Financial Results For The Year Ended 31 December 2016

QNB Group, the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, announced its results for the year ended 31 December 2016.

For the twelve months ended 31 December 2016, Net Profit reached QAR12.4 billion (USD 3.4 billion), up by 10% from last year. Total assets reached QAR720 billion (USD198 billion), up by 34% from December 2015, the best absolute results in QNB Group’s history. The Board of Directors have recommended to the General Assembly, the distribution of a cash dividend of 35% of the nominal share value (QAR 3.5 per share) and a bonus share of 10% of the share capital (1 share for every 10 shares). The financial results for 2016 along with the profit distribution are subject to Qatar Central Bank (QCB) approval.

The growth in assets was driven by loans and advances which grew by 34% to reach QAR520 billion (USD143 billion). At the same time QNB Group increased its customer funding by 28% to QAR507 billion (USD139 billion). This led to the Group’s loans to deposit ratio reaching 103%.

QNB Group’s prudent cost control policy and strong revenue generating capability allowed it to maintain an efficiency ratio (cost to income ratio) of 30.4%, which is considered one of the best ratios among large financial institutions in the region.

The Group was able to maintain the ratio of non-performing loans to gross loans at 1.8%, a level considered one of the lowest amongst banks in the MEA region, reflecting the high quality of the Group’s loan book and the effective management of credit risk. The Group’s conservative policy in regard to provisioning, improved the coverage ratio to reach 114% as of 31 December 2016.

Total Equity increased by 14% from December 2015 to reach QAR71 billion (USD19 billion) as at 31 December 2016. Earnings per Share reached QAR14.4 (USD4.0), compared to QAR13.4 (USD3.7) in December 2015.

Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) calculated as per the QCB and Basel III requirements stood at 16.0% as at 31 December 2016, higher than the regulatory minimum requirements of Qatar Central Bank and the Basel Committee.

During 2016, QNB acquired 99.88% stake in Finansbank A.Ş (now rebranded as QNB Finansbank), which enabled QNB affirm its position as the largest financial institution in MEA region.

Based on the Group’s continuous stellarperformance and its diversified international presence, QNB maintained its position as the most valuable bank brand in the MEA region. This continues to recognise QNB’s position as the largest financial institution across the MEA region and the value inherent in the QNB brand.

2016 was another year of outstanding performance, the best absolute results in QNB Group’s history. This strong growth has helped QNB realise its vision of 2017 MEA Icon. Building on QNB’s continued success, QNB Group has embarked on the aspiration of becoming “a leading bank in the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia (MEASEA) by 2020”.

QNB Group is present, through its subsidiaries and associate companies, in more than 30 countries across three continents providing a comprehensive range of products and services. QNB Group staff exceeds 28,000 serving more than 20 million customers through 1,200 locations and 4,300 ATMs. 

           البيانات المالية الموحدة للسنة المنتهية في

                          31 ديسمبر 2016

أعلنت مجموعة QNB، أكبر مؤسسة مصرفية في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وافريقيا، نتائجها المالية للسنة المنتهية في 31 ديسمبر2016 وقد تميز عام 2016 بتحقيق المجموعة انجازات هامة على كافة المستويات، حيث ارتفع إجمالي الموجودات بنسبه 34% ليصل الى 720 مليار ريال (198 مليار دولار أمريكي) عن ديسمبر2015 وارتفع صافي الأرباح بنسبه 10% ليصل الى 12,4 مليار ريال (3,4 مليار دولار أمريكي).

وبناءً على النتائج المالية القوية التي تم تحقيقها، يوصي مجلس الإدارة الجمعية العامة بتوزيع أرباح نقدية بمعدل35 % من القيمة الاسمية للسهم (بواقع3,5  ريال للسهم الواحد)، بالإضافة إلى إصدار أسهم مجانية بمعدل10 % من رأس المال (بواقع سهم واحد لكل عشرة أسهم)، علماً بأن البيانات المالية لعام 2016 ومقترح توزيع الأرباح تخضع لموافقة مصرف قطر المركزي.

وقد تمكن البنك من تحقيق نمو قوي في إجمالي الموجودات من خلال زيادة محفظة القروض والسلف بنسبة34 % لتصل إلى 520 مليار ريال (143 مليار دولار أمريكي). وبموازاة ذلك ارتفعت ودائع العملاء بنسبة 28% لتصل إلى 507 مليار ريال (139 مليار دولار أمريكي)، مما ساهم في وصول نسبة القروض إلى الودائع إلى مستوى103 %.

وقد أدت سياسة المجموعة في إدارة التكاليف وقدرتها على تحقيق نمو قوي في الإيرادات الى المحافظة على نسبة كفاءة (المصاريف إلى الإيرادات) عند30,4 %، والتي تعتبر من بين أفضل المعدلات على مستوى المؤسسات المالية الرئيسية في المنطقةكما حافظ البنك على معدل القروض غير العاملة كنسبة من إجمالي محفظة القروض عند مستوى1,8 %، وهو من بين أدنى المعدلات على نطاق البنوك الرئيسية في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وإفريقيا، الأمر الذي يعكس الجودة العالية لمحفظة القروض وفعالية سياسة إدارة المخاطر الائتمانية. كما واصلت المجموعة سياستها المتحفظة في بناء المخصصات حيث بلغت نسبة تغطية القروض غير العاملة 114% بنهاية عام 2016.

وارتفع إجمالي حقوق المساهمين بنسبة 14% ليصل إلى 71 مليار ريال ( 19مليار دولار أمريكي). كما بلغ العائد على السهم 14,4 ريال (4,0 دولار أمريكي) مقارنة مع  13,4ريال (3,7 دولار أمريكي) للعام السابق.

وحافظت المجموعة على نسبة متميزة لكفاية رأس المال المحتسبة بموجب متطلبات مصرف قطر المركزي ولجنة بازل III عند مستوى16,0 % في 31 ديسمبر2016، وهو معدل يتجاوز متطلبات مصرف قطر المركزي ولجنة بازل.

واكملت مجموعة QNB خلال العام عملية الاستحواذ على حصة نسبتها99,88 % فيQNB  فاينانس بنك. وتمثل عملية الاستحواذ علىQNB  فاينانس بنك خطوة رئيسية ضمن استراتيجية المجموعة للتوسع الخارجي.

وبفضل استمرار الأداء القوي وزيادة انتشار المجموعة على الصعيد الدولي، تمكنت  من الحفاظ على أعلى قيمة لعلامتها المصرفية في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وأفريقيا مما يعزز من مكانة المجموعة بوصفها أكبر مؤسسة مصرفية في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وافريقيا.

وبناءً على نمو ونجاح المجموعة المتواصل، تمكنت المجموعة من تحقيق استراتيجيتها بان تصبح العلامة المميزة في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وأفريقيا مبكراً قبل الموعد المحدد في عام 2017. وعلية، حددت مجموعة QNB رؤيتها الجديدة المتمثلة في أن تصبح أحد البنوك الرائدة في الشرق الأوسط وأفريقيا وجنوب شرق آسيا بحلول عام 2020.

وتتواجد المجموعة من خلال فروعها وشركاتها التابعة والزميلة في أكثر من 30 بلداً وثلاث قارات حول العالم، حيث تقدم أحدث الخدمات المصرفية لعملائها عبر 1,200 فرعاً ومكتباً تمثيلياً و4,300 جهاز صراف آلي، ويعمل لديها ما يزيد عن 28,000 موظف يخدمون اكثر من 20 مليون عميل.

Jacky’s Business Solutions to demonstrate complete digital fabrication and printing solutions at Sign & Graphic Imaging Middle East 2017

A move towards Industry 4.0: company to offer innovative solutions across various industries

Press Release Date: 12 January 2017

Jacky’s Business Solutions, an end-to-end solutions provider of signage & fabrications solutions for major regional enterprises and corporations seeking efficient and effective visual marketing solutions  will demonstrate the most comprehensive digital solutions and UV large format printing technologies at the Sign & Graphic Imaging Middle East (SGI) 2017 trade event, taking place from 15-17 January at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

As a supporting sponsor, Jacky’s Business Solutions will introduce the HP Latex 570 and HP Latex 1500 printers for the first time at the event.  The 1.63 meters large format HP Latex 570 printer for sign and display industry is designed for mid-size to large print service providers (PSPs) with increasing print volumes, enabling customers to manage a variety of print jobs at a lower upfront investment and helping to meet peak production demands. With a width of 3.2 meters, the HP Latex 1500 printer is more suitable for mid-volume print services and provides fast, affordable, super-wide printing solutions ideal for indoor and outdoor applications - including PVC banners, self-adhesive vinyl, textiles and double-sided prints.

“The printing and signage industry has grown significantly over the years. As the largest trade event of its kind in the region, SGI is the perfect platform for us to connect with industry professionals from the region and around the globe,” said Ashish Panjabi, Chief Operating Officer of Jacky’s Business Solutions. “The event has been our most important platform for launching our latest products and solutions in the signage and advertising sectors. With manpower costs rising across the region, automated, more efficient printing, fabrication and finishing solutions have become the order of the day which is why we have shifted focus sourcing such solutions this year.”

The company will also highlight the new SCREEN Truepress Jet W3200UV HS printer, capable of delivering high-definition print quality on a variety of rigid and flexible print substrates. The 3.2m wide roll-to-roll option is the industry’s most versatile hybrid and like a flatbed machine, Truepress Jet W3200UV HS printer can produce an extensive range of products, including display graphics, signages’, banners, wallcoverings and quality POS among others.

The Italian-made Flexa Easy Lite 160 laminator - a professional laminator for mounting images on panels for applying double-sided adhesive films, application tape and protective films will be showcased as the ideal solution for a solid, reliable and easy-to-use machine which guarantees high quality production runs.

The Flexa Muira II, an automatic cutting machine with rotating blades for X and Y trimming of printed images and other materials and flexible supports, such as paper, Durantrans, PVC coated adhesive films, polyester, polycarbonate, reflective material, magnetic rubber, banner, wallpaper and different types of fabric will also be on display. This solution is designed to save time and space by automating what is a typically laborious process with more precision compared to manual labour.

A range of Ronchini Massimo’s (RM) CNC machines will also be on display like the RM Easy Step 3D is a professional pantograph machine ideal for crafts and production of glass, rapid prototyping and three-dimensional artistic realisations and can be used in most Design & Technology (D&T) labs. Marketed with the new XMC 2.0 software, it is the latest generation machine with numerical control and performance standards triple to that of previous versions.  

RM AluStep 3D, is an alternative professional pantograph machine ideal for milling and engraving of plastics, glass resins, wood, aluminium, brass and stone. Other uses include cutting panels and shapes, glass engraving, dispensing glue; 3D rapid prototyping; 3D objects and shapes; three-dimensional artistic realizations and micro-percussion technics on stone, metal, wood, glass, plastic and other materials.

Jacky’s Business Solutions will be in Hall 7, stand E124, and will feature various exhibits, samples and live prints using latex and UV inks. Other products including the HP Latex 370 printer will be on display at HP Stand D104, Hall 6.

Six technology trends that SMEs should watch out for in 2017

Sage Chief Technology Officer Klaus-Michael Vogelberg talks about the role chatbots, collective intelligence and blockchain will play at start-up and scale up enterprises next year

Dubai, UAE -  January 12,  2016 –Sage, the market leader in Cloud accounting software, has predicted that chatbots, collective intelligence and blockchain are some of the big technology trends that will change the way entrepreneurs run their businesses in 2017. Sage Chief Technology Officer, Klaus-Michael Vogelberg, said: “As every business – big or small – is transforming more or less intensively into a tech-enabled business, today’s entrepreneurs should be on the lookout for the opportunities these technological developments can bring to their business.” Vogelberg sees six major trends in 2017 that could make a big difference to the way business builders will work in 2017 and beyond.

Trend #1: Chatbots and autonomous interfaces

Autonomous interfaces such as chatbots or digital agents will become increasingly common on different devices and user interfaces which entrepreneurs use to manage and control their businesses. These interfaces will dramatically change the way that humans and computers work and interact with each other. While, in the past, people used a keyboard or mouse to interact with their PCs, they will gradually start talking with their systems or using gesture control such as hand, head or eye gestures to interact with them. The user experience will not only become more convenient but also more enjoyable – these systems will work autonomously and have self-learning capabilities. Eventually, software could act without user intervention, or ask a certain question only once and use this information for all further activities.

In June 2016, Sage launched the first accounting chatbot PeggTM. Pegg acts as a smart assistant that allows users to track expenses and manage finances through messaging apps such as Facebook messenger and Slack. Pegg hides the complexities of accounting and lets entrepreneurs manage finances through conversation, making the process as simple as writing a text. By digitising information at the point of capture, it takes away the hassle of filing receipts and expenses, eliminating the need for paper and data entry.

Trend #2: Artificial & collective intelligence

According to Vogelberg, artificial and collective intelligence is another major trend to look out for, even for smaller companies. With mushrooming data volumes being generated by all sorts of sensors and devices on the one hand (see trend #6), and computer power and special analysis software and intelligent agents becoming increasingly affordable and powerful on the other, companies need to find ways to extract knowledge from today’s wealth of Big Data.

Sage’s Klaus-Michael Vogelberg therefore advises SMEs to “team up”. “If small and medium-sized enterprises join forces and – while considering their corporate data protection policies and personal rights laws – share, for example, computer power and data with other companies in a structured and systematic manner, they could profit from this collaboration by receiving a better and larger data pool and superior data intelligence. Similar to crowdsourcing mechanisms, this enriched data pool would enable companies to better understand how customers behave, what they need, what to offer them and the business areas to invest in.”

Trend #3: Blockchain – or how to create trust in the digital age

According to Sage, business builders should also carefully analyse if, and how, the new blockchain technology could impact their current business models. Particularly all those industries which work as intermediaries between two parties – such as lawyers, notaries, or real-estate or financial brokers – could be affected by this new, innovative approach. Bookkeepers and accountants might also be affected in the way they do business in the future, as blockchain has the potential to eliminate a significant part of the workload – such as checking and booking transactions, transferring money or paying invoices – handled by these professions today.

Why could this happen? Blockchain organises transactions of digital assets between two parties in a radically new way. Instead of using middlemen or intermediaries such as banks, notaries, state authorities or trading platforms to legitimise the exchange of certain assets – such as digital properties, digital trading goods, digital contracts, or even financial transactions via digital currencies such as Bitcoins – blockchains allow individuals to transfer these assets in a direct, safe, secure, and immutable way between each other. A decentralised, distributed ledger, essentially an asset database shared across multiple participants, combined with crypto-economic algorithms serve as the technological basis of a blockchain. All participants of a blockchain (so called nodes) have access to the distributed ledger, which contains an inventory of all the relevant digital assets. All parties within this network have their own identical copy of the ledger. Any changes to it are applied to every copy in a matter of minutes or even seconds. Thus, the system is transparent and creates trust among all nodes without the need for legitimisation by any other third party authority.

Trend #4: Revolutionizing the movement of money

The way people use money and transfer their payments from one account to another has already changed dramatically: at the frontend, in-app payment solutions nowadays enable users to effortlessly make one-click payments and purchase goods via mobile devices or websites. This functionality is already available in many apps today. But at the backend, systems such as accounting software are less user-friendly and less integrated. For example, companies currently have almost no possibility to make one-click invoice payments or easily manage their financial transactions between partners, suppliers and their bank with a fingertip.

In 2017, more and more new solutions will allow companies to establish an end-to-end payments value chain with their suppliers and customers. These new solutions enable ubiquitous anytime anywhere, immediate and omni-channel payments and will be fully integrated into the financial accounting systems of tomorrow’s enterprises. All parties, such as e-commerce platforms, banks, fin-techs or partners, will profit from open API standards which will be used for creating new services and enable seamless, fully-automated processing of payments and financial transactions.

At Sage Summit in July 2016 Sage announced its partnership with US Bank, a technical example for this paradigm change in payments. The AP Optimizer for Sage Live that Sage built in partnership with U.S. Bank marks a first truly digital accounting and payment solution that enables start up and scale up businesses to manage their cash flow through dynamic integration with customers. AP Optimizer is integrated in Sage Live and determines for example the best time to pay bills and the best method for payment to optimise cash flow in near real-time, and then carries out the payment.

Trend #5: Platform-based infrastructure

In 2017, more and more SMEs will replace their stand-alone, on-site software systems with integrated, cloud-based software solutions that operate on global Cloud platforms such as Salesforce.com who are offering their users access to a wealth of business apps and integrated services. Moreover, companies will also benefit from mobile-app platforms such as the one operated by the Apple Mobility Partner Program.

“The big benefit of these platforms is that they give even smaller companies access to innovative business software solutions and services which these companies would not have been able to afford five years ago.  To some extent, these types of cloud platforms are democratising the way in which companies gain access to state-of-the-art apps and smart and scalable technologies,” says Klaus-Michael Vogelberg. “They allow business builders to discover new ways of working and give them the infrastructure needed to receive every kind of data from partners or the Internet of Things, analyze it, and then – in a “citizen developer” style – create something new and productive,” the Sage CTO says.

Trend #6: Internet of Things will create new services and job profiles

Small and medium-sized enterprises should be on the lookout for new possibilities that emerge with the realisation of the Internet of Things. Multiple data streams originating from all sorts of sensors built into e.g. machines, cars, mobile and immobile goods, clothes or even human beings (e.g. for medical monitoring purposes) will result in a true treasure trove of data, thus creating all sorts of new services.

SMEs should think about how to use these data streams to grow their business:  

• Mechanics will develop new services such as predictive maintenance for all sorts of technical infrastructures.
• Logistic companies will optimise e.g. the navigation of their truck fleets by using traffic data from many different sources including smart city data from traffic lights, streets or other vehicles.  
• Concierge services will develop all sorts of surveillance services with the realisation of new smart home technology.
• Retail companies and shop owners might connect to smart home devices such as refrigerators or Amazon-style dash buttons to supply customers automatically and predictively with goods and services.
• Mobile medical care services will innovate their work with the assistance of all sorts of new devices e.g. to improve their support of elderly people living alone at home.

Earlier this year Sage demonstrated its partnership with TomTom telematics which enables Sage Live customers to keep track of vehicle journeys, and feed data into the accounting process in real time.

In summary, Sage Chief Technology Officer Klaus-Michael Vogelberg said: “In 2017, every business will need to start thinking of itself as a technology business. To stay competitive, they will need to grasp the opportunities that this development brings with it and change almost every aspect of today’s more or less traditional ways of working. The good news is that this technology means that we believe that very soon, business admin could become completely invisible, as easy as messaging a friend, or even completely automated, as machines learn like humans. This will empower entrepreneurs to stay focused on building their businesses, driving growth in the economy and contributing to their communities – not basic admin.’

Cayan Group Closes 2016 as ‘Year Of Excellence’ With Ongoing Projects Valued at SAR 5.5 Billion

Saudi-based property developer and real estate investment group to surge ahead with strategic objectives and plans for 2017

Dubai/Riyadh – 15 January, 2017: Cayan Group, the leading property developer in the Middle East, has achieved its strategic business objectives and surpassed some of the tactical objectives for the year 2016, making it yet another excellent year for the group. The group has announced SAR 5.5 billion worth of ongoing projects in 2016.

Throughout 2016, Cayan Group surged ahead with planned projects and made steady progress in both construction and sales. In Riyadh, the CMC Tower’s enabling and structural packages were completed ahead of schedule in May within three and six months respectively. In addition, the group successfully launched Samaya project, a high-end mixed-use development located in a very primary area in Riyadh and the project is currently in the midst of the enabling stage.

In Dubai, the group launched the Cayan Arjaan Hotel Apartments in November at a press conference, during which it revealed that the residential tower of the Cayan Cantara project would also be managed and operated by renowned hospitality brand Rotana under their ‘Residences’ badge. Sales of units in both the Samaya project in Riyadh and Cayan Cantara in Dubai have been remarkable with each averaging 50% sold, which leave us with a positive outlook for 2017.

Throughout the course of the year, Cayan Group was honoured with numerous industry accolades and awards. The group was honoured by Forbes Middle East as one of the ‘Top Real Estate Companies in The Arab World’ and as one of the ‘Top 50 GCC Developers in 2016’ by Construction Week magazine. Cayan Group was also bestowed the top spot in the 2015-2016 Arabian Property Awards in the ‘Office Development’ and ‘Mixed-use Development’ categories for the CMC Tower and Cayan Cantara respectively. Other accolades include the “Most Innovative Leading Property Developing Brand, KSA” by Global Brands Magazine Awards 2016. In addition, Cayan Group received “The Majestic Falcon Award for Quality & Excellence” by Otherways Management & Consulting.

“The general fluctuation in economic conditions in the Gulf region, and in particular in Saudi Arabia, has thrown some challenges our way too but these have not had a lasting or deep effect on our plans. Challenges are neither a phenomenon or a permanent setback; they can be rectified through planning and preparation,” noted Ahmed Alhatti, Chairman & President of Cayan Group. “However, the one area where we have experienced some difficulty in 2016 is in recruitment as attracting qualified personnel remains a challenge in the Kingdom,” surmised Alhatti.

“A source of inspiration for us all has been Saudi’s Vision 2030. The government’s plans have provided a roadmap to guide our decisions and directions. One of these is the development of local talent which we will pursue vigorously in 2017. This is true for most of the countries in the GCC that are following economic diversification and local talent-pool development plans—it is a great time to make an impact and a difference,” said Alhatti.

To address this concern, Cayan Group is formulating a new strategy to retain, attract, and train the best workers in 2017 by investing in employee skill development, creating alliances with relevant institutions, and offering internships to recent graduates.

Complementing the strategy on staffing, Cayan Group also intends to focus on developing new methods to improve customer care and to show loyalty and exceptional service for existing and potential clients alike. Cayan Homes, through it’s unique range of innovative, holistic real estate services, will continue to provide customers with the best brokerage services, as well as protecting their interests by giving them exclusive opportunities with preferential rates for the upcoming Cayan Group projects.

Another area that Cayan Group hopes to delve deeper into is in their CSR arm, Cayan Foundation. The organisation is focusing on building from its efforts in 2016 to reach more communities and to do more to promote a healthy and happy society. The Cayan Group’s ongoing CSR activities include a strategic agreement with “Patients Friends Committee” in Riyadh, as well as the sponsorship of Basmat Ensan, a charitable society for the care of orphans.

An area of strategic expansion in 2016 was Cayan Group’s foray into the GCC’s hospitality sector though Cayan Hospitality, and the development of projects such as Cayan Cantara. “The hospitality sector is brimming with opportunities. It would be a shame not to be involved as we have a lot to offer when it comes to developing high-quality, high-end, and fascinating projects. We envision being a point of interest for the tourists whether they stay in a Cayan-branded hotel, or visit any Cayan-branded building,’’ commented Alhatti. “The Group will continue to seek opportunities in this sector in 2017.”

Also part of the group’s strategy in 2016 was entering the world of IT and technology by implementing a new Microsoft Dynamics system. “We will carry on to adopting more revolutionary IT systems in 2017 that will enhance our real estate services across all of our entities,” Alhatti added.

However, much like in 2016, the main focus for Cayan Group for 2017 remains its core business which is the development of iconic and awe-inspiring real estate. With three mega projects in the pipeline, Cayan Group continues to lead the way as the master-developer of choice in the Arab world as well as penetrating new market opportunities on an international scale.

The group’s notable regional projects for 2017 will include a mixed-use development in north Riyadh and an iconic waterfront development in Jeddah. On an international level, aside from the la Mairena project in Spain, Cayan Group will launch an ambitious mixed-use development in a prime location in London, United Kingdom.

“As 2016 draws to a close, we have a strong pipeline of projects that are custom-made to meet the needs of the real estate investors in the region and that stand out due to their individuality and exceptional quality. We are proud of what we have achieved and we are unified in our vision to extend these values to all our businesses. The success of our business is very much a team effort and together we will continue to play an important role in setting the pace of real estate development in the region to match market needs,” said Alhatti.

مجموعة كيان تختتم 2016 بالمزيد من التميز مع مشروعات قائمة بقيمة 5.5 مليار ريال

- شركة التطوير العقاري والمجموعة الاستثمارية العقارية السعودية تتقدم نحو تحقيق أهدافها وخططها الاستراتيجية في العام 2017 -

[دبي / الرياض، 15 يناير2017] – تمكنت مجموعة كيان، الشركة الرائدة في مجال التطوير العقاري في منطقة الشرق الأوسط، من تحقيق أهدافها الاستراتيجية، وتجاوز العديد من أهدافها التكتيكية للعام 2016، لتضيف سنة أخرى من التميز إلى مسيرتها. وأعلنت المجموعة أن القيمة الإجمالية لمشاريعها الحالية في العام 2016 قد بلغت 5.5 مليار ريال سعودي.

تمكنت كيان خلال العام 2016، من تعزيز مكانتها مع المشاريع المخطط لها، وحققت تقدمًا مضطردًا في عمليات التطوير والمبيعات؛ ففي الرياض، تم الانتهاء من مرحلتي الاساسات والبناء الهيكلي في البرج المكتبي “CMC” خلال مدة زمنية قياسية تسبق الموعد المحدد لهما بثلاثة أشهر وستة أشهر على التوالي. وبالإضافة إلى ذلك، أطلقت المجموعة بنجاح مشروع "سمايا" الراقي في قلب مدينة الرياض، و بدأ العمل في المشروع فعليا.

وفي دبي، أطلقت المجموعة مشروع "كيان أرجان" من روتانا للشقق الفندقية في نوفمبر/ تشرين الثاني الماضي في مؤتمر صحفي، تم الكشف خلاله عن أن المشروع "كيان كنتارا" ستتم إدارته وتشغيله من قبل "روتانا"، العلامة الشهيرة في قطاع الضيافة. وحققت حملة مبيعات الوحدات في كلا المشروعين "سمايا" في الرياض، و "كيان كنتارا" في دبي نجاحًا ملحوظًا، بعد أن بلغ متوسط المبيعات فيهما ​​50٪، الأمر الذي يقود إلى توقعات إيجابية للعام 2017.

وطوال العام ذاته، تم تكريم مجموعة كيان بحصولها على العديد من الجوائز ذات الصلة بهذا القطاع، ومنها جائزة مقدمة من مجلة فوربس الشرق الأوسط عن فئة "أفضل الشركات العقارية في الوطن العربي"، كما دخلت قائمة "أفضل 10 مطورين عقاريين في دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي للعام 2016" من قبل مجلة "كونستراكشن ويك". وحصلت كيان أيضًا على المركز الأول في حفل توزيع جوائز العقارات العربية 2015 - 2016 في فئتي "مشاريع المكاتب" و "المشاريع متعددة الاستخدامات" لمشروعي البرج المكتبي التجاري و "كيان كنتارا" على التوالي. وتضم قائمة الجوائز الأخرى التي حصلت عليها المجموعة "علامة التطوير العقاري الرائدة الأكثر ابتكارًا في المملكة العربية السعودية" ضمن جوائز مجلة "غلوبال براندز 2016". وبالإضافة إلى ذلك، حازت مجموعة كيان جائزة "ماجستيك فالكون للجودة والتميز" من قبل وكالة "آذرويز" Otherways للإدارة والاستشارات.

وأشار أحمد الحاطي، رئيس مجلس إدارة مجموعة كيان: "إن التذبذب العام الذي تشهده الأوضاع الاقتصادية في المنطقة، قد فرض علينا بعض التحديات، لكن لم يكن لها تأثير دائم أو عميق على خططنا. ولم تسفر تلك التحديات عن تراجع واضح أو دائم، بل أمكن مواجهتها من خلال التخطيط والإعداد المسبق.

وأضاف الحاطي: "لقد كانت "رؤية المملكة 2030" مصدر إلهام لنا جميعًا. ووفرت لنا خطط الحكومة خريطة طريق واضحة المعالم لاتخاذ قراراتنا وتحديد اتجاهاتنا المناسبة، ومنها تطوير المواهب المحلية، وهذا واحد من الأهداف التي سنسعى إلى تحقيقها بقوة في العام 2017. وينطبق هذا الأمر على معظم دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي التي تسعى إلى التنويع الاقتصادي وتنمية المواهب المحلية، وهذا هو الوقت المناسب لإحداث التأثير الإيجابي والفارق الملحوظ".

ولمعالجة هذه الجوانب، تضع مجموعة كيان استراتيجية جديدة للاحتفاظ بأفضل الكوادر واجتذابها وتدريبها في العام 2017 من خلال الاستثمار في تطوير مهارات الموظفين، والتوصل إلى علاقات تحالف مع المؤسسات ذات الصلة، وتقديم التدريب للطلبة حديثي التخرج.

وحرصًا منها على تعزيز استراتيجية توفير الموظفين، تعتزم مجموعة كيان أيضًا التركيز على تطوير أساليب جديدة لتحسين خدمة العملاء لإظهار ولائها وتقديم خدمات متميزة لعملائها الحاليين والمحتملين على حد سواء. وستواصل شركة "كيان هومز" من خلال طيفها الفريد من الخدمات العقارية الشاملة المبتكرة، تزويد عملائها بأفضل خدمات الوساطة العقارية، فضلاً عن حماية مصالحهم من خلال منحهم فرصًا حصرية بأسعار تفضيلية في المشاريع المقبلة التي تطرحها مجموعة كيان.

وهناك مجال آخر تأمل مجموعة كيان التعمق فيه، وهو ذراعها للمسؤولية الاجتماعية المؤسسية "كيان الخيرية". وتركز المنظمة على مواصلة الجهود التي أطلقتها في العام 2016 للوصول إلى المزيد من الناس، وبذل المزيد من الجهود للإسهام في مجتمع صحي وسعيد. وتشمل أنشطة المسؤولية الاجتماعية التي تواصل مجموعة كيان تقديمها اتفاقيات مع الجمعيات الخيرية المميزة.

وكان من بين جوانب التوسع الاستراتيجي في العام 2016 دخول مجموعة كيان إلى قطاع الضيافة في دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي من خلال "كيان للضيافة"، وتطوير مشاريع متخصصة في هذا القطاع مثل "كيان كنتارا". وقال الحاطي معقبًا على ذلك: "إن قطاع الضيافة حافل بالفرص، ويتعين علينا تسجيل حضور قوي فيه عندما يتعلق الأمر بتطوير مشاريع رائعة تمتاز بالجودة العالية والرقي. ونعتقد أنه يمكننا الاستحواذ على اهتمام السياح، سواء كانوا يفضلون البقاء في فندق يحمل علامة كيان، أو زيارة أي من المباني التي قمنا بتطويرها. و ستعلن المجموعة عن المزيد من مشاريع الضيافة في 2017".

وفي إطار استراتيجيتها للعام 2016، دخلت المجموعة أيضًا في عالم تكنولوجيا المعلومات من خلال تطبيق نظام "مايكروسوفت داينامك" Microsoft Dynamics الجديد. ويقول الحاطي في هذا الشأن: "سنواصل اعتماد المزيد من أنظمة تكنولوجيا المعلومات الثورية في العام 2017، لتعزيز خدماتنا العقارية في جميع الكيانات التابعة لنا".

وكما كان عليه الحال إلى حد كبير في العام 2016، سيبقى التركيز الرئيسي لمجموعة كيان في العام 2017 على أعمالها الأساسية، وعلى وجه التحديد مواصلة تطوير عقارات إبداعية مذهلة. ومع وجود ثلاثة مشاريع عملاقة يجري الآن تنفيذها، تواصل مجموعة كيان ريادتها كأفضل شركة تطوير عقاري في الوطن العربي، والاستمرار في اغتنام فرص الجديدة في الأسواق على نطاق دولي.

وتشتمل قائمة مشاريعها الجديدة البارزة للعام 2017، على عدة مشاريع استراتيجية داخل المملكة و خارجها ستحدث نقلة نوعية في مسيرة كيان.

واختتم الحاطي حديثه بالقول: "مع اقتراب 2016 من نهايته، توجد لدينا مجموعة قوية من المشاريع التي قمنا بتصميمها بالتناغم مع حالة الطلب لتلبية احتياجات المستثمرين العقاريين في المنطقة، والتي تتفوق على غيرها نظرًا لتفرد سماتها الاستثنائية من حيث الجودة. إننا نفخر بما حققناه، مع حرصنا على التماسك لتحقيق رؤيتنا لنشر هذه القيم في جميع انشطتنا وعملياتنا. ويعزى الفضل في نجاح عملنا إلى جهد فريقنا، وسنواصل سويًا لعب دور مهم في تحديد وتيرة التطوير العقاري في المنطقة بما يضمن تلبية احتياجات السوق".

Gulf Print & Pack sees 10% growth in 2017

• Newspaper and magazine publishers among those expected to benefit from showcase of latest tools and technologies to optimize quality and enhance standards
• Online registration now live for Middle East’s flagship show for commercial and package printing sector

Gulf Print & Pack is on track to be 10 percent bigger in 2017 as it prepares to open in Dubai this March. The Middle East’s flagship show for the commercial and package printing sector returns with many of the leading manufacturers and a wealth of first time exhibitors which signed up to exhibit, accounting for the expected growth in this year’s edition.

Taking place at on 26 - 29 March in the Za’abeel Halls at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Gulf Print & Pack will be used to showcase the latest technologies and consumables from across the entire field of printing. Confirmed major players exhibiting in 2017 include: AFRA, Ali Alhashemi Trading Co, Bobst, Canon, Heliozid and Prestige Graphics. The lineup of first-time exhibitors features Barberan, Holoprint Security Solutions, Imaging Care, Konica Minolta, PACFORT Packaging and Sun Papers & Labels.

Displaying the newest in multi-substrate presses, ink systems, wide and narrow format digital presses, laser die-cutting, 3D printing, smart labels and packaging, web-to-print software and product decoration, Gulf Print & Pack is aimed at printers, brand owners and designers. Registration is now live and is free to attend for those interested to find out about the latest in the commercial and package printing sector.

The show will be used to unveil the latest solutions and tools available for producing printed items across a range of categories: brochures, cartons and boxes, flexible packaging, labels, magazines, newspapers, pouches, reports, security and transactional materials. In addition to new product demonstrations and displays, trade buyers will also be able to gain and share knowledge and use the event’s exhibitors to help troubleshoot the varied issues facing their businesses.  

Lisa Milburn, managing director of Gulf Print & Pack commented: “The Middle East print industry is investment-rich and offers good growth prospects for printers over the coming years. At the heart of Gulf Print & Pack are the new technologies and innovations launching into the sector because they will ultimately help optimize quality and standards, make production more efficient, overheads leaner and businesses more profitable. Visitors will be able to see new products and machinery in action and network in close proximity with some of the biggest and most influential suppliers operating in today’s marketplace. 2017’s show also promises to highlight opportunities for entering niche markets, ways to add value and make businesses more sustainable.”

Visitor entry to the expo is free and pre-registration can be made by visiting www.gulfprintpack.com.