Dubai: PayTabs, MEASA’s award-winning payments powerhouse, today announced that millions of freelancers, home based business owners and micro vendors across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt will now be able to sell even more over social media with ReelsPay, by Paymes.Paymes, which serves over a million merchant users across Turkey, Azerbaijan, Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, just launched its new feature – ReelsPay. The feature serves to increase sales by highlighting all the content available on an instagram Reels Video, making it easier for buyers to view the products on display and then purchase them under one payment link. Social media platforms such as Instagram allow brands to increase their sales by reaching a wider audience. With the growth of social media marketplaces, it is estimated that Instagram will have 2.5 billion active monthly users by the end of 2023. The Middle East is home to some of the biggest social media markets. In fact, the region makes up 10% of the world’s Instagram users, making it a prime platform to see, be seen and of course, generate sales. In line with customer behaviour and the increasing tendency of millennials, Gen Z to make purchases online or over social media, businesses across the region are keeping up with the social media trend and actively using digital sales channels to offer the best customer experiences. PayTabs brings the buyer and the seller together by enabling digital payment acceptance through the Social Commerce solution. PayTabs empowers and enables webpreneurs and homepreneurs to accept payments via social media platforms like Facebook Messenger, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and other channels.It does this via providing buyers with secure online payment links, QR codes and complimentary online store fronts for faster checkout experience.To this effect, reels videos are the most active type of content used by individual sellers and businesses for marketing. Statistics reveal that 91% of active Instagram users watch videos on the platform every week. Reels videos occupy a large part of the conversion rate within the Instagram ‘Explore Tab,’ and it has undoubtedly become one of the most used methods for advertising and product promotion.ReelsPay accelerates the sales process while giving the seller the opportunity to introduce products to users in an organic way. Via the Paymes merchant Dashboard, sellers can create and list their products on the Reels video and then introduce them to their customers or followers by sharing the ReelsPay link over any social media platform.Commenting on the launch of Reels Pay in the MENA region, Hany Soliman, Regional Head and Operating Partner GCC Region said: “This innovation by Paymes takes the social media purchasing experience to the next level, allowing buyers to purchase all the products they see on a Reels video with a single click, enabling seamless online sales. It further strengthens social media marketing strategies, enabling businesses to benefit. While sellers can reach a wider audience and market their products more cost effectively, they can also include the ease of searching for products in their sales adventures, thanks to ReelsPay. PayTabs is delighted to be the first to bring this innovation to the region via Paymes.”Sabrican Zaim, CEO of Paymes, on this new product that will change the pulse of social commerce, said, "The seller can deliver all the products on Reels to the buyer with a single listing on their shop page, and the buyer can easily buy all the products they see in the Reels video without getting lost on the shop page. ReelsPay, which provides quick purchases with a direct link to the link, meets with users as a big plus of social commerce and makes it easier for them to make sales with Paymes' reliable payment methods. ReelsPay, which provides great convenience for those who want to sell multiple products, such as outfit combinations, which are immensely popular on Instagram, and present their products together on a single page, will undoubtedly be one of the favorite purchasing methods of the digital world.”PayTabs acquired Turkey’s largest social commerce platform, Paymes in 2022.Paymes serves as PayTabs social commerce platform across the MENA region.

Dubai: Multiply Group (ADX: MULTIPLY), an Abu Dhabi-based investment holding company, has signed a binding commitment to acquire a 55 per cent majority stake in Media 247, one of the leading UAE outdoor advertising companies, for approximately AED 184 million.Media 247 assets include over 45 exclusive outdoor premium hoardings, unipoles and 3D structures spread across Dubai’s most strategic locations. The company offers media management, printing and special projects services and has sustained long-standing relationships with the most reputable advertisers and agencies both locally and internationally. Media 247 also provides transit media solutions such as vehicle wraps across Dubai’s largest taxi fleet, RTA’s red top taxis, and Dubai’s RTA airport taxis.The investment in Media 247 falls under the buy and build vertical strategy of acquiring profitable companies, creating portfolio-wide synergies, investing in bolt-on acquisitions, augmenting scalability and enhancing their margins.Jawad Hassan, Head of Media and Communications vertical at Multiply Group, commented:“Our commitment to invest in Media 247 reflects our focus on the growth of Multiply Group’s Media and Communications vertical and the consolidation of assets in the out-of-home media space. Media 247 is a well-established out-of-home media company that shares our philosophy of growth. Together, we will be focusing on growing the company both organically and inorganically. With its excellent inventory across Dubai, we are confident that we can leverage our combined expertise and resources to identify acquisitions, creating a stronger and more competitive business.”Media 247 has a solid track record with an excellent historical performance in both top-line and profitability and has proven to be resilient in difficult times like the pandemic.“As we have reached the final stages of the agreement and the few points to be finalised, we are confident in the discipline of the management team to get this deal over the finish line” Hassan added. Rafiq Abu Hijleh, Founder and President at Media 247, commented:“We are delighted to join hands with one of the UAE’s largest and fastest growing holding companies. This marks a significant milestone in Media 247’s journey since 2005 to provide only the best exclusive outdoor media solutions. Our company was already on a fast track to achieve our objectives with rapid growth, and this partnership will enable us to further widen our offerings to meet and exceed our clients’ reach expectations and broaden our network in the UAE and beyond.”Multiply Group has been deploying capital across its two distinct arms: Multiply and Multiply+. Multiply operates and invests in four current verticals (Mobility, Energy and Utilities, Media and Communications, and Beauty and Wellness), while Multiply+, its sector-agnostic and opportunistic investment arm, looks to target double-digit returns across several asset classes. Deal completion is subject to regulatory conditions and approvals.

Dubai: VADR Media has acquired Szuperchess, which provides AI Gaze tracking anti-cheat technology, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition aligns with VADR Media's development of Checkmate.live, an esports-first chess tournament and broadcasting platform that uses technology to enable players of all skill levels to compete for cash prizes, credits, and collectibles. Created by chess players for chess players, SzuperChess aims to meet a great need in the online chess sector: to effectively control and detect those players who cheat, so that tournaments can be carried out in a professional and safe way.The technology developed by Szuperchess monitors players in real-time during competitive matches to ensure a level playing field. VADR Media has also secured partnerships with key governance bodies, including the Asian Chess Federation and Arab Esports Federation, and a partnership with Tencent Cloud to promote fair play in chess and beyond. The Esports Integrity Commission has commended VADR's efforts to promote integrity measures in chess and online gaming. Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Shakboot Al Nahayan, president of the Asian Chess Federation, has expressed excitement about the opportunities for players that the partnership with Checkmate will bring.“Technology has played an important part in the journey and development of sports over the years, often overlooking chess. In recent years, the onset of online gaming and internet improvements has enabled greater access globally. The lack of effective integrity measures for online chess have also been a concern for the community hindering greater involvement," said Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Shakboot Al Nahayan. Stephen Hanna, director of Global Strategy and Partnerships, Esports Integrity Commission, said: “The VADR team has shown that they are gearing up to be leaders in promoting integrity measures in chess and online, and we are delighted to be working with them to bring fair play and true competitive integrity to casual and tournaments.”The collaboration between Checkmate and the Asian Chess Federation (ACF) will provide exciting prospects for the players, as it opens doors for competitive online tournaments and increased opportunities. The ACF was convinced to associate with Checkmate, mainly due to its dedication to improving the integrity of online chess and its ability to create a solution that aligns with ACF's future vision.

Ferrari, a UAE themed Park, dominated a 30-km stretch on Sheikh Zayed Road. along with Media Mix Advertising’s 21 unipoles.You can find Ferrari while you’re cruising on Sheikh Zayed Road (SZR) as the theme park.Media Mix implemented its unique strategy :a total takeover of 21 SZR Unipoles from Jebel Ali to Abu Dhabi.Media Mix previously attained 21 unipoles in July 2022 after which it coined the special execution “Total Takeover”.Media Mix has been successful in executing four takeover campaigns that featured Etisalat, Warner Bros, Hayatna and now Ferrari.