MenaITech Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Bashar Hawamdeh shared the company successes that resulted from last year, “Despite the economic downturn that the Arab region has faced, our sales only increased this year by almost 25% of last year’s with focus on the Saudi market where we acquired our first hospital; Magrabi Hospitals & Centers, and we completed our first Far East project for United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), and we acquired our first Yemen client; Al Rowaishan Group.”

He also highlighted the future path that MenaITech will take this year regarding consolidating its regional presence, efficiency in service and product quality. MenaITech’s line managers also delivered short speeches about their departments’ past achievements and future directions.

Moreover, two awards were handed out to Ms. Mai Hindash from the Finance team and to Mr. Ahmad Saeed from the Professional Services team. The winners were selected based on the results of nominations by line managers that were built on factors such as achievements, commitment and loyalty, adherence to internal policies as well as interpersonal communication.

On a similar note, MenaITech’s Department of the Year was announced as the Technical Department, following last year’s Business Development Department, where an honorary shield was handed to Ms. Nawal Bazzari, MenaITech’s Chief Technical Officer. The department was selected based on its numerous achievements last year.

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MenaITech:
Founded in 2003 by a group of talented and experienced HR and IT professionals, MenaITech aims to provide HR solutions that maximize the return on the human capital investment for all MenaITech customers by providing accurate and reliable management information, improving access to information, and reducing costs of operating the HR solution.
MenaITech products include the human resources information management system MenaHR®, payroll & personnel solution MenaPay®, the employee & manager self service solution MenaME®, the employee 360 degree feedback evaluation software Mena360®, the comprehensive HR consolidation and analysis module MenaExplorer®, in addition to the revolutionary cell phone notification service MenaSMS®.
For more information on MenaITech, please visit the website at: www.menaitech.com
*****
For more information, please call
PR Launchers / Tel: 0096265691861 – Fax: 0096265691863
Email: info@PRLaunchers.com – Web: www.PRLaunchers.com

- Turbo Month (April) – In this season you can watch out for Fifth Gear 16, American Chopper 6, Wheeler Dealers 6, Street Customs Berlin, Twist the Throttle and many more that will get the car lovers heart revving!

For more information, please contact:
Adnan Abdel-Razzak
Rawaj International
Adnan.a@rawajinternational.com
+971 4 365 4557

The Amman based company stated “supporting the artist Bilal Aboud was motivated by our faith in his unique voice tenor and the artistic potentials he enjoys. On top of that, his ability to shift between intonations grants him the mean to sing in various keys”.

Commenting, MenaITech CEO, Dr. Bashar Hawamdeh said: “MenaITech’s management is devoted to supporting, and assisting, creative and amateur professionals in building their path, whether they are programmers, sportsmen, or singers.”

Dr Hawamdeh added: “after listening to Bilal’s voice in the first stage of the competition, and the styles he sang, we realized his hidden potentials and unique singing talent. Subsequently, we decided to stand by his side in the next phases of the competition.”

He pointed out that this “first of a kind” experience is aimed at preparing suitable environment for the Jordanian crude talents to reach their proper stage. To MenaITech, it is considered a part of what they owe to the local community.

For his part, artist Bilal Aboud expressed his satisfaction with MenaITech’s support with “I appreciate that the company, and its employees, are standing by me. It is what I need the most in the next stage, especially since the competition for the first place is fierce.”

It is worth mentioning that Bilal Aboud practiced art as a profession since an early stage in his life, during which he gradually advanced in several oriental singing schools. He’s also participated in several local and regional singing festivals, the latest of which was in Syria and UAE.

It should be noted that Sawt Al Ordon competition’s, which is considered the first Jordanian aired live to help amateurs reach professionalism, objective is to shed light and uncover Jordanian hidden talents to help them reach the stage they deserve.

- Ends –
For Editors:
Founded in 2003 by a group of talented and experienced HR and IT professionals, MenaITech aims to provide HR solutions that maximize the return on the human capital investment for all MenaITech customers by providing accurate and reliable management information, improving access to information, and reducing costs of operating the HR solution. MenaITech products include the human resources information management system MenaHR®, payroll & personnel solution MenaPay®, the employee & manager self service solution MenaME®, the employee 360 degree feedback evaluation software Mena360®, the comprehensive HR consolidation and analysis module MenaExplorer®, in addition to the revolutionary cell phone notification service MenaSMS®.
For more information, please call
PR Launchers
Tel: 0096265691861 – Fax: 0096265691863
Email: info@PRLaunchers.com – http://www.PRLaunchers.com

Shaun B Ollier, Business Development Manager Lammtara, expressed his enthusiasm “FREEJ is iconic – both in its content and in its cultural messaging. It has won the hearts of millions and made the UAE proud. We
¬are really pleased to have worked together with Toy Store to launch the first FREEJ corner. In the months ahead we are hoping to develop a number of FREEJ corners in selective outlets of The Toy Store within the GCC.”

ABOOD: (Bounds up stairs of Toy Store, Mall of the Emirates and screeches around corner grinding to a halt at FREEJ Corner). Wow!
UM SAEED: (Pause) Marhaba! Strange…looks familiar, I feel right at home
UM SALOOM: (tagging along behind Um Saeed and looking disorientated) Where are we?
UM KHAMMAS: FREEJ Corner of course, goodness look at this beautiful plush doll (Um Khammas is tenderly stroking a soft toy of herself)
UM SAEED: (sarcastically) Looks like an old granny to me! … But this small one is quite lovely, very cute (picking up soft toy of herself)
UM ALLAWI: (moving to a glass case full of interesting FREEJ watches)
Now, that’s what I call gizmos…
UM SALOOM: (interrupting and looking confused) Where is Abood?
The Fun Old Girls look up to find Abood perched mischievously on top of the Um Saeed house with a trail of FREEJ crocs, and toys randomly scattered
UM KHAMMAS: Abood, come down, come down right now! Come down or they won’t be asking us back here again…
And so it was that the FREEJ characters came upon
FREEJ Corner at The Toy Store in Mall of the Emirates.
And luckily, they were asked back.

-Ends-
Contacts
Information Services Department
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Taryi Ha, (852) 2842 8615
or
Terence Leung, (852) 2842 8613

ABU DHABI, (7 December 2009) – Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala) has launched the Football Experience at Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall – a football activity zone featuring a range of activities to promote wider involvement in football in the lead up to the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009.

The Football Experience, which is open free of charge from 4pm to 10pm every day until 20 December 2009, will feature a range of activities and attractions for all ages including:

- The Speed Shot to increase your kicking speed and power
- The Precision Shot to put your aiming skills to the test
- Reaction tests to measure your hand-eye coordination and reflexes
- Football freestylers to demonstrate the latest moves and pass on some of their expertise to children
- UAEFA coaches and players to provide beginners with expert advice to develop and refine their skills

The Football Experience is part of a number of activities Mubadala is sponsoring to ensure the wider community gets involved in the excitement in the lead up to Abu Dhabi’s biggest football event.

In October this year Mubadala announced its sponsorship of the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 and 2010, and the UAE Football Association’s (UAEFA) national teams. In line with Mubadala’s mission to facilitate the growth and development of Abu Dhabi’s community and economy, Mubadala aims to deliver long-term tangible benefits for the sport and the wider UAE community through its involvement in football.

“Mubadala is committed to developing talent at a grass roots level, starting with our nation’s youth,” said Sultan Rashed Al Damarki, Senior Officer at Mubadala, responsible for the football sponsorships. “By working closely with the Local Organising Committee of the FIFA Club World Cup UAE and the UAEFA, we are hoping to inspire greater participation in football – a sport that encourages important qualities such as team work, encouragement and commitment.”

“It’s also about building an active and healthy community, and we are involved on a wider scale to develop the long-term infrastructure to support this aim, such as the world-class football facilities at Zayed Sports City,” he continued.

“Activities like this are a great way to get children excited about a new sport in a fun environment,” said Srečko Katanec, UAEFA National Coach. “Having players and coaches on hand to offer encouragement and support gives children the confidence they need to learn a new skill.”

Last year the Dubai winner Michael Mmoh, won the grand finals in London. Dubai has now begun its attempt to repeat the success in 2009.

The 2009 event took place at the Aviation club on 4th December and will then move on to the grand finals 11th December at the Grand Hyatt – Dubai. The governing body of UK tennis the Lawn Tennis Association hosted the 2008 triangular finals and will be doing so again for 2009-10.

The UK event included a clinic by Elena Dementieva during Wimbledon.
Email grandprix@willtowin.co.uk for details or drop in at the Aviation club tennis office.

This 14 and under event for juniors new to competition is unique to tennis and brings together the tennis communities of London – Dubai and New York and for 2009 Madrid
The winners of the Dubai and New York events – one boy and 1 girl from each were flown to London to participate in grand finals, and each year the London winners win a fantastic prize of a trip to the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships – and the London winners will be going again February 2010.

Steve Riley – Director of Will to Win commented:
“Tennis is a great game played all over the world, we want to develop community themed tournament to be a worldwide experience for parks and public centre players. We plan to expand to more major venues for 2009-10 and will develop tennis opportunities for a wider cross section of the population than ever before. It is a fantastic opportunity for younger players from different countries to be brought together via sport.”

Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free said:
“Will to Win is a great initiative that enables youngsters to compete in tennis tournaments and provides them with opportunities to travel. As owners and organizers of a major tournament, the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, we are happy to be involved with this project which promotes tennis at grassroots level.”

The UK winners went to Dubai in February 2009 as their prize to take part in the ball kid programme at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships 2008 and have coaching with top coaches in a tennis clinic. They also played their first tennis at the tennis centre in Mirdif against UAE players training with the national team with Tennis Emirates.

This is the fourth year of the event, held at the 5 Will to Win public centres in London plus Wimbledon and sponsored by Dubai Duty Free which attracted over 200 participants. The two winners of the 2007 event ‘Ben Cronin’ and ‘Freya Christie’ are pictured below, and were impressed with the development of Dubai tennis and are looking forward to competing again.

The experience has given them an insight as to the requirements of an athlete to get to the top, and develop life skills, confidence and learn about another country and its culture.

The tournament, with the first prize of the trip to Dubai (UK winners) and a trip to London (Dubai, Madrid and New York winner’s) is aimed at youngsters who play at schools, parks and public centres. It provides an opportunity for young people from all backgrounds to participate in an exciting tennis event.

The Lawn Tennis Association in London is fully supportive of the tournament that provides competitive opportunities for community tennis players, the use of community and park sites, which is vital for the growth of tennis and competition for juniors.

At the Barclays Dubai Tennis championships in Dubai, over 150 kids are trained annually- pictured above taking part in the kid’s day- where over 1000 local school children can experience tennis.

The WTW / DDF Grand Prix prize of a trip to Dubai is part of a long term programme where the kids will attend a tennis camp for a week and join in with 150 other local ball kids participate at the ATP or WTA Dubai tournaments.

Email grandprix@willtowin.co.uk for more information on the venues, dates and how to enter for 2009 or call +447957110403.

Will to Win Tennis continues to strive to break down the perceived barriers to tennis participation for all juniors and continues to play a key role in providing ‘tennis opportunities for all’ in all the venues. Prince Sports, the LTA are all supporting the event.

The event is sanctioned by Tennis Emirates- all players requiring membership to participate.

Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, 7th December, 2009: Bawadi Mall’s ongoing “Celebrate with Flowers” festival has attracted 450,000 visitors from Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, other Emirates and neighborhood countries like Oman after two weeks of its commencement on the 20th of November.
The 140,000 square metre Bawadi Mall, which has been positioned as Al Ain’s ultimate shopping, dining and leisure destination, has hosted an international Egyptian Circus from the 27th of November until the 4th of December, 2009 covering Eid Adha and The UAE National Day. This programme targeted both adults and children.
The mall distributed flowers on the first and second day of Eid Adha to lady visitors. Also, elaborate flower decorations have been put up all over the mall, starting from Adha until the National Day, and continuing until the New Year’s Eve.
Khalid Shraim, Marketing Manager, Bawadi Mall, said: “A mall is not merely a shopping center but it has to offer a leisurely environment for its segment of visitors. This is exactly what we are doing at Bawadi Mall. We firmly believe that these events will have a positive impact on all economic sectors in Al Ain. This is what we felt after observing the first days of the festival”.
The festival has lined up a range of offers specifically tailored to the needs of mall visitors and their families. This festival comes at a time the mall crossed the 4.5 million visitor mark at the end of November, 2009.
Stores at the mall are offering great offers from the 20th of November until the 31st of December. The festival is timely as Al Ain has moderate weather at this time of the year.
The 10,000 sq. m. “Family Entertainment Center” features a varied mix of fun, ranging from the “Roller Coaster” to the “Fun Ski Village”, amongst many other attractions. Eight movie theatres including Grand Class Hall, a bowling alley, a distinctively rich food-court and several casual dining alternatives offering delicious varieties of cuisines makes a visit to Bawadi Mall a worthwhile and exciting experience.
Bawadi Mall has been opened at a time where Al Ain city is expanding dramatically. Bawadi Mall provides an ideal shopping experience for people of the UAE and beyond.
New brands have made their debut in Al Ain city through Bawadi Mall, such as Zara, Mango, MAX , Marks & Spencer, Kotton, New look, H&M and ACE Hardware, amongst others. The mall has attracted more than 380 retail outlets, including international names.
Bawadi Mall houses a mix of international as well as regional retail brands of fashion, food, jewellery and much more, all in a bright, spacious and inviting environment, distinguished by a wide curved vaulted skylight that soars above the main corridor and its three main spacious courts.

MenaITech Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Bashar Hawamdeh said, “In support of national initiatives, we are glad to have JFA on our reference list as we strive to cater for multiple sectors across the Arab region. To know that our software will facilitate salary calculation and personnel issues for Jordan’s top of the line football players is an achievement and pride for our organization.”

JFA Secretary General Mr. Khalil Al Salem said, “MenaITech presented us with the best functionality amongst the HRMS vendors in the market due to its user-friendly, web-based and comprehensive features. We took such an initiative to invest in an HR system in order to achieve optimum internal functionality, on which HR processes as the core of the organization will be reflected on the association as a whole.”

It should be noted that MenaITech, a leading HRMS vendor in the region, has deployed its system in a number of governmental and non-governmental entities in Jordan such as King Hussein Foundation, Tkiyet Um Ali, Jordan River Foundation, Save the Children, Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, Tamweelcom, Jordan Investment Board, King Abdulla Design & Development Bureau, Ministry of Planning & International Cooperation and the Jordan Customs Department.

-END-

The Oriental Red Carpet Fashion Show is an annual fashion design contest for emerging Emirati designers; organised by Dubai Ladies Club, a subsidiary of Dubai Women Establishment. Following the success of its inaugural launch in 2008, the competition returned once again as a pioneering campaign aimed at promoting young emerging designers and advancing their careers through extensive media exposure and introductions to key local & international clientele.
This year, aspiring designers were invited to rise to the challenge of conceiving ‘The Next Big Trend’ in Khaleeji fashion. The competition was divided into three categories – Abayas, Jalabiyas and Ready-to-Wear.
At a private Judging Ceremony held in early August, Fatima Al Hashimi (winner of Jalabiyas category), Athija Al Mazroui (winner of Abayas category) and Mariam Al Mazrou (winner of Ready-to-wear category) were selected, by a group of eminent panellists, from among 10 shortlisted Emirati fashion designers in three categories – Jalabiyas, Abayas and Ready-to-Wear.
This year’s selection committee included Ms Mirvat Ghanem, Editor of L’Officiel Middle East magazine, Mr Gonzague Duriez, Managing Director of Arabesque shailas and abayas, Ms Jo Wright, Personal Stylist for Boutique 1 and Ms Mai Sulaiman, Communications Director of Dubai Ladies Club.
The Oriental Red Carpet Fashion Show has been a launch pad for a number of distinguished local fashion designers such as Reem Beljafla, Fatima Al Qassimi, Fatima Al Tunaiji and Jamila Al Mansoor who have gone on to accomplish even greater things.
Focussing on Emirati women’s overall development, Dubai Ladies Club has consistently promoted Emirati talents through a number of educational and career-oriented professional programmes to open avenues for women to channelize their strengths and contribute effectively to the social and economic progress of the UAE.
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