Gonabit Consumers Nab Close To US$2 Million In Savings Across Six Cities

GoNabit.com, the first group buying website in the Middle East, has saved consumers close to US$ 2 million dollars across six cities since it first began offering its unbeatable deals in Dubai in May 2010. Savvy shoppers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah/Ras Al Khaimah/Ajman, Beirut, Kuwait City and Amman have amassed this record savings total by purchasing deeply discounted deals on things to see, eat and do in their respective cities.

As the original daily deal website in the UAE and the first group-buying company in the world to offer its web content in Arabic, GoNabit says this remarkable financial saving feat is testament to the quality and affordability of the deals they offer and the willingness of consumers to shop online and to get out and try new experiences in their city.

“We’re really pleased that our nabbers have been able to save this impressive total with us over the relatively short time we’ve been in operation. We strive to find unbeatable discounts from our merchants to pass on to consumers – in the range of 50-90% off the standard price. Deep discounts like this allow impressive savings figures to be quickly generated, but also translate to more money in the pockets of happy nabbers.

“Two million dollars is a significant savings figure, reflecting the loyalty of our consumer base and demonstrating that consumers across the region are confident about purchasing and saving with us online,” said Dan Stuart, CEO and Co-founder, GoNabit.com.

Stringent online security and data protection policies are the bedrock of GoNabit’s business. A recently announced Customer Charter formalized GoNabit’s commitment to provide their nabbers with the best possible online protection and customer service, giving shoppers the confidence to continue to save and discover online with complete peace of mind.

GoNabit says that engendering customer loyalty has also been critical to the development of a strong and engaged community of buyers who continue to save with the company deal after deal. GoNabit was the first group buying website in the region to introduce a customer referral incentive scheme and a loyalty rewards programme, known as REDPoints, both of which strengthened customer loyalty to the website.

“We continue to facilitate savings for our buyers at record rates – each month improves on the one before and we believe our customer service, our desire to reward and foster loyalty and commitment to online security have a lot to do with that,” added Stuart.

For merchants, the record savings total made by GoNabit consumers indicates that the group buying model is a powerful and popular marketing tool.

“Buyers are savvier than ever in a post financial crisis world. They are looking for ways to save money, but not skimp on quality entertainment and experiences. Our ability to facilitate such incredible savings for our customers is a signal to merchants that the power of assured marketing is here to stay, and is something that they need to tap into,” said Sohrab Jahanbani, COO and Co-founder of GoNabit.com.

Go to www.gonabit.com to save, discover and earn in your city.

 

DIFF 2010 Muhr Awards Submissions Close On Aug.31

Submissions for the prestigious Muhr Awards, the in-competition honours at the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) 2010, will close on August 31, 2010. Filmmakers from across the Arab world, Asia and Africa can submit their entries at www.dubaifilmfest.com. This year, DIFF has also introduced the Muhr Awards for Emirati filmmakers to recognize UAE-based filmmaking talent.

The entries will be evaluated by a jury of eminent film professionals during DIFF’s seventh edition to be held from December 12 to 19, 2010. In all, the Muhr Awards carry a prize money of about US$600,000, which will be distributed at the closing ceremony of DIFF 2010.

DIFF Artistic Director Masoud Amralla Al Ali said that the response to the Muhr Awards has been overwhelming. “We have received entries from around the world, highlighting the increasing appeal of DIFF’s in-competition awards as a mark of excellence in filmmaking in the UAE, Arab world, Asia and Africa. The Muhr Awards have been a stepping stone to global recognition for its past winners, and open new windows of opportunity and a flourishing film career for the filmmakers.”

The Muhr Awards are presented in three segments: Muhr Arab Awards honouring the finest features, documentaries and shorts from the Arab world; the Muhr AsiaAfrica Awards for the best in cinema from Asia and Africa, and the Muhr Awards for Emirati filmmakers.

Cash prizes and the coveted Muhr trophy will be handed over in the categories of Feature, Documentary and Short films. Entries towards the Muhr Arab competition are also eligible for the Prize of the International Critics offered by the prestigious International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), a DIFF partner. 

The Awards for Features include: Best Film, Special Jury Prize, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Scriptwriter, Best Editor, Best Composer and Best Cinematographer.

The Awards in Documentary are: First Prize; Special Jury Prize and Second Prize; and the awards in Short Films are: First Prize; Special Jury Prize and Second Prize.

For the Muhr Awards for Emirati Filmmakers, 15 Emirati films including feature, short and documentary will be short-listed for the first, second and third prize from any of the three filmmaking categories. The segment has a total prize money of AED 75,000.

Films eligible for the Muhr Arab and AsiaAfrica Awards must be directed by an Arab, Asian or African filmmaker and the subject and storyline of the film must be centered on the Arab, Asian or African world and/or history and culture for the respective competitions.

They must be produced after September 1, 2009 and must not have been screened in the Gulf region for any audiences before DIFF, with the exception of projects that have participated in the third edition of the Gulf Film Festival (GFF).

Films from outside of the Gulf region must be Gulf premieres and films from the Gulf region must be UAE premieres. Until the end of DIFF, films must not have been broadcasted via television, internet, mobile phone or any other public viewing platform.

Shortlisted projects will be announced in November 2010, and films that do not meet with the competition criteria and have not been screened in the UAE can be submitted for consideration in DIFF’s ‘Out of Competition’ segments.

Last year, DIFF received over 900 entries from more than 62 nations across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Australia and Europe in three categories for the Muhr Awards.

DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City and supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah are the principal sponsors of DIFF.

DIFF 2010 Muhr Awards Submissions Close On Aug. 31

Submissions for the prestigious Muhr Awards, the in-competition honours at the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) 2010, will close on August 31, 2010. Filmmakers from across the Arab world, Asia and Africa can submit their entries at www.dubaifilmfest.com. This year, DIFF has also introduced the Muhr Awards for Emirati filmmakers to recognize UAE-based filmmaking talent.

The entries will be evaluated by a jury of eminent film professionals during DIFF’s seventh edition to be held from December 12 to 19, 2010. In all, the Muhr Awards carry a prize money of about US$600,000, which will be distributed at the closing ceremony of DIFF 2010.

DIFF Artistic Director Masoud Amralla Al Ali said that the response to the Muhr Awards has been overwhelming. “We have received entries from around the world, highlighting the increasing appeal of DIFF’s in-competition awards as a mark of excellence in filmmaking in the UAE, Arab world, Asia and Africa. The Muhr Awards have been a stepping stone to global recognition for its past winners, and open new windows of opportunity and a flourishing film career for the filmmakers.”

The Muhr Awards are presented in three segments: Muhr Arab Awards honouring the finest features, documentaries and shorts from the Arab world; the Muhr AsiaAfrica Awards for the best in cinema from Asia and Africa, and the Muhr Awards for Emirati filmmakers.

Cash prizes and the coveted Muhr trophy will be handed over in the categories of Feature, Documentary and Short films. Entries towards the Muhr Arab competition are also eligible for the Prize of the International Critics offered by the prestigious International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), a DIFF partner.

The Awards for Features include: Best Film, Special Jury Prize, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Scriptwriter, Best Editor, Best Composer and Best Cinematographer.

The Awards in Documentary are: First Prize; Special Jury Prize and Second Prize; and the awards in Short Films are: First Prize; Special Jury Prize and Second Prize.

For the Muhr Awards for Emirati Filmmakers, 15 Emirati films including feature, short and documentary will be short-listed for the first, second and third prize from any of the three filmmaking categories. The segment has a total prize money of AED 75,000.

Films eligible for the Muhr Arab and AsiaAfrica Awards must be directed by an Arab, Asian or African filmmaker and the subject and storyline of the film must be centered on the Arab, Asian or African world and/or history and culture for the respective competitions.

They must be produced after September 1, 2009 and must not have been screened in the Gulf region for any audiences before DIFF, with the exception of projects that have participated in the third edition of the Gulf Film Festival (GFF).

Films from outside of the Gulf region must be Gulf premieres and films from the Gulf region must be UAE premieres. Until the end of DIFF, films must not have been broadcasted via television, internet, mobile phone or any other public viewing platform.

Shortlisted projects will be announced in November 2010, and films that do not meet with the competition criteria and have not been screened in the UAE can be submitted for consideration in DIFF’s ‘Out of Competition’ segments.

Last year, DIFF received over 900 entries from more than 62 nations across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Australia and Europe in three categories for the Muhr Awards.

DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City and supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah are the principal sponsors of DIFF.
 

Nakheel In Close Talks With Contractors’ Association

Nakheel today met with senior members from UAE-based Contactors’ Association, including company Chairman, Dr Ahmed Saif Belhasa, as part of its efforts to ensure settlement of claims to its trade creditors as part of its recapitalization plan

Delegates from the Contractors’ Association were briefed on Nakheel’s progress to date to settle agreed claims to its trade creditors, which now represents more than 50 per cent of total agreed claims. During the talks Nakheel assured the Contactors’ Association of the significant progress made, and clarified the need for continued co-operation from its trade creditors.

Within a month of presenting its trade creditors with a settlement agreement offering them 100 per cent recovery of agreed claims, Nakheel has now secured the agreement of many of its trade creditors, representing claims of approximately AED 6 billion.

The meeting today enabled both parties to openly discuss matters and clarify issues relating to Nakheel’s trade creditor settlement. Nakheel remains optimistic of reaching a final settlement, as a precursor to making a 40 per cent cash payment to its trade creditors.

Under the recapitalization plan announced by Nakheel last month, trade creditors are offered 100 per cent recovery of their agreed claims through a 40 per cent cash payment and 60 per cent in the form of a publicly tradable security, carrying a 10 per cent annual return. The 40 per cent cash payment will be paid to trade creditors as soon as an agreement of 65 per cent of the total agreed claims by trade creditors is reached.
 

Sheila And Abaya Comes To A Glittering Close On June 30

Sheila and Abaya, a signature event of DSS 2009 and a fashion highlight this summer comes to a glittering close on Tuesday, June 30, 2009, at BurJuman, a key sponsor of DSS 2009. Featuring the creations of emerging and established designers from across the region, the event showcases the latest trends in sheila and abaya and provides a platform for designers to reach out to a wider audience.

Shows for the last day of the event on June 30 feature the collections of DAS Collections (Reem Ali Beljafla), Velvet Abaya, Scarf (Mariam Murthada Wadiey), and Smooth Lady (Mona Khanbouli). The Shows will be held at 5pm, 5:55pm, 6:45pm, and 7:40pm at the Observatory opposite Virgin Megastore in BurJuman.

The second day of the event on June 28 saw the collections of Amal Murad, Hoor Al Ain, Shabana Asif (Shabana Asif) and Al Janaheya Abaya (Mona Mohammed Janahi).