-  Launch confirms position as the leading bilingual, one-stop-shop for everything mother baby and child   -

5 February 2012, Dubai: Following months of development, mumzworld.com announced that it is fully bilingual across all elements of its site, reaffirming its commitment to be the gold standard e-commerce site in the region. With online sales in the GCC currently growing at double the global average and estimated to reach $15 billion by 2015 according to Visa, this latest development by mumzworld.com targets an influential customer base.

Mona Ataya, CEO Mumzworld.com said: “It has always been our intention from day one to be fully bilingual.  In the three months following our launch of mumzworld.com in English, we have successfully established mumzworld.com as the definitive online marketplace for everything mother, baby and child. We are now delighted to be able to offer all our Arabic speaking customers the opportunity to browse, compare and shop in their mother language.”

Since it launched in October 2011, mumzworld.com has attracted over 160,000 unique visitors and 9,000 registered users. With over 75% of web traffic coming from the GCC , Saudi Arabia and Egypt , the decision to launch mumzworld.com in Arabic was a natural progression for the company and is an indication of the importance it places in the market.

Mona Ataya, CEO Mumzworld.com said: “We have benefitted from some excellent relationships within the industry which means that we can go straight to the producer when sourcing products. This means that we can keep our margins low so that our customers pay less. Our products range is also increasing every day which is testament to our success. The real tipping point for us was when international brands and companies started to approach us to carry their range -this was a huge win for us as it highlights our ability to reach a target audience, and represents our true value to big brands”

 Currently stocking over 40,000 products spanning across the mother, child & baby segment from over 250 global brands including Lamaze, OshKosh B’Gosh, Phillips Avent, Disney and Lego, mumzworld.com is committed to making the impossible possible.

Placing customer service at the forefront of its business, mumzworld.com has recently introduced another benefit for its customers in the region through offering free shipping to the GCC and Lebanon. This, in addition to speedy delivery times – between 1 - 3 days in the UAE, and 7 - 10 days regionally, the broadest range of competitively priced products and the implementation of world class technology, the site is fast becoming a major player in a highly buoyant industry.

Visit www.mumzworld.com today.

The year 2011 saw female- focussed website, ExpatWoman.com, reach new heights with numbers of 1.9 million unique visitors at, 5.4 million site visits and page views of over 39 million. This has reflected an increase of 52% unique visitors compared to 2010 and a 24% increase in visits.

Effective Measure, the leading provider of digital media planning solutions in the region, latest report pegs ExpatWoman.com as being the 22nd best performing website in the UAE, 75th across the GCC and 105th across the entire MENA region. Drilling down within this information results in ExpatWoman.com being the number one performing website for advertisers aiming to reach women in households earning above 100,000 US$ whether targeting solely western women or all women.

Jane Drury, CEO and founder of ExpatWoman.com says, “2011 was a significant year for us in terms of our increased penetration and sustained exponential growth, as well as being the website’s 10 year anniversary. The Effective Measure results correlate with our own findings and further enhance the attractiveness of our offering to media planners, marketing agencies and clients. If you want to market to women in Dubai, the UAE, the GCC and MENA, ExpatWoman.com is the site to advertise on.”

2011 saw the launch of sites for Oman and Kuwait to complement the existing sites of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar. There are also plans afoot to expand further into the MENA territory, with a wider range of online services through 2012, with KSA and Egypt currently under review. “We have a business model which is proven and works and wherever there are women seeking vital information for a successful expat life, ExpatWoman.com can be there for them,” adds Drury. “For advertisers this is perfect, as our 360° approach to the site and the business as whole, gives agencies and brands a direct outlet to reach an important target market through online, events and print.”

Building on expansion of both the programming and the editorial teams, 2011 saw the start of significant enhancements to site presentation and navigation, and the introduction of a suite of new online services, to be rolled out across MENA, which will continue through 2012. With a two-pronged approach to build on the already strong reader experience whilst increasing regional penetration, all signs point to another bumper growth year for Expat Web Services’ flagship site.

Nawras, Oman’s customer friendly communications provider, supported the recent Muscat Youth Summit 2011 by interacting with the delegates in a pleasingly different way. This innovative company’s presentation focused on illustrating the power and platforms of social media that young people can harness for positive results.

Raed Dawood, Nawras Department Head - Business Development and Nourhan Beyrouti, Nawras Head of Branding, pointed out that each of the participants was a ‘Digital Native’ as not one of them had grown up in a world without the internet. Together, through the Nawras workshop, they showed the students how to create a digital profile using social media accounts while applying creativity, photography and micro blogs.

At the end of the session, students posted their entries on the youth-focused Shababiah Facebook page for judging in terms of the best design, content and application. Gustavo Bomfim submitted the winning entry and was thrilled to win an iPhone 4. Arun Achuth came second, winning a Nawras goody bag and the third prize of autographed CDs went to a young Omani lady.

“This is such an energetic programme and an ideal platform for Nawras to show how technology helps to bridge differences in language, culture and experience,” said Dawood. “The power of social media and the internet in general can be harnessed for positive benefits wherever you may be. We were happy that Nawras could contribute to the rich experience these students have enjoyed. Even in a relatively short time, they have clearly seen how much is possible to attain through the power and reach of the internet.”

This was the second year for Nawras to proudly support this exciting initiative. Muscat Youth Summit 2011 was a four-day event for more than 200 young people aged between 15 and 24. Students from Oman were joined by others from 15 other countries including United States of America, United Kingdom, Sweden, Pakistan and Australia.

Speakers at the event also included Ahmad Al Harthy, Oman’s top racing driver and brand ambassador for Nawras.

Throughout the year, Nawras supports many different community activities. Most recently these have included a variety of sporting events from football, cricket and petanque to tennis and a dive challenge for less able participants.

Dubai-UAE: 26 December, 2011 – APCO Worldwide announced today the opening of a new office in Abu Dhabi, another step in the firm’s regional growth following their acquisition of Dubai-based JiWin Public Relations in November 2010.

The opening of the Abu Dhabi office cements the UAE’s position at the heart of APCO’s Arab-region operations and strengthens the communication consultancy’s links with the capital, where it already serves a number of clients.

“Our investment in the UAE reflects our belief that local and regional businesses are seeking more than simple public relations support,” said Brad Staples, President, International. “In these difficult economic times, there is growing demand for corporate advisory and strategic communication services to help companies navigate an increasingly complex business landscape.

“Our understanding of the regulatory, political and commercial issues that exist in the Arab region, combined with our global footprint and recognized reputation for delivering high-quality work, means we are strongly positioned to advise clients on how best to communicate to stakeholders to ensure a maximum return on investment.”

APCO has supported its international client portfolio with a presence in the Arab region since 2007. The Abu Dhabi office, which is located in Abu Dhabi’s media free zone TwoFour54, will be led by Wael Kanakri, who has 17 years of Abu Dhabi-based communication and media experience.

“Abu Dhabi plays an increasingly important role, not only for local and regional economies, but also for the global economy,” said Mamoon Sbeih, Managing Director, Arab Region. “We are already experiencing a high level of interest in our multidisciplinary approach to strategic communication, and we are looking forward to strengthening existing relationships with clients while building new partnerships.”

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO is an award-winning, independently owned, global communications consultancy with 31 offices in major cities throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Earlier this year, APCO was named Large Firm of the Year by PR News and developed a new brand-positioning model called Champion Brand, which helps companies align stakeholder expectations with business priorities into one cohesive narrative. APCO also recently launched Global Political StrategiesSM, an executive service designed to support businesses, governments and NGOs on geopolitics, global economics and new market opportunities.

AMD presents GamesFest to be held on 25th November at Living Rooms Café, Dubai Festival City

Dubai, UAE, November 22, 2011: GamesFest, UAE’s hottest gaming event series which aims to bring together gamers to participate in tournaments, win prizes and discover the latest releases from the video games industry, is back on 25th November at The Living Rooms Café, Dubai Festival City.

Organized by Middle East Gamers, GamesFest will give gamers the opportunity to play the latest games, participate in tournaments both on consoles and PC, as well as try out the latest gaming gear. Highlights of the event include:

1. AMD and SteelSeries PC Tournaments – A tournaments will be held for Battlefield 3 for the first time in the UAE on high end gaming PCs from AMD along with the latest gaming accessories from SteelSeries. A StarCraft II Tournament will also be held at GamesFest.
2. WWE 12 Tournament – Compete in the WWE Tournament and win an Xbox 360 as well as lots of WWE goodies.
3. FIFA 12 Tournament – By popular demand, UAE’s most popular game is back at GamesFest with top prizes up for grabs.
4. Cosplay Competition – The very popular Cosplay competition is back at GamesFest with an Xbox 360 being awarded for the best cosplayer.
5. Product Showcases – Check out the latest gaming products from AMD, BenQ, CashU, Gioteck,  Roccat, Steelseries, XFX and Zotac.
6. Exclusive Video Game Previews – Gamers get the chance to get an exclusive sneak peak at games that are still under development such as Street Fighter vs Tekken,  Asura’s Wrath and many more.

Presented by AMD, GamesFest will be held at The Living Rooms Cafe at Dubai Festival City on Friday, 25th November 2011 from 12pm to 10pm.

“AMD is excited to be part of TBreak’s GamesFest. As leaders in both CPUs and GFX technologies, AMD powers both the world’s leading consoles and best performing computers, and we are very excited for the opportunity to showcase DICE’s masterpiece; Battlefield 3 on both our 6-screen and 3-screen Eyefinity systems. We promise gamers to deliver the ultimate and most visually immersive war experience ever, right here in GamesFest. Also, our partners XFX will be demonstrating a variety of their latest graphic cards and peripherals that all gamers will surely love and appreciate.,” said Manish Punjabi, Field Marketing Manager (Middle-East, Turkey and Africa), AMD.

GamesFest is sponsored by AMD, BenQ, CashU, Codemasters, EA, Geekay Games, Gioteck, Middle East Film and Comic Con, Roccat, Steelseries, THQ, VIVA Entertainment, Xbox 360, XFX and Zotac.

Gamers can register for the event at www.megamers.com/gamesfest

Sharjah-UAE:  - Sharjah Media Centre, the communication arm of the government of Sharjah, brought together over 50 foreign and local journalists as part of its ‘East Meets West’ initiative held on the sidelines of the 30th Sharjah International Book Fair.

His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al-Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Corporation, and His Excellency Osama Samra, Director of Sharjah Media Centre, hosted the event and interacted with the journalists and guests that included eminent poets and novelists from around the globe. Held at the Centre’s newly inaugurated headquarters, the session was followed by lunch at the media lounge, which provided an opportunity for one-on-one meetings.

During the event, Sharjah Media Centre’s first publication ‘30 Must Know Facts about Sharjah’ that was unveiled at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2011 was distributed to the journalists. The book celebrates the achievements of Sharjah and contains 30 interesting facts on its rich cultural heritage. It also serves as a ready reckoner on the world-class educational, entertainment and business facilities that Sharjah offers.

His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al-Qassimi said: “The event comes as part of our initiative to strengthen ties with the foreign and local media and familiarize them with Sharjah’s cultural heritage, activities and offerings. The ‘East meets West’ event marks the first of our outreach activities. We look forward to hosting many such platforms to facilitate networking and share authentic updates on Sharjah.”

November 17, 2011

Advanced Interactive Media Solutions (AIMS), a SCALA Middle East partner and the GCC market leader in digital signage solutions, outlined the merits and rising popularity of digital signage as a powerful medium for marketing and communications in the Middle East during its participation as strategic partner and exhibitor at the 2011 Signage Expo Middle East (SIM) that concluded at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on November 16.

AIMS made a special presentation during the event titled ‘Best Practice – Successful Digital Signage Implementation in Hospitality and Retail’, wherein it focused its discussion on the management of large digital out-of-home networks.

Included among SIM’s featured technologies was AIMS’ iMap interactive way-finding and mapping system. Built on advanced SCALA digital signage broadcasting technology, iMap is ideal for environments such as malls where it can help patrons easily find, view and print directions, floor plans, names, establishments, specific persons and phone numbers at the touch of a finger.

At the event, AIMS also showcased various digital signage solutions for the retail, banking, government, corporate communications, education, hospitality, exhibitions, entertainment, transportation, health care and media sectors.

“SIM is an important platform for us to share our success stories in key sectors such as hospitality and retail and show how these can be replicated in high-growth Arab markets such as Abu Dhabi. The exhibition also allows us to demonstrate the quality, performance and ingenuity of our digital signage solutions such as iMap,” said Ahmed El Ridi, CEO, Advanced Interactive Media Solutions.

AIMS develops interactive digital campaigns that tap the power of centrally-managed digital signage solutions. The company harnesses content management solutions, internet, interactive and passive displays, mobile applications, and wireless communication technologies from partner SCALA Middle East and combines them with advanced audience measurement solutions, meticulous content development, and comprehensive campaign monitoring. The result is a unique business proposition that focuses on swift Return on Investment and exceptional customer satisfaction.

Green-inspired portal underlines Imdaad’s commitment to adopt green technologies and practices across all its operations

November 15, 2011

Imdaad, a leading provider of integrated facilities management solutions in the UAE, has announced that it has recently launched a new eco-friendly corporate website, reaffirming the company’s commitment to adopt green technologies and practices across all its operations. The initiative is part of Imdaad’s strategy to promote sustainable practices in facilities management, which the company says should also cover online assets and resources in light of the increasing energy consumption of web-based activities.

Imdaad pointed out studies revealing a spike in energy consumption of data centre servers that run internet applications and in households worldwide as people become more engaged in online activities such as web surfing, video-on-demand, music downloads, internet telephony and other web-based applications. Explaining the environmental impact of the design of its new eco-friendly website, Imdaad noted a study by the University of California, which shows that a website with a dark background will save up to 48 per cent of energy for a CRT and up to 15 per cent of energy for an LCD compared to a website with a light-coloured background.

Jamal Abdulla Lootah, CEO, Imdaad, said: “The launch of Imdaad’s new eco-friendly corporate website is a strong reaffirmation that our commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly business practices covers the entire breadth of our operations. Imdaad examines every detail and constantly searches for new ways to further improve the quality of our services, allowing us to pioneer innovative solutions and ultimately set new standards in the delivery of FM services. We will certainly continue to explore innovative ways to revolutionise the FM industry and enable clients and the greater society to benefit from a clean, safe and healthy living and working environment.”

Imdaad has introduced a variety of new elements to help minimize the carbon footprint of its new eco-friendly website, including more lightweight web content, strict adherence to accepted environmental standards, and optimised usability of the website’s key features.

Imdaad has been a leading proponent of environment-friendly technologies and sustainable business practices in the FM industry. The company has introduced numerous pioneering initiatives that have improved Imdaad’s business and environmental performance, while delivering practical benefits to customers, employees and the society in general.

ExpatWoman.com held their 10th Anniversary Garden Party this week to great success. Over 500 women and children attended the event to celebrate the continued success of the website and all to show support and raise fund for Breast Cancer charities.

From launch, ambitions for ExpatWoman.com have been clear and over the past ten years, the site has achieved and maintained its position as the region’s largest English-language website for women, with hit rates regularly topping 20 million per month and unique visitor rates of over 200,000. 

Over the past 10 years the website has helped literally thousands of people with their move to the UAE and settling in to a whole new life. It has always been the aim of the website to be an invaluable resource to incoming expats as well as settled residents.

The success of ExpatWoman.com lies in that it is a website written by women for women, with coffee mornings and regular events being held alongside this- making the whole package a lifeline for thousands of women in the UAE.

Jane Drury, Founder and Owner of ExpatWoman said, “We were delighted to see so many turn out to celebrate with us, and to support us in raising funds for a charity which, one way or another, touches the lives of us all.”

ExpatWoman have recently launched sites in Oman and Kuwait, adding to their existing territories of the UAE and Qatar and are exploring options in other MENA countries for the future.

Dubai, 16th October, 2011: Collinson Latitude, the leading global provider of revenue products and services, has launched a new reward platform to enable credit card issuers to reward customers for shopping online with bonus points or cash-back.

RewardAll™ is an innovative, fully branded online shopping portal allowing members of a loyalty programme to earn extra loyalty points or cash-back of up to 20% when they shop at a wide range of merchants online.

The portal will play an important role in Collinson Latitude’s client bank credit and debit card usage and retention strategy as well as delivering a new ancillary revenue stream in addition to Inter-Change and FX.

RewardAll™ incorporates leading merchants via its ability to access multiple affiliate networks and provides a seamless connection between the member, the client programme and the online merchant.

Credit and debit cardholders have the opportunity to earn points or cash-back on every transaction made at each of the participating on-line merchants. The platform boasts over 1,500 merchants including global brands such as Apple iTunes, Toys R Us, Savile Row, Mothercare, Qatar Airways and Hilton Hotels.

George Wilson-Howell, Head of Planning and Business Development MEA, Collinson Latitude says:

‘This product is a great example of the depth of expertise and understanding we can offer brands at The Collinson Group shown through the fact that this online portal is the first time a product of its type has been launched in the Middle East market.

Research by MasterCard* shows online spend in the UAE alone was up 13% in 2010 - with the majority of transactions on travel.  Collinson Latitude’s RewardAll™ product brings the biggest brands in electronics, fashion, travel, gifts, music downloads and health & beauty from the UK and US to the Middle East.  The Group currently works with over 36 banks in the Middle East and we are always looking at ways to add value for our clients and the customer experience.’

*Source: http://www.masterintelligence.com