Dubai, UAE, 19th April 2012: Mo Elzubeir, CEO of Mediastow, the leading media intelligence agency in the MENA region, has hailed the UAE’s recent step of rectifying Internet penetration figures as a sign of its maturity in the state of knowledge economy.

In his opening remarks as the Chairperson of the two-day Social Media World Middle East 2012 which opened today on Tuesday (17th April 2012), Elzubeir said that precision of information in the UAE has been growing remarkably in the last decade.

Elzubeir referred to the most recent case study of the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) which rescinded the earlier claim that Internet penetration in the UAE had reached 50 percent in 2011, when in reality it was 27.7 percent.  The error occurred because the earlier figures were tabulated on the basis of the population figures of 2005, while the population has risen dramatically since that period.

“The UAE has gone a long way in its transition to knowledge-based economy. Following global practices in transparency and learning from the experience of other developed countries have enabled the country to achieve this standing. In early stages, the UAE was content in being innovative but now it is complementing this innovation with transparency and precision,” Elzubeir added.

Elzubeir who was addressing an elite gathering of global and regional online and social media companies, said: “The real reasons behind the increased transparency and information sharing in the UAE are the government’s firm commitment to integrity and international positioning, supported by relevant agreements and determination to provide credible information.”

The Social Media World Middle East 2012 held at the sidelines of the Internet Middle East Show discussed the latest in social media and its reflection on internet users in the Arab world.

Elzubeir concluded: “In light the unlimited influence of the social media in the world in general and the Arab world in particular, and in the face of huge online content overload, transparency and credibility remain key factors in the advancement of the region.”

Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, has officially launched its Facebook page - attracting over 300,000 fans within the first three weeks.

Millions of Emirates fans around the world can now connect and engage with the airline directly through Facebook. Incredibly, in its first two weeks Emirates was also established as the number one airline in Facebook in the MENA region.

The Emirates Facebook page soft launch occurred on 25th March in preparation for the 2 April launch of the airlines’ new global brand platform “Hello Tomorrow”. A series of teaser quizzes highlighting vignettes from one of the new TV commercials were featured, attracting more than 3330 likes and 1300 comments over a one week period.

The page allows fans to interact with the brand through Facebook exclusive content on the timeline feature, apply for jobs through the careers app or find out more about sponsorships through its sports and culture tab. Fans can also look at how Emirates has grown since its early days in 1985 through Facebook’s milestone feature - from its launch with just two aircraft, to its current status as one of the world’s fastest growing airlines.

“Emirates new brand platform “Hello Tomorrow” is connecting people and cultures by creating relevant and meaningful experiences and Facebook is a proven mechanism to do just that,” said Sir Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman, Emirates Airline and Group. “Our Facebook page is part of the vision we have for the future growth of the airline, so it’s very encouraging to see that the page has broken records in our first few weeks and is being received so positively by our fans who are engaging with us.”

The Emirates Facebook page was set up to support the company’s evolution from a travel brand to a global lifestyle brand. The Facebook page will look at building stronger relationships with existing fans and encourage more people to become Emirates fans through interactions.

Coinciding with the launch of the “Hello Tomorrow” campaign, fans of the page will be treated to a different advertising creative every Monday to inspire them. The page will also look to engage with fans through exclusive, targeted “Hello Tomorrow” messages. The new global brand platform includes a revamped website to reflect the new messaging and a new YouTube channel where the new TV ads can be viewed - youtube.com/emirates

Qatar’s up and rising local advertising agency The Agency has won the advertising account for Vodafone Qatar. In a highly competitive pitch process which included 8 global and regional advertising agencies, Vodafone Qatar finally selected a local Qatari partner The Agency as its advertising agency.

The Agency is a young, local Qatari advertising agency that will soon be known as one of the most dynamic and creative agencies in the region.

The Agency will act as Vodafone’s key strategic and creative partner in Qatar, providing Vodafone with brand management and communication services, advertising and creative development to support Vodafone’s marketing activities in Qatar.

John Saad, Chief Marketing Officer of Vodafone Qatar said, “Vodafone continues to invest heavily in the Qatari market and this appointment of a local Qatari advertising agency is further evidence of our commitment to truly understanding and satisfying the unique needs and aspirations of the people of Qatar. We’ve been through an extremely stringent selection process and feel sure that The Agency is not only the perfect partner for us because they are ‘Local By Design’ but we have also been highly impressed by their excellent understanding of our brand, customer insights and the passion of their team. They have shown us that they are the best creative agency partner to help us demonstrate that we truly are a global company with local roots in Qatar.”

As the catalyst for change in the Qatari telecoms market, Vodafone has experienced continuous growth since its debut and wants to capitalise on this, drawing on the local Qatari knowledge and international standards of The Agency to reinforce its position as the telecoms operator of choice in the country.

Simon Ferguson, CEO, The Agency commented on the win, “Vodafone is one of the most respected and loved brands in the world. As a major, global brand we admire their drive to become a locally rooted company with a solid commitment to the Qatari market. It’s this cultural alignment that makes this a perfect partnership. The Agency prides itself on its Qatari philosophy of being ‘Local By Design’ which means we have a unique understanding of the Qatari market that inspires us to create campaigns that are truly world class and unique to the local market.”

The Agency was established in Qatar with a vision to be recognised and applauded internationally as the leading communications and advertising agency network in the Middle East, led from Qatar. This vision, supported by a strong commitment to excellent customer service and creativity has won the recognition of major clients in Qatar, among which is Vodafone, Qatar National Day, Qatar University and the Islamic finance group Barwa Bank. Both Vodafone and The Agency share an unwavering passion for excellence, creativity as well as a strong cultural understanding and commitment to Qatar.

Memac Ogilvy and Mather picked up a total of 30 awards across their Dubai and Tunisia offices at the 2012 Dubai Lynx Awards. The night’s final earnings included two Grand Prix, 17 Gold, 4 Silver and 7 Bronze trophies.

Dubai’s ‘Sprite Cricket Stars’ campaign for Coca-Cola won two Grand Prix in the categories of Outdoor and Promo/Activation. The agencies created a cricket tournament modelled on the Cricket World Cup, turning humble construction workers into cricket stars. The series of trials, practices, group stages and playoffs ran over 6 months ending in finals at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. ‘Sprite Cricket Stars’ represented a total of 153,300 laborers from the UAE with over 42,000 entrants to the tournament and 6,000 fans who attended the finals.

“The return of Dictator Ben Ali” was an engagement campaign created by Memac Ogilvy Label Tunisia to re-activate people’s political engagement with a strong and effective reminder that their vote counted. The campaign won Gold in Direct, Gold in Media, Gold in Outdoor and Gold in Film, accompanied by one Bronze trophy in Media.

Edmond Moutran, Chairman and CEO of Memac Ogilvy & Mather Holding voiced his pride towards the teams who achieved great results: “This is an outstanding accomplishment for the entire network who will continue to shine as it grows bigger by winning the awards in almost all categories and channels. I can’t describe my joy in receiving 30 trophies in the same night.”

“2012 Dubai Lynx Awards proved to be one of the best ceremonies with top agencies competing for best campaigns. Great creative work was presented for small and big brands. The competition this year was at its highest levels which makes us even more proud to be winners in an industry that has presented top creativity,” expressed Osama El Kaoukji, Chief Creative Officer of Memac Ogilvy & Mather Holding.

Memac Ogilvy & Mather was also a close runner up for the title of “Agency of the Year” claiming second and third spots, and “Network of the Year” coming in at second place.

The 20th Public Relations World Congress (PRWC) closed last week with the reading of the ‘Dubai Declaration’, a set of principles aimed at ensuring the highest ethical and professional standards among PR practitioners and fostering a culture of dialogue in the industry.

Held in the Middle East for the first time, the Congress attracted more nearly 500 delegates from 28 countries for a packed programme of workshops, presentations and panel debates. Centered around the theme “From the Arab Street to Wall Street: Communications in the Age of Dialogue”, the three-day event saw more than 35 international and regional speakers congregate in Dubai to address the challenges and opportunities that face the public relations industry.

Mr. Faisal Al-Zahrani, President of the International Public Relations Association - Gulf Chapter (IPRA - GC), the organiser of the event, said, “Over the past decade, the Public Relations industry has come of age in the Middle East, as evidenced by the decision to host the 20th PRWC in Dubai. We are all extremely pleased with the unprecedented turnout to the event, and with the quality, depth and breadth of the presentations, debates and workshops delivered by our speakers.”

Chairman of the PRWC organizing committee, Mr. Sunil John, the founder and CEO of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, said, “The reading of the ‘Dubai Declaration’ was the natural conclusion to the Congress, outlining for regional and international public relations practitioners the ethical standards expected of us. The Declaration calls on PR practitioners to make professional strides needed to maintain the trust of our clients, the media and the public at large and take Public Relations into a new era.”

The Dubai Declaration is built on four pillars, each aimed at ensuring best practice throughout the industry. The first calls on PR practitioners to foster the development of a culture of dialogue among all stakeholders, including clients, the media and civil society, to encourage the exchange of ideas and information for the greater good of society.

The second pillar calls on the industry to recognise and utilise digital communications in a responsible and effective way to promote the free-flow of information, and ensure that Public Relations is positioned at the forefront of communications.

The third pillar urges the industry to contribute to the development of young professionals and promote Public Relations as a rewarding career choice; while the final pillar calls on all PR practitioners to observe the IPRA Code of Conduct as adopted in 2011, and ensure the upholding of best practice throughout the industry.

Mr. John added, “Over the coming weeks and months, we shall be uploading content from the event to the prwcdubai.com website, and will be compiling a book documenting the Congress. These resources will serve as invaluable reference works for communications students and PR professionals throughout the region, and beyond.”

The PRWC was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and in partnership with the National Media Council of the UAE.

Speakers at the Congress included Malaysia’s former Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the opposition People’s Justice Party, Anwar Ibrahim; the Founder Chairman of Burson-Marsteller, Harold Burson; British Public Relations guru and Chairman of Chime Communications Lord Bell; former head of Al Jazeera and co-founder of the Sharq Forum, Wadah Khanfar; General Manager of Al Arabiya TV, Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed; Roger Fisk, who played a key ‘behind the scenes role’ in the election of US President Barack Obama; former President & CEO of Saudo Aramco Abdallah S. Jum’ah; Chairman of the Huntsworth Group Lord Chadlington; and many others.

Key sponsors of the Congress included Saudi Aramco and Saudi Basic Industry Corporation (SABIC), who were the headline Strategic Partners. Additional corporate support was provided Dubai Chamber and Qatar Petroleum, among others. Emirates served as the Official Airline of the Congress, while CNN and Al Arabiya TV were the International Broadcast Partners. Dubai Media City was Industry Partner of the Congress. Bates PanGulf was the Design & Advertising Partner; ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller was the Marketing & PR Partner; and Media Watch was the Media Intelligence Partner.

A biennial event, the last Public Relations World Congress was held in 2010 in Lima, Peru, and attended by industry representatives from 39 countries, while the 2008 Public Relations World Congress was held in Beijing, China. In both instances, the event brought significant media and industry attention to the host country, with the world’s foremost communications professionals and media experts attending the sessions. The first Congress was held in Brussels, Belgium, in 1955.

The 20th Public Relations World Congress (PRWC) closed last week with the reading of the ‘Dubai Declaration’, a set of principles aimed at ensuring the highest ethical and professional standards among PR practitioners and fostering a culture of dialogue in the industry.

Held in the Middle East for the first time, the Congress attracted more nearly 500 delegates from 28 countries for a packed programme of workshops, presentations and panel debates. Centered around the theme “From the Arab Street to Wall Street: Communications in the Age of Dialogue”, the three-day event saw more than 35 international and regional speakers congregate in Dubai to address the challenges and opportunities that face the public relations industry.

Mr. Faisal Al-Zahrani, President of the International Public Relations Association - Gulf Chapter (IPRA - GC), the organiser of the event, said, “Over the past decade, the Public Relations industry has come of age in the Middle East, as evidenced by the decision to host the 20th PRWC in Dubai. We are all extremely pleased with the unprecedented turnout to the event, and with the quality, depth and breadth of the presentations, debates and workshops delivered by our speakers.”

Chairman of the PRWC organizing committee, Mr. Sunil John, the founder and CEO of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, said, “The reading of the ‘Dubai Declaration’ was the natural conclusion to the Congress, outlining for regional and international public relations practitioners the ethical standards expected of us. The Declaration calls on PR practitioners to make professional strides needed to maintain the trust of our clients, the media and the public at large and take Public Relations into a new era.”

The Dubai Declaration is built on four pillars, each aimed at ensuring best practice throughout the industry. The first calls on PR practitioners to foster the development of a culture of dialogue among all stakeholders, including clients, the media and civil society, to encourage the exchange of ideas and information for the greater good of society.

The second pillar calls on the industry to recognise and utilise digital communications in a responsible and effective way to promote the free-flow of information, and ensure that Public Relations is positioned at the forefront of communications.

The third pillar urges the industry to contribute to the development of young professionals and promote Public Relations as a rewarding career choice; while the final pillar calls on all PR practitioners to observe the IPRA Code of Conduct as adopted in 2011, and ensure the upholding of best practice throughout the industry.

Mr. John added, “Over the coming weeks and months, we shall be uploading content from the event to the prwcdubai.com website, and will be compiling a book documenting the Congress. These resources will serve as invaluable reference works for communications students and PR professionals throughout the region, and beyond.”

The PRWC was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and in partnership with the National Media Council of the UAE.

Speakers at the Congress included Malaysia’s former Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the opposition People’s Justice Party, Anwar Ibrahim; the Founder Chairman of Burson-Marsteller, Harold Burson; British Public Relations guru and Chairman of Chime Communications Lord Bell; former head of Al Jazeera and co-founder of the Sharq Forum, Wadah Khanfar; General Manager of Al Arabiya TV, Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed; Roger Fisk, who played a key ‘behind the scenes role’ in the election of US President Barack Obama; former President & CEO of Saudo Aramco Abdallah S. Jum’ah; Chairman of the Huntsworth Group Lord Chadlington; and many others.

Key sponsors of the Congress included Saudi Aramco and Saudi Basic Industry Corporation (SABIC), who were the headline Strategic Partners. Additional corporate support was provided Dubai Chamber and Qatar Petroleum, among others. Emirates served as the Official Airline of the Congress, while CNN and Al Arabiya TV were the International Broadcast Partners. Dubai Media City was Industry Partner of the Congress. Bates PanGulf was the Design & Advertising Partner; ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller was the Marketing & PR Partner; and Media Watch was the Media Intelligence Partner.

A biennial event, the last Public Relations World Congress was held in 2010 in Lima, Peru, and attended by industry representatives from 39 countries, while the 2008 Public Relations World Congress was held in Beijing, China. In both instances, the event brought significant media and industry attention to the host country, with the world’s foremost communications professionals and media experts attending the sessions. The first Congress was held in Brussels, Belgium, in 1955.

Move reflects the Network’s solid belief in entrepreneurial capabilities

Dubai, 12th March, 2012: O2PR, the public relations arm of O2 Network, has announced that it is going independent in 2012 under the name ‘Next Public Relations’. The move is part of a long term strategy to spin off companies under the O2 Network and rebrand them as individual entities, and reflects the Network’s belief in the entrepreneurial capabilities that were the enforcer behind establishing the Network in 2005.

‘Next Public Relations’ is located in Aspect Tower in Business Bay, Dubai and saw the promotion of selected team members to take over operations, while the core staff and client roster will be retained and expanded. ‘Next Public Relations’ is a step forward in our mission to offer responsive and tailored public relations services to our clients. We’re promising an enhanced bank of services and the same personalized attention that our clients are used to,” said Maan Dalghan, PR Director, ‘Next Public Relations’.

‘Next Public Relations’ will offer clients strategic consultancy, media relations, content drafting, translation, publicity activities, event and incident management, crisis management, media training and media monitoring. The organization will aim to represent clients in a cross-section of industries including Healthcare, Industry, Sports, Retail, IT, Government, Tourism, Education and Lifestyle. The organization hosts is a multi-cultural team that possesses a wealth of international PR experience. From media relations to product launches, corporate trainings to event management, it connects partners with the audiences that matter most.

“Next Public Relations will utilize the expertise and resources of O2 Interactive to support its campaigns and ensure that we communicate with our stakeholders through multiple channels, and engage with the public at large,” added Dalghan. “This strategy is part of the business model that companies under O2 Network will be following once they are all independent. We will be offering these services to our clients as well, ensuring that they stay abreast of all developments in the blogosphere and the social media field.”

‘Next Public Relations’ is based in Dubai, with a network of branches and representatives in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, KSA, and Qatar. Its comprehensive knowledge of the MENA market and experience in the field of campaign management allows it to offer 360° communication and consultancy services. The agency‘s core values rely on extensive research prior to the formulation and implementation of PR strategies.

For more info about ‘Next Public Relations’, please visit www.Nextpr.ae

Twofour54, the Abu Dhabi state-backed media zone, is in talks with several social networking companies in a bid to lure them to set up in the Middle East and tap into the growing Arabic market, Arabian Business has learnt.

“We are in discussions with a number of those parties,” Wayne Borg, deputy CEO and chief operating officer, said when asked if the media zone was in any discussions with social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter or Google.

“In terms of working with them I think they recognise what we have to offer them here.

“Our focus is around Arabic content creation and more and more those sites, those brands [Facebook and Google+] are focused on content so there is a way they can connect with the Arab creative community and understand our ambition for that centre of excellence for Arabic content creation.

“There is an alignment there… Being close to content creators is going to be critical to their success, particularly in the Arab world,” he added.

Social networking has become an integral part of daily life in the Arab world. Gulf states ranked among the biggest users globally of the video-sharing website YouTube and among the fastest growing users of Facebook and Twitter.

According to the most recent Arab Social Media Report, the total number of Facebook followers has almost doubled since April 2010, reaching more than 27 million users as of April 5 last year.

The biggest increase – a rise of 30 percent – was seen in the first three months of 2011, which experts say was down to individuals using the website to incite protests and share information during the Arab Spring revolts.

“From the data we’ve collected, we’ve seen that Facebook has risen exponentially in all Arab countries and more so in the countries where protests and revolutions have taken place,” said Racha Mourtada Research Associate at Dubai School of Government and one of the authors of the report.

For Twitter, the report estimated that the active number of users in the Arab region at the end of March 2011 stood at 1,150,292.

Multiplying this by the ratio of total users to active users, the figure soared to more than 6.5 million followers.

Notably, Gulf countries managed to out-tweet their Middle East counterparts. Some 60 percent of tweets within the first quarter of 2011 were generated by Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Saudi and Egypt.

Facebook currently has 845m users worldwide and launched a successful IPO earlier this year. Available in 70 languages, Arabic was added in 2009.

Headquartered in the US, it also has several global operations, including Amsterdam, Auckland, Brussels, Dublin, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Hyderabad, London, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Selangor, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto.

Rival Twitter, which Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal’s Kingdom Holding bought a $300m stake in this year, is planning to make Arabic available within the coming months.

Louis Vuitton is taking advantage of the new Facebook® Page design and features, giving people an enhanced experience when connecting with the brand.

With new cover photo and Page timeline, information and visual impact are at the forefront of the Louis Vuitton Facebook Page, also allowing people to more easily interact with the Maison.  Important moments in the history of Louis Vuitton are brought to attention with the new milestone post, which features a large image and description.  Visitors of the Page are invited to easily look back in time and discover the evolution of the Maison, from the creation of the brand by Louis Vuitton in 1854, to present day events, fashion shows, and creations by Louis Vuitton Artistic Director, Marc Jacobs.

With new formats that can highlight certain posts on the Page, Louis Vuitton becomes even more dedicated to the editorial line of the Facebook Page.  With exclusive content for the true Louis Vuitton Insider, the Facebook Page is a real online destination for the Louis Vuitton universe.

http://www.facebook.com/louisvuitton

ABOUT LOUIS VUITTON & DIGITAL COMMUNICATION

Louis Vuitton was the first luxury brand to develop a fully integrated digital communication strategy, titled “The Art of Travel by Louis Vuitton.”  It all began with the launch an official Facebook Page in June 2009.  Today, the digital initiatives have expanded, with participation across many digital platforms.

The Louis Vuitton Facebook Page has become the official online destination for all things Louis Vuitton, and the commitment to only feature pure editorial content has attracted over 5.5 million international fans to date. In October 2009, Louis Vuitton was proud to have been the very first luxury brand to broadcast its fashion show live on Facebook. Last year, this experience was enhanced with exclusive 360° views of each style that walked down the S/S 2011 runway and with an exclusive interactive backstage access at the F/W 2011-12 show.

Salam Media Cast, the fully integrated broadcasting solutions provider, today revealed its new brand identity at CABSAT 2012. Salam Media Cast has been serving the media industry in the Gulf region for nearly 40 years and has re-branded itself to reflect the changes being made in the company.

Recently appointed CEO Mr. Paul Hennessy is overseeing the new company positioning which was showcased for the first time today at the region’s leading digital media event.

The transformation includes a new brand identity, new logo, new offices, new website as well as new collateral. The company is also making a shift reflecting the dynamics of the Industry and aims to bring innovation and the latest technologies to the region.

“This is a year of change for Salam Media Cast as we go through a complete rebrand of the company. But the change does not stop at the appearance only. It goes much deeper than that and focuses on the latest technologies and innovations. We recognise that the world of 3D, HD and social network are now a reality and we are very much taking part in that reality,” he said.

Salam Media Cast is celebrating its rebranding in a number of ways, including a live draw on its stand (S2-C21) for the chance to win two GoPro HD-Hero2 , Outdoor Edition cameras. The draws will take place today (28th February) and tomorrow at 5pm on both days.

There is also the chance to experience Salam Media Cast’s joint live HD over IP demo with Net Insight at stand S2-D11, streaming live JPEG2000 compressed content including live shots from CABSAT.

“We invite everyone to visit our stand at CABSAT and experience the live streaming and enter the competition to win a GoPro HD-Hero2 outdoor edition camera,” added Mr. Hennessy.

Salam Media Cast represents many worldwide manufacturers such as Avid Technology, Harris, Omneon, EVS, SeaChange, Grass Valley, Clearcom, Oracle, Vislink, Ross Video, Ikegami, Tektronix, Ericsson, Vitec, Telestream, Vizrt, and many more from the industry. It also serves TV channels, TV networks, movie studios and network operators, and provides telecommunications, broadcasting, integrated systems and state-of-the-art security solutions in the region.

In 2010, SMC joined Ghanim bin Saad Al Saad & Sons Group Holdings (GSSG) as part of its Media Group, with offices in Qatar, UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. And they have expanded their team to be able to support the workflow and innovation demands of customers. SMC’s vision is to be the leading media systems integrators in the region, having diversified activities to sustain profitable growth. Their ambition is to be the trusted broadcaster’s partner in the Gulf region.

Salam Media Cast is looking for new local and international talent to expand its team.