(This article written by: Morwood Wilson for The MidEast News Source)
The UAE’s once bourgeoning media landscape has not proved immune to the global malaise affecting the publishing and broadcasting industries. The drastic cuts in regional advertising budgets have seen a number of companies forced to reduce employee numbers, as well as close magazines and even television channels.
The region’s biggest publisher, ITP, announced just three weeks ago that it was closing nine magazines and laying off 60 employees in a bid to streamline the organization and refine operations.
Among the ITP magazines that have been closed are consumer magazines Viva Girl and Kohl, while the majority of magazines closed were the business titles.
Fellow publishing house and another significant player in the market, Arab Media Group (AMG), has also made cuts within its operations, but remains reluctant to confirm numbers. Reports suggest that the number of staff made redundant could be around 300, with AMG currently employing around 2,000 people.
The company released a statement through its PR agency saying, “In response to the current global economic downturn and its impact on the media industry in the region, Arab Media Group has moved to implement a restructuring program across its businesses, aimed at increasing the organization’s operational efficiency through the consolidation of some of its support services.”
Dubai-based television station City 7 has also confirmed it has let go 90 employees, while retaining a skeleton staff of 50 people. The ownership said the layoffs came as a direct result of the economic downturn affecting the region.
Much of the region’s advertising budget has been lost due to the downturn in the property market which previously made up substantial swathes of advertising in newspapers, magazines and broadcasting.
Dubai Holding, the government-owned group with subsidiaries stretching from property to the media sector, announced plans to cut its marketing and advertising budget by 25 percent this year in response to the economic slowdown.
Other smaller publications to have closed in recent months include lifestyle magazines, The Buzz, Society Dubai, as well as industry-focused magazine, Your Business.
Radio station Coast FM also spent a number of days broadcasting solely music before its owners, Fujairah Media, entered into an agreement with Ajman Independent Studios. The first phase of the agreement sees Ajman Independent Studios’ Channel 4 radio network acquire exclusive sales and marketing rights to Coast FM.
One young journalist who had come to Dubai fresh from completing her masters found herself out in the cold when the cutbacks began.
“I think I noticed things changing a while before the actual layoffs. We were told that there was a hiring freeze as well as no annual pay rises,” she said.
Asking to remain anonymous in order to make sure of references, she has found that the recruitment market in the region is overflowing with a large number of journalists competing for a shrinking number of jobs.
“There are a lot of people looking for work and from what I can tell, for the most part, the majority of retrenched staff are intent on staying in Dubai until their visas run out or they find other work. Truth is the market is dead everywhere, and for many this is [still] better than where they are from,” she explained.
The lay-offs in Dubai come in stark contrast to reports that Abu Dhabi’s flagship newspaper, the National, is on the verge of launching an Arabic version newspaper.
The paper, which is bankrolled by the Abu Dhabi government, was begun less than a year ago and has recruited from across Europe and North America; its editor Martin Newland previously helmed the Daily Telegraph in the UK.
The source of these reports, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the staff had already been recruited and were already in place to roll out the new publication. It would be in keeping with the region’s emphasis on symbolism if the paper were to see the light of day at the beginning of April as the National celebrates its first birthday.
Abu Dhabi has made its intentions clear as it strives to become a force in the media sector with the creation of its own media hub named “twofour 5,” in direct competition with Dubai’s Media City. The zone was launched late in 2008 with partnerships being formed with, among others, CNN, Thompson, Reuters, BBC and Harper Collins.
Although many of these global players already have operations set up in Dubai, reports suggest that staffing and investment will be more substantial in the UAE capital.
Original Article Source: MidEast News Source
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Moderate sandstorm reaches Dubai
Dubai: Suspended dust stirred by a massive sandstorm in the region reached Dubai this afternoon and other coastal areas of the emirates, lowering down visibility and slightly pushing down the temperature.
The dust laden Shamal (westerly) winds had been hitting Abu Dhabi’s western region since Tuesday afternoon that gradually pushed over to other cities. Weathermen, however, described it as a short and weak spell. Moderate winds will continue at a speed of 12 to 24 kilometres per hour that may blow up dust and sand at time in the interior and open areas.
According to the weather forecast for the next 24 hours, conditions will remain fair to partly cloudy and rather hot during day time in general. Conditions will be cold at night particularly over the mountains and the interior areas.
Weathermen also expect a rise in relative humidity in the coastal areas, forecasting the chances of mist or fog patches. Sea will be slight to moderate with two to four feet high waves.
Maximum temperature in Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, was 32 degree Celsius, and 33 in Sharjah and Al Ain. It was 31 in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.
By Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief
Last updated: March 12, 2009, 19:43
Article Resource: Gulf News
The dust laden Shamal (westerly) winds had been hitting Abu Dhabi’s western region since Tuesday afternoon that gradually pushed over to other cities. Weathermen, however, described it as a short and weak spell. Moderate winds will continue at a speed of 12 to 24 kilometres per hour that may blow up dust and sand at time in the interior and open areas.
According to the weather forecast for the next 24 hours, conditions will remain fair to partly cloudy and rather hot during day time in general. Conditions will be cold at night particularly over the mountains and the interior areas.
Weathermen also expect a rise in relative humidity in the coastal areas, forecasting the chances of mist or fog patches. Sea will be slight to moderate with two to four feet high waves.
Maximum temperature in Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, was 32 degree Celsius, and 33 in Sharjah and Al Ain. It was 31 in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.
By Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief
Last updated: March 12, 2009, 19:43
Article Resource: Gulf News
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No dancing in public in Dubai: report
DUBAI (AFP) — Playing loud music, dancing, nudity, kissing and even holding hands in public is considered inappropriate behaviour under new guidelines laid down by the authorities of Dubai, a report said Saturday.
Arabic-language daily Al Emarat Al-Youm said the Dubai Executive Council had urged residents of Dubai, where foreigners make up more than 80 percent of the population, to respect the customs of the Muslim majority country and avoid inappropriate behaviour.
The rules, which apply to all public places, include a ban on all forms of nudity, playing music loudly and dancing, exchange of kisses between men and women -- and even on unmarried couples holding hands.
Any breach of the guidelines, by nationals or expatriates, carries a possible prison penalty, the paper said.
The guidelines also stipulate that anyone caught under the influence of alcohol -- even small amounts -- outside designated drinking areas is liable to being fined or imprisoned, the paper added.
Dubai, a member of the seven-emirate United Arab Emirates, has a diverse culture as it is home to a foreign population made up mainly of low-skilled workers from Asia and Western professionals.
Unlike most of its neighbours in the conservative Gulf region, the emirate tolerates a relatively relaxed dress code and hosts dozens of hotels that have bars and clubs, where alcohol is legally served.
However, a series of incidents, including crackdowns on cross dressers and the expulsion of two British expats found guilty of having sex on the beach, has thrown into the limelight the sometimes clashing local and foreign cultures.
Article Source: Google News - AFP
Dubai Hotels Continue to Draw Tourists
DUBAI - Dubai’s Hotels played host to a record 6,996,449 guests in 2008 and posting an all-time high revenue of Dh 15.25 billion as the emirate retained the title of the hub of business and leisure tourism in the region.
The figures obtained from Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department (DNRD) confirmed that the number of Dubai’s inbound and outbound travellers exceeded 6.6 million during the last quarter of 2008.
Domestic tourists and those coming from countries in the Gulf, who don’t need visas for travel explain the difference, the Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) said.
The 2008 figures marked an increase over the 2007 record of 6,951,798 visitors billeted in Dubai hotels and resorts. In 2004, Dubai hotels received 5.4 million guests and 6.16 million in 2005.
Khalid A. bin Sulayem, director general of DTCM, said the results are highly encouraging and reflect the vibrancy and dynamism of the Emirate and its expanding tourism industry. “The performance reflects the efforts and ability of Dubai in confidently navigating through one of the most difficult journeys that the global tourism industry is facing,” he said.
“In 2007, Dh13.26 billion in revenue was recorded, at a 22.4 per cent growth. Last year’s figures represent a 15 per cent increase to that. The nearly seven million guests in 2008 also brought a double-digit increase in rooms inventory,” he said.
He said that Dubai Hotel and Hotel Apartment Performance Summary 2008 showed a 15.9 per cent increase in the number of hotel rooms and hotel apartments, which stood at 49,598. “In 2007, the number of hotel rooms and hotel apartments were only 42,807 after a 4.8 per cent growth over the previous year. Hotels contributed to 32 per cent of Dubai’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2008,” he added.
He stressed that Dubai government is continuing to take steps to manage this key economic domain in times of global economic meltdown. One of these initiatives launched by DTCM is ‘Keep Discovering Dubai’, aimed at boosting hotel occupancies.
He also said that as of last week of February, the average occupancy of five-star beach hotels reached 95 per cent with the average room rate for five-star hotels being Dh 1239. “We conducted promotional campaigns with visitors getting up to 40 per cent discount in hotel room rates among other benefits.”
The latest DTCM initiative includes a three-month familiarisation programme for over 2,000 tour operators, MICE agents and media representatives to visit Dubai between March and May. This is in cooperation with Emirates Airlines, hotels and MICE.
Article Source: Khaleej Times Online
The figures obtained from Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department (DNRD) confirmed that the number of Dubai’s inbound and outbound travellers exceeded 6.6 million during the last quarter of 2008.
Domestic tourists and those coming from countries in the Gulf, who don’t need visas for travel explain the difference, the Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) said.
The 2008 figures marked an increase over the 2007 record of 6,951,798 visitors billeted in Dubai hotels and resorts. In 2004, Dubai hotels received 5.4 million guests and 6.16 million in 2005.
Khalid A. bin Sulayem, director general of DTCM, said the results are highly encouraging and reflect the vibrancy and dynamism of the Emirate and its expanding tourism industry. “The performance reflects the efforts and ability of Dubai in confidently navigating through one of the most difficult journeys that the global tourism industry is facing,” he said.
“In 2007, Dh13.26 billion in revenue was recorded, at a 22.4 per cent growth. Last year’s figures represent a 15 per cent increase to that. The nearly seven million guests in 2008 also brought a double-digit increase in rooms inventory,” he said.
He said that Dubai Hotel and Hotel Apartment Performance Summary 2008 showed a 15.9 per cent increase in the number of hotel rooms and hotel apartments, which stood at 49,598. “In 2007, the number of hotel rooms and hotel apartments were only 42,807 after a 4.8 per cent growth over the previous year. Hotels contributed to 32 per cent of Dubai’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2008,” he added.
He stressed that Dubai government is continuing to take steps to manage this key economic domain in times of global economic meltdown. One of these initiatives launched by DTCM is ‘Keep Discovering Dubai’, aimed at boosting hotel occupancies.
He also said that as of last week of February, the average occupancy of five-star beach hotels reached 95 per cent with the average room rate for five-star hotels being Dh 1239. “We conducted promotional campaigns with visitors getting up to 40 per cent discount in hotel room rates among other benefits.”
The latest DTCM initiative includes a three-month familiarisation programme for over 2,000 tour operators, MICE agents and media representatives to visit Dubai between March and May. This is in cooperation with Emirates Airlines, hotels and MICE.
Article Source: Khaleej Times Online
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