Emirates and Etisalat top the list of most valuable GCC brands: Genius Marketing Forum 2011

Emirates and Etisalat top the list of most valuable GCC brands: Genius Marketing Forum 2011

London Business Forum Middle East to host a renowned Guardian Columnist on 31st May at its second event

Dubai, UAE, 25th May 2011: The ‘Genius Marketing’ international forum held yesterday 24th May, 2011 in Dubai Knowledge Village Conference Centre revealed that two UAE brands occupy the top two slots in the most valuable GCC portfolio GCC brand study conducted by Brand Finance.

Peter Fisk, presenter of the forum announced that Emirates took the first spot, followed by Etisalat, with a portfolio brand value of $3.622 billion and $3.390 billion respectively.

Qtel from Qatar was ranked third with a portfolio brand value of $2.949 billion, according to the Brand Finance study.

Hany Mwafy, CEO, London Business Forum Middle East (LBFME), organisers of forum, said that the event attracted more than 180 participants, including chief executive officers, vice presidents, directors and marketing professionals.

Mwafy announced that the second international forum will be on the 31st of May, 2011, at Dubai Knowledge Village Conference Centre, presented by renowned Guardian columnist Guy Browning. He added: “The second forum is expected to see even larger participation from the business community of the UAE and neighbouring countries, including Bahrain, Oman and KSA.”

Commenting on Dubai as a brand, Peter Fisk, who spent many years working with the likes of British Airways and Coca Cola, Marks & Spencer and Microsoft, Virgin and Vodafone, said: “The concept of genius brands is applicable to Dubai as this city thinks outside the box. It has achieved a lot as tourism and leisure destination and now it is time to position itself as an ideas’ hub of the region, just as Singapore has done in another region. Dubai realised that the world is changing and it has embraced this change. The city is inspired by its leaders who have the vision to lead it to new levels of growth on the global stage.”

Peter Fisk, who is described by Business Strategy Review as one of the best new business thinkers today, said he was delighted to present the region’s debut forum of (LBFME) in Dubai.

On the 31st of May, Guy Browning, Guardian Columnist who has counselled and entertained Guardian readers in his column, ‘Office Politics’, and whose highly humorous books include Double Your Salary, Bonk Your Boss, Go Home Early and the intriguingly entitled Never Hit a Jellyfish with a Spade, will interact with business professionals to give them insights about international best practices on using innovation in business. He will also throw on latest creative techniques for business people.

According to Browning, great ideas come from being both innovative and creative. Innovation is integral to business success but so many businesses fail to use them effectively, he emphasised.