Google Appoints New Managing Director for its Business in MENA

Posted on February 12, 2017 by مشرف

Google announced today that Lino Cattaruzzi has joined its business in the Middle East and North Africa to lead its operations as their new Managing Director. Lino Cattaruzzi comes with over twenty years of experience in the tech industry where he previously led the Google business in Mexico as Country Director and before that Argentina. Cattaruzzi also spearheaded the global Sales Strategy team for Online Media Solutions at Google’s headquarters in California; and was in charge of the Online Sales Organization for Germany, Switzerland and Austria while based out of Dublin.

Lino comments “After eight years at Google, I am excited to start a new challenge within the company and look forward to working with some very talented Googlers here in the Dubai office. I find the MENA region to be truly fascinating and believe there is a lot more to be done in unlocking its digital potential. Since Google established its presence in MENA eight years ago, a significant effort went in successfully boosting the wide adoption of digital across large and small businesses in MENA.”

In his new role, Lino will lead the efforts to enable local business partners scale growth online and engage with consumers, as well as help the wider digital ecosystem through scalable programs and initiatives.

Before joining Google, Lino held several managerial positions at AOL Latin America, including being President for Latin America and their subsidiary in Argentina.

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Saudi HealthCare Exhibition The biggest gathering of local and international healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia

Posted on February 12, 2017 by مشرف

The economic vision 2030 has set clear objectives to achieve sustainable economic growth, increase the contribution of non-oil sectors in the economy through enhancing Public Private Partnership.

The Health Sector being one of the vital sectors is gaining significant governmental support and has launched several initiatives which include increasing the private sector spending on health care from 25% to 35%.

Privatization, one of the initiatives adopted by the Saudi Ministry of Health, was launched over six stages during a three years period that will expand the private sector’s contribution in the health care sector by offering lucrative opportunities. In Saudi Arabia more than 249 public hospitals affiliated with the ministry of health, across the Kingdom, in addition to 39 public hospitals, and 127 Private Hospitals.

In line with the expected development in this sector, the Saudi HealthCare Exhibition 2017 comes to gather regional and international companies, key traders, distributors and service providers, officials and decision-makers in the Saudi health sector to communicate and initiate partnerships.

Based on the achievements recorded in the previous edition, with more than 551 exhibiting companies, from 42 countries, and 25, 351 visitors, the organizing company is expecting a resounding success for this year’s edition of the exhibition which will be held during the period between 8 to May 10, 2017 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

It is worth mentioning that Riyadh Exhibitions Co. Ltd., is a Saudi company specialized in organizing exhibitions, conferences and other trade events. The company caters to several activities for various economic sectors. Throughout its 35 years, REC has organized more than 440 unique and successful shows and conferences renowned for their innovation, professionalism and attention to details. REC boasts an international presence, supported by over 120 commercial & industrial bodies from more than 50 countries. Regionally, REC dominates with its wide range of events programs, serving 20 economic and financial sectors in the Middle East. REC’s leading events are certified by UFI.

 

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SOUQ.com and SAP Tie-Up to Accelerate Real-Time Transactions and Fuel Middle East E-Commerce

Posted on February 8, 2017 by مشرف

Real-time digital transactions will transform Middle East e-commerce by 2020, SOUQ.com, the region’s largest e-commerce platform, announced today in a tie-up with SAP. In line with this prediction, the partnership between SOUQ.com and SAP will help accelerate real-time transactions to support the scaling up of Middle East small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and further drive the e-commerce market.

According to a recent report by online payment provider Payfort, the Middle East’s e-commerce market is set to nearly triple in value, from USD 25 billion in 2015 to USD 69 billion by 2020.

Most of the Middle East’s e-commerce growth will come in a massive shift from business-to-consumer transactions in items such as mobile phones, clothes, and watches, to business-to-business items.

The rise in business-to-business will be experienced primarily by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), selling large quantities of items such as office furniture, rooftop solar panels, and medicine.

Partnership with global technology company SAP and systems integrator NTT Data for the digital roadmap will support SOUQ.com as well as overall e-commerce industry growth. The core is an end-to-end enterprise resource planning solution that runs on the real-time SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud.

“SOUQ.com enables regional SMEs to start and grow their online business using our solid technology platform, technical assistance, and market exposure. SMEs on our platform have seen unparalleled success.  In line with the region’s SME-backed e-commerce growth, the business-to-business market will be the next major digital economy growth driver,” said Ronaldo Mouchawar, CEO and Co-Founder of SOUQ.com.

The region is poised to become a key player in the global e-commerce market and today’s tech savvy and connected consumers expect access to everything wherever, whenever and in real-time. This partnership with SAP will further scale up our platform and provide real-time, robust, and secure e-commerce platform for SMEs to grow exponentially and sell thousands of items effortlessly at one time directly to large enterprises,” added Ronaldo Mouchawar.

“Real-time is the driver of e-commerce – whether in completing transactions or identifying new customer shopping habits. This partnership promotes the sharing of global best practices, further solidifying  SOUQ.com as the Middle East’s top e-commerce platform, driving the digital economy and embracing millions of more e-commerce sellers and buyers,” said Tayfun Topkoc, Managing Director, SAP UAE.

Wisam Daoud, COO of SOUQ.com, added, “As the largest e-commerce platform in the region, we focus on the value we bring through technology and making online shopping as seamless and enjoyable as possible for our customers. This partnership with SAP is our next step to further enhance our customer experience and operations and thereby boost the E-commerce industry

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Operating 9 hotels in 4 cities Dur Hotel Operations launches its first annual roadshow in Riyadh

Posted on February 8, 2017 by مشرف

Dur Hospitality’s hotel operation division launched its first annual roadshow that kicked off in Riyadh, on January 24th at Riyadh Palace hotel, and will continue to cover the cities of Jeddah and Mekkah.

This roadshow that gather senior representatives from Dur hospitality and Makarem hotels aims to promote Dur’s hotel operation expertise in Saudi Arabia, to their high-value clients and partners who will have the chance to experience firsthand the international standards and unique services the hotels provide to the guests.

The event will also shed light on the award winning Makarem Hotels, the Saudi Grown hotel brand owned by Dur hospitality, who had recently launched a series of exclusive services among which, the spiritual concierge the Karam Card and the 7 languages website that caters to its diversified clients’ portfolio visiting the hotels from all over the world.

Dr. Denis Sorin, President of Hotel Operations at Dur Hospitality, said: “This event presents a unique opportunity to communicate directly with our valued partners and present to them our diversified services.”

He added: “we at Dur hotel operation division follow a systematic approach that ensures the long and sustainable relations with our partners and with the help of our centralized sales services we make sure we cater to our client’s diversified needs.”

Dur Hospitality is committed to expanding its hotel operation portfolio where it had recently announced signing 2 agreements to operate two hotels at Dar al-Hijra project in Medina, and another franchise agreement by which it will be developing and operating the first Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott properties in Yanbu

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The 8th largest worldwide company for R&D spend.. Huawei unveiled the first long-lifespan graphene-assisted Li-ion battery

Posted on February 1, 2017 by مشرف

Huawei was ranked as the world’s eighth-largest company in terms of research and development spending in 2016, according to EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard, an annual ranking of the world’s top 2,500 R&D investors. The global technology manufacturer’s significant investment in research and development has led to major breakthroughs in the industry including the first long-lifespan graphene-assisted Li-ion battery able to withstand high temperatures.

According to the rankings compiled by European Commission’s Economics of Industrial Research and Innovation, R&D spending by Chinese companies increased 24.7% from previous year, boosting its share of the global total from 5.9% to 7.2%. Furthermore, the scoreboard shows that the largest groups of companies in the world top 2,500 companies are drawn from the ICT, health care and automotive industries.

Huawei’s investment into the Huawei Central Research Institute has led to developments in a number of technological advancements including their latest breakthrough – Li-ion batteries. The Watt Laboratory, an organization under Huawei’s Central Research Institute Huawei announced at the 57th Battery Symposium held in Japan that Huawei plans to unveil Li-ion batteries featuring new graphene-assisted heat-resistant technologies. These technologies allow Li-ion batteries to remain functional in a 60°C environment, a temperature 10°C higher than the existing upper limit. The lifespan of the graphene-assisted Li-ion batteries will also be twice as long as ordinary Li-ion batteries, allowing for an unprecedented long battery life.

Dr. Yangxing Li, Chief Scientist at Watt Laboratory said, “We have performed charging and discharging tests in a high-temperature environment. The tests show that when working parameters are the same, the graphene-assisted high-temperature Li-ion battery is 5°C cooler than ordinary Li-ion batteries. Over 70% of the graphene-assisted battery’s capacity is left after it is recharged 2,000 times at a temperature of 60°C. Less than 13% of its capacity is lost after being kept in a 60°C environment for 200 days.”

Huawei’s research results will reshape the storage systems of communications base stations. In high-temperature regions and countries like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, outdoor base stations powered by the graphene-assisted high-temperature Li-ion batteries can have working lifespans longer than four years. These batteries ensure a high mileage for electric vehicles per charge in high temperatures. They can also guarantee the safe operation of drones, which often generate a significant amount of heat.

Huawei’s Watt Laboratory also revealed its quick charging technology, which recharges 48% of a 3000mAh battery in just 5 minutes. This technology turned many heads. According to Dr. Li, Huawei has commercialized the developed quick charging batteries and will announce a super-quick charging mobile phone in late December.

The URL of Huawei’s graphene-assisted high-temperature Li-ion battery demo video: https://youtu.be/OceA8Wye71M

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HYATT REGENCY RIYADH OLAYA OPENS IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA First Hyatt Regency hotel opens in the heart of Riyadh

Posted on January 31, 2017 by مشرف

Hyatt announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, the first Hyatt Regency hotel to open in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Developed by Mohammed A. Al-Swailem Co., Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya is the third Hyatt-branded hotel to open in the KSA, joining Park Hyatt Jeddah Marina, Club and Spa and Hyatt Regency Makkah Jabal Omar.

Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya has been designed to connect today’s travelers to who and what matters most. With its prime location in Olaya, a growing financial district in Riyadh, the hotel is in close proximity to the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) and the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, and is a less than 40-minute drive to King Khalid International Airport.

Guestrooms and Suites

Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya offers 261 spacious guestrooms, including 40 suites, spread across 28 floors. All guestrooms and suites feature panoramic views of the vibrant city of Riyadh, and incorporate subtle local touches and design elements, including patterned leather panels that are embroidered with a contemporary interpretation of a middle eastern mashrabiya motif.

Located on the 26th floor with spectacular views, the hotel’s Regency Club offers guests exclusive services, including complimentary internet access, use of the lounge meeting room, breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening beverages with hors d’oeuvres.

Authentic Culinary Experiences

Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya features a wide range of culinary experiences that meet guests’ diverse needs and preferences. The hotel offers Azure, a contemporary dining destination that offers Aegean cuisine from Greece and Turkey with an open-kitchen concept and a wood-fired oven and charcoal grill. Additionally, the hotel offers Fifty Sixth Avenue Diner, a chic and welcoming all-day dining restaurant serving traditional American food.

Meetings and Events

Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya offers more than 10,700 square feet (1,000 square meters) of extensive conference and banquet facilities, including the Al Loulou’a Ballroom, which can be divided up into three separate rooms and seat up to 500 people theater-style. With eight flexible event venues, the hotel is the perfect venue for a variety of events such as weddings, social banquets, exhibitions, meetings, and conferences.

Wellness and Relaxation

Guests are invited to recharge in the hotel’s Sokoun Spa, which offers four treatment rooms and a variety of wellness services, including relaxation massages and therapeutic body treatments. A traditional Moroccan Hammam invites guests to unwind from the day’s stress with a cleansing steam or sauna. The wellness and fitness facilities also include an indoor swimming pool, a multi-purpose court and a Camp Hyatt kid’s club.

“Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya is set to become the ideal place for both business and leisure travelers in the Kingdom’s vibrant capital with its authentic specialty restaurants and extensive conference and banquet facilities,” said General Manager Nizar Weshah.

For more information, please visit riyadholaya.regency.hyatt.com.

 The term “Hyatt” is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

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Nahdi, Tawuniya Develop Strategic Partnership to Enhance Services

Posted on January 29, 2017 by مشرف

Nahdi, a leading Saudi retail pharmacy chain, and Tawuniya Cooperative Insurance Company, renewed their strategic partnership to offer additional health insurance services to clients and beneficiaries.

The renewal agreement, signed in Riyadh, is part of Nahdi Medical Company’s strategy to enhance healthcare services in line with Saudi Arabia’s 2030 Vision, which focuses on providing the public with improved healthcare services to treat chronic diseases and serious conditions.

The partnership aims to serve Tawuniya clients, holders of the golden, 1, 1+, 2, 2+, and 3 cards, enabling them to obtain prescription drugs, including refills or renewals for chronic diseases (dawaa’i service).

Commenting on the agreement, Nahdi CEO, engineer Yasser Joharji, said: “We have strong business relations with Tawuniya based on a smart partnership that we established in 2011. The renewal agreement aims to enhance joint cooperation and develop extraordinary business relations between the two companies. Seeking first and foremost to better serve beneficiaries, we have amended articles and terms of the existing agreement in order to protect and define the two firms’ commitments and rights.”

For his part, Tawuniya Deputy CEO, Omar Abdulrahman Al Mahmud, said he was proud of the partnership with Nahdi. “We at Tawuniya are happy to renew and develop our business relations and strategic cooperation with Nahdi. Thanks to our joint efforts and successful business relations, we provided clients with optimal healthcare services over the past five years. We are confident that the services we offer will always satisfy our clients and meet their healthcare needs, hoping to introduce additional healthcare services through this partnership.”

The agreement enables medical insurance clients to obtain prescription medication at Nahdi outlets using a direct payment system, which creates facilitated and time-saving medicine dispensation procedures, according to Al Mahmud. Clients receiving medical treatment at hospitals or medical centres can make use of the service if a specific medication was unavailable at their dispensaries or in case these healthcare institutions did not have pharmacies. In order to benefit from the service, clients are required to show their prescriptions, insurance cards, and identification documents to pharmacies.

Nahdi and Tawuniya agreed to expand their beneficiary networks to include holders of the golden, 1, 1+, 2, 2+, and 3 cards. The two sides also agreed to establish or develop projects that would serve their interests and facilitate services, including marketing campaigns and integration of information systems.

 

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Al Tayyar extends strategic partnership with Amadeus

Posted on January 29, 2017 by مشرف

Al Tayyar Travel Group, one of the largest travel and tourism companies in the region, as part of its sustained efforts to contribute to the development of the corporate travel sector, has signed a new partnership agreement with Amadeus, one of the leading providers of advanced technology solutions for the global travel industry.

The agreement extension till the year 2020 will transform the existing relationship between Amadeus and Al Tayyar to a strategic partnership, and expand their cooperation from the local level to the Middle East and North Africa. The signing of the agreement marks a step forward in ensuring the delivery of quality services to a wider customer base across the region.

Al Tayyar Group’s decision to upgrade the partnership with Amadeus to the regional level is in line with its intensive projects and investments in the e-commerce, travel and tourism industries, as well as its global expansions.

Mr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Dawood, Managing Director & CEO of Al Tayyar Travel Group, said: “As a major company in the regional travel sector, Al Tayyar has been building on the solid foundation of our existing relationship with global travel solutions providers like Amadeus. Our vision is to find innovative ways to meet the needs of the market and create new avenues for growth. The expansion of our strategic partnership with Amadeus to the regional level will further strengthen our relationship and infuse fresh energy to the corporate travel sector in the region.”

Amadeus is one of main leading innovators in the travel sector; it has been empowering the regional travel industry with next-generation products and services to help it overcome rising costs, unpredictable market conditions and changing business models. Its integrated and comprehensive suite of solutions allows travel agencies to streamline and enhance the corporate travel process, enabling them to leverage the opportunities offered by automation and digitization to gain competitive advantages in the market.

Mr. Antoine Medawar, Vice President of Amadeus MENA, said: “The MENA region represents a key hub of corporate travel and offers vast opportunities for the travel industry. As Amadeus takes its strategic partnership with Al Tayyar to the regional level, the corporate travel sector in the MENA region will stand to gain significantly from the expertise of two leading players in the travel industry. Amadeus is committed to excellence as we work together with Al Tayyar to find new ways to satisfy customer needs and identify exciting new opportunities in the region.”

In the past few years, Amadeus and Al Tayyar Travel Group have worked together to drive operational efficiencies in the Saudi travel industry, offering specially designed services inspired by the unrivalled innovative Amadeus distribution technology. During the course of the existing relationship, Amadeus developed specific solutions that met the needs of Al Tayyar’s customers, and helped it effectively use technology as a true competitive differentiator to succeed in a rapidly changing market.

Known for its professional services and distinguished client care, Al Tayyar Travel Group is the trusted agency of more than 1,600 governmental and private corporations. It has invested in approximately 400 branches across Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Malaysia, the U.K., Canada and other popular tourist locations.

 

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LETS MEAT – Mooyah Burger opens 7th Restaurant in Kingdom.

Posted on January 29, 2017 by مشرف

MOOYAH Burgers Fries Shakes, a fast-casual, “better burger” chain, has opened its seventh restaurant in the Kingdom. Located in Prince Muqrin Ibn Abdul Aziz Street in Al Nuzha District of the Saudi capital, the restaurant marks the 21st international location for MOOYAH since its launch in late 2013.

The Riyadh restaurants are owned and operated by Healthy Food Company Ltd., which has a multi-unit development agreement with Menafex LLC, MOOYAH’s international development partner. Founded 10 years ago in Dallas, Texas, MOOYAH has experienced impressive growth, expanding from a regional Texas brand into a national player and a leader in the growing “better burger” segment of fast-casual dining. The brand currently operates in 10 countries and 17 US states.

Founded in 2007, the Plano, Texas-based company serves fresh, lean American beef, all-natural Jennie turkey burgers, black bean veggie burgers, buns baked in house daily, real cheeses and toppings made from garden-fresh veggies. While many guests dine in restaurant, MOOYAH also offers online ordering and carry out for guests on the go. In 2015, MOOYAH was ranked No. 46 in Fast Casual Magazine’s annual Top 100 Movers & Shakers, a list they have been included in for several years in a row.

The brand also ranked 2nd in Best Fast Casual Restaurant Franchise Company, 4th in Best Restaurant Franchise Company, and 7th in Best Overall Franchises Company by Franchiserankings.com.

 

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The future of selfies: no longer just a picture New research finds consumers are ready to embrace ‘selfies’ as a tool for banking, shopping, healthcare and more

Posted on January 29, 2017 by مشرف

Smartphone cameras could be poised to transform a number of industries, as ‘selfies’ transition from frivolous fad to technological phenomenon, according to a new report from Sony Mobile. The report and accompanying research, released in conjunction with Futurizon and based on a survey of 6,500 European consumers in the UK, France, Germany and Spain, found that consumers are open to the ‘vast number of potential applications’ for camera photography.

Working with futurologist Dr Ian Pearson, Sony Mobile explored a number of sectors likely to incorporate smartphone photography and selfies as a technological function in the future. The potential applications were wide-ranging, from theme parks building ‘selfie-coasters’ that let adrenaline-junkies capture their experience on the latest rides, to shoppers using it as a ‘virtual personal assistant’ to try on multiple outfits at the touch of a button. Once these applications were identified, more than 6,500 consumers provided their thoughts on the evolution of selfies as a social trend, and the appetite for these more functional uses of smartphone photography.

“The project has given us a real sense of how selfies and video calls have evolved, and why they could be set to transform so many different sectors”, said Jason Smith, Vice President, Middle East & Africa at Sony Mobile Communications.

“At Sony Mobile we face the dual task of designing smartphones that make consumers’ lives easier today, while keeping an eye on what the future holds and being part of driving innovation and change. We have always seen photography as being a key function at the heart of the smartphone and have already advanced front camera technology in our Xperia™ XZ for superior quality photos, so it’s incredibly exciting to find that consumers are ready to embrace selfies for such a wide range of future uses that enhance our everyday lives.”

The report identified the top 10 ways consumers believe selfies could evolve in the next five years:

Socialising: Taking a selfie with your companions to find out what they really think

  1. Medical: Over a quarter of people would prefer to see their GP via a selfie or video call, in the first instance
  2. Banking for the selfie generation: Nearly half of 25-34 year olds would feel more secure if accessing their bank through a ‘selfie password’
  3. In leisure: Around half of thrill-seekers would like to try a ‘selfiecoaster’ – a rollercoaster that puts you in control of capturing your experience on the ride
  4. In a gym / fitness: selfies that work with AI (Artificial Intelligence) to capture body monitoring e.g. testing heart rates and even suggesting how to improve on technique and how accurately a move is being performed
  5. Made to measure clothes: taking a 3D body image for made-to-measure clothes
  6. In retail: using your smartphone camera to try on different outfits suited to your body shape, at the touch of a button
  7. Social currency: paying for entry to the cinema or a tourist attraction through a selfie
  8. Robots: Using your smartphone to control drones or robots to take selfies from other or extreme locations
  9. Home: Using selfies to secure and access our homes and cars

Dr Ian Pearson, Futurologist and creator of the Future of Selfies report, added: “Through this report, it has been fascinating to chart the evolution of selfies and smartphone photography with the team at Sony Mobile. But even more encouraging has been the response from consumers, who have shown they are open to the range of future uses for selfies and video calls.”

“The results clearly show that selfies are well on their way to transitioning from frivolous fad to technological phenomenon, and provide food for thought to a number of industries. The potential is huge, and it will be exciting to watch this unfold over the coming years.”

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