In rent-to-buy property schemes, tenants can convert rent they have paid into equity towards purchase of their unit

The growth in rent-to-buy property schemes, where tenants can convert the rent they have paid into equity towards the purchase of their unit, has proven to be a popular way for buyers to get onto the UAE property ladder, analysts have said.

Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s largest developer, this week launched a rent-to-own programme for units at its Raha Beach development.

Under the scheme, tenants pay a set amount of rent for two years, with 100 percent of the first year’s rent and 90 percent of the second year’s rent then converted into equity for the purchase of the unit.

The tenant is under no obligation to purchase and also has the option to transfer the equity to another tenant if they decide not to buy after the two year period.

Such schemes are becoming more common in the UAE and analysts say they have proved popular as they offer tenants a way to get onto the property ladder at a time when the market is still not very certain.

“This idea has proved popular already and it can be even more successful if developers are clear and transparent with the terms and conditions,” said Priyesh Patel, a real estate agent at Aston Pearl Real Estate in Dubai.

Fellow Abu Dhabi Sorouh Real Estate launched the first rent-to-buy scheme in the UAE capital earlier this year for its apartments in Sun Tower on Reem Island and Emaar Properties launched a similar scheme in November 2008 for its developments in Downtown Dubai.

“No one can pin point where the market is going to be in two years, therefore there is an element of risk of prices falling or rising… [But] for those who want to enter the property market it could be the perfect solution,” added Patel.

Matthew Green, head of research and consultancy at real estate firm CB Richard Ellis in Dubai also welcomed the growth in such schemes but offered a cautionary note that tenants must make sure the rental rates and end sales prices offered by developers are realistic.

“In principle I think the scheme is a good idea, and could help to encourage and enable further investment for end-users looking to join the property ladder. However, this is on the presumption that the rental rates and the final sales price that are offered by the developer are actually in line with reality,” said Green.

“Evidently the developer will look to make a premium by offering such an incentive scheme and this is likely to be achieved by setting initial rental rates that are above market norms in order to ensure a profit should the tenant not decide to purchase,” he added.

The UAE market, especially Dubai, was one of the markets worst hit by the global financial crisis and the credit crunch, with a large number of projects put on hold and prices dropping by up to 60 percent from their peak in 2008.

The latest Global House Price Index from real estate agents Knight Frank reported Dubai prices fell 4.7 percent in the last year. While it was still the ninth worst performing market out of the 50 countries surveyed, prices have only fallen 0.1 percent in the first six months of the year.

Developers have looked to schemes such as rent-to-buy to try and inspire confidence in buyers and reduce the risk element in buying into the UAE market.

According to Patel, buyers should only avail of the scheme direct from developers, rather than from individual landlords.

“The idea of rent-to-own has been in Europe and UK for many years now but is only being offered by developers which should be the only way it’s done. There have been cases of real estate brokers trying the scheme but I don’t believe it’s safe as the property is owned by an individual and not the developer,” he said.

RDF8K

New Delhi, 5th September 2011: Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend®), a worldwide leader in storage and multimedia products, today introduced its new USB 3.0 multi card reader, the RDF8. The new reader utilizes a Super Speed USB 3.0 interface and supports the latest ultra high speed card formats, including SDHC UHS-1, SDXC UHS-1, UDMA6/UDMA7 CF and MSXC cards, allowing avid photographers and video enthusiasts to effortlessly copy high-resolution uncompressed images or 1080p Full HD video files from their memory cards to their computer.
 
High-speed File Transfer Performance

The RDF8 USB 3.0 card reader is equipped with a next-generation SuperSpeed USB 3.0 connection interface that delivers transfer speeds up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0 card readers. Thanks to the increased bandwidth of USB 3.0, data can be carried to the computer as fast as the user’s memory card permits. When paired with an Ultra High Speed (UHS-1) SD card, for example, files as large as one gigabyte can be transferred in less than twelve seconds.
 
Full Compatibility with Modern Card Formats

Designed to unleash the full potential of next generation memory cards, the RDF8 USB 3.0 card reader boasts a total of four slots: a CompactFlash (CF) slot compatible with UDMA CF cards, an SDHC/SDXC slot that supports the new UHS-1 standard, a smaller slot for M2/microSD cards, and a slot for MS PRO/MSXC/MS DUO cards. The RDF8 is also backwards compatible with the USB 2.0 interface and accepts older versions of CF, SD, and SDHC cards, making the card reader quite practical for today`s digital needs.
 
RecoveRx Brings Deleted Photos Back to Life

The prospect of losing precious, once-in-a-lifetime shots to camera or memory card malfunction is a longstanding fear that looms in the minds of professional and amateur photographers alike.  For extra peace of mind, the RDF8, like all other Transcend card readers, comes with a free download of Transcend’s powerful and user-friendly RecoveRx software. Compatible with both Mac and Windows, this amazing data recovery tool can effectively recover lost, deleted or damaged photos and other digital files from multiple types of memory cards.

Pricing and Availability :

The RDF8 USB 3.0 multi card reader is backed by Transcend’s two-year limited warranty and is available at MRP of Rs.1080.

Khalid-Daou

Domestic organic & natural foods sector estimated at SAR 1 billion

August 17, 2011

The growing health consciousness among Saudi residents coupled with rising income levels that allow for flexibility in food choices has transformed the Kingdom into the GCC’s top organic foods market. The KSA’s domestic organic and natural foods sector is currently valued at around SAR 1 billion, accounting for 90 per cent of the regional market.

Efforts are underway to further develop organic food production in the country to boost the Saudi share in the thriving SAR 825 billion global organic food industry. A private-sector Saudi Organic Farming Association established at a budget of SAR 15 million is currently providing support to organic farmers. Considerable Saudi investments into the sector bode well for the broader Saudi agro-food business as organic produce will be processed and packaged locally and thus raise demand for equipment, technology and related services.

Opportunities in the Saudi organic foods sector will rank high in the agenda of the upcoming Saudi Agro-Food 2011 – The 18th International Exhibition for Food Processing and Packaging running from September 19 to 22, 2011 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event will provide an ideal business-to-business platform for organic food players as well as international organizations seeking to position themselves in the Middle East’s fastest-growing food market.

“Saudi Agro-Food is a perfect venue to learn more about the opportunities, issues and trends surrounding the Kingdom’s robust organic foods market. The Kingdom is an excellent springboard for building an organic food business as it has a strong influence on the regional markets and a rapidly growing population that is putting greater emphasis on health,” said Khalid Daou, Project Manager of Saudi Agro-Food at Riyadh Exhibitions Company.

Saudi Agro-Food 2011 will feature the latest products, technologies and services covering various areas such as frozen and chilled foods, confectionery, chocolates, health and natural foods, presentation, and processing and packaging equipment. It will include a special showcase dedicated to Organic Foods as well as the latest food processing industry trends. The event will take place concurrently with Saudi Agriculture 2011 – The 30th International Agriculture, Water and Agro-Industry Show to be held under the patronage and support of the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture. Saudi Agriculture 2011 is accredited by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry and has been the region’s leading agriculture show for 30 years.

More information on Saudi Agro-Food 2011 and Saudi Agriculture 2011 is available at http://www.saudi-agriculture.com/.

Everyday Is A Holiday

Filmmakers can enter 5th Dubai Film Connection by Aug. 22, submit scripts in Arabic, French or English

Dubai, UAE; August 10, 2011: The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has extended its submission deadline for the fifth cycle of Dubai Film Connection, DIFF’s co-production market, until August 22, 2011.

For the first time, Dubai Film Connection will also accept scripts in Arabic and French in addition to English – opening its doors to a wider pool of filmmakers from the Middle East region and around the world.

The twin changes are the Festival’s response to growing feedback and requests from Arab and Arab-origin filmmakers keen to participate in the Middle East’s most successful co-production market. The Dubai Film Connection has already received more than 100 entries prior to its original August 1 deadline.

Launched in 2007, the Dubai Film Connection selects 15 regional documentary and feature film projects in development annually, offering more than US$100,000 in funding. In addition, the co-production market also provides emerging filmmakers with invaluable industry connections, including matchmaking with specialists in sales, distribution, and funding. Since its inception, it has showcased 64 projects from the Middle East, of which 18 films have been completed and debuted to international acclaim and an additional 10 are in production.

Shivani Pandya, Managing Director, Dubai International Film Festival, said: “In just five years, the Dubai Film Connection has built a strong portfolio of Middle Eastern cinema that has gone on to significant regional and international success. We consider the growing filmmaker interest in our co-production market to be very positive, and have done as much as we can to accommodate their requests.”
The Dubai Film Connection awards include a €6,000 prize from ARTE France; US$10,000 Film Clinic award for a debut feature film; three DIFF awards of US$25,000; US$15,000 Screen Institute Beirut DIFF Documentary Award; and five registrations for producers from the Arab world to the prestigious Producers Network at Cannes 2012.

The Dubai Film Connection’s completed films include: Amreeka (Cherien Dabis, USA/Kuwait); The Avenue of the Wounded Palm Trees (Abdellatif Ben Ammar, Tunisia/Algeria); Beit Sha’ar/Nomad’s Home (Iman Kamel, Egypt/Germany/Kuwait/UAE); City of Life (Ali Mostafa, UAE); Death for Sale (Faouzi Bensaidi, Morocco, France, Belgium); Everyday is a Holiday (Dima El Horr, Lebanon/France); The Fifth String (Selma Bargach, Morocco); Fix Me (Raed Andoni, Palestine/Switzerland); Man Without a Cell Phone (Sameh Zoabi, Palestine/Germany); Messages From the Sea (Saoud Abdel Sayed, Morocco); The One Man Village  (Simon El Habre, Lebanon/Germany); Port of Memory (Kamal Aljafari, Palestine/Germany); Son of Babylon (Mohamed Al Daradji, Iraq, UK); Tangled up in Blue (Haider Rashid, Iraq/UK/Saudi Arabia/Italy); This is my Picture When I Was Dead (Mahmoud Al Massad, Jordan/Netherlands); We Were Communists (Maher Abi Samra, Lebanon/ UAE/France); Zelal (Marianne Khoury, Mustapha Hasnaoui, Egypt/France/Morocco/UAE); Zindeeq  (Michel Khleifi, Palestine).

DIFF is currently also receiving entries for its Muhr Awards for Emirati, Arab, and AsiaAfrica films, as well as for the official out-of-competition segment at its eighth edition to be held from Dec. 7 to 14, 2011. The deadline for submissions is August 31, 2011.

DIFF is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, the home of the Dubai International Film Festival, are the principal sponsors of DIFF. The Festival is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

For more and updated information about DIFF, please visit www.dubaifilmfest.com or join DIFF on     and 

Saudi Printing, Packaging Sign & Graphics 2011 to showcase opportunities behind sector’s projected 4.58 per cent annual growth through 2015

August 10, 2011

Kamil Al Jawhari

Saudi Arabia, the largest economy in the GCC, is also the region’s leading packaging market. The Kingdom has a firm 70 per cent hold on the Gulf’s USD 2 billion packaging industry, with its local sector expected to further expand at an average rate of 4.58 per cent from 2011 to 2015. A thriving food manufacturing industry, sustained industrialization and urbanization and a huge petrochemical sector rank among the top growth drivers for the Saudi packaging business.

In the World Bank’s Doing Business 2011 report, the KSA ranks 11th out of 183 global economies in ‘Ease of Doing Business’  to lead the Middle East. The country’s business-friendly environment has spurred strong demand for printing, packaging, signage and graphics over the past few years. A resilient advertising base is another growth factor, with ad spending in the Kingdom increasing 8 per cent to USD 643 million for H1 2011 . The KSA and the UAE are the only two countries in the Arab world that have not dropped their advertising expenditures for the period.

Saudi Pack/Print/Sign and Graphic 2011 (Saudi PPSG 2011), the 10th International Packaging, Printing, Sign and Graphics Technology Exhibition to be held from November 18 to December 1, 2011 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, will introduce local, regional and international visitors to the Kingdom’s limitless business opportunities. The bi-annual business event is the largest and longest-running of its kind in the region and will gather exhibitors and guests from across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

“All the necessary elements are in place to sustain Saudi Arabia’s position as one of the Middle East’s top markets for signage, outdoor media, and screen and digital printing. Saudi PPSG 2011 is an important platform for learning the unique business mechanics, regulations, technologies and trends affecting the Kingdom’s PPSG businesses. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with industry leaders, view the latest products and services, and gain a better understanding of real growth opportunities available at both the domestic and regional level,” said Kamil Al Jawhari, Project Manager of Saudi PPSG at Riyadh Exhibitions Company.

Over 462 exhibitors from 30 countries participated in Saudi PPSG 2009. The latest edition will welcome representatives from Austria, Italy, Germany, China, Korea, Taiwan, the UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, India, Pakistan and East Africa, among others. Equipment to be put on display include commercial printers, package printing converters, paper production equipment, paper equipment materials and special printing applications. The show will be an ideal business-to-business platform for participants to strengthen business ties and forge new ones.

Saudi PPSG – the 10th International Packaging, Printing, Sign and Graphics Technologies Exhibition – will be held concurrently with Saudi Plastics & Petrochem 2011- the 10th International Plastics and Petrochem trade fair. More details are available at http://www.saudisigngraphics.com/.

Company targets USD 300 million in Middle East revenues for fiscal year 2011-2012

August 07, 2011

Harman Middle East, a market leader in home, professional and car infotainment in the Middle East, has revealed its strategic move towards consolidating its market presence in Bahrain, which has recorded rapid growth in its audio and video (AV) segment. The move release the latest world class high quality audio visual equipment follows the company’s achievement of USD 229 million in revenues for fiscal year 2010-2011, reflecting a 45 per cent increase in revenues from the previous fiscal year. Bahrain’s consumer electronics segment has been dubbed as the most addressable market for computing devices, mobile handsets and AV devices, has been forecasted to reach USD 452 million in 2011 and will increase to USD 565 million by 2015.

Harman ME strategic initiative reflects the current vibrancy of Bahrain’s consumer electronics market, which is driven by an increased demand for feature-rich digital lifestyle products like flat screen TV sets, home theatre sound systems, iPod / iPad docking stations and other key products. Audio Visual devices make up more than 37 per cent of the country’s consumer electronics spending last year, with predictions that the segment will grow to USD 165 million in 2011. Also, consumer electronics is expected to key in a CAGR of three per cent over the next four years and will be driven largely by demand for LCD and plasma TV sets, to a value of USD184 million in 2015. The company’s long and innovative legacy of providing excellence in AV technology has allowed Harman to achieve a 150 per cent growth surge over the last two years, and has currently set its sights on reaching USD 300 million in Middle East revenues for the fiscal year 2011-2012.

“Amidst the impact left behind by the recent economic downturn, Bahrain has managed to transform itself as one of the most strategic markets for AV devices. The growth is due to a new consumer shift towards purchasing products that add more value to their money,” said Amit Malani, President, Harman Middle East. “Strong factors that are driving this growth are product innovations, lowered prices and greater vendor and channel sales flexibility. Bahraini consumers are looking for products that offer high-end features and performance at more affordable prices. We are looking to meet this demand by leveraging our wide portfolio of world class high quality AV systems that use innovative technology, which will surely stir up huge demand in the market.”

The Bahrain market continues to play a key role as a major component to Harman ME’s growth. The company has named its retail, distribution and projects divisions as the three key business lines that will help meet the revenue target; Harman brands are known to power over 70 per cent of the world’s recording studios; more than 75 per cent of cinemas worldwide built over the last 20 years and are included in premium cars from makers like BMW, Land Rover, Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, Lexus and Mini Cooper.

“We are currently aiming towards driving more value to our business by optimizing our business portfolio and regional footprint; transforming cost structures and accelerating growth into our markets. The vibrancy of today’s consumer electronics market has given us the confidence to capture a larger market share by increasing our investments in sales, marketing and business development. We believe these efforts, combined with prudent capital deployment, will continue our sales and profit growth,” concluded Malani.

Burgeoning population drives food demand as per capita food consumption on track to increase by 31.24 per cent in 2014

July 10, 2011

Khalid-Daou

Saudi Arabia accounts for up to 63 per cent of the GCC’s USD 9 billion food and beverage market, easily establishing the country as a major business and investment destination for key players in the food production value chain. The country’s burgeoning population, which is expected to double by 2023, has been a key factor in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly increasing food requirements, as per capita food consumption is expected to increase by 31.24 per cent by 2014, according to BMI statistics.

Saudi Agriculture 2011, held under the patronage and support of the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture, is being organised to help shore up ongoing investments in food and beverage production and enable the country to meet its increasing, long-term food requirements. Regional and international exhibitors have already signed up to attend the trade event, showcasing the latest in Animal Health & Production, Agricultural Finance & Banking, Agricultural Products & Services, Chemicals & Fertilizers, Cold Storage & Crop Production, and Dairy Farming Products & Equipment, among others.

“Saudi Arabia has been a major destination for regional and international suppliers and manufacturers in the food production value chain because of the enormous growth potential of the Saudi food market. Saudi Agriculture, the country’s prime agricultural trade event for the past 30 years, certainly serves as a major entry point for investors and other key industry players from the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Asia to expand their presence in the Saudi food sector and contribute in addressing the country’s long-term food security challenges,” said Khalid Daou, Project Manager of Saudi Agriculture at Riyadh Exhibitions Company.

Saudi Agriculture 2011 – The 30th International Agriculture, Water & Agro-Industry Show, will run from September 19 to 22, 2011, at the Riyadh International Exhibition Centre. The trade show, which is accredited by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, will be held concurrently with Saudi Agro-Food 2011 – The 16th International Exhibition for Food Processing and Packaging. Saudi Agro-Food 2011 will feature the latest products, technologies and services in areas ranging from frozen and chilled foods, confectionery, chocolates, health and natural foods, to presentation, processing and packaging equipment.

Saudi Agriculture 2011 serves as an ideal business-to-business platform for major agricultural producers, manufacturers, dealers, agents and distributors along with key policy makers and high-ranking officials from the Saudi Agriculture Ministry. Other key areas of focus of the trade event include Fisheries & Fish Farming, Greenhouses, Handling & Transport Systems, Irrigation & Landscaping Equipment, Machinery & Spare Parts, Organic Farming, Packaging Systems & Products, Pesticides, Pumps & Pipe Systems, Seeds & Soil Nutrition Products, Spraying Machinery, Water Treatment, Water Management Systems, and Warehousing.

Leading contractor keen on reinforcing market presence in Abu Dhabi

June 20, 2011

Rizwan Shaikhani

Abu Dhabi has rapidly emerged as one of the Middle East region’s most important construction markets, according to a statement issued by Shaikhani Contracting, a part of the Shaikhani Group, a multimillion dollar international business conglomerate with interests in real estate development, trading, manufacturing and IT. The UAE capital is currently witnessing an influx of new construction and development projects, which ably demonstrate the emirates, move towards meeting the goals set in the ‘Abu Dhabi 2030 Vision.’ In line with this, Shaikhani has revealed its plans to open an office in the UAE capital as part of its current move to reinforce its market presence in the region and to remain closer to partners and customers who are involved in different projects in Abu Dhabi.

Shaikhani’s confidence in Abu Dhabi’s rapidly developing construction segment complements an industrial report released by Ventures Middle East, one of the region’s leading communications and research firms, showing that a total of USD 39.8 billion worth of new projects will be coming in during 2011. To date, the total current value of all projects in Abu Dhabi has been pegged at USD 562.8 billion. Aside from looking to maintain closer ties with its current list of partners and customers, the contractor has also expressed its eagerness to partner with like-minded companies and help develop strong solutions that aim to deliver best results to their customers.

“Abu Dhabi is establishing itself as a key destination for major construction and infrastructure based projects in the region. The continuous entry of new projects demonstrate the effectiveness of the implemented initiatives and programs that are part of the Abu Dhabi 2030 Vision, “ said Rizwan Shaikhani, Managing Director, Shaikhani Contracting. “We are confident that the UAE capital will continue to attract more projects as the rest of the Middle East region has also shown vibrant activity. We will soon be opening an office in Abu Dhabi to become closer to our partners and customers and help address their demands and requirements faster while at the same time develop new partnerships with like-minded companies and organizations and create key solutions and services for Abu Dhabi’s ongoing projects.”

The move to set up an Abu Dhabi office follows the company’s strategic expansion initiatives, which also includes the opening of offices in Qatar and other developing GCC countries. The expansion also serves to highlight the company’s aim to maintain its leadership and strong market presence in the Middle East region. Further, the contractor has expressed interest in possible opportunities in Africa, which according to company officials is the continent to watch for and is expected to enjoy annual growth over the next 20 to 25 years. In addition, Shaikhani has revealed plans to expand its brand portfolio while at the same time increasing its footprint into newer markets.

“As we embark on our initiatives to create a stronger market presence in key developing economies of the region, Shaikhani is also aiming to create new strategic partnerships with companies that are already involved in the major projects that are currently ongoing. We remain deeply committed in our promise to address the demands and requirements of the region’s developing construction industry and to continue being at the forefront of world class projects and live up to our reputation of working closely with our clients, consultants, architects, developers, partners and associates,” concluded Rizwan Shaikhani.

160,000 aircraft movements projected at CAGR of 6.21 percent until 2018; aircraft to fly from Abu Dhabi to London, New York and Moscow

Dubai – March 8th, 2011: Al Jaber Aviation (AJA), your private airspace the new pinna-cle of VIP aviation and part of the Al Jaber Group based in Abu Dhabi, today announced the induction of the second Lineage 1000 aircraft from the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer. The deal was successfully completed with financing from a Brazilian bank.

The addition of the fifth and third large size intercontinental aircraft to the AJA fleet puts the company in a new and unique niche, where larger, farther traveling, more luxurious cabin planes are growing in popularity.

“Al Jaber Aviation sees many opportunities in the next few years and we are investing to-day to make sure we take full advantage of them and position ourselves as a global play-er in the elite private jet market,” said Mohammed Al Jaber, CEO of Al Jaber Aviation (AJA). “Our intention over the next period is to globalize AJA’s footprint and bolster our service provision capabilities to meet our elite customers’ expectations.”

Industry analysts believe that the private air charter business will pick up in late 2011 and on into 2012. This is evident from the forecasted growth for the region. In 2008, there were 93,000 aircraft movement, which increased to 103,000 in 2009; this number is expected to touch 160,000 by 2018 at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.21 percent per year for the Middle East region . The growth in aircraft movement is supported by the number of business jets in the region, which will reach 1,330 by 2019 .

With its spacious interior, the Lineage 1000 offers five distinct privacy zones and can transport as many as 19 people in complete comfort. Low noise and exquisite finishing are part of the award-winning designers Priestman Goode and world-acclaimed interior completion experts DeCrane Aircraft’s creation to offer spacious interiors and cabin allo-cations.

The aircraft boasts the latest in engineering software, including virtual reality, computa-tional fluid dynamics, simulations and knowledge-based engineering tools. With a range of 4,400 nautical miles, the aircraft can fly passengers anywhere from Abu Dhabi to Lon-don, New York, Moscow or even Beijing.

Brother Gulf unveils ‘iPrint’ application for wireless printing from any Apple device as part of new features of its multi-function printers

January 10, 2011

Multi-function printers (MFPs) will achieve a robust growth in the UAE in 2011, while the entire printer market is likewise forecast to register a positive growth this year, driven by increasing demand for home and office printing solutions, according to a report by IDC. The report revealed that A4 Mono Laser MFPs will grow by 9.9 per cent in 2011, while Color Laser MFPs will increase by 4.9 per cent. In addition, A4 Mono Laser Printers will grow 5.4 per cent, Color Laser Printers by 16.1, and Inkjet MFPs at 5.2 per cent.

The positive growth outlook has prompted Brother Gulf, the Middle East subsidiary of Brother Japan, to implement strategic initiatives aimed to consolidate its position in the UAE’s printing industry. The company revealed that it will roll out a wide range of multi-function printers (MFPs) that have been customized for evolving requirements of customers in the region. The new printing devices have been equipped with the specially developed Brother iPrint functionality, which enables printing of quality photos wirelessly from Apple iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad devices through selective Brother’s premium Inkjet MFCs selection of Wi-Fi-enabled printers.

“The UAE is currently experiencing an increased demand for more reliable and effective multi-function printers and printers that can best suit the needs of various offices, companies and enterprises. Consumers now are on the look out for printers that can both fulfil their daily operational requirements, help cut down on costs and leave less of a carbon footprint on the environment,” said Shinji Tada, Managing Director, Brother Gulf. “We are very upbeat about the expected growth of the UAE’s printing segment, giving us the confidence to implement key strategies that can reinforce our presence in the country. Brother Gulf is aiming to capitalize on this growth by maintaining stronger ties with our customers and introducing different range of printers and MFCs – each one catering to specialized needs and requirements of our customers.”

In line with its commitment to provide customers with effective and reliable print equipment, Brother Gulf has announced the release of its latest line of products – a stylish and elegant new series that includes the DCP-J125, DCP-J315W, DCP-J715W, MFC-J220, MFC-J265W, MFC-J415W and MFC-J615W. Presented in chic, trendy, sophisticated designs, the new models offer stronger capabilities in basic functions like printing, faxing, copying and scanning. The new line also boasts of wireless and wired network capabilities for easy sharing in a home and office setting – with printing capabilities of about 1,200 x 6,000 dpi resolution at a speed of 35 ppm (monochrome) and 28 ppm (color). The printers also come pre-installed with the free Brother iPrint&Scan application, which allows users to print and send scanned images or documents to any Apple gadget.

“We have just released a new line of Inkjet multi-function printers that reflect Brother Gulf’s strong attention towards our customer’s needs and requirements. This new line is presented in an elegant design but also showcase reinforced features in key tasks like fax, print, copy and scan. These seven new MFP’s are aimed at both the home and office segment and works compatibly with Brother’s Innobella ink and paper. Brother Gulf affirms its promise of providing its customers with printers and MFPs that can best suit their needs - giving them the advantage of reduced operational costs and the confidence of leaving less of a carbon footprint on the environment,” concluded Tada.