eXtra, a major consumer electronics retailer in Saudi Arabia, has won tap rankings in a recent survey for providing the best working environment for its employees. It has been rated the best among large companies in the Kingdom in the retail working environment category and fifth overall in the survey. The study was completed by the financial and management consultancy, Team One, in cooperation with Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper. The survey identified the top working environments in the country across three categories: Large companies, small and medium sized enterprises and government institutions. These rankings were determined through extensive independent research that measured metrics such as overall employee satisfaction, quality of training programs, performance management, recruitment and employee relations. Mohamed Galal, chief executive officer of eXtra, said: “We firmly believe that a large part of eXtra’s success comes from the people who work with us.” An annual internal survey conducted at eXtra this year similarly showed 83 percent overall satisfaction among employees, marking continued growth since the surveys were introduced in 2007. Galal added: “We believe that in order to create the ideal working environment we must be effective communicators. We have an open-door policy so all of our employees can voice their needs when and to whom they wish.” eXtra is one of the Kingdom’s top 20 fastest-growing companies, according to recent ranking by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority. Headquartered in Alkhobar, eXtra offers more than 12,000 products — including an enormous range of leading international brands.
Saudi Arabia’s low fare carrier nasair recently launched its services to Lahore, Pakistan. The new destination is being served by nasair’s young, comfortable Airbus A320. The fully-booked XY 831 flight took off from Riyadh and Jeddah, offering passengers the full array of nasair’s smart services including a competitive fare, online booking, the onboard nas café, seat selection and online excess baggage services. Turki Al-Jawini, deputy chief commercial officer, said: “This is another success added to nasair’s credit. This success indicates our strategic planning and development in targeting Pakistan as well as the importance of Lahore and constantly offering our passengers ‘the smart choice’. Flights between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have witnessed an increasing demand, not only due to the presence of a large Pakistani population in Saudi Arabia, but also as a matter of the economical role that Pakistan plays for interested investors and businessmen.” This debut Lahore flight represented a milestone in nasair’s commitment to servicing passengers who travel between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan — a commitment that has expanded into other cities in Pakistan such as Islamabad. This flight carried the first of many of expatriates and family members, who are thrilled over widening travel options between the Kingdom and their country. The airline’s fleet is considered the youngest in the region with Airbus A320s and Embraer E190s flying passengers in complete comfort, made even more accessible by the competitive pricing.
General Motors’ dealers in the Middle East reported total sales of 67,624 vehicles in the first half of 2011 — up 22 percent compared to the same period in 2010. The sales growth was recorded throughout the region for the company’s line-up of passenger cars, crossovers, sport utility vehicles and pickups across its three brands: Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac. Retail sales — purchases made by individual customers — rose by 54 percent and represented a healthy 71 percent of total sales. The combined total sales of the Chevrolet Cruze, Malibu, Camaro and Captiva; the GMC Terrain; and the Cadillac SRX and CTS Coupe increased by 35 percent during the first six months of 2011. Over the same period, sales of passenger cars increased by 26 percent. Combined sales of SUVs and crossovers were up 19 percent, while pickups experienced 37 percent sales growth. In addition, total sales of Chevrolet soared by 29 percent during the first half of 2011, while sales of GMC experienced a 15 percent increase. “June capped an outstanding performance in the first half of 2011 for us in the Middle East,” said John Stadwick, president and managing director of General Motors Middle East Operations. June solidified a successful first half of 2011 for GM Middle East with monthly sales growth of 27 percent — the sixth consecutive month in 2011 of double-digit sales growth. During the same month, GMC sales grew by 39 percent representing its second best monthly sales performance over the past 32 months. Total sales of GM passenger cars grew by 26 percent during the first half of 2011. The gain was driven by robust sales of the Chevrolet Cruze, which were up 63 percent compared to the same period in 2010.
STC recently launched its VERVE service at the Coffee Day Café in King Fahd Road, Riyadh, making it the first smart café the Kingdom to provide this service. The launch was attended by Maziad bin Nasser Al-Harbi, vice president of residential sector services at STC and Ibrahim Al-Shubaili, manager of Coffee Day Café. STC’s VERVE service enables customers to browse the Internet, transfer data and download programs along with various applications such as network and interactive games, video calls, remote e-education and health care as well as watching HD television channels and TV channels that preview 3D content, all with the highest speeds in the Kingdom. The deployment of VERVE service in the Coffee Day Café is part of STC’s aim to make its Internet services available for customers in all places at all times from one source at the most competitive prices in the Kingdom, enabling users to save time and money while conducting online business and other internet activities as well as developing their cultural and scientific capabilities. STC is working to provide customers in all areas in the kingdom with VERVE service in order to enhance Internet services in Saudi society and transform it into a an information community in which the Internet is a vital factor and part of a sophisticated modern lifestyle. VERVE is available in two packages and has become established as the market leader for both home and business use due to its being the first in the Kingdom to provide secure Internet in large and standard speeds ranging between 40-100 mega (according to package) with attaching speed up to 10 mega. Customers can get VERVE service by calling the Customer Care Service Center on 907 or visiting any of the STC offices throughout the Kingdom.
Carat MENA is continuing its rapid expansion across the Middle East and North Africa by opening a new office in Riyadh to support its growing portfolio in the Kingdom. The operation will be wholly owned by Aegis Media, Carat’s parent company and will work in partnership with the Jeddah-based office that was established in 2006. The office opening and necessary investment illustrates the importance Carat is placing on the Kingdom’s media market, which is worth over $1 billion, and the subsequent need to support clients from both business hubs of the Kingdom. Ahmed Haidar, who was previously managing director in Jeddah and is now managing director for Saudi Arabia, will lead the office and has already hired Jean-Claude Gholam, previously at MEC, as head of operations in Riyadh. Together, they will spearhead the growth of the Riyadh operation which opens with an existing client base retained on a regional and/or global scale. This includes Total, Nokia, Kellogg’s, Ikea and Philips. Speaking about the new office, Antonio Chedrawy, regional corporate services director for Aegis Media, said: “An expansion into new territory is dictated by the opportunity it offers for a business that has a unique edge. In this regard, Riyadh has huge promise fueled by urbanization and a growing sense of consumerism. We expect to create campaigns that will redefine the media market for Riyadh and resonate with Saudi’s on a whole new level.” Managing Director Ahmad Haidar added: “The advertising market in Saudi Arabia grew over 10 percent in the first quarter of 2011. This is fueled by clients that are stretching marketing budgets across the entire spectrum of communication channels and demanding partners.”
The Arab Conference for Information & Communications Security (ACICS) will be held on Oct. 3 and 4, according to Abdullatif Al-Suraie, general manager of the Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT). Al-Suraie, head of ACICS higher steering committee, said: “the new conference timing was recommended by the conference’s Scientific Committee mandated with finalizing the list of papers and research that will be presented during conference proceedings”. The decision was driven by the request of local and international specialized companies, who believe that the new schedule will allow them to raise their level of participation and preparation. CAIT welcomed the enriching and committed attitude of these companies in light of the great value ACICS will add to CAIT’s role in building and managing the e-government programs in the State of Kuwait. Al-Suraie said ACISC is a CAIT initiative that is held in cooperation with United Marketing and Organizing Exhibitions Co. (UNIEXPO). Many prominent industry specialists have confirmed their participation, he said. Commenting on ACICS’ objectives, Al-Suraie said ACICS aims at presenting the latest trends and technologies in information and communications security. He added: “The conference introduces the information security systems and services implemented by other countries in their e-government projects or in their security-sensitive health or financial systems”. Al-Suraie said ACICS will be the forum for presenting many information security-related papers and studies along with many products and services. Al-Suraie said ACICS will enable industry specialists to exchange knowledge and views on the latest security threats that face information systems, and the technologies that help us counter those threats. Al-Suraie said ACICS will be an added value to CAIT and all other participating agencies, organizations, companies, specialists, and guests.
