Dubai: PEUGEOT has announced the arrival of its all-new 408 in the GCC. With the new 408, PEUGEOT demonstrates the creativity of its teams by offering a new fastback silhouette. The new model is the first of its kind, both in the history of the brand itself and in the car market as a whole.This new age PEUGEOT offers a feline stance and unique allure, with engineering excellence focused on efficiency and intelligent electrification, as well as the emotions provided by cutting-edge technologies dedicated to driving pleasure and instinctive use.  The Allure of InnovationThe PEUGEOT 408 captivates with its dynamic fastback profile and distinctive style that breaks with convention. Its feline stance is a trademark of PEUGEOT’s design language, while its sharp lines, body-coloured grille, and iconic lion emblem make a bold statement. The rear bumper features an inverted cut-out, adding a touch of strength and character. The 408 sits confidently on 720mm diameter wheels, with striking 20-inch rims boasting a disruptive geometric design. The innovative light signature, with fang-shaped LED lights at the front and three-claw LED lights at the rear, further exemplifies PEUGEOT’s unique allure.The All-new PEUGEOT 408 comes with six distinctive colours; Obsession Blue (new colour, selected to mark the launch of the model), Titanium Grey (new colour), Artense Grey (Allure trim only), Elixir Red, Pearl White and Black Perla Nera, giving its customers the opportunity to stand out from the crowd.A Spacious and Efficient InteriorInside the new PEUGEOT 408, you'll find exceptional comfort and ample space. With a length of 4.69m and a long wheelbase of 2.79m, the 408 offers remarkable legroom and a generously sized 536-litre boot, expandable to 1,611 litres with the rear seats folded. The sleek and slim silhouette enhances aerodynamic efficiency, contributing to an exceptional driving experience.Emotion and Technology CombinedThe PEUGEOT 408 delivers an emotional driving experience for both the driver and passengers. Featuring the latest generation of PEUGEOT’s renowned i-Cockpit®, it offers a compact steering wheel for unique agility and precision of movement. The cockpit is designed with a focus on quality and connectivity, incorporating state-of-the-art technologies to make every journey more intuitive and rewarding.Excellence in Safety and PerformanceSafety is paramount in the new PEUGEOT 408, with a range of advanced driver assistance systems to ensure peace of mind on the road. These include Adaptive Cruise Control, blind spot monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Keep Assist, and Driver Attention Alert. The 408 is equipped with a 215 hp engine and an 8-speed automatic gearbox, delivering excellent performance and efficiency.The Future of PEUGEOT"At PEUGEOT, we believe that life is better with allure. With its unique look, innovative fastback silhouette and unbridled elegance, the new 408 is the perfect expression of the PEUGEOT Brand's philosophy and inventiveness," says Linda Jackson, CEO of the PEUGEOT Brand. "Unexpected from every angle, the new PEUGEOT 408 has been designed for lovers of cars and of life, who want to break free from the traditional while seeking responsible pleasure. It embodies PEUGEOT’s exacting technological standards - controlled efficiency and a very high-level digital experience - as well as the intense emotions of instinctive driving pleasure”.The new PEUGEOT 408 introduces a new era of modernity and elegance, transcending traditional sedan and SUV classifications. It pushes the boundaries of design, technology, and performance, providing an extraordinary driving experience that exceeds expectations.Earlier in May, 15 all-new PEUGEOT 408 “Alawel” first limited edition vehicles were sold in less than 90 minutes in the United Arab Emirates, as part of an exclusive online launch ahead of the arrival of the All-new 408 in the Middle East.Starting from AED124,900 the All-new PEUGEOT 408 is now available in all markets across the GCC.

Even as video-on-demand suffers drops in subscriptions across much of the world, numbers are growing in the GCC. On average, consumers in the region currently have access to three streaming services, while fewer than two-in-ten people are subscribed to no streaming provider at all.For longer than a decade, streaming has been talked about as ‘the future’ of video-entertainment. Early video-on-demand (VOD) market leaders Netflix and Amazon Prime saw rapid success with subscription-based models, which would deliver an almost limitless number of films and series to consumers instantly.But the last year has seen the video-on-demand boom finally grind to a halt. Recent polling from Accenture found that only 18% of consumers around the world intended to grow their subscription spending in the coming year. In contrast, 38% will cut back – with a worrying 15% saying they will “greatly decrease” the amount they spend on subscriptions.Even as ‘subscription fatigue’ continues to worry video-on-demand providers – to the extent Netflix has finally taken action to crack down on password sharing – however, no such phenomenon is impacting the Gulf markets.A new study from Oliver Wyman has found that on average, people in the GCC have access to three video-on-demand streaming services – and their appetite is growing. Oliver Wyman is a global leader in management consulting, with offices in more than 70 cities across 30 countries.Surveying consumers across the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the firm found that UAE consumers have access to the highest number of video-on-demand services per person on average, at 3.1. This was followed by Saudi Arabia at 3.0 and Kuwait on 2.5.Rogerio Dienes, Lead of Oliver Wyman’s Communications, Media and Technology vertical in the Middle East, India and Africa, noted, “The GCC having a globally high rate of video-on-demand subscriptions does not come as a surprise considering the region has one of the highest penetrations of internet users in the world.”Video-on-demand services include those such as Netflix, Shahid, Amazon Prime, and YouTube Premium. Of those, 60% of UAE respondents said they had access to at least two services – while just 12% of respondents did not access any services at all. Similarly, only 22% of those in Kuwait and 20% of those in Saudi Arabia did not access any video-on-demand platforms.Across the whole region, GCC consumers accessed the second highest number of video-on-demand services per person, with an average of 2.9. This is only behind the United States, where each person has on average 4.7 subscriptions.Importantly, though, while US appetites seem to be fading – with only 29% of consumers considering adding a new service in 2023 – the GCC looks to have much higher growth potential. A 75% majority of respondents in the GCC said they expect to increase the number of video-on-demand streaming services they access.Dienes added, “The finding that GCC consumers are more likely to increase the number of video-on-demand subscriptions compared to other regions is in part connected to the fact that consumers here are facing less inflationary pressures on their wallets compared to those in other parts of the world.”Within the GCC, respondents in Saudi Arabia showed the highest appetite for growth in subscriptions, with 80% stating that they are likely to increase the number of video streaming services that they access.Meanwhile, the survey also found that under 25s were the age group most likely to increase their access to subscriptions. Despite having the lowest income bracket, the group is generally touted as the first movers in any ‘shift to digital’, so their enthusiasm suggests a broader shift is on the horizon for video-on-demand providers in the GCC.

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