• Summit to Focus on Emerging Media in Fast-growing Economies of Middle East, Africa & Asia
• invited media representatives to gather
• More than 40 Chairmen and 80 CEOs among delegates

The world’s media industry is congregating in Abu Dhabi this week to attend the inaugural Abu Dhabi Media Summit, under the patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces.

The invitation-only Summit will be hosted by the Abu Dhabi Media Company, along with leading Abu Dhabi partners, including twofour54°, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Etisalat, Etihad Airways, ALDAR, and Mubadala. Booz & Company are also participating as the official knowledge sponsor.

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• Young people in the Middle East prioritise living in a democracy, followed by having good infrastructure, and access to the best universities
• Top three concerns: rising cost of living, shortage of affordable housing and unemployment
• In the region, 66 per cent of Arab youth see their country of residence as heading in the right direction; optimism shines through

The most important priority for young people in the Middle East today is living in a democratic country, according to the Second Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey, the largest-ever study of its kind of the region’s largest demographic. Good infrastructure, access to the best universities, being paid a fair wage, and living in a safe neighbourhood were identified as equally important priorities by Arab youth.

These are among the key findings of the nine-country survey unveiled today in Dubai by Karen Hughes, Global Vice Chair of Burson-Marsteller and former US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.

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After a successful first year online with the website and the launch of the interactive digital UAE Golf course guide brochure, UAE Golf Online continues to move forward as the number one resource for UAE Golf with its original and unique look at the UAE Golfing scene.

There has been some streamlining and this week has seen the results from the original UAE digital Golf guide, which received critical acclaim both locally and globally as a new dawn for online golfing guides last December. Out of these efforts and plans is the birth of the new look, sleek and regular edition of the digital Golf magazine.

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Second Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey challenges stereotypes about Arab youth

• Seven out of ten Arab youth share sense of common identity beyond ethnicity, religion or national background and embrace global citizenship
• Burson-Marsteller Global Vice Chair Karen Hughes, former US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, to present study findings in Dubai on March 7
• Prestigious panel of Arab opinion-leaders, drawn from government, business, media, law and arts, will debate implications of survey results

Contrary to the widespread perception of the Middle East as a region defined by conflict and a growing East/West cultural and political divide, the vast majority of Arab youth prioritize harmonious relations with the international community and wholeheartedly regard themselves as global citizens.

These are among the key findings of the Second Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey, a groundbreaking study of 2,000 Arab national and expatriate youth between the ages of 18 and 24 across nine Middle East countries – the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon.

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Unveils Interactive Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), New TV Menu & Targeted Messaging

E-Vision part of Etisalat and the leading cable TV provider in the region, today, announced the launch of new exciting interactive services offering customers the ability to plan their television viewing in addition to alternatives for customer communication at the Cabsat MENA 2010 exhibition. Starting today, customers can experience the new Interactive Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) and the new user-friendly TV Menu to enjoy a great television experience. The Targeted Messaging service on the other hand will provide a powerful and precise customer communication tool.

E-Vision is also planning to expand its services with its High Definition (HDTV) channels growing from the current nine channels being offered to about 20 channels by the end of  2010. In addition, E-Vision is also exploring the new 3D TV technology to offer UAE residents the latest in TV viewing experience. This year at CABSAT 2010, E-Vision jointly with LG will be showcasing the 3D TV experience.

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Road passengers across the Middle East could soon enjoy in-flight style entertainment as a result of wireless technology, which will also make journeys safer.

The Media On Demand (MOD) system, to be launched in the UAE next month, is a patented multimedia technology which can support up to 54 monitors simultaneously in any vehicle using a single server, offering each passenger the chance to enjoy their own selection of movies, music, digital TV, video games and internet access.

MOD technology can be a real time-saver for executives traveling between meetings, as their vehicle can become a comprehensive mobile office. Equipped with USB playback and internet access, the system allows passengers to send and receive files and to prepare presentations using Microsoft Office software such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint.

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Eton Institute, U.A.E’s leading training & development centre based in Dubai, is hosting a workshop that will allow individuals and entrepreneurs to harness the power of the most cost-effective advertising medium till date, Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising. The PPC workshop will discuss real-world solutions and strategies to setup successful ‘in-house’ PPC campaigns that reach more customers online at a lower cost per acquisition.

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E-Vision which is part of Etisalat and the leading cable TV provider in the region today announced a mega promotion for new customers signing up for its service. Customers who sign up for the service will stand to win gift vouchers worth AED 400,000 (AED50,000 every week) through a lucky draw.

In addition to this bonanza, customers can also enjoy free installation and a free one month subscription. The promotion will start from today till April 8th 2010 with eight weekly draws. Every week, 5 Lucky customers will each win a gift voucher worth 10,000 AED from Centrepoint and Home Centre in every draw with 40 winners being eventually selected at the end of the promotion. Customers can call 101 or 800101 to subscribe to the promotion.

According to Latifa Fekri, Vice President-Product Marketing, E-Vision, “E-Vision’s extensive array of channels and packages today offer television viewers in UAE the best in entertainment with the promise of exciting interactive services to follow. This latest promotion at the start of a new year will give customers a chance to win big and save as well with E-Vision.”

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• ADMC makes English Premier League available in the MENA region via several subscription platforms, including high-definition set-top box, IPTV and streaming via broadband Internet
• Easier accessibility to live and exclusive games at value-for-money prices
• Higher quality viewing experience than ever before for football fans

Today, Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC), one of the fastest-growing, multi-platform media organizations in the region, confirmed details of its distribution strategy for the English Premier League (EPL) season 2010/2011.  The company has announced several subscription platforms via which football fans in the MENA region will be able to watch some of the top Clubs in the world.

Kicking off in mid-August, live EPL games will be shown exclusively on Abu Dhabi Al Riyadiya Channels, which customers can access through a high-definition set-top box, IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), and streaming via broadband Internet. Read more

Emirates.com has come out on top in a global survey rating the usability of the world’s leading airline websites.

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