MEA September

Middle East Markets | September

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THE $18 BILLION MAN

Dr. Andy Khawaja of Allied Wallet is Taking Huge Strides in the Mid-East

16

Superior Service and Reliability Are Key for Faber & Allin

Global Consultancy

7 Turner & Townsend Beats Tough Market Conditions to Grow Middle East Revenue by a Quarter

World’s Biggest

14 Student Cyber

Security Games Expand to India, Middle East and North Africa

MAG Property

20 Development

Premium Dubai Project Snapped Up

Sany Wins

29 Massive Mobile Port Machinery Deal in Saudi Arabia

Editors Letter Welcome to the September issue of MEA Markets Magazine.

In this issue, we speak to Dr. Andy Khawaja, founder of Allied Wallet, about the key principles of his business and the strides his company has made in the Middle East and Africa markets.

Eureka Zandberg from Faber & Allin Inc. Attorneys talks to us about how they have become successful in the MEA region. Their litigation efforts have featured in the law reports, which has extended the common law of South Africa.

With research from Clutton’s, we investigate the negative impact the oil and gas, finance and banking sectors are having on the residential sector in the UAE. We look at the technological changes that have been affecting the Middle East, including the launch of the I-Life which looks to expand across global markets, as well as taking a peek at the world’s largest student-run cyber security event which will expand this year to the Middle East and Africa.

Finally, we round up all the deals and news from the region for your convenience.

We hope you enjoy this issue.

Matt Lewis, Editor Phone: +44 (0) 203 725 6842 Email: matthew.lewis@ai-globalmedia.com Website: www.middleeast-markets.com

Contents

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Allied Wallet 4 Latest News from Across the Middle East and Africa TECHNOLOGY 8 Tech Billionaire Dr. Andy Khawaja is improving today’s economy with Allied Wallet Dr. Andy Khawaja of Allied Wallet is Taking Huge Strides in the Mid-East.

12 I-LIFE launched its 14-inch Laptop ZED AIR priced at $135 powered by Intel Processor and Windows10 13 Middle East and Africa Pay TV Operator Forecasts 14 World’s Biggest Student Cyber Security Games Expand to India, Middle East, and North Africa

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MAG Property Development

LAW 16 Superior Service and Reliability Are Key for Faber & Allin Faber & Allin Inc. Attorneys comprises a firm of attorneys, who unifies their diverse legal strengths and backgrounds to share a common passion for the law.

PROPERTY 18 UAE’s Residential Sector Set For Further Declines, says Cluttons

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Faber & Allin Inc.

20 MAG Property Development Premium Dubai Project Snapped Up 22 Starwood Hotels Ramps up Nigeria Portfolio with New Four Points in Benin City DEALS 24 Kleptika and Contextor Partner to Deliver Next Generation RPA and RDA Solutions to MENA Organizations 26 Asite Announces Partnership with Dubai Future Foundation to Host International Competition on Future of Transportation Sector 28 Orange Business Services Appoints Vice President for Middle East, North Africa and Turkey Region 29 Sany Wins Massive Mobile Port Machinery Deal in Saudi Arabia 30 Qatar Ministry of Culture and Sports Appoints ELAN Group and Live Nation Joint Venture 32 Telecom M&A and digital convergence to lead deal activity in Africa

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mea Markets News

Fourth Region Added to Nuvias EMEA Structure Nuvias acquires value-added distribution business in Dubai pecialist EMEA distributor, the Nuvias Group, has announced it has added a fourth region, MEA, to its regional EMEA structure. The other three Nuvias Group regions are Northern, Central and Southern Europe.

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Nuvias has acquired SCD, a distributor operating out of Dubai. The new office will now act as a hub for Nuvias’ MEA activities, covering all parts of the Gulf Co-operation Council (1) (GCC) area, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

This is the latest development in the strong growth and development plans of Nuvias, which was established in July 2016. Nuvias is building an EMEA-wide, high-value, specialist distribution business, with a common proposition and consistent delivery. The strategy is to redefine value distribution to the channel, enabling the channel and vendor community to deliver exceptional business value to their customers and creating new standards of channel success.

Also being announced is the setting up of the Nuvias Cyber Security Practice at the Dubai office, which includes vendors Unitrends (cloud empowered continuity solutions), Malwarebytes (advanced malware prevention and remediation), Black Duck (open source security and management) and Netskope (cloud data loss prevention).

Other recent vendor signings for Nuvias in the MEA region include JetNEXUS (load balancing), Lifesize (videoconferencing) and Tintri (VM-aware storage for virtualisation and the cloud).

Nuvias has already recruited several new staff for the MEA office bringing the current total up to 16. These include recent recruit Muneeb Anjum, the new sales director. Anjum has twelve years’ experience in the IT sector, with a proven track record in managing channel partners across the Middle East and extensive experience in successfully introducing new solutions to market.

Paul Eccleston, head of Nuvias Group, commented: “We are delighted to be announcing the opening of our Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, completing our regional coverage of EMEA. MEA is a very important part of the region and a significant opportunity for us, our vendor partners and our customers.

Alasdair Kilgour, regional VP MEA for Nuvias, commented: “It’s both exciting and a privilege to be part of the Nuvias team and I look forward to leading the growth of the business across MEA and beyond.

We will do this firstly by enabling our vendor partners locally to experience the same high standard

“We have been working hard to bring the cyber security, advanced networking and unified comms capability of Wick Hill and Zycko to this region. With the acquisition of the business in Dubai, operating across the region, and the recruitment of Muneeb Anjum, which will be followed by further additions to the team very soon, this is an exciting development for Nuvias and we look forward to bringing more capability and vendors to the region quickly.” of value-added service they already receive from the Group across Europe; secondly by expanding our channel partner community through our solution distribution philosophy; and thirdly by geographic expansion. We are exhibiting at Gitex in October at the Dubai World Trade Centre, which will give us a great platform to show the industry what Nuvias in the MEA region can offer.”

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mea Markets Elevation Burger Announces Plans For 20 New Restaurants In Egypt levation Burger, the first and only 100 percent organic better burger franchise concept, has announced the signing of a multi-unit development agreement with Essam Abu El Hassan to open twenty restaurants throughout Egypt. Currently, the brand has twentythree restaurants in the Middle East including Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.

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“We’re excited to bring our organic burger concept to Egypt and expand our footprint in the Middle East,” said Salman Siddiqui, CEO of Elevation Burger. “We are thrilled to have Essam Abu El Hassan join the brand and know he will meet the growing consumer demand in Egypt for healthier, organic, great tasting food.”

Abu El Hassan is new to the Elevation Burger family and was attracted to the brand’s philosophy - to be more than just a burger restaurant. The company is dedicated to offering authentic and sustainablyprepared food that is better for consumers and the environment. Also notable, all of Elevation Burger’s meat is halal.

“I’m confident that Elevation Burger will be a success in Egypt and I am proud to be a part of the company’s growth story,” said Abu El Hassan. “We plan to open the first restaurant in Cairo later this year.”

From fresh and flavourful food made with the highest quality ingredients to friendly and inviting restaurants built with sustainable materials, Elevation Burger strives to deliver an elevated experience that is “Above and Beyond Good™.” The concept was founded in 2005 and began franchising in 2008. Currently, there are more than 60 U.S. and international locations.

Elevation Burger is loved by loyal customers for its burgers made from 100 percent organic, grass-fed, free-range beef and fries cooked in heart-healthy Bertolli® olive oil. The brand also offers organic chicken, as well as vegetarian and vegan burgers.

To learn more about Elevation Burger, visit elevationburger.com.

U.S. News & World Report Releases The 2016 Best Arab Region Universities Rankings New edition offers the most comprehensive rankings of higher education in the region News & World Report, the U.S.-based publisher of Best Colleges and Best Graduate Schools, today unveiled the 2016 Best Arab Region Universities rankings on usnews.com. The latest edition is the largest in-depth ranking of higher education institutions in the Arab region.

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New in 2016, the U.S. News Best Arab Region Universities rankings have been expanded to include 124 universities, up from 91, and eight new subject rankings in areas such as business, management and accounting; and economics, econometrics and finance.

Also new, U.S. News ranked institutions overall using a methodology that incorporates both academic research performance and reputation among Arab region academics and employers.

Assisting in the research effort, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development supported this year’s edition as a way to create global consistency and add value to higher education in the region. QF’s support also ensures that the Middle East and North Africa region can be ranked using relevant global criteria, which enables regional institutes to strengthen their international influence.

The Best Arab Region Universities rankings are led

by Robert Morse, chief data strategist and head of educational research at U.S. News, who has played a significant role in the development of standardized data for U.S. higher education.

“The rankings offer prospective students, families, policymakers and employers a wealth of information on the schools in their region,” said Mr. Morse. “With the enhanced data, students can make more accurate comparisons between schools.”

Three universities in Saudi Arabia once again top the list of Best Arab Region Universities. King Saud University in Riyadh claims the No. 1 spot, followed

by King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah at No. 2 and King Abdullah University of Science & Technology in Thuwal at No. 3.

Egypt has the most universities in the overall rankings with 25 institutions earning a spot. Next is Algeria with twenty universities, followed by Saudi Arabia with 16.

The rankings are based on research data from Elsevier’s Scopus, the world’s largest abstract and citation database, and metrics powered by SciVal analytics, part of the Elsevier Research Intelligence portfolio, and separate academic and employer

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News

mea Markets News IsDB, Gates Foundation Support New Program for Women Scientists in Middle East, North Africa he International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) has launched the design phase of a new major regional program to empower young Arab women scientists and leaders in agricultural research and development.

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Funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the design phase will lay the groundwork for the Young Arab Women Scientists Leadership (Tamkeen) Program, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The Program will help to build and improve skills and capacities of a new generation of young Arab women scientists and leaders, contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goal on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of ICBA, said: “Women are keepers and developers. They do deserve and require more opportunities. That is why in this Program we wanted to give priority to equipping women, namely women scientists, with necessary knowledge, skills and tools so that they can realize their full potential and contribute more to their countries’ economies.”

The past few decades have seen a considerable increase in the number of women scientists and leaders working in agricultural research in both industrialized and developing countries.

However, empirical evidence shows that there is a disproportionately low number of women working in senior scientific and managerial positions, especially in the MENA region.

Women scientists face a wide range of barriers ranging from family and social expectations to limited networking opportunities to lack of targeted leadership programs. These challenges limit women’s opportunities for advancement into senior positions.

“IsDB pays significant attention to the role of women in development. Therefore, improving the skills of Arab women scientists in agricultural research is a step in the right direction. We believe that empowering women with the right skills in agricultural research will contribute to alleviating poverty and making food available to the poor. We will work with our partners to ensure that skill acquisition in our member countries is barrier free,” stated Dr. Osman El-Feil, Director, Agriculture and

Rural Development Department, IsDB. Agricultural research, development and extension agencies will benefit from the increased presence of women in senior research and leadership positions as increasing diversity of leadership voices is shown to improve outcomes. Women leaders in science are better placed to identify challenges and solutions for women in agriculture, resulting in improved food security and nutrition for all rural people.

Therefore, it is important to promote more balanced representation of women in decision-making processes related to agricultural knowledge, science, and technology at all levels.

Mr. Hassan Al-Damluji, Head of Middle East Relations at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said: “At the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we are incredibly optimistic about the role science can play in driving change for the world’s poorest people.

We are also determined to ensure that women are front and centre in all aspects of development work, and that includes women scientists creating new solutions to food security challenges. That is why we are so excited about our partnership with ICBA and the Program that this grant will help to design.”

The design phase will serve to identify the barriers and challenges facing young Arab women scientists working in agricultural research and development, as well as knowledge and skills they need to advance their careers. ICBA will assess leadership and innovation modules of agricultural science programs, as well as the needs of women scientists in the MENA region, focusing on nine Arab countries (Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates). The findings will inform the Program that will help to improve leadership opportunities for women scientists in agricultural research institutions throughout the MENA region and increase knowledge exchange and active peer/ mentor networks for Arab women scientists. The Program will also help to identify and empower groups of women champions and build a critical mass of pathfinders, visionary leaders, and change agents, ultimately contributing to better and more women-centred solutions for improved food security and nutrition in the MENA region.

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mea Markets News Global Consultancy Turner & Townsend Beats Tough Market Conditions to Grow Middle East Revenue by a Quarter Turner & Townsend’s Middle East revenue has increased by 24 percent in 2015-2016. Their Middle East team now has more than 300 people across the region’s four offices, with global turnover reaching £409m.

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he global professional services consultancy Turner & Townsend has increased its Middle East turnover by a quarter, and its profits by nearly a third, in the year ended 30th April 2016.

The company’s strong performance in the Middle East – which saw regional turnover grow by 24% to £32.2m and operating profit climb 32% to £5.1m – helped drive its global revenue to a record £409m.

Vincent Clancy, Chief Executive Officer for Turner & Townsend commented, “Our achievements are a testament to the strength of our business, despite a backdrop of significant volatility. The past year has seen us become the partner of choice for many of the world’s largest capital programmes and our diversified business model continued to serve us well, giving us the flexibility to adapt to changes in individual markets.

“We’ve grown our global footprint, supporting our key regional hubs and strengthening our operations around the world, to better serve our clients wherever and whenever they need us.”

For more information, see the company’s annual review 2015-2016.

Turner & Townsend Middle East Managing Director, Mike Collings commented, “Despite the abrupt fall in oil prices, this has been a very strong year for our Middle East operation. We saw significant growth in real estate and built momentum in infrastructure, with clients still demonstrating the desire to invest in the region despite the low price of oil. We built on our reputation for our full breadth of services this year, securing major real estate commissions and significant new wins with Unilever, Galeries Lafayette and the passenger terminal extension at Al Maktoum International Airport.

“Our aim in the year ahead is to increase our footprint with new offices in Saudi Arabia and continue to exceed our clients’ expectations as they invest in the region.”

Turner & Townsend employs nearly 4,300 staff across 97 offices worldwide, and has now recorded six successive years of growth. Its profit after tax of £30m has almost tripled in five years.

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Feature Technology

Tech Billionaire Dr. Andy Khawaja is improving today’s economy with Allied Wallet Allied Wallet, America’s fastest growing online credit card processor, was founded

by Dr. Andy Khawaja twelve years ago. The company provides payment solutions to businesses of any size in 164 currencies and in 196 countries worldwide.

Andy Khawaja describes the assistance that Allied Wallet has given to small businesses, what he personally strives for in business and how the company he founded has had an impact on the Middle East and North Africa region.

Dr.

Please tell me about the work you are doing currently?

Allied Wallet is now focused on providing a service for start-up businesses due to a lack of understanding from the financial banking system. The problem is that when you have a start-up business and you go to your bank to get credit-card processing for online transactions, the first thing the bank looks at is what sort of financials you have. If you have just graduated university and you are building your online business you don’t have the cash at that time, so it’s very difficult to get you off the ground and get you going. Banks are turning a lot of new start-up businesses down and that’s the problem today. Therefore, Allied Wallet have been dedicated to get these companies up and running, especially in the last two years. What Allied Wallet is doing is what we call ‘the big idea’. It means if you’ve got a new business coming up, share with us the idea and we will give you an online credit card solution that you can benefit from.

We are improving today’s economy by providing more jobs, helping more entrepreneurs out there to grow, and making them become bigger than what they expected.

Does your company have any key principles which you adhere to?

Firstly, you have to be patient and you have to understand what people need. It’s important to find out what consumers have issues with so you can fill the gaps and ensure they don’t have the same problems in the future. Also, to understand what’s going on in your business you have to be hands on, otherwise you don’t understand what’s happening. To help entrepreneurs and to get businesses up and running comes from myself. Smaller companies are struggling so we need to give them an opportunity. You can’t close the door

on these businesses, these are the new generation.

These companies are the future of the economy. This is why I’m hands on and why I work 12-14 hours a day, seven days a week. The internet is 24/7 and you can’t take a day off. I like to take calls myself and speak to consumers and merchants. I want to know what’s happening in the world and want to be the first to know so I can improve it.

Tell me about your business and your ongoing strategy?

Our ongoing strategy is to constantly stay ahead of the game. We like to identify what the future is going to look like. I spend a lot of time in France, Germany and the US which are the largest three markets in the world for e-commerce. We just won an award for top ten company in Silicon Valley for innovation last month, becoming number one in the heart of the technology industry in the world. That award tells you that we are doing the right thing and have been doing the right thing for the past 12 years. That’s why we are who we are today.

As a company, what is your process/approach when undertaking a new client or project?

It’s a competitive market, so it’s not only about giving them a cheaper rate but it’s about providing the right services and securing the transactions. Some companies go out there and get a cheaper rate from a bank but we offer great services. We have 33 shopping carts integrated on our platforms, which any other bank would take five to six years to integrate them. These shopping carts have tens of millions of consumers on the platform. We provide credit card payments in every jurisdiction around the world. It’s not just Mastercard and Amex, but local brands too. This adds more consumers to your website. With Allied Wallet, we have different payment options so you never lose the consumer. To add new businesses to our company is great because I know we are doing something better than others.

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mea Markets How do you keep yourself motivated and positive in order to be successful?

Motivation is part of my life. I was born motivated.

I can’t wait to get on my knees and get stuff done for others. Motivation is all about what you can do for others, not about what you can do for yourself.

You have to constantly focus on what you can do for others. It motivates me when I see other people doing business. Let me give you an example, we had a client that PayPal turned down because they didn’t understand the business structure and they could not start up their business without financials. They started out with 5k a month in processing, and today they are doing 3.5 million pounds per month in transactions, so that motivates me when I see a company grow to become huge. For me, I gave them the chance to start the business, transact online and to become a larger company. They started with three people, and now the company has more than 380 employees. It’s phenomenal.

Tell me about the impact your company has made in the Middle East and North Africa region.

We’ve had a great impact in the Middle East as we understand the culture, the concept of the business and know what needs to be solved there. We eliminate online fraud and we make businesses better than ever.

We’ve grown in the Middle East and I think we are competing strongly in the markets. For example, we are accommodating merchants, making faster pay-outs and also not blocking IP addresses from outside their jurisdiction which is what a majority of the banks do.

It’s been a home run win for us!

What are your thoughts on the state of your industry currently? Are there any particular issues/changes that are affecting your business in the Middle East and North Africa region?

I think that the Middle East is a little bit behind the industry in some respects, for example, some companies fear online transactions especially when they are not face to face. This is because they aren’t used to it.

The Middle East and North Africa region is growing.

E-commerce has become the tool to make online transactions, especially in mobile payments. We are seeing e-commerce increase 40-50% over the past nine months.

How do you ensure technology is used effectively in your company?

We have state of the art technology. Our whole infrastructure is about platforms for API’s, secure and encrypted transactions. We are constantly building new technology that we have in house. As of today, we have no competitors in the market. We tweak our system to work around the merchant whilst others give you what you have and companies have to work around them.

Allied Wallet give clients what we have to accommodate you, nobody does that today. We have built a platform of API’s that dedicates the service to whichever type of business you have.

What industry trends do you follow to ensure your success, and how do you see these affecting the company?

Technology and online delivery are the main industry trends we follow. We follow other businesses to see

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Feature Technology what they do so we can accommodate them. We are not in the business of copying people, we build products to accommodate every other type of business, we are always ahead of the game to see what’s coming out and we want to be the first to accommodate it.

Can you tell us about your company goals over the next 5 years?

We are looking at launching IPO in the second quarter of 2017 on the New York Stock Exchange. Allied Wallet will expand much more globally, we currently serve about 58 countries in the world and we are way ahead of the game. We are probably going to hit 100 countries over the next five years. That’s my goal.

What are your future aspirations regarding your business? Do you have any future plans/projects or a product road map you would like to share with us?

The project we are constantly building and are launching now is called ‘Next Generation gateway’ which is the most sophisticated organisation platform.

It identifies every single location where you make

payments, it will make it faster and easier to transact. It’s all based on security and is a very unique platform for identifying you, your location, and what you usually use all the time. Then, next time you are online, it will find similar products perhaps for a cheaper rate. It’s a brand on its own that belongs to your shopping habit, and it can help you identify what you want without you even asking the question.

Do you have anything to add further?

Believe in yourself, and don’t listen to anybody else because in the end you will only achieve your goals in life if you follow your own dreams. When I started out, I put all of my money into building my own company and when I approached the banks to give me the opportunity to process credit cards, they laughed at me and kicked me out. That’s why I sympathise with the entrepreneurs and start-up businesses because I was in their shoes 12 years ago. That’s why I have been called ‘the messiah of e-commerce’ for the past seven years worldwide.

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mea Markets Company: Allied Wallet Name: Andy Khawaja Web Address: www.alliedwallet.com Address: 9000 W. Sunset Blvd. Suite 820, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

Telephone: 310-424-5495

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Technology

I-LIFE Launched Its 14-Inch Laptop ZED AIR Priced at $135 Powered by Intel Processor and -Life Digital Technology today unveiled its newest consumer laptop from the ZED family, the ZED AIR in Dubai, UAE. Targeted at first time PC buyers, the new laptop is designed for functionality. The ZED AIR packs value and durability with a whole bunch of features and an affordable retail price of AED 499 (USD 135).

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The highly-portable ZED AIR packs everything into a beautiful, clean, and fan-less design of just 17.9mm thin and just 1.55kgs. Sporting grey, silver and gold colours ZEDAir Notebook offer USB2.0, HDMI and SD Card ports to eliminate the need for additional adapters, while a fullsized keyboard and large touchpad provides comfortable typing and navigation experience.

The ZED AIR 14 features the latest 802.11ac wireless technology, allowing up to three times faster connection speed, while eMMC configurations up to 32GB provide adequate storage for work and play. The notebooks are powered by the latest Intel® Atom Quad Core Processor mobile processors, Windows 10, 2GB of DDR3L system memory, feature a HD (1366×768) display and Up to 10-hour battery life.

Commenting on the launch, Deepak Bhatia Sales Director, I-LIFE Middle East said, “ZED AIR is a value laptop with features users need at the most affordable price. Its dependable processing power, good memory, ample storage, attractive display, and graphics make it one of the best entry-level laptops for the college goers and young working professionals.”

He further commented, “As

I-Life looks to expand footprints across global markets, we would continue to fulfil our promise of democratizing technology for people around the world by making it more affordable and accessible. We would be unveiling an array of innovative products across international markets in next six months for which I-Life is best known for.”

About I-Life Technologies Inc. I-Life Digital is one of the leading consumer electronics company in Middle East, CIS and Africa. Over the past 5 years, I-Life has pioneered the democratization of technology for masses by offering affordable innovations through their product offerings and removing barriers for large scale adoption of advanced technologies.

I-Life is currently one of the largest mobility vendors in Middle East, CIS and Africa. The brand’s product portfolio embraces more than 60 models today, ranging from feature rich, dual Feature phones, 3G Android smartphones, tablets, Intel Powered 2 in 1 devices, Laptop and Smart Watch.

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mea Markets

Middle East and Africa Pay TV Operator Forecasts he top nine pay TV operators [Multichoice (DStv and GOtv), StarTimes/StarSat, Canal Plus, OSN, beIN, DigiTurk, D-Smart, Yes and HOT], accounted for 70% of these subscribers by end-2015, with this proportion falling to 66% by 2021. So nine companies will continue to control more than two-thirds of the region’s pay TV subscribers, according to the Middle East & Africa Pay TV Operator Forecasts report.

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Satellite TV platform DStv will continue to be the region’s leading pay TV operator by subscribers; adding nearly 3 million to its total between 2015 and 2021. Sister company and DTT platform GOtv will add 3.8 million subs. Its rival StarTimes will increase its active subs base by a similar amount (3.7 million) to push it into second place among the pay TV operators.

Growth in the Middle East and North Africa will be more modest than Sub-Saharan Africa, although beIN will double its subs base between 2015 and 2021.

Subscription and PPV pay TV revenues from the Middle East and Africa will climb from $7.95 billion to $11.47 billion over the same period.

Subscription and VOD revenues for the top nine operators accounted for 81% of the 2015 total, but this proportion falling slightly to 78% by 2021.

DStv will remain the wealthiest operator. DStv will also be the biggest winner; increasing its revenues by more than $1 billion between 2015 and 2021. Canal Plus will follow with an extra $369 million. GOtv’s, beIN’s and StarTimes’ revenues will all at least double over the same period.

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Technology

World’s Biggest Student Cyber Security Games Expand to India, Middle East, and North Africa NYU Tandon, NYU Abu Dhabi, and the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Will Lure Best Young Hackers and Protectors to a Vital Field of Study.

he world’s largest student-run cyber security event, founded thirteen years ago by the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, will expand this year to NYU Abu Dhabi and the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, where finalists from India, the Middle East, North Africa, and the United States will compete simultaneously in November 2016.

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The schools also announced they are accepting registrations for the Cyber Security Awareness Week (CSAW) elimination rounds in August and September, which last year pitted nearly 20,000 students – from high schools through doctoral programs – against global competitors, all working from their own computers. The competitions will challenge their knowledge of virtually every aspect of information security, from hardware and software penetration testing and protection to digital forensics and government policy.

This year the best students from India, the Middle East, North Africa, and the United States will earn travel awards to participate in the final rounds, which will be held November 10-12, 2016 at IIT Kanpur, NYU Abu Dhabi, and NYU Tandon. At the regional CSAW campuses, students will network with top professionals who serve as judges, hear experts address emerging issues, meet recruiters eager to fill what is expected to be a shortfall of 1.5 million cyber security professionals by 2020, and face tough competition from teams from other schools.

The CSAW games were founded by Professor Nasir Memon, now chair of the NYU Tandon Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and his students.

Students continue to design the contests under the

mentorship of information security professionals and faculty and run them from NYU Tandon’s student-led Offensive Security, Incident Response and Internet Security (OSIRIS) lab, home also to weekly Hack Nights.

“Data security is a critical global issue. Attackers know no national boundaries, and neither should those who protect our personal privacy and institutions,” Memon said. “We are pleased that IIT Kanpur, a world-leading engineering school, recognized the ability of CSAW to engage and educate information security students and decided to introduce the contests to students throughout India. I am equally excited about the role that NYU Abu Dhabi will play this year. In the past CSAW brought high school teams to New York. This year, thanks to the leadership of students and faculty, it will expand its reach to high school and university students across the Middle East and North Africa.”

Memon heads NYU Abu Dhabi’s cyber security program, as well as NYU Tandon’s.

“With hobby hackers, foreign state actors, terrorist organizations and other adversaries abounding, cyber security is not just a computer science issue but a national security issue. IIT Kanpur is delighted to join hands with the New York University Tandon School of Engineering to bring the cyber security awareness competitions to India. We hope that Indian institutes and universities will participate in large numbers and show their competitiveness against the teams from all over the world,” said Manindra Agrawal, the N. Rama Rao Professor in the IIT Kanpur’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

Each of the regional finalist competitions will vary slightly in the content. Winners of the final rounds

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mea Markets can walk away with cash prizes, scholarships, and more. Bragging rights are often the biggest motivator – CSAW has become a boldface line for recruiters and university admissions officers.

This year, CSAW will include: • Capture the Flag (CTF) hacking competition – This cornerstone challenge attracts upwards of 10,000 remote players each year and provides entry- and mid-level problems to solve at the preliminary stage. Students find themselves competing against professionals and amateurs of all ages in the September remote round, but only the best undergraduate teams qualify for the 30-hour-long marathon of the final round, which is notoriously difficult.

• High School Forensics – The entryway into cyber security, this competition attracts students who enjoy solving puzzles, in this case a fictional murder mystery. To encourage newcomers, NYU Tandon students and their mentors developed an online, self-taught curriculum and offer digital workshops.

• Embedded Security Challenge – In the world’s oldest hardware hacking contest, a Blue Team from NYU Tandon designs a target system.

Everyone else – Red Teams – will hack it, to mimic real-world attacks. The finalists will present their findings to security experts in this challenging, research-oriented contest.

• Applied Research Competition – To participate in what is recognized as the most prestigious Best Paper Award for young researchers, doctoral students must submit papers that

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have already been published in peer-reviewed journals or presented at conferences.

Policy Competition – Challenging contestants to think about the big picture of law, policy, economics, and governance, this competition requires students to develop a policy paper proposing how to overcome market failures in cyber security and better protect consumer privacy and critical infrastructure.

Department of Homeland Security Quiz – Held during the finals, this trivia contest challenges students on technical knowledge as well as history and current events. This year players can use their own smartphones thanks to an app written by former CSAW student team leader Kevin Chung.

Security: Open Source – This new, one-day workshop for professionals, organized by NYU Tandon Computer Science and Engineering Assistant Professor Brendan Dolan-Gavitt, will bring open-source software authors to NYU Tandon and NYU Abu Dhabi to explain their tools.

Entrepreneurial Pitch Competition – Competitors will be invited to pitch commercially viable ideas for real-world security problems to potential funders.

The 2016 CSAW is supported by Gold Sponsors Palo Alto Networks and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Silver Sponsor IBM; Bronze Sponsors Navy Civilian Careers-U.S. Navy, NCC Group and Raytheon; and Supporting Sponsors Bloomberg, Cubic Corporation, and Intel.

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Feature Law

Superior Service and Reliability Are Key for Faber & Allin Faber & Allin Inc. Attorneys comprises a firm of attorneys, who unify their diverse legal strengths and backgrounds to share a common passion for the law. In this interview, the director Eureka, describes how she has created a successful business in the industry. ureka Zandberg commenced her legal career in 2003 at a corporate firm and was admitted as an attorney in March 2005. She progressed to establish her own practice in Cape Town in 2006, and gradually moved her focus to litigation in general, which resonated with her practice strengths.

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In pursuit of her litigation focussed practice direction, Eureka relocated to Johannesburg where she established the firm with a former partner in 2008.

To further diversify the firms’ service offerings, she is currently pursuing postgraduate studies at the University of London - Masters of Law: International Corporate and Commercial law, International Arbitration and foreign investment, as her scope of practice has advanced to a business orientated application.

The firm prides itself on a sensible approach to legal billing in that they do not deem every client to be just another number. They bill each individual instruction on its own merit based on the complexity of the instruction and the expertise required. They do not use automated billing practices and a fee agreement is entered into with each client, suitable to the clients’ instruction and expectations.

Eureka tells us all about the firm and what if offers to clients, “Faber & Allin Inc. is a general legal practice with a proficient focus on litigation. In addition, the firm has an established involvement in contractual work in both a drafting and an advisory faculty. Faber & Allin Inc. has diversified its service offerings to include intellectual property law, which is an exciting platform for growth and efficiency. The firm serves a diverse client base ranging from individual clients to corporate clients, both locally and outside the Republic of South Africa.

“Ethics and professionalism are the fundamental principles that Faber & Allin Inc. adhere to. As for ongoing strategy, the business strives to deliver results through innovation, reliability, efficiency and accountability.”

Eureka explains to us the impact the company is making, as well as the way implementing technology is affecting the region “Faber & Allin Inc. has established itself as a prominent participant in the litigation arena.

Our litigation efforts have proudly featured in the law reports, most notably a landmark judgment, which effectively extended the common law of South Africa.

With the advancement of digital and electronic business transactions, I believe a particular challenge for the legal industry will be to implement technology effectively in practice and at the same time adhere to legislative and regulatory confines vis-à-vis the protection and management of personal information and data.”

Despite the challenges of technology, Faber & Allin have used it to great success, as Eureka describes, “We incorporate technology both internally and externally to achieve our goals of increased efficiency and productivity. We have successfully implemented a ‘digital office’ strategy, which, in addition to being a green initiative, has increased productivity throughout the firm and reduced the cost of doing business, Most recently, we introduced a ‘client portal’, which gives clients direct access to the firm’s attorneys, as well as anytime access to essential billing data.

Superior service and reliability is a key goal of Faber & Allin. Eureka reveals the company goals over the next five years and how the business will continue to evolve.

“I aim to achieve on all levels from brand value to delivery. I am confident that superior service delivery can realise growth of the firm’s recurrent client base, thereby increasing revenue and enabling the business to work towards its community support goal. Business efficiency remains the constant goal of Faber & Allin Inc. as increased staff productivity and efficiency combined with continual strategies to reduce the cost of doing business is fundamental in achieving the key goal.

“Looking to the future, I aspire to establish the firm’s physical presence beyond South Africa in my endeavour to offer a global service. I envision achieving my future business plans through strategic alliances and/or affiliations.”

With regards to the Middle East and Africa region,

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mea Markets Company: Faber & Allin Inc. Name: Eureka Zandberg Email: eureka@faberallin.co.za Web Address: www.faberallin.co.za Address: 1st Floor, Block 1, 3 Anerley Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa Telephone: +27 11 025 9440

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Feature Property

UAE’s Residential Sector Set For Further Declines, says Cluttons As the local economy continues to adjust to softening global conditions, overall residential values and rents in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi are set for a further decline for the remainder of 2016, according to leading international real estate consultancy Cluttons. eflecting the sentiment in the UAE office market, Cluttons’ 2016 United Arab Emirates Property Report shows that redundancies in the oil and gas, finance and banking sectors have negatively impacted demand in the residential property market across the country, with capital value and rental declines likely to be witnessed in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah over the remainder of the year.

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Faisal Durrani, head of research at Cluttons said: “A number of global economic factors are contributing to the current pressure on the UAE’s residential market, including low oil prices, Brexit, the EU’s sovereign debt issues and economic uncertainty in China. We are still some way away from the bottom of the market however, with Abu Dhabi in particular heavily impacted by the performance of oil and gas sector, with further corrections still coming through strongly, particularly at the top of the residential market.

“In Dubai, we believe that the residential market will start to stabilise by the end of 2017, largely due to the ‘Expo 2020 effect’ and this in turn will influence the demand for real estate in Sharjah, but until then, further slight softening is expected in Dubai. Our forecasts however remain unchanged and on track, with Dubai likely to see residential values end the year down by between -5% for apartments and -7% for villas.”

Abu Dhabi According to Cluttons, in Q2 2016, apartment values in the capital slipped by 0.6%, the first quarterly decline in three and a half years, leaving average

prices 0.5% down between January and June. Average prices continue to hover around the AED 1,300 psf mark and will end the year about 3% to 4% lower than at the end of 2015.

Villa values, which began to recede at the end of 2015, posted sharper falls, with average prices dipping by 4.9% in the six months to the end of June, pushing average villa prices just below AED 1,200 psf. By the end of the year, villa values will likely be down by about 10% on 2015.

Edward Carnegy, head of Cluttons Abu Dhabi said: “The oil and gas sector provides a significant stream of demand in the residential market and as expected, the flow of buyers from this usually active segment of house hunters is still fairly weak. Buyers continue to remain cautious about committing to purchases, with the predicted ‘wait and see’ approach now firmly bedding in to the market, as potential buyers wait on the side lines for when they perceive the market to be ripe for a purchase.”

In the rental market, there has been a remarkably high level of tolerance to the slowing economic conditions over the past six to nine months, with growth, albeit marginal, continuing to filter through to the end of Q1.

Carnegy continued: “With the rates of job creation slowing and anecdotal evidence of redundancies mounting in some key sectors, the short term outlook for the rental market remains weak. While locations perceived to be more affordable are likely to continue attracting the lion’s share of demand, the market as a whole is still expected to weaken over the rest of

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mea Markets 2016. We expect to see villa values end the year up to 20% lower on 2015 in the city’s residential investment zones, while apartment rents are likely to register more moderate falls of 3% to 4%.”

Dubai Cluttons’ report shows that during Q2, values continued to soften across almost all residential submarkets in the city. Overall, residential capital values decreased by a further 2.4%, taking the annualised rate of change to -5.2%, in line with previous expectations made by the real estate consultancy.

During the first six months of 2016, average apartment prices fell by 3.6%, while villa values declined by 5.1%. However, certain submarkets such as frond villas on the Palm Jumeirah (-8.8%) and apartments at Discovery Gardens (-7.9%) registered sharper falls.

Richard Paul, head of residential valuations Dubai said: “This has made Palm Jumeirah and Discovery Gardens the weakest performing submarkets so far this year, while highlighting that the current market correction is taking place across the board as values continue to gradually drift towards a new floor.

“That said, there are some locations in the city’s residential landscape where values are holding firm.

Prominent villa submarkets in this category include The Lakes, The Springs and Arabian Ranches, while on the apartment front, Downtown Dubai (excluding the Burj Khalifa) and International City have all remained resilient, hinting perhaps at the importance location, quality and value for money play in the perception of fair market value.”

According to Cluttons, while rents during Q1 2016 showcased the biggest quarterly decline since 2011,

the rate of falls recorded continued to accelerate in Q2 with average falls of 4%, taking the annualised rate of change to -6.6%.

Paul continued “The gradual softening in capital and rental values is expected to persist and barring any major global economic shocks, this decline is expected to be slight, rather than substantial. Dubai’s diversified economy is likely to help curtail volatility in values and rents, with the rapidly approaching Expo 2020 expected to be a significant catalyst for residential demand.”

Sharjah According to Cluttons’ latest research, after registering a 5.7% fall in average rents during the first quarter of the year, residential rents in Sharjah slipped by a further 2.5% in Q2 2016. The latest change means that rents are now 8.5% lower than Q3 2016.

Suzanne Eveleigh, head of Cluttons Sharjah said: “With job creation rates slowing and residential rental values ebbing in Dubai, we have observed cases of reverse migration where tenants who had previously been priced out of Dubai due to high rents, are once again relocating to the emirate. This, coupled with rental declines in Dubai has meant that in order to stay competitive, landlords in Sharjah have been forced to adjust rents downwards to match tenants’ expectations and minimise void periods.

“Despite landlord’s efforts, with rents already down by just over 8% so far this year, we have already exceeded our initial 2016 forecast of a 5% decline on average. We now expect rents to end the year 8% to 10% down on 2015 as the market rebalances and we work our way through the bottom of the current market cycle.”

PERFORMANCE OF ABU DHABI’S RESIDENTIAL RENTAL VALUES

PERFORMANCE OF SHARJAH’S RESIDENTIAL RENTAL VALUES

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Feature Property

MAG Property Development Premium Dubai Project Snapped Up ne of the leading property developers and investment companies in the United Arab Emirates is reporting exceptional demand for the first phase of its latest project to deliver medium income housing in Dubai South.

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In advance of the opening of Cityscape 2016, MAG Property Development (MAG PD) says the group has already achieved 90% of confirmed sales for phase one of the MAG 5 Boulevard development.

With five billion AED worth of projects already delivered and a further five billion of projects in development the company goes from strength to strength.

Chief Executive Talal M Al Gaddah said they were delighted with the results they were achieving on behalf of their customers and investors: “We have had a good year to date. We have 12 live projects which are a mix of residential, commercial and warehouse type properties. Our focus is on maintaining a high level of quality, efficiency and delivery, to keep both our investors and our customers happy.”

The level of interest and high demand for the Boulevard project from both investors and families wanting high quality homes at affordable prices

reflects how MAG 5 is breaking new ground by redefining modern quality design and reshaping residential living in the heart of Dubai’s green belt.

Al Gaddah added: “We are breaking new ground with the Mag 5 Boulevard project. It’s an exceptional opportunity with a 10% minimum yield for mid-cap investors and families to buy high quality homes at affordable prices. The project is strategically placed in the city’s green belt area and the properties have a European feel and touch. We’re confident that, as time goes by, the properties in this development will only rise in value.”

This commitment to ‘quality of life’ projects which prioritise functionality, beautiful design, and the efficient use of space within the development, has attracted customers and investors who are looking for - and receiving - greater value for their money. MAG PD is confident that in the long run it is these ‘Quality of Life’ projects the general standard of developments within the region.

In 2016, MAG PD has continued its projects across the UAE; including MAG 5 Boulevard, Polo Residences, Polo Townhouses, Al Quoz Warehouse and Shommous Residential in Sharjah.

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Feature Property

Starwood Hotels Ramps up Nigeria Portfolio with New Four Points in Benin City OINT 1: Accelerating growth in emerging markets across the globe, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) has announced the signing of Four Points Benin City, Nigeria.

Owned by Eagle Hospitality and Leisure Limited, the sleek new Four Points hotel is built for the modern traveller with an emphasis on approachable design and stylish comfort.

Conveniently located in the heart of Benin City – the capital city of Edo State, one of the 36 states in Nigeria – the hotel is situated within a five-minute drive to the airport and no more than 10 minutes from the government and business district.

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POINT 2: “Four Points by Sheraton Benin City will further consolidate our strong Nigeria portfolio, opening up yet another emerging destination for international travel,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “With five hotels operating and another four in the pipeline, including Four Points Benin City, Nigeria is already one of our strongest markets in the region, and the signing of this hotel reinforces the growing demand for affordable lifestyle brands in rapidly developing markets.”

“We are delighted to introduce the popular Four Points brand to Benin City and expect this new hotel to meet the rising demand for highcalibre lodging in this fast-growing market, soon emerging as a leading choice among business and leisure travellers,” said Mr. Chris Oshiafi, Group Managing Director of PanAfrican Capital Plc and Chairman of Eagle Hospitality and Leisure Limited.

POINT 3: Four Points Benin City offers 176 spacious guest rooms and suites along with exciting food and beverage options including an all-day dining restaurant, a pool bar and the brand’s signature Best Brews™ program featuring local beers at the lobby bar and lounge – the ideal spot to watch sports matches and unwind with friends and colleagues. Other hotel facilities include a state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness centre, an outdoor pool, 400 square meters of flexible meeting spaces and a fully equipped business centre. The hotel will provide all of the brand’s defining elements including the signature Four Points bed, complimentary bottled water in all rooms and suites, fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, and an energizing breakfast with fresh coffee that helps guests start and end the day right.

POINT 4: “Responding to the demand for affordable yet innovative lodging options is core to our development strategy,” said Neil George, Senior Vice President Acquisitions & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Africa & Middle East. “Four Points has the largest number of rooms in Starwood’s global pipeline and its compelling blend of comfort, style and affordability make the brand increasingly attractive for owners and developers.”

With over 200 hotels in nearly 40 countries around the world, Four Points continues to penetrate new markets, globally. The brand is on track to expand its portfolio of rooms by more than 50% in the next five years.

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Deals

Kleptika and Contextor Partner to Deliver Next Generation RPA and RDA Solutions to MENA Organizations leptika, a leading Dubai-based company that delivers innovative and agile customer experience solutions, has signed a VAR partnership with Contextor, the European leader in Robotic Process Automation Solution and Robotic Desktop Automation.

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“The aim of the partnership is to help Middle East businesses expedite core operational processes through automation, ultimately improving the end user experience and strengthening the bottom line for businesses,” said Thierry Petrens, Managing Partner, Kleptika.

As companies around the region experience mounting pressure to perform and increase profits, the introduction of RDA brings opportunities to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, increase flexibility, enhance accuracy and maintain consistency, while allowing front-office and back-office agents to focus on other strategic areas.

Contextor is the first solution of its kind in the region, with a proven international track record in various industries, such as banking, insurance, energy, retail, and telecommunications.

“The USP of Contextor is its ability to adapt to any environment, without accessing applications via APIs. Meaning a rollover in 3 months instead of the endless IT headaches you would typically foresee when implementing RDA solutions.

Contextor is a desktop solution that works with virtually any type of application without a single modification. A market leader in Europe, Contextor stands out for its swift deployment and delivers a fast ROI that users love. It is much more than just another software: you can start using it as a one-off troubleshooting solution” said Luc Cavelier, VP Export, Contextor.

“There is no question businesses are restricting their opportunity for growth because of the way they are using human talents,” added Thierry Petrens. ‘’Think about all the repetitive tasks that some employees have to do every day and that do not require any creative thinking, such as manually opening various applications, copypasting data between them, sending confirmation, etc. This can be achieved in 90% less time.

Contextor RDA Solution is programmed to do these tasks, much faster, more accurately and more consistently than humans would. Look at it as humans working alongside their virtualized automated counterparts.”

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Deals

Asite Announces Partnership with Dubai Future Foundation to Host International Competition on Future of Transportation Sector Hyperloop design project aims to reduce travel time between Dubai and Fujairah to less than 10 minutes and transform people’s daily lives

site announces that the Dubai Future Foundation has agreed to host the Build Earth Live competition organized and created by Asite. Sponsors include Hyperloop One, Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority, and global design and BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc. Tony Ryan, Asite CEO, commented “This is the tipping point which will bring Build Earth Live to life.”

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Nathan Doughty, Group COO of Asite added, “We are delighted that the UAE is hosting the Build Earth Live contest. Through this partnership, we are looking forward to bringing innovative designs to further develop the infrastructure and find realistic future solutions, especially in the transportation sector. This is a particularly exciting Build Earth Live event because the winners may well see their design implemented as part of the world’s first commercial Hyperloop.”

The 48-hour virtual Building Information Modelling (BIM) event begins on September 26, 2016 at noon GST and closes on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at noon GST. Teams made up of professionals in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) industries will be challenged to collaborate using BIM technology to virtually design Hyperloop terminuses linking Dubai and Fujairah.

Additionally, this is the first Build Earth live edition where the winning designs have the chance to actually be built, as the United Arab Emirate (UAE) government is planning to build Hyperloop infrastructure in the near future. If built, the travel time between Dubai and Fujairah would be reduced to less than 10 minutes.

Hyperloop is a system that integrates a low-pressure

pipe linking two stations enabling passenger capsules within the pipe to travel at high speeds of up to 1200 km per hour. The technology is capable of reducing the time required for travel between New York and Beijing to just two hours. Experts say that the cost of building a single Hyperloop tube will cost just 10% of the cost of building conventional high speed trains.

“The Build Earth Live competition has reached a new level this year with the possibility that the winning project will be built, and we’re incredibly honoured to be the headline sponsor,” said Jeremy Powell, product marketing director at Vectorworks.

“We can’t wait to see what teams come up with when designing for Hyperloop technology.”

Prior to the competition, the organizers will release a high-level design brief to all potential participants, followed by full details of the event and the introduction of the final projects. The winners will be selected by a committee of global experts who will judge the projects.

Hyperloop One is excited to be on board as the premier sponsor of the Build Earth Live contest for the Dubai Future Foundation,” said Peter Diamandis, CEO, XPrize Foundation/Founding Board Member, Hyperloop One. “Dubai has been a leader in working to shape the future of transportation and this event presents an incredible opportunity to work with the best and brightest minds to come up with solutions that will benefit not only the region, but the entire world.”

Commenting on the event, His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, vice chairman of the Board of Trustees and managing director of Dubai Future Foundation said, “Dubai is

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mea Markets hosting this global event as part of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make the UAE and Dubai a global platform for innovative minds to come together to create futuristic solutions on issues of relevance to humanity. This contest is a great opportunity to explore innovation ideas in the smart transportation sector.”

HE Al Gergawi pointed out that development of future transportation solutions will effectively change the way people handle their daily tasks, and the way they work and commute, especially considering that the world is witnessing a technical revolution involving 3D printing, self-driving vehicles and robotics. “This will eventually lead to massive global economic growth, and we aim to keep pace with the rapid developments by focusing on smart application of services and innovation in all fields,” added HE Al Gergawi.

HE Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Board of Directors of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), and member of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation, explained that RTA’s vision and strategic plans are aligned to the overall objectives of the government, and seek to contribute to the provision of innovative services that enhance the status of Dubai as a pioneer in providing futuristic solutions for all sectors. Smart systems will revolutionize Dubai’s transportation sector, he added.

HE Al Tayer noted that Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy aims to convert 25% of the total commuting trips to autonomous mode (driverless) as one of the world’s most important initiatives, turning Dubai into a global laboratory for next generation technologies in the field of transportation. He also pointed that

as part of Dubai’s strategy to shift to autonomous transportation, RTA has recently begun trial runs of the first driverless smart vehicle that accommodates up to 10 passengers. The RTA is also currently working on plans to implement Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy.

Saif Al Aleeli, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation said, “Hyperloop is now a major topic of study and research to find effective ways of implementing technology in line with the global trends of innovation, as well as the vision of Dubai Future Foundation as part of Dubai’s Future Cities program which has smart transportation as a key pillar of the program.

Al Aleeli noted that hosting of experts as part of the competition will contribute to innovation in the transportation sector, and strengthen partnerships and investments in the field.

Dubai Future Foundation is a leading independent research organization that will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Dubai in light of the Dubai Future Agenda adopted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Dubai Future Agenda will enhance the future of all strategic sectors of the country through the launch of initiatives and strategies such as the autonomous transportation strategy launched recently as a joint venture between the Dubai Future Foundation and the RTA. The Agenda seeks to support and enhance the impact of the future sectors on the national economy through the launch of several initiatives and strategies for the future such as the recent Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy, which is a joint venture between the Dubai Future Foundation and the RTA, which aims to transform 25% of the total transportation in Dubai to autonomous mode by 2030.

Naufal MQ Shutterstock.com

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Deals

Orange Business Services Appoints Vice President for Middle East, North Africa and Turkey Region Focus on supporting digital transformation of enterprises and major infrastructure projects in the region

range Business Services has announced the appointment of Luc Serviant as Vice President for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT), based in the regional headquarters office in Dubai, UAE. Luc takes over the management of the region from Mickael Ghossein.

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Previously leading the SITA large and complex integration unit working with the air transport industry, based in Geneva, Luc has over 25 years of experience in marketing and implementing IT solutions within the enterprise sector, focusing on strategic planning and people management responsibilities.

Prior to joining SITA, Luc held various international business leadership roles with Equant and then Orange Business Services, including Head of Global Services Europe & Russia, Head of Professional Services APAC, and Head of Global Consulting.

Luc will provide leadership and develop business strategies in response to the wave of digital transformation that is changing the business landscape for enterprises, for government bodies and for service providers in the region. Through deployment of state-of-the-art ICT solutions from Orange Business Services, companies can harness the power of digital technologies to create new business models that capture new revenue streams and empower employees to achieve more. Luc will set out his vision of how these transformations can be delivered at the forthcoming Orange Business Services customer conference, Hello! World Dubai, to be held at the Fairmont at the Palm 24-25 October 2016. (#HelloWorldDubai) Luc holds an Electrical Engineering Degree from the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA) Lyon, France.

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Sany Wins Massive Mobile Port Machinery Deal in Saudi Arabia any Port Machinery, a subsidiary of Sany Group, has won the order for 31 units of mobile port machinery to King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam, Saudi Arabia this month. This marks Sany’s largest ever mobile port machinery order.

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The deal with Saudi Arabia’s second-largest port (the largest port in the Persian Gulf) is valued at almost US $7.5 million. Sany will provide 10T - 46T forklifts, reach stackers and container handlers, as well as special attachments for handling bulk cargo such as steel pipes and steel coils.

“Sany Port Machinery is extremely reliable and engineered to meet local customer needs,” said Sany Port Machinery’s Middle East regional manager. “Sany and its local dealers work together to deliver timely and reliable service to our customers. Our efforts to ensure that we provide efficient part delivery has earned us recognition from our customers and led to the success of our business.”

Since 2011, the number of Sany machines used at ports and in container yards in Saudi Arabia has risen from 8 to nearly 100. The company has used a strong network of dealers to distribute machinery and promote its brand throughout Saudi Arabia. As a result, Sany now holds a 35% market share for mobile port machinery in the country.

Two Sany post-Panamax container cranes and a rubber-tired gantry crane are used at the Yanbu Commercial Port on the East Coast of the Red Sea. Sany’s STS6101, a ship-to-shore container crane, has been stationed at one of the most significant seaports in Saudi Arabia, the Port of Jeddah, since 2015. This port links the East-West trade routes.

Winning the large order from King Abdul Aziz Port will bolster Sany Port Machinery’s market presence in Saudi Arabia. Sany will continue to make more inroads in the Middle Eastern market.

Sany Port Machinery was established in 2010 and has since become a global leader in the development and manufacture of highperformance logistics equipment. It has established two world-class manufacturing plants in Changsha and Zhuhai, China. At these locations Sany engineers more than 150 models of mobile port machinery, large port machinery, and marine equipment.

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Deals

Qatar Ministry of Culture and Sports Appoints ELAN Group and Live Nation Joint Venture he Qatar Ministry of Culture and Sports has awarded the operation of two world-class arenas to ELAN Live Nation, a joint venture (JV) between ELAN Group, a diversified and fully integrated media and entertainment group in the Middle East, and Live Nation, the global leader in live entertainment.

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The JV will operate Lusail Multipurpose Arena in Lusail, and Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Multipurpose Arena in Al Sadd, which have already hosted the successful 2015 World Handball Championships in Doha. The JV will provide arena management, promotional, managerial, and facility maintenance support services for both venues. The arenas are set to host an array of family entertainment, sports, music, and other live events, bringing new entertainment experiences to the population of Qatar.

Abdul Rahman Abdullah Al-Maliki, Director of Asset Management and Projects at the Ministry of Culture and Sports said, “Engaging the private sector for the management of these facilities affirms the State’s support for the private sector’s participation in the national development.” He added, “The development of the sports sector is a strategic goal for the Ministry to improve sports environment, culture, practice, professionalism and infrastructure in order to enhance the country’s status as the capital of sports in the world, especially with regard the 2022 FIFA World Cup requirements” Jaber Al Ansari, Group CEO at ELAN Group commented on this award: “Lusail Multipurpose Arena and Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Multipurpose Arena are among the best arenas in the region, and we are honoured that the Ministry of Culture and Sports put their trust in us to operate them.”

He added, “At ELAN Group, we aim at providing the most unique and innovative entertainment experiences in the region. We are confident that our solid experience, combined with Live Nation’s expertise in the live events industry will take

entertainment in Qatar to a new level”.

James Craven, Managing Director of Live Nation Middle East commented: “We are delighted to have been awarded the management contract for the prestigious Lusail and Ali bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Multipurpose Arenas. Live Nation, in partnership with Elan Group, will bring global experience in venues, live events and ticketing management to ensure the venues embody the highest of operational and production values. There is also a great opportunity to grow the Qatari venue management industry and develop local talent within the business.”

He added: “We see huge potential in the Qatari market and will work with local and regional promoters to ensure the venues are suitable for a wide variety of new and exciting content. In particular, the family entertainment business is developing fast in the region and having such high class venues suitable for hosting content will enhance the entire experience for the local audience.”

The Lusail and Al Sadd arenas cover a total combined surface of over 432,000sqm, including 65,000sqm of arena space. Both are equipped with state of the art audio-visual and cooling technologies, and together they can host over 23,000 spectators between regular, VIP, and VVIP areas.

ELAN Group executed flagship events including Qatar Motor Show, Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition, and Cityscape Qatar which have become major successes and highly anticipated yearround by exhibitors and visitors alike due to their extraordinary execution. Live Nation has recently brought events enjoyed regionally by fans across all ages such as Russell Peters Almost Famous World Tour, Dubai Music Week featuring Jason Derulo, Ellie Goulding and Thirty Seconds to Mars, Dora the Explorer’s Pirate Adventure, BLAZE, and Madagascar! Live.

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Deals

Telecom M&a and Digital Convergence to Lead Deal Activity in Africa Converging technologies, expanding connectivity and telecom mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are predicted to be the main drivers of investment and deal activity in Sub Saharan Africa in 2016 and 2017, according to global news and events company, TMT Finance.

onverging technologies, expanding connectivity and telecom mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are predicted to be the main drivers of investment and deal activity in Sub Saharan Africa in 2016 and 2017, according to global news and events company, TMT Finance.

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The topics will top the bill at the inaugural TMT Finance Africa in Lagos 2016 conference on Sept 20, http://www.tmtfinance.com/lagos/ which will gather over 60 international and regional CEOs, CFOs, strategy heads, private equity chiefs, and senior investment bankers, consultants and lawyers to discuss the latest investment strategies for telecoms, media & technology (TMT) across Africa.

TMT Finance is teaming up with IHS Towers, the largest mobile telecommunications infrastructure provider in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, to bring an international audience to Africa’s technology hub, Lagos, for the first event of its kind in Nigeria.

Ben Nice, Director, TMT Finance Africa in Lagos, said: “With now just a month to go we are really excited to be holding this event at such a critical phase for investment and M&A in Nigeria and Africa’s telecom, media and technology sectors.

Lagos is the hub for innovation in Africa and the conference will act as a crucial dialogue between local, regional and international stakeholders and decision makers in the sector.”

Key C-level executives will be attending from companies such as: Airtel, MTN, Vodacom, MainOne, DLA Piper, Etisalat, IHS Towers, Ntel, Jumiah, Nokia, Standard Bank, Emerging Capital Partners, Carlyle, Barclays, African Capital Alliance, IpNX, Rack Centre, Spectranet, Iroko, FIbersat, Standard Chartered, Citi and many more.

Among the main themes on the agenda are: African Telecoms M&A and Financing, Africa Broadband Infrastructure Investment, Digital Africa Strategies, Venture Capital and Private Equity in Africa TMT, the Evolution of the African Towerco, Protecting Risk, Datacenters and Enterprise Cloud services, and Connecting the Unconnected.

“Our team of TMT Finance News journalists have been reporting on a number of themes and specific situations across Africa this year, including the strategic review of Millicom’s regional assets, the sale of Neotel to Liquid Telecom, Google’s fibre rollout projects in various countries, Orange’s consolidation in West Africa, MTN Nigeria’s IPO, and a number of fundraisings for flourishing digital media and technologybased companies throughout Africa. It really is a captivating time for the sector,” Nice added.

Register your place now for TMT Finance Africa in Lagos 2016 – Limited space available http:// www.tmtfinance.com/lagos/register/

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mea Markets

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