A decade ago, it might not have been a source of conflict for the region's most popular news broadcaster to have its headquarters in a country with the GCC's last telecommunications monopoly.
But as the worlds of media and telecoms converged, Al Jazeera found itself occasionally chafing against the restrictions of Qatar Telecom (QTEL). Although the telecoms company offers high-speed mobile networks, it blocks the kind of independent live mobile video streaming services that the broadcaster's new-media team regards as the future of both reporting and distributing news.
"The market may be out there," said Moeed Ahmad, the head of new media, referring to the broadcaster's international reach. "But we are here, so we have to test locally."
At times that meant going over to the border of Saudi Arabia he said, "because it's not as closed over there".
Now, however, change is in the airwaves as Vodafone prepares to launch in Qatar next month, having teamed up with the Qatar Foundation to buy the country's second mobile-phone network licence.
Al Jazeera's new media team - a department of online, social networking and mobile media specialists who have won international attention recently for their innovative use of tools such as YouTube and Twitter in covering the Gaza crisis - are hoping the introduction of competition by the British telecoms company will create a more fertile environment for innovation.
"We are talking to Vodafone and we are trying to have them use all their portals," Mr Ahmad said. "They have a lot of wonderful products that they use in other countries - we are hoping they are going to have the same expertise and drive and initiative here.
"Currently, we are limited because the environment isn't conducive to the latest technologies. QTEL, even though they are putting a lot of effort in, are a bit late to the new media technologies and trends."
He noted that although Al Jazeera has worked with QTEL on some cutting-edge projects - such as the high-speed, high-quality mobile broadcasts surrounding the Asian Games - and offered its channels through the mobile TV portal that QTEL launched last week, it was unable to test its plan to have viewers video weblog the US presidential inauguration because Qik, the mobile utility it planned to use for live video streaming, was blocked in Qatar.
QTEL has a policy to protect the public from illegal, pornographic and socially harmful material.
"The number of new internet services and applications launched every day with new content is very significant and we are doing our utmost to balance our responsibilities, bearing in mind there is no technological solution that achieves this job perfectly," said Adel al Mutawa, the executive director of group communications at QTEL.
Using these latest trends to broaden and engage the audience of Al Jazeera's Arabic and English news channels and websites is the mandate of the broadcaster's new media department, which was established in 2006 under the leadership of Mohamed Nanabhay.
Although websites were once considered the purview of new media departments in media companies, Al Jazeera's team did not see it that way. "Even the website, when we came in, we considered as a traditional way of distributing content," said Mr Ahmad. "New media is everything non-traditional."
Perhaps not surprisingly, everyone in the department is under 30. (Mr Nanabhay, who just crossed that threshold, recently was promoted to a position outside the department.)
The department tends to see news as more of a conversation than a speech, and pushes the larger organisation to make its content free as much as possible. One of its first projects was to upload full-length Al Jazeera Arabic-language programmes to YouTube - itself an innovation back when other broadcasters such as the BBC put only promos on the free video service - and then record a YouTube appeal by the show's presenter for viewers to send in their thoughts. They received 150 videos on the first try, and aired some of the responses during the next broadcasts of the show.
The department's work in Gaza was the first big success for the English-language channel, which relies on new media efforts such as YouTube and Twitter to reach the US market, where it does not have cable television distribution. Within a week of creating the Al Jazeera English Gaza page on Twitter, the microblogging social networking service, the site had half a million hits, most of them from North America.
But making money from this popularity, at least directly, has so far proved elusive. Even Twitter has found it difficult to charge for its service, and was forced to stop its SMS service in the Middle East and other regions last year because the fees that the telecoms companies charged for sending text messages were just too high.
Al Jazeera does have its own SMS news alert service with about 80,000 subscribers, which it runs on a revenue-sharing agreement with more than 50 operators worldwide.
Its new media team ultimately sees a far different model for making money from the increasingly mobile internet in the future.
"I think mobile advertising is the way to go," said Safdar Mustafa, the head of the mobile media unit of the new media group. "I believe, moving forward, you shouldn't charge for news. It's not good. The news should always be free."
To that end, Al Jazeera rolled out a new Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) last month, which makes its website easily navigable on any hand-held device. The goal is to follow that up with a second phase that incorporates advertising, ideally of the targeted variety.
"You are totally cutting out the telecom company in this kind of model," Mr Mustafa said, but added that it was still "early days" for the service and it was yet to be seen whether it could be a viable revenue stream.
Phil Lawrie, the director of global distribution for Al Jazeera, agreed. "Sometimes, subscription-based models are necessary to claw back some sort of return on a new service, product, platform, but as audience grows one sees ad-generating opportunities increase also," he said. "Critical mass - that magical tipping point when ad revenue generation becomes viable - is often hard to find in the mobile environment and it's therefore important for all stakeholders to be patient and establish business models that can survive a slow start and build gradually. We will undoubtedly see more free, ad-supported content going forward, it's just that the economic realities slow-up such a rollout."
Al Jazeera's deep pockets make it an ideal place for this kind of experimentation, and Mr Ahmad is fond of saying that, in the new media realm, "it has never been this cheap to fail".
But he also believes the financial crisis creates an opportunity for advancing these models of creating and distributing news. As news organisations' travel budgets shrink, he points out, citizen journalism becomes not just a neat idea, but an economic necessity.
To that end, the department's latest experiment threatens to kick down the door between journalists and bystanders almost completely, at least as far as the technology is concerned.
They are equipping journalists with advanced mobile phones capable of taking broadcast-quality video, and training them to be ready to use them anytime, anywhere - even in places where there is no high-speed broadband mobile network.
Last summer, when one of the Al Jazeera cameramen participating in the pilot programme left his camera in his hotel room in Chad, went out to run an errand and found himself face-to-face with a bomb attack, he was able to film the aftermath with his mobile, upload it on the hotel's wireless internet and have it on the Al Jazeera airwaves almost immediately.
Such successes obviously have major implications for the world of citizen journalism, but only if the telecoms companies were open enough to allow it, Mr Mustafa said. He notes that there is a way to bypass QTEL's block on the independent live video streaming sites, but it is complicated and time-consuming.
"If you say to a group of citizen journalists, be the eyes of Al Jazeera, and the first thing that happens is QTEL blocks them, even if there's a way around it, it's not good for anybody," he said. "But there is a push for more openness for operators."
khagey@thenational.ae
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Virtuzone GCC Sixes
Date and venue Friday and Saturday, ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City
Time Matches start at 9am
Groups
A Blighty Ducks, Darjeeling Colts, Darjeeling Social, Dubai Wombats; B Darjeeling Veterans, Kuwait Casuals, Loose Cannons, Savannah Lions; C Awali Taverners, Darjeeling, Dromedary, Darjeeling Good Eggs
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
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.
Sugary teas and iced coffees
The tax authority is yet to release a list of the taxed products, but it appears likely that sugary iced teas and cold coffees will be hit.
For instance, the non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Cold coffee brands are likely to be hit too. Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner Thabet Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Blue Diamond, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6.30pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Shoja’A Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Heros De Lagarde, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
Generation Start-up: Awok company profile
Started: 2013
Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 1050Nm
Range: 450km
Price: Dh601,800
On sale: now
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
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
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
