News
2017 COC Awards ceremony felicitates winners
The 11th VAR COC Awards Gala was held on 26th April at the Shangri-la hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. The event felicitated winners in different categories of the industry’s most prestigious channel awards.
The sponsors of the event were Dell, Toshiba, Seagate, WD, AOC, Zoook, Kaspersky Lab, PNY, Touchmate, Dlink and Linksys.
The VAR COC Awards included nominations from the industry that were followed by online voting on www.varonline.com. The channel voted for their preferred choices and a select Jury vote helped validate the results. The survey ran from March until the second week of April and winners were declared on the basis of the survey results.
The Awards ceremony included a short address by Mr. Vivek Sharma, the CEO and founder of JNS Media International and publisher of VAR Magazine. During his address, he recalled the growth of the awards and the pioneering impact they have had in the region as the first ever awards for the ICT channel by a Media company.
Among the categories, the ‘Innovative Projector Brand of the Year’ was won by Epson, a brand that continues to be one with a wide array of projectors for all user segments and is constant with innovations
HP came on top as the Innovative Printer Brand of the Year, duly recognized for the new innovations continued reach into the channel and the market along with an extensive portfolio of printers and MFPs. AOC, a manufacturer that has one of the largest portfolios of monitors addressing all the segments was the Innovative Display Brand of the Year.
The ‘Innovative Storage Devices Brand of the Year’, a closely fought category went to Seagate, a recognition of its considerable storage devices/media portfolio, continued innovations and channel reach. The ‘Innovative Networking Brand of the Year’ was won by Linksys, a brand that is at the forefront of innovations that reimagine the way we think of networking devices for home and SMB segments.
The winner in the ‘Innovative Laptop Brand of the Year’ category was Dell, a manufacturer that has unveiled innovations across the spectrum in the category and continued to be a powerhouse in the segment. Sony, a brand that offers outstanding design and functionalities in several of its models was the winner of the ‘Innovative Smartphone Brand of the year’.
Belkin, a brand that offers an extensive portfolio of accessories and is known for its exquisite designs was the winner of the ‘Innovative Accessories Brand of the Year’.
EPOS, a regional manufacturer of PoS Systems, Touch Screens, Receipt Printers, Barcode Scanners, Banking Equipments, etc emerged on top of contenders for the category Innovative POS Solutions Brand of the Year.
Asus, a brand that has had a successful sub-brand focused on gaming for over 10 years won the Gaming Laptop Brand of the Year’ category.
Samsung, a brand that is playing a pioneering role in taking AR & VR technologies solutions to market was the winner of ‘AR & VR Innovation Brand of the Year’.
The winner of the ‘Home & SOHO Networking Brand of the Year’ was TP-Link, a that has been building and consolidating its presence in the local market for the past few years and now has a sizeable reach in channel. D-Link, with an extensive portfolio for the SMB segment and a strong channel, the winner of the ‘SMB Networking Brand of the Year’ category.
The ‘Consumer NAS Brand of the Year’ category saw WD, one of the powerhouses of the storage market and has an extensive NAS range for consumers emerge the winner. On the other hand, the winner of the category ‘Business NAS Brand of the Year’ was QNAP, a company that has a vast range of NAS solutions upto enterprise scale.
Kaspersky Lab, a Brand that has built up considerable market presence globally and in the region and has consolidated over the past several years, won the category ‘PC Security Software Brand of the Year’
The global consumer endpoint security market to grow at a CAGR of 11.81% during the period 2016-2020. One of the major trends observed in the market is the increasing demand for integrated endpoint security suites.
ESET, a brand that has been one of the strong contenders in the segment and has a considerable local presence in retail was the ‘Mobile Security Software Brand of the Year.’
E-City, a company that has done a rebranding initiative, is focusing on innovation in terms of layouts and has also added digital pricing won the ‘Innovative ICT Retailer of the Year’
In the first of the awards presented to distributors at the event, Asbis was awarded ‘Mobility Distributor of the Year’ for its Mobility and retail focus. Trigon, a distributor that has a strong networking portfolio was the ‘Networking Distributor of the Year’ winner while FDC International came ahead of other contenders and won the ‘Components Distributor of the Year’ category.
With largest number of votes in its favour, AB Vision Electronics was winner of the ‘AV Distributor of the Year’
The winner in the ‘Retail Distributor of the Year’ category was National Store, one of the leading distributors of the region that has been associated with some strong brands and has been instrumental in contributing to their market success. Touchmate, a brand that offers a vast range of ICT products from tablets and laptops to peripherals and accessories, was yet again the winner of the category ‘Regional Brand of the Year’.
New Trend Computers LLC, a company that is reputed for its focus on selling networking products and is associated with leading networking brands emerged the winner in the category ‘Networking Reseller of the Year.’
COMPUTRONIC TRADING LLC was the winner of the ‘Mobility Reseller of the Year’ while the ‘Champion Reseller of the Year’ winner was Al Ershad Group. Linksys, a brand that continues to expands vision for the industry and has strengthened its presence in the region’s reseller channel and retail market won the ‘Brand of the Year’ category’.
Among Editor’s choice categories of the year, the ‘Innovative Product of the Year’ went to Toshiba for its innovations including the ‘CANVIO for Smartphone’. The winner of the Emerging Accessories Brand of the Year was Zoook, a brand that has an inspiring range of mobile accessories positioned towards various user segments. The last award of the day was won by PNY in the category ‘Fast Growing Brand of the Year’.
Hospitality
UAE’s Mulk International and India’s Ajeenkya DY Patil Group forge a landmark Dh100m partnership to launch the region’s first large-scale virtual hospital
In a landmark collaboration, Mulk International from the UAE and India’s Ajeenkya DY Patil Group have acquired stakes in Mulk Med Healthcare to become equal shareholders and launch what will be the region’s first large-scale virtual hospital of its kind with more than 20,000 doctors on board. Both groups have further pledged an investment to the tune of AED 100 million to revolutionise healthcare in the MENA and Asia-Pacific regions. This strategic partnership is set to redefine healthcare delivery by leveraging virtual solutions to enhance access and provide comprehensive services to millions.
Dr. Nawab Shafi Ul Mulk, Founder & President of Mulk Med Healthcare, emphasized the transformative vision of this collaboration: “Our partnership and shared vision with the DY Patil Group is a major landmark agreement which signifies a shared dedication to rapidly evolving innovation and inclusivity in healthcare.”
The new Initiative introduces Mulk Med Virtual Hospitals ecosystem across the globe, one that has already been implemented in countries like Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea and is in advanced stages of implementation in other territories. The comprehensive healthcare platform is also aided by Mulk Med App and video conferencing system available in 170+ countries currently, offering multiple essential services including 24/7 telehealth with doorstep free delivery of discounted medicines, also facilitating lifesaving smart ambulances, mobile clinics, and round-the-clock home care.
Transforming Healthcare Delivery in the region
According to Dr. Ul Mulk, these innovations are designed to improve healthcare accessibility, providing unmatched convenience for both urban and remote patients. Patients will benefit from virtual 24/7 consultations from over 20,000 doctors on board globally along with more than 500 pharmacies and service providers. Additionally, non-insured patients and UAE visitors can avail huge discounts on laboratory, radiology, hospital admissions and surgeries besides doorstep medicines, wellness, and aesthetics using the newly launched Mulk Medicare Privilege Health Card for the most affordable services that also give users access to longevity & precision medicine centres and genomics labs.
Shaji Ul Mulk, Chairman of Mulk International said: “Our global investments underscore Mulk Group’s long-standing commitment to driving impactful societal change. We are dedicated to fostering partnerships with local communities and governments to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth.”
The initiative is also set to redefine emergency response with lifesaving smart ambulances and will extend services to underserved communities through mobile clinics. For travellers, both in & out bound comprehensive tourist healthcare insurance will provide peace of mind with robust medical coverage, while cutting-edge ICU Pods, Mulk Vital signs devices and kiosks with advanced AI enhanced technology incorporated to continuously monitor patients with chronic diseases will optimise recovery, and enhance hospital efficiency.
Dr. Ajeenkya Patil, Chairman of DY Patil Group, highlighted the initiative’s significance: “We intent to facilitate medical tourism strong demand in India from Africa & other regions in our newly build world class Hospitals care in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Together, we aim to deliver a transformative, patient-centric healthcare ecosystem that prioritizes accessibility, affordability, and quality.”
“Innovation is key to solving the world’s healthcare challenges and Mulk Med Healthcare is rightly poised to embark on the global expansion to bring affordability and top notch equitable healthcare facilities to one and all. Mulk Medicare comprehensive hybrid model of digital and onsite healthcare innovative solutions not only address immediate medical needs but also lay the foundation for a sustainable, scalable future in healthcare,” added Dr. Shafi Ul Mulk.
Financial
Fujairah Digital Government and Torry Harris Business Solutions sign MoU to support digital transformation initiatives
Torry Harris Business Solutions Private Limited (THBS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fujairah Digital Government to accelerate the Emirate’s digital transformation efforts. This agreement underscores the collaboration in digital transformation in Fujairah, leveraging the latest technologies and innovations in alignment with the emirate’s vision to enhance government services and better serve its citizens.
The MoU was officially signed by Sheikh Engineer Mohammed bin Hamad bin Saif Al Sharqi, Director General of Fujairah Digital Government, and Shivdayal Charan, Director and Legal Representative of Torry Harris Business Solutions, in a move to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange in digital governance and best practices, aligning with the UAE’s vision to become a global leader in delivering digital government services.
Rabih Nasr, Vice President of Torry Harris Business Solutions in the Middle East, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating: “We are honored to work alongside Fujairah Digital Government to achieve their strategic goals of enhancing digital services and citizen engagement. This MoU reflects our long-standing commitment to the UAE, where we have been operating since 2002, and demonstrates our shared vision of empowering government entities to better serve their citizens through integrated and seamless digital platforms.”
News
UAE National Day: Women Choice applauds UAE’s diversity, leadership efforts
As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) prepares to celebrate its 53rd National Day, Women Choice proudly reaffirms its dedication to championing diversity, equality, and leadership across all sectors. In recognition of the UAE’s remarkable progress toward gender parity and inclusivity, Women Choice celebrates the pivotal role of women leaders in building a brighter, more equitable future.
With a strong presence in the region, Women Choice has hosted and participated in over 100 events across seven countries, half of which took place in the UAE. This milestone underscores the organization’s impactful efforts in promoting diversity and leadership, reflecting its alignment with the UAE’s vision of empowering women.
The UAE’s dedication to empowering women is evident, with women constituting 66% of public sector workers and 50% of the UAE Federal National Council (FNC) members being women – one of the highest representations globally. Women Choice echoes this spirit, advocating for inclusive leadership and equal opportunities in workplaces, education, and entrepreneurship.
Nezha Alaoui, Founder and CEO of Women Choice, reflects on the UAE’s achievements:
“As we celebrate the UAE’s National Day, we also honor its remarkable progress in diversity and equality. Women Choice stands aligned with this vision, empowering women to lead, innovate, and inspire. True leadership flourishes when opportunities are inclusive and diverse perspectives are embraced.”
Women Choice’s initiatives are grounded in actionable steps to drive change, including leadership training programs, mentoring opportunities, and advocacy campaigns. Ahead of National Day, Women Choice calls on organizations and individuals to strengthen their commitment to building a more inclusive society.
- The UAE ranked 1st in the Arab world for gender equality (World Economic Forum, 2023).
- Women contribute to 23.5% of the UAE’s GDP, a testament to their economic leadership.
- Female participation in STEM fields has risen to 37%, demonstrating progress in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
Through its global platform, Women Choice continues to spotlight stories of women leaders and changemakers, inspiring the next generation to break barriers and contribute to a more inclusive future.
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