Gray Business Communications (GBC) and Alef Publishing and Media have announced their agreement to terminate the licensing agreement under which the latter has operated in the Kingdom over the past two years. Under the terms of the licensing agreement, the GBC brand and its regional media representation and publishing activities were operated and represented in Saudi Arabia by Alef Publishing and Media, a company run by Rabih el Amine, formerly GBC’s director of operations in Saudi Arabia.
With the termination of the agreement, GBC Dubai will take their regional, media representation business fully in-house, to be run from their headquarters in Dubai Media City.
A joint statement from the two companies stated that the termination of the licensing arrangement allowed for both organisations to focus on their core businesses. “We have enjoyed an excellent relationship as colleagues and business partners. The termination of the agreement allows both companies to address their business expansion strategies and growth objectives for the future.”
About Alef Publishing and Media
Alef Publishing and Media was established in 2007 and has a current client list which includes SABIC, Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI), Olayan Financial Company and the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).
In 2008, Alef established a dedicated Public Relations agency entitled Creative Communication in association with The Communication Group based in London, one of the top five fastest growing PR agencies in the UK.
In early 2009, Alef established a new partnership Paravision KSA in association with Paravision a leading multi-media agency, offering advanced electronic communication solutions including website building, rendering, touch screens and other digital services.
Alef operates from Riyadh Head office with interests in the GCC, Levant and Egypt
About Gray Business Communications (GBC)
GBC was set up in Dubai in 1994 by Judith Gray as a regional advertising sales house with the company’s initial focus being as the sole, regional representative of MEED magazine, business the company retained for seven years. During this time, a number of other international publications were added to the portfolio including The Economist who GBC still represent in Saudi Arabia.
In 1997 the company diversified into publishing and contract publishing, producing the respected Gulf Marketing Review monthly, RaceWeek and Al Tasweeq Al Arabi and promotional magazines for many of the region’s leading organisations. In 2000 the company expanded into event management, establishing a number of regional business events including the GEMAS marketing awards.
In 2008, the company sold the publishing and events businesses and the recent change in strategy supports a re-focussing on GBC’s core capability of media representation.
The company represents The Economist in Saudi Arabia and a number of international websites, the UK’s Guardian newspaper, and the Associated Newspapers portfolio which includes the three million circulations Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday, Evening Standard and commuter free sheet Metro. Discussions are ongoing with other international media and a further announcement is expected shortly.
