Arabs & Arabian Records Aggregator. Chronicler. Milestones of the 25 Countries of the Arabic Speaking World (official / co-official). AGCC. MENA. Global. Ist's to Top 10's. Records. Read & Enjoy./ www.arabianrecords.org
The inaugural Time 100 Gala and Impact Awards was held at Dubai’s Museum of the Future . The ceremony was the first major event to take place at the museum since its opening on February 22.
The landmark was lit with a touch of Time’s red as regional leaders and cultural figures gathered alongside members of the global Time 100 community.
Notable personalities who attended the red carpet event included civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, who was named in Time’s first Women of the Year list this month; Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Nigerian singer, actress and philanthropist; French-Tunisian contemporary artist el Saeed; US model Tyra Banks; and Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi , the first woman to hold a ministerial position in the UAE.
Sheikha Lubna was formerly the minister of state for tolerance, minister of state for international co-operation and development, and minister of economy and planning
The winners
Minister of State for Advanced Technology Sarah Al Amiri was among the award recipients. Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency and the UAE Council of Scientists, Ms Al Amiri was honoured for her role in helping to take the UAE to Mars.
British-Ghanian architect Sir David Adjaye, whose designs include the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the US, as well as the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, was also honoured for his work.
Mr Adjaye was honoured, according to Time, for “reorienting the world’s attention and shining a light on cultures from every corner of the world”.
Tony Elumelu was also a winner of the Impact Awards. The Nigerian economist was honoured for his efforts, through his eponymous foundation, in empowering African entrepreneurs to create jobs on the continent.
Bollywood star Deepika Padukone was also among the winners. The actress was recognised for her advocacy work on mental health..
Makeup artist and founder of Huda Beauty, Huda Kattan, was awarded the prize for “disrupting what it means to be beautiful”.
The Iraqi-American entrepreneur launched her skincare line Wishful in 2020 with a campaign that featured Kattan and the company staff without filters or makeup.
Will.i.am was also a winner of the inaugural Impact Awards. The Black Eyed Peas founder was praised as much for his music as his philanthropy, and his work advocating forward-thinking tech and artificial intelligence strategies.
Pop star Ellie Goulding was also named a winner for being “a champion and protector of the environment”.
source/content: thenationalnews.com (edited)
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The inaugural Time 100 Gala and Impact Awards was the first major event at Dubai’s Museum of the Future since its opening ceremony on February 22. Victor Besa / The National
Forbes Magazine revealed that Egypt and Lebanon are the homes of the wealthiest Arab billionaires for 2021.
The magazine’s annual report noted that the total wealth of the richest Arab families increased to US$55 billion this year, as compared to US$47.3 billion in 2020.
This year’s list includes 22 Arab billionaires including ten who belong to four families. They are the Sawiris and Mansour families from Egypt and the Mikati and Hariri families from Lebanon. The combined fortunes of the four families amount to US$29 billion.
Egypt’s Nassef Sawiris topped the list of Egyptian and Arab billionaires, with a net wealth estimated by Forbes at about US$9.1 billion, while the combined wealth of his family is about US$14 billion.
The two Lebanese brothers, Taha and Najib Mikati, have a fortune of US$5.4 billion, while the Mansour family is worth US$5.1 billion. The total wealth of the sons of late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is $US4.5 billion.
Since 2018, the magazine has not added Saudi billionaires to its list.
Forbes Middle East took a deeper dive into the four richest Arab families. Egyptian billionaires accounted for the largest share of the wealth with US$19.1 billion, while the Lebanese came in second with US$9.9 billion.
The Sawiris family
Members: Nassef, Naguib, and Samih, as well as their late father, Onsi Sawiris
Combined net worth: US$14 billion
Country: Egypt
The Sawiris family is the richest in Egypt, with a net worth estimated at about US$14 billion, most of which is from Nassef Sawiris, who owns $9.1 billion, as he owns a six percent stake in Adidas and a five percent stake in Madison Square Garden Sports, listed in New York. He is also the owner of the NBA’s Knicks and the NHL’s Rangers.
In addition, Nassef manages OCI, one of the largest producers of nitrogen fertilizers in the world, with factories in Texas and Iowa. Its shares are traded on Euronext Amsterdam and the billionaire has a 33 percent stake in it. Nassef also owns various investments, including shares in cement giant Lafarge and Orascom Construction.
He is followed by his brother Naguib Sawiris, who made his fortune from investing in the telecommunications sector, as he sold Orascom Telecom to the Russian telecommunications company VimpelCom, currently renamed VEON, in a deal that included shares and billions of dollars in liquidity in 2011. Naguib chaired the board of directors of Orascom Holding, which invests in one of the largest asset management companies in Egypt, and internet company Italiaonline, among other investments.
The third brother, Samih Sawiris, is rooted in the tourism sector. He developed the Red Sea tourist city of Gouna and has stakes in several companies, including 5.62 percent in OCI NV, 65 percent in Orascom Development Holding, and 6.3 percent in Orascom Construction. The combined value of these stakes is about US$680 million. The fortune of the father, Onsi Sawiris, who passed away a few weeks ago, was about US$997 million. This wealth has not yet been distributed to his heirs, and he still has a stake in OCI NV and Orascom Construction.
Nassef Sawiris’ fortune has witnessed a significant jump during the past 15 months, from US$5 billion in April 2020 to US$9.1 billion today.
The Mikati family
Members: Taha and Najib Mikati
Combined net worth: US$5.4 billion
Country: Lebanon
The two brothers, Taha and Najib Mikati, founded the (M1) Holding Group in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
The group’s investments include stakes in South African Telecom (MTN), fashion retailers such as Pepe Jeans, and luxury properties in New York, London, and Monaco.
Najib and his brother Taha founded Investcom in 1982, which specialized in the sale of satellite phones, at the height of the civil war in Lebanon. The brothers expanded into Africa, building cell phone towers in Ghana, Liberia, and Benin, among other countries. Investcom became a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2005. In 2009, South Africa’a MTN bought the shares of the two Mikati brothers for US$3.6 billion.
Najib Mikati served as the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 2011 to 2013 and is now serving as PM-designate after Saad Hariri stepped down in July.
The fortune of the two brothers grew from US$4.3 billion in April 2020 to US$5.4 billion on July 17, 2021.
The Mansour family
Members: Mohamed, Youssef, and Yassin Mansour
Combined net worth: $5.1 billion
Country: Egypt
The three brothers, Mohamed, Youssef and Yassin Mansour, gathered their wealth through the huge Mansour family group, which was founded by their late father Lotfi Mansour in 1952 and currently has about 60,000 employees.
Mohamed Mansour established General Motors dealerships in Egypt in 1975, becoming one of the largest distributors of its cars in the world. The group also has exclusive distribution rights for Caterpillar equipment in Egypt and seven other African countries. Mohamed Mansour was Minister of Transport under the Hosni Mubarak regime between 2006 and 2009.
As for Youssef Mansour, he heads the board of directors of the giant family group, and also supervises the consumer products department, which includes the supermarket chain “Metro”, as well as individual distribution rights for “L’Oreal” products in Egypt.
While Yassin Mansour is a shareholder in the group founded by his father, he also chairs the board of directors of Palm Hills Development, one of the largest real estate developers in Egypt. The Mansour Group owns the exclusive rights to franchise the famous brand in the ready-to-eat food sector McDonald’s in Egypt, and is the exclusive distributor for the cigarette brand Gauloises.
Mohamed Mansour’s net worth is US$2.5 billion, while Youssef’s is US$1.5 billion, and Yassin’s US$1.1 billion. The family’s net worth has decreased since April 2020 from US$7.4 billion to US$5.1 billion as of July 17, 2021.
The Hariri family
Members: Bahaa, Ayman, and Fahd Hariri
Combined net worth: $4.5 billion
Country: Lebanon
Bahaa, Ayman and Fahd Hariri are the children of the late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. They inherited their fortunes from their father.
In 2008, Hariri sold his stake in Saudi Oger contracting and construction company to his brother Saad Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, who was dropped from the billionaire list in 2019, while Fahd sold his share to his brother Saad in 2012 and Ayman also in 2014.
Bahaa Hariri founded and headed the Horizon Group, a real estate holding company with investments in Amman, and Beirut. He also owns the majority stake in Globe Express Services, a company that provides logistics services in more than 100 countries.
Meanwhile, Ayman Hariri invests in startups through the New York-based company Red Sea Ventures. Among its investments is Nest, which is now part of Google. He is also the co-founder and CEO of Vero, an ad-free social e-platform which allows users to share music, videos, and photos.
As for Fahd Hariri, the youngest son of the late billionaire Rafic Hariri, he invested part of his money in the real estate sector in New York, Paris, and Monte Carlo, and is currently investing in the besieged Lebanese banks, as well as developing residential properties in Beirut.
Dr. Samira Daroub Ph.D. Soil & Water Scientist. Director, EREC.FL, USA.
Throughout history, women have played a key role in humanity’s scientific advancements. As mentors, innovators and thought leaders, women in science have inspired and empowered countries, communities, women and young girls with their work and knowledge.
In celebration of National Women’s History Month, Samira Daroub shares how a love for learning inspired a lifetime of teaching and research that has expanded beyond United States borders. Daroub is the second woman in 100-year-old history of UF/IFAS Everglades Research & Education Center (EREC) to take the center’s helm.
Q: What was your early life like?
A: I was born in Beirut, Lebanon. My grandfather was a farmer. One of my uncles also had a farm. I always loved math and had a constant desire to learn. I also wanted to attend a university.
My career in soil and water sciences didn’t really take shape until I was an undergraduate. It is all due to the power of teachers and mentoring, and it goes back to my first semester in college when I took a soil science class. The instructor took time to teach each lesson. I learned how it had practical application, and it was through that mentorship and others that I gained a love for this applied science.
That is a life lesson that I took to heart and have paid that support forward ever since. It is my goal to serve as a mentor for every student, rising faculty member or researcher who I encounter throughout my career.
Q: Where did you pursue your undergraduate and graduate degrees and in what fields?
A: I earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and a diploma in agricultural engineering from The American University of Beirut in Lebanon. I later obtained my master’s degree in soil sciences there. For my Ph.D. in soil chemistry, I attended Michigan State University on a full scholarship awarded by the non-profit Hariri Foundation-Lebanon.
Q: Tell us about your life at UF/IFAS?
A: I arrived at UF/IFAS in 2000 as an assistant professor of soil and water sciences where I conducted research and taught classes both at EREC and at Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center. I later became a professor and the distance education coordinator in the department of soil and water sciences.
I have been teaching classes in soil sciences, soil chemistry and environmental nutrient management as part of the undergraduate and graduate distance education programs. I also advise distance education students pursing non-thesis master’s degrees in the environmental science track at UF.
As a researcher, I focus on environmental issues related to soil and water quality. I specialize in the development and implementation of best management practices (BMPs) to reduce phosphorus leaching in soils and ultimately prevent it from entering surface waters in the Everglades in south Florida. A second research focus is on the sustainability of organic soils and agriculture in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). A third focus is on international development aimed on building individual and institutional capacity in India and Middle East in soil health and water resources.
I established a nationally recognized research and Extension program for the development of best management practices to improve water quality as part of a comprehensive effort for Everglades’ restoration in Florida. I offer in-person and online best management practices workshops and have always been committed to providing Extension and outreach activities to local area growers
I later became interim center director of EREC, until February this year when I was appointed as center director.
Q: You have conducted extensive international educational and research work. Tell us about it.
A: My journey in international research and education started when I was a postdoctoral fellow at Michigan State University with Dr. Joe Ritchie. I visited national and international research centers in Colombia, Brazil, Syria, Kenya and Hungary for collaboration and data acquisition to be used in crop modelling.
My international education experiences include teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate international students. I have mentored interns, visiting scholars and Borlaug fellows from Brazil, Honduras, Costa Rica, India and Iraq. The scholars were trained for laboratory and research techniques and introduced to sustainable practices in South Florida agriculture and water management. I have conducted research in India, as well as educational projects and capacity building workshops in India, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.
At UF/IFAS, I have always been interested in international research and educational projects to share and gain native knowledge into soil and water management and online learning. I have collaborated with Sandra Russo at the UF International Center on various educational projects in the Middle East. Effective mentoring is a big part of what I do for local and international scholars. I have always taken an approach to advising and mentoring that allows students and postdocs opportunities to strengthen their interpersonal skills and technical competence, while also developing leadership skills and confidence.
Q: What words of inspiration would you give to other women and girls as a mentor and leader in your field?
A: Education is key. Never stop learning. Lean on family, peers, educators and supporters to succeed. A support system is vital.
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. ifas.ufl.edu| @UF_IFAS
Bashir Abdi’s bronze medal in the marathon at the Olympic Games in Tokyo is a victory that will go down in the history books. He came to Belgium as a refugee from Somalia as a 13-year-old boy. Speaking after taking bronze in Tokyo, Bashir Adil told VRT Sport that “I always wanted to thank my new country by winning a medal”.
The scenes of Bashir Abdi being encouraged on by his best friend and training buddy, the Dutch athlete Abdi Nageeye, as they both reached the finishing line will be one of the enduring memories of this summer’s Tokyo Olympics. Bashir Abdi’s bronze medal was the first medal for Belgium in the Olympic marathon event since Karel Lismont’s medal 45 years ago.
A great sporting achievement for a man that is delighted to be able to give something back to a country that he came to as a teenage refugee and that he is proud to call home. “I always want to thank my new country by giving it a medal. At the European Championships I was successful and won silver and now I am on the podium at the Olympic Games. Hopefully more will follow in the future”.
But what about the past? Who is Bashir Abdi and how did he get to where he is? A couple of months ago Bashir Abdi was a guest in our nightly topical discussion programme ‘De Afspraak’. Then he said “I was 13 years old in 2002 when I arrived in Ghent (East Flanders) with my father, sister and brother. People know me from sport, my achievements as a runner, but few people know about my journey from Somalia to Belgium”. In an effort to change this Bashir’s Dutch teacher a book about his life.
“It was all new I didn’t speak the language; it was a completely different culture, and the weather was cold. First, I was in a football club because in Somalia the only sport on TV or in the paper is football. I didn’t even know that other sports existed. Then I come into contact with athletic and that was something that greatly appealed to me. Running on my own and forgetting about everything that I had gone through gave me so much fulfilment. Society has helped me”.
A key figure in Abdi story is his mother “It is thanks to her that I came to Belgium. She has recognition as a political refugee, and she initiated a family reunification procedure. It took years before I was reunited with her”.
Bashir Abdi’s mother died of cancer in 2011. In the interview he told of what her last words to him were “She call us together on the final day of her life and said, ‘this country has meant so much to all of you, be good people’. She was the one that always supported me being an athlete while the rest of the family felt that it was a waste of time”.
When he was asked by our colleague Phara de Aguirre if he would be running for his Mum on 8 August, Bashir Abdi said “Absolutley, I hope that she will be looking down watch my performance from up there”.
There were inspiring scenes as the winners of Arabian Business’ inaugural KSA Women Excellence Awards were revealed at a special ceremony, a glittering evening at the Riyadh Marriott on Mother’s Day with an audience of more than 150 attendees, the winners were revealed.
Before the winners were announced, a fireside chat with Arabian Business Editor in Chief Scott Armstrong heard from Mae Al Mozaini, CEO of nusf – The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment, who told the room: “What an exciting time it is to be a Saudi woman – we are the number one most educated women in the region and 10 in the world.”
Meanwhile, Hawazen Almaddah, Group Head of Corporate Communications at IFFCO Group, captivated the room with her ‘letter to her future self’.
Mae Al Mozaini, founder and CEO of The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment – Nusf
Secondly, Samar Alshorafa, who is the founding CEO of She is Arab.
And finally, Carla Sertin, ITP Group Editor, who leads brands such as Oil & Gas Middle East, Construction Week, Utilities Middle East, to name but a few.
Editor in Chief Scott Armstrong said: “The journey to today has been breathtaking, and if you plot the line graph for women into Saudi’s future, the potential is incredible.
“As the proud father of an irrepressible daughter and husband to an unstoppable wife, I’m delighted to be here in Riyadh to celebrate the achievements of inspiring women, especially on Mother’s Day here in the Gulf.”
The Winners:
Business – Woman of the Year
Highly Commended: Maria Medvedeva, Vice President, Mastercard, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Winner: Mona Althagafi, KSA Country Director with Serco.
Education – Woman of the Year category
Winner: Alia Albazie – Director of Special Education with the Tatweer Company
Business – Energy – Woman of the Year
Winner: Dr. Abeer Al-Olayan, General Director at the Ministry of Energy
Entrepreneurial – Woman of the Year
Highly Commended: Nour Al Hassan, the Founder and CEO of Tarjama
Winner: Sheikha Aldosary, founder and managing director of Saudi Women’s Stories
Finance – Woman of the Year
Winner: Tala Al Jabri
Government – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Reem AlSuwaiyel, Executive Director -Board of Directors General Secretariat at the Diriyah Gate Development Authority
Winner: Dur Essam Kattan, the Deputy Minister for Communications and Media at the Ministry of Culture (MoC), Saudi Arabia
Inspirational – Woman of the Year
Dr. Hibah Shata, owner of Maharat Learning
Linah Alhabeeb, the Associate Director for Human Capital Development at the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA)
Nouf Aljalaud, currently Customer Success Manager at SITA covering Border Management Service Management
Nouf Abdullah Al Rakan- Nouf founder Qiyadat Global
Law – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Tala AlJahlan who led the legal and compliance department during the Saudi G20 presidency
Winner: Nasreen Alissa of The Law Firm of Nasreen Alissa
Media – Woman of the Year
Winner: Ghada Alrumayan, group chief marketing and communications officer at the national community developer, ROSHN
Medical – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Dr Tamara Sunbul, Medical Director of Clinical Informatics with Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH)
Winner: Taghreed Alghaith of the National Health Economics and Policies at the Saudi Health Council (SHC)
Rising Star – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Albandari AlajlanDental Department Manager at Dallah Hospital
Winner: Abeer Algwaiz, Design Assistant Manager at the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA)
Science and Technology – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Maha Alnuhait, GM of Sustainability with stc
Winner: Dr. Noha Alharthi, Technology Lead at NEOM
Startup – Woman of the Year
Winner: Muzon Ashgar, Muzon Bodycare
Special Recognition – Woman of the Year
Special Recognition – Woman of the Year: Mae Al Mozaini (L), The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment
Highly commended: Samiha Ahmed of the Ireland- Saudi Arabia Business Council
Winner: Mae Al Mozaini, The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment
The Arab Fashion Council, a non-profit organization representing the fashion industry in the Middle East and North Africa, has named Dubai-based Tunisian model Ameni Esseibi as its new ambassador.
The announcement coincided with the launch of Arab Fashion Week, which includes 28 shows divided into three main programs, namely couture on Thursday and Friday, ready-to-wear from March 26 to 28, and events that will run throughout the five-day gathering.
Esseibi prides herself on being the Arab Fashion Council’s first-ever plus-size ambassador.
She said: “I feel proud. This is a huge step to acknowledge every woman, which is just the first milestone toward a new era for the fashion and retail industries to update the standards boldly and make them more inclusive for every woman. With my new title, I thrive on being a role model for self-confidence.”
The 24-year-old, considered the first plus-size model in the Middle East, is a staunch advocate for inclusivity and diversity in the fashion industry.
Esseibi’s new role marks the first time that the Arab Fashion Council has acknowledged a plus-size model as an envoy, a move it hopes will show its commitment to making a difference in the fashion industry when it comes to inclusivity and tolerance.
Mohammed Aqra, the Arab Fashion Council’s chief strategy officer, said: “It strategically encourages designers to take a step closer to include diverse profiles of the consumers, offering a wider choice for them at offline and online retail.
In addition to being a council ambassador, Esseibi has worked with a number of esteemed brands including Jean Paul Gautier and H&M and has featured in the pages of multiple publications including Vogue Arabia and Elle Arabia.
source/content: arabnews.com
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Ameni Esseibi prides herself on being the Arab Fashion Council’s first-ever plus-size ambassador. Supplied
Abdulaziz Fahad Al-Jouf is the founder and CEO of PayTabs, a payment processing company founded in Saudi Arabia in January 2014 and now based in Bahrain.
He graduated from Riyadh’s Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Islamic business and subsequently obtained a bachelor’s degree in information technology from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a master’s degree in e-business from the New York Institute of Technology.
PayTabs was founded in 2013 after Al-Jouf “faced problems finding a suitable payments gateway for one of his business startups … and figured there would be many others with the same issues.”
PayTabs was, according to Al-Jouf, “taken under the wing” of Saudi Aramco’s entrepreneurship scheme “Wa’ed” and made headlines in August 2017 when it raised $20 million investment from unnamed sources.
In 2018 PayTabs was recognized by Forbes Middle East as No. 1 among “the top 20 Fintech startups to watch.”
In the same year, Al-Jouf was featured on the cover of Arabian Business magazine, and PayTabs was named “Fintech Company of the Year” at the Arabian Business Achievement Awards.
Kuwait National Shooting team won a gold medal in the ISSF World Cup in Cyprus, said Kuwait Shooting Club.
The Kuwaiti team, represented by Talal Al-Terqi, Abdulrahman Al-Faihan and Nasser Al-Muqled, came first in the Trap competition after defeating both India and Poland who came second and third, raising the total number of medals to two golds and one silver, Kuwait Shooting Club’s Chairman Duaij Al- Otaibi said .
Kuwaiti shooter Talal Al-Terqi won also a bronze medal in the singles Trap competition in the same tournament, (KUNA)
source/content: arabtimesonline.com (edited)
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Kuwait National Shooting team celebrate after winning a gold medal in the ISSF World Cup in Cyprus
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has launched the world’s first Metaverse customer happiness service center at the Arab Health 2022, the first experience of its kind in a health exhibition in the world.
The step ushers in a new era of digital reality and human-computer interaction in government health care services, by enhancing the integration of the real, virtual and digital world.
The Ministry’s stand at the Arab Health being held at the Dubai Trade Centre from 24th to 27th January, will be a unique stage to showcase this unique technology and test the performance of virtual activities that provide real experiences in one of the most innovative and future initiatives launched by the ministry.
Although the full version of the MoHAP MetaHealth platform is expected to be launched by mid-2022, visitors to Arab Health 2022 will have the opportunity to instantly teleport into the world of MetaHealth and choose to speak with a real employee from the Customer Happiness Center in a must-try experience.
he new technology also provides an opportunity for customers to join the MetaHealth space and move from their current location to the Ministry’s virtual Customer Happiness Center, without actually crossing the distance between the two areas. Customers, then, can request information, submit documents, pay fees and more, with the actual faces of users being displayed in the virtual room instead of avatars.
The new service also provides a tangible solution for the people of determination who are unable to move physically from their homes to one of the Ministry’s customer happiness centers and finish their transactions smoothly.
Al Owais added, “Today, we are experiencing the world of “Metaverse”, with the launch of the world’s first virtual customer happiness center in the three-dimensional digital space, in the first experience of its kind, in preparation for a new and promising future health sector through Arab Health, one of the largest international exhibitions.”
The UAE health minister asserted that Virtual Reality technology will play a more important role in the future of the UAE during the next fifty years, especially in light of the development of advanced digital infrastructure, which is one of the best in the world.
“The flourishing of digital transformation in the government sector pushes us forward to continue achieving the goals and aspirations of the UAE to lead the artificial intelligence and virtual reality sector, which places the country in a perfect position to attract and use advanced technologies, especially Metaverse,” said Dr. Muhammad Salim Al Olama, Under-Secretary of the Ministry and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Health Services.
Tunisian-French film producer Tarak Ben Ammar has finalized a $37 million deal to purchase Studios de Paris, the production facility outside the French capital.
The studios are known for being home to Netflix shows such as “Emily in Paris” and “Murder Mystery 2” and blockbusters such as “Jackie,” “Lucy” and “Taken 2”.
The facility, which has nine sound stages, was placed under court protection a year ago for its debt which are being paid by the acquisition, reported Variety
The studios were co-founded by Ben Ammar, who co-owned them through his company Bleufontaine along with EuropaCorp, a French film and TV production and distribution company created by Luc Besson in 1999, Front Line, Europacorp’s holding company, and Euromedia, a live transmissions company.
Now, Ben Ammar has acquired the shares owned by all three other partners in a deal completed via Eagle Pictures France, a subsidiary of the producer’s Italy operation.
The studios will continue to “represent a center of excellence for the French film industry and be an attractive factor for the entire sector,” according to a statement released by EuropaCorp to investors.
source/content: arabnews.com
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The studios are known for being home to Netflix shows such as “Emily in Paris” and “Murder Mystery 2.” (Studio de Paris)
