Criteo: Taking on advertising during Ramadhan in 2023

Source: Criteo. Malaysia had two peaks in shopping over Ramadhan whereas Singapore was largely unaffected.

Criteo, the commerce media company, has shared advice on how to capitalise on commerce
opportunities during Ramadhan this year. 

The company notes that consumers are excited to resume their daily activities post-pandemic, and would like to go back to their old ways of celebrating festivals with their families and friends. However, inflation and the rising cost of living are impacting consumer behaviour.

Ramadhan occurred 2 April – 1 May in 2022. Based on Criteo's retail data from last year’s Ramadhan*, initial online sales in Southeast Asia saw a 19% increase in early April 2022 compared to the last two weeks of March 2022. Sales figures continued rising during Ramadhan until approximately one week before Eid (early May) across markets in the region.

 Indonesia experienced the sharpest increase in sales, at 74%, on April 20, 2022. Indonesia saw increasing sales which began around March 23, indicating that Indonesians might have been shopping to prepare for Ramadhan. Indonesia saw a spike of 68% a week before Eid.

 Malaysia witnessed two peaks, on 4 April (a double day sale, 4.4) and 22 April respectively. Malaysia had a 35% increase six days before Eid in retail sales.

 Singapore consumers continued with their usual shopping habits, suggesting that their retail habits remained largely unchanged even during Ramadhan. However, both Indonesia and Malaysia are Muslim countries, whereas Muslims are a minority in Singapore.

Apparel & Accessories was the top performing product category and saw a 30% increase in sales during Ramadhan. Other product categories that performed well were Health & Beauty, Home & Garden and Electronics, which all saw an 18% increase in retail sales right before Eid. Additionally, travel sales saw a general increase and peaked (+44%) four days before Eid celebrations. This might be expected as people want to travel home to gather with their family and friends for the celebration, Criteo noted. 

Ramadhan also saw a change in the patterns of online shopping, especially in Indonesia and
Malaysia:

 Online sales at night saw a general positive trend that started from 19:00 (Indonesia), 20:00
(Malaysia) and continued till the morning.

 Online shopping before dawn 04:00 – 05:00 (Indonesia), and 05:00 – 06:00 (Malaysia) saw the
highest change during Ramadhan as compared to the normal days’ performance (March 1 – 30). This ties in with people being up before dawn for suhoor, the pre-dawn meal.

 Decreased sales events during iftar (breaking of fast) 18:00 – 19:00 (Indonesia), more than
on regular days (no requirement to eat at sunset).

 12:00 – 13:00 in both countries stands out as the time with the highest number of sales during
the day. Consumers were shopping more as they were fasting during the lunch hour, instead of having lunch, Criteo noted.

“With inflation being at the forefront of the mind of consumers coupled with the change in consumer
behaviour during Ramadhan, it is vital for marketers to rethink their advertising strategies in order to
maximise their outreach across various platforms,” said Taranjeet Singh, Criteo's MD for South APAC. 

“Last year’s data revealed a change in the patterns of online shopping during Ramadhan, with an increase in online sales at night and before dawn. Marketers should take note of these trends and
ensure that their advertising strategies are tailored to the specific times when consumers are most active online.”

Criteo has three tips that will enable retailers to capitalise on opportunities for Ramadhan 2023:

 Rise of commerce media – commerce media is being positioned as the 4th wave of digital
advertising and has the power to reach and engage consumers where they’re actively browsing
and buying. According to McKinsey, commerce media is a new form of advertising "that closes the loop between media impressions and commerce transactions to improve targeting, provide new audience insights, and deliver more relevant and valuable experiences for consumers."

Criteo’s Rise of Savvy Shopper Study* shows that 71% of global shoppers are spending more time online to search for the best offers and values before making a purchase. As shoppable moments can happen in nearly any environment, emerging environments such as retail media will continue gaining traction in 2023. Savvy retailers will need to continue expanding their media offerings to own their end-to-end customer journey, and marketers will keep investing in retail media because it works.

 Understanding the optimal timings – shoppers are still finding ways to buy what they love,
regardless of inflation. Consumers are spending more on non-negotiables like mortgages or food
and have developed a more forward-thinking mindset that accelerated some purchases, such as buying
essential items in bulk to get more value for their money. 

At the same time, a majority are still purchasing the goods and experiences they want most. Nearly three quarters (74%) of consumers globally said they’re spending the same or more on personal care/health and beauty products, followed by apparel and accessories (65%), consumer electronics (63%). Marketers should take note of the change in the pattern of online shopping during Ramadhan, especially the vital hours where sales generally increase, to tap into the spending habits of consumers. 

 Incorporating quality and loyalty programmes - despite saving money being top of mind,
consumers believe that deals should not come at the expense of quality. Almost all (91%) global consumers chose product quality as the biggest factor influencing purchase decisions, ahead of free shipping (90%) and discounts and coupons (84%). 

They also value the alignment with brand values such as ecofriendliness and loyalty programmes. Marketers can tap on this by ensuring that their
products are top notch and creating loyalty programmes that motivate consumers to continue
purchasing from them, Criteo said.

*Methodology for Ramadhan data and The Rise of Savvy Shoppers

 All insights represent the organic events from partners and are agnostic of any Criteo attribution.

 Times reported are local times, (i.e., 7 hours added to UTC timestamp to the events retrieved from Indonesian retailers)

 Retail data is indexed per each partner and then aggregated by taking the mean. 

 Each insight is backed by at least five partners in the given market (country/region-vertical). 

 Southeast Asia is defined as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand for producing the product category and travel trends in order to reach a minimum sample size.

 Criteo surveyed 13,829 consumers in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea,
Spain, the UK and the US for The Rise of Savvy Shoppers. The field work took place between November 20 and December 13, 2022.

Nuodle to take halal beef noodles and more to Dubai

Nuodle, Singapore's first and only halal beef chain of quick-serve restaurants, has announced plans to open its first overseas outlet in Dubai this year. The outlet will be directly owned and managed by the Nuodle team from Singapore. Beef used in Dubai outlets will be sourced in-country.

"We believe that our brand represents Singapore, and itis time to share our passion for food and our heritage with the world. We are thrilled to open our first branch in Dubai, and we are confident that our customers will appreciate the authentic taste of our halal beef noodles," Nuodle's founder and MD Jerry Liao said.

The company recently added mala beef lamian (mala beef noodles, S$8.85) and classic fried bee tai mak (S$7.50) to its menu.

Source: Nuodle. Mala flavoured beef noodles.

The brand was set up to showcase Chinese cuisine, with a focus on the relatively rare Lanzhou beef noodles. Since the opening of the first Nuodle outlet at Singpost in 2017, Nuodle has served more than 1 million bowls per year of affordable Lanzhou beef noodles in Singapore.

Liao subsequently added sweet-and-sour dumplings from Xi’an, Hunan vermicelli fish soup, and spicy gizzard dry sauce noodles from Sichuan. A mala dish was added to appeal to those who like spicy food.

The mala flavoured beef noodles feature Nuodle's tender mala beef, made from a secret recipe, as well as Nuodle's homemade beef broth. Other ingredients include Shanghai greens, coriander, and garlic sprouts. According to Nuodle, the beef and broth are stewed for four to five hours before serving.

Nuodle's other new dish, classic fried bee tai mak, fuses Chinese cuisine with Singapore tastes. Nuodle uses a secret recipe for the sauce, which is fried with chewy bee tai mak, chicken thigh meat, cabbage, capsicum, onion, and Shanghai greens.

"The history of noodle-making is an integral part of our brand, and we are proud to continue this tradition in a modern halal setting. The unique aroma and flavour of beef and noodles in our carefully brewed clear broth, made with clean white turnips, brilliant red chili oil, green cilantro, and a blend of traditional Chinese spices, is a taste that everyone should experience,” Liao suggested.

Nuodle also introduced the concept of hand-pulled noodles to complement its beef noodles. Five types of hand-pulled noodles are available at Nuodle flagship outlets at SingPost Centre, Our Tampines Hub, and Compass One. The broth is prepared with halal beef, beef bones, beef liver, and seasonings.

Nuodle further plans to open its first overseas outlet in Dubai this year. The outlet will be directly owned and managed by the Nuodle team from Singapore. Beef used in Dubai outlets will be sourced in-country.

"We believe that our brand represents Singapore, and itis time to share our passion for food and our heritage with the world. We are thrilled to open our first branch in Dubai, and we are confident that our customers will appreciate the authentic taste of our halal beef noodles," Liao said.

Explore

Nuodle has 20 outlets in Singapore, including three cloud kitchens that can provide island-wide delivery. More pictures are on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=singaporerecommends&set=a.640341198102196 

Nuodle members receive privileges such as discounts on dishes.

Hashtags: #nuodle, #halalsg, #halalfood, #nuodlesg, #nuodleasia, #halalfoodsg, #sghalal

Petal Ads gives back this Ramadhan in MENA

Petal Ads, formerly known as HUAWEI Ads, has introduced a Ramadan Ad Campaign bundle. 

Through Q123, the Petal Ads mobile ad platform for publishers, advertisers and marketers will provide businesses with premium, exclusive ads spots on Huawei's own media, including AppGallery, HUAWEI Video, HUAWEI Music, Petal Search etc.), Each media property has over 100 million monthly active users (MAUs), guaranteeing high viewability.

In addition to Huawei's own media, Petal Ads provides extra coverage within the major third-party apps and media in the MEA region. As of December 31, 2022, Petal Ads has cooperated with advertisers spanning 200+ industries, with more than 53,000 apps worldwide integrated in an Ads Kit. 

AppGallery will also launch a Ramadan Special Collection, showcased under the Featured Tab, offering users quick access to Ramadhan and Eid-related apps. If advertisers create an AppGallery Campaign assignment, their apps will be displayed in this collection within their respective subcategories and ranked according by bidding outcomes.

Last year's Ramadhan campaign by Petal Ads resulted in advertising investment in the region growing by 447%, while the number of active advertisers doubled. 

Source: Petal Ads. Petal Ads gives businesses superior ad experiences this Ramadhan. Petal Ads' in-house Data Management Platform (DMP) allows customers to reach desired audiences precisely, by targeting users based on their location, demographics, and interests, while complying with users' privacy preferences and consent around consuming Ramadhan-related content.

In-app shopping habits have become mainstream in the Middle East and Africa and e-commerce merchants have already geared up and are ready to increase their orders. During Ramadhan 2022 the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region's total user traction surged by 53%, Petal Ads said. 

And according to a survey conducted by AdColony in the UAE, 63% of people prefer using apps to shop during Ramadhan. The survey also found that 66% of respondents said they bought products after seeing the advertisements.

William Hu, MD, Huawei Consumer Business Group, Middle East and Africa Eco Development and Operation, stated: "Petal Ads is constantly helping businesses connect more effectively with users, during the month of giving, by offering a unique audience and using advanced targeting. We make our ads affordable and adaptable to different markets while prioritising user privacy. 

"Our ads reach users anytime, anywhere, creating a smarter and more engaging era for mobile advertising. We'll keep using the latest AI, machine learning, and big data advancements to expand our platform."

Petal Ads is Huawei's advertising platform. It distributes ads with pinpoint precision to users throughout the whole Huawei ecosystem and beyond, maximising the effectiveness of any advertising budget. Viu and ChicPoint are shining illustrations of how Petal Ads delivers results. Petal Ads' capabilities has helped Viu, an online streaming service that delivers premium content on-demand, connect with a larger audience and facilitated its 47% business growth for 2022 on the HUAWEI Ecosystem in 2022 across MENA.

Petal Ads also supported cross-border mobile e-commerce platform ChicPoint's launch campaign in the Gulf region (KSA, the UAE, and Kuwait) with a suite of promotional features on AppGallery, including feature cards, top banner cards, and rankings. ChicPoint has since boosted organic downloads and increased monthly revenue by 40%.

Details

Send enquiries to adsmea at huawei dot com.

Tanmiah Food Company, Tyson Foods hold talks, recognise partnership

KSA-based Tanmiah Food Company and US-based Tyson Foods have formally recognised a strategic partnership made in 2022. The agreement is expected to help sustainably meet the growing demand for poultry in the kingdom, while also supporting KSA's food security goals and economic growth. As one of the world's leading food companies, Tyson Foods is committed to providing protein to a growing population across the Middle East.

Under the terms of the agreement, Tyson Foods and Tanmiah will be jointly investing in the expansion of further processing capacity for Supreme Foods Processing, to nearly 100,000 metric tons annually.

Zulifqar Hamadani, CEO, Tanmiah Food Company, said, "It was an honour to welcome our partners at Tyson Foods to the kingdom as we build momentum following the recent signing of our strategic partnership that will unlock growth across the kingdom and improve access to high-quality processed poultry products. We also believe the partnership strengthens our commitment to supporting the kingdom's food security and self-sufficiency goals."

Ahmed Osilan, Executive Board Member mp; MD said: "This partnership will contribute to food security goals and bring global expertise, standards and technology to the Saudi poultry market, supporting the kingdom's non-oil economy while also generating hundreds of jobs."

Amy Tu, President, International and Chief Administrative Officer, Tyson Foods, said, "Tyson Foods is pleased to be partnering with Tanmiah in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to address the importance of food security. A key part of our strategic plan is to meet the growing global demand for protein and to serve customers and consumers with products tailored to the local market and region. Our partnership with Tanmiah Food will allow us to address that plan, especially the growing demand for Halal food. We are excited to build a long-term partnership and drive future economic activity in the kingdom."

Tan Sun, President, Tyson Foods Asia Pacific, said, "We are committed to working together to drive operational excellence and deliver high-quality poultry products across the region. We are aligned on the need for future expansion across the value chain and improvements to production processes. We look forward to further collaboration."

Saudi Tourism Authority launches Nusuk and Umrah+ in Malaysia, Singapore

Source: STA. The Saudi Tourism Authority launches Nusuk and Umrah+ in Malaysia.

The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has launched Nusuk (nusuk.sa), a new digital platform which welcomes Muslims globally to experience umrah, inMalaysia and Singapore.

Nusuk is an initiative launched by the Saudi Tourism Authority in collaboration with the Vision 2030 Pilgrim Experience Program. It aims to enhance the overall visitor experience for Muslims visiting KSA, and simplifies arrival procedures for umrah pilgrims.

The Minister of Hajj and Umrah, HE Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah said: "As we open our doors to welcome back the largest group of pilgrims from around the world to Saudi post the pandemic, we look forward to providing an enriching and seamless booking experience, with expanded travel options that will take them on a spiritual journey across different Islamic attractions and offerings between Makkah and Madinah to experience this life-changing moment and to discover Saudi's rich cultural and heritage offerings."

Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board at the Saudi Tourism Authority and MD of Nusuk said: "We are committed to making Saudi more accessible to all visitors. For pilgrims we have launched the digital platform Nusuk designed for pilgrims and visitors to plan their spiritual journey seamlessly."

He added: "We are also working with our partners to encourage pilgrims to also explore our beautiful country and experience its many facets through our Umrah+ programmes. Saudi is welcoming the world to visit the fastest growing new destination and the last unexplored leisure tourism frontier. This presents incomparable new business opportunities for partners looking to offer experiences in Saudi that will capture the hearts, minds, and imaginations of travellers."

Alhasan Aldabbagh, Nusuk President-APAC, said at the Malaysia launch: "We are on a journey of continuous innovation and today's launch of the Nusuk platform in Bahasa Melayu is a showcase of our agility to respond to market needs. We look forward to welcoming more travellers from Malaysia than ever before. Nusuk will make it easier and more accessible for pilgrims as to plan and book their trip, encouraging them to discover Saudi beyond their spiritual journeys." 

Both Malaysia and Singapore are key tourism sources for KSA. Both nations are deepening relations with partners and committed to investing and working closely with local players to ensure experiences are relevant and appealing to their respective markets. Last year, the kingdom welcomed 312,000 Malaysian visitors and this year the aim is to double visitor numbers. Singaporean travellers exceeded 12% of 2019 visitor figures in 2022, and KSA aims to welcome over 60,000 Singaporean visitors in 2023.

Aldabbagh noted at the Singapore launch: "Like Singapore, Saudi embodies a diversity of cultures, cuisines and landscapes, offering visitors an incomparable travel destination."

The Saudi Tourism Authority announced two other initiatives at its Malaysian roadshow: enhanced Umrah+ packages and the Stopover visa.

Source: STA. Aldabbagh (left) with Ustaz TM Fouzy Jumat, President, Association of Muslim Travel Agents Singapore (AMTAS) (right).

The enhanced Umrah+ packages are designed to showcase KSA as a holiday destination with rich cultural and historical offerings, pristine nature and diverse landscapes. KSA is home to six UNESCO World Heritage sites and over 10,000 archaeological sites. These include Al Balad in Jeddah and Turaif in Diriyah - the birthplace of KSA - together with the mountains of Aseer and little towns offering heritage and cultural experiences.

The recently-announced Stopover visa is open to all leisure, business and religious travellers flying on SAUDIA and flynas. Travellers can experience a stopover in KSA for up to 96 hours and enjoy a complimentary one-night hotel stay with Saudia.

Saudi has invested in several giga-projects such as Qiddiya, Neom and the recently-announced Murabba in Riyadh called 'The Mukaab', which will be the world's largest modern downtown.

Explore

Browse the Visit Saudi website or explore Nusuk at www.nusuk.sa.

Help wanted for Project Goodwill Aid Hari Raya Drive, Raya child sponsorship

Volunteer group Project Goodwill Aid (PGA) is bringing back a number of Ramadhan initiatives this year, including the PGA Hari Raya Drive 2023 and an invitation to sponsor a child for Hari Raya (Eid).

The Singapore non-profit performs acts of charity year-round, but has seasonal activities during the month of Ramadhan. The group's Hari Raya Drive 2023 will involve the distribution of a festive gift set and green packets.

Source: PGA. PGA is accepting money and goodies for distribution to the needy for Hari Raya 2023.

PGA is asking for:

- Contributions in kind, of any type and amount of halal-certified Raya goodies

- Monetary donations to be given as green packets (duit Raya)

- Prepared green packets filled with any amount

Donations will be made up into gift sets comprising three jars of cookies, two bottles of crackers, a 1.5 l bottle of a soft drink, S$10 NTUC voucher, and a green packet containing an unspecified amount. 

Contributions can be dropped off at any one of six collection points. Please contact PGA at 8613 1242 regarding bulk contributions. Contributions are accepted till April 15.

Source: PGA. PGA is calling for donors to sponsor one of 50 needy children at S$100 per child.

The Hari Raya Special campaign for 2023 involves going on a shopping trip for festive clothing and accessories with one or more children during Ramadhan, with the sponsor spending S$100 per child. PGA has identified 50 underprivileged children as beneficiaries this year. Activities begin from 8 April, and end 20 April. Please indicate interest by 20 April via PGA's social channels, or via WhatsApp.

Details: 

Monetary donations can be given through scanning the QR code. Transfers can also be made via PayNow to +65 8613 1242.

Please contact PGA at +65 8613 1242 via WhatsApp with questions. For more details visit PGA's Facebook page, Twitter, or Instagram.

FWD to enter Malaysian life insurance market through Gibraltar BSN Life investment

FWD Group Holdings will enter the Malaysian life insurance market following the signing of an agreement to invest in a majority stake in Gibraltar BSN Life. The transaction is expected to close in Q223.

FWD Group, and other investors, will together hold an effective 70% stake in Gibraltar BSN, which was sold by The Prudential Insurance Company of America, the wholly owned subsidiary of US-based Prudential Financial, Inc. Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) will continue to hold the remaining 30% stake in Gibraltar BSN. Post-completion, FWD Group will partner with BSN to further develop and grow Gibraltar BSN.

Huynh Thanh Phong, Group CEO and Executive Director of FWD Group, said, "We're creating a full-service offering in Malaysia and will be able to offer both family takaful and life insurance solutions in a rapidly growing market with huge long-term potential for growth. We're excited to bring our digitally-enabled products and services to more people in Malaysia. With these strategic developments, we also substantially complete our footprint across key Southeast Asia markets in the 10th anniversary year for FWD Group. Changing the way people feel about takaful and insurance remains the vision that guides our work."

Malaysia is the 4th largest life insurance market by premium in Southeast Asia*, with highly attractive macroeconomic fundamentals and favourable demographics. FWD Group entered the Malaysian market in March 2019 as a provider of family takaful products, including term life, critical illness, cancer, hospital cash benefit and medical protection.

Binayak Dutta, FWD Group MD, Emerging Markets and Group Chief Distribution Officer said, "Our partnership with BSN underscores our commitment to the Malaysian market and we look forward to playing our part in the growth and development of Malaysia's takaful and insurance sectors. Since establishment, our business in Malaysia has gone from strength to strength. We grew gross written contributions by 173% in our first full year of operation**, established our regional technology and innovation hub in Kuala Lumpur and partnered with a leading social enterprise in Malaysia to develop Fun(d) for Life, a financial literacy programme supporting over 4,200 individuals***."

Existing customers and distribution channels of Gibraltar BSN will not be affected by this investment and all existing policies will continue to be honoured. Customers can also continue to access the company's products and services using their preferred service channels. Additionally, existing customers and distribution channels of FWD Takaful will not be affected. FWD Group plans to rebrand the Gibraltar BSN business at a later date.

*NMG; Swiss Re.

**Malaysia gross written contributions (GWC) grew by approximately 173% from 2020 to 2021. This is in comparison to the industry gross written premiums (GWP) in Malaysia, which grew by approximately 9% over the same period, according to NMG.

***As of 30 September 2022.

Madinah issues voluntary local review of SDGs

Source: Al Madinah Region Development Authority. Madinah, a sustainable city.

The Urban Observatory at Al Madinah Region Development Authority has issued the Madinah SDGs Voluntary Local Review (VLR) as the first VLR in KSA that covers nine sustainable development goals (SDGs). The move is a follow-up on the Voluntary National Review (VNR) in 2018, titled Towards the Sustainable Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the KSA Ministry of Economy and Planning.

The VLR aims to evaluate Madinah's current state of sustainable development and to assess it against national and international trends. The report comprises Madinah's sustainable development state in many fields, such as health, education, infrastructure, environment, housing, transport, and others, covering Goal 1 to Goal 8, and Goal 11. The SDGs are also localised in collaboration with government agencies, the private sector, the non-profit sector, and Madinah's civil society.

The Madinah Region Development Authority looks forward to continued collaboration with its partners to accelerate SDG targets at the local level through job creation, increased prosperity, and further development without burdening land and resources, while reducing pollution.

The VLR is in line with KSA's commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that was approved at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015. The commitment is also aligned with Islamic values, the kingdom's VISION 2030 and its executive programmes.

Hajj registrations open in Oman from 21 February

The Omani Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs has announced that aspiring Hajj pilgrims may register online from 21 February to 4 March 2023, the Oman News Agency has reported.

The website requires national identification details or mobile phone numbers if the ID card and mobile chip are PKI-supported.

Nine hundred offered Hajj pilgrimage opportunity in Singapore

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) is issuing offers to 900 individuals for Hajj 2023. All selected pilgrims will be notified via SMS and email to check their letter of offer (LOO) via the MyHajSG portal.

To confirm their place for Hajj 2023, pilgrims must purchase their Hajj package from a travel agent authorised by Muis, and complete procedural requirements listed in the MyHajSG portal by 26 February 2023.

Thirteen travel agents have been appointed to provide Hajj-related services this year. Pilgrims can view the information on the authorised travel agents and approved Hajj packages for 2023 at go.gov.sg/haj2023packages.

There are 30 approved Hajj packages, half of which cover stays of between 15 and 23 days, and the remainder covering stays of between 24 and 30 days.

Package prices have gone up by S$1,500, Muis said, mainly due to the higher government taxes and accommodation costs. The cheapest package costs S$8,490 (quad occupancy), and the typical average package price for is around S$14,150 (double occupancy). All packages exclude emergency medical assistance (EMA) and airfare. Pilgrims are encouraged to purchase additional travel insurance to supplement the insurance coverage provided by the EMA.

Premier marine research and rescue centre opens in Abu Dhabi

SeaWorld Rescue has gone global with the launch of its first centre outside of the US. YasSeaWorld Research and Rescue (YSWRR), Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, is the first dedicated marine research and rescue centre in the MENA region. 

YSWRR joins three locations adjacent to SeaWorld parks in the US. Together the four locations support local, regional and global conservation efforts for dozens of species, many of which are threatened or endangered. 

The 8,602 m² YSWRR will be a key contributor to marine-life conservation in both the UAE and the wider MENA region through research, rescue, rehabilitation, return and education programmes, informed by SeaWorld's nearly 60 years of animal care and rescue experience. 

"The waters of the Arabian gulf are an important marine ecosystem and integral to the fabric of the Abu Dhabi community. The conservation of their marine animals and ecosystems is vital, and we are excited to be a part of this important effort. Expanding SeaWorld's nearly 60-year legacy of animal care and conservation globally and having the opportunity to share our knowledge with the region is an honor and a privilege," said Dr Chris Dold, Chief Zoological Officer of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment.

The marine rescue and research centre will host rescue vehicles and equipment, including two custom-made rescue boats, a rescue clinic, a veterinary hospital, and aquaculture facility. The center will also have over 25 rescue pools, from large pools for marine mammals to smaller pools for fish, invertebrates and marine reptiles. Two of the larger pools are equipped with lifting floors, which will make access for treatment easier and less disruptive for the animals. An onsite lab is also equipped with advanced rescue and rehabilitation facilities, including the ability to conduct in-house pathology analysis for wildlife.

The centre also conducts fundamental research focusing on the marine ecology of the Arabian Gulf and covering topics such as marine biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, sensitive wildlife conservation, critical habitats, fisheries, pollution and wildlife health. Specifically, the focus on applied research studies for marine ecosystem restoration will include aquaculture-based projects on fish propagation, seagrass cultivation, coral reproduction as well as field projects focusing on critical habitats of Arabian Gulf waters such as seagrass, mangroves, oyster beds and coral reefs. 

This research will be supported by three dry laboratories, a wet laboratory, and a 345 m³ aquaculture facility which includes live feed culture rooms, brood stock pools and larvae culture pools. The centre's research team will conduct most of these studies with its 12.5 m research vessel.

The center was developed and will be operated by Miral, Abu Dhabi's creator of immersive destinations and experiences, and SeaWorld. The Chairman of Miral, HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, said: "We are very proud to begin 2023, the UAE's Year of Sustainability, with opening the first dedicated marine research and rescue center in the region, Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue. This is a cornerstone in the emirate's journey of education and conservation, inspiring the next generation of marine scientists to learn more about Abu Dhabi's impactful long-term vision of protecting our marine wildlife and their habitats. 

"Together with SeaWorld, we will be pushing the limits of science and conservation to become the foremost knowledge hub for marine scientists, not only in the UAE but also in the wider region."

Source: SeaWorld. A rescue in progress.

Added the Chairman of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Scott Ross: "For nearly 60 years, SeaWorld has maintained its unwavering mission and steadfast commitment to protecting marine animals and their ecosystems and inspiring others to act and care for marine life. Our new centre in the UAE is an extension of this commitment and expands our reach to the Gulf region with a partner who is equally committed to protecting, preserving and honouring the importance of the sea, and will create a strong regional rescue network to protect and preserve native species in the Arabian Gulf."

Each rescue facility is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating ill, injured or orphaned wildlife. Due to their deep expertise and innovative techniques, SeaWorld rescue teams have helped more than 40,000 animals, including whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, turtles, manatees, otters and a wide range of other marine animals. At these facilities, animal care specialists, marine biologists and veterinarians also work on critical and life-changing research and conservation projects that impact animal care, veterinary knowledge, habitat restoration and species preservation.

If marine animals are spotted in danger in UAE waters, please call the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) on 800 555.

Arabic speech-to-text technology introduced in KSA

Maqsam, a MENA-based cloud communications company, is on track to disrupt Arabic-speaking customer engagement.

Founded by Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour, Maqsam has developed generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of Arabic automatic speech recognition (ASR), also known as speech-to-text (STT). The company's language models have outperformed Google, Microsoft, and other regional competitors in the race to accurately transcribe the diverse Arabic dialects of the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region, Maqsam said.

Source: Maqsam. The first-of-its-kind STT solution was launched by Maqsam at LEAP 2023 in KSA.

Arabic has 422 million native speakers and around 1.5 billion total speakers globally, but is one of the most neglected languages when it comes to native deep tech offerings, Maqsam noted. Maqsam's technology can transcribe the different Arabic dialects spoken every day in MENA despite their varying orthographies, phonetics and phonological differences, reliably and cost-effectively. 

"Many years of experience went into achieving where we are today and yet this is the tip of the iceberg. Our competitive advantage lies within our proudly native and capable regional team of engineers, machine learning task force as well as mentors who are celebrated global leaders in this particular discipline. Our goal is one where we are helping enable the MENA region to unleash its true potential within a global revolution, rather than be an afterthought once more." said Taifour, CEO of Maqsam during their live showcase at the LEAP technology expo in Riyadh.

Explore

Trial the ASR tool

Peet's Coffee opens coffee bar in UAE

Source: Peet's Coffee. Peet’s Coffee expands to the Middle East. The Dubai coffee bar is the first for Peet’s and Americana Restaurants, which entered into an exclusive master franchise agreement in 2022.

Peet's Coffee has opened its first Peet's location in the Middle East with a flagship coffee bar in Dubai. Established in partnership with Americana Restaurants, the new coffee bar is sited on Fashion Avenue at The Dubai Mall.

"This trusted, strategic partnership with Americana will bring better coffee to the fast-growing GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) region."

"We are delighted to launch Peet's in the GCC where the love of coffee is shared by millions of consumers," said Amarpal Sandhu, CEO of Americana Restaurants."Peet's devotion to the art and science of brewing the most flavourful cup of coffee is exceptional, and we are excited to expand the brand to new GCC markets this year."

The Dubai coffee bar features:

• A Discovery Bar that invites patrons to take a personalised coffee journey through custom cups, tasting flights, and full sensory, experiential courses led by Peet's roasters and baristas.
  
  
• A regional dessert menu including a tiramisu served with Peet's Baridi Blend Cold Brew, saffron and pistachio milk cakes, and freshly-baked pastries.

Americana Restaurants is one of the largest multibrand restaurant operators in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The companies inked an exclusive master franchise agreement in 2022.