With the boom of the internet usage in the UAE, many consumers are turning to buying and selling their goods online. The competition between portal website is intensifying and now consumers have plenty of options to choose from.

One of the most popular website in the UAE is souq.com. Souq.com is a UAE based website that acts like an auction, where buyers and sellers bid for products. With a username and password, you are ready to go and start your shopping experience online with anything listed on this portal such as mobile phones, jewelry, cars, tickets, and many other products, new and used. Kristy Melia, the sales and marketing manager of souq.com, confirms the “great growth” they are experiencing in the market and how they have a customer base of more than 400,000 members.

Competition is present in this industry with another portal in the market. Dubizzle is considered a market leader in classifieds in the UAE, with items ranging from property for sale or lease, jobs, to community services such as car lifts. JC Butler, the managing partner of Dubizzle, states that they had a healthy growth in terms of revenues and customer subscription and that they play at the top of the game in the e-commerce competition.

The latest entrant in the Dubai market is the Lebanese portal Elmazad.com. Elmazad.com has its headquarters in Lebanon and has operations in Dubai with plans to expand to other nearby countries. The website invites users “buy and sell anything free on the largest online market in Lebanon and UAE”. “Anything” can be items like mobile phones, clothes, cars, accessories, and even real estate properties. The COO of elmazad.com in Lebanon, Hisham Al Ashkar, sees Dubai as a great potential for the business to grow as it is still focusing on brand awareness with its marketing campaign through SMS, Facebook and other magazines.

According to company spokespersons, all of the above websites have experienced a huge growth in their customer base. Nowadays, consumers are shifting their buying behavior to online websites or auction sites for many reasons.

One reason is the cheap prices that one can get through such websites. The exact products found in the market are being sold for a discount in dubizzle and souq.com. Unwanted gifts from jewelry to business pens are sold online for less than their original prices in store, and trust us, there are a lot!

In addition, these websites have done a lot to develop their offerings to attract more customers. Souq.com for example introduced a free shipping promotion to encourage more customers to spend online.

The recent economic downturn has also affected much of the regular shopping that is going on in the marketplace. Many people are moving in and out of the country, requiring to sell or to buy their household goods. During financial distress, consumers would turn to buying used products at a cheap price or selling their unwanted stuff to get some extra cash.

Last but not least, while the prospects of online shopping are definitely better during hard times, it is the quality of experience that is more important. Just like window shopping is fun for some of us, so is shopping online. With just a few clicks of a mouse and some searches for the item that you’re looking for, the product becomes yours! You don’t have to worry about getting stuck in a traffic jam, finding a parking space for your car, or not finding what you’re looking for in the mall. One of the many ways the internet continues to make life simpler.

For those that have yet to travel to Japan for business, there are a couple of things you should know before booking your ticket and inviting clients out to eat. Japanese culture is centered on politeness, overall respect for people, age reverence, gracious apology for wrongdoing, and living in harmony.

Foreigners, when eating out in Japanese restaurants, need to understand the basics of the Japanese dining etiquette to avoid offending the Japanese by committing a dining blunder!

There are some essential basic rules to be mindful of when dining in a Japanese restaurant. First of all, when the food is served, join your hands in the “Namaste” gesture and say quietly, “Itadakimasu” the phrase translates as “I humbly receive.” The gesture is an expression of gratitude for the collective efforts made by many in growing and preparing the meal.

If you feel you need a bit of soy sauce for your meal, you should serve yourself by pouring a small amount into your soya dish. It is considered rude to directly pour the soy sauce on your meal. If you’re having sushi, dip the sushi in the soy dish and bring it to your mouth. Avoid pouring excessive amount of soy and hovering over your dish. When eating rice or soup, you are allowed to bring the entire bowl closer to your mouth so that you don’t spill any food. In addition, it is considered rude to burp at the table unlike in some other Asian cultures like Chinese or Korean, where it can be received as a sign of satisfaction.

As for the chopsticks, never put your chopsticks in a bowl of rice because it resembles the burning of incense sticks at a Japanese funeral. Instead, lay your chopsticks on the chopsticks holder or at the edge of your individual plate.

At the dining table, do not pour yourself a drink but rather serve others at the table. Another thoughtful person should pour your drink for you when you are finished serving.

At the end of the meal, thank the chef by saying “Gochisosama deshita!” Thank you for this great meal!

Once again we couldn’t help ourselves but to highlight the exceptional work of geniuses at Google (or rather their advertising agency). All in all this is a fantastic ad; simple, honest and heartfelt. Many can relate to this experience, and it rings true to anyone who has ever explored a new city by looking online. The only thing that we feel brings the ad down is the last couple of searches as if all of life’s journeys ultimately end in two things, marriage and a child (come on, a baby’s laugh? It’s a little cheesy). We personally would have liked the final text be in French, which would have shown off a whole lot more of Google’s actual capacity then trying to leave viewers with a shallow family-friendly ending. We understand the target that this is going after, and despite the end, overall it succeeds brilliantly.

Got Talent is one of the most popular TV series of the last several years, broadcasted on hundreds of channels around the world. It has captured the interest of all of those who are gifted with a talent—and even many that aren’t. The concept started in the UK by host Simon Cowell, although it was America’s Got Talent that cemented the show as an international platform for singers, dancers, musicians, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages.

In a recent move to bring the series closer to local audiences, MBC group has partnered with the Got Talent franchise in order to give the Arab world the chance to show off their talents to a wider public. Casting calls are being made in the month of March and are open to peoples of all ages and all backgrounds (provided they can speak Arabic).

In previous seasons of the Got Talent show, we have seen acts that have both horrified and amazed audiences, with judges screaming everything from rude obscenities to YES YOU CAN! Notable acts like Susan Boyle—who was mocked the moment she was on stage—broke all conventions after just a few seconds on stage, leaving the crowd’s eyes wide open and jaws dropped from her incredible voice. Maybe one of you out there can do the same…

During the first season of Arabs Got Talent, which will be aired on MBC4, the public can register online and will be chosen accordingly by talent and availabilities. From heartfelt performances to hilarious gags, we can’t wait to see who’s got talent in the Arab world!

Get on stage at http://riyadhciti.com/2010/02/arabs-got-talent/.

It’s a sign of rebellion, passion, sincerity and humanitarianism. Those born in a Tiger year are thought to possess all of these traits, and as we start a new page in the Chinese Lunar Calendar—which officially begins on February 14th—it is indeed time for the Tiger.

There are several interpretations of the Legend of the 12 Animals, which gives rise to the correlation of the year with an animal. Some say that the creatures of Earth became quarrelsome many years ago, and the Chinese god Jade Emperor decided to give each creature a year of its own. A race was ordered to determine which animal had which year, and twelve animals were chosen to participate. Cunning and sly, the Rat won the race, followed by the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog and finally the Pig.

Others say that during the celebration of the Chinese New Year many years ago, Buddha called upon all the creatures of the land to bid him farewell before he departed the earth. To his disappointment, only 12 animals came forth. The first to arrive was the charming rat, who they say nimbly bounced off the Ox to beat him by a nose. The hard working and plodding Ox was close behind, followed by the charismatic Tiger and the rest of the animals. Buddha then declared that he would reward the animals by naming a year after each of them, and those born on that year would possess the qualities of the reigning animal.

Notable “Tigers” include American actress Marilyn Monroe, German musician Ludwig Van Beethoven, Queen Elizabeth II of England, and Hollywood star Leonardo diCaprio.

What is your sign?

As more and more expats migrate to the UAE, its only natural that some of their native institutions follow suit. The New York Film Academy in Abu Dhabi is just one example of the many renowned educational bodies that has come to the capital in the past couple of years to train those interested in the world of media and film.

The New York Film Academy (NYFA) was founded on the philosophy that “learning by doing” combined with best industry practices is more valuable than years of theoretical study for filmmakers and actors. This educational model allows students to achieve more in less time than at all other acting and film schools in the world.

The New York Film Academy is honored to be the acting and film school of choice of many Hollywood filmmakers and actors who have sent a son or daughter to study with them. They include Steven Spielberg, Al Pacino, Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx, and even Bono from U2!

NYFA’s accelerated two year fine arts degree are structured for students who want intensive training from award winning faculty using professional facilities and equipment starting their first day of classes; better preparing them for a career in motion picture and entertainment industries.

For those that are considering college or looking to sharpen their skills, the film schools and acting schools offer evening filmmaking workshops, and acting workshops. The academy also hosts summer film camps and acting camps throughout the world that are designed for high school students.

If you were here ten years ago, something like this would sound like a far off dream (in fact it was for many aspiring film students). With institutes like twofour54 and NYFA growing, plus the newest CNN international headquarters being established in the capital, the sky is the limit for those looking to break into the biz in the UAE capital.

Arab Business Leaders

Within this monthly forum, O2 takes a look at some of the most influential Arab business leaders shaping today’s markets. These individuals have achieved incredible success while advancing best practices in their respective industries. If you know someone who you think fits this description, let us know at editor@pr2live.com.

Lubna Olayan
She is one of the most influential business women and was listed as the top 100 most influenmtial people of 2005 by Time magazine. Ms. Olayan was born on August the 4th, 1955, to a Saudi business man, Suliman Olayan, and mother Maryam Abdulwahab, and has many significant achievements in the world of business.

Ms. Lubna Olayan is the chief executive officer of the Olayan Financing Company (OFC). The company was founded in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1947 by her father Suliman Olayan. OFC is a private multinational enterprise engaged in distribution, manufacturing, services, and investments. OFC operates in more than 40 countries and is one of the largest investors in the Saudi and regional stock markets.

Ms. Lubna’s first significant appearance was in 2004 where she was the first woman in Saudi history to deliver an opening keynote at a major conference at the Jeddah Economic Forum. Also in the same year, she was elected to the board of Saudi Hollandi Bank. In 2006 and 2007, Ms. Olayan joined the International Advisory Boards of Rolls Royce and Citigroup. She is also the member of the International Business Council of the World Econonic Forum and the International Advisory Board of the Council on Foreign Relations.

She also has significant roles in Saudi Arabia where she joined the Advisory Board of Effat College, a private and non-profit girl’s college in Jeddah.

Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal
The most significant figures in today’s Arab business world
From banking to media, one of the most significant figures in today’s Arab business world is Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

Prince Al-Waleed was born on March 7, 1955 to his father Prince Talal, the son of the founding king of Saudi Arabia, and his mother Mona Al-Solh, the Daughter of Lebanon’s first Prime Minister Riyad Al-Solh.

As a young man, Prince Al-Waleed completed his undergraduate studies in Menlo College in 1979 with a degree in business adminstration. Later on in 1985, he earned his master’s degree at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in the U.S.

His business career started right after his graduation from Menlo College in 1979. His business activities as an investor started when he bought shares in Citicorp in the 1990s when the firm was in distress. Now, his holdings in Citigroup account for $1billion, nearly double his initial investments in the 1990s of $550 million. After his investments in Citibank, he earned an international nickname as being the Saudi Warren Buffett.

Later, he made he made significant investments in large media companies such as AOL, Apple Inc., Motorola, News Corporation Ltd and other companies. Prince Al-Waleed also holds 10% stake in Euro Disney SCA, as well as real estate holdings in Four Seasons hotel chain and Plaza Hotel in New York.

Early in 2005, Al-Waleed purchased Savoy Hotel in London to be managed by Fairmont Hotels—in which he owns 16% stake. As of 2008, there are plans to construct the tallest building in the world, The Tower of One Mile. The tower , which is proposed by Al-Waleed’s own company, Kingdom Holding Company, is said to be a super tall skyscraper and the tallest tower in the world with a height of one mile (1609 meters).

In August 2009, his fortune was estimated to be US$16.3 billion and was ranked the 22nd richest person in the world.

Dr.Saad H. Al Barrak
The Deputy Chairman and the Managing Director of Zain
Dr. Saad Al Barrak is the Deputy Chairman and the Managing Director of Zain, one of the leading telecommunication companies in the Middle East. Al Barrak, of Kuwaiti nationality, is a distinguished engineer and businessman of international reputation.

He holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering, an MSc in Systems Engineering from Ohio University, and a PhD in Information Systems & Technology Management from the University of London. He is also an alumnus of Harvard University.

Prior to his appointment with Zain (previously known as MTC), Dr. Al Barrak was Managing Director of International Turnkey Systems (ITS), one of the leading IT companies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Under Dr. Al Barrak, ITS’s revenues grew from $5 million in 1985 to exceed $100 million in 2000.

Dr. Al Barrak was Vice-Chairman of the Social Development Office (SDO) of the Amiri Diwan in Kuwait; Chairman of Egyptian software developer IT Soft; Chairman of Arab Telecom; and a non-executive Director of Arab Management Association in Cairo.

Since his appointment as the CEO in 2002, Zain’s customer base has increased from 600,000 to a conglomerate of 24 operations with over 70 million active customers across the Middle East and Africa. In this period, Zain’s market capitalization on the Kuwait Stock Exchange has increased from less than US$2.5 billion to exceed $20 billion (September 30, 2009).

In 2003, he received the ‘E-businessman of the Year’ award in the region. Later in 2005, he received the Middle East’s ‘CEO of the Year’ award in the Information Communication Technology sector.

In September 2007, Dr. Al Barrak received the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award from leading industry magazine COMMSMEA. Dr. Al Barrak is also an Executive Board Member of Celtel International and a Member of the Board of the GSM Association.

Two day initiative focused on sharing best practice, latest advances, challenges and solutions in the field of pain and management of chronic inflammatory disorders

Dubai, 13th, March, 2010: Over 180 of the most eminent regional pain and chronic inflammatory disorders management specialists attended the first Middle East Pain & Inflammation Academy. The two day initiative, held on the 12th and 13th of March, 2010, was organized by Pfizer Africa and Middle East and accredited as a Continuous Medical Education (CME) program by the local Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

The pain and chronic inflammatory disorders management experts - representing medical organizations from the UK, Germany, Canada, UAE and Saudi Arabia - provided workshops, presentations, panel debates and question and answer sessions with senior regional healthcare professionals. The key objective of the Pain & Inflammation Academy was to provide a platform to develop strategies aimed at improving the quality of life of pain sufferers.

Among the subjects up for discussion were neuropathic pain (nerve pain), often associated with diabetes, as well as chronic inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis (severe inflammation of the spine and pelvis); and Musculoskeletal pain, such as lower back pain or pain that arises from ankle sprains.

As well as the technical and scientific steps that pain management and inflammation medicine has taken, the academy also looked at the financial and emotional burden of chronic pain and the action needed to enhance quality of life and help family support.

Dr. Ayman Mofti, Arthritis and Rheumatism Specialist, has been at the forefront of diagnosis and non-surgical management of pain associated with rheumatology disorders for twenty years. “I have seen some highly effective changes and advances in that time,” he said. “My area of rheumatism and arthritic pain is one of the most common and chronic forms, and it takes a great deal of effort and resources to ensure that each individual is managed with maximum effect. You will always have certain priority issues and must be able to assess the patient’s comfort as well as their dependents’ needs. Most patients suffering from chronic and acute pain are managed by a multidisciplinary approach. This can involve pharmacotherapy, physiotherapy, psychotherapy, and even surgical procedures.” 

Dr. Ehab Youseif, Regional Medical Director, Pain and Inflammation, Pfizer, described the event as an excellent way to widen the understanding of both diagnosis and management of pain and chronic inflammatory disorders. “We have had world-class international and regional experts giving the latest updates and breakthroughs in their particular fields. On a geographical and practical level, this is a great platform to reach new audiences with new practices.

Dr Thomas R Tölle is Head of the Interdisciplinary Pain Clinic and Professor of Neurology Technical University in Munich, Germany.”Enormous advances have been made in the management of neuropathic pain (nerve pain),” he said, “but they are not necessarily conveyed effectively as well through publications or online literature as they are on a personal, face-to-face platform. In this region particularly, diabetes is so prevalent that updates and advances need to be broadcast as soon as possible.”

The media were also encouraged to play a part in the academy with a roundtable discussion with the panelists to emphasize the implications of mismanagement of pain and inflammatory disorders.

“Our goal is to provide a safe working environment for companies and our staff through adopting safety procedures strictly, ” Dr. Al Zarouni

“Our duty is to protect investments and human resources using the early alarms & intensify awareness and education programs” – Major General Al Matrooshi

Dubai Airport Freezone and the Department of Civil Defense signed recently a strategic partnership agreement in the field of fire fighting, and qualifying and training staff on safety procedures through awareness programs on the dangers of fires and protective measures.

Dr. Mohammed Al Zarouni, Director General of Dubai Airport Freezone, Major General Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, Director General of Civil Defense Department signed the agreement in the presence of a number of officials and executives from the two institutions.

“Dubai Airport Freezone seeks to provide a safe working environment for global companies and their staff, so we need to work with the civil defense and institutions concerned with human safety and protection” Dr. Al Zarouni said.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr Al Zarouni said: “It is a relationship of great importance for us and for major international companies working from the Freezone to be aware of the latest safety procedures and fire fighting techniques according to international standards.”

“We appreciate the efforts and the substantial work done by the Department of Civil Defense, which indirectly supports the nation’s investments and maintain health working place for all,” said Dr. Al Zarouni

Al Zarouni, said,” The location of the Freezone adjacent to Dubai International Airport requires more caution in order to avoid any incidents related to security and safety.

“We are  reassured at the level of advanced services provided by Civil Defense and qualified personnel which manages the operations of effective high level of systems and devices used in fire control operations.

Al Zarouni and Rashid Al Matroushi agreed to extend means of cooperation to take advantage of the capabilities of the two parties to provide the best levels of control and protection.

Al Zarouni confirmed that Dubai Airport Freezone is ready to apply the latest systems and procedures recommended by Civil Defense.

Major General Al Matrooshi said, “Signing such agreements with the leaders of various institutions would enable the Civil Defense Department to operate more efficiently and effectively.”

He added that the Dubai Airport Freezone is one of the vital investment and and economic projects of the government, which employs more than 12.000 employees. This necessitates an awareness plan and training programs for these people to help them in case of any emergency.”

“We are interested in the protection of economic institutions, in particular, for the countless benefits they generate for the society and country”, he added.

The Civil Defense has world-class qualified, trained and sophisticated human potential, technical equipment in the field of fire fighting and human safety, Al Matrooshi confirmed. 

The Civil Defense has used global institutions and specialized British companies to bring in the best early alarm devices, which have helped to reduce and prevent many accidents by up to 40% in 2009. He stressed that there were no major fires during the past eight months, such as fires that require hard work and a heavy presence of firefighters and special and advanced equipment to control them.

Abu Dhabi, UAE. – 13th March, 2010 – Opportunities presented by a growing demand for logistics services and infrastructure in the Middle East, as well as the possible ways of addressing such demand, are expected to be discussed by industry experts during the first Global Logistics Forum scheduled to take place on 15th March 2010 at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahar in Abu Dhabi.

To be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Rulers Representative in the Western Region, the forum aims to bridge the gap between the global supply chain industry and the regional logistics sector.

A first-time international gathering of global logistics professionals, His Excellency Abdulla Rashed Al Otaiba, Chairman of the Department of Transport, Member of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi and Director of the Board, Abu Dhabi Ports Company, will share the development of a modern logistics infrastructure as an integral component of the Abu Dhabi 2030 Economic Vision.

In addition, with Germany being recognized as the largest logistics market in Europe, His Excellency Gerhard Schröder, Former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, will deliver the forum’s keynote address as he shares his country’s experience and expertise on the industry.

“The UAE remains to be a leading logistics hub in the region and Abu Dhabi is a fast growing city with a modern and developing logistics infrastructure. The Global Logistics Forum provides a proper understanding of needs of the local supply chain and logistics industry from a global point of view. Forum delegates will also be in a better position to develop the required skills and learn the latest sector trends from international logistics experts,” said His Excellency Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Chairman of Abu Dhabi University.

A joint initiative by the Abu Dhabi University and TU Berlin Chair of Logistics, the Global Logistics Forum will also speak about the customisation of local requirements of infrastructure projects, as well as the development of global logistics services in the region. It is also supported by Abu Dhabi Ports Company, the event’s platinum sponsor.

Attendees will also witness a unique plenary session wherein logistics experts will discuss drivers, success factors, challenges and enablers of growing logistics markets for dedicated countries.

The forum will be highlighted by presentations from Mohamed Al Shamsi, Port Unit Vice President, Khalifa Port & Industrial Zone Development; Prof. Dr. Stephan Reimelt, Chief Executive Officer, IPIC Ferrostaal Contracting and Member of the Executive Board, MAN Ferrostaal AG; Richard Bowker, Chief Executive Officer, Union Railway and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Straube, member of the Management Board of the European Logistics Association.

The two-day event will also feature reputed industry leaders from around the world speaking about the ever-changing dynamics of the current logistics sector across a regional and global scale. The second day features a series of technical workshops discussing logistics infrastructure optimisation, innovative transportation concepts and customer-oriented development of logistics services.

The forum is supported by the Institute for Vocational Development, a member of the Abu Dhabi University Knowledge Group; The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport; and BVL, the German Logistics Association. For more information about the event, please visit www.globallogisticsforum.com.