Emirates Graphic

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of a health and fitness brand. We’re committed to helping our users take control of their physical well-being through healthy routines and habits.

For what projects/services did your company hire Emirates Graphic, and what were your goals?

We hired Emirates Graphic to create an app that would help our users track their daily diet and nutrition. It would have a: a calorie counter, a collection of video recipes, a progress tracker, tips on supplements and sports nutrition. Additionally, we also wanted to integrate a payment gateway so we could enable in-app purchases of our products.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We had a detailed discussion with our IT consultant. Based on our needs, he recommended a couple of app development agencies to us. Because we were impressed with Emirates Graphics’ portfolio, we decided to go ahead with them.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

The main agenda of the project was to develop an app that worked across multi-channel platforms. So initially our team sat for a discussion with the agency to discuss our business goals. After the review, the designing team laid out the theme of the app. The engineers worked on the features. The payment gateway was very crucial to integrate but the developers took care of it. The developers have integrated multiple tabs for users to easily explore different products.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Our project needs were taken care of by the project leader. The operations were handled by a team of professional developers and backend test engineers.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

In the final version of the application, the theme of the application beautifully aligned with our services. The beta version of the app has been rolled out for testing and the users are sending out a positive response. So far the payment gateway is also secure and runs without interrupting the transaction. The developers have conducted the load testing, so bulk orders can be managed with ease. After the final launch we are expecting the downloads to pick up the pace day by day.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We connected with Emirates Graphic on a weekly basis. The meetings were conducted on Google meet. All the other records related to the project were managed on Trello. The project leader, Richelle and other team members coordinated well to complete the project timely. The meetings were well timed and always began with an agenda. The project leader kept us in loop during the entire time of the app development.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The most impressive factor about the company was their customer service. At every step of the project the team members took care of our needs. They all addressed our concerns and also explained their ideas in a convincing manner. We did not have any trouble explaining our goals and they always came up with interesting solutions. It felt like working with a partner rather than an outsourced service agency.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

As of now we don’t think there is any need for improvement.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the manager of a production company. We do advertising for different companies in the form of photography, videos, and logos, as well as websites and applications.

What challenge were you trying to address with Emirates Graphic?

In Dubai, production companies face a lot of competition, and the best way to introduce a new company is through digital marketing. We didn’t have the expertise or specialized tools in-house to execute effective digital marketing techniques, so we hired Emirates Graphic.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handle all our digital marketing for us, targeting customers and keywords that will attract more clients. Also, they design attractive posts and create content.

What is the team composition?

As far as I know, there are 3–4 people working on the project. I am in contact with one person regularly; she transfers messages from me to the team. If are any technical issues, we talk to another department.

How did you come to work with Emirates Graphic?

One of my friends recommended them to me. He’d worked with them and was satisfied with the services that they had.

In our first meeting, the CEO did a small presentation and explained to us how SEO and Google Ads would work. I liked that we could get results within a certain amount of time, which is why they were the correct choice.

How much have you invested in them?

We spend around $10,000 per month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2021, and we are still with them.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

In the three months that we have been working with them, we’ve seen good results. They send us emails and an Excel sheet every week that show exactly what they are doing and how many leads and clicks we are getting.

How did Emirates Graphic perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly communicate through email, phone calls, and Zoom meetings, as well as WhatsApp. They take whatever feedback we have seriously and fix issues. Weekly updates help us stay aligned, and before they do anything or go ahead with a campaign, they take our feedback into account.

Before Emirates Graphic, I was working with someone who didn’t answer on time. If I messaged him in the morning, he would answer at night. Emirates Graphic is very professional.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Emirates Graphic is knowledgeable, professional, and they advise us on what to do and what’s best for us. They also give us ideas and suggestions, whereas our previous company didn’t give us anything like that.

Additionally, they take care of our feedback and change strategies right away. The design of the creative ads and content is professional, and the customer service is good. They’re always available.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In the three months that we have been working with them, I haven’t seen any lag in their services. If there was anything negative about them, then I would mention it for sure, and if there was something bad, then I wouldn’t continue with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Anyone that wants to invest in digital marketing should go with Emirates Graphic because they can really help. It’s not only about money, for them. Before you pay or sign anything, they’ll show you the contract and spell out exactly what services they’ll provide. You pay only if you are fine with everything.

They are so active, and they deliver what they promise, which is very important.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the manager for a business listing platform. It’s a search engine with different companies listed. It will help people look for different companies in various categories.

What challenge were you trying to address with Emirates Graphic?

We hired them to develop our website and application.

What was the scope of their involvement?

 So far, we’ve talked with them about the web and app’s design. The app will be available on iOS.

We had our own ideas on how we wanted the products to look. We had several meetings to talk about it, and they kept proposing good ideas. We brought those ideas together and created our website. We used a website builder. In addition to our company listings, we wanted to have a comment section so it will be easy for the user to navigate.

What is the team composition?

We work with 7­–10 people.

How did you come to work with Emirates Graphic?

We found them through a web search. They had a lot of good reviews, so we met with them in person.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2020 and we still work together.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We plan to launch the site this month. We’re very satisfied with the quality of their work. They always listen to our suggestions and improvements. They were very detail-oriented. If we want to change something, we schedule a meeting with them.

How did Emirates Graphic perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is very hands-on and they communicate with us. It’s very convenient for us and it’s easy to work with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We work very well with them. The online reviews really helped us select the right partner for us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend that clients meet with them in person. It’s better than over email, and they offer a good price .

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-CEO of ExtraShift. We have an app that enhances the ability to hire temporary staff. Business owners can log in and post requests for a job. Then, individuals available in the area can view and accept the requests. They get paid at the end of their shift.

What challenge were you trying to address with Emirates Graphic?

We needed a company to take our idea from concept all the way to launch.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Emirates Graphic built the app from scratch. They developed, designed, coded, and launched it.

What is the team composition?

There were 6–7 people, including a project manager, developer, coder, designer, and a few others.

How did you come to work with Emirates Graphic?

I chose them from a list of four companies I was considering. They were the best choice as far as ability and cost.

How much have you invested with them?

I invested $27,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from December 2018–June 2019.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

User feedback is very satisfactory.

How did Emirates Graphic perform from a project management standpoint?

They did a great job. We used Basecamp for communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their designer was the best. He was very creative; he took my ideas and made them a reality.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Since I moved away from Dubai, their response time has become slower. The days of their weekend are different from ours. However, I have no complaints about them. I’m generally satisfied.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I highly recommend them; that’s all the advice I have.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of an online startup that allows customers to book tables at their favorite restaurants with discounts.

What challenge were you trying to address with Emirates Graphic?

We needed help with web design and development.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Emirates Graphic designed and developed our website from scratch. They didn’t make the logo but they contributed towards the branding by choosing the color schemes and layout for the design.

They understood the idea completely. We both came up with ways on how to implement things for our concept, which wasn’t simple. We wanted to provide specific features on the admin panel for restaurants, and we discussed that with Emirates Graphic. 

After that, we came up with the best design and implementation together. They helped us with many things on how to implement it because they had the expertise. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people, but Emirates Graphic also had resources working on the backend.

How did you come to work with Emirates Graphic?

A friend told me about Emirates Graphic. I also researched them online, visited their profile on Clutch, and read their reviews.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent under $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in April 2019. Emirates Graphic is still doing some final edits and helping us change a couple of things, but they finished the major parts of the project in September 2019.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Emirates Graphic delivered to our standards. The design—which they made from scratch—exceeded our expectations. 

How did Emirates Graphic perform from a project management standpoint?

During times where Emirates Graphic didn’t need a lot of feedback, we were in contact every 7–10 days. Once the project was about to end and we were doing daily edits and final touches, we were in contact almost every day.

The project took a little longer than we originally expected. When they delivered on our requests, we had our own notes and it took a bit of extra time. Other than that, they did very well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I found Emirates Graphic’s designs to be the best part of what they produced.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Once they were working on the project, we weren’t seeing any changes updated online so I couldn’t tell exactly what was happening. I only received some basic updates.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My company's called GetFit Dubai. I partner with fitness clubs to make a network of 24-hour fitness locations that provide courses, help people get in shape, and be healthy.

What challenge were you trying to address with Emirates Graphic?

I needed a partner who could build a mobile app to promote my company.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Emirates Graphic developed a mobile app available on iOS and Android for my company. Their team managed the design phase and then the development phase. They delivered improvements and communicated every day, listening and integrating my suggestions. Overall, the project took about six months.

What is the team composition?

I was in contact with Sacha (Founder, Emirates Graphic), Valerio (Business Analyst, Emirates Graphic), and Richelle (Project Manager, Emirates Graphic), who was the project manager. I communicated with a development team via Basecamp. 

How did you come to work with Emirates Graphic?

Actually, I went through their website. I loved the design, which was modern, fun, and light. I went ahead and spoke with Sacha.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent about $30,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We collaborated between December 2018–May 2019.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

I’m happy with the function and quality of the app, which is live on both Google Play and the App Store. I’ve gotten good feedback from my customers who’ve found it easy to manipulate. They can access their agendas. The collaboration with Emirates Graphic was really good. I’m also planning to work with them on a website.

How did Emirates Graphic perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Basecamp. The project manager would get in touch with the development team and that would take a little bit of time. Sacha was a very nice person who always listened. If I had a suggestion, Emirates Graphic took it. Overall, the work was really good.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was really impressed by the fact that they were detail-oriented. Emirates Graphic tried to do their job perfectly. They responded to my messages and suggestions all of the time, which was really valuable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They have employees in India too. Due to that, I couldn’t get in touch with the development team sometimes. The communication was a bit late but overall the engagement was good.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have good documentation. You need to know the scope of a project when working with an IT services provider. For example, there was a time I had features to add that I thought were in the contract, but they weren’t. When working with Emirates Graphic or any other company, make sure the scope is well covered and explained.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We offer an international SIM card with no roaming charges. We cover 165 countries. There are no charges for incoming calls, outgoing calls are cheaper than most local operators, and our internet services are very cost-effective. We have around 20,000 daily users, and the project has run for seven or eight years now.

What challenge were you trying to address with Emirates Graphic?

When we first started, we worked with a Swiss agency that helped us with branding and a very simple website. We wanted to add new features and build a new mobile application. We looked for a new agency and decided to work with Emirates.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They redesigned and redeveloped our website and refreshed the user interface. People can reload or activate data pages, call forwarding, or other services. Emirates also built our mobile application and are currently creating a retailer dashboard. That solution allows sellers to track the money they make, how the SIM cards perform, and how often users reload the products they buy. Additionally, they cover our SEO and marketing.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with a project manager, and another resource was present in our early meetings. Our project manager is responsible for the rest of their team.

How did you come to work with Emirates Graphic?

I found them through a web search. We met with a few companies, but we decided to hire Emirates because they understood the complexity of the project. They had a realistic impression of the data migration, and they knew how XML comments worked. They asked the right questions, their proposal was very professional, and I felt comfortable hiring them.

How much have you invested with them?

There were several projects, but I believe we spent $90,000-$95,000 for the initial build, $20,000 on SEO and marketing, and $70,000 for the dashboard they're working on currently.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in the middle of 2017, and the collaboration is ongoing. The initial project took about a year, and we started online marketing campaigns and SEO after that. We hope to have the new dashboard completed in the fall of 2019.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The website and the mobile app are amazing. 70% of our users use the app, which increases reloads and activations considerably. It allows users to activate new packages instantly as they move between countries, and our corporate clients are very happy with the new UI and UX. We see a good return on our investment.

How did Emirates Graphic perform from a project management standpoint?

We didn't send them information on time to meet our first milestone, but we're very happy with our project manager. It was a huge project, but they managed it very well. Once the project started, they kept me updated through Basecamp. I could always see what was in the pipeline and the costs. I could give feedback or additional information through the tool, and we would meet in person whenever I was in town. They were always available on short notice.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They respond very quickly, even when their offices are closed. They're better than any agency we’ve worked with, and they always take time to understand our business in detail. They offered selfless advice and did a lot to help us grow as a company.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Our SEO campaigns aren't running as well as they should, so we're adding PPC and PR campaigns. That's not their fault, but the issues stem from complications with our name. Our rankings are good, but we're working to get the name on the first page through other means. They might have helped us better with deeper research into the potential problems we faced because of our name, but I'm very happy with them overall.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Meet with them in person. They may charge more than some other options, but they're certainly worth the money. Your collaboration will be straightforward, and they will provide what you want.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

WHISPER is an online mattress and pillow retailer, manufacturing products in Italy and selling them in the Middle East. I’m the founder.

What challenge were you trying to address with Emirates Graphic?

They were in charge of building up our website and SEO efforts.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built our WooCommerce site, beginning with initial discussions and ideas on what it should look like, and then working in the design phase. We went back and forth until we got to where we wanted to be, and ultimately achieved a positive result. From there, we progressed into the actual development phase, during which there were a lot of changes from our end, in terms of what was and wasn’t possible with WooCommerce. Eventually, we made it work and we got a good end-result.

They’ve also done SEO and PPC work, setting them up and managing them. Our team ultimately took it over, because we have a more direct knowledge of the product and what it implies; we don’t want that to get lost in translation as we adjust things. They’ve done a very good job of setting it up.

What is the team composition?

I worked with four people in their team directly and communicated multiple times a week in the beginning, if not daily. Eventually, it got to a once-per-week basis, as we were closing up the project.

How did you come to work with Emirates Graphic?

I found them through a friend’s recommendation.

How much have you invested with them?

The total so far has been $15,000 for development and $30,000 for SEO.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from February–June 2018. The initial meeting was at the end of January.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The site has received positive reception overall. They were accommodating to changing things even as we progressed, while sticking to the original agreement, rather than invoicing us for new work. They were very flexible on that front.

How did Emirates Graphic perform from a project management standpoint?

I’d give them a 7/10 for executing what we discussed and handling the final details, with a 9/10 overall. There were several things we had to go through multiple times, rather getting them on the first try but overall, I’m happy. They stuck with us when a lot of people wouldn’t have, coming back and getting it right.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They came up with ideas for marketing and other areas on the side, which impressed me. Their owner expertise means they understand what fits with what we’re doing already. Rather than just doing what’s in the contract, they’ll suggest new things, which is pretty good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should focus more on details, going over tasks one more time before delivering them in order to make sure they meet what was discussed. That would mean they catch the mistakes, not us. Other than that, everything is alright.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Make sure you’re involved and paying attention to the work being done; don’t wait until 4–5 months later, when the results get delivered. This way, you can adjust the path if need be.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the product manager for Smyle, a teeth whitening kit.

What challenge were you trying to address with Emirates Graphic?

We needed help with branding, marketing, and setting up our e-commerce website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Emirates Graphic did our marketing and set up our Instagram account based on our aesthetic choices. They developed our website using WooCommerce, which is very user-friendly especially for people that don’t know much about how the backend works. There’s also a payment gateway integration since we wanted it to be easy for everyone to place orders and for our team to see them.

Furthermore, Emirates Graphic provided maintenance services free of charge to handle our change requests or functionality additions from time to time. The website went live in September after two months of development, many test trials, and new feature additions.

What is the team composition?

We were in touch with three people, but there was a main person that we gave feedback to.

How did you come to work with Emirates Graphic?

We researched digital marketing companies in Dubai and got in touch with them. Emirates Graphic appeared in the first few pages of Google. We shared our vision with them, and after a few days, they gave us a proposal and a sample of a home page.

We were quite impressed with how helpful and open they were to our ideas. They also understood what we wanted and had a good portfolio. While we did talk to other agencies, it was cheaper to go with Emirates Graphic.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July until October 2018.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We got a lot of sales thanks to how user-friendly the website is now. The product is easily being showcased for customers. It’s also mobile friendly and the payment gateway isn’t difficult for people to use. Our side of the operation is also streamlined thanks to the instant notifications we get when someone orders products. There aren’t any bugs.

How did Emirates Graphic perform from a project management standpoint?

Their performance and communication were well done. We were in touch three to four times a week during the process, and they’d update us on everything that was happening to make sure they didn’t have to do it twice. Everything was delivered on time, and they exceeded our expectations. They also checked up on us after the website went live to see if we needed further assistance.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were professional about everything, while at the same time being quite personable with us. They often ask us about our product and how it’s all going.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open to their guidance; they have good ideas.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of products at an engineering procurement and construction company in the oil and gas infrastructure.

What challenge were you trying to address with Emirates Graphic?

We were trying to address the marketing and branding sector in our business. Our goal was to have a logo that would make an impression. We wanted positive feedback on our logo and the colors we chose. We wanted a user-friendly website that would stand out from our competitors.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a few meetings to discuss and decide on the logo. Once we agreed on the logo, then we moved forward to fixing our email signature and our business card design.

Once we started the website development, they sent us the first revision within a week or two. We gave them some comments, and within a month, our website was finalized. They also created a blog for additional content. They are handling our SEO now.

We had them do our roll-up design to put on the wall in our corner for an exhibition for oil and gas companies. They made a presentation for us as well. They take care of any marketing or branding requests for us.

What is the team composition?

I’ve interacted with four people on the team. I usually speak with their founder. My IT manager is in touch with two others.

How did you come to work with Emirates Graphic?

A friend who had used them recommended them to me. I had a kickoff meeting with their founder, who introduced his business and showed me examples of their previous work. Our company procedures require us to have proposals from three companies. Emirates Graphic won the bid in terms of quality, meeting our requirements, and least expensive price.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2017 and the work is ongoing.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Our website is up and running. People ask me who built our website and give positive feedback. The color and design of our business cards stand out. Our logo is one-of-a-kind. People say our logo is stuck in their heads. They even refer to us as the guys with the nice logo.

How did Emirates Graphic perform from a project management standpoint?

They delivered everything on time and within budget.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They always do a great job. They are quick to reply and always active.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be honest and open about what you need. Share your opinions freely.