AIO Studios has announced September 26, 2024, as the premiere date for Putin, the latest film from Polish director Patryk Vega. The film, which features an AI-rendered Vladimir Putin, will debut simultaneously in 35 countries, including major markets like the USA and India, reaching a potential audience of over three billion.The recently released 2.5-minute trailer promises a detailed analysis of the Russian leader's life and psyche over 60 years, rendered in ultra-realistic detail through advanced AI technology. Viewers will be able to get up close and personal with the Kremlin leader's story, touching on some of the most intimate moments of his life."Inviting Putin to the studio for 20,000 shots wasn't an option," says director Patryk Vega, "and the archival materials available online didn't allow for training a high-resolution deepfake model suitable for cinematic use. As a result, after nearly two years of development, we've created our pioneering AI-driven technology, enabling us to craft the cinematic character without relying on a real human model."Filmed over three years in locations such as the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Israel, Syria, Jordan, and Poland, the movie's timeliness is one of its most significant aspects. At one point, the narrative shifts to present day, offering viewers insights into the internal mechanisms of Russian politics that influenced the perception of the presidential elections in 2024. To enhance the film's realism, director Vega cooperated with Ukrainian cinematographers who recorded authentic events during city bombardments and soldiers' combat."Putin is not just a film," Vega states. "It's a response to a global quest to understand the motives and actions of one of the most controversial figures in contemporary politics. My production's mission is to provide viewers with a 'user manual' for Putin, aiming to alleviate the fear and uncertainty that dominate today's world."

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization are hosting a tourism promotion event, ‘Seoul My Soul in Dubai’, on May 6th and 7th at Dubai’s The Agenda to showcase the charms of Seoul. The event aims to highlight the vibrant Seoul lifestyle and its soulful essence. The organizers have prepared a diverse program featuring a K-pop concert and fan appreciation events with popular K-pop artists OH MY GIRL and KARD, along with K-pop cover dance performances, a brand showcase of Seoul, lucky draw event, and much more.By popular demand, as evidenced by all first-round release tickets being picked up, organizers have decided to issue 500 additional free tickets. Same as before, ticketing will be on Platinumlist’s website on a first-come, first-served basis at 12PM on April 29th (Monday). On the day of the event, remaining tickets will be also distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.At 16:00 on day 1, and at 14:00 on day 2 the venue will open Seoul Style Pop-up Booths, offering visitors an immersive experience of the Seoul lifestyle. From beauty and wellness to the Hallyu phenomenon, K-food, and more, the experience space will be filled with interactive content and items to experience life style in Seoul.In the Beauty Seoul Zone, visitors can immerse themselves in the full Seoulite festivalgoer experience. They will have the opportunity to be glammed up by K-Beauty makeup artists and personally decorate light sticks and bracelets — must-haves for any festival — to take home afterward. At the Seoul Picnic Zone, a media art wall and ASMR zone will transport you through Seoul's four seasons, creating a unique sensory experience. Capture your unforgettable moment in one of the mini photo studios in the Hallyu Zone, where you can choose from multiple background options such as K-pop music video style. Additionally, a Medical Zone will offer skincare consultations for those interested in beauty treatments. The K-Food Zone will showcase the latest drinks and snacks trending in Seoul, while the Brand Zone will feature newly launched 'Seoul My Soul' official goods.The main event will kick off with thrilling performances by renowned K-pop cover dance teams from the UAE, setting the stage for an electrifying dive into the dynamic world of K-pop. Following this, the Seoul City Brand Showcase will feature talented drawing artists from Seoul, offering immersive art experiences showcasing the city’s must-visit hotspots and foodie stops. Participants will also have the chance to win round-trip airline tickets from Dubai to Seoul and hotel vouchers through a lucky draw, offering them the exciting opportunity to experience Seoul firsthand. The highlight of the program is the K-pop concerts, featuring the popular idol group OH MY GIRL on May 6th (Monday) and famous co-ed group KARD on May 7th (Tuesday).During the event period, at 16:30, attendees can watch the pre-rehearsal of K-POP artists. Following that, a lottery will be held to select lucky winners for special fan events such as high-touch sessions, group photos, and autograph event, providing fans with unforgettable memories.

Guerlain, the renowned French perfume house, transformed the Dubai skyline into a dazzling display of scent and sophistication with an exclusive soirée at the Dubai Edition Hotel, culminating in a breathtaking takeover of the iconic Burj Khalifa.On April 23rd, Guerlain hosted an opulent affair to celebrate its Parfumerie d’Art collection, captivating guests with an immersive journey into the world of luxury fragrance. Against the backdrop of Dubai's exceptional skyline, attendees were treated to an evening of sensory delights, discovering Guerlain's masterpieces amidst the ambiance of the terrace overlooking the city.<img src='https://erp.adgully.me/artical_image\7ed4ba2b9d89efbf7cec0220b520174f.png' class='content_image'>Highlighting the event were the Exceptional Pieces and L’Art & La Matière collections, showcasing the craftsmanship and artistry synonymous with Guerlain. Guests were enthralled by the Bee Bottle by Baqué Molinié, Bouquet de la Mariée by Philippe Ferrandis, and other iconic creations such as Cherry Blossom by Philippe Ferrandis and Perle Impériale by Swarovski.The L’Art & La Matière collection captivated attendees with its array of scents inspired by diverse universes, including Cherry Oud, Cuir Beluga, Néroli Outrenoir, and Tobacco Honey. The collaboration with contemporary artist Nja Mahdaoui added an extra layer of artistry, as his abstract Arabic calligraphy adorned the venue, creating a fusion of culture and luxury.Adding to the allure of the evening was a mesmerizing performance by Guerlain's brand ambassador, Balqees Fathi, whose enchanting melodies captivated the audience. As the night unfolded, the Burj Khalifa became the canvas for a stunning projection of the L’Art & La Matière collection, showcasing Guerlain's iconic creations in a larger-than-life spectacle.DJ Parvane Barrett kept the ambiance alive with a carefully curated selection of music, ensuring that the soirée remained a memorable experience for all in attendance.Guerlain's extravagant affair in Dubai not only celebrated the artistry of fragrance but also underscored the brand's commitment to creating unforgettable moments that transcend boundaries and captivate the senses

Saudi Aramco, the state-run energy giant, has inked a lucrative four-year partnership agreement with FIFA, the world soccer governing body. The deal solidifies Aramco's role as a key partner in major tournaments, notably the upcoming World Cup 2026 and the Women’s World Cup 2027.The value of this pioneering deal, extending until the end of 2027, remains undisclosed, yet its implications are immense. CEO Amin Nasser expressed Aramco's commitment to leveraging the power of sports, particularly football, to foster global impact and advance the development of the game.In reciprocation, FIFA President Gianni Infantino highlighted the pivotal role of this partnership in facilitating the delivery of FIFA's flagship tournaments over the next four years. Moreover, it will enable enhanced support for FIFA's 211 member associations worldwide, signifying a milestone in football's global expansion.Aramco's involvement transcends mere sponsorship, as the corporation intends to deploy its expertise and cutting-edge technologies in organizing football events on a global scale. This strategic alignment between a corporate behemoth and the footballing world signifies a new era of collaboration aimed at driving social and cultural development through sports.Meanwhile, on the footballing front, Saudi Arabia is poised for a significant role, with preparations underway for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Following a strategic shift in focus from a joint bid with Egypt and Greece for the 2030 edition, Saudi Arabia secured widespread support for a lone bid in 2034. FIFA's relaxation of rules regarding the number of stadiums required for hosting further bolstered Saudi Arabia's bid, aligning with the kingdom's aspirations to showcase its capabilities on the global stage.In parallel developments, the Saudi Public Investment Fund made significant investments in football, acquiring 75 percent stakes in four prominent teams: Al Ittihad, Al Hilal, Al Nassr, and Al Ahli. These strategic acquisitions were accompanied by a series of high-profile transfers, including the groundbreaking signing of Cristiano Ronaldo by Al Nassr in December, solidifying the kingdom's growing influence in the global football landscape.The influx of renowned football stars, including Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, Roberto Firmino, Steven Gerrard, and Neymar, underscores Saudi Arabia's emergence as a powerhouse in football, signaling a paradigm shift in the sport's dynamics.As Saudi Arabia continues to assert its presence in global football, this multifaceted collaboration between Saudi Aramco and FIFA heralds a new chapter in the convergence of energy and sports, poised to shape the future of football on a global scale.

X, formerly known as Twitter, is actively searching for a talented brand strategist in order to bolster its presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.Stephanie Terroir, the Lead of Brand Strategy & Creative for MENA (Next) at X, took to LinkedIn to announce the exciting opportunity. In her post, Terroir emphasized the importance of finding an experienced individual to join Next, the acclaimed brand strategy and creative team at X. The chosen candidate will collaborate closely with Terroir and the rest of the dynamic team.The position, based in Dubai, will serve as a pivotal role in X's MENA expansion strategy, requiring frequent travel throughout the region. Terroir highlighted the team's diversity, innovation, and fast-paced environment, underlining their commitment to exploring novel approaches to help brands leverage the power of X to convey their narratives effectively.“We are on the lookout for an exceptional thinker with profound domain expertise to further enhance advertising creativity on X," Terroir stated.This move underscores X's dedication to fostering partnerships and innovation in the MENA market, as it continues to evolve beyond its traditional role as a social media platform. With this strategic hire, X aims to deepen its connections with brands and users across the region, amplifying its impact and relevance in the ever-changing landscape of digital communication.

Snowflake, the Data Cloud company, today announced Snowflake Arctic, a state-of-the-art large language model (LLM) uniquely designed to be the most open, enterprise-grade LLM on the market. With its unique Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture, Arctic delivers top-tier intelligence with unparalleled efficiency at scale. It is optimized for complex enterprise workloads, topping several industry benchmarks across SQL code generation, instruction following, and more. In addition, Snowflake is releasing Arctic’s weights under an Apache 2.0 license and details of the research leading to how it was trained, setting a new openness standard for enterprise AI technology. The Snowflake Arctic LLM is a part of the Snowflake Arctic model family, a family of models built by Snowflake that also include the best practical text-embedding models for retrieval use cases.“This is a watershed moment for Snowflake, with our AI research team innovating at the forefront of AI,” said Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO, Snowflake. “By delivering industry-leading intelligence and efficiency in a truly open way to the AI community, we are furthering the frontiers of what open source AI can do. Our research with Arctic will significantly enhance our capability to deliver reliable, efficient AI to our customers.”Arctic Breaks Ground With Truly Open, Widely Available CollaborationAccording to a recent report by Forrester, approximately 46 percent of global enterprise AI decision-makers noted that they are leveraging existing open source LLMs to adopt generative AI as a part of their organization’s AI strategy.1 With Snowflake as the data foundation to more than 9,400 companies and organizations around the world2, it is empowering all users to leverage their data with industry-leading open LLMs, while offering them flexibility and choice with what models they work with.Now with the launch of Arctic, Snowflake is delivering a powerful, truly open model with an Apache 2.0 license that permits ungated personal, research, and commercial use. Taking it one step further, Snowflake also provides code templates, alongside flexible inference and training options so users can quickly get started with deploying and customizing Arctic using their preferred frameworks. These will include NVIDIA NIM with NVIDIA TensorRT-LLM, vLLM, and Hugging Face. For immediate use, Arctic is available for serverless inference in Snowflake Cortex, Snowflake’s fully managed service that offers machine learning and AI solutions in the Data Cloud. It will also be available on Amazon Web Services (AWS), alongside other model gardens and catalogs, which will include Hugging Face, Lamini, Microsoft Azure, NVIDIA API catalog, Perplexity, Together AI, and more.Arctic Provides Top-Tier Intelligence with Leading Resource-EfficiencySnowflake's AI research team, which includes a unique composition of industry-leading researchers and system engineers, took less than three months and spent roughly one-eighth of the training cost of similar models when building Arctic. Trained using Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) P5 instances, Snowflake is setting a new baseline for how fast state-of-the-art open, enterprise-grade models can be trained, ultimately enabling users to create cost-efficient custom models at scale.As a part of this strategic effort, Arctic’s differentiated MoE design improves both training systems and model performance, with a meticulously designed data composition focused on enterprise needs. Arctic also delivers high-quality results, activating 17 out of 480 billion parameters at a time to achieve industry-leading quality with unprecedented token efficiency. In an efficiency breakthrough, Arctic activates roughly 50 percent less parameters than DBRX, and 75 percent less than Llama 3 70B during inference or training. In addition, it outperforms leading open models including DBRX, Mixtral-8x7B, and more in coding (HumanEval+, MBPP+) and SQL generation (Spider), while simultaneously providing leading performance in general language understanding (MMLU).Snowflake Continues to Accelerate AI Innovation for All UsersSnowflake continues to provide enterprises with the data foundation and cutting-edge AI building blocks they need to create powerful AI and machine learning apps with their enterprise data. When accessed in Snowflake Cortex, Arctic will accelerate customers’ ability to build production-grade AI apps at scale, within the security and governance perimeter of the Data Cloud. In addition to the Arctic LLM, the Snowflake Arctic family of models also includes the recently announced Arctic embed, a family of state-of-the-art text embedding models available to the open source community under an Apache 2.0 license. The family of five models are available on Hugging Face for immediate use and will soon be available as part of the Snowflake Cortex embed function (in private preview). These embedding models are optimized to deliver leading retrieval performance at roughly a third of the size of comparable models, giving organizations a powerful and cost-effective solution when combining proprietary datasets with LLMs as part of a Retrieval Augmented Generation or semantic search service.Snowflake also prioritizes giving customers access to the newest and most powerful LLMs in the Data Cloud, including the recent additions of Reka and Mistral AI’s models. Moreover, Snowflake recently announced an expanded partnership with NVIDIA to continue its AI innovation, bringing together the full-stack NVIDIA accelerated platform with Snowflake’s Data Cloud to deliver a secure and formidable combination of infrastructure and compute capabilities to unlock AI productivity. Snowflake Ventures has also recently invested in Landing AI, Mistral AI, Reka, and more to further Snowflake’s commitment to helping customers create value from their enterprise data with LLMs and AI.Comments On the News from AI Experts“Snowflake Arctic is poised to drive significant outcomes that extend our strategic partnership, driving AI access, democratization, and innovation for all,” said Yoav Shoham, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, AI21 Labs. “We are excited to see Snowflake help enterprises harness the power of open source models, as we did with our recent release of Jamba — the first production-grade Mamba-based Transformer-SSM model. Snowflake’s continued AI investment is an important factor in our choosing to build on the Data Cloud, and we’re looking forward to continuing to create increased value for our joint customers.”"Snowflake and AWS are aligned in the belief that generative AI will transform virtually every customer experience we know,” said David Brown, Vice President Compute and Networking, AWS. "With AWS, Snowflake was able to customize its infrastructure to accelerate time-to-market for training Snowflake Arctic. Using Amazon EC2 P5 instances with Snowflake’s efficient training system and model architecture co-design, Snowflake was able to quickly develop and deliver a new, enterprise-grade model to customers. And with plans to make Snowflake Arctic available on AWS, customers will have greater choice to leverage powerful AI technology to accelerate their transformation."“As the pace of AI continues to accelerate, Snowflake has cemented itself as an AI innovator with the launch of Snowflake Arctic,” said Shishir Mehrotra, Co-Founder and CEO, Coda. “Our innovation and design principles are in-line with Snowflake’s forward-thinking approach to AI and beyond, and we’re excited to be a partner on this journey of transforming everyday apps and workflows through AI.”“There has been a massive wave of open-source AI in the past few months,” said Clement Delangue, CEO and Co-Founder, Hugging Face. “We're excited to see Snowflake contributing significantly with this release not only of the model with an Apache 2.0 license but also with details on how it was trained. It gives the necessary transparency and control for enterprises to build AI and for the field as a whole to break new grounds.”"Lamini's vision is to democratize AI, empowering everyone to build their own superintelligence. We believe the future of enterprise AI is to build on the foundations of powerful open models and open collaboration," said Sharon Zhou, Co-Founder and CEO, Lamini. “Snowflake Arctic is important to supporting that AI future. We are excited to tune and customize Arctic for highly accurate LLMs, optimizing for control, safety, and resilience to a dynamic AI ecosystem.”“Community contributions are key in unlocking AI innovation and creating value for everyone,” said Andrew Ng, CEO, Landing AI. “Snowflake’s open source release of Arctic is an exciting step for making cutting-edge models available to everyone to fine-tune, evaluate and innovate on.”"We’re pleased to increase enterprise customer choice in the rapidly evolving AI landscape by bringing the robust capabilities of Snowflake’s new LLM model Arctic to the Microsoft Azure AI model catalog,” said Eric Boyd, Corporate Vice President, Azure AI Platform, Microsoft. "Our collaboration with Snowflake is an example of our commitment to driving open innovation and expanding the boundaries of what AI can accomplish.”“The continued advancement — and healthy competition between — open source AI models is pivotal not only to the success of Perplexity, but the future of democratizing generative AI for all,” said Aravind Srinivas, Co-Founder and CEO, Perplexity. “We look forward to experimenting with Snowflake Arctic to customize it for our product, ultimately generating even greater value for our end users.”“Snowflake and Reka are committed to getting AI into the hands of every user, regardless of their technical expertise, to drive business outcomes faster,” said Dani Yogatama, Co-Founder and CEO, Reka. “With the launch of Snowflake Arctic, Snowflake is furthering this vision by putting world-class truly-open large language models at users’ fingertips.”“As an organization at the forefront of open source AI research, models, and datasets, we’re thrilled to witness the launch of Snowflake Arctic,” said Vipul Ved Prakash, Co-Founder and CEO, Together AI. “Advancements across the open source AI landscape benefit the entire ecosystem, and empower developers and researchers across the globe to deploy impactful generative AI models.”Learn More:  • Register for Snowflake Data Cloud Summit 2024, June 3-6, 2024 in San Francisco, to get the latest on Snowflake’s AI announcements, and check out Snowflake Dev Day on June 6, 2024 to see these innovations in action.  • Users can go to Hugging Face to directly download Snowflake Arctic and use Snowflake’s Github repo for inference and fine-tuning recipes.  • Get more information and additional resources on Snowflake Arctic, here.  • Dig into how the Snowflake AI research team trained Snowflake Arctic in this blog.  • See how organizations are bringing generative AI and LLMs to their enterprise data in this video.  • Stay on top of the latest news and announcements from Snowflake on LinkedIn and Twitter.1The State of Generative AI, Forrester Research Inc., January 26, 2024.2 As of January 31, 2024.

WEE, the pioneering marketplace known for its fast product delivery across the UAE, has secured a USD 10 million infusion (comprising equity & credit facilities) from SIG INVESTMENT, underscoring the confidence in WEE's vision and capabilities. This latest investment propels WEE's valuation to an impressive $40 million.Setting itself apart in the bustling UAE online marketplace, WEE has garnered acclaim for its unrivalled delivery services, reminiscent of the acclaimed American Target Plus model. Operating with an exclusive network of trusted partners, WEE empowers consumers in Dubai with the convenience of ordering goods, promising delivery within the hour, and extending to next-day delivery for the rest of the emirates.Under the adept leadership of Anastasia Kim, (pictured), CEO and co-founder, along with the visionary guidance of co-founders Oleg Dashkevich and Sergey Kolikov, WEE Marketplace is poised for even greater heights.“The investment is set to enhance WEE's standing in the eCommerce sector within the UAE, enabling us to upgrade our logistics capabilities, expedite widespread growth, and fortify our team. Our primary focus will revolve around advancing the fashion category with innovation in the UAE service of partial purchase and fitting as well as highlighting live streamings. We will also introduce new services to the super app ecosystem,” said Anastasia Kim, CEO and cofounder of WEE.With the infusion of $10 million from SIG INVESTMENT, WEE successfully concluded a pre-A round of investments, further fortified by an additional $2 million from existing shareholders. These investments underscore the immense potential of WEE, which, in just two years, has captivated audiences in the UAE and forged strategic alliances with local industry leaders.Having previously secured $6.5 million for expansion in the UAE, WEE remains steadfast in its mission to attract further investments to scale operations within the UAE and extend its footprint into the GCC region.Embracing a forward-thinking approach, WEE is poised to develop an expansive ecosystem around its super app, seamlessly integrating shopping, taxi services, payments, and more. Furthermore, WEE is actively exploring the possibility of an IPO in the MENA region, signaling its commitment to long-term sustainability and growth.“WEE has entered the UAE market recently but has already been able to win over the audience and offer a unique fast delivery service in the selected time slots. The company understands e-commerce trends and therefore knows what partners need now and how the customer experience will evolve,” added Sami M. Al Mohammad, Group CEO of SIG INVESTMENTS.With the UAE eCommerce market projected to surge to $20 billion by 2027, and express delivery accounting for a significant share, WEE is well-positioned to capitalise on this burgeoning market. Leading categories such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, flowers, and food products are slated to drive substantial growth, further solidifying WEE's pivotal role in shaping the future of eCommerce in the region.

Publicis Groupe Middle East & Turkey (ME&T) reinforces its leadership with the launch of The Growth Club, a first-of-its-kind initiative for the agency holding network, designed to empower talents, drive innovation and unlock collective growth for the industry.  At its core, The Growth Club is a dynamic and ever-evolving community of 50-plus (and more to come) talents from Publicis Groupe, spanning from Lebanon to Saudi Arabia, Turkey to Egypt, and Kuwait to the UAE. With representation from each of the Groupe’s agencies: Leo Burnett, Publicis Middle East, Saatchi & Saatchi, Digitas, MSL, Spark Foundry, Starcom, Zenith, Prodigious, Epsilon, and Publicis Sapient, The Growth Club members serve as a connecting tissue, accelerating growth across 3,600 talents throughout the region. The result is a holistic ecosystem bringing together all the capabilities of the Groupe, including creative, media, tech, data, strategy, digital transformation, martech, and PR, where best practices and innovations are scaled, and deeper connections are made. “Building on our ‘Power of One’ mindset, The Growth Club enables us to deliver more holistic growth by developing the right kind of leadership that not only understands the breadth and depth of our capabilities but who are also connected with the same vision, behaviours and attitudes,” said Bassel Kakish, CEO of Publicis Groupe Middle East & Turkey. “With our commitment to nurturing talent, The Growth Club brings together these incredible minds to bridge knowledge and think collectively as to what growth could look like, and the innovations and leaps we can take to unlock a more transformative path forward.”  The Growth Club was launched with a two-day event featuring community-building activities, thought-provoking workshops and innovation-led discussions. Team challenges to spark creativity and encourage collaboration were a highlight throughout, and special guests were also invited to lend their views including Ibrahim Al Mannaee, ex-CEO of NEXT50 and Justin Harper, Editor of Campaign Middle East. Jennifer Fischer, Chief Innovation & Growth Officer, Publicis Groupe Middle East added, “The Growth Club is about shaping a space for collaboration across all our agencies and operations across the Middle East & Turkey, a space to connect regardless of your expertise where a data expert or a management consultancy expert can craft an idea with a media planner or a creative director. It’s a connecting tissue that fosters cohesive collaborative leadership. It helps to shape today’s and tomorrow’s leaders as true integrators, and offers a platform for them to contribute ideas back to the business in a meaningful way.” Beyond the launch, The Growth Club is year-round and entails a carefully curated programme consisting of monthly catch-ups where best practices and the latest news are shared, in addition to key ‘deep dive’ sessions hosted throughout the year on topics such as Scoping & Commercials, Prospective & Proactive Growth, New Capabilities and Power of One Leadership. To keep the spirit of collaboration, all sessions will be driven by a mix of leadership and C-level executive sponsors.  In response to the ever-evolving marketing and communications landscape, The Growth Club is a bespoke leadership community formed to accelerate growth from within, for clients and the broader industry.  

Etihad Airways will start flying its A380 double-decker to Paris, CDG from 1 November, 2024.The French capital becomes the third major city to enjoy the Etihad A380 experience after London and New York.Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “As a city celebrated for its style and ambiance, Paris is the perfect destination for our iconic A380 aircraft. This enhancement reflects our commitment to delivering award-winning comfort and service across all cabin classes."The introduction of the A380 on the Abu Dhabi – Paris route enriches both leisure and corporate travel. It underscores Etihad's commitment to facilitating business connections and travel to Abu Dhabi and beyond. Our state-of-the-art cabins and bespoke amenities ensure that business travellers can work, relax, and arrive refreshed. Features like The Lobby lounge and Business Studios create an ideal environment for productivity and comfort. By enhancing the travel experience with greater connectivity and luxury, we make business trips more accessible and enjoyable, connecting travelers to Abu Dhabi’s dynamic economy and rich cultural landscape with the premium service Etihad is known for."The A380 brings a special touch to air travel. Economy passengers enjoy a warm welcome with comfortable seating arrangements, including 68 seats offering four inches more legroom and 337 Smart seats featuring Etihad’s innovative fixed-wing headrests and large pillows.On the upper deck, Business Studios™ feature 70 private spots, complemented by The Lobby lounge area. Each Business Studio is equipped with premium amenities designed with Armani/Casa and WiFi connectivity, ensuring a productive and luxurious travel experience.First Apartments are luxurious with nine private spaces, designer tableware, leather chairs, and a big ottoman-bed. First-class guests also receive personal amenities and can enjoy an exclusive shower room.The ResidenceAt the pinnacle of comfort is The Residence, the world's only three-room suite in the sky. Accommodating up to two guests, The Residence features a private living room, bedroom, and ensuite bathroom, complete with a shower at 40,000 feet. A dedicated team of Etihad cabin crew ensures unparalleled service.Guests in The Residence can indulge in a culinary journey with an à la carte menu, served on designer tableware in the private living room, or even opt for breakfast in bed. From gourmet cuisine to champagne and caviar, The Residence Signature High Tea offers a range of lavish options.

In a testament to its pioneering strides in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual production, WPP has been named the Industry Innovation Partner of the Year in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region by the NVIDIA Partner Network.The announcement, made at the prestigious NVIDIA Partner Network EMEA Partner Day, recognizes WPP's groundbreaking utilization of AI through NVIDIA's AI Enterprise and NVIDIA Omniverse platforms within the marketing and advertising landscape.This accolade underscores the collaborative efforts between WPP and NVIDIA, particularly highlighted by their joint venture in May 2023 to develop a revolutionary generative AI-powered content engine. Leveraging the capabilities of NVIDIA Omniverse, this engine seamlessly integrates 3D and AI tools from leading software companies, facilitating the creation of scalable, brand-consistent content.Since its inception, the content engine has witnessed remarkable success across diverse industries. Noteworthy deployments include a 3D car configurator for the automotive sector, unveiled at the SIGGRAPH conference in August 2023, and a partnership with L'Oréal showcased at the NVIDIA GTC global AI conference, aimed at revolutionizing beauty content creation.Stephan Pretorius, Chief Technology Officer at WPP, expressed gratitude for the acknowledgment by NVIDIA, emphasizing the pivotal role of the partnership in driving innovation and expanding creative boundaries. Pretorius emphasized the potential of AI and virtual production in augmenting creativity and reiterated WPP's commitment to unlocking AI's full potential for client benefit.Dirk Barfuss, Director of EMEA Channel at NVIDIA, commended WPP's dedication to pushing AI boundaries in conjunction with NVIDIA technologies, underscoring the transformative impact of NVIDIA Omniverse and generative AI on the marketing and advertising landscape.In addition to this recognition, WPP recently joined the Alliance for OpenUSD, alongside industry giants like NVIDIA, Pixar, Apple, Adobe, and Autodesk. This collaboration aims to standardize 3D modeling and enhance interoperability across sectors.

Vertiv, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, has officially announced the foundation of its new Middle East regional headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With a steadfast commitment to providing essential services and solutions to regional customers for over three decades, this move symbolizes a pivotal step in Vertiv's strategic expansion across the Middle East and Levant region.The investment will help propel Vertiv's local operations into the future, enabling closer collaboration with customers to provide cutting-edge solutions and meet rapidly evolving demand. Over the coming months, Vertiv plans to hire additional local staff to support local sales and marketing initiatives while providing Saudi nationals with professional opportunities and career pathways.Karsten Winther, president of Vertiv for Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), expressed his enthusiasm about the significant milestone, stating: “This move underscores Vertiv's commitment to the Middle East and Levant markets, reflecting the importance we place on fostering strong partnerships in the region.”“It has been amazing to watch the immense growth this region has witnessed over the last decade, and we are excited to support new phases of development through our regional headquarters,” added Winther. “We have built great relationships with partners and customers both locally and regionally to date – and increasing our strong local presence will solidify these further.”Looking ahead, Vertiv’s Riyadh headquarters will serve the local market as well as neighbouring countries, facilitating the delivery of critical infrastructure solutions and services. With a focus on advancing technology and fostering innovation, Vertiv is poised to support the future digital landscape across the wider Middle East and Levant region.Tassos Peppas, Regional Director for Vertiv in the Middle East, Turkey and Central Asia (METCA) region, added, “Saudi Arabia and the Levant region rank among the most driven economies in the world today. We are excited to be a part of such a dynamic region. Data is the new oil as they say, and we’re extremely excited to contribute to the development of data centers within the greater Middle East market.”

Almost three in four (71%) retail investors in the UAE hold stocks in companies engaged in artificial intelligence (AI) development, according to a survey(1) from trading and investing platform eToro. This highlights a broad recognition of AI technology's potential as a driver of innovation and competitive advantage.UAE retail investors' engagement with AI extends beyond the stocks in their portfolio. When asked about their use or plans to use AI tools such as ChatGPT to select or adjust their investments, 39% reported they are already using such technologies. Millennials are at the forefront of this trend, with 40% of 25-44 year-olds already utilising AI technologies. They are closely followed by Baby Boomers and Gen X investors, at 39% and 38% respectively. For Gen Z investors, the proportion drops to 33%.Highlighting the central role AI could play in future investment strategies, alongside those already using AI tools, a further 52% of respondents also said they are open to adopting the technology to guide or modify their portfolio in the future. This trend defies generational stereotypes, with the older cohorts of investors leading the charge. 60% of Baby Boomers showed a keen interest in integrating AI into their investment planning followed by Generation X (58%). Younger generations show interest at slightly lower rates with 55% of Gen Z and 50% of Millennials saying to be open to trying AI tools.“Microsoft’s recent US$1.5 billion investment in Abu Dhabi’s G42 is a big endorsement of the UAE’s potential as a global AI hub, which is reflected in the survey results showing widespread AI adoption by local investors and consumers, said Ben Laidler, Global Markets Strategist at trading and investing platform eToro.  “AI stocks were the performance juggernauts of 2023, leading the tech sector revival and propelling the S&P 500 into bull market territory. AI trends helped make NVIDIA and Meta the best S&P 500 stock performers of last year, with their share prices tripling. Whilst we’re unlikely to see a repeat performance in 2024, the benefits of AI’s rapid adoption are broadening across the stock market and economy as it rapidly moves from hype to reality.”AI stocks dominate UAE investment choices in Q1eToro also looked at which companies saw the biggest proportionate change in UAE-based holders on its platform quarter-on-quarter and found that AI stocks were the most popular theme in the first three months of the year.In the first quarter of 2024, NVIDIA, Taiwan Semiconductor, Advanced Micro Devices, Adobe, Intel and Microsoft all featured as ‘top risers’ among UAE investors (see Table 1).Ben Laidler added: “The increased investment in these companies is indicative of investor confidence in the AI sector’s continued growth and ability to offer substantial returns in the long term. This also aligns with the UAE’s efforts to position itself as a hub for technology and innovation.”Table 1: Stocks that have the biggest proportional increase in holders on the eToro platform among UAE-based users quarter on quarterRankCompanyIncrease in UAE-based holders QoQ1NVIDIA Corporation45%2Boeing37%3Advanced Micro Devices Inc31%4Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd - ADR31%5Adobe Systems Inc25%6Intel18%7Tesla Motors, Inc.17%8Visa13%9Apple10%10Mastercard9%11NIKE8%12Microsoft6%-Ends-The survey, commissioned by the trading and investing platform eToro, sampled 1,000 retail investors residing in the UAE. The survey was conducted from 4 April – 9 April 2024 and carried out by research company Appinio. Retail investors were defined as self-directed or advised and had to hold at least one investment product including shares, bonds, funds, investment or equivalent. They did not need to be eToro users.

In a pioneering move that redefines entertainment technology standards, Blocklive, Dubai-based onchain entertainment infrastructure provider, has partnered with the MICRO MUTEK.AE to introduce the first fully onchain music festival in the UAE, promising to revolutionize the ticketing industry and enhance the experience for event-goers and organizers across the region.Blockchain technology enables the creation of provably unique, fraud-resistant, collectible tickets that can be issued and traded with immediate settlement on any open marketplace. This application of crypto technology has been seen as ideal for consumers. However, until now, technical, user experience, and market entry barriers have delayed its large-scale implementation. High costs, slow transaction speeds, and complex usability have limited blockchain's accessibility to the general public, while structural industry challenges have impeded ticketing innovation for years.The UAE, known for its forward-thinking and rapid adoption of new technologies, presents an ideal environment for overcoming these obstacles. With no established ticketing and broker monopoly, the country is poised for the introduction of innovative solutions. Blocklive is the first blockchain company licensed by Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) set to implement a blockchain-based ticketing system for Micro MUTEK.AE festival. Each ticket is a unique digital collectible on the Base Layer 2 blockchain — a network known for its speed, affordability, and performance. Additionally, every ticket features unique artwork by Amr B. Ash and will be auctioned to an environmental charity to offset the festival's carbon footprint. This revolutionary ticketing approach transforms the user experience by ensuring ticket authenticity, enhancing security, and facilitating a seamless transaction process. For organizers, it offers new possibilities for creative event planning and management, leading to a more engaged and satisfied audience. "Digital ownership will soon eclipse physical ownership. The ecosystems that make this new paradigm accessible to the general public the fastest will shape the future of entertainment and commerce. We’re thrilled to collaborate with Micro MUTEK.AE to bring this vision to life, bridging the gap between blockchain technology and physical experiences.", — Paul Warren, Co-founder and CEO of Blocklive. “The integration of blockchain technology into our festival not only sets a new benchmark for event management and attendee experience but also aligns perfectly with our commitment to innovation and the exploration of new frontiers in the arts. This partnership underscores our dedication to pushing the boundaries in the merging worlds of arts, music, technology, and digital creativity," — Mehdi Ansari, General and Artistic Director of MICRO MUTEK.AE As the UAE continues to embrace crypto technology and attract a new generation of creators and builders, the successful integration of blockchain into the entertainment sector with the Micro MUTEK.AE festival marks a significant milestone. This initiative not only positions the UAE as a leader in the adoption of cutting-edge technologies but also as the local hub for a global community of crypto enthusiasts and innovators.

Marking a remarkable milestone of 25 years in the Middle East, L'Oréal, the global leader in beauty, reaffirms its commitment to catalyzing change in the region's beauty industry and fostering positive impact within its communities.Since its introduction to the Middle East in the 1960s, L'Oréal has continuously evolved, recognizing the region's immense potential. In 1998, the establishment of its regional office signified a closer connection to consumers, a move further solidified by the openings of L'Oréal Saudi Arabia in 2011 and L'Oréal UAE in 2017.Over the past quarter-century, L'Oréal Middle East has not only expanded its workforce significantly, now comprising over 500 individuals from 54 different nationalities but has also extended its reach to operate in over 10 countries, serving a staggering 140 million consumers across the region.One of the pivotal aspects of L'Oréal's presence in the Middle East has been its dedication to driving meaningful change through various initiatives. These include sustainability efforts aimed at combatting climate change, such as the "L'Oréal for the Future" program, which garnered recognition for its sustainability endeavors, and the transition to renewable energy sources in its offices.Moreover, L'Oréal Middle East's commitment to women's empowerment has seen impactful collaborations and initiatives, including partnerships with organizations like the Himayah Organization in Saudi Arabia to support women's skill training and employment readiness.In the realm of innovation, L'Oréal continues to pioneer change through initiatives like the acquisition of Gjosa, a Swiss startup aiming to significantly reduce salon water usage, and the launch of the L'Oréal TechQuest program, nurturing homegrown beauty technology startups in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.Laurent Duffier, Managing Director at L'Oréal Middle East, expressed gratitude for the unwavering support received over the years, emphasizing the company's dedication to shaping the region's beauty landscape through sustainability and innovation.As L'Oréal commemorates its 25-year journey in the Middle East, it looks forward to continuing its legacy of creating beauty that not only inspires but also drives meaningful change for years to come.

Grand Millennium Business has won accolades at the 2024 Travelers’ Choice Awards by TripAdvisorThe hotel secured the #17 position among the Top Luxury Hotels in the World, an exceptional feat that highlights its commitment to unparalleled service. Furthermore, it claimed the #6 spot among the Top Hotels in the Middle East and the #2 position among Luxury Hotels in the Middle East, a true demonstration of its unwavering dedication to excellence.Exceptionally, Grand Millennium Business Bay has maintained its status as the #1 Hotel in Dubai on TripAdvisor for an uninterrupted period of 510 days, reaffirming its unparalleled reputation for exceptional guest experiences.These prestigious accolades recognize the highest level of excellence in travel, celebrating hotels that go above and beyond to deliver exceptional guest experiences.Out of over 8 million listings worldwide, fewer than 1% achieve the distinction of being named Best of the Best winners. Grand Millennium Business Bay has not only attained this remarkable milestone but has also been honored in three categories, solidifying its position as a leader in luxury hospitality. Andrea Strim, General Manager of Grand Millennium Business Bay, stated: "This recognition is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our colleagues, partners, and leadership team. We are immensely proud of our accomplishments and remain committed to setting new standards for luxury hospitality globally."The General Manager added: "We are gradually overcoming challenges and starting to position the hotel into the elite league of hospitality worldwide; proudly remarking on the 'worldwide' aspect."

Webidoo, an award-winning AI company developing innovative marketing and growth solutions for multinational brands and SMEs, has established its Middle East and Africa (MEA) headquarters at the DIFC Innovation Hub. Leaning powerfully on its three key pillars to unify, simplify and accelerate digital transformation, Webidoo solutions are designed to demystify technology and focus on growth and effectiveness. Giovanni Farese, Co-Founder and Global General Manager, Webidoo International, said: “At Webidoo, we believe that AI is a catalyst for unprecedented economic growth and job creation. It has the power to redefine existing industries and create entirely new business models, much like the internet did decades ago, but we recognize the hesitancy and uncertainty that comes with rapid evolution. So our mission is to help businesses navigate this change with confidence, utilizing our deep-rooted knowledge in marketing and innovation to do so. With our R&D anchored in the US and a worldwide pool of talent, we are excited to enter the MEA region and be part of the thriving innovation ecosystem at DIFC.”Webidoo maintains strong ties with top-tier research and academic bodies. The company’s AI Lab provides in-house innovation programs for multinational brands and agencies. It also offers a unique “mid-sourcing” agency model with large-scale, AI-powered content and media factories to manage high volume marketing requirements globally. And, Webidoo Chain, a cutting-edge enterprise division, develops Web 3 solutions and training around AR, VR, AI, metaverse, NFT, blockchain and data integrity. Webidoo’s solutions for small and medium businesses include Jooice, a patent-applied-for AI tool which enables SMEs to meet all of their marketing needs with one, easy-to-use and cost-effective solution. Powered by Welpy, Webidoo’s in-house AI marketing assistant, Jooice offers a one-stop solution for advertising, ecommerce, social media, listings and reviews, online reputation, and other marketing functions. Additionally, Webidoo offers WebiExport, a platform empowering SMEs to connect with leading online marketplaces, such as Alibaba.com, to expand their international footprint. Mohammad Alblooshi, CEO of DIFC Innovation Hub, said: "The dynamic AI and Web 3 ecosystem within the DIFC Innovation Hub, offers unmatched facilities, comprehensive networking prospects and gateways to innovation. Webidoo's track record of award-winning marketing and growth solutions reflects a deep commitment to simplifying and accelerating digital transformation, making it universally accessible. We are eager to welcome Webidoo into our ecosystem and are enthusiastic about the contributions they are poised to make. Our strategic alliance will include knowledge sharing and joint initiatives to support the adoption of AI and Web3 technologies in marketing and growth across strategic sectors.”Webidoo leads a synergistic ecosystem, partnering with banks, telecommunications companies, economic and trade bodies, and agency networks. Its investors include Banca Generali (8a+) and TIM Ventures. The global Advisory Board for Webidoo includes prominent figures such as Bibop Gresta, co-founder of Hyperloop; Martina Dlabajova, Member of the European Parliament; Enrico Deluchi, CEO at PoliHub Innovation Park & Startup Accelerator; Fernando G. Alberti, Head of Strategique, an international think tank based at Harvard, Dr. Devid Jegerson, COO, InvestBank; and Stefano Favale, Executive Director and Head of Global Transaction Banking at Intesa Sanpaolo. Commenting on the regional launch, Ketaki Banga, (pictured above), CEO and Co-Founder Webidoo MEA, reiterates the company’s commitment to nurturing strong alliances in the region, “The Middle East is leading in innovation and preparedness for AI, guided by its forward-thinking leaders. Establishing our MEA headquarters in the UAE allows us to engage with this dynamic environment that promotes and champions innovative, transformative efforts. We are excited to forge strong regional partnerships, including our key alliance with DIFC Innovation Hub, educational institutes, AI and technology companies, and regional startups to collaborate on AI readiness in the region.”

Danube Properties, renowned for its innovative projects, unveils a pioneering gym equipped with Salman Khan's 'Being Strong Fitness Equipment' range. Situated within the prestigious Diamondz skyscraper at Jumeirah Lake Towers, this project is set to redefine the fitness experience for residents seeking a blend of luxury and wellness.The grand inauguration of the Being Strong-equipped gym saw the presence of Bollywood megastar Salman Khan himself, alongside eminent dignitaries from the UAE, marking a momentous occasion in the city's real estate history. Commenting on the remarkable launch, Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman, Danube Group shared, “With every project, we challenge ourselves to increase the facilities and amenities so that the home buyers get a better value for every square foot, or every penny spent – be it the introduction of a doctor/ nanny on call or extra space for work from home to maintain perfect work-life balance. Keeping in mind the need of the hour for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and workout with a correct set of equipment, we are delighted to have associated with Salman Khan’s Being Strong Equipment for its first-ever gym in our most luxurious project-Diamondz.” Bollywood star Salman Khan who enjoys a fan following of billions globally added, "I am personally very happy to launch the first gym in Dubai with Being Strong equipment at the Diamondz by Danube project. This explains the importance of quality workout and a healthy lifestyle. Our state-of-the-art range of equipment will bring out the importance of quality and modern fitness in the fast-moving life of Dubai.”Workouts and a healthy lifestyle are becoming integral parts of everyone’s life. Hence, real estate developers must consider this aspect in addition to the other facilities they provide. Danube Properties is the first to realise this and is moving forward by associating with Being Strong. In essence, the collaboration between Danube Properties and Being Strong signifies a new era in luxury living, where fitness and wellness take center stage.

In a remarkable display of skill and camaraderie, players from Manchester City's esteemed football team converged at Etihad's new hub, transforming it into a vibrant makeshift football pitch. Conceptualized by Impact BBDO, the video served as a jubilant tribute to Etihad Airways' relocation to its new home, Zayed International Airport. The short film features members of the elite Manchester City men's first team, including Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland, and Kevin De Bruyne, among others, as they showcase their exceptional football skills amidst the bustling terminal. The narrative unfolds with a young Emirati football fan, inspired by a video clip of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, embarking on an adventure through the airport.Encountering the players amidst the airport bustle, the young fan is initially discouraged by Grealish from taking a ball but is emboldened by Guardiola's approval. A moment of excitement turns chaotic as the pyramid display of footballs collapses, sending hundreds of balls scattering across the terminal. Undeterred, the Manchester City stars use their exceptional prowess to reconstruct the display, captivating passengers and spectators alike.Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad, expressed delight in the collaboration with Manchester City, highlighting the joy of interacting with sporting stars and the premium experience offered at Zayed International Airport. Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and CEO at Abu Dhabi Airports, emphasized the airport's commitment to reimagining the travel experience and showcasing Emirati culture and hospitality.Ferran Soriano, CEO of City Football Group, praised the partnership with Etihad Airways and celebrated the video as a special moment for both organizations and the extraordinary Zayed International Airport. The video's unveiling marks a significant milestone for Etihad Airways and aligns with its Journey 2030 vision.Zayed International Airport's state-of-the-art facilities, including tailored services for Economy, Business, and First-class passengers, offer a seamless and luxurious travel experience. With its blend of athleticism, creativity, and celebration of culture, the video exemplifies the spirit of collaboration between Manchester City, Etihad Airways, and Zayed International Airport, promising travelers an unforgettable journey through Abu Dhabi's premier aviation hub.

Mobile app growth platform Mobmio is preparing to launch a new version of its platform. The key changes will be in the area of tracking and displaying its results. The new platform will rely on raw data, automation and access to data through a "single window".  The company has already invested $500,000 in these innovations in the first quarter of 2024 and plans to increase the number of clients and partners in MENA by 2.5 times in a year. The project continues its rapid growth under the wing of Mitgo X, the R&D department of Mitgo Group, one of the global IT industry leaders in AdTech and MarTech. The boom of the mobile industry in the region has been going on for several years now. Mobmio estimates that in 2023, the share of mobile purchases in total online orders jumped from 32% to more than 40%. In the first months of 2024, the amount spent by customers buying through mobile apps doubled year-over-year. Part of this explosive growth is driven by platforms like Mobmio, which helps brands engage mobile users and increase purchases through mobile traffic channels, while the apps monetize their audiences and generate additional revenue. The platform is now actively working with dozens of apps. These innovations will help it increase the number of customers in MENA and all over the world by 2.5 times this year by redirecting huge staff resources to expansion and development after the automation. A common problem of many affiliate networks is that brands betting on mobile traffic have to study statistics from multiple sources - ad networks and trackers. It is often not complete, making data reconciliation difficult. Affiliate network managers often have to spend more than 50% of their time manually bringing all these disparate pieces of data together so that the brand can get a more complete tracking picture. And even after these efforts, it is often not possible to achieve 100% transparency and accuracy of data, because these services and platforms often provide already processed, secondary data, and may miss some of the indicators. The new platform will automatically collect raw data from the most efficient trackers, which will eliminate any inaccuracies in processing and will double the efficiency of the network team. The first wave will integrate the largest mobile trackers - Adjust and Appsflyer. The second wave will include the rest of the industry leaders - Mytracker, Impact, Branch and Custom. The new platform is scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2024. "With this strategic investment, we are not only enhancing our platform's capabilities but also solidifying our commitment to revolutionizing mobile app growth. Our aim is to simplify the complex data landscape and provide actionable insights that drive real value for our clients.", - Aleksandr Kryvosheiev, CEO of Mobmio. 

Bacardi India Private Limited, the world's largest privately held spirits company, has announced the elevation of Sameeksha Uniyal to Regional Head of Brand for AMEA (Asia, Middle East & Africa) this April, in a bid to amplify business growth in the region. Shaping the success of Bacardi India’s rum portfolio since 2016, Sameeksha previously served as the Brand Lead for BACARDÍ in India and led growth for the associated brands in the country. During her seven year tenure at the company, she has spearheaded a variety of major marketing initiatives; most recently directing the rollout of BACARDÍ’s It’s A Mood campaign in India. In her new role, she will manage marketing and business operations for BACARDÍ’s rum brands across the greater AMEA region. Speaking about her new role, Sameeksha said, “In my professional journey, my time at Bacardi has been driven by passion and the ambition to break new ground; I am beyond delighted to be collaboratively building the Bacardi brand portfolio across the AMEA region. It is a new beginning to a very exciting journey, and I look forward to leveraging my experience to work with our exceptional teams and drive greater consumer affection and passion for our brands across diverse cultures and markets.” Taking up the baton from Sameeksha, Ashish Jha will now lead the BACARDÍ rum portfolio in India, moving up from his previous position as Senior Brand Manager for BACARDÍ rums & BREEZER.

To bolster its presence in the Saudi Arabian market, OPPO, the renowned Chinese electronics manufacturer, has joined forces with JUMMAR PR & Communications, a leading Saudi public relations company. The partnership aims to enhance OPPO's communication and public relations endeavours within the kingdom.Under the agreement, JUMMAR will be responsible for providing comprehensive communication services, including content creation, public relations management, and strategic outreach for OPPO in Saudi Arabia. With its expertise and deep understanding of the local market, JUMMAR is poised to amplify OPPO's brand presence and engagement across the country.Established in Guangdong province, China, in 2004, OPPO has emerged as a global powerhouse in the electronics industry. From smartphones to smart devices, OPPO is renowned for its commitment to blending aesthetic appeal with cutting-edge technology. The company's product portfolio includes the acclaimed Find and Reno series, along with innovative offerings such as the ColorOS operating system and OPPO Cloud services.Commenting on the partnership, representatives from both OPPO and JUMMAR expressed their enthusiasm for the collaboration. They highlighted the shared vision of delivering exceptional value to customers and leveraging synergies to drive growth in the Saudi market.JUMMAR, founded in Riyadh in May 2021, brings a wealth of experience in corporate communication, public relations, and media consulting. With a team of seasoned professionals, including experts from diverse backgrounds in local and international media, JUMMAR is well-equipped to support OPPO's expansion efforts in Saudi Arabia.Moreover, JUMMAR boasts an impressive client portfolio spanning various sectors, including government agencies, aviation, hospitality, artificial intelligence, fintech, real estate, media, education, and energy. This extensive network positions JUMMAR as a trusted partner for OPPO as it seeks to deepen its footprint in the region.The partnership between OPPO and JUMMAR signifies a strategic alignment of resources and expertise to drive mutual success in the dynamic Saudi Arabian market.

To reshape the landscape of technology integration in the beverage industry, Microsoft and The Coca-Cola Company have announced a monumental five-year strategic partnership. The collaboration aims to revolutionize Coca-Cola's core technology infrastructure, driving innovation and productivity on a global scale.At the heart of this partnership lies Coca-Cola's commitment of $1.1 billion to harness the power of Microsoft Cloud and its cutting-edge generative AI capabilities. Microsoft Cloud will serve as Coca-Cola's preferred global platform for cloud services and AI, signaling a strategic shift towards transformative technology adoption.Joint endeavours between the two industry giants will include experimental initiatives leveraging Azure OpenAI service to pioneer innovative generative AI applications across diverse business functions. From marketing to manufacturing and supply chain management, this collaboration promises to unlock new realms of efficiency and competitiveness.Judson Althoff, Microsoft's Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership's potential to drive systemic AI transformation. "Through our long-term partnership, we have made significant progress to accelerate system-wide AI transformation across The Coca-Cola Company and its network of independent bottlers worldwide," Althoff stated.Coca-Cola's pioneering strides in generative AI have already yielded tangible results, with Azure OpenAI Service empowering the company to reimagine marketing strategies, streamline operations, and enhance customer experiences. Now, the company is poised to explore the deployment of AI-powered digital assistants to further elevate efficiency and unlock untapped growth opportunities.Coca-Cola's latest foray into AI-driven marketing has captivated consumers worldwide. The introduction of a groundbreaking typography, revealing hidden letters within every bottle, can, and glass of its Zero Sugar line, has sparked intrigue and engagement. Leveraging object detection algorithms trained on a vast dataset, Coca-Cola has transformed mundane elements like condensation and bubbles into dynamic messaging platforms, inviting consumers to experience the product in innovative new ways.As this transformative partnership unfolds, the fusion of Microsoft's technological prowess and Coca-Cola's iconic brand promises to redefine the boundaries of innovation in the beverage industry, setting a new standard for digital transformation and customer engagement.

In a remarkable turn, India's export of plain gold jewellery to the UAE has more than doubled in the financial year 2024, hitting a staggering $4.52 billion compared to $2.18 billion in the previous year, according to sources, citing data from the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).The UAE has emerged as a pivotal market, with exports witnessing a remarkable 107.2% surge, a development attributed in part to the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), notes Vipul Shah, Chairman of GJEPC.The agreement's timing proved providential amidst challenges stemming from economic downturns in key export markets. Overall, India's plain gold jewellery exports surged by 61.72% to $6.79 billion in FY 2024, a significant leap from $4.19 billion in FY 2023.Despite a sluggish global demand scenario, the UAE's appetite for cut and polished diamonds remained robust, climbing to $1.71 billion.Looking ahead, GJEPC is actively engaging with global diamond miners to ramp up investments, aiming to bolster the promotion of diamonds and diamond jewellery in key markets such as the US, China, and the Middle East.

In the latest IMD Smart City Index 2024, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a frontrunner in smart city development, showcasing remarkable progress compared to the previous year. Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi have made significant strides, securing impressive positions within the top 20 globally.Abu Dhabi ascended three spots to claim the 10th position, while Dubai experienced a notable leap of five places, securing the 12th rank. Remarkably, Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the sole representatives from the Middle East in the Top 20, reaffirming the UAE's commitment to innovation and technological advancement.Globally, Zurich maintained its leadership position for the fifth consecutive year, followed closely by Oslo and Canberra. Geneva and Singapore also garnered attention, securing the fourth and fifth positions respectively.The IMD Smart City Index combines hard data with resident surveys from 142 cities worldwide, offering insights into how cities leverage technology to enhance the quality of life for their residents. A press statement by IMD highlighted Abu Dhabi's consistent performance within the top tier since the index's inception in 2019, alongside other global leaders.Additionally, the report shed light on Riyadh's promising trajectory, with the city climbing five places to secure the 24th position this year. Riyadh's upward momentum suggests its imminent entry into the top 20, reflecting Saudi Arabia's commitment to smart city initiatives.Saudi Arabia notably leads the pack with the highest number of cities in the 2024 index, with Riyadh, Mecca, Jeddah, Medina, and Al Khobar making appearances. Other Arab cities featured in the rankings include Doha, Muscat, Cairo, Algiers, Rabat, Amman, Tunis, Beirut, and Sana'a.The research, conducted by the Smart City Observatory in collaboration with the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organisation (WeGO), underscores the global significance of the UAE's smart city initiatives. The IMD, a renowned business school based in Lausanne, Switzerland, spearheaded this comprehensive study, reaffirming the UAE's position as a leader in smart city innovation.

 Bitget Research, the research arm of the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company Bitget, has released an in-depth report on cryptocurrency adoption in the Middle East region. The document delves into key aspects influencing the rate of adoption, as well as their impact on user behaviour. Key takeaways:In 2024, there was an average of 500,000 daily crypto traders locally, marking a 166% increase year-over-year.The UAE leads the region in crypto adoption, with 72% of local users investing in Bitcoin.Local countries predominantly rely on global centralised exchanges, with minimal demand for local exchange platforms.Crypto adoption in the region is projected to reach 700,000 daily traders by the end of 2024.This growth is attributed to favourable local crypto regulations, the approval of Bitcoin ETFs, and the increasing attractiveness of digital assets amid a market upturn. Centralised exchanges have seen the biggest inflow of users engaged in cryptocurrency trading in the six countries examined throughout the study, with over 500,000 daily active users on average in February of 2024, as compared to 300,000 in February of last year. The UAE has showcased the highest cryptocurrency adoption rate in the region. The approval of BTC Spot ETFs and the continuous rise in the total market value of cryptocurrencies is deemed to be the main contributor to such a rise in interest on the part of local users. The leading position of the UAE as a hub of crypto activity is not surprising, considering that it has the most crypto-friendly policies in the Middle East. In the meantime, most other countries are gradually improving their cryptocurrency regulations, moving from outright bans to a more compliant approach to stream new investments, projects, and users to their jurisdictions. The UAE has also seen the highest statistics in terms of interest towards cryptocurrencies, as 29% of users surveyed during the study believe that digital assets offer a more convenient way of holding assets. Another 34% of users are cryptocurrency traders, and 22% use them for daily payments. Users in the UAE have also expressed the highest willingness to invest in BTC and ETH, BTC being referred to as “digital gold” by UAE users, with 72% of the latter investing in the asset. The research revealed that Middle Eastern countries are heavily reliant on global-level centralised exchanges. Local exchange platforms are not even in the Top-10 in terms of absolute traffic. The Bitget research division has attributed such lacklustre values to the lower variety and liquidity of tradable assets on local exchanges compared to global exchanges, as well as the convenience of local currency deposit and withdrawal channels available on most global competing platforms. Decentralised exchanges are also among the go-to venues for users across the Middle East. The primary platforms for P2P trading are based on blockchains like Solana, BSC, and Ethereum, and include DEXs such as Uniswap, Pancakeswap, Raydium, and others. Decentralised exchange aggregators like 1inch and Jupiter are used to a lesser extent. Related analysis of user preferences has uncovered that Trust Wallet, MetaMask, Phantom, Coinbase Wallet, and Bitget Wallet are the Top 5 wallets among users from the Middle East region. The report released by Bitget highlights in conclusion that cryptocurrency adoption rates in the Middle East are expected to continue rising from 330,000 daily active users in 2023 to around 700,000 by the end of 2024. The main factors influencing such growth are favourable crypto regulation in the analysed countries, as well as the investment attractiveness of digital assets as a whole in light of a market upturn. Gracy Chen, Managing Director of Bitget, states: "We are excited about the potential of the Middle East market and anticipate continued growth in both users and market size. The UAE, in particular, holds significant importance as a base within the region. It has emerged as a hub for cryptocurrency talents, funds, and enterprises, while also steadily gaining global influence in the crypto space. We look forward to contributing to and witnessing the further development of this dynamic market."

Tesla has reportedly dismantled its short-lived marketing team in the US, marking a significant shift in its advertising strategy. According to news sources, the electric car giant has laid off its entire "growth content" team, consisting of approximately 40 individuals. Tesla has yet to issue an official response regarding the layoffs. However, CEO Elon Musk hinted at dissatisfaction with the company's advertising approach, replying to a post on X that Tesla's "ads were far too generic." Responding to criticism on social media, Musk agreed that the ads lacked distinctiveness, emphasizing the need for more impactful marketing strategies.The decision, which comes in the wake of a recent round of layoffs, reflects Tesla's ongoing restructuring efforts. While the company maintains a small marketing presence in Europe, the abrupt dismissal of its US team suggests a reevaluation of its marketing approach.This move is particularly notable as Tesla has long shunned traditional advertising methods, relying instead on Musk's personal brand and word-of-mouth promotion. However, last year saw a departure from this stance, with Musk tentatively embracing advertising following pressure from investors.The now-defunct growth team, spearheaded by senior manager Alex Ingram, was established just four months ago, signaling Tesla's brief foray into conventional advertising channels.Jorge Milburn, the global head of the growth team, also faced dismissal, though a small contingent remains in Europe. The cuts extended beyond the growth content division, affecting Tesla's design studio and various Hawthorne, California-based employees.The restructuring comes at a critical juncture for Tesla, as the company grapples with declining sales and lower-than-anticipated delivery figures. With quarterly earnings looming, Tesla's decision to slash prices on its vehicles underscores the challenges it faces in a competitive market.As Tesla navigates these turbulent waters, all eyes are on its upcoming earnings report to gauge the impact of these strategic shifts on the company's performance and future trajectory.

Microsoft has unveiled Phi-3-mini, an innovative, small language model for businesses seeking cost-effective AI solutions. This model excels at content creation and social media post generation, all while requiring less data compared to traditional AI models.Despite its compact size, Phi-3-mini punches above its weight. Microsoft claims it outperforms models double its size on various benchmarks assessing language, coding, and mathematical capabilities.Phi-3-mini caters specifically to businesses with limited resources. Its focus on simpler tasks like document summarization and market research trend extraction makes it a practical and efficient solution.Microsoft is making Phi-3-mini readily available across several platforms. Users can find it on the Azure AI model catalog (Microsoft's cloud service platform), the machine learning model platform Hugging Face, and Ollama (a framework for running models locally).This launch comes on the heels of Microsoft's recent $1.5 billion investment in UAE-based AI firm G42. Additionally, their partnership with French startup Mistral AI makes their models available through Azure.

Investment in artificial intelligence (AI) in Bahrain promises a double win: more jobs and higher salaries, predicts Ahmed Al Hujairy, CEO of ThinkSmart Training and Development Centre.AI: A Catalyst for Growth and SustainabilitySpeaking at a recent event on robotics and AI's impact on sustainable development, Hujairy emphasized the growing global focus on AI. He cited a UN report projecting a surge in AI research investment to a whopping $25.7 billion by 2030.This trend signifies a shift: companies are no longer seeing AI as a standalone tool. Instead, they are integrating it into core strategies across various sectors. This will open doors for graduates with diverse backgrounds, creating new training and employment opportunities.AI's Role in Achieving UN GoalsHujairy highlighted AI's potential to accelerate progress towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He sees AI as a force for positive change across industries, addressing global challenges and creating opportunities for students and professionals to build strong careers.ThinkSmart: Equipping the Next Generation"AI is more than technological advancement," stated Hujairy. "It's a catalyst for positive change." He emphasized ThinkSmart's commitment to equipping future leaders with the knowledge and skills to leverage AI for sustainable development.ThinkSmart's AI AcademyThinkSmart offers programs to train and empower young talent with the skills needed to thrive in the AI field. Their initiatives bridge the gap between theory and practice, providing practical training and professional certificates. A key program is the "Artificial Intelligence Academy," which equips individuals and institutions with AI tools and technologies, fostering crucial skill development in this emerging field.These efforts align with ThinkSmart's mission to cultivate a highly skilled Bahraini workforce, prepared to tackle future challenges and contribute to a brighter future.Event Highlights Broader ImpactThe event explored the latest advancements in robotics and AI, showcasing their impact on education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, and more. Discussions focused on how these technologies can be used to build sustainable infrastructure, improve access to essential services, and increase productivity while optimizing resource management. Overall, the event underscored the crucial role of AI and robotics in achieving global sustainable development goals.

 Viola Outdoor, part of Viola Communications, the leading OOH media owner with its decades long exclusivity across the UAE Capital, has announced the first pan-Emirate bridge banner network with the award of a contract from the Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA). Each bridge banner is strategically designed and positioned to ensure maximum frequency, reach and impact at key intersections on and around the heart of Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road, thereby providing a network that delivers brands superior ROMI.Speaking on the announcement, Ammar Sharaf, founder and CEO of Viola Communications, said: “This contract with the RTA creates an important addition to our portfolio of OOH media assets. With Abu Dhabi’s extraordinary growth and fast expanding footprint, the UAE’s two major cities are increasingly becoming interconnected. The capital city, business and cultural center of the UAE is merging ever closer to Dubai, with the two hubs now truly presenting a pan-Emirate proposition. With this in mind, and as part of our strategy to sustain and span our portfolio across end-to-end OOH solutions, this is just the first of a series of connecting developments for Viola Outdoor’s national network.”“At Viola, we focus our efforts on having a positive impact within all the communities we work in. As key operators in urban infrastructure, we acknowledge our responsibility to help protect the environment and minimize pollution wherever possible. A such, Viola’s Dubai bridge banners, were chosen to be powered by solar, a more sustainable solution to help drive our greener footprint commitments”.Viola Communications is a subsidiary of the Multiply Group. The company has played a pivotal role in executing numerous high-profile projects with its extensive portfolio of hoardings, lampposts, and bus-wraps, while in line with the UAE’s strategic plan for digital transformation it has introduced a network of digital assets including D.Toplight, D.Totemlights, D.Hoardings, D.Skylight bridge banners and D.Taxi-top media screens, forming the largest advertising network in the region. These efforts underscore Viola's ongoing commitment to fulfilling the digital transformation strategy.

Yango, a global tech company that creates everyday services, introduces a new service to streamline car rentals in Dubai, Yango Drive. This is an innovative addition to the UAE's car rental market, presenting a blend of convenience, comfort, and sustainability, aimed at reshaping the car rental experience. Yango Drive stands out by not just being a car rental platform but also a comprehensive car rental marketplace. It provides a fully digital booking system, seamlessly integrated within the Yango SuperApp, making it easy for users to select and rent a vehicle with just a few taps on their device. It aggregates meticulously selected car rental companies from Dubai, boasting an extensive catalogue of 3,500 car listings. The platform provides a complete service, staying in contact with customers from the time of their request until the car is returned. It aims to address any potential issues promptly, supporting both partners and customers throughout the rental process. This approach ensures a seamless, high-quality car rental experience, from booking to return, differentiating Yango Drive from traditional offerings in the market. A broad spectrum of user needs are catered to with luxury models like the Lamborghini Urus, as well as practical options such as the Toyota Camry and Nissan XTerra. With vehicles available in categories ranging from Economy, Standard, Business and Sports, Yango Drive accommodates all preferences and budgets to ensure high accessibility and value. The service gives users the option to rent a car for either a day, or for more extended periods, spanning a month or longer.The service has been operating in test mode for a few months and is in great demand. Currently available across Dubai, Yango Drive offers selected car deliveries across most emirate locations, with plans underway to extend services to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Drawing inspiration from Dubai's advanced motor vehicle infrastructure and vibrant culture of entrepreneurship, Yango identified the emirate as the ideal launchpad for Yango Drive. The city attracts a diverse population, a high volume of tourists, and has one of the most developed car rental markets worldwide. By leveraging the city’s unique position as a hub for tourists and a diverse resident population, especially during peak seasons, Yango Drive addresses the growing demand for accessible and convenient transportation solutions. It supports the shift towards shared mobility and eco-friendly options, aligning with the UAE's Net Zero 2050 initiative.

Audi Middle East has unveiled an exciting partnership with globally acclaimed entrepreneur and chef, Izu Ani. Renowned for his innovative gastronomic creations and relentless pursuit of perfection, Chef Izu is set to become Audi’s inaugural regional brand ambassador.Rene Koneberg, Managing Director of Audi Middle East, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating: “We are thrilled to welcome Chef Izu Ani to the Audi family as our official regional brand ambassador. Chef Izu’s innovative culinary vision and commitment to progress perfectly align with Audi’s ethos of pushing boundaries and inspiring others.”Chef Izu’s influence extends far beyond the kitchen, resonating with Audi’s progressive target audience through his passion for adrenaline-fueled activities, including driving his Audi RS Q8 and embarking on exhilarating road bike adventures. "When passion and progress collide, at the intersection of inspiration and passionate creativity, magic happens,” remarked Chef Izu Ani.With a culinary journey spanning Qatar and the UAE, Chef Izu has earned widespread acclaim for his distinct culinary style, crafting unforgettable dining experiences at his restaurants. Elmir Arnautovic, Marketing and Communications Director at Audi Middle East, commented, “This partnership is a natural fit. Chef Izu’s regional footprint and storytelling prowess make him an ideal partner to connect with Audi’s audience. It’s a celebration of progress, inspiration, and limitless possibilities.”Both Audi and Chef Izu are synonymous with pushing boundaries and exploring new horizons. Audi has a rich history of pushing the boundaries of automotive technology, while Chef Izu continuously experiments with flavors, techniques, and ingredients to create unique culinary experiences. Their dynamic convergence represents a story inspired by endless possibilities.“Audi and Chef Izu is more than a partnership; it’s a shared journey of innovation, storytelling, and a commitment to excellence,” expressed Chef Izu Ani. “I am honored to join forces with Audi to inspire audiences across the Middle East."

Saudi Arabia is reportedly planning to launch a new airline specifically focused on serving the African market. Based in Riyadh, the airline aims to boost tourism and investment opportunities between the kingdom and African nations, according to Saudi Arabia's Al Eqtisadiah Arabic newspaper citing multiple sources.The report indicates that both Saudi Arabia and the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) have granted the necessary regulatory approvals. However, details regarding the launch date, specific routes, and the airline's name remain undisclosed.Interestingly, this new airline appears to be a revival of a defunct Saudi carrier that operated from 2016 to 2021 before succumbing to economic pressures. Al Eqtisadiah suggests the new venture will offer a variety of air travel routes connecting various African countries with Saudi cities, including both direct and stopover flights.

InterContinental Residences Abu Dhabi, part of?IHG Hotels & Resorts’?luxury & lifestyle portfolio, has officially opened its doors in the affluent neighbourhood of Al Bateen in an event held on April 18.  The grand opening unfolded with a meticulously planned sequence of events, including a magnificent projection mapping show, live performances, a stunning firework show, and more, creating an unforgettable experience for all attendees. The list of invitees included a host of diplomats and senior executives, in addition to prominent figures from IHG Hotels & Resorts and the National Corporation for Tourism & Hotels (NCT&H), the owner of the property. Offering a new take on upscale living in the heart of Abu Dhabi, InterContinental Residences Abu Dhabi is equipped with everything a guest could need. The residence’s 130 fully furnished units boast gorgeous textures and unique contemporary décor, complemented by a range of premium amenities along with spectacular views of the marina and glittering cityscape. Residents and guests can enjoy a wide range of recreational spaces, including a fitness centre, a private beach and pool, alongside a host of award dining destinations, such as Byblos Sur Mer, Cho Gao, Chamas Churrascaria & Bar, and Belgian Beer Café, all within walking distance. On April 18th at 7 pm, the event commenced with a magnificent projection mapping show covering the entire front side of the property, showcasing a sequence of striking visuals. Guests relished the welcoming atmosphere at the Sea Lounge, which not only featured carefully curated décor and a delightful ambience but also offered sweeping marina views from the terrace. A series of enchanting performances from a DJ, violinist, and saxophonist added to the evening’s charm, captivating guests with their musical talents. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at 8 pm, followed by breathtaking fireworks show to mark the grand launch. The event’s extensive list of attendees included various property stakeholders and a host of industry leaders, including His Excellency Tarek Abdulraheem Al Hosani, Chairman at NCTH, Mr. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director Middle East, Africa and South West Asia at IHG Hotels & Resorts, Dani Demerjian, Cluster General Manager at InterContinental Hotel and Residences Abu Dhabi, along with esteemed ambassadors, diplomats and corporate head honchos, socialites and more. The celebration continued as guests were invited to Jones Social, where Yunib Siddiqui, CEO of Jones the Grocer – the company behind this new restaurant – gave a speech and shared insights about Jones Social’s concept and offerings. Opening for the first time in Abu Dhabi, Jones Social is a vibrant destination that brings a delicious new culinary and social dining experience to the heart of the capital. Guests had the chance to enjoy the restaurant’s ambience and offerings, with a special menu thoughtfully curated to showcase its impeccable cuisine, along with live music and energetic performances by Latino dancers, adding a dynamic and engaging element to the evening.

Fortis, a retail tech and fintech solutions provider tailored for SMEs, announced the successful completion of Series A funding round, raising $20 million in investment led by Opportunity Venture (Asia). This funding marks a significant milestone in Fortis' journey as it embarks on a mission to revolutionize the retail tech and fintech landscape in the Middle East and North Africa region.With a decade of experience, Fortis empowers entrepreneurs to seamlessly manage offline and online transactions, streamline orders, implement personalized loyalty programs, and efficiently operate their businesses. Now, with its expansion into the UAE, Fortis is committed to supporting local businesses to generate revenue by connecting merchants and customers in a simple yet efficient way. "We are thrilled to have secured this significant investment, which will enable us to accelerate our growth and deliver even greater value to businesses in the MENA region," says Alberto Caruso, Fortis Digital Solutions CEO and Founder. "We are committed to leveraging this funding to develop progressive solutions and provide unparalleled support to our clients as they navigate the rapidly evolving retail and fintech landscape." Opportunity Venture also expressed enthusiasm for the partnership. "We are excited to lead Fortis' Series A funding round and support their expansion into the MENA region," said Philip F. Ma, Managing Partner at Opportunity Venture. "Fortis' innovative approach to fintech and retail tech solutions aligns with our investment thesis, and we believe they are well-positioned to drive significant value creation in these sectors."

ProjectX, a brand-tech company that is part of Abdul Latif Jameel, and focused on enabling brands to drive growth and achieve better results through technology, has announced a strategic representation with mFilterIt, an ad fraud prevention and brand safety solutions company.Through this collaboration, ProjectX will leverage mFilterIt’s tech capabilities to innovate comprehensive ad tech solutions that safeguard the digital landscape for its brands. This includes ad traffic validation, brand protection suite, global e-commerce intelligence, Direct Carrier Billing (DCB), Value-added Services (VAS), and anti-fraud solutions. Additionally, ProjectX will actively promote mFilterIt’s innovative suite of tools and services to brands in the MENA region with whom it works. This collaboration will encourage further trust, innovation, and transparency in the digital landscape across various industries. Ramzi Dargham, CEO of ProjectX said: “ProjectX combines the right methodology and technology needed to build and transform brands for future success. We provide tailored advisory services, including growth-focused strategies and tech stack recommendations based on a data-first approach. Through our collaboration with mFilterIt, we look forward to creating a transparent digital ecosystem for the MENA region’s clients.”Amit Relan, CEO of mFilterIt, said: “As we witness the ever-evolving landscape of the digital world, it becomes imperative to fortify our defenses against potential threats. Our agreed representation by ProjectX represents a significant step towards creating a more secure and transparent digital ecosystem. Together, we aim to empower businesses and protect their online assets, fostering a climate of trust and reliability.” With its focus on protecting the digital integrity of enterprises across platforms, mFilterIt empowers brands across industry domains, Telcos, and VAS aggregators by building customer trust and transparency with the help of its proprietary AI/ML-based technology. The organization, along with the parent group works with more than 600 clients across 75 countries.

In a move signaling its commitment to pioneering out-of-home (OOH) advertising solutions on a global scale, Branded Cities, North America's leading OOH media company, has inked a significant agreement with The MediaVantage to oversee its revenue business in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.The collaboration between Branded Cities and The MediaVantage marks a watershed moment for OOH advertising in the MENA region, promising innovative marketing strategies and enhanced exposure opportunities for brands and agencies.Branded Cities, renowned for its digital and iconic OOH media assets in key North American cities, such as the NASDAQ Tower and Midtown Financial screens in New York's Times Square, Hollywood Lights and The Moxy in Los Angeles, the Metro Center in Washington DC, and Yonge & Dundas in Toronto, now extends its reach into the dynamic MENA market.With a portfolio boasting extensive coverage across the US and Canada, Branded Cities combines highly engaged viewership with modernistic physical sites, offering unparalleled exposure for brands and maximizing advertising investments.Manoj Khimji, Managing Director of The MediaVantage, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “Securing the Branded Cities contract strengthens our position as market leaders in providing top-tier worldwide media options. With the world’s attention being drawn to renowned OOH advertising destinations, there’s never been a better time for these locations to exhibit their services to a worldwide audience."Branded Cities has previously demonstrated its prowess in hosting major events, notably being selected to livestream Expo 2020’s opening ceremony and featuring MENA brands across its portfolio in recent years.Moreover, in 2023, Branded Cities collaborated with Ocean Outdoor in the UK to launch The United, a groundbreaking initiative enabling brands to livestream simultaneously across iconic locations including London’s Piccadilly Lights, the NASDAQ Tower and Midtown Financial screens in Times Square, and The Moxy in Los Angeles.This strategic partnership between Branded Cities and The MediaVantage heralds a new era of OOH advertising innovation in the MENA region, offering brands unparalleled opportunities to engage with audiences on a global scale.

PubMatic, an independent technology company delivering a digital advertising supply chain, has announced a partnership with Virgin Media to enable advertisers to reach UK audiences at scale through ad-funded TV content.With 15 FAST channels currently available, and more to launch later this year, Virgin Media is set to further expand its video offering throughout 2024. This growth trajectory will provide PubMatic with increased scale, strengthening its position in the CTV and broader video ecosystem.One of only a few sell-side technology providers selected by Virgin Media to help the company navigate the evolving FAST landscape and scale their advertising offering, PubMatic brings a wealth of experience in supply path optimisation (SPO) and private marketplace deals (PMPs). The company will help Virgin Media scale its FAST offering and enhance its monetisation strategies through its partnerships with brands and agencies, and advertising solutions.David Bouchier, Chief TV and Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media O2, commented: “This is an important step forward for Virgin Media as we continue to expand and evolve our TV services and the commercialisation of our FAST offering. Employing PubMatic’s advertising solutions, we’re now able to deliver enhanced advertising experiences for our customers, while maximising engagement and value for advertisers.”Hitesh Bhatt, Senior Director, CTV/OTT, EMEA at PubMatic, added: “We are delighted to partner with Virgin Media, meeting the demand for transparent and premium-quality supply inventory. By facilitating the connection between programmatic buyers and high-value FAST inventory, we look forward to driving value for advertisers and viewers alike.”

Bitget, the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has released insights on the growth recorded in Middle East and North African regions since its launch in November 2023. With over 2.5M users from the region, Bitget has now reached 25M users worldwide.Last year, Bitget announced its expansion into the Middle East region with plans to establish its regional hub in the UAE and hire 60 employees as part of its global scaling strategy. In the last six months, Bitget has grown its MENA trading volumes over 500% from its initial launch, aiming to bring in more localized solutions for its users.Sam A Spiers, Regional Director for Bitget MENA, states: “Bitget will strengthen its operations in the MENA region, leveraging the region's high adoption rates and crypto-friendly landscape. We are exploring blockchain and crypto projects to support home-ground projects for listing and providing more exposure to middle-eastern founders and products.”In February 2024, Bitget Research released a Bitcoin Halving report that highlighted over 80% of MENA investors considered the halving to have a significant price impact, while the recent Bitcoin’s bull run to renew its all-time high value was anticipated by 88% of investors — more than in any other region.There is higher optimism in comparison to the survey’s other regional participants, as MENA investors were the most willing to increase their crypto holdings, with 82% reporting affirmatively. In contrast, the global average didn’t exceed 70%.As part of its focus on the MENA region, Bitget has Arabic lingual support for its website and mobile application. Bitget users in the Middle East also benefit from zero fees for buying and selling cryptocurrencies through Bitget P2P, ensuring a seamless and user-friendly experience for traders. This week Bitget partnered up with OnRamp, the leading crypto payment solution provider allowing its users to buy and sell crypto using various local currencies, including AED and other fiat currencies.“With the MENA region representing a significant share of the global crypto transaction volume in 2023, it is poised to grow exponentially in the years to come. Bitget has already begun exploring license applications to operate in target Middle East markets. It's our priority to obtain operating licenses and support our users with a secure WEB3 platform.” Gracy Chen, Managing Director of Bitget.Bitget has been expanding its operational reach globally in recent months, including registering as a VASP (Virtual Asset Service Provider) in Poland and obtaining similar crypto registration in Lithuania. The new expansion plan in the Middle East complements Bitget’s launch in Türkiye, which now features full localization, including its Turkish website Bitgettr.com featuring tailored services for users in Türkiye.Bitget's growth plans consist of creating a seamless ecosystem of crypto products for users locally by personalising the platform offerings. Bitget recently launched a Ramadan campaign to celebrate the holy month with its users. Not just this, Bitget also offers 0 fees for buying Bitcoin and Ethereum on spot trading along with free bank transfers.

MBC GROUP, the largest and leading media company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has announced the renewal of its strategic partnership with Parrot Analytics, the leading content valuation and global entertainment analytics firm.Through this collaboration, Parrot Analytics has broadened its scope and deepened its insights into the Arabic-speaking entertainment market. By working with MBC RESEARCH, the company has significantly expanded its database, enriching it with an approximate 1,500 Arabic titles.With the onset of Ramadan season earlier this month, Parrot Analytics further expanded its offerings, incorporating 106 new series and programmes, thus ensuring comprehensive coverage of all MENA content across all platforms during the crucial month of Ramadan.The inclusion of an Arabic-language library not only enhances the global entertainment metrics of the US-headquartered Parrot Analytics but also underscores MBC GROUP’s pivotal role and commitment to bridging local and regional content from the MENA with international analytics expertise.Amit Devani, Director of Insights EMEA at Parrot Analytics, commented: “We are delighted to be renewing our partnership with MBC GROUP as we continue to build on our Arabic-language content valuation and analytics offering in the region and globally.“MBC RESEARCH have been an asset to this partnership, offering us access to their programming titles and genres, which we utilize to measure their impact amongst viewers. Content valuation is a key asset for any major broadcast network looking to measure and assess its current offerings and shape its content going forward. I look forward to us continuing to work together to provide the very best insights on what audiences want in the years to come.”As the largest and leading company in the MENA, MBC GROUP has spent over three decades developing premium and diverse offerings, which today include over 17 leading satellite TV channels, three FM radio stations, MBC STUDIOS, and Shahid – the world’s leading Arabic-streaming platform. Owing to its investment in highly attractive Arabic-language programming, MBC GROUP has continuously and successfully consolidated its position as the number one broadcasting organization across the region.Leila Mezher, Senior Manager for Research and Market Intelligence at MBC GROUP, stated: “Our data-driven approach to programming allows us to understand and anticipate the needs of our audiences, ensuring that MBC GROUP continues to lead in innovation, engagement, and diverse storytelling. Parrot Analytics allows us to truly understand what works, what doesn’t, what we need to create more of, and what new ideas audiences are looking for.”Ziad Skaff, Director of Group Research and Audience Intelligence at MBC GROUP, added: “Audience intelligence is of utmost importance to us, and our partnership with Parrot Analytics offers us the precise content valuation insights and analytics needed. MBC RESEARCH has also played a significant role in knowledge-sharing by helping build Parrot Analytics’ library of Arabic-language content for both regional and international markets.”LEADING PREMIUM DRAMAMBC GROUP has delivered market-leading drama series that resonate at top-tier levels within key MENA markets. Parrot Analytics has been working with MBC since 2020 to help measure the unique success of these titles. They include the following: Rashash (2021): Peaking as the 10th most in-demand Arabic TV title in KSA of all time, the thriller drama found itself among the top 0.1% of all titles tracked across all platforms in demand within the region. Stiletto (2022): The adaptation of the Turkish title, “Ufak Tefek” not only reached a peak domestic demand ranking of Number One but remains in the Top 100 two years later.The Giza Killer (2023): This Shahid Original reigned as the Number One show in Egypt throughout its release cycle, while also making waves in European markets with its riveting true-crime storyline.

In the final quarter of 2023, the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector in Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the UAE witnessed a tentative recovery, with consumption increasing by less than 0.5% in both regions, according to the latest NIQ Retail Spend Barometer from NielsenIQ. The observed sluggishness can be attributed to heightened price sensitivity among consumers and evolving preferences. However, amidst these challenges, the e-commerce sector emerged as a beacon of growth, reporting impressive consumption rates throughout the quarter and the past three years.During Q4 2023, E-commerce FMCG categories experienced a notable reduction in prices, with decreases of approximately 3% in the UAE and 5% in KSA. This price adjustment significantly stimulated consumption through online channels, leading to a remarkable increase of 28% in the UAE and 16% in KSA.While UAE saw a modest increase of 2.3% in FMCG consumption through Modern Trade channels, there was a simultaneous decline in overall FMCG consumption by 3% in the same period. In KSA, consumption reduction stood at 0.9%, accompanied by a marginal downturn in growth by 0.2%.Price fluctuations played a pivotal role in shaping consumption patterns, notably within the Baby Care category in KSA and the Personal Care category in the UAE. A substantial proportion of FMCG categories in both regions experienced price increases of up to 10%, with promotional sales witnessing a significant rise in KSA, reaching 42%, while stabilizing at 33% in the UAE compared to the previous year.Commenting on these trends, Andrey Dvoychenkov, NielsenIQ APP General Manager, highlighted the resilience and dynamism of the e-commerce sector, attributing its growth to evolving consumer preferences for convenience, variety, and competitive pricing. Dvoychenkov emphasized the significance of recognizing and capitalizing on these trends to reinforce market presence and capitalize on sector expansion.In contrast, Traditional Trade (TT) outlets in both regions experienced average price increases of 2.1% and 1.9% in KSA and UAE, respectively, in the last three months of 2023. Snacking emerged as the category with the highest price increase, influencing consumption dynamics differently in KSA and the UAE.Furthermore, in the Technology and Durables (T&D) sector, both regions witnessed consistent full-year growth in 2023, with increases of 5% in KSA and 4% in the UAE. Notably, advances in the Telecom and Small Domestic Appliances categories were the primary drivers of growth in both regions.Dvoychenkov concluded by advocating for an omnichannel strategy in both FMCG and T&D sectors, emphasizing the importance of convenience and product selection in influencing consumer behavior and market success.

IEC Telecom, a leader in global satellite communications solutions, announces its participation in the upcoming Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference & Exhibition (DIHAD) 2024. Hosted at the Dubai World Trade Centre, this event serves as a critical platform for discussing sustainable humanitarian responses to global challenges. In 2023, natural disasters led to a staggering $250 billion in global losses, highlighting the urgent need for robust and responsive communication systems. With geopolitical tensions on the rise, the role of satellite communications (satcom) in humanitarian efforts has become increasingly critical. Satcom technologies are essential for enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring safety, and expanding the reach of humanitarian services, particularly in isolated and conflict-affected regions. Satcom enables more effective coordination of humanitarian missions, directly contributing to increased operational efficiency and the possibility to optimise costs. This efficiency is crucial in mobilizing resources swiftly and effectively, where every minute can save lives. Additionally, the safety of humanitarian staff is of utmost importance, and satcom plays a pivotal role by providing reliable communication lines, essential for emergency responses and routine operations alike.  Moreover, satellite technology expands the scope of humanitarian services, making it possible to reach the most remote areas. This expansion ensures that support and aid can be delivered to underserved populations, which might otherwise be inaccessible due to geographical barriers or infrastructure damage. Nabil Ben Soussia, CCO at IEC Telecom Group, commenting on the importance of satcom in humanitarian contexts said, "As we witness a surge in global emergencies, the demand for robust and effective communication tools has never been more critical. At IEC Telecom, we are dedicated to equipping humanitarian missions with advanced satellite communication solutions that enhance operational capacities, ensure safety, and extend reach to save more lives." Attendees of DIHAD 2024 will have the opportunity to explore the latest innovations from Thuraya, a mobile satellite services subsidiary of Yahsat, portfolio at the IEC Telecom stand, demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to advancing humanitarian aid efforts globally.

Swisslog, a leading provider of best-in-class intralogistics warehouse automation and software, has announced that Walmart will install a Swisslog automation solution within its Robinson, TX, facility to enable seamless material flow and increase uptime. Walmart is planning to break ground on the milk processing facility later this year with the facility scheduled to open in 2026.  This is the third Walmart milk processing facility to deploy Swisslog’s automated storage and retrieval solution (ASRS) featuring SynQ software and Vectura cranes. The company worked with Swisslog to open its first milk processing facility in Fort Wayne, IN, in 2018. This facility served as a blueprint for its second facility in Valdosta, GA expected to open in 2025, as well as for the just announced Texas facility.  According to Walmart, the ASRS continues the company’s commitment to building a more resilient and transparent supply chain to deliver high-quality products. It also will bolster the company’s capacity to meet consumer demand for milk. The products from the facility will serve more than 750 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs throughout the South including Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and parts of Arkansas and Mississippi. Designed by Swisslog’s automation experts, the ASRS brings together five Vectura pallet stacker cranes with KUKA palletizing and de-palletizing robots, a ProMove pallet conveyor system, as well as a conveyor system for small loads. The automation solution operates on synchronized intelligence from Swisslog’s SynQ software, which provides warehouse management, material flow and automation control system functionality in a single, modular platform. “We are honored that Walmart continues to put their trust in our automation solutions and our people behind those solutions,” said Sean Wallingford, president, and CEO of Swisslog Americas. “This has been a very collaborative relationship as our two teams work together to create value for Walmart and ensure our automation solutions and software enable the company and its farmers to bring fresh, transparently sourced dairy to market.” SynQ management software not only optimizes the flow of the equipment to increase efficiency and accuracy of the operation, it also orchestrates the operation of multiple sub-systems. It equips warehouse automation and IT systems with synchronized intelligence of people, processes and machines to boost the efficiency and productivity of warehouse processes and adapt to changing market requirements. SynQ provides sophisticated inventory management and material flow capabilities that enable real-time inventory tracking and management of items to ensure freshness, quality and transparency of the food supply chain.  This project also includes Swisslog’s IT Managed Services, which puts in place experts to proactively manage the IT systems and software required to keep the equipment running at peak performance. The higher-level 24/7 support allows Walmart to free up internal resources from routine IT system administration, while also enabling data-driven proactive maintenance that helps reduce unplanned downtime. 

Global home appliance corporation Hisense launched its ‘BEYOND GLORY’ UEFA EURO 2024™ campaign today with the ‘signing’ of Germany’s World Cup winning goalkeeper and captain of Bundesliga’s FC Bayern Munich, Manuel Neuer.The German international, a FIFA World Cup winner alongside his 11 Bundesliga crowns, joins Hisense as its official campaign Ambassador. The ‘BEYOND GLORY’ campaign celebrates the relentless pursuit of excellence shared by professional footballers aiming for EURO honors and Hisense’s commitment to pushing boundaries in the home appliance industry.Just as goalkeepers like Manuel stand as the last line of defense, Hisense serves as the reliable force behind the scenes, consistently delivering cutting-edge technology and unparalleled quality.Five-time International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) ‘World's Best Goalkeeper’ award winner, Manuel Neuer said, “I am delighted to support the Hisense ‘BEYOND GLORY’ UEFA EURO 2024™ campaign as an ambassador. I am also very much looking forward to the EURO’s as the ultimate challenge for the elite of Europe’s footballers.”The campaign also highlights Hisense’s aim to push its own boundaries, challenging itself with a long-term technological vision in aspiring to ambitious goals and an unwavering commitment to pioneering technology with unparalleled quality in the pursuit of improving everyday life.As an official partner of UEFA EURO 2024™ and the pioneer in display technology, Hisense aims to deliver the perfect game-watching experience and smart-life experiences through its cutting-edge TV products and home appliances.Bob Wang, General Manager of Hisense International Marketing Department, remarked, “We are honored to welcome Manuel as our UEFA EURO 2024™ brand ambassador and believe he is the ideal representative for our new campaign. A goalkeeper is relied on by his team to be aways there and be totally dependable in helping ensure their success. At Hisense, we strive for a similar aim in our commitment to succeed in improving the lives of our customers with innovative dependable technology.”“This marks the third consecutive UEFA EURO that Hisense has sponsored the event which provides a tremendous opportunity to continue to connect the Hisense brand with consumers around the world.“As a company we continuously aim to enhance the quality and experience of everyday living. Working with Manuel, we are looking forward to providing fans around the world with an unparalleled experience of UEFA EURO 2024™.”

Almonds Ai, a B2B loyalty and channel partner engagement solutions company, has opened a new office in Dubai as part of its global expansion plan.The company announced that the Dubai expansion aligns perfectly with Almonds Ai's vision to cater to the evolving needs of businesses across diverse sectors. By leveraging the opportunities presented in the vibrant Dubai market, Almonds Ai aims to foster stronger relationships with existing clients while forging new partnerships to drive mutual growth and success.The opening of the Dubai office underscores Almonds Ai's commitment to global expansion and its ability to attract top-tier industry partners. This strategic move will further strengthen the company's position as a leading provider of transformative B2B loyalty and channel engagement solutions, empowering enterprises worldwide to drive sustainable growth and success.The new Dubai office will allow the company to collaborate more closely with regional clients, providing localized expertise and seamless support to elevate their channel sales and marketing initiatives.The company also secured funding from prominent Dubai-based anchor investors. The funding will be used primarily to fulfill regional resource requirements & technology enhancement. The anchor investment from prominent Dubai-based investors underscores Almonds Ai's commitment to global expansion and its ability to attract top-tier industry partners."At Almonds Ai, we are tirelessly innovating to cater to our client's evolving needs and to deliver on our brand promise of 'Happier Channel Partners, Healthier Bottom Line. Our new Dubai office will enable us to better serve the unique needs of enterprises in this dynamic region, delivering transformative AI-powered loyalty and channel engagement solutions to help them thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape," said Abhinav Jain & Apurv Modi, Co-Founders of Almonds Ai jointly said.

Prosek Partners, an independent marketing and communications agency for financial and professional services, has expanded its international operations with the opening of its first office in the Middle East. The office, located in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre of Abu Dhabi, will serve as Prosek’s regional hub as the firm looks to serve existing and prospective clients across the Gulf and wider MENA region.To lead the Middle East office and operations, Prosek has hired Diana Estupinan as Managing Director and Head of MENA. Diana joins from Instinctif Partners, where she served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Client Officer for the Middle East. She has extensive experience delivering high-impact, integrated PR and IR programs for financial services and capital markets clients, as well as leading operational growth strategies, including establishing Instinctif’s office in Saudi. At Prosek, Diana will be responsible for developing integrated communications and investor relations programs for local and international clients in the Middle East, as well as leading the firm’s business development, hiring and growth strategy in the region.“As the regional hub for institutional finance, Abu Dhabi is a logical next step in our global expansion plan,” said Jennifer Prosek, Managing Partner. “Since meeting Diana, I knew she was the perfect fit for us. Her entrepreneurial spirit, can-do attitude and industry know-how are exactly what we look for in our people. Her international experience combined with a deep local network and intimate understanding of the Middle Eastern market make her the ideal candidate to spearhead our growth in the region.”Diana will work closely with the firm’s London office, which boasts one of the largest financial services communications teams in the UK, to ensure a unified strategy across EMEA. Diana Estupinan, Managing Director and Head of MENA, said: “I’m delighted to join Prosek Partners and drive the firm’s growth and operations in the Middle East. The firm’s extensive client list of global financial and professional services firms is unrivalled, and the opportunity to build sophisticated communications strategies to support their growth in the region is vast. As one of the preeminent financial centres in the Middle East, ADGM is a prime location to serve these clients, and I look forward to getting started.”  Currently advising more than $66 trillion in client assets globally, Prosek Partners serves clients across financial and professional services, including M&A advisory, asset and wealth management, commercial and retail banking, investment banking, legal, financial technology, venture capital, insurance, cryptocurrency and more.Diana began her career at communications firm Hill+Knowlton in the UAE. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Franklin University in Lugano, Switzerland and a BSc in Government and Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Al Seer Group LLC, based in the UAE, has announced plans to offer 900,000,000 shares, equivalent to a 25% stake, of Dubai's renowned supermarket chain, Spinneys Holding, in an upcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO). The IPO is scheduled to open for subscription on April 23, with listing on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) set for May 9, as per the company's statement.The offer price range, denominated in UAE dirhams, will be disclosed before the commencement of the offer period. Emirates NBD Bank has been appointed as the lead receiving bank for the IPO, while Rothschild & Co Middle East Limited will serve as the independent financial adviser.Retail investors will be allotted 5% of the shares, totaling 45 million, in the initial tranche. Each retail subscriber will be guaranteed a minimum allocation of 2,000 shares. The remaining 855 million shares will be allocated for professional investors and institutions in the second tranche.Spinneys Holding operates 75 high-end grocery retail supermarkets under the brands 'Spinneys,' 'Waitrose,' and 'Al Fair' across the UAE and Oman. Moreover, with plans to open its first store in Saudi Arabia in the first half of 2024, the company aims to expand its footprint in the region.This IPO marks the second listing on the DFM this year, following the successful $429 million IPO of Parkin last month. Parkin, responsible for overseeing public parking operations in the emirate, witnessed a record-breaking debut, being oversubscribed 165 times and attracting $71 billion in demand.

 G42, the leading UAE-based artificial intelligence (AI) technology holding company, and Microsoft today announced a $1.5 billion strategic investment by Microsoft in G42. The investment will strengthen the two companies' collaboration on bringing the latest Microsoft AI technologies and skilling initiatives to the UAE and other countries around the world. As part of this expanded partnership Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, will join the G42 Board of Directors. This expanded collaboration will empower organizations of all sizes in new markets to harness the benefits of AI and the cloud while ensuring they are adopting AI that adheres to world-leading standards in safety and security.Building on the two organizations' long-standing collaboration in AI and digital transformation initiatives, Microsoft's investment deepens the reciprocal commitment to this strategic partnership. G42 will run its AI applications and services on Microsoft Azure and partner to deliver advanced AI solutions to global public sector clients and large enterprises. G42 and Microsoft will also work together to bring advanced AI and digital infrastructure to countries in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa, providing these nations with equitable access to services to address important governmental and business concerns while ensuring the highest standards of security and privacy.  H.H. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of G42, said: "Microsoft's investment in G42 marks a pivotal moment in our company's journey of growth and innovation, signifying a strategic alignment of vision and execution between the two organizations. This partnership is a testament to the shared values and aspirations for progress, fostering greater cooperation and synergy globally." The partnership will also support the development of a skilled and diverse AI workforce and talent pool that will drive innovation and competitiveness for the UAE and broader region with the investment of $1B in a development fund for developers. "Our two companies will work together not only in the UAE, but to bring AI and digital infrastructure and services to underserved nations," said Brad Smith, Microsoft Vice Chair and President. "We will combine world-class technology with world-leading standards for safe, trusted, and responsible AI, in close coordination with the governments of both the UAE and the United States."  The commercial partnership is backed by assurances to both governments through a first of its kind agreement to apply world-class best practices to ensure the secure, trusted, and responsible development and deployment of AI. Microsoft and G42 will work closely and elevate the security and compliance framework of their joint international infrastructure. Both companies will move forward with a commitment to comply with US and international trade, security, responsible AI, and business integrity laws and regulations. The work on these topics is governed by a detailed Intergovernmental Assurance Agreement (IGAA) between G42 and Microsoft that was developed in close consultation with both the UAE and US governments. Peng Xiao, Group Chief Executive Officer of G42, said: "Through Microsoft's strategic investment, we are advancing our mission to deliver cutting-edge AI technologies at scale. This partnership significantly enhances our international market presence, combining G42's unique AI capabilities with Microsoft's robust global infrastructure. Together, we are not only expanding our operational horizons but also setting new industry standards for innovation." Samer Abu-Ltaif, Microsoft Corporate Vice President and President, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, added: "Our investment in G42 stands as a testament to the thriving and dynamic tech landscape in the UAE and the broader region. This strategic partnership is well-positioned to ignite opportunities for our customers and partners, accelerate innovation, and fuel economic growth. With G42, we will introduce cutting-edge technologies that will empower countries and markets to advance their digital agendas by harnessing the power of Cloud and AI." The collaboration between G42 and Microsoft has expanded through several milestones over the last year. This includes a joint plan announced in April 2023 to develop AI solutions tailored for the public sector and industry, leveraging Microsoft's extensive partner ecosystem and cloud capabilities. In September 2023, the companies entered into an agreement to introduce sovereign cloud offerings and collaborate on unlocking the potential of advanced AI capabilities on the Azure public cloud platform. Lastly, in November 2023, Microsoft announced the availability of G42's Jais Arabic Large Language Model on the new Azure AI Cloud Model-as-a-Service offering. 

YallaHub has partnered with Lapochka to use artificial intelligence in product development. The partnership leverages YallaHub's expertise in streamlining brand market entry. YallaHub's comprehensive QAAS platform offers Lapochka a full suite of services to support its potential expansion into the UAE market. These services include import management, warehousing, fulfillment, logistics solutions, payment gateway integration, customer service support, access to major marketplaces, marketing tools, and even last-mile delivery.Lapochka has recently launched a unique AI-generated lemonade, marking a groundbreaking achievement. It represents the first time a neural network has been used to develop a beverage flavor in the country. The AI, supervised by AI specialists, analyzed consumer preferences, sales data, and product reviews to craft a one-of-a-kind recipe that embodies Lapochka's commitment to natural ingredients. The eye-catching can design, featuring a "robot-apple" concept, was also created by a neural network called Midjourney."We are constantly seeking methods to surprise and delight our customers with unique and innovative products," said Lapochka CEO Anton Balyklov. "This AI-created beverage allows us to introduce consumers of all ages to the latest technologies in a fun and delicious way. Partnering with YallaHub empowers us to potentially expand our reach and share this exciting innovation with a wider audience in the MENA region."This partnership between YallaHub and Lapochka signifies a mutual commitment to pushing the boundaries within the beverage industry. With its focus on natural ingredients and refreshing taste, this AI-designed beverage perfectly fits the booming UAE beverage market, projected to reach $23.2 billion by 2025. By combining Lapochka's expertise in AI-powered product development with YallaHub's established presence in the MENA region, this collaboration can potentially revolutionize the consumer experience for beverage enthusiasts across the region. By the end of 2024, the brand plans to establish itself in major UAE marketplaces, delivery services, and the HORECA segment, targeting sales of around 100,000 cans per year."The UAE has a thriving beverage market, with consumers increasingly turning to online platforms for their purchases," said Leo Dovbenko, CEO of YallaHub. "This partnership with Lapochka highlights our commitment to transforming the MENA F&B industry by providing brands with the tools and resources they need to succeed."With per capita spending on food and beverages in the UAE projected to reach over $17,000 by 2025, this partnership is well-positioned to capitalize on the market's continued growth.

Today TikTok has announced the launch of the first-ever TikTok Ad Awards in the METAP region. The awards program is designed to celebrate the brands and agencies leading the way on TikTok with their creative and high-performing campaigns, as well as embracing the unique nature of TikTok and delivering exceptional advertising experiences.The Awards will showcase some of the most inspiring advertising campaigns that have brought authenticity, creativity and joy to the platform while achieving groundbreaking results. The initiative aims to acknowledge exceptional talent and innovation within the region.The TikTok Ad Awards is now open for submissions from brands and agencies based in the METAP region, encompassing Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, South Africa and Pakistan. The program features six main categories that encompass various aspects of successful TikTok campaigns.  It’s the Creative for me: Focuses on the idea and its strategy, and celebrates the brands and agencies that dared to push the boundaries of creativity with campaigns that were built TikTok-first, and showcased impactful results.  Community Core: Celebrates the best use of Creators and the community. Shows how creators can use their unique voices and content styles seamlessly within your campaign idea.  Bougie on a Budget: This category is for campaigns with the most creative use of modest production budgets and resources through both paid and organic content with community management to create maximum impact.  Sound On Please!: Celebrates campaigns that use sound as an entry-point to their creative idea. There are so many different types of sound, different uses of sound, and likewise different creative approaches to sound on TikTok.  The Trendsetter: Reimagine advertising through TikTok, showcasing your innovation and ability to captivate audiences and drive bold effective ideas through the unique utilization of ad products with a measurable impact on the platform.  The People's Choice: Chosen through a voting by the guests of the ceremony. The highest accolade - The Greatest Of All Time (The G.O.A.T) - will be presented to the best overall campaign that excels in creativity, achieves its media objectives and demonstrates effectiveness. This award aims to recognize campaigns that really tapped into TikTok's community, creativity and trends to inspire joy and create cultural moments. All applications submitted under any of the six main categories will be automatically considered for the G.O.A.T.Brands and agencies can find all the program details and submit their entries at https://tiktok-ad-awards.evessiocloud.com/ . The deadline for entry submission is September 6, 2024, giving participants ample time to prepare and showcase their creativity, authenticity, and impact. The winners will be revealed in November."We are thrilled to launch the TikTok Ad Awards METAP to recognize and celebrate the outstanding creativity showcased by brands and agencies on our platform across the region," said Shadi Kandil, General Manager, Global Business Solutions, Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Central and South Asia - TikTok. "This awards program aims to highlight the campaigns that push boundaries, captivate audiences, and drive meaningful impact. We can't wait to see the exceptional submissions from the METAP markets."

The Sharjah Ramadan Festival 2024, which concluded its 34th edition last night, Saturday, has been hailed a major success in revitalizing the retail sector and commercial activity across the emirate's markets.The 37-day extravaganza delivered unparalleled shopping experiences to Sharjah’s residents and visitors, encompassing a wide range of malls, commercial centers, and entertainment destinations across various cities and regions in the emirate.The festival's alluring offers, promotions, and substantial discounts were complemented by a series of entertainment programmes and activities, spreading festive cheer and fun-filled ambience throughout the holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.Organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), this year’s festival exceeded sales volume expectations, generating approximately AED 400 million and achieving a growth rate of 25 percent.The Sharjah Ramadan Festival 2024 successfully drew visitors and families from within and outside the emirate, offering them massive discounts, that go up to 75 percent off, across a wide variety of products and merchandise presented by exhibitors, including both local and international brands.The festival witnessed during Eid Al Fitr a strong momentum and a huge influx of visitors, who flocked to the major shopping centers and various participating destinations and were lured by the diverse entertainment programmes and festive shopping experiences.Attendees eagerly engaged in raffle draws held throughout the festival’s pavilions, where they won valuable prizes and shopping vouchers, worth up to AED 1 million, presented by the Sharjah Chamber in collaboration with the participating shopping centers.Furthermore, an extensive range of lucrative offers was showcased within the festival, encompassing destinations, hotels, and distinguished tourist attractions.HE Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al-Awadi, director-general of SCCI, emphasised the Chamber's commitment to helping the Sharjah Ramadan Festival achieve tremendous success. This success has further cemented the festival’s leading position as one of the foremost commercial and entertainment events in the region.He underscored the SCCI’s sponsorship of shopping promotions as part of its strategy to stimulate and diversify the emirate's economy, promote innovative branding practices, and bolster support for local businesses and entrepreneurs.For his part, Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business Sector at SCCI, noted that the robust visitor turnout and the satisfaction expressed by participating centers and retail outlets across the emirate indicate the tangible outcomes manifested in the record-breaking sales achieved by the festival. This achievement serves as a catalyst for the chamber’s intensified efforts to uphold the event's stature and enrich its capacity and allure to attract Sharjah’s visitors and residents.Meanwhile, Ibrahim Rashid Al-Jarwan, director of economic relations and marketing at SCCI, and general coordinator of the festival, attributed the festival’s tremendous success to the collaborative efforts and partnerships with strategic partners, major sponsors, governmental entities, and the private sector.Crediting the efforts and contributions of participating businesses, local and international brands, as well as local productive families, in achieving fruitful outcomes, Al-Jarwan asserted that such coordination efforts allowed shopping centers and markets to offer diverse and rich entertainment programs, including traditional heritage-inspired activities catering to various segments of visitors across diverse cities and regions of the emirate.The Sharjah Ramadan Festival 2024, which ran from March 8th to April 13th, successfully drew a massive crowd from the emirate’s residents and visitors, who enjoyed the event’s engaging activities and its captivating surprises, including purchase vouchers and special offers in the world of shopping.The festival committee and shopping centers allocated purchase vouchers totaling approximately one million dirhams, distributed in two installments.The first installment, distributed during Ramadan, included a variety of prizes and purchase vouchers for the public and shoppers, amounting to around AED 350,000, sponsored by the Sharjah Chamber in collaboration with Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, whereas the second installment, distributed during the Eid al-Fitr, amounted to AED 650,000.Under the festival umbrella, enticing offers attracted shoppers and facilitated the procurement of Ramadan and Eid essentials at competitive prices.Notably, the 'Ramadan Nights' exhibition at Expo Centre Sharjah, a cornerstone event of the Sharjah Ramadan Festival, attracted a substantial audience of shoppers.Similarly, the “Souq Al Freej" market, an integral component of the festival, showcased a diverse array of promotional offers on local products and brands, featuring the entrepreneurial endeavors of local producers alongside retail establishments, complemented by an array of entertainment and heritage activities.

Diriyah Company will introduce its new visionary and lifestyle destination – Diriyah Square – to global industry leaders participating at the World Retail Congress in Paris from 16-18 April. Located on the outskirts of the Saudi capital, Riyadh, the new retail hub will host over 400 new retail outlets and more than 100 restaurants and cafes at the heart of the historic Diriyah development area incorporating 300-year-old traditional architectural concepts and design.Diriyah Square will mark a new milestone in the evolution of retail and become an international focal point that connects the world’s finest retail brands with local artisan goods. It aims to fuse culture, leisure, and entertainment to bring communities closer together by creating shared moments of relaxation and enjoyment.The unveiling of what Diriyah Square has to offer the global retail industry will provide potential partners with an insight into The City of Earth’s dynamic approach to retail. From world-class dining experiences to luxury fashion boutiques, Diriyah Square will welcome visitors with its array of amenities and attractions just a few kilometers from the vibrant capital city of Riyadh.As part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, Diriyah Square is poised to become a hub of commerce, culture, and entertainment. The project's emphasis on sustainability, community engagement, and cultural preservation underscores its commitment to creating a truly immersive and inclusive retail environment. Group CEO of Diriyah Company, Jerry Inzerillo said: "Diriyah Square is more than just a shopping destination—it is a symbol of Saudi Arabia's commitment to driving economic growth and fostering creativity and innovation.That is why we are so excited to invite investors and stakeholders from around the world to join us in this exciting journey, and to be a part of shaping the future of retail. With its pedestrian-centric design, direct access to Wadi Hanifah, and close vicinity to the breathtaking At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site, the district will be a world-leading lifestyle destination.”Diriyah Company is a dynamic mixed-use developer redefining urban planning to transform Diriyah, “The City of Earth”, into a thriving capital of culture, entertainment, education, and the arts. Diriyah links the Kingdom’s past, present and future introducing visitors to the charm and generosity of Najdi culture as well as the symbol of inspiration for generations of creatives, innovators, entrepreneurs, and educators to come.