Take a look around and all you will see are people glued to their phones on their way to work, in the gym, even at the dinner table.
Mobile is everywhere, allowing people the flexibility to stay connected just about anywhere.
In the Middle East, the great internet and mobile infrastructure together with purchasing power, has resulted in smartphones becoming a fashion statement, almost a lifestyle accessory. Here, the love for mobile is driven by consumer behaviour.
The Middle East is home to what I like to call the “Experience Generation”, often described as digital natives, these young, savvy, always connected individuals are the drivers of change.
So what defines this generation? In the simplest of terms, it is their love for all things “smart” – be it technology, messages or marketing. They take pride in standing out. They enjoy freedom and value privacy. They value money, yet they don’t define everything by it. They value experiences, and are willing to pay for them.
The region continues to witness a surge in both smartphone and socia-media adoption, offering the here and now generation a single avenue for communication, entertainment and even socialising. With all this connectivity comes a growing interest in mobile video on demand. For many, Mobile Video On Demand (MVOD) is probably a new phenomenon.
With MVOD they have the freedom and flexibility to consume content of their choice regardless of what device they may be using, what time zone or place they may be in.
In a world that is both fast- paced and competitive, MVOD offers viewers a means to enjoy their favourite movies and TV shows without really worrying about time. The effectiveness of MVOD as a medium is perhaps why it is fast becoming the preferred screen of choice to consume music videos, movies, TV series, news and more.
According to the Vuclip Global Video Insights (GVI) report for 2014, 66 per cent of respondents in the Middle East reported a preference for watching both long and short-form videos on their mobile, while another 78 per cent predicted an increase in the amount of time they will spend watching videos on mobile platforms.
Mobile video entertainment is still nascent, and in the coming years we will see the consumer life cycle transition from early adopters to mainstream consumers. We are already beginning to witness a scenario where all the stakeholders are rallying around building a thriving mobile video economy, as each of them stands to gain from the growth of mobile video.
Content producers and broadcasters have the opportunity to monetise their premium content on the most personal and popular platform and reach a vibrant community of fans.
Telecom operators have a sustainable way to diversify revenue beyond voice. And marketers, can now truly create immersive experiences instead of the static banner adverts.
A recent report by the telecommunications company Ericsson, estimates that mobile data traffic in the Middle East and North East Africa will grow 14 times between 2014 and 2020, trumping the global growth rate.
In summary, the mobile video economy is thriving, viral is not just video, it’s mobile video – from Coca-Cola to Dove, from Emirates to Samsung. It is a movement that is fast taking shape and those that brave the wave now are the ones most likely to weave a bond with their audience, ultimately defining the line between success and failure.
Nickhil Jakatdar, is chief executive and cofounder of Vuclip, a US-based mobile video on demand company that targets emerging markets.
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
The%20specs%3A%20Taycan%20Turbo%20GT
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RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner: Arjan, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Jap Nazaa, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi.
6pm: Al Ruwais Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 1,200m
Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinal.
6.30pm: Shadwell Gold Cup Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Sanad, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
7pm: Shadwell Farm Stallions Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Canal, Harry Bentley, Satish Seemar.
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.
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Civil%20War
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Alita: Battle Angel
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Stars: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Keean Johnson
Four stars
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
PETER%20PAN%20%26%20WENDY
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
SUZUME
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