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Tag: UAE

  • Unimoni is title sponsor of Asia Cup 2018

    Unimoni is title sponsor of Asia Cup 2018

    MUMBAI: Unimoni, a global financial services brand, has taken over the title sponsorship for this year’s Asia Cup tournament which will commence from 15 September 2018 in the UAE.

    Unimoni is a non banking financial company (NBFC) in India with offerings across credit solutions, foreign exchange, payments and wealth management.

    Speaking on the partnership, Unimoni India MD and CEO Amit Saxena said, “Unimoni is delighted to gain the title sponsorship rights for this year’s Asia Cup conducted by ACC. Cricket is worshipped by a billion fans in India and it is a perfect platform for Unimoni to connect with them. We are confident, this will mark a beginning of a long-term association with the sport and its many forms.”

    The 14 days cricketing extravaganza will see heavy weights like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, rising stars Afghanistan and a qualifier compete with each other to be crowned champions of the Indian sub-continent and Middle-East Asia.

    Going by previous editions, the tournament is expected to generate great excitement among fans. The last edition had a viewership of nearly 300 million, which is expected to be easily surpassed this time.

    The tournament promises many exciting memories to the fans with the highlight being the much-awaited India versus Pakistan clash on 19 September. This edition also marks a return to the favourite ODI format for the bi-annual tournament.

  • Thought Blurb Lulu Mall’s advertising partner

    Thought Blurb Lulu Mall’s advertising partner

    MUMBAI: The Lulu Group, headquartered in the UAE, is ranked third on the Forbes List of ‘Top 100 companies making an impact on the Arab World’. The group’s flagship mall in India, Lulu Mall in Kochi, has signed on Thought Blurb as their advertising partner to build the brand in sync with the global retail brand image.

    Lulu Mall Kochi CEO Shibu Philips said that the group is initiating an assertive push into other cities in Kerala and expanding its footprint into various other Indian cities, and it’s imperative to have world class branding and communication design.

    Philips said that an analysis of Thought Blurb’s past experience in environmental and space design, graphic design credentials and overall understanding of mall communication and promotion was an essential criterion in their decision. The 3-month pitch process saw The Lulu Group evaluating the presentations of several top-rung ad agencies from Kerala and other cities. The decision eventually hinged on strategy and domain knowledge of retail marketing.

    Philips said, “Thought Blurb’s past work on Quick Service Restaurants, large retail chains and Malls showcased great acumen and promise. Their strategic thinking reflects a layered understanding of today’s retail customer, their fickle loyalties, and what buttons to press to keep them engaged.”

    The Lulu Mall chain of hypermarkets and supermarkets is spread across 31 countries, including India. The company’s most recognizable presence is the Lulu Mall in Kochi, spread over 10,00,000 sq ft of space that can accommodate 100,000 people at a time. By introducing 56 brands to Kerala, the Lulu Mall has changed the way people shop in Kerala.

    Thought Blurb CEO Vinod Kunj said, “We have sharpened our skills in this field for almost a decade and are raring to go with every resource we have at our call. Our design expertise has been awarded and recognised in every forum. Working on a mall chain is different from the norm. People need to stay engaged through programmed events and activations. Newer experiences for the consumers keep an in-demand mall from becoming a has-been. That would never happen on our watch. We are proud to be associated with the Lulu brand, and intend to ensure its dominance in the future.”

  • Thought Blurb Lulu Mall’s advertising partner

    Thought Blurb Lulu Mall’s advertising partner

    MUMBAI: The Lulu Group, headquartered in the UAE, is ranked third on the Forbes List of ‘Top 100 companies making an impact on the Arab World’. The group’s flagship mall in India, Lulu Mall in Kochi, has signed on Thought Blurb as their advertising partner to build the brand in sync with the global retail brand image.

    Lulu Mall Kochi CEO Shibu Philips said that the group is initiating an assertive push into other cities in Kerala and expanding its footprint into various other Indian cities, and it’s imperative to have world class branding and communication design.

    Philips said that an analysis of Thought Blurb’s past experience in environmental and space design, graphic design credentials and overall understanding of mall communication and promotion was an essential criterion in their decision. The 3-month pitch process saw The Lulu Group evaluating the presentations of several top-rung ad agencies from Kerala and other cities. The decision eventually hinged on strategy and domain knowledge of retail marketing.

    Philips said, “Thought Blurb’s past work on Quick Service Restaurants, large retail chains and Malls showcased great acumen and promise. Their strategic thinking reflects a layered understanding of today’s retail customer, their fickle loyalties, and what buttons to press to keep them engaged.”

    The Lulu Mall chain of hypermarkets and supermarkets is spread across 31 countries, including India. The company’s most recognizable presence is the Lulu Mall in Kochi, spread over 10,00,000 sq ft of space that can accommodate 100,000 people at a time. By introducing 56 brands to Kerala, the Lulu Mall has changed the way people shop in Kerala.

    Thought Blurb CEO Vinod Kunj said, “We have sharpened our skills in this field for almost a decade and are raring to go with every resource we have at our call. Our design expertise has been awarded and recognised in every forum. Working on a mall chain is different from the norm. People need to stay engaged through programmed events and activations. Newer experiences for the consumers keep an in-demand mall from becoming a has-been. That would never happen on our watch. We are proud to be associated with the Lulu brand, and intend to ensure its dominance in the future.”

  • ZEEL clarifies on UAE Hum 106.2 FM radio biz foray

    ZEEL clarifies on UAE Hum 106.2 FM radio biz foray

    MUMBAI: Last week, the media was abuzz about Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) acquisition of the UAE’s first Hindi/Urdu radio station, Hum 106.2 FM. The move signaled the entertainment major’s foray into the radio business, something which has been speculated about for some time.

    However, the company has clarified to the Bombay stock exchange, saying that the Hum 106.2 FM deal is not a takeover.

    In a notice issued the BSE over the weekend, ZEEL states that it has set up a step-down subsidiary in Dubai to be in the FM radio business in the name of Zee FM. And, under the agreement it has signed, the radio frequency owned by the emirate of Umm Al Quwain has been leased to the Zee subsidiary effective January 2017 for its radio business.

    Umm Al Quwain Broadcasting Network (UBN) which operate Hum 106.2 used the frequency to serve Hindi and Urdu programming to listeners. It redefined drive time and boasted of many celebrity Radio Jockeys. It also went on to popularize live cricket commentary on radio and has a lot of pioneering firsts in the radio business.

  • ZEEL clarifies on UAE Hum 106.2 FM radio biz foray

    ZEEL clarifies on UAE Hum 106.2 FM radio biz foray

    MUMBAI: Last week, the media was abuzz about Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) acquisition of the UAE’s first Hindi/Urdu radio station, Hum 106.2 FM. The move signaled the entertainment major’s foray into the radio business, something which has been speculated about for some time.

    However, the company has clarified to the Bombay stock exchange, saying that the Hum 106.2 FM deal is not a takeover.

    In a notice issued the BSE over the weekend, ZEEL states that it has set up a step-down subsidiary in Dubai to be in the FM radio business in the name of Zee FM. And, under the agreement it has signed, the radio frequency owned by the emirate of Umm Al Quwain has been leased to the Zee subsidiary effective January 2017 for its radio business.

    Umm Al Quwain Broadcasting Network (UBN) which operate Hum 106.2 used the frequency to serve Hindi and Urdu programming to listeners. It redefined drive time and boasted of many celebrity Radio Jockeys. It also went on to popularize live cricket commentary on radio and has a lot of pioneering firsts in the radio business.

  • Zee acquires UAE’s Hum 106.2 FM

    Zee acquires UAE’s Hum 106.2 FM

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has forayed into radio with the acquisition of UAE’s first radio station, Hum 106.2 FM. The radio station was previously owned and operated by Shamal Media Services.

    The station is a frequency originating from the emirate of Umm Al Quwain and forms a part of Umm Al Quwain Broadcasting Network (UBN). The frequency was one of the first Hindi and Urdu language frequencies to hit the UAE airwaves in the 1990’s. It redefined drive time and boasted of many celebrity Radio Jockeys. It also went on to popularize live cricket commentary on radio and has a lot of pioneering firsts in the radio business.

    ZEEL International broadcast business CEO Amit Goenka said, “In our journey of over two decades, ZEE has always led the industry in its evolution and transformation. At ZEE, we are always looking at strategic acquisitions across the globe to increase our footprint and market share in the entertainment industry. Radio has been an area of interest for ZEE for quite some time and after extensive planning and studying of the brand values, ratings and revenue generated by various stations, we felt that an investment in Hum FM was the best option. Hum FM has a legacy of almost two decades and with a current market share of 26%, it is the top Hindi radio station in the UAE. ZEE is confident that it can leverage its very strong South-Asian brand connect onto Radio, and offer a synergy of Television, Radio and Digital that could revolutionize the entertainment industry in the UAE.”

    After being a pioneer with the launch of India’s renowned Hindi satellite channel, Zee TV in 1992, Zee Entertainment was the first to launch a Bollywood TV channel, Zee Aflam in 2008 for the Arab audience as well introduce the Arab world to Hindi programs dubbed in Arabic with Zee Alwan in 2012.

    “We are excited about our new business ventures. Radio comes immediately after our foray into film production and distribution where movies like ‘Rustom’ and ‘The Flying Jatt’ have done extremely well globally and specifically in the UAE and Middle East markets. The acquisition of Hum FM in UAE is a step in that direction and we are upbeat about its prospect in the coming years;” Amit further added.

    ZEEL MENA and APAC CEO Mukund Cairae added, “This move is a diversification to our entertainment business portfolio, adding to the numero uno position we possess in Television among South Asians in the Middle East. This investment also shows our commitment to the region and its business landscape. Now we can offer media across Television, Radio and Digital platforms, leading to a great synergy between content and mediums. With an extensive library of music content that includes singing reality shows like ‘The Voice India’, ‘SaReGaMaPa’, ‘Antakshari’ and ‘Asia’s Singing Superstar’ which have produced great singers in Bollywood, an on-going relationship with the big names in the industry and with one of the biggest music labels in Bollywood, Zee Music Company as a part of its portfolio, the new venture has all the ingredients needed to redefine the Radio industry in this market.”

    UBN general manager Ali Jasim Ahmed said,“We are proud to partner with Zee Entertainment, the leading global company in the media industry with a strong presence in the UAE and across the Middle East. Zee Entertainment will provide new content and concepts in the world of entertainment and marketing, and will provide the station the required media expertise of a highly effective and competitive value. Further, we will give all the facilities and backing for ZEE to achieve its strategic station goals and we will work together to support the qualitative superiority of the programs in order to meet the wishes and aspirations of the esteemed listeners.”

    Shamal Media Services founder and MD Shahid Jamal said, “Hum FM pioneered FM Radio in UAE and over the years, we have made it the No. 1 Radio Station. It is now a great opportunity for us to hand over our successful radio legacy to a media network that has been a pioneer of South Asian entertainment globally and in the region. Zee Entertainment, who themselves have had a great legacy in the media business will only take the success of Hum FM to the next level.”

    More announcements are expected in the coming weeks on the future channel programming and its positioning.

  • Zee acquires UAE’s Hum 106.2 FM

    Zee acquires UAE’s Hum 106.2 FM

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has forayed into radio with the acquisition of UAE’s first radio station, Hum 106.2 FM. The radio station was previously owned and operated by Shamal Media Services.

    The station is a frequency originating from the emirate of Umm Al Quwain and forms a part of Umm Al Quwain Broadcasting Network (UBN). The frequency was one of the first Hindi and Urdu language frequencies to hit the UAE airwaves in the 1990’s. It redefined drive time and boasted of many celebrity Radio Jockeys. It also went on to popularize live cricket commentary on radio and has a lot of pioneering firsts in the radio business.

    ZEEL International broadcast business CEO Amit Goenka said, “In our journey of over two decades, ZEE has always led the industry in its evolution and transformation. At ZEE, we are always looking at strategic acquisitions across the globe to increase our footprint and market share in the entertainment industry. Radio has been an area of interest for ZEE for quite some time and after extensive planning and studying of the brand values, ratings and revenue generated by various stations, we felt that an investment in Hum FM was the best option. Hum FM has a legacy of almost two decades and with a current market share of 26%, it is the top Hindi radio station in the UAE. ZEE is confident that it can leverage its very strong South-Asian brand connect onto Radio, and offer a synergy of Television, Radio and Digital that could revolutionize the entertainment industry in the UAE.”

    After being a pioneer with the launch of India’s renowned Hindi satellite channel, Zee TV in 1992, Zee Entertainment was the first to launch a Bollywood TV channel, Zee Aflam in 2008 for the Arab audience as well introduce the Arab world to Hindi programs dubbed in Arabic with Zee Alwan in 2012.

    “We are excited about our new business ventures. Radio comes immediately after our foray into film production and distribution where movies like ‘Rustom’ and ‘The Flying Jatt’ have done extremely well globally and specifically in the UAE and Middle East markets. The acquisition of Hum FM in UAE is a step in that direction and we are upbeat about its prospect in the coming years;” Amit further added.

    ZEEL MENA and APAC CEO Mukund Cairae added, “This move is a diversification to our entertainment business portfolio, adding to the numero uno position we possess in Television among South Asians in the Middle East. This investment also shows our commitment to the region and its business landscape. Now we can offer media across Television, Radio and Digital platforms, leading to a great synergy between content and mediums. With an extensive library of music content that includes singing reality shows like ‘The Voice India’, ‘SaReGaMaPa’, ‘Antakshari’ and ‘Asia’s Singing Superstar’ which have produced great singers in Bollywood, an on-going relationship with the big names in the industry and with one of the biggest music labels in Bollywood, Zee Music Company as a part of its portfolio, the new venture has all the ingredients needed to redefine the Radio industry in this market.”

    UBN general manager Ali Jasim Ahmed said,“We are proud to partner with Zee Entertainment, the leading global company in the media industry with a strong presence in the UAE and across the Middle East. Zee Entertainment will provide new content and concepts in the world of entertainment and marketing, and will provide the station the required media expertise of a highly effective and competitive value. Further, we will give all the facilities and backing for ZEE to achieve its strategic station goals and we will work together to support the qualitative superiority of the programs in order to meet the wishes and aspirations of the esteemed listeners.”

    Shamal Media Services founder and MD Shahid Jamal said, “Hum FM pioneered FM Radio in UAE and over the years, we have made it the No. 1 Radio Station. It is now a great opportunity for us to hand over our successful radio legacy to a media network that has been a pioneer of South Asian entertainment globally and in the region. Zee Entertainment, who themselves have had a great legacy in the media business will only take the success of Hum FM to the next level.”

    More announcements are expected in the coming weeks on the future channel programming and its positioning.

  • Masters Champions League signs Oxigen Wallet as title sponsor

    Masters Champions League signs Oxigen Wallet as title sponsor

    NEW DELHI: The Dubai based Masters Champions League (MCL) has signed up Oxigen Wallet as the title sponsor for its inaugural edition, which is slated to start later this month. 

     

    The Oxigen Masters Champions League will feature six teams of retired international cricketers and will kick start on 28 January with the final match to be staged on 13 February.

     

    The tournament will see Oxigen and MCL cooperate extensively in terms of sports events, on-ground activations and marketing campaigns.

     

    The inaugural matches are due to take place at Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

     

    Grand Midwest Sports, the group that conceptualised and began the tournament did so with an aim to take cricket to a higher level across the UAE.

     

    Sharing his thoughts on the occasion, MCL chairman Zafar Shah said, “We are delighted to have Oxigen joining us as the title sponsor for MCL, which will now be called Oxigen MCL. They are one of the most innovative brands in the world for pioneering the genre of wallet led payments in the online and offline industry. Oxigen as a brand has in a very short span created a niche and legacy in their market. I am sure this will be a long and enriching affiliation for both stakeholders.”

     

    Last week, Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) hopped on board as the official broadcaster for the Indian sub-continent. The MCL has also secured Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the current captain of the Indian national cricket team, as brand ambassador. 

     

    The first match will take place between two former legendary teammates namely, Sourav Ganguly from Team Libra Legends and Virender Sehwag from Team Gemini Arabians.

     

    On becoming the title sponsors of MCL2020, Oxigen Services chairman and managing director Pramod Saxena said, “Oxigen is proud to partner with Masters Champions League 2020 as their Title Sponsor. Our love for cricket is a constant as it connects us to the masses being a cricket loving nation. With MCL 20-20, we will further Oxigen’s global reach by touching the lives of the NRIs living in the Gulf and other parts of the world, who can fulfil the needs of small payments for their families in India for money transfers, recharges and utility payments.”

  • TRAI inks MoU with UAE telecom regulator to strengthen collaboration

    TRAI inks MoU with UAE telecom regulator to strengthen collaboration

    MUMBAI: India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) to strengthen the collaboration between the two countries within the Telecommunications and Information and Communications technology (ICT) space. 

     

    TRAI secretary Sudhir Gupta and TRA director general H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori signed the MoU.

     

    The MoU pledges both countries’ commitment to promoting closer co-operation and knowledge exchange pertaining to various aspects of international and regional ICT.

     

    The two telecom regulators will cooperate in the areas of technological developments and new technologies; universal services, Mobile Number Portability (MNP), spectrum issues, green telecoms, e-government and e-services, participation in international events and forums, amongst other issues.

     

    The MoU was inked earlier this month during the joint commission meetings that both countries held in India, in the presence of UAE foreign minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Minister of State H.E. Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashimi.

     

    Al Mansoori said, “This agreement falls within the framework of bilateral cooperation between UAE and India, and aims to secure optimum utilisation of the telecommunication sector to best serve the development efforts, economy, and knowledge society, which will reflect positively on the competitiveness of both countries. The importance of the telecommunications sector is reflected through the strategic role it plays in our contemporary society, as it contributes significantly in the economic and social development. We regard taking advantage of the global expertise and strengthening the ties with international stakeholders as necessities for the growth and prosperity of this sector.”

     

    TRA believes that the telecommunications sector is a strategic catalyst that will accelerate the UAE’s competitiveness. Moreover, TRA is always keen to exchange knowledge and experience within the ICT field and implement best practices that contribute positively to developing a knowledge–based economy.

     

    Additionally, Al Mansoori and TRA senior manager international affairs Nasser Bin Hammad met with Indian Minister of Road and Transport Ravi Shankar Prasad to exchange point of views regarding many significant topics such as UN post-2015 sustainable development agenda that will be validated by the General Assembly during this month. 

     

    Moreover, meeting attendees exchanged thoughts about the challenges facing the telecommunications sector including broadband services, cyber security, and the promotion of investing in telecommunications and ICT companies. Both parties agreed that discussing such topics further is crucial during bilateral meetings on the sidelines of international forums.

  • Hannibal Buress, Jerrod Carmichael and Nitin Mirani added to Dubai Comedy Festival line-up

    Hannibal Buress, Jerrod Carmichael and Nitin Mirani added to Dubai Comedy Festival line-up

    MUMBAI: The Dubai Comedy Festival announced an exciting addition to its line-up on 28 September. Renowned American stand-up and Comedy Central favourite Hannibal Buress as well as one of variety magazine’s top ten comics to watch, Jerrod Carmichael will join international funnyman Dave Chappelle and new host of ‘The Daily Show’ Trevor Noah in what is set to be the region’s largest comedy festival. Also added to the programme is the homegrown international comedian, UAE and India’s representative in ‘The Funniest Person in the World 2015’ competition, Nitin Mirani.

     

    Taking place from October 15 – 24, tickets are now on sale at www.dubaicomedyfest.ae and are available in four categories diamond, platinum, gold and silver. As excitement mounts for what promises to be an exhilarating and entertaining ten days of gigs, shows and performances, fans are urged to book now and bag their spot to see these superstar comics and the stellar line-up of supporting local, regional and global comedy talent in action.

     

    A purpose-built 4,500 seat venue at Skydive Dubai will be the stage for two main gig weekends, which will include an opening night of Arabic Comedy, second night performance from Hannibal Buress and Jerrod Carmichael on 16th October as well as a closing weekend that will see Dave Chappelle take the stage on 22nd and the 23rdOctober and Trevor Noah perform on Saturday 24th October. Nitin Mirani will headline ‘Desi Invasion’ on Saturday October 17th, performing alongside Atul Khatri, Abish Mathew, Kenneth Sebastian and NeetiPalta. Local funny man Ali Al Sayed, Saudi Arabian YouTube sensation Bader Saleh and Las Vegas headlining Comedy Magician Mac King will also feature during the festival. Other highlights include the Comedy Strip @ JBR Walk, which will host a number of unique and hilarious Comedy Nights, and free daily street performances.