Nicola Mendelsohn, vice president of Facebook Emea, says that mobile is the most personal device ever for connectivity. Sarah Dea / The National
Nicola Mendelsohn, vice president of Facebook Emea, says that mobile is the most personal device ever for connectivity. Sarah Dea / The National

Most Facebook users in Mena use mobile devices to access social media



Nearly 90 per cent of Facebook’s 114 million monthly visitors in the Mena region use mobile devices to access social media.

According to Google statistics, 44 per cent of Saudis use YouTube to watch a video on a daily basis, the highest consumption in the world.

Global digital ad spending was just over US$123 billion a year in 2013, and in Mena last year it hit $560 million – less than half a per cent of global spending, according to Wamda’s Trends in mobile advertising in the Middle East.

Globally there are more than 8 billion videos watched every day on Facebook, with more than 500 million people watching videos daily and the Mena region is ripe for a digital advertising revolution.

“In 2011 Facebook’s revenues from mobile was zero, today 78 per cent of our revenues come from mobile,” said Nicola Mendelsohn, vice president of Facebook Emea. “Mobile is the most personal device ever for connectivity. You don’t take traditional media to the beach with you, but you will take your mobile. We are having to educate marketeers the world over of the potential in mobile and video.”

Mrs Mendelsohn says Facebook has shifted from being a connector of friends and family to becoming a discovery mechanism for video and relevant material. “Facebook was about text, then about images, but today it’s about video.”

While the globe races ahead with its mobile video ad spend ing, industry experts suggest the Mena region has a more conservative, nuanced approach to the medium. But the key to digital advertising’s growth in the Middle East is increased Arabic content.

“The Middle East growth rate, in digital advertising, has always been incremental and will continue to do so,” said Ashwin Salian, managing partner of the digital marketing agency Clique Interactive. “The Middle East is home to a young population with more and more people heading online to consume content. Internet penetration is incredibly high. With an increase in online users, more content will be consumed, which will lead to increase in ad inventory, thus leading to more digital ad spend.”

Some among the small business community in the UAE have experienced big increases in business by moving to video-based advertising on social media.

“Video has transformed my kids’ edutainment business,” said Mariam Al Kassab, the founder of Kidz Venture. “Whereas with still marketing images we would get comments and questions, video gets people walking through the door. It saves four or five steps to converting a potential customer to a customer.

“I think mums are busy people and reticent to sit and read, but they always have their mobile and can watch a video. Our business has grown exponentially since we started using video to advertise.”

ascott@thenational.ae

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'Morbius'

Director: Daniel Espinosa 

Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona

Rating: 2/5

LAST-16 FIXTURES

Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
WRESTLING HIGHLIGHTS
Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Who are the Soroptimists?

The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.

The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.

Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.

Brief scores

Toss India, chose to bat

India 281-7 in 50 ov (Pandya 83, Dhoni 79; Coulter-Nile 3-44)

Australia 137-9 in 21 ov (Maxwell 39, Warner 25; Chahal 3-30)

India won by 26 runs on Duckworth-Lewis Method