YOUNG & BRILLIANT LET'S GO ON A
Dynamite Shrimp Spree! BADER KAMAL
StartUp Bahrain and the World of Digital Publications
Graffiti and More:
MOHAMMAD TAMIMI ISSUE 01 JANUARY 2016
Hover on the page
W TO SEE HO IT GOES DOWNLOAD • DISCOVER • INTERACT
FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome to the very first issue of Destination Sharqiya. To our loyal readers who anticipated the launch of this issue, thank you for the constant support; and to our new readers, welcome to the world of Destination. Destination Sharqiya is meant to be your new best friend, a guide to your daily adventures around the province. From the best of Sharqiya’s dining scene and the latest in style and beauty to insights into the worlds of top business figures, artists and athletes – Destination Sharqiya has something for everyone. For this special Business issue, it gives us great pleasure to introduce you to the pioneer 30 Under 30 list of Destination Magazine. These young, self-made and inspiring entrepreneurs used talent, hard work and creativity to rise above challenges and come up on top. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from these inspiring 30, it is that there is nothing more fulfilling than realizing your own dreams. To help you get started on your very own journey to success, we’ve compiled a list of Sharqiya’s entrepreneurship centers – reach for the stars, Sharqiya, we know you have it in you. There’s so much more to see and explore in the next few pages, just as there is in the province, and this is why we are here: to bring you all your city’s secrets in one place, to make you fall in love with your own city and to celebrate, every month, Sharqiya and its people.
Editor-in-Chief Enas Hashani Managing Editor Maria Mahdaly Executive Editor Bassma Al Toaimi Regional Editorial Manager Anousha Vakani Editor-at-Large Tuba Saricimen Copy Editor Ahmad Dialdin Editors Aabiya Baqai Johara Almogbel Mirvat Ammouri Mohammed Mirza Contributing Writers Anaa Mansouri Anne Marie Agile Iman Linjawi Noura Al Joaib Marya Atassi Mona Sabr Yasir Malak Zareen Muzaffar Art Director Reem Al Assal Studio Manager Mohamed Fawzy Senior Graphic Designer Mohammed Rashad Graphic Designers Dina Al Amoudi Lama Alsharqawi Suzan Al Quasmi Photographers Abdulaziz Al Herz Alzahra Aldawood Bayan Alsadiq Jalila Alharith Mohammed Deghaishim Mohamed Fawzy Tahira Baker Tuba Saricimen Yasmin Ouf Digital Marketing Executive Hurreia Balouch Social Media Agent Nahla Al Sardi Web Admin/Associate Editor Swalah Eshki Cover Photo by Bayan Alsadiq
Enas Hashani Editor-in-Chief
Follow us for updates and behind the scenes clips.
Editorial Contribution editor@destinationsharqiya.com Public Relations and Events pr@destinationsharqiya.com Sales and Advertising sales@destinationsharqiya.com
DESTINATIONSHRQ
DESTINATIONKSA
Sharqiya Office Mob: +966-536001404 (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) Riyadh Office Mob: +966-509752274 (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) Jeddah Office Tel: +966-12-6060291 (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) Mob: +966-563578291 (9 a.m. - 10 p.m.) Distribution distribution@destinationsharqiya.com
destinationsharqiya.com
Buy me from Tamimi, Danube, Virgin Megastore and Sasco Palm for only SR 10
We mean business this month!
General Inquiries info@destinationsharqiya.com
Pull out the map and check out the poster! *Destination Riyadh Magazine is a Rumman Company Publication. License No. 7862-8/8/1431 / Mob: +966509752274 / P.O. Box 4113 / Jeddah 21491 Publisher: Destination Magazine, UK, Coventry, CV14DH N5719
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 1
F E AT U R E D C O N T E N T
THE BUSINESS ISSUE 12
50
Business • Reem Asaad: It’s All About Startups • Entrepreneurship Centers • Fun Office Supplies
Dining Around Town • Dining Scoop - Burgers, Burgers! • Spicy Dishes - Must Try • Dynamite Shrimp Spree
60
26
Healthy Living
Special Features
• The Health Myth Series SPIRITUALITY • The Debt Cycle
• 30 Under 30: KSA’s Young Entrepreneurs
28
72
36
Arts & Entertainment
• Travel News: - Sharm El Sheikh - Tour to Singapore - Royal Jordanian EXPLORE KSA • Shafei Mosque in Jeddah
42
Style & Beauty • Keep Cozy this Winter • It’s Sneaker Season • Beware of Dry Skin
Read about art visionary, Mohammed Altamimi.
Travel Trends
• Mohammed Altamimi’s Art Journey • Winter Checklist
Loai Labani, co-founder and CEO of Innosoft
86
In Bahrain • StartUp Bahrain • Camping
36.
84.
Your Guide to DELICIOUSNESS Around Town
47.
Step into 2016 with these cool sneakers!
34 52. 73.
2
DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 3
COMMUNITY
If you've got something to say, send it our way! Movenpick
editor@destinationsharqiya.com
Keeping it Green Movenpick Khobar was recently Green Globe recertified, for the fourth year in a row. Throughout 2015, the hotel was able to achieve commendable energy reductions using LED lights and the Adiabatic air cooling system.
ARCH GALLERY For the first time in Khobar, Advision presented an exhibition showcasing the work of local architect students providing a new and unique image of modern architecture. The exhibition was held at Desert Designs Gallery Nov. 28 - 29. More than 50 architects gathered together to discuss their projects.
4
DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Movenpick is also dedicated to social development as they support female entrepreneurs and continuously encourage graduates to join the hospitality industry through the Movenpick Saudi Development Center (MSDC) programs.
Eftilha is a Saudi initiative for early cancer detection focused mainly on male cancer detection. The event was held at Gallery Azman on Dec. 26 from 4 - 9 p.m. Exhibits varied from artists to fashion designers. There were different catering options as well. This was a social event not to miss and an initiative to definitely support.
Loud Art Khobar This year’s Loud Art exhibition aimed at “Reinterpreting Contemporary” at Desert Designs Gallery in Khobar. Opening night was held Oct.15, where a group of collaborating artists showcased their work. This year’s sponsors wereLe Meridien and Careem.
GCON 2015 for Saudi Gamers
Careem, Now in Jubail!
GCON debuts its first event in Khobar on Dec. 8 - 9 at Moevenpick AlKhobar. GCON is a great outlet for the women of KSA to express their love for gaming. Games available were FIFA 16, Crash, Need for Speed, Call of Duty: Black Ops. Huawei was GCON's strategic partner and PlayStation its gaming partner.
Careem has been in their trial stage in Jubail since last November with plans to expand to Al Hasa very soon. Skip ahead a few pages for an exclusive interview with cofounder Dr. Abdulla Elyas and meet the Sharqiya Careem team.
10 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT SHARQIYA 1. It's a melting pot of different communities.
3. The calmness and simplicity of its people.
2. Winter! The weather from December to March is absolutely beautiful.
4. The fact that we can head over to Bahrain and be back before bedtime.
5. Finding the quaintest little boutiques and coffee shops around town. 6. Barbecue season and karak. 7.The Corniche – what’s not to love about the sun, the sand and the sea?
8. The art scene – we have some of the best art galleries and artists in the Kingdom. Even our roundabouts have striking art sculptures.
9. The culture – our old souqs, forts and castles.
10.How we can get from one city to another in a little under 20 minutes.
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 5
EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS 1. Fast Auto Technic Opens New Showroom for Maserati
1.
2. LG Launches New Smartphone, LG V10
Fast Auto Technic Co. Ltd., the official importer of Maserati luxury sport automobiles in KSA, opened its first integrated Maserati facility in the Eastern Province, on the Khobar– Dammam highway in Khobar. The facility comprises a showroom as well as a service and spare parts section.
The newest smartphone from LG Electronics, LG V10, reached customers in Saudi Arabia on Dec. 3. The new smartphone launch event took place at Korean restaurant, Sura, in Jeddah. By launching this innovative technological device, LG keeps its customers a step ahead with the updates in the latest smartphones enabled with ultraadvanced characteristics. 2.
3. Asharqia Youth Business Exhibition and Forum
3.
Asharqia Chamber of Commerce Youth Business Exhibition and Forum, sponsored by Prince Saud bin Nayef, took place at the Dhahran International Exhibition Center from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. The exhibition introduced the most successful entrepreneurial businesses in the Middle East. 4.
6
DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
4. Saudi Transtec 2015
The 6th International Saudi Transtec Exhibition and Conference is the first trade event for transport and logistics in KSA. It took place Dec. 8 10 at the Dhahran International Exhibition Center.
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 7
5. Productive Families Exhibition 2015 (Sanati)
Prince Saud bin Nayef launched the Sanati 2015 exhibition for productive families. Sanati, meaning ‘my craft’ took place at the Dhahran International Exhibition Center from Dec. 15 - 19. The exhibition provided an opportunity for more than 200 productive families to showcase their products.
5.
5. 7.
6. Mercedes-Benz Brand Experience at BIC
7.
5.
7. Saudi and Japanese Relations Anniversary
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Saudi and Japanese relations, there was a live solo art show performed by the renowned Japanese artist, Sasaki. It took place on Dec. 16 at the Desert Designs Gallery. Sasaki used special acoustics to listen to and paint the heartbeats of the audience with sound wave-like motions. 8.
The new season of the MercedesBenz Brand Experience has launched recently at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), with over 50 models offered to driving enthusiasts. A large number of Mercedes-Benz motoring fans in the Eastern Province headed to the circuit to discover the contemporary all-new models of Mercedes-Benz.
8. Connect Art Exhibit
6.
8
DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
This art exhibit took place at Gallery Azman in Khobar from Dec. 13 - 16. Connect exhibition aimed to bring together the different art genres. Organized by artist, Samira Ismail, the event was filled with different activities such as workshops, discussions, live shows and different exhibitions.
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 9
M A R K YO U R C A L E N DA R
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
3
JAN.
7
JAN.
VISIT
destinationsharqiya.com for more events and happenings around town.
To add your event here, contact us at pr@destinationsharqiya.com
14
JAN.
JAN. 3
DEC. 26 – JAN. 7
Location: Studio 55, Khobar Web: fitstudio55.com
Location: Desert Designs Gallery, Khobar
NEW YEAR MASK RIDE
9
JAN. BAHRAIN
"HALO" BY MOHAMMAD AL SAIHATI
10
JAN. BAHRAIN
JAN. 14 – 16 AND 21 – 23
Location: Al Jubail Mob: +966-599454518 Email: pmp@cmsofficial.com Web: cmsofficial.com
12
JAN.
DEC. 10 – JAN. 9
THE NEST Annual celebration of public art and design. Location: Adliya Block 338, Bahrain
2
FEB.
JAN. 12 - 15
BDRC R3 (DRAG RACING) Location: Bahrain International Circuit (BIC)
22
FEB.
FEB. 22 – 24 FEB. 2 – 4
PINK GLOVES TRAINING (PGB)- FIRST TRAINING CAMP IN THE MIDDLE EAST
SOCIAL MEDIA CERTIFIED MANAGER TRAINING An action-packed 3-day Social Media Boot Camp.
Location: Elite Grande Hotel, Bahrain Email: info@fitstudio55.com
Location: Khobar Web: wsistream.com
JAN. 22– 23
10 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
PETRO ENVIRONMENT 2016 An event offering environmental professionals the chance to discuss solutions for environmental challenges. Location: Dhahran International Exhibition Center, Dammam Email: info@bme-global.com Web: petroenvironment.com
NEXT MONTH
FEBRUARY 2016
PMP® WEEKEND JANUARY SESSION Project management training with certified professional instructors.
BUSINESS
S TA R T U P S : All the Rave! Starting up is a great new year resolution. FAVORITE BOOKS ON THE SUBJECT
• Zero to One
Peter Thiel & Blake Masters
Startups however is the new wave of hope for the growing population of talented men and women around the world. The trend probably began in Silicon Valley in the early 70s –that 1,800 square miles of land with 3 million people and hundreds of billions of dollars in asset value. It hosts some of the world’s largest companies by market capitalization. Saudi Arabia caught the startup “fever” in 2011. Thanks to its versatility and low barriers to entry, the startup landscape has become a destination to many aspirers in any domain. In fact, startups have been in existence for many years but they were called “private businesses” where our fathers risked their capital and set their passions free. Today, special incubators and accelerators are spreading across the Kingdom to accommodate the supply of ambitious talents eager to realize their dreams.
12 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
My Top Tips
1. DO WHAT YOU LOVE. Cliché? Try doing something you don’t and see what happens. Passion is the number one must for any successful venture. It will lift you through the down times and pivot points. Startups are famous for those. 2. TIMING. No matter how awesome your new fax machine is, it still is a fax machine! Or, do you want to become the 100th Uber in town?
• Disciplined Entrepreneurship Bill Aullet
3. TEAM. Easier said than found.
Whether a cofounder or a junior programmer, s/he must share your passion for the startup. This will keep them around in down times or when competition looms ahead.
4. FORGET VACATION. Maybe intermittent breaks but formal vacations cannot be afforded in startups. The physical and mental work is literally round-the-clock. The thought of your startup will emerge in most occasions: events, outings, friends, mostly in the form of ideas, opportunities or even small tips. 5. COMPETITION IS GOOD. Learn where others are, and don’t repeat. Do your risk/reward calculation with an open mind and don’t be afraid to collaborate.
• Sam Altman Startup Playbook Sam Altman
The Author: Reem Asaad is an inspirational Saudi woman. She is a wife, mother, writer and financial adviser. Asaad was ranked the third most powerful Arab Woman in 2012 by Arabian Business Magazine. Email: Nasi7atreem@gmail.com Nasi7atreem
ﻣﺴﺎ ًء٨ ﻇﻬﺮ وﺣﺘﻰ٢ اوﻗﺎت اﻟﻌﻤﻞ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺴﺎﻋﺔ،ﻓﻲ ﺣﻲ اﻟﻘﻴﺮوان ﺷﻤﺎل ﻃﺮﻳﻖ اﻟﻤﻠﻚ ﺳﻠﻤﺎن
920001769
@tahalufRE
altahalufrealestate @altahaluf 13 DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM
BUSINESS
Lifestyle Developers Makes History
The company won four awards at the Arabian Property Awards 2015 presented in Dubai for being the best residential project in KSA. Lifestyle Developers aspires to raise the standards of living and to establish top-notch residential and commercial projects. With all the awards it has received at The Arabian Property Awards, it proves that it has earned peoples’ trust and has delivered what it promised. The Arabian Property Awards, now in their 21st year, are part of the International Property Awards. Entries for this year’s awards were received from companies in 12 countries across the Arab world with winning candidates presented with either a Highly Commended or 5-Star award. Lifestyle Developers competed against many contenders across the region to earn awards for three of its developments. It received the
Highly Commended title in the Apartment category for the Al Zahra Penthouse and the Residential Development category for the Al Nahda Residences and 568 Al Zahra Residences too. It was also awarded the 5-star commendation in the Best Residential Development category for its Diyar Al Salam project. At the end of 2015, the top winners for each category across Africa and Arabia competed against companies from Europe, Asia Pacific, the Americas and the UK to become the World’s Best in their field. These were announced at the International Property Awards finals at the London Marriott Hotel.
14 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016 ADVERTORIAL
Engineer Sultan Batterjee, president and founder of Lifestyle Developers said, “We are continuously seeking to raise the standards of living by building quality communities focused on design and affordability.” He also added, "Lifestyle Developers will ensure that our projects remain aspirational yet accessible."
PROJECTS
Diyar Al Salam
It is set in Al Salam District, Jeddah with a total built-up area of over 47,600 square meters. The lavish development will include health clubs, fitness centers, a multi-purpose events’ room, a library, a nursery and a 2000 square meter elevated sky garden. It also offers eight penthouses.
AlNahda Residences
It is a 50-unit residential development made up of two six-storey towers connected by a grand lobby. The development’s total built up is 16,150 square meters. The building comprises one, two and three bedroom units, ranging from 88 to 328 square meters.
ALzahra
568 Al Zahra Residences
COURTASY PHOTO
It is set in Al Zahra District, Jeddah and is the epitome of modern living. The sevenstorey building features three bedroom apartments with a floor area starting from 212 up to 230 square meters, topped with a five-bedroom stateof-the-art award winning penthouse spanning 460 square meters. Concierge services, in-house maintenance and around the clock security are all available.
Tel: 920009180 Web: lifestyledevelopers.com LifestyleDevs
ADVERTORIAL
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 15
BUSINESS
Let’s Talk about
Technology
With Dr. Abdulla Elyas
1999
Co-founded waymo.net Both social tech start-ups became the biggest information platforms in Germany around topics of intercultural understanding.
Co-founded islam.de
Elyas is clearly taken by technology; he insists that no matter where you are in the world and no matter your status, technology has the power to enhance your day to day life. In his opinion, technology exists for the
16 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
2002
We sat down with Dr. Abdulla Elyas, cofounder of Careem, to talk about his main passion - technology and the future of KSA. By Anousha Vakani
2012 Created Enwani Enwani was internationally recognized by the Sophia Business Angels in France as the Most Investable Company of the Year.
masses to enjoy and not just as coding projects for tech enthusiasts. His passion for technology is evident even in his educational and professional background, with an MSc in Computer Science and a PhD in Business Administration and an impressive resume with experience in the management and consulting of software projects for multinational companies such as Mercedez Benz, the World Exhibition Expo 2000, Pepsi Co, Vodafone and more.
Enwani is acquired by Careem, MENA’s leading private car booking app. Elyas joined the business and successfully executed the entrance of Careem into the Kingdom.
2013
Meet the Team Faizan
Mohammed
Imran
Yossry
Uzair Suhaib
His entrepreneurial journey, however, began with Enwani, a cloud-based address coding system that overcame the issue of being able to locate specific places in KSA. Due to Enwani’s success, it was soon acquired by Careem and KSA’s transportation system was completely revolutionized.
Not only is Careem helping change the way people get around their cities but also how people interact with technology on a daily basis.
Tharaque
Working as a platform that allows customers to access a pool of private cars and even local taxis, with a simple touch of a button on your smartphone, Careem connects you with a car and driver closest to you. To top it off, Careem offers you the choice to book a car for either right away or for a specific time in the future for those times you simply cannot be late. Still, Careem ensures you are not entirely overwhelmed by technology by keeping the human touch intact with a 24 hour global call center with a team that speaks English, Arabic and Urdu, to name a few.
Careem is dedicated to bettering lives and taking the hassle out of commuting while also helping the layperson to embrace technology and enjoy the most of what it can offer. Careem’s vision is one that Elyas strongly believes in and with his direction, there’s no telling the extent of the impact Careem can have across the Kingdom.
Behind the Scenes Mohammed Omer, Fleet Coordinator Faizan Awan, Fleet Coordinator Imran Baqi, Fleet Manager Suhaib Nadeem, Fleet Supervisor Tharaque, IT Coordinator Yossry ELTaher, Business Development Manager Uzair Moosa, EP & Bahrain GM
Behind the Wheels Abdul Kanara Sharif, Captain Shafiq Ahmed, Captain
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 17
BUSINESS
THE REGION’S
ENTREPRENEURSHIP Backbone
A list of programs dedicated to serving budding entrepreneurs and striving business owners. By Anousha Vakani and Noura Al Joaib
SAUDI ARAMCO ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER (WA’ED) 1
Founded: 2011 Success Stories:
Innosoft, LSS, Areeb World, QTech, High Sky and more. Saudi Aramco has always been at the forefront of economic growth. In November 2011, the Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Center, also known as Wa’ ed, was established with the aim to continue enhancing Aramco’s social contribution as it supports the Kingdom’s comprehensive economic development. The center assists in the development of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a range of sectors by helping entrepreneurs establish or expand their ventures through a variety of financial offerings, along with offering guidance and tools that nurture entrepreneurs and their businesses. The programs consist of Wa’ed Loans, a debt funding program with robust pre-funding and post-funding support, and Wa’ed Equity, an economic development program that offers equity partnerships in promising 18 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
ventures. Additionally, the center conducts periodic training workshops and hosts coaching sessions regularly. So if your dream is to pursue your very own startup, or would like to take your business venture to the next level, contact Wa’ed to help you make it happen. Location: Saudi Aramco Web: waed.net Email: support@waed.net
2 RIYADAH – National Entrepreneurship Institute
Programs: Iradah Program, Incubator Program
Riyadah is a non-profit initiative that began in Riyadh but is located throughout the Middle East. It was founded through a partnership between the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and the Technical & Vocational Training Corporation under the name National 3
Entrepreneurship Institute. Riyadah aims at being the model of entrepreneurship and the development of small and medium sized businesses (SMEs). They achieve this by supporting self-employed business owners and entrepreneurs through training, consulting, guidance, facilitating access to financing and licensing and full support throughout the incubation period. Web: riyadah.com.sa, waed.net
OQAL
Founded: 2009 Founder: Faris AlRasheed Success Stories:
HungerStation, First Practice, Shakwa, Shakes, Gumesh and more. Originally from Riyadh, nonprofit entrepreneurship center Oqal combines two of the most important things needed for any startup in its name – ideas and funds. Oqal’s goal is simple: to connect talented entrepreneurs with brilliant ideas to angel investors. With over 120 angel investors at present, Oqal has various success stories under its belt, from the very popular car service, Careem to Pillars and Bloom, an education and career counseling service. If you have an idea you think needs to be heard, head over to Oqal’s website and fill out the application form. Email: sharqiya@oqal.org Web: oqal.org
PRINCE SULTAN FUND FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT 4
Centers: Business Support and Funding, Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Youth Leadership Center and Princess Jawaher Center. Success Stories:
A Cup of Cake, Authentic Folklore Gallery, Sun Gardens School, Creative Agenda and more.
The Prince Sultan Fund houses the very first business incubator dedicated for women in the Eastern Province. With a vision to empower Saudi women and in turn contribute to the growth of the Kingdom’s economy, the Prince Sultan Fund boasts several women-led success stories including the Golden Lens Studio and My Little Cake Shop. Location: Albinali Tower, Khobar Dammam Highway Tel: +966-13-8140037 or 8140038 Email: info@psfw.org Web: psfw.org
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 19
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER (IDC) 5
Programs:
Incubator Program The Industrial Development Center located in Jubail supports small businesses that are based on new ideas that support market needs. The center helps young entrepreneurs throughout the process in order to ensure success of the project. Services include everything required for emerging businesses such as; feasibility studies, providing offices, assisting in marketing
and communications strategies and the development of funding strategies and long-term business plans, accounting, administrative services etc. The Royal Commission of Jubail and the Jubail Technical Institute sponsor the center. Email: info@psfw.org Web: idc-rc.org
focuses on six main areas: energy, petrochemicals, water, construction, nanotechnology and consumer technology. The first option is to take part in the pre-incubation program which offers short courses in startups. The second is the incubation program itself where the teams pitch their ideas and go through a screening process. This program helps in refining business models and plans and
KFUPM ENTREPRENEURSHIP INSTITUTE 6
Programs: Center for Business Incubators, Center for Entrepreneurship Education, Entrepreneurship Studies Center King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) Entrepreneurship Institute offers three programs for aspiring entrepreneurs and 20 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
provides extensive mentoring from successful business figures and investors as well as mentors from the University and adjoining Dhahran Techno-Valley. The third opportunity is for entrepreneurs to run their business from the incubator at a nominal rental fee, furthering their networking and investment chances. Web: ei.kfupm.edu.sa Tel: +966-13-8607781 Email: ei@kfupm.edu.sa
7
STARTUP LAB
Launched: July 2013 Success Stories: Indielabs,
Order Me, ElectroAim, Mister Fixer and more.
Programs: Business Incubation Program, CO-OP to Entrepreneur Program
Located in KFUPM, StartUp Lab is Aramco Entrepreneurship Center’s business incubator. StartUp Lab is home to its flagship program “CO-OP to Entrepreneur” which supports the establishment of new businesses by university students even before they graduate, transforming them into job makers rather than job seekers. Entrepreneurs are also offered office space and equipment, grants and
business development training and advisory, technical consultancy, networking opportunities and access to partners such as Microsoft and Fab Lab. It’s open to all aspiring entrepreneurs, just be sure your business plan is paired with important qualities such as team dynamics, competency and good communication skills. Location: KFUPM Web: waed.net Tel: +966-13-8805819 Email: support@waed.net
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 21
BUSINESS
AT YOUR FINGERTIPS We set out to compile a list of ten apps developed by locals, for locals and we added an extra special quick Q&A with the brains behind B8AK.
5. Ymdi Just tap in your destination and the app will tell you how long you have before shops close for the next prayer.
By Anousha Vakani
2. Saher Today
1. Zahma o La Zahma o La lets you know how crowded it is at the causeway.
Saher Today helps drivers detect traffic monitoring cameras on the road. It attracted 66,000 users on its launch day alone.
4. Feelit Find out how your friends are feeling all day, every day.
6. Masareef 3. Chubble Chubble lets you share 90 second live videos with your friends, and in turn allows your friends to reply with their reactions. 22 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
The smartest and easiest way to manage your finances; stay up to date with your bank account, organize your receipts and stick to your budget.
In the Spotlight:
B8AK 7. Haratna Find football players in your area, chat and set a date and time for a match.
B8AK allows users to order home maintenance services with just a few clicks. Khalid Alhmili and Eyad Alshabaan noticed the hassle it is to hire quality maintenance services in the Kingdom, and so in October 2014, they decided to turn B8AK into a reality. 1st place, ArabNet Ideathon Competition 2014 Currently covers Khobar and Dhahran but with HUGE expansion plans for the future.
Why did you decide on a mobile application?
We had started developing a responsive website for ordering home maintenance services in Saudi, but after the ArabNet 2014 Conference in Riyadh we decided to switch completely to a mobile app. The decision was based on our meetings with several CEOs of mobile app companies all over the GCC, where we discovered that 95 percent of their orders come from their apps rather than their websites.
8. Feeedz Stay up to date with the latest deals and offers in the area.
10.Madarisna The ultimate school directory!
9. Wain Nakel Wain Nakel finds restaurants close to you and helps you decide where to eat.
What would you advise anyone currently considering app development or even a startup in general?
Many young entrepreneurs jump into developing their first startup without performing a market analysis and developing a clear business plan. At the end of the day, mobile applications are just tools to implement successful business plans. So please study the market and develop a clear business plan with clear revenue streams and cost analysis before developing the technical part of your startup.
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 23
BUSINESS
Fun Office Supplies Here is what you need to brighten up your office space.
Sphero BB-8 SR 749
Bluetooth Smart BLE connection. Top speed of 4.5 mph
iOS & Android compatible
You can’t avoid being bored in the office now and then. You know what is an automatic cure for that? Droids. Pick up this cute little app-enabled guy and watch him evolve the more you interact with him. Yes, this is the droid you’re looking for. Available at Tokyo Games.
Skooba Design: Cable Stable DLX SR 150
If you’re anything like me, you’re carrying around more devices than you know what to do with, especially when you’re on a business trip. Tame the mess of cables you’ll be needing with this invaluable cable organizer. Available at Amazon.
24 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Three mesh pockets
Zojirushi Mug SR 100
Enough is enough. Office coffee might as well be dirty water at best. Brew your own at home just to your liking and enjoy it at the office with this handy travel thermos. I warn you though, others will come begging for a taste, so get the bigger size if you want to be generous. Available at Amazon.
Bose: QuiteComfort 20
16-Ounce Stainless Steel Mug.
SR 1449
The guy in the next cubicle won’t stop talking about the soccer game? Give yourself the gift of peace with one of the best headphones at killing background noise. They’re pricey, but isn’t your sanity worth it? Available at Jarir.
NEW
Fitbit Charge HR SR 729
Motivate yourself to move more with this fitness tracker. It’s more accurate at counting steps than most other models, it has continuous heart-rate monitoring, it automatically tracks your sleep and it even tells the time! Available at Jarir.
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 25
S P E C I A L F E AT U R E S
Hover on the page
W TO SEE HO S E O IT G
01
ABDULLAH AL YOUSEF, 27 Tam Development LLC tam.sa
DOWNLOAD • DISCOVER • INTERACT
Abdullah Al Yousef is the CEO of Tam, a company worth 4 million dollars today. Tam is co-founded by Salim Al Yousef, Rawaa Bakhsh and Abdullah Al Damak. Tam’s mission is to transform local issues into opportunities that empower entrepreneurs to create solutions. The company aims to encourage the community to take part in society by proactively seeking effective solutions to local issues. Tam won the UN-World Summit Award in 2013 and the International Star for Quality in Geneva in 2014.
The list of young Saudi mavericks leading the Kingdom's new generation of entrepreneurs. 02
26 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
03
NOUF ABU RAS, 25
HUSSEIN ATTAR, 26
Kurt Store kurtstore.com
Sawerly Co. sawerly.com
Kurt was founded in March 2014. It is a social business providing contemporary abayas in order to impact society. The team at Kurt believes that the struggle of an individual is a struggle of all, and society is accountable for its people through preserving their dignity, as well as raising their quality of life. Thus, they designed a Tradition Fusion Model whereby traditions are tweaked in two ways: one, by mixing the traditional abaya with new colors and designs and secondly by using the monetary gains to fund different social programs diverging from traditional donations.
Hussein Attar co-founded Sawerly, which is a medium between photographers and people who require their services. Sawerly is the first company in the MENA region to provide a clear and straightforward way to request and book photographers online. It will be expanding into the UAE, Egypt and more countries, and was covered by many outlets, including Arabnet, Wamda and Entrepreneurs KSA, as one of the hottest startups in the MENA region.
04
MOHAMMAD AL HOKAIL, 30 The Marketing Department (TMD) tmd.com.sa
Mohammad Al Hokail is the cofounder and managing director of The Marketing Department (TMD), an online marketing agency based in the Middle East. He manages TMD’s strategic planning and vision, builds effective teams to provide digital consultation for their clients, like Bupa Arabia, Volkswagen Group Saudi, Nada Dairy and BEKO. TMD is currently discussing more projects with top brands and corporates worldwide. Their expansion plans include serving the Middle East and not just KSA. 05
JAMIL SHINAWI, 29 Peninsula Partners shinawi.com
A successful Saudi businessman with original entrepreneurial flare, Jamil Shinawi has over a decade’s experience in the private sector. As a business owner, he grew this early stage enterprise into a multi-millionriyal business with customers across the GCC. As co-founder of Peninsula Partners, Shinawi has has embraced technology and innovation and now focuses on commercializing intellectual property, using it to address unique challenges in the business world.
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 27
06
LUJAIN AL UBAID, 27 Tasamy tasamy.com
Lujain Al Ubaid is an associate at the Riyadh based Saudi Development and Innovation Group and she is the co-founder and executive manager of Tasamy, a social initiatives center that aims to increase positive change in society. Tasamy empowers the youth and allows them to become proactive change makers in society by fostering, funding and facilitating their social initiatives.
07
LOAI LABANI, 27 Innosoft innosoft.com.sa
Innosoft in its earlier days was a verbal idea formulated by five people with dreams of doing something extraordinary with technology. A couple of days down the road, three decided to part ways and the remaining decided to continue dreaming. The current Innosoft team is a group of dedicated, focused and creative people who share the passion of creating exceptional solutions to challenging problems. Labani is co-founder and CEO. He has been featured in Forbes list of Top 100 Entrepreneurs Shaping Saudi Arabia’s Future, for two years in a row.
28 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
11
HASNA ZAHID, 29 Bubble Nation bubblenation.com Hasna Zahid wanted to introduce a new type of drink, something that would bring back memories of bubbles from childhood to people. She founded the first branch of Bubble Nation in 2013. Bubble Nation offers a wide variety of bubbly drinks that not only taste good but look artistic. Bubble Nation also undertakes social responsibility programs such as working with children and young adults with disabilities to ensure it gives back to the community. 09
KHOLOUD ATTAR, 29 Design Magazine Designksa.com
Perhaps the most unique and forward thinking publication devoted to the arts – ranging from architecture and filmmaking to interior design, graphics, photography, fashion and the culinary arts – Design magazine is the brainchild of Kholoud Attar. Design grew from a modest circulation of 2,000 in Jeddah to 40,000 throughout Saudi Arabia. Attar was recognized by Forbes for most inspiring leader of the Kingdom and has spoken at many forums related to design and entrepreneurship. 10 08
AMMAR SHAWOOSH, 27 Saudi Kadir saudikadir.com
During his last year at university, Ammar Shawoosh and his partners established Saudi Kadir. Saudi Kadir’s main goal is to fight unemployment by providing suitable job opportunities to local youth. It is the first job portal that puts Saudi youth in the core of its operations. They offer jobs in different fields, career guidance, workshops, skills-based lectures, seminars and other services aimed the improvement and development of skills.
MAZEN AL DARRAB, 30 Hrakat Production, To The Point, Qdrah Co.
Mazen is a passionate e-commerce, marketing and web entrepreneur who founded Hrakat productions, To The Point as well as Qdrah. Al Darrab is using his entrepreneurial endeavors to change and impact the industry by helping clients communicate with their local customers in a professional and creative way. He was awarded as one of the most inspiring young leaders in the Kingdom by Forbes in 2013.
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 29
14
ABDULMOHSEN AL AJAJI, 27 Enjaz Commercial Company enjaz.com.sa
12
NADA HAKEEM, 27
The Loft Creative Hub theloftme.com
Graduated from Halifax, Canada, Abdulmohsen Al Ajaji was part of a social security firm for three years in Saudi before he decided to co-found Retail Experts Company which brought in the Japanese Concept store in the Kingdom. He has now move on to establish Enjaz Commercial Company specializing in building materials, which has now expanded to cover both Riyadh and Jeddah.
Nada Hakeem founded The Loft Creative Hub in 2012, a business that merges fashion, design and film. The business started out as a project between herself and two of her friends, filmmaker Farah Jouni and designer Ruba Sidani. It is the first business in Jeddah to introduce video promo services to fashion businesses. 13
EBRAHIM ALJASSIM, 27 HungerStation Hungerstation.com
Ebrahim AlJassim grew up in Khobar and studied business administration and finance in Bahrain. His grandfather, an ambitious businessman and entrepreneur, encouraged him to challenge himself and take risks. AlJassim decided to establish an online food ordering platform with many different restaurants. This service is available through website and smartphones. Since its launch in November 2012, the number of customers and restaurants registered in HungerStation increased spectacularly. 30 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
15
ALAA BALKHY, 26 Fyunka fyunka.co
A product of a bi-cultural childhood of growing up in Canada and Saudi Arabia, Alaa Balkhy has two passions: illustrating and fashion. The result is the explosive Fyunka, a designer handbag and shoe company based in Jeddah, founded in 2011. Never one to rest on her laurels, Balkhy went to New York City to take courses in fashion business management, fashion journalism and social media as part of her plans to expand Fyunka and continue to build her brand.
17
ALJOHARA ALMODAIMIGH, 26 Kore Studios Korestudios.net
AlJohara Almodaimigh is one of the founding members of Kore Studios, one of Riyadh’s well-loved fitness centers. Almodaimigh began the business with her sisters straight out of university and now heads the marketing and communication for Kore. The gym has been able to successful open the first crossfit box in Riyadh on top of running an academy for fitness instructors and other pioneering training classes in the city.
18
KHALID ALALI, 27 Lamudi lamudi.sa
Lamudi is a Saudi real estate marketplace offering sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-touse platform to find or list properties online. Lamudi was launched in Saudi Arabia in 2014 and now boasts over 10,000 properties online. Lamudi Saudi Arabia is a member
of Lamudi's global network comprised of 29 countries worldwide. Alali managed to build a top Saudi online real estate portal in less than one year and is currently the Country Head for Opensooq. com, the Middle East’s leading Arabic classified portal.
16
HEBAH ZAMZAMI, 30 Beyti Express beytiexpress.com
At the age of 26, Hebah Zamzami founded Beyti Express, which offers Saudi-made chilled meals based on her mother’s recipes. Beyti Express produces food with that home taste, and packages meals in a safe and healthy way according to strict specifications and high nutritional value. The key to Beyti Express’ success is not only the homemade touch, but also the fact the meals are easily stored and heated.
19
ABDULLAH ALOTHMAN, 30 Geidea geidea.net
Abdullah Al Othman is the president and founder of the Geidea Company, founded in 2008. Geidea specializes in a variety of home automation systems including lighting control, audio and video control and security systems. The company also includes an International Research and Development center based in Bangalore, India. Geidea has over 70 employees specialized in providing unique innovative information technology solutions using the most extraordinary ideas. DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 31
20
ADWA ALDAKHEEL, 24 R&A Fund
Adwa Aldakheel was a stock analyst since she was 16 years old. After Aldakheel won the capital trading markets competition on behalf of all of Boston and was approached by investors, she started R&A Fund, which is a fund trading options and stocks in the US markets. Thirty percent of the profits will go to charities in KSA and the remaining 70 percent will be invested in larger social projects. 21
MARRIAM MOSSALLI, 30 Niche Arabia Nichearabia.com
Marriam Mossalli started modestly with a career in branding, but transitioned to publishing by launching a design and arts magazine. She built relationships with Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Christian Louboutin and Diane von Furstenburg, which led in 2011 to establish Niche Arabia, a luxury consulting firm with high-profile clients like Burberry, Prada, Tag Heuer, Harvey Nicholas and Airbus. In 2014, she was invited to speak at MIT and was First Lady Michelle Obama’s guest at the "Celebration of Design" event at the White House. 22
MARYAM YAMANI, 24 AND SULTANA QANZAL, 26 Marsali for Ready Made Garments and Luxuries
Maryam Yamani and Sultana Qanzal set up a retail business and registered their company in 2013. Marsali hires students in enrollment programs so they can offer a learning experience to those looking for internships or part-time jobs. Marsali combines trend and comfort for both men and women, and also promotes local artists as it collaborates with them for creative products. The name “Marsali” comes from merging Mar from Maryam and Sl for Sultana. 32 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
23
MOHAMMED MUTABBAGANI, 27 GT|Creative House GTgroupsa.com
Mohammed Mutabbagani founded Creative House, which grew out of a Facebook page he created in 2011. The following year, he bought GT Company, which became GT|Creative House, a branding, marketing and design company based in Riyadh. The company possesses an extensive client lists that includes BeBee, Kids Club and Asia Motocross. Mutabbagani now heads the group of GT companies with branches across the Kingdom.
24
NADA HARASANI, 25 Craze craze.com.sa
Nada Harasani tapped into virgin territory in Saudi Arabia by establishing Craze, an online shopping store, in 2014. The Jeddahbased company offers the latest fashion and accessories trends with an emphasis on exceptional value, quality and customer service. She targets young, fun and confident women.
25
MAJED HAMDOON, 28 My Car Service
Majed Hamdoon grew up without a father feeling the heavy weight of responsibility on his shoulders at an early age. This motivated him to aggressively pursue a career. After graduating from the University of Business and Technology, and toiling in the Ministry of Finance, Hamdoon founded My Car, a shop in where clients bring their cars for detailing and foil wrapping (color change). It’s a VIP service in which clients recognize Hamdoon’s passion for cars. 26
AHMED AL ESSA, 28
Saudi and Arab Garage Ksaloverksa.info Ahmed Al Essa loves cars so capitalized on his passion for motor vehicles by establishing a multimedia platform dedicated to delivering quality content on hypercars in the Gulf region. Al Essa’s website provides the most exclusive content on test drives, auto reviews, spotting new trends and cars, news and has expansive photo galleries of exclusive cars in the region. DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 33
29
ANMAR FATHALDIN, 27 Lammt Lammt.com
Anmar Fathaldin co-founded UTURN Entertainment and then Jeddah Comedy Club. But that wasn’t enough. His latest venture is Lammt.com, a ticketing platform that allows individuals to spend “quality time with a quality crowd.” Lammt helps customers connect with events, activities and courses such as desert outings, beach activities or visiting historic sites among many other trips. And there are plans to expand throughout the Gulf region.
27
ALA’A ALMAKTOUM, 30 Akwan Productions akwan.tv
Founder and creative director, Ala’a AlMaktoum created Akwan Productions as a creative home for visual artists and directors specializing in cutting-edge video productions. Akwan Productions is made up of a young and passionate team who combine their imaginations and technical knowledge to create meaningful content. They focus on creating digital content and are always prepared to create video solutions across the web, mobile and all other mediums.
28
NORA AL OKAIL, 30
Squares Event Management Squaresevent.com Nora Al Okail is a young Saudi businesswoman and serial entrepreneur specializing in business development and event experience. She is the founder and general manager of Squares Events, one of the most sought after event management companies in the Kingdom today. Al Okail was awarded with the King’s Award for young female entrepreneur in 2014 and was selected as one of the top three creative businesswomen in the MENA region in 2012.
34 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
30
WALAA AL ASHRAFI, 30 Jida jidadesign.com
Walaa Al Ashrafi is an interior designer, masters student, businesswoman and mother. She started her own interior design and architect company, Jeddah Interior Design and Architects (JIDA), which gives innovative approaches to residential, commercial and interior designs. The company’s projects range from hotels, villas, restaurants to resorts. Jida’s projects include Dots Restaurant and Al Safwah Hotel.
Hover on the paOgWe
TO KN UT O MO R E A B US
PUBLIC SALE
IS NOW OPEN
I
35% ALREADY SOLD
A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T
Journey of an Artist By Aabiya Baqai
36 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Tell us about your journey to becoming an artist. I started my journey at a young age in elementary school. Then in 2009, I participated in Gulf Film Festival with “PG+”, an animated film made from my drawings and my cousin Mansour’s idea. We won the Special Jury Prize! I loved the feeling of achievement after winning and being around talented and creative people. In fact, I became obsessed with achievements. If a day passed without me achieving something, I would get depressed. I started to spend hours following and looking up various artists on the Internet to try as many different ways and mediums of drawing.
COURTESY PHOTO
An exclusive interview with art visionary, Mohammed Altamimi.
What is ‘Rze8aa’ and how did it come about? My cousin Sultan and I made up the name Rze8aa for my street artist self. It all started when Sultan came back from a trip in New York, having seen actual street art rather than Internet pictures. At the time, I was very much into Shepard Fairey, also known as Obey, and his story of how he started as a street artist and what he came to be. Sultan encouraged me to start Rze8aa knowing that I had tried graffiti before. I started with A0 posters of made-up characters with ugly looking faces dressed in our traditional Saudi clothing. I hung them up in random places in Dammam and Khobar and surprisingly my drawings were captured and spread around Twitter. People actually started searching for the Rze8aa characters on the streets. After that, Raneen Bukhari contacted me and asked me to participate in Loadart 2012 in Khobar. It was my first time participating in a gallery and it was there that I met Ali AlKalthamy who asked me to design a logo for his YouTube show, Khambala. Unfortunately though, Rze8aa didn’t continue because it got too hard and it wasn’t as accepted as I hoped it would be.
Can you tell us about some upcoming projects you’re working on? My ultimate goal now is building a center for Sharqiya artists who draw cartoons, old school art, pop art, street art, digital art, t-shirt making and everything in between. Uniting them together in one place will help them share knowledge and resources and encourage them to make joint projects and work together. Currently I'm looking for an investor who believes in the importance of creativity and art to help build this center.
What advice would you give to beginners? • Don’t stop drawing and painting! The more sketches you make, the better your skills will get. • Follow artists and people who inspire you. Stay in touch with talented and creative people, whether they are in your specific field or not. • It’s okay to copy others until you find your own style. mohammdtamimi
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 37
A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T
Your
Winter
The Perfect Spot: Half Moon Bay
CHECKLIST What to do before the sun takes over again. By Anousha Vakani
Walking/Running
Dune Bashing
This is the perfect weather to shed those extra pounds in a fun way.
Rent a quad-bike or a 4x4 and get drifting! Just remember to stay safe.
Curl Up With Tea and a Book Get yourself a cup of tea or coffee, put your phone on silent, dust off the bookshelf and finish that book you started before your phone took over your life.
Food for the Soul
Picnics
Winter or no winter, we all have our lazy days when nothing sounds better than a good homecooked meal, a blanket and lots of time to scroll through all our social media feeds.
It just doesn’t feel like winter until the entire Corniche is doused with that incredible smell of barbecue chicken.
Horseback Riding This is a desert child’s go-to activity! There is nothing more thrilling as a child than galloping around the Corniche under the winter skies.
DS Recommends
1. Ras Tanura for horseback riding 2. Al Gosaibi Stables Mob: +966-506880179
38 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Camping It’s too beautiful to stay indoors! Spend a night (or two) under the stars and experience the desert like never before.
SOURCE PHOTO / YAMSAFER.ME • REDDUNESTOURISM.COM • SCOTTDUNN.COM • XOJANE.COM
CHECK OUT @mazins_burgers on Instagram for delicious burgers and steaks.
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 39
A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T
ALBUMS TO LOOK OUT FOR! by Big Hass of Re-Volt
Oh Fair Al Farabi
Emotion Carly Rae Jepsen
If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late Drake Damarshmallow Damar
At Long Last A$AP A$AP Rocky
BOOKS
25 Adele
El Koffeyya Arabiyya Shadia Mansour
Minecraft: The Complete Handbook Collection
Learn how to become a master of Minecraft with these fancylooking hardcover books.
Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words by Randall Munroe
Creativity, Inc. By Ed Catmull
Who better than the cofounder of Pixar to teach you how to instill a culture of creativity into your business?
40 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Finally, science writing devoid of complicated jargon. Randall Munroe of xkcd fame teaches us about everything from the “shared space house” (the International Space Station) to the “pieces that everything is made of” (periodic table) in an approachable and charming manner.
NEW ON DVD
DVDS
ANIMATION BOX
Abtal Awwal By @AnimationAr Abtal Awwal is an animation YouTube comedy show that released its pilot episode in late 2014. Starting from October this year they came back to release nine episodes every two weeks. It discusses the heroes and famous anime shows from the 80s and 90s and what they’re up to today. The idea came from the actor Sultan Al Nufaisi. Creation, character design and animation are done by Farah Arif, writing of the new episodes by Abdulrahman Al Tamimy, technical supervisor is MAD Tomato and Uturn takes care of distribution.
Ant-Man
Inside Out
Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation
GAMES
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Just Cause 3 Day One Edition
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Not only does it redefine what open-world gaming can look like, it makes made stealth finally work in a game. Kudos on that achievement.
Oh the irreverent and silly fun you can have with just parachutes and grappling hooks. This is Far Cry’s funloving brother.
Available at Tokyo Games.
Available at Amazon.
Available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Price: SR 229
Price: SR 249
Price: SR 229
Best game of 2015 hands down. No, really. Stop reading and go play it now (or again if you’ve already played it). Available at Tokyo Games.
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 41
ST YLE & BEAUT Y
STYLE AND BEAUTY SCOOP Abaya Sharqiaa
Adorned with 50,000 Swarovski crystals, this abaya is a reflection of the modern Arab woman. Check it out! SR 10,000 Web: abaya-sharqiaa.com sharqiaa0
H&M in Khobar
Finally a branch of H&M in Khobar! The store is now open in Oasis Mall on King Khalid Road, marking the 42nd store in the entire Kingdom. This branch features H&M’s exclusive children’s collection so maybe head to Oasis Mall now and get your hands on the adorable winter collection.
Picks from Nahla’s Blog POINT OF SALES Lifestyle Max Boots Carrefour
42 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
nahlaalsardi.blogspot.com
Rimmel’s 24HR Supercurler Mascara
Wake Me Up Foundation From Rimmel London
Not only does this mascara curl lashes, it also gives them volume. Its curved wand helps curl lashes without an eyelash curler, while the mascara provides an impeccable clumpfree coat. SR 45
This foundation is perfect for normal to dry skin. It gives a lovely glow in addition to moisturizing the skin. It's lightweight, easy to blend and has SPF 15 which makes it convenient for everyday use. SR 59
Reserved, Now in KSA
Reserved, one of Europe’s most popular clothing brands, is now in Mall of Dhahran. This is Reserved’s first ever branch in Saudi Arabia and the fourth branch across the Middle East. Inspired by global trend, this new fashion store should be your go to for classic designs, stylish cuts and original patterns.
New Year, New You! Improve your health and fitness this year at Astralis Healthclub and Spa. Located in Saad Specialist Hospital, Astralis has a range of membership options to suit your needs. The Healthclub has two swimming pools, a gym, lounge, four fitness studios, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. Classes include aqua aerobics, core, circuits, TRX, indoor cycling, fitball, yoga and interval training. Swimming lessons and personal training are also available
WINTER PICKS
@THE DAILY MAI
1. River Island’s Blue Block Draped Cape
This draped cape with sleeves can be worn with everything! It works during the daytime and evening. I own this! It has soft-touch fabric, draped front and asymmetric hem. SR 263
2. Forever21’s Tartan Plaid Coat
This long-sleeved coat in a tartan plaid pattern with doublebreasted front and partially belted waist is great for the winter. The pattern is very subtle and black and white is always in!
1
2
SR 86
2. 3. River Island’s Pink Tartan Faux Fur Trim Cape
This cape works as a daytime outfit because of its light colors and hippie style. Even with the fur trim this is a daytime outfit. I also love the tassel trim, which adds to the hipster style.
3
SR 300 thedailymai
Web: astralispa.com DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 43
ST YLE & BEAUT Y
Keep Cozy This Winter
Adolescent Clothing SR 140
Useless SR 350
Craze SR 400
Pull & Bear SR 128
Asos SR 123
Useless SR 350
Craze SR 500
Fyunka SR 450
Craze Sunglasses SR 165
Liqourosh from Asos SR 95
Masnur Gavriel SR 2,648
Elizabeth and James SR 2,560
Christopher Kane SR 1,769
44 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Lanvin SR 1,775
Valentino SR 2,038
Get The Glow Lele Sadoughi at Kadabra SR 700
M2Malletier SR 4,950
Marni SR 5,023
Dolce & Gabbana SR 5,163
Lele Sadoughi at Kadabra SR 850 Tods SR 1,480
Lele Sadoughi at Kadabra SR 1,300
Converse SR 340
Gucci SR 2,195
Aquazzura SR 3,400 Sotraonline.com SR 3,120
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 45
Sneaker Season Women Bottega Veneta SR 2,340
Robert Ciergerie SR 1,372
Pierre Hardy SR 2,413
Fendi SR 2,744
Adidas Originals SR 500
MM6 Maison Margieia SR 1,450
Saint Laurent SR 2,010
Charlotte Olympia SR 1,568
Miu Miu SR 2,000
Marni SR 1,900
Balenciaga SR 2,156
46 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Sneaker Season Men Filing Pieces SR 837
Balenciaga SR 1,848
Lanvin SR 2,166
Bottega Veneta SR 2,399 Nike SR 851
Saint Laurent SR 1,649 Neil Barrett SR 2,077
Givenchy SR 2,000 Rick Owens SR 2,060
Adidas Originals SR 468
Iman Linjawi Law graduate from London but fashion addict at heart. Travels the world and gets inspiration from street markets to runways. Studied design and styling with London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martin. imanlinjawi Email: iman.linjawi@gmail.com DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 47
ST YLE & BEAUT Y
Eat Healthy
BEWARE THE DREADED DRY SKIN
What can we do to avoid skin issues during winter? By Zareen Muzaffar
Turn on the Humidifier The best solution for indoor skin protection is to turn on a humidifier. They get more moisture in the air, which helps prevent your skin from drying out.
Dry Itchy Scalp Before stepping into the shower, apply olive oil or coconut oil for a healthier scalp. Gentle massaging invigorates the scalp so make oil application mandatory during the winter days.
48 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Fill up your fridge with monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, olive oil, flax and avocados. Load up on vitamin C-rich produce like citrus fruit and dark
leafy greens. They boost the body’s production of collagen, which in turn maintains the skin and other connective tissues.
WHAT TO BUY? Eucerin Soothing Skin Balm Wear Socks and Gloves Hands and feet often get neglected because we pay too much attention to only the face. To avoid their premature aging, apply a rich cream and wear gloves and socks to retain moisture.
This is really good for cracked and dry skin. The gentle formula protects the skin’s barrier in cold weather and is free from colorants, fragrances and preservatives.
Available at Debenhams, Paris Gallery, Sephora.
Clinique Superdefense SPF 20
La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream
Massage cream in the palm of your hands before application. This helps in plumping up stressed and dry skin.
Choose Rich Moisturizers One of the best ways to keep your entire body hydrated is to apply a rich moisturizer all over before stepping into the shower. Places such as Bath and Body Works and Body Shop have great body oils you can use pre- and post-shower.
Available at Boots Pharmacy
Clinique’s moisturizer is very popular among those with extremely dry skin or that have normal skin which turns dry and chapped during winter. Invest in this for a whipped cream texture. Available at Debenhams, Paris Gallery, Sephora.
Clarins
Clarins separate day and night moisturizers suit many with sensitive skin. The fragrance is mild and the texture is not too thick.
Available at Paris Gallery
Stay Hydrated Drinking enough water every day will help the skin stay supple and decrease the dryness that cold weather causes.
Sisley All Day All Year Great for dry interiors of a heated home or the cold weather outdoors. This anti-aging formula comes with a reliable eight-hour long UV shield.
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 49
DID N I N IGN A G RAORUONUDN TDOTWONW N
DINING SCOOP
This Just In!
Wayback
Burgers, burgers everywhere.
Speaking of burgers, Wayback Burgers in now open on Elevation Burger King Salman bin Abdulaziz Road while I Wish Grill and Elevation Burger are working on opening second branches. The Hut Burger and Five Guys will also be open soon, paving the way for an epic burger spree.
The Hut Burger
You’ve Got to Try
STUFFED JALAPENOS – GRILL SHACK
If you happen to be a spice connoisseur or a self-proclaimed cheese addict, you need not look further than local burger joint, Grill Shack, as they know exactly how to kick things up a notch (or two, or three). The jalapenos are perfectly crisp and golden on the outside, but oozing with cheese on the inside. Every single bite is bound to blaze a trail on your taste buds. But listen, it’s totally worth it. Location: King Fahd St., Khobar Tel: +966-13-8670007
50 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Bahraini Beats
Tucked Away SAJMANIA
Sajmania has got to be one of the most incredible finds of the region. A tiny takeaway shop in Dhahran, Sajmania has a fairly simple menu – choose between the sweet, special or classic Saj with a side of fries or salad, and rest assured that anything you order will be fresh and utterly delicious. Easy on the pocket and even easier to dig into, everything on the Sajmania menu is perfect for breakfast on the go or a quick and healthy takeout for busy weeknights.
INS
M RA
PIC
K OF THE M
ON
T
H
TA G
Location: Doha Junoobiya, Dhahran Tel: +966-13-8911481
Dinner at the Bay Check out the latest addition to the Four Seasons Hotel at the Bahrain Bay: floating lounge boats! Have dinner with a beautiful view of the bay area or rent one of their floating boats for a tour around the bay and enjoy the sunset. The dining options are mainly small plates and appetizers and you cannot go wrong with your choices. DS Recommends
The mini burgers and chicken skewers.
Food Truck! Talk about intriguing. Pin Burger has the simplest menu and the shiniest food truck. Choose from their chicken or 100 percent black angus beef burgers with a side of fries or onion rings and for dessert, a simple but delicious crepe. Follow their instagram to stay updated on where to find them today. pinburger
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 51
DINING AROUND TOWN
YOUR DAILY F I X We found the most interesting teas and coffees to motivate you to get dressed and out the door.
French Bakery King Faisal Rd., Khobar
Iced Blended Coffee This coffee is as unpretentious as its name: a shot of espresso, cold dolce latte, caramel sauce and a generous topping of whipped cream, there’s no denying that French Bakery knows how to do its coffee.
By Anousha Vakani
Caribou Coffee Campfire Mocha This! This was the stuff of dreams. Basically a shot of espresso with steamed milk, this coffee is made extra beautiful with melted chocolate and roasted marshmallow syrup. There’s no way it could have gone wrong. Topped with a generous amount of whipped cream, chocolate chips and mini marshmallows, the Campfire Mocha is highly addictive and absolutely delicious.
Jar Bakery Hafith Ibrahim St., Khobar
Oreo Frappe
Can you believe this even exists? Coffee, chocolate, whipped cream and a handful of crushed Oreos. There’s hardly anything left to say except: Go and have one right now!
52 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
PHOTO / CARIBOU COFFEE TUBA SARICIMENALDAWOOD
City Center, Bahrain
Acoustic Tea Lounge Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Rd., Khobar
Rose Latte It’s hard to get anything roseflavored right, but Acoustic has done it. A medley of white chocolate, espresso and rose, this latte is flawless. Paired with their remarkable taste in art and classical music, this is the perfect ambience to kick off a relaxing weekend.
Desert Designs Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques Rd., Khobar
Nirvana
STAFF PHOTO / ALZAHRA ALDAWOOD
And Nirvana it was! This is the drink to get addicted to this winter, with the loveliest hints of cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. Nirvana is warm, soothing and oh so delicious. Meanwhile, you’re surrounded with the most art and culture you can get in any one place in the entire Eastern Province.
Pappa Roti Mall of Dhahran
Caffe Bene Mall of Dhahran
Milk Tea
Chocolate Chip Espresso
Pappa Roti’s Milk Tea is the only way to do tea. The tea is just perfect in terms of strength – not too strong and not too watery. Sweet, milky and paired with their signature bun, Pappa Roti’s milk tea is delight in a cup.
With its woodsy décor, ample sunlight, vines on the walls and cyan cushions, Caffe Bene is a cafe in a makeshift forest. We ordered the Chocolate Chip Espresso; an extra cold, creamy and chocolatey concoction with a shot of espresso. If you need a strong dose of chocolate and coffee to kickstart a slow morning, this drink will definitely do the trick.
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 53
DINING AROUND TOWN
MAKE IT SPICY ! The two restaurants that have some of the best South Asian food in Sharqiya. If you had ever searched my dad’s briefcase whenever we travelled in the past, you would’ve always found a small plastic bag with tiny, bright red, Thai chili peppers. He never trusted the spice capabilities of restaurants, so he brought his own. It’s no wonder that his kids developed a taste for hot and spicy things. Whether it’s habaneros in my sandwiches or cinnamon in my black coffee, I always need that extra kick. So trust me when I say that Bundoo Khan and Maharaja by Vineet offer some of the spiciest and most delectable South Asian dishes I’ve ever come across.
Bundoo Khan
Bundoo Khan has been a staple of Khobar for a long time, but I had only come across it a few years ago by a good friend who wanted to challenge my sense of spice. He took me there and told me just two words, “Mutton chops.” I ordered the chops and asked that it be extra super spicy. The waiter gave me a thoughtful look and recognized that eternal burning of the spicecabal we carry. Soon after, I had before me an array of lightly charred and tenderlooking chops. As I picked one up, the mere sight and scent of them triggered something within me. This is it. The pinnacle. I hadn’t even tasted it yet, but I knew.
Minutes later, I was tearing through them, savoring every last bite as I nibbled them down to the bone, lips on fire, breaking into a light sweat. If you could’ve seen my eyes, they would’ve reflected the dancing joy of that spicy part of my soul, happy and truly satisfied. Mutton chops are a must, and I would also recommend the Dal Makhani (a buttery lentils and beans dish) and the Palak Paneer (a spinach and paneer cheese paste-y goodness), two dishes to eat with their amazing garlic naan. Locations: Corner of Prince Fawaz St. and 17th St., and corner of Prince Musaid St. and 22nd St. Tel: +966-13-8932545, +966-13-8673443
54 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
STAFF PHOTO / ALZAHRA ALDAWOOD
By Ahmad Dialdin
Maharaja by Vineet
This place is quite expensive and worth every single riyal. Fancy decor and quiet mood, it feels like an intimate nook within an opulent Indian palace of sorts, perfect for a romantic dinner with your partner. Created by its Michelin-starred head chef, Vineet Bhatia, luxurious and rich flavor shines in each and every dish, matching the Taj Mahal-like presence of the restaurant. I could spend an hour on all the dishes, but I will highlight the one that is not be missed: Jhinga Bhuna; Prawns braised in onion and covered in chili masala. It should only be described as: drooling noise. Still, if I must attach words to it, I’d say that the dish was succulent and bursting with spice and flavor, each prawn better than the one before. Locations: Movenpick Hotel, Prince Turki St., Khobar Tel: +966-13-8984999
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 55
DINING AROUND TOWN
DYNAMITE SHRIMP
SPREE
Saucy, mysterious and utterly delicious, here are some of our favorites around Sharqiya. By Anousha Vakani
Sauce: Portion: The dynamite shrimps at I Wish are Crispiness: easily the most popular item on their menu. Large pieces covered in Taste: just the right amount of spicy sauce, soft yet still perfectly crisp, I would go back just for a glass of dynamite shrimps all to myself.
I WISH GRILL AND CAFÉ
Location: Hafith Ibrahim St., Khobar
Jumbo shrimps doused in a cheesy, tangy and spicy sauce, Petit Paris did not disappoint. Their shrimps are cooked to perfection and have a lovely bite to them; I was really sad when we reached the last piece. Location: Corniche, Khobar
Sauce: Portion: Crispiness: Taste:
56 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
PHOTO/ ABDULAAZIZ ALHERZ
PETIT PARIS
SOUL KITCHEN
Soul Kitchen has one of the best seafood menus and ambiences around town, and the sauce was definitely on point. However, these were also the oiliest shrimps so far and had too strong a taste to them. Location: Prince Faisal bin Fahd Rd.
Sauce: Portion: Crispiness: Taste:
FUDDRUCKERS
The shrimps are an off-the-menu item. While the portion and presentation was one of the best so far, the coating was a bit too chunky and the sauce could have been much better.
Sauce: Portion: Crispiness: Taste:
Location: Rashid Mall
P.F. CHANG’S Sauce: Portion: Crispiness: Taste: These dynamite shrimps won our spree hands down. The sauce is exquisite and so mysterious. The portion is just right (even though you can hardly ever get enough) and it’s crispy and spicy in equally perfect proportions. Location: City Centre Mall, Bahrain
DS HELPFUL TIP
ROSETTE
You’ll find heaping portions with delicious sauce served here, all on a bed of lettuce within a tall cocktail glass. Honestly, it’s hard not to love everything on the menu. Location: Corniche
Sauce: Portion: Crispiness: Taste:
If you’re looking to serve homemade dynamite shrimps at your next gathering, check out Dynamite Shrimp Dammam for prices and presentation ideas. dynamite_shrimp_dmm +966-540394947
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 57
DINING AROUND TOWN
and Stay Warm
this Winter
Winter-warmers to keep your tummy nice and cozy this season. By Noura AlJoaib
Karak Karak, or Masala Chai, is an aromatic tea made by brewing black tea with a mixture of spices. Originating in India, it has since gained worldwide popularity, especially in the Gulf region.
Sahlab This hot and tasty Middle Eastern was first introduced by the Ottomans and spread over to all the regions they ruled centuries ago. Its main ingredient is sahlab powder, which is extracted from a specific flower that gives the drink its thick, characteristic creaminess.
Traditionally, karak is made by brewing black tea with a combination of any of the following: cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, ground ginger and black peppercorn. Then milk is added along with a sweetener.
Haniny This traditional and rich dessert originates from the Central Province, particularly Qassim. The main ingredient is dates. The remaining ingredients include wholegrain wheat flour, butter, cardamom and saffron. Combined together, you have a tasty, guaranteed way to warm up in no time.
58 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Goulash Originally Hungarian, this rich soup is essentially a tomatobased stew of meat and vegetables. What gives it that special kick is how heavily seasoned it is with paprika — Hungary’s national spice.
Roasted Chestnuts (aka Abu Farwa) The aromatic smell of freshly roasted chestnuts is synonymous with the season; one just can’t go without the other.
SOURCE PHOTO/THEYEARINFOOD.COM • FOODISHLYINLOVE.WORDPRESS.COM • SALAMKITCHEN.BLOGSPOT.COM
SOURCE PHOTO/FLICKR.COM • RECIPESHUBS.COM
EAT, DRINK
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 59
H E A LT H Y L I V I N G
Searching the Internet for fitness and health can be a daunting experience, from an overdose of information to often misleading advice. This series aims to shed light on these beliefs still circulating in the fitness industry today. By Mirvat Ammouri
Myth
Longer exercise sessions burn more calories and shape you up faster than shorter sessions.
Truth Shorter sessions can actually be more effective and help you shape and achieve your fitness goals faster. Training duration and intensity are inversely proportional. The longer the session, the less hard you can train as the body gets tired. In order to see real fitness change, your body needs to reach its threshold and break it to set a higher one. At this new base, your body is stronger and your metabolism is faster. High intensity training (HIT) forces you to reach your threshold, allowing your body to adapt stronger and fitter. Also, in this form of HIT, the body undergoes a post workout calorie burn (you keep burning calories even after the workout is done). Note: HIT is a method of training harder but for shorter periods.
Stay tuned for more fitness myths in our upcoming issues!
60 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Conclusion The key to the benefits of short duration workouts is to keep the intensity at ALL OUT or the maximum that you can possibly give. You give your maximum for a short period. HIT allows for real lasting changes.
Recommendation • Always mix
KEEP THIS IN and match your MIND workout by
varying the durations of your sessions. • Aim for two high intensity, short duration workouts per week. • Don’t compare yourself to others. What you consider high intensity might not be high intensity for others. • Measure your performance regularly as you will definitely improve.
SHRQ
www.destinationsharqiya.com
H E A LT H Y L I V I N G
WELLNESS DEFINED Advice from Nutrition and Fitness Experts We got in touch with some of the best people in town for some artery-unclogging advice. By Anousha Vakani
Tamara Nicolajew cation, •Fitness Trainer Certifi r, ine Tra l na ACE Perso iner, Advanced Personal Tra Fit, ga Yo r, Spinning® Traine ms Mo hy alt Fitness for He and Pregnancy. women • Personal trainer for on ms gra pro with tailored h alt he ral ne ge s, los weight , ing lpt and fitness, body scu st po d an s cie healthy pregnan h. alt delivery he
62 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Personal Fitness Regimen
Fitness Advice
I like to do my exercise every morning for an hour. I focus on strength training because I know that it maintains muscle mass, burns more calories when not exercising and gives your body a great shape. I may take a break some days, but I’m always doing something physical. I eat small meals throughout the day, choosing calories wisely and focusing on more protein, vegetables and fruits and fewer carbohydrates.
We are sitting too much when we all need to move more. If it's not to keep your body in the best shape possible, it's to keep it healthy. Resistance or weight training is one of the best ways to do that. If you’ve never exercised, walking for a half hour everyday is a great way to start. Then get to the gym and ask a trainer to help you set up a basic program. Email: nikolajewtam@yahoo.com
PHOTO/ ABDULAAZIZ ALHERZ
The Squat Lady
Fatima Batook Fitness Addict • Spinning® Instructor, • CanFitPro Fitness ACE •Instructor Specialist, ing, lox Pil r, •Personal Traine r. ine tra X TR •YogaFit, • Founder: Studio 55 •Programs: Ride55, Fitness55, Focus55
The Story Once overweight, I knew it was time to change my lifestyle and rediscover myself. That’s when I chanced upon Spinning at a local health club, and was soon addicted. I became a certified Spinning® Instructor in 2007 and ultimately opened Studio 55, a unique fitness club inspiring women to “be more.”
Personal Fitness Regimen I love early mornings, so I wake up for morning prayer followed by a few rounds of sun salutations to wake up my sleepy muscles. Then I do an intense workout, changing it up between Spinning, TRX, Tabata, circuits, HIIT or bootcamp.
Advice Go for non-processed clean eating and always make healthy choices to give your body the love and nutrition it needs. And remember, fitness is like brushing your teeth. You don’t do it only when you want a quick fix; it has be a routine part of your life. Web: fitstudio55.com fitstudio55
Expect MORE. Experience MORE. Be MORE. — Fatima Batook
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 63
Carla Davis Holistic Nutrition
Programs
NO TOX DETOX™ and FLAWLESS FOUNDATION™
How Are Nutrition and Beauty Related? The power to influence our physical beauty from the inside out is backed with scientific fact, not just ancient wisdom – beauty really is more than skin deep. When we eat processed foods, our beauty and health get undermined and the consequences are visible. When we fuel our body with nutritious foods, we see radiant results. By taking care of our health, we naturally take care of our beauty.
Personal Wellness Regimen My fitness plan is broken down into nutrition, cardio, strength and rest. I make sure I move every single day. I even
64 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
invested in a pedometer, which is still something I highly recommend to everyone. Spending long hours in the gym doesn’t work for me, so my routine twice a week is Tabata, a HIIT approach to burn more fat and tone muscle in less time.
Nutrition Advice • Water is the skin’s best beauty elixir. Aim to drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water every day.
• Remove processed foods; they offer very minimal health benefits. Depend on fruits and vegetables for live beauty fuel – enzymes, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Aim to eat three colors at each meal. Web: carladavis.com carladavischc
PHOTO/ ABDULAAZIZ ALHERZ
100 •Trained in over s. dietary theorie tion •Certified Nutri nt ta Consul American Member of the rugless D of n Associatio P) and AD (A rs ne io Practit tional nc Fu the Institute of ) Medicine (IFM
Yassmine Bou Ghader Dietician, Diet Center Khobar Masters • Bachelors and Dietetics, d an n in Nutritio AUB, Lebanon
Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Most of my clients admit their nutritional mistakes during the first few minutes of the consultation session: •Skipping Breakfast - The most important meal of the day. It provides you with energy and boosts your metabolism.
COURTESY PHOTO
• This is coupled with the tendency to snack on processed and caloriesaturated snacks during the day. If you open the drawers in most offices you will likely find all kinds of chocolates and crackers.
Personal Wellness Regimen I have a little gym with basic equipment to get my heart and blood pumped up. I avoid processed food as they are saturated with preservatives (some of which are too hard to even pronounce). I start my day with a healthy breakfast, have a decent lunch during work and finish off with a light dinner.
I snack on fruits between meals and make sure to include as many colors as possible. — Yassmine Bou Ghader
Nutrition Advice • Adopt a healthy, easy to follow diet.
• Choose complex carbs over refined simple sugars. • Order grilled dishes over fried ones.
• Prepare healthy snacks like popcorn (without butter) or carrot sticks with yoghurt dip instead of chips. Email: yassmine.boughader@ dietcenter.com.sa
• Heavy Meals at Late Hours. You need to resist stuffing yourself with heavy foods (kabsa and biryani, I’m looking at you) late at night. DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 65
H E A LT H Y L I V I N G
THE BETTER CHOICE:
ORGANIC AND LOCAL STORES Always on the lookout for good local and organic stores, I’ve discovered three here so far. By Anaa Mansouri
Fteet
Carries a wealth of local products, as well as a selection of organic. They carry produce from two local dairy companies (Watania and Etsh), including local butter, goat’s milk, cow’s milk, camel’s milk, yogurt and more. You can also buy local free-range eggs,
Watania Watania doesn't have a big selection, and you can go to Fteet and buy Watania’s dairy from there anyway. Watania’s produce comes from its farm in the north of the country. They carry exclusively their store’s specific local and organic goods. Location: Abdullah ibn AlAbbas St, Doha Web: watania-agri.com Email: dohashowroom@watania-agri.com Tel: +966-13-8680895 wataniaagri
66 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
which I personally believe are the best quality eggs in town. Their fruit comes from all over the Middle East and Africa, while their vegetables tend to be local. Location: Prince Nayif bin Abdulaziz Rd., Dammam Tel: +966-13-8434444
Abazeer
Abazeer is a company with an organic farm in Madinah. Their Sharqiya branch doesn’t sell fresh produce, but they do sell a wonderful list of unique items. It’s almost impossible to find organic fruit in Saudi, unless you go to Abazeer’s dried fruit section.
KEEP THIS IN MIND For all three stores I would call ahead of time and see what they have in stock. Their shipments often come twice a week, and it’s good to know what they have and when before heading out there.
As someone who avoids gluten I’m always looking for alternative flours. One grain I’ve searched for all over Sharqiya is buckwheat. Abazeer sells organic buckwheat groats as well as organic coconut flour. Both options are gluten-free alternatives when baking. Abazeer also have their own rice cake machine and if you order ahead of time you can get a bag of their local organic rice cakes. Abazeer is the only place we know of locally that sells essential oils. Their stock changes every time I go but one essential oil that’s extremely important to highlight is Frankincense, (mistika in Arabic), which is common in the Middle East but generally in its hard resin/gum form. It’s considered one of the most healing resins globally as well as a natural cancer-killing agent, and it’s extremely expensive to buy in the west as an oil, but in Abazeer you can buy a big bottle for only SR 25. Location: Prince Faisal bin Fahd Rd., Khobar Web: abazeer.com Tel: +966-13-8823420 abazeer_organic
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 67
H E A LT H Y L I V I N G
SPIRITUALITY
The Evolution of Clocks by Muslim Scholars
Clocks: One of Islam’s golden developments.
By Bint Hasan, Assalamu Alaykum Team
Muslim heritage speaks of countless achievements where Muslim scholars reached their zenith surpassing other neighboring nations. Arithmetic, medicine and aviation are examples of just a few arenas in which our exemplary scholars excelled. Our Muslim scholars played a colossal role in the invention of clocks; their developments occupy a significant position in the history of inventions.
68 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
10th century
11th century
The Binkam Water Clock
Al Muradi’s Water Clock
was invented in the 10th century by Ibn Al Haytham: an invention that provided hours and minutes, which no other clock had demonstrated.
“The Books of Secrets” holds some of the earliest references to the use of mercury in balances. Al Zarquali built two large water clocks on the banks of the river Tagus at Toledo in the 11th century.
ISLAMIC HISTORY
A distant golden memory, our noble ancestors shone and were unquestionably the leading contributors to the so called welldeveloped society that we now live in. We are indebted to them for their great efforts, and should recognize their unrivalled success. 12th century
Al Jazari’s Castle Clock
During daylight hours, an observer would see the sun’s disc on the eastern horizon rise. Al Jazari also developed the mindboggling 800-year-old Elephant clock in the 13th century. This clock integrated several cultures to form a perfectly sculpted contraption, using Greek water-raising technology, an Indian elephant, an Egyptian phoenix, Arabian figures and Chinese dragons, to celebrate diversity.
13th century
Al Qarawiyyin Clock
It was created in 1286-87, by Ibn Al Habbak Al Tilimsani, and was later restored in 134648 by Abu Abdallah Al ‘Arabi, who fitted it with an Astrolabe rete for star tracking. Truly the 13th century filled its eons with discovery after discovery, as it also saw the development of The Umayyad clock by Ridhwan Al Saati.
16th century
Astronomical Clock
Before the 16th century, clocks were considered too inaccurate for measuring celestial movements. Where Ptolemy failed to succeed, Taqī Al Dīn built an astronomical clock that measured time with great regularity, executing the wish of the Sultan. His clock held the unique facet, indicating prayer times and the first day of Gregorian months using dials. Many of his clock’s intricacies are present in today’s clocks. Sometime before the ingenuities of our remarkable pioneers mentioned above, in the year 807, Emperor Charlemagne was sent a brass clock by the Caliph Harun Al Rashid.
Web: aateam.org theislamicteam
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 69
H E A LT H Y L I V I N G
SPIRITUALITY
The Debt Cycle The importance of forgiveness. By Bint Ayesha, Assalamu Alaykum Team
70 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Looking over the horizon, the seemingly never-ending fields of golden corn stand tall, rays of sunshine peep through the clouds, illuminating all that lies beneath; a scene befitting of an artist’s canvas. If only, we were to know the life-changing trials and tribulations that led to this prosperous harvest. If only, we were to know the hardships faced to yield this crop, for without a doubt apart from the blood, sweat and tears, the famers’ most challenging hardship is being forced to resort to debt. The debt cycle, or the death cycle, is a main contributor to the increasing global suicidal rates. Putting it rather bluntly, it’s a situation where someone has no other choice but to borrow funds, to fullfil his growing responsibilities and sustain his family. To repay his first loan, he borrows another and is consequently trapped in a cycle of repayment and is never able to completely relieve himself of his debt. Henceforth leading a horrendously difficult miserable life; forever branded.
Dear sisters and brothers, imagine if we could lend a helping hand to this ailing soul, whose debts hover over him; by forgiving debts in a situation where we are the lender. This brings to mind, a tale of a shop owner from the far south of Saudi Arabia. Occasionally, his customers were unable to complete payment for their purchases; their names would be noted in a book with the outstanding balance. However, after a certain period of time had lapsed with some still unable to repay him, this kind-hearted shopkeeper would erase all records of debt; forgiving them. The Messenger (PBUH) said, “There was a merchant who use to lend to the people, and whenever his debtor was in
straitened circumstances he would say to his employees, ‘Forgive him so that Allah may forgive us.’ So Allah forgave him.”[Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim] This hadith emphasizes the virtue of leniency and forgiveness to those who owe a debt. In addition, the Prophet (PBUH) mentioned a man who instructed his employees to collect debts owed to him and if they were to find a person in difficult circumstances; to forgive them so that Allah, may in turn, shower us with mercy for this sincere act of forgiveness. Which of us do not crave for Allah’s forgiveness? Surely, we should take measures to attain His mercy; become more forgiving and inculcate within ourselves compassion and benevolence.
Web: aateam.org theislamicteam
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 71
T R AV E L T R E N D S
TRAVEL NEWS A Singaporean Tour (from SR 3,779)
Immerse yourself in the urban environment with a twist of ancient Asian charm. Spend four nights in Singapore where you will visit Merlion Park, Thian Hock Keng Temple and a lot more magical locations. More Info: flightcentre.ae
Royal Jordanian’s 52nd Anniversary Royal Jordanian Airlines celebrated its 52nd anniversary last December. The airline promises its guests that it will always progress and work on improving its
Pullman Dubai’s Privileged Dining Card The Pullman Dubai Jumeirah Lakes Towers has announced the launch of its Privileged Dining Card. It allows guests to benefit from discounts at the hotel’s four popular outlets including Seasons, the All Day Dining, Manzoni- Italian, La Vue- The Terrace Lounge and Amarillo Lounge. 72 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
services. It will facilitate travel procedures and will maintain developing its crew’s skills to ensure the best services. All that in addition to reinforcing its technological advances.
Feel at home in London amongst all the festivities and the fantastic light displays scattered across the city. Stay for four days and three nights and explore Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and everything else London has to offer. from Cairo.
LONDON: THE BRITISH TASTE from SR 3,983
Valid from Jan. 5. More info: flightcentre.ae
Destinia Travel Agency in KSA by 2016
Online travel agency, Destinia, plans to open an office in KSA by 2016. Destinia is an international online travel agency with offices in Dubai, Egypt and Spain. An office in KSA will result in an expansion in its presence in the Arab world.
Saudi Privatizes Airports
Saudi Arabia will begin privatizing its airports and related services in the first quarter of 2016 as the kingdom seeks ways improve the productive efficiency of airport systems and ease financial burdens.
Hilton’s Hampton Brand in KSA
Hilton Worldwide will debut the Hampton Hotel in the Kingdom. The hotel will be in Olaya, Riyadh and will encompass 154 guest rooms. It is expected to begin welcoming guests in early 2018.
Sharm El Sheikh Charm from SR 2,970
Turkish Airlines Wins Big with its Sandcastle
Enjoy the warm sun and wonderful weather in Sharm El Sheikh. Spend five days and four nights with daily breakfast, excellent hotel service along with the breathtaking views. Departure from Riyadh and valid from Jan. 9 - 13. Web: attartravel.com
The national carrier of Turkey has broken the Guinness World Records for the tallest sandcastle in celebration of its new Miami route. The new record now stands at 45 ft. 10.25 in. beating the previous height of 41 ft. 3.67 in.
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 73
T R AV E L T R E N D S
Meetings
MAKE BUSINESS TRAVEL WORK FOR YOU Forget the early flights, delays and jetlag. Look at the benefits of traveling for work. By Anne Marie Agile
T H U R S D A Y
3
1. Relax
Use the hours spent in the skies to relax and take some time out. Watch a film, sleep or just sit and think – that solution you’ve been racking your brains for might just suddenly come when your head is in the clouds.
2. Network
Airline lounges, bars, restaurants and even the plane are great places to network with other like-minded business travelers. You never know who you’re likely to find yourself sitting next to so always have your business card handy.
3. Take a Break
If time and budget allows, plan your meetings for a Thursday or Sunday and turn your trip into a weekend away. Appreciate the many cultural and enriching experiences that travel has to offer and take time to explore your destination.
4. Reap the Rewards
Accumulate air miles and enjoy the benefits from the ‘earn and redeem’ schemes offered by airlines and their partners. Award flights, cabin upgrades and access to airport lounges can all be yours when you travel for leisure.
74 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
1 4
2
Meetings
S U N D A Y
5
5. Table for One
6 7
Airport restaurants have come a long way from the once soggy burger and now offer an array of chef’s names and international cuisines to get the most discerning of foodies checking in early. Gordon Ramsey’s Plane Food at Heathrow T5 is just one of the many dining experiences to enjoy when traveling.
6. Get off to a Flying Start
Never before have airports been designed with such luxury and sophistication in mind: first rate shopping,
spas, restaurants and even art exhibitions can now be found gate side. So, aim to arrive in plenty of time and make the most of the airport
7. Stay in Shape
Whether you feel the need to exercise or relax (or both!) here are some ways to maximize your time in transit. Take a sauna at Helsinki airport, play squash at Qatar’s Hamad International, enjoy a massage at the British Airways Elemis spa at Heathrow, or take a dip in the rooftop pool overlooking the runway at Changi, Singapore. DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 75
T R AV E L T R E N D S
SHERATON DUBAI CREEK andFLY
DUBAI
Visiting the skyscraper city on business. By Johara Almogbel
Balcony of the Creekside Japanese restaurant.
Just a couple of hours away from any city in Saudi, people here find it really easy to hop over for the weekend for a Hotel Lobby quick change of scenery. were nice and we loved their With that thought in mind, Freej safety video. Business we were pretty excited when passengers get to take a we were invited to try out separate bus to the terminal, FlyDubai and Sheraton which makes the process Dubai Creek for two days. easier. Do keep in mind that it is a budget airline, so one The flight to Dubai was a little shouldn’t be too picky. choppy but the business seats 76 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
As the oldest five star hotel in Dubai, we thought it would be -at the very least- outdated and musty, but thanks to the complete renovation the hotel went through two years ago, the rooms were airy and nicely designed.
From there on, the rest of our stay was quite pleasant. Hiring a car for the day was simple, and the driver and his Lexus were patient as we ran them ragged over the entire city. The floor managers dealt with our issues (such as an unfortunate Club lounge incident) with appropriate courtesy. The Sheraton is a great hotel for business travelers. It’s nearby the airport, and with five fine dining restaurants and the hotel lobby café, there’s no shortage of venues for business meetings or lunches. Take the Club rooms and you can have complimentary breakfast and high tea in the Club Lounge, as well as three pieces of complimentary laundry, which is useful when you’re limited with your luggage and need to look neat and pressed for a convention or a presentation the very next day.
Deluxe Creek Room
Spice Souk in Old Dubai.
The business center is open 24 hours, and we found it easy to print our business tickets from. Also, for those lulls in your itinerary, you can take the bike to old Dubai and do some exploring and cross out your gym time all at once. Nonguests, you can take the bike too, and packages include an option for a packed picnic.
Part of the museum i. complex in Old Duba
Our favorite part about the whole trip, however, was the opportunity the hotel gave us to try out their new bike rentals. They took us on a tour of the creek and Old Dubai, by the spice, gold and textile markets, as well as the Dubai Museum and it was exhilarating.
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 77
T R AV E L T R E N D S
Meetings
BALTIC
ISLAMIC HERITAGE TRAIL Islam in the Baltic has a surprisingly long history, with evidence of Muslim travelers and geographers in the area as early as the 10th century. However beyond the odd adventure and mapping exercise, the Baltic held little interest for them. The first real Muslim community is established in the 14th century in Lithuania when Muslim Tatars from the Crimea were brought over by Lithuania’s Duke Vytautas to help with fighting the intolerant Christian Teutonic Knights. These Tatars were invited to stay and have been resident here for over 600 years now. 78 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
In this Baltic Islamic heritage itinerary, Tharik Hussain, takes us on a magical journey through the region’s Muslim history, one country at a time, concluding in sleepy little Lithuanian villages that are still home to what might just be Europe’s oldest surviving Muslim community.
ESTONIA
Estonian History Museum
The Estonianan History Museum is housed in Tallinn’s Great Guild Hall and contains the earliest evidence of Islam in the Baltics. These are Abbasid, Samanid and Karachanid coins minted as early as the eighth century believed to have been dropped in the area by ancient Viking traders. Estonian History Museum, Great Guild Hall, Pikk 17, 10123, Tallinn. Web: ajaloomuseum.ee
COURTESY PHOTO/ bpr.berkeley.edu • themathematicaltourist.wordpress.com • inspirock.com
The region’s Muslim history.
Estonian Islamic Centre
Tallinn’s only mosque is in an office block on the outskirts of the city, near the airport. It is a good place to meet Tallinn’s small but diverse community of Muslims, made up of Tatars, local converts and immigrants from countries like Bangladesh, Egypt and Azerbaijan. Estonian Islamic Centre, Keevise 9, 11415 Tallinn. Web: islam.pri.ee
LATVIA
The Latvian National Museum of History
Riga also has a collection of ancient Islamic coins dating from the ninth and eleventh centuries. The total amount discovered in Latvia number over 2,000, with a selection on display here. Latvian National History Museum, Lacplesa street 106/108, Riga, LV-1003. Web: lnvm.lv
Muslim Cemetery, Riga
The ‘Musulman Kapi’ in the northern suburbs of Riga is a quaint little patch, surrounded by Christian graves. This selection of old and new Tatar graves offer a fascinating insight into the Latvia’s oldest Muslim community made up mainly of later Tatar migrations from areas such as Russia.
Islamic Coins
Aizsaules Iela 1A, Riga, LV-1026
Islamic Cultural Center in Riga
Riga’s mosque is inside a red residential block off the busy Brivibas Street. It sits surrounded by a small selection of Muslim stores including a delightful little Turkish butchers. Brivibas Iela 104, Riga, LV-1001. Web: islam.lv
Riga Muslim Cemetery
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 79
LITHUANIA
Meetings
Ottoman minaret
Lithuania was never an Ottoman territory, so to find an Ottoman minaret hiding in the woods behind Kedainiai’s main train station begs the question ‘how?’ Legend has it Edouard Totleban, a local Russian Imperial Army General, brought it here in the mid 19th century so he could build his
Kaunas Mosque
beloved wife - a Muslim Turk - a little mosque to pray in. The mosque is no more, but the romantic gesture remains. Off S. Dariaus ir S. Gireno gatve 5C, Kedainiai 57149, Lithuania
Kaunas Mosque
The Baltic’s only purpose built brick mosque has a dedicated imam and a vibrant Friday jam’at filled with overseas students, Tatar Muslims, converts and immigrants. The mosque is in the Egyptian Mamluk-style with an eggshaped dome and an elegant minaret. It was built in 1933 to commemorate the 600-year death anniversary of Duke Vytautas who brought the 80 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Muslims here in 1398. Fittingly, today it is also the office of a direct descendant of that community, the Grand Mufti of Lithuania, Ramadan Yaqoob. Kauno Mecete, Totoriu Gatve 6, Kaunas 44322
The Ancient Tatar Lands
The area that Duke Vytautas settled the Muslim Tatars in is an area roughly between Vilnius, eastern Poland and Belarus. As a result hundreds of villages in the area can trace their origins back to that period, but only seven contain the last remaining beautiful wooden Tatar Mecetes - the most indigenously European looking mosques anywhere - and three of them are in Lithuania.
Keturiasdesimt Totoriu
Keturiasdesimt Totoriu means ‘Forty Tatars’ because that’s how many families are said
to have settled here in the 14th century. The village remains laid out like a Tatar military encampment, and is only four hours march from Trakai, Vytautas’ capital. In its center is a quaint dark wooden mosque. It is square with a pointed tin roof, and a small onion domed turret topped by a crescent. The community here number 120 and many claim direct descent to the first generation brought here. There is a new community center in the village, which has had a mosque since the 16th century and contains the oldest dateable Muslim grave in Northern or Western Europe. ‘Allahberdi’ was buried here in either 1621/1626.
Nemezis
Virtually a suburb of Vilnius, Nemezis’ mosque is the most ornate of all three and it sits where a mosque has stood since the 17th century. Nemezis Mosque
Keturiasdesimt Totoriu Mosque 1
2
3
The Baltic States Capital: 1. Vilnius (Lithuania) 2. Riga (Latvia) 3. Tallinn (Estonia) Currency: Euros Official Languages: Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian International code: +370 (LTU), +371 (LVA) and +372 (EST) GET THERE • The best airline are Turkish and Lufthansa which fly from Jeddah to Vilnius with one stopover in their respective capitals starting from approx SR 4,000. MUST HAVE
Keturiasdesimt Totoriu Grave
•A Schengen visa is required for Saudi nationals. • A good travel guide and phrasebook. • A Satellite Navigation unit. •A back up paper map of the Baltic states. MUST DO •Stay in a magical wooded campsite. • Spend a night on the Curonian Spit. • Find a hidden beach along the Latvian coast. • Wander the old town of Tallinn.
Keturiasdesimt Totoriu Villagers
Nemezis also has a brand new community center for its Tatar population of 400.
The Author: Tharik Hussain is a freelance journalist, travel writer and photographer regularly contributing to publications across the globe. Tharik specializes in the Muslim heritage of Europe and is an expert in Muslim (Halal) travel. He resides in London, UK.
Raiziai
Raiziai is an important centre for Lithuanian Tatar festivities where 500 Tatars still live. A mosque has stood here since the 17th century, but the current one is a reconstruction of an 1883 model. Inside it is a rare Tatar minbar (pulpit), dating from 1686, originally in neighboring Bazoru.
Kedainiai Minaret
Email: tharik@tharikhussain.co.uk Web: tharikhussain.co.uk Blog: thewanderingmusulman.uk TharikHussainUK _TharikHussain DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 81
T R AV E L T R E N D S
EXPLORE KSA
JEDDAH’S Oldest Mosque By Mohammed Mirza
Parts of the Shafei Mosque date back to the time of the Caliph Umar (RA), making it one of Jeddah’s oldest surviving mosques. After years of meticulous restoration works it was finally opened to the public this year. The mosque is located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Historic Balad in the Mazloom District. Mind you that this place is not accessible via car; one has to walk through the narrow mazelike lanes of Balad. As we walked
82 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
through them we gave a fleeting look to the buildings that lean at perturbing angles, but somehow continue to stand. It wasn’t our first time, so we had kind of become used to seeing them that way. We did however come across something we’ve never seen in our entire life. A group of South Asian expats were playing their own variant of volleyball. They were using a non-airy ball and instead of using their wrists, they were using their fists to hit the ball. Almost as if they were punching it. It seemed like quite a difficult sport, but they have become pros at it, with rallies continuing for long.
PHOTO/
Shafei Mosque reopened to the public.
across the wooden main door that carried Arabian motifs and convoluted designs. There were some Arabic calligraphy inscriptions on stone panels above the door – we struggled to decipher them. Unlike most mosques in which one has to climb up a flight of stairs, at Shafei one has to descend down a flight of stairs.
There were other teams sitting on the sidelines, waiting for their turn to play against the winners of the match.
The mosque is made in a rectangular shape, with an open patio in its center providing ventilation inside. It has been restored in accordance with UNESCO standards, using much of the same materials that include sea mud, brick, stone and wood.
We continued walking through the arterial lane of Historic Balad, which lead us straight to the Shafei Mosque. The mosque is one of the rare single storied buildings in Balad. Its exquisite minaret towers on the rear side of the mosque. The minaret is one of the most disparate features of the mosque, its design is heavily influenced by Ayyubid architecture – very few examples of this exist in the entire Middle East. The minaret is over 900 years old. While Shafei Mosque was being restored over the years, I remember peeking through the windows to see how it was like from the inside. Now was finally the chance for us to see it in all its splendor. We went through an arcade and came DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 83
The architectural style barring the minaret is Fatimid. Much of the structure that stands today dates back to the 13th Century CE, during the reign of King Sulaiman bin Saaduddeen Shahenshah II. The mosque however went through many refurbishment works over the years, with major upkeeps carried out by Khawajah Mohammad Ali, an Indian merchant in 1533. We first went to see the mihrab. It was daintily carved and had multiple stripes of colors adorning its borders. During the restoration works it was found that there was another mihrab underneath the present one. Gems and precious corals were found along with it. The prayer area is lined with several pillars that were renovated with lead. The lowhanging gilded chandeliers in between the dark colored pillars give a sense of regality to the place. Despite being well ventilated, we found that the mosque has scads of windows
84 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
– their purpose is perhaps to add to the esthetic beauty of the mosque. We were there at a time when it was after Asr prayer, so the mosque was completely empty. The earthen construction made the place feel cooler than the outside - no wonder we didn’t see any air conditioners inside. Through the carpet lined corners we went to the rear side of the mosque – it was on the opposite end of the courtyard, almost like a separate mosque on its own.
The roof inside is supported by wooden beams, each almost a meter apart. As there aren’t any chandeliers on the rear side, the roof is in the spotlight here. Shafei Mosque is reminiscent of Jeddah’s ancient history as a vital trading center. Its architecture and designs display a wide range of influences from across the Middle East and beyond that the city had. Largely due to the significant number of influxes from around the world, which still continues to this day.
HISTORIC SAUDI Graffiti Rocks
Also known as Qaryat Al Asba, this ancient rock art site sits 140 kilometers from Riyadh.
SOURCE PHOTO/ SAUDI-ARCHAEOLOGY.COM
By Mohammed Mirza
Saudi Arabia has an abundance of rock art sites, the most famous of them being the ones near the city of Hail that were recently enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Qaryat Al Asba consists of multiple petroglyphs that sit atop a geological formation known as an inselberg. An inselberg is basically an
isolated hill that rises abruptly from a plain. The work on the graffiti rocks is expected to be from the Neolithic Era.
that carry depictions of human skeletons that have their hands curled almost as if they were meant to scare onlookers.
There are multiple figures depicted on the outcrop that include camels, horse riders, ostriches, ibexes and various other animals. An interesting sight to see here are the depictions of ancient battle scenes. These battle scenes are beautifully depicted with clear petroglyphs of cavalry and infantry.
There are several other petroglyph panels on the inselberg but some of them have depictions that are too tough to decipher. Though the graffiti rocks today seem to stand in the middle of nowhere in the barren desert, in ancient times the entire area was grassland. This rock art sight shows us what animals the people of the area were exposed to and gives us an idea of their lives and thoughts.
What visitors may find rather odd to see are petroglyphs
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 85
IN BAHRAIN
Revolutionizing the Digital Scene: StartUp Bahrain Designer and manager of StartUp, Bader Kamal, gives us insight to Bahrain’s premier independent digital publication for startups. By Anousha Vakani
86 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
When was StartUp Bahrain founded?
StartUp Bahrain was founded in March of 2013. At the time, Bahrain was just starting to build its startup ecosystem and putting all the pieces together. Financial institutions started offering financing to small businesses, workshops, boot camps and mini-accelerator initiatives. Tamkeen played a big role in shaping that ecosystem with all their programs for small businesses.
What is your aim exactly?
At the time, there was no medium to communicate all that was happening to those who were interested. Nobody was effectively communicating success stories to inspire more people to pursue the path of entrepreneurship. StartUp Bahrain aimed to do just that and more. We share success stories from Bahrain and the region to inspire more people to pursue this path. We also aim to spread awareness about the events and programs within this ecosystem.
The magazine is very interactive. What are its main features and which according to you are the most important?
Interactivity played a big part in making StartUp Bahrain unique and attractive to our readers. Our readers happen to spend a lot of time online swiping, tapping, and pinching all day long. Why shouldn’t they expect to do the same for content they are interested to experience? The fact that you can easily scroll through what you are reading, tap what you want to know more about, or interact with it, you are experiencing great changes in the way you interact with content.
What is StartUp's personal advice to aspiring entrepreneurs?
We’ve spoken to more entrepreneurs than most people and one of the things they all tell us is to have passion and never give up. We fully agree. Take a break from time to time, but move forward and build again, until what you build works. No one gets it right from the first try; it takes time. Web: startupbahrain.com
An absolute gem in the digital publishing realm, Start Up Bahrain is brimming with information and inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs. StartUp Bahrain brings its readers the best of the Bahraini business scene with interviews, reviews, references, recommendations, tips, opinions and more. One of our favorite sections has got to be Start Up opinions. “There’s a lot that’s happening and we wanted to know what people really think, in more than a 140 characters and more than an image, we wanted something with a little more depth. Our questions are generally focused on what we believe are heated discussions happening around us at that time.”
startupbahrain
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 87
IN BAHRAIN
Now That’s What I Call
CAMPING Where traditional and modern lifestyles intertwine in the fun-filled desert. By Tuba Saricimen
When you say that you went camping last weekend in Bahrain, you very likely did so at its southern desert of Sakhir.
communities. Children laugh, run and play, some on bouncy castles while others in their camps’ playgrounds.
The magical view of white tents covering the entire desert of Sakhir can only be witnessed annually in this season between the months of November and March. Driving through it in the daytime, you witness a whole range of
Young and old adventurers race through the desert on their quad bikes exploring the ups and downs of sandy plains. Camel riders squeal in a rush of thrilling delight as their mounts carry them up so high, swiftly but gracefully.
88 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
Company employees bond over team-building exercises and wait patiently for the grill to finally serve up dinner. As the sun begins to set, the horizon is painted beautifully with huge swaths of orange, blue and purple. Campers prepare for an evening of barbecue and campfire fun as firewood is kindled and barbecue stations are set up. Families bundle up and huddle around warm campfires, roasting marshmallows, sipping traditional karak tea and freshly brewed Arabic coffee and listening intently to the elderly telling tales of the past. There are a number of already set-up campsites all around Sakhir that you can book with a simple reservation. Renting a campsite averages BD 70 on weekdays and BD 120 on weekends. They are fully equipped with modern fixings such as:
PHOTO/TUBA SARICIMEN
• Living room tent with TV and satellite dish • Sleeping tent • Kitchen • Barbecue stations and campfire areas • Bathrooms • Playground Whether you’re there for a company event with colleagues or a relaxing weekend with family and friends, there are countless entertaining things to do in Sakhir. Just make sure to dress warm!
DETAILS Price: Starting from BD 70
Time:
November – March
CAMPSITE RENTALS Al Li wan Campsite +973 33404 828 Tel / bh_camp
Al Mzayeen Campsite +973-36636 264 almzayeen_camp
Al Jabal 1 Campsite +973-33006 292 aljabalbh
Mamlakatna Campsite Tel: +973-39878 808 mamlakatna_camp
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 89
Classified Pages
Health and Beauty at Rashid Mall
Naghi Motors Welcomes BMW Motorrad to the Group
Sharqiya finally has its very own Whites Pharmacy, finally open in Rashid Mall – Ground Floor, Gate One. Boots Pharmacy is also opening a branch in Rashid – so no more trips to Dammam for your Boots hauls.
Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors announced the introduction of BMW Motorrad to their portfolio of brands. With showrooms planned in KSA, motorcycle enthusiasts will be able to purchase and enjoy the full range of BMW models.
Redefining Clothing Care
De’Longhi Launches Machines to Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee
Ariel and Downy, alongside renowned designer and P&G Fabric Care Global Fashion Consultant, Giles Deacon, explored the athleisure trend and the fabrics associated with it, in a limited edition washable capsule collection, revealed exclusively at the
P&G Future Fabrics event in Barcelona.
90 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
De’Longhi combined its design talents and technical expertise with its passion for coffee to create the perfect cup of coffee. They introduced its two newest coffee models: the Eletta Machine and the PrimaDonna S Machine.
Classified Pages
Jotun’s 2016 Wall Trends Handpicked and developed by Jotun’s Global Color and Creative Director, Lisbeth Larsen, together with regional color experts, the Jotun 2016 Wall Trends is designed to cater to the design needs and aspirations of homeowners, both regionally and globally.
Watch Oprah’s Series on OSN Beginning this month, OSN, in collaboration with Discovery Networks, will air Oprah Winfrey’s epic new series, “Belief,” a documentary series that invites viewers to witness some of the world’s most fascinating spiritual journeys through the eyes of the believers.
Hyundai Motorsport Unveils New Generation i20 WRC Hyundai Motorsport kicked off the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) by unveiling its brand new car, the New Generation i20 WRC.
Home Centre to Launch Star Wars Themed Collection While everyone is gearing up for the highly anticipated movie, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Home Centre has decided to bring home the ‘Force’ by collaborating with Disney to launch a never-seenbefore collection.
DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 91
AMERICAN BUFFALO BEST WINGS
Buffalo Best Wings offers a variety of delicious flavors and dips. Prince Faisal Bin Fahd St., Khobar • Tel: +966-13-8092199
BUN & PATTY Taste the original burgers. Prince Turkey St., Khobar. • Mob: +966-54-2012320 BURGER NOOK
AlRashed Mall,AlRakkah,AlHada, Prince Mohammed Bin Fahad St. AlRayyan. • Mob: +966-54-7688801
BURGERFUEL At BurgerFuel our aim is to supply you with the finest and freshest ingredients. King Abdullah St. Khobar. • Tel: +966-13-8986936 CHILI’S
Chili’s offers great dishes in a fun atmosphere. Prince Turki St., Al Mawarid Food Court Corniche, Al Khobar Dhahran Mall • Tel: +966-138937242 / 8937243
FUDDRUCKERS
Making the world happy, one great burger at a time. Al Rashid Mall • Tel: +966-13-8960334
FRIDAY’S
In Here, It’s Always Friday. Prince Turki St., Al Khobar. Al Ashriah St., Dammam • Tel: +966-13-8892191/ +966-138892406
JOHNNY ROCKETS
BOSTANI CHOCOLATE & Bostani has the GIFTS
highest quality of local, reigonal and global products. Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Rd., Al Khobar • Mob: +966535454749 / 966-555042320
CHOCOLINE
Taste and refinement meet to create an outstanding range of luxury chocolates. AIbn Khaldoon St. Bansaria Center PEPSI St,28. • Tel: +966-13-8464303 / 966-13-8823427
GODIVA
Godiva offers the ultimate chocolate experience. Gosaiba Village, Service Rd., Al Yarmouk, Al Khobar • Tel: +966-138815757
THE CHOCOLATE SHOP
The Chocolate Shop is your local boutique for exotic and luxury chocolates. Zaid Ibn Alkhattab St., Al Ulaya, Al Khobar • Mob: +96655-5831387
PATCHI
Find exceptional chocolate at Patchi. Prince Sultan Rd., Khobar • Tel: +966-13-8477743serving Certified Angus Beef Burgers, always Chilled and NEVER Frozen. Al-Turki Center, Prince Turki St., Dammam • Tel: +966-13-8817400 / +966-138817500
COFFEE & TEA SHOPS ACOUSTIC TEA LOUNGE & Acoustic ART GALLERY
Serves great all-American food in a timeless and fun environment. Al Rashid Mall • Tel: +966-13-8965500
provides affordable high quality food, art work and entertainment. Prince Faysal Ibn Fahd St., Al Khobar,• Tel: +966-13-8822760
STEAKHOUSE
BABA KARAK
The ultimate destination for steak lovers. Prince Faisal Bin Fahad, Pepsi Rd., Al-Khobar, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahad St.(1st St.) Al Shaati Quarter, Dammam • Tel: +966-138938885 / +966-13-8335468
THE BURGER STOP
An All American Burger Restaurant serving Certified Angus Beef Burgers, always Chilled and NEVER Frozen. Al-Turki Center, Prince Turki St., Dammam • Tel: +966-138817400 / +966-13-8817500
BRAZILIAN BRASA DE BRAZIL A restaurant with the true southern Brazilian style. Corniche Rd., Al Khobar Al Janubiyah • Tel: +96613-8814884
CHOCOLATES ANOOSH Anoosh offers a variety of chocolates and mouthwatering cookies. Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz Rd., Dammam • Tel: +966-13-8469803
28th St., Dammam • Tel: +966-13-8409080
CAFE LIWAN
TCafe Liwan is a Saudi coffee shop chain that has a very unique concept. Al Othiam Mall, Dammam • Tel: +96613-8815590
CACAO SAMPAKA
Coffee & Chocolate. King Faisal Rd., Al Khobar• Tel: +966-13-8494040
COFFEE LIBRARY A coffee shop with many kinds of coffee to relax with. Ar Rayyan, Dammam • Mob: +966-59-0773720
PAPPAROTI
PappaRoti is an international chain of coffee shops renowned for their signature buns. Mall Of Dharan
PASTEL CAFÉ
Circle Café is simply stylish, fresh and delicious. Al Khobar • Mob: +96653-9477711/ Tel: +966-13-8977711
ZAFFRON LOUNGE
PATTIS FRANCE Pattis France is a wonderful café and breakfast spot. Khobar Waterfront, Prince Turki Corniche Rd. • Tel: +96613-8827138
Go back in time and enjoy your cup of coffee in an elegant chateaux. Prince Faisal Bin Fahad St. (Pepsi St.), Khobar • Tel: +966-13-8994004
GRelax in an authentic atmosphere with the most delicious dishes and drinks. Prince Saad St. (7th St.), Dammam • Tel: +966-13-8464648
FAST FOOD DOMINO’S PIZZA
An American restaurant chain and international franchise pizza delivery. Rakkah - Al Khobar • Tel: +966-13-8588914
HARDEE’S Fast-food chain serving fried chicken, big burgers & made-from-scratch breakfast biscuits. Prince Turki St. and 19th St. Al Khobar • Tel: 920001213 HUNGRY BUNNY
Hungry Bunny serves comfort food like burgers and wraps. Shatea Mall, Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Rd., Dammam • Tel: +966-13-8098227
MCDONALD’S
McDonald’s Saudi prides itself on being committed to social responsibility. Prince Sultan Rd., Dana South, Dhahran • Mob: +96613-8915328
KONO PIZZA
Kono Pizza makes portable pizza to be eaten anywhere and anytime. Prince Faisal St. (Prince Homoud St.), Khobar
Exclusive frozen yogurts and a variety of toppings are at Fresh Berry. Awal St, Al Mazru’iyyah, Dammam • Tel: +966-13-8611675
HAAGEN-DAZS HaagenDazs is a super premium and natural ice cream brand. Al Rashid Mall (Level G), Al Khobar SHAKES
SHAKES is a place where you will love the experience. Al Rashid Mall, Al Khobar Prince Faisal bin Fahd Street (Pepsi Road),Al Khobar • Mob: +96654-8151501
ITALIAN LA GONDOLA
Step into La Gondola and let the food, service and music whisk you back to Italy. Prince Musaed St., Khobar • Tel: +966-13-8940913
LA CARAVELLA
La Caravella is an Italian restaurant that provides an unmet dining experience. Al Rawabi Khobar • Tel: +966-13-8475770
MANGIAMO RISTORANTE & Mangiamo PIZZERIA
Restaurant offers a variety of mouthwatering Italian dishes. King Faisal Rd., Al Khobar. • Tel: +966-138494050 / +966-13-8494060
PAPA JOHN’S
OLIVETO Oliveto is known for being an authentic Italian taverna. Prince Saad St. Al Khobar • Tel: +966-13-8988228
Don’t miss out on the tastiest and freshest fried chicken at KFC. Corniche, Khobar • Mob: +966-54-5029249
Papa John’s Pizza runs the third largest take-out and pizza delivery restaurant chain in the world. Amwaj Mall Dhahran • Tel: +96613-8912323
PIZZA HUT At Pizza Hut, we have one mission: to bring more flavor to life. Othman Ibn Affan St, Dammam • Tel: 920000910 / +966-13-8411641
SECOND CUP
SUBWAY
Second Cup Cafes are dedicated to providing Canada’s best lattes, gourmet coffee and teas. Jarir Plaza, Ali Ibn Abi Taleb St., An Nuzhah, Dammam • Tel: +966-138407730
ICE CREAM FRESH BERRY
KFC
Starbucks delivers the true essence of coffee. Al Rashid Mall, Al Zahran, Khobar • Tel: +966-13-8891195
STARBUCKS COFFEE
INTERNATIONAL CIRCLE CAFE
A Subway is committed to providing a variety of great tasting and nutritious food choices. King Faisal St., Al Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8892717
OLIO Come and enjoy delicious Italian food in relaxing surroundings. Al Rashid Mall, Al Khobar Mall of Dhahran • Tel: +96613-8986623 / +966-13-8914886 PIATTO Enjoy our Italian tradition and authentic recipes Fouad Center, Al Khoba• Tel: +96613-8944842 PIZZARIFIC Our simple, yet extraordinary pizza will leave you satisfied. Aqrabiyah, Al Khobar Rakah, Dammam • Tel: +966-138871515 / +966-13-8141515
To add your directory listing contact us: pr@destinationsharqiya.com 92 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
ROLANDO’S PIZZERIA
Rolando’s is one of the popular pizza joints in Khobar. 22nd St., Khobar • Tel: +966-138961213
THE PIZZA COMPANY
The Pizza Company is a bright and cozy spot located near the food court of Mall of Dhahran. Mall of Dhahran • Tel: +966-13-8684543
VICOLI LOUNGE
Luxury Italian and French Lounge. Prince Humud St., Al Khobar • Mob: +966-56-425-5558
MIDDLE- EASTERN MANOOSHA ALREEF
Manoosha Alreef offers great food, great ambience and great prices. Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Rd., Al Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8813111
ABU HILAL RESTAURANTS An authentic place that serves ma’soob. 20th St. - Thuqbah (20’th St.), Khobar • Tel: 966-138974363
SHRINPY
For the best sea food sandwiches, head to Shrinpy. Corniche St. Al Khobar • Tel: 966-543646786 - 966-13-8988887
ABU NAWAS RESTAURANT One of the oldest and most famous restaurants in the area. Prince Majed St., Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8952225
FAYROUZ Fayrouz serves an all-day buffet with an option for a sumptuois à-la-carte menu. Sheraton Hotel, Dammam • Tel: 966-13-8345555 MALTOOT CAFE
A mix between the traditional and the modern funky style. King Turki St.-la plaza
FAIROUZ GARDEN RESTAURANT
Fairouz Garden exhumes the taste of the Middle East with great outdoor seating. King Fahd St. Corniche Khobar • Tel: 920004102
ASIAN
cuisine. King Khaled St., Dammam • Tel: 966-550680111
ASAHI The Pan-Asian cuisine with Sushi, Sashimi, Tempuras and more along with a breathtaking view of Dammam. 1st St., Al Mazru’iyyah,- Dammam • Tel: 966-13-8345555 BAMBOO KITCHEN
Bamboo Kitchen serves a great array of Asian dishes. Mall of Dhahran - Gate 10 • Tel: 966-138910190
ROYAL GULF CHINESE RESTAURANT Royal Gulf
serves you tasty meals within a wonderful ambience. Al Rashed Mall, Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8949855
INDIAN BIKKI
try all the authentic flavors of Pakistani and Indian cuisines. Prince Sultan St., Al Khobar Al Shamalia, Al Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8995993
MAHARAJA Maharaja by Vineet serves traditional Indian dishes with a contemporary touch. Mövenpick Hotel Al Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8984999 RED DRAGON
Red Dragon serves authentic chinese cuisine. King Khaled St., Dammam • Tel: 966-550680111 ASAHI The Pan-Asian cuisine with Sushi, Sashimi, Tempuras and more along with a breathtaking view of Dammam. 1st St., Al Mazru’iyyah,- Dammam • Tel: 966-13-8345555
BAMBOO KITCHEN
Bamboo Kitchen serves a great array of Asian dishes. Mall of Dhahran - Gate 10 • Tel: 966-138910190
PAKISTANI BUNDOO KHAN Bundoo Khan provides classical dishes with a modern twist. Prince Fawaz St., Al Khobar Prince Saad, Al Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8932545 966-13-8673443 MUGHAL
Mughal is a premium dining restaurant deriving its inspiration from art, history and culture. Corniche Rd., Al Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8982570
ORIENT
Savor the true Asian cuisine. Prince Turkey St., Southern Khobar • Tel: 966-138992525
NOODLEZ
Noodlez is the place to go when you feel like Asian food. Mall of Dhahran • Tel: 966-13-8974363
RED DRAGON
Red Dragon serves authentic chinese
DESSERTS & BAKERIES A CUP OF CAKE
This bakery is specialized in cupcakes and cookie treats. Prince Faisal Bin Fahd St., Al Khobar • Tel: 966-138955110
DIP N DIP
Dip N Dip will give you the best chocolate dip experience. Al Rashed Mall, Al Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8482999
LIWAN CAFÉ
Café Liwan is a well balanced blend of the Middle Eastern and Western concept.Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Rd., Green Belt, Khoba r• Tel: 966-13-8871475
SEA FOOD SOUL KITCHEN
Soul Kitchen serves the best sea food out there. Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Rd., Al Hizam Al Akhdar, Al Khobar • Tel: 966-13-3314441
SURF ‘N’ TURF
Enjoy a wide variety of meals. Sea food is a must-try. King Faisal Rd., Al Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8494001
RED LOBSTER FRed Lobster is one of the most famous sea food places in the world. Corniche Rd., Al Khobar • Tel: 96613-8896983 AL-SANBOK SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
An internationally acclaimed seafood restaurant with a view of the Corniche. Prince Musaed St. Dughaither Leisure Island, Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8944227
BOUTIQUES HALAYEL BOUTIQUE
Accommodate their needs by searching for the latest and most creative designs in boutique-wear. Rashid Mall, Khobar • Tel: +966-558003022 • Web: halayel-boutique.com
6 BLOCKS Chique formal wear for women including dresses, skirts and kimonos. Al Gosaibi Village Khobar • Tel: +966 -3-8815665 MIMOSA BOUTIQUE
A fashion retail house that carries an extensive range of international high-end and luxury brands. Prince Turkey St. Corniche, Khobar • Tel: +966-13-8815665 • Web: mimosa.com.sa
CLOSET WORLD Focus on customers’ needs, lifestyle and budget to create the organizing solutions they need. Dammam • Tel: 920001595 • Web: closetworld.com.sa MIDAS FURNITURE
Products and services include home & office furniture retail, design-and-build solutions and interior design consultation. King Abdullah Rd. • Tel: +966-13-8950128 • Web: midasfurniture.com
IKEA
To offer a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at low prices. Dhahran • Tel: 920004532 • Web: ikea.com
ASHLEY HOMESTORES
Operated stores that are passionate about being the best and most affordable. Khobar • Tel: 920002540 • Web: ashleyfurniturehomestore.com
CITYW
Home furniture, home accessories and rugs. Dammam • Tel: +966-13-8477066 • Web: almutlaqonline.com
PHOTOGRAPHER HYTHEM ALDAHAM
Specializing in wedding photos. Rashid Mall, Khobar • Tel: +966-55-8003022 • Web: hythemdaham.com
BAYAN AL SADIQ
Saudi photographer interested in children, commercial and travel photography. Tel: +966-53-2445501 • Web: bayanalsadiq.com
MONA REEMA PHOTOGRAPHY
Specialises in event photography such as henna parties, engagements, milka and baby showers. Dammam-Khobar Mob: +966-54-3356917 • Web: monareema.com
CUSTOM THOBES LOMAR
Menswear such as thobes, shirts and Ihrams. Khobar • Tel: 920000554 • Web: lomar.sa
BALLAN Ballan garments, women clothing and accessories. King Fahd bin AbdulAziz St Khobar • Tel: +966-138822762
FURNITURE BO CONCEPT
Make customised and coordinated design furniture and accessories affordable to the urban-minded customer. Prince Turki St. • Tel: +966138814788 • Web: boconcept.com
To add your directory listing contact us: pr@destinationsharqiya.com DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 93
CLINICS ARRAZI CLINIC A group of eminent visionaries aiming to provide world-class, specialized and superior multi-specialty health care at affordable costs. Jeddah St., Al Arifi, Jubail • Tel: +966-133627373 • Web: arraziclinics.com RAM DENTAL & ORTHODONTIC CLINI
• Tel: +966-13-8987000 • Web: almanahospital.com.sa
SAAD SPECIALIST HOSPITAL A patient-centered facility that is driven by a pursuit of excellence at every level. Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Rd., Khobar • Tel: +966-13-8014440 • Web: saadmedical.com
PROCARE RIAYA HOSPITAL
A clinic taking over the responsibility of presenting the best medical services. Khobar / Dammam / Jubail / Qatif • Tel: +96613-8648181 • Web: ramclinics.com
Promises to provide comprehensive health care services to its local community. Al Olaya, Khobar • Tel: +966-138955900 • Web: procare.com.sa
MED ART CLINICS
MOHAMMED AL DOSSARY HOSPITAL Committed to
One of the most respected plastic surgery clinics. Dhahran Tower, Khobar• Tel: +966-13-8650040 • Web: medartclinics.com
AL JAZIRA CLINIC
A medical facility that uses stateof-the-art technologies with a prompt & organized level of patient services. Khobar • Tel: +96613-8982022 • Web: aljazirah.com.sa
CUREMED TABSH MEDICAL CENTERS Pediatric Orthopaedic,
Spinal Deformity, Arthroplasty & Lower Limb Recon. 6898 Prince Turki St., Khobar • Tel: 920002873 • Web: curemed.net
SURGICARE CENTER
General Care Hospital Dammam 31413 • Tel: +966-13-8467777 Ext 1610 / +966-50-3896973.
GYM & HEALTH CENTERS STUDIO 55
Studio 55 is an immersive group fitness experience in Saudi Arabia. Al Olaya, Khobar • Tel: +966-138340201 • Web: fitstudio55.com
AREKA FITNESS CLUB
A health and fitness club for the prestigious male members. Prince Abdul Mohsin St., Khobar • Tel: +96613-8987088
ASTRALIS HEALTHCLUB Unique spa AND SPA
combinations that are specifically designed to provide its customers with the most popular spa treatments. Saad Hospital, Khobar • Tel: +966-13-8012160 • Web: astralis-spa.com
FITNESS TIME
One of the world’s leading health and fitness companies. King Khalid Rd., Khobar • Tel: 8003486377 • Web: fitnessfirstme.com
HOSPITALS AL MANA GENERAL A hospital HOSPITAL
that offers tertiary care services. Khobar / Jubail / Dammam / Hofuf
provide consistent, high quality and cost effectivehealthcare services. 4th St., Khobar • Tel: +96613- 8945524 • Web: mdh.com.sa
MOUWASAT HOSPITAL Using the latest technology and cooperation with international medical systems, to provide healthcare. Dammam • Tel: +966-13-8200000 • Web: mouwasat.com
MATERNITY AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Specializing in maternity health services. Ali bin Abi Taleb St., Dammam • Tel: +966-13-8426666
GAMA HOSPITAL
A team of dedicated and highly trained professionals to make sure you receive the best possible treatment and care. King Fahd Rd., Dammam • Tel: +966-13-8591515 • Web: gamahospital.com
SPA & BEAUTY CENTER PEARL SPA
The ideal environment for wellness and rejuvenation. Sunset Beach Resort, Khobar • Tel: +966-13-8902000 • Web: pearlspa.com
THE SANCTUARY NAIL LOUNGE & SPA
A sanctuary where you can indulge in the serene atmosphere of a modern but softly designed venue. Pepsi Rd., Khobar • Tel: +96613-8945674
therapists, to help you recharge, relax and have fun while spending your time. Sheraton Dammam Hotel • Tel: +966-13-8200000 • Web: shinespadammam.com
PRIMA DONNA Beauty and nail salon. Prince Sultan St., Dhahran • Tel: +966-13-8910444
PEST CONTROL MASA PEST CONTROL Offers effective pest control by strict observance and maintenance os high quality service standards. Bin Saqr St., Ruwais Dist., Jeddah • Tel: 920001330 • Web: masapestcontrol.com.sa
HOTELS RADISSON BLU
Offers 74 rooms and suites outfitted with top amenities. Olaya, Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8010080 • Web: radissonblu.com/en/hoteldhahran
MOVENPICK
Discover the utmost in refined comfort and unrivalled service with a personal touch when you book an unforgettable stay. Khobar • Tel: 966-138984999 • Web: movenpick.com
TULIP INN
Recognized as one of the leading hotels in Al Khobar overlooking the skyscrapers of Al Khobar city. Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8825588 • Web: tulipinnalkhobar.com/en
INTERCONTINENTAL
Combines 21st-century facilities with impeccable service and Saudi hospitality. Bandariya, Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8010444 • Web: radissonblu. com/en/hotel-dhahran
LE MERIDIEN
An oasis of luxury and beauty in lively Al Khobar. Prince Turki St.,Khobar • Tel:966-13-8969000 • Web: ihg.com
SHERATON
A five-star deluxe hotel in the Easten Provinceof Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammad bin Fahd Rd., Dammam • Tel: 966-13-8345555 • Web: sheratondammam.com
LA LUNE NAIL SPA
Test a new experience of relaxation for hands, feet and nails. Firas Ibn Al Nudur St., Al Khobar • Tel: +966-13-8304764 • Web: lalunenailspa.com
VOG
To bring the elegance of Paris salons to the Middle East. Khobar • Tel: +966-138010449 • Web: vogksa.com
SHINE SPA Warm atmospheres and welcoming
• Tel: +966-13-3311144 • Web: doubletree3.hilton.com/en
PARK INN Offers a vibrant, friendly environment that provides both business and leisure travelers with an affordable hotel experience. Rawabi Dist., Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8100800 • Web: parkinn. com/hotel-alkhobar ZARA CONTINENTAL HOTEL The provision
of dedicated, personal service twinned with every facility to make your stay both comfortable and enjoyable. King Saud St., Khobar • Tel: 920004082 • Web: zaracontihotel.com
TRAVEL AGENCIES AL MOJIL TRAVEL AND One-on-one TOURS
customer service provided by vacation experts to deliver the bestexperiences to all the customers. Prince Faisal bin Fahd Rd., Khobar • Tel: 966-13-3303999 • Web: almojil.travel
ATTAR TRAVEL
An expert in the delivery of travel solutions and services. King Saud St., Dammam • Tel: 966-13-8341222 • Web: attartravel.com
GLOBAL TRAVEL SOLUTIONS
Al-Khobar’s leading travel agency Prince Talal St., Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8333064 • Web: facebook.com/AtlasTravelKSA
GLOBAL TRAVEL SOLUTIONS To provide professional, service within the travel, tours and transportation industries. Al Dabal Building, Dhahran Street • Tel: 96613-8413535 • Web: gts.travel
FSN TRAVEL
Promoting all travel and tourism and hospitality services 24/7 King Khalid St., Khobar • Tel: 966-1385775057 • Web: fsntravel.com
SAAD TRAVEL To Cater to all travelling needs and requirements for all occasions. King Abdulaziz Boulevard Cross • Tel: 966 13 8949977 • Web: saadtravel.com ALTAYYAR TRAVEL GROUP
BOUDL
Provide innovative and unique properties from the deluxe hotel apartments to exclusive 5 star hotels and resorts. Corniche, Dammam • Tel: 920000555 •Web: sheratondammam.com
DOUBLETREE
Contemporary hotel in Dhahran’s business and commercial district. Al Qashla St., Dhahran
To provide an integrated travel package of products and services. Bandariyah, Khobar • Tel: 920 012 333 • Web: altayyargroup.com/en
TOUR OPERATORS GOLD COAST
Working in tour operators, providingtravel agents and businessactivities. Rakah, Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8574595 • Web: goldcoast.sa
To add your directory listing contact us: pr@destinationsharqiya.com 94 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
MASAFIE Quest towards providing services and tourism products of high quality with global progress. Rakah, Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8574595 • Web: goldcoast.sa
KARAWAN VILLAGE
Karawan Compound is a 69 villas compound managed by MAJD real estate company. 1st Street, Al Bustan • Tel: 966-53-0745499
AL FERDOUSE VILLAGE
CAR SERVICES UBER Get a taxi, private car or rideshare from your mobile phone. Web: uber.com DALEEL RENT A CAR CO.
Al Ferdouse Village compound comprise of 65 modernly design units. King Hamoud Street • Tel: 966-59-3822207
JZALA RESEDENTIAL COMPOUND A warm
A professional car rental company. King Abdullah St. Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8945533
feeling of home is what makes this compound so special . Tel966-138588080 • Web: jzala.net
CAREEM
AL MOHAMADIA COMPOUND
Login to the website or use our mobile app to order a car. Web: careem.com
BUDGET Budget provides the flexible leasing program for your long term car rental needs. Tel:8002440252 / 96613-8325533 • Web: budgetsaudi. com AUTO WORLD
It offers a secure surrounding of luxury units and hospitality facilities. Khobar • Tel: 966-55-9901027 • Web: almohamadiya.com
GULF PEARL COMPOUND 2 Offers units that can be
furnished or not depending on the tenant. Aziziyah, Khobar • Tel: 966-56-7530204
BAJRAI GARDEN VILLAGE
Auto World operates in the field of car leasing services. Head Office, Al Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8574007 • Web: autoworld.com.sa
It provides luxury housing units. Jubail• Tel: 966-13-3641115 • Web: bajraigardenvillage.com
HERTZ
The easiest way to rent cars. Tel: 920005561 • Web: hertz.com
AL JUDE VILLAGE
For a unique accomodation facility, head to Al Jude Village. Jubail • Tel: 966-13-3641676
AVIS
VENTURA VILLAGE
PThere is no better way of getting around than renting an Avis car. King Fahad International Airport • Tel: 966-138838790 • Web: avis.com.sa
SIXT RENT A CAR
Rent cars at affordable prices. South Corniche Road, Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8817000 • Web: sixt.com
BEST RENT A CAR
It provides the best car leasing offers. Tel: 966-13-8450800 • Web: 966-13-8450800
EASTERN HAZAR
A professional car rental company. Dammam • Tel: 966-13-8327667 • Web: easternhazar.com
COMPOUNDS EUROVILLAGE COMPOUND A small village of more than 560 villas with hotel facilities. Tel: 966-13-8579780 966-13-8577996 • Web: eurovillagecompound.com
Al Danah & Al Nada Compounds The fully
furnished villas have a modern design, recreation and sports facilities. Khobar-Dammam Highway • Tel: 966-50-5880307
Ventura Village is where hospitality and services meet. Jubail • Tel: 966-13-3641905 / 3640489 • Web: alventura.net
KINDERGARTENS GYMBOREE
We provide an environment where children are free to move, play and explore safely. AL Subeai Tower Building, Khobar • Tel: 966-138873830 • Web: gymboreeclassesksa.com
KIDS & CO.
Ohana provides the best educational environment for children. Dhahran Tower, Khobar• Tel: 966-13-8651156
Dammam • Tel: 966-13-8575603 • Web: ipsksa.com
GULF INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOL IPS is one Gulf International School aims at developing students’ personality through excellence in education. Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8598773 • Web: gulfintschool.com AL KHOZAMA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL IThe school has a strength of about 1,200 students and around 125 teaching/non teaching staff. Dammam • Tel: 966-138475112 • Web: alkhozama.org
BAYAN GARDENS SCHOOL Students experience a developmentally appropriate program that includes instruction in both Arabic and English. King Faisal Bin FahdStreet • Tel: 966-138822645 • Web: bayaan.com
Get Noticed!
Send us Your Place to be Added in The City's Best Guide in KSA.
ISG JUBAIL
ISG Jubail’s provides an educational experience which celebrates our multicultural community of learners. Jubail • Tel: 966-133417550 • Web: isg-jubail.org
Also Check Out
MARIYA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL It integerates academics with sports and cocurricular activities. King Abdullah Road, Jubail • Tel: 966-13-3442022 • Web: mariyaschool.com
DHAHRAN AHLIYYA SCHOOL DAS is now a dual language school moving towards a more international curriculum. Dhahran • Tel: 966-13-8919444 (Girls) 966-13-8919222/7094/7374 (Boys) • Web: das.sch.sa
AL FAISALIAH SCHOOL (GIRLS) It encompasses an international section and an Arabic one. Green Belt, Prince Faisal St. Khobar • Tel: 966-13-8822961 • Web: alfaisaliah.edu.sa
@DestinationJED
DHAHRAN HIGH SCHOOL Dhahran High School is the premier college prep high school. Khobar (Near the US Consulate) • Tel: 966-13-3300555 Ext 2420 • Web: dhs.isg.edu.sa
SCHOOLS & INSTITUTES BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BISAK is a
selective, not for profit school with a Board of Governors and close links with the British Embassy. Khobar • Tel:966-13-8825425 • Web: bisak.org
THE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS SCHOOL IPS is one of the best international schools in KSA that offers an American curriculum from K-12.
@DestinationRYD
To add your directory listing contact us: pr@destinationsharqiya.com DESTINATIONSHARQIYA.COM 95
KING SALMAN BIN
ABDULA ZIZ AL SAUD
PRINCE MUQRIN BIN ABDULAZIZ AL SAUD
Saudi
96 DESTINATION SHARQIYA JANUARY 2016
THE FIRST AUGMENTED REALITY ENABLED MAGAZINE IN KSA
Look for the Destination KSA AR+ logo on magazine pages
Download Destination KSA AR+ app Available on Google play for Android devices through the below QR Code
WHAT IS AUGMENTED REALITY?
Augmented reality is an advanced technology that enhances digital information with a live video. In other words, AR utilizes an existing picture and blends new data into it. This technology can offer numerous benefits for businesses; as it helps customers experience what your product has to offer in an entertaining attractive method. Experts refer to augmented reality as an artificial environment presented through the combination of real world and digital data.
WHAT IS DESTINATION KSA AR+?
Destination KSA AR+ is a mobile application through which Desitnation magazines evolved to Augmented Reality enabled magazines. We believe that through AR technologies the perception of printed media can be altered to the best. Combining printed media with AR technologies will enhance the reader experience enormously through: - Circularity of communication - Dynamic contents
Open the application and point the camera to the page with the AR+ icon and experience the magic.
- High degree of interactivity - Active enjoyment - Multi-mediality So enabling Destination magazines with AR technologies through the use of Destination KSA AR+ will definitely revolutionize the perception of its readers. Follow the instructions below to download the application and enjoy a whole new experience of Destination magazines. Reality has been Updated.
Scan the QR code to download the application from the App Store and Google Play, Destination KSA AR+ Application is developed and powered by Zeedia platform. www.zeedia.net
Only the view changes With Ascott, home is everywhere ... From the spacious exclusivity of Ascott, to vibrancy of city living at Citadines, we have a hotel apartment designed to make you feel at home in Jeddah. Because life is about living
www.the-ascott.com With three award-winning serviced residence brands, we welcome you to enjoy our renowned hospitality in more than 250 properties in over 90 cities spanning more than 25 countries across the Americas, Asia PaciďŹ c, Europe and the Gulf region.