Business Club

The ever-growing gaming industry has been booming for several years now with a turnover in excess of over $33 trillion in 2020.It is worth noting that the mobile gaming industry has reached a turnover of over $74 billion in 2019.

Now the cryptocurrency market is set on a course towards carving a slice of the gaming industry. Introducing new technologies that enable gamers and game developers to capitalise with in-game content-based crypto-trading and supportive eco-systems.

Introducing cryptocurrency into the gaming industry is a new tendency that is gathering momentum due to the development of infrastructure technologies such as Non-Fungible Tokens based on Ethereum. 
Ethereum has introduced the Smart-Contracts infrastructure into the crypto-world, yet new emerging coin-based platforms are utilising the technologies that have now been proven reliable, thus providing a whole new set of finance trading capabilities. The years 2020 through 2021 will see the first large-scale platforms for in-game virtual goods and items which will be capitalised by means of Ethereum NFT technologies. As a consequence, the cryptocurrency and gaming industries will be incorporated into one block chain-based gaming industry.

Combining the human tendency for ownership with the long-existing custom of trading in a capitalistic digital universe constitutes the new finance frontier. A frontier that now attracts giant players into the NFT`s based crypto-capital market. Several large enterprises such as Microsoft`s Minecraft, Roblox`s Sandbox, Decentraland, Atari and Epic Games Unreal have already ventured into these promising financial opportunities.
For hundreds of millions of players that are already active in these digital gaming worlds, the benefits of NFTs could mean permanent ownership over their virtual goods and items. With the prospect of securing their virtual items by trading safely due to the incorporation of smart-contracts via dedicated platforms, this could obviously be the catalyst for further growth in an already vast market.

PlayFuel is an example of a platform that seems ahead of the curve by allowing game developers and gamers to exploit the robustness of these technologies. PlayFuel a Korean crypto-based company that introduced an Ethereum token (PLF) coupled with a comprehensive ecosystem for game developers as well as a dedicated marketplace. That not only allows game developers to build the next level in game-monetisation but also supports open-source platforms for game development such as Epic`s Unreal Engine. Thus, gamers can develop games on the open-source Unreal`s Engine with a profit revenue of up to $1 million with no commissions or strings attached. One should bear in mind that substantial in-game PLF`s NFT profits have no limits, thereby introducing a new element of utilisation to NFTs. Additionally, PlayFuel`s innovative marketplace offers yet another layer of monetisation to game developers.

PlayFuel`s PLF token shows real promise for catapulting the joined industries in the coming years. PlayFuel has also attracted some serious cryptocurrency market influencers such as Allen Weiss, former president of worldwide operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts business. Weiss was recently appointed as chairman at PlayFuel while acting as chairman for Global Blockchain Ventures& AppleSeed Companies Inc. His vast experience is bound to play a key role in PlayFuel`s meteoric rise.

To summarise, 2021 is just around the corner and we have now glimpsed into the future of the cryptocurrency market, and the future is crypto-gaming.

Young journalism graduates and members of Civil Society Organisations received training at the Jordan Media Institute, on Media and Information Literacy in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

This training took place in the framework of the MENA-OECD Governance Programme and the Jordan Citizens’ Voice Project, which has been organised through the support of the Foreign Federal Office of Germany.

A key objective of these efforts is to bring together young people, stakeholders from non-profits, government and academia to pool their expertise and collaborate to develop the tools on skills to increase media literacy across the country. “Such trainings are especially relevant given a rapidly evolving media landscape and changing ways of consuming and sharing information,” according to Michael Jelenic, OECD Policy Analyst who helped to organise the trainings.

During the training, a group of 44 youths were split into three groups over three weeks and supported with skills to identify disinformation and misinformation and be more critical and responsible consumers and producers of news and information.

The sessions also included ways to identify and fight hate speech, racism and bullying. As a key output of the training, participants were trained to produce content that disseminates MIL skills and concepts in different forms including photo essays, memes, and videos which would benefit their peers and organisations. The implementation of the training programme complements OECD’s engagement with the Government of Jordan to build capacities for youth-responsive policymaking through the “Youth in Public Life” project (2016-21), financially supported by the MENA Transition Fund of the G7 Deauville Partnership.

MENACOM Jordan — the leading marketing communications group in the Kingdom and throughout the MENA region — is pleased to announce that it has recently renewed its strategic partnership with the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, building on the group’s long-term commitment to supporting artistic and cultural institutions and endeavours across the Kingdom.

MENACOM Jordan’s support for the gallery is multifaceted, including both financial assistance and in-kind support through the provision of integrated marketing services and solutions. Commenting on the renewal of this partnership, the CEO of MENACOM Jordan Relja Jovic, said: “As a company operating in the creative sector, MENACOM has always assumed a proactive role in supporting and developing the local arts scene.

Beyond the commercial intersections of the arts and the marketing communications sector, we believe strongly in the invaluable role that art and creativity play in shaping a healthy, productive society.

By continuing to extend our financial and strategic support to the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, we at MENACOM Jordan hope to contribute to making the arts more accessible to individuals and communities across the Kingdom, which in turn will help further position Jordan as an important creative hub for the entire region.” Also speaking on the occasion, the Director General of the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts  Khalid Khreis said: “Our partnership with MENACOM Jordan is a perfect example of how long-term cooperation between the public and private sectors can add real value to the local artistic landscape, in a way that has both cultural and socioeconomic impact, enhancing the country’s creative economy while elevating the position of the arts in society.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to MENACOM for its continuous support of the gallery, allowing us to further our mission of promoting cultural awareness, preserving human heritage, and providing artists with the space and freedom to express themselves creatively.” The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts was established in 1980 by the Royal Society of Fine Arts, a private, non-profit association that aims to encourage cultural diversity, disseminate artistic knowledge, and promote contemporary art throughout Jordan, the MENA region, and the developing world. Since its inception, the National Gallery has organised numerous local and international exhibitions and continues to engage in a diverse array of culturally and artistically significant activities.

Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT), the preferred gateway for the Levant region and beyond, launched a direct electronic payment service on the “e-Fawateercom” platform under the category “Trade and Services”.

This service will allow customers to pay their bills online through either the “e-Fawateercom” website or the application, creating a more positive and convenient customer experience.

The service demonstrates the company’s continuous commitment to developing and improving safe, fast and reliable electronic practices on its ongoing digital transformation journey. Customers will be able to pay their bills for the services they receive by ACT through the “e-Fawateercom” application or website easily and at any time, without having to visit the company’s financial department.

This step comes as part of the company’s development and operational plans in accordance with international practices, which ensure the provision of the highest level of professional services to its customers, and operational excellence across all levels.

Attention struggles are one of the most common issues facing parents and educators today. Five regional experts have teamed up to discuss Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in a series of webinars between November 13 and 17. “ADHD is very common nowadays.

This is why we, at Mind Matters, believe in guiding parents and providing them with the knowledge they need to know how to help their children and themselves,” says Dina Halaseh, co-Founder of Mind Matters, organising this event with strategic media partners Family Flavours and Nakahat ‘Ailiyeh parenting magazines. Under the theme of Advancement Through Involvement and collaboration with Abu Dhabi-based Dots & Links, the webinars will focus on ADHD-related topics; from dispelling common myths to parenting tips.

“ADHD concerns many parents, which is why we have partnered with Mind Matters for this important virtual conference,” says Hind-Lara Mango, managing director and publisher of Al Marji’ Publications. She adds that “it’s our mission here at Family Flavours and Nakahat ‘Ailiyeh to empower parents and educators about subjects such as ADHD”. The webinars will give parents the opportunity to interact with professionals in the field. To register, visit facebook @midmattersjo

Beko, Europe’s leading home appliance brand, has developed hygiene shield, a ground-breaking portfolio of household products, created in response to emerging consumer needs in the post-lockdown era.

The new portfolio includes seven appliances with in-built disinfection programmes and functions to disinfect packaged food and belongings to help consumers adjust to the “new normal” at home.

Developed as a result of in-depth consumer research conducted across the globe and with innovative new technology, the hygiene shield product line has the power to kill more than 99 per cent of bacteria and viruses (including coronavirus), providing a level of reassurance unrivalled in the market place.

Beko’s consumer research, across 31 countries revealed that one of the primary concerns is hygiene. The line takes inspiration from nature and uses methods such as steam and heat to enable consumers to achieve excellent hygiene results at home.

In line with its social responsibility, Armada Group, represented by its CEO, Iraqi businessman and investor Ahmed Al Jibouri, signed a collaboration agreement with Tkiyet Um Ali to support its programmes.

Tkiyet Um Ali, an NGO, engaged in voluntary and charitable efforts,   works to eradicate and combat hunger throughout the Kingdom.

The one-year agreement seeks to empower underprivileged families through providing food parcels containing food items, for families living harsh conditions. Food parcels will be prepared and distributed according to public health standards, bearing in mind safety procedures, all of which are aligned with the packaging specifications of Tkiyet Um Ali, to deliver the parcels to beneficiary families on a monthly basis.

The agreement was signed by Al Jibouri, CEO of Armada Group, and Samer Balkar, director general of Tkiyet Um Ali, at a signing ceremony in Amman. 

Grand Hyatt Amman has announced its commitment to achieve Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the guidance of GBAC, a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, Grand Hyatt Amman will implement the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention in its facilities. As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation, GBAC STAR™ helps organisations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training and assesses a facility’s readiness for biorisk situations.

The programme will verify that Grand Hyatt Amman implements best practices to prepare for, respond to and recover from outbreaks and pandemics. Ashwini Kumar, the hotel’s general manager said: “We are committed to provide and uphold the highest standards of cleanliness for colleagues and guests in our hotel, which will focus on establishing an environment that is sanitary, safe and healthy.

By committing to GBAC STARTM accreditation, we intend to implement the strictest policies and practices in place, with regular internal and third party auditing.”“GBAC STAR accreditation empowers facility owners and managers to assure workers, customers and key stakeholders that they have proven systems in place to maintain clean and healthy environments,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. 

Personal loans have become a part of adulthood. There comes a time when you need a little bit of support to improve your quality of life, whether in personal or professional aspects. Personal loans allow us to get the financial boost we need at the moment. However, personal loans in the UAE are still an extensive subject, especially for expats. Here’s what you need to know about them.

Characteristics of personal loans in the UAE

First, we are going to discuss the nature of personal loans in UAE i.e., their most significant characteristics.

The primary characteristic of personal loans in the UAE is that they are unsecured by any collateral. This applies to personal loans to clients who aren’t salaried too. The term collateral refers to any economic resource of fundamental value, such as a house or car, which can be repossessed by a bank in case the client doesn’t stick to the arrangement.

Types of interest rate

A common mistake that people make when getting a personal loan is that they fail to get informed about interest rates. Sure, the whole subject is confusing to most people, but it's still crucial to learn as much as you can. Generally speaking, interest rates on personal loans in UAE are estimated in two ways:

• Flat rate – calculated on the principal amount of the loan throughout the said loan. The interest and payable sum are calculated at the beginning of the repayment schedule. This interest rate doesn’t change until the loan has been paid off, there are no surprises here
• Reducing the rate – calculated on the outstanding balance of the loan. Basically, this type of interest takes into consideration that after each installment, the principal amount reduces. That way, the interest percentage, which remains unchanged, is charged on the decreased amount every month. As a result, installments are different each month

Maximum amount

Every bank in UAE determines the maximum out of loan a client can get. Let’s say you are an expat and want to apply for a personal loan from a bank like First Abu Dhabi Bank, there you can immediately see that the maximum amount of loan is up to AED 2 million. On the other hand, if you're a UAE national and want a personal loan, then you may get up to AED 5 million. This is just an example to show that every bank has its own maximum amount of personal loan you can take. Of course, this is an important factor to consider when looking for personal loan. Get informed about maximum amounts and take into account your needs.

Minimum salary for a personal loan in the UAE

Minimum salary requirements for personal loans in UAE vary from one bank to another. Generally speaking, the minimum salary required to get a personal loan in UAE is between AED 3000 and AED 5000. It goes without saying that you should contact the bank and get informed about this requirement before you determine whether that’s the right place to get a loan or not. Compare personal loans from different banks to determine which ones meet your needs the most and choose the one whose minimum salary requirement is lower than your monthly remuneration.

Arrangement fee

The arrangement fee is defined as a fee charged by a bank for setting up a loan. In a nutshell, the fee is charged as soon as you take the loan, and it's included in the principal loan amount. The specifics differ from bank to bank, like everything else, though. Some banks may offer arrangement fees at 0% interest. In other banks, the arrangement fee for a personal loan of about AED 3000 is AED 1000. This is yet another important aspect you need to learn before you decide whether to get your personal loan.

Salary transfer

As you can already presume personal loan with salary transfer means you are required to switch bank accounts and start receiving your monthly salary in the bank from which you are seeking the loan. Why is salary transfer so important? From the bank’s perspective, a person who transfers a salary is considered less risky. As a result, the bank may offer loans at a lower rate. In fact, some banks don’t give personal loans to clients who won’t transfer their salaries.

Personal loan in UAE without salary transfer

Although most banks prefer giving their personal loans with salary transfer, it's entirely possible to get a loan without having to do that. But to get one such loan, without transferring salary, you do need to meet certain criteria. The criteria can be different for each bank, but in most cases, a client needs to be at least 21 years old. The maximum age to be eligible for one such loan is 60 for expats and 65 for UAE nationals. To apply for a personal loan without salary transfer, you need a steady source of income. Also, company listing is important here. Many banks don't give personal loans without salary transfer without company listing.

Company listing

In the section above, we mentioned the company listing briefly, yet another characteristic of UAE personal loans that you need to keep in mind. You'll probably see the term "company listing" everywhere, and it means that your company is pre-approved in that specific bank for various services and products ranging from credit cards to personal loans. Your chance of getting a personal loan in UAE is higher if your company is listed in the bank.

Personal loan in UAE without company listing

It's a lot easier to get a personal loan in UAE with company listing. But it's not impossible to get it without company listing either. Sure, it can be tricky to get one such loan, and you'll need to meet strict eligibility criteria set by the bank, but it's achievable. At the moment, only a few banks in UAE offer personal loans without company listing, but the times are changing as new organizations keep emerging on the scene.

Conclusion

Personal loans in UAE have a lot of characteristics that make them unique or, at least, a lot different than elsewhere. Before you determine where to get your loan, make sure to compare offerings from different banks. Opt for the option that meets your needs the most.

OPPO RENO4 launch created a noticeable buzz within the youth in the Jordanian society, as many Jordanian influencers supported and shared content using the RENO4. 

Users have been creating their own photography studios to show “clearly the best you”. OPPO mobiles are supporting 350,000,000 million people’s daily communications around the world. 

Available in 40 countries and regions OPPO mobiles are invading the Jordanian markets with a new mobile series the RENO4.

Mr Alex Miao, the General Manager of OPPO Levant, stated that he is “delighted to announce that our long-awaited OPPO RENO4 is now officially in stores! New device, new technology”.

The super slim RENO4 series is 172g, 7.6mm, coming in three different colours — Galactic blue, space black and stary night — is recognised to be a fashionable, creative and well known for its advanced technology. 

The OPPO RENO4 is booming within the Jordanian markets with new unique features to deliver a different user experience. These new cutting-edge technologies will empower creators to express their content in various ways.

This device is designed for those who are not afraid of changing the status quo, and are willing to explore the wonders behind the scenes yet to be found. 

The day is vibrant and the night is brighter. TikTOK lovers, chefs, singers and officers are now able to create beyond their boundaries using the new camera features, with ultra-clear night mode, as well as, cinematic mode, live HDR and steady video.

To support our ever-changing fast-paced lives, RENO 4 offers the VOC charge, which allows for a super charge, using very high speed to give a 50 per cent charge for the phone within 20 minutes. 

Furthermore, offering higher privacy and security, the device has the AI-enhance Smart Sensor. The sensor provides a new privacy experience, for sensitive information, to allow you to deliver real times with no privacy concerns.