Author Archives: Staff Writer

Farid Sabbagh, director SME and channels at Fujitsu Siemens, is leaving the hardware vendor to take on a new role at networking giant Cisco. Sabbagh will become SME business development manager Middle East and Africa at Cisco starting from the beginning of August.

Vendor giant HP has continued its strategy of purchasing in-country services businesses in the Middle East. HP has signed an agreement to purchase the IT services business of National Computer Services Company WLL (NCS) in Bahrain.

Western Digital has upgraded its ‘MyBook’ external PC hard disk family with the rollout of the small business-aimed MyBook Pro Edition, which features fast connections and system backup functionality.

Having selected Huawei earlier in the month for the 3G network of its Al Jawal mobile operations, the Saudi incumbent has turned to Nokia for the HSDPA upgrade.

Virgin Nigeria, which launched its three-times-a-week Dubai-Lagos service on June 2, has told ATN that Dubai will become a crucial hub for Nigerians travelling to destinations throughout the Middle East and Asia.

ARAB National Bank (ANB) has overhauled its IT network and security infrastructure, deploying a 3Com Secure Networking solution.

Satyam’s infrastructure lifecycle management solution has been deployed within Dubai Municipality’s engineering departments in a bid to improve efficiency and streamline operations.

Massive networking and IT skills shortages across the region could leave organisations struggling to complete projects, and losing millions of dollars as a result, experts have warned.

The government of Oman has signed an agreement with Microsoft for the use of its desktop software on 22,500 computers.

The Central Bank of the UAE has called on the country’s financial institutions to prevent future online security and ATM breaches by better sharing information about incidents, Emirates Bank has revealed.

Etihad could be forced to seek another supplier for its in-flight internet service after Boeing announced it could terminate its Connexion by Boeing service.

In part two of our interview, Larry Ellison considers the challengers to the firm’s hegemony in the database market, the impact of services on demand — and his eventual successor

With the average lifecycle of desktop PCs put at three years, firms are wary of the total cost of ownership entailed in upgrading and replacing systems

After security outfit Symantec wrapped up its US$13.5 billion capture of storage management software firm Veritas last year, CEO John Thompson admitted to reporters “We’re like a dog that’s chasing a car. Now we’ve caught it, people ask ‘What do you do with it?’.”

The majority of viewers in Morocco prefer watching terrestrial television channels to satellite stations, according to a new survey.

The Saudi Research and Marketing Group has posted first half profits of US$40 million, an 80% increase on the same period last year.

Pan-Arab satellite broadcaster ART has come under fire again for not properly publicising that its broadcasts of the World Cup semi-finals and final were available on a free-to-air channel.

The Middle East is the fastest growing region in the world for advertising network Grey, according to its chairman and CEO Ed Meyer.

French circulation audit firm OJD has said it is “deeply interested” in increasing its presence in the Middle East after the Circulation Audit Steering Organisation said it would like to see the company play more of a role in the region.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Foundation (IMF) has applauded steps taken by the Egyptian government to tackle impediments to higher growth and employment creation, and boost modernisation and private sector activity.

Emaar Economic City (ECC), a consortium headed by Emaar Properties and Saudi investors, has announced that the Capital Market Authority (CMA) of Saudi Arabia has approved its initial public offering of US$679.9 million. The company has also received approval from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for its incorporation.

The beauty of destinations that offer a ‘back to nature’ experience will be highlighted by an innovative campaign run by the Dubai Men’s College during Dubai Summer Surprises next month.

For years Hong Kong has acted as a hub for regional travel and trade, which mainly appealed to business travellers from the Middle East market. However, recent tourist developments and the launch of a promotional campaign to promote ‘2006 Discover Hong Kong Year’ are encouraging people to appreciate Hong Kong as a leisure destination.

UAE’s capital will be home to world’s largest Guggenheim Museum, located on Saadiyat Island

Announcement on contractor for Dubai Metro’s Green Line is likely to be made within the next month

Construction Week picks up 3 American Tabbie awards

Emaar Properties, a global real estate developer, and The Turner Corporation, a leading building services provider, has announced their investment in a newly formed entity, Turner International Middle East Ltd (Turner International ME), to jointly tap regional growth opportunities.

Sri Lankan embassy in Oman reports that at least 10 construction workers per day request to go home

Abu Dhabi gas bid evaluation

Decision to allow contractors to choose timings provokes criticism

Huge advancements in the cladding industry mean that the sector now provides far more than just the outer surface of a structure. Tim Wood takes a look at some of the companies that have led the revolution and reveals the projects benefiting from their technical expertise.

Dubai’s well documented efforts to transform itself into a tourism hub means that constructing new hotels is top of the agenda. Zoe Naylor circumnavigates the tower cranes to report from Le Meridien Mina Seyahi extension.

There is a cute little logo to illustrate the midday working ban this year. It features a matchstick man sitting in the lotus position underneath an umbrella and holding what looks like a pint of Guinness, but is probably meant to be a glass of water.

Asia Pacific-based cruise operator Star Cruises has launched its first Mediterranean cruise itinerary and declared the Middle East its key source market for this new venture.

Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts has launched a new stylish collection of uniforms for its front office staff.

B2B arm of landmark London hotels names Al Geziry for marketing

Keeping cool is the latest must have treatment for spas in the Middle East, as Ice Grottes begin to open up

UAE residents have flocked to Germany for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Emirates Airlines and German National Tourist Board (GNTB) figures can reveal. In Emirates’ league table of bookings for its 2006 FIFA World Cup™ packages, based on figures from early May, the UAE topped the list of Middle East countries and took second position in the global stakes.

Just a few weeks after announcing its purchase of Jordanian mobile operator Umniah, Batelco has reported its first half results, with profits up 11%.

At least 1.7 million shoppers are expected to flock to the UAE to enjoy the fun and activities on offer at Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) 2006, according to event organisers. This represents a 10% increase on 2005 figures, according to Laila Suhail, the executive project director for DSS, which is now in its ninth year.

Following the announcement earlier in the year, Alcatel and Lucent say they are on course for the merger completion, claiming to have achieved several milestones.

Windows 98 and Windows ME users will no longer be able to look for support from Microsoft as both operating systems have simultaneously reached their end-of-life dates as of 11 July 2006

It’s no secret that Thailand is hot news this summer. Airlines and tour operators unanimously agree that the destination is proving popular with Arab nationals and ex-pats alike to the extent that flights are reaching full capacity and air ticket prices are soaring. Travel agents have reported sky rocketing fares on the Dubai-Bangkok routes in particular; in some cases, the price has doubled for the summer months.

The award of Egypt’s third GSM licence for almost US$3 billion to the UAE’s Etisalat, is the most expensive greenfield concession since the award of the second mobile licence in Saudi last year. Interestingly, it was Etisalat that was also behind the US$3.3 billion offer for the licence in Saudi, underlining the operator’s determination to enter new and significant markets in the region and beyond.

Rotana Hotels has announced the expansion of its portfolio with a second property in the rapidly developing Sudanese city of Khartoum

World-renowned agronomist ensures better playing conditions at Jumeirah Golf Estates

Ambitious bluetooth accessories vendor Jabra is targeting significant expansion in the Middle East region with the opening of a new logistics base in Dubai.

Bahrain’s new Diplomat Radisson SAS Residence and Spa is set to open in October adjacent to the existing 246-room, five-star Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel

The summer months in the Middle East are too hot for all but the most dedicated sun-worshippers. Nonetheless, as things start to hot up, hotels in the region are still bustling as the rapidly developing conferencing market ensures a steady, year-round business for many four- and five-star properties