Polaroid, the troubled camera company famous for quick-developing pictures, plans to launch operations in the Middle East after signing the singer Lady Gaga last year in a bid to rejuvenate its brand.
After years of decline, Polaroid says it will have a sales and research office in the Arab world as it looks to become "the next Apple".
"Next year we'll be here for sure," said Bobby Sager, the chairman of Polaroid. "The real sales outfit in the Middle East probably won't begin until June."
Polaroid was founded in 1937, and during its 1970s heyday enwjoyed global success with cameras that produced photos that developed before one's eyes.
But the US company experienced a staggering decline in the digital age and twice filed for bankruptcy protection.
In 2009, a partnership led by Gordon Brothers Brands and Hilco Consumer Capital bought Polaroid for US$88 million (Dh323.2m).
Mr Sager, a multimillionaire philanthropist and photographer, made his fortune at Gordon Brothers and remains a shareholder at the company.
"Polaroid was a very troubled company. So I had to take the first year and stabilise the patient, so to speak. And now we're ready to really rock," he said.
Mr Sager was instrumental in signing the US singer Lady Gaga as Polaroid's creative director in January last year. Lady Gaga this year unveiled a number of products under Polaroid's Grey Label range, which included a camera built into sunglasses.
The sunglasses are "probably not going to be out until the spring, until March or April", said Mr Sager.
In a bid to regain its appeal, Polaroid is working on multiple new products including smartphones, television sets and cameras.
"There will be something like three or four dozen Polaroid products beyond just the camera - tablets and so forth," said Mr Sager, adding that the high youth population in the Arab world makes this region attractive as a sales and research hub.
"There's such a high percentage of young people who live in the region, and young people are what Polaroid is all about. So it's a part of the world that we're going to take very seriously. I'm sure that we'll have a sales and research and development office. We're very interested in tapping into young people for ideas."
The UAE would be a possible base for Polaroid's expansion in the region, but Mr Sager said he could not give more details on which country would be selected. He added that the plan to rebuild Polaroid was "a 10-year" endeavour.
"I didn't buy Polaroid as a walk down memory lane. I bought Polaroid because Polaroid has always stood for innovation and cutting-edge technology," he said.
"At its core, Polaroid is about sharing and creativity. In a sense, Polaroid was the original social network. You would take a picture, and write something on the bottom of it. I think that Polaroid had the opportunity to be Apple and they blew it. And I have in my sights the idea that Polaroid can be the next Apple."
bflanagan@thenational.ae
The%20specs
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
SQUADS
South Africa:
JP Duminy (capt), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de Villiers, Robbie Frylinck, Beuran Hendricks, David Miller, Mangaliso Mosehle (wkt), Dane Paterson, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi
Bangladesh
Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Imrul Kayes, Liton Das (wkt), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wkt), Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed
Fixtures
Oct 26: Bloemfontein
Oct 29: Potchefstroom
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Common%20symptoms%20of%20MS
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFatigue%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3Enumbness%20and%20tingling%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ELoss%20of%20balance%20and%20dizziness%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStiffness%20or%20spasms%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETremor%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPain%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBladder%20problems%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBowel%20trouble%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVision%20problems%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EProblems%20with%20memory%20and%20thinking%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
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
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 Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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
