#Media

Whats On Saudi

UAE-based lifestyle brand What’s On launches new website for the Saudi market

The site will focus on food, news, travel and local culture in Riyadh and Jeddah – with expansion to more cities towards Q4 2021

GCC advertising veteran and Memac Ogilvy founder Edmond Moutran dies

Moutran, 77, founded the agency Middle East Marketing and Communications (Memac) in 1984

‘No longer possible for us to offer content for free’ – Gulf News CEO

The Dubai-based daily has announced plans to launch a paywall for its online content

Qatari media ‘undermining’ efforts to end GCC dispute – UAE minister

The political and social climate in the GCC looks toward ending the Qatar crisis, Anwar Gargash said

MBC Group reappoints Sam Barnett as CEO

Marc Antoine d’Halluin, who spent a year as group CEO at MBC, has now been appointed as a board advisor

Business leaders rank UAE as global leader in innovation

Business executives in the UAE rank the country as a global leader in creating an ‘innovation-conductive’ environment

Elie Khouri

Is art collecting only for the rich?

Elie Khouri doesn’t think so, but I disagree

Abu Dhabi to expand media hub in effort to diversify economy

Twofour54, named after Abu Dhabi’s geographical coordinates, was set up in 2008

Sharjah Book Authority

Sharjah Book Authority launches new literary agency to stimulate Arabic publishing market

The Sharjah International Literary Agency will promote Arabic literary and cultural content globally

Ibrahim Al Abed

Obituary: Ibrahim Al Abed, an inspirational journalist

Al Abed, founder of the Emirates News Agency WAM, passed away on October 20

Ibrahim Al Abed

Founder of UAE’s state news agency WAM, Ibrahim Al Abed, dies

He was a prominent figure within the country’s media industry

Dubai Lynx

Dubai Lynx announces line-up of speakers for virtual event

The virtual media and advertising event will be held from October 5-7

twofour54 Abu Dhabi

CNN opens first training academy for journalists in Abu Dhabi

Starting January 2021, the academy will offer a full-time five-week course with a combination of online learning sessions and in-person workshops at CNN

Abu Dhabi and Israel to cooperate on film and TV content production

A regional annual film festival will be held in rotation between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv

Myrkott Studio[2] copy

Netflix signs five-year partnership with Saudi studio Myrkott

The partnership will involve the production of new and exclusive seasons of the Masameer series

Vikings on STARZPLAY[6] copy

UAE video streaming service Starzplay adds 600,000 subscribers so far this year

The increase was driven by user growth in Saudi Arabia and the UAE during the Covid-19 period

UAE Covid-19

UAE detains two for ‘spreading false rumours’ about five Covid deaths in a family

Authorities have warned of strict action against anyone found spreading false and inaccurate information related to the coronavirus

Vox Cinemas Imax Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi cinemas to reopen at maximum of 30% capacity

All staff members must undergo Covid-19 testing before these cinemas resume operations

How regional marketers must evolve to stay relevant

Marketing has to remain dynamic and adapt to the changing needs of the customers, opines Sunita Hadani, managing director of the Hadani Group of Companies

Study says 15% of Saudis tune in to podcasts at least once a week

Listeners trust podcasts more than radio, newspapers and websites, Markettiers report says

Social media

Social space: A roundup of all the GCC social media news in July

Fadi Khater, founder and managing partner of digital marketing agency Netizency, provides an overview of social media trends in the region

Abu dhabi uae capital flag

Here’s how UAE SMEs can benefit from this $1m advertising support scheme

Motivate Media Group has launched a $1m initiative to support homegrown UAE SMEs with free advertising and marketing

Ian Fairservice Managing Partner and Group Editor - Motivate Media Group

Motivate Media Group to support UAE SMEs with $1m initiative

Motivate Media Group’s $1m campaign to support SMEs in the UAE has received approval from the Dubai government

Dubai Mall

UAE denies reports that malls will be shut for two weeks, warns of fines for fake rumours

Social media posts had claimed that malls and commercial centres would be closed for a renewable period of two weeks

Amazon Prime Video Microsoft Windows 10

Amazon Prime Video app launched on Microsoft Windows 10

For the first time, the app will allow users to download the videos and view them offline on a Windows device

Dubai airport

Revealed: 10 big ideas post Covid-19 in the GCC

These are some of the biggest trends set to shape the region post pandemic, according to LinkedIn

Saudi’s Millenium Arabia launch first Arabic esports series on Twitter

The series will be streamed every Thursday at 9.30pm UAE time starting June 18

E-learning university students

Dubai Culture launches e-learning initiative in partnership with LinkedIn

There are over 100 training courses that will be available for free primarily for creative professionals within the UAE

Khalifa University Twitter

Emirati develops web tool to analyse Covid-19 data on Twitter in the UAE

The predominant topic of the tweets ranged from the origin of the disease, its spread, government responses and treatments

UFC Fight Island Yas Island Abu Dhabi

Confirmed: UFC Fight Island to take place in Abu Dhabi next month

The events are scheduled for July 11, 15, 18 and 25 at Yas Island