Throughout this year, it was the technology-related stories that most caught our readers' attention online at www.thenational.ae/business. Imax, Apple and Etisalat featured in the news you paid the most attention to, written by our talented team including Ben Flanagan and Gillian Duncan. In no particular order, here are the top 10 for this year.
1. UAE iPhone 5 fans warned: going grey will make you blue
Retailers warned excited shoppers to "be careful" if they were considering buying the new iPhone 5 on the grey market.
"There are going to be three different versions of the iPhone coming in three different frequencies," said Ashish Panjabi, the chief operating officer at Jacky's Electronics. "Not all the frequencies work in the UAE."
* by Rory Jones - September 13, 2012
2. Google searches out a Web trend in UAE
An interview with Mohamad Mourad, the Google regional manager for the Arabian Gulf, highlighted that 52 per cent of UAE residents use the internet to research financial products such as loans and credit cards.
"In finance specifically, the banks usually try multiple channels to reach out to the customers. Fifty-two per cent of the respondents used search to research finance products. [Search] is 10 times more effective than email, and 10 times more effective than social networking sites as well," Mr Mourad told The National.
* by Ben Flanagan - February 23, 2012
3. Etisalat and du offer deals on Samsung's 'iPhone killer' Galaxy SIII
Samsung agreed deals with Etisalat and du to offer its Galaxy SIII handset - dubbed the "iPhone killer" - at discounted rates. Retailers across the UAE reported that the SIII had already sold out, and Samsung acknowledged it would be unable to meet initial demand for the device.
"We are going to be facing a tight supply to our region until the end of the month … It's not only in the UAE, it's in other countries in the region, and even in Europe," said Ashraf Fawakherji, the general manager of the telecoms group at Samsung Gulf Electronics.
* by Ben Flanagan - June 6, 2012
4. Fake Primark store in Dubai rattles UK retailer
A fake Primark store opened in Bur Dubai on Bank Street, selling goods under the Primark label and masquerading as the budget brand from the United Kingdom. Primark denied opening a store in the UAE and sent a statement to The National explaining it was seeking legal action against the company running the fake store.
"We are aware that there is a store in Dubai that purports to be part of our group," the UK retailer said. "Primark does not operate any stores there and this is not, therefore, a legitimate Primark store. The company is considering its legal options as a matter of urgency."
* by Rory Jones - April 25, 2012
5. Billionaire owner of India's Dish TV targets illegal use in the Emirates
The billionaire owner of India's Dish TV satellite network vowed to crack down on the illegal reception of its channels in the UAE.
Subhash Chandra, pictured above, the chairman of Dish TV's parent company Essel Group, said he was looking to work with the UAE authorities to stop residents tuning in illegally.
Thousands of people in the Arabian Gulf receive unlicensed satellite feeds from Dish TV, costing regional broadcasters millions of dollars a year in lost revenue, analysts said.
* by Ben Flanagan - September 17, 2012
6. Spectacular revamp for Dubai's JBR Walk
An expansive retail, leisure and entertainment centre is being built as the centrepiece of Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), a development of 40 towers running along the Dubai seafront. In a move that will completely change the face of JBR Walk, one of Dubai's most popular leisure attractions and walkways, Meraas Holding plans to construct a mall of shops and restaurants that will run for nearly a kilometre along the beach from The Hilton Hotel at one end to the Sheraton Hotel at the other.
"The project involves the creation of an integrated retail and leisure area with underground parking facilities meant to upgrade and develop the beachside area, in front of Rimal and Amwaj sectors," said a spokesman at Dubai Properties Group, the owner of JBR.
* by Rory Jones - August 24, 2012
7. Best companies to work for in the UAE revealed
It may not hand out free M&M's or offer foosball, but the workplace culture of FedEx Express has been clearly appreciated by staff.
The courier company topped a list of the best organisations to work for in the second annual survey by the Great Place to Work Institute UAE.
This year's list was dominated by multinational organisations and included brands such as Microsoft, Marriott and PepsiCo. But a couple of home-grown companies also made the cut, including the jobs website Bayt.com.
FedEx climbed one position from last year to knock Microsoft off the top spot.
* by Gillian Duncan - February 9, 2012
8. Stall if you are about to buy a car in UAE
Motorists looking to buy a sparkling new car or trade in a banged-up lemon were advised to hold off signing for a vehicle until a glut of summer offers had been launched. During Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), Ramadan and Eid, car dealerships across the country began offering special deals as they tried to offload stock and entice customers.
"We are now in discount season because dealers will begin a clear-out," said Bill Carter, an analyst at Autodata Middle East, an independent car-research company.
"The people … will be searching for bargains," said Mr Carter. "It [is] a good time to change vehicle."
* by Rory Jones - 14 June, 2012
9. Etisalat cuts internet prices
Etisalat reduced its broadband charges and said further price cuts were to come to mark a new era of competition with its rival du.
The operator said it had cut the price of its basic broadband package in the UAE and was studying a reduction of landline calling rates by 10 to 30 per cent.
Rashid Majid Al Abbar, the vice president of home products marketing for Etisalat, said the move by Etisalat was part of a plan to entice customers to use faster internet connections.
"That is the long-term strategy," he said. "We want to have more high-speed customers."
* by Ben Flanagan - May 20, 2012
10. Imax theatre opening at Meydan Racecourse
A seven-storey cinema screen opened at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, showing blockbuster movies alongside the traditional horse racing.
The 29 metre wide by 22 metre high Imax cinema screen was scheduled to open to the public at the end of June.
"People who have seen it have come out thinking it's great," said Goulam-Raza Amarsy, the managing director of Primesco, which is operating the theatre.
"We want to be a destination and will attract tourists," said Mr Amarsy.
* by Rory Jones - May 30, 2012
business@thenational.ae
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
On racial profiling at airports
MO
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'Jurassic%20World%20Dominion'
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
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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
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
I Care A Lot
Directed by: J Blakeson
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage
3/5 stars
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Maratha Arabians 107-8 (10 ovs)
Lyth 21, Lynn 20, McClenaghan 20 no
Qalandars 60-4 (10 ovs)
Malan 32 no, McClenaghan 2-9
Maratha Arabians win by 47 runs
POSSIBLE ENGLAND EURO 2020 SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson.
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Joe Gomez, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Ben Chilwell, Fabian Delph.
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Harry Winks, Jordan Henderson, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Bahrain%20GP
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Result
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
THE SPECS
Cadillac XT6 2020 Premium Luxury
Engine: 3.6L V-6
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 310hp
Torque: 367Nm
Price: Dh280,000
