Hayat FM launches Top 20

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Radio station Hayat FM 95.6, part of GN Broadcasting, is launching a Top 20 Chart as part of The 7 Days Breakfast Show. The show will play every weekend from 8am to 10am and will be presented by Abdullah Al Muhairi and Farah Sayegh, who will ask listeners to call into the station and talk about the songs that they feel should be in the charts.

“We’re really excited about the launch of the Top 20 Chart,” says Abdullah. “This promises to be the longest ever breakfast show, but the interactive element to the program will really leave listeners asking for more.”

TishTash welcomes new Account Manager

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TishTash has welcomed Cherith Nicholl to the role of PR Account Manager. Cherith joins the agency from Motivate Publishing, where she was most recently Stylist and Lifestyle Writer for good, Emirates Man and What’s On. As Account Manager, Cherith will be working on the agency’s portfolio of beauty accounts such as Johnson’s, Neutrogena and Lipstick Queen.

“After working with TishTash on the other side, I am thrilled to have been invited into the family,” says Cherith. “I’m so excited to follow Natasha’s inspiring lead and forge even greater relationships within the industry.”

Motivate Publishing promotes Laura Coughlin

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Motivate Publishing has promoted Laura Coughlin to the role of Associate Editor of What’s On Dubai magazine. Laura joined Motivate two years ago and most recently held the position of Deputy Editor of What’s On Dubai. In her new role she will be responsible for writing, editing and overseeing content for What’s On Dubai as a whole, as well as any supplements or guides produced under the title.

“I’m very lucky to love what I do,” says Laura. “I’ve always been a big fan of What’s On and feel privileged to work alongside such a talented team.”

beIN Media Group acquires MIRAMAX

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Qatar-based beIN Media Group has acquired film and television company MIRAMAX. MIRAMAX will continue to invest in and co-distribute feature films, with upcoming productions including Bridget Jones’s Baby, Southside With You and television show From Dusk Til Dawn: The Series, which is now in its third season.

“We are extremely excited to have achieved this key milestone within our strategy,” says Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, beIN Media Group “MIRAMAX is a successful film and television company, providing a strong and recognisable brand, a unique library and industry expertise that complement beIN Media Group’s plans to grow across the entertainment industry and develop new content production. As part of beIN Media Group, we will support MIRAMAX in continuing to build this exciting platform. We very much look forward to working with the MIRAMAX team.”

Steve Schoch, CEO, MIRAMAX, adds “This is an exciting time in the evolution of our company and we are thrilled to be a part of beIN Media Group. MIRAMAX’s growing 2016 slate is a testament to the incredible work of the team thus far to build on the proud MIRAMAX legacy. In concert with beIN leadership, we look forward to further expanding our film and television output, broadening our distribution capabilities and fortifying our position as the premiere independent studio brand.”

Jars of goodness

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When Team TMN found out about a new, health-conscious option for a lunchtime delivery, we couldn’t resist putting this home-grown concept to the test…

What: The Salad Jar 

Where: Delivered directly to your home/office/school

When: Delivers Sunday – Thursday, orders must be placed by 11am on the day of delivery. Orders are delivered between 9.30am – 11am, and 11.30am – 1pm.

The promise: “We pack as many Superfoods as possible into one jar, because you know what they say – you are what you eat – and we want you to be super. In terms of goodness, The Salad Jars pack a lot of punch!”

Did it deliver? The sheer number of take-out options for lunch in Dubai is endless. With new cafes and restaurants popping up left, right and centre in the city it’s difficult to keep track. Many of these offer the same unhealthy, processed meal in newer, shinier packaging. However, we’re glad to report that the same can’t be said for all – enter The Salad Jar. A home-grown concept and the brainchild of Danielle Sallam, the service started from her own kitchen and has rapidly expanded ever since. The Salad Jar aims to offer healthier lunchtime options to those of us who are too busy to make our own.

Following a quick chat with Danielle over the phone – an optional way to order, as The Salad Jar now has its own app to make lunchtimes even easier – Team TMN decided on a selection of salads in regular and large sizes to really put the service to the test. Having taken into account our food preferences and allergies, such as cheese in the case of one member of the TMN team, Danielle recommended D’s salad, Sweet Beet, and South Western salads.

Arriving promptly at midday, we inspected the salads delivered and were pleasantly surprised – each jar was generously filled with layers of different veg, pulses, grains and other gooness. The jars were generously sized, with a large salad easily being enough for two people, and looked bright and appetizing – even to the adamantly carnivorous of us. D’s salad was a lovely balance of sweet and tangy, with the sweet potato, red pepper and raisins providing sweetness and the Dijon and vinaigrette dressing adding zing. Quinoa and chickpeas gave good crunch and made the salad filling enough to last us until dinner. The Sweet Beet salad felt distinctly Middle Eastern, perhaps due to the addition of dates, and its balsamic and honey dressing went perfectly. The use of barley was an interesting choice too, giving an unusual texture and a flavour that really complimented the sweetness of the other ingredients. South Western was a favourite with team TMN – the cilantro and olive oil dressing was zesty with a hint of chili, giving the perfect kick to the mix of black and white beans, corn, cucumber, tomato and avocado. Each salad was distinct in flavour, though all managed to combine sweet and savoury as well as provide enough substance to fill us up for the day. The fact the pulses and grans used were slow-release carbohydrates was also beneficial, as they stopped us from crashing and didn’t have us immediately reaching for biscuits a few hours after lunch!

The Verdict: The Salad Jar is an excellent addition to Dubai’s fast food scene, as it provides a truly healthy alternative to standard take-out fare. Though it can be a hassle deciding on what to have for lunch before 11am (or even the day before), the delivery service is reassuringly prompt and the option to cancel is always available should you need it. Team TMN would highly recommend this as the ideal lunch option for those of us trying to stay healthy, but without the time to prepare salads every morning before work.

GN Publishing welcomes Advertising Sales Manager

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Sara Al Thani has joined GN Publishing as Advertising Sales Manager for CitizenK Arabia and CitizenK Homme Arabia. Having previously worked for ITP Publishing as Advertising Manager for Harpers Bazaar Arabia, Sara has over four years of experience in Advertising and Sales. In her new role, she will be handling all sales opportunities for the luxury print publications

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the exciting new launch of CitizenK Arabia and CitizenK Homme Arabia as well as joining the team at Gulf News Publishing,” says Sara. 

Aquarius launches bespoke covers

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Aquarius magazine has launched individually-named bespoke March 2016 issue covers for each of the magazine’s 1,500 subscribers. Each cover is a variation on the retail edition cover, but features the reader’s name as part of the main headline and reduced coverlines. Each personalised cover will be delivered directly to the subscriber’s door as part of the brand’s strategy for consolidating and growing its subscriber database and focusing on brand-to-hand activities. The magazine will also begin to include personalised advertising pages, with Home Centre personalising their artwork in the March issue. 

“Aquarius is in a unique position thanks to being a part of GN Printing and GN Distribution – which has allowed us to introduce this exclusive gift to our readers,” says Katie Heskett, Publisher of the Women’s Lifestyle Group, GN Publishing. “Creating personalised covers has been a team effort with all parts of GN Media working together for the benefit of our audience as well as our clients.”

Louisa Wilkins, Editor, Aquarius, adds “We always want to give back to our readers and an exclusive subscriber cover is just one way we’re doing that. From the magazine team to the delivery boys getting it to their door, everyone has been excited to be part of the process.”

JPd launches PR Department

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Boutique branding and communications agency JPd has launched a new PR department in an effort to strengthen its range of services in the UAE. The department will cover a spectrum of public relations for B2B and B2C sectors, as well as support the firm’s clients with communication and digital solutions in order to drive measurable results, lead by a team of senior consultants with experience in the public relations, social media, digital marketing and branding across the UAE, MENA and Europe. 

“This is an important step for us as the launch of a new PR and digital department underlines our commitment to offer integrated approach and better service to clients,” says James Pass, Managing Director and Creative Principle, JPd. “Through our new offerings we are now capable of supporting our client at all stages – from the brand creation to the product/service launch and ongoing communication to ensure effective engagement with their key audience.”

GN Publishing to launch high-end fashion title

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GN Publishing has signed an agreement with Le Grand Kapital to launch CitizenK Arabia and CitizenK Homme Arabia in the Middle East. CitizenK International is a leading luxury lifestyle and fashion magazine in France with a circulation in excess of 100,000 copies per issue. The magazine was launched in 1992 and is owned and edited by its Founder, Parisian fashion industry icon Kappauf. CitizenK Arabia will be published in a mixture of English and Arabic – with small dedicated sections in simplified Chinese, Russian and Farsi – four times a year from March 2016, and will cover the world of luxury fashion and lifestyle from a local and international perspective. CitizenK Homme Arabia will contain a unique mix of luxury fashion and lifestyle content targeted at a male audience.

Both magazines will be distributed together, with a total print run of 20,000 copies. They will be priced at AED40 in the UAE, with CitizenK Arabia and CitizenK Homme Arabia being distributed in retail across the GCC, to VIP homes and at selected boutique retail outlets, hotels and luxury venues in the UAE.

“I am delighted that we are launching CitizenK Arabia, an exciting new force in the GCC’s luxury lifestyle media space,” says James Hewes, Publishing Director, GN Publishing. “The opportunity to bring France’s premier luxury lifestyle magazine to this market is not to be missed and I look forward to working with Kappauf to deliver CitizenK Arabia to the region’s luxury consumers.”

Kappauf adds “CitizenK Arabia is the next step in our international expansion and is a project particularly close to my heart due to my Syrian origin.”