Dubai Internet City has announced it is the official ICT partner for the second edition of Cloud Computing Forum MENA, a two-day executive level conference and exhibition.

Organised by Keynote World Media, the Cloud Computing Forum will be held from 28 – 29 February at The Address Dubai Marina. The forum will focus on key topics such as cloud security, mobile cloud, building cloud infrastructure, and cloud communications. In addition, the event will also hold a day-long workshop to discuss cloud computing with global IT vendors. In parallel, a series of seminars will witness experts examining specific issues related to technology adoption.

Majed Al Suwaidi, Director, Business Development, Dubai Internet City and Dubai Outsource Zone, said: “Cloud computing will transform business models through changing the way IT is provisioned. Local businesses and IT personnel are realising the relevance of such technologies and making aggressive investments on this front. This has helped modernise communication and make it more effective for enterprises.”

Al Suwaidi added: “The region has readily adopted new age technologies by making strategic investments for a sustainable future. In order to satisfy their customers and clients, businesses in the region prioritise the need to innovate and increase efficiency within their IT infrastructure. Such organisations are also looking to make a transition to cloud computing.”

Public and private cloud adoption has gained momentum across the GCC countries with over 70 per cent of the organisations gauging the benefits of cloud computing and services, according to research firm IDC.

Meanwhile, the global cloud services industry is expected to generate US$177 billion in revenue by 2015, up from US$89.4 billion in 2011, as per studies conducted by research analysts at Gartner.

At the forefront of the region’s ICT industry, Dubai Internet City remains committed to supporting emerging technology trends in the region and continues to play an instrumental role in developing the industry while contributing to Dubai’s drive for creating a knowledge-based economy.

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About Dubai Internet City

Dubai Internet City (DIC), a member of TECOM Investments, was established in 2000. It is currently regarded the Middle East’s largest information and communications technology (ICT) cluster. Built as a strategic base for companies targeting emerging markets in several neighbouring regions, DIC’s core focus area extends from the Middle East to the Indian Subcontinent, and from Africa to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), covering nearly three billion people with a GDP of over US$10 trillion. As a knowledge-oriented business model, DIC has created a dynamic international community of IT companies hosting business partners that include most of the Fortune 500 brands, as well as a number of small and medium enterprises and ventures. In 2009, 135 new companies joined the DIC cluster. For more information, please visit: www.dubaiinternetcity.com

Contacts

Nancy Sudheer

APCO Worldwide

JIWIN Public Relations

Email: nsudheer@apcoworldwide.com

Tel: + 971 4 369 2834

Mob: +971 50 7055290/ +971 55 9548681

The incredible strides in the treatment of cardiovascular disease over the past 50 years, new imaging modalities pave the way to detailed history of myocardial infarction, with all this and a host of new ideas comes – Weneed to talk, listen and discuss – Join both international and regional cardiovascular experts at The2nd Annual Cased Based Approach to Controversies in Cardiovascular Disease on February 23-25, 2012 at Raffles Dubai, UAE.

During the upcoming Conference, the interactive program will present current and future management strategies in cardiovascular surgery, cardiovascular medicine, and their related disciplines. The faculty of international experts will debate and analyze management of valvular and coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.

Through this knowledgeable approach of these innovations and use of current evidence based therapies, providers will be able to incorporate the most up-to-date research into their clinical practice and optimize patient outcomes.

This CME accredited program is co-sponsored by Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic in collaboration with Emirates Cardiac Society, Saudi Heart Association, Asia Pacific Society of Cardiology and Dubai Health Authority.

The conference has received 16.5 CME Hours from UAE University and from Dubai Health Authority.

www.cardiovascular-uae.com

ABOUT MCI

MCI is a globally integrated Association, Communication and Event Management Company. Since 1987, MCI has created corporate events, meetings and incentives; association and governmental conventions, congresses, exhibitions; and managed and provided consulting to associations. MCI’s mission is to help companies, governments and associations bring people together to create meaningful connections and win.

MCI provides many stand-alone solutions designed for those who only need a specific service to complete their projects such as Destination Management, Sustainability Services, Technical and Creative Production, Event Hospitality, Event Furniture and Decoration and Registration Technology.

Visit the MCI websitewww.mci-group.comthe latest company information.

Contacts

Kavitha Prabhu

Manager – External Communications

MCI Middle East & India

www.mci-group.com/uae

Tel: +971 (4) 311 6300 | Mobile: +971 56 1763255

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Starr Companies announced today that X. Rick Niu has been named Senior Managing Director of Starr Strategic Partners, a newly formed division dedicated to serving the insurance and investment needs of Asian and other emerging market companies and individuals doing business in the U.S. The appointment is part of the organization’s broader strategy to meet the increasing demand for foreign direct investments in the U.S. and the fast-growing financial services needs of emerging market investors as they expand globally.

With an initial focus on global Chinese investors, Mr. Niu will lead a dedicated team tasked with delivering products, services and solutions across Starr Companies insurance and investment divisions and through strategic alliances.

Mr. Niu is an experienced financial services executive possessing a strong track record with leading insurance and investment corporations in developing and developed economies. Most recently, he served as Chief Marketing Officer, U.S. Retirement, and Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, U.S. Insurance, at ING Group NV.

Maurice R. Greenberg said, “Companies and individuals from all over the world are establishing and expanding their presence in the U.S. and we are committed to making their journey here as smooth as possible. Rick’s domestic and international business experience and expertise will serve him well as we pursue this strategy.”

“I am excited to join Starr Companies and help to advance the strategic vision of the company. Investors from dynamic emerging markets are looking at the U.S. as a key location for their ambitious growth plans. Together with our global insurance and investment capabilities, we will help these important customers succeed in America,” comments Mr. Niu.

Starr Companiesis the marketing name for C.V. Starr & Co., Inc. and Starr Insurance Holdings, Inc., and is a global, privately held insurance, financial services, and investments organization. Starr provides high-quality, customized property and casualty and accident & health insurance products, with significant access to the excess and surplus marketplace for certain lines of business. Starr also writes specialty lines covering aviation, marine, energy and excess casualty insurance, including risks with international exposures. Starr provides a broad spectrum of services, including claims handling and settlement, reinsurance, risk assessment, loss control and worldwide travel assistance.

For more information visit us at www.starrcompanies.com

Contacts

Starr Companies

John Thompson, 646-227-6780

john.thompson@starrcompanies.com

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, and Mohammed Mohebi, Mohebi Logistics CEO, signed the lease agreement for the 1.5 million square feet plot. The Emirati company now joins the ranks of Aramex, Kuehne + Nagel, Panalpina, Hellmann Caliper, INL, RSA Logistics and other major industry players that are taking full advantage of Dubai World Central’s infrastructure, multi-modal transport accessibility, dedicated services and facilities.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed said: “Dubai World Central consolidates Dubai’s position as a major international logistics hub. It establishes a strategic link to global markets and plays a crucial role in meeting the present and future needs of Dubai’s aviation, tourism, trade and logistics sectors. Moreover, Dubai World Central demonstrates Dubai Government’s commitment to support key industry players such as Mohebi Logistics by providing the right combination of world-class infrastructure and value-added services.”

Mohammed Mohebi, Mohebi Logistics CEO, said: “We are proud and excited at the prospect of becoming a strategic partner of Dubai World Central and key contributor to Dubai’s continued economic growth. It is important that Emirati talent and know-how offered by home-grown companies are developed to support our leadership’s vision of creating a knowledge-based economy. Dubai World Central will play a critical role in showcasing both Emirati talent and corporate capabilities, which in my opinion is key in serving our national interests.”

Mohebi Logistics, which is part of the Zainal Mohebi Group, will build its state-of-the-art corporate headquarters and facilities comprising approximately 110,000 pallet positions, expanding the company’s storage and logistics facilities and almost doubling its capacity to serve its regional and global clientele. The headquarters and temperature-controlled warehousing facilities will be constructed in two phases.

The construction of a new logistics base in DLC is part of AED 1 billion in investments that Mohebi Investments earmarked to establish itself as a major regional player. In order to expand and achieve a lean, efficient retail distribution business, Zainal Mohebi Group will consolidate its FMCG operations in a single location at Dubai World Central.

Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, said: “Dubai Logistics City supports the growing logistical needs of the region’s burgeoning business community. Furthermore, it provides direct access to a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art infrastructure and services and multi-modal transport within a centralized location at Dubai World Central. This creates the perfect environment for the logistics community to synergize and unlock fresh opportunities for business growth.”

Rashed Bu Qara’a, Chief Operating Officer, Dubai Aviation City Corporation: “Moving forward, Dubai World Central will continue to focus on building strong relations with clients as one of the cornerstones of our growth strategy. We are therefore working closely with Mohebi Logistics to provide dedicated services and facilities that match their business needs and give them greater flexibility to expand their operations in the region. Given the strong value proposition of Dubai World Central, we are also actively in discussion with other major logistics companies and expect to announce additional partnerships in the near future.”

Dubai, UAE February 22 2012: Many regional markets are experiencing a staggering increase in internet usage, up from 7.8 million to 187 million users in the last decade, according to Steve Hamilton-Clark, CEO of the world’s largest custom market research organisation, TNS MENA.

“Over the past ten years, internet use in the greater MENA region is up 2,300 per cent. I am seeing this as one of many indications that consumer brands must change the way they do business.”

Hamilton-Clark shared that the recently-published TNS Digital Life global programme looks at how consumers in 60 countries behave online. “The statistics show that 90 per cent of region-based consumers conduct research across all categories using the internet before purchase. They also indicate that e-commerce is set to grow in the region,” he said.

He also stressed that as online engagement grows, consumer brands must be ready to manage a full spectrum of customer services, from assisting pre-purchase research, through to product selection, purchase, delivery, as well as a slick after-sales service.

“The internet affords infinitive opportunities and we urge marketers to fast appreciate this or face being left behind. Indeed, online and mobile shopping looks set to play an even bigger role as support channels, software and devices continue to develop,” Hamilton-Clark observed.

He also noted that hosting loyalty schemes online provides brands with a great opportunity to become more creative in the way they hook and keep a customer, as well as manage the relationship. However, he warned the research suggests that consumers often feel that brand voice lacks lustre, with some unsure whether to trust what is being said.

“One of the keys to leadership in the digital space is the provision of timely, relevant information at the right touch points. Indeed, before stepping online, it is wise to go back-to-basics and consider the consumer experience beyond the core product,” he said.

Turning to the UAE, many residents spend an average of 15 hours per week online, including three hours on social networking sites. Users are also active in video streaming, knowledge-based activities and gaming. Hamilton-Clark said that this represents enormous opportunities if used intelligently and diligently by marketers and the media.

“Digital is fast becoming a primary media channel, with search engine ads currently influencing 20 per cent of product selection made by regional consumers.

“However, there is still the need to incorporate offline marketing strategies to drive traffic online in the first place. An integrated approach is needed and campaigns should include on-and off-line tactics,” he concluded.

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For Media Enquiries in the Middle East:

Vanessa Garcia Tel. +971 55 531 4846 vanessa@strategicsolutionsonline.com

The DBWC panellists discussed different career opportunities for women that have now emerged in the private sector. They also talked about the skills that are most essential to achieve professional success, while highlighting the advantages of pursuing a career in the private sector, particularly for women.

Raja Al Gurg said: “Dubai Business Women Council continues to reach out to the community to share our expertise and resources. Our ultimate goal is to help enrich the lives of citizens, particularly women who want to be successful in their respective fields of interest. The panel discussion at Zayed University was therefore an excellent way to inspire students to become successful in life by learning from the success stories of DBWC members. It was a great opportunity for the students to learn from our experiences, which will help them make informed decisions in their own pursuit of professional and personal success.”

The panel discussion focused on helping students create a balance between their professional career and their personal lives. The DBWC members shared their success stories to the students and offered tips based on their own experiences.

John Seybolt, Dean of the College of Business Sciences, said, “Having women with the stature, breadth of experience and professionalism of these Dubai Business Women’s Council members speak to business students is not only a privilege but it brings the reality of the professional workplace to these business students. Women such as Mrs. Al Gurg, Mrs. Al Sayed, Mrs. Kamber, and Mrs. Maryam Al Noori are true role models for our students. Listening to them tell their stories of their professional journeys to the height of business success and asking them questions about factors leading to these successes can be among the most important lessons business students can learn from their studies.”

“Also, bringing business professionals to the college to meet and work with students on an on-going basis is a wonderful way for students to learn about, and experience the importance of networking as they begin their own business careers. It is gratifying to know that women of this caliber are willing to share their time and experiences with our students. It is also an opportunity for these business leaders to interact with those who will be the future business and community leaders of this country, and learn more about what the students see as important issues businesses will need to consider as they work with the next generation of decision makers and leaders,” he added.

Founded in 2002, DBWC motivates women to be productive members of the society, while encouraging role models to rise up from the ranks and inspire other women around the world, especially in the Arab region, to discover their true potential. DBWC organises the high-profile monthly event ‘Majlis Business’ to provide information about the latest knowledge, skills and best practices for women entrepreneurs and leaders.

Nayla Al Khaja, the UAE’s first female film producer and Canon Middle East brand ambassador, has launched a new film club ‘Aflam’ founded by her company D-SEVEN Motion Pictures, that will serve as a platform to significantly boost Arab filmmakers. Aflam is a monthly film club that celebrates the best of independent Arabic films and filmmakers, by showcasing award winning films to the Abu Dhabi community.

The film club was launched on January 25, 2012 with a red carpet event at VOX Cinemas in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall. The highlight of the event was the screening of the critically acclaimed Egyptian film ‘Tahrir 2011′, a documentary about the Egyptian revolution.

The successful start to Aflam screenings was marked by the full house of 400 plus people who attended the film and engaged in a dialogue with producer, Mohamed Hefzy, and the fact that the film was bought for GCC distribution that evening, by Kuwaiti distributor, Hisham Alghanim.

The club’s second screening is scheduled to take place on Sunday 26th February, starting with an hour of networking at 7pm. The screenings will start at 8pm, opening with a short film, ‘Soul’, made by Emirati Director Fatima Abdalla Ali, through twofour54’s Create Lab in Abu Dhabi. As the Canon 5D is very popular among new and coming filmmakers, many of the short films to be screened at Aflam will have been made using this camera.

Screening of the short film will be followed with a feature film – this time a love story, titled ‘Habibi Ra’sak Kharban’, for which the writer and director, Susan Youssef, will be flown in from Amsterdam to attend.

‘Habibi Ra’sak Kharban’ is a story of forbidden love set in Gaza, which has earned regional recognition by wining the Grand Prize in the Emerging narrative program at IFP’s Independent Film Week. Susan Youssef has been named one of “25 New Faces” to watch for by Filmmaker magazine. Her five shorts have screened at venues such as Sundance Film Festival and Museum of Modern Art, New York. Habibi is her first feature film.

As at every Aflam screening, the evening will end with a question and answer session between audience and filmmaker, with Nayla Al Khaja moderating the discussion. Aflam also gives the audience an opportunity to sign a poster, which is gifted to the filmmaker, as a token of our appreciation of their work.

Aflam is a film club open to everyone – not just Arabic speakers, but people of all backgrounds. Aflam’s films have an international appeal with many having been previously screened at major film festivals across the globe. It’s a club offering a chance to talk to film directors, and a place for film professionals and film fans to network. Complimentary tickets can be requested on their website, www.aflamclub.com.

Commenting on the initiative, Nayla said, “The launch of Aflam follows the overwhelming success of the film club we launched in Dubai few years ago. We believe that Abu Dhabi certainly deserves a film club of this nature to celebrate the best of Arab independent cinema with a multi-cultural audience, while also providing a platform for film enthusiasts in the region to network and discuss the nuances of independent filmmaking. This initiative also compliments the objectives of our partners like Canon Middle East, who help bring the best of film making technology and equipment to this region, thereby supporting growth of the industry.”

Mai Youssef, Corporate Communications Manager, Canon Middle East, said, “We congratulate Nayla and D-SEVEN Motion Pictures on the launch of Aflam. It is indeed imperative that Abu Dhabi has such a platform that celebrates the depth and creative wealth of Arabic culture and art, particularly cinema. Canon especially appreciates initiatives such as Aflam given our similar efforts in supporting independent filmmakers who are keen on stretching the boundaries of filmmaking through our budget-friendly, full-featured DSLR cameras.”

Canon is supporting the “BLOOM! Cine Startups” initiative, which is being organised by D-SEVEN Motion Pictures to encourage budding filmmakers, especially the youth, to make their first film using Canon DSLR cameras.

With the healthcare sector in the Middle East continuing to enjoy robust growth, more than 300 new exhibitors and a host of new country pavilions participated in the show this year, with Bulgaria, Hungry, Chile and Portugal making their debuts. In addition, major delegations also came from China with over 300 participating companies, Germany with over 370 companies and the UAE, UK and USA all with 580 companies each exhibiting.

“Arab Health is one of the most important shows in our yearly calendar,” said Waclaw Lukowicz, CEO of the healthcare sector in the Middle East and Africa at Siemens. “We put a lot of effort into the show because we know that we get to meet many of our most important customers during the event.”

“We had more visitors to our stand during the first day of the exhibition this year than we had in total last year,” added Hisham Hour, Senior Vice President of Welch Allyn. “Arab Health 2012 has truly been a success for us, and we couldn’t be more pleased.”

Arab Health 2012 was inaugurated by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Finance Minister. Along with several other government dignitaries, Lord Darzi – a leading figure responsible for healthcare innovation and reform across the UK – also attended the event for the third year running to continue his work in promoting the UK Life Sciences industry and the NHS.

“We have found that the Middle East is very receptive to the services and knowledge offered by the UK Life Sciences industry,” said Lord Darzi. “We have been able to make a great deal of progress on building up relationships with the Middle East during Arab Health this year.”

Running alongside the exhibition and in partnership with Cleveland Clinic, 17 conferences provided medical professionals with Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits over the four days. 2012 saw the launch of several new conferences covering topics such as Medical Education, Wound Care, Biomedical Engineering and mHealth. In addition, many of the long-standing conferences were a complete sell-out, including the Paediatrics conference, Medlab, and Imaging and Diagnostics.

“This year Arab Health has seen groundbreaking news unveiled and many partnerships formed,” said Simon Page. “We look forward to seeing the results and impact on the healthcare industry and the benefits these new initiatives will bring to the care of patients and the community.”

The organisers of the event, Informa Exhibitions, placed a great deal of focus on Social Media during this year’s event, which proved to be a great success. With #arabhealth trending among the UAE’s twitterati during the week of the exhibition and the introduction of the social media space on the show floor, which provided regular seminars on how social media can benefit companies in the healthcare sector, the profile of Arab Health was elevated to even high levels than in previous years.

To add to the high profile of the event, the Arab Health Achievement and Innovation Awards were once again awarded to industry leaders and outstanding institutions across the Middle East on the second evening of Arab Health.
“Each year, the awards are playing an increasing role in improving healthcare standards across the region,” said Simon Page. “The winners were delighted to receive recognition for their work and we are proud to be able to reward industry leaders in this way.”

Undoubtedly a testament to the growth and development of the healthcare sector in the region, the Arab Health Exhibition & Congress clearly remains a global player in the field of medical innovation, healthcare education and sustainability. The success of Arab Health 2012 has paved the way for an even better event in 2013.

For information about the next edition of Arab Health Exhibition & Congress, please visit www.arabhealthonline.com, or call +971 4 407 2743.

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Note to Editors

About Informa Exhibitions:
For more information about Informa Exhibitions, please visit www.informaexhibitions.com.

For media enquiries please contact:
Inga Stevens
PR and Social Media Manager
Life Science Division

T: +971 4 407 2743
F: +971 4 336 4021
inga.stevens@informa.com