UAE Food Bank distributes 2 million meals during Ramadan's first 10 days
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Broadcast Pro
2 hours ago
- Broadcast Pro
Co-Production Salon returns to MIPCOM Cannes for second year
Co-Production Salon will debut the 2025 MENA Co-Production Guidebook, host curated in-person and virtual networking sessions, and launch a year-round Virtual Networking Lounge to connect Arabic producers with global partners and showcase key industry insights and projects. Co-Production Salon, a platform dedicated to nurturing co-production partnerships and investment channels involving the Arab world, is set to return to MIPCOM Cannes for the second year in a row. Scheduled to run from October 13 to 16, 2025, at the Palais des Festivals, the initiative will feature an upgraded presence at the MIP Creative Hub, strategically positioned along the Cannes beachfront. The event underscores Co-Production Salon's growing role in linking Arabic content creators and investors with international distributors, broadcasters, and financiers to develop globally marketable content. Heba Korayem, Founder of Co-Production Salon, said: 'CoProduction Salon was created to bridge worlds — bringing Arabic production houses and investors together with international partners to create meaningful, marketable content. MIPCOM gives us the stage to make more of those connections happen.' A recent Omdia report predicts the region's VOD market will grow fivefold to reach $8.4bn by 2029, while Parrot Analytics data points to a dramatic rise in demand for Arabic content — up 400% in Saudi Arabia, 300% in Morocco, and 200% in Iraq since 2020. Since its inception, Co-Production Salon has facilitated over $12m in partnership deals. For 2025, the platform is introducing several new initiatives aimed at deepening engagement and insight. These include the launch of the MENA Co-Production Guidebook (2025 Edition), offering in-depth analysis of market trends and investment opportunities, and a Networking Power Hour, designed to foster real-time, curated meetings between Arabic and international stakeholders. Additionally, a Virtual Networking Lounge will provide continuous access to industry data, professional connections, and project highlights throughout the year. The initiative invites participation from a wide array of industry players, from production companies and distributors to investors, broadcasters, OTT platforms, and advertising agencies, all seeking to tap into one of the fastest-growing, youth-driven content markets in the world. Participants will gain access to premium projects, vetted partnerships, and curated networking opportunities. The Virtual Lounge already features over 200 verified profiles from top-tier MENA content entities, including Saudi Broadcast Authority, Thamaniya, Sadaf Media Production, Rise Studios, Cedars Art and Pixitoon. The physical lounge at MIPCOM will serve as a key venue for face-to-face engagement with these and other leading industry names. With its enhanced presence and expanded programming, Co-Production Salon is positioning itself as a central force in the internationalisation of Arabic content. Visitors can connect with the team at PALAIS C12 HUB 6, explore ongoing projects, or join high-level networking events at MIPCOM. 'Our goal is to make those partnerships not just possible but profitable,' added Heba Korayem.
Broadcast Pro
8 hours ago
- Broadcast Pro
E& reports 23.3% increase in consolidated revenue to $9.50bn in H1 2025
During H1 2025, Starz ON surpassed 10m installs, a nearly five-fold increase compared to the previous year, and added 2.4m new installs quarter-over quarter. E& has reported strong financial results for the first half of 2025. Consolidated revenues rose 23.3% year-on-year to AED 34.9bn ($9.50bn), while net profit surged by 60.7% to AED 8.8bn. EBITDA grew by 18.8% to AED 15.4bn, with a healthy EBITDA margin of 44.1%. The Group's subscriber base climbed to 198m, a 13.1% increase from the same period last year. In the UAE, e& UAE maintained momentum with 15.5m subscribers, reflecting growing demand for high-speed connectivity, AI-driven services, and digital experiences. The company credited its performance to strategic initiatives and investments across AI, cloud computing, digital finance, cybersecurity, and more. On the entertainment front, Starz ON recorded explosive growth, exceeding 10m installs—a fivefold increase year-on-year—with 2.4m added in the last quarter alone. Monthly active users more than doubled to 660,000. The platform strengthened its 'Home of Sports' positioning by securing exclusive rights to major tournaments including the IPL, Asia Cup, UFC, and PFL. Additionally, it introduced a shoppable TV feature in collaboration with Trendyol, enabling viewers to purchase products directly from streamed content. In a strategic move into original content, evision launched evision Studios during the first quarter, marking a major milestone in the Group's media ambitions. Among its inaugural Ramadan releases were 'Flavours from the Heart' and 'Coffee & Cartoons,' both designed to enhance cultural relevance and viewer engagement. The digital lifestyle ecosystem also saw continued expansion through Careem Technologies. The platform's total GTV surged by 117% year-on-year, with GTV per user growing by 74%. Careem+ members accounted for over half of the total GTV, indicating strong user loyalty. AI-powered enhancements enabled automation of more than 75% of customer chat interactions, while geographic expansion into cities such as Al Ain and Riyadh extended its footprint in the food and grocery delivery space. H.E. Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Chairman, e&, said: 'In the first half of 2025, e& continued to strengthen its leadership position, driven by its strategic investments and robust business model. Our continued strong performance reflects our commitment to long-term value creation, with major milestones reflecting the Board's strategic foresight. 'In H1, e& continued its growth trajectory, delivering consolidated revenue of AED 34.9bn—a year-on-year increase of 23.3%—and achieving consolidated net profits of AED 8.8bn, up 60.7% compared to the same period last year. Alongside our outstanding financial performance, we maintained our focus on bringing the latest technologies to best serve our customers. We launched the UAE Sovereign Cloud Launchpad alongside AWS and the UAE Cybersecurity Council. This landmark initiative advances national priorities around digital sovereignty, secure AI, and cloud innovation, and is set to unlock enduring value for the nation's digital economy. 'Thanks to the UAE's visionary leadership that inspires us, e& will continue enabling the knowledge economy with responsibility and ambition. We remain committed to shaping resilient, inclusive, and innovation-led societies across the markets we serve.' Hatem Dowidar, Group Chief Executive Officer, e&, added: 'e& delivered strong performance in the first half of 2025, reflecting our agility, innovation, and ability to scale. We preserved the momentum witnessed across our different verticals. Our diverse revenue streams enabled the group to drive financial success and deliver robust operational growth. Revenues in Q2 and H1 increased by 28.1% year-over-year to AED 18bn and by 23.3% to AED 34.9bn, respectively. Our EBITDA grew by 18.8% to AED 15.4bn in the first half. These results demonstrate the strength of our transformation strategy and our continued focus on operational excellence and value creation. 'We achieved a series of strategic milestones, including the divestment of Khazna and partial divestment of Airalo during the first half of the year, which enhanced our financial flexibility. In parallel, we introduced the UAE Sovereign Cloud Launchpad, reinforcing our focus on secure, sovereign AI solutions. We also became one of the first companies to earn the 'Tier S' designation under the Dubai AI Seal, a top-level recognition of our leadership in responsible AI development and deployment. Additionally, we advanced our international footprint through the acquisition of Serbia Broadband, while our collaboration with Qualcomm is accelerating 5G evolution and edge AI integration across key industries. 'Our progress was further recognised internationally, with e& named the world's Fastest Growing Brand by Brand Finance. This recognition reflects our bold ambition, customer-centric innovation, and growing global presence. 'As we look ahead, we remain focused on enabling future technologies and delivering lasting impact across the communities we serve.' In the first half of 2025, e& life sustained strong growth momentum, setting new standards across fintech, entertainment, and digital lifestyle segments, propelled by innovation and AI-led transformation. The fintech arm, e& money, achieved significant milestones, with Gross Transaction Value (GTV) tripling year-over-year. The platform issued over 1.25m cards and surpassed 1.9m registered users, while remittance GTV rose more than threefold, reinforcing its leadership in UAE's digital payments space. Meanwhile, neobank Wio Bank continued its rapid expansion, gaining traction among individual and SME customers alike. It was named the Middle East's Best Digital Bank by Euromoney in 2025 and formed a strategic alliance with Network International to offer enhanced digital credit solutions for SMEs. In partnership with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), e& money introduced IBAN accounts for all users, enabling seamless local transfers and wallet top-ups via the app. This development not only elevated the platform's integrated banking capabilities but also advanced financial inclusion, particularly among unbanked populations, by offering no-minimum-balance, fee-free digital banking services. Further diversifying its fintech offerings, e& money teamed up with SafeGold to launch the UAE's first digital gold investment product. Through the app, users can invest in 24-karat gold starting at just AED 10, with the flexibility to sell holdings anytime and instantly credit returns to their digital wallets—making gold investment more accessible and user-friendly. Key developments included the acquisition of Serbia Broadband to expand operations in Central and Eastern Europe, and the divestments of Khazna and Airalo to strengthen the balance sheet. The Group also secured global recognition from Brand Finance as the 'World's Fastest Growing Brand' and became one of the first companies to receive the Tier S rating under Dubai's AI Seal for responsible AI governance. e& enterprise expanded its digital transformation capabilities through partnerships with Microsoft, Emeritus, Exeed Industries, and others. It launched new AI-powered platforms in customer engagement, healthcare, and cybersecurity, with Help AG introducing advanced threat intelligence systems and winning multiple regional awards. e& international continued its global push with the Serbia Broadband acquisition and increased investment across Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and European subsidiaries. Notable moves included Mobily's SAR 3.4 billion infrastructure spend and e& Egypt's launch of the country's first 5G and international digital remittance services. e& UAE spearheaded innovation in AI and 6G technologies, launched a region-first AI telecom tower drone inspection system, and introduced AI-powered customer service tools. Its fixed network remained the global leader in fibre coverage, and its mobile network achieved the world's fastest download speed per Ookla rankings. The Group also advanced digital inclusion and sustainability through initiatives such as free public Wi-Fi in Dubai, tech SME support, and AI training programmes. Customer satisfaction improved markedly, with a 20% increase in Net Promoter Score. Looking ahead, e& aims to scale its transformation by harnessing advanced technologies, forging new partnerships, and driving digital and societal impact across its global markets.
Hi Dubai
14 hours ago
- Hi Dubai
RTA Opens New Exit Towards Ras Al Khor Road to Ease Congestion Near Bu Kadra Interchange
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will open a new exit in early August from the collector road linking Financial Centre Street to Ras Al Khor Road, near Bu Kadra Interchange. This project is part of RTA's Rapid Traffic Solutions Plan, designed to improve road efficiency and ease congestion in high-traffic zones. The new exit reduces peak-hour travel time from 13 minutes to 6 minutes—a 54% improvement—by easing pressure on the Bu Kadra Interchange and facilitating smoother access to Dubai–Al Ain Road. It also supports Dubai's ongoing urban growth and infrastructure development efforts. The project complements other recent enhancements in the Ras Al Khor area, including the widening of Exit 25 from Ras Al Khor Road to Al Khail Road, which increased capacity to 3,000 vehicles per hour and reduced travel time during peak hours from 7 to 4 minutes. News Source: Dubai Media Office
