Online shopping increases in the UAE

So, two years ago i published this post -->
http://emirateads.blogspot.com/2008/03/online-shopping-in-uae.html

Which basically talks about how 75% of online users are un-trusting of online shopping.

Well the UAE has come a VERY long way in a very short time --->

Respondents in the UAE are becoming more comfortable with shopping on the internet, with 52% of the respondents having stated that it is convenient to shop online in 2009 versus 47% in 2008. Furthermore, 54% of the respondents stated that it is easier to shop online in 2009 versus 52% in 2008.

How cool is that?

On the other hand, my brother (yes i have a brother and he's awesome) has been purchasing games online (PS3 games i think) for about a year now.
Poor guy, the first time he tries purchasing men's wear online from an international reputable website he looses a good amount of money from the bank and has never seen his new clothes since....

My mum on the other hand has been purchasing items online (like airline tickets) from sites such as Amazon and ebay for the past three years at least and has never had a problem (besides late delivery)

Personally. I have never purchased online and I'm still hesitant!

CHECK ME OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT!

HOW über COOL am i! hahaha

In bad taste...

Israel TV is airing a supermarket-chain commercial that parodies security-camera tapes of the Hamas Commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh assassination.

They're tagline is : "We offer killer prices."

Look, im not saying that i believe in media censorship...but i do believe in self censorship.

Media officials should stick to certain "unofficial" media ethics... like not using the death of a person (murder i should say) to promote their services or products. It is completely unethical and I feel completely disgusted no matter how funny or entertaining it may be.

Indian Premier League showing in cinemas!

So the UAE media is evolving! How about this for an idea that's "out of the box" !

Entertainment and Sports Direct (ESD), which has acquired global theatrical rights to the matches, has collaborated with Al Nisr Cinema and Gulf Films to bring the matches to cinemas.

Arun Rangachari, the chairman of DAR Capital Group, which is promoting ESD, said they had been telecasting IPL matches at 650 cinemas in India. There, theatres have seen an average occupancy rate of just over 45 per cent, which is considered high.

Could this be a new footie-ist stadium for our dedicated football fans here in the UAE? We all know about FIFA 2010 what better way is there to watch football on a big screen with no smokers and all the popcorn and nachos you can afford!

UAE launches campaign to tackle diabetes pandemic

Dubai: The UAE on Wednesday launched a multi-million-dirham campaign against diabetes, specifically targeting mothers, in a bid to halt the pandemic which the minister of health said will take years to contain.

GulfNews.com

Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Health, said the ministry is working with Johnson & Johnson, which he said is a "wonderful example of public and private sector cooperation to serve the community".

He said 24 per cent of the UAE population (1.4 million people) suffers from diabetes. "There are so many patients in hospitals suffering from other complications from the disease," he said, adding that the government spends a "huge amount of money" on treatment of diabetics.

The Cabinet has approved the ministry's suggestion that 2009 be the year to fight diabetes, the minister said. "We need to educate and make people aware of the disease," he said. The slogan of the campaign is ‘Learn, Prevent, Control'.

The minister said researchers are needed and the ministry is looking and learning from international good practices.

Wim Boogaerts, Chairman of Johnson & Johnson Corporate Citizenship Trust - Middle East, said the "Healthy Family" initiative is being funded for three years.

"Walkathons and giving out free T-shirts is good, but it is the day after that counts," he said. "You need something sustainable." He said that it is not the doctors and nurses, but people at home who can make a big impact on lifestyle choices.

He said as early screening is important, it will start at schools and then continue in shopping malls and companies. The executive said as part of the strategy doctors and nurses will be trained on the management of diabetes.

He said the Juvenile Diabetes Education Centre, which was established last year in the Dubai Healthcare City has helped people manage and live with the disease

Ad spendature ROLLERCOASTER

Just last year, Outdoor advertising grew fastest, while print advertising came second and advertisements on television came third, according to Abdul Rehman Falaknaz, president of Falak Holding and international expo consultants.

The UAE Ad world was expanding its growth by 22%!

but thnx to those *Swear word plural* who helped speed up Mr Recession, it's now dropped by 14% according to the Pan Arab Research Center (PARC).

The drop was led by advertising in the property and financial services markets, which declined 60 per cent and 46 per cent respectively compared with last year. Advertising spending in the first quarter dropped 26 per cent in Arabic newspapers and 23 per cent in English newspapers. Magazines recorded a 4 per cent drop.

Another reason why it might have dropped is probably because...oh i dunno ... mayyyyybe its cuz no one's paying up! According to the IAA Advertising and media agencies operating in the UAE are owed about $150 million from the public and private sectors.

But the ADCCI seem to have a positive outlook expecting an 8% Increase...


Roller coaster ride anyone?



http://www.gulfnews.com/BUSINESS/Media/10190816.html

http://mediame.com/news/research/parc_uae_advertising_spend_q1_2009_drops_14_cent_compared_last_year

http://business.maktoob.com/20090000003799/UAE_advertising_agencies_owed_$150_mln/Article.htm

http://www.ameinfo.com/205719.html

Ad Medium Sence?

So Dubai thinks they can cut down their Ad budgets by using cheaper or free-er outlets like the Radio and PR press releases... Well it doesn't always work like that!

Different media vehicles tailor different audiences, different needs and different outcomes!

Fine. The success rates of most companies arent going up, but they aren't dropping either. I think people should give advertising more credit!

On another note... did you know that PR is 7 times more trusted than Advertising and that it's 4x more effective? *Insert swear word hear*