FROM THE CHAIR
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resentations of ArgieBargie have been made to Jeremy Mann (at the Royal Wedding Event at the British Embassy) and Christopher Konstan (at the initial Board Meeting in April 2011). Jeremy Mann has left Saudi Arabia for distant shores in the Asia/Pacific Region after five years of being the Head of the Safety & Security Special Interest Group. Both were in recognition for their outstanding service to the RGBB, as well as to acknowledge their dedication, hard work and commitment. Since the initial Board Meeting; I am pleased to say Chris has been re-appointed as RGBB Treasurer! Nicola Quick RGBB Chair
I am happy to welcome as the Head of the Aviation Special Interest Group, Sean Ellis; Head of the Safety & Security Special Interest Group is John Sim; and finally, Phillip Taylor has been re-appointed into his role as Head of the Healthcare Services Special Interest Groups. Articles from the Heads of the SIGs can be found in this issue. We held a successful New Members’ Evening on Saturday 21 May 2011, which was a success; with over 55 new members attending. I am delighted to say that Her Majesty’s Ambassador, Sir Tom Phillips and Chris Innes-Hopkins, Director, UK Trade & Investment at the British Embassy both attended. Chris introduced himself as well as the UKTI Team and mentioned the new UKTI Strategy; what this means for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and outlined a few ideas on how the British Embassy and RGBB can best work together. Our RGBB 30th Anniversary Summer Ball was held on Thursday 02 June 2011. Although we have been unable to unearth any scientific, DNA or physical evidence with regard to our 30th Anniversary, we are confident with the collective historic memory of past Board Members, a couple of whom attended the RGBB Ball, confirm that the RGBB was formed 30 years ago! I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to my Deputy Chairman, Gary Richardson and his Wife, Amanda, as well as the RGBB Board for their efforts and to thank all those who have contributed in facilitating the success of the Summer Ball. Our ‘Wonder Woman’ RGBB Secretary Jane Brierley was also presented with an ArgieBargie at the RGBB Summer Ball, after four years of exceptional service. Jane will be sorely missed not only by the RGBB Board but by the RGBB Membership. I would like to bring you up-to-date with some RGBB issues. Firstly, future of the RGBB lies in continuing to forge even stronger relationships with the
Above: Chris gets his Argie in the UK and Right: Jim picks his up in Riyadh
Contents From the Chair ..........................1 2011-12 RGBB Board ...............2 BBA Notes.................................5 BBG Notes ................................7 Special Briefing Rolls-Royce ...12 SIG Aviation ............................11 Site Visit KKIA .........................12 Special Briefing nas.................14 SIG Healthcare........................16 A farewell Ode.........................17 SIG Security ............................18 Summer Ball............................20 RGBB Golf April medal............23 Golf at Riyadh Green...............24 Captains Awards Dinner..........26 RGBB Sports...........................29 Middle East Association ..........29 Culinary Corner .......................30 Royal Naval Association..........33 Sudoku ....................................33 Red Hot Chilli Pipers ...............35 Feature Article HMRC rules.............................36 ICING a few photos .................38 Communications & the RGBB .39 Run Together Riyadh ..............40 Welcome new members..........40
Advertisers Our thanks to the following advertisers. Without their support we could not publish. Please give them yours Arabian Homes..........................6 AlKhozama Hotel.......................3 AMEX ......................................22 AXA ..........................................5 BA.................. Inside Back Cover BAE Systems ..........................10 BMI ............... Inside Front Cover British School Riyadh ..............32 InterContinental Hotel..............31 Noble Smile Dental Centre........4 SABB ..........Outside Back Cover SESE.......................................28 Sheraton Hotel ........................16 RGBB News 1
The RGBB 2011-2012 Board
The RGBB Secretary, Jane Brierley can be contacted on Tel: 00966 1 488 00 77 ext. 2263 on Saturdays or secretary@rgbb.org
Nicola Quick
RGBB Chair nicola.quick@talk21.com
Gary Richardson Deputy Chairman & Sports richardsonksa@hotmail.co.uk
Chris Konstan
Marcel Luckman
Treasurer chriskonstan@aol.com
Special Briefings marcel.luckman@riyadbank.com
Peter Hall
Jane Blackledge
Christopher Innes-Hopkins
Communications peter.a.hall@me.com
Events janeblackledge@yahoo.co.uk
Embassy Representative chris.innes-hopkins@fco.gov.uk
British Embassy and UKTI teams. The Board Members are committed to achieving a close and transparent working relationship with them both - one that will not only serve the best interests of UK business in Saudi Arabia, but also one that will engage the members in ongoing and successful business opportunities with the UK. We are also actively seeking out avenues that will allow the RGBB to have a significant impact in the local business community by being a conduit for British companies and business people to develop relationships in Saudi Arabia, this will encompass UK companies whose employees are not necessarily British Nationals. The Middle East Association’s 50th Anniversary publication, ‘Middle East Association: 50 Years’, which is published by Newsdesk Communications, analyses key trends and developments in the MENA region
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Moaz Al Sibaai
Special Interest Groups sibaai@yahoo.com
across all markets and sectors and evaluates the development of the UK’s trade and investments links with the region as well as the role of the Association. It includes forewords from HRH The Duke of York and Lord Green as well as contributions from many of the Arab ambassadors and British Ambassadors to the MENA region. The MEA’s ‘Opportunity Arabia’ Event will be held on Thursday 22 September 2011 in London and it is the RGBB’s turn to present on behalf of the BBA/BBG and RGBB at that event. Please contact me directly on nicola.quick@talk21.com if there is anything you wish me to address to the Board, as I would appreciate all Members views and feedback on what the future should hold in all areas of the RGBB, both business and social. Finally, may I wish you all a very happy and peaceful Summer break and I look forward to seeing you all at a future RGBB Event!
BBA
Notes from the Eastern Chair
Geoff Fennah MBE Chairman, British Business Association Eastern Province
Since my last notes, our neighbours in Bahrain have been through significant turmoil and I am pleased to see that life is now, hopefully, starting to settle back to normality. Unfortunately, many business sectors were adversely affected and hopefully the road to full economic recovery is short. Thankfully, Eastern Province has been largely unaffected by the problems experienced in Bahrain and around the region with the business world continuing to be very busy with the development of Jubail 2 and Ras Azour continuing unabated. Our AGM was held in late April and saw several changes to the committee. Sadly, we bid farewell to our dynamic duo, Ewen (Membership and IT guru) and Pamela Baxter (BBA Secretary) who decided to return to UK and live in the cold! On a positive note, Gavin Ames, a previous committee stalwart returned to the fold to take over the membership vacancy. We also said goodbye to Terri Nichol (Events) who was replaced by Geraint Isitt who transferred across from our editorial team. Good luck to Ewen, Pamela and Terri as they move on to pastures new and welcome back to Gavin. In February, it was a pleasure to welcome the UK Energy Minister, Charles Hendry to Eastern Province where we were able to show him first-hand the scale of growth being experienced in Jubail as well as an overview of the business climate and opportunities in the province. We also had the opportunity
to welcome Chris Innes-Hopkins, the new Director of Trade and Industry from the British Embassy, Riyadh to Eastern Province and look forward to him being a frequent visitor in the future. Our regular monthly dinners and the visiting trade missions from South West, Invest Northern Ireland, Energy Industries Council, Middle East Association have ensured a busy first six months of 2011. On the social scene, we are always looking for something new and Prince William and Kate duly provided a special opportunity with the Royal Wedding on 29th April. A well attended, family oriented garden party provided a most enjoyable afternoon with activities to entertain all ages, including a big screen so the girls could get a good look at the bride and her dress. A great day was had by all. Once again, a big thanks to David and Carl Harries for their support of this event. As we are now moving into the vacation period let me wish you all “happy holidays” and I hope you enjoy your well earned breaks away from the searing heat of Saudi Arabia. If you have any other ideas or suggestions for the BBA or need to contact us then feel free to call me directly, send an e-mail to our Secretary at bbakhobar@atheer.net.sa or via the website Geoff Fennah MBE Chairman, EPBBA
Ras Asour Ras Al-Zour (Ras Al Zawar, Ras Az zawr, Ras Azoor, Ras Azzour) is a town and port currently under development on the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia 60 km north of Jubail. It is also known under its project name of “Minerals Industrial City” The new city, RAZMIC (Ras Al Zawr Mineral Industrial City), is planned to exploit the mineral deposites of phosphate and bauxite found within Saudi Arabia. Therefore a di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) plant will be built, an aluminium smelter, an ammonia plant, an alumina refinery and facilities to produce phosphoric and sulphuric acid. Power will be supplied by a new combined 2,350 MW power station and desalination plant.
Organisation to the bauxite mines at Zabirah with a new railway line branch of the North-South Project. Later the line will be extended to meet the line from Riyadh via Buraidah to Haditha at the so called Zubairah Junction. As part of the Saudi Landbridge Project another line will connect the new port to Jubail and to Dammam. Thus Ras Al-Zour will be connected to the bauxite mine near Zabirah, the phosphate deposits near Jalamid and the agricultural center at Al-Basyata as well as to the oil processing facilities via the Jubail line. The proposed port is thought to become a major export hub for aluminium products and ammonium phosphate.
The official ground breaking for the aluminium project by the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (MA’ADEN) and Alcoa was on 19 June 2010. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2014. Among other projects a residential village for the MAADEN employees was built with 500 housing units. Ras Al-Zour will be linked by the Saudi Railways RGBB News 5
BBG
Notes from the BBG in Jeddah
Edward Ogilvie BBG Jeddah Chairman
Greetings from the British Business Group in Jeddah – Saudi Arabia’s first and oldest business group! Summer is approaching and already the temperatures in Jeddah (and elsewhere in the Kingdom) are steadily rising, providing us with a foretaste of what is soon to come. For those of us who have been here for a number of years, we should be used to it by now, but somehow each year around this time one wishes that the cooler temperatures (especially in the evenings) will last for just another few more weeks. But no, it’s not to be! Thoughts also inevitably stray from business activities to the prospect of summer vacations and travel plans. For those of you who will be flying out of the Kingdom in the coming weeks, safe travels and all good wishes to you and your families for a happy and relaxing time wherever you may be in the world. Despite the onset of summer, the Committee of the BBG is always aware that only a percentage of our members are out of Kingdom at any one time so thought has always to be given to planning for future events and activities. We work hard to try to ensure a balanced programme throughout the year and thus far, I reckon, we have been reasonably successful. For example, at our Speaker Meeting in April, one of our own BBG members gave us a presentation on the Jabal Sayid gold & copper mine, representing his company Bariq Mining (the first privately owned company to open a mine in Saudi Arabia). This proved to be a fascinating topic as regards an insight into the geology of this country and the enormous potential for mining and mineral exploration within the Arabian Shield. In May, we welcomed the new Director of UK Trade & Investment
(UKTI), Chris Innes-Hopkins. In a stimulating presentation, Chris introduced the new strategy for UKTI and the FCO Charter for Business, an exciting step forward as UKTI becomes more entrepreneurial while also focusing on building strategic relationships, encouraging UK companies to export abroad and creating more opportunities for foreign companies to invest in the UK. The BBG very much looks forward to playing an important role in this new approach, and continuing to strengthen our business relationships with the UKTI team and the British Consulate-General in Jeddah in this regard. If you are to be passing through Jeddah on business and want to know if there are any BBG activities at the time, do check out our website www.bbg-jed.org for details of forthcoming events or contact BBG Secretary Anita Wright at bbg.office@bbg-jed.org. We are always happy to meet up and network with members of the other business groups in the Kingdom. We would also welcome hearing from you if your business brings you frequently to Jeddah and if you want to consider joining the BBG. Members transferring from one British business group in Saudi Arabia to the BBG in Jeddah are not required to pay the membership fee for the remainder of the year (although the one-time joining fee of SR200 will still be payable). More details, if you require them, from our BBG Secretary or alternatively from BBG Membership Secretary Sam Thanvi at bbg.membership@bbg-jed.org. Kind regards and all good wishes – and have a happy summer! Edward Ogilvie BBG Chairman bbg.chairman@bbg-jed.org
Galloping for a great cause Writing in the Arab News in May, Roger Harrison reported that Sir Tom Philips and Lady Anne Philips presented awards for committed service to the volunteers and staff at the annual Open Skies “Thank You” gathering at Al-Aseel Equestrian Center in Jeddah. The guests were given a short demonstration by two children who have, over their years of attending the group, improved their motor skills and acuity of the techniques used during therapy enormously.
Founder and organser of Open Skies, Judy Houry thanked the volunteers, which include the UK Consul General Kate Rudd who attended the celebration, and baccalaureate students from the British International School in Jeddah, for their support. Photo by Ben Harrison
Sir Tom’s reaction to his first visit to the group’s activities was one of delight. “It’s wonderful, superb! Seeing the two children on the horses, the volunteers and the incredible support network and the number of people helping so generously with their time is a very moving experience.” He added that it was not simply a British community, but a “very moving demonstration of whole community support.” The volunteer group consists of helpers drawn from more than 10 nationalities. RGBB News 7
Space restrictions in our previous edition did not allow us to cover the Special Briefing given at the end of 2010. So with apologies to Rolls-Royce who generously sponsored the event, herewith a belated report on the evening.
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aul Rawson, who delivered the briefing, served 36 years in the Royal Air Force as an Engineer Officer and retired in 2007 having reached Air Vice-Marshal rank. From 2004 to 2005, Paul was the senior officer on UK Ministry of Defence team in Kingdom representing UK Government’s interests on the then Al Yamamah programme. In 2007, Paul retired from the Air Force and joined Rolls-Royce as their Riyadh-based Regional Director; and, in 2009, Paul was appointed Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Saudi Arabia Ltd. As such, Paul is the senior Company representative in Saudi Arabia and has a strategic-level responsibility for RollsRoyce’s interests. He also has responsibility for fronting the Company interface with Royal Saudi Air Force as well as the delivery of on-shore Rolls-Royce Saudi Arabia Ltd contracts supporting this customer. Rolls-Royce is a global business providing integrated power systems for use on land, at sea and in the air. The Group has a balanced business portfolio with leading market positions in the civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy sectors. Rolls-Royce’s customer base comprises more than 600 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 2,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in nearly 120 countries,
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with an installed base of 54,000 gas turbines. The Company employs over 38,000 skilled people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in 50 countries. This briefing provided an overview of Rolls-Royce’s business and a feel for its expanding global footprint and product range. It also covered the Company’s existing operations in Saudi Arabia as well as its future plans and aspirations. In 2009, Rolls-Royce invested £864 million on research and development, two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental aspects of its products, in particular the reduction of emissions. Such an investment, which makes use of a widely dispersed group of University Technology Centres, is essential to maintain product competitiveness. The Group also has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment, and to further developing employee skills. Civil Aerospace Rolls-Royce has successfully developed its Civil Aerospace business on the broad portfolio of products it has to offer. Trent engines power the latest generations of widebody aircraft; over 1,400 Trent engines have been delivered, with a further order book approaching 1000 engines. The Airbus A380 made its airline debut on 26th October 2007, powered by the Trent 900. The Trent 1000 is the launch engine for all variants of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, due to enter into service in 2008 and the Trent XWB has secured a position on the Airbus
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A350 XWB Family, available for deliveries from mid-2013. Rolls-Royce is a senior shareholder in International Aero Engines which produces the V2500 engine for the Airbus A320 - more than 1,100 aircraft, representing 56 per cent of the market, are powered by the V2500. In the regional aircraft business, Rolls-Royce engines power a wide variety of aircraft types. Defence Aerospace Rolls-Royce engines power aircraft in all of the major military aviation market sectors, from military transport aircraft and helicopters, to trainers, combat aircraft and unmanned air vehicles. The Royal Saudi Air Force operates a wide range of aircraft types powered by Rolls-Royce products – or those in which it is a partner – including the Hawk, Tornado, Hercules and Typhoon aircraft. Looking to the future, Rolls-Royce plays a part in the A400M transporter and Joint Strike Fighter programmes. Marine With a primary focus on power, propulsion and motion control solutions, Rolls-Royce has equipment installed on 30,000 vessels operating around the world. Four business units address specific market segments - Merchant, Naval, Offshore and Submarines. Rolls-Royce has become the pioneer of many important marine technologies that include; aero derivative marine gas turbines, controllable pitch propellers and waterjets. And the Company offers a growing range of main propulsion engines comprising marine gas turbines, diesels and gas engines that comply with today’s demanding maritime standards.
Energy Rolls-Royce also utilizes its gas turbine technology in the energy market for gas compression and oil pumping duties both on and offshore. Aerospace technology is particularly relevant in the market for distributed power; Rolls-Royce has a growing position in this market. The family of Rolls-Royce gas turbine generating sets offers a power plant range for today’s distributed generation environment, from 4MW to the Trent delivering up to 64MW, and reciprocating gas engine generating sets from 2.0 to 8.5MW. Nuclear Energy For some 50 years, Rolls-Royce has been helping Naval and commercial utility customers to maximize plant operation and safely extend plant lifetimes. The Company’s focus is on providing utility customers with integrated, long-term support services across the reactor lifecycle, covering: safety, licensing and environmental activities; component design, manufacture and supply; in-service support and plant life extension; as well as nuclear instrumentation, control and safety systems. Rolls-Royce’s extensive nuclear certified supply chain expertise is also able to meet the growing needs of customers in today’s global nuclear market.
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AVIATION SIG
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guess my interest in aviation became official when I sauntered through the gates of the School of Recruit Training at RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire on Tuesday 23rd March 1983, aged 16 years and 11 months old; “A8152353 Aircraftsman Sean Ellis reporting for duty, Sarge!” Needless to Sean Ellis say, my sauntering and over-familiarity SIG Chair with authority came to an abrupt halt Aviaition at that point (and several other painful junctures over the following years), as I became immersed in the vast and exciting field of aviation. Fear not; I don’t intend for my introduction as Chairman of the RGBB Aviation Special Interest Group (SIG) to be a stroll down memory lane, but in establishing my credentials for the role, I do want to give you a feeling of what I hope to bring to the party and where I would like to take the excellent work initiated by my predecessor, Mr Paul Dugan. But first a quick resume: RAF apprentice (Air Communications / Air Radar), avionics technician (Nimrods), trainee RAF pilot (Jet Provosts), engineering officer (Harriers, Hawks, Weapons and joint logistics), staff officer (personnel manager and strategic change programmes), military advisor (to the RSAF), private pilot (powered and glider), sky-diver and frequent commercial flyer (BMI Gold Card). I love aviation!!! Now firmly established in the private sector, it is my intent to pass on at least a little of this passion to those of you with an interest in the people, processes and technology that make aviation one of the most dynamic and exciting fields
Flying Snippets From the beginnings of time man has been obsessed with flying and every depiction of future transport since Buck Rogers includes a jet pack. The Martin Jetpack positions itself as the planet’s first practical jet pack. Martin’s version doesn’t look practical: he appears to have welded two enormous leaf blowers together and thrown on a harness. Theoretically, the Martin Jetpack could take its operator up 8,000 ft. Since it holds only 30 minutes’ worth of fuel, though, you won’t want to linger. The Jetpack will sell for about $100,000; field tests start in 2011.
of design, engineering, sport, transportation and military power on the planet. This SIG should appeal to aviation professionals, enthusiasts and ‘wannabees’ alike, whether they want to fix, fly, build, watch, model, support, jump out of or simply be around one of man’s greatest inventions. In terms of what we do and how we go about it, however, I will be looking to the membership to advise on the sorts of activities they would wish to participate in. I will be in direct contact with SIG members to gauge their enthusiasm and areas of interest, but in the meantime invite suggestions / requests on what you want from the SIG to the e-mail address below. Personally, I want to see an expansion in the opportunities for private aviation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which, amongst other things, would foster a genuine interest within the Nation’s youth, from which true talent could be spotted, nurtured and grown into the academic institutions, airlines and industries of this country. Not only is this a strategic aim of the Saudi Arabian Government, but it is also in the interests of British business, which still leads the world in many aspects of aviation. Parochially and perhaps more importantly, the sky is literally the limit for recreational activities associated with aviation and I would like to try more of them! I also see genuine opportunities for strengthening the links between the Aviation SIG and Riyadh Branch of the Royal Aerospace Society, who share common interests and goals. I look forward to hearing from you …..! Yours safe in flying, Rather more interesting, the Terrafugia Transition could redefine the convertible. And door-to-door travel. The Transition is a street-legal, airworthy, airbag-and-parachute-equipped flying car that at $200,000 is priced less than a Lamborghini. The first models will be delivered next year. True, with its wings retracted like football goalposts, the Transition, whose 100-horsepower engine gets it 35 m.p.g. on terra firma, isn’t going to be a match for an Italian sports car. But extend the vehicle’s gull wings — and you are requested to do this at an airport — and the rear-propeller-powered Transition can fly two passengers about 500 miles at a cruising speed of 105 m.p.h. After you land, you will not be heading to the rental counter.
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ick Armstrong, a long-standing RGBB member and the Assistant Chief Fire Officer at King Khaled International Airport (KKIA), kindly hosted a combined group of RGBB and Riyadh Royal Aeronautical Society members to a practical display of fire fighting equipment and skills at KKIA on 23rd May 2011. The event provided an opportunity for members and their families to view and climb over a range of airport emergency and fire vehicles, meet the crews and try their hands at operating some of the equipment that is routinely on standby to assure their safety when they fly in and out of Riyadh’s main airport. Before introducing the equipment and crews, Rick briefed that KKIA maintains a Category 9 fire and rescue
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capability, with 3 fire stations located around the airport capable of deploying crews and fire appliances to an incident anywhere on the airport within 3 minutes. In layman’s terms, Category 9 means that sufficient water is available on wheels to reach and tackle a fully loaded and burning Boeing 747-400; Rick advised that Jeddah boasts the only Category 10 capability in Saudi Arabia, which is capable of tackling a blazing Airbus A800. The range of airport fire and rescue vehicles on display included foam and pump trucks, rescue and Hazardous Material (Hazmat) containment vehicles and ambulances. The undoubted star of the show was the range of Rosenbauer Panther Aircraft Rescue Fire-Fighting (ARFF) vehicles, one with a High Reach Extendable
SITE VISIT
Turret (HRET); the HRET provides an extending boom capability that enables foam or water to be sprayed directly into the heart of a fire. Rick further explained that the HRET has the ability to puncture aircraft skin and spray fire suppressant directly into the fuselage of a burning aircraft. Capable of discharging 3000 litres of water per minute, this and many of the other vehicles on display were deployed operationally most recently when a Lufthansa MD-11 cargo aircraft crash landed at KKIA in July 2010; Rick and his crew responded to the emergency, ensuring the safety of the 2-man crew and recovering two-thirds of its 80 tons of cargo intact. The Fire Display event concluded with a fire fighting demonstration by the crews, who ignited 500 litres of
waste aviation fuel before tackling the blaze with one of the Panthers and another rapid intervention vehicle. Once the fire was safely out and with the crews methodically draining, folding and restoring their equipment in preparation for next use, our members and families dispersed. Sincere thanks go to Rick and his crews for taking the time out to organise and provide such a fascinating opportunity for the Group.
Rick Armstrong Assistant Chief Fire Officer KKIA
Photographs including the cover image by Dennis McKeever
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imon Stewart, CEO of nasair, addressed a packed house at the April Special Briefing giving number of insights into the world of aviation in the Kingdom.
nasair expands its services from the Kingdom…. The last twelve months have seen much turbulence in the aviation industry. Ever-increasing fuel prices, government subsidies to competitors and the failing of some competitors have placed pressures on the nasair team, but as Simon explained in his talk to the RGBB Special Briefing; the airline is still continuing to expand and revitalize its services. As a 100% wholly-owned subsidiary of NAS Holdings, nasair operates a fleet of fifteen young Airbus and Embracer aircraft from its bases in Riyadh and Jeddah to destinations in Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, India and Turkey. Employing approximately 1,000 staff, the airline flew 2.4 million passengers in 2010 and plans to fly at least 3 million in 2011. Simon explained that as a low cost carrier, modeled on successful airlines such as Southwest, easyJet and Ryanair, keeping nasair costs low is essential to its success. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as employees to passenger ratios and the utilization of each aircraft (i.e. how many hours they fly each day) were presented to show how nasair has improved over the past 4 years.
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Differences between traditional “legacy” airlines and the more efficient low-cost airline business model were also discussed, including the fact that traditional airlines distribute their seats through travel agency systems; something which is not normally used by low-cost carriers due to the high costs. Outside of the region this would not cause an issue as both business and leisure consumers’ book online. However, several RGBB members questioned this sales strategy within Saudi Arabia, given that so many are required to book their business travel through a corporate travel agency. Charles Zug, nasair CCO and Turki Al Jawini, Director of Sales, both explained to the audience that this area is currently under review and options are being discussed internally to increase sales through the travel trade. Over the past year the nasair Commercial team has re-organised and is now headed by Charles Zug, previously of Southwest Airlines. The revitalized team will be delivering a refreshed website (www.flynas.com) with additional optional services and new products over the coming months. A market research programme is also being conducted to ensure that the new product and network development translates the “smart choice” brand value to each market segment.
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Looking to the future, Simon listed the “Big 5 Keys to Success”:• • • • •
Marketing – responsible for direct revenues; Brand Strategy – defining a competitive sustainable advantage; Staff Culture – accountability and teamwork; Revenue/Pricing – demand-based pricing; Sales & Products – ensuring the tools, tactic and products are available.
These five areas are the basis of the current company step change programme which is taking nasair from a start up operation to strategic planning mode for the future. Regulatory hurdles and unfair competitive advantages may continue for the short term but the airline is committed to grow and be the first choice for all passengers travelling to and from the Kingdom.
Following the briefing, a “business card draw” for two free return flights anywhere on the nas network was won by David Waring.
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HEALTHCARE SIG With Nicola Quick’s elevation to Chair of the RGBB the, Special Interests Groups [SIG’S] and perhaps the RGBB have received a fresh surge of energy. In the case of the Healthcare SIG I have again the privilege of again taking up responsibility to move the group forward and promoting the interests of UK plc. We the RGBB will assist companies in finding new and sustaining current business development. Not an easy task but with our combined forces spread across many areas of potential development I feel confident that we will succeed. Whilst the summer months will be quiet the return from vacation will herald a fresh impetus to develop. Health Care in particular will offer new and sustainable opportunities for health related business. The relationship between the provision of health care and the relatively new health insurance markets make for potential growth. Other markets can offer similar co dependent opportunities for development, examples may include new medical universities, and hospitals. As with all business the medical community can, and should not, set its self apart from information technology. Major revenue can be saved by employing the best “smart” [AKA solutions] system to prevent costly medical errors. Often such systems will integrate with the billing and insurance systems to reduce time for payments. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always been and will for the foreseeable future offer major investment interests for
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British Companies to tap into and benefit. Plans are in progress for a renewed close collaboration between all of the SIG chairs and the team from UKTI. From the resulting cross fertilization the RGBB membership will have access to considerable professional experience.
Philip Anderson Taylor SIG Chair
In regards to what you, the membership, want from the Medical SIG please email me; philipofriyadh@hotmail.com a note of what help you need. I will always be on the look out for high quality experts in the field that will stimulate us to develop and move forward. I look forward to expanding the present small medical SIG to a more proactive and business focused alliance that will benefit the primary purpose of the RGBB. A special message to the members with Medical, Nursing or Professions allied to Medicine join the SIG that meets your interests. Help us be a dynamic group rescuing, developing or sustaining as members of the RGBB we all have a responsibility to sing the to our Saudi Colleagues the “Best of British”. I hope that this article has not been to “dry” or lacking in excitement. I promise you that future articles will be a mood elevating blend of humor, science and the dream of the future.
THE FAREWELL ODE THE BLUE AND OLD GOLD Onwards, upwards ever forwards we marched Our leggings were polished, our ‘shirts grey’ stiff starched Our FN’s were loaded, the blue skies were wide Advancing as brothers, we held back the tide
Jim Mann Former SIG Chairman Security My last contribution for the mag guys. This one is very definitely from the heart !!! “By the time you are reading this article, I will likely be basking in the traffic fumes and toxins of the Wan Chai district in Hong Kong where I am to be stationed for the next few months on attachment to our Security Force there. I’m afraid its another ode folks, by popular demand (OK, I made that bit up). It tells the story ot the very finest and the very last British Colonial Police Force in Africa, The British South Africa Police, Rhodesia, in which I remain incredibly proud, and honoured, to have served. I thought it could be my ‘swan song’ and adios to the Magic Kingdom, and a fitting farewell to my many beloved and valued friends and compatriots across the Kingdom. I will surely miss you all. Blue and old gold were the revered regimental colours beneath which we all served. The force was the senior military regiment in the country during the ten year terrorist war, hence the reference ‘to the right of the line’, our position on joint service parades indicating that seniority”
At base camp and outpost, we fought the good fight Our small numbers dwindling, we strived day and night Our vehicles struck landmines, our ri fl es boomed loud Yet against all the odds strode the true and the proud Bully beef and old biltong, our cordon bleu food And sometimes our banter waxed awfully crude We boys so determined to even the score Now men so much taller, tempered by war Some came from the Yewkay, diverse lands afar Some joined up as ‘locals’, pride worn like a star Cross veldt and through bush land we few cut our swathe Here’s to the Regiment, God favoured the brave Through good times and bad, in laughter and fear We sat atop sandbags, we drank Lion beer Through radio static, it’s chatter and whine We cleaved to each other and held that thin line Gold lion above shield, the fl ag and the code Saw a band of adventurer’s shoulder the load Come the end of an era, our resources nigh spent This still did not mean we were want to relent The ‘cammo’ now faded, drab landrovers old Yet never turn we from the blue and old gold For honor and duty were top of our sheet Terrorists and killers we were sworn to defeat In far climbs raged the ‘struggle’, why is it you? Why, I’m signed on and lined up with the old gold and blue And should it so happen my time’s drawing near I look to my comrades, I’m proud to die here Through AK and mortar, bunker and round With the land of Rhodesia we’ll ever be bound Though most of our story may never be told We stalwarts still vote for the blue and old gold In a land far away massed a grey cloud of doubt Our force and our country so cruelly sold out The shroud around darkness began to unveil Whatever we did then, we could never prevail Nearly three decades later, the world wends its course We rightly remember that blue and gold force All good men, some heroes, some braver than me To the right of that line stood the BSAP RGBB News 17
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irstly an introduction and a few words of thanks. I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to Head the Security and Safety Special Interest Group for the RGBB and I wish to extend my thanks to Jim Mann who did such a sterling job during his tenure. Whilst I John Sim cannot compete with his sartorial SIG Chairman elegance and stories of cowboys Security and aliens, I will strive to make these pieces as interesting and as diverse as Jim’s missives. For those who I have not yet met, I have been in the Kingdom for 18 months and I look after Contingency Planning for SABB. I have been involved in Security and Risk Management since the late 1980’s with Government and then in the private sector since 1997. Other than a short stint in London in 2001, the majority of my career has been spent in and around the Middle East. To business. It has of course been an interesting 6 months around the Middle East and many problems still exist as I write. This is not a forum for political commentary but luckily here in the Kingdom we were untouched by the issues faced elsewhere. We can however give some focus to some of the lessons learnt by companies operating around the Region. The primary lesson is that those companies who have a formal Crisis Management function reacted and still continue to react better to the various upheavals that surround us, than those who don’t. The following words are extracted from a paper I recently wrote on Crisis Management. This piece is not designed to be taken as definitive instructions but form some high-level guidance. I am more than happy to discuss these issues in more depth with any RGBB member who is interested. Crisis Management is a key function of a wider business risk management strategy. An effective Crisis Management function will reduce the impact of an actual or potential incident that without a coordinated response could develop into a crisis affecting an organisation’s business operations, people, property, brand and reputation. In times of disruption, the senior management team of any organisation should have the capability to convene and manage any developing situation. Situations where the activation of a Crisis Management organisation is necessary may arise from man-made or natural events such as major IT system outages, acts of war, terrorist action, infrastructure failures, general strikes and demonstrations and disasters – such as floods, fire and earthquakes; the Crisis Management organisation should be able to handle a wide range of circumstances and contingencies without the need for major redesign dependent on the nature of the crisis. The essential responsibilities of a Crisis Management RGBB News 18
organisation are: •
To provide a coordinated response to incidents causing disruption to normal business.
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To manage organisation.
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To address the immediate and follow on issues that are related to any incidents.
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To implement decisions made by the Senior Executives which may include the invocation of Contingency and Business Continuity plans.
business
impacts
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the
Recognition of the importance of crisis management and the role it has to play in the modern corporate organisation has become more prevalent. Events of September 2001 and subsequent natural and manmade events have highlighted the need for companies to be able to react and respond to the materialization of risk. Despite a growing awareness of the need for Crisis Management, the challenge as it is in all aspects of business is the justification of expenditure and the allocation of resources to the task especially if there is no tangible immediate return on investment. Therefore taking the steps from identifying risk to recognising and accepting the benefits of actual crisis management programme implementation as part of a risk mitigation strategy, can be long and difficult. As company directors are accountable to many stakeholders including shareholders and regulators, they must commit time and effort and through the management team, to demonstrate that they have effective programmes in place to mitigate the risks and that they have the proven capability to react to and respond to any situation that may arise. The potential effect on shareholder value following an incident is the single most important driver for the allocation of financial and personnel resources necessary for the initiation of a crisis management programme. The effect on shareholder value shown below was the subject of a wider study into Business Continuity Management by Knight/Pretty in 1996.
Source: The Impact of Catastrophes on Shareholders Value by Rory F. Knight and Deborah J. Pretty Templeton College of Oxford University, 1996.
SECURITY SIG The study highlights the fact that whilst all companies who undergo a significant event that causes disruption to business, the company share price will typically fall before either recovering if an effective programme is in place or will remain lower if there is a perceived weakness in the effectiveness of response. It is important to accept that companies must be diligent in understanding their risks and their potential impact on business operations and have a rigorous process to track these risks. Once the risks are identified and accepted, a company must mitigate where possible. The company should be in a position to react to and respond to any incident. This is when the Crisis Management organisation comes to the fore and begins to react to the incident which depending on it’s nature, may require the invocation of business continuity or contingency arrangements. There are a number of high level key steps that should be followed when developing and implementing a Crisis Management programme; •
Risk Assessment and acceptance of potential impact on business operations
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Business Impact Analysis and potential loss quantification
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Senior management programme buy-in
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Crisis Management Organisation Establishment
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Contingency requirements identified and sourced
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Training and awareness
•
Scenario and Communication Testing
The senior management team of the organisation must gain the backing of the highest decision making authority in order to begin the development and implementation of the programme. Such backing would normally include the authorization of expenditure and go ahead for resource allocation. The creation of a new function even although it may only be activated in times of crisis, should be backed by a firm policy directive from senior management. Once the direction has been set through policy and adopted for implementation, an appropriately sized Crisis Management organisation must be defined and structure built around it. The key component of this organization is the Crisis Management Team (CMT). “However carefully an organisation goes through the steps, and however well drawn its emergency plans are, it is the emergency management team’s proficiency that will achieve success and efficiency and ultimately determine the organisation’s reputation when a threat materializes and becomes a major event” - John Laye, author of Avoiding Disaster.
This sentiment is one to which I fully subscribe. It is necessary to give focus to the people side and not just the technology solutions available to assist in a crisis situation. Whilst technology is important and instant communications and incident management solutions can assist the modern crisis manager, it is the knowledge and comfort levels of those involved that will determine the outcome of a crisis situation. A key challenge is identifying the right type of people to be part of the Crisis Management Team. Typically the modern corporate manager, given the right training and leadership is capable of performing well in a highpressure situation. They are used to dealing with pressure situations otherwise they would not be in the senior management positions they occupy. The implementation of an effective Crisis Management programme is achievable if companies are ready to commit the time, effort and resources to do so. The main challenges are gaining acceptance of the issue and recognition of the need for a formal albeit perhaps virtual and non-permanent Crisis Management structure, and the subsequent justification and allocation of resources. Clear direction and formal support is required at the highest level so that a strong and consistent message is cascaded down throughout an organisation. Companies should understand their risks and estimate the likelihood of those risks occurring and the impact that they will have on business operations should they occur. Companies should also understand their business priorities and quantify the potential loss related to their different functions over different periods of time. This will define their Maximum Tolerable Periods of Disruption which will drive the prioritization and allocation of resources. The business functions should understand their contingency requirements and have effectively documented and communicated these requirements to those tasked with putting in place the contingency arrangements. A clear Crisis Management structure with defined roles and responsibilities should be put in place so that no time is wasted once activation takes place. The company should be ready to respond through the swift activation of their crisis management organisation and manage the situation accordingly. Regular testing up to and including real time scenario tests for the Crisis Management team and the functional business continuity teams will help maintain a high degree of preparedness and response. Efficacy of the entire process should also be certified by independent 3 rd parties such as auditors and/or regulators. Once this cycle of planning and testing has been completed, the process should begin again so that it becomes as much as possible and within the constraints of resource allocation a “business as usual” function. RGBB News 19
RGBB SPORTS
Peter claims the crown Peter Meyer was crowned the new RGBB pool Champion on 21st April During a hotly contested final. The competition which was sponsored by the Al Khozama hotel was being played under its new format for the first time attracted more than 2 dozen players of all ability. To ensure that people received value for money all players that lost in the first round were entered into a second “plate event”. Early casualties included hot favourite Paul Dart who was beaten in a closely fought match against Peter Meyer in the first round. Reigning champion Gary Richardson started strongly, cruising through the early rounds with little trouble, unaware of what would unfold later in the tournament. As the evening proceeded it was clear that there were some talented players left in both competitions, which was evident in the quality of play that ensued In the first semi final Peter beat Mark Davies In a really close game that went down to the final black.In the final Julian went into an early 1-0 lead after a nervous first frame. In frame 2 Peter fouled on the black (but did not pot it) and shook Julian’s hand in congratulation. It was pointed out to Peter that Julian would receive 2 shots only as the black had not been potted. He took great advantage of this reprieve to snatch the frame and force the final into a decider. Peter played some great pool in this frame, making a number of very accomplished pots. Julian could only look on as Peter sunk the final black.
The plate semi finals also produced some close matches, with Paul Dart and Mahara Wade edging out David Waring & Phil Pannell in 2 exciting games. In the final Paul’s class really did start to show as he played some shots of real accomplishment both left and right handed. We would like to thank Amanda Richardson & Polly Cox for their help during the evening, as well as Arabian Homes for hosting the event yet again. We would also like to thank Erik Huyer and the Al Khozama hotel for their sponsorship of this event. For upcoming sports events please contact RGBB Board member Gary Richardson on richardsonksa@hotmail.co. uk or look out from details sent by the RGBB Secretary.
Smoking bandit makes it a tight finish A final push from Gary “the bandit” Richardson has ensured the tightest finish possible for the inaugural RGBB Golf Society player of the year award. After having such a successful season the competition leader Morgan Mead picked the worst possible time to have his poorest round of the season, with his net 78 recording zero points in the April monthly medal. A group of players, including Mead decided to get their April medal rounds in early and played on Wednesday morning. However this coincided with a nasty sandstorm which made playing conditions extremely difficult. Morgan went on to shoot his worst medal round of the season with a gross score (before handicap) of 82. With the door ajar Richardson (who played in milder conditions on Thursday afternoon) took maximum advantage to record a net 69 and secure 10 player of the year points. This now leaves the gap between the two at only one point with one event go. April was the first time that Mead had failed to register any points this season, having scored in all 7 of the medals
that he participated in. However the weather did not affect everyone that played on Wednesday as Craig Gordon shot a credible net 70 to secure runner up position in division 2 on his first outing with the society. Division 1 was won for the first time this season by Karen Bridgeford, who continued her great current form with a net 71. Mark Campbell shot a net 72, which secured him second place in the division on a count back from Finlay Graham and Julian Bennett. All three players scored 7 player of the year points, which now places Finlay in joint third place with 23. Mark is only 1 point behind with 22, with just the May monthly medal to go. Division 3 was won by Matt Martin with 30 points. April was Matt’s second medal and fourth top 2 finish of what is his best season playing this great game. Division 3 runner up was secured by Vic Dhillon. Vic was clearly delighted to receive his first ever singles trophy for golf, one which will not be the last I am sure. The society warmly welcomes new members at any stage of the season. For more information on joining please send an email to rgbbgolfsociety@gmail.com for an application form. RGBB News 23
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he team of Casey Blatch, Tom Trimble and David Treadgold stole the honours at the inaugural RGBB Golf Society Captains day.
The tournament which was part of the Captains day celebrations took place at Riyadh Greens golf course on Thursday 31st March. Over 50 golfers arrived at the course from as early as 6am to compete in the event. Upon arrival players were placed into teams of 3 & 4 players in this Texas scramble formatted event. The players found the fantastic condition of the course much to their liking as numerous teams shot well below their handicaps to produce a really tight finish. When all of the scores were calculated only 7 shots separated the 15 teams that took part. As the players left the course the usual stories about “the putt that got away” were abundant amongst the great atmosphere that was created from all of the participants. It was clear that whether people shot a good score or bad they really enjoyed themselves, which is the main reason for playing the game that we love and hate so much. However when all of the scores were calculated there were 3 teams that managed to navigate their way around the course better than anyone else.
RGBB News 24
In third place with a net score (actual score minus handicaps) of 57 were Barry Steyn, Ed Bulkeley and Alan Watthey. In second place with a score of 56.8 were Andrew McGibbon, Richard Hakansson and Matt Martin. With the winning team recording a score of 56.2 it showed how tight the margins of error really were. As well as the golfers the day was also aimed at the families of the society’s members, with over 50 of them joining the fun in the afternoon.The children particularly enjoyed themselves partaking in football, crazy golf, air hockey and pool as well as enjoying the swimming facilities available. As well as all of the fun that was had the day also had a charity side to it, with Captain McKechnie and his committee selecting the women’s co-operative Herfah as the charity to receive a donation from the day’s events. A total of 5,000 SR was raised which delighted the charity spokesperson Marie Theresa Costelloe who later said “I am so pleased that the RGBB Golf Society selected us as the recipient charity for their first fundraiser. This money will really help the ladies achieve their aims and objectives. For further details about Herfah please go to www.herfah.org.sa
RGBB GOLF SOCIETY The prize giving took place in the main function hall after a sumptuous BBQ. The prizes for the day were rounded out by the awarding of the individual trophies.
In March the division 3 title was collected by Monika Schiffer who is continuing with the great season she has been having. Runner up was Barbara Dickinson.
The ladies longest drive was won by Pam Hanway, while the men’s was collected by Bennie Burger.
Division 2 went to Gary Richardson (much to the delight of his wife, who really wanted another trophy in the house). Gary shot 5 under par (67) for the second month in a row and will surely be visited by the handicap secretary and his axe! Runner up in division 2 was RGBB Open Championship winner Paul Dart, whose 68 really showed how well he has been playing lately.
The nearest the pin awards were collected by Christine Smith and Paul Brown. As well as awarding these prizes Captain Andrew McKechnie also awarded the monthly medal trophies for February and March. Division 3 was won by Liz Kennedy who shot an incredible 42 points (6 under par). Division 2 was won by the society bandit, Gary Richardson (net 67) with Patrick Kennedy coming in second with a credible net 69 (3 under par). Division 1 was won by Julian Bennett, who collected his first medal of the year after shooting an even par 72. The runner up was a surprised Mark Campbell who shot a one over par score of 73.
Division 1 was won once more by Morgan Mead, with a superb 69 (off of a 4 handicap). He really is having a great season, as this was his fifth division 1 medal win of the year. In complete contrast the runner up was Karen Bridgeford, who was delighted to collect her first medal trophy of the season. The golf society is continuing to grow in numbers, but more players are always welcome (RGBB & nonRGBB members alike). For more details about joining please email rgbbgolfsociety@gmail.com and ask for an application form.
RGBB News 25
MIDDLE EAST ASSOCIATION Cost for MEA Members is £65 + VAT and cost for NonMembers is £125 + VAT.
For some readers the MEA will be known only as the mission leaders at so many of the Trade Mission receptions held here in Saudi Arabia. But the MEA has an active programme of events in the UK as well to which RGBB members are invited. For those of you visiting the UK this summer here are a few details of some of those events which might be of interest. Wednesday 22nd June The MEA will be holding a Breakfast Briefing on ‘The Future of Oil in the Middle East and North Africa’ at Bury House, the first event of the Energy Series. With oil prices over $100 a barrel and the real effects of the ’Arab Spring’ still unfolding, this Breakfast Briefing will prove a timely examination of the critical issues regarding the future of oil in the MENA region. A networking breakfast will be followed by two interactive panel discussions with oil specialists from academia, industry, law and consulting. 8.15: Registration and Networking Breakfast 11.00: Seminar Close Cost for this Briefing is £75 + VAT for MEA Members and £150 + VAT for Non-Members. Wednesday 29th June The Middle East Association will be holding a Breakfast Briefing on ‘The Future of Gas in the Middle East and North Africa’, the second event of the energy series. This breakfast briefing will provide key insights into the current state of the MENA gas industry and its prospects for the future. 8.15: Registration and Networking Breakfast. 11.00: Seminar Close Cost for this Briefing is £75 + VAT for MEA Members and £150 + VAT for Non-Members. Tuesday 5th July The MEA, in partnership with Ameera Health, will be holding a Business Briefing and Networking Reception examining the Healthcare Sector in the MENA Region at Bury House in London. This briefing will offer expert guidance on how to make the most of the unique opportunities in the Healthcare sector in the MENA region. Specialist panellists will present on issues including: anti-counterfeiting for medical products in the region, marketing needs, and the commercial and legal environment for UK Healthcare companies. The Briefing will be followed by a Q & A Session and a Networking Reception. Registration at Bury House will commence at 17.00, with the presentations and Q&A lasting from 17.30 until 19.00. The Reception will finish at 19.30.
Thursday 7th July The MEA will be hosting a VIP Lunch with Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles KCMG LVO on at Bury House. Sherard joined the Diplomatic Service immediately after studying at Hertford College, Oxford, where he is now an Honorary Fellow. His first posting was to the British Embassy in Cairo. His early overseas postings included political roles in Washington and Paris. In between he worked in London as a speech-writer, Private Secretary to the Permanent Under-Secretary, and on European security. He was Head of the FCO’s Hong Kong Department for over three years leading up to the handover of the Territory. In 1999-2001, he worked as Principal Private Secretary to the then British Foreign Secretary, the late Robin Cook. Sherard was HM Ambassador to Israel (2001-2003), Saudi Arabia (2003-2007), and Afghanistan (2007-2009). He served as the Foreign Secretary’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan from 2009 until 2010, before taking early retirement from the Diplomatic Service. He has since been working on a book about Afghanistan, and another of diplomatic anecdotes, and also been the Business Development Director, International at BAE Systems plc since February. 22 September, 2011. Opportunity Arabia 8, the MEA’s premier event examining trade and investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia, It is the RGBB’s turn to present on behalf of the BBA/BBG and RGBB at this event. ‘Middle East Association: 50 Years’ published by Newsdesk Communications, analyses key trends and developments in the MENA region across all markets and sectors and evaluates the development of the UK’s trade and investments links with the region as well as the role of the Association. It includes forewords from HRH The Duke of York and Lord Green as well as contributions from many of the Arab ambassadors and British ambassadors to the MENA region. For more details please visit the MEA website at www.the-mea.co.uk or send an email to: jacqui@the-mea.co.uk Additional Note: The AGM of the Saudi British Society will be held at the Arab British Chamber of Commerce at 5.30 on 29th June RGBB News 29
CULINARY CORNER: Those of you who shop at Waitrose Supermarket in the UK will know that the legendary Heston Blumenthal puts out regular recipes on their website, promoting of course the ingredients on the Waitrose shelves. Jamie Oliver’s promotional deal with Sainsbury’s has lasted for more than ten years, making him (according to Wikipedia) an estimated 1.2 million pounds every year. I’m not sure if he has the quite the same credentials, or even if he’s planning a career change, but Peter Hall has sent us the following recipe to kick off what we hope might become a regular feature.
What do you need? • • • • • • • •
1.25 cups white sugar 4 cups milk 1.5 cup raisins 1 cup flaked coconut 0.5 cup heavy cream 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon (optional) 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 packet frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed or croissant dough • 1 cup mixed whole or slivered blanched almonds, chopped hazelnuts and chopped pistachios
The legend of Oum Ali
Method
Bread and butter pudding reminds most of us of school dinners. Of course the Arabian version Oum Ali is really quite different. Where does it come from? Well the Oum Ali District is a district of Tébessa Province, Algeria, and this has absolutely nothing to do with the Oum Ali the dessert!
1, Preheat and oven to 350 deg F (175dec G) and Butter a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. 2, Place a layer of the pastry sheets (or croissant dough) in the baking dish and bake in the oven. Watch carefully and when the top layer turns crunchy and golden, remove it from the oven. Continue with another set until all the sheets are cooked. 3, In a bowl, combine walnuts, hazelnuts, raisins, pistachios, coconut and a quarter cup of sugar. Break the cooked pastry (or croissant) into pieces and stir into nut mixture and place in a deep oven dish. 4, Bring milk and a half cup of sugar to the boil in a medium saucepan and add the vanilla and add to the nut mixture. 5, Separately beat the heavy cream with the remaining half cup of sugar until stiff and peaks form. Spread the cream evenly over nut mixture in the dish. 6, Place the dessert under oven grill until top is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately!
The origins of the dessert are said to be from the Nile delta, athough many countries in the region take credit! Legend has it that a Sultan was passing through a village and desired a light repast: something sweet to ease the burden of his travels. Oum Ali was the best cook in the village. Despite lacking very much fresh food and using leftovers and stale bread, she was able to prepare a dish of such sweetness that the Sultan craved more and when he left he spread the word of the dish through out the region. Whatever the origins it is now of course well known throughout Egypt, Arabia and beyond. It is easy to make!
Shorobat Il-Jereesh (Saudi Wheat Soup) Much better than it sounds! This soup, which traditionally breaks the fast during the month of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, is stuffed with tomatoes, meat, and bulgur (which is a terrific chunky wheat grain), and is fragrant with cinnamon. Besides breaking the Ramadan fast, it’s a filling and hearty soup for brisk days-a natural lunch for kids and adults alike. Serve hot to 4-6 people. • • • • • • • • •
2 Tablespoons olive oil 2 onions, finely chopped 3/4 pound beef or lamb, cut into bite-size cubes 5 cups water 6 tomatoes, peeled (10 if from a can), pureed 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 cup bulgur (cracked wheat)
Garnish: 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon RGBB News 30
(Beware . . . . contains nuts!) Heat the oil in a large saucepan and toss in the onions. Fry for a few minutes, then stir in the meat cubes and fry on all sides. Pour in the 5 cups of water, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until tender--about an hour. Pour in the pureed tomatoes and season with cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Add the bulgur to the soup, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes, until the bulgur is tender. Pour the soup into a tureen, sprinkle with cinnamon, and carry to the table.
COMMUNITY NEWS
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he Royal Naval Association (RNA) was granted it’s Royal Charter in 1954 and is the principal Naval Association recognised by the Admiralty Board and is a UK Registered Charity. Membership is open to all serving and ex-service members of the Naval Forces including the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, QARNNS, WRNS, Reserves and all ranks and specialisation’s. In addition, anyone who is has a sympathy with the objects of the Association may join as an Associate Member. Today the RNA has a global membership of 22,500 in over 400 Branches, with some overseas, including the Riyadh Branch which currently has 220 members. The RNA was established to further the well-being of the Service, preserve its traditions and encourage recruiting. It also fosters comradeship and “esprit de corps” amongst those who have served or are serving in Our Naval Forces. The RNA also provides facilities for bringing RNA members together and perpetuates the memory of those members of our Naval Forces who have died; in the service of their country. The RNA is able to provide relief from conditions of need, hardship or distress, to persons who serve in or have served in our Naval Forces and all dependants of such persons. It is also able to advise and assist Members in their search for employment; to advise Members and their dependants on personal matters, such as pensions, compensation, health and social security benefits and other subjects affecting their welfare. The Riyadh Branch of the RNA was formed in the early 90’s at the Al-Ramason Compound and having resided in a number of locations since then is now located on the Salwa Compound, opposite the Al-Janadriyah Center, and meets every Thursday afternoon between 14:00 – 17:00 hrs.
Winning team member Will Richards receiving the teams BMI tickets from Tim Collier, RNA Entertainments Member, RNA Riyadh
As well as individual prizes from various sponsors, each member of the winning team received a return airline ticket to the UK which was very generously donated, by Robert Lickley from the bmi team in Riyadh and the Riyadh RNA would like to thank the bmi team for their support of our charities. Other events through the year include various BBQ’s and charity days along with the traditional Trafalgar Dinner. Anyone wishing to join should contact rna.sundowners@yahoo.co.uk
SuDoku Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. Answer on page 44
The Riyadh RNA support three charities, elected by its members every year, which currently are, The British Limbless Ex Service Men’s Association (BLESMA), Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and the RNA Central Charity Fund. In order to support our charities the Riyadh RNA holds social events throughout the year and one recent event was an Indoor Games Afternoon The event required 16, 3-person teams, to compete against one another playing Darts, Pool and “Beat the Stig”, which was an X-Box racing game. The event was well supported and the winning team was the “Tangerine Dream” whose members were, Adam Clark, Will Richards, and Jamie Andreae. RGBB News 33
RGBB News 34
COMMUNITY NEWS
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he Caledonian Society of Riyadh were proud to host The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, the originators of “Bag Rock” in their return to the Kingdom for a second time this past March. This enthusiastic Scottish Band ‘chillified’ several hundred fans at the Arabian Homes Compound in Jeddah before descending upon Riyadh in what would be their last stop in a tour which had taken in three continents, promoting their new album, “Music for the Kilted Generation”. The Pipers’ busy schedule included the highly anticipated return to the British International School for an afternoon matinee followed by an encore for the parents later that evening, with the following day seeing an enthusiastic jam session with the kids and their own instruments. All of this was possible thanks to the school’s own music teacher Egon, and the Principle Mr. Peter Wiles. The generosity and kindness of the British Ambassador Sir Tom Phillips saw the Chilli’s return to the Garden Stage for a sizzling “bag rock your socks off” performance to cap their visit. Playing both classics as well as songs from their new album they dazzled with spicy anthems including ‘Amazing Grace’, Queen’s ‘Radio Ga Ga’ and Snow Patrol’s ‘Chasing Cars’. The band‘s unpredictable antics had the sellout crowd of new and old friends
begging for more. There was an added extra piper for the ‘Chilli pipe off’ competition in the guise of Gavin Moffat (Pipe Major and BMI Chef). All in all the event was a great success but could only have happened with the generosity and help of our sponsors. A huge thank you has to go to; Robert Lickley of BMI, and Rachel Start of Nas Air for handling all the flights efficiently and comfortably, to Almarai for supplying an unlimited amount of refreshments for all the concerts, and to Electro Saudi Services for the endless chauffeuring and tour guiding not forgetting the Sheraton for the fabulous food on the night and of course the ever vigilant Gilbert D’Silva and his staff for seeing to everyone’s needs. Also, a mention must go to Gordon and Pat, and Cordoba Oasis Village Compound for their hospitality and energy in making sure the boys were continually entertained. Cathy Reban and friends in Jeddah and Arabian Homes Jeddah for housing. Most of all the Caledonian Society would like to thank all of the wonderful fans that made the Chilli’s Saudi experience memorable and wanting to come back again for more. Warmest Regards; The Caledonian Society of Riyadh
RGBB News 35
Going abroad under a full time employment contract Is performing UK duties a problem? Speedread Recent Press reports have inaccurately represented the effect of new draft guidance from the UK’s HM Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) as to the nonUK residence status of individuals working abroad under full time employment contracts. In particular, according to the Press reports, such individuals may no longer maintain non-UK residence status if they work in the UK in more than ten days per tax year. In reality the position is not as serious, nor as simple, as such reports suggest. In brief if the draft guidance is adopted in its current form it confirms, in relation to an individual who has gone abroad under a full time contract of employment, that • •
•
such individual may work in the UK for up to 10 days without jeopardizing their non-UK residence status Work in the UK may comprise substantive and not merely incidental duties, (Here substantive duties include, for example, attending board meetings). If a person works for longer than 10 days in the UK this will not automatically make them UK resident. Whether or not they become UK resident will depend on all of the circumstances.
The draft guidance is set out in full later in this briefing note. Timing If the current draft guidance is adopted it will definitely apply for 2011/2012. For earlier tax years it is unclear whether it will apply in precisely this form for determining an individual’s residence status. From April 2012 a new statutory residence test is due to be enacted which might or might not include a “10-day rule”. The position should become clearer once the Government consultation is published in June 2011. What is the relevance of going abroad under a full time employment contract? Under current HMRC practice one of the ways in which an individual can become non-UK resident is by leaving the UK to work full time abroad as an employee. Such an individual becomes nonUK resident from the day after departure provided the employment contract is for at least one full tax year (that is from 6 April in one year to 5 April in the following year). Certain other conditions must also be satisfied including that return visits must be limited to under 91 days per tax year on average and less than 183 days in any one tax year RGBB News 36
Going abroad under a full time contract satisfying such conditions is enough to establish a break from the UK so as to become non-UK resident. When an individual goes abroad under other circumstances not involving such a full time contract, then to establish non-UK residence they must normally demonstrate a clean break from the UK. This might involve taking a number of steps such as selling or letting their house in the UK and staying outside the UK for a full tax year with no return visits. When going abroad under a full time employment contract, these other more stringent requirements are not normally needed. Meaning of “work abroad” What if a person going abroad under such a contract has to return to the UK sometimes for work? Until now there has been no guidance on the meaning of “working abroad” for these purposes . In other contexts a distinction is made between “incidental” duties, which may be carried out in the UK, and substantive duties, such as attending board meetings, which if done in the UK will undermine a person’s claim to be working full time abroad. Some advisers take the view that work in the UK which is merely “incidental” can be treated as part of the “full time work abroad” and that any substantive duties carried out in the UK will undermine a person’s claim to be working full time abroad. However, the position is not clear cut. Nor has it been clear, if substantive duties in the UK are permitted, how many days may be spent undertaking such duties in the UK without jeopardising one’s non-UK residence status. The new draft guidance therefore seeks to address these issues. New draft guidance The new draft guidance states “Non-residence and full time work abroad You can become non-UK resident if you make a break with the UK through working full time abroad. ‘Full time work abroad’ means a genuine, full time, foreign employment. This could be either a contract with a foreign employer or a formal secondment to a non-UK position by a UK employer. If you claim that you have left the UK to work full time abroad we will expect you to be able to demonstrate that you are working equivalent hours to full time foreign employees, at the same level in the same line of business, in the country concerned. It is expected that this will normally be a minimum of 35 hours a week.
If you are working abroad you may still have to physically return to the UK sometimes to do some work here. You will be expected to show that the amount and nature of any work carried out in the UK do not prevent the overseas work from satisfying the criteria required for it to be considered to be full time. The evidence required to demonstrate that you are in full time work abroad may include the following: • • • • •
A description of the nature of your work and responsibilities The results of your work Timetables of activities, including time spent and nature of work done in the UK Reports that you made to your employer on your performance A record of the annual leave you took
Duties in the UK HMRC accept that it has a practice whereby non residence can be demonstrated by working abroad full time even though some of the duties carried on in the UK are substantive. Although this is not in accordance with the definition of full time work at section 830 Income Tax Act 2007, HMRC’s guidance on ceasing to be UK resident covers a wider range of issues than that section. 1 How much work can be carried on in the UK depends upon the facts and circumstances relevant to each individual. However HMRC will generally accept that working in the UK for fewer than 10 days in a year will not by itself prevent an individual claiming they have made a break with the UK because they are working full time abroad. If more days than this are worked in the UK, whether an individual is working full time abroad will depend upon their particular circumstances. Given that •
•
Residence is a long term issue affecting the entirety of a tax year and individuals and companies will have planned actions on the basis of HMRC guidance, and The government has announced that it will consult on a statutory residence test to codify the rules on residence
HMRC can confirm that for 2011/12 this practice will continue. It will however, be reviewed for future years having regard to the outcome of the consultation on a statutory residence test.”
Conclusion Although allowing 10 days work in the UK is not particularly generous, it is at least helpful to have specific guidance as to the number of days which may be spent working in the UK without jeopardising residence status. Previously there was no such clarity. Also helpful is the indication that employees may carry out substantive duties in the UK without this affecting their residence status. Previously there had been some doubt about this. It should mean for example that company directors may attend board meetings in the UK, provided they do not exceed the 10 day limit, without jeopardising their residence status. Furthermore, if a person spends more than 10 days working in the UK they might still be treated as nonUK resident, depending on their other circumstances including of course their links with the UK. We understand that HMRC have indicated that if an individual spends time in the UK carrying out duties that are merely incidental to the overseas employment, these will not be counted towards the 10 days. Examples of incidental duties include periods of training. Note too the contexts in which carrying out any substantive duties at all in the UK, even for under 10 days, appears to remain problematical. For example, if a person carries out any substantive duties in the UK, then they no longer enjoy the protection of s 830 Income Taxes Act 2007. This means in practice that any accommodation they have available for their use in the UK must be taken into account in determining their residence status. Presumably too any substantive duties at all carried out in the UK are problematical in relation to “dual contract” arrangements which UK resident non-domiciliaries might enter into (which are beyond the scope of this briefing note). Of course rather than relying on HMRC guidelines, it would be much better if the law of residence were clear. It is to be hoped that from April 2012, when the introduction of a statutory residence test is anticipated, the current heavy reliance on guidance and case law to determine residence status will be a thing of the past.
This information has been prepared by Charles Russell LLP as a general guide only and does not constitute advice on any specific matter. We recommend that you seek professional advice before taking action. No liability can be accepted by us for any action taken or not taken as a result of this information. Charles Russell LLP is not authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 but we are able in certain circumstances to offer a limited range of investment services to clients because we are members of the Law Society. We can provide these investment services if they are an incidental part of the professional services we have been engaged to provide.
RGBB News 37
COMMUNICATIONS & THE RGBB The problem with communication is the illusion that is has occurred. GB Shaw The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate. JB Preistley Both Preistley and Shaw made important points and one hopes that the means by which the RGBB communicates are both simple and effective. Certainly the long history of the RGBB Newsletter would suggest that this is so. As the new Board member responsible for Communications I am however struck by the need to review what we do, how we do it and how if will proceed in the future. I have some passing experience in written and electronic communication within organisations of similar size as well as in professional settings. Working with past and current Board members and with input from the membership I hope we can continue and enhance communication within the RGBB. We have a regular printed newsletter, a website and we also use email to communicate with the membership. The newsletter has been running for many years and back issues can be accessed from the RGBB website. It is currently produced 3 times a year and it’s quite considerable costs are offset by advertising revenue. Generating those revenues is a significant task and has been dependent upon the efforts of a small number of staunch RGBB members. Similarly generating copy is not without problems and again depends upon the efforts of a committed proportion of the membership. The website provides a portal for members and nonmembers to gain insight into RGBB activities. We can monitor the usage of the website with some precision and it is clear that while many pages are visited regularly, others have very little traffic. This poses for the RGBB Board the issue of how much further investment in
time and effort is currently justified in terms of further developments of the website? Certainly the current site is regularly updated and deserves some review. Email circulation of information is the third element of our formal communication with the membership. Care is taken to not overuse batch emails to the membership. What of the future? ‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ might be the cry – and a valid view, however time does not stand still and some obvious risks are apparent. In particular the success of the website and the newsletter has been dependent upon huge efforts from key RGBB members. Furthermore the financing of the newsletter depends upon advertising revenues: revenues that may not be sustained. Changes in the membership and income could rapidly compromise the newsletter and potentially the website, exposing the RGBB to significant risk. Consequently the Board is examining carefully the current situation and future options. No decisions have been taken but a range of options exist and are being explored. These include retaining all current activities or moving wholly, or in part, to electronic ezines or similar modalities. The latter would have considerably less financial risk and would have the merit of being green! The use of social media technologies and podcasts are being explored although these too have significant practical and other issues associated with them. Ultimately the RGBB belongs to the membership and so your views on the means by which we communicate are crucial. Developing a sustainable and effective communications strategy must be a cornerstone of the RGBB in the coming months and years and I hope that this short note provides you with some basic information in regard of the issues. The Board members would value your input and thoughts and in particular your views in regard of the triennial printed Newsletter. Peter Hall, RGBB Board Member
RGBB News 39
AND FINALLY WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS Ben Alissi Gavin Batcheler Andrew Bridgen Dean Briers Sheila Burns Tracey Christian Robert Collings Sean Collins Greg Dean Ray Durrant Jonathan Eveleigh Sue Ferguson Tony Fudge Mark Godson Ameed Hamid Nooman Haque Jonathan Key Mark Lupton James McDowell-Foord Mike Ninos Simon Parr Amanda Richardson Kevin Robbie Philip Rowley Matthew Shaw Chris Stanley Paul Stanton Pat Thornton John Tolan Humph Vincent Jane Wilshaw
Project Manager Lawyer Senior IT Internal Audit Operations Manager Exec Assistant Nursing Senior Access Manager Project Controller Manager Cardmember Travel Service Senior Proposal Manager CT Liaison Officer Business Development Manager PA Head of Internal Audit Partner Director Head of Direct Investment Head of Industrialisation Business Development Manager Director General Manager Project Manager PA to Director of Nursing Project Manager Architect Training PMO Manager Project Manager Technical Services Manager Evidence Based Practice Co-ordinator Head of Implementation Staff Officer Executive Director Nursing
PCARD LAW FIRM OF SALAH AL HEJAILAN SABIC EADS DEFENCE & SECURITY SYSTEMS KING FAISAL SPECIALIST HOSPITAL NOKIA SIEMENS NETWORKS CASSIDIAN SYSTEMS KANOO TRAVEL/AMEX TRAVEL SERVICE GPT SPM Ltd BRITISH EMBASSY LOGICA UK RIYADH MILITARY HOSPITAL RIYAD BANK KPMG BRITISH CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE IN DENTISTRY SAUDI ARABIAN INVESTMENT COMPANY SELEX GALILEO SELEX GALILEO CYRIL SWEETT SAUDI ARABIA LTD FAITHFUL & GOULD - KSA GPT SPM Ltd RIYADH MILITARY HOSPITAL BAE SYSTEMS LOGICA UK EADS DEFENCE & SECURITY SYSTEMS GPT SPM Ltd BAE SYSTEMS RIYADH MILITARY HOSPITAL GPT SPM LTD MoDSAP KING FAHAD MEDICALCITY
SuDoku
Answer on to puzzle on page 19 Run Together Riyadh 2011 Yes, we are doing it again! The 2011 Run Together Riyadh is being held on Friday 2nd December at Salwa. It is a 5km fun run which you can either run/jog or walk, it is a family event and children of any age are very welcome. The Sheraton Hotel is again hosting a fabulous BBQ and there will be some exciting raffle prizes to win after the run. The entry fee will be 70 Riyals per adult, 30 per child. Each participant will receive a T-Shirt, medal, goodie bag. All your entry fees and donations are sent directly to Cancer Research UK, whom we know you’ll agree does some fabulous work and needs our support. Please can you email Pauline on runtogetherriyadh@h otmail.co.uk or call Laura on 055 318 9054 for further information. Further details will be in the autumn edition of the RGBB magazine. RGBB News 40