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Savills Regional Expansion Bolstered by Key Senior Hires

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Marc Tennant, Alec James Smith, Amelia Sykes, Filippo Simonato, Lin Zhou (left to right)

Savills has continued its rapid strategic expansion with the hiring of a number of seasoned professionals to take on senior roles to lead several functions within the residential agency division, such as off-plan and secondary market sales, international sales, and exclusive projects.

Andrew Cummings, Head of Residential Sales Middle East at Savills,said, “These signature hires are a further demonstration of Savills strategic commitment to the Middle East region. Our leadership position in global real estate derives from the quality of our people. As such, I am thrilled to be joined by such experienced and respected professionals to support the ambitious growth of our business. These latest appointments of top talent in the industry showcase that we are making rapid progress in our ambitious expansion plans for the UAE and the region.”

Alec James Smith has recently become part of Savills as the Director of Sales and Leasing, assuming a pivotal role in advancing the brokerage’s presence in Dubai. Boasting more than 12 years of extensive real estate expertise, Alec has progressed swiftly from his initial position as a leasing broker to handling sales and senior management roles. Currently, he is set to lead a team comprising over 100 agents, overseeing operations throughout Dubai. Notably, Alec holds qualifications as a building surveyor.

Marc Tennant, an experienced negotiator and off-plan specialist, joins Savills with a real estate track record spanning two-decades, half of which were spent in senior roles in Dubai. Tennant assumes the role of Director of Exclusive Projects and Off-Plan in the Middle East. Tennant will lead the launch of a number of new exclusive project mandates. Under-construction properties dominated demand during last year, with 55% of the units sold being off-plan, which amounts to a total of 65,000 off-plan units.

To capitalise on Savills 700 global offices, Filippo Simonato joins as a Director of International Residential Sales. Simonato’s role will liaise with the global Savills network to raise the profile of the Middle East region and drive inbound investment. Recognising the particular importance of investment from China, Lin Zhou has been appointed Head of the China Desk to cater to Chinese demand for property, working with Savills 9,000 employees across 18 offices within China.

The critical role of talent acquisition in a competitive market is entrusted to Amelia Sykes, who is one of the most well-known and respected professionals in her field. Skyes assumes the role of Head of Talent Acquisition for Savills Middle East.

The residential sector in Dubai continues to be active, as per the latest Savills research, showing that it had its best year on record in 2023. Transaction activity grew in the city by 29% y-o-y to an all-time high of 118,200 units. The sustained rise of the Dubai luxury market has also further established the emirate’s position as a global benchmark for prime and branded residences. While the high-end sector of the property market continues to boom, it is expected that we will see a rise in the number of mid-market developers respond to the growing demand for the more affordable sector.

The recent change to the Golden Visa scheme, which removes the requirement for a minimum downpayment for an AED 2 mn property, is more than likely to further fuel the growth of the real estate market. The allure of long-term visas, coupled with the emirate’s stability, world-class lifestyle, and business environment, positions Dubai as an attractive destination for investors seeking stability and long-term residency.

The Abu Dhabi market is also in good shape, as highlighted by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development in its “Business Activity Report” for 2023, which reported significant annual growth of key indicators, further bolstering the business ecosystem’s attractiveness. The capital’s strong economic growth is underpinned by the stellar performance of the non-oil sector, which accounts for 52.8% of the emirate’s GDP.

Cummingsconcludes, “In just the first month of our expansion we sold one of the most expensive properties on Palm Jumeirah at AED 88 million amongst other deals, demonstrating the ongoing demand for prime property. Savills will soon be launching some new exclusive development projects, whilst at the same time furthering our prime and core offerings across the UAE. This leadership team is well placed to support the growth to 100 agents within 2024, whilst at the same time providing the world class service standards that Savills is known for.”

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FVC and SearchInform Join Forces to Boost Insider Threat Prevention and Data Protection in MENA

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FVC and SearchInform Join Forces to Boost Insider Threat Prevention and Data Protection in MENA

FVC, a prominent distributor specialising in innovative technology solutions, is pleased to announce its strategic partnership with SearchInform, a leader in information security and insider threat prevention solutions. Together, they are committed to strengthening organizations’ defenses against data leaks, corporate fraud, human-factor related risks.

K.S. Parag, Managing Director, FVC:

“We are excited to welcome SearchInform to our cybersecurity portfolio. The company offers the most powerful and localized DLP on the MENA market. SearchInform solution stands out from the competition due to a number of advantages. The system can be deployed within a few hours, protects the maximum number of data transfer channels, provides smart content-based blocking for all controlled channels and also use digital watermarks to trace the source of potential leaks. SearchInform DLP supports analysis of data in Arabic and has security policies, tailored for requirements of local organizations, enabling timely detection and prevention of confidential data leaks. The solution leverages AI to monitor atypical data transfer channels, recognize graphic elements, transcribe audio into text, detect attempts to photograph PC screens with smartphones.”

SearchInform offers a range of products, including DCAP, DLP, and SIEM. All the tools are seamlessly integrated. Technical support is provided through a specialist assigned to the company, who has extensive experience thanks to clients from various fields.

Commenting on the Partnership, Artem Volodin, CEO SearchInform MENA, stated:

“We are proud to collaborate with FVC, whose expertise in the Middle Eastern market will strengthen our efforts to combat insider threats and data leaks. The region needs a comprehensive solution that will enable organizations to meet regulatory standards, including SAMA, PDPL, DCC, ECC, UAE Information Assurance (IA) Regulation etc. and global ones, such as GDPR, PCI DSS. SearchInform delivers tools for data protection and risk mitigation across all levels: FileAuditor secures file systems, DLP covers workstations and human risks, Risk Monitor addresses corporate fraud, and SIEM protects IT infrastructure.”

The partners are currently conducting expert training, partner enablement sessions, and are also negotiating the implementation of SearchInform products in local companies.

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Etihad Salam and AFR-IX telecom Join Forces to Boost Intercontinental Digital Links Across Europe, Middle East, and Africa 

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Etihad Salam and AFR-IX telecom Join Forces

Etihad Salam, a premier telecommunications and digital infrastructure company in Saudi Arabia, has entered into a strategic with AFR-IX telecom, an infrastructure and telecom operator and the developer and operator of the Medusa Submarine Cable System.

This collaboration aims to elevate digital connectivity spanning Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and Asia.  Through this agreement, Etihad Salam becomes the primary landing and interconnection hub for the Medusa system within Saudi Arabia through Aqaba (Jordan), solidifying the Kingdom’s position as a pivotal digital gateway connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.

The partnership introduces resilient, high-bandwidth, and low-latency pathways from the Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula, fostering expansion for hyperscale data centers, cloud service providers, and digital operators throughout the region. 

With this partnership, Etihad Salam will deliver terrestrial backhaul services and capacity swapping to seamlessly incorporate Medusa’s network into Saudi Arabia and the broader GCC, and onward to Asia. This initiative represents a significant advancement in Etihad Salam’s global cable strategies and underscores its dedication to Saudi Vision 2030’s goals for digital innovation and economic diversification. 

Medusa Submarine Cable System is an 8,760 km undersea cable network linking critical points in the Mediterranean, such as Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. Engineered for high-speed, reliable data transfer between Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, Medusa delivers up to 480 Tbps of capacity, serving as a vital conduit for surging intercontinental data flows. 

Quote from Salam

“Our partnership with Medusa underscores Salam’s commitment to positioning Saudi Arabia as a central hub for regional connectivity,” stated Amjad Arab, Chief Wholesale and Alliances Officer at Etihad Salam. “By linking the Medusa cable to our robust infrastructure, we’re creating innovative international routes that expand our worldwide presence and meet the surging needs for digital and cloud services in the Kingdom. Through this partnership, we seek to offer enriched connectivity services, experiences and bring the world closer, ultimately empowering businesses to scale and innovative in an increasingly digital landscape.” 

Quote from AFR-IX telecom

“We’re excited to collaborate with Etihad Salam, whose expertise and network complement our objective of providing secure, expansive, and high-performance connectivity from the Mediterranean outward,” said Norman Albi, Chief Executive Officer of AFR-IX. “This partnership elevates reliability and coverage for carriers worldwide, driving forward digital advancement across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.” 

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Infinia Technologies and Satya Retail Launch AI and Blockchain-Powered Retail Transformation at GITEX 2025

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  • Revolutionizes India’s retail market by empowering merchants with first time real use case of AI and Blockchain
  • SAII is a world’s first initiative set to turn millions of low-tech, high-potential neighbourhood retailers into a data-rich, AI-enabled commerce network



Infinia Technologies, a subsidiary of Sirius International Holding, announced a strategic partnership with Satya Retail, a DS Group affiliate, at GITEX Global 2025, the world’s largest technology and innovation event in Dubai. Through this collaboration, Infinia Technologies aims to leverage its advanced AI operating ecosystem to power Satya Retail’s merchant network with AI-driven analytics, blockchain-based invoicing, and digital financial tools, transforming India’s retail landscape.

By combining Infinia Technologies’ AI and blockchain infrastructure with DS Group’s unmatched distribution expertise and Satya Retail’s deep merchant network, this initiative will create an intelligent, scalable, and inclusive retail ecosystem designed to empower millions of small businesses across the country. The official signing took place today at GITEX Global 2025, in the presence of Arif Khan, CEO of Infinia Technologies, along with Ritesh Kumar, Director at DS Group.

The collaboration marks the launch of SAII – Smart AI Integrator, a world’s first initiative that turns millions of low-tech, high-potential neighbourhood retailers into a data-rich, AI-enabled commerce network. Branded as “The Digital Saathi for Merchants,” SAII provides a single platform for all merchant needs; from blockchain-based e-invoicing and micro-financing to insurance, hyperlocal advertising with two-way data transfer for merchants and vendor network.

For the first time, India’s retailers will receive access to powerful digital capabilities at scale through SAII. It will help merchants operate smarter, improve efficiency, and build deeper partnerships across the supply chain.

Commenting on the announcement, Arif Khan, CEO of Infinia Technologies, said: “This partnership represents a defining moment in how AI and Blockchain can drive real-world impact. This collaboration will positively accelerate India’s digital economy. Through SAII, we’re enabling millions of India’s retailers to access intelligent tools and digital services that were once out of reach, while advancing our mission to take advanced AI from Abu Dhabi to the world. This is only the beginning; we plan to extend the SAII model across Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, with more projects to be announced soon.”

Ritesh Kumar, Director at DS Group added: “Our collaboration with Infinia Technologies brings together the strength of our retail network and their AI innovation to empower small businesses across India. SAII will help local merchants modernize their operations, access financial and digital tools seamlessly, and become part of a larger connected commerce ecosystem. This is a major step toward building a more inclusive and technology-driven retail economy.”

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