arabia.com satisfies the craving

The latest agreement sees it partnering with Aldoukan to provide online access to the finest Lebanese products, ranging from quality foods and confectionaries to handcrafted arts and typical souvenirs.

"The addition of Aldoukan to our website provides yet another value added service to our users" said Ramzi Zeine, Chief Executive Officer of arabia.com. "Aldoukan guarantees to satisfy most product cravings for the Arabs living around the world. It can deliver a vast range of quality Lebanese products to users worldwide within 72hours", he continued.

Aldoukan joins the ever growing list of offerings that arabia.com has added to their portal recently. Zeine said, "We are pleased with the portals growth over the first half of 2002 and we still have a number of exciting announcements to follow in the fourth quarter of 2002. Internet penetration is growing steadily in the Arab world and arabia.com will continue to grow with it by offering a varied and relevant service to its users, whilst still remaining a fun and friendly online experience for Arabs on the web".

This year has seen the portal increase its strategic content and distribution partners to include some of the most sophisticated and advanced online services. As a result it continues to be the destination of choice for online Arab communities.

In the first 7months of this year arabia.com has upgraded its email system to offer a comprehensive user friendly email service, with several premium packages to fit the email needs of users; automated its content channels to allow for timely and constant updates of all information services; launched a new Internet directory powered by Ayna to provide access the largest bilingual online listing of websites; expanded its Cartoonopia section to feature 13 of the best Arab cartoonists; launched free Internet access in Egypt; and introduced prepaid Internet access in Saudi Arabia.

arabia.com has also forged many commercial partnerships. These agreements have seen the online shopping experience through arabia.com expand to include Jacky's (electronic/household goods and gifts), e-kotob (online bookstore), and Cityline (mobile logos and ring tones) as well as the recent Aldoukan.

Furthermore the arabia.com travel channel has also grown rapidly to become a comprehensive one-stop-shop for travel needs. New partners include DoMiddleEast (Middle East package holidays offering cultural, leisure, outdoor and weekend specials), Insites (worldwide holiday packages, hotel and car rentals services), and UflyOnline (worldwide flights and access to hotels). The arabia.com travel channel currently offers cash incentives for anyone booking online through the arabia.com website.

arabia.com continues to have its headquarters in Dubai Internet City (DIC) with the Chief Executive Officer and the Sales team based there. All other departments now run out of the existing office in Amman, Jordan - this team of 50 includes IT and Project Management, Content, Product Management, Marketing, Online Sales, User Support, Business Development and Administration departments.

"There are a number of benefits in now having the majority of our departments in Jordan" said Zeine. "Primarily the biggest advantage is the heightened levels of efficiency through having all portal development staff (front to back-end) combined with a strong bilingual team under the one roof. Naturally the lower operating costs that Jordan provides are also an added benefit" he continued.

"Our sales team continues to operate out of our DIC offices as it is important for us to stay close to our agencies and clients, servicing them out of this regional hub. arabia.com has been a leader in providing opportunities and cutting edge solutions for online advertisers and continues to work with agencies, their media houses and clients to offer online advertising and marketing experiences" Zeine said.