ArabWeeks

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is sending the largest delegation of municipal leaders of all Middle East nations, to Singapore to attend the World Cities Summit (WCS) from June 1-4. Held every two years in Singapore and billed as the ‘Davos of Cities’, WCS is one of the world’s largest gatherings of city mayors, municipal and industry leaders.

His Excellency Mr Abdulrahamn Al Dahmash, Advisor to the Minister Office of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be joined by His Excellency Dr Khalid bin Abdulqader Taher, Mayor of Almadinah Almunwwara, His Excellency Eng. Saleh Bin Ahmad Al Ahmad, Mayor of Al Qassim, His Excellency Eng. Jamal Nassir Al-Mulhem, Deputy Mayor of Eastern Province, His Excellency Dr Hani Aburas, Mayor of Jeddah, and His Excellency Eng Mohammed S Al Dabaan, Deputy Mayor of Riyadh for Construction and Projects.

Joining the official municipal delegation will be representatives of Emaar Economic City, an indicator of the strong bilateral links between the countries and the important discussions which take place between international city leadership at WCS.

“We are truly excited to be hosting such a large and senior group of mayors from The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, said Khoo Teng Chye, Executive Director at the Centre for Liveable Cities, Singapore, the government agency behind WCS. “They continue a tradition of healthy participation by government and municipal leaders from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East region.”

“WCS is one of the world’s largest regular platforms for government leaders and industry experts to come together to address liveable and sustainable city challenges. The event is run on the basis that cities all around the world face common challenges, but through collaboration and knowledge sharing we can find shared solutions,” Mr. Khoo said.

Now in its fourth edition, WCS 2014 will be the largest yet with a record number of stakeholders across government, industry, international organisations and academia. Over 130 mayors and city leaders from around the world will attend.

Highlights of this year’s WCS include the inaugural WCS Young Leaders Symposium, the presentation of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize to Suzhou, China, and plenaries focused on the next urban decade, and focused forums on China and Southeast Asia.

ZESPRI®,the world leader in premium quality kiwifruit, has launched in Saudi Arabia with ZESPRI® SUNGOLD Kiwifruit. Partnering with leading fruit distribution company Mohammed Abdallah Sharbatly Co. Ltd who’s footprint across the Kingdom includes 10 branches, ZESPRI® believes that the combination of a strong global brand and a market-leading disribution partner, provides the recipe to success in Saudi Arabia.

Based in New Zealand, ZESPRI® is 100 percent owned by kiwifruit growers, employing almost 300 people and representing 2,700 growers. ZESPRI® is the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit and is present in more than 60 countries accounting for 30% of the global volume with sales revenues of 5 billion Saudi Riyals.

“We are excited to launch ZESPRI® to the Saudi market with a new variety of kiwifruit, ZESPRI® SUNGOLD which offers a host of nutritional benefits,” said Ben Hughes, Regional Marketing Manager, MENA ZESPRI® International Limited. “Our success around the world is built on solid foundations, working with experienced distrbutors who understand local conditions and the markets in which they operate. We believe we have found the perfect partner in Sharbatly to establish and grow the brand in the Kingdom with a common goal – to succeed and succeed well.”

ZESPRI® SUNGOLD kiwifruit contains three times more Vitamin C than oranges, providing a significant boost to the body’s immunity, and the nutrition of ten apples, making it the ultimate healthy snack.

Full of vitality, ZESPRI® SUNGOLD has excellent health promoting properties that assist the body’s uptake of iron and vitamin C. Even better, it contains many of the same vitamins and minerals as ZESPRI® GREEN kiwifruit, but with slightly higher levels of vitamin E and folate. Containing actinidin, ZESPRI improves digestion and is recommended as an ideal choice for breakfast.

As with all ZESPRI® kiwifruit, ZESPRI® SUNGOLD kiwifruit has a sweeter taste when it is softer. Naturally ready to eat – simply cut it in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon.

Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter, a four-star business corporate hotel in Riyadh, today announced that it has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide.  Establishments that have received this accolade are spread all over the world and represent the upper echelon of businesses listed on the website.

When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the honorees that takes into account reviews ratings.  Businesses must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, volume and most recent reviews. Additional criteria include a business’ tenure and popularity ranking on the site.

Winning the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is a true source of pride for the entire team at Courtyard Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter and we’d like to thank all of our past guests who took the time to complete a review on TripAdvisor,” said Farhan Lone, General Manager at Courtyard Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter. “There is no greater seal of approval than being recognised by one’s customers. With the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence based on customer reviews, the accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our business and our continued commitment to excellence.”

“TripAdvisor is pleased to honour exceptional hospitality businesses for consistent excellence,” said Marc Charron, President of TripAdvisor for Business. “The Certificate of Excellence award gives top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – their customers. From Australia to Zimbabwe, we want to applaud exceptional hospitality businesses for offering TripAdvisor travellers a great customer experience.”

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Six months into its Middle Eastern debut and the all-new Lincoln MKZ continues to create a buzz among discerning clientele looking for a distinctive lxury mid-size sedan.  With its appealing looks and unique technologies, the Lincoln MKZ is hard to go unnoticed, an attribute thatallowed it to clinch the “Best Luxurious American Mid-Size Car” from Automobilemagazine.

Presented by Automobile publisher and Future TV presenter Ibrahim Fakhry, the award was received by Ford executives,Kalyana Sivagnanam, director of Sales, Marketing and Service for Ford Middle East & North Africa and Thierry Sabbagh, Ford Middle East’s director of Sales.

“Without a doubt, the Lincoln MKZ represents the future of Lincoln in both style and substance, featuring a stunning design wrapped around intuitive, purposeful technology,”said Sivagnanam. “We are very pleased to receive this award from Automobilemagazine. This is yet another important recognition to the Lincoln MKZ and proof that our mid-size winner is delivering what discerning customers want in terms of distinction, elegance and technologies.”

Lincoln MKZ is the first vehicle from the dedicated Lincoln Design Studio and signifies the introduction of the reinvented Lincoln brand, which will focus on attracting a new body of premium automotive customers.

Ibrahim Fakhry, publisher of Automobile magazine and presenter of Future TV’s Automobile Show, said: “The new Lincoln MKZ was a clear winner for the American luxury mid-size segment this year. With its new design, smooth and elegant interior and dramatically open and flowing center console thanks to the push button shift,the Lincoln MKZ is both a feast for the senses and exciting to drive.”

The all-new Lincoln MKZ brings to the midsize luxury segment distinct offerings:

• With a sweeping profile, MKZ incorporates one of the world’s widest-opening retractable glass roofs

• Lincoln Drive Control is an intelligent system that delivers a refined ride and engaging driving dynamics. Standard Lincoln Drive Control intuitively integrates multiple systems (engine, transmission, body and chassis) to deliver totally new Lincoln driving quality

• MKZ innovations include a distinct Push Button Shift gear selector that enables flowing and architectural center console design

• A quiet, well-appointed interior is enhanced by standard Active Noise Control, genuine wood trim, full LCD instrumentation, and SYNC^® with MyLincoln Touch™

• Class-exclusive available inflatable rear safety belts supplement eight standard airbags

• The Retractable Panoramic Roof is a new signature feature for Lincoln. The 15.2-square-foot glass panel offers one of the largest openings available on any current sedan. The design maintains the structural strength of a steel-roof vehicle

• Offers the Lane Keeping System, a suite of advanced driving aids that helps drivers avoid drifting from their lane due to distraction. Consisting of Lane Keeping Aid, Lane Keeping Alert and Driver Assist, the Lane Keeping System utilizes a mono-vision camera integrated into the rearview mirror to read the lane markers ahead

Mobily today reiterated its belief that cloud computing can prove transformational for Saudi businesses, and warned that those slow to adapt could risk losing out.

“Cloud computing has immense transformational potential for businesses in Saudi Arabia,” said Taher Al Dabbagh, Executive General Manager Alliance Develop & Implementation at Mobily.

“Applied with strategy and vision, the benefits of de-coupling from traditional infrastructural constraints and embracing more scalable, flexible and nimble ways of working cannot be underestimated. From SMEs to huge corporations, cloud will clearly inspire new levels of innovation, competitiveness and profitability in the coming years. Late adopters could risk losing out, so it is up to companies like Mobily to raise awareness and help implement the solutions that can really make a difference.”

Al Dabbag’s comments follow IDC’s recent prediction that spending on cloud services in the Kingdom is expected to increase by 52.9% during 2014. In the MENA region, meanwhile, Gartner estimates that from 2013 to the end of 2017, $3.8bn will be spent on cloud services. According to another report by Cisco Global Cloud Index, the Middle East and Africa region is set to post the world’s-strongest cloud traffic growth rate from 17 exabytes in 2012 to 157 exabytes in 2017.

MENA’s growing receptivity to the benefits of cloud computing is also echoed by the recent uptake of SAP’s cloud offerings. Between 2012 and 2013, SAP’s cloud deals in the region increased by over 300 per cent

Mobily is currently collaborating with SAP to increase business pick-up of cloud solutions across the Kingdom. An agreement signed last year established a framework for Mobily to introduce a host of cutting-edge SAP innovations to its end-users.

Key offerings will include SAP BusinessOne in the Cloud (integrated enterprise resource planning for small and medium-sized businesses), SAP HANA in the Cloud (a ground-breaking in-memory computing platform), SAP Managed Mobility as a Service (cloud-based mobility management solutions for the enterprise), SAP Business Application in the Cloud (migration packages to the Mobily Cloud) and Analytics and Database as service (rapidly deployable, easy to integrate business analytical solutions).

Earlier this year, Mobily also became one of the first companies in the GCC to achieve certification to host and provide SAP Cloud solutions.

The company can now delivers cloud-hosting services across the entire lifecycle of SAP Business Suite applications, including test, development, quality assurance, staging and production.

Additionally, Mobily provides enterprise-class cloud services, including assessments, on-boarding, operations and embedded backup and disaster recovery services.

“Cloud computing is very much moving from hype to reality in Saudi Arabia,” said Mazen Jabri, Head of Channel and General Business at SAP Saudi Arabia.

“The shift is exciting and driven by pragmatism. Mere ‘business as usual’ is no longer an acceptable mindset for the most ambitious business-leaders here, and cloud’s strategic agility, short deployment times, and low cost is starting to appeal more than ever before.”

Uber, the international smart phone application that uses technological innovation to connect passengers with nearby drivers, launches in Riyadh. The app allows users to request a private car to arrive within minutes and take them to any destination in Riyadh.

The app, already localized to over 110 cities worldwide, works with local rental car and limousine companies to provide drivers with the technology, allowing for a more reliable and efficient mode of transportation for Riyadh residents and visitors. All users need to do is download the app and input their credit card details. At the click of a button, a BMW 5 series or a Luxury SUV shows up to their location. The official launch follows a two-month period in which the technology was tested throughout Riyadh, and was met with extremely positive reviews by the Saudi public.To mark the occasion, Saudi comedian MazroueMazroue agreed to being a driver for the day to surprise some of the male Uber users.

KarimKhattar, General Manager for Uber Riyadh, stated, “Uber is evolving the way the world moves in cities. By seamlessly connecting riders to drivers through our apps, we make cities more accessible, and provide safer and more reliable transportation options for the public. Riyadh is a vibrant market with an advanced technological infrastructure so it made sense to bring our platform here. We look forward to growing our number of partners throughout the city and the country.

Key to the Uber technology is the unprecedented safety and accountability features built into the app. Once a user makes a request, he or she is able to see the name, photo and license plate of the driver that will be picking him or her up as well as see where exactly they are located on a map. Riders can also share their route and estimated time of arrival with family and friends, and even rate the driver following the ride.

Another added value to the technological service is the fact that all transactions are cashless, making the payment method both seamless and convenient. When first downloading the app, users are prompted to input their credit card details. This is then safely stored on the user’s personal profile, and credited once the ride is complete. There is absolutely no cash used in the process, and all personal banking details are kept confidential.

The service first kicked-off in San Francisco in 2010, and is today one of the fastest growing technology companies in the world. In the Middle East, Uber commenced operations in Dubai in September 2013 and is now available in 5 cities including Doha, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Jeddah with plans to continue expanding to other Middle Eastern cities. The move into the Riyadh market follows a huge push for investment in the national technology industry.