Insight

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a constitutional federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, and was formally established in 1971. The Federation occupies an area of 83,600 sq km along the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar lies to the west, Saudi Arabia to the south and west, and Oman to the north and east. The capital, and largest city of the federation, Abu Dhabi, is located in the emirate of the same name. 

Before 1971, the UAE was known as the Trucial States or Trucial Oman, in reference to a 19th century truce between the United Kingdom and several Arab Sheikhs. The more colourful ‘Pirate Coast’ was also used in reference to the area's emirates from the 18th to the early 20th century. Today the region's political system is based on the 1971 Constitution, composed of several intricately connected governing bodies. Islam is the official religion, and Arabic the official language. 

Introduction

The Netherlands has a rich history of capital projects. Our historical battle against flooding has forced us to carry out massive projects such as the Delta Works, land reclamation and the construction of dykes. These directly illustrate the main characteristics of capital projects: large-scale projects with a clear public interest, commissioned by the central government and undertaken in cooperation with commercial contractors. These projects have been of such a scale and complexity (and therefore involving such a high risk profile) that their performance has always been in the spotlight.

The Polish zloty is looking cheap compared to the euro once again, which suggests that it will be FDI money that maintains Poland’s recovery through 2010 and beyond. 

According to the National Bank of Poland the estimated FDI inflow to Poland as of the end of October 2009 reached 6 billion euros.  In fact, analysts and officials are now revising upwards their growth forecasts, with the market expecting Poland's economy to expand by 2.4 percent in 2010.

When Tony Hayward became BP's chief executive in 2007 he inherited the top position of a company reeling from 15 deaths and a further 170 injuries at a refinery in Texas and the ignominy of a fractured pipeline spoiling the natural balance of Alaska.  Hayward entered the role promising to “restore confidence” with sweeping changes.

VBS.TV is the online broadcasting arm of Vice magazine.  It’s hit the headlines in recent times – firstly for attracting investment from MTV, secondly for having its wildly left-field documentaries snapped up for broadcast on CNN, and lastly for securing the services of Spike Jonze as Creative Director.

Chances are, neither VBS.TV or Vice mean anything to you – but these niche media brands and buzzwords signify plenty to the united legion of hipsters that populate cities across the globe.  But don’t worry about that, Steven D Wright our TV producer guinea pig hadn’t heard of VBS either. 

As the UK’s general election has drawn closer, issues regarding the relevance of online social networking and the influence of online opinion have grown proportionately.

The politicians are fully aware that reputations are being forged or indeed flattened by judgements being made and disseminated online.

The poster campaign for the Conservative Party’s leader, David Cameron, is a perfect example.  Cameron’s face was scaled up to Brobinnagian proportions with an expression that was meant to represent empathy and sincerity.  Big mistake…

Hailed as a potential saviour of the music industry, Daniel Ek's digital solution is devilishly simple: give them what they want.  NEE profiles the brains behind Spotify.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) estimate that 95% of all music downloads are illegal.  File sharing has been the music industry’s bête noire since the dawn of the internet.  The wayside is littered with start ups with good intentions that have failed to stem this negative flow.  Then along came Spotify… 

Two years ago you’d probably never heard of them; now, you’re lost without them.  Put simply, your smartphone – loaded with apps – is probably the most crucial development to hit the business landscape since the suit and tie.

In case you haven’t been paying attention, apps (an abbreviation of applications) are mini-programs which users can download and store on their smartphone – be it an iPhone, Blackberry, or Google’s Android phone.  Apps may be small, but they have the power to transform your mobile phone into the digital equivalent of a Swiss Army knife; a tool so versatile you’ll instantly wonder how you ever coped without it.