Arrow Electronics to Showcase Next-Gen Hyper-Converged Infrastructure

Arrow Electronics to Showcase Next-Gen Hyper-Converged Infrastructure

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Arrow Electronics, Inc., (NYSE: ARW) will showcase a range of next-generation hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI), flash storage, software-defined infrastructure, and advanced security solutions from leading technology vendors at the upcoming edition of the GITEX Technology Week. Research indicates that the HCI market is emerging as one of the fastest growing and most valuable technology segments in the industry. In fact, the International Data Corporation expects new data centre investments will leverage converged or hyper-converged infrastructures to support both public and private cloud deployments across the Middle East and Africa market, with a forecast growth rate of 12 percent in 2016.

‘We continue to see the HCI approach garnering attention of IT leaders and business stakeholders as they strive to transform data centre infrastructure into a more agile, scalable, and predictable platform, while operating under budget and resource constraints to meet ever-changing business requirements,’ said Vimal Kocher, managing director for the Middle East region of Arrow’s enterprise computing solutions business. ‘In addition to the assessment study, we will also be hosting a series of technical workshops, lunch-and-learns, and cost-and-benefit analysis sessions at the in-house lab and Proof-of-Concept Solution Centre at the Arrow Dubai office in the coming months. We aim to provide consultative advices and practical solutions to help customers and partners realise transformative benefits delivered by HCI in addressing many IT challenges.’

Designed as a hybrid and agile IT infrastructure, HCI employs software-defined technology to integrate compute, storage, networking and virtualisation resources into one centrally managed console, or cluster. HCI creates a pool of unified virtual infrastructure that can be shared by multiple applications and lines of business, allowing for dynamic scaling and reduced complexity and fragmentation. HCI can also improve backup and recovery capability. The financial benefits of HCI include not only savings on capital expenditures but also lower total cost of ownership and operational expenses.

Among the innovative technology solutions on display at Arrow’s booth (Hall 2, G2-1) will be Dell EMC hyper-converged appliance VxRail’ and its industry-leading flash products. ‘Based on VMware’s vSphere and Virtual SAN, and Dell EMC software, VxRail is the only integrated, preconfigured, and pre-tested VMware hyper-converged infrastructure appliance on the market. VxRail enables faster, better, and simpler management of consolidated workloads, virtual desktops, business-critical applications, and remote office infrastructure. It provides a predictable and scalable path to an automated, software-defined infrastructure environment,’ said Havier Haddad, Channel & Alliance director for Turkey, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa of Dell EMC.

More than 30 technology specialists from Check Point, Dell EMC, F5, Forcepoint, Intel Security, Netscout, RSA, and Trend Micro will join a team of Arrow’s business solution consultants at the GITEX Technology Week to provide insights to solution providers and enterprises on emerging trends including virtualisation, software-driven infrastructures, and clouding computing, to name a few.

Arrow will also launch a study to help enterprises evaluate their current data centre capability, and assess which HCI solutions and best practices can help them transform their data centres to meet complex business needs in the digital economy.

Arabian Power Electronics Company Announces GCC Expansion Plans At WETEX 2016

Arabian Power Electronics Company Announces GCC Expansion Plans At WETEX 2016

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Dubai, UAE, October 5, 2016: Arabian Power Electronics Company (APEC), a leading global power electronics manufacturer fully owned by Eram Group, today announced its regional expansion plans for the UAE and other GCC countries at the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) 2016, which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 4-6 October 2016. The company showcased its extensive range of products and appointed Eram Trading, a subsidiary of Eram Group, as the agency to market APEC’s products in the UAE.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) inaugurated APEC’s world-class Power Electronics Equipment range including its Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Systems, Battery Chargers, Inverters, Frequency Converters and Solar Power Systems in the UAE at the exhibition.

‘In 2013, APEC opened a world-class manufacturing facility in Al-Khobar ‘ Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which was the first and only one of its kind in the GCC region to manufacture custom-made Industrial Power Electronics equipment to cater the requirement of the region. Over the last three years, our business has grown and we now have customers across all the GCC countries. As part of our company’s strategic roadmap, we felt the need to have on-the-ground resources to support our growing customer base and by appointing reputed partners in different countries, we could ensure that we not only offer the best quality products but also the best customer service and support. For the UAE market, we appointed Eram Trading, subsidiary of Eram Group, as our agent as they have the market knowledge, expertise and reach to grow our business in the country,’ said Mr. Jacob Thomas, Business Unit Head, APEC.

‘We are pleased to make our regional debut at WETEX 2016, which is a perfect platform for APEC to showcase our world-class products that meet or exceed the highest quality standards, raise our corporate profile and increase the visibility of our products to a niche focused audience. Our team of engineers and experts are holding demos of our environmentally friendly power electronics solutions and sharing APEC’s services, success stories and best practices with customers visiting at our stand,’ Mr. Thomas added.

APEC provides comprehensive engineering solutions to secure critical processes with clean and reliable power supply systems. Since its launch, the company’s strategy has been to develop environmental friendly products and contribute socio-economically to the society, which has been the vision of its founder – Dr. Siddeek Ahmed, Chairman & Managing Director of Eram Group. With a mission to secure critical processes with highly reliable and highly efficient power solutions, APEC has been manufacturing products that can last and withstand the unique environmental conditions of the region.

“Eram Group’s focus has been on building the company’s capability in technology based products and services. We believe that the GCC region requires a lot of emphasis on technology innovation and R & D and through our subsidiaries like APEC, we are trying to contribute on our part,” said Mr. Mohamed Al Shallali, Chief Technical Advisor of Eram Group.

APEC is also a major Service provider of Power Electronics products with a highly experienced team of trained and certified Engineers and Technicians. The company has service centers in strategic locations and offers customers 24×7 service support. APEC’s quality management system conforms to the highest international standards meeting clients’ requirements.

APEC, an ISO9001, ISO14000 and ISO18000 certified company, caters to customers ranging from airlines, infrastructure, utility power, oil and gas plants, to all industries that require industrial-grade power supply products, where reliability and efficiency are very important. Some of its customers are esteemed companies such as Saudi Aramco, Saudi Electricity Company, SABIC, Qatar Petroleum, GACA, Shell to name a few.

New Initiative to Boost Safety at Dubai Customs Centres

New Initiative to Boost Safety at Dubai Customs Centres

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Dubai ‘ Dubai Customs has launched an initiative to closely observe such behaviors and acts that might put at risk people’s health and work environment safety within Customs centers.

Dubai Customs is very much committed to maintaining a healthy and safe work environment, by implementing a Health and Safety Policy at all DC facilities.

The Acting Director of Administration Affairs at Dubai Customs, Khawla Slaes, said that the initiative aims at reinforcing positive safety practices as well as identifying and addressing behavioural risks, in a bid to avoid physical injuries and damage to property. 

‘As part of the initiative, discussions of safe work practices will be encouraged among employees at customs centres,’ said Ms Slaes.

She explained that the first phase of the initiative would be implemented through the Command & Control Rooms, whose personnel are highly trained and equipped to handle and set straight reported actions. Health and safety ‘ endangering actions will be recorded using surveillance camera monitors and an incident report will be raised to the concerned entity to carry on corrective measures, either instantly or within 20 days depending on the nature of the incident.  

‘The Command & Control Room was chosen as it is well-equipped with technical devices and individuals to receive and address reported misconducts and practices,’ she said.

German Siemens appoints Herbert Klausner

German Siemens appoints Herbert Klausner

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Siemens has appointed Herbert Klausner (53) as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company’s operations in Kuwait, effective October 1, 2016. Klausner joins the regional management team from the Power and Gas Division at Siemens AG in Germany, where he headed Large Gas Turbine Berlin Operations. His career at Siemens spans 34 years, including positions in Kuwait, Indonesia, Austria and Germany. He takes over from Adrian Wood, who moved to Qatar to oversee Siemens business there.

‘We are pleased to welcome Herbert Klausner to the regional management team. Having worked in Kuwait previously, his knowledge of the market and customers’ needs are invaluable. We look forward to continuing our growth story in Kuwait under Herbert’s leadership,’ said Dietmar Siersdorfer, CEO of Siemens Middle East and UAE.

Klausner started his career with Siemens in 1979 in Austria. Since then, he has worked across different teams and countries. His current post marks a return after eight years to Kuwait, where he held the position of Group Manager for Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution, Automation & Drives, Industry Solutions, and Siemens Building Technologies. 

Commenting on his appointment, Klausner said: ‘This is an exciting time in Kuwait, as the country’s vision for 2035 seeks to strengthen the economy and support social and human development. With a focus on electrification, automation and digitalization, Siemens will continue its role as a technology partner, providing reliable and innovative solutions that assist Kuwait’s long-term plans.’

Siemens has been active in Kuwait since 1959 and has been heavily involved in a number of key infrastructure projects across the country. These include contributing technology to the Ministry of Energy for many transmission and distribution projects and power stations, the Kuwait National Petroleum Company’s refineries, Kuwait Oil Company Projects and for various other customers in the market.

GCC Expansion Plans At WETEX

GCC Expansion Plans At WETEX

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Dubai, UAE, October 5, 2016: Arabian Power Electronics Company (APEC), a leading global power electronics manufacturer fully owned by Eram Group, today announced its regional expansion plans for the UAE and other GCC countries at the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) 2016, which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 4-6 October 2016. The company showcased its extensive range of products and appointed Eram Trading, a subsidiary of Eram Group, as the agency to market APEC’s products in the UAE.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) inaugurated APEC’s world-class Power Electronics Equipment range including its Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Systems, Battery Chargers, Inverters, Frequency Converters and Solar Power Systems in the UAE at the exhibition.

‘In 2013, APEC opened a world-class manufacturing facility in Al-Khobar ‘ Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which was the first and only one of its kind in the GCC region to manufacture custom-made Industrial Power Electronics equipment to cater the requirement of the region. Over the last three years, our business has grown and we now have customers across all the GCC countries. As part of our company’s strategic roadmap, we felt the need to have on-the-ground resources to support our growing customer base and by appointing reputed partners in different countries, we could ensure that we not only offer the best quality products but also the best customer service and support. For the UAE market, we appointed Eram Trading, subsidiary of Eram Group, as our agent as they have the market knowledge, expertise and reach to grow our business in the country,’ said Mr. Jacob Thomas, Business Unit Head, APEC.

‘We are pleased to make our regional debut at WETEX 2016, which is a perfect platform for APEC to showcase our world-class products that meet or exceed the highest quality standards, raise our corporate profile and increase the visibility of our products to a niche focused audience. Our team of engineers and experts are holding demos of our environmentally friendly power electronics solutions and sharing APEC’s services, success stories and best practices with customers visiting at our stand,’ Mr. Thomas added.

APEC provides comprehensive engineering solutions to secure critical processes with clean and reliable power supply systems. Since its launch, the company’s strategy has been to develop environmental friendly products and contribute socio-economically to the society, which has been the vision of its founder – Dr. Siddeek Ahmed, Chairman & Managing Director of Eram Group. With a mission to secure critical processes with highly reliable and highly efficient power solutions, APEC has been manufacturing products that can last and withstand the unique environmental conditions of the region.

“Eram Group’s focus has been on building the company’s capability in technology based products and services. We believe that the GCC region requires a lot of emphasis on technology innovation and R & D and through our subsidiaries like APEC, we are trying to contribute on our part,” said Mr. Mohamed Al Shallali, Chief Technical Advisor of Eram Group.

APEC is also a major Service provider of Power Electronics products with a highly experienced team of trained and certified Engineers and Technicians. The company has service centers in strategic locations and offers customers 24×7 service support. APEC’s quality management system conforms to the highest international standards meeting clients’ requirements.

APEC, an ISO9001, ISO14000 and ISO18000 certified company, caters to customers ranging from airlines, infrastructure, utility power, oil and gas plants, to all industries that require industrial-grade power supply products, where reliability and efficiency are very important. Some of its customers are esteemed companies such as Saudi Aramco, Saudi Electricity Company, SABIC, Qatar Petroleum, GACA, Shell to name a few.

Etihad Airways Partners Continue Plans

Etihad Airways Partners Continue Plans

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Etihad Airways Partners (EAP), a unique partnership of eight airlines, has announced further steps aimed at aligning the benefits for tiered members of the separate frequent flyer programmes operated by each airline.

The latest enhancements incorporate customer feedback on benefits they value and are part of an ongoing strategy to enhance the customer proposition and create the best global loyalty programme.

EAP is a partnership comprising Etihad Airways, airberlin, Alitalia, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways, and NIKI which have joined together to enhance their customer proposition and offer more choice to travellers. Four frequent flyer programmes are operated by the EAP airlines and include Etihad Guest which is used by loyalty members of Etihad Airways, Air Seychelles, Air Serbia and Etihad Regional; topbonus for airberlin and NIKI; JetPrivilege for Jet Airways; and MilleMiglia for Alitalia. Together the airlines offer a combined network of over 400 destinations across six continents. 

Bruno Matheu, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airline Equity Partners, said: ‘The steps we’re announcing are just the latest initiative to create an enhanced proposition for guests travelling across the EAP. We want to give all of our guests a high quality, convenient travel experience across all the partner airlines.

‘EAP partner airlines have taken key steps to align their products. For instance, all offer fully flat beds in Business Class on long haul flights. Now we want to provide further enhancements, and by aligning services such as tier benefits, we can ensure that our most loyal guests experience the same service on each of the partner airlines.’ 

Starting from 4 October, there will be changes in several areas such as priority check-in, priority boarding, lounge access, excess baggage and tier bonus miles, as part of the ongoing process to speed up the alignment of the various programmes.

Changes made to apply excess baggage allowances across all EAP airlines will see Silver members receive an additional 10 kg; Gold members a further 15 kg, and platinum members will receive 20 kg more whenever they fly on an EAP carrier. For those routes where the weight is measured per piece, all members will receive an additional bag up to 23kg in Economy or up to 32kg in First and Business Class. The changes made to excess baggage applying them across all EAP flights will be industry leading, and set the new benefits apart from the competition. 

The Silver, Gold and Platinum members of all EAP frequent flyer programmes will be entitled to priority check-in, irrespective of which airline they are flying. Priority check-in offers elite tier members an enhanced experience, at dedicated check-in counters or premium counters when travelling in economy. While Gold and Platinum members of all EAP frequent flyer programmes are entitled to priority boarding, irrespective of the airline they are flying.

Lounge access has been expanded to ensure that status members enjoy Etihad Airways Partners’ world leading lounges, including access to the new flagship First Class Lounge and Spa at Abu Dhabi Airport for all Platinum members.

All EAP loyalty programme members will be entitled to tier bonus miles when flying on EAP flights. Members of the schemes accumulate miles on the basis of their flight’s fare and the distance travelled in miles. They can redeem them for award flights, ticket upgrades or non-airline goods and services. Under the changes announced today, Silver members receive 25 per cent bonus miles, Gold members are entitled to 50 per cent more and Platinum members will receive 75 per cent on their bonus miles, regardless of which EAP airline they are flying.

These changes will apply to all Platinum, Gold and Silver members of the EAP frequent flyer programmes that travel on or after 4 October 2016, on any one of the EAP airlines. Full details of the changes can be found on www.etihadguest.com/eap 

Arabian Power Electronics Company Announces GCC Expansion Plans

Arabian Power Electronics Company Announces GCC Expansion Plans

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Dubai, UAE – Arabian Power Electronics Company (APEC), a leading global power electronics manufacturer fully owned by Eram Group, today announced its regional expansion plans for the UAE and other GCC countries at the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) 2016, which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 4-6 October 2016. The company showcased its extensive range of products and appointed Eram Trading, a subsidiary of Eram Group, as the agency to market APEC’s products in the UAE.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) inaugurated APEC’s world-class Power Electronics Equipment range including its Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Systems, Battery Chargers, Inverters, Frequency Converters and Solar Power Systems in the UAE at the exhibition.

‘In 2013, APEC opened a world-class manufacturing facility in Al-Khobar ‘ Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which was the first and only one of its kind in the GCC region to manufacture custom-made Industrial Power Electronics equipment to cater the requirement of the region. Over the last three years, our business has grown and we now have customers across all the GCC countries. As part of our company’s strategic roadmap, we felt the need to have on-the-ground resources to support our growing customer base and by appointing reputed partners in different countries, we could ensure that we not only offer the best quality products but also the best customer service and support. For the UAE market, we appointed Eram Trading, subsidiary of Eram Group, as our agent as they have the market knowledge, expertise and reach to grow our business in the country,’ said Mr. Jacob Thomas, Business Unit Head, APEC. 

‘We are pleased to make our regional debut at WETEX 2016, which is a perfect platform for APEC to showcase our world-class products that meet or exceed the highest quality standards, raise our corporate profile and increase the visibility of our products to a niche focused audience. Our team of engineers and experts are holding demos of our environmentally friendly power electronics solutions and sharing APEC’s services, success stories and best practices with customers visiting at our stand,’ Mr. Thomas added.

 APEC provides comprehensive engineering solutions to secure critical processes with clean and reliable power supply systems. Since its launch, the company’s strategy has been to develop environmental friendly products and contribute socio-economically to the society, which has been the vision of its founder – Dr. Siddeek Ahmed, Chairman & Managing Director of Eram Group. With a mission to secure critical processes with highly reliable and highly efficient power solutions, APEC has been manufacturing products that can last and withstand the unique environmental conditions of the region.  

“Eram Group’s focus has been on building the company’s capability in technology based products and services. We believe that the GCC region requires a lot of emphasis on technology innovation and R & D and through our subsidiaries like APEC, we are trying to contribute on our part,” said Mr. Mohamed Al Shallali, Chief Technical Advisor of Eram Group.

APEC is also a major Service provider of Power Electronics products with a highly experienced team of trained and certified Engineers and Technicians. The company has service centers in strategic locations and offers customers 24×7 service support. APEC’s quality management system conforms to the highest international standards meeting clients’ requirements.

APEC, an ISO9001, ISO14000 and ISO18000 certified company, caters to customers ranging from airlines, infrastructure, utility power, oil and gas plants, to all industries that require industrial-grade power supply products, where reliability and efficiency are very important. Some of its customers are esteemed companies such as Saudi Aramco, Saudi Electricity Company, SABIC, Qatar Petroleum, GACA, Shell to name a few.

ADCB and Farah Experiences Celebrate Successful Launch of Partnership

ADCB and Farah Experiences Celebrate Successful Launch of Partnership

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Abu Dhabi ‘ Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) and Farah Experiences, operator of the UAE’s unique theme parks  Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld have recently celebrated the successful launch of their new strategic partnership, which provides exclusive benefits to ADCB customers at the theme parks on Yas Island.  The partnership reflects ADCB’s aspiration to create a lasting experience that is full of value and quality.  

As part of the partnership, ADCB’s Credit and Debit cardholders benefit from a year-round 15% discount off tickets and merchandise purchases at both theme parks, and 10% off food and beverage purchases as well as complimentary upgrades on tickets.

Abdul Shakeel Abdul Hameed, Head of Retail Banking at ADCB said: ‘As one of the leading card issuers in the UAE, our ambition is to always offer our customers exclusive plans and benefits to best satisfy their wants and needs. Our cards offering are known for providing exclusive programs, bonus and rewards tailored to fit the lifestyle of each individual cardholder. Customer satisfaction is ADCB’s ultimate goal, we do this by continuously improving and providing the best services possible, and this partnership with Farah Experiences helps us create memorable moments for ADCB’s cardholders and their families.’  

Olivier Garaialde, Chief Executive Officer at Farah Experiences said: ‘We are delighted to welcome ADCB and their cardholders into our unique family of brands and experiences. At our Theme Parks we aim to offer guests the most enjoyable and memorable time through world-class entertainment experiences drawn from fascinating stories; be it premium fun and Ferrari-inspired thrills at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi – or extraordinary, pearl-diving inspired adventures at Yas Waterworld. We look forward to creating additional smiles for ADCB customers with the year-round benefits extended to them at our Theme Parks which this partnership makes possible.’

21% in the UAE concerned about being targeted while 42% are actual victims of cyberattacks

21% in the UAE concerned about being targeted while 42% are actual victims of cyberattacks

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The region’s biggest consumer electronics show- Gitex Shopper is here, which means a significant number of UAE residents will soon update their personal electronics. Before splurging on the latest gizmos, it might be worth thinking about how safe ‘ or unsafe ‘ it currently is online. How many people run the risk of falling victim to cybercriminals today, without suspecting it? And how many have been targeted already? To assess the situation Kaspersky Lab is launching itsKaspersky Cybersecurity Index ‘ the first global index to measure the current cyberthreat levels faced by Internet users.

Kaspersky Lab has previously joined forces with B2B International to carry out regular large-scale online surveys in different countries, in order to evaluate how Internet users behave online, what their concerns are, what issues they face and how they defend themselves against possible threats. The Kaspersky Cybersecurity Index is based on this data, collected from thousands of users across the globe. 

The index combines three key indicators, which are measured every six months and which provide the information needed to monitor the degree of risk to the average Internet user. 

‘         The Concerned Indicator shows the percentage of people who believe they may be targeted by a cyberattack. This indicator shows the degree to which users realize the danger to which they are exposed.

‘         The Affected Indicator identifies how many people have actually fallen victim to cyberattacks during the reporting period ‘ e.g., have faced data leakage or extortion online. 

‘         The Protected Indicator shows the number of users who have installed a security solution on the device they use to access the Internet. This is the average figure for all the devices used, including computers and mobile devices.

The Cybersecurity Index is formed from a detailed survey carried out in August 2016, in 21 countries across the globe. According to the data, only 21% of users in the UAE currently believe he or she is threatened by anything online. Interestingly, double the number of users (42%) have actually fallen victim to cybercriminal schemes. However, only 47% of UAE users have installed security solutions on all their devices to access the Internet. The Index demonstrates that, today, many users underestimate cyberthreats even after facing them. This attitude inevitably affects their security.

‘We created the Index to draw the attention of users, the media and vendors to the issue of cybersecurity. Many users today, we believe, do not expect to come face-to-face with cyberthreats, so they fail to install security solutions on their devices and behave carelessly online. This makes them easy targets for cybercriminals. The Index reflects the results of this approach: globally today, 29% of people have been affected by online threats. We are calling on all Internet users to improve their cyber savviness and adopt a responsible approach, both for their own protection and to that of their loved ones. Security, we believe, must be shared,’ believes Andrei Mochola, Head of Consumer Business at Kaspersky Lab.

Global leaders converge in Dubai

Global leaders converge in Dubai

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Close to 400 business leaders and government representatives will meet in Dubai next week to discuss foreign investment opportunities in Africa during the Africa Legal Network’s (ALN) 3rd Annual International Conference on 5-6 October at the Park Hyatt, Dubai, UAE.

The invite-only event is set to attract a number of high-profile speakers, including UAE Minister for Culture, Youth and Social Development His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan; Former Malian Prime Minister Dr Cheick Modibo Diarra; International Enterprise Singapore Director Jaya Gopalakrishnan, Former US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer and Centum CEO James Mworia, amongst many others.

The opening panel session will discuss the key findings of the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI)’s latest report titled Lions on the move II: Realizing the potential of Africa’s economies – which reveals an optimistic growth story in Africa. The new report – from the business and economics research arm of McKinsey & Company – shows that despite recent shocks and challenges, spending by Africa’s consumers and businesses totals $4 trillion annually, and is growing rapidly. Household consumption is expected to grow at 3.8 per cent a year to total $2.1 trillion by 2025. 

ALN Chairman and former Malian Prime Minister, Dr. Cheick Modibo Diarra, said:

‘The conference, now in its third year, aims to connect Africa to international markets, providing them with an avenue to hold discussions on various topics salient to Africa and the Gulf. Drawing upon ALN’s deep knowledge of Africa, the event also seeks to add value to the conversations surrounding Africa as a ‘hotbed’ 

for investment opportunities and helps to provide solutions to the various challenges faced when doing business on the African continent.

He continued, ‘Each year we are noticing a growing number of delegates attending from countries outside of Africa and the UAE and this is really indicative of the global investor interest in Africa.’

The annual conference will be held in Dubai, an ideal location widely acknowledged as the gateway to Africa for its global connectivity, concentration of corporate headquarters and geographical location at the heart of important trade corridors. The conference sponsors include International Enterprise Singapore; Centum; The Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB); SBMI; Emirates NBD; Access Bank UK and Axis.

GITEX Shopper 2016 Opens Tomorrow

GITEX Shopper 2016 Opens Tomorrow

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The region’s biggest ever retail extravaganza for consumer IT and electronics starts at 11am tomorrow (Saturday) when GITEX Shopper 2016 opens its doors to welcome visitors at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Unrivalled prices on over 35,000 up-to-the minute products, bundled offers and an array of exciting competitions sets the stage for another incredible GITEX Shopper edition.

Running for eight days, from 1 – 8 October, the Middle East’s largest and most anticipated consumer IT and electronics show will offer unbeatable deals on products that include smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, wearable technology and cameras, while a broad range of exciting and ingenious products and accessories are being added to bundled deals.

‘GITEX Shopper is the perfect place to find the latest technology products at the best possible prices and in the most convenient location. There is so much on offer for visitors, it really is the one-stop-shop for all your electronic needs. Thanks to the commitment of the best brands and biggest retailers in the region, the 2016 edition of GITEX Shopper promises incredible products, the latest launches, unheard-of offers and exciting prizes,’ said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), organiser of GITEX Shopper. 

Regional power retailers including Axiom, Emax, Jacky’s Electronics, Jumbo Electronics and Sharaf DG, as well as top world brands such as Alienware, Asus, Bose, Hisense, HP, Lava, Microsoft, MSI, Nestle, Oppo and Samsung are determined to offer the best deals possible to the tens of thousands of visitors visiting the show each day.

Samsung will showcase their latest range of smartphones including the Galaxy Note7 and Galaxy S7/S7 edge, as well as ground breaking innovations such as the Gear 360 and the Gear VR. Their stand will have a dedicated virtual reality zone complete with 4D chairs to transport visitors into whole new world of possibilities. In addition, they will be showcasing their wearables including Gear Fit2 and IconX. 

Sony will showcase ‘ through key retailers such as Jacky’s Electronics, Jumbo Electronics and Sharaf DG ‘ their latest products including the entire line-up of 4K HDR Bravia models and the newly launched X70D and X80D models. Visitors should look out for attractive bundles and offers for Sony’s premium 4K HDR models ‘ the Sony X85D and X93D Bravia range. In addition to the TV segment, visitors can take advantage of Sony’s great offers on other hero products ranging from the Alpha interchangeable lens cameras, to the portable speakers such as the SRS-HG1, and the MDR-100ABN High res audio headphones.

Jumbo brings the latest and most comprehensive line-up of products to GITEX Shopper, as well as a fabulous range of competitive offers, promotions and premium giveaways. Among the latest products are the much awaited iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, Sony Xperia XZ and FIFA 17. Jumbo also promises the most exciting promotions and bundle offers on key products such as smartphones, laptops, premium UHD/4K TVs, digital SLRs, wearables and fitness brands among others.

Additional to the endless bargains, this year’s visitors have the chance to win a number of incredible prizes and giveaways. Simply by making it down to the show on any of the eight days, visitors stand the chance of winning the latest Oppo smartphone, while one lucky shopper will leave the show behind the wheel of the grand prize – a brand new Mitsubishi Montero Sport.

Visitors spending AED 3,000 or more have the opportunity to win one of 32 seaplane flights and holiday packages worth AED 15,000, while the ‘Scratch and Win’ raffle gives visitors the chance of winning an 80 Nikon D3300 camera.

Centrally located at the Dubai World Trade Centre, visitors have the option of arriving by metro which is conveniently located just meters from the door, or by car as there is ample parking for those driving. There will be a variety of food trucks in the venue and a range of interactive activities to ensure a great day out for all the family.

GITEX Shopper 2016 takes place from 1 – 8 October and will open from 11:00am – 11:00pm every day. This year, tickets for GITEX Shopper will be priced at AED 30 for the weekdays and AED 35 for the weekend. Entry is free for children below the age of five.

For the latest GITEX Shopper information, please visit www.gitexshopperdubai.com, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

RTA to roll out 3D Printing Technology on Dubai Metro

RTA to roll out 3D Printing Technology on Dubai Metro

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The Maintenance Department of RTA’s Rail Agency has rolled out the utilization of 3D printing technology on the Dubai Metro.  The team has been able to research and start to print parts for the subsystems of the TVMs (Ticket Vending Machines), ticket gates and other metro assets across the network.

‘The 3D printing technology is advancing at a rapid pace across the world and RTA is strongly inclined to be a forerunner in this 3D generation by highlighting the world’s best practices adopted in the rail industry.  Future scope includes developments that are required to manage obsolescence, which is a huge burden of any railway worldwide,’ said AbdulMohsin Ibrahim Younes, CEO of RTA’s Rail Agency.

‘The 3D printing technology would enable RTA to keep the Dubai metro assets in service longer while driving down the cost of parts and in turn passing this saving back to the customer.  An example of this is that when small parts are needed, normal practice dictates a local manufacturer would need to produce hundreds to justify his cost,’ added Younes.  

‘Using 3D technology stops this waste so the team at the Rashidiya Depot can now produce items made in hundreds singularly.  Using 3D technology in a way that means much lower costs as the team can produce items when required and on demand while reducing carbon emissions.’

While RTA realizes the importance and can see the benefits of the 3D printing inside the workshop, further discussion is now taking place to enhance the facility with a future goal to print larger spares for other systems across the Dubai Metro. 

‘Within a short span of time and considering that 3D printing technology is still relatively new, RTA had made quick progress to understand and accept this technology for use while implementing it to save costs, improve quality and ensure continuing availability of the Dubai Metro Rail Systems for its customers for many years to come,’ concluded Younes.