Benchmark Middle East August 2015 by Benchmark Middle East

benchmark middle east

AUGUST 2015 / VOL. 4 NO. 7

Work + Play = Life

Published from Dubai Media City

AUGUST 2015

the digital generation_

THE UAE

2.1m 502,000

GETS

(active users)

SOCIAL IN NUMBERS We’re a nation of Facebook fans, tweeters, LinkedIn members and YouTube addicts, according to the latest statistics. The UAE has one of the Arab world’s largest signup rates to social-media sites – with 60.4 per cent of residents Facebook members, second only to Qatar –which has been boosted by the high penetration of mobile phones. But there is a pronounced gender gap, with more men actively using social portals. Here’s how the numbers stack up

Social media users in the UAE

260m videos watched daily across MENA region

The Arab world is online

UAE online in numbers The UAE has one of the Arab world’s largest sign-up rates to social media sites p8

THE BOSS: Interview

Ali Matar, head of talent solutions for LinkedIn in the Middle East and North Africa p36

Travel: York, England Just two hours by train from London, lies this beautiful city p44

benchmark middle east

inside

AUGUST 2015 / VOL. 4 NO. 7

Work + Play = Life

AUGUST 2015

Published from Dubai Media City

AUGUST 2015

THE DIGITAL GENERATION_

THE UAE

2.1m 502,000

GETS

(active users)

Social media users in the UAE

260m videos watched daily across MENA region

UAE online in numbers The UAE has one of the Arab world’s largest sign-up rates to social media sites p8

THE BOSS: Interview

Ali Matar, head of talent solutions for LinkedIn in the Middle East and North Africa p36

Travel: York, England Just two hours by train from London, lies this beautiful city p44

The Arab world is online

Cover design: Geri Batara Sonny

Work

UAE Online in numbers The UAE has one of the Arab world’s largest sign-up rates to social media sites – with 60.4 per cent of residents Facebook members, second only to Qatar – which has been boosted by the high penetration of mobile phones.

Top 10 online trends Midway through 2015, Benchmark assesses the top trends shaping the internet in the Gulf region and beyond.

How to get hired online? It’s difficult to remember what job-hunting was like before the web, given the rapid rise of recruitment sites, online screening and video interviewing.

How to be an online entrepreneur? Many wannabe web entrepreneurs long for that elusive ‘eureka’ moment — the unique idea that will cement their place in history as the Mark Zuckerberg of the Arab world.

Do Youtubers make cash? Fancy earning $7m a year? All you have to do is upload a few videos to YouTube…

What's hot and what's not in social media Benchmark’s guide to what’s hot, and what’s not, in social media in 2015. Just don’t ‘cut out and keep’ – it could all look very different in six months’ time.

THE BOSS: Interview Q&A with Ali Matar, head of talent solutions for LinkedIn in the Middle East and North Africa

Work: Events planner Here are some of the top business events over the next two months, covering the Gulf region and beyond.

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PLAY

Travel: York, England Writing about York in England is as hard, as it has so many appealing facets it’s difficult to choose which one to highlight first.

Oman Air Business Class review Is it better to travel than arrive? There’s a Taoist proverb that says ‘the journey is the reward’, writes Scott Armstrong.

Motoring: Be Bold, Be Bentley Behind the wheel of a Kingfisher blue Bentley Continental GT V8 S Convertible.

56 60 62 64 66

Fashion for Her and Him Top 5 Rental Properties Top 5 Properties to Buy Play: Events planner After the hiatus in live music over the month of Ramadan, the UAE comes alive with performances by stars from the Arab world and beyond. Here’s the lowdown on the top musical events over the next two months. Health: How to combat office stress Struggling in a high stress job environment? Follow these golden rules to tackle workplace tension.

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Editor's Note

recent report by the globalwebindex.com put the average time we spend online daily at 6.15 hours for 2014, that will probably rise at least another 10 minutes a day by the end of the year. If you do a whole lot of (not too complicated) maths that means in 2014 people on average spent 95 days online, that’s more than a quarter of the whole year just googling, posting on social media, liking, poking, tweeting and youtube-ing. So much so that for many of us the first thing we do in the morning is not roll over to wish our partner good morning, rather we check what’s been happening on facebook on our smart phones. And so welcome to the big online edition (in print) of Benchmark Middle East, dedicated to all things www. In our Work section our mega graphic plots the prolific increase in web traffic and social media use in the Gulf in our In Numbers section.

We discover the secrets of how to become an online entrepreneur, we look at the top 10 digital trends ahead, and Ben Flanagan asks “What’s hot, and what’s not in social media?” The Boss this month is cracker. We speak to LinkedIn’s regional head of talent solutions Ali Matar who talks about the rise and rise of the professional networking platform. And he gives us five tips to use LinkedIn like a boss. And we also tackle ‘How to get hired online’. Meanwhile over in Play we climb behind the wheel of a Bentley V8 continental convertible, plus we look at how Oman Air competes with its Business Class seats. If you looking for somewhere beautiful to live we bring you our Top Five properties to rent and to buy, and we’ve often got some fashion pointers (including some online buys). Oh, to top it off, we’ve got five amazing ways to avoid office stress, aren’t we good to you? Scott Armstrong, Chief Executive Editor

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more LIFE happens here EVERY TABLE HAS A STORY. Share your favorite Chiliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s moments. Check in, snap a photo, upload, and use

#CHILISUAE

www.chilisuae.com

Work UAE online in numbers

THE UAE

Wor k 5m

2.1m 502,000 (active users)

GETS

SOCIAL IN NUMBERS We’re a nation of Facebook fans, tweeters, LinkedIn members and YouTube addicts, according to the latest statistics. The UAE has one of the Arab world’s largest sign-up rates to social media sites – with 60.4 per cent of residents Facebook members, second only to Qatar – which has been boosted by the high penetration of mobile phones. But there is a pronounced gender gap, with more men actively using social media. Here’s how the numbers stack up

Social media users in the UAE

260m videos watched daily across MENA region

The Arab world is online 8

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1,712,841,415 1,045,620,404

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432,069,950

532,231,738

592,658,970

MBC (Arab TV Network) Arab Idol (Talent Show) Platinum Records (Music) MBC The Voice (Talent Show) Al Aan TV (TV Network)

1 2 3 4 5

Social media users in the Arab world

TOP UAE

82m 17,198,900 22%

Tweets per day from the Arab world

Hussain Al Jassmi (Music) The X Factor Arabia (Talent Show) Star Academy Arabia (Talent Show)

7 8 9 10

196,608,124 184,092,100 180,363,897

329,236,684

Al Arabiya (News Station)

Arabs Got Talent (Talent Show)

YOUTUBER CHANNELS

363,852,591

UAE online in numbers Work

Penetration of social media in the region

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Work UAE online in numbers

GENDER GAP Women UAE Twitter users

43%

57%

UAE YouTube users

UAE LinkedIn users

34%

28%

66%

UAE Facebook users

29%

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Men

71%

72%

Global average of Facebook users

57%

43%

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UAE online in numbers

Connected population

Work

1,043,000 Internet subscriptions

16m

Active mobile connections in the UAE in 2013

10.5%

Increase in internet subscriptions 2012-2013

192.9%

Mobile penetration rate (one of the highest in the world)

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Work UAE online in numbers

Number of Facebook users in the UAE

June 2012

2.77

(between June 2010 and October 2014, in million) June 2011

2.34 June 2010

1.67 Facebook in the UAE: A snapshot

5m 48% 65%

Total number of Facebook users in the UAE (October 2014)

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Of UAE Facebook users are aged under 30

Of Arab Facebook users are aged under 30

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UAE online in numbers

May 2014

4.8

October 2014

Facebook user penetration in the UAE and the Arab World

May 2013

3.42

Qatar

Number of Facebook users in the GCC (and percentage of all regional users) as of October 2014 Saudi Arabia 8,600,000 (48%)

UAE 5,000,000 (28%)

60.4

Lebanon

50.5

Kuwait

50.3

Jordan

47.9

Tunisia

42.1

Bahrain

40.3

Syria

38.1

Palestine

32.7

Oman

29.3

Saudi Arabia

28.7

Morocco

23.5

Oman 880,000 (5%)

Qatar 1,260,000 (7%)

Total 1,7820,000

Iraq

21.2

Algeria

18.7

Djibouti Kuwait 1,520,000 (9%)

62.9%

UAE

Egypt

Bahrain 560,000 (3%)

Work

Yemen

6.1

Mauritania

5.8

Sudan

5.0

Comoros

4.9

Libya

3.7

Somalia

2.5

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Work 10 Online Trends

Top 10 trends in online this year

B n F anagan Be EN Fl LANAGAN

year online can feel like a decade in the real world. Multibillion-dollar companies are made, or broken, in a matter of months; internet use is rising ex-

ponentially in the Middle East and Africa; and some of our most ingrained daily routines – writing a tweet, or sharing a Snapchat – are through services that did not exist a 10 years ago. Midway through 2015, Benchmark assesses the top trends shaping the internet in the Gulf region and beyond.

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1. Internet traffic growing apace Not only are more and more people in the Middle East and Africa using the internet, but they are using it more heavily. Web traffic is growing faster in the region than anywhere else in the world, according to a report by Cisco. The technology giant says internet protocol (IP) traffic in the region will grow by an average of 44 percent a year between 2014 and 2019. That’s almost double the global growth rate of 23 percent. Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

10 Online Trends Work

All eyes on online video Growth in online video is also growing sharply this year. According to Cisco, video will account for 80 percent of all consumer internet traffic by 2019, up from 64 percent in 2014. Such growth is also playing out in the Gulf region, which already has some of the highest rates of YouTube use in the world. Harris Breslow, associate professor in the Department of Mass Communication at the American University of Sharjah, said the rising popularity of video meant that other platforms are starting to compete with the Google-owned service. “User-generated video will increasingly migrate away from YouTube as other platforms vie for this form of user-generated content,” said Breslow, who is also director of the Emirates Internet Project.

‘Mobilegeddon’ is nigh Google tweaked its algorithms on April 21 to favour mobile-friendly websites, in a move dubbed ‘mobilegeddon’. For most internet businesses, this did not quite mark the final judgement day implied by the gloomy nickname. But it did have an impact, with an Adobe Systems report finding that traffic to non-mobile-friendly websites from Google mobile searches fell by 12% in two months. Ashwin Salian, Managing Partner at the Dubai-based digital agency Clique Interactive, said Gulf websites could suffer more than most if ‘mobilegeddon’ starts having a significant impact on search-result pages. “Gulf businesses [would] be affected more by these changes than the global average. As of last year, 85 percent of mobile websites were not even mobile-friendly, just mobile-responsive,” he told Benchmark. Salian said that, Google algorithms aside, having a decent mobile site is becoming more and more important. “More than 42 percent of searches in the GCC were conducted on mobile as opposed to desktop or laptop last year. We are at a stage where, mobilegeddon or not, having a mobile-optimised site for a business is a must.”

Facebook Vs YouTube Facebook has considerably upped its video offering this year, in what’s viewed by some as a direct challenge to YouTube. In March it introduced a function whereby users can embed Facebook-hosted video on other sites, a key feature of rival YouTube. In July Facebook said it is testing a ‘Watch Later’ button for videos, billed by Time magazine as ‘another stab at what YouTube does best’. And it is also testing a way for video uploaders to make money by sharing ad revenue – which is, you guessed it, another pop at YouTube’s business. Such features are all geared towards boosting video views on Facebook – thus translating into more ad revenue. Video is already one of the fastest-growing categories on Facebook, with 4 billion daily video views on the site in the second quarter of 2015.

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Work 10 Online Trends

Clock ticking on wearables This year saw the much-hyped arrival of the Apple Watch, to mixed reviews. While the product has not yet officially launched in the Middle East, Salian pointed to the popularity of fitness-tracking wristbands as evidence of the rise of ‘wearable’ internetconnected devices in the region. “Smartphones are growing in size literally, allowing space for smaller devices in the market. In the Middle East in particular, wearable tech seems to have stepped in as a unique fashion accessory,” he said. But it remains to be seen whether 2015 will be the year of the wearables. “With every new wearable launch, there is talk of that year being the year it will take off. The trick to wearable tech is that it needs to be made desirable and indispensable to consumers,” said Salian. “2015 might not be the year wearable tech takes off – we’re past the half-year mark already – but there could be a change in the near future. We just have to wait and watch.”

Shop ‘til you drop on your smartphone Google said in July it is testing a function that will add ‘buy’ buttons to promoted mobile-search results, something designed to encourage more people to shop online. Salian said he expects such features to boost smartphone shopping in the Gulf region. “There’s already an increase in e-commerce, and we see that increase happening on mobile as well. The Gulf already relies on mobile for many of its transactional experiences, and the recent introduction of the ‘buy’ button will contribute to this growth across regions.”

Mobile ads poised for growth People in the Middle East are crazy about their smartphones – but advertisers, it seems, are not. According to the regional entrepreneurs’ platform Wamda, mobile accounts for just 3 percent of the Middle East and North Africa’s total advertising market. That is despite the fact that, in many countries, consumers are more likely to access the web on their phones than they are on a desktop or laptop computer. Experts forecast the value of mobile advertising to increase this year – possibly at the expense of desktop ads.

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10 Online Trends Work

Sites that don’t do exactly what they say on the tin It’s all about the interface in the 2015 online world: Some of the fastest-growing sites offer a handy shopfront, but aren’t actually involved in the nitty gritty of the services they sell. As Tom Goodwin, senior vice president of strategy and innovation at Havas Media, wrote in March: “Uber, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicles. Facebook, the world’s most popular media owner, creates no content. Alibaba, the most valuable retailer, has no inventory. And Airbnb, the world’s largest accommodation provider, owns no real estate. Something interesting is happening.”

In-store mobile payments Apple in July named the United Kingdom as the first market outside the US in which its digital-wallet system will be launched. Apple Pay lets consumers use their iPhone 6, iPad or Apple Watch to make in-store payments in a similar way to contactless credit cards. It was reported in May that the California tech firm is in discussion with UAE banks about rolling out the service locally. If talks are successful then iPhone users here could soon be paying for their morning coffee with a tap of their phone.

Death of individuality Machines now know what we like better than we do – even when it comes to the underground music scene. Recommendations algorithms are increasingly influencing what music we listen to (Spotify), the TV shows we watch (Netflix) and the books we read (Amazon). Alexander McNabb, a UAE-based author and consultant in publishing, media and digital communications, pointed to the way suggestions are made by online music-streaming services. And this, he says, is making cultural consumption a little samey. “It all coalesces into a soup of repetitive mainstream experience,” he said. “A little like the way all classroom plasticine eventually turns purple-brown.”

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Work How to get hired online

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How to get hired online

Work

How to get hired online

Ben Flanagan

t’s difficult to remember what jobhunting was like before the web, given the rapid rise of recruitment sites, online screening and video interviewing. But with more internet tools than ever available for both job seekers and employers, it’s imperative to make the web work for you when looking for your next gig, recruitment experts say. That means job seekers should have a polished profile across all social media sites – not just LinkedIn – and, in the Middle East especially, avoid ill-advised late-night tweets or appearing in compromising pictures on Facebook. Panos Manolopoulos, managing partner at executive-search firm Stanton Chase in the Middle East, gave Benchmark his five tips for how to best present yourself online when looking for a job (see sidebar). These include considering how your overall online profile stands, bearing in mind cultural sensitivities when posting comments on the web, and ensuring you use the right keywords so that recruiters can find you more easily. LinkedIn is an obvious place for employers to both search for new recruits, and check that job applicants are legit. b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t | Au g u s t 2 0 1 5

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Work How to get hired online

“A few years ago it was not required to have a LinkedIn profile. But right now, sometimes not having a LinkedIn profile as a professional might be considered as a flaw or a negative thing. Sometimes you talk about a specific candidate and someone says, ‘yes but this guy doesn’t even have a LinkedIn profile…’,” said Mr Manolopoulos. The recruitment expert said however that LinkedIn, which has more than 364 million members globally, was becoming too crowded a space, given it is used by everyone from the unemployed to global CEOs. “LinkedIn is a very helpful tool. The problem is that it has been over-populated. At some point, in the years to come, I’m sure there will be something that is even more specialised,” said Mr Manolopoulos, who is also vice chairman for business excellence at Stanton Chase. Potential employers will usually check out applicants online as part of the recruitment process, invariably making checks across all their social-media networks looking for clues to their professionalism, lifestyle habits, and any ‘red flags’. While having a professional LinkedIn account is important, having too broad a 20

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presence across multiple professional sites can appear desperate and actually be a turn-off to potential employers, warned Mr Manolopoulos. “What we usually advise professionals is to be a little bit more targeted,” he said. “Our advice is not necessarily to throw your profile everywhere; it would be better to be a little bit more concentrated in your industry, your main professional interests.” The web has certainly made the recruitment process faster, as well as easing access to job postings, with a number of websites such as Bayt.com highly active in the Middle East. A handful of video-interview specialists have also arrived, including My Interview, Big Screen and Sonru, promising to save employers time and money by shortlisting candidates online before they conduct lengthy face-to-face interviews. Mr Manolopoulos, like many in the recruitment business, said his firm is using Skype and video-conferencing “extensively” to shortlist candidates. But he said such web tools were no substitute to faceto-face job interviews when it comes to senior positions. Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

How to get hired online

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Work

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Work How to get hired online

But with more and more job seekers online, those wanting to stand out from the crowd could choose to look to a somewhat older technology

“The digital era has helped us to be a little bit more efficient when it comes to contacting and finding candidates,” he said. “However it still isn’t a substitute for the work we are doing in assessing the candidates or matching their qualifications and leadership skills to the requirements of the job.” That however only applies to the kind of senior positions handled by Stanton Chase, Mr Manolopoulos said. For lower-ranking positions, such as workers in fast-food restaurants, there could indeed be a place for recruiting purely via online video rather than face-to-face, he said. In that scenario, a recruit could apply for a job online, have their social-media accounts screened by the employer, take part in a virtual interview and be offered the job via email – all without meeting anyone in the ‘real world’. And while the next chief executive of Apple or even the manager of your local back is highly unlikely to be recruited in such a way, it’s clear that web tools are becoming increasingly important in the process. But with more and more job seekers online, those wanting to stand out from the crowd could choose to look to a somewhat older technology, Mr Manolopoulos suggested. In some cases, the trusty handwritten note could be more effective tool for jobseekers than even the most polished LinkedIn profile or video interview. “I’m writing hundreds of emails every day,” said Mr Manolopoulos. “If I pick up my pen and I write a personal note in handwriting to one of my colleagues, you know it is going to be 10 times more powerful than if I just send another email.”

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How to get hired online

Work

PANOS MANOLOPOULOS’ TOP FIVE TIPS FOR ONLINE JOB SEEKERS

Take care of your public profile “Right now, fortunately or unfortunately, we are all public figures. When we are hiring anybody, if you were to Google a name, you might not see only the professional profile of a candidate. But you might have access to a Facebook page, postings on blogs, which may not contribute to a positive public image. So if someone wants to be well perceived in the market, they have to take care of their overall public space.”

Less is more when posting online “People tend to bombard their public profiles, even on LinkedIn, with hundreds of different things. It can be hard to understand what these people are doing. So it’s better to have a public profile that gives the important information about yourself and about your life. But the less the better, the more professional the better. Not too many words, not too many comments that are contradictory.”

Keywords count “Your public profiles should use similar keywords. For example, if you Google ‘executive search’ locally, you will see my name there, because I have worked with the keywords, I’m using specific words for the people that are searching. Sometimes people are bombarding their profiles with too many keywords, and then they become almost impossible to trace.”

Be consistent on the web “If you see me on my LinkedIn profile, and I am wearing my tie and suit, and on the next appearance you see my Facebook page and I’m wearing beachwear in Mikonos, that perhaps might not sound very consistent. I’ve seen a lot of CEOs’ personal profile pages on Facebook, and they have their families, their kids. But those ones that are taking care of their public profiles are quite careful about what they are posting.”

Consider regional sensitivities “In the Middle East people are very sensitive on a number of issues. There are certain areas that you have to be careful with. Try to keep neutral rather than express a strong stance when posting online about certain issues, because that might backfire in the future.”

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Work How to be an online entrepreneur

How to be an online entrepreneur

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How to be an online entrepreneur

Work

Ben Flanagan

B Many wannabe web entrepreneurs long for that elusive ‘eureka’ moment — the unique idea that will cement their place in history as the Mark Zuckerberg of the Arab world

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ut some say playing the imitation game, rather than trying to crack the code of the next big internet sensation, could be the smarter move for regional start-ups. Fadi Bizri, who runs several ventures supporting digital ventures in Lebanon, says there is an idealistic view held by some that only completely new ideas can lead to multimillion-dollar online businesses. But a more reliable route to profitability could be replicating successful website business-models from elsewhere – and then executing them brilliantly in the Arab world, he said. “You can say as an entrepreneur, ‘I’m only going to start a business where the idea is super innovative, and it’s never been done anywhere in the world’. But personally I’m against that,” said Mr Bizri. He pointed to Germany’s Rocket Internet, which has essentially built a business empire in the emerging markets by replicating the web businesses of other companies. Rocket’s ecommerce sites – which include Jumia, Lazada and Linio – have been likened to Amazon.com; it has its own version of PayPal, dubbed BillPay; while EasyTaxi, which is active in the Middle East, is Rocket’s take on Uber. There’s nothing lazy about taking existing business models from the West and making them work locally, said Mr Bizri. “Business-model innovation is still innovation,” he said. “There are many things that were done already many times in the West that haven’t yet fully taken off in the Arab world… It’s not necessarily lazy because – yes the idea and the concept are the same, but the execution is vastly different.” Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

Work How to be an online entrepreneur

Copying successful online business models and making them work in the Arab world is by no means an easy task, Mr Bizri cautioned. For example, regional ecommerce sites have to grapple with regional issues like consumers’ reluctance to use credit cards online, higher shipping costs, and cross-border customs. “Ecommerce in the region is very different to ecommerce in North America or the UK. You have fragmented markets: The average Saudi has vastly different behaviour and purchasing power than the average Egyptian. So you have to execute and implement your plan and you strategy in a very different way.” Mr Bizri, who studied in Montreal and Beirut, has been managing director at Bader Young Entrepreneurs Program for two years. The organisation, formed in 2005, helps entrepreneurs access strategic advice, 26

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Fadi Bizri’s top five tips 1. Work with what you know “Anyone can come up with an idea for a derivation of Snapchat or whatever – but they’d be competing against millions of others. What is infinitely better is if you have industry expertise in some vertical – insurance, law, a specific type of technology, or oil and gas, where you have inside knowledge and networks not a lot of people have – and come up with a disruptive idea within that.”

2. Go for big markets “Building a start-up from scratch is an

18-hour-a-day, five-year process. Whether it’s a small market or a big market, it’s still going to take you a huge amount of effort because you’re building everything from scratch. So you might as well go for a big market, to justify that crazy effort that you have to put in. So always ask yourself: is this a huge market, is this a big business opportunity?”

3. Build a top team “Building an exceptional team that is exceptional for that business, product and market, is key. And it’s not something to

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How to be an online entrepreneur

Business-model innovation is still innovation, There are many things that were done already many times in the West that haven’t yet fully taken off in the Arab world… It’s not necessarily lazy because – yes the idea and the concept are the same, but the execution is vastly different Fadi Bizri

for web entrepreneurs be taken lightly – it’s something that you should sweat on and worry about a lot. If you can’t build a top-notch team – say you don’t have the network or you have zero experience in that domain – then maybe you shouldn’t even try doing the business.”

4. Build something 10 times — not 10% — better “Often when it comes to online digital there is already some competition. So you can’t build a product that’s just 10 percent better – it has to be 10 times better. People won’t switch otherwise. If I have an

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Android phone and I’m happy with it, and you come up with a phone that’s just a little bit better, why would I switch?”

5. Hustle “Real entrepreneurs hustle. You have to have somebody just getting out there, talking, meeting and networking, and connecting and so on. Otherwise you fall into the trap of locking yourself up and coming up with insane amazing ideas and features that look great on paper, but that are completely unwanted, unneeded or useless.”

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coaching and investment. He was previously co-founder of Seeqnce, Lebanon’s first start-up ‘accelerator’, which launched in 2010 and has since closed. Before that, Mr Bizri worked on his own digital start-up projects, iSpicePhotos.com and iltaqi.com. Though he acknowledges those were not major successes, he said they gave him a valuable learning experience. “All of my failings I injected into the Seeqnce accelerator,” he said. “With failures, you can start calling them experiences after a few years.” Along with his work at Bader, Mr Bizri also helps manage Division 1, a $30-40 million seed-stage fund that plans to invest in mainly Lebanese start-ups, as well as Speed, a new tech start-up accelerator in Beirut. Both those initiatives are funded or partfunded through Circular 331, an initiative launched in 2013 by the Lebanese central bank that earmarked $400 million for commercial banks to invest directly in start-ups, accelerator programmes and funds. The initiative stipulates that fund recipients maintain a presence in Lebanon, a country that Mr Bizri acknowledges suffers from “chronic instability”, a factor he said can deter people from taking the required risks in the start-up space. “A lot of brain-drain happens as a result – a lot of our top talent is outside of Lebanon. Because they don’t see the opportunities in Lebanon, or they just get fed up with everything – with the politics, the lack of politics, the lack of governance, the lack of progress, the corruption,” he said. Despite that, the 331 been a “game-changer” in boosting the local start-up scene – and even attracting digital entrepreneurs from elsewhere in the region to relocate to Beirut and target the wider region from there, Mr Bizri said. “There was a scarcity of money before, and now there’s a tonne of it,” he said. “We already have people talking to us, saying ‘yes we’ll come to Lebanon and cooperate, no biggie’. We’re very excited about that – we want to attract top, top talent back into Lebanon.” So it’s not impossible to imagine the Arab world’s answer to Mark Zuckerberg emerging in Lebanon – and it won’t even matter if they are a mere imitation. Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

Work Do Youtubers make cash?

Fancy earning $7m a year? All you have to do is upload a few videos to YouTube…

Ben Flanagan

t least that is the case for the Swedish video-game commentator ‘PewDiePie’, who currently ranks as the video-sharing site’s biggest star. His short

and sometimes shrieky videos have attracted an astronomical 9.5 billion views, helping propel the 25-year-old into stardom — and a six-figure salary. But striking it rich on YouTube is not, of course, as simple as making a few home videos – something many professional uploaders in the Middle East have found. It is certainly possible to make money from the site, either from a one-off viral hit, or by having a consistent string of popular uploads. The Google-owned site’s official partners get to keep about 55 percent of the advertising revenue derived from videos they upload, which – in PewDiePie’s case, at least – can amount to millions. But YouTube ads don’t quite add up like that for some professional YouTube uploaders in the Middle East. 28

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Sima Najjar, based in Jordan, is the founder of the ‘how-to’ site eKeif, which began life in 2012 as a YouTube channel while its main website was still under construction. Its videos, in Arabic, include guides on everything from beauty tips and cookery to health and family advice. The eKeif YouTube channel (‘keif’ means ‘how’ in Arabic) now has more than 161,800 subscribers, and 46 million video views, with about 55 percent coming from Saudi Arabia. Hit videos include one on how to put braids in your hair and another on how to stop pans from boiling over by putting a wooden spoon on top (who knew?). Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

Do Youtubers make cash?

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Ms Najjar said her company – an official YouTube Partner – produces between 40 and 50 videos a month, using both an inhouse team and freelancers. But while she says the company earns revenues amounting to thousands of dollars a month from YouTube, this does not cover the expense of creating the videos in the first place. “It’s not going to pay all the bills, that’s for sure,” Ms Najjar said. “For us, because it’s a huge team and we have a pool of freelancers and the in-house team and we have marketing expenses, we actually have a lot of expenses to pay that cannot be covered only from YouTube.” Ms Najjar said she would like YouTube to give more support to companies specialising in creating videos. But she said it is still a “great platform”, given it can be used to both make money, drive traffic to your website, and get feedback on what kind of videos users want. b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t | Au g u s t 2 0 1 5

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Work Do Youtubers make cash?

Another Middle Eastern start-up with a strong YouTube presence is the Arabiclanguage parenting site SuperMama.me, which typically produces about five videos a week. The site, which launched in 2011, currently has about 230,000 YouTube subscribers and more than 32 million video views. Yasmine El Mehairy, the Egypt-based co-founder of SuperMama, said video was becoming more and more important for the site. “You can’t just depend on written text content. Because now most mothers are active on their phones, they’re in a hurry, they don’t want to read the answers,” she said. SuperMama videos are typically short and include interviews with doctors with topics designed to appeal to new and expectant mums, as well as DIY and home tips. One of the most popular videos, which detailed how to prepare a pomegranate, attracted about 100,000 views in three days, Ms El Mehairy said. But SuperMama, like eKeif, does not make big bucks from YouTube – with revenues amounting to thousands of dollars on a good month, or just hundreds during Ramadan when many Arab viewers choose to watch dramas on TV.

Saudi Arabia has the world’s highest per-capita consumption of

Sima Najjar The Founder / CEO of eKeif

YouTube — as well as the emergence of other global video platforms that pay uploaders

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Do Youtubers make cash?

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“We do make money off YouTube, but it does not by any means cover our costs regarding our video production,” said Ms El Mehairy, pointing to expenses such as salaries for a camera operator and scriptwriter. But, she added, there were other advantages in using YouTube, such as making it easier to build audiences. “Video is the way to go in the future,” she said. “We’re not making as much as we would like to out of it. But at least we know that we are building in the right direction, so that eventually one day it will pay off.” Other positive signs for Middle Eastern video creators are the continued strong uptake of video in the region – Saudi Arabia has the world’s highest per-capita consumption of YouTube – as well as the emergence of other global video platforms that pay uploaders. These include Vessel, launched by former Hulu CEO Jason Kilar – which reportedly pays video creators 70 percent of ad revenue, 15 percentage points more than YouTube. And Facebook is also experimenting with sharing ad revenue as it looks to take on Google’s video giant. All that means there could soon be more ways for Middle East video stars to grab a slice of the PewDiePie.

VIDEO BILLS, THE YOUTUBE STARS: THREE FAMOUS UPLOADERS AND WHAT THEY EARN

1. PewDiePie: $7m in 2014 He’s YouTube’s biggest star – and has a pay cheque to match. Video-game commentator Felix Kjellberg, 25, known to fans as PewDiePie, earned $7m in 2014, it was reported in July. The star has more than 38 million followers on YouTube and his videos have clocked up an incredible 9.5 billion views. The income comes mainly from a cut of YouTube advertising, but also some product-placement deals, it was reported.

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2. ‘Charlie Bit My Finger’: $155,000+ after 400m views Child nibbles another child’s finger. Dad earns more than £100,000 ($155,000). So it went for Brit Howard Davies-Carr, who in 2007 uploaded to YouTube a short video of his two sons – involving, you guessed it, one biting the finger of another – which ended up going viral. In 2012, the Guardian reported the video had earned its creator more than £100,000 after 400 million views. It has now received more than double that number of views.

3. ‘Fenton the Dog!’: $775 in 24 hours Benchmark’s favourite. In 2011, a 13-year-old boy captured a 47-second video of a man wildly chasing after his dog, which had run after some deer in Richmond Park, south west London. The original video has now more than 12.8 million views and counting. Ali Goodyear, 37, whose son shot the clip on a mobile phone, reportedly earned £500 ($775) in just one day after agreeing a revenuesharing deal with YouTube.

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Work What's hot and what's not in social media

What’s hot and what’s not in social media Ben Flanagan

nternet users are a fickle bunch: Just ask ‘Jeeves’, MySpace or Friends Reunited. One minute a website is at the centre of the Zeitgeist, attracting droves of clicks and accolades as ‘The Next Facebook’. The next – as with noughties social network Bebo – it all goes the way of the Dodo. So here’s Benchmark’s guide to what’s hot, and what’s not, in social media in 2015. Just don’t ‘cut out and keep’ – it could all look very different in six months’ time.

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What's hot and what's not in social media

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1. Snapchat

Photos that disappear after a few seconds. That’s the deceptively simple key function of Snapchat – and it’s taking the Arab world by storm. People over 25 don’t really get it, and perhaps that’s the point: The younger generation’s nosy parents are on Facebook, and kids don’t really like that. But Snapchat is growing faster in the Middle East than any other social network ever has – particularly among those aged 14 to 24 – said Harris Breslow, associate professor in the Department of Mass Communication at the American University of Sharjah. “Snapchat penetration in the UAE is approximately 20 percent, which is phenomenal over the short time that the app has been live,” he said. “The app is particularly popular amongst young Arab females because of the privacy that it enables.” Snapchat’s regional popularity surged further in mid-July, when it livestreamed Ramadan prayers from Mecca. All the more reason why it’s currently the region’s hottest social-media site.

2. Instagram

Instagram is yet another way to share images – this time more permanently. The social photo-sharing site has amassed a large user base in the UAE – but unlike Snapchat is popular across all age groups.

4. Facebook

Facebook is big – in fact, it’s the colossus of the social-media space. Its user base in the Middle East is still growing, although some expect the rate to inevitably slow. Nonetheless, there’s no denying the site’s dominance in the field, with 1.67 million users in the UAE in June 2010, rising to 5 million in October 2014.

3. Single-use social apps

Some users found it annoying at the time, but there was sound business sense behind Facebook’s unbundling of its Messenger service into a separate app. Likewise, its 2014 acquisition of WhatsApp for a not-insignificant $22 billion shows a similar desire for apps that do one thing, and do it well.

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5. Niche networks

While Facebook looks set to remain the biggest social network for some time, there is still room more niche networks in the market, says Breslow, who is also director of the Emirates Internet Project. “Social media are beginning to diversify in order to capture specific demographics,” he said. “This is certainly what the new players are doing, since the existing players, such as Facebook, already have the one-size-fitsall market.” Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

Work What's hot and what's not in social media

not 1. Twitter

It may have made its name in the Middle East during the Arab Spring, but not everything is rosy for Twitter. The company went public in 2013, but still does not turn a profit, and some are concerned about its slowing growth in users, both globally and in the Middle East. That global outlook was said to contribute to the recent departure of chief executive Dick Costolo. Tip: Don’t go public before you’re profitable.

2. Google Plus

You’re probably a member of Google Plus – although you may not even know it. The websearch giant’s social-media network technically has more than a billion users – but only because those with other Google accounts automatically get signed up. Yet the number of true active users of the network is now less than 1% of the total 2.2 billion users on Google, according to a report by Stone Temple Consulting.

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3. YouTube

Despite Middle Eastern countries having some of the highest per-capita usages of YouTube, some see the dominance of the video-sharing site as being under threat. This is because of the rise of more direct visual-based networks like Snapchat and Instagram, said Breslow. “YouTube may be the big loser here as young people, in particular, find new ways to produce and distribute vlogs – visual blogs – that circumvents the centralised model that YouTube uses.”

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What's hot and what's not in social media

4. Traditional news websites

Mainstream media have not shied away from using social networking, with many seeing it as a way to drive readers to their websites, and consequently boost advertising revenues. But Facebook recently launched ‘Instant Articles’, where it publishes news from established media outlets directly – so you never have to leave the walled confines of FB. Experts say socialmedia platforms are increasingly becoming distributors of news, not just aggregators.

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Top social media accounts to follow Facebook: National Geographic Abu Dhabi The National Geographic Abu Dhabi Facebook page has more than 12.7 million fans, ranking it as the most popular in the UAE.

Twitter: @AlArabiya_Brk Al Arabiya Breaking News was revealed in December as the most-followed account in the UAE, and it now has more than 8.4 million followers. Tweets are in Arabic but Englishspeakers can follow @alarabiya_eng.

Google+: Sephora The French brand and chain of cosmetics stores is the UAE's most popular G+ account, with 4,372,889 followers.

5. Words

The writing seems to be on the wall for words, at least when it comes to social media. “Millennials in particular, but also younger members of Gen Y, heavily favour visual communication over text-based communication,” says Breslow. Hence the rise of Snapchat and Instagram – and the annoyance of those who write for a living…

YouTube: MBC The Dubai-based Arab TV network's YouTube channel has attracted more than 1.7m views globally.

Plus you can follow us at www.facebook.com/benchmarklive and on www.twitter.com/benchmarkliving SOURCE: Twitter, Socialbakers, Socialblade.com b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t | Au g u s t 2 0 1 5

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LINKED WORK THE BOSS

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THE BOSS

WORK THE BOSS

Ben Flanagan

inkedIn’s profile is on the rise in the Middle East and North Africa. The professional-networking site now has 15 million members in the region,

with its UAE user base having doubled to more than two million in the last three years. And in January it moved to a new office in Dubai with room for more than 80 staff. Ali Matar, the network’s regional head of talent solutions, explains the growth – and how there’s only way to get a job at the company: Via LinkedIn itself. Q&A with Ali Matar, head of talent solutions for LinkedIn in the Middle East and North Africa Hi Ali. Tell us what’s new at LinkedIn in the Middle East. In January we moved offices from Internet City, where we had space for about 20 employees, to the Central Business Towers in Dubai Media City, where we now have room for more than 80 employees. And in April we launched LinkedIn in Arabic. We’re very excited about connecting Arabic speaking professionals across the globe, and helping them be more productive and successful. Your Dubai office opened in October 2012. How has the regional business progressed since then? We have been very active across the 15 MENA countries that we cover, with a special focus on the GCC countries. We have been working closely with clients from different industries, which include Emirates Airline, STC, Etisalat, and Al Futtaim. We also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Authority for human resources to help their more than 90,000 employees in the government sector create LinkedIn profiles.

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At the time, LinkedIn said it had a million users in the UAE. How many are there now, and what about the wider region? We have more than 15 million members in MENA, more than two million in the UAE, and more than one million in both KSA and Egypt. What’s your Dubai office like – is it all Google-y with Playstations and free food, or does it have a more shirt-andtie feel? Part of LinkedIn’s culture is ‘humour,’ which means we enjoy what we do and the co-workers we work with. This brings the best in everyone at LinkedIn. We do have facilities for our teams to enjoy during their lunch break, and building tighter relationships with each other, as we truly believe relationships matter. How is the uptake of LinkedIn’s corporate services in the Middle East, as well as individual users taking premium subscriptions? Our customers have been enjoying our services across our different lines of businesses – Talent Solutions, Marketing Solutions, and Sales Solutions. Our ultimate objective is to transform the way companies hire, market, and sell. Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

WORK THE BOSS

You’ve told us how users can make the most of LinkedIn (see sidebar). But is there anything they should absolutely avoid? Don’t misrepresent your work experience on your profile, or plagiarize other members’ content as your own. As you mentioned, LinkedIn launched an Arabic platform in February. Why was that important and how many people are switching? Our vision is to create an economic opportunity for every professional in the global workforce, and today we have more than 400 million Arabic speakers. Our aim is to support all of these professionals and to help them be more productive and successful. Today there are multiple nationalisation initiatives across the GCC countries, like Sauisation, Emiratisation, Qatarisa38

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tion. With LinkedIn available in Arabic we can work and partner even closer with universities since new graduates are the main source of talent for national job vacancies. Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, joined LinkedIn as a member and ‘influencer’ last October. How did that come about and are you reaching out to other Gulf leaders? Sheikh Mohammed is a LinkedIn Influencer with more than 330,000 followers. He has published some great articles on LinkedIn regarding leadership, innovation, employment, and some other key topics. It has been a very inspiring experience so far. We do work closely with our global team that is responsible for the influencers program and so far the support has been phenomenal. How can political leaders best use LinkedIn, and how is it different to

them using, say, Facebook or Twitter? What’s important to remember is that LinkedIn operates the world’s largest professional network on the internet with more than 364 million members in over 200 countries and territories. Context matters, so when political leaders use LinkedIn, they need to keep in mind that they’re talking to a professional audience. What’s it like working at LinkedIn, and how does the culture compare with your previous jobs? The majority of employees join LinkedIn because of our unique culture, which has five pillars: transformation, integrity, humour, collaboration, and results focused. When we hire people we assess them against each pillar separately. That helps us hire the best and brightest, while ensuring they’re a good cultural fit. Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

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We hire employees through LinkedIn, only. We also hire through referrals but the candidate must have a LinkedIn profile to start with. Having a professional profile can help you land your dream job ALI MATAR Head of talent solutions for LinkedIn in the Middle East and North Africa

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WORK THE BOSS

75 364 percent of the

million

members on LinkedIn are passive candidates, which means they aren’t actively searching for jobs, but are open to discussing open positions

You’re also a mentor at Flat6Labs Abu Dhabi, a start-up accelerator programme. How is the UAE’s start-up scene looking, and what do you get out of mentoring young businesses? It has been a great experience and I’ve learned a lot from all these different entrepreneurs who have some inspiring ideas. At the same time, I shared with them some of the best business practices that start-ups should be thinking of on the short, mid, and long term. I can say it has been a very exciting engagement for all parties. We’ve checked out your LinkedIn profile – impressive stuff. But tell us: Did it help you get your job at LinkedIn itself? We hire employees through LinkedIn, only. We also hire through referrals but the candidate must have a LinkedIn profile to start with. Having a professional profile can help you land your dream job. Interesting though, around 75-percent of the 364 million members on LinkedIn are passive candidates, which means they aren’t actively searching for jobs, but are open to discussing open positions if the right opportunity presents itself. This is the segment of the targeted talent pool that companies are interested to tap to, and before LinkedIn there was no way to reach this talent pool at scale. 40

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Ali Matar’s top five tips to get the most out of LinkedIn

Use your profile to paint a picture of yourself that anyone, anywhere, can easily understand. For example, profiles with photographs can have up to 14 times more views than those without; make sure you choose a good quality, professional picture. Your headline is important too – use it to speak directly to your target audience, with keywords relevant to your industry and field. Adding your skills, industry, and education can give you up to 15 times more views than if you leave them out.

Your LinkedIn profile is the first chance you get to sell yourself to a potential new employer, client, or business partner, so make sure you’re showing yourself off to your full advantage. Use the Summary and Experience sections of your profile to demonstrate who you are and what you can do, including everything from experience to awards and achievements. Keywords are your friend! In fact, using the right keywords will help to increase your visibility on LinkedIn and Google searches.

Providing tangible examples are invaluable as proof of your capabilities and claims, and they also provide the opportunity for more people to engage with you. So upload work you’re proud of, like presentations, images, blog posts, articles and so on, to your profile to let people know that you can walk the walk as well as you talk the talk.

Be social. Start by connecting with the people you already know, like colleagues, employers, and customers, and ask them to endorse your skills and provide recommendations – a little bit of social proof can go a long way in helping you to catch the eye of future connections. Joining groups is important, too, and by being active in them you can increase your visibility by up to five times.

Publish on LinkedIn to show you’re tuned into your field, that you know what’s happening in your industry, and that you have an opinion on it. Extra ways to increase your visibility include sharing relevant and interesting content, like articles, news, or videos – or even by writing your own publisher post. Your network will appreciate reading content that’s valuable to them, and you’ll be on your way to establishing yourself as an expert capable that your network will turn to for insight.

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Work Events Planner Conference season is almost upon us following the traditional summer lull, with the usual array of mega events set to kick off in September. Here are some of the top business events over the next two months, covering the Gulf region and beyond.

3. Istanbul Water Expo Where: Istanbul Expo Centre When: September 3-5 2. Buildex Egypt 1. Cityscape Global Where: Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE When: 8-10 September Cityscape Global, Dubai’s annual realestate extravaganza, is known for being anything but low-key. Expect a raft of glitzy announcements detailing the latest megaprojects, luxury property developments and unlikely celebrity endorsements. Many will doubtless be accompanied by the euphemistic use of the word ‘stabilising’ when describing the emirate’s property market, which is forecast to see ongoing pricedeclines. The organiser says the 14th edition of the show will be 30 percent bigger this year, with 300 exhibitors including Emaar, Meraas and Nakheel. It’s all spread over 40,000sqm of exhibition space – so pack your comfy shoes. www.cityscapeglobal.com

WHERE: Cairo International Convention Centre When: August 13-16 There has been much talk – but less action – over a wave of new megaprojects in Egypt. The Dubai-listed Arabtec last year agreed a $40 billion deal to build a million homes in Egypt, while Capital City Partners, headed by Emaar boss Mohammed Alabbar, has been linked with a proposed administrative capital to the east of Cairo. Despite complications with both those deals, few deny the vast opportunities on offer in the Arab world’s most populous country. With a raft of projects on the drawing board, the Buildex Egypt event will offer a platform for firms to display the latest construction technologies and building materials. Thousands of professional visitors, industry buyers and decision makers are expected at the business-to-business event. www.buildexegypt.com

Few people could deny the world’s looming water crisis, a problem especially apparent in some Middle Eastern countries. This conference in Istanbul is all about the issue, focusing on topics such as the sustainable utilisation of water resources, wastewater treatment and recycling. www.ite-turkey.com

4. The 10th World Health Tourism Congress WHEN: September 5-7 WHERE: Mohammed Bin Rashed Academic Medical Center, Dubai With more and more people travelling abroad to seek better – or cheaper – medical care, it seems only right there is an entire conference devoted to health tourism. The long-running business-to-business World Health Tourism Congress will address eight elements of this growing industry including medical, sports and spa tourism. www.worldhealthtourismcongress.org

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5. Egypt Real Estate Summit & Cityscape Egypt Where: Four Seasons at Nile Plaza; Cairo International Convention Centre When: September 14-16; 16-19

7. World Brand Congress

9. Qatar Transport

Where: Pan Pacific, Singapore When: August 11-12

Where: Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, Qatar When: September 14-16

Development opportunities in Egypt will also be under the spotlight at the country's Cityscape exhibition in September. The Egypt Real Estate Summit, which precedes it, has scheduled speakers including Ahmed Aly, the chief executive of Agility Logistics Egypt, and AtterHannoura of Egypt's Ministry of Finance.

You've only got to look at Dubai's Emirates airline to see the importance of branding – andhow much work many other Middle Eastern companies have to do in making their name on the worldstage. The 24th edition of the World Brand Congress, held in Singapore, promises some of theworld's biggest brains in branding,as they discuss best practices in the digital age.The event also coincides with the Global Brand Excellence Awards.

www.cityscapeegypt.com

www.worldbrandcongress.com

6. The Arab Diabetes Forum

8. The Big 5 Kuwait

10. The Hotel Show

WHEN: September9-11 WHERE: Cairo Marriott Hotel, Egypt.

WHERE: Kuwait International Fair WHEN: September 14-16

WHERE: Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE WHEN: 28-30 September

The Middle East has one of the world’s largest, and growing rates of diabetes, partly due to the rapid change in lifestyle in parts of the region. This forum in Cairo, Egypt will shine a spotlight on this health epidemic, examining the prevalence and cost of the condition, as well as the cultural aspects behind it and new therapies for controlling the disease.

There is more than $188 billion worth of construction projects currently underway in Kuwait, including a $7 billion metro system as well as airport and road projects. Such opportunities will be under discussion at The Big 5 Kuwait, the county’s largest showcase for building and construction products. The third edition of the show is set to be 40 percent larger than in 2014, organisers say, with a new hall dedicated to interiors products.

Over 17,500 industry professionals are expected at The Hotel Show Dubai, now in its 16th year. The exhibition is aimed at trade visitors from the hospitality, hotel, and tourism industries in the Middle East and Africa. It will also include the Vision Conference 2015 and is co-located with The Leisure Show, a business-to-business event for commercial and residential leisure facilities.

www.arabicdiabeticforum.com

www.big5kuwait.com

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Transport projects worth more than $44 billion are being built in Qatar, as the Gulf state looks to drastically improve its infrastructure with the controversial 2022 World Cup looming. This conference will look at the acceleration in the country’s transport market including government-led megaprojects such asQatar Rail. www.qatartransportforum.com

www.thehotelshow.com

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Play Travel - York, England

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York Travel

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Travel - York, England

Love letters are hard to write, you want to get them just right, not leaving anything out, and so often you don’t know where to start. Writing about York in England is as hard, as it has so many appealing facets it’s difficult to choose which one to highlight first By Scott Armstrong

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ust two hours by train from London – a huge draw for Gulf tourists – lies this beautiful city which oozes class, sophistication, charm, safety, hospitality and great food to boot. Connected to the UK’s capital by the excellent Virgin East Cost rail line, York is the most compelling reason for Gulf tourists to take a few days off from their frenetic shopping (like we don’t have enough of that here?) and connect with this oasis of calm, where the past and the present mingle together like ingredients of a delicious dish, one complementing the other. York’s history is almost too long to go into, being home to the Vikings, the Romans (their walls still abound) and Northumbrian kings. Guy Fawkes, who famously tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament, hails from this city. Everywhere you turn in York history echoes into everyday life, and somehow this city is both antique and contemporary at the same time. Nowhere is perhaps a greater example of the Grand Hotel & Spa – Yorkshire’s only five-star hotel. Originally the headquarters of the North Eastern Railway Company in the 1900s this hotel was painstakingly crafted from the embers of its history, with original features such as oak paneling, stone arches, and Belgium marble all retained. Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

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The Grand’s location is as big a draw as its history and luxury, Station Rise is almost the perfect spot from which to explore York

The result is a hotel that has all the character of a period drama, and yet modernity is artfully woven in throughout. While the lobby, bar and hallways all shout nostalgia rooms themselves are clean, almost minimalist, luxury. Smooth white marble in the bathrooms, muted calm tones provide a haven of relaxation. Top-hatted staff greet you with warm smiles as you arrive, and all possess that light touch one could expect of a butler from Downton Abbey times. All thoroughly competent, none in your face. The Grand’s location is as big a draw as its history and luxury, Station Rise is almost the perfect spot from which to explore York. A short walk away is the picture postcard Lendal Bridge which spans the River Ouse. Alongside the waterway the beautiful Museum Gardens roll down to its edge, a favourite for residents when the sun is shining, the crumbling ruins of St Mary’s Abbey forming the backdrop to many happy wedding photographs. Rambling past them you turn right to dive into the York’s inner sanctum, past the renowned Betty’s Café (afternoon tea is a must) you find the modern-day high street shopping mingled with chocolate box scenes of olden times. The Shambles is this city’s prime slice of days gone by, timber frame buildings, which date back to the 14th century, crowd in on each other, a scene straight from a Dickens novel. 46

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Travel - York, England

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Where to eat and drink York famously has many watering holes offering varied prices and quality. As far as places go to wet your whistle the Grand Hotel and Spa’s Grand Bar is one of the finest spots. Deep plush chairs evoke memories of PhileasFogg, especially for explorers flying from the Gulf to the UK and travelling into unknown territory ‘up north’. It also serves up a treat at its fine dining restaurant Hudsons at The Grand, here again contemporary flavours mix with traditional dishes to provide an excellent dining experience. However if you want to walk out into the city, there really is only one place to eat The Whippet Inn. This quirky and intimate restaurant has rapidly become one of York’s worst kept secret. Co-owner Martin Bridge has pulled together a team of chefs and servers who deliver exquisite food in a relaxed, informal and yet sophisticated settings. Named the best restaurant in the Visit York Awards in 2014, this ‘steak and ale’ house is worth the two-hour train ride from London alone. Note the restaurant has a no children policy. b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t | Au g u s t 2 0 1 5

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What to do York abounds with museums and culture, and perhaps its year-long attraction is itself, picturesque in summer of winter. However fans of the Dubai World Cup should head to York Racecourse for some action. A huge draw for the city, thousands get suited and booted for this day out, Sheikh Mohammed has been known to run his horses at some of the events. The racecourse is one of the best designed in the UK and provides a lively day out. Its biggest event of the year is this month with the Ebor Festival, a four-day celebration featuring the oldest, the fastest and the richest races in the UK. It also holds meetings in September and October. 48

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However fans of the Dubai World Cup should head to York Racecourse for some action. A huge draw for the city, thousands get suited and booted for this day out, Sheikh Mohammed has been known to run his horses at some of the events

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Travel - York, England

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How to get there You can fly direct into Manchester from Abu Dhabi, however let’s not pretend you won’t be going to London while heading to the UK. That being the case there is an old saying which says ‘let the train take the strain’. The drive north to York can, depending on traffic, take five hours and can be a proper headache. However London and York are served by the high-speed rail link operated by Virgin Trains East Coast. Departing from Kings Cross station in London this speeds travellers there in under two hours. Gulf travellers are used to the VIP service and here again going First Class pays dividends. A lot more relaxing that in standard, passengers here get free food and beverages for the during, served up by the friendly rail team. As you are watching the country speed by you almost feel sorry for those stuck in their cars.

For more information on York, scan QR code or visit the website www.visityork.org

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Is it better to travel than arrive? There’s a Taoist proverb that says ‘the journey is the reward’, writes Scott Armstrong

his, back in 1881, inspired author Robert Louis Stevenson to write: “Little do ye know your own blessedness; for to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.” Over the past century and a bit that morphed simply into ‘it’s better to travel than to arrive’. Though travel in general has improved a touch since Robert Louis’ days there are still many airline passengers who would take issue the Scottish writer’s sentiments. But I’d guess that those passengers haven’t travelled Oman Air’s business class service yet. With the Gulf sweating in the sun, thoughts turn to travel to cooler climes, with Europe (despite their claims of a heatwave) a favourite among tourists. With that in mind, Benchmark (not very reluctantly) stepped on board Oman Air’s 50

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service from Muscat, Oman to London’s Heathrow Airport to discover what awaits the passenger. To date Oman Air has won a host of awards for its Business Class service, most recently in the Business Destinations Travel Awards, winning Best Business Class Airline 2015 in the Middle East category, as it did in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Why? Firstly the 1-2-1 configuration of seating provides comfort whether you travelling alone, or as couples (the 2 has a neat divider too if needed). This is the seating map that many other airlines reserve solely for their first class passengers. But with every business class flight it’s the seat that counts, and it is here that Oman Air wins many battles in the sky, with one of the largest, most comfortable seats in the world. Don’t believe us? Check out seatguru.

com (run by tripadvisor) to compare. Just hold Oman Air’s offering up against its two (also excellent) neighbours Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines here in the UAE. There are perhaps four key elements that make a good airline seat, being fully flatbed, bed length, seat width and seat pitch. What is seat pitch? Seat Pitch, explains seatguru. com is the distance from any point on one seat to the exact same point on the seat in front or behind it. While it is not the exact equivalent of “legroom”, it does give a very good approximation of how much seat room you should expect. Fully flat bed (180 degrees) On Oman Air yes, Etihad is also a yes but on Emirates it depends on what aircraft you are on, working out to be roughly a 50-50 chance of getting an angle lie flat bed. Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

Oman Air Business Class review Play

through the first security check to get to check-in desk, just walk in, present your passport to the smiling staff and let them process your ticket. Once checked in another layer of stress is removed as you pass through the dedicated immigration desk to emerge with just one luggage scan to go before being airside. Now you can make your way to Oman Air’s business class lounge. A generous food and beverage service wait for travellers in this newly refurbished relaxation area. Among the highlights are: • Shower rooms with bath robes, towels, toiletries, shaving kits and Amouage perfume. • Children’s play room, with toys, movies and PSP games. • Full free WIFI internet access. • Business centre. • Male & female prayer rooms. • Complimentary 15 minute massage from the lounge Spa.

Bed Length Oman Air can be confident with its 77.5inch offering, 1.96m or 6ft 4ins. Compare that to Etihad’s 73 inches, while on Emirates again you roll the dice with with either 70 inches or possible 79 inches depending on the craft. Seat Width Oman Air’s is one of the best in class with a generous 22 inches, with Emirates giving 20.5 inches and Etihad 20 inches. Seat Pitch Oman Air in one of the dominators here worldwide on what could be considered legroom with a whopping 82 inches. Here Etihad trails with 73 inches while Emirates offers 60 inches. If it was a boxing match it’s fair to see why the judges would award Oman Air the win for its consistency and quality. The journey to London is an eight-hour flight aboard an Airbus 333 widebody twin engine jet, but as most travellers know the journey begins long before stepping onboard. Arriving at Muscat Airport you’ll enter via the dedicated Business Class checkin entrance. Here there is no battling b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t | Au g u s t 2 0 1 5

What is nice is that Oman Air tend to board business class last, so transit to the aircraft is kept to a minimum, and the staff will come to find you and instruct you to head to boarding (keep in mind that if you are going to UK there is a last security check at the gate). On board as well as ‘that seat’ you also get electrically controlled backrest/seat bottom and leg rest and adjustable seat pan depth a 17-inch screen, a power point and two USB plugs. While we are talking tech the flight is also mobile-friendly, with paid WiFi available, allowing you to connect your laptops, tablets or smartphone to the web, plus you can send SMS messages and make calls. Perfect for the business traveller who needs to stay in touch. Food and drink comes with a smile from the attentive staff, served in cut crystal and bespoke chinaware. Once fed and water it’s time to relax, with the in-flight entertainment package offering a host of new blockbusters from around the world. Or if you simply want to sleep ask the hostess for a sleep suit (yes they’ll give you pyjamas) and ask to be woken at a certain time. As you land you’ll of course be given a fast-track pass to smooth immigration at your destination, which also helps the traveller sleep soundly. All in all it’s an experience that Robert Louis Stevenson would have thoroughly approved of. Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

Play Motoring - Bentley review

be bold be Bentley

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Motoring - Bentley review Play

There are days, just some days, in the unremitting toil we call existence that make the daily drudgery worthwhile. This was one of those days, with interest added.

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SCott Armstrong

eing behind the wheel of a Kingfisher blue Bentley Continental GT V8 S Convertible with the top down, the Sea of Oman on your right, the Al Hajar mountains to your left with the wind whistling through your hair (ok massaging your bald pate) is one of those freeze-frame moments where you just want to stop the scene and savour the present while it lasts. There are cars to be driven in and cars to drive, this is the latter by about a million per cent. Climbing into the Bentley is like putting on a new tailored suit, that feeling of somehow being an inch taller, an inch slimmer and a whole lot better looking all in one go. This is a car that the hallowed Jeremy Clarkson, the artist formerly known on Top Gear, back in February called ‘one of the world’s best cars’. And there is a reason why, this car is a thing of beauty to drive. In traffic it will happily glide along minding its own business (rather than sulking in the lower range like some sports cars). But put your foot down and it’s as if the entire percussion section of an orchestra has sprung into life. The bass exploding around you (especially with the top down) is astonishing. Musicians that were gently blowing panpipes a split-second before are now blaring out the Ride of the Valkyries on tubas, big tubas. Mathematically expressed the convertible is finding 100kph in just 4.7 seconds, which is breathtaking given the sturdy shoulders of this twin turbo-charged beast. And yet, as you surge forward, you remain in complete control. The suspension, not too soft or springy, allows you to feel the road, complimented by steering pitched just right, the weight and the balance as you head into turns enables the driver to instinctively trust this machine. As you lean into the corners you feel this wonderfully-balanced vehicle defying physics as it throws its two and a half tons into the bend with utter exuberance, but in the sure knowledge it knows it can do it – sort of like Neo from the Matrix dodging bullets in slow motion. Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

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Bentley’s PR speak says this: “Drive it with the hood down and a new dimension is revealed. You’re no longer an observer of the passing landscape but a part of it, with every aspect of your journey – especially the thrilling sound track – amplified in the open air.” Bit overdone perhaps, but yes, that’s pretty much it. And it’s an effect that works especially well out here in the Gulf, where for eight months of the year (stretching it, but you would in this car) the outside temperature is just begging you to put the top down. And it’s out here that Clarkson’s biggest, and only main real issue, with the convertible evaporates. It’s fair to say that the Continental’s dress code of colours is bright, understandably garish for an Englishman and a professional critic to boot, but when the sun is shining bright shirts and bright cars, particularly Bentleys, are de rigueur. Indeed to quote Clarkson’s hilarious review: “If you buy a car such as this, you are almost certainly going to be in your fifties and to have — let’s be kind — a prosperous waistline and a bald patch the size of a jellyfish.” Apart from the age (not quite there yet) this driver is guilty as charged, but so what? While in Game of Thrones “Winter’s coming” is a thing to be feared, here the glorious weather from September to May means you’ll be gagging to don a Magnum PI-esque Hawaiian shirt and get out there. This is perhaps not the Downton Abbey imageone would associate with brand Bentley back in Blighty, but that’s why a Kingfisher blue Bentley Continental GT V8 S Convertible works so well here. Gliding along the roads with the stunning coastline zipping past the Continental becomes the greatest cosmetic surgeon alive because in your mind that lack of hair makes you look less like Duncan Goodhew (look him up kids) and more like Jason Statham. And the good thing is no-one is going to shatter that illusion, because they are all looking at the car. Is it sad or shallow to say or write such things, perhaps, but when you are buying the second most expensive car in one of the world’s most luxurious fleets you really should buy it for you. Forget Clarkson (apologies to the legend if you are reading, unlikely), forget society (high or otherwise) just climb in, start the motor and drive. And you’ll be able to drive, and drive, and drive, as you’ll get around 800 km between fill-ups, giving you 10.9 l/100km. So, on behalf of all the overweight and under-haired I say this: “Be bald, be bold and be Bentley.” 54

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Drive it with the hood down and a new dimension is revealed. You’re no longer an observer of the passing landscape but a part of it, with every aspect of your journey

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Motoring - Bentley review Play

The specs Continental GT V8 S / Continental GT V8 S Convertible

EnginE Type: 4-litre twin-turbocharged direct injection V8 with cylinder deactivation Max Power: 521 bhp / 528 PS / 389 KW @ 6,000 rpm Max Torque: 680 Nm / 502 lb.ft @ 1700 rpm

Transmission Type: ZF 8-speed automatic with Quickshift, Block Shifting and column mounted paddleshift Driveline: Continuous all-wheel drive (40:60 rear bias)

Brakes Front: 405mm ventilated discs (optional 420mm Carbon Silicon Carbide, cross drilled) Rear: 335mm ventilated discs (optional 356mm, Carbon Silicon Carbide, cross drilled)

Steering Type: Rack & pinion, power assisted, speed-sensitive ZF servotronic

Suspension Front: Four link double wishbones, computer controlled self-levelling air suspension, with anti-roll bar Rear: Trapezoidal multi-link, computer-controlled self-levelling air suspension, with anti-roll bar Damping: Continuous Damping Control, tuned for dynamic performance

Performance Top speed: 192 mph / 309 km/h / 191 mph / 308 km/h 0-60 mph: 4.3 secs / 4.5 secs 0-100 mph: 10.3 secs / 10.6 secs 0-100 km/h: 4.5 secs / 4.7 secs 0-160 km/h: 10.3 secs / 10.6 secs

Fuel Consumption (EU cycle)* Urban: 18.4 mpg / 15.4 litres/100 km 17.9 mpg / 15.8 litres/100 km Extra Urban: 36.7 mpg / 7.7 litres/100 km 35.3 mpg / 8 litres/100 km Combined: 26.8 mpg / 10.6 litres/100 km 5.9 mpg / 10.9 litres/100 km

Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drive was courtesy of Bentley Oman, Wattayah Motors LLC

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L.K.Bennett stores are located in Dubai Festival City Mall, Mirdif City Centre, Dubai Marina Mall, The Dubai Mall and Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi.

Flo Curved Envelope Clutch — Dh 1,090 This perfectly proportioned clutch comes in a neutral palette with feminine floral embellishments softening the structured shape. Opening and closing with a magnetic clasp and boasting ample space for the party essentials, Flo can be clutched close or held by the high impact detachable gold strap.

Matthews Drive Anderson — Dh 1,750 A zippered exterior pocket-perfect for stashing tickets, a tube of lipstick or anything else you might need quick access to--is just one of the many smart details on our matthews drive anderson.

Cat and Cream Dress — Dh 1,590 this witty, printed dress is the perfect way to demonstrate your allegiance, without looking even the least bit batty. as a bonus, the black sash offers options: wear it at your waist, as a belt or loosely tied around your neck.

Caris Broderie Anglaise Slingback — Dh 1,020 Caris is a slingback with a difference. With a broderieanglaise upper, 65mm heels and pointed toe, it is the go-to shoe for summer occasions. kate spade new york stores are located at The Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Center, Dubai Marina Mall and Abu Dhabi Mall.

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Fashion for Her Play

Cat Bracelet — AED 350

Quilted Chambray Dress — Dh 1,460 this simple chambray shift derives its unique texture from the quiltinspired stitching; an ideal summer dress, it looks fantastic with a flat, thick-strapped sandal.

TOPSHOP Serpent Croco Print — Dh215 Following the successful launch of TOPSHOP on Namshi, these popular Serpent Croco Print shoes have fast become a popular item from the collection. With a white glossy crocodile skin texture and a metal buckle detail to vamp, these fashionable slip-ons are a wardrobe must-have for the season.

Ginger Marilyn Monroe Pouch — Dh 85 Bring a little Marilyn Monroe into your life with this elegant pouch by Ginger, which features a photo print of the classic Blonde Bombshell. Namshi.com

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FINERY Pocket Dress — Dh390 Description: A necessity for every wardrobe, this shirt inspired dress comes with a shar-edged collar and minimal detailing, with oversized pockets to give it that extra special edge. Namshi.com b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t | Au g u s t 2 0 1 5

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T.M.Lewinis located in Deira City Centre, Dubai Marina Mall and Al Ain Mall.

Malden suit – Dh1,455 This light grey sharkskin Malden suit is this the ideal tailored style for occasion wear this spring-summer. Constructed in T.M.Lewin’s slim fit cut, with all of their classic tailored details in mind; double back vents, jetted pockets and a 1-button fastening all contribute towards giving this suit a slick summer style. The Malden trousers continue the streamlined style with a tapered leg and neat front and back pocket details. A double hook and bar fastening and French bearer ensure the trousers sit well with a great fit. The Malden waistcoat completes the 3 piece look, ideal if you want an instant outfit update for a smarter style. This waistcoat comes with a back adjuster to allow you to create the perfect fit. All of our suit trousers are unhemmed, we provide a free alterations service to help you achieve the perfect fit

Brooks Brothers stores are located in Deira City Centre, Dubai Festival City, Galleries Lafayette-Dubai Mall, Jashanmal-Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai Mall and Yas Mall.

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Knitted tie – Dh235 Business-casual meets coolcasual in the versatile knitted silk tie. It's a modern style staple that you can wear to dress down a formal suit or smarten up a casual outfit. Wear it to add texture and personality to any shirt and jacket pattern combination.

Limited Edition – Dh275 Add subtle texture to your spring style with this fitted shirt from T.M.Lewin's London collection. Made from a seasonal light blue cotton with a small circle print to ensure you stick to this season's textural trend. Pair with a contrasting pattern tie to complete your contemporary look.

Navy Blue tie – Dh 380 Pure silk expertly woven in England, this collection is known for its stripes and vibrant colors. Brooks Brothers’ signature stripe detailing goes from right to left. Available in regular and extra-long length.

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Balzaco – Dh 6,100 In navy blue, this premium calf leather tote bag qualifies as a fundamental colleague when dressing for business. Two internal compartments house all you require for working life, with the iconic Bally Stripe inlaid using an exclusive hand-crafted method.

Bally stores are located in Etihad Towers, City Centre Mirdif, Level Shoe District and GalariesLafayatte in Dubai Mall.

Devons – Dh 990 This contemporary brown leather belt transcends occasion, styling effortlessly with both formal and informal outfits. An enamel buckles proudly features the new crest motif as a symbol of Bally heritage.

Superman cufflinks – Dh120 These silver-tone cufflinks inspired by Superman from DC Comics make the perfect accessory. Practical and fun, they’ll be sure to bring out the superhero in you.

Milano Fit Two-Button Classic 1818 Blazer - Dh 3,080 Classic two-button blazer, made from super 120s wool, woven in Italy by LoroPiana®. Crafted in their slimmest Milano fit, it features a shorter jacket with narrow lapels. Classic Waterbury buttons. Halfcanvas construction. Fully lined. Side vents. Blazer sleeves come unfinished and require a tailor for proper finishing.

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Carles – Dh 2,290 Directly inspired by native American workmanship traditions this loafer translates classic design for the modern day with a silver-tone buckle and eyelet details. Crafted in dark brown unlined, grained deerskin on a flexible leather sole, it offers the wearer the ultimate comfort and lightness for summer months.

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Top Five Rental Properties

For more details on all these properties, and more, visit: Luxhabitat, Dubai's only high-end real estate brokerage and interior design company, at www.luxhabitat.ae or scan the QR code with your smart phone

Dh 190,000 per year

Two-bedroom apartment for rent overlooking the Palm The essentials City: Dubai Area: Dubai Marina Development: Elite Residence Type: Apartment Availability: Ready Lifestyle: Marina living Bedrooms: Two Bathrooms: Three (twoensuite) Built up area: 1,300 sqft Pool: Community pool

Located in Elite Residence in Dubai Marina and overlooking the Palm Jumeirah, this two-bedroom apartment has been completely refurbished to the highest standard with each room being treated with maximum quality and attention to detail. The apartment has been thoughtfully designed using only the finest furniture from Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands. The living room features an Erba beige leather sofa and is equipped with a state-of-the-art home theatre system designed by Linea by MAP that includes a 720p suspended projector, 220 cm wide screen and fully integrated JBL speaker system with ONKYO wifi enabled amplifier.

The essentials City: Dubai Area: Dubai Marina Development: Marina Quays Sub-development: Marina Quays East Type: Apartment Availability: Ready Lifestyle: Marina Living Bedrooms: Three Bathrooms: Three (twoensuite) Built up area: 2,600 sqft Pool: Community pool

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Dh340,000 per year Fully upgraded three-bedroom apartment in Marina Quays This is a fully upgraded three-bedroom terrace apartment located in Marina Quays. The home is offered fully furnished with high-end, designer furnishings and all utilities included. This is a very rare home that has undergone extensive upgrades to make the most of the abundant natural light coming from its unique position extending out and over the Dubai Marina. Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

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Dh680,000 per year

Three-bedroom penthouse for rent in the Address Dubai Marina The essentials City: Dubai Area: Dubai Marina Development: The Address Type: Penthouse Availability: Ready Lifestyle: Luxury Penthouses Bedrooms: Three Bathrooms: Four (threeensuite) Built up area: 3,230 sqft Pool: Community pool

Walking into this 3 bedroom penthouse apartment on the top floor of The Address Hotel Dubai Marina you are welcomed by double volume recessed ceilings and wallto-wall windows in the large, open concept living room. With multiple plush sofas and chairs to choose from the room can be separated into formal and casual seating arrangements depending on the occasion. Just off the living room is the dining room which features a large modern chandelier, light-coloured marble flooring and a dark wood dining table with seating for 8.

Dh790,000 per year The essentials

Two-bedroom apartment on the highest floor in the Armani Residence

City: Dubai Area: Downtown Dubai Development: Armani Residences Type: Apartment Availability: Ready Lifestyle: Luxury penthouses Bedrooms: Two Bathrooms: Three (twoensuite) Built up area: 1,926 sqft Pool: Community pool

This is a two-bedroom serviced apartment on the highest floor of Armani Residence in the BurjKhalifa. The apartment is one of the very few that are positioned in the center of the building - taking full advantage of the floor-to-ceiling windows and spectacular views of the Dubai Fountains and surrounding Old Town Island.This is the first serviced apartment to be designed and developed by fashion legend Giorgio Armani. Only the finest materials have been used to finish the home and all furniture is by Armani/Casa.

Dh 860,000 per year

Four-bedroom Ppenthouse for rent in The Address Dubai Marina The essentials City: Dubai Area: Dubai Marina Development: The Address Type: Penthouse Availability: Ready Lifestyle: Luxury penthouses Bedrooms: Four Bathrooms: Six (fourensuite) Built up area: 3,996 sqft Pool: Community pool

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This is the only four-bedroom penthouse apartment in The Address Dubai Marina. Located on the top floor with double-volume ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows â&#x20AC;&#x201C;every room features sweeping views of the Marina. Stepping in through the main entrance, you are greeted with a formal reception hall which opens to the marble-walled living room with wall-to-wall windows overlooking the JLT skyline and Emirates Golf Club. A massive wall mirror hangs in the adjacent dining room with seating for up to 10. Light-coloured, Italian marble floors adorn the floors throughout. Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

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Top Five Properties for sale The essentials City: Dubai Area: Dubai Marina Development: The Address

Dh2,500,000 One-bedroom apartment in The Address Hotel, Dubai Marina

Type: Apartment Availability: Ready Lifestyle: Marina living Bedrooms: One Bathrooms: Two (one ensuite) Built up area: 848 sq ft Pool: Infinity, heated and cooled community pool

Conveniently located for occasional travellers needing a bolt hole in Dubai, or a busy business professional simply appreciating the benefits of a fully serviced lifestyle. An opportunity to be part of the hotel pool exists for this fully furnished, serviced apartment, managed by The Address Hotel in Dubai Marina, and attached, conveniently to the Dubai Marina Mall. With stunning views of the skyline on Sheikh Zayed Road and over the greenery of the Emirates Living community and golf courses.

The essentials City: Dubai Area: Dubai Marina Development: Marina Tower Type: Apartment Availability: Ready Lifestyle: Luxury penthouses

Dh 3,700,000 Upgraded two-bedroom in Marina Tower, Dubai Marina

Bedrooms: Two Bathrooms: Two (two ensuite) Built up area: 1,519 sq ft Pool: Community pool

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This apartment is located on one of the top floors and offers a full view over the whole marina from every window, as well as a partial sea view from the balcony. It was completely renovated in April 2014. The kitchen wall was removed to open up the space into one huge living area. The whole apartment has been remodelled completely and has been re-built with bespoke interior design. Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

Top 5 Properties for Sale Play

Dh 3,750,000 Loft apartment in Executive Towers, Business Bay, Dubai

The essentials City: Dubai Area: Business Bay Development: Executive Towers Type: Loft Availability: Ready Lifestyle: Private Communities Bedrooms: Two Bathrooms: Two (0 ensuite) Built up area: 2,224 sq ft Pool: Community pool

This one of a kind loft with amazing views on Dubai Downtown is located on one of the top floors and offers a full view over Downtown Burj Khalifa. Besides the stunning views, the big windows provide you a bright apartment during the whole day and a very unique and cosmopolitan lifestyle. As soon as you arrive in this inviting loft apartment, you are welcomed in to the big dining / living area, with an open kitchen. Right next to it you will find a spacious bathroom with shower and a separate guest bedroom. The staircase brings you upstairs to the spacious mezzanine level with a great open space and separate bathroom and walking closet.

Dh 4,200,000 The essentials

Two-bedroom duplex loft in Rimal / JBR

City: Dubai Area: Jumeirah Beach Residence Development: Rimal Type: Duplex Availability: Ready Lifestyle: Luxury Penthouses Bedrooms: Two Bathrooms: Two (one ensuite) Built up area: 2,249 sq ft Pool: Community pool

This stunning Loft at Rimal, Jumeirah Beach Residence, is located on one of the top floors and offers a full view over the whole Marina and skyline of Dubai from every window. Besides the stunning views, the big windows provide you a bright apartment during the whole day and a very unique and cosmopolitan lifestyle. Evoking a very warm and cosy feeling, the loft features wooden floors, the long curtains at the floor to ceiling windows and homely colours incorporated throughout.

Dh 7,500,000 The essentials City: Dubai Area: DIFC Development: WTC Jumeirah Living Type: Duplex Availability: Ready Lifestyle: Luxury Penthouses Bedrooms: Four Bathrooms: Five (four ensuite) Built up area: 4,155 sq ft

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WTC four-bedroom duplex apartment in a 5-stars hotel residences A four bedroom duplex + maids room in the World Trade Centre Residences. Set over two floors this stunning apartment is second to none with regard natural light, space, layout, high ceilings and wow factor. A beautifully maintained and furnished duplex penthouse with amazing views from the floor to window ceilings though out this property and fantastic spiral staircase as a centrepiece this duplex is one not to be missed. The Burj Khalifa and the Lake Address hotel can been seen from two of the master bedrooms. Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

Play Events Planner After the hiatus in live music over the month of Ramadan, the UAE comes alive with performances by stars from the Arab world and beyond. Here’s the lowdown on the top musical events over the next two months.

3. Madagascar Live!

2. Spandau Ballet Live in Concert

1. Nancy Ajram WHERE: Modhesh World, Dubai World Trade Centre WHEN: August 24 Modhesh World, the kids’ entertainment event named after Dubai’s gaudy yellow mascot, has not exactly earned legendary status on the world concert circuit. Yet this has not deterred Lebanese superstar Nancy Ajram from scheduling a summer performance at the Dubai World Trade Centre event, part of the Dubai Summer Surprises shopping season. The singer is set to appear at the Modhesh World Stage on August 24 – and will reportedly gear her performance towards kids – while Arab teen star Hala Turk will take the same stage on August 16.The 02 arena in London, New York’s Carnegie Hall, Modhesh World – perhaps it’s only a matter of time before they’re all spoken of in the same breath… www.visitdubai.com

WHERE: Dubai World Trade Centre WHEN: September 17 It’s time to don the frilliest of your frilly shirts and speed-grow a mullet, because Spandau Ballet are coming to town. The iconic 1980s British pop group – which was at the vanguard of the New Romantic movement, known for its flamboyant fashion – is set to perform at the Dubai Trade Centre in September as part of the Soul Boys of the Western World tour. The gig marks the band’s return to Dubai after its 2010 soldout show with Rod Stewart, one of the first since the group reformed following an acrimonious split in 1989. The band has sold over 25 million records, and you’re bound to recognise hits like True, Only When You Leave and Gold. TICKETS: Dh300-Dh650 www.doneevents.com

WHERE: Dubai World Trade Centre WHEN:August 28-30 One for the kids – or adults who can’t get ‘I like to move it’ out of their heads. This live theatrical show, put on as part of Dubai Summer Surprises, is based on the blockbuster DreamWorks animation and features key characters and songs from the show. PRICE: Dh125-Dh650

4. Jaden & Willow Smith WHERE: The Dubai Mall WHEN: August 13, 15 Singers Jaden and Willow Smith, children of actors Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, are heading to Dubai for what’s billed as their first time meeting fans in the region. The teenagers – known for their sometimes baffling performances – are making a series of appearances across the city as part of the Dubai Summer Surprises DSS Starz event. They are set to meet fans at The Dubai Mall on 13 August, and take part in Kids Fashion Fest on the 15th. www.visitdubai.com

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Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

5. Dubai Music Week

7. Midge Ure

WHERE: Dubai World Trade Centre WHEN: September 23-26

WHEN: September 24 WHERE: Irish Village, Dubai

The four-day Dubai Music Week includes gigs from 10 artists, along with celebrity speakers, master classes and an entertainment village. The US band Thirty Seconds to Mars is headlining the rock night on Friday, with other acts due to be announced soon.

Former Ultravox frontman Midge Ure – the Scottish musician who also performed with 1970s and 1980s bands like Thin Lizzy and Slik – is coming to Dubai in September. He’s set to play hits from his solo and Ultravox years, including Vienna, If I Was and Dancing With Tears in my Eyes.

PRICE: Thirty Seconds to Mars (Dh295Dh550); other prices TBC www.dubaimusicweek.ae

6. Shreya Ghoshal Live WHEN: August 15 WHERE: Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi Coinciding with Indian Independence Day, the popular Bollywood singer Shreya Ghoshal is set to perform in the UAE capital as part of the Abu Dhabi Summer Season. She will be backed by a 14-member troupe comprising some of the most talented Indian musicians. PRICES: Starting from Dh145 www.platinumlist.net

9. Dubai International Dance Festival 2015 WHEN: September 14-21 WHERE: Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa From hip-hop to salsa and samba, this event is dedicated to all forms of dance. The weeklong multi-arts event draws a wide range of dance companies and musical performers from around the world, including youth orchestras and international guest DJs.

PRICE: Dh125 www.tixbox.com

PRICES: Full pass Dh599; individual night passes from Dh85 www.dubaidancefestival.com

8. Joe Camilleri & The Black Sorrows Live

10. Bon Jovi Live in Abu Dhabi

WHEN: August 7 WHERE: The Music Room, Dubai The Aussie blues-rock band The Black Sorrows, led by Joe Camilleri on lead vocals, saxophone and guitar, isplaying in Dubai on a stopover between gigs in Australia and the UK. Camilleri is the writer of hit songs including Hit and Run, and Chosen Ones. PRICE: Starting from Dh120 www.platinumlist.net

WHERE: Du Arena, Abu Dhabi WHEN: October 1 Bon Jovi last played in Abu Dhabi in 2008, with a historic performance at the Emirates Palace – and since then fans have been ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’ for the legendary rock band’s return. That has been granted by charismatic frontman Jon Bon Jovi and his crew, who are playing on October 1 in the UAE capital. Given the band’s three decades in the business and 13 studio albums, there are plenty of hits that could feature, including ‘You Give Love A Bad Name’ and ‘It’s My Life’. PRICES: Dh395-Dh895 www.ticketmaster.ae

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Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

Play Health

How to combat office stress Struggling in a high stress job environment? Follow these golden rules to tackle workplace tension. By Sudeshna Ghosh

go up to seven times an hour, totalling up to 2.1 hours worth of distractions in a day. How you react to this multi-pronged bombardment is, however, up to you. Break up your day into smaller snack-able bits, so you can ensure you stay focused, and thereby, achieve more, in less time, resulting in a feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day. Ergo – less stress! Set aside some time at the start, middle and end of the day for emails, and disable auto-alerts the rest of the time. You could apply the same technique to phone calls, but if you’d rather not, then keep calls short and targeted, explaining politely to the other person that you’re in the middle of something (the damage would have already been done by taking that call, however). You can follow a similar practice for desk-side drop-ins, as long as you make sure to catch up with them later – and you’ll see the frequency reducing.

e’ve all been there - long days at the office full of back-to-back meetings, deadline dramas, and a never-ending to-do list. No matter how successful you are, or how much you love your job, stress in the workplace is something most of us have to handle, in varying degrees. And considering the average person spends more than 90,000 hours* in office during their lifetime, that’s a lot of stress to deal with. The trick is to manage the stress so it doesn’t get the better of us. Here’s how: Switch off One of the most important things you can do to combat stress in the office is what you do outside it. Hard as it might be in this age of perma-connectivity, make it a point to switch off, both electronically and mentally, once you leave work. It’s OK to make an exception when there’s a real need, but unless there’s a looming deadline, or an impending crisis that needs you to be available, make yourself unavailable after-hours – this means disabling work emails on your phone, resisting the impulse to log on to your laptop at home, and yes, not answering calls unless you know it’s urgent. If you set your own limits clearly, while ensuring you meet and exceed expectations when in office, people will not only get used to it, but will also start respecting you for it eventually. Eat to beat it Certain foods help in lowering stress levels, so make sure to include them in your daily diet. These include sweet potatoes, which contain the amino acid tryptophan, which boosts levels of feel-good hormone serotonin in the brain; asparagus, which increases dopamine, a chemical that relaxes the brain; and Omega-3-rich foods such as nuts, which help decrease production of the stress hormone cortisol. Foods rich in magnesium, such as black beans and oats are also 66

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Get active You’ve probably heard this a million times, but the advice is invaluable. Physical activity is proven to reduce stress by boosting the production of endorphins, also known as happy hormones. Whether it’s a gym session or a gentle walk, whatever fits into your lifestyle is fine. To truly maximise the stress-busting effects of a physical workout, choose yoga, which works on body and mind both to be a truly stress-relieving.

excellent, as they help relax the muscles and lower blood pressure. A cup of chamomile tea before bed also helps to ensure good sleep. Manage your workflow Stress is usually caused when you feel overwhelmed – which, with the inbox constantly pinging, the phone always ringing, and people stopping by your desk to chat, is an inevitability. According to Forbes*, interruptions in the modern workplace can

Give yourself a brain break In an environment where you’re constantly pushing yourself, it’s critical to pause every now and then, to combat rising stress levels, and boost productivity. Getting up from your desk, walking around and stretching, and doing some deep breathing only takes a few minutes. Besides, it’s not only alright, but actually good for you if, after a few hours of sustained work, you give your brain some relief to transport yourself into a happier headspace - be it in the form of Facebook browsing, holiday planning, or some friendly chatter. Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 | b e n c h m a r k m i d d l e e a s t

EXPERIENCE LUXURY IN THE HEART OF DUBAI Centrally located, the Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai is the place to experience comfort and elegance along with inspiring views of the buzzing Sheikh Zayed Road. Just minutes away from The Dubai Mall and the iconic Burj Khalifa, the hotel offers 471 guest rooms including family rooms and suites, various excellent dining venues, an outdoor swimming pool, spa, free high-speed Internet access, and all you need for an unforgettable stay.

Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai Sheikh Zayed Rd. Dubai, UAE +971 4 308 0000 reservations.royaldubai@radissonblu.com radisson.com/royal-dubai Follow us on: RadissonRoyalDubai RadissonRoyal

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