Zawya joins forces with Arabia 500 to help fast-growing regional SMBs

Zawya, the leading online provider of business intelligence on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, announced today a new partnership with AllWorldNetwork, which aims to establish the largest information system and network of growth entrepreneurs in Emerging Markets. Zawya will serve as the Business Community Partnerfor AllWorld’s Arabia 500, the first rankingof its kind for fast-growing small-and-medium businesses in the region.

Being on the Arabia 500 ranking puts these companies on the world map, allowing them to greatly improve their odds of success. With worldwide visibility, ranked companies attract new investors, customers, joint venture partners and talent so they continue to grow and scale - AllWorld calls this concept Visibility Economics.

Zawya is the ideal platform for applicants and investors interested in the Arabia 500,as it providesunparalleled regional research on companies, industry sectors, and other unique content, as well as access to a network of almost 1 million MENA-focused business and investment professionals.

The first- ever Arabia 500 ranking will be announced on 16-17 November 2011 during the AllWorld Arabia 500 Awards & Global Summit, which is under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan. The ranking is transparent and in order to be ranked companies have to demonstrate quantifiable resilience and verifiedrevenues. Allworld will check applicant companies’ credentials based on surveys and a review of audited financials.

Gunnar Skoog, Chief Executive Officer, Zawya said: “Being a regional SME that has succeeded, we are always keen to help entrepreneurs and fast-growth companies in MENA reach their full potential. TheArabia 500 is one of the most ambitious projects to date for the purpose of economic development in the Arab world and we are proud to be associated with it.”

Deirdre M. Coyle, Jr., Co-CEO and Co-Founder of AllWorld added: “The MENA region does not lack any capability as there are amazingentrepreneurs throughout the region; the real issue is their visibility. Theyare off the economic map, investors aren’t looking for them, large firms don’t contract with them and talented college graduates have never heard of them. Without visibility, economic potential is artificially suppressed and few companies will ever get to truly scale. With its research and reach, Zawya is ideally suited to provide these companies with the knowledge and exposure they need to achieve scalability.”