More to come: Hyundai Motor heralds start of new football season with fan-focused video

 

·       New video highlights Hyundai Motor’s partnerships with five European clubs 

·       For the first time, Hyundai’s logo will be featured on the sleeves of Chelsea FC and Atlético de Madrid jerseys in UEFA Champions League matches

·       Hyundai will also be sponsoring four women’s clubs, including last season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League finalists, Chelsea FC Women

Dubai, 16 August 2021 – The new football season is underway, and another nine months of sporting drama awaits. To celebrate the occasion, Hyundai Motor has revealed a new video that highlights its partnerships with five European clubs, as well as the vital role that fans play in contributing to the success of their teams.

The 2021/22 football season has kicked off in Europe’s major leagues. Fans across the continent are returning to stadiums to cheer their teams on – in many cases, for the first time since March 2020. A new Hyundai film emphasises the importance of supporters and highlights some of the company’s successful fan-led sponsorship activations with its partner clubs from previous seasons, promising that there is “more to come”.

“Hyundai is a proud partner of the women’s and men´s teams of some of Europe’s biggest football clubs, and we are really excited about the new season,” says Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, Vice President Marketing and Product at Hyundai Motor Europe. “Fans are the lifeblood of any team, and we are looking forward to welcoming them back to the stadiums in 2021/22. Throughout the season, we’ll also be working with our partner clubs on some exciting sponsorship activations – so stay tuned for even more to come!”

Following a short summer break, Hyundai’s partner clubs will enter the new season hoping to build on their successes last time around. As reigning European champions, Chelsea FC will be looking to add the Premier League title to their trophy cabinet in Thomas Tuchel’s first full season in charge as the London side’s first team coach. Meanwhile, 2020/21 LaLiga champions Club Atlético de Madrid will continue to push forward and work together. The club will enter this new season and every competition with fresh eyes. As in previous seasons, both clubs will feature the Hyundai logo on their sleeves in domestic competitions. For the 2021/22 season, Chelsea and Atlético’s shirts will also bear the automaker’s brand emblem in European competitions for the first time.

Hyundai recently extended its multi-year agreement with AS Roma for another season. Last time around, the Italian club qualified for the inaugural UEFA Conference League, and Roma will kick off the new season with two-time UEFA Champions League winner José Mourinho in the managerial hot seat. As with previous seasons, Hyundai’s logo will be featured on the back of the famous red and yellow jersey in most domestic competitions.

Hyundai’s presence will also be felt strongly in Germany’s Bundesliga this season, with the company sponsoring Hertha BSC and UEFA Europa League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt. Both clubs have been busy in the transfer market over the summer and will be targeting a successful season, with European qualification at the end of it.

In addition to men’s teams, Hyundai will once again be visible across the major European women’s football leagues. The company has a growing portfolio of women’s clubs, including Chelsea FC Women, AS Roma Women, Club Atlético de Madrid Femenino and Eintracht Frankfurt Women.

Hyundai’s pan-European football strategy

Having been present in both national and international football competitions for more than 20 years and serving as a long-term partner of FIFA since 1999, Hyundai will soon be participating in a number of activations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

Hyundai is not just a sponsor of Europe’s leading football clubs but also a partner for their fans, too. Through its pan-European football strategy, Hyundai actively supports fans through their sponsorships with Chelsea FC in the UK, Club Atlético de Madrid in Spain, AS Roma in Italy, as well as Hertha BSC and Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.

 

 

 

 

 

 

POWER HORSE LAUNCHES SEASON 2 OF ‘STREAM SESSIONS’ SHOWCASING ARTISTS FROM UAE, KSA, EGYPT & INDIA

A new immersive audiovisual DJ experience

 

 

 

 

 

With Covid restrictions still in place, nightlife is not the same in most parts of the world. To fill this void Power Horse plans to release an immersive audio-visual stream series of 8 episodes that will be broadcasted weekly from September 1st till October 15th 2021.

 

Stream Sessions will showcase the most exciting Middle-East and South Asia talents such as Ana Lilia, Cosmicat, DJ Mocity, Dia Hassan, Omar Fayyad, Shadi Megallaa, Tasnneem and Vinylmode. They will be presenting groovy house and techno sounds that flow from deep to melodic atmospheres. The stream will also showcase the culture and roots of those artists through images.

 

The platform provides the audience a means to enjoy the sets and get acquainted with fresh talent from their own space at home. Focusing on key markets for developing artists this season of Stream Sessions showcases talents from India, KSA, Egypt and UAE.

 

Streams will be available on the official Power Horse social media handles; Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, YouTube.

 

Tune in #PHStreamSessions. Previous streams have included great talent from around the Middle East like Dish Dash, Vinyl Mode, Cosmicat, Mo Ezabyy, and Hats & Klaps.

MSMEs stand better chances of success with established corporate governance frameworks, say Pearl Initiative panelists

40 business leaders and senior executives participated in the interactive webinar

• Pearl Initiative launched a regional survey to understand the way corporate governance is currently adopted in the region
• The UAE’s SME sector represents more than 94% of total companies and employs over 86% of the private sector workforce

 

August 16, 2021 - Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are more likely to succeed and contribute to social and economic development if they adopt established corporate governance frameworks and policies, according to an expert panel convened by the Pearl Initiative.

 

The GCC-based non-profit organisation, works to foster corporate governance transparency in the Gulf region within the private sector.

 

The panel discussed the importance of MSMEs in creating a sustainable business model that helps them address current challenges such as regulations, absence of collaterals, high interest rates and inadequate credit history, as well as ways to attract equity and debt capital to grow their business.

 

Panellists included high-impact entrepreneurs and business figures such as Fahim Al Qasimi, Managing Partner at AQ&P; Fadi Sidani, Managing Partner at Governance Dynamics; Shaheeda Abdul Kader, investment advisor and entrepreneur; and Nick Nidal, corporate governance advisor.

 

SMEs are the backbone of the GCC economy thanks to their sizable contribution to the workforce and national GDPs. In the UAE, the SME sector represents more than 94% of total companies and employs over 86% of the private sector workforce, according to 2019 figures by the Ministry of Economy. Within Dubai, SMEs contribute to 95% of companies and employ 42% of the workforce, contributing 40% of Dubai’s GDP.

 

During the virtual session which was attended by 40 business leaders and senior executives from the Gulf region, the speakers emphasised the need for small businesses to create the right structure and frameworks to grow and overcome adversities such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The panellists also underlined the importance of understanding and complying with the regulations in the countries where MSMEs operate, in order to ensure a thriving business, mitigate risks and maintain resilience. 

 

They highlighted the importance of a seamless internal communication mechanism in order to build trust and confidence within organisations, simplify procedures and allow employees access to processes in finance management and risk mitigation.

 

The discussions further suggested that one of the ways MSMEs can adapt and grow in a competitive business landscape is to embrace and leverage technological innovations, creating a resilient, competitive and sustainable business environment.

 

“MSMEs should make sure that their business model is sustainable. The world has changed, so don't look at things in the old-fashioned way, and take advantage of technology,” Sidani said.

 

The Pearl Initiative’s webinar was part of the organisation’s ongoing programmes to support various entities and business professionals in establishing actionable corporate governance frameworks, policies and plans, and integrate them into their business practices to alleviate future risks. The goal of the session was to empower MSMEs that face key challenges especially during the current economic challenges, and to help early-stage businesses formulate scenarios to build their resilience by implementing corporate governance best practices.

 

“Corporate governance is the playbook that dictates how all different parties operate. The more transparent you are about those relationships, the more trust you're building in doing what you do. Implementing governance early on pays dividends during the hardest times for a business,” said Al Qasimi

 

The Pearl Initiative has also launched a regional survey to understand the way corporate governance is currently adopted in the region and benchmark its standards for the region's MSMEs. The survey was developed in collaboration with AQ&P to better examine the application of good governance practices across MSMEs in the Gulf region.

 

The findings of the survey will be revealed in a regional report highlighting the current governance practices adopted by regional MSMEs, the opportunities and challenges of adopting best governance practices, and how addressing gaps in governance implementation can bolster regional businesses.

 

As part of its Governance in MSME Programme, the Pearl Initiative will host a series of webinars and workshops until the end of 2021 in cooperation with Bahrain’s Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs to address different pillars of corporate governance for young entrepreneurs in Bahrain and the Gulf region.

Mai Dubai substantially cuts carbon emissions over 5-year period

Shift to solar energy in power consumption leads to major emissions reduction compared to 2015

 

August 16, 2021

Mai Dubai, the bottled water company fully owned by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has made a significant achievement of cutting down its overall carbon footprint in 2020, following the installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant at its facilities. According to its latest sustainability review presented in a report by Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (DCCE), Mai Dubai’s Al Qudra site had zero carbon emissions last year as compared to 2019.

 

Mai Dubai has placed sustainability as one of its core values and it is being implemented throughout its operations. One of its major initiatives was the installation of the 18.1MW rooftop solar system, the second-largest solar roof installation in the world which is the largest solar-powered company in the Middle East. This contributes to abating more than 10,000 MTs of carbon emissions annually and serves an example of sustainable business practices.

 

Alexander van ‘t Riet, CEO, Mai Dubai, said: “Mai Dubai is proud of its latest achievement of further reducing its carbon footprint, which is a testament to the effectiveness of our strategy to employ renewable energy in our operations. The solar investments have been delivering great results and we are convinced that this is the right path for the company to continue providing high quality, innovative, and safe products as well as efficient services responsibly.”

 

“Mai Dubai will continue to enhance its operations using sustainable production practices to maintain its position as a leading example in the industry and within the UAE business community,” van ‘t Riet added.

 

Mai Dubai has become a net zero energy consumer and has even become a supplier to the Dubai grid in 2020 after its rooftop solar PVs generated a total of 30,245,073 kWh while its operations consumed 26,054,859 kWh.

 

Without using renewable sources such as solar energy, Mai Dubai’s carbon emissions in 2020 would have equaled to 10,885 MT of CO2 emission; this equates to a forest of 65,000 trees.

 

Mai Dubai puts sustainability at the heart of its operations right from the company’s inception. It started measuring its carbon footprint from the second year of its operations, following the highest international standards. The company implements the leading best practices and sustainability benchmarks to achieve its targets which are continuously being enhanced year after year.

Yas Island celebrates India’s 75th Independence Day as W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island and Etihad Arena light up

 

For high resolution photography and videography, please click here.

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 16 August 2021: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s premier leisure and entertainment hub, is lighting up in celebration for India’s 75^th Independence Day on August 15. In commemoration of the special occasion, W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island is displaying the flag of India on its grid shell light canopy, while Etihad Arena is lit in the colors of the Indian flag.