UAE SUPPORTS BSA
The UAE’s Ministry of Economy (MoE) recently met with representatives from Microsoft and Business Software Alliance (BSA), the international association established by the software industry to promote a safe and legal digital world, as part of BSA’s preparations to launch a major anti-piracy ad and media campaign across the UAE. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Alshihhi, undersecretary, planning sector, MoE, discussed the campaign’s strategy with Jawad Al-Redha, Microsoft’s IPR manager in the Gulf region and BSA co-chairman in the Middle East. “The Ministry appreciates the efforts of Microsoft and BSA, which aim to support the UAE government rid the country of software piracy; an occurrence that has been identified as one of the major threats to our socioeconomic development. Software piracy not only deprives governments, organizations and ordinary citizens of legitimate sources of revenue, but it also causes job losses and stimulates a higher rate of unemployment,” said Alshihhi. “This ad campaign will help strongly deliver the message about the negative impact of piracy to the society and to every individual as well. This initiative will also further improve the country’s global image as a secure investment destination, thereby enhancing the ability to attract foreign investors. We will support this awareness campaign and will provide any assistance required to ensure its success,” added Alshihhi. The comprehensive campaign will include all media outlets in the UAE in a bid to reach out to as many individuals and organizations as possible. According to statistics provided by international market intelligence firm IDC, the UAE has the lowest piracy rate in Middle East at 35 percent, and is the only country from the region to figure in the world’s top 20 countries with the best anti-piracy performance. “Microsoft, in its capacity as a member of BSA, is committed to assisting government efforts to combat software piracy by providing information that leads to piracy reduction, as well as launching effective programs such as public awareness drives. We are pleased to collaborate with the UAE Ministry of Economy in this ad and media campaign as we continue our joint efforts to control the spread of piracy,” said Jawad Al-Redha.
ADNEC LIGHTS GRANDSTAND
In honor of the inaugural World Future Energy Summit (WFES) held from Jan. 21 – 23, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC) is lighting its historic Grandstand green to visually represent Abu Dhabi’s world leadership in energy production and the importance of the evolving global energy market. The historic Grandstand which, for many years, was used by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, the late president of the UAE, to view parades and other national celebrations, has been integrated into the exhibition center and now contains a spacious 2,000 square meter food court, a retail area featuring an Etihad booking office, Emirates Post Office, National Bank of Abu Dhabi and a car rental office, as well as offices for ADNEC Management and some of the world’s top exhibition organizers. Ahmad Humaid Al-Mazrouie, managing director of ADNEC, said, “With green lights beaming onto ADNEC’s iconic architecture, no-one will miss this visual spectacular. This striking visual will complement this first-of-its-kind conference and exhibition in the world to address the importance of global energy conservation.” The Grandstand was lit green on Khaleej Al-Arabi Street, from Jan. 21 to 23 between 6 p.m. and 1 a.m.
EFT, EMIRATES BANK SIGN PACT
The Emirates Financial Towers (EFT) has signed an agreement with Emirates Bank, an Emirates NBD company, to provide AED 285 million worth of Credit facilities, to finance the construction of its venture based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Hani Abu Auida, chief executive officer of EFT who signed the agreement with Majid Al-Yousuf, head of corporate banking at Emirates Bank. The Emirates Financial Towers is a twin tower development consisting of 26 floors of Grade-A office space, retail offices, and residential units, with building costs reaching around AED 600 million. This move comes in line with the EFT’s endeavor to provide the most appropriate means to guarantee the uninterrupted progress in the construction of the widely anticipated project, in order to meet its deadline. For this end, EFT has signed a series of agreements for the main contracting, equipment, maintenance, the providing of mortgage services to clients, and project management. Commenting on the new pact, Dr. Hani Abu Auida, Chief Executive Officer of EFT said: “Our strategic quality partnership with Emirates Bank will pave the way for long term relations as well as helping to implement our mutual vision in the development of these innovative and spectacular towers. We had chosen Emirates bank due to their outstanding banking and financial services they offer. Majid Al-Yousuf, Head of Corporate Banking at Emirates Bank, said: “We are confident that the facilities provided by Emirates Bank will bear good fruit as we will, God willing, enjoy the visual magic of these two eye catching towers situated in a prime location within Dubai’s future financial center.”
PRA GULF ELECTS NEW BOARD
The Gulf Chapter of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA GC) has elected a new board of directors for 2008-09, with Faisal Al-Zahrani of Saudi Aramco as president and Sarah Al-Ayed, co-founder and managing partner of Trans-Arabian Creative Communications (TRACCS) Saudi Arabia, as one of its vice presidents. Sultan Al Bazie of Attariq Communications is its executive vice president. Its other vice presidents are Jassim Fakhroo of Hamad Medical City, Qatar; Etedal Al-Ayyar of Way Communications, Kuwait, Mohammed Kirat of University of Sharjah, Fahad Ibrahim Al-Shehabi, PR Officer in the Bahrain Parliament and president of the Bahrain PR Organization, Hassan Al-Saleh of TRACCS Oman, for the Western Province, and Humoud Al-Ghobaini of Mobily, Riyadh, Sunil John, managing director, Asdaa, and Manal Al-Hazza of Saudi Aramco. Reviewing progress made over the past two years, Dr. Thuraya Al-Arrayed, chairperson of the nominations committee of the chapter, congratulated members on the smooth flow of the election process and said that the association had witnessed a number of conferences and specialized symposiums highlighting the vision and philosophy of IPRA and PR practitioners in the region.
EYE OF DUBAI, DTCM MEETING
Eye of Dubai, the premier comprehensive tourism and investment guidebook and online portal for Dubai residents and visitors, discussed opportunities of mutual cooperation with Khalid Ahmed Bin Sulayem, director general of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), during his visit to the Eye of Dubai stand at TDIM (Tourism Development Projects and Investment Market) 2008, which was held in Dubai from Jan. 20-22. They discussed mutual cooperation that could boost the UAE’s tourism sector, at a time when the country is estimated to account for AED 858 billion or 85 percent of the AED 1.2 trillion worth of tourism-related investments in the GCC. Abdullah Al-Harbi, CEO, Eye of Dubai, said, “The UAE’s stature as the number one tourism destination in the region has been widely acknowledged, and recent developments and tourism investments in the country clearly suggest that the UAE will enjoy this status for several years to come. We had fruitful discussions with the director general of DTCM, following which we would be working closely on several initiatives to make the tourism sector more attractive.” “The response generated by the TDIM is proof of the rapid growth of the tourism sector in the region, especially in Dubai, and Eye of Dubai is totally committed to take Dubai’s tourism industry to new heights,” he said.