Tag Archives: Middle East

TIME Hotels announces Middle East expansion plans ahead of ATM 2022

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 27 April 2022: UAE-headquartered hospitality company TIME Hotels has outlined ambitious expansion plans to increase its portfolio by 40% to 21 properties throughout the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Sudan.

The UAE-based hospitality company will have a portfolio of 21 properties throughout the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Sudan by 2023

The announcement, which comes ahead of the company’s participation at next month’s Arabian Travel Market, which takes place from 9 – 12 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre, will see an additional six properties added to TIME Hotel’s portfolio, with developments in Fujairah, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and three in Egypt being showcased at the Middle East’s premier travel showcase.

Mohamed Awadalla, the co-founder and CEO of TIME Hotels, said: “Following the challenges of the last two years, we have seen unprecedented demand for additional rooms in key territories in the region. This, combined with our in-depth market research, has underscored the need for new, quality-driven, value accommodation.

“We have witnessed resounding success throughout the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, and we feel now is the time to expand for the company’s future success. With six new properties, totalling 781 keys, this is an important time for our expansion and growth both regionally and internationally.”

The company will outline its ambitious expansion plans next month during Arabian Travel Market 2022

As part of the company’s expansion plans, TIME Hotels will expand its offering in the UAE with the launch of the TIME Moonstone Hotel Apartments in Fujairah, located just 10 minutes from a host of amenities, including Fujairah Mall, City Centre Fujairah, and the Fujairah Corniche. The 91-key property, which is scheduled to open on 1 May 2022, will feature 13 one-bedroom and 78 two-bedroom apartments, an all-day dining restaurant, a gym, and saunas and steam rooms.

The company will also expand in Egypt with three new properties, including the 117-key Marina Hotel & Convention Centre on the North Coast, which is expected to open later in Q2 2022. The hotel will have three restaurants, including all-day dining, an Italian and O’Learys Sports Restaurant, as well as a rooftop lounge. Guests will have access to a range of spa facilities, a 750 sqm swimming pool and a gym. The hotel will also cater to the MICE market with a 700-person capacity convention centre.

The company will also expand in Egypt with three new properties, including the 117-key Marina Hotel & Convention Centre on the North Coast, which is expected to open later in Q2 2022.

TIME will also open the 201-key five-star TIME Coral Nuweiba Resorts located on the Red Sea. The resort features five restaurants and a range of amenities, including a private beach, pool, and kid’s facilities and will officially open under the TIME banner in Q3 2022.

The final property in Egypt is the TIME Nakheel Deluxe Apartments, located in the New Capital. The 216-key property is scheduled to open its doors in Q1 2023.

In Saudi Arabia, TIME has unveiled plans to open the 57-key TIME Express Al Olaya in the Saudi capital. The Riyadh property, which will target the budget-conscious traveller, will include a restaurant, a range of leisure amenities and a lively rooftop terrace with a shisha area and dining options.

Rounding out the new openings is TIME’s first foray into the Sudanese market with the TIME Ahlan Hotel Apartments in Khartoum. The 57-key property will be home to a coffee shop, meeting rooms, a rooftop terrace, a swimming pool, a gym, and a juice bar.

“This is an exciting time for the region’s tourism industry and offers a myriad of opportunities for TIME Hotels, not only with these openings but with others that will come further down the line. We have strategically developed a range of brands within our portfolio to offer our guests, whether corporate or leisure, exactly what they want and need from a holiday, business trip or short break,” concluded Awadalla.

TIME Hotels will be exhibiting on stand HC0620 during this year’s Arabian Travel Market.

For more information, please log onto https://www.timehotels.com/

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ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Xebia to support digital transformation drive in the Middle East

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 27 April 2022: Leading global IT consultancy, Xebia, is expanding in the Middle East against a backdrop of rapid demand in the region, as more and more businesses realise they must undergo a digital transformation or face an uncertain future.

IT Consultancy delivers cutting-edge services to help regional organisations stay competitive

Netherlands-headquartered Xebia has had a presence in the region since opening a Dubai office in 2016. But this year, it has announced ambitious growth plans, backed by an ever-growing client roster.

From just one local client and 14 staff in 2016, the company has experienced tremendous growth in the last six years within the Middle East and Africa region, with more than 300 regional staff and 14 clients spread throughout the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Egypt. Xebia helps forward-thinking companies undergo digital transformation in sectors as diverse as airlines, real estate, government, banking, financial services and insurance.

Shankar Garg, Managing Director MEA, Xebia, says: “We are seeing growing interest in our digital transformation consultancy services and solutions as the region awaken to the incredible possibilities of the hyper-connected world. We have new clients, new services, new staff, and a bold, bright future helping drive the region’s vital shift to more digital services.”

Governments, banks and airlines in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC have turned to Xebia for its renowned software excellence

Meeting the growing demand for its suite of services, which includes data and AI, cloud, DevOps, business agility, software development and quality improvement, will see the company team in the region expand to more than 450 people by year-end and to 750 people by the end of 2023.

A key sector driving this rapid growth is banking. Xebia is now working with three of Saudi Arabia’s leading banks.

The roadmap helps banks eliminate paperwork, reduce risk in their core activities, and enables staff to spend less time servicing clients, and in conducting transactions and settlements.

Xebia is long renowned for its coding expertise, with a focus on full stack development, Agile and DevOps expertise. But today, the company is seeing a wave of interest in Low Code – a highly visual, simpler approach to software development that brings cost efficiencies and saves time.

Company staff, turnover and clients set to double in next 18 months

“Using Low Code in our software development endeavours means companies can get bespoke solutions in a fraction of the usual development time, and with better costs – vital elements in the battle to stay ahead in the hyper-fast digital world,” explains Garg, adding that he sees a great deal of interest in Low Code from Saudi Arabian entities keen to leapfrog overly complex legacy software and take advantage of rapid implementation of digital initiatives.

Data storage – especially in the financial services sector – is a substantial regional problem. However, Xebia offers solutions in this area too. Garg says Xebia is seeing a great deal of interest in the number of companies looking to move their data to the cloud.

“This provides a safe, secure and always available remote storage solution,” he explains.

In fact, one of the biggest regional airlines has recently chosen Xebia as a preferred data partner. Through the deal, Xebia will transfer the airline’s data to the cloud via its India-based offshore delivery centre.

From supporting regional governments to helping start-ups gain their first customers, Xebia continues to help companies rapidly evolve to meet the challenges of the digital-first era.

The ChangeMakers Monitoring

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Hope for cancer patients in the Middle East as Elekta launches philanthropic Elekta Foundation in Dubai

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 26 January 2022 – Elekta (EKTA-B.ST), a leading innovator of precision radiation therapy solutions headquartered in Sweden, announced today the launch of the philanthropic Elekta Foundation during a ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place last night (25 January) at the Swedish pavilion at EXPO 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The launch coincided with Elekta’s participation at the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress 2022.

Elekta Foundation sets its sights on improving cancer care access in underserved markets, bringing hope to people with cancer

The Elekta Foundation’s mission is an important part of Elekta’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy and priorities. The non-profit oprganization will initiate and support projects and programmes in partnership with governments, NGOs and healthcare providers in low- and middle-income countries to improve access to cancer care.

The Foundation will focus on three areas: education and training to build competencies in radiotherapy; cancer care infrastructure by developing new tools and models to scale up cancer care; awareness and prevention through developing partnerships with local government and NGOs to fight cervical cancer initially and then to include breast and prostate cancer at a later stage.

Dr Laurent Leksell, Elekta’s Chairman of the Board, said: “As a global leader in oncology, one of Elekta’s key priorities is to make cancer care more accessible in underserved communities. In most low- and middle-income countries, cancer patients have very limited access and the possibility to receive adequate cancer care. There is also a strong need to support healthcare providers in many of these countries to expand the training and education of healthcare professionals. The Foundation is an important and integral part of Elekta’s ESG strategy to support the United Nations social development goals. One area of particular importance is to improve women’s health and reduce the burden of breast and cervical cancer in Africa.”

Currently, there are five education programmes underway with academic partners that will be delivered in a combination of virtual and in-person classes in 2022

The Foundation will pilot programs in Africa, specifically Kenya, Rwanda and Senegal, then expand to surrounding countries, regions and other low- and middle-income countries. Currently, there are five education programmes underway with academic partners that will be delivered in a combination of virtual and in-person classes in 2022.

Cecilia Wikström, Chair of the Elekta Foundation, commented: “The new Foundation aims at achieving long-lasting impact for people living with cancer in underserved and developing countries. We will now ensure that the Foundation’s mission will inspire all employees, experts and business partners in ways that benefit patients by increasing their hope – and access to treatment in line with Elekta’s strategy and with full commitment to contribute to the fulfilment of the UN sustainability goals.”

Lacy Hubbard, President of the Elekta Foundation, added: “I am honoured to take on this important role. In my previous responsibilities with Elekta, my team and I collaborated with advanced cancer centers with cutting edge technology in developed countries, but we have also seen too many rudimentary centres in underserved regions. This disparity has motivated us to help the developing world build radiotherapy competencies in business and charities, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds to place radiation equipment in Africa. We can do so much more in underserved markets with our new foundation. I look forward to doing everything we can to enable our Foundation and Elekta in our important mission to create a world where everyone has access to the best cancer care.”

In the UAE and Middle East region, clinicians and hospitals can join Elekta’s continuing education programmes to improve their knowledge and skills. By educating and building competencies in radiotherapy, patient care throughput and the quality of cancer care can be improved.

Clinicians and organisations in the UAE and Middle East can apply for grants and donations from the Foundation

Clinician’s and organisations can visit http://www.elektafoundation.com to find out how to apply to receive grants or donations from the Elekta Foundation.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news