The cyber highway to Dubai

Published August 18, 2008

Many in the global business community are very curious to discover the charm of Dubai, and what it is about its business community that works so well. The outside world wants to know who these people are, how they run their projects, and what they do exactly that is so grand.

While the rest of the world looks in, a recent report on the analysis of the tens of thousands of website listing of Dubai and UAE businesses evaluates three key factors that will eventually construct the cyber highways of Dubai.

First, despite all the fast paced success without giving away any business secrets, it is not uncommon for many thousands of Dubai websites to be very simple and elementary in their layout, information and functionality.

A majority relies on basic templates with animations and movements that often overshadow the main company objectives. Furthermore, these types of sites rarely work, as repeat visits erases the novelty, turning off consumers. Almost a decade ago, these models were commonplace in North America, but the rapidly changing market forced them to adopt advanced website designs that would better inform consumers.

While there are very well-designed websites, there are still thousands of business projects with no website at all. This analysis points to the need of information-rich websites that cater to the international market, and spark global interest while appealing to their specific curiosities.

Without a doubt, every business around the globe is keenly interested in Dubai. Each has a different goal, ranging from joint business ventures to exchange ideas and from trade and barter to moving the regional headquarters of even the head office to this wonderful place in the desert. The intensity and sheer volume of companies hovering from every corner of the globe is at a frantic, record-breaking pace.

In response, there are some extraordinary measures constantly being taken to accommodate foreign interest, and there are hundreds of organisations and agencies running around, helping foreign businesses set up shop in the booming region.

To take full advantage of this global attention, all businesses must have a precise plan to equip their websites with an intuitive, highly functional, inviting and rewarding website to assist potential customers, offer them in-depth information and leave a lasting impression that will make sure they return.

Inbound and outbound marketing is the newest and fastest way to conduct national image branding. Although it is still cyber-branding based, the latest tools create interesting offers and high quality contents, resulting into new products and services in this expanding arena.

The information and business accessibility grid is achieved by having just about every single organisation with a highly-organised and accessible data outline for easy access. Last century, the publishing of business trade directories and industrial reference data assisted the West greatly in conducting transactions, representing what was the backbone of the grassroots economy.

There are huge and untapped opportunities in this area across Arabia, while UAE is taking the lead on all fronts. The online marketing culture is shooting up, and corporations realise that e-mail marketing is one of the best ways to communicate.

Manish Gupta, a marketing and IT expert, says “I have customers all over the world, looking to get trade information about UAE, and they want quick and easy lists of potential customers.” Says Manish. “We sell all kinds of databases with detailed information so they may target their market quickly.”

Today, the cyber-accessibility of business information is the most critical thing that would assist in global trade and alliances, and it is always the ease and processing of interactive-vertical-trade-database accessibility that encourages the grassroots SME boom.

While most global records are routinely broken in UAE, the global business community must take a closer look at new processes being implemented in these regions today.

Like a critical part of image building and national branding, Dubai businesses and leadership must also make cyber branding and online marketing a priority.

Opinion

Editorial

Solidarity with Palestine
Updated 29 Nov, 2024

Solidarity with Palestine

The wretched of the earth see in the Palestinian struggle against Israel a mirror of themselves.
Little relief for public
29 Nov, 2024

Little relief for public

INFLATION, the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services over a given period of time, has receded...
Right to education
29 Nov, 2024

Right to education

IT is troubling to learn that over 16,500 students of the University of Karachi (KU) have defaulted on fee payments...
A hasty retreat
Updated 28 Nov, 2024

A hasty retreat

Govt should not extend its campaign of violence against PTI and its leaders, thinking it now has the upper hand. Enough is enough.
Lebanon truce
28 Nov, 2024

Lebanon truce

WILL it hold? That is the question many in the Middle East and beyond will be asking after a 60-day ceasefire ...
MDR anomaly removed
28 Nov, 2024

MDR anomaly removed

THE State Bank’s decision to remove its minimum deposit rate requirement for conventional banks on deposits from...