Saudi Arabia joins Zain’s One Network, the leading mobile operator announced today the launch of its operations in Saudi Arabia. In March 2007 Zain, MTC then, announced that it made the highest bid for the third mobile licence in KSA after its offer of $6.1 billions to tap into the richest country in Arabia.
Zain is one of the largest mobile operators in the Middle East and Africa with more than 45 million subscribers in 22 countries, and the new development shows their ambitious plans to expand and reach more consumers, I read on the Arabian Business that they are targeting 150 million subscribers in three years, which will position among the top 10 mobile operators in the world.
Last year, MTC rebranded all mobile operators under its umbrella under one brand - Zain, it was an amazing project, 21 companies with like 7 or 8 brands, all under one name. Personally I liked the new name, their campaign faced a lot of criticism, but however I found it interesting, specially this TV commercial, it’s one of the very best advertisements in the Arab world.
Arabs are hopped-up on the laptops, ITP reports that laptop market in Egypt and GCC countries has grew-up by 87% in 2008, according to a research by International Data Corporation (IDC). During the second quarter of this year, 816,000 notebooks were sold in the region compared to 438,000 in the same period last year. In 2007, more than 2 million units were sold in the region, and according to the growth, I believe it will exceed 3 million units.
Personally I guess the growth in internet penetration is one of the main reasons behind the growth in laptop sales, the number of internet users in the Arab world is in a continues growth, for instance, social networking users in Arabia and Africa grew-up by 66% in 2008, so were are talking about millions of Arabs are on social networking sites, not to mention other internet services, more reasons to be online. Another reason that is internet-related is that more cafes and restaurants offer free wireless internet connection, more reasons to pay a laptop.
(Image courtesy: daylife.com)
Dubai is, by far, leading the region in so many aspects, but when it comes to media, and specifically TV, Dubai is still in the process, the top Pan Arab TV stations are owned by countries other than the UAE; Al-Jazeera is owned by Qatar, Rotana network and MBC Group are Saudi ventures, Egypt owns the Melody network, while Lebanon, along with Saudi investors, owns Future & LBC.
However things changed, couple of years ago Dubai TV did a major rebranding exercise and became much better in terms of the image and the programs. MBC2’s rival, One TV, rebranded to Dubai One TV, personally I though they were trying to benefit of Dubai’s growing popularity to promote the channel, but I have to say Dubai One is one of my favorite TV stations now. In addition, Dubai Media Incorporated has launched two more stations; Sama Dubai and Dubai Sports.
Recently the Arab Media Group raised the bar and launched two major international TV stations, MTV Arabia and Nickeldeon Arabia. I was reading on the Arabian Business about a new TV station that will be launched on the first day of Ramadan, Noor Dubai is a 24-hour TV station that will broadcast several shows about issues that concerns families in the UAE and the Arab world, the station will be in Arabic, and will be followed by an English version next year.
But this raises a question about the potential that Dubai sees in these new developments, according to the research firm, Arab Advisors Group, TV advertising rates dropped down due to the high competition between the growing number of TV stations in the Middle East, and yet TV catered more than 48% of the total advertising spends in the Middle East last year, followed by Press, which catered 46%.
The current advertising scene, which is obviously monopolized by few titans, will not allow any growth for the rest of media such as online and outdoor.
The biggest property developer in the Middle East, Emmar, announced a competition that aims at giving the opportunity for the public to name the fountain at the Burj Dubai Lake in Downtown Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest man-made building. The winner will walk away with 100,000 Dhs - almost 30,000$, worth a try, ha? 
take a shot! Competition closes on September 15th.
The fountain can shoot water up to 500 ft – equivalent to a 50-storey building, the fountain will have over 6,000 lights and 50 colour projectors, with the water features swaying to the melody of Arabic and international music. You can read more in the press release.
That’s Gold, Baby! According to Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group, 500 million UAD worth of gold were sold in Dubai during the Dubai Summer Surprises that lasted for 65 days, moreover, few lucky winners won a total value of 1.1 million UAD of gold, well, that is just too much.
I always thought that only Arabs are crazy about gold, but according to DGJG stats, 95% of all tourists buy gold, the Glittering Surprises campaign attracted buyers from various nationalities like USA, UK, Russia, Greece, New Zealand and many more.
Few facts about Gold in Dubai:
. More than two thirds of the population buys gold at least once a year
. 95% of all tourists buy gold
. On an average every person buys five pieces of gold jewellery every year
. Each piece is worth $400 on average, so the average yearly spend is $2,000
. 76% of all Dubai residents own gold
. 80% intend to buy gold in the next year
. 90% of the jewellery market is plain gold jewellery (as against 10% gemset)
. 90% of all jewellery in Dubai is imported from Saudi, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Bahrain
. Dubai is the Middle East supply hub for the jewellery market.
. 95% of all jewellery sold is above 21 karat; the rest is 18 karat
. Dubai has over 600 shops, the densest concentration in the world
. Dubai’s Gold Souk has 275-plus shops in a half a square kilometre area.
. At any given time over 25 tonnes of gold is on display in jewellery shop windows
. Dubai made the world’s longest gold chain during DSF 99. The chain was made in 22k gold and measured 4.2kms. 9,600 people bought the chain in neckwear and bracelet size pieces.
Wataniya Telecom, Kuwait Red Carpet Co., announced its sponsorship of the national athlete’s delegation participating in the Olympic Games, Beijing 2008, and so, the whole brand turned from red to blue, I liked their campaign and the way they approached the whole thing, their website is blue, the logo is blue, on their homepage they featured the names of Kuwaiti athletes in the shape of the Olympics circles.
Today we wear Blue
Wataniya Telecom is proud to support Kuwait’s Olympic Team. Together let’s wear the national colors and cheer our heroes on throughout this Olympics, 8-24 August 2008. Interesting!
Read the rest of this entry »
