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Making inroads

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Sathish Arya, General Manager – Middle East & Africa at WatchNET International Trading LLC discusses how the year has shaped up for the vendor and the key growth areas in secure access and surveillance segment


Discuss how the year 2016 has turned out from the surveillance and secure access market growth point of view? Which territories have shown good growth?

The year 2016 turned out to be really great for WatchNET and we were very successful with a strong growth rate & excellent sales performance across all areas of focus, right from Surveillance, Access Control, Storage and Integrated Solutions. Our sales team had achieved their target much a head especially UAE, Oman & Bahrain territories where our sales graph patterning towards north. We have been able to retain our market position quite well and in fact improve, which has resulted in increased customer confidence and the overall progress seen in all the areas such as sales, technical support, improved service and on-time support.

What were some of the major highlights for the company in terms of new releases, major customer wins etc?
Our Enterprise Class HD-VMS software has been the major highlight launch for WatchNET in the year 2016. We bagged a couple of major projects with our integrated security solution with multi-location in 3 countries in the Telecom segment that contributed well to our sales. We are scheduled to release our leading-edge technology by end of December called ‘WatchNET Access Cloud” which is a cloud based Access Control System with the multi-location support & control. WatchNET Access cloud software is versatile, flexible and feature-rich with lot of exciting features.

Is the SME segment a major area of focus for the company and its partners? Do you see SME segment customers showing interest in these investments?
Our major area of focus for 2017 will be more on Medium & Enterprise Class Solutions especially in Integrated Security Solution software and Multi-location command control solutions. The market demand is increasing in such segments as it helps the customer to manage their security system effectively and giving more comfort to use & deploy; we are investing our resource in those market driven segments.

Is this an area where you would like to make more inroads?

Yes, we would like to focus more on integrated system & Cloud based solutions and continuously enhancing both hardware & software as well as cloud based systems especially services based solutions which are scheduled to be launched in Q2 of 2017. WatchNET products have gained a good reputation and customer confidence in the recent years; hence we are working towards product enhancement and stability in both hardware & software.

Do you think retail analytics will be a major driving factor for increased deployments of surveillance hardware and software in retail?
There is a market for every segment and especially retail analytics segment is estimated at CAGR of 20.2% between 2016 and 2021 but our focus is not in retail analytics. We are focusing more on integrated solutions & multi-location monitoring where we are enjoying major market share across GCC.

Discuss the challenges that confront the industry? Do you see profitability as one of these challenges because of increased availability of more brands to choose from?

The competitive environment in this market appears to be intense as a number of global firms and several smaller regional companies have mushroomed in electronic security systems and hence the profit margins have been going down. To compete in the current market situation, we had taken lot of initiatives to support our customers in many ways. We had deployed our in-house automation tool that contributes well to our support system and process that substantially reduces the turn-around time & on-time support.

Comment on your partner program and also some of the significant outcomes of the company’s partner engagement in the year?
WatchNET engages with the partners in every stage of project life cycle delivering right solutions through our WAPP (WatchNET Partner Program). The WAPP program aims to improve timely support and customer retention by bestowing effective support and conducting more training programmes to our system integrators. We take this opportunity to thank our customers for their continued patronage and the confidence that they have placed in WatchNET. We take great pride in maintaining a team-based work environment. Our clients are drawn to us, not because of our commitment to delivering quality solutions as well as our superior customer service.

Comment on some plans that the company may have decided on to pursue for the year ahead?
As indicated above, we are focusing more on Integrated Security & cloud based solutions. Currently, we are working on few advanced solutions which are scheduled to be launched during Q2 of 2017. Also, our next main objective is to increase the market share and providing more solutions as well as stable products to our customers.

Elaborate on your strategy towards project management? Are these executed by partners with your support?
WatchNET is one of the global leaders in security management solution and our solutions were deployed in many enterprise class projects. Our project based enterprise class solutions are flexible and scalable that can fit in to any size of the project and we do custom built software & project oriented hardware. Our R&D team in Canada develops tailor made solutions for different business verticals based on the project requirement in both hardware & software. In addition to that we are working effectively on WAPP program as well as focusing more on Enterprise Class Integrated Solutions. We are executing all the projects only through system integrators since we don’t have policy of working with end-user directly.

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Dhruva to Rebrand as Ryan Across the Middle East, Signaling Unified Global Brand

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Dhruva will adopt the Ryan brand across the UAE and Saudi Arabia by the end of 2026, uniting the practice with Ryan’s global identity and international platform.

Dhruva, a leading tax consultancy firm in the Middle East, and Ryan, a leading global tax services and software provider, today announced that Dhruva will transition to the Ryan brand across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The rebranding will be completed by the end of 2026, bringing the practice under Ryan’s global identity and reinforcing its position as part of the world’s leading global-scale specialist in business tax.

The transition marks the next phase of the strategic joint venture announced in 2025 and reflects the continued integration of Dhruva’s regional capabilities with Ryan’s global platform, technology, and international resources. Clients across the Middle East will continue to benefit from the same trusted advisory teams, enhanced by access to Ryan’s worldwide expertise and service capabilities.


“The Middle East has been a strategic growth market for us for many years, and we have built a strong advisory practice founded on deep client relationships, technical excellence, and local market understanding,” said Dinesh Kanabar, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Dhruva Advisors and Vice Chairman, Ryan.

“The transition to the Ryan brand marks a significant milestone in our journey and reflects the strength of our partnership. By combining our regional expertise with Ryan’s global scale, technology, and international capabilities, we are creating an even stronger platform to support clients across the region as they navigate an increasingly dynamic and evolving tax landscape.”


“The Middle East is one of the most important growth markets for tax advisory services globally, and we are investing in the region with a long-term view,” said Tom Shave, President of Ryan’s European and Asia-Pacific Operations. “Uniting under the Ryan brand strengthens how we serve clients across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Europe—bringing seamless access to our global expertise, technology, and international resources through one trusted platform. This transition marks an important milestone in our integration and reinforces our commitment to the region’s future.”


Ryan will continue to invest in its Middle East operations, expanding its team, capabilities, and regional presence across key markets, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh. The practice provides comprehensive tax advisory services spanning corporate tax, value-added tax (VAT) and indirect tax, transfer pricing, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) tax structuring, research and development (R&D), and cross-border compliance.


“The response from our clients over the past year has been the clearest validation of this partnership,” said Nimish Goel, Leader, Middle East, Dhruva, a Ryan Affiliate. “From the outset, our teams have been integrating Ryan’s global capabilities in technology, specialized expertise, and best practices into the work we already lead in the region. Adopting the Ryan brand is the natural next step. It is the same people and the same trusted relationships, now carrying the name of the largest Firm in the world dedicated exclusively to business taxes.”


The rebranding will be implemented in phases during the second half of 2026, with signage, visual identity, and digital properties transitioning to the Ryan brand across the region.

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GFH Partners Manrre REIT (CEIC) PLC and Palmon Group unveil new temperature-controlled chemical warehouse in JAFZA

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GFH Partners Manrre REIT (CEIC) PLC (“Manrre” or “the Fund”), managed by GFH Partners Ltd. (“GFH Partners”),  together with its development manager Palmon Group FZCO (“Palmon Group”), today announced the opening of a specialised temperature-controlled chemical warehouse in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), further expanding the Fund’s Grade A logistics portfolio.

The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of Mr Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director, DP World GC, alongside senior officials and dignitaries from Jebel Ali Free Zone, GFH Partners, and Palmon Group.

Purpose-built and developed by Palmon Group to meet stringent international safety and compliance standards, the new facility reflects the rising regional demand for certified chemical storage infrastructure that supports manufacturing, energy, industrial services, and third-party logistics. The warehouse is situated on a 180,000sq ft plot with a built-up area of 112,000 sq ft, divided into three temperature-controlled chambers that reach a maximum height of 13 metres. The warehouse has been designed with advanced Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR), and in-rack sprinkler systems to ensure safety and resilience across all operations.

The facility’s layout allows storage of a diverse range of hazard-classified chemicals. One chamber is configured for UN Class 3 and 4 chemicals, a second accommodates UN Class 5 chemicals, while the third has been developed for UN Class 6, 8, 9 and non-regulated materials. The warehouse offers capacity for 17,400 pallets and includes nine loading docks and three loading bays. The office space has been intentionally limited to three percent of the total built-up area, maximising operational efficiency and warehouse utility.

Speaking on the launch, Kunal Lahori, CEO of Palmon Group and Board Member of Manrre, said: “This new facility brings together precision engineering, regulatory compliance, and long-term value creation. Specialised chemical storage requires a high degree of control and risk management, and we have developed this warehouse to meet those expectations while offering flexibility and scalability for tenants. As one of the earliest developers in Jafza, Palmon Group remains committed to supporting the UAE’s logistics and industrial growth.”

Mohamed Ali, Head of GCC at GFH Partners, said: “The opening of this warehouse marks another important milestone in the expansion of the GFH Partners Manrre REIT portfolio, particularly in mission-critical industrial and logistics assets that serve high-growth sectors. The UAE continues to see strong demand for specialised storage solutions, and this facility reinforces our strategy to develop resilient, future-ready assets that deliver long-term value for our investors.”

The logistics hub is now fully operational and is leased to Safe Logistics. The new facility is expected to play a significant role in strengthening regulated supply chains and supporting Dubai’s position as one of the region’s foremost logistics and industrial hubs.

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Big Ticket joins DP World ILT20 Season 4 as Official Partner

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A professional cricket player for the Desert Vipers in mid-swing during a match. The batsman is wearing a dark green and black patterned jersey with red accents, a red helmet, and black protective leg pads. He is holding a wooden cricket bat high in a follow-through motion after playing a shot. The background shows a crowded stadium with purple and blue seating and a "DP World" branded wicket.

Big Ticket, the largest and longest-running guaranteed raffle draw in the Middle East (known for cash prizes, dream luxury cars, gold bars and coins) has joined the DP World International League T20 Season 4 as an Official Partner.

In recent years, Big Ticket has become more than just a raffle, it has gained the reputation of being a brand built around rewarding dreams and celebrating ambition, growing into one of the region’s largest and one of the most anticipated monthly draws in the UAE.

DP World ILT20 – the 34-match cricketing extravaganza – the biggest T20 tournament in the region featuring some of the most renowned global cricket stars is currently being played at the Dubai International Stadium, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

A cricket player from the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders standing at the crease, ready to receive a ball. The player is dressed in a purple and gold uniform with matching gold-colored leg pads and a gold helmet. He holds the bat upward in a standard batting stance. The stadium background features blue seats, a "UAE Cricket" sign, and another player in an orange uniform in the distance.

DP World ILT20 Head of Partnerships Ishan Chopra: “We are delighted to welcome a UAE born raffle giant like Big Ticket as an Official Partner of the DP World ILT20. Their legacy of helping dreams come true aligns perfectly with our vision of delivering unforgettable, fan-first experiences across the league. This partnership strengthens our commitment to creating moments of excitement both on and off the field, and we look forward to elevating Season 4 together. With a household name like Big Ticket on board, we are confident of unlocking even more opportunities for fans to engage, celebrate and go All In for Cricket.”

Meanwhile, DP World ILT20 match tickets across all categories are available for the remaining tournament matches. Various spectator stand tickets start at AED 20 and hospitality packages start from AED 325. Fans can also book the new Sixes Lounge experience for AED 395, which includes unlimited food and beverages. Tickets can be purchased by visiting tickets.ilt20.ae or Virgin Megastores.

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