AMEinfo.com

AMEinfo.com was a business information and digital media brand focused on the Middle East and, to a lesser extent, the wider Middle East and North Africa region. It began in the United Arab Emirates in 1993 under the corporate name Arabian Modern Equipment Est., founded by Saif Al-Suwaidi and Klaus Lovgreen. The business initially developed information products for companies and commercial users rather than operating solely as a news publisher. Its most significant early product was the AME Info CD-ROM database, compiled in the mid-1990s and containing information on approximately 125,000 companies. The database reportedly sold about 10,000 copies, establishing a commercial information model before the company shifted decisively toward the web. During the late 1990s, AME expanded its reach through sponsorship and branded distribution arrangements. Lars B. Nielsen joined as a shareholder and head of sales in 1996. Sponsors including Royal Dutch Shell Middle East and UPS helped support wider circulation, and the 1998 edition of AME Info reportedly achieved more than 180,000 free copies. Branded versions were subsequently produced for organizations including Shell, Batelco, Orbit Television and Radio Network, and Intel. Distribution peaked at approximately 250,000 free copies in 1999 through direct mail and regional magazines. These activities positioned AME as a business-to-business information and marketing platform with a substantial regional audience. In 1999, the company moved from its CD-ROM platform to the Internet and broadened its material to include company news and current events. In 2000 it introduced AME Info FN, a financial markets and economics service headed by Peter Cooper. The website later developed a more explicitly editorial and multimedia profile, publishing daily news wires, columns, features and reports in English and Arabic. Its coverage extended across business, companies, markets, economics and regional commercial activity, while specialist contributors addressed subjects such as electronic business, the environment, education, defence and currency commentary. The platform also offered event listings, business-directory information, video and audio features, streaming Internet radio and tools such as a currency converter. The company moved to Dubai Media City in May 2001 and became AME Info FZ LLC, reflecting its expansion beyond a database and text website into a multimedia information service. In 2002 it formed a marketing relationship with CNN International under which the organizations promoted one another's services online and on air. The arrangement was extended through 2006 and gave AME Info recurring international exposure while associating CNN with the regional business site. AMEinfo.com also became the first Middle East website to receive electronic certification from the Audit Bureau of Circulations, according to the cited reference material. In 2005, HSBC Private Equity Middle East acquired a significant equity stake. Ownership changed again in 2006, when Emap plc announced that its business-to-business division, Emap Communications, had acquired AME Info. The brand was intended to join Emap's Middle East business alongside MEED. In 2013, MediaQuest acquired AME Info together with sister site SME Info. The available reference gives an estimated transaction value for that acquisition but does not establish it through a cited financial filing, so no financial figure is recorded here. Audit figures cited for March 2012 placed monthly unique browsers above 2.4 million, indicating that the site retained a sizable audience during its mature period. The entire website subsequently went offline in 2023 according to the Internet Wayback Machine, and the brand is treated as defunct in this dossier. No reliable current owner, successor service, headquarters beyond its documented Dubai Media City base, or continuing publication operation has been established.

AMEinfo.com originated as Arabian Modern Equipment Est., incorporated in Abu Dhabi in February 1993 by Saif Al-Suwaidi and Klaus Lovgreen. The early business focused on structured commercial information. In late 1996 it developed the first AME Info CD-ROM database, containing approximately 125,000 companies; around 10,000 copies were sold. Lars B. Nielsen joined in 1996 as a shareholder and head of sales. The company expanded its distribution model during 1997 and 1998 with sponsorship from organizations including Royal Dutch Shell Middle East and UPS. The 1998 edition reportedly reached more than 180,000 free copies, including a Shell-branded distribution. Further branded editions were created for Shell, Batelco, Orbit Television and Radio Network, and Intel. By 1999, free circulation had reached about 250,000 copies through direct mail and magazines. Also in 1999, AME shifted from CD-ROM distribution to the Internet. The web service added company news and current events to its directory and reference material. In autumn 2000, it launched AME Info FN, a financial-markets and economics service led by Peter Cooper. The site received a Best Commercial Services Site award in November 2000 from Visa International and Arabian Business. The service expanded its editorial and multimedia scope through regional contributors, daily news wires, columns, features, reports and specialist commentary. Its subjects included electronic business, the environment, education, defence and currency matters. In May 2001 the company moved to Dubai Media City and became AME Info FZ LLC. Its expanded offering included video and audio material, streaming Internet radio, event listings, business-directory information and a currency converter. Content was available in English and Arabic. In May 2002, AME Info entered a marketing tie-up with CNN International. The two organizations promoted each other's services online and on air, and the relationship was extended through 2006. AME Info later received electronic certification from the Audit Bureau of Circulations, described in the reference material as a first for a Middle Eastern website. HSBC Private Equity Middle East acquired a significant equity stake in March 2005. Emap plc announced in July 2006 that its Emap Communications business-to-business division had acquired AME Info. The brand was to become part of Emap's Middle East operation, which also included MEED. MediaQuest acquired AME Info and sister site SME Info in June 2013. Audit figures cited for March 2012 recorded more than 2.4 million monthly unique browsers. The website eventually ceased to be available; the reference material dates the entire site's disappearance to 2023 based on Internet Wayback Machine evidence. There is no reliable evidence in the supplied material of a continuing publication operation after that point.

1. 2023Website becomes unavailable

   The complete AMEinfo.com website goes offline according to the cited Internet Wayback Machine record.

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2. 2013MediaQuest acquires AME Info

   MediaQuest acquires AME Info together with sister publication SME Info.

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3. 2012Reported monthly audience exceeds 2.4 million unique browsers

   Audit figures cited for March 2012 indicate more than 2.4 million monthly unique browsers.

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4. 2006Emap Communications acquires AME Info

   AME Info joins Emap's Middle East business-to-business portfolio alongside MEED.

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5. 2005HSBC Private Equity Middle East acquires a significant stake

   The investment marks a new phase of institutional ownership for AME Info FZ LLC.

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6. 2002CNN International marketing tie-up begins

   AME Info and CNN International begin reciprocal online and broadcast promotion.

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7. 2001The company moves to Dubai Media City

   AME Info becomes AME Info FZ LLC and expands into multimedia content and business tools.

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8. 2000AME Info FN launches

   The financial markets and economics service is introduced under Peter Cooper.

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9. 1999The service moves from CD-ROM to the Internet

   AME Info transitions to a web-based model and adds company news and current-events coverage.

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10. 1996First AME Info CD-ROM database is developed

    A database covering approximately 125,000 companies is compiled and later commercialized on CD-ROM.

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11. 1993Arabian Modern Equipment Est. is incorporated

    The Abu Dhabi company that developed AME Info is incorporated by Saif Al-Suwaidi and Klaus Lovgreen.

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A regional business-information and digital media platform serving professional and commercial audiences interested in Middle Eastern companies, markets, economics and current affairs.

• AME Info CD-ROM databaseBusiness information database1996

  The original major information product was a CD-ROM database compiled in the mid-1990s. It contained information on approximately 125,000 companies and represented AME Info's initial focus on structured corporate and commercial data. About 10,000 copies were sold, providing the foundation for the later online business-information service.

• AMEinfo.com websiteDigital business media1999

  The website became the central AME Info product after the company moved from CD-ROM distribution to the Internet in 1999. It combined daily business news, company information, economic and market coverage, editorial columns, features, reports, event listings and directory material. Later versions added English and Arabic content, video and audio features, streaming Internet radio and utilities such as a currency converter. The site went offline in 2023 according to the supplied reference.

• AME Info FNFinancial markets and economics information2000

  AME Info FN was launched in 2000 as a more journalistic component of the service. It concentrated on financial markets and economics in the region and was headed by Peter Cooper. It formed part of AME Info's expansion from a business directory and information database into a broader editorial product.

• 2002CNN International reciprocal promotion

  Middle East · International

  AME Info and CNN International agreed to promote each other's services through AME Info's online presence and CNN's television and online channels.

  Outcome. The arrangement was extended for successive years through 2006, giving AME Info continuing exposure on CNN International.

  Source
• 1997Sponsored and branded AME Info distribution

  Middle East

  AME Info used sponsorship arrangements with organizations including Royal Dutch Shell Middle East and UPS to expand distribution of its business-information editions. Branded versions were later produced for Shell, Batelco, Orbit Television and Radio Network, and Intel.

  Outcome. Free circulation grew to more than 180,000 copies in 1998 and approximately 250,000 in 1999.

  Source

• 2013MediaQuest acquisitionM&A

  AME Info was operating within the regional business-media market with sister site SME Info.

  What changed. MediaQuest acquired both AME Info and SME Info.

  Aftermath. MediaQuest became the documented acquirer of the two sites. Subsequent ownership and operating arrangements are not established in the supplied material.

  Source
• 2006Integration into Emap's Middle East B2B portfolioM&A

  Emap Communications was expanding its business-to-business presence in the Middle East.

  What changed. Emap plc announced the acquisition of AME Info and planned to place it alongside MEED in its regional business.

  Aftermath. AME Info became part of a larger B2B media portfolio. The reference material mentions a transaction value, but it is not recorded here because the supplied source does not provide an independently verified financial citation.

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• 2001Expansion into multimediaStrategy

  Following its Internet transition, the company sought to extend AME Info beyond text and directory information.

  What changed. After moving to Dubai Media City and becoming AME Info FZ LLC, the service added video, audio, streaming Internet radio and business tools.

  Aftermath. AME Info operated as a broader regional digital media platform rather than only a business database.

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• 2000Launch of AME Info FNProduct launch

  AME Info sought to add a stronger editorial and financial-information dimension to its business database and news service.

  What changed. It launched AME Info FN, focused on regional financial markets and economics and led by Peter Cooper.

  Aftermath. The service broadened AME Info's positioning toward financial journalism and economic analysis.

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• 1999Shift from CD-ROM publishing to Internet deliveryStrategy

  The company had built its early business around a commercial company database distributed on CD-ROM.

  What changed. AME Info moved its core service to the Internet and added company news and current-events content.

  Aftermath. The change established the web platform that later carried editorial, financial, multimedia and business-tool offerings.

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• 2023AMEinfo.com website goes offline

  The complete website became unavailable, according to the Internet Wayback Machine record cited by the reference material.

  Other
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• 2013MediaQuest acquires AME Info and SME Info

  MediaQuest acquired AME Info together with the sister site SME Info. The cited material describes the consideration only as an estimate, so no amount is included.

  M&A
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• 2006Emap Communications acquires AME Info

  Emap plc announced that its business-to-business division had acquired AME Info for inclusion in its Middle East business alongside MEED.

  M&A
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• 2005HSBC Private Equity Middle East takes a significant stake

  HSBC Private Equity Middle East acquired a significant equity stake in AME Info FZ LLC.

  M&A
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• 2002AME Info forms a marketing relationship with CNN International

  AME Info and CNN International agreed to promote each other's services through online and broadcast channels; the arrangement continued through 2006.

  Campaign
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• 2000AMEinfo.com launches a financial markets and economics service

  AME Info FN was introduced as a more journalistic service concentrating on regional financial markets and economics, under Peter Cooper.

  Product launch
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• 2000AME Info wins a commercial-services website award

  The site received the Best Commercial Services Site award from Visa International and Arabian Business.

  Other
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1. AMEinfo.com