From The Chair
Khalid Al-Zayani OBE Chairman Welcome to the summer edition of the BBBF magazine. A number of you will shortly be taking a well-earned opportunity to visit the UK and cooler climates on your summer holidays. We wish you safe travel. With 2016 marking the 200th anniversary of Bahraini British relations, we have been organising various events to commemorate this important milestone in history . We are delighted how the forum members have been enthusiastically partaking in and supporting the activities and events we organise. I m pleased to say this can mean only one thing ever strengthening collaboration between our two nations, from both commercial aspect as well as friendship. Earlier in the year the forum held its Great British Balti Curry Night together with the British Embassy. The evening was hosted by H.E. Simon Martin CMG and his wife Sophie Martin. We were also delighted to have SH. Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa (CEO of BIC) as guest of honour in celebrating the BHUK2016 event with us and updating us on the 2016 Gulf Air F1 Grand Prix. In May, we had the honour of welcoming 37
visiting members of the UK s Bahrain Society to the forum s BHUK2016 celebration lunch. Our associations have a good relationship, with the Bahrain Society visiting Bahrain every two years. The Bahrain Society, now under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, was founded in 1971 and its aims is to promote friendship and a close understanding between Bahrainis and British. The members have all lived in Bahrain at some stage in the past and this society enables them to maintain ties with Bahrain. During the lunch Brigadier Peter Sincock MBE, Chairman of the society addressed the forum highlighting the close relations between Bahrain and Britain. We were also delighted to have as guests of honour H.E. Dr Dhafer Alumran, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and HE Simon Martin CMG, British Ambassador to Bahrain. Most recently, as part of the BHUK 2016 celebrations, the BBBF held a Corporate golf day at the Royal Golf Club Bahrain. The event was attended by the British Ambassador to Bahrain, H.E. Simon Martin CMG, USA Deputy Chief of Mission, T im Pounds as well as many leading Bahraini and British business personalities. Today, the BBBF is an integral contributor to the great relationship between Bahrain and the UK. The Forum was first set up in 1995, under the reign of late Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa. Since the beginning the BBBF have been members of
Registration number ISSN 1985-9929
the UK Arab Chambers of Commerce (ABCC) to promote trade relations between UK and Bahrain, as well as promoting Bahrain as a regional centre for business. The Forum has grown from the original 16 members to over 450 members today. We work in close cooperation with the British Embassy in Bahrain to organise business related events and provide information regarding the latest business functions and trade exhibitions. We are grateful to H.E. Simon Martin CMG and the entire team at the British Embassy for their continued support. Apart from the collaboration with the embassy, the BBBF signed an MOU with the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2010. The MOU was signed with a mutual desire to cooperate and coordinate both organisations efforts to activate the role of the private sector in attracting foreign investment and strengthening relationships between the private sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the UK. The forum is widely recognized both in Bahrain and the UK as a leading impartial business sector group. Which works to create and sustain a favourable business environment and strives to assist both countries to benefit and enhance the common economic interests of the forum s member companies. Since the introduction of the Special Interest Groups (SIG) in 2009 the number of groups have doubled from
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
the original four to eight. The SIGs offer members and guests a valuable medium for exchanging industry specific ideas and discussing issues relevant to a particular sector and continue to go from strength to strength and are now an integral and widely respected component of the BBBF. Our sponsors continue to be a a great source of financial support and generous encouragement. Their unwavering support allows us the financial security to increase the number and quality of events that we organise for your benefit and enjoyment. As we move into Ramadan and the summer holiday period we are sadly forced to say our good byes to two of our committee members, Heather Hopper and Rick Hopper who will be leaving Bahrain this summer. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their dedicated services. We shall miss their energetic input and commitment to strengthening ties and trade between Britain and Bahrain. We wish them all the very best for the future. We do hope that you enjoy this edition of Forum and that you have a relaxing and enjoyable summer, in Bahrain or UK or wherever else it may take you. The Committee look forward to seeing you, and your guests, at forthcoming BBBF events. Kind regards
Khalid Al-Zayani Forum
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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 Mob: 3324 3031
Member Adel Fakhro Tel: 1727 5000
Member Nasser Al Arayedh Tel: 1727 2575
Member Mazen Alumran Tel: 1771 5555
Member Ava Garbutt Tel: 3941 1938
Member Rick Hopper Tel: 3979 1090
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 3638 7595 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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The British Embassy in Bahrain celebrated the 90th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On 27th April, more than 500 guests joined the British Embassy in Bahrain in celebrating the 90th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at a garden party hosted by Her Britannic Majesty s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Simon Martin CMG, and his wife Sophie. The British Embassy was proud to receive His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa as Guest of Honour, representing His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The theme of this year s event was the 200 years anniversary of UK-Bahraini relations, launched in January by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the First Deputy Prime Minister, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Ambassador Simon Martin commented: 2016 is unique year for The Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom, as we celebrate 200 years of friendship. We also mark Her Majesty the Queen s 90th birthday, in the year after She became our longest reigning monarch. I was delighted to welcome so many British and Bahraini guests and friends of our two countries, to my first Queen s Birthday Party here in Bahrain. The Jawhara singers had the delight of performing at the Queen s Birthday Party at the British Embassy. They also sang at the event last year and were so successful that they were invited back for the 2016 celebrations. They performed the British and Bahraini National
Anthems just after the arrival of the Guest of Honour, His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, to an audience of over 500 guests. The students sang a cappella in beautiful 4-part harmony and were not phased by the flashing cameras from the paparazzi in front of them. They received a wonderful applause with cheers of Bravo! from the esteemed guests. Once again, the singers represented St Christopher s School in true style. Ambassador Martin expressed his gratitude to BAE Systems, EuroMotors, and National Express, for their generous sponsorship of the event. He also thanked the Royal Marines Band and the students of St Christopher s School Bahrain.
Contents The 2015-2017 Executive Committee........2 Welcome to New Members..................4 Member Benefits ..............6 Why join the BBBF? .........7 Advertiser Index................8 Diary Dates.......................8 From Her Majesty s Ambassador.....................9 Embassy News...............10 SIG Update ...................12 SIG Security ..................14 Feature Article ISIS in KSA .....................16 Construction Sector .......18 Financial News ...............22 APM make significant investments ....................24 Travel News....................28 Feature Article Tips for flying with children ...................29 Motoring News ...............30 News from the EP ..........32 Education & Training .......34 HSBC & British Council working together to deliver Taqaddam ......................38 Hotel & Leisure News .....40 Bahrain News .................44 BBBF Gold Day photos ..48 New - Sports Page.........50 And Finally......................52 Cover Image: Visiting from the UK, 37 members of the Bahrain society join the BBBF for lunch. Forum
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Welcome to New Members Eman Al Banna Arcadis Business Development Director Tel: 1756-4755 Mob: 3997-3667 eman.albanna@arcadis.com
Saad Al Doseri Al Tamini & Co Advocates Senior Associate Tel: 1710-8919 Mob: 3966-7116 s.aldoseri@tamimi.com
Ahmed Alsulaiman KS IntÂ’l Cnslnts. & Pub. Acnts. Managing Partner Tel: 1783-1171 Mob: 3334-4400 ahmed@ksi-me.org
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Clementine Clabault Oxford Business Group Country Director Tel: 1715-1582 Mob: 3562-0821 cclabault@oxfordbusinessgroup.com
Patrice Cornee ART Rotana Resident Manager Tel: 1600-0111 Mob: 3413-5490 patrice.cornee@rotana.com
Alastair Drummond Al Tamini & Company Advocates Senior Associate Tel: 1710-8919 Mob: 3964-4214 a.drummond@tamimi.com
Tim Attwood Attwood Maritime WLL Managing Director Tel: Mob: 3991-9197 md@attwoodmaritime.com
Michael Eddison Michael Eddison Fin. Solutions Estate Planner Tel: 3670-6513 Mob: 3670-6513 mike@eddisonfinancial.com
Simon Baines Al Hamdan Consulting Office General Manager Tel: 3894-3981 Mob: 966 564 753 689 simon.baines@hamdanconsult.com
Michael Fodor Trowers & Hamlins Solicitor Tel: 1751-5600 Mob: 6672-3676 mfodor@trowers.com
Stephen Chartres Dilmun Club General Manager Tel: 1769-0926 Mob: 3615-3734 stephen_chartres@hotmail.co.uk
Mayan Gaith Arcadis Office Manager Tel: 1756-4755 Mob: 3887-7088 mayan.gaith@arcadis.com
Welcome to New Members Lee Hayes Al Hamdan Consulting Office Commercial Manager Tel: 3894-3981 Mob: 966 548 638 699 lee.hayes@hamdanconsult.com
Derrick Rodney OAK Utility Solutions & Dev. WLL Chief Operating Officer Tel: 1753-6768 Mob: 3639-3925 drodney@oakbh.com
Nagib Kabi, Unisono Brand Consultants Senior Account Director, Tel: 1755-8787 nagib@unisonoagency.com
Lilian Roger Downtown Rotana General Manager Tel: 1711-0196 Mob: 3222-5886 lilian.roger@rotana.com
Alexander Krause Gulf Agency Co (Bahrain) WLL Operations Manager Tel: 1733-9777 Mob: 3947-2919 alexander.krause@gac.com
Raiz Saban Majestic Arjaan by Rotana General Manager Tel: 1737-0000 Mob: 3838-2027 saban.raiz@rotana.com
Raj Pahuja Al Tamini & Co Advocates Head of Dept, Corpt. Coml. Tel: 1710-8919 Mob: 3933-6002 r.pahuja@tamimi.com
Shanti Shah Trowers & Hamlins Senior Associate Tel: 1751-5600 Mob: 6671-9343 snshah@trowers.com
Vik Paw Intuitive Education MIS Manager Tel: 1603-0713 Mob: 3948-1249 vik.paw@intuitiveeducation.com
Abdullah Wallace Al Anqaa Communications Director Mob: 3677-0407 abdullah@al-anqaa.com
Lipjy Perinchery Atkins Global Assistant Project Manager Tel: 1751-0400 Mob: 3840-6299 Lipjy.perinchery@atkinsglobal.com
Nicholas Williams Newton Consult SPC Principal Tel: 1700-6571 Mob: 3876-8155 nicholas.williams@ newtonlegalgroup.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 Bateel BBBF Members can enjoy 10% Discount when presenting their Membership Card, Complimentary collection for refilling, Complimentary delivery. Development Managers readily available for a courtesy meeting at your location. Email: m.shareef@almoayedgeneral.com Contact: Mahboob Shareef Mobile: 3964 4222 BIZNET BBBF female members can join BIZNET for a 25% reduction in the fees (BD 75 for 9 events instead of BD 100). This also includes complementary entrance to mixed events. A member discount card is also provided. BBBF male members are welcome to attend mixed events for BD10 per session. BMC BBBF members and Organisations are eligible to a 20% discount on Team/Executive Coaching and Association for Coaching International Coach Training as well as 10% discount on other training, consulting and psychometric profiling. Contact:- Dr. Clare Beckett-McInroy (Managing Director & Master Coach), Mobile:- +973 38442727, Email:- clare@beckett-mcinroy or office@beckett-mcinroy.com British Airways Valid until 31 Dec 2016 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. Terms and conditions apply To book please login at www.ba.com/bgme-bh Charm Ladies Beauty Salon & Spa - 15% discount offered to BBBF Lady members and to BBBF male members wives on all their packages and products (valid until 28th February 2016). To avail this offer members must show their BBBF membership card. For more details and to see their brochure visit their Website at www.charmbahrain.com or telephone +973 1310 8598 Craig Consultants 10% discount for members on 1-on-1 Executive Coaching, Contact: Kevin Craig Tel: 36199980 Email: kevin@craigconsultants.com 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 Expat Angels 10% discount on all packages and services. Contact: info@expatangelsbahrain.com
Tel: 3832-0439
Fedex Express Middle East Valid until December 31, 2016 BBBF Members can enjoy a 40% discount* on FedEx rates. 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 6
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See www.fedex.com/bh or call Customer Service: 1733 4448 * conditions apply
Gulf Computer Services (GCS) IT Health Check. GCS have offered BBBF Members a site survey and assessment of all their computer hardware, software and systems. Hasan Mansouri 10% discount to members at Mansouri Mansions Hotel and Country Club. Contact: Karim Mansouri Tel: 1772 8144 Email: karim@karimmansouri.com 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.
2 Connect ........................................ Inside Back Cover Almoayed Wilhelmsen Ltd............................... page 21
Diary Dates
AXA Insurance ............................. Outside Back Cover
Wednesday August 31st Welcome back after the holidays - Social evening Venue: tbc
BAPCO..................................................Centre Spread Crown Relocations .......................................... page 28 Diplomat Radisson Htel................................... page 39 Etihad Airways................................................. page 25 Euromotors Jaguar.......................................... page 31 Four Seasons Bahrain Bay Hotel .................... page 41 G4S ................................................................. page 17 Le Meridien Hotel ............................................ page 51 Mansouri Mansions ......................................... page 47 Nexus ..............................................Inside Front Cover Skin Health Centre .......................................... page 43 Streetlight Photography.................................... page 8 Viva ................................................................. page 33 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 Autumn edition Full page: BD330 Half Page: BD200 Quarter Page: BD110 Small Box: BD55 Discounts for multiple bookings
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Tuesday September 20th Business Networking Lunch Meeting Venue: tbc Speaker: tbc Timing: 12 noon to 2.30pm Members BD12, Non Members BD15 September Quiz Night Proud to support 200 years celebrations Date: tbc Venue: tbc Tuesday October 18th Business Networking Lunch Meeting Venue: tbc Speaker: tbc Timing: 12 noon to 2.30pm Members BD12, Non Members BD15 November Poppy Ball & Remembance Service Dates: tba December Annual Christmas lunch Dates: tba 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
The Bicentenary Celebrations Thus Far It has been a great privilege to come to the Kingdom of Bahrain as British Ambassador, on the eve of such a momentous year in the relationship between Britain and Bahrain. Throughout the 200 year friendship, the relationship between Bahrainis and Brits has gone from strength to strength; we have grown closer and we have evolved to work together at all sorts of levels, across an incredible array of fields. It is widely known that the British and Bahraini Royal Families enjoy close friendship and many common interests and I have to say this feeling of closeness and instinctive understanding is echoed to me constantly by both Bahrainis and Brits that I meet here and in London. But let me take you back, to how a British Embassy came to be in Bahrain: the establishment of the UK s Bahrain Agency in 1900 cemented previous British interest
in the Arabian Gulf and set the tone for increased economic and political involvement in the 20th century. In that same year, grounds were graciously granted to the British Government and the first Political Agent , John Gaskin, arrived to take up his posting in the February. But it wasn t until 1902 that works were completed and the final building was described as the most commodious and imposing edifice on the main island and was known locally as The Kutty . Following independence in 1971, the Bahrain Agency became the British Embassy, in the heart of Manama, where it has seen the comings and goings of 15 Ambassadors. Returning to the bicentenary: 2016 has already seen a wealth of activities celebrating the width and depth of the Bahraini-British relationship it was 102 events at the time I wrote this! One of my highlights was April s BH-UK Food Month , where almost every major hotel and restaurant partnered with us and contributed to the celebrations with fusion menus, themed brunches and our favourite British dishes. We also had major supermarkets across the island promoting the best of British with
everything from meats and fish to cheeses, to chocolates! April was also an important month as we celebrated the 90th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The weather behaved for us and over 600 guests were treated to a British Festival in the gardens of the Embassy, showcasing the very best of British cuisine and displaying a fantastic pictorial Heritage Trail through the key milestones of our 200 year friendship, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. If I had to pick one word that summed up the bicentenary for me, it would be GREAT! It s a great year to be celebrating the great relationship between Great Britain and the Kingdom of Bahrain! Simon Martin H. M. Ambassador
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Embassy News
BAE Systems hosts over 600 Bahraini students for STEM Workshops in March
UK Rail Trade Mission Visit A UKTI-led trade delegation comprising of nine leading UK companies operating within the rail sector visited Bahrain on 3rd March to promote the UK s worldclass rail capabilities. In a series of meetings with key stakeholders, the companies also received the latest updates on Bahrain s planned rail network and explored ways in which UK companies can stand to benefit from future opportunities.
A series of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) workshops, promoting the study and pursuit of the subjects among young students, were hosted by BAE Systems in association with the Bahrain Polytechnic from 17 22 March. The week-long student engagement programme was supported by the British Embassy Bahrain, the Ministry of Education, and the British Council, and attracted over 600 students from 20 schools across
Bahrain. The events were part of an ongoing educational programme, which sees young British engineers from BAE Systems introduce STEM through the topic of The Theory of Flight to Bahraini students. The workshops were launched in the presence of Her Majesty s Ambassador to Bahrain, Simon Martin CMG and Dr. Hasan Almulla, Deputy CEO of Bahrain Polytechnic, and featured as part of the 2016 BH-UK bicentenary events.
Visit of The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman The Lord Mountevans
Minister of transportation and communications, Eng Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, said that the detailed studies of Bahrain railway network will be finalised in the first quarter of 2017. The project s first stage will span 25 km, and a planned monorail system is expected to serve 17 stations. The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Jeffrey Mountevans, led a business delegation to Bahrain on 23rd and 24th March to promote the UK as a partner of choice for business, financial and professional services. The Lord Mayor, an ambassador for the UK s financial and professional services, met with business leaders and senior members of Bahrain s government, including HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the Crown Prince of Bahrain. The visit focused on strengthening the UK s business relationship with Bahrain as well as encouraging closer partnerships to support the national goals for economic diversification, growth and education.
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UK Trade and Investment signs MOU with Oxford Business Group UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) Bahrain has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Oxford Business Group (OBG) for the publishing firm s 2017 report on the country. Under the MOU, UKTI Bahrain, part of the commercial arm of the UK government which works with UK based businesses to ensure their success in international markets through exports, will once again team up with OBG for research facilities in support of The Report Bahrain 2017. Simon Martin, CMG, Her Majesty s Ambassador to Bahrain, said he was delighted to continue UKTI s close collaboration with OBG for the third consecutive year. The unprecedented number of interviews that take place over the course of the year are invaluable in better understanding market conditions which in turn leads us to having the most up-to-date information available to assist in providing advice to British companies thinking about doing business in Bahrain, he said. I look forward to personally building on the solid relationship the British Embassy has with Oxford Business Group, particularly in this bicentenary year, and know our teams will be working together to identify new and exciting commercial opportunities in the market. OBG s Managing Director for the Middle East, Jana Treeck, welcomed the opportunity to team up with UKTI, adding that the collaboration came at a time when UK companies were playing a key supporting role in Bahrain s private sector expansion and economic diversification through involvement in its infrastructure and transport projects, among others. Our collaboration with the UK Trade and Investment has already provided us with valuable insight into Bahrain s
international trade expansion in recent years, she said. I m delighted that we will now have the opportunity to strengthen existing connections and work with the agency to forge new ones, especially on this year marking the 200th anniversary of relations between Bahrain and the UK. The Report Bahrain 2017 will shine a spotlight on the country s efforts to further enhance non-oil growth in areas such as financial services and ICT, as part of broader plans to reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons. There is detailed coverage of the Kingdom s initiatives to attract international investment. OBG s report will also explore the rollout of the government s subsidy-rationalisation programme. The growing importance of diversifying Bahrain s economy in the wake of a downturn in global commodity prices is given wide-ranging analysis in the report by the global publishing firm. The Report: Bahrain 2017 will be a vital guide to the many facets of the Kingdom, including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and other sectoral developments. The publication will also contain interviews with leading representatives. It will be available in print and online.
Bahrain celebrates British Food Month As part of the 2016 BH-UK bicentenary celebrations, the British Embassy Bahrain in partnership with leading hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets held a British Food Month across the Kingdom to celebrate British and Bahraini cuisine.
A total of 33 events displaying the best of British dishes, with a Bahraini twist, took place in hotels and restaurants. Highlights included Afternoon Tea at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel & Spa and British-Bahraini fusion menus at the Domain Hotel and Lumee Restaurant.
All supermarkets stocking British products also came on board the initiative and promoted British food products for a particular week during the month, with Her Majesty s Ambassador to Bahrain, Simon Martin CMG, officially launching the events at Lulu Hypermarket and Alosra Supermarket
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SIG - Oil, Gas & Energy
The Special Interest Group (SIG) for Oil, Gas & Energy held its second meeting of 2016 on the 6th of April at the Ramee Grand. The presentation was held in conjunction with the Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF) and the British Business Association (BBA) from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and was very well attended under the Patronage of H.E. Dr. Abdulhussain Bin Ali Mirza with H.E.Â’s attendance along with, H.E. Simon Martin, British Ambassador to Bahrain, Mr. Khalid Al Zayani, OBE, BBBF Chairman, BBBF Members and other distinguished guests. The meeting focused on the subject of Enhanced Oil Recovery presenting a new and patented artificial lift technology called BPZ Pneumatic Pumping System, with keynote presenters Mr. Abdur Rasheed and Mr. Duane Ragbir of OAKÂ’s JV Partner, Earth Environment Services,
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Sponsored by
delivering an extremely interesting and informative presentation on the challenges faced by Operators managing mature brown-fields. As the Holy month of Ramadan approaches, followed by the Eid Holiday, this SIG hopes to hold its next event as a Breakfast Meeting on the topic of Energy and more specifically, Clean Energy and converting Waste into Energy, in the month of September after the summer vacation. The SIG for Oil, Gas & Energy, sponsored by OAK Utility Solutions & Development welcomes any volunteers who can offer their time and expertise in contributing to maintaining the success of this group. If you are interested in contributing to this SIG in any way, please contact Mr. Simon Bromyard, Projects Director; sbromyard@oak.com
SIG - ICT
SteppingStone Global Recent Activity
There were two excellent Exhibitions in the Region which were very interesting for those BBBF members following ICT developments and would be worth entering in their calendars for next year.
David Wales (BSc, MIEE) The first one was in Dubai s World BBBF ICT SIG Chairman Trade Centre from the 1st to the 3rd of March called Middle East Electricity. For the ICT subject, there were many stands showcasing the very latest fiber optic technologies and products. The second one was here in Bahrain at the Exhibition Centre from the 25th to the 28th April which was a joint Exhibition for Gulf Bid and the Gulf Property Show. Of special interest was the Property Show and in particular the many new developments and Developers in Bahrain. They are deploying the very latest ICT offerings in their new buildings, such as fiber to the end point (hotel room, or apartment), new WiFi solutions and indoor mobile coverage enhancement. In the next quarter we will be looking at running a meeting to showcase these new solutions.
SIG - Young Professionals
Tom Reynolds Joint SIG Chair
2016 has been busy for BBBF member SteppingStone Global (SSG) with the continuing series of monthly evening events at The Domain Hotel, attracting in excess of 110 business people at each workshop, coming from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and beyond. Jean Nicolai, Founder and President of SSG said: Our lively and spirited networking and workshop evenings have proved to be very successful. In May we ran our 14th event addressing Organisation Development and those participants who have been to many of these evenings said this was the best so far. Mike Orlov, Partner at SSG and BBBF member, added: The April workshop was also really well attended with our biggest ever number of participants, over 120 people joining in a discussion about challenges of excelling at creating exceptional customer experiences. SSG was also invited to run other workshops through the first half of 2016, such as the Bahrain SME Society members gathering at the Applied Science University in April, the Entrepreneurs Organisation in March and SSG has also been a guest presenter at all three Bahrain Rotary Clubs as well as running evenings for senior business people at Servcorp evenings. Of special note, SSG also orchestrated and organised the BBBF s first ever speed business networking event in March and the subsequent follow-up in May. (pictured below)
Ava Garbutt Joint SIG Chair
The Young Professionals Special Interest Group is looking to launch a number of initiatives over the coming months, in particular with the prominence of the 200 year anniversary of Bahrain-British ties in 2016. These include: (a) entering into discussions with the University of Bahrain to deliver a series of talks to students about life in the workplace, key skills and similar themes; (b) supporting the Higher Education Council’s summer work internship initiative for universitylevel students in Bahrain; and (c) hosting a networking drinks event for young professionals in Bahrain. If you or your company might be interested in learning more about or participating in any of these initiatives please let us know by email – treynolds@trowers.com and ava.garbutt@ccp,bh. We hope to hear from you soon. Forum 13
SIG Security
type of briefing has to be at the top of the agenda for every employer and their respective employees with follow up sessions as and when needed but always at least once a year. Unfortunately, as I type, another bomb is detonated in Ankara. Add to that all the other tourist locations for example such places as Sham El Sheikh, Paris and Jakarta, to mention just three.
No matter where one is located, in this forever-changing world of ours, one cannot help but to come across some of the many & various insecurities that have unfortunately become the norm in these testing times. Even since arriving here in Germany, I have already experienced both the poverty and some of the issues surrounding the impact of the mass migration exodus from the East to Europe. This interaction has happened on the City streets where beggars are in competition with each other and in the various local governmental offices whilst applying for my residence, work and associated visas . The feeling of suspicion and insecurity is palpable whilst at the same time there is a frustration that more cannot be done to help; whichever side of the fence you may stand on.
With this all in mind the situation in the rest of Europe mirrors my thoughts above and then some. Like the Middle East, or in fact any Region, one has to live the situation to have at least the awareness. Having an educated understanding of Regional affairs, in my view, was always hard to come by due to the daily and hourly contradictions that were reported by Government and Media alike. So hence the need for individual and corporate induction briefings, to include security awareness at all levels. Yes I know I am beating that drum again but no matter where you are being posted, these days, this 14 Forum
But lets also keep in mind how Europe, as a whole, is keeping on top of such problems and how the Union can match the Terrorists ; already in their collective mist! Of course memories of the Paris attack continues to stand out with the rock group Eagles of Death Metal returning to Paris to complete the concert for the Bataclan attack survivors. Add to such events the migration crisis it is inevitable that we will see border controls being reinstated throughout Europe and with that the impact on travel and its associated security implications.
By now you, the reader, will have realised that Travel Management continues to be the top of my agenda. Putting aside the perceived alarming security notes above there is another issue that has crept up and bitten us in a location that by now we should be more well prepared for and better informed. The Zika virus is most certainly a concern of which we will visit a World Health Organisation (WHO) update below hopefully in time for the Summer Olympics in Brazil,
How to stay safe on arrival at your destination: You have to get through customs, collect your luggage, maybe meet someone and get to the accommodation. This sounds simple, and in theory it should be, but incidents do happen, so how do you stay safe when this happens? Before travelling the more pre-travel planning you conduct, the better prepared you will be. Effective pre-travel planning will help you understand possible problems you could face, such as language barriers, visa requirements, customs and etiquette etc. On arrival at your destination you could have been travelling for many hours and feel tired and disorientated. It is important at this time that you remain alert and pay attention to what is happening around you. Try to make contact with someone back home to let them know that you have arrived safe and everything is going according to plan. After you have got off the plane, train, or ferry you will have to at some stage pass through customs. Depending on the country will dictate how long and easy this process it.
Remember to keep calm when confronted by awkward officials, they hold a lot of power and an arrogant approach will not speed up your entry. It is their country and you are a visitor so having respect at this time is important. What seems like an awkward official could just be the manner in which they speak, it is just that you are not accustomed to it. Never try to bribe an official to get through customs. Think about your profile while you are travelling, what message do you give off? Do you look like someone who knows what they are doing, blending in, or an easy target? It goes without
saying to not display large amounts of cash when you might be paying for a visa or other items.
It is often argued that when arriving at a location it is the best time to get money from an ATM. This is true that it will give you a good exchange rate, but it certainly raises your profile for a potential mugger. To stay safe it would be beneficial to have money before you travel and only withdraw money from ATM s if you must, and at a safe location. If being met by someone, make contact with them and confirm their identity before leaving with them. As soon as it is practically possible, depart, but only when you feel safe to do so. Use only official taxi ranks or booths, do not be tempted to jump the queue to an unlicensed taxi. This could cost you dearly in the long run. If at anytime you do not feel safe to leave the terminal, stay inside and seek help. You can do this by contacting a member of law enforcement, a call to your point of contact back home, or someone you know in the country you have arrived at. If you are travelling on behalf of your company, try to find a representative that could give you a brief or update, and any important issues you should know about. If you do not have access to this, try to get time to speak with the hotel on your arrival (if you are staying in one) and ask about the following: Any recent security threats No-go or high-risk areas Election days, national days, demonstrations etc. Anything that you think would help you during your stay
Zika virus - WHO Fact sheet - Updated February
Key facts Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. People with Zika virus disease usually have symptoms that can include mild fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days. There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available. The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites. The virus is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. Zika virus is an emerging mosquitoborne virus that was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkeys through a monitoring network of sylvatic yellow fever. It was subsequently identified in humans in 1952 in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. Outbreaks of Zika virus disease have been recorded in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) of Zika virus disease is not clear, but is likely to be a few days. The symptoms are similar to other arbovirus infections such as dengue, and include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache. These symptoms are usually mild and last for 2-7 days. During large outbreaks in French Polynesia and Brazil in 2013 and 2015 respectively, national health authorities reported potential neurological and auto-immune complications of Zika virus disease. Recently in Brazil, local health
authorities have observed an increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome which coincided with Zika virus infections in the general public, as well as an increase in babies born with microcephaly in northeast Brazil. Agencies investigating the Zika outbreaks are finding an increasing body of evidence about the link between Zika virus and microcephaly. However, more investigation is needed to better understand the relationship between microcephaly in babies and the Zika virus. Other potential causes are also being investigated. Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti in tropical regions. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. Zika virus disease outbreaks were reported for the first time from the Pacific in 2007 and 2013 (Yap and French Polynesia, respectively), and in 2015 from the Americas (Brazil and Colombia) and Africa (Cape Verde). In addition, more than 13 countries in the Americas have reported sporadic Zika virus infections indicating rapid geographic expansion of Zika virus. Infection with Zika virus may be suspected based on symptoms and recent history (e.g. residence or travel to an area where Zika virus is known to be present). Zika virus diagnosis can only be confirmed by laboratory testing for the presence of Zika virus RNA in the blood or other body fluids, such as urine or saliva. Mosquitoes and their breeding sites pose a significant risk factor for Zika virus infection. Prevention and control relies on reducing mosquitoes through source reduction (removal and modification of breeding sites) and reducing contact between mosquitoes and people. This can be done by using insect repellent regularly; wearing clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as window screens, closed doors and windows; and if needed, additional personal protection, such as sleeping under mosquito nets during the day. It is extremely important to empty, clean or cover containers regularly that can store water, such as buckets, drums, pots etc. There is currently no vaccine available.. Forum 15
SIG Security Specialist Security Report - Islamic State (IS) in Saudi Arabia: Islamic State (IS) has built its Saudi capabilities at an alarming rate. Comparing Saudi IS attacks with AlQaeda shows that the group is already close to developing the same explosives capabilities as Al-Qaeda deployed during the peak of its terror campaign (2003-05). Recent thwarted and failed IS attacks also show that the group is attempting to expand its Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) capabilities. The rapid evolvement of IS from a group fielding lone wolfs carrying out drive-by shootings to planning bomb attacks on Saudi military personnel also suggests more direct support from IS in Iraq and Syria than previously assumed. Saudi Arabia was confronted with its first IS-related attack on 22 November 2014 when a Danish executive was wounded in a drive-by shooting. Several (suspected) IS shootouts followed targeting a Shia wedding and police officers. The following year was marked by a shift from shootings to suicide bomb attacks targeting Shia mosques and in one instance a mosque popular with Saudi Special Forces1. There are several observations related to this change that are important to understand the next step in IS s evolution in Saudi Arabia: IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has called for attacks in Saudi Arabia in three different audio recordings. The files were released on 13 November 2014, 14 May 2015 and 26 December 2015 and coincided with noticeable increases in IS activity. The 2014 speech was followed by an IS claimed drive-by shooting on a Danish executive only nine days later. The 14 May 2015 speech came seven days before a suicide attack on a mosque in Al-Qatif and 14 days before a similar attack in Dammam. The 26 December Al-Baghdadi speech was followed by several (failed) attacks, including a suicide bombing of a Shia mosque on 29 January 2015. The relationship between IS calls to violence in Saudi Arabia and actual attacks is not clear-cut, but is unlikely to be coincidental. This highlights a potential degree of coordination between the international group and Saudi cells. A call to act against the house of Saud by a major IS outlets (such as A-Baghdadi) should therefore 16 Forum
be considered a significant security threat. Saudi Arabia experienced a wave of terrorist attacks between 2003 and 2015, including sophisticated Al-Qaeda VBIED and suicide attacks against public and private sector targets. Al- Qaeda was not the only group active throughout this period and many smaller groups and individuals carried out often less sophisticated attacks. A list of 87 terrorist attacks compiled by Le Beck2 ranging from 1994 to February 2016 shows the failure of most groups to build a sustained presence in the Kingdom. IS has nonetheless, and through different branches, quickly evolved mirroring the rise to prominence of Al-Qaeda (20032005) in both sophistication and intensity of attacks3. However, IS has until recently (see below) lacked the capabilities to launch VBIED attacks. Saudi Arabia drastically increased the number of counterterrorism raids after the 6 August 2015 suicide attack against Special Forces in Asir. The September and October raids only had a limited impact as IS launched two suicide bombings in October, despite the arrests of hundreds of suspects. Attacks in January and February continued including the first VBIED on 8 February 2016 in Riyadh. In short, the evolvement of IS has at best been delayed by security forces. _________________________________ On 6 August 2015 a suicide bomb attack on a mosque in the Southern Saudi city of Abha left 15 people dead, with most of the victims belong to a Special Forces group. 2 The list is based on data collected from the Global Terrorism Database, the University of Chicago, Le Beck private information and news sources. 1
Explosives were used for seven out of 10 Saudi IS attacks, which is in line with the proportion of Al-Qaeda attacks using explosives. Explosives usage is an important indicator for the level of sophistication (training, logistics and funding) of a terrorist organization. 3
Analysis: The observations and trends listed above have implications for future IS-related threats, with two key questions being: Firstly, how will IS evolve within Saudi-Arabia? Secondly, how will the change affect the threat level? The list of implications is as follows: Spikes in IS attacks following AlBaghdadi s call to violence, a high degree of explosives usage and the deployment of foreign trained fighters suggest direct links (or at least influence) between IS command in Iraq and Syria and terrorist cells operating in Saudi Arabia. A higher degree of organisation and support from Iraq and Syria greatly complicates Saudi counter- terrorism efforts as new cells can replace dismantled ones at a faster rate. This could also explain the lack of effect of recent counter-terrorism efforts on IS attacks. The close(r) ties to the core of IS also increases the likelihood of more sophisticated attacks being deployed within the near-future. The 8 February VBIED detonation in Riyadh (targeting a Saudi soldier, but with no casualties) and the discovery of a VBIED on 20 January in Medina shows that IS making significant steps in growing its current capabilities. It is therefore only a matter of time until a successful VBIED (or IED) attack is launched. The question remains whether IS will continue to target Shia mosques
or switch to government, commercial and expatriate targets4. Furthermore, IS in Yemen has already developed a strong VBIED capability. Recent IS attacks have only received limited global media attention. For instance, the 29 January hardly received any media attention from major Western broadcasters. It is important to understand that IS branches and sympathisers require the media exposure (both domestic and abroad) to generate more support for their cause. There are two ways to increase media exposure: (a) Increase the scale of attacks or (b) attack high profile and expatriate targets. Both strategy changes require more sophisticated methods. (higher grade explosives, more coordination, better reconnaissance, additional funds, etc.) So the level of success depends on improved capabilities and professionalization as outlined above. The lethality of Al-Qaeda attacks was higher in 2003-2005. A combination of stricter security measures and a degree of amateurism among IS sympathisers contributed to the lower casualty figures. For instance, two attackers were stopped by security checkpoints
in front of Shia mosques in two out of the three last suicide bombings. As professionalism among IS operatives increases (as argued above), so will the number of casualties per attack.
increase animosity between Sunnis and Shias.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and IS are competing for resources and control in Yemen. For instance, a senior AQAP commander named Jalal Baleedi was about to change to IS in Yemen before being killed by a US drone strike on 4 February 2016. IS has also claimed multiple high profile attacks including a VBIED on the governor of Aden in December 2015 and an IED attack on the presidential palace in January 2016. The likelihood of a high-profile or large scale attack increases as the competition for resources and media attention between AQAP and IS escalates. Such an escalation could also spread from Yemen to Saudi Arabia, especially considering recent AQAP gains in Yemen. _________________________________
In short, IS is under pressure to increase its attacks and is likely to develop the resources and knowledge to organise more sophisticated attacks despite Saudi counter-terrorism efforts. The time-frame of this evolution is difficult to determine, but one can already see signs when looking at VBIEDs discovered in February and January. For now, the attacks either missed their target or were discovered by security forces, but the key figures behind these threats remain at large. Apprehension of the suspect(s) might only be a temporary setback. If there is a higher degree of coordination and knowledge sharing between IS in Syria and Iraq and cells within Saudi Arabia (as is outlined above) then arrests would only be a temporary setback. In that case a prolonged and sophisticated terror-campaign can be expected similar to 2003-2005, taking into account improved Saudi counterterrorism measures.
Commercial and expatriate targets amounted to about half of all attacks between 2003 and 2005. IS has so far focused on religious targets in order to
For more information and further analysis please contact Le Beck on +973 16102488/89/90 or visit their website at www.lebeckinternational.com
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Forum 17
Construction Sector
SSH works on Al Mouj Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman and a lap pool. Six penthouses are designed with the same theme in mind, offering opulent architecture with open-plan features, spa bathrooms, terraces, and 5-bedroom units, with two central penthouses offering a private outdoor lap pool and jacuzzi. The world-class lifestyle and leisure destination bridges people, businesses and cultures to create a thriving waterfront community along the 6km stretch of coast in Muscat. It will comprise of luxury residential properties, retail and dining facilities, Oman s only signature designed PGA standard 18-hole links golf course and the 400 berth Almouj Marina, Oman s largest private yachting hub. SSH was awarded the design of Zunairah Villas and Juman One residential block at Al Mouj, Muscat (formally known as The Wave, Muscat), a public-private venture between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and Majid Al Futtaim Properties (based in the UAE).
SSH was also awarded the design of Ghadeer master plan, a community focused neighbourhood with facilities like kindergarten and multi-purpose hall. The Ghadeer award came following the successful delivery of two master plans for Almouj, Muscat; Zunairah and Jinan master plans. Noteworthy, Zunairah sales were launched to a positive reception and are attracting much interest in the market.
SSH was appointed to design two villa prototypes to be used in the latest addition to Al Mouj Muscat community master plan; Zunairah, a limited collection of exclusive beachfront villas. Split into two zones, Z1 with a total builtup area of approximately 900 sqm, and Z2 with a 1800 sqm built-up area, the prototypes are designed to provide the ultimate in luxury, aiming to set a new benchmark for residential living in the Sultanate.
Danny Warde, SSH Oman Resident Director, said This is one of the most iconic developments currently taking place in the Sultanate, in addition to OCEC, and we are honoured to be working on both projects. The lifestyle offered by Al Mouj Muscat will see Oman align its upscale residential offering to rival its Gulf neighbours .
Juman One is the first unique instalment in the development providing resort-living services of elegance and style. It will offer uninterrupted views to Almouj Marina, the awardwinning marina and flagship yachting and sailing destination in Oman. Offering 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, Juman One was designed with serenity and sophistication embedded in its architectural ethos. With services to match, the prestigious residence will offer a modern gym with male and female spas and changing rooms, an owners lounge and outside lounging areas, games room, and a concierge service. There are also three adjacent pools cascading towards the marina, made up of a lounging pool, children s pool
Trends in UK property investment Investment into UK property has become an increasingly hot topic, especially with the raft of changes made to the UK tax regime over recent years. Trowers & Hamlins have been advising a wide range of clients on the execution of their UK property deals, as well as private individuals on the structuring of their UK tax affairs. 18 Forum
Abdul-Haq Mohammed recently spoke at a seminar held at the Capital Club in Bahrain, in conjunction with Ktesius Property Partners. Abdul-Haq spoke on the key processes for acquiring property in the UK, current trends in the UK property market and provided an analysis of how recent tax changes affect UK property investment for Middle Eastern investors.
CBRE appointed as property management firm for Wyndham Grand Tower Bahrain Bay. CBRE have been appointed by United Tower Real Estate Development as the property manager and exclusive leasing consultant for the Wyndham Grand Tower, a key project in Bahrain Bay, a masterplanned project in the heart of Bahrain s capital. The landmark development has been designed as a twisting structure rising from an octagonal floor plate, rotating counterclockwise and offers uninterrupted 360-degree views of the bay corniche and downtown Manama, said a statement. Upon completion in H2 2016, the 50storey tower will house the Wyndham Grand Collection. In addition to international hospitality, the property will also offer 20 floors and 26,000 sq.m of modern commercial office space as well as ground floor retail. Andy Hinson, Senior Director, CBRE Bahrain, said: Wyndham Grand Tower is
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a landmark development in the Kingdom and with its prime location at the Bahrain Bay waterfront community, and superior build quality, it is already attracting high-profile occupiers. We look forward to working closely with the owners to support and develop long-term strategies for the project. Ahmed Al Qaed, managing director, United Tower Real Estate Development, said: Wyndham Grand Tower will offer tenants an exceptional work environment, ideal for businesses requiring a presence in the Kingdom. With this mixed-use development, we aim to cater to the growing demand for commercial space among global and local companies. We are confident that with our strong management coupled with CBRE s strong local and international experience we will be able to deliver strong results for this asset.
Trowers & Hamlins expand their Bahrain Teams T&H have announced that Mairéad Finlay-Noonan has been promoted to Partner. Mairéad joined Trowers & Hamlins in 2012 and has extensive experience in all areas of real estate and development work throughout the MENA region, as well as particular expertise in advising both public and private sector clients on social infrastructure projects and PPP arrangements. Her current projects include Bahrain Bay, Villamar and the first ever affordable housing PPP Project in Kuwait. Mairead s promotion is in recognition of the expertise she has developed and the reputation she enjoys among her client base. It also underlines the importance we place on the real estate sector. This promotion increases the partner complement for our Real Estate team in the Middle East to four. This group of partners works across the entire region and is currently working on transactions and projects in Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. In conjunction with Mairéad s promotion, we have recruited Shirin Pishbin from Cripps LLP, a specialist UK real estate firm, increasing the size of our market leading team to five real estate lawyers living and working full-time in Bahrain. Shirin qualified as a lawyer in England and Wales last year and has experience in commercial property, property litigation, and property development. She has also spent time on secondment at one of the UK s most prominent real estate investment companies, giving her invaluable experience of 9 7 3 from 1 3 6 7a commercial 3 5 5 5 Te l point + 9 7of3 view. 3 9 1 8Since 7 2 9arriving 3 Mob the +sector i n f o Shirin @ s has t a already n d b yassisted c o n swith u l various t i n gprojects . c o m in Bahrain, w w wthe . s Kuwait t a n d National y b y c oRail n sRoad u l t Project; i n g . c the o m including
Bahrain Affordable Housing PPP; Kuwait Low-Cost Housing PPP Project; and development projects such as Diyar Al Muharraq. Our Real Estate team works hand-in-hand with other experts, none more so than our Construction team. We are therefore pleased to announce the expansion of our Bahrain-based Construction team, with the hiring of Shanti Shah and Michael Fodor. Shanti read for the Bar of England and Wales and then crossqualified as a solicitor in 2005. He has extensive experience in arbitration, adjudication, Court litigation and in negotiated settlements. He has worked on international disputes in Europe and the Middle East. Clients have included insurers; architects; employers/developers; contractors and sub-contractors; and suppliers and manufacturers of products and services. Shanti also has experience of non-contentious construction work having advised and negotiated contractual terms for Employer clients and also advised banks on construction contracts and the security offered under such contracts. Michael joined us from Taylor Wessing in 2015. Michael has a broad range of Construction law experience, as well as experience in real estate matters. Michael graduated in 2009 from the University of the West of England, and was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2014. Forum 19
Construction Sector
GPZ completes five-star Downtown Rotana Hotel The five star Downtown Rotana Hotel in Manama has recently opened for business and has already had a warmwelcoming start. Civil engineering and construction company G.P.Zachariades (GPZ), appointed as the main contractor for the shell and core building, has completed the basement substructure and a 26-storey superstructure. GPZ worked closely with the owner and consultants to deliver the project to a high quality finish over an extended construction duration during which the Project was suspended for two years due to the economic downturn. During the construction period GPZ achieved in excess of 5 million safe man-hours without a lost time incident. The high-rise building has a built-up area of 44,000m2 and reaches to a height above ground level of over 100 metres. Construction was technically challenging due to the building s height, its vast curtain wall façade and its location in a confined busy central district. There was also the issue of Bahrain s high water table, which raised the need for extensive initial dewatering works to establish the foundations. The building is founded on a piled raft structure and the 12 metre deep basement substructure is formed by a contiguous bored pile perimeter retaining wall with piles up to 30 metres in length.
The building consists of one basement level, a ground floor, double height floors up to level 6, levels 8 and 9 are conference, office and recreational areas, the typical floors for guest rooms are from level 10 to 26 and there are two electromechanical Plant floors. The luxury hotel offers 249 guest rooms including 16 junior suites and 8 executive suites, four distinctive food and beverage venues, a rooftop swimming pool and other well-being facilities, a six level car park for 211 vehicles, a business centre and meeting spaces, as well as a ballroom and pre-function area. High quality materials were used throughout the construction phase such as aluminium and stainless steel honeycomb panels for the façade, granite, marble, ceramic and mosaic tiles. Many of the materials were supplied from specialist overseas companies for the exterior and interior finishes. To expedite the construction process, post-tensioned reinforced concrete slabs were constructed in lieu of conventional reinforced concrete slabs. The post tensioned design eliminated the need for drop beams on the typical floor levels that would otherwise have been required with a traditional design philosophy. The floor design facilitated a fast track construction method of
the reinforced concrete superstructure frame. GPZ achieved at peak output the concreting of one typical structural floor slab every 10 days. Downtown Rotana marks the second Rotana-branded hotel in Bahrain s capital city and the third in the country overall. The hotel is owned by Banader Hotels Company and the design Consultant for the Project is MSCEB. The hotel is located in the heart of Manama near Bab Al Bahrain, next to Batelco Commercial Centre and the Yateem Mosque (also constructed by GPZ), making it ideally situated for both business and leisure travellers as well as local visitors
The North Manama Causeway (NMC) Phase 2 and Busaiteen Link road network, Kingdom of Bahrain In its recent history, Bahrain has experienced a boom in economic development and population growth. In light of this, the Ministry of Works, Municipal Affair and Urban Planning (MoWMAUP) has awarded AECOM a six-year contract to undertake the design and construction supervision of the North Manama Causeway Phase 2 and Busaiteen Link road network. In total the project encompasses more than 21 kilometers of new roads, 11 junctions and a new signature bridge the fourth Muharraq Crossing. A large amount of the network will be situated in the water, for which land reclamation will be required. The long-term projects are strategic initiatives for the MoWMAUP and aim to service the expansion projected in the 20 Forum
capital and Muharraq Governorate as well as supplement the strategic road network in line with Bahrain s 2030 Vision.
AECOM has been appointed as the lead design consultant for the Ahlia University project in Al Madina Al Shamaliya, Bahrain.
Ahlia University has a GFA of 50,000 square meters spread over two plots 5,000 square meters and 45,000 square meters. The G+8 level university is home to a wide range of faculties including an auditorium, an indoor football pitch, full size swimming pool, a state-of-the-art library and F&B facilities.
derives from naturally created dunes that provide the organic nature, responding to its contextual surroundings. The dune is a rich ephemeral landscape with soft natural forms of a large scale, which epitomizes the strength and endurance of the landscape within the Bahrain climate.
The design inspiration for Ahlia University
Clarke Morton-Shepherd, Director,
Bahrain, AECOM, comments on the project: In today s modern society it is vital that we create spaces for the younger generations to both grow and adapt to a fast changing world. We are delighted to be involved in this project that will support learning, create stimulating new spaces and inspire future generations to relish gaining new skills and knowledge.
Forum 21
Financial News
Citi Celebrates International Women s Day in Bahrain Events held within the framework of IWD Theme It Takes All of US
all employees that the recruitment, involvement and advancement of women are business imperatives. We want to inspire women and celebrate their achievements, and reflect on the role people around the women play especially male partners which can be a positive contributor to their success , commented Usman Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Citi Bahrain
Citi celebrated International Women s Day (IWD), a UN-designated occasion that celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women around the world through a series of events held at its branches across the globe. Citi s participation in International Women s Day is a unique opportunity to celebrate the contributions of women to Citi as well as emphasize the role they play in defining Citi s future.
Women s Day celebration by inviting Ms. Amal Alsaffar, the first Bahraini lady to climb the Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in Africa. She was also the first Bahraini lady to ever set foot on Antarctica. Our annual participation in IWD is a strong and positive reminder to
The 2016 International Women s Day (IWD) theme It Takes All of US reflects Citi s position that advancement of women requires the engagement of all employees, including men, as partners.
The 2016 events are a continuation of 2015 celebrations when Citi hosted over 231 programs including over 134 client events across 90 countries.
This year, Citi Bahrain decided to add more inspiration to its International
New General Manager for Nexus
2011 Rod was recruited by Prudential Assurance to help establish their Direct Sales Force helping the business grow from zero to 200 sales consultants over the next 2 years.
Rod Allderidge started work in the financial services industry 26 years ago and has been involved in the direct sales side of the business ever since. He started his career in the UK as a Financial Adviser with Acuma Ltd before moving on to Allied Dunbar. In 1994 he took up his first supervisory role building and developing sales teams at Guardian Royal Exchange and Canada Life over the next 7 years. In 2001 Rod was recruited by Standard Life to help launch and develop their Wealth Management 22 Forum
Citi Bahrain also hosted a talk by Lamya Al Dagher, entrepreneur and owner of Bambino Daycare, a new concept in daycare. After the talk, the Bank opened its doors to the employees children for their very own Art Festival. Twinkle Twinkle company turned the training room into a workshop and the children were going from one station to another trying new arts and showing off their talents.
division whose primary role was advising on Investments and Estate Planning in the high net worth market. In 2007 Rod was instrumental in the launch of Standard Life s WRAP Platform which has proved very successful for the company. Late in
As an ex-pat child who spent the first 20 years of his life in various countries across the Gulf Region it was inevitable at some point that he would return to the area that he thinks of as home. This happened in 2014 when Rod moved to Qatar as General Manager for Nexus Financial Services. More recently Rod has taken on the dual role of General Manager for both Qatar and Bahrain. Rod holds the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate from the Chartered Insurance Institute and he is also a member of the Personal Finance Society.
Citi Bahrain named "Best Foreign Investment Bank" for the fifth year in a row and "Best Foreign Bank" for the third consecutive year EMEA Finance Magazine has named Citi Best Foreign Investment Bank for the fifth year in a row and Best Foreign Bank for the third consecutive year in Bahrain as part of the magazine s Middle East Banking Awards 2015. The awards were recently announced at a charity awards dinner held at Conrad Hotel Dubai. EMEA Finance is a bimonthly publication that reports on the major financial events and happenings initiated and influenced by the international financial industry active in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (the EMEA region).
Ahmet Bekce, Head of Corporate Banking, MENA (Right), receives the Best Foreign Investment Bank and Best Foreign Bank in Bahrain awards with Christopher Moore, Publisher & CEO, EMEA Finance
Citi Bahrain is proud to receive these two awards again; they are a testament to the teams efforts in serving our clients and offering them innovative
and customized solutions through our leading global network and unrivalled product capabilities , said Usman Ahmed, CEO of Citi Bahrain.
According to EMEA Finance s criteria, Awards recognize the leading banks across the Middle East that stand out among their peers, demonstrate leadership in their home markets, top the performance and deal-making tables both in individual countries and across the Middle East. The awards consider various performance and structural factors such as market share, growth in important product classes, and corporate strategy. Citi has been in the Arab World for nearly fifty years and views the region as critical to its global franchise. It currently offers full scale corporate and investment banking services across ten Arab countries including Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria.
Advisers and employers urged to embrace shift towards defined contribution pensions and the further industry changes Employers and advisers have a responsibility to help their employees and clients plan for retirement by making well informed decisions about their futures, said Meeku Patidar, associate director at Elian. Historically, the defined contribution pension industry has encouraged participants to focus on their accumulated fund value and investment growth to fund retirement. We are seeing a change in focus towards targeting an income replacement rate to help make sure enough income is available for retirement.
In response to the impact of continual changes in the pension sector and market conditions, companies, advisers and individuals are being encouraged to embrace the shift towards defined contribution pension plans. By 2018, 91% of private sector savers are expected to be utilising defined contribution pension plans as opposed to defined benefit pension plans, according to the Pensions Policy Institute s Future Book. The industry wide step change towards defined contribution pension plans has had a significant impact on employers offering retirement plans for their employees, as well as high net worth individuals. This shift has placed much more liability on employees and individuals to take responsibility for, and plan for, their retirement.
To meet the changes, Elian is launching six new structures that will provide employers and individuals with a flexible and sophisticated approach to retirement planning, focusing on income replacement. Five of these structures are master trusts and the industry is forecasting the use of master trusts to grow, with employers forecasting an increase from 4% currently to 13% in 2020 and a rise from just under four million members in 2015 to around six million members in 2030, according to a survey by AonHewitt. Technology will play an important role in this increasing membership. At Elian, our holistic income replacement approach takes into account a wide range of factors including age, inflation, interest rates, mortality, wage inflation and investment risk, enabling participants to target an income replacement rate suitable for them. Using financial modelling and technology systems, we can help employers and individuals work toward this, helping reduce the degree of uncertainty around the level of income individuals will receive in later life, concluded Mr Patidar. Forum 23
APM Terminals Bahrain lifts customer services and safety standards through significant investments in intelligent IT and port infrastructure equipment specifications and working with suppliers to get optimize safety efficiency of the equipment. With an aim of reducing equipment breakdowns by 90% in 3 years, APM Terminals Bahrain is working towards a certification by TPM club of India.
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s part of its Reach 2020 program APM Terminals Bahrain, operators of Khalifa bin Salman Port (KBSP), have recently made substantial investments (USD 2.5 Million) in Information Technology systems and terminal infrastructure namely Collision prevention system (LCPS), GPS driven positioning system (DGPS), container weighing system (VGM), Weighbridge, General Cargo operating system, CCTV upgrade with the objective of improving customer services and the overall safety standards at the terminal. APM Terminals Bahrain, within APM Terminals globally, emerged as the pilot terminal to develop the Load Collision Prevision System (LCPS) a cutting edge technology that works with two different lasers reading the contours of the containers in the yard and prevents collisions. The solution has been implemented on the Rubber Tire Gantry s (RTG) cranes that handle these containers. LCPS mitigates risks, such as the possibility of tipping a container on a truck, during container handling operations thereby ensuring no damage to cargo and safety to all working in the operational area. Commenting on the project, Mark Hardiman, Managing Director of APM Terminals Bahrain said: As operators of the Khalifa Bin Salman Port, our strategy is to ensure we are proactively making advances to expand our journey 24 Forum
in Safety Excellence and we believe in the continuous improvement approach when it comes to running our port operations. Therefore we are very proud we developed together with our vendors LCPS as a new worldwide standard on safe handling of containers . Currently the terminal is modernising its weighbridges and upgrades the Terminal Operating System and also include a VGM functionality which is mandatory as of 1st of July through the recent IMO amendment to SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea). The amendment requires verification of container weights to ensure that no full export container is loaded on a vessel without a VGM. Accordingly, the terminal will be able to render a whole spectrum of services to the trade of Bahrain regarding the data management and processing including VGM s and contributes to a safer work practice within global trade and ensure that Bahrain offers international standards on container handling. Last year, the terminal kicked off Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), a major initiative involving maximising equipment reliability and improving the performance of both equipment and people. This initiative involves all terminal departments by prioritising training and improving the skill set of employees and ultimately driving improvements in maintenance,
APM Terminals is proudly connecting the trade of Bahrain with global and regional ports and offers connectivity to the port of Jebel Ali with a transit time of 24hrs. APM Terminals Bahrain also provides warehousing, bonding, container and cargo handling facilities and is continuously striving towards a higher level of customer satisfaction through: state of the art developments such as LCPS, providing services to new global demands and continuous improvement programs such as TPM. APM Terminals providing the port and inland infrastructure to lift global trade APM Terminals Global Terminal Network of ports and inland services provide the infrastructure for the growth of international trade, 90% of which travels by sea. International commerce is an economic growth engine, creating jobs, lifting economies and improving people s lives around the world. With world headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, the company s core expertise is the design, construction, management and operation of ports, terminals and inland services, operating a Global Terminal Network of 20,600 employees in 68 countries including interests in 70 port and terminal facilities and over 135 Inland Services operations.
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4/5/16 4:39 pm
Travel News
BAC convenes Ad Sales meeting for site terminal
Gulf Air s inaugural flight to Dhaka touches down
Bahrain International Airport (BIA) s managing body, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), recently provided an informational meeting about advertising the facility s new passenger terminal at Mövenpick Hotel, Muharraq, with both BAC staff and interested parties in attendance. Representatives from both Bahraini and global advertising firms participated to learn more about a planned bidding process. BAC Chief Commercial Officer Mohamed Khalil welcomed the guests and introduced his colleague, Derek Hendry, who serves as a development director and who made a presentation about the airport s modernisation programme. BAC staffers George Moore, who directs non-aviation revenue, and Mariam Al Khalifa, head of leasing and concessions, were also on hand. The launch of our commercial tender program is another significant milestone in our $1.1 billion transformation, Khalil said. Increasing the size of our retail space and bringing in new concepts is central to our plans to give passengers the best possible experience in becoming a great airport. The new terminal is expected to be complete in 2019. Bahrain s modernisation depends highly on keeping pace with the aviation industry.
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Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, celebrated the airline s inaugural 5 weekly service to and from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh Republic in June. Gulf Air flight GF248 was welcomed into Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, the biggest airport in Bangladesh, with a water cannon salute and, upon arrival, a celebratory event was held in the airport that saw the attendance of various dignitaries, Gulf Air flight s captain and crew, Gulf Air s Country Manager to Bangladesh, Hussain Ghuloom, and a number of local media and travel industry representatives, alongside official Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport officials. Bahrain International Airport. Gulf Air 5 weekly flights to Dhaka are operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft.
Easy ways to enjoy flying with children With the summer holidays approaching and families starting to think about flying home or to a new destination, it s worth remembering some basic steps to make flying more pleasant for you, your children and your fellow flyers. To make the holiday planning and journey even more enjoyable, British Airways offers a range of different level fares and makes flying with children a little easier. World Traveller services are designed especially for the young families, such as our kids eat first policy, a dedicated TV channel, Paddington Skyflyer entertainment packs, Britax seats for toddlers and complimentary baby cots. Seat reservations for families may be requested at no cost at time of booking and confirmed three days in advance of travel (subject to availability). Paolo De Renzis, Head of Middle East, Africa and Central Asia Sales for British Airways, who has been flying with his three children since they were very young, says being in a confined space with a noisy youngster can be awkward for parents and disturbing to fellow flyers. Often you can avoid this with just a bit of planning and taking a few simple steps to ensure your child is as relaxed, occupied and comfortable as possible. Most children are naturally quite excited about flying. The trick is to harness that interest, without them getting overexcited, while ensuring they don t become fretful in an unfamiliar environment, says Paolo and suggests the following ways to ease your journey: A happy flight starts online before you leave for the airport. Sites like www.britishairways.com have comprehensive details of paperwork required for traveling with minors, so you can plan ahead. You can also order children s meals online, better still get them to help you. You can also reserve equipment such as bassinets for infants. There s plenty of information about family travel on the website. Take advantage of all the concessions offered to families, such as being allowed to take strollers to the door of the aircraft when boarding. Families
also get priority when boarding and you can wait until other passengers have disembarked before doing so with your family. Understand air-pressure: the pressurisation in passenger aircraft is likely to be your child s main source of discomfort. During ascent and descent, giving the child food or drink will trigger their swallowing reflex, which will help their ears equalise. Most parents have a good idea of which foods make their kids overactive and tetchy, but in general, avoid sweet treats of ones that have artificial colourants when travelling. Chewy snacks like dried fruit will help with pressurising their ears while limiting the spikes in blood-sugar that can result in tantrums. While it s good to keep the child hydrated, don t overdo it as this can result in nappychanges and trips to the toilet Pack favourite, familiar snacks for the kids, to supplement meals served on board. Keeping the child occupied is obviously crucial if he or she is awake. One tried-and-tested trick is to giftwrap treasured toys and present them when the child gets bored. It may also be good time to buy some new toys and ration them out during the flight. This is probably one time to avoid toys like Lego blocks as they can fall in hard-to-reach places. Mobile devices can be a benefit for
parents and although many families ration children s use of tablets, a long-haul flight might justify a little leeway. Headphones are useful tools for movies, music, apps and games, but crayons and paper are always favourites. Generally, it s better to not seat kids on the aisle, as they may bump passing trolleys, which have hard edges and hot water. Don t over-pack. You have to carry it all. You ll need the basics wipes, nappies, sanitisers and so on but if your child is small you ll need to carry him or her as well. Finally, says Paolo, remember that the aircrew are your allies and it s in their interests to ensure that you and your family have an enjoyable flight, so don t be reluctant to ask for help. In case you need to carry an extra bag on your holiday, World Traveller (British Airways economy class) customers can benefit from a discount when they pay online. Passengers can also take advantage of online check-in available up to 24 hours ahead of departure and can select their preferred seats. Go a step further and upgrade part of your journey to a World Traveller Plus seat (the airline s premium economy) and enjoy the benefits of increased baggage allowance (2 bags of 23 kgs each) and wider seats with more legroom. Bronze, Silver and Gold card holders have the option to pre-seat based on their card and seat availability. Forum 29
Motoring News
Jaguar F-PACE the World s Ultimate Practical Sports car customers in their decision to buy the distinguished vehicle. It is for this reason that I would also like to announce with pride that anyone who buys a Jaguar FPace will receive a financial contribution towards the purchase in the form of a down-payment, thereby emphasizing on our desire to welcome them into the Jaguar Family and Lifestyle, he added.
Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover, the exclusive distributer of Jaguar cars in the Kingdom of Bahrain, recently hosted the launch of the World s Ultimate Practical Sportscar, the All-New Jaguar F-PACE. The All-New Jaguar F-PACE is a performance crossover designed and engineered to offer the agility, responsiveness and refinement that all Jaguars are renowned for, together with unrivalled dynamics and everyday versatility. Developed using Jaguar s Lightweight Aluminium Architecture, the All-New F-PACE combines purity of line, surface and proportion with F-TYPE-inspired features such as the powerful rear haunches, fender vents and distinctive tail light graphics. By remaining absolutely true to the design principles, the All-New F-PACE is immediately recognisable as a Jaguar. The bold front grille and the muscular bonnet hint at the performance potential of engines like the available V6 380PS supercharged petrol engine on the FPACE S. Elements such as slender fullLED headlights, forged 22-inch wheels and short front overhang carry the design vision of the C-X17 concept through to production. Boasting Jaguar s new infotainment system, its most advanced all-wheel drive system and a remarkable range of active safety technologies, the All-New Jaguar F-PACE makes every journey a better, more rewarding experience. Exclusively revealed to selected key 30 Forum
media during a press conference, the All-New Jaguar F-PACE launch was followed by a private evening dynamic reveal held at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain and attended by some of Bahrain s most notable VIP guests in addition to loyal Jaguar customers. The All-New Jaguar F-PACE was on display at the event, offering guests to a closer look at the outstanding proportions, elegant surfaces and perfect lines which define all Jaguar cars. Commenting on the launch of the AllNew Jaguar F-PACE in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Mr. Nawaf Khalid Al Zayani, the Managing Director of Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover, said: On behalf of everyone at Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover, I would like to proudly announce the launch of the first ever Jaguar SUV - the All-New Jaguar F-PACE in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This is a momentous occasion as the introduction of the AllNew Jaguar F-PACE is in line with our commitment to offering our loyalists the very latest in the Jaguar Land Rover line-up. As the exclusive distributor of Jaguar vehicles in Bahrain for almost 3 years now, today we are proud to take another step, along with Jaguar, in reinforcing our commitment to our customers by providing cars with ONLY the very best automotive technology and driving innovation. The launch of the All-New Jaguar F-PACE marks a new era for Jaguar and in tandem with the milestone, Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover has decided to step into the new age as well with our new Financial Assistance scheme that highlights our mission to support
The All-New Jaguar F-PACE is a performance crossover with outstanding dynamics combining dramatic looks with everyday versatility which I am confident will resonate on an emotional level with our customers both regionally and from around the world. This vehicle has garnered a huge amount of attention globally particularly by setting a Guinness World Record for the largest ever loopthe-loop during the official unveiling in Frankfurt and we are extremely proud to be revealing the All-New F-PACE here in the Kingdom of Bahrain, he concluded. The All-New Jaguar F-PACE is now available exclusively at the Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover showroom in Sitra with prices starting from BHD 22,995 with free 5 year service, free 5 year warranty and free 5 year road assistance. The All-New Jaguar F-PACE will also include free registration with exclusive trade in options available. 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. To know more, call the Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover showroom in Sitra on 17460460 or follow the latest posts about Jaguar on Facebook at Euro Motors Jaguar Bahrain or on Instagram at @emjaguarbahrain. Additionally, to get further information, follow up to date Jaguar tweets on Twitter at EMJaguarBahrain.
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11/26/15 4:28 PM
News from the Eastern Province from both the Committee and Chairmanship at the AGM. Geoff has served on the Committee for over 25 years and acted as Chairman for over 10 years. This is an astonishing record of service - and there cannot be many people (if anyone) who have shown such dedication to promoting business ties with the UK through any business group, anywhere else in the Gulf. Edward Rose Chairman, BBA(EP)
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reetings from the British Business Association in the Eastern Province. Change is the theme of this update. The BBA itself has seen some recent changes. A successful AGM and dinner was held on 18 April 2016, at which a new Committee was elected. Our aims will be to encourage the full membership to engage actively with the association; to provide opportunities for all members to network and benefit from the BBA s collective experience; and to deepen our links with the Saudi business community. A major novelty for the BBA will be navigating forward without Geoff Fennah s steady hand on the tiller, after Geoff decided to stand down
Saudi Snippets New GDP Target In its Vision 2030 strategy, Riyadh has set itself the target of increasing the private sector s contribution to GDP (gross domestic product) from 40 per cent today to 65 per cent by 2030, and growing non-oil government revenues from SR163 billion ($43 billion) to SR1 trillion ($267 billion) by the end of the next decade. 32 Forum
The Eastern Province, as the centre of the Kingdom s oil and gas industry, is a critical partner in UK trade, and Geoff has been at the heart of growing the UK-Saudi relationship (both directly and through supporting the work of the British Trade Office) for over a quarter century. Past, present and future members will all be thankful to Geoff for his contribution to the BBA, not least in steering the Committee for over a decade. At the AGM, Geoff s achievements were recognised in a speech by Jeff Stewart, the members unanimously voted Geoff our Honorary Life Chairman, and he was presented with a commemorative watch to mark his many years of service. Geoff continues to work full-time in Jubail and remains a BBA member. Land Tax Saudi Arabia has imposed an annual tax on undeveloped urban land finalising the rules for a system intended to address a shortage of affordable housing. The introduction of a land tax, first announced by the cabinet in November, marks a major step in addressing a housing shortage frequently griped about by young Saudis. Analysts estimate that 40 to 50% of the land inside
The British Business Association (BBA) - Eastern Province P.O.Box 1868, AlKhobar 31952 Tel: 03 882 5288 ext 1651 Fax: 03 882 5384 Email: secretary@bbaep.org Website: www.bbaep.com
A well-publicised change in the Kingdom has been the publication of the potentially transformative Saudi Vision 2030. Vision 2030 seeks to lay out a roadmap for a wide range of social and economic developments. Notably for British business, particularly those firms operating in the energy sector, we have already seen in recent weeks: The launch by Saudi Aramco of its IKTVA localisation strategy An announcement of the likely restructuring (and part floatation) of Saudi Aramco The creation of a new Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources overseeing energy policy, the electricity sector, the mining sector, the Royal Commission, KA-CARE and KAUST (amongst other responsibilities)
These structural shifts, combined with continuing uncertainty about the direction of the oil price, might well cause a certain level of disquiet among business people. There is a new Saudi Companies Law to digest as well. These changes, of course, will all bring their own opportunities; and British companies remain well placed in Saudi Arabia to build on existing relationships and take advantage of the new avenues which are suddenly opening up. However events unfold, the BBA and its Committee will seek to remain a source of support, information and perspective, as we all evaluate what the business environment in the Eastern Province might look like in coming years. Do please get in contact with us at: secretary@bbaep,org
New announcements about gas production and the role of renewables.
Kind regards, Edward Rose Chairman, BBA(EP)
major cities remains vacant, much of it owned by wealthy individuals or companies that have tended to hold or trade it for speculative profits rather than developing it for housing. Fines for failure to pay would reach up to the amount of tax owed, the ministry said, tweeting with the hashtag build it to give it life . Revenues raised would be spent on public services like roads, water, electricity and sewage systems.
More Jobs - Saudis only Saudi Arabia s government plans a new set of labour quotas and incentives to reduce unemployment as it tries to wean its economy off oil exports. The changes are part of a wider reform plan announced last week by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and reflect the difficulties the kingdom has faced for years in creating jobs for Saudi nationals. There is no doubt that unemployment is a looming spectre and we will take all measures required he said.
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Feature Article - Education &Training
Step out of your Comfort Zone
Without someone you trust to bounce ideas off of, it’s hard to know if your business decisions make sense. But it’s amazing how talking through your thought process with a coach can help you put things in perspective.
Above: Brian Skerry took this incredible photograph for National Geographic a couple of years back Talk about stepping out of your comfort zone!
Time and time again, the small business leaders we’ve known have emphasised one key piece of advice: don’t try and do it alone. But with just two-in-five British small business owners benefitting from any sort of management training – and poor leadership cited as the explanation for almost six-in-ten UK small business failures by recent research carried out by the Chartered Management Institute we thought it time to ask one of our own BBBF members for some much needed advice in this area.
the work amongst the rest of the team. I tried several times to change this by suggesting we should employ additional people because the rest of the team were overburdened (Change), but to no avail. I tried to accept it and to work with it but could not perform my role to my satisfaction (Accept) so after much consideration I left the job (Leave).
Mike Jackson of JBSS is an Executive Trainer with extensive coaching experience. What follows is only part of his response:
They all expect to be asked the classic Is my glass half empty or half full question. Instead, she asks, How heavy is this glass of water I am holding? She gets a variety of answers and when she is ready, she explains, From my perspective the weight doesn t matter, it all depends on how long I have to hold it for. If it s a minute or two no problems. If it s an hour or two then my muscles will ache a little. If it s all day, my hand will cramp and my arm may well become numb and spasm- causing me to drop the glass. In each case, the weight of the glass is the same, but the longer I hold it, the heavier the glass feels to me.
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do a lot of work with Companies and individuals who are in transition they are either working towards a strategic goal or a personally transitioning to a new state. As the title of this piece implies, they have a challenge getting over the edge. Here are some thoughts to help you muster your courage for getting over the edge you can do it!
CAL
As a young officer in the British Army, I was fortunate enough to be processed through an institution that thrived on blood, sweat and acronyms. One that has stayed with me is CAL. When faced with a decision, You can Change it, Accept it or Leave it (CAL). If you choose to Change it, then do you very best to change it, otherwise you will always wonder if you could have changed it. If you cannot change it, then try to accept it and I mean really try to accept it don t hold any underlying grudges. If you can t change it or accept it, you last option is to leave. I worked for a large corporate a few years ago and every time somebody decided to exit from the local office, the Country manager didn t replace them, he simply distributed 34 Forum
Put the glass down
A friend of mine lectures at the local university and I have seen her do this a couple of times with great effect! She fills a glass of water from a bottle on her table picks it up and turns to the student audience.
She then comes to the point which is that your stresses and worries in life are like the glass of water. If you think about them a little, nothing happens. Think about them longer and you will ache a bit. Think about them all the time and you become numb and paralyzed, incapable of doing anything else until you drop them. Her point is to emphasise the importance of letting go of your stresses and learning to put your burdens down. If you still feel the weight of yesterday s stress, it is time to put the glass down.
Do Nothing
As with all cases, there is always the option to do nothing. I really don t recommend this one! Simple .If you don t move, you will always find yourself in the place. If you don t change, don t be surprised to see your competition leaving you behind. Zig Ziglar said. If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.
While 40 per cent of British small firm owners regularly use friends and family as sounding boards for business decisions, the relatively limited popularity of life coaching in the UK compared to the hype around it in the US means there’s a pretty high chance that you haven’t considered it as an option.
The BSB celebrates the Queen s 90th Birthday
As great as family and friends are, they’re more likely to give you an odd look than ask you to look at something from the perspective of the client you’re desperate to nab or talking through the implications of losing them. The reality is, this isn’t always possible to find anyone with the right experience to succesfully direct and advise among your acquaintances. Mike continued: Christopher Logue wrote a poem often attributed to Apollinaire titled, Come to the Edge Come to the edge. We might fall. Come to the edge. It s too high! COME TO THE EDGE! And they came, and he pushed, and they flew. ©Christopher Logue and he pushed . Have you ever watched young birds learning to fly? The parents move further away from the nest to encourage the chicks out of the nest to feed. The incentive is food and the parents provide a support network encouraging the fledglings. The birds will eventually fall to the ground and learn that using their wings reduces the impact. The parents will coach their offspring to find suitable cover and will continue to feed the fledgling for some time after they have learned to fly. Whilst you are not learning to fly, a coach can provide great support, will help you to identify the way forwards appropriate for you and most importantly, they will hopefully push you.
The British School of Bahrain were delighted to welcome the British Ambassador, HE Mr Simon Martin, Mrs. Martin and family to the School on Thursday 21st April to celebrate the Queens 90th Birthday. Members of the Board, Heads of School, Parent representatives, staff and students were present to welcome HE The Ambassador. The celebration included playing of the National Anthem, singing Happy Birthday to Her Majesty and also cutting of a Birthday Cake in honour of Her Majesty. The students and staff participated in a theme of red, white and blue for the day including a street party and Patron s Lunch serving traditional British food. Mr Janahi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees commented It is an amazing opportunity for us as a school community to come together to say thank you to the Queen for her unstinting service and celebrate her life, her dedication to the Commonwealth and international affairs and her deep involvement with some many charitable causes throughout her years as monarch .
I leave you with two great quotes that have helped me over the years; In any given moment we have two options: To step forwards into growth or to step back into safety Abraham Maslow And The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new Socrates. If you ve found this useful. Mike can of course be contacted through the contact details in both the print and online BBBF Directories.
Forum 35
Education & Training
The Crown Prince s International Scholarship Program announces its 2016 Scholarship Recipients
The Crown Prince s International Scholarship Program (CPISP) announced the winners of its 2016 scholarships, who make up the Program s 17th Group of scholars, and who include the following students: Husain Ali Altaraif / Sh. Abdulaziz Al Khalifa Boys School Sara Husain Nasaif / Hamad Town Secondary Girls School Abdullah Marwan Zaini / Bahrain Bayan School Yasmeen Hassan Jassim / St. Christopher s School Sayed Hashem Hadi Alaali / Sh. Abdulaziz Al Khalifa Boys School Noor Ayoob Alsairafi / Al Noor Secondary Girls School Saif Najeeb Jamsheer / Ibn Khuldoon National School Faten Omran Hasan / Thomas Edison High School, USA Husain Abdulameer Ali / Naim Secondary Boys School Sawsan Sayed Mohamed Alshaiba / Saar Secondary Girls School The 2016 scholarship recipients were selected from among
321 Bahraini applicants from governmental and private schools in and outside of Bahrain who met the Program s qualifying application criteria. The final selection criteria included their Grade Point Average, as well as the results of the IELTS and SAT examinations, leadership training, and the Critical Thinking course, which were organised by the CPISP as part of the candidacy training last year. This group of outstanding scholarship recipients includes one student who obtained a full score on his SAT Math examination. The CPISP gives its scholarship recipients the opportunity to choose their own fields of study from international universities of their choice that they gain acceptance to. The Program has awarded a total of 166 university scholarships to outstanding Bahraini students since its establishment in 1999 by HRH the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
British Council Bahrain Completes Soft Refurbishment British Council Bahrain, the leading centre for Englishlanguage training for both children and adults, has recently completed the refurbishment of its premises in Manama. The centre has been completely modernised with a vibrant colour palette, a welcoming parquet floor, and stylish, contemporary furniture. The customer experience is paramount to the British Council and now all classrooms and public areas boast a modern, polished appearance to complement the high level of 36 Forum
technology found throughout the building. The British Council is committed to offering a highquality service, which now includes morning classes for adult students and summer courses for both adults and young learners, which are already open for registration. Alan Rutt, the Country Director said We strive to offer customers at the British Council an experience that they will remember and the completion of the refurbishment shows
our dedication to creating an environment in which students will enjoy learning even more. Feedback from our customers has been overwhelming positive
and we look forward to providing our summer English-language courses in a thoroughly modern setting now that the work has been completed .
A Year of Art, Music, Fashion and Science at the British Council
2016 has been a tremendously successful and busy year at the British Council. In celebrating the 400-year anniversary of William Shakespeare s death, we launched a number of activities among which was a performance of Hamlet by the Globe Theatre. This incredibly popular event was hosted by the Bahrain Authority of Culture and Antiquities at the Cultural Hall in the National Museum. A Shakespeare-themed creative writing workshop was held at the Rami Grand Hotel and learners were offered access to a free online Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) along with a number of teaching and learning English tool kits that can be used and downloaded from our LearnEnglish websites. In Arts we delivered a number of activities in Bahrain and the
UK and we are immensely proud that Hala Kaiksow from Bahrain won first prize for the best fashion designer at the International Fashion Showcase at London Fashion Week, sponsored by the British Council. UK Craft Council designers also delivered a workshop on fashion and design at the Royal University for Women, to encourage more Bahraini enterprises in this sector. Arts and disability is one of the British Council Bahrain s core projects and we hosted six members from the British ParaOrchestra who performed in a number of venues for different audiences including: St Christopher s School for students with special needs from local schools, the British Council Director s residence for our key contacts, and at Sheikh Ebrahim Cultural Centre for
the general public. There will be another opportunity to see the entire orchestra ensemble in October so keep your eyes peeled for more information. Also in our arts work, we engaged art teachers and educators who work in autism centres as well as in a presentation on art therapy for autism, which was delivered by Ian Wilson, a well-known UK artist, at Al Riwaq Art Space in Adliyah. We are also collaborating with the Bahrain Authority of Culture and Antiquities to deliver a concert by the Bahraini British musician, Yazz Ahmed, who will be performing her new suite Alhan Al Siduri at the Cultural Hall in late October this year. This will be an absolute must-see for jazz lovers out there. For the Higher Education sector, we organised a
Science Collaboration Symposium where researchers from the UK and Bahrain discussed their latest research on energy and water. We also have training to local researchers on communication skills to enable them to speak to global research bodies and publications. We also organised a Bahrain-UK Higher Education Symposium in partnership with the Higher Education Council and the Ministry of Education. This was a fantastic opportunity to encourage collaboration and partnerships between Bahrain and UK universities and HE institutes. If you are interesting in finding out more about upcoming events or how you can get involved in working with the British Council in the fields of art and education, we d love to hear from you. Forum 37
Taqaddam helps to inspire Bahraini youngsters
Youth-development programme concludes with final workshop Muharraq Secondary School for Girls takes the honours with competition win Over 200 students from Bahrain have been inspired to reach greater personal heights after successfully completing the youth development programme Taqaddam. HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd and the British Council have worked in partnership to deliver the new initiative that has helped young men and women in Bahrain to build their self-confidence and develop the life skills they need to fulfil their potential. The seven week programme culminated with a final workshop and Future Ideas competition that saw students develop with innovative ideas and concepts to win a range of prizes. The aim of this unique programme has been to develop enthusiastic, self-aware and motivated young people, who can make a positive contribution to the world around them, said Sabrin Rahman, Head of Corporate Sustainability MENA from HSBC. We ve seen some tremendous growth in the students and we are so proud of how far they have come. They have achieved a lot and we are pleased to see how enriching the experience was for them. With increased confidence, they now have vital tools to move forward and make an impact. Students from 10 schools participated in the programme which was designed to run alongside the school curriculum and was delivered outside of school hours. The content for Taqaddam, which means Move Forward in Arabic, was delivered by Spark and Mettle, a youth development charity based in London that supports and enables young people to identify, articulate and improve key character strengths, while also building their soft skills for a brighter future. Students who participated logged on to a tailor-made, on-line resource that helped them to identify their personal strengths and abilities, as well as areas where they needed further development. Other key learning outcomes involved in the programme included an understanding of what life skills are, and how to communicate and demonstrate these skills to others with increased confidence. Two inspiring workshops covered a range of important life skill areas, including critical thinking, effective communications, organized planning and how to take the initiative. Students also learnt the value of showing resilience, grit and determination, while finding purpose and managing emotions were also a key part of the learning experience. The results of the workshops showed that the Taqaddam programme has helped to motivate the students, said Gail Campbell, Director Education at British Council, MENA. Their hard work and personal development gained over seven weeks have been rewarded today. It is our hope that they take the learnings from Taqaddam with them for the rest of their life. Taqaddam finishes with the Future Ideas competition. The Future Ideas competition, hosted as part of the final phase of the programme, asked students to work in teams to devise an innovative idea that addressed key global challenges related to the environment, health or community well-being. 38 Forum
Some students focused on health, submitting various solutions and new ways to live a healthy lifestyle. Muharraq Secondary School for Girls, who came up with a Pet-Fit concept watch that tracks the users physical activity and exercise history, were announced as the winners of the competition. Nutritious programs were also presented to help in tracking what people consumed and the amount of calories consumed. Mental health was also part of the initiatives presented, where campaigns were designed to create awareness about the importance of managing stress, including creating a closeknit community and using blog support to help face life s challenges. Other students revealed their passions for saving the environment. Ideas presented related to energy consumption levels and alternative energy sources. Some showed their interest in generating energy from water to save the universe, while another group conducted professional research and suggested using micro-controller technology at homes to reduce domestic energy use. Other student groups were inspired by the smart ideas on health and the environment, and tackled the issue of school bullying to make the finals of the competition. The students presented awareness campaigns about the effects of bullying and how it can be dealt with at a community level. We were very impressed by the efforts from the student groups who participated in the competition, said Gail Campbell, Director Education at British Council, MENA. They addressed some real-life issues and developed creative and thought-provoking ways to meet the challenges that we face in this day and age. The youth development programme Taqaddam is the result of a partnership between HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd and the British Council. It is being delivered in eight countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to help youngsters acquire a broad set of life skills that will serve them and their communities in the future.
Hotel & Leisure News Over $10.000 raised at Ladies Captain Charity Golf Day
The second annual Ladies Captain Annual Charity Golf Tournament was held at the Royal Golf Club over the weekend and raised over US$10,000 for 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. Around 120 golfers competed in the fun Texas Scramble format competition which was won by the team of Karen and Grahame Mackenzie, Paul Noir and Dimi Zletevski, who achieved a winning nett score of 52.7. The team of Andy and Jenny McDonald, Sam Kobeissi and Ben Stimson were runners up with 59.7 nett while Leanne and Kevin Dismore, Mark Hay and Karan Trehan came third on 60.7 nett. Nearest the pin side contests on holes 2, 7, 12 and 16 were won by Ashley Price, Jim Schultz, Dena Wales and Jeff Schley respectively. A straightest drive contest on hole 4 was won by last year s ladies captain and creator of the tournament, Anne Quintino, and the longest putt contest on hole 17 was won by Les Flintham.
Above: (l r) Winners Grahame Mackenzie, Karen Mackenzie, Dimi Zletevski, & Paul Noir with Ladies Captain Karin Lutz
Reza Hygiene, and a meal cooked in your own home by Royal Golf Club Executive Chef Paul Gindra. The winning team members were presented with a Tipperary Crystal trophy provided by two of the lady captain winners, Karin Lutz & Stacey Thomas.
Beauty Salon. The money raised from this year s golf day will be presented 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. For further information about forthcoming events at the Royal Golf Club, please email golfevents@theroy algolfclub.com.
The competition was followed by a barbecue dinner and charity auction, held poolside in the Royal Country Club gardens. Around 100 guests attended and bid for prizes which included a TaylorMade driver signed by Darren Clarke, sponsored by
I would like to thank everyone for their fantastic support, commented Karin Lutz, the Club s 2016 Ladies Captain. We were delighted with the number of competitors taking part. Special thanks to the Ladies Charity Committee for all their hard work in organizing the event, to David Axtell for giving up his time to take some lovely photographs, to Reza Hygiene for sponsoring the top raffle prize and to all the other sponsors Coca-Cola, Red Bull, African & Eastern, The Derelicts, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, BANZ Group, NA CAILINI DIAS, Denise & Kevin Dunne, Swiss Food, Swissvoltaic and Charm
Give Golf a Go!
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Invest just BD 5 in the Royal Golf Club s Summer Passport and enjoy a massive range of discounts on golf, golf lessons, golf merchandise, food and beverages, country club day passes and more!
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40 Forum
Results: 1st Karen & Grahame Mackenzie, Paul Noir, & Dimi Zletevski (52.7 nett), 2nd Jenny & Andy McDonald, Sam Kobeissi & Ben Stimson (59.7), 3rd Leanne & Kevin Dismore, Mark Hay & Karan Trehan (60.7). Nearest the Pins: Ashley Price (hole 2), Jim Schultz (hole 7), Dena Wales (hole 12) & Jeff Schley (hole 16). Straightest Drive: Anne Quintino (hole 4). Longest Putt: Les Flintham (hole 17).
Take advantage of the Royal Golf Club s incredible Summer Six Pack deal, available for purchase now for use in June, July and August.
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Hotel & Leisure News
Accor Hotels launch employee training programme Accor Hotels Academie launched its 13 weeks Supervisory Development Programme (SDP) at Novotel Bahrain Al Dana Resort on 13 th April 2016. 7 participants from Accor hotels in Bahrain (Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure Grand and Ibis) are dreaming big for their future with Accor Hotels. At the opening ceremony, Mr. Puneet Dhawan, Vice President for Economic and Midscale Operations in the Gulf and Middle East Region congratulated the participants for being selected for this prestigious programme. He also spoke on the importance of continuous learning to ensure that all the associates deliver best service keeping up to the Accor Hotels value of guest passion. The participants
will be exposed to new business and managerial skills with specialisation
Swiss-Belhotel Seef wins Award Located in Seef, SwissBelhotel has recently become the winner of the Food and Travel Award for Best 4 star hotel in the GCC 2016. Offering great dining venues such as Swiss-Café restaurant with panoramic terrace on the 10th floor and B28 Bar Lounge with a spectacular 360° view, the hotel also offers tailored Outside Catering services. The Swiss-Café restaurant, with its comfortable atmosphere, wooden floors, modern fittings, a water feature providing a relaxing backdrop and a scenic outdoor terrace overlooking the city is open all summer long and even during the month of Ramadan. Swiss-Café offers excellent value for its daily Business Lunch buffet (Saturday till Friday) for only BD 7 net inclusive of soft drinks and mineral water. The buffet displays an exquisite selection of Starters, Mezzeh and salads, followed by soup and tasty main courses and a wide selection of homemade pastries. The highlight of the buffet is the mixed grill station, offering a variety of fresh meat and fish prepared by the Chefs à la minute and upon your liking. B28 Bar Lounge on the 28th floor offers a spectacular 360° view of the city in an intimate and trendy ambiance. Guests can enjoy the panoramic scenery from any seat inside the bar and delight their senses with live music entertainment six nights a week. Our knowledgeable and friendly service team and the international kitchen team led by Executive Chef Holger Lang will ensure that any of your dining experience will be memorable. 42 Forum
on Management basics, Operational Excellence and business sense.
Downtown Rotana Opens Teatro Downtown DowntownRotana, the newly-opened five-star hotel located right in the heart of Bahrain s capital, recently launched its new signature outlet Teatro Downtown . Teatro Downtown takes centre stage as the hotel s premiere restaurant venue offering an East-meetsWest concept cuisine, embraced by warm design motifs and ultra-chic interiors. This is the third Teatro in the region to be opened by the Rotana following the chain s tremendous success in Dubai and Abu Dhabi reflected in the bagging of numerous awards over the years, the most recent being Best International Restaurant 2015 at the TimeOut Restaurant Awards. The quality and diversity of Bahrain s gastronomic offerings is one of the country s main attractions; the Kingdom has a lot to offer in terms of variety, creativity and innovation in international cuisines, which makes it a magnet for food lovers, and there has been a surge in investment from both the private and public sector in enhancing Bahrain s position as a hub of culinary excellence in the region , explained Lilian Roger, General Manager of Downtown Rotana. Teatro Downtown is the group s prized gem; the restaurant has an established reputation in the region for its ambience, its gourmet fusion menu and of course the exceptional service; we are glad to be bringing this concept to the heart of Manama and throwing a bit of epicurean spotlight on this part of town which is increasingly becoming an attractive destination for quality dining.
Crowne Plaza Bahrain s outstanding employees are honoured on Labour Day More than 360 of Bahrain s outstanding employees were honoured on Labour Day for their outstanding achievements over the past year of which 218 workers were awarded at the GFBTU event at the Crowne Plaza. Among them were four of Crowne Plaza s outstanding employees in the following category: Bahrain Labour Union Free Federation Award:
Crowne Plaza Hotel announces a promotion Crowne Plaza Hotel Bahrain is pleased to announce the promotion of Ebrahim Kooheji to the position of Hotel Manager with effect from April 2016. Ebrahim has three decades of operations and hotel management experience with leading brands such as Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, Bahrain and brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge about the hotel. With great career progression from the position of Kitchen Steward to Hotel Manager today, he is an incredible example
of a strong leadership with great results. The appointment reflects the hotel s commitment to provide our associates with rewarding career development opportunities and emphasise our belief in nurturing home-grown talent to contribute towards the growth of Bahrain s hospitality industry. We warmly welcome Ebrahim to our leadership team and look forward to working with him to enhance the performance of Crowne Plaza Bahrain and to solidify its reputations as one of the leading hotels in Bahrain.
Yusuf Ahmed Ali Mohamed Uniform Services Rashed Abdulla Murad Purchasing
Above: Ellaine Siruelo, HR Manager, Yusuf Ahmed Ali Mohamed, Rashed Abdulla Murad and Ebrahim Kooheji
General Federation Trade Union Award: Eyad Al Kamel Sales & Marketing Abdul Majeed Ghuloom Human Resources Gilles Nicolas, the General Manager said The award is a source of great pride to our hotel, and shows our dedication to creating the best possible environment for employees so that we in turn can provide the highest level of service to our clients. The event, organised by the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions at the Crowne Plaza Bahrain, was held under the patronage of Labour Minister Jameel Humaidan with Al Hawaj chairman and managing director Jawad Al Hawaj as guest of honour. Forum 43
Bahrain News
Almoayed Wilhelmsen Ltd. attend 1st GCC Logistics Conference 2016. AWL recently participated in the 1st GCC Logistics Conference that took place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on 30th & 31st of March 2016. The event was attended by various top national and international managers and stakeholders of well-known industrial and commercial enterprises, logistics service providers, representatives of various ministries, including the education sector. The conference featured a combination of speeches, presentations and panel discussions, highlighting the
importance of Transport and Logistics in the Kingdom of Bahrain, with a focus on achievements, challenges, opportunities and future developments.
FROM6, Marketing Communications Agency invests in new talent. Bahrain based integrated marketing communications agency FROM6 have welcomed three new individuals to their team following a period of rapid growth. Matt Wardle, Julia Rushton, and Sarah McDonald have brought with them a wealth of local, regional and international experience to FROM6 in a number of specialised fields.
and Retail specialists Milligan RRI.
Pennie Nixon, Managing Director at FROM6, said: Building the right team is an integral part of growing and improving our services. With these new additions we ensure we stay nimble in a dynamic industry.
There are some great brands working with us at FROM6 and some huge projects coming up; it s good to join a strong team that is always looking to grow and develop along with their clients, said Matt Wardle.
Matt Wardle, joins the team as Creative Director and will head up the Design Studio at FROM6. He is an awardwinning creative himself with over 15 years of industry experience. Being naturally entrepreneurial, Matt has owned a successful boutique agency in the UK before moving out to the GCC. He worked with many high calibre brands including EMAAR, GlaxoSmithKline, NHS, McLaren Automotive,
Julia Rushton s career in communications and advertising started at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising in London in the 90s, this gave her an excellent foundation for her career that now spans over 20 years. She has worked with clients across several industry sectors including retail, finance, telecom and governmental in the UK, Kuwait and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Her experiences also lie with
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large global brands such as Mars Confectionery, British Airways, Mercedes Benz, MTC Kuwait and Tamkeen to name but a few. FROM6 have a refreshing outlook and approach to their work, with my background hopefully I can add to this and continue to keep their momentum going said Julia Rushton. At FROM6 Julia is responsible for the planning and strategic direction of all accounts and overall supervision and direction of the Account Management Team. She will look to ensure high standards are kept throughout all that the Client Service Team produce and deliver. Sarah McDonald started her career as part of the founding
team at M&C Saatchi Abel. She worked for over 5 years as the lead digital suit on brands within South Africa, Nigeria & the UK. Thereafter, she joined a Digital Marketing consultancy, Lumen, where she led the Client Service and Consulting team. Her main focus was developing Digital Transformation and Digital Marketing strategies for Clients within Financial Service, FMCG and Retail sectors. I am new to Bahrain and from what I can see the opportunities are endless, I m excited to see how much we can continue to develop the brands that are working with us. said Sarah McDonald. Sarah joins FROM6 as the Digital Marketing Manager, heading up the Agencies Digital sector and managing the strategy development, implementation and optimisation of all Digital output. With new flourishes to the team it opens up exciting new avenues for the agency and looks set to be a great year ahead for FROM6 and their clientele.
Celebrity Kitchens launch in Bahrain
Unisono Becomes First Middle Eastern Branding Agency in Global Hall of Fame Unisono has been inaugurated into the REBRAND 100 Hall of Fame, making it the first Middle Eastern agency to be recognised and only one of 25 globally.
Elames, part of the Behzad Group are pleased to announce that they are now the exclusive dealers for Siematic kitchens of Germany. They will mark the relaunch of the iconic brand in Bahrain with the opening of a new showroom display of live Siematic kitchens also featuring Sub Zero Wolf cooking and cooling appliances from the USA. Siematic and Subzero Wolf work in close partnership around the world
but particularly in the US and Europe where they are the defacto kitchen brands used for the beautiful homes of many successful business people and celebrities. The exclusive Bahrain Siematic and Subzero Wolf showroom is located in Sitra where you can see the latest in cutting edge design trends and don t forget to bring your project plans for a free design.
AECOM cleans up for Earth Day
The inauguration is an immense achievement for any branding agency, underscoring the firm s achievements and awards over the last 5 years. Unisono won REBRAND 100 7 times in this period for household brand names such as GFH, BFC, Cityscape, ADIB and Naseej. In the most recent awards, announced last month, the agency picked up two awards for its strategic rebranding of regional financial group GFH and the utility services firm, Enerji. The Hall of Fame is comprised of just 25 of the most highly awarded branding agencies worldwide, with many leading firms from the US, UK, Canada and Australia listed alongside Unisono. Commenting on the win Anaezi Modu. CEO of REBRAND 100 stated that to get into the Hall of Fame is a remarkable achievement, to do it within 5 years is truly amazing .
On 22 April, AECOM employees and their families volunteered their time to clean up a beach in Karbabad on the northern coast of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The activity was arranged by AECOM s offices in Bahrain to mark Earth Day. More than 30 sacks of rubbish and various other articles such as old carpets were removed from the beach during the event. The initiative was supported by the Manama Municipality whose representatives joined in the clean-up effort and provided necessary equipment. Selma Benbouzid, Bahrain business development executive, AECOM, comments: AECOM is committed to making the world a better place and through voluntary activities such as this beach clean-up we enhance local communities and benefit the natural environment. I was delighted by the turnout from senior management through all disciplines our employees and their families embraced the activity and the beach was left much cleaner than when we arrived.
Liam Farrell, Unisono s Executive Creative Director commented, this is a brilliant achievement for the agency and has projected Bahrain as a strong player in the international branding arena , adding We are delighted that work done by regional teams, for regional clients has been acknowledged and consistently awarded for its excellence by globallyrecognized experts. The inauguration into the REBRAND 100 Hall of Fame is just one of over 16 accolades won by the firm in 2015 alone. In the past year, the agency won the coveted Jury s Selection as the Best Overall Brand Identity at the 2015 Transform Awards for its work rebranding Batelco. The firm also picked up 3 Golds, to add to its collection of awards and its work has been featured in numerous books including Design & Design Annuals and Logo Talk3. Forum 45
Bahrain News
Almoayed Wilhelmsen Ltd. celebrated International Women s Day
Female employees of Almoayed Wilhelmsen Ltd. celebrated International Women s Day on 08th March 2016, by giving a gift, as a token of appreciation and to reiterate value of women and their contribution to the Company s growth and continued success.
G4S Bahrain awarded with ISO and OHSAS certifications
Impact Estate launches new management platform for landlords The new property management solution allows Managers and Owners of residential and commercial properties with one touch of a button to take complete control of every aspect of their business, including the rent, vacancy and maintenance cycles. It allows landlords to see the status of the property including occupancy, rental collection, ongoing maintenance tasks and financial reports of income and expenses online or through the mobile application. Moreover, it provides tenants with a hassle-free platform to submit maintenance inquiries, check payment status and access the lease-related documents. Today Impact Estate offers mobilefriendly services that could be used on the go. With the application accessible on tablets, phones or desktop computers Property Managers, Tenants and Property Owners can efficiently interact with each other without leaving their houses and offices.
G4S Secure Solutions Bahrain W.L.L achieved the ISO 9001:2008 and BS OHSAS 18001:2007 certifications for Quality, Health and Safety Management, certified by TUV Middle East, a member of TUV Nord Group. G4S initially received the ISO 9001 certification in 2013 which was valid for three years and was re-certified for maintaining and complying with international standards and best practices whilst continuously improving the quality of its manned security, cash solutions and electronic security systems services, ensuring total customer satisfaction. G4S is committed to achieving the highest performance in quality and occupational health and safety which aims to create and maintain a safe and healthy working environment for all its employees. Atanu Sanyal, Managing Director of G4S Bahrain along with members of management team received the certificates from Manoj Shetty, Deputy Vice President and Godly George, Country-in-Charge of TUV Middle East. 46 Forum
Impact Estate is the first company in the region to implement this innovative Property Management Platform designed to create a new convenient communication environment for all parties involved in the property management process including Tenants, Property Owners and Property Manager. Created with customers in focus the new Property Management System in one more step to take the Property Management Services in Bahrain to an advanced international level. Savio Fernandez, Head of Property Management Department says: The new service allows us to monitor all transaction as well as to interact with tenants and property owners on line at any time of the day and in any part of the world. We believe that the new service will allow Impact Estate to create an unprecedented level of customer service in the region.
Al Hamdan Consulting Office (HCO) to open Bahrain Office.
The architectural and engineering consultancy specialist Al Hamdan Consulting Office (HCO) will be opening a new office in Bahrain as part of a company strategy to strengthen its operations in the GCC. The multi-disciplinary architectural and engineering consultancy which specialises in services to leading private, industrial and commercial sectors said its office will have capacity for several architects and engineers enabling it to expand its operations into the Bahrain construction market. Al Hamdan said that it had identified the Kingdoms of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain as key areas of strategic focus through 2016 and beyond, with particular focus on growing its operations in Bahrain. The company, which employs over 200 people and already operates in Saudi Arabia through an office in Al Khobar is looking forward to growing its project scope through the office establishment in Bahrain. HCO will be celebrating the fact that it has been operating in Saudi Arabia for 35 years this year, and is committed to sustaining an active presence in the region, where they have recently been successful in winning a number of contract awards.
Bahrain British Business Forum s Social Golf Day at the Royal Golf Club Bahrain
The Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF) recently organised a corporate social golf day at the Royal Golf Club Bahrain. The event also celebrated the 200th anniversary of British Bahraini relationship and was attended by the British Ambassador to Bahrain, H.E. Simon Martin CMG, and Timothy Pounds, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the United States of America. More than 100 players made up of BBBF members and their guests took part in the event which was played in the Texas Scramble format. The winning team pictured above, Sultans of Swing , comprised of Matthew Deakin, Ted Hillman, Aracelli Deakin and Gabriella Deakin, who won a prize sponsored by Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover. The golf day was organised in partnership with title partners Euro Motors, Etihad Airways, AXA Insurance and Gulf Brands International. The sponsors offered a number of prizes to the contestants with Euro Motors offering a Hole in One car, an exquisite Jaguar XE on the 16th green. Etihad Airways offered a business class return ticket to UK as the main prize for the raffle draw between all participants. The lucky winner was Ben Johnson. Other raffle sponsors included the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay and Gulf Hotel. Following the day of games a prize giving ceremony and dinner was held at the Royal Golf Club. More pictures overleaf.
These include the Sipchem Technology & Creativity Exchange STCE, (pictured above) located in DTV, KFUPM, Al Khobar, GE Oil & Gas Pressure Control Facility, GE s largest advanced manufacturing facility in the region and Sahara. The Middle East as a whole, is a growing part of HCO s business with several new prestigious projects recently awarded throughout the region, HCO hope the new office in Bahrain will allow us to continue to grow and to serve the growing and evolving needs of our clients for many decades to come said the General Manager, Simon Baines. Forum 47
Sports News
by Andy Price
So after 18 months on the island and attending at least 4 BBBF functions and having read all of the BBBF magazines there is only one clear deduction. The magazine needs a sports page! You can t but help noticing if you live on this island that a certain element of the population is sports mad and specifically into triathlons. Any trip to the south at a weekend will mean passing a large number of individuals out on bikes and in all conditions. Why? Well a lot is down to the example set by HH Sh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa but also to the large number of expats who want a sport to focus on; and what s not to like about triathlon? When I first arrived in Bahrain I was supposed to be noticed as the new UK Defence Attache but that lasted just a few days when I became more well known for being the father of 2 extraordinary kids, Jamie and Kizzy Price, both of whom I have coached for the last 10 years and who represented GB at running and swimming before they arrived in Bahrain. As a coach I have UK National qualifications in Running and Swimming and recently I have started my advanced cycling coaching award; it never occurred to me to get involved in triathlon until my kids showed an interest.
that run once a week with them. Athletics meant a trip to see the Bahrain Athletics Association and we now have free access to their National track in Isa Town. More recently I have begun to work / coach the Bahrain Triathlon Club and next season we will be developing our own training programme leading up to the Bahrain Ironman on 10th December 2016. It will focus on all abilities and outline training programmes for experienced triathletes, those who have a reasonable level of fitness and those who want to try their first taste of 1.9KM swim, 90KM Bike, and 21KM run. If you can t do all 3 then do what many companies do and enter a team and do the event as a relay. The hardest step is the first one and after that well . Ok so it doesn t get any easier but the sense of achievement is incredible. Set yourselves the challenge. If the Ironman is too far then Bahrain will host the first ever National Sprint Championships on the 21 October 2016 (750 swim, 20KM bike and 5KM run). As for my kids, well next year we will try and win all 4 national titles, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Kuwait and also (we hope) represent Bahrain at first the Arab championships and if good enough at the Worlds. To do this they need sponsorship. So if anyone knows of a bike company looking to sponsor talent or a airline looking to help out with regional travel it will be gratefully received and your company will get a great deal of free publicity through the year. Next edition will see a few tips for training and a sports report on how the triathlons are going. Now back to my day job of Defence Attache!!
Jamie, now 17, runs for the Bahrain Road Runners, competes for the Al Hala Sports club and represents the Bahrain Triathlon Club. This year he has won triathlons in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and last weekend the Kuwait U19 Championship. He also won the Bahrain National Athletics titles at Cross Country, 1500M and 3KM. Kizzy, just turned 16, won in Dubai, Bahrain and like her brother the Kuwait title. She also came 3rd in the U21 Female event at the International Triathlon Union World Tour event in Abu Dhabi, not bad as she was 15 at the time. Despite being a sport focused island, training was not that easy to find. We have had to set up the first Adult Swimming Club that meets now at St Christopher s Junior school twice a week as well as gaining permission from the Bahrain Road Runners to allow youngsters to train, and I can t begin to tell you how welcoming they have all been to the 10 or so kids 50 Forum
Back down to earth
And Finally
Astronaut Tim Peake has returned to Earth after 6 months at the International Space Station.
Tim is the eighth ESA astronaut to complete a long-duration mission in space.
Tim landed safely with NASA astronaut Tim Kopra and Russian Soyuz commander Yuri Malenchenko after their three hour ride in the Soyuz capsule. The ISS is a unique scientific research facility, allowing Tim and his crewmates to work on experiments that cannot be done anywhere on Earth. These experiments include physiology, biology, materials science, solar physics, radiation physics and technology demonstrations. Some of these experiments are intended to improve our understanding of fundamental science and some will demonstrate new applications of science and technology – but all will help to enhance the quality of life here on Earth or help us in the next stages of human exploration of the solar system.
Is this the ultimate selfie?
In the first month after his launch on 15 December 2015, Tim conducted a spacewalk. He also drove a rover across a . simulated Mars terrain from space and helped to dock two spacecraft. Tim took part in numerous experiments for ESA and international partners. Highlights include using the Space Station airlock to study Tim’s lungs, monitoring his sleeping patterns to learn how humans adapt to life without normal daylight, and recording how many calories he consumed to prepare for missions further from Earth.
Many experiments ran continuously while Tim and his crewmates were maintaining the weightless laboratory
The Solar facility on Europe’s Columbus laboratory module continues to monitor our Sun after eight years of continuous observations. Another facility is tracking ships as the Space Station flies overhead. Aside from his maintenance and science duties, Tim also enthralled the world via social media and ran a marathon in space. The next ESA astronaut to travel to the Station will be Thomas Pesquet of French nationality, scheduled for launch in November.
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He will be the third after Alexander Gerst and Andreas Mogensen to fly directly to ESA’s astromaut home base in Cologne, Germany, for medical checks and for researchers to collect more data on how Tim’s body and mind have adapted to living in space.
Once back to full health, Tim will embark on a tour of Britain in a bid to recreate the ‘Apollo Effect’ of the 1969 Moon landings, and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. The six monthm mission has already been hailed an unqualified success with around 24 million people watching the launch, and at least one million school children taking part in 30 different space-inspired projects, by far the biggest education programme ever attempted by the European Space Agency & UK Space Agency
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