$622 Million Net Profit for Emaar Malls in 2019

Photo courtesy of Emirates News Agency (WAM)
Photo courtesy of Emirates News Agency (WAM)
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$622 Million Net Profit for Emaar Malls in 2019

Photo courtesy of Emirates News Agency (WAM)
Photo courtesy of Emirates News Agency (WAM)

Emaar Malls, the shopping malls and retail business majority-owned by Emaar Properties, recorded a five percent increase in revenue to AED4.673 billion (US$1.272 billion), compared to AED4.446 billion ($1.210 billion) in 2018.

The company revealed in a press statement that overall net profit in 2019 amounted to AED2.286 billion ($622 million), similar to net profit for 2018 of AED2.230 billion ($607 million).

Revenue grew by four percent to AED1.261 billion ($343 million) during the last quarter of 2019 (October to December) when compared to the same period in 2018, said the statement published by Emirates News Agency (WAM).

Namshi, the regional e-commerce fashion and lifestyle platform was fully acquired in 2019 by Emaar Malls.

Commenting on the 2019 performance, Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar and Board Member of Emaar Malls, said, "2019 was a great year for Emaar Malls with occupancy and visitor levels growing steadily.

"This uptick is a result of our continuous innovation as we refresh the customer journey, diversify our portfolio and invest in opportunities to bring our destinations to life. Examples of this include the recently opened Zabeel Extension at The Dubai Mall and the complete acquisition of Namshi, both of which contributed to our achievements in 2019."

"We expect to see this success continue through 2020, as we focus on loyalty programs to drive repeat visits and open new destinations to welcome inbound tourism driven by Expo 2020," he concluded.



Alswaha: Saudi Arabia's Participation at WEF Strengthens Global Efforts in AI Technologies

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Alswaha. SPA file photo
Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Alswaha. SPA file photo
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Alswaha: Saudi Arabia's Participation at WEF Strengthens Global Efforts in AI Technologies

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Alswaha. SPA file photo
Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Alswaha. SPA file photo

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha has underlined the Kingdom's pivotal role in driving the global agenda to enhance the digital economy, foster innovation, and leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to serve humanity and protect the planet.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), he highlighted that the Kingdom's international standing is a result of the support and guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The minister explained that Saudi Arabia's participation in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, held from January 20 to 24, comes at a time when the world is transitioning from the digital age to the AI age.

This underscores the Kingdom's significant role in leading global efforts to promote innovation and utilize AI for the benefit of humanity.

He noted that the annual high-profile gathering provides a global platform to showcase the Kingdom's developmental, economic, and technological achievements under the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, made possible by the support of the Kingdom's leadership.

Alswaha said that Saudi Arabia is working in partnership with the international community to harness AI as a key tool for advancing sustainable development and achieving global goals, adding that these efforts aim to improve quality of life, support the digital economy, and create new job opportunities across various sectors, contributing to a sustainable and prosperous future for all.