Tech News
Beyond screens and speakers: How AV integration is crafting unforgettable customer experiences in MENA region
By Adrian Goulder, Technical Manager at VUE Audio Visual Trading LLC (VUEAV)
The landscape of customer engagement is undergoing a profound transformation, particularly across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Today’s consumers are not just seeking products or services; they are chasing experiences. We are living in the age of the ‘experience economy,’ where emotional resonance and immersive interaction are more important than the transaction itself. And at the heart of this shift lies a powerful, often underestimated catalyst: Audio-Visual (AV) integration.
For several years, AV has been viewed through a narrow, functional lens – a screen to display presentations or a sound system for announcements. But this perception is rapidly evolving. In the hands of forward-thinking businesses, AV has become a transformative tool, the medium through which compelling, multisensory experiences are crafted, and customer loyalty is deepened.
There are several instances in our daily life that showcase the exceptional use of AV to provide us with exceptional experiences. For instance, imagine walking into a retail space where digital displays shift in real-time based on your preferences, offering tailored product suggestions with vivid 3D visuals. Or maybe consider a museum where interactive projections breathe life into ancient artefacts, inviting visitors to explore history through gesture and touch. These aren’t visions of the distant future. They’re happening now, across the MENA region, thanks to the rise of integrated AV technologies.
A standout example of immersive AV integration is the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, where projection mapping transforms the space into a fully immersive 360° environment. Far from a passive visit, this installation surrounds worshippers and visitors alike in a blend of synchronised audio and visuals, delivering a multisensory experience. The entire Immersive Show was scripted, designed, and brought to life by a dedicated team of BAPS volunteers, who handled every aspect of the creative vision in-house – from concept development to execution.
VUEAV worked alongside Christie, a global visual technologies company and the BAPS technical team, to achieve this seamless fusion of form and function.
The installation features a sophisticated network of Christie projectors with a collective output of over 300 lumens per square metre, projecting over 60 million pixels onto architectural surfaces. This powerful AV system is orchestrated through Aurora’s IP-based solutions for video distribution and live system monitoring, while Pixera media servers ensure high-resolution content and pixel-perfect synchronisation across all outputs.
But it’s not just about what you see – it’s about what you hear and feel. Sennheiser microphones and Klipsch Professional Series 8-inch speakers, complemented by robust 15-inch subwoofers, deliver an acoustically rich environment. Each component is precisely calibrated and programmed to provide a unified and intuitive experience. Central to this installation is ‘The Fairy Tale,’ an immersive show that runs daily, merging storytelling with high-resolution visuals and surround sound.
In a parallel context, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is also leveraging AV to showcase the epic past of AlUla, an ancient Arabian oasis city. The Incense Road Experience, an immersive adventure developed through a partnership between VUEAV and The Aimes, is a project that blends live performance, interactivity and cutting-edge audiovisual technologies to reanimate the rich cultural heritage of this ancient trade route. A sophisticated array of Christie 4K laser projectors maps high-resolution, vibrant visuals onto architectural textures and theatrical spaces. Driven by Pixera media servers,the installation dynamically responds to visitor movement and interaction through a network of custom-designed motion sensors and RFID-triggered zones. As visitors travel the space, the audio-visual and lighting elements adapt in real-time.
A rich audio landscape is delivered through a premium Klipsch multi-zone sound system, enhanced with bespoke directional speakers and embedded subwoofers that allow scenes to breathe with immersive realism. Visitors can experience holographically projected historical, legendary figures and recreated ancient local environments complete with scent emitters and tactile surfaces. Furthermore, visitors can also craft their own incense blend through interactive prompts, in addition to unlocking personalised narrative paths using sensor-based interactions and gamified storytelling. At the heart of the experience is a powerful integration of hardware and creative content, blending high-resolution projection, real-time media control, interactive systems, and environmental storytelling.
So, what exactly is driving this transformation? These are not just futuristic fantasies. They are tangible realities being implemented across the MENA region, thanks to sophisticated AV integration, and their outcomes are remarkable. Among the many benefits are elevated engagement. Interactive kiosks, immersive video walls, and crystal-clear audio systems hold attention and turn passive customers into active participants. Offering personalised interactions is another benefit, as through integration with analytics, AV systems can adapt to individual preferences in real time. From digital restaurant menus that respond to dietary needs to personalised greetings displayed on screens in the experience becomes not just engaging, but personal.
Additionally, it creates immersive environments. Whether it is a showroom designed for multisensory experiences, or a collaborative workspace equipped with interactive displays and seamless video conferencing, AV is redefining physical space as dynamic hubs for engagement. AV technologies enable businesses to communicate their brand identity not just through words, but through unforgettable sensory experiences – such as stunning visuals, impactful sound design, and interactive installations – that resonate far beyond the initial interaction. Beyond the customer-facing benefits, AV integration streamlines backend operations, from wayfinding and internal communications to automating routine tasks and presentations.
For businesses in the MENA region, the opportunity is clear: those who invest in AV not as a utility, but as a strategic experience enabler, will lead the charge in redefining customer engagement.
In a market where expectations are rising and attention spans are shrinking, it is not enough to be seen or heard – brands must be felt. By embracing the full potential of AV technologies, organisations across the MENA region can move beyond the basics, crafting immersive, personalised, and memorable experiences that set them apart.
Tech News
PNY STRENGTHENS ITS TEAMS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND SAUDI ARABIATO SUPPORT STRATEGIC GROWTH


PNY today announces the reinforcement of its commercial and marketing teams across the Middle East, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia, a key strategic market for the expansion of its professional and consumer solutions businesses.
These recruitments are designed to support the acceleration of PNY’s expanding business around AI Factory initiatives and large-scale datacenter deployments. By strengthening its capabilities across computing, networking, storage, the full software stack, and the integration of NVIDIA and Vertiv solutions, PNY is positioning itself to deliver scalable, reliable end-to-end infrastructures that meet the evolving needs of enterprises as well as public and governmental organizations investing in AI and high-performance computing.
To support this growth strategy, PNY announces several key appointments:
Hashem Abughazaleh joins PNY to lead Professional Solutions Sales.
A seasoned Business Development and Enterprise Sales leader, Hashem brings over 15 years of experience across the Middle East and GCC. He has led high-level partnerships, defined enterprise sales strategies, and managed full solution lifecycles—from partner onboarding and technical customization to delivery.
Abdullah Algahyadh is appointed to drive the expansion of PNY’s presence in Saudi Arabia.
Born and raised in Riyadh, Abdullah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems and a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management from Middlesex University. His professional background includes business development, account management, and IT consulting. Abdullah brings strong local market knowledge and will play a key role in strengthening PNY’s footprint in the Kingdom.
Mohammed Hamdouche will lead the development of local marketing activities.
His background sits at the intersection of business, marketing, and technology, shaped by experience in large, tech-driven organizations across MENA markets. He brings expertise in digital marketing, with a strong interest in AI-driven technologies. Mohammed will actively support the growth of consumer solutions (a complete ecosystem of NVIDIA® GeForce® graphics cards, SSD components, and memory modules), storage ranges (USB flash drives and memory cards), as well as professional solutions.
“With these strategic hires, PNY is reinforcing its commitment to the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. We are strengthening our proximity to partners and customers, while helping them embrace innovative technologies to meet the region’s growing needs in digital transformation, AI, and high-performance computing.” – Jérôme Bélan, CEO at PNY Technologies EMEA
Tech News
ACCELERATING AI ADOPTION IN HEARING HEALTH CRITICAL TO SUPPORTING PATIENTS WITH HEARING LOSS IN UAE
Drawing on feedback from patients across the globe, Starkey highlighted that accelerating AI adoption in hearing health is already transforming daily life for people with hearing challenges, improving how they hear, connect and participate with greater confidence. Starkey addressed UAE’s leading audiologists, clinic owners and industry stakeholders from across the Middle East and Africa, led by Dr. Achin Bhowmik, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering.
The session focused on Starkey’s blueprint for AI-led hearing performance for patients in UAE and wider Middle East region, anchored by Omega AI, and detailed how the platform is advancing real-world speech clarity in challenging noisy environments, listening comfort and spatial awareness today, while setting the architecture for next-generation sound processing.
“At Starkey, sound quality is always, and will remain, job number one. Hearing is essential for how people connect, work, and participate in everyday life. When people delay action, outcomes suffer and quality of life and cognitive ability can decline unnecessarily,” said Dr. Achin Bhowmik, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering, Starkey. “Omega AI is built to bring people closer to natural hearing in real environments, using an industry-first 360-degree deep neural network processing and generative AI designed to dynamically adapt as listening conditions change and assist the patient in all environments. Hearing aids are high tech multifunction devices. The next step is accelerating adoption, so these capabilities reach more patients in the UAE who can benefit from them.”
During the session, Starkey highlighted how Omega AI advances the shift from conventional amplification toward intelligent hearing systems designed for clarity, comfort and usability. Omega AI includes new connectivity features including Auracast assistant and Google Fast Pair, fall detection and a special AI assistant. Starkey is setting the new standards for the industry.
The briefing took place against a backdrop of hearing loss emerging as a major global health and societal challenge. The World Health Organization projects that by 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people will have some degree of hearing loss, with more than 700 million expected to require hearing rehabilitation. The WHO also estimates the annual global cost of unaddressed hearing loss at almost US$ 1 trillion, reinforcing why prevention, early checks, and access to care matter.
The roadmap also emphasized connectivity and ecosystem design, including features intended to reduce friction for wearers, support faster fitting and follow-up, and enable a smoother clinical experience for hearing care professionals.
“Audiologists and clinic leaders in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey can rest assured that the new OMEGA AI platform will give them confidence and speed in treating their patients,” said Giscard Bechara, Director, Starkey MEA. “This briefing was designed to align the professionals on a larger point – hearing care is the need of the hour. Starkey has the technology today to service our patients better than any time before and we will waste no effort to educate and bring it here to our patients in the UAE and the Middle East.”
Starkey Middle East and Africa will continue engaging hearing care professionals and partners through professional education, technology briefings and clinical enablement initiatives, supporting evidence-based hearing care practices and helping translate the latest hearing innovation into improved patient outcomes.
Tech News
NEMETSCHEK GROUP AND INGRAM MICRO PARTNER TO ACCELERATE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA REGION
The Nemetschek Group, one of the world’s leading software providers for the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AEC/O) industry, announced a strategic partnership with Ingram Micro, a business-to-business (B2B) platform company for the global technology ecosystem, to jointly explore new business opportunities and accelerate digital transformation across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The strategic partnership brings together Nemetschek’s cutting-edge software portfolio with Ingram Micro’s extensive regional reach, ecosystem enablement capabilities and deep market expertise. As part of the collaboration, both companies will work closely on joint market development initiatives, including coordinated marketing campaigns, industry events and customer engagement activities aimed at increasing awareness and adoption of Nemetschek’s solutions across the region. The collaboration also outlines a strong focus on sales enablement and training, equipping Ingram Micro’s teams with the technical, product and commercial expertise required to effectively promote, demonstrate and support Nemetschek technologies.
In addition, the partnership will support customers throughout their digital transformation journey through pre-sales collaboration, post-sales support and long-term account growth strategies. It is designed as a progressive onboarding framework, with Ingram Micro expected to be gradually onboarded across Nemetschek’s portfolio on a brand-by-brand basis as the partnership evolves.
Yves Padrines, Chief Executive Officer of the Nemetschek Group, noted that partnerships are a cornerstone of Nemetschek’s strategy to scale innovation and drive digital transformation globally. “The Middle East and North Africa region offers immense opportunity, defined by ambitious infrastructure programs and a clear commitment to digitalization. By collaborating with Ingram Micro, we are strengthening our ability to deliver open, connected and future-ready solutions that empower our customers to design, build and operate more efficiently and sustainably.”
Commenting on the partnership, Muayad Simbawa, Managing Director of Nemetschek Arabia, said: “This collaboration represents a strategic step forward in our mission to enable meaningful digital transformation across the built environment in the Middle East and North Africa. Ingram Micro’s strong regional footprint, ecosystem-driven approach and proven ability to scale technology adoption make them an ideal partner as we continue to empower architects, engineers and construction professionals with innovative, open and interoperable solutions. Together, we are laying the foundation for a more connected, efficient and sustainable future for the industry.”
Shaikh Mohammed Ahmed, Managing Director, Ingram Micro KSA, added: “At Ingram Micro, we see digital transformation as a collaborative journey built on strong partnerships and shared expertise. Our collaboration with Nemetschek reinforces our commitment to enabling our customers and partners with world-class technologies that address the evolving needs of the AEC sector. By combining Nemetschek’s industry-leading solutions with our regional capabilities and enablement services, we aim to unlock new growth opportunities and deliver tangible value across the MENA region.”
Ingram Micro is a leading global technology distributor and services provider, playing a critical role in the IT ecosystem by connecting technology manufacturers with solution providers and end customers. Through its extensive portfolio, digital platforms and value-added services, Ingram Micro enables businesses to scale, innovate and transform in an increasingly digital world.
The partnership underscores both companies’ shared vision of driving innovation, accelerating technology adoption and supporting regional ambitions for smarter infrastructure, sustainable development and digitally enabled economies.
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