Saudi unveils $1.1bn programme for digital content creation, media production

The ‘Ignite’ initiative will offer several incentives such as financial support for local, regional and international companies and startups

Reddit says it filed confidentially for US IPO

The number of shares and proposed price range for an IPO haven’t been determined

SME Revival case study: Dubai’s Finyal Media on its expansion plans

The podcast network creates content for young Arabs across the MENA region

85% of job seekers in UAE feel their roles can be performed remotely – survey

Nearly 21 per cent of job applicants also said that they had relocated since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic

Whats On Saudi Arabia Arabic

What’s On Saudi Arabia launches Arabic site

The English version of the website launched in January 2021

Dubai’s OSN appoints interim chief after CEO Patrick Tillieux resigns

The company has appointed non-executive board director Sangeeta Desai as the interim CEO

Cinépolis Cinemas Muscat Oman

Cinépolis opens GCC’s first Luxury Cinemas concept in Muscat

It is located at the Oman Avenues Mall in Muscat

Patrcik Tillieux_CEO_ OSN

Five minutes with Patrick Tillieux, CEO of OSN

Over the last 18 months, OSN have produced new content, launched a revamped platform, forged new partnerships and entered new markets

Why UAE entrepreneurs must listen to this podcast

Entrepreneur, author and philanthropist Shailesh Dash has launched The Entrepreneurial Dash, a podcast that offers guidance and motivation to budding entrepreneurs

Video: ‘We’re more of an e-commerce firm than an entertainment one’ – Starzplay CEO

Maaz Sheikh on how the online streaming service has grown its reach in the MENA region

Ian Fairservice, Managing Partner and Group Editor of Motivate Media Group, and Frank Melloul, CEO of i24 News

UAE’s Motivate Media Group partners with Israel-based broadcaster i24 News

Both companies will partner on multiple fronts including producing new forms of content across digital, print and broadcast

Newspapers

UAE allows distribution of magazines, newspapers to resume in all public spaces

In March 2020, the UAE National Media Council ordered the temporary suspension of distribution of these materials in certain public places as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic

Omnicom Media Group MENA appoints new CEO

Elda Choucair, who was serving as the group’s COO, will take on the role of chief executive

Three mistakes brands make when using influencers and how to correct them

There are several factors that need to be kept in mind to ensure a successful influencer marketing campaign

How brands are leveraging influencer marketing to ‘up their game’

Several brands are deploying influencer marketing to put their products on the map. Is the strategy working?

Women launch civil case following Twitter comments insulting Emiratis

Twitter opens applications for ‘blue-check’ verification

All applications will be reviewed by a human, and users can re-apply after a 30-day wait if they are denied

How brands can step up their presence on Instagram

Three steps to help you boost your brand discoverability on the social media platform

Challenges and opportunities facing marketers during the Covid-19 crisis

Marketers plan with painstaking detail, and in these unpredictable times, flexibility and caution must be exercised

Tiktok Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi tourism department partners with Tiktok

The tourism department has launched its Tiktok channel called Visit Abu Dhabi

Publicis Groupe appoints Bassel Kakish as CEO for Middle East and Turkey

Kakish will continue to be based in Dubai and report to the executive chairman

Dubai launches new strategy to double companies and jobs in the creative sector

The Dubai Creative Economy strategy aims to double the creative industries’ GDP contribution to 5 per cent of Dubai’s economy by 2025

Motivate Media Group Emirates Man

Dubai’s Motivate Media Group relaunches men’s title Emirates Man

It will include four print editions over the course of the year, with the next edition out in June 2021

Clubhouse: Everything you need to know about the trending app

The new ‘Clubhouse’ app is a global platform where users can listen and converse in real-time

Whats On Saudi

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

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

GCC advertising veteran and Memac Ogilvy founder Edmond Moutran dies

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

Arabic version of Celebrity Game Face to broadcast on Abu Dhabi TV

In Media Plus is producer of the show under license from NBCUniversal

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

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

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

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

MBC Group reappoints Sam Barnett as CEO

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

Abu Dhabi to expand media hub in effort to diversify economy

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