#Media

BotimGPT

BOTIM launches region’s first Arabic ChatGPT with MBZUAI 

BOTIM’s Arabic Chat GPT will support features such as international money transfers, bill payments and e-commerce

conceptual ERA

Marketing firm Conceptual ERA eyes regional expansion

Marketing firm Conceptual ERA is drawing on the UAE’s strengths and a combination of social media, unique campaigns and targeted content to enhance its regional presence

UAE President Sheikh-Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan issues law to establish Abu Dhabi Media Office _photo WAMcourtesy

UAE President issues law establishing Abu Dhabi Media Office

The new entity will form strategic partnerships with local, regional, and international media organisations to advance Abu Dhabi’s media sector

Whatsapp

WhatsApp to stop functioning on older smartphones from January 2023

In October, WhatsApp experienced a glitch, making it inaccessible temporarily to thousands of users worldwide

Sharjah

Sharjah Media City unveils new company to launch media, technology startups

The company will serve as an integrated platform that brings together media talents, entrepreneurs and experts to establish media projects supported by advanced technology

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

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

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

Media and entertainment: Envisioning cloud-based production ecosystems

As the media and entertainment industry looks towards the road to production in the cloud, new opportunities to drive innovation and change are emerging

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

OSN gets exclusive streaming rights to Gangs of London in the Middle East

The Gareth Evans-created crime drama, one of the UK’s most popular original dramas of all time, is available in the region on OSN

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

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

‘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

Business leaders rank UAE as global leader in innovation

Business executives in the UAE rank the country as a global leader in creating an ‘innovation-conductive’ environment

Elie Khouri

Is art collecting only for the rich?

Elie Khouri doesn’t think so, but I disagree

Abu Dhabi to expand media hub in effort to diversify economy

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

Sharjah Book Authority

Sharjah Book Authority launches new literary agency to stimulate Arabic publishing market

The Sharjah International Literary Agency will promote Arabic literary and cultural content globally