Dubai, July 07, 2008: UD researchers analyzed strategic issues (the B2B business model; privacy and security issues of e-commerce; and new business strategies for B2B) surrounding e-business at Bewari, a hypothetical company established in Dubai in June 2000. Bewari allows companies in the Arabian Gulf region to buy and sell goods and services online. This case study highlights the five market forces including the threat of new entrants, industry rivalry, power of suppliers, power of customers, and threat of substitutes which are challenges facing B2B firms in the Arab Region.

Due to scarcity of e-commerce case studies in the Arabian-Gulf region, the present case is of importance to business students in the region since it stimulates discussion concerning strategic issues and challenges facing Bewari. The case study also contributes to understanding the local environment and the challenges of e-commerce for practitioners and academicians as well as business and IT students. Further, it can also be used as a tool to understand new successful online businesses in the Middle East. For more details please contact the co-authors at arao@ud.ac.ae or mawan@ud.ac.ae

-Ends- 

About University of Dubai:
As a corporate academic university in partnership with Dubai Chamber (formerly known as Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry), UD strives to be pre-eminent in providing the highest quality applied learning based on international academic standards, in addition to professional development services to the workforce in both the private and public sectors. UD has two colleges; the College of Business Administration (CBA) and the College of Information Technology (CIT). The CBA offers Bachelor degree in Business Administration (BBA) with specialization in Management, Marketing, Finance & Banking and Accounting. The CIT offers Bachelor degree in Computing Information Systems. All these programs are accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. UD is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). UD is working very hard on earning the AACSB and ABET accreditation for its degree programs. Hopefully, when accomplished, UD will be placed on the world map among the best Business and Information Technology Colleges. For more information, please visit www.ud.ac.ae

About ETISAL Event Management:
Etisal Event Management is a leading creative services firm that provides effective, award-winning public relations and events management services to clients seeking to carve out a niche in the competitive world of business. It specializes exclusively in corporate communications, event management, public relations, conferences and exhibitions. For more information, please visit our website at: http://www.etisal.ae

By Ananth Rao & Mahmood A. Awan

© Press Release 2008