Easy Taxi Reduces Roaming Time by 20% in Saudi

The Ministry of Transport in Saudi Arabia has issued a new law that forces taxi firms to install communication and tracking systems in their vehicles in order to reduce and eventually stop the roaming of cabs in the streets. 

Easy Taxi, the global taxi e-hailing service, has found that it increases efficiency of taxi drivers by 20% by reducing taxi roaming time in the streets when customers order taxis using the application.

The app allows customers to order a taxi to their location and track its progress, taking out the standing-around-and-waiting process usual to looking for a taxi. This in turn helps drivers find fares more efficiently, cutting out their need to hunt down a potential customer. Lesser unnecessary taxis on the road then leads to fewer traffic problems.

The law gives drivers 45 days to install the systems, after which taxi cabs will only be available by on-call.

Easy Taxi was founded in Brazil in 2011. It is now one of the world’s leading mobile taxi apps. Easy Taxi currently operates in 33 countries and 165 cities worldwide. Easy Taxi Middle East is currently operating in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan.

Building Opportunities in a $4trillion GCC Construction Sector

Demand and investment in infrastructure construction projects across the GCC continues to show robust growth as regional governments look to diversify economies away from their rich oil and energy sectors.

The Middle East is expected to spend over $4 trillion on infrastructure in the next decade, which means vast and significant opportunities for companies providing construction services, materials, equipment, logistics, man power and consultancy.

In this blog post, I’ve collated a snap shot of each GCC country’s strengths and opportunities in the construction sector, together with an overview of the largest projects currently underway and forecast. A breakdown of projects by sector is also highlighted.

UAE Strengths

• Government-supported infrastructure spending in transport and utilities will intensify as a means of diversifying the economy away from oil, in addition to keeping the population quiescent at a time of wider unrest.

• A clear regulatory environment and the governing of private investments in infrastructure create a favourable investment climate.

• State-owned utilities (ADEWA, DEWA) are willing to take on majority equity stakes in projects and provide government guarantees in a bid to attract investors.

UAE Opportunities

• The decline in cement and steel prices in the region reduces the cost of new projects.

• The construction industry remains one of the largest sectors in the UAE, after oil & gas, as the country tries to transform its oil-dependent economy by spending billions of dollars on its infrastructure and tourism sectors.

• Government willingness in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to allow private participation in infrastructure still appears high.

• The UAE is becoming a hub for renewables and green tech, with Masdar spearheading new ventures.

KSA Strengths

• Saudi Arabia has the largest construction sector in the Middle East. Alongside active government spending, efforts are also being made to increase private investment. Government-led activity boosted by oil windfalls is driving demand in the construction industry.

• The Ninth Development Plan for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia sets out plans to invest SAR 1,444bn (US$385bn) in social and economic infrastructure between 2010 and 2014.

• The total value of contracts issued in the Kingdom's construction sector grew by 50% year-on-year in H212 (following a 140% y-o-y increase in awards during 2011).

KSA Opportunities

• The number of ongoing mega-projects means that many multinational firms have a presence in the country.

• Increasing private investment should provide opportunities for large foreign contractors to increase their involvement in the country.

• As other construction industries in the Gulf stagnate, construction companies look to Saudi Arabia for opportunities.

• Saudi Arabia remains a 'construction safe heaven' amid both wider political and financial turmoil.

Qatar Strengths

• Construction of large-scale transport infrastructure projects is under way - a move that will ease the strain on existing infrastructure.

• A number of international companies operate in the country, which is open to international private sector involvement.

Qatar Opportunities

• Qatar is developing its non-oil sector, thereby supporting infrastructure development.

• Hosting the FIFA 2022 World Cup should yield considerable contracts across the construction and infrastructure sectors.

Kuwait Strengths

• With large oil reserves, Kuwait has a significant cushion to weather economic difficulties.

• The country has been generating surpluses for a number of years, meaning it has financing available for large projects.

• USD 12.6bn infrastructure investment will further boost development and growth.

• Tighter integration with neighboring states makes Kuwait a more enticing investment prospect.

• Kuwait has a strong country structure and Kuwaiti firms have considerable infrastructure and construction expertise.

Kuwait Opportunities

• The tight integration of infrastructure development between Gulf states throughout the GCC provides opportunities for Kuwaiti firms to win contracts in the region.

• The Al-Zour refinery project appears to be back on track, offering opportunities for both energy infrastructure and wider construction projects.

• The government's continuing support for infrastructure stimulus provides opportunities for developments. Improvements in power and transmission systems are particularly beneficial for sustained growth.

Oman Strengths

The government’s strategy to diversify away from oil is well under way and is helping to drive infrastructure and tourism development.

• The government is keen to attract the private sector, including foreign companies, and has a strong market orientation.

Oman Opportunities

• Growing tourism and transport infrastructure offer opportunities for developers and new business in the country.

• Diversification of the economy will lead to a number of construction contracts and investment into accompanying infrastructure.

Telly And Saudi Arabia’s Telfaz 11 Team Up To Bring Online Entertainment Across MENA

As part of its vision to become the leading premium content provider and streaming service in the Middle East, Telly teamed up with Telfaz 11, Saudi Arabia’s primary Internet television network, to deliver online video entertainment to its subscribers across the region.

As part of the agreement, Telfaz 11 fans will be first to enjoy episodes of their most-loved Telfaz 11 shows such as, Temsa7LY, Khambala and La Yekthar when they subscribe to Telly service, before it is published on YouTube or anywhere else. Once they become Telly subscribers, users will also have access to Telly’s most comprehensive library of multi-lingual Movies and TV Shows in the region.

In addition to content from Telfaz 11, Telly has local content in Arabic and films from Sony, Miramax, Lionsgate, Weinstein Co. and other features licensed through third-party distributors for the Middle East and Africa region. In addition, the Telly service provides Arabic subtitling for films.