Brandlift, lifts the gaming right into branding

brandlift, a new age advertising agency has created a cool game to educate their target audience about the company's services, 

The game which could be played through this (link) gives the player the opportunity to become a member of the real team of the agency with the purpose of uniting the team after a digital storm hits the office. 

Once in the game you have to circle the maze and go through the "secrets" learning your way about the agency through an interactive popups that gives information about Brandlift's capabilities and achievements. 

CNEgypt teams says cool stuff!

APO launches MENA Wire®, the press release distribution and monitoring service dedicated to the Middle East and North Africa

MENA Wire®'s ambition is to become the market leader in press release distribution and monitoring in the MENA region within the next 24 months

DUBAI, UAE, September 5, 2016/ -- APO (www.APO-opa.com), the sole press release wire in Africa and the global leader in media relations relating to Africa, today announced the launch of MENA Wire®, the first-of-its-kind press release distribution and monitoring service dedicated to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Founded in 2007, APO has established itself as a leading press release distribution service, distributing press releases on behalf of companies, PR agencies, institutions and organisations, including Facebook, Uber, Samsung, Visa, General Electric (GE), DHL, L'Oréal, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, PwC, Yahsat, Orange, The Economist Event, the Islamic Development Bank, flydubai, Viber, Novartis, Sanofi, Caterpillar, MoneyGram to name a few (full list: http://www.APO.af/DJbGqJ). MENA Wire®'s ambition is to become the market leader in press release distribution and monitoring in the MENA region within the next 24 months. The MENA Wire® distribution network reaches influential print media, broadcasters, websites, blogs and social media in 18 countries, with a potential reach of 250 million people in the Middle East and North Africa. MENA Wire®'s content is redistributed by several Middle Eastern and international partners, including SyndiGate (the Middle East’s leading content licensing and syndication agency), MENAFN (the Middle East North Africa Financial Network), Bloomberg Terminal, Thomson Reuters Terminal, Lexis Nexis, Dow Jones Factiva and more. MENA Wire® includes: - Unlimited number of words. - Unlimited multimedia content- at no extra charge (photos, videos, documents, infographics and audio files). - Translation in all the written languages of the Middle East and North Africa. - Targeted emailing to the entire MENA database for a region-wide distribution. Your press release will be distributed to our database of journalists from each country covering general news: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. - Targeted emailing to all MENA and international journalists reporting on the industry or topic covered by your release. - Web Reach. The release will be posted verbatim on our official news website partners, including the Middle East North Africa Financial Network (MENAFN). - Social Media Reach on Twitter, Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, Scoop.it! and Rebelmouse. - International Reach via our partnership with the Bloomberg Professional® service (Bloomberg Terminal), Thomson Reuters professional platforms, Dow Jones Factiva, LexisNexis, SyndiGate (the Middle East’s leading content licensing and syndication agency), and others. APO’s technology platform enhances the value of your press releases by adding Metadata Taxonomies for News (NewsCodes used by the news industry). - Complete online media monitoring and social media analytics in 5 working days following distribution. “The unprecedented success of Africa Wire®, APO’s press release distribution service in Africa has catalysed an increase in client demand for a Middle East service with the same quality and return on investment. At APO we listen to our clients and mould our service according to their needs. If our clients are happy, we are happier. I’m confident that MENA Wire® will become the market leader within the next 24 months”, says Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, APO Founder and CEO. For additional information on how the service could work for you, please contact Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, APO Founder and CEO:ceo@APO-opa.org or +41 22 534 96 97.More information about MENA Wire®, the service for newswire press release distribution in the Middle East and North Africa, is available athttp://www.APO.af/mq4Gei More information about APO Media Reach in the MENA region: http://www.APO.af/Ih3Mwl More information about the competitive advantages of MENA Wire®, the service for newswire press release distribution in the Middle East and North Africa: http://www.APO.af/j3on9U More information about Africa Wire®, the service for newswire press release distribution in Africa, is available at http://www.APO.af/KZr797 More information about APO Media Reach in Africa: http://www.APO.af/yPIyR3 More information about the competitive advantages of Africa Wire®, the service for newswire press release distribution in Africa:http://www.APO.af/qzGB90 Distributed by APO on behalf of APO.

With cardiovascular diseases on the rise, new and innovative treatment solutions are the need of the hour, say experts in UAE

The international cardiovascular conference organized by Aster DM Healthcare and accredited by DHA, saw participation from 200 leading international cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons who introduced new guidelines on heart failure management, onco-cardiology, cardiac therapeutics and hybrid treatment.

• As per WHO, around 30% of deaths in UAE are attributed to cardiovascular diseases. One of the key priorities as per UAE Vision 2021 National Agenda, is to reduce deaths from cardiovascular diseases, from 297.6 per 100,000 population to 158.2 per 100,000 population.
• Over the last month, doctors at Aster Hospital- Dubai have received 120 cardiovascular patients and Aster Clinics have seen 2400 cardiovascular patients in total.  

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 5 September, 2016: With an aim to introduce doctors from the region, to the latest techniques in the field of cardiovascular treatment which will help them optimize patient solutions, Aster DM Healthcare brought together international experts from Aster Medcity, Aster MIMS, Aster CMI, Aster Jubilee Clinic- Dubai, Michigan University-USA and the UAE, at the international CME conference entitled ‘Newer Therapeutic options for Cardiovascular Diseases in 2016’. The experts highlighted that, new treatment or surgery mechanisms like onco-cardiology, minimal invasive surgery, hybrid treatment of aneurysm, novel techniques in lowering cholesterol or cardiac therapy, can go a long-way in saving lives and improving treatment options for patients.

“Sedentary life-style in UAE, smoking habits, unhealthy eating, obesity and diabetes, are considered as key risk factors for heart diseases. We often come across patients who have been suffering from high-blood pressure or hypertension for years without any visible symptoms, deterring diagnosis. Prolonged undetected high blood pressure, cholesterol and hypertension can lead to complications associated with cardiovascular diseases like heart attack or failure, heart valve blockage, arrhythmia (abnormal rhythm of the heart) or stroke which can be life-threatening,” said Dr. T.M. Jaison, Lead Senior Specialist Cardiologist, Aster Jubilee Clinic Dubai.

Dr. Azad Moopen, Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare said, “One of our constant efforts at Aster DM Healthcare is to deliver quality outcomes for patients, by enhancing the skills of our doctors and experts by introducing them to the latest scientific development in a particular therapeutic area. With this year’s conference on cardiovascular diseases, we assure our patients of well-informed doctors and healthcare practitioners who will deliver best practices for their care and well-being.”

Through series of lectures, workshops, panel discussions and interactive sessions the experts debated the latest advances in treatment and surgery techniques. The meeting provided the opportunity to interact with leading experts in the field and saw immense enthusiasm to know more through engaged discussions, thought provoking questions and answers.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) accredited the conference with 5.25 CME (Continuing Medical Education) hours. Some of the topics covered were: Heart Failure Treatment Guidelines 2016 (Dr. Anil Kumar- Lead Senior Consultant & Interventional Cardiologist, Aster Medcity); Percutaneous closure of VSD (Dr. Anil S.R, Senior consultant, Paediatric Cardiologist, Aster Medcity); Hybrid Treatment of Aneurysm (Manoj Nair, Senior Consultant, Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery, Aster Medcity); Comprehensive management of Cardiac Arrhythmias (Dr. Praveen, Consultant Cardiologist & Cardiac Electrophysiologist); Onco- cardiology: the other face of cancer (Dr. Rakesh Gopal, HOD, Department of Cardiology, Aster MIMS); Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (Dr. Mahadev Dixit, Senior Consultant, Cardiac Surgery & Chief of Cardiac Sciences, Aster CMI); Novel Mechanisms to lower cholesterol (Dr. T.M. Jaison, Lead Senior Specialist Cardiologist, Aster Jubilee Clinic, Dubai); ECG Directed Cardiac Therapeutics in the Modern Era (Dr. Anil Kumar and Dr. Praveen Sreekumar).

About Aster DM Healthcare

Established in 1987, Aster DM Healthcare currently owns and operates a network of more than 290 plus units across the Middle East and India, covering an array of healthcare verticals including clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, and a modern medical city. These network units are consolidated under the brand names ASTER, MEDCARE, ACCESS, ASTER Medcity and ASTER MIMS. The multitude of health facilities that include 14 hospitals offer primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary care in order to meet the requirements of people from a cross section of the society.

The Slowdown In Islamic Finance Is Likely To Continue In 2017, Says Report

04-Sep-2016

DUBAI (S&P Global Ratings) Sept. 5, 2016--S&P Global Ratings believes that the 

drop in Islamic finance growth is likely to continue in 2017. Nevertheless, we 

estimate the industry's total assets will reach $2.1 trillion at year-end 

2016. 

"We think two factors will act as a brake in 2017," said S&P Global Ratings' 

Mohamed Damak, Global Head of Islamic Finance, "the impact of policy responses 

to the decline of oil prices in core markets and the lack of standardization 

in the industry."

Still, Islamic finance will have the impetus to continue progressing and 

maintain growth of around 5% in 2017, in our view. We expect the industry will 

be worth $3 trillion sometime in the next decade. 

For our full report, see "Islamic Finance In 2017: Modest Growth Amid 

Oil-Price Woes," published today.

In our opinion, modest growth will derive from subdued economic growth of 

Islamic finance's core markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 

countries, partly compensated by continuous demand from an expanding customer 

base. A broader consensus around the need to standardize legal structures and 

Sharia interpretation could help the industry to progress, as could the 

industry's potential contribution to the United Nation's sustainable 

development financing goals. 

While we have seen a policy response to the new normal of oil prices 

materializing in some GCC countries, including the United Arab Emirates and 

Saudi Arabia, in the form of spending cuts, lifting of subsidies, and 

privatization of government assets, we think the oil price environment will 

weigh negatively on economic growth in the GCC for the next two years. 

"The consequence for Islamic banks will be a slowdown in growth, deterioration 

of asset quality, and reduction of profitability," said Mr. Damak. 

Malaysia, which also is a strong contributor to the Islamic finance sector, 

appears as an outlier in economic terms, since we expect its GDP growth to 

stabilize at around 4.7% on average for 2017-2018. Iran is also a potential 

outlier: The market is looking at this country as a potential new contributor 

to a renewed era of growth of the Islamic finance industry. 

The volume of sukuk issuance in the first half of 2016 was not that 

encouraging. The market is slowly accepting the evidence that the process of 

issuing sukuk can be painful and it has become more reticent in issuing such 

instruments. However, stakeholders, including some multilateral lending 

institutions (MLIs), are becoming more serious about standardization of 

structures and Sharia interpretation. MLIs are aiming to show the market how 

to achieve standardization through the implementation of standard structures, 

documentation, or steps that issuers should go through to make sukuk issuance 

easier and more efficient. For example, the Islamic Development Bank Group is 

working on a solution that could simplify the sukuk issuance process and 

respond to the lack or fragmentation of sovereign assets. 

We see this as an important opportunity for the development of the market and 

to put the industry back on a strong growth path. 

Riyadh needs more affordable housing says Chestertons’ Q2 2016 property report

• Overwhelming demand for affordability outstrips supply as Saudi capital struggles to keep pace with double-digit population growth
• Average rental rates and sales prices currently stable

Chestertons KSA has released its Q2 2016 report for Riyadh, the first ever analysis of the Saudi capital by the leading property consultant. The report highlights that there is increasing demand for affordable housing, as Riyadh’s population growth continues to outstrip property market supply.    

The Riyadh Real Estate Market Overview for Q2, 2016, points out that Riyadh’s population has grown by 52% over the past 15 years and currently stands at 6.5 million (6,506,700) people in 2016. However, only 500,000 units have been built during the same period, leading to a dearth of low cost housing across the capital.  

“The Saudi government is all too aware of the acute shortage in low cost housing units, but continuing low oil prices have resulted in inevitable cuts in public spending, which has in turn hit public housing projects,” said Declan McNaughton, Managing Director UAE, Chestertons MENA. “So far the impact on rental rates has been minimal, but it is beginning to drive prices higher in some areas that have traditionally provided value-led accommodation for budget conscious tenants,” he added.

Average annual rental rates for apartments in Riyadh are currently US$7,182 (SAR26,935). In the sought after central Riyadh area, where the most expensive rental rates are to be found, the Al Wahah district tops the list at US$18,700 (SAR70,000) whilst the district of Jarir was the least expensive at US$9,350 (SAR35,000). Southern Riyadh had the most affordable rental rates with Al Marwah and Badr districts valued at US$5,066 (SAR19,000) and US$4,800 (SAR18,000) respectively.

Average rental rates for villas in Riyadh are US$31,510 (SAR118, 668) with the city centre once again proving to be the most expensive with districts Al Wahah, Al Muruj, Al Sulimaniyah, Al Wurud, and Al Olaya commanding prices of US$66,665 (SAR250,000). More affordable rentals can be found throughout Riyadh, dependent on district, for US$24,000 (SAR90,000)

The average sales price for an apartment in Riyadh is currently US$117,771 (SAR441,656). However, districts across Riyadh top out at US$186,661 (SAR700,000) including the districts of Hittin in Northern Riyadh, Al Raid in Western Riyadh, Al Hamras in Eastern Riyadh and in Central Riyadh, Al Wahah is the most expensive at US$239,993 (SAR900,000). Badr, Al Marwah and Al Qadisiyah are the cheapest options at US$66,664 (SAR250,000).

Average sales prices for a villa are US$476,768 (SAR1,787,926). As can be expected, average prices differ in all areas of the city, with the highest averages typically being commanded in the city centre with the lowest in South Riyadh.

“Sales have slowed however, the move by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) to adjust the loan-to-value ratio for mortgages could help reinvigorate the market, particularly for those who had previously struggled finding the necessary funding,” said McNaughton. “Furthermore, as the market begins to bottom out we anticipate renewed interest from buyers who have been waiting for the optimum time to purchase,” he added.

When it comes to buying land, the price of a plot overlooking one street is US$573 (SAR2,150) per square metre and US$666 (SAR2,500) for plots overlooking two streets.

The office and commercial sector has seen a number of projects completed in the first half of 2016, including Al Nakel Tower, which alone increased the city’s supply of office space to 2.5 million square metres of gross leasable area. Vacancy rates generally remained stable at 16% while there was a slight decline experienced in the business district. Furthermore, rents rose slightly across different areas of the city reaching up to US$341 (SAR1,280) per square metres.

“While there have been some major projects completed, there have been further delays to the King Abdullah Financial District development. We expect there to be around 800,000 square metres of leasable area by 2018, up from 160,000 square metres in 2016,” added McNaughton.

Chestertons entered into a joint venture with partner MEDAD during the second quarter of 2015. MEDAD Valuation International is part of the leading Najeeb Abdullatif Alissa Holding Company (NHC), one of the fastest growing conglomerates in Saudi Arabia with operations across the Kingdom.

The newly formed partnership, Chestertons Saudi Arabia Property Limited, now has offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar resulting in valuable brand presence and a stronger residential sales pipeline for Chestertons in the Middle East, London and its other global offices.   

Chestertons will be exhibiting at Cityscape Global in Hall 01 on stand S1H30.

For more details, please visit www.chestertons-mena.com

تقرير جديد يسلط الضوء على واقع القطاع العقاري في مدينة الرياض

• التقرير الذي أطلقته شركة "تشيترتنس" يحلل أداء العقارات في مدينة الرياض خلال الربع الثاني من العام 2016
• تنامي الطلب بشكل واضح على خيارات سكنية منخفضة التكلفة بشكل يفوق المعروض بكثير
• معدلات أسعار الإيجارات والمبيعات تحافظ على استقرارها في العاصمة السعودية

أطلقت شركة "تشيترتنس" الرائدة والمتخصصة في مجال الاستشارات العقارية أول تقرير شامل يسلط الضوء على واقع القطاع العقاري في مدينة الرياض خلال الربع الثاني من العام الحالي، والطلب المتزايد على المساكن بأسعار معقولة، مع استمرار النمو السكاني في العاصمة السعودية بمعدلات تفوق المعروض في السوق العقاري.

ويشير تحيل القطاع العقاري في الرياض للربع الثاني من العام 2016 إلى نمو عدد سكان الرياض بنسبة 52٪ خلال السنوات الـ 15 الماضية ليصل إلى 6.5 مليون حالياً في عام 2016، إلا أنه تم بناء 500 ألف وحدة سكنية فقط خلال نفس الفترة، الأمر الذي أدى إلى ندرة المساكن منخفضة التكلفة في أنحاء العاصمة.

وفي معرض تعليقه على إطلاق التقرير قال ديكلن ماك نوتن، المدير العام لشركة "تشيسترتنس" الشرق الأوسط في الإمارات: "تدرك حكومة المملكة العربية السعودية أهمية موضوع النقص الموجود في عدد الوحدات السكنية منخفضة التكلفة، ولكن استمرار انخفاض أسعار النفط أدى إلى تخفيض الإنفاق العام وهذا ما أثر بدوره على مشاريع الإسكان الحكومية. ورغم أن معدلات الإيجارات لم تتأثر كثيراً إلا أن الأمر بدأ بزيادة الأسعار في بعض المناطق التي كانت في الماضي توفر خيارات جيدة للمستأجرين ذوي الميزانية المحدودة".

ويبلغ متوسط الإيجار السنوي للشقق في الرياض في الوقت الراهن 7,182 دولار (26,935 ريال). ويرتفع معدل الإيجارات في وسط الرياض المركزية ليصل إلى 18,700 دولار (70,000 ريال) في منطقة الواحة، في حي جرير 9,350 دولار (35,000 ريال). فيما تم تسجيل معدلات منخفضة أكثر جنوب الرياض بواقع 5,066 دولار (19,000 ريال) في منطقة المروة، و4,800 دولار (18,000 ريال).

ويبلغ متوسط ​​أسعار الإيجارات للفلل السكنية في الرياض 31,510 دولار (118,668 ريال)، وتعد منطقة وسط المدينة الأغلى بطبيعة الحال في مناطق الواحة والمروج والسليمانية والورود والعليا بمعدل يبلغ 66,665 دولار (250,000 ريال). وتتوزع المناطق الأرخص في مختلف أنحاء الرياض حيث تنخفض الأسعار بها إلى 24,000 دولار (90,000 ريال).

ويبلغ متوسط مبيعات الشقق حالياً في الرياض 117,771 دولار (441,656 ريال) ويرتفع السعر في بعض المناطق إلى 186,661 دولار (700,000) بما في ذلك منطقة حطين في شمال الرياض، والرائد في غرب الرياض، والحمرا في شرق الرياض. وتعد منطقة الواحة من أغلى المناطق 239,993 دولار (900,000 ريال)، فيما تعتبر مناطق المروة والقادسية من أرخص الخيارات بمعدل 66,664 دولار (250,000 ريال). أما بالنسبة للفلل السكنية فإن متوسط أسعار المبيعات يبلغ 476,768 (1,787,926 ريال). وكما هو المتوقع فإن متوسط ​​الأسعار يختلف في جميع مناطق المدينة حيث تتوزع الأسعار العالية في وسط المدينة والأسعار المنخفضة في جنوب الرياض.

وأردف ديكلن ماك نوتن قائلاً: "شهدت المبيعات حالة من التباطؤ إلا أن الخطوة التي قامت بها مؤسسة النقد العربي السعودي بضبط نسبة القرض إلى قيمة العقار المرهون يمكن أن تساعد على تنشيط السوق وخاصة بالنسبة لمن يبحث عن التمويل اللازم. وعلاوة على ذلك، عندما تبدأ الأسعار بالانخفاض في السوق فإننا نتوقع عودة اهتمام المشترين الذين كانوا ينتظرون الوقت الأمثل لشراء عقار جديد".

أما في قطاع الأراضي، فإن متوسط سعر قطعة الأرض التي تطل على شارع واحد يبلغ 573 دولار (2,150 ريال) لكل متر مربع، ويرتفع السعر إلى 666 دولار (2,500 ريال) عندما تكون الإطلالة على شارعين.

وشهد قطاع المشاريع التجارية والمكاتب العديد من المشاريع المنجزة في النصف الأول من عام 2016، بما في ذلك برج النخلة والذي ساهم في زيادة مساحة المكاتب المعروضة للتأجير إلى 2.5 مليون متر مربع. وحافظت معدلات الإشغال بشكل عام على استقرارها عند 16٪. وارتفعت الإيجارات بشكل طفيف في مناطق مختلفة من المدينة لتصل إلى 341 دولار (1,280 ريال) لكل متر مربع.

وأضاف ديكلن بالقول: "رغم اكتمال العديد من المشاريع المهمة إلا أنه كان هناك تأخير بالجدول الزمني لمشروع مركز الملك عبدالله المالي. ونتوقع وصول المساحة المخصصة للإيجار إلى حوالي 800,000 متر مربع بحلول عام 2018، بالمقارنة مع 160,000 متر مربع في عام 2016".

وكانت شركة "تشيترتنس" قد أعلنت في الربع الثاني من عام 2015 عن شراكتها مع شركة مداد الرائدة في مجال التقييم العقاري والتابعة لشركة نجيب عبد اللطيف العيسى القابضة وهي واحدة من أسرع الشركات نمواً في جميع أنحاء المملكة العربية السعودية. وتسهم هذه الشركة في تعزيز أعمال "تشيترتنس" المحدودة للعقارات في المملكة العربية السعودية من خلال مكاتبها الموجودة في الرياض وجدة والخُبر، بالإضافة إلى زيادة المبيعات والانتشار ودعم نمو "تشيترتنس" في منطقة الشرق الأوسط ولندن وبقية مناطق العالم.

هذا وستشارك "تشيترتنس" في معرض سيتي سكيب في دبي خلال الفترة 6-8 سبتمبر 2016 ويمكن للراغبين زيارة جناحها (S1H30) في القاعة رقم 1. ويمكن الاطلاع على المزيد من المعلومات من خلال زيارة الموقع الإلكتروني: www.chestertons-mena.com