Emax Big Box
Emax, an electronic chain, leapfrogged into the big league with the launch of Saudi Arabia’s largest electronic store ‘Emax Big Box’ at Sitteen Street in Jeddah on Wednesday night. Emax Big Box is an addition to Al-Bandar group’s City Plaza and Centrepoint chain of stores across the Kingdom. The new Emax Big Box comes after the successful launch of the largest electronics store of the Middle East in the UAE. “Emax has also set its firm footprints in Bahrain, Oman and Qatar,” Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of Al-Bandar Trading, said. “The essence of all the experiences will be used to scale higher standards for Emax in the Kingdom,” he added. “City Plaza has been at the forefront of creating some of the most unique retailing concepts in the region. The Big Box concept aims to revolutionize technology retailing with its innovative business model that combines the best brands, overwhelming product diversity, a range of never-before-customer-friendly-services offering astonishing value through large format stores across the region. We have set the trend with this concept in the UAE and continue to improve,” he said, adding that Emax plans to invest SR500 million in the coming three years. The new showroom displays over 300 brands and more than 100,000 electronic, digital and electrical products. “The Emax Big Box will raise the bar for electronics retailing and the customer expectations for range and quality of service,” he said, adding that Emax also has plans to open 20 stores in the next three years across the Kingdom. Santosh Pai, COO Western Region, Centrepoint, said: “The Emax Big Box concept ensures that the customer has a single destination to everything related to infotainment range and services.”
NATPET
NATPET, owned 57 percent by Alujain Corporation, is about to complete its 400,000-ton/year Propylene and Polypropylene plant at the industrial city of Yanbu. NATPET will be the first company in the region to produce premium grades of polypropylene using the Spheripol process from LyondellBasell, such as Heterophasic and Random Copolymers. NATPET has chosen AlMajdouie DeRijke Logistics as its total logistics service contractor for a period of three years. AlMajdouie DeRijke Logistics claims to have vast experience in logistics activities and supply chain solutions for the petrochemical industries including technical and manpower expertise. The Logistics Support Services contract includes product handling, warehouse management, transportation and customs clearance of polypropylene from the point of production to FOB shipments and customer sites. Jamal Malaikah, president and COO of NATPET, signed the logistics contract with Abdullah Majdouie, chairman of AlMajdouie Logistics, recently. The strategic alliance of NATPET and AlMajdouie DeRijke Logisitcs through this logistics support services contract, will contribute to offering quality services to customer and enhancement of the supply chain cycle.
Bonyan
Bonyan International Investment Group, a major real estate company in Dubai, has awarded its AED350 million ‘Dubai Gate 2’ project to Transemirates Contracting (TEC), a major construction company in the Gulf region. The developer’s 35 storied residential development will offer 442 luxury apartments and seven retail areas within Jumeirah Lakes Towers, a dynamic waterfront community situated adjacent to Sheikh Zayed Road. The contract follows the resolution of a series of issues concerning the delay by the previous contractor in the construction phases, which the new contractor will be addressing, in line with the developer’s commitment to deliver the project by 2010. A formal contract was signed by Bonyan International Investment Group represented by Abdullah Atatreh, chairman, Bonyan Group, and Transemirates Contracting represented by Yousef Al-Mulla, MD, TEC. The new contractor has expressed its dedication to complete the luxury project, which will provide stylish one- two- and three-bedroom apartments with breathtaking views of the lakes and lush green gardens. ‘Dubai Gate 2’ will also feature a nautical blue and white façade to complement the aura of the high profile waterfront master development and will offer health and fitness facilities, including fitness centers, Jacuzzi and temperature controlled swimming pool. Further, the developer recently announced that it has opened an escrow account for the project with Emirates Islamic Bank in accordance with regulations set by the Dubai Land Department and Real Estate Regulatory Agency.
LUXURY TRADE FAIR
Islamic Relief is to benefit from various ways of fundraising at the Saudi Gulf Luxury Trade Fair, Europe’s first luxury brands and business trade fair set at the InterContinental London Park Lane for Aug. 2 and 3. Among Islamic Relief’s benefits will be a donation from the sale of the world’s most expensive abaya that is now near completion, designed exclusively by world famous fashion designer Bruce Oldfield who designed the wedding dress of Queen Rania of Jordan. The abaya will be covered in diamonds in collaboration with trade fair exhibitor Crosley Diamonds of London. “We are happy that the Saudi Gulf Luxury Trade Fair has chosen Islamic Relief as its long term charity partner,” Islamic Relief’s (UK) Deputy Manager Aziz Rajab-Ali said. “The Intercontinental has a history of supporting good causes and we in Islamic Relief are delighted to be working together for the benefit of children in need in Gaza. We hope that our partnership will also serve to strengthen relationships between our communities in the UK and the people of the Middle East,” he added. Islamic Relief is the charity partner for the trade fair and also its long-term partner. Over 50 companies and brands are taking part in the fair.
Khuyool Investments
Khuyool Investments, a MAJOR Dubai-based property developer and investment specialist, has successfully concluded its participation at the Expo Italia Real Estate 2008 (EIRE) recently held in Fiera Milano, Italy, where it generated massive response from leading developers and various real estate entities from across the globe. With aims to tap into the growing base of investors from Italy and the rest of Europe who are interested in the Dubai properties landscape, the developer has showcased its AED350 million ‘Stallion Tower’ Tower’ located in Dubai, in addition to its previously launched project, the AED650 million ‘Abjar Tower’ at the event. Backed with an extensive experience in developing high profile projects, Khuyool Investments has acquired a distinctive ability to identify projects with a high Return on Investment opportunities and the right mix of location and concepts. The developer leverages its valuable real estate knowledge by adopting best practices and the highest standards in conceptualizing its high-value offerings, including its AED650 million ‘Abjar Tower’, and the AED350 million ‘Stallion Tower,’ which was recently launched to coincide with the company’s anniversary. “Italy is one of the strongest economies in Europe and we consider it to be our gateway to enter and maximize the breadth of the European real estate market,” said Fahad Ali Mousa, chairman, Khuyool Investments. “Our participation in this event is part of our plans to take the company to the global level, as we currently look into establishing our presence in Syria, Kazakhstan, India and South Korea,” said Kussay Al-Sheikh, CEO, Khuyool Investments.
Fujitsu Siemens Computers
Following its success in the UAE, Fujitsu Siemens Computers has launched Service Express in the Kingdom. Service Express is the company’s latest customer service initiative created in partnership with DHL and aimed at providing its customers in the Kingdom with rapid collection and servicing of their Fujitsu Siemens Computers products without having to brave the road traffic. The service was available throughout the country and was launched at a series of distributor and reseller seminars in Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar which ended its three-day run yesterday. The concept will gradually be extended to some other countries across the Middle East region in the near future. The Service Express team ensured that the unit was collected from the customer’s home or office, serviced or repaired and delivered within a given time frame. During this time, customers were regularly updated on the status of their product. “The Service Express is our latest initiative to provide our customers with a superior level of after-sales service,” said Aiham Al-Akhras, Fujitsu Siemens Computers’ service manager for the Middle East.
Bab Rizq Jameel
A delegation from the World Bank including the knowledge economy expert Professor Jane Obert and training and education expert Andre Kirchberger visited Bab Rizq Jameel, one of Abdul Latif Jameel Community Services (ALJCSP) initiatives, recently. Samy Al-Anzy, manager of ALJCSP in Riyadh and Ohoud Al-Tamimi, manager of Bab Rizq Jameel, received the delegation. The guests attended a full presentation about ALJCSP and a detailed commentary about Bab Rizq Jameel. They visited certain commercial outlets in Bab Rizq Jameel center and showed appreciation to the activities going on there. Members of the World Bank delegation then visited the offices dedicated for owners of small projects, and received information about the services that the center provide, which include locating job opportunities at companies and offering such opportunities to job-seekers and providing location for companies to conduct interviews with candidates. The center also provides interest-free loans up to SR150,000 to owners of small projects, and provides support to productive households, in addition to other services that include training and employment. Bab Rizq Jameel creates 200 job opportunities every month. It is planning to launch 20 branches within the next three years, which will enable the center to create 4,000 job opportunities every month, which means 48,000 job opportunities a year.
ICDL GCC Foundation
ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body and the certification authority of the International Computer Driving License program in Gulf countries, has recently introduced the Gulf Computer Society (GCS), a new initiative for a membership organization with the commitment to extend and enhance digital awareness to a wider community in the region. GCS will represent the vision and voice of its members on the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education, the workplace and the society as a whole. In addition to developing the capability of individuals and organizations through the provision of consultations, conferences, journals, publications and digital libraries, GCS will also focus its activities on a number of critical ICT related issues. Among them is the endorsement of ICT certification programs that are based on internationally recognized standards; lobbying with the relevant policymakers for increased use of ICT in education, healthcare and public service; and fostering the promulgation of ethical use of technology to help governments reduce software piracy and security breaches. GCS will have an advisory board with senior representation from each Gulf country. Membership to GCS will first be open to ICDL enrolled candidates and ICDL Approved Training and Testing Centers comprising government organizations, academic institutions and training providers. Membership will then open up for industry players and IT professionals from the general public.