The popularity of the new Sentra among Middle East customers has strengthened Nissan’s position as market leader in the highly competitive C segment.

Impressively, in the first 50 days of sales, nearly 1,500 Nissan Sentras have been sold, underlining the appeal of the compact sedan which offers spaciousness and comfort usually found in the segment above, as well as spirited 1.6-litre or 1.8-litre engines.

The C-segment is the largest single car category in the Middle East with 24 different models currently vying for the top spot, held by the Nissan Sentra.

Nissan will now use the strong initial response from the region’s car buyers as a platform on which to build towards an ambitious sales target of 25,000 Sentra sales per year in the GCC region in the next three years.

“Nissan Sentra was launched with the clear intent to reinforce our strong leadership position in the C segment and the start of sales is living up to our expectations,” said Samir Cherfan, Managing Director, Nissan Middle East.

“Since its launch, on average more than one Sentra is sold every hour. This proves customers recognise that we are producing cars of the highest quality, cars that people are buying in ever-increasing numbers,” he added.

“Nissan has a proven record of success in this segment with Sentra being its 13th generation sedan,” continued Samir. “This high-value choice features unexpected spaciousness and many technologies not seen before in cars of this class, along with an ability to over-deliver on the basics. These qualities have immediately found favor with Middle Eastern customers looking for an aspirational and upscale compact sedan,” he added.

“I recently purchased a brand new Nissan Sentra and was extremely happy. The all new Sentra is a class apart,” said Mr. Rohan Kumar, a proud owner. “Expect more and pay less. The Nissan Sentra has so much space and is comfortable. I am also connected with all the technologies like Navigation and Bluetooth that the car offers,” he concluded.

Mr. Scott Dylan another Sentra buyer, added, “I commute every day from Sharjah to Jabal Ali and am quite impressed with my Sentra’s fuel consumption. The drive experience itself is enjoyable with comfortable leg space, latest technology, and I now enjoy driving.”

•Nissan Sentra is the all-new nameplate in the Middle East’s compact sedan segment but the 13th generation Nissan sedan in its model line globally

•Seductive design with high-end details such as LED accented headlamps and tail lamps and upscale interior craftsmanship

•Unexpected spaciousness including class-leading legroom and boot space

•Class-above convenience including dual zone climate control, intelligent key and rear view camera

•Over-delivering on the basics due to 10% reduction on maintenance cost and class-leading fuel economy of 6.2l/100km and 6.7l/100km* for 1.6-litre and 1.8-litre respectively.

•Efficient 1.6 and 1.8-litre engines and next-generation Xtronic CVT delivering optimal performance

•Seamless connectivity including Bluetooth and satellite navigation

February 15, 2012

AMAN Insurance launches three new travel insurance products aiming to capture significant share of country’s travel insurance market

Backed by a robust tourism market amidst the impact left by the recent economic downturn, the UAE’s travel insurance market is poised to grow by 40 per cent in 2012, according to Dubai Islamic Insurance and Reinsurance Company (AMAN Insurance), the largest Islamic Insurance provider in the UAE. The company has revealed that the forecasted growth has given them the upbeat attitude to capture a significant share of the country’s travel insurance segment. In line with this, AMAN has launched three new travel insurance products—Musafir, Shengen and the Haj & Umrah travel insurance products, which have been designed to offer high benefits to both individuals and families at a reasonable cost.

The three insurance solutions offers key benefits like Emergency Medical Expenses & Hospitalization Abroad, Transport or Repatriation in case of Illness or Accident; Emergency Dental care, Medical Evacuation; Loss of Passport or official documents; advance money;  Delivery of Medicines; Relay of Urgent Messages; Long Distance Medical Information System; Medical Referral/Appointment of Local Medical Specialist; Connection Services; Advance of Funds; Personal Baggage & Money loss and Personal Accident.

The Haj & Umrah Travel Insurance is an exclusive travel insurance solution that has been specifically designed for travellers going for their annual pilgrimage to Mecca and the Shengen Travel Insurance is a travel insurance solution valid and approved for travellers to any country in the Schengen European states.

“The country’s travel insurance market has demonstrated key vibrancy despite the effects left behind by the global economic crisis. One of the main reasons for this continued growth is the recent development of making travel insurance a compulsory aspect of securing a travel visa to any desired country, particularly Shengen and other European countries,” said Hussein Al Meeza, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, AMAN. “The introduction of these new travel insurance policies has prompted us to develop and release three new travel insurance products that cater to both families and individuals that are planning to go abroad for a vacation or even on business. These strategic products give travellers the safety, security and confidence of full coverage, giving them the advantage of enjoying their trips without any hassles or worries.”

Unforgettable films set in China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kenya, South Africa, South Korea 
 
Dubai, UAE; December 4, 2011: Ten unforgettable, inspiring true stories of men and women around the world who confront tremendous hardships, champion societal causes and ideological struggles, will screen to UAE audiences next month as part of the eighth Dubai International Film Festival’s Muhr AsiaAfrica Documentary competition.

The films, including one world premiere and nine regional premieres, are among the newest works from China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, South Africa and Germany and will screen from December 7 to 14. The Festival is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Making its world premiere at DIFF 2011 is Indonesian director Shalahuddin Siregar’s The Land Beneath the Fog, about how changes in nature and climate affect human relationships in Genikan, a hidden village by a forest in central Java. The film follows a family who are faced with a failed harvest and other cataclysmic changes, and how they attempt to survive.

The line-up also includes two films each from India and Japan. From India, Sandeep Ray’s Sound of Old Rooms chronicles the life experiences of Sarthak, a poet living in Kolkata, from a college student to a father and how this ordinary man tries to hold on to his calling of being a poet while juggling a regular family in the new India.

Controversial Indian filmmaker Anand Patwardhan, best known for his political documentaries, returns with Jai Bhim Comrade. Filmed over 14 years, the film explores the history of Dalit activism in Maharashtra in the aftermath of the killing of 10 activists. The film follows the music and the tradition of Vilas Ghogre, a leftist poet and singer, who hung himself in protest.

Death of a Japanese Salesman by Japanese filmmaker Mami Sunada, is a heartwarming film that follows the last months of a Japanese salesman, who is diagnosed with terminal cancer soon after retiring. The film is made by his daughter.

Yoko Ide’s Shoji and Takao, meanwhile, is the story of two men who spent 29 years behind bars on charges of burglary and murder before finally being acquitted this year. The film is the record of the men, who refused to give up hope, even in the toughest of times, and the people who supported them. Both films make their Middle East Premiere at DIFF 2011.

This is Not a Film, by Iranian filmmakers Mojtaba Mirtahmasb and Jafar Panahi, is a gripping docudrama following the imprisonment of Panahi, the internationally renowned neo-realist filmmaker who won the Camera d’Or at Cannes in 1995 for his debut film, The White Balloon, and the Golden Lion at Venice for The Circle.

From South Africa, director Khalid Shamis’ Imam and I, follows the heroic trail of Imam Abdullah Haron, the famous Muslim anti-apartheid leader and icon for peace and freedom following his death in prison. The film is made by his grandson.

Meanwhile, South Korean filmmaker Seung-Jun Yi’s tender Planet of Snail, is the award-winning story on the life of Young-Chan, who has been deaf and blind since childhood. Young-Chan has no idea how to participate in the world until he meets Soon-Ho, who also has a physical handicap. Together, the couple learns to communicate with the outside world by tapping each other’s fingers.

From China, acclaimed director Yu Guangyi returns with the outstanding Bachelor Mountain, the third in his documentary trilogy that included Timber Gang and Survival Song. The film examines the life and impossible love of a hardscrabble logger and labourer working in China’s Changbai Mountains where men are beasts of burden up for hire who battle the elements for survival.
 
Finally, Branwen Okpako’s Education of Auma Obama, narrates the life and times of Auma Obama, as depicted from her from homestead in Kenya, during the US presidential election of 2008 that brought her half-brother Barack Obama to power. The film will make its GCC Premiere at DIFF.

Nashen Moodley, Director of the Asia Africa Programme for DIFF, said: “Documentaries are a reflection of social realities. Our documentary showcase this year captures the aspirations and dilemma faced by the people in Asia and Africa; these films are inspiring, evocative and present vignettes of life in two of the world’s largest continents, as never seen before.”

The DIFF box office is now open online at www.dubaifilmfest.com. Additional information is also available through the Festival’s dedicated customer care number, 363 FILM (3456).

The Investment Corporation of Dubai is the title sponsor of the Dubai International Film Festival. The eighth edition of DIFF is held in association with Dubai Studio City. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah, home to 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 

Manama, Bahrain – : The Bahrain Financial Exchange (BFX), the first multi-asset exchange in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, is pleased to announce that Al Baraka Banking Group (ABG), a well-known leading international Islamic financial group, has become a registered user of Bait Al Bursa, the Islamic finance division of the BFX.

The BFX Bait Al Bursa’s offerings come at an appropriate time where the Islamic market is eager for new pioneering and innovative products. e-Tayseer, Bait Al Bursa’s Murabaha liquidity management platform, is designed to make Al Baraka Banking Group scheduling and execution of their Murabaha transactions more streamlined and afford its users the benefit of reduced trade life-cycle and manual paperwork procedures resulting in savings of time and cost in executing the transactions. Additionally, it also offers a secure online environment with identifiable Shariah-compliant underlying assets located in the GCC region.

Mr. Adnan Ahmed Yousif, President & Chief Executive & Member of the Board of Directors of ABG stated: “We are very pleased with our decision to become a registered user of Bait Al Bursa. Our group will benefit greatly from the advantages of its first product e-Tayseer which we trust will further strengthen our Murabaha dealings efficiencies and we wish the BFX as a whole all the best in delivering their future plans.” He added: “Innovative and pioneering initiatives like e-Tayseer will add-up to the efforts of the Islamic finance industry to achieve higher levels of excellence and sophistication.”

Mr Abdul Rahman Al Baker, Executive Director - Financial Institutions Supervision at CBB said: “We are delighted with the partnership between the Bahrain Financial Exchange and the Al Baraka Banking Group which we believe will benefit and improve the current method of conducting the Murabaha transactions by the Al Baraka Banking Group. Such innovative contributions by the BFX and the ABG will result in the further development of the Islamic Finance industry. The Central Bank of Bahrain supports such initiatives as they help in achieving greater transparency and improved efficiency in the liquidity management process between the Islamic financial institutions.”

Mr. Arshad Khan, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the BFX and the BFX Clearing and Depository Corporation (BCDC), said: “We welcome Al Baraka Banking Group and we take pride in partnering with such a reputed and leading Islamic financial institution. The participation of ABG on the e-Tayseer platform is a significant accomplishment for the BFX. We believe that both the ABG and the BFX share similar business principles and we look forward to working closely in the future.”

e-Tayseer, the first of its kind in the MENA region, is a fully automated platform for transactions in the supply, purchase and sale of assets for facilitating Murabaha transactions. e-Tayseer allows suppliers to place their assets onto the platform ready to be purchased by financial institutions. Financial institutions can then purchase these assets and conduct Murabaha transactions with counterparties to fulfil their liquidity management requirements in a secure online environment. e-Tayseer offers various Shariah-compliant assets located in the MENA region as well as globally, where all processes are automated end to end.

Leading company’s target to complement expected USD 7.6 billion growth for region’s printer segment by 2012  

July 17, 2011

Shinji Tada

Brother Gulf, a leader in home and business IT peripherals that focuses on the ‘Customer-First’ approach, has revealed its plans to grow by 22% by 2012 in the Middle East. The company’s confidence in driving growth over the next year complements recent industry reports showing that the region’s printer segment will reach USD 7.6 billion by 2012. According to Brother, the release of their latest lines of Digital Copier Printers (DCPs) and Multifunction Centres (MFCs) will act as key drivers in achieving the set growth target and are being packaged as perfect accompaniments for Small Office / Home Offices (SOHOs), Small & Medium Businesses (SMBs) and Small Workgroups of up to 25 users.

The increased demand for printing products and technologies in the Middle East has stirred in an influx of opportunities for local and international suppliers and printer vendors like Brother. This vibrancy in the printer segment has allowed industry experts to predict a USD 7.6 billion increase in revenues in 2012. Looking to take advantage of the expected growth, Brother aims at consolidating its regional market presence with the eight new models that were launched this year. All units are presented in a stylish and compact design, which is best suited for its SMEs and SOHO target markets. The three new Mono Laser Printers (MLPs), which include the HL-2130, HL-2240D and the HL-2270DW, offers a wide variety of user-friendly functions that enable users to choose from a range of print options with ease. Work space clutter can also be avoided with the wireless networking feature of the HL-2270DW for sharing with 25 users on the network. In fact, the HL-2270DW has been awarded  the “Pick“ of the year for SOHO by Buyers Lab (BLI) for it’s ease of use, convenience of wireless connectivity and a host of other features backed with a 3 Year Warranty. The entire range of Brother’s Mono Laser, Colour Laser and Colour LED products are backed with a 3 Year Warranty.

The MFC-7360, MFC-7470D and the MFC-7860DW are the latest additions in Brother’s Multifunction Centres. These three new models print at fast speeds, ranging from 24 to 26 pages per minute and are versatile “all in one” laser printer, scanner (color), copier, fax and PC Fax. Automatic double sided printing is available on the MFC 7470D and the MFC 7860 DW. Wired and wireless networking is available on the MFC 7860DW. The printers are easy to operate with a control panel and two-line LCD screen.

Meanwhile, the DCP-7055 and the DCP 7065DN are the newest Digital Copier Printers for Brother. These new units offer copying, printing and scanning functions that are standard on each of these models. The DCP 7065DN offers automatic duplex feature for automatic double sided printing, and hardwired network connectivity. These digital copier printers can print at 20 pages per minute at 2400 x 600 dpi print resolution, and have a two-line LCD display. All eight new models have been fitted with large paper trays that accommodate 250 sheets of paper, which is enough to meet the needs of any busy office. Remote management utilities such as the Web-Based Management or BR Admin Light, or BR Admin Professional 3 or Web BR Admin are bundled with the relevant models free of cost, allowing users to access the printers from any terminal and view usage and change settings conveniently.

“The Middle East region has demonstrated a strong demand for essential printing products and technologies, especially across SMEs and SOHOs. Today’s consumers prefer printers that can meet their daily operational requirements; help save costs and leave less of a carbon footprint on the environment. The continuing demand is expected to help drive in more growth for the region and also allow more opportunities for Printer vendors like Brother. We are confident that the release of our latest printer models will not only help us to meet our set growth target of 22 per cent by 2012 but will also help today’s businesses in increasing productivity and efficiency of their operations,” said Shinji Tada, Managing Director, Brother Gulf.

APID to complement upswing with adoption of new strategies and creation of more opportunities for interior design professionals

July 14, 2011

Total spending for the GCC’s interior design segment is expected to grow in 2011, signifying a dramatic increase from last year’s recorded figure of USD 56.9 billion, according to a recent report from Proleads, a leading business intelligence and research firm. In line with this positive forecast, the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID), an organization for professional interior designers in the Gulf Region, has also shared that there is an increased demand for interior design services across the GCC in general and the UAE, in particular. The increase in services can be seen in the UAE’s current batch of world-class development projects like hotels, mixed-use projects and villas. The strong growth balances the number of projects from 2009 to 2010, which totaled USD 21.8 billion - with the UAE representing two-thirds of the total project value.

The Proleads report has also revealed that the total spending for the UAE interior design segment is forecasted to grow to USD 22.5 billion this year. The spending refers to fixtures and facilities like curtain walling, doors, windows, canopy and skylights, stone cladding, swimming pools, garbage disposal, window cleaning, parking management, lifts, sanitary fittings, light fittings, external lighting, car park, landscaping, signage, kitchen, laundry and furniture. The projected increase has encouraged APID to launch and adopt new strategic initiatives and programs that primarily aim to create more opportunities for interior design professionals based in the Middle East region. Further, the move will allow APID to reinforce its ties with the interior design industry, connecting with new markets, strengthening existing business relationships and forging new partnerships.

“The GCC’s interior design industry is currently witnessing rapid growth and development and is strongly reflected in the high number of design projects that accompany the current batch of world class development projects in the region,” said Farida Kamber Al Awadhi, President, APID. “The increase in world-class development projects and the influx of leading interior design brands into the region is a reflection of the industry’s robustness and resilience amid the global economic downturn. APID affirms its commitment towards representing the best interests of the GCC’s design professionals and to provide them with a strategic platform that will allow them to strengthen business relationships and provide key opportunities for the region’s interior design community.”

APID is currently preparing for the region’s first ‘Festival of Interior Design’ (FOiD), which will be held from October 22 to 25, 2011 across Dubai. The event is part of APID’s strategic initiatives to highlight the key role of interior design in everybody’s lives and act as a platform to discuss the industry’s timely issues and also highlight the works of emerging talents and design firms in the region. The festival will be accompanied by the ‘Interior Design Congress, which will run on October 22, 2011, and will entail a program including four keynote speakers and two panel sessions featuring well-known design personalities. FOiD is slated to become a catalyst event that binds and unifies all interior design professionals in the region and allowing them access to key opportunities created by the event.

“APID remains steadfast in its commitment to improve the status and work environment of interior design professionals in the region, by implementing strategic initiatives and programs that are aimed at further developing and improving their interior design skills. These strategic programs also aim at giving the region a better understanding of the interior design segment and the design professionals that make up the industry. We are upbeat of this projected growth and have set our sights on reinforcing our presence in other areas in the region, envisioning a wider reach for APID members,” concluded Farida Kamber Al Awadhi.

Leading software and services provider to introduce region with essential anti-fraud solutions

May 09, 2011

SAS Middle East, the leading provider of business analytics software and services in the region, has announced its newly formed strategic partnership with leading global full service managed security provider, Paladion Networks. Under the terms of the partnership, the strategic alliance will see both companies work closely together in rolling out effective and reliable software and solutions that have been designed to address the region’s campaign against fraud and other forms of financial crimes. The new alliance complements SAS Middle East’s move to reinforce its market presence in the Middle East region’s banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector. The partnership will cover the UAE and the rest of the Middle East - ably combining key SAS technology strength with Paladion’s expertise in the BFSI domain to become one of the region’s most sought after technology anti-fraud implementers. To mark the new partnership, SAS and Paladion are hosting an exclusive executive seminar on ‘Fraud Risk’ today
(May 9, 2011) at the Address Hotel in Dubai Marina, Dubai. The interactive session will discuss key topics like the significance of implementing a fraud risk management program and how SAS can help clients deal with fraud.

According to SAS senior officials, the chief objective of the strategic alliance between SAS and Paladion is primarily aimed at taking the leadership in the region’s banking fraud risk management (FRM) domain. To help attain this, the two companies will facilitate essential information transfer/exchange sessions - allowing Paladion consultants to be trained and made familiar with SAS solutions. Recent industrial reports have shown that banks, insurance companies, health care organizations and government entities are seeing an increase in the incidence and sophistication of fraud, waste and abuse activities; fueled in large measure by the financial turmoil gripping the world’s economy. As part of its efforts to help in the campaign against financial crimes and fraud, SAS is leveraging its Enterprise Financial Crimes Framework. The new suite of solutions provide a technology infrastructure that integrates fraud detection, alert management, network analysis and case management - giving organizations the upper hand in detecting fraud in any form, at any touch point.

“The strategic collaboration between SAS and Paladion will help drive in a stronger market showing in the banking, financial services and insurance sector,“ said Amir Sohrabi, Alliances & Partner Development Manager, SAS Middle East. “The Middle East region is currently witnessing an increased demand for key banking and financial solutions to help deal with fraud and other forms of financial abuse and waste. Our partnership with Paladion will not only give us the advantage of promoting our Enterprise Financial Crimes Framework suite of solutions to the banking vertical but also give us the advantage of positioning ourselves as a leading technology risk solution implementer in the Middle East region.”

Paladion is a global full service managed security provider committed to delivering technology solutions to ensure impenetrable security to 400+ clients in 15 countries across Asia, US and Europe. The company’s industry expertise extends over Banking-Finance-Insurance, IT and Consulting, Telecommunications, Research & Development and Government. Paladion solutions encompass security assurance, compliance, governance, monitoring and management services. The company is staffed with some of the best talent in the Infosec industry - extensively trained and certified in CISSP, CISA, SANS, BS7799, CBCP, ISO 20000 and ISO 27001.

“This partnership seeks to leverage the technology strength of SAS and the implementation skills of Paladion. Paladion is upbeat with the expected increase in demand for key anti-fraud solutions and services across the region as other parts of the world have already demonstrated a demand in these services. We look forward to the success of this partnership and its aim of providing world-class solutions and services to the Middle East region’s banking finance and insurance segments,“ said Suveer Kalra, EVP & Global Head - Sales & Marketing, Paladion Networks.

Industry organisations use combined event platform to launch latest range of AV, entertainment and systems integration solutions

Interactive Class Software

Dubai, UAE, 23 April 2011: The Middle East’s booming US$2 billion a year audio visual business is turning an eye to the education sector, which is seen as an opportunity for growth, as younger generations are increasingly more tech savvy and educational institutions look for more interactive learning technology solutions in the classroom.

If one manufacturer of AV equipment has their way, all classrooms across the Middle East will be fitted out with their latest in interactive AV software, which they will be launching this month, at PALME Middle East - the region’s only trade event of its kind for professional lighting, audio, music, entertainment, audio visual and systems integration solutions.

Wavex Touch, a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-end AV equipment will be among many other major players in the AV and systems integrations technologies industry launching new products at PALME Middle East, taking place from 26-28 April at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

“We have made some major initiatives in interactive technology solutions in the Middle East, not only in the corporate segment, but also in the education segment of our business”, said Doaa Ramadan, Director, Middle East and Africa Operations, Wavex Touch.

“There has been huge growth in the education sector, with governments investing in large universities and colleges. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE are taking the initiative to create better teaching and learning environments, with interactive classroom technology a key focal point”. 

PALME | 2

Wavex Touch, who are gold sponsors at PALME Middle East, will be launching several products at the exhibition, including two products specifically targeting the education sector - the Wavex Interactive Whiteboards, and the Wavex Interactive Classroom software, where teachers can remotely manage and control students’ PCs in a classroom.

“We have been looking at opportunities to expand into the Middle East education market for quite some time and PALME Middle East has given us the ideal platform to launch our products and try to breakthrough,” added Ramadan.

Now in its ninth year, PALME Middle East will attract 200 exhibitors and more than 6,500 visitors from 68 countries as the industry looks towards major growth over the next few years. Several other major players will be using the show as a platform to launch their latest offerings.

Sony Professional Solutions, silver sponsors of the event, will display their latest line-up of installation projectors - an extension of their popular Digital Signage range.

Another leading manufacturer of display products, Mitsubishi Electric will showcase for the first time outside of Europe their revolutionary 50″ DLP Multi-Touch cube and 52″ LCD dual-touch screen systems.

Extron, a leading manufacturer of professional AV system products, will exhibit their newest products for AV system integration, and will also deliver several free-to-attend seminars titled ‘Digital that works on digital technology’; ‘Fiber Optics – AV at the speed of light’; and ‘Streaming high resolution video over IP Networks’.

APID to complement upswing with adoption of new strategies and creation of more opportunities for interior design professionals

March 24, 2011

Total spending for the UAE’s interior design segment is expected to grow to USD 22.5 billion in 2011, according to a recent report from Proleads, a leading business intelligence and research firm. In line with this positive forecast, the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID), an organization for professional interior designers in the Gulf Region, has revealed a complementing increased demand for interior design services in the Middle East region in general and the UAE, in particular. The increase in services can be seen in the UAE’s current batch of world-class development projects like hotels, mixed-use projects and villas. The strong growth balances the number of projects from 2009 to 2010, which totaled AED 80.3 billion - with the UAE representing two-thirds of the total project value.

The Proleads report also states that the forecasted spending on interior projects in all six GCC countries is estimated to have reached USD 56.9 billion in 2010 and will increase in 2011. The spending refers to fixtures and facilities like curtain walling, doors, windows, canopy and skylights, stone cladding, swimming pools, garbage disposal, window cleaning, parking management, lifts, sanitary fittings, light fittings, external lighting, car park, landscaping, signage, kitchen, laundry and furniture. The projected increase has encouraged APID to launch and adopt new strategic initiatives and programs that primarily aim to create more opportunities for interior design professionals based in the Middle East region. Further, the move will allow APID to reinforce its ties with the interior design industry, connecting with new markets, strengthening existing business relationships and forging new partnerships.

“The Middle East region’s interior design industry is currently witnessing rapid growth and development - strongly reflected in the high number of design projects that accompany the current batch of world class development projects in the region,” said Farida Kamber Al Awadhi, President, APID. “The increase in world-class development projects and the influx of leading interior design brands into the region is a reflection of the industry’s robustness and resilience amid the global economic downturn. APID affirms its commitment towards representing the best interests of the region’s design professionals and to provide them with a strategic platform that will allow them to strengthen business relationships and provide key opportunities for the region’s interior design community.”

APID has recently announced the launch of the region’s first ‘Festival of Interior Design’ (FOiD), which will be held from October 22 to 24, 2011 across Dubai. The event is part of APID’s strategic initiatives to highlight the key role of interior design in everybody’s lives and act as a platform to discuss the industry’s timely issues and also highlight the works of emerging talents and design firms in the region. The festival will be accompanied by the ‘Interior Design Congress, which will run on October 22, 2011, and will entail a program including four keynote speakers and two panel sessions featuring well-known design personalities. FOiD is slated to become a catalyst event that binds and unifies all interior design professionals in the region and allowing them access to key opportunities created by the event.

“APID remains steadfast in its commitment to improve the status and work environment of interior design professionals in the region, by implementing strategic initiatives and programs that are aimed at further developing and improving their interior design skills. These strategic programs also aim at giving the region a better understanding of the interior design segment and the design professionals that make up the industry. We are upbeat of this projected growth and have set our sights on reinforcing our presence in other areas in the region, envisioning a wider reach for APID members,” concluded Farida Kamber Al Awadhi.

Epson Stylus Office BX525WD with double-sided printing plus scanning and copying comes with front-loading paper tray and large LCD screen for simple menu navigation 

March 21, 2011

Khalil El-Dalu

Epson has announced the Middle East launch of its Stylus Office BX525WD, an all-in-one inkjet aimed at smaller business users. Offering fast double-sided printing plus scanning and copying, it provides a high performance solution with a significantly low colour cost per page.

Easy to use, the BX525WD has a front-loading paper tray for convenience and a 6.3cm LCD screen for clear and simple menu navigation. It can print from memory cards, and is network-ready so multiple users can print and scan over Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Presto! PageManager 9 software is included for easy document management and text editing of scanned materials.

The BX525WD is able to print on a wide range of media, making it a versatile choice, and uses Epson DURABrite Ultra Ink to deliver fast-drying prints that resist water, highlighter pens, smudging and fading. Users can save money with individual ink cartridges and XL inks for high volume, low-cost printing.

Thanks to the BX525WD’s power efficiency, qualified by ENERGY STAR®, energy bills and environmental impact are both reduced.

Khalil El Dalu, General Manager, Epson Middle East, said, “With a significantly low cost per page, the BX525WD is an ideal choice for micro businesses in the Middle East wanting a fast and reliable printer with low running costs. It can print on a variety of media, which is very useful for companies wanting to produce their own marketing materials.”