Elekta Gulf, The world leader in innovative home appliances, introduces a modern range of household products in the Saudi market, which includes split and window air conditioners, TV’s, front and top loading Washing machines, refrigerators, microwaves and electric ovens, 3D LCD’s, LED’s under the slogan of ‘Making you feel at home’.

Mr. Rajan Mathrani, Managing Director of Elekta Gulf, said, “Elekta has a wide range of advanced electronic products beyond the 700 products which offers integrated solutions for the modern home devices such as television, tablets, audio and video, home appliances, air conditioners, and “Elekta” continues to add new products to its line up in order to keep up with market demands and tastes of different consumers.”

“Elekta products are designed and developed in the main company’s research centre in Osaka, Japan in accordance with the highest international standards, and are manufactured in the company’s factories in China, Thailand, India and Malaysia with sales in more than 30 countries around the world. Despite having intense competition in the market we are successful in delivering quality products with a longer warranty period and we are having 7 service centres in the Kingdom with trained professionals for the maintenance of our products,” he added.

Mr. Rajan Mathrani also said, “Elekta was established in Japan in 1988 and is going strong since then in providing high quality electronic products at an affordable price for all income groups.”

Mr. Brian McCarthy Chief Operating Officer Elekta Group, said, “When purchasing home appliances, Saudi consumers highly desire energy efficient, convenient products with innovative designs,”

“We know these are high priorities because we are always listening to our customers and are carefully monitoring industry trends in order to better meet the needs of today’s consumers,” he added.

He also added, “Elekta’s vision is to establish itself as a leading player in the global market in terms of our product quality and innovations with value for money.”

Mr. Nishad K.A, General Manager Business Development Saudi Arabia, said, “Elekta is simultaneously strengthening and maintaining its brand image while reinforcing its mid-range home appliances for the Saudi market. We see Saudi customers as being very conscious of leading an environmentally responsible lifestyle, and Elekta is well placed to meet these demands.”

“Elekta develops the products that are capable of meeting the real-world needs of today’s busy, environmentally conscious consumers and is keen to provide the wide range of household and electronic products in the Kingdom, we are confident that Elekta products has gained the confidence of the Saudi people and in the future we will fulfil their expectations even better,” Mr. Nishad added.

LG Electronics (LG) has introduced a whole new home entertainment experience, with a screen size that promises compelling viewing with four times the resolution of existing HD TV panels, the LG World’s-First 84-inch Ultra HD TV in the UAE market

LG continues to be at the forefront of industry innovation and advancements as the Ultra HD TV boasts astonishing picture quality with 8 million pixels per frame, four times the resolution (3840×2160) of existing Full HD TV panels due to LG’s advanced Triple XD Engine.

The additional Resolution Upscaler Plus allows images from external sources such as hard drives and user-generated content websites to be rendered in higher detail.

“We are the first and only company to bring the Cinema Experience straight into your home by combining the 3D Smart and unprecedented size to create such an innovative and breathtaking product,” said Mr. D.Y.Kim, President of LG Electronics GULF FZE.

“LG is always ahead in bringing our consumers compelling and world-class entertainment. It represents every advanced technology that we are proud to offer .As a TV manufacturer, we are confident that it will capture the imagination of the UAE public as they get to see it up close for the first time.”

Bringing this exciting new experience to the 3D entertainment arena this DSF , LG are pleased to reward their exclusive customers AED 10,000 dnata travel vouchers with purchase of the World’s First 84-inch Ultra HD TV. Consumers will be able to redeem the voucher against any travel requirements at dnata outlets in Dubai, terms and conditions apply.

LG has also equipped its Ultra HD TV with CINEMA 3D technology to ensure the impressively large display provides the most immersive and comfortable viewing experience possible. 3D Depth Control allows viewers to fine-tune the “distance” between near and far objects on the screen for a custom 3D experience. The 3D Sound Zooming feature then analyses the on-screen objects to generate sound according to their location and movement.

Qatar First Investment Bank (QFIB), Qatar’s first independent Shari’ah compliant bank authorized by the QFC regulatory authority, announced the acquisition of a 40% stake in English Home, the leading retailer of home textile products in Turkey.

The acquisition marks QFIB’s first venture into the retail sector and the second in the Turkish market, which further demonstrates QFIB’s commitment to portfolio and geographical diversification.

Abdulla Bin Fahad Al Marri, QFIB Chairman commented, “This acquisition is our second in Turkey which has recently received an ‘investment grade’ by Fitch due to its high-performing economy. Our venture into the retail sector comes at an opportune time, as consumer spending in Turkey is expected to increase along with an increase in foreign direct investment.”

English Home, established in 2008, is a leading home textile retailer with a strong presence in the Turkish market. Since its establishment, it has witnessed significant growth backed by a strong demand.

The number of its stores increased from 3 in 2008 to over 115 in 2012 across Turkey and the Ukraine in addition to franchises in Cyprus, Albania, Azerbaijan and Iraq. The success of English Home lies in their management’s strong expertise in the textile and retail industry which was a key factor in driving the growth of the company.

Emad Mansour, CEO of QFIB commented, “We are very excited to venture into the retail sector, specifically in Turkey which has a vibrant retail market driven by a population with an increasing purchasing power. English Home owned by the Aydin Family, who are also our partners in Memorial Health Group, is a model success story as it has witnessed exponential growth in a short period of time. We are looking forward to working with the Aydin Family to further cement the position of English Home in the Turkish market and accelerate its growth.”

QFIB’s acquisition of English Home further demonstrates the Bank’s strategy of investing in high growth companies that are leaders in their respective fields. Post-acquisition, QFIB’s role will be to assist the Firm in achieving its ambitious growth targets through institutionalization of business operations and setting in place best-in-practice corporate governance standards.

Yaşar Aydın, Chairman of Turgut Aydın Holding Company commented, “We are very pleased to welcome QFIB as a shareholder in English Home. Turkey is one of the leading textile producers and exporters in the world. In recent years the home textile sector has witnessed considerable growth both domestically and internationally. Given Turkey’s favorable market dynamics, we are confident that with QFIB’s support we will be able to capitalize on the growing demand for home textiles and to further build upon English Home’s recent success.”

According to a study undertaken by a reputable market consultant, the home textile retail market is expected to witness significant growth on the back of a favorable macroeconomic environment, sizable and young demographics and a dynamic shift in consumer preferences from independent stores towards organized retail chains.

Erdem Gündüz, CEO of ‘English Home’, said, “English Home has demonstrated a strong performance, and managed to become the leading brand of Turkish home textile market in a short period of time. Considering the high growth potential of the domestic market, we are confident that we will capture an even larger market share. Welcoming QFIB as a shareholder is an important milestone for our company. With QFIB’s expertise and our international exposure, we are aiming to become a leading brand not only in Turkey, but also in the neighboring region.”

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Cruise Tourism department announced that they are all set to cater to their fourth home porting cruise line, TUI Cruises. The Germany based company made their debut in the region with the maiden call of their cruise ship Mein Schiff 2, which translates as ‘My Ship’, to Dubai on the 3rd November, 2012.

Dubai will be the home port of the ship this 2012/13 season.

In this season, the TUI Cruises’s luxury cruise ship will set sail from Dubai up to 17th March, 2013 on a total of twenty cruises throughout the Arabian Gulf.

DTCM in collaboration with TUI Cruises has arranged for a grand welcome ceremony to commemorate the inaugural call of the ship at the Dubai Cruise Terminals in Mina Rashid.

A huge heritage village has been set up featuring various activities to portray Arabian culture and tradition to the passengers and crew of the ship.

A press conference was organized on board as a part of this event with Mr Hamad M Bin Mejren, Executive Director of Business Tourism of the DTCM, Mr Mohammed Muallem, Senior VP and Managing Director of DP World, Mr Richard Vogel, CEO of TUI Cruises, and the Ship’s Captain, Kjell Holm, delivering key note addresses and answering questions from the media.

Thereafter, a traditional plaque exchange ceremony was held, where DTCM and the invited dignitaries and senior officials from various Government Departments such as GDRFA, Dubai Customs, Dubai Police, DMCA, Dubai Airports and DP World exchanged plaques with the captain of the ship. A tour of the ship followed by lunch was arranged for all attendees.

Mr Bin Mejren, commented, “The continual investment of the Government of Dubai in its infrastructure, confidence of the cruise lines in this destination in combination with the support and cooperation of all involved government departments, ship agents, DMC’s and all other stake holders has resulted in Dubai emerging as a destination of choice for cruise tourism in the Middle East.”

“Dubai is an ‘experienced’ cruise ship metropolis. Its modern terminals and the strategically favourable location in the Arabian Gulf make it an ideal base port for us to discover this region, which is quite new for us. In particular we certainly appreciate the excellent cooperation with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM),” said Richard J. Vogel, Chief Executive of TUI Cruises.

The 264 meter long century-class cruise ship with the capacity to carry 1,900 passengers and about 800 crew was built in 1997 and was recently renovated with an investment of Eur50m adding more space and many modern amenities on board. The passenger throughput of the cruise liner’s calls to Dubai is expected to exceed 70,000 passengers for this season.

Dubai Cruise Terminals received over 390,000 passengers from 102 ship calls last season and the current season will bring 115 cruise ship calls and over a 410,000 passengers.

The initiatives and continual efforts of DTCM has reaffirmed Dubai’s position as the cruise hub of the region the Department have remarked that there are a combination of highly favourable factors that are driving Dubai’s cruise tourism business towards robust growth. Besides the obvious attractions that Dubai has to offer for tourists from around the world in the form of excellent air connectivity, good infrastructure, a multimodal transport system, world-class hotels & restaurants, vast stretches of sandy beaches, sprawling shopping malls and an array of outdoor activities, Dubai offers simple immigration formalities, customized operation procedures in a safe environment.

Dubai has been constantly enhancing its facilities and services in line with its business growth and accordingly the Dubai Cruise Terminals will have three dedicated facilities to cater to cruise lines and visitors this season. Spanning over 20,000 square meters and a pier length of 1900 meters which can conveniently accommodate up to 6 ocean going ships simultaneously, Dubai will have the largest facility in the Middle East dedicated to cruise tourism.

The continual efforts of DTCM and the Government of Dubai with the support extended by numerous government departments such as Immigration, Customs, Police, DP World, combined with the high levels of cooperation from the various cruise lines, ship agencies, DMC’s and other stakeholders, the cruise tourism sector in Dubai is set to scale to even greater heights in the years to come.

ZyXEL’s New Wireless Home Router Refreshes Streaming and Sharing Experience

May 10, 2012; New Delhi, India – ZyXEL Communications, a world-class broadband networking company that provides leading Internet products and solutions for customers ranging from telecommunications service providers, small- and medium-sized businesses to home users, today introduces its NBG-419N v2 Wireless N NetUSB Router, a value-for-price wireless router designed for the home market. Inherited from NBG-419N, its successful predecessor that had received recognition from customers and many international media, the new version offers not only the accredited features but also more state-of-the-art designs to benefit users with refreshing home wireless networking experience.

With the most advanced 802.11n wireless technology and transmission speeds of up to 300 Mbps, the NBG-419N v2 Wireless N Home Router ensures stability and reliability of wireless transmission – both critical for wireless streaming of multimedia contents; the QoS (Quality of Service) feature allows home users to enjoy high-performance multimedia streaming wirelessly while browsing music and video sites on the Internet or fighting virtual game rivals online anywhere in the house.

The NetUSB support is a major differentiator on the second version of NBG-419N as it allows users to share USB devices over the home network. With the built-in USB port, the NBG-419N v2 can share printers or USB storage devices as if the devices were directly connected to PC without messy cables. With complete wireless freedom, family members can access, share and print files stored in the USB devices over the wireless network freely and easily.

To better reflect the brand image aligned with the latest home networking products, the NBG-419N v2 adopts a stylish housing design with new aesthetics similar to other recent ZyXEL models. The dark-sky black colour implies stability and reliability of network performance, while the distinctive cover panel has uneven wave lines flowing around the surface to epitomize the rhythmic networking streams. To add a unique touch, the ZyXEL logo stands firmly and visibly on a shining panel showcasing our determination. The new design is always in harmony with modern home décor regardless where the device is placed.

In an effort to support green environment and ZyXEL’s commitment, three green features – wireless on/off button, wireless scheduling and wireless output management are organically built into the ZyXEL Wireless Home Routers. Benefit from the extraordinary features, users are able to proactively and flexibly manage the wireless functions according to the personal usage pattern and to ensure optimized power consumption.

For details about the NBG-419N v2 feature set, please visit NBG-419N v2 on the ZyXEL Web site or contact your local sales representatives for inquiries.

United Electronics Company (eXtra), Saudi Arabia’s fastest-growing consumer electronics and home appliance retailer, announced that it has expanded its home maintenance and repair services for electronics, home appliances and air conditioning.

Along with its in-store service locations for a variety of computer and mobile software installations, upgrades and repair services, eXtra currently operates three dedicated service centers across the Kingdom.

Customers who experience a problem with their electronic items and home appliances, such as televisions, refrigerators or washing machines, can now turn to the “eXtra Care” service for help. Expert technicians will visit the customer’s home to inspect the item, with all repairs conducted using guaranteed genuine spare parts. If the technician is unable to repair the product, the customer will not be charged anything.

Other new services like eXtra’s “Pro Clean” service have been designed to keep customer’s air conditioning units in peak performance. Customers can also have their home’s air conditioning system professionally cleaned and maintained, including free gas recharge if needed.

Customers can now benefit from professional maintenance and repair services without having to leave their homes and by dialing the toll free number 800-124-0900.

“The response from customers to our in-home maintenance and repair services has been overwhelming, forcing us to extend the breadth of our proposition and enabling eXtra to give unrivalled flexibility and convenience to its customers in the Kingdom,” said Mohammad Galal, Chief Executive Officer, United Electronics Company (eXtra). “Almost 80 highly trained service personal, 30 trucks and a professional dedicated call center have been put into place to meet customers’ needs and expectations from what they have been accustomed to seeing from eXtra. We are now building on a relationship of trust which we believe will differentiate us from our competitors and make us the one stop shop for all our customers’ electronics and home appliance requirements.”

Currently, eXtra provides the over 10 million customers it serves annually with more than 12,000 products across its 24 stores - serving almost 90% of the population of Saudi Arabia. In addition, eXtra recently introduced its online shopping portal www.extra.com, a first-of-its-kind fully fledged electronics and home appliance website in the Kingdom.

eXtra was cited by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) as one of the Kingdom’s fastest-growing companies in 2010 and 2011. The company was recently named, for the second consecutive year, as one of the top 50 brands in the Kingdom in recognition of its exceptional growth and sustained commercial success. In 2010, eXtra was also announced as the Best Working Environment in Saudi Arabia by a leading

Dubai, January 12, 2012: A delegation from the Emirates Post Holding Group arranged a  visit to Albarza Club for the Elderly at Mamzar, which is run by the Community Development Authority in Dubai , as part of the Group’s corporate social responsibility activities.

The delegation was headed by Mr. Ibrahim Bin Karam, Chief Commercial Officer, and included a number of officials from the Group.

Bin Karam expressed his joy on spending quality time with  the elderly members of society and said this visit would strengthen humanitarian activities and foster love for parents and recognition of their role in the social development.

The delegation was welcomed by Sheikha Al Muhairi, Director of Albarza Centre, who took them on a tour of the premises. The delegation members talked to the residents and presented them with  gifts. Sheikha Al Muhairi explained that the Albarza Club offers many services, including cultural activities, health facilities, recreational and sports activities and training them on  the use of electrical appliances, in addition to training caregivers on the right methods for handling the elderly.

Three new baths offer comfort and sophisticated design to transform the bathing space

Dubai – UAE:  November 15, 2011: Recent real estate trends in the market have changed the way people think about their home designs, and bathrooms specifically, which have become a sanctuary from the pressures of modern life. In particular, people in the Middle East have started to pay more attention to functional and trendy bath design, to create a place in the home to escape from the stressful working day.

With this in mind Kohler Co., a global leader in kitchen and bath design, has unveiled a new sophisticated line of freestanding Lithocast baths, combining high design and the beauty of real stone to offer a warm and comfortable bathing experience.

The Lithocast baths with durable Lithocast ™ solid surface material and integral slotted overflows comes in three models - the Abrazo, Aliento, and Askew Lithocast - that effortlessly combine comfort and style to offer a truly deep soaking experience.
 
“The need for a spacious, functional and trendy bathroom designs among our Middle East customers has heightened the need for Kohler to continue personalising the bathing experience for homeowners,” said Mohamed Nada, Regional Marketing Manager at Kohler Co. “In the past, people didn’t pay a lot of attention to bathroom designs and baths were typically positioned as fixed units in the room. This has evolved and people are now looking for more creative bathroom elements to make their bathrooms more personalized and enjoyable.”

The exclusive Kohler Lithocast solid surface material has a matte finish that looks like stone, but feels warm to the touch, comfortable on the bather’s body and is remarkably easy to clean and maintain.

The Abrazo bath design inspired by clay pottery measures 167.6cm x 80cm x 71cm and features a unique oval shape that is organic and eye-catching.

The Aliento bath is spacious enough to comfortably accommodate two bathers facing each other with lumbar support on both ends. Measuring 167.6cm x 91.4cm x 63.5cm, the bath displays whimsical illusion, while the strong, yet subtle details create a sophisticated aesthetic.

The Askew bath is a comfortable bath that accommodates to bathers with a geometric design that has the exterior appearance of three slightly-offset and stacked rectangles creating a unique contemporary look. The bath measures 182.9cm x 87.6cm x 62.2cm with lumbar support on both ends. 

On all three models, each bath has a sculpted lumbar support and the drain is hidden by an integral cover cast from the same Lithocast material to create a smooth, uninterrupted look and a clean aesthetic.

The Lithocast baths are now available across the Middle East through Kohler co.’s regional distributor network

Annual Hygiene Council held in Cairo Egypt reveals results of local and international hygiene study

Results of an international, regional and local ‘Hygiene in the Home Study 2009’ were released recently during the Hygiene Council meeting held at the Four Seasons Nile Plaza in Cairo, Egypt. Read the full story