It is widely known that Qatar is a booming hub for many industries such as Oil and Gas, Construction, Real Estate, and Education. Qatar also has a sincere desire to be the host of a number of future international events from the world of business and sports. In fact, increasing foreign direct investment and government regulations are set to encourage as much as 17% economic growth in 2010!

These goals, and the fact that the market is open to new and innovative ideas with a need for fresh talent, has inspired O2 Network to build a new office inthe capital city of Doha, Qatar! Qatar already ranks high in advertising spending by which it grew by 12% over the past year, bringing the total ad spending to $402 million. The growth of the public relations industry has also been exceptional, which in 2009 grew nearly 25% despite Qatar maintaining its ranking as fourth in the GCC for most advertising expenditures.

O2 Qatar is a representative office for O2 Bahrain and is working closely with the creative teams, administration and HR departments in Dubai and Bahrain. O2 Qatar will also be working in association with offices in Abu Dhabi in the production of creative designs for the agency’s latest clientele. A number of major projects are already in the pipeline, andin just a few weeks of operations the future appears bright for O2’s latest regional expansion!

In an important step in its expansion strategy within international business and finance capitals, O2 Network is proud to announce the launch of a new global office based in Hong Kong! The team will meet the increasing demand for creative services in the region and build new businesses in one of Asia’s largest markets. According to Mohammed Johmani, Founder of the O2 Network, the goal of the expansions is to strengthen an industry which is witnessing significant growth but also strong critique and evaluation.

“It’s all about showing value for your services, and that evidence has become increasingly important in light of the worldwide businesses challenges faced during 2009,” says Johmani. “This will be the foundation of our strategy entering into Hong Kong as the demand for communication consultancy services remains strong.”

The launch of O2 Network in Hong Kong, one of the pioneer business capitals in South East Asia, is the first of the company’s Asian offices and is seen as a strategic gateway into regional markets including the world’s second largest economy China. The new O2 office will offer a comprehensive portfolio of the network’s services, including market research, PR consultancy, advertising, branding, and interactive web products.

If you spend most of your time at a desk or sitting in meetings, you know that it takes a lot of work to maintain a healthy physique that you can be proud of. While exercising and sleeping are extremely important, there’s no denying that you are what you eat. A lot of research has been conducted regarding the diet plan in respect to one’s body, and we recently discovered that there are also plans depending on one’s blood type. A well-known concept “Blood Type Diet” is a plan based on the research conducted by Dr. Peter D’Adamo, and some of us at O2 have decided to give it a try. Maybe it will for you!

Type A should basically stick to fruits and vegetables (high carbs / low fat). They have thicker blood than other blood types, a sensitive immune system, and should not consume dairy products, animal fats and meats. They are at a heightened risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.

Type B should consume a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables, grains, fish, dairy, meat. However, they should avoid chicken as much as possible. Type B have great chances of overcoming many types of diseases that include heart disease and cancer.

Type AB individuals should consume a mostly vegetarian diet, and only on rare occasions have fish, meat, and diary. Just like type B, they should not consume chicken.

Type O, which is the most common blood type among people, should basically stick to a high protein diet that includes red meat, low carbs, and enriched with fruits and vegetables. They should limit the intake of wheat germ, whole wheat products, corn, and avoid dairy products and most nuts. Type O types are commonly affected with hypothyroidism, high stomach acid that leads to ulcers, and thinner blood with greater resistance to blood clotting.

Choosing the right snacks for your office breaks is incredibly important to maintain a good work/life balance. If you don’t know your blood type, go to your local doctor and find out today! It could be the key to a healthier you…

For those that have yet to travel to Japan for business, there are a couple of things you should know before booking your ticket and inviting clients out to eat. Japanese culture is centered on politeness, overall respect for people, age reverence, gracious apology for wrongdoing, and living in harmony.

Foreigners, when eating out in Japanese restaurants, need to understand the basics of the Japanese dining etiquette to avoid offending the Japanese by committing a dining blunder!

There are some essential basic rules to be mindful of when dining in a Japanese restaurant. First of all, when the food is served, join your hands in the “Namaste” gesture and say quietly, “Itadakimasu” the phrase translates as “I humbly receive.” The gesture is an expression of gratitude for the collective efforts made by many in growing and preparing the meal.

If you feel you need a bit of soy sauce for your meal, you should serve yourself by pouring a small amount into your soya dish. It is considered rude to directly pour the soy sauce on your meal. If you’re having sushi, dip the sushi in the soy dish and bring it to your mouth. Avoid pouring excessive amount of soy and hovering over your dish. When eating rice or soup, you are allowed to bring the entire bowl closer to your mouth so that you don’t spill any food. In addition, it is considered rude to burp at the table unlike in some other Asian cultures like Chinese or Korean, where it can be received as a sign of satisfaction.

As for the chopsticks, never put your chopsticks in a bowl of rice because it resembles the burning of incense sticks at a Japanese funeral. Instead, lay your chopsticks on the chopsticks holder or at the edge of your individual plate.

At the dining table, do not pour yourself a drink but rather serve others at the table. Another thoughtful person should pour your drink for you when you are finished serving.

At the end of the meal, thank the chef by saying “Gochisosama deshita!” Thank you for this great meal!

Many online matchmakers have made a fortune from the millions of digital users around the world. With high hopes, users tend to use such website to meet their significant other or their soul mates. Try as they might, many of these endeavors end unsuccessfully.

Online dating sites are now going to the extreme with their methodologies, using methods such as genetic testing or brain chemistry questionnaires that aim to let the users know more about their partner.

Companies such as Scientificmatch.com have a fee of $2000 for life which uses a DNA sample from a person to test for compatibility with partners. Another website following the trace is Chemistry.com. The website develops a questionnaire by a biological anthropologist to match up registered users for only $50 per month.

It may sound silly, but the industry of online dating makes $976 million a year! Either online dating is actually working for some, or bachelors just have too much extra cash that don’t know where to spend it. With the insignificant fee that some website are requesting, it would be a lot less expensive than going out for dinner. Something to think about for the future…

Within this monthly forum, O2 takes a look at some of the most influential Arab business leaders shaping today’s markets. These individuals have achieved incredible success while advancing best practices in their respective industries. If you know someone who you think fits this description, let us know at editor@pr2live.com.

Lubna Olayan
She is one of the most influential business women and was listed as the top 100 most influenmtial people of 2005 by Time magazine. Ms. Olayan was born on August the 4^th, 1955, to a Saudi business man, Suliman Olayan, and mother Maryam Abdulwahab, and has many significant achievements in the world of business.

Ms. Lubna Olayan is the chief executive officer of the Olayan Financing Company (OFC). The company was founded in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1947 by her father Suliman Olayan. OFC is a private multinational enterprise engaged in distribution, manufacturing, services, and investments. OFC operates in more than 40 countries and is one of the largest investors in the Saudi and regional stock markets.

Ms. Lubna’s first significant appearance was in 2004 where she was the first woman in Saudi history to deliver an opening keynote at a major conference at the Jeddah Economic Forum. Also in the same year, she was elected to the board of Saudi Hollandi Bank. In 2006 and 2007, Ms. Olayan joined the International Advisory Boards of Rolls Royce and Citigroup. She is also the member of the International Business Council of the World Econonic Forum and the International Advisory Board of the Council on Foreign Relations.

She also has significant roles in Saudi Arabia where she joined the Advisory Board of Effat College, a private and non-profit girl’s college in Jeddah.

Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal
The most significant figures in today’s Arab business world
From banking to media, one of the most significant figures in today’s Arab business world is Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

Prince Al-Waleed was born on March 7, 1955 to his father Prince Talal, the son of the founding king of Saudi Arabia, and his mother Mona Al-Solh, the Daughter of Lebanon’s first Prime Minister Riyad Al-Solh.

As a young man, Prince Al-Waleed completed his undergraduate studies in Menlo College in 1979 with a degree in business adminstration. Later on in 1985, he earned his master’s degree at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in the U.S.

His business career started right after his graduation from Menlo College in 1979. His business activities as an investor started when he bought shares in Citicorp in the 1990s when the firm was in distress. Now, his holdings in Citigroup account for $1billion, nearly double his initial investments in the 1990s of $550 million. After his investments in Citibank, he earned an international nickname as being the Saudi Warren Buffett.

Later, he made he made significant investments in large media companies such as AOL, Apple Inc., Motorola, News Corporation Ltd and other companies. Prince Al-Waleed also holds 10% stake in Euro Disney SCA, as well as real estate holdings in Four Seasons hotel chain and Plaza Hotel in New York.

Early in 2005, Al-Waleed purchased Savoy Hotel in London to be managed by Fairmont Hotels—in which he owns 16% stake. As of 2008, there are plans to construct the tallest building in the world, The Tower of One Mile. The tower , which is proposed by Al-Waleed’s own company, Kingdom Holding Company, is said to be a super tall skyscraper and the tallest tower in the world with a height of one mile (1609 meters).

In August 2009, his fortune was estimated to be US$16.3 billion and was ranked the 22nd richest person in the world.

Dr.Saad H. Al Barrak
The Deputy Chairman and the Managing Director of Zain
Dr. Saad Al Barrak is the Deputy Chairman and the Managing Director of Zain, one of the leading telecommunication companies in the Middle East. Al Barrak, of Kuwaiti nationality, is a distinguished engineer and businessman of international reputation.

He holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering, an MSc in Systems Engineering from Ohio University, and a PhD in Information Systems & Technology Management from the University of London. He is also an alumnus of Harvard University.

Prior to his appointment with Zain (previously known as MTC), Dr. Al Barrak was Managing Director of International Turnkey Systems (ITS), one of the leading IT companies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Under Dr. Al Barrak, ITS’s revenues grew from $5 million in 1985 to exceed $100 million in 2000.

Dr. Al Barrak was Vice-Chairman of the Social Development Office (SDO) of the Amiri Diwan in Kuwait; Chairman of Egyptian software developer IT Soft; Chairman of Arab Telecom; and a non-executive Director of Arab Management Association in Cairo.

Since his appointment as the CEO in 2002, Zain’s customer base has increased from 600,000 to a conglomerate of 24 operations with over 70 million active customers across the Middle East and Africa. In this period, Zain’s market capitalization on the Kuwait Stock Exchange has increased from less than US$2.5 billion to exceed $20 billion (September 30, 2009).

In 2003, he received the ‘E-businessman of the Year’ award in the region. Later in 2005, he received the Middle East’s ‘CEO of the Year’ award in the Information Communication Technology sector.

In September 2007, Dr. Al Barrak received the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award from leading industry magazine COMMSMEA. Dr. Al Barrak is also an Executive Board Member of Celtel International and a Member of the Board of the GSM Association.

Get all the latest info on the newest innovations within the world of mass media. Whoever geeks out at the latest technology and innovations in the market should easily be able to spot out Kindle. Kindle is a software and hardware device that stores and downloads e-books and digital media. It is a thin, lightweight, electronic reading device that you can take anywhere to download your favorite books, newspapers or magazines. In 2007, the internet’s largest bookseller, amazon.com, introduced Kindle to the market.

The Kindle screen simulates paper, and you can read it even in bright sunlight with no glare whatsoever. One of the features of the device is its slim model. Kindle is just over 1/3 of an inch thick. Another feature is its light weight where it’s only 10.2 ounces. In addition to that, you can store over 1500 books in your Kindle, so it has plenty of space. Kindle also has a long battery life as you might be able to read for days without recharging. Moreover, with your wireless 3G mobile phone you can download new books anytime and anywhere. There’s even a “Read to Me Feature” where you can set the Kindle to read text to you whenever you want to give your eyes a break.

Definitely one of the coolest gadgets to come out in a very long time!

Once again we couldn’t help ourselves but to highlight the exceptional work of geniuses at Google (or rather their advertising agency). All in all this is a fantastic ad; simple, honest and heartfelt. Many can relate to this experience, and it rings true to anyone who has ever explored a new city by looking online. The only thing that we feel brings the ad down is the last couple of searches as if all of life’s journeys ultimately end in two things, marriage and a child (come on, a baby’s laugh? It’s a little cheesy). We personally would have liked the final text be in French, which would have shown off a whole lot more of Google’s actual capacity then trying to leave viewers with a shallow family-friendly ending. We understand the target that this is going after, and despite the end, overall it succeeds brilliantly.

For more than 10 years Syria has been expanding its production capacities as a premier name in the world of Arabic television dramas. These programs have reached every house in the region and every Arabic channel on TV (some are even broadcasted outside the region). Many people say it is a genre all its own, getting into the hearts of individuals through its light-hearted comedy, historical meaning, and its reflection on life’s daily struggles.

Some of the most successful drama episodes on Arabic TV are produced by Syria Art Production International. The company has produced a number of popular dramas that are familiar to a HUGE regional audience, including shows like “Letters of Love and War”, “Ishtar”, and the six seasons of “Spot Light”. Many say that Spot Light is the most successful Syrian drama comedy ever produced for TV, with a courageous attitude and willingness to deal with different social issues in the Arab world.

If you’ve never seen these shows before, you may be surprised by how much they have in common with the drama shows produced in areas like Hollywood and Bollywood. The most valuable asset in these markets is the professionalism of the actors and actresses, and like in LA or Mumbai, areas like Damascus attract a lot of regional talent.

Although the drama content in these cities may be similar, Syrian TV still lacks the technological advancements that can enhance the quality of the production process. Some have said that government subsidies could help in making the industry a new player comparable to the powerhouses of Egypt and Lebanon, but so far these calls seem to have fallen on deaf ears. DVD sales may be another opportunity to increase regional exposure, and in fact there are a lot of Syrian shows currently sold on DVD in the GCC. Unfortunately many of these are pirated.

Will this industry make the impact it seeks in 2010? The verdict is still out, but let us know what you think by writing us at editor@o2mc.net.

Think you’ve seen it all?  It’s not always the biggest brands that capture our attention, or the largest agencies.  Check out this world’s most popular viral videos of 2009 and see which businesses are making waves in the world of multimedia marketing.  You may be surprised at who made the cut!  Rankings were consolidated by AdAge.com.

1,  Evian Babies “Live Young” (BETC Euro RSCG)
2,  T-Mobile “Life’s for Sharing” (Saatchi & Saatchi; Mediacom)
3,  Microsoft “Xbox/Project Natal” (World Famous)
4,  DC Shoes “Gymkhana Two” (Mad Media)
5,  Nike Basketball “Most Valuable Puppets” (Wieden & Kennedy)
6,  Samsung LED TV “Extreme Sheep LED Art” (The Viral Factory)
7,  NBA “Where Amazing Happens” (Goodby Silverstein & Partners)
8,  Volkswagen “The Fun Theory” (DDB)
9, Microsoft “Megawoosh” (MRM Worldwide, Germany)
10,  Air New Zealand “Nothing to Hide” (.99 Auckland)