Global Security Chiefs Offer Five Recommendations to Overhaul Outdated Information Security Processes RSA Releases New Report from the Security for Business Innovation Council

Posted on January 20, 2014 by مشرف

RSA, The Security Division of EMC (NYSE:EMC), recently released the latest Security for Business Innovation Council (SBIC) report, providing guidance for how organizations can enable new competitive advantages in their business by transforming outdated and inflexible processes that govern the use and protection of information assets. The report highlights key challenges, upgraded techniques and actionable recommendations that can be used to plan and build new processes to help organizations gain business advantage and more effectively manage cyber risks.

In this latest report titled Transforming Information Security: Future-Proofing Processes, the Council observes that business groups within organizations are taking greater ownership of information risk management; however outdated security processes are hindering business innovation and make it difficult to combat new cybersecurity risks. The Council offers guidance calling for information security teams to collaborate more closely with functional business groups to establish new systems and processes to help identify, evaluate, and track cyber risks faster and with greater accuracy.

     The new report spotlights areas ripe for security process improvement including risk measurement, business engagement, control assessments, third-party risk assessments, and threat detection.  The Council also offers five recommendations for how to move information security programs forward to help business groups exploit risk for competitive advantage:

  1. 1.      Shift Focus from Technical Assets to Critical Business Processes                     Expand beyond a technical, myopic view of protecting information assets and get a broader picture of how the business uses information by working with business units to document critical business processes.
  2. Institute Business Estimates of Cybersecurity Risks
    Describe cybersecurity risks in hard-hitting, quantified business terms and integrate these business impact estimates into the risk-advisory process.
  3. Establish Business-centric Risk Assessments
    Adopt automated tools for tracking information risks so business units can take an active hand in identifying danger and mitigating risks and thus assume greater responsibility for security.
  4. Set a Course for Evidence-based Controls Assurance
    Develop and document capabilities to amass data that proves the efficacy of controls on a continuous basis.
  5. Develop Informed Data Collection Techniques
    Set a course for data architecture that can enhance visibility and enrich analytics. Consider the types of questions data analytics can answer in order to identify relevant sources of data.

Executive Quotes:

Art Coviello, Executive Vice President, EMC, Executive Chairman, RSA, The Security Division of EMC

“For the enterprise to successfully innovate in today’s digital world, security teams must re-evaluate cyber risk management efforts, steering away from reactive, perimeter-based approaches that are inflexible and focus instead on proactive collaboration with the business.  Updated processes as described by the Council can help organizations achieve a greater visibility of risk that can be harnessed to benefit the business.”

Dave Martin, Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, EMC Corporation

“Documenting business processes has to be a collaborative effort, to accurately reflect what the risks are to the system. We’ll never understand the business value of the information to the same degree as the business owner, and they’ll never understand the threats to the same degree as the security team.”

About the Security for Business Innovation Council

The Security for Business Innovation Council is a group of top security leaders from Global 1000 enterprises committed to advancing information security worldwide by sharing their diverse professional experiences and insights. The Council produces periodic reports exploring information security’s central role in enabling business innovation.  This report is the second in a three-part series on building a next-generation information security program. The first report was titled Transforming Information Security: How to Build a State-of-the Art Extended Team.

Contributors to this report include 19 security leaders from some of the largest global enterprises:


ABN Amro

ADP, Inc.

Airtel

AstraZeneca

Coca-Cola

eBay

EMC Corp.

FedEx Corp.

Fidelity Investments

HDFC Bank Ltd.

HSBC Holdings plc.

Intel

Johnson & Johnson

JPMorgan Chase

Nokia

SAP AG

TELUS

T-Mobile USA

Walmart

Additional Resources

 

About RSA

RSA, The Security Division of EMC, is the premier provider of security, risk, and compliance- management solutions for business acceleration. RSA helps the world’s leading organizations succeed by solving their most complex and sensitive security challenges. These challenges include managing organizational risk, safeguarding mobile access and collaboration, proving compliance, and securing virtual and cloud environments.

Combining business-critical controls in identity assurance, encryption & key management, SIEM, Data Loss Prevention, and Fraud Protection with industry-leading GRC capabilities and robust consulting services, RSA brings visibility and trust to millions of user identities, the transactions that they perform, and the data that is generated. For more information, please visit www.EMC.com/RSA.

###

RSA and EMC are either registered trademarks or trademarks of EMC Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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Panasonic Bullish on the Rapidly Growing Electronic market in Saudi Arabia New chief for the region reaffirms extended commitment to Saudi Arabia rating it as a highly potential market for Panasonic

Posted on January 17, 2014 by مشرف

Panasonic is marking double digit growth in Saudi Arabia, a key market for the Japanese manufacturer in the region. At the back of a healthy consumption pattern and continued investment in the IT systems by businesses and government agencies, Saudi Arabia is deemed as a highly potential market for Panasonic.

In line with the exponential growth and investments across Saudi Arabia, Panasonic plans to tap into the strong demand by offering products catering to personal, business and government use. Currently Panasonic is already executing many projects for the government and educational institutions across the Kingdom.

PanasonicMarketing Middle East & Africa – the regional headquarters forPanasonichas announced a new chief for the Middle East & Africa region. Setting the pace for a strategic growth in the region, Mr Shinichi Wakita will oversee the entire operations forPanasonicspanning more than 60 countries across the MEA region as the new Managing Director (MD) of the company.

With an association of more than 30 years with the brand, Wakita brings with him rich and varied experience having spent most of his working career outsideJapan, especially South East Asia in countries likeMalaysiaandVietnam.

Commenting onSaudi Arabiaas a strategic market forPanasonic’s regional operations, he says “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remains buoyant, given the high oil price which in turns fuels rapid economic growth. The populous of the country is extremely tech savvy and eager to adopt new technology. In fact the demand for new technology and gadgets could be rated as being among the highest in the region. To cater to this growing demand of the Saudi consumers, we asPanasonicreaffirm strong commitment and will continue to invest with our products and technology across the country”.

The Saudi Arabian market remains very positive both in volume and high demand for the latest trend in the world. New technology, innovative gadgets along with strong initiative for energy saving scheme and gadgets, remain popular in the Kingdom. Furthermore,Panasonic’s eco products are extremely popular, and mirrors the Kingdoms desire to adopt eco products and technology.

Panasonic, a household name, has been investing in the Kingdom for more than 50 years and its range of products have proven highly successful. The Japanese manufacturer continues to deliver best in class consumer products that cater to personal, health & beauty, home appliances, audio visual, as also business use products for various sectors like security cameras, projectors, large screen displays, toughbooks (Laptop and tablet PC) for education, malls, hospitals, hotels, airports, government institutions etc.

Panasonic Showrooms and after-sales service facilities are conveniently located across the Kingdom.  Panasonic remains committed to its corporate philosophy to provide ‘A Better Life, A Better world’ to all its customers across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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ICT based transformation will lead Government spend according to IDCa

Posted on January 17, 2014 by مشرف

International Data Corporation (IDC) today announced its annual predictions for 2014 for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry in the Kingdom. IDC’s predictions reflect the ongoing factors that will set the trend for the country’s ICT development. Experts anticipate that the trickle-down effect of these predictions will initiate a change within a variety of industries, such as government, healthcare, logistics, and finance.

“ICT based transformation, such as smart cities, mobility and security will be the hot topics for 2014 in the Kingdom, directly affecting government investment in cyber security, corporate investment in cloud, and a major shift in consumer brand preference in tablets and smartphones,” said Abdulaziz Al-Helayyil, Country Manager – Saudi Arabia, at IDC. “The Saudi market is unique in terms of technology adoption and investment, as well as infrastructure development, specifically in the fixed and wireless broadband, mobility and cyber security forums, following recent developments in the country across these three verticals. All of this is likely to play a major role that will touch upon other domains, such as nationalization initiatives across the country.”

IDC’s predictions for 2014, presented by Al-Helayyil at a press conference today, include the following:

  1. Transformation of telecom operators will accelerate, while they develop their role as an end-to-end ICT solution provider – Operators will move beyond merely launching ICT offerings and farm clear strategies to acquire a broader role in ICT solutions value chain. Partnerships will flourish as operators move to offer complex IT services. Also, acquisition that boosts telcos IT service delivery capability or expand their professional services cannot be ruled out. To this end, opportunities across the digital services spectrum such as mGovernment, mHealth and mEducation will be closely monitored by telcos, while M2M, Cloud, Mobility, Smart cites and Industry Intelligent solutions will remain key technology focus areas.
  2. Enterprise mobility will become more prevalent supported by the rapid penetration of SMBs – Instant globalization facilitated through use of social media, connected applications and mobile resources will continue drive to acceptance of Enterprise Mobility in 2014. Growing economic activity backed by the government’s focus to diversify its economy will continue to push businesses, particularly SMBs, to acquire ICT solutions in general and mobility in particular. Businesses are enthused about cost optimization and process efficiency delivered through mobility solution which will drive the mobility solutions market in 2014 and beyond, continuing a trend that started in 2010, where deployment of business applications on mobile has doubled by 2013 as an important technology priority among Saudi businesses, according to IDC’s Enterprise Communications Survey.
  3. M2M market will grow further with growing and diversifying demand – IDC believes that in 2014, utilization of machine-to-machine (M2M) services in the Kingdom will increase. According to IDC 2013 Enterprise Communication Survey, 40% of enterprises, which already use M2M in Saudi Arabia, plan to implement “fleet management” within 1 year, while 38.46% of them plan to do the same for “digital signage”. M2M stands as a strong opportunity for operators to generate revenue and IDC expect these kinds of M2M services as well as security monitoring and smart metering to spread further among enterprises in 2014. “Application support”, “vertical-specific solutions” and “consulting/service expertise” are also mentioned among the most important factors by the enterprises when selecting partners for M2M projects. Operators have already been developing their capabilities in 2013 so as to offer attractive M2M solutions to their customers.
  4. Cautious approach to cloud adoption will finally change; strong growth anticipated in medium term – Cloud spending in Saudi Arabia will continue to increase significantly from US$ 26.34 million in 2013 to reach US$ 40.3 in 2014. As international Cloud players continue to expand their footprint in the Kingdom, primarily through partnerships, cloud adoption will be met with considerable vigour,  while telecom operators will continue to position their cloud offering in 2014, contributing positively towards market maturity and paving the way for future investments. Public cloud spending will gradually increase to reach US$18.12 million in 2014 from US$11.47 million in 2013. Upcoming sectors like education and healthcare along with BFSI and Telco’s will continue to adopt of cloud services while the government will be more sceptical regarding the security and control aspects of cloud based services.

  1. Nationalization initiatives will impact skill shortage and market stability; “alternate” managed services to see lukewarm response – As the nationalisation initiatives gather steam and the Saudi government continues to push organizations to comply with Nitaqat regulations, IDC anticipates that the availability of advanced IT skills will become scarcer and uncertainties around regulations pertaining to on-site support will continue. This will put more pressure on providers to hire and train nationals more rapidly, which may be adversely affected in the short term. IDC also believes that there will be delays in projects, especially large infrastructure driven mega projects, and existing contracts will face profitability pressures as resource costs go up. The national pool of IT talent will eventually grow and the market will stabilize in the medium term.

  1. Line-of-Business (LoB) users will drive analytics investments; demand for advanced analytics will set the base for future Big Data investments – IDC believes that LOB level users will  increasingly make a case for better insights from the vast amount of data they generates across the Kingdom, driving demand for advanced analytics. Even though many sectors are still investing in core applications, verticals like energy and manufacturing, BFSI, communications and retail will drive investments in SCM, risk, inventory and CRM analytics. IDC anticipates the spending on business analytics software will grow to reach US$62.7 million from US$51 million in 2013. Analytics on mobile devices will gain popularity in the public sector as mobility adoption increases.
  2. Brand preference will start shifting for mobile devices adoption amongst consumers – The brand consciousness that had been driving consumers in Saudi Arabia to give preference to higher-priced tablets from the top players in the past few years will now start shifting to lower-priced options. These options are being made available by several multinational vendors which are expected to continue offering an expanding portfolio of low-cost Android-based tablet, causing the average end-user price of tablets shipped into the country to decline to around US$370. Additionally, declining prices of ultra-slim notebooks and convertible notebooks, coupled with early adoption habits of consumers in Saudi Arabia, will also generate greater demand for these product categories, contributing over 14.0% of portable PC shipments into Saudi for the year 2014.
  3. Increasing cyber threats will force government and businesses to strengthen security, as the challenge spreads beyond “traditional IT”, particularly in the oil and gas sector – The development of high profile cyber attacks since 2011, and more specifically, the 2012 Shamoon attacks on Saudi Aramco and Rasgas have been considered as real game-changers for many companies operating inside the Kingdom. As the topic of IT security will remain a top priority for most Saudi oil and gas organizations in 2014 and beyond, IDC believes that security will not only become a major area of investment for oil and gas CIOs in the country, but also a key influencer for all technology investment decisions in the years to come. IDC expects IT security software spending in Saudi Arabia to increase at an average CAGR of 16.10% between 2012 and 2017.
  4. Mobile banking will be tapped as key technology to drive new customer acquisition and positive service quality in Saudi Arabian retail banking – As the Kingdom’s economy grows, so too does demand for retail banking services amongst its population – of which approximately 70 percent are under the age of 30 years old. This younger generation is demanding more from their banks, and are more willing to switch institutions if their service quality expectations are not met. IDC predicts that with customer experience so critical to retention of this young and technology-literate population, Saudi banks will invest in various technologies to ensure customer experiences are as positive as possible. In particular, we expect the Kingdom’s banks will zero in on launching and improving their mobile applications targeting the sub-30 year old age group.

  1. Saudi Arabia Will Increase its Focus on Smart City Initiatives – both for Greenfield and Existing Cities. – There will be two dimensions to Saudi Arabia’s focus on its Smart Cities efforts: focus on existing cities, as well as focus on its greenfield initiatives. In terms of its existing cities, IDC predicts that, in 2014, the discussion for Smart Cities will move to the next level. Municipalities in the Kingdom will start to allocate resources towards developing ideal Smart City projects given the specific needs of citizens. As a complementary effort, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been investing billions of dollars to build new “Economic Cities” in order to diversify its economy away from the hydrocarbon sector. IDC predicts that, starting in 2014, demand for ICT solutions and services arising from developments related to these Economic Cities will begin to gain traction. As the Kingdom is building these cities from the ground up, they will be able to adopt the latest technology solutions to make them truly competitive. IDC expects that the immediate focus of IT spending will be concentrated on the deployment of fixed and wireless broadband infrastructure.

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The Qatar International Motor Show Returns for a Fourth Year – Press Conference reveals details of the upcoming motor event – Open to the general public from 21-25 February 2014

Posted on January 17, 2014 by مشرف

The Qatar International Motor Show (QMS) is returning to Doha in February 2014. This was announced at a press conference, held at the InterContinental Hotel-Doha, being the official hotel for 2014 edition, and attended by senior delegates as well as local top media, as well as media from the region.

The press conference revealed details of the fourth edition of QMS – to be held at the Qatar National Convention Centre from 21 – 25 February 2014. The 2013 edition of the event drew crowds of 150,000, and this year’s event is set to be even better.

Organised by the Qatar Tourism Authority in partnership with q.media and for the first time ever – Fira Barcelona, as well as OOREDOO being the official telecom sponsor and Airlink as the official freight forwarder; the week-long event offers visitors the chance to discover the latest technology in car manufacturing and design and provides a platform for trade professionals to come together. On display will be the latest models and technology in the automotive industry as well as surprises, to be announced gradually!

“Events such as the Qatar International Motor Show play an important role in cementing Qatar’s position as a leading events destination in the region. The Motor Show successfully combines trade and consumer interests in one of the premier events on Qatar’s events calendar. With the addition of Fira Barcelona to Q-Media as partners of this year’s Show, we look forward to setting new records for attendance and participation,” said Mr. Hamad Alabdan, Director of Exhibitions, Qatar Tourism Authority.

“Qatar, already a leading MICE destination, will see further growth in the meetings and exhibitions industry under the new strategy, which brings new focus to our efforts to develop all segments of tourism in the country,” added Al Abdan.

Automotive fans will then be able to visit the show from 21 – 25 February when it opens to the general public.

 

Mr. Jaber Al Ansari Deputy Group CEO Entertainment q. Media  said: “We are delighted to partner again with QTA to bring this prestigious automotive event to Qatar and this time joined by Fira Barcelona onboard too. It provides us with an opportunity to communicate important messages such as safe driving as well as being able to share new technology and designs with the industry and general public. We are looking forward to a bigger and better Qatar International Motor Show in 2014 and will be announcing further details of the show over the next couple of weeks.”

Fira Barcelona is the Spanish leading trade and industrial show organizer with a portfolio of over 70 different shows. The company’s involvement for the first time, will add a new dimension to The Qatar Motor Show.

Mr. Ricard Zapatero, International Director of Fira de Barcelona said: “Fira is honored to be part of such an important event as the Qatar International Motor Show and we are pleased to share our expertise of almost a century of organizing motor shows that began in 1919. We are deeply committed to the success of the event and we believe that the QMS is a key event that will grow in the following years becoming a major event in the international automotive calendar and a region landmark. We are grateful to the Qatar Tourism Authority and q.media for choosing us as partners for this project.”

During the press conference, the new look and feel of QMS logo was revealed, to reflect and express the new movement of the car throughout light, modernity, rush, movement, swift and many other elements.

The last show was a huge success with over 10,000 fans registering online for passes. 71% of attendees visited for the first time and attendees represented a staggering 103 countries. With a new venue and

lots of surprise new features soon to be announced, the 2014 event looks set to be even bigger and better.

The Qatar Motor Show will run from 21-25 February 2014 and will be open from 4:00 to 10:00 pm on weekdays, and from 1:00 to 10:00 pm on weekends. Entrance is free on all days.

For more information visit: www.qatarmotorshow.qov.qa and follow social media for updates: www.facebook.com/qatarmotorshow & Twitter @qatarmotorshow

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LG’S POCKET PHOTO WIRELESSLY PRINTS MEMORIES ON THE GO Leveraging Advanced Smart Features and Sharing Capabilities, LG Pocket Photo Provides a Creative Mobile Photo Printing Experience

Posted on January 17, 2014 by مشرف

LG Electronics (LG) has announced the launch of the PD233 Pocket Photo smart mobile printer in Saudi Arabia. The LG Pocket Photo delivers high quality photo prints and provides excellent wireless connectivity, making it the ideal companion for both Android and iOS smartphones.

“Printed photos offer a certain appeal and pleasure that digital images simply can’t provide,” said Mr. Byunghoon Min, senior vice president of LG’s Home Entertainment Company. “Whether you want to keep a photo in your wallet or add it to a personal scrapbook or diary, prints from LG’s smart mobile printer enable users to enjoy images taken on their smartphone simply and effortlessly.”

Mr. Deuk Soo Ahn, President of LG Electronics Saudi Arabia, said that the range of editing tools included in the Pocket Photo app makes it a snap to embed QR codes and perform simple touch-ups, including cropping and coloring. With the ability to print QR codes on photographs, the LG Pocket Photo delivers a creative way of connecting a physical image to an online community. QR codes can be read with any barcode scanning app, linking people to social networking sites or other online content. “The pocket photo is another fruitful product of LG Electronics that has proved to achieve remarkable standards of technology in the field of electronics in Saudi Arabia.”

The Pocket Photo can be used to print customized birthday invitations, thank you cards, or even business cards with a personal QR code. Printing images with QR codes makes it possible for business owners to connect customers to online information about their brand or upcoming store events. The customizable photos can also be integrated into scavenger hunts or other fun interactive games. The opportunities for being social and creative with the LG Pocket Photo are practically limitless.

The stylish LG Pocket Photo is one of the smallest and lightest mobile photo printing devices in the market, measuring just 72 x 120 x 24 mm and weighing just 215 grams. It easily fits in the palm of one’s hand or inside a jacket pocket when not in use. “LG Pocket Photo is an innovative produce of LG breaking new grounds with it’s simple and unique features making it easier for customers to store memories”, said Jin Kook Kim, Senior HE Product Manager of LG  Electronics, KSA. It is conveniently portable and practical, prints from the Pocket Photo measure 5.1 x 7.6 cm (2 x 3 inch), perfect for sharing or displaying. After downloading and installing a free app to their Android and iOS smartphones, users can connect their smartphones to the Pocket Photo and begin printing immediately.

LG Electronics in collaboration with Jarir Bookstores, being number one destination are offering exclusively this latest technology device only in all Jarir outlets across Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The LG Pocket Photo supports Bluetooth and Near Field Communication (NFC). It also employs inkless printing technology from ZINK®. This technology eliminates the need for expensive ink cartridges as it uses heat to activate the color-forming chemistry within the ZINK 2.0 paper. In comparison with conventional printing processes, ZINK’s inkless paper system preserves images longer and produces less smearing.

Pocket Photo will be available at all the Jarir outlets available in the Kingdom.

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Rasasi continues to spreads its fragrance in KSA with enhanced retail footprint

Posted on January 16, 2014 by مشرف

Saudi Arabia is certainly the largest market for fragrances across the entire Gulf, and is worth over $820 million, driven by high disposable income and a burgeoning youth population.

With such a huge potential on offer and an ever-surging demand for exquisite fragrances, Rasasi Perfumes – one of the leading fragrance brands across the GCC region – is bullish about its growth in the country, accentuated by plans to expand its retail footprints.

The company, which has an enviable presence in the country, operates nearly 31 stores spread across Makkah, Taif, Jeddah, Madinah, Riyadh, Buraidah, Dammam & Dhahran, Al Hassa, Jubail, Jizan, Khamis Mushyat and Tabuk, and is committed to strong growth with plans to open more outlets in the country.

Rasasi’s expansion is part of its strategic growth plans to remain at the forefront of the beauty retail industry by consistently expanding its reach across the region and making it more accessible to the customers.

Mr. Imtiyaz Abdur Razzak Kalsekar, Director of Rasasi Perfumes – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia region, said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a huge market for the perfume industry and we at Rasasi are committed to enhance our retail presence to tap into the growth opportunities that the country offers. We currently operate a number of stores in the country, and we plan to add more in the coming months to meet discerning consumer requirements and preferences in the KSA market and remain accessible to their needs.”

Rasasi’s business has grown steadily over the years since its inception nearly 34 years ago and has been successful in operating over 115 stores across the region – in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Rasasi stores are conveniently located at prime locations across all the countries, which are easily accessible by end-users and customers.

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ENOC/EPPCO to implement RFID-based fuel retailing system for commercial users and fleet owners • Advanced and fully integrated system to enhance refueling service • New RFID-solution enables instant recognition of registered vehicles and customers; speeds up fuel self-service, avoiding the need to make payments in-store

Posted on January 13, 2014 by مشرف

Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) has activated a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)/Vehicle Identification (VID) based fuel retailing system at service stations of ENOC and Emirates Petroleum Product Company (EPPCO), to provide a fully integrated refueling service to customers.

Initially, the service will be available only for commercial users and fleet owners, and will effectively support the fuel self-service facility that has already been implemented across 25 EPPCO service stations, from midnight to 6am.

The RFID-based modernised system uses radio-frequency to transfer data from each registered vehicle. It allows users to refuel according to the permitted amount and fuel type allocated for the vehicle, which will further enhance the efficiency of fleet owners in managing their fuel-related book-keeping operations.

ENOC’s new ground-breaking system, called ViP (Vehicle Identification Pass) automatically recognises the registered vehicle being fuelled up, and deducts/charges the cost from / to the registered user’s account without the help of a service attendant.

It will be managed remotely through a secured database at ENOC linked to all the service stations, which provides real time updates to customers on their refueling operations. The automation solution is planned to extend to all purchases from ENOC/EPPCO service stations, including Carwash, AutoPro Services, and C-Store purchases.

“We are focused on continuously adopting the latest technologies to further enhance customer service standards and add to operational efficiency,” said Saeed Khoory, CEO of ENOC. “The automation drive that is being implemented across our network will streamline the fundamental aspects of purchasing fuel, making it a safer and more convenient experience for our commercial customers and fleet owners. With our new electronic services for refueling implemented across ENOC/EPPCO service stations, customers now have the convenient option of ‘self-serve, fill and go.’”

Corporate clients and commercial customers will be provided with secured electronic chip which will be installed on the top of the fuel tank gasket of their vehicles when they register for the service. After the chip has been installed and activated, customers only have to visit the RFID service stations to fill their vehicles with fuel. The RFID system will simultaneously log in the details of the purchase at a secured database at ENOC.

The payments will be credited to the customer’s account, with account updates delivered in real time. This new service ensures that vehicle users can fill fuel on-the-go without the need to pay in cash or use credit cards.

The new system will make managing the fuel accounts of corporate clients easier and more streamlined. Apart from reducing processing time, it will enable the clients to track all the details of each refueling transaction that has been made, thus enhancing operational efficiency. The system will be implemented at all service stations, including the 25 EPPCO outlets that offer self-service facility. This year, ENOC’s new system, “ViP” will replace Select Cards, the current refueling cards.

Developed and backed by a highly experienced RFID/VID international vendor, the system is installed and supported via a local partnership with AST Telecom, an enterprise supported by the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development, underlining the company’s commitment to support the development of entrepreneurialism among UAE nationals.

“The contribution of AST Telecom, a small and medium enterprise, on this important initiative by ENOC highlights the strong competencies of Dubai-based SMEs in undertaking large-scale projects,” said Abdulbasit Al Janahi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai SME. “It also underlines Dubai’s focus on promoting public-private partnerships, and offering opportunities for growth for SMEs.”

“Our partnership is a strong testament to the support extended by ENOC to SMEs and a model on how a large entity can create real opportunities for growth,” said Ali Sulaiman Al-Taher, CEO of AST Telecom. “Such industry partnerships will further spearhead the development of SMEs in Dubai and the wider GCC region,” he added.

ENOC is at the forefront of several industry-leading initiatives to enhance operational efficiencies and promote sustainable development.

EPPCO has also introduced advanced and fully-secure fuel dispenser systems at sites where the self-service option has been introduced. With fuel self-service now familiar with a section of the motorists, EPPCO is looking to expand the service across other stations too.

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Leading shopping malls extend shopping hours for DSF visitors Initiative to enhance festive ambience, cope with expected influx of visitors and boost retail sales

Posted on January 13, 2014 by مشرف

The Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment  (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and the organizers of Dubai Shopping Festival, announced today that the main shopping malls in Dubai will be extending mall timings with effect from 16 January and until the end of DSF on 2 February.

The leading malls who will be implementing this initiative are The Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Deira City Centre, Mirdif City Centre and Dubai Festival City Mall. The new timings will mark a departure from their regular mall timings from 10am to 10pm.

While retail outlets at the Dubai Mall will be open from 10am to 2am and food outlets from 10am to 3am throughout the week from 16 January – 2 February,  the Mall of the Emirates, Deira City Centre, Mirdif City Centre and Dubai Festival City Mall will extend the timings of their retail outlets from 10am to 1am during the weekdays and from 10am to 2am on weekends during the same period. Food outlets at these four malls will be open from 10am to 2am during weekdays and 10am to 3am on weekends.

The initiative to extend mall hours is aimed at further enhancing the festive ambience at the malls which have been attracting large numbers of shoppers since the start of the 19th edition of DSF on 2 January through shopping promotions, offers and entertainment activities for the whole family.  The new timings will offer mall shoppers additional time to browse through and buy from an extensive selection of the world’s best brands and pick up discounts of up to 75 % on a wide range of merchandise, in addition to allowing them to enjoy the various entertainment offerings happening within the mall itself.

The move also comes in anticipation of an increase in visitors to Dubai from neighboring countries over the next few weeks, especially due to the mid-term school holidays that have resulted in many families planning a trip to Dubai during DSF.

H. E. Laila Mohd Suhail, DFRE CEO, said: “we always look for ways to enhance the shopping experience for our DSF visitors. With shopping malls in Dubai becoming more of standalone destination rather than just a shopping Centre, we are sure that extending mall hours till the wee hours of the day allows shoppers more time to shop and have fun, and at the same time enhances retail sales across the participating shopping malls”.

The extended mall hours will be yet another boost to the retail sector, which has been enjoying high sales every year during DSF.  In fact, in 2012, DSF attracted 4.3 million visitors to the city who spent a total of AED14.7 billion. Of this, spend on shopping alone accounted for AED 8.9 billion. As shopping is one of the key elements of DSF, the festival has returned to its retail roots this year with a renewed focus on shopping with the new theme “Shop at your Best” aimed at offering residents and visitors from around the world unique shopping experiences at 70 malls and over 6,000 retail outlets across Dubai.

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Rising Interest of Venture Investors in the Levant Digital Sector Investment driven by growing exports of digital services

Posted on January 9, 2014 by مشرف

Venture capital investors in MENA have their eyes set on the digital sector; three times as many investments took place in 2010-2012 than in 2006-2009, and almost half of all investments were in digital products and services.Most ventures happened in Tunisia, Morocco and Lebanon, who currently lead the region in terms of quantity of VC investments (1).

Numerous promising initiatives are being launched in the region to back the steadfast growth of early-stage tech and e-commerce ventures. One notable example is Berytech who announced that $30 million will be invested in startups and SMEs starting 2014 with a focus on the creative industries and value-added sectors (2). Another notable example is Aramex’s Founder and Vice Chairman, Fadi Ghandour, who is raising a $75 million to $100 million fund to push forward the growth of early-stage tech and e-commerce ventures within the MENA, mainly in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and the Palestinian territories. This fund will provide tech firms with $1 million – $3 million funds for each venture (3). In downtown Cairo, Ahmed Al-Alfi, Founder of Sawari Ventures, the Egyptian venture capital firm, is taking a leap of faith by using his personal funds to create a center for technology startups at one of Egypt’s most volatile flashpoints dubbed “The Greek Campus”. Sawari Ventures’ startup accelerator Flat6Labs has graduated more than 30 companies out of six cycles in two years (4). The public sector is also launching initiatives to support entrepreneurship. For example, the Central Bank of Lebanon recently announced that it has dedicated $400 million USD to guarantee 75% of Lebanese banks equity investment in startups, incubators, accelerators, and funds.

Most of these investments are channeled into the Levant, which is emerging as a chief exporter of digital products and services, including software and mobile applications. In Lebanon, more than 60%of firms engaged in ICT pursuits are export oriented, with the majority of profits originating primarily from the Gulf region (6). Similarly, almost half of Jordan’s IT revenue comes from export, which has increased from $202 million in 2010, to $300 million in 2012 (7). The Levant has a competitive advantage in skilled workforce, and affordable labor. Lebanon, for example, has 40% lower wages than the GCC yet ranks 4th in quality of sciences and math education globally. More than 2000 university graduates related to ICT activities join the sector every year, and the market is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 12% and reach a value of $570 million in 2017 (6).

With new investments in startups and SMEs on the rise in Levant, ArabNet will take the opportunity to explore diverse perspectives on entrepreneurship in the region during its upcoming ArabNet Beirut 2014. The 3-day event is a festival of digital creativity, business, and development taking place on March 4 – 6. ArabNet Beirut will feature more than 80 speakers from across the MENA region and abroad to discuss the opportunities in web and mobile for the media and entertainment industries, fashion, creative communities, food and beverage, and more. It will also feature a Design+Code Day, on March 4, which will host workshops for developers and designers to build their skills and network. The event will include ArabNet’s signature entrepreneur competitions, the Ideathon and Startup Demo, as well as the Creative Combat, which aims to highlight emerging regional talents in digital marketing.

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Al Khozama Expands Al Faisaliah Brand to Al Khobar -Leading Hospitality Management Company Signs Agreement to Manage Two New Hotels in Al Khobar with Al Fahd Investment Company-

Posted on January 8, 2014 by مشرف

Al Khozama Management Company (Al Khozama), Saudi Arabia’s leading luxury commercial property development, management and investment company, has announced the signing of agreements with Al Fahd Investment Company, to manage two new upmarket hospitality properties in Al Khobar – the 5-star deluxe Al Faisaliah Hotel & Spa and  the Al Khozama Residence.

Opening in 2016, the ultra-luxury Al Faisaliah Hotel & Spa will bring the prestige of the Al Faisaliah hospitality brand to Al Khobar for the first time. In location, architecture and service excellence it creates an entirely new hospitality concept in the eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Gracefully positioned near to the King Fahd Causeway – the 25 km bridge connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain – its panoramic views of the bridge and wider Gulf Sea set the tone for an iconic destination, enhanced by Al Khozama’s service excellence including 24-hour butler service.

 

Owned by Al Fahd Investment and managed by Al Khozama, Al Faisaliah Hotel & Spa will cater for discerning business and leisure guests with 240 rooms and suites, two world-class restaurants and extensive meeting facilities complemented by a state-of-the-art business centre. For world-class corporate events and private functions, it also provides a professionally-catered stylish Al Fahd banquet hall.

With every element of the hotel’s décor and design tailored to elevate the guest experience, Al Khozama has gone to great lengths to fuse contemporary elegance with latest in hospitality innovation. Guests will enjoy interactive in-room communication and entertainment facilities, premium luxury materials amenities and outstanding personalized service.

Al Khozama Residence, located adjacent to the Al Shubaili Grand Mall, will offer 150 contemporary and elegant serviced apartments with both short and long term availability. The 4-star deluxe property also includes the Da Pino Italian restaurant, business centre, fitness centre and welcoming lounge for informal meetings and leisurely get-togethers.

H.H. Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Khalid, Chairman of Al Khozama, said: “The new properties in Al Khobar add yet another dimension to our hospitality management portfolio, consolidating Al Khozama’s leadership position and extending our contribution to the development of tourism and hospitality in the Kingdom.

“We are delighted to partner with Al Fahd Investment Company on these landmark projects. Our hospitality team will ensure a sophisticated product and matchless service which are the hallmarks of Al Khozama”.

In addition to the Al Faisaliah Hotel & Spa and Al Khozama Residence in Al Khobar, Al Khozama also manages the Al Shohada Hotel in the holy city of Makkah and Bay La Sun Hotel & Marina in King Abdullah Economic City, north of Jeddah. Al Khozama owns its flagship Al Faisaliah Hotel and the Al Faisaliah Suites in Riyadh.

Commenting on this occasion, Ahmed Fahd Al Fahd, Director, Hospitality Division of Al Fahd Investment Company, said: “We are pleased to partner  with Al Khozama and have no doubt this strategic partnership will add exceptional value to our vision in developing world class hospitality properties in Al Khobar and across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

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