Dubai – United Arab Emirates, August 14th 2012: These days, Arabic media content can be displayed in many shapes and colors and presented through different TV, Radio, Print Media, Internet channels, in addition to social networks. The number of individuals using the internet as a media source in the Arab World, especially youth is vast, still many individuals use TV as a source of entertainment and news. Latest research in this field shows that there are more than 538 free TV channels broadcasting 24/7 however, the percentage of viewers varies according to the content provided by the channel itself.

As a result of these numerous Arabic TV channels in the market and the long airing time, most TV channels started to fill the time with imported English programs and soaps which in time became very popular. Some think that English content with its excellent production dominated the Arabic channels and left no room for creative local talents to blossom and denied them the right to show their talents and capabilities. Moreover, creative Arabic content has become exclusive only during the Holy month of Ramadan, where competition starts between TV channels on who can obtain the largest number of viewers. The question remains, why do production houses and TV stations limit their good production during the Holy month of Ramadan and not throughout the year?

Mr. Jawad Abbassi, General Manager of the Arab Advisors Group, the research partner for The Big Entertainment Show said: “the Holy month of Ramadan is classified as the most active month for TV Channels in the Arab world as it is usually full of intensive drama productions, TV series and programs that are rich in content and has a unique presentation. Producers during Ramadan compete to present the best of the best TV drama and programs seeking viewer’s satisfaction. Competition exists also between TV channels while some of them seek to own the exclusivity right for certain programs. Moreover, Ramadan introduces a high demand on certain commodities which means more competition on TV Ads, and that in one way or another creates a huge demand for new and excellent TV programs during Ramadan.”

“Ramadan has its special rituals, lots of family and friends gather in the evening plus there are less working hours during the day, that’s why people have more time to watch TV than usual. This fact motivates producers to continuously present their very best. However, that doesn’t mean that the Arabic media content exists only in Ramadan and vanishes throughout the year, there are indeed many excellent Arabic productions, but Ramadan has its own flavor.”

Competition between Arabic and English content in the Middle East region still exists despite that most industry experts reassure that the Arabic content is moving forward, though slowly. Others may say that Arabic content is way much better than English content, for example Mr. Abbassi said that “dubbing and licensing English content is still popular in the Arab world and it becomes more intensive when it comes to reality TV programs; however we can’t overlook the number of excellent Arabic programs that are quite a success.

Mr. Jawad Abbassi also said: “there are non Arabs who live in the Arab countries, we must not forget that! Therefore, we find that a good number of TV stations broadcast English programs, in addition, those programs have Arab viewers too!”

English programs are not the only competitor in the market, Turkish drama now has a good share in the Arab TV broadcasting programs. It is not a secret anymore that Turkish drama owned a very special place within Arab viewers in a very short period and it has now the lion share of viewers in the region and some believe that Turkish drama has become vital in the Arabic drama industry.

High production budgets, attention to details and the unlimited number of episodes and seasons – compared to an Arabic series that consists of a maximum of 30 series and not more than one season, are some of the many reasons that stood behind the unprecedented success achieved by Turkish drama.

Content is King! The creation of a vibrant local content production industry is key to the growth of the TV industry in the Arab world and has shown development over the past two years. Geographic hubs for TV series production are expanding across the region, with some of the Gulf States making the most of the recent unrest in traditional markets for content production such as Egypt and Syria. As the number of markets producing content increases, so will the breadth of content available for viewers and the ensuing competition can only be a positive development for creativity in the industry.

Animation in particular is finding a new home in the Arab world, nevertheless, this industry is experiencing slow growth and the reason being the fear that large production companies has for implementing local animation projects that require big effort and high budgets, in addition to the lack of supporters for this business. Experts say that the volume of the animation filmmaking in the United States is estimated at $40 billion and the market value has reached $400 Billion.

Cartoon and animation industry in the region have witnessed a huge development during the past couple of years. Some production houses have bought the license of foreign TV channels and introduced them to the Arabic audience with 100% Arabic content. Nevertheless the question remains, what is the volume of the Arabic Cartoon Production.

Ms. Natalie Habib, General Manager and Executive Producer at Blinks Studios said: “It is very difficult to equate an accurate regional share of production that is dedicated solely to animation. There is definitely a surge in animation productions targeting the Ramadan season. Broadcasters tend to be searching for new and creative animated concepts to air as Ramadan entertainment and are very ready to invest into their production, otherwise, long form productions for big screens, TV and online still have room for major growth. Investments into this type of production is haphazard and not a priority for broadcasters, producers and general investors since most prefer to buy “off-the-shelf” ready made content that they are happy to dub into Arabic.”

Ms. Habib also said: “ As for the very few  original animated productions that found fame in the last 5 years, they were pretty much supported on criteria that is not standard to the international market. Most of those animation concepts are chosen on cultural preference rather than simply assessing whether they truly deliver on great entertainment and high returns.”

Ms. Natalie added: “Unfortunately, the regional budgets allocated to media productions most rarely classify animation as one of the main genres to be sourced, developed and produced. There is also a huge gap in the regional market for well trained animation talents. That does not only fall in the category of “animator” as a role. The region suffers from the lack of the core talent to developing great concepts, in better words, writers.”

“Writers are few and far to find. Concepts that start off with great premises are most of the time compromised by weak and under developed scripts. We at Blinks Studios pride ourselves for housing most, if not all, of our talents from the Arab world, and we hope that other regional animation studios can find the right formula to do the same and slowly disregard the solution of sourcing talent from outside the Arab region.” Continued Ms. Natalie

Industry leaders in Dubai have embraced the precious value of the TV Production and entertainment industry in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2009, Dubai hosted the first editions of the “Dubai World Game Expo, Character Dubai and MYCONTENT” now known as the “Big Entertainment Show”. The event has become the largest show in the Middle East Region specialized in Media and TV content, Character and Brand Licensing Game Developing and publishing, in addition to all trading companies working in the export and import business. This unique event attracts TV Broadcasters, game developers, investors and licensors from all parts of the world to the Middle East Market, which is considered one of the biggest importing markets for this industry.

The Big Entertainment Show is scheduled from the 27th – 28th of November this year at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event will highlight the importance of this promising market and the need to develop proper Arabic content, learn from the foreign experiences and the success stories during the event’s summit educational sessions.

The new integrated campaign ‘JOIN THE CLU13’ takes fans on a winding, multi-faceted journey through the world of the FIFA 13 club – an incredible place where the game and the real world blend together like never before, where average Joes mingle with the pros, and all football and gaming fantasies come to life.

New features such as EA SPORTS Football Club Matchday, the FIFA Seasons online mode and the expanded EA SPORTS Football Club live service elevate the game’s role as football’s social network and fuel deeper connections for millions of fans.

The campaign comprises a dynamic mix of media meant to inject the social energy that makes FIFA 13 a must-have gaming experience. Spanning channels and phases, it includes a teaser film, a 90-second film with 30-second and 20-second cutdowns, pre-launch and launch print executions, as well as interactive content that allows football fans to discover additional material about the game and its features.

Created by ad agency Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam, the 90-second film welcomes new gamers into the FIFA 13 club, a world that crackles with excitement and social energy. The spot follows a new FIFA player as he ventures inside the club for the first time and takes a break-neck journey through a labyrinthine clubhouse with a surprise around every corner – Joe Hart plays kit boy, dishing out shirts to the new boys; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain finds himself sold to the highest bidder in a FIFA Ultimate Team auction; and Lionel Messi joins our new players for the ultimate living room showdown. This is where footballing fantasies come true and pros leave their pedestals to hang out with regular guys. Set to the Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) remix of ‘Can you feel it’ by Freak Power, the film represents the scale and diversity of the game.

FIFA 13

AKQA brings ‘Join the CLU13′ to life online with a Football Fanzine-inspired interactive experience showcasing game features from the perspective of world class FIFA 13 athletes, as well as characters featured in the 90-second film. Meet Leo Messi, Joe Hart, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Karim Benzema and Tim Cahill as they introduce fans to Attacking Intelligence, FIFA 13 First Touch Control, Complete Dribbling and more. Designed to perform equally well on tablets or a desktop, the experience features interactive video, exclusive game capture footage, tips and tricks plus real-time social media feeds from pro players.

FIFA 13

The 90-second film premiered online on August 30th to coincide with the climax of football’s transfer window, and will air on TV across the world from September 1st.

Football fans can access the interactive experience at easports.com/jointheclub.

FIFA 13

FIFA 13 will be available in stores in North America September 25 and worldwide on September 28 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system with PlayStation Move support, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system with Kinect™, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, Wii™, PC, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo 3DS™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, iPhone®, iPad®, iPod® touch and other mobile platforms.

About Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam
Wieden+Kennedy is an independent, creatively led advertising agency that creates strong and provocative relationships between good companies and their consumers.
Founded in 1992, the Amsterdam office is a truly international agency purposefully built to produce global and pan-European campaigns. Clients include Coca-Cola, Levi’s, Heineken, GE, Nike, Electronic Arts, P&G, BASF, and ESPN. W+K Amsterdam was recently named the world’s most awarded advertising agency in 2011 by The Gunn Report.

About AKQA
AKQA is one of the world’s most respected ideas-led agencies: we help global brands win in the digital age. We bring innovation to the most forward-thinking companies such as Audi, Diageo, Gap, Google, Nike, Verizon Wireless and Xbox. We have earned numerous international accolades, including Agency of the Year a record 19 times. At the end of 2011, AKQA was named Agency of the Year on both sides of the Atlantic by Adweek and Campaign magazines and the most awarded digital agency by The Gunn Report. We have 1,120 employees around the world, with offices in Europe, North America and Asia.

About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones, tablets and social networks. EA has more than 220 million registered players and operates in 75 countries.

In fiscal 2012, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.1 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster brands such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed™, Battlefield™ and Mass Effect™. More information about EA is available at http://info.ea.com.

August 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Magrabi Optical has been helping people see the world better, and now it helps you see things in a new way with the launch of their online Virtual Fashion Station!

The super practical Virtual Fashion Station redefines eyewear internet shopping by letting you try glasses online. How? You simply have to upload your photo. You then can choose what to try by type (spectacles or sunglasses) and by brand (there’s an impressive selection of much loved names). Whether you decide to try eyeglasses or sunglasses online or to access the Virtual Fashion Station by picking your favourite designer label, the pair of glasses you click on will appear on your photo, as if you were actually wearing them!

With stores in Egypt, KSA, Oman, UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, Magrabi Optical has a team of over 150 eye care practitioners, 400 opticians and many specialists in customer service, marketing, merchandising, operations and administration. And Virtual Fashion Station now adds an extra edge to Magrabi Optical’s eye opening offerings.

Magrabi Virtual Fashion Station App

To see how good you’d look with aviator, geek chic, retro, titanium and many other trendy or more classical eyewear styles, explore Virtual Fashion Station. Try eyeglasses and sunglasses online with Magrabi Optical.

Magrabi Virtual Fashion Station App

About Magrabi Optical:
Magrabi Optical is a leading eyewear retail chain present in 9 countries in the Middle East, Gulf, and North Africa. It is committed to providing its customers with the world’s finest and most exclusive selection of internationally recognized brands in prescription eyewear and sunglasses, as well as the latest technology in contact lenses.

Magrabi Optical

http://www.magrabioptical.com

Dubai, UAE, August 27, 2012: Following the recent success of the London 2012 Olympic Games coverage, OSN, the leading Pay-TV network in the Middle East and North Africa, has announced it will showcase the London 2012 Paralympic Games live starting 29th August.

The Paralympic Games has become a major international sporting event with over 4,000 athletes from 147 nations taking part this year in 20 different sports including swimming, wheelchair football, sailing and track events.

OSN Sports will be delivering unprecedented coverage through its newly launched dedicated 24/7 High Definition channel, OSN Paralympics HD, ensuring viewers from across the region can enjoy the best moments of athletic brilliance from the Games.

Andy Warkman, Vice President Sports and Production at OSN said:  “We have already experienced a summer filled with drama, passion and athletic excellence which will culminate in the eagerly anticipated London 2012 Paralympic Games. OSN is extremely proud to be an official broadcaster of this amazing event.”

“There was great demand for OSN to showcase the Paralympics following the success of our coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games and we now launch a dedicated HD channel bringing viewers 11 days of live coverage from the Paralympics. Our Olympic coverage would not have been complete without the Paralympics,” Warkman added.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony, which takes place at 23:50 UAE on OSN Paralympics HD and OSN Sports 1 HD, will showcase the excellence of deaf and disabled artists, and opens with an impressive fly past by Aerobility, a British charity that trains disabled people to become pilots. The official Olympic Rings will be replaced by the Paralympic agitos, the three colourful circles that make up the logo of the International Paralympic Committee to officially open the Games.

OSN sports fans can plan their viewing easily using OSN’s user friendly Electronic TV Guide. The complete OSN London 2012 Paralympic Games schedule is also available and can be viewed at www. OSN.com/Paralympics on the OSN website. Viewers can also use the OSN Showbox HD to record their favourite events and watch what they want, when they want.

London 2012 Paralympic Games on OSN

OSN is the ultimate destination for the widest choice of brand new premium Western, Arabic and Filipino entertainment in the Middle East and Africa. OSN is the home of 100 channels filled with great value entertainment, offering viewers in the MENA region exclusive access to the latest blockbuster movies, top rated series, sports, documentaries, news, kid’s entertainment, and live talk shows. The movie offering includes over a 100 movie premieres a month uncut and uninterrupted so viewers can watch movies the way they were meant to be watched.

OSN boasts the most comprehensive portfolio of exclusive rights from all the major studios including Warner Brothers, Paramount, Fox, Disney, Sony, MGM, Universal and DreamWorks and offers access to the world’s leading television brands including Disney channel, Sky News, Discovery Network and Nat Geo.

As the leader in innovation, OSN has changed the TV viewing experience in the region and brings viewers quality entertainment through 28 High Definition channels and currently is the only network offering a full HD bouquet of channels as well as 3D entertainment in the region. OSN was the first to launch the DVR, the OSN SHOWBOX HD, the regions first online TV platform, OSN Play and the region’s first VOD service, OSN on Demand offering viewers the opportunity to watch over 1000 movies and over 52 latest seasons of the top series over the year in full HD quality and Dolby Digital sound.

The OSN Platform is owned and operated by Panther Media Group Limited; a company registered in DIFC and is owned by Mawarid Group and KIPCO.

Thierry and Faustin join W+K Amsterdam from VCCP London, where in just 7 months they won the Macmillan Cancer Nurse and McLaren Automotive accounts, and created the O2 ‘Priority Sports’ campaign.

They joined forces at Mother London in 2011, where they wrote the Stella Artois ‘9 Step Pouring Ritual’ campaign, and won the Butlins and HTC accounts for the agency.

The well-travelled pair have an impressive resume between them. Thierry counts experience at Publicis Paris and Montreal, BDDP&Fils, and 7 years in London at DDB and Mother, during which time he created award-winning work for Marmite, Harvey Nichols, Coca-Cola and the Financial Times among others.

Faustin began his advertising career at the V agency, before spending 4 years in DDB Paris and a year at Publicis, from where he answered Thierry’s call to come to London and work at Mother in 2011. During that time he produced multi award-winning work for Brandt, Stihl, GQ, Greenpeace and Volkswagen.

As a team they’re also the brains behind Surrender Monkeys, a collective of creatives, directors and designers, established to direct music promos and films for artists like the Pet Shop Boys or the Kooks.

Albert and Claverie said: “As huge fans of good cheese and mountain climbing, we’re indeed super excited to come to Holland and work at Wieden+Kennedy to keep on doing some great work.”

Executive Creative Directors Mark Bernath and Eric Quennoy said, “Thierry and Faustin are pure creatives. Guys who are constantly making, tinkering and riffing on ideas. And they come to us with a great, very versatile body of work across a range of big, global brands. We think they’re the perfect cultural fit for this place, and we’re super happy that they’ve decided to join in on the fun. ”

Thierry Albert and Faustin Claveris in Holland

About Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam
Wieden+Kennedy is an independent, creatively led advertising agency that creates strong and provocative relationships between good companies and their consumers. Founded in 1992, the Amsterdam office is a truly international agency purposefully built to produce global and pan-European campaigns. Clients include Coca-Cola, Levi’s, Heineken, GE, Nike, Electronic Arts, P&G, BASF, and ESPN. W+K Amsterdam was recently named the world’s most awarded advertising agency in 2011 by The Gunn Report.

The Nikon D4 (announced in January 2012) is Nikon’s latest flagship digital-SLR camera. It is equipped with a new Nikon FX-format CMOS image sensor (imaging size of 36.0 × 23.9 mm) and EXPEED 3, Nikon’s latest image-processing engine. Together, these features enable superior image quality rich in detail along with excellent high-speed performance. The D4 caters to a number of demands from professional photographers working in the field with highly advanced functions and the ultimate in performance.

The Nikon D800 (announced in February 2012) is a digital-SLR camera with an effective pixel count of 36.3-million pixels for superior image quality with incredible resolution and detail. Since its release, it has been extremely well received by both advanced amateur and professional photographers alike. In April of this year, the Nikon D800 was also the recipient of the prestigious Best D-SLR Expert Award presented by the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA), an authority in the photography and imaging industry. The D800 was also recognized in May of this year as the best still camera released on the Japanese market between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012 with the Camera of the Year Award, and the favourite camera of general users with the Readers Award, both part of the Camera Grand Prix 2012 held by the Camera Journal Press Club/Japan, proving just how well the D800 has been received in Japan.

Nikon D800

Reasons for selection of the D4 as the European Professional Camera of the Year 2012-2013 (comments from EISA)

“The best professional camera of the year is Nikon’s full frame 16-million-pixel D4, for its ability to deliver the highest image quality even in extremely difficult conditions. Tests performed by EISA magazines found the camera has an exceptional combination of high resolution, wide dynamic range, very low noise levels even at ISO 12800, super-fast autofocus, short response time and high frame rates that can be maintained for very long sequences. The body is rugged and well protected against dust and moisture. The viewfinder delivers a sharp, comfortable and very precise view of what will be recorded. Almost perfect handling makes the D4 very easy and pleasant to use and we especially like the new joystick control that’s available whether the camera is in the horizontal or vertical position. The D4 also delivers very high video quality thanks to its uncompressed output.”

Reasons for selection of the D800 as the European Camera of the Year 2012-2013 (comments from EISA)

“This year’s best camera is the Nikon D800. Its 36-million-pixel full frame sensor offers exceptionally high resolution capture and, according to EISA magazine tests, no compromises have been made to the extent of the camera’s dynamic range or noise levels at high ISO settings. In a compact and reasonably priced, strong and sturdy body, it offers first-rate metering and a 51-point autofocus system developed from the professional D4. The camera has a clear and bright approximately 100% viewfinder that is very precise and comfortable to use even for glasses wearers. The tiny flash can command additional Nikon flash units and delivers just the right amount of fill-in illumination even in complex lighting conditions. The D800E version delivers even higher resolution images without needing any post processing sharpening: the image quality comes close to that of a medium format camera, but with the benefits and versatility of a lightweight 35mm reflex camera.”

Nikon D800

The EISA awards
EISA is the association of 50 major photo, video, audio, home theater, and mobile device magazines published in Europe. Each year, EISA chooses the best products released in Europe over the past year from a number of categories of imaging, audio, and mobile devices.
The information is current as of the date of publication. It is subject to change without notice.

About Nikon:
The multinational Nikon Corporation – headquartered in Tokyo, Japan – has been specialized in optics and imaging since its inception establishment in 1917. Since then, the company has led the optical industry through numerous accolades and achievements; carving a name for itself as a world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology.

As such, Nikon Middle East FZE (NMEF) is involved in a broad spectrum of businesses centered on imaging products. NMEF markets and distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Nikon 1 and COOLPIX digital cameras to the Middle East, Turkey and Africa.

Globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance; the unique strength of the Nikon brand is attributable to the company’s unwavering commitment to quality, performance, technology and innovation.

Dubai, UAE, 27 August 2012 –According to a recent “Hiring Management in the MENA” poll conducted by Bayt.com — the region’s number one job site — the Internet today is the most important tool in the hands of a job seeker when it comes to recruitment. In fact, the simple act of establishing an online profile is crucial for candidates seeking senior executive and management roles. Not only is the Internet the medium of choice for 50% of employers seeking potential hires, but 84% will take the time to research candidates online before making a final decision.

“Creating an online presence is now more essential than ever,” said Suhail Masri, Vice President of Sales, Bayt.com. “The world is turning increasingly to the internet as a comprehensive source for employment needs. Bayt.com provides the tools job seekers need to boost their online presence, to give them the best possible chance at gaining employment.”

Mr. Masri added, “With the widespread popularity of social media, it is especially important that candidates monitor their internet presence by ensuring that they have a professional presence on the Web that employers can find quickly when they search for them. With more than eight out of 10 employers taking the time to search the Internet to find out more about their potential hires, maintaining a savoury, professional online profile could be the key to securing – or losing – a job. That’s why we rolled out Bayt.com’s Public Profiles platform last year: Bayt.com professionals can comfortably and easily create a professional online presence today that is targeted towards the region’s employers.”

Employers state that sourcing relevant candidates is one of the biggest challenges faced when hiring for senior executives and management positions (according to 29.2% of the poll’s respondents). This would suggest that the chances of employment are higher for candidates who have a prominent online presence, as they have more opportunity to stand out from the competition and get seen and contacted by top employers.

In terms of what employers are looking for in senior executives and management candidates, one third of the poll’s respondents (34%) placed the most value in leadership and management skills. However, a candidate with technical excellence and industry knowledge is also considered highly attractive. The majority of employers (37.5%) prefer to have a well-rounded candidate who can satisfy the above-mentioned criteria in addition to several more, such as a track record of innovation, being a good cultural fit, as well as the quality and quantity of their relationships.

“Bayt.com has been catering to the online recruitment of managerial and senior executive professionals since the jobsite’s inception in 2000 and more than 69% of Bayt.com’s community of over 8.5 million professionals today is comprised of mid-career, management and senior executive talent,” added Mr. Masri. “Bayt.com’s managerial professional talent pool includes seasoned practitioners and senior executive management talent from all the region’s hot growth industries including banking and financial services professionals, construction industry professionals, oil and gas industry professionals, IT industry professionals, hospitality industry professionals and senior management across the industry spectrum in sales, marketing, engineering, teaching, medical, manufacturing, design and other roles. Our InstantMatch tool is designed to give employers access to the best technology available when it comes to selecting the ideal candidate from such a large pool of choice. Bayt.com employers benefit from the winning combination of unprecedented levels of choice with powerful search and screening technology to find the most relevant and attractive CVs in the easiest and most effective and expedient manner.”

According to the Bayt.com poll, choosing candidates from within the same industry is preferred by nearly eight out of 10 employers (77.3%), while 42.2% would prefer to fill their top-level positions with promotions from within of their current employees. With more than half of the poll’s respondents (50.8%) claiming that their company has a clear management track, the potential for career growth within the same company in the MENA region is relatively high.

In terms of the actual recruitment process, 56% of poll respondents claim that it differs significantly when hiring senior executives to juniors. Six out of 10 employers (62%) are unhappy with their company’s process for hiring top level employees, and the process itself can take up to three months (according to 68.4% of respondents). In 18% of hiring situations, coming to a hiring can take six months or more.

Once hired, however, senior executives and management are considered to be more stable than junior employees according to 63.2% of the poll respondents. This could be because 45.1% of employees in those roles consider it gets harder to change jobs as you rise up the career ranks. Given that the majority of employers (31.1%) are currently predominantly hiring junior executives, this might be the right assumption.

Data for the Bayt.com Hiring Management in the MENA poll was collected online from June 21 – August 22 2012, with 6,665 respondents covering more than 12 countries in the MENA region.

Download the Report

About Bayt.com
Bayt.com is the largest and most relevant community of professionals interested in the MENA region, with over 8,000,000 registered jobseekers and 40,000 employers. Bayt.com has 11 regional offices, more than 200 staff and a 12 year track record of successfully matching the region’s top talent with top employment opportunities at every career level, in every industry.

Doha, Qatar; August 30, 2012: Following its critical acclaim at the 69th Venice Film Festival, Mira Nair’s ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist,’ a Doha Film Institute (DFI) financed film, will mark its MENA premiere, to usher in the fourth edition of the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF).

Based on the best-selling novel of the same title, translated into 25 languages, The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a riveting international political thriller that follows the story of a young Pakistani man, chasing corporate success on Wall Street, who ultimately finds himself embroiled in a conflict between his American Dream, a hostage crisis, and the enduring call of his family’s homeland.

‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ stars a triumphant cast including Riz Ahmed (Four Lions, Black Gold); Academy Award nominee Kate Hudson (Almost Famous, Nine); Golden Globe winner Kiefer Sutherland (24); Liev Schreiber (Salt, Wolverine); National Film Awards India winner Shabana Azmi (Godmother, Fire); and BAFTA Award nominee Om Puri (East is East, Arohan), among others.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist had its world premiere at the ongoing 69 Venice International Film Festival. Adapted by Bill Wheeler, with the Screen Story by Mohsin Hamid, and Ami Boghani and produced by Lydia Dean Pilcher, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, the latest Doha Film Institute’s international financed film, is a Mirabai Films and Cine Mosaic production.

Mira Nair Director of The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Mira Nair said: “We are thrilled with the honour of The Reluctant Fundamentalist opening the Doha Tribeca Film Festival – made all the sweeter after the 5-year odyssey it has been making this film. A lovely send-off for a tale that couldn’t be more timely for the world we live in today. It is rare to be able to make a global film that is both political and personal. DFI provided instrumental support from the beginning, their unstirring faith in this timely story made it happen against all odds.”

His Excellency Issa Bin Mohammed Al-Mohannadi, DTFF Vice Chair, said: “As a Festival committed to promoting cultural understanding and appreciation through cinema, we are excited to open with Mira’s latest creative work that will connect with our audiences, is topically relevant and complements our mandate to support meaningful cinema.

“Films are a medium to bring together diverse views to promote the spirit of dialogue and discussion. DTFF provides a platform to support the development of a grassroots film culture in Qatar and will contribute to shaping a vibrant film industry in the region.”

Renowned filmmaker, Mira Nair has over 25 films to her credit, winning her numerous laurels in the global film circuit including Monsoon Wedding, Salaam Bombay, The Namesake, Amelia, Vanity Fair, and Mississippi Masala, among others.

DFI has been collaborating with Mira Nair on her educational initiative, ‘Maisha Film Lab,’ which was established to foster East African, South Asian, and Arab filmmaking. In 2011, six Qatari students were selected to represent Qatar in two screenwriting and filmmaking workshops.

Keifer Sutherland and Riz Ahmed in The Reluctant Fundamentalist

The Festival, scheduled to be held from November 17 to 24, 2012, will also shine the spotlight on Algeria to celebrate its 50 years of independence. DTFF 2012 will pay tribute to the country’s rich, cinematic history and its contribution to the evolving MENA film landscape, through a compelling showcase of classic and new-age Algerian films.

The 2012 edition of the Festival has been expanded to eight days to provide Festival audiences a more comprehensive and enriching cultural experience with new screening venues in Doha. Indoor and outdoor screenings will also take place at Katara Cultural Village and Museum of Islamic Arts (MIA).

About Doha Film Institute:
Doha Film Institute (DFI) is an independent cultural organisation established in 2010 to incorporate Qatar’s film initiatives under one banner; organically supporting the growth of the local film community by enhancing industry knowledge, cultivating film appreciation and contributing to the development of sustainable creative industries in Qatar. DFI’s year-round platforms include funding and production of local, regional and international films, educational programmes, film screenings, and the annual Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF).

With culture, community, education and entertainment at its foundation, DFI serves as an all-encompassing film hub in Doha, as well as a resource for the region and the rest of the world. DFI is committed to supporting Qatar’s 2030 vision for the development of a knowledge based economy.

DFI has established a number of strategic cultural partnerships with leading local and international organisations including Tribeca Enterprises, World Cinema Foundation, Maisha Film Lab, Katara Cultural Village and Giffoni Film Festival.

Middle East, 2nd September, 2012 — HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today unveiled the HTC Desire X, an affordable smartphone that delivers a state of the art camera, stunning sound and incredible processing power and speed. Tuned with HTC exclusive Beats Audio™, this device also delivers a dual-core 1GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon S4™ processor and social features that enable you to stay better connected.

“HTC Desire X is an extension of your social life,” said Jason Mackenzie, President, Global Sales and Marketing for HTC Corporation. “If you’re looking to enjoy and share high quality multimedia, wherever you are, this is the phone for you. It not only looks and sounds great, but also provides a super-fast, highly personal mobile experience at a great price.”

Iconic design, powerful performance
This striking design is built to withstand everyday life while remaining both slim and compact. With the inclusion of HTC Sense® and Android™ 4.0, every individual’s experience is completely personal. The impressive 4-inch super LCD WVGA screen on the HTC Desire X with increased viewing angle also means that everything will appear in vivid colour and with amazing clarity.

State of the art camera
Perfect for point-and-shoot spontaneity, the 5 megapixel camera on the HTC Desire X takes fantastic photographs, even in challenging low-light conditions, thanks to HTC’s proprietary ImageChip, a f/2.0, 28mm wide-angle lens, BSI sensor, HDR mode and automatic adjustable flash. When capturing content you won’t need to choose between video or photos again, with VideoPic you can to take video and stills at the same time. This smartphone can even record the most fleeting of moments with superfast activation (within 1 second) and auto focus with Always Focus. What’s more, one-press Continuous Shooting allows you to capture multiple photos of fast-paced action, be it a medal-winning sprint or the family dog.

Sharing made easy
Saving and sharing photos, videos and files is easy on HTC Desire X – with one touch you can instantly share content with your friends and family via email, text or social networks. Dropbox integration also gives you 25GB of free online storage for two years*.

Authentic Sound
Delivering deep bass and richer, more powerful sound, integrated Beats Audio on the HTC Desire X makes you feel like you are actually hearing your music in the studio. With Beats headphones, you can also enjoy a superior listening experience thanks to HTC Desire X specifically tuned audio profiles. What’s more, the phone also supports High Definition wireless audio through Bluetooth®.

Availability
HTC Desire X will be available in selected markets across EMEA and Asia Pacific from September 2012.

HTC Desire X

* Dropbox 25GB of free storage deal is available to those who sign up to it before the end of 2013. Sign up using the HTC Desire X device. Dropbox is provided by a third party.

About HTC
Founded in 1997, HTC Corp. (HTC) is the creator of many award-winning mobile devices and industry firsts. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC pushes the boundaries of design and technology to create innovative and personal experiences for consumers around the globe. HTC’s portfolio includes smartphones and tablets powered by HTC Sense®, a multilayered graphical user interface that vastly improves user experience. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). For more information, please visit www.htc.com.

DUBAI, Sep. 4, 2012 – LG Electronics (LG) today showcased its new line-up of docking speakers at IFA 2012: ND8520, ND5520, ND4520 and ND1520. By offering a variety of technically advanced docking speakers with innovative connectivity features, LG is aiming to satisfy the diverse listening needs of the smart device generation.

“Smart devices have become a part of daily life and this trend has created the need for a whole new breed of intelligent peripheral devices,” said DY KIM, President LG Electronics Gulf. “LG’s docking speakers integrate a range of advanced technologies into sophisticated, unique designs which work seamlessly with every smart device.”

AirPlay: Easy Streaming, Premium Sound
Optimized for connectivity with Apple’s mobile devices, the ND8520 differentiates itself from the typical iPhone, iPod and iPad speakers with AirPlay. Thanks to AirPlay’s wireless streaming capability, it is now possible to enjoy listening to music without the hassle of a wired connection or any additional devices. With AirPlay, users can also connect wirelessly to larger Apple devices, such as iPads and MacBooks.

What’s more, the ND8520’s easy-to-use interface allows for an entirely new user experience. A simple smartphone-like touch interface lets users easily access and manipulate all the functions of the speaker, even entire libraries of music stored on external devices. For example, swiping the screen brings up a menu for music playback while on the side, the Smart Square screen displays menus for other features such as a radio.

LG Docking Speakers

The ND8520 delivers surprisingly impressive sound out of its compact 2.1 channel 80W speaker. The speaker even generates strong bass with a built-in woofer and minimizes sound loss resulting in music that is both crisp and rich in depth. The ND8520’s eye-catching cube design is in harmony with such a premium sound and adds a touch of style to any bedroom or living room.

For additional connectivity and a wider variety of content options, the ND8520 also includes a USB port that supports MP3 and WMA playback. An FM radio and alarm clock are built in. All of these features can be controlled using the speaker’s own remote control as well as LG’s Bluetooth application, which can be accessed from a smartphone.

LG Docking Speakers

Wireless Streaming for iOS and Android OS Devices
An independent 2 channel 30W speaker, LG’s ND5520 offers the greatest user convenience. It incorporates Bluetooth audio streaming allowing customers to play music and video content wirelessly. It also serves as a dual dock for both iOS and Android OS smart devices, bestowing flexibility on consumers to play the content they want with better sound, regardless of the device.

For added convenience, users can utilize their smartphones as a remote when streaming wirelessly once they download the Bluetooth remote app. The ND5520 also includes an FM radio and alarm clock. With a slim, portable design, the ND5520 features a premium white aluminum metal casing and tips the scales at only 3.6 kilograms.

In addition to the ND8520 and the ND5520, LG is also introducing the ND4520and the ND1520 The ND4520 runs on AA batteries, enabling users to listen to high fidelity music anywhere in the house.

LG Docking Speakers

About LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances. With 117 operations around the world, LG achieved global sales of USD 49 billion (KRW 54.26 trillion) in 2011. LG comprises four business units – Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, and Air Conditioning & Energy Solution – and is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. LG Electronics is a 2012 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year. For more news and information on LG Electronics, please visit www.LGnewsroom.com.

About LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company
The LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company is a global top player in televisions, monitors, commercial displays, audio video systems, personal computers and security systems. The company constantly pushes technological boundaries to create feature-rich devices with stylish designs that meet global consumer needs. LG’s consumer products include CINEMA 3D Smart TVs, OLED TVs, IPS monitors, home theater systems, Blu-ray Disc™ players, car audio video systems, mouse scanners and external storage devices. LG’s commercial products include digital signage, video conferencing systems and IP security cameras.