مجلــة أعمــال رأس اخليمــة
PUBLISHED BY RAK DED
ISSUE (9) JAN.-FEB, 2020
RAMY JALLAD RAS AL KHAIMAH A GLOBAL BUSINESS
DESTINATION
UAE RANKS FIRST ON GLOBAL LABOUR
RESILIENCE REALITY AND INDICATORS OF HEALTH SECTOR
WAYS TO GET MORE
FOLLOWERS ON
PERFORMANCE
TOP 5 PLACES TO VISIT OUTSIDE
TRAVEL TRENDS FOR BOOMERS, GEN X, Y & Z IN FOCUS AT ATM
INSTAGRAM LONDON
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR
PRODUCT
ROBERT ROSTEK...
309
Licenses Issued for
Subsidised Businesses
in RAK
ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIPS ENABLE STRONG INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS
WHERE
BUSINESS
STARTS AND DEVELOP
The Department of Economic Development in Ras Al Khaimah provides a variety of services relating to licenses, commercial control and consumer protection with a view to provide many facilities to investors in the Emirates.
PO.BOX: 10510 W
www.ded.rak.ae
E
TEL: 07 2044444 – Fax: 07 2271444
info.ded@economic.rak.ae
RAKDED_AE
EDITORIAL
WHAT DOES UAE WANT IN THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS?
SUPERVISION
SH. Mohamed bin Kayed Al Qasimi EDITOR IN CHIEF Dr. Abdulrahman Alshayeb AlNaqbi Managing Editor Aisha Obaid Alayyan Editors Nathan Hunter Maryam Haji Mohammed Nebras Shafik Abo Zidan
EDITING & DESIGN
Khawla Ibrahim Zina Abboud Zainab Shieha Dareen Abualkheer Maher Safyeldin
Contacts and Advertising
050 899 5669
+971 7 222 9995 info@ngmedia.ae
As the UAE’s golden jubilee (1) celebration approaches, the New Year has been declared the year of “its 50-year preparation” by setting a development strategy based on the knowledge economy. This announcement came during the launching process of the national action strategy that is the largest of its kind; ranging from celebrating the golden jubilee of the United Arab Emirates in 2021 to preparing for the next fifty years at all levels of the federal and local state All sectors and spectrums of Emirati society - citizens, residents, public, private and civil sectors - must be involved in shaping life in the country for the next fifty years. “The UAE is approaching its fiftieth anniversary in 2021, and we want 2021 to be the major year of launch. We celebrate fifty years and launch for the next fifty march,” H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said in a press statement. “Preparation will be the next year 2020, next year will be the year of preparation, and preparation for a great leap in our journey.”, His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum added. The year 2020 will be the year of preparation for its fifty years, as the development plan will include setting a new development vision for the next fifty years, setting the new economic map for the country, developing exceptional economic projects and policies to achieve qualitative leaps in the national economy. Along with consolidating the soft power of the UAE and working to systems the media system, it achieves economic and social returns to it, protects its earnings and enhances its opportunities in the new economy. The plan will also include reviewing the federal and local coordinate systems, setting new mechanisms and different structures to achieve integration in all sectors and preparing them for the future, such as health, education, housing, transportation, food security, and other vital sectors. Additionally, setting an integrated vision for the Emirati society during the next fifty years from demographic aspects of family and cultural identity in a rapidly changing world. If we want to point out something, the UAE is distinguished for its leadership, ambitions, and outlook for the future, and works to handover the flag to the next generation on a clear approach to hold the reins of the future. So congratulations to the people of the Emirates on their leaders who sharpen everyone’s interests in all classes and spectrums of society and its pluralism to participate in setting and implementing plans and their feeling that they are a basic component, and a component of these plans. The UAE deserves everyone to participate in the spirit of unity, pride, and pride in what it has achieved and what it will achieve. Dr. Abdulrahman Alshayeb Al Naqbi RAK DED Director General
Opinions expressed in articles are the writer’s own and do not reflect the view of RAK DED Or RAKBusiness Magazine. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, the publisher also disclaims any legal responsibility towards other parties.
RAS AL KHAIMAH DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VISION: PRas Al Khaimah to be the preferred destination for doing business in the region. MISSION: Planning and organizing economic activities, augmenting investment promotion efforts and the business environment competitiveness to achieve sustainable economic development in the Emirate by relaying on qualified staff and intelligent integrated systems that are hinged on knowledge and innovation to achieve society happiness.
w www.ded.rak.ae
STRATEGIC GOALS: ֺ Positive Citizenship: Taking responsibility and meeting all customers’ needs and beyond- If possible. (Serve with a Smile) ֺ Institutional Happiness: Continuously strive to win the happiness of our employees, customers, partners, and the community (Make Everyone Happy) ֺ Creativity and Innovation: We want our employees to take initiative with every new, creative and innovative idea. (Be Proactive and Innovative) ֺ Integrity and Transparency: Develop an institutional governance framework and adopt it as an integrated ideology ֺ Sharing Knowledge: One team with unified knowledge we all share (share your knowledge)
E info.ded@economic.rak.ae
Rakded_ae
RGANIZATIONAL VALUES: O ֺ Promoting diversified and sustainable economic growth by attracting and encouraging investments. ֺ Developing a business environment according to the global competitiveness standards. ֺ Developing functions of business control and protection and consumer protection. ֺ Developing services, enhancing the customer’s experience, and providing an added value ֺ Expand and enhance the institutional efficiency of institutional support services ֺ Boosting the culture of creativity, innovation, knowledge dissemination and institutional excellence
CONTENTS
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08
MADAR FARMS
ROBERT ROSTEK... Economic Partnerships Enable Strong International Investments
16
RAK has made many remarkable achievements in recent years due which gave the emirate a lot of confidence and credibility.
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24
The farm area is 5000 m2, it depends on the automatic methods of vertical cultivation of plants throughout the year.
SHAZA SALEM AL-SAQQATRI...
Natural Beauty A huge shift in consumer awareness about health and wellness
RAMY JALLAD Ras Al-Khaimah ...an International Business Destination
Cosmetics made from herbs, flowers, natural oils, etc. have won the consumers confidence because it’s results do not affect health, beauty, skin and hair.
“Rakiz” creates a suitable environment for business by providing various types of facilities that meet the needs of investors and entrepreneurs.
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38
TOP 5 PLACES TO VISIT OUTSIDE LONDON Venture beyond the confines of the capital and even more spectacular highlights awaits.
Kh
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27
36
th
14
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lit or y an Or aim pe d I 31 Eco gani ah. rform ndic 10 n z e an ato In W om d C ce rs st ay y. r im in of ag s t ea ra o Ra hea m Ge s A lt nd tM l- h Sh or a do eF w ol lo we rs on
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to open world’s first commercial-scale indoor tomato farm in Abu Dhabi
TRAVEL TRENDS FOR BOOMERS, GEN X, Y & Z IN FOCUS AT ATM ATM 2020, will bring together travel and tourism experts from across the globe to discuss the burgeoning global tours and activities market,
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ECONOMIC PANORAMA
HE Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi
High-Level Meeting on Ease of Doing Business in Ras Al Khaimah ـــــــــ
Furthering the productive partnerships and positive working relations that characterize Ras Al Khaimah government departments, the Sheikh Saqr Program for Government Excellence hosted a high-level meeting recently. Aimed at improving the competitiveness of the UAE at all levels, the meeting had a dedicated focus on promoting ease of doing business in the emirate. Attended by the heads and general managers of Ras Al Khaimah’s government entities whose operations influence the World Bank’s ease of doing business index, the
6 | RAKBUSINESS
meeting saw the participation of the Federal Authority for Competitiveness and Statistics (FCSA), the Federal Electricity & Water Authority (FEWA), the General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization. His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Abdullatif Khalifa, Director General of the Sheikh Saqr Program for Government Excellence, highlighted the opportunities for advancing the emirate’s classification to world-leading levels in order to achieve the UAE leadership’s vision.
ECONOMIC PANORAMA NEWS
309 TRADE LICENSES ISSUED FOR SUBSIDISED BUSINESSES IN RAS AL KHAIMAH Department of Business Development at Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development (DED) revealed that the number of subsidized business licenses issued in 2019 totalled 309,160 of which were licenses to work from home (i.e. ‘Tomorrow’s License’), 39 Virtual Retailer Licenses, 12 trade licenses subsidized by the Khalifa Fund For Enterprise Development, and 98 trade licenses from the Saud bin Saqr Foundation for Developing Youth Projects. The total number of licenses issued grew by 27% to reach 309 in 2019, up from 264 in 2018, driven by incentives and facilities launched by the DED to promote commercial activities in the emirate. Meanwhile, the Corniche Festival 2019 hosted 67 various licenses.
On another note, the emirate has sought to support entrepreneurs by waiving up to 100% of the financial fees associated with these licenses. The total number of licenses issued in 2019 was 160, compared with 152 in 2018. These include many household activities such as folk cuisine, perfumes, and more. The Virtual Retailer License also witnessed remarkable demand in 2019, reaching 39 licenses, driven by the incentives launched by the DED at the end of 2018 to regulate e-commerce in the business sector across Ras Al Khaimah. Al-Mahmoud thanked all the governmental authorities that participated in the exhibition, including the Community Police Department, Punitive and Cor-
Mohamed Al Mahmoud
rectional Institutions Department, the Tourist Police Department, the Civil Defense Department and all the sponsors who contributed to the success of this exhibition including Union Cement Factory, Al Burj Press and Ras Al-Khaimah Center for Studies and Statistics.
23 % INCREASE IN INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES OVER THE LAST YEAR NEW BUS SERVICES BETWEEN ABU DHABI AND RAS AL KHAIMAH Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority have signed a MoUto launch bus services between Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah. The signing of the MoU comes in part of ITC’s endeavour to enhance the cooperation between government entities and offer the public with the best services. The MoU was signed by Mr. Maktoum Al Kaabi, the Executive Director of the Technology and Transport Systems Sector at the Integrated Transport Centre and H.E. Eng. Ismail Hassan Al Balooshi, Director General of RAK Transport Authority. The signing ceremony was attended by many officials from both entities. According to the MoU, bus services will operate between Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, at the rate of two trips, the first at 10.00 in the morning and the second at 3.00 in the evening for 45 dirhams, and the timing of trips from Abu Dhabi to RAK, the first trip starts at 2:30 p.m. and the second starts at 7:30 p.m. for 35 dirhams.
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Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone's (RAKEZ) witnessed a 23% increase in industrial companies in 2019 compared to 2018, reflecting its success in attracting international companies to leverage on the emirate’s position as a gateway to enter the regional markets. RAKEZ hosts an overall of 14500 companies, from big industrial companies, such as cars, iron and cable plants, to commercial and services firms. RAKBUSINESS | 7
Department of Human Resources Launches ‘Human Capital Data Strategy’ ـــــــــ
Ras Al Khaimah Human Resources Department launched its ‘Human Capital Data Strategy’ plan to streamline processes for setting human resource strategies and policies, support decision-making in RAK Government agencies, and promote a competitive work environment to attract talent in line with UAE Vision 2021. Dr. Muhammad Abdullatif Khalifa, Director General of the RAK Human Resources Department, announced the launch, asserting that the Department’s plans align with the objectives of the ‘2020: Towards the Next 50’ initiative. The plan calls for developing human capital data management and governance procedures, using advanced technologies to administer, analyse, and integrate data. The objective is to develop HR services that improve productivity and ensure optimal investment in human capital. “The Human Capital Data Strategy will help provide complete data on the rates of Emiratisation at various organisations, current and future jobs across RAK Government entities, and the qualifications set to be vital in the years ahead, facilitating the development of training programmes in the future,” Dr Khalifa added. “The RAK Department of Human Resources is working to fully digitise its services by 2021, registering in 127 indicators related to human capital as of the end of 2019.” The objectives of the new Strategy include developing human capital data management and governance procedures by implementing various initiatives, such as classifying workforce data, setting policies for providing data to local and federal authorities, and updating the HR indexes guide. The Strategy also seeks to launch four new projects, namely, the Smart Dashboard initiative for monitoring institutional performance, and the statistics and records data exchange network, set to be completed in 2020. 8 | RAKBUSINESS
RAS AL KHAIMAH’S HIMAYA SECURITY SYSTEM OBTAINS ISO 10006 Himaya obtained the globally-accredited certificate for having applied the highest quality specifications and standards in the management of joint projects. The certificate was received by His Excellency Major-General Ali Abdullah Bin Alwan Al Nuaimi, Commander-in-Chief of Ras Al Khaimah Police and His Excellency Brigadier Jamal Ahmad Al Tair, head of the General Resources Department, in the presence of representatives from SGS Gulf Ltd (the ISO certificate company), a number of officers and employees of Ras Al Khaimah Police, and members of the General Resources Department. “This certification will enhance the sustainability and quality of joint government project management and is a distinguished acknowledgment of the work of both entities,” said His Excellency Major General Ali Abdullah bin Alwan Al-Nuaimi, Commander-in-Chief of Ras Al Khaimah Police. His Excellency Jamal Al-Tair praised the global achievement, which he said was the culmination of efforts between Ras Al Khaimah Police and the General Resources Department. He highlighted that this was based on the wise leadership’s aspiration to encourage cooperation between all police and security entities and to use human resources and intellectual creativity to create major achievements that will lead Ras Al Khaimah to global first positions in all fields and disciplines.
ECONOMIC PANORAMA NEWS
RAK ENTITIES WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN INNOVATION MONTH Ras Al Khaimah’s UAE Innovation Month committee has announced that all federal, local, public and private organisations are welcome to participate in the emirate’s activities for Innovation Month.The committee called on all entities to present new and creative ideas regarding their participation and projects being held as part of Innovation Month and revealed that it will be organizing a variety of events and activities from February 15 to 21 as part of the month. “Through the activities of Innovation Month, which will run for a week in Ras Al Khaimah, the committee works to achieve the goals set by the wise leadership. These include ways and means of consolidating innovation as both a concept and practical application for our public and private entities, as well as for our daily lives as individuals,” said Dr. Mohammed Abdul Latif Khalifa, Chairman of the UAE Innovation Month committee in Ras Al Khaimah.
RAK’S FIRST CATHOLIC SCHOOL IS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY RAKEZ CHAIRMAN Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), has officially inaugurated the new St. Mary’s Private High School in Ras Al Khaimah. After cutting the ceremonial ribbon, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi said that RAKEZ Academic Zone is keen to attract more educational institutions as part of Ras Al Khaimah’s goal of achieving internationally recognized standards of education. He added: “The opening of this distinguished school in Ras Al Khaimah is a great achievement for the Emirate as it is another step on the road towards His Highness Sheikh Saud’s vision of an inclusive and robust education system that caters for every segment of society and instills the values of tolerance, respect and a strong work ethic in its students”.
RAK SME TO MAINTAIN SUPPORT FOR PROMISING PROJECTS BY YOUNG PEOPLE The Saud Bin Saqr Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises (RAK SME) is dedicated to supporting innovators with promising projects in all sectors, asserted Youssef Ismail, Head of the Foundation’s Supreme Committee, as the organisation broke ground on the central kitchen for ‘Arabian Nights’ – a hospitality-sector project developed by a member of the Foundation. The kitchen will be set up on land allocated by the Foundation to the project owner, and spanning an area of 40,000 square feet in Ras Al Khaimah’s Seeh Al Bana region. With a price tag of AED12 million, the project is expected to produce 20,000 meals a day, to be used for one of six purposes, catering for companies and corporations, events, home banquets, retail stores, upscale celebrations and ceremonies, and conferences. The central kitchen will serve the northern regions and east coast of the UAE; it is located just one hour away from Fujairah and Dubai, 45 minutes from Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al-Quwain, and 20 minutes from the centre of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. “We work to encourage UAE citizens to invest in SMEs, which helps promote a culture of entrepreneurship and self-employment, and amplifies efforts to diversify the economy, achieve sustainable development in the emirate, promote innovation, and help companies grow and contribute to the UAE’s development,” Ismail explained. RAKBUSINESS | 9
Robert Rostek... Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the UAE
ECONOMIC PANORAMA SPOTLIGHT
Robert Rostek... The ambassador of the Republic of Poland to UAE
ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIPS ENABLE STRONG INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS
Poland is the sixth largest economy on the Europe, and the Polish economy has achieved in the past years advanced rates of growth globally. UAE is the most important and biggest economic partner of Poland in the Arab World and the Middle East. 2014 was the record year and a turning point – our economic exchange has surpassed 1 billion dollars. There are over 100 Polish companies active in the UAE, The Polish Embassy in Abu Dhabi confirms a dynamic increase of interest of Polish entrepreneurs in investing and expanding to UAE market. By: Khawla Ibrahim
RAK Business Magazine, met with His Excellency Robert Rostek, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to United Arab Emirates, to highlight developments witnessed by the UAE-Polish relations, specifically in the economic field. During the past period, a huge economic project was launched in partnership with the Ras Al Khaimah government. what about this partnership? We started our first major investment in the United Arab Emirates this year. Partnership was possible thanks to the close ties between Ras Al Khaimah and Poland, which have been getting stronger in recent years. It is one of the first major projects undertaken by a Polish company that has been implemented in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in recent years. We hope for great economic importance for this project, we hope participation in Ras Al Khaimah will mark the beginning of a more important presence of the oil and gas sector from Poland in the United Arab Emirates.
business environment for the emirate. By building strong bonds much may be achieved in RAK. I find that a strong opportunity and competitive advantage for the emirate. Tell us about your efforts at the embassy to support and activate economic and trade relations between the two countries and increase bilateral trade exchange? Boosting the economic ties between Poland and the UAE is one of the most important aspects of our bilateral relations. The embassy remains a focal point for Polish and Emirati ministries, business councils and other official bodies looking to sign agreements, improve cooperation or suggest new legislations. Apart from the embassy in Abu Dhabi, the Polish government also supports a presence in Dubai in the form of the Polish Trade Office – led by our Ministry of Development. The experts there work around the clock to inform both Polish and Emirati businessmen on the investment opportunities, professional paths and possible partnerships between the countries. They give a much needed boost to transform many good ideas that the private sector develops into feasible business activity. The embassy was one of the main organizers of the first Polish-Emirati Business Forum in November 2018 in Warsaw. This was the first occasion for the business communities of the two countries to meet with the backing of their respective governments and start a dialogue on pos-
Ras Al Khaimah has made many remarkable achievements in recent years due to friendly work environment and strong economic relations, which gave the emirate a lot of confidence and credibility
How do you see the business climate in Ras Al-Khaimah? Ras Al-Khaimah has done much in the recent years to create business opportunities and attract investment. His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al-Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, is a man of great vision and he has created a very approachable
RAKBUSINESS | 11
sible avenues of cooperation. Our aim is to organize the Forum on a regular basis. As an Emirati businessman, what drives me to invest in Poland, and what are the most prominent sectors that provide distinguished investment opportunities in Poland? The Polish economy is one of the fastest developing in the EU today and has been so for the past 10 years. From manufacturing to finance, agriculture to heavy industry, the Polish market has been transformed to a very modern one since 2000. A number of Free Economic Zones bring investors who enjoy tax exemptions and many other opportunities. This path has been taken by manufacturers such as Toyota, Toshiba and Mercedes-Benz, retailers like Amazon and many others. The possibilities for the IT sector are huge. Poland is one of Europe’s hubs in IT and has very well educated specialists. The SME sector can also take advantage of many preferential conditions to invest, kick off and develop in Poland nowadays. Skilled labor, reasonable costs and topnotch quality at modern European level is what should turn the attention of Emirati investors to my country.
The Polish economy has maintained rapid growth rates in the areas of manufacturing and agriculture during the past ten years, so the SME sector can take advantage of investment opportunities in Poland with the availability of skilled labor, reasonable costs, high quality and huge facilities provided by the government
On the other hand, what are the most important competitive advantages of investment that attract the Polish businessmen to invest in the UAE? I would point out the Free Zones as places that are very well suited for starting a business. Also, the UAE is a gateway not only to the GCC, but the whole Arab World and South Asia. For some trades, to be present on the Emirati market means a global presence. In my opinion the Polish business sector has a lot to offer and a lot to gain in the UAE.
entrepreneurs from the UAE to come to Poland and have an opportunity to see what the investment opportunities are at first hand. Avoiding double taxation encourages many Polish specialists, such as doctors, engineers and IT experts to work in UAE and disseminate their valuable experience here.
Several memoranda of understanding and protocols were signed between the two countries, such as double taxation avoidance agreement, financial and taxes evasion prevention to income and capital taxes, as well as mutual exemption from entry visas for citizens of both countries. How did this reflect business prosperity and growth in various sectors? The documents you have mentioned are very useful in facilitating business exchange and specialists moving between the countries. Visa exemptions allow
Launching direct flights between the two countries, how has it contributed to strengthening the ties between the business community in both countries? Being a great supporter of aviation which I consider as a special bridge between two countries, I am proud that it was during my tenure that FlyDubai has opened a new daily connection from Dubai to the Polish historical capital, Krakow. The convenient flight to the south of Poland has brought a staggering increase of about 500% to the traffic
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of UAE citizens going to Poland on tourist and business purposes. Now we enjoy three permanent connections: daily flights by Emirates from Dubai to Warsaw, the FlyDubai one I just mentioned and a WizzAir connection to Katowice, the heart of the Polish industrial region. The fruit of this will most surely be not only the personal connections and good memories that arise when travelling, but also long-lasting business tangible effects. I am sure of that. We keep striving for more connections and destinations in Poland to make it even more accessible to business from the UAE and the Gulf, but also to make it convenient for Polish undertakers to travel here to Dubai. Next on the list – a permanent connection to Abu Dhabi! Poland is the sixth largest economy on the Europet, and the Polish economy has achieved in the past years advanced rates of growth globally. How did this reflect the rise in foreign direct investment in Poland and thus increase its contribution to GDP? Poland remains a leader of FDI in Central Europe. The recent years have brought many international manufacturers, especially in the automotive sector (Toyota, Volkswagen, Daimler-Benz, Fiat and others), the high-precision industrial manufacturing, but also retail, agriculture and construction. The rapid development of the Polish economy, which didn’t stop even the post2008 pan-European crisis (Poland was the only EU country to not have their GDP growth halted) is a magnet for FDI. It is mainly through foreign direct investments that Polish cities are among the fastest developing ones in the EU. Wroclaw in south-western Poland ranks 3rd after Dublin and Prague in the top 20 fastest developing metropolis in the European Union today. Polish economic centers manage to hold a balance between finance, industry and services sector which means a good foundation for the economy to develop at a steady, quick pace in the coming years. Tell us about Poland’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai and the importance of this participation? Opportunity, mobility and sustainability, the three core values of the EXPO
ECONOMIC PANORAMA SPOTLIGHT
2020 in Dubai will be at the center of attention in the Polish pavilion at the fair. We are well aware that the EXPO is a unique chance to have the eyes of the world on our country and we are working relentlessly to capitalize that opportunity to the maximum. The goals are to make sure that the modern face of the country, a place of stability and development, is being brought to the attention of the public here in UAE and to the world. Promoting Poland as a modern economy with vast industrial resources and a rich research and education base is another priority. How do the numbers reflect the level of relations between the two countries? UAE is the most important and biggest economic partner of Poland in the Arab World and the Middle East. 2014 was the record year and a turning point – our economic exchange has surpassed 1 billion dollars. There are over 100 Polish companies active in the UAE, both mainland and in free zones. The Polish Embassy in Abu Dhabi confirms a dynamic increase of interest of Polish entrepreneurs in investing and expanding to the Emirati market. CCC, Smyk, Inglot, Diverse, Solaris and other world-recognized Polish brands are present in the UAE market. As I have mentioned, the Polish Trade Office is operating in Dubai. It’s mission is to enable Polish businessmen
to enter the UAE, but also to attract Emirati companies. It is the first point of contact for entrepreneurs from both sides. The PTO is also overlooking the Polish preparations for the participation in the EXPO2020 held in Dubai. As of May 2017, the Polish Embassy in Abu Dhabi also introduced the post of an agricultural councilor – her job is to bring the agricultural sectors together and enable both Polish products and advanced farming technologies to enter the Emirati agricultural sector. Here is an outlook of the common commercial exchange in the recent years: Export (USD mn)
Year
Import (USD mn)
Total
2013
752,26
113,24
865,5
2014
1127,49
162,26
1289,75
2015
777,9
126,75
904,65
2016
658,72
123,61
788,33
2017
491,4
177,45
668,85
2018
447,58
251,87
699,45
1,200
260
900
195
600
130
300
65
0
2013 2014
2015 2016
Export (USD mn)
2017 2018
Import (USD mn)
0
The trading scene between Poland and UAE will be more interconnected and robust in the next five years due to bilateral MoUs, cooperation agreement, investment promotion and business opportunities in both countries How do you view the future of joint economic relations during the next five years? First of all, I see it as a time of harvesting the fruit of both the legal underlying that we have done so far by bilateral MoU’s, legal cooperation agreements etc. through the promotion of international investment and business opportunities in both countries. The effects of how much the travel between the UAE and Poland became easier must and will bear fruits in the not so distant future. EXPO in Dubai will be a good kick-starter and by 2025 the common Polish-Emirati business landscape should be significantly different to what we see today. At last my special and symbolic achievement was to put the Polish flag (white and red) on the highest tower in the world Burj Khalifa in Dubai exactly on 11 November 2018 time Poland was celebrating its 100 years of ndependence and time the UAE celebrated its 100 years of the birthday of His Highness Sheikh Zayed the founder of the United Arab of Emirates RAKBUSINESS | 13
INVEST
Madar Farms to open world’s first commercial-scale indoor tomato farm in Abu Dhabi
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The world’s first commercial-scale indoor tomato farm using only LED lights to grow fresh tomatoes will begin operation in Abu Dhabi later this year, as part of Madar Farms’ investment in a new multi-million-dirham farming facility. Announced on Tuesday during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, UAE-based Madar Farms has partnered with Certhon, Inno-3B and Signify to operate the 5,000 square metre facility currently under 14 | RAKBUSINESS
construction at Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD). The facility, which will also grow microgreens, is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year and will triple the amount of microgreens grown by Madar Farms currently. All grown produce will be distributed locally across the UAE. Having led an agriculture revolution in the UAE by using advanced methods to grow a variety of fresh
INVEST
The farm area is 5000 m2, it depends on the automatic methods of vertical cultivation of plants throughout the year, to help meet the growing demand of quality and diversify products for UAE consumers, also to give them the best locally grown products. It is expected that the full operation of the farm will start at the end of 2020 produce with cutting-edge farming techniques, the farm will increase the firm’s operations in developing local food for local consumption. It will also contribute towards the UAE’s goals of tackling food and water security challenges common to the region. The tomato farm, designed by the Dutch firm Certhon, will be installed with more than 5,000 ultra efficient LED fixtures. The growing technology is based on Certhon’s proprietary cooling and automation systems. As part of its commitment to sustainable farming methods, the tomatoes will be grown using the most water-efficient system in the world. It will use 30 per cent less water per kilogramme of tomatoes compared to even the highest tech greenhouses. Abdulaziz AlMulla, CEO and co-founder of Madar Farms, said: “Our new state-of-the-art farming facility is a milestone moment for Madar Farms. As the population in the UAE continues to grow and there’s more focus on sustainability, the new farm will help meet this increasing demand and give UAE consumers more options to enjoy the best quality fresh locally-grown produce.” Using Inno-3B technology already in use in Canada, Madar Farms uses an automated, vertical farming system to grow its microgreens indoors in ideal conditions year-round. bills with reduced cooling rates. Assuring a high quality of life and better value for money, Al Hamra’s res-
idential portfolio offers an attractive opportunity for investors with highreturn guaranteed, drawing on Ras Al Khaimah’s growing reputation as a leisure, residential and investment destination. Benoy Kurien, Group Chief Executive Officer of Al Hamra Real Estate Development, said: “... We offer an extensive portfolio of residential homes in a prime location that is increasingly sought-after for the build quality and lifestyle amenities. The rental value on our residences are today the most-competitive for the location and features offered and will appeal to end-users who can scale up their lifestyle and be assured of value-for-money.” Positioned amidst the lush greens of Al Hamra Golf Club, Al Hamra’s Royal Breeze, starting from only AED 24,000 per year, are set in five residential towers with stunning views of the Arabian Gulf. Overlooking a spectacular mari-
OPPORTUNITIES
na, the Al Hamra Marina Residences starting at AED 24,500 per year offer a perfect waterfront lifestyle where residents can enjoy the Marina Clubhouse amenities including a restaurant, lounge, café, retail shops and a yacht club. With splendid views of the Al Hamra Golf Course, lagoons and swimming pools, Al Hamra Townhouses and Bayti Townhouses, with rent starting from AED 63,000 per year, offer complete comfort and stylish design. Bab Al Bahr Residences is a resort like residential project, with studios starting at AED 24,000 per year, comprising of three pyramid-shaped buildings complimented by lush walkways and gardens. The beautifully designed, Al Hamra Village has fourteen swimming pools, kids play areas, jogging and cycling tracks for everyone to enjoy. Offering a perfect blend of shopping, entertainment and recreation
An Emirati company succeeds in growing blueberries in Al Ain
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Elite Agro, the leading agricultural company in the production of fresh vegetables and fruits in the UAE, has succeeded in growing blue berries with high quality, for the first time in Al Ain, in the United Arab Emirates and the region, through advanced agricultural technology. The product was provided in Elite Agro, the leading agricultural company in the production of fresh vegetables and fruits in the UAE, has succeeded in growing blue berries in high quality, for the first time in Al Ain, in the United Arab Emirates and the region, through advanced agricultural technology. The product was made available at outlets throughout the country under the brand "Elite Berry".
RAKBUSINESS | 15
UAE TO SAVE
AED11 BILLION THROUGH BLOCKCHAIN IMPLEMENTATION
UAE could save over US$3 billion (AED11 billion) through implementing advanced blockchain technologies, a joint whitepaper by the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution UAE (C4IR UAE), Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) and the World Economic Forum, has revealed. Titled ‘Inclusive Deployment of Blockchain: Case Studies and Learning from the United Arab Emirates’, the whitepaper examines how the UAE’s current local and national blockchain strategies can provide audiences with insight into governance challenges and opportunities that other countries and companies can utilize when deploying blockchain technology. The findings published in the white paper shed light upon core requirements across both technical and non-technical drivers of blockchain deployment success. 16 | RAKBUSINESS
The sharing of knowledge and best practices is a key goal to C4IR UAE’s publication of the report. The exchange of knowledge ensures that there is careful consideration of unintended consequences, that all players remain able to realize the full potential of this foundational technology, and that risks are minimized. For that reason, the World Economic Forum, through a global multi-stakeholder community, is focused on designing tools and resources to support organizations and promote responsible blockchain deployment. The UAE plays an integral role in shaping this initiative. Their sharing of real-life lessons and analysis of real projects allows others to take advantage of tested-and-tried practices. The report cites both Dubai Blockchain Strategy in 2016, and the Emirates Blockchain Strategy in 2018. Statistically, in addition to the cost savings, the UAE government can eliminate 398 million printed documents and 77 million work hours per year through leveraging blockchain to process routine transactions. Currently, 80 percent of public and private sector entities are already using the technology.
Looking ahead to the future of modern technology especially blockchain, and the governance of employment practices to benefi them, is a priority for UAE, with the aim of developing new economic opportunities that meet the rapidly changes and global trends
H.E. Khalfan Belhoul
Following the launch of the Dubai Blockchain Strategy in 2016 and the Emirates Blockchain Strategy in 2018, the UAE government has taken active measures in advancing the technology nationwide through creating an industry for blockchain, driving government adoption and stepping up international collaboration with interested stakeholders. Since then, the country has hosted a multitude of blockchain implementations, conferences and other initiatives. H.E. Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation: The UAE has long been a leader in the early implementation of emerging technologies, including blockchain, and is a vital contributor when developing governance and a systematic approach for new technologies. This report is a key collaboration between C4IR UAE and World Economic Forum showcasing efforts by public and private entities in the UAE are deploying blockchain technology. Each of the findings have yielded new insights into the major challenges and success factors that organizations encounter when deploying this technology. These
insights will also help us develop the correct governance for blockchain, based on the specific needs from those deploying the technology. We look forward to further sharing details at the upcoming World Economic Forum, Annual Meeting 2020 at Davos later this month” Mirek Dusek, Head of Middle East and North Africa, Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum: “The C4IR UAE stems from a long-standing collaboration between the UAE and the World Economic Forum. We are excited to launch this report, which represents a concrete example of how the C4IR UAE can drive leadership on inclusive deployment of blockchain. The principles developed in the report will empower not only UAE’s and the region’s business and government entities, but will also drive meaningful collaborations with other countries that are part of the World Economic Forum’s Fourth Industrial Revolution Network for greater economic and social impact.” Seven case studies have been documented to provide shared experiences in understanding fundamental challenges and success factors in deploying blockchain. The experiences of Emirates NBD, DP World, Emirates Airlines, and Etisalat Digital in the private sector, as well as Abu Dhabi Digital Authority, the Ministry of Health and Prevention and Smart Dubai among public sector entities have been recorded in the whitepaper. Furthermore, as part of its efforts to analyze the local blockchain landscape, C4IR UAE surveyed over 100 stakeholders from more than 60 governmental and non-governmental entities across the country that are actively exploring or implementing blockchain. The purpose of the survey was to understand the current deployment phases in the ecosystem and the relevant challenges and key success factors associated with it. The three main findings of the survey revealed that 80 percent of government entities stated that the most important factor was identifying the applicable blockchain solutions early on. For larger organizations, the key success factors were linked to the definition of the project scope, as well as the clear identification of roles and responsibilities. The public sector saw education and alignment with stakeholders as the most pressing challenge, whereas for the private sector the key concern was the regulatory uncertainty.
The launch of “Inclusive Deployment of Blockchain: Case Studies and Learning from the UAE’” report confirms the leadership of the “FC4IR UAE” in supporting and employing the industrial revolution tools to achieve a greater future impact in various economic and social sectors
Mirek Dusek
Learnings from the cases have shown that the main challenges to blockchain deployment remain tied to the operational and regulatory environment, as opposed to technical factors. Government entities, corporations and service providers alike are unified in their concerns about getting blockchain projects off the ground. Challenges have primarily revolved around identifying the right applications of blockchain, ensuring proper education and awareness of stakeholders involved, and onboarding stakeholders with the right governance model and structure in place. The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution UAE will continue working with the government in the UAE to empower entities with the right governance frameworks and polices. Resolving some of these main challenges has come from the government playing a dominant role in embracing emerging technologies and emphasizing the value of innovation in advancing society. In doing so, it has supported both the private and public sectors in exploring, implementing and scaling new technologies. RAKBUSINESS | 17
Ramy Jallad
RAS AL-KHAIMAH AN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DESTINATION Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone’s (RAKEZ) witnessed a 23% increase in industrial companies in 2019 compared to 2018, reflecting its success in attracting international companies to leverage on the emirate’s position as a gateway to enter the regional markets. RAKEZ hosts an overall of 14500 companies, from big industrial companies, such as cars, iron and cable plants, to commercial and services firms Ramy Jallad, Group CEO, said that RAKEZ plays a vital role in driving growth and economic diversification in Ras Al Khaimah, thanks to its national, regional and international investments, which has significantly contributed to the development of major commercial and infrastructure projects within the Emirate, strengthening its progress and further cementing its position on international business scene. Jallad explained to Al Ittihad that RAKEZ is witnessing diversified investments, led by the trade sector, at 45.5%, followed by services sector at 33.31%, general trading sector at 8.28% and industrial sector at 5.31%, among others. Other businesses vary between media, E-commerce and educational firms from more than 100 countries, and serving over 50 sectors. He added: “This year, RAKEZ has over 770 industrial companies, compared to 600 companies last year, a 23% increase compared to 2018. The companies represent various sectors, such as automotive, spare parts, plastics, industrial equipment, packaging, F&B, and paper products sectors. The provi18 | RAKBUSINESS
sion of state-of-the-art infrastructure allowed companies to leverage these strong facilities, ultimately improving their business in the zone”. Jallad also pointed out that RAKEZ consists of three industrial zones across important strategic locations in the Ras Al Khaimah; including Al Ghail Industrial Zone, covering over 28.2 million sqm, and easy access to road network to facilitate transport and shipping; Al Hamra Industrial Zone, spreading over 9.3 million sqm, suitable for light and heavy industries project, located in proximity of Dubai, Sharjah and neighboring emirates; and Al Hulaila Industrial Zone, covering 2.8 million sqm, and providing heavy industrial companies the opportunity to grow and expand, with warehouses that can be customized as per the investors’ needs. Jallad emphasized that RAKEZ offers the right environment for firms and businesses by adopting a seamless system for license services. Furthermore, RAKEZ provides various types of utilities and facilities to meet the needs of investors and entrepreneurs, including office units, offices, warehouses and land
RAKEZ
INDUSTRIAL ZONES AL GHAIL INDUSTRIAL ZONE
28200000 SQM
AL HAMRA INDUSTRIAL ZONE
9300000 SQM
AL HULAILA INDUSTRIAL ZONE
2800000 SQM
INVEST MADE IN RAK
Ramy Jallad, RAKEZ Group CEO RAKBUSINESS | 19
“RAKIZ� creates a suitable environment for business by providing various types of facilities that meet the needs of investors and entrepreneurs, as it provides all of its services under one roof, in addition to the online portal to facilitate the procedures of incorporation, renewal and lease contracts
20 | RAKBUSINESS
parcels open for development. In addition, RAKEZ offers one-stop integrated services, with a dedicated E-portal which enables customers to submit and track their requests and transactions, allowing them to easily complete the renewal of business licenses and rental contracts online. Furthermore, RAKEZ offers a wide range business licenses, covering educational, industrial, services, commercial, general trading, E-commerce, media and professional licenses, and more. RAKEZ also released a special package dedicated to businesswomen and signed a number of strategic deals and partnerships with 4 leading UAE banks, which will act as banking partners to provide benefits that are spe-
cially designed for RAKEZ’s customers. Jallad further noted that RAKEZ hosts a number of leading industrial companies, including armored vehicles manufacturer STREIT Group, manufacturer of commercial vehicles and trucks Ashok Leyland, glass manufacturer Saverglass, and Motherson Sumi, one of the biggest manufacturers of automotive wiring harnesses worldwide, among others. Ashok Leyland plant produces more than 2800 trucks annually, targeting the local market, in addition to GCC and West African markets. The plant holds 72% of the local big buses market (11 meters), 23% of medium buses market (9 meters) and 9% for small buses market.
INVEST MADE IN RAK
RAKEZ Business Excellence Awards 2019 Rolls out the red carpet for RAK’s outstanding businesses Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) Business Excellence Awards, in cooperation with RAK Department of Economic Development (RAK DED), recognized the best free zone and non-free zone businesses in Ras Al Khaimah for the sixth consecutive year. Set in a grander venue in Al Hamra International Exhibition and Conference Centre in Al Jazirah Al Hamra, the prestigious event welcomed 350 leaders of companies operating in the emirate as well as government representatives. A total of AED 220,000 monetary prizes were given to the winners that were carefully selected through the systematic evaluation conducted by International Performance Excellence, an independent judging committee. THE RECIPIENTS OF RAKEZ BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2019 ARE: Best New Startup: St Mary’s High School, part of St. Mary’s Group of Schools. Best New Startup (RAK DED): Khair Jalees Books Trading, an online bookstore and a white board media producer. Best Small Business: Abiya Building Material Trading, a designer and manufacturer of Middle-Eastern decorative panels . Best Small Business (RAK DED): The Muse Cafe, a café that serves specialty coffee and a wide selection of food. Fastest-Growing Company (Small To Medium): Precision Refrigeration Middle East, a manufacturer of professional refrigeration for the F&B industry. Fastest Growing Company (Medium To Large): Ace Cranes & Engineering, a manufacturer of industrial cranes Best Industrial Company (Small To Medium): Middle East Specialized Cables, a special cables manufacturer Best Industrial Company (Medium To Large): Unipods, an off-
site construction technology company Best Contributor To Ras Al Khaimah Development Utico: Middle East’s largest provider of full service private utility Best Contributor To Ras Al Khaimah Development (Rak Ded): Union Cement Company, a manufacturer of wide-ranging cement products. BEST EDUCATIONAL PROVIDER: Western International College, a provider of undergraduate and post-graduate programs. Best Service Provider: Evolution Fashion, a maker of fine quality, custom and ready-to-wear leather jackets. Best Business Leader: Dr Rashed Al Nuaimi, CEO of Al Nuaimi Group Happiest Workplace Environment: FRANKE LLC, a high-quality stainless steel products manufacturer. Happiest Workplace Environment (Rak Ded): Little Treasures Nursery, a preschool in Ras Al Khaimah. Runner-ups also received a new elegantly designed trophy during the ceremony, including: Prognica Labs, Amlak Detergents and Disinfectants Manufacturing, Metalfab Middle East, Hydro Dynamic Pipe Engineering, The University Of West London UAE Branch, Bon Education, Business Bay Consultancy, Qhwat Qusaid Marketing Operations Management, India Palace Restaurant, Thunder Road Restaurant and Al Soufi Trading Est. Mr Krishan Kumar Chutani, CEO of Naturelle, is the runner-up for the Best Business Leader category. RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad, said: “The new categories have indeed added more flavor to the competition, and we are glad that we have given a chance for more companies to join the awards program and get their milestones acknowledged. On the next editions, we will look into giving more recognitions not only on a company level but also on an individual level.” RAKBUSINESS | 21
BUSINESS
H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy
UAE ـــــــــranks first in the Arab world on Global Labour Resilience Index 2020 United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranked first in the Arab world and 21st globally on the Global Labour Resilience Index 2020, which was issued in Davos, Switzerland during a special session held on the sidelines of the 50th summit meeting of the World Economic Forum in the presence of H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy, and officials and economic leaders from more than 30 countries. Following the release of the report, the UAE has officially climbed 12 places on the index’s overall rating over the past five years, up from 33 in 2015, and it is the only GCC
22 | RAKBUSINESS
country to rank among the top 30 countries the year. Bahrain is the nearest Gulf nation to the UAE and ranked 15 places below in 36th for the year. The Global Labor Resilience Index measures the level of future unemployment risks that countries face based on geographical disparities, structural shifts, policy and technology changes and their impact on the labor market; with the report for the current year ranking 145 countries and economies on the flexibility of their labor markets in light of the technological transformation. The index was led by Whiteshield Partners, a Lon-
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
United Arab of Emirates is the only GCC country to rank among the top 30 countries for the year , and Bahrain is the nearest Gulf nation to the UAE and ranked 15 places below in 36th for the year don-based consultancy firm that specializes in global public policy and strategy, in cooperation with the Oxford University Saïd Business School, ManpowerGroup, and the UK Institute for the Future of Work. During the launching session of the index on the sidelines of the Davos 2020 meetings, H.E. Al Mansoori said that the UAE has followed a development path based on the vision and directions of the nation’s wise leadership. He explained the country has achieved continuous development in economic policies and business sector strategies, increased the resilience of the labor market and raised its ability to adapt to economic and social changes and global transformations as a result of technological and digital revolution over the past ten years, and occupied a leading position at the regional level in this vital path that charts the future economies of the next stage. H.E. Al Mansoori added: “The UAE’s achievements on the Global Labour Resilience Index 2020 is a testament to the national economy as it has made great strides in enhancing its economic potential in the digital age and improving its ability to confront the widespread economic changes at international level. This includes the ability to keep pace with progress in economic complexity, and adopting a knowledge economy model that focuses on the know-how needed to produce goods and services, diversify exports, increase the diversification of the economic base and reduce dependence on oil.” H.E. Al Mansoori highlighted that the Index carries great importance as it provides an invaluable tool for measuring the readiness of labor markets for the fluctuations that the world is currently experiencing or will face in the future – whether due to technological transformations, economic impacts of geopolitical changes, trade disputes or economic retreats.
He emphasized that the UAE’s respective rankings on the index are the result of the efforts made by the country to improve its labor market capacity to adapt and respond to new economic trends; pointing out that the state has focused on stimulating innovation and creativity, supporting research and development activities, upgrading the intellectual property system, improving the business and investment environment, and enhancing its position and reputation as a global destination for talents, experiences and people with distinguished skills. He also stressed that the UAE’s Government is going ahead with its development policies that stimulate further adoption of technology solutions in relation to information and communication. The Global Labour Resilience Index is divided into two main axes, each of which includes several sub-indicators. The first is the axis of structures and includes indicators related to demographics, economic development, capabilities, economic diversification and inequality. The second axis, which is the policy axis, includes indicators related to education, skills, employment, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and statistics.
Switzerland ranked first globally on the index for this year, followed by Singapore in second and the United States in third. Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Germany finished fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh respectively; while Finland ranked eighth, and the United Kingdom and Belgium completed the top 10 ranked countries. Guy Ryder, Director General, International Labour Organization (ILO), said: “The Global Labor Market Resilience Index highlights the importance of having appropriate policies to improve resilience. Many countries have improved their response to these policies in recent years through employment, skills development, social protection and other measures.” According to the report, Nepal, Lebanon, Tunisia and Egypt were among the five topmost countries that have a gap in labor market resilience, emphasizing the difference between long-term structural characteristics, short-term policies, and the great potential of each to enhance the resiliency of its labor markets in order to enable targeted and relevant policies and reforms, economic diversification, labor policies, innovation and entrepreneurship RAKBUSINESS | 23
HEALTH SECTOR PERFORMANCE IN RAS AL-KHAIMAH
REALITY AND INDICATORS The UAE, in general, and Ras Al-Khaimah, in particular, relentlessly seeking to provide integrated health care for all individuals and raise the quality of healthcare services, as they are pertinent to the citizen’s livelihood and wellbeing. A group of 16 private health centers operating in the Emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah collectively succeeded through coordination and cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Community Protection in obtaining international accreditation at once. As there were, a group of special committees verified the implementation of JCI certification standards in leadership and innovative solutions. It’s worth mentioning that these centers have committed to applying the international best practices in terms of clinical service quality, patient safety, and staff according to the best internationally approved standards, protocols, and health care outcomes. Such achievement is not new to Ras Al Khaimah and the UAE at a time when all health bodies work to raise the efficiency of performance and adhere to international standards in providing medical and therapeutic services. Prepared by: RAK Center for Statistics and Studies
FIRST: HEALTH SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE: United Arab Emirates, including Ras al-Khaimah, possess a developed and adequate medical infrastructure, and per healthcare services performance indicators. UAE continually seeking to raise the average number of doctors per 100 thousand of the Population. This includes the number of nurses and the number of beds, especially in government hospitals, where the rate reached 111 doctors per 100 thousand of Population in the average in 2017, and the proportion in nursing was 227.3 nurses of the same Population for the same year. In the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, there were 280 doctors per 100 thousand of the Population in 2013, and for dentists, the rate was 50 doctors per 100 thousand of the Population in the same year. For the nursing staff, the ratio was 580 nurses per 100 thousand of the Population in 2013. Undoubtedly, the upcoming development in the current healthcare sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi forecasts a significant improvement in these indicators compared to 2013. In general, the Ministry of Health and Community Protection and health authorities in some emirates seek to achieve a health system with international standards to establish the preventive aspect, reduce the rate of diseases related to lifestyle, and provide health care components that exceed expectations of individuals. This development comes based on the future vision of the emirates and many governmental instructions such as the UAE vision 2021, the national agenda, the system of government excellence, the smart government initiative, and the national strategy for innovation and achieving the sustainable development strategy 2030. SECOND: HEALTH SECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE IN RAS AL KHAIMAH: 1.Number of government hospitals and their medical and technical personnel: 24 | RAKBUSINESS
GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS IN RAK
05
GOVRNMENT HOSPITALS IN 2018
1092
DOCTORS, PHARMACISTS, NURSING STAFF AND OTHERS WORK IN THESE HOSPITALS IN 2012
1137
NUMBERS OF PATIENTS AND CLIENTS OF HOSPITALS AND GOVERNMENT MEDICAL CENTERS IN 2017
According to statistics for 2018, Ras Al Khaimah has five government hospitals. Three of which are in the Ras Al Khaimah Center, the fourth in the Sha’am region, and the fifth is located south of the emirate on the road to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. Additionally, there are eighteen government primary healthcare centers, and ninety school healthcare centers, 99% of them are stationed in the emirate’s rural areas, providing integrated healthcare services for customers. In 2016 these centers were merged with primary healthcare centers that took it upon themselves to provide different services to all those who attended them, including school students. According to the statistics of 2012, 1092 doctors, pharmacists, nursing, and medical staff work in these hospitals. Nurses account for 52% of them, doctors and dentists 15%, in addition to 541 beds. The ratio for each doctor, except for dentists, is one per 3.4 beds, while each nurse has one bed. The number of employees increased to 1249 workers in 2017, an increase of 14%; as a result, the number of hospitals to five hospitals in that year, after they were four in 2015. Respectively, the number of doctors, nursing staff, and beds increased by 34%, 5%, and 1% during the same period. See the figure below. It is worth noting that the doctor’s share for each bed improved to 2.5 instead of 3.4, while the ratio remained close to that of nurses. This change, in itself, represents an improvement in the quality and quality of service. According to 2017 statistics, there are 450 doctors, dentists, nursing staff and technicians working in government medical centers in the emirate, including 25% doctor and dentist, 26% nurses and 25% technicians and assistants technicians distributed to 18 primary health care centers at a rate of 30 individuals per center. Note that the number of employees increased by 21% compared to 2012, which at the time was not more than 372 individuals. As for the numbers of patients and clients attending RAK hospitals and government medical centers, it had decreased by 7% from 1,225,000 in 2012 to 1,137,000 in 2017. Reaching a rating of 89% were clients to medical centers. On the other hand, frequent visitors of government hospitals are accounted for 11% of the above-mentioned number, except for dental clinics.
BUSINESS STATISTICS STUDY
PRIVATE HOSPITALS IN RAK 2016
2.Number of private hospitals and their medical and technical personnel: In 2016, the number of private hospitals in Ras Al Khaimah reached three. The number of beds reached 100 beds, while the number of employees reached 680 individuals in the same year, bearing in mind that Al-Uraibi Hospital was not included, which makes the average number of employees per hospital around 227 staff distributed between human doctor, nurse, and others. These statistics rated at a hundred doctors and averaging 33 doctors per hospital, while nurses mounted to 177 nurses, averaging 59 nurses per hospital. In addition to miscellaneous field services and works, which accumulated to 50% of the total employment force in these hospitals. While there are no data available on the number of operating private health and medical centers, however, currently there are 157 pharmacies and private medical depots, 96% of them are Pharmacies and 299 people work between a pharmacist and pharmacist assistant, of whom 68% are pharmacists. As for private hospital patients, their number reached 313,285 patients in 2016, averaging 104,428 per hospital per year, and 348 patients per day, assuming 300 working days per year. This is almost double the number of visitors to government medical centers and constitutes 81% of the number of visitors to government hospitals. Bearing in mind that the real potential of both sides varies, while this number does not include those attending private medical centers and clinics. THIRD: RELATION BETWEEN HEALTH EXPENDITURE AND HEALTH PERFORMANCE INDICATORS: The percentage of the expenditure on the healthcare sector varies from one country to another, while based on its economic level and social progress. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global spending on healthcare amounted to more than $ 5.8 billion in 2014, including $ 92 billion in the Middle East alone, rating at 1.6%, even though its population makes up 8% of the world’s population. The Arab countries have witnessed an improvement in the healthcare status than they were previously, as a result of the high proportion of their spending on health care from gross domestic product from 3.7% in 1995 to 4.9% in 2014, according to World Bank figures, but they remain much less comparing to developed countries, where it exceed 12%. The GCC and Arab oil states, in particular, are distinguished by the high volume of their health care expenditure per capita. The United Arab Emirates reached 1610 dollars, Kuwait 1385 dollars, Saudi Arabia 1147 dollars, Libya 371 dollars, Algeria 361 dollars, Jordan 358.9 dollars, and Tunisia 305.3 dollars. Internationally, Switzer-
03
PRIVATE HOSPITALS
33
DOCTOR AVERAGE IN EACH HOSPITAL
313.285
NUMBERS OF PATIENTS OF THE PIRVATE HOSPITALS IN 2016
land ranked first in spending on citizens with a financial value of $ 9.673 per person, followed by Norway and then the United States of America and Monaco. The volume of health spending has affected the indicators of the UAE health performance, represented by the average number of beds and workforce rates, including human doctors, dentists, and others. Thus, there were 7.5 beds, 7.7 doctors, 0.8 dentists, 18 nurses, and 1.2 pharmacists in 2016 per 10,000 population of the United Arab Emirates, including the Emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah. FOURTH: BIRTH AND DEATH RATES IN RAS ALKHAIMAH: Birth and mortality rates have improved because of improving the level of health services in the UAE in general and Ras Al Khaimah in particular. The stillbirth rate reached 4.9 per 1000 births nationwide in 2016, while it was 3.97 at Ras AL Khaimah level, which is the lowest death rate compared to the rest of the other emirates, given that it was 4.03 in Umm Al Quwain, 6.01 in Sharjah, and 6.91 in Ajman for the same year. As for the neonatal death rate per 1,000 newborns in 2016, it was 0.25 in Ras Al-Khaimah, 2.57 in Ajman, 3.61 in Dubai, and 4.14 in Fujairah. The infant mortality rate per 1000 live births decreased at the country level from 6.57 in 2015 to 6.07 in 2016, which is considered a low rate and comparable with other developed countries. In 2016, the infant mortality lowest rates were recorded in Ras AL Khaimah and Ajman (1.7 and 4.1 respectively), while the highest were in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi (8.4 and 7.0 respectively). As for the under-five mortality rate per 1000 live births, the United Arab Emirates has managed to reduce the rate from 8.2 in 2015 to 7.7 in 2016, achieving an annual decline of 6.1% of the child mortality. This is because of the improvement in providing health care for children, providing appropriate vaccinations and healthy foods, in addition to adhering to medical and health instructions, regulations, and guidelines
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Conclusion: The importance of the health sector lies in its role in increasing the life expectancy of generations with enjoying good health free of diseases. Hence, these generations will be able to manage the state institutions and their activities within a national framework, in which those institutions, including governmental and private health institutions, perform their role in line with the national visions of achieving a sustainable health system. The UAE is continuously working on creating conditions conducive to building leading health institutions to be operated in line with international best practices, in addition to providing them with the latest medical equipment and a high-quality health environment. Thus, these institutions, represented by hospitals and medical centers, will be able to achieve the UAE strategy that promotes the culture of creativity and innovation and motivates the human resources to find radical solutions to the challenges facing society in the health field. Moreover, the strategy aims at enabling these institutions to raise the health sector performance rates in line with international indicators. RAKBUSINESS | 25
Entrepreneurs
Imad Eddine Oubiri
Women are passionate about beauty, and seek to maintain their brilliance to be the lady of space and time, companies are racing to take advantage of this passion, and began to produce cosmetics of all kinds to satisfy the obsession of women always seeking beauty whatever its type and tools and whatever the ingredients It may beautify the skin for a short time while harm it in the long run because of its harmful ingredients, and from its position as a lady who loves natural beauty away from vulgar fabrication and makeup, Shaza Salem Al-Saqqatri decid-
26 | RAKBUSINESS
ed to open her own project “Your Beauty Without Makeup� To pour her passion and experience into natural ingredients that bring beauty and maintain health, Rak Business magazine met Mr. Shaza and the following conversation was: How did the passion for beauty turn into an integrated project? The fact that I have been loving and infinitely passionate about this field and i turned my hobby into a business and employed my skill and sense of
ENTREPRENEURS INSPIRATIONAL EXPERIENCES
SHAZA SALEM AL-SAQQATRI...
NATURAL BEAUTY
A HUGE SHIFT IN CONSUMER AWARENESS ABOUT HEALTH AND WELLNESS Interview: Maryam Haji Mohammed
femininity in this field, and so I worked for 15 years to refine my talent and develop it by going deeper in this field and traveling to different countries to get acquainted with the latest innovations, and to see the latest achievements of science in this field and proved that I am in the right path to move at a deliberate pace towards Success. The project was launched in 2009 through the home licenses “Tomorrow’s Licenses”, launched by the Department of Economic Development in Ras Al Khaimah. Why did you choose the project name of “your beauty without makeup”? Precisely because it was the first book I bought since I was 9 years old and it was a book called “your beauty without makeup” And it’s the one who ignited my love of natural cosmetics, care and attention inside the house. What facilities and support has the Department of Economic Development provided to launch your project? Here we must thank the colleagues in the Department of Economic Development in Ras Al Khaimah, in recognition of their sincere efforts in encouraging citizens to engage in work from home and provide all facilities and overcome difficulties and develop talents and abilities and turn potential talent into business as a beginning of a private integrated project to diversify the sources of income. With their support, I have achieved these successes and have been able to show my creativity to the community by participating in various exhibitions and workshops organized periodically by the Economic Department. With the growing number of global beauty brands, do women today tend to use natural homemade products?
Out of my experience I can say with great confidence, yes, many women want to buy natural products, with respect to all brands, the demand for natural products increases day by day, due to the growing awareness among consumers of products made of natural raw materials and their better effect and their results continue in the long term away from any risk to health and beauty, on the other hand, the value of the product is accessible to everyone who prefers to buy the chemicals free product, and thankfully I note that the demand for home made products out from herbs and raw materials is rising significantly.
“Tomorrow licenses” launched by RAKDED was the nucleus of my project “Your beauty without makeup” in addition to the facilities and continuous support from the department until it became an integrated project Are you having difficulty competing with a large number of well-known brands and names in the market? The market is full of competition, and if it were not for competition, we would not have created and distinguished with the aim of proving existence, self-promotion and putting our mark in a challenging environment through product development and commitment to product quality and service in the era of digital transformation and technological development taking place in today’s world. RAKBUSINESS | 27
ENTREPRENEURS INSPIRATIONAL EXPERIENCES
Recently, cosmetics made from herbs, flowers, natural oils, etc. have won the consumers confidence because it’s results do not affect health, beauty, skin and hair So, what are the main challenges you face in managing your project, and how did you deal with it? Thank God I don’t face any challenges or difficulties at the moment, I reached with my ambition and determination and I worked hard to build my project and manage it to become what it is now, and I have ambition for more. What distinguishes your products from others, and how are they prepared? A fully equipped factory in my home equipped with the latest equipment that saves time and effort, and a special store in the laboratory ensures that the products are stored in appropriate conditions to maintain the effectiveness and viability of these products. Products made from herbs, flowers, seeds, oils, milk, etc. give the consumer a sense of security towards the products they use, beside that Natural products have guaranteed results and do not adversely affect the skin and hair health and beauty. How do you see women’s demand for your products, and which age group prefers to deal with these products? Thank God there is a high demand for the purchase of our products by all age groups, and as I mentioned earlier today there is a great trend towards natural products, and I thank my customers who have been dealing with me since my beginning and confirmed my success by communicating with me, and their satisfaction with my products is enough for me to aspire to offer the best and distinctive always,and today the ambition leads me to think about converting my home business license into a commercial business and 28 | RAKBUSINESS
I have already started a feasibility study of the project. How do you smartly market your products? There are a lot of modern marketing methods that I have done, marketing through social networking sites and dealing directly with my clients through exhibitions, and I have been able to gain a large audience from inside and outside the emirate, not only in UAE, but I have customers throughout the Arabian Gulf such as Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt,
Morocco, including merchants in their country and ask me large quantities for the purpose of selling. What are your future ambitions? Good luck from God first and the secret of my success is the determination on success, good morality with my clients and their satisfaction is my priority. The next step is to think of opening a commercial store with branches inside and outside the country and it holds the brand made in UAE, and to always be a competitive name in the world of natural cosmetics to reach universality
ENTREPRENEURS LEGAL OPINION
ORGANIZED CRIME AND SHADOW ECONOMY
Nowadays, organized crime represents a serious challenge to the authorities in all countries, alike. This type of crime has a threatening impact on the society’s social and economic stability, and even influencing the values and principles embedded in cultures; not mentioning a direct impact on society’s ability to achieve the desired rates of development in addition to spoiling the administrative apparatus and violating the criminal justice system in some countries.
CONSULTANT IHAB AL-KONI Judge and Legal Advisor, Department of Economic Development, Ras Al Khaimah
Many factors helped to increase organized crimes, including the world communication boom, ease of movement between countries, failure to investigate foreign capitals, and its origin. Moreover, the turnout for purchasing banned goods such as drugs, human trafficking, and human organs, is also another factor, traded by criminal organizations and sometimes displayed on the internet. Therefore, despite the continuous efforts made by states, governments, and international organizations, organized crime remains at the top of the decision-makers’ list of risks and concerns. It is a dilemma that destabilizes the security and stability of society and threatens the sovereignty of states over its territories. Many factors have assisted on the growth of organized crime, among them the World ongoing communication boom, ease of movement between countries, failure to scrutinize foreign capitals and its source of origin, and the demand for acquiring prohibited goods that criminal organizations trade-in, such as drugs and human and organ trafficking, which sometimes are solicited and offered on the internet. Additionally, the proliferation and prosperity of multinational companies investing in multiple geographical regions through a group of economic units. These units are interlinked through legal associations that are subject to a single general financial strategy. Despite the continuous efforts taken by states’, governments’ and international organizations, organized crime remains a high risk for the de-
cision-makers,’ as it is a dilemma that threatens the stability and security of society while representing a threat to the state’s sovereignty. When funds accumulate with these criminal organizations, they seek to invest it in investment projects in the country using illicit means such as bribery, tax-evasion, and financial speculation. Among the most critical characteristics of organized crime is that it is committed only with the knowledge of criminal gangs that have a long-standing, having organizational capabilities, structures, a hierarchical form in the presidential organization of power and responsibility. Additionally, characterized by continuity and consistency, which does not end with the death of its president or the end of the membership, perceiving violence and threat as means to terrorize others to ensure control and dominance. Organized Crime members do not belong to one doctrinal or political doctrine. In many cases, the membership is limited to individuals of ethnic origin, race, gender, or criminal history, so we find, for example, the Italian mafia, Chinese Tong, Japanese Yakuza are criminal organizations based on ethnic grounds. It is known that the term “Mafia” derives from the Italian island of Sicily, and some see it as an Arabic word meaning “shelter” used during the Arab rule. It’s also known in Italian as “Kozanoa Stara” which means “our private affairs,” and the Italian mafia has a great role in the modern history of Italy, it has contributed with American forces in World War II liberated Sicily from fascist and Nazi forces. The organized crime, as defined by some, is a professionally committed crime based on careful planning and precise implementation. It is financially supported by material resources to ensure achieving its objective using all legal and illegal means by relying on professional criminals who represent the crime directly. Those criminals depend on corruption as a means, including bribes, royalties, violence, thefts, armed robbery, economic extortion, and fraud. Consequently, they establish fictitious institutions and companies to hide their illegal criminal activity, or they par-
ticipate in fictitious commercial projects, such as gambling clubs and night clubs, that keep them safe away from being detected or arrested. In order to control and confront organized crime, it is necessary to identify a multi-dimensional strategy (Political, Security, Economic and Social) to ensure positive results, and take a series of actions, including speedy implementation of judgments, training of personnel in financial banking and stock exchanges in the tricks of organized crime and review the ongoing laws related to their work. These measures should also include seizing dirty money resulting from criminal activities, enacting laws that help in this purpose, selecting an elite police force and training them to confront those crimes, and ensuring the true beneficiary behind the establishment of companies and the founder Economy. The criminal organizations seek to invest their accumulated funds in projects inside the country using illicit means such as bribery, tax evasion and speculations. These investments is a danger to the state and society, as the money that is being laundered is dirty money resulting from crimes such as drugs, monopoly, counterfeiting, forgery, embezzlement, and sale of slaves, etc. In other words, the dirty money is laundered to get it back to its sources clean to be reinvested. It is worth noting that the phenomenon of the hidden economy is linked to organized crime and money laundering, hence considered illegal as well as unregistered entry in the national accounts of any countries. It is difficult to reach real numbers on the size or amounts, as well as the hidden activities that are included in this shadow economy, while representing an illegal aspect of this economy. Some of the hidden economy’s entry made significant gains at the expense of the total national income. Researchers gave it several names, including the underground economy, the black economy, the underdeveloped economy, the second, and the other, etc. Experts and researchers affirm that the Gulf region has witnessed several attempts of penetrating its financial markets due to expanding the development of local banking network and linking it to external global systems, through which currencies can be transferred to the local banking market and vice versa. The rapid electronic development and using the Internet in this field made dealers of money laundering change their methods now and then in order not to be detected. Therefore, they perform complex financial and security operations through which they enter the local markets. That is to say; there are international gangs organized with the highest levels of preparation and accuracy stand behind. Besides, the systems of Gulf region are based, in general, on economic freedom, which is a great attraction for these gangs either through banks or by establishing investment projects in developing countries to resell them later, and thus the money laundering process is conducted RAKBUSINESS | 29
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PRODUCT?
IMAD EDDINE OUBIRI BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXPERT
In our previous article we touched on a topic related to elements for success and competitiveness of the investment project, and as a complement to that we would like to underpin additional major elements by looking together into the issue of Intellectual Property Rights (IP), so as to get to know its essence and examining this major aspect, get acquainted with essentials, guaranteeing the rights and achieving sustainable success in entrepreneurship. 30 | RAKBUSINESS
INTELLECTUAL RIGHTS PROTECTION After successfully passing the product evaluation stage, and making sure that you have a product that holds a great opportunity to spear the market, it is self-evident that you need then to present this unique product to the world through various media outlets, and immediately start marketing the idea/ product in preparation for selling and distributing it in the market. But how would you feel if you took your new product to the market, and found dozens of big companies already implementing your idea and selling many copies of your product, as soon as they heard about it in the media?! Would you be satisfied if you did not find a place in the market for your product, in which you invested so much of your energy, time and efforts, and of which other people made lucrative and media returns? Of course, it is never going to be a desirable feeling! So is there any means to guarantee and secure your financial and media rights from this idea/prod-
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uct for which you deployed efforts, invested time and money to bring it to light? In response to all these questions, it is worthwhile noting that countries of the world have approved what is called the� Intellectual Property Rights� IP scheme. It is about a person and or a group of people acquiring an exclusive Moral (media) and or commercial benefit of various unprecedented intellectual products that they have created and or written, such as inventions, literature and artwork, so that others are prevented from benefiting from subsequent moral/media and commercial use of these products, except with prior formal approval from those who produced them. Because this legal concept is new to the world, the laws and conditions of intellectual property rights still differ from one country to another, yet holding many similarities amongst them in this field. The different types of intellectual property rights allow the owners of intellectual or physical products to benefit
ENTREPRENEURS SKILLS AND TALENTS
from two types of protection. The first is the Moral (media) benefit, which can be defined as: “The moral rights attributed to the creative person or group of people owning a new intellectual product of unprecedented characteristics, knowing that whoever created and has documented it and prevented any person or group of people from claiming the rights over that product, is the one and solely eligible for and beneficiary of the said rights”. The second is for commercial benefit, which can be defined as: “The legal rights attributed to the creative person or group of people over a new intellectual owned product of unprecedented characteristics, for exploiting this intellectual product commercially in terms of copying, execution, sale, import, export and other methods for commercial purpose, and preventing any person or group of people except by prior formal approval and consent obtained from the creative person or group people owning the said product». The scope of intellectual property rights protection that your product can obtain varies based on the intellectual property rights method you require. Some of the intellectual property rights protection methods do not protect your product if someone re-implemented your concept/product after making some minor modifications to it, while other methods can protect the concept that your intellectual product was built on. In case someone builds any other intellectual product based on the same idea/concept of yours, you will have the right to hold him/her accountable, noting that the scope of intellectual protection varies according to the geographical coverage shielded by the intellectual property that you apply for. For example, there are intellectual property rights that protect your product in one single country (such as the American Patent), and another that will protect your product in more than thirty countries (such as the European Patent). This is said, we will elaborate next on some protection types and scopes that are applicable around the world and that might give you an insight into what is best suited for your product.
Intellectual Property Rights” IP scheme is about a person and or a group of people acquiring an exclusive Moral (media) and or commercial benefit of various unprecedented intellectual products that they have created and or written, such as inventions, literature and artwork, so that others are prevented from benefiting from subsequent moral/media and commercial use of these products HOW TO CHOOSE FROM THE DIFFERENT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IP) PROTECTION METHODS? Types of intellectual property rights in terms of legal protection scope, range and nature, may vary. This implies different advantages and disadvantages for each intellectual property rights protection method. Therefore, choosing the appropriate IP for your product and your marketing plan is very important in order to achieve the required IP protection, as you can choose your own method of intellectual property rights protection and type depending on the nature of your business and your product: MEDIA PUBLISHING IP This can be realized through dissemination of ideas/concepts and products information in a renowned newspaper or magazine or audio visual outlet featuring those details, and then obtaining a dated copy from that newspaper, magazine or television or radio, as proof for precedence in owning the product and its intellectual rights in front of all those who could claim eligibility after the date of said publication. This is an easy way to protect the moral rights (media), and that often does not take any time, and do not call for any costs, and through which media exposure and publicity can be achieved.
However, this method can present with disadvantages, and could be risky as it may cause the cancellation and incapacitation of any commercial rights for the published ideas/concepts. It may not be approved by the Patent Office, who most often would not give you patent for the idea/concept if it comes to know that you have published your idea unjustifiably in the media. PATENT This enables the registration of new idea/ concept for your product technically and protect them, and the competent authority would prevent any person or a group of people from the exploitation of your new idea/ concept for the commercial product in any other products without official prior consent, whether those products are similar to your product or not. This is the most wellknown intellectual property type and the most widely used by pioneers for their inventions. This method ensures moral rights (media) and commercial product ideas/concepts protection, whether exploited in full or partially in some other product. As this method ensures you various moral (media) and commercial rights for a relatively long period of time (mostly over a period of 20 years). TO Be Continued... RAKBUSINESS | 31
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USE QUALITY AND CREATIVE HASHTAGS : The right hashtags (and location tag) can expose your image to a large and targeted audience, and Instagram users don’t seem to get hashtag fatigue in the same way they might on other networks. Due to its popularity, it’s even possible to follow a hashtag now!
WAYS TO GET MORE FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM By: Nahidah Al Futtaim
Instagram quickly has become a serious content marketing, selling, networking and audience building tool for individuals and brands. It’s one of the most popular social networking sites on the planet. Instagram can be a highly-targeted, visual marketing channel for your brand and an opportunity to build a loyal audience that grows with your business, here, we will show you how to most effectively use Instagram to increase engagement Get More Followers: 32 | RAKBUSINESS
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PARTICIPATE IN MASSIVELY POPULAR CONVERSATIONS : For every post, use a mix of topically relevant hashtags, as well as trending, super-popular hashtags wherever you can. 3
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR BIO URL: It’s prime real estate on your Instagram profile... do you really want your bio to only link to your website homepage, now and forever? Yawn. Change it up at least bi-weekly and use that clickable link in your bio to drive traffic to your newest or most popular content. 4
POST AT YOUR BEST TIMES: Timeliness of a post is one of the major factors in the Instagram algorithm. So a possible best time for you to post on Instagram is when your followers are most active. 5
ENGAGE YOUR FANS : In the Instagram, engagement is one of the major considerations (perhaps the top consideration) when determining how many people to show a post to. The more engagement a post has, the more people will see it in their feed.
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GET DESCRIPTIVE WITH YOUR CAPTIONS A picture is worth a thousand words, but you can’t skip the words entirely. 7
GO ALL IN ON INFLUENCER MARKETING : Visit the profiles of each person you’ve identified as an influencer in your space and “Turn On Post Notifications” to be notified every time they share new content. You can then interact with them regularly and become one of their favorite people or brands. 8
SHARE USER-GENERATED CONTENT : The easiest way to think about user-generated content is this: brands taking the best-of-the-best user content from around the web and featuring it on their own social media or other platforms while giving credit to the original creator (user). 9
TRY VIDEOS, LIVE VIDEOS, AND STORIES: While Instagram started as a photo-sharing network, it has grown beyond just photos. With features like videos, live videos, and Stories, brands can now create many different types of content to engage their fans and grow their following. 10
COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS : Another great way to extend your Instagram reach and grow your following is to collaborate with others, either through partnerships or sponsorships.
ENTREPRENEURS SKILLS AND TALENTS
BOOKS HOW TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL MARKETER
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CUSTOMERS FOR LIFEL, BY CARL SEWELL Drawing on his incredible success in transforming his Dallas Cadillac dealership into the second largest in America, Carl Sewell revealed the secret of getting customers to return again and again in the original Customers for Life. A lively, down-toearth narrative, it set the standard for customer service excellence and became a perennial bestseller. Building on that solid foundation, this expanded edition features five completely new chapters, as well as significant additions to the original material, based on the lessons Sewell has learned over the last ten years. INFLUENCE : THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSUASION – BY: ROBERT B. CIALDINI “Influence”, the classic book on persuasion, explains the psychology of why people say “yes” - and how to apply these understandings. Dr. Robert Cialdini is the seminal expert in the rapidly expanding field of influence and persuasion. His thirty-five years of rigorous, evidence-based research along with a three-year program of study on what moves people to change behavior has resulted in this highly acclaimed book. You’ll learn the six universal principles, how to use them to become a skilled persuader - and how to defend yourself against them. Perfect for people in all walks of life, the principles of “Influence” will move you toward profound personal change and act as a driving force for your success. CONTAGIOUS: WHY THINGS CATCH ON BY JONAH BERGER What makes things popular? If you said advertising, think again. People don’t listen to advertisements, they listen to their peers. But why do people talk about certain products and ideas more than others? Why are some stories and rumors more infectious? And what makes online content go viral? Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger has spent the last decade answering these questions. He’s studied why New York Times articles make the paper’s own Most E-mailed list, why products get word of mouth, and how social influence shapes everything from the cars we buy to the clothes we wear to the names we give our children. DECODED- BY PHIL P. BARDEN In this groundbreaking book Phil Barden reveals what decision science explains about people’s purchase behaviour, and specifically demonstrates its value to marketing. He shares the latest research on the motivations behind consumers’ choices and what happens in the human brain as buyers make their decisions. He deciphers the ‘secret codes’ of products, services and brands to explain why people buy them. And finally he shows how to apply this knowledge in day to day marketing to great effect by dramatically improving key factors such as relevance, differentiation and credibility.
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APPS HELP YOU GET MORE DONE AT WORK
While it can be difficult to find the time to complete everything you need to do each workday, there are numerous apps out there to help make this easier. Let’s take a look at four daily checklist apps to help you get more done at work.
HI TRANSLATE: ... With more than 60 different languages, it is one of the best translation applications that surpasses Google Translate itself, and you can instant translation for anything you require, as you can translate by directing the camera towards foreign languages written on the roads or stores and is characterized by ease of use.
OVER ..Edit and add text to Photos: Design the images by modifying them through Many great templates, tools and effects, through which you can add wonderful signs to your business or personal project.
FAST FINDER... It provides a lot of solutions to problems so that you can search for what you want among thousands of files, all you have to do is enter the name of the application or file, and the application will automatically search for this request in a short time.
DISK DIGGER ... It help you to recover all your deleted and lost photos that you deleted and lost, and the application works very efficiently.
RAKBUSINESS | 33
TECHNOLOGY
Nidal Abou Zaki, Managing Director, Orient Planet Group
MIDDLE EAST RETAILERS INCREASINGLY RELYING ON DATA-DRIVEN RETAIL MODELS TO WOO DIGITAL AGE CUSTOMER
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Consumer expectations and behavior are constantly changing in the Middle East and retailers are leaving no stone unturned in keeping pace with evolving trends and buying habits, a recent research by Orient Planet Research (OPR), the market research unit of Orient Planet Group, and Galal & Karawi Management Consulting (G&K Consulting) has found. In their attempt to stand out from the market clutter and capture the attention of buyers, retailers are increasingly focusing on enhancing the customer experi-
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ence journey. Nevertheless, brand loyalty is diminishing as consumers tend to move away from their preferred brands to options that promise better value for money these days. These findings are in agreement with insights from McKinsey, which indicated that Middle East consumers are increasing their online spending, while also becoming more price conscious and less brand loyal. In response, brands are increasingly relying on data-driven, intelligent retail models to design highly customized shopping experiences for their customers.
TECHNOLOGY STUDIES
The lines between online and offline shopping are blurring, as consumers prefer to switch between online and offline across the various touchpoints of their retail buying experience. This is why brick and mortar retail showrooms are still relevant despite the steady growth of e-commerce in the region In terms of demographics, online shoppers are often between 25 and 44 age band, although this continues to expand. Retailers consider paid advertising as a powerful tool to reach out to this target pool and leverage additional targeting features of advertising platforms such as display, remarketing and shopping ads. Besides, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered highly personalized product recommendations on these platforms are providing retailers with great results, as cited by the Microsoft and PSFK in their Retail Trends Playbook 2020. MENA is the fastest growing region in e-commerce markets with an annual growth rate of 25 per cent according to market reports. Convenience, speedy deliveries, an array of payment options and the ability to check reviews and ratings by other customers before making the purchase are the factors driving this growth. The UAE is considered the most advanced in the region, followed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. An e-commerce study by Visa Inc in June 2019 reported that the UAE retail industry, including its in-store and e-commerce engagement can bring revenue growth as much as USD 63.8 billion by 2023. Nidal Abou Zaki, Managing Director, Orient Planet Group, commented: “Given the fast pace of developments in the GCC and Middle East markets, it is always important to pay attention to market trends such as e-commerce and new strategies that address the increasing role of digital technology in engaging customers and winning brand loyalty. We constantly monitor and explore these developments in the region to promote better awareness and shed light on new strategies which expand across sectors”
ETISALAT REMAINS THE MOST VALUABLE CONSUMER BRAND IN MEA FOR THE 3RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR Etisalat today set another milestone by coming out on top again as ‘The Most Valuable Consumer Brand’ and ‘The Most Valuable Telecom Brand’ in Middle East and Africa (MEA) by Brand Finance as a recognition for the success and growth of the brand spurred by digital customer service driven strategy and engaging with consumers across markets with innovative global branding initiatives. Based on the report from Brand Finance, world’s leading independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy, Etisalat boasts of an impressive portfolio of brands touching $11bn including Etisalat Misr, Mobily, Ufone, Maroc Telecom and PTCL. The brand has also demonstrated consistent performance over the years retaining its title as the most valuable telecom brand for the fourth year in a row.
SEERA GROUP HOSTS ‘WOMEN IN TECH DUBAI’ TALK ON DIGITAL SKILLS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT Kickstarting the New Year on a high note, the event at Seera Group welcomed around 30 women executives, entrepreneurs and other leaders in the technology industry. The advocacy event raised visibility of the importance of attracting women to tech training and related careers. Sylvia Lobo, PMO Manager, Seera Group – IT Planning and Enterprise Architecture, stressed the importance of keeping pace with the ever-changing project management requirements and trends. She highlighted how the Project Management Office (PMO) helps to maintain and ensure project and programme success, which is critical for organisations to deliver value. She emphasised that PMOs are the keepers of best practices, project status, and direction. RAKBUSINESS | 35
Infiniti introduces new-generation infotainment system for key 2020 models Infiniti has developed a new-generation infotainment system for its key 2020 models. With model year updates for Q50, Q60, QX50 and the flagship QX80, owners will have access to an array of new functionality. The HD twin-screen system, which keeps the name ‘INFINITI InTouch™’, will improve the driving experience and keep motorists better connected while on the road. INFINITI InTouch™ will feature an improved interface with the adoption of a new, faster processor for an enhanced user experience for drivers. The new Bluetooth® module paired with the newly adopted HD Microphone delivers better clarity during phone calls and voice commands as well as ensures greater connection stability.
MBRU AND HEALTH SCIENCES SIGNS AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH MEHD TO PROVIDE OPHTHALMOLOGY CURRICULUM The Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) has come together with the renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (MEHD) to offer instruction and training around the specialty of ophthalmology at MBRU, which is a part of the core curriculum of undergraduate students at the College of Medicine, as well as offer medical students clinical rotation at MEHD. An affiliation agreement ratifying this collaboration was signed by Dr. Amer Sharif of MBRU, and David Probert and Elhadi Hassan of Moorfields Eye Hospitals in London and Dubai, on January 21st at the MBRU campus in Dubai Healthcare City. Within this partnership, MEHD will organize and deliver teaching activities related to the field of ophthalmology for undergraduate medical students. MEHD will also chart out an annual educational plan covering the subject of ophthalmology and provide students with educational material on the subject and will oversee the entire program. The clinical rotation offered by MEHD will allow MBRU students to observe ophthalmological specialists in action from close quarters enhancing the students’ educational experience while at the same time amplifying practical exposure. 36 | RAKBUSINESS
Peugeot closes record year for 2019 Peugeot concluded 2019 with a 72% increase in overall sales in the GCC, marking a record year for the French manufacturer in the region. Peugeot commercial vehicles achieved notable success with an 84 per cent yearon-year sales increase, with Peugeot Expert and Traveller both more than doubling their sales numbers. Additionally, last year witnessed the launch of the all-new Peugeot Partner 2020, the disruptive B-segment van, which is the first in its segment to incorporate the brand’s renowned i-Cockpit® technology fitted as standard and offers unprecedented levels of refinement and versatility.
TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES
Pacific Prime Dubai Receives Cigna’s Individual Broker of the Year 2019 Award They received the award at the Cigna Partner Seminar (Middle East and North Africa [MENA] region), which took place on December 14th, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa.
CEO Jerome Droesch said, “I would like to extend my congratulations to Pacific Prime for winning the IPMI Broker of the Year award. This award recognizes their unique contributions and dedication which have helped us build our IPMI offering and broaden our services to our customers. Pacific Prime’s approach with clientele in the SME and individual health insurance space has set them apart this year and we look forward to continuing our relationship to deliver excellence and meet our customers’ needs.”
Automobili Lamborghini continues its global growth and marks new historic highs in 2019 Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. continued its strong global growth. With an increase of 43% from 5,750 to 8,205 cars delivered to customers around the world, the Italian super sports car brand achieved sales growth for nine years in a row and set another historic sales record. Stefano Domenicali, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini comments: “…Our Super SUV Urus sold almost 5,000 units, a number that comes close to our total sales volume in 2018. With new content and new technologies our V10 and V12 super sports cars models retained their market success...”. Lamborghini is a global brand and sales volumes are well distributed among the three major regions. With 165 dealers serving 51 countries, all regions set a new sales benchmark in 2019 and contributed to the total sales growth compared to the previous year: EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa): 3,206/+28%, America: 2,837/+45% and Asia Pacific: 2,162/+66%. Both super sports car model lines achieved a strong sales performance. Deliveries of the V12 Lamborghini Aventador with 1,104 units are still exceptionally robust. The V10 Lamborghini Huracán, introduced as Huracán EVO in 2019 with new design and enhanced technologies, sold 2,139 units. In 2019, after just five years of production, a Lamborghini Huracán number 14,022 rolled off the assembly line, surpassing its predecessor the Gallardo that achieved the same volumes in 10 years, thus becoming the most successful Lamborghini of all time in terms of sales.
SNC-Lavalin awarded oil and gas contract from Al Dhafra Petroleum Under the nine-month agreement, SNC-Lavalin will provide front-end engineering and design (FEED) services for the second phase of the Haliba field, located in Al Dhafra Petroleum’s concession area. The project’s aim is to develop surface facilities in an optimized manner to handle long-term production as well as future production prospects near Haliba. The contract scope of work includes verification of the conceptual studies and design, carrying out FEED to develop surface facilities required for processing production from the main plant and its north and south extension areas, execution planning, and designing facilities to handle production from other close-by prospects. RAKBUSINESS | 37
TOURISM
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market 2020
TRAVEL TRENDS FOR BOOMERS, GEN X, Y & Z IN FOCUS AT ATM Travellers from across the globe representing all generations, now have a common interest in activities and experiences that are now influencing, indeed in many cases driving their travel decisions, according to new research from Expedia Group Media Solutions. The research underscores the notion that cultural and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, exploring new destinations and interactive activities, are ranked by all generations significantly higher than value or a discounted price. 38 | RAKBUSINESS
“Although all generations are now looking for activities and experiences, above all else, what makes this market more complex, is the individual preferences and demands of each generation and of course ultimately, the challenge facing marketers trying to engage with them,� said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market 2020. ATM is holding a series of seminars on its Global Stage identifying the latest in hospitality concepts as well as the most recent trends in cultural tourism to future developments in the wellness economy and
TOURISM NEWS
Arabian Travel Market 2020, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 19-22 April 2020, will bring together travel and tourism experts from across the globe to discuss the burgeoning global tours and activities market, which according to New Yorkbased Skift Research, is estimated to be worth $183 billion this year responsible tourism. And addressing these issues ATM has recruited industry experts from Kerten Hospitality, Accor, as well as representatives from Abu Dhabi and Ajman tourism boards. Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964 are the least concerned about budget and are especially interested in sightseeing and in the case of American tourists, 40% will plan their holiday around food and drink. They want safety, security and service and the socalled Platinum Pensioners are a much sought-after demographic – they want to relax and generally avoid long haul trips. Gen X travelers who are now typically aged between 40 and 56 years, travel least out of the generations, due to corporate careers, 50% of all leadership roles worldwide are occupied by Gen Xers. As such they value work-life balance and prefer relaxing holidays to de-stress. Interestingly, 25% of Gen X will accept word of mouth during their decision-making process and are especially drawn towards cultural experiences Expedia research found that 70% enjoy museums, historical sites and art galleries. Generation Y or Millennials, who are today aged between 25 and 39, are the most talked about generation and are the undisputed champions of the frequent traveler title, technically adept and the great disrupters. More than anything, Millennials crave adventure and experiential variety and although they are careful with their budget, in gross terms it the largest submarket by revenue, generated through sheer volume. Ipsos research in September 2018, concluded that 25% of the MENA region’s population is made up of Millennials;
Ras Al Khaimah Named in Top 10 Places to Visit in the World by Buzzfeed
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In its 2020 travel guide, Buzzfeed said that the Emirate was a global destination for thrill-seekers and explorers because of its “beautiful and rugged” landscape. The article singled out Jebel Jais - the UAE’s highest peak - as a must-visit for adventurers. Activities on the mountain include the world’s longest zipline and the ‘via ferrata’, the first protected climbing route in the Middle East. “The thrills here won’t stop until you do,” the article noted. The piece also highlighted the Emirate’s modern hotels, including Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort and Spa, and Waldorf Astoria.
97% are online; 94% are present on at least one social platform; 78% share content weekly; 74% have interacted online with an brand and 64% are always looking for best offers and deals available. This may have something to do with the fact that 41% of MENA’s Millennials feel overwhelmed by financial burden, and only 70% of those of working age, are actually employed. “One emerging trend travel and tourism experts will be watching is Generation Alpha - the children of the Millennials. According to Skift these kids, born after 2010, will start making their own travel arrangements well before the end of this decade and there is a belief that they are expected to be even more disruptive than their parents,” added Curtis. Finally, Generation Z, those born between 1996 and 2010, aged between 10 and 24 years, spend 11% of their travel budget on activities and tours the highest of any generation according to Expedia research. What sets this open-minded, interactive generation apart from the others, is that 90% are inspired by peers on social networks
and 70% are open to creative ideas. As true digital natives, they are comfortable researching, planning and booking their travel from their mobile phone and yearn for new, unique and authentic experiences. “So, in response, apart from the challenges of marketing to these disjointed generations, the ATM seminars will also be examining how hotels, destinations, attractions, tours and other activities are created, packaged and priced, to meet demand. We will also be launching the Middle East’s first ever edition of Arival Dubai @ ATM showcasing the next generation of in-destination trends and innovation, as well as exploring the various opportunities that sector presents,” said Curtis. ATM, considered by industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism sector, welcomed almost 40,000 people to its 2019 event with representation from 150 countries. With over 100 exhibitors making their debut, ATM 2019 showcased the largest ever exhibition from Asia RAKBUSINESS | 39
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to visit outside London
London is known for its iconic attractions and luxury shopping, but venture beyond the confines of the capital and even more spectacular highlights await. Cities packed with heritage and history are within easy reach, allowing you to get up close to incredible architecture and to sample exceptional shopping in picturesque surroundings. London might hog the headlines, but here’s what you can experience if you travel a little further. 40 | RAKBUSINESS
BRIGHTON
The bustling seaside city of Brighton is only a short train ride from London. Explore the independent shops and beautiful historic boutiques of The Lanes, where you’ll find everything from upmarket perfumes and bespoke jewellery to designer shoes, suits and spa treatments. Stroll along the retro pier, enjoy the thrills of the Turbo Coaster and be sure to see Brighton Pavilion, a historic royal palace with spectacular Indian-style architecture. If you’d like to see Brighton from a different perspective, take to the skies in a private plane or helicopter tour from Shoreham Airport or enjoy scenic views of the south coast from the Brighton i360 observation tower.
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CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge is home to one of the oldest and most famous universities in the world, and is a city brimming with history, tradition and scholarly charm. Explore the historic colleges where the likes of scientist Sir Isaac Newton and poet Lord Byron studied, and be sure to take a punt out on the River Cam. Punting tours operate daily during the summer months, helping you see the city’s remarkable buildings in comfort and style. Why not wander through the Cambridge University Botanic Garden and admire the shining 24-carat gold Grasshopper – the Corpus Clock – on Corpus Christi College’s Taylor Library, before sampling traditional afternoon tea in one of the city’s many lavish tearooms?
TOURISM MY DESTINATION
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OXFORD
Another of Britain’s famous historic university cities, Oxford is bigger than Cambridge and is home to luxury shopping and rich heritage in abundance. Whether you want to explore the historic colleges, shop in the city’s labyrinth of quirky boutiques and antique shops, or simply relax in its many parks and green spaces, there’s plenty to see and do. If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter films, be sure to check out Christ Church, which provided architectural inspiration for the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Bicester Village, with its array of luxury goods and designer clothing, is just a short distance away too, so you can shop ‘til you drop and stock up on fashionable brands such as Gucci, Hugo Boss, Prada and Ralph Lauren.
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BATH
The historic Roman spa town of Bath is one of the most popular day trips from London. Tour the remarkably preserved Roman baths, be awed by the stained glass windows in the beautiful abbey, and admire the gorgeous architecture in the UNESCO World Heritage listed city. Relax in Britain’s only natural thermal spa with state-of-the-art facilities at Thermae Bath Spa before browsing an exciting array of museums, galleries and independent shops. The natural resource of a hot spring from the waters of the surrounding Cotswold Hills was a great attraction to the Romans. The resulting Roman Baths are the biggest single attraction for visitors to Bath. And best of all? It’s just 90 minutes from London by train.
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CANTERBURY
Historic Canterbury and its spectacular cathedral provide a glimpse into British country life and traditions. Explore the beautiful half-timbered buildings and the cathedral that houses the shrine to the 12th-century Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. In addition to the cathedral, both St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, while the eclectic mix of architecture provides something to admire at every turn. Your shopping needs are well catered for too, as you’ll find specialist boutiques and independent shops in the historic areas of the King’s Mile, Westgate and St Dunstan’s, selling everything from fine art and jewellery to souvenirs, crafts and antiques. RAKBUSINESS | 41