Basel Holding, an investment holding company based out of Europe providing technology solutions all around the world, announced today that it had recently implemented new-generation self-service kiosks known as “Smart Tellers” in the UAE.

The machines offer a wide range of public services such as vehicle registration renewal, fines enquiry and payments as well as replacing a lost or damaged driving license; procedures that would normally require a lot of time.

“We have been providing world-class solutions throughout the world, and we are very proud to have been involved in the delivery of a truly innovative solution to the residents of the UAE, in association with MLT,” states Burak Basel, CEO, Basel Holding.

The “Smart Teller” kiosks are manufactured within the framework of JOVA UAE, a joint venture consisting of Basel Holding and Multi Level Technology (MLT), an Abu Dhabi-based full-service payment solutions provider.

“We expect to implement at least 1,000 Smart Tellers in the UAE alone over the next two years as the UAE is leading the way in the adoption of smart technology,” adds Basel.
 
The “Smart Teller” kiosks are fully equipped with a passport/ID reader, document scanner, cheque scanner, fingerprint capturer, A4 printing capability, NFC (Near Field Communication), plate number sticker printer, an electronic signature feature and a drop-box for document submission.
 
The built-in ID and QR code readers enable a connection between the smart app and the kiosk so people can apply online and receive the services physically from the nearest kiosk without having to go to various government offices in person. That way, all public services that were previously only available over the counter are now being offered to people at their fingertips.
 
In practical terms, what this means, for instance, is that through the 'Emirates Vehicle Gate' (EVG) service people can now request an insurance quotation and pay for the insurance policy prior to vehicle renewal and registration. They can also receive services related to driver licensing and vehicles licensing, as well as parking services and other government services.
 
Designed to cater for the various nationalities living and working in the UAE, the user interface is currently available in four different languages - Arabic, English, Urdu and Malayalam - with plans to add additional languages soon.
 
The kiosks accept credit and debit card payments, as well as cash payment in banknotes and coins. In addition, they are also user-friendly for people of determination.
 
The state-of-the-art kiosks are currently being set up at a wide range of locations throughout Dubai including the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Headquarters, affiliated Customer Happiness Centers as well as some of the malls in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. The aim is to gradually expand and consolidate all government services into one device to help save time, offer convenience and boost overall customer satisfaction.
 
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About Basel Holding
Basel Holding was founded by Cypriot entrepreneur and investor Burak Basel, as an investment holding company providing high tech solutions and investing in technology around the world. Our top management has been working together for over a decade. We are a big family of seasoned IT people with a mastery over this industry. Our team has gained its experience by benefitting from relations, attracting partnerships and then establishing enterprises that are worth billions of dollars. We are active partners who do all we can for our companies. For further information, please visit http://www.baselholding.com/

About Jova Digital
Jova Digital delivers all-encompassing turn-key revenue management products and solutions for the banking and finance industry, state institutions, and small- to mid-sized businesses across the globe. Focused on financial technology and robust digital infrastructure, Jova Digital is your complete EMV certified, end-to-end payment service provider. With over 20 years of experience in the information and communication technology sector, we stay at the cutting edge of what’s possible, pushing boundaries to offer our clients a service experience that is intelligent, simple and seamless. We’re dedicated to providing customer-oriented technological products and solutions with a multi-level approach and maximum cost efficiency, and as such, have partnered with some of the world’s most innovative and leading companies, including Microsoft and HP. For further information, please visit https://jovadigital.com/

Ethos Integrated Solutions, the region’s leading provider in delivering Customer Service Solutions, will host the 6th annual Service Olympian Awards in Dubai on Monday. The event, which will be held at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai, is set to attract business leaders and decision makers from both the Public and Private sectors.

Robert Keay, Chief Executive Officer, Ethos Integrated Solutions, explains, “The Service Olympian Awards program was developed by The International Customer Service Institute to recognize organizations that implement successful customer service strategies. It is designed to reward and recognize Public and Private sector organizations that deliver service excellence around the world.”

Ethos Integrated Solutions is the regional partner for The International Customer Service Institute (TICSI) with exclusive implementation rights for all the TICSI Solutions throughout the MENA Region.

“Our ultimate goal is to make the UAE a source of best customer experience management and practices with regard to improving services,” highlights Keay.

An independent judging panel consisting of industry experts, business leaders and academics from around the world assess the entries against The International Standard for Service Excellence (TISSE2012) as part of the judging process each year.

Some of this year’s award categories include Best Customer Engagement, Best Customer Experience Journey Maps, Best Customer Experience Smart App, Best Customer Experience Strategy, Best Customer Happiness Program, Best Customer Loyalty, Best Employee Engagement, Best Employee Happiness Program, Best Employee Learning Scheme, Best Service Center, Best Service Innovation, Best Smart Service Transformation Initiative, Best Social Media Customer Experience, Best Use of Technologies to benefit customers among others.

The Bank Benchmarking Index Awards
During the evening, Ethos Integrated Solutions will also be presenting The Bank Benchmarking Index Awards with categories including Overall Best Bank, Best Branches, Best Website, Best Call Centre, Best Mobile App, Best Engaged Social Media, Best Live Chat Performance, Best Innovation, Most Improved Branches, Most Improved Call Centre and Most Improved Website.
 
“We introduced the annual Banks Benchmarking Index study back in 2005 with the aim of providing the retail banking industry with a methodology of benchmarking their products and services against the competition to drive continuous improvement and today, the study has developed into a strategic benchmarking tool and has enabled banks to dramatically improve their service provision,” adds Keay.
 
Ethos Integrated Solution’s annual Customer Experience Benchmarking Index has matured into one of the UAE’s most anticipated reports in the retail banking industry. This year the study was more customer focused covering mystery shopping of the bank’s distribution channels to evaluating service provision and customer satisfaction.
 
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About Service Olympian Award
For further information about the Service Olympian Award, please visit http://www.serviceolympian.com
 
About Ethos Integrated Solutions
For further information about Ethos Integrated Solutions, please visit www.ethosplc.com

Tortellini, a new Italian restaurant, has opened its doors in Blue Bay Tower, Business Bay. The restaurant is inspired by the streets of the gastronomical capital of Italy, Bologna.
 
The interiors will leave you mesmerized by the attention to detail before you get your hands on the extensive menu which will leave you spoiled for choice as you browse through the traditional Italian appetizers, pasta, authentic pizza, selection of meat, seafood and much more.
 
The concept is the creation of Amany and Khaled, a married couple who are Interior Designers by profession. The idea was ignited when they had to travel to Bologna, Italy, to attend a trade show.
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“It was that one night when we returned to our hotel after a long day and all the restaurants were closed. We luckily met one of the Chefs in the lobby and after a long chat, he agreed to open his kitchen and prepare for us a local dish, Tortellini, which we absolutely fell in love with,” recalls Amany.
 
Tortellini is a traditional ring-shaped pasta that originates from Bologna. It is usually filled with meat or cheese, spices and herbs. It is often served in broth, rather like little dumplings, but it can also be prepared with cream and butter, tomato sauce or even with pesto sauce.
 
The casual dining restaurant is located in Blue Bay Tower (next to Steigenberger Hotel), Business Bay, and is open daily from 11:00 AM – 01:00 AM. For table bookings or further information, customers can call 054 – 444 0303 or visit https://www.facebook.com/TortelliniDubai/
 
Visit Tortellini today and take a stroll down the streets of Bologna! Buon Appetito!
 

MTS Globe currently operates out of 65 destination offices in 15 countries, serviced 5 million passengers in 2016 and had a 600 million Euro turnover. A total of 900 employees work for MTS Globe.

According to Michael Frey and Francisco Girona, CEOs of OTS and MTS Globe, with this purchase MTS Globe accelerates its growth in the region. They go on to explain, “As the UAE, Oman and Qatar are fast growing destinations with great connections both for business and leisure clients, we are very pleased to work as partners. Last year, we started our cooperation with Desert Gate and now as shareholder, we will extend our offer of co-branded DMC services with our MTS Globe brand, as well as hotel trading through OTS Globe. Our intention is to use Dubai as a destination hub and swiftly enhance and increase our footprint throughout the Middle East and Asia.”    

Samir Tabbah CEO of Desert Gate continues “Our joint strategy was and is to work as partners with our suppliers, clients and create sustainable long term relationships. The momentum is here. Coupling our access to the Middle East and 25 years in the region with the 50 years of experience of MTS Globe in Europe creates a strong synergy that can add tremendous value to our hoteliers, tour operators and most of all to our guests. With this partnership, Samir Tabbah also becomes an official member of the MTS Globe Partner Network and shareholder in the OTS Holding.
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Desert Gate and MTS Globe will be exhibiting at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai this week and key executives will be available for comment.
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About the MTS Globe Group:

MTS Globe is the biggest privately owned incoming company in Europe.  Founded in 1968, it serves over 5 million clients with 23 million overnights. Its core business is to support tour operators offering customized high-quality destination services which are then packaged and marketed by MTS’s customers.
 
OTS Globe is a leading provider of leisure trading services that offers partial or complete handling of contracting and product management functions for tour operator clients, combined with advanced technological solutions. The OTS Globe portfolio contains +/- 10.000 available hotels for online transactions.
 
Axis Data is an international enterprise with emphasis on the development and implementation of data processing systems for tourism. Axis Data develops software solutions for incoming agencies, focused on efficient booking management & production and it maintains hardware infrastructures for online reservation.
 
About Desert Gate:

Desert Gate, founded in 2004, is a full service Premium DMC serving the 7 Emirates, Oman and Qatar. With offices in Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Muscat (Oman), the company and its 158 experienced team members serve travel partners from Europe, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, CIS, the GCC as well as North and South America. In all its operating destinations, the company offers hotel contracting, excursions, transfers as well as more bespoke package and tailor-made programmes, all accessible and bookable by its superior technology and online systems.

​The BEEhive, Dubai’s newest edutainment play-area for children, opened its doors along the shores of The Dubai Canal in Business Bay last week. The concept is the brainchild of Mumpreneur, Shahdan ElKhatib; a mother to three children.
 
The idea of the BEEhive was ignited when Shahdan realized that more and more parents are getting frustrated from the current generation’s addiction to technology, gaming and tablets. She was quick to identify a gap and the need of developing a concept to aid children’s motor skills and cognitive skills development.
 
“The concept was inspired from the fascinating beehive hard-working productive structure; where bees go through different developmental stages, and each stage dictates their role in the hive”, explains ElKhatib.
 
The BEEhive is themed to consist of many independent hives; each of different interactive activities covering Science, Music, Art and Crafts among others that allow children to explore, learn, break out of their social shell and uncover their hidden talents while acquiring new skills.                                                                                         
“We provide an environment that promotes creativity, cognitive development and exploratory play that allows children to de-tach from their virtual worlds and get more connected to their surroundings”, adds ElKhatib. The BEEhive will also be hosting regular interactive workshops for children.
 
Play Rates at THE BEEhive start from just AED 45 per hour while a full day pass costs just AED 95. Monthly and annual membership packages are also available.
 
Furthermore, children can celebrate their birthday at The BEEhive’s dedicated party hall which promises a memorable celebration inclusive of a healthy catering menu and plenty of entertainment options.
 
The BEEhive caters to children from 1 to 12 years old and is located on the Ground Floor of Blue Bay Tower (next to Steigenberger Hotel) in Business Bay. For further information, please contact 04- 431 0347.

Crepe Delicious, Canada’s largest and fastest growing mall-based creperie, is pleased to announce the opening of its first location in the UAE. Located in Dalma Mall, one of the largest shopping centers in Abu Dhabi, Crepe Delicious offers an impressive menu.
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The menu boasts a wide range of signature sweet and savoury crepes including the popular “Brownie Bites” crepe that is made of freshly baked brownie pieces, topped with three different types of the finest Belgian chocolate and served with fresh strawberries on the side. The ‘Lotus Crepe’ made with Lotus spread, crunched Lotus biscuits and chocolate is also very popular. The ‘Cordon Bleu’ savory crepe is made of smoked turkey, diced chicken breast, rocca leaves, tomato and mozzarella cheese.

Other healthy dining options include fresh salads, sandwiches and even pastas that are showcased along with a selection of fresh juices, mojitos, ice-cold beverages and hot beverages. A wide selection of handcrafted gelato flavors are also available.

According to Mr. Nasser Al Darmaki, Chief Executive Officer, Challenge Investment LLC; the Master Franchisee for Crepe Delicious UAE, “We are absolutely delighted to introduce Crepe Delicious to the UAE. It is a great concept that specializes in the creation of world-class sweet and savoury crepes. The company is a leader in the trend towards healthier eating and this is what consumers are looking for today.”

Crepe Delicious uses only the finest and freshest ingredients to fill its signature, fresh to order crepes. The crepe itself has only 130 calories and 3.5 grams of fat; and it can be filled with endless possibilities of nutritious choices including fruits and vegetables, the finest dressings and sauces, and premium lean meats.

Elik Farin, Crepe Delicious Vice President of Business Development and Franchising. “We feel Crepe Delicious’ value proposition will resonate well with guests across the UAE. As an upscale lifestyle alternative to conventional fast food, our concept combines the traditional sit down service with the grab-and-go enjoyment; in addition, we will offer regional menu items to cater to local tastes”.
 
Craving a Crepe? Visit Crepe Delicious Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi and enjoy a fresh one off the warm griddle, it’s like no crepe you’ve ever tried before! ‘What’s in your Crepe?’

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Tape Events, the premier event management company in the GCC, announced today a unique theatrical experience, Cirque Le Noir, is on its way to the region. The sold-out world tour cirque will be performing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the first time ever this March.
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“We are absolutely delighted to bring Cirque Le Noir to the region. It is an electrifying show for the whole family that has thrilled audiences all around the world. It is visually spectacular, breathtaking and it will definitely leave you mesmerized,” reveals Tareq Abuissa, Chief Executive Officer, Tape Events.
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Le Noir, the dark side of the cirque, features over 20 of the greatest acts on earth including spinning metal wheels, acrobatic stunts 30 ft. high, jaw-dropping spins on roller-skates and the Columbian Wheel of Death, performed in a remarkable 360-degree custom-built stage setting, bringing the audience closer to performers like never before.
 
The Colombian Wheel of Death is cited as one of the most complex circus stunts in the world; seeing two acrobats perform high-risk feats atop and inside a pair of spinning wheels rotating high above the stage.
 
World-class acrobats, musicians, specialty acts and comedians are the centerpiece of this cutting edge production.
 
“The performers comprise of award-winning athletes. Guided by impeccable spatial awareness, balance and stamina, each performer contributes to the unreal atmosphere as they glide through the air, swinging through a blur of hands and feet. Le Noir has been a sellout show in major cities such as Auckland, Christchurch, Sydney and Singapore,” adds Abuissa.
 
The production is surreal, beautiful and hilarious at times as it explores emotions through colors as the cast transform from beautiful and pure white, through the passion of red and finally culminating with the darkness of Le Noir.
 
The Abu Dhabi shows are scheduled for the 17th, 18th and 19th of March 2016 and will be held at du Forum, Yas Island while the Dubai shows are scheduled between the 23rd of March  - 2nd of April 2016 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
 
Tickets for Cirque Le Noir can be purchased from www.platinumlist.net and start from AED 199 only. 

OnePiece, the globally recognized Norwegian brand of premium leisurewear is proud to introduce the Autumn/Winter 2015 collection, SLOW MOTION.
 
The OnePiece brand was founded when three Norwegian friends; Thomas, Henrik and Knut fantasized about the ultimate chill out wear for a lazy weekend day at home. They sewed together a hooded sweatshirt and a pair of sweat pants and the first OnePiece jumpsuit was born. Initially, their signature product, the jumpsuit, was meant for home but it quickly grew a life of it’s own and ventured out from people’s homes and into the streets.

The new SLOW MOTION collection from OnePiece is inspired by the duality of expression, as something that moves fast but is seen slow. With a keen attention to fine detailing, texture and silhouette, the collection inspires people to take time to appreciate the extraordinary within the ordinary. Only by slowing down the fast pace of life, and analyzing the world on a smaller, slower scale, are people able to find and expose their individuality and be comfortable in living outside the norm. OnePiece sees this comfort as empowering and believes that it is comfort that brings confidence. Therefore, comfort is a major cornerstone to most achievements and the foundation to the SLOW MOTION collection.
 
“We are absolutely delighted to introduce our latest collection for the Autumn/Winter 2015 season. The collection perfectly captures the growth and enhanced aesthetic of the OnePiece brand, while maintaining the confident, strong, unique and independent personalities that we have always been inspired by”, highlights Sultan AlRajhi, spokesperson for OnePiece in the Middle East.
 
The collection also includes a range for the little ones with new designs of the signature jumpsuits for kids and babies using fabric tailored for the weather in the Middle East.
 
From fashion icons and socialites to athletes and sport personalities, several celebrities have been spotted rocking the original 'onesie' from OnePiece including Beyonce, Justin Bieber, One Direction, Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Jamie Foxx, Ariana Grande, P Diddy, Christina Milan, Kevin Hart, Khloe Kardashian, Kyle and Kris Jenner, Kesha, Mario Balotelli among others.
 
The SLOW MOTION collection is now available at OnePiece’s flagship store located at BOX PARK, Al Wasl Rd, Jumeirah – Dubai. Tel: 04 3436369. The collection is also available at Virgin Megastore Dubai Mall, Virgin Megastore Mall of the Emirates, Galeries Lafayette as well as The Outlet Mall in Dubai and Virgin Megastore Yas Mall and House of Fraser in Abu Dhabi. The collection is also available at OnePiece’s online store: http://onepiece-me.com/
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