Gulf Insider - August 2023

The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

Gulf Insider is the first and currently the only Bahrain based business magazine that has strong online presence in terms of website and social media.

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KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Publisher & Editor in Chief Nicholas C. Cooksey

Editorial Deepika Rao

Editorial Contributors Vinita V Andrea Stephanie Raj

Sales & Business Development Charlie Cooksey

Layout Designs James Dhanraj

Admin & Finance Nikesh Pola

Photography Angelo Jose A Fadhel Yusuf

For advertising contact Charlie Cooksey +973 3652 0004 charlie@gulf-insider.com

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P.O. Box 26810, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: +973 1700 4575 Fax: +973 1772 1722

Printed at Awal Press, Kingdom of Bahrain.

Registered with Ministry of Information approval no. TFI-431©. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. All Rights Reserved. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Cover Image: Yousef

Social Media is changing business

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

CORPORATE BRANDING

GRAPHICS AND WEB DESIGN

CONTRACT PUBLISHING

ARABIC TRANSLATION

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Most businesses in Bahrain lack advanced digital and social media marketing skills to expertly manage a successful digital strategy, so missing major opportunities they don’t even realize. The good news is we can inexpensively create an effective digital strategy for your business, and manage it for you, for less than the salary of an employee - freeing you to run your business. We also build beautiful websitesoptimized to generate income for businesses, and provide online services including SEO, design, e-commerce, photography and video production.

For a FREE evaluation of your businesses digital marketing needs. call +973 36 188 100 | 1700 4575

A few of our social media posts from last month. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page!

For the first time, Bahrain Confidential is conducting an online poll so the public can vote for their own favorite restaurants. Winning restaurants will be announced on 25th October, 2023.

To vote for your favorite restaurants, scan the QR code

Or Visit https://www.bahrain-confidential.com/best-restaurant-award/vote/

@bahrainconfidential

RAISING HAPPY & CONFIDENT YOUNG LEARNERS

Gulf Insider speaks to Julie Anne Gilbert, Head of the Infant School at the British School of Bahrain about the importance of early learning and the long-term impact it has on children.

In your opinion, what are some of the long-term benefits of early learning for students?

The most important outcome of an early years education is the headstart it gives children in their social and emotional development. The positive physical and social experiences children have in an educational setting help them become emotionally mature and socially adept. A sense of satisfaction and achievement with increased independence builds inner confidence. This confidence will stand children in good stead as they move up to formal education and into adulthood.

A good early years education can have a profound effect on children’s language and ability to communicate. Studies have shown that children enrolled in good quality early

education have higher levels of verbal comprehension and a wider vocabulary up to four years later.

Physical activity is also vital for children’s all-round development. In an early years setting, opportunities are provided to develop core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness and agility, both inside and outdoors. Mastering a new physical skill is another way to boost self-esteem. A good early years education provides many ways to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, which is linked to early literacy.

What strategies does the British School of Bahrain employ to ensure children receive a solid foundation in the early years?

Our priority is to ensure that a

Our priority is to ensure that a child feels safe and secure in their environment from the start.

child feels safe and secure in their environment from the start. Each teacher knows each little individual in their care. Once we know a child’s interests, strengths and quirks, we can provide opportunities to support social and emotional development and challenge or scaffold them where necessary.

Sufficient challenge for the most able learners is just as important as sufficient scaffolding for those who need it. For the youngest learners, the parent/teacher relationship is also extremely important, as parental insight is invaluable. Open communication and positive reinforcement from all adults, every step of the way are powerful tools.

We do all we can to make learning exciting and fun for the children. A sense of humour is vital for young children. A variety of themed days and field trips enrich learning and make it meaningful for the children.

What specific skills or knowledge areas are most critical for young learners to acquire?

The most important areas for development in the Early Years are personal, social and emotional development, communication and

language and physical development. Sometimes parents can focus overly on letter and number recognition. This knowledge will come easily if the building blocks of the prime areas are in place first. It is more important that they are happy, curious, and interested in learning. Exposing children to nursery rhymes, songs and stories from an early age will help them ‘hear’ and ‘identify’ the sounds in words - a very important skill in the process of learning to read.

In your opinion, are play-based learning approaches more beneficial than traditional academic methods for younger children?

The critical factor in all learning is the child’s engagement level. Are they focussed, interested, curious and developing their ability to think? Playbased, child initiated learning, where the child selects their resources or toys, means that a child is generally engaged in what they are doing.

If a child has chosen to play with model cars, the teacher will gently guide them on a line of inquiry, giving them plenty of quiet thinking time, allowing them to make mistakes. What happens if we make the ramp steeper? How can we make the car move faster? Do we need a place for them to park?

The most important areas for development in the Early Years are personal, social and emotional development, communication and language and physical development.

How could we draw or mark the bays so that the drivers know which are their spots? There are infinite opportunities for sowing the seeds of math and science knowledge.

These memorable play experiences where a child is really allowed to ‘wallow’ in their area of interest can be invaluable.

How do you measure the effectiveness of early childhood education programs at BSB?

At the British School of Bahrain, children in the Early Years are assessed regularly through observation in their physical, social/emotional, and language development. We are fortunate to have a specialist Physical Education teacher

and children very much look forward to these lessons. This documentation informs future planning and teachers then provide provocations, challenges and activities to meet the next steps in each child’s learning. Regular, open communication with parents means that all current learning can be reinforced at home and children who need support in a particular area are quickly identified so interventions can be put in place. Our curriculum is dynamic and adapted to children’s current interests and needs. Of course, the proof is in the pudding! We invite you to visit the school campus in Hamala to meet some of our happy, confident and much-loved young learners.

Our curriculum is dynamic and adapted to children’s current interests and needs.

NEW STUDY FINDS

HUGE NUMBER OF KIDS PERMANENTLY DAMAGED BY LOCKDOWNS

of contact with friends and family, and potentially devastating severe illness or death among loved ones,” McKendrick continued, adding that the lockdowns have had “multi-generational impacts.”

“Our research shows that another important driver of children’s declining skills was the economic disruptions experienced by their parents, whether or not those disruptions led to a large income loss,” McKendrick added.

Responding to the study, Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza said “I am deeply concerned by the findings of this research on children’s social and emotional skills.”

‘This study shows that the disruption the pandemic caused to children’s development has been long-lasting,” de Souza added.

Yet another study has found that the pandemic lockdowns had devastating effects on the development of children, with half of all parents in the UK reporting serious deterioration in the emotional and social skills of their kids.

The research comes from the Institute of Fiscal Studies and notes that children aged between four and seven were significantly more likely (52%) to be affected than 12 to 15-year-olds (42%).

The research also found that children whose parents were furloughed, mandatorily made to take a leave of absence from their jobs, were “significantly more likely to experience a

worsening in their socio-emotional skills than those whose parents had not been furloughed (51% versus 45%)”.

Essentially, kids whose families experienced hardship due to the lockdown were significantly more likely to have serious developmental issues.

The questions in the study included asking whether children had become “easily scared”, “constantly fidgeting or squirming”, or “generally obedient”.

Author of the study Andrew McKendrick, an IFS research economist commented that “During the Covid-19 pandemic, children from all backgrounds saw their social and emotional skills worsen considerably.”

“Children lived through many changes during these years: school closures, lack

Arabella Skinner, of the parents’ campaign group UsForThem, commented that the research shows how kids became “collateral damage” of lockdowns, noting “There were many occasions when warnings were ignored.”

“It is an unavoidable fact that many of our children’s development has been negatively impacted by the pandemic restrictions,” Skinner asserted, further urging that “The Government must take action now – they need to support all the services which support our children and ensure that this never happens again.”

This research adds to the voluminous examples of prominent studies showing that the enforced restrictions during the pandemic were catastrophically detrimental to society.

Authored by SteveWatson via Summit News

Source: Zero Hedge

TAMKEEN LAUNCHES FINANCING PROGRAMME FOR MEDICAL DOCTORS’ EDUCATION

The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) is now accepting applications for the financing of doctors’ education as part of a comprehensive set of initiatives designed to support medical professionals. Under this latest initiative, Tamkeen will finance doctors looking to pursue advanced academic studies and attain master’s degrees and fellowships in their desired specialisations. To accomplish this, Tamkeen will collaborate with a group of partner banks, and has already signed the first agreement with Al Baraka Islamic Bank.

Tamkeen’s financial support covers 100% of the profits of the financing during the grace period and 50% of the profits during the repayment period. Applicants must secure approval from the partner bank after verifying their academic program’s accreditation with

the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA).

Tamkeen, in line with national priorities, the Government Plan, and the Bahrain Economic Recovery Plan,

introduced several other initiatives this year aimed at supporting nationals in the healthcare sector. Since their launch in early March, these initiatives have made a significant impact, resulting in the employment of 70 Bahraini doctors who were job seekers registered with the Ministry of Labour. Additionally, nine currently employed doctors have received wage increment support.

Other initiatives aim to support the employment of Bahraini doctors and dentists at private clinics and hospitals, including recent graduates and job seekers recommended by the Ministry of Labour. These healthcare professionals will receive a wage of no less than BD800, with wages supported at varying percentages (70%, 50%, or 30%) for a period of three years.

Source: BNA

Tamkeen’s financial support covers 100% of the profits of the financing during the grace period and 50% of the profits during the repayment period.

School search made easy...

FOUR BAHRAINI FIRMS MAKE IT TO FORBES LIST OF TOP ARAB

FAMILY BUSINESSES FOR 2023

YK Almoayyed and Sons is one of four Bahraini companies on Forbes’ list of the “Top 100 Arab Family Businesses for 2023.” The group, which represents over 300 brands, employs over 8,000 people, and is chaired by Farouk Almoayyed, is ranked 31st.

Yousuf Khalil Almoayyed founded the company in 1940, and it now has a diverse portfolio that includes autos, electronics, household appliances, heavy equipment, and industrial building systems, among other products.

Nissan, Ford, Infiniti, Lincoln, Renault, Komatsu, Continental Tyres, Sony, Toshiba, and Honeywell are among the brands represented. In 2023, the group became the exclusive distributor in Bahrain for key brands including Panasonic, Hisense CAC, Nikai, Elf Lubricants, BKT Tyres, and Krank Batteries.

Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group (YBA Kanoo), which dates back to 1890, is the second-highest-ranked Bahraini firm on the list, ranking 45th.

The organisation, which is led by Khalid Mohamed Kanoo as chairman, operates in shipping, logistics, travel, industrial, oil and gas, capital, and real estate and has offices in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.

The group’s real estate business includes over 300 projects spread across three countries, including 172 residential apartments and 277 commercial units in Bahrain.

The Abdulla Yousif Fakhro Group, led by Esam Fakhro, is ranked 76th. The organisation began operations in Bahrain in 1888. It now has operations

in automotive, industrial products, electronics, telecommunications, insurance, contracts, shipping, and logistics.

Alzayani Investments wraps up the kingdom’s presence in 79th place. Zayed Rashid Al Zayani is the chairman of the firm founded by Hamid Rashid Al Zayani in 1977. Its business portfolio includes automotive, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, service firms, and food and beverage.

According to Forbes Middle East, Egypt’s superpower, the Mansour Group, is at the top of this year’s coveted list. Yasseen, Mohamed, and Youssef Mansour are among the billionaires listed on the 2023 list, with a total net worth of $6.4 billion.

The 11 billionaires on this year’s list are worth a total of $27.7 billion. The publication thoroughly analysed each conglomerate while preparing the list, based on the size and performance of

their assets, economic activity, age, and legacy, as well as their outstanding geographical and industry variety.

Notably, over 60% of the respected listees are large shareholders in regional stock exchange-listed enterprises, many of which were started by their families.

Saudi-based family enterprises lead with 33 entries, accounting for four of the top ten spots. The UAE comes in second with an outstanding 29 entries, followed by Egypt with nine and Qatar with eight.

Source: News of Bahrain

YK Almoayyed and Sons is one of four Bahraini companies on Forbes’ list of the “Top 100 Arab Family Businesses for 2023.”

FOOD PRICES IN GCC COULD RISE DUE TO SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS

Crisis by the World Food Programme revealed a rise in food shortages to 205 million people, up from 135 million in 2019. Wheat, eggs, and palm oil were among the commodities experiencing shortages, with Ukraine’s grain and oilseed exports declining due to the war. Despite temporary declines, food prices increased since October 2019, peaking in March 2022, before stabilisation was aided by the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July of the year.

Access to agricultural produce and certain food imports to the GCC could be affected by global supply chain disruptions in the future, according to findings of a new report.

A study by Marmore, the research arm of Kuwait Financial Centre, Markaz, looked at the impact of global events on food security in the GCC.

According to the report, the region has employed sufficient financial buffers to ensure a continuous supply of food imports long-term, along with wielding the ability to absorb intermittent price shocks. However, import dependence on agricultural produce has raised concerns over supply chain disruptions and its impact on food prices and shortages.

In Kuwait, 95% of the country’s food needs are met through imports. The study stated that in January 2022, food shipping costs to the country reportedly increased tenfold, from $1,400 to

$14,000 per tonne, while food inflation in March 2023 was recorded at 7.46% YoY, rising from 7% YoY in the previous month.

In recent years, COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, higher freight costs, and climate change have contributed to food shortages globally. In 2022, the Global Report on Food

Despite their reliance on imports, GCC nations have maintained access to essential food items due to long-term food security measures implemented after the 2007-2008 food crisis, the report further added. Countries like the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait have adopted various strategies to strengthen their food security systems, including formulating national food strategies to boost domestic production, diversifying import sources, reducing waste, and building reserve capacity.

Additionally, these countries are embracing agritech, such as vertical farming and digital tools, to enhance supply chains and increase food production. In response to unfavourable climate conditions for agriculture, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have also invested in farmlands overseas.

Kuwait in particular is looking at boosting local food supply, along with diversifying import sources, and streamlining border control procedures to meet future challenges.

Source: Zawya

Countries like the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait have adopted various strategies to strengthen their food security systems.

LUXURY, COMFORT, AND THRILLING PERFORMANCE

We got behind the wheel of the Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid, the luxury British brand’s powerful sedan.

In May this year, Bentley Bahrain hosted an exclusive two-day test drive event at the picturesque Bahrain Harbour giving us an opportunity to experience the latest models from the British luxury car brand.

Headlining the showcase and offering car enthusiasts a scenic drive around Bahrain Bay was the Flying Spur Hybrid. In many ways, it is the quintessential British luxury sedan promising an exhilarating performance, effortless power, and British hand craftsmanship. Available with a twin-turbocharged 4.0 litre Bentley V8 engine or a 2.9 litre V6 Bentley hybrid, it offers a choice between three driving modes to shift between Comfort, Sport, and Custom delivering a unique experience, whether you sit behind the front seats or at the wheel.

The twin-turbocharged 4.0 litre V8 engine with a power output of 542 bhp and 770 Nm of torque propels you from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. The

more efficient 2.9 litre V6 hybrid delivers the power for which Bentley is known.

The car can achieve top speeds of 177 mph powered by its 100 kW electric motor, driving at speeds of up to 87 mph on electric power alone.

The intelligent navigation system, unique among luxury hybrid cars, enables the car to automatically switch between its three modes - EV, Hybrid, or Hold at any point in the journey to maximise efficiency.

The cut crystal-style jewelled headlamps and the polished chrome quad oval tailpipe finishers at the rear give the Flying Spur an instantlyrecognisable Bentley identity. However, buyers have the opportunity to personalise the Flying Spur inside and out.

visit the Bentley website: https:// bahrain.bentleymotors.com or call +973 1745 9111

The car can achieve top speeds of 177 mph powered by its 100 kW electric motor, driving at speeds of up to 87 mph on electric power alone.

EYE ON THE FUTURE

Omar Al-Zubaidi, Head of Genesis Middle East and Africa discusses his Vision for the Luxury Car Brand.

In the middle of the ancient oasis city of AlUla, Saudi Arabia, Gulf Insider’s Charlie Cooksey caught up with Omar Al-Zubaidi, the Head of Genesis Middle East and Africa. They spoke about the luxury car brand’s electrified GV60, GV70, and G80 launch at the opulent location.

Al-Zubaidi also shared his insights on the brand’s approach to electric vehicle infrastructure and its vision for the future.

Congratulations on launching three beautiful Genesis electric vehiclesthe electrified GV60, GV70 and G80. While the GV70 and G80 have a similar uniform, what was the idea behind the difference in design with the GV60?

The GV60 is Genesis’ first dedicated EV platform, unlike the GV70 and G80 which were both transferred from ICE Engines to electrified platforms. Genesis has always steered in the direction of enabling its vehicles to

transfer to EV platforms in the future. The GV70 and G80 were designed to make way for this shift from ICE Engines to EVs. The GV60 takes a different route and is available with EV exclusively; not with the ICE Engine.

Can you shed some light on the crystal sphere in the GV60?

Given that the EVs don’t produce any sound, we focused on how the customer would be indicated that the car was turned on and can move. That’s how the crystal sphere came in, serving the additional purpose of giving this first EV platform of Genesis a unique and distinct feature.

In your opinion, how are the governments and the automobile industry enhancing the infrastructure development for EVs?

From Genesis’ point of view, there isn’t much use in waiting for the answer to whether the chicken came first or the egg. While we’re sure that the governments are pushing towards sustainable energies and EVs, it’s up to us to develop the relevant infrastructure and features for our vehicles and improve the driving experience for our customers.

One such unique feature is the V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) service by Genesis that’s never been seen before. It’s a mobile vehicle service that will be introduced with the GV60, providing a way for customers to get immediate support in case of accidents, battery shortages or shutdowns.

What is your take on critiques suggesting that the Gulf Region is far behind Europe and North America in terms of EV infrastructure?

The infrastructure development is on the right track. However, the key difference between Europe, the USA, and the GCC is the climate. Given the temperatures in the GCC, we need additional development time to introduce chargers and an infrastructure that’s suitable for this region.

We’re already witnessing certain companies providing chargers that are suitable for the GCC, so I believe we’re on the right track towards building

the infrastructure. Another point to note is that customers of Genesis will be provided with home boxes. On the other hand, governments are also pushing contractors to equip apartments with EV charging stations in the buildings making the infrastructure more accessible.

Why is Genesis placing a strong focus on developing the Middle East market for its products?

When I started Genesis Middle East and Africa, we were #5 worldwide. The region [Middle East] is now #2 after America in terms of the number of units sold and attention from the headquarters. So globally, Genesis Middle East is our #2 export market after America directly. This gives us the focus and attention to develop more in the Middle East market and deliver more to our customers.

Where would you say Genesis positions itself in the market now, concerning pricing and other brands?

As far as pricing is concerned, our vehicles are reasonable compared to most of our competition. We are one of the top five luxury brands, and we will keep growing in the region. We look forward to continue being the leader in the luxury EV market as well. For now, we’re maintaining the balance by ensuring the value of our brand not pushing our production too high.

What’s your favourite Genesis model and what do you drive in Dubai?

I drive both the GV80 and G90, but I like the GV80 more. The G90 is a sedan and a nice car to drive, but the noise cancellation is also high. The market, however, leans towards SUVs more, so that’s what makes the GV80 my preferred ride as well.

As far as pricing is concerned, our vehicles are reasonable compared to most of our competition.