BBForum Spring17 magazine

From The Chair

and provided valuable insight to the strategy adopted by NOGA to fuel the Kingdoms future. He also highlighted the current up and coming ventures and the rapid progress being made on significant projects.

Khalid Al-Zayani OBE Chairman Welcome to the spring edition of the BBBF magazine. 2017 has already started positively for the business community.

January and February were very busy and high profile months; In January Dr Simon Galpin, Managing Director of Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), gave an excellent presentation in his address to the forum. He highlighted the opportunities that are being created around areas such as infrastructure investment, regulatory developments, innovation and start-ups.

The private sector will be the driving factor for growth in the future and we look forward in supporting the EDB s efforts.

The Special Interest Groups continue to drive forward and actively engage our members. In December we saw the Young Professionals first business speed networking event take place, highlighting the

Registration number ISSN 1985-9929

to support them as these events represent an excellent opportunity to discuss topical sector issues and to make new contacts.

Contents

The eyes of the world will be once again on Bahrain as it hosts the Formula 1 Grand Prix race (14 16 April).

Many of you will already be captivated by the preseason practice sessions. The race week-end is a welcoming shot in the arm for the resilient and dynamic hospitality sector.

The race continues to drive opportunities for the private sector with a substantial inflow of capital and influential business leaders expected to visit. We ask all members to support global showcase events like these visiting our island.

Welcome to New Members..............3

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.

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.

In February HE Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Al Khalifa, Minister of Oil, delivered an excellent and informative address to our members.

His Excellency reviewed the present structure of the oil and gas sector in Bahrain

effectiveness of networking for connecting and fostering business relationships for young people in their careers. We now have 9 SIG groups set up and we will be seeing each one holding events throughout the year.

I strongly encourage you

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.

Kind regards

The 2015-2017 Executive Committee....2

Member Benefits ..........4 Why join the BBBF? .....5 Advertiser Index............6 Diary Dates...................6 From Her Majesty s Ambassador.................7 Embassy News.............8 SIG Update ...............10 Financial News ...........16 Britain s New Pound ...18 BBBF Networking Lunches...20

F1 ..............................22 News from the EP ......26 Motoring News ...........28 Education & Training ...32 Hotel & Leisure News .34 Bahrain News .............40 Sports Page ...............46 And Finally..................48 Cover Image: New owners;new season; new rules; new cars; new drivers... F1 is in Bahrain

Khalid Al-Zayani

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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The 2015-17 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

Member Adel Fakhro Tel: 1727 5000

Member Nasser Al Arayedh Tel: 1727 2575

Member Mazen Alumran Tel: 1771 5555

Mob: 3324 3031

The BBBF Directory The 2017 printed edition of the BBBF Directory is now available. Keep your information up-to-date by checking the data on the BBBF Website at www.bbbforum.org, follow the link to the Directory and use the Text or Picture Search facility to find your entry.

Member Ava Garbutt Tel: 3941 1938

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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For changes to the entry or to book your advert please contact Andrew Mead on email: andrew@sbtd.co.uk

Welcome to New Members Manar Abotouk Globalization Partners International Localization Project Manager Tel: Mob: m.abotouk@gmail.com

David Garbutt Risk Management International (Middle East) Operations Manager Tel: 1756-4090 Mob: 3973 2968 david.garbutt@rmime.com

Ali Al Jazzazi Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa Director of Sales & Marketing Tel: 1763-6330 Mob: 3889 5610 h6722-sm@sofitel.com

Sara S. Haji Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa Assistant Marketing Manager Tel: 1763-6342 Mob: h6722-mk@sofitel.com

Raul Alcaide Oxford Business Group Editorial Manager Tel: 1715-1582 Mob: 3506 3113 raalonso@ oxfordbusinessgroup.com

Medhi Hanayen Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa Director Of Operations Tel: 1763-6301 Mob: 3838 1703 H6722-DM@sofitel.com

Raz Alsaegh British Language Centre Strategic Director Tel: 1779-1468 Mob: 3627 9117 ralsaegh@ britishlanguagecentre.co.uk

Nekia Lane Oxford Business Group Country Director Tel: 1715-1582 Mob: 3594 2854 nlane@ oxfordbusinessgroup.com

Mohsen AlSamahiji Mazen Alumran Consulting Engrs.

HR Manager Tel: 1771-5555 Mob: 3644 8747 hr@mazenalumran.com

Adam Ridgway Arabian Exhibition Management WLL General Manager Tel: 1755-0033 Mob: 3999 5520 adam@aemallworld.com

Joanne Froggatt British Language Centre Operational Director Tel: 1779-1468 Mob: 3611 0472 jfroggatt@ britishlanguagecentre.co.uk

Mark Wilkinson Engie - Al Ezzel O&M Company W.L.L. Site Manager Tel: 1784-4304 Mob: 3222 4524 mark.wilkinson@alezzelom.com Forum

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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: Stephen Wagstaff Tel: 1758 8222 Email: stephen.wagstaff@axa-gulf.com

To avail this offer, Drop your shipment in-person at our FedEx Service Center at: GLS Facility, Avenue No.20, Area No. 224, Gate 23, Muharraq. Show your membership card / business card along with a valid ID. Maximum weight for each shipment 68kg See www.fedex.com/bh or call Customer Service: 1733 4448

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

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.

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:- +973 38442727, Email:- clare@beckett-mcinroy or office@beckett-mcinroy.com British Airways Valid until 31 Dec 2016 ** conditions apply BBBF members can enjoy exclusive discounts of up to 10% on fares from middle east and central asia 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. This discount is not valid on taxes, fees and surcharges.** To book please login at www.ba.com/bgme-bh Craig Consultants 10% discount for members on 1-on-1 Executive Coaching, Contact: Kevin Craig Tel: 36199980 Email: kevin@craigconsultants.com Crowne Plaza Hotel valid until 30th December 2016 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) 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 Etihad Airways To avail this offer please visit www.etihad.com/en-bh Enjoy exclusive discounts of 12% off on all fares in First , Business and Economy cabins for one way and return flights. Purchase your tickets before 31st Dec 2016 for outbound travel until 31st March 2017. Contact: Maria Abraham +973 17519984 or email – ammuabraham@etihad.ae Expat Angels 10% discount on all packages and services.

Contact: info@expatangelsbahrain.com

Tel: 3832-0439

Fedex Express Middle East Valid until December 31, 2017 BBBF Members can enjoy a 40% discount* on FedEx rates.

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Hasan Mansouri 10% discount to members at Mansouri Mansions Hotel and Country Club. Contact: Karim Mansouri Tel: 1772 8144 Email: karim@karimmansouri.com Hotel Services (NHSC) 5% on beers, 15% on wines and spirits with the exception of products already on special offer.

Contact: Ian Bricklebank Tel: 1781-5929 Email: nhsc1234@batelco.com.bh Nexus Financial Services 10% premium discount to members on personal lines insurances.(e.g.

Motor, Medical, Travel and Home Contents etc). Premium Allocation Benefits for International Retirement and University Education Funding Plans. plus Free Monthly Premium Benefits for Life Assurance and Critical Illness Policies. Terms & Conditions Apply.

Contact: Emanuel Lantzos Tel: 1753 1766 / 1753 1703 Email: Emanuel.lantzos@nexusadvice.com or info.bahrain@nexusadvice.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: +973 17298411/ E-mail: 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 emma@primeinstantoffices.com Protection Insurance Service 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 Royal Over-Seas League Reduced rates for BBBF members at ROSL clubhouses in London and Edinburgh Email: fvanicek@rosl.org.uk Tel: 0044 20 7408 0214 Fax: 0044 20 7499 6738 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

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 (2015) 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

E-mail address

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

Applicants Signature

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

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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 27 Al Osra ......................................... Outside Back Cover AXA Insurance ................................................ page 47 BIC ........................................................Centre Spread bmmi................................................................ page 47 Crowne Plaza Hotel......................................... page 39 Etihad Airways................................................. page 17 Euromotors Jaguar.......................................... page 31 G4S ................................................................. page 15 GPIC................................................................ page 13 Infonas............................................. Inside Back Cover Mansouri Mansions ......................................... page 47 Nexus ..............................................Inside Front Cover Royal Golf Club ............................................... page 35 Skin Health Centre .......................................... page 45 Streetlight Photography.................................... page 6 Trafco ............................................................. page 10 Viva ................................................................. page 31 To advertise in a future edition of the BBBForum magazine please contact the compiler, Andrew Mead of MMSL on andrew@sbtd.co.uk or call Caroline Wilkie on 3671-8115 Adverting Rates for 2017 editions Full page: BD330 Half Page: BD200 Quarter Page: BD110 Small Box: BD55 Discounts for multiple bookings

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Diary Dates Wednesday March 15th GREAT British Balti Night Venue: HMA Residence Timing: 18.30 - 21.00 Members Only event Wednesday March 29th SIG Oil, Gas & Energy Venue: tba Speaker: tba Timing: tba Monday April 10th BBBF Lunch meeting - AGM - Election Year Venue: tba Timing: tba April 12 to 23 School Spring Holiday April 14 to 16 F1 Racing May Date tba SIG Hospitality Venue: tba Speaker: tba Timing: tba Monday May 1st Labour Day Saturday May 27th First Day of Ramadan 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.

From Her Majesty's Ambassador

We thought we had escaped the melancholy February rain that hangs over the British landscape at this time of the year. But lo and behold I am looking at a grey pond slowly drowning our pretty winter flowers. I have been told by one jubilant Bahraini that Manama was for a moment this month colder than London. Despite swimming to a couple of meetings, our activity has not stopped, and as we move into the 201st year of bilateral relations, there is an exciting array of new opportunities and new faces on the scene.

Since the last edition we have seen the Grand Finalé to our 200 year anniversary celebrations, which included a BHUK 200 Gala dinner at Rasoi by Vineet in the Gulf Hotel. Celebrity British Chef Vineet Bhatia (pictured right centre) kindly flew in to join us on the night and delighted H.E. Sh Khalid bin Ahmed and other guests with an amazing Bahrain-BritishIndian fusion menu designed especially for the occasion.

Of course, November and December were also busier than usual because of other high profile visits: The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, followed by the Prime Minister s attendance at the GCC summit, and then the Foreign Secretary at the Manama Dialogue a few days later.

These visits cement not only our close friendship with Bahrain, but also signal our strong regional ties the Prime Minister being the second Western Head of State, and the first woman, to be the guest of honour at a GCC Summit. We are repositioning ourselves as a Global Britain: outward facing, self-confident, and ready to engage with new partners across the world, particularly here in the Gulf.

This ethos has been reinforced by the flurry of activity hosted by our Department for International Trade (DIT) team. For example, on Sunday

20 th November the Department for International Trade, in conjunction with the BBBF and the Capital Club, hosted a breakfast seminar to profile UK Export Finance in Bahrain. UKEF is the UK s export credit agency, and aims to ensure that no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance. It supports long term economic growth and competitiveness by providing insurance for exporters, loan guarantees to banks, and support for and provision of loans to overseas buyers of UK goods and services. With a UK content

requirement of only 20%, UKEF is one of the most competitive export credit agencies in the world. We in the Embassy are convinced that there are many opportunities for UKEF to support British businesses in Bahrain.

Please come and talk to Christian and the International Trade Team here if you think we can help.

As we deepen our ties with the Gulf, we are concerned in particular with building new people-to-people links.

Education is therefore an important cause for us. The Training Gateway and DIT jointly led the third Education and Training trade mission to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on 30th November and 1 st December, with over 15 participating companies specialising in various areas of education and training. The trade mission met with the Economic Development Board, University of Bahrain, Ministry of Labour, Tamkeen, and private sector representatives both from the education sector and wider business community.

I also attended a signing ceremony between London South Bank University and Applied Sciences University on 7th November. The Memorandum of Cooperation will see the two universities collaborate on five joint Engineering Programmes delivered to students at ASU and highlight the growing strength and breadth of the UK-Bahrain relationship in the field of education.

Cardiff Metropolitan University also signed an MOC with Applied Sciences University on 9 th February to run joint Undergraduate Programmes in Accounting and Finance, and Business Studies and Administration in Bahrain. The partnership will also see collaboration on student exchanges. I also attended the Graduation Ceremony of 46 Strathclyde MBA students on 19th January, and there will be a reception later this year at the Embassy to celebrate their success. And we are expecting a Higher Education Trade Mission comprised of 8 UK universities to visit Bahrain on 5th and 6th March, with the aim of seeking partnerships and collaboration opportunities in the growing higher education sector in Bahrain.

In other news, I recently visited the impressive new McLaren after-sales facility in Tubli which is very well equipped, with technicians fully trained

by McLaren. The wonderful range of super vehicles available from McLaren Bahrain includes the Sports Series and Super Series models. I urge all supercar lovers to take a look with a promise that the soft-tops will be a joy to ride in once the rain clears up...

Simon Martin H. M. Ambassador Forum

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Embassy News

Prime Minister praises extraordinary sacrifice of sailors in the Gulf over Christmas HMS Ocean was alongside in Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Port conducting Exercise Pearl Dagger a joint amphibious exercise with the Royal Bahraini Naval Force when she addressed the crew.

The Royal Navy will play a key role in supporting the UK s presence on the world stage after Brexit , Theresa May said as she addressed personnel from the deck of the fleet s flagship.

The Prime Minister, who was on board HMS Ocean during a visit to Bahrain, praised the work done by the Navy & the Royal Marines in the fight against Islamic State terrorists. Britain takes enormous pride in our Royal Navy, known the world over for its professionalism and expertise and for the dedication and courage of its sailors, Royal Marines and officers, said the Prime Minister, Perhaps more than any other, this time of year brings home the extraordinary sacrifices made by you and your families. So on behalf of everyone back home in Britain, let me say a huge thank you once again.

I know you have been playing a vital role in maritime security operations to tackle illegal trafficking and to keep shipping channels safe from threats such as piracy. The Middle East accounts for over a third of global oil and around 15 per cent of gas exports so protecting the free and unhindered flow of commerce on the seas is crucial to maintaining stable energy markets and ensuring the UK s own energy security.

Foreign Secretary speaks at Manama Dialogue The British Foreign Secretary, The Right Honourable Boris Johnson MP, delivered the Keynote speech at the Manama Dialogue, in December.

The 12th Manama Dialogue, held annually in the Kingdom of Bahrain, focused on constructive and collective responses to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, instability in Libya and Yemen, the menace of violent extremism, and debated the regional security architecture. The future of US policy a month after the presidential elections as well as European and Asian engagements in the region.

This annual IISS summit provides a platform for national security establishments and governmental delegations from over 20 countries to exchange views on regional security challenges.

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Sir John Jenkins, Executive Director IISS Middle East said At a time of enormous turmoil and human agony in the Middle East, we need constantly to seek to improve our understanding of the scale of the challenges involved and agree on effective policy responses. The Manama Dialogue is designed to help us do precisely that.

Above: Boris Johnson, left, with Bahrain s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa attend the Manama Dialogue event in Bahrain.

Addressing the IISS Manama Dialogue Mr Johnson appeared to charm the audience in a typically colourful speech, triggering laughter among the guests as he talked of selling sand to the Saudis for their golf courses and described London as the eighth Emirate .

Telling the conference Britain is back east of Suez , he said

Britain has 1500 military personnel in the region and 7 warships, more than any other western nation apart from the US, £3 billion will be spent on military commitments in the Gulf over the next 10 years and that is deepening a partnership that is stronger than with any other group of nations in the world outside NATO.

Prime Minister becomes first woman to address the GCC Summit

O

n her first visit to Bahrain in December 2016, British Prime Minister Theresa May was greeted on her arrival by H.E. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Timed to coincide with the GCC Summit, Theresa May s visit was reported in the UK as being partly to cement stronger ties for a post-Brexit Britain.

On her first morning in Bahrain, the prime minister spoke to 900 British troops on board HMS Ocean in Khalifa bin Salman Port in Bahrain. The vessel provides the command platform for operations in the Middle East, including directing US Task Force 50, the Americans Gulf fleet.

Speaking at the Summit, The Prime Minister urged Gulf leaders to follow through with social and economics reforms, telling leaders both the Gulf and Britain had to build economies that work for everyone .

Speaking before her visit to HMS Ocean, the Prime Minister said the security of Gulf countries and the UK were intertwined.

Now more than ever, Gulf security is our security, she said.

And it s not just about military power we also need to work together to respond to new and diversifying threats. So, on my visit here, we are agreeing new cooperation to do more to prevent radicalisation and to tackle terrorism.

Despite being the first woman to address the Gulf Cooperation Council of the six regional leaders, the Prime Minister made no direct mention of women s rights, but said leaders had to see through fundamental economic and social change.

We in the UK are determined to continue to be your partner of choice as you embed international norms and see through the reforms which are so essential for all of your people, she said in her speech at the Sakhir Palace in Manama.

The prime minister said the UK s influence on social and economic reform in the Gulf was only possible because the strength of the relationship between our countries, and the respect that we have for each other, enables us to speak frankly and honestly as friends .

In all of these ways, I am determined to step up our defence and security partnership to provide greater confidence and stability to the region and to keep our people safe in an ever more dangerous world.

During her visit to Bahrain, Theresa May met all six leaders for short bilateral talks and said.

Across these six countries there are exciting opportunities for British business, from energy to education, infrastructure to healthcare and here in the UK, investment from the Gulf is helping to regenerate cities from Aberdeen to Teesside, Manchester to London.

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SIG - Update

Following on from one great act is hard enough, but two? Who would be so foolish as to think they could, unless persuaded by our -Vice Chair, Paula Boast!

I have been involved with the BBBF for over 12 years but, like Mark Gravener many, never really considered Interim SIG Chair serving on the committee. As interim Head of the SIG s, pending our elections, I am delighted to build on the fabulous work achieved by Paula and Rick.

We have an excellent group of committed individuals, heading their specific SIG s and I am confident we can develop these into the life force of the wider BBBF, creating many new business opportunities along the way.

The SIG s are a terrific vehicle for identifying growth in the commerce being transacted between Britain and Bahrain, informing the wider Forum of developments in their sectors and supporting the specific needs and current affairs of interest to their industry or group.

It is worth remembering that each SIG is not limited and anyone from the Forum can attend and participate in their events, they also provide a perfect channel to introduce new

SIG - Oil, Gas & Energy

members to the BBBF. For the Forum to remain vibrant and relevant, we all as members need to play our part in bringing fresh faces to the organisation.

I have met with each of the SIG Heads and can assure you we have a strong programme of events for 2017. In addition to the launch of Young Professionals SIG late last year, March will see the long awaited launch of Women in Business and Hospitality.

Arshad Gadit from BDO Jawad Habib, joins Jonathan Trafanowski in the Banking & Finance SIG and Emyr Rowlands and Gary Laing (both from Mott MacDonald) are now leading Construction & Projects. We are keen to bring additional involvement to the Hospitality SIG from the hotel and tourism sectors and some different dimensions to Organisational Effectiveness, which we will also re-launch this year.

This brings our count to nine SIG s and there may be scope of one or two more as 2017 progresses, inline with our membership make up and also the core focus of economic diversification in Bahrain, as directed by the work of the EDB. Anyone with suggestions, questions or wishing to get more involved, please do take the time to get in touch. The BBBF is your organisation and we want to hear from you about how it can continue to be the best business conductor in the region.

Sponsored by

Time files and we are into the final month of the first quarter already!

2016 was an interesting year for us all and for this SIG, the issue of the price of oil prevailed and presented many challenges affecting operators, contractors, end-users and the like.

SIG is open to BBBF members, companies as well as nonmembers, by way of invitation to attend presentation meetings on key topics of interest. Given the vast topics available, one of SIG s main objectives is to cover as many key topics as possible, supported by presentations from Industry and Subject Matter Experts worldwide.

The subject for the next Special Interest Group (SIG) for Oil, Gas & Energy is on Sustainable Renewable Energy, with particular focus on thermal treatment and the conversion of Waste into Energy (WTE).

As Governments in the Region seek to diversify energy sources in order to reduce reliance upon heavy fuel types, proven concepts of deriving Energy from Waste will present much needed environmental benefits as well as tackle the growing issue Governments levying an increased energy tariffs, burdening both commercial and domestic consumers.

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Simon Bromyard BBBF Oil, Gas & Energy SIG Chairman The SIG meeting is planned for Wednesday, 29th March, held under the Patronage of His Excellency Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza Minister of EWA, with a presentation on Sustainable Renewable Energy, which aims to be of interest to many industry sectors within the Region, (for more details visit the BBBF website www.bbbforum.org) The Special Interest Group for Oil, Gas & Energy is led by OAK Utility Solutions & Development and OAK welcomes volunteers to offer their time and expertise in contributing to the running of this important SIG. If you are interested in contributing to this SIG in any way, please contact Mr. Simon Bromyard, Projects Director; sbromyard@oakbh.com

SIG Women in Business

Georgina Munnik Joint SIG Chair

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

The Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF) in partnership with the Capital Club launched its Women in Business Special Interest Group (SIG) at the Capital Club in March. Around 60 forum members and their guests attended the event organised in conjunction with the International Women s Day 2017.

The Women in Business (WIB) SIG was established to empower women in business to support career capacity, share knowledge of local and global markets, encourage entrepreneurialism and foster bilateral relations. The group aims to supplement the BBBF s various functions and business relations by enhancing knowledgeshare, encouraging networking and supporting business women. The WIB SIG welcomes active participation and input from the members; hence the focus of the group will be further defined over time.

The inaugural meeting included a panel discussion on the topic of Industry Insight from Female Leaders , moderated by Ms. Christian Syme, Head of Department for International Trade at the British Embassy, and featured panel members Ms. Solveig Nicklos, Director of BIBF; Ms. AnnaMarie Dowling, Complex General Manager of The Westin and Le Méridien

Above: A selection of the audience

Bahrain City Centre Hotels, and Wafa AlObaidat, CEO and Creative Director of Obai and Hill.

Above: BBBF Deputy Chair Paula Boast opened the Women in Business meeting

The participants discussed ways to leverage global best practice in the MENA region, the impact of regional culture in global markets, and how to strengthen leadership potential. WIB SIG Heads Ms. Georgina Munnik, Ms. Emilia Mateva and Dr. Clare Beckett-McInroy facilitated the event.

The BBBF is a leading network of businessmen and women in Bahrain.

The forum aims to promote trade and investment between Bahrain and Britain by offering opportunities for networking and information sharing between the two business communities. The forum now has a total of nine Special Interest Groups (SIGs), covering oil, gas & energy, hospitality, construction, banking & financial services, ICT and legal sectors; as well as organisational effectiveness and young professionals.

The SIGs offer members and guests a valuable medium for exchanging industry specific ideas and discussing issues relevant to a particular sector in a more informal setting.

Individuals interested in joining the forum and staying up to date with its events can find out more at www.bbbforum.org

Above: Ms Wafa Al Obaidat - Panelist

Above: Ms Solveig Niclos - Panelist

Above: Anna-Marie Dowling - Panelist Forum 11

SIG - Construction

The times, they are a changinÂ’ As you will probably know by now, the current Construction SiG Head, Rick Hopper, is relocating to Riyadh to take on a new and exciting role with Atkins.

We would like to thank Rick for his contribution not only to the SiG but to the BBBF as a whole. Rick and his wife Heather will be sorely missed.

Paula Boast has kindly volunteered Gary Laing and Emyr Rowlands from Mott MacDonald to replace Rick in his absence.

In addition to Construction SiG changes, there have

been some changes to the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) Bahrain Committee.

After more than 20 years representing the ICE in Bahrain and around the Middle East, Mr. Ismail Khonji has decided to step down.

Ismail is greatly respected as a person and Engineer and has contributed greatly to Bahrain and the ICE over

Emyr Rowlands

Gary Laing

Middle East Representative from George Street London recently visited several countries within the region, including Bahrain, as part of a fact finding mission.

The common theme in the feedback was greater engagement and increased promotion of the ICE.

collaborate with other local institutions, such as BBBF and the SCL, to diversify our events and allow for greater networking for members.

the years. We sincerely thank him for his leadership and guidance and also thank him for his continued support as he will remain an honorary member of the Committee.

In response to this feedback, the Bahrain Committee has been expanded with a view to serving a broad cross section of the civil engineering community.

The intent is to hold more frequent Events in the form of Evening Presentations, Site Visits and Social Events and to provide greater support to engineers wishing to advance their professional qualifications and also to encourage student engineers.

In September 2016, the ICE

The ICE are looking to

We are currently refining our agenda for 2017 and this already includes evening presentations, a workshop on Routes to Membership for graduates and experienced engineers and a presentation on bridge design. There have also been several site visits planned for the forthcoming months.

The ICE will also circulate a periodic newsletter keeping members advised on Events, graduate training assistance, ICE webinars and other relevant civil engineering issues.

If you have any comments or wish to join the ICE, please contact: john.barnes@hillintl.com

SIG - Legal Saad Al Doseri, Senior Associate at Al Tamimi & CompanyÂ’s Bahrain office, presented to the Legal Special Interest Group late last year on the Bahrain Civil Code.

The Civil Code is the primary source of civil law in Bahrain, and remains the main source of legal rules applicable to contracts. Saad provided an introductory look at the Civil Code, which was essential for anyone either 12 Forum

discussion afterwards.

Slides are available for the presentation; if anyone who was unable to attend would like a copy, please just get in touch.

Saad Al Doseri Al Tamimi & Co practising law in Bahrain, or simply looking to develop a better understanding of the legal landscape in the Kingdom. The presentation was very well-received by the attendees, and generated a lot of interesting

In the first half of 2017, we are planning to continue our theme of introductory sessions on various aspects of the law in Bahrain, with a presentation on dispute resolution in the Kingdom (covering both arbitration and litigation). We will also be organising a more

Joanne Emerson Taqi BBBF Legal SIG Chair informal social get together for members of the Legal Special Interest Group to take place just before the start of Ramadan. Please keep an eye out for further details in the coming weeks.

Bahrain Approves the Introduction of VAT in 2018

SIG - Banking & Finance

Following a meeting of GCC States in 2016, the GCC Chairman, Bahrain s Finance Minister, Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa, announced that the Ministers had approved the introduction of GCC VAT, although certain procedural aspects would be subject to future discussion.

The introduction of VAT in Bahrain will affect both businesses, which will have to adapt their systems and processes to enable them to collect, record, report and pay VAT to the Bahraini Government, and individual consumers, who will (indirectly) bear the burden of the increase in the prices of goods and services.

Arshad Gadit Joint SIG Chair

Jonathan Trafankowski Joint SIG Chair

not falling within the exempt, zero-rated or reduced rate categories are charged at the 20% standard rate.

While little has been confirmed regarding the specifics of implementation, it is expected that, in order to ensure that VAT does not overburden individual consumers, certain categories of goods and services, such as basic foodstuffs, healthcare and education will be exempt from VAT or carry either a zero-rate or reduced rate of VAT. In the UK, for example, where a VAT regime is long- established, exempt categories include sport and culture, financial services and insurance.

Whilst the terms of the GCC VAT agreements have yet to be confirmed, the standard rate of VAT is thought to be in the region of 5%. Should this level of tax be confirmed, it will represent a very moderate VAT charge in comparison with some other, established systems of VAT, such as those of the EU member States. Businesses with a turnover over $100,000 will be required to register.

Most food items, medications and books are zero-rated for VAT and other items, including residential domestic electricity and gas, heating and energy saving equipment, are charged to VAT at the reduced rate of 5%. Goods and services

What is certain is that following implementation the Bahraini Government will have access to a significant and stable revenue stream, and will have joined a system of indirect taxation that is commonly accepted around the world.

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SIG - Young Professionals The Young Professionals Special Interest Group (YP SIG) was started originally to help younger members of the business community establish their network of contacts and assist them in attending business functions and social events to help them establish themselves at the beginning of their careers. We hope to help introduce them to the right people to gain experiences from, including from our senior, longer serving BBBF members. We aim to have these established members act as mentors and give guidance to our younger professionals. Our aim is to increase the number of Young Professionals in the BBBF so we have fresh ideas and they too benefit from what the BBBF has to offer.

In the last quarter of 2016, we relaunched the Young Professional Special Interest Group with great success. We had two kick off events. Firstly we had our first corporate social responsibility event sponsored by SteppingStone Global at the University of Bahrain from 20-24th November. Over 1000 first year UOB students were treated to workshops on Optimizing my study-life and time at the University of Bahrain . This was very well received and we are now planning another workshop for final year students at the UOB on CV writing, case studies and interview techniques in the next 3 months, before their graduation.

Our second event and the main event was the official launch of the YP SIG by hosting a Speed Business networking event held on 6th December at The Domain Hotel. We had over 40 new young professionals attend and gain some

Michael Fodor Joint SIG Chair

Daniel Edwin Joint SIG Chair

Ava Garbutt Joint SIG Chair

essential networking skills and new contacts. We would like to thank our sponsors for this event, Newton Consult, The Domain, Steppingstone Global and NHSC.

We now have 2 confirmed guest speakers for our next two events coming up in the next few months. His Excellency Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Mr. Zayed Alzayani and Mr. Simon Galpin, Managing Director at The Bahrain Economic Development Board. We will be holding these events as evening events with a speech followed by Q&A then a networking opportunity. We will be sending out invitations shortly.

If any members wish to host an event for our Young Professionals in the future, please do not hesitate to contact any of the co-heads of the YP SIG, Mrs. Ava Garbutt, ava.garbutt@ccp.bh, Mr. Michael Fodor, mfodor@trowers.com or Mr. Daniel Edwin, dedwinoakbh.com

SIG - ICT

The joint Heads of the ICT SIG, David Wales and Ravi Jayasundera welcome Mike Jackson to assist with running the group.

The ICT SIG focuses on David Wales (BSc, MIEE) spreading awareness of Joint SIG Chair Information Technology and Communication. In keeping with its objective, the ICT SIG is planning to organise a number of events in 2017. The first event is scheduled for the 8 th of March, which is a presentation on the use of fiber optic cabling in modern buildings. As you are aware, the Kingdom of Bahrain has embarked on the installation of fiber optics across the country, the presentation will explain the innovative solutions that the Prysmian fiber company has to offer.

Another event scheduled for quarter two of 2017 is 14 Forum

Ravi Jayasundera Joint SIG Chair

Mike Jackson) Joint SIG Chair

an awareness session on technology usage and good practices focussed on the average person. Each of us has one or more connected digital devices. The number of risks associated with these devices has increased exponentially, including hacking, personal information being compromised and other attacks the devices are vulnerable to. The presentation will cover tips and tricks that can be followed by average users to safeguard their devices and minimise damage in the event of a compromise.

SIG - ICT event The ICT SIG held its first meeting of 2017 at the Gulf Hotel Convention Centre. ICT is the convergence of IT and communications and this event focused strongly on the communications aspect.

The meeting was well attended with over 30 participants.

Condor Technology, Bahrain in partnership with Prysmian Group sponsored the event. Prysmian Group, the world leader in fiber optic cables, were invited to present their innovative fiber optic cabling solutions. Prysmian GroupÂ’s Kris Roberts, connectivity &

Above: (L to R) David Wales, Condor (BBBF ICT SIG Head), Kris Roberts, Carlos Lopez & Toni Nieto from Prysmian Group, and Ravi Jayasundera, Sysprove (BBBF ICT SIG Head) FTTH specialist; Toni Nieto, Middle East Below: A selection of the audience

telecom solution manager; and Carlos Lopez, PRYSMIAN Telecom Director, UK presented a highly cost effective and time saving product for running fiber to the end point in high rise buildings.

Known as Verticasa, the solution is quick to deploy and ensures minimum splice points between the incoming fiber to the basement of a building and the end customer. Creating a big impact on the ICT and construction industries this advanced fiber optic cabling solution is suitable for both Inside Plant (ISP) and Outside Plant (OSP) projects.

Forum 15

Financial News

Investcorp more than doubles investment distributions in first Half of Fiscal Year 2017

Distributions to Investcorp and its clients increases 123% to $1.1 billion First close of Technology Fund IV Strong balance sheet , with Fitch upgrading rating outlook to positive in November 2016

I

nvestcorp (or the Firm ), a global provider and manager of alternative investment products, has announced its fiscal half year (H1 FY17) results for the six months ending December 31st, 2016.

Although the challenging and uncertain global macroeconomic and geopolitical backdrop, saw investors in the Gulf exercising some caution, the Firm witnessed a period of healthy activity on all fronts of its business in terms of investment acquisitions, realisations, performance and fundraising.

In the six months to December 31, 2016 distributions to Investcorp and its clients from realisations and other distributions totaled $1.1 billion, a 123% increase on the same period last year.

In parallel, the Firm successfully concluded its first closing for Technology Fund IV, building on the successes of the first three funds that have seen Investcorp develop a strong reputation as a leading technology investor. The Real Estate business continued to grow both geographically, by establishing a full-fledged investment team in Europe, and in terms of new products, through the acquisition and placement of two USbased club-style deals over the last 12 months. The Firm also continued to invest in its distribution platform to deepen client relationships in the Gulf. These developments were all received well by the market.

During this period of forward-looking investments to position the Firm for its strategic evolution, the Firm continued its track record of delivering solid profitability, with net income of $35.6 million, which is 30% lower from $50.9 million in H1 FY16. Gross operating income was correspondingly lower at $153.3 million (H1 FY16: $178.4 million). The decline versus the comparable period last year was solely due to a oneoff write-down of a legacy investment in real estate. Gross operating income excluding this write-down remained solid at $170 million, reflecting a stable performance from core operations. Fully diluted earnings per share for the period was at $0.48 per share (H1 FY16: $0.71 per share) reflecting a lower net income and a higher weighted average number of shares. Return on equity for the period was 6%.

Fee income for the period was $128.0 million (H1 FY16: $134.7 million), reflecting the uncertain market environment and a more cautious stance taken by clients in making 16 Forum

capital commitment decisions. Core asset based income in the period, excluding the one-off legacy asset write-down referenced above, was $42.3 million (H1 FY16: $44.7 million).

Reduction in asset based income from corporate investments was mostly offset by a rebound in returns from the Alternative Investment Solutions business and solid current rental yield from real estate investments. Treasury and other income also increased to $9.0 million from $0.6 million in H1 FY16.

Aggregate operating expenses remained flat at $89.3 million (H1 FY16: $89.0 million) demonstrating Investcorp s focus on controlling overall costs, whilst continuing to invest in broadening the Firm s product capabilities and client-facing resources. The Firm s cost-to-income ratio was 71% at the end of the period (H1 FY16: 64%).

Investcorp remains well capitalized with total assets as at December 31, 2016, at $2.7 billion, up from $2.5 billion as at June 30, 2016. Total liquidity remains strong at $1.2 billion and more than covers the bonds and bank debt maturing over the next 5 years. The Bank s capital adequacy ratio, at 30%, remains strong and is more than double the requirements of the Central Bank of Bahrain (12.5%).The Bank remains well within the required leverage ratio and maintains significant headroom in all financial covenants. The strength of the balance sheet provides the Firm with flexibility to seize strategic investment opportunities as they arise. Fitch upgraded its rating on Investcorp to positive outlook in November 2016.

Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman, (pictured above) said: In the first half of the financial year we continued to focus on delivering on our strategic goals, and we have made great strides forward to building the foundation for our future growth. At the same time, we have returned to Investcorp and its clients $1.1 billion of distributions following successful investments that deliver attractive returns across a diversified portfolio of alternatives investments. We look forward to the rest of 2017 and beyond with great confidence as a bigger, more geographically diversified firm with a broader range of products which will see us continue to deliver value to our clients and shareholders.

Financial News The pound in your pocket The Treasury says that approximately one in thirty £1 coins in circulation is a counterfeit. Valued at about £50million experts believe that half of these coins are good enough to fool vending machines and automated tills. Primarily because of its vulnerability to sophisticated counterfeiters and ending a 30-year legacy, the new 12-sided pound coin will enter circulation on 28 March this year.

A co-circulation period will run until September 2017, but you may have even noticed a shortage of round pounds already with 50million old coins taken out of circulation since Christmas.

With hologram imagery, micro lettering and a hidden security feature, the Treasury is convinced that the coin will be almost impossible to counterfeit.

As of 15 October 2017 the old coins will cease to be legal tender Get ready to dig out all of your round pounds. Ensure that they are either spent or banked before the cut-off date. If you re like me, you probably have a few odd coins tucked away ready for when you next visit a particular country so you might want to read on.

The new pound coin is different in shape and weight to its predecessor. To be fully prepared, business owners will be

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required to adapt any coin-accepting machinery, such as vending machines and lockers. The race is also on for local councils to make upgrades to parking ticket machines.

But it’s not just the pound coin New notes are also on the way. Following on from the success of the new polymer £5 note, a new £10 note will arrive in the summer of 2017. Looking further into the future, a new £20 note is expected to be introduced in 2020.

It is vital that small business owners plan ahead. Leaving it until the last minute to update machines or to collect old one pound coins could result in business owners losing the precious minutes needed for the daily operations of a small company.

Business owners in the UK are advised to visit the Royal Mint Website for all information regarding the new pound, with resources and videos available to help prepare. Visit www.royalmint.com

Commenting on the coin s imminent introduction, Clive Lewis, head of enterprise at the Chartered Account organisation ICAEW, said its arrival came at a time of growing business costs for owners experiencing currency fluctuations.

To avoid further costs when implementing this change, small business owners should ensure they are on top of the introduction of the new pound coin and do not leave preparation until the last minute, he said in a statement.

According to the British Parking Association (BPA), around a quarter of the UK s 100,000 pay and display machines won t have had the necessary modifications required to incorporate a new coin by 28 March.

The BPA raised concerns that rural communities, where out-dated parking machines are more common, could be at a significant disadvantage. Richard Boultby, marketing director at ticket machine manufacturer Metric, assured Daily Telegraph readers that the backlog of upgrade requests would be completed by June 2017, four months before the end of the co-circulation period.

A notice on the Royal Mint website says buiness owners are under no obligation to accept the current pound coin after 16th Ocober 2017 but UK Bank account holders will still be able to deposit coins into their accounts for a short while So what does the new coin look like?

The new coin has a number of features that make it much more difficult to counterfeit. u

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12-sided its distinctive shape makes it instantly recognisable, even by touch.

Bimetallic it is made of two metals. The outer ring is gold coloured (nickel-brass) and the inner ring is silver coloured (nickel-plated alloy).

Latent image it has an image like a hologram that changes from a £ symbol to the number 1 when the coin is seen from different angles.

Micro-lettering it has very small lettering on the lower inside rim on both sides of the coin. One pound on the obverse heads side and the year of production on the reverse tails side, for example 2016 or 2017.

Milled edges it has grooves on alternate sides.

Hidden high security feature a high security feature is built into the coin to protect it from counterfeiting in the future.

The new 12-sided £1 coin s dimensions are different from the current round £1 coin. u

Thickness: 2.8mm it is thinner than the round £1 coin.

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Weight: 8.75g it is lighter than the round £1 coin.

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Diameter: 23.43mm it is slightly larger than the round £1 coin, the maximum diameter (point to point) is 23.43mm.

What s it worth?

With the round pound coin set to become worthless by the end of the year, Brits have started rifling through old handbags and looking down the backs of sofas in order to dig out coins that will soon cease to be legal tender.

The government estimates that around £433 million ponds are stashed away in people s piggy banks, car ashtrays and down the backs of sofas across the UK. And while most £1 coins in circulation are worth their face value, some can fetch significantly more.

Below, we look at 5 of the rarest £1 coins in circulation that are currently selling on eBay for far more than their face value.

According to the blog Change Checker, the rarest one pound coin currently in circulation is the Edinburgh £1 which was part of a series of coins depicting the capital cities of the UK. Some coins are currently selling for as much as £34 on the auction site.

Another coin released as part of the capital cities of the UK series was the London £1. The coin shows the portrait of the Queen and on the reverse side shows the four official badges of the capital cities of the UK, with a magnified image of the badge of London.

Similar to the Edinburgh coin, London £1 coins in perfect condition can sell for up to £30, but most sell for around £5.

Despite the Royal Arms being a common one pound coin design, the 2008 version of the coin is actually the third rarest, with 3.9 million in circulation. Royal Arms coins from 2008 can fetch up to £15 on eBay. In 2014 two new £1 coins one for Northern Ireland and one for Scotland completed a series of four that began in 2013 with coins for England and Wales.

This coin design features the thistle and bluebell for Scotland, and is the fourth rarest coin in the UK. Coins boxed and in excellent condition can fetch up to £10 on eBay. This daffodil pound coin was released in 2013 as a floral set alongside a rose pound coin. The daffodil is the national flower of Wales, while the leek is also a national emblem of Wales. The pair of coins marked the first release of a commemorative £1 since 2011. Mint condition coins will fetch up to £15 on eBay. START CHECKING YOUR CHANGE Forum 19

BBBF Networking lunches provide an incredible opportunity for catching up with old friends and meeting new ones away from the office.

In January at the Awal Ballroom in the Gulf Hotel, Simon Galpin, MD at the Bahrain Economic Development Board spoke about investment opportunities in Bahrain.

The winner of the Etihad tickets was Tom Ham of Standby Consulting.

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The VIP Guest of honour and keynote speaker at the February lunch was (above) H. E. Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, Minister of Oil, Gas and Energy .

The presentation consisted of a snapshot of ongoing projects and the outlook for the Oil & Gas sector.

The meeting was held in the Al Muharraq Ballroom at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel.

Forum 21

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ith Bernie Ecclestone no longer in day-to-day control, who now does run F1, what are their plans, and when will changes start to be seen? Assessing the sport s big talking points...

Who’s now in charge of F1?

The completion of Liberty Media s takeover has resulted in an immediate and far-reaching change in F1 s senior management structure.

Chase Carey, previously installed as the sport s new chairman last September, assumes Bernie Ecclestone s long-held chief executive role. The American former TV executive is now in day-to-day charge of F1.

Below Carey are two managing directors: Ross Brawn and Sean Bratches. Brawn, the hugely successful former F1 team boss and technical director, will have responsibility for sporting matters while Bratches, an experienced marketing executive in American sports TV, will take over the commercial side of the business long considered Ecclestone s domain.

No longer in day-to-day control of the sport, Liberty has nonetheless recognised Ecclestone s immense contribution to the success of F1 by making him chairman emeritus.

What does Bernie’s new role entail?

Although effectively now holding an honorary position, Ecclestone s advice and expertise can still be utilised according to Carey. F1 s new chief accepted it would be difficult for Ecclestone to come to terms with the changes but hoped to continuing tapping into the 86-year-old s knowhow.

Carey says he wants to take this sport to a whole new level , with growth in F1 s marketing and digital media output likely to be among his initial short to mid-term targets.

Will there be more races?

In simple terms, one way for F1 to grow its revenues is to stage more grands prix each season.

That was the previous record for the length of a season set back in 2012 and in both historical and, most importantly, travel terms it remains a significant number for the F1 travelling circus to contend with.

That s still plenty of planes, hotels and time spent arranging a suitcase but those on the coalface it is probably a welcome small, if temporary, respite for 2017.

26 March: Australia 9 April: China 16 April: Bahrain 30 April: Russia 14 May: Spain 28 May: Monaco 11 June: Canada 25 June: Azerbaijan 9 July: Austria 16 July: Great Britain

30 July: Hungary 27 August: Belgium 3 September: Italy 17 September: Singapore 1 October: Malaysia 8 October: Japan 22 October: USA 29 October: Mexico 12 November: Brazil 26 November: Abu Dhabi

So what’s new as the season starts?

Mercedes have won the constructors championship for each of the last three seasons but were thrown a curve ball at the end of 2016 when world champion Nico Rosberg retired. His replacement Valtteri Bottas has been lumbered with bringing up the rear which is just where Lewis Hamilton will want him to stay. Bottas has other plans though saying that you may see some sparks, I m not here to be the second driver adding that he wanted to be world champion himself at some stage.

An eventual increase to 23-25 races has been mooted in recent months, although it appears that quality rather than simply sheer quantity will form a major consideration in Liberty s plans.

We re engaged with a number of markets that we think have the potential for a race, said Carey. We d like to have a race that really is a major event in the US, at a destination city, so that means one of New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Las Vegas.

Back to 20 races Twenty-five race calendars may be F1 s eventual future under its proposed new American owners, but for 2017 the record 21-race schedule of this year is cut by one to a round 20.

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Force India’s new car has been held up as perhaps the ugliest of the 2017 breed, but that will not matter a jot to

Sergio Perez and new team-mate Esteban Ocon if it helps them beat the team s fourth-placed finish last season.

Ferrari have also unveiled the car with which they will contest the 2017 FIA Formula One World Championship. While some of the changes to the car - including on the aerodynamic side have been forced by the major alterations to the F1 regulations for this year, the revised technical team at Maranello has also targeted several areas under the skin of the car. Ferrari s 062/2 power unit will feature an internal combustion engine aimed at making better use of the MGU-H, which should increase the efficiency of the hybrid systems and reduce the risk of turbocharger unreliability.

McLaren have not won a race since Jenson Button s victory in Brazil in 2012 and have not had a podium since Australia 2014. That said, if their car-building skills can match their airbrushing skills, then 2017 is looking promising for Fernando Alonso and the highly rated - and immaculately groomed - Stoffel Vandoorne.

Renault only scored points at three races in 2016 and will be relying on Jolyon Palmer and new arrival Nico Hulkenberg to improve on that this season. They have pinpointed their ERS as the cause of their frequent engine woes during the 2017 pre-season, and insist fixes will be in place before the Australian season-opener on March 26. Anything could happen in Melbourne, we are doing everything we can to make sure that only good things happen in Melbourne, said Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul.

Over at Haas, the VF-17 follows the team s very first car, the VF-16, which carried Haas F1 Team to an eighth-place finish in the 2016 constructor standings. Twenty-nine points were scored by the VF-16 during Haas F1 Team s inaugural season, the largest points haul of any new Formula One team in this millennium. Incorporating VF into the name of the car is a nod to the history of Haas Automation, the team s title sponsor. The first CNC machine manufactured by Haas Automation was the VF-1 in 1988. The V stands for vertical, which is an industry standard designation for a vertical mill.

Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation, added F1 to the name to unofficially designate it as the company s Very First One . Haas is now hoping that it can test new Formula 1 brakes from Carbone Industrie at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The American-based team has cited a lack of consistency with its current brakes from Brembo as something that needs addressing but switching suppliers is not so straightforward this year because the wider discs require a bigger design overhaul, which is why Haas is working with Brembo at the moment to find a solution.

In 2016 the combination of superb RB12 chassis and muchimproved Renault power unit (now badged TAG Heuer) saw the Red Bull team bounce back to become Mercedes only serious rivals for race victories - taking one apiece for Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, who stunned by winning on his debut in Spain after arriving from sister team Toro Rosso.

Testing the RB13 in Barcelona earlier this month Ricciardo has an exhaust issue which limited the lap count but his work earlier in the day yeilded the third fastest lap time.

Over at Williams Felipe Massa revealed the discussions which led to him cancelling his F1 retirement began to just days after he said farewell to Williams at the team s Christmas party.

Speaking after the first day of testing for his 15th season in F1, Massa explained how Nico Rosbergg s shock retirement led him to cancel his. I didn t call anybody, said Massa.

If anybody wants to talk to me they need to call me. So that s exactly what happened.

I was just waiting and trying to see, following the media, and then it happened. Actually it happened two days after I had the Christmas party with the team saying bye-bye to everybody. ...then I received an SMS from Claire Williams. She was just writing to see if I would accept to stop my retirement. And I said I think we need to talk . And then she called me straight away so we spoke.

On Day 4 of testing in Barcelona, the Sauber F1 Team had a challenging last day of pre-season testing on the Circuit de Catalunya with a last minute change regarding the planned programme for Pascal Wehrlein, who had to concentrate on aero tests for the coming races in the afternoon. Marcus Ericsson worked through the planned programme mainly focusing on short runs with supersoft and ultrasoft tyres. The Swede was able to complete 59 laps overall in the morning, the German was running 42 laps in total in the afternoon.

Oh and just to finish, If you are a betting type, Ericsson at 3000/1 on SkyBET might be worth a quid or two since with Hamilton at 11/10 you d need to risk a lot of money to win anything worth having.

Forum 23

News from the Eastern Province of VAT. House-keeping and restructuring are the watchwords of the moment, although current conditions also offer an opportunity to prepare for the future.

Edward Rose Chairman, BBA(EP) As we reach the end of the first quarter of 2017, the business environment in the Eastern Province remains quiet and cautious. The oil price is still relatively low, and the Saudi Government continues to watch public spending and, bit by bit, to introduce its programme of reforms.

Some expatriates have decided - or been required - to depart Dhahran, Khobar and Jubail in recent months, and the local cost of doing business is ticking upwards.

For many companies, 2017 will be marked by the introduction of IFRS and by preparations for the arrival

Saudi Snippets King Salman on tour King Salman is expected to visit China, the world s second-biggest economy, in mid-March. From there, he will proceed to Japan, Brunei and Jordan, where he will attend the Arab League Summit.

At the end of February he was in Indonesia, and before that Malaysia.

King Salman is giving a strong message to different countries that the Kingdom 26 Forum

There are, however, a steady quantity of major projects being implemented. The Fadhili Independent Power Project (IPP) has now reached financial close, Saudi Aramco is pressing ahead with new gas projects, and a major maritime industries scheme is under planning for Ras Al Khair (to be implemented by a joint venture formed of Aramco, Bahri, Lamprell and Hyundai Heavy Industries).

All these projects will stimulate the supply chain and offer opportunities for existing and new British business interests.

Looking ahead, prospects seem healthy Saudi has launched its first IPP solar and wind projects, the first wave of National Transformation Plan initiatives should begin in earnest, railway reform is on the cards, and there is talk of further expansion projects at the Royal Commission in Jubail and at the SATORP refinery. welcomes investors, said Abdullah Al-Meleihi, board member of the Council of Saudi Chambers, adding that in support of this, the Kingdom announced recently that it is studying giving visas to foreign investors in 24 hours.

He said the China visit will give King Salman the opportunity to promote Saudi Aramco s initial public offering (IPO) in 2018. He added that it is the world s biggest IPO, involving 5% of Saudi Aramco and worth $2 trillion, and it is attracting government funds as well as international banks.

The British Business Association (BBA) - Eastern Province Tel: 013 882 5629 Email: secretary@bbaep.org Website: www.bbaep.org

The BBA(EP) continues in very good shape and the current Committee has made sure that members diaries have remained full. January was marked by a New Year networking event in Alkhobar and by a Burn s Night supper in Jubail. February featured a BBA(EP) brunch at the Bahrain Sofitel, as well as a business dinner. Similar events are planned for March and we have our AGM and annual dinner scheduled for 5 April.

We expect to support SBJBC and MEA missions to the EP in April and May, respectively, and our Oil and Gas Special Interest Group has held a successful series of sector meetings (on the industry environment, on the Ras Al Khair maritime project, and on Aramco s IKTVA initiative).

We are busy!

On 5 April 2017, the BBA(EP) Committee will be stepping

Virus Warning

Saudi computer security systems are vulnerable to the Shamoon 2 virus, a senior official warned in January, confirming reports of a fresh cyberattack on the Kingdom.

The virus has devised a new method that was unexpected by government systems , said Abdulaziz al-Ruwais, Governor of the Commission for Communications and Information Technology.

He said that some bodies had been affected by the programme, and detailed

down at the AGM and a new committee elected. The current Committee would like to thank all its members for their support over the past year, and to all those organisations in Bahrain who so kindly offer membership benefits to BBA(EP) members. All such support is greatly appreciated.

We extend a special word of thanks to Steve Graham (Head of the BTO) for his steadfast backing of the BBA (EP) and for his regular hospitality over the last twelve months, as well as to Luisa Graham (the BBA(EP) Secretary) for keeping our show firmly on the road.

Warm wishes from the Eastern Province to all BBBF Forum readers.

Kind regards Edward Rose Chairman BBA(EP)

measures which companies could take to try to protect their computer networks.

Local media reported earlier that Shamoon 2 hit the private sector and various government agencies including a division of the labour ministry.

Global security firm Symantec did not mention Saudi Arabia but said it was currently investigating reports of yet another new attack in the Middle East involving the destructive disk-wiping malware used by the Shamoon group .

Motoring News McLaren Special Operations quick to celebrate launch of new McLaren Super Series with bespoke MSO 720S Velocity Just 24 hours after the new McLaren 720S was revealed in all its glory at the 87th Geneva International Motor Show, McLaren Automotive is highlighting the level to which buyers of its new Super Series will be able to personalise their car by unveiling a dramatic, bespoke 720S, created by McLaren Special Operations.

The McLaren 720S Velocity by MSO signals the almost limitless scope of personalisation possibilities available to buyers who opt to commission their new Super Series car from McLaren Special Operations, the bespoke vehicle division of McLaren Automotive.

The MSO mission is to fulfil customer desire for exclusivity in their choice of McLaren, explained Ansar Ali, Managing Director of McLaren Special Operations. The lean, sculpted beauty of the new 720S provides the perfect starting point for owners to be creative and the specification of this MSO 720S Velocity showcases a taste of the customisation options that are possible.

McLaren 720S Velocity by MSO 28 Forum

The striking Velocity paint theme comprises two pearlescent hues of red; a newly formulated shade, Nerello Red, is used on the front and upper body panels of the car including on the red-tinted visual carbon fibre bonnet and fades into a vivid Volcano Red that covers the sides and rear of the car.

The unique paintwork is complemented by lightweight alloy wheels, finished in a subtle shade of metallic bronze by MSO. A range of exterior carbon fibre parts selected from the MSO collection also features on the 720S Velocity , further enhancing the bold and purposeful appearance of the new Super Series. In addition to the red carbon fibre bonnet, a gloss carbon Rear Deck Vent, gloss carbon fibre Service Cover, gloss carbon rear aero bridge and satin carbon Full Length Sill Cover are also fitted.

Step inside the spacious, light and airy cabin of the 720S Velocity and you are greeted by Carbon Black Alcantara® trim throughout, providing a technical, sporting feel with a luxurious tactile finish and contrasting with Harissa Red leather details. Complementing the exterior Velocity theme, Harissa Red highlights are continued throughout the interior, including on the fascia, steering wheel, doors and across the sports seats fitted as standard on the 720S, further enhancing McLaren s most luxurious Super Series interior to date.

The McLaren 720S Velocity , which as a complete vehicle costs in the region of £335,000 as a McLaren Special Operations commission, is one of five MSO themes for the new McLaren Super Series that are explored in a boutique area of the McLaren stand at the 87th Geneva International Motor Show. The other themes, GT ; Pacific ; Track ; and Stealth , are displayed on screens, further demonstrating that MSO can fulfil almost any request to ensure that each personalised McLaren perfectly delivers the customers initial ideas and vision.

New Jaguar F-Type debuts with world-first GOPRP technology

Tesla targets Middle East with Dubai debut Tesla has started selling its luxury electric cars in Dubai, marking its first foray into the Middle East, its founder Elon Musk revealed at the World Government Summit.

California-based Tesla is accepting online orders from customers in the United Arab Emirates, a pop-up store in the Dubai Mall and a Tesla service center being built on Dubai s Sheikh Zayed Road, which is due to open in July.

Musk said on Monday that Tesla will open a store and service center in Abu Dhabi in 2018 and plans to expand to Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Musk declined to elaborate on his wider plans or timeline for expansion outside the UAE.

Already recognised as the most dynamically capable, performance-focused Jaguar, the F-TYPE sports car continues to evolve, with a fresh look, state-of-the-art infotainment system and world-first ReRun app that combines vehicle data with GoPro video to enhance the driving experience.

Since its launch in 2012, Jaguar s all-aluminium two-seater has firmly established itself as the best-selling sports car in its segment in its home market and has won nearly 160 awards worldwide. The unrivalled balance of seductive design, stunning performance and outstanding dynamics has always made the F-TYPE unique, in a range that has evolved to include Coupé bodystyles, manual transmissions and intelligent all-wheel drive.

The new F-TYPE range offers even more driver-focused technology and a broader model range than ever, comprising 28 derivatives from the purist appeal of the rear-wheel drive, 340PS F-TYPE to the 200mph (322kmph), all-wheel drive F-TYPE SVR Jaguar s all-weather supercar.

Every F-TYPE now features the Touch Pro infotainment system. Its super-fast responses, intuitive tablet-style operation, intelligent navigation functions such as Share ETA and online services such as real-time traffic and live weather reports make every journey more rewarding and put a world of information at the driver s fingertips.

True enthusiasts will be able to capture and share their driving experiences using the new ReRun app developed in collaboration with GoPro. In a world-first, ReRun combines real-time video from the driver s GoPro with key vehicle performance data including speed, throttle position, gear selection, braking force and g force. The high quality video including unique highlights sections can be downloaded to the driver s smartphone and shared on social media.

Tesla s prices start from AED 275,000 ($74,884) for its Model S, which has a range of 632 km from a single charge and AED 344,000 for the Model X, which can travel up to 565 km.

Customers who take delivery of the cars, which will begin in July of this year, will be able to charge their vehicles at home or at 28 locations across the UAE, which Tesla hopes to increase to 50 by the end of the year.

Outside the US, Tesla s website says it is in Mexico, Canada, Europe, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan.

Musk met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid AlMaktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, during his visit to the Emirates.

Sheikh Mohammed and Musk discussed the company s global activities and its role in encouraging the use of clean energy, according to a Dubai Media Office statement. Sheikh Mohammed also welcomed the launch of Tesla s regional office in Dubai.

The F-TYPE s award-wining design is stronger and more focused, with clearer visual range differentiation thanks to model-specific front bumpers. Full LED headlights boost visual appeal still further and help improve driver safety and comfort.

Forum 29

Motoring News

Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover Celebrates Second Year Anniversary of Land Rover Experience Centre Bahrain and Successfully Hosts Jaguar s Art of Performance Tour Jaguar Land Rover along with its exclusive importer and distributor in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Euro Motors, celebrated the 2nd year anniversary of the Land Rover Experience Centre Bahrain, by holding a spectacular two day event at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.

The celebratory event, which was held on the 17th and 18th of February 2017, for VIPs, media representatives, guests as well as customers, included an experience on the Land Rover Experience course. The semi-final of Jaguar s Art of Performance Tour was also held for the very first time in the Kingdom of Bahrain, where Jaguar fans were thrilled to experience a ride of a lifetime at the Jaguar Dynamic Drive event. During the two-day event, Land Rover Experience Centre Bahrain delivered over 170 driver experiences that were thoroughly enjoyed by all the participants. Taking it a step further, the Centre also conducted a number of activities that catered to all age groups, including a one of a kind Land Rover Experience children s track.

With the Land Rover Experience Centre Bahrain being the first of its kind in the MENA region, it was designed to cater to both the local Bahraini and regional market and it has been doing so successfully for the past two years. During the successful two years, the presence of the Centre in the Kingdom along with the number of visitors per day has been growing exponentially. The Land Rover Experience lounge was also revamped and refurbished to better suit the needs

and comfort of the guests and customers.

For the first time ever, Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover also hosted the semi-finals for the Jaguar s Art of Performance Tour. Guided by Jaguar s expert drive instructors, this tour allows enthusiasts to drive and push the Jaguar vehicles to the limits through exhilarating challenges, including the Smart Cone Challenge, which uses wireless technology to randomly illuminate pairs of cones to set out a different route each time.

With millions of different potential options taking place in real time, the technology provides a unique test of driving skill, precision and reactions.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Nawaf Khalid Al Zayani, the Managing Director of Euro Motors, said: Having just celebrated the 2 nd year anniversary of the Land Rover Experience Centre in Bahrain, I am proud to say that the event was a grand success and proves to be a continuing success for Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover. We are glad to have witnessed such a favourable turnout for our Second Year Anniversary celebrations and this was our way of giving back to our customers, as we continuously strive to prioritize their needs and desires. We are also immensely proud that the semi-finals of the Jaguar s Art of Performance Tour took place smoothly and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the finalists of the Tour.

Located in the heart of the Sakhir desert within the grounds of Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), The Home of Motorsport in The Middle East , the Land Rover Experience Centre Bahrain covers 3.5 kilometres of varying terrains such as sand, rock, hill and water landscapes. There are 32 natural and man-made obstacles allowing guests to traverse terrain including slide slopes, humps, rocks, gravel roads and watercourses, all the while assessing the driving environment, maximising the capability and technology of the vehicle and most importantly developing driving skills in the world s most capable luxury vehicles. In addition to the existing obstacles at the Land Rover Experience Centre, a new obstacle called the Peanut was introduced, which tested the handling and suspension of the vehicles.

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3/15/17 6:00 PM

Education & Training

Providing assistance to learners

MDCI works in the United Kingdom, Middle East and Africa providing logistical, administration and marketing support for postgraduate academic programmes on behalf of a number of United Kingdom universities.

The Bahrain based company also provides executive development programmes and tailored programmes.

In thirty years of providing executive programmes MDCI has helped two and half thousand Gulf based professionals to enhance their careers with academic qualifications recognised worldwide, and has helped to introduce the latest business thinking and skills to the Gulf.

A key element of the MDCI’s programmes is that UK based lecturers fly to the Gulf to deliver their modules allowing the local professionals to continue their careers while studying for their Masters of Doctorate.

The Masterclass training programmes help people with an MBA or the like keep up to date and for those without higher level business qualifications to develop the wide range of knowledge and skills needed by today s executives and managers.

They are challenged to apply ideas and concepts to real organisational issues, problems and visions. The programmes are delivered by a very experienced team of UK nationals, all of whom have considerable experience of the world of University Business School and Executive education in different national settings.

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The training programmes develop the knowledge and skills base of today s executives and managers and help students apply ideas and concepts to real organisational issues, problems and visions. The programmes are delivered by a very experienced team of UK nationals, all of whom have considerable experience of the world of Executive education in different national settings.

Other services provide by MDCI include: Educational consultancy, exam management, management consultancy.

History In the early 1990 s MDCI established a base in Bahrain to service the needs of the large Saudi Arabian petrochemical and oil companies. Subsequently, the programmes have been offered to mature students from other GCC countries from its Bahrain base and Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Oman satellite offices.

The company has both Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Education registrations in the Kingdom of Bahrain as a representative office of the parent company in the United Kingdom.

Queen’s Award Each year Her Majesty Q u e e n Elizabeth awards her recognition in appreciation of work done overseas by United Kingdom organisations in the export sector. MDCI and its parent

company DA Group were awarded this honour and officers of the company were invited to a formal reception at Buckingham Palace.

Executive Model "The model," is a term referring to the time served method of delivering UK university postgraduate programmes, on a part-time basis to busy executives. It provides the local executive student with the same learning experience as they would enjoy on similar part time programmes, at the university campus.

In general students are mature executives normally with significant industry experience. The average age of current MDCI students is 35 and most have in excess of 8 years relevant experience.

The university partner provides the identical academic components of the programme, including teaching that students enjoy on campus. MDCI provides the local support for both university and student.

Management Development Centre International Ltd is a United Kingdom registered company. The company is part of the Durham Associates group, based at the Old Coach House, Castle Eden, County Durham. The chairman of the Group is the internationally renowned management academic and author Professor Geoff Lancaster.

MDCI is managed by a board of directors based in the United Kingdom.

The Managing Director is Robert L F Rice, who holds Bahrain residency and has lived and worked in the Middle East and Africa for

around 35 years. In 2009 he was identified as one of the leaders in executive education in the MENA countries by the Middle East Economic Digest MDCI relies on information technology and human interface to achieve its high level of student support and ensure maintenance of University operating procedures.

Students and their sponsor organisations appreciate the executive model of delivery for a number of reasons, notably: Busy executives are not removed from their work for extended periods Students have no difficulties in acclimatising to foreign cultures Programmes integrate student s life and work experience with latest academic thinking Organisations benefit from students applying their knowledge into the work environment on an iterative basis Students knowledge is reinforced by adding the new academic knowledge to their existing experience an important educational concept in itself The entire package including materials is delivered to the student in Bahrain, thus releasing them for example from time wasted finding text books Additionally, the fees for the programme mirror the UK fees but without costly accommodation, subsistence and travel costs.

Organisations appreciate retaining their employees during the study period and often benefit from the immediate application of new thinking

Investcorp awards its Student Innovation Prize to Nada Rahimi and Dunia Adel Bahraini youth. It is our duty to provide them with the guidance, motivation and encouragement they need to become the business leaders of tomorrow.

The $25,000 Prize was awarded to a team of two female students from Bahrain Polytechnic Competition received strong response from across Bahrain Quality of submissions reflects the great potential and talent of Bahrain s youth

attended by the university President, Professor Riyadh Hamza, alongside Investcorp s Co-CEO, Mohammed Al-Shroogi, as well as members of the judging panel and participating teams.

Investcorp, a global provider and manager of alternative investment products, announced the winning team of its $25,000 Student Innovation Prize ( the Prize ) during an official ceremony held at the University of Bahrain on Thursday 9th February. The event was

Addressing the audience, Mohammed Al-Shroogi, Co-CEO of Investcorp, highlighted the importance of education and youth in the development of every society, and said: Investcorp has always recognised the importance of supporting the professional development of the

The winning team is composed of two female students from Bahrain Polytechnic, Nada Rahimi and Dunia Adel, who submitted a business proposal for an innovative recipe box delivery service that promotes healthy and locally sourced food options.

With this competition, we wanted to stimulate innovative thinking amongst the younger generation, and we were delighted with the quality of response we had from across the Kingdom. This is testament to the great potential and talent of our youth.

Launched in June 2016, the competition received strong response from a large number of university students across Bahrain. The winning team was selected following a rigorous process where five teams were shortlisted to present their business ideas in front of a judging panel from Investcorp.

In addition to the Prize, Investcorp runs a number of educational initiatives with well-respected partners, such Injaz Bahrain, to support the professional development of the youth of Bahrain.

Investcorp also hosts an annual Leadership Programme at some of the world s most prestigious business schools. Recent programmes took place at Cambridge and Oxford.

Learning Time with Shaun & Timmy British Council proudly debuted its newest programme, Lear ning Time with Shaun & Timmy at the Bahrain Family Expo on February 9, 10 and 11 in the Bahrain Exhibition Centre.

With thousands of visitors, the beloved UK characters showed their immense popularity, with kids rushing to the stage during the special presentation by Gemma Church, Assistant Teaching Centre Manager Young Lear ners, and a constant stream of children

stopping by the booth for the sheep-making activity on all three days.

Learning Time with Shaun & T immy is a groundbreaking collaboration between British Council and Aardman, two of Britain s most trusted and respected organisations.

By combining the UK s world-leading Early Years Foundation Stage methodology with the world famous film and TV characters Shaun the Sheep and lamb of the flock Timmy, the British Council

has created a dynamic and enjoyable way for kids to learn English effectively.

The

programme

was

launched successfully on December 2016, and the British Council is opening more classes to keep up with demand.

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Hotel & Leisure News Behbehani Brothers 2017 Partners at Royal Golf Club

The Royal Golf Club is proud to announce its corporate partnership with Behbehani Brothers, the sole distributor of Porsche & Audi vehicles, for 2017 and 2018. Behbehani Brothers will have a significant presence across the Golf Club including car displays adjacent to the putting and chipping green at the facility, along with the underground car park and throughout the clubhouse.

Behbehani Brothers have been partners of the Royal Golf Club for the last two years and have really added some fantastic brand presence at the facility. Not only have Porsche and Audi supported the golf club through partnership but events such as the Audi Quattro Series, Porsche Cup and Audi National Day have provided some excellent opportunities for the members of the Royal Golf Club to enjoy some world class golf tournaments.

Steven Hill, General Manager of Behbehani Brothers and Stephen Havrilla, General Manager of Royal Golf Club will conduct a signing ceremony to commemorate the partnership at the Royal Golf Club early 2017.

On a global level, Porsche and Audi have an extensive portfolio of sport sponsorships, bringing an innovative and fan focused approach to millions of sport fans. Behbehani Brothers partnership with the Royal Golf Club

confirms Porsche and Audi s dedication to supporting sports in the Kingdom of Bahrain and enriching people s lives through providing unique experiences.

Steven Hill, General Manager, Motors Division, Behbehani Bros. w.l.l. said: Our partnership is of enormous significance for Audi and Porsche, as it represents the brands commitment in professional sports. In the past two years, we have organised exciting events such as the Audi Quattro Cup, Porsche Golf Cup and the Audi National Day Tournament. We are delighted to be able to continue to offer club members an emotional brand experience through one of the most popular sports in the world.

We are delighted to have Behbehani Brothers on board as our corporate

VIVA renews partnership with Royal Golf Club The management of the Royal Golf Club is delighted to announce that VIVA, Bahrain s favorite network, will once again partner with the Club in 2017 for the sixth consecutive year.

Through the terms of the agreement, VIVA will receive branding rights to the Club s driving range, located at the golf academy.

The partnership will also see members of VIVA Elite the telecom provider s exclusive program designed to reward high-end users and loyal customers gain access to exclusive benefits and reduced 34 Forum

green fee rates at the Club. Some of the benefits include 15 per cent reduction on all golf academy pricing and special rates at the Golf Course.

We are very happy to reconfirm our ongoing partnership with VIVA, said Stephen Havrilla, General Manager of the Royal Golf Club. VIVA will continue to have access to this superb venue from which to showcase their new products and services and raise their profile amongst our Members and guests.

partner of the Royal Golf Club, and to be aligned with Porsche and Audi which are such luxury brands within the kingdom. We are excited to be entering into the third year of our partnership with Behbehani Brothers and the last two years have been a pleasure working with the teams at Porsche and Audi, added Stephen Havrilla, General Manager of the Royal Golf Club. We look forward to working closely with Porsche and Audi on some exciting new golf events for our Members and guests throughout 2017 and beyond.

The Royal Golf Club is Bahrain s premier golf and leisure destination and prides itself on delivering unrivalled golf events.

The Club hosts 27 holes of golf including an 18 hole Championship Golf Course and a 9 Hole Par 3 Golf Course named the Wee Monty.

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All facilities are open to the public: ����������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������

Hotel & Leisure News

Calling all ladies!

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa appoints a new Hotel Manager Mr. Mehdi Hanayen Sofitel Zallaq, the symbol of the French elegance of Bahrain is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Mehdi Hanayen as Director of Operation.

Mr. Mehdi, previously Executive Assistant Manager of Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche and expert of Sofitel Luxury World, has a passion for the luxury hospitality industry and dedicated his career to the industry with invaluable experience in Food & Beverage operation. A graduate of Masters in Hospitality Management from Cornell University, he started his extensive experiences with SBM in Monaco and Marriott Beijing in

Make your way to the best ladies night in the heart of Manama and enjoy free flow of our selected house beverages at Teatro Downtown, every Thursday from 7pm to 10pm.

China. He joined Sofitel group in 2008 in Egypt at the Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah working in the food & beverage department, followed by Sofitel the Palm Dubai and Sofitel Abu Dhabi in the UAE and finally joined the magnifique world of Sofitel Bahrain.

New GM at Four Seasons

Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay is ideally located with easy access to the city s major business and leisure areas, including the new Avenues Bahrain Mall, set to open soon. As tourism continues to 36 Forum

Why stop there? Wear something red to match with the colour of Teatro logo for something special. The best Lady in Red will stand a chance to win an amazing prize.

I could hardly believe my eyes when I first saw this remarkable building, surrounded by beautiful gardens on its own island in the middle of the city, says Raab of his first impressions on arriving in Manama. But it always takes the people to make it come to life. The outstanding staff members of Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay are dedicated to the exceptional service that is the hallmark of our brand around the world.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, has appointed Richard Rabb as the new General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay. The assignment is Raab s first as General Manager, having most recently served as Acting General Manager at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeriah Beach.

Richard is a consummate hotelier whose extensive experience in resort management and food and beverage will be a great asset to Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, says Simon Casson, President, Hotel Operations - Europe, Middle East and Africa.. Having worked side by side to open our Jumeirah Beach resort, I wish Richard well in his new position, with full confidence in his future success.

Continue the evening with Teatro s a la carte menu featuring a lavish spread of over 130 dishes while enjoying free flow of sparkling all night and be mesmerised with the live entertainment by our amazing Saxophonist.

grow in the Bahrain, this new waterfront complex will boast more than 250,000 square metres (close to 3 million square feet) of restaurants, cinemas, arcades and a souq, with extensive green space including playgrounds, walking paths and gardens all right across from Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay and accessible via road or water taxi.

Raab s Four Seasons career began in the food and beverage side of the business, and has since spanned hotels and resorts in six countries prior to arriving in Bahrain. His diverse experience and his ability to speak four languages has prepared him well for leading the team at Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, which combines chic urban living with resort-like amenities and host of awardwinning restaurants. Born in Sweden and educated in Switzerland and the United Kingdom, Raab looks forward to exploring Bahrain s unique combination of ancient history, outdoor pursuits and modern urban life with his wife Sandra and two young daughters.

The growing footprint of The Comfort Food Company

Creating exceptional combinations of dishes and providing comfort food are the two criteria s that round out business at The Comfort Food Company. With the company s unique take on serving comfort food the modern way, The Comfort Food Company has witnessed tremendous success with its two famous dining concepts in the Kingdom of Bahrain- The Grub Shack (known for featuring traditional dishes with an interesting spin-off in a cozy one-of-a-kind American diner concept), and El Gringo (bringing to Bahrain the perfect take on Mexican street food).

Taking pride in the success of its first two establishments, The Comfort Food Company celebrates the best of American diner and Mexican street food by launching a second branch for both The Grub Shack and El Gringo at The Walk, Riffa during the first week March 2017.

As a consistent focus in delivering a memorable dining experience of an outstanding value, served in comfortable and innovative facilities, The Comfort Food Company recently expanded their footprint within the Kingdom of Bahrain with the launch of Choox Chicken Coop (all things chicken) and Wangs (a new concoction of the right balance of authentic Chinese cuisine along with a funky twist) at the El Mercado Mall, Janabiya, in December 2016 and January 2017 respectively.

The Comfort Food Company is specialized in creating, managing and investing in new restaurant concepts and F&B products in and around the Middle East. This raison d être is establishing for The Comfort Food Company its niche market by giving customers a truly differentiated experience. Every concept under the umbrella of The Comfort Food Company, brings a unique twist to well-known cuisines where familiar tastes are expertly blended with the highest quality ingredients alongside the best of local and seasonal foods, all wonderfully put together in their artisanal and intimate restaurants.

Stay Safe - Diplomat Radisson Blu certified by Safehotels® The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa in Bahrain was recently certified with Safehotels Certification a globally recognized security consultancy. The announcement marks a unique success for the hotel, with Radisson Blu being the first and only hotel to obtain such an achievement in Bahrain.

Safety & Security play an increasingly important role for everyone here in Bahrain and in the region. This certification allows us to further develop and enhance our safety and security program and to create additional value for our guests as well as our employees and owners , said Panos Panagis, General Manager of The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel.

From January 2015, Carlson Rezidor hotels selected across the EMEA region have begun the formal Safehotels certification process.

Relatively, a number of criteria to be covered including security equipment, staff awareness, training, fire security and first aid. Additionally, Safehotels evaluates the hotel s internal self-assessment with existing procedures and contribute to hotel security program through monitoring, reviewing and reporting.

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the dynamic Hotel Companies in the world with an access of over 1400 hotels in 115 countries, recently signed a global agreement with Safehotels Alliance. We have now an excellent third party verification of our own system. It really helps our hotels in creating and working towards reaching a global standard.

It s important to benchmark our hotels to what our guests

demand, and Safehotels certificate is the best indicator for us says Mr. Paul Moxness, Vice President, Corporate Safety and Security, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.

The certificate is awarded to business hotels in major cities, which keep a high international security level. Equipment necessary for this level certification include surveillance, safe deposits, alarm- and key systems and communication. The hotels keep a very high level of preparedness concerning VIP treatment and Conference security.

To ensure all criteria are met, The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa has worked closely with Safehotels to align the brand expectations and self-assessment program with the Safehotels standard.

By reaching the level of Safehotels certification, it only shows that the hotel focuses on key elements of guest security relating to personal property and has the right response if ever there s an accident or any kind of emergency. The certificate shows the hotel is sincere in its guest s personal well-being. Being audited and certified yearly by a third party strengthens the value of that communication immensely , said Panos.

This certification builds on the existing safety and security measures implemented by Radisson Blu. The hotel continues to maintain exceptional standards in its property, with 24/7 monitoring via a global security operations center and access to the self-assessment program, learning tools and templates for incident response and crisis management.

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Hotel & Leisure News

The Best British Brunch in Bahrain

Ghabga During the Holy Month of Ramadan, the Crowne Plaza Bahrain is delighted to offer a unique location to celebrate Ghabga.

Held in our very own Conference Centre, we have created a traditional Bahrain village ambience with specialized menus that can cater to your very own exclusive event, where events from 30 up to 1000 persons may be accommodated in private rooms.

The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa, Bahrain s iconic legendary hotel invites lovers of British Pub Food to its unique Baker Street Brunch at Sherlock Holmes.

Entertainment will be provided by the All New Baker St. Band. A combination of great musical talent and energy, featuring songs from the latest hits to all-time favorites.

Every Friday, the Baker Street Brunch features unlimited free fl owing A la Carte selections and drinks.

The Baker Street Friday Brunch is another proof of the Gulf Hotels commitment in serving better value to our guest, Said Ali Amralla, Director of Business Development & Strategies ,

Complementing its popular Al Waha Brunch, the Baker St. Brunch at Sherlocks Holmes is ideal for British pub food lovers, starting from 12: 00pm till 4:00pm at BD 25 net per person.

Being popular for its diverse award winning outlets, cuisines and events, The Baker Street Friday Brunch promises to be an afternoon delight of fun, food and great music.

Sushi & Sax

The award-winning restaurant Teatro Downtown knows how to turn Tuesday evenings into an enchanting experience.

Enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine and tempt your senses with the Sushi and Sax Night, Tuesdays from 6 pm until 10 pm.

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Enjoy a free flow of your favorite Sushi & Maki while our saxophonist mesmerises you live throughout the evening for an unforgettable experience for BD 15*. (*Price is subject to 10% government levy and 10% service charge.)

Crowne Plaza Bahrain provides you the perfect atmosphere with special menus that can be tailor made to you host your corporate or private Ghabga event with us. We also offer space in our special Ramadan tent for our corporate bookers to relax and unwind post dinner either to catch up on Ramadan program on the televisions or play board games with friends and colleagues.

Celebrate the spirit of giving this Ramadan at the Crowne Plaza Bahrain.

The holy month of Ramadan brings an excellent time for people to share traditional Ramadan generosity. This Ramadan, enjoy our lavish Iftar buffet with a selection of traditional Arabic specialties served daily at La Mosaique restaurant. Crowne Plaza Bahrain s Iftar donates 500fi ls to charity for every diner to enhance the Ramadan spirit.

One of the key highlights of this year is that we are starting a full renovation of some of our rooms in one of our hotel wings from June 2017. The hotel s goal is to excel at exceeding our guests expectations and deliver a truly differentiated brand experience.

During renovation our guests will continue to have full access to our deluxe rooms and guest facilities, including restaurants, conference center, outdoor swimming pool and health club. 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.

Bahrain News

Cheque presentation

Win a luxury experience to the French Riviera to Palm Association

It s spring in full bloom at Bahrain s luxury shopping destination, MODA Mall, blossoming with beautiful floral embellishments and themed-garden to welcome its visitors for their seasonal and shopper experience. With the new season calling, the mall has launched its Spring Summer collection featuring latest designer-wear from high-end brands, with a chance for shoppers to win an experiential trip to the French Riviera.

Shoppers visiting MODA Mall until March 21 st, will be rejuvenated with latest fashion trends, styles and floral settings with an opportunity to earn a raffle ticket for every BD 20 or more spent at the mall.

As part of the You become the season campaign, one lucky shopper will be picked to win the grand prize of a luxury seven-day trip with business class flights

BBBF Member, Mohamed Isa, recently hit two Amazon.com best-seller lists with the new book, The Success Blueprint.

Mohamed Isa, public speaking coach, has joined the legendary Best-Selling Author and success expert Brian Tracy and a select group of ThoughtLeaders from around the world to co-write the book.This title aims to provide the reader with strategies to find success in their health, wealth, and lifestyle, and also features content from JW Dicks, Esq. 40 Forum

and five-star accommodation for two to Cannes and a one-day trip to Grasse Perfume Capital of the World. Moreover, shoppers will also get six weekly win opportunities, which includes three spa and wellness packages and three dining vouchers at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, given away through a raffle draws in February and March.

The mall, adorned with touches of spring, will host a variety of engaging activities featuring a garden brimming with flowers in the Fashion Court for visitors to relax and take a stroll, a floral swing installation near Gate 6 for visitors to capture memorable moments, and decorated arches near the Jewellery Court. The mall has hosted live musical performances as part of its activation for Shop Bahrain. and Nick Nanton, Esq., international best-selling authorsand marketing experts. The book was published by Celebrity Press and was released on December 22, 2016.

On the day of release, the book reached best-seller status in two Amazon.com categories - reaching as high as No: 6 in the category Direct Marketing .

The publication also reached a ranking of No:57 in the Sales and Selling category. Mohamed Isa contributed a chapter titled Public Speaking: What You Need to Succeed! which gives tips on how to improve your speaking abilities.

Above: (l r) Stephen Havrilla, Royal Golf Club General Manager; Karen Tennant of The Palm Association; Karin Lutz, Royal Golf Club Ladies Captain 2016

R

oyal Golf Club 2016 Ladies Club Captain Karin Lutz presented a cheque for BD8,650 to the Palm Association, a Bahrain charity run by women and providing assistance such as food parcels, educational sponsorship and home improvements for Bahraini women and children.

The money was raised through a variety of fund raising events at the Club throughout the past year including the annual Captains Drive In Tournament and several ladies golf events. Members and guests hitting their ball into specific bunkers on both the Montgomerie championship course and the 9 hole Wee Monty par 3 course were also asked to donate a BD 1 fine to the charity.

The Royal Golf Club was pleased to support our captains chosen charity, the Palm Association, last year, commented Stephen Havrilla, Royal Golf Club General Manager.

We were pleased to be associated with a charity that is giving back to Bahrain and helping needy families and we will continue to support this charity in the future.

Savills Bahrain successfully sell Juffair Views project Savills Northern Gulf (Bahrain Office), under the guidance of the Committee for Stalled Real Estate Projects, successfully sold the stalled real estate project Juffair Views at auction. This is believed to be the first of its kind to be held in Bahrain.

Following a large amount of interest from potential buyers, there were approximately 30 people present in the room, with four registered bidders.

There were three bids during the auction, which started at BD3.5 million.

Ramee Group were the successful bidders with a bid of BD3.6 million.

Savills plc, a UK company founded in 1855, is one of the world s largest property firms with over 700 offices and 30,000 staff around the world. It is recognised globally and has been independently voted as the number one real estate super-brand for the last 12 years. Savills Northern Gulf offers a broad range of specialist advisory, management and transactional services across Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Picture Mr Lewis Halket (left), Mr Donald Bradley FRICS, Mr James Moore and Mr William Grieve (right).

Mr Donald Bradley FRICS, CEO Savills Northern Gulf, comments on the sale: Today was a culmination of a lot of hard work from the Government, the Committee of Stalled Real Estate Projects and Savills. It has proven the Committee s determination to resolve this longstanding issue in the most transparent and professional way possible. It has been our privilege at Savills to advise on, and sell, this project and we are very pleased that our work with the Committee has ended with a highly successful outcome.

Mr James Moore, Director - Bahrain, comments on the auction:- Todays successful auction goes to show that investors and developers still see Bahrain as an attractive place to invest and do business. It is certainly a positive step for the Bahrain real estate sector and the wider economy, and we hope that the sale of Juffair Views acts as a catalyst for other real estate projects in Bahrain.

Savills has once again proven why we are the real estate company of choice.

FAMCORP launches Tilal Towers at Amwaj Islands room has the benefit of individual temperature control with stunning panoramic Sea and Lagoon views. Rooftop swimming pools and gyms and 4 levels of parking ensures parking is available for everyone!

FAMCORP is an international holding company for the diversified interests of its Chairman, Mr. Faisal Almatrook.

Tilal Towers commands the skyline in the sought after Amwaj Islands community next to The Lagoon. The property has 230 fully-furnished luxury living spaces in the form of 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms as well as duplex apartments.

All bedrooms come with en-suite bathrooms, low energy LED lights and low flow rate taps and showers, together with European kitchens, bathrooms and wardrobes. Every Forum 41

Bahrain News New Head Professional joins Royal Golf Club

Al Nadeem & New PGA Unisono form Professional joins Royal Golf Club team strategic alliance Al Nadeem, Bahrain s first and foremost web technology services brands and Unisono, one of the leading strategic creative agencies in the Middle East, have formed a strategic alliance to help companies in the region improve their digital brand presence and consumer experience.

The alliance was forged on the basis of aligned interests in the digital space and sees the two firms working in consortium on a range of new digital brand and communication initiatives for some of Bahrain s key Ministries.

The Royal Golf Club is delighted to welcome new PGA Head Teaching Professional Nikki Hunter to the Academy team.

The Royal Golf Club is delighted to announce the imminent arrival of new Retail Manager Oliver Foster to the team.

Nikki is from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the United Kingdom and started playing golf at the age of 12. She carried out her PGA training in Newcastle, specialising in junior and ladies coaching programmes.

Upon qualifying, she started work at The Address Montgomerie in Dubai where she successfully managed the Ladies Development Programme as well as helping individual clients.

Englishman Oliver will take up his new role in the first week of March and will be the Club s first Retail Manager who is also a PGA professional golfer.

He turned professional in 2012 and graduated in 2015. His career includes five years as the Retail Manager at Warwickshire Golf and Country Club in England and more recently as Senior Assistant Professional at the nearby Kenilworth Golf Club.

Nikki is also a TPI level one instructor and continues to develop her coaching techniques through research, drills and coaching aids.

I m delighted to be here in Bahrain and look forward to working with Juan and Zander, our two PGA Teaching Professionals, on growing the game of golf here, commented Nikki. There hasn t been a female teaching pro at the Club for a number of years I believe and I look forward particularly to encouraging greater numbers of women to giving this wonderful sport a try.

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I m really looking forward to starting my new job in Bahrain and to meeting the Club s members and guests, commented Oliver. When purchasing golf hardware or even footwear or clothing, it s always beneficial to have the advice of a golf professional and I look forward to helping our customers make the right choices for their needs. I will also help with custom-fitting golf clubs to suit an individual s height, build and golf game.

Commenting on the alliance Ubaydli Ubaydli, Founder and Chairman of Alnadeem stated that all too often, regional firms are failing to benefit from cutting-edge technologies that can enhanced audience engagement and improve customer service. This alliance serves customers with robust, cutting edge web technologies with inspired on-brand and engaging interface design .

Liam Farrell, U n i s o n o s E x e c u t i v e Creative Director commented, Brands need to work harder to compete in the attention economy ; this alliance enables us to provide regional firms with bespoke digital brand experiences that support digital marketing strategies, enhance user experience and build greater engagement and loyalty in the digital space.

The alliance came about thanks to shared interests in the synergy between technology and creativity and how we could jointly help companies to fulfill their potential in this area. The end result was a collaboration that resulted in the winning the a major new Ministry information portal, which is set to launch in Q2/17

Expanded SteppingStone Global Team To thrive and compete in today s challenging business environment we have to embrace constant transformation.

Bahrain needs to constantly upgrade the quality and international reputation of its businesses to be competitive and profitable in today s globalized economy.

SteppingStone Global has recently expanded to include a more diversified and multinational team that provides a wide scope of consulting services for the region. This team is represented by International Practitioners with more than 200 years of experience in Business and Industry between them.

Jean Nicolai, Founder and President of SteppingStone Global, is proud to introduce his expanded team: Our more diversified experience profile will deliver a wider range of consulting services to help businesses react to the constantly changing challenges that they face today. We are uniquely positioned as the provider of bespoke business solutions for Bahrain and the GCC. The expanded SteppingStone Global team members are resident in Bahrain and include Dr. Suzanne White (British with over 20 years of leadership development in Insurance, Oil & Gas, and Universities in the GCC); Falah Hashim (Bahraini consultant and coach with extensive knowledge and experience in Management, Leadership, Personal Development and Sales & Marketing Techniques); Tommy Laupsa (Norwegian, Chartered Certified Accountant with over 30 years in finance of which 7 years of finance and business consulting in the GCC); Michael Jackson (Ex-British Army Officer and Accredited International coach covering Utilities, Oil and Gas, Banking and Finance with over 10 years working in the GCC) and Robert Salmon (British, Management

UBM plc acquires Allworld Exhibitions Leading global B2B events organiser UBM plc has announced that it has agreed to acquire Allworld Exhibitions for US$485million, strengthening its leading position in Asia and providing it with an entry into the Middle East.

BBBF Members BCMS exclusively advised Allworld on the deal.

Allworld operates a number of oil-related exhibitions in the Middle East and Asia across sectors including food and hospitality, processing and packaging, Oil, ICT and machinery industries. These include the biennial oil and gas focused Middle East Oil Show (MEOS), Middle East Petrotech and GEO, as well as

executive with 36 years in the Oil and Gas industry of which 8 years were in the ME and GCC).

Mike Orlov, British and a C-suite news media expert who has been a partner with SteppingStone Global for over two years is pleased with this expansion and commented this expansion positions us uniquely to deliver unsurpassed business solutions which give our clients a competitive edge ; Mike s regular business articles in Business in Gulf, Gulf Business News & Analysis and In Business UAE are widely appreciated by the business communities in the GCC region.

This new team is uniquely positioned to: w Transform GCC businesses into High Performance Organisations, improving productivity, efficiency and financial results w Deliver international experience with local solutions delivery w Make Bahrain one of the preferred investment choices within the GCC w Align the businesses of the Kingdom of Bahrain with the 2030 vision and objectives.

Jewellery Arabia and the Autumn Fair exhibitions in the Kingdom of Bahrain through member company Arabian Exhibition Management.

East. Allworld has international sales teams based in London and Singapore and has approximately 250 employees.

According to UBM, the acquisition strongly complements its existing portfolio, particularly in food and hospitality, and packaging and manufacturing, while providing it with an entry into the oil and gas market.

Allworld generated revenues of $97.2 million and EBITDA of $37.6 million (38.7% margin) during the twelve months ended 30 June 2016, of which $50.9 million was from annual events. Over the last 10 years the total revenues of the Business have grown at a 7.3% CAGR.

Allworld is a pure-play events business serving nine different industry sectors.

It operates 51 tradeshows (a mixture of annual and biennial shows) in 11 countries: Singapore, China & Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, South Korea, Bahrain and Kuwait, and is the leading privately-held Asian exhibitions organiser with a position in the Middle

As at 30 June 2016, Allworld had gross assets of $62.9 million and generated an operating profit of $37.1 million for the twelve months ended 30 June 2016. Key members of Allworld s management team will continue to manage the business within UBM.

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Bahrain News

Children with Special Needs Enjoy LRE Sessions as part of Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover s National Day Celebrations

As part of its National Day Celebrations and in its efforts to include different sectors of the Bahraini society, Euro Motors, the exclusive importer and distributor for luxury automotive manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover in the Kingdom of Bahrain, hosted members of the Academic and Vocation Rehabilitation Centre and Hidd Rehabilitation Centre for Special Needs at the Land Rover Experience Bahrain on the 21st of December 2016.

In collaboration with Bahrain International Circuit, Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover invited members of two rehabilitation centres to enjoy an exciting morning at the Land Rover Experience Center. The event, which brought together 35 participants, which included 23 children along with their guardians, was an instant hit that saw them enjoy thrilling drives through the obstacle course in capable Land Rover vehicles.

Prior to the drive, the participants were given an insightful brief about the track, all of its obstacles and the safety procedures undertaken during each drive.

The event was split into two sessions, with the children of the Academic and Vocational Rehabilitation Centre, a total of 14 children and 7 guardians, taking part in the first session and the children of the Hidd Rehabilitation Centre for Special Needs, a total of 9 children and 5 guardians taking part in the second.

Elaborating on the significance of the event, the Brand Manager of Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover, Mr. Yazid Mourad said: On behalf of Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover, it brings me immense pleasure to announce the great success of the event as it was enjoyed by all, especially the children who participated. We at Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover believe in the value of positively contributing to the society, hence the initiative of inviting members of these rehabilitation centres. It is an absolute honour to have played host to such incredible organizations, who work tirelessly for the betterment of the community of Bahrain.

Life is not just about living but letting live as well and we are humbled by the opportunity afforded to us to embrace the virtues of generosity and selflessness and reflect that through this wonderful venture. We hope that a good time was had by 44 Forum

all those who participated in the LRE sessions and look forward to sponsoring many more such unifying and binding events in the coming year that will serve to highlight our enthusiasm for giving back communally, he added.

Further elaborating, Samantha Semaan, BIC Senior Events Manager, said: On behalf of Bahrain International Circuit, I would like to express the immense joy it brings us in collaborating with Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover for such a thoughtful and benevolent event. It was an absolute pleasure to witness all the participating children go through the obstacle course and leave with a broad smile on their face. We look forward to working with Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover in many joint events and contribute in every way possible to the betterment of the society.

Located in the heart of the Sakhir desert within the grounds of BIC, the Land Rover Experience Centre Bahrain covers 3.5 kilometres of varying terrains such as sand, rock, hill and water landscapes. There are 33 natural and man-made obstacles allowing guests to traverse terrain including slide slopes, humps, rocks, gravel roads and watercourses, all the while assessing the driving environment, maximising the capability and technology of the vehicle and most importantly developing driving skills in the world s most capable luxury vehicles. The LRE is open to customers, Land Rover loyalists and off-roading enthusiasts every day of the week, including weekends, from 8 am to 5 pm.

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.

Launch of new concept restaurant Celebrating the leftover chill from the winter, Swiss- Café restaurant launched a new concept of Pan Asian dinner buffet Chao Chau (Delicious in Vietnamese). Chao Chau brings you the best of South East Asia, specializing in Vietnamese dishes and selection of sushi delicacies every Thursdays from 12 BD net per person as part of its weekend program from 7:00pm to 11:00pm.

Competing with Swiss-Café restaurant, the hotel s well known skybar, B28 Bar Lounge on the 28th floor will launch the Oishii Night for sushi lovers every Wednesdays starting the 1st of March for 16 BD net per person including selected beverage. As a favorite venue for a casual and trendy hang-out, B28 Bar Lounge is gearing up to entertain guests with a journey of tantalizing grapes on March 30th bringing the best of Argentina from 16 BD net per person inclusive of grape tasting and regional degustation.

Swiss-Belhotel Seef Bahrain is a 4-star international hotel providing excellent facilities and high standards of service, located i n B a h r a i n s c e n t r a l b u s i n e s s and commercial district with 144 modern rooms and public areas

boasting breath-taking panoramic ocean and city views.

Swiss-Belhotel Seef maintains its title of Best 4-star hotel in Bahrain for the second consecutive year (2015 and 2016 Bahrain Food & Travel awards).

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Sports News

InTouch with Sports The InTouch team has been busy with the Bahrain Superbike Championship Series and the First XV Rugby Games which are still taking place, until April 2017. We also continue to work with the Bahrain Road Runners, supporting the athletes at the various events throughout the Kingdom. This is exemplified by the presence of the InTouch team at the Bahrain Full Marathon on the 3rd of March, the Sprint Triathlon on the 10th March and the Duathlon on the 7th April. Being part of these major organizations highlights one aspect of the InTouch vision to become a leading healthcare organisation in the field of sports rehabilitation.

BBBF Member Phil Solarski won the Full Marathon in February

InTouch Clinic s community outreach initiatives are underway for the year 2017. We started off the year welcoming medical students from RCSI, as well as students from British School of Bahrain. We take pride in educating the youth, and have become a facility where the students come on a regular basis to shadow InTouch Practitioners, in order to gain more insight in the field of sports medicine, 46 Forum

wellness and prevention. Currently, InTouch is hosting 4 students and will welcome more throughout the year.

Moreover, InTouch continues to work with large organisations in creating and/or raising awareness in the workplace. We were honored to be invited to be part of the Health Week at the US Embassy. This is the second time we have worked with the Embassy and it has proven to be a successful initiative. In addition to this, Dr. Amy Bowzaylo has been invited to give a lecture addressing posture and ergonomics in the workplace, titled Stand Taller, Live Longer , at RCSI during their Annual Health Week in the month of March.

For the third year in a row, InTouch will work hand in hand with the Prime Minister s Office for the annual Labour Camp to take place at the Bahrain Kerala Club. This initiative is part of the of the Prime Minister s Office to give free medical treatments to the thousands of Laborers working in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

As always, a new exhibition of a talented local artist will hang in the walls of the Clinic. Jess Tejada s work, Colored Adrenaline will be showing at the clinic until May 31st, 2017.

InTouch Integrated Chiropractic Spine Centre is the first Comprehensive Integrated Chiropractic Rehabilitation Centre in Bahrain with services in Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Podiatry, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Massage Therapy and Functional Exercise Rehabilitation. In offering these services, our goal is to educate the people of the Gulf Region, by increasing awareness to support the concept of prevention in the context of wellness, quality of life and neuromusculoskeletal conditions.

Ransomware

And Finally

Until a few days ago I had never heard this word but suddenly it’s being talked about on news programmes, radio chat shows and appearing in newspapers.

According to Wikipedia Ransomware is computer malware that installs covertly on a victim’s device (e.g., computer, smartphone, wearable device) and that either mounts the cryptoviral extortion attack from cryptovirology that holds the victim’s data hostage, or mounts a cryptovirology leakware attack that threatens to publish the victim’s data, until a ransom is paid.

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Simple ransomware may lock the system in a way which is not difficult for a knowledgeable person to reverse, and display a message requesting payment to unlock it.

More advanced malware encrypts the victim’s files, making them inaccessible, and demands a ransom payment to decrypt them.

The ransomware may also encrypt the computer’s Master File TAble or the entire hard drive. Thus, ransomware is a denialof-access attack that prevents computer users from accessing files since it is intracable to decrypt the files without the decryption key There are many different types of ransomware, and they work in different ways. You need to know which bit of malware has infected your laptop so that you can search for removal instructions.

There are at least a couple of dozen to choose 48 Forum

or emails from unknown senders. Never click on file links in anything tht looks feintly suspicious and never download attachments from unknown senders.

from. The most common include Crowti, FakeBsod, Reveton and Tescrpt, while Petya is one of the worst.

The new No more Ransom! website, backed by the European Cybercrime Centre, has useful advice plus screen shots of some common ransomware screens.

Paying the ransom is never recommended, mainly because it does not guarantee a solution to the problem.

There are also a number of issues that can go accidentaly wrong. For example if the ransom is paid, it proves to the cybercriminals that ransomware is effective.

As a result, criminals will continue their activity and look for new ways to exploit systems that result in more infections and more money on their accounts.

Attacks on businesses are growing because these criminals know that organisations are more likely to pay as the data

they have is typically more sensitive and vital.

Both individuals and businesses should regularly be making back ups of their information and most importantly storing them separately on an external hard drive or in the cloud.

Never open spam emails

In a twist highlighted

by Norton, at least one virus installs embarrasing pornography and then demands removal fee.

The FBI recently issued an alert about the broader category of rogueware, which include ransomware and fake antivirus scareware scams. According to the FBI, criminals are netting an estimated $150 million a year through these scams. “Ransomware is actually scarier” than the scareware scams, says Robert Siciliano, a Bostonbased identity theft expert.

“There’s nothing worse in the field of technology than having a criminal in control of your network.

When a ransomware attack occurs, it can easily elevate from a potential data loss to potential identity theft to a data breach in the form of extortion.”

If you receive a ransomware note, disconnect from the Internet so your personal data isn’t transmitted back to the criminals and simply shut down the computer. If you have backed up your data, you can re-install software. If you don’t feel comfortable doing so or you are unable to start fresh, you may need to take your computer to a reputable repair shop.