DriveArabia.com automotive portal in the GCC region partners with Effective Measure

DriveArabia.com, an online automotive portal launched in late 2004 in the United Arab Emirates partners with audience measurement company Effective Measure, an ABCe associate for audited results.

The aim of DriveArabia.com is to empower local automotive consumers by providing complete, clear, accurate and unbiased information needed to make an informed car purchase. The constantly-updated website offers comprehensive new and used car reviews, photos, general pricing estimates, as well as unique reliability and safety ratings.

DriveArabia.com was the first automotive website in the region to get ‘audited’ on a constant basis, having signed up with Effective Measure in September 2009. It was also among the first to reveal its numbers to general Effective Measure users, to promote full transparency.

The independently-measured results show that DriveArabia.com had around 165,000 unique users in the month of June, more than the circulation figures of any regional automotive magazine. Up from the previous month, it also represents a 65% increase since September. Visitor traffic numbers continue to grow, even in the middle of the worst recession in decades.

The results also show that it has the most well-heeled demographics compared to any other automotive portal in the region, whether in English or Arabic; and popular among male audiences with high incomes and desirable age groups. All results are freely available to Effective Measure users, which include all major ad agencies and media companies.

DriveArabia.com also plans to be online for the long term.

“Our operating costs remain extremely low, so much so that we’ve been profitable since Day One. We’ve had tremendous support from most automakers, although we’ve also made a few enemies along the way for our no-nonsense car reviews. It’s the cost of being honest, and our readers love us for that,”

according to Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury, Founder and Editor-In-Chief.

Media representation efforts for the portal are now fully handled by Bayt.com, an internet powerhouse, having shown confidence in the future of online media in this region.

DriveArabia.com was designed specifically for the region, covering cars sold in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain, and thus continues to support regional automotive activities. The site is also the online media partner for the 2010 Sharjah International Auto Show, the 2010 Middle East Motor Tuning Show in Sharjah and the 2010 Abu Dhabi International Motor Show.

Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury will also be a judge for the 2010 Car Of The Middle East Awards as well as the 2010 Custom Design Cup, both hosted by the Sharjah International Auto Show this October. DriveArabia.com has also supported the Dhaka Project charity organization since 2005, with a prominent complimentary banner on the homepage.