Emax Expanding Its Presence in GCC and UAE Countries

Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of Emax

Neelesh Bhatnagar, chief executive officer of Emax, announced that the consumer electronics retailer is planning on opening ten more stores throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council states employing an additional 500 people by the end of 2012.

Bhatnagar said that Emax already has stores in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. The only GCC country where there is no Emax yet is Kuwait, but according to Bhatnagar they are just looking for the right opportunity to open there as well.

"Currently, we have 32 stores in the GCC and by the end of the year we'll have 40 to 42 stores,” Bhatnagar said. "Four will be opened in the UAE and the rest mainly in Saudi Arabia."

The plan is to employ about 200 more workers at the four new outlets in the UAE.

"In the UAE, we have now nine stores. We opened two recently – one in Dubai Mall and one in Fujairah City Centre. We are expecting to open another four – if not more – in UAE this year – one each in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah and two in Dubai. We are constantly looking for space, for example in existing malls we don't have stores like Deira City Centre and Ibn Battuta Mall. We have been talking to landlords and leasing people; in case something comes up there those will be incremental," the Emax CEO added.

UAE Among World’s Most Expensive Internet Providers

UAE Provides Expensive Internet Services

A report published on Thursday by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in the Arabic language daily newspaper Emirat Alyoum states that the UAE has one of the most expensive internet and phone services in the world; and that is despite a series of tariff cuts during the past several years.

"Telecommunications services in the UAE are far costlier than those in Europe. There is a big price gap between the UAE and Europe especially in high-speed broadband services, which could reach $1700 a month."

Internet charges also set the record for costliness among the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries. However the UAE does have one of the least expensive mobile phone services not only among the GCC but among other Arab states as well.

A second report published by the Arab Regulators Network (AREGNET) based in Cairo, a group which incorporates 15 of the region’s government telecom regulators, said that fixed-line phone services used for business in the UAE are “very costly.” The study found that residential telephone services where quite a bit less expensive.

Also stated in the report is the fact that the UAE is only one of four Arab countries that even operate high-speed broadband services within its borders.

Month-Long “Box Appeal” Fundraiser Comes to a Close in Oman

Already in its fourth year, “The Box Appeal” is a charitable campaign designed to help over 10,000 impoverished individuals across the Middle East to acquire basic supplies at no cost.
First begun in 2007 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dubai Media City, its operation soon expanded until over 20,000 boxes were distributed across the region over the past four years. The original intention of what was first dubbed the “Shoebox Appeal” was to supply laborers throughout the UAE with everyday necessities whose purchase would have taxed their limited resources. The success of this first effort caught the attention of the Rezidor Hotel Group which decided to bring the charity push to the entire region.

Box Appeal’s First Year in Oman

Radisson Blu Muscat

This year, from August 15 to September 15 the Radisson Blu and Park Inn Hotels in Muscat held the “Box Appeal” in Oman for the first time. The campaign has taken on a broader perspective, aiming to help all those in society who have less. These same hotels in locations in the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain as well as Oman participated, helping to collect about 10,000 boxes of basic supplies to distribute to underprivileged people throughout MENA.

“As many as 13 hotels from across the MENA region are expected to take part,” says Michael Jacobi, general manager, Radisson Blu, Muscat. “The two hotels in Muscat are aiming to fill 1,000 boxes collectively, helping to ensure this is the most successful edition of the appeal to date.”

The campaign works simply. Someone who wishes to take part is encouraged to get a small box from either the Radisson Blu or the Park Inn Hotels. They can also acquire a box from City Centre Muscat or Qurum City Centre, the Box Appeal partners. Once they have a box the volunteer then fills it with small, but essential everyday supplies, such as toothpaste, a toothbrush, comb, brush, towel, soap and anything else they feel is useful and appropriate.

Great Community Spirit

A local charity, Dar Al Atta’a will then distribute the boxes to families and individuals most in need. Jacobi added that many additional local companies have promised to lend a hand to the campaign in what Jacobi called an “astonishing show of community spirit.”

Responsible Business Practice

The general manager of the Park Inn Muscat, Rabih Zein, added that,

“The campaign reflects the Park Inn philosophy of responsible business. We have been actively involved in a plethora of charity activities and social service programs such as blood donation and marathon collection. We encourage people across Oman to come forward and collect, fill and return the boxes in the true spirit of giving. Most of us hardly give a thought to these everyday commodities but the boxes will make a difference to someone for who even the basics count as luxuries.”

Michael Jacobi concurred:

“We hope the simplicity of The Box Appeal campaign will draw the attention of the public. Anyone can do this – it is so easy to get involved and contribute,” stated Jacobi.

Cooperation Agreement Signed in Abu Dhabi with the OOC

OOC and IPIC Sign Agreement

The Oman Oil Company signed an agreement with the International Petroleum Investment Company this week in which the parties will undertake to cooperate on investment projects within the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors.

The agreement was signed by the CEO of the OOC, Ahmed bin Salim al Wahaibi, and a representative of IPIC, Khadim Abdullah al Qubaisi. Present at the ceremony were also Shaikh Mansoor bin Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister, Presidential Affairs Minister, and IPIC Chairman; and Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad al Rumhy, Minister of Oil and Gas. IPIC is an investment company which is owned by the UAE.

The Chairman of the OOC and Under Secretary of the Ministry of Oil and Gas, Nasser bin Khamis al Jashmi said that this deal will enable the parties to create a variety of petrochemical projects and start oil refineries as well as allowing the partners to exchange expert knowledge and technology in a number of different areas.

In addition Khadim Abdullah al Qubaisi said that he was pleased with the agreement with the OOC, stating that, “this agreement will be a starting point for investment projects in various local or global circles. Projects to be implemented by the agreement will aim at availing job opportunities for the nationals in the two states.”

“We are working hard for deepening the relations between the two brotherly countries to characterize the spirit of co-operation and integration between the GCC states. We will exploit the agreement in investment in the projects that have positive economic influences and interests of the two brotherly states,” Al Qubaisi also acknowledged.

Also present at the signing was Oman’s Ambassador to the UAE, Shaikh Mohammed Abdullah al Qatabi.

Ayse Arkut Joins Gulfbankers as Country Managing Partner

The prestigious regional provider of professional management solutions, Gulfbankers Executive Search has announced that they have chosen Ms. Ayse Arkut to join the firm as the Country Managing Partner for Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Gulfbankers specializes in the Banking and Financial Industry, especially focused in the Gulf, the Middle East and North Africa, and is headquartered in Dubai.

Ms. Arkut appears especially suited to her appointment, with much experience as a C-level executive. Her most recent employment was as a Head of Banking at a famous recruiting and consulting firm. Her past experience also includes senior level jobs at well-respected global companies including Glaxo Smithkline, IIR Middle East and ITP.

The Chief Executive Officer of Forum International, Mr. Adel Al Alawi remarked on Ms. Arkut’s appointment: "We have been patient in our search to add value to our current corporate vision and expand and diversify our long horizon-strategies. I am very excited about Ms. Arkut corporate vision; she brings a wealth of experience in the Executive Search industry."

Tecom and WSI Joining to Sponsor Digital Marketing Summit in Dubai

Internet use has been growing exponentially in the UAE with almost 3,800,000 internet users as of last June. That figure represents a huge percentage of internet penetration; about 76% in the UAE. With those kinds of figures beckoning it is the next logical step for businesses in the UAE to embrace digital marketing.

Senior digital marketing consultant Husam Jandal of WSI offered his comments on this subject during a media roundtable which was held in order to announce and stimulate interest in the upcoming “DigitalOne” WSI Digital Marketing Summit. The summit is being organized together with Tecom Investments Media Cluster and will be held on February 10 at the Address Dubai Marina.

APICORP: Show Interest in Funding Renewable Energy Projects in the UAE

Chief Executive Director General of the Arab Company for Petroleum Investments APICORP, Ahmed Al-Naimi, the company will contribute to financing projects in new and renewable energy that are performed in the UAE, and in Abu Dhabi in particular.

He said that APICORP representatives will visit Abu Dhabi soon, to study a number of projects in renewable energy, and determine the size of contributions to the Company, expected at the end of the meeting of the Board of Directors of APICORP in the Syrian capital Damascus yesterday, to encourage the Arab oil countries to re-launch a large number of energy projects for implementation, after being postponed due to the global financial crisis.

Ahmed Al-Naimi added that the board agreed to finance a project to establish an aluminum manufacturing plant for Ma’aden Arabia, which will cost a total of about 500 million dollars, contribute to (APICORP) in the amount of 75 million dollars.