Steve Mackie

As an entrepreneur recently expanding our businesses from Europe into the region, I was kindly asked by Wamda ومضة what I felt made the GCC the ideal destination for entrepreneurs? These are my thoughts... #GCCbusiness

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Issam Kazim’s quote, “Our targets — such as increasing visitor numbers, length of stay, spending, GDP contribution, and repeat visitation — were challenging but exciting to achieve. Today, Dubai enjoys a 25 per cent repeat visitation rate within 12 months, which we’re very proud of,” reflects the impressive results of Dubai’s leadership. In my opinion, building on this success, it’s essential to recognize that frequent visits to Dubai can be more effectively driven by exhibitions, MICE events, and conferences rather than leisure tourism alone. Professional visits have the potential to lead to the opening of external company branches, hiring local employees, fostering trade between foreign and local businesses, and relocating professionals to Dubai to manage these branches. These outcomes, unlike leisure tourism, significantly contribute to the economic and professional landscape of Dubai.

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Looking to set up a business in Daudi Arabia? Check out How Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Shapes the Business Landscape

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🏆 Winning business with any country is impossible without understanding the culture, which eats strategy for breakfast. Check my new 15-min video about Arab business culture based on my 20 years of experience of living, working and traveling throughout the Arab world - while you are eating your breakfast. https://lnkd.in/eECbEfy3.

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Dubai's Strategic Move Towards Business Tourism As Dubai continues to enchant the world with its breathtaking skylines and vibrant tourism sector, it's crucial to consider the competitive landscape across the Middle East. While neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman boast rich sites and natural beauty, Dubai has emerged as a top destination, not only for leisure but potentially more so for business tourism. Dubai’s geographical allure places it at the heart of Middle Eastern tourism. Yet, the real opportunity lies in capitalizing on business tourism. The city's unique position to host international conferences and exhibitions is a goldmine that could transform occasional tourists into long-term residents, contributing to Dubai's strategic goal of increasing its population from 3 million to 7 million by Agenda2030. Business tourists frequently travel, engage deeply with the local economy, and are more likely to set up permanent roots—establishing businesses, creating jobs, and opening new corporate branches. This shift from targeting primarily vacationers, who visit once a year, to business tourists, who could visit multiple times per year, represents not only a significant economic opportunity but also a strategic population growth tactic. As Dubai continues to strive towards its ambitious 2030 goals, integrating business tourism into its core strategy could be the key to sustainable growth and development. Let’s finally discuss a strategic plan to encourage more exhibition organizers—while Dubai hosts about 100 exhibitions annually with just 10 organizing companies, there is a clear opportunity to expand. Dubai needs to incentivize more organizers, aiming for 20 or even 50 companies, so we can boost the number of exhibitions from 100 to 200, 300, or even 400 annually

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The future is bright for businesses in Dubai.

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The UAE's flydubai transported about 5 million passengers during the first 4 months of 2024, an increase of 13%. #Flydubai, #UAE, has recorded sustainable #growth in the number of passengers since the beginning of this year, as it transported about 5 million passengers during the period from January 1 to April 28, 2024, an increase of 13% compared to the same period in 2023. A press release published on the Flydubai website explained that since the beginning of 2024, the Flydubai network has grown with the start of its operations to #Mombasa , #Langkawi , #Benan, Al-Jawf, and the #RedSea . The company also announced the expansion of its European network with the launch of flights to Basel, #Riga, #Tallinn and #Vilnius, and with the start of #flights to its seasonal summer destinations between June and October, the company’s network grows to more than 125 destinations in 58 countries. Ghaith Al Ghaith, #CEO of Flydubai, said that Flydubai continues to constantly expand its network, and we can see our operations growing further in Southeast Asia with the addition of #Malaysia, in addition to the continued expansion in #Africa and #Europe in particular. He continued that with the growth in seat capacity, the number of passengers on board our #aircraft has grown since the beginning of this year, although this #growth has diminished due to the ongoing delay in aircraft delivery. Today, flydubai's fleet increased to 86 Boeing #b737 #aircraft, with two new aircraft joining since the beginning of 2024 to serve its growing network, with the addition of 6 more aircraft expected to be delivered by the end of the year, amid ongoing challenges in the supply chain and delays in the aircraft delivery schedule. Flydubai's fleet consists of 29 new generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft, 54 #Boeing #b737 MAX 8 aircraft, and 3 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. The company launched a project that will witness a complete modernization of the interior cabins of the majority of the company's fleet of new generation Boeing aircraft. It transported about 5 million passengers during the period from January 1 to April 28, 2024, an increase of 13% compared to last year, supported by the growth in seat capacity across its various destinations. The flydubai network includes more than 125 destinations in 58 countries, more than 90 of which were not connected by direct flights to Dubai or were not served by a national Emirati airline from #Dubai. Ministry Of Economy, UAE UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Dubai Airports #airports #investment #transport #aviation #saudiarabia #ports #marinas #marinas #airlines #tourism #saudiarabia #development #abudhabi #media #tourism #culture #saudiarabia #airlines #tourism #aviation #umrah #covid #covid19

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Dubai is beginning to lose its edge in leasure tourism to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Egypt (all MENA). These countries boast a richer cultural background, more diverse landscapes, and in the cases of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, deeper financial resources. I am deeply concerned for Dubai, as I do not wish to relocate but also do not want to witness a decline in its attractiveness and visitor numbers. I believe the solution for Dubai lies in shifting its focus from beach tourism to business tourism. By incentivizing and subsidizing organizers of business conferences and exhibitions, we can potentially increase from the current 100 exhibitions and 500 conferences annually to 300 exhibitions and 1500 conferences and MICE events per year. (like we are, with The Arena trade shows) In the realm of leasure tourism, Dubai may soon become less competitive. Instead, we should strive to make Dubai - AS the networking capital of the world, rather than just a destination for annual beach vacations.

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🚀 Exciting News! 🚀 I am thrilled to announce that I will be speaking at the E3 CX Conference in Riyadh on the topic of "The Role of Community Engagement, Monetization, Gamification, and Rewards in Customer Experience." 🎤 Join me as I dive into: How community engagement can transform customer interactions. Strategies for effective monetization in CX. Leveraging gamification to boost customer loyalty and engagement. The power of rewards in enhancing customer experience. Taglines: 🌟 "Unlocking the Future of CX: Community Engagement, Monetization, Gamification, and Rewards." 💡 "Engage, Retain, Monetize: The New Paradigm in Customer Experience." 🔥 "Driving Customer Loyalty through Community and Rewards." 🎯 "Innovate Your CX Strategy with Gamification and Engagement." 💼 "Maximizing Value in CX through Strategic Monetization." 🎁 "The Power of Rewards: Transforming Customer Engagement." 🚀 "Redefining CX: Community Engagement and Gamification as Game-Changers." 🌐 "Creating Immersive Customer Journeys with Community Engagement." 🏆 "Rewarding Engagement: The Key to Customer Retention." 🎉 "From Interaction to Engagement: The Role of Community in CX." Looking forward to sharing insights and connecting with industry leaders. See you there! #E3CX #CustomerExperience #CommunityEngagement #Community #Engagement #Gamification #Monetization #Rewards #CXInnovation #Engagement #Loyalty #retention #RiyadhEvents #Riyadh #Speaker #KSA #MENA

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Before coming to Dubai to open your business or relocate from Qatar or any other country, it is crucial to understand what Dubai is and how it works. #Dubai #Business #Relocation #UnderstandingDubai

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#AbuDhabi, #UAE, launches the “Smart #Travel” biometric fingerprint project at Zayed International Airport Abu Dhabi Airports cooperated with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security in the Emirates, to launch the “Smart Travel” biometric fingerprint project based on biometric standards at Zayed International Airport. This innovative project, which is the first of its kind in the world, relies on the database of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, to activate the system for automatically verifying the identity of travelers with biometric fingerprints without the need to complete any registration procedures before traveling from Zayed International Airport. According to the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office website. Through this project, Abu Dhabi Airports aims to ensure the application of the highest standards of security and safety in all facilities at Zayed International Airport, and to improve passengers’ experience. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security is cooperating with Next50, a company specialized in the field of transportation solutions based on artificial intelligence, to implement this project in 3 phases with the aim of integrating biometrics into all security points and operations at the airport, which contributes to enhancing the travelers’ experience since They arrive at the airport building until they board the plane. As part of the announcement of the opening of the new passenger terminal at Zayed International Airport in November 2023, Abu Dhabi Airports, in cooperation with its strategic partner Etihad Airways, took the initiative to activate biometric systems within the main checkpoints at Zayed International Airport, and this includes the automated passenger registration service that it provides. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security facilitates travel procedures, self-service luggage delivery, and verifies the identity of travelers by scanning the facial fingerprint through electronic gates and at the boarding gates, without the need to present travel documents or communicate directly with airport employees. Andrew Murphy, Chief Information Officer at Zayed International Airport, explained that cooperation with the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security to implement this project comes from our endeavor to continue improving the travelers’ experience by providing them with easy, fast, and smooth services. He stated that there is no doubt that biometric fingerprint systems Advanced technologies will enable us to achieve this goal. Etihad Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) Abu Dhabi Media Office UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) #uae #abudhabi #investment #airlines #development #media #culture #tourism #covid19

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ATM 2024: Global market value to pass $1 trillion by 2027 -The 31st edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), taking place in Dubai May 6-9, will focus on the ‘full spectrum’ of travel and tourism. #tourism #luxury #atm2024

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This Ramadan has observed a significant boost in e-commerce within the MENA region, with a notable 23% increase in transactions and a 13% rise in Gross Merchandise Value compared to last year. This trend highlights the evolving consumer preferences for convenience and quality, especially during festive periods. The surge in mobile app advertising, contributing to a 40% increase in purchase influence, underscores the growing importance of mobile-first strategies in our digital landscape. As businesses, adapting to these shifts is crucial for staying relevant and enhancing customer engagement. For a detailed insight into the study and to understand the implications for your business, check out the full article. Read more about the e-commerce trends during Ramadan https://bit.ly/3xEDdTT #ECommerce #Ramadan2024 #DigitalMarketing #ConsumerBehavior #Retail #UAE #MENA #Shopping #Dubai #Sharjah

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Abu Dhabi Family Office Summit 30th May, who is coming 👇🏼 Last chance - Sign up here: www.adfosummit.ae For all who are attending or who are not. Have a read below. Family Offices are highly networked, but also tricky and difficult to reach. Rare individuals and hidden offices - Family Offices operate in plain sight. Often do not engage. Pick and choose which events to attend. Family Offices and Family Groups understand the significance of information — they are and like to be well informed — they want access to the best opportunities - the best technological advancements - so they can deploy within their holding structures and drive change in their home regions. It is a rare opportunity to engage a Family Office - but do not rush in, or pitch as with Families it is ALL about the PEOPLE first. For ADFO Summits coming this week, please remember these 5 points below: 1. Take time to get to know the person. 2. Forget your personal agenda. Especially don't pitch. 3. Never dismiss anyone as unimportant. 4. Connect the dots. Understand what they are focusing on and relate to it. 5. Follow up and follow through. “ADFO is designed for networking” with 80% Buy Side attending. See you on Thursday 30th May 2024. Don't miss out. #ADFOSummmit #FamilyOffice #UAE

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We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for all our valued clients and partners. Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this exciting new chapter! 🤩✨✨ Want to know more about our services and how we can support your business? Get in touch today! 📞💼 #ServiceTransition #ErbilToDubai #NewOpportunities #BusinessGrowth #Innovation #GetInTouch

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The Vision 2030 initiative is propelling Saudi Arabia's hospitality industry into a new era of innovation and growth. With a focus on diversification and modernization, the sector is undergoing a remarkable evolution to meet the demands of a changing world. From new luxury hotels to innovative tourism experiences, the landscape of Saudi Arabian hospitality is transforming rapidly. Embracing technology, sustainability, and world-class service, the sector is poised to become a global leader in the coming years.🚀🏨 #Vision2030 #SaudiArabia #HospitalitySector #Innovation #Growth

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In this International Buger Day I want to share with you this article. Leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia burger market focus on Consistency Quality Affordability Marketing And they confirm that the burger appeals for younger Saudi generation!

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I’ve decided that over the week, I'll be posting a series about the golden rules for business success in the UAE. From understanding the market to leveraging free zones, each day will bring insights, tips, and personal experiences to help you navigate and thrive in this dynamic region. Stay tuned and join me on this journey to making it big in the Gulf! #BusinessSuccess #UAE #GoldenRules #Entrepreneurship #StayTuned

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