Alaswaq Alarabiya to Feature e-Portal Dedicated to Islamic Finance

Dubai, 29 November 2008: Alaswaq Alarabiya, the online business and finance presence of Al Arabiya News Channel, is in the preparation for launching the first of its kind ep-ortal dedicated to Islamic finance products and services; the new ep-ortal(www.myislamicfinance.com) can be accessed at the website of Alaswaq Alarabiya. This new and specialized service related to Islamic finance and economics comes as a result of a fruitful partnership between Mawarid Finance PJSC and Alaswaq Alarabiya website.

"The all-new ep-ortal will feature valuable financial and technical information in addition to the largest database of Islamic banks, financing and takaful companies, as well as other Islamic financial facilities available on local and global scale; the said database will contain profiles, financial policies and contact details for all institutions featured in the database," said Mohammed Mosabeh Al Neaimi, Mawarid Finance Group Chief Executive Officer.&

"At a time when the state of the art technologies play a vital role in our lives and enrich our lifestyles, the new online Islamic finance ep-ortal will enable all those involved in and concerned with Islamic finance affairs to maximize their benefits attained from the internet; we are launching this ep-ortal to promote public awareness of Islamic finance, to offer and cover the latest business news and business-related affairs and to provide various economic advices in this field," Mr. Al Neaimi explained.

"This ep-ortal will include an exhaustive database to be used as an all-inclusive guide to Islamic finance of any country." Mr. Al Neaimi concluded.

"Our partnership with Mawarid Finance Group will enable us to introduce this dedicated ep-ortal for the first time on an Alarabiya net keeping up with the highest professional standards of Alarabiya news channel." Dr. Ammar Bakkar, MBC Group New Media Director said. &

Al Arabiya News Channel& The day of March 3rd 2003 has witnessed the birth of the region's most credible 24-hour news channel. Al Arabiya was launched to quench the Middle Eastern audience's thirst for credible, trustworthy, timely, and relevant news. The station, based in Dubai Media City, hosts a large network of reporters who continuously present the latest news from all around the five continents, catering to the Arab audience's interest in politics, business, current affairs, finance, sports, science, lifestyle, in-depth documentaries, in-depth talk-show programs, and social and educational programs.

Covering all the GCC countries, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, South East Asia, North Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australia, Al Arabiya airs speedy and detailed news bulletin every hour around the clock, along with analytical programs, to update the Arab audience on the latest developments with a large network of highly experienced presenters and correspondents.

MBC Group Middle East Broadcasting Corporation (mbc) is one of the leading free-to-air, pan-Arab satellite-TV operators. Established in London in 1991, MBC has been based in the Dubai Media City since 2001. MBC's portfolio of free-to-air satellite-TV channels and brands includes mbc1 (general family entertainment), mbc2 (24-hour movies), mbc3 (children's entertainment), mbc4 (entertainment for the new Arab women), mbc Action (action series and movies), and Al Arabiya (the 24-hour Arabic language news channel); and two radio stations: mbc FM (Gulf music), Panorama FM (for Arab music hits), in addition to O3 Productions (Production unit dedicated to movies and programs), Middle East News (MEN); the group has leading online presence including: www.mbc.net, www.alarabiya.net, www.alaswaq.net

Mawarid Finance PJSC Mawarid Finance PJSC is a private joint stock company established in Dubai, UAE, towards the end of 2006 with a paid-up capital of one billion dirhams. The company plans to introduce a new vision within the Islamic finance sector.

Strategically focused on exploring investment opportunities available throughout the region, Mawarid Finance has acquired a 1% stake in Etisalat Misr, the Egyptian telecommunication operator with EP 1 billion capital, and the Bahrain-based First Investment Bank, one of the investment enterprises of Mawarid Finance Group of Companies. With an initial paid up capital of AED 100 million, Mawarid Finance launched Takaful House PJSC for Islamic insurance; it also acquired Al Jazeera Financial Services to carry out financial brokerage activities in addition to MFI Investments, a limited liability company wholly owned by Mawarid Finance.

Tapping into market investments in agricultural, commercial and industrial sectors, Mawarid Finance is to announce the launch of three leading companies: Al Yamama Social Security, Omran Real Estate Development and IBS Company.

Out of unique keenness to promote the spirit of creativity among the UAE national youth and to contribute towa omar 1.1:zy.