Business in Gulf - June 2013

A BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR TODAY’S ENTREPRENEURS JUNE / JULY 2013 VOLUME-7 NO.07 Qatar:Riyal 20.00 - Oman:Riyal 2.00 - UAE:Dirhams 20.00 - Kuwait:KD 2 - Saudi Arabia:Riyal 20.00 - Bahrain:BD 2

Business IN GULF

JUNE / JULY 2013 / VOL-7 NO:07

The Who’s Who

Of the Automobile Industry Weight Loss Woes?

Head to Pankooshi’s

Clicked a Picture?

Make it large with canvas.bh

Rude Colleaugues?

Give them The Kindness at Work Manifesto!

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BOOMS IN BAHRAIN

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Contents Business IN GULF

JUNE / JULY 2013

COVER STORY 36 Business Booms in Bahrain Bahrain’s industrial sector is taking strides into development. According to the annual Index of Economic Freedom published

by The Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal, Bahrain remains the Middle East / North Africa’s (MENA) region’s most economically free country, ranked 1st out of 15 countries. HE the Minister of Industry and Commerce shares his insights on the growth and development of Bahrain’s industries.

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FEATURE 42 The Driving Force

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Bahrain has one of the most vibrant automobile industries in the world and all of the biggest brand names are found here. The industry is run by a number of individuals, who are truly passionate about cars and technology. We highlight the work of some of the key players in Bahrain’s Automobile Industry.

58 Driving Bahrain Forward The Kingdom of Bahrain has been ahead of the race, when it comes to the automotive industry in the region. We take a look at the most prominent agencies and dealerships that are responsible for Bahrain’s thriving automotive industry.

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102 25 92

88 EVENTS

ENTREPRENEURS

SECTIONS

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One of the most unique businesses to spring up in Bahrain lately, Canvas.bh’s printing service takes those photos you have on your phones and computers and prints them on a large canvas to keep as art. We talked to CEO Yazin Al-Irhayim to find out more about Canvas.bh.

Are you having trouble motivating your employees? Struggling to figure out what resources your team is lacking?

Not sure what you can do to make your management style more effective?

Well, here’s the solution: Ask your employees.

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Portraying Women in the Arab Media The General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Women, in collaboration with the German Embassy organized a media forum on the topic “The Portrayal of Women in the Arab Media”.

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Pre-Employment Training Exhibition Held Under Patronage His Excellency Jameel bin Mohamed Ali Humaidan Minister of Labor, Medpoint Event Management the second “Bahrain exhibition for Training and Education pre employment” in cooperation.

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The Big Picture

The Next Big Thing: Franky Joe’s One of the latest food outlets to come to Bahrain Franky Joe’s has been a hit since day one. It is set up by a group of three young Bahrainis, Khalid Murbati, Jamal Murbati and Ali Sharif. They tell us about their plans to make Franky Joe’s a global chain.

Ask Your Employees

BIG Autos Luxury Sedans under BD20,000

114

Hotel Outlet Guide Your guide to the Kingdom’s hotel outlets for dining, shopping, nightlife and spa.

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To say that compiling this issue was full of surprises, excitement and challenges would be an understatement!

Business in Bahrain is booming, there is no doubt about that.

And in our interview, HE Minister of Industry and Commerce, Dr. Hassan Fakhro talks about the various industries in the Kingdom and tell us why Bahrain is the ideal place for companies to set up base.

Another industry we are looking at it in this issue is the Automobile Industry. Even as someone who is not big on cars, I was fascinated by the complexity and depth of it. and the sheer passion for cars amongst the Who’s Who in the industry simply blew us away.

One thing is evident. The auto industry continues to prosper despite world and local economic issues. We have listed the big players in the market for you to check out and get acquainted with.

I have always wondered what is it about cars that give people a blood rush? Why don’t you tell us your thoughts? You can reach out to us via FB & Twitter. Until then, Happy Reading!

Dilraz Kunnummal

Deputy Editor dilraz@maxmediaco.com

Contributors

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MAXMEDIA PUBLICATION

Business IN GULF

Bahrain’s premier entreprenurial lifestyle magazine PUBLISHER / EDITOR IN CHIEF Sameer Uchi MANAGING PARTNER / GROUP EDITOR Mohd. A. Kayani DEPUTY EDITOR Dilraz Kunnummal EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Jakrapong Saengnuan SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Tarek Rashdan SALES & MARKETING MANAGER Christelle Yaacoub PRODUCTION MANAGER Sachan Chandran GRAPHIC DESIGNER Haroon Rasheed

Mitch Ditkoff is the Co-founder and President of Idea Champions. He can be contacted on: e-mail - mitch@ideachampions.com and can be followed on Twitter at: http:// twitter.com/mitchditkoff. For more information visit the Heart of Innovation blog www. ideachampions.com/weblogs and Idea Champions at www.ideachampions.com

Mike Figliuolo is the Founder and Managing Director of thought LEADERS, LLC. He is also the author of One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership . You can reach him via email at info@thoughtleadersllc.com

Kevon Saber is the CEO of Fig, a mobile startup focused on personal well-being.

Prior to Fig, Kevon was VP of Sales & Marketing at GenPlay Games, a mobile games developer he co-founded which has created fifteen games and $40+ million in consumer revenue.

PHOTOGRAPHERS Mani T. Habeed H. DISTRIBUTION CONTROLLER Salah Abdulla Hassan

Please e-mail us any form of business, banking, financing, investments or entrepreneurial news. email us on: big@maxmediaco.com

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{ASK BIG} PUT AN ACCURATE VALUATION ON THEIR EARLY-STAGE COMPANY? Question by: Ashley BE REASONABLE AND RELATIVE "Look around and see what other companies similar to yours are being valued at. If you're in Chicago, you need to look at other Chicago companies, not the latest and greatest in Silicon Valley. Then pick a number that's justifiable to both you and your potential investors. Make sure not to make it too high, or you will scare off investors or risk having a down round later in the process."

Nathan Lustig | cofounder, Entrustet

SPEAK UP! "Don’t be scared to ask for help. Turn to a mentor or advisor that has a background in valuations. Accurate valuations could have more variables than you would consider.

Someone with more experience in the industry and valuing companies is less likely to miss a material influencer in value."

John Hall | CEO, Digital Talent Agents

ASK AROUND! "As an early-stage startup, you're probably not going to be valued based on revenues or other typical metrics used for valuing larger companies. Your valuation is going to be much more subjective.

To get a sense of what it might be, ask different players what they would value you at -- VCs, angels, advisors, big companies -- and see if the figures gravitate towards a similar number."

Stephanie Kaplan | Co-Founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Her Campus Media

CONSIDER THE RAMIFICATIONS

THERE’S NO SUCH THING!

"Entrepreneurs in early-stage firms can benefit from low valuations. When your stock is cheap, it benefits new employees and investors who can still get in at the ground level. Before pursuing a 409A or other formal valuation of your firm by an accounting or advisory company, make sure you speak with advisors and understand the implications of getting your firm formally valued."

Doreen Bloch | CEO / Founder, Poshly Inc.

"Valuations for earlystage companies are all over the map. Tech startups always demand higher premiums than retail companies, businesses with traction and paying customers are usually better valued than mere concepts, and the history of the team and even their geographic location can impact valuation by up to three times. It's more important to have the right investors than the right valuation."

Matt Mickiewicz | Co-Founder, Flippa and 99designs

READ UP ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY "Most of the value in a startup is the intellectual property, but the average entrepreneur doesn't know enough about the topic.

Since you can't copyright an idea, you need to know what your company owns that you can put a dollar value on."

Thursday Bram | Consultant, Hyper Modern Consulting.

COMPARABLES ARE KEY

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ARE YOUR PROJECTIONS VALID?

"Comparables are essential. Base your valuation, and support it, using industry comparables. The closer they represent your company -- not only in model but also in size -- the better.

It's the most accurate comparison you can make."

Nicolas Gremion | CEO, Free-Ebooks.net

"I see a lot of entrepreneurs value their company based on future values, invested time and money, emotion and other insubstantial metrics. The only thing that matters (besides patents and intellectual property) is your free cash flow to the firm -- what does the firm make when all of its expenses and obligations are paid? That's the number you want to use in your valuation."

Lucas Sommer | Founder CEO, Audimated

"Be reasonable. Investors are looking for returns, so the higher the possibilities, the less ownership they will have to take for the same amount of money to generate a higher return. Your job is to convince them that your projections are valid."

Brent Beshore | Owner/ CEO, AdVentures

The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs.

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Construction THE BIZZ ARAB ARABIC 2013 Insurance Highlighted IS APPROACHING BAHRAIN: Bahrain Kuwait

Insurance Company (BKIC) conducted a Seminar on Construction Insurance at Hotel Regency Intercontinental, Manama. The event was well attended by representatives of all major industrial companies in public and private sector, representatives from various Ministries as well as leading contracting companies.

The Seminar was conducted in three segments to cover the view points of Owners, Contractors and Insurers- who have to work in unison to manage the risks associated with construction projects. In his key note address, Mr. Waleed Mahmood, General Manager

of BKIC outlined the relevance of the seminar to current times when the Government is embarking on projects of social & economic importance. Mr. Narayanan Seshan (BAPCO) spoke on the critical aspects of insurance that the owner of major contract should be conscious of. Mr. Hemant Joshi (NASS group) dwelt on the practical considerations for a contractor for managing insurance of contract works and liabilities. Mr. Thomas Schuster (Munich Reinsurance co.) gave a detailed presentation on the Theory and Practice of Construction insurance stressing on practical situations that his company deals with world over.

BAHRAIN: Business Excellence

Batelco Announces Appointment of Supervisory Committee BAHRAIN: Due to the

separation between Batelco Group CEO and the Company, Batelco’s Chairman Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al Khalifa has announced that a supervisory committee and Chief Operating Officer (COO) have been appointed to lead the operation until a new Group Chief Executive Officer is appointed. The Supervisory Committee is comprised of three Batelco Board Members and has been appointed on an interim basis. Mr. Peter Kaliaropoulos has been appointed in his new role as COO for the Group.

“The Batelco Group has become a major communications company

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with direct and indirect investments across 16 geographies following the acquisition of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC).

These companies are led by seasoned chief executive.

will be celebrated this year with THE BIZZ in a gala ceremony to be held in Dubai, UAE. This event will take place at the Atlantis, The Palm Hotel this coming September 29.

This award is given by the World Confederation of Businesses (WORLDCOB), an international organization headquartered in Houston, Texas (USA).

WORLDCOB encourages business growth, promotes corporate social responsibility, and recognizes the managerial excellence of its associate members.

Over the past nine years, WORLDCOB has recognized over 3,000 companies from over 80 countries. Their most recent award ceremony took place this March in Paris.

This upcoming event will be WORLDCOB’s third in the Middle East. The first one took place in 2009 at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai and the second event was last year in Doha’s SharqVillage Hotel & Spa. THE BIZZ 2012 was

given to the following companies: Abu Dhabi University, Emirates NBD Bank (UAE), Oman Dry Dock (Oman), National Bank of Bahrain (Bahrain), Doha Bank, Qatar Airways (Qatar), Fastelco (Kuwait), Saudi Telecom Company (Saudi Arabia), among other important companies.

In addition to the celebration, every award ceremony offers networking opportunities with other outstanding companies from around the world. This meeting allows them to share experiences and exchange ideas, as they enjoy a fantastic evening in an amazing venue.

The categories to be awarded are: Inspirational and Entrepreneurial. The evaluation committee created a Business Excellence Questionnaire that is composed of the following evaluation criteria: Managerial Leadership, Management Systems, Product and Service Quality, Managerial Creativity, Managerial Innovation, Social Support, and Results obtained.

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SOFITEL RETAINS ITS TITLE AS BAHRAIN’S LEADING SPA RESORT BAHRAIN: Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq

Thalassa Sea & Spa retained its award for a second year running as “Bahrain’s Leading Spa Resort” at the 20th Annual World Travel Awards in Dubai.

World Travel Awards is voted for by travel and tourism professionals worldwide, and this accolade recognizes the commitment to excellence which has been demonstrated by Sofitel since it’s opening in 2011 enriched with a genuine touch of the French “art de vivre”.

The WTA ceremony was held at Le Royal Meridien

Beach Resort and attended by eminent tourism authorities of the region, CEOs, directors of primary travel companies, chief executives of destinations and tourism departments.

Sofitel Bahrain is an exclusive resort catering to both leisure and business travellers, reputed for its elegance, refinement, attentive service and attention to details. It is the first hotel in the GCC to offer thalassotherapy.

The Thalassa Sea & Spa complex features 14 treatment rooms using sea products, massages and wellness programs.

APM Terminals Bahrain Welcomes the Arrival of New Tugboats BAHRAIN: APM Terminals Bahrain, a subsidiary of one of the world

Thai Lounge Opened at Ritz Carlton

leaders in port infrastructure, and the operator of Khalifa Bin Salman Port, welcome the arrival of two new tugboats to the APM Terminal Bahrain marine fleet. The new tugs were inaugurated at a ceremony on Wednesday, with attendees from the Port and Maritime Affairs, BAPCO, the US Navy and many other leading companies in Bahrain.

Adding to the marine equipment available at Khalifa bin Salman Port (KBSP), the new tugboats will ensure that customers’ marine needs are met to the highest standards. The Damen Stan 1606 tugboats, commonly known as the ‘workhorses of the sea’ and essential to the marine industry, will provide additional flexibility to meet the growing requirements of the Bahrain shipping community.

Speaking at the inauguration of the new tugboats on Wednesday, Marco Neelsen, APM Terminals Bahrain CEO, said, “APM Terminals Bahrain is committed to providing the highest quality of services for our customers, and the addition of the new Damen Stan 1606 tugs to our marine fleet will ensure high performance, advanced technology and importantly, improved port safety and operations.

BAHRAIN: The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa says “Sawadee

Ka!” and welcomes a new sanctuary for mingling and chill-out evenings to its wide selection of innovative dining venues, called Thai.

“We are always looking into creating exceptional guest experiences and bringing something unique to our hotel, “says Mark Neukomm, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa. “With the newest edition of our very much anticipated Thai, we not only offer a stylish lounge atmosphere but also a vibrant venue with exotic flairs, creative food and beverage offerings paired with exceptional views across the lagoon, the garden and Manama Skyline.”

The Thai lounge is situated opposite the poolside restaurant Overlook, between the outdoor pool and the beach. It offers a plunge pool with sun decks slightly above the water. The indoor area features floor to ceiling windows guaranteeing unobstructed views towards the beach, the private island and the poolside. The signature feature of the lounge is the large bar counter showcasing a real size replica of the “Suphanahong”, the flagship of the fleet of four Royal Thai Barges used during ceremonial processions on the Chao Phraya in Bangkok.

The Suphanahong represents the feature of a mythical golden swan.

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U.S. CPA LICENSE SHOWS GROWTH IN BAHRAIN

BAHRAIN: The U.S. CPA

license is the premier accounting credential in the United States and highly regarded throughout the world and Bahraini accountants no longer have to travel far to take the Uniform CPA Examination, one of the “Three Es” - Education, Examination, and Experience which comprise the requirements for U.S. CPA licensure.

In response to the escalating demand, the Uniform CPA Examination was made available to citizens and long-term residents of Bahrain, as well as Kuwait, Lebanon, the United

Arab Emirates and Japan, in August of 2011. This marked the first time in history the Exam has been administered outside of the United States. Citizens of Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia may take the Exam in one of the Middle East locations. U.S. citizens living abroad are eligible to test at any location.

Previously, international candidates were required to travel to the U.S. to take the Exam. In 2010, the last year before the exam was offered internationally, more than 10,000 candidates traveled to the U.S. to take the U.S. CPA Examination, a 22 percent increase from 2009.

Additionally, the number of candidates testing in Bahrain has steadily increased since the launch, with hundreds testing annually.

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Bab Al Bahrain revamp project gets underway

Nespresso Opens in Bahrain BAHRAIN: Nespresso, the BAHRAIN: The Bahrain Ministry of Works has started work on the BD178,558 ($461,593) Bab Al Bahrain Avenue re-construction project which involves the revamp of 796m long avenue extending from Sheikh Abdulla Avenue to Isa Al Kabeer Avenue.

The ministry awarded the contract to Mohsin Haji Ali Group, which expects to finish the project in the next 20 weeks.

‘The project is part of the Ministry’s programs and plans to develop the roads network and keep in pace with the economic and urban boom in Bahrain,’ said Raed Al Salah, the ministry’s roads projects & maintenance director.

“By reconstructing old and deteriorated roads, we seek to alleviate traffic congestions, increase roads’ capacity and safety levels,” he added.

Nestle Toll House Café Opens in Zinj BAHRAIN: The first branch

of Nestle Toll House Café opened in Bahrain at the Tala Plaza, located in Zinj. The café offers a variety of high quality, delectable products ranging from ice cream, hot and cold drinks, soft cookies and fresh salads and sandwiches. Gracing the opening was top senior government figures from the commercial and banking sector.

The grand opening of Nestle Toll House Café buzzed with excitement and guests admired the extensive and mouthwatering menu.

Mr. Mohammed Yateem, Manager of Nestle Toll House Café – Bahrain, expressed his

big -tionary Describing business terminology

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dedication to commit to the highest standards of service and quality portrayed by Nestle world- wide. “In addition to our commitment to the highest quality of standards and products we look forward to the expansion of Nestle Toll House Café’s all over the Kingdom, and are enthused to be serving the Bahraini community.”

RISK A probability or threat of damage, injury, liability, loss, or any other negative occurrence that is caused by external or internal vulnerabilities, and that may be avoided through preemptive action.

worldwide pioneer in premium portioned coffee, achieves another milestone in its Middle East expansion plan with the opening of its first boutique in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The luxury coffee brand will be opening its first boutique in the country at the renowned Bahrain City Centre which is strategically located on Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa Highway in the heart of Manama. The mall is close to the Financial District of Manama and receives higher footfall than any other mall in Bahrain annually.

The new launch brings the total number of Nespresso boutiques in the MEAC (Middle East, Africa and Caribbean) region to 28, making MEAC one of the fastest growing regions for Nespresso globally.

Nespresso marked the launch

of its first boutique in Bahrain with an invite-only event at the new Boutique with over 60 local dignitaries, government officials, business partners and media.

Speaking at the launch of the boutique, Nespresso Market Director for the Middle East, Africa and Caribbean, Pierre Debayle said: “It is always a special moment to open a first Boutique in a country.

Now we are proud to offer to our Bahraini customers this beautiful Boutique, where they will be able to experience the brand universe, taste our Coffee Grands Crus and recipes, and meet our coffee experts. We will continue to invest and develop the brand in the country, because we feel there would be a good match with the Bahraini culture of hospitality and Nespresso. The Boutique is a strong sign of our will to engage a long lasting relationship with our Bahraini Club Members.”

Top Swiss bank wins Bahrain license BAHRAIN: Julius Baer, a leading

Swiss private banking group, has won a investment firm license from The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) to establish its own unit in the Kingdom.

The new subsidiary, Julius Baer Bahrain will launch its own operations and provide service and advise to sophisticated private clients and in global wealth management, said a statement from CBB. On the Swiss bank foray, Ahmed Al-Bassam, the director of Licensing & Policy, CBB said, “We welcome Julius Baer’s decision to expand its operations in the region by establishing as subsidiary in Bahrain.”

“The presence of an arm of a reputable institution such as the leading Swiss private banking group Julius Baer, in the Kingdom of Bahrain is an added value to the leading role that Bahrain holds as a financial center in the region.” he added.

A renowned Swiss private bank with origins dating back to 1890, Julius Baer’s total client assets amount to CHF 309 billion ($321 billion) as at April 30, 2013, with assets under management accounting for CHF 220 billion.

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BAHRAIN PLANS CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL WORKERS BAHRAIN: A new crackdown has been launched to curb rising numbers of illegal workers in Bahrain, said a top official, adding that 52,000 expatriates are now living in the kingdom without the proper paperwork.

“The number of illegal workers is going up compared with past few years,” Ausamah Al Absi, chief executive of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) was quoted as saying.

However, illegal workers are being encouraged to come out of hiding and contact their embassies without fear of prosecution, he added.

“We are doing everything we can to reduce the affect on

people and only those who insist on being illegal will be caught, deported and cannot come back again,” Al Absi said.

The top official said the government did not want to resort to “brute force” or “harsh measures” to solve the problem and was keen to give illegal workers a chance to rectify their status.

The LMRA last month announced a 30-member squad would join them in cracking down on illegal foreign workers.

“We at the LMRA are trying our best to solve it in a humane way but those who insist to be illegal will be dealt with strictly according to the law. This is going to be our practice across the board without time limit.”

Bahrain’s exhibitions sector growth jumps 40pc BAHRAIN: Bahrain is pushing

ahead with plans to construct a new “Exhibition City” following an increase of 40 per cent last year in the kingdom’s exhibitions industry last year over 2011, said a senior government official.

Plans for a BD6 billion ($15.5 billion) industrial city are also in the pipeline, Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro was quoted as saying.

He was speaking during a Press conference after the Cabinet meeting at Gudaibiya Palace, during which the ministry’s annual report for last year was approved.

“Last year was an outstanding year in comparison to previous in all aspects - industrial, commercial and exhibitions,” said Dr Fakhro.

“The sectors under my

ministry have returned to normalcy with the commercial sector picking up from the unrest, the industrial sector seeing huge progress and the exhibitions sector being 100 per cent active.

“The Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority (BECA) is full and can’t take any bookings.

We now direct exhibitors and conference organisers to hotels and sometimes we have to turn down requests because we can’t make other arrangements.

“The authority (BECA) made profits of BD1.58 million last year, an increase of 40 per cent from 2011, which has seen us save around 57 per cent in operation costs. What was years ago a mediocre sector has now seen a 116 per cent turnover.”

Bahrain City Centre welcomes Marks & Spencer BAHRAIN: Shoppers in Bahrain celebrated the debut of popular UK retailer Marks & Spencer as it opened its doors at Bahrain City Centre. Boasting a new, more inspiring store format,

Bahrain plans $15.5bn industrial city BAHRAIN: Bahrain will build a BD6 billion ($15.5 billion) industrial city

covering 95 sq km, which will increase the country’s GDP by 20 per cent and will offer 24,000 job opportunities, said a top government official.

It would be built by 2040 or 2050, with studies into the project still ongoing, Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro was quoted as saying. He was speaking during a Press conference after the Cabinet meeting at Gudaibiya Palace, during which the ministry’s annual report for last year was approved.

The Industry and Commerce Ministry report stated that 33,640 trademark requests and 417 patents were approved last year.

The minister said 125 industrial licenses were issued last year involving investments worth BD52.4 million and initial approval was also granted to another 280 industrial proposals worth a total of BD763 million.

TOP BAHRAIN ISLAMIC BANKS IN MERGER TALKS

BAHRAIN: Khaleeji Commercial Bank (KHCB), a key Islamic retail bank majority owned by Gulf Finance house, has signed a MoU with Bahrain-based Islamic lender Bank Al Khair to study the feasibility of merging the two institutions into a larger financial institution.

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Marks & Spencer at Bahrain City Centre opened with the season’s latest collections from its brands including Autograph, per una and M&S Woman and M&S Man.

A steering committee with members from both banks is being set up to conduct the due diligence and to pursue the transaction, subject to obtaining the respective shareholder’s approval and seeking the necessary regulatory consents.

Since its establishment in 1999, GFH has distinguished itself by managing and placing investment in the Mena region.

The company’s activities are focused on development of Islamic Financial Institutions, Infrastructure Projects, Private Equities, and Asset Management.

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NEW SAMSUNG EXPERIENCE SHOP LAUNHED AT GOSI COMPLEXT BAHRAIN: Bin Hindi

Informatics W.L.L., debuted a New Samsung Experience Shop at GOSI Complex. The BHI Brand New showroom was inaugurated

by Mr. Y.S. Kim, President of Samsung Gulf Electronics. Mr. Ahmed Bin Hindi, A.A Bin Hindi Group President & CEO, in the presence of Samsung Gulf Electronics officials, members of the press and Bin Hindi management team Bin Hind Informatics W.L.L. the authorized distributor for Samsung Mobiles, Laptops, Printers, Copiers and Enterprise Business Group Partner covering Audio Video, Home Appliances Large Format Displays (LFD), Central AC, LED Lights, Access Control, CCTV and Digital Imaging systems in Bahrain.

“We are pleased to have such an impressive showroom at GOSI complex that is considered the Mobile & IT products marketplace in Bahrain, for our customers to experience our latest technologies,” said Mr. Ahmed Bin Hindi.

“The opening of this new Samsung Experience Shop comes at a very exciting time for the company and allows us to showcase the brands’ core values. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to show our customers the brand’s vitality and new direction, while remaining true to our commitment to our customer’s service.” commented Mr. A. Aziz Bin Hindi, BHI Director.

BHI operates Samsung service center located at Exhibition road opposite

Al-Hoora police station and another Showroom at in Juffair as well as Service Collection Point in Enaya Car Care in Wadi Al-Sail, West Riffa.

A. A. Bin Hindi, as a group has been very active and is reputed for their relentless efforts in encouraging today’s Arab youth, supporting them by means of several sponsorships and activities through various organizations and sports clubs.

It comes as the official sponsor of the Muharraq Club Ball Teams for the year 2013.

the MENA region’s specialist provider of savings and pensions,

big -tionary Describing business terminology

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The total worth of natural gas projects currently under development in the GCC states is as high as $73 billion, a top official said. The projects include those in the tendering or EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) phases, Mohammad Al Suwaidi, director of Gas Directorate in Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), was quoted as saying

by Gulf News.

UAE ACCUSED OF BUYING US CUSTOMS PRE-CLEARANCE

Takaud Launched in Bahrain

BAHRAIN: TAKAUD,

GCC NATURAL GAS PROJECTS ‘WORTH $73BN’

held a gala reception to mark its recent launch in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The event was held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Bahrain.

Patronized by the Central Bank of Bahrain, the event was well attended by key government officials, CEOs and industry leaders, across all industries, the

KIPCO Group board of directors and the media. On this occasion, H.E. Mr. Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain commented:“The Central Bank of Bahrain welcomes TAKAUD to the Kingdom of Bahrain as the first provider of world-class savings and pensions solutions developed specifically for the MENA region. As the financial hub of the GCC, we trust that Bahrain is the ideal platform for TAKAUD’ growth and success within the Kingdom and beyond, and we wish them great success.”

GOVERNMENT A group of people that governs a community or unit. It sets and administers public policy and exercisesexecutive, political and sovereign power through customs, institutions, and laws within a state. A government can be classified into many types--democracy, republic, monarchy, aristocracy, and dictatorship are just a few.

A decision to allow US customs pre-clearance at Abu Dhabi International Airport has drawn widespread criticism in the US, with claims the UAE has paid for the privilege.

Under the agreement, passengers flying from the UAE capital to any US city will be cleared by American customs and immigration officials before boarding their flight, speeding up the entry process and helping the US screen passengers who might be denied entry before flying to the country.

A large number of US senators, the Airlines for America union group, the Global Business Travel Association and others have criticized the decision to add Abu Dhabi to the list, claiming it will divert resources from congested domestic airports.

Abu Dhabi will reportedly pay 80 percent of the cost of the service but US customs and immigration officials will need to be based in the UAE.

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NEWS

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REDTAG IS RELAUNCHED BIGGER AND BETTER

BAHRAIN: Formerly known as

Discount Home Store, the Adliya store is now a complete Redtag store. The revamped outlet was launched in the presence of dignitaries and guests. The outlet has been completely revamped, in line with Redtag values across the region, and will display the latest fashions in

clothing and home decor. Redtag offers customers the comfort of shopping in a spacious and trendy location, whilst also offering more merchandise options that are displayed regularly and frequently.

Visitors to the new Adliya Redtag store will receive a gift voucher worth 3BHD, with every

10BHD purchase. This offer is open until 30th June. This discount can be used to purchase any Redtag products, including the newest summer collections.

Customers at the new branch can browse the latest in affordable and trendy fashions, during the opening hours of 9:30 AM to 10:30 PM with free car parking.

Alba Pot Line 5 achieves another milestone BAHRAIN: Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba)’s production process achieved a significant milestone with the announcement that Pot Line 5 has been upgraded to AP37 technology following an increase in the line current to 370 kA. The upgrade will increase production by approximately 1,000 metric tonnes on an annual basis.

Alba is currently focused on enhancing performance levels at the plant and remains on track in achieving these goals through the joint efforts of members from the Power, Carbon Operations & Maintenance, Process Control & Development, Reduction Operation & maintenance departments.

Fun City expands its presence in Bahrain BAHRAIN: Fun City, the

region’s foremost entertainment center committed to providing wholesome family fun opens its doors to even more children in the Kingdom of Bahrain, with its second opening in less than two months. The formal inauguration of the new center located in Oasis Centre, Al Muharraq took place on June 1st and was inaugurated

by Mr. Vikas Attri, Territory Head -Bahrain & Mr. Silvio Liedtke, COO Fun City, in the presence of Al Rashid Group. The previously

opened Centre in Oasis Centre, Riffa and this latest one provides wholesome fun to its little visitors.

The Fun City attractions in Oasis Centre, Al Muharraq include exciting rides like the all-time favorite Bumper Cars, the Happy Swing, the Hello Kitty Fun House in addition to the specially designed zones - Play Zone & Fun n’ Learn. Last but not least, the centre is equipped with all the advanced video games, ticket games, and prize games for children.

BAHRAIN BOURSE PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON IR PRACTICES BAHRAIN: Bahrain Bourse, in co-operation with J P Morgan, organised a fourday programme on investor relations (IR) best practices.

Participants from the listed companies along with others from GCC stock exchanges attended.

The programme was conducted by a group of

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specialists and covered IR principles and techniques, communication tools, valuation, corporate governance and financial statements.

A number of practical case studies were presented and the importance of IR for listed companies and financial markets was explained.

BREAKDOWN OF NEWS AND NUMBERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

SNIPPETS The value of Japan’s trade with Bahrain increased 7.26 per cent to $1.3 billion last year, a report quoting data released by the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) said.

8,689

7.26 %

$73 Bn The total worth of natural gas projects currently under development in the GCC states is as high as $73 billion, according to Mohammad Al Suwaidi, director of Gas Directorate in Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc).

143

5% BD227Mn $40Bn : Bahrain’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow more than five per cent this year, said the chief economist of Bahrain Economic Development Board.

In 2012, 8689 Commercial Registrations (CRs) were issued - bringing the total number of active CRs to 72,424, with a cumulative working capital estimated at around BD19.4 billion.

Bahrain’s budget deficit widened sevenfold in 2012 to 227 million dinars ($601 million), but stayed well below an initial plan as the country reined in spending increases and revenue grew, data showed.

Qatar has the highest concentration of millionaires in the world with 143 out of every 1,000 households having private wealth of at least $1 million, according to a new report from Boston Consulting Group.

Every year, Indian expatriates in the Gulf send back home $40 billion, said a senior official. This accounts for more than half of $69 billion which the World Bank says is the total remittance by Indians worldwide, said the Indian Ambassador for Bahrain Dr Mohan Kumar.

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Forum on Entrepreneurship Held Tamkeen and Bahrain Business Women Society Advises Entrepreneurs

A

forum was organized

by Tamkeen and Bahrain Business Women Society, which brought together entrepreneurs to discuss Tamkeenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s various Programs.

The event was held at the Bab

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Al Bahrain Mall. The aim was to highlight the assistance that the entities can provide to those who have a business idea and looking to set up their own business.

Aspects including funding, sourcing materials and marketing the business were discussed.

PORTRAYING WOMEN IN THE ARAB MEDIA

SCW Organizes Workshop for Women Journalists

T

he General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Women, in collaboration with the German Embassy organized a media forum on the topic “The

Portrayal of Women in the Arab Media” the Kempinski Grand and Ixir Hotel. It saw the participation of a number of media personnel from Bahrain and around the region. It aimed to promote a critical debate

concerning the role of women in modern society and its reflection in media. The workshop was organized as part of Supreme Council for Women’s program to highlight the commitment of women in media.

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BAHRAINIZATION:

A PRIORITY Award Ceremony Held for Retail Sector Under the patronage of the Labor Minister, HE Jameel Humaidan, the Specific Council for Training organized an award ceremony to honor organizations with a high level of Bahrainis in their workforce, at the MĂśvenpick Hotel. The ceremony was attended by the Minister, Labor Ministry Under-Secretary, Sabah Salim Al Dosary, Chairperson o the Specific council for Training in Retail, Amal Almoayyed and other dignitaries.

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B

ahrain is taking all the necessary steps to ensure a high level of Bahrainization in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s retail sector, said the Minister. He stressed that The Kingdom has the highest number of local people employed in the Gulf.

Award winners of the night included YK Almoayyed & Sons, Lulu Hyper Market, Jawad Business Group, Euro Motors, AJM Kooheji, National Motors and many others.

LATEST SMART TV

TECHNOLOGY LAUNCHED LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3D Smart TV Enhances Viewing Experience

L

G Electronics has launched its new range of Cinema 3D Smart televisions in Bahrain.

They were launched by LG Electronics Gulf president D Y Kim during an event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

AJM Kooheji Group chief executive

Rohit Raina, LG Electronics Middle East and Africa president James Park, AJM Kooheji chairman Hameed Kooheji and vice-chairman Mahmood Kooheji were among key officials who attended the event.

Kim said the new range of

televisions were equipped with the most advanced 3D technology which enabled smoother and more immersive 3D viewing and said their launch was part of a plan to bring the biggest innovations that technology had to offer today to Bahrain.

JUNE MAY //JUNE JULY 2013

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InJaz

Promotes

Entrepreneurship 13 Teams Compete to Win the title of “Company of the Year”

I

NJAZ Bahrain, a leading non-profit organization focused on youth economic empowerment, recently concluded the 5th Company of the Year Competition at the Movenpick Hotel.

The two-day event witnessed youth participants showcasing their entrepreneurial achievements, and concluded with crowning of “MCC” (Moving Customizable Comforts” team from Bahrain Bayan School as the winner of the “Best Company of the Year”, with second place being awarded to “Ayjal” team from Shaikha Hessa Girls School, and 3rd place given to Ahmed Al Omran “Tadweer” team.

The winning team was selected based on the scores provided by a judging panel, which consisted of professionals from several institutes in the Kingdom. The winning team will represent INJAZ Bahrain and the Kingdom at the regional INJAZ competition taking place in United Arab Emirates in October this year. The “MCC” team received the trophy from Sheikha Hessa Bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, Executive Director of INJAZ BAHRAIN Bahrain.

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MAY / JUNE JUNE / JULY2013 2013

JUNE MAY //JUNE JULY 2013

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Pre-Employment

Training Exhibition Held An Insight into the Pre Employment Practices

U

nder Patronage of the Minister of Labor, His Excellency Jameel bin Mohamed Ali Humaidan, Medpoint Event Management organized the second â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bahrain exhibition for Training and Education pre employmentâ&#x20AC;? in cooperation with Ministry of Labor at Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre.

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It provided a great opportunity for Training Institutes, Universities and Companies to gain knowledge on how to train or recruit fresh students from the Secondary Schools and Bachelor degree holders; and for entrepreneurs it provided counseling on developing a business plan, which included four specific areas: Finance, Human Resources, Marketing and Management.

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INTEGRATING WOMEN'S NEEDS IN DEVELOPMENT Alba & SCW Organize Seminar

A

lba, organized a special seminar, in coordination with the Supreme Council for Women at the Alba Club. The seminar on “Integrating Women’s Needs in Development” was

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be conducted by Ms. Baheeja Al Daylami, Training & Development Advisor at the Supreme Council for Women.

Part of Alba’s Women Empowerment Education Series

for 2013, the event marks another important initiative in Alba’s on-going efforts to train women employees to be equal contributors in the company’s growth and development.

A UNIQUE LAB T FOR IDEAS “Entrelab” Exhibition Launched

he U.S. Embassy and Tenmou (Bahrain Business Angels Company) launched the the “Entrelab” initiative under the patronage of HE the American Ambassador Thomas Krajeski and HE the Minister of Industry and Commerce Hassan Fakhro at Seef Mall.

The project, called Entrelab, is a non-profit program that provides young Bahraini entrepreneurs the chance to showcase and sell their innovative products and/or services in one of the country’s top shopping malls for at least two months, starting in June.

18 Bahraini entrepreneurs were selected to exhibit their products and services at the opening. The participants will also benefit from an intensive training program focused on marketing skills, pricing tactics and business start-up techniques.

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GENPRISE OPENS NEW STORE One Stop Shop For lighting and Power Needs

B

ahrain trading company Genprise has opened a state-of-the-art showroom in Adliya. The double-storey facility deals in all kinds of lighting and power accessories and equipment

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and concentrates on energy-efficient lighting, said company officials. The facility was opened by managing director Abdulaziz Alshehabi and managing partner U H Neelakanta, in the presence of other officials and invited guests.

BOOSTING ISLAMIC CAPITAL MARKETS & INVESTMENTS

Conference on 1slamic Banking Held The 9th Annual World Islamic Funds & Financial Markets Conference Provides New Strategic Insights on Boosting the International Growth of Islamic Capital Markets & Investments.

C

onfirming its position as the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest and most influential annual gathering of Islamic investment leaders, WIFFMC 2013 convened the leading players, industry thought leaders and key regulators in the international Islamic funds and investments industry for discussions that focused on broadening the base of investors and issuers; and boosting the international growth of Islamic capital markets and investments.

Held under the strategic partnership of the Central Bank of Bahrain, the two day event was inaugurated by Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Baker, Executive Director â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Financial Institutions Supervision at the Central Bank of Bahrain, who provided insights into creating stronger regulatory frameworks to support the international development of the Islamic funds and investments industry.

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I N T E RV I E W

BUSINESS BOOMS IN

BAHRAIN

An interview with the visionary, HE Minister for Industry and Commerce, Dr. Hassan Fakhro.

Bahrain’s industrial sector is taking strides into development. According to the annual Index of Economic Freedom published by The Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal, Bahrain remains the Middle East / North Africa (MENA) region’s most economically free country, ranked 1st out of 15 countries. We speak to HE Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Dr. Hassan Fakhro about the Industrial Evolution of the Kingdom.

How far has Bahrain come in the area of manufacturing and industry?

Lets just say we have come a long way since the discovery of oil in the 1930s which marked, if you will, the beginning of Bahrain’s modern economic era. The establishment of the Bahrain Petroleum Company heralded a new manufacturing and commercial impetus, which gained momentum with the establishment of the Gulf’s first, and one of the world’s largest and most successful, aluminum smelters, ALBA. On the back of these industries, and through the natural process of cross-fertilization, many new industries and services have developed.

To-day the industrial sector contributes some 17% to total Gross Domestic Product, and in 2010 the Salman Industrial City project was officially launched to propel future industrial development.

The manufacturing sector has experienced robust growth in the past three decades, with the sector’s contribution to real GDP increasing from 8.9% in 1980 to 17% in 2009. At the ‘Invest in Bahrain 2012’ event, held at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, more than 1000 business people and investors from around the world attended, what was in essence a showcase of new manufacturing opportunities in Bahrain, and focused on sectors including plastics, fiberglass, and metals amongst others.

There is no doubt that the manufacturing industry is well developed and is on an upward trajectory in Bahrain. The 1053 new companies that have been registered in the country in the first 9 months of last year, taken together with aggregate investment from 2007 to the end of 2011 of around US$4 billion, gives you a pretty good idea of the extent to which this is happening.

How would you compare it to other GCC nations?

I do not compare Bahrain with other GCC countries. We do not compete with other countries in the region, rather I would say that we complement and support each other. Having said that, in my humble opinion, Bahrain’s adherence to the rule of law, the extent of our legal and administrative development, our high ranking 36

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in many international freedom indices (including the prestigious Heritage Foundation), Bahrain’s a legitimacy in global markets is perhaps more persuasive than other countries in the region.

Bahrain is internationally recognized as the regional financial centre, it is acknowledged by independent sources, such as the Heritage Foundation, as being the freest economy in the Middle East, and has been named by the Financial Times as being the Middle East City of the future.

We also have the lowest inflation rate in the region at under 5%, and in general all operating costs in Bahrain, including rents are lower than in the other Gulf States.

At the same time in contrast to some other countries in the region, Bahrain has no direct taxation, does not adopt any offsetstyle investment requirements, is open to 100% foreign ownership in practically all economic activitie. It provides a safe, friendly and cosmopolitan atmosphere with a relaxed social environment and leisure activities that compliment its world class infrastructure.

So in my view, Bahrain is the most attractive location in the region from which to do business in the GCC and greater Middle East region, and in particular for those businesses which need the legitimacy which only the Kingdom of Bahrain can offer.

Why should any investor pick Bahrain to set up their base?

Let me repeat that in my opinion, Bahrain is the most attractive location in the region from which to do business in the GCC and greater Middle East region.

Let me give you a short equation: Best investment climate with no taxation, no currency restrictions Attractive social environment, relaxed and safe cosmopolitan environment Higher availability of trained and educated domestic manpower Reasonable cost of living with low inflation All, or practically all, activities can be undertaken by a 100% foreign

owned company Industrial land and facilities available New incentives provided by the FTA with USA

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“Bahrain is committed to offering a variety of incentives to investors keen on accessing both international and regional markets.”

What measures are in place to assist those business units which have been affected due to the crisis ?

In general business in Bahrain has not been affected by any crisis, whether that being the global financial crisis or the global economic downturn. I would not refer to the events of 2011 and the continuing minor disturbances as being a crisis, more of an aberration to our stability, which has had an effect primarily only on those retail businesses located within the traditional Soukh area.

Other businesses, including retail operators in the large Malls were affected for some time, but business has remained robust overall, with our GDP achieving US$30.8 bn in 2011 compared to US$30.4 bn in 2010 and US$29.17 bn in 2009.

Nevertheless, I would say that we did take a hit on our level of confidence, in particular due to the mis-reporting of events, which had the effect of perhaps reducing our business growth somewhat.

In order to counteract these effects, particularly on the small retail enterprises, the Government placed a moratorium on labor fees, as well as providing other assistance programs. The Government is continuing at a pace with infrastructure projects, which also generates business for the private sector.

How can we convince the international business community that the ground really is different to what is depicted in the media ?

I view the media generally as our friends; as a valuable independent measure of our success, and the means to convey the real picture to the world at large. However, it has been very sad to witness after the events following on from February 2011, in the words of Disraeli, “how much easier - it has been for certain elements of the media - to be critical rather than correct?” I would ask those who would criticize Bahrain, to look to their own countries before ruminating on the situation in Bahrain, and without having full factual knowledge of our present history and the unprecedented events which occurred in 2011.

But I would let the statistics and facts do the talking. Bahrainis represent over 70% of the national workforce. Our national flagship industries are staffed primarily by Bahrainis, and we have embarked on labor reforms, that promote the concept of the Bahraini as the employee of choice.

Bahrain has a Gross Domestic Product Per capita of over US$ 40,000, we have the highest productivity and literacy rate in the region, and we have a fully inclusive society in which women play a leading role in public life and popular elections. In short Bahrain is a modern country, with far-sighted economic and social policies, a cosmopolitan welcoming environment, and a deep respect for the rule of law and the legitimate rights of its people.

His Majesty King Hamad Al-Khalifa is committed to peaceful and gradual reforms in line with the progressive national dialogues, and I am certain that the more intelligent and thoughtful media, will help us in showing the real progress that is being made in Bahrain on all fronts, economic, political and social.

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Bahrain was ranked at 28 in the 2010 World Bank Ease of Doing Business Report, and it dropped to 38 in 2012 and it is still dropping. How can we change that?

This should be read in the context of other rankings, such as for example the Heritage Foundation Report, which ranks Bahrain as the 10th in its Economic Freedom Index, and the highest in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The World Bank Report rankings are based on an analysis of processes and procedures which relate to a medium sized With Limited Liability (WLL) company. However in Bahrain, the most popular vehicle for establishing a business is through a Sole Proprietorship or Partnership, in which the procedures and formalities are much simpler.

In any event there is much more that Bahrain can, and is doing, in terms of improving the administrative and legal process for companies. A new raft of commercial laws is in process, which includes, a new Company Law, Competition Law, legislation to deal with secured lending, and a new Bankruptcy Law. Taken together with the Phase 2 of our ‘eInvestor’ system, which will provide a whole new experience for investors by creating a virtual on-line application system, I believe that the process of entry into the market, access to financing, and exit from the market will be taken to a whole new level, and will indeed improve our overall ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index.

Which in your opinion is the most booming industry in the Kingdom? Why so?

Overall growth for 2012 is estimated at around 3.9%, with all main sectors of the economy in positive growth territory, and with a strong rebound being witnessed in the non-oil sector. Growth is anticipated to expand in 2013 due to planned large scale industrial investments and growth in infrastructure spending, which will have a direct positive impact on the construction sector.

The retail banking sector continues to show strong resilience.

I would expect to see the construction sector continue to grow on the back of new infrastructure spending, and the manufacturing industry expanding as the result of recent new market entrants.

As confidence is regained, retail, wholesale and the tourism industry will show gains.

It is known world-wide that entrepreneurs are the engines of any industry. What is being done here to encourage Bahrainis to step up to that role?

We are committed to offering a variety of incentives to investors keen on accessing both international and regional markets. The fact that Bahrainis make up more than 50% of total invested capital in Bahrain, and that our GCC neighbors are responsible for a good percentage of the remainder is a very good indication that those businessmen on the ground are confident about the future of Bahrain; simply because they know the real situation.

HE Dr. Hassan Fakhro with HRH the Crown Prince

“There is no doubt that the manufacturing industry is well developed and is on an upward trajectory, and 1053 new companies that had been registered in Bahrain in the first 9 months of last year.”

The Bahrain Government has moved away from the productive processes, and has positioned the private sector as the future engine of growth. All Government assets are being placed on a commercial footing with a view to eventual privatization, as and when the market is right.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce, together with its partners at the Bahrain Economic Development Board, the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Tamkeen, are taking numerous steps to promote businesses, provide direct assistance for a number of marketing initiatives and the upgrading of skills.

In addition the commercial registration system, through which new businesses are established, and the Company Law under which businesses are incorporated, are being streamlined in an effort to further improve Bahrain’s already business friendly environment.

All avenues to boost investor confidence to develop new operations, and encourage inward investment are being taken, including seeking out new markets through trade visits, such as the recent week-long trade mission to Thailand, and the upcoming business forum scheduled to be held in London in April 2013.

What is Bahrain doing to better attract foreign entrepreneurs?

We are keen on attracting foreign investors, particularly in the targeted sectors which combine to form our vision of a knowledge based economy. We must be realistic in targeting those sectors which will not make great demands on our relatively limited supply of land and energy, and cater to our environmental conservation concerns. With these caveats, we are using the expansion of trade and investment agreements, foreign trade visits, road-shows and international forums to generate greater interest amongst potential investors in the Far East, Europe and the United States.

The Bahrain US Free Trade Agreement is a measure which was taken by the Bahrain Government in order to boost US investment in Bahrain, as well as giving the opportunities for Bahraini businessmen to expand their market across the Atlantic.

We are also looking at new major projects, such as a new Economic City to act as a catalyst for encouraging new investors into the country, and at the same time we are establishing an Export Development Centre to grow our external business as well as acting as a pull magnet for new investors.

I would also say that our determination and actions to further improve our business friendly environment, so as to provide predictability in the incorporation and liquidation processes, will by nature attract new investors who will understand the attractiveness Bahrain compared to other alternatives in the region.

What is the single most important step taken in the last 5 years to promote Bahrain’s manufacturing industry?

There is no single step that has been taken in recent years that I would say has been more important than any other in promoting manufacturing in Bahrain. It is rather the aggregation of the various initiatives, such as the FTA, the establishment of Salman Industrial City, the labor market reforms, the establishment of the SME Unit, the Industrial Investor Development Program (IIDP), Industrial Development Marketing Program(IMDP), the Industrial Talents Development Program (ITDP), and the cooperation program which the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has with the United Nations Development Organization (UNIDO). The establishment of the Business Incubator in cooperation with the Bahrain Development Bank, was also an important step in developing new entrepreneurs.

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“Bahrain is a modern country, with far-sighted economic and social policies, a cosmopolitan welcoming environment, and a deep respect for the rule of law and the legitimate rights of its people.”

How many Bahraini companies have benefited from the FTA with the US ?

Many companies have benefited directly either by access to the US market under the favorable terms of the FTA or through duty-free imports of products and machinery. It is impossible to quote numbers, however it is true to say that all companies, irrespective of their size or sector; whether manufacturers or services providers, domestic or internationally oriented, have benefited from the FTA by virtue of the commercial and legal infrastructure changes that were made concurrently with the negotiation of the FTA.

Will we be seeing more new trade agreements with international players any time soon?

I sincerely hope that new trade agreements that will benefit our commercial enterprises and industries, will be finalized in the future, but such free trade agreements will only be executed under the auspices of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

In this regard a number of agreements are in the process of negotiation, including with the European Union, Japan, China, Pakistan, Turkey, Australia and New Zealand, all of which are at various stages in the process.

How important are cottage industries for a country like Bahrain and what is being done to promote them?

Bahrain is proud of its traditional crafts industries, and a Centre was established in 1990 to act as a development tool for the protection and expansion of the crafts industry, which consists of 12 specific crafts including, hand-made palm leaves paper; stained glass; woodwork; gypsum;iron;embroidery, Arabic calligraphy, as well as environmental products.

The industries are important both from the historical and traditional perspective, as well as a means of continuing skills development, a support mechanism for productive families and a valuable tool in the development of tourism. Traditional industries also reinforce Bahrain’s heritage and the strong family bonds, which are important if we are to preserve our past as a means of looking to the future.

New ones have developed on the back of the skills retained from old crafts, such as new jewelry production which owes its origins to the pearling industry.

How strong is the country’s export business?

Let me just throw out some of our foreign trade numbers that I think tells the whole story. Our exports to the world between 2004 and 2008 more than doubled from BD686million to over 1.5 billion, and with the total sales volume expanding by a similar margin from BD2.5 bn to 5.7 bn, over the same period. Growth remains robust on all fronts.

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Bahrain has a number of manufacturing units for international brands, those that produce goods for the international market. Is any scheme in place to promote the setting up of such companies here ?

Yes, Bahrain does have a number of multinational companies that produce “brands” aimed at both regional and international markets, and naturally when we are marketing our facilities in Bahrain, such as the Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP) to global companies, we are targeting those brands that will provide both prestige and export potential for the country, with the underlying accent on providing new employment opportunities. I would say that whilst we encourage all investors, the investment in the country has to make sense, not only for the investor, but also for the country as we are using up valuable resources in order to accommodate newcomers, and need to ensure that our Dinars are working to the best advantage.

Our management teams responsible for the various industrial facilities do have specific marketing strategies for attracting inward investors by highlighting the advantages and incentives Bahrain offers. In addition the Ministry of Industry and Commerce produces sector specific briefs on opportunities that exist, as well as presenting these opportunities at the annual ‘Invest in Bahrain’ events. The Bahrain Economic Development Board also has a marketing and promotion program and provides a service for potential investors.

What is your personal vision for Bahrain’s industry and commerce?

My mission is to take an active role in developing the national economy by encouraging and promoting inward investment and organic business development, through the provision of high quality facilities and services to investors. This has to be done whilst adhering to the Kingdom’s multilateral commitments, international standards and best practices, for the well-being of consumers and community at large.

To achieve this the Ministry seeks to be a model for timely customer service and will contribute towards achieving a private sector driven, globally competitive, sustainable, diversified and knowledge economy in Bahrain, whilst shifting from being a regulator rather to that of an operator.

We will maximize the potential of industry by ensuring the availability of core elements required, such as land, energy and raw materials. On the commerce front our energies will be spent in creating a more business friendly environment that will encourage both new domestic expansion and foreign direct investment.

At the same time we will be using our foreign trade resources to grow the potential markets for our producers thereby improving the quality of offerings through activities in standards development and execution a while maintaining a robust intellectual property system.

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THE DRIVING FORCE Key Players in Bahrain’s Automobile Industry

Bahrain has one of the most vibrant automobile industries in the world and all of the biggest brand names are found here.

The industry is run by a number of individuals, who are truly passionate about cars and technology ensuring that the Kingdom’s small but significant industry remains second to none. We highlight the work of some of the key players in Bahrain’s Automobile Industry. (in alphabetical order)

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AUTO INDUSTRY

Abdulla Al Wedai Head of Sales – Honda National Motor Company Abdulla Al Wedia has extensive experience in the automotive world. As the Head of Sales for Honda at National Motors, he, along with his team, completely transformed the perception of Honda among the public, and this has resulted in increasing Honda’s market share.

Auf Abdulrahman Al Delaimi Regional Manager Al Ghassan Motors

Anthony Raymond

General Manager – Land Rover Euro Motors Although Antony Raymond has been the General Manager for Land Rover at Euro Motors since February this year, he has a long history with the automobile industry. He started out in the sales department at Perry’s in Canterbury in 1990, and has also worked in Bahrain’s automobile industry for almost five years from 2007 – 2012.

Auf Abdulrahman Al Delaimi graduated college as an architect, but his love and passion for cars literally drove him to do a Masters in Business Development and to join the automobile industry. As of now, he has a total of seven years experience in the industry and almost three years with Al Ghassan Motors, where he leads a team of almost twenty people. With two showrooms dealing in exquisite brands like McLaren, Lamborghini, Lotus and Bugatti, Auf works with the crème de la crème of the automobile sector.

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Ayman Shehadeh Marketing Manager, Toyota & Lexus EK Kanoo For over fifteen years, Aymen Shehadeh has been part of the Automobile Industry, and almost seven of that have been at EK Kanoo. As the Marketing Manager for Toyota and Lexus, he is able to use his skills and knowledge to further advance and strengthen the strong position of the brands, under the EK Kanoo umbrella. He is also actively involved in promoting the other aspects of the brand such as the Toyota Plaza, and their numerous services centers.

Declan John McCluskey Chief Executive YK Almoayyed & Sons

Dr. Bijan Majidi General Manager Motor City In 2005, Dr. Bijan Majidi joined the EK Kanoo Group. He is also a member of the Budget and Management Executive Committees of E. K. Kanoo and oversees and manages several companies and functions in the group. As the General Manager of Motor City, he looks after operations, dealer and service centers network development, sales, marketing, logistics and supply chain, after sales, investments and P&L.

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It has been 22 years since Declan John McCluskey started working in the automobile industry, and he has been with YK Almoaayed since May 2010. He has also worked in Dubai and the UK, and has even had the opportunity to assess the automobile markets of countries like Barbados and Greenland as a consultant.

What many donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know is that he started out as a banker, and one ďŹ ne day, gave his mother the shock of her life, when he quit banking and got into the automobile industry. The passion for cars is also shared by his wife, who has herself been in the industry

for almost 27years. He believes that the industry is complex and exciting to be in. According to him, one can succeed in this business by keeping ahead of technology and legislation, to give the customer the best car they can have at the most economical price.

He believes that by being part of this industry, he can truly make people happy, as the car is one of the most expensive items any person buys these days. No matter how advanced each new model is, he still eagerly waits to see the reaction of the public, and gets completely thrilled when they appreciate a good model.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Ebrahim M. Kanoo Director Of Operations EK Kanoo One of the younger members of the EK Kanoo dynasty, Ebraim M Kanoo ensures that the vast empire functions smoothly. Just like his father, he is a true believer in the value of after sales services.

His vision is to strengthen EK Kanoo’s position as Bahrain’s favorite auto company. Among his own car collection, the 1993 Toyota Supra, which he has had since his college days, is the closest to his heart. A true blue car enthusiast, he has a collection of 1300 cars die-cast model cars.

FIRAS BARBIR GROUP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER BEHBEHANI BROTHERS WLL

FELIX MIRANDA BRAND MANAGER – VOLKSWAGEN BEHBEHANI BROTHERS WLL Felix Miranda is a veteran of the automobile industry in the Kingdom, with over 27 years of experience holding different positions within the Behbehani Group. An able Toastmaster, he states that his experience with Toastmasters have helped him evolve into a better salesperson and an understanding brand manager. In 2008, Volkswagen

Middle East presented the ‘Golden Pin’ award to him for the exceptional achievements at Volkswagen in Bahrain. For Mr. Miranda the essence of his work culminates to one thing alone - “It’s all about the driving experience! I want my customers to enjoy uninterrupted driving pleasure and to focus on what truly matters - the drive.”

Firas Barbir is a well known name in the automobile industry in the Kingdom, with almost eight years of experience in the field of automobiles communica on. Firas started his journey in the Auto Industry of Bahrain in 2006 as a Marke ng Manager for another well known European manufcaturer. Later he switched jobs to become the Business Development Manager for Marke ng at Behbehani Bros WLL to develop successful marke ng strategies for brands including Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen.

Firas, a Lebanese/German na onal maintains an excellent rapport with the majority of clients he deals with, no thanks to his mixed east-west background which enables him to communicate superbly with all segments of his society - a valuable asset when you are BDM for Marke ng!

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GEETAN JESSEN Dealer Principal, Audi Bahrain Having amassed 22 years of experience, Geetan Jessen started his career in the Automotive Industry as a Management trainee in 1991 in the UK. Having been disciplined in the core areas of the Automotive business, Geetan attributes his success to hard work and determination. ‘I have been very fortunate to know some exceptional individuals, who have taught me to challenge myself throughout my career’. As Dealer Principal for the Audi Centre in Bahrain, Geetan has a very ‘hands on’ approach to the business; he now looks to deliver in Bahrain, Audi’s global vision of becoming the most successful premium brand.

Through investment in employees, development of facilities and by offering the most attractive product portfolio in the premium segment, Geetan is focusing the business towards customer delight. He is proud of the success enjoyed by Audi thus far, but notes from a business point that he looks for sustainable growth: whereby, delighting their customers, having financial strength and to be an image leader and an attractive employer.

Fuad Kanoo Vice Chairman EK Kanoo

As the Vice Chairman of one of the largest automotive companies in the region, Fuad Kanoo has a herculean task. EK Kanoo is the sole dealership for Toyota and Lexus in the Kingdom.

According to him, EK Kanoo is the market leader as it has always operated its business with high level of professionalism while simultaneously positioning itself for the future. Their principal business mission is to render superior products and services with a passion to exceed all expectations. He states that they see themselves as more than sole distributors for Toyota and Lexus, they are partners for progress.

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AUTO INDUSTRY

Sheikh Ghassan A H Al Sulaiman Owner Al Ghassan Motors Al Ghassan Motors boasts of an exquisite collection of cars, including Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti, McLaren and Lotus.

Under the ownership of Sheikh Ghassan A H Al Sulaiman the company has focused on delivering excellent quality service to its esteemed clientele with additional emphasis placed on ensuring a market leading after sales experience.

GODWIN D’CRUZ SALES & MARKETING MANAGER AHMED ZAYANI AND SONS Godwin D’Cruz was originally an ad-man (from advertising & media background) and the first automotive account he handled was the Jeep brand way back in 1998 , and it was love at first sight. His passion for this historic vehicle compelled him to move across the table and join the same Jeep dealership in Oman in their factory communications department as Sales Support Manager until 2004. After coming to Bahrain in 2004 he worked with another leading Japanese brand, but his love and commitment to the original 4WD Jeep heritage brand made him join Ahmed Zayani and Sons, Bahrain in 2010. According to him, the key challenge is to keep up with the latest innovations and t,.mn o perceive the brand position and values, especially when catering to customers who are well-versed and more informative of the brand and even when it comes to the bare minimum comparisons that they make of the various competitor brands.

Along with the 55 members of the team, he takes care of different aspects including sales, marketing and business development. One of the most thrilling moments in his career was when he had to drive a Wrangler up a 60-degree sand dune and driving a wadi trail, during his 4WD training in Oman.

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Hussain Shirazi Deputy Executive Director Behbehani Brothers WLL As the Deputy Executive Director, Hussain Shirazi manages the Behbehani Bros wll Automotive division. Most definitely an impressive position to be in, as he works with extremely celebrated brands such as Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen. His vision is to make Behbehani a dynamic, regional leader committed to the highest standards of ethics, integrity and customer satisfaction.

Graeme Newport General Manager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mercedes Benz Al Haddad Motors Having joined Al Haddad Motors in November 2011, Graeme Newportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s responsibilities revolve around ensuring that the Mercedes brand retains its seat at the top of the luxury car brands in Bahrain. His experience in the automotive industry began in 1992 in Hong Kong as a project manager, and he arrived in Bahrain in 1999 and worked with another leading brand for a few years. As the GM, he intends to take the company to new heights by making it more customer-oriented and speeding up the process while maintaining the first class quality, service and performance that Mercedes-Benz is known for.

ISMAIL AKBAR GENERAL MANAGER OF SALES EK KANOO As the General Manager of Sales at EK Kanoo, Ismail Akbar has played a major role in making the company market leaders in the automobile industry. He has also received the Toyota Excellence Marketing Award for the outstanding sales achievements in 2012. Along with his team, he has set a high benchmark for sales performance in the Kingdom.

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AUTO INDUSTRY

Jamal M. AlSayed General Manager Mohammed Jalal & Sons Automotive Jamal AlSayed has been in the industry for seventeen years and fifteen of those have been with Mohammed Jalal and Sons itself.

According to him, it is a great industry to work in as it is quite challenging. He believes that it is insufficient for any person in the industry to know only about their own brand; it is about constantly educating oneself about the numerous innovations in technology within the brand and of their competitors. He also puts on record that he thoroughly enjoys being part of Mohammed Jalal & Sons as the Family makes the employees feel welcome and appreciated; they support, protect and encourage their employees and allow them to grow and realize their own potential. He heads a staff of 55 members, and he tries to be a friend and colleague to his team, before being their General Manger. He believes that the best marketing for brand Suzuki is the word of mouth publicity that he receives from customers.

JOHN JOSEPH BRAND MANAGER – KIA A. A BIN HINDI John Joseph has been in the automotive industry for twenty years and with Bin Hindi Group for three years and in such a short period itself, he has managed to make KIA one of the leading brands in the region. When he is picking a car, he looks for safety and performance, in that order and that made him pick the Kia Sorento for himself. He truly enjoys being part of this industry as it is an extrovert’s industry, and he gets to meet and deal with interesting people everyday. According to him, the rewards of this industry are aplenty. But what stands out is the joy and smiles that he sees on the face of a customer when he hands them their key. Keeping up with people’s changing perception is a challenge. He feels it is important that people are made aware of what really goes on behind the scenes while manufacturing a car.

MAHASUM SHAH MARKETING MANAGER – KIA A. A BIN HINDI With a history of over 23years in the Auto Industry, Mahasum Shah joined as the Marke ng Manager for KIA two years ago. He has been very ac ve in Bahrain establishing automo ve businesses, introducing few of the known brands in Bahrain, as he spent over 13 years in U.A.E and over 10 years in Bahrain. It is evident that he truly believes KIA offers one of the best cars in the market, from the fact that he drives a KIA Sportage and hopes to get the KIA Quoris.

Passion for cars keeps him going in search for new technologies, brands etc. What he enjoys most is to research on products associated with business development, finding new brands and benchmarking the same among the compe on.

The most rewarding moment of his career was to see his hard work in terms of brands and cars driven

on Bahrain roads. He feels that KIA has been very aggressive in terms of marke ng and have introduced some incredible models, superior in terms of technology & design.

His challenge is to be in the forefront to create the right image that it deserves and to be the influencing factor for the brand.

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Mohammed Kanoo Chairman EK Kanoo

Majid Al Zayani Marketing Manager Euro Motors Born into a family with decades of automotive dealership experience, Majid has settled down well into his role of marketing and promoting the plethora of prestigious brands under the Euro Motors umbrella. After completing his education in the US, Majid returned to join the family business enhancing the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s image and branding strategies across the Kingdom.

Mohammed Bin Hindi General Manager, A. A Bin Hindi

For Mohammed Bin Hindi, Kia represents everything a car should be. His own personal favorites cars, no matter what the need, are all from Kia itself. He takes pride in knowing that his team was able to make Kia one of the most popular brands in the region, even beating certain Japanese models. He advises his team to be approachable to the customers, to educate them on the latest innovations and to be fair in pricing to ensure that customers stay satisfied; so that they continue the practice of giving good referrals.

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As the Chairman of EK Kanoo, Mohammed Kanoo enjoys the position of being the undisputed market leader in the automobile industry. His belief that true progress and growth can only be accomplished by having a powerful vision for the future, has allowed his company to flourish and grow. At EK Kanoo, they aim to build a future where they can provide new levels of superior service and technological expertise.

He believes that Bahrain is brimming with national talent, and that it should be combined with international standards of service to achieve true innovation. Toyota Plaza, which is a one-stop destination for all auto needs, is his brainchild.

The center is one of the largest such centers in the world.

Under his leadership, the company has been consistently leading the way with projects that contributed to the growth of the car industry and insured continued customer satisfaction.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Mo’men Shawqi Ahmed Senior Group PR & Media Manager – KIA A. A Bin Hindi

MOHAMMED ZAKI GENERAL MANAGER, ZAYANI MOTORS WLL

With over two decades of experience, Mohammed Zaki is a name to reckon with in the Automobile industry of the Kingdom. He has worked in exciting markets including USA and UK, before coming to Bahrain in August 2011 as the General Manager for Zayani Motors. He currently heads a team of 180 employees and manages brands including Mitsubishi, Fuso, Rosa, Peugeot, MG Rover, Mitsubishi fork lift, Generators, Nussbaum, PM crane, Jinbei, Faw and ZX Auto.

Mo’men is a true people’s person and most who meet him know about his love for the automobile world.

He has been in the Motor industry for the past 17 years, and has been with Bin Hindi for the lasts eight years. He sets the example by driving a KIA Sportage himself, and is definitely a true-blue KIA fan, as his dream car is the KIA Cadenza. The dynamism and the continuous changes in the industry keep him on his toes and his criteria for choosing a car includes after sale service, performance and safety features. His drive and reward comes from feeling part of the Bin Hindi family and his constant mission is to take KIA Motors and Bin Hindi Group to further heights.

Mona Almoayyed

Managing Director YK Almoayyed & Sons

One of the most accomplished women in the Kingdom, Mona Almoayyed is the Managing Director of the family trading business Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons. When she started her role as the Automobile Director for Nissan, she was one of the very few women who took an ac ve management role in Bahrain’s auto industry. She has stated in interviews that it took her more work and commitment than her brothers to establish herself in a male dominated industry.

To date, Ms. Almoayyed has numerous achievements to her credit, including being ranked third in the Forbes Middle East list of the most influen al Arab women for 2012. Although now in a more laid back role, we’ve heard that Ms. Almoayyed is s ll very me culous when it comes to the company’s automo ve division, i.e. dealerships for Ford, Renault, Nissan and Infini .

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Morgan Sunderland

Brand Manager, Porsche Centre Bahrain Behbehani Brothers WLL As a child A child, hild Morgan M S Sunderland d l d worked k d att hi his dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s automobile firm, and has since been entrenched in the automobile industry. He boasts massive experience having worked with super brands such as the VW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche in the UK and is currently part of the Behbehani Group as Brand Manager for the ever desirable Porsche franchise. His goal for his team is success and recognition as market leaders in the automotive industry. As a leader, he believes it is important to empower others and as such, the company will be investing in global training expertise for its employees.

Nader Ebrahim

Head of General Motors National Motor Company If there is one person who has literally grown up with a brand, it has to be Nader Ebrahim. He started out at National Motor Company, and after almost twenty years, he is still with National Motor Company, as the Head of the General Motor Brand. Of all the automobiles that the company deals in, his personal pick is the Cadillac, which is seeped in heritage and history. Leading a team of almost 200 people, he believes that the most rewarding aspect of the job is the opportunity it gives to meet and interact with people from all backgrounds. He is proud of being one of the senior management team who have been able to steer the company towards greater visibility and profits over the last two decades.

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Nawaf Alzayani

Paul Baker

Managing Director Zayani Motors WLL

General Manager YK Almoayyed & Sons

A scion of the Al Zayani family, it was a given that Nawaf Alzayani would eventually become part the family’s operation - Al Zayani Investments.

As the MD of Zayani Motors, he was able to combine his passion for automotives with his innate business acumen, to make the company a market leader. Under Nawaf’s leadership Zayani Motor’s has grown from strength with the franchise now operating both Mitsubishi Motors and Peugeot under one roof.

With his dynamic style and unique management skills one can only expect more to come.

Athough Paul Baker arrived in Bahrain just seven months ago, he helms a major division of the YK Almoayyed Group. Heading a team of almost 400 staff, he takes care of brands including Nissan, Infiniti, Renault, Great Wall and Photon as well as the used cars division. According to him, the automobile industry in Bahrain is quite vibrant and dynamic, even more than markets like that of the United Kingdom, where he spent most of his 32 year experience in the automobile industry.

His focus has always been on customer satisfaction, as he believes that Bahrain is like one big family where one negative review could adversely affect a fabulous reputation.

Paul Yates

General Manager Euro Motors Paul Yates has been in the automotive industry for almost a decade now, being General Manager of Euro Motors. He takes care of prestigious brands such as Rolls Royce, BMW and Ferrari, among others, and is accredited with ensuring qualitative standards and setting benchmarks for the company. According to him, “customer satisfaction is the foundation of Euro Motors’ enduring success in Bahrain.”

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Peter Green

Group General Manager Behbehani Brothers WLL With over 15 years of automotive industry experience, Peter Green is the ideal candidate to head the Behbehani Motors Division in Bahrain. After joining the company in 2008, Mr. Green took the overall responsibility of the division’s entire automotive portfolio in the kingdom. The list of brands under his belt includes Audi,

VW, Porsche, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Alfa Romeo - the latter being acquired recently. Prior to arriving in Bahrain, Mr. Green gained considerable expertise in the automotive industry plying his professional knowledge in the UK and later Kuwait. In 2008 he was awarded Fellowship of the Institute of Motor Industry, and in 2011 he received a Professional Certificate in Auto Dealership Management from the University of Melbourne.

Raed Al Mu’ti General Manager, First Motors

Raed Al Mu’ti has been in the automotive business for more than two decades, and has worked in various countries across the Arab World including Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar. He has been with First Motors since 2009 and he currently drives one of their own, the Hyundai Centennial.

Being from a mechanical engineering background, he thoroughly enjoys being part of this industry. He states that they face new challenges and very strong competition all the time and to succeed in this kind of industry is not an easy task. His mission has been to change the perception of Hyundai in Bahrain and and to reach this unprecedented success.

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AUTO INDUSTRY

Riyadh Al Zayani Director – Automotive Division Ahmed Zayani & Sons

As the Director of Ahmed Zayani & Sons, Riyadh Al Zayani’s domain includes power brands such as Bentley, Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler and Skoda.

Under his guidance, Ahmed Zayani & Sons aims to create ‘customers for life’, built around five core values – to be welcoming, friendly, trustworthy, inspiring and innovative. With these values in mind, they aim to provide outstanding customer service and commit themselves to offering advice and support to their clients from the purchase of their first car to after sales care and maintenance.

Rasool Al Haddad Chairman – Al Haddad Motors As the head of Al Haddad Motors, Rasool Al Haddad reigns supreme over the Mercedes empire in the Kingdom. His mission is to ensure that their showrooms and service center are focused around the needs of their customers and that no client leaves the showroom dissatisfied.

Mr. Al Haddad started working in the family business in is younger years and worked his way up from department to department in order to reach his position today. Fluent in the German language, Mr. Al Haddad is widely regarded as one the industry’s stalwarts having supervised the growth of the company from strength to strength.

Definitely one of the early pioneers, in terms of experience alone.

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S. A. AMOODI BRAND MANAGER â&#x20AC;&#x201C; BENTLEY AHMED ZAYANI & SONS With numerous years of experience, S.A. Amoodi earned his role as the Brand Manager for one of the most admired brands in the world, through sheer hard work, dedication and loyalty. He manages the Bentley brand which offers a range of bespoke options that can be likened to building an ultra luxurious house! Mr. Amoodi presently oversees manufacturer-approved services and conceptualizes new ideas to enhance the product further to its desired demographics.

RIZWAN TARIQ

Sam Yacoub

ASST. GENERAL MANAGER ZAYANI MOTORS WLL

Brand Manager, Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge Behbehani Brothers WLL

Having started his automo ve career in USA with a Toyota dealership, Rizwan has over ten years experience in the automo ve industry. He has been with Zayani Motors for the last six and in a short period of me has grown from an assistant sales manager for Mitsubishi to the Asst.

General Manager of Zayani Motors overseeing sales

and marke ng opera ons of 11 major brands with manufacturers ranging from European, Japanese, Chinese and Indian. He believes that Zayani Motors is a great place to work as they are systema c and reward dedica on and professionalism. He has a passion for cars, whether driving them or selling, and his favorite is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolu on X.

SANDEEP MATHUR GENERAL MANAGER â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FORD BAHRAIN YK ALMOAYYED & SONS

Sandeep Mathur has over 23 years experience in the automobile industry and has been with the YK Almoayyed Group for the last six years. He started in 2005 as the Marketing Manager for some of the brands Almoayyed represents and has grown through the ranks to helm Ford Bahrain, which also represents the Lincoln and Mercury Brand. Currently, he guides his team in different aspects including sales, service and spare parts operation to ensure that Ford progresses as a profit center.

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As the Brand Manager of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge, Sam has the enviable job ovf dealing with the sales and after sales of the most exciting American automotive icons. Previously a sales manager with the company, Sam took over as brand manager in 2010. He has stated that his outlook for 2013 is very positive, and that the company is getting geared up to introduce a number of new models to the market.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Stephen Harris

General Manager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jaguar Bahrain Mohammed Jalal & Sons Stephen Harris has been a part of the Automobile Industry for over 25 years, and has worked in UK, Middle East and across the Asia Pacific Region. Holding an MBA, he is also a Fellow of the Institute of The Motor Industry. Although he took over as Jaguar Bahrain General Manager only seven months ago, he has been a part of the Jaguar family for a number of years. His father was also into the automotive business and even as a young boy, he knew this is where he belongs. He believes in leading from the front, and is a conscientious General Manager to his team of 24 members. Apart from increasing the market share, his vision is to make Jaguar the best in the Kingdom of Bahrain in after sales service, customer care and sales.

Zayed R. Alzayani Managing Director Euro Motors

His family has been in the industry since 1947 and it came as no surprise when Zayed R. Alzayani entered the automotive industry. A key player in the Automobile Sector of the Middle East, he is the Chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit. The fact that he has even raced formula BMW at the BIC only highlights his passion for driving. As the head of one of the biggest automobile companies in the Kingdom, he deals in renowned international names such as Land Rover, BMW and other high-end cars.

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AUTO INDUSTRY

Driving

Bahrain

forward A Look at Bahrain’s Automotive Industry The Kingdom of Bahrain has been ahead of the race, when it comes to the automotive industry in the region. We take a look at the most prominent agencies and dealerships that are responsible for Bahrain’s thriving automotive industry. ( In Alphabetical Order )

A. A. Bin Hindi It all started in April 1965 with the foresight and vision of a young entrepreneur, Mr. Abdulla Bin Hindi.

What began as a humble auto spares business at Municipal Road in the heart of Manama grew by leaps and bounds, soon branching out into various fields and expanding into diverse sectors.

The dynamism and vigor of Mr.

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Abdulla Bin Hindi, today the Group’s MD & Proprietor, saw each division flourish and the firm’s reputation grew as various avenues of trade and business were explored and developed.

They represent heavy vehicles like Renault Trucks and light vehicles of KIA cars and SUVs. The head Office is situated in Exhibition Avenue.

Ahmed Zayani & Sons

Founded in 1978, Ahmed Zayani & Sons has progressed through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions to its current standing in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market.

They are the distributors of some of the most elegant, stylish, luxurious and exotic brands in the world of automobiles - Chrysler, Dodge, Rolls Royce Jeep and Bentley and they offer customers a wide range of choice of new cars and approved used cars in Bahrain. The Bentley showroom in the Kingdom of Bahrain is considered to be one of the best in the region. Since the very beginning, they have always abided by the motto - Only the Very Best For their Clients and have always strived to imbed this motto into every facet of their business process. They have established a reputation for honesty, reliability and outstanding value for money and they pride themselves on passing on massive savings on new and used cars direct to our customers, whilst still providing an aftersales service that is both friendly and professional.

Al Ghassan Motors Al Ghassan Motors was formed in 1992 in Jeddah and began by specializing in all makes of higher end sports and luxury vehicles. The company soon gained a reputation for expertise in this sector of the market and quickly attained a collection of very satisfied customers.

Under the ownership of Sheikh Ghassan A H Al Sulaiman the company has focused on delivering excellent quality service to its esteemed clientele with additional emphasis placed on ensuring a market leading after sales experience.

It is the exclusively appointed distributor for Lamborghini, Lotus and Ducati in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and for

Bentley and Bugatti in Saudi Arabia. Al Ghassan Motors subscribe to the strict quality guidelines that are set down by the manufacturer in the course of retailing quality pre owned vehicles. All models are prepared to exacting factory standards and are complete with factory recognized warranty cover. Al Ghassan Motors has always prioritized the level of after sales service that they are able to offer understanding the vital importance of this to their customers. All of the service centers are fully equipped with manufacturer supplied special tooling and technicians are all factory trained beyond the required levels.

Al Haddad Motors Since 1958, Al Haddad Motors has been the authorized general distributor for Mercedes-Benz in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The wealth of experience and exceptional customer service provided by Al Haddad Motors ensures that it continues to be a world class Mercedes-Benz partner.

Their main showroom is located in Tubli

and it offers a full service of operations from new and used passenger cars to commercial vehicles, genuine spare parts to lifestyle accessories, all professionally managed to Mercedes-Benz worldwide standards. The service centre boasts a modern workshop fully equipped with Mercedes-Benz approved equipment.

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AUTO INDUSTRY

Almoayyed Motors Almoayyed Motors is the authorized dealer of Ford vehicles in Bahrain since 1982 and through the years became one of the best Ford dealerships worldwide evidenced by its many prestigious awards won for various customer service and after sales programs.

The Garage at Sitra was the first to install the Service Excellence System (SES) to ensure customers with the highest quality service. In 2010, Almoayyed Motors was the first dealership in the Middle East Region

to be certified under the Service Upgrade Program. This certification ensures that the garage will follow the best automotive industry practices and guarantees that the customer gets the best, transparent and most cost effective service. Ford’s entire range of passenger cars, sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and commercial vehicles are displayed in Almoayyed Motors showroom located in Sitra. Ford vehicles showcase a fusion of style, design, power, efficiency with Ford’s

unique MyTouch and Sync technology. Thus, driving a Ford creates uniquely expressive and exquisitely enchanting experience. After sales services are provided by Almoayyed Motors’ service center located at Sitra. All the service technicians at the service center have undergone a comprehensive training and certification process. Technicians are trained according to Ford training programmes at the in-house training center by certified trainers.

Audi Bahrain Behbehani Brothers w.l.l. has been representing the premium Audi brand in Bahrain since 1984 and the Audi Centre Bahrain opened its own showroom in Sitra in September 2006. Audi momentum continues in Bahrain with a 28 percent sales increase in the first 5 months of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. The annual growth of the company in 2012 was 35% compared to the previous 2011.

Audi Centre Bahrain introduced recently the Audi S range – S6, S7,S8. Earlier this year the new version of the Audi Q5 arrived in Bahrain. During the course of 2013, Audi will be launching the hotly anticipated RS5 Cabriolet, the Audi R8 V8, V10 & V10+ variants and the RS6 Avant. Currently the dealer in Bahrain has a complete range

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of vehicles that Audi offers in the GCC region. Since 2007, they have doubled their volumes and the business has grown at just over 105%.

Audi is already one of the fastest growing premium brands in the Middle East – 2012 was the best in the history for both Audi in the Middle East and Bahrain. In 2013 Audi is focusing on capacity and quality for sales and after sales service, delighting their customers and offering the most attractive product portfolio in the premium segment. Audi is projecting continued positive development in Bahrain for 2013 and aims to maintain double digit growth, fuelled by the launches of several Audi products including the R8 with S tronic, RS5 cabriolet, RS6 Avant.

Behbehani Brothers In 1957, the trading business by Behbehani and Shirazi families diversified into the Automotive Retail Industry and became the distributors for Volkswagen cars. In 1967 Behbehani Brothers became the Porsche Importers for Bahrain and in 1984 Audi was added to their portfolio. 1994 saw the

addition of Jeep followed by Chrysler and Dodge in 2007. Their most recent addition was Fiat. As one of the market leaders of the automotive trade, here in Bahrain, and to accommodate the increasing demands of growing vehicle sales brand new facilities were built in Sitra. These consisted of state

of the art showrooms for Volkswagen, Porsche and Chrysler, Jeep Dodge being opened in July 2006 followed by an exclusive Audi Showroom in September the same year. Behbehani Brothers maintains a flexible and competitive business environment in the Kingdom.

Ebrahim K. Kanoo Established in 1952, Ebrahim K. Kanoo B.S.C.(c) is the exclusive distributor of Toyota & Lexus in addition to Ziebart, Llumar, and Toyota Motor Oil. In 1966 they became the sole authorized distributor in Bahrain of Toyota automobiles, industrial vehicles and related services. They have been associated with Lexus products ever since the launch of the brand in 1989. Today, with more than 50 years of commitment to service excellence, E.K. Kanoo is universally acknowledged as one of the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s automotive pioneers, developing and exceeding expectations in the

automotive business. It branches out to thirteen outlets as a multi product and service provider in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It includes the showroom for Toyota in Sitra, the Toyota Plaza in Salmabad and Lexus showroom and the state of the art and fully equipped service workshops and parts facilities throughout Bahrain.

Recognition as the automobile distributor offering Ultimate Customer Satisfaction is clearly not only a question of the style, comfort and reliability of their cars, it is also about understanding the specific requirements of their customers, and responding positively to those needs.

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AUTO INDUSTRY

Euro Motors Since 1998, Euro Motors has positioned itself as the leader in the automotive industry in the Kingdom of Bahrain and has since come a long way. From a modest start with only BMW, the dealership has managed to acquire premium brands such as MINI, Land Rover, Rolls Royce, Ferrari and Maserati under its impressive banner. In doing so, it

has preserved each identity with the utmost integrity and dedication. Euro Motors does not compromise on presentation, quality, technical service and customer care. Fully committed to the principle of offering the utmost to their customers, the drive to improve profitability is always conditioned to match promise with performance. The showroom and After Sales

center located in Sitra is a major architectural success befitting the image of the BMW, MINI, Land Rover, Rolls Royce, Ferrari and Maserati Groups, the Zayani Group, and most importantly the cultural image of Bahrain. The elegance of the showroom is complimented by state-of-the-art technology for both Service and Bodywork repairs.

First Motors Al Zayani Investment acquired a majority share in First Motors during April 2004 and controls the managerial tasks at First Motors. Since then, AZI has spared no effort in working hard to change the public’s misconceived ideas about Hyundai. First Motors, the official dealer and distributor for Hyundai in the Kingdom of Bahrain, are set to take the

Hyundai brand a step further by constructing a brand new showroom for Hyundai to suit its world acclaimed high quality reputation. The brand new state of – the – art showroom is located in Majlis Al Ta’awon highway in Sitra; an ideal location within close proximity to many other major car dealerships, thus making shopping for the ideal car a more enjoyable experience.

Jaguar Bahrain A part of Mohammed Jalal & Sons, Jaguar Bahrain is the authorized dealer the prestigious brand in the Kingdom.

The showroom in Sitra features the Jaguar models XF, XJ and XK, trades Jaguar Approved (pre-owned) cars & AfterSales Service Center. They aim to increase their presence and visibility in Bahrain and to further promote itself as a company that believes in quality care and provides the best to its existing and prospective customer.

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Mohammed Jalal & Sons As the sole agent in Bahrain for Jaguar and Suzuki, Mohammed Jalal & Sons are in an enviable position Currently, the company offers Alto, Grand Vitara, Swift, XL-7, SX4, APV vans from its Suzuki brand portfolio. In addition to the existing facility at Khamis, a separate showroom is dedicated to the Suzuki range of cars and vehicles in Sitra.

“Way of Life” is the consumer-focused blueprint for everything Suzuki does from developing its cars to marketing it all over the world. Mohammed Jalal & Sons capitalizes on Suzuki’s global strategy by homogenizing this philosophy in Bahrain. Their aim is to identify with Bahrain’s culture and lifestyle, and portray Suzuki as a brand especially suited for the region. Suzuki range of cars and vehicles in Sitra.

National Motor Company

Motor City

Founded in 1988, National Motor Company (NMC) is one of the leading automotive distributors in Bahrain and represents Honda, Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac. It also represented Hummer, which is no longer in production.

National Motor Company WLL is a limited liability company owned by Bahrain Commercial Facility Company (also known as Tas’heelat). Besides offering automobile products and

services, they also offer an extensive range of products to suit every budget, from entry-level models to the top end of the luxury market. The Administrative office, Honda and GM Sales, Parts and Service facility are situated in Sitra and the Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, Parts, Service and Body Shop in Sehla. At NMC the service department strives to provide quality service through the application of “Best Practice”.

Motor City is the holding entity of four companies, AITAPCO, BMSC, Asian Motors & Al Jazira Motor Company. Consolidating the strengths of the four individual companies, Motor City represents a range of world’s best automotive brands. Over the years, Motor City has emerged to be among the top players in the automobile sector of Bahrain. Customer satisfaction in every respect and interface with the company is the top priority of Motorcity. Customer Service is the bumber one priority of the team and it becomes possible with a team of fully trained and qualified sales and support staff, together with modern technology and state of the art facilities. It represents vehicles like Volvo, Subaru, Citroen, Ssangyong, Chery and CMC and commercial vehicles Hino, Isuzu, Daewoo Bus, JMC “BD Series”, Citroen, CMC Veryca, King Long and CT&T Electric Vehicles. Categorized in different sectors and locations Motor City has showrooms for each passenger vehicle Subaru and Ssangyong in Sanad, Volvo, Citroen, Cherry and CMC Z7 in Sitra. Service centers and parts of all passenger vehicles are located in Al Ma‘meer, Sitra.

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AUTO INDUSTRY

YK Almoayyed & Sons In 1968, Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons started representing Nissan in Bahrain. Since then, world-class automotive brands like Infiniti and Renault have been added to YKA’s stable. Y. K. Almoayyed & Sons has long been synonymous with quality automobiles in the Kingdom of Bahrain and has consistently set the standards for excellence, not

Zayani Motors Established in 1994 with the introduction of Mitsubishi, Zayani Motors embarked on a mission of providing the highest quality motor vehicles to their target market segments.

The company is managed and run by Mr. Nawaf Al Zayani, a young entrepreneur from within the Al Zayani family.

A subsidiary of Al Zayani Investments, Zayani Motors are the exclusive and authorized dealer of Mitsubishi and Peugeot in the Kingdom of Bahrain. From a modest start with only one showroom in the Kingdom, Zayani Motors now has two state of the art showrooms and service centers with the latest technology; one in Ma’ameer and the other in Arad. In addition, there are

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currently five parts sales outlets throughout Bahrain with plans for further future expansions.

From sales achievements to recognition awards, the company stands proud with the numerous accolades they have received from principal companies worldwide. The Company has constantly invested in its employees and facilities to provide its customers with the highest standards of sales and after sales services. The benefits of regular servicing and preventive maintenance are well established throughout the world and Zayani Motors goes that one step further to make the whole experience as simple and cost effective as possible.

only in sales, service and spare parts but also in customer service and satisfaction. The company became the exclusive dealer of China’s famous auto brands Foton and Great Wall in the Bahrain. Iconic American automotive brands Ford and Lincoln are exclusively distributed in Bahrain by Almoayyed Motors.

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Toyota & Lexus Marketing Manager, Manager Ayman Shehadeh talks tallks about the changes the brand has gone through over the last decade.

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T

oyota is the brand with the biggest market share in the world’s automotive industry, and Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo (E.K.Kanoo) B.S.C is the largest distributor of automobiles and automotive products in the Kingdom of Bahrain. With prestigious brands like the Lexus under its umbrella, the future looks bright for the firm. We catch up with Toyota & Lexus Marketing Manager, Ayman Shehadeh to find out more.

As the marketing manager for such a large ϐirm, what are your responsibilities?

Our primary aim is to ensure that the brand positioning of Toyota and Lexus is consistent with the corporate brand standards. My team and I work to ensure that we maintain that high standard in all our activities. We also need to plan and execute the annual calendar, in a manner that fits the brand and promote products and services that we have on offer. One of the main aspects of my job is to instill passion and enthusiasm in my team.

What are the key challenges that you face in this industry?

It is an extremely dynamic industry; it is constantly changing and evolving for the better. And it is also an extremely competitive industry that requires us to be constantly on our toes.

What do you like best about working in this industry?

Lets accept the fast, that ‘a car is a very respected product.’ It is a need for everyone in Bahrain and it is possibly the second biggest investment that most individuals make in their lifetime. It is exciting to be a part of such a positive aspect in a person’s life; to be able to add more value to their deal.

I personally, thoroughly enjoy the pace at which things are changing. For example, once upon a time, gasoline engines along with diesel were the only option. Today we are looking at hybrids and all-electric motors. So in short, It is a very vibrant environment to work in.

I must also add that we have a very responsive and supportive principal, who takes our feedback very seriously and helps us implement changes in products and services accordingly. In short it is a whole combination of things.

“The principles of QDR, Quality, Durability and Reliability. We provide customers the best in these three aspects.”

Tell us about the changes that your company has gone through over the last decade?

Toyota itself has shifted into becoming a more sporty, youthful and joyful brand.

This of course complements the legacy of being a product with high quality, durability and reliability. The latest models such as the new Avalon or the new Rav4 and the 86Coupe are prime examples of the company’s outlook. This has further enhanced our relationship with the customers and has strengthened our position as the number one automobile brand in Bahrain and the world over.

Lexus too has had a similar shift. We now have the spindle grilel front with even more advanced interiors and equipment plus packaging. It is truly a benchmark for the 21st century.

As I said, this approach can be seen across both Toyota and Lexus, as the products get more vibrant and youthful along with our communication and TVCs. As for E.K.Kanoo as a company, there has been a paradigm shift. We have automated the operations and implemented the Oracle database system.

Two years ago, we opened Toyota Plaza, which is one of the largest workshop of its kind in the world - a one-stop shop for everything related to Toyota automobiles.

We are in the process of renovating the spare parts network and the multi-story body shop, which again shall be the first of its kind in Bahrain.

E.K.Kanoo has also established a training and performance improvement department, which allows our employees to further their knowledge, both technically and otherwise.

Deϐine Lexus in ϐive words. What sets it apart from other brands?

The five words will have to be innovation, perfection, detail, quality and luxury. It is the perfect blend of these aspects that put Lexus ahead of the race. It is a refined product, which offers quality, durability and reliability and is on a continuous pursuit of perfection. In just 22 years, they have created miracles and have millions of satisfied customers worldwide.

How competitive is the automotive market in the Kingdom?

Oh, it is extremely competitive. It has always been so in the passenger car segment. But off late, we see increasing competition even in the crossover range.

What are the latest trends in the automotive world?

Fuel efficiency and safety are becoming priorities in the automotive industry. Toyota and Lexus have been the pioneers in this aspect. Another key change in the industry is the practice of multi-sourcing, and of course, technology and innovation is the need of the hour. The cars are becoming intelligent. Their responses and decisions are sometimes faster than that of the driver, and this makes cars much more safer to drive than ever before.

What is it that makes Toyota one of the most preferred brands in the region?

The principles of QDR, Quality, Durability and Reliability. We provide customers the best in these three aspects. Toyota as a brand also has a very high resale value due to these attributes.

E.K.Kanoo ensures that the customers have a great experience with us. Not just during sales, but after that as well. With our vast network of service centers, we are only half an hour away from any of our customers across the kingdom.

When you come to our service centers, we promise you that the car will be serviced in under 59 minutes...we have the infrastructure to support such high demands.

Any thoughts on future plans?

We are always looking to improve ourselves and are always expanding. As of now, we have nine spare parts centers, three services centers including Toyota Plaza and four bodywork shops. We’ll probably be adding to this in the near future. Our goal is be closer to the customer. We are in the process of renovating and enhancing our network. We will soon launch new centers in the North and Middle areas of the Kingdom. Another thing that enthusiasts can look forward to are some very exciting F new models that will be launched over the next two years. It really is a very exciting time for both Toyota and Lexus.

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“We represent and promote trust & transparency in our dealings.”

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A PROMISE

OF TRUST AND TRANPARENCY

Zayani Motor’s General Manager, Mohammed Zaki shares his views on Bahrain’s Auto Industry.

Z

ayani Motors has come a long way since its inception in 1994.

From a modest start with only one showroom in the Kingdom, Zayani Motors now has two state of the art showrooms and service centers with the latest technology; one in Ma’ameer and the other in Arad. Zayani Motor’s General Manager, Mohammed Zaki shares his insights on the industry.

What, in your opinion, does Zayani Motors represent?

We represent and promote trust & transparency in our dealings. We provide the people of Bahrain with affordable and durable products to support the transportation needs for both individuals and businesses.

Can you tell us about your responsibilities as the GM. Well, as a GM of Zayani Motors, I am responsible for 18 different franchises. I also manage a team of 20 managers who report directly to me. I consider my managers to be a football team, wherein every position has its responsibilities and I can proudly say, I have got the best players in my team.

Tell us about the most exciting moments in your career so far?

Out of all the moments I can recollect, I would like to share the most recent exciting moment I had when we received the

“Mitsubishi Excellent Sales Growth Award”. This makes all of us proud and even more motivated for all the challenges 2013 will bring in. This will remain one of my best ever moments in Zayani Motors.

What are the main challenges that you face?

I would say pretty much everything that I do on daily basis to run a successful dealership is a challenge, from maintaining the stock position, cash flow, monitoring the currency fluctuations, market trends etc. That said, the main challenge, in my opinion, is employee and customer satisfaction, if I have happy employees, I will have happy customers and that to me is the biggest challenge.

How competitive is the automotive market in the Kingdom?

Bahrain is one of the smallest markets in the world, if not the smallest; with a population somewhere around a million people who have a pretty decent buying power. They also have the option to choose from pretty much all the automotive brands in the world, which makes it unique and extremely competitive.

Among all the vehicles that Zayani Motors deals in, what is your personal favorite?

Mitsubishi Pajero and Peugeot 508.

Why should anyone in Bahrain buy a Mitsubishi or Peugeot? What are the advantages?

Let me put it this way: Well engineered, value for money, clear & transparent transactions and Zayani motors supported with a Diamond lifetime warranty.

Any thoughts on future plans?

The Best is Yet To Come.

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Go Further With Ford Sandeep Mathur on why Almoayyed Ford is one of the fastest growing dealerships in the GCC Since 1992, Almoayyed Motors have been the dealers for Ford in Bahrain. Through the years, it became one of the best Ford dealerships worldwide evidenced by its many prestigious awards won for various customer services and after sales programs. We speak to Fordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s General Manager, Sandeep Mathur to find out more about the brand.

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What, in your opinion, does Ford represent?

The 4 brand pillars – “Quality”, “Green”, “Safe” and “Smart”, are the pillars on which the FORD brand stands.

The new Ford tagline – “Go Further” aptly personifies the dynamism associated with the brand and signifies the belief of moving in a positive direction and always staying a step ahead to attain its aggressive objectives.

Ford has built its brand reputation around a platform of technology and innovation. Ford stands for reliability, capability and adventure, and our range of vehicles are made to suit different tastes, power preferences and budget allowances. We can proudly say that we are a big and bold brand which can only “Go Further…”

Tell us about the most exciting moments in your career so far?

It’s been a very exciting journey for me in this great organization since 2005. I arrived in Bahrain to manage the Marketing function for Almoayyed Automotive Group and in 2012 was fortunate to be given the responsibility of heading the FORD division as General Manager.

The sheer dynamism involved in managing this division makes me get up each morning excited to come to work and be involved with various aspects of managing people and processes and provide the best service experience to our customers.

What are the main challenges that you face?

I sincerely believe that challenge is what brings out the best out of any brand. It is very important to stay ahead of the game, and to do so we need to be focused on creating an environment that a prospective buyer would love to be engaged with. The challenge of further developing our infrastructure, to provide best in class facilities, is an area that we will minutely monitor to ensure that our service levels exceed the expectations of the market. Challenges faced in meeting diverse needs of the market, is what Ford will strive to overcome, and personally, that is what will keep me going. The ability to revisit operational areas and take timely corrective measures to achieve highest efficiency and customer satisfaction levels will be a testimony in itself of the performance standards expected from Ford.

How competitive is the automotive market in the Kingdom?

Bahrain has a very dynamic car market with almost all world renowned brands having a presence here. In this highly competitive scenario, each player needs to adapt to the demanding requirements of the buyer, and offer value added services. Owning a vehicle in Bahrain is a necessity rather than a luxury, and even with the changing economic dynamics, the demand still needs to be satisfied. We as one of the major contributors will exploit all opportunities arising out of this.

From our end, we are working towards expanding our sales, after-sales, and support facilities to meet the increasing demand. The motor industry as such, will only grow, as each player in the segment will invest in infrastructure and skill development programs to retain and expand its customer base in order to to stay ahead of competition

What do you like best about working in this industry and for Ford in particular?

It is the sheer dynamism involved that keeps my adrenalin levels high. The authority along with accountability that comes with my position within the organization, contributes extensively to giving the best in my role. To continuously and consistently think of ways to maintain conducive work environment wherein each member of my team is provided with adequate space for learning, development, and sharing of ideas is a challenge that I enjoy to deliver. I sincerely believe that with this in place, the organization can arrest all challenges faced in the market and come out at the top. We have been able to successfully demonstrate this by registering a growth in market share even in the most turbulent periods. Our process oriented approach and work culture has been recognized even by our Principal and we have received various accolades and awards reflecting growth in volumes as well as customer satisfaction levels.

“Sales” department sell the first car, but “after-sales” sell the 2nd, 3rd, 4th car and so on. My strong belief is that the vision the owners of business have set must be well understood by each employee.

As a leader, my task is to set a clear direction towards achieving the

company’s objectives by creating an environment that respects and rewards the contribution made by the team.

I have set goals that are stretched but achievable, with each of my team member periodically reviewed on the key performance indicators mutually agreed upon. This approach has enabled me to regularly review areas that need improvement and implement timely actions for consistent growth of the organization.

Among all the vehicles that Ford deals in, what is your personal favorite?

This is a tough one as the choice is so wide and varied, but if I have to pinpoint on a particular model then I would choose the “Raptor” for weekends; “Edge” for daily commuting; and “Lincoln MKX” for a nice evening out with my family.

What are the latest trends in marketing in the automotive world?

Marketing is now moving from a traditional route to a more dynamic and interactive method of communicating with its prospective base. There is a need to use the traditional methods of communication, but with the innovation in technology, the world has shrunk and it is now so easy to communicate on a one-to-one basis.

Digital and social media are gaining momentum and information must now be available to consumers at their fingertips. Mobile technology is hence becoming very popular with decisions being made on the move. We at Ford ensure that we are ahead of the game in terms of interacting with our customer base.

Brand strength has always been one of the main success factors of Ford, and in the recent years, Almoayyed Motors has been actively promoting this through use of innovative channels, ensuring that our campaigns voice the assets of our personality.

Any thoughts on future plans?

In GCC, Almoayyed Motors Bahrain is one of the fastest growing dealerships.

We did observe that consumers have become more cautious in their approach towards buying a vehicle, but eventually, the confidence that Ford has developed over the years, resulted in consumers choosing our products vis-à-vis competition. The increase in market share is a testimony to this fact.

At Almoayyed Motors, the continuous investment in modern facilities, equipment and technology, together with staff training and development, underlines the commitment to provide a life-long relationship with the client throughout their vehicle ownership, by setting the highest levels of customer care, personalized service and satisfaction.

Almoayyed Motors recently opened a new Quick Parts and Quick Lane Service Center in Salmabad, Another Quick Parts Center just launched on 10th of June’13 at Arad, will complement the Quick Lane Service Center already existing. We have plans to add 2 more satellite service centers in the span of next 1-2 years. As on date, Almoayyed Motors has 4 service centers across Bahrain, as we believe in providing service to the customer at their doorstep. To complement our service centers, we have 5 spare parts outlet across Bahrain, again making it very easy for customers to procure spare parts.

Together with the Kingdom of Bahrain, Almoayyed Motors Ford has big aspirations and will continue to prosper and grow from strength to strength. The Owners and Directors ensure that they work hard to adapt to the needs and challenges of the 21st century, allowing them to further develop with commercial vision and integrity.

All this, coupled with the strong vision that Almoayyed Motors has set for itself can only ensure that Ford brand in Bahrain is on a high growth path.

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A WORLD CLASS EXPERIENCE

KIA MOTORS KIA General Manager, Mohamed Bin Hindi tells us why after-sales service is important

K

IA is now becoming one of the most preferred brands in the Kingdom. KIA promises great value for money and top quality service.

We find out more from KIA’s General Manager, Mohammed Bin Hindi.

What is the most seller KIA model in Bahrain?

It’s the Kia Rio. It is a great product, and gives value for money. It is a fuel miser and a great Car for city driving with great features. It is highly affordable and extremely stylish!

What are the standards of Kia service and repairs provided to Kia models in Bahrain?

Korean cars are now so popular in GCC, do you think that KIA has the power to compete with other car brands in Bahrain?

Kia is a strong compe tor worldwide and it has overtaken two Japanese and other brands within Bahrain itself. This is due to European styling and safety parameters; very reliable, high performance and award winning products, value for money pricing and very transparent sales offers from A.A. Bin Hindi.

What is your strategic local plan to attract customers in such tough competition amongst other brands in the market?

We have a two pronged approach; One to be very open with our customers, educate them on the new technology and features offered by Kia. Secondly, be very fair in service pricing. This magic formula brings our customers back to us. As you are aware, Bahrain is a very cap ve market- we have to grow by bringing back our customers & their referrals regularly.

How do you describe and rank the new luxurious “Quoris” that has been recently launched in the market?

Quoris is a luxury product for the elite. It has features unheard of in other exis ng big marquees. We know it is not a volume seller, but it is a product to show the world what Kia can do in terms of crea ng an ultra modern unique model which can be enjoyed by a connoisseur.

For example- Our world famous Bahraini Pearl can be understood by few who enjoy the originality & authen city; similarly Quoris has to be seen, driven & understood. Moreover we are proud to men on, we have sold half of our Kia Korea targets for Quoris by 4 months.

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"WE ARE PROUD TO MENTION OUR SERVICE CENTRE IS EQUIPPED WITH WORLD CLASS DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT & TOOLS SPECIFIED

BY KIA KOREA."

We are proud to men on our service centre is equipped with world class diagnos c equipment & tools specified by Kia Korea.

Our service dept always receives compliments for our “Family Like Care”. Both in terms of customer service & extremely fair service costs!

In fact, most of our referrals start from our service department. Another facet of service, we have a very high service staff & technician reten on. Due to this the staff knows both the customer & the car! Also this brings in a feeling of security among customers. We give very high training & product updates to our personnel…all this comes at high cost but, in the end it is worth every Dinar!!

Do you think that the 10% down payment affect customers in the purchase decision?

Mostly it does not. But we educate customers the more down payment you put up front. The lesser monthly installments and lesser interest paid.

But this is a decision to be made by the customer depending on his financial abili es.

What about Ramadan promotion this year?

We always had good feedback & good sales from our Ramadan promo ons/ We expect the same this year!

What have you learnt from your Bahraini customers?

Be very transparent, both in terms of product & pricing.

Take every complaint or feedback seriously; Give them “Family Like Care”!!

What is your favorite car amongst Kia models?

To go visit my in laws- Kia Quoris; To drive to ManamaThe Kia Rio, To go to work every day- The Kia Sorento!!

Away of cars, what are your other hobbies?

I play football with my staff on Monday evenings & I am the uncrowned family hero in Play sta on!!

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MOTOR CITY GENERAL MANAGER BIJAN MAJIDI SHARES HIS INSIGHTS ON THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY 74

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Motor City boasts of a unique and diverse array of automobile brands, including commercial and passenger vehicles.

They are carving a niche for themselves in the Bahrain market. Their General Manager, Bijan Majidi shares his thoughts on what sets Motor City apart.

How long have you been in the automotive business?

It all started for me in 1993, so that makes it about two decades. I started out with the FIAT Group as Director of Sales in Europe, and later move to Holland for a couple of years where I worked as General Manager for a company setting up after sales services. After that I worked as GM for a company manufacturing hydraulic solutions and with that experience, I built some plants in China and in Korea.

Then for many years I was in Telecom but in 2005, I had the privilege of coming to Bahrain and joining Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo Group (E.K.Kanoo) of companies. I joined as Business Development Manager for Planning and we set up a number of operations. I was also the Logistics Director, so I was always involved in one way or the other with Motor City and recently, I have been asked by our Chairman to take the responsibility of running and managing Motor City Holdings as a whole. As you know, we have passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, heavy equipment and earth moving machinery vehicles and after sales which is spare parts and service. So that’s my job and my challenge now is to improve Motor City.

Can you tell a little more about the main challenges you face?

Motor City is a multi-franchise organization; we have many brands in automotive: Volvo, Citroen, Chery, Ssang Yong and Subaru. So we are dealing without exclusivity we are dealing with Chinese manufacturers, European manufacturers, Japanese manufacturers and now Koreans and also Taiwanese.

So the challenge is to ensure that all these brands have a good positioning in the market. We also have Isuzu and Hino, in the pickup and truck business.

Besides there we have some niche brands like CMC, JMC and Kinglong. We also have Hyundai heavy equipment and the like, and that is becoming more diverse and important in this part of the world.

Quality, reliability of the product and after sales service for these are key. If a truck breaks down, they don’t bring it to the service station. We need to send someone there so we are investing heavily in this.

We are also investing on showrooms. A brand new showroom in Sitra for Volvo, Citroen and Chery and in Sanad, we are concentrating on three brands in two different showrooms, Subraru, Ssang Yong and Lexon and in Nuwaiderat we have our showroom for commercial vehicles.

The service center for the commercial and passenger vehicles in in Ma’Ameer.

A state of the art centralized spare part deposit unit is also in the pipeline that would be very modern and efficient for our business. These are some of the focus points at the moment. As I said, the customer is the most important aspect of any business and our priority is to ensure we have everything they need.

What do you like best about being in this business?

It is so complete and you need to compete with international players and so, you need to maintain quality of standard and principles. You need to interact with systems, with processes, with people, with clients, with corporates and others. It is a comprehensive business, from manufacturing till after sales, so there is no time to get bored. It is a truly challenging and exciting business, where you are involved at every level.

Could you tell us about the changes that your company has gone through over the last decade?

The business has shown tremendous growth: we have invested in new infrastructure, we have brought in new brands. We have upgraded our organization and processes, we have deployed state of the art dealer management systems. In 2009, we implemented oracle ERP, so it has been four years of using the latest information technology. Everything is now centralized, we have full control of customer databases, logistics, inventory, finances; everything. It truly is a very modernly managed operation. The challenge is there to be in line with what technology has to offer. We are currently updating our online facilities, to become a more interactive customer oriented vehicle, where customers can book appointments, book test drives and see our promotions in real-time. They can even check when their service is due and with the apps available now, you’ll be able to get all the information in your pocket in no time.

What makes Motor City unique?

What is the company’s success secret?

We offer a diverse range of automobiles that our customers can choose from. And each brand is unique on its own. Subaru is a successful Japanese brand with great technology, be it in the engines, or safety and stability. Citroen is now becoming more stylish and modern and gives great performance. Volvo is known as safe robust family car, which does not compromise on performance. And we add to it as well, if you buy a Volvo, we give you a three year service package and also offer the purchase value. We offer peace of mind solutions. Insurance and all is taken care of as well. And our team, right from the owners to the management and the staff at our showrooms make it a very easy and comfortable experience.

Also since we are part of a holding group, we can offer vehicles on lease or rent, so they don’t necessarily have to buy them. That makes it different, we are not just one dealership trying to sell cars, but a group of franchises under one roof. We have all these facilities in-house, you want a contract for leasing for long term, you

want it for short term, you want to buy it; it’s totally upto the customer, and we make it all possible.

How competitive is the automotive market in the Kingdom?

It is very competitive. I have worked in Holland, in US, in Europe and Bahrain is as competitive as any other international market because the customers are mature, educated, well traveled with an international outlook.

They use the internet, everybody does their research before buying a car and they are knowledgeable. So, it is definitely a competitive market. It has the beauty of being an easy market to purchase a car. It is not as complicated as in Europe in terms of engine size, emissions, registration or tax and fuel is inexpensive, which makes things even more competitive.

What are the latest trends in the automotive business?

The latest trend is to concentrate on environment and energy. Free emission and hybrid vehicles are gaining momentum. Another evolution aspect is that the vehicles will start communicating with the service centers and with customers thereby becoming more intelligent, and will evolve into a Wi-Fi station, having internet. Soon enough, the service station will tell the car it is due for service and this communication will happen computer to computer. Soon, a time will come when you will not have obsolete maps because the navigation system will have the capability to continuously upgrade itself. Because of my experiences, I am sure that this will come soon and will make the life of the customer very easy.

If we ask you to pick a favorite from the brands at Motor City, which would you pick?

Okay, this is like asking to pick a favorite amongst my children and I really can’t!

They are all different, and they have their own unique aspects. Chery is affordable with good quality and a five year warranty, it is known as an affordable and reliable car, the latest one will meet the exact specifications of a more mature customer. Volvo is a well-known brand as a family car, Subaru is sportier but is slowly moving towards becoming a family car. If forced to pick one, I’d probably go for the Subaru BRZ, our two seater and relax in that, as I am now getting old.

Any thought on future plans?

Expansions?

We are always looking for new car franchises. We are looking at opening new showrooms, new spare parts centers and new people. We have a new brand and a new showroom coming up. It is a continuous evolutionary process.

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4

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE ASKING YOUR EMPLOYEES

Are yyou having g trouble motivating g yyour employees? p y Struggling gg g to figure g out what resources yyour team is lackking? g Not sure what yyou can do to makke your management style more effective e?

W

ELL, HERE’S THE SOLUTION:

Ask your employees.

No, really—it’s that simple. As a manager, it’s easy to develop one specific management style and simply hope that your team is receptive to it. While that can work to some extent, here’s the thing: Being a manager inherently involves interacting with a wide range of personalities and preferences—and what works for one person isn’t going to work for everyone. But by asking each of your employees pointed questions about how they’d like to be managed, you can figure out what will work best for your team, and mold your management style accordingly.

In my experience, both as an employee whose manager asked me these straightforward questions, and then as a manager who asked them of my employees, this simple method makes all the difference. To get started in the right direction, try asking these four eye-opening questions.

1

“HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REWARDED?”

For the first few months at a previous job, my boss would reward me with food (e.g., catered lunches, midday coffee, and a never-ending supply of candy) and other oddball gifts, like stationery and high-end self-tanner. And while receiving gifts was exciting at first (Christmas every day!), the specific rewards she chose didn’t motivate me to work any harder than usual, because they weren’t things I really wanted.

After a while, the gifts actually started frustrating me—I was working for a not-so-impressive start-up salary and would have preferred to put the money she spent on those gifts toward a more enduring reward, like a 401(k).

As a manager, you don’t always have an accurate picture of what your employees truly want. But if you give them a chance to

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spell it out for you, you’ll have a crystal clear vision of how you can motivate them. Whether you change up your reward system to incorporate additional days off, midweek dress-down days, weekly team recognition meetings, or a structured bonus program, when you include the things they actually want, they’ll likely be a lot more willing to put in that extra effort.

2

“HOW DO YOU WORK BEST?”

My previous office boasted an impressive speaker system, which was constantly hooked up to a steady stream of hip-hop and rap. And while my co-worker loved jamming out to this upbeat music while she worked, I couldn’t concentrate when my desk was vibrating from the pounding bass. I finally brought that up to my boss, and she immediately bought my co-worker a pair of heavy-duty headphones—a solution that satisfied both our preferences.

Depending on your specific company and its environment, you may not be able to accommodate every request. But, once you ask this question and

find out what really helps your employees put forth their best effort, you can try to make small changes. Maybe you let them work from home one day a week, stash some snacks in a central area, allow them to take a short break every hour, or let them lounge on the floor with their laptops instead of sitting at a desk. As long as the request is reasonable and within your authority, you can help create a comfortable work environment that will help them produce their best work.

3

“WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE ABOUT MY MANAGEMENT STYLE?”

I know—this one can be intimidating, as it could easily serve as a jumping-off point for an employee to completely rip apart the tried and true methods you’ve always thought were on point. But, it can also be a very effective tool to see what makes your employees tick—and what you can do to make their lives a little easier.

When my previous manager asked me this question, I hesitantly admitted that she tended to be a micromanager.

She’d email me detailed to-do lists every morning, specifying exactly what I needed to do and how I needed to do it—and that conveyed that she didn’t trust me to do my work myself.

So, speaking from experience, your employees may also be holding back their pet peeves. They may hate that you only hold one-on-one meetings with them when it’s time for annual reviews, or that you constantly come by their desks to chat, completely interrupting their workflows. But unless they’re given the go-ahead to admit these concerns, it’s not likely that they’ll volunteer the information. So give them the opportunity. The longer they resent some facet of your management style, the less productive they’ll be over time, and the closer they’ll come to resigning for good.

4

“WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER?”

If no other question evokes helpful feedback from your employees, this one is a bit of a free-for-all, so your team can voice any last needs.

For example, I once had a boss who would shout requests at me from her office across the hall. I’d be working on a project, and all of a sudden, I’d hear, “Hey, did Ali Johnson pay last week?” With each request, I’d have to abandon my current project, look up the information from the records in my filing cabinet, and shout back the response—all before I could return to my original task.

Surprisingly, as soon as I specifically mentioned that her constant requests were seriously hindering my workflow, the shouting stopped. She made a concerted effort to approach my desk (or at least my door) before she asked a question—and these requests came a lot less frequently, too.

This question can also point out gaps in knowledge and what you can do to fix them. For example, when I posed this question to my employees, one of them asked if I could follow up each weekly meeting with an emailed summary of what we talked about, so he could have a point of reference for new processes and updates. On a broader level, you could find out that your team wants additional training on the company CRM software or a workflow that clearly documents a new process.

If you want to make your job easier, stop trying to guess what will make your employees more successful—and just ask. Once you know the answers to these questions, you’ll know exactly what to do to make each of your employees happy, productive, and motivated. And that will make for one big, happy, productive, and motivated team.

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KICK STARTING

THE BRAND

10 MUST-READ STARTUP TIPS FOR YOUNG BRANDS

by Web Smith Everyone wants a “startup” these days. Everyone wants to be a “founder” with little more than a concept, an LLC filing, some Web real estate, and a dream. But how do you really get it done? In early stage brand building, traction is king.

ou’ve likely seen the HBO Series “How To Make It in America.”

It chronicles the story of two co-founders and their group of friends. There is luck, drama, rejection, implied success, real success, good marketing, poor marketing, and more luck. As difficult as they make it look in that wonderful series, they actually make it look easy. In reality, think less partying, more planning, and little dependence on gimmicks and luck.

This being said, with the right approach it can be done. There is still room for innovation in textile manufacturing and fashion branding.

Starting a clothing brand can be one of the most worthwhile pursuits in all of startups. There are elements of: manufacturing, design, communication,

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marketing, probability and statistics, industrial engineering, timing, and the almighty of them all — foresight. There are so many variables that go into a success or failure. Right now (and I repeat, right now), we are somewhat succeeding. That being said, I thought I’d share some helpful hints.

PROOF OF CONCEPT

Before a single shirt was manufactured, we had our initial concept feedback.

“So, let me get this this straight,” the industry executive said. “You are going to manufacture in the States? You are going

to use American-sourced fabrics? And you think you’re going to succeed in the textile industry?” Well, yes.

From July 2012 and through the fall, we focused on sales, feedback, construction revision, and regional media. Between Kevin and I, we bore the brunt of these tasks.

Validation via earned media was the most difficult day-to-day task.

Through this initial stage, we were purely focused on “proof of concept” in our first test market — Dallas, Texas. The media response was great! And so, we continued.

Active, driven, and confident men do want something more from their dress shirts.

“It is a meticulous process tha that att involves inv nvo volve ves quite a bit of sacrifice, sa sac acrifice, rifice, help, influence, influence, and yes, ye justt a little bit of luck.” luck.”

SPRING FOR TRACTION

After starting up in April of 2012 and launching the website in July 2012 (with only one product), we are now finally leaning into the Spring of Traction. Through the summer, fall, and winter of 2012, we were silently working on perfecting our first pieces, ginning up “first adopter” sales, building relationships, establishing brick and mortar presences, improving our supply chain, not paying ourselves, and paying our taxes. With that behind us, the fun begins. This spring is focused on the push for traction.

After the foundation that we’ve set over the past year, we can begin focusing on the brand’s opportunity and/or visibility to grow within several of our proven early-adopter demographics: professional athletics, military, collegiate, and metropolitan business.

THE “HOW TO” OF THIS BLOG What does all of this mean to a young brand? It is a meticulous process that involves quite a bit of sacrifice, help, influence, and yes, just a little bit of luck. Here are some great tips that few in the industry will share:

❶

Start with a concept that no one else is willing to attempt. Remember, it’s even better when people tell you, “Based on the industry precedent, this likely won’t work.”

❷

The design and manufacturing process is expensive. Allot $20k-$50k for your first product run.

You will need to achieve a volume of units manufactured to achieve reasonable margins.

❸

Spend money on your branding and your collateral.

I can’t say this enough.

❹

Understand your supply chain and have a manufacturing backup plan when those sources, printers, and cut and sew shops are over capacity.

❺ ❻

Spend money on your brand’s website and branding videos.

If you didn’t attend a top fashion design program, find a top designer who did and hire that person. Find a way to get that person on your team.

❼

If there are no other options at the start, plan on pouring all of your personal income into the project for the first year or two.

❽

Keep these elements at the forefront: be first to market, drive sales, gain traction.

❾

Customers aren’t free.

Find a natural pipeline that will serve as high-conversion customer acquisition.

❿

Ask for help and be willing to pay for it.

The market is always looking for the next great idea; be willing to sacrifice to see it through. Design really well, depict great logo and lifestyle imagery, prove your concept in a transparent way, and then focus on gaining traction as you go. When you need the push, find a well-connected and cost-effective way to move your brand forward.

Web Smith is a Sr. Analyst, Co-Founder, and Sports / Entertainment / Political Marketing Consultant and a student of strategy. Follow him at: http://www.twitter.com/web. The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs.

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The KindnessAt -Work

Manifesto Making Workplace Comfortable For Your Colleagues It has recently come to my attention that some of the most loving, passionate, well-intentioned people in the world have a tendency to treat their co-workers unkindly -- especially during times of stress or on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. Consumed by their need to do something extraordinary for humanity, they forget the people they work with are human.

C

onsumed by their need to do something extraordinary for humanity, they forget the people they work with are human.

And so, in an effort to restore a Culture of Caring to organizations everywhere. it is my honor to present to you the Kindness-At-Work Manifesto -- 40 daily opportunities to go beyond the imperfections of your co-workers and rise to a place of uncommon goodness.

Where does it begin?

With your intention to maintain your commitment to kindness any time one of your co-workers does not.

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CHOOSE KINDNESS WHEN YOUR CO-WORKERS...

1.

Forget to acknowledge you for a job well done

2.

Take credit for something they had little to do with

3.

Don’t reply to your emails

4. Talk behind your back 5.

Eat the last cookie

6.

Withhold vital information

7.

Expect you to work on the weekends

8.

Forget to send you the agenda

9.

Make an impossible request on you at the end of the day

10. Criticize you for not

responding to their email when the item they wanted you to read was the 93rd item on the list

11. Don’t let you finish

a sentence

12. See the glass not as

half empty, or half full, but cracked

13. Have no clue how

to listen

14. Preface their regular

attempts to criticize you with “Do you have a moment? I’d like to share some feedback with you.”

“Consumed by their need to do something extraordinary for humanity, they forget the people they work with are human.”

15. Arrive late to

every meeting

16. Talk to the boss about

your shortcomings before airing it out with you, one-on-one

17. Expect you to cover for

them every time they do a half-assed job

34. Think they are closer to

God than you because they went to a yoga class last February

35. Invite you to

brainstorming sessions that are nothing more than their veiled attempts to get you to praise their pet ideas

36. Send you emails

with emoticons

37. Think they’re your

friend because they friended you on Facebook

38. Enter into every

conversation with you as if they were late for a meeting with a more important person

39. Never return the

books they borrow

40. Think you’re not

committed because you don’t work 90 hours a week

18. Start humming

Bee Gee songs with no warning

19. Expect you to “do the

math” every time your team goes out for lunch, then proceed to forget to calculate the tip and the tax when they leave too little cash for their part of the meal

20. Seek competition

instead of collaboration

21. CC you on more

emails than the US Tax Code has corporate loopholes

22. Think you’re an idiot 23. Forget to ask how

you are after your operation

24. Rarely look you in

the eye

25. Make up phony

excuses why they didn’t return your phone call

26. Start talking about

their new ringtone as if it was the Holy Grail

27. Think they know

more than you do

28. Worship data

29. Talk about their old

LSD experiences every time you say the word “watermelon”.

30. Only express kindness

Of course, the above 40 items don’t tell you how to be kind -- they only name the occasions where kindness is missing. But guess what? No one needs to teach how to be kind. You already know how to be kind.

Your next step? Choose one of the 40 opportunities above and be conscious of it all next week. Then, when one of your co-workers manifests that behavior, choose kindness.

when they want something from you

31. Forget to forgive you

for an old mistake you made

32. Ask you to help them

start a blog at 5:30 pm

33. Give you bad

information regularly, then wonder why you’re late with whatever it is they expect from you

Mitch Ditkoff is the Co-founder and President of Idea Champions. He can be contacted on: e-mail - mitch@ ideachampions.com and can be followed on Twitter at: http://twitter. com/mitchditkoff. For more information visit the Heart of Innovation blog www.ideachampions.com/ weblogs and Idea Champions at www. ideachampions.com

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PLANNING AHEAD

HOW TO PURSUE A BALANCED GROWTH STRATEGY Growth is the lifeblood of your business. A leader’s job is to take that business to bigger and better places.

The dilemma lies in how to get there.

You’re often faced with a simple choice: keep growing your core or expand into new arenas. It’s a challenge of balance.

By growing your core, you’re building what you’re already successful at.

Customers have validated that product or service. It’s likely very profitable. And as you’ve heard me pontificate on before, strategy is inherently about saying “no.”

On the flip side, your core can only get you so far. The ideas behind it might get stale or run their logical lifespan. Cool new opportunities and ideas spring up all the time. Many of those new opportunities are untested and unproven though therefore they’re riskier.

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Your job as a leader is to balance between strengthening and growing what you already do well while simultaneously finding new growth opportunities for your business. It’s challenging because you have resource constraints and can only invest so much time, effort, and money into building the core and expanding beyond it. You have to make this tradeoff effectively. This applies to you whether you’re a small business or a monolithic one.

So how can you strike that balance?

First, define your core.

“DEFINE YOUR CORE COMPETENCIES AND THE THINGS THAT DIFFERENTIATE YOU FROM YOUR COMPETITORS.”

Too many times you take the core for granted. “It’s just what we do.” When is the last time you took a step back and rigorously evaluated what you’re really selling and what gives you a competitive edge?

I thought so (that’s why defining these skills is one of the first things we do as part of strategic planning work with clients).

Define your core competencies and the things that differentiate you from your competitors. Hone those two or three major thoughts. If you’re great at customer service and being a high quality producer (e.g., Nordstrom’s), stop trying to become a low cost value

player like Wal-Mart. It won’t work out for you.

A simpler analogy – when Michael Phelps first started swimming, I bet he focused on his freestyle stroke and didn’t worry too much about his jump shot or free throw skills.

Once you’ve focused on those core skills and the opportunities they support, start saying “no.” Say no to any activity that dilutes focus on those critical areas. Instead, set aside those resources for your growth opportunities. Yes, this means your core will fund new opportunities.

Second, find new opportunities consistent with your competencies.

Given the plethora of cool stuff you could go do, it can be a distracting and unnerving exercise to figure out where to grow next. Remember those core skills we identified before? Let them guide you here. Those core skills and your organization’s mission serve as your “primacy of purpose” and should guide new opportunities you pursue.

For example, if you’re a Nordstrom’s, look for new opportunities consistent with high-end skills.

Maybe you start offering spa services in your stores.

They also require outstanding customer service and you can price at the high end because you offer distinctive experiences.

For opportunities that aren’t consistent with your core competencies and are too much of a stretch for you to be successful with, kill them. Ruthlessly. Say no.

“FOR OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARENʼT CONSISTENT WITH YOUR CORE COMPETENCIES AND ARE TOO MUCH OF A STRETCH FOR YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH, KILL THEM. RUTHLESSLY. SAY NO.”

These types of “opportunities” will become black holes of effort and you’ll likely fail at chasing them. Why? You don’t have the skills to go after it. Remember the Michael Phelps point above? He probably went from freestyle to breaststroke to butterfly. He build new offerings based on his core skills. Again, he didn’t pursue learning the javelin or shot put.

Look across the list of things you’ve said you’re going to pursue. Are you doing enough to strengthen, grow, and defend your core? Are you also seeding new products, services, and opportunities? You should be able to glance at that list and have a good gut feel that those opportunities are balanced.

Your job as a leader is to continue honing what makes you great while at the same time not allowing your organization to become irrelevant or miss out on great new growth areas. All of that work starts with a simple assessment of what makes you great in the first place then eliminating work that doesn’t use those skills.

Mike Figliuolo is the Founder and Managing Director of thought LEADERS, LLC. He is also the author of One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership. You can reach him via email at info@thoughtleadersllc.com

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A CLASS APART THE CROWNE PLAZA BAHRAIN Delivering a unique Experience to Customers 84

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T

he Crowne Plaza Bahrain has always been at the forefront of delivering customers a unique, luxurious and comfortable experience. A five star property in the heart of Bahrain, the hotel has always aimed at achieving 100% customer satisfaction. We speak to the Director of Sales and Marketing, Mona Ibrahim and the Director of Food and Beverage George Diab about their job and experiences.

Mona, you started out in Bahrain itself over a decade ago. Tell us about your journey so far.

Mona: I was born and brought up in Kuwait and did my higher studies in Cairo. And after that, I felt like I just had to come back to the Gulf Region. This is where I belonged and I came to Bahrain. I started working at the Le Royal Meridian as a customer relations officer.

Over the years, I worked in Conferences and Banquets Department, then at the Front Office for a while. After six and half years with them, I decided it was time to face new challenges and moved to Abu Dhabi for a while. It also meant a change in direction for me as I shifted to Group Sales. Soon after, I came to the Intercontinental Family in Qatar, as their Section Head, then moved on to being the Assistant Director of Sales and then the Director of Sales. I then had an opportunity to launch and set up the marketing team at the Corinthia Hotel in Sudan. But then, I yearned to be home, in familiar grounds and so jumped at the chance to be back in Bahrain, and that too with my IHG (Intercontinental Hotels Group) Family.

Did you find that the hospitality industry has undergone any vast changes?

Mona: Hospitality is not new to Bahrain.

It has been the tradition and people here always have been welcoming. Talking about this industry, I believe hotel management has grown and expanded all across the world. It is now a truly global industry. It is not single outlet hotels anymore. Even the smaller hotels are part of an international chain and as such, bring the standards of that chain to the country. Still as far as I can remember, Bahrain’s hotels have always had an extremely high standard and that has not changed. Once I came back, I went to the various hotels in the Kingdom and I was thoroughly impressed at how they have managed to consistently maintain high quality. It is also quite impressive to see that even the new properties which have opened are all built and managed according to that global benchmark.

Tell us a little about what your job entails.

George: As the Director of Food and Beverage,

I am responsible for the management and operations of all the restaurants, cafes, bars, banqueting and conventions at the hotel, and to ensure that we implement a very high quality standard in all of our operations. I work with the management and my team

to create new menus. My job also includes recruiting the right people for the right jobs and of course, my mission is to ensure maximum customer satisfaction.

Mona: And I work with my team to ensure

that people know about the hotel and our brand, not just locally but also at a regional and international level. I represent the IHG Group and The Crowne Plaza Bahrain. The hotel started to reposition its brand in 2011 and my team aims to highlight that to our travel partners. Besides introducing new promotions and ideas which can attract more customers, we also compile and assess customer feedback to see what changes are required and need to be implemented. We meet with our partners like the Ministry of Tourism and various travel agencies and airlines to highlight what we have to offer. Under our General Manager Mr. Pascal Eggerstedt’s leadership, our aim is to ensure that we create the right awareness about the hotel and to sell the hotel facilities locally, regionally and internationally.

What are the main challenges that the hotel industry faces?

Mona: With an increase in the sheer number

of hotel properties in the GCC, competition has increased tenfold. So, it is indeed a challenge to pull customers to any hotel.

Also, it is sometimes challenging to position the brand locally as per the corporate brand standards of IHG.

George: We also need to realize that the

customers are exposed more than they used to be. At the click of a button, they can access all kinds of information including customer feedback. One bad review could mean we lose potential clients. Hence, we need to make sure that every single customer leaves our hotel 100% satisfied.

What do you think is the one best aspect of the Kingdom that makes it easier for you to attract people to the Kingdom?

Mona: Bahrain is indeed the pearl of

the Gulf. The people here are warm and welcoming. Even looking at it historically, this is one of the first civilized regions in the world and we can see that in the way people behave here. Bahrainis have always been a welcoming and friendly group of people.

George: Speaking from a food and beverage

aspect, the food available in Bahrain is unique. Even in our own restaurant, Waves, we offer customers a unique experience, which is the market place set up where

you can choose from the day’s catch and have it prepared your way by our local specialty seafood Chef Jaffar. Bahrain has an abundance of seafood. The customers are able to enjoy absolutely fresh produce and a unique blend of spices.

Tell us something about the training that you put your staff through.

George: We hire people who have the basic training and mold them to meet the high standards that our enterprise requires.

There are different kinds of training we give them: customer service training, to help them deal with all kinds of customers, specific training that ensures they know what the job itself entails and leadership training for those who will be on the supervisory and management teams.

Mona: Apart from the classroom modules, the IHG also provides online courses that our colleagues can access directly learn and take tests which give them certification.

Thus apart from the direct training that we provide, our colleagues can always do a lot on their own as well.

When you yourself travel and have to stay at other five star properties, are you a difficult client?

Mona: Hmmm, I don’t think so. I do

understand the workings behind running a hotel and so I am able to forgive small shortfalls. I think I am more patient that way.

George: I insist on high quality service. That for me is a no go, if I don’t get the kind of service that I am paying for. Service cannot be compromised, no matter what.

Finally, tell me about your future plans.

George: Right now, preparations are in full swing for Ramadan, for the ghabgas and Iftars. We are having a Bahraini village themed setup at our banquet hall for those corporates that would like to have private events. And we are adding unique items to the menu for that as well. We are also planning unique promotions for the summer and the period from August to December. Watch out for us, there is lots of excitement lined up.

Mona: At the Crowne Plaza Bahrain, there is always something being planned. It is about innovation and providing new experiences to the customers. We are also working on upgrading the South Wing, based on customer feedback. For now, that is all I will say. But yes, there is a lot in store.

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Garden of Eden Red Rose Allows You to Create A Unique Garden

Red Rose is a new company launching in Bahrain, with Khalid Waleed Al Kooheji as the General Manager. The company will address all your outdoor garden requirements, right from fitness equipment to play area to garden accessories.

We speak to the man himself to find out more.

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“Safety is our priority. We understand that the customer can be concerned, as items like play areas will be made for children. ” What is Red Rose?

Red Rose is the latest project from our brand. It is a sister concern of Gulf Rubber Factory. We are a trading company, launched in 2012 dealing in all accessories and items required to make your garden a unique one. From outdoors’ gym equipment, to children’s play areas like slides or even a carousel, to all kinds of gardening accessories, we will have all of that and more. Our other companies include Bahrain Real Estate and Kooheji Jewelry and the standard of service at Red Rose will be at par with the excellent standards of our sister concerns.

Where is the store located?

We are just kickstar ng the brand and have already managed to create quite a buzz. As for the store, it is located at Majdan Avenue in Riffa.

What makes Red Rose unique?

I do believe that we are the only trading company that has these unique items in stock. The customers will not have to place an order and wait a while. They can get it quickly and have our staff install it for them as well. Our first and foremost concern is safety. I am looking forward to ensuring that all our customers are 100% sa sfied.

What are the kinds of products do you sell?

Anything related to the garden, you’d find it at Red Rose. We are trying to cater to people with all levels of income. If you want products within a small budget, we have high-grade products from China and for those who have a big budget, we have high end products from Turkish and European manufacturers as well.

What about the training your staff undergoes?

We provide the necessary training. Safety is our priority. We understand that the customer can be concerned, as items like play areas will be made for children.

We hire and provide the requisite training to our staff. If the customer s ll has a doubt, we can even bring in the installa on experts from the mother company to set it up.

What about future plans?

In five years, we hope to be the go-to brand all across the region for all kinds of garden fi ngs. We also hope to become the sole suppliers of the products of our sister concerns. And we will definitely look at the op on of se ng up a manufacturing unit for these products as well.

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THE BIG PICTURE

by Mohammed Hassan

How Canvas.BH Prints Your Instagram photos on a Canvas!

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ne of the most unique businesses to spring up in Bahrain lately, Canvas.bh is bound to gain popularity with the shutterbug crowd.

Their brand new printing service takes those photos you have on your phones and computers and prints them on a large canvas to keep as art. We talked to CEO Yazin Al-Irhayim to find out more about Canvas.bh.

How does it work?

It takes 3 clicks to order a canvas. Choose your Instagram photo- or upload any photo you want, enter your delivery address, and pay online. That’s it.

Who would find Canvas.bh useful?

Anyone who’s got a memory they want to keep. A lot of our customers have awesome pictures on their iPhones and Androids, like snapshots of fun times with friends, family and of the different places they’ve visited. They make great art pieces around the home, and we’ve even seen a number of our customers show them off at the office. They also make for fantastic gifts!

Where are you located?

What inspired you to set up Canvas.bh?

The idea itself maybe unique here in the region, but it already exists in the US, and in Europe. I got the concept from Rasha Yousif, at an iPhonography workshop she carried out back in November 2012.

Herself a photographer, she told me about how she used a similar service in the US, and thought it’d be a great idea to run something like it (or better!) here in Bahrain.

I didn’t realize it then, but that triggered the avalanche that would later become canvas.bh!

What’s so different about Canvas.bh?

We save memories. Every canvas is crafted with the best museum-quality canvas available, and each canvas is individually hand-stretched and signed.

Every piece comes with a 100-year guarantee.

On the web! Just visit canvas.bh! We’ve got our headquarters in Hidd, but you don’t need to drive all the way there. We deliver to anywhere in Bahrain.

How has the response been so far? What is the best feedback you have received?

It’s been wonderful! We’ve heard some awesome feedback on our product, and also on our customer service.

Several customers have written entire blog posts on canvas.bh, and that makes us feel all warm inside! Here’s out favorite mention: “One of the canvases I received had a teeny-tiny negligible smudge. Although I tend to be OCD sometimes I actually didn’t stress too much about it. I got an email from canvas.bh asking for opinion, recommendations... etc and I told them about the smudge. Next day I get another call from Yazin asking me where to deliver the replacement. IMAGINE. I felt <> this small. Humbled by the tremendous care shown by this business. I am genuinely flabbergasted.” - Zain, RestlessInRiffa.com

What’s the toughest challenge you faced while setting up?

Figuring out the process.

We deal with small images - really small images.

Figuring out how to enlarge something like a tiny Instagram image into a huge print without turning it into a pixelated mess was no easy feat! Also, since we get most of our materials from the US and Europe, it was a bit difficult figuring out how to get them to Bahrain and navigating the red-tape around the import process.

What other projects have you worked on before Canvas.bh?

I’m also the Co-Founder and CEO of Charitime, a service that makes it ridiculously easy to volunteer online. We won first place in Bahrain’s first ever Startup Weekend.

I also started print.bh, which was the prelude to canvas.bh. Print.bh was built upon a secret formula that instantly scanned uploaded images and documents and calculated (very, very accurately) how much it would cost to print - based on the ink consumption.

As an entrepreneur, do you wish you had done something differently?

Hindsight is always twenty twenty. I’m loving the experience, and I learn something new almost every day!

Any future plans or projects?

I’ve got big plans for Canvas. bh. Regional expansion, naturally, is the next step.

We’re also now forging partnerships with artists and photographers in Bahrain to promote their own art - and help them make some money too. We know the talent is there - we see it all over Instagram! We just love to help show it off outside of just Instagram, and into the physical world.

Where can we find out more about Canvas.bh?

Our website is an excellent place to start. We’ve got a live-chat bar there, so feel free to drop by and say hello! We also have a 100% love-it guarantee, so if you don’t absolutely love your canvas, we’ll give you your money back!

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STAYING HEALTHY, THE PANKOOSHI WAY

Budoor Al Ansari’s Weight Loss Plan 90

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ost people tend to go wrong with their weight loss regimes and Budoor al Ansari believes that she can help them. With this in mind, she set up Pankooshi’s, a resort, which helps one detox and stay healthy and fit. She tells us about her journey so far.

What is Pankooshi’s all about?

Pankooshi’s is the only resort in Bahrain focused on juice fasting and detoxing. It is based on a tried and tested method of rapid but healthy weight reduction in which the body gets its essential requirements from fruit and vegetable juices, vegetable broth and water.

Juice fasting is a regime during which all that you consume are liquids. When you juice your fruits and vegetables, you remove the fiber and drink only the liquid, which contains organic hydration, nutrients, vitamins and enzymes. Although you do need fiber in your diet, going for a certain period of time without it will give your body a chance to spend less energy on digestion, helping you to shed all that extra weight much faster and more easily.

At Pankooshi’s, we combine this diet with various other indoor and outdoor activities, including yoga, Pranayama breathing mediation, aerobics, Pilates, aqua games, swimming and private training. We also hold workshops on healthy living, which help our clients maintain their weight once they have finished the programme.

What is your USP?

We are the only resort focused specifically on juice fasting and detoxing.

We are also the only loss center that provides the option and experience of living in. From a business point of view, this makes us unique in Bahrain and also one of the few in the region.

We have various programs and tools related to weight loss available under one roof, whether it is diet, our unique gym or outdoors activities plan.

We have already established a reputation for having helped many women overcome their weight problems. The results speak for themselves and this has helped us carve out a niche in this market.

Our latest program is also something that is not offered to families in this region, which is the children bootcamp.

It’s a two-week live in experience for the kids, which will be stacked with activities to keep them busy. Of course, they will not be undergoing the juice detox, they will have specialized planned meals based on eating ‘clean’.

The boot camp is targeting obese children who need to learn more about nutrition and kick-start a healthy lifestyle.

The package ensures that we keep the kids mind and bodies active during the summer.

What is your own training in the field of health and fitness? Have you had any business training?

What made you set up Pankooshi’s?

What about your business frustrates you the most?

And what is most exciting?

Mainly it came about as a result of my own struggle with weight reduction. I managed to stay fit until the age of 25, and that’s when I got pregnant. I put on a lot of weight as a result of job pressures, marriage and my first child. I tried all kinds of things, including diets, working out and every fad that came and went, but none of them seemed to work for me.

Then I stumbled upon juice fasting and I was amazed how quickly and easily I was able to achieve what I had been trying to do for years. I decided to open Pankooshi’s because I knew there had to be many women in my shoes who think that being obese or overweight was something they would just have to live with. This isn’t so, as I found out, and I want to share my discovery with them.

What does the name Pankooshi’s mean?

Pankooshi was a nickname my mother used for me when I was little. It got stuck to me until I gained weight and to me it represents the healthy vital fit version of myself.

I graduated with a B.Sc. in Islamic finance and worked as an IT administrator for more than 7 years.

However I have always had the fitness experience as I have been active in the field of sports for more than 15 years. I got my health coaching from the Ph Miracle center in the USA that is owned by Dr. Robert Young. And I’m in the process of registering for a new B.Sc. certificate that is related to health.

I also receive advice from Tenmou, which is Bahrain’s first Business Angels network. They are both providing financing to Pankooshi’s and also business advice, and even fitness advice, where I need it. I have had some great mentors who have a lot of experience in the field of sports and weight loss such as Suhail Al Gosaibi.

The most exciting thing is definitely working with people and being able to change their lives so completely. It gives me great satisfaction to be able to help others achieve their goals and improve their lives.

As a business owner the first three years probably determine the future of the company. And the pressure of building up a resort from scratch is a challenge.

I also continue to look for Bahraini talent to support me wherever possible and it’s sometimes hard to find capable Bahrainis in this type of field.

Of course when I am with my clients and see the impact weight loss and detoxing has on their confidence, and how they transform in only 7 days, it’s all worth it.

Are more people open to the idea of detox and staying fit than before?

There has definitely been a change in people’s attitudes in recent years. Lifestyles in Bahrain are still not healthy, but at least there is awareness now and some people take the initiative to do something about it.

The detoxing concept is relatively new here, but is quickly gaining traction. We expect that more and more people will come to realize the benefits of detoxing and juice fasting and that it will become more mainstream than it is now.

What are the key misconceptions that you have seen, when it comes to health and fitness?

The main misconception that many women seem to have, which is the same misunderstanding that I used to have, is that gaining weight is inevitable as you get older, and especially after you have children. This is a limiting belief. A healthy lifestyle can improve your fitness, your health and your quality of life, and it is our mission at Pankooshi’s to educate people about this. And one concept that seems so logical but has been hard for women to live by is the fact that a healthy lifestyle is in fact a lifestyle choice.

To us at Pankooshi it’s about eating clean for good - giving you soundness of body and mind.

Reflecting back to when you opened would you consider yourself well-prepared for owning a business?

I think the time was right for me.

After several years in the corporate sector, it was time for me to try my hand at something of my own.

I can’t say that I was well prepared because it is the first time for me starting and operating a business, but in a way being a beginner is a strength in itself because you don’t know what to expect. If I had known the difficulties involved it may have dissuaded me, but I’m glad I took the leap of faith and it appears to be paying off. The important thing is that I knew I had a good idea and I had educated myself having actually tried it out before launching it as a business.

What next?

For now I am going to focus on making Pankooshi’s as good as it can be. We are offering new classes and new services, including, for example, a summer camp for children and a gardening course for people who want to grow their own crops in their gardens. We are going to keep on trying new ideas and see what sticks.

After that, who knows? I may think of another idea for a new kind of business now that I have had a taste for the joys and difficulties of entrepreneurship. I know I will be more confident going forward now that I have had some success with my first business.

For more information about pankooshi email info@ pankooshis.com or visit www. pankooshis.com

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From Left to Right: Khalid, Ali & Jamal

THE NEXT BIG THING

FRANKY JOE’S

Bahraini Trio’s new Food Adventure 92

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ne of the latest food outlets to come to Bahrain Franky Joe’s has been a hit since day one.

What is surprising though is that it is not a global food franchise coming to Bahrain, but the other way around.

It is in fact set up by a group of three young Bahrainis, Khalid Y. Al Murbati, Jamal Y, Al Murbati and Ali E. Sharif. They tell us about their plans to make Franky Joe’s a global chain.

Let’s start off by getting to know each other a bit more. Tell us about yourselves.

Khalid: I am a Business marketing graduate ex Banker, Entrepreneur and a Culinary fanatic.

Jamal: I am a Business marketing graduate and Entrepreneur with a passion for Gastronomy.

Ali: And I am a Business Accounting graduate, Corporate Banker and an English Football Fan.

What inspired you to set up Franky Joe’s?

Khalid: Although we are food fanatics and have unconditional love for new and exotic fusions when it comes to culinary and gastronomical delights, what really drove us was the challenge of creating our own brand, just as powerful and professional as the franchises that were pouring in mainly from the west.

Before taking this decision we had previously searched for franchising opportunities only to discover that many high end brands (franchisors) were very stringent when comes to franchisees net worth, current experience, business stature etc.

Furthermore it was the hefty fees, royalties (which are taken from the gross profit), minimum investment per branch, limitations, regulations and the list goes on. It is true that a lot of aid and support comes along with a franchising package, but that also means less freedom to take the business in the direction you have in mind and less flexibility to make your own business decisions without having to go through a long process.

Over all we found it to be very expensive and not so much fun. Although there is much more to point out, these are the major reasons to disqualify the franchising option.

Ali: After our franchise hunt we asked ourselves several questions, the ones that stood out were “Why can’t we build out own brand?” and “Rather than being a franchisee, why not be a franchisor?”

This was the time where the idea of forming a brand with a franchising direction was born ……’Franky Joe’s’

Do you have any prior experience/training in the food industry?

Jamal: None of us have any professional culinary certifications, but we cook and explore and have spent half our lives in kitchens and restaurants.

The advantage we had was that we all have a mix of what is necessary and important. And that is the in-depth knowledge of food, marketing, business, finance and accounting. What more would you need?

What was the toughest challenge you faced along the way?

Ali: Taking the first step and committing was the toughest part. Some call it the “leap of faith”. The thing is none of us owned our own business before and had no experience whatsoever. Although academically we thoroughly analyzed every single aspect, it still felt like we were about to jump in the ocean (without a life jacket). But that didn’t stop us from overcoming our inner inhibition and making our dream come true.

And what has been the most exciting point?

Khalid: It has been a thoroughly thrilling ride. But our favorite was the first dinar we ever received. I guess it was the fact that we created a product and decorated it with a brand, making our consumers feel that it genuinely deserved the buck.

How come you chose to name it ‘Franky Joe’s’?

Jamal: Finding the name was a difficult process. However, because we had set some guidelines on how to choose a final name, locking down on the brand name was slightly easier. For example, we knew it has to sound like a franchise name and It cannot be a duplicate or sound like and existing entity in the same industry.

Yes, but why should anyone pick Franky Joe’s over, say another fast food chain?

Khalid: We stand apart for several reasons. We have a variety of products ranging from subs, salads, spuds hot dogs and appetizers.

We do not cut corners when it comes to freshness and quality and our prices are very competitive compared to our competition. We only use fresh bread brought in daily and we make all our own sauces in-house. Above that we have endless combinations when it comes to making your own ANYTHING!... We can go on...

But as an insight into taste, we have invented products and toppings that cannot be found anywhere else! Most of all we believe our food is just plainly better when it comes down to taste, value and speed.

If I am heading there now, and I can try only one item, what would you suggest?

Jamal: A question that every restaurateur laughs away at, because everything on the menu is our favorite.

Your choice will depend on your mood, but to be fair you can note down the ‘must have’ best sellers for your first experience. Corn Dogs, Mac N Cheese, Chicken Pasta Salad, Chicken Mushroom Sub, Maharaja Sub, The Bulldozer, The Boss, Crispy Crazy Dog, Spicy Pepperoni Dog, Chicken Mushroom Spud, Chicken Ranch Spud, Spicy Chicken Pasta Spud and Chicken Mushroom Spud.

We have recently launched our menu with pictures of all the products which will help make your decision a whole lot easier.

What was the most useful advice you received?

Ali: We have been told to tread slowly; never to move too fast in to major decisions, baby steps.

We hear there is a new branch opening in Riffa shortly? What are your future plans?

Khalid: What you’ve heard is most certainly true. After noticing a growing demand for more accessible and convenient outlets we have chosen to expand to Riffa to better serve our consumers there. After all it is the least we can do in return to all our fans that drive in all the way to Amwaj. We are currently negotiating for our third branch and will announce it once we have finalized the lease.

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PASSION FOR FASHION

ELLE MAISON

Elham’s Boutique brings the latest in Fashion 94

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lham Hussain started out with a small retail store a decade ago and now she supplies her designs to boutiques across the region. She tells us about how the last ten years have been.

What is Elle Maison known for?

Fashionable tailoring for ladies, offering a variety of modern chic, seasonal collection, and unique traditional wear such as the ‘gerga’oon’ collection we do annually before Ramadan for kids and teenagers.

Creative add-ons, turbans, hand-made belts are also unique to Elle Maison.

How did you start the business? Tell us about your journey.

I started my first retail boutique in 2003 in Al Aali mall, which was mainly imported ladies wear. I started designing small collections for Ramadan and Eid and I saw that they sold very well and from there, the idea of tailoring boutique just popped up.

So in 2007, I opened the boutique in Riffa.

Are you a fashion designer by education or passion?

It’s a passion for me. In fact, I studied Banking & IT in London and while I was there, my weekends were all about roaming around town, hunting for the fashion boutiques, keeping up to date with the latest fashion trends.

What has been the most challenging aspect?

As in any other business, I find managing staff to be a key challenge. However, continuous training and thorough supervision has made it more manageable.

Who have been your biggest supporters?

Most definitely, it is my family and my close friends, who continuously motivate me to achieve more.

How many staff members do you have? How do they receive their training?

When I started out, there were 2 tailors, and now it has doubled to four, all tailors have experience in the basics of the job. But I did give them extensive training. My training was focused on the finishing and creating new patterns for fashionable cuts.

How does it feel to be your own boss?

Keeping its ups and down in mind, I must say, it only feels good and satisfying because it’s the passion that drives you to make it and survive in it. Some days are amazing and some not so much, but the show must go on.

Who, in the Arab World, is the one woman you would like to dress?

Well, we have many who have an innate sense of style, so it is difficult to pick.

And of course, there are many icons, but my target is sophisticated stylish ladies who can add their own essence to fashion. My ideal client is someone who can take my designs and make it her own and carry it off in an elegant and sophisticated manner.

How fashion forward is Bahrain’s women?

Bahraini women are simple and classic, they like subtle trends, they manage to keep their identity while wearing the latest in fashion. They are well aware of what is happening in the fashion world and also know what is best for them, and know how to adapt the latest trend to match their sensibilities.

Do you see a change in the way Bahrain’s Women dress over the last decade?

Well, yes of course.

Bahrain’s women always opted for the safer options once upon a time.

Clean classic cuts and established designers.

But now they are willing to experiment more.

Even the color palette has undergone a drastic change. Now we get to see much more vibrant colors and trends. We are now importing trends from across the GCC. Our women are exposed to a variety of cultures from across the world and we can see that in the evolving dressing sense.

Do you have any advice to give our upcoming fashion entrepreneurs?

They need to aim to stand out by creating signature pieces, instead of copying the current trends directly.

They have to concentrate on carving a unique identity for themselves, rather than mass production. Pay more attention to quality than quantity. Also, they need to go beyond the local market.

They should try and sell their designs across the region and this can be done by selling their pieces to department stores across the GCC market.

Give us a sneak peek into your future plans.

Of course, the next step in my journey is to step outside the country and go regional. I have started retailing my designs in fashion boutiques in Doha and Jeddah. I am currently working on a plan to get more exposure in GCC for Elle Maison’s readyto-wear line.

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To say Muneera Obaidli is concerned about healthy eating habits is an understatement.

Her passion and knowledge led her to launch Vida to promote holistic wellness and healthy food habits.

She talks to B.I.G about her journey.

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LIFESTYLE

Tell us about your business.

Based on Holistic Wellness, I founded Vida (my health food catering business) almost 8 years ago to fill a gap in the health food market in Bahrain.

Since then, I’ve deepened my understanding of what it really means to have health and wellness in our lives. I work mainly out of my Holistic Wellness Center located in Hamala which is an umbrella for my practice.

What services do you offer?

As a Certified Chef (specializing in holistic health food), Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist (who works with body rebalancing) and Holistic Health Coach (using integrative nutrition and lifestyle to bring about lasting health and wellness), I most enjoy working one on one and in groups with clients to help them find balance, joy, and meet their unique wellness goals. I also conduct talks, workshops and healthy cooking classes. My health food business, Vida, has ongoing diets that are delivered right to your home and office and provides a simple way to reach your ideal weight and regain your health without too much effort. It’s actually a fantastic way to jump-start your system in the right direction. Many of my health products and services are also available on my online shop Muneera.com.

What compelled you to set it up?

As I immersed myself in the health food market I realized repeatedly that many people are craving support and guidance with integrating balance and living a more healthy, vibrant and joyful life. This has lead me to share my work with a larger audience through my latest offering, my website and online shop Muneera.com. This is my platform for sharing information, recipes and products with my community, which will empower and equip them to live a more balanced and healthy lifestyle.

What qualifies you to launch such a business?

I started out my career in the food business by working at a couple of 5 star hotels in the food and beverage departments. I also ran a freelance catering business called Muneera’s Kitchen for a while. Not many people know this, but I’m actually a certified Le Cordon Bleu Chef! After observing the food related health issues and rampant obesity and diabetes as well as stress related imbalances in my community, I began my own research into this field, which led me to get certified as a Craniosacral Therapist and Holistic Health Coach. Being a constant seeker in this field and continuously learning the latest research and advances in holistic health allows me to simplify the information and make it accessible to my community. I was actually just in Los Angeles just last month attending the Longevity Now Conference and a workshop there. Leaders in the field of health, nutrition and wellness were all gathered there and shared a plethora of cutting edge information, which I am now integrating into my practice and menus.

What was the most difficult aspect in setting up your business?

I don’t think anything was especially difficult.

Some of the ingredients we wanted to use were not available here when I first got started. I think we made a big impact on the market by creating a demand for healthy and organic products both through our consumption as well as familiarizing our clients with the products, their uses and health benefits. This has played a role in making some health products more available in our market.

What is the most exciting aspect of being in this business?

I wake up every day and am so grateful for being able to do this work that I love and to share it with the world.

Do you see a change in the mindset of the people here? Are they more open to the idea of wellness now?

For me this is about empowerment. Taking back control of our own health, energy and joy.

People are tired of being victims and forming addictions and dependencies to food, medication and unhealthy relationships in generally. This is when wellness comes into play and prioritizing health is just the first step in reclaiming our power and living a harmonious and joyful life.

What do you think is the key to a happy healthy living?

Being true to who you are, and achieving balance in all aspects of primary and secondary nutrition, this means not just food, but spirituality, exercise and movement as well as personal relationships and a fulfilling career.

Any advice to young entrepreneurs?

Do what brings you the most joy in life! Doing what brings you joy aligns you with your highest purpose and unfolds a life of miracles.

What are your plans for the future?

Many women are struggling with preparing healthy fresh food for their babies. Developing that initial taste for healthy foods is crucial for establishing a healthy diet and avoiding issues with digestive problems and food allergies.

We’re launching a line of freshly made organic baby food very soon. This will be delivered fresh daily and I’m personally overseeing the smallscale production and creating the most suitable menus for each age bracket. I’m very excited about this project and will share more about it as we get closer to the launch date on my website as well as on social media, so be sure to log on and follow me for more updates.

For more information on services, health tips, recipes, and products visit www.muneera.com.

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Why You Should Care About Design 3 simple reasons why you should invest more in the design of your business

W

e know that looks may not be everything, but an ineffective product or packaging will have a negative impact on the success of your company.

Entrepreneurs should consider the value of design before they start any project.

The product needs to be attractive and functional. Consider all aspects

of how to present your businesses to the public. Here are three ways design impacts your business and what you can do about it.

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Curved and angled walls, and decorative elements and a visually divided space all improved the customer experience. Consider your own physical location as well as your products and marketing materials.

Check out your competitors for ideas, or invest in hiring a professional to revamp your look.

3

Eliminate customer confusion with effective designing.

The things that irritate us in life are often those that are poorly designed.

Business owners should pay attention to customer comments and complaints.

Consider the number of times you were given wrong or unclear directions to a store or when you can’t find the right aisle at the supermarket.

Confusing layouts and unclear instructions can lead to all sorts of problems. Improving things like readability can be as simple as changing the font or the amount of white space.

Presenting information in a clear and logical way will help customers easily understand how to use your product.

It’s important to take someone from point A to point B in the fastest amount of time and with the least amount of stress. Something as simple as a horizontal door handle can subconsciously tell customers to push a door instead of pull. Design should provide a service rather than just showcase the work of the person who created it.

1

How you choose to present your product tells the customer a lot about you.

So your logo, packaging and product all communicate a message about your company. It determines how your customer perceives you.

An example of this would be Apple. Apple does a great job of communicating its values through the design of its products. Take a look at a MacBook or an iPod. Everything is neatly arranged and designed. It leaves the impression that Apple is a company of efficiency and quality.

2

Improve on aesthetics to boost sales.

A beautiful environment or product packaging has been proven to be a deciding factor when people make a purchase or frequent a business. A study by researchers at the University of Missouri found that the restaurant’s waiting area influenced diners’ willingness to wait for a table.

“The things that irritate us in life are often those that are poorly designed.”

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Motivational Tips p for the Bahraini Entrepreneur

ON TARGET

Becoming an entrepreneur is not easy but it’s not impossible either. You won’t have the easiest of times achieving your goals but if you stay motivated, you won’t have the hardest time either.

Here are 5 tips to motivate the Bahraini entrepreneur.

Mohammed Hassan is a recognized self-actualizer and post-modernist motivator who has written about various topics online. You can communicate with him on Twitter @PinnokkioX

AT THE IT 2GIVE 1START BEGINNING! 110%!

A lot of entrepreneurs forget that in order to climb the ladder of success, you have to put one foot at a time. Yes, you want to be at the top but you have to start at the bottom, which is where you are now. You have to start somewhere, right? So why not at the bottom? And remember, the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.

Giving it your best won’t do. You have to go above and beyond the call of duty if you wanna be a top player.

So don’t hold back and take it to the max.

It’s that extra mile that separates the winners from the losers.

Everyone can give their best but only the best can give it more than their best.

KEEP YOUR 3 EYES ON THE PRIZE!

Don’t be distracted from your main goal. Always keep that target in sight.

Remind yourself that once you reach that goal, it’ll be worth it.

You might encounter some difficulties along the way but don’t be discouraged. There will always be bumps along the way. That doesn’t mean you won’t reach your destination. Keep on keeping on!

YOUR TAKE IT 4LEARN LESSONS! 5 TO THE NEXT LEVEL! Don’t repeat the same mistakes you’ve done before. Remember, this is a learning process. If you keep doing the same thing over and over again and it doesn’t work out for you, it means you have to stop doing that thing. Sometimes it even means you have to do something else instead.

Whatever it is, you have to remember what you did wrong so you don’t end up doing it again.

Once you’ve conquered your current goals, you have to advance to the next level. There will never be a point where you are perfect.

You always have to be seeking perfection but fully realizing you won’t achieve it. This is how you’ll progress as an entrepreneur. Explore the unexplored and conquer the unconquered.

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Ready To Get Started?

5 TIPS FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

WHO WANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY I was a 21 year-old entrepreneur when the dot-com bubble burst in 2001.

Given the unprecedented volume of dying startups, investors and other business partners became less and less inclined to partner with new companies — especially those led by young founders.

But I felt compelled to win over potential investors, customers, and team members. If I didn’t succeed, neither would my venture.

3

FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO INSPIRE CONFIDENCE. My team was fired up when well-known leaders like Fred Hoar, the late VP of Communications at Apple, and Dana Summers, Nordstrom’s former VP of Marketing and CIO, joined our board.

Sometimes I would ask board members and other well-known advisers to come in and share their lessons with my team. Most leaders love to give back to motivated young entrepreneurs, and this helps improve your credibility in a very noticeable way.

4

SET AND DELIVER ON OBJECTIVES. Goals and guidelines will go a long way towards establishing momentum and lifting team performance.

5

DEVELOP YOUR CHARACTER. While nothing builds trust faster than delivering results, nothing destroys it faster than a failure of integrity. As you see your dream grow from an idea to an enterprise, your opportunities to cut corners will multiply. Grow your character as you grow your business so the latter doesn’t crush the former.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE TACTICS I USED TO HELP ESTABLISH MY CREDIBILITY AS A YOUNG FOUNDER, AND GROW MY BUSINESS IN SPITE OF MY AGE:

1

SHOW OTHERS THAT YOU’RE COMMITTED TO THE VENTURE. Find visible ways to demonstrate your willingness to serve the company. I was always the first person at the office. The signals founders send speak louder than their words.

2

PRESENT YOURSELF LIKE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE IN YOUR INDUSTRY. Given that most of our revenue came from 100

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brand managers and advertising agencies, I couldn’t show up to meetings looking like the college sophomore that I was. I ordered and wore bespoke dress shirts with my monogram on my cuffs. When advertising buyers started our meetings asking where I had my shirts made, the subsequent discussions usually went well. Don’t take this too far and spend beyond your means, of course, but first impressions still count.

Kevon Saber is the CEO of Fig, a mobile startup focused on personal well-being.

Prior to Fig, Kevon was VP of Sales & Marketing at GenPlay Games, a mobile games developer he co-founded which has created fifteen games and $40+ million in consumer revenue. Kevon holds a BS in Finance from Santa Clara University and a MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Kevon and his family live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Saber is a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only nonprofit organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs.

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$5$%,$1 +20(6 LV %DKUDLQ¶V SUHPLHUH 5HDO (VWDWH PDJD]LQH FRYHULQJ D ZLGH UDQJH RI DUHDV UHODWLYH WR WKH KRXVLQJ LQGXVWU\ LQ %DKUDLQ DQG EH\RQG IURP LQ GHSWK UHYLHZV RI GHYHORSPHQWV DQG SURSHUW\ LQYHVWPHQW WR DUW GHVLJQ DQG OLIHVW\OH $UDELDQ +RPHV LV KLJKO\ SRSXODU DPRQJVW SURSHUW\ GHYHORSHUV DQG LQYHVWRUV KRPHRZQHUV SURVSHFWLYH EX\HUV IXUQLWXUH VKRSV DQG WKRVH ORRNLQJ WR VHWWOH GRZQ ARABIAN HOMES magazine is sold in supermarkets and bookstores across the GCC.

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Luxury Sedans under BD20, 000

So after putting in those long hours at work and basically killing your social life by sitting in the office on weekends; you’ve finally been noticed by the powers that be and in order to show you how essential you are to the firm, they’ve given you a financially satisfying promotion.

So, what’s the next thing you do?

Well you head down to Sitra and get yourself a ride that’s not just fancy to look at, but also practical and easy to live with. Here are a few examples that fit the formula.

MERCEDES C CLASS BD18,000

T

he Mercedes-Benz C-Class remains the most accessible of the brands models, as it delivers the expected levels of advanced engineering, design and safety features that keep it highly competitive within the entry luxury segment. The base model of this rear-wheel drive sedan comes with a 201bhp 1.8L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that’s mated to a revised sevenspeed automatic transmission with manual shift mode and steering wheel-

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mounted paddle shifters. Not just that, but you even get a power sunroof, 17-inch aluminum wheels, MB-Tex upholstery, dual-zone climate control, HD radio and a USB port, along with Bluetooth wireless connectivity and audio streaming. Safety features include Mercedes ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection system is standard, while safety-enhancing options include Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Park Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist.

LEXUS ES

T

BD18,000

he Lexus ES 350 is a luxury sedan renowned for its elegant appearance, refined driving dynamics and quality craftsmanship. It’s offered in one trim level, with the opportunity to layer luxury by choosing from a selection of available packages. Power is provided by a 268hp 3.5L V6 powerplant that’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode. Every ES 350 is outfitted with a power moonroof, 17-inch aluminum wheels, NuLuxe upholstery, heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control, as well as a premium sound system with satellite radio. Safety features include electronic stability and traction control systems, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, a security alarm and a tire pressure monitor, along with ten airbags and active anti-whiplash front head restraints.

BMW 3SERIES

T

BD17,000

he BMW 3series delivers a special mix of sporting performance, practicality and European luxury in a compact package. It’s the car that defines ‘sport sedan’, and the benchmark every luxury car maker aims at when it develops an entry-level luxury sport sedan. The sedan is powered by a 240hp 2.0L turbo four-cylinder with the choice of an eightspeed automatic or six-speed manual transmission. Standard safety features include six airbags (eight in sedan), four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with adaptive brake lights, traction and stability control, active anti-whiplash head restraints, as well as automatic pop-up roll-over protection on the convertible.

CHRYSLER 300C

T

BD14,450

he Chrysler 300C uses a 5.7L Hemi V8 that’s mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.

The engine intelligently shuts-down select cylinders while cruising under low-load conditions, which conserves gas. Standard safety features include four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control and curtain airbags. The interior is well appointed with a navigation system, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather seating and memory driver’s seat.

Available features include adaptive bi-xenon headlights, blind spot detection and adaptive speed control.

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INFINITI G25

T

BD12,995

he Infiniti G25 sedan now comes with refined suspension, great aerodynamics and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive that works together to provide a quiet, confident drive in any weather conditions. The G25 comes with a 2.5L V6 that churns out around 218hp and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. Heated front seats and mirrors are standard, as well as automatic headlights and dual-zone automatic climate control. Standard safety features include front, side and side curtain airbags, active front-seat head restraints, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, and electronic stability control.

CADILLAC CTS

T

BD11,900

he Cadillac CTS offers a range of vehicles to suit any lifestyle.

The amazing CTS Coupe, Sport Wagon, and the respected, award winning Sedan all offer optional all-wheel-drive, an impressively finished interior and a large dose of style. For 2013 the manual transmission and the base trim have been dropped from the sedan. The CTS comes standard with either 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels

and 19-inch polished alloy wheels are optional. The standard engine is a four-cam, 3.0-liter V6 with direct injection and variable valve-timing generating 270hp (6speed automatic transmission). The Sedan includes seating for five and it features a standard Bose audio system, eight speakers and auxiliary input jack, a power sunroof, keyless access, rear camera, 40gb Hard Drive and a USB port.

LINCOLN MKS

T

BD18,800

he Lincoln MKS is a full-size luxury sedan that has been engineered to capture the attention of a younger demographic by focusing on a clean and elegant overall design. It incorporates all the top-grade luxury items that many have grown to expect from Lincoln. You get to choose between a front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Power comes from a 305hp 3.7L V6 engine thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission featuring SelectShift with paddle activation. Standard features include MyLincoln Touch with 8-inch touch screen, remote vehicle start, heated and cooled front seats, HID headlamps, and SYNC hands-free communications and entertainment system.

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VOLKSWAGEN CC BD11,800

T

he CC is a Passat-sized sedan wrapped in a dramatic and stylish four-door coupe-like body with flowing lines and a bold face. The base model comes along with a 200hp 2.0L turbo four-cylinder powerplant. Standard safety features include electronic stability and traction control,

anti-lock brakes, panic brake assist, bi-xenon headlights, six airbags, LED brake lights, front row seatbelt pretensioners and a tire pressure monitoring system. Features such as a panoramic sunroof, Dynaudio stereo system, navigation system, back-up camera and satellite radio are also standard on some trim levels, optional on others.

BD11,900

T

BD12,500

T

he Avalon is Toyota’s flagship passenger car, with quality craftsmanship and dynamic styling that make it a desirable choice among full-size affordable luxury sedans. The front-wheel drive Avalon is powered by a 268hp 3.5L V6 engine that’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode. All trims feature heated exterior mirrors, automatic headlamps, heated

leather seats, wood-grain style interior trim, Bluetooth wireless audio streaming and phone connectivity and a leather wrapped steering wheel. Safety features include anti-lock disc brakes with brake assist, vehicle stability and traction control systems, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alerts and a Safety Connect pre-collision system are some of the high-tech features available in this all new Avalon.

CADILLAC ATS

AUDI A4 he Audi A4 sedan offers a combination of style and substance that keeps it highly competitive within its class. It is available with Audi’s legendary quattro all-wheel drive system, or FrontTrak front-wheel drive. Under the hood you get a 211hp 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s mated to an eight-speed automatic with Tiptronic manual shift mode, and a Multitronic CVT.

TOYOTA AVALON

Every A4 is equipped with a power sunroof, 17-inch aluminum wheels, leather upholstery, automatic climate control and satellite radio. Standard safety features include electronic stability and traction control systems, front side-impact airbags, overhead curtain airbags for front and rear passengers, a tire pressure monitor, a blind spot monitor and rear side-impact airbags are also available.

T

BD13,400

he ATS is an all-new addition to the Cadillac lineup. And as you can see, it’s a lightweight, compact sport sedan with a level of performance, luxury, and sophistication that’ll challenge the competition. The base model comes with a 270hp 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 powerplant that’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include eight airbags, a Bose speaker system, sport suspension, and LED lighting for the gauges. Available features include Brembo brakes, HD radio, Bose 10-speaker surround sound, CUE - Cadillac User Experience technology with an eight-inch LCD touchscreen, navigation, Magnetic Ride Control, and a wide range of new safety features to help prevent crashes.

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THE LAT A EST AND TRENDIEST WAY TO DRESSING UP BIG brings to you the latest fashion from the top brands in the fashion world. v

Soft Satchel Briefcase Underwood Italian Leather

The Underwood Italian Leather Soft Satchel Briefcase is a handmade luxury leather satchel bag for men designed for guys with a cool yet classy style. This luxury leather man bag is suitable for the well dressed or the dressed down. pianki.com

Vaughn boot Vintage Shoe Company

This leather ankle boot features a round toe, leather lace up fastening, horizontal stitching on the tongue, and a wooden heel. Has tonal stitching throughout, and a textured distressed leather design. farfetch.com

Cartier Rollerball Pen Cartier

Pasha de Cartier luxury pens are examples of elegance embodied in contemporary and timeless design. This design features complex brushed and lined platinum finish details. pianki.com

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te Sukey To Gucci ck

m bla Made fro leather, a guccissimhardware light gold achable with a det ing G interlock g. leather ta gucci.com

Whisttle Steve Madden

The Steve Madden Whisttle shoes feature a suede upper with an open toe. The man-made outsole lends lasting traction and wear. overstock.com

One Button Suit with Peak Lapels Emporio Armani

Cool wool, Solid color, Button, zip, 1 button, Dual back vents, Multipockets, Three internal jacket pockets, Lined, Lapel collar, Mid Rise, Straight leg, armani.com

Mikrogirder Tag Heuer

The Mikrogirder system vibrates isochronously at a very small angle, as opposed to a traditional watch, which vibrates at an angle of up to 320 degrees. The advantages are numerous. In a classic spiral hairspring system, the effect of gravity due to mass is a dominant issue. tagheuer.com

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LIFESTYLE

STUFF WE LIKE Check out the latest gadgets and a host of other items for executives on a break or having some family time Ê‘CARBONGOLD’

IPHONE CASE

The year 2013 has been keeping the iPhone5 owners pretty busy, as newer bespoken models seem to be spoiling them for choice. Now luxury phone maker Golden Dreams has introduced 3 new collections at the Baselworld 2013, including making one with a new fabrication called CarbonGold, which is an upgraded special combination of Carbon Fiber and Gold. With that, they’ve also bought in the limited edition Mansory series and the Golden Dragon etched iPhone5 sets, which are nothing short of jewels themselves.

carbonfibergear.com

‡HUBLOT

MP-05 “LAFERRARI” WATCH

When the Ferrari LaFerrari was unveiled recently, the world of stylists and collectors were left wondering as to what would be the best accessory to carry along with the newly launched super-car.

Before anything else, Hublot has ensured that the LaFerrari drivers will have MP-05 La Ferrari watch to wear every-time they take their ‘prancing horse’ for a spin. Like most Ferrari engines, the watch has been given a hand wound tourbillon movement which matches the power quotient of the car, with 50-day of power reserve (which is now a world record for its category).

What also makes this timepiece even more precious is that only 50 of these will be made, and 1 in 10 Ferrari owners will actually get a chance to wear the watch.

hublot.com

flLAMBORGHINI’S

LIMITED EDITION MOCCASIN

Other than just great cars, Lamborghini’s name has been associated with haute couture creations like special edition Omas Pen and Tonino Lamborghini smart devices. But along the last 50 years, which cumulates into the 50th anniversary celebrations this year, Lamborghini has been making super-cars but due to the special occasion this time around, they have tied up with luxury shoe makers, Car Shoe for a limited edition Moccasin collection of men’s’ footwear. To remind wearers and those who see them, of the special pedigree of the shoes, they have been made in colors most favored among Lamborghinis i.e. red, black, and blue.

lamborghini.com

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Ê HG-ONE

ESPRESSO GRINDER

Having a perfect cup of coffee has been quiet the style statement in recent times. Now HG-One is offering the bespoken espresso grinder, which uses the good old coffee crushing methods in a contemporary looking machine, so that coffee can now be enjoyed in its classical charm. Though some might consider it to be old fashioned considering the method, but the aesthetics of the ultra-smooth sleek grinder adds a lot to the aesthetics of the space where it is kept.

hg-one.com

„SONUS FABER OLYMPICA LOUDSPEAKERS

Though most high-end speakers focus on technology to ensure that they make their mark in the already congested target market, but aesthetics are also now a big factor for catching the fancy of the high-end audio connoisseurs. One brand, who has done it well in the past, is Sonus Faber, who has given us the Aida speakers a couple of years back. This time around, they have paid tribute to the Vicenza Theater in Italy via the Olympica Loudspeakers, which have 3 models in the series, with varied configurations, and model designs. The theater happened to be the work of Andrea Palladio, who created it as a gift to the city, and today stands as a hallmark of craftsmanship and a perennial beauty of Italian architecture.

sonusfaber.com

‡ BUGABOO’S

ANDY WARHOL INSPIRED BABY STROLLERS

For those who drive around in the most expensive cars, choosing the first ride for their pampered toddlers goes beyond strolling them around in a run of the mill stroller. The wealthy are equally known to indulge when it comes to their offspring.

One of the brands which have made a mark amongst this ‘high-life’ of wealthy parents is Bugaboo, which makes bespoken strollers for rich toddlers. Now this designer brand, will be launching a series of special edition strollers, inspired by Andy Warhol’s creative designs including the famous ‘Cars’ paintings in 1962 for strollers, and the ‘Flowers’ paintings created in 1946.

bugaboo.com

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Experience The New Luxury Kia Quoris is a new rear-wheel drive with innovative driving assistance and active safety technologies, Safety systems utilize radar, cameras and haptic technology.

R

ecently there had been an increase in test-drives at the A.A. Bin Hindi KIA MOTORS showroom and also calls from various potential customers who look for a massive change in their driving trends and to experience something different than that of “said and done” and over used.

Since its premium launch event last Nov 2012 in Bahrain, the dealership has witnessed an increase in the number of fan following and ownership owing to its advanced technology and features combined with outstanding aftersales services which makes the Kia Quoris one unique owning experience, which is of sheer luxury as well as a pride with a sense of “being different” from the crowd. And now it comes at a very special price offer starting from 16,500.

The new luxury model features a host of high-tech comfort and safety features, many of them never seen before on a Kia nor in the same competitor model segment.

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Few of the features are the Innovative ‘active’ safety technologies, Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC) a Radar based advanced Smart Cruise Control, Advanced Vehicle Safety Management (AVSM), Class-leading Blind Spot Detection with Lane Change Assistance, Lane Departure Warning System, Around View Monitor system

After sales service Reaffirming the mission to serve ultimate comfort, KIA provides you after-sales service unlike any other.

When you own a Quoris you get 5 years unlimited mileage warranty and 100,000 km

door-to-door free butler service. Just by a telephone call our specially recruited Quoris personnel will pick up your car, service it and deliver it right back to your doorstep. What more, the car comes with a factory provided Free maintenance up to 100,000km! Surprised? Kia – the Power to Surprise!

Visit A.A. Bin Hindi KIA MOTORS showroom in Khamis where your customer friendly staff would guide you to take a test-drive and experience the new luxury or contact 17408800, e-mail: kiasales@ binhindi.com or visit: www. binhindi.com

THE MOST AWARDED SUV EVER IS EVEN BETTER!

Ahmed Zayani & Sons exclusively introduce the 2014 Jeep® Grand Cherokee to coincide with the onset of the Holy month of Ramadan.

Jeep® Grand Cherokee - the most awarded SUV ever and the vehicle that has long defined what a premium SUV should be is even better for 2014.

T

he new 2014 Jeep® Grand Cherokee completely redefines the premium SUV, delivering consumers an unprecedented combination of best-in-class fuel economy and driving range, a choice of leading powertrain options, legendary benchmark capability, world-class craftsmanship, premium on-road driving dynamics and a host of advanced userfriendly technology and safety features.

There have been four generations of Grand Cherokee over the years and each one has improved on the last - for the 2014 model, CHRYSLER GROUP LLC has taken the industry’s most highly acclaimed SUV and elevated it to an even higher level.

For 2014, the Jeep® Grand Cherokee equipped with the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine delivers up to 24 mpg (9.8 litres per 100 km) highway and a driving range of more than 965 kms, while the 5.7-litre HEMI® V8 now achieves up to an estimated 20 mpg (11.76 litres per 100 km) highway both engine options being paired to a new eight-speed transmission.

Legendary Jeep® capability comes courtesy of two available 4x4 systems (Quadra-Trac II and Quadra Drive II), Jeep’s Quadra-Lift air suspension system and classleading Selec-Terrain traction management system. The 2014 Jeep® Grand Cherokee also boasts best-in-class towing of up to 3,266 kgs and an improved crawl ratio of 44.1:1.

A new, refined exterior design, complete with new bi-xenon headlamps with signature LED daytime running lamps (DRL) on all models, provides an even more premium appearance. Interior luxury is achieved with premium amenities including Natura leather, exotic open-pore wood trim and new colour offerings.

The new 2014 Jeep® Grand Cherokee includes even more safety and security features - more than 60 - including Front Park Assist, Forward Collision Warning with Crash Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control and Selec-Speed Control - as well as an array of advanced user-friendly technology features such as Uconnect® 8.4” (213.36mm) touchscreen radio with integrated climate and infotainment controls and a 7” (177.8mm) customer configurable multiview display cluster.

In addition to enhancing fuel economy, the new, robust and durable eight-speed transmission delivers quicker acceleration and precise, smooth shifting, enhancing ride quality to luxury car levels. An additional benefit is a lower crawl ratio of 44.1:1 to aid in climbing over - or through - tough obstacles, when equipped with a two-speed transfer case.

New steering wheel paddle shifters offer improved driver control both on- and off-road, including Electronic Range Select when using Selec-Speed Control in extreme off-road situations.

Chrysler Group’s award-winning 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine debuted on the 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee, and featured an all-new design with dual overhead camshafts and a high-pressure die-cast aluminium cylinder block in a 60-degree configuration.

Mated to the new eight-speed transmission, the V6 Pentastar-powered Grand Cherokee models now tow up to 2,268kgs - a 24% increase over the previous model year. The Pentastar and eight-speed transmission combination is expected to result in an estimated 17 mpg (13.8 litres per 100 km) city and 24 mpg (9.8 litres per 100 km) highway with a driving range of more than 965kms best-in-class for petrol-powered SUV’s.

Visit the Ahmed Zayani & Sons, Zinj Showroom on Sh. Salman highway and check out our unique Ramadan Offers and take advantage of our excellent deals and drive away contended.

Call: 17 238822 / 36848944 JUNE / JULY 2013

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Appointments The

We keep track of promotions as people in the Gulf move up in the world

page

Ali Al-Bagali

Khalid A. Latif

Abdelhady Ibrahim

BAHRAIN - Ali Al-Baqali, a Bahraini national, joined Alba in 1998asa Purchasing Officer and was promoted in 2010 as the Manager of Procurement and Warehousing. Since October 2012, Mr. AlBaqali has been Acting Chief Finance & Supply Officer where he was responsible for all finance, supply chain and IT functions. Ali’s promotion to CFO is a great example of our commitment to develop the right people within the company. We feel this strategy is the best way to harness the true potential of an individual and promoting from within also creates opportunities for others in the company.

BAHRAIN - Mr. A. Latif has been with Alba since 1989 when he joined as trainee technician in Power Maintenance. He was promoted to supervisory level in the same department, and then transferred as superintendent in Carbon Maintenance and later to the Reduction Maintenance department. He was later moved to the Engineering Department as acting manager. Khalid A. Latif received a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Gulf University, Bahrain.

BAHRAIN - Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre appointed Abdehady Ibrahim as Revenue Manager.

Abdelhady has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the hospitality industry and has been with Kempinski for the last eight years. Prior to joining the team in Bahrain he was holding the title of Cluster Revenue Manager Kempinski Egypt, looking after the Kempinski Nile Cairo and Kempinski Soma Bay. Before then Abdelhady was part of the pre-opening team of the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.

Andrea Gerometta BAHRAIN - Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre appointed Andrea Gerometta as Director of Food & Beverage. Andrea brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience, having worked on four continents and with various companies including Sheraton, Sandals and Marriott. Over the past 20 years, he gained expertise as Executive Chef as well as Director of F&B, has extensive pre-opening experience and joins the Kempinski Bahrain team from the Sheraton Xian North City Hotel, China.

Zulfe Ali BAHRAIN - Mr. Zulfe Ali joined Mumtalakat in June 2009 as Vice President Corporate Finance.

His responsibilities have included defining and implementing Mumtalakat’s corporate finance and funding strategies, as well as managing Mumtalakat’s portfolio of liquid investments. Mr. Ali has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial services industry in both asset management and investment banking.

Amit Puri Wael Aburida BAHRAIN - Independent asset manager PineBridge Investments has appointed Wael Aburida as its chief investment officer for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey. At PineBridge Aburida will lead the firm’s MENA private equity and real estate team, and will be responsible for deal origination, negotiations, execution, portfolio management and exits. He will be based in Bahrain and report to Middle East CEO Talal Al Zain.

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BAHRAIN - Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre appointed Amit Puri as Director of People Services. Prior to joining Kempinski Bahrain, Amit was working with Abu Dhabi National Hotels Compass Middle East heading the Recruitment & Mobilization function for a period of three and a half years. Amit has more than 10 years of handson experience in all facets of HR and Business Management. Amit’s hotel portfolio includes The Imperial, New Delhi and the Hyatt International Corporation in India.

Rita Daniel UAE - Based at Alef’s Dubai office in Media City she will be overseeing Alef’s sales teams in its Riyadh headquarters and its Beirut office. Before joining Alef, Rita managed media buying in Optimedia Beirut, and has a great deal of experience working in the media sector in Dubai. Rita’s appointment is a key part of Alef’s strategy of further developing its international capability.

Mohammed Al Fayyad UAE - General Motors Middle East announces the appointment of Mohammed Al Fayyad as Communications and PR Manager, General Motors Middle East Operations, effective July 1, 2013. In his new role, Al Fayyad will be responsible for developing GM Middle East Operations’ overall public relations strategy, maximizing General Motors’ media exposure in the region and meeting the company’s communications objectives.

Subscribe Today 50% Discount on MaxMedia Magazines MaxMedia Co. publications make A perfect gift for friends and relatives anytime of the year.

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the

HOTEL guide YOUR GUIDE TO THE KINGDOM’S HOTEL OUTLETS

DINING SHERATON HOTEL BAHRAIN Al Safir Restaurant Gastronomical buffets for breakfast lunch and dinner as well as superb á la carte options.

Opening Hours: Thursday - Saturday 12:30PM to 3:00PM Every night except Sunday: 8:00PM to 11:00PM Fiamma is closed on Sundays

Saraya: All Day Dining / International Exquisite buffets with flavors from across the world. Available is breakfast, lunch and dinner and also a la carte and live cooking station.

Soie Chinese Restaurant

Wok: South East Asian Restaurant

Golestan Restaurant Discovery of traditional Iranian dishes with freshly oven-baked breads served at the table.

Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday Lunch 12:30 PM – 2:45 PM Dinner 7:30 p.m. – 11:30 PM Friday: Lunch 12:30 PM – 3:45 PM Dinner 7:30 PM – 11:30 PM Closed on Saturdays

Espressamente Illy A perfect place to meet and enjoy a cup of espresso, refreshing beverages and light snacks.

Opening Hours: Daily: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Al Safir: +973 17533533 ext 259 Soie Chinese Restaurant: +973 17 533 533 ext. 497 Golestan Restaurant: +973 17 533 533 ext. 375

JUNE / JULY 2013

Designed with an indoor and an outdoor seating area, this outlet will serve authentic Italian food.

Opening Times: Daily 6:30AM to 10:30 AM (11AM on weekends) Lunch: 12:30PM to 3:30PM Dinner: 7:00PM to 10:30PM

Opening Hours: Daily: 7:00 PM – 11:30 PM Closed on Fridays

114

Fiamma: Italian Restaurant

Opening Hours: Breakfast 6:30 AM -10:30 AM Lunch 12:30 PM – 3.30 PM Dinner 7:30 PM – 11:30 PM Relax in the dramatic ambience with dark wood floors, oriental ornaments and lanterns.

La Med, Ritz Carlton

SOFITEL BAHRAIN ZALLAQ THALASSA SEA & SPA

Espressamente Illy: +973 17 533 533 ext. 1790

The perfect combination of stones and wood in the décor to reflect an Asian feeling is defiantly there.

Opening Hours: Wednesday to Monday: 7:00PM to 11:00PM Wok is closed on Tuesdays

Tapas: Restaurant It services a wide range of exciting tapas, and the best cocktails on the island. Tapas bar has a truly vibrant and lively atmosphere with its Cuban band.

Opening Hours: Daily: 11:30AM to Midnight

La Mer: Seafood Restaurant It is the signature restaurant of the hotel, guests will enjoy the freshest seafood and catch of the day cooked at the live cooking station with a French savoir-faire to please all tastes.

Opening Hours: Daily: 7:00PM to 11:00PM

Pashawat: Arabic Restaurant It is open in the evenings and offers a delightful Lebanese cuisine. Guests will enjoy large varieties of Mezzah as well as delicious charcoal grilled specialties.

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 7:00PM to 1:30 AM (Closed on Saturdays and Sundays) For Information & Reservations Hotel: +973 1763 6363 Concierge: +973 39349659

China Garden The restaurant, which is designed in a modern oriental style, offers a varied selection of food influenced by distinct Chinese regions creating Cantonese, Szechuan and Peking specialties.

Klouds Restaurant, The K Hotel

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday Lunch 12:00pm to 3:00pm Dinner 7:00pm to 11:00pm Closed on Sunday

Klouds Enjoy an assortment of culinary delights with their special Themed Nights everyday of the week.

Opening Hours: Daily: 7PM to 11PM

Friday Brunch Discover The K difference in Friday Brunch!

Plums The specialty being premium beef and fresh, top quality seafood, it provides guests with the ultimate in dining pleasure.

Opening Hours: Dinner: 7 PM to 11:30PM

Primavera Primavera, the ever popular Italian restaurant offers a very exciting menu.

Opening Hours: Friday, 12:30PM to 4:30PM

Opening Hours: Lunch: Noon to 3PM Dinner: 7PM to Midnight

The K lounge

Nirvana

Some new dishes include the world famous Angus steaks and exceptional desserts with that extra K flavor.

Our ongoing promotions include: Daily Happy Hour from 5pm to 7pm Coors Light & Burger Treats Ladies Night from Saturday to Wednesday all cocktails free of charge for Ladies.

Nirvana brings royal flavors to The Ritz-Carlton for a dining adventure rarely enjoyed outside of India.

Opening Hours: Daily: 11AM to 2AM

The Ritz-Carlton has a dedicated cigar lounge with a cellar of premium malts, cognacs and vintage wines.

Kenza Lounge

Opening Hours: Daily: Noon to 2AM

Outdoor seating and Arabesque interiors, experience the finest Lebanese dining.

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 7PM to 2AM For Information & Reservations

K Hotel: (973) 1736 0000 Klouds: (973) 1736 0000 ext. 4019 K Pool: (973) 1736 0000 or email banquet@thekhotel.com

THE RITZ‐CARLTON, BAHRAIN HOTEL & SPA Overlook Café The perfect place to relax by the water and enjoy a variety of light lunch items, refreshments, beverages and cocktails with a tropical flair.

Opening Hours: Daily: 10 AM to 6 PM

La Med Casual dining in generous surroundings is brightened with natural sunshine and views of the turquoise blue waters of the Gulf.

Opening Hours: Continental and Arabic Breakfast: 7AM to 10:30AM Lunch Buffet: Noon to 3:30PM Lunch Express: Noon to 3:30PM All Day Dining Menu: 3:30PM Dinner: 7PM to 11:30PM Friday Brunch: 12:30 PM to 4PM

Opening Hours: Lunch Noon to 3PM Dinner 7PM to 11:30PM

Burlington Club

The Lobby Lounge The traditional high tea is served daily in the Lobby Lounge and boasts all the luxurious delicacies that you would expect.

Opening Hours: Daily: 8AM to Midnight

The Ritz Gourmet Lounge Experience authentic chic ambience like in a Parisian along with homemade pastries and richly decorated desserts.

It is favored by Japanese Embassy staff who are said to love its peaceful Zen-like surroundings and exquisite features, including teppanyaki rooms and an authentic robatayaki grill and a Sushi bar with a smoking section.

Opening Hours: Lunch 12:00pm – 3:00pm Dinner 7:00pm – 11:00pm

Takht Jamsheed Fusions

THE K HOTEL

Sato

Fusions is a contemporary and stylish rooftop restaurant boasting unrivalled views over the hotel’s tropical gardens and Manama skyline.

Opening Hours: Sunday to Friday 6pm – 12am Closed on Saturday

La Pergola Renowned for being one of Bahrain’s oldest Italian eateries, the intimate restaurant offers a fantastic Mediterranean ambience with a vaulted roof and striking wall murals depicting scenes of ancient Rome.

Opening Hours: Lunch 12:00pm – 3:00pm Dinner 7:00pm – 11:00pm

Margarita Mexicana All dishes, including tortillas and guacamole, are freshly prepared at guests’ tables to guarantee that the menu and fine dining experience are as authentic as possible.

Opening Hours: Sunday to Friday 6:00pm – 12:00am Closed on Saturdays

Royal Thai The restaurant is situated in a grand pagoda in the grounds of the hotel’s tropical gardens and provides scenic views overlooking the turquoise waters of the outdoor swimming pool.

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday Lunch 12:00pm – 3:00pm Dinner 7:00pm – 11:00pm Closed on Mondays

Taking inspiration from Persia’s royal palace of Takht Jamsheed, the Gulf Hotel’s chic restaurant offers a fine dining experience fit for a king.

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday Lunch 12:00pm – 3:00pm Dinner 7:00pm – 11:00pm Closed on Mondays

Zahle The menu boasts an extensive selection of hot and cold mezze, grilled meat and regional Lebanese fare, such as beautifully presented shish kebab served in a golden box atop warm Arabic bread and burning coals.

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday Weekdays: 7:00pm – 1:00am Weekends: 7:00pm – 2:00am Saturday Lunch 12:00pm -3:00pm Dinner 7:00pm – 2:00am For Reservations

Al Waha: +973 1774 6425/26 China Garden: +973 1774 6423/24 Fusions: +973 1771 3000 La Pergola: +973 1774 6419/20 Margarita Mexicana: +973 1774 6462 Royal Thai: +973 1774 6421/22 Sato: +973 1774 6429/30 Takht Jamsheed: +973 1774 6431/32 Zahle: +973 1774 6417/18

Golestan, Sheraton Hotel Bahrain

Opening Hours: Daily: 7AM to Midnight For Information & Reservations Hotel: +973 1758 0000

GULF HOTEL Al Waha Diners are spoilt for choice with an extensive array of buffet fare featuring local and international dishes, as well as an impressive variety of Bahraini hummus.

Opening Hours: Breakfast 6:00am – 10:30am Lunch 12:00pm – 3:30pm Dinner 7:00pm – 11:00pm Friday Brunch: 12:30pm - 4:00pm JUNE / JULY 2013

115

Golestan, Sheraton Hotel Bahrain

KEMPINSKI GRAND & IXIR HOTEL

Opening hours: Daily: 7:00pm - 12:00am

T-spoon

Mediterranean Grill buffet restaurant serving a variety of Mediterranean and international foods.

Conveniently located on the ground floor of Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre with direct access from the mall, bringing flavours that will delight your sweet tooth.

Opening Hours: Daily: 9:00am – 11:00 pm

Mezzanine Lounge The comfortable lounge setting features a media wall with 11 mounted screens; complemented by a collection of innovative food design of tasty salads and platters.

Opening Hours: Daily: 11:00am - 1:00am

Zytoun

Opening hours: Daily: 6:30am - 11:00pm For Reservations

Hotel: +973 1729 8008

AL SAFIR HOTEL Yalla Yalla

Nasmat - Lounge & Restaurant

In place of Savoy Café, Yalla Yalla offers lunch and dinner bufftets as well as an ala carte menu.

The al fresco poolside Mediterranean ambiance offers a haven in which to escape and unwind from Manama’s buzz throughout the day.

Bennigan’s

Opening Hours: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

Saveur Contemporary international cuisine and luxurious ambience ensure its place as Manama’s restaurant of choice for special occasions.

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday Breakfast 6:30am - 11:00am Lunch 12:30pm - 3:30pm Dinner 7:00pm - 10:30pm

Opening Hours: Daily: 6:30AM-Midnight Enjoy tasty food and spirited conversation.

Opening Hours: Daily: 6AM-2AM

Cucina Italiana The place where Italian Food is served with style and passion.

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 6:00AM - 1:00AM

Baharat Experience Arabian fine dining that promises to deliver a new, exceptional culinary adventure for the whole family.

Opening Hours: Wednesday to Friday 7:00pm - 01:00am

All restaurants: +973 1717 1000

SHOPPING SHERATON HOTEL BAHRAIN Alhilal Bookshop

MÖVENPICK HOTEL BAHRAIN Silk’s restaurant Experience fine dining and sample creative menus prepared by seasoned and culinary experts. The unique show-kitchen/live-cooking concept provides an exciting and lively setting.

Opening Hours: Daily: Breakfast 9:00am - 10.30 am Lunch 10:00am – 4:00pm Dinner 5:00pm – 12:00am For Reservations

Silk’s restaurant: +973 17460017

Opening Hours: Daily: 9AM to 9PM For Information

Alhilal Bookshop: +973 17 531 665

THE RITZ‐CARLTON, BAHRAIN HOTEL & SPA Chopard Boutique Opening hours: Daily: 7AM to Midnight

Mohd Sharif Hatam & Sons

NOVOTEL AL DANA RESORT La Perle Enjoy a delicious range of culinary specialties with an extensive selection of appetizers, salads and desserts to complement your choices Seafood and fishes.

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JUNE / JULY 2013

Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday: 10AM to 2PM – 4PM to 8PM For Information

Chopard Boutique: +973 17 580 667 Mohd Sharif Hatam & Sons: +973 17 580 889

SPA & SALON SHERATON HOTEL BAHRAIN

KEMPINSKI GRAND & IXIR HOTEL Pure Spa Opening Hours: Daily: 11:00 am to 8:00 pm

Image Spa & Leisure Opening Hours: Daily: 6Am to 10PM

For Information & Reservations +973 1717 1122

Sheraton Health Club Opening Hours: Daily: 7AM to 10PM

Sheraton Fitness Opening Hours: Daily: 9AM to 8:30PM For Information

Image Spa & Leisure: +973 17 524 570 Sheraton Fitness: +973 17 524 570 Sheraton Health Club: +973 17 533 533

SOFITEL BAHRAIN ZALLAQ THALASSA SEA & SPA

THE RITZ‐CARLTON, BAHRAIN HOTEL & SPA Elie & Jean Beauty Center Gents Saloon Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday: 9:30AM to 8PM Friday: 10AM to 7PM

Sports Club & Spa (Membership only) Opening hours: Daily: 5:00AM to 10:30PM For Information

Elie & Jean Beauty Center - Gents Saloon: +973 17 580 798

Thalassotherapy (Call for Appointment) For Information & Reservations Hotel: +973 1763 6363 Concierge: +973 39349659

THE RITZ‐CARLTON, BAHRAIN HOTEL & SPA Elie & Jean Beauty Center Gents Saloon Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday: 9:30AM to 8PM Friday: 10AM to 7PM

Sports Club & Spa (Membership only) Opening hours: Daily: 5:00AM to 10:30PM

Elie & Jean Beauty Center - Gents Saloon: +973 17 580 798

AL SAFIR HOTEL Ann Beauty Salon Come in and relax to soothing music as our therapists provide the perfect treatment.

For Information & Reservations Al Safir Hotel & Tower: +973 1782 7999 Email: alsafirh@batelco.com.bh Bennigan’s: +973 1781 3750 Website: bennigans.com.bh Cucina Italiana: +973 1700 1317 Website: cucinaitaliana.com.bh

THE K HOTEL The K lounge Opening Hours: Daily: 11AM to 2AM

Champions Sports Lounge Opening Hours: Daily: 11AM to 2AM For Information

K Hotel: (973) 1736 0000

GULF HOTEL Sherlock Holmes Opening Hours: Daily: 12:00pm – 2:00am

Typhoon Bar and Lounge Opening Hours: Daily: 5:00pm – 1:00am Happy Hour: 5:00pm – 7:00pm

Vintage Wine Bar Opening Hours: Daily: 5:00pm – 1:00am

For Reservations

Pure Spa, Kempinski

K Hotel: (973) 1736 0000 Sherlock Holmes: +973 1771 2450 Typhoon Bar and Lounge: +973 17 746 395 Vintage Wine Bar: +973 1774 6461

K Lounge, The K Hotel

NIGHTLIFE SHERATON HOTEL BAHRAIN An Nada Lounge Opening Hours: Happy Hour: 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm Daily 1:00 PM – 1:00 AM For Information

An Nada Lounge: +973 17 533 533 ext. 293

KEMPINSKI GRAND & IXIR HOTEL Boudoir Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday: 5:00pm - 2:00am

Bizarre Lounge Opening Hours: Daily: 9:00pm - 2:00am For Information & Reservations Hotel: (973) 1717 1000

SOFITEL BAHRAIN ZALLAQ THALASSA SEA & SPA

NOVOTEL AL DANA RESORT

Amber Bar

Le Bellevue

Lagoon Pool Bar

A relaxed yet elegant bar offering one of the most stunning views of the sea and city skyline. Light live music in the evenings.

Opening Hours: Daily: 8AM to 8PM

Opening hours: Daily: 4:00pm - 2:00am

Lobby Lounge Bar

Pool Bar

Opening Hours: Daily: 8AM to Midnight

Tapas: BAR

Pool bar is open on weekends during December- February and every day from March 1 until November. (Closed during Ramadan).

Opening Hours: Daily: 11:30AM to Midnight

Opening hours: Daily: 9:00am -8:00pm

Opening Hours: Daily: 6PM to 2AM

For Information

Hotel: +973 1763 6363 Concierge: +973 39349659

For Reservations

Hotel: +973 1729 8008

JUNE / JULY 2013

117

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