saudigazette : Dubai billionaire plans WhatsApp rival for Mideast

Dubai billionaire plans WhatsApp rival for Mideast

DUBAI — Billionaire Mohamed Alabbar, one of Dubai's most prominent businessmen, plans a phone messaging service for the Middle East that aims to compete with services such as WhatsApp.Alabbar, who made his fortune as the chairman of Dubai's largest listed property developer, Emaar Properties, has been moving into other areas, in particular technology.Asked on the sidelines of a conference in Dubai on Tuesday if he was considering launching a messaging app akin to WhatsApp, Alabbar replied: "Yes, soon," adding "it's regional" when asked if the service would be designed for an Arabic-speaking audience.

Dubai billionaire plans WhatsApp rival for Middle East

Mobile phone penetration in the Gulf region is among the highest in the world, with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the top seven globally with rates near to the equivalent of two phones for every person.Photo: AFPDubai: Billionaire Mohamed Alabbar, one of Dubai's most prominent businessmen, plans a phone messaging service for the Middle East that aims to compete with services such as WhatsApp.Alabbar, who made his fortune as the chairman of Dubai's largest listed property developer, Emaar Properties, has been moving into other areas, in particular technology.

Emirati business tycoon plans Middle Eastern WhatsApp competitor

The Emirati billionaire, who made his fortune as the chairperson of Dubai's largest listed property developer, Emaar Properties, has been expanding into other areas, particularly technology.According to Reuters, when asked on the sidelines of a conference in Dubai on Tuesday if he was considering launching a messaging app akin to WhatsApp, al-Abbar replied: "Yes, soon."Abbar added that "it's regional" when asked if the service would be designed for an Arabic-speaking audience.