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Vogue Arabia launches in the Middle East

Global media company, Conde Nast has launched Vogue Arabia’s first print issue, available for sale from March 5, 2017, across the MENA region. Following its digital launch in October, the March issue will be published in English with a prominent Arabic section that aims to reach and engage the diversity of readers across the region. The new issue also features supermodel, Gigi Hadid on the magazine’s cover and is titled ‘Reorienting Perceptions’ in English and ‘An Eye on the East’ in Arabic.

Vogue Arabia is a magazine with the authority and insight needed to capture the creativity of a distinctive, evolving and often misrepresented part of the world,” says Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz, Editor-in-Chief, Vogue Arabia.

CARMA launches media intelligence mobile app

Global media intelligence provider, CARMA has launched a mobile app for its Insight portal delivery platform. The mobile app will provide PR and communications clients with multi-lingual media monitoring tools and analysis to their smartphones. The features of the new app will also cover global digital and broadcast media as well as print media and is compatible with both iOS and android devices.

“As technology develops and news media becomes increasingly social, it’s vital for the PR industry and c-level executives to be able to track conversations about their company, brands and products at any time, wherever they might be,” says Mazen Nahawi, CEO, CARMA. “Our app is fully customisable and enables content to be shared across various social platforms.”

BPA announces concurrent release of audience metrics

Global assurance provider BPA Worldwide has announced the concurrent release of audience metrics for 24 consumer magazines, 14 business publications and four newspapers in the Middle East, for the six-month period that ended on December 30, 2016. The top-line figures in the Trend Report About Circulation (TRAC) cover media with operations in the UAE and Bahrain. Included in the report are the headline average qualified circulations and other channels, including web traffic ‘average unique browser’, social media and apps downloads from the most recent December 2016-ending BPA brand reports.

The full concurrent release report can be accessed under news releases on www.bpaww.com

PHD expands regional network

Dubai-based media and communications agency, PHD has launched its operations in Lebanon as a part of its regional expansion plan. With an office in Beirut, PHD will bring its expertise and working methods to manage the interest of its clients across Lebanon and the Levant region. The new launch will also see the appointment of Maroun Hassoun to the role of General Manager, PHD Lebanon to oversee the team and report to Elda Choucair, CEO of PHD MENA.

“Having spent my entire career in the marketing industry, I can say that I have watched the rise of PHD with awe,” says Maroun. “I feel an equal sense of responsibility in maintaining and developing this mindset and excitement about the opportunity to tangibly make a difference in a market I know so well.”

Sayidaty launches AboutHer.co

Women’s magazine Sayidaty has launched AboutHer.co – an English language lifestyle platform that aims to provide relevant content to women globally, covering a wealth of diverse topics. The website will focus on the triumphs and challenges of women in the region and will feature reports, advice, interviews and news on celebrities, nutrition, fashion, beauty and décor trends.

“AboutHer.co is the result of a lot of research and several studies, which reveal there is a need to portray Arab women in a different, more realistic light, underlining all the ups and downs and highs and lows,” says Mohammad Al-Harthi, Editor-in-Chief, AboutHer.co, Sayidaty and Al-Jamila. “It plays a leading role in Sayidaty’s broader, intercultural dialog and is a pillar in the Sayidaty global initiative that aims to promote diversity.”

Al Scene launches across the Middle East

Creative and media agency, MO4 Network has launched Arabic online magazine, alscene.com across the Middle East. Based in Egypt, Al Scene is an Arabic culture and lifestyle platform that aims to provide high quality, engaging and dynamic content across the region. The new online magazine comprises of a team of Arabic writers from across the region and will feature in-depth stories, news, op-ed pieces, interviews and exclusives.

“Al Scene is brave and aware,” says Ahmed Fares, Managing Editor, Al Scene. “With an increase in the amount of Arabic content online, there has been a high demand regionally for a website that speaks our common language without limits or reservations. Thus, Al Scene is comprised of a team of trailblazers who voice everything our audience wish they could say through a plethora of engaging and diverse content.”

New Op-Ed Columnist joins Arab News

Saudi Arabian daily newspaper, Arab News has welcomed Yasar Yakis to the role of Op-Ed Columnist. Previously Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Yasar is recognised as a founding member of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party and most recently worked at Oxford University as Senior Associate Member. In his new role, he will write a weekly column on Turkish, Arab, regional and international affairs that will be featured on Arab News’s print and online editions.

“Yakis joins the newspaper’s growing pool of influential columnists,” says Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief, Arab News. “Mr Yakis brings a broad global knowledge, many years of experience as Turkey’s chief diplomat, as well as a deep understanding of Arab affairs. We are thrilled that he has joined our pool of expert opinion writers.”

ARN launches new Arabic radio stations

Dubai-based radio network, Arabian Radio Network (ARN) launches Al Khaleejiya Classic and Al Arabiya Cassette in the UAE. With a focus on serving its Arabic audience, Al Khaleejiya Classic will play 80’s and 90’s GCC music tracks, while Al Arabiya Cassette will broadcast 60’s to 90’s Arabic hits from across the region for local and expat Arabs. The new digital-only radio stations will also be available as an extension of local radio stations, Al Khaleejiya 100.9 and Al Arabiya 99 mobile apps to its audience across the UAE.

“ARN serves a wide audience of over 190 nationalities, in the world’s most cosmopolitan city, Dubai,” says Mahmoud Al Rasheed, General Manager, ARN. “This launch follows our first phase of digital brands launched last year and we are proud to launch these two digital stations to meet audience and advertiser demand and position ARN for further growth in the digital broadcasting industry in the coming years.”

New Senior Correspondent at Khaleej Times

UAE-based newspaper, Khaleej Times has appointed Sarwat Nasir to the role of Senior Correspondent. With over four years of experience in journalism, Sarwat previously worked with 7DAYS as News Reporter where she produced videos and reported to the news desk with a focus on human interest, education and general stories. In her new role, she will report to the news desk with breaking and exclusive stories as well as produce videos with a focus on different topics for Khaleej Times.

“I am very excited to work with Khaleej Times and bring in breaking stories, as well as produce digital content,” says Sarwat.

DJWE partners with BPA

Brand experience agency, Auditoire Qatar has signed with BPA Worldwide to audit the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE) to be held from February 20 – 25, 2017 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. The event will be open to the public and will feature over 400 international brands and local jewellery designers from across the industry. BPA will be responsible for auditing the show in 2017 and 2018 by analysing and reporting on its attendance, exhibition data, demographics, newsletters, social media and website traffic using the BPA Event Brand Report.

“We are delighted that the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition has applied for membership with BPA Worldwide and are excited that this will be the first exhibition to utilise the BPA Event Brand Report in the region,” says Glenn Hansen, President and CEO, BPA Worldwide. “We applaud Auditoire Qatar for providing exhibitors and prospects with the solid assurance of an independent attendance audit conducted according to BPA’s world-respected, uncompromising standards. With a BPA event audit, sponsors and exhibitors can be confident that audience claims are accurate and that they have the verified data that they need to assess an event’s effectiveness in serving its market.”