DUBAI —Marketing and events company Entourage expects to achieve more than 170 per cent growth in 2011 compared to last year, managing director Mohammed Tayem said, adding that the company will explore new potential markets in the Gulf region early next year.

The holy month of Ramadan is keeping the company very busy as more companies in the UAE increasing their budgets for corporate social responsibility, or CSR, activities, according               to Tayem.

"We already have achieved 170 per cent growth during the first seven months of the year and specially this month [Ramadan] is very busy for us," Tayem told Khaleej Times. He said that there is no doubt that the growth level would be more than what the company has already achieved until July 2011. "Our growth numbers much higher than the industry average," he added. He also mentioned that the company has planned to expand within GCC countries. He declined to name the countries, but said, "We will open more offices in the firs quarter next year."

Headquartered out of Dubai, Entourage has a strong regional presence in Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

The Dubai-based event organiser is organising a series of marketing activities in the spirit of Ramadan. For the second year in succession, Entourage is hosting more than 19 events for Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank's (ADIB) Ramadan projects. It said 4,000 corporate guests, customers, partners and staff members are attending Iftar and Sohour events in addition to 20,000 members of the community who will be reached through the CSR project. ADIB is sponsoring the ambitious CSR project proposed by Entourage. The leading bank is reaching out, on a daily basis, to all corners of the UAE and distributing carefully selected nutritious food at the time of Iftar to the less privileged members of the community.

"What are ideas if they cannot make a positive impact to not just brands, but the community at large? This thinking is central to our solutions in the holy month of Ramadan. We are empowering our clients with a series of effective solutions that reach out to all their stakeholders in a meaningful manner."

The company devised a strategic plan to advance Dubai Autism Centre's Ramadan Campaign. Autism is a severe disorder of the nerves the leads to impaired social interaction and communication skills. Children with autism often display restricted and repetitive behaviour. Autism is on the increase, currently every 1 in 110 children suffer from the nervous disorder.

The company helped bring sponsors and supporters on board to drive the campaign across major media channels. At all ENOC retail outlets, employees are sporting Dubai Autism t-shirts throughout the month. In addition to alternate media channels, several leading newspapers, mupies at the top seven malls in Dubai are helping spread the campaign messages.

ADIB's CSR project is reaching out to more than 666 people every day this Ramadan. Entourage is ensuring top quality food in neatly designed boxes, is delivered to all corners of the UAE. In keeping with the spirit of Ramadan, the objective is to provide relief and joy to those who need them most.

      abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com