Amazon, Spotify and Netflix Are Among the Biggest Risers in Ranking Amid Global Covid Lockdowns

Microsoft overtakes Google, to enter top three

• New entrants for 2020 include Instagram (#19), YouTube (#30) and Zoom (#100); re-entrants include Tesla (#40) and Johnny Walker (#98)

• Tech dominates the top 10, with a top three of Apple (#1), Amazon (#2) and Microsoft (#3)

• Amazon sees the largest increase in value, Spotify (#70) and Netflix (#41) achieve largest growth in ranking, while new joiner Instagram makes the biggest leap up the table

• Technology is the fastest growing sector, while retail struggled amid a global pandemic

Amid a global pandemic with its significant impact on business in 2020, Interbrand has announced the brands that have fared best in its 2020 Best Global Brands ranking.

As expected, social media and communication brands have fared well in the past 12 months, with Instagram (#19), YouTube (#30) and Zoom (#100) entering the rankings for the first time. Tesla has reentered the rankings at #40 with a brand value of US$12,785m, having last appeared in the Best Global Brands table in 2017.

Media companies have also seen success among the turmoil created by Covid. Spotify (#70), saw brand value increase by 52% to US$8,389m – jumping 22 places in the ranking, while Netflix rose to #41 with a 41% increase to US$12,665m. Business models have played a role in this success, with 62% of double-digit risers relying on significant subscription model businesses.

Top Ten

Amazon was a top performer, ranking #2 and increasing brand value by 60%, with a valuation of US$200,667m. While Apple retained its top spot in the table, Microsoft’s increase in value this year (US$166,001m) means it has overtaken Google (#4) to reach the number 3 spot. Google has moved out of the top three for the first time since 2012. Meanwhile Samsung #5 (US$62,289m) has broken into the top five for the first time ever.

The remainder of the Top 10 comprises: Coca-Cola #6 (US$56,894m), Toyota #7 (US$51,595m), Mercedes-Benz #8 (US$49,268m), McDonald’s #9 (US$42,816m) and Disney #10 (US$40,773m). The top ten brands accounts for 50% of the total table value this year.

Covid Effect

The 2020 Best Global Brands ranking also saw the ‘Covid effect’, with global shop closures causing the brand values of Zara (#35) and H&M (#37) fall 13% and 14% respectively, with both dropping at least six places in this years’ ranking. After two years as the top growing sector, luxury brands took a hit in 2020, with all but one brand value (Hermes #28) falling between 1-9%.

Other brands and industries have benefitted from the ‘Covid effect’, notably logistics which saw an average of 5% growth – UPS (#24), FedEx (#75) and DHL (#81) all saw positive brand valuation growth, as the logistics sector became more central to our lives in lockdown. PayPal (#60), Visa (#45) and Mastercard (#57) have also risen in the rankings, 12, 10 and 5 places respectively. The pandemic has seen the sudden shift to electronic as the primary payment method and the swift roll out of programs to support local business during pandemic lockdown, benefitting these trusted brands, who provide access to capital in times of economic uncertainty.

“Reports like Interbrand’s Best Global Brands are important for companies to better understand how we're being perceived in consumers’ hearts and minds,” said Mastercard Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Raja Rajamannar. “Especially during these unprecedented times, when consumer behaviors have shifted and trust is more important than ever, these rankings are a way for us to better understand how we can best serve our communities.”

Table Value

The overall value of the table has increased to US$2,336,491m (up 9% from 2019). Driving growth of the table is big tech. Average brand value growth among all growing brands was 14%. Average growth of technology and tech platform brands was 20%. Technology and tech platform brands now represent 48% of total table value versus only 17% in 2010. The top 3 brands in the table (all tech) represent 30% of the value of the entire table versus only 16% in 2010.

Key Learnings

During the analysis of BGB 2020, one key question emerged – how can brands build economic resilience, individual confidence and make good on the possibility of a better future for us all?

“In such times, brands need to more human than ever”. Said Ashish Mishra, Managing Director, Interbrand India. “And like a fellow human, be sensitive, sensible, proximate and inspiring”.

Our analysis revealed three fundamental priorities:

• Leadership: setting a worthy purpose and a powerful ambition beyond turbulence and chaos helps brands to put a flag in the future.

o Tesla’s brand – its flag in the future – has driven demand and advocacy from its inception. Not only that, it has also built enormous liquidity by attracting and retaining a loyal following of retail investors.

• Engagement: great brands make consumers want to be part of their story by taking them on a shared journey.

o Salesforce has seen explosive growth by listening to customer communities and celebrating them, rather than the product. The business is in constant conversation with its customers, taking them on this shared journey.

• Relevance: a voice in the crowd - great brands lift consumers from indifference and make consumer choices meaningful.

o PayPal is one of the most trusted payment brands thanks to the work it has done to mitigate its customers concerns around fraud and to keep consumers’ money safe. At a time of heightened anxiety and economic uncertainty, nothing matters more.

“Leadership, engagement and relevance are three consistent themes we are seeing as brands try to navigate the rapidly changing business landscape.” commented Charles Trevail, Global CEO, Interbrand. “They are the keys to unlock results in the current crisis, building customer confidence and business resilience. By setting out powerful ambitions and pursuing them with courage and conscience, brands can help us lift our heads, make sense of chaos, and see beyond it, championing a new decade of possibility.”

Report and Methodology:

Interbrand’s 21st annual report, The Decade of Possibility, analyses how the world’s leading companies are successfully navigating a rapidly changing business landscape. Interbrand have over 30 years of experience delivering brand valuation analysis, having designed and led the world’s first brand valuation in 1988. 

Interbrand was the first company to have its brand valuation methodology certified as compliant with the requirements of ISO 10668 (requirements for monetary brand valuation) and played a key role in the development of the standard itself.

There are three key pieces of analysis that form the basis of Interbrand’s valuation methodology:

• The financial performance of the branded products or services

• The role the brand plays in purchase decisions

• The brand’s competitive strength and its ability to create loyalty and, therefore, sustainable demand and profit into the future

The research covers the period between 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020, analysis was undertaken between June and September 2020. Interbrand reserves the right to make amendments based on significant events impacting a brand after these dates.

Kantar, the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company, announces the appointment of Alexis Nasard as Chief Executive Officer, effective 30 December 2020.

Alexis Nasard joins Kantar with almost 30 years’ experience in the FMCG and retail world. Most recently Mr Nasard is currently CEO of Bata. Prior to that, Alexis spent six years at Heineken, culminating in the position of President of Western Europe Business and Global Chief Marketing Officer.  Earlier, he worked for 17 years with Procter & Gamble, in a variety of marketing and general management roles.

Mr Nasard holds an MBA degree from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, USA and an MS/BS degree in Civil Engineering from Saint Joseph University, Lebanon.

Of his appointment, Mr Nasard said “Throughout my career Kantar has been a trusted advisor. Kantar’s data, insights and advice informed many of the strategies, as well as communication and commercial plans my teams and I led. As much as I understand Kantar’s heritage and reputation today, it is our future that excites me most. The combination of Kantar’s deep understanding of consumers around the world, our proprietary data sets and our growing expertise in advanced analytics and artificial intelligence puts us in a leading position to reshape the insights and consulting market, whilst offering clients superior analytics they can monetize. This will be all the more relevant in the volatile and fluctuating environment we are living in as a consequence of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis, as clients need to operate on very steep learning curves.”

Announcing the appointment, Kantar Chairman Adam Crozier commented. “In Alexis we have appointed a world-class CEO. As a former CMO and client he understands the value Kantar delivers, and the role it plays in advising the world’s biggest consumer brands. Throughout his career Alexis has built a reputation for innovation, creativity and operational excellence. As we transform our business and position ourselves for growth, Alexis’ leadership and international experience will be instrumental in fulfilling the ambition that we have for Kantar.”

Christophe Jacobs, a Managing Director at Bain Capital Private Equity, added “This appointment is another important step on Kantar’s journey to become the world’s leading advisor on data-driven marketing and commercial strategies and a key ecosystem partner for global technology leaders. Mr Nasard understands first-hand the value such a strategy offers to the world’s leading consumer brands and has the creativity and operational experience to bring that strategy to life.“

Expansion of the Lionsgate® Zone will launch in early 2021 and feature the world's first theme park ride inspired by the popular John Wick franchise.

A Now You See Me movie inspired roller coaster will be the world's fastest single-car spinning coaster!

The region's largest immersive Hollywood-inspired theme park, MOTIONGATE™ Dubai, will start 2021 on a high note, and earn the park a multitude of world firsts when it launches two brand new, thrilling rides as part of its expansion of the Lionsgate® Zone.

Thrill-seekers and fans of the major motion picture franchises John Wick and Now You See Me, will be able to experience two record breaking new rides in early 2021. MOTIONGATE™ Dubai becomes home to the first ever theme park rollercoaster inspired by the global hit action franchise John Wick, whose first three installments have grossed nearly $600 million at the worldwide box office. The Lionsgate Zone will also introduce the world's fastest single-car spinning coaster based on the popular twists and turns of heist thriller franchise Now You See Me. The launch of these two world first coasters will earn MOTIONGATE™ Dubai the impressive record for the maximum number of rollercoasters in a single theme park in the Middle East. 

"This exciting expansion makes the Lionsgate Zone at Motiongate Dubai the epicenter of immersive blockbuster thrills in the region" said EVP and Head of Lionsgate Global Live, Interactive and Location Based Entertainment, Jenefer Brown.  "For the first time ever, it will offer fans the opportunity to experience the poetic action of John Wick and masterful misdirection of Now You See Me through exhilarating coaster experiences

Denis Pascal, General Manager at MOTIONGATE™ Dubai commented: "We're starting 2021 with a bang and offering our guests never before experienced attractions! We're continually looking at ways to enhance the MOTIONGATE™ Dubai experience and we cannot wait to break some world records with these two brand new coasters. They will not disappoint even the most daring amongst us."

Set over a 310-meter track, and reaching speeds of up to 64km per hour, John Wick: Open Contract will deliver up to 2.8 G-force from the 4D free spin coaster. Inspired by the events of the recent films, after stepping inside The Continental, guests will embark on a journey that simulates the epic action of the John Wick world as the coaster races down a 4D track that provides both forward and backward, freestyle spins. 

Reaching speeds of up to 70 km per hour, riders of Now You See Me: High Roller will feel like they are part of a daring Horsemen escape as they race to expose the antics of a criminal mastermind. Riders won't find a more intense coaster experience anywhere due to its drops, non-inverted loops, and Immelmann turn sections which will see riders make a full 180-degree turn after entering a thrilling half-loop section of the track, followed by a half twist.

A global study of 1,361 CMOs finds their #1 challenge today is understanding how COVID will lead to permanent changes to consumer behaviour

This challenge is compounded by falling spend, with two-thirds (62%) of CMOS cutting or holding marketing budgets flat over the next year

New thinking is also in short supply, with half (49%) basing their recovery strategies on approaches taken in previous recessions

However, a group of ‘frontier CMOs’ is emerging, reclaiming the strategic agenda through product development in particular

A new study of 1,361 CMOs across 12 markets, by global media, digital and creative communications agency dentsu, analyses how CMOs are navigating a new kind of recovery, revealing that, despite a challenging period, CMOs are reclaiming the strategic agenda with a particular focus on product development. More than 450 CMOs from Australia, China, India and Japan were surveyed.

The study finds that the number one challenge facing CMOs is understanding which consumer behaviours will change permanently and which will fall away in the post-COVID environment. CMOs report that this is compounded by the difficulty of aligning the business around changing consumer needs quickly enough and falling consumer spend.

The study raises concerns that half (49%) of CMOs concede they are basing their response to the coronavirus crisis on strategies that were pursued during previous recessions. Globally, just one in ten CMOs are looking at entirely new strategies. In Asia Pacific, nearly half (46%) in India are using ‘completely’ similar strategies to those pursued in previous recessions, compared to 17% global average. On the other hand, only 6% in China are doing so.

It also found that despite the general advice that brands should not ‘go dark’ during times of recession, nearly two-thirds (62%) of CMOs recount that their marketing budgets are forecast to decline or remain flat over the coming 12 months. In Asia Pacific, Australia is the second highest market to predict marketing budget to decline (36%) and Japan is the third highest market anticipating that budget will stay flat (29% vs global average 22%). On the contrary, China is the second highest (56%) to predict budget increases in the coming year.

Overall, the study recognises that a new style of marketing leadership is emerging. “Frontier CMOs” are well placed to manage the recovery and are doing so by focusing on a handful of key strategies that set them apart from the rest:

Hyper-empathy: Developing superior consumer intelligence

Hyper-agility: Rapid development of new messaging, products and services

Hyper-collaboration: Integration across all elements of the marketing mix

Hyper-consolidation: Building resilience across brands and through M&A

Hyper-transparency: Ensuring purpose permeates all aspects of the business

Frontier CMOs are also significantly more likely to be accountable for digital transformation than other CMOs, proving their value and impact to company boards as they navigate the future of their business and industry.

Wendy Clark, Global CEO of dentsu, said: “Exceptional times call for exceptional thinking. The COVID-19 global health crisis has yielded an incisive economic downturn that creates an unknown and largely unpredictable environment for CMOs to navigate. And our survey reveals there is a risk that CMOs are still using existing approaches to manage a challenge that is without precedent.”

“However, we also see a new cadre of Frontier CMOs emerging who are leading their organizations into the unknown with confidence. These CMOs are putting consumer intelligence at the heart of their brands, matched by deep integration across all elements of the marketing mix and radical collaboration as a default across their business. Product development is firmly back on the agenda also, in order to deliver helpful consumer experiences and societal progress. These Frontier CMOs are reclaiming the strategic marketing agenda and, instead of buying into the idea that marketing’s role has somehow been denuded, they’re now leading their brands to recovery and growth.”

Ashish Bhasin, Asia Pacific CEO of dentsu, added: “The pandemic has significantly accelerated a number of existing trends. What would have taken five years has now only taken five months; it has pushed and forced us to learn. Changes to the workplace such as remote working is an example. With every disruption comes its own sets of winners and losers. It is crucial for CMOs to keep up with the new skills required in today’s new world to ensure success in the discontinuity. We are right in the midst of a change and this is exciting.”

Helping marketers navigate the challenges of addressing racial injustice and leading with purpose 

Guest edited by Kai D. Wright, Columbia University Lecturer and Ogilvy Global Consulting Partner

The Black Lives Matter movement has galvanized consumers and employees, demanding brands to identify and double-down on how they respond to racial injustice. Brands now look to move forward effectively in a way that provides empathy, earnestness and empowerment in their engagement with Black communities.

To help marketers navigate these challenges and lead with purpose, WARC, the global authority on marketing effectiveness, has today released the WARC Guide to Brand activism in the Black Lives Matter era, compiling insights and learnings from prominent Black voices in the marketing community.

Guest editor Kai D. Wright, Columbia University Lecturer, Ogilvy Global Consulting Partner, Author and Founder of blacklist 100, comments: "From the streets to boardrooms, Black Lives Matter has unified consumers and employees in fighting racial inequity, demanding more accountability from CEOs, organizations, and brands themselves.

"In the next 30 years, 90% of the US population growth will come from minority audiences, including Black households. This Guide offers research, inspiration, and advice on how to exercise brand accountability. Ultimately, it is a quick-start foundation for ethically activating Black Lives Matter to be relevant among, and resonate with, diverse communities by creating a new growth imperative based on their empowerment." 

Cathy Taylor, US Commissioning Editor, WARC, says: "Research shows consumers are demanding brands respond in ways that go beyond donations. This is not just about changing messaging or momentary gestures, it is about the very core of the business ⧿ addressing challenges and taking the right steps to drive long term positive change. 

"We are delighted to have worked with guest editor Kai and our many esteemed contributors in our quest to help businesses respond in authentic and meaningful ways to the BLM movement." 

Providing guidance for advertisers, agencies and media owners, the report features case studies from brands who've done it well - including, Procter & Gamble, Ford and Netflix - data on changing attitudes around Black Lives Matter, what consumers want brands to do, the internal work that brands have to do towards diversity, equity and inclusion, and how that affects marketing outcomes.

The eight key takeaways highlighted in WARC's Guide to Brand activism in the Black Lives Matter era are:

1. The US is moving toward a majority-minority culture 

According to US Census data, in 2014 minorities made up 38% of the country, but by 2060 they will be in the majority at 56%. Marketers should no longer default to white culture. Non-US marketers should note the call for better representation is present in many markets, and lessons from the next wave of brand activism will be relevant globally.

2. Black Lives Matter is bigger than messaging, affecting how brands operate internally and externally 

It is not just a multicultural issue; it's a human rights issue. And it's not just about posting a black square in protest on Instagram. For some brands, confronting racial injustice is new territory, but other brands came prepared. What they share is a strong brand purpose and often a history of addressing social issues.

3. Addressing racial injustice is a business imperative

More than a third of consumers have taken action based on a brand's approach to combating racial injustice - and they influence others to act in the same way. Especially in younger demographics, people say they will vote with their wallets and voices in terms of what brands they purchase.

4. Brands need to accept discomfort and be prepared for polarization in addressing racial inequities

Consumers firmly want brands to show solidarity but are torn as to what pace or scale. According to PSB Insights, there is clear polarization around how brands are seen as "responding to the current conversations and protests around racial injustice".

5. Ads that reflect diversity work

A global analysis of over 11,000 ads on Kantar's Link platform showed ads are more likely to get viewers' attention and be remembered if they feature people from diverse backgrounds. They're more enjoyable and involving, and show sales benefits.

6. A brand purpose, alone, is not enough

It only works when brands show true commitment and willingness to change. Visa, Levi's and P&G are committing to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Visa is reviewing progress every quarter.

7. Media budgeting is overwhelmingly skewed toward the general population

Only 6% of all US media spend of the total $480bn per year is geared toward minority groups. Brands need to act on bringing more equity to media investment.

8. Consumers prefer concrete action

Consumers prefer community investments and internal diversity, over donations. Research by WARC and Wunderman Thompson shows that of 1,006 adults surveyed in the US from Sept 3-9, 47% of Black/African American versus 32% of the general population want brands to change current internal practices and policies.

A sample of the WARC Guide to Brand activism in the Black Lives Matter era is available to download here.  The full report is available to WARC subscribers.

To complement the Guide, WARC will host two webinars: October 27 with Monique Nelson, Chair and CEO at UWG and Kai D. Wright entitled Marketing to Multicultural Consumers Now and in the Coming Majority-Minority; October 28 with Kantar entitled A Global look at Racial Representation in Advertising.

Paul Coxhill, Managing Director, WARC & Lions Intelligence, added: "WARC is committed to help advance diversity and inclusion in our industry. This Guide, together with our other BLM initiatives, will help brands, agencies, as well as the next generation of marketers, address the challenges and take the right steps to drive long term positive change."  

Created by FCB’s Creative Data Marketing Agency FCB/SIX, ‘me too.’ Act Too

Converts Awareness into Action That Is Permanently Blockchain-Protected

On October 15, 2017, two words thrust into the public consciousness and ignited a global movement: #MeToo. Three years later, FCB Global is honored to help ‘me too.’ Movement founder and activist Tarana Burke launch the next chapter of her organization’s evolution. Brought to life by FCB’s creative data marketing agency, FCB/SIX, ‘me too.’ Act Too is a breakthrough platform and brand campaign that engages the world to take part in ending sexual violence.

On this three-year anniversary of the day the hashtag #MeToo went viral, FCB/SIX introduces ‘me too.’ Act Too, an interactive website and crowdsourced, blockchain-powered tool that encourages people to take action. It’s part of the nonprofit organization’s mission to demonstrate that it’s more than just a hashtag by showing not only survivors but also advocates and allies alike how they can take tangible actions to join the fight against sexual violence.

“FCB Global has been moved by recent events to apply our industry leadership position to catalyze social change,” said Carter Murray, FCB Worldwide CEO. “Fresh off FCB/SIX’s award-winning ‘Go Back To Africa’ campaign, we set out on a bold, new social justice mission: to help the ‘me too.’ Movement define the next chapter of its evolution. It’s been a personal honor to work with Tarana and her inspiring team through our two-year journey and to continue the legacy of their incredibly important work. There’s still a tremendous amount of change needed to win the fight against sexual harassment and assault, but we’re emboldened by the progress made and optimistic for lasting impact ahead.”

From Awareness to Action

‘me too.’ research found that the original hashtag movement in 2017 was effective in waking the world up to the prevalence of sexual violence and giving survivors a powerful voice. However, unlike causes such as climate change or Black Lives Matter, it was less clear where allies fit in or the ways in which they can help. A second challenge was that the success of #MeToo had reduced the movement to a hashtag in certain people’s minds. Working with FCB/SIX, Burke’s team envisioned its next chapter to be about inciting action — such as changes to laws and policies — and increasing the accessibility of the movement so it had an equally important role for advocates and allies, as well as survivors.

To counteract the historic silencing of survivors’ voices, the work involved a novel application of blockchain technology, so that each user’s contribution to the movement is recorded permanently in a public ledger that can’t be silenced, altered or erased.

“Awareness is nothing without action and that’s what we wanted to convey in our next act,” said Burke. “Today, we all have the chance to write another chapter, and to contribute to everyday activism as simple as joining a march or reading a book.”

She added: “Working with FCB/SIX opened my eyes to the possibilities of applying innovative technologies in service of a future free from sexual violence. Through ‘me too.’ Act Too, the history of this movement will be written by the activists themselves, and recorded for posterity to a permanent archive on a public blockchain so that their voices can never be altered, disputed or erased.”

Powered by Everyday Activism

The ‘me too.’ organization worked with the creative data specialists at FCB/SIX to concept, create and build the technology platform and supporting brand campaign. Central to ‘me too.’ Act Too is an “action hub,” an interactive platform featuring:

Nearly 1,000 Actions: Powered by a recommendation engine modeled after best-in-class e-commerce sites, the utility uses intelligence to recommend personalized actions people can take to support the movement. From micro-actions (like watching an educational video) to formal actions (like donating or volunteering), the platform curates suggestions based on each individual’s interests, level of commitment, location and more. 

To-Do List: Users can create their own personalized plan, saving meaningful actions and crossing them off as they go.

Blockchain Record: When a user completes an action, they are given a unique block that gets added to the blockchain-powered indelible record, a new way to write history.

Monument to the Movement: For every action taken, a 64-character block image becomes one piece that is stitched together into a larger blockchain visualization, a digital tapestry celebrating iconic forebears, from Harriet Jacobs to Rosa Parks, in the fight against sexual violence.

Recorded in a Public Ledger

Too often, people in power write the narrative, while marginalized voices get silenced or disputed. The FCB/SIX team wanted to change the narrative by shifting focus on to the survivors. The platform is powered by blockchain technology, a decentralized peer-to-peer ledger of transactions often used in handling financial transactions that records an indelible public record.

FCB/SIX global president Andrea Cook explains the concept: “We like the poetry of when you take action, you help bring each of those moments to life and you become part of the movement’s history. Through a novel application of blockchain for activism, FCB/SIX wanted to create a living, irrefutable record of the survivors and allies that can never be erased. Everything about this innovative technology — its openness, peer-to-peer approach and transparency — seemed perfectly suited to our goal. Leveraging FCB/SIX’s position at the forefront of technology, data and creative, we created a breakthrough digital platform for civic engagement. We see this as the face of a New Activism.”

Advocacy Through Amplification

The ‘me too.’ Act Too platform will be supported by a cross-media campaign from FCB/SIX that reaches survivors, advocates and allies alike. Its unique digital mural will be shareable on Instagram and other social media and brought to life in outdoor activations. For example, today, a digital billboard in Times Square and other prominent locations will promote the new platform. Celebrities and influencers will further amplify the campaign on their social feeds. Through a brand partnership program, launch sponsors such as Levi Strauss & Co. can champion an action that resonates with their organizations. For the 360° campaign, FCB/SIX relied on help and support from several IPG sister companies across its network, including Acxiom, Current Global, IPG Mediabrands, ITB Worldwide and UM’s J3.

Statistics show that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience sexual violence in their lifetime, and rates of sexual violence typically rise during states of emergency. The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence has seen that close to 40% of rape crisis centers surveyed noted an increased demand for services in the initial months following the COVID-19 outbreak.

Netflix, the world's leading internet entertainment service, announced the global release of Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb. The new docu-feature will be available only on Netflix on October 28th and documents the discovery of a “one of a kind” tomb that came to life beneath the sand at the archaeological site Saqqara in Egypt.

Directed by James Tovell, Executive produced by Richard Bradley and Caterina Turroni and produced by Lion Television and At Land Productions, the documentary films a team of local archaeologists excavating never before explored passageways, shafts, and tombs, piecing together the secrets of Egypt’s most significant find in almost 50 years.

Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb follows the decoding of the tomb of an Old Kingdom priest Wahtye, unopened for 4500 years, and the excavation of five shafts to uncover an astonishing ancient mystery. Transporting the audience back through the millennia, the film provides a unique and unprecedented window into the lives - and deaths - of one man and his family.

Described as a ‘once in a generation’ find, Wahtye’s tomb was discovered in a remarkable state of preservation - with 55 statues carved into the walls – making it the most decorated tomb ever found in this royal cemetery. During the journey of discovery, they have found over three thousand artefacts. Within the boundaries of a temple dedicated to the Egyptian cat goddess Bastet, the team discovered a mummified lion cub - the first lion cub discovered in Egypt. It signals a thrilling first in Egyptology.

“This has been an exciting moment for the whole world. Shooting this film has been an experience full of thrilling surprises. Working with an Egyptian team that has a deep connection with their ancestors has made the project even more unique,” commented James Tovell, Director of Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb. “This mission wasn’t like any other. Normally in archaeology, you labor for weeks to find anything. Here every 30 seconds there was a new jaw-dropping discovery. Such as, capturing on film the discovery of the first complete mummified lion cub in Egypt was a great moment for everyone. And then being privileged to excavate the burial shafts of the Old Kingdom priest Wahtye. The chance to excavate an Old Kingdom burial is a golden opportunity for any filmmaker,” added Tovell.

The documentary was filmed in Saqqara near Cairo, and less than a mile from the site of the Step Pyramid, one of the oldest and most iconic stone structures on earth. The documentary will be released globally in 190 countries with over 30 subs and dubbed into English.

The documentary was inspired by the discovery of a 4500-year-old tomb – the news made global headlines when it was discovered in late 2018 - and belongs to an Old Kingdom Priest named Wahtye, from the 5th dynasty, 2500-2350 BC, in the reign of Pharaoh Neferirkare.

About Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb: It is heralded as one of the most jaw-dropping, exciting, and important Ancient Egyptian discoveries in decades. And the discoveries have only just begun. A team of local archaeologists as they excavate never before explored passageways, shafts, and tombs, piece together the secrets of one Egypt’s most remarkable tombs. News of the tomb discovery has gone around the world and it has been heralded as the most significant find in almost fifty years. The condition of the tomb is remarkable – but the real excitement lies in what is to come. The archaeologists hope they are going to unearth the possessions, grave goods, and mummies of the high-priest and his family – and with that information hoping to transform our understanding of this period of Old Kingdom history.

It is heralded as one of the most jaw-dropping, exciting, and important Ancient Egyptian discoveries in decades. And the discoveries have only just begun. Join a team of local archaeologists as they excavate never before explored passageways, shafts, and tombs, while piecing together the secrets of one Egypt’s most remarkable tombs. News of the tomb discovery has gone around the world and it has been heralded as the most significant find in almost fifty years. The condition of the tomb is remarkable – but the real excitement lies in what is to come. The archaeologists hope they are going to unearth the possessions, grave goods, and mummies of the high-priest and his family – and with that information hoping to transform our understanding of this period of Old Kingdom history.

More secrets from the Saqqara Tomb:

Lion Cub mummy

Found within the boundaries of a temple dedicated to the Egyptian cat goddess Bastet, the discovery of the lion signals a fresh direction for Egyptology. ‘This first example of a mummified lion cub to be found in Egypt is one of the most exciting finds in the history of animal mummification,’ said Professor Salima Ikram. ‘It opens the door to asking questions about the types of wild animals that the Egyptians kept and how they managed them, both in terms of upkeep and breeding.’

First-ever Malaria case theory

Inside the tomb of Wahtye, there were the bones of a full family, Dr. Amira Shaheen Professor of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, found that those bones were distended which can be an indication that the whole family died from an epidemic most probably malaria.

If this theory can be proven it will be the first documented case of malaria in history by more than 1000 years.

Additional discoveries

The film also features the exploration of the wider ancient necropolis were Egyptians buried their dead over thousands of years, as it documents the discovery of shafts filled with the mummified animals, beautifully preserved human mummies still inside their highly decorated coffins, funerary artifacts including a rare complete senet set (board game), and numerous other stunning rare artifacts from Old, New, and Late Kingdoms.

In the course of one season, the Egyptian team at the Bubasteion found more than 3100 unique artifacts

• At a virtual workshop held by Child Safety Department (CSD) in collaboration with University of Sharjah

• More than 50 media professionals and students from across the UAE attended the workshop

UAE media professionals have highlighted the need for improvement in reporting on children’s issues, and strengthening media’s contribution to positively influence public opinion and nurture child-friendly social norms. They also stressed on the need to develop effective media policies to safeguard children’s rights. 

These opinions were shared during a workshop organised by the Child Safety Department (CSD), an affiliate of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA) in Sharjah, in collaboration with the University of Sharjah’s Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development.

The virtual workshop saw the participation of more than 50 media professionals across the UAE, as well as students of media studies and mass communication. 

Prof. Radhi Muhsin Al Zubaidi, Director of the Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development, welcomed the participants, emphasising the center's keenness to support such awareness initiatives because of their positive impact in building an inclusive society.

Workshop presenters Dr. Ahmed Farouk, Dr. Engy Khalil and Dr. Shareefa Al Marzooqi from the University of Sharjah’s faculty of the College of Communications, discussed the principles of reporting on children’s issues in media, how to ensure the adoption of a responsible media policy towards them, and highlighted the need for analysing case studies of media content which violated rights of children.

The interactive discussion saw participants sharing their experiences and challenges while covering child-related cases and identified the issues that arose when reporting on child abuse and domestic violence cases. They also pointed out violations in advertising material directed at children and evaluated the adherence to professional principles of reporting on child-related cases in several published news stories. Participants presented positive and negative instances of the media dealing with cases related to children with disability and special needs.

Professional principles

Dr. Engy Khalil elaborated on professional principles of reporting on children’s issues in media, showcasing a number of articles published in the Arab and international media. They included the principles and rights defined by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations General Assembly, in addition to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Professional Principles of Arab Media in Handling Child Right Issues.

She remarked that the examples showcased the ethics and principles that should be implemented in media reporting when addressing issues related to children. They include equity, non-discrimination, freedom of thought and expression, protection of child privacy, transparency, accuracy, respecting family’s role, media support, integration and assistance.

Analysing media content that involves children

For her part, Dr. Shareefa Al Marzooqi, Assistant Professor at the University of Sharjah’s Faculty of Communications, showcased positive and negative examples of media reporting in local and regional media, explaining the violations as well as adherence to the professional and ethical guidelines on reporting on children’s issues.

Al Marzooqi stressed the importance of including every aspect of reporting, from writing, to photography, video, and distribution on social media, in ensuring children’s rights. She also emphasised the important role of the family in raising awareness in children, who follow the news and are more engaged with their surroundings due to their access to a digital environment. 

Responsible media policy

Speaking about the ways of building a responsible media policy towards children, Dr. Ahmed Farouk, Assistant Professor at the University of Sharjah’s Faculty of Communications, defined media policy as a set of developed principles and guidelines to help journalists report on children’s issues in a way that enables them to serve public interest without compromising rights of children. 

Dr. Ahmed Farouk discussed the factors that influence the formation of media policy, and the mission, vision, ethics, and the general goals of policies involving children’s issues. He noted that journalists have the responsibility to not only respect children’s rights but also actively promote them in media. They also had the responsibility to contribute to nurturing the social and psychological growth of children, he further added.

The workshop was held as part of the Child Safety Department’s ‘Responsible Media… Safe Child’ initiative, launched by CSD in August 2018 under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of SCFA, with the aim of improving standards of media reporting when addressing issues involving children.

During September, Riyad Bank achieved the highest uplift in Ad Awareness of any brand in Saudi Arabia

Riyad Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in Saudi Arabia, enjoyed the greatest improvement in Ad Awareness of any brand during September. The uplift coincides with the brands Blood Donation drive as well as their 75th National day campaign both of which appear to have resonated with the public.

YouGov brand tracking data shows that the campaign has resonated with the general public, with Riyad Bank’s Ad Awareness score rising by 7.8 points, from +17.4 at the beginning of the month, to +25.2 on the 29th September.

Among the younger Population (18-34 year olds) these numbers are even higher, with Ad Awareness reaching +25.6 at the end of September, increasing by 9.8 points throughout the month.

Looking at how this uplift in Ad Awareness has impacted Consideration for Riyad Bank, at the total population level, Consideration has increased by a significant 4.2 points. However, among the 18-34 age group, Consideration for Riyad Bank has increased significantly, by 7.3 points, from +12.2 in August (simple average for the month), compared to +19.5 for all of September. Amongst the over 35 age group, the uplift was a non-significant 1.2 points. This shows that while the adverts have cut through and were noticed at the total population level, when analysing the impact of the campaign, the behavioural changes were more apparent amongst the younger population, 18-34 year old audience.

The success of these campaigns will continue to be tracked in BrandIndex over the coming weeks, and we will get a better idea of whether these campaigns have translated to greater Current Customer numbers for Riyad Bank in KSA.

KPMG has released a report analyzing the results of the UAE’s top 10 listed commercial banks for the first six months of 2020.

Titled GCC listed banks results - Six months ended 30 June 2020, it analyzes the published results of 54 listed banks in the GCC for H1 2020, against key performance indicators. 

It covers financial institutions across countries including the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. It shares information on trends in the GCC on credit loss provisions reported by banks and a summary of significant regulatory support provided in each GCC country. 

The report notes that in the wake of Covid-19, H1'20 profits of the top 10 listed UAE banks declined on an average by 38.9%. This was mainly attributable to higher-than-expected credit losses on loans and advances, which increased by 125.8% on an average, compared to the previous year. The quality of credit exposures has also deteriorated, resulting in an increase in the non-performing loan ratio from 3.8% on 31 December, 2019, to 4.1% on 30 June 2020, for the UAE’s top banks.

Abbas Basrai, Partner and Head of Financial Services at KPMG Lower Gulf, commented: “KPMG’s analysis shows that the UAE banking sector has remained resilient, despite a challenging operating environment and a drop in net profits from the top 10 listed banks. Stakeholders’ focus is shifting towards stability, solvency, and liquidity. It remains to be seen whether this will trigger another wave of mergers and acquisitions in the region’s banking sector.”

To mitigate the impact of the pandemic, the report notes that Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) announced a broad range of support measures, including a USD 70 billion stimulus package, welcome during a time when banks are facing an unprecedented demand for greater liquidity. 

The effect of Covid-19 and the consequent lockdowns by governments has impacted several sectors globally and the banking industry is no exception. The drop in global interest rates in response to Covid-19 and a low oil price environment has resulted in banks facing two simultaneous economic challenges.

GCC governments and central banks also announced various economic support measures including payment holidays for borrowers and targeted liquidity support for banks. To maintain stability in the sector during unprecedented times, some regulators have also provided specific relief from capital norms and certain accounting guidelines.