News

Published

3 years ago

October 17, 2023

Spread the love

SurveySparrow expands footprint in MENA region with regional office and State-of-the-art Data Center

SurveySparrow, has announced further expansion of its operations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by opening a state-of-the-art data center in the UAE and a regional office in Dubai Silicon Oasis. This strategic move underscores SurveySparrow’s commitment to serving clients with unparalleled, localized service in the buoyant MENA market.

The cutting-edge data center highlights SurveySparrow’s dedication to data security. The company firmly believes in ensuring that customer data remains safe and secure, a top priority in today’s digital landscape.

Shihab Muhammed, Founder and CEO of SurveySparrow said, “We are thrilled to embark on this new journey in the MENA market. This region is a dynamic hub of innovation, culture, and growth. Dubai is a gateway to the MENA and GCC region, which has some of the best global brands such as Emirates, and Etisalat and prominent banks like Mashreq. With our expertise in crafting highly engaging feedback surveys and delivering better completion rates, we look forward to helping businesses in the region connect with their audiences in meaningful ways.”

Aldrin Kenneth, an industry veteran with over two decades of experience in the GCC region, has joined SurveySparrow as the Director of the Middle East and Africa division. His expertise is expected to accelerate the company’s growth trajectory in this promising market.

Aldrin Kenneth, Director of Middle East and Africa, SurveySparrow said, “I’m determined to establish SurveySparrow as a leader in innovative customer experience solutions and the voice of customer segment in the GCC market. SurveySparrow’s commitment to creating engaging and conversational surveys resonates with my belief in the power of personalized interactions. I’m excited to contribute my expertise to provide a distinctive insight into customer expectations and challenges.”

SurveySparrow’s expansion plans in the MENA region include offering multilingual surveys with Arabic support to enable brands to communicate effectively in specific customer languages. The company’s capabilities cater to various industries, such as retail, hospitality, healthcare, and automobiles, among others. Some of the notable clients include Dubai Tourism, Neom, Shurooq, Majid Al Futtaim (MAF), and Eros Group. As a prominent thought leader in experience management, SurveySparrow will host a premium event titled RefineCX where eminent CX leaders will engage and share their industry expertise and future outlook on October 17, 2023, at Hotel Taj, Business Bay, Dubai.

SurveySparrow’s unique approach to surveys, with the help of a conversational UI, has reimagined the feedback collection process. Shihab Muhammed had earlier stated that the shift toward personalized communication inspired the creation of conversational surveys. This approach adds a human touch, enhances engagement, and boosts response rates, ultimately ensuring that customers feel heard.

The platform’s mobile-first design and customizable domain names for branding purposes have played a significant role in achieving higher completion rates and more effective feedback collection. SurveySparrow has consistently delivered response rates exceeding 40%, far surpassing the industry average of 15%, and sometimes even reaching an impressive 80-90%.

The platform’s key features include AI-generated surveys, an extensive library of over 900 survey templates, white-labeling options, WhatsApp integration for distribution and feedback collection, ticket management for issue resolution, and reputation management for cross-platform brand reviews. These help brands enhance customer experiences across every touch point.

SurveySparrow’s journey has been supported by a significant seed funding round of $1.4 million from Prime Venture Partners, which has accelerated its product and technology development. Shihab’s personal investment has further fueled its growth, leading to innovative solutions in the realm of experience management.

The experience management software market is poised for significant growth, with a projected worth of 52.54 billion USD by 2030 and a remarkable CAGR of 16.6%. SurveySparrow is a pioneer in this market, offering innovative solutions tailored to meet evolving business needs.

News

Want a free taxi ride in Dubai? Here’s how to book the new autonomous cab

Published

9 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

Dubai residents can now experience the future of transport with free autonomous taxi rides in parts of Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has started public operations of its driverless taxi service in partnership with Apollo Go and autonomous driving technology company WeRide.

Passengers can book the vehicles through the Uber or Apollo Go mobile apps at no cost during the current trial phase.

Announcing the launch on social media, the RTA said: “Your next ride could be autonomous, and it’s currently free.”

The rollout follows the introduction of Dubai’s commercial autonomous taxi programme earlier this year, which began with a fleet of 100 driverless vehicles. The fleet is expected to expand gradually as demand grows.

The initiative forms part of the Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to increase the adoption of autonomous transport and reinforce the emirate’s position as a global leader in smart mobility.

News

Sharjah new ticketless parking rules: How to avoid fines in Aljada

Published

9 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

Drivers visiting Sharjah’s Aljada will now pay for parking in selected areas after a new smart parking system went live on July 15.

Launched by Parkin in partnership with Arada, the system uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, allowing motorists to enter and exit without tickets or barriers. Parking fees are paid digitally through Parkin’s payment channels.

Where is paid parking available?

The new system covers selected parking locations across Aljada, including:

On-street parking along East Boulevard
Designated off-street parking lots
Retail parking at The Boulevard, Tiraz, and Misk

How much does parking cost?

Parking charges vary depending on where you park:

East Boulevard (On-street parking)

Dh6.30 per hour (including VAT)
Operates 24 hours a day

Off-street parking

Dh4.20 per hour (including VAT)
Charged from 8am to midnight

Retail parking

Visitors parking at The Boulevard, Tiraz and Misk receive:

First two hours free
Dh10 per hour after the free period

What about residents?

Residents will continue using their allocated parking spaces, while any additional parking will be charged under the new tariff. Seasonal subscriptions will also be available for eligible parking areas.

The rollout marks Parkin’s first operation in Sharjah, expanding beyond Dubai as the company grows its smart parking network.

The ticketless system is designed to improve parking availability and traffic flow across Aljada, one of Sharjah’s fastest-growing mixed-use destinations, which attracts residents, students, workers and visitors throughout the day.

News

Visiting Dubai’s City Walk? Here’s What you need to know about the new ticketless parking

Published

1 day ago

July 14, 2026

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

If you’ve ever fumbled for a parking ticket while leaving City Walk or queued at a payment machine, those days are over.

Dubai’s popular lifestyle destination has rolled out a barrierless, ticketless parking system, allowing motorists to drive in and out without collecting a ticket or stopping to pay before exiting.

The new system, introduced by Parkin, uses automatic number plate recognition technology to record when vehicles enter and leave the parking facility, making the entire process faster and more convenient.

How the new parking system works

Instead of paper tickets and exit barriers, cameras identify your vehicle when you enter and exit City Walk.

Parking fees are calculated automatically based on the length of your stay.

If you have a Parkin account, the fee is deducted automatically. Visitors without an account, or those with insufficient balance, will receive a payment link to complete the transaction digitally.

The move is part of Dubai’s wider shift towards smart mobility and cashless services.

Parking charges at City Walk

Visitors can still enjoy one hour of free parking at City Walk.

After the complimentary period, parking is charged at:

Dh5 per hour, or part of an hour.

For visitors heading to The Boulevard, a different tariff applies.

The first 30 minutes are free, after which parking costs Dh20 per hour. According to City Walk, these charges are automatically deducted through the visitor’s Salik account.

How to get free parking

Visitors spending Dh50 or more at participating outlets can receive up to three hours of complimentary parking.

To claim the benefit, shoppers and diners must validate their parking at the participating retailer before leaving.

Parking validation is also available for eligible visitors at attractions including Roxy Cinemas, The Green Planet and selected participating outlets.

Part of a growing smart parking network

City Walk is the latest destination to embrace ticketless parking as Dubai continues expanding digital payment solutions across the city.

Earlier, Parkin announced a five-year agreement with Al Ghurair Centre to introduce a similar smart parking system.

Under that arrangement, visitors receive three hours of complimentary parking before charges apply from Monday to Saturday, while parking remains free on Sundays and public holidays.

With barrierless parking now becoming more common across Dubai, motorists can expect quicker entry and exit, fewer queues and a smoother parking experience, without the hassle of paper tickets.