Pro-Palestine activists protest against Starbucks in the US city of Chicago. Reuters
Pro-Palestine activists protest against Starbucks in the US city of Chicago. Reuters
Pro-Palestine activists protest against Starbucks in the US city of Chicago. Reuters
Pro-Palestine activists protest against Starbucks in the US city of Chicago. Reuters

One third of consumers boycott brands over Gaza war, global survey finds


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More than one in three customers are boycotting brands over companies' perceived stances on the war in Gaza, as consumers express their politics through shopping, a global survey has shown.

The latest edition of public relations firm Edelman's annual Trust Barometer polled 15,000 consumers around the world, including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the UK, US and India.

In Saudi Arabia, 72 per cent of respondents are boycotting brands that they consider to be supporting a side in the Israel-Gaza war.

Fifty-seven per cent of respondents in the UAE also said they would not buy a brand because of its perceived support for a side.

US-based brands such as Starbucks, McDonald's and Coca-Cola are struggling with the effects that boycotts are having on their businesses in the Middle East.

Corporations have frequently said that they do not back a particular side in the Israel-Gaza war.

McDonald's recently reported a dent in first-quarter sales over the boycott, which it said has had its greatest effect in the Middle East.

And in March, Starbucks announced it would be laying off thousands of employees in the Middle East because of the impact boycotts over the Gaza war have had on its business.

The survey also found geopolitics is having a notable impact on brand choice. Seventy-eight per cent of customers said they will not buy from a brand because of where it is based.

Overall, 60 per cent of customers worldwide are choosing brands based on their politics, a 2 per cent increase from last year.

The report also found everyday brand actions are seen as political.

Most respondents also said trust ranks before customer service, reputation and convenience when buying a brand's product.

How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Company profile

Name: Infinite8

Based: Dubai

Launch year: 2017

Number of employees: 90

Sector: Online gaming industry

Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor

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BIRD%20BOX%20BARCELONA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20and%20Alex%20Pastor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGeorgina%20Campbell%2C%20Mario%20Casas%2C%20Diego%20Calva%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
ICC Awards for 2021

MEN

Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)

Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)

WOMEN

Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)

The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 390bhp

Torque: 400Nm

Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579

DMZ facts
  • The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
  • It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
  • The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
  • It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
  • Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
  • Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
  • Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012. 
  • Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.

THE SPECS

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm

Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Top speed: 250kph

Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: Dh146,999

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

Updated: June 14, 2024, 5:55 AM`