Advertising revenues in the MENA region are expected to increase this year, with some media executives estimating growth of up to 20 per cent.
Spending on websites, television and radio advertising is forecast to increase across the region, although gains in the UAE are tipped to be lower than elsewhere.
"Regionally I think we'll see 18 to 20 per cent growth," said Avi Bhojani, the group chief executive of the marketing and communications agency BPG Group.
Mr Bhojani said that while the "opening up of government initiatives" was likely to cause an increase in advertising spending in the UAE, gains in this market were likely to be lower.
"I'd put my expectation at 14 to 15 per cent growth on 2010 in the UAE - I'm seeing that trend. Consumer confidence is increasing; investor confidence is increasing," he said.
Elie Aoun, the managing director for the MENA region at Ipsos MediaCT, which tracks advertising spending, said he also expected revenues in the region to grow this year.
"I think overall . we will be having double-digit growth. If you look around, I think we are witnessing most of the industries recovering, with the exception perhaps of the UAE real estate sector," Mr Aoun said.
"I think it will keep the same trend as 2010. TV will grow a little bit, and online will grow. I expect radio will see a big boom, especially in the UAE and Saudi Arabia."
Mr Aoun added that while some growth was expected in website advertising, this would remain a tiny part of the market.
"I think we will be witnessing a big growth in digital, but it will remain insignificant compared to other media," he said. "It's currently 3 per cent of total [advertising] revenues in the region. I think it will be 4 per cent maximum in 2011."
According to the Pan Arab Research Centre, in the first 11 months of last year, there were double-digit increases in GCC and pan-Arab advertising spending. But there was a 2.7 per cent decline over the same period in the UAE, said the research firm.
While most commentators point to gains in the region, some were less optimistic about advertising growth this year.
"I think we are certainly looking at a better 2011 than 2010," said Mohan Nambiar, the MENA chief executive of the media planning agency MEC. "We are certainly looking at upward spend, but I don't expect double-digit growth."
Elie Haber, the managing director of the media planning agency Mindshare in the UAE, said there could even be a decline in spending this year. The change in advertising spending in the MENA region this year would be "similar to 2010 - plus or minus 3 per cent to 5 per cent".
Media operators say they are optimistic about this year. Mazen Hayek, the spokesman and group director of PR and commercial at the free-to-air TV operator MBC Group, said the company recorded "two-digit growth" in advertising revenue last year.
"We're looking [at this year] in an optimistic way. It looks even better than 2010 did at the same time," said Mr Hayek.
"It is too early to predict the percentage or amount of growth. We see growth - but at the same time, costs are increasing."
bflanagan@thenational.ae
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%0DMain%20Event%0D%3A%20Lightweight%20Title%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAmru%20Magomedov%20def%20Jakhongir%20Jumaev%20-%20Round%201%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-Main%20Event%0D%3A%20Bantamweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERany%20Saadeh%20def%20Genil%20Franciso%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20150%20lbs%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EWalter%20Cogliandro%20def%20Ali%20Al%20Qaisi%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBantamweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERenat%20Khavalov%20def%20Hikaru%20Yoshino%20-%20Round%202%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EVictor%20Nunes%20def%20Nawras%20Abzakh%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EYamato%20Fujita%20def%20Sanzhar%20Adilov%20-%20Round%201%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELightweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAbdullo%20Khodzhaev%20def%20Petru%20Buzdugen%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20139%20lbs%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERazhabali%20Shaydullaev%20def%20Magomed%20Al-Abdullah%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ECong%20Wang%20def%20Amena%20Hadaya%20-%20Points%20(unanimous%20decision)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMiddleweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EKhabib%20Nabiev%20def%20Adis%20Taalaybek%20Uulu%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELight%20Heavyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EBartosz%20Szewczyk%20def%20Artem%20Zemlyakov%20-%20Round%202%20(TKO)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
25%20Days%20to%20Aden
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Michael%20Knights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20256%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAvailable%3A%20January%2026%3C%2Fp%3E%0A