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APO opens office in Dubai

African Press Organization (APO), the sole press release wire in Africa, opens its first office in Dubai today, in response to the growing demand for AMO media relations services dedicated to Africa in the Middle East. The Dubai office, located in Dubai Airport Freezone, becomes APO’s fifth regional office after Dakar (Senegal), Lausanne (Switzerland), Mumbai (India) and Victoria (Seychelles).

“Over the last 12 months we have experienced an increasing level of interest from clients operating from the Middle East, and we are looking forward to strengthening existing relationships with clients, while building new partnerships,” says Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, CEO and Founder, APO. “APO meets all communication requirements concerning Africa. The offer includes any activities related to PR, ranging from press release distribution and monitoring, to online press conferences, interactive webcasts and op-ed placements, and expert advice on African PR practices can also be provided.”

WatchTime to launch Middle East edition

Gulf News Magazines will launch the Middle East edition of WatchTime magazine tomorrow, which will hit the newsstands quarterly in all major newsagents, supermarkets and up to 100 select hotels. With a circulation of 8,000, WatchTime Middle East will be a quarterly title and comprise a mix of the best US editorial and locally sourced content, with Editor Nitin Nair and Features Editor Craig Hawes working closely with Joe Thompson, WatchTime Editor-In-Chief.

“The launch of WatchTime Middle East couldn’t be more timely,” says James Hewes, Publishing Director, Gulf News Magazines. “Swiss watch imports to the UAE have risen by 36 per cent in the last two years and we’re confident that WatchTime, already a highly respected publication in the industry, will quickly become a must-read for watch enthusiasts and collectors in the region.”

Gerrit Klein, CEO of Ebner Publishing International, parent company of WatchTime adds, “We are very happy to welcome Gulf News Magazines as a great business partner. They share our strategy of publishing top-quality media with the highest journalistic standards and an absolute focus on readers. Ebner Publishing has been a family-owned business with a global focus for 200 years and Gulf News is a respected authority with many years of experience in the Middle East – an ideal combination. We are sure that WatchTime Middle East will grow fast and achieve the same reputation among watch fans and the watch industry as WatchTime USA has had in the 15 years since its launch.”

Carmel Gill joins the Emirates Woman team

Carmel Gill has joined the Emirates Woman team as Fashion and Beauty Assistant. Carmel, who previously worked as a Sales Associate for UK-based fashion brand,The Kooples, as well as Fashion Assistant for online fashion store, Tinnedbananas.com, is now responsible for assisting the Style Editor and Style Director on photo shoots, in addition to contributing to some of the fashion pages in the magazine.

“I fell in love with Dubai when I visited last year on holiday,” says Carmel. “I grew up in a small village in the West Yorkshire countryside so it is worlds apart from where I am from, and Dubai just amazes me. It really is a city of opportunities and it has been the best decision of my life moving here as I landed my dream job at Emirates Woman.

Giles Deacon to host 2014 Grazia Style Awards

It has been announced that British fashion designer Giles Deacon will host the 8th annual Grazia Style Awards, which will take place on Tuesday March 25, 2014, at the MusicHall, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. The awards will be judged by a panel of industry experts, including Emily Johnston, Founder of style blog Fashion Foie Gras, Elaine Lloyd Jones, Editor, Grazia Luxury, up-and-coming British designer Ashley Williams, and Ahlan! Hot 100 trendsetter, Bong Guerrero. Voting for the Grazia Style Awards 2014 remains open to the public until March 23, 2014.

“We are thrilled to have Giles Deacon play host to our event,” says Claire Carruthers, Fashion and Beauty Editor, Grazia Middle East. “We look forward to welcoming everyone here in Dubai, as we honour the region’s vibrant fashion community and the exceptional individuals and brands whose talent, passion and valuable contributions over the past year have helped propel our industry forward. It’s going to be a truly memorable evening.”

LylaLovesFashion relaunches with new look

In celebration of its fifth anniversary, Middle East fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog, LylaLovesFashion.com has relaunched with a new look. Visitors can expect a new layout and user friendly navigation plus posts in Arabic, making LylaLovesFashion.com the first dual language blog in the UAE.

“After five successful years of LylaLovesFashion.com, I felt it was time to take it up a notch,” says Zahra Lyla Pedram, Founder and Editor, LylaLovesFashion.com. “After all, in an industry that changes every season, it is vital to keep up with the trends. The addition of Arabic was a natural move, since the blog is based both in Dubai and London.”