ATTN: News Editor / Political Editor	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sunday, July 1, 2001
ABU DHABI TV NAMES TOP ARAB WEBSITES Maktoob.com emerges as the most popular Arabic web-based email provider   Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Satellite Television this week announced the most popular Arab web-based email providers in the Arab community, concluding a month-long survey conducted among surfers of its website. Leading convincingly in the survey was Maktoob.com (www.maktoob.com), the leading Arab community with more than 1.25 million registered members, it was stated yesterday. Abu Dhabi Satellite TV, which runs a weekly Internet-based program, Click, asked its viewers to vote for their favourite Arabic web based email provider, to gain a better understanding of web users’ profile and their preferences. The results showed Maktoob’s leading position polling a total of 65.9 per cent of the total votes, leading by a huge margin over its closest contender Ayna.com (10.5 per cent), Arabia.com (10.2 per cent), and Aroob.com (9.7 per cent). “The survey gives a clearer picture of the Internet industry in the Arab world and the growing level of maturity in the region in understanding Internet applications,” explained Mohanned Amin, Chief Editor of the Click programme. “Our objective has always been to educate the Arab public about the Internet and its applications and this survey will undoubtedly bring our viewers up to date on the latest Internet trends.” A hugely popular programme, Click is aired to millions of viewers from the Arab world from Abu Dhabi Television’s satellite station. Available in all countries, the programme seeks to present a broad perspective of the region’s thriving Internet market to online enthusiasts.   For Maktoob.com, the selection as the leading Arabic email provider is a further endorsement of its popularity in the Arab world. The latest achievement comes close on the heels of its recent ranking as the most popular Arab web service by two independent surveys conduced separately, one by Alexa Research and the other by Arabian Business.com, in association with Accenture, formerly known as Andersen Consulting. Speaking in this week’s Click programme, aired on Saturday night, Samih Toukan, CEO of Maktoob.com, explained that even in the age of dotcom crashes, Maktoob.com had successfully managed to bring in revenues by diversifying to other Internet-related businesses. “Our strategy to constantly think ahead and set the benchmark for Internet startups in the region is beginning to bring us the desired results,” Toukan noted. “Maktoob.com has also been able to build its service based on the continuous feedback we receive from the huge family of Maktoob members.” Maktoob.com has become a landmark development for the Arab world, emphasizing the region’s growing importance as a key international IT player. Since its launch two and a half years ago, Maktoob.com has played a crucial role in uniting Arabs worldwide by providing sophisticated and reliable web-based communications and community tools, including the Arab world’s first free bilingual Web-based email service. Maktoob.com is the first Arabic / English web-based email solutions provider and leading virtual community for Arabs around the world. Launched in October 1998, Maktoob.com gained instant success among Arabs around the world. It currently boasts of a membership base of more than 1.25 million registered members worldwide. Besides the free email service, the company offers a range of interactive web-based facilities including Voice Mail, WAP, a comprehensive business directory, Arabic music, chat, online auction, electronic greeting cards and information services.   For more details, please contact, Edward D’Mello Headline Public Relations Tel: 009714 – 3475006; Fax: 009714 – 3475013 e-mail: edward@headlinepr.com
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