesses are concerned with when it comes to holiday and weekend ransomware attacks. In fact, ransomware attacks disrupt the lives of the security professionals defending businesses with 88% of respondents missing a holiday or weekend celebration due to a ransomware attack. These numbers were higher in the financial services industry, where more than 90% of respondents said they had missed out on time with family.“Disrupting cybersecurity professionals’ well-earned downtime and interfering with their personal lives takes a toll on their wellbeing, leads to burnout and causes some people to leave the field altogether. The overall success cyber criminals have attacking on holidays and weekends leads to them more aggressively targeting companies during these times as a way to further fuel their criminal empires,” added Div.Ransomware is preventable and many companies offer endpoint detection & response technologies that will stop the scourge. Implementing a security awareness program for employees and ensuring operating systems and other software are regularly updated and patched are steps in the right direction. In addition, organizations should ensure clear isolation practices are in place to stop any further ingress on the network or spreading of the ransomware to other devices. They should also evaluate locking-down of critical accounts when possible. The path attackers often take in propagating ransomware across a network is to escalate privileges to the admin domain-level and then deploy the ransomware.The full report can be obtained here: Organizations at Risk: Ransomware Attackers Don’t Take Holidays (www.cybereason.com/blog/holiday-weekend-ransomware-attacks-continue-to-hit-companies-hard)Survey Methodology                                                                                                              The research was conducted by Censuswide in September of 2022 and a total of cybersecurity professionals took part in the survey—with participants from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and Singapore. Major industry verticals covered in the research include the Technology, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Retail, Healthcare, Automotive, Legal and Government sectors.

Cisco Talos, one of the world’s largest private threat intelligence teams released its latest quarterly report that examines incident response trends and global cyber threats.Key findings:For the first time since compiling these reports, Cisco Talos Incident Response saw an equal number of ransomware and pre-ransomware engagements, making up nearly 40 percent of threats this quarter.The education sector was the most targeted by attackers this quarter, closely followed by the financial services, government, and energy sectors, respectively. For the first time since Quarter 4 2021, the telecommunications sector was not the top-targeted vertical. While the reason for the education sector being more frequently targeted this quarter is unknown, this is a popular time of year for adversaries to target education institutions as students and teachers have returned to school.Q3 was also characterized by previously seen high-profile ransomware variants such as Hive and Vice Society and a new ransomware family (Black Basta) that first emerged in April 2022 and had yet to be observed in incident response engagements.Cisco Talos also continued to observe threats that have been consistently present in previous quarters, including phishing and Business Email Compromise (BEC), attempts to exploit weaknesses or vulnerabilities in public-facing applications, and insider threats.Within enterprises, the lack of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) remains one of the biggest obstacles to corporate security, according to the report. Nearly 18% of engagements either had no MFA or only had it enabled on a handful of accounts and critical services, allowing the cybercriminal to log in and authenticate.Commenting on the report’s findings, Fady Younes, Cybersecurity Director, EMEA Service Providers and MEA, Cisco, said: “Today, more than ever, in an increasingly connected and digital age, cybersecurity is of the utmost importance. As enterprises and governments across the region seek to safeguard their data and businesses, Cisco continues to support our customers, helping drive rapid detection and protection against cyber risks.”He added: ‘Security is a game of data. The more insights we have into the threat landscape, the better our telemetry is, the higher the likelihood of being able to prevent security incidents. When a breach occurs, our capabilities can detect, respond and remediate threats as fast as possible.”More information is available on Cisco Talos' Quarterly Report: Incident Response Trends in Q3 2022 blog.

Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), the global cybersecurity leader, announced today financial results for its fiscal first quarter 2023, ended October 31, 2022.Total revenue for the fiscal first quarter 2023 grew 25% year over year to $1.6 billion, compared with total revenue of $1.2 billion for the fiscal first quarter 2022. GAAP net income for the fiscal first quarter 2023 was $20.0 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, compared with GAAP net loss of $103.6 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, for the fiscal first quarter 2022.Non-GAAP net income for the fiscal first quarter 2023 was $266.4 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, compared with non-GAAP net income of $170.3 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, for the fiscal first quarter 2022. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP information is contained in the tables below."Our growth in Q1 was driven by customers continuing to increase their commitments to our security platforms as they are able to choose our best-of-breed capability and simplify their security architecture," said Nikesh Arora, chairman and CEO of Palo Alto Networks. "We are focused on expanding the breadth of our offerings and our pace of innovation to continue to drive share gains in the cybersecurity market.""We exceeded our top-line guidance while generating $1.2 billion in free cash flow and expanding our operating margins," said Dipak Golechha, chief financial officer of Palo Alto Networks. "We will continue to balance growth with profitability and cash generation to further strengthen our position in the market."Financial OutlookPalo Alto Networks provides guidance based on current market conditions and expectations.For the fiscal second quarter 2023, we expect:Total billings in the range of $1.94 billion to $1.99 billion, representing year-over-year growth of between 21% and 24%.Total revenue in the range of $1.63 billion to $1.66 billion, representing year-over-year growth of between 24% and 26%.Diluted non-GAAP net income per share in the range of $0.76 to $0.78, using 320 million to 326 million shares outstanding.For the fiscal year 2023, we are broadly raising guidance and expect:Total billings in the range of $8.95 billion to $9.10 billion, representing year-over-year growth of between 20% and 22%.Total revenue in the range of $6.85 billion to $6.91 billion, representing year-over-year growth of between 25% and 26%.Diluted non-GAAP net income per share in the range of $3.37 to $3.44, using 325 million to 331 million shares outstanding.Adjusted free cash flow margin in the range of 34.5% to 35.5%.Guidance for non-GAAP financial measures excludes share-based compensation-related charges (including share-based payroll tax expense), acquisition-related costs, amortization expense of acquired intangible assets, litigation-related charges, including legal settlements, restructuring and other costs, non-cash charges related to convertible notes, and foreign currency gains (losses) and income and other tax effects associated with these items, along with certain non-recurring expenses and certain non-recurring cash flows. We have not reconciled diluted non-GAAP net income per share guidance to GAAP net income (loss) per diluted share or adjusted free cash flow margin guidance to GAAP net cash from operating activities because we do not provide guidance on GAAP net income (loss) or net cash from operating activities and would not be able to present the various reconciling cash and non-cash items between GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures because certain items that impact these measures are uncertain or out of our control, or cannot be reasonably predicted, including share-based compensation expense, without unreasonable effort. The actual amounts of such reconciling items will have a significant impact on the company's GAAP net income (loss) per diluted share and GAAP net cash from operating activities.Earnings Call InformationPalo Alto Networks will host a video webcast for analysts and investors to discuss the company's fiscal first quarter 2023 results as well as the outlook for its fiscal second quarter 2023 today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time/1:30 p.m. Pacific time. Open to the public, investors may access the webcast, supplemental financial information and earnings slides from the "Investors" section of the company's website at investors.paloaltonetworks.com. A replay will be available three hours after the conclusion of the webcast and archived for one year.

Unprecedented headwinds over the past two years - pandemic, war, labour and supply chain challenges, inflation - are making it much more expensive to run a business. Under pressure to reduce costs and increase efficiency, many companies are turning to automation and cloud technology to drive immediate value across all departments.Parallels between the start of the pandemic and this new phase of global uncertainty are striking. Companies which accelerated their digital transformation during the public health crisis were able to pivot quickly and come out stronger. The same applies today.According to Accenture research, ‘Leader’ businesses doubled down on their tech investment during 2020 and 2021. As a result they are now growing five times faster than ‘Laggard’ businesses.It also found that a new group of ‘Leapfrogger’ businesses. Those that targeted over twice as many processes for digital transformation during the pandemic, are now growing four times faster than Laggards and closing the gap on Leaders.In today’s high-cost environment, leaning into digital investment is an essential enabler for driving efficiency and profitability, whilst boosting innovation and ensuring competitive advantage.Success now means connecting with customers in new, simpler and more cost effective ways. It means consolidating and reducing complexity and automating workflows across their technology stack.Automation as a Strategic AssetAccording to Statista, worldwide spending on the two primary types of business automation, robotic process automation and intelligent process automation, is expected to hit $19.3 billion this year, up from $13.6 billion two years ago. The impact is profound, affecting the way we work and serve customers.AI and machine-learning are being used by major global manufacturers and retailers to rethink supply chain management, to effectively manage rising supplier prices, and to determine how best to meet customer purchasing preferences.Companies need to create incredible customer experiences across every interaction to stay competitive. For retailers, this means infusing digital across the entire physical and virtual shopping journey to deliver seamless and personalized experiences.From setting up self-service technologies to reduce the cost of customer support, to driving productivity for a sales or marketing team to get better at measuring ROI, we can expect to see greater focus on data, analytics, and AI as economic turbulence continues.Only by working on one trusted platform in real time — giving every employee a single shared view of the customer - can organizations expect to drive higher levels of productivity and customer loyalty at a lower overall cost to serve.Across the public sector from vaccine distribution management to call center operations, governments and citizens have seen first-hand the power of what technology can do for them: delivering high quality digital services, driving efficiencies and cost-effectiveness.According to a global Salesforce survey of 600 CIOs and IT decision makers, the vast majority (91%) of respondents report that demand for automation from business teams has increased over the last two years. Specifically, the highest demand for automation came from four departments: Research and development (39%), Administrative/operations (38%), Customer service (33%), Marketing (26%)]Automation is also playing a major role in workforce engagement, reducing time spent on repetitive tasks and empowering workers to focus on more strategic activity. Collaborative technologies are reimagining how teams work together, organize their people, and deliver greater customer experiences in this digital-first and work-from-anywhere world.Building Better ResilienceIn the digital economy, the businesses that adapt to changes quickest will thrive. As disruption continues, CEOs who previously delegated their digital strategy want to take direct leadership today.From business performance, employee skills preparedness, societal equity to climate change, technology is fundamental to driving efficiencies and smarter implementation in all these areas.Although we cannot predict the future, we can be strategic and build better resilience. We must rethink our approach to efficiency at every level, in every department. We must commit to continuous innovation to solve customers’ problems, ensuring seamless service from anywhere, and adapting to customers’ changing priorities. This in turn will provide opportunities for success in the long term.

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) hosted a delegation from Access Abu Dhabi, a Maven Global Access program, supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), that aims to spotlight Abu Dhabi as a destination where organizations can achieve global expansion. The delegation featured sports legends, Patrice Evra and Metta World Peace, along with Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary and business magnates from the US.The Access Abu Dhabi delegates were given a tour of ADX’s facilities and a briefing on the leading role that ADX is playing to enhance the Emirate’s position as an attractive destination for international capital, in line with the strategy of the Government of Abu Dhabi. After the briefing, Mr. O’Leary and the Maven Global Access delegation took part in a bell ringing ceremony at ADX’s trading floor to signal the start of trading accompanied by the Exchange’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Saeed Hamad Al Dhaheri, and members of ADX senior management.This visit is part of a wider initiative that showcases the array of business opportunities in Abu Dhabi and introduces key stakeholders to US companies seeking to expand into Abu Dhabi’s thriving business and innovative ecosystem. The visit also highlights the continuous efforts of Abu Dhabi’s government in promoting the city as a top destination for businesses to invest, innovate and grow.Saeed Hamad Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ADX, said: “We were delighted to host the Access Abu Dhabi delegates at ADX. This visit showcases the role that ADX plays as a key stakeholder in attracting international capital and business to Abu Dhabi, which is part of our strategy for building bridges with international parties and showcasing the best of what Abu Dhabi has to offer.”Access Abu Dhabi, a Maven Global Access programme supported by ADIO, engages, enables and empowers companies to fast track their global reach with expansion to Abu Dhabi. The Founder of Access Abu Dhabi, Sarah Omolewu has leveraged her experience and extensive network in celebrity and investor circles in the US to secure entrepreneurs and ambassadors for the program.

The leading communication solution provider headquartered in Dubai, UAE, CEQUENS, announces new executive hire roll out in line with the company’s five-year expansion plan.Boasting over 25 years of experience in the technology and software development domains with a passion for AI based technology, Ahmed Shabrawy rejoined CEQUENS as Chief Research & Innovation Officer. In his new role, he is in charge of conceptualizing and developing new, market-disruptive solutions. Prior to joining CEQUENS, Ahmed was the founder of EgyptNetwork, and then went on to found and lead multiple organizations in the field of technology and communication innovation including MetalSoft and Vytru.Appointed as VP Growth & Revenue Operations, Hussein Malhas, will be spearheading CEQUENS’s growth endeavors, new market penetration, and increased sales. With over 25 years of experience in the CPaaS and SaaS domains, Hussein’s role will be to manage global accounts with the goal of exceeding station revenue, prospecting, and defining new business targets for the company.Hussein’s previous leadership roles include VP Revenue, MENA for Infobip and Microsoft’s Country Manager, Levant.CEQUENS is also proud to announce the appointment of Yara Milbes as VP Global Marketing. A true marketing leader with a solid business development, brand and growth marketing background, Yara has more than 16 years of experience in B2B, B2G marketing in Telecommunications and Information Technology sectors. In her role as CEQUENS VP Global Marketing, Yara will be in charge of redefining the strategic and creative narrative at CEQUENS, in addition to elevating the brand experience for a seamless transition into global markets.Prior to joining CEQUENS, Yara held the position of Global Marketing Director at Infobip.CEQUENS is also thrilled to announce the appointment of Nermeen Sobhy as VP of Carrier Relations.Nermeen is a growth-focused leader with extensive experience of more than 22 years in telecom overseeing both technical and commercial aspects. With Carrier Relations being the core of CEUQENS’s business, Nermeen will be spearheading the expansion of the company’s network inside and outside the region.Nermeen previously was Head of Commercial Roaming Operations at Etisalat Egypt and is recognized in 2022 as the most influential women in telecom industry and ranked second in the TOP25 most influential leaders in ROCCO TOP100 research for international, roaming and messaging sector.Muhammad Nauman will be taking on the role of VP Operations. As an accomplished executive with a successful track record overseeing regional operations, HR, Marketing, IT, and procurement and logistics. In his new leadership role, Muhammad will oversee the company’s daily operations, define operations strategy, structure, and processes, and identify efficiency issues and solutions.Muhammad was previously CEQUENS Chief of Staff. Prior to joining, he acted as Chief Operating Officer for Hello Group.With a team of innovators, leaders, and changemakers now in place, CEQUENS is confident that they will be able to help companies across the board build deeper and meaningful connections with their clients through using simple solutions.These strategic hires come as CEQUENS prepares to launch its Customer Excellence Center in Dubai in Q1 of 2023.

Since the sales like Thanksgiving Day, White Friday, Cyber Monday, and Year-End Sales are almost here at the corner, marketers wish to have a quality ROAS along with effective user-acquisition, retention and engagement rates. Moreover, in the Ad-tech sector, the market competition is evolving gradually and many different brand owners aim to target the same type of user base. So, if you are also a part of this ad universe then you must rely on the Power of OEM which optimizes the ad spend and enhances the campaign performance with data-driven measurable results. In fact, if I talk about the top OEM Partners in the MENA Region, they have a market share of 57.89% since 2022. Hence, If you haven’t incorporated OEM marketing practices in the campaign execution process specifically during sales; then you are still not late to unleash the significance of OEM Advertising and all technological innovations it has in store for smart marketers.  OEM establishes the brand with its effective recall value via the right medium of brand promotion in a safer environment. Moreover, it streamlines the process of acquiring and retaining the right audience, creating appropriate ads and assuring that the campaign is delivering a prominent message. This has given marketers a smart way of advertising as they can effectively plan the inventory and tap into the wider yet untapped markets. OEM devices come equipped with multiple ads placement, app discovery, app recommendations, advanced targeting and brand promotion opportunities at engaging touch points. Its inventories also have in-built app stores that are alternatives to Google Play Store and Apple App Store. This provides advertisers with exclusive deals to promote their app to achieve their business goals with incremental ROI. When users these days are mobile-first, OEM enables marketers to transform their marketing approach to acquire and engage mobile-friendly netizens with its unique and innovative branding and performance strategies. Well, there is a lot to speak about OEM but I would like to suggest marketers consider OEM as a new-age solution because of the following reasons: Campaign Effectiveness: Considering the paradigm shift from the traditional way of marketing to the digital one; OEM has proven to be the winning one. This is because it helps marketers to run a campaign in a transparent environment wherein, there is no involvement of any mediator between them and OEM. As a result, marketers can save a large chunk of their advertising budget with a better device interface and content customization which ultimately drives campaign effectiveness. Brand Awareness: OEM Advertising has now established benchmarks in the mobile app economy because it's one of the most prominent ways of creating buzz and brand awareness among users. It helps marketers to reach the audience and highlight their brands’ USPs while tapping into their pivotal moments throughout the device lifecycle without infringing their privacy. This builds a trustworthy relationship between the brand and users, gives them a value-generated experience and they effectively resonate with the showcased advert, driving app download volume results. App Fostering Opportunities: OEM lets brand owners make their mark and expand their reach while onboarding users from different geographies via its pool of app fostering opportunities. This gets done through its different ad formats like Splash Ads, Tiles, Banner Ads, Push Ads, Interstitial Ads and its placement options like Pre-Install, App Store Promotion, Hot Downloads, Icon Promotion, Recommended Apps, Browser-Based Promotion etc. Such features enable marketers to efficiently draw the audience’s attention and build an affinity with a brand. Precise Targeting: OEM enables marketers to access new markets as it determines the frequently used apps by the users on respective inventories. So, when the demand for smartphones rises, OEMs also pitch their sales into the growth of the app economy with app distribution opportunities. This is because OEMs provide marketers with users’ insights based on their past actions and behaviors onto which they can provide consumers with personalized and recommended content, tailored to their interests. In this way, brands’ offerings effectively reach the audiences and they better respond to the campaign too. OEM Advertising is massively revolutionizing the mobile app ecosystem because, alongside the above-mentioned advantages, it also showcases many licensed apps like RMG, Short Video, Social Media etc which encourages marketers to wisely invest in OEM. Its performance-driven results leave no stone unturned to generate quality ROAS which is why; MENA digital economy is projected to hit a staggering $400 billy by 2030 (source: Fast Company Middle East). Hence, OEM being a fundamental of digital advertising is a new-age technology which provides users with an elated experience and lets marketers implement digital-first sales strategies. It's setting a pace and is another way around to make the most out of their campaign. Written by: Gagan Uppal - Country Head - MENA, Xapads Media 

Parrot Analytics, the global leader in audience demand measurement, has partnered with Asharq Network, a multiplatform service that includes Asharq News (a 24/7 Arabic-language multiplatform news service), and Asharq Business with Bloomberg (an exclusive content collaboration with Bloomberg Media) offering business and financial news, and Asharq Discovery (the latest addition to the network that will offer unparalleled real-life entertainment and documentaries in partnership with Warner Bros Discovery).Asharq Network is owned by the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), and the partnership with Parrot Analytics will specifically support the company’s strategy for the launch of the new FTA channel - Asharq Discovery - in the MENA region. Parrot Analytics’ expertise in the global and MENA streaming space is set to help Asharq Discovery understand which titles, particularly documentaries, will resonate the most among audiences throughout the region. Asharq’s partnership with Parrot Analytics will build on the company’s dedication to leveraging ground-breaking technologies and global entertainment analytics to ensure its audiences have access to the region’s most in-demand content.“We are excited to partner with Parrot Analytics on this venture to revolutionize the process of content selection for our MENA viewers.” said Nabeel Al Khatib, General Manager of Asharq News. “By helping us acquire and optimize our FTA offering for the best documentaries, lifestyle, reality and infotainment shows, Parrot Analytics' audience demand data will be a key ingredient to create consumer experiences that lead to maximum viewership and growth.”Asharq-Discovery's launch planning is currently underway, with the aim for the new service to be available to end-users in 2023 via broadcast, streaming and third-party local apps, with a catch-up facility available on over-the-top (OTT) platforms.“We are delighted to work with Asharq-Discovery to help uncover content and genre trends in the MENA region as we bring our global audience expertise to the Asharq team,” said Laurine Garaude, EMEA Partnerships Director for Parrot Analytics. "As the leading global content measurement company, we are looking forward to powering Asharq-Discovery’s content strategy and giving this new service the best chance for success in this highly competitive market."In under two years, Asharq News won 33 awards, most recently by Fast Company, for “Most Innovative Company Award” in the media category. Fast Company Awards selected 42 companies making the most significant impact with their initiatives across 25 categories. 

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.