New study forecasts Middle East mobile gaming industry to reach USD 4.4 billion by 2022

 

• Mobile gaming segment in the region grows by 25% in 2020

 

• Middle East region reports around 100 million users

 

• Global trends reveal 46% increase in daily active users in HD gaming & 17% in mobile gaming during pandemic

 

June 27, 2021- The mobile gaming industry of the Middle East region is predicted to continue its upward trajectory- with experts forecasting threefold growth in 2021. Based on a report prepared by the Orient Planet Research (OPR), the market research unit of Orient Planet Group, and Galal & Karawi Management Consulting (G&K Consulting), the Middle East region’s mobile gaming segment is expected to reach a projected value of USD 4.4 billion by 2022, which is more than triple in growth from the USD 1.06 billion posted in 2016. 

 

The report further states that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, followed by preventive and precautionary measures to stay at home, has led to people turning to mobile games as a form of entertainment to while away their time at home. This resulted to the mobile gaming in the region to grow by 25% in 2020.

 

Global trends

The region’s performance follows global trends where more people had engaged in gaming last year, buoyed by COVID-19-related restrictions that had forced many to stay indoors. The OPR report found that gaming across the world increased by 46% increase in daily active users in 2020, particularly in HD gaming— or those using PC, macOS, and other desktop platforms— and 17% growth in mobile gaming, or those using iOS, Android, and other smartphone devices.

 

This is based on reports of leading global gaming software firms based in the United States, which observed the changes in gaming behavior among users. Based on trends, gaming usually experiences spikes of activity on the weekend then tapers off during the work week during the pre-pandemic era. However, after the stay-at-home order, it was observed that weekend and weekday differences in gaming behavior narrowed by 63%.

 

Furthermore, mobile gamers were seen installing more apps, with a record surge of 84% during the pandemic. In terms of advertising, mobile gaming ad impressions rose by 57% and revenues soared by 59%.

Regional mobile gaming share

Industry experts say that the Middle East represents a large market for mobile gaming- representing 23% of the total global gaming segment. It is projected the region’s mobile gaming segment will own up to 1.5% of the global gaming market revenue in the next five years. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is ranked in the 19^th spot in terms of gaming revenue, posting USD 837 million. The KSA is predicted to achieve more growth at an expected Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 22.5% in the next five years. Meanwhile, the UAE currently holds the 35^th spot in terms of gaming revenue in 2020.

 

Nidal Abou Zaki, Managing Director, Orient Planet Group, said: “These are exciting times for the Middle East region’s mobile gaming industry. Over the last few months, we have seen how popular and entertaining these games have been- offering temporary relief to people trying to fight boredom while following the orders to stay at home to avoid the virus. The preference towards these games have resulted in the industry’s 25% growth- with people not only turning to these games for entertainment but also to connect socially with other people.”

 

Abou Zaki added, “We would expect more growth for this segment as the current situation that the world is facing is only increasing its importance. In fact, the mobile gaming industry for the region is expected to triple in size in the next two years.”

 

Meanwhile, Asem Galal, General Manager, G&K Consulting, pointed out that the best is yet to come. “We are looking at a multi-billion industry with a highly enthusiastic audience- which is a winning formula for more growth and development. Revenues generated from these mobile games alone are pegged to be higher in value than other forms of online entertainment such as

 

worldwide box offices, music streaming and album sales. What makes this more exciting is that the Middle East region is at the center of this rapidly thriving industry.”

The report estimates that the Middle East region engages more 100 million players - a number that conveniently grew early last year because of the order to stay at home and limited outside movement. The projected number of users reinforces the notion that the region alone, already makes up around 23% of the global gaming market.

 

The Middle East region is widely recognized as the fastest growing online gaming population in the world, holding 25% of the gaming audience. It is followed by Latin America 13.9%, Asia Pacific 9.2%, Western Europe 4.8% and North America 4%.

46% of UAE consumers expect the effects of the pandemic to last at least another year

 

 

 

• Increased vaccinations (47%), continued protective and social distancing measures (28%), a contactless in-store experience (16%) and alternative shopping options (9%) will be key to rebuilding UAE consumers’ confidence to visit public places (stores, restaurants and supermarkets)
• 73% of consumers have admittedly changed their shopping habits to adapt to the “new normal” with expenditure on essential items showing a sustained increase, while spending on non-essentials continues to decline

 

 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 27 June 2021 – Increased vaccinations (47%) and continued protective and social distancing measures (28%) will be key to rebuilding UAE consumers’ confidence to visit public places (stores, restaurants and supermarkets) moving forward. This is according to a study commissioned by Kearney; the third in a series of surveys exploring consumer shopping habits since the onset of the pandemic.

 

The results reveal that as spending habits continue to evolve, UAE consumers stay cautious, with 46% expecting the effects of the pandemic to last at least another year. It also highlights that expenditure on essential items (which constitutes of food and beverage (F&B) as well as non-F&B items) has shown a sustained increase, while spending on non-essentials (clothes, bags and accessories) continues to decline.

 

73% of consumers have admittedly changed their shopping habits to adapt to the “new normal”, with a larger portion of women reporting changed habits (81%) than men (67%). Those aged between 30-45 recorded the highest change (80%) followed by those under 30 years of age (73%).

 

When looking more closely into how habits have changed, 23% have reduced expenditure on essential items by up to 50% compared to pre-pandemic, however, over a third (34%) of respondents have increased spending by over 25%. Conversely, spending on non-essentials has decreased by 41%, with only 23% of respondents increasing spend in this area.

 

Within the essential items category, 16% of respondents have upgraded to higher priced, better quality items, with the highest increase shown for fruits and vegetables (30%), as well as meats and dairy (22%)

 

A fifth (21%) of respondents have highlighted that they expect to spend more on non-essentials in the coming months, particularly on activewear (31%), workwear (30%), casual wear (20%), footwear (20%), evening wear (17%), and bags and accessories (8%).

 

“The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way consumers view health and safety measures and efforts. As residents adopt to the new normal, hygiene and hygiene transparency have become vital. Spending is being driven by the easing of restrictions, higher awareness of health and wellbeing, and expectations to return to the office,” commented Debashish Mukherjee, Partner & Head, Consumer Industries and Retail Practice at Kearney Middle East

 

As spending habits evolve, e-commerce continues to penetrate all categories. The survey highlights that UAE consumers are now more comfortable purchasing essentials online compared to last year. When questioned about the motivations behind this, convenience (58%) was the main driver, followed by COVID-19 prevention measures (25%), assortment of products (13%) and finally, price (4%).

 

Interestingly, COVID-19 prevention measures ranked third for online shopping for non-essential items (21%), preceded by convenience (49%) and price (25%), with assortment of products (5%) ranking last.

 

While increased vaccinations and continued protective and social distancing measures were the key drivers of restoring consumer confidence in visiting public places, a contactless in-store experience (16%) and alternative shopping options (9%) such as click & collect, and curb-side pick-ups were highlighted as other methods of shopping that would increase confidence.

 

Saying this, 40% respondents highlighted an offline-shopping preference for essential items, and 30% for non-essential items, particularly for those products that require inspection for quality, freshness and fit.

 

“For UAE consumers, convenience is driving online purchases with COVID-19 concerns becoming a secondary factor, indicating the sustenance of the online shift. However, the physical store still plays a strong role across all categories which require the customer to touch, feel and try the product. Retailers will need to adopt a differentiated strategy to make consumers feel safe in stores; UAE consumers are heavily indexed towards vaccinations and protective measures; however, this will vary across markets and its essential for stakeholders, mall property owners and retailers to monitor the evolving face of retail to ensure they stay relevant,” concluded Mukherjee.

Lucid Motors Opens New York City Flagship Studio in Meatpacking District Amidst Retail Resurgence

 

Lucid Air sets new EV benchmarks for luxury, performance, and range up to 500+ miles

 

Lucid Motors, which is setting new standards for sustainable mobility with its advanced luxury EVs, has announced the opening of its first Studio in New York City and the eighth Lucid Studio opened in the last year. While there, visitors can experience Lucid Air and learn more about the full lineup. The flagship Studio establishes Lucid’s presence in New York City ahead of its expected merger transaction close in Q3 of this year.

 

Officially open to the public on Saturday, June 26, the Lucid Studio at 2 Ninth Avenue will increase foot traffic in an already flourishing Meatpacking District. It adds to the growing resurgence of the nation’s most populous city, as consumers hungry for new experiences take advantage of New York State’s recent retail reopening guidance. In fact, with Manhattan’s expected job growth, area retail may be looking at a momentous surge not seen since 2009, when retail employment growth in NYC averaged 19.7% year over year.

 

“Opening a Lucid Studio in New York, one of the most vibrant cities in the world, allows us to demonstrate how Lucid Air and its groundbreaking technology perfectly complement the fast pace and refined taste of the Big Apple,” said Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO, Lucid Motors. “It’s also the perfect time to open our first Lucid Studio in New York, as we will add significantly to a city that is returning to form in delivering the world’s greatest experiences to residents and travelers alike.”

 

The Lucid design team worked with world-renowned architecture firm Marmol Radziner to translate the company’s post-luxury design aesthetic into a welcoming physical environment where customers can review options for the full Lucid Air lineup of luxury, high-performance EVs. This includes the Lucid Air Pure, a very well-equipped model available from $77,400 ($69,900 with available federal tax credit), through the Lucid Air Touring, which starts at $95,000 ($87,500 with available federal tax), and the Lucid Air Grand Touring, starting at $139,000 ($131,500 with available federal tax credit). The entire lineup features available horsepower levels up to 1080 hp, quarter-mile times as low as 9.9 seconds, and versions offering up to 500+ miles of projected range on a single charge, making Lucid Air the new standard for electric vehicle performance and efficiency.

 

Studio Experience

 

Every Lucid Studio offers a digitally oriented luxury experience tailored to each customer’s preferences, whether they visit in-person, make inquiries entirely online, or combine the two. Lucid’s New York Studio allows customers to experience the brand and obtain information about its products in a location that underscores the company’s unique design aesthetic.

 

Exploring a Lucid Studio, visitors will get a vision of how the company draws inspiration from the beauty, innovation, and diversity of its home state of California. Lucid Studios augment the physical experience of seeing and touching a Lucid Air with an elevated digital experience. Using a 4K VR configurator, Lucid’s Virtual Reality Experience combines the physical and virtual worlds to showcase seamless personalization of everything from interior finishes and materials to exterior color.

 

Virtual Experience

 

Mirroring the luxury one-to-one Studio experience online for those who prefer shopping from home, customers can take advantage of “Lucid Studio Live,” a cloud-based configuration solution powered by ZeroLight’s Concierge product. From the comfort of their own homes, customers can virtually interact with a car while a Lucid representative guides them through key features and configuration options.

 

Future Studios & Service Centers

 

The Manhattan Lucid Studio becomes the first to open in the northeastern United States and the eighth Lucid Studio opened in the last year. The Studio is located at 2 Ninth Ave., Manhattan, and is the newest of 11 more set to open throughout North America by the end of 2021. Other locations will include Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, Long Island, Boston, Vancouver, San Diego, and the D.C. Metro for an expected total of 20 studio and service locations this year.

 

Customers can visit during normal business hours or can book a personal appointment by contacting the Lucid team at lucidmotors.com/contact. They can always start exploring the Lucid Air through the “Design Yours” configurator.

لوسيد موتورز تفتتح استديو رائد في حي ميتباكينج

بمدينة نيويورك بالتزامن مع انتعاش حركة البيع بالتجزئة

الشركة ترسي معايير جديدة في عالم السيارات الكهربائية بمستوى منقطع النظير من الفخامة والأداء مع قدرة على قطع مسافة تزيد عن 800 كيلو متر بدون الحاجة لإعادة شحن البطارية

 

دبي، الامارات العربية المتحدة، 27 يونيو 2021 — أعلنت لوسيد موتورز، الشركة التي تسعى إلى إرساء معايير جديدة في عالم النقل المستدام عبر سياراتها الكهربائية الفاخرة والمتقدمة، اليوم عن افتتاح أول استديوهاتها في مدينة نيويورك وثامن استديوهاتها المُفتتحة العام الماضي. ويوفر الاستديو الجديد لزواره الفرصة لتجربة سيارة لوسيد أير والاطلاع على المجموعة الكاملة من نماذج السيارة. ويعمل الاستديو الرائد على تأسيس حضور لوسيد في مدينة نيويورك قبل إغلاق صفقة الإدماج المتوقعة في الربع الثالث من العام الحالي.

 

وسيسهم استديو لوسيد، الذي سيُفتتح رسمياً أمام الجمهور يوم السبت 26 يونيو في مبنى 2 ناينث أفينو، في تعزيز جاذبية حي ميتباكينج المزدهر،[1]إذ سيساعد على تسريع انتعاش المدينة الأكثر ازدحاماً في الولايات المتحدة، لا سيما مع رغبة المستهلكين في اختبار تجارب جديدة بالاستفادة من دليل استئناف أنشطة قطاع التجزئة الذي أصدرته ولاية نيويورك. وإضافة إلى ذلك، قد يؤدي نمو الأعمال المتوقع في حي مانهاتن إلى تحسّن غير مسبوق في قطاع التجزئة منذ 2009، حينما شهد متوسط فرص العمل في مجال التجزئة في نيويورك نمواً سنوياً وصل إلى 19.7%.[2]

 

وتعليقاً على هذا الموضوع، قال بيتر رولينسون، الرئيس التنفيذي ورئيس قسم التكنولوجيا لدى لوسيد موتورز: "يتيح افتتاح استديو لوسيد في نيويورك، إحدى أكثر المدن حيويةً في العالم، إثبات مدى مواءمة لوسيد أير وتقنياتها الرائدة لنمط الحياة السريع والذوق الرفيع الذي تشتهر به هذه المدينة. ويأتي افتتاح أول استديوهاتنا في نيويورك في وقت مثالي، إذ سنحرص على الارتقاء بالمدينة بالتزامن مع عودتها لتقديم أفضل التجارب العالمية للسكان والزوار على حد سواء".

 

وتعاون فريق التصميم في لوسيد مع شركة الهندسة المعمارية العالمية مارمول رادزينر لترجمة المفردات الجمالية للتصميمات الفاخرة وتحويلها إلى بيئة ملموسة وودودة تشكل وجهة للعملاء للاطلاع على كامل نماذج تشكيلة لوسيد أير من السيارات الكهربائية الفاخرة وعالية الأداء، والتي تتضمن لوسيد أير بيور، المُجهزة بمجموعة من أحدث التقنيات والمتوفرة بسعر أولي يبدأ من 77,400 دولار أمريكي (أو 69,900 دولار أمريكي زائداً الضريبة الائتمانية الاتحادية)، ولوسيد أير تورينج بسعر أولي يبدأ من 95,000 دولار أمريكي (أو 87,500 دولار أمريكي زائداً الضريبة الائتمانية الاتحادية)، ولوسيد أير جراند تورينج بسعر أولي يبدأ من 139,000 دولار أمريكي (أو 131,500 دولار أمريكي زائداً الضريبة الائتمانية الاتحادية). وتتميز جميع الطرازات بقوة تصل إلى 1080 حصان، وتقطع مسافة 400 متر انطلاقاً من وضعية الثبات بمدة لا تتجاوز 9.9 ثوانٍ فقط، فضلاً عن قدرة نماذج محددة على قطع مسافة تزيد عن 800 كيلو متر في دورة شحن واحدة، مما يجعل لوسيد أير المعيار الجديد للسيارات الكهربائية من حيث الأداء والفاعلية.

 

تجارب الاستديو

 

توفر استديوهات لوسيد تجارب رقمية فاخرة مصممة خصيصاً لتلبي مختلف تفضيلات العملاء على اختلافها، سواء فضلوا الحضور بأنفسهم إلى الاستديو أو تقديم طلباتهم عبر الإنترنت أو الدمج بين الطريقتين. ويتيح استديو لوسيد في نيويورك للعملاء خوض تجربة علامة لوسيد والحصول على معلومات حول منتجاتها في وجهة تعكس العناصر الجمالية الفريدة لتصميمات الشركة.

 

وسيتمكن الزوار أثناء زيارتهم من التعرف على فلسفة الشركة في استقاء الإلهام من جمال ولاية كاليفورنيا، حيث يقع المقر الرئيسي للشركة، وإبداعها وتنوعها. وقامت لوسيد بنقل تجربة الزيارة الفعلية بكل تفاصيلها إلى الفضاء الرقمي عن طريق توفير خيار لتحديد مواصفات السيارة في الواقع الافتراضي وبدقة 4K، والذي يدمج العالمين المادي والافتراضي ويتيح تخصيص جميع المواصفات بسلاسة بدءاً من تشطيبات المقصورة الداخلية والمواد المستعملة فيها ووصولاً إلى لون الهيكل الخارجي.

 

تجربة افتراضية

 

تحرص لوسيد على تزويد عملائها الراغبين بالتسوق من منازلهم بتجربة رقمية مخصصة وراقية، حيث تتيح لهم تحديد مواصفات السيارة عن طريق لوسيد استوديو لايف، وهو حل سحابي ينتمي إلى منتجات  الكونسيرج الخاصة بشركة زيرو لايت، ما يوفر للعملاء فرصة التفاعل مع السيارة افتراضياً من دون الاضطرار لمغادرة المنزل، فيما يقوم أحد الممثلين عن لوسيد بتعريفهم على المزايا الرئيسية والخيارات المتاحة.

 

الاستديوهات المستقبلية ومراكز الخدمة

 

يُعد استديو لوسيل في مانهاتن أول استديوهات الشركة في شمال شرق الولايات المتحدة وثامن استديوهاتها المُفتتحة العام الماضي. ويقع الاستديو في مبنى 2 ناينث أفينو في مانهاتن، وهو الإضافة الأحدث من بين 11 استديو إضافي يُنتظر افتتاحها في أمريكا الشمالية بحلول نهاية عام 2021. وتشمل قائمة المواقع الأخرى شيكاغو، وسان فرانسيسكو، وفينيكس، ولونج آيلاند، وبوسطن، وفانكوفر، وسان دييغو، ومنطقة واشنطن متروبوليتان، ليصل العدد الإجمالي المُتوقع إلى 20 استديو ومركز خدمة هذا العام.

 

ويمكن للعملاء زيارة الاستديو خلال ساعات العمل أو حجز موعد خاص من خلال التواصل مع فريق لوسيد عبر الرابط lucidmotors.com/contact. كما يمكنهم البدء باستكشاف سيارة لوسيد أير عن طريق أداة تحديد المواصفات المفضلة عبر هذا الرابط.

 

Tesla outperformed rivals stocks with 224% ROI in last 12 months, only trailing NIO

 

Tesla is among the notable growth stocks that have recorded significant returns for investors. Despite the electric vehicle manufacturer's stock slumping in 2021, it has maintained an edge over competitors.

According to data acquired by Finbold, Tesla stock registered an ROI of 224.93% between June 2021 and June 2020, outperforming some of its major competitors. Among the selected vehicle manufacturers, Tesla only trailed China-based NIO, which had almost double returns at 539.13%. Ford Motor ranks third with returns of 152.28%, followed by General Motors at 141.08%, while Volkswagen AG ranks fifth at 116.62%.

Other stocks with key returns include XPeng (75.47%), Oshkosh (74.08%), Navistar (60.29%), Toyota  42.19%), and Honda (25.22%)

Between the period, Tesla also maintained a superior stock price growing from $191.95 in 2020 to $623.71 in 2021. Elsewhere, last year, NIO's stock price was at $6.9, while in June 2021, the stock stood at $44.1.

Tesla benefiting from green energy debate 

Having established its position as a  leader in electric vehicle manufacturing, Tesla stock benefitted from some of the initiatives around environmental conservation. According to the research report:

“In the wake of a new focus towards the climate change agenda, Tesla has been at the center of attention, with more investors betting on the company. Some jurisdictions are also enacting legislation favouring consumers opting for electric vehicles, and as a leader in the sector, Tesla stands to gain.”

Based on the Tesla returns, it is clear the massive gains made in 2020 were enough to sustain profitability for investors despite the stock slumping in 2021. The growth was mainly guided by fundamental factors like greater retail investor interest in the stock and the inclusion of the S&P 500 index.

However, for Tesla to remain with the upper hand, the company needs to look out for competition.

 

SOCAR PETROFAC JV SECURES NEW CASPIAN CONTRACT

Petrofac, in a joint venture (JV) with the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), has secured a new contract valued at around US$25 million to support the Azeri Central East (ACE) project operated by bp in Azerbaijan.

The scope of work includes the provision of Commissioning Technicians and other specialist personnel, mobilisation and associated services to support the project at both onshore and offshore work sites in-country.

The ACE project is the latest phase of development in the Azeri, Chirag and Deepwater Gunashli (ACG) contract area in Azerbaijan. The project is designed to produce up to 100,000 barrels of oil per day. Construction works are currently in progress with first oil expected in 2023.

Khalik Mammadov, SOCAR vice-president for HR, IT and regulations said: “The service sector has become one of SOCAR’s core activities in recent years. It plays an important role in our corporate development. The joint venture we have established with Petrofac is already operating at full capacity, expanding its scope of operations and achieving new successes. I believe that the agreement we signed with bp today will give a serious impetus to both the development of the joint venture and lifting our partnership with bp to a new level.”

Patty Eid, Global Head of Petrofac Training Services and SOCAR Petrofac Board member commented: “This latest contract award builds on our expanding footprint in-country. The SOCAR Petrofac JV is well positioned to support bp’s operations more widely in the Caspian Sea. The development is already generating a significant number of jobs and our scope of work will involve the mobilisation of around 150 specialist personnel over the duration of the contract, and the provision of all associated support services, for the safe and successful performance of the commissioning work.”