Bbbf aut17 web edition

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From The Chair

Khalid Al-Zayani OBE Chairman Welcome to the autumn edition of the BBBF magazine. We all have enjoyed a long summer break but now we are back to business as demonstrated at our well attended lunch in September, kindly sponsored

by Tamkeen. Their presentation about the latest developments and updates pertaining to Tamkeen and its support and incentive schemes that can be availed by the BBBF members was well received.

We were delighted to welcome the world renowned Red Arrows in Bahrain for an exhilarating display and to host an exclusive BBBF lunch meeting for them. We were very honoured to have the Red Pilot s squadron leader Red 1, David Montenegro who gave a presentation to our members highlighting details of their tour. We were also very fortunate to host a breakfast meeting for the BBBF Women in Business SIG where we had squadron leader (administration) Cate Driscoll and 4 other Lady team members of the Red Arrows talk on career challenges and family life balance.

Registration number ISSN 1985-9929

Our SIG s continue to drive forward and I am delighted to announce the launch of the Hospitality Special interest Group. The SIG s continue to offer our members and guests a valuable medium for exchanging industry specific ideas. I would like to thank all the SIG Heads for their hard work and everyone that has supported the SIG s with enthusiasm throughout the year.

Moving into November we will once again be hosting VIP Guests to Bahrain, 3 Chelsea Pensioners to mark Armistice Day. During their visit they will be busy doing their usual round of appointments and visits to schools and clubs.

This autumn we say good bye to BBBF committee member Christian Syme, Head of DIT at the Embassy. We would like to thank her for contributing and strengthening the ties and trade between Britain and Bahrain enthusiastically. We wish her all the very best for her future.

From Her Majesty s Ambassador.................8

I would like to sincerely thank our sponsors for their unwavering support of the Forum. Their continued backing and generous encouragement allows us the financial security to increase the number of initiatives and enhances the quality and quantity of business networking events that our members benefit from and enjoy immensely.

SIG WiB .....................12

The BBBF continues to work to create and sustain a favourable business environment and strives to assist both the UK and Bahrain to benefit and enhance the common economic interests of the forum s member companies.

News from the EP ......24

We hope that you enjoy this Forum edition. The committee as always looks forward to seeing you and your guests at up and coming BBBF meetings and events. Please visit our website for more details www.bbbforum.org or follow us on facebook.

BBBF Corporate Social Golf Day .....................38

On Thursday 16th November we will be holding our annual Poppy Ball , where we join forces with our partners BBA from across the bridge. A very well supported event in aid of three charities (The Royal Chelsea Hospital Building Fund, The Earl Haig Poppy Fund and The Bahrain Mother & Child Welfare Society). The Poppy Ball is one of the highlights of the year s social calendar.

In December we hope you will be able to join us for our Traditional Christmas Lunch where we will be joined by HMA Simon Martin CMG. Simon will update us with his annual review of business activities for 2017 and his musings and thoughts for the business year that lies ahead for us in 2018.

With kind regards

Khalid Al Zayani OBE Chairman BBBF Tel: +973 1781 3488, Fax: +973 1781 3489, Email: bbbforum@batelco.com.bh Bahrain British Business Forum, P. O. Box 10051, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

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Contents

The Red Arrows tour is an example of a Global Britain that is open for business. Bahrain has very close historical ties with Britain dating back over 200 years. The Red Arrows display and visit is a visible, dynamic and significant demonstration of these links.

The bilateral trade between our two countries is increasing and there is always excitement in the country when the Red Arrows perform.

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The 2015-2017 Executive Committee....2 Welcome to New Members..............3 Advertiser Index............5 Diary Dates...................5 Member Benefits ..........6 Why join the BBBF? .....7

SIG Update ...............10 SIG ICT ......................11 SIG Legal ...................11 SIG Oil & Gas .............12

SIG Finance................13 Financial News ...........14 Global Ransomware The new UK £10 ........18 Why The Poppy?........20 Red Arrows Back in Bahrain ..........22

Chess in Bahrain ........26 Motoring News ...........28 Education & Training ...30 Hotel & Leisure News .34

Life Coaching .............39 Bahrain News .............40 And Finally..................48 Cover Picture: Red Arrows in Bahrain - MoD/Crown Copyright 2017 Forum

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The 2017-19 BBBF Executive Committee

Chairman Khalid Al Zayani OBE

Deputy Chair Paula Boast Tel: 3319 4445

Hon-Secretary Ben Elsworth Mob: 3633 1167

Treasurer Jonathan Trafankowski Mob: 3914 8599

Embassy Representative Christian Syme Mob: 3324 3031

Member Adel Fakhro Tel: 1727 5000

Member Nasser Al Arayedh Tel: 1727 2575

Member Mazen Alumran Tel: 1771 5555

Member Ava Garbutt Tel: 3941 1938

Member Mark Gravener Tel: 3976-6565

Executive Manager Dena Wales Tel: 3969 6191

This edition of the BBBF Forum magazine was compiled by Andrew Mead at Mead Management Services Ltd. email: andrew@sbtd.co.uk UK Mob: 0044 7940 559 925 Bahrain Mobile: 00973 3627 2969 KSA Mob: 00966 506 271 151 If you would like to contribute to a future edition please telephone or send an email to info@sbtd.co.uk A full page advert is charged at BD330.

A half page advert at BD200, A quarter page advert at BD110 A small panel at BD55 Assistance with Advert design is available if required Please note: The BBBF nor its agents do not warrant the services of any of the individual or corporate members of the BBBF. The views and opinions expressed by independent contributors must not be regarded as those of the BBBF or its agents.

Publication of any article or advertisement does not imply any endorsement of the views, products or services described therein.

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Welcome to New Members Kawthar Aljufairi CPISP Graduate -Mottmac Mob: 3954-1972 aljufairi.kawthar@gmail.com

William Dennison Chief Commercial Officer Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo (Holdings) WLL Tel: 1722-0872 Mob: 3630-0950 william.dennison@kanoo.com

Mohamed Alzayer CPISP Graduate - Arcapita Mob: 3840-0089 mohamedzayer@hotmail.com

Paul Ellis Client Servicing Director Unisono Tel: 1755-8787 Mob: 3719-4191 paul@unisonoagency.com

Melika Betley Chief Executive Officer HSBC Bank Middle East Tel: 1756-9900 melikabetley@hsbc.com

Talal Faqihi Managing Director Tailormade Tel: 7736-6300 talal@tailormadebh.com

Fergus Burke Exec Gen Mgr - Ind. & Energy Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo (Holdings) WLL Tel: 1722-0220 Mob: 6670-4037 fergus.burke@kanoo.com

Joseph Ghorayeb Country Head of Global Banking HSBC Bank Middle East Tel: 1756-9998 Mob: 3359-1247 joseph.ghorayeb@hsbc.com

Timothy Clarke CEO Bahrain LNG WLL Tel: 1710-1411 Mob: 3737-5555 timclarke@bahrainlng.com

Kosta Kourotsidis General Manager Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa Tel: 1753-1666 Mob: 3939-5454 kosta.kourotsidis@radissonblu.com

Anne-Marie Coyle CEO Yellow Hat Training Tel: 1718-0665 Mob: 3906-7062 annemariecoyle@hotmail.com

Stephen Lay General Manager, JLR Euro Motors SPC Tel: 1775-0750 Mob: 3841-2296 stephen.lay@alzayani.com

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Welcome to New Members Kirsty Anne Leask Leasing Manager Cushman & Wakefield (Bahrain) W.L.L. Tel: 1332-3332 Mob: 3360-4141 kirsty.leask@cushwake.com.bh

Richard Rooze Country Director British Council Tel: 1726-6141 Mob: 3910-3603 richard.rooze@britishcouncil.org.bh

Aishah Mansur-Noibi Paralegal Trowers & Hamlins Tel: 1751-5637 Mob: 3990-2672 amansur-noibi@trowers.com

Xanthe Sutcliffe Sales & Marketing Manager Royal Golf Club Tel: 1775-0777 Mob: 3944-5025 x.sutcliffe@ theroyalgolfclub.com

David Charles Mcgoldrick General Manager Euro Motors SPC Tel: 1775-0750 Mob: 3973-3799 david.mcgoldrick@ alzayani.com

Neil Rimmer Business Development Manager Lloyds Register EMEA Tel 1722-3368 Mob: 3962-2815 neil.rimmer@lr.org

Noor Mufeez CPISP Graduate - Newton Legal Group Tel: 1700-6571 Mob: 3666-2365 noortmufeez@gmail.com

Jessica Narey Senior Account Executive Unisono Tel: 1755-8787 Mob: 3810-9248 jessica@unisonoagency.com

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Khalid Turk CEO Ali Abduljalil Turk & Sons Co. Bsc Tel: 1770-0165 Mob: 3966-5521 khalid@turk.bh

Lisa Welsh Managing Director HK Strategies Kuwait & Bahrain Mob: 00971 504 780 116 lisa.welsh@hkstrategies.com

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Our thanks to all the advertisers in this edition of Forum.

Without their support, this issue would not have been possible. Please give them yours.

Allied Pickfords................................................ page 25 AXA Insurance ................................................ page 17 bmmi - Al Osra ................................................ page 41

Diary Dates Chelsea Pensioners visit 9th to 17th Nov Visiting various venues throughout their stay

Crowne Plaza .................................................. page 37 Dulux Bahrain.................................................. page 13 Etihad Airways................................................. page 31 Euromotors Jaguar.......................................... page 29 G4S ................................................................. page 27 GPIC................................................................ page 14 Infonas............................................. Inside Back Cover Mansouri Mansions ......................................... page 42 Nexus ..............................................Inside Front Cover Skin Health Centre .......................................... page 47 Streetlight Photography..................................... page 5 Trafco / Royal Norfolk...................................... page 45 Viva .............................................. Outside Back Cover To advertise in a future edition of the BBBForum magazine please contact the compiler, Andrew Mead

Thursday November 16th BBBF/BBA Annual Poppy Ball Venue: Diplomat Radisson Hotel Timings: 7pm to late Thursday December 7th BBBF Annual Christmas Lunch Meeting Venue: Diplomat Radisson Hotel Timings: 12noon to 14:30 January 23rd monthly Business Networking meeting Guest speaker to be advised Registration from 12noon Events in the pipeline Please note - dates and timings are subject to change.

Visit the BBBF website www.bbbforum.org and check the calendar for updated details on the above and other events/meetings being held.

of MMSL on andrew@sbtd.co.uk or call Caroline Wilkie on 3671-8115 Adverting Rates for 2018 editions Full page: BD330 Half Page: BD200 Quarter Page: BD110 Small Box: BD55 10% Discount for multiple bookings

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Benefits for BBBF Members

Benefits for all our members may be obtained on production of their Membership card at the concerned outlet. We would like to hear your feedback concerning these discounts. Please do not hesitate to offer your services to our members by contacting the BBBF office. If any member has any difficulty obtaining a discount, please contact the BBBF office so we can rectify the situation.

AXA Insurance 10% discounts to members on personal lines insurances. (excluding medical) Terms & Conditions Apply.

Contact: Jonathan Jane Tel: 1758-8222 Email: jonathan.jane@axa-gulf.com Bateel BBBF Members can enjoy 10% Discount when presenting their Membership Card, Complimentary collection for refilling, Complimentary delivery. Development Managers readily available for a courtesy meeting at your location.

Email: m.shareef@almoayedgeneral.com Contact: Mahboob Shareef Mobile: 3964-4222 BIZNET BBBF female members can join BIZNET for a 25% reduction in the fees (BD 75 for 9 events instead of BD 100). This also includes complementary entrance to mixed events. A member discount card is also provided. BBBF male members are welcome to attend mixed events for BD10 per session.

BMC BBBF members and Organisations are eligible to a 20% discount on Team/Executive Coaching and Association for Coaching International Coach Training as well as 10% discount on other training, consulting and psychometric profiling. Contact:- Dr. Clare Beckett-McInroy (Managing Director & Master Coach), Mobile: 3844-2727, email:- clare@beckett-mcinroy or office@beckett-mcinroy.com British Airways Valid until 31 Dec 2017 ** conditions apply BBBF members can enjoy exclusive discounts of up to 10% on fares from Middle East in Club World business, World Traveller Plus premium economy and World Traveller economy fares on British Airways flights. The discount rate is applicable to round or one-way trips booked before 31 December 2017 and for outbound travel by 31 December 2018. This discount is not valid on taxes, fees and surcharges. Terms and conditions apply To book please login at www.ba.com/bgme-bh GRP Arabia 10% discount for members on 1-on-1 Executive Coaching, Contact: Kevin Craig Tel: 3619-9980 Email: kevin@griparabia.com

Fedex Express Middle East Valid until December 31, 2017 As a BBBF member, you can enjoy a 40% discount on FedEx rates for all your international shipments from Bahrain, up to 68kg. To avail this offer, drop your shipment in person at the FedEx Service Center located at: GLS complex, Block 224, Rayya Highway, shop 6, Muharraq. Show your BBBF membership card along with a valid ID. For more information on the program, you can contact FedEx at bahrain@fedex.com or call FedEx Customer Service at 1733-4448.

Gulf Computer Services (GCS) IT Health Check. GCS have offered BBBF Members a site survey and assessment of all their computer hardware, software and systems.

Hasan Mansouri 10% discount to members at Mansouri Mansions Hotel and Country Club. Contact: Karim Mansouri Tel: 1772-8144 email: karim@karimmansouri.com Novotel Bahrain Al Dana Resort BBBF members can enjoy 20% discount in our Restaurants & Lounge for up to 6 persons. Special CPR promotional rates during weekends. Please contact Reservations: 1729-8411/ email: H3600-RE1@accor.com Oasis Training Centre Oasis Training are pleased to offer 10% discount to members on all English, Insurance and Professional Soft skill training programs.

For more information please visit http://www.oasistrainingbh.com, Call: 1733-0823 or email: info@oasistrainingbh.com PRIME Instant Offices & Business Centre 1. 10% off Videoconferences within Business Centre hours; 2. 10 off our Visa Processing services; and 3. One month free for all our Virtual Office packages.

4. 10% off our meeting room rates within centre hours.

Contact Emma Curtis-Smith, Centre Manager Tel: 1757-0379 email: emma@primeinstantoffices.com Protection Insurance Services offers BBBF members special rates on their personal insurance (motor, home, travel and any other insurance cover). Members will just call to select the cover type, share the credit card number and we will deliver the policy documents to his / her office.

Please call 3904-3446 or 3645-4282

Crowne Plaza Hotel valid until 30th December 2017 Special offer for BBBF Members - 20% discount on all Food & Beverage consumption. BBBF Membership Card must be presented at checkout. May not be combined with other offers/ discounts. Call 1753-1122 (offer excludes MICE)

Royal Over-Seas League Reduced rates for BBBF members at ROSL clubhouses in London and Edinburgh Email: membership@rosl.org.uk Tel: 0044 20 7408 0214 Fax: 0044 20 7499 6738

DHL 25% discount from the cash tariff for any personal shipments being sent from Bahrain to anywhere in the world available on production of your membership card.

Tel: 1736-4100 www.dhl.com.bh

Servcorp Business Package First month FREE on any Servcorp Virtual Office package. For details contact: Danni Hunneyball, Assistant Manager Tel: 1750-3000 email: danni.hunneyball@servcorp.me Web: www.servcorp.bh

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Why Join The BBBF?

BAHRAIN The Pearl of the Gulf has had a long standing relationship with Britain and is still a major trading partner.

Membership directories are distributed to members of visiting Trade Missions and are available through the Embassy and business centres in five star hotels.

BRITISH Trade with Bahrain is now subject to significant competition in this era of globalisation particularly from countries in Europe and from the USA.

Simply click on “Sign Up” on our website www.bbbforum.org complete the application form and click submit. Sounds simple, it is, it must be worth it.

BUSINESS between Bahrain and Britain must be promoted in order for Britain to maintain its dominant position. The BBBF has been formed to help in whatever way it can to do this and through its close cooperation with the British Embassy seeks to promote exchange of trade and good relations between Bahrain and Britain.

FORUM Is defined in the Collins English Dictionary as, an assembly or meeting to discuss topics of public concern . The BBBF provides through its monthly meetings a platform for networking amongst its members and the exchange and dissemination of useful business leads and opportunities. In addition, in return for a modest subscription, members receive the benefit of inclusion in an annual directory describing the products and services they have to offer and a listing on the BBBF website again with a description of activities, contact numbers and useful links.

BBBF Membership Application Please complete the membership form and send it to: BBBF Executive Office, Fax: (00973) 1781 3489, or Email: bbbfmemberships@batelco.com.bh.

For further information call (00973) 1781 3488, Web site: www.bbbforum.org

Cost of membership Individual Membership: BD 100 per annum, with an additional BD 40 once-only registration fee.

Corporate Membership: BD 400 per annum (up to 5 individuals) plus BD 40 for each applicant up to a maximum of 10, with an additional BD 100 once-only registration fee.

Corporate Sponsorships Three levels of sponsorship are available: Platinum: BD 5000 each year for three years Gold: BD 5000 for one year Silver: BD 3000 for one year Sponsor packages include a variety of advertisement opportunities in the Membership Directory, the Forum magazine, the BBBF website and at the regular lunch meetings. Full details are available on request.

Corporate Membership please complete separate form for each applicant

Individual Membership

Company Name

Website address of business (if applicable)

Title and full name (Surname first)

Describe how you / your company contribute to substantial business interests in Bahrain (Maximum 150 words)

Position in business Nationality

Date of Birth

CPR Number Address of business (P.O.Box & Town) Business telephone

Facsimile

Home telephone

Mobile

I agree to abide by the BBBF Constitution & Internal regulations.

Applicants Signature

E-mail address

Date

Please note that the granting of individual or corporate membership is subject to BBBF Committee approval.

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From Her Majesty's Ambassador When I last wrote, in the summer edition, I said that we were on the cusp of the intense summer heat, now I can officially announce that autumn has arrived because last week Sophie and I held our first outdoor event of the season year in a beautiful garden. Although judging from the number of suit jackets that were taken off, no one was actually cold, luckily we have a few more weeks before we have to start to worry about that. The reception last night was for the British delegates and their local contacts attending the inaugural Bahrain International Defence Exhibition and Conference (BIDEC). This was the first triservice exhibition to take place in Bahrain, organised in cooperation with Clarion Events. As I write, the show has only just finished, but early reports indicate that it has been a success and our guests last night were all very buoyant and positive about its debut in terms of both organisation and quality of attendance and therefore business opportunities.

All good signs.

Speaking of success, earlier this month the British Embassy in Bahrain hosted a hugely successful Welcome to GREAT VIP reception on the occasion of the Red Arrows visit to the Kingdom. GREAT is one of the most successful marketing campaigns ever developed by the UK Government. Its aim is to help the world discover why Britain is such a great place to visit, study, work, invest and do business. My thanks to Standard Chartered Bank, McLaren Automotive and BAE Systems who supported the event, which featured a full aerobatic display by the Red Arrows who performed over the sea off Seef and Reef Island, as well as a GREAT branded McLaren supercar. Over

250 VIP guests attended the reception at the Ritz Carlton s Private Island and enjoyed the spectacular display the final one of this year s Red Arrows tour. The McLaren 570s attracted similar levels of excitement, and where better to partner with McLaren Automotive than Bahrain the home of the company s majority investment stake. Members of the public were also able to get a spectacular view from the beaches near the Bahrain Fort, many Red Arrows aficionados remarked that it was the best Red Arrows display they had ever seen! The following day Red Arrows Squadron Leader, Cate Driscoll and Engineering Officer, Alicia Mason presented to the Bahrain British Business Forum s Women in Business Special Interest Group. At the breakfast event, Cate and Alicia galvanized the audience with a discussion of work-life balance, leadership, the highlights of their career journeys and their work with the Red Arrows. The event was attended by over 30 members and guests. Later, that day the Red Arrows pilots were the guests of honour at this month s Bahrain British Business Forum s Networking Lunch. RED 1, David Montenegro delivered the keynote speech to over 150 business men and women and spoke of the work the Red Arrows carry out in supporting UK industry globally. One thing which was really evident was how passionate and dedicated the Red Arrows teams are about their jobs and the crucial role played by the teamwork and trust in everything they do. Their enthusiasm, and the buzz we all got from being with them during their time in Bahrain was infectious and inspiring to us all.

For those that follow the UK media closely, it will be obvious that Brexit continues to dominate. This is unsurprising given the magnitude of the changes ahead for the U.K. But the Prime Minister s Florence speech last month has changed the tone of the debate and started to focus people s minds on the second phase of the negotiations. I thought we has an excellent Brexit Roundtable discussion on October 11th at the Capital Club. This was really helpful for me in taking the temperature of Bahrain business sentiment at this stage in the Article 50 negotiations. Thank you to Khalid Al Zayani, Patrick Gearon, Stephen Watson and Nick Maclean for their stimulating input and for our chairperson, Paula Boast, for keeping us all in order.

I think is fair to say that the mood expressed by the large number of attendees was one of ongoing confidence in the

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U.K. as an easy place to invest and do business, mixed with a desire to see the remaining uncertainties starting to reduce. I have suggested we reconvene the Round Table in around six months a year ahead of the dated of our departure from the European Union.

Late last week we received a visit from the Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP, Minister of State for the Middle East. Alistair is a long-time friend of Bahrain and is returning to a role he fulfilled between 2010 and 2013. It is great to have him back. The main purpose of his visit to Bahrain was to cohost, with the Foreign Minister Shiekh Khalid, a meeting of the biannual Bahrain-UK Joint Working Group. This is an opportunity for both parties to discuss a wide range of issues including co-operation on key trade and investment opportunities, recent political and security developments within the Middle East, and co-operation and assistance on defence, security, counter-terrorism and reform. The Parliamentary timetable at home squeezed the Minister s visit into just 18 hours on the ground, during which time, in addition to the Joint Working Group, he held meetings with Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak, Deputy Prime Minister, The Foreign Minister, The Royal Court Minister and H.R.H. The Crown Prince. He also attended a business briefing, met a group of Young Leaders, had dinner with the Heads of Oversight Bodies and attended a Diwali party, all of this sandwiched by two overnight flights a real test of stamina.

We have plenty more coming up over the next few months, and of course December wouldn t be the same without the Manama Dialogue, so please watch this space; I shall report back in due course. Meanwhile, make sure you get out and enjoy these precious balmy evenings before we are all back inside again complaining that it is too cold!

Simon Martin H. M. Ambassador

BBBF in conjunction with the Capital Club hosted a BREXIT - one year on event - What now for local ME & global economies Panel experts came from across the commercial, investment, financial advisory, real estate, and legal sectors.

On the Panel were H.M.A Simon Martin CMG (British Ambassador to Bahrain), Khalid Al Zayani OBE (Chairman BBBF & Al Zayani Investments), Patrick Gearon (Partner & Head of Middle East Charles Russell Speechless LLP), Stephen Watson (Head of Commercial & Financial Advisory, Middle east & Africa, HKA), Nick Maclean (Regional Head CBRE Middle East, Research & Consultancy) and moderated by Paula Boast Vice Chairman of the BBBF. The discussion focussed on Where we are now, Next steps and What lies ahead Forum

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SIG - Update

Since returning from the summer, the Special Interest Groups have hosted notable events for Projects & Construction, Legal and Women In Business with much more to come before the end of 2017.

In partnership with the Vocational Skills Academy and National Institute for Industrial Training, our Projects and Construction SIG jointly hosted an evening at their facilities in Hidd Investment Wharf.

to take responsibility for the Legal SIG.

Mark Gravener SIG Chair

An excellent start to their activities, with a multitude of questions coming from the highly engaged audience who were seeking to better understand the framework and technical nuances of legal contracts.

are fully endorsed by Tamkeen for Bahraini nationals and are thus offered on a subsidized basis. In addition NIIT/VSA are working closely with government to achieve a minimum standard for

Taking advantage of the Red Arrows visit to Bahrain, our Women in Business SIG arranged a breakfast for the support team of the pilots.

This session was extremely well supported and rightly

Pictured from L to R are: Huw Jones (NPORS), Dr Adel Hamad (NIIT) and Rob Warner (VSA), Paula Boast (BBBF), Alina Moore (AGORA) and Dr David Allison (VSA).

VSA are developing a range of UK accredited and partnered training facilities in Bahrain as a centre of excellence for the wider region. This week they were hosting a visit from Huw Jones (Technical Director) of the National Plant Operators Registration Scheme (NPORS).

In conjunction with their training specialists AGORA, NPORS will offer a passport style scheme for all workers operating heavy industrial machinery such as forklifts and cranes. These programs

all such workers, further improving the health and safety commitment of the industry and marketplace.

Members of the BBBF and their guests representing a wide range of companies, received a series of presentations followed by a tour of the facilities at Hidd and explanation of the development plans by Dr Adel Hamad, Chairman of the NIIT. Newton Legal held their first event, since agreeing

so. We were treated to an inspiring and highly engaging talk by ladies with a tremendous range of skills, experience and passion who clearly know what is needed to keep the Red Arrows on track and enable them to produce such fabulous events during their 10 country tour this year, despite some extraordinary challenges along the way.

ICT attended the regional GITEX show in Dubai where over 40 British/Bahraini companies were represented

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and will shortly be confirming their next event, along with Banking & Finance who are working on a series of highly pertinent activities with some welcome new recruits.

The level of interest and bookings for the launch of our Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism SIG has been extremely positive and whilst we have needed to reschedule the date, it is clear there is a lot of interest in this sector. Combining together the various stakeholders in this developing part of Bahrain s economy should encourage more British businesses to become involved in the opportunities that are emerging.

There is much work going on behind the scenes with all of the SIG s and we look forward to rolling out these developments in the coming weeks. Most importantly, we are focusing on ensuring their output is relevant to our membership, productive in highlighting the economic opportunities that exist between Bahraini and British companies and are aligned with the strategic direction of both the Bahrain government and Department for Industry and Trade at the British Embassy.

Whilst continuing to support established commercial activities and do what we can to make doing business between both countries that much easier, it is critical we also move with the economic diversification plan and secure as greater share of this as possible.

We will be reaching out a lot in the coming months, to new organisations both here and in Britain and will very much welcome your input, suggestions and networks to achieve our goals.

SIG - Legal The BBBF hosted the “Legal” Special Interest Group (SIG) meeting, in partnership with Newton Legal Group at the Capital Club, recently. BBBF members and their guests were given a presentation on the Key Terms in Commercial Contracts.

Aamal Al Abbasi Joint SIG Chair

During the meeting, specialised corporate and commercial lawyers Nicholas Williams, Aamal Al Abbasi and Sumana Abdulkarim discussed key terms that come up time and again when negotiating contracts for business or personal purposes, how users can better understand the basics of commercial contracts and how to best negotiate the same.

Sumana Abdulkaim Joint SIG Chair

The meeting was attended by members of the BBBF, who had the opportunity to expand their legal awareness and develop their understanding of commercial contracts and the laws that govern them.

Newton Legal Group will sponsor the series of Legal SIG meetings organised by the BBBF and plans on hosting its next event towards the end of November 2017.

SIG - ICT

GITEX 2017, Dubai World Trade Centre The 37th edition of GITEX took place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from October 8th to 12th. Over 100 countries participated and a number of countries had their own country pavilions including the UK and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Bahrain pavilion had over 40 participant organisations with a number of government entities such as IGA, Tamkeen and EDB, together with over 35 private sector ICT service providers.

The private sector organisation was supported by Tamkeen.

David Wales Joint SIG Chair

Ravi Jayasundera Joint SIG Chair

sector grew including Cloud, Mobility, Security and 3D Printing.

Another attraction this time was the start up pavilion which featured a number of

Mike Jackson Joint SIG Chair

regional tech start-ups. As investors look to take advantage of the growth in the tech sector a number innovative start-ups attracted funding to further expand their operations.

Over 75 companies participated from the UK. Companies from the UK were supported by the UK government through a grant.

A number of new industry sectors were added to GITEX including: Digital Marketing, Wearables, Drones and Robotics, while some of the existing Forum 11

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SIG - Oil, Gas & Energy

Sponsored by

“The Worlds Energy Mix is Changing” The world s energy mix is changing, which means it s time to look towards affordable and renewable energy sources. The Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, which was launched in October 2008 by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, is a comprehensive economic vision for Bahrain, providing a clear direction for the continued development of the Kingdom s economy and, at its heart, is a shared goal of building a better life for Bahrain s citizens. In order to address this critical need, Bahrain aims to source 5% of the country s electricity consumption via renewable energy resources by 2025 and the private sector will play a pivotal role in helping the Government achieve this objective.

Renewable Energy applications may include a 100 megawatt Solar Power Plant with tendering set to commence in February 2018 according to the Bahrain News Agency (BNA). There are also plans for a significant Waste-

to-Energy plant which will convert Bio-Sludge and other Municipal Waste into Electricity utilising a Sustainable Thermal Conversion process which is widely used in Europe and North America which reduces the reliance on harmful landfilling. Converting Waste-to-Energy provides an efficient Baseload power source which is highly efficient whilst also providing a cleaner environment as harmful emissions are all but eliminated.

The Government of Bahrain recently introduced the National Energy Efficiency Plan and the National Renewable Energy Plan to be supported by the elected Sustainable Energy Unit (SEU). The SEU is tasked with accelerating development across the country s energy sector and facilitating investment into renewable energy. In leading the BBBF O&G

Simon Bromyard BBBF Oil, Gas & Energy SIG Chairman and Energy Special Interest Group (SIG), OAK Group Holdings intends to promote the Kingdom s Renewable Energy objectives by sharing important technical and commercial experiences and in doing so aim to sponsor our next event sometime in November, with particular focus on converting Wasteto-Energy (WTE), with a visit from a world renowned pioneer in the design and manufacturing of High Temperature Pyrolysis WTE applications.

We look forward to meeting you all again in November!

SIG Women in Business The Women in Business Special Interest Group hosted an exclusive breakfast meeting for VIP Speakers of the visiting British Royal Air Force Red Arrows at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel. The meeting was attended by members and their guests including British Ambassador s wife, Sophie Martin. This session marked BBBF s second Women in Business (WIB) event of the season, featuring the public face of the Royal British Air Force.

Event attendees were given a presentation on the Red Arrows with details of team structure, and timeline of the squad s travel and working experience.

Renowned Keynote British Red Arrows VIP Speakers Squadron Leader, Cate Driscoll and Engineering Officer, Alicia Mason discussed work-life balance, career aspirations, and the challenges and highlights of their journeys.

Georgina Munnik Joint SIG Chair

Emelia Mateva-Smith Dr Clare Becket-McInroy Joint SIG Chair Joint SIG Chair

One of the guests at the event, Tanya Shaheen, said: It was so unique to meet women who live and work in a completely

equal environment. There is clearly lots that we can learn and apply from the Red Arrows team spirit and work ethic

The Red Arrows Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team has displayed more than 4,800 times in 57 countries since 1965, bolstering a deep historical tie with Bahrain dating back over 200 years. The event was open to members and nonmembers of the BBBF. 12 Forum

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SIG - Banking & Finance The Special Interest Group contribution for this issue has been written by Stephen Kitching at BBBF Member company BDO

GCC - Value Added Taxes (VAT) Count-down and lift-Off Back in February 2017, Bahrain was the last GCC member to sign-up to the GCC unified VAT Framework agreement which will form the basis for any domestic VAT legislation for every member state. Some of the key points include a low 5% standard rate of VAT to apply to most supplies of goods and services with very few exceptions and agreement to introduce VAT between 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019. You may ask why now is VAT being implemented by the GCC simple answer is since the sharp decline in crude prices over the past 3 years it s the fiscal reality that governments need to balance the books and increase revenues.

VAT is seen by many governments across the globe as an easier alternative to more aggressive ways to raise revenue. However you may think any form of taxation is not already here in the GCC and that for foreign visitors who enjoy tax free shopping this may be of concern for retailers, the reality however is very different. There is also a great amount of speculation that the introduction of VAT will be delayed or even postponed and many businesses are holding back and adopting a wait and see approach.

Experience from other countries where a uniform VAT system has been introduced, including Malaysia, India and Egypt, the VAT date is fast approaching and time is fast running out with less than 90 days to go where potentially Bahrain could still introduce VAT. If you look at the facts and what has been happening with both the UAE and KSA governments it is full steam ahead with the introduction of VAT. Many large businesses in both countries have already been registered for VAT and are finalising their VAT strategy and implementation plans, including IT reconfiguration and ERP tax engines.

Arshad Gadit Joint SIG Chair

Jonathan Trafankowski Joint SIG Chair

I would strongly emphasize the importance for any business that has not yet commenced preparation for VAT should do so as a matter of priority to ensure that they will be VAT ready when the date for Bahrain is confirmed. Failure to be prepared and ready could result in financial penalties and increased focus by the tax authority with visits by VAT inspectors where there is a business failure to be VAT compliant.

Key points;

Current target implementation date in UAE and KSA is 1 January 2018, other GCC members yet to confirm introductory date.

UAE domestic VAT Law came in on August 27, 2017 and the Federal Tax Authority ( FTA ) website is now live. Businesses will be able to register online from mid-October.

KSA has released a final VAT law and final VAT regulations and online VAT registration system is now live.

Both UAE and KSA have now introduced an excise tax of between 50-100% on products which are seen as unhealthy including energy drinks, tobacco and carbonated drinks.

Indirect Taxes includes VAT, excise and Customs duty the scope and breath of indirect tax can only grow and have a much bigger impact on cash-flow and pricing for all businesses. This is only the start of things to come and signifies a shift away from a reliance on oil revenues and tax free status for the GCC region.

777999000

+973

77799900

www.duluxbahrain.com

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Financial News

and access returned to the victim. The motive for ransomware attacks is nearly always monetary, and unlike other types of attacks, the victim is usually notified that an exploit has occurred and is given instructions for how to recover from the attack. Payment is often demanded in a virtual currency, such as bitcoin, so that the cybercriminal s identity isn t known.

Whilst the demands are typically not extortionate the resulting business interruption losses can quickly run into the millions.

Counting the Cost

Global ransomware attacks hit earnings Recent cyber incidents have taken their toll on corporate earnings, demonstrating the material impact of cyber attacks on business. Interim results and corporate announcements in August have revealed the extent of business disruption and the financial impact caused by the two separate global ransomware attacks in May and June.

Ransomware is a subset of malware in which the data on a victim s computer is locked, typically by encryption, and payment is demanded before the ransomed data is decrypted

FedEx said that the NotPetya ransomware attack in June is likely to negatively affect profits, news that sent its share price down 3%. The attack caused significant disruption at TNT, FedEx s European logistics business, which had also been hit by the WannaCry ransomware virus in May. In a statement, FedEx said that TNT may not be able to fully restore all of the affected systems and recover all of the critical business data that was encrypted by the virus. The firm had to resort to manual processing of shipments as the backlog of undelivered parcels mounted.

The company said that the financial impact of the attack was likely to be material and that disruption to services and invoicing had continued for several weeks after the initial attack. In particular, TNT experienced loss of revenue due to decreased volumes and costs associated with the implementation of contingency plans and the remediation of affected systems. FedEx did not have insurance to cover the losses.

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One of the world s largest shipping companys also experienced significant business interruption from the NotPetya ransomware attack, which is expected to impact its top line by USD 300 million. The company said that its results in the second quarter and third quarter would be lower because of a temporary loss of revenue and that the attack had stopped the company from raising its full year profit forecast beyond previous guidance.

Equity prices Research from Oxford Economics has showed that a cyber attack can knock millions off company share prices.

In a study of 65 severe breaches at listed companies, Oxford Economics estimated that companies hit by a major cyber attack will on average shed USD 150 million of market value and see their share prices fall by an average of 1.8%.

A company share price can take a tumble following a cyber attack, but in many cases valuations recover over time. However, research from a Canadian equity analyst CIBC World Markets suggests that cyber attacks are likely to have a bigger impact on equity prices in the future.

The study of five major cyber attacks on large companies found that stock prices dropped by an average of only 2.4% following a breach. The report suggests that equity analysts should start asking more questions around cyber security to better understand the implications of a data breach.

Insurance Cover Cyber insurance is one of the fastest growing areas of the insurance market as companies of all shapes and sizes scramble to mitigate the effect of this emerging threat. Traditional insurance policies, such as professional indemnity, have gaps in cyber cover for example, they will not protect against non-damage business interruption or third party liability losses but these can be filled with standalone cyber insurance.

The keystone of any well-crafted cyber policy is incident response assistance which allows for a structured, multifaceted response to a range of issues insureds are unlikely to have incurred before. Ransomware is just one such scenario in which having a cyber-policy in place will provide you with immediate access to a panel of vendors who can authenticate the legitimacy of the attack, facilitate the ransomware demand, provide legal advice and coordinate your PR response. Beyond these initial response costs a cyber-policy will also pick up the extra expense required to carry out operations and the resulting business interruption loss.

In today s digital world, cyber related exposures are real and ever-increasing: global in nature, acting without regard to geography, sector or business size. A cyber-insurance policy is the final weapon in your arsenal to protect against the inevitable occurrence of these threats.

Citi Bahrain Wins Global Finance Magazine s Award for "Best Corporate/Institutional Digital Bank" for the fifth year Bank wins 26 awards in country and regional subcategories for the MEA region For the fifth year in a row, Citi Bahrain has been named winner of the "Best Corporate/Institutional Digital Bank" award in the first round of Global Finance magazine s awards for the 2017 World s Best Digital Banks Awards in the Middle East & Africa.

In country and regional subcategories in Global Finance magazine s 2017 World s Best Digital Banks Awards in the Middle East & Africa, Citi has won a total of 26 awards.

Country winners for Citi include franchises in Kuwait, UAE, Lebanon, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Cameroon, Cote d Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda and Kenya who won Best Corporate/Institutional Internet Bank Awards in their respective markets. Citi also won in the regional subcategories for Best in Mobile Banking App, Best in Mobile Banking, Most Innovative Digital Bank and Best Online Cash Management.

"Our mission is to enable progress and achieve growth for our clients while at the same time use the latest digital technology and solutions to make our customers banking experience an efficient and unique one", said Usman Ahmed, Head of Citi for Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. "Citi receiving this award for the fifth time is a strong recognition of our capabilities and services that we provide to our clients in Bahrain".

Winning banks were selected based on the following criteria: strength of strategy for attracting and servicing digital customers, success in getting clients to use digital offerings, growth of digital customers, breadth of product offerings, evidence of tangible benefits gained from digital initiatives, and web/mobile site design and functionality.

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Financial News whereas many socalled Zombie funds (no longer accepting new investment) pay 0%. Due to compounding, that means the Zombie fund is half the size of an average fund in just over 7 years.

Don t let your pension decay For many people, the family home is their largest asset.

If they started their career in the UK, their pension often runs a close second. When people own a house, they would expect to maintain it or it will fall into decay and lose its value. However, the same people often neglect their pensions.

Here are a few issues which anyone with a UK pension should explore: Investment According to Moneyfacts, an average pension fund has returned 10.3% p.a. since 2009,

Risks Having moved to Bahrain, your circumstances and priorities will have changed. As such, your attitude to risk and capacity for loss need reviewing, looking at risks such as investment risk, inflation risk, and currency risk.

Regulations Changes in UK regulations bring opportunity and risks. However the Pension Schemes Act 2015, allows you to take the full fund value. Many pensions do not allow for this option, but can be moved to ones that do.

Tax Due to the double taxation treaty, the entire pension fund, in certain circumstances, can be taken tax free by somebody resident in Bahrain, whereas UK tax will be paid if drawn on their return. Accessing pension funds incorrectly

can lead to HMRC charges of 55%.

Annuity rates Falling annuity rates mean that the income you had expected may have dropped substantially.

However, for the same reason, many schemes transfer values have doubled.

Value on Death Depending on the type of scheme, your dependents may receive the full fund value on your death, a smaller spouse s or dependent s pension, or nothing. Reviewing this, and making any necessary changes, can substantially affect your family s future finances.

Advice Going back to the house comparison, would you allow an underqualified, uninsured workman to rewire your home? An adviser needs to be fully licensed in regulated activities by the Central Bank of Bahrain in order for you to have consumer protection.

The CBB consider this to be so serious that there is a 1 million Bahraini Dinar penalty for advisers not complying (articles 40, 161).

John Sharp BSc (Hons), Dip PFS, Certs CII (MP & ER) john.sharp@nexusadvice.com

John has been advising clients on pensions and investments for over 20 years in the UK and Jersey in the Channel Islands and has recently relocated to Bahrain. In Jersey, John worked for HSBC International giving cross-border investment advice to clients of 58 n a t i o n a l i t i e s a c ro s s 71 countries. Prior to HSBC he specialised in pension advice for the Prudential, having previously worked as both an Independent Financial Adviser and for several blue chip pension and investment companies.

Zurich International Life Limited launches simplified investment plan for Bahrain market Zurich International Life Limited recently launched Simple Wealth, a new simplified investment plan that provides an easy way for consumers in Bahrain to manage and grow their wealth.

The unit-linked investment plan, which has been designed to cater for the growing demand for simplified investment products in Bahrain, highlights Zurich s

commitment to promoting and supporting savings and investments among new and existing customers.

Simple Wealth is a single premium product that requires a minimum investment of USD15,000 with the option to make additional payments at any time from USD1,500.

Commenting on the launch of Simple Wealth, Colum O Brien, Head of Retail at

Zurich Middle East, said: We are delighted to announce the launch of Simple Wealth, which has been carefully designed to cater for the growing demand for simplified investment solutions in the Bahrain market.

Our own experience over the last ten years in savings and investment solutions is that customers take comfort from the Zurich Managed funds focus on risk management

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and the funds proven ability to build wealth over the long term. In fact throughout our savings and investment solutions, we see as many as two out of every three customers choosing Zurich Managed funds.

By introducing a new simplified investment plan to the Bahrain market Zurich - Middle East will continue to assist customers reach their financial goals over their lifetime.

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The new £10 note -

Is yours worth thousands?

Why has Jane Austen been chosen for the new £10 note?

The governor of the Bank of England, Mr Carney, said: Jane Austen certainly merits a place in the select group of historical figures to appear on our banknotes.

Her novels have an enduring and universal appeal and she is recognised as one of the greatest writers in English literature.

As Austen joins Adam Smith, Boulton and Watt, and in future, Churchill, our notes will celebrate a diverse range of individuals who have contributed in a wide range of fields.

Some have criticised the airbrushing of Austen s illustration, as her facial features appear to have been plumped up.

Austen will also be the only woman, apart from the Queen, to be featured on an English bank note.

The new polymer £10 note is now in circulation. It has several key features to make it unique. The new tenner will also contain small amounts of tallow, which is made from rendered beef & mutton fat. Features include: Jane Austen A portrait of Jane Austen is on the back of the note. Pictured above, the Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney is shown with the image first released in 2013.

Elizabeth Bennett Next to the portrait is an illustration of Elizabeth Bennett, a character from Pride & Prejudice.

The old £10 is set to go out of circulation in the Spring of 2018.

The exact date is yet to be released by the Bank of England but they advise that notice will be given at least 3 months prior to the withdrawal date. Until this point the old £10 note will continue to be legal tender so can be spent freely One billion polymer Jane Austen £10 notes have been printed and will be fed into general circulation over the coming weeks and months. People can make thousands of pounds by checking the serial number on their new £10 banknotes.

Godmerson Park Beneath the image is Godmerson Park House, the Estate owned by Jane Austen s brother Pride & Prejudice The quote I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading was said by Miss Bingley in Pride & Prejudice.

Raised Dots On the front are two clusters of raised dots in the top left hand corner. Bank of England Chief Cashier, Victoria Cleland said I am delighted that the Jane Austen £10 note incorporates an innovative tactile feature, which I hope will greatly benefit blind and partially sighted users.

Hologram On the front there is a crown and on the back of the note, there is a book shaped copper foil patch which contains the letters JA. Foil Image The image of Winchester Catedral, where Jane Austen is buried is gold on the front and silver on the back.

The Queen A clearly defined portrait of the Queen is printed on the window with £10 Bank of England printed twice around the edge.

Quill At the side of the window is a coloured quill which changes from purple to orange when the note is tilted.

Unique or special serial numbers can make the new Jane Austen note worth thousands, but how do you know which ones are valuable?

The serial numbers show when the note was printed, with the new run of £10 notes starting with the prefix of AA01 and going up from there. The new £5 note had 60 notes printed to each sheet, meaning that the first sheet had the serial number prefixes AA01 to AA60, according to ChangeChecker.org.

The new £10 note is slightly larger, so will only have 54 notes printed per sheet.

The serial number is printed on one side of the note, the same side as Jane Austen s face. It is two letters followed by eight numbers, running from 000001 to 999000.

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Which codes will be most valuable?

The lower the number, the more valuable the banknote.

However, you won t get your hands on the first note printed, as it will be given to the Queen.

Jane Austen

The second note printed will be given to Prince Philip, the third to Theresa May, the Prime Minister, and the fourth to the Philip Hammond, the Chancellor. The Bank of England also holds back some other early-printed notes to give to museums and other institutions.

Despite that, the first million £10 notes will contain a prefix of AA01 and could all be worth £50, said Simon Narbeth, a specialist paper money dealer It s not just low numbers that will prove lucrative, quirky numbers also become collectable. Examples include 007, James Bond s moniker, and AK47, due to the machine gun connotations. Consecutive numbers can also prove valuable, if they are sold together.

There are also some specific serial numbers for the Jane Austen note that are likely to become fought over by collectors.

According to ChangeChecker.com these include 16 121775 and 18 071817, which are the author s date of birth and death, 17 751817, which is Jane Austen s birth and death year combined. Serial number 28 011813 is also one to watch out for, as it is the date that the author s celebrated novel Pride and Prejudice was first published.

Perhaps easier to spot, the JA01, JA75 and JA17 prefixes will also be popular, representing Jane Austen s initials and her birth and death years. However, it may take years before the JA prefix rolls off the printing presses.

Is there any other way of getting hold of these special notes?

Yes. The Bank of England held a charity auction of some of the new £10 bank notes, which it also did when the £5 note was released, on October 6.

Among the lots were early serial numbers, such as AA01 000010 and AA01 000017, and some lots of consecutive serial numbers, such as AA01 000120/121/122. Bids were also accepted on an entire sheet of 54 £10 notes. At the time of going to press prices were not known but to give an idea of prices, the AA01 000010 note had a guide price of £2,000 to £3,000, while the sheet of notes had a guide price of £4,500 to £6,500.

So why Polymer?

Polymer banknotes are cleaner, more secure, and more durable than paper banknotes. They will provide enhanced counterfeit resilience and increase the quality of banknotes in circulation. Scottish Banks will also be issuing new Polymer notes on a similar timescale to the Bank of England.

Born:16 December 1775 Died:18 July 1817 (aged 41) Background Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century.

Austen s plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism.

Although her novels have seldom been out of print, during her own lifetime they brought her little success.

Her novels Sense and Sensibility (1811) Pride and Prejudice (1813) Mansfield Park (1814) Emma (1815) Northanger Abbey (1818, posthumous) Persuasion (1818, posthumous) Lady Susan (1871, posthumous) Austen was buried in 1817 so the release of the note in 2017 marks the 200th anniversary of her death

£20

In April 2016, it was announced that the new polymer £20 note will be issued in 2020 and will feature a portrait of J M W Turner. Landscape painter Turner is one of the most influential artists in British history. In 2005, his famous oil painting The Fighting Temeraire was voted the nation s favourite.

Turner was chosen for the £20 note after members of the public were asked to nominate artists. Almost 30,000 people took part.

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Why the Poppy?

In the spring of 1915, shortly after losing a friend in Ypres, a Canadian doctor, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was inspired by the sight of poppies growing in battle-scarred fields to write a now famous poem called In Flanders Fields . After the First World War, the poppy was adopted as a symbol of Remembrance.

During the First World War (1914 1918) much of the fighting took place in Western Europe. Previously beautiful countryside was blasted, bombed and fought over, again and again. The landscape swiftly turned to fields of mud: bleak and barren scenes where little or nothing could grow.

Bright red Flanders poppies (Papaver rhoeas) however, were delicate but resilient flowers and grew in their thousands, flourishing even in the middle of chaos and destruction. In early May 1915 McCrae was inspired by the sight of poppies to write the poem.

McCrae s poem inspired an American academic, Moina Michael, to make and sell red silk poppies which were brought to England by a French woman, Anna Guérin. The (Royal) British Legion, formed in 1921, ordered 9 million of these poppies and sold them on 11 November that year. The poppies sold out almost immediately and that first ever Poppy Appeal raised over £106,000; a considerable amount of money at the time. This was used to help WW1 veterans with employment and housing.

The demand for poppies in England was so high that few were reaching Scotland.

Earl Haig s wife established the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh in 1926 to produce poppies exclusively for Scotland. Over 5 million Scottish poppies (which have four petals and

no leaf unlike poppies in the rest of the UK) are still made by hand by disabled ex-Servicemen at Lady Haig s Poppy Factory each year and distributed by the charity Poppyscotland.

In England, nearly a century ago, when Major George Howson MC opened his factory in 1922, he had but one dream: to give the disabled their chance.

Thousands of wounded soldiers, sailors and airmen were returning from The Great War without the means of earning a living and Howson was sure he could do something about it. Poppies had become popular as an icon of public Remembrance through the work of Anna Guerin and Moina Michael.

THE POEM IN FLANDERS FIELDS In Flanders’ fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place: and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders’ fields.

to The Poppy Factory and Howson was employing over 350 disabled veterans to make the poppies.

The factory moved to Richmond in 1925 and in 1928 Howson founded the annual Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey. Towards the end of the century, the needs of veterans started to change. They wanted to work in their local communities, to be closer to their families, and to utilise the wide variety of skills that they learned during their time in HM Armed Forces. This was the cue to innovate.

In 2010, The Poppy Factory embarked upon a hopeful venture much like Howson did in 1922 and took their expertise for employing disabled exService personnel on the road to help veterans find the work they wanted in the places they wanted to be. The Poppy Factory has now built upon its strong historical foundations to provide an exceptional employability service that supports hundreds of ex-Service personnel with health challenges into rewarding employment with businesses across the country every year.

Take up our quarrel with the foe; To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high, If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders’ Fields.

Howson saw his chance and asked Earl Haig (founder of the British Legion) if he could make the poppies for their next Poppy Appeal. Howson had been given a cheque for £2,000 and used it to set up The Disabled Society with just 6 staff.

Within 10 years, the name had changed

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall became The Poppy Factory s sole Patron in 2013 in an effort to boost awareness of The Poppy Factory as an independent charity. The Duchess visited the factory and met some of the disabled veterans that TPF has helped into civilian employment elsewhere.

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O

ur VIP Guests at this years Poppy Ball will once again be representatives from the Royal Hospital Chelsea who will be arriving in Bahrain courtesy of British Airways. The story of today s Royal Hospital Chelsea begins over 300 years ago during the reign of King Charles II, whose vision for a home for veteran soldiers was brought to life by Sir Christopher Wren. The Chelsea Pensioners come to the Royal Hospital Chelsea from all walks of life, from the four corners of the United Kingdom. Any former soldier of the British Army over the age of 65, who is facing spending their advanced years alone, can apply for residence as an In-Pensioner.

There are two categories of Chelsea Pensioner: In-Pensioners: those who surrendered their Army Pension and were admitted as residents of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

Out-Pensioners: those who lived Out , in the UK or abroad and received their pension in cash from agents around the country. All records for Out-Pensioners are held by the National Archives at Kew. If you find details of an ancestor in a Census other than the institution one for the Royal Hospital Chelsea it is a definite indication that he was an Out-Pensioner. The Royal Hospital Chelsea has an archive that includes some but not all records of In-Pensioners from 1871 to the present date.

Some 300 army veterans live at the Royal Hospital today, including those who have served in Korea, the Falkland Islands, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and World War II. Others may not have served in campaigns, but all understand what it means to be a soldier and the potential sacrifice that it entails.

WHAT THE POPPY MEANS The poppy is

A symbol of Remembrance and hope Worn by millions of people Red because of the natural colour of field poppies

The poppy is NOT A symbol of death or a sign of support for war A reflection of politics or religion Red to reflect the colour of blood Wearing a poppy is a personal choice and reflects individual and personal memories. It is not compulsory but is greatly appreciated by those it helps the beneficiaries: those currently serving in our Armed Forces, veterans, and their families and dependants.

Mother & Child Welfare Society

Since the 1950s, women of society in Bahrain have worked informally in face-to-face exposure within the local community through charitable organisations. One of the pioneers of the movement of women into political roles was Shaikha Lulwa bint Mohammed Al Khalifa who established the Mother and Child s Welfare Society (MCWS) in 1960 with the premises being inaugurated by Shaikha Hessa Al Khalifa in 1966.

The current President of the Children & Mothers Welfare Society, Shaikha Hind Bint Salman Al Khalifa, replaced Shaika Lulwa bint Mohammed Al Khalifa who passed away in 2016. The MCWS encourages women to take leadership positions within their communities as well support the less privileged through campaigns and fund raising activities. The society has helped encourage women to take on leadership positions in their communities and has provided assistance to patients, orphans, handicapped, elderly homes and material support for needy families.

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Red Arrows back in Bahrain The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton.

The Red Arrows exist to demonstrate the professional excellence of the Royal Air Force and in the UK to promote recruitment to the Royal Air Force.

The Red Arrows have inspired a significant number of people to join the Royal Air Force, both as officers and airmen in all trades, not just pilots!

The team is made up of more than 120 people, including pilots, engineers and essential support staff. Together, they demonstrate the excellence and capabilities of the Royal Air Force and the Service s skilled, talented people.

Based in Lincolnshire, the Red Arrows had flown 4,800 displays in 57 countries, as of the end of 2016 - the Squadron s 52nd season.

The Red Arrows have always flown whichever aircraft is in service as the Royal Air Force s advanced fast jet trainer; currently the BAE Systems Hawk T1. From 1965 until 1979 the Red Arrows flew the Folland Gnat, the Hawk s predecessor. The Hawk aircraft flown by the team and most of its components are all British made.

During international tours the Red Arrows demonstrate both British skill and British technology to millions of people.

The Red Arrows also help more than 500 UK charities every year - contributing many thousands of pounds to a wide variety of important causes The Red Arrows began training in late 1964 to prepare for the 1965 air display season. The squadron was officially constituted on 1 March 1965.

The first official display was on 6 May 1965 at Royal Air Force Little Rissington

in Gloucestershire. This was a special display to introduce the Team to the media. The first public display was on 9 May 1965 at Clermont Ferrand in France.

By 1965, Royal Air Force training aircraft were predominantly red in colour.

The arrows part of the title was in recognition of the Black Arrows, a very popular squadron aerobatic team in the late 50s and early 60s.

Red Arrows pilots are amongst the most highly qualified and experienced within the Royal Air Force, and safety is of paramount importance in all their activities. They have all been selected for their above average flying skills and are all proficient at formation flying before they are considered for selection to the team. All pilots are subject to rigorous annual examination by the Royal Air Force Central Flying School, a standards organisation, and

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all pilots fly regular sorties in Hawk flight simulators to test emergency handling and procedures. The Red Arrows adhere strictly to military flying and engineering regulations, and every sortie flown by the Red Arrows is recorded by the Red Arrows photographers for flight safety/debriefing purposes.

All pilots undergo a rigorous winter training programme. In the early part of the training season the pilots fly in small groups of four, five or six aircraft. As the months pass and they gain experience, the number of aircraft in the formation is gradually increased and the base height lowered.

The Red Arrows aerobatic display changes each year. Reds 1 to 5 form the frontsection of the team s formation, known as Enid, and Reds 6 to 9 make up the rear part, called Gypo.

Above: Red Arrows in Bahrian 2006 Since their last appearance in Bahrain the team has revealed a new Union Jack inspired design. Complete with flowing red, white and blue lines, the design emphasises the team s important role as a global ambassador for the United Kingdom and Royal Air Force.

The Synchro Pair, Reds 6 and 7, perform the highly-popular opposition manoeuvres during this latter section of the show. During a display, Red 10 acts as the team s Supervisor who maintains two-way radio contact with the Team Leader. He also provides the commentary.

There are three types of display the Team Leader can elect to fly - full, rolling or flat.

To carry out a full, looping, display the base of the cloud must be above 5,500ft to avoid the aircraft entering the cloud at the top of the loop. If the cloud base is less than 5,500ft, but more than 2,500ft, the team will perform the rolling display - substituting wing-overs and rolls for the loops. And when the cloudbase is below 2,500ft, the team will fly the flat display, consisting of a series of flypasts and steep turns.

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News from the Eastern Province

Gary Hawkings Chairman, BBA(EP) As we head towards the last part of 2017, the business environment in the Eastern Province is still relatively difficult although there are some major projects going ahead and generally a more positive outlook. The oil price has strengthened slightly in recent months as had been forecast and now looks to be relatively stable slightly above the US$50 / bbl mark.

It is common knowledge that there are several international initiatives being pursued to try and increase oil prices, including the recent visit to Russia by Saudi Arabia s King Salman, the first reigning Saudi monarch to visit the country. It has been reported that Saudi Arabia and Russia are to set up a joint US$1 billion energy fund. Major infrastructure projects are continuing with another one announced this week, this being a proposed US$3 billion new city at Taif, in the western region.

Ras Al Khair industrial city continues apace. Since the last newsletter, Saudi Aramco has signed a joint venture agreement with Lamprell plc, Bahri (The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia) and Hyundai Heavy Industries to establish the largest shipyard in the Gulf region. The target date for full production is 2022, however this is considered to be a very ambitious timeframe for such a huge project.

Another part of the countries diversification plans has seen the government invite bids for a utility scale 300 megawatt solar energy project, which is considered a worlds first for a leading oil exporter.

Saudi Arabia is now actively committing to renewable energy initiatives and this will undoubtedly lead to many new business opportunities.

The economy, in general, is still struggling, with GDP reported to have contracted by 2.3% in the second quarter of 2017 and IMF forecasting that the economic growth in 2017 will be just 0.1%. The government continues to seek ways to balance the books, which will include further reductions in subsidies.

Fuel prices increased earlier by approximately 40% and another increase is reportedly being prepared in the coming months. Saudi Arabia is also pushing ahead along with all other GCC countries - with the introduction of VAT at 5%. The target date is 1st Jan 2018, although some reports say

The British Business Association (BBA) - Eastern Province Tel: 0580 102 207 Email: secretary@bbaep.org Website: www.bbaep.org

it may be delayed by a few months.

The BBA(EP) has faced a period of significant change since the last newsletter.

Steve Graham, who was head of the Eastern Province BTO for last four years has now moved on to Riyadh, along with his wife Luisa who was the BBA secretary. Both Steve and Luisa gave huge support to the BBA during their time here and we wish them well for the future. On the plus side we have great pleasure in welcoming Gary Hunt who has taken over at the BTO. Gary has come from Russia with his wife Irina and we look forward to supporting Gary and his team as best we can over the coming years. Unfortunately, and as previously reported, we have also lost the use of the former BTO residence for functions. The BTO office has now been relocated in Al Khobar and the staff have moved to a new compound.

The compound has a club room which may prove suitable for future business and social activities and a trial function will be planned shortly. The BBA committee has also identified several other potential venues and we have an active calendar

in place for the remainder of this year. This will of course also include BBA support at the annual Poppy Ball!

Although the BBA has faced some challenges recently, it has been immensely pleasing that a strong committee has worked hard to overcome these. Membership has actually increased in 2017 and the signs are good that it will continue to grow. My comments would not be complete with an introduction for our new secretary. Mrs. Lilly Lyinagoro. With Luisa Graham leaving and the closure of the former BTO offices and residence, the BBA lost both our secretary and office facility which made finding a new secretary far more challenging. Lilly commenced working for the BBA properly at the start of September and has got off to a very strong start, settling into the position with ease. The BBA is in good shape and I believe that we can look forward to a strong and successful future.

Warm wishes from the Eastern Province to all BBBF Forum readers. kind regards Gary Hawkings Chairman BBA(EP)

The development of the

Don‛t forget to buy your tickets for the BBA / BBBF Poppy Ball (SR350 per head) Tickets available through the BBA Secretary & the BBBF Executive Office 24 Forum

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Chess in Bahrain Introducing a new chess feature for the BBBF magazine by Chess Fide Master (FM) and UK expat Chris Gant who has worked and lived in Bahrain for the past five years.

Bahrain has an active chess scene with regular tournaments being held throughout the year usually under the patronage of the Bahrain Mind Sports Association and a first class coaching facility available at the Bahrain Chess Academy http://chess.bh. Chess is widely believed to increase mental muscle and the academic benefits of the game appear to be extensive. Indeed there are a number of studies which support the contention that exposure to chess enhances memory, boosts spatial and numerical skills, increases problemsolving capabilities and strengthens logical thinking. So it s great to see so many youngsters in Bahrain from all ages, genders and backgrounds taking up the game and playing in tournaments when there are so many distractions easily available to them.

White: GM Nick Pert (FIDE Rating - 2558) Black: Daniel Gallagher (FIDE Rating - 2147) Opening: Blumenfeld Gambit Round One – British Chess Championship, Llandudno, Wales Date: 29 July 2017 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.c4 b5 5.e4 5. e4 is an interesting move and initiates many tactical complexities. This move used to be played by great chess masters of the past such as Rubenstein and has been revived recently as today s chess masters try to explore dormant lines to find new opening innovations ..usually with the use of analytical chess engines.

Position after White’s 5.e4

I started playing chess when I was eight years old at primary school in the UK and after early encouragement from a teacher at my secondary school who was a leading light in the local chess club I have continued playing to this very day. I have to say that it s flattering to hear about how chess instils great cognitive powers on those who play the game, but I have found that like any other sport or pastime it s really a case of the more you practice the better you get. And the better you get the more you enjoy the game. However a definite benefit of playing chess in Bahrain arose at this year s BBBF Ramadan Quiz where I was able to answer a question for what game is the Ruy Lopez a famous opening? with consummate ease.

In my first chess article for the BBBF Magazine, I would like to showcase an interesting game which has throwbacks to how the game was played 100 years ago. Very attacking, lots of tactical analysis and short in that it lasted 16 moves!

Unfortunately many Grandmaster games played today at the top level can be quite drawn out and attritional in style fine for the chess purist perhaps but not to interest the public at large. This game was played at the recent British Chess Championship in Llandudno, Wales in July 2017. It was played in the first round of a nine round tournament and featured UK Grandmaster Nick Pert who played the White pieces against up and coming UK junior (U18) international Daniel Gallagher who played the Black pieces. It s not often in chess that a player giving away 400 ratings points (as is the case here) comes out on top in a chess match upsets in that sense are quite rare. And so it proved to be the case on this occasion.

For those trying to understand chess notation for the first time, I would just highlight that the board has 64 squares. The columns are marked from left to right by a letter (a-h) and the rows from bottom to top by a number (1-8). So the opening move d4 indicates that a pawn moved to the square d4. A knight move is represented by an N, a bishop by a B, a rook by an R, a queen by a Q and a king by a K. Pawns have no letter. It sounds complicated but you soon get used to it.

McLaren 720S Velocity bythat MSO Have a go at playing through the game follows.

5……Nxe4 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Be7 8.0–0 exd5 9.cxd5 b4 9….b4 looks playable as it threatens to chase away the White knight on c3. However it allows a crushing riposte from White which exposes the fact that Black s king is still in the middle of the board. I would always recommend to beginners to castle as soon as possible and get your king out of the centre and into relative safety on the edge of the board.

10.d6! Bxd6 11.Be4 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 Be7 13.Nd6+ Kf8 14.Bg5! Bxg5 15.Qd5 Qf6 16.Rae1 Black Resigned.

The final position below shows Black is unable to stave off threats of check mate without the heavy loss of material.

So he resigns his position as being completely hopeless. In competitive chess it is rare and in some ways disrespectful to one s opponent for players to play on until checkmate when at a heavy material disadvantage. For those who would like to play through this game or many other games from the British Chess Championship, then I would recommend the YouTube video series called IM Andrew Martin Game of the Day .

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Final position after White’s 16th move Finally I would like to end with a chess puzzle and a challenge for you to spot the winning move. The game features yours truly as Black against Grandmaster Stephen Gordon as White from a game played at the RAC Club (Centenary Tournament) in London in April 2011. It s Black to play and its forced check mate in four moves can you spot the winning sequence?

The answer is given below.

Answer to the puzzle: Black plays 1……Qf1!! and White cannot stop forced check mate in three moves after 2.Kf1 Nd2 3. Kg1 Re1 4.Ne1 Re1 mate

Coming back to chess in Bahrain, there is the St Christopher s School Chess Championship (2nd Al Jabal Consultancy Cup) coming up on 14th October held at St Christopher s School Saar Campus. More than 40 children were already registered to play so it was an exciting tournament. If you have children who would like to play then do contact the Bahrain Chess Academy (see website details above) for further details. I hope to highlight a few of the top games from that tournament in my next article.

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Motoring News

Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover Conducts Successful Training Event for All Staff Members at Land Rover Experience Bahrain The training event, which brought together employees from all departments of Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover, was an immense success that saw them receive practical training on best practices with regard to customer interaction and customer satisfaction. During the training event, employees also had the opportunity to interact with one another in a laid back environment while being treated to a delectable lunch buffet as well.

Employees were also given the opportunity to witness and experience the capabilities of the various Land Rover vehicles available at the Land Rover Experience Bahrain including the newly added All-New Discovery.

Furthermore, while experiencing the Land Rover vehicles perform under various challenging conditions, employees had the unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the agility and performance of the SUVs. Speaking during the event, the General Manager of Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover, Mr. Stephen Lay said: At Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover, we

consistently highlight the importance of customer experience. From the very moment a customer steps into our showroom, they are taken through a personalised experience like no other.

Our highly trained and dependable staff ensures that they are looked after throughout the entire experience of purchasing one of our masterpieces.

We also ensure that customers are well taken care of even after becoming an owner of a Jaguar or Land Rover. With customers being the top priority, it is essential to have all members of our team at their very best at all times. Therefore, regularly bringing together employees from all departments to a training event that enhances the level of interaction with a customer is truly vital.

Customers can walk into our showroom and be guaranteed to be treated with the highest importance by our staff and purchase with utmost transparency in our prices, schemes and the various specifications offered in our many models. Over the course of the year we regularly send members of our team to various workshops and training events to enhance their technical and professional skills and we look forward

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McLaren Special Operations (MSO) creates unique MSO R Coupé and Spider for one customer Advanced aerodynamics with twin-element rear wing; striking exterior design and livery together with a bespoke interior Blueprinted, twin-turbocharged, McLaren V8 engine producing 688PS

Since the start of its operations in 1998, Euro Motors has successfully positioned itself as the leader in the automotive industry in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Continually striving to attain the highest standards, Euro Motors does not compromise on presentation, quality, technical service or customer care in accord with its belief in offering the utmost to customers.

For more information about the Land Rover Experience, call the Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover showroom in Sitra on 17460460 or follow the latest posts about Land Rover on Facebook at Euro Motors Land Rover Bahrain or on Instagram at @emlandroverbahrain.

Additionally, to get further information, follow up to date Land Rover tweets on Twitter at emlandroverbahrain.

An MSO Personal Commission is the highest level of partnership between a customer and McLaren Special Operations, undertaken to design, develop and create unique interpretations of McLaren cars, expertly tailored to meet the exact requirements of the owner.

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to continuing this trend in future as well, he added.

One customer will shortly be taking delivery of two unique McLarens, created to his individual specification

by McLaren Special Operations (MSO).

Called the MSO R Coupé and MSO R Spider, they are the latest in a lineage of McLarens produced as personal commissions, a service that sees the customer working closely with MSO to agree the direction, scope and specification of a project.

A typical MSO Personal Commission extends beyond paint colours and materials and finishes to encompass changes to body and interior design and also dynamic and powertrain enhancements as required. The result is a McLaren personalised by MSO to become a car that is literally one of a kind or in the case of these stunning MSO R cars, one of a matched pair. said Jolyon Nash, Executive Director, Global Sales and Marketing, McLaren Automotive

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JAGUAR XE

SALOON BY NAME SPORTS CAR BY NATURE

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11:25 17/11/10 AM

Education & Training OTC offers new course

The British Language Centre, a training provider for Tamkeen

James Royds, former Director of the Business Continuity Institute (BCI), in the UK, announces that Oasis Training Center (OTC) will offer the first training course for the Certificate of the BCI, and examination, in Bahrain in November 2017.

Mr Royds said Taking and passing the CBCI exam opens the door to the world s most prestigious institute for business continuity and resilience professionals. The CBCI qualification means you belong to a network of 9000 people working in 110 countries in 3000 different organisations. It is a truly global qualification. I am really looking forward to working with the Oasis Training Centre and bring the benefits of Business Continuity to Bahrain!

Dr Suzanne White, of Oasis, said We are delighted that we will shortly be offering the BCI certification course and look forward to further collaboration with James Royds and the BCI. These courses are a welcome addition to the provision of professional training and development in the Kingdom .

Oasis will also shortly be announcing the agreement it has just signed with the Institute of Risk Management (IRM) in the UK.

Bahrain employees are sponsored to undertake professional development courses The British Language Centre is delighted to announce its partnership with Tamkeen.

Tamkeen is a semigovernmental organisation with a view to creating opportunities for Bahraini individuals and enterprises in Bahrain to develop .

Bahraini employees are sponsored by Tamkeen to undertake courses to develop their skills, upskilling the workforce, enhancing organisations and creating opportunities in the competitive labour market.

The BLC has over 20 English language courses accredited as part of the Tamkeen initiative. A widerange of courses from Communication, Business English, Report Writing, Telephoning, English for Sales and Marketing and General English courses.

The BLC, rated Outstanding

by the Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA), is known for its excellence in delivering English language courses and is proud to have over 20 courses accredited with Tamkeen.

Wide-ranging courses are designed to meet learners needs and the requirements of the employer.

The BLC has successfully completed its first collaboration with Ramsis Engineering, based in Riffa. 42 employees from the Engineering sector joined the Foundation and Communication Courses.

The courses were adapted with the aim to meet the needs of the employees and develop their English language skills in a workrelated context.

Abbas A.Wahab, HR Manager at Ramsis Engineering, commented: Our goal is to improve the

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communication in English between our employees for their technical jobs.

And through Tamkeen, this programme allows us to achieve our goal .

Alyas Khuhur, a learner on the Communication Course says Many of our colleagues here at Ramsis Engineering are from outside of Bahrain.

We speak English everyday so this course helps us to communicate with people and with our colleagues who don t speak Arabic.

The British Language Centre would like to thank Tamkeen and Ramsis Engineering and congratulate our learners! We wish them every success in the future.

For more information on courses available under the Tamkeen programme, please contact the British Language Centre Admissions Team on 17791468.

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24/9/17 3:12 PM

Construction News

Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Cultural Centre wins two Africa & Arabia property awards

ABB LEAF Awards success for Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre The upcoming Kuwaiti museum complex, the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre (ASCC), has been named Public Building of the Year at the prestigious ABB LEAF Awards 2017. The annual LEAF (Leading European Architecture Forum) Awards bring together more than 100 leading senior figures from the world s elite architectural design community to celebrate, discuss and honour some of the best new international projects. All shortlisted and winning projects are recognised as setting the benchmark for the future of the industry.

A joint delegation from the Amiri Diwan of Kuwait and SSH collected the international accolade for the complex at a gala ceremony, hosted at the Royal Horseguards Hotel, in London.

The Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Cultural Centre (JACC), in Kuwait, has been recognised as winner of both the Best Public Service Architecture and Best Public Service Interior accolades by the Africa & Arabia Property Awards. The centre will be honoured at a ceremony at The JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Dubai, on 7 September 2017.

The project will now go on to compete with other category winners for the chance to become a finalist in the International Property Awards, which takes place in December at a gala awards ceremony in London.

Since its grand opening in November 2016, the complex has showcased performing arts, local performances and international acts. The facility is the centrepiece of a worldclass theatre quarter set in spacious parkland.

Complex geometric shapes, inspired by Islamic architecture, form the richly textured outer skin of the four buildings that make up JACC, which sit like jewels in a larger public park.

Luxurious world-class buildings below the outer skin exude character, drama and a heightened sense of expectation.

The wonders continue inside each building, as visitors find jewels within jewels, as they explore the beautifully designed interiors.

Due to be completed by the end of this year, the centre not only celebrates mankind s scientific and cultural achievements, but also honours Kuwaiti, Islamic and Arab culture and history. Together, with the award-winning Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre (JACC) and the nearly restored and refurbished Al Salam Palace, the museum complex will form part of a new national cultural district for the city of Kuwait.

The project will consist of six main buildings: A Natural History Museum; Science Museum; Museum of Islamic History; Space Museum; Fine Arts Centre; and a Theatre.

Each museum building will contain an array of permanent and temporary world-class exhibits, installations and artworks.

Walking beneath the canopy of the complex s street is a journey full of surprises, with stunning views deep into the heart of the museums where visitors will see framed vistas of priceless exhibits.

The key buildings that form the JACC complex are the Theatre Centre, Music Centre, Conference Centre and National Library for Historical Documents, all set within a national Park for Kuwait.

Kuwaiti architecture is represented by the main street , which meanders and echoes the traditional Ferej . This creates exciting spaces, Islamic patterns, corners and walkways, mirroring the experience of walking down a traditional, busy Kuwaiti street.

BBBF Member company SSH was appointed as lead architecture and engineering designer on the complex.

The material chosen by SSH for the exterior cladding and roof paving of the complex was also carefully selected. The approved stone, named Skyline, is a true marble from Turkey with a clearly defined vein orientation in the quarry strata. Skyline has all the technical and aesthetic characteristics to meet the stringent requirements of the project.

The Africa & Arabia Property Awards, now in their 26th year, are judged by an independent panel of 70 industry experts.

Judging focuses on design, quality, service, innovation, originality, and commitment to sustainability. The awards are the largest, most prestigious, and widely recognised programme of its kind in the Africa and Arabia regions.

SSH was appointed as lead architecture and engineering designer on the complex.

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BBBF October Lunch with the Red Arrows

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Hotel & Leisure News

Joint Alliance Between Gulf Hotels Group and Kanoo Travel (YBA Kanoo)

The Gulf Hotels Group, Bahrain s leading hospitality service provider since 1967, which owns the iconic 5-star Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa and the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Bahrain, and operates the K Hotel in Juffair, the Asdal Gulf Inn in Seef and the Gulf Suites Hotel Amwaj, has signed a strategic alliance with renowned travel & tour operator, Kanoo Travel.

The liaison between two heavyweights in Bahrain s travel and hospitality industry, aims to further expand tourism in Bahrain from the Saudi Arabian, GCC and Indian markets.

Kanoo Travel Executive General Manager, Mr. Praveen Gandhi stated, We are excited by this joint collaboration with The Gulf Hotels Group and our

key aim will be to drive inbound leisure business through innovative marketing campaigns to our worldwide network.

The YBA Kanoo Group s involvement in the travel industry goes back to 1937 when the company provided refuelling facilities in Bahrain for Imperial Airways seaplanes en route to India and Australia.

In 1947 Kanoo Travel became the first IATA agency in the Gulf and today, Kanoo Travel is the largest travel company in the Middle East.

Gulf Hotels Group C.E.O Mr. Garfield Jones said, Our relationship with Kanoo Travel dates back to 1969 when the Gulf Hotel first opened for business so it was only logical that we should develop this alliance with one of our longstanding business partners. The agreement

represents a fantastic opportunity for Gulf Hotels Group to further increase its penetration into the KSA and GCC markets, whilst at the same time, targeting inbound business from the subcontinent from Kanoo Travel s extensive Indian network .

He further added The current business climate for hotels in Bahrain is extremely difficult so the importance of tapping into new markets cannot be under estimated.

Kanoo Travel has an enviable network of travel partners and considerable resources and expertise in packaging travel and tour business. That, combined with Gulf Hotels Group s commitment to delivering the best hospitality services will enable us to build some exciting and great value for money travel and accommodation packages

Local painter displays artworks at Art Rotana

discovered my love of painting at a young age however, only dedicated time to it in the recent years.

As a part of ART Rotana s promise to support the local arts community, it is currently hosting Bahrain based painter Naheed Ali, as part of the hotel s ongoing Seasons of ART initiative. A selection of her work will be displayed at the hotel throughout October.

This is the latest in a long line of artists who have been featured at the hotel and had the opportunity to gain exposure to the general public at no cost at all to the artist.

I m proud to call Bahrain my home. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy a

I feel so privileged to be able to share my work with everyone and I hope my paintings will add beauty and joy to people s lives and homes the way it does for myself. she further added.

long standing career here and blessed with 3 wonderful children who bring me so much love and inspiration. I

The Seasons of ART initiative forms part of the hotel s mission to engage with the local arts community and establish the hotel as a Hub for artists and arts enthusiasts alike.

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Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain appoints new Director of Sales and Marketing Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain is pleased to announce the appointment of Karim El Berkchi as the property s new Director of Sales and Marketing. With over 15 years in the hospitality industry, Karim brings a wealth of knowledge to the award-winning five star hotel, including a solid GCC background and strategic sales experience.

It s a wonderful feeling to be back at Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, especially at this well-reputed property with its strong hold in Bahrain s market. I look forward to working closely with my team on expanding its market share further, improving RevPar and building on the hotel s base of success, said El Berkchi.

El Berkchi was previously the cluster director of sales and marketing for the Radisson Blu Hotels in the Omani cities of Muscat and Sohar. This appointment also marks a personal return for him to the hotel group of Swiss origin, as he worked with Mövenpick Hotel Kuwait as sales manager in 2006.

Just a two-minute walk from Bahrain International Airport, the 106-room Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain is only 15 minutes from the business centre in Manama. It was voted the Middle East s Best Airport Hotel for three consecutive years by The Skytrax Awards. Overlooking the sprawling

Arad Bay, which is one of Bahrain s protected natural habitats, the hotel offers atmospheric dining experiences and rejuvenating treatments in Rimal Spa.

Generous guests donate 8,500 Kilos of Kindness in Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts global charity drive Food, clothing and educational supplies will help underprivileged families in communities supported by 46 of the group’s properties Big-hearted guests at 46 Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts properties around the world have donated 8,500kg of food, clothing and educational supplies to support disadvantaged families around the world.

This overwhelming generosity is the result of the global hospitality group s successful 2017 Kilo of Kindness charity drive, which ran from 1-15 September and asked guests and residents to drop off at least one kilo of supplies to any participating hotel.

The global campaign, which marked the UN International Day of Charity on 5 September, saw visitors to the 46 hotels supporting the initiative, which were located across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East - donate books, notebooks, stationery, clothing and unperishable foods.

These will now be distributed to disadvantaged local communities by the charities each property has partnered with, which range from clothing banks and day care centres to organisations that run or support orphanages and schools for underprivileged children.

We are overwhelmed by the kind-heartedness of our guests and residents around the world and would like to thank each and every one of them for their generosity, said Craig Cochrane, Senior VP Human Resources, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts.

By donating these essentials, we hope to make a difference to the lives of families in need as part of our ongoing support to

the communities where our hotels and resorts are located.

The Kilo of Kindness campaign is part of Shine , Mövenpick s global corporate social responsibility programme, which is grouped around three pillars Environment, Employer and Social Sustainability with Education the common focus.

Last year 12 hotels participated in the initiative with 926kg of supplies collected a figure it aimed to surpass in 2017 by expanding its reach. With 46 hotels collecting 8,500kg of donations this year, the charity drive is gaining the desired momentum and Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts will look to build on this success in 2018.

For more information on the hotels that participated in the 2017 Kilo of Kindness initiative and the charities they are supporting, visit www.movenpick.com/en/akiloofkindness.

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Hotel & Leisure News

Festive preparations underway BBBF Member Priya Shankar writes with a summary of What’s on at the Crowne Plaza Christmas lighting Like many of us, if you have been waiting for Christmas too, you are in for a festive treat at Crowne Plaza Bahrain. Start your celebrations early this year by joining us at our lobby on 8th of December at 7pm for the lighting up of our Christmas tree which is truly a feast for the senses during the festive season. The smell of roasting chestnuts, taste of warm mince pies, sounds of Christmas carols and beautiful décor all combine to create a truly special Christmas ambience. Sip hot chocolate or warm mulled wine as you sing along with our carolers adding to the festive air.

Christmas Lunch Celebrate this joyous season with one of the most popular spots on Christmas day with our lavish Christmas day lunch buffet at 3 great venues of your choice, La Mosaique, Harvesters Bar & Terrace and Cappuccino s.

Savor the spectacular buffet with endless fresh seafood including prawns, oysters and crab and tuck into our

traditional Christmas lunch special with an extensive range of specialty dishes and perfectly roasted carved meats with all the trimmings, live cooking stations, gourmet salads and condiments. Indulge in a spectacular assortment of desserts from traditional pudding to fresh waffles and crepes.

Priced at BD 35 net inclusive of selected beverages and BD14 net for kids between the ages of 5 10years.

EARLYBIRD offer: Book before 7th December and get a special price of BD31 net inclusive of selected beverages and BD12 net for kids between the ages of 5 10years.

Children’s Special The kids are in for a treat with a special kid s corner serving their very own Christmas buffet and watch your little one s eyes light up as they receive a visit from Santa giving away Christmas goodie surprises to all our young guests, promising an experience that is unforgettable.

New Years Eve Ball Start the New Year with a big bang and say hello to another

one of Crowne Plaza s Spectacular themed New Years Eve Ball. It s back again this year with a theme that will keep you enthralled a Glow in the dark evening.

A memorable evening with great excitement is in store for the guests starting the evening off with an exquisite gala dinner with free flowing beverages. Spectacular entertainment which includes a live band, Frankie and friends, a 5 piece band, international dance shows to shake up the dance floor, which will be followed by a DJ who will without doubt take over the night to extreme heights. All of this for just BD 70 net per person. If you want to take your celebration in to the wee hours of the morning we have a great room packages, a room night and breakfast on New Year s Day. One of the key highlights of this year is that we are on a full renovation in some of our rooms in one entire wing of our hotel. The hotel s goal is to excel at exceeding our guests expectations and deliver a truly differentiated brand experience.

The renovation project started in June and is progressing quite well and will include a refreshed new look for 138 number of rooms with new modern design style and a brand new addition of the Club lounge in the lobby with modern lines bringing a sense of personality, quality and energy to the space.

The General Manager, Mr. Gilles Nicolas, stressed that the aim of the comprehensive renovation of the hotel rooms is to keep pace with

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GM Gilles Nicholas

the market and the strong competition that is witnessed, especially with the entry of new hotels, adding that the management of the hotel is always seeking to maintain the IHG and the hotel s status as one of the leading five-star hotels in Bahrain by renovating the rooms with the latest designs, technologies and services that provide convenience to customers.

He added, the world of work is changing and so too is our guest: today s Modern Business Traveller craves a hotel experience that blends work and restoration; they want to boost their productivity and feel inspired in the process.

He also added that the renovation process will be for all rooms in one entire wing of the hotel and the brand new club lounge at the lobby, pointing out that during the renovation guests will be able to enjoy the hotel s range of facilities such as the restaurants, health club, swimming pool and the Bahrain Conference center and the process will not affect the other fully operational rooms on the South wing.

The newly renovated rooms along with the club lounge for our business travellers in combination with our 2000 sqm Conference facilities in the hotel will further strengthen our reputation as a great destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Events (MICE) business.

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BBBF Corporate Social Golf Day

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Feature Article

so you reappear to illuminate the way and let them walk towards happiness and fulfillment on their own.

Real Estate Consultant Offers a Reality Check BBBF Member Anastasia Ageeva is a Sales and Marketing Real Estate Manager who has recently acquired International Certification as a Life Coach and is happy to share what it s all about.

BBBF: Tell us about coaching!

Anastasia: Throughout our lives, we are unknowingly taking on the role of a coach in many different guises. A mother becomes our first coach, sometimes our teachers coach us to develop our understanding of the world around us.

Your best friend can be a coach or perhaps even your immediate manager or supervisor at work.

Coaching is walking the path with a person, assisting them to absorb and comprehend situations along the way so that they may take the direction towards a happier outcome for themselves.

BBBF: How did you come to realise you are a Life Coach?

Anastasia: I think a person must feel it as a calling to be able to do it!

As a teenager, I began to develop a curiosity about human beings and human behaviour. I ve read a lot of psychology books, literature on fate, signs in our life and researching how cavemen tried to comprehend their emotions and communicate this through their art. At university, I became immersed with philosophy, but the myriad of conflicting theories that have evolved, along with civilization, only seemed to prompt further queries of my own.

BBBF: Your job in Real Estate, doing sales, rentals, marketing, working with clients, did it contribute to your learning about people?

Anastasia: Absolutely! While studying with the institute I realised that I have been unconsciously coaching people during real estate transactions. I have a number of repeat clients that have

remained with me for over 10 years in Bahrain. They value my opinion on the market and over the years I have gained a deeper understanding of them as individuals. By analysis, I guide them towards the best choice for them and then armed with all the relevant facts they make their decision. However, the choice is theirs to make, I can t make it for them.

I can show them the best options, talk with them through what is important in their lives, location, size, define what makes them feel at home, the facilities they require and the lifestyle they lead. What inspires them and makes them fulfilled and happy and relaxed.

A sea view or a park to walk in every morning. However, it s only the client who can make that choice towards buying/ renting that property and aligning all the contributing factors and resources towards the outcome.

I noticed that the more open and relaxed a client is, be that a property owner or a house hunter, the more resourceful they are in finding the right investment/ property for them, meeting their needs and requirements. It all goes back to awareness.

Life Coaching statistically is the second fastest developing profession in the world. More and more people recognise the value of seeing a Life Coach / Mentor, who can help them in learning about themselves, understanding their needs, understanding the model of the world, dealing with emotions, feelings, fears, explaining why they occur and why we feel them and if they are valid at all. A professional life coach helps you in setting smart life and career goals and advises you how to follow them. A life coach is not there to cast a judgement about your past or present life, his/her only agenda is to assist you with finding your happiness and discovering your wonderful self, which you are without knowing it. A Life Coach will explain to you how society can affect you and what you can do to keep your integrity, a life coach will show you that everything you want to achieve is possible and you can do it. So chatting with a Life Coach is the catalyst to making your dreams into a reality.

BBBF: How are you going to use your acquired Life Coaching learnings and degree?

Anastasia: I ve already had a few clients who have life coaching sessions with me and we are working towards their goals.

Their testimonies are on a Facebook page I have created: and I am hoping to increase and develop clients as I find life coaching very rewarding.

BBBF: So, what is Life Coaching? I am sure a lot of readers don t know it as a job/career:

In the interim, I see great value in having this expertise as added value to my role as Property Consultant for my valued clients. I am now able to connect better with my clients and help them define their objectives and make even better choices.

Anastasia: Life coaching is not magic!

It s supportive, guiding individuals in the direction that feels right for them and helping them see it then you gently let go of their hand and walk beside them.

Once you see your client only sees that one main highway, you step into the background and although you are there to support, the client is now empowered.

He or she may detour occasionally and

In this volatile environment we all want to be able to relax into trusting service providers. We are so busy with our lives that we want our relationships with them to be more trustworthy. I think my knowledge as a Life coach contributes to making the real estate experience of my clients more enjoyable and in the long run contributes towards a successful outcome.

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Bahrain News

British Pumps now available in Bahrain

BBBF Member Nevin Megchiani writes in to advise that Portable Fire Fighting Pumps from Godiva in the UK are now available in Bahrain.The new Powerflow 12/10 and 17/10 portable ranges have been designed to deliver an unrivalled power to weight ratio. On average 30% smaller in cubic volume than leading comparable products, the 12/10 and 17/10 are small enough to stow easily in a side locker.

shares the same engine/pump configuration as the 17/10 and offers 1200 l/min at 10 bar performance.

Both pumps are fully conform to the latest standards EN1028, EN14466 and CE safety standards and are ideal for a range of applications frontline fire fighting, relay pumping or de-flooding operations.

Rated at 1700 l/min at 10 Bar, and capable of flowing up to 2450 l/min, the 17/10 uses the highly efficient, but lightweight, Textron MPE 850 engine to provide 56kW of power. Standard user friendly features are fast exhaust gas priming, twin discharge valves, a strong robust stainless steel frame, highly accessible controls and instruments including fuel level gauge and hours run counter, ignition/battery charge warning light, engine oil and coolant warning lights, pump compound gauge and delivery gauge.

Optional features are a wheel assembly, detachable floodlight and a separate 18 litre fuel tank. The water cooled engine is electronically controlled to give the optimum performance and will run for an hour at the rated performance on one tank of fuel. The Powerflow 12/10

A taste of home They say the secret ingredient is always cheese. After searching far and wide, we ve curated a selection of the best artisanal European cheeses just for you Alosra s Signature cheese collection.

Each cheese in the Signature collection is handcrafted with care on dairy farms local to their region, and aged to perfection. Take your palate on an enticing trip to England, France, Channel Islands, Switzerland, Sardinia and Spain.

Our Signature cheeses have been carefully curated and can be found exclusively at Alosra Saar, Janabiyah and Amwaj.

Leave a lasting impression on your guests with a platter of our premium Signature cheeses. You can serve a diverse combination of cheeses, from mild to more complex, deeper flavours, in order to satisfy every taste. Add balance by combining different textures! For example, why not pair a creamy Camembert De Normandie with the hard Pecorino Sardo Maturo? Don t forget to use an individual knife for every type of cheese, in order to make sure you can truly savour every unique flavour as it s meant to be tasted. Style the platter by adding olives, dried fruits, toasted nuts or jam.

Remember to serve the cheeses at room temperature, for a more supple texture and a lingering finish.

Feel like a taste of Britain? Fill your platter with a selection of artisanal British cheeses: Smoked Westcombe Cheddar, Cornish Blue, Shropshire Blue and Colston Bassett Stilton.

The English Shropshire Blue also offers a burst of flavours when tossed into a salad or simply paired with chocolate.

Also among our Signature cheese range is the French cheese, Tomme De Chèvre. It is exquisite when paired with potatoes or it can be simply melted like a raclette. Mont D or, a creamy cow cheese milk from France, is delicious when baked in the oven. It is guaranteed to become a staple in your appetiser repertoire. You can even transform baked Mont D or into a decadent dessert by topping it with cherries or blueberries.

Craving the bold flavours of Italy? Pecorino Sardo Maturo, an award-winning cheese from Sardinia, is the secret ingredient to making mouth-watering pesto. It can also be grated over pasta to enhance both flavour and aroma.

Drop by our deli counters at Saar, Janabiyah and Amwaj to experience our Signature cheeses. Ask our delicatessen for suggestions on how to best serve and pair the deliciously curated cheeses in this selection.

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Bahrain News

Impact Estate expands its International Properties Department Impact Estate w.l.l. has joined forces with one of the most prestigious developers in the United Kingdom and is now offering affordable international property investment for discerning buyers in Bahrain.

Located near the University of Salford, the purpose built student accommodation provides a stable rental income combined with hassle-free investment management. Lately, the high quality student accommodation has become one of the UK s strongest and popular property investment.

This property sector has become globally recognised as a desirable and sought-after investment.

Recently appointed Head of international Properties Department, Ms. Patricia Powell, says: We provide a unique opportunity for investors with a limited budget.

ELAMES announces its new and exciting partnership with Duracell Lighting

With the student apartment starting from only BD44,000, the buyer gets a hands off investment with an annual yield of 6.3% . British national, Ms. Powell has joined Impact Estate to manage the department of International Properties and Special Projects. With over 22 years of managerial experience in Bahrain and the UK, Ms. Powell is planning to increase the company s international properties portfolio to include more investment opportunities in Europe and UK. At the moment, the Impact Estate s international portfolio includes properties in UK, Cyprus and Turkey.

70-85% compared to conventional light bulbs, LEDs significantly reduce energy consumption, and thus help save money by lowering electricity bills.

Duracell is recognised as one of the world s leading brands.

The Duracell name originally coined as a shortened form of durable cell is synonymous with innovation.

The brand has made advances in single-use, renewable, and personal device-charging technologies.

We are thrilled to announce our teaming up with Duracell Lighting, a partnership that enable Elames to continue introducing latest LED advancements within the industry.

LED lighting provides three key benefits over traditional lighting; immediate energy savings, long-term maintenance savings and improved quality of light. Energy savings is gained over time, leading to lower energy consumption and decreased utility costs. Many of Duracell LED products qualify for Energy Star Rebates with up to 25,000 lighting hour s usage. With an estimated energy efficiency of

Since 1964 when the Duracell brand was introduced, the market for batteries skyrocketed and over time, Duracell has extended their brand to include and lead a broad range of renewable products. Each product is vetted by their in-house technical experts to insure consistent quality and performance.

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MODA Mall pays tribute to the late renowned Bahraini artist, Rashid Al-Oraifi An exhibit showcasing the accomplished work of the late renowned Bahraini artist, Rashid Al-Oraifi (pictured right) was hosted by MODA Mall, in remembrance of the celebrated artist. Known for his Dilmun culture and history-inspired contemporary art, the tribute exhibition features the artist s exclusive collection of artworks, reflecting his avid interest in the archaeology and the ancient civilization.

A special reception was held at the fashion court of MODA Mall, which witnessed family, friends and art enthusiasts coming together to celebrate the distinguished works of Rashid Al-Oraifi, who sadly passed away earlier this year after battling a long illness. In attendance to pay tribute to the late artist was His Excellency Mohammed bin Ebrahim Al Mutawa - Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Ahmad Al-Oraifi the artist s brother, well-known artist Kareem AlOrayed and prominent writer and journalist, Ebrahim Bashmi, both close acquaintances of the late Rashid Al-Oraifi.

Open for public viewing until late September, the legendary artist s remarkable array of over 35 works of art exhibited at MODA Mall was available for sale with proceeds donated to various charities such as the Disabled Society and Bahrain Association for Intellectual Disabilities and Autistics through investment certificates in his remembrance. MODA Mall extended its support to raise funds for the local charities by purchasing one of the celebrated pieces of the late artist.

poignant works were a true reflection of Bahrain s cultural heritage. His paintings and sculptures representing the Dilmun era has brought to life one of the oldest civilizations - and served as a powerful tool to jointly promote local art, culture and tourism in Bahrain.

The family of the celebrated late artist thanked MODA Mall for hosting and sponsoring this event and said he is remembered every day. His art gallery which showcased some of the artist s greatest works over four decades at MODA Mall, had become an integral part of his life. His interactions with other shop owners and customers at the gallery, his mall-walking routine as part of his daily exercise, spending time with his friends at the café to discuss latest developments all this is immensely missed about Rashid, said his brother Ahmad Al-Oraifi. But, most importantly, we all miss Rashid the artist, who was not only our son but a son of Bahrain.

From Muharraq, where he first lived to Shakoura, which was his last residence, people remember him through his paintings and his exclusive Dilmun work on display at his Museum.

His unique artistic style evolved into a well-organized artistic school, which he coined the Dilmun School of Art . His painting style developed over the years, without consciously losing sight of his principle theme and drive, his harmony with Bahrain and the elements of the

local culture, tradition and historical heritage that imbue his work. Rashid created a wealth of culture through his paintings, books and writings, leaving behind a legacy for us all to cherish and be proud of, added Ahmad Al-Oraifi.

Having served as the President for the Bahrain Society for Contemporary Arts, the award-winning artist Rashid Al-Oraifi received several accolades and recognitions including Medal of Arab Historians, State Award and Encouragement Awards in 1989, Pioneer of the GCC countries in 1994, and most recently was recipient of the Order of the efficiency of the First Degree of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa in 2007. He also established a special museum in Muharraq dedicated to the art and artefacts of the Dilmun era, which has over 100 works of art and sculptures symbolizing the era.

Moreover, the illustrious artist had also authored several books on art and heritage and architecture in Bahrain as well as the Dilmun civilization.

As the first Bahraini artist to have his own commercial art gallery in the Kingdom at the Sheraton complex, now MODA Mall, Rashid Al-Oraifi s contribution to the world of art through his paintings, writings and lectures spanned over four decades.

Hosting the memorial exhibition, Kelvin Crutchlow, Director and General Manager of Cushman & Wakefield Bahrain, the managing Agent of Bahrain World Trade Center and MODA Mall said, We are truly honoured to celebrate the loving memory and talented artwork of the illustrious artist, Rashid Al-Oraifi, whose Forum 43

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Bahrain News Al Tamimi strengthens commitment to the Kingdom

Al Tamimi & Company are pleased to confirm the successful completion of the expansion of their Bahrain Financial Harbour offices as of August 2017. The office expansion more than doubles the size of Al Tamimi s existing offices established in Bahrain in 2014, and confirms Al Tamimi s continued long term commitment to the Kingdom.

In close conjunction with the expansion, Al Tamimi Bahrain have further expanded their Corporate and Litigation practices by appointing three additional lawyers, as well as adding a new real estate discipline. The result of this growth renders Al Tamimi s Manama office as one of the largest and fasting growing full service legal practices in Bahrain with an on the ground team of of [13] lawyers working across all major practice areas.

BMC 7 Years On As Beckett McInroy Consultancy (BMC) celebrates its 7 year anniversary, business growth has escalated, especially in the past 18 months.

Now working globally in 10 countries, with 6 core staff and global associates, BMC provides bespoke leadership, innovation, coaching, coach training and psychometric solutions for senior and middle managers.

BMC has recently delivered Team Strengths workshops with EY and Taawon, an NGO in Ramallah, Leadership and Coaching Competency International Coach Federation (ICF) approved training with Bahrain s Origin Institute for Bahrain Airport Company (BAC).

suite of products and services to ICF Oman Chapter, Team Coaching at Capital Club, BFH, and the team delivered initial coach training in Jordan for our forth cohort. Furthermore, BMC has seen growth in the unique work with Family Offices, supporting the educational and development needs of family businesses, including psychometric profiling, and trust workshops for boards, as well as policy writing for succession planning and philanthropy.

Some fun pictures follow

Our founder Dr Clare Beckett-McInroy, as Vice president of ICF Bahrain, one of only three ICF Master Certified Coaches in MENA, presented the CoachME

Foutoun H a j j a r, Partner and Head of Al Tamimi Bahrain office commented: The office expansion and continued organic growth of our team in Bahrain is commensurate with the fast paced development taking in place in Bahrain, and is testimony to our confidence in Bahrain s position as one of the most competitive business environments in the region. Together with our unrivalled understanding of the legal landscape in the Middle East facilitated via Al Tamimi & Company s regional network of offices, the Manama office is well positioned to support the growth of Bahrain well into the future .

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Avoid a Mayday, experience with maidaid Who comes to the rescue when you leave a child with a maid and there s an accident. Why the maid of course!

Now this is a dilemma, as the majority of maids do not have even basic First Aid training. Consequently, children are at risk. Realizing this is a serious issue 50 Degrees East has teamed up with Martine Fenton a certified UK Health and Safety Executive qualified child care professional, to form maidaid.me to train and enable maids to cope with

accidents affecting children in their care.

The facts are astonishing. u

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The largest numbers of accidents involving children under the age of 12 happen in the home.

In the Middle East alone 67,000 children encountered an accident in the kitchen.

Award for author

A further 59,000 suffered injuries on stairs.

Effective CPR training alone reduces death and serious injury by 88%.

In the words on Martine Fenton Accidents do happen and if we entrust children to the care, then it s our responsibility to ensure maids and nannies know how to cope with emergency situations .

Maidaid offers to impart all the essential training in half a day and will give maids a U.K. Certification of Competence besides giving parents reassurance and peace of mind.

BBBF member & Bahraini author Mohamed Isa was honoured with the Quilly Award at the Roosevelt Hollywood Hotel Grand Ballroom in Hollywood USA. The Quilly Award was given by the National Academy of BestSelling Authors to recognise an author s achievement of being named to a nationally recognised Best-Seller list.

Isa was honoured for his book, The Success Blueprint, which he coauthored with the success expert, Brian Tracy. The awards were part of the 8th Annual Thought Leader Summit.

On the day of release The Success Blueprint reached the best-seller status in two Amazon.com categories.

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Bahrain News

Kanoo Machinery Wins Bobcat s Best Dealer Award Kanoo Machinery a division of Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Group has been awarded the Best Dealer in Bahrain for increasing Bobcat s market share compared to other distributors of telehandlers. The relationship between Kanoo Machinery and Bobcat dates back to 1998 when they became the sole distributor in Bahrain.

Since then, the market share grew to reach more than 40% in the telehandlers market right now, forming a major share in a very competitive market. The success is accredited to the competitive client relations strategy and problem-solving solutions and expertise that Kanoo Machinery offers at its showroom in Sitra, Bahrain.

Commenting on receiving the award, Group CEO, Dr Patrick Chenel said, It is a sign of another accomplished stepping stone to achieving our goals. YBA Kanoo has received numerous awards and recognitions across its business units for superior levels of service and excellence, and this adds another milestone in our journey to always meet the client s needs and expectations .

Kanoo Machinery sales and client support has resulted in loyal and long-term customers like Alghanah Contracting, Eastern

Asphalt, Al Kooheji Contracting and Al Kobaisi Precast to name a few, adding value to major projects across the Kingdom and the region through offering a variety of services that includes sales and rentals as well as consulting clients to find the best solutions that would fit their needs. Kanoo Machinery operates showrooms and distribution channels across the region in countries like KSA, UAE and Oman.

Bobcat is an industry leader in the design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of compact equipment for construction, rental, landscaping, agriculture, grounds maintenance, government, utility, industry and mining.

Charles Russell Speechlys have opened the doors on their third Gulf office in Dubai.

Ghassan El Daye

Building on the firm s market leading position for dispute resolution in the Gulf region, the Firm has hired a 4 strong team of Arabic speaking litigators, headed up by Ghassan El Daye as well as 2 further international arbitration and trade specialists led by Jonathan Brown, with a focus on logistics and international trade disputes.

Simon Green, the Firm s Middle East head of Real Estate will lead the office in Dubai; but will continue with his regional role acting for developers, investors and

Jonathan Brown

Durra Al-Ali

hotel operators in the region.

Corporate Counsel Middle East Legal Awards 2017.

The international expansion strategy for the Dispute Resolution division is to have a presence in the leading dispute resolution centres of the world.

We are one of very few firms in Dubai that are able to offer full litigation and dispute resolution services across local, regional and international cases. Earlier this year, we were received a Highly Commended award for Middle East Arbitration Team of Year at the

In other news, Rupert Copeman-Hill and Ben McQueenie O Brien have obtained Islamic Finance Qualifications issued by the UK Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment/Ecole Superieure des Affaires.

And finally, we welcome back Durra Al-Ali to the Bahrain Real Estate & Construction team, following a year s training contract in our London office.

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Kanoo Oil & Gas Tie-Up with BRDR Christensen The Flow Control Division of YBA Kanoo Oil & Gas has signed an Assembler Agreement with BRDR Christensen of Denmark for the local assembly of Lubricated Plug Valves during a recent visit by a high level management delegation f ro m B R D R C h r i s t e n s e n , w h i c h i n c l u d e d M r. K u r t E r l i n g B a n g Christensen-Chairman, Mr. Thomas V. C h r i s t e n s e n - C h i e f E x e c u t i v e Officer and Mr. Dennis W. LarsenChief Commercial Officer.

This Assembly facility for Plug Valves is the first in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and an important milestone for Kanoo Oil & Gas Division. This definitely enhances Kanoo s capabilities as well and helps us in contributing toward In-Kingdom Total Value Addition ( I K T VA ) p r o g r a m o f S a u d i Aramco.

setting manufacturing standards for plug valves for more than 50 years and have obtained a unique first choice status amongst the leading companies in the Oil and Gas industry across the globe.

BRDR Christensen is a privateowned company located in Denmark founded in 1942 and has been

During this visit, BRDR Servicing team also conducted the Plug Valve Repair & Assembly, hands-

on training for Kanoo Oil & Gas technical staff, as a part of the Authorized Service Agreement & Assembler agreement. Mr. Jesper Delff Nielsen, Regional ManagerM E & A f r i c a a n d M r. M i d h a d Mehanovic, Service Engineer from BRDR Christensen imparted the training at our Dammam Workshop facility.

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Screen Fatique promotes sales of physical books Sales of printed books have grown for the first time in four years, lifted by the adult colouring book craze and 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland, as ebooks suffered their first ever decline.

Quote from Alice in Wonderland But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked.

“Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “we’re all mad here. I’m mad.

You’re mad.”

“How do you know I’m mad?”. said Alice.

“You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.”

Ebook sales fell by 1.6% to £554m in 2015, the first drop recorded in the seven years industry body the Publishers Association has been monitoring the digital book market. Meanwhile, sales of printed books grew by 0.4%.

“Digital continues to be an incredibly important part of the industry, but it would appear there remains a special place in the consumer’s heart for aesthetic pleasure that printed books can bring,” said Publishers Association chief executive Stephen Lotinga.

And Finally

Lotinga said that strong sectors include adult colouring books, such as Lost Ocean by The Secret Garden illustrator Johanna Basford, as well as The Complete Alice, the 150th anniversary edition of Lewis Carroll’s famous fairytale.

The biggest hardback seller was The Girl on The Train, selling more than 546,000 copies – the newly released paperback version has sold 60,000 copies in just three days.

EL James’s Fifty Shades spin-off, Grey, sold more than 1 million copies in paperback, while To Kill A Mockingbird writer Harper Lee’s eagerly anticipated second novel, Go Set A Watchman, sold 360,000 copies.

sales “I wouldn’t say that the ebook dream is over but people are clearly making decisions on when they want to spend time with their screens,” says Lotinga.

“There is generally a sense that people are now getting screen tiredness, or fatigue, from so many devices being used, watched or looked at in their week. Printed books provide an opportunity to step away from that.”

So what else is a the top of the best seller lists at the moment?

The Publishers Association, which measures sales within the total UK book and journal publishing industry, said that overall sales rose 1.3% to £4.4bn.

Looking purely at the book market total sales rose 6% to £3.5bn, as an 8% rise in print sales outweighed the 3% decline in ebook

If you’re into Sci-Fi, take a look at The Genius Plague by David Walton.

Paul, a mycologist, goes missing on a trip to collect samples in the Amazon jungle and returns with a gap in his memory and a fungal infection that almost kills him. But once he recuperates, he has enhanced communication, memory, and pattern recognition.

Meanwhile, something is happening in South America; others, like Paul, have also fallen ill and

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recovered with abilities they didn’t have before.

John Grisham’s newest legal thriller “The Rooster Bar” gets good reviews as does Dan Brown’s Origin which unveils a discovery that will “change the face of science for ever”!

If you’re buying for the younger ones, Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball is Waterstones Children’s Book of the month for October.

Welcome to the world of Nocturnia, where darkness reigns supreme, glitter is terrifying, and unicorns are the stuff of nightmares!

Amelia Fang would much rather hang out with her pet pumpkin Squashy and her friends Florence the yeti (don’t call her beast!) and Grimaldi the reaper than dance at her parents’ annual Barbaric Ball.

And when the King’s spoiled son Tangine captures Squashy, Amelia and her friends must escape the party to plan a daring rescue.

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www.infonas.com

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Infonas_brn

a new generation of iPhone on Bahrain’s favourite network

Designed with the most durable glass and a stronger aerospace grade aluminum band.

Charges wirelessly. Resists water and dust. 4.7-inch Retina HD display with True Tone. 12MP camera with new sensor.

Powered by A11 Bionic, the most powerful and smartest chip ever in a smartphone.

Enjoy a new generation of iPhone with Bahrain’s favourite network.

Get yours with VIVA Device Add-ons starting from BD 11.5/month with no upfront.

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