Dubai to host first Middle East Verge Digital Summit

The Summit will be hosted by the Memac Ogilvy & Mather MENA Group and OgilvyOne Worldwide,

This will be the 15th Verge to be held around the world. The event is so-called because the hosts believe that the region is on the verge of a sea-change in consumers' interaction with brands. This is as a result of the accelerating introduction of more and more of the latest flexible digital technology. Indeed, the UAE has the highest Internet penetration in the region, with over 35% of the population, this compares to a Middle East average of 10% and a USA average of 13%.

The event lasts all day, includes lunch, is by invitation only and will be for a maximum of 100 businesspeople, plus those media interested in the digital world and its impact on changing future business across the region.

This exclusive event will bring together experts from the fields of marketing, branding, content, media distribution, interactive, broadcasting and digital technology. In addition, it will examine how new technologies, platforms and applications are also "on the verge" of revolutionizing the communications industry through advertising, direct marketing and interactive marketing in MENA. The summit will provide insights into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, especially within the 2007/8 timeframe in the Middle East.

Speakers will include:
Ahmed Nassef, Vice-President of the Maktoob Group and General Manager of maktoob.com; Russell Merryman, Editor in Chief, Al Jazeera; and Ziad Khammar General Manager of AMEInfo.com.

Edmond Moutran, Chairman and CEO of the Memac Ogilvy & Mather MENA Group, commented:
" Memac Ogilvy has long been a pioneer in the Middle East, re-inventing the way we connect clients' brands with their consumers. To do this, we must have a deep understanding of our consumers and Verge is the latest manifestation of this approach."

James Duthie, CEO of OgilvyOne Middle East, added:
"For years, we have been hearing that consumers and marketeers alike are not ready to embrace digital media. This is nonsense. The tipping-point has been reached and consumers are now empowered to connect with brands where they want, when they want and how they want. Verge will help us all explore this paradigm shift."