The National Commercial Bank (NCB) has won an award from Islamic Finance News, an international magazine, which specializes in financial and banking affairs. It has selected NCB as the “Best manager of Islamic assets during 2006.” Its distinguished role in creating investment funds that are Shariah-compliant and meeting the changing needs of clients with market fluctuations are given as the reasons for the NCB winning the award. NCB CEO Abdulkareem Abu AlNasr said that the award coincided with the bank’s outstanding results at all levels in 2006. He considered the award a new affirmation of the bank’s leading position in the area of managing different types of investment funds. It also enhances the bank’s distinguished reputation with specialists in the financial and economic sectors at local and regional levels. The bank has been given this award for the third time.
Sunsilk
A “Sunsilk Total” makeover campaign was held in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Dubai. The competition was launched to showcase Sunsilk’s new “Color Boost Collection” hair care line. The collection focuses on making sure hair look shiny, smooth and vibrant. “Each line has carefully been crafted to make sure no matter what color your hair is you can experience an ultimate gloss shine. Sunsilk strongly believes that if women look their best then they are going to feel their best,” a company spokesman said. Thirty women from all over the UAE were chosen to take part in the event and received a total beauty transformation from celebrity hairstylist Fadia El- Mendele. All of the UAE winners received the grand prize package, which included a new hairstyle and hair color, pedicure, manicure, and facial makeup.
Al-Sadhan
Riyadh-based Al-Sadhan Trading Company, which began its work in the retail sector by opening a supermarket by its founder Abdel Aziz ibn Omar Al-Sadhan 55 years ago, has established Al-Mujaz Training Co. to offer a diploma course in retail store operation and management, described as the first of its kind in the Middle East. It has invested more than SR20 million in training as its contribution to the Kingdom’s ongoing Saudization program. The Al-Sadhan group, which operates five super and hypermarkets in the capital, includes some other companies. One of them Awaed Real Estate Development and Investment Company is involved in developing, operating and managing commercial centers. Khalid Al-Sadhan, member of the board of directors of Al-Sadhan Trading Group, said: “We are focused on attracting highly skilled and specialized employees and on training and development at all levels of employment.”
Aramex
Aramex, a total transportation solutions provider, has upgraded its comprehensive trucking network in Saudi Arabia. The network, which connects the company’s three main hubs in the Eastern, Central and Western provinces through daily trips from and to Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah, offers a faster and more effective solution for customers. According to the announcement, Aramex has upgraded its already established Kingdom-wide network by investing in a 12-strong fleet of 50 feet vehicles. These trucks will facilitate transportation between the Kingdom’s three main hubs and ensure a timely delivery through Aramex’s multi-mode solution of land, sea and air freight. Hussam Baraqouni, country manager at Aramex, said: “The aim in making these changes has been to sharpen our focus on timely delivery. The network will operate more efficiently throughout the Kingdom.”
Swarovski
Swarovski Middle East has announced its new Crystal Nights collection. This collection has been created in partnership with leading GCC designers and manufacturers of traditional garments. Crystal Nights celebrates and underlines the elegance and heritage of the Middle East woman by creating dazzling creations in abayas, shaylas and jalabiyas. Participating designers have drawn on the vast array of new Swarovski crystal cuts, colors and crystal innovations to assemble beautifully unique and cutting edge designs in traditional clothing, specifically made with the fashionably conscious Khaleeji female consumer in mind. Embodying and strengthening the already high cooperation and initiative between Swarovski and leading local designers, this new collection further shows new and immensely inspired methods and techniques on using crystal as an integral part of the design process.