News Corp and Rotana

Hot on the heels of the Yahoo Maktoob deal, it looks like the long rumoured allegiance between News Corp and Rotana will soon be formalised. News Corp are one of the biggest media organisations in the world and you'll know of the companies it owns such as 20th Century Fox, Myspace, HarperCollins, the publisher, Wall Street Journal, Star, Fox, Sky, The Times, The Sun etc. They don't really operate in the Middle East, apart from a supposed strategic position in TWOFOUR54 in Abu Dhabi, and various bureaux reporting news etc.



Just to understand scale, the Yahoo deal was worth up to about $100m. This is worth between $250 to $350m for a 20% stake in the company. You'll know Rotana as one of the biggest media players in the Middle East, and you'll also know the hotel chain - all part of Prince Al Waleed's empire.


While this deal doesn't yet seem to be done, it's interesting. Prince Al Aweed is a big shareholder in News Corp, so this might mean he has taken a big hit during the credit crunch months - but its probably more the desire of Western media companies really taking the Middle East seriously. Well Rupert Murdoch certainly is.

News Corp. circling stake in Rotana

Abu Dhabi - the time is now

In about 2 months time, the spotlight will be on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and millions of people around the world will have their eyes fixed on a new circuit. It has the potential to be a great finale, if Jenson Button continues to falter. And with the race starting by day and finishing by night, there could be more than fireworks to conclude this season.

While the money of Abu Dhabi has put it on the map and drawn eyeballs to Etihad on the shirts of Manchester City, this will be the first time that the eyeballs will be drawn in such a big way to a large (sporting) event. This is the one of the best ways of getting into the front room of investors and tourists all over the world.

And right next to Yes Island is Saadiyat island which is building a new world of culture. In 3 years time, when Abu Dhabi will be cemented into the minds of the potential tourists, there really will be the lure to visit....and maybe live.

And then, one day, Masdar will be complete and will become the future. The latest renditions are amazing:




Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be first ever day night race
Masdar City Centre
Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi: artistic oasis takes shape amid the dunes