About AME Info

Introduction

AME Info is a leading provider of online business information in and about the Middle East region under the title "AME Info - The ultimate Middle East business resource" (AME Info). Currently carrying some 98,520 news articles, 3,387 upcoming events as well as covering contact and activity details of 300,286 companies from 14 countries, including:

Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

AME Info was initially Arabian Modern Equipment Est., incorporated in Abu Dhabi, February 1993 by Saif Al-Suwaidi and Klaus Lovgreen. The first version of the AME Info CD-ROM database of 125,000 companies was developed and compiled late 1996 and sold some 10,000 copies.
Lars B. Nielsen joined the company as shareholder and in charge of sales mid of 1996.

In 1997, major sponsors like Shell Markets Middle East and UPS allowed the concept to expand dramatically and the 1998 edition of AME Info reached a free circulation of more than 180,000 copies (20,000 were distributed in a branded version through Shell in the Middle East magazine).

Following the success of the 1998 edition, more branded versions were produced for Shell Markets Middle East, Batelco, Orbit Television and Radio Network and Intel. The circulation in 1999 topped out at some 250,000 free copies distributed through direct mail and reputed magazines like Shell in the Middle East, Gulf Marketing review, The Middle East and Windows User Magazine.

In 1999 the company shifted from the CD-ROM platform to the Internet and added content such as company news and current events to the services. In the autumn of 2000 the company added a journalistic touch to the content portfolio and launched AME Info FN headed by Peter Cooper - concentrating on the financial markets and economics in the region. In November 2000 AME Info was awarded "Best Commercial Services Site" by Visa International and Arabian Business.

A number of professional contributors across the region has since joined the site with a large variety of vertical content columns including topics such as e-business, environment, education, defence and currency commentary among others.

In May 2001 the company was re-structured and AME Info FZ LLC was established in Dubai Media City as a limited liability company.

In May 2002 AME Info entered into a marketing tie-up with CNN International. Under the agreement the two organizations will respectively promote each others' services online and on air. The agreement was extended to include all of 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 ensuring daily exposure for AME Info on global CNN International and constant presence for CNN on AME Info.

Early 2003 the company entered into producing broadband content headed by Lisa Creffield and the site features a large selection of unique video productions covering various events and interviews with business executives across the region.

In March 2005, HSBC Private Equity Middle East Ltd. acquired a significant equity stake in AME Info FZ LLC to provide a strong institutional platform for the company's further growth in the region.

In May 2005, AME Info was awarded Superbrand Status following a strict selection process by the United Arab Emirates Superbrands Council.

Superbrands is the independent arbiter on branding. The organisation promotes the discipline of branding and pays tribute to exceptional brands. Superbrands programmes operate in over 40 countries. Superbrand status is awarded by an independent judging panel of experts.

Also in May 2005, AME Info was awarded Webby Worthy. Hailed as the "Online Oscars" by Time Magazine, The Webby Awards is the leading international honors for web sites. Webby Worthy selections are chosen by the International Academy of the Digital Arts and Sciences, a 500+ member body of leading web experts, business figures, luminaries, visionaries and creative celebrities.

In May 2006 AME Info picked up the Middle East Print and Electronic Media of the Year (Business Portal) award. The awards, organised by the Middle East Excellence Awards Institute, are to highlight the best examples of ICT planning and implementation by business and government organisations from the Middle East.

AME Info was presented with the award for its role as a media organization and its track record in service, providing strong daily news coverage, live updates, commercial opportunities, and interactivity.

In July 2006, London-based Emap plc (EMA.L) announced that Emap Communications, its business-to-business (B2B) division, has acquired AME Info. The acquisition will strengthen Emap?s portfolio of news and information services and will form an important part of Emap?s growing Middle East business which includes MEED (Middle East Economic Digest), the region?s leading business publication.

For information about all Emap magazines, radio, TV, events and digital brands, please visit www.emap.com

Emap plc, Company number: 435820 (England)
Registered Office: 40 Bernard Street, London WC1N 1LW

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10-year online anniversary

On Tuesday March 28th 2006 AME Info celebrated 10 years online during an extended monthly Networking event. The celebration took place at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi at the Dhow.

Our customers

By keeping our users' needs at the forefront of all that we do, we seek continuous improvement through development based on our customers' expectations and requirements.

Our dedicated focus on Middle East business and financial information has earned us an enviable and expanding regional customer base including:

3M, Acer Computers, Air France, American Express, AMD, Aramex, Audi, Bank of Ireland, Barclays International, BBC, Blue Coat Systems, BMC Software, BMW, British Airways, Canon, Chevron, Cisco Systems, Citibank, CNN International, Cognos, Computer Associates, Credit Suisse, DaimlerChrysler, Davidoff, DHL, Diners Club, DIFC, Emirates Airline, EPSON, Etisalat, EuroFinance, Ford, Fujitsu-Siemens Computers, FXCM, General Motors, Global Investment House, Gulf Air, Hewlett-Packard, Hilton, HSBC, IBM, ICICI, IIR, Intel Corporation, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Jaguar, JW Marriott, KLM, Land Rover, Lexus, LG Electronics, Lufthansa, MEED, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, Oracle, Philips, Qatar Airways, Radisson SAS, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Saudi Telecom, Samsung, SAP Arabia, SAXO Bank, Shell, Siemens, Sixt, Sony, SonyEricsson, Standard Chartered Bank, Sun Microsystems, Symantec, SWISS, Tejari, Toshiba, VERITAS, Visa International, Volvo and WWF.

Social and environmental support activities

AME Info is hosting a monthly Networking event for business leaders across industries in the region with the sole purpose of enhancing the communication and bringing people together. The initiative was launched  in May 2002 and takes place every last Tuesday of each month.

AME Info is a supporter of Zayed University's initiative to engage and encourage young entrepreneurs. The objective of the 'e-biz challenge' is to identify and recognize future talent, the e-entrepreneurs of tomorrow, in the process linking e-innovative business ideas to national resources.

AME Info is a WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) corporate member. The WWF is the world's largest environmental protection organization. Five million members in over 100 countries through the world support the WWF's activities. AME Info and WWF provide companies and business executives throughout the region with timely information about the importance of preserving the environment in the world - with focus on the region. A number of joint activities are conducted to further enhance the awareness of WWF's activites in the Arab world.

Official affiliations

AME Info is an Affiliate Member of the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA), the Dubai Media City-registered industry association established in 2001 to represent the interests of the Middle East's public relations industry.

AME Info is a member of the UAE Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA). The IAA is the only global partnership of advertisers, agencies, the media and related services.

Technologies and standards

AME Info is using 24/7 Real Media's Open AdStream, the ABCe audited leading dynamic advertising management and delivery solution, to manage and control our Internet advertising business. Open AdStream continuously monitors advertising delivery in order to maintain reliability, accuracy and optimal performance while targeting and delivering campaigns to precise geographic and anonymous data.


In January 2005 AME Info became member of World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The mission of the W3C is to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing common protocols that promote its evolution and ensure its interoperability. AME Info joined W3C to show commitment to open standards in a drive to make the Web accessible for all.


The Audit Bureau of Circulations, ABC ELECTRONIC and the IFABC stand for independence, truth, and transparency. These organisations employ strict audit standards ensuring the highest possible levels of data integrity and reliability. ABC ELECTRONIC ensures that the procedures used by its subscribers in the preparation of data for audit conform to the latest internationally-agreed industry standards. AME Info was the first website in the Middle East to achieve ABC certification. View audit summary


AME Info FZ LLC is a certified licensee of the TRUSTe? Privacy Seal Program. The privacy statement and practices of www.ameinfo.com have been reviewed by TRUSTe for compliance with their strict program requirements.

The TRUSTe program is consistent with government and industry guidelines concerning the use of your personal information. These standards include the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines on the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data, the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Commerce's Fair Information Practices, the California Online Privacy Protection Act, and the CAN-SPAM Act.