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AME Info

Found in: Media companies of the United Arab Emirates

AME Info is a leading provider of online business information in and about the Middle East region. Founded in the United Arab Emirates in 1993, AME Info offers both English and Arabic current information in daily news wires, editorial columns, special feature articles, reports, video and radio features, including detailed business directory information and event listings.

Current Business Activities

Online video

In late 2002, AME Info launched AME Info Broadcast, a division to produce online business video news features and interviews. The service currently operates in a Flash format for broadband users.

Internet radio

In late 2004, AME Info along with broadcasting veteran, Phil Blizzard, launched the Middle East's first online business radio, featuring a mix of popular music and talk content. It is accompanied by interviews with leading business executives and international celebrities, plus travel features.

History

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.

In mid-1996, Lars B. Nielsen joined the company as a shareholder and head of sales.

In 1997, major sponsors including Royal Dutch Shell Middle East and UPS allowed the concept to expand, and the 1998 edition of AME Info reached a free circulation of more than 180,000 copies .

Following the 1998 edition, more branded versions were produced for Royal Dutch Shell 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 magazines including 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 moved to Dubai Media City becoming AME Info FZ LLC and expanded its content into multimedia. Its current content includes video and audio features, as well as streaming internet radio.

In March 2005, HSBC Private Equity Middle East Ltd acquired a significant equity stake in AME Info FZ LLC.

AME Info was the first Middle East website to achieve certification from the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC ELECTRONIC).

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

According to the latest ABCe audit figures published for March 2008, AME Infos monthly unique readership is now over 1.18 million. The record figures represent a 33% rise over the past six months. Page impressions have also increased to 6,515,583 for the same month.

Services

AME Info offers a range of Middle East business-related services.

AME Info sends a long and weekly business news letter to executives in the Middle East and wider region.

Events calendar

AME Info's searchable database holds information on current and upcoming events in the Middle East, from exhibitions and roadshows to seminars and conferences. The same countries are covered as mentioned in the directory service.